Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-07-08
PARIS, ME-,
rIom the Ra..lNs. Yorker.
Leaf Mold


II any country reader Of this paper who
owns iarm, has never penetrated the hank.
Of leaves tha, lie against old logs and in
sheltered nooks and corners in his woods.
le, me advise him To lose no time in doing
-. and | assure him that sight Of what
be will End buriel there. will moro than
compensate for the trouble Brushing aside
the dry, rusilins leaves Il at cover the un.
derlying mas. keeping il constantly moist.
thus assisting dccomposi ion. no comes,
frst, upon closely packet layer OF dead
foliage, always We; from tho latest rains,
and emitting that peculiarly clean aud
agreeable odnr, perhaps neier possessed by
d,cnying vegetable matter under any other
circumstances Below lics strata or once
green leaves, how half dissolved hy long
continued dampness, still retaining their
form in a considerable dc.rcc. hut Yielding
readily TO the sliehte., eGlrt 10 tear them
in rieccs. Descending deeper. the moisture
DECREASES, and he ends substance in color
and texture much resembling fne-cut tobac.
co, consisting Of separate, distinct PARTICLES.
the whole curlously threaded with the yet
und,clycd veins OF leaves. and lower still.
of almos, ,cl5cty snltnc,,, lic, the finest,
cleanc'i, smoothc.,, prriii'',t dirt imasina.
BILE, It that can be called ir, which fnscr.
a. The mos, delicate experience sensation
Of real pleasure in handling.
II the explorer, after pursuing hi. inyes.
legations thus lar. experience any Of tho
wonder and admiration anticipate Tor hrm.
and Possesses in the small,s, lcsrcc the zeal
OF a curiosity hlntcr. be canno, resist tho
wish 1, carry away a SPEC men Of h,s new.
ly.iound treasure and IL nothing more con.
venien, to carry it 10, b, at hand. be will
carefully collect aud tie up in hl, pocket.
handkerchief a icS hlnlrllls whcrswith 10
puzzle and surprise thj,, a, hon, whoso
isulnnc, Of this substance !, probably as
great hls own was an hour before. Then
after passing It rolnl us examination. II
be remember, q have rad Of its COOL cr.
irct' on grape vines. strawberry vines,
blackberry and raspberry bushes, &,.. he
will np't likely bc,,ow hi' sample On some
hv,ri,c plant, and ds,armin, to improve
the fr', opportunity to Z, with his team
and fetch homo or tho benefit Of hi, young
,r,c', vines, bushes, &C., a quantity Of this
fertilizer.
;, much beauty a. he, hid in one OF these
rich deposit. Of mold oush, not to be un.
masked without plenty Of apprcciatiyc eyes
TO w,,nes. il. Especially b, surc to nave
the children present when the precious heap
d, opened The revelation Of IT. contents,
accompanied by some aceouu, Of the slow
and curious process by which the wonder.
ul pile Accumulated, woull aGirl them
hc,r,ier delight than many novelty they
are carried mile, % s.'. while the exercise
ui helping collect in baskets tlis substance,
which, considered IN it. origin or IN itself,
d, ~ beautiful and surprising As miracle,
would yield a vast amount Of innocent
heAlthlil enjpymcnt. There nsyi b, no dc.
Gcul,y about pr,yi,i,n Of implement, tor
taking out the contents or ,hi, sylvan labor.
at1ry; children would a. soon pick up acorn
cups, chcs,nut,, wIlnuts, or apples, with
a pair ol i1n:', a, gather such prcttiy
.luG a. leaf mold w,ih any other tools than
hands
lnliyiiual or parties yieitIns the woods
Tor rural cnj,yment, may make an cIamiua.
tion OF one Of these neglected lcai banks a
most pleasant and instructive ineidcn, OF
their excursion.