reluctantly. Then apply a little plaster of Paris, | lent object. It is earnestly hoped that the zeal of (sulphate of lime) and by their mutual action on the Commissioner for the advancement of agriculeach other the carbonate of lime easily yields its tural interests may be properly responded to by the carbonic acids, and the vegetables growing on the soil thus having an ample supply of carbon, will various individuals to whom the circular has been grow as they had never been seen to grow on that addressed, and his object furthered, and made sure, soil before. by the proper aid of government.-E». F. R.] Now, your correspondent, to whom this is chiefly addressed, will see what my theory is, and most of the steps by which my mind was led to embrace it. He will see, moreover, that it accounts for the great effect the plaster of Paris produced upon his limed land. Before I conclude, I ought to remark that although I have called the above theory "my theory," I do not mean to assert that it is exclusively mine. Doubtless the two ideas, viz. that one of the chief uses of lime or marl, as a manure, is, that it furnishes a supply of carbonic acid, and that the use of gypsum will facilitate the extrication of that acid, have occurred to the minds of many other persons; each one may say, the theory is mine, but not exclusively mine. It is one however which I have entertained for many years. I entirely agree with your correspondent, when he says that "lime only will show where the great father of nature has placed the limit of fertility, when lime, plaster, and their produce of vegetable matter, are turned back and reacted upon." Clover I presume takes badly in the light sandy lands of tide-water Virginia. Whenever persons, who have brought their lands to moderate state of fertility, by lime or marl, find this to be the case, let such persons supply themselves with rollers to be drawn either by one or two horses. Immediately after sowing the clover seed, run a roller over the field, and, if the season is not unfavorable, the seed will vegetate and grow. When the clover is of suitable age, sow gypsum for two years, and during the fall of the second year, be the clover knee high, or haunch high, plough it down. Next spring plant the field with corn, and go on with a judicious rotation of crops, careful husbanding and application of putrescent manures, and the next generation may see some of the pine barrens of tidewater Virginia producing from twelve to fifteen barrels of Indian corn to the acre. Washington City, D. C., Patent Office, June 1st, 1839. SIR,-During the last session of congress, an act was passed authorizing the Commissioner of Patents to collect statistics, and in various other modes, to promote the agricultural interest of the United States. For this purpose a small appropriation was made. Deeply impressed with the importance of this subject, and regarding it as the commencement of a system, which, if properly carried out, will confer incalculable benefits on our common country, I embrace an early opportunity, very respectfully to invite your co-operation in introducing foreign seeds which are rare and valuable. In calling your attention to this subject, I cherish the belief, that all citizens of the United States, who reside or travel abroad, especially the diplomatic corps, officers and gentlemen of the navy, and commanders of private vessels, will cheerfully, so far as primary duties allow, aid in the measures which the national legislature purposes to accomplish. Some general directions for packing the seeds, accompany this circular. Please transmit to this office such collections as you may make by public vessels, (as far as practicable) whose commanders are fully authorized to receive the same. Reasonable freight, however, will be paid by this of fice for shipment in private vessels. An exhibition of the spike of the different grains, indigenous and exotic, is contemplated in the new Patent Office; hence the importance of sending, if possible, a specimen of the original stalk with the grain attached. I have the honor to be, With high respect, Yours, obediently, HENRY L. ELLSWORTH, Seeds. With a view to the transmission of seeds from distant countries, the first object of care is to obtain seeds that are fully ripe, and in a sound and healthy state. To this the strictest attention should be paid; otherwise, all the care and trouble that may be bestowed on them will have been wasted on objects utterly useless. I have already referred to Professor Armstrong's Essays on Vegetable Physiology, which you have Directions for putting up and Transmitting been for some time publishing in the Farmers' Register. I would recommend them to the especial attention of your readers generally, both male and female. They are written in a plain, familiar, perspicuous style, and contain much interesting and valuable information. I fear many of the readers of the Register overlook those essays, under an impression that they are too learned for common readers. But, if any intelligent person, although without any previous knowledge of chemistry, will begin at the beginning of those essays and read them regularly on, I am much mistaken, if he will not find that he can understand them with ease, and will find a new and delightful field of knowledge opened to his mind. Even those who have already some knowledge of chemistry, will find them pleasant and useful. SENEX. Those seeds that are not dry when gathered, should be rendered so by exposure to the air, in the shade. When dry, the seeds should be put into paper bags. Common brown paper has been found to answer well for making such bags. But as the mode of manufacturing that paper varies in different countries, the precaution should be used of putting a portion of the seeds in other kinds of CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER paper. Those that most effectually exclude air and moisture are believed to be the best for that purpose. It would be proper, also, to enclose [The following letter will best explain its excel- some of the seeds in paper or cloth that has been OF THE PATENT OFFCE. steeped in melted beeswax. It has been recom- | Journal. Fill a common glass tumbler, or other mended that seeds collected in a moist country, or season, be packed in charcoal. After being put up according to any of these modes, the seeds should be enclosed in a box, which should be covered with pitch, to prevent injury from damp, insects, and mice. During the voyage, they should be kept in a cool, airy, and dry situation; not in the hold of a ship. The oily seeds soonest lose their germinating faculty. They should be put into a box with sandy earth, in the following manner: first, about two inches of earth at the bottom; into this the seeds should be placed at distances proportionate to their size; on these another layer of earth about an inch thick; and then another layer of seeds: and so on, with alternate layers of earth and seeds until the box is filled within about a foot of the top, which space should be filled with sand; taking care that the earth and sand be well put in, that the seeds may not get out of place. The box should then be covered with a close net-work of cord, well pitched, or with split hoops or laths well pitched, so as to admit the air without exposing the contents of the box to be disturbed by mice or accident. The seeds thus put up will germinate during their passage, and will be in a state to be planted immediately on their arrival. Although some seeds with a hard shell, such as nuts, peaches, plums, &c., do not come up until a long time after they are sown, it would be proper, when the kernel is oily, to follow the method just pointed out, that they may not turn rancid on the vessel, completely with some spiritous liquor, so that a few drops more would cause it to overflow. This done, you will find no difficulty in introducing into the tumbler, so filled, a whole handful of raw cotton. This experiment was suggested by the acciden- Very respectfully, yours, &c., THE GERMINATION, VEGETATION, AND passage. This precaution is also useful for the ON THE INFLUENCE OF NATIVE MAGNESIA ON family of laurels, (laurineæ) and that of myrtles, (myrti,) especially when they have to cross equatorial seas. To guard against the casualties to which seeds in a germinating state may be exposed during a long voyage, and as another means of ensuring the success of seeds of the kinds here recommended to be put into boxes with earth, it would be well, also, to enclose some of them (each seed separately) in a coat of beeswax, and afterwards pack them in a box covered with pitch. FRUCTIFICATION OF VEGETABLES. By Angelo Abbene. Among the various causes which produce barrenness in lands, has been enumerated the presence of magnesia, because it had been observed that the various magnesian soils are steril. This opinion has begun to lose credit, since Bergmann, who examined the composition of fertile soils, considered magnesia as forming one of their principal constituents. It may not be necessary, in every case, to observe all the precautions here recommended in regard to the putting up and transmission of seeds; Prof. Giobert has performed a number of expebut it is believed that there will be risk in de- riments to inquire into the action of native magneparting from them, in proportion to the distance sia, which is found in numerous cultivated soils. of the conntry from which the seeds are to be In the environs of Castellamonte and of Baldissebrought, and to the difference of its latitude, or of ro, this substance is abundantly diffused in the the latitudes through which they will pass on the soils cultivated with great success, and which exvoyage. It is not intended, however, by these hibit a vigorous vegetation. There are many instructions, to exclude the adoption of any other districts in Piedmont and elsewhere, where the bimodes of putting up and transmitting seeds and carbonate of lime and of magnesia is abundant in plants, which are in use in any particular place, the cultivated lands, which produce beautiful and which have been found successful, especially if plants. Giobert concluded from these experiments more simple. And it is recommended, that not-1st, that native carbonate of magnesia is not inonly the aid of competent persons be accepted in jurious to the various functions of vegetables; 2nd, procuring and putting up seeds and plants, but that on account of the solubility of magnesia in an that they be invited to offer any suggestions in re-excess of carbonic acid, this earth can exercise an gard to the treatment of the plants during the voy-action analogous to that of lime; 3rd. that a magage, and their cultivation and use afterwards. EXPERIMENTS ON THE POROSITY OF A MASS From the Journal of the Franklin Institute. Perhaps you may consider the following pretty experiment on porosity, worthy of a place in your nesian soil may become fertile when the necessary manure is employed. From these facts naturally proceeds the conclusion, that if the magnesia was dissolved in an excess of carbonic acid and water, and had entered like the lime into the composition of the sap, it ought to be found in the plants with the potash, lime, oxide of iron, &c. M. Abbene has ascertained 'his by the analysis of the ashes of plants which may, in the hands of a judicious gardener, be renhad grown in magnesiferous mixture. Moreover dered suitable for it. We have seen very splendid he endeavored to find by comparative experiments, crops of fruit upon a very stiff yellow clay, mellowed whether the influence of magnesia on vegetation is down by mixing with it anthracite coal ashes analogous to that of lime. The following are the and manure. conclusions he arrives at: 1st. Native magnesia is | The best season for making new plantations of not only not injurious to the germination, vegetation, the strawberry is either in spring, at a pretty early and fructification of plants, but, on the contrary, ap- period, or directly after the beds have ceased bearpears to be favorable to these functions. 2nd. | ing, in August. If the latter time is chosen, the Magnesia being soluble in an excess of carbonic plants generally get sufficiently well established to acid, has on vegetation an action analogous to that bear a considerable crop the ensuing year. of lime; and when a soil contains magnesia not There are various modes in which to plant the sufficiently carbonated, this defect may be reme-beds when formed. Some arrange the plants so died by the addition of manure, which by its de-as to be kept in hills, others in rows, and others, composition furnishes the necessary quantity of again, allow them to cover the whole surface of carbonic acid; the amelioration will be much more the bed. We consider the first method preferable, efficacious if the soil be frequently disturbed, as as in that way the ground can be kept cultivated then the air will better exercise its action. 3rd. between the plants; the fruit is generally larger When lime and magnesia exist in arable lands, the and finer, being more exposed to the genial influformer is absorbed in preference by the plants on ence of the sun, and the duration of the bed is account of its greater affinity for carbonic acid. greater. Three or four rows may be planted in 4th. In barren magnesian lands, it is not to the each bed, at a suitable distance apart, and the runmagnesia that the sterility must be attributed, ners from the rows should be shortened or cut off but to the cohesive state of their parts, to the want about three times during the season. If the plants of manure, of clay, or of other composts, to the are not thriving well, a light top dressing between large quantity of oxide of iron, &c. 5th. Barren the rows in autumn will be of great advantage. magnesian soils may be rendered fertile by means of Burning off the upper surface of the bed in the calcariferous substances, as rubbish, chalk, ashes, spring has been highly recommended by some permarl, &c., provided the other conditions be fulfilled. sons, but we have never found it to answer our -Jour. de Pharmacie de Janvier, 1839. expectations upon trial. This fruit receives its name from the very ancient custom of placing straw on the beds, between the OBSERVATIONS ON THE CULTURE OF THE rows of plants, to preserve the berries clean. The STRAWBERRY. From the Genesee Farmer. custom is not yet too antiquated to be of less value to those who desire the fruit in its greatest perfec By A. J. DOWNING, Botanic Garden and Nur- tion. Clean wheat or rye chaff may be substituted series, Newburgh, N. Y. for straw, and it has the very great additional advantage of not only preventing most weeds from growing, by excluding the light, but also, by deThe strawberry is certainly one of the most val-composing with considerable rapidity after the fruit uable and delicious of all the smaller fruits. It is season is past, it contributes much to the enrichnot only easily cultivated, yielding an abundant ment of the surface soil of the bed. Young and crop in a short time, from a very limited space of strong runners well rooted, should in all cases be ground; but while its pleasant sub-acid flavor is chosen to form the new bed, and not old plants, or agreeable to all palates, and forms one of the most those offsets which grow near them. delightful additions to the dessert in summer, it is also extremely wholesome, never, as is the case with most other fruits, undergoing the acetous fermentation. In some diseases it has even been found highly beneficial, and it is affirmed that Linnæus was cured of the gout by abundant use of the berries. There is a fact with regard to the strawberry plant little known, the ignorance of which puzzles many a good cultivator. This is the existence of separate fertile and steril or barren plants in many of the varieties, otherwise plants which produce chiefly male, and others that produce only female flowers. Botanically, the strawberry should proThe strawberry, through a low herbaceous duce both stamens and pistils in each flower, and plant, sends down remarkably strong roots. In the blossoms should consequently all mature fruit. good soils these are often found to penetrate to the This is really the case with the alpine, the wood depth of eighteen inches or more in a season. It strawberries, &c., but not entirely so with the large is necessary, therefore, to produce a fine bed, that scarlet and pine strawberries. These latter sorts, the soil be deep as well as rich. Where the sub-it is well known, produce the largest and finest soil is not positively bad, the ground is always fruit; but we very often see whole beds of them in much improved by trenching, (two spades deep,) fine flourishing condition, almost entirely unprobefore setting the plants. In doing this, a good ductive. The common parlance in such cases is coat of manure should be deposited between the that the variety has run out, or degenerated; but two spits: old garden soils which have been long the idea is a confused and ignorant one, while the cultivated, are astonishingly improved by this prac-healthy aspect of the plants fully proves the vigor tice, the whole becoming renewed by the pre- of the sort. sence of the fresh soil; and the growth of plants in The truth is, that in all strawberries of the foresuch mould, when again acted upon by the sun going classes, although each blossom is furnished and air, is of course proportionately vigorous. A with stamens and pistils, yet, in some plants the deep mellow loam, rather damp than dry, is un-pistils are so few that they can scarcely be perceivdoubtedly the preferable soil for this plant; but ed; in others, there are scarcely any stamens visalmost any soil for so limited a species of culture, ible. When the plants bear blossoms furnished with stamens only, (or in a large proportion,) they larva state, and hence the mischef they occasion are of course barren; when pistils only are pro-is performed while in that stage of their existence. duced in abundance, they are fertile. To have a bed planted so as to bear abundantly, about one plant in eight or ten should be staminate or barren blossoming plants; the others the fertile ones-for if the lattar only be kept, they alone will also be found unproductive. If any person will examine a bed of the Hudson or any of the large scarlet strawberries, when they are in blossom, he will discover a great number of plants which bear large showy blossoms filled with fine yellow stamens. These are the barren plants. Here and there, also, he will discover plan's bearing much smaller blossoms, filled with the heads of pistils, like a small green strawberry. The latter are the fertile ones. Now the vigor of the barren plants is so much greater than that of the fertile ones, and their offsets are so much more numerous, that if care be not taken to prevent this, they soon completely overrun and crowd out the fertile or bearing plants, and to this cause only is to be attributed the unproductive state of many beds of the large fruited strawberries, which are in many instances perhaps, entirely devoid of fertile plants. The proper method undoubtedly is to select a few fertile plants of each kind, plant them in a small bed by themselves, and allow them to increase freely by runners; then, on planting, the proper proportion could be made and kept up by the regular clipping of the runners. Others spend their larva state inactive; but while existing as perfect insects, are most destructive; while a few are injurious in both of these states. Thus it is, the larvæ of the Hessian fly, the cut grub and army worms, that occasion such loss to the farmer; while the chinch and rose bugs, the grasshopper and locust, are injurious only while they live as perfect insects. A knowledge of the history, habits, periods of existence, and depredations of the most formidable insect depredators is very necessary to all classes of cultivators, and we may be permitted to hope that this desideratum will be supplied by the gentlemen who are now, by authority, engaged in investigating the entomology of some of the principal states. Few years pass, in which, on the whole, more injury is not sustained from these pests of agriculture, than has occurred in the present. Some districts have, it is true, suffered severely, but the insect visitation has not been general, or unusually destructive where it has occurred. The three principal dep edators of the present year have been the Hessian fly, the chinch bug, and the army worm. The first of these has scarcely been noticed, and has produced no injury worth mentioning, except on the tide water districts of the middle and southern states. Here it was very prevalent, and for a time created much alarm. At harvest, however, the damage, though consideraMany of the fine English varieties of straw-ble, was found to have been overrated; the very berry, (Wilmot's superb, for instance,) are gene- fine weather bringing the crop forward in spite of rally found worthless here. This is owing, in some the fly. It has hardly been mentioned north of cases, to the ignorance or want of care of those the Delaware. The chinch bug is peculiary a persons who export the varieties, in sending often, southern pest, very destructive to crops, and its orno fertile plants; in other instances, it is equally igin, habits and transformations, judging from the owing to our negligence here, in not preserving little we have been able to find respecting it, does the due proportion of barren and fertile plants. not appear to be at all understood, even in those This peculiarity in the blossoms is very little districts where it is most prevalent. These disknown or understood, even among scientific culti-tricts are what may be called the first table lands vators. It was first pointed out to us by our esteemed friend, N. Longworth, Esq., of Cincinnati, one of our most distinguished western horticulturists. Its truth we have repeatedly verified, and a slight examination will convince any person of the cause of the numerous worthless yet thriftly looking strawberry beds throughout our gardens. The finest of the large English varieties of this fruit which we cultivate here is the Bishop's. It is remarkably large, a most abundant bearer, and of superior flavor. Many of the larger berried sorts, as the Methven Castle, have been hollow and comparatively tasteless, though of uncommon size. This variety, however, appear to us to unite all that can be desired, to constitute a truly fine and delicious strawberry. of the south, or those lying between tide level and the first ranges of highlands. It is described as making its appearance in immense numbers in the woods, from which it spreads in every direction, attacking indiscriminately wheat, corn, and indeed the most of the cultivated grains and grasses. No method as yet has been found effectual to arrest their progress. Though provided with wings, they rarely use them, but march forward on the earth, feeding on whatever attracts them during their progress. Their disappearance is as sudden as their appearance, and apparently equally involved in mystery. An investigation of the habits of this insect is well worthy the study of the southern man of science, as its frequent appearance, and the loss it occasions, render it a formidable enemy to the farmers of the districts in which it most prevails. The army worm is the name given to the larva or caterpillar produced by some one of the countless family of the moths, though what one, does not yet appear to have been ascerOf the insect tribes there are many that occa-tained. It has received its name from the numsionally prey on the vegetables produced by hu-bers in which it appears, the seeming order and man labor, some making their appearance at one regularity of its movements, and its destructive season, or in some particular year, while others voracity. Wherever it appears, and whichever are irregular in their visits, and at times disappear for years in succession. Occasionally, too, new depredators make their appearance, or as is most probable, first attract notice by the mischief they produce. Some insects feed only while in the INSECT DEPREDATORS. A. J. D. From the Genesee Farmer. way the dense masses are directed, vegetation disappears with astonishing celerity. Before, is the garden of Eden; behind is a desolate wilderness. The present season it has done much injury in Illinois, parts of Indiana and Michigan; and a few have appeared west of the Mississippi. A few preserved between their sheets, perfect impresyears since it committed fearful ravages in Ohio. sions of numerous genera of plants, the species No accurate description of this depredator appears of which are now extinct. Large trunks of trees to have been published; and for the purpose of aid- are also exposed by opening coal mines and quaring in calling attention to the insect in question, ries of sandstone, while the numerous and reitewe should be much gratified if some of our sub-rated strata of coal itself also bear ample proofs scribers in those districts where it is, or has been of their vegetable origin. most abundant, would furnish us an account of Here, then, we have another epoch, at which the worm, its appearance, ravages, the miller or soils existed, produced their abundant vegetation, moth that produces it, if known, or any other par-stored the earth with fuel, and then were reconticulars that may be interesting in elucidating its verted into solid rocks, to be again subjected to the character and history. The only method of check- wear and tear of elemental strife. ing the march of this insect yet discovered, is to plough a deep furrow across the line of progress, or around the field to be preserved from them, keeping the sides smooth with the hoe, and the worm falling into this furrow, is unable to escape, and perishes. The numbers so destroyed in a single trench, is almost incredible. AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY. From Prof. Jackson's Third Report on the Geology of Maine. As I have formerly stated, it is evident from an examination of the mineral ingredients of soils, that they all originated from the decomposition and disintegration of rocks which for ages have been acted upon by air and water; those agents having, by their mechanical and chemical powers, shivered and crumbled the solid ledges into those pulverulent matters which form the basis of all soils-to which, subsequently small quantities of vegetable humus are added by the decay of plants. The tertiary epoch was of a milder character and but little disturbance of the solid rocks appears to have been effected during those submersions, when the plastic clay, calcareous marls and strata of perfectly preserved marine shells, were deposited. These sedimentary matters appear to have resulted from a slow and gradual deposition of clay and other fine sedimentary matter, which beneath the sea, became soon inhabited by numerous shell fish, and were imbedded in succession as we now find them, since the elevation of the land above the encroachments of the sea. When we consider the several periods which I have briefly mentioned, it will at once reveal to any reflecting persons, that the world has been during the lapse of inconceivable ages, subject to great revolutions in its geological organization. At one time, the rocks are worn down into soils, and bear their vegetation-then continents were sunk in the ocean's depths, and subsequently were raised again, the soils having in the mean time been converted into rocks. By such consideration, we soon learn to respect the antiquity of Ancient soils. There have been various epochs the world; and knowing that such records are lein the earth's history, when soils were thus form-gibly written on the tablets of stone, we feel a nated, and after bearing their luxuriant vegetation, ural desire to read and understand their meaning. were reconverted by aqueous and igneous cau- Ancient alluvial soils, or diluvium. Subsequent ses, into rocks, the structure, and fossil contents to the epochs of which I have spoken, we find of which, denote ther origin to have been from that another scene of violence disturbed the transedimentary matter,hardened by pressure and heat.quillity of the great deep, and the northern ocean Thus, when we look back to the epoch of the transition formations, we find the rocks composing that series to be composed of agglomerated sand and pebbles, cemented by clay, which presents itself in an indurated form, the result of igneous action. Marine shells, contained in the grauwacke rocks just described, evince that this deposit was chiefly formed beneath the waters of the sea, while some portions of it were deposited in fresh water, as proved by the presence of certain plants, peculiar to bogs and lakes. The slates of this formation contain prints and casts of numerous plants-such as ferns, equisetaceæ, lepidodendræ and stigmaricæ; while beds of anthracite coal showing by their structure and composition their vegetable origin,are also included between the strata. Now it is evident, that the above mentioned plants could not have grown without a soil, and the rocks in whch they are imbedded bear every proof that they were once in that condition. was hurled, with its seas of ice, over the land, sweeping the loose materials from the very mountain tops, and depositing them far south of their former resting places-while the grooves, scratches and water marks upon the surface of the fixed ledges, show the direction in which the current passed. By such a flood, (proofs of which are nearly universal in Maine, as elsewhere,) the soils were transported and commingled, so that we rarely find a soil similar to the rocks beneath it, but identical with that derived from other rocks which occur to the north and northwest. Having already cited so many localities in proof of this position, I shall not here recapitulate, and the intelligent observer will find so many illustrations in Maine, to satisfy his rational curiosity on the subject, that he need not long remain in doubt as to the facts. Modern alluvial soils. The present causes which act upon the solid rocks, are both chemical and meSecondary soils. We come next to the secon-canical. Oxigen, from the atmosphere and from wadary epoch, and here again we are astonished to ter,is constantly affecting some portions of the work, find proofs of a numerous succession of alterna- especially where the rocks contain pyrites. Rivers, ting beds of soil, each having, for long periods of torrents, brooks, and even rain, are gradually time borne their perennial verdure of intertropical sweeping away the solid rocks, by their continued plants, allied to those above noticed, but more com- action; but more powerful than all others, is the plicated and perfect in their structure. The sand- action of freezing water, which, by an almost irrestones and shales of this formation are vast herbaria | sistibly expansive force, rends all rocks into which of ancient vegetation, and their strata contain, well ❘ water can find a passage; and crumbles down those |