The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-08-02
Agrifnltnral.
Drouths.

more or less from drouth, and it is no
strange thing for the yield Of oats, hay.
&c, 10 be lessened one-hslf from this
cause, while in some cases almos. an
entire failure is reported. The impor-
tauce Of water in farming and garden
ing will be realized when we consider
that plants obtain their food from the
soil in liquid, or at least in humid
condition. The best and riches; ma :
nures may be applied to the soil, and
yet if the ground is SO dry that the
particles are not dissolved. it affords
plants but little nourishment, and they
may starve in close contact with that
which, under more favorable circum-
Sauces, would prove their best food,
Those who have used guanO frequent
ly. know that in dry season they OBJ
serve Sut little effect from its applica-
ton and this is doubtless the reason
why many who have tried this man ure
but once or twice have become dis
couraged. and are confident that under
no circumstances will ii be found profit
able for agricultural purposes. Others
who happened to try the experiment in
wet seasons can make more favorable
report. But no person, We think, ever
applied good Peruvian guano in liquid
form. without observing very favorable
and speedy results. even in seasons
when the same manure applied dry
would have had but little effect. If
We thus lose the effect of q manure so
finely comminuted and as soluble IS
guano, on account Of drouth. what must
be the result where ordinary manures
are used. often in crude state. and
not well prepared for immediate use by
the plants. Of course, We do not say
that these are lost, but th effect in the
main is lost upon the crop for which
they were especially designed.
We cannot, Of course, cause rain TO
fall 10 suit our convenience, and it is
well for us that such things are placed
beyond cur control, as We have far
more now TO attend 10 than we do we'll
or wisely. What, then. it may be
asked, can We do to prevent the i'll eff
fects of droulh: and, il the absence Of
the necessary amount of water from
the soil is so grea. an evil. Why do We
endeavor TO get it away from the soil
BY underdrains !?
A large quantity of water is not re-
quired in the soil, and, indeed. is posi-
lively Injurious to all our commonly
cultivated plants humidity is all that
is neeeed. By carrying off excess Of
water at certain seasons, this condition
is obtained with more uniformity
The soil tina. is soaked with water for
a long period. or where water stands.
becomes heavy and compact, unable to
absorb, like porous soil. the water
that falls in showers during our warm
weather, grea, portion of which runs
off without penetrating to the roots Of
plants. This is one reason why a
drained soil is more uniform in its mois-
ture than one undraiDed, and why crops
in land thoroughly drained seldom if
ever suffer from drouih. Again, the
atmosphere contains moisture, as is
seen by the dew, which is the water
condensed from. the atmosphere by the
cold surface of plauis. Another COM
mon Illustration of the same principle
Is seen IN the mos ure collected on the |
outside Of pitcher filed with cold wa
ter. The AIR in summer is warmer than
the soil, and therefore when it has
good oppor unity to penetrate. leaves
Is moisture, to the great benefit Of the
soil in dry weather. The more porous
and frable the soil is kept. and to the
greater depth. the greater the amount
OF moisture absorbed. This is the
reason why sandy loans suffer usually
less from drouth than stiff clay, al
though the clay is colder, anu would,
therefore, absorb more moisture. and
is also more retentiye, and under like
circumstances. would suffer less. Bat
our clay soils in dry time, are found
generally baked hard. with the surface
cracked. and almost impervious 70 botL
air and water. A year or two since.
very late in the season, we observed
farmer passing through his corn with
the cultivator, aud as it was late 10 the
season for this work, ard TO weeds
visible to make the necessity of the
operation apparent, We inquired the
reason, when he informed us that the
crop was beginning to suffer from
droutL. and he always found that going
through with the culiiyalor was as good
IS shower.
Near the surface the soil is dryer
than further down. the moisture being
evaperated by the heat oil the sun; and
for this reason. plants with roots near
tine surface suffer more than those with
roots extending down in the soil con- I
siderable distance. While our sma
crops.are drying up. the fruit and fruit
trees do mol suffer for water. Ii the
soil is kept fiiablc. water will contin-
ually arise 70 the surface. just ss i: will
arise and moisten . whole sponge. :
when The lower part only 10 placed in .
water. II the soil is hard. this opera
lion will be very much retarded.-te
Every one will observe the difference
between holding the lower pat Of a
sponge and piece of wood in water.
In both cases the water will arise some
distance. but in the latter case much