398 



FOKEST AND STREAM. 



ground immediately around them for leaves, twigs or any" 

 vegetable material which they can find . This they draw int 

 their tubes and proceed to devour, the leaf being moistened 

 and made soft, and then gnawed. Interesting facts were de- 

 veloped in the progress_of M. Hensen's investigations in ref- 

 erence t o the character of the worm-tubes, but we have scarcely 

 space hereto detail them. It is enough to say that there was 

 always found a lining to the tubes of humus much richer .than 

 the surrounding soil. A portion of this lining is removed 

 each day, and carried to the surface of the ground, where it 

 is deposited, forming the well-known "casts." In about half 

 the tubes not quite newly made M. Hensen found the roots of 

 plants growing at the surface in the most vigorous de- 

 velopment, running through the tubes to the end, and at that 

 point giving off finer rootlets, which passed into the walls. It 

 seems thus that the moist earth of the tubes, and the loose, rich 

 and moist earth of the walls is most favorable for the growth 

 downward of plant roots. The earth deposited„by the worms, 

 when submitted to microscopic examination, shows a close 

 resemblance to the leaf mold prepared by gardeners for filling 

 flower-pots. The plant cells appear to be for the most part 

 destroyed, and altogether the chemical composition of the 

 worm-earth appears very much like that of very fertile soil. 



That this fertilization of the soil takes place much more 

 rapidly than would be supposed, is proved by experiments of 

 M. Hensen. He found in his garden nine open worm tubes 

 to the square foot, and, combining this with other facts, he esti- 

 mates 133,000 worms to the hectau, each worm depositing one 

 half gramme of secretion injthe twenty-four hours. This calcu- 

 lation, although of course good only for the locality where the 

 investigations were carried on, gives an idea of the vast 

 amount of good accomplished through this humble agent. 



The author of the interesting and practical paper to which 

 we refer sums up his conclusions as follows : li It is clear that 

 no new manure material can be produced by it (the earth- 

 worm), but it utilizes that which is present in various ways. 

 1. It tends to effect a regular distribution of the natural manure 

 material of fields, inasmuch as it removes leaves and loose 

 plants from the force of the wind, and fixes them. 2. It ac- 

 celerates the transformation of this material. 3. It distributes 

 it through the ground. 4. It opens up the under soil for the 

 plant roots. 5. It makes this fertile." 



M. Hensen's paper has excited considersble interest wher- 

 ever it has been read, and there are not wanting writers to 

 confirm, and even add to his conclusions. Two communica- 

 tions*in a recent number of Nature are so interesting that we 

 shall quote from them at some length. Rev. Henry Cooper 

 Key says : " I thought it was a well-known fact that worms, 

 by means of their 'casts,' effect a complete renousement of the 

 soil of meadowland, down to a certain depth, in the course of 

 a few years. But whether well known or not, met with a 

 demonstration of this important fact in 1857. When putting 

 down a considerable extent of iron fencing in the alluvial 

 meadows near my house (consequent upon an exchange of 

 land) I had occasion to cut a ditch two or three feet deep, and 

 when the workmen had finished the ditch— a quarter of a mile 

 long in all — I was astonished to see in one portion, about sixty 

 yards in length, a distinct and very even narrow line of coal 

 ashes, mixed with small coal, in the clean-cut surface of the 

 fine loam of the ditch face, perfectly parallel with the top 

 sward. It immediately occurred to me that this was the work 

 of the earth-worm, and upon inquiry I found that the farmer 

 who had occupied the land for many years remembered hav- 

 ing once, and only once, carted out ^ome coal ashes and 

 spread it at this point not many years before. I forget the 

 exact number of years, but believe it was about eighteen. I 

 have a distinct recollection, however, that the depth of the 

 coal ashes below the surface was at least seven inches, and 

 that this seemed to confirm the general belief that the depth 

 to which the earth-worm burrows is about that amount. I may 

 add that the color of the loam above the line of coal ashes 

 was decidedly darker than of that below." 



Mr. A. Stephen Wilson, in. the same number of Nature, 

 brings out a new point, and one of no little importance. He 

 says, after speaking of the observations of M. Hensen: 

 " But the operation of the earth- worai has a significance in 

 relation to the vegetable world of even a profounder kind than 

 that of the fertilization of the soil. Some months ago, in 

 searching for young ash plants with three cotyledons, I found 

 that in a great many cases the samara, or seed of the ash, had 

 been drawn into a worm's hole, and had there found moisture 

 and other essential conditions of growth, while the same seeds 

 lying dry upon the surface had not germinated. There can 

 thus be no doubt that many seeds of all kinds are drawn under 

 the surface of the ground or covered by the earth thrown up 

 by worms. They are thus preserved from birds and various 

 enemies, and are placed in the proper position for germina- 

 tion. The dead plant is perpetuated from its fallen panicle 

 by the earth-worm. An aBh tree, or a whole forest of ash 

 trees, may have been planted by earthworms. " 



Plants in Sleeping Rooms. — So much has been said and 

 written, and to so little purpose, on the injurious effect of 

 plants iu sleeping rooms, that we make no excuse in laying 

 before our readers the following letter from Professor Kedzie, 

 of the Michigan Agricultural College, to Governor Holt. He 

 writes as follows : 



Not to leave the matter in the condition of mere conjecture, 



I have gathered and analyzed specimens of air from a room 



containing a few plants. I gathered it from the college green- 



e where more than 6,000 plants are growing. I gathered 



the air before sunrise on the mornings of April 16 and 17. 



The room had been closed for more than twelve hours, and 

 if the plants exhaled carbonic acid to an injurious extent, the 

 analysis of the air from such a room would certainly disclose 

 this fact. The three specimens of air gathered on the morn- 

 ing of April 16, from different parts of the room, gave 4.11, 4.4 

 and 4.00 parts of carbonic acid in 10.000 of air, or an average 

 of 4. 05 in 1.000. The two specimens of air gathered April 

 17 gave 3.80and 3.88 parts of carbonic acid, or an average of 

 3.84 parts of carbonic acid in 10.000 of air, while the out-door 

 air contains 4 parts in 10,000. It will thus be seen that the 

 air in the greenhouse was better than " pure country air." 

 This deficiency of carbonic acid was doubtless due to the 

 absorption of carbonic acid, and consequent accumulation of 

 oxygen during daylight, since the windows of the green- 

 house were closed day and night on account of the cool 

 weather. To ascertain whether the air of the greenhouse had 

 more carbonic acid by night than by day, I gathered two 

 specimens of air in different parts of the house at two o'clock 

 p. m., April 17. These gave 1.40 and 1.38 parts of carbonic 

 acid in 10.000, or an average of 1.39 parts, showing that the 

 night air contained more carbonic acid than did the air of 

 day. Now, if a room in which were more than 6,000 plants, 

 while containing more carbonic acid by night than by day, 

 contains less carbonic acid than any sleeping room on this 

 continent, we may safely conclude that one or two dozen 

 plants in a room, w T ill not exhale enough carbonic acid by 

 night to iujure the sleepers. 



Aiii, About Raising Tobacco. — The following very full 

 information in regard to tobacco culture will be of value to 

 many of our Southern readers. A correspondent, "E. L. F.," 

 of Baton Rouge, La., inquires : 



1. What does (a good crop) tobacco yield in value to the 

 acre, and how does it compare in value with cotton ? 



2. How many hands ought to be used on each acre of 

 tobacco, and how does the labor of raising tobacco successfully 

 compare with that needed for cotton ? In our Gulf States but 

 little tobacco is raised. It is not much cultivated South of 

 Tennessee, and for this reason I am anxious to know how it 

 compares with cotton. 



3. Are lands suitable for cotton fit for tobacco ? 



4. What will it cost me to have made to order in this 

 country (if that is possible) a double-barreled breech-loading 

 hunting rifle, positive action, carrying a spherical ball, 16 shot- 

 gun gauge, with a slow pitch of rifling, one turn in eight feet, 

 and who can make such a rifle ? 



5. Where, and at what price, can I get a work on tobacco 

 culture ? 



Ans.— 1. There is a wide difference in tobacco as to quality 

 and the market it is intended for. North Carolina grows the 

 finest, brightest and lightest— some twenty plants to the pound 

 — and brings the highest price in the markets, with the excep- 

 tion of a single parish in Louisiana, where the famous 

 perique is cultivated. Missouri grows a coarse, heavy, 

 thick, black-stemmed tobacco, some four or five plants 

 to the pound, and is sold at a low price, and, as we 

 believe, is made into pig-tail and negro-head for sailors' 

 chewing in the European .markets. Kentucky is rather 

 finer class than the above. Connecticut cultivates to- 

 bacco for wrappers for cigars. Virginia grows, and has, up 

 to the present time, cultivated the sweetest, and literally the 

 purest tobacco for chewing and pipe-smoking, and is classed 

 between the North Carolina and other southern tobaccos as to 

 weight — that is to say about eight or nine plants to the pound. 

 Tobacco is very low at present, the best Virginia bringing 

 only 8 cents a pound, and would certainly not be cultivated 

 if there was any other money crop. Its value per acre varies 

 anywhere from $30 to $200 per acre, according to land, 

 successful cultivation, curing and handling. It is a much 

 larger crop than cotton. As soon as one crop is out of the 

 ground and in the barns, preparations for another year ought 

 to be begun, so there are always two tobacco crops on hand — 

 one in the fields and the other in the barns, or what is termed 

 " bulked down." 2. One darky per acre can attend to the cul- 

 tivation. We should think, on the whole, that successful 

 cotton growing would produce a larger pecuniary result, with 

 less labor and risk, than successful tobacco growing. If this 

 is not so, how is it that the planters of the further South, in 

 slavery times, would give large prices for field hands in Vir- 

 ginia, take them South, and in three years would easily pay 

 the price given for them out of the labor. This could never 

 be done iu the Middle Southern States. 3. The lands are 

 pro ml Iy suitable, but we should think the climate is not. 4. 

 The rifle you require would cost from $100 to $150, 

 according to workmanship. The Magazine rifle has 

 superseded the double-barrel. The latter you can buy for 

 $40 or $50. 5. We can send to you a little work, price 25 

 cents. A more exhaustive book would cost $2. 



Eh* MvmL 



Notice to Sportsmen.— Having reeeivect so many communication 

 asking ns for information in regard to our six-section bamboo trout, 

 black bass, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on the 

 ubject, which we shall take pleasure in forwarding to any address. 

 We keep on hand all grades, the prices of which range from $18 to $150 

 We put our stamp only on the best, in order to protect our customers 

 and our reputation, for we are unwilling to sell a poor rod with a false 

 enamel (made by burning and staining to imitate the genuine article) 

 without letting our customers know just what they are getting. 



P. O. Box 1,294.— lAdu. Abbey & Imbree, 38 Maiden Lane. 



— The New York Times has the following sensible para- 

 graph, which it would do well for advertisers to read. The 

 Timex knows what it talks about : 



The circulations of all the great newspapers have increased 

 greatly during the last few years, and the advertisements in 

 them reach a larger number of persons and are of more value 

 to the advertisers than all the bills, circulars and " dodgers," 

 street-car legends, and colored Indian "sandwiches " that in- 

 ventive theatrical and commercial people inflict upon the 

 citizens of New York. MpMM| 



To Correspondents.— Those desiring as to prescribe for their dogs 

 win please take note of and describe the following points in each ani- 

 mal: 



1. Age. 2. Food and medicine given. 3. Appearance of the eje; 

 of the coat ; of the tongue and lips. 4. Any changes in the appearance 

 of the body, as bloatiug, drawing in of the flanks, etc. 6. Breathing, 

 the number of respirations per minute, and whether labored or not. 

 6. Condition of the bowels and secretions of the kidneys, color, etc. 1. 

 Appetite; regular, variable, etc. s. Temperature of the body as indi- 

 cated by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 

 and the foreleg. ». Give ■position of kennel and surroundings, outlook, 

 contiguity to other buildings, and the uses of the latter. Also give any 

 peculiarities of temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed ; 

 signs of suffering, etc. 



POINTS IN JUDGING DOGS. 



We continue our list of points used in judging dogs. For 

 first part see our issue of Dec. 20th. 



—In judging the points of the Dachshunds the printer made 

 some slignt errors. The points for Dachshunds should he as 

 follows : 



Skull , 10 Feet ?v 



Jaw 10 Stem *'. io 



Ears, eyes and lips 10 Coat 5 



Length of body 15 Color 1$£ 



Legs 15 Size, symmetry, quality.!. 10 



MASTIFF. 



Size of head 10 Cheat 7 



Shape of head 10 Legs 5 



Eyes 5 Feet 5 



Ears 5 Color ', 5 



Muzzle 5 Coat _" 5 



Ntok 5 Symmetry .... 10 



Shoulders 5 Stern .'"' 5 



LoinB 8 Size g 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Head 30 Size in 



Neck 10 Symmetry " in 



Baok 10 Coat ".'.'.'.','. 6 



Chest 5 Color \\\ 5 



Feet 5 Stern ■.."!!!!" 5 



St. Bernard. 



Head 20 Symmetry jo 



Line down from poll 10 Size .'.'..'.' 20 



Frame 10 Double dew claw. . in 



Feet 5 Color ".'.'.'.'.".'. 5 



Legs 5 Coat ; ..*." 5 



DALMATIAN DOG. 



Size 20 Color 30 



Clearness 20 Symmetry '.'..'. 20 



Freedom from white patches. 10 



SCOTCH COLLEV. 



Head 15 Feet 10 



White line between ay ee 5 Legs .'.'.'..10 



ShoulderB 10 Coat in 



Cheat 10 Color \\\" 10 



Loins 10 Symmetry 10 



PDG. 



Head 10 Coat 1Q 



Ears 10 Cm-1 of tail in 



Pure color 10 Hare feet jq 



Diatinctmask 10 Symmetry 6 



Black trace 10 Compactness 5 



Choek moles 10 



MALTESE DOG. 



Coat 39 Tad... 



Color 20 Eyes.. 



Size '. . 20 Nose. 



20 

 5 



FOX TERRIER. 



HeadandEara 10 Shoulders 5 



Nose 10 Quarters ........" 5 



Jaw 5 Legs ..'" iq 



Eye 5 Feet jq 



Neck 5 Symmetry i 



Body and chest 10 Color 5 



Back 10 



KING CHARLES. 



Head 10 Color iq 



Nose and Jaw 10 Feather jq 



Eyes 5 Symmetry ,'.'" 5 



EarB 15 Compactness 5 



Lengthofcoat 5 Size t \\ mm jn 



Texture 5 Carriage of tail '' 10 



Weights of Dogs..— A great many inquiries have been 

 made of us in regard to the weights of dogs. An approxi- 

 mate standard of weights can however only be given. As is 

 well enough known, dog owners do not breed to size or bulk 

 as do cattle fanciers. On the other hand, in fancy dogs the 

 smaller they can be turned out the higher they are prized. 

 While a St. Bernard might be thought a good winner be- 

 cause he was the heaviest brute in the show, his bulk might 

 be produced at the sacrifice of his symmetry. In the true 

 sporting dog a medium size is what is wanted. The same 

 physical advantage which a moderately sized man possesses 

 over a pigmy or a giant i3 true as to dogs. Of course there 

 are exceptions. All of us have known very big and very 

 little setters and pointers whose performances have been 

 superb. Still the exceptions prove the rule. A black-and-ten 

 terrier may weigh from 7 to 25 pounds, but the best size is 

 about 10 to 12 pounds. Skye terriers may weigh from 10 to 

 18 pounds ; the Dandie Dinmont from 14 to 25 pounds. In 

 fox-terriers the range is quite wide, being from 10 pounds up 

 to 35 pounds. Bull terriers may weigh from 18 to 32 pounds 

 and some celebrated does have turned the scale at 55 pounds. 

 Bull-dogs vary from 15 up to 60 pounds. The old bull dog, 

 as taken from old pictures, must have been a larger dog, 

 weighing as much as 100 pounds. A mastiff ought to weigh 

 always over 100 pounds, say from 120 to 135 pounds. In New- 

 foundlands it is quite desirable that some approximative stand- 

 ard should be given, which would include the large and small 

 breeds ; 80 pounds for the smaller breed, and 110 pounds for 

 the larger dogs have been proposed. King Oharles, 5 to 10 

 pounds. Italian greyhounds have been bred down to five 

 pounds, but from 14 to 18 pounds are choice weights, 



