POPULAR ERRORS.-NO. 3. 
55 
advantage. It is a singular thing to see chalk 
brought sometimes many miles and laid down in heaps 
upon the land, where other chalk is perhaps not 
more than six o'r eight inches from the surface. It is, 
in fact, probable that in many cases, chalk is brought 
from a distance, not at all superior to that which 
a furrow a few inches deeper than usual, would turn 
up. The farmers of this kind of land, frequently, 
and perhaps generally, have a great horror of turn¬ 
ing up any chalk. I have seen instances where 
there was not more than six inches of soil above 
the chalk, and the plowmen were carefully avoid¬ 
ing the making of a furrow more than four inches 
deep. Some analyses of such soils, made in Pro¬ 
fessor Johnston’s laboratory in Edinburgh, have 
shown that by this system of skimming the surface 
year after year, the surface soil may actually be¬ 
come deficient in lime, w T hich at the same time 
exists in the condition of chalk, not three inches 
below the plow. It is strange that men can thus 
go on from year to year, and generation to genera¬ 
tion, doing as their fathers have done, and not be¬ 
stowing a thought upon improvement Among 
other old customs which we noticed in this neigh¬ 
borhood, was that of plowing with horses fastened 
one in front of the other. Plowing as shallow as 
many of them do, there would seem to be nothing 
required beyond the strength of one of their great 
horses; but the employment of four is not uncom¬ 
mon. I saw one plow drawn by four horses, with 
one man to hold the plow, and a man and a boy to 
drive. All of this mighty array produced a rather 
narrow furrow, about six inches in depth. 
1 must observe, however, that in all cases it 
would not be advisable to bring up the chalk from 
the subsoil, as many of the upper beds are only 
productive of a short and scanty herbage. No 
rigorous chemical examination has yet been made, 
to show us why it is that one kind of chalk is so 
much better than another. This would bean in¬ 
teresting and useful inquiry. 
At Reigate, we came upon the green sand, a 
formation about 500 feet in thickness, which ap¬ 
pears at the edge of the chalk, forming a belt 
around it. The upper beds of this green sand, ac¬ 
cording to Professor Johnston, are everywhere 
productive, and form some of the finest soils.in the 
kingdom. They are deep, friable, and easily cul¬ 
tivated. Some of the middle and lower beds of 
the same formation produce cold, unmanageable 
soils, perfectly discouraging to the farmer. Where 
we passed, no such soils as these last were visible, 
everything appeared rich and flourishing. The 
crops looked well, without exception, and many 
were even luxuriant. I do not mean to say that 
the farming of this beautiful district is perfect, for 
many a wet, rushy field testifies to the contrary ; 
yet taken as a whole,, all appears almost without 
defect; a closer inspection only, reveals the faults. 
An account of the remainder of this journey I 
must defer until another opportunity. 
John P Norton. 
Utrecht, Holland, November 18 th, 1846. 
To soften and remqve Putty. —Take a little 
nitric or muriatic acid, or a little strong vinegar, 
and spread over the putty, and it will soon become 
soft. 
POPULAR ERRORS.—No. 3. 
While the public press is loud in denouncing 
the political and religious errors that corrupt the 
bosom of society, it is too apt to overlook lesser 
ones, which have consequently remained in full 
force, and acted as formidable barriers to the ad¬ 
vancement of truth. These have been handed 
down from father to son, from time immemorial, 
until their very antiquity has invested them with a 
garb of sanctity. How strange that the extinction 
of “ Salem Witchcraft” did not involve with it 
that of other fantasies equally ridiculous and absurd, 
though, perhaps, less pernicious! With what 
supreme contempt we regard the follies of former 
times, and how severely do we reprimand the 
superstitions of our forefathers, while we obsti¬ 
nately cherish and cling to others which may as 
justly expose us to ridicule and contempt! 
“We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow. 
Our wiser sons no doubt will think us so.” 
The moon has ever been a most prolific subject 
for the origin of absurd theories ; for example, wit¬ 
ness the following. When the appearance of hSr 
crescent is such that a kettle might be suspended on 
it without sliding off, dry weather will ensue; root 
crops must be planted when she is passing from her 
juvenile state to that of maidenhood or maturity; 
but with other crops the opposite rule must be 
observed. Her passage from one sign of the zodiac 
to another, influences both animal and vegetable 
life. Cucumbers planted when the sign is in the 
twins (Gemini), will grow in pairs, and- if a calf be 
taken from its doting parent when the sign is in the 
heart, the bereaved mother will mourn long and 
loud for her offspring. 
Such are a few of the ludicrous absurdities con¬ 
nected with the moon, and these are suffered to 
exist, and are in fact sanctioned by those who 
ought to be foremost in putting them down. How 
many almanacs do we see issued in this enlightened 
age, having for a frontispiece a grotesque picture of 
the human body, surrounded by characters repre¬ 
senting the constellations of the zodiac, all of which 
are entirely imaginary, and were formed in accord¬ 
ance with the superstitious notions of ancient pagan 
nations. Thus we, who profess to be enlightened 
Christians, show a reverential deference to heathen 
doctrines, by acknowledging the agency of the 
deities which they enthroned among the stars. It 
is to be hoped that the light of education and rea¬ 
son will ere long dispel these clouds of ignorance, 
and that a brighter day will dawn upon us. 
Greenport, Dec. 2 6th, 1846. J. McK. 
Meeting of American Wool-Growers. —A 
meeting of wool-growers will be held at Steuben¬ 
ville, Ohio, on Wednesday, the 10th instant, at 
which it is hoped every wool-growing county in 
the Union will be fairly represented. As many 
persons, intelligent, and well informed in this im¬ 
portant branch of business are expected to be pre 
sent, and as much information will be given, am 
extensive arrangements be made for the bettei 
management of growth and trade, wool-growers of 
every description, who can conveniently attend, 
will find it for their interest to be present., 
