The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-06-30

tween them; and on heating one end, the
other would not be effected, as the heat
would not pass but small space through
the pieces.
Again, we will suppose that fire of
intense heat be made on a block of iron,
that is four feet square, and ten feet high,
the body of iron would fast become heat
ed downward, even to the bottom. Now,
|ifthat iron should be cut or broken into
fine pieces, and a body ofiron formed of
these pieces, of the same size as the block,
and fire of a like degree of heat made
thereon ;, the heat would work down slow
Ily, after penetrating a small distance
through the many particles, and the air
intervening between them. We give this
as the theory. It is the practice, as in all
other things, that we rely on as the founda-
| ton Of true science.
There is in dry time, great quantity
of moisture in the earth, that is continually
rising and passing off in evaporation; and
Iif this evaporation can be prevented, IN a
great measure, by non-conductor OF OF
moisture at the surface, the plants will
suffer comparatively but little. This is
abundantly shown in practice.
Those who have not witnessed from
experiments and observation the advant-
ages of fine loose earth on the surface, as
a protection of plants against drought,
would not be likely to suppose its effects
so great asit IS, though the theory is Plausi-
BILE and reasonable. Corn and other
vegetables that have been well hoed in
extremely dry time, have fourished wei,
while some parts left for experiment were
nearly destroyed by drought.
We noticed the. powerful effects of this
protection last season. We cultivated
few acres mostly dry land, and the drought
was severe indeed. Where the soil was
frequently stirred and kept light and loose
on the top, there was constant moisture
a short distance from the top; but where
the earth remained unmoved, it dried to
great depth.
A narrow strop, running across the
piece, was left for turneps, and renamed
unploughed. On this the soil become dry
below the usual depth of ploughing, and
the weeds were almost dead for want OF
moisture. while at the side, weeds OF the
same kind in the edge Of the ploughed
ground, were fresh and vigorous, and the
soil was dry only few inches on the sur
face.
Where some grain was sowed, the
earth was dry down SIX or seven inches;
while by the side of it, where the soil was
often stirred, it was dried down only three
or four inches. And in this latter case,
the moist earth had a gooddegree ofmols-
ture, while the former contained but little.
From the same.
In the Yankee Farmer OF May 10, NO.
20, it is asked, is tanners bark useful for
manurel 1t is answered, it is, if properly
purified, or decomposed. On farm in
Westbrook, Maine, a great quantity of tan
ner's bark was applied on land of a clay
sIbsoil. 1t was spread about four inches
thick. 1t was then turned in wltha plough
cutting about fourteen inches deep, which
would take ten inches of the natural
ground. Then another, and like dressing
was spread, and turned in, in the same
manner. The land was then sowed to
grain and seeded down. 1t has been
moved now for over thirty years, and is
said to have averaged more than two tons
to the acre. If plenty of it be put on
and turned in, and then left undisturbed,
there is no doubt but that it will decom-
pose fast enough to answer all the purpo-
ses of manure. The dust of saw-mills,
which is all now wasted, if saved which
could be done, at very little expense and
trouble, would be very valuable and use
full manure, if plentifully used, turned in,
and left undisturbed to ferment, decompose;
and fertilize the soil. The great error and
fault of farming now is, that the farmers
think all their labor is lost if they do not
get the full return Of all the outlay, the pre-
sent year. This system will always keep
both the farmer and the owners poor.
PHILO.
Portland, May Is, ls4l.
A Sr. I,ouIs FISH SToRY.-The st.