Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-01
:farnlrrs' Golrnlll,
DR,INlyG PREVENTS INJURY PRuM DRuurH.

That draining "deepens the sol" increases
the effect of munurcs, and "'engthens the sea-
som: of working III land J., we have already Shown;
the fact that il prevents the injurious effects
of drouth" however seeming paradox, remains
t. be accounted for.
We all know that a deep and mellow soil re-.
taius moisture much better thun a shallow ant
hard one "Water is held in the soil between
the minute particles of earth. If these particles
be pressed together compactly, there is no space
lett between them for water Compact Subsoils
are but little perneable to water, compared with
the same when broken up, pulverized, and mel
lowed. The one is porouse and drinks in noiS.
ture like sponge; the other absorbS it in but
small quantities, aud readily parts with the same
on the application Of heat. The one takes 1t
from the air, which passes freely through it; the
other, impervious to the air, or any slightly pow.
ertul influences, remains unchanged. Undraincd
soils, Us we have shown, become compact after
heavy rains, by the evaporation of the water with
which they are saturated: drained soils, on the
contrary, become more porous from the filtration
Of the same amount OF moisture into the drains
below.
Draining prevents injury from drouth, by civ.
ing better growth to plants i'll the early sum-
mer. Seed sown Oh any soil containing stag.
uant water, sends no roots below that watcrine,
but may for Il while grow well from roots near
tho surface. But let droutl come, the water
line sinks rapidly. the ruuts having no depth to
seek moisture below, ure parched and burned,
and withou, rain the crop is irreparablv Injured
On . drained and derpened soil the roots 70
down without obstruction, and are thus prepared
10 withstand the effects of the long continued
dry weather SO stten experienced. That they
will d. 30, Thousand facts in the experience ol
the farmer will prove to him that observes them.
If it he granted as We think it must be, that
draining deepens aud meliows the soil, it fol, ows
that draining prevents arouth liNn affecting inju.
riously the growth ot plants. 1854, an exces.
sively dry season, Prot. Flint Of Mass, gathered
mass OF testimony in regard to its effects on
the crops, and the best means Of preventing in,
Jury to the same. The returns came back, as
with one voice, i'll favor of deepening and mel
lowing the soil, bJ draining, deep plowing, sub.
soiling and frequent culture, in the case of hoed
crops. "The drvuth affected deep plowed lands
very little; on those that were faithfully sub
s,iied, the corn leaves Gid not roll at Ill, while
on those that were shallow plowed, the corn crop
suffered much, and other crops were seriously
affected" A case has been stated, where a croE
of beans were planted, grown, and ripened, on Il
drained and s,bsniei field, without shower ot
fifteen minutes duration, or supply of wat.l
from any source, save from the dews Of HEAVIER
and the moisture from beneath. At the same
time, in fields adjacent, vegetation was parchet
and crisp, making no growth whatever from lacl
OF moiiture-Coantry Gentleman.