The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-03-08
Agricultural. A
The Virtues of Snow.

Professor Page, of Washington, communi
Gates the following to the National Inelli
gencer 1t is tradition of long standing
among country people, that hard winter
with abundant snow guarantees good crop
year. Mr.. Page gives some of the philosohi-
cal processes which tend to this result:
THE SNOW.
The snow was proverbiallv called the poor
farmers manure before scientific analysis had
shown that it contained larger per centage
of ammonia than rain The snow serves as
protecting mantle TO the tender herbage
and the roots of all plants against the fierce
blasts and cold of winter. An examination
of snow in Siberia showed that when the
temperature of the air was seventy-two de-
grees below zero the temperature of the snow
a little below the surface was twenty
degrees above zero, over one hundred degrees
difference. The snow keeps the earth just be-
low its surface in condition to take on
chemical changes which would not happen
if the earth We're bare and frozen to great
depth. The snow prevents eXhalatOns from
I'll earth, and is a powerful absorbent, retain
ing and returning to the earth gases arising
from vegetable and animal decomposition
The snow though it falls heavily at the door OF
the poor and brings death and starvation to
the fowls of the air and beasts of the field,
is vet of incalcuable benefit in climate
like ours, and especially at this time, when
the deep springs of the earth were failing and
the mill streams were refusing their motive
powers to the craving appetltes of man. If.
during the last month, the clouds had drop
ped rain instead of snow we might have
pumped and bored the earth in vain for wa
ter but, with foot of snow upon the earth
and many feet upon the mountains, the hum
of the milStones and the harsh notes of the
saw will soon and long testify to its benev-
olence. Bridges, earth works and the fruits
of engineering skill and toll may be swept
away, but man will still re ioice in the gem
eral good and adore the benevolence of Him
who orders all things Alright. The snow is a
great purifier of the atmosphere. The alb
sorbent power or capillary action of snow
is like that of sponge or charcoal. Imme-
diateiy after snow has fallen melt it in a
clean vessel and taste it and you will find
Immediately evidences of its impurty Try
some a day or two old and it becomes nau-
seous, especially in cities. Snow water makes
the mouth harsh and dry. 1t has the same
effect upon the skin, and upon the hands and
feet produces the painful malady of chill
blains. In A pine countries snow water has
been thought to be productive of the disease
called the goitre. The following easy ex-
pertinent illustrates beautifully the absorbent
property of snow Take lump of snow "a
piece of snow crust answers welD of three
or four inches in length and hold it in the
flame of lamp; not drop of water will
fall from the snow, but the water, as fast as
formed, will penetrate or be drawn up into
the mass of snow by capillary a!tra ction. 1t
is by virtue of this attraction that the snow
purilies the atmosphere by absorbing and re.
tanning its noxious and noisome gases and
odors. CHARLES G. PAGE.