The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-04-13
THE PIONE EER.
AGRICULTURAL L

The Test of Hardness in Vegetation.
The action and interaction of moisture,
air, heat and light, constitutes what Is call
ed weather. season or climate, by whose
impulse the machinery ofvegetation moves,
and under whose irregularty it is liable to
be diseased in various degrees. Weather
is, as | suppose, the great index of the
health of all plants, ,other things beingequal
especially in an unsteady climate. Such
varieties as are annually renewed from the
seed repair the injuries of one unhealthful
year by the salubrity of those which fol-
low. But in the case of tropical and
sem-tropical plants, not at home in this
climate, this is not SO readily done. In
these, especially if they are perennials,
such as peaches, grapes, and potatoes, the
injury may accumulate from year to year,
until 1T becomes a aquestion whether their
culture shall be abandoned, or whether
they shall be inyigorated by reproduction
from the seed, or important from more
genial climes. This alternatives especial
ly presented, in climate SO fickle as ours,
inregard to mosttropical and semi-tropical
plants.
Ii these positions are admittcd-posi-
tons whose ample proof and Illustration
would fill volume, the natural and Just
interference is, that no pegetabe Is insuScep-
tile 10 morJib climatic Influences, especially
IN oar climate.
may have potatoes-my neighbor, a
few years ago, thought he had wheat, and
third may think he has melons, cabbage,
or plums, which, for series of years, may
have seemed unaffected by all ordinary ir-
regularity and intensity ofweather. But
1t would be a vain confidence, in them and
in me, to assume that the plants just nam
ed would certainly withstand, hereafter,
all adverse weather, especially under the
liability of unwise exposition, soil and cul-
ture. Such certain exemption from un-
favorable climate influence would imply,
aside from violent mechanical injury, =
virtual Immortality in vegetation. 1t will
be we'll for the true interests of agriculture
to correct the false and unattainabte stand
ard which few ardent cultivators have
openly, and many more practically, as
sumed. The true standard of hardness
In vegetation is then, as 1 conceive, this:
that any valuable variety recommended is
not usually injured by adverse climatic in
f'uesce, and that it is less injured than
others of its class in like circumstances.
With such standard of attainment as
this there is ample room, and, as think
encouragement for wise effort to improve
wheat, grapes, and especially potatoes, OF
any thing else which may have showed
especial liability to climatic disease.
The investigation of this subject lies at
tha foundation of wise vegetable patho-
logy. In connection with 1.-THE ascertain
ment ofthe quantity Of rain falling uni
formly in the season of vegetation, and the
range Of the tenapature through the same
season, will constitute a sure basis for the
estimation Of the comparative fruitfulness
OF any one particular year, and of course
ofthe price of bread. A season of grea
uniformity, with frequent moderate rains
and temperature somewhatwarm, is sure
to be productive one. C.E. G. Uico