Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-07
AGRIcULTURAL INTELLIGENCE.

egao i1Sr;ne dry spell and in trenched
ground roots strike deeper in search OF ioou any,
moisture become more extensively ramlneo, anu
sooner find the rich loan and manure lntermihSieu
deenlv with the soil The teaching process, as 1t IS
called is reversed, and takes place upwards mort
than at any other time or in some scientific phraSe
capillary attraction is increased AS each Paruoie
of moisture is eYaporated from the suriacept Is sue
ceeded by another, and the whole soil IS hlled WIN
the ascending moisture and gases, which are aPPro
propriated by the numerous rootlets as tney nave
need. >, =,
The wet season is also a blessing to the deep Gull
tiyator The more rain the more heat, ammonia
carbonic acid and other organic elements are let IN
the soil as it deScends AS each drop hters through,
it is succeeded by another or by air. ooth essent'"i
to vegetation and to dissolve, act on or comoine
with the inorganic elements of the SOIL AS the wa
ter drains off air is to follow, and TINS Is the
nroner mode of its circulation Each is also gencr-
ally at higher temperature than the unura, ee
land and the warmth of the under soil is therefore
relatively increased. The farmer often objects to
this waste of water, and would retain 1t Tor ory
time! The trenched and porous soil holds water
like sponge, Notwithstanding the drainage. IL re-
tains or can command enough for the wants OF veg
citation. But let us see the operation on the I'M
drained land. :,
The farmer often speaks of his SO cold, wet land"
No variety of SOIL in any location, is OF Itself coioer
than another. The very water, which tenchlng,
draining &C., allows to pass off, after lmpartnS Its
virtues to the soil, if retained on or near the sur
face by hard, impervous subsoil, becomes ITSELF
by its change, the source of the coidness com
planned Of Instead of running off it evaporates,
and by this practice abstracts a great guam
tity of heat from the soil and surrounding atmos-
phere The evaporation of pound OF water re-
quires about 900 degrees OF heat some authors
stating it at less and others it reduces one
hundred pounds of air 45 degrees. This is revers-
ing the experiment of Professor johnson, in Espys
"Book of Storms" where he says "a pound OF va
por," condensed to water would heat lOH pounds
of air about SIS degrees" The ground, to a con-
siderable depth, is warmer by many degrees, where
the rain is drained off, instead of being allowed to
accumulate and evaporate Hence this enormous
loss of invaluable stimulus to vegetation
The chilling andsdeadly process OF evaporation IS
going on to excess from the time frost comes out OF
the ground in the spring. till freezing again occurs
At this period, the undraned land having the most
water to freeze, becomes the warmest, say IN De-
cember when of no value in vegetation, but rather
an injury. For once, forsooth, the undraintd land
is warmer than the drained! But for this excess OF
heat in winter this kind of land must pay dearly in
early spring. How is all this inquiries the farmer.
Simply because water, in congcang to either ice or
snow has its capacity for heat lessened about one
ninth, and this excess is given off to surrounding
bodies or, in other words, its latent heat is set
free. On the other hand, ice or FROST as it is called
in the ground, in melting, demands back this same
heat, at the rate Of from oneegth to onc-ninth of
1000 degrees for every pound melted; and under
the surface it does not obtain all this directly from
the sun. but through the soil; therefore, the more
water the colder and longer cold will be the land in
spring. Now, let the agrculturst go to work and
make this "cold, wet heavy land" of his, the very
best he has for any product trees, vegetables grains
or grasses. DIR. hetley.
SAVING CHOICE SEEDs-rThc fact that We can get
superior breeds of animals only from the very best
and most perfect specimens is well established
that no one now doubts it, and thousands pay large
amounts for the use ownership of these superior
breeders. Why should not the case be analogous in
ths Gsi5ng ST yeGftsh can Sc raised
only from the most mature and perfect seeds. This
the market gardeners in the vicinity of cities
well aware of, and govern themselves accordingly.
To raise these fine vegetables, for which they can
obtain almost any price-and prices always in ad-
vance Of the market prices for ordinary articles
they seeds in the production and selection of
which the greatest pains have been taken. These
superior seeds arc raised by themselves, special
ly for them they do not depend seed dealers for
their supplies. They save their most thrifty speci-
mems OF radishes lettuce parsnps, turnips, beets,
carrots, cabbagcs, &C. g., from which to raise their
own seed. By doing this, year after year. most sur
prsing Improvements have been made in the size,
flavor taste and other qualities of many garden
productions.
These facts, we'll known among market gardeners
and others, render it highly probable, almost
ta:n that in the of all plants and all vegetable
productions, improvement to any extent, to an
indefinite extent might be secured if the practice of
selecting only the best specimens and the best seeds
were persevered in for number of years. Some
who have been at pains in this matter for few
years, have obtained such reputation for superior
kinds of various vegetables and grains that they
can obtain prices for their scedcorn, seeG-wheat
seed -potatoes and garden seeds, which highly
Some have obtained so much repu-
tation for superiority, in field and garden products
that they sell all they can raise at any price
which they may ask.
Country Gentleman, October 25.
THE SHORTEST WAY-Some twelve years ago, |
Napoleon, (lndiana,) celebrated for two things |
one for the carousing propcnsitCs of its citizens,
and the other for the great number of crossroads
in its vicinity. 1t appears that an Eastern collector
had stopped at Dayton to spend the night and gain
some information respecting his future course. Du-
ring the evening he became acquainted with an old
lrover who appeared well posted to the geogra-
might we'll inquire in regard to the best route to
different points to which he was destined
81 wish to go to Greenfield ;" said the collector;
now which is the shortest way?"
well, sir, said the drover, "you had better 90
Napoleon, and take the road leading nearly north
The traveller noted it down.
We'll, sir, if wish to go to Edinburgh"
Then go to Napoleon and take the road west"
Well, if [ wish to 90 to Vermont?
Z" Go to Napoleon and take the road southwest"
"Or to Indianapolis" added the collector, eye
ng the drover closely, and thinking he was being
imposed on.
" Go to Napoleon and take the road northwest"
The collector looked at his note book every
ERECTION had Napoleon on it ; he began to feel his
lettle rise, and he turned more to the drover
nth
Suppose, sir, wanted to go to the devil?"
The drover never smiled, but scratched his head
nd after moments hesitation said: