Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-01-27
Agricultural,


THE soil is that upon which the farmer
spends his labor; the atmosphere, the wea-
Their he cannot control, although by close
observation. he may forecast h.
No plant win flourish and matare unless
its roots are situated In soil containing
all the mineral elements found in the ashes
OF the plant. The soil Is the home OF the
plant-its birth place and station, where 1t
runs through all the different stages Of its
development, and from whence II receives
its nutriment.
The fertility OF soil depends 9Pon It's nne-
ness Of psrtjcjes, since the food ofthe plant
must enter IL IN state Of solution. That
IS. the mineral matters must be dissolved
in water. and the rapidity Of their solution
is In direct proportion to the extent OF
their surface exposed. Hence the finer
particles Of earth, the more abundantly
will the plant be supplied with the ncces-
sary clements.
The soil has the power Of absorbing
moisture from the atmosphere. and con-
densing the same In its pores, and the alb
sorption of water vapors determines its
capacities for absorbing other vapors and
gases.
The part which capillarity of the soil
plays is somewhat analogous to that of
lamp-the soil is the lamp and the wick,
and the water Is the oil.
BY the action Of the sun and wind. the
surface is rendered dry by evaporation.
and Is fast as the particles Of water escape
in vapor, their places are supplied in ca
pilarity from the stores ofmoisture below;
the ascending water brings along with it
the soluble mineral matter OF the soil, and
thus the roots OF the plants are situated In
a stream Of their appropriate food, and
those particles of materials not taken up in
the tissues Of the plant are brought to the
surface to he washed down by succeeding
rains. With deep subsoil and n good
drainage. capillarity aids gravitation, and
the minerals brought 10 the surface then
have downward distribution.
Ii is easy 20 see, in a good soil well till
ed. how capillarity thus acts. keeping the
roots of the plant constantly immersed in
a stream OF mineral solution, tina; is now
ascending. now decending. but never at
rest. and how the food of the plant is thus
made to circulate around the organs fitted
for absorbing IL.
The same causes that maintain this per-
pciual supply ofwater and food to the plant
are also efiicacious in constantly preparing
new supplies. The materials OF the soil
are constantly undergoing chemical
changes, whereby the silica lime, phos-
phorus, potash, etc. become soluble In
water and accessible to the plant.
Water charged with carbonic~ acid and
oxygen. is the chief source in the
chemical changes. The more extensive
and rapid circulation of water in the soil
the more mineral matter will be rendered
soluble in given time, and, other things
being equal, the less will the soil be Deepen
dent on manures to keep up its fertility.
Return ~ the soil, in the shape of ma
nures. compensation for the rare and pre-
cious minerals taken OF with the soil.
Plow deep. pulverize the soil well. and
with thorough drainage you can depend on
grains TO sell and your farms will improve
in productiveness-bearing In mind that
different crops draw differently upon the
mineral recources. and that the rotation OF
crops has a tendency 10 fertilizc the soil:
for instance. clover with it, long roots,
bring 70 the surface the rare minerals. and
natures a fine crop, where wheat fails TO
produce. and. in addition TO that, there
will be n residue of minerals rendered avail
able through the chemical action of the
clover sufficient to maintain good WELD
of wheat or corn.-The Rnrali-t