PRACTICAL FARMER 



71 



perfectly the conditions of the problem." * * 

 <' It may also be tbs M'ved, that the plant which by 

 the production of this sugar, renders possible he 

 universal improvement of agriculture, furnishes 

 besifles, by its remains, (as food) the best of all 

 manures from cattle. This plant fulfils so com- 

 pletely all the conditions required from tillage 

 crops, that it would be necessary to substitute it 

 for the naked fallows, even though it should not 

 yield otherwise (and at first) such rich or impor- 

 tant products." 



In the report of the Council of Agriculture, 

 Manufi'.ctures and Commerce, which was also 

 published in the Annales, it is stated by the Min- 

 ister of Commeree (presiding at the meeting) that 

 the manufactories of France in 1835, yielded 25 

 millions of kilogrammes of beet sugar, of the value 

 of 35 francs the quintal, which is equal to one 

 third of the annual consumption of the kingdom ; 

 that 50,000 hectares of land were then subjected 

 to the culture of the plant ; and that in those parts 

 of France where the culture was established on a 

 large seals, the value of the lands had been in- 

 creased, and in many cases even had been dou- 

 bled. 



According to the present im|.erfect lights on this 

 subject, we fear that the beet culture will not suit 

 a region so warm in Eastern Virginia. But its 

 introduction will be a benefit sufficiently impor- 

 tant, even if confined to the regions lying more 

 north and west. It is probable that the fanaticism 

 of the "aboliiionists " may be mingled with the 

 motives to -, tead this culture in the north — and 

 that one of the results may be an effort to lessen 

 the consi n ption of sugar from the cane, as being 

 the product of rlave labor. Be it so. This fanat- 

 icism cannot exert any part of its tremendous 

 force more harmlessly to the south, or more ben- 

 eficially to the north, than in promoting the exten- 

 sion of this new culture — Far. Reg. 



FRUIT. 



Why are some fruits improved in sweetness by 

 drying or half withering on the trees? 



Because their watery parts thus exhale, and the 

 sugar is virtually increased in quantity. 



Why should grapes hang on the vine until they 

 are perfectly ripe ? 



Because unripe bunches never get any riper af- 

 ter they are gathered. 



Why should grapes be eaten soon after they 

 are gathered ? 



Because unlike other fruits, grapes do not im- 

 preve in flavor after gathering. 



Why should the crowns be removed from ripe 

 pine-apples.^ 



Because, when suffered to remain, they live 

 upon the fruit till they have sucked out all the 

 goodness. 



Why does an apple, when cut, first appear white 

 and after a time brownish ? 



Becau e a fermentation arises from the rest of 

 the fruit absorbing the oxygen of the atmosphere ; 

 the a|)ple having previously been, by its tough 

 skin, protected from the contact of the air. — 

 Denovan. 



Why are certain apples called russetings ? 



Because of their russet or reddish brown color. 



Why should raspberries be eaten from the bush> 



Because their fiavor is the most fleeting of ai 

 fruit. Even a {"ew hours will diminish it, and on 

 the bush the flavor does not contiuue above tw" 

 or three days after the fruit is ripe. If kept for 

 two or three days when gathered the flavor is al- 

 most entirely gone. 



Why has the barberry been banished from the 

 hedgerows of England, where it formerly grejv in 

 great abundance ? 



Because it was generally believed to be injuri- 

 ous to the growth of corn. 



This belief has been treated as a vulgar preju- 

 dice ; but tiie fructification of the barberry is in- 

 complete, unless the stamens be irritated by insecti?, 

 when the filaments suddenly contract towards tin 

 germ. The flowers are therefore, by a beautiful 

 arrangement of nature, peculiarly attractive to in 

 sects ; and thus the barberry may become injuri- 

 ous to neighboring plants. 



Why are chesnuts best preserved through win- 

 ter in sand ? 



Because, if there be any maggots in the ches- 

 nuts, they will come out, and work up througi. 

 the sand to get air. 



Why is fern preferable to straw for the bed be- 

 tween the layers of fruit ? 



Because it does not impart the musty flavor 

 which is so often produced by the straw. 



Why are the autumnal fruits, as plums, pears. 

 &c. more crude and indigestible than those ' ■ 

 summer ? 



Because in part, of the state of the constitution. 

 Thus, at the commencement of summer the s-ys- 

 tem is more nerved and braced by the atmosphen 

 of winter and spring, and by the drier food which 

 necessity obliges us to take at those seasons; sn 

 that the cooling fruits of summer are wholesom< 

 from their opening the bowels, &c. But it is noi 

 wonderful that a continuance of watery and nu- 

 tritious food like fruit should, towards the autumn, 

 produce debility in constitutions partly predispos 

 ed to it, by the continual and relaxing heat of thu 

 summer months. — Knowledge for the People. 



A FARM. 



The editor of the Vermont Chronicle in a let- 

 ter from Wilkesbarre, Pa. June 13, gives the fol- 

 lowing account of a farm which he visited near 

 that place. 



