1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



471 



the barometer's action is unchangeable, it follows 

 that a correct and careful construction of the in- 

 strument is all that is needed, to make it as per- 

 fect as any instrument of the kind can be. 



This article is already longer than we designed, 

 and we close by giving the following rules from 

 a distinguished English authority, which we ad- 

 vise all who own a barometer to preserve and 

 consult : 



1. After a continuance of dry weather, if the 

 barometer begins to fall slowly and steadily, rain 

 will certainly ensue ; but if the fine weather has 

 been of long duration, the mercury may fall for 

 two or three days before any perceptible change 

 takes place ; and the longer the time that elapses 

 before the rain comes, the longer the wet weather 

 is likely to last. 



2. If, after a great deal of wet Aveather, with a 

 low bai-ometer, the mercury rises slowly and 

 steadily, fine weather will come, though two or 

 three days may elapse before the change ; and the 

 fine weather will be permanent in proportion to 

 the time that passes before the perceptible change 

 takes place. 



3. If a change of weather immediately follows 

 the motion of the mercury, the change will not be 

 permanent. 



4. If the barometer rise slowly and steadily for 

 two days or more, fine weather will follow, though 

 it should rain incessantly during these two days. 

 But if on the appearance of fine weather, in the 

 above instance, the mercury begins to fall again, 

 the fine weather will be very transient. Apply the 

 reverse of this to a change from fair to rainy 

 weather. 



5. A sudden fall of the barometer, in spring or 

 fall indicates wind ; in the summer, with a sultry 

 atmosphere, an approaching thunder-storm ; in 

 the winter, if after continued cold, a change of 

 wind, with thaw and rain. Or should the cold be 

 unabated and the mercury fall, snow may be ex- 

 pected. 



6. Rapid fluctuations of the barometer do not 

 indicate permanent change of weather ; only the 

 slow, steady and continued changes of the mer- 

 cury. 



Local atmospheric influences may vary these 

 rules somewhat, and therefore experience is ne- 

 cessary to enable a person to judge with entire 

 accuracy in any case. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 COEM" AFTER RUTA BAGAS. 

 Mr. Farmer :— Although a mechanic by trade, 

 I am not strictly one by nature, for I take a great 

 interest in the farming world, and enjoy no little 

 pleasure in reading many articles on the subject 

 in the Farmer. Many times I have been tempt- 

 ed to reply to inquiries, but thinking that there 

 were many more capable of doing so than myself, 

 I have deferred until now. In perusing the pages 

 of your issue of the 18th inst., I noticed an arti- 

 cle by"T. M.," which contained some ideas which 

 appeared rather erroneous to me. He says "Nei- 

 ther covn nor tobacco will grow after ruta bagas." 



He adds, "Why not ? What will ?" I know noth- 

 ing about tobacco, (and am not desirous to learn,) 

 but I do know that corn will grow after ruta ba- 

 gas. While writing, I can look out upon a piece 

 of^ corn, which looks as well as any I have seen 

 this year ; it is well silked, and has not a few ears, 

 and last year at this time there was a good piece 

 of ruta bagas upon the same ground. 



Perhaps the "secret of success" is this : The 

 man who cultivates the above-mentioned ground 

 uses a large quantity of wood ashes. 



West Minot, Me., Aug., 1860. Observer. 



For the New England Farmer. 



FAKMEHS' "WIVES AND DAUGHTERS. 



Farmers' Wives Hard Workers— The Other Side— Farmers and 

 Mechanics- Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties— Latin 

 Lesson-s- Churning and Frying Pancakes— Mountain Girls 

 must Hunt for more Sunshine '. 



Mr. Brown :— Will you allow another "farm- 

 er's daughter" to speak "through the columns of 

 your paper ?" Not in pity and in sympathy for 

 that much abused band of farmers' wives, — but 

 rather to congratulate them upon their happy sit- 

 uation ; and also to correct some erroneous ideas 

 advanced by our friend from the "Old Granite 

 State." 



Having spent considerable time in mechanics' 

 families, I may safely say, that it is not a "well 

 established fact, that farmers' wives are the most 

 hard working class in existence ;" that their la- 

 bors, generally, are not more arduous, and that 

 they have quite as much leisure for improving 

 the mind, as they would have in other stations of 

 life. 



Is there not as much intelligence and refine- 

 ment in a farmer's family as in a mechanic's ? A 

 farmer's wife whose "ideas of human nature and 

 the world are limited to her native village" can 

 scarcely be found. And a very large proportion 

 of our present teachers are from farmers' families. 

 Does this show that their advantages for educa- 

 tion are limited ? There is less real poverty 

 among farmers than among mechanics. But sup- 

 pose, in some instances, rigid economy is neces- 

 sary in order to live comfortably. The "expan- 

 sion of the germs 'of intellect" is not dependent 

 upon the "profits of the farm." Any brave-heart- 

 ed, courageous girl, may acquire a good education, 

 although a course of study at a public institution 

 is not permitted. 



Very little money, (and a willing heart will find 

 ways to earn that little,) suffices to furnish all 

 necessary books ; and no one who has not in ear- 

 nest tried it, is aware how many leisure moments 

 there are in a day, which may be devoted to study. 

 I assure you that a Latin lesson may be very read- 

 ily committed to memory, even w'hile turning a 

 churn-crank, or frying "pancakes !" 



With regard to the young lady mentioned by the 

 "farmer's daughter," permit me to say, (and I have 

 no doubt that you thought the same, Mr. Editor, 

 although too gallant to express it !) if said young 

 lady_ refuses to marry a farmer, simply because 

 she is fearful of hard work, and because he has 

 not wealth to provide a piano and large library, 

 she deserves to remain single through life. 



It is the fashion here in Massachusetts, when 

 we cannot afford a piano without being in debt 

 for it, to make all the music we can without it, — 



