Transactions of the State agricultural society of Michigan; with reports of county agricultural societies, for the year 1849-59. Pub. by order of the Legislature. v. [1]-11.

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a drouth so well, and why stiff clay soils are the first to suffer from
drouth. It is on the same principle, that a sponge becomes saturated with water upon bringing its under edge in contact with that fluid, the water ascending through all its pores. This is called capillary attraction, and It is a well ascertained fact, that its influence extends at least four feet into the earth. And thus deep and subsoil
plowing increase the supply of mineral elements, not only by hastening their decomposition, but by facilitating their ascent from below,
by attraction, as well as by means of the clover root.
We admit, of course, th It even under these circumstances, a long
course of cropping with wheat, no oftener than once in three years,
may so reduce the phosphoric acid, lime, potash, &c., as to affect the
crop. And in view of the liability to such a con tingency, as free a
use as possible of manures containing these elements, should be made;
and indeed, as we have said, no means either of restoring the elements drawn from the soil, or of adding to them, can be safely neglected.
And one word here in regard to clovering. Whether it is the better way to turn under the crop, or to feed it down, and give the land
the benefit of the manure which is dropped in consequence, there is
a difference of opinion, although most farmers who have tried both
ways, give the preference to the former. And we think the argument preponderates in its favor. It is a fact, of which any one who
takes the pains, may satisfy himself, that the roots of the clover plant
grow much larger when the top is suffered to attain to its full growth
than when kept pastured down, and it is from the decomposition of
the root that much of the benefit to the soil results.
Again, less than one-half of the substance of the clover consumed
by the animal, is voided in the excrements, while the other portion,
(fiom 55 to 60 per cent.,) most ot it goes off into the atmosphere in
the breath of the animal, as the result of chemical changes which
are carried on to keep up animal heat, and a portion of it is of course
appropriated to repairing and building up the system. These things
being so, it would seem to be manifest that the greatest benefit must
result from turning under the crop.
The idea that a grass crop of any kind becomes better fitted for
the food of plants by having been consumed by the animal and void