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

J be found 10 occur 10 less depth than
in sshallow. .plowed land. for when
winter approaches as at all Other
times, IL contains no excess Of water
to be frozen; and during winter, the
melting OF snow and Ice can pass down
I through the soil, and be delivered at
the under-drains. instead Of being fro
zen when occupying the spaces be-
tween the PARTICLES Of the upper por.
tons Of the soil.
Soils not rnder.drained. are render
ed cold by the evaporation Of excess
water from the surface. The rationale
may be thus understood. II We wet
our hair. and then fan IL, the head
will be cooled; for rs the water be.
comes vapor. IL takes present heat
from the head, rendering IL latent
IL bottle OF water be surrounded by
a wet towel, and placed in draught
Of air. the evaporation from tho towel
will cool the water in the bottle
The same effect. and from the same
causes, must occur from surface- wet
soil, where, rs when under-drained,
no excess Of water remaining on the
surface, tho mass cannot be so cooled.
Sxth.-The carbonaceous portions
Of the soil become increased by the
decay OF a greater amount ofroots.
II we admit that larger crops are
raised, ofcoursc wehave more roots as
a consequence. and their decay must
produce n larger amount Of carbon. -
Practically. the soil becomes darker,
aud by analysis establishes the above
fact.
sixth.-Less manure Is required to
fertilze soils 80 prepared.
This must be evident, first. because
the soil itself is undergoing more rap.
id chemical changes, and over great
or amount Of surface. furnishing larg.
er amounts Of inorganic materials re-
quircd by plants, II also, from It's
deep disintegration. becomes the
store-house Of larger quantities Of car
bonic acid. and ammonia received from
the atmosphere. as well as from the
decomposition ola larger amount Of
roots. And when other fertilizers arc
added, they become distributed over
greater amount Of surface; and there
fore larger portion Is retained, than
when in shallow.plowed lands, their
gaseous products, after decomposition,
are lost in the atmosphere.
Eighth.--Thoroughly prepared soils
never suffer from drouth.
During drouth. when the surface
soils are dry. the atmosphere necessar-
lily contains the missing portions DIVA
ter: and whenerer e comes in contact
with surface colder than itself. Il de-
posiis the water Thus we find drops
condensed on the outside Of cold
pitcher; and thus we find tufts of
grass, growing luxuriantly where
fence posts have been removed and
the holes filed up with loose earth.
even in the dryest weather--for the
large amount Of atmosphere that Is
passing through under-drained and
sub -soiled land. must come in contact
with surfaces colder than itself. and
there deposit the water. When so de-
posted. il is always highly charged
with those gases which are mixed up
with the atmosphere, and which are
retained by the soil. M
Nine and Tenth.--A less amount
AZ seed will produce maxium crops
The sub-soiled meadows never run
out.
Thin sowing is now common in Eng.
land, on under-drained. and deeply
disintegrated soils, Thus single
bushel of wheat when sown in such
soils, will throw out silisr-roots, so as
to throw up plants, covering the va
cant spaces: and few quarts Of seed
take the place Of bushel. But in
shallow -plowed land this tilering will
not take place TO the same extent; for
as soon as one root reaches the cold
solid sub.soIl. the lillering Of the
whole plant ceases, and IL is for this
reason that sub.soil meadows never
run out; for il the crown OF grass.root
be abraded by the feet of cattle. Il i'm
mediately renews itself by tillering,
which would not be the case in shall
low-plowed meadows.
Eleventh.-A large class Of weeds
are destroyed by thorough deepen
ming Of the soil. including all those
which frequently occur in sour and
wet soils.
As soils amend themselves by the
natural progress consequent upon the
uninterrupted application Of Natures
laws, US In deeply disintegrated soils,
they loose acidity. and thus refuse to
sustain these weeds which are Of acid
character. while the absence OF excess
Of moisture does not furnish the con-
dilion which many valuless plants re-
quire for their termination. In addi.
ton to which. Il may be said that soil
which is properly prepared. is SO
much more easily titled during the
progress Of crops. that the greater in
duslry removes all weeds, Of whatever
character they may be.
Twelfth. h.-Under-drained and SUBJ
soiled lands do not compact after
blowing. from rains, to the extent that
is noticeable with ordinary plowing
only.
1.-two barrels be filed with sand,
the one lightly thrown in. and the 9TH
er rammed after every shovel full. and
the loose barrel then be- flooded with
water and filed up with sand to off
set for the settling. II will be found to
contain larger amount OF sand Of the
two for when every particle Of the
sand Is suilused with water, so that the
entire surface IL fabricated, they will
settle TO the closest fit. and become
moro solid than any mechanical force.
without water. could make them. In
under-drained soils. the excess Of wa
ter being removed and new portions
received. even during violent rains.
can only compact the immediate sur.
face. for the spaces between particles
being all empty, water can pass down
without any portion OF the soil becom.
fy....I To- .tJ.s.... A. -. III