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EDITOEIAL NOTICES. 



Corn Culture and the Soaking of Seeds in Saline Solutions. — 

 We call the attention of our readers to the article on the culti- 

 vation of corn, by Mr. Hopkins, and to the succeeding one on 

 the advantage of soaking seeds in saline solutions, preparatory to 

 planting or sowing, by Dr. N. S. Davis, of Binghamton. We 

 wish them to notice the nearly exact coincidence in their views 

 on this subject. Mr. Hopkins is a successful farmer and an accu- 

 rate observer. Dr. Davis, besides being a careful experimenter, 

 is also an acute observer, and is possessed of a mind accustomed 

 to the process of analysis When we find two persons of their 

 skill and judgment to agree in their views of the nature of any 

 proposed practice, we may with safety place confidence in the 

 results of their experience and observation. 



In this conection, we take pleasure in observing the increased 

 interest with wich the maize crop is regarded. There has been in 

 the husbandry of this country a remarkable proneness to imitate 

 the English. Most of our periodicals fostered this inclination. 

 It seemed that writers and farmers never took the trouble to in- 

 quire in w^hat respects England differed from the United States in 

 climate. Besides they appeared to be ignorant of the fact, that 

 the striking features in English husbandry were forced upon that 

 country, and that it grew out of the physical condition of the 

 country itself, and is not that husbandry which would be preferred 

 or followed, provided it could have a choice. Let the husbandry 

 of this country too, be such as naturally grows out of our climate, 

 without any attempt to force upon it what is esteemed abroad, 

 without due regard to circumstances. 



The Promotion of Vegetation by Electro-Galvanic Action. — 

 In order that our readers may understand how and to what extent 

 electricity may be employed in promoting vegetation, it is only 

 necessary that they should comprehend what takes place when a 

 galvanic battery is in action. Thus, when a saline solution is 

 submitted to it, it is decomposed; suppose it is sulphate of soda. 

 In this, and in all instances of a similar combination, the com- 

 pound will be resolved into its elements; the acid will appear at 

 one pole of the battery and the soda at the other. The effect 



