SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
9 
AIR — HOW INVAIiUABtE TO THE SUCCESS- 
ful Husbandry of the Soil and its Produce, 
Adimal and Vegetable. 
In our former observations on this subject we directed 
attention to a general view of it, promising to notice on a 
subsequent occasion the individual case of soils, plants, 
and animals, under the different atmospheric circum- 
stances in which they are found. We now propose the 
fulfilling of that promise. 
In doing so, let us examine wheat, grass, and turnips 
grown in different soils, climates, and under different sys- 
tems of cultivation. 
Under the first, as to soil, the practical question at issue 
may be thus stated: 
How far does the atmosphere affect the quality of wheat 
on any individual soil '? That the nature of the soil and 
its atmosphere influences the composition of both the grain 
and straw of this cereal, is a fact with which farmers have 
been familiar from time immemorial. To what extent, 
therefore, is this dependent upon atmospheric phenomenal 
Calcareous soils, for example, and others obounding in 
organic substances, yield wheat containing a larger por- 
tion of gluten or nitrogenous matter, than do soils of op- 
posite quality. How much of this nitrogen is due to the 
nitrogen of the atmosphere, and how much to that of the 
manure incorporated with them '? 
In the case of a calcareous soil, the decomposition of 
lime by means of air and water obviously works up the 
oxygen of both the latter, liberating their nitrogen and 
hydrogen ; while they, uniting together under favorable 
circumstances, form ammonia (n 1 q h 3). In this man- 
ner 83.515 lbs , of nitrogen, and 17.455 of hydrogen, 
would make 100 lbs. of ammonia, requiring the decom- 
position of 107.2 lbs. of common air and 167 lbs. of water. 
Now, as this quantity of ammonia is a sufficient dose for 
two acres of land, yielding an ordinary crop of wheat, it 
will readily be seen that the decomposition of this quan- 
tity of air and water over such an area, the liberation of 
this quantity of nitrogen and hydrogen, and their uniting 
together, is the most likely source from whence the grow- 
ing wheat plant derives a large portion of its nitrogep. 
Pure ammonia, however, cannot thus be formed in a 
calcareous soil, as it always combines with other sub- 
stances ; but this does not in the slightest degree affect 
the question at issue, for it signifies little what salt of am- 
monia may be formed, so long as it is formed and con- 
sumed by the plant. 
In soils, again, rich in animal and vegetable matter, a 
similar result takes place during the process of decompo- 
sition. As in the case of calcareous matter, air and water 
are necessary to effect this change, during which the oxy- 
gen of both produces, with the vegetable matter, carbonic, 
ulmic, and other acids, while the nitrogen and hydrogen 
liberated form ammonia. 
If, however, we suppose such a vegetable soil impro- 
perly drained, so that decomposition takes place in the 
absence of air, or a sufficient supply of it, then the veget- 
able matter and oxygen form the carbonic and other acids ; 
but the hydrogen now unites with the carbon, forming 
carbonated hydrogen, or the gas of low-lying marshy 
lands — a gas alike injurious to animal and vegetable life. 
Wet marshy soils of this class are, perhaps, the worst 
for wheat culture of any, being deficient of ammonia to 
supply nitrogen for the manufacture of gluten. For the 
successful growth of this cereal, proper draining and aera- 
tion are essential requisites. A certain degree of mois- 
ture is, no doubt, necessary to supply hydrogen ; but in 
our moist climate, few crops require so little rain as wheat, 
while none require a larger supply of atmosphere, beans 
and peas excepted. 
On sandstone and clay soils, naturally deficient of or- 
.ganic matter, and where the inorganic is less subjact to 
decomposition, on the contrary, wheat seldom yields 
very abundantly, while the quality of the flour is inferior, 
owing to the small per centage of gluten which it con- 
tains. 
This deficiency of crop, and the inferiority of quality, 
are thus accounted for : In the first place, the inorgania 
matter being less subject to the action of oxygen than 
limestone, the decomposition of air and water is conse- 
quently also less, so that the supply of naturally manufac- 
tured food, both organic and inorganic, is insufficient to 
supply the wants of a healthy and luxuriant vegetation. 
And in the second place, the decomposition of air and 
water being less, the manufacture of ammonia is also less, 
and, hence, the formation of gluten. 
In the case of grass crops, results are similar, the pro 
duce of dry calcareous or vegetable soils being better for 
rearing and fattening stock, than that of others of a differ- 
ent quality not so subject to the decomposing influence of 
the atmosphere. We might quote many examples from 
the rich grazing districts of England and Ireland, in proof 
of this proposition, v/ere it necessary. 
In low-lying,marshy grass lands, however, the example 
is widely different from that of wheat-land, in more re- 
spects than one. In the first, for example, luxuriant 
crops of an inferior quality are often produced by this 
class of soils ; and although not equal to straw as food 
for cattle, they make, nevertheless, excellent manure. As 
such we have used immense quantities, both in a green 
state and dry, for littering stock, and always had fine 
crops. 
For pasturage they are not well adapted ; the marshy 
gases arising contaminating the atmosphere, and thus in- 
juring the respiratory functions of stock, or otherwise af- 
fecting their health. In corroboration of this, we shall 
mention two examples ; In the first, large tubular swell- 
ings break out, principally about the neck and chest of 
cattle, the malady generally terminating fatally. And not 
only are they affected thus when grazing, but also when 
consuming in the straw-yard, alike in summer as winter, 
the produce of such lands, as turnips, hay, and straw. la 
the second example, cattle never thrive well ; while they 
change their color, whatever it may be, to a “dirty dun.® 
Some low-lying wet grass lands, we must observe, are 
exceptions from the above examples, the produce being 
rich in quality and abundant in quantity. This is owing 
to the water not being stagnant; but rising to the roots of 
plants by capillary action, and bringing a sufficiency of 
lime, alkaline, and other salts, in solution, to counteract 
acidity and supply the necessary quality of food which 
otherwise would be wanting. The grass, however, owing 
to the decomposition of air being less (and consequently 
the produce of naturally-formed ammonia), is generally^^ 
deficient of nitrogenous element, and, therefore, is bettor ' 
adapted for yielding butter than cheese or butcher-meat ; 
but in practice this deficiency is easily supplied by the 
addition of a little pea or bean- meal and oil cake. . 
Like grass, the turnip delights in a rich, well-drain^’ 
calcareous soil, or one full of vegetable matter, with a 
moist climate, both top and bottom having a liberal sup- 
ply of air. An abundance of pure air is essential for the 
growth of this invaluable plant; for without plenty of 
room, a well pulverized soil, and an atmosphere free from 
deleterious matter, a heavy crop cannot be grown. At 
the same time more water appears to be assimilated in 
the process of vegetation than nitrogen from the atmos- 
phere ; thus proving that as the turnip is a large consumer 
of ammonia — a great decomposer of air and water — ni- 
trogen gas must be given off from its leaves. 
"With regard to climate, it is much more diversified than 
is generally imagined. In common conversation we talk 
of the north, south, east and west, as cardinal distinc- 
tions ; but when we come to examine the details of even 
a single province, let it be situate where it may, howdif- 
