Year: 1860

The question whether crops are iniur-


ed or benefited by stirring the soil aud


keeping it light during time of drought


is one which may very naturally arise in


the mind of the farmer at the present


time. Reasons may be advanced which
possess a degree Of plausibilily upon eli


lher side. Some farmers tell us that


stirring the earth when it is very dry in
jures the roots of plants by severlng them,


and loosening them from the soil; also


that by frequently stirring the earth and


exposing it to the hot sun and air, It be-
comes dry, and therefore unfit TO sustain


vegetation by conveying proper nourish-


ment to the roots. The former idea may


be correct, that is, as far as It goes;


though it is claimed by some, that to eY-


cry root broken off, several lesser ones


branch out which are more serviceable 70


the growth of the plant than the first


this, however, think, somewhat ques-


tionable, but the latter consider untrue,
and not In accordance with the natural
proof. Hence, for arguments sake,
and, if possible, to add a single ray Of
light upon the subject, such as may tell
practically for the interests of the iarm-
er, take the latter view Of the question
that both soil and vegetation are i'm
proved by frequent cultivation at a time
Of drought


First, then, by frequently stirring the
soil it is kept light, and of course more
porous, consequently. in a better condi-
ton to convey moisture from the atmos-
phere by way of fogs and dews, as well
as from the wet sUbsoil, below, for the
more the soil is worked, the more porous
or spongelike it is eept; and the more
spongelike qualities it possesses, the more
readily will it convey moisture to the
plants To illustrate; it has often been
remarked with US, during the last few
weeks, that all cultivated vegetation,
such as corn and other grains, appear p
much better than Grass, that while the
0ne is thrifty and growing, the other Is
severely, from the effects Of the
drought, which seems TO be a very clear
demonstration Of the correctness Of the
theory.


And again: the lighter and more por-
ous the soil, the less It's capacity to con-
luct heat, or, in other words, the poorer
conductor it becomes. Every school-boy
Knows that a stone viii become hotter if
exposed to the rays Of hot sun than a
sponge or bunch Of cotton OF wool. And
lpon the same principle we may say the
ess the soil is titled, the harder and
more stone-like ii becomes, and the great
II its capacity to conduct heat conse-
luently the more is vegetation affected
hereby. Every tiller of the soil has un-
loubtedly noticed that the tender blade
# corn, newly hoed, shoots up much
aster than before the soil was stirred
lround it. The reason is very apparent;
he soil is made light, and the moisture
10Th from the atmosphere and the earth
$ brought more readily in connection with
'oois. Hence, in accordance with this.
,rinciple, we see the necessity Of remov-
ng or breaking the surface earth from
be hills of corn IN particular, when hoe
ng, before any new earth is drawn up
0 the hill.


The same is true with cultivation gem
rally. The more the soil is pulverized
nd worked over, the better is It prepar-
d to convey the sustaining elements 70
egetation.


There can be no doubt that crops on
il soils should be kept clear Of weeds,
nd that soils which tend TO become COM
act should be cultivated with reference
0 this tendency-lhat is, it should be
,revented as much as possible in the ear
y stage of the crop. At a later period
[ is not always safe to stir the soil to a
-reat depth. Wha. is called "fring" Of
indian corn at the South and West is
crused by breaking Zoo many
f the roots after the corn is "tasseled. "


Within the last ainht wears Ireland has