The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-11-09

from Mr.. FeatheEstonhaugh's essay on the
principles and practice of rural economy.
He says
"a grain of wheat, when put into the
ground at the depth of four inches, under
goes the following transformations as soon
as the farinaceous mater which envelopes
the frame of the young plant contained
within it is scftened into q milky state. A
germ is pushed out, and at the bottom of
that germ small roots soon follow. The
roots are gathering strength. whilst the
germ, by the aid of the milky fluid. is
shooting upwards; and when the milk is
exhausted, the roots are in activity and are
collecting nourishment for the plant from
the soil itself. This is analogous to the
weaving of the young animals, which are
not abandoned by the mother till they can
provide for themselves. But the care of
Nature does not end here: when the germ
has fairly got above the surface, and become
plant, a set Of upper roots are thrown out,
close TO the surface of the ground, which
search all the superficial parts of the soil
with the same activity as the under roots
search the lower parts; and that part Of the
germ which separates the two sets of roots
is now become the channel through which
the lower roots supply the plant with the
nourishment they have collected. What an
admirable continuance TO secure the pros
perity of the plant Two distinct sets of
roots serve, in the first place. to fiX the
plant firmly in the ground, and to collect
nourishment from every quarter. The up
per roots are appositely situated to receive
all the nourishment that comes naturally
from the atmosphere. or arti6cially, as ma
nure, to the surface: and serve the further
purpose of being the base of new stems.
which are filtered up, aud so greatly in
crease the productiveness of the plant. The
excellence of the drill system in grain may
probably be perceived in this explanation;
for in broadcast sowing the seeds lie very
near to the surface, and in this situation it
is not only more exposed 70 accidents aris-
ing from birds, insects, and the weather,
but the two sets of roots are necessarily
crowded together, so as almost to become
indistinct; the plant is less firm, and has
less purveyors collecting food for it.'
You still insist on potatoes forming
tap-root: and to prove this, you assert that
you planted potatoes in June last, and only
covered two inches deep, and now you are
lifting potatoes FIVE inches from the surface.
Astonishing, indeed How many more
inches did you add to the two in cultiva-
ting, Ell What said reiterate, Mr..
''W. F." TO the contrary notwithstanding,
that the new crop of potatoes is found be-
tween the surface and the old potato { 1 am
speaking of the Irish potato). Proof: Build
two stone walls, one foot high each, and
one foot apart; lay your seed potatoes On the
surface of the ground, between the walls;
throw brush and weeds over the top of the
walls-darken the ends in the same manner,
if you choose; and when you come to gather
you will find your new crop between the
ground and the top of the walls as good
yield, and as good in quality, as ever sat on
table. But again, name the time and place
where you and shall dig potatoes, and will
be ''thar." On the following conditions: For
everypotato that either or both of US take from
the ground. that grew deeper or further from
the surface than the old potato, will pay
you fifty cents, and for every potato either
or both of US take from the ground, that
grew between the old potato and the sur
face of the ground, you will pay me one
cent. 1t is you. and not me, that presents
the monstrosity that plants grow without
seed. and that animals spring into life with
out parents-in other words, that man
sprang from a tadpole. I asserted that a
half-starved kernel of wheat might produce
chess, and at this you take Highland that
too after asserting that you, by a chemical
process, can get 30 lbs. of potash from 2
lbs. of potash and 90 lbs. of nothing. Let
me put your language in another shape:
W. F.-'.Farmer, what did you pay for
that D durham bull ?''
Farmer-"Two hundred dollars
w. F.-"Two hundred dollars Why,
what did you do that for ?-why this waste of
money 90
Fsrmer-"It is no waste of money, sir.
The English stock-raisers, within the last
forty years, have improved their stock
from 600 lbs. to 100 lbs; and want to
keep pace, and improve mine.''
w. F.-"Sir, l can go out here on the
prairie, and find bull that can be bought
for $40. and save you $3.50. To be sure,
he is slightly shrunken-but no difference;
you can raise as good stock from him as
you can from full berry"
Farmer-'.Either you are fool, or I
am" ESt ~ F.
might carry this conversation still fur
Their, but have not the space.
I care not in this article to state whether
Mr.. Proctor is an honorable merchant or
not; that is not matter under discussion.
haye not misrepresented Mr.. Proctor.
related precisely what he said about the
wheat, and no more.
n LII II ., 4 -