The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-02-27

for the plants to feed on; this fertilizer
should also have reference TO the compo-
sition of the plants.
Immediately beneath the surface soil
is the subsoil, which often has q remar-
kable influence upon the growth of any
crop in the soil above it. This subsoil
sometimes consists of mixture of the
general constituents of soils, but natural
ly different from the surface-somotimes
a clay undei7ies sand or other light soil,
hard pan undellies loan often, etc.
The upper or surface soil, serves as me-
dium in which plants fix their roots; here
they grow and die. This soil consists Of
layer varying in depth from q few
inches to many feet Plants rarely ex-
tend their roots through the soil into the
subsoii, and vegetable matter is still moro
rarely buried therein, but the rains OF
water pass through the upper soil, dis
solving out some of the vegetable or or
ganic matter, which is carried down into
the subsoil, so that it not untreouently
contains these substances in greater or
less quantities. There is a limit to which
water penetrates, beyond which we find
no traces of vegetable or organic matter
in the earth's layers. The characteristics
then, Of soil are, that it contains moro
organic matter in q state Of decay. Of
subsoil, the organic matter is chiefly in
a soluble state, having been washed down
from the soil above, the Quantity being
much less; of the Underlying mass, that
it is nearly unaffected by any changes
which the atmosphere, culture or veceta-
tion, as agents, have produced upon the
soils above. Underlying most parts of
the earth's surface we find rocks, somc of
which appear above in naked masses, in
other places slight covering, and again
varying to great depth: These accu-
mutations or coverings consist of loose
materials often, as sand, gravel, etc.
These portions are what is denomnatcd
the soil, consisting usually, according to
gcologists, Of materials formed from The
crumbling Of rocks, together with such
vegetable mattterin decomposition as may
have been. produced on it, or other matter
washed down from higher sources. BY
knowing the Kind of rocks tho soil rests
upon, we may Judge Of the soil, as it usu-
ally partakes more or less of the nature
of the rock, unless it be Of drift torma-
ton. AS before intimatcd, underneath
the surface of loose or drifted matters arc
rocks. Some of thSse are what are cal
led strati6ed rocks, from being formed in
layers or beds, called strata of varying
thickness; others, as the GRANTEES, trap,
etc., are unstratifed or solid rock, being
In solid itlass instead of i'll layers. AS
these strata often lie in different positions
sometimes fat, at others inclined, the
soil ovcrlying varies with the strata on
which it rests, .partalling of the natural
characteristics of that strata. AS the
frtility of the soil of any particular To-
cality depends largely on its geological
structure, it shows how much Importance
previous knowledge Of that structure
is in enabling us to determine the nature
of the soil that is found in such locality.
1t also acts in determining the effects Of
special fertilizers applied, whereas, when
applied without any knowledge of the
requirements Of the soil, they arc often
condemned as worthless by those who
use them, when, perhaps, in q different
locality they produce the best results
So in the growth of crops-one soil is
peculiarly fitted to raise given crop !;
another, which appears to the general
view equally as good, will not produce
the slime crop, or, if produced, its quail
ties are entirely unlike the former. Thus
we find it necessary to adapt our crops to
the soil we cultivate.-Comtry Gentleman.