Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-07-24

Pu2perization Of The Soil. The grand
object Of pulverization Of the soil is to give
free scope. to the roots OF plants, for with
out an abundance Of roots no plant will be-
come vigorous, however rich the soil may
be in which 1t Is planted Palverization ,
therefore, snot only advantageous previous
TO planting, or sowing, but also during tho
progress Of vegetation Of most plants. At
this stage the operator, by means ofptun-
ing, or cutting ofthe extended dbres, caus-
ca them to seed out numerous others, by
which such food All IL In the soil Is the
more readily taken up. Palverization in
creases the capillary attraction, or sponge
like property Of the soils, by which their
humidity IL rendered more uniform. The
capillary attraction Is always greatest
where the particles ofthe soil are finest di.
vided. Gravels or sands retain little or no
water, while stiff soils, az clays, which
have not been opened by p~ulyerization, Ell.
her do not absorb water, when by long ac-
ton it Is absorbed, or they retain too much.
Water is not only necessary to the growth
| of plants, but 1t il essential to the produc-
ton of extract from the vegetable mat
ter which they contain, ard unless the
soil by pulyerization IL 30 constituted as to
retain the requisite quantity of water TO
| produce the extract, the application ofma.
nures would be useless. Water il known
to be a condenser and solvent Of earbonic
acid gas, which il Immediately carried by
it to the roots Of vegetables. The depth Of
pulyerization must depend upon The soil and
the subsoil. In rich lands it can scarcely
be too deep, and even in sands, unless the
subsoil contains particles ~noxious to veget.
ables; but very dry. lands, ifthe season is
hot and dry, should merely be stirred; 9TH
erwise the great evaporation of moisture
which would take place by deep pulyeriza-
ton would render them too dry for vigorous
growth of plants. BY deep Pulgerization
the temperature Of the earth is increased.
As earths are bad conductors Of heat, ii
would be a considerable time before the
gradual increasing temperature Of spring
could communicate its warmth to the roots
| of vegetables. Il is thus of the utmost inn
portance to have he land open, so that the
warm air and tepid rains of spring may
have free ingress. Some soils are more
readily heated than others. In general,
soils that consist principally ola stiff white
clay are difficult to heat, and, being usu-
ally very moist, they retain the heat only
for a short time. Chalks ara similar In
one respect, they are difficult to heat, but
being dry they retain the heat longer, a
black soil il readily heated; cosoFed soils,
and those soils containing much carbona.
ceous matter, exposed under equal circum-
stances, acquire a much higher tempera-
ture than pale-colored soils. When
soils are perfectly dry, those which most
readily become heated by the solar rays,
likewise cool much more rapidly. Album,
dance of vegetable and animal matter,
when heated to the same degree, win COO
much more slowly than a wet, pale soil
entirely composed Of earthly matter,
THE LocUsr.-These strange creature
have appeared in large numbers in tn
: western part Of North Carolina, IN III
/ counties of Henderson, Rutherford, Nc
!, dowen, and others adjacent. They sisite
: the same part Of the State seventeen year
] ago. Ii is now almost entirely ascertain
!, ed that locust make their appearance
the same place, that is IL large number
m only At periods Of seventeen years--As
nd sary.