HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 239 



of the sap is weakened by the moisture taken up by the roots, which some- 

 times destroys the constitution of the plants, and renders useless the fruit 

 the plant is then bearing ; hence the cause of potato-rot, grape-rot, bad- 

 keeping apples, pears, &c, the plants take the "dry rot,' the fruit becomes 

 an unsavorymass, and becomes decomposed ; when it reaches this point, 

 nothing can stay the malady. 



But it seems to me that some precautions taken in time would prevent 

 the malady ; underdraining would carry off any superabundance of moisture, 

 and absorbents mixed in the soil might prevent the trees taking up too much, 

 as they would take it up and give it out gradually to the plants. Ashes, 

 charcoal, guano, lime, marl, plaster, poudrette, salt, tan-bark, barnyard ma- 

 nure, &c, are all absorbents. 



Whatever weakens or destroys the sap hurts the constitution of the plant ; 

 too much moisture weakens the sap, causes an over luxuriant growth, makes 

 it too succulent and thus causes it to be easily blighted, either by heat, cold or 

 drought. Whereas, plants of slow growth are firmer, hardier, better matured 

 and seldom affected with any disease, so that those who grow plants quickly 

 lose them quickly, as they destroy the natural composition of the sap. 



UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the United States Agricul- 

 tural Society, held in the city of Washington, in February last, it was 

 resolved that the Society would hold no Exhibition in any State having a 

 State Agricultural Society, without the assent of the officers or of the 

 Executive Committee of such Society. 



The citizens of Springfield, Ohio, having requested this Society to hold 

 an Exhibition of Cattle at that place, during the current year, and gene- 

 rously subscribed about ten thousand dollars to defray all the expenses of 

 the same, and to guarantee the Society against loss; and the Executive 

 Committee of the Ohio Agricultural Society uniting in the request, the 

 Executive Committee of this Society have concluded to hold a National 

 Show of Cattle, open to general competition, without sectional limit, on the 

 2oth, 26th, and 27th days of October next, at Springfield, in the State of 

 Ohio. 



The friends of Agriculture in all the States of the American Union, and 

 in the neighboring provinces of Canada, are invited to co-operate with us, 



