The weekly union record., 1865-04-01
Varieties Of Soil.

/ 10 selecting a farm, our attention Is first
called TO the nature OF the soil. as upon its ca-
pabilities and sdapticus most We base oil our
operations. Familiarity, therefore, with all its
characteristics is essential to su intelligent Sc
lection aud subsequent cultivation. Since or
gauic and inorganic substances obtain in all
prolific Soils special attention should be given
TO testing its richness in each Of these classes.
with g view Of supplying any deficiency which
may exist 10 either. Any soil, to be perma
nently fertile. must contsin a considerable por-
tion of organic matter-st least i've per cent.
I For besides ministering to the growth OF plsuts
/ by furnishing them their daily food this organ
| ic part improves the texture Of the soil, making
the sandy more tenac cious, and the clayed more
] friable. Too much vegetable mold. however,
/ in moist SOIL has an injurious effect rendering
| the soil sour.
The inorganic substance Of the soil, which is
| supplied by the slow but gradual and continued
decomposition of the crumbling rocks which
have been depositing their material since the
creation, is quite as essential TO the develop
ment Of vegetable growth Each rock gives
its own peculiar characteristics to the soil of
which by decomposition it forms part.
! Every agriculturis,. however, is not, of
course, chemist nor can he be expected TO
J analyze the soil of every field he proposes to
| till ; and even if be could. il has been found
that chemical analysis, though highly useful
ally OF agriculture, yet its decisions are held
subject TO reversal BY everyday practical ex
pertinent. The lack of perfect reliability upon
chemical deductions proceeds from the difficult
ties of obtaining them in perfection, aud from
the influence of conditions OF which chemistry
cannot take cognizauce, rather than from any
radical defect 10 the chemical theories them
selves There are few familiar indications
however, that every farmer may notice, and
which will furnish a sufficient guide for his at
tenton in default Of those more scientific
Soils are generally classed as hedry and light.
The former sometimes cold and wet, are dis
tiuguished for their affinity for water, their
tenacity, their sofness when wet, and hardness
when dry. These soils are generally fertile and
not easily exhausted. and are susceptible of
being made highly productive. They are ad-
mirably adapted to he growth OF wheat, oats,
I0dan corn and grasses. as they readily absorb
all fertilizing gases brought within their reach
by the air and rain.
Light soils are more easily cultivated, being
more frable, warm and dry. They are, how.
ever more liable to drouth, owing to their
porosity, and consequently are readily exhaust
ed of their organic substances. They are bet.
ter adapted to rye, barley, buckwheat and
top-rooted plants, such as turnips beets, car
rots. &c.
In addition TO this general classification of
SOILS We have sub classes which include the
characteristics of both the heavy and light
Those soils which contain over seventy per
cent. of sand are known as sandy soils those
having preponderance of clay. with less than
twenty per cent. of sand, are denominated
clayey while limy soils are such as contain
over twenty per cent of that ingredient These
three classes are known respectively as silicious,
argillaceous, and caleerous. Cacerous soils
not containing twenty per cent. of lime are
called marty. Loamy soils are intermediate
between sandy and clayey. Thus there may
be sandy loans, clayey loans, calcerous loans,
and vegetable loans. The term vegetable
mold is given to land which contains SO great
a proportion Of decayed vegetable and animal
matter as to give the soil this predominant
characteristic. Alluvial soils are such as have
been made by the gradual deposit of streams
and generally contain portions OF every kind OF
soil in the surrounding country, generally oamy
and always fertile. The sub soil is that stra-
tum or bed on which the soil Immediately rests,
and may be either silicious, argllaceous, or
calcerous hence may be of great value, by
means OF sub soil blowing TO mix with the sur
face sofia plan always resorted to when the
two soils contain different elements. From
common experience, each of these soils are set
apart for the plants for which they are pecu-
liary adapted. Those which contain over five
parts in one hundred of organic matter with
sex clay, and lime. with smaller quantities of
magnesia, potash soda, sulphur, phosphorus,
chlorine, aud metallic oxyds, are fertile nde-
pendent of manure containing all the elements
required for the growth of plants while the
absence of potash. soda, and chlorine, will give
soil that will be fertile with manure. If
balf the inorganic substance should be lacking,
10 ordinary manuring will supply the defcien.
cy, and the soil will be practically barrtn.
A Man WHO HAS NOT SLEPT FOR OVER
FOURTEEN YEARs.-At present there is a
soldier at the Chestnut Hill Military Hospital
who has not slept for single moment for
fourteen years and six months. This may seem
incredulous, but nevertheless ii is true, and ca1
be verified by numbers of persons. The iDdi
vidual is an intelligent man, naturally, and has
the benefit Of a moderate education. His name
is C. D. Saunders. orderly sergeant of Company
G, 18th Virginia Volunteers. He entered the
service of the United States on December 90,
1868. He is in the forty fifth year of bis age.
His health has been generally excellent during
his life. In l849. he was attacked with
cholera, and since that period with lung fever
on two occasions In the Summer OF 1850,
sleep forsook him. and since that time be has
never felt The least drowsy. He has always led
a temperate life. His vile and children reside
10 Putnam county, West Virginia. Since be
entered the Union army. he has been on several
raids and in four charges, during which time
be Informs Us that be never felt tired nor sleepy.
He was 10 the four charges made beyond
Hsrper's Ferry, Virginia, on the 18th, 18th,
18th and Goth of last August. and yet be did
not feel the least sleepy. Why it is that he
cannot or does not sleep is as much a mystery
to him as it is to many scientific gentlemen,
who, having had their attention called to him,
have been astounded IN their attempts TO
investigate the canse.
Upon one occasion, at bis request, number
of curlously inclined gentlemen watched him
for forty two days and nights consecutively, in !
order, if possible. TO arrive at the cause of the
wonderful phenomenon. These gentlemen took