mr.stone'saddress. 13 



the air, by wires suspended on poles and connecting with the 

 earth, barley, on a given quantity of land, grew faster, and 

 produced a greater number of stocks, than the unelectrified 

 land adjoining. The ears from one grain of seed were more nu- 

 merous and longer, and the corn was also larger and harder. 

 An experiment on potatoes greatly increased the crop. Cu- 

 cumbers 5 inches long and 1 1-2 in diameter, have been produ- 

 ced in 37 days after planting, when electricity by a Leyden jar 

 has been applied, and a dahlia cutting that received two char- 

 ges, grew nearly five feet in 20 days after it was set out. 



These results are as astonishing as those produced by the 

 application of Guano. But many experiments are still neces- 

 sary, before we can pronounce with certainty on the practical 

 utility of this mysterious fire as an element of common hus- 

 bandry. 



Another point I would press, is the importance of improving 

 our native breed of neat cattle. On this subject, I confess my- 

 self thoroughly "Native American." It has always seemed to 

 me a reproach to the farming interests of this country, that it 

 should depend on foreign supplies of improved stock, when it 

 could easily be supplied at home. I hold it to be unsound pol- 

 icy to send a dollar out of the country for what can be produ- 

 ced here. In saying this, I mean no disrespect to the Dur- 

 hams, Ayrshires, and other bloods that have been introduced 

 into the United States from Europe, and that have benefitted 

 both the dairy and the shambles. But I believe, that in our 

 native breed, we have the elements of a superior stock, which 

 it is the duty of enterprising farmers to develope; and that if 

 they will raise their most promising calves instead of selling 

 them for slaughter, we may, in a few years, have an improv- 

 ed race of neat cattle, that will in every respect equal, if not 

 surpass, any now imported. 



Another consideration in favor of native cattle, is the supe- 

 riority of their hides for leather. Mr. Ellsworth, in his last an- 

 nual Report to Congress, says that "some hides are actually 

 worth twice as much as others for their wear after being tan- 

 ned. The hides of the Durham cattle, for instance, are more 

 open and porous than (he hides of the native cattle," and 



