Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-04

perfection oil existence which It's creator bestc
ed upon it. until he who created il. shall strike
from existence. In view OF these facts, h,
does the most mighty effort Of human wisdt
and human skill sink into insigniicaiice coinpar
with that Of the Deity
Bud. AS combustion is but particular instan
of chemical combination, differing from 9th
instances of combination principally in the r
pd's and energy with which it takes place, "
would naturally expect that there would be man
eases OF combination. in which, whilst thei
would be heat developed, that heat would not
sufficient TO render the combining bodies red-ho
And such is the fact. The heat of the hu,na
body is produced BY the combination of the oxv
gen oil the atmosphere with certain elements Q
me blood; The lungs operating as a furnace 4
Keep that heat IN the body, without which lif
canho' exist. The blood, heated by this opera
| l!on' is then forced through every part of The
nouy' Just IN the same way that heated water is
forced through iron pipes for the purpose oil
"afming large buildings-this has been consid-
ered great invention OF modern genius, and vet
u Is aiief a'l, but clumsy imitation of tina, more
perfect healing apparatus which we carry within
u.s. Heat is produced in large Quantities by the
! decay oi vegetable matter; which is in fact,
"o'nihg out Inc combination of certain portions
"a '"a' ma''er win the elements of water and
me atmosphere; the residual uncombined nor:
ia0'e mould. 10 this cause, we are TO at,ribHte
our Indian summer. The leaves killed by few
haIu Hos's, begin TO decay, and thus deyelope
ShiGent neat to sensibly affect the temperature
or ire atmosphere. As the cold of winter in.
creases' This decay is checked for a season.-in
carry spring again, as the temperature of the at
mosphere Is raised by other means, this decay re.
'o''"'en.es' anu we have recurrence Of the
same mid and delightful weather. As country
forests disappearing before the aXe-the recur.
renee oi these seasons becomes more and mora
precdr!ous and lie seasons themselves of shorter
duration.
ord. All ordinary cases Of combustion. az we'll
as cases OF the decay of vegetable and animal
matter, are produced by The combustion of sub
stances WIN oxygen, and III studying these phe-
"o"'o"a .o' ,'e purpose OF turning them 10 good
account In the business of life this is the element
on which we must fix our attention.
ihe subject proposed for examination and dis.
cosslon al The present meeting of the class was
that OF SuJ-sOU pioushjng.
rfoi. Armstrong read The following paper.
ne subject OF sub-soil ploughinu, is one which
"i'hih The last ten years, has excited no little in.
'efeSi among British agriculiuralIsts, and within
'he last lew years. some little attention has beeri
given IL IN this country also. As this method of
..''''sc' IN common with all other improvements
pehehcld In al! situations and in all circums,an-
cess In attempting TO determine the proprie,y Of
us introduction among u.s. it becomes us first To-
enquire into lis modus operaudi
ne hetHou oil using the Sub-soil PLOUGH ia
d,tef 'nfFow mas been turned with the common
Pi,o"Sh' 10 loiiow immediately with The sub-soil
FIouSh In The iurrow thus formed Tn. latter
IS so constructed as not TO turn over
lhe soil In Which il works bat silDply raising il;
il, IN
ninety puiverized Stale. The difference between
aetp and sU6-Sot! pOul hinS is that whilst the for:
h,f feverseS The relative position of the soil and
'hosoil me latter does not affect the relative no.
'i'ion at all $50 that the two operations are ga.
,eht'aIiy different IN their nature, and when the
FORMER might prove Injurious, the latter might
prove beneficial.
Frst. The beneficial effects of sub-sol plough
hs' seem 10 be attributable TO a very GREAT ex
rnI 10 It's influence in equaiizjnu ,he snnnlv IS
moisture TO The roots ; Understanding by the Term
moisture, not only water, but water containing i'm
'oulion all That part oil the food of plants which
l dlSSoives IN falling through the aimosphere as
am ior his Is The sense in which that term ia
generally used by farmers. Subsoil plouGbinc
'"eIs '''S equ"iizaiion oil The supply Of moisture
ISL. by preparing the soil TO receive a much
greater supply OF moisture than it Otherwise
ouid, by enabling il TO absorb all the rain which
ans upon II, instead OF forcing it to run off as in
he ordinary methods Of tlane The wafer
when enters lhe soil, must Of course be slowed
way III lhe pores Of that soil. Bv plouqhino in
he ordinary way, 10 the depth OF six inches, YOU
a'se the surface or increase the bulk Of the soil.
ay one lhrd. Il think this is about fair allow.
nee ior the common clay soils OF this counIvN
As there is no actual increase Of matter, this in.
''e"se inust be owing entirely 10 the additional
'oFosity given TO the soil, and Of course will
measure 'hat additional pOrosiiy. Now she a.
mount OF thlS poroSily, determines the ability oS
ne SOIL 10 receive ana retain tie rain which falls
'pon 1t. ii we suppose the original amount of
'oroSity OF The soil TO be one third, or 9 inches in
}, iand IRON It's shriBkage when pressed and
thoroughly dried, this would seem to be about a
arr estimate0 by ploaghing it TO the depth of
TX inches you obtain an amount of porosiiy, or
towage-room for The rain equal to inches: and
~ subscribing inches more, you increase this
'towaee-room to Inches :--Supposing that of
ne inches OF slowage-roon, J OF inches is "a
'aiIab'e iof the reception of water at the COM
nencement OF rain, (and from observation |
MINK thS ialr average estimate in ordinary sea-
sons, less when the rains follow each other in
ap!o succession. and more when they occur at
ong lniervas) this inches will be sufficient tn
$40" away the water of the heaviest rains we
nave III This part OF the country. 1t should not
ne forgotten however, that to enable the soil to
absorb The water of the heaviest showers, that no
ernst should be suffered TO remain nnbroken on
lis surface In the case of long-continued and
gentle rains. an encrnsted surface does not make
so much difference.
2nd. BY preventing the rapid exhaustion of the
supply OF moisture by evaporation. That portion
Of the soil which lies upon The surface, all are a.
ware VIII lose It's moisture by evaporation much
sooner than that which. being beneath the sur
lace, Is protected from the direct action of the sun
DO not know that the exact law whic, governs
Inc Tap'diiy OF evaporation at different depths of
mas ever been accurately aScertained; but
Judging from the laws of nature which obtain in
similar cases, should supnose ~