268 An easy method of filling long Syphon tubes. 
In some districts of Ohio, Indian corn has been planted on the 
same ground, almost from the first settlement of the country. A re- 
spectable gentleman who resides on the banks of the Sciota, at Ports- 
mouth, writes as follows. ‘My farm is immediately at the mouth 
of the Sciota River. It is rich bottom land. The soil is loam, 
finely proportioned, with clay and sand, formed by successive depo- 
sitions from the Ohio and Sciota Rivers, which inundate it every 
year. I do not think there is much difference in the quality of the 
soil for the depth of 15 or 20 feet. Many fields have been cultiva- 
ted in corn for 20 or 30 years in succession, and I doubt whether 
a cart load of manure was ever used in the place, before I became in 
possession of it.” 
The preceding facts, and similar ones, which might be stated, am- 
ply disprove in my mind, the theory attempted to be established, 
that the excrementitious matter of plants is poisonous. The necessi- 
ty, in good husbandry, of alternating farm crops, arises, I think from 
the facts, generally conceded, that plants do not take take up, or re- 
tain the same food ; that each species takes something specific which 
others do not take; and that in ordinary soils there is not enough, 
of this specific food to maintain successive crops without deteriora- 
tion. ‘The cases which I have cited refer not to ordinary, but to ex- 
traordinary soils, which form exceptions to a general rule. ‘These 
are so abundant in the specific food of the wheat, the oats and the 
corn, that years of successive cropping, have not exhausted, nor 
sensibly impaired the supply. 
Albany, Feb. 18th, 1835. 
Art. XII.—Notice of an easy method of filling long Syphon tubes, 
in a Note addressed (by request) to the Editor; by Wiu11aM 
Foster, Esq.* 
New Haven, Nov. 26, 1834. 
Str,—Agreeably to your request, at the conclusion of your very 
interesting lecture, I will now put on paper a brief statement of the 
application of the syphon upon a large scale, for the purpose of 
drawing water from distant places. This application may not be 
new; but I do not remember to have seen it in this, or any other 
* We trust that Mr. Foster will pardon the publication of this letter, since it is 
of a very useful character. 
