Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-29
agricultural.
Influence of Muck Oh Heat and
Moisture in Soils.

Among the most important physical char
acters of soil is the power of retaining heat ;
this will be found to be nearly in proportion
to its absolute weight. The weight of soil
determines, with toIerable accuracy, its pow
er of retaining heat The greater mass in a
given bulk, the greater is this power. Hence
sands retain heat longest, three times longer
than Muck, and half again clay. Hence
the dryness and heat of sandy plains Sand
clay, and peat. are to each other as [, ,, and
3 in their power of retaining heat. But
while the capacity of soil to retain heat, de-
ponds on the absolute weight, the power to
be warmed, another very important physical
character, depends four principal circum-
stances the first, the color; second, the
dampness third, the materials fourth, the
angle at which the sun 5 rays fall First col
or; the blacker the color, the easier warmed
Whie sand and gray differ so per cent, in
the degree of heat acquired in given time.
As peat and the varieties of GENE or muck
are almost all of a black, or dark brown Co
or, it is seen how easily they may become
warn soils, when dry; for secondly, damp
ness modiies the influence of color. so that
dry, light-colored soil will become hotter,
sooner than dark wet one As long as
evaporation goes on, a difference of 10 or II
degrees will be found between a dry and
wet soil of the same color. Thirdly, the
different materials of which soils are compos-
ed, exert but very little influence on their
power OF being heated by the suns rays. In
deed, if sand, peat, cay, garden mould, all
equally dry, are sprinkled with chalk. make
ing their surfaces all of color, and then ex-
posed to the sun s rays, the differences of
their temperature will be found inconsidera
BILE. Color and dryness, then, exert most
powerful influence on the capacity of soil to
be warmed.
Fourthly, the last circumstance to be no
ticed, is the different angle at which the
suns rays fall. The more perpendicular,
the greater and heat. The effect is less in
proportion, these rays by falling more
slanting, spread their light out over great
er surface. But this point, which seems
external to soil, need not be enlarged on
Now the great fact to be observed in this
relation. of soil to heat is, that Muck exerts
the most marked influence. If soil heats
quickly. it is because it has large proper
ton of GENE Does it cool quickly? 1t is
the GENE which gives up the heat quickly
referring here to the soil in a dry state, the
modification produced by dampness having
been already considered.
The relatl on of soil to moisture and gas, is
not less important than that of heat. All
soil, except pure seliceous sands, absorb
moisture, but in different degrees. Geine
possesses the greatest power of absorption
and no variety of GENE equals in its absOrp-
tive power, that from animal manure. The
others rank in the following order, garden
mould, clay, loan, sandy clay, arabic soil
They all saturate themselves with moisture
by few days exposure. 1t is very inter
esting question, Does soil give up this alb
sorbed water speedily and equally? Is its
power of retaining water equal? As gen
eral fact, it may be stated, that the soil which
abeorbs fastest and most, evaporates slowest
and least. Geine evaporates least in given
time. The power of evaporation is modified
by the consistence of soil by different de-
gree of looseness or compactness of soil.
Garden mould, for instance, dries faster than
clay. As it has been already shown, that
the power of being warmed is much modified
by moisture. so the power of a soil to retain
water makes the distinction of a hot or cold,
wet or dry soil. In all the relations to mois-
ture, as to heat, GENE or muck, exercises the
greatest influence.