Nebraska advertiser., 1861-06-27

Such was one Of the questions suggest.
ed as an appropriate subject for q prize
essay. Ii Is a question of considerable
importance, and called out twelve essays.
One Of them was awarded the prize, and
published IN the February number The
other eleven essays are before rs. and It
viii nos be uninieresiing 10 glance at some
Of the principal reasons assigned fer this
Fundamental agricultural operation.
4. We plow % bury The weeds, grass,
and other vegetation.
2. We plow 10 loosen and prlvcrisn iha
land. All soils, bal especially hose 81 6
clayey nature. have a tendency 70 con-
solidale, and soon become too firm and
compact, for the tender, hair-llxe roots Of
young plants 10 enter. The soil may
contain all the plant-fo0d required. but Il
il is so hard that the roots cannot pene-
lrale, il will be Of no avail. Il is locked
up. Flowing is The key that unlocks The
slore-honse. The piow Is inferior 10 the
spade. because ID does not break up and
pulverise the soil 50 thoroughly, IL We
had adigging-maehine THAI could be work.
ed be horses Or steam. as we undoubtedly
shall have before many years, il would
soou surgI
e
M
sion oT decomposition. Ihis acceier-
ated BY TIE admission ST air Like wa
ter, alr Eih penetrate all porous bodies.
Large Jumps of sugar are long IN dlssol-
wing. because the water has access only
to the outside bul crush il and lel ihe
water gei az al It's particles, and they are
dissolved witt gfeat rapidily. So Of The
soil If i i IN Jumps, the air cannot get
al it, bun loosen il and render il p0f0u.
by plowing. narrowing, rolling, &c., and
the air viii be brought ia contract with
the particles Of organic matter, and de-
compose them. Ii win also disinlegratl
she inorganic matter Of the soil. and rem
der more or less Of il available as fcos
for plants. Il must not be forgotten, TOO
thar the roots Of plants need air.
The air contains ammonia and carboni.
acid, and il IS a well known fact lha
porous bodies viii attract these oases.--
Thus Theodore De Saussure found tha
charcoal heated 10 rednoss and plunQet
while bot into mercury, and alierwnfd
when cold, without being exposed to .hI
atmosphere. plunged into ammoniacai gas
absorbed ammonia equal % ninety tine
its volume. That is 70 say, q cubic FOO
Of charcoal would absorb one hundre
pounds Of ammonia. or as much as if.
tons Of ordinary barn-yard manare cor
tains. The power Of fresh charcoal II
absorbing and condensinq ammonia Is ia
70 It's porosiiy. Sp0ngy or porous plat
mum will absorb 50 much hydrogen ga
that the heat evolved by is condensatio
viii ignite It. Now, while a porous 50
possesses no such power, there can Be 81
tie 10ubi that Il does ABSORB ammonia on
other gases 81 The mere attraction vhic
one particle Of matter has for anoshe
] This power is III proportion 70 the amour
Of surface exposed 10 the air. and cons,
quentiy The more The soil Is comminuiei
the more ii IS broken Up and loossned, q
greater viii Be is power Of attraction.
+. 4Iosl soils also, contain substance nhic
) have a chemical Affinity for ammonia
Prof Way says:
: Il find thai clay IS 50 greedy Of an
menia that. II air charged with carbonal
ammOnia. 90 as 20 bs highly pungent,
2 passed through a tube files wish fra
q meets Of dry clay, every particle Of L
7 gas tammonia IS arrested"
y lhis power of clay 70 absorb ammou
! from The air is ascribed by Prof. WAY
the presence Of s double alicate Of lir
i and aiumina, and be Thinks one reason
, he benefit 0f The application Of lime