which is mostly the case, it exceeds a half heart has she not struck some corresponding per cent. only in one instance. chord ? DAVID CHRISTY. Scenery in Bengal. We hope every one of the Vandals, and their name is legion, who delight in the destruction of every tree upon their premises, enjoy the full benefit of a broiling hot August sun pouring down upon their shadeless houses. Ever since we commenced our career as an agricultural writer, we have unceasingly cried, plant shade trees; because we have ever held the same views upon this subject as expressed by the writer of the following extracts, whom we are right glad to welcome into our fellowship, as a crusader against the barbarians whose only love of trees is that they may destroy them. THE groves of Palm-trees with their naked trunks crowned with the richest foliage, give a tropical and magnificent appearance to the landscape. The immense green leaves of the Plantain, surrounding a pithy stem, bending under a load of fruit at all seasons of the year; the green carpet which covers the ground at all times, but which grows with great rapidity during the rainy season; the magnificent shoots of the Bamboos, which rise to the hight of forty or fifty feet in a single year; and the Banyans, which extend their mighty arms to such a distance as to require support, a support which na-npon the false, foolish and wicked plea, that ture herself supplies by throwing down props which take root, and finally become trunks and centers themselves of vast spreading thickets; all these give Bengal a character for grandeur and luxuriance which is rarely equaled in other parts of the globe. The provinces to the north-west, however, have usually a very different appearance. Many tracts of country are barren and sandy in consequence of the long droughts and the scorching influence of the hot winds which prevail for several months in the year. Still, during the rains, vegetation is rapid and luxuriant, and at all times mango groves may be found at almost every town and village, which afford delightful shade and shelter to the traveler who may pitch his tenth beneath their branches. J. R. Campbell's "Missions in Hindostan." Trees. We can not forbear to quote largely from our dear unseen friend, the authoress of Rural Hours; she is dear to all, for in whose We strike one more blow for the cause now, because now is the time when everybody can see, feel and appreciate the value of shade trees. We have known men to destroy all the trees in their pasture grounds, the shade when they ought to be engaged their cattle spend too much of their time in in the more profitable employment of eating. Such men may be human, but they certainly are not humane, intelligent or Christian, for a merciful man is merciful to his beast. Independent of their market price in dollars and cents, trees have other values; they are connected in many ways with the civiliance in an intellectual and moral sense. zation of a country; they have their importAfter the first rude stage of progress in a new country-when the shelter and food have been provided-people begin to collect nent home about their dwellings, and then the conveniences and pleasures of a permathe farmer generally sets out a few trees before his door. This is very desirable, but it is only the first step in the track; somefine trees, already standing, makes a further thing more is needed, the preservation of progress, and this point we have not reached. It frequently happens that the same man who yesterday planted some half dozen branchless saplings before his door, will today cut down a noble elm or oak, only a few rods from his house, an object which was in itself a hundredfold more beautiful than any other in his possession. In very truth, a fine tree near a house is a much greater embellishment than the thickest coat of paint that could be put on HOLLOW BRICKS. YEARS ago Hollow Bricks. 293 hollow walls and hollow bricks its walls, or a whole row of wooden columns to adorn its front; nay, a large shady tree in a doorway is much more desirable than the most expensive mahogany and velvet were recommended to secure dry and warm sofa in the parlor. Unhappily, our people walls for houses. The idea was always do not see things in this light. But time is very attractive, but here the hollow brick a very essential element, absolutely indis- is brought before the American reader pensable, indeed, in true civilization, and in the course of years we shall, it is to be hoped, palpably and decidedly by that excellent learn further lessons of this kind. Closer Reporter of the World's Fair, Secretary observation will reveal to us the beauty and B. P. Johnson, whose account of the Crysexcellence of simplicity, a quality as yet too tal Palace is a valuable contribution to little valued or understood in this country; knowledge. and when we have made this further progress, then we shall take better care of our trees. We shall not be satisfied with setting out a dozen naked saplings before our door, because our neighbor on the left did so last year, nor cut down a whole wood within a stone's throw of our dwelling, to pay for a Brussels carpet from the same place as our neighbor's on the right; no, we shall not care a stiver for mere show and parade, in any shape whatever, but we shall look at the general proprieties and fitness of things, whether our neighbors to the right or left do or not. There were several models for making houses fire-proof, but the most important improvement in this respect was the plan of building with hollow bricks. There were exhibitions of these bricks in both the English and French departments. Opposite the Crystal Palace a block of model houses was erected by Prince Albert, a contribution to the exhibition. The peculiarities of the building, which was designed for four families, were the exclusive use of hollow bricks for the walls and partitions, and the entire absence of timber in the floors and roof, which were formed with flat arches of hollow brick-work, which was secured by wrought iron rods connected with cast iron springers resting on the external walls and binding the whole structure together. The building is thus rendered fire-proc f, and much more durable than if built in the ordinary manner. How easy it would be to improve most of the farms in the country by a little attention to the woods and trees, improving their appearance and adding to their market value at the same time. Thinning woods and not blasting them, clearing only such ground as is marked for immediate tillage, preserving the wood on the hill tops and rough side- The most important advantages derived hills; encouraging a coppice on this or that from the use of hollow bricks are dryness knoll, permitting bushes and young trees to and warmth, as well as economy of congrow at will along the brook and water-struction. The evils resulting from the abcourses; sowing, if need be, a grove on the sorption of moisture by common bricks and bank of the pool, such as are found on many other porous materials are obviated, and of our farms; sparing an elm or two about the battening of the walls is unnecessary. the spring, with a willow also to overhang Hollow bricks may be made with any good the well; planting one or two chestnuts or tile machine, in the same manner as ordioaks, or beeches, near the gates or bars, nary draining pipes, and at about the same leaving a few others scattered about every cost in proportion to the clay used. They field to shade the cattle in summer, as is are more compressed, require less drying, frequently done, and setting out others in and with much less fuel are better burned groups or singly to shade the house; how than ordinary bricks, even when waste heat, little would be the expense or labor required or that in the upper part of the kiln only, to accomplish all this, and how desirable is used. would be the result. Assuredly, the pleasing character thus given to a farm and neighborhood is far from being beneath the consideration of a sensible man. The saving in brick-work effected by the use of the patent bricks, when made at a fair price, will be from twenty-five to thirty per cent. on their cost, with a reduction twenty-five per cent. on the quantity of make it adhere it must be well pressed mortar, and a similar saving on the labor, down. This cement, like the preceding when done by accustomed workmen. The two kinds, is the result of experiments; process of drying is much more rapid than in common brick-work, and the smoothness of the internal surface of walls built with the patent burned brick, renders plastering, in many instances, quite unnecessary, whereby a further saving is effected, not only in the first cost, but also in the subsequent maintenance. If glazed on the outer face, as may be done with many clays, a superior finished surface is obtainable without plaster. Hard Cement for Cracks. A VERY excellent cement for seams in the roofs of houses or in any other exposed places, is made with white lead, dry white sand, and as much oils as will make it into the consistency of putty. This cement gets as hard as any stone in the course of a few weeks. The lead forms a kind of fluid with the sand. It is excellent for filling up cracks in exposed parts of brick buildings; it is also a good cement for pointing up the base of chimneys, where they project through the roof of shingled houses. We have made this cement and tried it, and speak about it from experience only, for we have no knowledge of its ever having been described in any work. Another Good Cement.-Use the above, only employ half whiting and half sand; there should be about four parts of sand and whiting, by weight, to one of lead. Another Cement.-Take and dissolve some alum in a vessel containing water, and while it is in a boiling state, cut up common brown soap into small pieces, and boil it along with the alun for about fifteen minutes. One pound of alum is sufficient for five pounds of soap. The soap becomes sticky, like shoemaker's wax, and can be drawn out in a similar manner. It is now to be mixed with whiting to a proper consistence for filling up seams, etc. It becomes partially hard after a few months, and adheres to wood very tenaciously. It is not easy to put on, and if there be any moisture in the wood it can not be made to adhere at all. When dry it is impervious to and repels water; it is slightly elastic, and has advantages in this respect. To we have tried it and speak with confidence of its qualities. For the filling up of seams, in parts of wooden buildings exposed to the weather, there can be no doubt of its good qualities, and it is not very expensive. A putty made with whiting and linseed oil, in the common way, if mixed with some white lead, about one-tenth part by weight, we like better than any other cement we ever tried for cracks or seams in wooden buildings, to be applied outside; but it is not elastic like the cement made with soap and alum. Our readers will be able to choose for themselves which of these cements, if they require any of them, is best adapted for their peculiar purposes.-Scient. American. Honey-Bees. A CORRESPONDENT of the New England Farmer furnishes the following article upon the destruction of bees in winter. I noticed in your February Number an inquiry as to the cause of the destruction of bees in winter when they have plenty of honey in their hives. I would like to ask your subscriber if in not clustered where there was no honey in those hives which he has seen, the bees were the comb? I have not the least doubt they were; then the reason is plain. They died from the long continued spell of cold weather; for had they changed their position in the extreme cold weather, it would have been death; so, rather than to break their cluster and let in a chill that would be death to them, they remain and die when honey is almost within their reach. I have noticed many so, and have no doubt that is the cause of their destruction-it is the long continued cold weather that destroys them. Sometimes they die for want of numbers to keep up a proper warmth in the hive; then the anchor frost proves destructive. Bees should be watched closely in so steady a cold winter as the last one was, and, if you find a swarm that does not answer to the call, carry them in to a good warm fire and warm them up and let them change their position, and let them return to their ENLIGHTENED AGRICULTURE. place. To have bees winter well, put your swarms into hives of medium size, and a good swarm in that shape is more likely to winter than otherwise. Enlightened Agriculture. M. P. WILDER'S Address, at the New Hampshire 295 cars and ships, and feeds millions in our own and other countries. Science has already improved our agricultural productions, and will continue to improve them. How much she has done for the potato! Compare the original-small, black, tough and acrid-with our numerous fair, mealy, palatable varieties. How dissimilar in quality, flavor and size! Compare the luscious peaches with the original species, the almond, tough, dry and bitter; our magnificent apples with the scur crab; our plum with the parent sloe. The Bartlett and the Seckle pear, the Green Gage plum, and the Baldwin apple, were produced from accidental seed; but science teaches how to obtain new and valuable sorts, by hybridizing or crossing the existing varieties. UNDER a system of scientific cultivation, the agricultural products of this state might be doubled without additional expense, and, of course, her capital. You would thus retain the enterprising sons of her yeomanry on the farms of their fathers; those sons who now seek their fortunes in other states, professions and employments. In New England, there is land enough and to spare.It appears from the recent valuation com- This art depends on the sexual character mittee of Massachusetts, that if forest be ex- of plants, which was developed by Linnæus, cluded, not more than one-fourth of her reone century ago, amidst that ridicule and maining improvable territory is under culti-scorn which so often attach to discoveries, vation. If the other three-fourths were on-inventions, and new theories in our day.ly as highly improved, her agricultural pro- Our farmers are familiar with facts which ducts would be quadrupled; but much of it develop the principles on which this art deis capable of higher cultivation, and of pro- pends. They are aware of the necessity of ducing crops many times larger than the keeping their varieties of corn, squashes, and present amount. This would enable her to other grains and fruits separate, lest they sustain a population of many millions.- should intermix and produce, not each after Away, then, with the apprehension that New its kind, but other sorts unlike the original, England cannot sustain, by her agricultural sometimes as speckled as Jacob's cattle. products, her swarming population. She But science alone can teach how to turn may not only greatly multiply her present this law of nature to the highest practical crops, but introduce other products equally account; and how, by it, to produce new important with any now under cultivation. and valuable varieties, adapted to their parWhat a vast amount of trade has resulted by ticular location and climate. By a corresthe introduction of flax from Egypt, which, by ponding law in the animal kingdom, we alrecent improvements in mechanical and che- ready have ornithologists who pretend to mical science, may yet become as important breed fowls to order, in respect to size, pluto the free labor of the North as cotton is to mage and other qualities; and also among the slave labor of the South. What an our experienced stock-breeders, some who amount of commerce has been created by profess to raise domestic animals with simithe introduction of the mulberry from East- lar exactness. Infinite Wisdom has fixed ern Asia into Europe, which gives employ- those laws, and given us faculties to comment to millions, and clothes other millions prehend them, and they must be thoroughly with their silken fabrics; by the introduc- understood before farming can be raised to tion of the potato from South America, which its legitimate and rightful position. Witness has for ages fed the famishing millions of an approximation toward this general reIreland, and the partial loss of which, with- sult in the improved breeds of our cattle, in a few years, has produced starvation and swine and horses, and in the endless nummisery in that ill-fated country, and much ber and variety of fruits and flowers produpecuniary loss and lamentation through the ced the last twenty-five years by artificial civilized world; by the introduction of wheat, impregnation. Thus Mr. Knight, president which gives immense wealth to the rising of the London Horticultural Society, produempire of the West, freights innumerable ced the Black Eagle and Elton cherry, the Dunmore pear, and other new and valuable fruits, perfectly suited to that latitude; and the process is equally applicable to the production of new grasses, grains and vegetables, as to animals, flowers and fruits. This principle also teaches the art of raising the most valuable seeds, to avoid the immense annual loss of labor and money, from the use of that which either never germinates, or, if it does, produces an inferior crop. Age, which improves some seeds, destroys others, and the art and importance of procuring the best are but imperfectly understood by most of our practical cultivators. We have room but for a single fact. An association of scientific cultivators exists within our knowledge, whose object is to raise seed for each other. The cabbage seed which they raise for themselves, they sell at ten dollars per pound, but that which is raised without this care, is sold for one dollar per pound; hence the former, which is really the cheaper, will not pay a profit, because its superior worth is not understood by our farmers. Phosphate of Lime. DR. LEE, in the Patent Office Reports, gives good advice on the subject of manures. The Vermont mines of this mineral have been sold to an English company; the New Jersey mines are worked for the home market. Read the Report, and especially the Essay on Manures. All the crops usually raised contain phosphorus, phosphoric acid or phosphates of lime, potash, etc. Phosphorus in some shape is therefore necessary to vegetation such as we cultivate for crops. It must of course have an existence in all our productive soils, for plants do not create any new substances, they only combine, separate, and extract them. The ashes of the grain of wheat has 49.81 per cent. of phosphoric acid, of barley 38.93, rye 49.55, Indian corn 44.87, and so on all cereal grains, averaging from 30 to 50 per cent. This is why phosphate of lime, as well as sulphate of lime (gypsum), and carbonate of lime (limestone), is indispensable to successful farming. Bone earth or pulverized bones are for this region next in value to guano as a manure. There are in the United States geological deposits of phosphates of lime that are now turned to account. In England there are beds of strata of rocks filled with the remains of whales, the bones, scales and teeth of other fishes and bones of reptiles, and also lumps of phosphate of lime. Thousands of tons of this earth are consumed by the English farmers upon their land. Testing Sandstone. THE following remarks and experiments are deserving of attention by all farmers beginning to improve their dwellings. A large portion of the Western States are situated upon or accessible to the standstones which constitute a large element in what the geologist denominates the "coal measures;" many layers of these rocks are unfit for building purposes, and here is a convenient and simple process for testing them: The means of ascertaining the capability of resistance of stone against frost occupied the attention of scientific men at an early period; but, although recent communica tions have been made on the subject, they are but reproductions of the experiments of the mineralogist Brard. His system, which is that of subjecting stone to the action of Glauber salt, so as to produce a low temperature, has long been adopted as a universal medium in most countries of Europe, and sanctioned by many high authorities.— It is truly observed, however, by Professor Fuchs, in Erdman's Journal, that such a mechanical method is of no more certainty than to rasp the store with the finger nail, or strike it with a hammer, and that the only competent test is to subject it to chemical analysis. The builders employed on the royal works at Munich have, in the course of their extensive practice, resorted to this process of analysis in preference to the usual method; and the following is an account of the experiments of M. Stumb, principal builder in that city: On the occasion of repairing the weather |