Litchfield enquirer., 1829-02-12
AGRICULTURAL.
NATURAL FORMATION OF SOIL.


 or deeply interesting to a reAccting mind, than the processb by. which nature sollsiant- ] ly produces an accession of soil, ,anf an ac- emulation of vegetable matter to render it fertile. The process is varied SO as be a. dapted to overcome the obstacles which the circnmstances ofcacll particular district presents; buf, although the means employ ed, arc infinitely various, the final result is always the same. Wheu the surface of a rock, for instance, becomes first exposed to the atmosphere, it Is ai once attacked Ey a. gents which operate mechanically and chemically. LightFcalls into activity the latent heat the pores become, by that means sufficiently enlarged to admit parti- cles of moisture, which gradually abrade the surface and produce inequalities: upon ! these inequalities the seeds 0f lichens arc deposited by the atmosphere; these fore- rnnners of vegetation take root, and the .utive plants adhere 10 the rock, concoct vegetable acid peculiarly adapted to cor- rode the substance with which it comes in contact, ,and increase the inequalities which heat and moisture had already Eormed.-1 These diminutive plants decay and perish when decomposed, they form a vegetable bed, united to the production of larger plants i; or whenstlle surface of the rocks happen to present clefts or natural crevices they fall into them and these mingling with fine particles of sand, conveyed tnith- CT by the atmosphere, or crumblcd by the action ef the air from the internal surfaces of the crevices themselves, they form fer tile mould. Nature having advanced thus far in her preparations, makes another for- ward step she sows the soil which has been created blythe decomposition ofveg- etahle matter with some of tlle> more perfect plants, which it has now become capable of sustaining. These continue to be produc- ed and decoinposed, until soil has been prepared of sufficient depth and richness ie bear plants of still higher quality and larger dimensions. The process of nature acquires accelerated force as it advances
 towards its consumption. s
 When a sufficient depth of soil has been formed to produce ferns, for instance, these annually decay and die their decomposed
 materials gradually form little coniral heaps
 of vegetable mould round on the spot upon
 which each plant grew. When this has gone on for period of sufficient length io spread these cones over given surface, Nature takes another stride; she sows furze, thorns, and briars. which thrive lux- uriantly, and by annually shedding their leaves, contributes, in the end, tO add greatly to both the fertility and depth of tho mould. This species constitutes, in truth, the means whici, nature principally uses in preparing bed for the growth of the most valuable trees. It is we'll known that these are the plants which make their appearance in fallows, or in woods which
 have been recently cut down. Into the cen-
 Ire of tuft of brambles, is accidentally car- ried the seed of the majestic oak. Meet-
 ing with acongenial soil, it soon vegetates; it is efiectually and carefully cherished and protected by its prickiy defence against all the injuries from the lite of the animals which roam over the waste. The larger trees having reached a height '& size which render shelter unnecessary, destroy their early nurses and protectors, by robbing them oftheir light and air, indispensable for well-being. The ,horny plants then retire to the outskirts of the forest, where in the enjoyment of an abundant supply of light they continue gradually to extend the cm- pire of their superiors, and make encroach-
 menis upon the plain, until the whole dis- trict becomes at length covered with mag niiCent trees. The roots of the largest trees penetrate the soil in all directions :; they even find their way into the sreviees of the rocks, filled as ihese are by decoIn- pogeu veg0JauIe supttcf; heTU- Iiiey Swelp and contract as tlye heat and moisture ir1 crease or diminish. They act like trpet 2g CTS. until they gradually pulyerI/ " earthly materials which they have 2 tn, ble 10 penetrate. {, <. s,ss s,T 0eeng q, X While the roots, are thpe lptl ground, boring, underninjs N busy under. crumbling everythings. x .,g. .cleaving, and gress, the branches Y .iat impedes its pro- indefatigable ov> >1 and leaves are equally yolaiile nsrtje' z srl,ead they arrest the Heat in' .ies of vegetable food which susts;e .is atmosphefe. Thus fcd and Inp- ed, each trcc not only increases an- afly n size, but produces and deposits a Z, crop of leaves. The fruit becomes the flood of animals, or, is carried into spnt
 where ii can produce plant the leaves fall around the tree. where they become
 gradually decomposed, and in the lapse of Iages, make avsssadditi0n to the depth of Iflie culiivaiible soil, anoihcr cause. equally
 constanl in operation. continues to increase its fertility; the produce of the minutest ss9atsf ee.rvas in alrxisf snwf.nde r.f ;v,eo.se