J^otes on the Season. 2^ 
us what? The last April has certainly been a very dry month, 
and vegetation of all kinds has certainly been much retarded by 
its cold winds and thirsty atmosphere. Yet the season has been 
fine for getting in spring crops and advancing all kinds of spring 
work. The good condition of the earth to receive the labor of 
man at an early period compared with what it is some years, has 
enabled the farmer to take time and do every thing in the most 
thorough manner. Though early sown seeds did not vegetate so 
quickly as in seasons of more abundant moisture, yet the thoroughly 
pulverized condition of the soil allowed them to take root rapidly 
when the timely showers of the early part of May came to dis- 
pense their richness, and they have now assumed a beautiful ap- 
pearance. 
The effects of the past winter have not been so fatal to the 
interest of the farmer, as, from the flucutating nature of its tem- 
perature might have been expected. Domestic animals have 
come out in fine thrift. Though the quantity of forage cut last sea- 
son in many sections, Berkshire in particular, the mildness of the 
fall operating favorably, and the fine appetites of animals prompting 
them to devour the coarser fodder with a high relish, the supplies 
of food for sustenance have been more than ample, seldom if ever 
have we seen so great a proportion of animals whose general 
contour gave such certain indications of thrift at the openino- of 
spring, as at the present time. 
With all the freezing and thawing, and drying and drenching, 
that the earth has experienced for the last seven months, fears 
were naturally entertained for the welfare of the grass and winter 
grain crops. Though but little of the latter is sown in these 
mountain valleys and along our rough hill sides, yet the few 
pieces we have seen, exhibit unusual promise of bountiful harvest. 
Grass suffered materially from the cool, dry winds of April, but 
it was advanced enough to do so; but recent abundant rains have 
called it forth in beauty, and the earth is smiling in the richness 
of her spring attire, while the heart of the husbandman is " leaping 
for joy" at the early promise of abundant harvests. 
Elmwood, May, 1848. 
JVew Disinfectant. — M. Ledger and Raphael have announced 
to the Paris Academy of Sciences, that they obtained a liquid of 
great utility, for the purpose of disinfection in the emanations 
from animal excretions, by dissolving 4 oz. of nitrate of lead, 
in two pounds of water. 
