The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-22
TIE VIRTUES OF SNOW.

Professor Page, of Washington, commuri.
Gates the following to the National Intelli.
gencer 1t is II tradition of long standing
among country people, that hard winter
with abundant snow guarantees good crop
year Mr. Page gives some of the phiosophi-
cal processes which tend to this result:
Tue SHow.-The snow was proverbially
called the "poor farmers manure" before
scientific analysis had shown that it contained
larger per centage ofammcnia than rain.-
The snow serves us a jifotccting mantle to
the tender heritage 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 tho air was
seventy.two degrees below zero the tc:npera.
ture of the snow little below the surface
was twenty y-ninc degrees above zero, over one
hundred degrees difference. The snow keeps
the earth just below its sutace in condition
to take on chemical changes which would not
happrn il yie e1rlh wef' bare md irczrn to n
great depth. The snow prevents exhnlatons
IRON the earth, and is powerful absorbent
retaining and returning to the earth gases
arising from vegetable and animal decompo.
sitlon. 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 yet of incalculable benefit in a
climate like ours, and especially at this time,
when the deep springs of the earth were
falling and the mill streams were refusing
their motive powers to the craving appetites
of man. II, during the last month, the clouds
had dropped rain instead of snow we might
have pumped and bored the earth in vain for
water: but, with foot of snow upon the
earth and many feet upon the mountains, the
hum OF the mill stones and the harsh notes of
the saw will soon and long testify to its be-
nevolence Bridges, carlh.works and the
fruits of engineering skill and toll may be
swept away, but man will still rejoice in the
general good and adore the beneyolence of
Him who. orders all things Alright. The snow
is II great purifier of the atmosphere. The
absorbent power or capillary action of snow
is like that of II sponge or charcoal. Imme-
dlately after snow has fallen melt il in Il clean
vessel and taste it and YOU will find immcdi.
ately evidences of its impurity. Try some a
day or two old and it becomes nauscous, cs-
pecially in cities. Snow water makes the
mouth harsh and dry. 1t has the same effect
upon the skin, and upon tho hands and feet
ProuucVs lhe Phlhlui Hlhiauy ol cnliDlains. In
Alpine countries snow water has bceuthought
to be productive of the disease called goitre.
The following easy experiment illustrates
beautifully the absorbent property Of snow:
Take a lump of snow (a piece of snow crust
answers weID of three or four inches in
length and hold il in the flame of lamp; moi
II drop of water will fall from the snow, bu,
the water, as fast AS formed, will penetrate OF
oe drawn mp into the mass of snow by capl
larry attraction. 1t is by virtue of this attrae
tion that the snow puriies the atmospher,
by absorbing and retaining its noxious an,
noisomc gases and odors. u
CHAS G. PAGE.