Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-09-03

with peas, beans, &c, and on these the
plants invariably appeared above ground two
or three days earlier, obviously on account
OF the increased warmth il being a we'll
known fact that dark-colored bodies absorb
caloric more readily and in larger proportions
than those of lighter hue.
Soils which absorb the most moisture are
the most fertile. SIR Humphrey Davy OBJ
served, 81 have compared the absorbent
powers of many soils with respect to atmos-
plieric moisture, and | have always found it
greatest in the most fertile soils SO that il
affords one method of judging of the produc.
%tiveness of land"
The methods of improving soils are too
numerous to be here fully specified. We
will, however, quote one mode of restoring
WORKOUT fields to the fertility of new lands,
or lands lately cleared from their aboriginal
growth of timber, quoted from a "Disserta-
ton on the Mixture of s%oils," for which the
author, the Rev. Lorrel Allen, of Pembroke,
Mass, was awarded a premium by the Ply
mouth County Agricultural Society.
"PartIcles in ii soil which had long been
in contact, and in consequence of long con-
%nexion, lost much of the energy of their ac-
ton on plants, are separated in mixing soils
placed IN new connexions, and act will, re-
newed vigor. But the most permanent and
best effects are always expected from the
mixture of soils of different qualities.-When
the object is to produce as much immediate
influence as possible, merely to assist one
short rotation Of crops, to have the applica-
ton we make act chiefly as manure, then we
may take our materials from any situation
where we know vegetable substances have
fallen and decaycd.
ave may go into forests, and in certain
stages Of the growth of the wood, without any
pcrccptible injury, skim the surface Of the
whole lot. This soil of the woods, carried
in sufficiently large quantities on to old fields,
will restore them to original productivcness.
And this will sometimes prove an inexlaus-
tible resource for renewing old fields for
as often as the fields decline, the soil in the
wood 1T will be again renewed and fit to re-
move. For the same purposes the earth
should be carried from tic sides Of walls and
fences, were the leaves have been lodged from
the forests. 1t should also be carried from
hollows and temporary ponds, which in GER
tain seasons of the year become dry, and aE-
ford immense quantities of vegetable matter
in different stages of decomposition, and
suitable to apply to any kind of soil.
"Where streams of water occasionally
overflow the banks, and abundance of vegc-
table and earthly matter is LODGE ON the
meadows, which in many eases, especially
where there is not much extent of meadow
to receive the substances conveyed by the
stream, it is prudent to remove on to higher
land. 1t will there act as manure, and at
the same time gradually alter the texture of
the soil, rendering it more retentive Of dew
nd rain, and easily penetrated by the fbrous
cots of plants. OF the value Of those sub
tances which are carried in streams Of water
o enrich soils, we have the most convincing
roof in the unexamplcd productivoness of
e%ierval lands. 1t is not exclusively the We
-ctablc substances carried on to these lands
which make them so astonIshingly produc-
tive there is a portion of every kind of soil
existing in the surrounding country annually
carried on with the vegetable substances.
Intervals are composed OF cvery sort of earth
the water can reach and remove. This cir
cumslance may properly encourage the mix
lures OF many kinds of earth, ever when
there is no particular evidence tina, each kind
is especially adapted to remedy any deficien-
cy in the soil which we would improve.
There is less hazard in administering medl-
cines IN great profusion to cure diseases in
the soil, than in the human body. In step
ping out OF the beaten path of habitual prac-
tice, and calling attention to experiments,
which to some may look very simple and to
others very absurd, we may become instru-
mental ia the discovery of highly important
truths"
1t will not do, however, to spread pond
mud directly on grass land or on arabic
ground. An experienced farmer informs us,
that he once injured a piece of grass land by
spreading pond mud upon it without prepa-
ration. 1t should be mixed with lime and
warmer manure. and exposed to the atmos-
plere, or put into the barn-yard to be trod-
den upon by cattle.
Arthur Young lays it down as a maxim,
that a strong, harsh, lenancious clay, though
1t will yield great crops of wheat, is yet ma
naged at so heavy expense. that it is usually
let for more than it is worth. Much money
is not made on such land.-The very con-
trary soil, a light, poor, dry sand, is very
often, indeed, in the occupation of men who
have made fortunes. Some permanent ma
nures is usually below the surface, which
answer well to carry on and sheep, the
common stock of such soils, is the most pro-
titable sort he can depend on.