The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-09
A GRIC ULTU RAL
Pulverization Of the Soil.

We might neglect more seasonable sub.
ject for consideration than that of the proper
amelioration or pulyerization Of the soil we
till, but it would DO difficult to find one more
intimately connected with the economy Of
agriculture, or one more generally neglect.
cd. Most Of our good farmers plow deep
enough, but there are few who pulyerize
the soil sufficiently. We are urgent adyo-
Gates Of deep plowing, but we had rather
six inches Of the soil were well plowcd and
thoroughly worked with cultiyators, har.
rows, rollers &C., than have twelve inches
burst up and left in half.worked, raw state.
Mechi, sometime since, having witnessed
the working Of +" Gibbs Rotary Digging
Machine" enthusiastically asserted in the
London Times, that Z" that old implement
was doomed" His sansuino expectations
have not yet been realized, but the workings
Of this machine are such rs to induce US to
hope that ere long some such implement
shall be invented us will economically break
up and pulyerize at one operation five or six
inches OF the surface soil. Such an imple-
ment would do more towards reyolutionizing
the present system Of American agriculture
than the most enthusiastic chemist over
claimed for soil analysis, or more even than
Mapes claims for his Improved Supephos-
phate Of lime.
DR.. Wells, Of Cambridge, found that the
soils Of the Scioto valley in Ohio, which
have long been noted for their extraordinary
fertility, contained a no larger proportion Of
the elements Of plants than the compara-
lively sterile soils Of New England. So far
as chemical composition was concerned, one
soil was just as good as the other, the only
difference being that the rich Scioto valley
soil was composed Of finer particles than
that Of Massachusetts,. Now we are not to
infer from this thnt the land Of New Eng.
land can bc rendered as productive rs that
Of the Scioto valley simply by good plowing
and thorough working, since these could
only break up the conglomerated particles
Of 0 soil and not reduce tho size Of the
particles themselves, neither are we to an.
ticipate that any mechanical contriyancc
will be discovered for grinding the soil into
fine powder; but we may safely assert
that the results OF DR.. Wells clearly indi
Gates the direction in which we must look for
any great Improvement in our national az
riculturc.
The beneficial effects Of pulvcrization are
attributable TO the increased pcrmeability OF
the soil to rain and air; the oxygen. :arbonic
acid and ammonia Of the mir, have great
elect in decomposing the organic and in
disintergating the Inorganic matter Of the
soil, and rendering them available as food
for plants, while IL allows the rain water
to act on greater surface, and thus 10 dis.
solve out more matter from the soil. We
all know that small lump Of sugar is much
longer dissolving than the same amount OF
pulverizcd sugar. The principle applies in
all cases. Good plowing and thorough
workin. Of tho soil, therefore, loosen the
soil and form fine bed for the plants to
roo, in, they prepare the soil in such man.
ner that the air. carbonic acid and ammonia
can circulate through it conditions which
arc known TO be essential TO the growth OF
plants. The FREQ admission Of the air, too,
induces the liberation Of carbonic acid, am.
monia, &C., which in their nascent state,
are known TO be powerful solvents, and 70
have great quickening and ameliorating ec-
fccts on the soil. When II is remembered
that plants can take up their food only in
solution, and that most soils abound in the
elements OF plants lying in an inert. insolu.
bic condition, it will not be difficult to ac-
count for the surprising results witnessed
from good tillagc alone. A good plowing,
with the frequent use OF the cultivator,
harrow and roller, are frequently tan,amouni
in effect to liberal dressing Of manure
There is this difference, however, and il
must not be overlooked, the former simply
renders tho fertlizing matter. already in the
soil available, while the latter supplies ths
same matter from extraneous sources and
there Is danger Of pushing the principle OF
good tillage too Ear, for however fertile a
soil may be, the constant removal of crops,
without the return OF any manure, must
sooner or later impoverish the soil. For
our own part. however, we anticipate little
danger in this direction farmers who have
enterprise and knowledge sufisicn, TO adopt
improved modes. OF hLdge, are no. likely TO
neglect the manufacture, preservation and
application Of manure.
We refer to the subject OF the thorough
pulvcrization OF the soil at this time, prin-
cipally to urge upon our readers the impor-
tanee Of possessing proper implements for