The Portland daily press., 1869-08-09
Intoxicating to Farn,ers.

facts from which their mierences are dra En
and from the desirable and convenient perma-
nent record OF the agricultural status at any
given time furnished by them. But they
reach most readers too late to afford the most
recent intelligence OF crop prospects. The
report dated, July goth. has jus. reached US.
1t states that the excessive rain fall OF June
the season for ripening winter wheat,-has
had an effect to give growth of straw almost
unprecedented, and an appearance Of visor
quite remarkable. At the same time, gem
eral exemption from insects has been observ-
ed, and a good development aud filing of the
head, which, with the increased acreage here
tofore recorded, might be expected to produce
a harvest of extraordinary magnitude. To
this calculation there are few drawbacks.
Rust, which has not been general or peculiar
" destructive, has wrought some injury east
of the plains, and has been quite severe in
several counties in California, and may yet
prove disastrous to the spring wheat. There
will be some complaint of light yield in thresh-
ing, 10 comparison with the apparent vigor
and fullness OF the growth at reaping. Al
ready several accounts of injury by sprouting
in the shock have been received from Mis-
souri,, Tennessee, and Southern Illinois,
where the harvest is over. This latter draw
back, should wet weather continue, may great
ly reduce The value Of the crop. 1t is scarce
ly possible, however, that any one or all of
these causes may be sufficient so to reduce
the crop as to cause a scarcity; and an
abundance of flour, at moderate prices, may
reasonably be expected, with good surplus
for expectation. stai f- uaa -s f.-l
At the date of the report accounts from
Maine were universally favorable for wheat,
but very discouraging for corn. So far as
this State is concerned the earlier reports in
regard to corn ought not to be much regard
ed. Oflate the springs are nearly all wet and
backward, and farmers are always discourag-
ed; but the favorable weather of the later
months ripens good crop, s.as....t.l ~,
MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF CELERY.
A recent agricultural writer says: a.at.
I have known many men, and women too,
who, from various causes, have become so
| much affected with nervousness that when
| they stretched out their hands they shook
| like aspen leaves on windy days-yet, by a
| daily moderate use of the blanched foot
| stalks Of celery leaves as salad they became
as strong and steady in their limbs as other
people. / have known others so very ner-
| vous that the least annoyance put them in a
state Of agitation, and they were almost in
| constant perplexity and fear, who were also
| efectually cured by q daily moderate use OF
blanched celery as a salad at meal times. j
have known others cured by using celery for
| palpitation OF the heart. Everybody engaged
| In labor weakening to the nerves, should use
| celery daily in season and onions in its stead
when not in season. R.
snis NOVEL NODE OF TYING HORsFs.
The Icelanders have curious custom, and
a most effectual one, of preventing horses
from straying. Two gentlemen, for instance,
are riding together without attendants, and
wishing to alight, for the purpose OF visiting
some objects at distance from the road, they
tie the tail of one horse to the head of thu
other, and the head Of this to the tail Of th'
former. In this state, it is utterly impossible
that they can move either backwards or for
wards, one pulling one way and the other thu
reverse; and, therefore, If disposed to NOV
at all, it will be only in a circle, and ever
then there must be an agreement to hav
their heads in the same direction.
ROAD DUST AND VEGETATION.
No careful observer will deny that tn
trees along much frequented roads especiall!
when exposed to the influence of prevailing
winds, distinguish themselves in the rapidit.
of their growth and the luxufance of thei
foliage as being more thriving than those o
the neighboring wood. This fact is beinI
ascribed to the dust from the roads which j
carried and deposited by the wind upon thei
branches and foliage. Dry road dust con
tains from eight to ten per cent of organic
matter arising from the excrements of ami
mails, from straw, hay or grains which ma,
have fallen from wagons frequenting tn
roads. After having been pulverized by car
riage wheels to fine dust, they form farg
amount of already decomposed and really so
uble nourishment for vegetable growth
Roads kept in good condition are therefor
not only important promoters of the civilizs
ton of the district wherein they are locate
on account of easier transportation, but ais
because of an inexpensive but not less e
ficicnt fertilizer. 1t is in such, at the frs
unapparent. causes, that an explanation {
many of the declared mysteries ofvegetatio
may be found. aih .a9 sa
THE EARLY ROSE POTATO. 1a srf
| Fri Willis ofAugusta has raised from fiv
hills of Early Rose potatoes, planted one foe
and three feet apart, a single eye to the hill
crop weighing nine pounds two ounces. Al
equal yield to the acre would give abou
$4,000 pounds, or 316 bushels.