The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-11-01


phagus containing u mummy, taken from
the ruins of Thebes, Ia city known to
have been utterly destroyed more than
three thousand years ago. among the en-
velopes enclosing the body were found Sc.
vcral grains of wheat, which were plant
ed by a gentleman in England, and pro-
duced the Egyptian, or many'headed,
wheat, of precisely the same form and
quality as it now grows with us.
Loudon also states that, in the stomach
Of an embalmed ibis, bird which the
Egyptians worshipped, were found some
seeds which were planted and produced
the common red raspberry.
know an instance where yard had
been used for wood in the rear of house.
for sixty years, and the accumulated bark
chips, and saw dust had never beed re-
moved during that period. On cleaning
it off, it was supposed to be good rich
spot for planting onions, and clear from
weeds; bat TO the disappointment of the
owner, all manner of foul things. of all
nations, Kingdoms, and tongues, came
up so quick and luxurantly, that he ne
yer saw an enion, nor, in fact, could ever
find any.
A recent case in my experience con-
firms the belief that many seeds, when
lying in the earth constantly wet, or be-
You'd the reach Of light and heat, are al
most as imperishable as the diamond, or
the precious metals.
1T is said that the mari from the Orange
county beds, at a depth of fifteen or TWEEN
ty feet, when freshly taken and enclosed
under glass covers ond properly moisten.
ed, and exposed to light and heat, will
produce several vegetable varieties, and
especially white clover. Mari is undoubt-
edly deposit from lakes or ponds, which
from some cause have disappeared, but at
period so remote, that calculation is at
fault in assigning ii place in our chrono-
logy. If such is the fact, to what an in
definite periods can the life of seeds be
prolonged What a commentary on the
short space of animal in comparison with
vegetable life, when we look upon one of
the monarchs Of the forest, whose concen-
trio rings count 500 or 600 years, and
was respectable fishing rod for the Ii
tans before the invention OF gunpowder or
the mariners compass, and in proud man
hood Drawing with its giant head the
storms of winter, before the discovery of
America kingdoms and nations have
come and gone conqueTors and heroes
have ruled and ruined, passed away, and
are forgotten while the old oak has flour
ished and grown stronger and more mighty
every day.
But, Mr. Editor, have run off the
track. What was going TO say ! Oh,
my experience of the lenacity of life in
seeds.
When took possession of the farm on
which now reside, on the north side of
the Ridge-road, there was field Of rather
low ground which had eight or ten years
previously been cut over and partially
cleared of logs. and allowed to run into
such grasses as chance produced, together
with great quantity Of small brake fern
maretail, (equiSetun,.) and other wild af-
fairs that constituted the toughest cord that
can be conceived Of. A ditch was run
through it, and ploughed in the fall with
strong team. In the spring, after it be-
became dry enough, attempted TO cross
plough it for oats ; but my hired man said
il was utterly impossible, as the sward
had not rol,ed at all, and it was so tough
that it would drag before the plough in
long strips; in short, the only way we
could subdue il was, to deUii it over, as
the saying is, and with axes cut il up and
burn it. This turf was from four to six
inches thick, and under il a Quicksand
subsoil, with some stone. have been
thus particular 10 make it apparent that
this black soil that now composed this
sward, was the result of accumulation and
deposite of decayed vegetables from all
time previous, since 'water ran and grass
grew Well, sir, in the course of my
pIdesan. occupation of chopping and cor
/. ding green-sward, l observed line o
new vegetation on the line Of the burrows
as they lay Tapped one upon another in 9
, straight line about four inches from wha
, was the original surface, in various place,
for many rods. On examining it closely
: have often heard farmers say that sucl
and such land was natural TO white Glove
, that if you should clear a spot in thu
{ wilderness, it would Immediately come il
5 that to sow plaster would insure whit
: clover where there was none before (; bu