of,) the pure water, wherein a portion of the roots grew, was tested, by letting fall a drop or two of the liquid oxalate of ammonia into it; when a milkiness, arising from the union of the oxalic acid of the test with the lime exuded from half of the roots into the pure water, was produced. Such, we may conclude, was the nature and result of one of M. Macaire's experiments, and certainly it is very conclusive. Oxalate of lime is an almost insoluble compound; it therefore is manifested in the form of a white powder; the ammonia of the test is liberated, and distributed through the bulk of the water.

These chemical experiments are delightful in themselves, and possess very great interest; but, in the present case, an inquiry of greater moment presents itself. Whence came the lime, admitting the fact to be as stated? Nine-tenths of the water of wells, and even of many rivers, contain lime in one form or another, and to a certain extent. But the recital states that one portion of the roots was placed in lime-water, and another portion of the roots of the same plant in pure water. By this latter term, a chemist understands distilled, or perfectly pure and filtrated rain-water, collected in glass or glazed vessels, as it falls from the clouds. In such water lime will scarcely be traceable; and, therefore, whatever portion was detected in the pure water, must have passed through the media of the vegetable vessels. "Similar results were made with a weak solution of marine salt" (common table salt,) "and with a like result."

of the ground; but I really ascertained that plants of the white Antwerp variety, which I purchased and placed along-side of an outermost row of the bed, would not take to the soil; and about the perod that the whole bed became almost worthless, I saw several remarkable fine plots of the shrub, and conversed with the owners, from whom I learned a variety of facts, which, though detailed in the plain, unphilosophical manner of cottage gardeners, led me to conclude that the raspberry plant deposited feculent matter in the soil, which, after a certain period, rendered the soil utterly unfit to support the shrub and enable it to produce fine fruit. Reflection and recollection, at the same time, informed me that a variety of vegetable crops imparted a manifest odor to the soil; so much so, that in digging up a crop, the whole plot was perceived to be imbedded with a specific aroma. I confirmed these facts, and then wrote the passages that I have quoted in the early part of this article. Subsequent observations and much experience have confirmed the opinion that I then noted down; so that the reader may rely upon the correctness of the following facts. When peas are sown in pots or boxes, with a view to future transplantation into rows or plots, the vessels become replete with matted roots. Upon removing the peas to their place in the garden, the soil they grow in is found to be completely saturated with odorous matter; it emits a powerful peculiar smell, that cannot be mistaken. The kidney-bean (phaseolus) produces a similar effect, but the odor differs from that of the pea: the same may be observed in plants of the leguminous tribe in general; and I have little doubt that this tribe will be found

The test employed is not stated in the paper, but I conclude it to have been the nitrate of silver, because that chemical preparation is one of the most delicate tests for muriatic acid, in conse-particularly to require a frequent change of situaquence of the strong affinity-or rather electrochemical attraction-which is exerted between that acid and silver whenever the latter is held in a state of solution.

tion. I have already referred to a well known effect produced by the pea upon the shallow, loamy soil, of that eastern point of Kent, called the Isle of Thanet; and the experiment of M. Macaire with the bean (Vicia Faba) is in accordance with, or at least may be adduced in support of, the facts

Many other experiments are referred to, and all have tended to prove the correctness of the opinion, that a rotation of crops is required, in conse-named above. quence of the excretions from the roots of plants.

The Brassica tribe, cabbage, broccoli &c. also Having thus adverted to a few of the experi-impregnate the soil with a marked and peculiar ments mentioned in the article, I shall now state odor.

the facts which led me to the opinion that I formed From whence do the gases which produce these above four years since, and in which I have been effects proceed? Many, perhaps, will be inclined confirmed by repeated subsequent observations. It to suppose that it is not the soil which gives forth was notorious that many crops could not be made the smell, but the root itself; but how can any to succeed, if repeatedly placed in the same indi-plant retain within its substance an odor that is vidual portions of ground. Manures were found externally sensible? If a flower, a rose for inineffectual; and, therefore, the deterioration of the stance, be held at some distance from the nose, crops could not proceed from a want of sufficient the specific aroma of that delightful flower bealiment. The necessity of a rotation was observa- comes manifest; but could this be the case if the ble chiefly in the farm; still, however, the garden rose did not emit the gaseous vapor which dissemafforded many instances confirmatory of the fact. inates the odor? Whatever it be that yields odor As I was writing solely upon the produce of the or scent, whether that be agreeable or offensive, garden, it occurred to me, when treating upon the must be material, because it produces a positive singular and sudden deterioration of the raspberry, effect upon one of the senses; and, moreover, the that to the same causes which produced the de- odor of flowers is very frequently productive of struction of a fruit-bearing shrub, might be as- faintness and debility! If the roots of a plant racribed the debility that ever followed the succes-diate odor, the earth about them, being the mesive repetition of a corn crop upon the farm. I dium in which they germinate, must receive the had observed that the soil about the roots of rasp- odorific matter; and, in fact, a spade can scarcely berries acquired a peculiar color and texture; it be put into a plot of soil that has borne a crop of differed from that of any other soil of the garden: some vegetables, without liberating, as before manure was freely applied, and still the plants be- stated, a volume of vapor sufficient to be discame weaker, shorter in growth, and less fruitful.cerned, at the distance of a foot or more, above I did not know the age of my plants, because the the surface.

bed had been formed before I came into possession Again, if soil be perfectly fresh, that is to say,

raised from the depth of two or three feet below investigations" as far as the means within my the surface, it will generally be found of a differ- command will permit, for they can scarcely fail to ent color from the old worked soil of the garden or lead to important results. field. A hazel-loam, which is a combination of It remains to be observed, that the doctrine of sand; aluminous and chalky impalpable matter, the excretory powers of plants does not strictly colored by oxide of iron, is frequently found at the apply to all vegetables; at least, it is manifest that depth mentioned, and may be considered pure vir- trees and many shrubs will live on, and improve gin earth. If such soil be planted with strawber-in, the same piece of ground for an almost indefiries, or almost any vegetable crop, its color will un-nite period. dergo a change, and become many shades darker.

Is this change of tint effected by carbonaceous mat-to the rule, and I particularly notice the potato. Many garden vegetables furnish also exceptions ter excreted from the roots, by the decomposition In fact, the experiment of M. Macaire seems to of carbonic acid derived from the air, or by the afford evidence that this vegetable does not secrete partial de-exiodation of the ferruginous constituent matter of any decisive character. I know those of the earth? The latter may probably operate to who have assured me, that potatoes have been set a certain extent, but I hold it more philosophical for ten or even twenty years oir the same land, to conclude that the change in color is to be as-with little or no other manure than coal-ashes and cribed to hydrogen gas (holding, perhaps, carbon the scrapings of road-sand. This sand was, in and other matters in solution,) emitted from the the county I allude to, obtained from the calcaroots into the soil, and therein effecting chemical reous stone of the neighborhood, and it proved a decompositions by specific elective, or rather elec-powerful meliorating substance to the cold clayey

tric attractions.

soil of the district.

This blackening of the soil may be suspected by some to proceed from the decomposition of car- which expend all their vegetative energy upon I venture to suggest, that grain and other crops, bonaceous matters; and it is highly probable that the production of seed-vessels, are less likely to it does so proceed; but even admitting that manures have been placed in the soil, their decompo- protrude matter from their roots than other crops sition and absorption, according to the received which abound with large bulky foliage; they, opinion, by the roots of the crop, ought to abstract the carbon from the soil, and not to deposite it therein But I am supposing a case wherein pure virgin sandy loam, without manure, is employed; and, to simplify the experiment, I say fet a middle-sized garden-pot be filled with such soil, and in it let a single vigorous strawberry plant be placed in the month of February, and be regularly watered; by the end of August following, that is, about the period when the growing season is almost passed, the soil will be found of a deeper color, by many shades, than it exhibited when placed in the pot.

therefore, cannot prove manure crops for their congenors, although they may render the soil unhealthy to themselves individually. With respect elaborates much vegetative matter, a large portion to the potato, I think it evident, that its foliage of which is expended in the production and support of tubers under ground. These tubers are not the roots proper, but enlarged processes, the depositories of much nutritive matter. It is highly probable, that the plants which produce bulbs, tubers, or spindle roots, whose foliage is abundant or very large, will in general be innoxious to themselves, at least comparatively so, in consequence of the absorbent powers of their bulky root processes. They will in proportion also, be of little service to corn or other crops, unless much ma

My experience has taught me this fact, and I ascribe the effect to the matter emitted by the roots into the earth. Earth so colored, is not, I -conceive exhaused: it is doubtless changed, and in nure be previously applied. In a word, the vast time would be incapable of supporting the vege- foliage which they develope, must claim a great tation of the plant which had deposited the color-supply of raw sap from the soil. This, or the preing matter within it, but in respect to mere abstract quality, it is unquestionably richer than it primarily was, having received more than it gave out, and is, in fact, manure for another species of vegetable.

pared portion of it, is returned with interest to the and is employed in the production of those pro roots, but it is then diverted into peculiar channels, cesses that constitute so large a portion of the food of man and of cattle. The bulb or tuber-bearing This is in accordance with the very valuable ex-the soil for other crops, for they must exhaust its plants are generally but indifferent preparers of periment of M. Macaire, which indicates that yellow coloring matter was afforded by the bean decomposable materials; but they may be grown by "plants of wheat," that "lived well," and I think, will be found to be generally the fact; and to pure water, which yellow matter was taken up (though not to full perfection perhaps) on the same ground without becoming diseased. Such, afforded evidence of having "absorbed a portion of the matter discharged by the first" (the this, as far as the experiment goes, has been conbeans.). firmed by the observation of M. Macaire.

4

My own reflection, and observation of facts, have From all that has been said, it is, I think, fair satisfied me that certain plants do emit hydro-car- to conclude that, although plants decom pose and bonus compounds into the soil, that poison it, inas-take up the nutritive matters of the soil, and render much as refers to themselves individually; but such manuring indispensable, yet it is not by exhaustion experiments, as those of M. Macaire, are invalu- that a soil is rendered unfit for a repetition of an able, and ought to be persisted in, in conjunction individual crop. Facts in abundance might be with daily observations of the soil of the field and multiplied, in order to prove that a rotation is called garden, till the fact in all its bearing be establish-for, in consequence of the feculent matter previoused. I for one intend, if life be spared to the next ly deposited affecting the nutritive power of the spring, to follow the advice given at page 327 of soil in supporting any individual crop, this volume, and to "prosecute those interesting

ON THE NECESSITY AND MEANS FOR LEGISLA-
TIVE AID TO AGRICULTURE-NO. 3.

[Continued from page 63, Vol. II.]

For the Farmers' Register.

doubled, unless he was incapable of being improved by instruction.

These observations bring me back to what I endeavored to establish in a preceding number, viz: that the business of the pattern farm might be (and no doubt would be) conducted with a deplorable want of economy and good management --and therefore with loss, instead of profit to the owner, and yet this be no sound objection to the use of the processes carried on, for experiment of their worth, or for the purpose of conveying instruction. If a young man desired to learn how, in the best manner, to plough land under different wheat, and secure it well-to know the proper management of a thrashing machine, &c. &c., it would be sufficient that he should find on the pattern farm, suitable land, crops, and implements to exhibit all these operations, and the best laborers employed in executing them-and that he should join in those labors, until he had become dexterous and competent in each process. It would be utterly unimportant to the person thus acquiring instruction, whether the lessons which he received were more costly or profitable, to those at whose expense they were furnished.

Apprenticeships to farming, upon a different plan, have been resorted to with much advantage in Great Britain. Young men who were to be the possessors of good estates, have been proud to assist for months together, in the labors of such distinguished farmers as Dawson, and Walker, and Brown: and at least one of these teachers, (Dawson, who earned the honorable title of "the father of Scottish husbandry,) owed his early lights, and after success, to a like course of training on a farm in a distant region, where the state of agriculture was far more advanced than in Scotland at that time.

There is another important purpose which might be served by an experimental farm, which is almost entirely wanting in this country-the instruction of apprentices to farming. I do not mean apprentices in the common acceptation of that term-but rather pupils, who by giving their time for six or eight months, and their close attention, and manual labor, as well as time, to the business of the farm, might be taught how to perform every circumstances-to sow seed regularly--to reap operation in the most perfect manner-and which are not learned, and indeed not seen, by most farmers in twenty years, if ever. It would be productive of no less honor than profit to the sons of the wealthiest farmers, who are designed to follow their fathers' business, to attend, and labor at such a school of industry: and to those who are to be farmers on a small scale, with scanty means, there would be still greater advantages, because, they would in the routine of their own business, find but little opportunity of receiving instruction in good husbandry, or of being convinced of what was bad, except by dear bought and slowly acquired experience. The business of a farmer, which requires more varied qualifications to carry on well than any other whatever, is the only one that is generally undertaken without previous instruction or training, and which, it would seem, men are expected to understand by a sort of natural instinct, (perhaps I ought to except the business of statesmen and legislators, which it appears that every man is fit for.) A young man of large landed estate, who expects to derive his entire support from that source, and to spend his life on his farm, and as a farmer, usually passes his whole minority in learning other things in no way connected with the cultivation of the soil, or in idleness-and then commences his business in the most profound ignorance of its details, and with habits altogether unsuited to proceeding either with profit or pleasure. If he has "a turn for farming and management,' as we call it, and a natural fondness for the business, he may, and generally will become a good farmer, notwithstanding all these early disadvantages. Indeed, such instances of success are found in men who have lived long in towns, and who were almost entirely unacquainted with the country and with farming, during all the early part of their lives. But whatever such men have done, under their existing disadvantages, would have been much better and sooner done, and with far less waste of capital and labor, if they had enjoyed the means I have recommended for receiving instruction. To poor farmers, the value of such means for instruction, would be still greater, because their close confinement to a very limited sphere of action, in which their circumstances and habits will probably retain them throughout life, would prevent their receiving after instruction by travel, books, or conversation with the best farmers, and personal observation of their labors. To one of those men who practice farming as the agents of others, or overseers, the expense of an apprenticeship, or course of instruction at a pat tern farm, would be paid back to him in his next year's wages; and his value to his employers, and as a member of the community, would be soon VOL. II.-15

In these remarks on farming apprenticeships, I have referred merely to instruction in the labors of agriculture. There is another branch of instruction, the scientific or theoretical, which should not be omitted. This might be derived from a separate institution, as a professorship of scientific agriculture, or perhaps the practical and theoretical branches might be united in a manual labor school. This scheme I should be glad to hear discussedbut as I am not sanguine of success (that is, if any pecuniary profit is expected) from establishments of this kind, I leave the subject to others.

THE SKINLESS OAT.

To the Editor of the Farmers' Register.

R. N.

In perusing your valuable journal, I have not been able to see mention made of what is called the "skinless oat;" can you or any of your readers inform us any thing about them? In conversing with an English farmer a few days ago on a visit to Virginia, (who presented me with a spoonfull as a curiosity) he stated that they were introduced into England in 1830 by himself; that they were indigenous of China, and succeeded remarkably well in that climate. Their product is astonishing, being twenty-six barrels of fourteen stone per acre-very hardy and standing their winters. The advantages that this grain possesses over all others of the kind, are when thrashed out perfectly free from husk, fit for immediate use, either for culinary or other purposes, their flavor being delightful, and contains more farinaceous matter than

our oats by three to one. They have produced two crops in England within twelve months; fit for the blade in three months after seeding.

I am an advocate for grazing our cultivated lands; for I believe very few persons are more opposed to close grazing than I am, but I see no alternative between turning our hogs on our wheat fields which are intended for fallow, and having the spelt eternally annoying us. We could put rings into the noses of these animals and thus prevent their rooting

He sent over to a gentleman of New York a few bushels as an experiment the last spring, and as they will show themselves this season, I shall be enabled to hear their result in a few days. If they succeed in our climate, of which I have no reason to doubt, they will be a great acquisition Another way in which I think pure wheat deto the Virginia agriculturist. BROOKVILLE. generates into spelt or cheat is, the manner in P. S. Since penning the above, I have received which some, if not most, of our good farmers are a bill of lading for one bushel sent me, which I in the habit of getting in their wheat-which is, shall leave at the apothecary store of Messrs. ploughing in the wheat after a crop of corn, and Grubby & Dudley for inspection, as also a pack-dragging after this ploughing, by which, much of age for yourself at the dry good store of Colton & Clarke, Richmond.

IRISH POTATOES AS FOOD FOR SHEEP.

For the Farmers' Register.

In conversation with a gentleman (who has travelled about a good deal) some weeks since, about managing and raising stock, &c., he told me in travelling in the western part of this state, or in Ohio, some years since, he stopped at an old Quaker's house to stay all night; and while there, he saw some one about the establishment chopping up Irish potatoes, to about the size of partridge eggs. He enquired what the chopped mass was intended for: the Quaker replied, "It is for my sheep: with chopped potatoes and a small quantity of hay, I can keep a flock of sheep fatter, and in better health, than any other way I have ever tried or seen tried."

The gentleman says he saw the flock of sheep before he left, and finer fatter looking sheep he

never saw.

CAUSES OF SPELT AND CHEAT IN
To the Editor of the Farmers' Register.

PHILIP.

the wheat is brought near or quite to the surface, and thus has not sufficient depth to prevent the wheat turning to spelt. I have known one gentleman in this neighborhood pursue the plan herein objected to with pure unmixed smooth-headed saw) and the first crop produced from this seed golden-chaff wheat (the prettiest wheat I ever was smartly mixed with spelt-the second had more than double what was in the first crop, and the third (the same seed having been used all three years) had, I really believe, more grains of spelt than of wheat.

I have several times observed in fields which

had been in wheat the previous year and the fields not grazed, and not being cultivated the next year, a great deal of cheat and some spelt-and but in few instances (where I suppose some accident had given the seed left a deeper covering than the most of it had,) wheat the next year. Now, farmer, and I feel some backwardness in palmyou know that I am a slovenly, as well as a small ing my own opinions upon others; but I really think it the duty of every individual to contribute his mite to the general stock of information, expeWHEAT.rience or observation, to that community of which he is a member-and hope my brother farmers will excuse what may be deemed by some, my temerity in offering to the public my plan of getting in wheat-by which, neither spelt nor cheat has ever increased upon me. I have always sown wheat on corn land, except one year, and ploughed it in about three or three and a half inches deep, never using the drag afterwards, which I think, would tend to expose the wheat too near the surface-though I believe that the land being failowed first, and the wheat sown on this fallow and well dragged in, might obviate this difficulty.

I observe in different Nos. of your Register that a considerable difference of opinion appears to exist in the minds of different correspondents with regard to the cause of spelt and cheat appearing in wheat. An experiment reported to have been made by Mr. Thomas Cocke and yourself, goes far to prove that neither spelt nor cheat is the necessary production of degenerate wheat: whilst others are as firmly of opinion that spelt and cheat are the production of, not only degenerate, but perfectly formed wheat, to which latter opinion, I myself incline, and do not think that the small grains of wheat are more apt to produce either spelt or cheat, than those which are perfectly formed and filled. In both of the instances cited by your correspondents, of spelt having been produced from wheat, the covering was either very slight or none at all; the wheat having been deposited by chance and left in the situation in which it was placed-which want of, or slightness of covering, I think was the cause of the production of the spelt from pure seed. We have not until late years heard or known much of these pests of our wheat crops, and I think the reason is obvious: our fathers were in the habit of turning hogs, horses, and cows into their wheat fields as soon as their wheat was taken off, by which means all, or by far the greater part of the wheat left after harvest, was destroyed, and none left to take root, with almost, or quite no covering, and thus produce these noxious plants. I hope it will not be understood from these remarks, that

The last fall I obtained my seed-wheat from two different sources: in one parcel there was some spelt: in the product of that part, there was still some. In the other, there was none that I could perceive, and in the product of that, there was not (I think) one head of spelt. In the experiment made by Mr. Cocke and yourself, the grains of wheat though extremely faulty, were deposited at a sufficient depth, and thereby the production of spelt or cheat avoided.*

ROBERT BATTS.

Prince George, July 2d, 1834.

* Our correspondent is mistaken as to this part of the experiment, which he refers to. The grains of wheat were placed in lines slightly traced on the hard surface, and barely covered by sprinkling a little earth over them. The covering was no where more than half an inch deep generally less.

For the Farmers' Register.

ON THE LIVE AND DEAD WEIGHTS OF CATTLE.
From the [British] Farmer's Magazine.

Sir Having heard much in favor of a work The statement made by a correspondent of which has recently issued from the press of the Orange county, N. C. at page 60 of the Farmers' Society for Diffusing Useful Knowledge, entitled, Register, is a very fair example of the manner in The Farmer's Series, I purchased that portion of which many farmers allow themselves to be de- it which treats on British cattle, and on reading it ceived. The facts were these: soon after a hill-I met with a statement in the first page of the side field had been sown with wheat, a heavy rain ninth number, of the proportion which the dead washed down some of the loose earth, together weights of cattle, sheep, and calves, bore to their with some of the grain, over a strip of timothy live weight, so completely at variance with every meadow at the base of the hill; after which the experiment I had made in my endeavors to ascergrain so washed down, grew vigorously; but at tain their true proportion; and having recently conharvest, nothing was seen except cheat, and the versed with so many extensive farmers and grainference drawn by your correspondent is, that all ziers, and not a few butchers, who had adopted the wheat turned into cheat. To me however, the commonly received opinion that the dead the chain of reasoning appears to be very defec-weights were about two-thirds of the live weights of fairly fed beasts, sheep, and calves; that I am

tive.

In the first place he has not shown that the seed induced to lay before the public, through the mewheat contained no cheat amongst it; and posi-dium of your valuable and widely-circulated Mative evidence of such fact would be requisite to gazine, a short account of the live and dead warrant the conclusion that he has drawn. Now weights of a few animals which were weighed unless extraordinary care and pains have been either under my immediate inspection, or by pertaken for that express and particular purpose, we sons on whose accuracy I can place implicit conhave a right to conclude just the contrary; for fidence. what farmers commonly call clean seed wheat, has In laying these experiments before the public, it been proved in various instances, to contain from is not my object or wish to cast any slur on this four to more than twenty grains of cheat in every useful publication, from which I have derived handful. Assuming therefore, as we have a right much valuable information, and which, in my to do on this occasion, that his seed wheat was not free from cheat, it follows that the whole affair can be easily and satisfactorily explained without referring to the doctrine of transmutation. It appears that the meadow was watered during the winter, which is sufficient to account for the disappearance of the wheat; and the cheat being a much hardier plant, kept the sole and undisputed possession.

opinion, merits a place in the library of every agriculturist; but solely for the purpose of guarding my brother graziers against a disappointment which they will certainly experience, if they weigh their beasts alive before they send them to market, and estimating their dead weights by the rule laid down in this work, expect to receive a price equivalent to those estimated weights.

In the present depressed state of agriculture it He has said indeed that "every bunch [of wheat] is highly essential to every farmer to be able to proved to be cheat;" but I cannot suppose that he ascertain, as nearly as possible, the weight of the marked them; and without closer observations than animal he has to dispose of, so that he may be acare generally made in such cases, he would not be quainted with its real value; and the best mode he able to discriminate between the bunches of wheat can adopt to ascertain this is by weighing it alive, and of cheat that appeared in the fall; neither which, if an ox or cow, can be done on the mawould he be likely to miss the former in the spring, chines that are attached to most of the turnpike He informs us that the hill-side was "rich," and gates, at a trifling expense. If a sheep or calfthis circumstance will assist in explaining why by getting a piece of stout canvas rather more "not a single head of cheat was discovered among than a yard long, and about twenty inches wide, the wheat." Cheat though a hardier plant, is ge- and sowing at each end a piece of strong wood nerally overshadowed and partially smothered by about two feet in length; from the centre of each wheat when the latter is not winter-killed, but piece of wood a small rope is attached-pass the grows closely together; and that weed under such canvas round the body of the sheep or calf, and circumstances, not being conspicuous, is common-suspend it by the ropes either to a steelyard or to ly overlooked, so that farmers conclude there is none in their stubbles, when there is more than enough to seed the whole ground. Cheat is a very variable plant in regard to size: I have seen it scarcely four inches high with only a solitary seed on the top, and I have seen it four feet high, with between two and three thousand seeds.

the arm of a scales-beam, when the weight may be easily ascertained.

As I

I have also found Carey's Scale, which I have used for many years, to be very accurate; I have rarely found it to be 20 lbs. out in the weight of a beast, and often known it to tell within 7 or 8 lbs., and in one instance lately it gave within 5 lbs. of the weight of a heifer of twenty-eight score. invariably sell all the beasts, sheep, and calves, which my butcher purchases from me, by weight, and have also the opportunity of measuring those which he purchases elsewhere, and of afterwards seeing them weighed, I have had the means of trying the merits of the scale pretty largely, and can confidently assert, that if the beasts are measured with proper accuracy the scale will give within a few very few pounds of the real weight.