New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-07

soo What ,csnIts arc obtained not only from small
trocts lint from soil which they would consider
useless. 81,
On fine upIands between Verviers and Aix-la-
CbonoIIe the snow still lay in unmcted drifts Al
though II disappeared as we descended 10 the pam
| 81 the RLine there was marked changed between
,be latter and that of Belgium. The country about
Cologne would correspond in its stage OF develop
mept to the neghbOrhoOd of New-iork on the LIST oil
April or about three weeks earlier Ahe spring
here moves more slowly than with U.S. yet little
more RAPIDLY than in England. The north wind,
blowing from the Baltic was raw and chilly, and
there was still menace of snow in the cloudy sky.
Leaving BolOgne we took anew railroad through
the mountainous parts of Westphalia and Northern
Nassau TO Gessen. No sooner had we left the PLAIN
OF the Rhine than all appearance of spring vanished
the scenery of the road-as varied and beautiful as
that Of any railway in Germany-was hidden by
SQUALLS of snow and long before reaching Giessen
we had entered region of Winter. Here labor had
not yet commenced, either in the gardens OF the
fields the cattle were in their stalls and the people
seemed to venture forth from their villages only
upon some GRAND of necessity. 1t was depressing
change from the bright, animated cheerful scenes OF
England andBelgium, which we had 50 recently left
| behind
From G. essen to GOtha is journey Of seven hours
and quarter. Having passed the mountainous
country TO the east of the Rhine, were fairly en-
tered into the heart of Germany, and found Winter
nothing but Winter! The snow, which had fanclcd
might be temporary phenomenon, became perma-
| nent part of the landscape. 1t grew deeper as we
advanced and finally lay thick on valley rs on noun
tain except upon some low, moist meadows along the
Werra River. where hocks of sheep were cropping
the tufts of late Autumn grass. 1t might nave oeeh
| January in GOtha as well as March. so thoroughly
,1,,,, e4va Hmm trnY
! city to the mountains.
| Snce orr arrival we have had three additional
snow-storms with temperature varying from 10o TO
| 40o of Fahrenheit. Two OF three moderate days re
move the snow from all the warmer slopes and expo
sures of the soil then the clouds gather the storm
! comes on again, and a sharp wind from the north
follows Nature seems here TO die into life with
pangs far more sharp and fierce than the death OF
| Autumn Our March is disagreeable enough, but u
seems mild and gentle in contrast with this hideonS
| recurrence Of the worst feature OF Winter Inc
young grass has not grown the sixteenth OF an inc
| in the last fortnight the llac-buds half expanded
| by q warm February, are frozen and the blossoms
partly destroyed and the low sun of this high la'l-
tude gives a scarcely appreciate warmth, even when
the sky is clear.
The harder sorts of fruit trees support the long
Winter and tardy Spring without injury; butpeaches'
apricots and grapes, trained as espalers Ul"St nc
covered with straw mating in order to produce at
all Roses are also carefully swathed and the Hover
beds protected with thick heaps of ir-bOughs. The
same care here employed to secure these plants
and trees would, with us, say in latitude 40, enahe
us to have figs pOmegranates camelllas ana thehoio
delicate varieties of grapes in theOpen air ihave long
been of the opinion that the capacities Of our climate,
in this respect, have never been fully tested we
shrink from experiments which involve little more
Init than half the charm Ot
horticulture lies in the success which IS attained
under such conditions
| The misfortune is that agriculture IN all IT'S
branches has in America been followed principally
by classes representing two extremes-the Old
fashioned farmer, conservative, unprogressivo re-
living only Oh the few modes Of culture TO which he
was accustomed as a boy, and the rich amateur who
possesses no real knowledge, and feels No sincere,
absorbing interest in the life which he has
adopted as another form of luxury. The IN
termediate class--those who bring taste intel
ligence, and enthusiasm TO the work. look
ing beyond immediate profit ostentatous
show-are still TOO scantiy represented. Hero hnd
men, developed by culture and travel, deyoting their
lives TO what is really the noblest human science
and the results under circumstances far less favor
able than surround us, are such 0s to make mo re
puet how far are in arrears.
One of these men, three OF four years ago persisted
in introducing the system of deep-plowing. The
farmers Of the neghbOhOod predicted his min, but
: the results are already manifest, that they are
one by one. following his example. BY heavy ma
nuriRg and judcious rotation Of crops, These fields
. which have been cultivated for fifteen hundred
years give toerable yield, with the old system of
shallow blowing -four inches probably. would be the
! averaged vet am convinced that their production
may be doubled. The value Of the solar and atmos-
pheric influences has never yet been measured.
Our climate am satisfied, is better than that OF
Germany or even of Belgium. Whether the south
of England, with its extraordinarily mild Winter
and its equable temperature, though often moist
and unfavorable TO crops is to be preferred to our
dry clear air and violent changes, Is question
which admits of discussion. Our baTyests, on the
whole are more certain, even leaving ont Of view
our more hasty and imperfect agricultural system.
In regard to the health and vgor Of the race these
depend rather upon the habits Of life than upon diff
ference of climate The nearest approach 10 English
stability and order is to be found among the Quaker
farmers of Pennsylvania and there is class of our
! people / am sure, more healthy or long lived OF
better provided with the good things Of this life.
| don't mean to point moral or adOrn a tale,
wherever Lean avoid itieast of all in these familiar
letters; but think k Marvel and II. G. will
| with me, that the most of us country people in
America might be better off than we are.
When the Spring opens, hope it will open further
| reflections upon this point. After having had the
promise Of Summer in England, look ont of my
window here, upon the bleak.ThuriDgian Mountains,
| with a feeling akin to despair BIT.
4 CARD