1860. 



XEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



385 



THE EUEOPEAN SILVER FIR. 



The Silver Fir was esteemed by 

 the Romans for its use in carpentry 

 and for the construction of vessels ; 

 Virgil speaks of 



"The fir about to brave thetlangersof theseas," 



and in describing the scenes of a 

 particular locality, 



"Hills clad with fir to ;,-uarJ the hallowed 



bouiv.l, 

 Rise in the raajesty of darkness round." 



They also used its wood for javelins, 

 and the Emperor Caligula had an 

 obelisk transported from Egypt to 

 Rome, which required the out- 

 stretched arms of four men to en- 

 circle it. In England, its wood has 

 been chiefly used for flooring. It 

 often grows to the height of eighty 

 or one hundred feet, raising its dark 

 foliage above any of the surrounding 

 trees, but has no special claims as 

 an ornamental tree. It requires a 

 comparatively low situation, and a 

 deep, rich soil, though it sometimes 

 grov.'s well on heavy clay. Its roots, 

 like all the pine tribe, do not pene- 

 trate the soil deeply, but spread 

 themselves extensively near the surface, and are, 

 therefore, easily affected by drought. 



&ta^$%< 



a RR-C9SI. 



HILL AND FLAT CITLTirilE, 



When our attention, many years ago, was first 

 called to the subject of flat culture, we determined 

 to give it a fair trial by the side of the common 

 system, noting carefully time, labor, and general 

 results. We began with corn, then beans, next 

 potatoes, etc., and with results so satisfactory, 

 that we at last adopted the principle of drawing 

 earth up to no plants, except for the purpose of 

 blanching. After considerable experience, we do 

 not hesitate to give "flat culture" a distinct appro- 

 val. It is the system for our dry atmosphere, 

 ■warm sun, and frequent droughts, as the hilling 

 system may be the best for the moist climate and 

 wet soils of England, especially where those soils 

 are undrained. Both systems have their advo- 

 cates those of the hilling system preponderating; 

 but the other is making its way, slowly but surely, 

 and we have no doubt it will at no distant day 

 meet a hearty approval throughout the country. 

 The advocates for "hilling' principally claim that 

 it "retains moisture," "decreases the evapora- 

 tion," and "strengthens" the plant, but how they 

 do not explain ; but we question the truth of these 

 points. It is manifest to us, and it accords with 

 observation, that a plot of ground with a level 

 surface kept well pulverized, will retain a more 

 uniform degree of moisture than one broken into 

 hills. It is precisely in a time of drought, when 

 we are dependent upon the small amount of mois- 

 ture contained in the atmosphere, that the ad- 



vantages of "flat culture" make themselves mani- 

 fest. The leaves of plants condense the moisture 

 of the atmosphere, and in diff'erent modes shed it 

 on the ground, but principally by means of the 

 stalk. Now if we take corn, for example, which 

 has been hilled, this moisture, so much needed, 

 is thrown oft' from the plant, and very little is ab- 

 sorbed ; in fact, these hills and ridges make good 

 water-sheds, and, becoming br.ked during dry 

 weather, lose the power of ab.sorption. Where 

 flat culture prevails the soil can always be kept 

 open and porous, and its absorbent powers more 

 fully retained. In regard to "decreasing the 

 evaporation" by hilling, it is so transparent that 

 evaporation is increased by tho operation, that we 

 leave ihat point without further comment for the 

 present. It is well understood that hilling and 

 ridging were introduced to get rid of surplus 

 moisture. Hilling, also, it is said, "strengthens" 

 the plant, the word being generally used in a me- 

 chanical sense ; for example, it is contended that 

 corn, when hilled, is less liable to be blown down. 

 We know, however, that such is not the fact ; and, 

 so far as maintaining an erect position is con- 

 cerned, facts are all in favor of flat culture. Para- 

 doxical as it may seem to some, corn that has been 

 hilled will blow down sooner than that which has 

 not ; and when both are down, that which has been 

 grown by flat culture will soonest and more fully 

 recover itself, because it has less resistance to 

 overcome. 



But we must now be content with stating what 

 we conceive to be the advantages of "flat culture" 

 as compared with "hilling," leaving details for 

 another occasion ; these advantages are principally 



