Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-31
AGRICULTURAL,

Himself must either hold or dive.
0LrThe following is the la I Of series Of
articles in the Country Gentleman, by H. f.
French on"Adraniagcs Of Education 10 Far.
rers:"
Among the agencies invoked bv science to
the aid Of agriculture, electri ity should not be
forgotten. Surely that mysterious power,
which lights up the winter heavens at mid.
night, making an Aurora BoreaIis--a north.
norning-of glory in place Of darkness
which swiflcr than winged Mercury from
Olympus, nay, swifter ;han light itself con-
veys the th,ughts Of men around the globe
which bound by enchantment--by cunbua-
tons OF pl tes OF different me,als--has even
been compelled to labor at the wheel, ind
dive the engine at mans bddng-sureIy
this powcr-ths prOtean splrt--ass inc
what varied form he may, shall yet be held
captive till he reveal some Of the secret
workings Of nature.
1t is not improbable that electricity ex-
erts controlling influence on all vegetation.
1t is stated that the point ofa blade OF
grass, or Of the young wheat or barley, has
the power Of attracting to itself oil the free
electricity present at four times the distance
that the finest p tint oil metal will do so. Ex-
pcriments in Germany and in England seem
to prove that vegetation may be very much
FASTENED by passing current Of electricity
through the soil. 1t is gravely stated in the
G rdiners Magazine, that at a dinner given
by the Marquis of Anglesea the seeds OF a
species vi ctess were sown in glass vessel
at the time the guests sat down 20 dinner, md
that the crop from these seeds was served to
them in a salad of the same meal
at is not good" says Plato, "to push our
Investigations too far. The natural sciences
find their limits, beyond which the mantle OF
Isis covered the mysteries. Can any one re.
veal the nature of force, OF iifs, or of motion'"
Living, however, as we d, in new country
having no "ancient land marks" we may be
allowed to look still farther on than did the
ancients, for the limits of "the natural scien.
cns," and we may yet see the day when
Electricity may propel the pluw, and Gcrlil-
ize the soil, though 1t is obviously our part in
the mean time to iad0r, and not wait for 1uch
co.wofkers in the field.
There is class of operations in nature
pertaining to the growth of plants, the causes
O which we can scarcely guess, much less
comprehend, and these for want Of more sat
isiacrory name, have sometimes been called
Vegetable Instincts.
Among these may be mentioned, the ten.
dency OF many trailing, vines to run towards
water. 1t is said that il you place pan OF
water, in the evening, few inches from the
end Of growing squash vine, tho vine will
turn aside from its direct course, towards the
water, and be found in The morning, with q
leaf floating on its surface.
The roots Of all trees, seem to be IN the
same way attracted towards water In a
garden. last summer, where tho stonlng of a
well ad been taken up, in II dry and sandy
coil, saw roots of an apple tree which had
penetrated to the depth of l3 feet, in search
OF water, which could not be found nearer the
surface.
The roots OF plants in the same way, seem
TO have an instructive power of seeking out
fertiiizipg substances. II bones are buried
at little distance from grape vine, tho
roots ofthe vine will spread them every one
and spread fine net work Of small fibrcs oil
over them, and if the bones be hollow, the
roots will frequently run through them, and
sometimes, after going short distance be.
yund IL 10 said WIN return and seek the same
depository ot tho food best adapted to it.
growth.
Climbing plants, run towards poles, o. 9th.
reached them, have "A strange wilIulness u.
TO the direction iE which they twine abou,
them.
] once proposed to a learned professor a
question which should be glad to kear sat.
isfsctorily answered. Why is il that tho com.
mon hop always twincs about the pole which
supports it, IRON East to Westl OF the fuct
there Ia no dispute. Among million plants
no single exception can be found. My friend
upon rejection, said he thought II might be
well enough accounted for, by the attraction
vi the light Of the sun. As the sun rises; the
plant 10 attracted towards and follows his
course towards the West, and SO from day to
day continues on. | suggested 10 him hat 10
support his the y, it would be necessary that
the vine sho ID grow fast enough 10 90
round once doy, or it nigh, turn back to,
wards the light.
However,, accepting this as tho true expla,
milton, proposed TO him another question o
q similar nature, and il was, why the bran
always twines about the pole in the opposite
direction! whichls invariably the case. Said
he, 81 will not undertake to account for il.
II is much easier to dispute The fact, aud
don't believe a word of it,"
Thus have | endeavored to illustrate in a
familiar way the advantages of education, to
the cultivator OF the earth. rs giving him the
al. 4 AZ
longs to him who is iord Of The iand-as aid
ing him in the profitable pursuit of his bust.
ness, by unording him the light Of science by
which TO conduct his aiIairs--aS eI,yutmg
him above the mere hborer, so that he may
appreciate in some degree, the mysleriou.
processes Of nature, by which she brings (rou