16 
on vapid or Unripe food. 
the same treatment, not a single grain of Indian corn ripened 
with us. 
We recollect, some years since, in a fine, hot, sunshiny 
summer, growing a large patch of Chinese sugar-cane 
(,Sorghum saccharatum). It attained, in the open field, to 
the height of seven feet. At first its juices were hitter, and 
cattle did not relish it; soon, however, with the continuance 
of warm weather, the stem became remarkably sweet, so that 
we could enjoy the suction of a sugar-cane of our own tend¬ 
ing, and cattle, like ourselves, were fond of the sweet food 
provided for them, and so we rashly concluded that the 
Chinese sugar-cane was a valuable addition to the soiling 
plants of the farm, and accordingly we tried it again the fol¬ 
lowing year; but, alas ! like 1871 as compared with 1870, the 
summer was cold and wet and dreary, and our cane, instead 
of attaining to the height of seven feet, scarcely in any case 
reached seven inches , and, in short, was a perfect failure; and 
so far from any indication in its flavour pointing to its name 
of sugar-cane, it was bitter and repulsive ; and as we think 
the same changes take place in all grasses to a greater or less 
extent, we feel justified in concluding that, while the saccha¬ 
rine and aromatic principles attain their highest development 
in a fine season, they are scarcely, if at all, produced in un¬ 
congenial weather, and the result is not only unripeness and 
that fine qualities are not produced, but a posit, ve medicinal 
flavour and effect from the prevalence of hss agreeable 
constituents. 
If we examine the roots of this year we shall und that they 
are for the most part larger and more succulent than usual. 
The monstrous mangold-wurzel and swedes of our shows 
have, perhaps, never been equalled; but since our flocks 
have been eating the turnips of this season diarrhoea has set 
in most virulently, and hundreds of sheep and lambs have 
fallen a sacrifice to the malady. All farmers concur in the 
opinion that these monstrous roots are deficient in feeding 
qualities, “ without prooff and, as regards the “ beet ” 
varieties, it is an established fact that medium-sized roots 
contain the largest per-centage of sugar. 
But, besides this, the quickly grown, watery roots never 
keep well; they soon rot, and we fear that this season will 
be very trying to the exposed turnip crop. 
As regards fruits, it is notorious how badly ripened and 
how unwholesome they have been this year; store fruit will 
not keep, and in as far as our experience goes the best are 
deficient in flavour and quality. In our own garden the 
finest pears could not be got to ripen, and in consequence 
