Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-10
AorituItntal
STIRTHESOIL THOROUGHLY
AND FREQUENTLY.

and weeds.
Land that has been plowed, har-
rowed and brought toa pretty smooth
surface, and left in that condition,
soon has crust formed upon 1t I'M
consequence of the evaporation OF the
moister which is contained. This
crust will vary from a quarter OF an
inch to an inch in thickness, and on
some soils becomes so tenacious that a
cake of it several inches in diameter
may be taken up. When land is in
this condition, it is not in proper
state to receive the fertilizing inhu-
cnccs which always surround it, and
of which it would avail itself under
more favorable circumstances.
|. If the season is Il dry one, and
showers are few and light, the crust
will lead off most of the water into
low places, instead of receiving it
into the soil, as it would ifthe surface
were light and porus.
=. When in this condition the roots
ofthe crop are especially deprived OF
IHcSc lhIlISs, Wa
The moisture which the rain water
supplies,- the ammonia which is car
ried along with it, and the heat which
the rain-watcr contains.
The first is indispensable to plants +,
the second is y powerful stimulant, as
it renders other matter soluble which
feed the roots and the third supplies
the bottom heat for them, which
keeps the plants growing when cold
and chilling winds are passing over
the surface. These several advanta-
ges are in great measure lost by neg
Letting frequently to stir the soil.
3. Suppose dra ught prevails.
Will an unhoed field resist its infuen-
ces, as long as field well hoed? Moth
ing like it; because when the rain
falls, it is mostly led off on the imper-
yous crust, unless it comes in the char
actcr of storm, and continues
for many hours. If well hocd, how
ever, the surface is light, porous, and
an condition to be Influenced by sew
cral causes.
First, by the air, The atmosphere
mot only hangs over our fields, but
rises upon the surface with pressure
of fifteen pounds to an inch. This
air, or atmosphere, is always filled
with moisture, as may be demonstra-
ted at noon or any hot day by filling
a'pitcher with cold water. In few
moments the outside Of the pitcher is
covered with beautiful transparent
drops. Where do they come from {?
Why, the pitcher sweats, eXclaim
several about the table ? But no water
passes through it, certainly, as mois-
ture does through the pores Of the
skin when we sweat: Nor was any
water spilled upon the outside of it,
when il was filled, although the drops
now trickled down its sides and wet
a place n foot square in the table
cloth. Wonderful |! How came it
there =? No human eye is keen G.
nough to detect the alchemy of the
transmutation {. The pitcher being
allied with cold water, becomes II con-
denser, and when the warm air touch
es it, its vapor or moisture, is condcn-
sed and formed into drops on the
outside, and this proves that the air
is full of moisture. Now, in II well
cultivated field, this is precisely the
operation of the air upon it during a
drouth. The surface of the soil is
light and porous the air containing
moisture, rests upon it, and passes
through the loose particles, until it,
gets down where the soil is cooler than
itself, and it is then condensed, and
the field is actudly wdtercd IN the mid.
die Of the hottest dag IN July ! This
operation is continually going on
through hot, clear days. In the
night, when the air becomes cooler
than the earth, the moisture is con-
denced on the leaves Of plants, and
blades of grass, and it is called dew.
Some of this falls to the ground and
is taking up by the loose soil,
other portions are absorbed by the
plants, and the remainder goes back
into the air by evaporation, when the
solar rays linpart thelr neat to 1t.
Thus the field of the careful farmer,
which is nicely hoed, is daily watercd
in the hottest days by natures own
processes, while that of the careless
farmer is pinched for the want of
moisture, tho corn leaves curl, turn
yellow, and lose SO much vitality
that the crop is ruined.
Who will say, then, that hoeing is
not among the most important items
of farm work
WHAT Is A SOUND UoRsE?-Oliph.
ant defines soundness thus ave may
call horse sound, when he is
free from hereditary disease, and it is
in thepresentpossession of his consti-
tutional health, and has as much bodi.
ly perfection as is cosistent with his
natural formation" This is not so
very definite. 1t is perhaps enough