538 * TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The primary formation was originally broken up and comminu- 

 ted by meclianical means, forming Ibe diluvium. The action on 

 this detritus of the atmosphere, of wa'er, of carbonic acid, and 

 of the gases evolved by the decay of successive vegetative 

 growths, has disintegrated its mineral j^articles, and set its solu- 

 ble portions free, forming the alluvial coating. This action has 

 been going on during the present order of things, and is still ta- 

 king place. Man hcis learned to accelerate it by processes which 

 open the surface of the earth to the action of the elements. In- 

 deed the processes of tillage universally adopted by common 

 consent, in all countries, and in all ages, from the rude plow and 

 irrigation of ancient Egypt, to tlie subsoiling, underdraining and 

 green crops turned under, of our day, have all one end — the dis- 

 integration of the crude elements of the soil by their exposure 

 to these chemical agents. We must not forget the well es'.ablished 

 effects of high culture, of frequently stirring the earth; and this 

 effect can be accounted for in no other way. Fall plowing and 

 the different methods of following, with or without green crops, 

 also, are well known powerful agents for renovating land. 



Tlie mechanical action of water carries away the alluvial ac- 

 cretions only from the more rugged and broken portions of tlie 

 earth's surface, and their leaves by far the greater portion of them 

 in the form of deltas and intervales of increased fertility. .The 

 part which goes to the ocean is quite inappreciable when com- 

 pared with Avhat remains. In fact the existing alluviun is the 

 sum of the differences. . 



The natural salts of the earth carried from this country in 

 grain exports, are, after all, of insignificant importance when 

 compared with the resources of the soil. The amount of them 

 which leaves an ordinary farm in the course of a year, may be 

 much more than replaced by judicious methods of culture, and 

 careful home manuring He is not the most successful farmer in 

 this country, who makes two blades grow where one grew before. 

 There is little necessity for crowding the plants. Give us rather 

 the man who cultivates the most land, who takes from it tlie 

 largest crops, and yet who leaves it most improved. 



A NEW MILL. 



Mr. Thomas Blanchard of Boston, the inventor of the electric 

 turning lathe, and also that very extraordinary machine that 

 bends ship timber out of straight sticks without breaking the 

 grain, exhibited a model of a new grain mill, constructed on an 



