No. 3. 



Lime — Grass and Grass Seeds. 



77 



trees, being struck with lightning'. This is 

 no more than might bo expected. But wiiat 

 is more to be regretted is, that such cases are 

 continually brought up to prove that lightning 

 rods are of no service. Such testimony isi 

 altogether inadmissible. Let all the condi- 

 tions of a perfect conductor be fully coniplied 

 with; make it one connected whole; sink it 

 deep into the earth ; elevate it above all near 

 objects ; and furnish it with a perfect point ; 

 and he who recommends its use, will cheer- 

 fully abide the trial. 

 New Gnrden, 8th mo. 20th, 1838. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Liinie. 



It is highly gratifying to observe that in- 

 creased attention has been paid of latter time, 

 to the developement of the advantages which 

 this simple, but intrinsically valuable agent is 

 capable ofproducing in a great variety of forms. 



I noticed on page 20 of the present volume 

 of the Farmers' Cabinet, an article "On the 

 Preservation of Roof s of Buildings^ That 

 essay is principally confined to a spirited re- 

 commendation of the '■^alkaline solution," as 

 an efficient preservative; and to a correct de- 

 scription of the method of applying it, — in all 

 which I concur with the writer, fully — but 

 conclude, that a brief description of the prac- 

 tical effect, of what I deem a liberal experi- 

 ment, made by a judicious farmer of New- 

 Jersey, may tend to encourage others to avail 

 themselves of advantages so plainly demon- 

 strated. With this view the following par- 

 ticulars are furnished for publication. 



On an intere=;ting visit, which, in company 

 with an enterprising young man, I several 

 years ago made to a friend of ours, then re- 

 puted a first rate " Practical Farmer," the 

 valuable properties of Lime being adverted to 

 in conversation, the writer ventured an opin- 

 ion, that this article was, under proper cir- 

 cumstances, a better preservative of the softer 

 kinds of our American wood, than paint itself 

 — to which our friend rejoined with an em- 

 phasis that well bespoke his energy in the 

 matter, " If you will walk with me, you shall 

 see I have proven that." 



He took us to a building that served the 

 respective purposes of a carriage-house and 

 corn cribs, the roof extending to within a 

 few feet of the ground ; the side first exam- 

 ined exhibited an appearance so decayed 

 and defective, as to be scarcely capable of 

 turning off hail — whilst the other side pre- 

 sented the appearance of a perfectly sound, 

 and nearly new roof. Nor could we be con- 

 vinced that it was not either a comparatively 

 new one, or originally composed of materials 

 altogether superior to those of the side first 

 examined, until informed that they were both 



of the same age, within a day or two, and 

 of the ."^ame kind of materials, put on by 

 S . (now and for many years an em- 

 inent merchant of this city) who considered 

 them of good quality. On expressing our as- 

 tonishment, and enquiring the process by 

 which so extraordinary an effect had been pro- 

 duced, our friend informed us, that soon after 

 tnis building was erected, entertaining then 

 a high opinion of the properties of lime, he 

 obtained his father's permission for n\aking a 

 fair experiment of its efficacy in this partic- 

 ular form — and that, af\er the roof had been 

 on eight years, he applied upon the north 

 side of it, a coat of hot lime, as he termed it. 

 Eight years after that, another coat, and eight 

 years after that a third coat — and, that the 

 result was here to testify for itself. 



A thorough examination was then made 

 with the assistance of a ladder, &c. of this 

 side of tlie roof, and not the least appearance 

 of even the commencement of decay could 

 be detected. If I mistake not, the last appli- 

 cation of lime was made a year or two pre- 

 vious to the time when it was shown to us. 



Comment upon an experiment so handsome- 

 ly carried out seems needless — the operation 

 was judiciously performed, and the lapse of 

 time has proven its efficacy. Its intrinsic 

 value to the citizens of New Jersey, or else- 

 where, if duly appreciated, would be immense. 

 The writer, as well as many other persons to 

 whom the case described has become known, 

 never pretend to cover a building of any value 

 with wood, without a thorough application of 

 the "alkaline solution." 



There is one other fact that should never 

 be overlooked in this matter, which is, that a 

 sntiiration of wood in a strong alkali, especially 

 if a little salt is added, as should be, renders 

 it comparatively incombustible. Such an ap- 

 plication would doubtless save from destruc- 

 tion by fire, in the country in particular, many 

 a valuable house with its contents. A friend 

 to Permanent Improvement. 



Philadelphia, 9th mo., 1st, 1838. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Gran and Grass Seeds. 



A Farmer never thrives unless he raises 

 abundant crops of grass; for grass and hay 

 feed stock, and stockmakesmanure, and with 

 plenty of manure, grain and every other ag- 

 ricultural product is easily brought into ex- 

 istence, but without manure, which is the food 

 of all plants, farming would soon come to a 

 full stop ; as well might we expect a mill to 

 grind without water, or a ^vatch to keep time 

 without a mainspring, as for grass and grain 

 to grow and thrive without being furnished 

 with food. I have never yet known a prime 

 good farmer that did not pay especial attention 

 tQ raising the greatest possible quantity of 



