PRACTICAL FARMER 



125 



of old white umlbprry trees which have annually 

 borne see<l twenty or thirty years, grew within 

 about forty rods of the Mantilla multicaul is ; the 

 Multicaulis was e.\|)0L-ed last winter on the south- 

 erly side of a building, and this year the dead tops 

 have been taken off, but has not produced any 

 seed, or even borne a blossom. 



D. STEBBINS. 



Mat not Hydrophobia be cured ? — The ra- 

 pid circulation of substances when injected into 

 the veins, suggests to us the possibility of curing 

 the most dreadful of all diseases the hydrophobia, 

 and the late melancholy instances of its effects at 

 Hartford, have induced us to give place to some 

 new experiments recently performed by professor 

 Leidman, of Germany. An half ounce of cam- 

 l)horated spirits of wine, was thrown, by means 

 of an injection tube, into an incision in tlie femo- 

 ral vein of a dog's thigh. In sixteen seconds the 

 smell of camphor was strongly smelt in the breath 

 of the animal, and rapidly increased. The res- 

 piration of the dog was hurried, the breath deep 

 and vehement, and this was followed by violent-^ 

 convulsions. To destroy the poisonous effects of 

 the cam|.!)or, an ounce of cold vinegar was injec- 

 ted into tlie same vein, when tlie convulsions ceas- 

 ed, and the animal soon afterwards recovered. 

 Had not this antidote an instantaneous eft'ect, tin; 

 animal would have died in a few moments liom 

 the convulsions which followed the circulation of 

 the poison. 



An ounce of spirits of wine was injected into 

 tlie same vein of another dog, when the vapor was 

 instantly perceived in the animal's breath. Here 

 no convulsions ensued, nor was an antidote ad- 

 ministered, but he soon died. A dissection ex- 

 hibited the strong smell of the vapor throughout 

 the, system, and the state of the solids was like 

 that seen in persons who have died of hydropho- 

 bia. 



On the injection of five grains of [diosphorus 

 with two drachms of olive oil, the breath of the 

 animal in the dark exhibited clouds of phospho- 

 rescent fire, and the animal breathed forth dense 

 columns of flame ! — JV. Y. Star. 



How TO Preserve Potatoes. — We find in 

 an English paper, the following article on the 

 abc '", subject, whicn we think may be useful. — 

 Mr ^V'^ebster, who communicated to the Society 

 of Arts, this mode of preserving this excellent 

 vegetable by immersion in ammoniacal water, or 

 brine, received the thanks of the Society : 



" If potatoes are immersed four or five days in 

 ammoniated water, containing an ounce of the 

 common liquor ammonia, to a pint of water, they 

 will, on removal, be found to have their vegetable 

 principle greatly checked, or altogether destroyed 



so that they maybe preserved throughout the year 

 without the least deterioration of their genera! 

 qualities. The temporary action of the ammonife 

 in no way effects the potato beyond that of des- 

 troying its power of growth ; if, however, any 

 change is produced, it Is rather l.eneficial than 

 otherwise, somewhat im]>roving the appearance 

 and flavor of inferior potatoes, and giving them a 

 mealiness they did not possess. Tne exportation 

 of potatoes to foreign climates chiefly within the 

 tropics, is an object of im|)ortance ; and for the 

 comfort of sailors there is notbitig in the way of 

 diet greater than the luxury of a potatoe with 

 their salt food. As the means of inolonging theii" 

 enjoyments, and adding lo the hcaUhful diet of a 

 sea life, this mode may be adopted with advan- 

 tage. The expense of immersion i^^ very trifling, 

 and they subsequently require to be spread in ai; 

 airy situation to dry. Potatoes so treated, have 

 been used after ten months' keeping in a warm 

 kitchen closet, and were found to be perfectly 

 good. The same effect may be ])roduced by im- 

 mersing potatoes in a strong solution of salt and 

 water, taking care to remove by subsequent ablu- 

 tion the whole of the salt, but this requires some 

 time, and repeated changes of water." 



The New E.nglamd CHaisTfAiV Academy, or 

 Beverly Maniuil Labor SeJiool^ held its quarterly 

 examination, and ended the second term on Fri- 

 day last. We were present at this examination, 

 and highly gratified in witnessing its management, 

 progress and appearance. Forty scholars were 

 present, a number having recently left, with a view 

 to teach school, and others for the })urpose of at- 

 tending school nearer home, during the winter 

 season. 



The scholars were examined in reading, wri- 

 ting, arithmetic, English grammar, English com- 

 position and geography ; and several, in Latin 

 and Greek. We noticed, and were j.articularly 

 j)leascd with one native Sjjaniard, a youth, ap- 

 parently eightt en, who read and spoke, both in 

 Spanis!) and English, with great fluency, em- 

 phasis and pro|)riety,and wliose performances ad- 

 ded brilliancv to the exhibition throuff-hout. 



The Bread Basket is worth care and atten- 

 tion. We know how it is here, hut in New York 

 a person can buy as n)uc!i bread of one baker for 

 eight cents, as he can of another for nine|)ence. 

 An examination of the weight of loaves was re 

 cently made there by c'uithority, when it appeared 

 that there two bakers whose ninei)enny loaves 

 weighed 2lb 7oz, one do. •2lb 6oz, two do 2lb 4oz, 

 one do. 2:b 3oz, two do. 2lb loz, four do. 2lb, one 

 do. Ill) 1.5oz, three do. lib 14oz, one do, lib 13oz, 

 one do. lib 12oz, one do. lib lOoz.-- -fio5. Trans- 

 cript. 



