DECOMPOSITION OF SOIL. 2:1:1 



be believed, confirmed as they are by repeated trials by our 

 own agriculturists, it is not to be doubted, that every inch 

 of every sand knoll, on every farm, may be changed into a 

 soil in 13 years, of half that number of inches of good mould. 

 290. That the cause of the fertility is derived from the 

 decomposing power of the geine and plants, is evident from 

 the fact, that mere atmospheric exposure of rocks, enriches 

 all soil lying near and around them. It has been thought 

 among the inexplicable mysteries, that the soil under an old 

 stone wall is richer than that a little distance from it. Inde- 

 pendent of its roller action, which has compressed the soil 

 and prevented the aerial escape of its geine, consider that 

 the potash washed out of the wall has done this, and the 

 mystery disa]ppears. The agents to hasten this natural pro- 

 duction of alkali, are salts and geine. The abundance of 

 these has already been pointed out in peat manure. Next 

 to this, dry crops ploughed in ; no matter how scanty, their 

 volume constantly will increase, and can supply the place of 

 swamp muck. Of all soils to be cultivated, or to be restored, 

 none are preferable to the sandy light soils. By their por- 

 ousness, free access is given to the powerful effects of air. 

 They are naturally in that state, to which trenching, draining, 

 and subsoil ploughing are reducing the stiffer lands of Eng- 

 land. Manure may as well be thrown into water, as on land 

 underlaid by water. Drain this, and no matter if the upper 

 soil be almost quicksand, manure will convert it into fertile 

 arable land. The thin covering of mould, scarcely an inch 

 in thickness, the product of a century, may be imitated by 

 studying the laws of its formation. This is the work of 

 " Nature's 'prentice hand ;" man has long been her journey- 

 man, and now guided by science, the farmer becomes the 

 master-workman, and may produce in one year quite as 

 much as the apprentice made in seven. 

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