brother-readers of the N. E. Farmer. As to seeds that germinate slowly, such as the carrot and the beet, we have usually mixed them with sand or sandy loam, stirring them well together, keeping the mixture moist, and on the south side of the house, between a week and two weeks, and taking the box into the kitchen, or protecting it when the nights threatened to be cold. When carrot seed is prepared in this way, the mixture moistened with a solution of hen manure, and some gypsum added just before sowing, we get the carrots to start before the weeds, and so avoid one of the greatest troubles in raising this crop. If ever we should raise tobacco, we would treat this slowsprouting seed in the same way, keeping it in moist sand, and in a warm place, two weeks before sowing it. Our trials in soaking corn have sometimes succeeded in giving the plants an earlier and more vigorous start; and in one instance, when the ground became exceedingly dry before the whole of the seed corn could be sprouted, the young sprouts died in the dry ground, and a second planting became necessary. MORE ANON. that happens to him? One man, whose health is depressed, sees his own fireside, that used to burn so cheerily, only colored with gloom and sadness. Another, of a bright and joyous mind, in the full vigor of health, will go forth, and the very desert to that man's eye will rejoice, and the very wilderness to his view will blossom as the rose, and the saddest strains in nature will sound to him the most joyous and brilliant. A sufferer goes out and looks on nature, and its roses all become thorns, its myrtles all look like briars, and the sweetest minstrelsy of the grove and forest sounds to him like a wild wailing minor running through all the sounds of nature. For the New England Farmer. HOW SHALL OUR SONS BE BEST EDUCATED FOR THE OCCUPATION OF This is a question of deepest interest to the State, and to every individual in it; and well may it engross the attention of its Executive head. I do not claim to be much of a farmer myself, for I never felt that I had the body for the work of a "How is it that you raise such large and nice farm-for to farm advantageously, demands enonions ?" I asked of an Iowa farmer, as I was sit-rise with the lark-"he must keep his eyes right ergetic and continued labor. The farmer must CURIOUS PHENOMENON. ting at table with him, and observing some on the table. "Well," said he, "we sprout the seed with boiling water, and then plant it early and in good ground." "It will? It looks incredible," I replied, with surprise. "Well, you try it," he replied, "when the time comes to plant, and you'll find it just as I tell on, and his eye-lids right forward"-he must be Not that he should not understand enough of othintent on his business, and let other callings alone. ers, to guard against being imposed upon, but his "Sprout the seed in boiling water ?" I ex-successful farmer. To be this, he must know the ambition should ever be, to be an intelligent and claimed, inquiringly. "What do you mean, sir, nature of the soil he cultivates, and the uses to be by that? Won't boiling water kill the seed ?" "Not at all," he replied; "but it will sprout how to make both ends meet. Farming, good made of the crops he grows. He must soon learn them, in one minute's time.' farming, is not a fancy business; but it should be entered upon as the means of living. The best farmers I have ever known, are those who have guidance of fathers, who were not ashamed to sprung up and matured on the farm-under the any pursuit, is feeling above one's business. The work. One of the greatest embarrassments to farmer-boy should ever feel that he is as good as any other, and no better, and never should feel above his business. He should never be ashamed of the dress that is best suited to his employment, but should stand up straight in it, and let others perceive that he feels himself equal to the best, and this kind of instruction be acquired on the farm, in no manner degraded by his occupation. Shall or at the school? I say on the farm. I would as soon think of making a boy a skilful navigator, him a good farmer, without his working upon the without his ever going upon the water, as to make you." And, sure enough, when spring came, and my neighbor was planting his onion seed, being present, I said: "Jewell, last winter, there was a man in Iowa told me that to pour boiling water on black onion seed would sprout it in one minute. Suppose you try it ?” "Very well," said he. And taking the teakettle from the stove, he poured the boiling water on the seed, which he had in a saucer. Looking closely at it for a moment, he exclaimed, "You have told rightly. Only look there." I looked, and behold, the little sprouts about as large as horse hairs were shooting out of the opened ends of the seeds! He did not retain the water on the seed above three seconds, and in less than one-half minute after it was poured off, the sprouts were projecting from the seeds. My Iowa friend assured me that this process would advance the growth of the onion two or three weeks beyond the ordinary method of planting without sprouting. HOW HEALTH BRIGHTENS THINGS.-God has so knit the mind and body together, that they act and re-act upon each other. Who has not felt that the state of health gives a coloring to everything land. boro' might advantageously be converted into a I have thought the Reform School at Westschool for instruction in agriculture. Here are trolled for a period of seven years, until they arrive three hundred boys, whose services can be conat the age of twenty-one. Here is abundance of land, centrally situated, and if it be possible by school instruction to teach boys to be farmers, this, with suitable guides to their labor, and a suitable pian of operation, would seem to be the plan. The same may be said of the schools of reform, in our cities and counties. By such a plan of management, these institutions, instead of being a tax grievance by which they were deprived of the natural benefits of the habits of a valuable fish. Of these benefits they were deprived by the new dam erected "without authority," where the old one stood at Billerica. These efforts were successful, as will presently appear. and burden upon the community, would become a | dam were successful. The first dam was removed blessing. by the authority of the Province. They were now Will it be said that boys who are fit subjects engaged in new efforts to obtain a remedy for a for such institutions, are less capable of learning than others? Far otherwise is the fact. Their physical ability is as great or greater, than the same number of any other class of boys; all they need is intelligent direction to their labor, and strict discipline. Let it be understood that they go there to serve an apprenticeship at farming, and not to do penance for offences against society; and let there be intelligent supervisors of the State farms, and they will not only become instructed, but they will soon earn their own support. So. Danvers, 1862. J. W. PROCTOR. THE DAM AT NORTH BILLERICA. This committee reported that they were of opinion "that forty feet or thereabouts of the dam of the said Christopher Osgood be taken down from top to bottom, by or before the thirteenth day of March next, and to be left down or open until the thirteenth day of May next ensuing, and so annually from year to year, that the fish may freely go up and down." When the Court heard this report, the Sheriff of the county was ordered to attend the committee to Billerica, "in order to inquire and see whether said Christopher Osgood has eased Concord river of the obstructions and incumbrances, which he is complained of by the appellees, and whether he has performed what was proposed" by the last committee. With the brief remarks which follow, we shall close what we have to say, at present, in regard to this legalized oppression. We believe its supporters will live to see the day when they will have painful remembrances of their efforts to destroy the property of their fellow-citizens, for the sake of a little ungodly gain, and crush their best endeavors to obtain an honest and comfortable support. We do not hesitate to denounce it as a wicked oppression, because it nullifies and destroys the great rule of right left us by the Master,- This Sheriff's committee immediately attended that "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to their duty, and soon reported that Mr. Osgood to you, do ye even so to them." It is no justifi- had pulled down his dam, as proposed by the first cation to them to do wrong, because it is legal-committee. ized by a Legislature whose judgment was corrupted by untimely and unfair representations. It is contended that slavery is legalized, and that therefore slavery is right; yet no man with a quick conscience would absolve himself from the crime of slavery, if all the world beside himself should justify it. But we proceed with the history. When the new dam, erected by Mr. Osgood, across Concord river, at North Billerica, was condemned under the Nuisance Act, by the Inferior Court of Sessions, Mr. Osgood "appealed from the judgment of this Court to the next Court of Assizes, and General Jail delivery." This Court was the Superior Court of Judicature. The appeal of Mr. Osgood was not tried in this Court. A new method was adopted for settling the controversy between the mill-owners and land-owners. A committee of three was appointed by the Court "to repair to Billerica as soon as conveniently may be, in order to view the mills and mill dam of said Christopher Osgood, in said town, to consider what method may be necessary or convenient to ease the said river of any obstructions and incumbrances, so as that there may be a free and sufficient passage or course for the fish up and down the said river, in the proper season thereof." This committee was ordered to report their doings to the Court which appointed it. The Court took these reports into consideration, and after "a full hearing of both parties,” accepted them. Apparently, the difficulty was settled, the dam was required to be kept down two months in the year, and no more complaints against it would have been preferred, had Mr. Osgood acted in good faith. He, however, neglected the very next year to comply with the recommendation of the committee of investigation. The next spring two citizens of Concord visited Billerica and soon made the following affidavit before a Justice of the Peace: "They being at Mr. Christopher Osgood's mill dam in Billerica, they saw his saw mill going, and observed that his mill dam was entirely up and standing from end to end; and that therefore they asked said Christopher Osgood why part of his mill dam was not pulled down, that so the fish might have a free passage up the river according to the committee's report; and said Osgood answered that it was not pulled down, neither should it be this year, for he was not obliged to do it." The meadow owners immediately commenced new efforts for the establishment of their rights. The appeal of Mr. Osgood from the judgment of the Inferior Court was not tried in the Superior Court, but the question was settled in another manner, as has been indicated. This settlement was not regarded by Mr. Osgood. The land The efforts of the meadow-owners to obtain re-owners endeavored to have this appeal tried in the dress for the overflowing of their lands by this Superior Court of Judicature. This effort was fibres are connected with those of the vegetating branch. These will absorb fluid for its support, whilst all the rest are completely at rest. In the spring of the year, when the cheerful rays of the sun call the whole of the buds into activity, the whole of the roots are similarly affected; and that the sap begins to move in the upper branches beshown by experiment-notches having been cut fore it commences ascending in the trunk has been at intervals, by which the period of its flow could be ascertained in each part." unavailing on account of a "law usage or custom." | the parts below them; and thus the motion will Mr. Osgood, however, seeing the determination of be propagated to that division of the roots whose the men whom he was injuring, finally complied with the report of the committee sent out by the Superior Court, and kept his dam open two months in the spring. Soon after a general law of the Province was passed, requiring owners of mills to keep their dams in a condition to allow fish to run up and down freely in the spring. After the passage of this act, with the penalty for its violation, no further complaint was made against this dam until it passed into the hands of the Middlesex Canal Corporation, in 1794. ON THE CIRCULATION OF SAP. When doctors disagree, &c., &c. Here we have testimony precisely opposite. Of course, both are right in their own estimation. In the hope of finding the truth amongst the intelligent contributors who adorn your pages, I have been induced to make the inquiry at the head of this article. Will you give it a spare corner, ann let us hear from them on the subject? My attention was first called to it by witnessing the operation of striking cuttings of the vine, cut from the parent stem long after the sap had all There is scarcely a subject in the whole range of botanical science upon which there is such a diversity of opinion as upon this. All writers ad-"descended to the roots," or had been "changed mit that it is of great importance, and yet no two precisely agree in the conclusions drawn from experiments upon it; and after a patient and careful examination of the best authors, we are left as much in the dark as ever. into wood." As soon as the sun poured his flood of golden light upon them, and the little brown buds felt his genial warmth, they began to swell and give signs of a new life. In a short time, a thin, clear fluid began to trickle down their sides, The most popular theory of the day, and one and form a rim around the base of each, from which we find advocated by many wise and learned which, in a few days more, a dozen white rootlets men, is that, at the fall of the leaf, the sap in the peeped forth, and pushed down into the earth, as branches and trunk of the plant gradually de- if to bring up hidden treasures; and almost imscends to the roots, and lodges there until the re-mediately the buds broke and came out into full turn of spring, when, by some unexplained pow-leaf. Here was a new revelation to me, and I be-er, it is forced upward, filling all the branches, and gan to question my new teachers: causing the leaves to put forth again, and the tree Whence had you this power? Your life was to grow. A majority of men, influenced mainly drawn from you last fall, and you have no great by impressions received in childhood, and evident-reservoir at your base, with powerful engines to ly without reflecting much upon the subject, be- send the crystal fluid through your veins at the lieve this to be the truth, and rest there, without approach of spring, and yet you grow almost as wishing to pursue the subject any further; whilst if still attached to the parent vine. Calling to others, seeing great objections to this theory, have mind the words of the poet about "sermons in discarded it, and set forth a new one, with this as stones, and books in the running brooks," &c., I the main feature, viz.: That all the sap remaining sat down to reflect awhile. Surely, said I, here in the tree in the autumn becomes changed into is food for thought. The fall of an apple led Sir wood, and is thus finally disposed of; consequent- Isaac Newton to the discovery of the laws of gravly, that which rises in the following spring is a new itation; and why may not as simple a physiologisupply. In the "Encyclopedia Britannica"arti-cal fact as the striking of a cutting lead to the cle Botany, page 111-we find "Walker, Burnett, and others made incisions into the bark and wood of trees in spring and summer, and marked the points where the sap made its appearance. In this way, they endeavored to trace the course of the fluids in the stem. Walker concludes from his experiments that the spring sap begins to flow at the root, that it ascends slowly upwards, and bleeds successively as it ascends to the very extremity of the tree." true theory of the circulation of the sap P From the teachings of the wisest and best man the world has ever known, I have been led to perceive that all things in the material world are the effects of spiritual causes. Wherever there is a germ of life, or an organization receptive of life, there is into that, through the medium of the light and heat of the outward sun, an influx from the Creator, a constant effort to bring forth all things good and beautiful; and the more I investigate,, On the other hand, in "Carpenter's Vegetable the more clearly I perceive this truth, that in all Physiology," page 148, we have: "If a vine be the works of Infinite Wisdom there are certain growing on the outside of a hot-house, and a sin-generals, composed of particulars, in each of which,. gle shoot be trained within, in the midst of win- although they may be the smallest into which mi ter, the warmth to which the latter is exposed will croscopical science has yet been able to divide cause its buds to swell and unfold themselves; them, there are a thousand particulars, each as whilst those on the outside are quite inactive. A full and perfect in its character as the first. How demand for fluid will thus be occasioned along true this is, every department of the vegetable this particular branch; and this will be supplied kingdom testifies. But most clearly of all it is by that existing in the vessels below. When exemplified in the vine, that beautiful symbol of these are emptied, they will be again supplied by Divine truth. In each little rootlet, every tiny seed, and in each delicate bud, there is a germ, which, under certain circumstances, will produce a full and perfect vine. Now, it appears to me this could not be the case, unless there was, besides the general circulation of the sap in the whole plant, a particular circulation in each of these parts belonging to it individually, and acting independently, although forming a part of the whole general circulation. In each of these separate individual circulations or systems dwells all the fulness of the vine. Each power, function, property and characteristic of the parent is there; and if, by some catastrophe, the entire vine, with the exception of one single bud, should be destroyed, from that a vine in every respect identical with the other could be raised. sive proof that the sap does not descend to the roots in the autumn, in greater quantities than it does during the growing season; but on the contrary, as soon as the fall of the leaf indicates that the new buds are perfected, the general circulation of the plant becomes more and more obstructed by congregations of albumen, starch, sugar, &c., in the alburnum and cellular tissues of the medullary rays, the spiral canals in the medullary sheath, and pith of the newly formed wood, and finally becomes congcaled by the action of frost, so as to appear entirely motionless. This takes place first in the extremities, then in the lower parts of the branches, and sometimes throughout the trunk, when the plant may be said to pass into a state corresponding to that which plants of The strawberry plant is another beautiful illus- another kind find so necessary once in every twentration of this principle. In the bud which slow-ty-four hours. During this period, cut a vine ly creeps out of the bosom of the parent, and where you please, and you can not make it part grows until its own weight bends the long and with its sap. The duration of this sleep varies, slender stem to the earth, is the delicate frame- of course, with different plants; with some, not work of a new life. As soon as the eager roots- more than one month elapses before they are lets establish a telegraphic communication with awakened; with others, two, three, six months, the soil, the new system is complete. The pla- regulated by the degrees of cold to which they centa is severed, and a new creation stands before are subjected, and the peculiar nature of the plant. us. But why multiply instances familiar to all. If this principle of separate circulation in the different parts is established, will it not lead us to a truer knowledge of the general system? Now, I do not pretend to say that I have made one step in advance towards the attainment of that object; nor do I think I ever shall; but what I have to say may set others to thinking, and in the end truth may be evolved. All plants, whether good and useful, or noxious and hurtful, are in the constant effort to reproduce their species, and, as this is their legitimate business in life, every faculty is directed to that object. Every bud, within which is the germ of a new life, is an especial object of maternal care and solicitude. Safely lodged at the base of the petiole, and securely wrapped in its tiny cradle, it is rocked to sleep by the gentle breezes, and fed every morning with the sparkling dewdrop. The purest and best portions of the elaborated sap, fresh from the laboratory of the leaf, is devoted to it, invigorating and strengthening every part, and each day adding just what is needed for its support. At the close of the year, the change in the color, and finally the fall of the leaf, announces that its task has been completed; the organization of the new life is full and perfect, and the happy parent goes to her rest to prepare for new offspring with the new year. Now, as I have repeatedly observed—and I find my experiments confirmed by Carpenter and others-as the sap in the young and tender stems on the extremities was the first to become congealed and solid (if I may use the term) in the autumn, so it was the first to become liquified and active again in the spring. Now commences what I have called the particular circulation in each of the buds or new systems. The warm rays of the sun, acting upon the cellular tissue of the young bark around the bud, dissolve the congealed fluids, and they pass downwards, enter the medullary rays to the spiral vessels in the medullary sheath, through which they ascend, and flow outwards through the medullary rays again to the bark, thus forming a complete circle. Whilst this is going on, the congealed mass in the alburnum also feels the influence of the sun's rays, and becoming liquified, presses upon the thickened mass in the cells next below them, and they in their turn upon those adjoining them, and so on until a communication is opened with the roots, when instantly a new actor steps upon the stage, a stranger whom the schoolmen call Endosmose. The entire upper cells of the plant being now filled to repletion with thick, gummy matter, the general circulation goes on very slowly at first, until by means of this new agent, the delicate walls of the root-cells are opened, and in a thousand streams, the rains and melted snows of the past winter, holding in solution mineral ingredients necessary for the support of the plant, rush into the alburnum, converting starch into sugar, tempering, absorbing, and dispersing the obstructions in the sap-cells, and producing all over the plant that abundant flow which has no doubt given birth to the theory of the "ascent of the sap from the roots." Sometimes this goes on for weeks and months before the opening of the leaf and flower buds. Here is the corner-stone and key to the whole superstructure. Every bud so formed becomes the centre of a new system, and whether cut from the parent stem and planted alone, or conjoined to another vine, or left where it originally grew, has within itself the capacity to grow and impart to its offspring every peculiarity of form and color which characterized the parent vine. Now, let us inquire, if the sap is "all changed into wood" at the fall of the leaf, or is "evaporated," or "de- I have known these fluids to be circulating freescends to the roots," what is this mysterious sub-ly in a grape vine in February, and yet the leaves stance upon which the light and heat of the sun in spring has such an influence? I have not been able to satisfy my mind fully upon this point; but so far as my experiments have gone, they have furnished me with conclu and blossoms not unfold before May. Well, now, suppose there was no descent of sap through the cellular tissues of the bark to the roots, no deposit of cambium on the exterior of the alburnum, what amount of sap, think you, would rise in two months at the ordinary speed of ascension? Why, more than the whole vine would contain if it were composed entirely of sap. For the New England Farmer. AMONG THE GREEN MOUNTAINS. The Weather-"Sugaring"-Farming-Snow Drifts-Thunder It is during this period that new roots are formed very rapidly. The separation and distribution of the albuminous and starchy matters, caused by the endosmotic entrance of new fluids MR. EDITOR:-It is Monday, the 5th day of from the fruitful earth, furnish abundant material May. The weather is fine, and really spring-like. for these; and the delicate fibres now push out The three short weeks of sugaring-all we have in great numbers, and preparations go on through- enjoyed the present season are past, and about out the whole plant for the new work before it. half the amount of sugar usually made, we have This is the reason why late fall or early spring stored away as the "sweets" of our labor. Very planting of fruit trees is more successful than little has been done yet at farming; the ground summer planting. As soon as the leaves appear, is wet and cold, and occasionally spotted with the whole energies of the plant are directed as banks of drifted snow. The streams are now quite before-first to the young and tender buds, next high, and the Passumpsic meadows, as seen from to the formation of new wood and roots, and last-my window as I write, are well overflowed, the rely to the development of the luscious fruits. The circulation of the sap now goes on regularly and orderly, the general system supplying from its inexhaustible fountains support to athousand particular systems till the close of the season. Now, sir, there may be errors here mixed up with some truth. To me, at least, it appears to be truth; but as we cannot trust to appearances I wish to have it tried in the great crucible of practice, by careful experiment. Gardener's Monthly. WASH FOR HARNESSES. soap sponge. sult of warm weather, rains and thunder showers, the latter of which visited us during the afternoon of Saturday last-being the first of the season. Grass looks well, and the soil which has lain well protected beneath four or five feet of light snow, for nearly five months, without receiving a single draught of the needful by way of rains or showers, till about two weeks ago, is now well watered, and preparing to receive the seed ready and waiting to be bestowed upon it, with a promise of a liberal return. I do not allow my sheep, or stock of any kind, to leave the yard until they can make their living on grass; feeding fields during the spring, or even late in the fall, after the late rains begin to soften the sod and soil, is very injurious to the grassroots, especially if the land is lately seeded; and the stock will do quite as well, safely enclosed in the yard, and fed on good hay-and such should always be reserved for spring feeding with such additional etceteras as may be provided for them. The spring, previous to the middle of April, was dry and moderate, affording fine weather for sheep, Take Neat's Foot Oil, and Ivory, or Patent and especially early lambs. I have one lot of 26 Black-the latter well pulverized, or to be made ewes, which have raised 38 lambs-24 of them beso before using. Mix thoroughly-adding the ing twins. The sheep are fed on hay, clover and black until the oil is well colored, or quite black. herdsgrass, with an additional daily allowance of In cool weather the oil should be warmed some-eight quarts of a mixture of oats and beans. (A what before mixing. With a sponge apply a light good preventive of ticks.) coat of the mixture-only what the leather will readily absorb, unless the harness is dry-which will be in from two hours, to a half or a whole day, depending upon the weather and previous condition of the leather-wash thoroughly with suds. In making the suds, use good Castile soap and cold rain water-(warm water should never be used on harness leather.) Apply the Rub off with buckskin. This will give the harness a nice, glossy surface, and the leather will retain a good color, and continue pliable for months. Stock of all kinds should receive extra care and If it becomes soiled with mud or sweat, an appli- keeping during the spring months. The "old cation of soap and water, as above directed, (with-coat" should be started while at the barn-the out oiling,) will be sufficient to give it a bright ap- earlier, the better-by means of a few roots, or a little grain, in addition to a full allowance of good Two applications of this oil and black mixture a hay, that they may be all ready to feed and "grow year (or once every six months,) will be sufficient fat," when turned to grass. I am better pleased to keep harness, as ordinarily used, in good order. with the term "spring fat," than "spring poor." It may be necessary for livery men, and others The skeleton may be an object of interest, and who use harness constantly, to apply the oil oftener perhaps profit to the anatomist; but to the agri--but in most cases two oilings a year, and wash-culturist, or stock-grower, such an object moving ing with suds when soiled, will keep a harness in within the enclosure of his barn-yard is of little good trim for sight and service. This process will interest, and of less profit. Our creatures should pay a large dividend in extra service and durabil- come out in the spring in good condition, exhibitity, to say nothing of improved appearance. Al- ing a healthy and thriving appearance; fleshier, if derman Baker assures us that the same, or a sim- possible, than when they came to the barn in the ilar application is just the thing for carriage tops fall; it speaks well for the farmer; it is a mark which are made of top leather. The only differ- of a successful stock-grower, with whom farming ence in treatment, that less oil should be used, or will pay! rather a lighter coating applied-and it should be Lyndon, Vt., May, 1862. washed off before drying in, top leather being thin, and much more penetrable than harness. Of course, the mixture would not answer for enamelled leather, of which some carriage tops are con-pondent of the Homestead gives the following as structed.-Exchange. pearance. I. W. SANBORN. CHEAP SUMMER FEED FOR HOGS.-A corres an economical manner of summer feeding hogs, |