The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-21
From the Quarterly Revie,c.
NATURAL FORMATION OF SOL

IN Al URAL TOHMAi1ON OF SOIL.
Nothing can be more truly beautiful in
itself, or more deeply interesting to re-
fiecting mind, than the process by which
nature constantly produces an accession of
soil, and an accumulation of vegetable mat
ter to render it fertile. The process is va
ried so as to he exactly adapted to over
come the obstacles which the circumstan-
ces of each particular district present but
although the means employed are infinitely
various, the final result is always the same.
When the surface of rock, for instance
becomes first exposed to the atmosphere, it
is at once attacked by agents which oper-
ate mechanically and chymically. Light
/ calls into activity the latent heat; the pores
become, by that means, sufficiently enfarg-
ed to admit Particles of moisture, which
gradually ahrade the surface and produce
inequalities; upon these inequalities the
seeds Of lichens are deposited bv the at
mosphere; these forerunners of vegetation
take root, and the ibres by which some
sorts of these diminutive plants adhere to
: the rock, concoct vegetable acid peculiarly
adapted to corrode the substance with which
it comes in contact, and increase the inc
qualities which heat and moisture had al
ready formed. These dimnutive plants
decay and perish but when deromposed,
they form a vegetable bed united to the
production of larger plants or when the
surface of the rock happens to present
clefts, or natural crevices, they fall into
them, and there minglIng with fine parti-
Giles of sand, conveyed thither by the at
mosphere, or crumbed by the action of the
air from the internal surfaces of the crew.
res themselves, they form fertile mould
Nature, having advanced thus far in her
preparations, makes another forward step :
she sows the soil which has been created
by the decomposition of vegetable matter,
with some of the more perfect plants, which
it has now become capable of sustaining
/ These continue to he produced and decom-
posed until soil has been prepared Of
sufficient depth and richness 10 bear plants
of still higher quality and larger dimensions
The process of nature acquires accelerated
force as it advances towards its consumma-
ton. When sufficient depth of soil has
been formed to produce ferns, for instance,
these annually decay and die their decon,-
posed material gradually form little conical
heaps of vegetable mould round the spot on
which each plant grew. When this has
gone on for a period-of sufficient length to
spread these cones over a given surface,
nature takes another stride she sows furze.
thorns and briars, which thrive luxriantly,
and by annually shedding their leaves, con-
tributes, in the end, to add greatly to both
the depth and fertility of the mould. This
species constitutes in truth, the means which
nature principally uses III preparing bed
for the growth of the more valuable trees.
1t is well known that these are the plants
which make their appearance in fallows or
in woods which have been recently cut
down. Int the centre Of tuft of bram-
bles is accidentally carried the seed of the
majestic oak. Meeting with a congenial
soil, it soon vegetables; it is carefully and
efectually cherished and protected by its
prickly defence against all the injuries from
the bite of the animals which roam over the
waste. The larger trees having reached a
height and size which renders shelter unnec-
essary, destroy their early nurses and pro-
tectors, by rohbing them of their light and
air, indispensable for their well-beng. The
E thorny plants then retire to the outskirts Of
, the forest where, in the enjoyment Of ar
abundant supply light and sun, they con-
time gradually to extend the empire o.
their superiors, and make encroachments
upon the plain, until the whole district be
comes at length covered with magniicen
trees. The roots of the larger trees pene
trate the soil IN all directions they ever
: find their way into the crevces of the rock,
filled rs these are already by dccomposet
vegetable NATTER here they swell and con
tract, as the heat and moisture increase OF
diminish. They act like true levers, unit
they gradually pulverlZe the earthly mate
rails which they have been able to pene
trate. While the roots are thus busy unde
ground, boring, undermining, cleaving ant
; orV IL
progress, the branches and leaves are
) equally interchangeable overhead. They ar
rest the volatile PARTICLES of vegetable foot
, which float in the atmosphere.
Thus led and sustained, each tree no
!, only increases annually in size, but pro
. duces and deposits Il crop of fruit an,
leaves. The fruit becomes the food of ami
mails, or is carried into spot where it cal
produce a new plant the leaves fall around
the tree, where they become gradual,
, decomposetl, and in the lapse Of ages, make
a vnst addition to the depth of the vegetable
world; and whilst the decomposition o
! vegetables makes gradual addition to the
, depth of the cutivabe soil, another cause
! equally constant in operation continues t.
increase its fertility; the produce of the
: minutest plant serves to suhsist myriads o.
insects; after brief existence, these perish
and decay the decomposed PARTICLES great
: ly fertili2e the vegetable matter with which
, they happen to mingle. The period al
, length arrives. when the timber, having
reached its highest measure of growth and
perfection, may be cut down, in order that
the hushandman may enter upon the inheri-
lance prepared for him by the hand of the
all-wise and all benefcent Author of his
existence. Such is the system which they
that have eyes to see, may see. Plants
which appear worthless in themselves