126 
REVIEW OF FEBRUARY NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
this state. Its elevation, as much as its thin soil, 
contributes to its infertility. So it is with the 
western part of Massachusetts, much of Con- 
necticut, and the greater part of Maine, and 
New Hampshire, outside of which states there is 
but a small granite region east of the Missis- 
sippi, and south of the lakes. 
We have mentioned that quartz, felspar, and 
mica exist in variable proportions in granite. 
Taking as the average, that in six parts of rock, 
there are three of felspar two of quartz, and one 
of mica, it would have the following chemical 
constitution in 100 parts : — 
Silica, 73 
Alumina, 15 
Potash, 9 
Magnesia and lime, 1 
Oxide of iron and manganese, 2 
100 
The soil formed from this would be somewhat 
modified in composition, there being generally 
more sand, less clay and earthy matters ; thus 
a soil from Clinton county afforded us by analy- 
sis, in 100 parts, as follows : — 
Silica, 75.0 
Alumina, 4.0 
Peroxide of iron, 1.6 
Salts of potash, - 8.0 
Common salt, .4 
Salts of lime and magnesia, 1.2 
Phosphoric acid, a trace. 
Moisture and loss, 9.8 
100.0 
The comparison between what the rock yields 
and the soil contains, shows the loss which the 
finer matters of the soil undergo. 
REVIEW OF FEBRUARY NUMBER OF THE AGRI- 
CULTURIST. 
Houses for the Poor. — Convince capitalists that 
to build such houses will be the most profitable 
investment of their money, and the poor will 
have comfortable houses. Until that time, I 
very much fear that " the poor you will always 
have with you." There is no animal that is of 
any value to man, that is so little cared for by 
his fellow men, as man. If this new plan of 
building for the poor can be carried into suc- 
cessful operation, so as to reduce the amount of 
wretchedness among that class in all our cities, 
it will call down blessings upon the heads of all 
who aid in accomplishing it. 
Soaking Corn in Saltpetre. — There is one grave 
question connected with this matter that ought 
to be settled before making too free with such a 
dangerous article ; and that is, " Will saltpetre 
explode?" I would as soon believe this as that 
soaking corn in saltpetre would prevent the 
crows from pulling it up. Perhaps, though, 
they have ascertained it will explode. The best 
way that I ever saw to prevent the birds from 
pulling up corn, is to put so much on the sur- 
face that they have no need to look for that be- 
low. Try it. 
The Weeping Cyprus. — It makes me " weep " 
to see this country hankering after imported 
trees, when we have the handsomest native 
trees on earth. " Ten dollars " for a little four- 
inch sprout ! Gentlemen you are getting to be 
very extravagant. 
Japan Cedar. — Another foreign tree. "Its 
wood is much used by the Japanese for cabinet 
work." Because they have no better. If they 
had some of our American black walnut they 
never would use this soft cedar. I repeat, we 
have the best wood in the world. I know Japan 
well, having visited the island several times. 
Farming of Mr. Hancock. — I wish Mr. H. would 
give us the items of his farm profits ; as it strikes 
me that any one within reach of a city market, 
who manures as he does, must make it profita- 
ble. 
Agricultural Chemistry. — " There is much to be 
learned in the science of agriculture, &c." True, 
and one of the most important of all is to learn 
men that it is a science ; for it is a most lament- 
able fact, that the great body of all who are 
doomed to get their bread by the sweat of the 
brow, while cultivating the earth, seem to con- 
duct themselves as though they were determined 
to establish as a fact, that " ignorance is bliss." 
And many of them, if by chance they happen 
to get your periodical in their hands, will never 
read these articles headed " Agricultural Chem- 
istry," because they have predetermined that 
science has nothing to do with agriculture. 
Saving Manure. — The gentleman noticed un- 
der this head, is evidently not one of the above 
class. But then he is not a " natural-born farmer," 
He has acquired his information by reading, 
study, and reflection, and a little exercise of com- 
mon sense and enterprise. 
Cure of Hydrophobia. — There is also a plant 
growing in this country that is said to cure 
this disease sure. Some person in Ohio once 
wrote to me about it, and sent me some seed ; 
but when one of my old out-houses burnt, I lost 
both seed and name of the plant and writer. 
Will some one inform me if they know anything 
about it ? I wish we could discover something 
to cure the hydro-mama among farmers. This 
is a disease that so affects the mind that they 
continue year after year to perform a sort of 
hydro-culture upon undrained soil, which would 
produce double crops if the owner had half as 
much aversion to water as the subjects of hy- 
drophobia. 
Dimensions of a Cart to Haul Shocks of Corn. — 
This article is worth more than ten years' cost 
of the Agriculturist, to any farmer in the United 
States. The only wonder is, that any one should 
neglect or refuse to take a paper containing just 
such valuable articles in every number. 
Patent Hoops. — Very neat in appearance no 
doubt, but are they half so good as hickory or 
iron, or much cheaper ? 
Underdraining Meadows with the Subsoil Plow. — 
I have no doubt of the advantage to all clay 
land by the process here recommended. But 
instead of -using the common subsoil plow to 
form the drains, I would recommend a new im- 
plement. Take a two-inch round bar of iron 
about eighteen inches long, and weld two thin 
coulters two feet long to it, about a foot apart 
