1S47. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



187 



in shape. The coccinea is not equal to the lati- 

 folia, and the punctata has proved nearly worth- 

 less for fencing purposes. The coccinea and 

 punctata are the common thorns in this part of 

 the country, and one can hardly ride a mile in 

 any direction without seeing more or less of 

 them, growing along fences and the road-side. 

 The latifolia is more scarce, and the crus-galU 

 quite rare — its scarcity probably owing to the 

 difficulty with which its seeds vegetate. 



As many may not be familiar with the latter 

 species I will endeavor to describe it, so that it 

 may be identified by any one. In the tirst place 

 it is very late in leaf, ten days or two weeks 

 later than the common kinds. Its leaves when 

 full grown are from an inch to an inch and a 

 half in length and about one-third as wide as 

 long; obovate, or egg-shaped, with the stem at- 

 tached to the narrowest end; serrated; rather a 

 light green, smooth and shining, appearing as if 

 varnished. Its thorns are unusually long, fre- 

 quently three inches, very slim, very numerous, 

 and extremely sharp. The berries, or haws, 

 usually contain two seeds, but many of them 

 contain one only, differing in this respect from 

 any other native species. The branches of old 

 trees frequently run along on the surface of the 

 ground eight or ten feet, perfectly green and 

 thrifty, and I have seen trees standing fifteen 

 feet apart, whose branches were so interlocked 

 down to tlie very ground, that no animal larger 

 than a weasel could pass between them with a 

 Whole skin. The whole tree has a very flat and 

 spreading appearance, old trees seldom being 

 more than eight or ten feet high, but completely 

 covering with their dense foliage and branches, 

 an area of sixteen or eighteen feet in diameter. 



Of all the Cratuegus \.r\\ie this species is the 

 slowest to vegetatate, its seeds generally remain- 

 ing in the ground two and a half, and three and 

 a half years before they will sprout. In the 

 Genesee Farmer for June, 1841, are directions 

 for managing the seed, and I would merely add 

 fhat cleaning the seed from the pulp will greatly 

 facilitate germination. Like all Hawthorns, 

 this species is liable to be injured by mice; and 

 the best modes of obviating the difficuly are, to 

 plant them on a small embankment, or keep the 

 hedge clear of all that will harbor them. A 

 more formidable enemy is the insect known as 

 the apple borer, which has destroyed many 

 hedges in other sections of the country, but has 

 never injured them here as yet, and perhaps 

 never may. If it should, the only alternative 

 wdll be to adopt some other plant, and probably 

 the best substitute will be found in the Buck- 

 thorn, (iJ^amnra cathartiem,) for a description 

 of which see Downing's Horticulturist, February 

 number for the current year. 



Yours, truly, A. H. Powers. 



Ontario Co., May, 1847. 



In. freezing water expands oearly one-17th. 



Agricultural Education. 



What profession are you preparing for?" 

 This is a question often asked those who are at- 

 tending academies or other institutions of learn- 

 ing aside from common schools, — as much as to 

 say, "you have no business here, unless you in- 

 tend to follow some of the so-called learned pro- 

 fessions." 



While attending an academy a few years since, 

 (for the writer of this is not one of experience, 

 but a young farmer,) I was frequently asked the 

 above question, and was looked upon with un- 

 feigned surprise when the reply was given "that 

 of a Farmer." And almost invariably the fol- 

 lowing remark, or something similar, would be 

 made in return. "Then why are you here 

 spending your time and money in getting an 

 education which will be useless to you amidst 

 the toil and drudgery of the farm?" At that 

 time a classmate and intimate friend was pre- 

 paring for college, with the intention of study- 

 ing law after graduating. We were equally- 

 advanced, occupied the same room, recited in 

 the same classes, engaged in the same pastimes, 

 and so far, were equally entitled to public patron- 

 age. After completing our academic course, he 

 entered a college which is receiving a goodly- 

 sum from the state to aid in its support, is amply 

 endowed with teachers, books and apparatus to 

 enable him to prepare for the duties of his pro- 

 fession — while not an institution can be found 

 that has for its object the study of the science of 

 Agriculture. Thus,while my friend stands first 

 in his class in college, I am compelled to obtain 

 the little knowledge that I have of my occupa- 

 tion without teachers or libraries, and deprived 

 of all public patronage whatever. 



Can any one call this equal rights and no 

 monopoly? — or shall we adhere to the old maxim, 

 the greatest good of the greatest number, and 

 establish and support Agricultural Schools for 

 the benefit of the sons of farmers, whose influ- 

 ence shall give character to our District Schools? 



June, 1847. Dariub. 



Remarks. — We thank "Darius" for the strong 

 point which he has made in few words, and hope 

 to hear from him again. The study of Agricul- 

 tural Chemistry, Geology, Comparative Anato- 

 my, and of Vegetable and Animal Physiology, 

 will not always be denied to the sons of our far- 

 mers, except what they can teach themselves at 

 home without a Museum, a Laboratory or instruc- 

 tors. Every day-laborer is furnished with tools 

 to work with. How long shall we withhold the 

 tools of the chemist from the hands that ache to 

 use them? 



Interesting Chemical Fact. — Water satu- 

 rated with one-third of its weight of common 

 salt will still dissolve sugar ; and if completely- 

 charged with carbonic acid, it will dissolve iron. 



