1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 359 



( «r>j manures applied are more freely incorporated with the soil, and their r®) 

 0° action becomes more regular and uniform. A free passage is given to c fj 

 / heavy rains, and, in consequence, the surface is sooner dried and fitted \ 

 for the performance of necessary work. The roots of plants can ex- 

 tend into a medium where they are exempt from the extremes of 

 drought and heat, and obtain a more regular supply of nurishment, 

 being neither so likely to suffer in wet, or burned up in dry weather, 

 as in the former case the surplus passes freely down, and in the latter 

 is drawn up by capillary attraction, more especially where a judicious 

 system of surface stirring is persevered in, preventing rapid surface 

 evaporation. 



Notwithstanding that deep trenching will ultimately prove benefi- 

 cial in all soils, (premising they are sufficiently drained, for it matters 

 not how deep they are trenched if rools are prevented from descending 

 by retained water,) attention must be given to the nature of the 

 subsoil, if nf a terruginous character it will not be immediately pro- 

 ductive. We are informed by chemists that oxygen, which we are 

 accustomed to consider as a gas, forms nearly one-half of the whole 

 solid crust of the globe. In the subsoil it exists in combination with 

 metallic substances, injurious to vegetation. But on sufficient exposure 

 to the action of air, frost and rain, such earths are generally very 

 favorable to the growth of vegetables. In the management of soils 

 of this description, it is of much importance to turn them over fre- 

 quently, exposing new surface, and bringing the hitherto excluded 

 earths to the action of the atmosphere — frost is a valuable auxiliary 

 in this improvement. The water in freezing expands and separates 

 the earthy particles, on the return of mild weather a gradual crumb- 

 ling and granulation takes place; the meliorating action of the 

 atmosphere thus pervades every part, producing a friability not 

 attainable by any other means. It is a matter of regret that so little 

 attention is given to this gratuitous fertilizing property of the atmos- 

 phere. There are very few soils actually deficient in inorganic 

 materials, were they duly exposed to the oxygen of the air, their 

 latent principles of fertility would then be rendered available for the 

 purposes of vegetable growth. In connection with the amelioration 

 of adhesive soils, the use of charred materials may be mentioned — 

 As a corrective, charcoal cannot be too highly recommended. In a 

 physical view it renders the soil porous and permeable to gases, and 

 chemically its absorbing and disinfecting properties are equally valua- 

 ble. Its capability of absorbing ammonia and other gases give it 

 value as a fertilizer ; reduced to a powder and mixed with seed before 

 . sowing secures a speedy and healthy development of the young 

 A plant. 

 /V; There has been much discussion lately regarding the relative value Q\ 



&£>b , ~*mm 



