-AGRICULTURAL BOTANY.-NO. 2 . 
375 
of the lowest. The lowest in Germany, I am as¬ 
sured by intelligent German wine merchants, ranges 
from 74 to 80 degrees. Ours, this year, ranges 
from 80 to 97. During the fermentation of their 
must, the flavor of the grape is usually lost. Our 
Catawba wine retains its muscadine flavor and 
aroma, even when fermented, till it is as dry as 
the hock wines. This quality will give sparkling 
wine from it, an aroma and flavor entitling it to a 
preference over the champagne of France. Some 
vineyards escaped the rot entirely, and as much as 
2,500 gallons have been made at some vineyards 
owned by poor Germans. N. Longworth. 
Cincinnati , Oct. 5th , 1848. 
AGRICULTURAL BOTANY.—No. 2. 
Agreeably to my promise in the October num¬ 
ber, I now proceed to make a few extracts from 
the “Observations” in Dr. Darlington’s excellent 
work on Agricultural Botany. 
Maize, or Indian Corn. —Indian corn is one of 
he most interesting of the gramineae, or grass fa¬ 
mily, rivalling the sugar cane and the rice in in¬ 
trinsic value, and, in the more favorable districts, 
ranking next in importance to wheat itself. The 
resh bread made of Indian corn meal (the “ pone” 
A Maryland and Virginia), when rightly prepared 
or the breakfast table, may challenge a comparison 
with that made from any other grain. Sugar has 
ilso been obtained from this plant, of an excellent 
quality, and in considerable quantity • but whether 
ihe saccharine product will warrant the culture of 
he plant for that object, remains to be determined. 
In Chester county, Pa., the Indian corn is usually 
the first in the routine of crops, on breaking up the 
lay, or sod. Oats, or barley next succeed, and 
then wheat, with clover and Timothy to constitute 
{he meadow, or hay crop, for two or three years 
after the wheat comes off. 
Kentucky Blue Grass. —This species (supposed to 
be a naturalized foreigner), varies considerably, in 
size and appearance, when growing in different 
soils and situations. In our best soils, the radical 
leaves are very long and luxuriant,—when it is 
known by the name of “green grass.” In Ken¬ 
tucky, it is commonly called “blue grass,” a name 
which properly belongs to the species Boa compressa. 
It is the profusion of the nu¬ 
tritious radical leaves, which constitutes the chief 
excellence of this grass. It is, indeed, as Muhlen¬ 
berg terms it, “ optimum pabulum ,” being deci¬ 
dedly the most valuable of all the grasses known 
in our pastures. It has not been found necessary, 
in Pennsylvania (of later years, at least), to culti¬ 
vate it, by sowing the seed; for when the land is 
duly prepared by lime and manure, it soon takes 
possession of the soil or comes in, as the farmers 
term it, and supersedes the artificial grasses. The 
prevalence, therefore, and luxuriant growth of this 
grass, is one of the best evidences of the land be¬ 
ing in good condition, and well managed. In very 
poor land, it deteriorates so much that it would 
scarcely be recognized as the same plant. The 
slender culms, of this species, afford an excellent 
material for the manufacture of the finer kinds of 
Leghorn hats. 
Spearmint. —This pleasantly aromatic herb has 
been sc generally introduced into all the older set¬ 
tlements of this country, that it is now very exten¬ 
sively naturalized. It is deservedly popular as a 
domestic medicine, in relieving nausea, &c., and it 
is the species employed in preparing that most se¬ 
ductive beverage, known as the “mint julep” of Old 
Virginia. 
Lobelia . or Indian Tobacco. —This is an acrid 
plant, possessing emetic, cathartic, and narcotic 
properties; and is somewhat notorious for the use 
made of it by a tribe of reckless modern empirics. 
It is frequent in our pastures, in the latter part of 
summer, and has been suspected of causing the 
ptyalism, or slabbering of horses, so often observa¬ 
ble at that season. I cannot, however, help doubt¬ 
ing the correctness of the opinion ; for the horse is 
a dainty animal in the selection of his food. I 
have often remarked the care and dexterity with 
which he separates the palatable herbage from that 
w r hich is not so ; and have never seen him eat, nor 
even crop, so acrid and offensive a weed as this lo¬ 
belia. We have two species, in Pennsylvania, 
which are admired for the beauty of their blue and 
red flowers, particularly the crimson, cardinal 
flower (X. cardinalis , L .), but they are not intru¬ 
sive on the farm. 
Tobacco. —The extent to which this nauseous and 
powerfully-narcotic plant is cultivated, its commer¬ 
cial importance, and the modes in which it is em¬ 
ployed to gratify the senses, constitute, altogether, 
one of the most remarkable traits in the history of 
civilized man. Were we not so practically familiar 
with the business, we should, doubtless, be dis¬ 
posed to regard the whole story of the tobacco trade, 
and the uses made of the herb, as an absurd and ex¬ 
travagant fable. In view of the facts and circum¬ 
stances, it does seem like sheer affectation, on our 
part, to pretend to be astonished at the indulgence 
of the Chinese, and other Asiatics, in the use of 
opium. The habitual use of tobacco is always 
more or less injurious to the system—especially the 
nervous system ; and in many instances it is highly 
deleterious. I speak from long observation, and a 
personal experience of many years; having smoked 
and chewed the herb until its pernicious effects 
compelled me to es-chew it altogether. 
Black Birch. —The timber of the birches is not 
particularly valuable, though some of them afford 
tolerable specimens of lumber, as well as good 
fuel. The virgate branches were famous instru¬ 
ments in the hands of pedagogues of the olden time 
in promoting good order, and a close attention to 
study, among the rising generation. 
-“ afflictive birch , 
Cursed by unletter’d idle youth.” 
But “ the march of mind,” in the present day, has 
rendered such auxiliaries nearly obsolete! The 
flexible twigs of this species, instead of being used 
to stimulate idle boys to learn their lessons, are 
chiefly employed for making coarse brooms to 
sweep streets and courtyards, in our cities. 
The Common Plantain. —This foreigner is very 
generally naturalized; and is remarkable for ac¬ 
companying civilized man, growing along his 
footpaths, and flourishing around his settlements. 
It is said our aborigines call it the u white man's 
\foot,” from this circumstance. Perhaps the generic 
name (plantago), may be expressive of a similar 
! idea • viz .,planta, the sole of the foot, and ago , to 
