FARMERS' REGISTER— CONSTITUTION OF SOILS. 



727 



atoms, the gas may be seen ascending to the sur- 

 face in bubbles. Such is the extreme tenuity of 

 aeriform substances, that they will penetrate 

 wherever there is the smallest opening. Nature 

 is said to abhor a vacuum, and whatever space is 

 not filled by solids or fluids, that we may expect to 

 find occupied by gas. The interstices of the soil 

 contain it, and that there are interstices, the least 

 observant may be convinced, Irom the fact, that 

 water is strained through them and descends into 

 the veins of the earth. 



Sir H. Davy ascertained by experiment, that the 

 presence of oxygen gas is essential to the germi- 

 nation of seed. We need not doubt then, of its 

 existence in the soil. But I imagine that your 

 correspondent could not have intended to assert, 

 though his language would admit ot" that construc- 

 tion, that there is no gas in the earth, but that the 

 earth cannot retain any particular species or por- 

 tion of it lor a length ot tune, or permanently. It 



than in manure that has gone through the process, 

 and of which all the principles have entered hito 

 new combinations." 



But your correspondent says, that "nature's 

 method we must believe the best," and that she 

 applies "the deciduous parts of trees and smaller 

 plants to the surface." And again he speaks of 

 the "admirable rule," follow nature! Now I 

 would suggest a medical maxim, which is as ap- 

 plicable to vegetable as animal life — "assist na- 

 ture." It is in obedience to this principle that we 

 cover our seed in the soil, pulverize our lands, 

 cultivate our crops, trim, accelerate and improve 

 the growth of our fruit trees. Were we to Ibllow 

 one of nature's habits, and neglect the rest, which, 

 I humbly conceive, would be the case in exposing 

 our manure on the surface, we might with the 

 same projjriety follow another of her habits: scat- 

 ter our seed to the winds, and depend upon the 

 earth, the air, and the rains to cover, sustain, and 



would be dilKcuh, it not impossible, to ascertain I mature them. These are nature's agents, by 



how much of, and lor how long a time, a given 

 portion of gas would be retained by the earth. 

 The changes to which the surface is subject, from 

 the influence of heat and moisture in producing 

 contraction and expansion, render this impractica- 

 ble. But this can be sali^ly asserted, that some of 

 the gases evolved by decomposition in the soil, 

 are taken up by the earthy constituents, and also 

 by water, which may be present. This much at 

 least is gained, when if decomposition takes place 

 on the surliice, the gases set free, are in a iew mo- 

 ments mingled with the great mass of atmosphere 

 surrounding the earth. 



Again: manure covered three, four or five 

 inches in the soil, suffers less heat than at the 

 surface — and of course, there is less tendency to 

 volatilize. I am also induced to think that the de- 

 composition is more gradual; for, although there is 

 more moisture, there is less of the two other es- 

 Bcntials — air and heat. 



But my object in this communication is to ex- 

 amine the theory of J. M. G., which, if correct, 

 puts this question forever to rest. As it is a chem- 

 ical theory, I have tested it by chemical princi- 

 ples. I will not, therefore, go into the general ar- 

 gument in favor of turning in manure. J. B. 

 has done this with great ability. But as there are 

 two arguments which he has barely touched, and 

 has not, I think, given them proper prominence, I 

 will give them here m the language of Sir H. 

 Davy. 



"Besides the dissipation of gaseous matter, 

 when fermentation is pushed to the extreme, there 

 is another disadvantage in the loss of heat, which, 

 if excited in the soil, is useful in promoting the 

 germination of seed, and in assisting the plant in 

 the first stage of its growth, when it is most fee- 

 ble and most liable to disease: and the lermenta- 

 tion of manure in the soil nmst be particularly fa- 

 vorable to the wheat crop, in preserving a genial 

 temperature beneath the surface late in autumn 

 and during winter." 



"Again: it is a general principle in chemistry, 

 that in all cases of decomposition, substances com- 

 bine much more readily at the moment of their 

 disengagement, than after they have been per- 

 fectly formed; and in fermentation beneath the 

 soil, the fluid matter produced is applied instantly, 

 even while it is warm, to the organs of the plant, 

 and consequently, is more likely to be efficient, 



which she executes all her husbandry; she uses 

 not the ploughshare nor the pruning hook. It is 

 the business of the agriculturist to aid nature — and 

 in following nature we should have reference to all 

 her laws — and not follow one of her habits to the 

 exclusion of the rest. She deposites her seed for 

 perpetuating their offspring upon the surface; and 

 by rains, frosts, and animals, units are made to ve- 

 getate, for thousands that decay _^and dissolve into 

 their original elements. She isVich in her stores, 

 but man must husband his resources. She has 

 the interests of the universe to attend to — man hia 

 own. It may be, that by the decomposition of ve- 

 getable matter upon the surface, the atmosphere 

 IS replenished with the gases, of which she has 

 been deprived in the process of vegetation. 

 Whether this be so or not, it is doubtless intended 

 in the economy of nature tor some wise purpose. 

 Let not the farmer then, who spreads his enriching 

 stores and invites air and earth to divide for them- 

 selves, when he finds that the serial sister has 

 taken more than conduces to his individual inter- 

 est, charffe her with "grand or petty larceny;" for 

 what is taken from him, she will diffuse through 

 the universe, and return in some other form to her 

 sister. Let him not complain of this as capricious 

 or unjust on the part of the more lofly dame — ^Ibr 

 "partial evil is universal good." 



W. B. 



QUERIES ON THE CONSTITUTION OF SOILS. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



In your treatise on calcareous manures, you dis- 

 close the remarkable fact, that in the limestone 

 regions of this state, in general, no lime^can be 

 detected in the soil, wpon an analysis. You sug- 

 crest, that probably the carbonate has been con- 

 verted into the oxalate of lime. If this be the 

 case, why is it that the oxalate of lime is not dis- 

 covered, upon analysis? 



In the same essay you give the opinion, that 

 oxalic acid exists in most of our soils in Eastern 

 Virginia. If so, why cannot that be detected, by 

 "analysis? 



If your engagements will admit of your devoting 

 time enough to answer these queries, you will 

 oblige 



A SUBSCRIBER. 



