30 HAMPSHIRE AGEICUXTUEAL SOCIETY. 



This process moreover raises the temperature of the soil and of 

 the air around, and in this way produces the rapid growth of plants 

 and their full maturity. You can be convinced of this by putting a 

 thermometer a few inches below the surface in soil charged with water 

 and compare it with another soil, or by consulting your own sensa- 

 tions, or a floral calendar. Evaporation, a cooling process, is prevent- 

 ed by the withdrawment of water from the soil, and thus the temper- 

 ature of the soil itself and of the air which passes over it is raised 

 so much as to hasten the ripening and thereby accomplish the saving 

 of the crop, not only on the land itself, but also on that which is ad- 

 jacent. This is a change equivalent to a change of latitude. This, 

 in a northern climate like our own, especially in a northern exposure, 

 is of the greatest consequence. Many a lost crop of Indian corn 

 might have been saved. 



This process favors the hibernation and sleep of plants which is 

 essential to their health and growth. Plants in northern latitudes 

 require sleep as the animal creation does. If certain plants are con- 

 tinually kept in a growing state they become feeble and short lived. 

 You may see this in the transfer of northern trees like the apple-tree 

 for instance, to southern climates where there is no winter, which as 

 a matter of course degenerate. Now it happens sometimes in low 

 lands that springs come up from below, or more frequently come out 

 from the bottom of the hills on the margin of the meadows, at so 

 high a temperature as to keep the grass in a green and growing state 

 during the winter and thus produce a feeble growth in summer. 

 Cut off the springs by what is called strata-draining, that is, by 

 ditches at the bottom of the hills and near the margin of meadows, or 

 by sub-soil draining, and you restore a vigorous growth to the plants. 



This process carried out fully, favors the ejjicacy of raanurc. Be- 

 sides producing a more rapid decomposition by the withdrawment of 

 water, it prevents the manure from being present to the roots of plants 

 in a form too dilute and reduced. This is important especially in re- 

 spect to the salts like nitrate of potash and the liquid manures gen- 

 erally. To attempt to nourish plants by manures too much diluted 

 by water, would be like feeding a man constantly upon only a thin 

 broth, instead of solid nutriment. 



This process carried out to its completion, is far orahle to health. 

 This is not only by preventing the dampness, and coldness which op- 

 erate to produce bronchial affections and consumptions, but also by 

 its preventing the formation of malaria, which generate intermit- 

 tent fevers and bilious affections. Facts are abundant in confirma- 

 tion of this position. 



This process of reclaiming meadow land gratifies the taste. It 

 transforms barrenness and deformity into flourishing beauty. It 

 makes it blossom like the rose. So that as you pass by it adorned 

 with its luxuriant summer growth, you are ready in the language of 

 the prophet to say, " This land that was desolate has become like the 

 garden of Eden." 



