Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-06-05
Theory of Flowing.

PROF. LEVI SToCKBRIDGE, of the Massa.
chusetts Agricultural College, recently de-
livered the following address:
In order to determine the correct form
and construction of the pillow, we should
first settle the question what is the work
we desire the pillow to perform--in other
words, what is the object of blowing?
a large proportion of the men who till
the soil consider the sole purpose of plow-
ing either to till one crop, so as to make
room for another, or to make easy the
labor of cultivating the desired CROP
While this is one important object to be
aimed at, the great, prime object of plow-
ing is, or should be- to increase the fer
tility of the soil by the mechanical effect of
the operation, and the chemical influences
which the process puts in motion. A
knowledge Of the SOIL of the elements of
plant food, and of the influence necessary
to make these elements available for the
nourishment of plants, is highly important
il this connection.
The soil is composed of two great classes
of material entirely different in origin and
characteristics, and to be used, in the
economy of the plant, for very different
purposes, neither of which is valuable, if
the other is wanting. One class is the in
organic MATTER which has it's origin in the
rocks, and which, by the action of cold,
heat, and moisture, has been comminuted
to a greater or less degree of fineness
This contains the mineral element of plant
food, potash, soda, lime, silica, alumina,
magnesia, iron, etc. The other class has
its origin in the air, and has, at some time,
near or remote, formed a part of organic
bodies, but by death, decay, and decompo-
sition, has been converted into carbon
aceous matter This is called the organic
part of the SOIL
In these two classes of material, organic
and inorganic, are contained the elements
of plant food, but not the food itself, for it
is not In condition suited for their nour-
ishment being, so to speak, uncooked
The lime essential for the perfect develop
ment of the grain crops may be there, but
not in form in which Elephant may make
use of it. Potash, too, may abound sufi-
cient to produce luxuriant crops of clover
or potatoes, but yet, by reason of its chem
ical combinations, be inactive and value
less. Organic matter may be stored in
great quantities, and yet of no account un-
less decomposition is converting it into the
proper nourishment of plants.
Now the influences absolutely essential
to develope plant food from the elements
within the soil are without the soil, and
one of the great ends of blowing is to bring
the surface into such condition that these
influences may do their appropriate work
without hindrance, and thus increase the
fertility of the soil. This the pillow should
so open and pulyerize, should so separate
and commute that the air with its gasses
may permeate it freely and to the greatest
possible depth, with its oxygen promoting
decomposition and forming acids to dissolve
inorganic elements, and thus form new
compositions necessary to plant growth
Thus the carbonic and ammoniacal gasses
may be conveyed to the rootlets of plants
ana TO the inorganic material about them,
and so do their designed and appropriate
work, and the air, warmed by the summer
sun, may carry into the soil the elements
of plant-food it contains, and by its heat
quicken its assimilation.
Water also needs the same facilities for
permeating the soil. 1t contains certain
elements of fertility and, to secure Their
benefits, the rain which descends upon our
fields should go through the soil to ouI
springs and rivers, leaving with it the plant
food it contains, instead of running of
from the surface and carrying with it valu
able clements of fertility. In sinking
through the soil it drives out the air con
tanned in the pores, which is exhausted Of
its valuable properties, and may be follow
cd by fresh supply.
ne precise manner in which the pillow
should turn its furrow, and the position in
when II should leave it in order to secure
All these objects, must be determined by