Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-09-20
A GRIC OL TUE E,
Iron the Germantown Telegraph.
PULVERIZATION OF THE SOIL.


Ma. EDIToR.-Most farmers are well aware of
the excellent effects resulting from thorough
pulverization OF the soil before lowing or plant
Ing their seed. It was the opinion of the cele-
hrated Jethro Tull, that good crops might bo
produced from soil for an indefinite period,
simply by maintaining the eartl in T. finely |
pulvsrizedlstate, thereby facilitating the expan-
sion of the roots in every direction, in quest
OF food aud Notwithstanding the fallacy of |
Lis deductions, so far as regards the mere Elf |
cacy OF pulverization without the assistance of |
other physical means, no one can doubt the |
very great, had almost said indispensable, |
necessity OF thoroughly commingling he soil |
we lnteHd to crop. very considerable pro |
portion of the actually available fertility OF
every soil, is derived from the atmosphere, by |
which 1t becomes impregn ated or imbued with
ifuctifying gases, the legitimate action OF
which, under certain circumstances and the
laws of n well balanced economy, are so indis
penslele in the primary development and Fl nal
maturation of the plant. That such is the case
is easily demonstrated by the rapid acquire.
meut of the fertiliziug principles by soil taken
from great depths, aud exposed on the surface
where the action OF the atmosphere is uninter-
rupted, and which occurs in the case of sand
thrown from cellars and wells lu few sea.
sons such soil becomes covered with dense
aud luxurious vegetation, even when no effort
has beeu made on the Part Of man to aid or
| iorestali the operations OF nature. This re-
| suits IN part from the absorption of fertiliG,ng
gases, aud from the solution of soluble silicates
under tue action OF certain agents OF a strictly
atmospheric character. Its frequently remark
ed by practical agriculturists, that soil thrown
ttom bitches, cellars. wells and other deep ex-
cavatlons, becomes in a few years remarkably
prolific under cultivation; I'D this is why II
might resso uably be expected, as the soil in
us pflm tlve position was below the range of
vegetation, and consequently it's soluble sill
Gates have never been exhausted by support
ing vegetable life but on being brought to the
surface, exposed TO the pulverulent action OF
the pillow ard the chemical and mechanical
action OF the atmosphere, they become inme-
diately available, and exert Il most potent an d
beneficial influence upon crops Of every de.
ecriptlon, and for considerable length OF
| time.
OF the many substances imbibed bv the soil
the most important ae we'll as valuable, per-
haps so lar as regards its action on living
, plants, is ammoncal gas, and which being co
piousIy involved wherever large quantities Of
arimal manure are used, or permitted to fer,
ment and deconpoau in free atmosphere, i.
grcediy absorbed by the 80 |. But the capacl
~ OF the soil to absorb this principle il Away
in direct ratio 10 i, fiuen oes Ia poresity ant
, the minute dslntegraiiOn OF the granules o
, which it ia composed If the surface is sole
. or present large isolated Jumps or If it il com
, pacty aud hnely trodden down the absorptio,
, is slow and slight. The more thoroug CHI
y therefore We stir and mix the SOIL the NOR
y copous, OF course, will b. the influx of fecuni
: auug matters from the air, and the more per
. neable will be the soil to the roots of Tia
: plants by which it is to be taken up. n
y soil that has not recently been broken up, ca
> be worked too much, Tor the more we plo,
8 and harrow. the more certain shall we be of
0 crop
! In gardens the effects OF thorough pulveri2a
o tion are more tavorably ard obviously cvince
= than IN field culture, where less attention nm
v labor are bestowed. One great reason, prot
: ably, why so many failures are experience
U from tue non organization OF the smallt
u kinds Of seeds, ID 10 be found in the very i'm
y perfect manner in which the soil is prepare
W tor tueir reception. h. minuteness OF man
y seeds almost invariably insures their deslru,
. tiou, they are sOwn ia soil OF "a coarse qua
u ily.
j fLe moisture contained ia the earth insure
y the RermiuG'ion OF the I'd but the least Gil
y cur scrptiou OF the duidifisd pabuium, or Gqu
W Gus resources the medium, after this proct
10 has commenced, and before the development
II the plumule and rostel has sufficiently progres
70 ed TO either eater deeply below its primal
- petition or TO extend above the surface prov
81 almost Immediately fatal, the nasceut pln
- withers ana il 1t does not actually die, il el
30 perences qualification and emascuatioa
81 energy from Winch ii never wholly recover
20 aud remains sichy and dwared till ito deaf
10 Let any person who is Mt all skeutic IL u5p ar
30 lug the correctness OF this doctrine, subu
DO it At once tc tho ordeal Of experiment and
30 will find tho reasonings herein advanced Al
90 ply cOrroho GRATED by the result
~ Although the utmost degree OF puverizati
81 which ii Is possible 10 secure, will not usu
10 fertility to radica ~ poor soil, without the Il
~ ries. vet twill be fonnd IN angm.nr tho u,
30 ducuye capacities of the richest and most {,
30 tlo lands. Soils reduced 10 great fneuess, q
90 also much more easily titled and managed u.
20 those OF coarse textlrr; maoure acts W
10 greater energy upon them, aud the crops
81 always more forward and less lab to hlig
~ inlldew nud rust. b.
30 ----------