AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
323 
suddenly seized with megrims after repeated 
acts of covering—from great exertion or excite¬ 
ment. Still, in a case of this character, the 
theory of a special exciting cause must not be 
received as absolute; for the same agency may 
at one time act directly, at another indirectly 
and create a mere predisposition to a certain 
form of disease. The latter are slow in their 
operation, and therefore apt to escape our obser¬ 
vation. Predisposition may arise from want of 
sufficient exercise, impure air, stimulating- 
food, &c. 
We well know that some of our very best 
studs are in this predicament. They are often 
shut up in a tight box, to screene them from the 
gaze of curiosity; exercise is only occasional, 
scarcely sufficient to promote the integrity of 
the muscular system, and their food is rich in 
carbon, likely to produce high condition— ple¬ 
thora. 
To what extent impure air , want of exercise , 
and stimulating food, have operated, in this case, 
is for the owners to decide. It may, however, 
be proper to observe that a prolonged duration 
of predisposing causes may, in some cases, di¬ 
rectly develope disease, without the interven¬ 
tion of any legitimate cause. 
It may be interesting to the reader to know, 
that there is a certain degree of antagonism be¬ 
tween the nutritive and reproductive organs; 
the one being exerted at the expense of the 
other; so that if the reproductive function shall 
be exercised too often, (at a time when pure air 
and exercise are inadmissable or overlooked,) 
the act must necessarily draw largely on the 
nutritive system for a supply of those elements 
disintegrated in the sexual congress; and thus 
other parts of the system, which also derive 
their materials for carrying on the various func¬ 
tions from the same nutritive source, must suf¬ 
fer in exact ratio to the use that is made of the 
reproductive. 
It has been observed by eminent physiologists, 
that when the nutritive functions are very ac¬ 
tive in supportiug the animal, and developing 
fat, the reproductive system is in a state of tor¬ 
pidity, and vice versa. These facts are in ac¬ 
cordance with the experience of most men, who 
pay any attention to breeding. They know 
that it is next to an impossibility to impregnate 
a very fat animal; the sterility of fat Suffolk 
sows, for example, is notorious; and they also 
know that it is next to an impossibility to fatten 
a breeding sow bringing forth two litters, in¬ 
stead of one, annually. A few exceptions to 
this physiological law, however, do not impair 
its validity; the antagonism existing between 
nutrition and reproduction is beyond all doubt. 
Hence if a horse shall be urged to five or six 
copulations per day, for a whole season, (as is 
often the case) regardless of the conditions on 
which his very existence depends, is it to be 
wondered at, that the nutritive function should 
fail to repair the destructive effects of the exer¬ 
cise of purely animal propensities ? Certainly 
not. 
Causes, therefore, direct and predisposing, 
may be considered operative in this case, and 
which led to those morbid states revealed by 
autopsy. 
-» e i - 
THE NEW-MOWN HAY. 
BY PARK BENJAMIN, 
The author of the following little gem, has 
been ruralizing with his family since May last, 
in the delightful old town of Guilford, Ct. He 
enclosed it to us in a note dated the 24th ult. 
He seems highly pleased with his residence. 
We wish he would oftener employ his pen on 
rural subjects; for he would be as certain to 
excel in this line as he has in sonnets. 
We understand from Mr. Benjamin, thal, one 
of his near neighbors is the poet, Fitz Green 
Halleck, living quite retired with his sister, in 
a pretty cottage. We hope he is busy on a 
longer work than any thing he has yet pub¬ 
lished ; and may it unite the spirit and fire of 
“Marco Bozzaris,” with the strength and 
rythm of the “Field of the Grounded Arms,” 
the wit and humor of “ Fanny,” and the fancy 
and description of “ Alnwick Castle.” 
Talk not to me of southern bowers, 
Of odors breathed from tropic flowers, 
Or spice-trees after rain ; 
But of those sweets that freely flow 
When June’s fond breezes stir the low 
Grass, heaped along the plain. 
This morning stood the verdant spears. 
All wet with diamond dew—the tears 
By Night serenely shed; 
This evening, like an army slain, 
They number the pacific plain 
With their fast fading dead. 
And where they fell, and all around 
Such perfumes in the air abound, 
As if long-hidden hives 
Of sudden richness were unsealed, 
When on the freshly-trodden field 
They yielded up their lives. 
In idle mood I love to pass 
These ruins of the crowded grass, 
Or listlessly to lie, 
Inhaling the delicious scents 
Crushed from these downcast, verdurous tents, 
Beneath a sunset sky. 
It is a pure delight, which they 
Who dwell in cities, far away 
From rural scenes so fair, 
Can never know in lighted rooms, 
Pervaded by exotic blooms - 
This taste of natural air! 
This air, so softened by the breath 
Exhaled and wafted from the death 
Of herbs that simply bloom, 
And, scarcely noted, like the best 
Dear friends, with whom this world is blest, 
Await the common doom— 
And leave behind such sweet regret 
As in our hearts is living yet, 
Though heroes pass away— 
Talk not to me of southern bowers, 
Or odors breathed from tropic flowers, 
But of the new-mown hay. 
SEED-WHEAT, AND ITS PREPARATIONS FOR 
SOWING. 
BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. 
The following article, which we have reserved 
to this appropriate season, we think worthy a 
careful reading by all wheat raisers. It is from 
a former number of the Marie Lane Express , 
and some of the terms are English, but the 
principles are equally applicable in this country. 
The writer’s experience and practice is very like 
our own. 
This is an important subject, and deserves 
the most careful attention of every farmer. 
The choice of wheat for seed has been long 
considered of great moment in promoting the 
farmer’s prosperity. A wrong selection of seed 
will yield no rent; while a judicious choice will 
yield both rent and profit. This is often proved. 
Upon whatever variety the farmer’s choice may 
fall, he ought to select the best sample of it 
that he can meet with. I would as soon use an 
inferior ram to my flock, or an inferior bull to 
my herd, as sow an inferior grain, be it from 
whatever well-known stock. “ Like is said to 
produce like.” Be this as it may; with respect 
to grain, the probability is much in favor of 
good grain producing good grain, and good 
crops of it too. The varieties of wheat are now 
so very numerous, that much difficulty arises 
in making a proper choice. Varieties suited to 
every soil and climate are now generally grown 
throughout the kingdom, and the facilities of 
railway transit are so gi’eat, that every farmer 
may, with ordinary care, suitably supply him¬ 
self, provided he is acquainted with the nature 
and habits of the precise variety he wishes to 
obtain; the soil and climate he can readily as¬ 
certain, but not so the grain—the same varie¬ 
ties being sold under different names in their 
respective districts. To obviate this, he ought 
to make periodical exchanges with farmers who 
are well known to him, and occupying other 
soils and other climates, (for climates differ ac¬ 
cording to elevation and other circumstances,) 
of those varieties he finds it to his interest most 
to cultivate; he can thus keep to his profitable 
variety. As a general rule, the exchange 
should be from a cold to a more genial climate—- 
from a chalky soil to a loamy soil—from a peaty 
soil to all or any other soils—from clay to sand, 
and vice-versa. In the majority of cases, a 
change is good on every soil, and under every 
variation of climate. I have derived benefit 
from changes of seed brought from a considera¬ 
ble distance on every side, to the extent of 
hundreds of miles, but it was from seed on 
which I could depend. My favorite change is 
from a cold chalky district to a mild loamy 
soil. 
The principal consideration with every farmer 
should be fully to ascertain the adaptation of his 
farm to grow the two fundamental varieties of 
wheat— red wheat and white wheat —for which 
it is best adapted—or, if it will advantageously 
produce both under a judicious rotation. Most 
wheat farms will alternately grow good crops ot 
fine quality of both varieties; but, on the other 
hand, very few farms will produce good and 
profitable crops of white wheat in long succes¬ 
sion ; its liability to degenerate and mildew is 
much greater than in the red variety. The red 
wheat is in every respect more hardy, and much 
more to be depended upon, on the average oi 
soils; hence its more extended cultivation. It 
will generally be found advantageous, on most 
farms, to deviate occasionally from any prac¬ 
tice, however well it may appear to answer. 
No one knows when he has reached the utmost 
bounds of production; hence white wheat will 
occasionally produce a first-rate crop on lands 
unsuited to its growth; and as it varies some¬ 
what in its character from red, it forms a desira¬ 
ble change in the rotation. In my own practice 
I usually grow the most prolific varieties of red 
wheat, as having proved them more profitable; 
but I find a change, such as I now name, to be 
good both for my own profit and the soil it 
grows upon. I think if the soils are suitable, 
white wheat should be grown in the proportion 
of two crops of red to one of white. 
Another consideration should be, to suit the 
variety to be sown to the condition and fertility 
of the soil. A rich soil should be sown with a 
short-strawed variety—a poor soil with a fi ee- 
growinglong-strawed sort. The season of sow¬ 
ing should again decide as to the variety. 
White wheat should not be sown late in the sea¬ 
son, or on very rich soils. The red wheat is 
better adapted for late seasons and rich soils. 
The straw of the red wheat takes up more si¬ 
lica or flinty nature than the white variety; 
hence that brightness on the straw of red 
wheat; this, of itself, is the great cause of its 
comparative safety from that destructive para¬ 
site mildew—that black fungus plant so fre¬ 
quently found growing upon the stalks of the 
wheat plant and preventing its further progress 
by taking all juices designed for the support of 
the wheat to promote its own development. 
Having thus shortly given some general out¬ 
lines with the view of directing to a proper 
choice of wheat for seed, I will now offer a re¬ 
mark or two upon its preparation for seed. It 
has become a settled conviction in my own 
