THE CULTIVATOR. 
143 
humus, as a source of carbonic acid—it is limited to a 
gain of time; that is, it accelerates the development of 
plants.’ In the above letter, Dr. L. has spread out the 
testimony from which these conclusions are drawn. In 
letter XVI he says ‘ my recent researches into the consti¬ 
tuent ingredients of our cultivated fields have led me to 
the conclusion that of all the elements furnished to plants 
by the soil, and ministering to their nourishment, the 
phosphate of lime, or rather the phosphates generally, must 
be regarded as the most important.’ In referring to Dr. 
Lee’s statement respecting the use of charcoal in France, 
you will observe that he speaks of it in connection with 
the use of lime. Also, Mr. Pell used upon his wheat 
field 300 bushels of oyster shell lime to the acre, besides 
the charcoal. I think therefore, the question very natu¬ 
rally arises, is it the charcoal or the lime to which this 
increased fertility is owing? Dr. Liebig would answer 
emphatically the latter, and if the two examples stated 
stand alone, we have no evidence to gainsay his assertion. 
We know oyster shells to be especially rich in phos¬ 
phates, and we know too, that what are called Indian 
lands, lands upon which the Indians held their clambakes, 
are esteemed the most fertile and least easily exhausted 
soils. Further investigation therefore seems necessary. 
Nothing can be more clear than the importance to farm¬ 
ers of definite ideas on all subjects connected with any 
improvement in the management of their farms: to waste 
their energies on this or that project, without advancing, 
is to insure inattention to future suggestions. Let the ex¬ 
periment of charcoal and lime be made side by side, the 
results carefully noted, and given to the world. By a 
dozen such experiments, we should at least approximate 
more nearly to the truth.” 
THE WINTER-EFFECT ON THE WHEAT CROP. 
There are two ways in which our severe winters ope¬ 
rate unfavorably on bur winter sown wheat; the first is 
when there is an excess of snow covering the fields deep¬ 
ly for a long time, and melting off gradually in the spring, 
forming a mass so close as to exclude the air, and pro¬ 
duce what may be called the suffocation of the plant. 
When wheat is affected in this way, it appears of a fine 
green as soon as the snow disappears, but a few hours 
exposure to the sun and air changes this appearance to a 
dark color, and it is soon evident that the plant is dead, 
root and branch. The wheat plant does not, however, 
so often suffer from this cause, as from the second, which 
is generally called winter-killing, though it is well known 
more injury is done in March and April than in the win¬ 
ter months proper. Wheat on soils that contain an ex¬ 
cess of water, and of which clay is a prominent ingredi¬ 
ent, suffers much from freezing out; and this is done af¬ 
ter the snow diappears, and the earth gives under the in¬ 
fluence of the sun during the day time, while it freezes at 
night, and sometimes severely. By this repeated process 
of thawing by day and freezing by night, the wheat roots 
are drawn from the soil, and death is the natural result. 
The loss from this cause alone is millions annually. The 
true remedy is draining. 
The past winter must be considered a favorable one for 
the wheat crop. The depth of snow was much less than 
usual; and the steady cold weather prevented the results 
which might have ensued, had thawing and freezing al¬ 
ternated to any extent while the ground was free from its 
snowy covering. Experience shows that extreme cold 
produces little or no effect on the wheat plant, provided 
the transition from that state is gradual, and without sud¬ 
den and violent alternations. We are also happy to state 
that so far as our observation has extended, and from the 
intelligence that has reached us, the wheat plant, to this 
date, has suffered little from the action of spring 
frosts, and presents a very healthy appearance. It 
is true it cannot be considered as passed all danger from 
this source, but extensive injury rarely occurs after the 
month of Maich. Appearances at present indicate an 
early spring; the song sparrow, bluebird and robin, have 
already returned from their migration; the striped squir¬ 
rel is abundant in the forests, and the husbandman is al¬ 
ready in the field with his plow. Some ‘ snappish’ days 
we must expect, but to those, who, like ourselves, hail 
the advent of spring and summer as the opening anew of 
sources of health and enjoyment, present appearances 
give a promise that the days of wild flowers, singing 
birds, green fields, and leafy woods, are at hand. 
IMPROVEMENT OF CLAY SOILS. 
Messrs Editors— What method shall I take to reclaim 
worn-out land ? soil, stubborn clay. Will leached ashes 
or lime effect a cure ? If so, what proportion to the acre? 
E. H. Northrup. 
Shoreham, Vt. April 5, 1844. 
The great trouble with a clay soil, is its tenacity. The 
compactness of its particles, keeps, in wet weather, too 
much water on the surface; and in dry weather it ‘bakes,’ 
as we say—becomes so hard that it absorbs but little 
moisture, and cannot be penetrated by the roots of plants. 
Thus, on clay soils, vegetation is very likely to suffer in 
turns, both from an excess, and a deficiency of moisture. 
To guard against these difficulties, the first object should 
be to break this obstinate tenacity by a thorough loosen¬ 
ing. To keep the vegetable matters near the surface, 
where, especially on such soils, they are most effective 
in aiding the growth of plants, we would turn a rather 
thin furrow with the common plow, and follow with a 
sub-soil plow, running it as deep as the implement and 
the strength of the team would permit. This would al¬ 
low the surplus water to pass readily into the earth—the 
roots of plants would easily find their way in search of 
food—while, in time of drouth, the exhalation of moist¬ 
ure from below, as well as its absorption from the atmos¬ 
phere would be facilitated, and the growing crop would 
thus be protected from the evils of too much moisture at 
one time, and too little at another. 
As to the kinds of manure to be used, we should endea¬ 
vor to apply such as would tend to correct, as much as 
possible, the defects of the soil. From our own experi¬ 
ence, we should not expect much benefit from the use of 
ashes—their effects are more favorable on sandy soils. 
We would try both lime and gypsum, and if their effects 
proved to be such as would render their application profi¬ 
table, should use such quantities as seemed expedient. 
We should endeavor to induce the growth of clover, and 
if that crop could be made to flourish, it would be found 
a certain and great improver of the soil; and should gyp¬ 
sum operate well, a high degree of fertility might be 
gained by the use of that substance in connexion with 
clover. Animal manures of all kinds, if they can be had, 
should of course be applied, as they are valuable on soils; 
and if there was a chance to obtain saw-dust convenient¬ 
ly, and at small expense, we would us it liberally, hav¬ 
ing witnessed its effects in improving tenacious soils. 
It is proper to observe, that if draining should be ne¬ 
cessary, that should be the first object of attention. The 
loosening of the soil as above mentioned, will operate 
as a considerable drainage; but actual observation only 
can determine whether it will be sufficient. 
EXPERIMENTS. 
Well conducted experiments are of the greatest service 
to the cause of agriculture. Some of the most important 
improvements yet made, have resulted from experiments 
made with care, and directed with skill. Great means 
are not required to institute useful experiments; the most 
humble tiller of the soil may contribute his part, and fre¬ 
quently such have rendered more aid to the progress of 
farming than the rich. Let every farmer then select 
some subject important in itself, and capable of general 
application, and enter upon its prosecution w r ith a deter¬ 
mination to give it a fair trial, to ascertain the expense, 
the profits, the best mode of culture or treatment, and as 
far as he is able, settle that question not only for himself, 
but for the public. The farmer should allow no year to 
pass, without prosecuting investigations of this kind; and 
if properly conducted, he will soon have a mass of facts 
accumulated, having a direct bearing upon his soil, crops, 
culture, manures, and general management of his farm, 
of the greatest practical value. 
Corn given to fowls should be crushed and soaked in 
water; this helps digestion. 
