502 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



6. By means of pulverization, a portion of the 

 atmospheric air is buried in the soil, and it is sup- 

 posed that ammonia and nitric acid are formed by 

 mutual decomposition of this air and the mois- 

 ture of the soil, heat also being evolved by the 

 changes. 



7. Pulverization of the surface of soils serves to 

 retain the moisture in the subsoil, and to prevent 

 it from being penetrated by heat from a warmer 

 as well as from radiating its heat to a colder at- 

 mosphere than itself. These effects are produced 

 by the porosity of the pulverized stratum, which 

 acts as a mulch, especially on heavy soils. 



8. Pulverization, also, as the combined effect 

 of several of the preceding causes, accelerates the 

 decomposition of the organic matter in the soil, 

 and the disintegration of the mineral matter ; and 

 thus prepares the inert matter of the soil for as- 

 similation by the plants. — Gen. Farmer. 



WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. 



Various journals are engaged in the difficult 

 task of estimating the amount and value of the 

 ■wheat crop of the country, which is now all har- 

 vested. However different the estimates may be, 

 it is generally conceded that the wheat crop of 

 this country has been a large one, and that_ there 

 will be a considerable overplus for exportation to 

 meet the demand now made for it in Europe. Tak- 

 ing 1858-59 as the basis of a calculation, and the 

 wheat crop is assumed to be equal to 229,000,000 

 bushels against 201,000,000 in 1859, and 159,000,- 

 000 in 1858. The production by States is given 

 as follows: Pennsylvania, 25,000,000 bushels; 

 New York, 25,000,000 ; Virginia and North Car- 

 olina, 18,000,000; Kentucky, 9,000,000; Ohio, 

 28,000,000; Indiana, 19,000,000; Illinois, 25,000,- 

 000; other States, 80,000,000. The surplus is 

 estimated at 61,000,000. In addition to this, it 

 is supposed that from one-sixth to one-fifth of the 

 surplus crop of last year is yet in the hands of 

 producers, giving a total surplus for export of 

 67,000,000 bushels. The crop in Wisconsin, 

 which, in the foregoing figures is put down at 

 16,000,000 bushels, is reported to be fully 30,000,- 

 000. This, doubtless, is somewhat exaggerated, 

 but the abundance of the crop may be inferred 

 from the fact that men, women and children, doc- 

 tors, lawyers and ministers were in the fields har- 

 vesting, "and that the work was even performed 

 by moonlight. Taking all the crops of the coun- 

 try, it is thought to be v.'ithin bounds to put the 

 value of our staples this year at two thousand 

 millions of dollars, or about sixty-six dollars for 

 each person. — Philadelphia Ledger. 



Barkels for Fruit. — Everything in contact 

 with fruit should be clean and sweet, and the ves- 

 sel in which it is placed should be dry and tight. 

 Old flour barrels should not be used, unless well 

 washed and dried, as the particles of flour left in 

 the barrel will mould and impart to the fruit an 

 unpleasant odor and flavor. Old lime barrels, it 

 is said, are excellent for this purpose — the lime 

 absorbing the vapor and gases. If this is so, a 

 little fresh slaked lime scattered on the bottom, 

 sides and top of the barrel, would be beneficial. 

 — Genesee Fanner. 



A HARVEST SONG. 



The toil of day is ended, 



The night is at her noon, 

 And the harvest song swells blithely up 



Beneath the harvest moon ; 

 Then tread a quicker measure. 



And chant a louder strain ; 

 With a dance and song, the dajfS prolong, 



That bring the golden grain. 



From out the distant mountain 



Comes the voice of the cascade, 

 And the nearer gleam of its silver stream 



Makes glad the silent glade ; 

 Through all the shadowy forest 



Is heard the fall of leaves — 

 And the timid hare treads stealthily 



Among the nodding sheaves. 



And now, on every hillside, 



The purple vintage glows ; 

 As when a deepsr radiance falls 



From daylight at its close ; 

 No time is it for sadness. 



Despondency or fear, 

 TVhen autumn comes in gladness, 



To crown the fruitful year. 



Dear is the pleasant leaf-time. 



When all is soft around — 

 When frost-imprisoned rivulets 



Are melting into sound. 

 And dear, too, is the season 



When spring and summer meet; 

 When the woods are faint with odors, 



And the hills are dim with heat. 



But spring is lout for pastime, 



And summer but for show ; 

 While autumn, like a crowned king. 



Has riches to bestow ; 

 So he shall be the monarch 



Of all the shining year. 

 And a crown shall wear, and a sceptre bear, 



Of fruits, and the golden ear. 



PRIZES FOR AGRICULTTJRAIi REPORTS. 



With the view of inducing the officers of Ag- 

 ricultural Societies to collect and embody in their 

 annual reports more information of a character 

 which will be valuable and interesting, than has , 

 heretofore been the case, the Board of Agricul- ' 

 ture of Upper Canada have offered four premiums, 

 amounting to $75 dollars, for the four best Coun- 

 ty Agricultural Society Reports ; and four pre- 

 miums, amounting to $50, for the four best Town- 

 ship Society Reports. 



We consider this an excellent movement. Some 

 societies in New England publish in the begin- 

 ning of the year a pamphlet of premiums to be 

 paid at the Fall Exhibition, with a glowing ac- 

 count of arrangements for plowing, drawing and 

 trotting matches, the name of some far-brought 

 orator, with many other specifications of the at- 

 tractions of the promised jubilee, but for want of 

 funds, or other reasons, make no other statement 

 of their year's proceedings and doings than an 

 imperfect newspaper report. Others publish in 

 pamphlet form a bare statement, sometimes with 

 and sometimes without the Address, of the award 



