264 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 2, 1831. 



MISCEL.L,ANY. | 



ICELAND. j 



Cone 111 Jed from page 245. j 



'At first, I confess, I shuddered at the idea of 

 spending a winter in Iceland ; but what was my 

 surprise when I found the temperature of the atmos- 

 phere not only greater than that of the preceding 

 ■winter in Denmark, but equal to that of the mildes't 

 I have lived in either in Denmark or Sweden ! 



'In the month of November, the mercury in Fah- 

 renheit's thermometer did not sink lower than 20°, 

 and it was nearly as often above the freezing point 

 as below it. On the Gth of December, with clear 

 ■weather and a light breeze from the east-north-east, 

 it sunk to 8° 30", after which, especially towards the I 

 end of the year, the weather became remarkably ! 

 mild, and continued in tliis state tdl near the middle 

 of January ; the thermometer for the most part be- ; 

 tween 34^ and 40°. On the lOtli and 11 th of Janu- j 

 ary it fell as low as 15^ 30", but rose again in a short 

 time, and continued much more frequently above 

 tlian below the point of congelation till the 7th of 

 March, when we had a strong wind from the N. N. 

 W., and the mercury, which had stood the preceding 

 day between 30° and 34°, sunk in the morning to 

 9° 30", at noon to 8°, and at 9 o'clock in the even- 

 ing it fell as low as 4° 30', which was the strongest 

 degree of frost wc had the whole winter. 



' The quantity of snow that fell during the winter! 

 was very considerable, especially in the northern 

 parts of the island, where many of the peasants were 

 reduced to circumstances of great distress, by the 

 total consumption of the fodder they had provided 

 for their cattle. The atmosphere was on the whole 

 rather clear and serene, than darkened by mists, 

 ■which is in a great measure to be ascribed to the 

 prevalence of brisk land winds, to which the moun- 

 tainous nature of the country is extremely favor- 

 able. 



' It must, at the same time, be allowed, that the 

 winter of 1814, as well as that which immediately 

 preceded it, was considered by the Icelanders as un- 

 commonly mild. The keenest frost ever e.xperienced 

 in Iceland was in the year 1348, when the ocean 

 was congealed all round the island, so as to admit of 

 .the inhabitants riding on horseback from the one 

 promontory to the other on the ice. 



Nothing so materially aifects the climate of Ice- 

 land as the arrival of the floating ice from the 'oppo- 

 site coast of Greenland. Generally towards the end 

 of winter, and sometimes in the beginning of sum- 

 mer, it is seen moving towards the coast in immense 

 masses, which are not nnfrequently piled one above 

 another, and more resemble islands with mountains, 

 castles, and spires, than bodies of ice. They are so 

 thick that they have been known to run aground in 

 eighty fathoms' water. Their motion is not so much 

 accelerated by t!ie wind as by the current; but their 

 rapidity, when impelled by these two causes con- 

 jointly, is so great, that no six-oared boat is able to 

 keep up with them. When the sea is agitated by a 

 storm, the ice-islands are dashed against each other 

 in the most tremendous manner ; the noise arising 

 from the crash is lieard at a great distance ; and, as 

 often happens, the drift timber jammed in between 

 the masses takes fire from the friction, presenting to 

 the eye of the spectator a scene the most incongri 

 ous that can possibly be imiigined. The quantity of 

 floating ice is commonly so great, that it not only 

 -chokes up all the friths and bays, but extends to 

 .such a distance in the ocean that its termination 

 cannot be discovered, from the summit of the hi 

 es't mountain ; and in the year ^7G(> tlic whole of Ihe 

 va.it strait between Iceland and Greenland was en- 

 tirely closed up with it. It r,-.-iiicipaliy infests the 

 northern, and part of the eastern coasts, as likewise 

 the w-estern friths, but it is seldom that it surroundi 

 the whole island. 



While the masses of ice remain in a state of fluc- 

 tuation, sometimes at a distance, and sometimes 

 nearer the coast, the weather is very unsettled, and 

 the winds are cold and damp; but when they are 



driven into the bays, and the salt water freezes 

 around them, the weather becomes more steady ; 

 the cold increases; and insalubrious fogs are carried 

 over the -ivhole island. The consequences are, that 

 the winter snows are longer in melting ; it is late be- 

 fore the frost leaves the ground ; vegetation is more 

 backward and scanty ; and the summer so short, 

 that the peasants have great difliculty in getting 

 liome the small quantity of hay that may have been 

 produced. .'\dd to this, the devastations comnntted 

 by the Greenland bears, which sometimes arrive in 

 considerable luimbers on the ice. 



The manner of eluding the Polar Bear is curious. 

 He is a very dangerous animal when his natural fe- 

 rocity is increased by hunger ; but the Icelander al- 

 most always escapes from his pursuit, even when 

 unarmed. As the bear comes near, they throw a 

 mitten behind tliem ; the animal powerfully attract- 

 ed by the smell of perspiration, instantly stops, and 

 will not quit the mitten till he has turned it inside 

 out, thumb and all. When he gains upon his vic- 

 tim, another mitten is thrown him ; and so on. 



A story is told of a traveller, who riding over the 

 heights and hollows of this reniarkably uneven is- 

 land, one dark night, was at length puzzled by a 

 height, which his sagacious horse refused to mount. 

 However, the whip compelled him to it ; and the 

 gentleman did not discover his situation, till the 

 fore-feet of the animal stuck in a hole, which he 

 he found, on dismounting, was the chimney of a 

 house 1 — Henderson's Iceland. 



A composition for coloring and preserving Gates 

 Poles, Barns. Roofs, and Timber generally, from the 

 weather. — Melt 12 ozs. rosin in an iron pot or kettle, 

 add 3 gallons of train oil and three or four rolls of 

 brimstone ; when they are melted and become thin, 

 add as ujucli Spanish brown, or red or yellow ochre, 

 or any other color you like, ground as fine as usual 

 with oil, as will give the whole the shade wanted. — 

 Then lay it on with a brush as hot and thin as you 

 can. Some days after the first coat is dried, lay on 

 a second. 



It is well attested that this will preserve plank for 

 years, and prevent the weather from driving through 

 brick walls. — Domestic Encyclopedia. 



lAght Varnish to preserve Insects. — Take a pint of 

 pirits of wine, and a little light amber, which should 

 be allowed to dissolve in a sauce pan for forty- 

 eight hours ; to this add a little mastic, as much red 

 arsenic, and an equal quantity of turpentine and let 

 it dissolve in a vessel for tvventyfour hours. This 

 done, take the insect you wish to preserve, extract its 

 entrails, and let it be well bathed for several days in 

 spirits of 'ivine, into which some sugar candy has 

 been put. In this state, rub it over with the varnish 

 at intervals until it shines ; it may be thus preserved 

 for a long time. ,, 



A novel undertaking. — The London Court Journal, 

 states that ' a large establishment lias beenprojec ed 

 at Paris, for the purpose of enabling any individuals 

 by the annual payment each of 700 francs (less than 

 301.) to enjoy all the pleasures of social, with all 

 the independence of domestic life. For that sum 

 they are to have lodging, board, clothes and wash- 

 ing, the use of a library, the daily papers, billiard 

 rooms, play, conversation, &c. The whole to be 

 under the management of a Committee chosen by 

 themselves. The prospectus even holds out the 

 expectation of a country house, and free admission 

 to the theatres !' 



On a stone in the church-yard at Langtown, in Cum- 

 berland. 

 Life's like an inn where travellers stay : 

 Some only breakfast and away ; 

 Others to dinner stay, and are full fed — 

 The oldest only sup and go to bed ; ^ 



Long is his bill who lingers out the day. 

 Who goes the soonest has the least to pay. 



Seeds for Hot Beds. 



Just received and for sale at the Seed Store connect! 

 with the New England Farmer Office, No. 52 No; 

 Market Street, 



The greatest variety of Early Vegetable Seeds, amc 

 wliich are the following, that will soon be wanted 

 Hot Beds, viz. Earli] and Late Cauliflower, (from E 

 rojie.) Large Cape Broccoli, (from Europe.) Ear 

 Diitcli Cabbage ; Early York, do ; and several other v 

 rinties ol Cabbage seed, botli of American and Europe 

 growth. London Scarlet Short Top Radish ; and Cher 

 ii. id White Turnip Radish. Early Curled Silesia L( 

 tuce; 'I'ennisbali do.; and Roval Cape Head dc 

 Double Curled Parsley; true Early HornCanot, &c. 

 Also — jXew Early Dwarf Frame Pea, an extra ei 

 ly, productive and fine variety, that grows from 12 to 

 nches in'height only, (according to the richness of ♦ 

 oil) and of course requires no sticks; price 33 cts. f 

 quart. Also, Early VVasliinglon Peas ; Early Hols|j 

 do.; Knight's Dwarf Marrow do., and several oi: 

 sorts 



Black Currant Wine. 



For sale at the Agricultural Warehouse, 52 Noi 

 Market Street — 



A few dozen bottles of superior old Black Curn 

 Wine, made by a gentleman in tliis vicinity ; an accaj. 

 of its astringent and detergent properties in various co 

 pi, lints, and particularly the Sore Throat, will be lo 

 ill the New England Farmer, vol. v. page 567, writcei 

 .Samuel W. Pomeroy, Esq. and Ihe late Dr John G. Cnl 

 Price 73 cts. per bottle — also, a few bottles ol old Wli 

 Dutch Currant Wine, price 50 cts. per bottle. Dec. 31 



JVeiv Work on Farrie]-y. 



Just received and for sale at the Seed Store ronnec 

 with the New England Farmer Office, No. 52 JJo 

 Market Street, 



The Veterinary Surgeon ; or. Farriery taiaght on an 

 and easy plan : being a treatise on all the diseases i 

 accidents to which the Horse is liable ; the causes 

 .symptoms of each, and the most improved remedies i 

 ployed for the cure in every case ; with instructions to 

 Shoeing-Smilh, Farrier, and Groom, how to acqi 

 knowledge in the art of Farriery, and the preventio 

 Diseases. Preceded by a popular description of the 

 inal functions in health, and showing the principle 

 which lliese are to be restored when disordered. By .1 

 Hinds, Veterinary Surgeon. With considerable addil 

 and improvements, particularly adapted to this coui 

 by Tliomas M. Smith, Veterinary Surgeon, and Men 

 of the London Veterinary Medical Society. 



Cocoons, and Silk Weaver Wanted. 

 Cash and a fair price will be given for Cocoons. / 

 employment for a Silk Weaver, on application to 

 Warren, R. I. Jan. 15, 1331. . PAUL WARl 



Silk Cocoons Wanted. 

 I will give cash for Cocoons, from 30 to 50 cents 

 pound, according to quality. J. H. GOBI 



Dedham, Mass. Jan. 25, 1831. 



Bees. 

 Gentlemen in want of swarms of young thriving I 

 can be supplied by J. B. Russell, at his Seed Store, 

 52 North .Market Street, at 17 cents per lb. The ! 

 were raised by Mr Ebenezer Beard, inventor of tlw ; 

 patent hive. 



Published every Wednesday Evening, at .g.'. jicr ai. 

 [inyabic at the end of the year — but tliose ^\h(t]>ay^^■ 

 sixty davs from the time of subscribing, are entitled to a 

 ductioii of fifty cents. 



03= No paper will be sent to a distance without pa.vii 

 being made in advance. 



Printed for J. B. Russell, by I. R. Butts— by ^> 

 all descriptions of Printing can be executed to meet 

 wishes of customers. Orders for printing received by .' 

 Russell, at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 52 ^ 

 Market Street. 



AGENTS. 



.Vcw ror/c— G.Thorburn & SoNS,G7I,iberiy-sircet 

 PhUadflphia—i). & C LANDKfcTH.85 Chcslnul-sireet. 

 Rillimoie—G. B.Si\iiTH, Editor of ihe American Farmer 

 Ci,icimiiili—S. C. Pakkhitkst,23 Lower Warkei-slrecl. 

 A'lijiiiii—Uitt. Jesse Buel, Albany Nursery. 

 F/ushl,i,s, N. Y. Wm. Prince & Sons, Prop. Lia. Bot.Gn 

 //.i;v'/iin/— GoonwiN & Co. Booksellers. 

 JVeirliiiniport, Ebenezer Stedman, Bookseller. 

 Porlsmmth, N. H. J. W. Foster, Bookseller. 

 Portland, Ale. — Samuel Coljian, Bookseller. 

 Auimsta, Me. Wm. Mann. 



Halifax, N. S.— P. J. Hulla.vd, Esq. Recorder Office 

 iloiUreal, L. C— A. Bowman, Bookseller 



