336 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



supply a good cistern, with the requisite fixtures of 

 trougii and pump in his yards, and where the ani- 

 mals could at all times accommodate themselves 

 with drink without difficulty or strife. It often 

 happens when several are driven out to water, that 

 there is a chance for only a few to drink at once ; 

 this gives rise to contention and pushing, and 

 wounds and injuries, often of a serious or even fa- 

 tal character. Where they have free access to wa- 

 ter, however, at all times, accidents of this nature 

 seldom if ever occur. Cisterns are now construct- 

 ed on scientific principles, and are found eminently 

 to subserve the purposes for which they are ap- 

 plied. There is no heavy outlay required for brick, 

 limestone or plank, and the exquisite manner in 

 which all the details of the work are consummated, 

 ensures the owner against the periodical recurrence 

 of those heavy pecuniary expenses which were ne- 

 cessary, formerly, for repairs. By excavating a 

 hole in the soil, in some convenient place — say 

 in youi shed or barn-yard, of the desired capacity, 

 and coating the bare sides with cement, you will 

 secure a cistern that will be permanent, and which 

 will cost you but a mere trifle. One man will exca- 

 vate it in a day or two, and a barrel of cement, cost- 

 ing one dollar and thirty cents, or thereabouts, will 

 be sufficient to coat it. The shape of the cistern, 

 for greater strength and convenience, should be that 

 of an egg, with the large end down. The cover- 

 ing may be either of wood or split granite, and 

 should have a hole for the insertion of the pump, 

 and another, provided with a wooden funnel, rising 

 six feet above the surface, for ventilation. By fil- 

 trating the water from your out-buildings, and 

 keeping the funnel constantly open, you will secure 

 a regular and constant supply of excellent water, 

 both for your slock and for domestic use. — Ger- 

 mantown Telegrapli. 



TBSTURE AND FLUIDS OP VEGETA- 

 BLES. 



The elementary texture of vegetables is formed 

 of vesicles, the coats of which consist of transpa- 

 rent membranes of extreme tenuity. These vesi- 

 cles are of such minuteness that many thousands of 

 them are contained in a square inch. Keiser as- 

 sures us that these minute cells vary in their diam- 

 eter from the fifty-fifth to the three hundred and 

 thirtieth part of an inch, Kirby exceeds this 

 computation, and places their minuteness at the 

 thousandth part of an inch, giving, according to 

 this hypothesis, no less than three hundred thou- 

 sand cells to the square inch. These adhere close- 

 ly together and form a cellular texture, that may 

 be considered the basis of every organic part of the 

 plant. 



Fluids of different kinds are diffused throghout 

 the plant, occupying the cells and intercellular 

 spaces, being transmitted from one to another, but 

 how is not fully determined. It has been urged 

 that fluids are forced upward in the plant of the 

 capillary attraction. Others deny the existence 

 of capillary tubes in vegetables. A more recent 

 theory adopts the endosmose and cxosmosc; which 

 is, simply, the existence of contrary currents 

 where two fluids of different densities are found, 

 separated by an invisibly porous septum or parti- 

 tion. One of the currents is stronger and sets to- 

 ward the denser medium. This is termed the en- 

 dosmose or inward flowing. The other sets to- 

 ward the larer medium, and is called the exosmose 



or outward flowing. Now these two mediums ex- 

 ist with the plant — the rarer being the moisture of 

 the soil, which is taken np by the rootlets; and the 

 denser, the elaborated or proper juice. Consequent- 

 ly the two currents exist, as is proved by the up- 

 vvaid flow of juice to the branches, and the deposit 

 of principles in the soil peculiar to the plant, and 

 which when accumulated, prove highly injurious 

 to the healthy development of individuals of the 

 same species, proving the absolute necessity of a 

 proper rotation of crops. 



In most plants, found among these vesicles and 

 interspersed throughout all parts of the plant, are 

 numerous ducts acting as air tubes. Glands also 

 exist, whose office, by some, is supposed to be that 

 of secretion, or the conversion of the juice into the 

 various products necessary for the nourishment of 

 the plant. 



The external covering, or cuticle, which protects 

 the plant from the injurious eflfects of atmospheric 

 and hygrometic changes, is spread over the whole 

 surface, enveloping not only the trunk and branches, 

 but the leaves, and the more delicate petals and 

 organs of fructification. It is perforated in various 

 parts — especially in the leaf — with a vast number 

 of minute oval orifices called stomata. In those 

 leaves whose position is vertical, these stomata are 

 found on either surface. But in the horizontal leaf, 

 they exist only on the under surface — whilst in such 

 aquatic leaves as lie on the water they are on the 

 upper surface. Their office appears to be that of 

 respiration exhaling moisture and inhaling air. 

 They communicate immediately with the intercel- 

 lular spaces, and are so minute in size that the 

 largest known does not exceed the five hundredth 

 part of an inch. 



TO PREVENT MOTHS GETTING UNDER 

 HIVES. 



Pound a handful of peach leaves and salt them 

 well, and strew them over the bench under the 

 hive. In two or three days, repeat the operation. 

 The flavor of ))each leaves is offensive to the moth, 

 but not to the bees. 



Another Remedy. — Raise the hive about an inch 

 upon four little pebbles. Take a piece of half-inch 

 pine board from three to six inches wide and a foot 

 long; cut one side full of creases about a quarter of 

 an inch deep; lay this creased side down under the 

 hive and you will find all the millers will use it 

 to raise their broods under; because it is a secure 

 l)lace from the bees, but not from the bee-kee{ier. 

 If he chooses, to watch and kill, he will finally de- 

 stroy the larvae and save his honey. — American 

 Agriculturist. 



Improvement in Bee Hives. — Mr. Robbins H. 

 Stevens, of Litchfield, Hillsdale Co., Michigan, 

 has taken measures to secure a patent for an im- 

 provement in Bee Hives, consisting of a series of 

 boxes placed in a rectangular case, and which are 

 so arranged, that but four boxes are used for one 

 swarm of bees, having communication through all 

 the boxes; but each box has an opening in front, 

 and the whole four openings placed directly in 

 front of a square tube passing through the front 

 board of the case, but with a passage in it for each 

 box. By this means any of the four boxes may be 

 taken from the hive, with the honey it contains, 

 without disturbing the bees or the other three 

 boxes. 



