Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-01-31
WHOLE NO. eO01.
fn tBe famtr.
BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF DROUGHT.
AND0F DEEP FLOWING AND
UNDERTAKING., lF

In our last number, we alluded to the
generally admitted fact, that severe
drowth has beneficial effect on the soil;
and we proposed to explain kov we be-
lieve this result is accomplished. First,
however, We would states that it is only
with reference to clayey and loamy soils
that we conceived it to be true that
drought produce thereby on sandy or
porous soils.
When clayey or loamy soils becomes
dry, they contract, SO that innumerable
cracks or creyices are formed, of greater
or less depth and size. according to the
adhesiyeness of the soil, and the severity
of the drought. If the soil is quite clay
ey, and the surface not stirred, the cracks
will be quite large and deep. though per-
haps less numerous than elsewhere. In
all cases the openings are sufficient to Qllosc
the air to sRier and Pern1sate the sod, so az
] to occupy the space left vaeant 6ytke depar.
ted n7oisture. 1t is to this admission of
the air to a greater depth than usual.
that we attribute the principal beneficial
effects of drought upon the SOIL.
That atmospheric air increases the fer
tility of the soil, is well known by every
observant farmer; and upon this fact are
founded the principal benefits of summer
following, under draining and deepplow-
% ing. Every body has observed the
change of color that speedily takes place
in clayey land, when an inch or two Of
the subsoil is first turned up to thehghs
and air. In fact, the difference between
deep and thin soils is mainly dependent
on the depth to which the atmospheric
air has had access, The celebrated
Jethro Tun, of England, became so fully
convinced of the importance of air as an
agency in ameliorating soils, that he
wrote numerous essays in favor of deep
and thorough pulverization Of the soil.
as of more importance than manuring.
In what manner the effects beneficial
changes in the soil, it belongs to chemis-
try to explain, and it is notessential that
we should fully understand. We know
that all ordinary soils contain particles
of sand and gravel, particles of primi-
tive rocks, composed more or less Of ST.
lex, potash, lime, sulphur, and other
elements which either serve directly Is
the inorganic food of plants, or actchem-
ically as solvents in repairing such food
but the presence of atmospheric air and
corbonic acid, are necessary, in order
that such decomposition or chemical
changes may take place as will render
these elements available to vegetation.
o We also know that all fertile soils con-
e tain more or less OF vegetable mat
ter, in the shape of roots of plants, man
ure, straw, &C., or in more deeomPos-
ed state, as vegetable mold, eurboH or
kunus. but this cannot be taken up as
food by plants, until it is converted into
earbonic acid, and this can never take
place without the free access OF. the oxy-
gen of the atmosphere. Carbonic acid
is composed of two parts of oxygen and
one of carbon, and is the principal mgre-
dent of which plants are composed.
Again the admission of air into the
soil Operates bene6cially, by imParting
the carbonic acid ammonia of the Amos
phere, especially in hot and dry wealth
er, and the nitrogen of the atmosphere
may combined with sulphur, lime, pot
ash, magnesia or otheringredients the
in the soil, thereby forming soluble
compound, (nitratss, which are aYaila'
BILE as food for plants. s
And finally, when the droughtis over
and the rains descends. the srevices in
the soil allow the water to carry the am
monia which it contains to greater depth
than usual, before it is absorbed by the
soil, where it is held in store for the sue
ceeding crop. This, too, is one ofths
ways in which deep blowing and under
draining operate so bene6cially upon
clayey soils.