Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-18

| -.
the presence of sand. AS alumlna pos.
sesses all the properties of adhesiveness In
an eminent degree. and silex those of frla'
bilitv, it is obvious that mixture OF these
two earths. in suitable proportions, would
furnish every thing wanted to form the
most perfect soil as to water and the opera
tons of culture. In q soil so compounded.
water will be presented to the roots by ca
piIlary attraction. 1t will be suspended IN
it, in the same manner as it IS suspended III
sponge, not in state OF aggregation, but
minute division, so that every part may be
said to be moist, but not wet.
The porer oft soil to absorb rater 1y
coheare attraction depends in a great mea-
sure upon tine state Of division OF Its parts ;
the more divided they are, the greater IS
their absorbent power. The different con-
stituent parts of soils likewise appear to act
even by cohesive attraction, with different
degrees of energy. Thus vegetable sub
stances seem to be more absorbent than
animal substances; animal substances
more so than compounds of alumina and
silica; and compounds ofalumlna and sill
ca more absorbent than carbonatcs oilme
and magncsia these differences may, how
ever, possibly depend upon the differences
in their state of division, and upon the sur
face exposed.
The pomer of soil to absorb vater from
air is much connected with fertility.
When this power is great, the plants sup,
piled with moisture in dry seasons; and
the effect of Evaporation in the day is coun-
teracted by the absorption Of aqueous Va
pour from the atmosphere, by the interior
parts ofthe soil during the day, and BY botA
the exterior and interior during the night.
The stiff clays approaching to pipe clays IN
their nature, which take up the creates:
quantity Of water when 1t IS poured upon
them in fluid form, are not the soils which
absorb most moisture from the atmosphere
in drv weather. They cake and present
only a small surface to the air; and the We
getaton on them is generally burnt up al
most as readily as on the sands. The soils
which are most efficient in supplying the
plant with water by atmospheric absorption
are those in which there is due mixture OF
sand, finely divided clay, and carbonate OF
lime. with some animal or vegetable matter.
and whichare SO loose and lightas to be free
" permeablc to the atmosphere. WITH re:
spect 10 this quality, carbonate OF llmc' and
animal and vegetable matter are of great
use in soils; they give absorbent power to
the soil without likewise giving it tenacl'y !;
sand, which also destroys tenaclty, on
the contrary, gives little absorbent pow
er. The absorbent power Of soils, with re-
pcct to atmospheric moisture, is always
greatest in most fertile soils; so that 1t at
fords one methed Of Judging OF the produc.
tiveness OF land.
As examples oftAe absorbent poners OF
soils: One thousand parts of celebrated
soil from Ormiston, in East Lothian, which
contained more than half its weight Of fine
" divided matter. Of which eleven parts
were carbonate Of lime, and nine parts ve-
gctable matter, when dried at two hundred
and twelve degrees, gained in an hour by
exposure to the air saturated withmolsturc al
temperature of sixty two degrees, eighteen
grains. One thousand parts of very fer
tile soil from the banks the river Parret,
in Somersctshirc, under tho same crcum-
stances, gained sixteen grains. One thou
sand parts Of a soil from Mersca, in Essex,
gained thirteen grains. One thousand
grains of fine sand, from Essex, gained
eleven grains. One thousand Of coarse
sand gained only eight grains. One thou.
sand of q soil of Bagshot Heath, gained
only three grains.