1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



35 



our husbandry, and that the less frequently the 

 surface of the soil is exposed to the wasting in- 

 fluences of the summer sun, wind and rain, the 

 longer it will retain its original condition of fer- 

 tility. 



Trees exert an influence similar to that which we 

 attribute to the grain among the grass plants, only 

 in a more appreciable degree. The great Hum- 

 boldt said that, by felling the trees that cover the 

 tops and sides of mountains, men were preparing 

 two calamities for future generations — the want 

 of fuel and a scarcity of water. Trees surround 

 themselves with an atmosphere constantly cold 

 and misty. They affect the copiousness of springs 

 by sheltering the soil from the direct action of the 

 sun, and diminishing the evaporation of the wa- 

 ter produced by rain. The dreadful droughts which 

 so frequently visit the Cape de Verd Islands are 

 avowedly due' to the removal of their forests. In 

 India, a few years ago, a proprietor, in laying 

 down some grounds, well watered by an excellent 

 spring, for a coffee garden at Genmore, contrary 

 to the advice of the natives, cleared the adjacent 

 ground, when the supply of water soon vanished. 

 Forests increase rain and moisture, and produce 

 springs and running streams. Tracts destitute of 

 woods become strongly heated, the air above them 

 ascends perpendicularly, and this prevents the 

 clouds from sinking, and the constant winds (trade 

 winds or monsoons) where they can blow uninter- 

 ruptedly over large surfaces, do not allow the 

 transition of vapors into the form of drops.* 



Such is the action, only in a smaller way, as we 

 view it, of the grain crop upon the grass. 



From the investigation of this subject which we 

 have been able to make, we have come to the con- 

 clusion that, when lands are stocked to grass, the 

 first essential to be secured is to keep the ground 

 moderately moist, — and the second so to shelter 

 the tendei'plants as to protect them from the rays 

 of the sun and high winds, as that they shall not 

 be withered by one nor lacerated or broken by the 

 other ! With a deficiency of water in the ground, 

 sunny and warm days, which under other circum- 

 stances would be the most favorable for growth, 

 actually prove the most pernicious, particularly 

 for summer plants, which have not yet had time 

 to push their roots deep into the soil where there 

 still exists a supply of water that might convey 

 food to them.f Or, where exposed to high winds 

 that lash the plants against each other, or con- 

 stant currents that desiccate both soil and plant, 

 the results are equally ruinous to the crop. 



To revert for a moment to the shade theory. 

 On visiting some of the largest and most produc- 

 tive gardens in my knowledge, we have often been 



*Report of Secretary of Bombay Geographical Society for 

 1850. 



fLiebig, Mod. Ag., page 196. 



surprised at the wonderful fertility of the soil, and 

 the perfection of its products, whether of vegeta- 

 bles, fruits, or flowers, where various plants were 

 growing in a condition so crowded as to be touch- 

 ing each other. Indeed, in some instances, not a 

 foot of cultivated soil could be seen, the spaces 

 between the stems of the plants being thoroughly 

 covered with some sort of litter, and the only bare 

 places the paths of the garden ! 



It is in such places, that we have witnessed the 

 highest results of culture, — the most ample out- 

 pouring of the generous soil into the lap of the 

 skilful cultivator. That the soil is rich in such 

 choice spots there can be no doubt, — but would it 

 yield, comparatively, as much, were open spaces 

 of bare surface left throughout the garden, equal 

 to one-fourth of its whole area ? 



Cannot the common farmer visit such places 

 and learn their history with decided advantage to 

 his general operations on the farm ? 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



STEEPS FOR SEED CORN. 



Having addressed an inquiry to the Scientific Amer- 

 ican in regard to whethor yon still published the New 

 England Farmer, and whether they could tell me the 

 amount of copperas required to the bu.-diel (of corn) 

 in applying it before planting, and how long it should 

 soak, as suggested in a very old number of your work, 

 by the suggestion of the American I desire you to 

 give me the information. R. C. Harrison. 



Baltimore, Md., Jan. 5, 1864. 



Remarks. — The article to which our correspondent 

 alludes is probably one published about ten years ago 

 —the statement of a Mr. Wetmore. The sum of which 

 is, that at noon of the day before planting, the seed 

 was put to soak in a decoction of about an ounce of 

 copperas in water sufficient to cover a quart of corn. 

 The next morning the corn was taken out, about a 

 pint of soft soap added to a peck, and thoroughly 

 stirred, after which plaster enough to make it conven- 

 ient for planting, say one quart, was added. The 

 whole field was planted with seed thus prepared, with 

 the exception of four rows, which were .planted with 

 seed without preparation. Cultivation, &c., the same. 

 The result as stated by Mr. Wetmore was eleven bush- 

 els and a half of ears on the four rows of unprepared 

 seed, and seventeen bushels on four rows of copperas- 

 steeped seed. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The first meeting of this society was on the 24th of 

 February, 1829, when sixteen gentlemen convened at 

 the insurance office of ZebcdeeCook, Jr., 7 'i Congress 

 street, Boston, for the purpose of instituting a Horti- 

 cultural Society, when the Hon. John Lowell, of Rox- 

 bury, was chosen Moderator, and Zebedce Cook, Jr., 

 appointed Secretary. 



It was then voted— That Messrs. H. A. S. Dearborn, 

 Zebedce Cook, Jr., and Samuel Downer, be a Com- 

 mittee to prepare a Constitution and By-Laws for the 

 government of the Society. 



Among the sixteen were two from Salem, Mr. Rob- 

 ert Manning and myself. I am desirous to ascertain 

 how many are now living. Those present at that 

 meeting, as far as I can remember, that are deceased 

 are Messrs. Manning, Dearborn, Cook, Downer, Bart- 

 lett, Brewer, French and Phinney. If you can fur- 

 ni-h the names of the sixteen for your "journal, you 

 will oblige, yours truly, John M. Ives. 



