the first of that race and name. This horse lived to a
great age, and his progeny, which were very numerous,
Of the blood
were of unrivalled excellence as roadsters.
of the Sherman Morgan on the side of his dam, we know
nothing, but hope to obtain more particulars in future.
In 1831 this horse was kept by Col. Sam'l Jaques, at the
Ten Hills farm, Charlestown, Mass. Col. J. considered
him a horse having a rare combinatlon of valuable
qualities.

Though we never had the good fortune to see the Sherman Morgan, we saw many of his foals, and without disparaging other horses, can safely say, that they were, as road horses, superior to any other stock with which we have been acquainted. It will be recollected that Mr. Hill's horse Black Hawk, spoken of in our June number, is a son of the Sherman Morgan.

Perhaps there is not at the psesent time in existence, a horse which possesses more of the characteristics for which the Morgans are justly esteemed, than Black Hawk. He is certainly a noble and beautiful animal, and we cannot but think well calculated to produce a highly valuable stock. We say this from conviction, and with no other mo ive whatever than a wish to benefit the public.

very flourishing in many places, and we were told produced abundantly.

In the garden of the Hon. Ezra Meech, Shelburne, we found vegetation more forward than it was generally in the gardens of this city and Troy at the same time. At this we were somewhat surprised, especially, as besides being more than a hundred miles farther north than Albany, it was located immediately on the verge of Lake Champlain, naturally exposed to the full sweep of the coldest winds. We soon discovered, however, that the garden was completely protected by a belt of white ceder-the American Arbor vita. This had so broken off the cold winds that the effect was equivalent to a transfer of the spot several degrees to the south. This is a striking example of the advantages of protection from cold by means of evergreens-a means which ought to be generally adopted in the northern states, and all bleak, exposed sections. Mr. Meach has a pretty conservatory, well filled with plants, which, together with the garden, appear to be well managed. We regretted that circumstances prevented our examining Mr. Meech's extensive farm. We understood him to say that he kept two thousand sheep, and two hundred cattle, &c.

FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURING.-Few sections of And here our Vermont friends will permit us to sug- the country can compare in this respect with those porgest, that, in order to secure as far as possible, the valuations of Vermont through which we passed. The valley ble properties for which their horses have heretofore of the Otter-creek, especially, possesses an almost incalobtained such extensive notoriety, an Association for the culable water-power, but a small portion of which, comImprovement of the Breed, be at once organized. The paratively, is yet improved. In the space of eleven miles, from the commencement of the rapids above congeniality of the soil and climate of Vermont to pro- Middlebury-falls, to the foot of the falls at Vergennes, duce the best of horses for certain purposes, has been there is an aggregate fall of three hundred and ten feet. shown and acknowledged by the high estimation in which many of them have been held wherever known. For a large portion of this distance, the banks of the sites for the erection of manufacturing buildings. EsAnd had so valuable a stock as the Morgans originated in stream are solid, affording numerous level and excellent England, or in any country where superior animals are tablishments for the manufacture of wool, and for other properly valued and the principles of breeding duly regarded, there can be no question that a successful effort purposes, are now in operation at Middlebury, Weywould have been made to prevent its deterioration. But bridge, and Vergennes. We were informed that they what, it may be asked, has been done in this case? In all do a successful business, and it is believed that a fur. stead of efforts to preserve and improve their peculiar ther investment of capital might be extensively and prostock, is it not a fact that the practice in general has been fitably made here. We would invite the attention of manufacturing capitalists to these facilities. quite akin to that of the boy, who, according to the fable, "killed the goose which laid the golden egg?" In the anxiety to realize immediate profits, ultimate consequences have too often, it is feared, been overlooked; and the tempting offers of a hundred, or a hundred and fifty dollars, have too frequently induced the farmer to part with a valuable mare, apparently regardless of the fact that by doing so he was depriving himself of an important pecuniary resource. In this way much of the best breed. ing stock has been taken away from Vermont, and worn out in the stages.coaches and other carriages of other states, without being allowed to "increase and multiMr. Morse devotes his farm principally to keeping ply." This has so far operated to lessen the number of good horses in the state, that there are not now, proba- sheep, though he is under the necessity of keeping conbly, as many as there were a few years ago. The object siderable other stock, (horses and cattle,) to carry on all of such an assoiciation as is suggested, should be to se- his operations. Cattle are also sometimes fatted for inarcure the best mares and stallions for breeding-an object ket, but this branch has latterly been found less profitwhich beyond all doubt might be effected with advantageable than wool-growing. He has two thousand sheep, to the individuals engaged in it, and still greater advan-nearly all of which are of the Merino and Saxon blood. tage to the public. We trust that the obvious necessity The whole flock averaged last year a fraction over three of the case will induce some effective action among those farmers who are desirous that Vermont should maintain her pre-eminence for rearing valuable horses.

At Addison, we saw the horse Eclipse, owned by Mr. E. Long, Cambridge, N. Y., which received the first premium of the New-York State Agricultural Society in 1842. This horse, we believe, is a son of the celebrated American Eclipse. We should suppose him to be an animal well calculated to produce horses of large size, with fine form and spirit.

FARM OF HENRY S. MORSE.

Among the fine farms we visited during our excursion to Vermont, we were not more pleased with any than with that of Mr. HENRY S. MORSE, situated in Shelburne, Chittenden county, about six miles from Burlington. It consists of one thousand acres, lying in a body. Its 10cation is beautiful, being on a large swell, commanding a fine view of the lake and the interesting scenery on either side, for a wide extent.

pounds per fleece. He pursues a very judicious course with his wethers. He always feeds them well, and at three and four years old they receive high feeding through the winter, are sheared as early as the season will permit, and sold soon after, to be driven to Brighton for slaughter. Mr. Morse had, when we were there, as soon as they could be shorn, and were considered two hundred weathers which would be ready for sale worth $2,50 per head. They were the best lot we ever saw of that breed-fat and large. They yielded on an average last year five and a half pounds of wool, worth We were shown some mares of excellent points. forty cents per pound, or $2,20 each. He has also anAmong the best were those of Mr. Y. G. Drake and Mr. other lot, younger than these, which will be ready for sale next season. He raises peas and potatoes for feedJewett, Weybridge, and Mr. Langdon, of New Haven. ORCHARDS, FRUITS &C.-Though the winters of Ver- ing his sheep and other stock in winter. He is much in mont are long and cold, the hardier fruits, as the apple, favor of the pea for sheep. The crop is mowed, properWe have never seen finer ly cured, put in the barn and fed out to the fatting sheep pear, and plum, thrive well. The storeapples than we tasted at several places. Some Spitzen-in winter, without threshing. He finds this the most bergs shown us by Mr. H. S. Morse, Shelburne, were su-valuable crop he can raise for that purpose. perior examples of that noted fruit. Plum-trees appear sheep are likewise fed with peas in small quantities.

The potatoe is well liked, in connection with other food, for sheep, and particularly for fatting cattle. The stock fatten well on it, and the beef is of good quality. The only objection to the potatoe, is the difficulty of feeding it in cold weather.

WASHING SHEEP.-Mr. Morse's plan for doing this is worthy of notice. A dam is thrown across a small, clear and rapid stream, near his barns. The bottom of the pond thus raised, is so covered with small stones that it is impossible to make the water muddy or sandy in the least. A platform is laid from which the sheep are taken into the water, and when their wool is cleaned, they pass out by a hard, McAdamized bank, to a clean grass-lot on the opposite side. Four men can work in the water at once, and two thousand sheep may be completely washed here in one day.

BARNS AND WINTER SHELTER.-Mr. Morse's barn and fixtures for winter sheltering and feeding, are well arranged. The yards are well protected from the coldest winds by sheds attached to the barns. In the sheds are racks and feeding boxes sufficient to accommodate the sheep in bad weather. In fair weather they are mostly fed out of doors. When the yards are covered with snow and are hard and clean, they are sometimes foddered on the snow. Water is brought in an aqueduct, and there are troughs in each yard through which the water is constantly running.

GRASS LANDS.—Mr. Morse mows about three hundred acres annually. The average yield of hay is one and a half to two tons per acre. He has one field of sixty acres, beautifully set in grass. He prefers plowing his meadows or grass lands as little as possible. The first object is to get them as level and smooth as possible, and the grass thick and even. When the sward becomes bound or the grass declining, manure is spread on in autumn, made fine and worked in with a bush or harrow. The ground is naturally moist, and the manure being put on at this season of the year is not wasted by evaporation. The fields show that the system answers well. FENCING, DRAINING, &c.—A considerable part of Mr. Morse's farm, was naturally too wet. In the division of the farm by fences, he has had regard to remedying this defect. Trenches have been dug to the depth of two or three feet, (according to the nature of the ground as to wetness,) and filled with small stones, of which there have been considerable quantities on some parts of the The trenches so filled answer the purpose of drains, and the fences are erected on them. What is called "half wall," is a kind of fence quite commonly made on the farm. It consists of stones, the largest of which would not probably weigh over two hundred pounds, laid up in a double row, to the height of two and a half to three feet, and the fence finished by two boards or rails, the posts for which are set before the stones are laid up. Besides these trenches other drains have been made and covered. In this way, many acres, which, when Mr. Morse came into possesssion of the farm, a few years ago, were nearly worthless, now constitute some of his best lands for hay.

farm.

MAPLE SUGAR.-The manufacture of this article is carried on to a greater extent in Vermont than in any other part of the Union. It is now in many cases produced with profit, and no doubt may be made a source of considerable income. We were surprised at the quantity of sugar which is produced from a tree. We saw a handsome sample of a hundred and thirty-six pounds made from twelve trees, by Mr. Isaac Landon, Cornwall. Mr. Morse made a thousand pounds, and Mr. Lyman Hall, a neighbor of Mr. Morse's, made twelve hundred pounds last spring. We have samples of Mr. Morse's which are excellent. The whole lot would readily command ten cents per pound. The process of manufacture has been much improved of late. Mr. M. now boils the sap in shallow pans, and it is "stirred off in graining. But as we do not fully understand the business, we hope Mr. Morse or Mr. Hall will furnish an article in relation to it.

The quantity of sugar that might be produced from an acre properly planted with the sugar maple, has never, perhaps, been ascertained; but we have no doubt that at least fifteen hundred pounds might be easily obtained.)

Allowing one tree to a square rod, or a hundred and sixty to the acre, and estimating the produce at ten pounds to the tree, (which is less than is frequently got,) the aggregate produce would be sixteen hundred pounds. The trees might often grow on land not valuable for other purposes, as on rocky hill-sides, and by the borders of fields and high ways-so set as not to keep the roads wet by their shade. What are called "second growth" trees are preferred for sugar. They have generally larger tops and more leaves, by which the sap is probably better elaborated.

TRIAL OF THE CENTRE DRAFT PLOWS.
MR. JAMES PEDDER, general agent for the sale of

Prouty and company's CENTRE DRAFT PLOWS, brought
to this city in May last a number of these implements.
They being comparatively but little known in this vicini-
ty, several persons were desirous that a public trial should
be made with them under the supervision of a judicious
and impartial committee. This was more especially
wished, as an unfavorable report had reached this country
in regard to the performance of this plow, and that of
Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse and Mason, at the exhibition of
the Royal Agricultural Society of England last year. The
work of the American plows at this trial was represented
as decidedly bad—a result for which we are wholly una-
ble to account, except on the ground of the plowmen not
being well acquainted with the somewhat peculiar con-
struction and operation of these plows. We have seen
the operation of several of the most celebrated English
and Scotch plows, which have been brought to this coun-
try, among which we will name that of the celebrated
Ransome plow, which received the highest prize at the
English trial referred to. With the exception of this,
we are confident we have seen no imported plow, which,
everything considered, can be deemed equal to the Ame-
rican plows mentioned. The Ransome plow which we
saw, was imported a few years since. It is unquestion-
ably a good one. Some late improvements are said to
have been added, of which we cannot speak. We know
not what would have been the result of a comparative
trial of this with the best plows made in this country;
we however hope that such trial will yet be made-but
at present we can only express our concurrence gene-
rally with the conclusions of the committee in regard to
the work of the Centre Draft Plow, as set forth in the
following report:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

We whose names are underwritten were solicited to ex

amine the Centre Draught Plow and witness its performance, at the farm of T. Hillhouse, Esq. The performance of this duty was certainly far from being courted by any one of us. But having been selected for that purpose, it would have been uncourteous to have declined; and having performed the duty, it is incumbent upon us to report the result of our examination. We have no desire, we must state in the outset, unduly to magnify the Centre Draught Plow, nor to praise unduly its performance. Neither can we be prevailed upon (even if desired so to do) to undervalue all or any of the various new and improved plows now before the agricultural community, which are brought in competition with it. But we nevertheless willingly report truly and fairly the facts in the case.

The committee are almost strangers to each otherinhabitants of different parts of the state-chiefly, if not entirely, practical men, and accustomed to use (and perhaps prejudiced in favor of) other plows. Yet, with entire unanimity, we concur in the opinion that the Centre Draft Plow is not surpassed by any plow with which any of us are acquainted. The work performed by it is equal in excellence to any thing we have ever seen, and performed with as little labor and fatigue by both plowman and team, as it could, in our opinion, possibly be done.

Perhaps nothing more than the above need be said, as it comprises in general terms all that we can say, cr that can be desirable to say. However we will add: This plow can be adjusted with the greatest nicely,

both as respects the depth of the furrow and the width
of furrow slice, with perfect facility and ease.
We are quite sure that it runs very light and is of
course easy for the team. But we did not make any
trials with the dynamometer, and therefore are unable
to make any comparative statement, between the draught
of this plow and that of others. All we pretend to offer
upon this point, is the result of our observation upon the
apparent effort and fatigue of the team, a conclusion
which can be relied on to some extent, though we ad-
mit, far from being conclusive. We however would
remark, by way of fortifying our opinion, that at the
celebrated trial of plows, made at Worcester, a year or
two since, this plow bore off the premium of one hun-
dred dollars, after a very severe competition with some
of the most celebrated plows. So far as the plowman
is concerned, we can with certainty assert, that severe
labor and strenuous effort on his part is almost entirely
Even skill is comparatively useless in

done away.

working with this plow.

portion which had been thus covered with subsoil, yielded from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre. In this case, the soil was light, and the subsoil somewhat clayey, and contained a small portion of carbonate of lime, effervescing slightly in acid; the operation rendered the soil stronger, firmer, and better adapted to the growth of wheat. Doubtless large portions of our country might be thus greatly, and perhaps permanently improved, by the use of such manure, thus lying in immense quantities just beneath the surface. But there may be other subsoils not only useless, but actually detrimental; hence the necessity of discrimination and care.

PEAT AND POND MUD.

In many localities, it is not practicable to obtain these enriching substances except at the driest seasons of the year, when the water is evaporated which usually covers them. The vast quantities of them which abound in many parts of the country, especially of peat and swamp This may seem a strong position to take; but in con- muck, while the scant crops of the adjoining fields show firmation of it we must state, that we saw furrow after how much their presence is needed, ought to stimulate furrow plowed with great nicety, the hand of the Plowman having been laid to the plow only to enter it a greater number of our farmers to seize the present opat the commencement of the furrow. As to the style of portunity to cart them upon their fields. Many have been disappointed from the use of swamp work performed, we can only say, that some of the muck or peat. Its results are much less striking than plows lap the furrow slice, (and they are those which those of farm yard manure, not only because it possesses we prefer,) and to which our report mainly refers, while less inherent richness, but because it contains far less of another (the one to which the one hundred dollar pre-soluble parts, and consequently imparts its strength more mium was awarded at Worcester,) turns the furrows flat. slowly to growing plants. This quality however only The workmanship of the plow is excellent, and makes it more enduring. Chemists have found that by we beg specially to commend the casting of the share decoction in water, vegetable mould loses a small porfrom a composition which is much harder than ordinary tion of its weight by solution; but if the remaining incast iron, thus ensuring a great degree of durability to soluble portion is exposed to air and moisture a few the plowshare. If to this it be added that the share is also months, another part may be again dissolved. Thus, constructed upon the self-sharpening principle, it can peat, muck, and all decayed vegetable fibre, becomes a easily be conceived that the purchasers of these plows slow, but lasting source of nourishment to plants. are ensured against the too frequent recurrence of the vexation that results from the rapid and often unexpected

wear of the share.

In conclusion, we would remark that this plow has obtained great celebrity, and has received and is daily receiving the cordial approbation of men whose opinion, have far greater weight than ours. We believe that is has lost none of its celebrity by the trial which we witnessed, for out of the numerous company presentt there was not one who did not seem to be both sur

prised and delighted with the performance of the plow. It may be asked how it comes that both this plow and the Worcester county plows, Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse & Mason's, were condemned at the fair of the English Agricultural Society last year. Nor is it easy to answer the question. Prejudice, national prejudice may have had something to do with it. All we can say is, that some of the committee at least were practical men: we have reported only that which we saw. Moreover, there was present on the ground an English plowman, recently arrived, whose judgment was perfectly unbiased, who pronounced this equal to any English plow he had ever handled, and fully concurred with the committee in the opinion expressed by them.

J. B. NOTT, Albany Co.
T. HILLHOUSE,

66

JOHN MCVEAN, Monroe Co.
C. HANNAM, Genesee Co.

PLOWING FOR WHEAT.

But few farmers are willing to undertake the purchase and use of the subsoil plow, but all may adopt the practice of deep plowing by the ordinary method. In many parts of the country, the soil may be much improved in its wheat-raising qualities, by throwing up and mixing with the surface, a small portion of the subsoil. In some instances this has been attended with strikingly successful effects. In others, where the subsoil has been thrown on the surface, the increase in the growth of wheat has been almost incredible. A neighbor scattered the earth taken from a ditch over the surface for many feet on each side. Afterwards when the crop of wheat averaged on the rest of the field scarcely five bushels per acre, the

Disappointment also results from the want of thorough intermixture with the soil. If peat or muck is merely spread in masses upon the surface of the soil, and then plowed in, it rarely proves of much benefit, until, by several years tillage, it becomes thoroughly intermixed. To prevent such failure, it should be very thoroughly and repeatedly harrowed, so as to promote a thorough admixture with the surface soil, before it is turned unde by the plow.

By such treatment as this, heavy soils may often be greatly improved, and rendered lighter and more free, as well as more fertile.

But it is when shovelled out and dried, to be mixed with farm yard manure, as a recipient for its volatile or liquid parts, that peat or muck becomes pre-eminently valuable. We say dried because if it is already saturated with water, of which it will often take in five-sixths of its own weight, it cannot absorb the liquid portions of the manure. But if well dried before hand, that is, if these five-sixths of water are expelled, it will then absorb five-sixths of its weight in liquid manure, and it then becomes eminently fertilizing. The chief reason that the application of peat to barn-yards has not proved of greater value, is, that farmers have applied it when it was already filled with water, and consequently it could take in little of any thing else.

When peat or muck is to be drawn to a distance, it is obvious that a great saving would be made by shovelling it out under large coarse sheds, some months before drawing, that the water may be well evaporated, and so obviate the necessity of drawing several tons of water to every ton of peat.

Pond mud is sometimes a highly fertilizing substance. Where the materials which streams deposit, consist of road-washings, or the drainings of farm yards or of manured fields, they constitute frequently a compost of the richest kind. The same remark will apply to stagnant ponds which have been much frequented by animals, and which have become dry. In the latter part of summer and early in autumn, these valuable materials may be easily carted out on the adjacent lands, and they form one of the best and most suitable manures for wheat, being free from the objections which exist in cases of llunfermented or long farm-yard manure.

SHELTER FOR SHEEP.

Lewis A. Morell, of Tompkins county, N. Y., before he had provided shelter for his flock of Saxon sheep, 1200 in number, lost from 70 to 100, during winter, and once lost 150. For the four successive years after protection, the average number wintered being 1,800, the average yearly loss amounted to only 31, being less than 13 per cent.

LECTURES ON THE CHEMISTRY OF VEGETATION,

Every one has perhaps heard of the man whose roof We have been exceedingly interested in reading the remained unrepaired to the perpetual detriment of all reported sketches of Dr. Playfair's lectures on this subdry articles and sound lungs within doors,-because when ject, lately published in our foreign exchange papers. it rained he could not repair it, and when the weather We have, however, only room for a brief notice of the was fair he did not need the repair. For a similar rea-most interesting portions. The point to which he first son, many flocks of sheep pass year after year, unpro- called particular attention, was the great care displayed tected because shelters are not needed in summer, and by nature in the introduction and protection of seeds. cannot be made in the depth of winter. To induce their Some were surrounded with a hard scaly armour of flint owners to adopt an improvement, and provide, in time, as in the seeds of corn; some have thick coats, such as suitable shelter for their flocks, we wish to state a few beans and peas; others are protected by hard shells, and facts in the case. placed in the midst of a pulpy, fleshy covering, destined as manure for the seed, such as the peach. In all, the greatest care was taken to protect the seed from injury until the period of germination. Three parts were distinguished in all seeds; 1st, the cotyledon, which forms much the largest portion of the kernel, and which is in fact the magazine of food for the young plant; 2nd, the plumule, plume or gemmule, which is the young embryo that is afterwards to become the stem of the plant; 3rd, the radicle, or part which is to become the roots. In the common garden bean the cotyledon is divided into two portions called lobes; the plumule or embryo stem is the small white point observed at the upper part of the divisions or lobes, and the radicle is the curved white cone which is found at the base. The most frequent form in seeds was two cotyledons; but in other seeds, for example the grasses, in which the food is only in one cotyledon, and in other seeds, there were compartments for the primary food. Consequently, botanists divided plants into two great divisions; those having the food of the embryo stored in one magazine-the monoctyledonous plant; and those having two or more compartments -the dicotyledonous or poly cotyledonous plants. These two plants possess capital differences. As soon as those essential parts of a seed, the plumule, radicle, and cotyledon, are formed, it loses all activity, and life apparently becomes suspended, until called forth for the purpose of re-production. Under favorble circumstances, seeds may be kept for a very long time in this inactive state. He had himself seen, in Mr. Miles' garden, at Bristol, wheat growing, the seeds of which had been found in a mummy; Pliny states a case where he had known wheat to grow after 100 years; and Home mentions an instance in which rye grew after 149 years. Coffee beans are the seeds which most easily lose their suspended vitality; for they refuse to grow, unless planted immediately after being taken from the bush. But expose a seed to the combined influence of light, air and moisture, and the suspended vitality becomes active. The embryo plant feeds upon the nutriment in the cotyledon; the radicle protrudes from the seed, descends into the ground, and and the cotyledon shrivels up and disappears. The lit forms roots; the little plumule ascends, and forms a stem, the plant now feeds itself from the air and the soil, and

J. W. Childers, of the English Agricultural Society, brought his sheep to shelter about Christmas, and found before two days that they did not eat so much as when exposed, by the proportion of five to three. When in the field, his flock required fifty baskets full of turneps a day; but when sheltered they needed only thirty a day. "Yet such great progress," said he, "did they make, that you would have thought they had been eating fifty baskets a day, when shut up, and only thirty when in the field." In another experiment, which was accompanied by accurate weighing and measuring, where turneps and oil-cake were given as food, the quantity of turneps diminished in a few weeks nearly one quarter, and the oil-cake diminished about one-third; while the increase of weight resulting from shelter was more than onethird. The Editor of the English Agricultural Gazette, inferred from actual experiments, performed by himself, that twice as many sheep might be kept in a fatting condition on the same quantity of food under perfect shelter, as under entire exposure. If these results were obtained in the mild climate of England, what may not be expected in our severe winters?

L. A. Morell is satisfied that at least one ton of hay to the hundred sheep is saved by protection every winter. "Of oats, which I fed liberally before protection, the amount saved is equivalent to 500 bushels each year, and yet my sheep have been in finer order than when they were grained; showing, notwithstanding the virtue of grain,

that there is more virtue in warm shelter." The same

successful manager has also found that the aggregate increase in four clips of wool from his flock, resulting from protection, amounted to 1250 lbs.; and that the increased number of lambs exceeded one hundred a year. In view of these facts, we wish every farmer to make a calculation of the whole amount of food thus saved every winter, the increase in the weight of his sheep, the saving of life, the increase of wool, and the increase in the number of his flock.

If it will cost one dollar per head, to winter sheep by the ordinary way, then to winter 1000 would cost $1,000. One third of this saved would be...... $333

The difference in loss by wintering, according to L. A. Morell, would be about 50 sheep, which at $2 each, would amount to..

Putting the increased value of his sheep, by increase of weight, at one tenth the value of the flock,

100

200

60

The stem increases in height and throws grows apace. out branches, and leaves, and the roots diverge in search of food. It was long a question of dispute to what force the form of a tree was owing. Some philosophers said the roots descended into the earth, because they loved moisture, and the stem ascended because it loved the air. But Detrochet showed this was not the case; for he took a box and bored holes in the bottom of it, placing beans over each hole, and some moist earth on top of the bean. The roots should have grown up in the moist earth and the stems downward into the air, if that opinion had been correct. But this is not the case; for the radicles went downwards into the air, and the stems 50 ascended into the earth; and in a short time they shriveled away and died. Be the force, then, what it may, $743 roots have a natural tendency to descend, and the stems equal the total saving every year, by the use of suitable to ascend. That this has some intimate connection with shelter, at a very moderate estimate, and which would gravitation, Knight has shown by his beautiful experiabundantly pay for suitable sheds, if they required erect- ment. Mr. Knight arranged wheels driven by water, in ing every year. such a way that he could either drive them horizontally or vertically, and regulate their speed. He then planted beans on the rim of the wheel, in conditions favorable to growth, and then set his wheels in motion. The effect of this was, that, when the wheel attained a certain degree of speed, which, in the case of the wheel in ques

Increase in the fleece, say 160 lbs.,.
Increase in lambs, say 60,....

Now is the time of year to make preparation, to prevent the disastrous results, which must always attend exposure through our long, stormy, and freezing winters. For directions in the construction of sheep sheds, see the Cultivator, vol. 7, p. 15.

tion, was two hundred and fifty rotations in a minute, a new force came into operation-the centrifugal force and overcame that of gravitation. The roots, instead of descending, obeyed this new force, growing outwards, forming in fact, prolongations of the radii of the wheel; while the stems took the opposite direction, until they came in contact with the axis. But when the wheel revolved less rapidly, so that the force of gravitation was not overcome but merely modified, the radicles pointed downwards, about ten degrees from the horizon, and the plumules pointed upwards at the same angle, and the inclination was greater or less, according as the wheel revolved more or less rapidly. By this capital experiment, Mr. Knight proved that the descent of the roots into the soil, is essentially connected with gravitation. Botanists then considered that the lateral branches were due to the same cause; their natural tendency being to proceed upwards, but gravitation pulling them downwards. To a certain degree only, is this correct. Parasites do not obey the law of the earth's attraction; for they always grow at right angles to the plant to which they are attached, whether that be upwards, downwards, or laterally. Now, branches given off from the stem may be considered parasites, which would grow at right angles from the stem horizontally; but they were also influenced by the upward direction, so that they grow upwards and outwards, and to a certain extent also by attraction, so that their direction is varied. The directions of the stem and leaves, in fact all the green parts, are much influenced by light, which is therefore one great cause of their upward direction, as shown even in the case of a root; when its tip becomes green it grows upwards like a branch; and a stem, put under the ground away from light, grows downwards like a root. Similar love for light is seen in the leaf; the upper part of a leaf is deeper green than the lower surface, and bends up-respecting which the chemist is entirely ignorant. When wards to the sky; while the latter is directed to the earth. In some cases, both the upper and under surfaces of the leaf are equally green, and then its edges point to the sky. This was strikingly seen in the plant called bent grass. It had its rough or unpolished side upwards, and its beautiful smooth green side downwards, and it twisted up its leaves to the sun so that the polished side should turn upwards to the light.

carbonic acid gas, which is the primary food of plants is positively injurious to germination. In fact, germination proceeds more rapidly, if fragments of lime are placed along with the seeds to absorb the carbonic acid. Saussure was not quite correct in his first experiments; for, on inspecting them with minute accuracy, he found that some plants actually did increase the bulk of the air, while others diminished the bulk. To Boussing ault belongs the honor of having explained this phenomena. That distinguished philosopher, during the last year, had made some excellent experiments on germination. He analysed some seeds before germimation, and set others to germinate. When the plumule and radicle began to appear, he analysed them again, and so on until the stems and the leaves were distinctly formed. The results of his experiments were, as Saussure had perceived, that there is a quantity of carbon abstracted by oxygen; but the loss of weight is greater than can be accounted for by the carbon removed. Some of the oxygen in the seed has also disappeared, so that it was obvious that part of the carbon had become burned at the expense of the oxygen existing in the seed itself; and this circumstance completely accounts for the alteration in the volume of air observed by Saussure. But, after all, this is only the ultimate view of the process; for there can be little doubt, that the operations in progress are much more complex than the immediate extraction of carbon. If seeds in the act of germination be put upon blue litmus paper, the blue color becomes changed into a red, showing distinctly that an acid is produced during the act. Becquenel thought this was acetic acid; but Boussingault suggests with much more plausibility, that it is the acid obtained from milk-the lactic acid. Be that as it may, the formation of the acid indicates that there are intermediate steps in germination; the seeds are examined after the first act of germination, the process is very difficult to follow. The act of germination still progresses; but the act of vegetation does so too, and both are in antagonism. Germination abstracts carbon from the seed; vegetation adds carbon by drawing it from the atmosphere, in the form of carbonic acid. One thing, however, is certain, from Boussingault's analysis, that ammonia now disappears from the seed. These were merely indications how to proceed The first point in the growth of plants is the germina- in our investigations, in order to develope this most tion of the seed, the cotyledon of which contains a storedup nutriment for the embryo-consisting of some mine-interesting act of passive into active life. At present our ral matter, with starch, gum, cheese, and fatty oils; information might be considered almost nil; but the recent researches are full of hope; and if carried on although in some seeds, as in the anise and cummin, the with the united care of the physiologists and the chemist, fixed fat is substituted by a volatile oil. The analysis of will doubtless lead us nearer to truth. The uncertainty Boussingault gave 27 per cent. of cheese in peas; his (Dr. Playfair's) own gave 29 per cent.; the two varie- as to the nutrition of the embryo, ends with the developties obviously differing. The analysis of the Frenchment of the leaves; the young plant has been ushered into being, and we can now clearly follow its course to chemists gave 10 per cent. of this cheesing matter in oats; those made by the lecturer himself, yield between 11 maturity. In conclusion, he would draw attention to this singular first act of life. The physical function of and 12 per cent. The oily matters also vary: some seeds, animals was to expire carbonic acid; that of plants to as that of the colewort, contain 40 per cent of oil; while that of wheat does not contain one per cent. It would expire oxygen. But the first act of the embryo was to assume this high function of animals. Reason on be seen then, that in order that a seed should germinate, this as we might, there was some curious mystery to the concurrence of a proper temperature of moisture and develope in the extraordinary relations of life. The of air was absolutely essential. Formerly, physiologists first act of vegetable existence was one possessed by the believed that light was injurious to germination; this most elevated of animals; but then again it assimilated error originating in the fact, that seeds germinate best at itself to similar functions in the lowest order of vegetaa certain distance beneath the surface of the ground. bles. The fungi do the same; they do not live on the But Saussure showed that the apparently injurious effect air, but on decaying substances, and breathe out carbonic of light was owing to the drying of the seed when too acid. Was the first act of vegetation a lofty or low act near the surface. He took two seeds, placed one of them of life? If the exhalation of oxygen from plants were in an opaque, the other in a transparent glass; watering one of the most important purposes of their life (as it them both alike; and he found that the seeds in the doubtless was,) how came it that the lowest order of anitransparent glass germinated first.

placed under a jar of air, and properly supplied with mals, the animalcules, also possess this function? These water, the radicles and the stem soon appear. Supposing were strange anomalies, which however inexplicable at that there is no alteration in temperature or in conditions, present, philosophers should not relax in their endeavors Saussure, in his first experiments, found that the bulk of to penetrate. In fact, as he proceeded he thought he the air remained unchanged, although a quantity of the should be able to trace out, in this apparent contradicoxygen had been abstracted, and replaced by carbonic tion, the most beautiful harmony and most exquisite deThis led Saussure to believe, that the first act of sign of means to end-a harmony and design which germination was simply the extraction of carbon by make us only the more regret that our own ignorance means of oxygen. Oxygen is quite essential to germi-and want of power prevent us giving to them at present nation, which cannot be made to take place in any gas not mixed with this element. But what is very curious, a more intimate comprehension.