186 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



DECEMBER 35, 1S33. 



THE LARGEST TREE IN THE WORLD. 



The boabab or monkey-bread (Adansonia digi- 

 iata) is the most gigantic tree hitherto discovered. 

 The trunk, though frequently eighty feet in cir- 

 cumference, rarely exceeds twelve or fifteen feet in 

 height; hut on the summit of this huge pillar 

 is placed a majestic head of innumerable branches 

 fifty or sixty feet long, each resembling an enor- 

 mous tree, densely clothed with beautiful green 

 leaves. While the central branches are erect, the 

 lowest series extend in a horizontal direction, of- 

 ten touching the ground at their extremity ; so that 

 the whole forms a splendid arch of foliage, more 

 like the fragment of a forest than a single tree. 

 The grateful shade of this superb canopy is a fa- 

 vorite retreat of birds and monkeys; the natives 

 resort to it for repose, and the weary traveller in a 

 burning climate gladly flies to it for shelter. The 

 leaves are quinate, smooth, resembling in genera] 

 form those of the horse cliesnut. The flowers are 

 white and very beautiful, eighteen inches in cir- 

 cumference. The fruit, which hangs in a pendant 

 manner, is a woody gourd-like capsule with a 

 downy surface, about nine inches in length and 

 fpur in thickness, containing numerous cells, in 

 which brown kidney-shaped seeds are embedded, in 

 a pulpy acid substance. The timber is soft and 

 spongy, and we arc not aware that it is used for 

 any economical purpose. It is very easily perfo- 

 rated, so that, according to Bruce, the bees in Ab- 

 yssinia construct their nests within it, and the 

 honey thus obtained, being supposed to have ac- 

 quired a superior flavor, is esteemed in preference 

 to any other. A more remarkable excavation is 

 however made by the natives ; diseased portions 

 of the trunk are hollowed out and converted into 

 tombs for the reception of the bodies of such indi- 

 viduals as, by the laws or customs of the country, 

 are denied the usual rites of interment. The 

 bodies thus suspended within the cavity, and with- 

 out any preparation or embalment, dry into well 

 preserved mummies. The juicy acid pulp is eaten 

 by the natives, and is considered beneficial in fe- 

 vers and other diseases on account of its cooling 

 properties. The duration of the boabab is not the 

 least extraordinary part of its history, and it has 

 given rise to much speculation. In it we unques- 

 tionably see the most ancient living specimens of 

 vegetation. ' It is,' says the illustrious Humboldt, 

 ' the oldest organic monument of our planet; and 

 Adanson calculates that trees now alive have 

 weathered the storms of five thousand years. 



Ed. Cab. Lib. 



From the Genesee Gazelle. 

 STATE OP AGRICXLTIRE. 



Wf. have selected an extract, from "James 

 Stuart's three year's travels in North America." 

 We have visited Mr. Stimson's farm, and can at- 

 test to the truth of its being well cultivated. If 

 the wealthy tanners in Genesee Co. would pay 

 as much attention to their firms, as Mr. Stimsou 

 dues to his, they would be more profitable than 

 his, as the land is certainly better. 



"On the 18th of November, made an excursion 

 to the township of (Jalwav, with a view to see 

 Mr. StLmson's farm, about eleven miles from Halls- 

 ton Spa. Mr. Stimson is a very enterprising per- 

 son, has an extensive farm, a large hotel, and great 

 stores as a merchant. We are told that there is 

 no farm within our reach at present, so well enti- 

 tled to notice. Mr. Burtis, our Saratoga charioteer, 



carried us to it. We were unlucky in not finding 

 Mr. Stimson at home, hut Mrs. Stimson was ex- 

 tremely communicative and obliging, most espe- 

 cially considering that we had no introduction to 

 her. 



The situation of the farm is very elevated, with 

 ihe highway running through it. Of S00 acres, 

 of which the farm consists, Mr. Stimson has about 

 one half in cultivation. His fences, horses, farm- 

 houses, and the whole establishment, are good, and 

 in good order; and there is an appearance of ac- 

 tivity and attention about the place that would do 

 credit to the agriculturist of any country. 



The whole land has been improved by Mr. 

 Stimson ; it is laid off in fields of about eight 

 acres, enclosed with stones gathered from the land 

 in the lower part of the fence, and a frame of 

 wood on the top of them. There are two rails 

 above the stone, and about twenty miles of this 

 sort of fence. 



The soil is generally light, but Mr. Stimson 

 manures, though perhaps not so much as might 

 here be done with advantage, yet a great deal more 

 than most farmers in this country, and of course 

 raises better crops. His general rotation is, "Maize, 

 or Indian corn, with patches of potatoes or tur- 

 nips on the edges of the field ; 2 Barley, or some- 

 times otits ; 3. Wheat iu which he sows five 

 pounds clover seed, and two quarts timothy per 

 acre. Then he cuts the timothy for two years 

 and pastures for one. He breaks up the pasture 

 for wheat, then takes a crop of maize and follows 

 the above rotation, manuring either on breaking up 

 or with the maize. Land is less overrun with 

 weeds here than in Britain, and for some lime af- 

 ter being cleared, much richer in point of soil. In 

 this view the rotation by which crops of grain are 

 taken consecutively may admit of justification to 

 some extent. Yet I cannot but suspect that the 

 return would, on the whole, be greater if the ma- 

 nure was always applied to the maize or gr^en 

 crop, followed by only one grain crop of wbeat, 

 or oats, or barley, with which grass seeds are 

 sown. The land would thus constantly be clean, 

 and in good tilth, and the lesser number of grain 

 crops would be compensated by their superior 

 quality. 



Mr. Stimson has reported his produce from 

 eighty-five acres to he what follows, after acfial 

 survey and examination ; and while he can obtain 

 such a return, he is well entitled to adhere to his 

 own system. 



10 acres of Orchard ground produced 25 tonslny 

 S do. Maize, 560 bushels 



S do. do. 720 do. [hay 



10 do. do. 300 do. and 16 t. 



■I do. Wheat. 140 do. 



1 do. Flax, 600 lbs. 



8 do. Oats, 560 bushels 



8 do. Hay, 32 tons 



8 do. do. 36 do. 



1 do. Barley, 60 bushels 

 3 do. Hay, 10 1-2 tons 

 -1 do. do. 12 do. 



8 do. do. 24 do. 



2 do. 1000 bush, potatoes I 

 2 do. in vegetables raised 400 chickens. 



Mr. Stimson bus gained almost all the agricul- 

 tural premiums in the county ; for having the best I 

 managed farm ; for having raised sixty-two bush- ! 

 els of barley on an acre ; for having raised 357 I 

 bushels of potatoes on half an acre; and for hav- 

 ing raised 5 tons of timothy hay per acre. 



The field of maize on this farm, when well 

 hoed and cleaned by the plough, cannot fail in 

 summer to give a very gay appearance to ihe field, 

 — even superior to that of the best dressed green 

 crops to which the eye of a British farmer is ac- 

 customed ; hut at this season, the want of those 

 green crops of turnips, mangel wurtzel, rutabaga, 

 &c. which, as well as potatoes, are only raised in 

 small portions in the margins of the fields, creates 

 a great blank. The maize is the great article used 

 not merely as the cleaning crop, hut for feeding 

 horses, cattle, and poultry, for which it is admira- 

 bly adapted. 



When we returned from the fields, we found a 

 very nice dinner prepared for us, and a bottle of 

 wine on the table. Mrs. Stimson had previously 

 dined, hut gave us the pleasure of her company ; 

 and was, I believe, not less inquisitive in putting 

 questions to us respecting land. The county 

 of Onondaga will fully sustain her rank among 

 the counties of the state, leading perhaps the van, 

 as of right she may claim to do, in the march of 

 agricultural improvement. 



FRANKLIN ON SWIMMING. 



When a swimmer is seized with the cramp in 

 tie leg, the method of driving it away is to give 

 tie parts affected a sudden, vigorous, and violent 

 skock, which he may do in the air, as he swims 

 on his back. 



' When I was a boy, I amused myself one day 

 with flying a paper kite ; and approaching the 

 banks of a lake, which was near a mile broad, 

 tied the string to a stake, and the kite ascended to 

 l very considerable height above the pond, while I 

 *vas swimming. — In a little time, being desirous of 

 amusing myself with my kite, and enjoying at the 

 same time the pleasure of swimming, I returned, 

 and loosing from the stake the string with the lit- 

 tle stick which was fastened to it went again into 

 the water, where I found that lying on my back 

 and holding the stick in my hand, I was drawn 

 along the surface of the water in a very agreeable 

 manner. 



' Having then engaged another boy to carry my 

 clothes round the pond, to a place which I pointed 

 out to him on the other side, it carried me quite over 

 without the least fatigue, and with the greatest 

 pleasure imaginable. I was only obliged occa- 

 sionally to halt a little in my course, and resist its 

 progress, when it appeared that by following too 

 quick, I lowered the kite too much ; by doing 

 which occasionally I made it rise again. I have 

 never since that time practised this singular mode 

 of swimming, though I think it not impossible to 

 cross in this manner, from Dover to Calais. The 

 packet boat, however, is still preferable. 



Diving, by practice, may be carried to aston- 

 ishing perfection. Pearls are brought up from the 

 bottom of the sea by divers, who are trained to 

 remain a considerable time under water. In an- 

 cient times, divers were employed in war to de- 

 stroy the ships of the enemy; and many instances 

 are related, by respectable authors, of men diving 

 after, and fetching up nails and pieces of money 

 thrown into the sea, and even overtaking the nail 

 or coin before it has reached the bottom. 



Diving may be performed from the surface of 

 the water when swimming by merely turning the 

 head downward, and striking upward with his 

 legs. It is, however, much better to leap in with 

 the hands closed above the head, and head fore- 



