NECESSITY FOR THOROUGH CULTURE. 137 



ing matter existing in the soil, or applied to it by the far- 

 mer, spreads and diffuses itself among the particles of the 

 soil and disappears from view, but its aliment is tasted by 

 the plants, and absorbed by them and changed by the won- 

 derful processes of natural chemistry into vegetable tissue 

 and solid substance, which affords appropriate subsistence 

 for animals. This capillary action and consequent process 

 of diffusion in the soil is of the greatest importance and is 

 intimately connected with the profitable culture of the crops. 

 It goes on most effectively in thoroughly pulverized soil; hence 

 the farmers business understanding this process is to use 

 the best possible means, by thorough working with most effec- 

 tive implements, to produce this necessary condition of his fields. 

 All this goes on within the view of the farmer who gives 

 his mangel crop a dressing of salt, for which this crop has 

 a strong liking. The white covering of the soil quickly dis- 

 appears ; being dissolved in the moisture and carried by 

 diffusion everywhere through the soil. It may not be quite 

 evenly spread on the surface but it is soon very evenly scat- 

 tered through the soil and the rains carry it down into it. 

 A chemist, by analysis, might detect it although it has dis- 

 appeared to the eye, but as the surface soil is dried by the 

 heat it will reappear in a white efflorescence on the ground 

 where it is brought up by the evaporating water from below; 

 and this crust is gradually increased in thickness by repeated 

 accessions as each particle of water, brings up its load of the 

 saline matter, and evaporating leaves it on the surface; from 

 whence it is again carried down by the next rain to circu- 

 late over again in the same manner. This diffusion of wat- 

 er through the soil is precisely similar to that of the atmos- 

 phere. The air circulates through the soil spaces by the 

 force of expansion and contraction caused by the effects of 

 heat and cold ; and the water circulates in precisely a simi- 

 lar manner, by the same agency, and in hot dry climates 

 this diffusion of moisture by capillary attraction going on 

 without intermission, secures the safety of the crops and 

 makes agriculture possible. In some of our Western States 

 and Territories, this process may be seen going on now as 



