leaves to be bleached, and having placed upon it the slips of glass, let the leaves be placed upon the glass perpendicularly, about a line distant from each other. This being done, pour into the vessel the bleaching liquid, which is made by dissolving one part by weight of oxymuriate of lime in four parts of warm water, and suffer the articles to be immersed in it for twentyfour hours: it may then be rinsed in soft water. By this process the paper will acquire a whiteness superior to what it originally possessed. All ink-spots, if any were present, will be removed; but oil and grease spots are not effaced by it.-Copper-plate prints bleach more easily than letter-press.

How to preserve the eyes-general rules for the choice of spectacles, and method of judging under what circumstances the eyesight may be assisted by glasses.

1. Never sit for any length of time either in absolute gloom, or exposed to a blaze of light. The reason on which this rule is founded, proves the impropriety of going hastily from one extreme to the other, whether of darkness or of light, and shows us that a southern aspect is improper for those whose sight is weak and tender.

2. Avoid reading small print, and straining the eyes by looking at minute objects.

3. Do not read in the dusk, nor, if the eyes be disordered, by candle-light. Happy those who learn this lesson betimes, and begin to preserve their sight before they are reminded by pain of the necessity of sparing it. The frivolous attention to a quarter of an hour of the evening, has cost numbers the perfect and comfortable use of their eyes for many years: the mischief is effected imperceptibly, and the consequences are inevitable.

4. Do not permit the eyes to dwell on glaring objects, more particularly on first waking in a morning: the sun should not of course be suffered to shine in the room at that time, and a moderate quantity of light only be admitted. It is easy to see that, for the same reasons, the furniture, walls, and other objects of á bed-room, should not be altogether of a white or glaring colour: indeed those whose eyes are weak, would find considerable advan

tage in having green for the furniture and prevailing colour of their bed-chamber. Nature confirms the propriety of this fact; for the light of the day comes on by slow degrees, and green is the universal colour which she presents to our eyes.

5. Those individuals who are rather long-sighted, should accustom themselves to read with less light, and with the book somewhat nearer to the eye than what they naturally like; while others, that are rather short-sighted, should use themselves to read with the book as far off as possible. By these means both will improve and strengthen their sight, while a contrary course increases its natural imperfections.

From whatever causes the decay of sight arises, an attentive consideration of the following rules will enable any one to judge for himself, when his eye-sight may be assisted or preserved by the use of proper glasses.

1. When we are obliged to remove small objects to a considerable distance from the eye in order to see them distinctly.

2. If we find it necessary to get more light than formerly; as, for instance, to place the candle between the eye and the object.

3. If on looking at and attentively considering a near object, it fatigues the eye and becomes confused, or if it appears to have a kind of dimness or mist before it.

4. When the letters of a small print are seen to run into each other, and hence, by looking steadfastly on them, appear double or treble.

5. If the eyes are so fatigued by a little exercise, that we are obliged to shut them from time to time, so as to relieve them by looking at different objects.

When all these circumstances concur, or any of them separately takes place, it will be necessary to seek assistance from glasses, which will ease the eyes, and in some degree check their tendency to become worse: whereas if they be not assisted in time, the weakness will be considerably increased, and the eyes be impaired by the efforts they are compelled to exert.

It is therefore evident that spectacles can only be said to be preservers of the sight, or recommended as such, to those whose eyes are actually beginning to fail; and that it would be as absurd

to advise the use of spectacles to those who feel none of the foregoing inconveniencies, as it would be for a man in health to use crutches to save his legs.

Process of removing spots of oil and grease from books and prints.

After having gently warmed the paper soiled with grease, wax, oil, or any other fatty body whatever, take out as much as possible of it by means of blotting-paper; then dip a small brush in rectified oil of lemons or turpentine,* previously warmed, and draw it gently over both sides of the paper, which must be carefully kept warm. This operation may be repeated as many times as the quantity of the fat body imbibed by the paper, or the thickness of the paper, may render necessary. When the greasy substance is entirely removed, recourse may be had to the following method to restore the paper to its former whiteness, if not completely restored by the first process:-dip another brush in a mixture of one part by bulk, of sulphuric ether, and two of alcohol, and draw it in like manner over the place that was stained, and particularly round the edges, to remove the border that may still exist as a stain. By employing these means, with proper caution, the spots will totally disappear; the paper will resume its original whiteness; and if the process has been employed on a paper written on with common ink, or printed with printer's ink it will experience no alteration.

RURAL ECONOMY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. "The husbandman that laboureth, must be first partaker.” 2. Tim.

EXPERIENCE has fully demonstrated in Europe, as well as in our own country, that change of seed is highly advantageous. Wheat certainly degenerates if constantly sown in the same soil. Benefit would result from changing seed, even from one neighbouring farm to another, but still greater utility would be appa

* The article sold in the shops under the name of scouring drops, is nothing else than oil of lemons.

rent if farmers remotely situated from each other, could be induced to make such exchanges.

Salt has been very successfully used in Flanders, as a manure for flax. The quantity employed, should be in like ratio with the seed sown.

Some low lands, and swamps, are situate so remote from the outfall, as to render the difficulty and expense of cutting drains, a serious objection to making such lands useful. A late English writer proposes the application of the steam-engine, as a cheap, and certain mode for draining land.-This idea is worth consideration.

Pastel, or woad has been cultivated without difficulty in New England. The colouring matter of this plant, is a good substitute for indigo. A translation from the French of C. P. Lasteyrie's treatise on the culture, preparation, history, and analysis of Pastel, has been published at Boston. The Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, have a small quantity of woad-seed, to distribute for experiment.

Mangel wurtzel, or scarcity-root, is a beet of the largest species. It is in high repute in England, and is found to be well worth cultivation, by those who have grown it in this country. It is an invaluable food for sheep. Cows are fond of its leaves in summer, and of its root in winter. It is as easily cultivated as Indian corn, and if our farmers would give it a fair trial, they would not hesitate to acknowledge its importance. Seed may be obtained from our Agricultural Society.

The caterpillar, and other insects that infest fruit-trees, may be destroyed by casting over the tree a few handsful of common ashes, in the morning before the dew is dissipated from the foliage, or after a shower of rain. The former is the preferable time.

The practice of wrapping the stems of fruit-trees with bands of hay, or straw, as well as that of covering the trunk with oil,

should be abandoned; the exclusion of air from the tree, and closing the pores of the bark, produce greater injury, than such treatment, is intended to prevent.

It is ascertained by experiment that the greatest crops, and finest quality of potatoes, have been produced by covering the seed when planted with litter, rather than to pursue the old custom of manuring the ground with hot, or well rotted dung.

The formation of societies for promoting the interests of agriculture in the counties, or other geographical divisions of every state in the union, would produce incalculable benefit to our country. An interchange of friendly offices, and correspondence between such associations, would unite the great body of husbandmen by ties, which the dignity and usefulness of their profession, above all others, seem to require. Connected with secular avocations, it would be difficult to conceive of a more interesting spectacle, than the farmers of a neighbourhood assembled to consult with each other, and impart information concerning the first of arts, upon the success of which all other arts depend; a department of human industry, which forms the basis of individual comfort, and national prosperity.-The venerable president of the Philadelphia Society, for promoting agriculture, among his other various, and assiduous efforts to improve the husbandry of his country, has been instrumental in the establishment of several societies in different parts of the United States. One of those associations soon after it was organized, requested him to furnish a design for their seal;-aware that party animosity existed in the particular place, to a degree which he feared might prevent the hearty co-operation of many respectable men, he embraced the opportunity afforded him, for inculcating a most valuable lesson, by sending the society the following device, and motto:-A plough, around which these words were inscribed." THE PLOUGH IS OF NO PARTY, IT DIVIDES, BUT TO UNITE MORE CLOSELY."