44 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the same as broken up deeply, pulverized and mellowed. 

 Unbroken and undrained soil becomes compact after heavy 

 rains, by evaporation of the water ; broken and drained soils 

 become more porous by the filtration of the water into the 

 drains below. Thus a crop planted on a side hill, and under- 

 drained, flourishes best in a drouth. All this the shrewd farmer 

 knows. The scientific reason is that water is a large portion of 

 the air, and this in the dryest time. By under-draining, the 

 air comes in contact with the cool earth beneath the surface, 

 and is instantly condensed, and is thus absorbed by the earth, 

 and so waters or fertilizes the crop. By this process the air is 

 brought in constant contact with the soil, and supports its sur- 

 face vegetation. On this principle learn the secret why hoeing 

 and ploughing benefit a crop. The loosening and pulverizing 

 the soil permits the air to enter and deposit its moisture, and 

 thus gives strength and growth. 



A farmer knows, moreover, that plaster of Paris sown on his 

 grounds, or placed in the hills of his potatoes and corn, pro- 

 motes their growth, and that powdered charcoal does the same. 

 He has tried and knows it. Thus he has the fact without the 

 philosophy ; he works the fact and gets the crop. The scien- 

 tific man says, in explanation, that plaster and charcoal are 

 great absorbents of ammonia, the greatest, if not only furnisher 

 of nitrogen, the great sustainer of vegetation. This is derived, 

 by plants, through their roots and from the earth. Plaster and 

 charcoal being supplied, take and hold, and furnish to the plant 

 the ammonia or its nitrogen. Plants, as is affirmed, and the 

 fact is as incomprehensible as it is fortunate for us, never take 

 nitrogen by their leaves from the common air, but from the 

 earth by their roots. Were the opposite true, the nitrogen or 

 essential element of the air and of animal life, would be absorbed 

 by the immense vegetable action in the field and forest, and 

 thus the life of the vegetable would be death to animal existence. 

 And as singular is it, and wonderfully does it magnify the wis- 

 dom and power of the Almighty and intelligent First Cause, or 

 God, that plants derive carbon, an essential element of their 

 growth, from the common air, through their leaves, absorbing 

 it and thus purifying the air, relieving it of the mightiest agent 

 of destruction to animal life and combustion ; and all this while 

 animal life is constantly generating it. Tims animal life gives 



