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ROCHESTER, N. Y—THURSDAY, JANUARY 1851 
WINTER EVENINGS AT HOME - (NO 2.) ) 
— - - - ( 
Thomas. —I have been thinking, father, •; 
since our conversation last week, on vapor, } 
clouds, snow, &c., how it is that the im¬ 
mense quantity of vapor necessary to form 1 
the great rain and snow storms, gets into { 
the atmosphere. We are told by the books, ) 
that water does not pass into steam, which , 
is the same thing as vapor, until it is brought / 
to the boiling point. 
Father. — It is by an entire different pro- \ 
cess—by solution, or division of particles,.— 
The atmosphere in certain states possesses ; 
the ability to dissolve and hold in suspen- ( 
sion immense qualities of water; by some ( 
acute reasoners supposed equal to the pro- l 
duction of the Noachic deluge. An open ( 
vessel with straight sides, containing water, ( 
set in the open air, or under cover, on cer- ? 
tain days diminishes very rapidly, while on ) 
others, it is entirely stationary. • If the sides ( 
of the vessel are marked with degrees, the ) 
capability of the air to absorb is readily set- ( 
tied, and it is not difficult to estimate the \ 
millions of tons, that is sent into the air daily 
from the surface of the globe—its seas, \ 
lakes, rivers, and from vegetable and animal ; 
vitality^-. 
T. —Is this process always going on, day 
and night? ; 
F. —Certainly. The atmosphere is con- ' 
stantlv at work, either receiving or deposit- ; 
ing moisture. A cake of ice, suspended to 
one end of a balance, in the coldest weather \ 
sensibly diminishes, especially in currents of ’’ 
air. If water could only take the aeriform : 
state at the boiling point, clothes, or wet < 
articles would never dry when exposed to ’ 
the air. This ability to absorb, is one of the i 
important provisions of nature. 
T. — Why is it not visible to our eyes, and ! 
why does it not affect the transparency of \ 
the air ? ! 
F. —Let me point to you an analogous ) 
operation. A quantity of pure salt, or alum i 
in a glass vessel, by having cold water pour¬ 
ed upon it soon becomes dissolved, and the 
liquid remains as pellucid and colorless as 
before, and cannot be detected by the eye. j 
T. — But it could by the taste, and I pre- J 
sume by the weight. 
F. —True, and so can the least particles 
of moisture be detected when held in solu¬ 
tion in the air, by means of the barometer, 
and hygrometer. One by the weight, and 
the other by absorption and expansion 
T. —The air is heavier in proportion to 
the moisture it contains. 
F. —No, exactly the contrary. The more < 
moisture the air has absorbed, and the nearer 
approach of rain, the lighter the air becomes, 
as is shown by the falling of the mercury in 
the barometer, and by the falling of smoke 
from the chimneys. 
T. —That is contrary to the ordinary con¬ 
ception on the subject. How does the bar¬ 
ometer act, and what is the principle that 
shows this fact ? 
F. —Simply the weight, or pressure of 
the atmosphere. The burometer is a glass 
tube closed at the end, filled with quick¬ 
silver, and inverted in a cup or dish, con¬ 
taining a small quantity of the same material. 
As the atmosphere cannot press on the up¬ 
per end of the quicksilver, it does on the 
open end in the dish, and it forces up and 
sustains the column in the tube. It is never 
found to be stationary for a whole day, and 
the heigth of the column is found to vary 
from 28 to 30 inches. 
When moisture prevails in the atmosphere 
the air is lighter, and cannot sustain the 
whole column, and a part runs down into 
the dish; and when the air becomes dry and 
consequently heavier, it is pressed back again, 
and the column lengthens. 
SNOW AS A MANURE. 
WIRE PENCE —NOT ABANDONED YET. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— It may be 
thought by many the wire fence, like Rohan 
potatoes, and Morus Multicaulis, has had 
its day, and passed into oblivion. Very 
many of those who were taken with the 
extremely cheap manner in which fences 
could be built of wire, have abandoned them 
as useless—a mere pretence—having not 
even the virtue of making a shadow of a 
fence. It is to be expected that those who 
embark in a new enterprise, without suffi¬ 
ciently counting the cost, will be easily dis¬ 
couraged and abandon it without a fair trial. 
Great revolutions are not accomplished with¬ 
out overcoming many obstacles. 
To furnish an entirely new article for so 
important a branch of Agriculture as fence, 
is an object worthy of the though^and study 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER • 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO 
Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic Arts and Sci¬ 
ence, Education, Rural and Domestic Economy, 
General Intelligence, the Markets, &c., &c. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
J. H. BIXBY, L. WETHERELL, and H. C. WHITE. 
to grain growing, or who choose to plow 
their lands for root or other spring crops,, 
we should esteem the common red clover— 
one of the most useful crops for pasture or 
for hay that could be raised. 
For the purpose of meadows on low 
lands, many farmers make use of Red top. 
It is hardy, grows luxuriantly in soils suited 
to its circumstances, and is relished well by 
cattle. Its value is differently estimated, 
but all agree it falls far short of other 
grasses or clover, and should not be raised 
where the more valuable of them can be 
successfully cultivated. In our opinion, 
dairymen neglect their pastures too much, 
by keeping them laid down to grass for a 
series.of years without manuring. It must 
be apparent to any observer, that constant 
feeding exhausts the land, though not as 
soon as mowing would do. Pastures and 
meadows, unless periodically flooded with 
enriching waters, much have some powerful 
fertilizers applied, or they will in time be¬ 
come barren and useless. Ashes, gypsum, 
and bone dust, and in many localities, lime 
and salt, will be found not only useful, but 
will richly repay the outlay. 
There is one other preparation of the 
farm of which we would speak, with [due 
deference to the opinion of others. We al¬ 
lude to fences, and the range cattle should 
have in the pasture. Many of our dairy¬ 
men contend earnestly for the practice of 
leaving the entire pasture in one field, and 
allowing the herd to roam at pleasure over 
the whole. It saves the expense of divis¬ 
ion fences, and renders it convenient for the 
herdsman, in not having any care of the 
different fields. It is contended that the 
supply of grass is more abundant and reg¬ 
ular. On many farms, for convenience and ac¬ 
cess to water, it may be nearly indispensable. 
Our own opinion, in which it is found 
many most excellent dairymen coincide, 
would be in favor of a division into lots of 
convenient size, having reference to a con¬ 
stant supply of water, and other conveni¬ 
ences. In these lots we should keep up a 
continued succession of changes with the 
herd, that they need have no unnecessary 
travel to obtain supplies, and keep the feed 
always fresh and sweet. Let dairymen 
adopt the course they deem best, but in be¬ 
half of the cattle, we bespeak for them in 
every pasture, green trees sufficient to shade 
them from the scorching sun. + 
“ Snoiv is the poor man’s manure”—“A 
foot of snotv is as good as a coating of ma¬ 
nure”— are time honored sayings, and not 
without some foundation in truth. 
There are few persons who read—and 
who does not now-a-days?—particularly, 
since the introduction of the views of the 
various learned investigators of vegetable 
physiology, but what have often found it 
re-iterated, that ammonia is one of the prin¬ 
cipal stimulants and causes of vegetable 
growth, and production; and yet, perhaps, 
many who speak of its agency in vegetable 
vitality, do not take the trouble to learn its 
sources, or its manner of production. 
Nitrogen—which composes four-fifths of 
the air we breathe, and which is a simple 
and uncompounded substance—is its base, 
which, combined with three equivalents of 
hydrogen forms ammonia. 
Ammonia proper is a gas, and an alkaline 
substance; it is very soluble in water, when 
it composes spirit of hartshorn, or aqua am¬ 
monia. It is abundantly produced in na¬ 
ture. The strong effluvia of horse stables 
and fermenting manures, are wholly depen¬ 
dant upon ammonia; as are the pungent 
smells of many vegetable productions, as 
onion, horse-radish, mustard, &c. 
The changes that take place in the upper 
regions of the air, in the condensation of 
water and snow from vapor by means of 
electricity, whereby water and air are com¬ 
posed and decomposed analytically, results 
in the condition of an overplus of one or 
other of their constituents—whereby am¬ 
monia is produced by the union of nitrogen 
and hydrogen, and is dissolved in the fall¬ 
ing rains and snows, and descends from the 
great magazine of nature, to fructify the 
fields and replenish the soiL 
In the formation of snow, by some occult 
operation which we do not understand, a 
much greater portion of ammonia is pro¬ 
duced than in the production of rain—as 
has often been proved, and can at any time 
be shown by a very simple and reliable test 
—therefore the justness of the saying, “ snow 
is the poor man’s manure.” 
Recent barn-yard manures, clover and 
other green crops used as fertilizers, owe 
their virtues to this substance, and the after 
decomposition in the formation of carbonic 
gas. Gypsum owes its effects to the absorp¬ 
tion of ammonia, and the decomposition of 
its salts. It is the primary stimulating force 
of all vegetable vitality. . , 
Contributors and Correspondents; 
L. B. La no worthy, Chester Dewey, 
William Garbutt, J. Clement, 
S. P. Chapman, W. Wallace Sh. 
David Ely, R. G. Pardee, 
Myron Adams, Samuel Moulson, 
G. W. Marshall, Jas. H. Watts, 
F. W. Lay, W. K. Wyckoff, 
T. E. Wetmore, j W. H. Bristol, 
R. B. Warren, W. D. Ai.lis, 
Archibald Stone, j L. D. Whiting. 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT, 
DAIRY INTEREST OF NEW YORE. - (NO. 2.) 
FARM PREPARATIONS. 
Much, very much, of success in any op¬ 
eration of farming, or other occupation, de¬ 
pends upon the preliminary steps having- 
been taken aright. Judging from the ap¬ 
pearance of many farms devoted to pastur¬ 
age, they have never received the attention 
necessary to prepare them for growing a 
profitable crop of grass. Most farm lands, 
on the first clearing, are cropped with wheat, 
rye, or other grains, and then sowed with 
grass, without much reference to its being- 
well done, or to their capacity for making 
permanent pastures. 
As much of the lands for pasture are 
broken and hilly, they are often wet, springy, 
and too frequently^old and sour. It is just 
as reasonable to expect grapes from the 
thorn bush, as good sweet grass, fit for for¬ 
age, from such lands. It is a waste of time 
and means to have a large portion of a 
whole hill side rendered soft and miry, by 
reason of a spring near the height of the land. 
One of the early steps in preparing fields 
for pasture should be thorough drainage of 
all such lands as have a surplus of water 
in the soil, which cannot readily pass off, 
and leave the surface soil dry. We shall 
not now enter into a detail of draining and 
the best method of doing it, though it is a 
subject demanding particular attention, and 
one of much more importance to farmers, 
than they are disposed to concede. 
Lands for grazing should be thoroughly 
seeded, in such a manner as to produce the 
largest and most constant supply of feed 
during the season. In the northern lati¬ 
tudes of the United States, there is no grass 
that excels, all things considered, the Tim¬ 
othy or Herds Grass. It is one of the nat¬ 
ural grasses of this country and flourishes 
well in all soils, except those too wet, and 
the dry and sandy. On rich clays and clay 
loams it grows to great perfection, yielding 
a large supply of feed. Vegetating early 
in spring it affords timely supply, and its 
nutritive quality, in the opinion of many 
qualified to judge, places it before any oth¬ 
er. An opinion has prevailed to some ex¬ 
tent, that clover is not well adapted to graz¬ 
ing purposes, and*in our locality many dai¬ 
rymen are unwilling to grow it to any ex¬ 
tent for pasture. Our own observation has 
disposed us to think favorably of it for pas¬ 
ture, as well as for hay. For the latter pur¬ 
pose it requires much care in curing, of 
which we shall speak hereafter. 
An intelligent and successful dairyman 
late of Fulton county, now a resident of 
Ontario county, ascribes much of his suc¬ 
cess in dairying to the use of clover. In 
his case it served not only the double pur¬ 
pose of pasture and hay, but was a power¬ 
ful auxiliary in resuscitating a farm which 
had suffered much from former tillage.— 
Clover being biennial, cannot be used for 
perpetual pasture, but requires cultivation 
and a succession of crops. With those 
dairymen who devote a portion of the farm 
of the greatest inventive genius of the age; 
—for the expense of this single article is to 
be estimated by millions, and for the State 
of New York is more than the cost of all 
her railroads and canals combined. The 
repairs needed upon the fences of the United 
States, for the next twenty years, will cost 
more than to build a railroad to the Pacific. 
Therefore, I hope you will not consider 
this subject disposed of, hut give the read¬ 
ers of the Rural an opportunity to hear 
all that can be said throwing light upon it; 
for if, by collision of different views, the best 
plan should be struck out—a plan which 
should be generally adopted—the Rural 
New-Yorker will have earned a conspicu¬ 
ous place among the journals that have 
done good service to the age in which we live. 
I think it must be obvious to any one 
who bestows a passing thought upon the 
subject, that the rail fences now in use can¬ 
not be replaced by either rails, or posts and 
boards, except in a few favored localities.— 
The timber of the country is rapidly disap¬ 
pearing by the ordinary consumption of the 
farm. And recently, to this ordinary con¬ 
sumption, for which provision has in some 
measure been made, is added a most extra¬ 
ordinary consumption by our extensive rail 
and plank roads; and the prospect now is 
that timber fit for anything but fuel, will be 
among the things remembered and spoken 
of as pertaining to bye-gone days. 
The question then arises—what is to sup¬ 
ply the place of our rail fences ? Shall we 
plant hedges, or build stone wall, or dig 
ditches, or cultivate our lands without fences 
as in some parts of Europe ? Hedges have 
been partially tried, but have never been 
popular, and are not now more extensive 
than twenty years ago. Stone wall is very 
expensive when the material is at hand.— 
But stone are not to be had everywhere.— 
Ditches we can dig, but the frost will fill 
them up almost, as fast as we can dig. 
Whether we shall ever cultivate our land 
in common or with mere landmarks to dis¬ 
tinguish fields, is a matter for conjecture.— 
It will not be in our day. We are, there¬ 
fore, in a predicament A necessity is up¬ 
on us which should stimulate our Yankee 
enterprise to provide a substitute—some¬ 
thing cheaper, more durable, and more ea¬ 
sily obtained than rails for fencing. I am 
now prepared to show your readers why I 
do not abandon wire as a material for fenc¬ 
ing. I believe it an article cheaper, more 
durable, and more easily obtained, than 
either rails, or boards, or hedges, ditches, 
or stone wall. And the reason I believe it, 
is, because I have tried it. Of the differ¬ 
ent methods I liave tried, and of the various 
plans proposed and tried by others, I intend 
to speak hereafter. 
Yours, &c., Myron Adams. 
East Bloomfield, N. Y., January, 1851. 
No. 2, on above subject, next week. 
ANOTHER GO OD CRO P OF ONIONS. 
Mr. Moore : — Having been attentive i 
readers of your paper, and noticing in its 
columns an account of a great crop of onions, 
we decided to notify you that it had been 
outdone. We have a garden, composed of 
fifty-six rods of ground, on which we have 
raised onions for thirty years. Our mode 
of cultivation is this:—In the fall, we spread 
evenly over the ground, five cords of well 
rotted manure, and plow it under. In the 
spring we plow again, and within two years, 
have tried bushing the surface before raking, 
which abridges the labor much, and pre¬ 
pares the surface for the reception of the 
seed. The seed is sown in drills, fourteen inch¬ 
es apart, by a machine of our own invention. 
Now for the result. In 1830, we har¬ 
vested from fifty rods of this ground, 200 
bushels of marketable onions. In 1850, we 
sowed on the fifty-six rods, one pound of 
seed—one half white, the other red. This 
was sown April 20th, and harvested Sept 
12th—yielding 215 bushels of marketable 
onions. We do npt boast that half of them 
measured from 12 to 14 inches in circum¬ 
ference, but that there were enough more 
in quantity, to give your correspondent a 
chance “to try again.” From 100 rods of 
ground, we gathered, the same year, 400 
bushels of onions. P. & R Barker. 
New Lebanon Center, N. Y., Jan. 13,1831. 
FOOT ROT IN SHEEP. 
Foot rot in sheep is a very dangerous, as 
well as very contagious disease, but the fol¬ 
lowing plan which is practiced by S. W. 
Jewett, Esq., a large wool grower in Ver¬ 
mont, is said to be a thorough and easy cure. 
The sheep are best secured for examina¬ 
tion by placing them on their backs in a 
kind of trough made of boards for the pur¬ 
pose. A pair of shears like those used for 
pruning, are most convenient for cutting off 
the ends of the hoof; then all the loose and 
infected part is to be pared away and the 
foot washed with a warm and strong solu¬ 
tion of blue vitriol. Be very particular in 
both these operations; examine the third 
day, and if necessary, repeat the paring and 
washing, but a cure will be effected in most 
cases by the first application. 
Freezing destroys the infection, hence it 
can best be eradicated from a flock in the 
winter season. In the summer, it is bene¬ 
ficial to drive the sheep after operating as 
above, over a barn floor on which about two 
inches of slaked lime has been scattered. 
Do not forget that cattle need good food, 
and plenty of it in very cold weather. 
