State Convention—Relation of Soil to Water. 325 
lime and sulphur. We know plants take up very little sulphur. 
Plaster is not a very good absorbant of water. It is the lowest ex¬ 
cept the silicious sands. The question would be this: Does it not 
act upon the gaseous and mineral matter in solution, that is brought 
from the atmosphere, condensing them and fixing them in the soil? 
Such would be the relation to nitrogen, condensing them and fix¬ 
ing them in the soil. Hence, I think it is very possible that the 
plaster may act in this relation to the soil, condensing and absorb¬ 
ing and fixing the gaseous matter that is brought into the soil in 
the water, and in atmospheric air. 
Mr. Benton: I would say that I have felt very thankful that 
the officers of this society, for the past three years, have brought 
into our midst men of scientific culture and education upon these 
matters. I have been as much interested in those papers, perhaps 
more, than in any others. I am in hopes we will have more of 
them. The light thrown upon the sphere of agriculture is revealed 
in. such a clear light, that it seems as though any person could 
comprehend it. The cultivation of the soil, and the relation of 
soil to water, are of primary importance. The more water passes 
through the soil, other conditions being equal, the greater will be 
your crop. That seems to be exactly the first conclusion to be de¬ 
rived from this paper. Science corroborates observation from ac¬ 
tual experiment. I practice this in my soil by thorough cultivation 
of the surface-soil, pulverizing it fine, causing moisture in the soil. 
Whence comes it ? It comes from the atmosphere being there con¬ 
densed. 
Mr. Allen: I wish to corroborate the statement the gentleman 
made in one particular; that is, in regard to the absorption by the land 
of ammonia from the decomposition of vegetable mold. I find the 
greatest benefit derived from manure by being spread on clover 
after the first crop is cut. 
Mr. Whiting: I would like to inquire how it is there is an ap¬ 
parent anomaly in the statements made in the papers read, and 
statements corroborated by experience. I allude to that statement 
in regard to cultivating the land to produce moisture. I have no¬ 
ticed frequently, that the more you cultivate corn-ground in a dry 
time the more moisture will come to the surface. Whether that 
moisture comes from the atmosphere by condensation, or whether 
t promotes evaporation by capillary attraction, I do not know. 
