The American patriot., 1855-05-12

test day, there may be secn on tho outside Of
the pitcher of ice water, large beads Of water,
formed by the Offence in temperature between
the inside and the outside Of the pitcher, and
not as is generally supposed, the result Of any
sweating process, through waterproof SUBJ
stance, like silver, or brittania metal. Fill a
pitcher with hot water, the same result viii en-
sue.
Deep ploughiag should accompany Irrigation.
In proof of the great value Of deep plough
ing as a remedy against drought, all the vege-
tation grew rankly and luxuriant, upon the
farm of Prof Mapes, in New Jersey, while his
neighbors, who never permitted their ploughs
to descend lower than eight inches into the soil,
had, for the result Of their labors, wilted veg
citation, dwindling in parchcd soil. His corn,
cerials, and root crops yielded nearly as largely
as in ordinary seasons of rain and showers.
What could make so great difference in adj
joining fields, otherwise titled alike? nothing
but deeper ploughing Prof Mapes, ploughs
deep with the ordinary, and then follows with
the sub-soil plough, stirring the earth to the
depth Of thirtyfve inches, and then pulverises
the top soil thoroughly with four horse har
row, until the whole field is brought to garden
tilth. This at the same time saves manure for
the gaseous matters Of the atmosphere, so es-
sential to vegetable life, to wit: carbon, nitro
gen, and ammonia, penetrates the sponge-like
soil, which absorbs and affintizes in its chem
ical components, with that of these vast stores
Of natures bounty, until seed and sunlight sets
them free again, to circle on through organic
life, back to inorganic matter.
In the practise of that successful and pro-
gressive planter ofWest Fcliciana, DR.. Wilcox,
we have another proof Of the value of deep
ploughing and thorough tillage, as the best and
most profitable of all farming. So far indeed,
have the advocates Of deep ploughing met with
success, as to induce them to substitute the SUBJ
soil plough, for high manuring.
Now we have diverged from the path we had
Gla=ed out,' at the outset Of this article, in Or
der to suggest few side-idcas on drought rem
cdies. Now for the question in hand
What causes drought? Undoubtedly, the
atmospheric disturbance caused by the clearing
away of the old domain of woods and forests
those great reservoirs of water and electricity
As the woods are cleared away, by fire and
the axe, the rain water no longer held in sus-
pension, and poured out measurably upon the
earth's surface, sinks through the soil to the
rocky beds below, making it a growing nccccs-
SIT inat we should sink our wells, deeper and
deeper in search of the truant water until it
would seem that Artesian wells will be our last
resource. In West Feliciana water is hauled
several miles from the Bayou Sara, to keep the
cattle alive, last summers drought in the North
compelled the hauling of water, Is miles for the
same purpose Humboldt has said, that in the
future of mankind, there were but two things
to dread-a scarcity of wood and water.
The great philosopher was right, the search
ty Of wood, makes scarcity Of water; in any
new country, well wooded, water is easily
reached, and-vice versa.
As the art of man has disturbed to some ex.
tent the ''old routine" (beg pardon, Punch), so
the art of man must be directed to the imta-
ton of nature according to the ancient land
marks. We believe it may be set down as an
ax,viii, :ns: : the measure of ran (or its subst-
tute irrigation,) is the measure Of the fertility
and (without permission Of the Faculty, addl
and healthfulness also, of any country.
Thus we find by the Rain-guage, that the
quantity of rain, that falls in the whole year,
in high northern latitudes, is less than that Of
the tropics, and also, that the quantity increases
in regular ratio as we approach the equator.
As we clear away the forests we must plough
deeper for crops, and dig deeper for water and
coal, build higher and travel faster. Showing
by analogy the world of matter and mind, to
run in parallels. Our fathers, stirring the vir-
gin soil, shallowly, reaped abundantly and gar
nered golden harvests from the prarie and wood
land placers of a new country. The mind also
was content with skimming over the surface Of
things, ergo people who plough scratchingly
think specifically. The mountaincer loves his
country and home, from the grandeur and SUBJ
Unity of nature around him, rejecting back up
on his soul, with fervor that the dwcller on
the plain, knows nothing Of Artificial rain,
must be provided for, by irrigation. As noun
tains condense the floating vapors of the atmos-
phere and down their rocky bosoms, pour the
fertlizing streams, so must man seek in greater
depths, the introverted streams-raise them in
glittering beauty to the light Of day, and scatter
them judiciously upon the grateful earth, till
the restoration Of the natural balance of elc
, mentary action, shall be effected-may the Ho