land States will be neglected. But, seri¬ 
ously, who ever thought that allowing 
weeds, briars, and all sorts of shrubs and 
trees, to take possession of old, worn out, 
rocky side hills, would be called “ forest 
tree culture." To make the culture of for¬ 
est trees a profitable business will require 
brains, muscle, and some little capital; and 
all these applied to land, not rocks or old 
•arms from which men have emigrated or 
died in a vain attempt to subdue nature. 
Professor Joseph Henry, lmd established a dif¬ 
ferent network of observers for tbestutlj of the 
climate of the United States. Neither of these 
series of observations has, nor can have, at 
present, bill a very limited and indireet applica¬ 
tion to agriculture. The process to ho pursued 
is tho following;—The day and hour til which 
the seed is sown must he marked, together with 
the prevailing tompenuure; the maximum, 
mean, and minimum temperature will he 
marked every day thereafter, until the lii>t. 
symptom of vegetable life is shown, when the 
radicles appear and Hie plumules rise. Then, 
by adding up all the observed degrees of tem¬ 
perature In this first period, and by squaring the 
sum, we obtain as nearly us possible, according 
to tlic number and cure fulness of the observa¬ 
tions, t he exact degree of tempera l ure which 
this or that seed requires to germinal e. We pro¬ 
ceed in ihe same wav for the interval between 
germination and foliation, boLwoen the latler 
and blossoming, thence to Fructification, and 
finally to Icuf-tuLling or the hibernal sleep,d tho 
plant, 11 wo repeat the same observations for 
the moisture, light., and other atmospheric 
agents which powerfully interfere in the vege¬ 
table organism, we obtain all Hie necessary con¬ 
ditions for Itssolonlilic culture and greatest pro¬ 
duction. Why? Hueauso when this or that I mic¬ 
tion of the plant becomes paralyzed by the 
failure of something which we do not now 
know, wo will recognize thai il must have so 
many degrees more or Jess of heat or moisture. 
Instead of proceeding blindly, as has been 
hitherto done, in placed' wasting time and for¬ 
tune in fruiilesH attempts, ope will advance, 
guided by the light of soienco, acting wllli almost 
the precision of mathematical accuracy. |r is 
only after tills first, study, and riot hefnro, that 
the network of observations of the Hmithsoniun 
Institution, furnishing us the elimalie condi¬ 
tions of the various localities, will he very use¬ 
ful to farmers wishing to lueiite and transplant 
their culture. Having already acquired a 
knowledge of tho number of deg re is of heat, 
moisture, &c., that this or that culture requires 
in this or that climate, he will have no tllllienliy 
in judging of the conditions of new climates. It 
is only then, moreover, that the network of the 
War Department will be doubly useful to them 
for sheltering their crops from atmospheric dis¬ 
turbances, ouce their normal state is known 
^onr committee consider thnt the above sug¬ 
gestions ol Professor Poky are entitled to care¬ 
ful consideration by the farmers of this oouu- 
ny, and especially those who are shaping Hie 
policy and establishing tho grades or our Agri¬ 
cultural Schools. We consider (ho subject of 
sufliciout importance to recommend llmt Colo¬ 
nel C vpuon communicate the plans of Professor 
Poisv to the Presidents of these Colleges, and 
urge them to provide for the careful study aud 
accurate noting of meteorological facts in every 
part of the republic. 
Condensed Milk.—Correspondent? nsked that 
the process of condensing milk be described and 
what is required to start ill the business. They 
were referred to Gail Bouden, Elgin, Ill., who 
owns l he patent, and ll wns asserted tlintlt would 
cost uboui $3,000 to start with. 
Poultry Plucking Each Ollier's Feathers. E. 
A. PECKIIAM, Duniolsonvlllo, Conn., asks how 
ho shall prevent, his poultry picking each other’s 
feathers. Mr. CURTIS said feed meat. Mr. 
Thompson would furnish them ground bones, 
or burned and powdered oyster shells; didn't 
know as that would prevent, but thought it 
might. Mr. WK.vvEn would separate the chick¬ 
ens having (his habit from tho rest of the flock 
at once. Mr, Gavanauii asked if any one knew 
of a. breed that had no feathers; ho thought such 
a breed desirable. 
Cheap Paint*,—A correspondent asked if it 
would pity to purchase tho cheap paints adver¬ 
tised. Mr, FLT.i.Eiiaatd no; the best and purest 
white lead, and the purest linseed oil, is the 
cheapest paint that can be purchased. Dr. Sccp- 
PKitNONCi indorsed Mr. FUI.lkii's opinion, and 
said there is nothing so cheap In tho lung mu, as 
pure linseed oil and genu ilia while hml, but tho 
trouldo is to got t hese art ink's pure. As to the 
lead, ii is safe In say that wherever a Arm puts 
its name on the cask or can, that article is pure. 
Such m the custom of the trade. Though lu no 
way connected with the business now, I Imvo 
Imd five years' experience in it. There is no 
oi lier way for the farmer to tell, except by u, 
chemical analysts, as tho art Ido with which 
paints are adulterated, culled barytes, is nearly 
ns heavy as white lead. As to linseed oil, when 
adulterated with fish oils, ft may bo detected by 
dropping ft liule.on hot iron; il will soon give 
Out a fishy smell. When adulterated with win¬ 
ter pressed cotton seed oil, it earned bo detected 
by any ordinary means; with tho common cotton 
seed oil, il chills in ordinary winter temperature. 
There are other paints on which firms put llieir 
iiuines, as I he various zincs, and a new article 
called Bartlett lead. They are all pure, of 
the- kind labeled. Tbe correspond oat, no doubt, 
meaiiH to ask ms to tho various liquid paints of¬ 
fered for sale tbrough l liecouoli y. No pigment 
lias yet been discovered, except this Bartlett 
load, which would hold io solution when mixed 
with oil and spirits turpentine. Hence, nearly 
all these cheap liquid paliils are combinations Of 
oil and an alkali, or acid water. Some of I hem 
contain about u pint of oil to tho gallon, the rest 
water and benzine. It Is uoedlesa to say thatsuch 
paints are worthless. 
xstnssiom 
THE EUROPEAN LARCH, 
(Larix European.) 
We are wont to boast, and affect to be- 
lieve, that our native forest trees are superior 
to those of any other country. Abstractly, 
this opinion is well supported by facts; but 
in special cases we must admit that certain 
foreign species of trees, as, for instauce, the 
European larch, are superior to our own. 
It is of a more rapid growth, adapted to a 
greater variety of soils, attains a greater size 
and the timber is more useful as well as 
durable. Admitting that their merits have 
been fully determined, as belonging to this 
tree, we can readily understand why some of 
our arboriculturists are so enthusiastic over 
the cultivation of the larch as a timber tree. 
No one can read the history of its cultiva¬ 
tion in Britain, from tho time Parkinson 
mentioned it in 1829 as a “rare tree, nursed 
by the lovers of variety,” up to the day when 
the Atholl estate contained more than 
twenty-four millions of larches planted by 
members of the same family, without be¬ 
lieving that it possesses merits of more than 
ordinary value. In our Western Stales this 
tree is beginning to be appreciated aud ex¬ 
tensively cultivated, and we hope that inil- 
liousof acres will yet be covered with the 
European Larch. All that can be or arc 
likely to be grown will be wanted for lies on 
the railroads of the future, to say nothing of 
the thousand other purposes for which larch 
timber is Suitable. 
We are not, however, going to write an 
essay on the cultivation of larch at this 
time, but wish to call the attention of those 
who arc interested in its cultivation to some 
of the peculiarities aud habits of tho different 
varieties. It is probably well known to 
most of our readers that what is called the 
European Larch is a native of thu Alps of 
France and Switzerland, and the Apenuinc 
Mountains of Italy. It is also found in the 
Tyrol Mountains of Germany ; hence are of 
the common names, viz : — 7 'yroleso lurch. 
Many varieties have been produced among 
the millions of seedlings grown in the past, 
century, and it would be well for our arbori¬ 
culturists to carefully examine them and de¬ 
termine which arc best suited to our climate 
and soil. 
Ghigor in his late work, published in 
Edingburgb, Scotland, says that there are 
two quite distinct varieties grown—one with 
red and the other with white flowers or 
female catkins. The red Larch is said to be 
the most hardy, and attains the largest size, 
although the white appears to be the more 
vigorous while young. It is also claimed 
that seed imported from Tyrol produces, 
mainly the white sort, while that from the 
Scotch plantations, the red. These are 
interesting facts if they hold good in this 
country, and wc should be pleased to hear 
from those who have made any observation 
or investigations in this direction. Perhaps 
some of the Larch plantations in Illinois 
have arrived at a sufficient age to determine 
whether the trees are red or white flowering, 
aud if there is really any difference in the 
hardiness or growth of the various sorts. 
May not the variableness, in the results 
AMERICAN INST. FARMERS’ CLUB, 
iisisions. Extracts from Let 
ters. &c. 
I’rof. Andrg Poey, on Meteorology aud Agri¬ 
culture.—Two weeks since, a paper upon tho 
Influence of Meteorology upon Agriculture, 
SWEET SCENTED CANDYTUFT. 
We do think, however, that there are thou¬ 
sands of acres of land in the New England 
States that might be planted with forest 
trees, and more profit derived from their 
growth, than some of the old fogies who 
now watch the advancing briars with dis¬ 
may, ever dreamed of. Perhaps the men to 
do this have gone West: if so, their sons 
will some day return aud teach their grand¬ 
fathers a little wisdom. 
minus cmMC i.i. ata. 
embracing certain propositions of a practical 
character, by Prof- Andre Poey, was read aud 
referred to a Commit too ol the Club. That Com¬ 
mittee reported that they hud carefully consid¬ 
ered tho suggestions of this observer of tho sci¬ 
ence of meteorology, and found that, bis system 
<>)' method, is based upon tbe following facts: 
The growth of the plants most useful toman, 
depends upon certain substances In (hesoil, and 
also upon eondltionsof light, warmth, moisture, 
and winds. The attention of runners has boon 
turned wholly upon the Composition tuid enrich- 
meut of soils, and the study of Ihe other condi¬ 
tion, baa been disregarded. While control of 
influences above the soil is not deemed possible, 
he thinks great advances can be made in amodi- 
tictttiou or light, In a knowledge of what the 
weather is to be, And In a posit ive determination 
ol the amount of warmth necessary to grow and 
ripen all tho Important crops. The practical 
stops which Prof. Poey recommends to the 
agricultural reformers of tho country, are as 
EARLY RIPENING, 
Our R. I. Greenings in this locality seem 
to be growing earlier every year; aud at the 
present rate of progression will in a few 
years become full apples. 1 have been 
thinking whether it might not be good 
policy to procure cious from some more 
northern clime for future grafting. Docs 
any Rural body know whether it will pro¬ 
duce the desired effect? — J. B. Potter, 
Luke Co., 0. 
We doubt very much if procuring cions 
from more northern localities would pro¬ 
duce the desired results. The change in 
the time of ripening of greenings or other 
varieties is caused either by a change in 
climate or soil. In very dry seasons apples 
usually ripen prematurely, and the young 
wood of the trees is in the same condition. 
To prevent ibis, apply a mulch to the soil, 
above the roots, during’ summer, and keep 
all weeds and grass down, as these only 
assist in lidding the earth ol‘ its moisture. 
We believe that if you will try mulching a 
few trees next season, and keep the insects 
out of your apples, early ripening in a great 
measure will be prevented. 
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES, 
The Winconaln Valley Ag. Society, at its recent 
annual meeting;, hold at Black Earth, Wis., elect¬ 
ed the follotyititr officers fur 1871 : /Vcs.- Rich¬ 
ard Black. Ekc-Pm. H. M. Warner. Nee.— 
II. Z. Moulton. Treat .—Thomas Murker. Ex. 
Com.—A. B. Piutl, M, G. Warren, Fred. Diluent, 
A. S. Johnson, Henry Wilson. John Turk. John 
Brosnor, (Aldan’sCoiners- Wit*.,) Win.C’l'oWtlior- 
Christian Jacobi, O. M. llclluml, M. Anderson, 
(Grow 1 'Ini ii.?. Wis.,) M. Ashmore, (Arena, Win.) 
Tho Society resolved that no premiums bo 
offered for horno racing' at il.s next Fair. 
The \\i*r<iri»hi State Mart. Hoc. holds its an¬ 
nual meeiing ul. Madison, Wis., Feb. 7 - 0 . Tho 
DID'uul address is to bo delivered by lion. It. 8. 
Orton. Paper; arc announced by A. G. Tuttle, 
Ingraham Gould, .). H. Uiehmdsou, F, W. Case, 
II. W. Roby, 8. I). Carpenter, C. H. Greenmail, 
8. D. Hustings, Thomas Meehan, G. .V. Smith, 
W. W. Daniels, J. G. Knapp, J. G. Plumb, G. E. 
Morrow, H. II. iMcAffee, J. S. Stiokuoy and C'. II. 
Andrews, upon topics embracing much o£ c.-pe- 
pccial interest to every horticulturist in tho 
Northwest. It will bo an interesting meeting. 
Toinpkin* Co., \. V., A«. uiul llort, Sue.-Tho 
uniuinl meeting of this Society was held at Itha¬ 
ca, Jan. lib, and tho following officers elected 
for tho year : Pres.- Frank G. Cornell. Vlce- 
J’ren’ts.—F. A. u. Ridgeway, Caroline; Cicorgo F. 
Non rsc. Dauby; Alvinas Snyder, Dryden; M. 
W. Pinckney, Enfield; George Hurt, (Hu ton ; A. 
B. rieiibam, llliaca: David Clunker, r.nmiug; 
Charles Starr, New held; WtUTon Hulsey, Ulys¬ 
ses. Six.' II. D. Cunningham. 2 Vtun. —O. B. 
Curran. Director*. -Il Krum; ltd-Joint B. Hart. 
Thorn Hill (.Y. V.) Former*' Club.— At tho an¬ 
nual meeting ol’ Ibis Chib, tbe following persona 
were chosen officers for the ensuing year: Pres. 
Francis K. Burns. Vice-Pres’ts.-.Uu>. Mc¬ 
Dowell and Mortimer Mason. Teens. 8, 8. 
Kiicehiiid. S-r. Allen Brown. Cor. Sec.— E. G. 
Cowles. JJbrarlnn. —K. e. Cowles, Directors. 
Job Harvey and Theodore Eggleston. 
.IHTemcni Y. V., \ji. 80c. -At. the annual 
meeting held nt Watertown, Dee. Sffllh, the fol¬ 
lowing officers were elected for tho ensuing 
vear: Pres. -T. II. Pratt. Vke-Prcs’ts .- o. <j 
Staples; John D. (iillelt, Ilouderson; Samuel 
81 rough,Theresa. 'Preas. - George It. Wiggins. 
See. -George Belts. AwlUois. Gilbert Brad¬ 
ford, Norrts Winslow, George A. Dealt. 
Ohio Wool Growers' Visor, -At a meeting of 
1 his Society, held at. Columbus on Tuesday, .Inn, 
3 . the following persons were elected officers for 
the ensuing ,vear: Ikes. J. G. Stevens, Kenton. 
Viri'-lkes. H. L. Reed, Granville. Sec. .1. B. 
Jamison, Cadiz. Directors. W. X. Chamberlain, 
Kenton ; John Gurnuy, Granville, and S. Hur- 
inouiit, Canal Dover. 
Glen Spring, Yates Co., Y. Y„ Farmer*’ Club. 
- Officers for 1 BT 1 have been elected us follows: 
Pres.—J. F. Reynolds, Penn Van. Fice-/W(s. 
—G. Gouudry, A. Smith. See.— G. D. Baker, 
Himroda. Treas,—\V. W. Buxton, Milo Center. 
Librarian. -E. B. Lnunlug. E.v. Com.— W. Suth¬ 
erland, M. Pulver, A. G. Uartholamow, E. Briggs, 
and D. A. Biss.'ll. ’ 
Cortland Co.. Y. Y., V S . Soe.-At the annual 
mooting of tins Society, held Dec. Utah, tho fol¬ 
lowing officers were elocted for 1871 : Pres - II 
.. r,.,-)■/«. W. \v. Hibbard Sec — 
J. D. Sebermerhorn. Terns.-S. McClellan Bar¬ 
bel'. Ex. Com.— A. I). Blodgett, C. C. Taylor, J. 
(.’.Carmichael, C. O. Newton, t.ynuiu Hibbard. 
Mn limit a Co. 1 lawn) Vg. 8oe. At Lite animal 
meeting tho following officers were elected lor 
the ensuing' year: ires.— W. T. Smith. Vice- 
Pres.- Robert; Score is. ;-v •. -W. 8. Edgar, < t.-ktt- 
loosti. Teens. T. G. Phillips, and one Director 
from each township In the enmity, and otto 
from each ward ill the city of Oskaioosa. 
llirliInrnl Co , «,, Vg Mic.—At its recent an¬ 
nual meeting re-elected its board of officers for 
bllOW^ HKiiiu what tin talportuiit. hearing iriir- 
neratuto bus upon agriculture, Is the following: 
Farmers lit England believe that if tlm night 
temperature fulls to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, 
there is no growth lor t.weni v-f our lion is, and 
that tho mean temperature the following day 
might bo expected to bo about 40 degrees. In 
this GOimtry n similar law must prevail, proba¬ 
bly with different degrees of boat. Then, by 
observing the monthly cliaria and taking note 
of those parts of the country where tempera¬ 
tures were less tlmu 40 degrees, one would ascer¬ 
tain tho places where, during certain months, 
there Wits little growth-a very important, ques¬ 
tion in discussing tho crop* Of the Uni ted States. 
1 he next useful Lem peril t lire lot- ogricull ui e 1, 
that required to ripen cereals, [t has been 
proved by observations made bv persons com¬ 
peting lor prizes offered by tin* Marquis of 
TwoeUdale, President of the Scottish Meleoto- 
logietd Society, that the ordinary range ,.r o m- 
npl'utlire 111 Scotland must, average Mi degrees 
Fahrenheit, if it foil below that there was 
a dclhiieney in the crop; if it msc, the. crop 
was so much the belter, provided there were 
ralu and other necessary ctnuditinns. In tlm 
Same manner « thousand agricultural problems 
should be submitted to it riot sclent ilionud prac¬ 
tical teals us to the influence of climate on our 
American crops. There is m> book on climate, in 
its relation to agriculture towhleli the Ameri¬ 
can publlct has access. Such a volume ennnot 
now bo Written, for want of groups of facta 0 1 
sufficient extent and accuracy. Such facts can¬ 
not be collected by tire enferpriso und eul lni a- 
astn of one student, bowevot zealous. If must 
bo the report of a scientific man, who baa access 
to a great body of materials, and who possesses 
Hie mt. <>f staling results ju a plain form tor 
daily Use. 
Persimmon Trees in California. 
The Sacramento Bee says there is a per¬ 
simmon tree which, has been iu full bearing 
for several years at the northwest corner of 
Q and Third streets, fcjacramento. It was 
planted by Col. Sanders fourteen years ago. 
The Grass Valley Union, in noticing the 
above, says:—“And there are several trees 
tit Threlkeill’s ranch, between Auburn and 
Rattlesnake Bar, Placer county. Ten years 
ago, or more, the largest tree there bore 
fruit. Now, there is* a largo orchard of 
trees, and plenty of the fruit. The persim¬ 
mon is not only a fine fruit, hut ihe wood of 
the tree is the best out of which pulleys can 
he made," 
FOREST TREE CULTURE. 
1 he Massachusetts Society for Pi 
x ul ^itibbciciiuseLis society for Promotin'** 
Agiicultme offered, in 1858, a premium of 
one thousand dollars for the best plantation 
of forest trees planted before 1800, and grow¬ 
ing in 1870. We understand that Major 
Ben Perley Poore is the lucky man who 
gets the prize. It is not to be supposed that 
every one will understand or appreciate the 
motives of a society which encourages forest 
tree culture; and as a sample of the argu¬ 
ments used against it, we copy the following 
from one of our New England exchanges: ° 
We have had to fight the encroachments 
oi the forest on cultivated land adjoining 
strips of wood, and on pastures and mowing 
lots, too much to apprehend a failure of 
bushes or trees in New England. We have 
also seen too many of our hill farms aban¬ 
doned to a thick, spontaneous growth of 
soli and hard wood, to think there is anv 
great need of special encouragement of tree 
planting among us. We know of one school 
district m which there were hoys und girls 
enough to fill an ordinary country school 
house when we were young, in which at Ihe 
pi cscnt time there is not ji single Ikmily,—the 
whole territory being devoted to pasturage 
and the growth of forest trees. 
Altei such an outburst of indignation, we 
fear that forest tree culture in the New Eug- 
PANIEL 
