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166 AGRICULTURAL. DANIEL LEE, IS. D., Editor. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1859. PLAGIARISM IN THE PATENT OFFICE REPORTS. A writer in the Washington States , published at the federal metropolis, is giving column after column of extracts from English works on agri culture, which the Agricultural Clerk in the Pa tent office has copied, and palmed off on the Commissioner, the Secretary of the Interior, and Congress, as the production of his own gifted intellect, and original matter. Webster defines plagiarism to be “literary theft,” or stealing: and it is certainly the meanest kind of stealing when practiced systematically, as in the agricultural reports so largely printed and distributed by the general government. The Agricultural press may well inquire whether Congress is under any constitutional obligations to disgrace the agri cultural intelligence of the whole country, by publishing as American , such literary stealings as the following? D. J. R—The proper pe riod- for moving grass, so as to secure the largest amount of nutrient proper ties within it, being thus determined, the next con sideration is the preserva tion of those useful qualities in the hay. Experiments show, that out of the varions constituents of which this crop Is composed, the mu cilago, starch, gluten, and sugar (which are soluble in water) are alone retained in the body of an animal for the purposes of life, the bit ter extractive and saline matters being considered as 1 assisting or modifying the i functions of digestion rather than as being truly nutri tive parts of the compound, and being voided with the woody fibre, Ac. bre, &c. The above is a fair sample of the plagiarism of the whole essay of Mr. Browne— a perform ance that any school boy ten years old might have copied from an English work as well as he. American honesty and capacity are most in geniously affected by giving the civilized world to understand that the United States can pro duce nothing of their Own worth reading in re lation to their most important material interests; and therefore their annual agricultural reports emanating from Congre33, are made up partly of silly questions, asking old women and men to guess as to the number of geese in different States, and partly of matter copied from different authors without a particle of acknowledgement- We have generally treated these Patent Office reports as standing far below criticism ; yet we must express our regret that the Department of the Interior should be willing to bring discredit on American Agriculture by publishing as “sta tistics,” and “original” matter that betrays equal ignorance, error and deception. In the report for 1854, page 95, Mr. Browne, when de scribing Bird Island guauo, says: “ From care ful analyses, it has been ascertained that this substance is by far the richest source of phos phoric acid for the farmer yet discovered, as it contains eighty-four per cent, of dry superphos phate of lime." If Mr. B. had only a smattering of chemical knowledge, or ever studied agricultural text books at all, he would know that if the birds or other animals which furnish this Bird Island guano, subsisted exclusively on bones, their excrements would contain no super-phos phate of lime; for the obvious reason that bones yield no super-phosphate until treated with strong acids, like the oil of vitriol. On page 97 of the same volume, Mr. Browne says: “ All guanos liave'a general character running through them. For instance, they invariably contain feathers and comminuted shells; water of course; organic matter always; super-phosphate never ; and nitrogen or ammonia invariably.” Such are the palpable contradictions in these public official documents, compiled by an ignor ant, yankee schoolmaster, who really knows nothing of agricultural science, and therefore, copies from different works the most discordant statements, without the feeblest conception whether they are true or false. But as the last Commissioner of Patents, and the politicians in Congress know as little of rural sciences as Mr. Browne, he’has played off his shameless hum bugs for six years past, and possibly may do so for six years to come. His remarkable success has naturally produced many imitators. The Baltimore Rural Register of the first instant cop ies from the late transactions of the New Hamp shire State Agricultural Society, several columns from "the constituents necessary for the soil,” being an "Assay from the pen of Dr. Wji. Pres cott." This easay of Dr. P. follows one from our own pen, first published ten years ago, foun ded on much personal and laborious research, as nearly as these two paragraphs, with slight verbal changes: \ Dr. Lee. Phosphoric acid, ammonia, and potash are doubtless the most im portant elements in guano, and these substances are least abundant in nearly all cultivated lands. If we study the natural products of the earth in connection with the elements of fertili ty, we shall find that large, long-lived and thrifty forest trees grow only in soils which are rich in potash.— When the farmer has occa- < Sion to burn maple, elm, oak, walnut, hickory, beech, and i other hard-wood forest i trees, he finds them rich in this alkali; and he also finds that soils which pro duce this kind of timber are always good for agricultural purposes. Their produc tiveness is not to be ascribed to potash alone, for all the other elements ofcropsarc e qually present in unavailable form; but the existence of an abundance of magnifleentfor «'t potash-yielding trecswill never deceive the farmer as i to the natural capabilities of the soil. Hence, when a farmer can learn what a- gQTCKEM JPiU&ll Ml YX&3BBX3NB. Engllshman.—The pro i per season for mowing the t grass, so as to secure the largest amount of nutrient i properties within it, being - thus determined, the next • consideration is—the pres i ervation of these useful i qualities in the hay. Experiments show that out of the various constitu ents of which grass is com posed, the mucilage, starch, gluten, and sugar (which are soluble in water) are alone retained in the body of an animal for the purpo ses oi life, the bitter extrac tive and saline matters being considered as assisting or modifying the functions of digestion, rather than as be ing truly nutritive parts of the compound., ami being voided with the woody fi- Dr.Preseett.—Phosphor ic acid, ammt%ia and potash are the substanitss that are least abundant inSearly all cultivated lands, if we study the natural presets of the earth in connected with the elements of fertill ty, we shall find that large, long-lived and thrifty forest trees' grow only in soils which are rich in potash.— When the farmer has occa sion to bum maple, elm, oak, walnut, birch, and oth er hard-wood forest trees, he finds them rich in this alkali; and he also finds that soils that produce this kind of timber, are always ■ good for agricultural pur poses. Their productive ness is not to bo ascribed to potash alone, for all the oth er elements of available i crops, are equally present; but the existence of an a ; bundance of magnificent i potash-yielding forest tree will never deceive the far- I mer as to the natural capa cities of the soil. Hence, ' when a farmer can learn . what amount of potash 100 pounds of his soil contains mount of potash 100 pounds In an available condition, he of his soil or subsoil contuins may judge with, considera te an available condition ble safety of the natural re (for this alkali exists in com- sources of bis land. This bination with flint or silicic alkali exists in some soils as acid in an insoluble form), high as two per cent—a he may judge with consider- quantity, however, rarely able safety of the natural found—and in others, ten resources of his land. This thousand parts of earth yield alkali exists in some soils not one of potash, Such in a proportion as high as soils are always unproduc two per cent—a quantity tive, nearly barren, however, rarely found—and in others, ten thousand parts of earth yield not one of pot ash. Such soils are always nearly barren. If Prescott is not as good a plagiarist as Browne, he soon will be; and we commend him to Mr. Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, as worthy ofemployment, if for any reason the pres ent agricultural clerk has to be removed, Pres cott has this merit over Browne: he is not so careless and stupid as to contradict himself. — Browne attempted to ride several horses at the same time, some of which go in opposite direc ions. MANURE FOR FRUIT TREES. Dr. Daniel Lee : I am engaged in rearing an Apple and Pear Orchard of considerable ex tent, and desire to avail myself of all proper means for the judicious cultivation and rapid growth of trees. I have at my command a va riety of animal and vegetable fertilizers, but am at a loss in making such a selection from them as would be dictated by an intimate acquaintance with the constituent elements of growth in trees, and the composition of fertilizers. I have within my reach, without price, and in pretty large quantities, the following substances: 1. The droppings from extensive hog pens. 2. Hair, blood, bones, and other refuse mat ter from a large slaughtering establishment. 3. Charcoal dust, somewhat mixed with wood ashes, thrown out from the ash pans of locomo tives. 4. Hair and spent lime, from an extensive tannery. 5. Quick lime and ashes. 6. Black mold from spring branches, com posed wholly of decayed leaves. Now, which of these substances, and in what proportions can I employ to advantage in pro moting the growth, longevity and productive ness of Apple and Pear trees, both dwarf and standard. If any of the artificial manures can be advan tageously employed, which of them would you suggest? ' Pyres. Tennessee, September, 1859. Our correspondent possesses rare advantages for obtaining several of the best fertilizers known to the most advanced agriculture; and ho may use them as well to secure superior or chards and large crops of apples and pears, as to command the most abundant harvests of grain and cotton. It is rare that fruit trees are pushed forward too rapidly by the application of an excess of rich manure, like that from hog pens and slaughter-pens, yet the bearing of a young orchard might be delayed by such means several years, if not indefinitely. The efforts of nature would be wholly directed to the produc tion of wood and leaf-buds, so that large and barren trees would characterize this preternatu ral development. Seek the mean between a sur feit of plant food, and a feeble growth from the want of it. Remember that, were you to bum a pear tree or an applo tree, and give the ashes obtained therefrom to a chemist for analysis, he would find that lime salts constituted not far from one-half of the same. This fact explains why a calcareous soil is generally favorable to the pro duction of fruit and fruit trees. Give all the ground in your orchards a liberal dose of lime from the tan-yard,or elsewhere, at the rate of 100 bushels per acre. Apply the locomotive coal and ashes about your trees, and somewhat further than the roots extend, as a lasting rather than a rich fertilizer. For the latter, use the hog-pen manure, blood, hair, Ac., mixed with decayed forest leaves, charcoal dust, or with the natural soil of the orchard. Manure as you would to produce twelve barrels of corn to the acre, and cultivate the ground over all the roots of the trees, but be careful not to injure them with the plow, or other implement of tillage. Our plow men damage young trees outrageously, and yours will do the same, unless you watch them. "Work with the hoe near the trees. Whitewash them with lime, to keep the rabbits from eating the bark in cold weather, or cover them with straw tied about the trees. Mulch in summer to keep the roots from suffering in dry weather, and protect the stems or bodies of the trees from the direct rays of the sun on the south and south-west sides. Prune so as to make low and spreading tops, that will shade the trunks of the trees, and produce fruit within reach. Look out for the cotton-aphis, which is the worst enemy to Southern fruit trees. ■ m . AGRICULTURAL ADDRESSES. Hon. Edward Everett has accepted an in vitation to deliver an address at the Georgia State Fair, to be held in Atlanta, from the 24th to the 28th of October. Hon. H. W. Hilliard will deliver the Annual Address before the Alabama State Fair, on the l?th November. Lieutenant M. F. Maury has accepted an invitation to deliver the annual address before the North Alabama Agricultural and Mechani cal Association, to be held at Decatur, on the 10th inst Crab Grass and Pea Hay. —Dr. Ware, of Athens, informs us that he has made fifteen two borse loads of good pea vine hay on two acres, which produced a good crop of wheat this year. This is equal to some three or four tons to the acre, and a nrop really worth having. Mr. Martin’s meadow at the foot of the Sand- Hills, near this (which we have just visited) shows a large yield of Crab-grass hay that is put up in three or four four times more stacks than it ought to be. The exposure of so much outside surface to rains andsunshine to ruin the hay is extremely bad economy. [gg”The first fair of the AbbeviUc District So ciety will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, 19th and 20th of October. The Hon. A. Burt will deliver the annual address on Thursday. • sweep HUSBANDRY. The day is not remote when sheep husbandry will form a prominent feature in the agricultural industry of t|ie cotton-growing States. Among the breeds ofi sheep worthy of care and culture, alike for theif wool and flesh, the South-Down and Cotswold stand pre-eminent. One of the handsomest South-Down sheep ever raised in this country, was bred by Mr. J. C. Taylor, of Holmdel, M< nmouthcounty, N. J., called “Mas ter Fordhan ” which was sold to Messrs. Mowe & Haines, i f Sacramento, Cal., last year, for S3OO. We jive, in this number, a true like ness of this fine animal Considered as a dis tinct breed, the South-Downs are hardy, com pact, and e ccellent feeders, of medium size, good nurses and quite prolific. Their mutton is famous fa a due mixture of fat and lean meat, and is free fi yin that excess of tallow which dis tinguishes improved Cotswold. Os the latter, we also give' a likeness of the imported ram “Cedric.” The fleece of this breed is much used for combing and making all worsted goods. Col- Ware, of Virginia, gives the preference to the Cotswold sheep. He thus describes them in a letter to the EditO’of the Country Gentleman: Luther Tuckej, Esq.—ln compliance with your request I fend you this notice of my sheep: I had a fyck of good sheep, but found, besides the fleeefl. each sheep at 4 years old on grass, would not command more than $2 50— the best, fed on grain in the winter, would bring over $4 00. To Ripply a butcher each year a lot of fat sheep of a farmer’s own raising, would require him to katp 4 lots on hand to sell one— the fleece but line more than paying for the keep. To rely up>n a fleece alone for profit, was too insignificant a matter. At the highest prieo per pound given h the United States, it would require too many sheep to make a small sum of money. Not beifc' satisfied with this state of things, I determhed to purchase some of the large mutton sheep of England, the improved Cotswold, and tr what could be done with them; and as independent of the pride, I believe it the true policy to have the best, as it soonest returns the outlay I imported, I do import each year, winners of tiie high prizes of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. If they beat England, I must surely have the purest bred and best. I soon found, alter putting 3 crosses of my imported bucks on my ordinary flock, that the fleece greatly increased in weight, and sold for as much per pound as the fleece of the ordinary sheep, and I sold the mutton from these crosses (not thorough brel) without difficulty, the fall after one year old, for $lO each on the farm, so that I sell out clean every year, keeping none over the winter, but the breeding ewes and the lambs of the same spring. You will see from my circular sent you, by remarks of others about my sheep, that I have sold some mutton for $35 and $25 each, and you will see from the number of pounds of washed wool to the fleece, that we make more money to the fleece than any other breed. I send yon samples of wool—the longest is from a fleece of 18J lb.—the next 17^ —the next 16—the next 14—the growth being from the shearing of 1853 to that of 1854. Ail is not so long. 1 have had it longer. I always wash my sheep before shearing, but admit that the flock from raising lambs and losing .some wool, average only 6 lbs. washed. We never Bell under 30 cents per lb., and sometimes get 40, and you will seo we still make as much money or more to the fleece than any other breed. Selling out clean every year enables ns to keep all our sheep of the most profitable size—ewes that bring us lambs every year ,(aDd being prolific) mostly bring twins and wool too. We are never overstocked. The butcher is always ready for the overplus. I consider the improved Cotswold the most profitable sheep for general farming purposes (wool and mutton), for while I formerly sold one mutton 4 years old for $2 50 on grass, and $4 00 on grain in the winter, in the same time, be sides getting more money for fleece, I sell 4 of this breed for S4O; and that profit is in that proportion, allowing that each bring the same number of lambs,* for I never sell one of them the fall after one year old for less than $lO each, part bred at that—butchers have offered $6 and $8 each for some lambs , and been refused. The thorough bred are too much in demand, and too costly to alter. Seeing these results, naturally the farmers in this section have occasionally procured of me rams and improved their flock, until this little county of Clarke that I live in, has now a repu tation for mutton probably unequalled by any State in the Union. Is it not the true policy of the farmer to keep that breed which will produce the greatest amount of money from the smallest number? It is not unusual in this county, for a flock of from 40 to 50 ewes, part bred, to yield in mutton and wool, each year, from S6OO to $650. I know it is a theory with some that these large sheep require more food to sustain them than the small breed. Some say double. My experience is the reverse. I cannot, nor can any person else, form any correct idea of the fact on grass, but nearly correct conclusions can be arrived at when you feed them on grain for the butcher. In this way I have tested it. I have, beginning at the same time, fed a lot of ordinary sheep, 7 years old, the pick of 700 good ones, and a lot of yearling Cotswolds, the samo number in adjoining fields, the most indif ferent field to the Cotswold—the same amount fed at the same time to each lot. The former always eat up clean, and wanted more; the lat ter always left some, and were sold rolling fat, for $lO each; the former not until some time in March; then with difficulty and grumbling by the butcher for $4 00 each, having the advantage of the others also in age. I have come to the conclusion that at least 2 (I believe 3) Cotswold, even yearlings, can be fattened well for the butcher on the grain it takes to fatten one of the others of any age. The Cotswolds have great propensity to take on fat, are always mutton. Indeed, you cannot lay the fat on any other, as you can on them. It is their nature. All others travel a great deal, and ramble off their food. The Cotswold are heavy, sluggish sheep—fill themselves and lay down and ruminate like cat tle, and thus convert their food into fat, instead of rambling it off, and it is to this sluggish qual ity, I ascribe the fact that I have never lost a thorough-bred by dogs: they do not jump up and run when anything comes into the field, thus tempting dogs in the chase, They are large sheep: have been brought in England, by full treatment at 3 years old, thorough bred, to nett for the butcher over 300 lbs. Can any other breed of sheep give from $2 to $5 in fleece in the spring he is OBe year old, and in the fall of *“11 ewes brought 23 living lambs—6 of the 11 brought 16 lambs—one of the 5 brought 4—the other 4 brought 8 la.n.s each.” the same year, without fail, $lO as a mutton, and draw butchers hundreds of miles to get them at that, as they do here every year? can cattle do so? and they have no fleece? Can they give $lO even the fall after one year old ? and they consume infinitely more per head. Then what animal can be so profitable to the farmer as the Cotswold sheep for general farm ing purposes, returning its outlay with such cer tainty, so speedy, and so unceasingly? Josiah Wm. Ware, Near Berry ville, Clarke Co., Virginia. -m Burnt Corn, Ala., Oct. 4th, 1859. Messrs. Editors: —After noticing in the Field and Fireside ” an article from the N. Y. Obser ver, upon kyanizing wood, I am resolved upon making an inquiry concerning the use of Rosin Oil for the same purpose. Please inform me, as will as the numerous other readers of your paper, through the next issue of the same, or as soon as convenient, whether or not this oil is beneficial in preserv ing wood, especially the shingles of the roof of a house ; also, the manner of applying it for the same. Very respectfully yours, Itiiiel Lee. Any oil is useful to preserve shingles or wood but the use of some mineral paint, like white lead, is generally thought to improve the preser vative quality of the oil. In ordinary hands, kyanizing has proved a failure We can show our correspondent a place on the Genesee Val ley Canal, where ten thousand dollars was soon lost in a patent kyanizing establishment, of a recent date. Plows and Stock. —Calling on Messrs. Car michael & Bean to purchase a couple of their superior wrought steel, two-horse plows, which are just the thing for fall plowing, we visited Mr. Carmichael s place to see a fine cow which has a pair of twin Devon calves of great beauty, and so nearly alike in form, size and color that no one can distinguish the one from the other, al though five months old. This cow and her off spring ought be exhibited at the State Fair, to be held at Atlanta on the 24th instant. South Carolina Institute Fair.— As will be seen by our advertising columns, the Insti tute Fair will be opened in Charleston, on the 15th of next month. Col. Alfred P. Aldrich, of Barnwell District, has accepted an invitation to deliver the annual address. Key West, Florida, ) Sept. 25,1859. f Dr. D. Lee — Dear Sir: In your department of the Southern Field and Fireside, I noticed some time since an ar ticle on the cultivation of the Date—in which the writer directs attention to the Florida Keys, as being probably well adapted for its growth. About the time that the paper containing that article reached me, I was shown by a gentleman residing here, a large Date tree, loaded with fruit—which had borne very full for several years, but had never brought any fruit to perfec tion. The dates grow to be of full size, of a bright yellow color, and then drop. Whether this is the color of the date when ripe, I do not know, having never seen any except when pre served, and they, as you know, are nearly black. He and several other gentlemen of this place, asked me to request you to write an article on the subject of the cultivation of the date; and to beg of you, if you please, to give some direc tions as to the proximity of the male and female trees, and the manner of fructifying the bearing tree, so as to make it bring its fruit to full matu rity. The date tree grows to be a very large size tree, and bear large quantities of fruit; and I have no doubt that their cultivation would be a profitable business, if the people only under stood the art. Please tell us in your article, what is the color of the date, before it is preserved. Yours respectfully, J. 0. Branch. Seasonable Hints. —Hogs should be fattened before the very cold weather sets in. The fall is the best time for fattening animals of every kind, as the weather is then neither too hot nor too cold. There will not bo much corn to spare this year; we advise farmers to make up their hogs and get rid of them as soon as possible. From buildings of every kind generally require some alteration or repairs before winter. This w ork should not be deferred to a more convenient season; it is always pleasant to have these things done in proper time. Cattle and sheep require warmth and shelter, and much food may be economised by attending to their wauts in this way and protecting them from the rigors of win ter. A Late F'ai.l Predicted. —A gentleman of Clarksburg, who is something of an amateur naturalist, and has for years taken great delight m'studying the habits of insects, birds, beasts, «c., informs the editor of the Register, of that place, that he lias noticed for several years past that the martins invariably leave us on the Bth, 9th or 10th of August. This year they still re main, although it is now the 19th of August.— He predicts from this that we will have a late fall, and that the farmers need not be afraid that the frost will hurt their corn. Swine are often troubled with a disease, (so denominated by veterinarians,) the ‘kidney worm.’ Corn soaked in very strong lye, made of wood ashes, is said to be an infalible reme dy. Salt and brimstone, in small quantities, are a preventive, and indeed, the only one known. Comfortable quarters and good food are of really more importance in the successful management of these animals than many are inclined to sup pose, and should never, on any account be ne glected. —t- ~ttt mmt Good Cropping.—We have it on undoubted authority, that a young man in Natchitoches, Martin Barnes, by liis own labor, aided only three months by one hired hand, has raised a crop of cotton, for Which one of his neighbors offered him, a few days ago, fifty bags of cotton, just as it stood in the latter part of August. He had in cultivation thirty-five acres, and the en tire yield, it is thought by good judges, will be seventy bags, worth, nett, at fair calculation, three thousand five hundred dollars ! His outlay, beyond his own labor, was not more, perhaps, than fifty dollars. What stock he worked, we have not been informed; but not probably more than one horse, for we know one plow steadily plied is capable of cultivating 35 acres of cotton on light soil in a favorable sea son, as tin- last has boon. — Natchitoches (La.) C ■■ run >cle, hit inst. TVe publish the following communication, mainly for comment hereafter, with a view to point out popular errors : [For the Sonthem Field and Fireside.] GREAT STERILIZING POWER OF CULTIVA TION—SOU—MANURES . SECTION I. Twenty years ago, I cleared a new ground of fifty acres. It lay tolerably well The trees were lofty and beautiful, the soil light, loamy and rich. While fresh, it brought about 30 bush els of corn to the acre, and 1,500 pounds of cotton. This field I planted, in succession and alter nately in com and cotton, for ten years. I se lected a spot in it of less than an acre, not sub ject to waste by rain-water. On this spot, I planted nothing for ten years, but cultivated it just as the balance of the field. On the eleventh and twelth years, I planted this spot with the whole field, in corn and cotton. These two crops showed that this fresh, unplanted spot, bad grown poor, in the same ratio precisely, as where heavy crops had been grown every year. The soil, too, had undergone all the apparent changes, the same as where the field had been planted. It had become more firm in its con texture ; lost much of its dark, carbonaceous appearance, nearly all its vegetable mould, or humus, as it is called. The progressive sterili ty was the same in the whole field. Many other observations have confirmed this same truth; and I will venture that any man can be convinced, that ground well cultivated, leaving the same amount of vegetable matter upon it, will grow poor just as fast, as the same ground well cul tivated with heavy crops. Now the truth is only in “ the facts,” and the facts are the reason or “ nature of things.”— False facts and false experience have ever op erated the most obstinately and energetically in retarding progressive knowledge. Let us seize the true facts here, if we may, and draw from them several important probabil ities. 1. That plants, in organizing their structures, do not consume or take any of the solid sub stance from the soil in which they grow. 2. Consequently that the analysing of soils to ascertain what elements they need proper for the growing of the desired crop or crops, is a vain and useless labor—the presumptive pom posity of science. 3. That since plants do not derive any of their solid substance from the soil like the animals they .nourish, they return nothing substantial to it in their final decomposition. 4. That the action of the soil and of all ma nures on plants, is by the nutritive stimulations they offer to their vital properties. Stimuli are nature's provisions for movements and changes. 5. That the gases and liquids which the soil and manures evolve, are the true nutriflers of plants. They offer themselves, at once, to the plastic force of formation, or to their assimila tion ; enter into their structures, and form their solid substance. 6. That cultivation is the greatest and most potent sterilizer. By tearing up the soil, and exposing it directly to the tremendous, preda tory action of the sun and atmosphere, the nu tritive gases are uselessly and wastefully ex ploded from their bases, where nature had lock ed them up in chains of adamant for future use; are wafted off by the winds, and, in a few years, all are wasted by the plow, which would have produced luxuriant crops for many long ages. 7. That the only means we have left to plow and plant successfully, are by constantly restor ing back to the soil those substances, which hold the nutritive gasses firmly in their bases, ready to be exploded for the growth and de velopment of the plants wo cultivate. These substances are all the bodies, that have had life. 8. That all manures should be kept in dark, dry, and cool places, isolated from all exposure, to prevent, much as possible, the premature ex plosion, or decomposition, before the time of planting. 9. And lastly. That the resting of land is a powerful means of retarding sterility. Let us now return rapidly back on these pro babilities, and crowd in a nut shell, if we can, what, decently told, would swell many ponderous tomes. SECTION H. 1. That plants do not take any ponderable, or solid substance from the soil in which they grow, can, and has been proved by direct exper iment. I cannot do better here, than by quoting from the most celebrated experiments ever made or recorded in history—l mean those of the Florentine academics. (Gregory Econ. of Nat., vol. 4.) These learned men were selected alone for their ability, and called together by their sovereigns, who nobly flung down their purses at their feet, and said: “ Institute experiments and discover the means of making more bread for the people.” An iron box japaned over with a cover was prepared. This box was filled with soil made perfectly dry; a willow-tree planted in it, and all ingress excluded. At the end of fifteen years, this tree was taken up, the dirt washed careful ly from the roots, and replaced. The tree weigh ed 666 lbs. On drying again, and reweighing the soil, it was found to have neither gained nor lost any appreciable weight, although it had grown a tree of 666 lbs. I believe such experiments have been often made; I will recite no more. 2. The analysis of plants to ascertain the ma terials or ingredients contained in their struc ture ; and then, the analysis of the soil to discover whether these iugredients are present or absent, and if absent, to supply them by art, constitute the great scientific basis of modern agriculture more property terra-culture. How beautiful, how specious and captivating this theory! but how unsatisfying to the mind, that hungers only for the truth! How easily it is comprehended, and a man in profound ignor ance can become a philosopher in a moment, his mind satisfied with reason 1 The first idea I ever had of this theory, was in reading the Ag. Chem. of Sir 11. Davy. This great man in analyzing wheat straw, found silex or sand. The idea of supplying soils with sand, where there was none, to help nature to make wheat straw, was of easy occurrence. The idea spread over Europe and America, and the theo ry was every where bom full grown, at the same time. It is the theory of the materialists, who behold in all minds, in all lives, nothing but the displays of chemical attraction. In their mad transcendentalism, they forgot that all lives are the breath of the Divinity, impressed on all the forms at first, which they have preserved, to run the long race of all time; that these forms pos sess an attractive force, a higher plastic affinity, which can elaborate from the soil, even in the absence of the chemical bases, all the needed materials, and sliape their organs. Accordingly, Spallanzani fed chickens on food, which contained no lime. It might have been expected, there would be no shells on their eggs. But when the eggs came, their vital chemistry had elaborated the lime in the absence of the basis, and clothed them with good, strong shells. From analogy and from the facts, the plastic