266 HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY. 



pied by well pulverized earth. The same is probably true of 

 many other plants. It would seem that the rains of heaven 

 percolate the earth, become charged with ingredients adapted 

 to the growth of plants, and then, after the surface moisture 

 has gone off in the air, return to supply its place, bringing 

 with them the various foods of plants, in the only state in 

 which plants can receive them, that is, in solution in water. 

 The conclusion seems irresistible, that plants obtain their nu- 

 triment not solely from their immediate vicinity, but from con- 

 siderable distance below, and that therefore the capabilities of 

 a soil are increased by a deep cultivation. Your committee 

 are of the opinion that if deep cultivation increase the farmer's 

 expenses, it will increase his products more, and thus raise the 

 net profits of agriculture. 



Our remarks thus far, we suppose, are applicable to all arable 

 lands. We wish now to make some suggestions with special 

 reference to our deep, alluvial soils. There is in them an 

 almost bottomless reservoir of future food for man and beast, 

 if we can only come at it. By high manuring they have 

 always produced well. By concentrating on a few arable 

 acres the manure of a whole farm, they have been made to 

 produce great crops. Now can they not be made to produce 

 great crops, with only such manuring as consists with the 

 general productiveness of the farm ? We think they can ; and 

 we believe that deep cultivation is the secret of success* 

 When the Californians have gathered all the gold from the 

 surface they will have to dig under. So with our Connecticut 

 River farmers; they must tap mother earth deeper; and she 

 will pay them back the shining gold for their extra labor. 

 Every dollar judiciously expended in deepening the soils of 

 this beautiful valley, will prove a better investment than the 

 gold digger's passage money and Jixins. 



Hitherto we have wrought the surface only. We have im- 

 plements for that purpose, and modes of using them, which 

 perhaps approximate perfection as nearly as anything that can 

 be reasonably expected. But if we undertake to do anything 

 more, we may need other tools to do it with. Should we 

 come to the conclusion that eighteen inches of loosened soil 



