The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-11-21
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Southern Caltioator.
Drouth- Deep Plowing,etc.

SOoihENN NULTIVATOR-lhe
past year of protiacted drouth, elicits in
'-Yuiry into the better mode of culture and
tue reason therefor. The one, thouol,
mot as important as the other, has nnpor-
~tanee enough to demand thought, for
man, unfettered by blind following of
taetiee, or by incidence, must INQUIRE.
Why isit correct that such a policy is
2ursued" |" "Why not the opposite prac-
, iice?" - -
That deep and thorough tilth, per-
1ect purve'ization to the depth OF plowing,
. and that as deep as is possible is the best 81
practice, few will controvert. A perfect
tilth, and. as deep as can be effected, may
be more costly than prudence or economy
VIII warrant, may be self evident, though
not in opposition to the fact that it is best
as to product. "A fuIland free exposure
TO sun and air is necessary to secure
healthy growth and perfection in animal
and vegetable life, is equally true; the
exception, some plants do best in shade;
some animals, females OF our race for in.
stance, can live out puny and sickly ex-
-lstence 10 old age, are but exceptions; and
so exceptions may be brought up as to
the product from tilth aud cultivation
hen land IS thoroughly drained, and
with, a perfect tilth of over two feet il NAV
be- expec ed to resist drouth and surpera.
oundant water better than the opposite
hat Is, will produce most, wet or dry
e'6ecaase roots of plants have wider
range to such food, more moisture in dry
weather and less water in wet weather,
the surplus of water sinks down and runs
OIL, leaving the upper soil porous and per-
meaole to air. Some plants grow best in
water, but an exception to the rule.
The question, from whence comes the
moisture in a long protracted drouth of
months has not yet been settled, some
atlrnnng that "moistare rises" others that
s"moisture falls" II the practice be cor
rect, andreturns prove it, the many, who
: care only for the profit, seem to be ipdie.
ferent. That truth lies between, we will
undert Ike 70 affirm, and if forced to eth
er horn OF the proposition prefer moisture
deposited from the air. = 3d.. a
70 the reasons: In diooino hole
Tor a post in the month of August, near
three feet deep, the earth is hard and
dry; equal quantities of earth and DOW
der mixed will not prevent the latter from
burning as If in the air-if grains and
powder be in just proportion, the flash
Is immediate. Ii this isso, whore is the
moisture to rise? On the other hand fiji
decanter with ice water stop close and
! wipe 1t diy; place it in a room 1s feet
square on atable the day clear, hot and
dry; IN an hour, or less the decanter will
be wet with dew, and the moisture will
run down ITS sides and wet the cloth.-
Whence proceeds this moisture! Just
so may it exist in the earth, if the latter
be timely divided SO as to admit air. for
AR Will pass ina vacuum in Nature be.
ing an absurdity. fH
by plowing deep and pulyerizinp as
thoroughly as plow, harrow and roller
can do it, the earth does not Leeo,ne hea.
ted'so deep, and cools OFF earlier at night,
becomes cooler than the surrounding air
4 thence acts as the condenser, as in the
7GecanseT instance, and causes the dew
point TO be reached earlier and a greater
deposit OF dew. At this date, the dew
son cotton Is so great that it drops from
every leaf as if a light show r OF rain had
fallen. This shows how much moisture
? Is IN the air. Land deep and thoroughly
ploWei, may not show as much moisture
on the surface as would plank or brick
because the light and porous topsoil re
celves all heat readily we should
Eeep light earth around plants in the
sprlng-but the under surface being sha-
ded and cooler must condense more mois-
ture. The finer the soil, the more air,
md the finer the air tubes. though a =
hitting ofa greater elevation of moisture
rom below, also admitting Of a longer dc.
all. 'N ~
For similar reason,a dense shade TO land
VIII preserve it moist longer (the land in
proper tRth) and a deposit Of fertilizing
meterial from the airwill atso be result.
IT deposit be formed in caverns, in dark
cellars sufficient TO make the manufacture
s'of saltpetre profitable, why pot deposit
IN land thoroughly p!osed IL inches
'deep3 We know here that iron or steel
instruments knives, forks, &C., will rust
from moisture, though securely enyeloped
m eetton, woolen or paper. Why not
moisture in.the air pcrmeating this Twelve
inches Of eartll1
Yours with respect, p. RIDGE.
Kinds, Co. Miss. Sent. l9hS