ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AXD FARMING. ^ 93 



Debts have been gradually contracted or discharged. 

 Men have seen the end of speculations to be sudden disaster 

 — and (of all things on earth) speculation-farming has 

 received its reward. Men contented with small gains — in- 

 dustrious, frugal, and prudent men — have suffered almost 

 nothing. 



Gypsum. — " Time and practice " have ascertained the 

 circumstances under which gypsum should be applied. As 

 a reason why, after repeated applications, it no longer 

 benefits. Prof Liebig says, " when we increase the crop of 

 hay in a meadow by means of gypsum, we remove a greater 

 quantity of potash with the hay, than can, under ordinary 

 circumstances, be restored. Hence it happens that, aft-er 

 the lapse of several years, the crops of grass on lands 

 manured with gypsum, diminish, owing to the deficiency of 

 potash." In such a case, if spent ashes were employed either 

 in connection or alternately with gypsum — potash would be 

 resupplied from the ashes. 



ACCLIMATING A PLOW. 



The other day we were riding past a large farm, and 

 were much gratified at a device of the owner for the preser- 

 vation of his tools. A good plow, apparently new in the 

 spring, had been left in one comer of the field, standing in 

 the furrow, just where, four months before, the boy had 

 finished his stint. Probably the timber needed seasoning — 

 it was certainly getting it. Perhaps it was left out for 

 acclimation. May-be the farmer left it there to save time 

 in the hurry of the spring-work, in dragging it from tho 



