The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-22

The beneficial effects Of dew are felt
almost everywhere that vegetation
fourishee. In many parts Of the
world the grasses and various cultivated
crops attain vigorous growth almost
entirely from the moisture derived
dew. In the rainIess district Of Africa,
vegetation flourishes luxuriantly,
though the soil Is irrigated only after
unfrequent intervals, the copious dews
supplying in some measure the m0is-
ture elsewhere afforded by showers.
Many animals rely on dew for the
moisture that is necessary to their ex-
istence.
Although the distribution of dew i
in accordance with certain general
and never changing laws, still It could
scarcely be distributed more judicious-
ly or with greater certainty for good
were the placing of each tiny drop the
result of especial design. The dew
adds nothing to the great supply Of
water in ocean, lake, and river. II
collects but sparingly, if at all, ON the
barren rock, the drifting sand, or the
city street. Little is found on the
trunk of trees, the stalks of large
plants, or the straw of ripened grains,
This is SO even in places where each
blade of corn and each spire of grass
glistens every morning with the drops
dew. Nor does the dew collect on all
points of these indiscriminately, but
Is found principally at the apex and
edges of the several leaves just where
it is needed to keep them in condition
to be easily extended.
The idea of utilizing the dew that
collects on the soil, or on the vegeta.
ton growing upon it, as an element Of
fertility, has hardly ever been enter
tained. practice, however, we have
for years been doing this, never think
ing perhaps of our procedure. Thus
we know that cabbages will attain q
much larger and more rapid growth IL
the ground about them is stirred in the
early morning while it is still moist
with dew. The same amount OfhOeing
will not produce the same effect If the
work is done at any other time. Many
other garden plants, not liable to rust,
seem to be especially benefited by
hCeing in the early morning. Many
observing persons have also noticed
the same results from working among
potato vines when the soil is moist
with dew. One vine dresser among
acquaintance claims that the Vine
yard as well as the cabbage patch,
should be worked at the time that
sluggards sleeps and early birds enjoy
a sumptuOus breakfast of delicious
worms.
The dew could be rendered available
as an element of fertility OH large
scale in general agriculture was new
te us; but we are inclined to regard
the theory with favor. We find the
following OH blowing land while it is
moist with dew, in the Transactions
of the Massachusetts, Board of Agri-
culture, for the year 1871. 1t is en-
braced in some remarks made at a
public meeting of the Board, by Mr..
johnson, of birmingham
"There seems to be proper time
for blowing, although we have got to
do it as the man cut his hoop poles
when he had an opportunity. Still, 1
should advise blowing as far as possible,
when the dew is on the ground. am
aware that it will not do for farmer to
wait to pillow all his ground when the
dew is on; still would advise him to
pillow as early in the morning as pos
sible, if there are any young farmers
here, 1 say to them, depend upon it, if
you pillow early in the morning, you
will gain in the crop. You will gain
in every way during the day. l have
noticed in my garden that that portion
which had been hOed or cultivated
with the dew upon the ground, pro-
duced better than that portion which
was hoed i'm the heat of the day; and
1 have no doubt it is SO in the fields.
In fact, if you plow strip of
land with dew on, an another later in
the day, and wait a week or ten days,
and then rep'Ow, you will find a
difference in the soil as you turn it
over Prairie Enrnler