THE CULTIVATOR. 
97 
From my experience with this corn during the last year, 
and from all the contradictory evidence brought for¬ 
ward, for and against it, I am strongly inclined to 
think that mistakes have arisen in the seed, that is, that 
the Chinese has been confused with the corn called the 
“ Baden,” both new varieties introduced last year. I 
tried both. The Baden exactly resembles the descrip¬ 
tion of the Chinese given by some writers ; it grew very 
high, ten or twelve feet, produced its ears when other 
corn was ripe, remained green till the end of October, 
and was then quite soft, requiring to bring it to perfec¬ 
tion two of our summers. The Chinese, planted in hills 
in the usual way, presented no difference from common 
corn. But ten grains, planted in a row of eighteen 
inches asunder, each seed threw out five distinct and 
perfect stalks (not suckers) having from one to four 
ears on each ; some of these did not arrive at perfection, 
probably owing to the land not being sufficiently good, 
yet, although it was all blown down and much injured, 
with two of the ten plants eaten off by a horse, from 
the remaining eight, I gathered thirty-three ears, at least 
as good as the seed, thus averaging rather more than 
four good ears from each seed planted. It was ripe full 
three weeks earlier than the common corn of the country. 
Although the seed was planted in single grains, eighteen 
inches apart in the row, they were much too close and 
crowded, each plant resembling a hill of common corn 
in which five grains had been planted. I propose this 
year to plant two grains at a distance of at least two 
feet, and pull up the weakest so as to leave more room 
for themto spread. Should the result be worth commu¬ 
nicating, you shall hear of it. W. R. 
April 5, 1840. 
Remarks ou the Study of Meteorology. 
In the former papers on this subject which have been 
published in the Genesee Farmer, my object has chiefly 
been to prove the practicability of advancing meteoro¬ 
logy,—in the first place from what has been already 
done in a desultory way, compared with what might be 
done by increased attention; also,* from the general si¬ 
milarity of the objects embraced in this science, to those 
embraced in other sciences, in which great advancements 
have been made. In those papers, also, some remarks 
were made upon the kind, and method of obtaining 
those facts or data, by the study and comparison of 
which, the proposed improvements are to be effected. 
It is to this part of the subject that I design at present 
chiefly to confine myself. 
The meteorological observations for this purpose may 
be divided into, 1st, those of the clouds; 2d, of the 
wind; 3d, of the state of the air; 4th, of occasional 
meteors. 
I. That part of a meteorological register relating to 
the clouds, should embrace an account of the modifica¬ 
tions to which they belong, their motion and their quan¬ 
tity, with the particular appearances of the different 
modifications or species of clouds. 1. The modifica¬ 
tions of the clouds have been already well described in 
an article in the Genesee Farmer, and under the article 
Clouldsin Dictionary of Agricultural Terms in the same 
work, which two, especially the former, render any 
thing farther on that part of the subject unnecessary at 
present. 2. The motion of the clouds includes their 
course and velocity. Both of these may be known with 
tolerable accuracy, (the latter perhaps rather vaguely,) 
by observing them as they pass some elevated fixed ob¬ 
ject, provided a meridian line is known, and they are 
observed at or near the zenith. As the different strata 
of clouds frequently move in different directions, and 
with various apparent velocities, it will be important to 
observe the motion of each stratum separately, when 
circumstances admit of it. When the clouds cannot be 
observed at the zenith, which is sometimes the case, the 
zenith motion should be estimated from the observed 
motion. Observing the motion of the clouds may be fa¬ 
cilitated, and perhaps rendered more accurate, as the 
writer has partially tried, by laying a looking glass or 
mirror on the sole of a window in a horizontal position, 
so that the eaves of the house or some other fixed ob¬ 
ject above, with the clouds passing it, may be visible in 
the glass ; then if the position of the latter, or of lines 
drawn upon it, be known with respect to the points of 
the horizon, the course of the motion may be determin¬ 
ed with considerable accuracy, and the velocity may be 
known relatively, by noting by a watch the time occu¬ 
pied by the image of the clouds in passing a certain 
space on the surface of the glass. These hints may ob¬ 
viously be varied or improved upon according to cir¬ 
cumstances, but those whose business calls them to the 
fields, (in some respects a very proper place for such 
observations,) will frequently have to content them¬ 
selves with ascertaining the motion in the manner first 
alluded to. 3. The necessity of registering the quanti¬ 
ty and particular appearances of the different modifica¬ 
tions, is too obvious to need much elucidation ; as an ex¬ 
ample, however, it may be observed, that rain is almost 
sure to follow immediately a certain appearance of cir¬ 
ro-stratus, yet the whole sky is often covered with that 
modification in a different appearance, and fair weather 
the immediate consequence; and some account of the 
quantity of the clouds, and of each modification, and 
whether the sky is entirely, partially, or in what pro¬ 
portion it is covered with them, appears obviously to be 
little less important. To this part of the register of the 
clouds, belongs the description of those circles and oth¬ 
er similar phenomena which sometimes attend the sun 
* Gen. Far. vol. IX, p. 2£2. 
and moon, and occasionally the stars, and are caused by 
the refraction of their light in its passage through the 
clouds and vapors of the atmosphere : hence as the 
varying height, structure, and density of the latter, 
cause the different phenomena of circles, coronas, par¬ 
helia, &c. with their subordinate varieties, it appears 
reasonable that an accurate description of the different 
circumstances of color, distinctness, &c. and an exact 
measurement of their apparent dimensions would form 
one of the most important avenues of information upon 
the state of the clouds, which the meteorologist could 
possess. 
II. The wind is to be observed in regard to its course 
and strength. Both of these may be ascertained by 
means of an instrument called an anemometer, of which 
several kinds have been invented. That part of the 
instrument which shows the course of the wind, exists 
in a simple form in the common vane or v'eather-cock, 
often placed on buildings, and which, if properly con¬ 
structed, and so elevated as to be unaffected by surround¬ 
ing objects, as hills, forests, buildings, &c. will answer 
that part of the purpose of an anemometer; and the 
observer may, of himself, by attention, form a tolerably 
correct idea of the relative strength of the viand. It is 
very desirable, however, that the strength of the wind 
should be more accurately know r n, but as the descrip¬ 
tion of. an instrument lor that purpose so as to enable 
the reader to construct one properly, would occupy too 
much space, I shall omit it. 
III. The state of the air is subject to variation in 
four different respects, viz : temperature, gravity, mois¬ 
ture, and electricity. 1. The thermometer is the instru¬ 
ment used to determine the temperature, and is suffi¬ 
ciently well known to render a description in this place 
unnecessary; and the small price at which it may be 
obtained, places it within the reach of at least any far¬ 
mer. The thermometer (and the same applies to other 
instruments,) should be observed at stated periods, and 
as frequently as practicable. 2. The variations in the 
gravity of the air are determined by the barometer. 
This instrument, in its usual form, consists of a glass tube 
about 34 inches long, fixed in an upright position, clos¬ 
ed at the upper end, andhaving the lower and open end 
placed in a vessel of mercury, a column of which is sup¬ 
ported in the tube by the pressure of the air, the height 
of which consequently varies with that pressure, that 
portion of the tube above the mercurial column being a 
vacuum. This apparatus is attached to a frame or 
board much in the manner of a thermometer; near the 
upper end of the tube a scale of inches and decimal 
parts is drawn upon the board, estimated from the sur¬ 
face of the mercury in the vessel. The mean height is 
about 29| inches, and the range varies in different cli¬ 
mates from about 1|- to 3 inches. Various alterations 
have been proposed in this instrument, chiefly for ren¬ 
dering its scale of greater extent, but few of these are to 
be as much depended upon as the usual form. The cost 
of this instrument, though greater than that of the ther¬ 
mometer, is not such as should deter the owner of a 
score of well tilled acres from obtaining it. 3. The in¬ 
strument used to determine the moisture of the air is 
called the hygrometer. The various constructions of 
this instrument appear to be so little adapted in its pre¬ 
sent imperfect state, either from a want of accuracy or 
convenience to the purposes and persons, (generally) 
proposed in these papers, that (from this cause, and 
from a want of space) I am induced to omit some re¬ 
marks I had intended to make upon the construction and 
use of it. The hygrometer, however, is certainly a 
very important instrument, for the quantity of moisture 
which the air contains must have a great influence on 
subsequent weather, and it appears to be the more impor¬ 
tant as our natural senses are but little capable of deter¬ 
mining changes in atmospherical moisture with preci¬ 
sion, and hence improvements in it, either with respect to 
accuracy, convenience, or cheapness, so as to place it 
within the reach of persons of limited means, are much 
to be desired. 4. The electricity of the air is shown by 
the electrometer, the form of which is usually somewhat 
varied to adapt it to this purpose From a want of 
space, and likewise because our knowledge of the influ¬ 
ence which local circumstances undoubtedly have upon 
the indications of this instrument, is loo limited as yet 
to enable us to ascertain the actual relative strength of 
atmospherical electricity from observations made under 
different circumstances, I shall omit any account of it 
for the present. However as our knowledge of these 
irregularities and the means of obviating them, is chiefly 
to be acquired by observing the electrometer under those 
different circumstances, and also in connexion with the 
other meteorological observations, it will evidently be 
proper to insert its indications in the meteorological re¬ 
gister wherever it can conveniently be done: and this 
is the more to be desired, as modern discoveries would 
appear to indicate a much more extensive and general 
agency of the electric fluid; and especially (it may be 
supposed) in the atmosphere, where its effects are often 
so strongly exhibited. 
IV. The occasional meteors are chiefly rain, snow 
and hail; to these may be added dew and frost. With 
respect to the former, the principal points to be observ¬ 
ed are their quantity, the rapidity with which they fall, 
the size of the drops or particles, with any additional 
particulars that maybe thought worthy of notice. The 
quantity and rapidity of the rain may both be observed 
by the pluviameter or rain gauge, the best form of which 
is perhaps that of a narrow cylindrical vessel, placed in 
an upright position with an enlargement or funnel at 
top. A light rod about as long as the height of the ves¬ 
sel, is attached to a float which fits the inside of the ves¬ 
sel like a piston, but quite loosely, the rod passing free¬ 
ly through a hole in the middle of a cross bar placed 
where the vessel joins the funnel. The rod is marked 
into divisions which bear the same proportions to inch¬ 
es and parts that the area of the opening or top of the 
funnel, bears to the area of a section of the vessel: the 
rain which falls within the funnel descends into the ves¬ 
sel, and raises the float and the rod, the divisions on 
which that have passed the cross bar show the inches 
of rain that have fallen. Snow and hail require to be 
melted for the instrument, but their depth should like¬ 
wise be measured as they lie upon the ground. If the 
top of the funnel is six and the cylindrical part two 
inches in diameter, hundredths of an inch may be easily 
observed by it, each division on the rod corresponding 
to an inch, being just nine inches; in this case the ves¬ 
sel ought to be at least 36 inches high. It may be con¬ 
structed of strong tin plate or sheet copper at a mode¬ 
rate cost. The rapidity of the fall of rain, &c. may be 
known by observing the rise of the rod at short inter¬ 
vals, but something further respecting the apparent co¬ 
piousness or slowness of the fall, together with the size 
of the particles, the times of beginning, continuance, 
&c. should be carefully observed and noted. Dew and 
frost, (by which latter is meant frozen dew,) should be 
noticed when they occur in regard to their quantity, and 
other attendant circumstances that maybe thought wor¬ 
thy of notice. 
I shall dismiss the subject at present with some con¬ 
cluding remarks. 
In describing the appearances of the clouds (which is 
perhaps the most difficult part, and the other atmosphe¬ 
rical phenomena when the observer is not provided with 
instruments,) it is particularly to be desired that the 
least ambiguous terms should be made use of, and the 
same terms used as exclusively as may be to express 
the same thing. In short/such a description should be 
given that not only the writer, but another understand¬ 
ing the fixed construction which is given to any peculiar 
terms, may with ease obtain a correct idea of all the 
circumstances of the weather from reading it. This 
rule may seem superfluous, but it is thought it will not 
be found so, for though the keeping of a register of this 
kind is not difficult, yet this thing is rather apt to be 
lost sight of, especially indescribing the clouds. The im 
portance of a nomenclature of meteorology or system of 
terms, adapted to express both singly and in definite class¬ 
es, the various objects and phenomena connected wuth 
the atmosphere, will, (it is believed,) become obvious 
to most of those v r ho may follow up these suggestions : 
but the framing of such a nomenclature seems improper 
to be attempted as a preliminary step ; much meteoro¬ 
logical knowledge may doubtless be obtained without 
it, simply by employing terms of common language with 
a few slight alterations, a certain amount of which 
knowledge is requisite to form one on such principles 
that constant alterations shall not be necessary. In cor¬ 
roboration of which may be mentioned the course of 
our present state geolcgest, (of Penn.) in “ studiously 
abstaining from framing a nomenclature for the several 
foundations * * * * until he becomes entirely familiar 
wuth the many modifications they undergo also, it 
may be observed that many of the most important che¬ 
mical discoveries were made before the adoption of the 
nomenclature, which has, (indeed, justly) added so 
greatly to the fame of Lavoisier and his colleagues. 
Montgomery Co. Pa. Feb. 28, 1S40. B. S. 
Culture of Wheat. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —The mode I would re¬ 
commend, would be to sow on the young wheat 6 qts. per 
acre of the largest kind of clover, as soon as circum¬ 
stances will admit in the spring. After the wheat is 
cut, the young clover wall be convenient to turn your 
lambs upon, after taking them from their mothers. If 
you have no sheep, turn in your cattle, but sheep are 
much the best; they are not likely to pull up the young 
plants by the roots, and the closer they are eat to the 
ground, the greater will be the growth the succeeding 
spring; when, let it grow some 4 or 5 inches before you 
suffer any thing to pasture on it, then you may turn in 
your young cattle, which wall soon make them fleshy, 
and such beef will always sell at a remunerating price ; 
but do not depasture too bare, taking out your stock so 
as to allow a heavy growth of clover by the middle or 
last of June, at which time plow it under by the help 
of a chain, fastened round the beam back of the col¬ 
ter, and the other end hooked to the off side of the off 
horse ; s wdffletree, allowing the chain to belly down and 
drag the ground, which will enable you to turn in near¬ 
ly every spear of clover; in about a week drag it; on 
the first of August drag it again, or as many times as 
it may require previous to the middle of August, at 
which time have it plowed, running your furrows the con¬ 
trary way to your first plowing; then drag it across the 
furrows. By the first of September have it again plow¬ 
ed, the furrows running the same way as when you first 
plowed it. 
Sow the wheat (at least 2 bushels an acre,) and drag 
it in, leaving as many clods or nubs as iou can, that is, 
not drag the ground fine. The wheat will attain a great 
growth in the fall, and get well rooted, consequently 
the frost will have little or no effect, and I think not as 
likely to blast in the summer. 
In the spring, the frosty nights and warm days wall 
cause the clods to fall to pieces around the roots of the 
* 2d Annual Report, p. 20, 
