FOREIGN AND mSCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



stone, with their hallowed associations, but also in prejudice to the health of those who 

 so indiscriminately use them, regardless of other arrangements which ought to go with 

 them. A farm house should never be built without an ample, open fireplace in its kitchen, 

 and other principally occupied rooms; and in all rooms where stoves are placed, and fires 

 are dailj'- required, the open Franklin should take place of the close or air-tigiii, stove, un- 

 less extraordinary ventilation to such rooms be adopted also. The great charm of the 

 farmer's winter evening is the open fireside, with its cheerful blaze and glowing embersj 

 not wastefully expended, but giving out that genial warmth and comfort which, to those 

 who are accustomed to its enjoyment, is a pleasure not made up by any invention what- 

 ever; and although the cooking stove or range be required — which, in addition to the fire- 

 place, we would always recommend, to lighten female labor — it can be so arranged as not 

 to interfere with the enjoyment or convenience of the open fire." 



One of the most valuable parts of the book is the latter half, in which all the out-build- 

 ings of the farm— bee-house, piggery, poultry-houses, dairy buildings— as well as domes- 

 tic animals of all kinds, are briefly and practically treated of. Here Mr. Allen is com- 

 pletely at home, and his remarks will be texts for those who are beginners in those mat- 

 ters. Altogether, we look upon his volume as one of the most valuable contributions to the 

 country library yet made by an American farmer. It is a good harbinger of that general 

 enlightenment of our great industrial class, that we so fully believe to await the American 

 agriculturists. 



/nrrign nnli Bistrllnnratts Sntitri 



Liquid M'anure.— There is nothing in the 

 able Report of the Board of Health, of more 

 horticultural importance than the evidence col- 

 lected on the mode of applying liquid manure. 

 Not that it contains any tiling new u{)on the sub- 

 ject, but because what it does contain is well 

 put, and ably illustrated. Our own columns 

 bear ample testimony to the difficulty of im- 

 pressing upon the minds of gardeners the ex- 

 treme importance of employing such fluids in a 

 state of great dilution; for, notwithstanding our 

 repeated warnings, and the wise practice of their 

 neighbors, men are still to be found so unintel- 

 ligent as to insist upon using strong liquid ma- 

 nure. " How strong may I make it?" says one 

 correspondent. "Of what use is it, if it be weak?" 

 writes another. " Why can't I i)ut on plenty at 

 once, instead of being always at it?" demands 

 a third. In vain we advise, in vain point out 

 reasons; we find the same class of questions in- 

 cessantly repeated. Let us hope that the fol- 

 lowing quotation from the Report before us will 

 assist in dispersing the mistiness which still ho- 

 vers over some portions of the horticultural 

 mind : 



" Sir Joseph Paxton collects at Chatsworth 

 the manure water from water-closets, horse- 

 dung linings, and various other sources, into 

 large covered tanks; the waste also from a small 

 is emptied into one of these, bj' which 

 means the solution becomes very thin. The li- 



quid so collected passes almost immediately in- 

 to a state of incipient or partial decomposition, 

 and thus becomes fit for the food of vegetation ; 

 when drawn off for use, if is always greatly di- 

 luted with water, and never supplied except 

 when the plants are in a state of activity and 

 growth ; otherwise he considers the eflects 

 would in many cases be prejudicial, rather than 

 otherwise. It is used by him liberally to vine 

 borders, peach trees, melons, cucumbers, pines 

 and other fruits, with the most powerful and sa- 

 tisfactory results; in fact, the use of plant food 

 in a liquid state, if properly prepared and ad- 

 ministered, supersedes in a great degree, the ne- 

 cessity for manure in a solid form ; and the pro- 

 duce in favor of the liquid greatly preponde- 

 rates, being both larger in quantity and weight, 

 richer in color, and superior in flavor. 



"These advantages, however, could not be 

 secured with certainty, unless the solution were 

 so prepared as to suit the habits and require- 

 ments of the various plants to which it is sup- 

 plied. This preparation is of two kinds: — first, 

 by diluting the liquid sufficiently with waterto 

 prevent the spongioles of roots becoming glut- 

 ted with too great a supply of food ; and, sec- 

 ondly, rendering it of a proper temperature by 

 the addition of hot water. Pines require the 

 li(iuid at about a heat of 80° Fahr., and other 

 plants in proportion ; fruit trees, and other open 

 air product.";, however, do not necessarily re- 



