102 [Senate 



to constitute its growth, unless copious showers should seasonably 

 come to their aid. 



The process of freezing and thawing next come in order, and as 

 the roots have obtained but a slight hold upon the soil, the work of 

 expansion and contraction lifts it high and dry from its shallow bed, 

 to give room for a more hardy race of vegetation. What may have 

 escaped hanging- (if I may be allowed the expression) are yet in 

 danger of being drowned or burnt up. The surplus water, finding no 

 means of escape, other than the inequality of the surface, or by 

 evaporation, it is retained so long as to prove very injurious to the 

 crop, or entirely destroyed by being submerged. What remains may 

 have yet another formidable foe to contend with — a drought. The 

 slight covering of the roots aiford but a temporary protection against 

 the protracted rays of the sun. Being confined to the surface com- 

 paratively, the roots are unable to drink up the moisture immediately 

 beneath, as an impenetrable barrier intervenes between the roots al- 

 ready famishing for the wantof its most important constituent principle . 

 If dews should fall as a temporary substitute for rain, the indurated 

 soil absorbs but a small portion of the moisture, and readily yields 

 it again to the first rays of the morning sun. 



Sucb has been the effect in a greater or less degree for several years 

 past in this wheat growing section. Our first crops yielded twenty- 

 five and thirty bushels, but for the last ten years the average has 

 been considerably under twenty. Our soil is peculiarly adapted to 

 wheat when cultivated under favorable circumstances. It is certainly, 

 inexhaustible, from the fact that good wheat has been obtained from 

 earth thrown out from the bottom of the canal, and also from the 

 bottom of our wells. The cause or causes of such a falling off may 

 with propriety be attributed to constant cropping, and returning com- 

 paratively nothing to the soil ; but in a greater degree I would attri- 

 bute, in addition to the cause above alluded to, the want of a greate'' 

 depth of loose and well pulverized soil. The thin stratum has been 

 nearly exhausted of its fertilizing properties, and it only needs a stir- 

 ring of the substratum to reanimate and stimulate the growth of our 

 great staple, as well as the summer crops. 



I appeal to every farmer who cultivates stiff clay and hardpan 

 soils for the truth of the assertion, that they are the first to suffer 



