The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1876-11-08
MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENT OF
SOILS.

III rta1haff Wdtels mary cum pNuhus dic L
formed nJurious u vegetation as we'll as
III the health If nan. Nhen shower Of
rain fails oii porous soil The water press
es the air through 10 lower depths. which
Is followed by fresh supply from tAe at
mospheFe. aid thus chemical action il readl-
y carried on; the ammonia aud carbpnic
acid Of rain water are thus Secured 10 /
plaa;s. Bat IN compact SOILS not properly
nnderdran.ed, tile particles run together
~ the influence 1T rain. and the water runs
Of the surface. or is carried oil By rsapora-
lion It becomes also inpersious to AR,
Hence tile valuable constituents If rain
wafer Is well as If the atmosphere are lost
10 the soil.
All soils saturated with water are netes-
mrily cold. Steam. whether natura. or
artificial. always contains large quantity
Of heat; heuce tae evaporation OF water.
which process i caFriel "a oy the couyer-
sion III II into steam II yapar, always pro-
duees heat. Hence The heat produced By
the solar aiys on set ground. is lost to the
soil BY being absorbed b. the vapOr which
i colsiaatly passing Of from such a soil il
DRY, sunshiay. Or windy weather.
Miasna is also generated in the steam Of
staeuanl waters, where drainage is neglect
"a. producing nlalarial fe,ers. II you
mix earth and water u an open vessel. aud
let it stand several weeks 10 warm weather,
an offensive tffiuvia will arise. clearly pro-
wing the INJURIOUS effects III stagnaut wa
ter upon animals as we'll asplants.
Thus, BY drainage. the soil is made
more porous and productive. aud greater
depth obtained Tor the roots Of plants. IN
saring. also. protection from .droeght,
especially over the underdraiils. and for
some distance each side, BY the rise Of
capillary water; ior the surface atuactien
Of the water is toxard the bitches as well
as TO the surface. At least until the soil in
them becomes as compact a. that between
them.
Another great benefit Of draining is the
rapidity with which the soil dries of
after rain thus fitting the land FOR plough
ing and the reception II seed muck s2uHeT
after long spells Of rainy weather.
Il often happens that bOitOD lands are
wholly lost or > whole crop by continuous
spring rains But proper system IS drain.
age would make them IS susceptible Of
cultivation As most uplaBds.
Another very importaDi effect Of drain
ing lads inclined u be sobby i, that fer
tilizers will az mneil better m soil nod
srately dry than one saturated with water
Too much water i. soil prevents is cir
culstion. and iIas far deprises so1ts u
solvent matters held By wale., which the,
would Oiherwise receive.
The moving waters o. . soil may be cota
pared 70 bird feeding Der young. WheI
there i deeosit u rich food tie root
resr BIZ have plsRty. but those below ar
suEeriag. X mar be uhtila shower comes
ihe water which passes this DEPOSIT become
charged sifh teiuble matter. aud 10 sink
ing 81 grssiiation. carries down to th
le~er roots, especially ,be tap roots as ,
cDton. good supply 81 food. a. sou. I
DE min j. over. tie 1iui ane sunshine b,
gin 10 dry oHthe surfsce soil By eyapori
ton. whieh i Supplied by capillary attrac
fior iron. below. aud tbas from the sam
rich depOsa. which the hydrostatic wate
E1rfIfu QoNH " AuS hBhel AVyt-f EAnc "
hillary water uos loads i:self with solubl
food. and hringsit 70 the upper root;
These HsieFs slso supply. 70 eOnsiderabl
extent. the roots literally. upon the Princ
pie Of diffssibi.iiy already noticed.
TIE free circulation 81 The sir ihroug
,he soil also aids the effects Of fertilizer
~ supplying. When beede oxygen. u
trvgsn. aud rarbonic aeid. and thus form
inc The exact combinations which a.c ueed
ed by plants. Soils too much saturAte
with ua.eI will prevent this. and al d
advantages crossing on. 81 the combination
sna chsmicll changes above stated. Thu
We see the importance Of artificial drsiI
age in al soils disposed 70 bold 70 muC
water.
UNDERDgAiNIsc,
Undertaking Is work requiring mu,
practice snd skill. and II not done vel
had better not be done u al. We bay
no faith m ans % ibe processes IN eotnDC
use amops farmers. sseh % pine logs, sion
bricklats, etc. Jhe manufacture d Ill
for tlis purpose y much better. aud -
farmer having ted ofclay Oh bis Lane
sBould sstsbhtb tie factory, and ma
ana burn them fof bis own use, aud