070 . BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



could be kept thoroughly pulverized to a sufSoient df pth, and 

 often stirred, a crop of corn could bo produced without rain. 



It is of the highest importance to the fiinner that an element of 

 such value as moisture in the soil should be in some measure 

 under his control. " Modern agriculture, by a system of draining 

 and plowing, so that air can penetrate, and water ascend by capil- 

 lary attraction, has brought the control of moisture in the soil 

 very much witliin the power of the farmer. Anything which will 

 prevent the surface soil from becoming hard, and at the same 

 time assist iu maintaining a uniformity of texture, is favorable to 

 the retention of moisture. Now air is the best non-conductor of 

 heat, and bodies are good or bad conductors, about in proportion 

 as they are solid or porous. Iron is better than wood, granite is 

 better than brick, and hard pressed soil is a better conductor of 

 heat than soil which is loose and porous. A hard trodden path is 

 warmer in summer and colder in winter than the cultivated grounds 

 by its side. When soil is pressed hard it dries rapidly, summer 

 winds passing over the surface carry oil" its moisture, the surface 

 is speedily parched and vegetation languishes. Rain will not pene- 

 trate a soil tliat is pressed hard. We are told that in some parts 

 of Asia the roofs of houses are covered with soil, which is kept 

 rolled down so that it sheds the raiu and answers in place of tile. 

 Having occasion to dig a ditch along a path in the time of a drouth 

 1 found the soil dry to the depth of three feet, when on each side 

 of the path the soil was moist, showing that hard pressed ground 

 sheds the rain and dries much sooner than loose soils. Titus a few 

 inches of tine soil on the surface forms a good non-conducting 

 stratum, and likewise has the advantasre ol" beinsr easilv secured. 

 In our Maine Agricultural Report fur 1S61 may be found a very 

 valuable paper entitled "Cultivation a Fektilizing Agency as really 

 AS Manure," (which we recommend every fanner in the State to 

 read,) and from which I quote as follows: " It is of no practical 

 value to us having in our soils the means of accumulating fertiliz- 

 ing matter, if at the same time wo place it in a position in which 

 this power is rendered inoperative ; consequently we have two 

 means by which to promote the accumulation of annnonia in the 

 soil, and these are. 1st, increasing the capabilities of the soil to 

 absorb aniinonia ; and, 2d, giving the atmosphere a free access t^ 

 the soil, so that these powers may come into full operation. The 

 addition of lime to the land has in tliis respect a double action, viz: 

 it sets part of the ammonia in the soil free and available for pro- 



