The American patriot., 1855-05-12

JUSllCE.
[For the Patriot.
IRRIGATION-THE DROUGHT.
In this season of general drought in our too
"sunny south" how is it that our planters over
look SO great and yet cheap principle-so adj
vantageous to agricultural prosperity, as that of
Irrigation.
In Lombardy, it is the unfailing resource Of
its farmers; we might point to Egypt, China,
or California, as examples of the effect of prof
itable-in fact of the almost only possible cul-
ture of the soil, which yields generously under
the refreshing and fructifying stimulus of Irri-
CATION, so well exemplified in ancient, as in
modern history.
In England and Scotland, the sewerage of
towns, has been turned to good account, and
ten crops of grass per annum have been cut from
irrigated meadows, that previously produced
but two. Thus demonstrating the immense
value Of water as a recuperative agent.
In the United States, where "Uncle San is
rich enough to give us all a farm, with cheap
soil, light taxes, and anxious desires to pull up
stakes, to assist manifest destiny" in leading
the vanguard of that emigrating army who are
daily illustrating the fact, that westward the
star of empire takes its way,"-we are too in
different to the bounteous stores of health
wealth and happiness, that lie all around US,
"even at the door," Perhaps in our case, the
appothegm-'tis distance lends enchantment
to the view" that makes us so delighted with
foreign fashions and manures-let our industry
as well as our charity, begin at home.
The Steam Engine has been called in to aid
the agriculturist, they are made In very dura-
BILE and portable form, with the engine boted
on to the boiler, and the whole placed on ordi-
nary wheels, and can be drawn by two horses
from field to field, and farm to farm.
The Engine, by a force pump and pipes, is
made to snread liquid manure, a form in whicc!h.
manure is most Tvuuly absorbed and assimila-
ted by the soil, the engine is also used to grind
grain, saw wood, drive the threshing mill, cut
and cook, roots and fodder, into more easily
digested nutriment, to such an extent has this
been carried in Great Britain, that the engine,
is found on every farm, to be the cheapest and
most untiring laborer. Showing what might
be done in this land of dear labor and cheap
fuel, proving that however fist, we may be as
the universal Yankee nation, We have much to
learn; are yet behind our British brethcren, in
the most important rudiments of agricultural
economy.
Now if it will pay, to run steam engines, to
irrigate dear lands, in q country of high taxes,
Costing more for its rental, than our best lands
in fee simple), dear coal, etc., will it not pay
here also, under such greater natural advanta-
ges and so much drier climate.
If irrigation, understanding, sub-soiling and
trench ploughing, be so highly profitable in a
land of constant fogs, rain and drizzle, and al
ways swept by salt sea breeze, will it not pay
here, still greater.
A Kentucky planter, demonstrated by actual
experiment, that an ordinary well, with proper
force pump and gearing for two mules, would
very completely irrigate 25O acres of land, at
an expense of but fifty cents an acre, per an
mum, mere drop in the bucket, compared with
its immense returns Now had he tried the
power Of old Boreas, instead of the Donkeys,
he would have found it cheaper still, for ,cino
mill unlike their assininities the donkeys, never
refuses to draw because he can't feel his oats.
We would like the scholars of the Institute
cypher out (either by the rule of three or vul
gar tractions), how much would be saved OF
gained, (all the same to poor Richard by in
vesting one hundred dollars, in a good well
pump, windmill and distributing hose, and tn,
ditferential loss, on two hundred acres cotto1
patch for want of water, that great re-vivifiel
+ and refrigerator of "dry a3Dthrsty land,
especially at time like this, when everything
: barring the (misnamed) rivers, has TUX rz,
and provisions as well as rain, "still keeps up
and exhibits no signs ofa downward tendency.
DEEP PLoUGHING AND DROUGHT.
1t is a mistaken idea, that shallow ploughin,
is best in time of drought, the deeper tn
5 plough descends towards, and loosens the sub
soil, the better will the disntegrated soil, con
!. dense by capillary attraction, the moisture con
tanned in tho atmosphere. In proof Of the at
mcsnhere containing moisture cvcn on The hot