The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26
agricultural.
April.--Prcparing the Soil for
Planting.

Eyerything about the tarm, NJ the pres
cut time, seems springing into new life; and
nature affords unmistakeable assurance, that
Old Winter, with his stern rule-with his
cheerfulness and gloon, has resigned the
sceptre TO the Joyous, cheerful and lovely
queen Of spring. The time Of the singing
birds las come and all nature seems cheer
ful, full Of happiness and JOY. The feather
ed songsters oil the grove I'LL the air with
their soul-stirring melody, and are making
weparations to repair their old nests and to
build new ones. Now and then we inhale
a perfume Of little flowers and the glad
some children, with nimble footsteps,
and with glee and yivacity, arc bounding
away like young colts, 20 pluck the wild
flowers, and TO repair their old houses, and
90 cnpy the charms and beauties, which the
.Aril Fool has scattered about them.
Now, in many localities, the field opera
tions of the farm have been, or soon will be
really commenced; and it is one OF the most
important considerations in the science oil
agriculture. To have correct understanding
and appreciation Of
The Importance Of Pulreri:iHg the Soil.
Why will not Indian corn, wheat, barley,
or any other grain vegetato and mature well
if plantod or sowed along the beaten path
of the highway And Why cannot we
raise rs good potatoes, turnips, or other
roots. or even as good crop Of grain, where
the soil has been plowel only two incher
deep, rs We can where the soil is thoroughly
pulyerized eight or ten inches in depth ! II
the soil Of our fields were simply turned up
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS n hugo dap jack,
why would il not bc as well to turn Il over
piecemeal with plows? When there Is but
little mellow earth, and large proportion
of the soil is in huge Jumps and elods, why
do we not obtain rs large corn or wheat, a.
we do when there Is not clod To DO seen
These may appear to be idle suppositiop'
but farmer must understand, even II he II
not able TO tell another why II Is, that q
soil must be in fine tilth. before we can ex'
pect TO raise q crop Of any kind OF grain.
The roots Of plants will not enter hard lumps
of earth much sooner than they will bould'
crs Of granite, or hornstone; and though
they be ~ porous as a sponge, the noorisi''
ment in them, which would promote the
growth OF plants, IL they were finely pulSer
frci, is not available; and -, where a stub
born soil Is turned over, in very wide fur
rows. its solidity is only partly broken up,
therefore the roots OF plants cannot avail
themselves of the substances that arc- wei
calculated to promote their luxuriant growth
But, by breaking up the solidity Of soil
which of.ea appears almost like an organ
ircb body. and reducing it to very hne, OF
even coarse powder, thosc fcrtiliring sub
stances ON which the plants depend Tor sus'
tenancc will be readily prepared by the
nin and moisture in the soil. 10 build uI
and mature tboee plants that are allowed e
yeyctate. Before the iertiliring in any sol
can promote the growth OF any plant, they
must be reduced 70 liquid state; therefore
the finer the soil is, the more readily III,
rain water will dissolve the little, solid par
ticles of matter. and the more readily tn
little roots and spongiols will nmii.
through the soil; and the more numeroa
the spoagioles are, the greater viii DC IN
amount OF nourishment taken in by them
and, as consequence, the larger and NOR
perfect tho plant will be.
Intimately connected with the thorouS
pulveriration Of the soil. Is,
The Ameiiorafing I4tirenoe Of Jack Frost.
Were il not Cor the powerful influence Q
Jack Frost. in pulverizing the coil, farmin
would be an uphill livelihood. Jack Eros
performs great and beneficial work in prS