342 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[December, 
Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
Language cannot give so strong a statement 
as we present in these two engravings of the 
contrast between the modes of traveling of a few 
years since, and of to-day. The first severe 
storm leaving the snow piled in drifts in every 
idays, the horses toiled through the drifts, 
sweating and balking, and needed all the per¬ 
suasions that the driver could apply to bring 
the snow clogged wheels through to the jour¬ 
ney’s end. Within, shivering passengers tried 
body grumbled much, 
nor realized how soon 
any speed less than SO 
miles an hour would be 
considered slow travel¬ 
ing. John Stephenson 
wrought great things for 
society when he success¬ 
fully put the iron horse 
upon the track, and 
moved a heavy train of 
goods and passengers at 
a moderate rate of speed. 
There were plenty of 
scoffers then, and learn¬ 
ed men demonstrated 
mathematically that it 
was impossible to attain 
a speed of 30 miles per 
hour. It was much the 
same then as it now is 
in this country in re¬ 
gard to steam plowing, 
and finding a substitute 
for the “time-honored 
plow.” Steam has taken 
the place of horse-pow¬ 
er in some places so as 
to demonstrate that it 
can be used economical¬ 
ly, and is it too much to 
corner and under every bank, and the thermom¬ 
eter down to zero, perhaps, frequently caught 
the mail “stages” on wheels, and at the wrong 
end of the line. With heavy loads of boys and 
girls (of all ages) on their way home for the hol¬ 
6 4. —- Engraved for the A me 
to keep each other warm and sociable, and it 
went strongly against good nature to turn out 
knee deep in the snow to break road or help 
shove coach and horses both through some big 
drift. Yet this was common experience; nn- 
anticipate that similar progress may be made 
in the field, to that made upon the road within 
30 years ? Progress is the spirit of the age, and 
it is impossible to place limits to the achieve¬ 
ments of human skill and invention, in meclian- 
cal things. Happy 
are the people who 
are in the vanguard 
of this noble advance. 
Thus far America 
can justly claim this 
proud pre-eminence. 
To Save Seed Corn. 
If it has not been 
done already, select 
the largest, ripest,and 
most perfect ears at 
once. In husking, 
leave on a few of the 
inner husks, braid 
the chosen cars to¬ 
gether, and hang 
them up on a pole or 
rope in some dry and 
airy place, where they 
will get seasoned 
through, cob and all. 
It is the mistake of 
some to throw their 
corn at husking time 
into a heap or bin, 
leaving it there a long 
time before selecting 
their seed for next 
year. The conse¬ 
quence often is, that 
partial fermentation 
sets in, and the germ 
of the seed is so much 
injured v that it fails 
to grow when planted. And then, blame is 
thrown upon Providence, or the worms, or the 
crows. Corn which has been so heated will 
answer tolerably well for grinding, but for 
planting it is a very uncertain dependence. 
