THE CULTIVATOR. 145 
sened manure back a sufficient space to allow a 
ich between, wide enough to work in. After remov- 
the whole cover from the stalks, along a strip, as 
ore mentioned, they were easily grubbed up, by first 
ting them through all along the solid edge of the strip 
h the hoe, it being made pretty sharp for the pur- 
e. In addition to this pile of yard manure, I have 
o emptied the contents of my hog pen and stables, 
ending the pile several feet, and lying upon the 
nmd, when first loosened, more than two and a half 
i deep. Of this manure I have used sixteen loads 
spring, for truck and garden, and, judging from the 
: of the pile yet remaining, there cannot be less than 
y loads, which, being turned once more, I intend to 
for wheat next fall. 
a this manner, from only three head of cattle, and the 
ening of four hogs, I have made from seventy to 
aty-two horse loads of manure, the highly fertilizing 
perties of which are abundantly attested by my own 
aaer experience. I will not say that it is stronger than 
best barn-yard manure, but from its closer affinity 
etie nature of the soil, and greater facility for being 
idly combined and incorporated, without loss by eva- 
rtion, I have no doubt it will be frequently found, 
n trial, more effective and more durable. 
1 the process of turning manure, thus prepared, I 
i it of the highest importance to mix well the earthy 
vegetable parts together. Few persons are per¬ 
is aware how rapidly the earth facilitates vegetable 
imposition, and to what a surprising degree it ab- 
s the excess of fertilizing effluvia, which must other- 
3 be evaporated during the process of decomposi- 
. This circumstance, I believe, taken in connexion 
lithe careful economising of all animal excretions, 
stitutes chiefly the great secret (I might, perhaps, 
alleged necromancy,) that has added already so 
h verdure to my previously exhausted soil, and been 
rofitable to me, and so surprising to my neighbors, 
o farmer can imagine, that has not tried the experi- 
t, what a prodigious quantity of rich, vegetable, and 
ims earth may be collected from corners and by- 
;es Avhich lie out of the way of cultivation, and 
eh, from their retired position, have perhaps, never 
auch as attracted his notice. All such refuse trash, 
fibrous earths and weeds, by being conveyed to his 
i-yard, at intervals, during the fall and winter, and 
ciously combined with its contents, Avillbe converted 
a rich, fertilizing, and durable manure, merely by 
irbing and retaining that excess of putrescent fluids 
effluvia which is otherwise lost by filtration and 
loration; that is, by soaking away and drying up. 
W. H. 
ittstown, Salem Co. N. J. May 20th, 1838. 
the Means of Increasing the Fertility of Land, 
he productiveness of any soil, we think, depends en- 
y on its natural or artificial capability of retaining 
transmitting its moisture, the vehicle at least by 
:h nourishment is conveyed to plants. This pro- 
ive power may therefore not only be continued in 
reatest vigor, but greatly increased by proper ma- 
:ment. When we by any means give to the soil a 
aanently increased vegetative power, we also in- 
se the yearly produce which it yields, 
time soils produce large crops often repeated without 
ure, five crops of corn and a fallow are the condi- 
s entered in some leases in the neighborhood of Wis- 
. in Lincolnshire, while other land will produce 
ing without great expense of culture and manure, 
will an excess of manure make such land perma- 
ly productive; but if we change its constituent parts 
le addition of those earthy materials of which it is 
ient, so as to bring it nearer to the nature of those 
which we know to be fertile, then we shall perma- 
iy increase its productive powers, 
iater being the vehicle by which nourishment is con- 
d to plants, the soil, whose constituent parts is best 
eted for retaining a sufficient supply and transmit- 
a proper portion in very dry weather to the plants 
ing in it without holding it in injurious quantities 
e time of very wet weather, it is possessed of the 
fiple of vegetation and will be found to be of the 
productive nature. Such a soil will give not only 
less to support the plants, but will facilitate the 
th of their roots in search of moisture and nourish- 
to the greatest depth. 
iere is not an individual who cultivates a garden 
who exercises his judgment in its culture, but knows 
jAhe addition of clay gives cohesion to sandy or gra- 
. soils, and that sand and gravel when mixed with a 
y soil diminishes its tenacious property ; and that 
■I changes thus effected permanently increase the 
, ictive powers of both. 
111 our endeavor to improve barren soils, we should 
sine them in connexion with fertile soils in their 
j borhood, on the same geological formation, and 
® iifference of their constituent parts may lead us to 
*■ ;eans of their improvement. If the cause of steri- 
® 2 owing to some defects in their composition, these 
■its should be supplied. An excess of silicious sand 
• ! ' proved by the application of clay, peat earth, or 
reous matter, cold well rotten manure, and rolling 
1,1 impling with sheep or other stock, to consolidate 
cture. 
!ll ( ien clay is in excess, it is remedied by the appli- 
j. i of sand, chalk marl, or burned clay, light un- 
tnted manures, and perfect pulverization, to make 
lS ! >il friable. An excess of vegetable matter as in 
3 soils, in a dormant state, is corrected by burning, 
V e applications of clay, sand, calcareous matter, ’ 
gravel, rubble, or anything heavy, to give firmness to 
the soil. Lime not only destroys the injurious effects 
produced by sulphate of iron, which abounds in some 
soils, particularly in those of a peaty and silicious gra¬ 
velly nature, but is said to convert the sulphate of iron 
into a manure. None of these applications, however, 
will have the desired effect, unless there be first a per¬ 
fect subsoil drainage of all superfluous moisture con¬ 
joined with a perfect tillage. To alter the nature and 
properties of the constituents of any soils may be more 
expensive than to manure it; but the effect of the for¬ 
mer will be lasting, while that of the latter is transito¬ 
ry ; the one permanently improves the nature and qua¬ 
lity of the soil, the other only imparts a temporary ex¬ 
citement to force a crop for a year or two. 
The materials necessary for the permanent improve¬ 
ment of the soil are seldom far off, and the expense, 
though in some instances considerable, is soon repaid 
by the permanency of its increased fertility ; the manure 
applied afterwards has a much greater effect, the ex¬ 
pense of cultivation is greatly diminished, and the capital 
laid out is soon restored by its yearly increased produce. 
By these alterations we store the earth with hidden and 
inexhaustible treasures, which, invisible to the eye, put 
forth their strength and give us the evidence of their 
presence by the effects produced on vegetation. 
In the process of vegetation, nature supplies soil, wa¬ 
ter, light and heat; but the matter composing the soil 
may not be in such a state as to receive, and transmit 
these in such quantities as will produce a healthy vege¬ 
tation. 
Man may regulate the supply by the cultivation, and 
by altering the texture of the soil. 
When the materials of which the soil is composed are 
in proper proportion, the soil is most productive; when 
any one of the ingredients is in too great a proportion, 
the soil is unproductive. 
Pure clay, silex, or lime, we have before stated, are 
barren, if they are found alone; but if they are mixed 
together, having a due portion of water, the influence of 
the sun, and a proper admission of air, (which are the 
prime movers in vegetable life,) a fermentation amongst 
the materials is created; and if vegetable and animal 
manure in a state of decomposition be combined with 
these, the soil which was sterile when separate will be¬ 
come productive when combined, and this mixture of 
materials and mechanical alteration will change the 
texture, and improve the quality of the soil. 
Neither the clay, the silex, nor the lime are decom¬ 
posed by this process, but the soil composed of these 
materials in proper proportions has the power of com¬ 
bining with, and decomposing the vegetable and animal 
matter, the water, and air which it contains, and pro¬ 
duce results which afford the necessary food for the 
growth of plants. 
When the particles of earth which compose the soil 
are separate from each other, or well pulverized, it holds 
the greatest quantity of free or available moisture, and 
readily transmits it to the plants which are growing in 
it; but when the particles of the earth are closely pack¬ 
ed together, like new made bricks, it neither can receive 
moisture, nor will it give out that which it already pos¬ 
sesses. 
Good soils are naturally possessed of certain powers, 
with which, by the aid of husbandry, we can produce 
certain effects ; on poor sterile soils, these powers may 
be conferred by artificially altering their texture. 
When the fluid in the soil is so connected with the 
fluid in the plant, and gives out to it a constant and 
healthy supply, then we say the soil is in good condi¬ 
tion. 
Manure applied to the soil increases its vegetative 
powers, but the way in which it acts is not well under¬ 
stood. The process of the small rootlets are so very 
minute, that no crude substance can pass through them; 
it can therefore, only be taken up by them in the form 
of water or gas, and be absorbed by the leaves. 
Well rotten manure gives an unctuous or cohesive pro¬ 
perty; but when in a loose or strawy state, it gives a 
porousness or looseness to the soil. 
All mineral manures, as lime, chalk, marl, sand, gra¬ 
vel, ditch mould, road scrapings, and earthy matter, act 
on the soil merely as an alterative, by changing the con¬ 
stituents of the soil and improving its texture, and by 
giving it an increasing power of imbibing and decom¬ 
posing water, air, and organic matter. 
The most abundant ingredients in soil are sand and 
clay, and as a mixture of the one Avith the other tends 
to improve both, nature has so ordered it, that these are 
generally found in great abundance near to each other. 
In the plastic clay formation, extensive tracks of sandy 
soil are found lying upon the brick clay; the soil of 
Avhich is greatly improved by lifting up the clay, and 
spreading it over the sand at the rate 100 cubic yards 
to the acre. 
There is also a considerable extent of this formation 
covered with flinty gravel, mixed Avith clay and sand, 
Avitli a thin covering of black mould or peat earth for its 
surface, which produces heath and furze. 
This lies near the clay, and the whole of this may be 
greatly improved by trenching, or otherwise mixing the 
sand and gravel with the clay below. The most of this 
is near the chalk, and would be greatly improved by an 
admixture of 80 or 100 cubic yards of it per acre. Chalk 
or lime destroys the pernicious effects of the sulphate of 
iron in the gravelly soil, and makes the soil which was 
worthless, so productive as to pay the whole of the ex¬ 
pense in a year or two. 
Soil that is chiefly composed of finely divided or im¬ 
palpable matter, is greatly improved by the application 
of small stones, gravel, or coarse sand; as this prevents 
the soil from collapsing or consolidating during continual 
rain. 
All alteratives should be put on the land in small 
quantities at a time, or if in large quantities it should 
be Afrhen the land in fallow; and these should be well 
mixed by repeated ploughings, or by Finlayson’s har* 
roAV, which is an excellent implement for loosening and 
breaking the the fallow slice. The best way of putting 
on small quantities of materials for altering the texture 
of the soil is to make a mixture of them with the ma¬ 
nure you intend to apply to the field; and these ought 
to be well mixed by laying them loose together, turning 
them several times, and fermenting them in the mass. 
When this is properly done, it should be carted and 
spread on the soil when in fallow, and be ploughed in 
and well mixed, so as to be completely incorporated 
Avith the soil. —Morton on Soils. 
Construction of Ice Houses. 
[From the Farmers' Cabinet .] 
The July number of the Farmers’ Cabinet, contains 
a request for some one to furnish an essay on Ice 
Houses; as I have some experience on that subject, 
1 freely communicate my knowledge for the benefit of 
the public. 
I have erected several houses, principally for the 
purpose of supplying the citizens of Wilmington with 
ice, and find the larger the house the better it will 
keep; and that those constructed under ground are 
much preferable to those built in the open air ; and 
further, that a wet, humid atmosphere, is more de¬ 
structive to ice than hot weather. In making an ice 
house, you first dig a cellar in the side of a hill the di¬ 
mensions that you wish to make your house ; the on¬ 
ly rule to observe in this operation is, to make the 
cellar so that it will not hold water. If the situation 
is sandy, or if you come to a vein of sand about the 
time you arrive at a proper depth, no further care 
Avill be necessary ; but if you find a stiff clay or earth 
of any kind impervious to Avater, you must make an 
outlet or abandon the place. This outlet may be 
constructed in several ways ; if on the side of a hill, 
dig a drain and make it air tight by an inverted sy¬ 
phon ; or the water may be drained into a well and 
pumped out, or you may sink a small shaft in the bot¬ 
tom of the house until you come to sand, and fill it up 
Avith stone. When the cellar is finished the walls 
may be made of stone, brick, or Avood, to suit the con¬ 
venience of the builder, always leaving a space of 8 
or 10 inches between the sides of the building and the 
earth, to fill in with tan, charcoal, straw, cornstalks, 
or any other non-conductor you can get, but tan is 
by far the best article yet knoAvn. 
Where expense is no object, the cellar may be 
made round, and the sides of brick, raised a few feet 
above the ground, and covered with zinc, sheet iron 
or tin, and some fancy ornament for the top. 
A house 9 feet square in the clear, and 9 feet deep 
will hold 27 cart-loads, which will be sufficient for a 
large family. It may be erected in a few days by a 
handy laboring man, with the materials that can be 
found upon almost every farm. Dig a cellar, say 10 
feet square, and 10 leet deep, then cut small timber 
from the wood's the proper length, and build them up 
in the cellar after the plan of an American wooden 
house, keeping the space between the logs and the 
earth well filled with straw ; raise the building two 
or three feet above the surrounding ground, so that 
the water will not get into the house, thatch the roof, 
and leave the gable ends open, for ice houses are of¬ 
ten made too close at top, cover plentifully with 
straw, and you will have an abundance of ice through 
the season. 
If the bottom of your ice house is clay or hard earth 
of any kind, it will be better to put in a few loads of 
coarse sand previous to filling the house. There is 
some difference of opinion among people acquainted 
with keeping ice, in regard to the construction o. the 
upper part of the building, whether there should oe a 
tight floor over the ice or not. My opinion is in fa¬ 
vor of covering the ice well with straw and leaving 
the house ventilated at the gable ends, at least so 
open that the gas escaping from the ice will have an 
opportunity of passing away. SUBSCRIBER. 
Theory. 
[From the Farmers' Cabinet ] 
No man, hoAvever much he may repudiate theory, 
engages in any work without first having the theory 
of it established in his mind. Theory precedes prac¬ 
tice as thought precedes action. One farmer spreads 
his manure a long time before he ploughs it in ; ano¬ 
ther ploughs it under as it is spread, and another uses 
it as a top-dressing, while some are particular as to 
the time of the moon, when dung is put on the soil. 
Each has his theory and acts agreeably to it, and his 
success is not dependent on his having no theory at 
all, but on his theory being in accordance with sound 
reason; for there is always a reason why one way of 
doing a thing is better than another. Some allege 
that every thing that is printed about agriculture is 
mere theory, and therefore to be disregarded; those 
