_ MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YO RKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. . . 
&Df. lohnStDn’B Tl'e^meparallel e«stsi„ plant maj. anchor itself and maintain an up- brought to the surfac^ a fresh soil, and was 
T - - _ ’ sou 01 Rnown value and lertilty, and which regard to the soil. All the ingredients must right position. That _ is an important func- then growing luxuriant crops, where he had 
beVesentithe.smallerasweJasthelarg^^ J 
PRAC TICAL AGR I CULT URE. soil-but though all these in- If a plant, like b^ley, tends to go down into fore, ft is quite true, that in the underorsub-soU 
LECTURE FIFTH. such here particularly in the viririn soils of Si necessary, and though every the earth, the soO must be open. So with there accumulates many substances which 
r, ,• a * r 1 .^ * suoxi uerc, paTiicuiariy in tuc viigin soUs ot soil which grows good crops, either naturally other plants hke wheat, which however re- ’ a . , , . J. 
persons who were not in attendance at my view enables us to foiro an opinion of the several fertile soils, one from America, an- burn wood or other vegetable matter, ^he with thpimnpr nuxed 
former lectures, perhaps you will excuse me Physical character of soils at once. Sand- other from Asia, and another from Europe, ash will remain, that is, the inorganic part but I have^^thik rpmarh t^^ v 
for mentioning, in order that the object of stone gives a hght, open soil; limestone, also; and analyse all of them, I find every one of The part that burns is the organic nart.— La * . 
this course of lectures may be understood, ^od clay, genemlly a stiflf soil. Sometimes these ingredients in them; but no two of The inorganic portion it is the function of ns soine imes a various substances 
that the purpose in view has been to present clay is hardened, and the soil assumes a them contain any one of’the substances the s^rr^pp^ 
A. A /. .1 1 1 • lA • diffprpnf pLaropfpv uLp _i. .• ,■ .r . ^ tPe Plant and in order that thev mav nnt. 
1 betore that sho^d all be present in these precise pro- But there are others; generally they feed est steps to reclaim poor land, exhausted 
-^enough to .^^now, that the plant This I shaff illushL pLicu- by Xere capping, ^who plowUeep 
with the upper. I need not dwell on this; 
but I have this remark to make; that it 
this course of lectures may be understood, and clay, genemlly a stiff soil. Sometimes these ingredients in them; but no two of The inorgadc portion it is hapns sometimes that various substances 
that the purpose m view has been to present clay is hardened, and the soil assumes a them contain any one of the substances the soil to supply. eneath, which are injurious to 
a general idea of the relations which science <bfierent character, hke brick. But when present in all, in the same proportion, I Another fxmction of the soil is that it not order that they may not 
bears to nractical Agriculture—not, of you come to put these soils in the hands of exhibit here, (pointing to a diagram.'! the onlv Aypr and fppds Lnf. parripo’m +r. i-A ^ , o upper so , it is not always ad visa- 
bears to practical Agriculture—not, of 
course entering into those details which the 
wide fields presents—but dwelling only on 
you come to put these soils in the hands of exhibit here, (pointing to a diagram,) the only fixes and feeds, but 
the chenust--1 mean these virgin, pure soils, composition of the soil on the plains of the plant This flint will 
which grow larfye crons, with lit.tlp aid fi-nm A+L ^.,,0 ™ii_-..lx.- , A . ./.-r . , . . 
carries in food to ble to bring them up. There are districts 
wide fields presents—but dwelling only on which ^owl^ge crops, with little aid from Athens, You will see that it contains 38 ter, but if I take potash and reduce the flint Ha^ wWL ^ ^ ; 
those general aspects which hold a striking Jabor—-the ®b®mst is not satisfied with the per cent of the carbonate of lime or nearly to powder and put it in, I can dissolve it in miJuf dpstrov brought up,it 
relation to this most important of all arts.— fact that they contain lime, four-fifths of the entire soil. Here lime the potash, and when dissolved it looks as it if carefullv^avoidf d^^^Thia ^ 
Such of you as were at Syracuse, may re- be knows that clay iteelf constitutes only 59 parts in 1,000 of the clear as water; but it will contain the flint x m t+^- ^ 
collect that I then mentioned that I might f a complex substance, before he submits it soil. The plains of Athens are celebrated in solution. I will show you that bv a me- + 1 ° L ^ quite proper 
select illustrations, of the applications of sci- ^ chenuc^ an^ysis. He finds, as mght be for their fertility—this, then is an illustration chanical contrivance of this sort the plant fd+L ° an unfrequent resort 
ence to Agriculture, and present them to expected, that he extracte from soils these of the fact that a fertile soil, may contain all actually acquires and contains a auantitv of L ^+l^ a means of deepening the soil, 
you on thfoccasfofiof yoSr annual m,et- various substances, exhibited in this ta^^^ these things, yet that two,’equ'ally fertile, flint, anVSTh^^^ SocutoU^tS^sVr^^^^^ 
mg. As that address is now in your hands, ^ ‘Tos^Uon of fotU of diferent fertdity. may contain them in diflFerent proportions, is by the agency of potesh, carried up into and as it sinks below the level of thP'fofl 
irr^n moT’ vnorlilir ocnortnm liAW "for nnr- Fertile with- Fertile with „ _ - +Lr,'r.lo^+l«/xmt.: _x__i. . ^ as It SinXS peiOW tPe level 01 the’SOll, 
not dissolve in wa¬ 
in my country, where the sub-soil is a white 
mg. As that address is now in your hands, .. v A -.1 % . ^ diilerent proportions, is by the agency of potash, carried up into and as it sinks below the IpvpI of Tl JrAp 
youmay readily ascertain how far thtspur- One step further: Soilsof the same de- the plant atfd le/t th/e. This potash tSakes ?he r^^ng up aU 
pose has been carried out. ihe first oi Organic matter,. 97 50 40 gree of fertility, may contain different pro- the. silica soluble. It serves as a car to car- soil to a eertAin nfdnt wLieL+Lo AooL air. 
these lectures was on the relations of physi- 778 portions of these ingredients, but it may ry in the silica to the plant, so that the sub- effects a chemical actfon on these substances^ 
cal Geography to Agriculture, the second Lime,.59 is 4 happen, that one’of these substances is pres- stance of the soil not only serves to feed and changes them chemicallv and gives either 
on the relations of Geology to Agriculture; Magnesia,. 8 8 1 ent in large quantity, and that may be in- root the plant, but there are things in the a nourishingoualitv or mndifiPR the ruL Roil 
the third on tte relations of Botany and gjS ^ r*„e.e; ^1 Jei j™ to the the s^il Soda and cVrine soil which carry into the plant sub- 
Zoology to Agriculture, and the last, on the potash, . 2 trace. “ common salt Those who have exam- stances which otherwise they could not get, jurious or noxious to nlants 
relations of Meteorology to Agriculture. — . 4 " “ ined the soils on salt marshes on the borders and leaves them there. This is the ohieetnf Riih-«r.;i rtUnrUrr .-xL 5 c 
I may, perhaps, add to what I have said, Siphuric -acid,:”.:: 2 i .b^ow that common salt abounds These are the principal functions of the is common in nigland, after drmning m stifi 
that each of these lecture^ being on a sep- phosphoric acid,.... 4 2 - in those soils, and in such large quantities soil. At our next meeting I wiU describe clay soils. But the practice is also adooted 
arate subject, is entire and complete m it- JO 4 « that crops cannot grow upon them The to you others, which will become more in- where the land has been long drained.^ In 
self, and therefore contains in itself all the - - - soils reclaimed from the sea, as on the Bay telligible as I open up the composition of Scotland, the farmers plow from 7 to 20 
elements necessary to a comprehension of looo lOOO looo of Fundy, are found to be loaded with salt, plants. But on this subject allow me one inches deep, and experiLce has shown that 
the general bearings of each subject to prac- But first of all, let me draw your atten- ®o that at first they do not produce even more observation. Take a fertile soil, how- lands thus treated not only retain every 
tical Agriculture. Thus this lecture, which tion to a fact. If I take a match and ignite grass—the seeds do not come up—but after ever rich, and suppose it to grow crops for thing put on them in the form of manure^ 
has reference to the practical improvement it, and allow it to bum away, you will find ^ tiuie, the salt being washed out by the 30 or even 60 years; a time will come when but are capable of growino- crops for a long- 
of soils, will not draw on previous lectures, that a small portion remains behind after rains, the seeds grow. This illustration is in it will not produce crops. Every farmer er time without exhaustion than if they did 
n-pn+lo-mpn in jlraTOinfr ■uTinv fl.ifpn+inn in nni.__i nninl. anr? fiLnwc Lnw +L rx /if T_1_ _1_ _ i i I . ^ '■ ^ • 
Organic matter, 
Fertile with¬ 
out manure. 
.97 
Fertile with 
manure. 
50 
Barren 
40 
Sihca,. 
.648 
833 
778 
Alumina,. 
.57 
51 
91 
Lime,. 
Magnesia,. 
.59 
18 
4 
. 8 
8 
1 
Oxide of iron,.. 
.61 
30 
81 
Oxide of manganese, 1 
3 
trace. 
Potash,. 
- 2 
trace. 
a 
Soda,. 
.... 4 
tt 
a 
Chlorine,. 
.... 2 
it 
it 
Sulphuric • acid,. 
_ 2 
1 
. i 
Phosphoric acid, 
- 4 
2 
ti 
Carbonic acid,.. 
. 40 
4 
11 
Loss,.. 
_ 15 
0 
5 
1000 
1000 
1000 
Gentlemen, in drawing your attention to the greater part is burnt away. The part and shows how the presence of this knows that, and he knows al^o how much not plow so deep, 
the relations which Geology bears to Agri- that aemains is the wood ash. This is the substance in large quantities, instead of en- the richness of the soil is abused. This is Another modC 
culture, I pointed to this map of your own result if you bum any vegetable substance riching the soil, makes it worthless. If I called exhaustion: and the tabfo.Rbp.forP vm, Riih-Rnilinn- ic nalL 
any vegetable substance riching 
the richness oi the soil is abused. This is Another mode, besides deep plowing and 
called exhaustion ; and the tables before you sub-soiling, is called thorough drainage. I 
TTixiv.li uuc Duimvc. lo wiiiyY°'=^» poruoii ui u is uurnea away; out tnat por- «iwui oviuo, wc unu mesc wnugs m smaii column, will grow crops witfiout manure.— the removal of springs. The drmnage of 
plained the process by which the various tion always leaves a quantity of ash. But quantities, and why it h^ been so ordered Suppose one of the kind in the second, will lakes is going on in Sweden on a large scale 
kinds of soil were formed—that is, by the this matter will be more fully explained at ^7 nature, that where saline matter existed grow crops with manure; but that they have and that of sprino-s in Scotland • but thor- 
crumbhng down of rocks, of different form- our next meeting. The part that burns once in large quantities, and contributed to become barren by a particular course of ough drainage is'only now begun although 
ations, and that these materials constituted away is called the organic part, or organic 7®^ und mine, that the rains from the cropping, and you know that where tobacco, probably thirty millions of money have been 
the chief ingredient m all soils. By this matter; and the part that is not burnt, con- heavens should be the means of carrying off cotton and sugar are cultivated, great tracts already expended in it. 
crumbhng down of the rock, a loose material sists first of silica, which means flini and these things, present in too large quantities, of coimtry have become exhausted. There There are several questions in regard to 
15 produced, which formed, I would say, a then alumina, that is, the substance which and the presence of which precluded the is also what is called general and special ex- drainage which are important What are 
sub^ratum, m which the see^ of plants gives tenacity to the clay. If I dissolve growth of crops which sustain human life ? haustion. But this subject I shall advert to the effects of drainage on land, and how 
might take root and vegetate. Ihese plants clay in water, and into that pour hartshorn. One step further: There are soils, not of more particularly when I treat of the appli- these effects are brought about ?’How does 
coming to imturity and dying, aim others it immediately becomes milky, and a white this fruitful character—some which will not cation of chemistry to manures. If I take this system of drainage affect the profits of 
succeeding them to mature and dm, with substance is precipitated, called alumina.— grow crops at all, or not enough to pay the away phosphoric acid and potash from a soil, the farmer, and in what way does drainao-e 
the insecte and animals which feed upon It exists largely in clay, and is what gives cost of tilling them. There are other soils it will produce no crop. If there was any pay him ? The first effect of drainao-e — 
them, and the renaains of all being mixed its tenacity. again which, with ordinary treatment, grow process by which I could totally remove the for I cannot dwell upon them, but must put 
^ with the rocks in a msintegrated state— The soil also is found to contain lime, good crops. We have soils which are for- phosphoric acid, the soil would be reduced them down here succinctly—is to carry off 
these form what ^ call soil, on which the magnesia, oidde of iron, potash, soda, chlo- tile, others which are barren, and others to perfect barrenness. That would be special all the stagnant or surface water; 2d, it re- 
abor of man is Upended and crops are rine, which is a kind of gas, of a greenish again which, naturally fertile, require proper exhaustion. The loss could be repaired, as lieyes land of water where it accumulates 
tlence the origin of soils is, first, color, having a peculiarly strong odor and treatment to make them productive. In the general exhaustion is, by the addition of below, by the filtration of the rain through 
the solid rock, and second, the remains of very heavy, and in this respect distinguish- little catechism which I have published, and manures; but the addition of substances that the surface; 3d, it causes the rains instead 
veg:eteblesand ammal8, which while they able from common mr; a taper will bum in wMch has been republished L this country, contain the one thing only, or some other of running over Ld w^tooTe Cd to 
Thtacrtw hlSts^^ It, but will givebut little hght; It burnsred, with aii introduction by Professor Nortol thing,isthes,nestway®togiv7 the plants their descend w®hcre it falls, and Siis is Im pe^ 
ot character which exists smokes, and soon goes out; it is so heavy you will find a tabular statement of the com- supply. This subject of special exhaustion fection of thorough drainaire ■ 4th as the 
In considering the quality of soils, there that it can be poured from one vessel to an- position of these three kinds of soils will be of use bye and bye, when I consider rain sinks into thTsoi t carries ^ w^^^ it a 
16 one point to which it is neces^ry to draw other. This gas possesses many properties, There is a soil (pointing to the table, ante how soUs may be chemically improved. continual supply of fresh air andThus ad^ 
your attenliqn-that is, to the chemical re- but it is quite enough to know at present, 212,) which lacks three things-soda, pot- There are Lo modes of iLroving soils ministers new Les of * S thrsitet ml 
lationsof soils. I formerly drew your at- how to distinguish it from other gases or ash, and chlorine You see also that W , two moaes oi improving soils, m nisicrs new aoses oi air to me substance 
tentinn and now do so again to thp fart that oi,. T+o?-irm • xuiii- > ^ see, aiso, mat Here I have spoken of the composition of soils.— of the soil; 0th, it makes stiff soils more 
fyrteketresame^^^^^^^ g^exisSl^^ are three thmgs of which a trace only could You see how they vary,and what differ- crumbling, so that this kind of soil, instead 
^ mSTcMveTk withour»Sd^^^^ ffcZln T be found m a certain so.I Iflweretoask ences there arc in the qualities of soils, and of being hard to work after drainage, re- 
chemicaf combosition from one me^anical nf salt nnntoin« ahn ^ ^ ten pounds you how you would make that soil chemi- ^hat it is that constitutes equality of soil, qtures but half the force to plow it; 0th, it 
condition to another Thus this niece of S 1 h^ ' "d pounds of tfos gas. equal to that in the first column, where and what the relation between these and makes the soil warmer. You remember 
plastic clay, which would be difficult to rill, S pa L ofle“s^il.^ &drat’^ fut " B«thow that I told you, that evaporarion cools the 
crumbled down bv atmospheric action be the odor of nhoRnhomf WL°+l’*^^+^l sense. To make the two Of the mechanical method I shall now speak. Then it also enables the farmer to proceed 
cl^s fsoirverv s firstllf soils chemicaUy equal, you have onl^ and of the chemical in my last lectuk- to till liis land much sooner after tL rains 
mechanical character of the soil very much that is phosphoric acid. Carbonic aeSdso proportion? Now^^maTure^dds thS? Among the various mechanical n^thods of fall, and thus get ahead of others who do 
controls the kind of plants that will naturally exists in the soil, but I will not dwell upon gredients. ’ there are three principal kinds, not drain their lands, bo in the spring and 
grow on it On very light lands, rye, of all that now, as I shall speak of it in my next ^ Here is another soil which is barren deep plowing; that in alinost all autumn, in the open -weather, he -who drams 
__1_X. A_..1 , . U ujf ucAL x-i-cic i» auubuer SOU wmon is oarren. — cases is found to be imnortant. arid nrnfifaLlo his lands has gr^at. ad vatiIao-p And fLoT-c 
grow on it On very light lands, rye, of all that now, as I shall speak of it in my next Here is another soil which is barren.— 
grains, grows best, and of all food for cattle, lecture. You see here that no less than six substances 
^urry grows best on fight, sandy soil. In The soil, therefore, when chemically an- are missing—half the Avhole number—pot- 
Europe, it is considered an exceedingly milk alysed, is found to contain many other sub- asb, soda, chlorine, sulphuric, phosphoric 
producing fond for the cow. On Inarmv nnH ofonwixo xLow oov..! __— __i_• • i m. • • L ^ ’ 
^ ^ ' v f xV x" T b^en.- cases is found to be important and profitable, his lands has great advantage. And there 
TLo 0^1 +La XX 1 lx -11 ou see here that no less than SIX substances In all countries where I have been, in all is another advantage; it benefits his neigh- 
«d.k fouL'to conraffi mLv”SL7»,X I ^ve rated, ex- Was well as himself, keeping the mists and 
corn also do well on such soils 
barley could not grow on a stifl 
stiff ckv such plant, and how the soil is to chemical agente present in other soils. You persons exhauts Ian^intil they 
;it.wmdHr„w peroe.vealso,thatalargeproporUonqffc^^^^ more crops,and aretiencompe 
haustion. It is very often the case, that Another point to which I have alluded, and 
persons exhauts land,|until they can raise no at which I will glance now, is that by this 
as I ilaveexhibiteS here; but it would grow this oom;;;Jto oTs^ e;;i;teTwrof Tr^TK T" k ri> leave, means, you compel natiue to do the-arffi- 
well on the brick that is made of it, pound- one who wishes to know how to manage the This illustrates the fact that Certain things ^ho succeeds them, seeing the pial work of taking oiit from the soil what 
ed up, and forming a loose and open soil— soil intelligently, should attend to ?ianv maybe present in too large ouamiticA ^ injuiious to ifi inuch more _cheaply than 
ea up, and terming a loose and open soil— soil intelligently, should attend to many maybe present in too large Quantities I gu. ^ mure cneapiy uian 
But on heavy, clay lands, wheat, clover and things besils the substances it contains.- couW point you to imny plcesTn E^ 1 "^^/ nf to 7''" /x^T 1 J 
grass grow most luxuriantly; and I showed You will see by reference to this table, that where this iHL^iT Rkrnox^^^^^^ low plowing, goes down deeper and turns of the importance of the healthiness of a ch- 
you, the other night, that a stiff clay soil, 1,000 parts of a given soil contain 648 parts stance, Avhich creeps in under the soil form Ii? ^ altogeth^. Very Akely in mate. Among the means of improving 
though It would not pay for cultivation, will of sihea, 57 parts bf alumina, and 59 ofhme ing a hardpan lying between the under and to^ acramulated the lands, this of drainage has been attended 
pay well if devoted to pasturage. -that is to say, that though all these things up^er soil,^and the" rc^rof plants cannot S Tl' 7 f remarkable result, m contributing 
These physical characters of soils are of are present in a fertile so? they are not so, peAetrate it If preset fosffquaXs to human happiness. It happens that drain- 
great consequence; and whilst I shall show in the same proportions, but that they vary it presents a great difficulty becLse it is turned up, and the age, while it h{« improved th^oil, has been 
you that the chemical composition has much in a certain ratioJn the most fertile sk. ^ neLsary to remove tt exeS new comer gets, perhaps, not only a good the means of improvmg the health of large 
todo with their fortilitv Ami toat affx.T..x.vxU a xu i • x- t , V u»»cuy mi emuve uie excess, wnereme virgin soil, but much of the money that the districts, a result which every benevolent 
EShlus ed and ^ « L , ' conclusm: we find hat other soihs overcharged with i^dt, rmns wiU ^ old farmer has buried there. This is no man must contemplate with Itigh satisfac- 
to re“?succes7d^^^^^^^^ substances exist in the very smallest quan- d out; but this is not affected by them.- hypothetical case. If it were, I would not tion. Drainage is attended not^ only with 
knowledge of this chemical comnositinn vPt • I stiallkuve occasion at oui-next meet- ir does much for 1 ^, however, by car- state it, for speculation and hypothesis are these good effects, but it gives the farmer 
Ishlll sh?w v^^^^^ mg to show how important these substances rying it down below th^urface, and thus good for nothing. In the neighborhood of larger, surer and more valulble crops Land 
chemistryTs fZortenfi ^ llfo fand animal pomts out the way which we must take to Edinburgh, there are farmers?f the great- that Avould once only grow oats, hL in this 
SS ^conS^ZZks&Z^^^^ ?; proportions, remov it, when necessary^ I hus, the barren- est skill, and who make a great deal of mo- way been made to gfow wheat Crops that 
sSZaSffidredisZ yet that IS not to be the measure of their ness of a sod may arise either from its not con- ney; and as a general rulef you may judge were uncertain, hive been made cLain 
refarded and?s Zer S conZted marl taming the proper substances,or from contain- of the skill of a farmer by the number of and the product doubled in quantity. 
esLrial ftan that whkh weZS see™ d m7as37h?numWta he wZ'avt it” “ ITT"" k Tr*"“ >“'1 ^oes it do te ?^on wet 
SSSHil?™ pipsps 
SFHHass ssppas 
whichshaliheuseffiltous,asp.erica,n.el all-tL stoafiev as wer^t’p“f 7^%:^hTht^ ^hVgf Srit" 
Orgamc matter, .^97 JO AO gree of fertility, may contain different pro- the silica soluble. It serves as a car to car- soil to a certain point, which the fresh air, 
Airmfoa,:::::::::: 57 ll portions of these ingredients, but It may ry in the sihca to the plant, so that the sub- effects a chemical action on these substances. 
Lime,. 59 18 4 one'of these substances is pres- stance of the soil not only serves to feed and changes them chemically, and gives either 
oSthon .6? 3 ? bI ''' f?L V f a nourishing quality, or modifies the sub-soil. 
Oxide of manganese; 1 3 trai. which carry into the plant those sub- so that when brought up, it will not be in- 
I :: :: ftesoUsonsxU mashes on the borders and loaves them Nhis is the ob]lcroClil plowing; this 
Sulphuric • acid, . 2 1 • ‘ know that common salt abounds These are the principal functions of the is common in England, after draining in stiff 
Phosphoric acid,.... 4 2 " in those soils, and in such large quantities soil. At our next meeting I will describe clay soils. But the practice is also adooted 
Loss,7'?.“ tt t “5 ^ ^®^® where the land has been long drained. In 
- - - soils reclaimed from the sea, as on the Bay telligible as I open up the composition of Scotland, the farmers plow from 7 to 20 
1000 1000 1000 of Fundy, are found to be loaded with salt, plants. But on this subject allow me one inches deep, and experience has shown that 
But first of all, let me draw your atten- ®o that at first they do not produce even more observation. Take a fertile soil, how- lands thus treated, not only retain every 
f.iA'n Q fon-t T icAr/^ o o-n/l tllG SGGQS ^lo TlOti fxOTnfi llTi— — Kilt. a'Tf.py* *4- 4-^ 1 4^1^. J. ^ • 11 /» /* ^ 
for the most part know notliing of. 
altogether useless; but to make cessary to the growth of plants. It is illus- before. 
