I. AGKICULTUKE AND EURAL ECONOMY. 411 



ally established, vegetation did not reach a fuller develop- 

 ment by reason of the positive addition of nitrogen to the 

 soil. Eiofht vessels were exhibited which had been filled with 

 fine sand, previously thoroughly heated, and tAvo planted re- 

 spectively with pease, barley, buckwheat, and rape-seed ; and 

 to one of each of these diiferent kinds nitrogen had been 

 added. The plants in the latter appeared well developed, 

 while those in the others were stunted. He concluded that 

 nitrogen is essential to growth, that of the atmosphere not 

 sufiicing for thrifty growth, the first leaves being developed 

 from the nitrogen of the seed and soil. Also, that the richer 

 the soil in nitrogen, the more luxuriant the growth, and the 

 greater the amount of nitrogen taken from the atmosphere ; 

 and that, consequently, nitrogen in fertilizers is not only bene- 

 ficial, but necessary. Further incomplete experiments upon 

 the eflect of moisture, warmth, and light indicated unmis- 

 takably that water is not only a carrier of nutriment, but is 

 itself nutriment, and that plants rely mainly on the soil for 

 water ; that there is a surprising difference in growth, other 

 conditions being identical, when an ample supply of water 

 above the natural quantity is given to the soil. 8 (7, A2Jril 

 3,1873,110. 



BREEDING ExVBBITS FOR FOOD. 



Hochstetter, of Tubingen, regards the rabbit as the equiv- 

 alent among the poorer classes to cattle among the wealthier, 

 and earnestly advocates its cultivation. He gives detailed 

 estimates of expenses, and of the receipts, from meat and 

 skins, which make it appear that a single doe rabbit will af- 

 ford a clear yearly profit of from $8 to $10, and states that 

 he expects with three doe rabbits to have rabbit roast twice 

 per week, at a saving of about |24 per year for meat. 8 C, 

 Ajyril 3,1813,101. 



ASH-COLORED BREED OF TURKEYS. 



In the recent report of the Paris Societe d'Acclimatation 

 it is stated that M. Senequier, of Toulon, has cultivated a 

 race of ash-colored turkeys, a little less in size than the aver- 

 age, but remarkable for their extraordinary fecundity. The 

 female lays throughout the entire year, with a slight interval 

 of repose. Sh^ covers her eggs with great assiduity, and is 



