412 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



tight, there should be some opening near the floor 

 for the admission of pure air, and an outlet at the 

 top forthe free passage of that which has been used. 

 Where the room adjoins other apartments which are 

 cold, what air finds its way under, and through the 

 doors, will usually be sufficient provided a window- 

 be slightly dropped at the top, or a pane of glass 

 be removed and supplied with one of wood, which 

 may be opened or closed at will. 



The air is in minute particles. It is supposed 

 that they do not give off heat one to another, but 

 that when one particle is heated, however slightly, 

 it instantly rises, and another colder and heavier 

 rushes into its place ; much as you observe water 

 heated in a kettle. The particles on the bottom of 

 the kettle becoming heated first, rise to the surface, 

 and are continually followed by others becoming 

 lighter, and seeking their natural level. 



There is also much danger to the health from 

 foul air, because we soon become accustomed 

 to it. On entering a room filled with the gases 

 from a coal stove, we find the odor very offensive, 

 but in a short time cease to notice it although the 

 evil is still present, and perhaps very hurtful. "As 

 the gardener cannot smell the rose, nor the south- 

 ern woodchopper the magnolia, so we, after a few 

 minutes' delay, are insensible to the disgusting odor 

 of our unventilated room ! When the air has once 

 been breathed, very little of its vital principle is 

 left. "An ordinary candle consumes as much aii 

 while burning as a man in health while breathing." 

 In the absence of any specific set of rules to 

 which we can refer the reader, we would urge a 

 free and thorough ventilation of all rooms, at least 

 once a day in clear weather, and in rooms con- 

 stantly occupied, a permanent outlet in some por- 

 tion of the upper part of the room. A little care 

 will do something towards obviating the difficulty, 

 and that may add some years of life and health. 



It is very important that a vessel of pure water 

 should be placed upon the stove. "Th3 air we 

 breathe contains, in ordinary weather, about five 

 grains of vsater diffused through each cubic foot of 

 its bulk," :ind when this becomes heated and dry, 

 we are deprived, in every breath, of a portion of 

 moisture which is actually necessary for the en- 

 joyment (if good health. 



Pemigewasset Agricultural Societv. — The 

 people of several of the towns in the eastern dis- 

 trict of Grafton County, New Hampshire, met at 

 Plymouth in that State, on the 22d day of last 

 month, and formed an agricultural society with the 

 above pleasant name. Hon. Nathaniel S. Ber- 

 ry, of Hebron, was elected President, John R. 

 French, Esq., of Plymouth, Secretary, and Rus- 

 sell Cox, Esq , of Holderness, Treasurer It is 

 their intention to have a Show the ensuing autumn 



NE3W SEED FOR POTATOES. 

 Mr. J. H. Russell, of Marblehead, writes us 

 that he believes the cause of the disease in pota- 

 toes is degeneration in the seed, occasioned by 

 quick and powerful manures. He thinks pure 

 seed may be obtained from the southwest part of 

 Newfoundland, and that if such seed were plant- 

 ed on land that had not been manured, the trouble 

 would soon cease. He says that according to his 

 experience and observation, all other vegetables 

 decay sooner now than they did twenty-five years 



ago. 



We have never heard this suggested before. 



All our vegetables keep in good condition in a 



well ventilated cellar. 



The experiment has often been tried of planting 



the potato balls for seed, without any benefit to the 



crop. These balls may have been procured from 



the potato long cultivated here, and thus have a 



taint of the old stock. What the effect would be 



of bringing seed from such a distance we know 



not, but have strong doubts of deriving any benefit 



from the experiment. 



5^" Every vicious act weakens a right judgment. 



DEATH OF SAMUEL W. COLE. 



The reader is referred to another column for 

 some remarks upon our late associate and friend. 

 The severity of his sickness had prevented him 

 from contributing anything to the columns of the 

 Farmer, save a few lines upon the subject of 

 Fruits, for several months past. During this time, 

 and some weeks previous to the announcement of 

 our name, we had supplied his place with what 

 earnestness and ability we could command. This 

 we shall continue to do for the present. This 

 statement is not made without many misgivings, 

 and fears of inability to meet the wants of our nu- 

 merous and intelligent readers. We can only say 

 this : — our whole heart is in the cause. The occu- 

 pation of the Farmer has ever been our pride, and 

 has never failed to excite in us feelings of manli- 

 ness and independence; — the occupation, not 

 merely of superintending others, but to labor as did 

 St. Paul, with our own hands, in every department 

 of the farm. Such is our present practice. 



In entering this wide field alone, it will be our 

 earnest endeavor, not to mislead by crude opinions, 

 or to amuse by fancy sketches, but to present to the 

 reader such experiences as we have gained in 

 practice, and such observations as a mind always 

 enamored with the subject, can bring to bear upon 

 it, together with such improvements as this pro- 

 gressive age is constantly introducing. To deserve 

 success, and to make our columns the medium of 



THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF CULTIVATING THE SOIL, 



will be our steady aim. In this pursuit we pray 

 that some charity will be extended to our imperfec- 

 tions, and that the large experience and friendly 

 aid of our readers will ever be our right hand sup- 

 porters. Simon Brown. 



