P R A C T I C A L F A R M E R . 



167 



Effects of Lightm>'g. — Persons apparently 

 flead from lightning have been recovered by 

 repeatedly throwing cold water over the tvhoh 

 body. Many instances are r.ecorded. The Rev. 

 Mr Stee!, of Paris, in the State of New York, has 

 lately in the-newspapers mentioned a case of this 

 kind. A lady was with her husband in the lionse, 

 and the latter was strnck with lightning. The 

 lady happily recollected having a few days be'fore 

 read in the newspapers of the efficacy of cold 

 water, and had the j>resence of mind to make a 

 trial of it ; on the effusion of the first bucketful 

 he began to move, and on the repetition of a few 

 more, was restored to sense and health. If, 

 during the recovery, the pnlse is slow and extrem- 

 ities cold, bleed largely at the arm. A gentleman 

 now living in Johnson county. (R. Gully, Esq.) 

 was a few years ago struck down by lightning, 

 and recovered by exiiosnre to a heavy fall of rain. 

 The above floating paragraph we copy, because 

 we understand that a circumstance recently oc- 

 curred in this town, .which favors the theory 

 therein stated. Mrs Cannon, wlioni we mentioned 

 hi our last as having been struck down with light- 

 ning, owes her life to the providential circum- 

 stance of a backet of water having been thrown 

 upon her by a little boy in the fright and the 

 delirium of the moment, who appears not to 

 have known what he did, or why he did thus. 

 Indeed, for some days he was afraid to tell that 

 he did throw water npon the insensible patierit. 

 An instance is also mentioned of a gentleman at 

 the West being struck down with lightning, and 

 Avith so great force that the electric fluid, on 

 entering his body "tore hi's coat, vest and sh"yt 

 into shreds, burnt the hair from one side of his 

 head, crossed his breast, passed down the extrem- 

 ities, and out through his shoes, perforating them 

 with holes as though buck shot had been forced 

 through them ; in some pltices breaking the skin, 

 and scorching it in its v/hole course, so as to give 

 it the appearance of an extensive burn." And yet 

 it is said this individual is in a fair way for getting 

 wel', in consequence of p!entiftil effusions of cold 

 water npon the breast and head, and co|)ious 

 bleeding. Remedies of this nature should be 

 known and treasured up in the mind by every 

 one. — JVew Bedford Times, 1830. 



PuiLosopHfCAL ExPKRiMEKT. — Frcsli Water 

 may be extracted from salt water by the following 

 simple process ; a common hogshead is provided 

 with a false bottom, about three or four inches 

 above the lower head. This false bottom is per- 

 forated with a number of holes, and over them a 

 filter of flannel. 1 he barrel is then nearly filled 

 with the finest sand, beat down very liard ; a tube, 

 communicating with the space between the two 

 bottoms, is exteqdcd to a convenient height above 

 he top of the barrel, Thfe sea water is poured 



into this tube, and pressing every waj'^, according 

 to its altitudes, it endeavors to force its way 

 through the sand to the top of the barrel, from 

 wfience, by this mode of filtration, it is drawn ofT 

 fresh, and fit for use. Any other filter will do as 

 well as flannel, which will stop the sand, and 

 admit the water. The saline particles being 

 heavier, and perhaps differently formed, meet 

 with obstructions freni the sand, and are left 

 behind. 



Silk. — The imperishable nature of silk, even 

 under circumstances peculiarly unfavorable to the 

 preservation of animal substances, forms another 

 of its qualities which is deserving of remark. 

 Some years ago, the sexton of the parish of Fal- 

 kirk, in Stirlingshire, u{>on opening a grave in the 

 churchyard, found a riband wrapped about the « 

 bone of an arm, and which, being washed, was 

 found to be entire, and to have suffered no injury, 

 although it had lain for more than eight years in 

 the earth, and had been in contact with a body 

 ivhich had passed through every stage of putre- 

 faction, until it was reduced to its kindred dust. 



(From tlie Genesee Fanniir.) 

 IRRIGATION OF MEAOOWS. 

 The advantages of tJiis operation must be obvi- 

 cus to every one who has observed the luxuriance 

 of the grass in swales and low grounds which 

 are kept moist by stn-ams ; and an additional 

 proof is furnished by the light crops of hay on 

 dry knolls. 1 he following account of a shnple 

 and efficacious mode of performing it, it is copied 

 from Sutcliff's Tiavels in North America. "In 

 many parts of North America, aud pnrticuliirly m 

 this neighborhood, (vicinity of Philadelphia,)' it is 

 the jiractice of many farmers to rcservci about 15 

 or 20 acres of land for hay, which they continue 

 to mow from one goneratiou ta another^ many of 

 them laying on hut Ij .tie or im niaaure ; but: taking- 

 the advantage of bhuatkn where the land may be 

 easily irrigated -ur ovi-rspread, wrJ.i, water fra'X^ 

 time to time. By this uieaus they obtain heavy; 

 crops of grass, without the aid of niaiu.,-o, -^14(1 

 thus supply themselves vdlli winter fodder at au 

 easy expense. On inquiring of two very respect- 

 able farmers, they infor^^ed me, that,' upon au 

 average, they got aboiu two and a half tofis per 

 acre, each y.jar, upon this plan. The land u.sually 

 chosen for this purpose, is not a dead flat or 

 marshy land, but commonly the two sides of a 

 narrow valley of easy ascent on each hand, havino- 

 a small stream running through the bottom — 

 When the land is to be watered, the stream at tho 

 upper end of tlie valley is diverted from its natural 

 b«d, and IS conducted in rarrow channels alon- 

 each sjde of the valley, on as hi-h irround as the 

 head of the sireauj wd! admit; and by pfuciijj. 

 obstnictions to the current of ths streains, iitdif 



