Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-07-18
rrom the Cenn,n G,nlIs~sa.
Summer Dropth.

Of the Northern States, suggests sOme re-
marks on summer drouths, their effects on
Different soils. the remedies and proyeniives
within our reach. and their alyantagcs m
rrcard to the distraction Of weeds and the
aneliora,ion OF the soil. There are two
sides 70 the piciure-we may, alter dwelling
on the glare Of the darker, turn to the more
genial phases Of the former, and hni some
consolation.
S.a.ons Of dr5uih Of more or les severity.
are Of frequent occurrence in our climate.
Weeks and even months pass with little or
no rain the ,corchins glare Of the sun
Jrink.up our summer brooks, and turns the
fields 10 dust or briek-like elo4s, beneath its
influence. The growing crops are 'hri'elled
and dwariel by the hea;-ii i,s occurs early.
o, tbi, yOsr-la,e planted crop. End insuih'
cen, moisture for termination. The mead
CIV. yield light product, aud under the
c5nuausl want OF rain. pastures are as
brown and bare As in the earliest spring.
time
Bu, drou,h Affects no, every coil alike.
There are some luxuriant crops, when many
fsll. CRY yi.iblY for help from heaven.
Ths-0 Invariably occupy the porous ir'aele
sol. that ha. been deeply cultivated and
highly manured. or ia hOed erop. one
which i frequently aud eleanly cultivated.
I,i. we'll known that one OF the mos, eaec
,aAl rreven,iye., az not the only preven'i1e)
q TIE effects Of drou,h on crops, ss fresh
and mellow state Of the soil upon which
they are growing. THIS can be attained
rerlectly but in one way-by thorough and
frequent stirring and eultivaiion-ihough 1t
can be greatly promoted by proper pre-
IAra,ion OF the ground before seeding. IL
land j, deeply plOuebei and thoroughly pull
vsrircd. aud at the same time prepared eth
or by the nature o, The sabsoil or artificial
drainage, for the ready passing oa OF oil
surplus water, il will remain for long
time m a moist aai mellow state. But
shallow titled land. with aretennye subsoil.
1. always found 10 become comparatively
sterile under the influence OF excessive dry
weather \ heavy rain falls. completely
sa,ura,ins the mellow portion OF the soil
the surplu. water cAnno, sink rapidly away
into drains or porous subsoil. but must
PASS away BY evaporation, aud the surface
,oil !. SURE TO become baked and hard under
Tn. slow process. ora like soil aud treat.
msnt without rain. soon dries down 70 the
lari.pan, and furnishes ITS crop liiaS re-
source ior moisture under drouth.
What. then. /. the best method Of guard
ins against the effects OF drouih II the
above reasoning is correct. deep culture and
irequent stirrin: Of the coil i. our bee, re-
source. l, Is true that the evaporation Of
moisture i. the greatest from Light soil,
but il = also true tha, il receives moisture
more readily and largely from all the sources
which supply 1t. We End l,tle or no dew
upon the beaten path, when the grass at its
eide srark!es with dew drops in the morning
Sun. The fresh turned earth receives .
much larger supply than that upon which
hard crust has formed, /; Pene,ra,es
much farther is more perfectly absorbed,
and hsnco passo. otr with les raPidiiy. This
is true both o. light and heavy showers.
To keep the land free from weeds IS
the panAeea of the farmer. as it long has
been Of the gardener. The bes, product Of
corn and roots, OF frui, and vines. are inva-
riably those who receive frequent, clean and
thorough culture. We have observed this
fact, particularly in all reports Of large corn
crop. in every mention OF thrifty and pro
dgc,ive orchards. iu accounts Of the best and
moe, profitable vegetable eardcns-all were
grown on mellow. clean, deep soil. The
wan, Of rain seemed scarcely iel,, while the
products oi shallow ahd weedy soils were
much rcdaecd IN consequence. ltna mat
ter OF much importance TO growing plant
whether it has it, appropriate breadth oi
soil 10 itself. or whether weeds surround a.,
robbins IL 9f the moisture and nourishment
which should 70 10 i;s support. Its roots
and leaves should have room-shouli pos.
se.s q monopoly Of all the bSnisuAn, iniu-
enees Of nature. \ rich, clean and mellow
soil Is the bes, prevention OF the effects OF
drouth, as well as the best security for good
crop, whatever the character Of the wealth.
sr and season.
on fertile coil. the crops suffer less from
drou,h for another reason. They star, early
and yisorOu,ly, ant spseai wide AMI deep
their roots, and send up broad and strong
their stems and leaves, 80 as TO take up 4
much larger supply Of moisture. and from
more extended sources. Aplan,wi,h scan,Y
rOO,le,s, only few inches in length. has far
lea power to sustain itself without rain than
one with numerous roots extending several
feet ON every side. as 10 the case with mo.,
grains aud plant. in iertile mellow soils
We often see this illusira,ed-no farmer can
have iailed here.
A dry season presents highly favorable
opportunity for destroying weeds OF all
kinds. either IN cultivated fields or pastures.
Many of these pests Of the farm " die
hard-,hOush pulled or hOed up. they read
ily take root again in moist weather; in
deed we have seen corn thoroughly hOed,
~ weedy as ever q week later from TIN.
cause. when with dry weather 1t nigh, have
bcen Z" laid by with one hOeins. So, too,