The National tribune., 1881-12-24

such expanse has passed, and will again pass,
every few years, through the bodies of worms.
| The plough is one of the most ancient and most
! valuable of mans inventiOns but long before he
existed the land was in fact regularly ploughed,
and still continues to be thus ploughed by earth
worms. 1t may be doubted whether there are
many other animals which have played so i'm
portant part in the history Of the world as has
these lOwly organized creatures. Some other ami
mails, however, still more lOwIy organized namely
corals, have done far more conspicuous work in
having constructed innumerable reefs and islands
in the great oceans; but these are almost confined
to the tropical zones"
GOOD LUCK.-It is astonishing how deep
| rooted superstitiOns They are as hard to
weed out as Canada thistles. The delusiOn of
lucky days is by no means confined to sailors.
Many will not begin any important work on
Friday; and many there are who quietly observe
| these superstitiOns who are ashamed to own it.
This, indeed is the most hopeful sign about it.
A farmer in our presence lately observed, Il have
been farming fifteen years in Indiana and have
never failed in producing good corn crop"
You have been very lucky" said his neighbor.
Not at all, replied the first. Good soil, good
seed properly planted, and good cultivation Sc
cures good corn crOp-luck has nothing to do
with it, Providence is not unjust. He helps
those who help themselves best."-Iadiana Far
McT.
EXHAUSTION OF THE SOIL.-This expression
ia the language of practice has a relative mean
ing, and signifies reduction of producing power
below the point of remuneration. A soil is said
to be exhausted when the cost of cropping is more
than the crops are worth. In this sense the idea
is very Indefinite since a soil may refuse to grow
one crop, and yet may give good returns OF
other, and because a crop that remunerates in
the vicinity Of active demand for it, may be
worthless at little distance, on account of the
difficulties of transportation. The speedy and
absolute exhaustion Of soil once fertile, that
has been so much discussed by speculative wri-
ters, is found in their writings only and does not
exist IN agriculture. A soil may be cropped be-
low the point of remuneration, but the sterility
thus induced is of kind that easily Yields to
rest or other meliorating agencies and is far from
resembling in its permanence that which depends
upon original poverty of constituton.-Prot s.
". Johnson.
sentences are from an address by the secretary OF
the Virginia State Grange:
1t is my purpose to show why | think the
principles OF the Grange indestractiJie, and
thereby present some reasons why farmers who
not members should unite with us, and why
those who members should be true Patrons
The principles Of the Grange are indestruct-
ible because they are the very essence of high
moral and patriotic sentiment. Everywhere in
the Grange one is met with the unfeigned recogni-
tion and acknowledgment Of Deity. Our Manual
points to the worship OF God The Grange can
not die, because the principles on which it is
founded are indie 'tructble. The Order is based
on the goodness of God-faith in the richness and
certainty of the Divine promise, that harvest shall
surely follow seed-tim 1t is with an abiding
faith in the purity of our purposes that we are
patiently and trustfully planting the seed which
in due time will bring forth the fruit 'On earth
peace, goodwill toward men,
CLEAN ORCHARDS FOR WINTER.-The soil for
some distance from the stems of orchard trees
should be clean and pulverized previous to the
SHOWS Of winter; otherwise, in many localities. |
much injury may be done by mice eating the
bark. These animals find a comfortable shelter I
and cover for their depredations in the rough .
grass and decaying stems of weeds, and they are |
rarely troublesome where the ground is made .
clean and smooth.
SEASONING TIMBER. THE best method of
timber is TO cut the tree at any time
between the end of October and the end of March,
and, if pine wood, to raise the log tree cross
pieces about one foot above the ground. Laid in
this manner for two years, then sawed into boards
and piled in an airy shed for one year. it will be
st for the carpenter. For hard-wooded trees,
hey should be girdled by removing bark and
wood to the depth of two inches at the point
where they are to be cut and felled Let this be
lone in the fall, twelve months before telling;
by this time they will have lost two-ffths OF