Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-06-09
From the American Farmer.
advantages Of stirring the soil

The azote (nitroeen) of the a,mos-
pherc, when air is confined 10 the inter-
stices of the soil newly turned over by
the plough or spade, contributes to the
production of the nitrous acid by its
union with the oxygen oil the atmosphere,
with which ii was before ouly difused,
or with the much greater source of oxy.
gen from the decomposIng water of the
soil. AT the same time another part OF
the abundant azote combines with the
hydrogen of the decomposing water OF
the soil, and produces ammonia, or vol
atile alkali; which contributes TO the
growth of vegetables many ways, as al
ready described. - Darvin's Phgtoio-
gia, X.9.
This explains one of the benefits which
resul,irom frequently stirring the ground
among the growing crops. Farmers OF
the old school cautiously avoid hoeing
the crops in dry season and often carry
the error SO tar, as to refrain from ex-
tirpating weeds during drought, un-
der the idea that both operations dissi-
pate the little moisture in the soil, and
the weeds are beneficial in protecting it
from the intense rays of the sun. Sci
ence, as well as practice, has demonstrate
ed, that crops are materially benefited
by having the earth frequently stirred,
with the harrow, plough or cul,ivator,
even in the dryest season, provided it is
not useiessly raised ~ hills and ridges,
and that the benefit is increased if the
operation is performed while the dew is
on the ground. Csbbages, ruta baga,
&c. will grow better in field, where this
operation is frequently performed with
a plough, &c. than In better soil in
garden, where the hoe is less used. Cur
wen's experiments are conclusive as to
the utility OF frequent ploughings. He
put cabbages in few acres Of stiff
clay, and the plants had very meagre
appearance I'LL he put the plough to
work; but by the frequent use Of
this, in both directions Of the field, The
crop become astonishngly great, not
withstanding dry weather, and many oil
the cabbages weighed fifty pounds. Ano.
Their well authenticated fact in point,
took place 90 miles from me. A field
had been worn out BY tillage, and the
proprietor gave poor neighbor permits
sion to try crop upon H. AS the lat
Ter was day aborer, he had no time to
plough excep. before sunrise. He per-
severed in this way until he got crop
of wheat, which TO the astonishm ent O
The neighborheod, turned out very abun.
dant in its produce. This could be as
cribed TO no other cause than turning the
soil repeatedly while the dew was upon it.
american Cohter,--We have tht
pleasure of announcing the receip! in
our market of several tons of Copper,
prepared by the Bridgewater Copper
Mining Company, in New-Jersey, aboui
10 miles from New Brunswick. Those
who feel proper pride in favor of our
home manufactures, and who duly ap
preciate our inexhauslible sources OF
wealth, will be highly graified on ex
aiming, at the store Of Messrs. Hoy,
and Tom, the beautiful specimen Of pure
copper, with which the state of New
Jersey so much abounds. That sue.
cess will ultimately crown this enter
prize cannot be doubted. All that now
seems wanting is sufficient Number OF
men well skilled in mining; and as there
is now prospect OF increased emigra-
ton from the old world, there is no
doubt that men Of this description will
ere long be abundant.
Nesv. York Gag.