REVIEW OF THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER NOS. OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
155 
REVIEW OF THE NOVEMBER AND DECEM¬ 
BER NOS. OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
Noxious Effects of Gases of Brick-Kilns on Fruits 
and Vegetation. —Now, it appears to me, that this 
matter all lies in a nut-shell. “ Everybody 
knows ” that the gas arising from burning coal is 
injurious, but is it so from a wood-fire ? Then if 
the kilns noticed by Dr. Underhill were burnt with 
coal, which I presume they were, the story is all 
told—for the gas is that arising from the sulphur 
burning in the coal and not from burnt clay. 
British and Irish Flax-Culture. —Its history, etc., 
but nothing of American flax-culture. For that is 
among the unknown things. And yet Solomon in 
all his glory could not convince me that it would 
not afford more profit to the culturist, either for 
seed or lint, than I have shown that the culture of 
wheat affords. I am satisfied from personal observa¬ 
tion, that a vast portion of the virgin-soil of Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, 
is well adapted to the growth of flax ; and yet how 
little of it is grown. The reason, it is said, is, that 
the price is too low. And yet in this No. of the 
Agriculturist, now under review, flax is quoted at 
seven and eight cents a pound, and flour at three 
cents. 
It is wondpous strange if flour can be delivered 
in New York City for less than one-half the price 
per pound of flax. 
Preservation of Potatoes. —I beg leave to call the 
attention of the American Agricultural Association 
to this article, and that they take immediate steps 
to test its truth, and publish the result, as it is of 
vast importance if true. 
“ Burr all’s Corn-Shell er.” —Is this the fast im¬ 
provement ? For really they come so thick that I 
am in the condition of the drunken man that 
thought his bed was going round him, and did not 
Enow when to jump on. At last when he thought 
he was “all right” he jumped and fell into the 
fire and burnt his .fingers. And so it is of these 
machines. The inventive genius of Yankeedom is 
so great, that these machines come and go so fast 
that I don’t know when to jump on, for fear I might 
burn my fingers. 
Popular Errors, No. 2.— Shrinking and Swelling 
of Meat in the Pot. —And do you suppose that this 
error, that was so popular in your youth, is now a 
Thing of auld lang syne? I assure you it is as 
popular now as it was before the commencement 
of this “ age of improvement.” And although you 
and I may deny the moon, there are others who 
will as religiously adhere to it as witch-ridden 
mortals do to their preventive horse-shoes. 
Treatment of Mules by Doct. Phillips is like all 
of the Doctor’s writings—just like himself—busy, 
bustling—full of life and vivacity. Blit I am glad 
to hear, Doctor, that you have less colic than at 
Brandon Springs. No doubt that your systematic 
management of mules is the true cause of your 
success; but more particularly is it owing to the 
fact of your giving your own personal attention 
to such “ small matters,” which saves you the ex¬ 
pense and vexation of the enormous annual loss 
of this useful animal in your own “ glorious 
south; 5 
Gardening , No. 9.—The interest of these arti¬ 
cles of Mr. Talbot is still kept up, and if any of 
the subscribers of the Agriculturist have not yet 
read them, I advise them to make use of these 
long winter evenings for that purpose. 
The Enemies of Bees. —Mr. Miner in this article 
promises in his next to teach us the philosophy of 
keeping the moths out of our hives. Well, I long 
to see it. I have been much pleased with these 
articles, and, on account of their general good qua¬ 
lity, refrained from pointing out some minor errors. 
I am entirely sceptical upon the subject of ever 
preventing the ravages of these dreaded enemies of 
the bee-breeder. While upon this subject, I have 
been told that there are no honey-bees in Oregon. 
Who knows ? And who can tell the best method 
of getting them there ? 
A Ready Rule for Farmers , made readier.—A 
“quarter of wheat” is an English measure of 
eight standard bushels—so if you see wheat quoted 
at 56 shillings it is 7 shillings a bushel. A shilling 
is 22£ cents; multiply by 7 and you have $1.57£ 
per bushel. 
In Kentucky, corn is measured by the barrel, 
which is five bushels of shelled corn. At New 
Orleans, a barrel of corn is a flour-barrel full of 
ears. At Chicago, lime is sold by the barrel, and 
measured in the smallest sized cask of that name 
that will pass muster. A barrel of flour is seven 
quarters of a gross hundred (112 lbs.) which is the 
reason of its being of the odd measure of 196 lbs. 
A barrel of tar is 20 gallons, while a barrel of 
gunpowder is only a small keg holding 25 lbs., 
and that reminds me of cotton, a bale of which is 
400 lbs., no matter in what sized bundles it may be 
sent to market. 
Proposed Safety Lamp. —Allow me, my dear Doc¬ 
tor, to publicly thank you for calling the attention 
of cotton-planters, or rather those of our Yankee 
friends who do up all such little chores for you, to 
the great advantage of having a wire-gauze safety- 
lamp. 
The only reason why they have not been manu¬ 
factured in this country is, because there has been 
no demand for them. But let it once be known 
that every cotton-planter would buy them, as 
well as every factor, carrier, packer, or handler 
of this combustible article, and I will engage that 
the market will be supplied. It appears to me that 
they should also be used in every stable, and in the 
manufactories where the breaking of a glass lantern 
often endangers hundreds of thousands of dollars’ 
worth of property. 
Dr. Phillips speaks of a square shape, with a 
door strongly fastened, &c., but I suggest a barrel 
shape, and a heavy bottom screwed in with a 
coarse screw. 
American Wine. —Will that happy day ever come 
when we shall cease the folly of importing the 
“ drugged pernicious stuff which is too often, we 
may say almost generally, imported for the use of 
the sick,” and make use of a pure home-made 
wine ? I feel proud to call Mr. Longworth an old 
friend of mine, just for what he has done to en¬ 
courage and foster the growth of grapes in our 
country. 
It is delightful to take a ramble around among 
the hills at Cincinnati, to see how the energy of 
