426 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept, 



about half an inch in every direction, according 

 to the motion of the iron. It may sometimes be 

 found requisite, however, especially in forming 

 corners, to apply a wet finger to the opposite 

 side of the glass. Tumblers or other glass may 

 be cut or divided very fancifully by similar means. 

 The iron must be reheated as often as the crevice 

 in glass ceases to flow. — Scientific American. 



CARBONIC ACID QAS. 



Carbon is found in a variety of forms. Com- 

 mon charcoal, soot, lampblack and the diamond, 

 are all forms of this valuable and important ele- 

 ment. Wherever carbon is found in minerals, it 

 always exists as a product — mediate or immedi- 

 ate — of organic action. The deflagration or de- 

 cay of wood, and the putrefaction and decompo- 

 sition of all organized structures which have ac- 

 knowledged the vivifying principle of life, produce 

 carbon, which, combining with the oxygen of the 

 atmosphere, forms the substance known as car- 

 bonic acid. This is a heavy gas — extinguishes 

 fire, and destroys animal life. "If an animal at- 

 tempts to breathe it pure, there is a spasmodic 

 closure of the glottis, and the animal dies as 

 speedily as if strangled with a cord. If breathed 

 when diluted with ninety per cent, of air, it acts 

 as a narcotic poison, producing sleep, torpor and 

 death." 



Carbonic acid and steam were used in the fire 

 "Annihilator" to extinguish flame. There is a 

 small portion of carbonic acid in the atmosphere 

 — viz : One gallon diff'used through two thou- 

 sand of air. A man exhales about twenty cubic 

 feet of carbonic acid per day, which would vitiate 

 or spoil four thousand cubic feet of air each day, 

 or equal to all that is found over a space of fifty- 

 six square feet to the top of the atmosphere an- 

 nually. Water has a powerful affinity for this 

 gas, and absorbs large quantities of it. It then 

 acquires new properties, and becomes a solvent 

 of a great number of minerals. It exerts a pow- 

 erful influence on vegetables at all stages of their 

 development. 



Flax in Canada. — The Gait Reformer says — 

 "When recently in the township of Waterloo, we 

 were very much gratified to notice that many far- 

 mers are entering extensively into the cultivation 

 of flax. In travelling a short distance, we noticed 

 a number of different fields, all of which appeared 

 to be in a very prosperous condition. The fibre 

 of the flax is very fine, and when growing in the 

 fields its appearance is very pleasing. Its flower 

 is a light blue color, which combined with the 

 light green stalk, gives the field more the appear- 

 ance of a flower garden than of being devoted to 

 agricultural purposes. Some fields sown with 

 millet are also to be seen a short distance from 

 Gait. Our agriculturists are entering upon the 

 higher branches of farming with enterprise and 

 spirit. May they reap that reward which their 

 industry and perseverance deserve." 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE 8BASON, CROPS, &c. 



The season, since the first of May, has been all 

 that the farmer conld possibly desire, and there 

 never was a better prospect of an abundant har- 

 vest of every kind of crop, except fruit, than there 

 is at the present time. The hay crop has been 

 secured in good condition, and is better by one- 

 third at least, both in quality and quantity, than 

 it was last year ; the corn in this vicinity never 

 was heavier, while the other grain crops are equal- 

 ly good. If the season continues favorable for 

 the potato, that crop will also be unusually large. 

 Fruit is not "nearly" but a complete failure, as 

 far as my observations have extended. Our far- 

 mers have given an unusual amount of their time 

 and attention, this season, to the cultivation of 

 every kind of crop common to the New England 

 States. I think they have profited very much by 

 a hint which you gave them in one of the spring 

 numbers of the Farmer, and not only have they 

 planted a few "extra hills" but extra acres, which 

 is conclusive evidence of their willingness to con- 

 tribute from their farms to the support of the 

 government, although circumstances may prevent 

 a contribution from those veins through which 

 flows the blood of patriot fathers. 



I have often wondered why your subscribers 

 and readers in this town did not contribute more 

 to the columns of your valuable paper. You have 

 among your subscribers in this place many intel- 

 ligent farmers, who are capable of imparting 

 much useful instruction ; and to such let me say, 

 you can, (if you will,) do much good to the young 

 farmer by contributing to him through the col- 

 umns of the Farmer, a liberal share of the knowl- 

 edge which you have acquired by your farming 

 operations in past years. In giving your experi- 

 ence you are not injured, while others may be 

 very much benefited. I always read the commu- 

 nications from our farmers and mechanics, which 

 appear in the columns of the Farmer from time 

 to time, with much interest. I have also experi- 

 enced much pleasure in the perusal of articles 

 from those intelligent females who occasionally 

 contribute to the columns of your paper. Polly, 

 of Enfield centre, has contributed many articles 

 to the columns of the Farmer which have been of 

 a very interesting and intelligent order. I hope 

 that now she has assumed the name of Mrs. Mary 

 C. French, and become the wife of a young, in- 

 dustrious and intelligent farmer, her domestic 

 duties will not prevent her giving us an occasioal 

 treat from her pen. 



Will Mr. Herod Chase please give us his age, 

 so that we can give something of a guess how 

 long he has been getting rich ; if he has done it 

 all in twelve or fifteen years by his own industry, 

 he has done exceedingly well, but if he has been 

 thirty or forty years in doing it, with a good lift 

 from a father-in-law to begin with, he has not 

 done anything extra, after all. 



W. C. A. Clinton. 



Claremont, N, H., Aug., 1861. 



Remarks. — Thank you, sir. You have set those 

 "intelligent people" of your town a good example, 

 which we hope they will follow. Our interests are 

 common, and therefore a free interchange of our 



