464 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



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and oxen, has a similar origin. Farmers should study solar 

 heat and sunshine. You have seen corn planted in cold wet 

 ground, rot instead of growing in the spring. You have seen 

 it grow feebly, turn pale and yellow, because the earth was 

 cold; and you have seen other corn where the ground was 

 warm, exhibit a deep green color, and grow rapidly. Now, 

 what relation does the growth of this plant bear to the tem- 

 perature of the soil ? Until recently, vegetable physiologists 

 believed, from their limited observations, that the increase of 

 vegetable organization was in the ratio of the increase of tem- 

 perature, under the circumstances named. But the recent re- 

 searches of M. Quetelet, perpetual Secretary of the Academy 

 of Science, Brussels, on the climate of Belgium, have shown 

 that the increase of growth is as the square of the increase of 

 temperature in the soil. If a corn plant adds three grains to 

 its weight in 48 hours with the earth in which it grows 15° 

 above freezing, it will add twelve grains to its weight in the 

 same length of time, if the temperature of the soil be raised 

 to 30° above freezing. These facts show you the great im- 

 portance of investigating the temperature of soils. By allow- 

 ing our agricultural plants to extend their roots into cold earth 

 that needs under-draining, we diminish our crops of grain, 

 English grasses, roots and fruits, one-half, and gain nothing. 

 Water that drains from soils, and that which collects in low 

 grounds and swamps, is valuable for irrigation. It sometimes 

 contains acid salts, or vegetable acids injurious to crops ; but 

 by adding a little lime to such water before it is applied to 

 grass land, these acids are corrected, and the calcareous water 

 may be regarded as a weak solution of manure. 



By draining and irrigation you may impart a degree of life 

 and growth to vegetation not attainable in any other way. 

 Where it is necessary, water must be lifted by pumps worked 

 by horse-power or steam. Occasionally water-power may be 

 had ; and I have seen wind wheels drive pumps very success- 

 fully. Engineering has done much for agriculture by construct- 

 ing canals and railways ; but it is destined to do vastly more 

 by the construction of valuable and lasting improvements on 

 our farms. They are soon to be regarded as manufacturing 

 establishments. We do not make crops, or pork, or beef, or 



