108 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Silica, existing chiefly under the modification of sand, alumina under 
that of clay; and lime, as chalk, or carbonate, constitute the princi¬ 
pal earths ; magnesia and iron oxide in lesser quantity; other oxides 
and salts, in this general view, not particularised. 
« Organic matter alone, or decaying vegetable and animal matter, 
being the principal source of nourishment to plants ; the excessive 
accumulation of vegetable matter, however, in uncultivated wastes, 
forms, with water, inert peat, occasioning barrenness. 
u Water, having in solution extract, or juice from organic matter, 
being the nourishment absorbed by the roots of plants, in some de¬ 
gree as animals feed by their mouths, while at the same time they 
inhale with it air, as animals by their lungs.* Part of it is in a 
sponge, which is only half charged, to shew the manner in which 
soils should hold the solution, in order that plants, not naturally 
aquatics, may avail themselves of it; holding it by what is called 
capillary attraction—the soil being moist but not wet. The neces¬ 
sary air is excluded when soils are saturated with water, and when 
too dry, there is no solution—no food; in the one case plants are 
starved, in the other, are drowned. 
“ Earths, organic matter, water and air, or proper active soil.— 
The foregoing specimens and remarks, it is hoped, will make more 
plain the rationale of the general cultivation of the soil. Thus, 
among many other deductions, it is obvious— 
“1. That plants should have a regular supply of available food. 
Hence the primary advantage of thorough drainage, in retentive 
soils, as it enables plants readily to take up that food which the old 
system only lays before them, and then leaves them to pick a scant 
subsistence in regions of constant chill and suffocation. 
“2. That pulverization, by ploughing, &c. highly promotes the 
growth of plants; as it affords their roots a free range, increases 
the power of retaining water by capillary attraction, and thus en¬ 
sures a more extended and regular supply. Deepening the soil and 
using the subsoil plough powerfully augments the same advantages ; 
this last improvement at once converting the adverse and retentive 
subsoil into a dram in time of wet, and a reservoir in time of drought, 
and ultimately into good soil. 
“3. The replenishing the soil with organic matter, in the shape 
of manure, is absolutely necessary for the production of the extrac¬ 
tive juice for plants. Naturally they furnish this for themselves, by 
decay of their previously existing substance ; but, in cultivation, a 
continued cropping and carrying off the produce, without manuring, 
would soon reduce their fare to earths alone. 
“ 4. That the value of soils must depend much on their power of 
retaining the essentail nourishment, and serving it out liberally, and 
yet with economy, as vegetation requires. Heavy clays retain, but 
do not part with it liberally. Light sands and gravels neither retain 
nor serve it out with economy. By duly mixing these, the requisite 
power is communicated in the most perfect manner. Clay and sand 
are often found not far distant. Lime assists in either case; and by 
attention to constituent parts, other strata may be made available ; 
so that in many cases this fundamental improvement of the constitu¬ 
tion and texture of sods may be easily effected, yielding a greatly 
increased ratio of production, with a decreased ratio of outlay. 
“ Arrangement of Soils. —Agreeably to their constitution and tex¬ 
ture, in reference to the last mentioned powers and to cultivation, 
being the chief practical points of view, soils are arranged into— 
“ 1. Heavy. —Tenacious and adhesive in texture, heavy to work. 
—Spec, clayey. 
“2. Medium. —Betwixt heavy and light, exercising the due me¬ 
dium in nourishment, medium to work in part, but in whole requir¬ 
ing least labor and expense.—Spec, medium. 
“3. Light. —Open and porous in texture, light to work.—Spec. 
sandy, gravelly, peaty. 
« An advanced stage of fertility of any one of them is the loam of 
that kind or name. In describing any soil the comparative degree 
of fertility may be given, thus:—Poor clayey soil, clayey soil, and 
clayey loam, and so on of the others, giving also the kind of subsoil. 
When chalk abounds, the term chalky or calcareous, and when oxide 
of iron, the term ferruginous is included ; and in a full description, 
the degree of depth , dryness, or wetness.” _ 
PLANTING.—No. III. 
The following memoranda, regarding the gathering, preserving and 
sowing the seeds of forest trees, we trust will be found useful to all: 
* De Candolle is of opinion that the function of transmitting air extends 
through the whole of the vascular system. 
Magnolia. —The cucumber tree (M. acuminata') is indigenous in 
the southwestern counties of New-York. It is ornamental and 
grows to the size of a timber tree. Its wood is used in cabinet 
work and by the house joiner. The seed ripens in September, and 
should be sown as soon as ripe, in a well prepared peat and sand 
soil; and if not then sown, should he mixed, when dry, with dry 
peat earth, and in this way kept or transported. The other species 
of the Magnolia are either merely ornamental or are too tender for 
our latitude. 
Linden ( Tillia) or lime, or bass wood. There are two American 
and several European species of this tree. The red twigged, and 
some other European species, are extensively employed to embel¬ 
lish our towns and country seats. Sow the seed in autumn, in a 
shady border of light moist soil. The Linden is extensively propo- 
gated by layers. For this purpose the bole is taken off at the sur¬ 
face of the ground, which causes a multiplicity of sprouts to spring 
from the stool, and the second year these may be laid, will take 
root, and may be taken off and planted. 
Maple (Acer) —The sugar and soft maples are the most common 
and best to plant. The latter is one of the most rapid growing and 
hardy trees of our forest. The seeds of the first may be gathered 
in autumn, and immediately sown, in a bed of light mould; or, 
which is better, mixed with double their bulk of pulverized earth, 
laid upon the surface, and covered with an inch or two of mould, 
till the succeeding fall, and then sown—as they seldom grow before 
the second year. The seeds of the soft maple ripen in the last of 
May. If sown immediately after being gathered, they will vegetate 
quickly, and make plants the same season ten to twenty-four inches 
high. Both kinds seed abundantly. 
Walnuts. (Juglans) —This genera includes the Madeira nut 
( J. Regia) black walnut (J. nigra) and butternut ( J. cinneria.) 
Preserve the seed carefully and sow early in spring. The black 
walnut is peculiarly suited for planting. It grows rapidly, and 
makes a valuable material for the best cabinet and joiner’s work. 
It abounds in western New-York, Ohio, &c. It has grown with us 
nearly 40 feet, from the seed, in 14 years. The juglans does best 
in a moist soil. We shall speak particularly of the mode of pre¬ 
serving seeds in our next number. 
Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) is indigenous in the west, 
grows quick, and is readily propogated by seeds, which are best pre¬ 
served in their pods, and sown in the spring. This is nardly worth 
raising, except for ornament or hedges, and even for the latter 
purpose its usefulness is not yet fully established. 
Common Locust ( Robina psuedo-acacia.) —Sow at the time of 
planting corn, in drills two feet apart, in well prepared ground, ha¬ 
ving first swelled the seeds by pouring upon them scalding water. 
This is one of the most profitable trees that can be propagated. It 
multiplies readily by sprouts, grows rapidly on most soSs, and is 
highly valuable in naval architecture and for various purposes of the 
farm. It will bear cutting over every twenty or twenty-five years. 
Ash (Fraxinus.) —The white and black are the most common 
and valuable, and both have abundance of seeds. The first prefers 
a dry, the latter a moist soil. Gather the seed as soon as ripe, in 
autumn, and dry it in a cool airy loft. Sow in April in a bed of well 
prepared mould; the plants will appear the following spring; or, 
sow immediately when fresh gathered, and many seeds will vegetate 
the ensuing spring. The timber of the ash is extensively used in 
the mechanic arts, and for farm purposes. We are sorry to add, 
that some white ash of our planting have been attacked and des¬ 
troyed by a bore, or worm. 
Oak (Quercus) —There are many valuable American species. A 
rich loam, with a clayey sub-soil, brings the oak to the greatest 
perfection, but it may be profitably cultivated in almost any de¬ 
scription of soil, except boggy and peaty. Sow the beginning of 
November; or if deferred until spring, spread the acorns upon a 
cool dry floor, to prevent their sprouting or heating. 
Beech (Fagus) Abounds in most of the northern states, is much 
used in the mechanic arts, and affords excellent building timber and 
fuel. Sow in autumn or spring, in a sandy soil. The seeds often 
require protection from field mice and other vermin. 
O’ Note well, that all seeds of trees, not sown when gathered, 
should be dried in an airy situation, before they are packed for 
transportation or spring use, and some require then to be packed 
with dry sand or peat earth, lest they become rancid, and lose their 
germinating power. 
Chesnut —( Castania) —The only forest species are the common 
