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explanation, that the medical faculty has it within reach to control the 

 natural results of the presence of an excess of electric fluids. If the excess 

 of electricity comes from the earth, and not from the air, the amount of 

 electricity in each patient may be controlled by still further insulation and 

 discharge. This further insulation from the earth may be accomplished by 

 glass under the posts of the bedsteads of the bedridden, or by encasement 

 of those who move about in silk underclothing. I am told by Dr. Hark- 

 ness that the last expedient is frequently resorted to in similar winds of 

 India. The medical fraternity are under obligations to humanity that 

 ought to lead them to important results in this direction. 



Fifth — The north winds, following the rainy season, by drying and bak- 

 ing the soil, dissolve and pulverize its particles, thus freeing its inherent 

 productive powers. A similar result is produced in colder climates by the 

 alternations of rain, frost, and heat. This line of investigation is com- 

 mended to intelligent agriculturists. 



Sixth — The short, dry, seedy grass upon which our farmers rely during 

 the Summer and early Fall, and which is so quickly destroyed by moisture, 

 is cured and preserved by our north winds. This short grass, at the proper 

 moment, is seized by the north wind and quickly cured ; and cured in a 

 way that preserves all its nutritive qualities from evaporation. 



Seventh — Fineness of fiber and concentrative nutriment is imparted to 

 all our vegetable growth by the north wind. And it is possible that the 

 grape and strawberry may receive their delicate flavor from the same source. 

 At least we are sure of this: that without the north wind exceeding • gross- 

 ness would characterize all our vegetation. 



Eighth — The north wind, while it sometimes destroys, often brings our 

 cereals to a rich and profitable maturity; imparting to the berry a solidity 

 and flintiness that enables it to resist the damaging effects of moisture. 

 How far wheat is indebted to the north wind for its glutin and thinness of 

 husk I am not able to say, but I believe, from the few facts in my posses- 

 sion, that it performs a kindly office in this direction. I am convinced 

 that the absence of the north wind, and the inevitable increase of moisture, 

 would give us mere bigness of berry, to the sacrifice of flavor. Without 

 the north wind our grain would naturally continue to grow a month longer, 

 during which time it could only increase in size. And, as there is a circu- 

 lation of electrical currents in all fruit, vegetables, and grain, it may yet 

 be found that the electric disturbances produced by the north winds are 

 extremely favorable to all our crops. The north wind protects our crops 

 from destruction by animal and vegetable parasites. Our comparative 

 exemption from the ravages of weevil doubtless arises from the desiccating 

 power of the north wind, and perhaps, in part, from the electric conditions. 

 The most common enemy of the vegetable economy is the fungi. Fruit 

 trees are injured by microscopical fungi; potatoes, onions, lettuce, vines, 

 hops, peas, cabbage, and turnips, each have their inimical fungi. In moist 

 climates the grain crop is smitten with red-rust, mildew, smut, and per- 

 haps other fungi. The conditions favorable to the growth of fungi are 

 moderate, but continuous moisture, a close damp atmosphere, shady situa- 

 tions, and neither extreme of heat nor cold. The family of fungi, then, 

 cannot prevail to any great extent in our great central valley, because of 

 the north wind ; and we are defended against their ravages by the so called 

 "poison wind." A gentleman of high scentific attainments, who has made 

 the study of fungi a specialty, informs me that this great central valley, as 

 a matter of fact, is almost destitute of these growths. This proposition is, 

 then, reasonably well established, though we may now and then, owing to 

 exceptional moisture, have a little rust in our wheat. 



