

134 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



lectures from the most thoroughly scientific men 

 who could be found. 



Mr. King, editor of the Journal of Agriculture, 

 illustrated the application of science to agriculture, 

 and showed the good results which might be ex- 

 pected to follow this application. He closed with 

 an appeal for a suitable school to teach this sci- 

 ence. 



Upon motion of Mr. Proctor, of Danvers, the 

 resolutions under discussion were then adopted 

 unanimously. 



'Some further remarks were made by Mr. Nash, 

 of the Hampshire Society, Harvey Dodge, Esq., of 

 Sutton, and others, and the meeting then ad- 

 journed. 



' E2P In the above we have only given a mere 

 outline of the remarks which fell from each speak- 

 er. Many of the speeches were distinguished for 

 the excellent ideas and practical suggestions 

 which they contained, and ought to be preserved. 

 We have drawn upon our limits, however, to the 

 utmost extent, long before the notes taken are 

 exhausted. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PLOWING. 



BY R. B. HUBBARD. 



Mr. Editor : — The object is twofold. First, to 

 secure the decomposition of whatever vegetable 

 matter has been produced by the soil. Second, to 

 expose the soil to the action of the atmosphere and 

 of water. 



Suppose a large growth of clover to remain and 

 decay upon the surface. It will enrich the land 

 Some portion, yielding to the combined action of 

 heat and moisture, will become incorporated with 

 the surface soil and add to its fertilizing properties. 

 A much larger portion, however, for want of suit- 

 aide moisture to promote decomposition, will van- 

 ish into "thin air." 



The constituents of plants are of two classes, 

 organic and inorganic. These elements are found 

 to exist in about the ratio of 9 of the former to 1 

 of the latter ; that is, in every hundred, about 90 

 parts of organic matter to 10 of inorganic. The 

 organic portion is volatile ; that is, readily assumes 

 the form of atmospheric air, or gas ; while the 

 bases of the inorganic are permanently solid, ex- 

 cept by the application of intense heat, and their 

 compounds by water, such as lime, clay, flint, 

 iron, magnesia, soda, sulphur, &c. 



Of the organic elements, carbon, the principal 

 constituent of all plants, unites with oxygen and 

 produces a subtle fluid, which is always present in 

 the atmosphere. Ammonia, so essential to the 

 growth of plants, itself a gas, is composed of hy- 

 drogen and nitrogen. One a constituent of water, 

 and the other of air. 



These organic substances are either absorbed by 

 the leaves, the respiratory organs of plants, or are 

 taken up by the roots. In order that they enter 

 into the circulation by the latter mode, which is 

 douhtlcss the process by which the plant receives 

 most of its nourishment, these volatile substances 

 must bo concentrated. This is effected by the 



soil, absorbing these gases, and subsequently by 

 chemical combinations among organic and inor- 

 ganic elements, which have affinity for each other. 



For instance, sulphur and lime have no affinity. 

 But oxygen and sulphur have, and readily unite, 

 producing sulphuric acid, which unites with lime, 

 forming sulphate of lime, or gypsum, which is a 

 powerful fertilizer. So of phosphorus and lime. 

 They may lie in contact in the earth any length of 

 time and not combine unless by the intervention 

 of some other substance . But let the air come in 

 contact with the phosphorus and phosphoric acid 

 will be produced, and that will seize upon the 

 lime forming phosphate of lime, which is a most 

 valuable fertilizer. 



As this organic matter is indispensable to the 

 growth of the plant, and as it is received mainly 

 from the soil, through the roots, it must be obvi- 

 ous that the soil will be benefited by subjecting 

 it to such a process, as will cause it to absorb 

 these volatile substances. This is accomplished 

 by plowing. 



First, by turning the soil bottom side up, a por- 

 tion, from which the air had been excluded, now 

 comes in contact with, and absorbs it. 



In the second place, the surface, which had be- 

 come encrusted and almost impervious to the air, 

 is now broken up and made accessible to gaseous 

 substances, as far down as the plow has pene- 

 trated. 



As before remarked, a large portion of the clover 

 dries up and vanishes. That is, it is resolved, by 

 affinities, into its constituent elements, which 

 mingle with the atmosphere and is lost to the soil 

 upon which it grew. 



By plowing, this clover, while green, containing 

 all the nutritive properties which it has derived 

 from the soil, modified, by atmospheric influences, 

 is covered so deep, as to prevent the escape of 

 gases by evaporation ; and yet, not below the in- 

 fluence of heat and moisture. Consequently it de- 

 cays, or is resolved into its constituent elements, 

 which combine with the soil and by so much in- 

 crease its fertilizing power. The same is true of 

 stubble, weeds and everything thatgrows from the 

 earth. 



Hence the importance of plowing — of frequent 

 plowing — of thorough plowing and deep plowing, 

 of which, with your permission, Mr. Editor, I may 

 speak at some future time. 



Truly yours, r. b. n. 



Feb. 5, 1852. 



Remarks. — The above excellent article is so con- 

 cise and plain that he who runs may not only 

 read, but understand. It is in style and character 

 just what our readers want, and we hope the 

 writer will favor us often with the results of his 

 studies, experiments and observation. 



Western Horticultural Review. — John A. 

 Warder, M. D., Editor. Monthly — at Cincinna- 

 ti. — This work is conducted with ability, has in- 

 telligent correspondents, is printed handsomely on 

 good large, fair type', in double columns, and ap- 

 pears every way as though it were having a good 

 time in the world. We hope friend Warder will 

 not be led away by the seductive influences of the 



