ARTESIAN OR OVERFLOWING WELLS. owing to their residence in the water; further, fresh stems and roots of marsh-plants, seeds of many different plants, and also fresh water-shells, as Planorbis marginatus, also Helix rotundata, and Helix striata. All these resembled those which are found after floods, on the sides of smaller rivers and brooks. This fact is so remarkable, that the truth of it might be called in question, had it not been accurately determined. There results from it the following conclusions: and they were obliged (on the 30th of January of The irruption of the water, on first piercing the year 1831) to remove the tube till within 12 these subterranean reservoirs, is often very violent feet of the surface. The water suddenly rushed and is no small proof of the copiousness of many out, increased fully to a third more than its former of these wells. Some striking examples of this quantity, and continued to flow for several hours. are quoted from England in the Bibliotheque Uni- It was now no longer clear as before; on the converselle, t. xxxix. p. 199. A Mr. Brook had sunk trary, it brought along with it a great quantity of a bore in his garden 360 feet deep, and 4.5 inches fine sand, and surprising enough, also numerous in diameter, from which the water was discharged remains of plants and bivalve shells; branches of so copiously, that it not only overflowed the whole the thorn, several inches long, and blackened, yard round the house, but also submerged the adjoining cellars. The damage was so great that the neighbors lodged a complaint, and the police were required to interpose. Two men now tried to close the bore with a wooden peg, but they were constantly driven back by the violence of the water, even when a third came to their assistance. They were equally incapable of restraining the water by an iron stopper. At last they took the advice of a mason, and planted several tubes of small diameter over the bore, and thus succeeded 1. The water of the artesian well of the city of at last in mastering the water. At a Mr. Lord's, Tours must occupy not more than four months in in Tooting, where a bore had been closed, the wa-flowing through its subterranean canals, because ter worked with such violence under the ground, of the well without being decomposed. the ripe seeds of harvest have reached the mouth that it burst forth in a space 15 yards in circumference, and certainly the walls would have been brought down if free vent had not been given to it. This spring, say the informants, on account of the height of its jet, and the quantity of water (600 litres per minute,) is worthy of being in a public square. The stream of a well belonging to a neighbor of Mr. Lord, drove a water-wheel of 5 feet in diameter, and this again set a pump in motion which carried the water to the top of a three-soon as the seeds, five or six in number, are restoried house. We quote this passage from an ferred to their plants, naturalists will, in places article in Jameson's Journal, No. 17, to direct the situated higher than the basin of the Loire, be special attention of the reader to the whole of the able to make out the points where these subterrainteresting and important paper*. nean waters are poured out. ON ARTESIAN WELLS; And the employment of the warm water brought from a depth for economical purposes. Whence do artesian wells derive their water. and how do they acquire their power of ascension, which sometimes occasions in the middle of plains, at a distance from hills and mountains, the surprising phenomenon of spouting springs? are questions which have been often proposed, and very variously answered. The most natural explanation is undoubtedly that which supposes the water of these wells, like that of natural wells, to be derived from the atmosphere, and their power of ascension the hydrostatic pressure of a more elevated reservoir, with which the perforated canal or bore stands in connexion. Sometimes, however, the local relations are such that it is difficult to refer the water to such a source, and then it is that the framers of wild hypotheses stand forth with their absurdities. A late observation, which affords a striking proof of the accuracy of the above explanation, is therefore the more worthy of being noticed. At Tours, on the Loire, an artesian well, with a bore of 3 inches, which brought the water from a depth of 335 feet to the surface, was damaged, * M. Mallat, by an ingenious contrivance, is enabled to make use separately of two kinds of water, sometimes found in a single boring, such as hard and soft water. 2. As the water carries along with it shells and pieces of wood, it cannot reach its place by filtration through the layers of sand, but must have flowed through more or less irregular canals. 3. The source of this water is to be looked for in some moist valleys of Auvergne and the Vivarais. The remains of the plants and animals are deposited in the mineral cabinet of the city. As It is to be wished that French observers would state how they prove that the waters of this well come from Auvergne, about 130 miles distant. If this shall be proved, the considerable rise of artesian water in other places, where no hills occur near, or where they are bored in the most elevated points in the neighborhood, will lose every thing puzzling; This rising is sufficiently remarkable to induce us to communicate some examples from Hericart. The two last wells, exactly those which rise highest above the level of the Seine, are bored on heights, and hence their water remains considerably under the surface of the earth; also in both the deepest of the bore-holes is still above the level of the Seine, in the first seven metres, in the last about one metre. In the work of Hericart,a fact is mentioned, which From Jameson's Journal. confirms the view of artesian wells already given. NATIVE COUNTRY OF MAIZE, OR INDIAN CORN. Gulfs, in which rivers and rivulets lose themselves are very frequent in the Jura and other similar lime-stone mountains, and there, where the upperThis grain, so important to the agricultural inmost bed consists of a clayey soil, which opposes certain origin. Fuchs very early maintained that terests of the United States, appears to be of unthe sinking down of the rain, sometimes prove it came from the east; and Mathioli affirmed that very beneficial in agricultural operations, by carrying away the superfluous water. In some it was from America. Regmir and Gregory have places, M. Hericart remarks, man has imitated presented fresh arguments in favor of its eastern this example set by nature, with great effect. The origin. Among them is the name by which it has draining of the plain of Palans, near to Marseille, been long known in Europe, Ble de Turquie; and is an example of this. This plain, which is at varieties, it is said, have been brought from the present covered with beautiful vineyards, was for- Isle of France, or from China. Moreau de Jonnes, merly a great marshy basin, without outlet. It on the contrary, has recently maintained, in a was drained by means of great sink-holes, which memoir read before the Academy of Sciences, were sunk down to the underlying porous or cathat its origin was in America. The name Ble de vernous stone, and were connected together by Turquie no more proves it to be of Turkish origin means of a number of ditches or drains. The than the name of the Italian Poplar proves that water which was carried away by these shafts that tree grew wild in Italy. It can only signify reached, by means of subterranean canals, the that it spread from Turkey into the neighboring harbors of Mion near to Cassis, where it appeared countries. Its general cultivation in southern Euagain as spouting springs. Here, therefore, man, rope, and the production of some new varieties, without intending it, had artesian wells, not for proves nothing with regard to the country of the the purpose of obtaining water, but in order to species. In favor of its American origin, is the get clear of it. fact that it was found in a state of cultivation, in The following report, published by M. Bruck- every place where the first navigators landed. In mann, Kongl, Wurtemberg, Baurath, in the Mexico according to Hernandez, and in Brazil acVerhandlungen zur Beforderung des Gewerbfleis-cording to Zeri; and that in the various countries ses in Preussen, 1830, Lieferung, No. 4., affords it had proper names, such as Maize, Flaolli, &c.; a striking proof how varied the uses are of artesian while, in the Old World, its names were either all wells. M. Bruckmann caused to be bored, under of American origin, or names of the neighboring his inspection, from August 1827, to December region, whence it was immediately derived; and 1829, at Heilbronn, five bore holes for fresh water, it spread rapidly in the Old World, and soon bethat, immediately after the discovery of America, in order to obtain the necessary quantity of pure came common, a fact not reconcilable with the water for the purposes of two paper-mills, and a idea of its former existence there. To these proofs flax spinning mill. Two of the bore holes were sunk to a depth of 60 feet, one to 90 feet, another Aug. de Saint Hilaire has added another. He to 100 feet, and one to 112 feet, under the lowest has received from M. de Larranhaga of Monte level of the Neckar. In all of them the water Video, a new variety of maize, distinguished by rose nearly 8 feet above the level of the Neckar, the grains naked, they are entirely covered by the the name of Tunicata; because, instead of having and on an average each delivered 40 to 50 cubic feet. The purpose of the borings was perfectly glumes. This variety is from Paraguay, where it accomplished, even to overflow; but the discovery is cultivated by the Guaycurus Indians, a people was made, that the water of all the bore holes in the lowest scale of civilization, and where, achad constantly a temperature of 54.5 Fahr. This cording to the direct testimony of one of them, it fact led M. Bruckmann to a very important appli- grows in the humid forests as a native production. cation of this water, viz. heating the mills with it. The paper-mill contained 72,000 cubic feet, a working hall over it 10,800 cubic feet. Both spaces, which contained together 82,800 cubic feet, were the whole winter, 1829-1830, through, warmed by means of this water alone to a temperature of 450.5 Fahr. and 470.7 Fahr., and when without, the temperature was-24.2 Fahr. The thermometer in the mills did not sink lower than 41° Fahr. even when the doors were kept open. Every miller knows well how much labor, time, and expense, it occasions in hard winters to heat daily, and even in a scanty manner, the water wheels, and with what risk of life it is attended. It was reserved for M. Bruckmann, by means of artesian water, to free his water-mills from this burthensome evil. He conducted the running water from the Hollander, which still possessed a temperature of 520.2 Fahr. through tubes in the Wassergasse, and had thus the satisfaction to find that his water-wheels, the whole winter through, even when the external temperature was as low as 240.2 Fahr. never froze.* [We have raised a few ears of this curious kind of corn described above under the name of Tunicata. The grains are precisely like the common corn, and the ear is of middle size. But besides having a shuck such as covers other Indian corn, every grain of this is completely enclosed in a little shuck of its own. The cob, (if it can be so called,) is scarcely larger than the central pith of the cobs of other ears—and to this are attached by stems or threads, the shucks or glumes which enclose each grain. The whole are regularly and compactly arranged on the ear.] SHEEP KILLED BY CATS. Incredible as this may sound, we have good authority for saying the deed has actually been perpetrated in this county. Several cats of the look out for a substitute for coal. If, when that time arrives, no new means of procuring heat economically shall be discovered, we may be able to draw from the great subterranean depository of caloric, and partly by means of the subterranean waters, heat for our The period will come when we shall be forced to various wants.-Poggendorf's Annalen, H. ii. 1831. They make one remark, which we presume will explain more than one of those failures which have led some to doubt the practicability of the system: common species, with their progeny, have for their actual progress in study; removes their three or four years past made an old stone quarry, temptations to idleness; confirms their habits of inin Martic township, their abiding place, and industry; gives them a practical acquaintance with that time, it would seem, have relapsed to the the useful employments of life; fits them for the wild state, and acquired the ferocious and preda- toils and responsibilities of a newly settled country; tory habits natural to their tribe. A short time and inspires them with the independence of chaago some of them were seen in pursuit of a full racter, and the originality of investigation, which grown sheep, belonging to the flock of Mr. Mar- belong peculiarly to self-made and self-educated tin Herr, of that vicinity. They soon overtook it, men. dragged it to the ground, and before the person who witnessed the scene could reach the spot, they succeeded in so lacerating the poor animal's throat that it bled to death in a short time. It required "No small injury is threatened to manual labor considerable exertion to drive them off. A dog, institutions, and no small embarrassment has been subsequently sent in pursuit of them, caught one, felt by this seminary in common with others, in but would probably have been himself worsted in consequence of the erroneous impression too comthe conflict that ensued, had not the owner come monly prevalent, that no funds will be needed in to his rescue. It is said that they also pursued a a manual labor institution, even when the student small boy some time ago, and followed him a con- has no trade, no knowledge of any kind of busisiderable distance, as is now supposed with dead-ness, no power of accomplishment, and little disly purposes.-Lancaster Examiner. position to perform the labor offered him, as a means of paying his expenses. MANUAL LABOR DEPARTMENT OF THE LANE SEMINARY. The fourth Annual Report of the Lane Seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio, has recently appeared, and contains much that is interesting in reference to manual labor. "The committee need not inform such young men, and the community generally, that no institution can long sustain itself and prosper under such circumstances." While they consider the pecuniary benefit of the plan as of minor importance, compared with the health and vigor it produces, the report furnishThis institution is another of those "Visible Illus-es encouraging evidences that much may be done trations of Benevolence," which are so rapidly in this respect under favorable circumstances. In and so happily multiplying in our country. It owes consequence of the contiguity of the seminary to its origin to the benevolence of a single merchant, Cincinnati, printing has been introduced as one and its broad foundation to individual contributions; branch of labor, and the novelty and success of and the fact that these were chiefly presented by this department renders the details interesting. "the East" to "the West," affords gratifying evidence that narrow local feeling is not yet predominant over the spirit of beneficence. The Seminary has three professors in the theological department, and three in the department of preparatory study, which is designed for those whose age or circumstances prevent their pursuing a collegiate One building for one hundred students, and two houses for professors, are already built, and a chapel is soon to be erected. In consequence of the provision of funds, the expenses of each student do not exceed $60 or $80 annually. course. "During the early part of the last year, an arrangement was entered into by the committee, with Messrs. Corey & Fairbank, booksellers of Cincinnati, to furnish the students with several printing presses, and with stereotype plates for printing Webster's spelling book. This establishment has been in operation nearly a year, and now embraces six presses, furnishing work for twenty students. "About 150,000 copies of the above named work have been printed, and about 1000 copies rer day are now issued from the presses. But the principal peculiarity in this institution is "The students have recently commenced the in its provisions for manual labor, and the ground printing of an edition of Dr. Eberle's Treatise on on which it is placed. It is with peculiar pleasure the Diseases of Children, a valuable medical work, that we find physical education" spoken of, in which requires fine paper and the best workmanconnection with "talents and acquisitions," and ship; and it is believed that in all respects the exethe "spirit of holiness," as of fundamental impor-cution of the work is highly satisfactory to the tance to ministerial energy and success.” When employers." will the acknowledged truth, that "the mind is influenced by the state of the body," be adopted practically, in our schemes of education! On the subject of manual labor in connection with study, the Committee remark in general: The report from which we are quoting is a very handsome specimen of the skill of the students. In regard to pecuniary results, the committee state: "The average amount earned by six printers in ten months by working about three hours per day, $120 00 rate in a year, "Whatever may be the theoretical objections of good men, practically unacquainted with this sys-"Average amount earned at the same tem, to its practicability and importance, it is to the directors no longer a matter of experiment, but "Amount now earned by twenty stuof sober fact, resulting from three or four years' dents per week, experience, that the connection of three hours" Average amount (by each student,) daily labor, in some useful and interesting employ-"Average amount earned by twenty stument, with study, protects the health and consti- dents at the same rate as above per tution of our young men; greatly augments their year, physical energy; furnishes to a considerable extent, or entirely, the means of self-education; increases their power of intellectual acquisition; facilitates 144 00 50 82 2 54 132 08 "In view of these results, and the small annual expense of this institution, it is hardly necessary to remark, that the students in this department have the high satisfaction of providing the means of their own education without aid from friends, or from the benefactions of the church. From the New York Farmer. LIVE STOCK. States to the Soil. "This arrangement is the more important for Adaptation of Breeds of Live Stock in the United our young men, from the fact that a knowledge of the business is easily acquired; several of the students having gained such an acquaintance with the employment in three or four weeks, as to be able to earn forty-six cents per day, or two dollars seventy-six cents per week, by working three hours per day. "This operation is highly satisfactory to the committee, not only as furnishing a useful and acvantageous employment to the students, but as it is unattended with any expense to the institution in furnishing presses, or in the printing and disposition of the books. From nearly a year's full experiment, the committee are fully persuaded that this branch of our manual labor has peculiar advantages in respect to its simplicity, its appropriate exercise, its general utility, and pecuniary results. "In accordance with the special request of the printers' association of this institution, it is intended, as soon as practicable, to adopt measures for the extension of this establishment; and from the facilities here enjoyed for conducting the printing busines, it is hoped that a large portion of our students, at no very distant period, may enjoy the advantage of this employment." In the cabinet shops connected with the institution, materials have been furnished, and work paid for, by an establishment in Cincinnati. The whole is placed under the superintendence of some of the most skilful workmen among the students, who are responsible to the employers for all that is done, and have secured a pecuniary profit of $701 35 in five months. The profit to individuals is thus stated by the committee: "Several of the best workmen have earned from twelve and a half to fifteen cents per hour, and have received for their services during the time above specified, from forty to sixty dollars each; while those who have recently commenced learning the business, have earned from ten to twenty dollars each. Sir,-In some parts of the United States much attention has been paid to the improvement of live stock, and in many instances with success; but in others the improvement aimed at has not been attained, because the varieties of soil and climate had not been duly considered. In looking over the large droves of cattle which are brought from the west every year in October and November, though you see a strange medley of all ages, sizes, and every variety of condition, yet you see the same general character; nineteen out of twenty are red and middle-horned, evidently of the same race as the Devons, Herefords, and Sussex cattle of England. In the droves of sheep, you may look at a hundred without seeing a good one, but amongst any twenty head of cattle, you can always find some good; and what these are, the whole might have been made, by selection and care. ones would cost no more to keep, if so much, and would always fat quicker, and be worth more money. Good The great varieties of soil met with, require different kinds of cattle, yet on poor soils, as well as rich, most of our farmers aim more at size than symmetry, and handling is never thought of as an indication of qualities. It is much to be desired that the farmers of the west, where so many cattle are bred, would attend to the grazing qualities of the stock they rear; and it is surprising that no breeders have attempted to establish a variety merely as milkers. Good cows are to be found here and there, but you look in vain for any uniformity of character amongst them. A permanent variety may be raised in a few years, by useful management in always selecting the best milkers to be found, and putting a bull to them which comes of a good milker.— This is a main point, and not easy to succeed in. A good dairy bull ought to be clean in the head and neck, and altogether of a more feminine appearance than a common bull. "While the fact is here rendered obvious, that a first-rate mechanic is entirely independent in this In New England are many excellent cattle, all institution, and can support himself by his three of the middle-horned kind; by selection for several hours' labor without infringing at all upon his study generations, some parts of that country have now hours, the committee wish it to be understood that a breed hardly to be surpassed, as uniting the three such results are secured only by young men of ener-uses of cattle, that is, for beef, the yoke, and the getic, industrious, and economical habits; and that dairy. Yet they have no kind bred for the dairy those of different character, and who have little or no knowledge of tools, ought not to rely, to any considerable extent, at least for the first year, upon their labor as the means of paying the expenses of the institution." A farm of 110 acres is also annexed to the institution, from which additional advantages are anticipated. Such are the results of one of the most recent experiments on the manual labor system, and they seem to us to confirm the position we have maintained, that while this, like every other system of education, needs a foundation on which to rest, and the faithful, persevering efforts of skilful agents, it may be made a means of economy in education, and of imparting that vigor of constitution which renders that education doubly valuable, and secures to the individual, enjoyments and hopes which are beyond all price.-Annals of Education. as the sole object. In the small territory of Great Britain are many varieties of soil, and many cattle, say from 30 to 40, generally well suited for their places. At the head of all are the Improved Short Horns, an admirable breed, yet from their size, form, and constitution, they can only be kept in favorable situations. If grazed in summer on second rate lands, and kept on hay from the same lands in winter, they would rapidly degenerate; even artificial food would not make up for the want of quality in the grass and hay. Their early maturity would soon be lost with the wretched winter keeping so common here. In their native districts, with a moist, temperate climate, and rich soil, they are fed in the highest manner. Deep old grass land in summer, with abundant turnips, and rich hay, in well littered, well sheltered yards during winter, keep them always up to the mark. On inferior lands they would hardly live, yet there galloways would get fat; while in the Highlands of at length, struck by the beauty and variety of the Scotland even galloways could not live. Yet in feathered tribes, their manners and occupations, that bleak country is found a breed of cattle per- their wonderful migrations and their mysterious fectly adapted to their situation: small, compact, instincts, resolved to make them the principal oband hardy, beautiful to the eye of a grazier, and ject of his study. A pure passion gave energy much better beef than the large breeds of the to his mind. He studied nature, not with the south. Indeed, the richest lands do not produce view of immortalizing his name by his discoveries, beef or mutton of so good a quality as lands of nor even with a desire of infusing a portion of his inferior fertility, especially of their own rearing. In spirit into his fellow men, much less with the hope some fine parts of Scotland the Improved Short of increasing his pecuniary stores, but simply from Horns have driven out the native breeds; but, on an instinctive impulse, an admiration of, a love for, the whole, the Scotch cattle excel all others in the objects that manifested to him the attributes of their situations, and there are districts of this their Divine Author. To perpetuate their rememcountry, such as the northern slope of the Alle- brance, and render them ever present to his mind, ghanies, &c. where it is probable the Highlanders he first tried to preserve their skins. But their would answer well. A few galloway cattle were faded tints, the stiffness which could not be avoidseveral years since introduced by some Scotch ed in restoring them to shape, and the consequent settlers in Caledonia, Livingston county, New- want of seeming animation, determined him to York, but have long been mixed, and are now represent them by the pencil. Numberless drawsaid to be lost. West Highlanders, for bleak ings were made, but year after year they were mountain lands, and Ayrshires for the dairy, would consigned to the flames. At length, beginning to be a national acquisition.-Look at the noble pre- be somewhat pleased with his attempts to imitate miums given yearly by the Scotch Highland Soci-nature, he commenced a collection of drawings, ety for the improvement of their domestic animals which, after more than twenty years of almost and for the promotion of agriculture in every way. unremitted observation of the habits of birds, and At their exhibition at Stirling, in 1832, the pre-after he had shot and examined specimens of all mium for cattle alone amounted to 361 sovereigns, the forms that he could find in the vast regions of for about 1730 dollars, and in like proportion for the United States, at length amounted to several sheep, swine, horses, &c. This looks like being hundred. Still he had no other object in view in earnest: the subscribers know that they are than that of studying and depicting nature. Fispending their money wisely for an object of na-nally, after a visit to Philadelphia, which had tional importance. It would be no difficult matter to buy at a Scotch fair ten or twenty Ayrshire cows, which would look as if all cast in the same mould, and which would yield, for three months after calving, twenty-four quarts each per day, and so on in proportion. These cows, too, would graze kindly when dry. The Northern Short Horn, used in the dairies which supply London with milk, shows in perfection the art of breeding for a particular purpose, and these breeds are invaluable. Yet in a drier climate and different soil they might not retain their qualities. Importing cattle is an expensive and hazardous business. To make it answer, several men in different quarters ought to combine their efforts, and unity of purpose and perseverance must be found in all of them. This would be a very difficult matter. But selections from the stocks around him is in the power of any man who has capital and judgement. Cattle here are much better than sheep; for, except some merinoes and Saxony sheep, the native kinds are a strange medley, but all bad, wanting symmetry and weight. The main object of this letter is, that all stock should be adapted to the soil they are put on. I have Leicesters degenerating on lands where Chevoit sheep would have done well; and merinoes put on rich deep lands, where heavy sheep would have got fat. Short Horns, too, may be seen on lands where they do not find themselves at home. opened his eyes to the ways of men, he began, in "As I approached the coast of England," says he, "and for the first time beheld her fertile shores the despondency of my spirits became very great. I knew not an individual in the country, and although I was the bearer of letters from American friends, and statesmen of great eminence, my situation appeared precarious in the extreme. I imagined that every individual whom I was about to meet might be possessed of talents superior to those of any on our side the Atlantic! Indeed, as I for the first time walked on the streets of Liverpool, my heart nearly failed me, for not a glance of sympathy did I meet with in my wanderings |