Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-02
SsrauIturaI.
From tho Indiana Journal.
ADDRESS,
OF PROFESSOR J. J. MAPEs, at
the Indiana State Fair.

the Indiana State Fair.
We did not hear the first few remarks
Of the Professor. lie announced. atel
finishing his preliminary remarks. tha'
he woull speak on the subject Of th,
Importance Of Drainage and Sub
soiling." The earth was originally
made Of rock, but frost and heat and
other influences had caused tito crum.
bic at the surface, thus creating tho sol
that covers the earth. This process,
instituted by nature, must be contin.
ucd by man TO preserve or create fer.
iility In the soils.
Iclaim that the same principle made
use ofby Nature. in the original for.
nation ofsoils by the debris Of rocks,
should be availed offor tho continued
communion Of the particle Of soils; for
we may view every pebble. stone. and
grain OF sand, asrequiring the same
operation Of Natures laws 10 cause Il
TO give up the inorganic constituents
Of plants. pent up within itself. as
did the original rock from which il
came.
I also claim that the crops distinctly
depend upon the quantity Of surface Of
particles presented for atmospheric In
fluences, and so conditioned as to be
readily permeated by roots in search oil
their constituents. II is well known
that some pebble soils. which in prac-
toe are barren. have the same compo.
siiion as the finely divided soils of the
Miami Valley, and which last are Of
most fertile character. dts evident,
therefore. that the mechanical diyis-
ion Of the soil. and It's presentation to
the continuance Of the action Of Ma
lures laws. is question Of degree. as
applied TO its eapability Of furnishing
the pabulum for crops; and, therefore.
the deepest cultivation. and the great
est amount of atmosphere. with a
proper degree Of humidity, which can
be brought In contact with the surface
Of the greatest number Of PARTICLES. Is
that which must prove the most profit
able. And il is a mere question Of
cost. as TO the greatest depth TO which
these conditions may be furnished to
the soil.
The use Of under-drains. then, is
not merely TO rid the soil OF excess OF
water; for its temperature will depend
In part upon the quantity ofair which
shall pass lhroughit. Under-drains.
therefore. are useful to the soil, by
enabling air 10 circulate between It's
particles; and il is for this reason that
under-drained soils, so arranged that
every alternate drain shall be opened
at both ends TO the atmosphere, will
present the anomaly ofalternate good
and comparatively indifferent crops.
would lay down, then. the follow
ing self-eyident propositions:
I. The removal Of excess of water
by under draining. permits the free
access Of air.
2. The chemical changes necessary
TO liberate the inorganic constituents
pent up in the particles Of soil. 60 on
more rapidly.
3. Those portions Of the soil. known
as alumina and carbon, receive larger
amounts Of ammonia and carbonic acid
from rains, dews and atmosphere,
than in soils not SO prepared.
4. Roots will permeate such soils 10
greater distances. and hence come in
contact with larger amounts of such
constituents as are required for their
foods. than IL the soil was not so pre-
pared.
8. The temperature Of the soil is
materially elevated by understanding
and sqb-ssil plowing, thus giving q
longer season, and rendering the soil
capable of earlier blowing.
9. The carbonaceous portion Of the
soil becomes increased by the decay Of
a greater amount Of roots.
Z. Less manure Ia required to fer
tillze soils so prepared.
Q. Thoroughly prepared soils never
suffer from droulh.
o. A less amount of seed will pro-
duce maxium crop.
10. Sub-soiled meadows never run
out.
II. Deeply disintegratcd soils be-
como darker.
l2. A large class Of weeds are de-
stroyed bya thorough deepening Of
the soil. including all those which
frequently occur IN sour anil in wet
soils.
IS. Under-drained and sub-soiled
lands do not compact Nfter plowing.
from rains. to the extent that Is
noticeable with ordinary plowing. only.
II. The increased amount OF crops
consequent upon such preparation will
enable the farmer to pay ten per cent.
por'annum, or more. upon the cost OF
under-drained. from the increased ra-
ito Of crops. beyond the expenses OF
their production.
10. Soils so prepared will improve
more rapidly than any others, even be-
yond the improvement Of the first few
years, which goes to reimburse the
original expenses. and thus. in perpe-
tuily; increase the value Of the land,
more than the whole cost Of under
draining.
10. The net profit Of twenty sonse.
cutive years. by understanding, Is dou-
ble--the excess crops leaving no por-
ton ofthe expenses To bear upon them,
! other than in their harvest. from in.
creased quantity.
TnE FrRsr PRorosIuoS. The re-.
moval Of the excess Of water by under
draining. permits the free access OF
air. Is self-evident; for while the space
between the particles Of earth is
occupied by water. even the beav-
ier portions Of the atmosphere
such as carbonic acid-held in il. can.
not enter the soil. but after its remov.
al. the atmosphere not only is deposi-
ting Its heavier portions in the soil.
but the current Of air which must be
continually passing through under.
drains 10 leaking through the tile, and
! thus rising up through the soil; for il