54 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



obtains between the size and structure of the 

 leaf, and the amount of these elements in the 

 soil. Thus when a piece of land has been im- 

 poverished by injudicious culture and left to re- 

 cover by its own natural resources, it invariably 

 clothes itself with a growth remarkable for the 

 narrowness of its leaves. The pine presents us 

 with a familiar illustration of nature's mode of 

 adaptation of plants to soils, and conveys to us 

 at the same time another lesson for imitation in 

 returning good for evil. 



" 2dly. The essential elements of fertility, or- 

 ganic matters and the salts of lime, having been 

 supplied, the next object will be to counteract 

 the operation of antagonist processes. Of these 

 the chief are the presence of plants other than 

 the proper occupants of the soil and an habitual 

 excess of water. The remedy for the first is 

 through cultivation, and for the second through 

 draining. By thorough draining is meant, the 

 deanston, or furrow system, which has conferred 

 such distinction on the husbandry of Scotland. 



" The two preceding rules appear to compre- 

 hend the distinguishing of the new or improved 

 system of husbandry. These are, 1st. The al- 

 ternation of crops, or the introduction of the ar- 

 tificial grasses and of root culture into every 

 system for the purpose of feeding stock or of 

 ploughing into the land — the ultimate object 

 being to replenish the earth in the most econo- 

 mical manner, with the food of plants — with 

 manures. 2dly. Draining and the application 

 of lime, ashes, plaster, marl, &c. Draining and 

 the application of the alkaline earths and salts 

 are classed together, because their action is con- 

 ceived to be identical — both enabling plants to 

 attract more food from the atmosphere, and at 

 the same time to adapt it more completely to their 

 wants. This twofold purpose they effect through 

 the formation of a substance whose subtle influ- 

 ence upon light gives health, and vigor, and 

 beauty to the vegetable creation. 



{t Having already, I fear, trespassed too long 

 on your patience, I must beg you to bear with 

 me a few moments longer. We have associated 

 ourselves for the advancement of a cause, not 

 only noble in its object, that of augmenting the 

 means of human subsistence and human enjoy- 

 ment, but moreover, eminently conducive, if 

 rightly pursued, of that elevation of mind which 

 should be the end of all our studies. The far- 

 mer's life is a daily contemplation of a process 

 which ceases to be realised as a miracle, and 

 thus fails of its due impression, because we do 

 not consider that the succession of events of 

 which it is made up is nothing less than a bene- 

 ficent adaptation to our present state of being — 

 that it is an arrangement in perfect harmony 

 with the dispensation under which we live. — 

 Let us then resolve that henceforth we will 

 rightly pursue it — that with diligence and hu- 

 mility we will study those laws which Infinite 



Wisdom has ordained for the government of the 

 visible Universe, and bring them into subser- 

 viency to the happiness and virtue of mankind, 

 by obeying, and thus 'honoring these laws 

 when we see them clearly, and adoring their 

 profundity when beyond our reach. If the 

 works of nature be thus contemplated, the world 

 from henceforth becomes a temple, and life itself 

 one continued act of adoration.' " 



BLACKSMITHS' WORK. 

 As many of our farmers have blacksmith's 

 shops of their own, the following directions for 

 working steel and making edged tools, plain 

 and simple as they are, may be of great value 

 to them if carefully enjoined upon their smiths, 

 who are frequently great bunglers in this kind 

 of work: 



" Working Cast Steel. — We have recent- 

 ly obtained information on this subject, from the 

 most skilful and celebrated workman in the 

 United States, Capt. J. Hill, of Billerica, Massa- 

 chusetts. We were a little surprised to learn 

 the difference in the management of cast steel, 

 from that of the German. There is something 

 yet remaining mysterious with regard to the na- 

 ture and management of this article, which no 

 cyclopedia or oilier vehicle of intelligence have 

 as yet developed. The process of manufactur- 

 ing cast steel, it is not our purpose at present to 

 describe ; but it is evidently composed of refined 

 iron and carbon in very nice proportions. In 

 the process of shaping it into cutting blades and 

 other articles, it is heated and hammered in the 

 manner of other steel: when tempered for this 

 purpose, it is first heated to a full cherry red, 

 and plunged into water till cold. It may then 

 be held over a moderate charcoal fire, until the 

 color of any part which has been filed or made 

 bright afier hardening, changes to a reddish or- 

 ange color. This is the temper for cutting tools ; 

 but if a spring temper is required, it is heated 

 over the charcoal till the color approaches a 

 blue: or rather, blue inclining to red. In either 

 case when the steel is brought to show these 

 colors, it is to be plunged in oil — common lamp 

 or linseed oil — which will not affect the color. 

 If the steel is to be rendered soft for turning or 

 cutting, it must be heated to a full red, and left 

 to cool in partially ignited charcoal ; in this way 

 it may be made so soft as to be cut or turned 

 into shape as easity as copper, or even common 

 pewter. But the most curious and peculiar pro- 

 cess is * that of welding. In welding iron, a 

 white heat is indispensable, as every body knows : 

 but not so with cast steel. When the steel is 

 to be welded to iron, neither are to be heated 

 above a full cherry red. The two parts are to 

 be previously lashed or griped together, and in 



