Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-09-16
How we may Escape Drouth
To the Editor ofthe N. Y. Tribune:

10 ihe Eduor 81 the ~. I. tribune:
Sir The calamitous effects of our
droulh are so syi1ent as 10 occupy the at
ienuon Of all classes. Retarded in our
spring work, we fortold scanty harvest;
but the latter part of May and early sum.
mer Eere favorable that our hopes OF plen.
~ were justly incited, and so far as the
hay crop is concerned, our expectations
have been fully realized. Indian corn,
however, our main dependence, as we'll as
potatoes, roots, pastures, &C., are suffer-
ing immensely for want of moisture. If
the drouth continues one week longer,
these products must be reduced to not
more than one half their average yield.
These are the facts as they present
themselves 70 every examiner Our coun.
try depends almost entirely upon her sg.
riculture, and hence must suffer largely
from the casualties Of the climate. Were
this unavoidable. we might convince our
selves that we ought to bear it philosophi>
cally. But when il is the effect Of gross
ignorance on the part Of the cultivator, it
merits the seyerest reprehcnsion.
The points on which the farmer needs,
and may easily obtain, instruction are very
numerous, aud we propose o notice oaly
the point in question. 1t is not too bold
an assertion TO say that no good, practical
farmer will allow his crops to suffer large.
ly from drouth. Tne remedy is simple
and natural. Subsoil blowing, accompa-
MED by under draining Of wet lands, and
even without it on those which are suffi :
ciently dry, is sure protection asains,
this famine-producing scourge.
A few moments reflection will convince
any man that this must prove an infalii.
BILE remedy, because we know that there
is always the same amount of water in
and about the surface of the earth. In
the winter there is more in the soil than
in summer, while in summer that which
has been dried out of ,he soil exists in
the atmosphere, being maintained in va
pory condition by the heat resident among
its particles. Without this heat. it must
Immediately contract and become liquid
water: and for this reason cold pitcher
robs heat from the vapor of summer at
mosphere and causes it 10 be deposited in
a liquid form. The cold earth, a. night,
is thus supplied with dew.
On the same principle subsoiling pre-
vents drouth. 1t opens the subsoI for a
circulation of air. The subsoil, from its
shaded position. is always cool, and hence,
it takes heat from the moisture of the air
permea,ing it. 1t acts the part of the
cold pitcher, This is the simple, natu-
raj reasons for the whole action, and any
farmer in the world may understand it.
But this mny be called book farming, so
will give an example OF its practical
character.
yesterday visited the farm of Professor
Mapes. The whole country about New
ark wears a peculiarly burntup appear.
ance, and the dust on the roads was deep,
even for New Jersey. had previously
asserted that knew Mapes' farm to be
exempt from the ravages Of drouth, and
truly | found my prediction fully realized.
Not singe plant seemed suffering for
want OF moisture, and, with their roots
deeply located in the subsoil, they seemed
fairly to snap their fingers a. the cloudless
sky, and rather to rail at old Sol for try
ing TO interfere with their private affairs.
| One crop of corn deserves especial no.
tice from its absolute magnifcence. Not
withstanding the fact that i. is gro wing
on the north estern slope Of hill, and
hss not been visited by rain for weeks,
yet it stands pFaren,ly regardless OF all
untoward circumstances and, although,
from its location and unfavorable season.
one would think forty bushels per acre .
large yield, it will without doubt, be near.
er one hundred bushels per acre. Here
is an instance where truly scientific knowl-
edge has rendered lis possessor entirely
independent Of the greatest drawback to
ordinary success, and enabled him 10
raise good crops IN bad season.
II thiI is not practical farming,
would ask some follower Of the grand
father system to tell US what is.
Let the devotee Of national growth
ask himself which will produce the great
est benefit to the country, doubling our
commerce, or inducing every farmer to
use The subsoil plow and draining tile.
GEO. E. WAaRING.
New York. Aug. "a, 1854.