THE CULTIVATOR. 287 
sues, and that the peculiar organs, as the hairs and spines, 
developed by those tissues were dependent on this fact.’’ 
Since the above was prepared for publication, we 
have received the following, in relation to the same sub¬ 
ject, from a scientific correspondent: 
“ Many newspapers contain marvellous stories of the 
remarkable effects of common electricity on vegetation. 
One experiment has been minutely described and illus¬ 
trated by a diagram, and consists merely of a buried wire 
enclosing a piece of ground, and connected with iron 
rods rising some feet above the surface like common 
lightning rods. The land thus enclosed is stated to have 
produced a very heavy crop, which it may have done 
from other causes; but to suppose that the electricity had 
any influence, is of course ridiculously absurd. For the 
wires not being insulated, the trifling amount of electric 
fluid which may descend, passes off instantly into the 
earth; and if they were insulated the case would be in 
no wise different. The fluid always following the best 
conductor, the plants could not be electrified in the slight¬ 
est degree by any management. A man may hold a 
lightning rod in his hand in a hard thunderstorm, and 
receive no injury, the fluid passing through the rod di¬ 
rectly to the earth. And if the plants were actually 
electrified, it is by no means probable that any percepti¬ 
ble effect would be produced. It is well to distinguish 
real scientific discoveries from humbugs—to discrimi¬ 
nate between good bills and counterfeits.” 
ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
In our last we mentioned, in a brief paragraph, that 
this Institution was shortly to go into operation. Our 
late English papers give some particulars in relation to 
the plan on which it is to be conducted, and as agricul¬ 
tural education is beginning to be regarded with so much 
attention in this country, we presume the doings of other 
nations in regard to this important subject will be looked 
upon with interest. 
The Institution is located at Cirencester, in Wiltshire. 
Attached to it is a farm of 410 acres, 380 of which are 
arable, and of a varied character of soil. The general 
outlines of the plan and mode of management, so far as 
we have seen, appear to be judicious, and of an economi¬ 
cal character. 
<c The farm,” (it is said,) “ will be cultivated on the 
best established system, and will combine the breeding 
and feeding of stock, with a dairy. Every description 
of trial and experiment will be made in such a manner 
as not to risk general results, it being the determination 
of the council that the system pursued on the farm shall 
be the one most profitable, and such as the pupils may 
adopt with confidence in their future occupations. Still 
a portion of land will be set apart for experiments with 
manures and various seeds.” 
The management of the farm is to be entrusted to a 
man (Mr. Scales,) who it is said is thoroughly versed in 
the minutest details of good husbandry. The farm la¬ 
borers are to be chosen with great care; and that the pu¬ 
pils may obtain a thorough knowledge of all farming 
operations, a portion of the work will be allotted for 
their performance. The buildings are to be erected with 
such a view to economy of cost, that they may be safely 
adopted on any farm of similar size and character. 
“ The College is situated on the farm. The building 
will include a large dining-hall, class-rooms, laboratory, 
museum, besides ranges of sleeping apartments on two 
floors, throughout which the best mode of heating and 
ventilation will be adopted, and separate rooms will be 
provided in case of illness. The head master and the 
professors will reside in the College. The schools will 
be under the management of the different professors, who 
will be constantly on the spot, and give their whole time 
to the pupils. The instruction will be conveyed not 
merely by lecture, but also by individual study and prac¬ 
tical working. Mr. Way has been chosen as chemical 
and geologicial professor. Professors will be engaged 
to instruct in botany, natural history, mathematics and 
physics, drawing, mechanics, gemoraetry, dynamics, 
levelling, mapping, surveying, building, hydrostatics, 
hydraulics, &c., more particularly as they have reference 
to agriculture. The structure and treatment of the dis¬ 
eases of cattle, and a simple but accurate system of farm 
accounts, will form part of the instruction. 
“ Pupils who have at the least a knowledge of read¬ 
ing, writing, arithmetic and grammar, will be admitted 
from the age of fourteen to eighteen years; no pupil to 
remain after twenty. Their time will be divided be¬ 
tween in-door instruction and out-door occupation. 
There will be frequent examinations, both public and 
private, and certificates of proficiency will be given them 
on leaving the Institution. They will board and lodge 
in the College. Each pupil will have a separate bed, 
and every attention will be paid to health and comfort. 
Each pupil will pay £30 [about $150] per annum, by 
half-yearly instalments, in advance. Probably two va¬ 
cations will be given in the year; a short one between 
hay and corn harvest, and a longer one at Christmas.” 
STATE OF THE CROPS. 
Hillsboro Co., N. H.—A letter dated Aug. 9, from 
J. L. Eaton, East Ware, informs us that there has been 
but little rain in that vicinity since the snow went off 
last spring—not so much as has sometimes fallen in a 
single day. The hay crop is not more than two-thirds 
an average yield. Wheat is well filled, but the heads 
are short- Wheat has been an uncertain crop there for 
several years, owing to the worm or maggot ( Cecido - 
myia tritici ) in the head—it sometimes destroyed nearly 
the whole crop. To avoid the insect, it was sowed late, 
but the late sown was liable to rust. Afterwards, it was 
thought better to risk the worm by sowing earl)’, than 
the rust by sowing late. For the last two or three years, 
till the present, the insect has not been much seen. 
This year it has appeared in nearly all wheat fields, but 
has not been very destructive. Winter rye is light—oats 
good considering the drouth. Corn on dry land will not 
be much. Potatoe crop uncertain; much rain is wanted 
to give a fair crop of corn or potatoes. The rot has not 
yet troubled the potatoes in that neighborhood. The 
crop was good there last year. 
Alabama.— From John H. Dent, Esq., of Eufalla, 
we have a letter dated August 7th. He gives a gloomy 
account of the cotton crop. The drouth is said to have 
been more severe than was ever known before. The 
ground has not been wet four inches in depth since 
March last. There are a few neighborhoods that have 
had timely rains, and have made fine crops. In general, 
Mr. D. considers the “ cotton crop at an end, and it is 
daily exhibiting a more sickening appearance.” He 
says-—“ our only hope for so sad a disaster, is an advance 
of cotton.” Corn crop is very short, but it is added 
“ by sowing grain this fall, we may have enough for 
domestic purposes.” 
Western New-York.—Samuel Williams, writes 
from Waterloo, Aug. 10th—“Wheat in our vicinity has 
been much injured by the rust. Many pieces were struck 
in our warmest driest weather. Hay is a middling 
crop; oats middling, but shrink; barley, flax, and Indian 
corn, very good; potatoes very light, but so far unin¬ 
jured by rot. The last few days have been the hottest o( 
the season. Last evening, we had two inches of rain.” 
Pennsylvania. —A letter from A. Langdon Elwyn, 
dated Reculver, Westchester county, Aug. 19th, states— 
“the frost of 31st May destroyed nearly all the wheat in 
this neighborhood. Little or none of the Mediterranean 
variety escaped, it being more forward than any other. 
What is known as white wheat was not injured. The 
early maturity of the Mediterranean wheat is an objection 
to it; but in a climate like ours, who is to calculate or 
guard against summer chills?” 
South Carolina. —W. B., Laurens District, writes, 
Aug. 10th—“ Our oat crop was a failure; wheal is light, 
but the berry is as fine as any I ever saw. Corn is 
scarce. It is now selling at 874 cents to $1 per bushel. 
I do not think the price will be sustained this fall, for in 
some parts of the state, the crop is said to be better than 
ever before—especially creek and river bottoms.” 
