Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-11-22

though lying on The surface under the straw, at
all affected by the cold. During the spring, ex.
cesslVe droughls prolonged, and several times
repeated, have prevented vegetation on the com,
mon plan from 1ourshing in healthy progress,
while our little spots of wheat have hardly felt the
incoveniences of excessive dryness, for the earth
protected by the straw has never been deprived
entirely Of moisture, and our blades OF corn
iwheat) were furnishing, when all around was
dropping and uncertain. To conclude, then, we
have thoroughly succeeded in our practical expe-
rment, aud the wheat produced is Of the finest
quality. The straw was more than six feet high,
and in the ears were so, co. and even 80 grains OF
wheat OF full development, the admiration of oil
who saw them, and particularly those which grew
upon the pane Of glass; and which were quite rs
healthy and rs large ms those which grew upon
the common earth. II must be observed also, that
there was not the smallest particle OF earth upon
the glass, and that the plants were left entirely to
themselves, without being watereI or attended to
III any way whatever from The time OF sowing to
the time of reaping."
The cause of this success they think, may be
explained inthe fois wing manner:
Straw being n bnd conductor of heat, and n
good conductor of electricity, manuins the root
OF the plant in medium temperature, and pre-
vents the earth from being deprived entirely of
moisture. The moisture of the earth or the sub
stratum, being continual facilitates the gradual
and constant absorption OF carbonic acid gas from
the surrounding atmosphere, and hydrogen and
carbon, the chief elements Of nourishment to We.
gelablcs, are thus economical in regHnr supplies
where they are constantly required, and pass in
combination with oxygen from the roots mp to the
stem and branches of the plants in which they
are asslnilated and The oxygen throws off in eX-
haialion from The leaves. The straw decays slow
ly, aud thus furnishes its substance by deglees to
the young plant in due progression and proper
ton, (such as the silequous ingredients for in
of tho md orc uin\ so ttot rho Iccotn
position of the straw corresponds to the four pha
SEES of fermentation in progressing from the sac
chdrine to the dLcoiic, the acid and the putrid
states, analogous to those OF infancy, budding,
youih and seeding Of the plant.
ave observe that our blades Of wheat have but
very few roots and those are short and hard,
something like q birds claw and this agrees with
the remarks of Mons. Raspali, who states that the
most healthy plants in ordinary vegetation have
the least eXuberaECc Of roots and fibres
"Anoher important observation, also, is that
weeds and parasiiical vegetation, are prevented 10y
this method, for the straw chokes every other
plant but that OF its own seed Many other inter-
esting observations might be made on these cxpc-
rimenis, but we refrain nj present from obruding
on your readers; but if amy of them wish for
further information this subject, we shall willing
ly afford them every facility. The importance OF
the general result will easily become apparent
without further COMMENT and revolution in the
present modes Of agricultural labor is necessa
ny consequence of this discovery. No lillage will
now be required nor any artificial stimulanS in
manure and other more or less expensive combi-
nations with regard to soil and culture. In fact
il would be tedious to cnumerate the various nd
.vantages that result in practice from this cas-
ual experiment, and therefore we proclaim IL sim
ply 10 the world, that all may profit by it,"
AS this experiment can easily he tried. we hope
some of our farmers will put it 10 the test and
communicate the results. We shall certainly try
it on small seven by nine LOT of ground, which
city.--.M Y. Eue Post