The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-14

Rainwater brings down yearly about
twelve pounds of ammonia per acre OF
ground. To supply an equal amount in
sulphate Of ammonia at six cents per
pound would cost the farmer 81. SO, and
this is therefore the manuvial value of
rain. To this, however, must be added
certain quantity of nitric or nitrous
acid. "-Scientifc Miscellany, in the
GALAXY.
Here we have it in figures dollars and
cents. There is little uncertainty,
perhaps, for it is not stated whether the
computation is in our currency slightly
deprecated, or in gold. 1t would have
been better if this point had been made
clear, for it is well to be precise in these
matters. To be entirely safe Let us as
sumo that the value of the rain fall is ex-
pressed In legal tenders-$2. SO per acre,
and to this Unjust be added certain
quantity Of nitric or nitrous acid" value
not expressed. Why add it2 The
chemical affinity would be damaging to
the greenbacks. 1t affords strong ar
gument for the specie resumption, for
the acid would not deteriorate the gold.
These Scientific Miscellany" fellows
seem never to consider the whole field.
They leave out important matter, or hay
ing themselves complete knowledge of
affairs, they cannot easily descend to ex-
PLANTATION, hence the liability of common
farmers to be misled by expressions of
the highest wisdom. In sober fact it
will not do to add "nitric or nitrous
acid" to our currency. We must have
the hardest kind or it were better not to
make the addition. But guarding against
a contingency which might transmute
our money into gas or other intangible
condition, there is comfort in the pre-
olson with which plain farmers may, by
the aid of this formula, compute incomes.
A thousand acres brings annually to the
owner 81, $50, no lodging that result.
Now that is fair income for any ordi-
nary farmer. Suppose he pays in taxes
and little charities $3.50, he can manage
to get through the year very well on the
81, 900 unless his family be very expen-
sive, in which case let him get few
hundred acres more. If he is precise
and methodical, why he will first find
out how much he requires to get through
the year, and then get his acres to suit,
making some allowance, perhaps, for
very dry seasons when the rain fall
might possibly be worth not more than
$2.37 to the acre. He need not buy
high-priced land, for the rain falls alike
on the just and the unjust, that is to say,
all he wants is the land. A landless
tailor and burly farmer by chance hap
pened to be in the shop of the former
during the shower. The farmer having
easy conscience dozed in his chair, while
young woman, an object of affection
ate regard with both, came in and saw
the tailor plying his needle while the
farmer slept. She could marry either
which should she takel Industry is
better than somnolent idleness. The
brisk tailor divining her thought, said
"See 1 have earned sixpence while
that lazy fellow has slept!"
The sun shone brightly through the
broken clouds full in the farmers face.
Weakening with yawn he looked out at
the freshened fields, quoth he /:
"That shower has given me $25 !"
Shrewd damsel Hes my choice,
the discounted tailor plainly read in her
face.
IT'S ever thus. The acres and the
rainfall 1898 manurial value to the
acre-why, it only leaves the question OF
acres to decide. That being done all
the affairs of life flow smoothly.-Ihe
H1s6dndn,an.