278 
IRRIGATION.—NO. 3. 
pie who reside there. And were I seeking a 
location, I would select some green spot in the 
desert of Sahara, rather than settle down 
among a people whose exclusive food was alli¬ 
gators or land pikes. G. 
Moore’s Salt Works, Ohio, 1850. 
CURRANTS. 
We have never before seen so fine a display 
of currants as we lately witnessed on a rich 
Clay loam near the head of Grand Island, 
on the Niagara River. They were growing 
in a long single row, the ground on either side 
of which is used as a garden. The clusters 
were more abundant, and fuller, and the berries 
larger and sweeter than any we have ever seen 
or tasted. This was solely the effect of an open 
position and thorough cultivation on a good soil. 
Currants have been worth, throughout the 
present season, in the New-York market, an av¬ 
erage of about five cents per pound, and very 
scarce at that. We know of no more profitable 
Crop than currants, at that price. If they should 
at any time become a drug in the market, or a 
surplus accrues, their value can be doubled be¬ 
sides paying for labor and sugar, by converting 
them into jelly, which always commands a 
ready sale at high prices. They also make an 
excellent wine when combined with sugar and 
properly treated. 
The Last Crops.— In the lower part of Vir¬ 
ginia, wheat is badly injured by rust. In West¬ 
ern New York, the crop is an average one. In 
Ohio and Michigan, it was supposed to be much 
injured by the severe drouth in the spring. We 
are now assured that the grain is good, though 
the straw did not attain a full growth. In North¬ 
ern Indiana and Illinois, the winter wheat came 
in very good; but unfortunately, there was com¬ 
paratively, with spring wheat, but little sowed, 
and the latter is almost entirely destroyed by 
the “chinch bug,” a small, dark-colored in¬ 
sect that has the smell of those common in bed¬ 
steads. The loss of this crop will cut offa con¬ 
siderable quantity from the usual receipts from 
Chicago. Crops in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Mis¬ 
souri, are reported good. Corn, in Michigan, In¬ 
diana, and Illinois, is very luxuriant. Grass, as 
good as need be. 
Reclaiming Land. —We frequently meet with 
instances of reclaiming lands, that are quite re¬ 
freshing in these days of speedy and general ex¬ 
haustion. A gentleman has just brought us a 
few samples of Timothy grass, the heads of 
which are over nine inches long, and the stalks 
some four and a half to five feet. The land was 
purchased by its present owner, about three 
years since, and was then so poor, that a crop 
of corn, then raised upon the ground, was fed off 
in the field, being too worthless to harvest. Green 
manuring, (crops raised on the ground and 
turned in,) and the ordinary manures of the farm, 
have, in the short period above indicated, effec¬ 
tually resuscitated this worn-out land. 
THE CALIFORNIA. WHITE OAK. 
Allow me to suggest to you, a notice of a 
noble white oak, growing extensively in the 
valley of the river Sacramento, California. This 
magnificent tree is noticed in Colonel Fremont’s 
several expeditions, and more particularly in his 
recent memoir, explanatory of his map of Ore¬ 
gon and California ( U. S. Senate Miscellany, 
No. 148, 1848, p. 17.) This is a new species of 
oak, attaining six feet in diameter, and often 
eighty feet in height, bearing an acorn one and 
a half, and frequently two inch in length, which 
Professor Torrey and Colonel Fremont have 
given the significant name of long-aeorned oak 
( Quercus longiglanda). 
This long-acorned oak will unquestionably 
flourish in the valley of the Connecticut River, 
from Middletown to Deerfield, and probably 
would succeed in the pine regions of New Jersey 
and Pennsylvania. I have this day ordered two 
bushels of acorns, through a Boston friend, and 
it occurs to me to write to you, who keep a seed 
store, to order more largely and early, to plant, 
for the timber. Our country is fast stripping off 
its woods, when our hills and plains will be as 
barren, bleak, and uninviting as Palestine or 
Arabia. The cabalistic commandment “to mul¬ 
tiply and increase and plant trees,” should be 
enjoined upon the consideration of all humane 
and intelligent communities and people. 
The Indians of California make this acorn 
their dependence for food; but there will be no 
difficulty in procuring large quantities, at any 
time, even to plant late this fall, if ordered by 
next mail steamer, via Chargres. 
Homer Holland. 
Westfield, Mass., Feb., 1849. 
IRRIGATION —No. 3. 
Fertilising Qualities of Water. —As a general 
rule, there is no water too bright, nor too full 
of impurities, if kept in motion, to be useless for 
the purposes of irrigation, as is evinced by the 
brilliant, chalky waters of the south of England, 
and the still greater fertilising effects of those 
surcharged with organic matter, in the Craig- 
intinny meadows, near Edinburg. Hence it is 
that some of the most sagacious cultivators have 
come to the conclusion that the chief advan¬ 
tages of irrigation are attributable to the for¬ 
eign substances, whether organic or inorganic, 
with which the water is impregnated. “ The 
surest proofs,” says Mr. Exeter, “of the good 
quality of water, as a manure, are the verdure 
of the margin of its streams, and the growth of 
strong cresses in the stream itself; and wher¬ 
ever these appearances are found, though the 
water be perfectly transparent, the occupier of 
the soil through which it flows, may depend, in 
general, on having a treasure.” Again, those 
waters which breed the best fish are regarded 
by some, as the best adapted for watering mead¬ 
ows, while others are of the opinion, and among 
them, Sir Humphrey Davy, that most of the ben¬ 
efits of irrigation may be derived from water of 
any kind. 
The fertilising properties of spring or river 
water are often owing to the crenic and apo- 
