The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-05-24
AGRICULTURAL.

"a PnorEcr1nv AGAINST ~DRouauT.-The
lrst protection against the effect OF a severe
ilr,ught is the thorough pulverlzaton and
frequent stirring Of the soil. No one with
y,ait experiment or nice observation would
heiie7e that so great at an effect would be
produced. A naturally dry soil, when stir
red ofiea ia ,iry weather, is moist nearly
,o the surface. while the same kind OF soil,
in grass lands, or when the land has n% been
stirred, dried down eight, ten, or twelve
inches. and the Vegetation on such soil, even
the hardy deep ronted weeds dries upon
with heat and tirough,, whse the crops on
the stirred soil lmk vigorous and grow luxuri.
Snaiy. These are Iacis which we have learn
edfrom experience. and they are confirm
by numerous experiments Of others.
The salutary effect on vegetation IN dry
time, from stirring the soil, has been accoun-
ted for ON the principle that the louse soil
more readily irnbibcs dcws from the atmos
sphere, and thus supplies lac root of plants.
But this view of the subject is erroneous. as
anv one NAV learn by observation. All the
dew that falls in the most dewy night would
aot saturarc dry soil half an inch, and of
course it waull not reach the roots OF tho
plants, and ;ha, wonid be disspIta'ed IN
SHIRT lime by the morning sun. Again the
Jews w.uII not so soon reach the roots nt
the plants through finely puIverIzed soil,
the latter ben,g better conductor OF ninIs.
,urc which Is in very small quantity oi
vapnr, as in case "f evaporation from the
earth.
But the great advantage in fine loose Sdl
Al The surface, Is in il being a nnn-contuc-
tor nf moisture. as it rises in vapor from the
earth retaining il near the surface as i, as.
crnds, 10 nourish and support the plants.
The following is an Illustration:-Piace
bar of iron some four or FIVE feet lonr, with
one end in the fire with the handhold OF the
other end, and the heat will soon extend 10 the
hand. I.ni this bar be cut into very fine par
,irles. and place in tube of very thin, (Which
is merely to hold them togetIcr) and then
place one in the fire. and see how long 1t will
require. If ever, for the heat to run to the
other end. ~
!. So with the earth. a campact earth
conducts off the vapor as it rises from the
earth. the fine loose earth obs,rIcts its as
cen, and retains il fnr us". All the dcws
iha, fall arc but rriAc. The evaporation
frotr, the earth is great. anl in dry time
the moisture passes into other regions and
forr.s rain Therefore !, is of great imPor-
,ance to retain III the earth the abundant
supply of wafer.
Hay, straw. sea weed, litter cloths, boards.
stones, weeds. &c. laid around trees or
plants, cbs,ructs the passage Of vapor up
wards and Enthusiastically against drought.
These material aIsn keep the earth in good
condition to receive rain when it comes i'll
stead of it running of. as is often the case
when he soil is very dry and crust is form
ed over il. So when the earth is finely pull
vcrized, the same state Of The soil that oh
a struc,s the passage Of water upward in va
,nr facilitates its decent into the earth when
il comes in copious showers.
" Boston Cutituator.