Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-20
AGRICULTURAL.
FARM, GiRDES AND HOUSEHOLD.


oSohouiOoi impAChonbo Vi .tn6 Iaful,
not the least valuable is the barometer,
an instrument, by the intelligent OBJ
servance of which, the husbandman
may often save many hundreds every
season. This correct indicator of the
weather viii give timely notice of
storms of rain, &C., which Will enable
the farmer to watch the proper time
for cutting as well assecuring his crops,
the result of his years labor, and upon
which SO much depends.
There is no magic or mystery about
the barometer. 1t acts upon the sim
pie and infallible laws of gravitation.
that holds the particles of orr earth to-
gether. 1t is simply glass tnbe, sealed
at the top, opened at the lower end.
filed with mercury, and resting. at the
opened end, IN cup of mercury. The
AIR being exhausted from the inside of
the tube, the weight or pressure of the
air on tue mercury in the cup, forces
the mercury into the tube, or holds il
up in the tube, when already filled
TO the exact point where the weight of
the air outside will balance the weight
of the mercury inside, and rises or falls
as the air pressure varies on the mer-
curry IN the cup outside the tube. IL is
then merely a nicely adjusted scale
balance, to show the weight of the air.
When the weather is clear and fine.
the air is dense and heavy, and forces
the mercury in the tube to rise, by the
increase OF pressure on the mercury in
the cup; and when the weather Is clear
and dry for several days, the weight of
the air rs so uniform, that the mercury
in the barometer will remain very near
ly at the same level. But the weight of
the air never long remains the
same, and soon, by eyapora.
ton from the earth's surface, very
tine particles of moisture egin to rise,
and these watery PARTICLES begin to III
crease IN amount till the air becomes
filled to its capacity for moisture, which
makes what we call clouds. Then two
OF these clouds, or bodies of watery
air, meeting and mixing-one being
warmer than the other, and warm air
having greater capacity for moisture
than cold-the mixture OF warm air
and cold has less capacity for moisture
than both clouds had before they mix
ed, so "a part of the moisture is thrown.
out, and falls in the form of rain
Now IN fine, dry weather the air is
heavy, and holds the mercury high up
in the barometer, but as it becomes
filled with watery vapors, it grows
lighter, and presses less and less upon
the mercury IN the barometer cistern,
and lets that In the tube fall CORES
pondingly. Now as it always requires
many hours, and usually one or two
days for the air to fill with vapors
enough to cause rain, it is readily seen
how the barometer must give warning
of the coming storm may hours, aud
days, in advance. The mo-
ment the air begins to fill with vapors,
1t begins to grow lighter, and the ba-
rometer begins to fall long before any
other signs indicate rain; and the
watery vapor keeps on increasing, and
the barometer keeps on falling, till the
air is saturated or filed with moisture,
when it begins to rain, which contin-
ues till the watery particles in the air
becom exhausted or blown away by
the winds, when the rain ceases. Be-
fore 1T ceases to rain, the watery vapors
IN the air become partially exhausted,
the air grows heavier, and the barome-
ter Indicates that the rain is nearly at
an end, by beginning to rise some
hours before the rain ceases.
This Is the general theory of the
practical operation of the barometer in
foretelling weather changes.
An instrument which is thusa correct
indicator of atmospheric changes, cam
not be otherwise than invaluable, not
only to the agriculturist, the sailor, the
mechanic and the manufacturer, but to
every one whose business is liable to
be effected by these changes. And as
a matter of course, so indispensable an
instrument is liable to be forced into
the market in cheap and imperfect
forms, by unprincipled manufacturers,
and imposed upon the community as
"Infallible Weather Indicators" "Syr-
ian Plants, "Aneroyds, Patent Me-
tailic," and cheap and worthless mercu-
rial Barometers. We would caution
the public against all ESQ called) cheap
affairs and would advise our friends to
purchase only of reliable parties. The
best barometer we know of, and the in
strument in most general use among
our scientific observers, and the farm
ers and manufacturers of the East, is
called The Wider barometer, costing
from So TO $40 each; but all equally
correct as indicators of atmospheric
changes, the difference in cost depend
ing upon the different styles of finish.
This barometer is not only altogether
reliable, but is ty'nasp0rtable, Ia very i'm
portant quality and never liable to get
out of order.
ABOUT TREE PLANTING The NAPLES.
SUGAR NAPLES. There are two sugar
naples. The one most common, and
almost exclusively natural to the forests
of the east. is the common sugar ma
pie deer Sdcchdrinun1. The other,
which is quite common to the west, is
AceT Nigrum, or Black Sugar Maple. -
The outer bark is of darker color, the
leaves larger, and of deeper, shining
green.
The seeds of these two naples ripen
in September, and should be planted
at once; whereas, the seeds of the soft
maple ripen before the leaves are fully
expanded, and should be planted as
soon as ripe, making growth of one
to two, and sometimes even three feet
the first year.
When grown, the sugar naples are
the most valuable, not only for fuel,
but for sugar, cabinet ware, and other
purposes. All of the naples furnish
specimens of the curly and birds eye
maple, so much priced by the cabinet
maker and gunsmith.
On the prairie, the black maple is
mucb the better grown. and from what