1848. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



75 



of the moon in preventing the shrinking of 

 pork. Now it seems preposterous to me that 

 the moon should have any such influence w^hat- 

 ever. What possible theory can be adduced to 

 explain this supposed phenomenon, I cannot imag- 

 ine. It appears the least plausible of all the 

 various ridiculous notions in regard to the in- 

 fluence of that luminary. I know that these 

 visionary notions are widely spread among all 

 classes of the community, but especially the 

 agricultural portion. It is a fact, however, that 

 they will not stand the test of scientific investi- 

 gation, and are not believed by enlightened men, 

 who have tried numerous experiments to settle 

 the question. I do not, of course, allude to the 

 influence of the moon in producing the tides of 

 the ocean, for this theory is in perfect accor- 

 dance with the known laws of nature, and has 

 been established by scientific observation. But, 

 take for instance, its supposed influence on vege- 

 tation. Vegetables, plants and trees are thought 

 to grow more rapidly when the moon is increas- 

 ing in size, and many therefore make it a point 

 to plant, prune and graft at this particular time. 

 It is thought, too, that wood should be cut during 

 the decrease of the moon, because its fibres 

 shrink, and become more consolidated, and is 

 therefore more valuable for building or fuel. 

 If pork shrinks in this manner, it is none the 

 less valuable. Now many scientific European 

 Agriculturists, by numerous experiments and 

 observations, have clearly proved that the in- 

 crease or decrease of the moon has no percep- 

 tible influence on vegetation. 



It is very unfortunate for the mind to imbibe 

 superstitious ideas in regard to agriculture, for 

 it is productive of much inconvenience and loss 

 of both time and money, besides being an ob- 

 stacle to further improvements. Fearing that I 

 have already trespassed too much on your valuable 

 columns, I am yours, 



H. S. Chase, M. D. 



Woodstock, VL, Feb., 1848. 



Home. — No marvel that poets have chosen 

 home and the native land, as grateful themes of 

 song. In themselves, the words are full of 

 melody ; in their associations they form exquisite 

 music. It is a blessed thing to have a haven of 

 rest, where love lights its beacon and keeps its 

 vigils to greet the returning wanderer, weary of 

 a cheerless pilgrimage by flood or field. God 

 help those for whom every country wears a for- 

 eign aspect, who avert their steps from the dwel- 

 ling of their fathers, banished by the clouds of 

 discord, or the rank weeds of desolation. 



The President of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society at its late annual fair, laid on its 

 table, one hundred and sixty different sorts of 

 pears. Think of that, boys ; one hundred and 

 sixty varieties of pears from one garden. 



Progress among Farmers' Sons and Daughters. 



VALENTINES. 



At our Post Office the other day, I saw a 

 number of beautiful colored biUet doux, yclept, 

 valentines, which had been deposited for distri- 

 bution by sundry farmers' sons and daughters, 

 who live on the fat alluvial forms in our vicinity. 

 Certain young dandies present were making 

 odious comparisons, between the embossed mar- 

 gin, and that spider-like superscription between, 

 which in their eyes disfigured these unique mis- 

 siles. Fie, boys, said I, it is but the other day, 

 when not one of yon could write straight witli 

 the help of ruled paper; yet now you have the 

 iiardihood to set yourselves up for critics in chi- 

 rography. 1 confess that I only saw in these 

 crude superscriptions, one more corroborative 

 proof that progress was abroad among our rural 

 population. "Men must be poets before they 

 are nhilosophere," and we all know that these 

 rustic missivf^s are redolent of poetry ; crude 

 and indifferent if you please, but giving prom- 

 ise of better things to come, and an earnest of a 

 better, a more civilized and intellectual life — a 

 life of progress which leads to that science and 

 philosophy in farming, without which the farmer 

 has no friend or guide to lighten his labors, or to 

 exalt his understanding. 



But to return to Valentines. Thomas Miller, 

 the "basket maker," in his Beauties of Country 

 Life in England, gives some reminiscences of 

 these sports. " Well do I remember," said he, 

 " our stealing softly up the garden, and looking 

 for some crevice in the cottage dooi-, depositing 

 the messenger of love under the chink, or be- 

 tween the window shutters. Others more daring, 

 would throw open the door, and hurl the love- 

 breathing document into the center of the family. 

 Then there was a shouting of fathers, and hob- 

 bling of old mothers, to see who it was that had 

 selected their rosy daughter for his Valentine. 

 But the vouth generally was too nimble, and ere 

 they had crossed the threshold, he was over the 

 garden and away across the fields, hidden in 

 darkness. When the candle was snuffed the 

 blushing girl to whom it was addressed, after 

 many entreaties, drew it from her bosom, and 

 allowed them to look at the picture ; and altho' 

 the female face was hideou.sly drawn, with a 

 nose projecting like a buttress, and an eye hor- 

 ribly black with ink, and a patch of pigment 

 red on the cheek, still the mother declared it 

 was the very likeness of Mary. And if she is 

 fortunate enough to wed the youth who is the 

 donor, she will have her Valentine set in a frame 

 after marriage, and the callow Cupid, and the 

 painted tree, the red hearts, and two figures with 

 blotches for legs and feet, will grin at each other 

 under a glass for many a day." S. W. 



Provide properly for all domestic animals. 



