Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-02


elevated end. and thus a change OF at
mosphere between the particles mus
he continually taking place.
Second-The chemical changes ne
cessary 10 liberate the inorganic con
stIiuenis peat up In the particles o
soil. 60 on more rapidly.
IL is evident, first, that by the pres
ence Of atmosphere. and proper de
gree Of humidity, roots and other or
ganic matters in the soil. will the NOR,
rapidly undergo decomposition. Thi
has evidence in the fact that ever,
fence post decays most rapidly ut Ii
earth.collar. or where the moisture o
the soil and the atmosphere. by lheil
combined efforts. may cause its decay
And thus we often end a post rotted
off at the surface Of the soil. while il
lower end has remained Comparatively
sound. These conditions exist in nj
parts u properly undcr-drained soil
from the fact that both air aud mois.
ture are at oil times present among
the particles. The changes in the In
organic portions are also going on
with redoubled activity, for rs fast a'
oxydaton Of surfaces takes place. and
they become soluble in water, these
soluble portions aro carried. by the nc.
tiyity Of capillary attraction, etc., "a
new surfaces. And these chemical
changes can only occur by such trans.
portations giving rise to new forma.
iions. Thus feldspar particle yields
up a portion ofpotash, which may be
removed toa particle OF slick, thus
forming the soluble silicate OF potash,
so valuable in coating, and giving
strength to straw. Acids are brought
in contact with alkalies. and all solu
bic inorganic materials are presented
TO each other so as to render the con-
ditIons for the different required chem.
ical changes.
Third.-Those portions Of the soil
known as alumina and carbon. re-
ceive larger amounts Of ammonia and
carbonic acid from rains, dews and
atmosphere, than in soilsnot so prepar.
ed.
Our readers are we'll aware that
both alumina and carbon have the
abstract ammonia from the atmos.
phere. and to retain il until consumed
by plants. nor will il be removed from
the carbon aud alumina by water pass
ing down over their particles. The
quantity Of ammonia then abstracted
from the atmosphere. must be in pro-
portion to the quantity Of atmosphere
that may be brought In contact with
those asorbing particles which mus,
be materially greater in we'll aerated
soils than in those that have been less
thoroughly disturbed and diyested OF
stagnant water. The dews and rains,
also. while passing through the at
mosphcre. receive those gasses which
result from decomposiIions Of all
kinds, on the earth's surface and when
they enter an under drained soil, they
readily pass down, instead Of running
over the surface. In passing through
the soil. they are robbed of these gas
es by the carbon, alumina, oxyde oi
iron. and by the other ingredients as
are capable ofreceiying and retaining
them.
Fourth.-Roots viii penetrate such
soils TO greater distances, and hence
come in contact with larger amounts OF
such constituents as are required for
their food, than II the soil was not so
prepared.
The former propositions render il
evident that larger amount Of food
prepared for plant use. does exist in n
deeply-tilled soil, properly areated by
under-drains. and the use of the SUBJ
soil plow. IL is also evident that the
mechanical condition Of such soils'can-
not be as compact as those sufiused
with water--in other words. that they
arc looser--lherefore that the roots Of
plant can travel to greater distance es
without coming in contact with a
cold sub.soi, which would disease their
termini and prevent their Increase
Practically, roots will trayeIin soil
loosencd to a sufficient depth, to an
average Of thirty -four inehes-while
all fluids in passing through that depth
Of soil will be robbed. by the alumina
and carbon. of all their manurial con-
stituents. Practically, plants grown
on under-drained and sub soiled lands,
have n greater number Of termini to
their roots. and are of greater length
In order 10 ascertain the length OF
the roots Of corn. planted stalk in
an artificial mound. some feet higher
than the earth. and when grown. fas-
tened il 10 n stake, aud then by a
stream Of water washe the mound
away, so as 70 leave the roots perfect
in their entire length. found that
they averaged fve feet and a huff
Ad II the soil be broken up To the
depth Of but five or six inches. some
four feet or more of root, and all the
power Of contributing to the nourish-
uent Of the stalk possessed by it,
are.lost. Corn canno, attain its full
size or excellence in poorly prepared
soils.
Fiflh.--The temperature Of the soil
is materially elevated by under-drain.
ing and sub-soil plowing. thus giving
n longer season. and rendering the
soil capable Of earlier plowing.
Every observer Is aware. that the at-
mosphere. during the growing seasons
Of the year, is warmer than the soils.
and therefore the larger the quantity
OF atmosphere that passes through
the soil. the higher must bo its tenn
perature; and. in some instances the
temperature OF the soil has been rails.
ed ten degrees, as compared with ad.
jacent soils not similarly treated
Dews and rains, also. during summer,
are much warmer than the soil, and
in passing through 1t. part with ths,
heat beneath the surface, instead OF
doing so. while running over the sur.
face. as in shallow plowed land.
All the chemical changes which oc-
cur in the soil which are increased as
b.sors described rive out h.at and