deavoring to save or convict some hapless most irreparable. The elegant and accomfellow-being. Nay, start not at the bare plished devotee to Rural Arts and Rural mention of the existing consociation of various branches of industry and science, under the great family of agricultural interests they are associated and must be associated—each must lean on each-the special decisions of local interests in local societies to the contrary notwithstanding. Agriculture is the great generic term-its subdivisions are Pomology, Horticulture, and also Mechanism, especially as it is directed to the perfection of the various processes to be performed by each department, and without whose aid they would indeed be rude in their performances. Taste, the lamented Downing, has been prematurely cut off in the midst of his useful career, by the sacrifices which our traveling community are unwisely making to speed, at the risk of safety. The brilliant and devotedly industrious chemist, John P. Norton, well known to all readers of modern agricultural papers, the writer of a prize essay on Applied Chemistry, and essayist upon various allied topics, editor of Johnson's Agriculture-the beloved and admired expounder of nature's laws, has sunk beneath a disease, which has perhaps been accelerated by the pursuits in which he was engaged. These sad results must teach us the uncertainty of human affairs, and that as we can not always expect to enjoy the adulation of our fellow-men, we should aspire after a higher meed of praise than they have to confer. Looking back through the vista of the past year, this mutual dependence, it will be found, has been almost universally acknowledged, and the various subdivisions of the agricultural and rural interests are working together in the most beautiful harmony. It has been well asked, where does Agriculture end and Horticulture begin? and Looking forward, as well as we may be with the extension of the latter, more re-enabled to do, down the vista of time occufined pursuit, while we may rejoice to ob- pied by the short period of the year now serve the rapidly increasing attention paid opening, we see much to cheer and encourto scientific applications in the former, this age us. Pomological meetings are promquestion will be more and more frequently ised at various points in the present winter asked, and will become more difficult to and the great North-west will collect in answer. Truly this is cheering to both, and Chicago in October next. State Boards, at their acknowledged union will accelerate home, to the east, to the west, and to the their mutual improvement. south of us will convene, and in some, at least, valuable discussions will be held, besides the mere details of business. The great National Society will assemble in Washington City on February 2d, proximo; and with the return of Spring and its flowery smiles, the various horticultural societies all over the country will again revivify into active existence. Look forward, then, and confidently anticipate progress, in the right direction! Pomology has attracted and received a full share of attention during the past year, and some very important state, district and national meetings have been held-which will have contributed their full share in extending a correct knowledge of new fruits, and still more, a refined taste respecting the excellent varieties. During the past year, the losses of the devoted friends of Horticulture and of scientific Agriculture have been sad and al One word to and of our fellow-periodicals. FAIRS-IMPROVEMENTS DRAINING. 147 branch; he is said to be very competent to the office. -The Magazine of Horticulture is much more entitled to the rank of venerable, than its worthy editor and conductor, who, with It appears, then, that without considering very extended experience, is sufficiently the host of agricultural papers that abound young and devotedly a student, to continue in the country, in all of which we find a his useful trials and experiments, recording horticultural departinent, there are, with for our use the results of his observations. this western devotee, six serials of greater Of the Horticulturist, every person felt that or less importance, devoted to the cause of with the loss of Downing, its ruling spirit, disseminating news and intelligence and it must fall-for "who could fill his place?" practical information among the reading But we need never despair, since two such rural population, enabling them to cultivate men as Vick and Barry have stepped forward and beautify the homestead, and thereby to to compensate for our loss. We are promised contribute to the happiness of thousands an improved appearance and quality of the who may be met by this channel. Do not work with James Vick, the experienced apprehend too many papers-the more the and energetic publisher, and with P. Barry, better-for the readers, at least, and perhaps the thorough and scientific nurseryman, with for the publishers too, eventually; each has extensive observations from foreign travel, its influence, and each may be able to strike and possessing good preparation for his some chord that would not vibrate to the business in a thorough knowledge of Botany touch of the others. and Vegetable Physiology, and practical observation in the nursery, garden and orchard, we can not fail to find a work of great value and beautiful appearance. Advantages of Fairs-Improvements Draining. EXTRACTS from an address delivered at the Ohio State Fair, at Cleveland, by Professor J. J. Mapes, editor of the Working Farmer, consulting agriculturist, etc., etc.: The Philadelphia Florist, as indicated by its title, is devoted to a more limited range than either of the greater works just named ; To farmers, the benefits arising from fairs it is, however, useful in the line of its duty, are incalculable; farmers are not a migraand should become high authority if prop-tory race; their vocations require them at erly supported by the gardeners, who have given to Philadelphia and its environs an enviable notoriety in Floriculture. New York has her Gardeners' Chronicle-would that it were more American in its title. It is conducted by two practical, hard-working gardeners, who alternate from their labors at the potting bench, to those in the compositors' room, a small frame within the inclosure of Cremorne Gardens. These industrious men deserve all credit for their efforts. In the same city, it is said that Mr. Munn, who has formerly aided in the preparation of the Horticulturist, proposes commencing a periodical upon our favorite occur in one township or county, may rehome, and therefore improvements which main unknown for a century to adjoining counties. There is scarcely a state in the Union, in which one or more farmers have bushels of shelled corn per acre, and still not succeeded in producing one hundred millions of acres of similar soils continue to be improperly worked and to produce forty bushels, or less, per acre. The fairs and the press alone can remedy this evil. By visiting fairs farmers are brought in contact with farmers, an interchange of facts occur, improved specimens of crops, of stock, etc., are seen, and each individual returns home emulated to surpass his neighbor. Seeds undergo hybridation and deterio ration of quality, unless occasionally moved to a new locality. At fairs interchanges of seeds occur, scions, grafts, and cuttings are exchanged, and any new fruit seen by the horticulturist induces its introduction into some new district. Addresses are delivered occasionally to the advantage of the listeners, new implements are invented, and these, if of approved kinds, are introduced for general use. Labor-saving machinery does much to the advantage of the farmer; indeed, it often causes a difference of profit equal to that required to change a losing into a gaining business. In relation to the improvements in agriculture, which have transpired within the last few years, the speaker stated that they were greater than during all previous time; that the iron plowshare was introduced but eighty years ago, and then in so rude a shape, that ten plowmen of its time, with a corresponding number of teams, would be required to perform the labor now readily performed by one. As to the importance of agriculture generally, he observed that a thousand millions of human beings were supported by it; that nine-tenths of all the available capital in the world, was engaged in its exercise; that despite the highly vaunted powers of the merchant, he was but the factor or broker of the farmer, and the success of his agency was entirely dependent upon the amount of agricultural product. Our Indian corn crop of 1850 was estimated at 600,000,000 of bushels, worth at the export value of the year, $300,000,000; and this only one of several crops, nearly or quite equal to it in value. So great is the sum total, that a saving of the half of one per cent. would be greater than the present income of the government from duties on imports, sales of public lands, etc. soils are not arable until properly underdrained, nor are all the advantages arising from the use of under-drains dependent upon getting rid of an excess of water; the very hill tops are benefited by such treatment, and this benefit will be more fully illustrated when discussing the advantages of subsoil plowing. The best proof, however, of the advantages arising from under-draining, and the most practical in its character, is to be found in the action of the British government on this subject. They have appointed commissioners of under-drainage, and have appropriated £7,000,000, equal to $35,000,000, to be loaned on under-draining mortgages; these liens are of a peculiar character. It was long since ascertained that most lands, by their being under-drained would increase the profit of the operator each year at least fourteen per eent. upon the cost of the under-drainage; and therefore to induce the farmers to adopt this practice more generally the government became a party to the practice; the farm is first valued, and the first object of the mortgage is to state the value; the loan is then made, to be expended in under-draining, on the following terms: the borrower pays five per cent., and five per cent. of the principal each year during the continuance of the mortgage, until at the end of twenty years the mortgage is discharged. Should the borrower fail to pay one of these annual amounts, and the mortgage be foreclosed, he first receives from the proceeds of sale the value of his farm, and the excess of receipt alone beyond this value is liable to the mortgage. So certain has been the benefit, however, that no farm has failed to be increased in value by under-draining, more than its cost. The next most important improvement is the use of the subsoil plow. Wet lands are not improved by subsoiling until after having been under-drained. The subsoil plow does not turn over the soil like a surface plow; it follows the surface plow, and is propelled by a separate team, the beam lying on the bottom of the surface furrow, and disintegrates without elevating the subsoil. The two greatest agricultural improvements of the age are under-draining and subsoil plowing. Draining can be rendered a source of great profit; wet lands can not be tilled; the mechanical disintegration, arising from plowing such lands, remains but for a short time; soil when wetted to saturation will settle more solidly after the lubrication of its ultimate particles by water than from any known means of mechanical compression; soluble manures are wasted The admission of atmosphere freely cirin subsoils; the chemical changes depend- culating through this subsoil, secures the ent upon the free and frequent circulation of chemical changes dependent upon its presthe atmosphere are arrested; indeed moistence, and enables the surface plowing to be SYLVA AMERICANA· gradually deepened; but this is not all the benefits arising from subsoil plowing. The roots are permitted to pass down and receive the constituents of plants resident in the subsoil, and to carry them to the surface to complete the vegetable organism. In times of drought the roots may pass down for moisture, and in times of excessive rains part of the roots at least will not be drowned out. The greatest benefit however is that thoroughly under-drained and subsoiled land never suffers from drought. The reason is obvious, and may be thus explained: You will perceive the pitcher in front of me is covered, on its outside, with drops of water. These, you will readily understand, could not have passed through the pitcher. But as the temperature of the pitcher is colder than that of the surrounding atmosphere, it has condensed upon its surface the moisture of the atmosphere; for in the hottest day in summer, the absence of moisture from the soil merely goes to prove its existence in the atmosphere, and when the heated air containing moisture passes through underdrains, or down into subsoil cuts, it deposits its moisture upon the cold surfaces of the particles of the subsoils, and thus protects the roots from suffering by drought. Corn never rolls its leaves on thoroughly drained and subsoiled lands. Sylva Americana. DOCTOR WARDER:-The development of a taste for ornamental gardening throughout our country, has brought about a crisis, in which the unexpected appearance of the new edition of Michaux's American Sylva, in three volumes, translated by John J. Smith, together with three additional volumes by Nuttall, is most opportune. A review of this useful and splendid work I shall leave to some abler hand, and shall only congratulate our Western friends, who take an interest in cultivating ornamental and useful trees from our forests, that they have now at command a perfect Guide Book. THIS is a subject of so much obscurity that it is approached doubtingly-so much has been written upon it, and at last so little is known, that it is indeed "like the cholera," in being beyond our present kenthough like it, perhaps, in nothing else. Not having seen the secretary Walker's paper, I copy from the Rural New Yorker.—ED. The legislature of Massachusetts, in the year 1851, offered a prize of $10,000 to any one who should satisfy the governor and council, that by a test of at least five successive years, he had discovered a sure remedy for the potato rot. Several communications have been received on the subject, which are published by the authority of the legislature, of which we reprint the following summary by Hon. Amasa Walker, Secretary of State: Although these communications may not furnish any perfect cure for the potato disease, yet they agree in so many important points, and offer so many valuable hints, relating to the nature, cultivation, preservation and improvement of the potato, that they can not fail to be of great public utility. The similarity of views expressed by the relating to the nature, cultivation, disease, most intelligent and experienced writers, and cure of the potato, is truly remarkable, and we think auspicious. Among the principal points, relating to which there is a general concurrence, are the following: Soundness and Vitality of the Seed.-Renewing the seed from the ball of healthy vigorous plants every few years, even resorting to the native place in South America, and taking the seed from the wild potato, is considered important. When potatos It should find its way into the library of are to be raised from the tuber, sound, every wealthy and intelligent farmer. healthy, whole potatos are recommended for planting. Cutting potatos is decidedly condemned. Anything which impairs the vitality of the seed increases the liability to disease. Quality or Kind of Soil.-A dry, light, loose, warm soil, is considered necessary to the soundness and health of the vegetable, as well as to its richness and flavor, the latter depending quite as much on the quality of soil as on the variety of seed. A wet, heavy, compact soil, directly promotes the disorder. Far up on the side of a mountain or hill is a favorable location for the growth of the potato; and new land contains more of the qualities requisite for its nourishment and health, than old and worn out soils. Influence of Atmosphere.-Potatos should be as little exposed to the air as conveniently may be. Their natural place is under ground. By too much exposure they become poisoned, and turn green. Some recommended depositing them for the winter in holes under ground in a dry soil; or if kept in a cellar, to preserve them dry, in small quantities, in sand; and to keep them cool. Keeping large quantities in a body in the cellar, is by some supposed to promote heat and putrefaction. Planting in the fall is recommended by some, as potatos left in the field over winter, are observed to come forward earlier in the spring, to grow more vigorously, to get ripe earlier and before the blighting rains in August, and to be more sound, fair and healthy. are predisposed to disease, by bad cultivation, old age, bad soil, bad manures, sudden changes of weather, warm rains, etc. Ravages of Insects, Fungi, etc.-The best writers consider the ravages of insects as at most but a predisposing cause, rendering the potato more liable to disease by enfeebling the plant. By many writers, insects are considered as remotely affecting the potato; by others, as having no effect at all. The fungus on potatos is not the cause of the rot. It finds the potato previously diseased, a fit subject for its operation. The general conclusions to which the facts presented in these various communications seem to lead us, are: 1. That the disease has a striking resemblance to the cholera, [!!] and probably exists in the atmosphere." 2. That it is doubtful whether any specific cure has been, or ever will be discovered; but, 3. As in cholera, certain preventives are well ascertained, by the application of which the liabilities to disease may be greatly les sened. [Doubtful in either case.] 4. That by obtaining the soundest seed, by planting in the most favorable soils, and by using the most suitable manures, we may have a good degree of confidence in the suc cessful cultivation of this useful vegetable. 5. That we may expect, that like the cholera, the potato rot will become less and less formidable from year to year, and eventually subside into a mild and manageable epidemic, if that term may be used in such a connection. Laurels, etc. DOCTOR WARDER:— Manures.-All anti-putrescents, such as lime, wood-ashes, pulverized charcoal, plaster, salt, nitrogen, etc., are believed to contribute directly to the health of the potato, as well as to add to its richness and flavor; and, of course, to prevent putrefaction and disease. Of other manures, well-rotted comMy Dear Sir,-While seeing you every post is preferred. Stable manure is too strong and heating, and produces ill-flavored, day in Detroit, it never once occurred to me unhealthy potatos, and is decidedly con- to pay for the ensuing year's Review. So much was I absorbed, that money- and esDisease, Contagion, Old Age and Death.—pecially debts-were quite too vulgar subThese are common to vegetables as well as to animals. All are liable to disease, some jects to think of, amid so rich a display of more, some less, according to circumstan- fruits and flowers. ces, predisposing causes, and preventive. demned. Once at home, in the daily drill of domesmeans. Some vegetable diseases are be- tic duties, the cares and wants of a houselieved to be contagious. The present dis ease is thought by many to be of that hold, I am reminded that money is a very class. One field of potatos is liable to take important adjunct in all the business of life; the disorder from another field. Potatos and its use a very great assistance to nature |