1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



385 



We have not used, or seen used, this syringe, 

 and can only give what others say of it. We 

 think, however, it may be a convenient and use- 

 ful article. Price $3. For sale by Parker, White 

 & Gannett, Boston. 



FIRST BATE WHITEWASH. 



The editor of the American Agriculturist says 

 he has tried various preparations for whitewash- 

 ing ceilings, and the walls of unpapered rooms, 

 but has never found anything that was entirely 

 satisfactory until the present spring. He has 

 now something that affords a beautiful, clear, 

 white color, and which cannot be rubbed off, and 

 which he prepares in this wise : 



"We procured at a paint store a dollar's worth 

 of first quality 'Paris white' — 33 lbs., at three 

 cents per lb. — and for this quantity one pound of 

 white glue, of the best quality, usually called 

 Cooper's glue, because manufactured by Peter 

 Cooper, of New York. Retail price 50 cents per 

 pound. For one day's work, half apound of glue 

 was put in a tin vessel, and covered with cold 

 water over night. In the morning this was care- 

 fully heated until dissolved, when it was added 

 to 16 lbs. of the Paris white, previously stirred 

 in a moderate quantity of hot water. Enough 

 water was then added to give the whole a prop- 

 er milky consistency, when it was applied with a 

 brush in the ordinary manner. Our 33 pounds 

 of Paris white and one pound of glue sufficed for 

 two ceilings, and the walls and ceilings of seven 

 other small rooms. 



"A single coat is equal to a double coat of lime 

 wash, while the white is far more brilliant than 

 lime. Indeed, the color is nearly equal to that of 

 'zinc white,' which costs at least four times as 

 much. We are satsified, by repeated trials, that 

 no whitewash can be made to adhere firmly with- 

 out glue, or some kind of sizing, and this will in- 

 variably be colored in time with the caustic lime. 

 The Paris white, on the contrary, is simply pure 

 washed chalk, and is entirely inert, producing no 

 caustic effect on Ithe sizing. Any of our readers 

 who try this, and are as well pleased with it as 

 we are, will consider the information worth many 

 times the cost of an entire volume of the Agri- 

 culturist. Had we known of it when we first 'set 

 up housekeeping,' it would have saved us much 

 labor, and the annoyance of garments often soiled 

 by contact with whitewash — not to mention the 

 saving of candles, secured by always having the 

 ceiling white enough to reflect instead of absorb- 

 ing the rays of light." 



one to sit at his bedside and read to him. AVhen 

 he rose, he had a chapter of the Hebrew Bible 

 read for him; and then, with, of course, the inter- 

 vention of breakfast, studied till twelve. He then 

 dined, took some exercise for an hour — general- 

 ly in a chair, in which he used to swing himself 

 — and afterwards played on the organ, or the 

 bass-viol, and either sang himself or made his 

 wife sing, who had a good voice but no ear. He 

 then resumed his studies till six, from which 

 hour till eight he conversed with those who came 

 to visit him. He finally took a light supper, 

 smoked a pipe of tobacco, and drank a glass of 

 water, after which he retired to rest. — KnigJitly's 

 Milton. 



THE DAILY LIFE OF MILTON". 

 In his mode of living, Milton, as might be an- 

 ticipated, was moderate and temperate. At his 

 meals he never took much of wine or any other 

 fermented liquor, and he was not fastidious in 

 his food ; yet his taste seems to have been deli- 

 cate and refined, like his other senses, and he had 

 a preference for such viands as were of an agree- 

 able flavor. In his early years he used to sit up 

 late at his studies ; and perhaps he continued 

 this practice while his sight was good ; but in his 

 latter years, he retired every night at nine o'clock, 

 and lay till four in summer, till five in winter ; 

 and, if not disposed then to rise, he had some 



SMILES. 



A pleasant smile to light the eye, 



And fill the heart with gladness, 

 To chase away the tears of grief, 



And hush the sigh of sadness ; 

 To lend the face a fairer charm, 



A soul of love expressing. 

 That to cartlimust divinely bring 



A comfort and a blessing. 



O, smiles have power a world of good 



To fling around us ever ; 

 Then let us wear their golden beams, 



And quench their ardor never. 

 For while a smile Illumes the eye, 



And wreathes the lip of beauty, 

 The task of life must ever be, 



A pure and pleasant duty. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DEPTH OF PLOWING. 



Noticing in the N. E. Farmer an article by J. 

 W. Procter on the depth of plowing which so 

 nearly accords with my experience, I will add 

 that, in my opinion, much benefit would result 

 from a judicious deepening of the soil at each 

 succeeding plowing, although on some soils more 

 benefit I think would be foiuid from subsoiling 

 than from very deep plowing. 



The roots of plants extend farther and deeper, 

 in search of nourishment than many suppose. 

 I have been told upon reliable authority that the 

 roots of the onion have been traced from two to 

 three feet. I have traced the roots of apple trees 

 in a nursery to the depth of four feet, which 

 proves to my mind that we need not fear stirring 

 the soil too deep ; and not lo bring too much of 

 it to the surface, and espcLially at one time. I 

 have experienced a very marked improvement 

 upon spring-wheat when it was subsoiled, except 

 three furrows ; these grew less vigorously through 

 the season than where the ground was stirred to 

 the depth of eighteen inches. I am satisfied that 

 all plants prefer a deep soil. P. Taber. 



Vassalboro', Me., July 7, 1858. 



Remarks. — The opinion advanced by Mr. 

 Procter, and now confirmed by Mr. Taber, is 

 fast gaining ground, even among farmers who 

 are usually not in haste to change their opinions 

 on any subject. "Stir the Soil," would be an ex- 

 cellent motto, for a conspicuous panel in the 

 farm-house. 



Healthy roots are great travellers — they have 



