SHEEP AT frl-TL SOUTH. 
naked skin, or sometimes covered with a thin hair, 
which is no impediment to their rapid passage 
through the water; and underneath is a thick cover¬ 
ing of fat , which, though vastly denser than fur or 
feathers, is nearly equal in its non-conducting pro¬ 
perties. So, too, in our own climate, the hog, 
which is the only animal not sufficiently protected 
against the rigors of winter by an external cover¬ 
ing, takes care to supply this deficiency effectually, 
if allowed to indulge his gormandizing propensities, 
&y loading the exterior of his carcass, immediately 
under his skin, with a thick coating of fat. 
The temperature of the human being has to he 
provided for, through the extremes of winter and 
summer, by external clothing, though in extreme 
hot weather, a portion of his excessive heat is car¬ 
ried off by perspiration, which involves another 
beautiful principle of chemistry, that we have not 
time at present to illustrate. Black is the warmest 
clothing when exposed to the sun’s rays, and the 
coolest when deprived of them; white is directly 
the reverse. Consequently, there is no more un¬ 
suitable color for clothing, where temperature alone 
is regarded, either for winter or summer, than black, 
and none more proper than white. The effect of 
black is somewhat obviated by using white linen 
and under clothes. 
Black soils are more productive than such as are 
light colored, when in other respects they are 
equally charged with the elements of vegetable nu¬ 
trition. They rapidly absorb heat when exposed 
to the rays of the sun, and as rapidly cool when 
they are withdrawn. Both of these effects are 
highly beneficial to vegetation. The heat which 
the soil acquires during the day, stimulates the 
action of the roots and growth of the plants; and 
the rapid cooling of the surface causes the dew 
with which the air is charged to be deposited early, 
and in large quantities, during the evening. Some 
gardeners use wffiite sand on the top of the soils, 
<e because,” as they say, “ it is so heating.” Had 
they a knowledge of some of the first principles of 
chemistry, they would at once see the absurdity of 
the practice. Were the sand black, or of a dark 
color, the practice would be commendable, as it 
would conduct the rays to the roots of the plants, 
which its white color reflects. The sand is highly 
useful when mixed with many soils, but is objec¬ 
tionable when placed on the surface. Pure sand is 
frequently hotter than dark earth in similar situa¬ 
tions ; but it is because it is drier and a non-con¬ 
ductor, and retains what heat is imparted to it, 
while the evaporation of the moisture, and the heat- 
conducting properties of the dark soils, carry off 
the heat. A pure white or very light colored earth 
can never be fertile. Very luxuriant vegetables are 
always dark colored when growing, and their color 
helps their growth in two ways—and for the same 
reason that dark soils do, viz : by conducting the 
heat into the plant while the sun is up, and again 
conducting it off when down, by which there is a 
rapid and plentiful deposit of dew upon it. 
White buildings reflect the sun’s rays, while 
darker colors absorb them; consequently, those 
which are white are vastly more durable than such 
as are very dark. It would be more economical to 
use white for all the buildings, fences, tools, &c., 
U* 
used about a farm; even carts and sleighs and car¬ 
riages would last much longer by substituting drab 
or light colors, for the black or dark browns usually 
adopted. When black is used for carriages, its 
bad effects are in a considerable degree prevented 
by the use of varnish, thus leaving a smooth polish¬ 
ed surface, which reflects much of the heat. When 
not exposed to the direct rays of the sun, of course, 
there is no difference between this and other colors. 
The philosophy of placing plants that require much 
heat on the south side of white walls is obvious. 
They reflect the rays of the sun upon the plants 
and soil covering the roots, thus affording them a 
double supply of heat. The white exterior of the 
wall arrests and sends back the rays that fall upon 
it, precisely as the amalgam, or quicksilver, on the 
back of a looking-glass arrests and sends back those 
which would otherwise be transmitted through it. 
A kettle or pot covered with soot, has the greatest 
advantage for absorbing heat, and when exposed to 
a fire, it will raise a liquid contained in it to the 
boiling point in half the time that a bright polished 
surface would do, if similarly exposed ; and it will 
cool when withdrawn from the fire, in equally less 
time. The blackened tea-kettle is, therefore, the 
proper vessel to heat the water, and the white 
porcelain, or highly burnished metallic tea-pot, the 
proper one to maintain it hot for the longest time. 
Buffalo, Feb., 1845 R. L. A. 
SHEEP AT THE SOUTH. 
You say you are desirous of having from me 
some account of the different flocks of sheep I saw 
during my hurried trip North. This I have plea¬ 
sure in giving you ; and hurried though my trip 
was, I saw much that interested me, and particu¬ 
larly connected with sheep matters, such having 
been the main object of my journey. 
Every thinking cotton-grower is fully convinced 
that too much of that staple is produced. All are 
anxious to lessen that over-production; but they 
also feel the absolute need of a substitute that will 
profitably employ their negroes, and occupy their 
lands. What this substitute shall be, is the diffi¬ 
cult point, and one that will not readily be over¬ 
come. The cotton crop affords no time for attend¬ 
ing to others; from New Year’s day until Christ¬ 
mas, it keeps every hand engaged in its culture 
incessantly occupied. Like corn, it can only be 
grown to advantage on good land. Something that 
will yield a profitable return on the poor and worn 
parts of our plantations, at the same time admitting 
of such a system in their cultivation as will im¬ 
prove the soil, and not interfere too much with the 
main crop, cotton, is what we want. Other crops, 
unless it be oats, millet, and other fodder and grain 
crops, such as peas, sweet potatoes, and so on, in¬ 
terfere too much with cotton. And though I am 
of opinion that it could easily be proved that 
almost any of these, and tobacco, flax seed, castor 
oil leaf, mustard seed, and many others are, any of 
them, more profitable than cotton; yet the fact of 
their occupying such land as the planter would 
desire to put in his accustomed crop, and requiring 
considerable labor at those times that it is most 
needed in the cotton field, will render it difficult to 
introduce auxiliary crops. 
