Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-07-19


ike soil, other things being eqrial, the bet
Ter will it absorb heat. This principle IS :
illustrated III the fact that a black coat, +
when worn in the sun, is Wamer than
white one. The snow me!'s from the
dark garden-hed sooner than it does on
the gravel walk be side it, because the
color is better anapted TO The absorption Of
heat. The color Of the soil may be dark
enea hy the addition Of vegetable or other
carbonaceous matter, mad in this way
its ieat-absoib powernlay be incre2s-
ed. i certain amount ct heat is neces-
sarv to the termination Of seeds. and it is
also useful in expanding the spongioles
Tor feeding endsl Of the roots, thus
enabling them 70 absorb a larger amount
ii nutritious matter.
The condition Of The soil with regard TO
water is u matter which greatly AFFECTS its
fertility. when The amount OF water in
the soil is insufficient, plants experience
the common ELECTS Of drought, and are
s.it!s Injured, both BY being robbed Of the
STIMULATING find necessary TO carry lood 10
the vanious plants, and by the abstraction
Of heat from the lower soil by the cvapora-
ton Of water trom the surface. When
there is too mech water in the soil it fills
the pores about the roots. thus preventing
the necessary admission of air, and caus-
ing the sponsioles to become diseased from
being ALWAYS immersed in water.
Cultivation bannot be carried on with
perfect success when the amount of water
I in the soil is either too little or too great.
Blythe Use Of the sub-scii plough, car
bonaceous matter and understands. both
of these difficulties may be avoided, and
in later articles the principles and practice
j Of these modes of prevention will be dis
cribed.
BIZ fertile soils should be open to the
admission and free circulation of air.
This is necessary for many reasons, among
which are the following:
I Plants obtained their nitrogen chiefly
from the ammonia existing in the atmos-
phere, aud innch Of this is received iron,
ain circulation through the absorbent parts
of soil, leaving its ammonia to be used by
plants, and passing out of the soil to make
room for fresh quantities containing fer
; til:zing matter.
, Carbonic acid is supplied to plants in
the same way. Probably the amount Of
carbon received in this way, ann supplied
from the carbonic acid formed by the de-
;. composition OF vegetable matter in the soils
amounts to about one-third Of that reduir-
ed BY the plant. In order that this car
; bonic acid may be found in the soil, it is
necessary TO admit air to supply oxygen
which may unite with the carbon Of its
organic parts.
Many of the minerals contained in the
soil are vauabe as fool only when rusted
or oryiised-tiat this, combined with the
oxygen of atmospheric air. The circu
! lation Of air is necessary to this supply o.
!, oxygen, and many soils are unfertle SIM
ply because the compactness of their
constituents, or the superabundance q
| water, prevent the accession of air ana
compels them 10 remain in an unnu,ri.
tious from, when simple exposure to the
air is all that this required to render them
available. .'Hs aatr .s-....
The ability Of soils to supply plants
with ash forming matirials will be consider.
ed in the next article of this series. We
would request our agricultural readers tt
(. pay especial attention TO the foregoing re.
marks, as the same principles will be
: made use Of in the more practical articles
which are to follow n. y. Post.
|
A DEFINITE CoNCLUsIoN.-Noah b
was unfortunate enough in his old age te
become addicted to rather strong rotations
and when under the influence of spirit:
was more than usually religious. Now
on Saturday afternoon, baking day, hi;
wife, who was a very industrious old lady
and in every way a model house wife,
asked Noah to go into the yard and spill
some wood to heat the oven with. NOAH
concluded before he set about it, to start
off to the tavern and ''imbibe," whereby
Of course, the baking was neglected.
Coming back in short time and utterly
obIivious of his good woman's request, he
seated himseIfin the old chair. Noah was
! very much attached to that old chair, for
like him, age had made it lettering in the
legs, and somewhat weak in the back
Wife," said he, ''wife, do you think the
Lord in his goodness (hic) kin send US
into the fire everlastin q" Mrs. B--this
7 time made no answer. "Wife, (hic) do
, YOU think the Lord means (h;c) ia hnrn