Litchfield enquirer., 1854-02-09


 of these rocks wiIl resemble che urieinAl masses. Let us notice the structure oI granite rocks and their mode of crun1b- ling. Quartz, mica, and felspar, and occasionally hofnblsnde and other nhte- rials constitute this roek, and hence chars aclerizs ils soil. Felspar consislso ol si. licate of alumnia in combination wish si> licates of soda. or of potash. The alier are deconposed by the carbonic ael1 q the air. oF of water from apriugs, s and hence carbOnatea 0fa these aIkal s ars formed which are soluble in 4aier. The silicate of alumnia and the pure sili- ca ase moro. gradnAlly worn out andge> moved by the same means. The quartz and mica therefore, having no support. are themselyes crumbled into sand and washed away. 1.-the stra.ifed rocks al> ways assumed flat. or level position, the soils would resemble the adjacent masses. But the strata are inyMiably more or less obIique. and the surface cf the earth i. generally undnla,ing. hence water is caused by gravity. 10 carry eve. rything is dissolyes or moves. to .hc yal- lsys.
 The rocks which overhAng the sea const may be carried by water and wind far inland upon other shores, and may there mingle with the native rocks, and constitute soils. The ever rolling waves ofthc ocean. the rock destroying ice, and the penetrating rain drops are ever vast ing the solid cliffs of the sea coast. Little by little. the tides and currents remove their c,umbling sands, and deposit them upon other shores. Here the wind con- tinually drifts them farther and farther into the country, ill they often over> whelm the cultivated fields of deposit on sterile land the. elements of productive soil. h elevated. countries wliere the show never entirely disappears, glaciers. in their descent brsak of fragments of the mountain tops. round, and pulyerize them, and carry them to the valleys be- low. while the melted snow forming streams and waterfalls, still farther dis solves and cai,ies the smaller sands, But some of these mountain tops are of a clayey character and form thick mud, which is still move easily dissolved by the snow water, and is carried by it into the ocean, r.to rivers, or into the soil. The carbonic acid of spring water which runs over the surface of rocks and per. colAies through the mounlains, and also. thatof dccaying vegetables, as we'll as that sxuding from living plants. produ> ces m effect similar to that produced by the ca, bon,s acid of the air. Tho solu- bls products of the decomposition effect> ed are carried away by the water which the clay silicales, and the silica acid re- mains . longer lime. Carbonate of lime. protocas bona,e of ion, and carbonate of magnesia are insoluble in pure water, but are dissolved. and hence carried by water containing carbonic gas.
 The phosphates which occul in the soil are insOiuble in sGtes. although they may be often transported by it. Phosphoris sciti after |. has been conveyed from soils to plants. is yielded to animals. and used in the formation of lheir bones. and of parts of the brain. When too much is taken up il passes oif in the excrsmen.s. In all these operations. water is eiiher a diiect or an indirect carrier.. Potash is aningsedient Of the soil. and is absolute. y necessary lothe development Of plants It is not taken very extensively from the soil by rains, and the majority. # not all of these alkaIies which are removed by running water, arc by yapor or wind re. turned to the soil.
 The soil is always much benefited by judicious irrigation. Isi, the water ariiicially supplied conveys oxygen cons taiIied in solution to the roots of plants. This gas facilitates ibe complete and rapid putiefaciion of the organic substance of jihesoil. 2d. mountain streams and springs contain in solution, salt. the sulphate of lime. nagnesia. soda. and soluble sill cates. which are necessary 10 the growth of plants. sJ. muddy or dirty waler when conducted 10 land, contains solid and liquid mannres. and deposits them in many places. 4.h, brooks which have proceeded but short distance from ihe streams which formed them when in lime Eslone districts. carry with them . large qasniisy of carbonate of lims, and tepo- st ii where the roots of plants can easily imbibe t, while they nDdoub.edly carry some poriions Of this substance into the roots and circulation. as before stated. |6tb. siIicase of potash is conveyed to the s0iis, CT at leaas rendered soluble by the irrigation of lands. But ss find that
 water messly resting on land will soon be deprived oE the substancrs It holds in solution. while tho sxcremenis 0f plants twill lsendss itsiill moss unbealilly 10 veg- etable lie. Hence water must not be merely | sclyent but a carrier 10 render Irrigation successful. g. q Draining is advantageous to irsiga- ted lAnds. q well as l6 tllat which is -asszaa .a Rs