72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



where the object is to guard against drought, it is found best 

 to spread and plough in the whole. Except in seasons like the 

 past, however, many seeds will be benefited by some stimulus 

 in the hill. 



We have, then, these modes of avoiding or diminishing the 

 effects of droughts like that of the past season. I. To pay 

 more attention to the cultivation of low, swampy lands, first 

 draining and thoroughly reclaiming them. II. To irrigate 

 wherever it is practicable ; and where this method is adopted, 

 the land should always be carefully drained and properly pre- 

 pared, so that the water may run off, otherwise it will grow 

 stagnant and do much injury. III. To plough deep; spread 

 and plough in the manure rather than put it in the hill; stir 

 the ground very often with the hoe, cultivator, plough, or some 

 other suitable implement; and IV., for trees and shrubs, to 

 mulch with hay, straw, tan, &c, which, in the country, may be 

 removed in winter, to prevent the attacks of mice upon the 

 bark. 



It may be well, however, to speak a little more at large upon 

 the importance of stirring the soil often, as it cannot be denied 

 that there is some difference of opinion in regard to it. All 

 know that dew is formed much more freely on some surfaces 

 than on others ; and hard surfaces, like a beaten road or a gravel 

 walk, gather far less dew than porous or grassy surfaces. 

 Tufts of wool or hair, or the gossamer threads of the spider, 

 collect moisture very readily; so does the grass; and so do all 

 porous surfaces which have the power of readily giving off 

 heat, Hence the importance of very frequent stirring of the 

 surface, in times of drought, as we thus secure all possible 

 good influence from the dew and moisture of the atmosphere. 



But some may suppose that, as the soil is stirred and loosened, 

 the evaporation will be greater, on account of the greater 

 amount of surface exposed to the air. This is, to some extent, 

 true. The evaporation from the surface of the earth, and from 

 watery is rapid and constant during our hot summer days. The 

 amount of moisture sent up from a soil which had just been 

 saturated was found by careful experiment in France, in the 

 month of August, and with the temperature ranging from 73° 

 to 75° Fahr., to be as follows: — 



