The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-09-08
AGtIIG ag.Tt az.
DROUGHT
JANE nor AKT


TUE EARTH AS FrIIET AGAINST DRsunr.
This Is a tritc subject aud one mhisl}wr are
aware has been long slnce settled by Intelligent
cultyai0rs in all countries. II was very iamii- |
ihr 10 gardeners, and the cause otthe superior
production of gardens over field cultme. NAV
be attributed IN part 10 the morr frequent appli-
catien Of the hoe and spade. Yet il is true thai |
great number ot farmers deny the pro |
position, aud disapprove the praetlce They !
think It dangerous To plough and, hoe IN |
the extreme time drought aud heat while |
our own experience OF twenty years has I
convinced MS that it is much superior as
remedy against drought than watering, IN the |
limited manner in which thai must always be |
appli, d. There has never been u .eason in Oui I
memory in which there wasa greater neccs.t,
for tfw application Of all remedies against
thoughts than the present The drought WAS
not only OF longer duration, but il took place |
when the plants we're least abe to resist IT, not |
having sent then roots IN quest at nourishment
IA wiuc aud deep. The early foliage also moTe
tender and more liable to wilt under n scorchmg
'un and a drying "Ind
In this extraordinary season, had a small
patch OF carly potatoes planted in a warm and
sandy soil, Eurposely to p'nture an early crop
ne soil was AT leasi three quarters pure sann q
nixed With some food for plants among th, siud
Ht n'Ntif hfbhsHl III fdPitn N iDiHl loss
the crop. The pOtaloe stalks wee teehle
i avn up, scarcely larger thaugo ase quils "
expected every day 10 see thrm Wltner all
hopes Of crop were abandored | thought
that they were tn fair subject ofa dcVtIDt
experiment. On one oi the hottest aud ,r,rst
day gave them thorough piougbng passing
the plough Oul tnurs through each IoN 3, first
plonghng two fnrro"s tfom The hills. rs near
the roots As possible, " lihun, throwing oui the
seed p5t9ipaS, and Thea IelulY,nr The loan or
earn instantly bact by Two other burrows. No
an mefVeht1 for ten daYs. Ia lhrcr DAYS
after the potatoes changed thcr colour they
started ntrrsh rs II they had received the rnctii
I Of ample shoNers. Wine not drop OF ram Lad
I fallen.
] The dewR which were abundant settled upon
/ the new turned earth, while, before the plough.
Z ug, no moisture had been apparent.
/ The last fact, though It Cannot have escaped
the notice III most carries cultyator, has not
! been AS yet explained. We can easily sre, that
II soil rendered porous, would mote readily aud
easily convey IFS moisture TO the roots II be
comes like sponge, and readily permits the
moisture 10 pass between its PARTICLES. But 1t Is
not yet understood whl II nj raCts the moisture.
Perhaps, however, tins may be OWING 20 lis pre-
sentng mach greater surface to the moist AR
otthc night. The TACT. however, which Is what
nost concerns us, is settled
Perhaps some ofIhe experiments Of our dis.
tingnished ouuntfyman Dr. Wells. physician
Of London. who rendered himself conspicuous
by his remarks on dew. may t'nd 10 explain
tins tact, though II 10 not nv purpose now 10 ex-
anime The theory.
Every man WHO feels an interest in he ques-
ton, can satisfy himself at once by stirring a
small piece OF the Garth, in tine al severe
drought aud II b. does not find II IN the morn
m u0te filled with moisture than the undi>uu H.
81 gfound IN ITS vicinity, let him continue dis.
believer.
But there is another mode, aud Il is one which
have never seen suggested, by which appre-
hrud the stirring OF the surface, aud making II
lighi and porous Is hrneiiC al IN great drough
It is ms hight porous bodies are bad conduc
tors OF heat perhaps because they have more
hir between their interstIceS. Tbs facts are IA.
miliar TO Metallic bodies acquire an intense
heat under the rays - the sun 50 do stone, ii
proportion TO their density. Inc earih when
very Compact, will become exceedingly hoi bul
garden loan. which IS very porons, remain
cool at noon-ddy, tno inchrs below The surface
believe therefore, TINT moving the SUI faot
and keeping in light and porous stait
enables II IL resist he heat Of the SIMS rays
that the air brtNeer the particles oiearth com
municates the heat more slowly, than the par
,icies themselves do when IN close contact.
such Is my He0rg but am an enemy OIL
theories. | always dIstrust them f; took only /,
facts; aud having observed that slight cover
ing OF haitian inch of sea weed would presrtgt
my Strawberries from drought whlch Can QUIZ
atse from its lying so loose on the surface.
have been led 10 inter that the uHdoubted tuci
that soil, in loose puvrrzed stale. resist
drought IS Oving 10 The same couse-to the SLOW
ness with which the heat of the solar rays /
communicated 10 the roots. But be the theor,
sound, or nnsound, am persuaded that evetl
farmer will find mat the free use Of his plougl
and hoe, IN time OF severe drought, will be q
more value to him than as much manure as tina
abour would purchase. have been AWAY
convinced, from an experience AS an hortcnltu
r,si that the great secret OF cultivation consist
in making the soil porous. In raising exoil
planis, We know il 10 be triie and our flowe
pots are always supplied WIN soil the most po
rous which we can Obtain, The farmer ma
barrow light from an occupation which he look
upon with disdain, but which serves TO elacIdat
aud explain the secrets OF vegetation.
~ T. Farmer.