1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



93 



tion, if they are exposed to the united influence 

 of the two'fluids, that of Iieat will exercise upon 

 thctii Its lull Ibrce, because there is no evapora- 

 tion from them to temper its effects, and their del- 

 icate organs will be withered and dried up. It is 

 for this reason that gardeners are so carelul to 

 shelter their nurseries li-om the rays of liie sun, 

 anil not to expose their plants, till by the devei- 

 opement of their leaves they are able to moderate 

 the etPects of heat by tran.s|)iralion. 



Though the action of light upon vegetation 

 does not appear to be so important as that of the 

 other fluids of which I have spoken, it is not in re- 

 ality less so. Plants, which are raised in the shade 

 or in the darkness, are nearly or quite without co- 

 lor, perfume, taste, or the firmness of texture of 

 those that are exposed to the direct rays of the 

 sun; and if the luminous fluid does not combine 

 with the organs of plants, we cannot deny that 

 it is a powerful auxiliary in their combinations. 



It is generally acknowledged that plants do not 

 emit oxygen gas, excepting when exposed to the 

 direct rays of the sun; and it is known also that 

 flowers rarely produce fruit, if raised entirely in 

 the shade. According to the observations of M. 

 Decandolle, the sensitive plant, if carried into the 

 shade, closes its leaves as during the night, and 

 re-opens them immediately upon being again ex- 

 posed to the rays of the sun, or of a lamp. 



The grand discoveries of Herschell have thrown 

 great light upon these delicate questions. That 

 learned philosopher has proved, that amongst the 

 various rays constituting a pencil of light, there 

 are some that possess nearly exclusively the pro- 

 perty of being luminous, others, that of attbrding 

 heat. Wollaston and Ritier have added to these 

 important facts, that there exists a third species of 

 rays, which appear to act upon bodies as power- 

 ful chemical agents. 



When we reflect upon the influence which the 

 atmosphere exercises over vegetation and over the 

 principal operations which are carried on in rural 

 establishments, such as fermentations, the prepa- 

 ration of various productions, and the decompo- 

 sition of some substances, in order to apply them 

 to particular purposes — we are astonished at find- 

 ing nowhere any of the simple and unexpensive 

 instruments which announce its changes every 

 moment. 



I do not propose that delicate or complicated in- 

 struments should be provided: but I wish to find 

 on every farm an hj'grometer, to ascertain the hu- 

 midity of the atmosphere, a thermometer to in- 

 dicate the changes of temperature, and a barom- 

 eter to delermine the weight of the atmosphere. 

 This last instrument would be particularly valua- 

 ble, as predicting the changes of the weather; 

 the rising of the mercury announces the return of 

 dry weather, and its sinking warns us of rain and 

 storms. We can regard these variations but as 

 signs; but they are signs much inore certain than 

 those which country people derive from the 

 changes of the moon. 



From the Hudson Republiean. 

 A PRODUCTIVE FARM. 



To THE EDITOR : — Wilt thou oblige the Ag- 

 ricultural Society of this county, by publishing 

 the annexed extract from a letter addressed to 

 Dr. J. P. Beekman, by Samuel T. Vary, of Kinder- 



hook, giving a statement of the products of his 

 farm. 



It will be underslood that tlie account is for sales 

 actually made, and that he has retained sufficient 

 grain and provisions f()r the winter's use; and has 

 besides drawn his livinof from the farm during the 

 year. The farm has 145 acres of land und.er cul- 

 tivation. The soil is sand and fine gravel, sand 

 and loam, and sand and clay. 



Sales and products of the farm for 1835. 



12 calves, - - . . (^37 gg 



196 lbs. butter, at 20 cts. - - "39 20 



1442 do. cheese, at 8 cts. - - _ 123 37 



30 lambs, at ,§1 87 J cts. - - 56 25 



850 bush, oats, at 52"cfs. - _ - 442 00 



375 do. potatoes, at 25 cts - - 93 75 



20 tons of hay, at .«i 15, - - - 300 00 



72 bush, onions, at 50 cts. - - 36 00 



500 do. corn, at 82 cts. - _ _ 421 88 



220 do. wheat, at igl 50, - - - 330 00 



4 cows, beef - - - - 69 00 



2 oxen and 2 steers, - - . 130 00 



7 shoats, - - . . 17 00 



1440 lbs. pork, at 7 cts. _ . _ 100 80 



22 wethers, at ^4 . _ . 88 00 



Deduct money paid out, 

 Net profit. 



#2,285 13 

 383 75 



•S 1,901 38 



If some of our active fiirmers would keep a sim- 

 ilar account during the year, and also a written 

 account of their agricultural experiments, and pre- 

 sent them to be read at the winter meeting of the 

 Agricultural Society, it would add much to the in- 

 terest of those meetings, and verv much extend the 

 sphere of the society's usefulness. Such commu- 

 nications may be addressed to any officer of the 

 society, or to 



JOHN STANTON GOULD, 



Corresponding Secretary, Stockport. 

 "id month, (Feb.) 



From the Journal of Commerce. 

 IMPORTATION OF AFRICAN ASSES. 



Five large Afirican male asses, ofa nearly milk 

 white color, were on Saturday landed from the brig 

 Commaquid, which arrived here on Friday from 

 Gibraltar. These animals are altogether unlike in 

 appearance to the English ass or donkey, one of 

 which may be occasionly seen here, and which is 

 a diminutive little animal, and of very little use as 

 a beast of burthen. The African ass is, on the 

 contrary, as large as a middle sized horse, and 

 has been, as far back as the days of scripture, an 

 animal nmch prized for its useful qualities in Asia 

 and Africa. The present importation — although 

 there are probably asses enough already in the 

 country — is likely to prove a valuable acquisition. 



From the Tennessee Farmer. 

 GROSS MISCONCEPTIONS AS TO THE NATURE 

 AND VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PAPERS. 



Among a large portion of those who are engaged 

 in agriculture, an idea prevails, that agricultural 

 papers are only valuable as the means of conveying 

 to the public that agricultural knowlege acquired 



