1847. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



275 



Northern Rfce. 



Gen. Verplanck, the Commissioner to nego- 

 tiate a treaty with the Chippewas, in speaking 

 of the wild rice which grows abundantly in Min- 

 nesota, says that it is better than the Southern 

 rice. The berries are larger and its flavor is 

 better ; for when boiled and and stewed and left 

 to cool it forms a consistent mass like good wheat 

 bread, and more nutritious. Any quantity of it 

 grows on all the lakes in this northern country. 

 The outlets and bays are filled with it. It ripens 

 in the month of August, and is the main reliance 

 of the Indians during the winter months for their 

 sustenance. 



If this is truly a valuable plant, there are thou- 

 sands of acres in all the northern States where it 

 can be grown at a very small expense. Rice is 

 confessedly the most remunerating crop cultiva- 

 ted at the South. One planter on the Savannah 

 below where the editor now is, has received 

 $40,000 for his crop this fall season. It grows 

 almost spontaneously ; as the wild rice in Min- 

 nesota does altogether, without seeding or cul- 

 ture. We know Gen. Verplanck. He is not 

 a man to mis-state a fact of this character. — 

 Gentemen residing at Galena or the Falls of St. 

 Anthony can easily procure the seed. We should 

 be glad to see a fair trial made with it on ground 

 which can be suitably inundated with water. 



A Remarkable Experiment. 



A RECENT work of science gives the following novel ex- 

 periment, which settles questions of some importance in 

 philosophy : 



"Two hundred pounds weight of earth were dried in an 

 oven, and afterwards put into an earthen vessel. The 

 earth was then moistened with rain water, and a willow 

 tree, weighing 5 pounds, was planted therein. During the 

 space of 5 years the earth was carefully watered with rain 

 water, or pure water; the willow grew and flourished ; and, 

 to prevent the earth being mixed with fresh earth, or dust 

 blown on it by the winds, it was covered with a metal plate 

 perforated with a great number of small holes, suitable for 

 the free admission of air only. After growing in the air for 

 five years, the tree was removed, and found to weigh 169 

 pounds and about 3 ounces ; the leaves which fell from the 

 tree every autumn were not included in this weight. The 

 earth was then removed from the vessel, again dried in the 

 oven, and afterwards weighed ; it was discovered to have 

 lost only about 2 ounces of its original \vcight ; thus 160 

 pounds of woody fibre, bark, and roots were certainly pro- 

 duced ; but from what source? The air has been discov- 

 ered to be the source of the solid element at least. This 

 statement may at first appear incredible, but on slight re- 

 flection its truth is proved, because the atmosphere contains 

 carbonic acid, and is a compound of 714 parts, by weight of 

 oxygen, and 338 parts,, by weight of carbon." 



The above has been traveling the rounds of 

 the American press for two months. We clip 

 it from the National Intelligencer to remark that 

 the statement can i;ot be true, and is calculated 

 to mislead the honest inquirers after truth. To 

 say nothing of the half pound or more of earthy- 

 matter in the ash of the willow, the minerals in the 

 leaves which were organized in five years would 

 weigh more thali two ounces. If we substitute 

 pounds for ounces the statement may be correct. 



Lime in Planting Trees. 



Many object to planting trees, either for orchards or use, 

 in consequence of the numerous failures they experience. 

 This, however, it should be recollected is not a necessary 

 result. With proper care there is no more difficulty in 

 transplanting than in planting or propagating from the seed 

 or germ. In setting trees, we have ever found that they 

 best when taken up in the fall, about the time the leaves 

 drop. Fruit and forest trees, shrubs and perennial plants 

 of all descriptions, may, at this season, be removed with 

 perfect succes. In setting we usually put a small quantity 

 of lime in the hole — about half a peck to a tree, mixing it 

 thoroughly with the mold, in order that it may be easily 

 accessible to the roots, which ramify in every direction in 

 quest of food. An English publication says that an exten- 

 sive plantation of trees has been formed within a few years. 



ithout the loss of a single tree, and this has been effected 

 simply by putting a small quantity of lime in the hole be- 

 fore depssiting the tree. Four bushels are said to be amply 

 sufficient for an acre. The effect of the lime is "to push on 

 the growth of the plant in the first precarious state." There 

 seems to have existed, at first, an apprehension that liming 

 the plant would force it on prematurely, but this apprehen- 

 sion experience has demonstrated to have been perfectly 

 groundless. — Maine Farmer, 



Of the benefit of lime about fruit trees we h^ve 

 long been convinced by its use. Old plaster, 

 burnt shells and bones, exercise important and 

 beneficial action, and especially in spots where 

 a tree has failed and been removed, as without 

 fresh earth and lime it is almost impossible to 

 make a new tree thrive in the same place. Al^ 

 fresh manures are injurious to recently planted 

 trees. Old and well rotted manures, rotted sods, 

 or rich alluvial or virgin soil, is best. Make the 

 holes large, and when half filled, puddle down 

 with a pail of water ; then fill up and not pack 

 too hard, nor set the roots too deep. Fall plant- 

 ing of the apple, pear, and other hardy trees, is 

 probably the best ; but peaches, cherries, apri- 

 cots, &c., do best set very early in spring, before 

 the sap moves. 



The success of young fruit trees imperiously 

 depends upon the cultivation of the land in some 

 hoed crop, and proper manuring. When they 

 have got a sufficient size for general bearing, 

 they may be put in grass. Clover, by its long 

 tap roots, seems to exercise injurious effects. — 

 Timothy and other grasses are preferable ; in 

 those even it should not lay too long without 

 plowing. ^^ #** 



A Valuable Table. — The following table 

 compiled from the calculations of J. M. Garnet, 

 Esq., of Virginia, will be found exceedingly 

 valuable to many of our readers : 



A box 24 inches by 16 inches square and 22 inches deep, 

 will contain a barrel, or 10,852 cubic inches. 



A box 24 inches by 16 inches square and 11 inches deep, 

 will contain half a barrel, or 5,476 cubicinches. 



A box 16 inches by 16.8 inches square and 8 inches deep, 

 will contain one bushel, or 2,150.4 cubic inches. 



A box 12 inches by 11.2 inches square and 8 inches deep, 

 will contain half a bushel, or 1,075 cubic inches. 

 I A box 8 inches by 8.4 inches square and 6 inches deep, 

 will contain one peck, or 537.1 cubic inches. 



A box 8 inches by 8 inches square and 4.2 inches deep, 

 will contain one half peck, or 268.8 cubic inches. 



A box 7 inches by 4 inches square and 4.8 inches deep, 

 will contain a half a gallon, or 131.4 cubic inches. 



A box 4 inches by 4 inches square and 4.2 inches deep, 

 will contain one quart, or 67.2 cubic inches. 



