No. 10. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



U\> 



>o far preferable to burning it ; because in ibat cnso, 

 :ieiiher the lime nor the mngncsia would be caustic. 

 When it is burnt, however, thebndcflectsof thocaus- 

 ic magnesia (hot lime) may be avoided by scattering 

 t in powJor, over meadows or pastures at least one 

 liinitner before they are to be broken up. Falling 

 imjngat the decaying blades of arass, which omit 

 urbonic acid, the magnesia imbibes it and becomes 

 nild, which it would fail to do on a bare soil, ae itat- 

 rnuts that acid more feebly than lime, ajid the latter 

 f coarse, must be always served first. 



Lime loses none of its qualities as a manure by old 

 go or exposure to the weather. Hence the refuse 

 int collects round lime-hilns, is well adapted to the 

 irmer's use, and the value of the mass will be rcgula- 

 ;d by its freedom from email stones and other impn- 

 ties. On the same principle, the plaster from old 

 ■alls and ceilings, should jM-rer lie tliroicn into the 

 Jiul : but broken up with a pounder, and applied to 

 garJen, the field, or the meadow. It is a valuable 

 lauure, and more especially for heavy soils. t 



Blossom Buds perishing in Winter. 



A correspondent wishes to know why the blossom 

 ds of the peach and apricot perish in winter ? and 

 80, if there is any way to prevent such loss ? 

 A ilowing of the sap late in autumn, or in winter, 

 Howell by intense cold, has long been considered as 

 cause of this damage : and we have no doubt of 

 being the true cause ; for those buds can endure a 

 ry low temperature, if they are not started by un- 

 isonablc warmth. We have no knowledge that they 

 ve ever been killed in this condition, by the severest 

 Id of this climate — perhaps ten or fifteen degrees be- 

 zero ; and in the elevated region between the 

 squehanna and the Delaware, they have probably 

 Jured a depression of ten degrees more. Our cold- 

 winters, when not interrupted by thaws, have 

 .lerally, if not always, been succeeded by fruitful 

 isons. 



In the winter of 1831-9, the snow drifted around a 

 ,ch tree in our fruit garden, so that one low limb 

 9 entirely buried. This rough weather was suc- 

 ded by a thaw soon after New Years, and the thaw 

 intense cold. Peaches were very scarce in the fol- 

 ing season. The highest limbs — the very tops — 

 ■which the reflected heat from the ground could 

 rcely reach — had a few, while the limb which was 

 led in the snow, was loaded down with fruit. 

 The same effect was produced on a limb that rested 

 the roof of a building, and was covered up in a drift. 

 2 warm winds that started the other buds, passed 

 r without touching, and left it torpid. 

 On bleak northern aspects, we believe the peach 

 ! is generally productive in this climate ; and we 

 lain the following cases on the same principle : — 

 many years, we resided in a wide valley bounded 

 two sides by high hills. In the valley, the peach 

 I an uncertain crop ; but on the hills it rarely fail- 

 A careful observer who lived in a more sheltered 

 ey of the same district, assured us that the peach 

 with them was unfruitful as often as six years out 

 ■even. In vallies, the temperature is more variable 

 I on the hills — warmer at one time and colder at 

 ther ; for it has been ascertained that in severe but 

 n weather, the cold air settles down in the lowest 

 tea. 



«aat winter was milder than usual ; and yet we had 

 e shrubs more injured than in seasons of intense 

 !. It appears that in these shrubs the sap had star- 

 and the sharp frosts that followed were destruc- 

 to a port of their branches. Amongst'these, were 

 Purple Fringe tree, and the Pyracantha ; but Fo7i- 

 'jia phiUijroides, from Syria, more tender than 

 cr, escaped without any injury, and is now produ- 

 seed-i for tie firstjtime. 



The Antwerp Raspberry may also bo mentioned, 

 which with us is generally hardy ; but ot Marietta, 

 in Ohio, more than three degrees further south, " it 

 requires to be laid down every autnmn," says Doctor 

 llildreth, " and covered with earth or strow to protect 

 it from the freezing and t/uiwing of our variable win- 

 ters. Pltmls which stand under the north sUle of a 

 fence or a building, bear the winter in a manner un- 

 harmed. This is also the case with the IWadeira grape 

 vine, and Grevillo rose, both of which are killed if 

 exposed to the mid-day sun of winter, but live unin- 

 jured if grown in a northern chaded exposure."* 



Treading down the snow so as to accumulate a com- 

 pact mass round the tree, and then covering it with 

 straw, has been found useful. We have seen an apple 

 retarded in its vegetation lor a fortnight in the spring, 

 by piling wood round it ; but the weather here is so 

 variable and uncertain, that what was useful in one 

 season, may be nscless in another. t 



Importance of Color— Painting Wagons, &c. 



The importance of dark and light surfaces, is, we 

 believe, but little appreciated in an economical point 

 of view. The dillerenco between rough or darkened, 

 and polished metalic surfaces, in absorbing and radiat- 

 ing heat, is familiar to every student in chemistry. 

 A housewife would be considered ignorant, who did 

 not know that bread would bake more rapidly on an 

 old or blackened metalic dish, than on a new or bright 

 one ; that water cools more slowly in a bright tea-pot, 

 than in any other ; that a stove pipe of Russia iron 

 heats a room leas than a pipe of common or rough 

 iron ; that water can scarcely be made to boil in a 

 new tin vessel, with a charcoal fire, until its bottom 

 becomes blackened with smoke ; — all of which plain- 

 ly show the rapid absorption and radiation of heat by 

 rough and blacKcned surfaces, and the reverse by 

 bright or reflecting ones. 



The influence; of color alone, on absorption, is most 

 strikingly exhibited in case of solar heat. Bodies of 

 a black color, are found soon to become heated in the 

 sun, while white ones are scarcely alTected. This 

 important fact should be borne in mind, in the preser- 

 vation, by paint, of nil implements or machines of 

 whatever kind, which may be injured by the action of 

 the sun's rays. Wagons and carriages, especially, 

 which during use must necessarily be more or less ex- 

 posed, should always be of some light color. A car- 

 riage of a light yellow or ash color, is almost incon- 

 ceivably less heated, cracked, and warped, than one 

 of a dark brown or black. And however unfashiona- 

 ble ouch light colors may be, we have no doiibt that if 

 vehiecles generally, were painted with such, that 

 many thousands of dollars would be saved annually, 

 by preventing one of the most powerful causes of 

 weakness and decay in these costly appendages to 

 every man's domestic establishment.- * 



A Visit to Wm. C. Cornell's 



We made a visit some days ago to the farm of our 

 friend Cornell in the south part of the town of Hen- 

 rietta, about seven miles from this city. Mr. C. was 

 formerly a merchant in the city of New- York, but his 

 business not being favorable to his health he left the 

 city and turned his attention to farming. In selecting 

 a location we think he manifested good judgment as 

 well as taste ; and in the arrangement and general 

 management of his farm we see good evidence that the 

 systematic mind of the merchant is no disadvantage to 

 the former. The dwelling house is in good keeping 

 with the farm ; every thing within and oround giving 

 an air of comfort and refinement. Mrs. C. although 

 brouglit up in the city appears to be quite at home, 

 and well contented with a country life. We could 

 discover nothing wanting except a better garden, lo 



'Ilovpy'slMajazlneof norlk-ultiire, for December, I'lJI. 



make the place all that ony reasonable man could wish. 



The farm consists of 100 acres of excellent land, 

 beautifully undulating, and well watered with springs. 

 It is divided ofl'inlo 8 or 10 small fields, and oil woU 

 cultivotod. Mr. C. is very successful in raising wheat, 

 and his practice is somewhat peculiar. He has prom- 

 ised to furnish our readers an account of hisexperieni.'o 

 in this business, and also in raising Indian corn, .it 

 which we saw a remarkably fine field. We advised 

 him to offer his corn crop in competition for the comi- 

 ty premium, and if ho does s') wc think he will 

 gain it. 



In farm stock Mr. Cornell has a very choice^ 

 though not very large collection, embracing the most 

 approved breeds of cattle sheep and swine — Here wc 

 seethe true system exemplified — a small form, in 

 small fields highly cidtivated, with a limited omouut 

 of stock of the beat breeds. This is what we call or- 

 thodoxfarmmg. The sheep in particular, struck us 

 08 being very superior. He baa nearly one hundred 

 head, part pure Cotswold, and the others Jths or 

 |ths blood, crossed with the Leicester. We regiot 

 that Mr. C. did not make arrangements to take his 

 thorough bred sheep to the Fair at Syracuse, but the 

 distance, and the diflScuIty of procuring a boot to take 

 them prevented. He is fully convinced that the 

 Cotswold sheep are the most profitable breed for our 

 farmers. 



By an advertisement on our last page it will be seen 

 that Mr. Cornell offers to dispose of part of his stock, 

 and we advise those in this region who wish to pui- 

 chase to go and see them. 



Crops in South Venice in 1841* 



Wheat. — This crop is not as good as last season. 

 I think it cannot be called more than half of an aver- 

 age yield ; the berry is fine however. Many fields 

 of wheat were nearly destroyed by the Stein Croiit, 

 (Rod Root) which is making ruinous inroads upon 

 us. Spring loheat was but little sown this year, and 

 did not turn out well. 



Grass. — More grass was cut in this town this year, 

 I think, than last. The rain in May gave the meail- 

 owa such a start as to prevent the subsequent drouih 

 from seriously effecting the crop. 



Corn looks very good, considering the season. 

 The dry weather however has so offected it thot out 

 farmers will not probably have more than enough f r 

 their own consumption ; consequently the price must 

 be high. 



Peas. — This crop is very good — better than last 

 season. A larger quantity than usual were sown this 

 year — Many farmers prefer them to corn for fattening 

 pork. 



Oats have done well this year — I think they will 

 yield better than last season. 



Barly is good, whot little was sown. 



Buckwheat was but little sown, but looks well--^ 

 will be a good crop if not injured by frost. 



Flax. — The cultivation of this crop is nearly 

 abandoned, owing to the labor required in manufac- 

 turing the cloth. What little was sown looks veiv 

 well. 



Potatoes were much injured by the drouth, an il 

 will not yield well, however there will be enougli 

 for our own consumption. 



Root Crops generally will fall much below an av ■ 

 erage yield ; but are not very extensively raised hero. 



Frcit is very plenty, save peaches. I think thero 

 is more fruit than last year. On the whole I think 

 the crops in this region are as good as in any other 

 part of Western New- York ; and we have abundant 

 reason for gratitude to Him who has given us these 

 necessaries and comforts of life. 



Respectfully yours, 



W. S. TUPPER. 



Sovth Venice, Cayuga Co., .S(^p^ 11, \'iAl. 



