r- I ^ ■ f jrrr ^ - w, ur^x%> w. *• 
DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE. 
VOL. xm. 
AUGUSTA, GA., JUNE, 1855. NO. 6. 
WILLIAM S. JONES, Publisher. 
DANIEL LEE, M. D., and D. RED.MOND, Editors, 
SEE TERMS ON LAST PAGE. 
^laitatittE (Bctraannj anil ^fEiswllan^. 
ARABLE LAND, AND WATER. 
A CORRESPONDENT, writing from Montgomery, Ala., 
over the signature of B. F. A. desires information as to the 
nature and effects of capillary attraction in soils ; and also 
the probable influence of the protracted hot, dry weather 
of last summer on the cultivated lands of the South, As 
the subject is one of general interest, we deem il not 
amiss to enlarge upon it, and call public attention to one 
of the most interesting and useful properties in all soils, 
without which fruitfulness would be impossible. 
If we understand the substance of our friend’s first in- 
quiry, it is this: What is the capacity of a fair common 
soil to draw moisture from the mass of earth beneath, by 
what is called capillary attraction "? This capacity is not a 
fixed power, or an unvarying function, but depends on the 
mechanical condition, and porousness of the earth, If it 
did not pai'take pretty largely of the character of a sponge, 
it could not imbibe so much water, and give rise to so many 
large and durable springs, not to name the unknown quan 
tity only partially revealed by means of common and ar- 
tesian wells. Although natural springs bring to the surface 
aprodigious amountof water in the courseof twelve months 
in all parts of the United States, as any one may satisfy him- 
self who will measure the flow of any two or three large 
springs for a day, yet this quantity is doubtless S7)iall in 
comparison with that which comes up out of the ground 
through the porous roots, stems, and leaves of living plants 
and evaporates into the atmosphere. Springs represent 
not the aggregate of water, that descends into the earth, 
but probably a little less than the surplus not drawn from 
the ground by capillary force of vegetation, and the con- 
stant vaporization of water from the surface of the naked 
earth. It is only when rains are small, or few and far 
between, that this excess of water which finds its way in- 
to springs, branches, creeks, rivers and the ocean, is 
seriously needed for the growth of agricultural plants. 
Let the common supply of this indispensable element be 
withheld for a few weeks, not to say months and all 
thoughtful men naturally regret the loss of water which 
flows off the surface of fields in damaging torrents, and 
which cannot sink into the earth either to feed springs or 
nourish vegetation. We regard tlie injury done by sur- 
face washing, large as it is, as not a tithe of that sustained 
by the lack in the soil, and in the earth below if, of this 
very surface, water, so much needed to vitalize (so to 
speak) every capillary -water-course beneath the planter’s 
parched crops. Blood-vessels, whether veins or arteries, 
no matter how perfectly formed, signify nothing unless 
the heart supplies the sanguineous fluid ; and equally 
valueless is the nicest possible capillary apparatus at and 
near the surface of the earth, without water both to as- 
cend and descend through the soil around the roots of 
plants. Wherever rains fail, irrigation by artificial means 
is the only known, if not the only possible remedy. Nor 
do we regard it as wise to wait for a total cessation of rain 
before any serious effort is made to augment the 
quantity of water in cultivated land by irrigation, 
bo long as it may be had by digging, boring, and from 
springs and brunches, we should at least count the 
cost and profit of watering our crops, where water is 
within I'each. In former volumes of this and other agri- 
cidtural journals, the writer has often commended the 
great importance of Agricultural Engineering; and point- 
ed out the folly of permitting so much surface water to 
run off one’s plantation. If deep and thorough plowing 
had nothing more to recommend it than the inei-eased ca- 
pacity which it imparts to the earth of imbibing rain- 
water, that alone is sufficient to secure its general adop- 
tion. But just so certain as the boring through the upper 
crust ofimpervious rocks in making an artesian well, gives 
a new fountain of living water, does the breaking of the 
upper .crust of the subsoil by the plow, allow the capillary 
fountaihs below to send up the vivifying liquid and re- 
lieve the urgent wants of the cultivator s crops. If his 
soil is like a bad mince pie, v/hich has a thick upper- 
crust, and very little meat between, woe to his grain ia 
dry weather, or in tcet. Such land needs doctoring as 
much as a sick horse, before it is fit to work. It is con- 
stitiuionally weak, and otherwise defective, so that the 
fine particles of sand and clay run together at the first 
rain after plowing, and bal's sometliing like sun-burnt 
brick, in the first few hot days after a “season,” or .shower. 
Tliere is a great deal of such land as this in the South- 
ern States ; and especially in all districts where the loose 
earth is derived from rocks sUu. We speak under- 
standingly, and after notu littie, close and extended obser- 
vation, when we say that Southern planters and Southern 
institutions are often blamed for evils which are less agri- 
cultun .l or socia l than geDlogii;al in their nature. Every 
part of the land al)ove the sea’ is not well adapted to tillage 
nor husbandry. It has natural defects wliich impair its 
capillarity, promoting Siiif.ice washiiig. and den/ agri- 
cu tural plains alike both mineral and organic food, and 
water for conveying the Siune through their vascular and 
cellu'ar tissues. Wheat, corn and cotton plants have not, 
like animals, the power of lo .omotion; their a! ment 
must come to them, enter their porous roots and I- ..ves, 
