40 HAMPSHIRE AGEICXJLTUEAL SOCIETY. 



dry. We thus secure the plant against serious injury from hard rains 

 or excessive drouth. In soil loosened to a sufficient depth, there is 

 always going on an equalizing process. If too much water falls on 

 the surface, it passes freely to the subsoil. If excessive evaporation 

 takes place from the surface, the moisture from below is drawn up- 

 ward, in a less quantity, it is true, but on much the same principle 

 as in a sponge, with its lower side placed in the water. In its pro- 

 gress upwards, it brings along with it various salts, with which it had 

 become impregnated in the ground, and applies them in solution — the 

 only state in which plants can appropriate them — to the roots. That 

 water does thus pass upward, that it brings up food for plants prop- 

 erly dissolved for their use, and that it does this the more perfectly in 

 proportion as the ground is deeply pulverized, we suppose is not de- 

 nied. These facts, show, not only, that long rooted plants are bene- 

 fited by having an extensively loosened soil, through which to send 

 their runners far and deep after food and moisture, but also that short 

 root planes are benefitted by having a deep, well prepared medium 

 through which food and moisture may be brought to them. It is cer- 

 tain that onions, with fibrous roots extending not more, probably, 

 than 6 inches into the ground, will exhaust the strength of manure, 

 lying at almost any distance below, if the intervening space be occu- 

 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, re- 

 turn to supply its place, bringing with them the various foods of 

 plants, in the only state in which plants can receive tliem, that is, in 

 solution in water. The conclusion seems irresistable, that plants ob- 

 tain their nutriment not solely from their immediate vicinity, but 

 from considerable 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 agri- 

 culture. 



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 botfomless 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 un- 

 der. So with our Connecticut river farmers ; they must tap mother 

 earth deeper ; and she will pay them back the shining gold for their 



