as to make their cultivation profitable in this country; and this is especially the case in regard to the grape.

Having heretofore neglected our own native varieties, we are but just beginning to learn, after the experience and disappointments of two centuries, that foreign grapes can not be successfully cultivated in the United States. Had this fact been known and appreciated one hundred years ago, many varieties which have no doubt been destroyed and lost, would have been saved, to the great advantage of the country; and we should, in all probability before this, have been so far advanced in the business of grape-growing as to have produced a large portion of the wine required for our own consumption. This, besides being an important source of national wealth, would have had the moral effect of lessening the use of ardent spirits in the grape-growing districts. It is wonderful, that it should not have occurred to the people of the United States, in all this time, that there was some physical cause controlling this subject which could not, in the nature of things, be removed. And observing, as they must have done, the abundance and variety of native grapes which grew in almost every part of our territory, it is still more wonderful that they should have neglected for so long a time to cultivate and improve them. But such has ever been the blindness of the human mind, that many of the most valuable and obvious gifts and provisions of nature have remained overlooked and neglected for ages, until by accident or necessity they have been discovered and improved.

This delusion in regard to the cultivation of the foreign grape, however, has at length been dispelled, principally through the intelligence and persevering enterprise of N. Longworth, Esq., of Cincinnati, and others, who deserve the gratitude of the American people for their labors in thoroughly testing the value of both the foreign and native varieties. From these enlightened exertions, history will date the origin of successful grape-growing in the United States; a branch of industry which in time must exert a most salutary influence upon the habits and morals of the people, and add greatly to the wealth of

the nation.

Light exerts a powerful influence on plants throughout every stage of their growth; and it is so intimately connected with their habits and economy, that the nature and extent of this influence is an important subject of consideration. The influence of light upon plants has no doubt been observed by almost every one who is at all acquainted with vegetation; but as yet, few seem to have studied its importance. That this influence has no relation to the heat which usually accompanies the rays of the sun, we think is sufficiently proven by the fact that, when a plant germinates, or is placed in the most remote part of a cellar, it will invariably incline to the direction of the light, no matter how feeble may be its rays.Under such circumstances, we cannot imagine that the least appreciable warmth can be imparted by the light. The buds of most tender plants are attracted towards the sun, and follow its course throughout the day; the trees upon the edge of a forest incline towards the open space; and the time of ripening, as well as the flavor of fruit, is much influenced by its exposure to light. Indeed, the whole vegetable kingdom seems to abhor darkness, and appears to be ever struggling to avail itself of the greatest quantity of light which can be obtained.

These facts have suggested the consideration of a subject, which as far as we know has never been treated by any writer in connection with the habits and economy of plants. We allude to the influence which the moon is. supposed to exert over the vegetable kingdom. The opinion that the moon exerts an influence upon vegetation, although ridiculed às absurd and superstitious, prevails in the mind of a very large portion of both the people of Europe and America and some of the most intelligent and successful agriculturists of our acquaintance have been in the habit of conforming this time of planting many varieties of seed to the particular stages of the moon; yet we never conversed with any of these who pretended to assign any cause; they merely believed in the effects, but the cause remained a mystery.

The discovery of these effects was in all probability the result of observation merely; and a belief in the influence of the moon having been established upon that

ground, it has been acted upon and transmitted from age to age. Many ancient customs which we are wont to denominate superstition, have no doubt been established on the same foundation: they should be respected for their antiquity but not blindly followed without investigation. By instituting a new series of observations, their truth and utility would be tested, and if they should be sustained by accurate observation, their benefits would be enlarged; but if not thus sustained, the public mind would be benefitted by relieving it from error.

That the light of the moon exerts an influence upon vegetation can scarcely be doubted: proceeding upon this proposition we must arrive at the conclusion that, if this influence is beneficial, the growth and value of a vegetable would be increased by planting the seed at a time when the more important and critical stages of the plant would receive the greatest quantity of light. Suppose for instance that the germinating, the flowering, and the ripening stages should be most benefitted by light: in this case, by observing the length of time which a certain plant under ordinary circumstances requires to mature or ripen its fruit, the time of planting might be so arranged as to bring one or more of these several periods within the light of the moon. If it should be established by observation that the germinating state was the most important, in that case the calculation need proceed no further than simply to determine the stage of the moon when this process was best promoted.

Admitting the influence of light upon vegetation, we conclude that a plant which should come up at a time when the moon shone during a considerabie portion of the night, and was on the increase, would grow with more vigor than if it should come up when the light of the moon was decreasing. Upon this principle we may perceive that the growth and development of the root, as well as the stem and fruit, would be affected by a greater or less quantity of light. For instance, we have frequently heard the remark that turnips and other rootbearing plants had run too much into foliage, and therefore, the roots were of but little value. Now if that stage of the plant at which the character and development of

the root is determined, should happen when the moon af forded the greatest quantity of light, the growth and development of the stem and foliage would be stimulated and enlarged at the expense of the root.

We do not wish to be understood as offering any opinion in regard to the best time of the moon for planting the seed of any particular vegetable; our remarks upon this subject are designed to illustrate the effects of light upon the vegetablǝ kingdom, rather than to examine the details connected with its application to the growth of any particular plant.

If, however, this theory of the influence of the moon upon plants should be correct, the practical farmer will have no difficulty in applying it to any plant which he may desire to grow; and by instituting a series of observations, he would in time be able to avail himself of all the benefits of the moon, as well as of the earth, for the purposes of agriculture; and a belief in the influence of the moon would no longer be considered ridiculous and superstitious.

The agriculturist who possesses a thorough knowledge of the economy and habits of plants, and the various influences to which they are subjected by physical causes, is not only in a condition to make his labor more profitable, but has enlightened his mind by one of the most pleasing and interesting subjects in nature; a subject in which the design of the Creator is so obvious that he could not doubt if he desired to do so. Unlike chemistry, geology, and other sciences connected with agriculture, this requires but little acquaintance with books: it is written in legible characters in the book of nature; and, once initiated, the student requires neither teacher nor glossary to define its meaning. The illiterate ploughman, whose mind shall have been directed to the subject, will quickly learn to read and comprehend the works of nature. What a relief must it be to the mind of the laborer to converse with and receive instruction from those things which are connected with his daily employment; instruction, too, so pure, so refined, and so unalloyed by human passion, that it cannot fail to improve his heart and make him a better man.

We ardently desire that the tiller of the ground should at least keep pace with the mental and moral improvement of those engaged in other industrial pursuits. To do this he must avail himself of every advantage which may be derived from the discoveries of the age, and also make himself acquainted with the principles and agents connected with his employment. If he neglects to do so, he cannot expect to maintain a position in the progressive improvement of the age equal to that of those who are engaged in other pursuits; and instead of occupying, as he should, the highest position in society, he must take his station in the lowest.

ARTICLE IV.

WESTERN STAPLES.

Wheat and Flour, Indian Corn, Barley, Oats and Rye, Hemp, Tobacco, Lead, &c.

The value of the exports of a country, is the only true criterion by which we can judge of its ability to purchase and pay for foreign products; therefore, it is important that every individual should possess correct information in regard to both the exports and imports. It is mainly owing to the non-observance of this proposition that our country has so frequently suffered from pecuniary revulsions; and, that so many individuals are unsuccesful in pursuits which to the common mind appear plausible, and wisely selected.

Appreciating the importance of correct information upon this subject, we design to lay before our readers all the authentic information which we can procure in relation to the exports and imports of this part of the Mississippi Valley.

The difficulty of collecting facts in time for our first number prevents us from doing more at present than to notice the quantity of some of the principal staples that have been annually received at St. Louis, for a few years past. We impart our information as we receive it, but we are assured that it comes from the most reliable sources.

Owing to the want of more thorough information in