338 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOE. 
lution, or imbedded in wood prepared in it. It also pre- 
serves paper. 
“In regard to the non-infxamniahle properties which it 
imparts to wood, it has been found that the softest timber 
is most effectually acted upon for the purpose. It has 
been found very valuable for railway sleepers, &c , from 
the durability which it imparts. Cordage, so prepared, 
has been found to be one-twelfih and canvas two- thirds 
stronger than the unprepared, whilst it also makes sails 
softer and lighter to work.” 
DEOUTH—BEEP PLOWine, ETC. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — The past year of pro- 
tracted drouth, elicits inquiry into the better mode of cul- 
ture and the reason therefor. The one, though not as im-.. 
portant as the other, has* importance enough to demand 
thought, for man, unfettered by a blind following of prac 
tice, or by indolence, must inquire, “Why is it correct 
that sucn a policy is pursued T’ “Why not the opposite 
practice f ’ 
That deep and thorough tilth, a perfect pulverization 
to the,|depth ot plowing, and that as deep as is possible, is 
the best practice, few will controvert. A perfect tilth, and 
as deep as can be eftected, maybe more costly than pru- 
dence or economy will warrant, may be selfevident, 
though not in opposition fo the fact that it is best as to 
product. A full and free exposure to sun and airis neces- 
sary to secure healthy .growth and perfection in animal 
and vegetable life, is equally true; the exception, some 
plants do best in a shade: some animals, females of our 
race for instance, can live out a puny and sickly existence 
to, old age, are but exceptions ; and so exceptions may be 
brought up. as to the product from tilth and caltivation. 
"When^ land is .thoroughly drained, and with a per^ct 
tilth oi over two feet it may be expected to resist drouth, 
and superabundant water better than the opposite-^that 
is, will produce most, wet or dry. Because roots of plants 
have a wider range to such food, more moisture in dry 
weather and less water in wet weather, the surplus of water 
sinks uovvn and runs ofi, leaving the upper soil porous 
and permeable to aii;, Somepiauis grow best in water, 
but an exception to the rule. 
The question, from whence comes the moisture in a 
long protracted drouth of months? hasnot yet been settled, 
some affirming that “moisture rises,” others that “mois- 
ture falls.” It the practice be correct,- and returns prove it, 
the many, who care only for the profit, seem to be indiffer- 
ent. that truth lies bet'ween, we will undertake to affirm, 
and if forced to either horn of the proposition prefer 
moisture deposited from the air. 
To the reasons: In digging a hole for a post in the 
month of August, near three feet deep, the earth is hard 
and dry ; equal qaaniitie.s of earth and powder mixed 
will not prevent the latter from burning as if in the air — 
if grains and powder be in a just proportion, the flash is 
immediate. If this is so, where is the moisture to rise 1 
On the other hand, All a decanter with ice water; stop 
close and wipe it dry ; place it in a room 18 feet sqnare on 
a table; the day clear, hot and dry; in an hour, or less, 
the decanter will be wet with dew, and the moisture will 
run down its sides and wet the cloth. Whence proceeds 
this, moisture I Just so may it exist in the earth, if the 
latter be finely divided so as to admit air, for air will pass 
in a vacuum in Nature being an absurdity. 
By plowing deep and pulverizing as thoroughly as 
plow, harrow and roller can do it, the earth does not be- 
come heated so deep, and cools off earlier at night, be- 
comes cooler than the surrounding air; thence acts as the 
condenser, as in the decanter instance, and causes the 
dew point to be reached earlier and a greater deposit of 
dew. 'At this date, the dew on cotton is so great that 
drops from every leaf as if a light shower of rain had fall- 
en, This shows how much moisture Is in the air. Land 
deep and thoroughly plowed, may not show as much- 
moisture on the surface as would a plank or a brick, be- 
cause the light and porous top soil receives all heat readi- 
ly — why we should keep light earth around plants in the 
spring — but the under surface beipg shaded and cooler 
must condense more moisture. The finer the soil, the more 
air, and the finer the air tubes, though admitting of a 
greater elevation of moisture from below, also admitting, 
ot a larger deposit — the more cool surface exposed to air. 
For a similar reason, adense shade to lancLwill preserve 
it moist longer (the land in proper tilth) and a deposit 
of fertilizing material from the air will also be a result. If 
a deposit be formed in caverns, in dark cellars sufficient 
to make the manufacture of saltpetre profitable, why not 
,a deposit in land thoroughly plowed 12 inches deep I We 
know here that iron or steel instruments, knives, forks, 
&c., will rust from moisture, though securely enveloped 
in cotton, woolen or paper. V/hy not moisture in the air 
permeating this, twelve inches of earth 1 
Yours with respect, p, Ridek. 
Hinds Co., Miss., Sept., 1855. 
TES CAEEGZ^ OF PLAITS. 
BY ROBERT NELSON, A. NJ., OF MACOjN, CA. 
Editors SotTHERN Cultivator — From whence origin- 
ates the carbon in plants 1 A question which is not pro- 
pounded because the objects I am about to present are 
new; Taut because I know that I have things to advance 
>’hit]L ccunflict with views heretofore adopted in agricui- 
tare. My object is, mainly, to inquire into the origin of 
that carbon which forms eh elementary constituent of 
every plant. 
It may be pre-supposed that no one will consider the 
plant capable of producing carbon or carbonous bodies., 
inasmuch as the whole field of scientific cherni^ta jr doee 
not furnish a single instance where one elementary sub- 
stance can, in any way, be transformed into another. It 
is, consequently, evident that the carbon ofi the plant 
must originate from associations, whence it is absorbed 
by the pla-nt and used for its nourishment. But, as we- 
furthermore know that besides carbonic acid and humus, 
there is no carbonous bodies found in the as.socjations of 
plants, that is in air, water affd earth, the inquiry must, of 
course, be confined to this one point : whether it is the car- 
bonic acid, or the humus, or botli, that yield the carbon 1 
I will first speak of humus, and seek to answer the ques- 
tion, whether the plant can, in any possible manner, 
absorb hurnus from the earth '? and then illustrate every- 
thing, for and against the supposition that humus is need- 
ed for the nourishment of the plant, that is, for producing 
carbon. 
Can humus, ora humusate, be absorbed by the plant ? 
Tliis question must forthwith be answered in the affirma- 
tive, inasmuch as we know that the plant absorbs all such 
matter as is soluble in water when coming within the 
boundaries of its roots ; and that humus, or hurausates, are- 
soluble in water. But I must here observe, that because a 
plant absorbs anything, it is not, therefore, a settled fact 
that it really needs what it absorbs for nourishment; oa 
the contrary, there are several ways in which the plant 
may again abstract what it cannot use, and even return it 
into the earth from whence it was taken. No one will, 
therefore, doubt that the plants absorb a solution of humus, 
or a humusate, when dissolved in water; and now it only 
remains to inquire, whether humus and humusates do, in 
consequence of their carbon, tend to nourish the pfianl.in, 
