228 



[From Silliman's Journal.'] 



OrV FOREST, ORCHARD TREES, <fcc. 



Rensselaer School, Trov, April 30, 1327. 

 Effects of light. — Clouds and rain have obscured 

 Ihe hemisphere during the last six days. In that 

 time the leaves of all the forests, vv-hich arc seen 

 t'rom this place, have greatly expanded. But they 

 ,vere all of a pallid hue, until this afternoon. — 

 Within a period or' about ;^i."( hours, they have all 

 changed their color to a be-utiful green. As the 

 only efficient change which has taken place is, that 

 we have a serene sky and a bright sun, wo may 

 ;ay with confidence, that this change of color is 

 riroducod by the action of the sun's rays. 



Seven years ago next month, I had a still more 

 favorable opportunity to observe this phenomenon, 

 in company with the Hon. J. Lansing, late Chan- 

 ;ellor of this State. While we were engaged in 

 taking a geological survey of his manor of Blen- 

 iieim, the leaves of the forests had expanded to al- 

 most the common size, in cloudy weather I be- 

 (ieve the sun had scarcely shone in twenty days. 

 Standing upon a hill, we observed that the dense 

 forests on the opposite side of the Schoharie, were, 

 almost white. The sun now began to shine in full ! 

 brightness. The color of the forests absolutely 

 changed so fast that we could perceive its pro- 

 gress. By the middle of the afternoon the whole 

 of these o.itensive forests, many miles in length, 

 prespnted their usual green summer dress. 



Direction of the branches of Trees. — A tree 

 >iioots out its branches like all other trees of the 

 same species, external circumstances being simi- 

 lar. But there is one remarkable fact in the di- 

 rection of br inches, which I have not seen noticed 

 in any publication. 



All trees with spreadinfc branches, accommodate 

 (he direction of the loiver hranrhes to the surface of 

 '.he earth over which they extend. This may be seen 

 m orchards growing on the sides of the hills, and 

 Ml all open forests. But the crowded situation of 

 the wild woods of our country, prevents a suffi- 

 cient e.'itonsion of branches to e.xhibit this charac- 

 '.er. 



This fact presents a curious subject for the in- 

 sestigation of the phytologist. The question pre- 

 sented is this : What influence can the earth have 

 spoa the' branches on the upper side of the tree, 

 (vliich causes them to form a different angle with 

 the body of the tree from the angle formed by the 

 branches of the lower side, so that all the branch- 

 es hold a parallel direction to the earth's surface ? 

 Holloic Trees. — The growth of trees is nut influ- 

 •■■nced by any circumstance connected loith their in- 

 ternal woody perls. 



IMr Knight's central vessel hypothesis, and the 

 :.«thority of numerous able physiologists, seem to 

 be at variance with this position. I shall not en- 

 •.er upon a discussion of the subject, but merely 

 introduce a few facts. 



The sugar maple, (acer saccharinum,) after he- 

 ►iig tapped and drained of its internal sap fifty 

 jtcars, and after the whole interior has become 

 dead, grovv.s as fast and presents Sin aspect as vig- 

 orous and blooming, as any sound tree of the same 

 .'jpecies and same age, which stands by its side. — 

 For the truth of this fact, I refer to all manufac- 

 turers of the maple sugar. I suggested this opin- 

 ion more than twenty years ago, and frequently 

 afterwards, when I was employed .iiiiong the ten- 

 ants of Messrs. Livingston, McEvers, Ludlow, 

 ^''Uting, and others, between the spurs of Catskill 



NEW ENGLAiVD_FA}liVlER. 



mountain. Every manufacturer with whom I con- 

 versed, in this native residence of the sugar ma- 

 pie, confirmed my opinion. 



The common apple tree (pyrus malus) grows 

 thriftily and bears abundance of fruit, many years 

 after its interior is so completely rotted away, as 

 to leave but a very thin hollow cylinder in pos- 

 session of the living principle. 



We prefer solid trees in our forests and orch 

 ards ; because they have more strength to with- 

 stand the force of winds, and because the unfa- 

 vorable circumstances, which caused the interior 

 to decay, may effect the total destruction of the 

 tree. But as all deposition of matter, in any way 

 affecting the growth of tho tree, are made be- 

 tween the bark and wood, after the first year, in 

 the form of a mucilago, called cambium, it seems 

 that the internal woody part has no influence upon 

 the e.xternal growth. 



Yours, respectfully, 



AMOS EATON. 



Feb. 8, 183S. 



[Al)stracts from Sillinian's Journal — by the Editor of tlic Hamp- 

 shire Gazette.] 



r 



WATF.B CEMEiVI'. 



In Southington, Con. is an inexhaustible quan- 

 tity of hydraulic limestone. It is burnt in a com- 

 mon kiln, like quick lime, and is next ground fine 

 with mill stones. Ono part of it is then mixed 

 with two of sand, to form it into mortar. It soon 

 becomes firm and secure under the water. It is 

 employed in the construction of canals, mill dams, 

 cistsrns, cellar walls, vats, and all kinds of mason 

 work exposed to water. It has hern used in the 

 construction of the aqueducts and culverts on the 

 Farmington canal. 



FASCINATION OF S.»!AKES. 



A correspondent of the Journal is '■ convinced 

 bi' ocular demonstration," that the notion of a fas- 

 cinating power in snakes is an utter fallacy and 

 delusion. Ho thinks that birds flutter and hover 

 round snakes and cats, to decoy them from their 

 nests. 



DOG TRAINS. 



Dr Foot, at the military post at Sault St. Ma- 

 rie, near Lake Superior, describes the mode of 

 travelling in that part of the world. Three dogs' 

 carry a man and his provisions tind the traders 

 travel all over the wilderness with them. The 

 dogs arc taught to turn, halt, and go by word of 

 command. They are harnessed to tho train or 

 sleiffh one before the other Dr Foot says he 

 frequently rides over the river, and a mile or two 

 round, drawn by three dogs, and sometimes takes 

 his wife and child. Those who travel with dogs, 

 sleep in tho woods in the coldest nights ; they 

 i\S away tho snow in a thicket, build a large fire, 

 spread boughs of evergreens, and then lie down 

 by the fire, dogs and all, and sleep comfortably 

 all night. 



[Further o\tra'*ls from Prince's iievk* work on Horticulture, now 

 in press.] 



RASPBERRIES. 



This fruit was originally discovered by tho 

 Greeks, growing on Mount Ida, whence the spe- 

 cific namo Wiiiii. A I present we have not only 

 many varieti'^s of the above, but several other 

 species, which are cultivated for their fruit in our 

 gardens : among which tho Common Red, which 

 is sent to our markets in immense quantities, and 



is largely used in the making of raspberry bran- 

 dy ; is of fine flavor and much esteemed, and ie 

 the most productive ; also the White and the Red 

 Antwerp, which are of very large size and high 

 flavor — of these the White is generally preferred 

 — they are both productive and excellent fruits. 

 The American White and American Black are in- 

 ferior in flavor, but are nevertheless esteemed by 

 many persons, particularly the white variety. — 

 The Twice Beating, if properly managed, is quite 

 an acquisition. In general, they produce one crop 

 at the usual period, and a less one late in the 

 season, but as a full crop is most desirable, it is 

 said to be best to cut off the whole of the stalks 

 quite to the ground early in the spring, in order 

 to force a strong growth of young wood, which 

 will yield a large quantity of fruit, as it is the 

 wood of the same summer that produces the fall 

 crop. The Red Cretan is a raspberry of delic.-ite 

 flavor ; the Cane is also considHrahly cultivated, 

 and a number of others; the Purple Flowering is 

 only useful as an ornamental plant, its fruit being 

 of no value. 



Raspberries may be increased by cuttings, lay- 

 ers, or by the young suckers which spring up in 

 numbers from the root ; the latter method is gen- 

 erally considered to produce the strongest and 

 most fruitful. Although this plant is no way diffi- 

 cult as to soil, still it is preferr ble that this should 

 be fresh and rich, and as it does not flourish for a 

 long period on the same f round, it will be neces- 

 sary to form new plantations every three or four 

 years. The situation shoidd be half shady, or in 

 a location not exposed to excessive heat. Every 



; autumn the cRi wood should be thinned ou*, and 

 only that which is young and thrifty allowed to 

 remain — at the same period some well rotted ma- 



I nure should be dug in around them. 



1 CLURANTS. 



j This fruit will flourish in all expositions, and in 

 every soil, except one absolutely wet. The plants 

 are generally increased by cuttings, with which 

 the same precautions should be used as prescrib- 

 led for those of the gooseberry. In autumn the 

 Jold wood should be trimmed out, and it would be 

 '\v6ll at the same time to have manure dug in 

 around them. There are a number of varieties, 

 -among which are the Common Red and White, 

 the Dutch Red and White, ilio Champagne, or 

 Transparent P;ile Red, Wilmot's Pale Red, the 

 Black English, and Black .American — the forego- 

 ing are those cultivated for their fruit. There 

 are also the Yellow Flowering, with fruit similar 

 to the Black American, but of larger size and bet- 

 ter flavor; und tho Yellow Flowering, with yel- 

 low fruit, but not productive — these two arc very 

 ornamental for their flowers ; also tho Variegat- 

 ed Leaved, vvith red fruit — the Black English, 

 with variegated leaves — and a number of others, 

 calculated more for ornament than use. 



STRAWEERSIES. 



The situation should be an open exposure, but 

 somewhat sheltered from the excessive heat ol 

 noon-day. Moisture, and a degree of shade, arc 

 natural to this plant, as may be inferred from the 

 situations it occupies in a mild state. A sandy 

 soil may cause an earlier maturity of tho fruit 

 but will not be conducive to an abundant yield. — 

 A light rich loam is considered the most favora- 

 ble, being soft and pliable, so that the runners 

 may easily penetrate it with their roots; A mix- 

 ture of bog earth is found advantageous : and, in 



