render the whole of the imported leaf valuable; in every case a greater amount of care is required in the preparation of snuff than of tobacco. The various qualities of snuff are due to a great variety of circumstances, principally under the control of the manufacturer. The purest kind of snuff is that which goes by the name of Scotch,' which is either made entirely of stalks, or of stalks mixed with a small proportion of leaf; in either case there is very little 'liquoring' applied to the tobacco, as that would darken the color of the snuff. There are

6

many kinds of snuff called 'high-dried,' such as 'Welsh' and 'Lundyfoot' (the latter being named after a celebrated maker). These owe their quali ties chiefly to the circumstance that they are dried so much as to acquire a slight flavor of scorching.

The snuffs called 'rappee,' of which there are two kinds, brown' and black,' are made chiefly from leaf, to which is added the 'smalls,' or broken fibres of tobacco, which are too small to be smoked conveniently in a pipe. The dark color is principally produced by wetting the powdered tobacco in a bin or box, and allowing it to remain for a considerable time, turned occasionally with a shovel; during which time it undergoes a slight degree of fermentation, which darkens the color.

Grinding Snuff.

justed one to another as to give to the pestle a motion best calculated to effect the grinding of the snuff. Every establishment for grinding snuff contains a considerable number of both these machines; since some kinds of snuff are best ground by the one, and others by the other.

edge on a slab or bed beneath, and have then a twofold motion given to them, resembling that of the wheel of a carriage which is going round in a small circle. By means of a horizontal axis passing through The original quality of the leaf is as much attend- the centre of the stones, the stones wheel along the ed to as the subsequent processes. Scotch snuff is surface of the bed; and by giving to the axis itself made principally from the stalks of light dry leaves; a motion round another but vertical axis, the stones whereas 'rappee' and the darker snuffs are made are carried round in a small circle. The snuff to be from the darker and ranker leaves. A process of ground is laid on the bed or support, and the broad scenting, too, has great influence on the flavor of edge of the heavy stone passes repeatedly over it, by the snuff, since the manufacturer can introduce any which the particles are reduced to powder. kind of scent which he thinks may please his cus- In the other form of grinding-mill, the snuff is put tomers. Thus, 'Prince's mixture,' among the low-into a kind of cell or mortar, in which it is ground by priced snuffs, and the interminable varieties of 'fancy a pestle moved in a singular manner. The pestle is snuffs,' owe no small part of their flavor to the kinds connected with a set of jointed arms or levers, so adof scent introduced. Other kinds, however, such as 'high-dried,'' Welsh,' Lundyfoot,' &c., are chiefly dependant on the peculiar circumstances under which they are dried. În relation to the last named snuff, Mr. Barlow states-"The celebrated Lundyfoot snuff derives its particular flavor chiefly from having the fermentation carried to a very high pitch before Beyond the grinding, and a preparatory drying, the batch is turned; and it is said that its first dis- nothing is done to the snuff at the snuff-mills. The covery was owing to the neglect of the man attend-proprietor brings it to a certain stage of preparation ing upon the batches, and who, by getting drunk, before it is sent to the mill, and in most cases passes made his master's fortune. Another story also pre- it through some finishing operations after it is brought vails with respect to the discovery of this snuff, so from the mill. much esteemed by inveterate snuff-takers, which at- Tobacco is frequently damaged on its passage tributes it to an accidental fire, which, by scorching from this country to Europe; and in England the some hogsheads of tobacco, gave them a peculiar damaged portion is burned for the purpose of forming flavor when manufactured. This story is, however, a manure from the ashes. Sometimes, by the action evidently without foundation, as the snuff manufac- of sea-water or other causes, the exterior portion of tured by Lundyfoot still continues to retain a peculiar a hogshead of tobacco is damaged to the depth of flavor which cannot be imitated by other manufacturers; a circumstance which is not likely to continue if the effect simply depended upon the degree of drying."

There are two kinds of machines for grinding tobacco in manufacturing snuff, one of which is represented on a small scale in the annexed cut. In one of them a pair of cylindrical stones, several feet in diameter and a foot or more in thickness, are set up on

several inches. When this is ascertained to be the case, it is taken into the warehouse, where two men with long knives proceed to cut away the damaged part, after the staves of the hogshead have been removed. This process is seen in the foreground of the frontispiece to this article. The damaged tobacco is then taken to a kiln and thrown into the furnace by an open door, and burned. The greater part of the tobacco is thus consumed; but an ash re

Burning Tobacco.

mains, which is from time to time drawn out of the furnace and thrown into bins or troughs at the side. These ashes are said to form excellent manure, one ton being used to manure four acres of ground. The ashes also constitute a useful kind of tooth-powder. The duty now paid on tobacco in England, is about six times the full value of the article itself; and the time has been when it was nineteen times the value. The damaged tobacco the State allows to be burned, without any duty being paid on it. Custom officers have the supervision of the tobacco until the damaged portion is removed, and the remainder carefully weighed, when the amount of duty is duly assessed.

AGRICULTURE.

RENOVATION OF SOILS.

"THERE is in the constituent particles of soils a constant tendency to more minute division. By continual tillage, and the concurrent action of salts, manures, and frost, this division may become so extreme, that at length a soil may be reduced to a fine powder or dust; in which state it will be destitute of substance, and cease to be productive; the rain falling upon it will convert it into mere mire or mud; and this being hardened by the heat of the sun, the air will be excluded, and the roots of plants will be wholly unable to fulfil their functions."

It is not my purpose to discuss the question of renovating soils, for it has often been ably treated, but to state the result of an experiment in wheat culture, on a soil approximating the above description, quoted from that sterling work of Chaptal, on Agricultural Chemistry. The soil was rather a stiff clay, and having been some thirty-five years in arable condition, and for much of the former part of this time very productive of wheat, it had been, for want of a knowledge of the benefits of the "rotation system," sadly abused. In 1838, it was summer fallowed, having laid the four years previous to sheep pasture, but the crop of wheat which followed was very ordinary, not yielding ten bushels to the acre; which in part arose from the adhesive and clammy nature of the soil, causing the frost to heave a very considerable proportion of the plants on the surface to perish. This is well known to be a very common occurrence, in our climate, with heavy clay lands, if sowed late; but this was not the fact in the last particular, and the growth in the fall was beyond an average. After the crop was harvested, I observed on all parts of the field, numerous cracks on the surface, to a much greater extent than is usual with similar soils. I contemplated giving the field a heavy manuring the following season, and plant with corn; but subsequently changed my plan, having resolved to adopt the course recommended as above, by Chaptal. I consequently applied about twenty-five large cart loads of coarse, unfermented manure, drawn from my sheep-barns, to the acre, which was spread no faster than the ploughs would cover. The plants, in the fall, assumed so dark a green, that I was a little apprehensive of the usual rank growth before harvest, which almost invariably follows the direct application of manure to the wheat crop, as well as large disproportion of straw to the berry. But, doubtless owing to the great poverty of the soil, these results did not follow. The field averaged over twenty bushels to the acre, which is about the average production of well-tilled fallow land, sown timely, and in favorable seasons, in this immediate quarter. The coarse manure had evidently effected a material modification of the soil, as few cracks were distinguishable on the surface, after harvest, showing most clearly, that it was more friable. It is a year ago last spring since the grass seed was sown upon it, and a more luxuriant covering of clover I have rarely seen, than the field now presents; which is another proof of some renovation of the soil, otherwise, very much of the clover would have been thrown out by the frost of last spring. It is my present impression, that if this field is permitted to rest for two or three years longer, and then sowed with buckwheat, and ploughed under when in blow, preparatory to wheat, in consideration of what has already been done, its original fertility will be nearly restored, and in some measure the adhesive and clammy texture of the soil destroyed.

"All these soils" (for instance, where 45 parts of 100 are clay)" are unproductive, and become adhesive and clammy when wet; the water which stands upon them is uniformly turbid and whitish, and particularly so when it is agitated by wind; the effect of heat is to contract and crack their surface, to make it hard, and render it impenetrable to the But while on this subject, I beg leave to enter a plough; nor can they be made to any considerable protest against applying manure-except compostextent productive, but by the liberal application of directly to the wheat crop; unless, as in the above coarse undecomposed manures, and especially by case, when the soil is rendered quite unproductive, ploughing in crops of buckwheat when in flower." by long and " skinning" management, before agri

cultural periodicals taught us better. You will per- | from me all pride and ambition. Thanks to thy pamit me to quote your remarks, gentlemen, on this ternal goodness, I have enjoyed for a century the point, for I am quite sure they cannot be kept too true blessings of life, competence and peace of mind. much "before the people"-from the 7th vol. of the Thou hast never ceased to lavish upon me the blessCultivator, taken from a sterling article on " Wheat ings of thy love; even my last days are marked Culture." "One of the greatest evils of direct ma- with thy goodness; abundant harvests fill my granuring for the wheat crop, arises from the liability naries; thou waterest my meadows, and my trees of the grain so manured, to lodge. The rapid growth are exempt from the furies of the wind. To crown of the stem renders it unable to support its own my felicity, thou hast reserved to me the partner of weight, it is soft and flexible, contains much less my life, and the two children who make the delight silex than those grown in a poorer soil; the wheat of our days. My God! nothing I desire but to die does not usually perfect its berry, and at all times, before them! The end of my days draws nigh. from the thinness of the skin or cuticle, it is more Soon my ashes will mingle with those of my faliable to mildew and rust. These things render it thers. When this shall be verified, I commend to certainly unadvisable, unless the land is very poor thee my children. Have pity upon their tender and reduced, to apply unfermented manure to wheat." mother! Watch over these dear objects! O my My own experience, as well as that of thousands of God! abandon them never!" others, in times past, will attest the truth of these remarks. As nearly as possible, my practice conforms to the "rotation system;" and I arply my manure in an unfermented state to my corn and potato crops, and top dressing of meadows.

L. A. MORRELL.

THE GOOD OLD MAN.

FROM THE SPANISH OF CECILIO DE CORpas.

Having uttered these words, his eyes were bathed with tears, deep sighs came from his heart, and respiration was nearly suspended. I imagined I saw something divine shine forth from his countenance. He rose tranquilly and retired to his house, where I heard him long after continuing his blessings to God.

The day began to dawn, and the little birds, with their cheerful songs, announced the rising sun. The laborer came forth to his task, and, filled with admiration of what I had heard, I rose and returned to my house.

in wood,

PHILOSOPHICAL FACTS.

IN the afternoon of a beautiful summer day I walked out to enjoy the freshness of the country. I soon lost sight of my residence, and began to divert my mind with the sight of surrounding objects. Al- Sound travels at the rate of 1,141 feet per second ready the sheep were entering their folds, and the in the air, 4,960 in water, 11,000 in cast iron, 17,000 cattle, with slow and thoughtful steps, were return-in steel, 18,000 in glass, and from 4,636 to 17,000 ing to their sheds, when, in an absent frame of mind, I found myself upon the borders of a lake, and the night closing around. I was contemplating the stillness of the waters, the immense majesty of the heavens, and the beautiful order and harmony of creation, when a voice aroused me from my meditations. I turned my eyes, and observed near me a venerable old man upon his knees, praying with great fervor. I fixed my attention, and heard him utter these words ::

"O thou, whose existence and infinite power are manifest in nature, Father of men, from thy lofty throne, surrounded with innumerable choirs of pure spirits, deign to listen to a feeble mortal, and receive his homage.

"In the silence of the night I raise my voice to adore thee, O eternal Intelligence, who hast created me from nothing. The universe, great God, is thy temple, and the immense heavens are the vault of that magnificent church, whose priest is the pure and innocent man. How can senseless mortals be ignorant of that visible and universal wisdom which governs the world? How, in view of the spheres that revolve above, the deep seas beneath, and the treasures scattered with such profusion over the earth, can they forget their great and benevolent Author?

"I bless thee, thou supreme God, that thou hast cast my lot far from corrupt cities, and hast removed

Mercury freezes at 38 degrees below zero of Fahrenheit, and becomes a solid mass, malleable under the hammer.

The greatest height at which the visible clouds ever exist does not exceed ten miles.

Air is about 816 times lighter than water. The pressure of the atmosphere upon every square foot of the earth amounts to 2,160 lbs. An ordinary sized man, supposing his surface to be fourteen square feet, sustains the enormous pressure of 30,240 lbs.

Heat rarefies air to such an extent that it may be made to occupy 5 or 600 times the space it did before.

The violence of the expansion of water, when freezing, is sufficient to cleave a globe of copper of such thickness as to require a force of 28,900 lbs. to produce the same effect.

During the conversion of ice into water, 140 degrees of heat are absorbed.

Water, when converted into steam, increases in bulk 1,800 times.

One hundred pounds of the water of the Dead Sea contain 45 pounds of salt.

The mean annual depth of rain that falls at the equator is 96 inches.

Assuming the temperature of the interior of the earth to increase uniformly as we descend, at the

The explosive force of closely confined gunpowder is six and a half tons to the square inch. Hailstones sometimes fall with a velocity of 113 feet in a second-rain 34 feet in a second.

The greatest artificial cold ever produced is-91 degrees of Fahrenheit.

Electricity moves with greater velocity than light,

as the water of the Croton has now reached the city, it is well that free use should be made of it. It should not be the object of the corporation to see how much money can be made by the sale of the water; this is not the business of municipal corporations, nor should they fill up the wells, to compel people to use Croton, but for the first year give the water at a low price.

which traverses 200,000 miles of space in a second EVOLUTION OF LIGHT IN THE HUMAN

of time.

Thunder can be heard at a distance of 30 miles. Lightning can be seen, by reflection, at the distance of 200 miles.

Water. Rain water contains more animal life than spring or well water. River water possesses different properties in different seasons of the year; hence the manufacturers of potash find it difficult in time of drought to melt potash. River, spring, and well water, are rain water. This is evidenced by the rivers, springs, and wells being dried up by great and long continued drought.

SUBJECT.

IT was ten days previous to L. A.'s death, that I (Sir Henry Marsh) observed a very extraordinary light, which seemed darting about the face, and illuminating all around her head, flashing very much like an aurora borealis. She was in a deep decline, and had that day been seized with suffocation, which teased her much for an hour, and made her so nervous that she would not suffer me to leave her for a moment, that I might raise her up quickly in case of a return of this painful sensation. After she settled In the neighborhood of the Caspian Sea, in the for the night, I lay down beside her, and it was then environs of Gourief, the dew and the fogs are so im- this luminous appearance suddenly commenced. pregnated with salt that the clothes worn by the in- Her maid was sitting up beside the bed, and I whishabitants, and also the plants, have saline incrusta-pered to her to shade the light, as it would awaken

tions on their surfaces.

Louisa. She told me the light was perfectly shaded.

I have dissolved alkaline salts in water, and placed I then said, "What can this light be which is flashthe solution in a glass bottle, filling the bottle about full. To this bottle I put a loose paper stopper, which would allow the escape of vapor. In ten years it corked itself perfectly tight with its own crystals.

In a glass retort I placed a quantity of brine; in a few months I found the edge of the retort coated with an incrustation of salt.

The steam from kettles in which alkaline fluids are evaporated, changes vegetable colors.

I see no difficulty in the fact that salt water produces salt vapor, and under a variety of circum

stances.

The force used in sending up vapor, influences the quantity of salt which accompanies or is contained in it.

Lime, when suddenly slaked, throws many of its fine particles into the atmosphere, and so with grain ground into flour in a mill.

The atmosphere takes up the aroma of plants, vegetation, &c. Hence may be noticed, after a warm shower, a peculiar atmosphere in the vicinity of the poplar tree, and after a morning dew, in the vicinity of roses; these are not discovered by the sense of sight only, but by that of smell. So with water thrown on the surface of the streets, and into gutters, in hot weather; if only used in small quantities, it will carry up the putrid effluvia into the atmosphere, and greatly deteriorate that particular portion of it; but should a shower of rain come in contact, the water would take it up. I do not pretend to say that bad water cannot be purified by artificial distillation. I believe I have stated enough to satisfy your correspondent Croton,' and take leave to add that

ing on Miss Louisa's face?" The maid looked very
mysterious, and informed me she had seen that light
before, and it was from no candle.
I then inquired
when she had perceived it; she said that morning,
and it dazzled her eyes, but she had said nothing
about it, as ladies always considered servants super-
stitious. However, after watching it myself half an
hour, I got up, and saw that the candle was in a po-
sition from which this peculiar light could not have
come, nor indeed was it like that sort of light; it was
more silvery, like the reflection of moonlight on
water. I watched it more than an hour, when it dis-
appeared. It gave the face the look of being painted
white and highly glazed, but it danced about, and had
a very extraordinary effect. Three nights after, the
maid being ill, I sat up all night, and again I saw this
luminous appearance, when there was no candle, nor
moon, nor, in fact, any visible means of producing it.
Her sister came into the room and saw it also. The
evening before L. A. died, I saw the light again,
but it was fainter, and lasted but about twenty min-
utes. The state of the body of the patient was that
of extreme exhaustion. For two months she had
never sat up in bed. Many of her symptoms varied
much from those of other sufferers in pulmonary
complaints whom I had seen, but the general outline
was the same. Her breath had a very peculiar
smell, which made me suppose there might be some
decomposition going forward. The young lady about
whose person these luminous appearances
manifested I had seen several times before her return
to the country; her lungs were extensively diseased;
she labored under the most hopeless form of pulmon-
ary consumption.-London Medical Gazette.

were

BURNS AND HIS LOCALITIES.-At top, Statue of Burns, by Flaxman, from the Monument at Edinburgh.-Qn the left, 1, Dumfries, 2 The Twa Brigs of Ayr; 3, Burns' Mausoleum at Dumfries.-On the right, 1, Banks o' Doon; 2, Room in the Cottage at Maybole. LOCAL MEMORIES OF GREAT MEN.