UMASS/AMHERST ^^ iiiiiiiwiii , ,„„„„,„„,„,,,„, 312066 0308 0403 2 niiiiiir^nnii E COLLEGE LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SOURCE. .CQils::^tL....^V-3ad5. a ARCHIVES \'SbO THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER; A SEMI-MONTHLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND THEIR KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES; EMBELLISHED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS. '* Agriculture not only gives riches to a natioo, but the only riches she can call her own." — JoBiiioir. S. W. COLE, EDITOR, ATTTBOB OP THE AHEKXCAN VETERINARIAN, AND TUB AMERICAN FRUIT BOOK. VOLUME II. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY J. NOURSE, QUINCY HALL. 18 50. N 44^ ^ %-5 0 INDEX TO THE SECOND VOLUME. Acknowledgments, 56, 72, 13t), 168, 184, 264, 280, 295, 312. 327, 343, 359, 375, 391, 408, 416. Agricultural commission, 203 ; education, 41, 69, 95, 110, 140, 196; fairs, benefit of, 373; lectures, 58 ; meetings, in towns, 10 ; at the State House, 25, 41, 57, 58, 69, 78, 90, 106, 137; papers, 49, 362 ; societies, N. Y. state, 171 ; N. II. state, 180 ; (see (Battle-Shows ;) statistics, 185. Agriculture, history of, 14, 45 ; Bureau of, 30 ; ad- vantages of, 87 ; useful knowledge in, 116; chem- istry in, 157 ; poetry of, 309 ; importance of, 341 ; New England, 365 ; improved and elevated, 390. Allen, llev. Morrill, a worthy veteran farmer, 89. American industry and skill, 120. Animals, discussion on the diseases of, 105 ; diseases of, 139, 348 ; improvement of, 296 ; feigning death, 336. Apples, variety of Z. C. Taber — Pcaknose, Winter Pippin, 56 ; Baldwin, Old Nonsuch. 72 ; list of, 121 ; Red Ilussct, 150 ; new. late keeping. Rock- port Sweeting, Marston's Red Winter, 168 ; Fall Sweeting. Roxbury Russet, Leland Pippin, 182 ; •v Manomet Sweeting, Sassafras .Sweet, 295; Sum- mer Rose, Benoni, Early Harvest, 312; all about, 320 ; Thompson's Favorite, 327 ; Sweet Bough, Gravenstcin, Williams, Mexico, 328 ; machine for paring, 337 ; Garden Royal, Mother, Leland Pi])])in, Jewett's Red, 344 ; as food, 35'i ; Spice Sweeting, Rock Sweeting, 359 ; Peck's Pleasant, Long Stem, 360 ; Calef. 366 ; analysis of, 368 ; Holton Sweet- ing, liOring Sweeting, Moodv, 375 ; excellent. Beefsteak, 376 ; Oakes, 391 ; Mother, Holden Pippin, Size, and other varieties, 392 ; Nortliern Spy, 404 ; Calef Sweeting, 408. Apple-tiees, moss on, 26; causing to bear in odd years, 30 ; bearing years of. 78 ; time of blossom- ing, 207 ; remarks on borers, 249. Apple- worm or codling- moth, 230. Apricot, how to cultivate, 378. Art vs. Nature, 396. Asparagus, fall management of, 33-7. Assafcrtida, 379. -j Atmosphere, a fertilizer, 28. B. Barley, a machine for hulling, needed, 319. Barn-door rollers, 183. Beans, on raising, 199 ; Frejole, 295 ; mode of har- vesting, 383. Bees, to manage, in winter. 23 ; ventilation, miller trap, 52 ; of the miller, 59 ; pasturage, 149 ; and honey, 199 ; mathematics of. 208 ; habits of, 285 ; to protect against ants, 303 ; fall management of, 330 ; an old hive of, 345 ; fruitful, 388 ; manage- ment of. 400. Berries, an act regulating the measurement of, 298. Beautiful extract, 407. Bilberry, remarks on, 346 ; or swamp pyrus, 379. Blackberries, cultivation of, 119 ; white, 280. Blasting, im])rovement in, 199. Blue flag, on destroying, 206, 241. Books of wood, 288. Borers, 249. Box, pro]iagation of, 126. Bread, throwing it away, 228. Bricks, wetting, before laying, 27 ; imnrovement in, 362. Budding, time for, 250. Building, and materials for, 134, 172 ; more thoughts about, 410. Bushes around cultivated lands condemned, 214. c. Canals and railroads, value of, to farmers, 352. Canker-worms, remarks on their habits and destruc- tion. 401. Carrots, cultivation of, 151, 188; for horses, 412. Castor oil in South Carolina, 396. Cattle, Short Horn Durham heifer, 43 ; bone disor- der in cows, 44, 93, 142, 189; estimate of different food, 53; snuff for lice, 54; close feeding, 77 ; to estimate the weight of live, 78 ; fat. 84 ; rent for cows, 96 ; medicines for. 97 ; mode of feeding, 102; profitable cows, 150; free martins, 181 ; sore teats in cows, 181 ; destroyed by eating wild cherry, 187, 221 ; pulverized wood for, 230 ; fat- tening, 267 ; breaking in heifers, 278 ; a produc- tive cow, 295 ; cows holding up their milk, 298 ; training, 303 ; Jersey, 308 ; ties for. bull ring, 321 ; dressing. 358 ; amount of food consumed by, 358 ; improvement in, 374; profit of cows, 377;- work- ing cows, 383; mammoth ox, 391 ; importance of ])ure water for, 405 ; short-horns, 407. Cattle-markets, 26 ; anniversary of Cambridge, 361 ; annual report of, 306. Cattle-shows, list of, 282, 311 ; Middlesex, Worces- ter, 314; Norfolk, Essex, 329; Now York state, 332 ; Bristol, 345; New Hampshire state, 351 ; first Ohio state, 373. Cause and eftVct, 101. Cellars should be ventilated, 319. Chemistry and vegetable food, 100. Cheese trade, 303. Cheeses, large vs. small, 149. Chemical knowledge, value of a little, 386. Cherry, wild stocks for, 159 ; culture. 183 ; on bark- bound trees. 211 ; Hyde's Late Black, 205; seed- lings, 270; new seedling, 280. Chestnuts, planting, 49. (;hrysanthcmvim, China, 111. Churn, centripetal and centrifugal, 123; American, 394. Colman, Rev. II., respect to his mcmorv 14. IT INDEX Coal, how it was made, 407. Copper mines in Litchfield, Connecticut, 362. Coccus, Linn., 127. Congelation, the term of perpetual, 239. Corn, Indian, large crop of, 42 ; starch from, 48 ; value of stalks, 102 ; utility of, 117 ; cultivation of, 124, 175; fodder, 125; steeps for seed, 170; for fodder, 177 ; experiments on fodder, 188 ; suck- ering, 101 ; of what is it composed, 222 ; value of oil in, 279; harvesting, 281, 302, 311, 383; starch from, 288 ; to measure in a crib, 400 ; for the world's fair, 413. Corn-cracker and cob-crusher, Beal's patent, 363. planter, 139. sheller, Yankee, 347. Cottage, design for, 256. Country life, pleasures of, 232. Cows. (See Cattle.) Cranberries, an act regulating the measurement of, 298 ; worms in, 348 ; large, 376 ; cultivation of, 382. Crops, in Somerset county, 325 ; failure in, 349. Curculio. (See Plums.) Currants, varieties of, 269 ; 'Seedling, 280 ; Black Grape, 296. Currant wine, 136. D. Dairy, profits of, 85 ; produce of a, 90. farming, Jefferson county*, N. Y., 401. . management, 20, 36, 51. women, facts for, 231. Ditching, 46. Domestic Economy. — Managing domestic affairs, to bake apples, 18 ; maternal influence, to keep silk, 34 ; short sermon for parents, preservation of meat by freezing, lemon pies, muffins, 50 ; a correct taste for children, winter succotash, hominy, 66 ; influence of women, 82 ; how to live prettily in the country, 98 ; advice to young ladies, custards without eggs, 114; female education, washing clothes, 130; country girls, to preserve milk, nu- tritious bread, 146 ; a mother's love, jollies for the sick, 162 ; education of farmers' daughters, clean knives, 178; to prevent milk from souring during thunder storms, a mother's voice, 194 ; education of women, 210; training of children, to preserve beefsteak, 226 ; cheese making, why women are unhealthy, 242 ; flowers, milk cellars, 258 ; young females, elderberry, 274 ; swing shelves for cellars, to make tomato preserves, a good cup of tea, 290 ; woman — her wrongs, rights, capacities, and du- ties, boiling potatoes, 306 ; domestic training, rice balls, rice fritters, 322 ; the fate of nations depend- ent on mothers, husk beds, 338 ; letter to country girls, pumpkin pudding, 354 ; female education, women interested in agriculture, 370 ; chicken pot- pie, 385 ; scalding milk, 395 ; picking cucumbers, 400 ; to cook the egg plant, 405 ; to toughen new earthen ware, 406 ; make your own candles, 412. Draining, cheap, 29 ; deep and shallow, 62, 92 ; and subsoiling, 71; under, with subsoil plough, 96; discussion on, 137 ; warms the soil, 227 ; im- provement by, 276. Dwjirf trees, cultivation of, 167- Dynamometer, 135. E. Economy, important, 276. Electricity, 86. Eqmnoctial storms, fallacy of, 84. Evergreens, time for transplanting, 132 ; transplant- ing, 160. Exotic plants, acclimatizing, 324. F. Fabrics, to detect the material of, 391. Farm building, 172. Farmer not properly estimated, 87 ; commended, 113; life of, 215 ; what they ought to know, 225, 260 ; clubs recommended, 268 ; daughters of, 284 ; his rights, 287; importance of educating, 311; clubs and associations, 357 ; suggestion for, 373. Farming, near large markets, 157 ; economy, 190 ; high, 384 ; scenes of, in the west, 391. Fences, (see Posts,) of wire, 16, 118, 326, 397 ; orna- mental iron, 175, 385 ; movable, 191 ; live, 286. Fertilit}' of land, how cities e.\haust, 261. Flax, efforts to e.vtend, in Ireland, 166. Flowers, cultivation of, 126; useful, 200; to pre- serve, 239 ; wild, 254. Fodder, value of cornstalks, 102 ; rough, 371. Food raised on an acre, 170. Fishes, nest-building, 389. Forest-trees, planting, 55 ; on raising, 76. Forests, advantages of, 224. — — — and streams, 369. Fowls, winter management of, 9 ; Bankiva breed, 11 ; profit of hens, 14, 46 ; remarks on, 29 ; convention of breeders, 42, 59 ; Dorking, 49 ; Spangled Ham- burgh, 65 ; importance of jjoultry, 76 ; size of, 78 ; N. E. Society for the irnprovcment of, 89 ; to cause to lay in winter, 90; Black Spanish, 91 ; man- agement and profit of. 111 ; Cochin China, 112 ; show of, 128; large, 138; Red Shanghae, 144; White Shanghae, 155, 204 ; Dorking, 176 ; White Shanghae, 177, 190 ; Koyal Cochin China, Sea- bright Bantam, 193; remarks on raising, 229; mania in, 238 ; Sumatra Game, 241 ; sex of eggs, 245 ; Shanghae, Palmer's importation, 268 ; early maturity, 318 ; exhibition of, in Fitchburg railroad depot, 328, 337 ; hatching chickens, 337 ; grand exhibition, 360, 363, 378 ; management and profit of, 363 ; domestic, 372 ; Guinea, 374 ; Dixon's China stock, 390; show of, at Amherst, N. II., 387 ; exhibition of, at Waterville, Me., 398 ; do- mesticating wild, 414. Fruit-Book, American, remarks on, 107- Fruits, (see Apples, Pears, &c.,) cultivate good. 111 ; profits of, in Maine, 95 ; native and foreign, 153 ; effects of winter on, 160 ; prospect of, 161 ; thriv- ing, 249 ; fallen, to be disposed of, 273 ; remedy for stealing, 294 ; preserving, 298 ; as food, 348 ; ventilation in collars, 395. and fruit-trees, discussion on, 57, 74. Fruit-growers, Congress of, tlieir doings, 201, 217. trees, setting, 119 ; suckers of, 131 ; southern. not hard}', 164; avoid deep planting, 171; low headed, 183; selecting, 206 ; congeniality of stocks and scions, 177 ; early bearing, 247 ; time for budding, 250 ; early bearing affected by scions, 252 ; summer management of pyramidal, 254 ; salt proved fatal, 257 ; cleansing the bark, 287 ; mulch- ing, 336. Furnaces, agricultural, 331. C Gardens, irrigation of, 414. Garden engine, utility of, 187. Geology, wonders of, 103. Geometry applied to farmers, 47. Getting good by doing good, 186. Gooseberry, cultivation of, 109 ; mildew on, 205 ; remarks on, 238. Grafting, composition for, 160 ; and its application, 238 ; early bearing from two-year-old scions, 348. Grain crops, effect of the barberry on, 110 ; discus- INDEX sion on, 137 ; blight upon, 160 ; the nutrition in various kinds, 359 ; new specimens of, 3G7. Grain mill, 75. Grapes, medicinal quality of, 246 ; our country well adapted to, 319 ; new seedling, 359 ; brandy from, 394. Grape-vines, to stop bleeding, 191 ; summer prunmg, 250 ; Diana, 304 ; culture of, soap-suds for, 305 ; largest in the United States, 350. Grasses, discussion on, 106. , , • . Grass, mildew or insects on, 206 ; when should it be cut, 208 ; vegetable nutriment in, 215 ; sowmg seed, 266 ; good crops of, in Maine, 282. lands, improvement of, 28, 266; advantages of re-seeding, 243 ; native and wild, 361. Gravel walk, covering for, 288. Greyhound, peculiar properties of, 403. Grindstones on anti-friction rollers, 203. Grist-mill, new, for horse-power, 267. H. Ham, prize, 391. • n,n Hay, treatment of, 224 ; packing, 235 ; curing, 240 ; great yield of, 240. caps, 225. Health. — To keep the feet warm, 19 ; bathing and washing, 34 ; hints on diet, 50 ; how to dislodge a fish-bone from the throat, cure for quinsy, Eng- lish ladies, insanity from novel reading, 66 ; med- ical uses of salt, 83 ; remedy for asthma, how to preserve health, 99 ; hints to the bald-headed, dandelion coffee, 114; down upon calomel, 130; causes of diseases of children, 146 ; rise and dis- appearance of diseases, 162 ; individual odor, bath- ing, 178 ; importance of diet, 194 ; no excuse, 211 ; asthma, good for the headache, 227 ; importance of flannel, 243 ; to stop a fit of coughing, love of water, 259 ; a plea for cold water, 274 ; the bath, hints for the season, 290 ; uses of the black cur- rant, 307 ; deafness, cure for hydrophobia, 322 ; exercise, fresh air, sore throat, 339 ; importance of fresh air, 340 ; frauds in vinegar, 354 ; pepper, 371; feather beds, 379; sea-sickness, 385; treat- ment of scarlet fever, 395 ; corns on the toes, 398. Heat, radiation and conduction of, 220. _ Hedges, (see Fences,) evergreen, 63 ; of pine, 346. Homestead, exemption, 103; beautifying, 403. Horses, remedv for pole evil, 27 ; for wind sucker, 55 ; longevity, poisoned, 64 ; medicines for, 97 : diseases of, 105; to subdue a vicious, 118; treat- ment of, 215; the English race, 245; medicines for 246; noble one, 254; inflammation of ths lungs, 262 ; report on colts, 271 ; to make follow you, 286; Morgan hunter, 299; training, ^03 ; ventilation of stables, 309 ; economical food tor, 310 ; cure for glanders, 342 ; advantages "f veter- inary science, 361 ; cure for the bcUovsed, 372; various uses of their carcasses, 383 ; shoeing, 390 ; description of shoes, 398 ; remedy for brittle feet, 407 ; carrots for, 412 ; gait of, 415. Horse-power, new, 267. Horse rake, independent, 27- ,.,-... Horticultural societies, Massachusetts, its exhibition, 240 ; remarks on its exhibitions, 299 ; annual ex- hibition of, 313 ; New Bedford, 378. exhibitions, 297 ; Worcester, 321. Hydraulic ram, improved, 225. I. Ice, utility of, 377. houses for farmers, 412. Implements, get the best, 117. Industry, 150. . «. . „ Insects, saw-flv of the raspberry, 33 ; apple- worm, 230 ; ravages of, 231 ; gwcral remarks on, 262 ; remarks on, 349 ; general remarks on, 306 ; can- kc•^-^vorms, 401. Irresolution, evils of, 87. Irrigation, improvement by, 276. J. Johnston, Professor, remarks on his labors, 369. K. Kettles, for boiling feed, mode of sotting, 350. Knitting, rapid, 87. 1.. Labor, commended, 118 ; a necessity and duty, 148 ; dignity of, 244 ; is honorable, 399. Lakes, pumping dry, 350. Lands, to improve wet, 25 ; watering, 266 ; on Long Island, 347 ; reclaiming, 295 ; improvement of worn-out, 404. Lard, to render fluid, 412. Late crops, 185. Life, golden rules of, 375. Lightning, 357. rods, 199 Lime, singular fact, 10 ; value of, in agriculture, 23T ; carbonate of, 381. Little things, importance of, 405. M. Mahogany, 158. Man and the soil, 47. Manures, muscle bods, 12 ; urine of animals, 40 ; bones and acids, 54 ; experiments on, 78 ; use and value of night soil, 79 ; charcoal for plants, 80 ; soot, 81 ; importance of, 86 ; saving, 87 ; bone dust, 117; Bommer, 127; effects of charcoal on flowers, 128 ; bones as, 133 ; leached ashes, 163 ; durability of bone, 167 ; bone, its state and price. 169 ; a new, 182; salt for, 186, 308 ; ashes, val- uable, 223 ; green crops, 223 ; analysis of fertil- izers, 231 ; neglected, by Trof. Norton, 259 ; re- marks on, 260 ; sea muck, 273 ; green vegetable. 278 ; various materials for, 287 ; housing of, 295 ; hints about, 319; an agent to decompose old tan. 321 ; peat, 325 ; muck, 331 ; compon yards, 334 ; leaves as, 343 ; have a large dunghill, 364 ; pre- paring bones, 367 ; coal ashes, 387 ; modes of saving, 394. Manuring, 32. Maple sugar, 26 ; cheap evaporation, 51 ; on making, 94. Marl, analysis of, 231. Matter, divisibility, 247- Means adapted to ends, 407. Mechanics' fair, exhibition of, 313. Mechaxicvl Dei-aktment. — Thoughts on mechan- ics, 19 ; glass varnish, new razor, 20 ; invention for casting iron pipes, 35 ; machine for dressing stone, zincographic printing, artificial mahogany, 36; purifying feathers, cast-iron furniture, 61; inventive genius of the age, 67 ; manufacture of parchment, ventilating bricks, 83 ; difi-crenco be- tween iron and steel, substitute paint varnish, 9.> . asphaltum for coloring wood- work, 115 ; singular uses of gutta percha, 131 ; superior red ink, repul- sions, steel and water, useful hints, 147 ; acoustic apparatus to enable the deaf to hear in churcl., fire-arms differently charged, mahogany stain. 163 ; the Ohio indestructible mineral paint, blue writing ink, 179; the hydro-electric I'K^t 196; lithography, iron houses, renuukablc nx^^-hanical talent, 21l"; how axes are made, charcoa melted, new uses for granite. 227 ; sun-driod brickhmi.sc. gla«« water pipe.-.. 2*3; dycm; woods 2 .!> . U VI INDEX color pine to imitate black walnut, to make white- wash that will not rub off, 2lo, 398 ; the using of paint, 290 ; electric telegraph across the Atlantic, process of engraving on ivory, 307 ; healthful buildings, 3'22 ; the uses of iron in buildings, 338 ; iron coated with ghiss, 355 ; coating with copper, water-proof ])aint, 371 ; to render lard fluid, 412. Meetings, (see Agricultural meetings,) conversational, 45. Milk, composition of, 165; effects of food on, 381. , virtues of, 295. Milking machines, 282. Milkmaid's ear-guard, 102. Millet, remarks on, 206, 223. Moles, to destroy, 224 ; utility of, 283. Mules, valuable, 65. N. Native ornamental shrubs, 125. Natural history, curious facts, 213. Nature, study of, 152. New Hampshire, agriculture in, 272. New Year, 9. O. Ohio agriculture, report on, 257. Onions, long on the same land, 86. Over cropping, 324. Ox-yoke, self-adjusting, 59. P. Paint, mine of, 383. Pastures, enrichment of, 215. Parsnip, valuable, 79 ; fattening properties of, 239. Peaches, Tarbell, 129 ; Wales Velvctine, Hale's Me- locoton, 327 ; early peach, Cheney, 328 ; Purdy, Penniman, 343 ; variety of seedlings, Pratt, 344 ; fine, 346. Peach crop, failure of, 339. trees, grafting, 64 ; to protect from the borer, 164 ; to prevent the borer, 222 ; gum from, 236 ; curl in the leaf, 284, 316. Pears, profit of, 10 ; on shad-bush, 75, 159 ; list of choice, 122 ; Oswego Beurre, 149 ; cultivating dwarfs, 177 ; St. Ghistlain, 209 ; quince stock for, 2i8 ; remarks on failure in, 269 ; Kousellette de Hatif, Manning's Elizabeth, 312; from J. L. Lov- ering, Udall's seedling, 328 ; Cushing and Han- ners, 330 ; St. Michael, or White Doyenne, 360 ; Compte de Lamy, 376. Physical influence of habit, 263. Plough, Bartlett's double, 54 ; hill-side, 107 ; an attachment for turning under green crops, 246 ; construction of, 315 ; great improvement in mod- ern, 317. Ploughing, plain lands, 17 ; deep, recommended, 117 ; benefits of deep, 134; subsoil, 179. Plank roads, the durability and decay of, 341. Plant the best, 148. Plants, native, 12, 60, 95, 109, 141 ; origin of A'arious, 70; food of, 253, 411 ; in pots, 289 ; curious facts in relation to, 298 ; principle of, propagated by cuttings, names of, 382 ; injured by high culture, 389. Plums, Coe's Golden Drop, 17 ; list described, 60 ; Lucumb's Nonsuch, 81 ; to make trees bear, 154; Smith's Orleans, 160 ; Cloth of Gold, so called, 168 ; remarks on curculio, 197, 222, 265 ; remarks on, 269 ; to protect, 278 ; Jefferson, 289 ; Peach, Prince's Yellow Gage, 296 ; McLaughUn, 300 ; various kinds, 312; on raising, 317 ; St. Cathar- ine, McLaughlin, Penobscot, 327 ; Washington, 328 ; Lombard, 353 ; cultiue of, curculio, 389. Posts, more durable inverted, 68 ; charring the buts, 148 ; charring and setting, 183 ; setting, 189. Pomegranate, culture of, 207. Pomological convention, 73. Congress, 253. Potatoes, large quantity from one, 11 ; mode of cul- ture, 77 ; facts in raising, 96 ; cultivation of, 101, 108, 140; porous soil for, 166 ; insects on, 204 ; a new disease, 236 ; curl in, 285 ; raising among corn, 302; steaming of, 310; substitutes for, 362; raising from the ball, 367 ; mode of culture, 406. • sweet, 113. Potato fly, 207. rot, theory on, 53 ; in Iowa, 55 ; remedy for, 68 ; not caused by insects, 136 ; remarks on, 158 ; cause ascribed to insects, 310 ; very severe this season, 312, 327; early digging a preventive, 396. Powder, 398. Provisions, preservation of, 279. Publications, noticed, 23, 24, 40, 55, 72, 88, 104, 120, 136, 152, 168, 184, 200, 216, 232, 248, 264, 280, 295, 343, 359, 375, 408. Pumpkin, preservation of, 330. Purpose, steadiness of, 368. Pruning, time lor, 282. knife and chisel, 273. Quinces, early bearing for the north, 205. R. Raspberries, Knevette's Giant, 264. Rats, to catch, 199 ; to destroy, 288. Red cedar, durability of, 48. Rich men of New York, 27-9. Roads, charcoal for, 240. Rocks, breaking, by fire, 190. Rollers, field and garden, 103 ; utility of, 164. Root culture, 129; harvesting, 320; time for se- curing, 362. Rose cuttings, 273. Ruminants, how they chew the cud, 414. Rye, remarks on, 374. S. Sarsaparilla, preparation of, 128. Sausage-stuffer, 395. Sausage or mincing machine, 379. Scientific agriculture, elements of, 187. memoranda, 358. Schoolmasters, hints to, 399. Scythes, remarks on, 219. Season, no«;es of, 94, 191 ; and the crops, 263. I Seeds, wide diffusion of, 26 ; long vitality, 39 ; depth of covering, 153. Seed-sower, 139. Sheep, house lambs, 45 ; fine mutton, 81 ; manage- ment of, 156 ; temporary sheds in pastures for, 219; most profitable breed, 229; Cheviot, 251; management of, 202 ; Saxony and Merino, 277 ; forty good, 279 ;, recognition of voice between the ewe and the lam"b, 326; remedies for scours, 410. Shepherdia, remarks on, 1£7. Shepherd's dog, 391. Shrubs, native, 12, 60, 95, 100, 141. Skill and industry, the result of, 325. Smart-weed, virtues of, 235. Soap, substitute for, 365. Soil, experiment in making, 28. Soils, nature of, 47 ; naked, 115 ; nature of different, _ 133 ; and earths, nature and offices of, 173 ; selec- tion for analysis, 195 ; analysis of, 231 ; composi- tion of, 293 ; mechanical improvement in, 388. INDEX. Sterility, by naked soils and fallows, 115. Steamengine for farmers, 377 ; profitable, 403. Stickney, the late William, 318. Stock, (see Cattle, Horses, &c.,) improvement of, 85 ; improved, 262 ; reasons for keeping the best breeds, 335 ; keep not too much, 345 ; sale of fine, 381. Stone fence, recommended, 314 ; stone rakes, 236. Storms, Professor Espy's thcorj', 263. Strawberries, Early Virginia, and Large Early Scar- let, 154 ; remarks on varieties, 233 ; remarks on various kinds, 346. Subsoiling and draining, 71. Sugar-cane in Florida, 181. growing in Louisiana, 272. refining, 248 ; new discovery in, 390. Swamp land, reclamation of, 270. Sweet potato, cultivation of, 386. Swine, swelling of the throat, 10 ; large, 26 ; brim- stone for, 54 ; prolific sow, cooking food for, 56 ; management of, 180 ; fattening, 267, 362 ; facts about, 279; deficiency of, in Ohio, 394, 410. T. Tamarinds, cultivation of, 284. Tan, valuable properties of, 301 ; an agent to decom- pose, 321. bark, spent, 316. Tea, American, 135. Texas as a sugar country, 128. Timber, best time to cut, 310. Thermometer for chums, 283. Think, 216. Threshing, to guard the lungs while, 250. Tomato, history and account of, 288 ; raising, among corn, 302 ; large, 344. Tools, importance of good, 53. Trees, (see Fruit-trees, Apple-trees, &c.,) native, shrubs and plants, 12, 60, 95, 109, 141, 411 ; plant- ing, 102, 374 ; cleansing, -167 ; old, improved, 189 ; for shade, 255 ; management of transplanted, 261 ; injured by high culture, 389. Tropical fruits in Florida, 203. Turnips, fine, 240 ; ruta baga, 326 ; rot in, 330 ; mode of pulling, 391. V. Vegetables, a new and economical mode for forcing, 373. Veterinary art, lectures on, 90. college, 192. Villages, plan for improvement m, 291. Vineyards about Cincinnati, 342. Volume, close of, 409. TV. Water, procuring by the siphon, 271 J effects of, on vegetation, 385. Wealth, desire of, 347. Weeds, destroy, 55, 250. Wells, how to examine, 289 ; Artesian, 403. Wheat, (see Grain,) to prevent smut, 80 ; harrowing in spring, 86 ; Oregon, 118 ; winter, 221 ; of Ohio, 238 ; cultivation of winter, 294 ; winter, cultiva- tion of, recommended, 302 ; winter in Maine, 318 ; enormous crop, 336 ; ability of the east to grow, 343 ; Kloss Blue Stem, 36*6 ; remarks on, 374 ; Etrurian, 387. AVine, New Hampshire, 319. Winter, prepare for a hard one, 361. Wire-worm, to destroy, 59. Wire, strength of, 340. Wood-houses, 16. Wool in Michigan, 55 ; amount in this co\mtry, 128; growing in the south, 336 ; profits of fine, 356. growers, remarks for, 145. market, review of, 75, 278. Work, faint not, 309. for the last of May, 169. World's Grand Industrial Fair, 43, 393 ; building for, 388. Wrenches, adjustable screw, 235. Y. Yellow dock, some uses of, 355. Youth's Department. — Thoughts for the young, 18 ; one thing at a time, two ways of hearing, 34 ; live for something, good advice of a mother, 50 ; early rising, 66 ; how do you spend your evening, 83 ; thought for young persons, 98 ; beware of beginning, advice to young men, 114 ; pleasiues of gardening, classes to be avoided, 130 ; winter even- ings for improvement, 146 ; labor and amusement, 162; good society, 178; only one step at a time, duty of labor, 194 ; sjinpathy, 210 ; bees, 226 ; counsels for the young, 242 ; curious fact, 258 ; a word for the boys, 274 ; the best recommendation, 290 ; an antidote, 306 ; economy is due our em- ployers, 322 ; maxims to guide a young man, 338 ; temperance fables, the laborer, 354 ; murderers of parents, 370. INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS The Bankiva Cock, 11 Coe's Golden Drop Plum, 17 Independent Horse Kake, 27 Saw-Fly of the Raspberry, 33 Short-Horn Durham HeU'er, 43 Dorking Cock 49 Self-adjusting Ox-Yoke 59 Spangled Hamburg Fowls, 65 Hand and Horse Grain-Mill, 75 Lucomb's Nonsuch Plum, 81 Black Spanish Fowls 91 Fountains 97 Hill-side, or Swivel Plough, 107 Cochin China Fowls, 112 Blackberry, 11?) Centrifugal and Centripetal Chum, 123 Tarbell Peach, 129 Emery's Cylindrical Djmamometer, 13) Emery's Seed- Sower and Corn-Planter 139 lied Shanghae Fowls, 144 White Shanghae Fowls, 155 Smith's Orleans Plum, 161 Ornamental Iron Fence 171 Dorking Fowls, 17i> Barn Door Rollers, 1aj their expenses. For in the first case, he will be under the necessity of buying eggs when they are Ycrv dear, and if he produces eggs for the market, he has them only when cv^cry body's hens lay, and he must sell them at a low rate. To cause hens to lay in Avintcr, furnish them with a warm, dry shelter, in a warm location, where they can be lifee £mm cold winds, and enjoy a good share of sunshine. The hen-house should be kept clean, and all filth from remains of food should be carefully removed. Tlicre should be a good supply of gravel, rthich ought to be renewed occasionally, or dug over so as to furnish a fresh lot often. Hens should have a const-ant supply of i)urc water, and pure, v.-holcsorae food. They arc fond of corn, wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, rye, rice, millet, boiled .potatoes, and various other kinds of food. Generally, the cheapest grain maybe used as their jjrincipal food ; but it is better to suj^ply them with several kiiirls. They are veiy fond of corn, and they flourish Avell with tliis as their main food. Boiled potatoes, mashed iqj, while hot, with meal of almost any kind of gr;un, or with wheat bran or shorts, and given warm, arc an excellent food in cold weather, and greatly promotes laying. Changes in food are advantageous. Ilcns p.-efcr variety, as well as non- feathcrcd bipeds. In winter, and in summer, when confined to small yards, hens should have a small supply of animal food. Refuse meat or fish may be given, cooked or raw. Scraps arc often obtained, for this purpose, from the tallow dealers ; but this is not so acceptable to hens as fresh meat or fish, which may be obtiincd at a cheap rate, or gratis, from the fish market or butcher. Fresh, unburnt bones, pounded or clio])pcd fine, are excellent, as tliey supply both animal food and lime. 10 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Hens need various condiments, such as lime, chalk, or pounded bone and oyster sheU.s. Egg shells are also good. Lime may be given in old mortar. They must have some material to form egg shells, when they cannot have access to the ground, even if they have a supply of graveL They should also hare, occasionally, some green food, such as cabbages, or raw tuniips, potatoes, or apples, cut in large slices, and they will peck and eat what they waTit, Though hens should be kept warm in winter, they should not be crowded together in large lots without ventilation, as they will be liable to disease from im- pure air. In mQd weather, when the grotmd is bare, they should go out in the sixn. In feeding boiled potatoes and othci'warm food to hens, it should be given early in the morning, and the grain should be covered up at night, else they will fill themselves with that before they get a warm brealtfast. Give dry loam or ashes to roll in, "With good management, generally in accordance with what we have recommended, hens will lay well iu winter, Lf they are of good breeds, and not too old, and are in healthy condition. If they do not lay, with much care and attention, give them a very little cayenne in their mixed food, and warm, stimulating food. Hens often suffer in winter for want of exer- cise. They wiU fly from l\icir roost, eat their break- fast, and stand almost mntioijlf^ss, and go to roost again soon after noon, especially ii tbey are in rather a dark house. We avoid this evil by covering their gTain up in gravel, and let them scratch for a living, which gives them exercise that is conducive both to their health and comfort, and to their laying. "Whether they have gravel in large boxes, or on a ground floor, mix the grain up several inches deep in It. This is often essential to success, as sometimes hens will iiot lay without their being reduced to the necessity of taking exercise. Bury the grain so that they must have considerable labor in finding it, leaving a little cm the top and near the surface to induce search for more. This is the best remedy for laziness ; as that exercise ■which gains the food, gives a good relish for it. "We wLU name a few among the many instances of the profit of hens in winter when well managed. One Avinter, we had eight hens, which were well supplied with water, grain, and gravel, but did not lay in winter — not one egg in January. The next winter, we tried what could be done with the same hens, then the worse for age, as they were mostly old hens. They were in the same house. "We gave them warm food and condiments, and buried their grain in gravel and old plaster, and they laid eggs enough in January to pay throe times the expense for their food. J. S. Sayward, Esq., editor of the Bangor Courier, in an article furnished to us for the Yankee Farmer, stated that from one himdred and fifty hens he had nineteen hundred eggs in the month of January. This was in the cold region of Down East. Nu- merous other cases might be named of large profits from extra attention in managing hens in cold weather. PROFIT IN PEARS. In the fall (rf 184^8, Mr. John Washburn, of Plym- outh, bought two dwarf pear ti-ees, (on quince stocks,) at .$1.25 each. He set them that fall, and in less than a year from planting the trees, he took a dozen pears from them, and exhibited them at the annual show of the Mass. Horticultural Society, for which he received a premium of $G, and he sold the pears for $3 — making a dividend of $9 on the small in- vestment of only !^2.50. The pleasure and reputa- tion of so successful cultivation will paj^ ten times the trouble. The variety was the Louise Bon da Jersey. Town AGKicuLTtmAL Meetings. — At a late meeting of the Hillsborough, N. H., Agricultural Society, voted, as a means of promoting an interest among farmers and mechanics, to hold monthly meetings in different towns during winter, for the purposes of hearing addresses from competent persons, and discussing such subjects as have been proposed at a previous meeting. Large Potatoes from Seed. — Mr. Anthony Hatch, of Saugus, has shown to us some handsome, full- grown potatoes raised from seed planted in a hotbed last spring. Lime. — It is a singular fact, that in many parts of the world, soils resting on limestone, which is within a few feet of the surface, contain no more lime than those where is no limestone. Agriculttjral Meetings. — The first meeting at the State House will he held on Tuesday evening, the loth inst. '^^W Wo have on hand several communications, ■which 'vill appear in our next number. SWELLING OF THE THROAT IN HOGS. In order to contribute to the usefulness of your valuable periodical, and to irSovm the public of what I find to be an infallible cure for a certain disease with hog-3, viz., the swelling of tl,.^. throat I here- with send you a receipt for the disease with a desire that you publish the same iu your work, if you deem it of any import, and the same meets your ap- probation. Take of molasses one half a pint, and a teaspoon- ful of hog's lard ; to this add of brimstone a piece an inch long. Melt it over the fire, and when it is cold, or in a liquid state, drench the hog with it ; and nine times out of ten it will be found to have the desired effect. !My hogs were aff'ccted with this disease dur- ing the past year, and I found the above to be effec- tive when all else failed. — Far. Reg. Money skilfully expended in drying land by drain- ing it, or otherwise, will be returned with ample interest. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 11 THE BANKIVA COCK. These fowls are remarkable for their spirited and wild appearance, and some writers upon the subject consider them as the foundation of all the races of domestic fowls, as they are traceable to this original breed. But such statements need confirmation ; and as it will be a ciirious matter in natural history to know what race is the parent of all breeds, we should like to see the evidence in favor of this position. But to establish the fact beyond doubt, that the Ban- kiva fowls are the progenitors of all others, it will be necessary to show that they were all the gallina- ceous race that emigrated from Noah's ark. Our beautiful portrait of this fowl is taken from the American Fowl-Breeder; and from the same in- teresting work we copy the following description: — •'The Bankiva fowl is a native of Java, and is characterized by a red, indented comb, red wattles, and ash}--gray legs and feet. The comb of the cock is scolloped, and the tail elevated a little al)ovc the rum]), the feathers being dis;?osed in the form of tiles or shingles ; the neck feathers are gold-color, long, dependent, and rounded at the tips ; the head and neck are of a fawn color ; the v.ing coverts a dusky brown and black ; tail and belly black. The color of the hen is a duskj- ash-gray and yellow ; her comb and wattles much smaller than those of the cock, and, with the cxcejition of the long hackles, she has no feathers on her neck. These fowl are exceedingly wild, and inhabit the skirts of woods, forests, and other savage and unfrequented places. These Ban- kiva fowl arc very like our Bantams, and, like those pretty little birds, are also occasionally to be seen feathered to the feet and toes." Tea has been successfully cultivated by Dr. Smith, of South Carolina. SMALL POTATOES. Some years ago, a gentleman, visiting a farmer in Tolland, Connecticut, took from his pocket a small potato, wliich somehow had got in there at home. It was thrown out with a smile, and the farmer tak- ing it in his hand to look at it, a curious little boy of twelve, at his elbow, asked what it was. " O, nothing but a potato, mj- boy. Take and plant it, and you shall have all you can raise from it till you are free." The lad took it, and the farmer thought no more about it at that time. The boy, however, not de- spising small potatoes, carefully divided it into as many pieces as he could find eyes, and put them into the ground. The product was carefully put aside in the fall, and planted in spring, and so on until the fourth year, the yield being good ; and the actual prod- uct was four hundred bushels ! The farmer, seeing the prospect that the potato field would by another year cover his \\holo farm, asked to be released &om. his promise. With the same calculation, prudence, and industry,, how many who are disposed to regard the trifling things on which fortunes are built, as too small potatoes to receive their attention, would have been independent in circumstances, if they had husbanded small advantages. Small potatoes should not be de>- spiscd, even though there be at first but few in a hill.. — Selected. Naturalists tell us of one advantage which instinct has over genius, evinced in the construction of a bird's nest, inasmuch as the first nest built by a bird of any species, was as perfect as nests constructed at this dav are. Stiring water is to be introduced into London, by a mpany mth a capital of £350,000. company 12 NEW ENGLAND F'ARMER. NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS. Our obliging and intelligent correspondent, S. P. Fowler, Esq., who is distinguished as a successful cultivator, an enthusiastic admirer of nature, and a nice and accurate observer, proposes to furnish us with several articles on the cultivation of such native trees, shrubs and plants as arc distinguished for their beauty or singularity, together with the soil and locality in which they flourish. "We now give the article on native herbaceous plants. He will fur- nish two more articles in this series, one on native trees, the other on native shrubs. CULTIVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS. Mr. Cole : After some experience in the cul- tivation of native plants, we have found a con- Bidcral)le n\imbcr of them, which are desirable for their beauty, wholly \iufit for cultivation, in con- Bcquence of their troublesome and weedy habits, in filling the garden with their seeds, or crowd- ing out, with their roots, all other plants in their neighborhood. For when once permitted to take root, they at once take possession and occupy all the ground around tliem, and are extremely diffi- cult to extirpate. The names of some of these plants are the Succory, {dehor turn inti/bus,) having large, ele- gant blue flowers, commonly found by road-sides ; the large Bindweed, {Convolvulus sepiu?n,) a fine climb- ing, or rather twining plant, common in low grounds ; the Toad Flax, {Anfcripinum linaria,) with ahandsome spike of yellow flovvcrs, — thought by Dewey not to be indigenous, but introduced, — found by the side of roads ; Epilobium, or Willow Herb, a fine, showy plant, with purple flowers, found by the side of ■woods. In the cultivation of native plants and shrubs, wo shall also introduce into our grovinds many new- insects, many of which invariably follow tliem to their new location. That elegant butterfly, the Pa- pilio plexipjms, with its delicate grccn-colored pujya, ■with dots of burnished gold, follows the beautiful orange-colored flowering Asc'cpias tubcroHa into ovir gardens. The Attaciui pmnu'then is found on the cul- tivated Fever Bush, and also on the Ct-pJialanlhus, or Button Bush. On the first-mentioned shrub under ■ cultivation, may now be seen, the leaves are fallen, fifty or more chrysalids of these insects, enclosed within a dry, curled leaf, attached firmly to a twig, and swinging in the breeze. The Trumpet Weed, and the New England Aster, having fine, sweet- Bccntcd, aromatic flowers, attract manj' insects, par- ticularly the different kinds of wild bees, and that class of uneasy butterflios called Skippers, so named from a singular habit they have acquired of jerking their wings, and thereby producing an undulating flight. We find also, upon trial, many native plants diffi- cult to cultivate ; and, after a few years, they entirely disappear, unless especial care is bestowed upon them. They appear to suffer most from the effects of freez- ing and thawing in the winter, thus injuring the crown of their roots ; or, being thrown out of the ground by the action of the frost, they are destroyed. They receive some protection, in a natural state, by 'being in winter covered with water, grass, leaves, or '•snow ; and should likewise be protected, under cul- tivation, by throwing over them hay, straw, litter, or earth. The names of some of these comparative!)' tender plants, are the Pleurisy Root, ( Asclepias tuberosa,) with its bright, orange-colored flowers. It is a rare plant in this vicinity, and I know of none in a wild state. The rich flowering Liatris scariosa, with its raceme of bright purple flowers. Its root is a solid tuber, and truncated ; that i^,, it has the appearance of its end being bitten or cut off. The popular name of this plant is the Devil's Bit. I was informed, many years ago, by an old root doctor, that it received its last appellation in this way : It having come to the knowledge of the great adversary that this plant was useful to mankind, and possessed great medicinal properties, he, ia order to show his enmity to our race, bit off the end of the root, thereby depriving it of most of its useful properties. Upon doubting the truth of the legend, and observing to him that the roots of some other jjlants presented the truncated form, " Why, bless mo ! " replied the old man, " don't you sec the marks of his teeth ? " The Liatris is found growing, with ns, in a clayey soil, on the borders of woods. Fine specimens of this plant can be easily obtained by seedlings. The splendid Cardinal Flower, when once introduced into a garden, Avill propagate itself by its seeds, and pro- duce some fine plants. TTie Indian Turnip, or Arum, with its singular flower, variegated inside with stripe^ of pale green or brown. In autumn, the plant pre- sents its bunches of shining scarlet berries. The Neottia pubcsccHs, or Ilattlesnake Plantain, with its dark green leaves, veined with white — a pretty plant, found in woods. The Soap ^^^ort Gentian is a handsome autumnal plant, with blue flowers. The several species of the Orchis, particularly the Fitrt- briated and the Grandijhjra, both elegant plants, and to be found in a swamp bordering on Pleasant Pond, in Wenham. The lihexia Virginica, a showy plant, with purple petals, and long, crooked, yellow anthers, found in low grounds. There is another class of native plants, that require no particular care, but, when once introduced into our gardens, continue to grow and thrive for many years. The names of some of these are the Asters, particularly the New England, which can be made to grow to the height of ten feet, and bearing upon ita spreading top several hundred flowers. The Golden Rods, many of them coarse, but showy plants. The Apoci/num, or Dogsbane, is a pretty plant, with a creeping root, found in dry soils. It is remarkable for possessing, in a high degree, the property of a fly- trap)— a fact not noticed by many botanists who ha\T3 described this plant. It entraps large numbers of flics, bees, and other small insects, who seek the flower to obtain its honeyed juice. The insect, upon entering the flower, thrusts its proboscis down to the bottom of the cup, thereby exciting its wonderful irritability, when instantly the stamens closo upon the stigma, like the jaws of a trap, seizing the poor insect by its tongue. It is not uncommon to see the flowers of this plant, under cultivation, crowded with insects thus caught. This irritable or sensitive power is possessed in a high degree in Venus's Fly-Trap, found in North Carolina, and in a less degree in the flowers of the Barberry, and some other plants. By taking up, in the autumn, the Saracenia, or Side-Saddle Flower, with the wet moss attached to its roots, put into water, and cultivated like the hya- cinth, and placed on a parlor window, it will flourish, and show its curious flowers towards spring. In closing this article upon the cultivation of native herbaceous plants, we Avould mention several distinguished for their beauty, which as yet we have wholly failed to cultivate. The names of some of these plants are the C'l/pripedutti, or Ladies' Slipper, Fringed Gentian, Oak-leaved Gerardia, Northern Calla, and Northern Dracena. S. P. FOWLER. Danvei'vS New Mills, Dec. 13, 18i9, Fur the Neio Engla7id Farmer. SHELLY-MARL, OR MUSCLE BED. Mil. EoiToii : It must be gratifying to many of our farmers and cultivators of tlie soil, residing near NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 13 the line of the Essex railroad, to leara that the directors have in contemplation an arrangement by ■which they can transport, to different points upon this route, the above excellent manure for the land. I say excellent, for it is well known that the soil in this, as well as in many other counties in the state, is doticient in calcareous matter ; and, as was recently said by a distinguished agriculturist, that " no soil Ctin be regarded as at all icell fitted for cultivation, unless it be calcareous," this article must, therefore, be among the best that can bo applied to improve its texture and composition, by making it more capable of supplying the food necessary for the production of vegetables. The use of this compound, upon a poor or light sandy loam, will produce a more lasting degree of fertility than dung alone. Its effect upon the soil, in the first year of its application, is inconsiderable in comparison with the second and succeeding years. After an a])plication of one and a half cords of muscle marl to about one eighth of an acre of sandy loam, (by placing it in small heaps upon the land in the fall, and spreading it over the land early in the following spring,) we planted potatoes ; the crop, as well as the size of the vegetable, was small. The spring following, it was again planted to potatoes, without dressing of any kind, and the crop was good, and the potatoes of a large size- This failure at fij'st, we admit, may have been owing, in some degree, to the season ; but not to such an extent. "We have, from the Beverly Ear to Ornes andKopes's Points and Porter's River, so called, in North Salem, muscle beds, Avhere are large depos- its of this fertilizing manure, which increases in forming, as is supposed, nearly as fast as it has here- tofore been gathered ; and if it can be transported, at a reasonable rate, from these several places, on this railroad, it must bo a great benefit to the farmer. It is comparatively recent that our cultivators have turned their attention to the use of this material, and thus fai' it has been generally, or almost exclusively, used in the cultivation of onions, and considered to be a fine manure for this vegetable alone ; but we feel assured that it will be found, by a proper appli- cation, quite as useful in nearly, if not all, purposes where slicll-\mic and marl operate beneficially ; and, as before remarked, that, our soil being deficient in calcareous matter, it cannot but be exceedingly use- ful. Shell-lime is now used with astonishing effect by Mr. Pell, of New York state, by which that finest of all American apples, the Newton Pippin, is made to produce annually great crops of the finest fruit. The muscle beds in the North and Porter's Kivers are formed by the decomposition of a small shell-fish and sea-weed, rock-weed, and other substances Avhich gather in large quantities in the eddies of the above rivers, thus making an exceedingly fertilizing com- pound. The muscle is very prolific, millions being formed in a square rod in a single year. As their sur- face is immediately covered by the young the suc- ceeding year, the growth of the "beds," as they are called, is astonishingly rapid, upwards of one thou- sand cords being annually taken from the deposits in the vicinity of the railroad. Notwithstanding this quantity has been gathered, there does not appear to be a very sensible diminution of the article. The beneficial effects of this manure arc more marked when applied to land at a distance from the salt water. This manure is sometimes gathered and used immodiateh', in what is called its raw state ; the generality of cultivators, however, prefer to place it upon their land in small heaps, in the fall, to be acted on by frost, Avhen it slackens and becomes better pul- verized in the spring, to spread evenly over the bind. "\Vc prefer, in order to preserve the saline juices, which arc useful on almost every description of soils, to apply muscle marl fresh from the shore, while we have frosty nights, early in March, spreading it at once ; and, in a week or two, (after it is meliorated by freezing,) ploughing it under the soil. Muscle-bed and common barn-j'ard manure make an excellent compost for Indian corn. A correspondent of the Yankee Farmer, in speaking of " sea manure," says, " \\'hcn sea mud is thickly blended with sea-shells, they tend to give it much additional value ; as the shells, when exposed to atmospheric influence, will have their cohesion and organization gradually de- stroyed— chemical composition ensues, carbonic gas is di-icngagcd, and this gas comes in contact with the vegetable fibre, where it is distributed through all its ramifications. To improve the soil is to give it the principles which it requires, and does not contain. Marine dressing not only imparts to its princijdes, but animates inert matter into action ; or, to define it more chemically, the elements of inert matter are resolved into new combination. In these remarks, I have made no deductions from supposition, but have draAvn conclusions from known facts, supported by chemical aflinity. I wiU only observe that I have used the above-named dressing for more than twenty years, and it has fully answered my expectations." Another writes, " Nature, to supply a deficiency in the soil and climate on our rugged seaboard, has, with a liberal hand, deposited inexhaustible maga- zines of marine manure all along our shores, which is composed of animal, calcareous, saline, arfjillaccoxis, and vegetable matter ; the calcareous, of the shells ; the saline, of the salt of the ocean ; the argillaceous, of the fine moidd washed from the surrounding clay banks; and the vegetable, of eel-grass, rock-weed, kali, and other marine vegetable productions brought in from the ocean by flood-tides and easterlj' winds." In speaking of a rich muscle bed, he says, " The population and territory of aquatic community have unquestionably been progressively increasing from its origin ; for small animals, by a law of nature, are generally prolific, and prolific animals, by the same wise law, are confined to a very brief existence ; therefore numerous deaths have enlarged this terri- tory, and numerous births, exceeding the deaths, have increased the population. The same contracted inch of space is the birthplace, residence through life, and at death the grave, of each individual." " Ey an ordinance of the British Parliament, p;i.ssed about A. D. 1680, for the exclusive benefit of the New England colonies, all fiats fronting upland, in public grants, became the property of the grantees, although not expressed in the instrument of convey- ance, extending to the channel, or one hundred rods below high-water mark ; and in all subsequent con- veyances, when bounded by the shore. The shore, as "legally defined, is the margin of the water at any time of tide. This ordinance and definition remain in full force, having been invariably recognized and sanctioned by all our courts." Another material, somewhat different in its char- acter, (and which is used extensively in Europe,) is sea-sand, mixed with a large proportion of shell. This mixture is considered an excellent fertilizer for grass and grain crops on low land. It is found in inexhaustilile quantities in the North River, in near proximity to the railroad. Eord Bacon, who flourished early in the seven- teenth century, having noticed the advantages which the farmers in tlie maritime countries of Europe derived from the free use of sea-sand, which, upon those coasts, chiefly consists of broken shells, imjireg- nated with salt M'atcr, declares that the "best ma- nure, next to marl, is sea-sand ; " and the Archbishop of Dul)lin, speaking of the manuring of lands, in the counties of Londonderry and Donegal, with sand and shells from the sea-shore, says, " that what for- merly was not worth a groat per acre, is now worth four shillings." " This substance is very generally used in Cornwall, 14 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. England, for manure ; and the quantity which is every season caiTied away from difi'ercnt parts of the coast, for the piaxpose of mauiuc, almost exceeds behef." From "Budc," in the parish of Stratton, it has been ascertained that in one day as many as four thousand horse-loads have been taken ; and from the harbor of Padstow, it has been computed that fifty- four thousand cart-loads are annually carried. Mar- tin Doyle says, " I have knoAvn tliis manure in the county of Cork to be carried in bags ten or fifteen, ay, twenty miles from the coast, on the backs of mules." The expense of land carriage for this mate- rial as a manure, in Cornwall alone, (as stated by Dr. Paris,) amounts at least to thirty thousand pounds annually. Mr. Colman, in his European Agricul- ture, sjieaking of the immense quantities taken up on the coast of Ireland, says, " The number of one- horse carts, especially near Cork, which I found engaged in the transportation of it, was remarkable. To the largo proportion of phosphate of lime con- tained in the crustaceous remains, and the nitrogen- ized matter of the fish, much of its importance, doubtless, is due. In Cornwall, England, vast amounts are found near the sea-shore, and carried into the country. In examining this sand, which is obtained in inexhaastible quantities near parts of the coast, it ai^peared in an extraordinary degree to abound in broken shells. — A company has been formed for calcining this sand, which serves to make it more soluble, and rendei-s its action upon the soil more speedy. It is called the ' Cornwall Patent Ma- nure.' These sands (continues Mr. Colman) are full of comminuted shells, and very rich in animal mat- ter. They are applied at the rate of ninety bushels, or even double that quantity of bushels, to the acre." J. M. IVES. Salem, Jan. 1, 1850. For the New England Fanner. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. NO. f[l. Mr. Editor : Agriculture engaged the attention of the Romans, theoretically as well as practically. Their time was divided between husbandry and war. In the early days of the republic, their greatest men employed themselves alternately in the one and the other. Cincinnatus was called from the plough to fill the office of dictator. Among the Romans, tlie ox was the principal beast of burden ; and there arc many directions for breed- ing, working, and feeding this animal, to be found in the writings of Pliny, Cato, and others. Bees were also held in high estim^ation among the Romans, and directions for their management may be found among the writers above mentioned. With regard to the implements of husbandry used by the Romans, we cannot speak very definitely ; but it is certain they used ploughs of some sort, both with movild-boards and colters and without them. Pliny speaks of a reaping machine, that was propelled by an ox. Their grain was beaten out by flails, or trodden by cattle. Haying was performed much in the same manner- as at present. On the decline of the Roman empire, agriculture shared the fate of all other arts, and during the long ages of anarchy and barbarism v.-hich succeeded the fall of this empire, agriculture was almost wholly abandoned, and contmued to be neglected till the introduction of the feudal system, in the fifteenth century. This gave every man a distinction and rank according to the quantity of land he occupied. Notliing contributed more to give an importance to agricultural pursuits than the introduction of this system, which gave the tenant, that cultivated the Boil, as well as the landlord, who owned the land, political privileges that Avere enjoyed by no other members of the community. England has, for the last fifty years, done much for the advancement of agriculture ; and her efibrts have been crowned with success, as her agTicultural pro- ductions have more than doubled during this period. The agriculture of the French sufibrs in common with every other sjsecies of industry, from the eff'ects of bad government. Since the revolution, they have made some advancement, but are still far behind Great Britain, notwithstanduig they have a climate and soU. adajjted to every variety of vegetable growth. In all parts of the continent of Europe, increosmg attention is being paid to this subject. In Lombardy and Flanders, it is carried to the highest state of im- provement. ROCKINGHAM. For the New England Farmer. PROFIT OF HENS. Mr. Editor: I have kept, since January last, about forty hens. They have had their full liberty over my premises, from day to day ; and though, at times, they have been rather inclined to mischief, j-et, upon the whole, I am very well satisfied with then- product, since they began to lay, which was abo-.it the middle of February ; and, though I have lost seven of them by disease and accident, they have produced up to this time about four thousand eggs, and raised me about sixty chickens — being an aA^er- age of oA-er one huLiidred eggs per hen, besides rais- ing the chickens. ■ The eggs Avhich I have sold amount to nearly $4:5, at fourteen cents per dozen, the average price for the tune in our market ; and the chickens are Avorth, on an average, twenty-five cents each, Avhich is $15. Total product, to this time, $60. They have been fed but A'ery Uttle grain, since the opening of spring ; but have picked and scratched for a living about the farm. I have kept a good heap of pounded oyster shells in their Avalks, of Avhich they daily avail themselves — frequently several times in a day. A part of my hens, during the Avarm weather, haA'c roosted on the trees, near the house ; part of them in an open shed ; and a part of them in the barn. I haA'e no hen or " poultry house," as they are called, nor any thing of the kincl. Now, what I Avish to knoAV is this : Hoav should I manage with my hens, in order to haA-e them continue laying through the cold season ? as I haA^e observed that, as hens are generally managed in this part of the countiy, they lay but A-ery fcAV eggs from the first of December to the middle of February, or later. I should like to knoAV hoAV my hens should be fed, where I should make them roost, and also Avhat quantity of eggs hens, that are well taken care of, Avill produce, compared Avith Avarm Aveather. I should Avish to have the du'cctions in a plain, familiar style, and in as economical a form as Avill ansAvor the purpose intended. Yours, &c., C. B. AYER. Preston, Conn., Nov. 24:, 1849. THE LATE REV. HENRY COLMAN. To the Editor arid rahlisher of the New Engkiyid Farmer. Gentlemex : Holding the responsible position of sentinels on the envii-ons of agricultiu-e in Neav Exg- LAND, as you do, I venture to ask your attention to the enclosed notice of one who spent the latter part of his life in laboring to adA-ance the cause in Avhich Ave all feel a common interest. The trustees of the Essex Society felt it to be their duty distinctly to take notice of the services of Mr. Coi.man. When a man generously offers his life for the good of others, it is right that his name and memory should have the NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 15 credit of what he did. The confidence that noble action will be duly appreciated by those who come after us, is one of the strongest incentives to noble efforts. My particular purpose, in taking pen in hand, was to inform you that I have just now received the en- tire agricultural library of the late Mr. Colnian, pur- chased at a cost of $2.50, to form the basis of an agri- cultural library, for the use of the Essex County Society. It is confidently believed, that a subscrip- tion adequate to the purchase wOI readily be ob- tained. But if it should not, it may be doubted whether one half of one year's income of existing funds could be better applied, than in the purchase of four hundred volumes of the best books on agriculture. I know there are some who say, those who want to read had better buy their own books ; — and if they conveniently could, perhaps they had. But is it not true, that there are hundreds who do not now read a volume in a year, who would read many, if they could have access to a library, judiciously selected and freely offered? The fear of violating ray own rule, in multiplying words without ideas, forbids my saying more. If what I write, or what is enclosed, is worthy your notice, it is at your service. Yery respectfully and truly yours, Nov. 20, 1849, J. W. P. The committee appointed at the late meeting of the Society, to report to the trustees such action as is proper to be taken in relation to the Rev. Henry CoLM.VN, who died at Islington, near London, August 11, 1849, set. 64, submit the following preamble and resolutions. J, W. Peoctoe, Chairman. Nov. 19, 1849. The journals of our own and foreign lands have recently recorded the death of Rev. Henry Colman, and borne ample testimony to his eminent private worth and public usefulness. The church, at whose altars he ministered with distinguished ability, has already rendered a beauti- ful tribute to his memory. The homes of affluence and ease, of penury and suffering, — in all of which his presence was greeted with equal cordiality, imparting to the one additional delight by his agreeable vivacity and intelligence ; diffusing, in the other, unwonted joy by his sympathy and charities — are now saddened with grief. A distinct expression of the deep sense of bereave- ment sustained by this Society, with whom he had so long been connected as associate and trustee, should be placed upon our records. The vivid impressions on our minds should be preserved for the benefit of those who may come after us. Services so valuable should not be forgotten. A character like his should be registered for imitation. The possession of his virtues would brighten and bless every farmer's life, and gladden every farmer's home. He was, in truth, one of whom it may justly be said, " We shall not look upon his like again." With a childlike simplici- ty of character, that adapted itself to every circle, and to all occasions, he was every where at home, and always, in whatever company he might be, the centre of attraction. He was never at case, except when actively engaged in doing good. Pew men have accomplished so much in a life of the same length ; and what he effected causes a deeper regret, that he eould not have been spared to complete what he had contemplated. Mr. Colman was always an ardent lover of Nature, and accustomed to find recreation and delight in the study of her works. In the various branches of agri- culture and horticulture, he ever manifested a special interest. His aid was freely given, and not without marked results, to every effort to encourage the study .and to improve the practice of these arts. Immedi- ately 0!l coming into this county, he became a mem- ber of this Society, and has been distinguished as one of its most active supporters. The farmers of Essex imperfectly know the obligations they are under for the many services freely and voluntarily rendered for their benefit. The pages of our Transactions bear testimony to the zeal and ability with which he ac- complished whatever he undertook. Whoever sliaU glance his eye over these, for the ten years next fol- lowing 1830, will find more than two hundred from his pen, eoverii^ the entire field of the farmer's labor, and marked by a keenness of perception and felicity of expression rarely found in such productions. The same sparkling brilliancy which beamed from his eye, radiated from all liis paragraphs. His inimitable liu- mor never failed to arrest and enchain the attention of the reader. However repulsive the subject, he had the faculty so to present it as to avoid offence, without the least sacrifice of truth. No subject was too abstruse for his philosophic reflection — none too minute for his searching observation. It is not too much to say, that to him are we indebted, as much as to anj' other, while he was among us, for interest- ing and instructive communications. When a com- missioner for the commonwealth was to be appoint- ed, his ardor in the pursuit of agricultural science marked him as the fit agent to accomplish the desire of the state. In discharging the duties of this office, he became favorably and extensively known. The fruits of his labors are plainly to be seen in the im- proved methods of farming, and in the increased interest and respect with which the pursuit of the farmer is regarded. He inspired many with fresh courage and hope, who were disheartened by repeat- ed failures, or discouraged with little success. He awakened a generous emulation, which brought into active operation a great amount of dormant energy, and replaced, by industry and skill, what, in many cases, had been lost through sloth or ignorance. If there are any who were inclined to question the util- ity of tills commission, there are probably few who could match the industry and perseverance with wliich its duties were discharged. If there are any who are disposed to ca^-il at the accuracy of Mr. Col- man's facts and opinions, there arc probably none who will deny the salutary impulse he gave to agri- cultural improvements. In the autumn of 1842, Mr. Colman embarked for Europe, intending to make such a survey of the in- dustrial and agricultural pursuits of other lands, as would not only gratify his own long-cherished de- sires, but would enable him to present to his coun- trymen examples worthy of imitation. Upon his arrival in England, he became the object of attention and respect, such as had rarely been shown to any private citizen. The privilege of familiar intercourse with the highest classes of society was freely accord- ed to him, securing, at once, the most refined social and intellectual enjoyments. The field now open before him, expanded beyond his utmost expecta- tion ; and though it offered much to encourage and gratify, j'ct, to explore it fully, and to reap its fruits, demanded the most exhausting labor. All the ener- gies of body and mind were put in constant requisi- tion. Nor should it be forgotten, how the finer sym- patliies of the heart, always active, were intensely excited by the examples of suffering and misery con- stantly presented to his view. After six years' absence, Mr. Colman returned in the autumn of 1848 ; but his health was so impaired, that lie was compelled to rclin(iuish many of the plans that he had contemplated. His ever active benevolence prompted him to many efforts, which his failing strength could no longer sustain. At the unanimous request of this board, he readily assented to deliver the address at our late anniversary, (if life and health permitted — a condition, added by him. 16 NEW ENGLAND FARMETX. with that devout reference to the overruling Provi- dence which characterized every movement of his life ;) and the hope was fondly indulged by all, of being again enlivened by his wit, and instructed by his wisdom. But ovu* hope was to be disappointed ; and death has now sealed that disappointment for- ever. To his examples and instruction are we greatly indebted for what we have been able to accomplish. lie was ever ready to hold or drive, as opj^ortunity presented. His willingness to help awakened a cor- responding zeal to help ourselves, lie not only sus- tained us in- youth, when, oiir Father was called away, lAit he insjiired us Avith strength and confi- dence to go alone. Now, having arrived at years of discretion, shall we be unmindful of the guide of our youth ? Shall we not prove, by our works, that the good seed he planted has taken root, is springing up, and ready to flourish ? We would that our own minds should be im- pressed with the great lesson of our lamented friend's life and death — a life of jireeminent usefulness — a death of calm submission and enduring hope. We would commend his example to all whom our pages may reach, and esjDecially to the farmers of our own county, in the belief that by copying his vir- tues, they will best honor his memory and promote their own usefulness. It grieves us to reflect that we shall see his face no more forever. It pains us to remember that his bones are mouldering in a land far away, " by stran- gers honored and by strangers niourned." With grate- ful acknowledgments to tho kindness that watched and sootlied his dying bed, and closed his " dim eye on life and pain," and to the noble generosity that so- licited the privilege to rear a monument over his mortal remains, we would respectfully suggest to the farmers of our own commonwealtlL, whose citizen he was, by bu-th in her metropolis, and by adoption in all her borders, that a monument be reared in their midst, which, with a generosity as noble, and a grief no less sincere, shall point to the world the name and the memory of the Faiwier's Friend. At the annual meeting of the Essex Agricultural Society, held September 27, 1849, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. John W. Proctor, of Danvers, Frederick Howes, of Salem, Ebenezer Moseley, of Newburyport, James H. Duncan, of Ha- verhill, Daniel Adams, of Newbury, to consider and report, at the next meeting of the trustees, such measures as should appear to them most suitable to express the sense of this Society, for the memory of the late Itcv. Henry Colman. At a meeting of the trustees, held November 10, 1849, the committee reported the following preamble and resolutions, which wore unanimously adopted. \^See preamble, as above.\ J?fi«oZucf/,. That we cherish, with great regard, the memory of tlie late Henry Colman, Avho, during many years, and ixntil his decease, was a member of this Society, and distinguished for his zeal, activity, and intelligence in the cause of agricultural improve- ments ; for his various and persevering efforts to ob- tain and communicate information concerning the practice and present condition of agriculture, in other states of the Union, and in foreign coixntrics, as well as our own commonwealth ; and for his numerous and valuable publications, tending to promote and diffuse among his fellow-citizens the knowledge of this most impm-tant department of human industry. Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with the family of the deceased, in the painful bereavement they have sustained. ALLEN W. DODGE, Secretary. Hamilton, Nov. 26, 1849. WIRE FENCE. One of your correspondents makes some inquirie* in relation to wire fence, its cost, &c. Wire. — The wire can be obtained in Pittsburg: at $8.50 per hundred, and perhaps a shade lower if taken by the tan. Townsend & Co. have it con- stantly on hand. No. 1 1 is the size usually employedr for the purpose of fencing ; but some prefer No. lOr on account of its being somewhat stronger and stiffor. Either size answers the purpose very well. It can also be obtained annealed and painted ; but in thL* form it comes a little higher. Allowing five strands, the cost of the wire would be from thii'!;y-five to- thirty-seven cents per rod. Posts. — The proper size for the posts is three inches by four at the larger end, and three by twa and a half the smaller. They should be made of locust, or some other durable wood. The posts do very well thirty-six feet aj^art, if the fence is designed to turn cattle and hoi-ses only; but for hogs they must be set much closer. Between the posts, twelve feet apart, should be placed strips of boards, an inch and a half by three quarters of an inch thick, to sup- port the wires, and keep them from laying. These strips are placed one on each side of the fence, places being made in one of them for the wires to lie in, and nailed together. The wires are fastened to the posts with steeples made of strong wire, and these are driven so tightly that the strands are prevented from, slipping, or, in fact, moving in any way. To maJie a fenee to turn all kinds of beasts, ther posts should be placed eighteen feet apart, with a shoji-t post, eighteen inches above ground, between, each of the long ones. Two boards, each six inches- in width, may be put on the bottom, and the top of the fence finished out w^th wire. This makes an excellent, permanent fence, that will do good service to the farmer. The former kind will answer all pur- poses where a close fence is not required ; but the latter is to be preferred where it is exposed to hogi and other small animals. Elizabeth, Alleghany Co., Pa., 1849.. — riiiladelphia Dollar Newspaper.. WOOD-HOUSES. There is no convenience attached to a fann estab- lishment of more importance than the wood-house. It need not be an expensive structure ; although both convenience and economy require that its size, and the materials of which it is formed, should be adapted to the size and circumstances of the family. As a general thing, it should be a icood-honse, and nothing less nor more. No tools or fai-ming implements- should be housed there, for these require a separate place ; nor should the hog have his quarters in one end. Tlie fuel required for the use of the family, of whatever kind or description, shoidd alwaj's be found here in ample abundance, and at no time should there be a deficiency either as regards the quantity or quality of the same. Dry wood, where coal is not used, should be kept constantly on hand the year round; and in order to secure this, convenience, a wood-shed of ample dimensions is utterly indispen- sable. B. Bensalem, Nov. 7, 1849. — Germantown Telegraphs The first plank road in New Jersey is about to he- commenced at Newark. It is to run from that placa to Jersey city. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. n COE'S GOLDEN DROP PLUM. This plum is distinguished for its largo size and superior flavor. "When it is well ripened, it is of the highest quality. But in this climate, it is rather un- certain about coming to perfection, as it is a very late plum ; yet in warm locations and favorable seasons, it succeeds well. Some cultivators, whose situations are not more favorable than usual, say that it always does well with them. Therefore the point as to its adaptedncss to this climate is not yet well settled. We should not advise its culture north of this, excepting in warm locations, as there are other late plums more to be depended on. Even in this climate, it is better adapted to the amateur than to the cultivator who raises fruit, in orchard culture, for the market. As this fruit has not been tried extensively in New England, more extensive trials may give a different view of the subject. One great advantage in this plum is its long keeping. It hangs long on the tree, and sometimes it keeps a month or two after it is gathered. This variety was raised from seed by a Mr. Coc, near London. In this region, it generally ripens from the middle of September into October. Mr. Henry Vandine, of Cambridgeport, who has raised fine specimens of this fruit, has exhibited it at the shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society five weeks in succession. \Vc are indebted to An- drew Lackey, Jr., of Marblohead, for tine specimens which he furnished last fall, from which our engrav- ing is made. The fruit is very large ; oval, tapering considerably to the ends, a distinct suture on quo side ; yellow, mottled with gi-cen, and occasionally patches of scar- let in the sun, covered with Ught bloom ; stem of medial length, rather slender ; flesh yellow, firm, fine texture, melting, rich, sugary, and of a delicious, sprightly flavor ; cling-stone. The tree is a good grower ; but as it branches low, it does not form a good handsome tree in the nursery, like vigorous upright growers. The shoots are purple, short-jointed ; the leaves rather small, deep green, and very glossy. It is a good bearer. PLOUGHtNG THE PLAIN LANDS OF LONG ISLAND. Dr. Peck states, that with the Worcester Eagle D plough, with throe yoke of cattle attached, he has suc- ceeded in ploughirig tlioso lands well, immediately after the wood was cut ofl', and \\ ithout the ]>rcvious oi)eration of grubbing. This lie lias done at an cx])cnso of $'i i)cr acre, while the old grubl)ing process alone would have cost from ,^12 to $16 per acre. The trees and bushes cut ofi' i)revious to plougliing, stood very thick on the land ; and their roots, M-lien he })ut the plough in, were not only of ordinary size, but green and tough. Many fanners canie from his imme- diate neighl)oihood to sec his ploughing, having little faith in removing scrub-oak and pine stumps and roots in this summary way. We have only to add, that the manufacturers of these ploughs are now at work on a model, which will be decidedly more etHcicnt than the one used by Dr. Peck. As soon as some arc fin- ished, they will be sent to our warehouse, where wo shall be glad to have the Long Island farmers, and others interested in such matters, call and look at them. — American Am the Transactions of the Essex Agri- cultural Society, the report of the committee on dairy products, of which J. W. Proctor, Esq., presi- dent of the Society, is chairman. It is a very able and elaborate document, and our farmers wiU find in it much valuable information. We shall continue the report, and give several statements of the com- petitors for premiums, with occasional remarks of the committee. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 21 REPORT OX DAIRY PRODUCTS. The committee on dairy procluets wore gratified to find so many entries, and such fine specimens of but- ter. The parcels were entered as required, by the numbers only, and were examined witliout any knowledr;e of the persons by whom, they were made. The several parcels of June butter were first com- pared with each other, and the several parcels of Sep- tember butter likewise. After the opinion of the committee was made up, upon the specimens pre- sented, the several statements were examined and compared. Although there was found to be impor- tant differences in the quantities produced in differ- ent statements, still there was no sufficient reason to vary the awards as made upon the quality. Some of tlie statements were found to bo not in strict confor- mity with the conditions on which the premiums ■were offered ; but no material variations were noticed in those of the successful claimants. That no injus- tice may he done to any claimant, the statements will be published as presented, in connection with the report. They have been carefully scrutinized, and such of their characteristics as are Avorthy of special remark will be particularlj' noticed ; not for the pur- pose of censuring any one, but in the hope of in- Btructing those who are willing to learn. The processes of keeping the milk and of making the butter are so nearly alike, that it would seem all of the claimants had been taught in the same school. It is not strange that this should be so, as they knew before whom their lesson was to be recited. Those modes which had been found most successful in years past, would be most likely to be imitated. It should bo remembered that our premiums are offered "for the bast produce on the farm," and not simply for the best specimens exhibited. It is expected of the claimants to state distinctly the amount produced in the month of June ; and also in the four months next following the 20th of May. It is highly important that all the particulars in the management, from the first milking of the cow, to the moulding of the butter for the market, should be carefully noted. If these facts could be presented in a journal form, so that the feed of each week, and the produce of each week, could be distinctly seen and compared, it would be a source of much instruc- tion. TTic design of requiring statements for particular periods oi time, is, that all statements should have reference to the same period, so that they may with propriety be compared together. If, for instance, one person takes fifty days, from May 20 to July 10, and another fourteen days, from June 10 to June 21, there can bo no fair comparison between tlie two. Wc can easily conceive of such an arrangement of the pas- tures, and of the feed of the cows, lor a period of fourteen days, as would show a very ditt'crcnt result from what could be produced in Jifti/ dai/s. These facts are adverted to, because some of the statements are made in this manner. We want no forced state- ments ; — we care not how good they may be ; but "WC want them in the ordinary way ; we want to sec the whole truth, without any artificial appliances. "Wo do not want to meet the dairy-maid in the parlor, arrayed in lier ^^ilks and ruiiles ; but we want to meet her in the dairij-room, with a smiling countenance, clean hands, and a neat apron, ready to show how the cream is daily taken off, and how the butter is daily taken care of. There arc many facts in relation to the making of butter, of great importance, to be distinctly noted. Instance : IV om some we learn that the (piantity of but- ter is materially inUuenccd by the m>mncr of 'milking the cows ; — by being careful entirely to exhaust the bag at each milking; — one pint at the close being Bald to be of as muulx value an four at the commencement. It is presumed that there is a certain point of time, after the milk has been set, when the cream can be severed from the milk to the best advantage. We have looked tlirough the statements to ascertain when this is. Wc find' them varying from twenty-four to seventy-two hours ; about as definite as the size of a pieec of chalk. What is wanted is, a rule for the guidance of those who shall undertake to manage the business without having had experience. With- out doubt, many of these successful butter-makers have the right rule in their minds, but have never yet so defined it as to be able to convey it to others. The probability is, the longer the cream remains, the more there will be of it ; but may it not remain so long as to impair the quality of the butter ? This may depend much upon the character of the place zvherc and the vessels in which it is set. Nearly all speak of setting the milk in tin pmis ; — how deep it shall be, whether two, four, or six inches, they do not say. All concur in assigning a clean, airy, and cool place for the milk to be set in ; and all concur in ap- proving of entu'e cleanliness in all the departments. What shall be done with the cream, after it is col- lected ? Some place it in a bucket in tlie well ; others in pots, in vaults constructed for the purpose. The best position we have noticed is, to have a neat apart- ment excavated below the ordinary cellar, and there to keep it, until the convenient time for churning. This should be as often as a sufficient quantity is ac- cumulated, to bo churned to advantage. The kind of churn, and the temperature of the cream at the time of churning, are both to be considered. It is said a temperature from 60° to 65° is the most favorable. K this be so, it should always be brought to this tem- perature, before the agitation of the cream is com- menced. Crowell's thermometer churn is constructed with special reference to this point. It also professes to promote a proper circulation of the air, at the time of churning. Whether this air movement is fanciful or real, I leave to wiser chemical heads than my owiu The quality, as well as the quantity, of the butter depends much upon the churning process. When dog-days come on, we have frequently heard com- plaints that the cream Avas bewitched, and the butter would not come ; when, in truth, the i'ault was not in the cream, but in those who managed it. Many of these little things, which a skilful manager of a dairy is accustomed to observe and practise, and which are thought too trilling to be noticed, may, in fact, ct)nstitute the real differences between the making of good and ordinary l)uttor. That such diifercnces do exist, we see exemplified every week. Take, for in- stance, in any of our towns, two farmers, situate side by side, on lands similar: you will find one of tliese going into market on Saturday, with butter soft and greasy, with small particles of buttermilk oozing out of it ; while the butter of the other is in neatly- formed lumps, hard and regular, of a bright yellow color ; the one is slowly sold lor a shillin;/ a pound, when the other readily comniands a shillin'j and a half, from purchasers much better satisfied with their bargains. Why this dilference in price, unless it bo in the management of the dairy ? One of these farm- ers will be able to thrive and flourish, witli jjainted buildings, and neatly-ananged fences; wliile the other will have liis windows stuffed with rags, and his fences going to ruin. It is not enough fir claimants to say. in their state- ments, that ahxit an ounce of salt is applied to each pound of butler ; or thiit it was salted to suit the taste. Such expressions afford no rule for the in- struction of others. Tastes may vary as much as hands in weight, or feet in measurement ; and tho word about hivs too murh of the quality of india- rubber to fasten any thing. For example : iu the statements before us, there is a variance in tho quan- tity of salt used of one half — say ftom three fourths 22 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. of an ounce to one and a half ounces to the pound. "Wo arc aware that there may be differences in the quality of the salt, and that the condition in which the butter c;)?nes, may at some times require more salt than at others, and, consequently, that the judg- ment of the persons xporking it is to be exercised ; but still, wc think it is in their power to define how this judgment is to be applied; and this is the very thing we want to be informed about. These little peculiar- ities wliich enable good dairy-maids to present the nicest of butter. On looking over the statements presented, several diihculties occur in instituting a comparison. Some speak of cues onlij ; others of cows and heifers. Some speak of old cows ; others of youtig coios. What the fair proportion is which a heifer bears to a cow, we have no certain means of determining; but, for con- venience sake, we assume that three heifers, the first season in milk, may be reckoned equal to two cows. We are also embarrassed by the fact, that different fami- lies m-iy consume very different quantities of milk and cream in the family. Ordinarilj', we expect to find on a well-regulated New England farm, a man and wife, five children, a man servant, a maid ser- vant, and a boy to drive the cows, &c., — ten in Clum- ber, — for whose use the milk of one cow, at least, should be appropriated. There may be variances from this. There may be bachelors, who take care of their own dairies ; but such care will never be con- sidered as a recommendation for premium. Although their butter may be sweet in the churn, ten chances to one it will be rancid before it comes to the table. Another embarrassment, and one that should be remedied by the trustees themselves, is in the vari- ances of time for which the statements are made. Some we notice from May 20 to July 5 ; some from June I to July 9 ; some from May 20 to September 25 ; some for fourteen days only in June — periods that cannot accurately be compared with each other. Such statements not only vary from the rule pre- scribed, but they present also insuperable difHculties in the way of just estimates. AVe have been thus particular in enumerating these, that claimants may understand, if they would expect others to judge rightly of their claims, they must begin right in their statements. It is not enough for them to say, that the offer of the premium is not made exactly as it should be : when they present their claims, they as- sent to the propriety of the offer. We present, in a tabular form, an abstract of the several statements, supplying deficiencies by the best guesses (exercising our privilege as Yankees) in our power to make. Names. Residence. Cows. June Average to a Cow. Four Months' Average to a Cow. Total in Four Montlis. John Stone, Jr Daniel Putnam, Elijah Pope, , Charles P. Preston, . George Pearson, . . . . . Nathaniel Felton Jonathan Eerry, Duncan M"Xaughton, John Preston, Nathan D. Hawks, . . Marblehead, Danvers, Danvers, Danvers, Saiigus, Danvers, Middleton, Byficld, Danvers, Lvnnfield, 45 lbs. 30 " 28 " 30 " 30 " 32 " 30 " 25 " 23 " 25 " 155 lbs. 120 " 111 " 112 " 109 " llOi " 97| " 94^ " 9U " 85 " 620 lbs. 720 " 444 " 784 " 654 «' 884 " 790 " 490 " 366 " 340 " Tliis shows an average product of one pound to a cow, daily, through the month of June, and seven eighths of a pound, daily, to a cow, for the four months from May 24 to September 24. When the extraordinary drought of the months of August and September are taken into view, as also the family consumption of milk before adverted to, it is but fair to say, that the statements presented the present season give evidence of a production of one pound of buftcr, dnihj, for each cow, for the four best months of the season. How this Avill compare -with former years, is not distinctly in mind. We remember, when the Society first commenced their offer of premiums, Colonel Jesse Putnam was successful in obtaining the first premi- um, and that his cows averaged a produce of two hundred pounds e;ich, in a period of six months. This was thought a large product, and was accounted for by the extraordinary feed of the cows ; the colonel being a man not accustomed to leave any thing he undertook half finished. We have known some of the present claimants, with whom we have been ac- quainted as such for nearly thirty years, to present statements of a produce of eight pounds of butter a week, to each cow, for a number of successive weeks. These were among the best products, in the natural xpay, that we have known. Wc have often heard of cows that yielded two pounds of butter a day, and more ; but wc have never known a herd of such cows, or any considerable number together, that would do it, without using a feed for them that would "cost more than it came to." If such can be found, we should consider attention to such a stock one of the best modes of u.sing a farm. There is so much time misspent, and labor lost, in the making of poor butter, that wo feel it to be an imperative duty to endeavor to impress the minds of farmers, and of their wives and daughters, with the importance of giving heed to this subject. There are some things in relation to it so well settled, as to be universally known by all those who have any knowledge in the matter. There arc others, on which there remain great differences of opinion and vari- ance of practice ; as, for instance, in the statements before us, we find some of the makers of butter apply cold water freely to the butter, both before it is taken from the churn and afterwards ; "to aid in extract- ing the buttermilk, and to harden the Initter," as they say. Others bring it into form without the use of water, and say that its iise impairs the flavor, and essentially injures the quality of the butter. How shall it be determined which of these is right ? This is a practical question, applicable to every churning ; quite too important, therefore, to be left in doubt. Probably most persons do as their mothers used to do, without inquiry whether there is any better mode of proceeding. In an intelligent article upon this subject, from one of the most successful makers of butter in this county, (see Transactions for 1840, p. 72,) we find this sentence: "More depends on this than any part of the process, in making good butter. If our dairy women would apply double the labor to half the quantity of butter, and thereby thorough- ly remove aU particles of buttermilk, this one half NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 23 would be worth more than the whole, in the concli- tiou it is usually sent to the market."* The churning process is an essential part of the making of butter. At our reqxiest, Mr. Fclton, who has for several years obtained the first premium on butter, has annexed to his statement an account of his mode of chvirning. We looked in vain through the several statements, for information on this point. If it be true, as it is said to be, that some kinds of churns will bring the butter in one half the time, with loss than half the labor, that others require, this is a fact of great importance in determining the best mode of making butter. We have heard of many improved churns, but have seen none, the structure and principles of which bet- ter correspond Avith our ideas of iitility, than Crow- cll's Patent Thermometer Churn. We cannot so well express the idea we wish to convey, as in the letter annexed, from a gentleman, himself expert in all the arts of butter-making, t * I am informed by a lady, who was instructed bj' her mother, who, for a period the memory of man ruimetli not to the contrary, had the reputation of making the very best of butter, that she never applied cold water, or any other water, to the butter, after it was churned. She considered such application injurious, especially if the butter was intended to be put down, as she said ; that is, to be preserved for future use. That it would not keep so well when soaked in water ; was not so fine flavored ; and was more likely to become rancid. Perhaps my re- spect for this lady (who is my mother) influences my opinions ; nevertheless, there are hundreds, in Salem and vicinity, who for years used their butter, when they had vigor to work it, who will bear testimony that no more reliable authority could be cited. In a matter of this kind, I should place more confidence in the practi- cal experience of a sensible woman, than in all the chem- ical analyses of all the Davys and Liebigs combined. t Dear Sir : I have used the " Thermometer Churn " this season, and have been much pleased with it. It possesses a decided advantage in the spring and autumn, when the cream is generally so cold as to he a long time in forming butter in other churns, ashy filling the space between the zinc and the outer side of the churn with hot water, the cream maybe easily brought to the proper temperature for churning. In warm weather, however, I do not think much is to be gained by filling this space witli cold water, as the cream should be sufliciently cooled before it is put into the churn ; and if it is not, it could hardly be done by cold water, in the short time generally occupied in churning. Still, in warm weather, I have found that the Thermometer Churn will bring the butter in much less time than any other I have ever used ; and this, I think, maj'.be owing to the form of the slats of the dasher. These have a wide and flat surface, obvi- ously producing more agitation of the cream than the round slats of Gait's churn and of Kendall's churn. On one occasion, I have churned thirty quarts of cream into butter in eleven minutes, in the Thermometer Cluun, though it ordinarily takes a longer time, an average at least of half an hour ; and a shorter time than this I do not think desirable. It is claimed for some of the lately invented churns, the Atmospheric Churn, for example, that they will pro- duce butter in four or five minutes ; but I think it is very questionable wlicther, in so short a time, all the butter tan be extracted from a given quantity of cream, or the buttor can be of the best quality. What, to me, seems the greatest desideratum in churns is, some improvement in the app\ication of the moving power, by which the amount, or rather the severity, of labor may be lessened in churning. A^ it is now, it is work, and often hard work, too, for an atAe-bodied man. IJut if a churn could be made to work so casdy that a boy coidd operate it without falii;u<- for thrcf; or four successive churuings, it is evident that a groat gain would be made in the expen- diture of labor. " Wcssinys on the man who invented sleep ! " exclaimed the rencnvncd Sancho Panza ; and equal blessings have I often bet-n inclined to invoke for the individual who would make churning easy. Very respect fidly, vours, ALi,BN W. DODGE. Hamilton, Oct. 23, 1849. Mr. Howard, of the Albany Cultivator, authority second to none other in the country, says, " Accord- ing to our experience, the best butter is not produced by a very short nor a very long period in churning. If it is churned too quick, the separation is not com- plete, and the butter, besides being less rich, is defi- cient in quantity ; if the process is continued too long, the butter is likely to be oily. We think our best butter-makers would decide that churning for ordinary quaritities, saj- from ten to twenty pounds, should occupy from thirty to Jifty minutes." This corresponds entirely with the opinion expressed by Mrs. Nathaniel Felton, who said " she did not want the buttor to come in loss than thirty minutes ; it is not so good when it comes in a shorter time." We are informed, by some of those who have been most successful in the management of their dairies, that they look more to the quality of the milk given by the cow, than the quantity ; and in selecting their cows to be kept for this purpose, they choose only those which give milk adapted to the pvirpose. It is unquestionably true, that one quart of milk from some cows, will yield as much, or more, butter than two qiiarts from others. In selecting cows, there- fore, the quality of their miUc should be tested, either by making butter from it, or by the use of a lactometer, which shows the comparative thick- ness of cream that will rise on similar cjuantities of milk. Mr. Ilolbcrt, an experienced farmer of New York state, saj-s, " I find, by churning the milk sep- arate, that one of my best cows will make as much butter as three of my poorest cows, giving the same quantity of milk." We have heard the same thing, substantially, from dairy women themselves. Let those cows which abound in quantity only, bo turned over to those who care onh' for tilling their meas- ures ; and let those that afford substance as well as s/u)w, be kept to supply the churn. [to re continued.] NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. The American Fowl-Breeder ; containing full In- formation on Breeding, Hearing, Diseases, and Management of Domestic Poultry ; also, Instruc- tions concerning Pure Stock, Crossing, CaponLzing, &c.. Sec, witli Engravings; by an Association of Practical Breeders. PubUshed by John P. Jewctt & Co., Boston. This cheap work contains a large amount of useful information, embracing valuable contributions from some of the most skilful fowl-breeders and fanciers in the country. It should be in the hands of every one who keeps fowls, or i.s well situated to attend to thi.'j pleasant business or recreation. The mechanical execution of the work is highly creditable. The engravings are by Brown, and in liis best style. See advertisement on cover. Tue Ameuic.\n AoRicrLTi'RisT. This sterling work continues to sustain its high reputation. It is devoted to the general agidculture of the whole country. Messrs. Allen, editors, who arc well known as able, practical writers. C. M. Saxton, 121 Fulton Street, New York ; J. C. Butters, 19 State Street, Boston. The Fruits of America. This beautiful and splendid work, by C. M. Ilovcy, Esq., author of the Magazine of Horticulture, contains richly colored engravings, accompanied with the wood and foliage 24 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. of all the choicest fruits cultivated in the United States, from paintings from nature, by AV. Sharp, and chromolithcd under his direction. The letter-press contains lull descriptions of fruits, habit of trees, &c., &c. As a work of accuracy and fine taste, this holds an elevated rank, highly creditable to the author, the artist, and to the country. Hovey'.s Magazine of Horticulture. Mr. II. is among the most indefatigable of editors, sparing no pauis, either by expensive experiments, or by thor- ough investigations, to describe and introduce new and valuable productions, and clear the nomenclature of fruits of the great confusion for which it has long been noted, and which is a great difficulty with the fruit grower. Address of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, before the Norfolk Agricultural Society. We had the pleasure of listening to this able address, and we noticed it in our report. The important subject of agricultural education receives a good share of the author's attention in this address, and we shall at another time present our readers with some interest- ing extracts on tliis subject. Address of Hon. Asa T. Newhall, before the Essex Agricultural Society. This sensible discourse is distinguished for its practical character, giving use- ful instructions in the details and results of the author's experience in various branches of farming. Letters to I^adies, in favor of Female Physicians, by Samuel Gregory, A. M., Secretary of the Ameri- can Medical Education Society. Pamphlet, 48 pages. Boston : sold by Bela Marsh, 25 Cornhill. Li this Avork, the author has ably maintained his commend- able position by numerous and substantial reasons. Such is the peculiar innate modesty and delicacy of woman, that, in many cases, she should by all means be attended by physicians of her own sex ; and we are happy to find a strong movement in favor of this natural privilege. This work should be in the hands of every lady in the country. Price 12^ cents. It may be forwarded by mail. The Scholar's Leaf of the Thee of Knowledge, by Walker & Barrett, Portland, Mo. Book form, semi-monthly, at fifty cents a year. This is one of the most interesting and instructive works for youth. Its plan is excellent, and it is ably conducted. A new volume commences with the year. Transactions of the New Haven Horticultural Society. This work contains the excellent address of S. B. Parsons, Esq., of Flushing, N. Y., with the doings of the Society. Report of the Annual Exhibition op the Cin- cinnati Horticultural Society, containing various reports, tec, &c. Address eefore the American Institute. An able discourse on the Progress and Improvements in the Jlcchanic Arts, by Hev. J. Alburtis, Assistant Editor of the Farmer and Mechanic. Pathfinder Railway Guide, with a map of rail- ■ways in New England. A valuable work to every traveller. Boston : Snow & Wilder. A COUNTRY HOME FOR ME. I do not ask that city spires May round my mansion rise, But that my home may be where trees Arc pointing to the skies; Wlicrc fiows the silvery mountain rill With a sweet and mcrrj- sound, And the echo of the hunter's gun Shall through the woods resound. I cannot love the city's pomp. Its fashion and its pride ; I had rather dwell in a humble cot Upon the mountain side, Where sweetly blooms the acacia-tree, The tulip, and the rose, And Avhere, beside the rivulet, The early violet grows. I would not give my quiet home, Its happiness and health, For all the city palaces, Its pleasures and its wealth ; I love to breatlic the mountain air, And roam where all is free. Let others choose a city life, But a country home for me. THE OLIO. Argument and Assertion. — Assertion is like an arrow shot from a long bow ; the force with which it strikes depends on the strength of the arm that draws it. But argument is like an arrow from a cross-bow, which has equal force, whether shot by a boy or a giant. •' I don't know where that boy got his temper ; he did not take it from me." "Why, no, my dear; I don't perceive that you have lost any," was th^e affectionate reply. " Give me a kiss, my charming Sal," A lover said to a blue-eyed gal. " I won't," said she ; " you lazy elf, Screw up your lips, and help yourself." Courtship of the late Dr. R. — " Dear Sir : I am sorry that I cannot accept your kind offer, as I am already engaged ; but I am sure my sister Ann would jump at it. Your obliged, Eliza L." " Dear Miss Eliza L. : I beg your pardon — I wrote your name in mistake ; it was Miss Aim I meant to ask — have written to her per bearer. Hoping soon to be j'our affectionate brother, J. 11." An Irish veterinary student, when under exam- ination, was asked what he would recommend if there was a horse brought to him with a particular disease. " Och ! by the powers," was the answer, " I would recommend the owner to get rid of him immediately." TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ^I a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be neatly bound at IS'^ cents, or elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume. As it is stereotyped, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. C|g° The Postage ^^ On this paper is only 1 cert, or 2(5 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 mdes out of the state ; and 1^ cents, or 89 cents a year, beyond those distances. stebeotyped at the BOSTON stereotype FOUNDRY. ^^fk^5 DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES, Agricalture not only gives riches to a nation, bat the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. VOL. II. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1850. IVO. 2. S. W. COLE, Editor. QUIXCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, PuopiuEroa. AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS. Ox Tuesday evening of Last week, the first agri- cultural meeting wan held at the State House. By some mistake, the meeting was called a week before the appointed time — on the second Tuesday of the month, instead of the second Tuesday of the session. On this account, the meeting was not large, but it was quite respectable as to niimbcrs, and stiU more so as to the zeal and Interest that were manifested in the great cause that claimed attention. The meeting was organized by the choice of the following officers : lion. William B. Calhoun, Pres- ident ; Hon. John Daggett, Hon. George S. Boutwell, and J. M. Earle, Esq., of Worcester, Vice-Presidents ; Mr. Buckminster, of the Ploughman, Mr. Cole, of the N. E. Farmer, Mr. Punchai'd, of the Traveller, and Mr. J. C. Moore, of the Atlas, Secretaries and Reporters; Hon. William B. Calhoun, Samuel Car- penter, Esq., of Attleborough, and Paoli Lathi-op, Esq., of South ILidley, Business Committee. As Mr. Calhoun was absent, Mr. Daggett was called to the chair, and presided. Voted, To commence the meetings at 7 o'clock, and close at 9 o'clock, precisely. Voted, That the speaker who opens the discussion of a subject, be limited to thirty minutes, and the speakers that follow, to fifteen minutes. On suggestion, the president announced that the general subject of agriculture was open for discussion. Several gentlemen made desultory remarks on various branches of this subject, particularly on the great improvements that have been made in this country ; the VHrious improvements of which agriculture is susceptible; the importance of education, connected with progress in this art. Sec. There seemed to be a general feeling in favor of having lectures before the meetings, a part of the time this season. "Agricultural Education" was proposed and ac- cepted for discussion at the next meeting. IMPROVE WET LANDS. In many cases, gravel or sand can be hauled on to wet lands more conveniently in winter, as the ground is frozen, than at any other season ; and, with the farmer, this is usually a less busy season than any other. K the gravel be taken from the bank, the ground's being frozen will not be any serious hin- drance. Gravel is the best article for the improvement of wet lands, as it is porous, and allows of ready drain- age ; next in order is sand, and then loam. Even clay and mud arc advantageous, as they cover up vegetable matter, and cause it to decay and form rich, vegetable mould ; and they serve also to elevate the surface and promote drainage. In some cases, low lands are too moist merely from their locality, or lowness and flatness, that prevents drainage, the soil being light and porous. Such lands, after being well drained, would be benefited by clay, mud, or loam, rather than by more porous substances. In manj^ cases, gravel or sand is not only neces- sary to elevate the surface of wet land, and render it drier by more thorough drainage, but herdsgrass, and other productions, need silex or sand to give firmness to the stalk. Wlien a soil consi.-. E. Kaspbcrry leaf, showing how it is eaten. The caterpillar or worm state. Cocoon of earth. Perfect insect or fly. The same at rest. IMiss Grace Darling, of New Haven, Ct., has IKilitcly furnished to us an excellent drawing, from ■which our engraving is made. We are much obliged for this valuable contribution to the science of ento- mology. On page 164 of our first volume is a very instructive article, from the same source, on this subject. Saw-flics {^TentJiredinidcp) are a numerous race of insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera. They are not stingers, but piercers, and are very destruc- tive to vegetation, as they feed on the leaves of plants. Dr. Harris, the distinguished entomologist, remarks as follows of these insects : — " But the most striking peculiarity of these insects consists in the double saws wherewith the females are provided. These are lodged in a deep chink under the hinder part of the body, like the blade of a penknife in its handle, and are covered by two narrow, scabbard-like pieces. The saws arc two in number, ])laced side by side, with their ends directed backwards, and are so hinged to the under side of the body that they can be withdrawn from the chink, and moved up and down when in use. They vary in their form, and in the shape of their teeth, in dif- ferent kinds of saw-flies ; Init they generally curve upwards and taper towards the end, and arc toothed aloiii:; the lower or convex edges. Each of the saws, like a carpenter's fine saw, has a back to steady it ; the blade, however, is not fastened to the back," but slides backwards and forwards ujion it. Moreover, the saw-blade is not only toothed on the edge, but is covered, on one side, with transverse rows of very fine teeth, giving to it the power of a rasp, as well as that of a saw. " The female saw-flies use these ingeniously con- trived tools to saw little slits in the stems and leaves of plants, wherein they afterwards drop their eggs. 8oiue, it appears, lay their eggs in fruits ; for Mr. "Westwood discovered their young within apples that had fallen from the trees before they had grown to the size of walnuts. The wounds made in plants by some kinds of saw-flies swell, and produce galls or knobs, that serve for habitations and for food to their young. The eggs themselves, of all these flics, are found to grow, and increase to twice their former size after they are laid, probably by absorbing the sap of the plant through their thin shells. Most of the larva; or young of the saw-flies strikingly resemble caterpillars, being usually of a cylindrical form, of a greenish color, and having several pairs of legs. Hence they are someti:nes called false caterpillars." In the communication referred to. Miss Darling remarks, that sijecimens of the saw-fly of the rasp- berry had been sent to Dr. Harris, of wliich he remarked as follows : — " It appears to be an undescribcd insect. It bo- longs to the genus selandria, and resembles in form, and size the saw-fly of the rose, {selandria blenocampa rosfl',)*but is referable to a different group of the genus called hoplocampa by Hartig, on account of the spines with which the larva is armed. The insect may be named selandria {hoplocampa') ruhi, the latter term being given in allusion to the scientific name {rubus) of the ra.spbcrry." There are various ways of destroying saw-flies. A solution of whale oil soap is usually cfTcctual. It should be strong — one part of soap, in measure, to thirty-six parts of water. It should be applied after the sun is nearly down, or on a cloudy, but not rainy day, else, with the sun, it will destroy the foliage. As the saw-fly of the rasi)berry resembles that of the rose, it may be destroyed in the same way ; and on this subject Miss Darling observes, — " I said, in my paper on tho saw-fly of the rasp- berry, that the rose slug, being perfectly smooth, ashes or lime would not stick to them. On a more particular observation, I found that these slugs retired to the under side of the leaf during the night, and did not come out on the up])er side of the leaf to eat until the dew was dried away; and by silting ashes over the bushes very early in the niorning, and re- peating it every few days, I saved my bushes fresh and green, as the slugs did not find the ashes very palatable food, while my neighbor's bushes were very badly oaten." 34 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Pomcstlc ^Department. Maternal Ixfluexce. — The mental fountiiin is unsealed to the eye of a mother, ere it has chosen a ehannol, or breathed a murmur. She may tinge with sweetness or bitterness the whole stream of future life. Other teachers have to contend with unhappy combinations of ideas. She rules the simple and plastic elements. Of her we may say, she " hath entered into the magazine of snow, and seen the treasure of the hail." In the moral field she is a privi- leged laborer. Ere the dews of morning begin to exhale, she is there. She breaks up a soil which the root of error and the thorns of prejudice have not preoccupied. She plants germs whose fruit is for eternity. While she feels that she is required to educate, not merely a virtuous member of society, but a Christian, an angel, a servant of the Most High, how docs so holy a charge quicken piety, by teaching the heart its own insufficiency ! The soul of her infant is uncovered before her. She knows that the images which she enshrines in that unoccupied sanctuary must rise before her at the bar of doom. Trembling at such tremendous respon- sibility, she teaches the little being, whose life is her dearest care, of the God who made him ; and who can measure the extent of a mother's lessons of piety, unless his hand might remove the veil wliich di\'ides terrestrial things ? "When I was a little child," said a good man, "my mother used to bid me kneel beside her, and place her hand \xpon my head while she prayed. Ere I was old enough to know her worth, she died, and I was left too much to my own guidance. Like others, I was inclined to evil passions, but often felt myself checked, and, as it were, drawn back, by a soft hand upon my head. When a young man, I travelled in foreign lands, and was exposed to many temptations. But when I would have yielded, that same hand was upon my head, and I was saved. I seemed to feel its pressure as in days of my happy infancy, and some- times there cams with it a voice, to my heart a voice that must be obeyed — ' O, do not this wickedness, luy son, nor sin against thy God.' " — Michigan Farmer- To KEEP Silk. — Silk articles should not be kept folded in white pa])er, as the cliloride of lime used in bleaching the paper will probably impair- the color of the silk. Brown or blue paper is better ; the yellow- ish smooth India paper is best of all. Silk intended for a dress should not be kept in the house long before it is made up, as lying in the folds will have a tendency to impair its durability by causing it to cut or split, particularly if the silk has been thickened by gum. We knew an instance of a very elegant and costly thread-lace veil being found, on its arrival from France, cut into squares, (and therefore destroyed,) by being folded over a pasteboard card. A white satin dress should be pinned up in blue paper, with coarse brown paper outside, sewed together at the edges. The best way of keeping ribbons is to roll them round the blocks made for the purpose, and then wrap them in soft paper. You can easily obtain a few blocks from the stores where ribbons are sold. The block should be a little wider than the ribbon, that the edges may not bo injured. When j-ou have wound it smoothly around the block, secure the end of the ribbon with a little minikin pin. A large pin will leave holes, and perhaps green ones. In rolling two pieces of ribbon round the same block, iilaco the first end of the second piece under the last end of the first piece, otherwise thei-c will be a ridge where the two came together. Take care, in rolling, not to make the slightest crease. Never wrap silk or ribbon, or indeed any thing that is to be worn without washing, in printed paper, as the printing inlc will rub off and soil it. — MiM Les- lie's House Book. |)outl/s iDepartmeut. One Thing at a Time. — Step among your neigh- bors, reader, and see whether those among them who have got along smoothly, and accumulated property, and gained a good name, have not been men who bent themselves to one single branch of business ; who brought all their powers to bear upon one point, and build on one foundation. It must bo so. Go out in the spring, when the sun is yet far dis- tant, and you can scarcely feel the influence of his beams, scattered as they are over the wide face of creation ; but collect those beams to a focus, and they kindle up a flame in an instant. So the man who squanders his talents and his strength on many things, will fail to make an imi^ression with either ; — but let him draw them to a point, let him strike at a single object, and it will yield before him. Two Ways of IIeauing. — A clergyman of supe- rior abilities preached a sermon on a certain occasion ; and on his way home, his wife said to him, " My dear, that was a most miserable sermon ; I think the poor- est I ever heard from j'ou." Some years after, he drew at random from his pile, and found that lie had hit upon this very sermon. He preached it again. And as he was going home, his wife said to him, "My dear, you gave us a most excellent discoui'se to-day. I think I never heard you preach a better one." " My dear," said her husband, "you are the stupidest hearer I have ever known ;" and then told her what she had said of this very discourse when he preached it before. ^caltl) !I)epartment. Bathing and Washing. — We have occasionally published articles on the importance of bathing and thorough washing. We now select from the Phreno- logical Journal a most excellent article on the mode of performing ablution according to different condi- tions of the system. Bathing, with Directions fok adapting its Tem- pehatuhe to the State of the Patient. — Of the utility of bathing, a very considerable portion of our communities are becoming so thoroughly convinced, that thousands practise it now where one adopted it ten years ago. The change is really astonishing. Mothers, by thousands, bathe or wash their children all over regularly. In the intelligent circles of Bos- ton, for example, probably more bathe themselves and children than omit it. And this health-promot- ing practice is rapidly extending throughout villages and towns, so much that an inquiry touching the best forms of bath, their temperature, times, etc., is becoming quite desirable and imjiortant. Hence this article. Many, hearing cold ablutions so highly recom- mended, try them, at first, perhaps, with benefit, but afterward with serious injuiy, which they attribute to the bath, whereas it belongs to the temperature. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. ^ For many years after I began to bathe daily, I received unminglcd benefit therefrom, and a great amount of it. By and by, my system became so reduced by excessive mental application, that reaction did not always take place, and it injured me. I therefore took it less frequently, and only when I ■was sure I possessed sufficient A-itality to secure that reaction. Under this regimen my skin became weaker and weaker, (;olds and slight fevers began to make their apjiciiruncc, and I became apprehensive for the future, till Ur. North, of Saratoga, recommended not only the warm bath, but a veri/ warm one ; com- mencing at about ninety-eight degrees Fahrenheit, and rising, at successive baths, to one hundred and ten ; remaining in from fifteen to thirty miniitcs, as I could bear it. " Never mind," said he, " if it pros- trates you for the time being. You require that your blood should be brought to the surface, and this will do it, and thus fortify you against the winter's cold." He added this general rule, which struck me both as so reasonable and important, that I write this article mainly to jiromulgate it, namely — " When the sys- tem is over-excited, feverish, and requires to be reduced, take the cold bath ; but when it is so debil- itated as to require tonics, employ the rearm bath." These warm baths did for mc the very thing I re- quired — namely, relieved my internal organs and head by directing the blood to the skin. A few hot baths so restored the action of the skin that it was benefited by the ce, and the advan- tages from agricultural schools and model farms. Massachusetts has been first in many useful enter- prises, and she ought to take the lead in this subject. Many wealthy men will give liberally to an agricul- tural institution, when begun aright. Mr. Merriam, of Tewksbury, spoke of many great things which Massachusetts had done, and the impor- tance of her taking the lead in agricultural education. Mr. Gorham Brooks, of Medford, spoke of the course which the state had pursued in encouraging agriculture, by offering bounties on crows, foxes, and on raising wheat, all of which had done no good. Far better would it have been, to spend the money for the establishment of agricviltural schools. But in this, we should commence on a small scale ; and when the people see that a little money is well ex- pended, they will be liberal in supplying what is wanted. His sensible remarks were listened to with great attention. A very large number of gentlemen attended this meeting — the hall was nearly full. January 22d, the same subject was discussed. Mr. Colo, of the N. E. Farmer, said that for years there had been much talk in our meetings about agricultural education, and now it was high time to take some action on the subject. Some had doubts as to the success of the plan ; but there was no more difficulty in teaching the sciences that are connected with ajjiiculture, than in teaching other sciences, and branches of literature that fit men for other profes- sions. And with a model farm, connected with an agricultural institution, under a good practical fanner, students could be instructed in the practice of agri- culture also, and the application of the sciences to this art. But, although he was decidedly in favor of an agricultural school, he would have suitable books prepared, and have the clcmentar)- principles of the sciences appertaining to agriculture taught in our common schools, that the great ma.ss of the people might be instructed. As academies and colleges would do but little for general instruction, or only prepai-e a few to govern the whole, so agricultural schools would effect but little for general instruction. There was no more propriety in sending boys to agri- 42 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. cultural schools to learn the elements of the sciences, than in sending them to college to learn ABC. Agricultural seminaries should be commenced on a moderate scale — then an imperfection in the plan could be corrected without much loss ; but if begun on an expensive scale, any defects in the plan might occasion great loss, and finally defeat the whole design for a long time. Mr. Jenks, of Boston, was in favor of agricultural education in common schools, but this would not supersede agiicultural schools. He said that there should be agricultural schools for training teachers for our common schools, that they might give proper instruction to their pupils. In Ireland there are thirteen schools for this purpose. Mr. Jenks pre- sented statistics showing the claims of the farming interest upon the state — as large sums had been expended in various institutions for the purpose of preparing men for other pursuits, but nothing had been done to educate farmers, and comparatively but a small amount for the encouragement of agiiculture. Hon. M. P. Wilder rejoiced to see the subject taken up in earnest. He considered agriculture as suscepti- ble of improvements as manxifacturcs or the mechanic arts. He thought it was time to begin, and he would cheerfully cooperate with those who feel an interest in the subject. He thought the science of agricul- ture ought to be taught in our common schools ; yet we should have an agricultural institution, and some feasible plan should be prepared and presented to the legislature. Mr. Asa G. Sheldon, of "Wilmington, alluded to the improvements that had been made in agriculture for forty years past, and the improved education of females ; but he thought that education which fitted them for good housewives had been neglected. And if an agricultural school was established, he hoped that while the boys were learning how to manage the farm, girls would be taught to manage household affairs. He said that he never knew a farmer to suc- ceed well, unless he had a wife who could manage well. He considered industry in females necessary for their health. The great men of our country had industrious mothers. The suats in this hall arc filled with men whose mothers were accustomed to labor ; but if so great a change takes place m twenty-five years to come as has been made the twenf.y-fiyc years past, as to female education and fashions, not only these seats, but those of Congress, and perhaps even that of the office of President, wiU be filled in tho next century by those born of Irish women. Not one Yankee girl in ten is now educated so as to bo able to manage a farmer's house. The farmer likes music, but if he comes from his field for his dinner, and finds it is not ready, and the fire has gone out under the pot, and the children crying, the Bound of the organ will be a torment to him. Mr. Mcrriam suggested that an agricultural school should be established on a farm of three or four hun- dred acres, which should be divided into different departments for farming and gardening, and that dif- ferent breeds of animals should be procured. Hon. J. C. Gray thought that those brought up on farms had much less need of instruction than others who had paid no attention to the sxibjcct. He thought it was best to begin on a moderate scale, and when the fruits of an agricultural school were seen, there would be no trouble in getting aid. He thought that such an institution might be connected with some of our present literary seminaries. Mr. Elmer Brigham, of Westborough, thought, from what had been said, that an agricultural institu- tion was designed for the sons of those who live in cities, but he thought that it shoiild be conducted on economical principles, so that the sons of the labor- ing classes could have an opportunity to get agricul- tural instruction at a small expense. Mr. Cole thought the state shoixld provide elemen- tary books on the sciences connected with agriculture for our common schools, and prevent the changes now so common in school books. These elementary studies would give great encouragement to higher agricultural institutions. He thought an agricultural college should be entirely distinct from all other in- stitutions, and the studies should be only those that conduce to agricultural improvement, and of a useful character. Rev. Mr. Barry, of Hanover, alluded to the suc- cess of agricultural schools in other countries, and he argued that they would be still more useful in this country, where farmers were owners of the soil. Mr. Wilder alluded to the lectures which Professor Johnston is now delivering before the N. Y. State Ag. Society, at Albany, and he hoped that he might be engaged to deliver a course of lectures before these meetings. Same subject continued. LARGE CROP OF CORN. Mr. R. W. Turner, Newton Centre, gives the fol- lowing account of a crop of corn which he raised the past season. There was one acre and one hundred and forty-four rods of land. The produce was four hundred and twenty-four heaping bushels of ears, lie thought that two bushels of ears would make one bushel of shelled corn. He says that this land was once a mud hole. He drained it, sowed it to grass, mowed it two years. He manured one half with compost, spread on ; the other half with green manure in the hill. The corn was as stout where it was manured in the hill. The rows wore three and a half feet apart, and the hills two feet apart. CONVENTION OF FOWL BREEDERS. The Committee who s>iperintendcd the late fowl exhibition, have given notice that a public meeting will be held, at the RepresentatWes' Hall, on Tues- day evening, February 12th, at 7 o'clock, for the pur- poses of hearing the report of the Committee, and forming a permanent association. It ia hoped that all who take an interest in the promotion of so use- ful an object wUl be present, and aid in the proceed- ings. NEW ENGLAND FARMER SHORT HORN DURHAM HEIFER. This cngra^-ing represents the prize heifer exhibited at the Christmas Club Show, at Smithficld Market, London, in December, 1843. This annual show is much the largest and best of fat cattle in the United Ivingdom. To this heifer were awarded all the first prizes of that show : — £20, as the best cow of her class ; the gold medal, as the best fat beast at the show ; and a silver medal, to her breeder, &c.. Sir C. R. Tempest. This heifer was four years and nine months old. Iler dead weight was one thousand seven hundi-cd and seventj' pounds. She produced two hundred and twenty-eight pounds of loose fat, which is in- cluded in her dead weight. Our engraving has been made by Brown, from a draM-ing taken from a cast which may be seen in our office — a fac simile of the original. ^ THE WORLD'S FAIR. Among the great schemes that have resulted from steam navigation and travelling, is that grand j^lan for a monster exhibition, or the World's Fair, to be held in London in ISol. A. few years ago, such a proposi- tion would have been ridiculed as the height of folly, and an attempt woiild have resulted in a splendid fail- ure. But now such are the advantages for rapj«Z trav- elling by steam, that a person in the interior of tJiis great country can go to its shores, and then cro*^ the vast ocean of several thousands of miles i-i extent, and appear at the place of that great e-'chibition in the short space of two or three weck» ; and on this rapidity of travelling is founded t?ie fair prospect of 80 magnificent a scheme as the world's exhibition. All nations are invited to bring to this show the products of their industry, taste, and ingenuity, from the raw material and the rudest, coarsest fabric, to the finest and most delicate specimen of fine taste and skill ; from the simplest and smallest productions of art, to the most gigantic and complicated machinery. Prince Albert has consented to take the presidency of this great enterprise. It is proposed to erect a fabric for the purpose, one mile in extent. The sura necessary to be raised is estimated at half a million of dollars. Prizes from five hundred pounds do\vn to twenty pounds will be awarded. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the N. Y. S. A. Society, tiie Secretary read the following extract from a letter from James Cowdcn, Esq., Amer- ican Consul at Glasgow : — " Since my letter to you of the 19th Oct., Prince Albert has come out with a proposition (imdcr the patronage of the Queen) for a great fair or exhibition of the ' Industry of all Na- tions^ to be held in London in the summer of 1851, to which T beg to draw your attention. It will be found in the Glasgow Chronicle, which I forward yoii. I am quite sure there is no nation on the face of the globe that (jan outdo the Americans in any thing they undertake. Sufficient time is allowed ere the proposed exhibition is to come oif, to enable our ingenious mechanics to bring forth something worthy of our noble and beloved country, and secure to themselves a handsome reward, if successful com- petitors ; as the prizes arc to be one money prize, £2000 sterling, equal to near $10,000 ; and four £1000 prizes sterling, equal to lf;5000 each. If this be mado generally known, (and no institution can so effectu- ally do it as that with which you arc connected,) I cannot doubt the United States will exhibit some of its exquisite Yankee notions, Avhich will prove useful and ornamental at the ' Great Fair of all Nations.' " 44 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Farmer, BONE DISORDER IN COWS. Mr. Editor : In my former communication upon this subject, (Vol. I. p. o!i9,) I attempted to show that there was such a disease, caused by the want of proper food. It will be my object, at this time, to show why it may exist in some sections of the country, and not in others. Those farmers, in this town, whose cows have been affected by it, have not been in the habit of raisinir stock, but they have sold their calves to the butclior. The farmer wlio keeps ten cows, usually sells annually eight calves. These, at five Aveeks old, will wei<;h one hundred and twenty-five pounds each. Where this course has been pursued for fifty years, there have been taken from the soil twenty-five tons of animal matter, and but small return made to it by the manure voided by calves at this a>i;e. Now it will be obvious to every one that this will sooner exhaust the animal matter from the soil, than where they raise stock ; for the ox that is kept until he weighs as much as the eight calves, will have voided a larger amount of manure. It is the practice of most farmers here to purchase heifers that arc driven from New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, in the autumn, before they are three years old, which are expected to calve in the spring. This is a time when they will reipiire the largest amount of animal matter to promote their own growth, and furnish nutriment for their offspring. It is these young cows that are most likely to be affected by this disease. On Mr. Preston's farm, alluded to in my last communication, for fifteen years before they began to vise bone-meal, they were not able to keep any of these until they were six years old. They became so stiff and feeble that they ■were obliged to dry them. Many of them were driven to New Hampshire to a pasture that has always been used for fattening cattle. There they fatted as well as cows that had never been diseased. I will give my reason why I think that this disease has not shown itself any more in Hamilton ; — yet I think I have seen some signs of it there. When I see the boards about the eow-yard look as if the cows had been trying to eat them" up, it is a sure sign of one form of this disease. The farmers in that town are in the habit of using a considerable quantity of hay from the salt marshes of Ipswich and Essex. I have never seen any analysis of this grass ; but, from the large quantity of lime in the shells of clams and muscles, found about these raarshc?,, the inference is that it contains a large amount of phosphate of lime. The pastures there jnay be as much e.-ihausted of animal matter as here ; yet if a cow has had a full supply of it during the winter, she will be able to "o through the summer without showing the want of it. It is the opinion of some there, that the manure made from salt hay is better than that made when the cattle arc fed upon English hay. The iuforencc from this is, that it furnishes something to the soil, •which the other does not. It is the practice of many there to keep a portion of their best salt hay until the time the cows go to pasture. They will often eat it then, when they will not eat the best of English hay. If I am correct in supposing that it contains more lime, it shows that they were giving it to their cows at the very time they most needed it to prevent this disease. It may not be, that those farms which have been cultivated the longest are most exhausted of animal matter. It depends more upon the manner of culti- vation than upon the time. Perhaps we may ap]jly the same principle to feed- ing milch cows, that we act upon m feeding hens. When we see them trying to eat the lime from the ■walls of their coop, we think they need it to form the shell of their eggs, and we give it to them in oyster-shells, old mortar, and bones. So when we see a cow trying to eat old bones, we should think that she needs something of this sort to furnish milk. Ilcns that have been well supplied -^vith lime have- enough in their system to enable them to form the shells of eggs for several days after they are deprived of it. When the ground is covered with snow they sometimes lay eggs without shells. This is the same as saying to us, — " If you will only furnish us with the materials, we will give you the eggs." Thus it is with a good cow that has not a supply of lime. She gives us so much of it in milk, that she has not enough to supply her own wants. The same principle may apply here, as we act upon in regard to an orchard. We are often told that it is not well to plant a young orchard where an old one has just been removed. This is not because the soil has become so poor ; but it has become deprived of the particular ingredients necessary for a young tree. If we sup]ily this, the tree will do as well as the for- mer one did. In every instiince where I have seen this disease, they have pursued that course which would be most likely to exhaust the animal matter necessary for a milch cow. In Doctor Dana's Muck Manual, it is stated that the liquid evacuation of the cow contains a consider- able quantity of pliosphate of lime. ^Vllen no atten- tion is paid to preserving this, and the solid excre- ments are exposed to the air, the most volatile and valuable parts are lost. From this we may infer that where there is a barn-cellar for preserving the manure, the cows will not be so likely to have this disease, and exi)crience will warrant tire conclusion. It is there stated also that peat-ashes abound in phosphate of lime. If our peat-meadows are re- claimed and cultivated, the hay which they produce then win probably contain more phosphate than that which grows upon them in their natural state. Cows that are fed upon hay that grew upon re- claimed meadows will not be affected by this disor- der. By carting muck to our barn-cellars, to be wet by the evacuations of the cows, wo not only increase our manure, but it will abound in that particular ingredient which the soil needs to produce proper food for milch cows. I think I can give an instance showing the ben- eficial results of muck in this respect. The farm of Mr. Joseph Putnam is near to Mr. Preston's. This has been for the last fifty years as much of a dairy- farm as any in this neighborhood ; yet his cows havo not been affected by this disorder. He has never brought much manure on to his farm, but he has annually carted a large quantity of muck into his hog-pen and cow-yard; so that, twenty-five years ago, his meadow mud-manure had become proverbial in this neighborhood. Now cows, that are fed upon grass that grows upon land which has been manured with this compost, will not be so apt to have this disorder, as where nothing but the solid excrements oi" the cow had been applied to the soil. Wlien I began, I intended to say something about thirt disorder where I have seen it in other places ; but 1 have already trespassed too much upon your patience. WILLIAM 11. PUTNAM. >J^ORTii Danvers, Dec. 28. R?;ma2ks. — The term animal matter is used by our corrospondtnt in reference to the phosphate of lime, or bone- earth, which enters into the composition of the animal's bonog. Before their formation, the materials may be called mineral maiter ; but after forming a part of the crcivture, tliey are animal mat- tor, as much so as the flcih, horns, or hoofs. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 45 Tbcse substances, in their elementary state, being minerals, they are not liable to evaporation, but they remain with the pciTnanent jjarts of the liquid manure. On boiling this manure, or exposing it to heat, and consequent fermentation, the aqueous parts would escape in steam or vapor, and the volatile matters in gases, leaving the salts and other solid parts, — Ed. ■* Fo7- the Ncio England Fai-mer. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. NO. IV. [concluded.] Mr. Editor: — The soil of South America is rich and productive, but the bowels of the earth are stored with the precious metals; henc-o agriculture is generally neglected- The pcojDle are many years behind the times, both as it regards the implements of husbandry, and the mode of subduing the soU. But the United States were destined to happier scenes of action. Our fathers pushed the buisncss of agriculture with nerve, resolution, and unexampled success. The forest feU before them, and the country soon began to smile, and promised what a more dis- tant day has brought forth. While every other art and science is cultivated, that of agriculture has by no means been neglected. The different modes of subduing and cultivating the sod have, within a few years, engaged the attention of men of wealth and leisure. Many valuable publications have been dif- fused over our country, from which much valuable and useful information has been drawn. But in the agriculture of tliis country many improvements are still to be made. Many of our farmers blindly follow in the footsteps of their fathers, without deriving any benefit from reading, reflection, or experiment ; and we frequently hear them complain that their agricul- tural labors are severe, and their crops smnll. This is in some degree true ; but its truth arises principally from the fact that they cultivate too much land to render agriculture profitable. I speak in relation to the means which the)^ employ for fertil- izing their land. Much may be done without the aid of manure ; but the use of this article is the most ready and efficient mode of rendering the cultivation of the earth profitable. Instead, however, of increas- ing this article by compost, many farmers misapply that which is incidental to their farms. They are too apt to spread a small qiiantity of manure upon a large piece of poor lancL The manure, in this case, is almost entirely lost, inasmuch as it remains in an inactive state. There is not a sufficient quantity to give an impetus to the cold and barren earth with which it is uiixed. This is one great cause of poor crops ; and the great surface over which the labor of the husbandman is spread, is the principal ground of excessive labor of which he complains. The farm- er should only plough as much land as he can highly manure ; then his labors would be compara- tively light, his crops large, and his land constantly improving. By this mode of proceeding, the crops would not exhaust the land ; and the quantity of manure upon it beyond what is necessary to the j)roduction of the crops, would, by its fermentation, fertili/.c, and render of the nature of compost the whole cultivated surface. Such land may, with a trifiing expense, be kci)t very rich. Whilst this pro- cess is ojjerating upon a part of the poor lands of a farm, the residue of them may lie fallow, or be fertil- ized by ploughing in such green crops as may be produced upon a lean soil. The means of enriching land arc numerous, which are within the reach of every farmer. A little reflection upon the most com- TlioH principles of philosophy will point them out. Different soils, and different manures, and different crops, must aU be connected according to their respective and relative natures. Farmers should consult the nature and character of their farms, and regulate their tillage accordingly ; and they should also remember that husbandry, of all arts, is the most improvable. ROCKINGHAM. For the yew Enyland Fanner. "CONVERSATIONAL MEETINGS." Mr. Editor: — On page 314, Vol. I., of the N. E. Farmer, is an article, which doubtless interested many of your readers. That farmers should meet together, and discourse topics which belong to their vocation, is a subject of great magnitude and importance ; and we have often urged the formation of a " Farmers' Club " in this place, but our labors have ever proved unsuccessful ; and we now take this waj' of again introducing " the plan of creating public sentiment by moans of popular assemblies." I believe there is such a union of feeling or sjiirit existing here relative to this object, that a speedy organization might be made. Who will throw the "first brick," or coop- erate in bringing about such an enterprise ? Where is there a farmer in New England that does not reverence with hallowed emotions the land of his birth, as well as his highly honored vocation ? That venerable band of " faithful few " who landed upon "Plymouth Bock," held this, their chief employment — subduing a wilderness — in high estimation ; and they and their descendants have transmitted from generation to generation — yea, down even to the latest posterity — this, a noble gift or token for remembrance, — "a fruitful field." Say Morse and Parish, in their early history of New England, in speaking of the " character of first settlers," "They were destinctl to plant and subdue a wilderness, filled with savage enemies ; to lay the foundation of a great empire, under the jealous eye of their parent country." Thus we see the manifest zeal or interest taken iir the cultivation of the soil ; and in order to give efficacy to their enterprise, or to cooperate in helping each other, so that all might stand on " equal footing," tradition says they fovmd it necessary to congregate, or assemble together, that they might consult their best interest. We have it from oral account, that these meetings were generally held under the broad canopy of heaven beneath the shady boughs of some large and stately tree. Would that such was the practice now, in all fi\rm- ing communities ! What benefit, what vast amount of knowledge, might be derived from such means ! Again we ask. Who will cooperate with us in bring- ing about this desirable enterprise ? WoBUHN, Jan., 1850. D. W. J. For the New Enc/land Farmer. HOUSE LAMBS. Mr. Cole: — Being a reader of the New England Farmer, I have often acquired now and useful infor- mation on various subjects of agriculture and rural economy. You have given us articles on breeding, rearing, and fattening neat cattle, sheep, and swine. But there is one subject which I have not seen noticed in your paper, or in your bountifully sup- plied markets. I mean house lambs, for A\hich, if you advert to the prices of meat in tlie provision marlcct of London, and other cities of Great Britain, you will find, at this season of the year and the two following months, the prices generally qiiotcd. I will admit that it is an" article of luxury and of rather limited use ; yet that docs not preclude you from giving it a passing notice. As I liavc been par- ticularly acquainted with this branch of rural econ- 46 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. omy, and have observed the results of others in the same branch, I Avill make a few remarks on the sub- ject, with the results of my experience, Avhich was in England. Some few years since, in my fanning operations, I purchased twenty ewes of tlic Dorset or Somerset breed, about the first of October, which cost about $12 per head. I fed them on rowcn ; and about one month after, the lambs began to come. They were allowed to run with the dams about two days, and then I provided a pen for them in an outhouse. The pen for the lambs, from this number of ewes, was ten feet by six or eight, raised about one foot above the ground. The floor was made of strips, one and one half inches wide, with spaces between just wide enough to allow the urine to escape, and not allow the lambs' feet to pass through. A little straw was spread over the floor, and changed daily. As the hunbs were dropped, they were confined to the pen, as soon as they were strong enough. The dams were allowed to come and nurse them at seven o'clock in the morning, at noon, and again at even- ing ; and so on, in rotation, as fast as the lambs came. In a few days the ewes will get habituated to this course, and usuallj' feed tUl sucking time, and then come when called. A small lump of chalk should be put into the pen, and a little wheat or rye flour, in troughs, for them to lick, which they will do with avidity. The chalk serves to correct acidity in the stomach, and it is very good to give to young calves. The benefit arising from it is very great. I have sold lambs, at seven or eight weeks old, whose weight per quarter was from seven to eight pounds, — an average of from twenty-eight to thii'ty pounds, — at one shilling and sixpence sterling per pound, which was ten to twelve dollars for each lamb. If I recollect, I sold the produce of nineteen of these ewes before the fii-st of April. I think it was twenty-nine lambs, as more than half of the sheep had twins. And the net amount received was nearly equal to the fifty pounds sterling paid for the sheep. As the season advances, though the lambs may be made heavier, the price recedes. Some allow the ewes to associate with the buck again in two or three weeks from yeaning, a propensity for which this breed is proverbial, — and thus obtain a second produce the same year. But this practice is not an economical one, as it reduces the value of the dams ; for they will not recover, so as to fatten during the coming season. The practice usually pursued is to fit the ewes, which the lambs leave so early, for the market soon after shearing. The only breed of sheep adapted to this mode is the Dorset or Somer- set. For the New England Farmer. DITCHING. Mil. Editor : — One year has passed away since I made my last communication on ditching. Vol. I., p. 2. Since that time, I have had an opportunity of witnessing the effects of my effort to improve fresh meadow through draining. Before I commenced, many parts of the meadow were so wet and swim- ming that all of the hay was removed by hand labor, with poles ; and the quality of fodder was bad, by being constantly wet. Since I made the drains or ditches, the swimming or floating has ceased, and the meadow has become fine and dry ; so that in most cases, I was able to go on witli a cart with wide-rimmed wheels, drawn by oxen, and to carry from fifteen hundred to a ton of hay at a time ; which was never done before. The quality of fod- der is much better, equal to interval fodder. The quantity is not so great, but a new kind of grass is coming m, which I think, in a short time, will make the fodder worth twice as much as it was before draining. So far, the experiment has more than answered my expectation. Before I drained the meadows, it was impossible to travel on them, without going into the wet ancle deep ; but since draining, I can walk any where with shoes on, without the least danger of v.-ctting my feet; and in summer and autumn, they are per- fectly drj'. Cranberries, also, arc better than they were before, and less liable to be injured by frost. I have no doubt that most of my meadows, in a short time, will be suitable to cultivate, as the mud proves to be only from two to four feet deep, and of the best kind of peat. If so, I shall have fi-om thirty to forty acres of the best interval land for grass and vegetables, which will be worth six times as much as the high land that has been cultivated for the last century, and needs a larger quantity of manure to obtain decent crops. You shall hear from me in 1851, if we are in this mundane sphere then. Yours respectfullv, S. A. SHURTLEFF. Spring Grove, Jan., 1850. For the New England Farmer. PROFIT OF HENS. !Mr. Editor: — The interesting communication of Mr. C. B. Ayer of Preston, Conn., contains a very important query, and one which I would wish to see satisfactorily solved ; but the premises are defective, in so far as no statement is given concerning what breed of fowds ]Mr. Ayer possesses. It is well known that some varieties have a quality of protracted lay- ing much beyond others, which compels a general, instead of a special answer to his query; besides, some kinds arrive much earlier at maturity than others. I refer to the inquiry — "How should I manage with my hens, in order to have them continue to lay through the cold season ? " The most practicable mode, that occurs to me, would bo to coop up the earliest pullets of the sea- son, after thej^ are two months old, and keep them in durance until the middle of September, when they may be allowed full liberty. A week afterwards, they should be confined in a spacious enclosure, in companj' with the males from the former year's broods, and thus kept for a couple of weeks. They wiU shortly after begin to lay, and continue so to do — not every day, however — until the spring of next season. The most fitting place to keep laying hens over winter is in the stable, or cattle-barn. The heat engendered by the cattle is sufficient to meet their wants. Care should be taken that no access to the hay- rack be provided, as poultry do much damage to that article. When the weather is fine, and no snow on the ground, the stock may be allowed to go without doors an hour or two before or after meridian. If so kept, there is no danger of mixing the laying stock with those fowls in the yard which may be bar- ren ; as the former, when about to be cooped up, will take to the barn in which they lay, and the others to roost ill their usual places. Grain, boiled and raw, for choice, and boiled pota- toes, will furnish sufficient food. A box of sand, mixed with powdered oyster-shells, or lime, should be provided, and fresh water, in a shallow dish, which should be wattled across the top to prevent the hens wading or washing in it. The sand should be sufficiently plentiful to allow the hens to dust themselves in it. A box about eighteen inches deep, and two feet wide, filled about a foot high with sand, will serve the purpose. An old tea-chest is a good substitute. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 47 The number of eggs to be expected in ■winter, compared with warm weather, will not amount to more than three fifths ; but the difference between fourteen and twenty -two cents per dozen is to be added to the value of the winter produce, wliich will about equalize the receipts with those of summer. The conditions under which the laying of hens can be protracted to the fullest natural extent, are sys- tematic feeding, (tiiking care to prevent repletion,) M-armth in the end of the fall and opening winter, and cleanliuess in food, water, and roosting places. I am, sir, &c., A FIRESIDE FARMER. Boston, Jan. 7, 1850. MAN AND THE SOIL. BY M. GUIZOT, LATE PRIME MIMISTER OP FRAXCE. Movable property, or capital, may procure a man all the advantages of wealth; but property in land gives him much more than this. It gives him a place in the domain of the world ; it unites his life with the life that animates all creation. Money is an instrument by which man can procure the satis- faction of his wants and his desires. Landed property is the establishment of man as sovereign in the midst of nature. It satisfies not only his wants and his desires, but tastes deeply implanted in his nature. For his fanuly it creates that domestic country, called home, -v^ith all the living sympathies, and all the future hopes and projects, which people it. And whilst property in land is more consonant than any other to the nature of man, it also affords a field of activity the most favorable to his moral development — the most suited to inspire a just sentiment of his nature and his powers. In almost aU the other trades or professions, whether commercial or scien- tific, success appears to depend solely upon himself, — on his talents, address, prudence, and vigilance. In agricultural Ufe, man is constantly in the presence of God and of his power. Activity, talent, prudence, and vigilance, are as necessary here as elsewhere to the success of his labors ; but they are no less insuf- ficient than they are necessary. It is God who rules the seasons and the temperature, the sun and the rain, and all those phenomena of nature which deter- mine the success or the failure of the labors of man on the soil which he cultivates. There is no pride which can resist this dependence, no address Avhich can escape it. Nor is it only a sentiment of humility as to his power over his own destiny which is thus inculcated upon man ; he learns also tranquillity and patience. He cannot flatter himself that the most ingenious invention, or the most restless activity, will insure his success : when he has done all that depends upon him for the cultivation and the fertil- ization of the soU, he must wait with resignation. The more profoundly we examine the situation in which man is placed by the possession and cultiva- tion of the soil, the more do we discover how rich it is in salutary lessons to his reason, and benign influ- ences on his character. Men do not analyze these facts, but they have an instinctive sentiment of them which powerfully contributes to that peculiar respect in which they hold property in land, and to the pre- ponderance which that kind of property enjoys over every other. This preponderance is a natural, legiti- mate, and salutary fact, which, especially in a great country, society at large has a strong interest in recognizing and respecting. elements of vegetable and animated nature in the soil. For instance : in most soUs we find iron abundant ; then, if we look into the animal economy, we find iron in the muscles of both man and the lower orders of brute creation. And the wonder- working chemist detects nature in using the same ingredient in coloring all the fruits and flowers. All things having once been created, the making prin- ciple stopped, and a changing one immediately took its place, and has never ceased to act since muta- bility was mdelibly stamped upon creation. In the formation of plants and animals, Nature, gradually collecting her material, slowly forms her most per- fect specimens ; but, like a human mechanic, inas- much as she lacks one or more of the materials, in the same degree is the fabric imperfect. Thus we see that if the soil in the field lacks one or more ingredients in the formation of a vegetable, the plant assumes a dwarfish, sickly appearance, like an ani- mal robbed of its food. Now, the farmer, to be a good husbandman, must plant the germ, and place around it all the materials of which it should be composed; then Nature, the handy workman, soon rears the perfect plant. The question now arises, what those ingredients and materials are. The chemist has given us all the knowledge he has on the subject; the air and the water, the soU and the subsoil, have each a part in their possession, and should each be made to con- tribute a share. Nature, in the production of a perfect plant, does not restrict herself to the animal, vegetable, or mineral world. The opinion so gener- ally prevalent that the soil, two or three feet below the surface, must consequently be entirely barren and useless, may be, and doubtless is, erroneous in many instances, especially in that called hard pan. If, in producing the perfect plant, nineteen may pos- sibly be found in the surface soU, while the twentieth may be found in the subsoil. Instances have oc- curred where -G good dresiiing from soil ten feet deep, entirely destitute, to all appeiirance, of vegetable matter, have had equally as good, or the same ben- eficial effect, as a good dressmg of gypsum. This is truly an age of improvement. Many a fanner has found, while others have yet to find, a mine of wealth below the reach of his plough, of which he Avas as unconscious as the mountain of its ore. It is very reasonable to suppose that the newly-created world was, at first, entirely a mineral mass of matter, from which vegetables soon grew abundantly enough to support all aiumated nature. Geologists generally suppose the action of the elements, for an indefinite length of time, was necessary to fit it for the abode of plants and animals ; but I believe the action of the frost, with the winter's rain and snow, to be a pow- erful fertilizer in this climate ; hence fall ploughing and deep plougliing should go together. — Selected, ON THE NATURE OF SOILS. An all-wise Creator, for some all-wise purposes, decreed that plants and animals should derive their subsistence from the soil; hcuce wc find all the GEOMETRY APPLIED TO FARMING. It may appear, at first sight, as if the science of geometry could have but little to do with agriculture; and yet there are few of the ordinary occupations of life in which it is of such general utility. The farm- er does not plant a row of corn, or construct a drain, or a road, or even plough his ground, without apply- ing, whether he be conscious of it or not, important mathematical principles. He cannot build a fence, or plan a dwelling, or a barn, without describing mathematical figures ; and in doing this he can, by the application of a few of the most obvious princi- ples of geometry, be enabled to save as well time and labor as money. I propose, in this short article, to demonstrate the above fact in such a manner as shall render it jjlain to alL And first, let \i3 take fencing- 48 NEVV ENGLAND FARMER. The main object to be sought in building fences is, of course, to enclose the greatest possible quantity of ground in the least possible fence. It may seem a aelf-cvident proposition, that a certain number of rods of fence will enclose a certain number of acres of ground, no matter in what particular form said enclosure may be made ; but there cannot be a greater mistake, as I ^vill presently show. Most of the fields in this country are enclosed in the form of cither squares or parallelograms. A parallelogram (I will explain,, as every one may not understand the term) is a four-sided, right-angled figure, having two long and two short sides ; or, in other words, it is what is known in many parts of our country as an "oblong square." Now, suppose it be required to enclose a field -with four hundred rods of fence, in what manner shall it be laid out so the said four hundred rods of fence shall enclose the most ground ? If it be laid out in the form of an exact square, each side will be one hundred rods in length, and the field -svill contain exactly ten thousancl square perches, or sixty-two and a half acres. If it be laid out in the form of a parallelogram, having two long sides, each one hundred and Ixfty rods, and two short sides, each fiftj^ rods, it will still require four hundred rods of fence ; but it will contain only seven thousand five hundred perches of land, or about forty-six and thi-ee quarter acres ; showing the difference in favor of the square to be twenty-five per cent. A lai-ge majority of fields in this country are right-angled parallelograms, when squares would have been equally convenient, and a large portion of the labor and materials employed in constructing and keeping up the fences might have been saved. If fences were constructed without reference to other boundaries, as in enclosing a quantity of land on a prairie, the advantages of circles over every other form are still more ob^'ious. For, suppose four hun- dred rods of fence be built in the form of a circle, it will enclose nearly twelve thousand seven hundred and fifty perches of ground, being two thousand sev- en hundred and fifty more than the square, and five thousand two hundred and fifty more than the par- allelogram. Hexagonal or six-sided figures, approaching nearer to the form of circles than do squares, off"er similar advantages. This is the form in which the bees build their cells, and science shows that in no other form can an assemblage of enclosures be made with as little waste of material as in this, thus showing a beautiful coincidence between mathematical knowl- edge and animal instinct. On most farms circular or hexagonal fields would be impracticable, owing to the shape of the farm ; but there are certain small enclosures where these forms are practicable. I have taken the above large enclosures as examples, because in them the advantage of one shape over another is more obvious. Li small enclosures the proportion is equally great, though of course not equally glaring. In enclosing gardens, barn-yards, shccp-folds, &c., the fences of which are usually built without refer- ence to other boundaries, the circle offers advan- tages over all other forms. For if a certain piece ofj ground, for a garden or barn -yard, be enclosed with two hundred and forty feet of fence, it will contain, if laid out in a parallelogram, eighty feet on each long side, and forty feet on each short ditto ; three thousand two hundred square feet ; if laid out in the form of a square, it will be sixty feet on each side, and will contain three thousand six hundred square feet ; if it be laid out in a circle, it will contain four thousand five hundred and seventy-nine square feet. This shows the advantages of one form over another very plainly. The same principle applies to the construction of out-buildings, such as corn-cribs, ice-houscsj smokC' houses, or hog-pens, in all of which a large propor- tion of materials and labor can be saved by adopting the circular or hexagonal form. Houses and barns have, from time immemorial, been right-angled buildings, and I suppose, according to the immutable laws of custom, must still be built so ; but oven here, a large amount of materials and money may be saved. I now speak of country houses, where the builder is not obliged to plan his house according to the shape of a contracted town lot. Nine tenths of all farm buildings are in the form of right-angled parallelograms ; and in thus erecting them, space is sacrificed without any saving in labor or money. For, suppose a house or barn be built twenty feet front by forty in depth, which is a very common proportion for buildings ; it will then require one hundred and twenty feet length of wall to enclose it, and its floor will contain eight hundred square feet. If it be built in the form of a square, thirty feet on each side^ the length of wall required to enclose it wUl be the same ; but its floor will con- tain nine hiuulred square feet, being the diff'erence in favor of the square of one hundred feet, which, to the farmer who likes a good roomy threshing-floor, or to the wife who rejoices in a roomy house, is an item of no small importance. From the above premises, then, we may draw the following conclusions : — 1st. That all large enclosures should be, as nearly as possible, exact squares, not parallelograms or " oblong squares." 2d. That small enclosures, wherever practicable, should be circular, or of some figure approaching the circle as nearly as possible. 3d. That small out-buildings should be circular, and large buildings, where plenty of room is desired, should be square. 4th. By adopting the above forms, a large propor- tion of time, labor, and materials, and therefore of money, may be saved without any sacrifice of space. COLA. Note. — In endeavoring to make the above subject plain, I am aware that I have departed from the strict- ness of mathematical terms somewhat ; but the conclu- sions deducted from the above will, I think, be found mathematically correct. C. — Phila. Dollar Neicspaper. STARCH FROM INDIAN CORN. The Ohio Statesman informs us that large quanti- ties of stai'ch are made from this grain in that state. An establishment near Columbus is said to use twenty thousand bushels of corn annually for this purpose. No attention is now paid to the color of the corn, as by the improved modes of manufacturing, as light- colored starch is produced from the dark-colored varieties, as from white. The quality of the stlc supply of running water. 52 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. In June, from the milk of six cows, we made one hundred and ninety-eight pounds of butter. In July, the severe drought had nearly destroyed the feed, and the quantity of butter was diminished. During the autumn, the feed has been very good, and we have had the milk of nine cows, and from the whole we have made, since the 23d of May, one thousand and nineteen pounds of butter. The number of per- sons in my family has never been less than fourteen, and for many weeks during the summer, it has been eighteen ; and we have used milk and cream at all times freely. Our milk is strained into tin pans, and allowed to stand from thirty-six to forty-eight hours, in a cool, darkened room on the first floor of the house ; except in August, when it is kept in a cellar, under a wing of the house. The cream is taken off into tin pails ; is salted a little, and stirred every day. We chum twice each week during the summer. Before churning, the cream stands upon ice for twelve hours or more. After churning, the buttermilk is thoroughly worked out by the hand, and the butter is salted to suit the taste. The day following, the butter is worked over again, and prepared for the market. In laying down butter for the winter, we use stone jars. After packing it down very closely, we sprinkle salt and loaf sugar between each layer of butter. In this way our butter has kept perfectly sweet through the season. It should be mentioned, that during parts of July and August, the cows that were milked had, in addi- tion to Xhe pasture, green corn fodder, or, in the place of that, Indian meal and shorts, equally mixed, in proportion of two quarts to each cow daily. And the same quantit}' of the same grain has been given to them during the last half of September, and of October. The management of the dairy has, in consequence of the sickness of my wife, been wholly confided to my daughter the present year. Previously, she had had no particular training for this branch of house- wifery. She engaged in it with alacrity, and her own health has been benefited by the occupation. You will, I trust, pardon the suggestion to one holding your official position, that it should be made a special object of our agricultural societies to inter- est and awaken the attention of the female part of the communit}^ — perhaps, by associating ladies in the examination of such articles as they are best competent to judge of, and by making the exibition of such articles a distinct department of the annual fair ; or, perhaps, by off"ering a premium for the rearing of fowls, the cultivation of flowers, vege- tables, ■ or fruit trees, or the keeping of bees, and such like. The dairy, needlework, knitting, &c., belong of course to them. But I would bring them into more active employment in the open air. One of the best conducted dairy establishments in this town, where five or six cows are kept, is wholly taken care of by two females, a widow and her daughter. Mothers have much to do with the training of their sons to a love of, and an intelligent preparation for, a farmer's life. It is from their interest in, and their skilful management of, the labors which belong chiefly to them, upon a farm, that their sons learn to love, and to practise with success, the business of farming. I have cheerfully complied with your request, in making these suggestions, and hope that you, by em- bracing the facts in some communication of your own, may lead others to do better than I have done. October 80, 1849. Remarks. — Having witnessed, in the month of June, the skilful management of the dairy referred to in the foregoing letter, and being impressed with tlie importance of encouraging young ladies to do what their mothers alone have been accustomed to do, that they themselves, when their turn comes, may be qualified to go ahead, I solicited this commu- nication. It adds much to the facts before stated- Particularly it shows, to some extent, at least, what may be expected of the Ayrshires and Devom. . I saw the animals, and have no doubt of the correctness of Mr. Phinney's opinion. I wish he could have lived to have done them justice. I was struck with the appearance of the young stock, on this farm, and have no doubt that the good sense of my friend who manages it, although he came into the field at the eleventh hour, will demonstrate that he nobly earns his reward. His suggestions, as to the expediency of encouraging females to come forward and take parts in our exhibitions, are worthy of regard. Universally they are admitted to constitute the better half of society ; why should they not then have an equal chance to show themselves, and the work of their hands ? Is there any one whose delicacy would be off'ended by such a sight ? Let such remain at home. It Avould be a pity to expose nerves so nicely tuned. Ten chances to one, that tho fastidiousness, that would object to a female taking part in an Agricultural Ex- hibition, would often be found appurtenant to that class of personages who are said " to strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." The buffalo, or hornless cotps, spoken of in Statement No. 1, by Mr. Stone, are there considered as natives. This is not strictly correct. I hope to be able to give a more distinct account of this class of animals on a subsequent page. J. W. P. BEEHIVES-VENTILATION-A MILLER TRAP, Friend Bateham — I saw an inquiry in your paper concerning the best mode of the treatment of bees. As I have paid considerable attention to this subject, in order to ascertain the laws and regulations by which bees are governed, I feel somewhat qualified to state several facts connected with the subject. "With my present knowledge upon the subject, I would advise all to make small hives, either of boards or hollow trees, holding about three pecks each, and about sixteen inches high. I prefer a hollow log burned out and trimmed to a feather edge at the bot- tom, so as to fit close on the bench with two or three notches for the passage of the bees as usual. Bore a two-inch hole through the top of the hive, and also one in the bench on which the hive is to stand. Take some wire finely woven, that a miller or bee cannot pass through it ; bind it round so as to form a tube the whole length of the hive two inches in diameter. Fasten one end of this tube under the bottom of the bench, and the other on the top of the hive. Put a wire covering under the lower end of this ventilation, and over the top of it fasten a small box one inch high and four inches square, with a fine wire bottom. The box should be of wood, one eighth of an inch thick, and on two opposite sides of it should be several holes just large enough to admit bees. Above these holes, on the inside of the box, should be tacked small strips of silk gauze to hang over the holes like curtains. This fixture I call a perfect miller trap — it will catch every miller that attempts to get in the hive. The above described ventilation serves to give the bees a iilcntiful supply of fresh air, which they so m.uch need in warm weather. This is manifest bj' the great exertions used by the bees to supply the hive with air, when they sit on the bench, and buzz about the mouth of the hive, fanning the young bees, to prevent sufi'ocation. This tube through the middle of the hive, serves to convey the breath of the bees off"; this, together NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 53 •with the smell of honey passing into the miller trap, draws the millers, with a perfect rush, into that bourne whence no traveller returns. Should this be acceptable to the editor, I am willing to state the cause of bees dying and leaving honey ; and the cause of bees killing their drones ; and also how wax is made, and of what material, and for what purpose the bee bread is used. Yours respectfvillv, E. E. CREW. Shout Creek, IIaerison County, Ohio, 1849. Remakks. — We shall be pleased to hear further from friend Crew, on the subjects proposed. We must say, however, that his "miller trap" does not strike us favorably, if we rightly understand its con- struction ; for wn think the millers will find it a very convenient entrance, through which tViey, or their progeny, the worms, can find access to the honey. It is of little consequence whether the moths escape or not, after they have deposited their eggs where they can do miscliief. Ed. — Ohio Cultivator. THE POTATO ROT. Dr. Richardson, of Maryland, flatters himself that he has discovered the cause of the potato rot, as ap- pears in the following communication to the agricul- tural conmiittee of the Maryland State Agricultural Society, which is published in the American Farmer for November : Baltimore County, Oct. 10, 1849. Gentlemen : After three years' constant attention to the subject, I flatter myself I have discovered the cause of the potato rot. The rot is produced by the deposition of the egg, and the destruction of the pith or heart of the vino, (by consequence, the circulating capillaries,) by the larva of an insect. This insect is of the curculio or weevil genus : as there are many species of the curculio in this state, for distinction I have called this the curculio magjia. The first deposition of the egg is from the 5th to the 10th of June. (This accounts at once for the acknowledged fact, that verj' earl J' planted potatoes suffer little with rot, if they do not altogether escape it — and why ? Simply because they have got their growth before the vine is poisoned by the insect.) I have seen no eggs deposited later than the 20th August ; ten days after the egg is deposited it hatches ; the larva is then very small. The egg is generally placed in the vine about 10 or 1.5 inches from the root. The larva always eats doAvnward, but seldom goes below the surface of the earth : it feeds for four or five weeks ; it then ceases to eat, and, if I may use the ter7n, cocoons, and undergoes its metamorphosis. The larva is about a line and a half in length, per- fectly white, with a brown head : it completes its change in about three weeks. If this is early in the season, it leaves the vine, mates, and deposits its eggs ; if late in the season, it remains quiescent in the stalk ; it, as all the other varieties of curculio, hibernates in the ground. I this day had the honor of exhibiting to the agricultural committee the potato in the ditt'crcnt stages of the rot, both incipient and perfect — the diseased capillaries in the vine and in the tubes — the destruction in the vine by the course of the larva — its exuvia, as also the curculio, in its perfect state. I regret that from the impossibility of preserving the specimens of the green vine, I was unable to show the commcnecment of the disease, 24 hours after deposition of the egg, extending in 48 hours from the wounded part, by the capillaries to the corresponding capillaries in tubes — as also the continuance of the disease — although the egg had been destroyed by preparatory insects of the order Neuroptern, within 24 hours after its deposit. There have been in Ireland, independent of the jiilscry and disease, 250,000 deaths from the potato rot: in thig countrj', a loss of many million bushels. The estimated product in the United States is 114,000,000 bushels ; the average loss, since this disease has occurred, is about one third : how important, then, to discover the cause of this immense loss, and a remedy for the evil ! That there is a rcnied)^ attainable, I have no doubt, from many data in my possession — still, as it would require a large outlay of money, and much time spent in examination and experiments, no i)rudei-it person would be justifiable, without aid, in making the neces- sary inquiry. CHARLES llICIIAilDSON. The next thing is, to find a preventive. This may be as difficult as to save wheat from the ravages of the weevil. It is hoped Dr. Richardson will be ena- bled to go on with liis expcrunents, by having the requisite funds suppUed. COMPARATIVE ESTIMATE OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CATTLE FEED, Hay is the food for cattle during winter. If they can get good hay enough during the cold season, they do very well. It is not ahvays that the farmer has a sufficiency of this for his stock, and hence it is use- ful to know the comparative value of other articles which may be used as substitutes for it. It is also more agreeable, and we think more profitable, to mingle other articles with hay. We have prepared from various sources the following table : Taking good hay as the standard, 100 lbs. of hay equal 276 lbs. Carrots ; 300 " Ruta Baga ; 317 " Mangold Wurtzel ; 201 ♦' Potatoes; 494 " common Turnips. By calculating 60 lbs. for a bushel of any of the above roots, it will be seen that one ton of hay equals 91 bushels of Carrots ; 100 " Ruta Baga ; 106 " Mangold Wurtzel ; 67 " Potatoes ; 165 " Turnips. From this it will be seen how miich fodder you get of each, per acre, compared with good hay. In regard to straw, experiments have estabUshcd the following estimate as very near the truth. 100 lbs. of hay equal 272 lbs. new "Wheat Straw ; 166 " Barley Straw ; 169 " Pea Straw ; 94 " Clover Hay. — Maine Farmer. GOOD TOOLS. Mr. Editor : I think that the old adage, that "He must indeed be a good workman who can afford to work with poor tools," is one which embodies an important truth. If we farmers employ a mechanic — a mason or a house carpenter, for instance — to execute a "job of work," we of course expect that he will come provided with proper and efficient tools. Should he come with but half the implements requi- site for the proper and successful performance of the work confided to his hands, wc should not hesitate to demur, and should be perfectly justified in dismiss- ing him and procuring another in his stead. But how is it on our farms? Are wc always as jealous and watchful of our interests there? How often, indeed, is it, that our " helps" arc required to plough, to mow, to reap and hoe, with implements which ai-e not only " out of fashion," but too clumsy and 54 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. ill acLiptod to the work required to be performed, to be used r.ny where, except in places and under cir- cumstances where those better adapted and con- structed cannot be obtained. Many of the old-fash- ioned implements are still in use on our farms — particularly ploughs, dung-forks, and hoes ; and with these unwieldy and almost xmwiddaMe abortions, hired men and boys are frequently required to per- form as much work, and to finish it off as neatly, as though they Vt'cre provided with the most proper tools. Parmcrs generally arc too remiss on this point. They are too apt to look at the cost of the tools, not at the useless expenditure of strength on the part of the operative in wielding them — that is no business of theirs, they think ; but this is a fallacy. I have seen men in the hay-iicld, sweating and blowing, and, like fat John FalstaiT, " Larding the lean earth," exerting to the utmost every muscle, to satisfy the expectations and realize the demands, often exorbi- tant, of a parsimonious employer, who, with good tools, would have performed twice the amount of labor in the same period, without exhaustion and with comparative case. The work also woiild have been done effectually, which is a matter of prime im- portance, though, by many, too often neglected and overlooked. The present abundance and cheapness of farming tools, of good quality, render it easy for every one who is so disposed, to obviate this great and long- existing evil. A PRACTICAL FARMER. Bold Eagle Farm, Dec. 12, 1849. — Germantown Telegraph, SUGAR MAKING-SHEET IRON EVAPORA- TORS. Mr. Bateham : Many of the readers of the Ohio Cultivator depend on making their family supply of sugar from the Sugar Maple Tree, (Acer Sacchari- num,) and in the process of manufacture they con- tinue to use the cast iron kettle for boiling down or evaporating the saj), apparently not knowing that there is a better way. I will therefore give a descrip- tion of the construction and use of the sheet iron evaporator, which is cheaper and better : it is much quicker and easier heated, with less cost of fuel in boiling, and does not crust or burn around the top to the injury of the sugar, as is the case with the cast iron kettle. Construction. — The size of the evaporators is four or five feet long, two and a half feet wide, and nine inches deep ; the bottom and ends of good, heavy sheet iron, and the sides one and a half inch plank. The sheet iron must be as much longer than the ves- sel as twice its depth, (eighteen inches,) so as to turn up and form the two ends, as high as the plank sides. The iron should be as thick as can be easily pierced with a steel pimch. Let the bottom corners of the plank be a little rounded, to suit the bend of the iron. Now turn the planks bottom edge upwards, and place a strip of slippery elm bark on the edge to make a more perfect joint, then nail on the sheet iron firmly, as a shoemaker pegs on the sole of a shoe — punch- ing the holes about one inch apart, within haK an inch of each edge of the plank, alternately. These evaporators should be placed on arches made of brick, and put away in a dry place as soon as done using. AVith ordinary careful usage, so as to avoid burning and rusting, they will be found very dura- ble. Rcspectfvxilv, kc, WILLIAM WILLIAMS. Genoa, Del.kware Co., Ohio, Dec. 1819. — Ohio Cultivator. BARTLETT'S DOUBLE PLOUGH. The sound practical judgment and eminent success with which the farming operations of Senator Web- ster have been carried on, at his place in Marshficld, have become proverbial, and as a consequence thereof, his opinions in relation to practical agricultural mat- ters are entitled to great consideration. It therefore gives us pleasure to find, by the letter we copy below, that his opinion coincides with that which Vvc have heretofore expressed, in relation to an implement, the introduction of which is destined to fix an era in the progress of American Agriculture. — Mass. Spij. Letter from Hon. Daniel Webster, on the Double Vhugh, Maushfield, Dec. 8, 1849. William O. Bartlett, Esq. : Dear ^ir — In June last, an experiment was tried on this farm with one of your Double Ploughs, on a piece of land intended for turnips, somewhat rocky, with a hard sward, not having been ploughed for many years, and many bunches of bushes growing upon it. The plough appeared to work well, and Mr. Wright, who has been our principal farmer for many years, was greatly pleased with it. The furrows were as well laid, as I thought, as they could have been by any single plough. Mr. Taylor, who lives on my farm in New Hamp- shire, wishes me to send him a Double Plough. His land is level, rather a rich loam, and entirely free from stones. He thinks that with a Double Plough and a pair of horses, with a light hand to hold, he could quite easily plough three acres a day, for many days in succession. It struck me, when seeing the plough in operation, that one part steadied the other, and made the work smooth and even. The saving of labor, in the use of the Double Plough, is too ajiparent to need remark. I might add, that my turnips were never more cheaply cultivated, and never yielded so good a crop. With much respect, Your ob't servant, DANIEL WEBSTER. BONES AND ACID. To those who dissolve bones in sulphuric acid, I bog to communicate a method I have now, for the second season, adopted with success, whereby I make very short work of an otherwise troublesome job. Under cover, either in a manure barn or cart shed, I make a clay basin, or trough, twenty feet by ten, with edges twenty inches wide and as high, into which, having previously thrown one hundred bushels of half inch bones, and having damped them, I pour from the carboys seventeen hundred pounds of acid, the contents of each carboy being marked by the maker, I have not the trouble of weighing. As soon as the requisite quantity of acid is poured into the trough, two men, with common iron road scrapers, or long iron rakes, commence stirring, continuing so to do until effervescence subsides, two hours completing the work. I leave the mass for ten days, when, by the addition of sufficient water, I bring the whole to the consistence of a thick gruel, cinder dust being then added, as usual. — Plough, Loom, and Anvil. Pithy Hixts. — Snuff on the nocks and backs of calves and young cattle, will do more good than in the nose of any maiden lady or dandy bachelor ; and brimstone, bought for the hogs, will not prove that the itch has got into the house. Cards on the cattle make them look as much better as children with their hair combed. A clean barn is a hint to the woman who takes care of tlie kitchen. Good milking stools save much washing in the house. A scraper on the door-step saves brooms and dust. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. m How TO Cure a " Wind Suckkr." — Wind suck- ing is a habit (like chewing tobacco) much easier acquired than forj^otten. It can only be practised, however, under favorable circumstances ; that i.-s, •when there is some object on which the horse can rest his teeth, located about as hia,h as his breast — such as a common manger, for instance. The best remedy, therefore, is to place the manger or feeding trouijh as hw as the ground or floor of the stable, and the hay-rack as /////t as the horse can reach, and see that there is no object of an intermediate height for him to rest his teeth upon to suck wind. Care must also be taken, that, when out of the stable, he is not allowed to stand near a fence or stump, or any object of convenient height for practising this halnt. In the course of a few months, say five or six, he will forget the trick. Another Remechj. — Tic a cord around the neck of the horse, sufficiently tight to prevent him from en- larging the throat, as is done in wind sucking, but not so tight as to obstruct breathing or swallowing. A tight halter, with throat- stra]i, will answer this purpose. It will need to be worn for two or three months. This rcmedj' is easy, and I have found it quite effectual. — Ohio Cultivator. Potato Rot ix Iowa. — Messrs. Editors : We have had for the last six weeks remarka.bly pleas- ant weather, with scarcely any frost. Corn is prin- cipally gathered, and had good seed been planted, there would have been an average crop, or more ; but as it is, some have not half a crop. Potatoes have all got the rot : there is not one in twenty but what is affected. They commence rotting, this year, at the outside, and the middle continue sound for some time. Last year the affected potatoes rotted away as quick as if they had been frozen ; this year, they show no signs of rot until they arc cut. — Prairie Farmer. Plaxtixg Forest Trees. — Very little has been done in this county about planting forest trees, until recently, and I am happy to know that enterprising gentlemen are now making experiments by planting groves of many kinds of our native as well as foreign varieties. On most of the farms in our county, there are i^atches of waste land that might be profitably appropriated to the growing of wood, and by plant- ing trees on the sides of our highways, much valua- ble wood might be raised, our thoroughfares orna- mentol, and the public benefited. — Hon. A. T. Newhnll's Address. Y\''eeds. — The greatest deficiency of good hus- bandry of our fields of grain and vegetables, is in permitting the weeds to grow and seed the latter part of the season. The great length of time required to harvest and secure fodder for our cattle during our long winters, and which generally employs all hands in the hay-field, permits the weeds to get ahead of the hoe and cultivator, and assert the supremacy, so that many will be discouraged, and give up the con- test. — Ibid. Wool in Michigan. — Michigan has gone into the growing of wool at a rapid rate, and is destined to keep increasing. Last year, the surplus that was exported was over 1,200,000 lbs., und the small estab- lishments scattered throughout the state, are esti- mated to have consumed f)00,000 pounds more. This season, the amount exported will not fall short of 1,600,000 lbs ; and at the same ratio, another year it ■R-iU reach 2,000,000 lbs. — Detroit Tribune. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. The American' Poultry Yard ; comprising the Ori- gin, History, and Description of the diiforent breeds of Domestic Poultry ; with complete directions for their breeding, crossing, rearing, fattening, and preparation for the market ; including directions for caponizing, treatment of diseases, &c. ; illustrated with numerous engravings. By D. J. Erown, au- thor of the Silva Americana. With an Appendix, embracing the comparative merits of the different breeds of Fowls. By Samuel Allen. 324 pages, large 12mo. Published by C. M. Saston, 121 Fulton Street, New York. This is an elaborate work, of great interest and abiUty. The author has gone into hLs various sub- jects ably and thoroughly, showing deep research and wise discrimination. His style is pleasant and happy. We commend this vrork to all poulterers and farmers who would go into a thorough investigation of the subject. The Family Visitor ; a Literary, Scientific, Agri- cultural, Horticultural, and Miscellaneous Paper, in quarto form, published weekly, at Cleveland, Ohio. Edited by Professors Kirtland and St. John, and General Knapp, proprietors. This work, as might be expected from the reputa- tion of the editors, is very ably conducted, and of a character decidedly useful as well as interesting. It is neatly executed, and is illustrated with numerous engravings. A ijcculiar and valuable feature is the " geological features, minerals, birds, fishes, insects, &c., of Oliio and the surrounding states.'" This is among the most valuable journals on our exchange list. It would be a welcome and instructive Visitor in families in all parts of the country. The judicious editors discard fiction, which constitutes a prominent feature and a corrupting influence in many of the miscellaneous periodicals of the day. The Philosophy op Special Providexces. An- drew J. Davis. Published by Bela Marsh, 25 Corn- hill. Pamphlet, 5G pages, 8rao. ; 15 cents. Proceedings of the North American Pomologi- CAL Convention, held at Syracuse, Sept. 14th, 1849. We shall give a notice of these doings by and by. Report of the Ohio Nurserymen and FRurr- Growers' Convention, third session, held at Colum- bus, Dec. f5th, 1849. We shall give a review of this work in a short time. Address ey Prof. Johnston, before the Annual Exhibition of the N. Y. S. A. Society, Sept., 1849. We shall publish some valuable extracts from this address. Pauper Abstract, containing an abstract of the returns of the Overseers of the Poor in Massachu- setts. Transactions of Plymouth Agricultural Soci- ety, from Rev. ^Morrill Allen. Address by W. C. Goldthwait, before Ilampdcn Agricultural Society, on the application of science to fanning. This will doubtless claim further attention on pcru.sal. 56 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. About two months since, wc received eleven kinds of apples of Mr. Zeno C. Taber, East Montpclier, Vt., for the names, if known here, and opinions as to their quality. Wc have waited for their maturity, and tried them. We do not recognize any of them as identical with kinds generally cultivated, or known to the public, excepting No. 2, which appears to be a kind considerablj' cultivated in Pomfrct and Hartford, Vt., and in some parts of New Hampshire. It is of fair appearance, and tolerably good quality, and noted for productiveness. As wc had but a single speci- men of a kind, it is impossible to give a correct opin- ion of this fruit. In such cases it would be better to send only a few kinds, and such as the cultivator regai'ds as the best, and send more of a kind. When we have only one or a very few specimens of a kind, it is difficidt to fix on the right period to try them ; and as wc value our opinion, founded on so narrow observation, very lightlj', wc would not give it to the public as entitled to importance. No. 5 appeared to be a very good fruit, the best of the lot in quality. Nos. 1, 4, 7, and 9, were of medial quality. Peaknose Apples. — Herman Vincent, Esq., rep- resentative from Chilmark, JIartha's Vineyard, has' furnished us with some specimens of this apple. It is of good size, handsome appearance, and good qual- ity. He remarks, that it is a good grower and great bearer, and is a popular apple on that island, where it flourishes remarkably well, being well adapted to the sea-coast. Winter Pippin. — We have some of these apples from Mr. J. M. Kctchum, Brandon, Vt. The fruit is large, rather oblong, tapering considerably to the eye ; of a straw color, with an occasional blush in the sun, and dark specks. The quality is only medial ; it appears to be tolerably good for cooking, but it lacks character for a table fruit. Mr. K. remarks, that this variety, in that region, produces more fair fruit than any other kind cultivated there, as it is a great grower and an enormous bearer, and the fruit is large and fair. He brought a large lot of tliis fruit to this market, and sold it at high prices. A PROLrpic Sow. — Mr. Thomas Page, Waltham, has a sow that has within the year produced thirty- eight pigs. He has sold $50 worth, and has ten pigs remaining, some of which he has engaged at $2,50 each. He bought this kind at Brighton, and he says that his neighbors call them the Berkshire breed. Cooking Food for Swine. — Dr. Lee, in an arti- cle on pork-making, says, *' From some experi- ments of my own, and considerable research into the published results of the experience of others, I am satisfied that ten bushels of boiled potatoes thor- oughly mixed with the pudding that can be made from three bushels of corn or peas, will make as much pork as twenty bushels of potatoes, and six bushels of corn or peas fed raw." A KIND WORD. A little word in kindness spoken, A motion or a tear, Has often healed the heart that's broken, And made a friend sincere. A word — a look — has crushed to earth Full many a budding flower, W^hich, had a smile but owned its birth, Would bless life's darkest hour. Then deem it not an idle thing, A pleasant word to speak ; The face you wear, the thoughts you bring, A heart may heal or break. THE OLIO. Two gentlemen, at a public table, got into a vehe- ment dispute upon a subject which it was quite evi- dent that both were profoundly ignorant of. A big bull dog, which had been sleeping on the hearth, be- came roused by their violence, and began barking furiously. An old gentleman, who had been quietly listening to the disputants, gave the dog a kick, and exclaimed, " Hold your tongue, you brute ; you know no more about it than they do." Sign of Character A man who habitually speaks disparagingly of the female character, gives conclusive evidence that there is something wrong in his own. A true man alwa}'s has a high idea of female excellence, and cherishes it with a respect bordering on worship. " It is an inexpressible comfort," said the dying Campbell, the poet, " to be able to look back and feel that I have not written one line against religion or virtue." How many would, in his situation, give worlds to see and feel as Cam^jbell did ! A young man, feeling restless in church, leaned forward and addressed an old gentleman thus, " Pray, sir, can you tell me a rule without an exception ? " " Yes, sir," he replied ; " a gentkman always behaves well in church." Nothing is more impressive than mystery ; even " Junius," himself, as an author, would have been forgotten long ago, if people had known whom to forget. The phrase, " Hold your tongue," is of Bible origin. Wonder how many of our readers can point to the chapter and verse. A year of pleasure passes like a floating breeze ; but a moment of misfortune seems an age of pain. Why is an infant like a diamond ? Because it is a " dear little thing." TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ^1 a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. I|g° The Postage .^i On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and IjJ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON 8TEKB0TYPE FOUNDRT. ^^^^t^'^^^^Mt^ia^ BEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. VOL. II. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1850. NO. 4. S. W. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Phoprietok. FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. At the agricultural meeting, Feb. 5, Mr. Cal- houn in the chair, this subject was discussed. The subject was opened by !NLijor AVheelcr, of Framing- ham. He remarked that fruit raising was much neglected by many farmers ; some raise only apples, and those of poor quality. Our market is supjilicd in a great measure by fruit from the west and south ; and yet it is sometimes poorly supplied. Our climate is good for fruit. "We can raise peaches here in abundance, by planting on high lands. He knew of locations where they had seldom failed for forty years. They are as easily raised as potatoes ; and, as we are on the northern region of the peach, Ave should raise this fruit to supply Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We shall yet send peaches to London. We are born with an appetite for fruit. Old apple- trees may be renovated. There are trees in Eng- land three hundred years old. Pears are also a valu- able fruit, and we have many excellent kinds. Mr. Eavle, of Worcester, fully agreed with the gen- tleman as to the advantages for, and the profit in, fruit raising. Some farmers now get more for their fruit, than they formerly got for all the produce of their farms. The demand increases with the supplj\ As improved fruits are introduced, families use more and more, until the demand increases tenfold. Fruit is healthy. Families that use it freely are less liable to disease. The use of the peach has a tendency to check the ravages of the cholera. He said that the blasting of fruit had been attributed to the want of specific manures ; but this was not the case, for the St. Jlichael pear had, in some cases, blasted for several years, then it was good for a number of seasons, and again it blasted, all on the same trees, under regular treatment. Two trees of this variety, standing near each other, exhibited different results ; the fruit of cue blasted, that of the other was fair. This fruit is a valuable kind when perfect, and it is always good on the quince, and it grows well in this way. He set pears on the quince so as to cover the quince stock with the soil, in order to protect them from the borer. The qumce will always throw out roots up to the surface of the soil, and thus obviate any disad- vantage from deep planting. The St. Michael bears moderately, and flourishes well ; but the Louise Bon de Jersey bears to excess, and brings on premature old age. The pear is as profitable a fruit as the peach, and it flourishes well. We need only eight or ten kinds for common culture. Hon. Mr. Daggett said that there was one fact that was very encouraging to the fruit-growers of this state — that our peaches and apples are superior in qualit}-, but not in appearance, to those raised in New York and New Jersey. But the peach here is short- lived, and insects destroy the apples. The peach is forced too rapidly ; hence its failure. He thought the blight in the pear was caused by drought. Major Wheeler said that peach-trees bore them- selves to death, and they should be headed in to reduce the crop. Mr. Daggett remarked that he had lost all his cherries, for a few years past, by rose bugs and birds, and the curculio destroyed his plums. Dr. Gardner, of Seekonk, said that he was deeply interested in this subject. His grapes and peaches had been destroyed by rose bugs. The best remedy was that recommended bj- Dr. Harris, which was to jar them off into hot water. According to his obser- vation and inquiries, the peach was injurious in the cholera. Rev. Morrill Allen, of Pembroke, being called on, said that he had not much acquaintance with the subject. When he commenced farming, he was under the necessity to cultivate for annual crops, as he could not wait for the products of fruit trees. He thought farmers should study to have enduring trees, and to this end they should plant the seeds where they would have the trees stand. He found that forest trees flourished best in the soil where the seeds were sown. Animals do better in the locations where they are born. Peach-trees would be more durable, if they were not transplanted. As fruit trees are not immcdiatclj' profitable, he thought it was not best for farmers to go largely into their cul- tivation. Mr. Nathan Stetson, from Braintrco, thought that the washing of apple-trees with lye, or a solution of potash, as recommended in the I'loughman, would 58 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. not destroy borers or eggs. The borer only enters the bark the first season, erb. — The fruit is of a very large Bize : one specimen, raised the last season, measured six and one half inches in circumference. It is of very good quality, but so liable to rot, that it cannot be recommended for cultivation. Ripens the first of September. 46. Bingham. This fruit is excellent. The tree is a good grower and great bearer, and worthy of gen- eral cultivation. Ripens early in September. 47. Heine Claude Violet. [Purple Gage. — Ed.j — A hno fruit, but hardly equal to the Green Gage. The tree is a prodigious bearer. I have received, from different sources, many trees under this name, which proved to be wrong. I obtained the genuine kind from J. M. Ives, Esq., of Salem, a few years since. Ripens September 1st to 20th. 48. Diamond. — A great bearer, but unworthy of cultivation, excepting for cooking. Ri^Dcns in the former part of September. 49. Coopers Large. — This variety was received, some years since, from Robert Manning, Esq., under the name of La Deliceuse. The fruit is of good flavor, but so subject to rot, that I have been unable to cul- tivate it with profit. Ripens in September. 50. Diapree Roitge. — Although this plum is of a large size, and of excellent quality, yet it is rather unprofitable, owing to its disposition to rot. Ripens in September. 51. Smith's Orleans. — I consider this one of the finost of plums. If I could not cultivate more than half a dozen varieties, this would be one of them. Ripens in September. 52. Corse's Nota Bene. — A frviit of high character, and a'great bearer. Trees received for Corse's Favor- ite, have proved to be the same as this. Ripens the middle of September. 53. Royale Dauphine. — I have cultivated this plum for many years, and have always found it an indif- ferent fruit. Ripens the middle of September. 54. Wilkinson Prune I have fruited this plum many seasons, but as the quaUty is inferior, I have grafted it to a better variety. Ripens the last of September. 55. St. Catharine. — A plum of excellent quality, and a prodigious bearer — worthy of extensive culti- vation, as it ripens after most other plums are gone. Ripens from September 20 to October 10. 56. Coe's Golden Droj). — This is a late plum, of first-rate quality when well ripened. It requires a warm situation, in order to have it in perfection. No collection is complete without it. Ripens fi'om the middle of September to the last of October. 57. Blue Imperatrive. — This fruit is higlily worthy of cxdtivation. It should be in every collection. The Imperatrice Violet of the French, which has been cultivated to some extent in tliis vicinity, as a sj-no- nym of this fruit, strongly resembles the Semiana, cultivated in the neighborhood of Boston ; but it boars only a slight resemblance to the Blue Imperatrice. The wood of both is similar. Ripens in October and into November. 58. Frost Gage. — This fruit is almost equal to the Damson for preserving, and, if allowed to hang on the tree till fully ripe, it is of most excellent flavor. A great bearer. Ripens iu October and into Novem- ber. 59. Coe's Late Red. — I have never been able to raise good specimens of this variety. The fruit will not ripen here. Ripens middle of October aiid into November. For the New England Farmer. DEEP AND SHALLOW DRAINING. Mr. Cole : Your addendum to my letter on Brush Draining, it strikes me, bears the implication, remote- ly, that I am in favor of shallow trenches in pref- erence to the deep ones, which modern experience has proved the better for all purposes, — efficiency NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 63 and cheapness of construction at their head. I am anxious to disprove the impression, but much more desirous of placing before j'our readers the advan- tages which proceed from the latter mode of opera- tion. I am old enough to remember the advent of the modern principles of draining. When it was first practised, no such idea as subsoil culture had its birth in the agricultural mind. You well know that the general depth of active soils, on indurated bases, sel- dom averages more than nine inches, when under the much too common system of cultivation, — which amounts to a mere ploughing. This partial stirring, and the action of the atmosphere, rarely combine to pulverize the earth below the above designated depth, when the substratum is of a tenacious or in- durated character. Acting on the observations aris- ing from this fact, the original drainers decided on eighteen inches as a sufficient depth to cut their trenches, — their object not being to deepen the soil, but to carry away surface water, and cut off springs, &c. These objects the system could accomplish tol- erably well ; and it was not until the operations of scientific men proved the benefits of subsoiling, for the purpose of deepening the active soil, that any deviation from the original mode was acknowledged as being proper or necessary. The progress of science demonstrated that healthy plants of the cereal descriptions would send their roots from sixteen to thirty inches into the soil, in search of sustenance to support their vigor ; and this begot, in turn, the idea of applying mechanical means to the pulverization of the soil to such depth as would insure to crops such favoring conditions. Consequently the subsoil plough, and all the varieties of cultivators, were invented, and came into use. These influences revolutionized the rules of draining previously laid down ; and the Deanston system arose upon the ruins of the old established eighteen inch deep practice. Mr. Smith, of Deanston, in Scot- land, with whom I have had the pleasure of con- versing often on this subject, first adopted the theory of two and one half feet deep drains, and proved their superior advantage, along with subsoil ploughing, in an elaborate and most satisfactory series of exper- iments. His published letters, and public lectures, soon made his system popular ; and the combined advantages of subsoil ploughing and deep draining, formed the intermediate age of agricultural improve- ment ; for draining especially had another step farther to go, ere it could earn the title of such per- fection as it has at present attained to. In the origi- nal system, the rule, was eighteen inches deep and eighteen feet space between the trenches ; in the Deanston system, the depth of drain was two and one half feet, and the trenches also eighteen feet apart. Mr. Smith has, within the past ten years, reluctantly added six inches to his theory ; but this addition has not recommended an attachment to his system. In 1840 several gentlemen in the south-west of England, and elsewhere very partially, began to con- sider the propriety of adding to the depth of the drains, and widening the space between them — act- ing on the supposition that the greater declivity the water had to run upon, the greater the rapidity of its disappearance from the soil, — and also judging that the more inclined the plane surface of the sub- soil, the horizontal distance from which water could be drawn to the trenches would bo proportionally increased : these parties, considering the above proba- bilities, determined to prove them facts, and insti- tuted a scries of experiments, which ultimately sat- isfied them that they were practical truths. Mr. Mechi, of London, stands at the head of the third age of drainers. His system was to dig his trenches four feet deep, when the declivity of the land would tolerate this depth, and in some instances five feet, and have them forty feet apart, ITic marked effi- ciency of the system, in deepening the soil, through the furnishing of conditions superior to any other, for the action of external influences of water and atmosphere combined, soon rendered it a favorite one : and now it is the only system which receives the sanction and adoption of the improvers in Great Britain. My next shall contain some remarks on the adjuncts necessary to efficient drainage. Meantime I am truly yours, A FIRESIDE FARMER. Boston, Jan., 1850. For the New Eiu/land Farmer, EVERGREEN HEDGES. Friend Cole : Very few farmers in Xcw Eng- land possess well-grown hedges, or, indeed hedges of any growth. Of course they have little knowl- edge of hedge planting and raising. To this want of knowledge may perhaps be attributed the lack of interest evinced on this subject, by those who might be expected to feel much. Would it not be well occasionally to call their attention to this sub- ject through the columns of the Farmer? What single feature of improvement is there, that could possibly give to a farm so much additional beauty, as that of surrounding it with an evergreen hedge ? There is, even in winter, a pleasing appear- ance of freshness and vigor in the dark foliage of some of our native evergreens which commands the admiration of every one. A hedge of evergreen is in itself beautiful ; but to a landscape otherwise barren, it gives an air of picturesque loveliness that scarcely any thing else can give. In most of our nurseries, evergreens of various kinds (not always the most beautiful) are grown, but in small num- bers, and principally for ornamental trees. Occa- sionally, we see beside some small garden a few yards of arbor vit 42 cents ; common and medium grades, .33 fa) 38 cents. These prices vary with the necessity of the manufacturers. AsTOR IIousi:, Ni;w Yokk, Jan. 24, 1850. — Editorial Corrcsp:mdoncc of the Wool-Clriywcr. FoKKiGN Wool, Market. — We also copy from the Wool-Grower the following rcmai'ks on the wool market in foreign countries : — There is a considerable rise and a brisk business in the wool markets of the old country. And indeed it cannot he otherwise. Tlie market has been greatly depressed by the political disturbances Western Europe has been laboring under for the last two years, and trade and confidence have been shaken to the utmost. Now ])cacc and q\iiet have been restored, at le.ust for a while, and buyers, reassured by tliese more favor- able signs of the times, appear again in the market, and business brightens up. Another cause of tho renewed activity of the purchasers of wool, and their eagerness for clearing the market, is the almost entire d(^struction of most of the improved sliccji-folds in Hungary, which used to supply the markets of tho east, as Breslau and Berlin, wilh the choicest lots. Every thing that could be made use of, even_ if inferior to the last-mentioned wools, has therefore been sought for; and hence the comparative higher prices and much activity in the wool market 76 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Foi- the New England Farmer. FOREST TREES. Mr. Cole ; Whc!! tliis country was new, but little regard was paid to the preservation of timber ; as the chief object of the settlers was to clear the land, and hasten it as fost as possible into a state of culti- vation. The market prices also of Montreal, and New York, liave made heavy drafts upon us, so much 80 that timber, both Ibr buildin.i; and fuel, is becom- ing scarce and dear anioni; us, and now the railroads arc calling for a share of what is loft along on their lines. I have felt aware of this state of things for many years, with the exception of the railroads, the rapid advances of which have surprised us all. ?iIore than twenty years ago my attention was directed to this point by Fessenden's N. E. Farmer, the reading of which was worth more to me than ton times its cost, not oidy on this subject, but a thousand others. Thus, in " foreseeing the evil I hid myself." It has been my practice for mauj' years, to allow the second growth of timber to come along after the axe, whore ve got our yearly supplj' of firewood, and as soon as the young timber is of sufficient size to prune, I cut out such as I please to destroy, and trim up the best and most thrifty trees about six feet from the ground, leaving perhaps from eight hundred to a thousand trees to the acre. I now have seven or eight acres of land in one parcel, producing a dense growth of second crop timbur and wood, from one to seventeen years' growth ; as this timber is all in one piece, it looks most beautifully as far as it has been trimmed up, and thinned out. One part of it, about two acres, was cleared in 1811; a crop of wheat taken in 1815, then pastured until about 1833, when I discovered little white pine bushes coming up very thick all over the land. These were allowed to stand unmolested by the axe until 1839, at which time \\c thinned out the thick- est of the bushes, and trimmed up the rest about six feet from the ground, leaving about eight hun- dred trees to the acre. Now, on going into this forest, it seems hardly possible that so great a quan- tity of timber could have grown there in so short a time. It is believed that there is more timber now alreadj' grown on this land, than was originally on it, setting aside a few large pines. My intention is to thin out this piece so as to leave about four hun- dred trees to the acre, and trim ii[) at least twenty feet this season. This is what we call upland ; tim- ber formerly was chiclly hard wood. Our lowlands or swamps we manage in the same way, except wc omit trimming, aad let it take care of itself; we cut all clean as wc go. I have observed where timber Jn the swamp was originally Cedar and Pine, the second growth is chicHy Tamarack, [the American Larch, Hackma- tack. — En., J some (Jcdar, but no I'ine ; and on uj)- land, where hard wood formerly grew, now some other varieties occupy their places. For instance, one piece, where the hard wood. Beech, Maple, S;c., covered the land, now, after the land was burned over in a dry time, and lire destroyed the. whole, a crop of Pigeon Cherries come up very thick all over the land where a Cherry tree was never before dis- covered. In another instance, I observed where the land ■was originally covered by hard wood, White Pine is its second growth, and another, in the place of Pine and Hemlock, Maple has come up in great abun- dance ; I have a lot of these, about three hundred trees, on some less than half an acre, growing most luxuriantly. It is proper to remark, however, that new varieties of timber do not always occupy the land where the original is cut off. An instance of this kind may be seen in Cornwall, a few rods distant fifom my own land, where the timber was all Cedar, and all taken off twenty-five or thirty years ago ; this is all Cedar now, and is so thick that a man cannot jjass between the trees in some places on account of their nearness to each other. It is believed that fifteen acres of* good wood land properly managed will bo amply sufficient for timber, boards, &c., to keep buildings in repair, and firewood for a farm for ages to come. But I may not have adopted the best plan to accomplish the object, and if you or any of your readers can suggest any im- provemcut on the above plan, you will greatly oblige a constant reader and lover of improvement, llcspectfully yours, JOHN M. "WEEKS. West Faiwis, near ]\Iiddlebury, Vr., Feb. 7, 1850. For the Ncic England Farmer, POULTRY. Mr. Coi.e : We well recollect the time when car- rying eggs to market was called rather a small biisi- ness, and called forth sneers from the merchant's wife, the lawyer's spouse, and indeed many others, who by the by were frequently willing, if they could not get them without, to ride round, call at the farm- er's an hour, " purchase a few eggs just for present use," and carry them home themselves. Why such an idea should prevail we never could divine, for it always looked as big to us as selling fishhooks three for two cents, candy for a cent a stick, or measuring tape by the pennyworth. But it is a fact, which in our opinion is now settled beyond all controversy, that there is no stock that the farmer keeps, which pays so well in proportion to the investment and care bestowed as poultry. In order, however, to realize a full prolit, care must be taken in this as in all kinds of business. Hence, in order to have hens lay well in winter, the season when eggs sell at the highest prices, it is necessary to furnish them ^vith a warm, dry room, where the vicissitudes of the weather and storms will not reach them. Some have been so careful in this matter as to dig into the sides of steep banks and form rooms for them there, where they can have proper heat and always a supply of earth for wallowing, &c. These places are secured by doors in front, in which glass may be jilaced to give sufficient light and heat from the sun. In mild weather they may be let out, but in storms and cold the closer they are kept the better. Next to bodily protection, food demands attention. It is profitable, and no mistake about it, to feed hens with animal food in winter. In the vicinity of cities and large towns, this can always be fmnished in abundant quantities, and at cheap rates ; warm food, such as puddings or boiled meal, baked or boiled potatoes, is also beneficial. As a substitute for lime, which should always be placed within their reach in liberal (juaiitities, plaster of Paris answers a very good purpose; we have tried it, and secu its effects. Some few weeks since, ivom. some twenty hens we did not get an egg a week ; it occurred to us that there was a lack of lime in the henery, and we took a peck of corn and wet it thoroughly, (if it had been soaked it would probably have been better,) and stirred in plaster (ground) as long as it would adhere, and i)laced this mess before them. Before the corn was coirsumcd we began to have a plenty of eggs, and the laying season is now going on in earnest. E'j'gs are now worth, liore, eighteen cents a dozen, corn sixty-five cents a bushel, and ground plaster seven dollars and fifty cents a ton ; so economists can judge whether the hens will pay for their food. Their manure, for any one who has a garden, will nearly or quite pay for the labor, if carefully saved. Yours truly, W. BACON. KicHMOND, Feb. 7, 1850. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 77 For the New England Farmer. POTATOES. Mr. Cole : Much has hcen written, and many theories advanced, upon the cultivation of the po- tato ; and yet^ after all that has been done, I think the mass of farmers are in an unsettled state as to the best and most profitable mode to bo pursued under all circumstances. There arc doubts as to the kind of seed, -whether large, middling, or small, should be used, cut or whole ; whether to put one, two, or more pieces, or whole potatoes, in a hill ; to plant in hills or drills close together, or far apart, in some cases even to four feet ; whether to earth up, or leave the ground level, &c., &c., to the end of the chapter. It is not my intention to express an opinion on all the points in this communication, but to men- tion what api>cars to me to be the most important of all, and state some facts in my own experience, with the hope of calling out others on this subject. We have probably all noticed that where small potatoes, or seed from the ball, were planted, in a good, favorable soil, which was well adapted to the growth of the potato, the tendency has been to an increase of size, so that from the seed, in two or three years, large potatoes have been produced- Po- tatoes not weighing more than one or two ounces, on such soils, have produced not only large potatoes, but large crops in a single year. These facts lead me to the conclusion that the most itnporta>it point is to fit the soil in such a manner as that the potato shall find all the elements necessary to its growth, in abundance, within its reach, from the time the first sprout starts until it is ripe. This being the case, and a sufficient amount of moisture being supplied, I apprehend it would make but little difference, pro- viding the planting was early enough, whether a sprout, or S7nall or large potatoes, or cut potatoes, were used. At any rate, I am fully satisfied there would not be such a diversity in results, in experiments, as we now have. If the foregoing conclusion is correct, then farmers have something to do, in order to go intelligently to work even in the cultivation of the potato. They must know what food it requires, in what proportion their soils are destitute of the neces- sary food, and sujjply it. This will bring into active exercise science, experience, and close observation. Certainly, Mr. Editor, farmers have som.etliing to do, if they do not mean, to be behindhand in their em- ployment. To those who cannot avail themselves of the aid of science, experience and observation, if attended to, will be of great help. Several years ago a neighbor of mine gave me a potato of the Carter variety, which is not considered the most prolific, Avcighing, I think, something less than three quarters of a pound, which I cut into nine pieces, and planted in the garden, in a drill, the pieces ten or twelve inches apart. The yield was thirty-six pounds. After trying a few to test their quality, the remainder, amoimting to about thirty pounds, were saved till the next spring, and planted (after having been cut into single eyes) on an old pasture, about three feet apart, one eye in a hill, about one half manured with a small quantity of long manure jiloughcd under th(! sward, and the other half without ntanure, all asked with perhaps a tablespoop.ful in the hill. The yield from the thirty pounds was full thirty bushels, four eyes selected producing one half bushel of potatoes. That was certainly a great yield, for the amount of seed, for Attlel)orough. (I do not know but j'our neighbor of the I'loiighman will dispute my meas- ure, but I can assure him it was fair.) Experience and observation here will lead us to conclude that old pastures are good for potatoes if the location is right. The pasture referred to had not ijrobably been ploughed for forty years, and although it did not produce much feed, yet it was well prejiared for the potato crop. The question may be asked, Why are old pastures so well adapted to the growth of the potato ? The answer may be, mainly. Because the ground is well filled with urine, and otherwise well manured by the solid manure from the cattle. There may be other reasons, but these, no doubt, are the principal. This view of the subject will bring us to the bam, for the application of manure Avell saturated with urine for our great dependence, to bring about the desii'ed object of fitting the land not only for the potato, but for all our other crops. We have many other helps, but they should not be wholly substi- tuted for this. I find I have hardlj- touched upon this subject as I intended when I commenced this communication ; but if it will bring out the views of others, I shall be satisfied, and I may resume it at some otlicr time. Yours respectfully, S. M. STANLEY. West Attleborougu, Feb. 7, 1850. Eemaeks. — We hope that "our correspondent will pursue this subject, and give us his views on the effects of hilling potatoes on dry as well as wet land ; also on deep and shallow planting, in regard to its effects on the potato rot, and on the amount of the crop. His success in fai-ming gives importance to his views founded on experience. — Ed, For the New England Farmer. CLOSE FEEDING. Mr. Editor : There is no better way of ascertain- ing and arriving at the fact of a particular case, than by proving it by experience. In this way I have found out that it is an easy matter for a farmer to keep too much stock on his farm for profit. Many farmers labor under a great mistake in thus over- stocking their land. A farm that is amply sufficient to keep six cows, and no more, is too often burdened with nearly double that amount ; and by so doing, the farmer is not only the loser in a pecuniary point of view, but his farm, the while, is decreasing in value, by too close feeding. A farm that will only keep six cows in good order is not capable of keeping eight in the same condition, without extra feed from the meal chest, and (in my opinion) this will not pay, for the common run of farmers. Nine years ago the coming spring, I commenced farming, and thought I knew something about the business, (although I soon found that I was but a raw hand.) The first season the farm was managed in partner- shi]) ; a horse, yoke of oxen, and three cows were kept on the farm, although the horse and oxen were not suffered to graze in tlie pastures. The three cows paid a fair profit, and kept in good condition. The second year things were managed in pretty much the same way ; and the third year I purchased my part- ner's stock in trade, with the exception of tlie oxen, and took cViarge of the whole. I added two cows to my i)roscnt stock, thinking the more cows, the greater ])rofit. At the end of the year, however, I did not feel satisfied with the profits resulting from 7ny five cows. I aL'Cordingly disjjoscd of one of my cows, and on summing up the proiits at the end of the next year, I found that the four had yielded a greater profit than the five had done. Concluding in my mind, that if four cows were of more ])rofit than five, on the same princijile, three might yield a profit in proportion, (although I find no rule in " Adams" or "Smith" that supports this doctrine,) I accordingly 78 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. disposed of another, and by taking a little extra pains with the three Icl't, I churned more buttci from the three than I had in any preceding year from the four or five, thus proving that it is not the greatest amount of capital invested, that brings in the largest profits. It is too often the case that farms arc overstocked. It is generally thought to be good economy among experienced farmers not to be obliged to turn cattle into mowing lands, although most farmers resort to this practice. Some one says, the more stock the more manure. True ; but it is better to buy a load of manure, than a load of hay. An empty barn the first of April has a very bad look with it, and this is oftentimes the result of close feeding. Few farmers prosper who keep more stock than can be kept in good condition on their own premises. A. TODD. Smithfield, R. I., Feb, 1850. For the Neio E?igland Fanner, THE WEIGHT OF LIVE BEEF CATTLE May be ascertained by the following rule. Take the girth of the animal just behind the shoulder- blade, and the length from a point on the tail-bone, ■whence a perpendicular line wiU. just clear the thigh, thence along the back-bone to the foroside of the top of the shoulder-blade. Reduce the girth and length to inches. Multiply the square of the girth by the length, and that product by the decimal .002, which will give the M-eight, in pounds and decimal parts. Suppose an ox to measure 7 feet or 84 inches in girth, and o-i feet or 66 inches in length ; then, The girth 84, multiplied by itself or squared, 7056 Multiplied by the length, 66 66 Product, and solid contents of the ox, 465,696 Multiplied by the decimal, 002 Gives 931 pounds, the weight of the ox, 931.392 The above rule gives the weight of the meat, hide, and tallow, of oxen having from forty to eighty pounds of rough tallow, cows from thirty to sixty pounds, and two year olds having from fifteen to thirty pounds. JUVENIS. For the Neio England Farmer. SIZE OF FOWLS. Mk. Cole : In the " American Union " of the 16th inst., there is a statement of the comparative weight of fowls, in which pullets or hens which weigh seven and eight pounds, and cocks that weighed ten pounds, are spoken of as something remarkable. I have caused some to be weighed, of the kind my son wUl furnish eggs from, and find Shanghac pullets and hens from stock o.iginally imported by R. E. Forbes, Esq., to weigh six and a half, seven, eight, and nine pounds each. I have also this day weighed my Cochin China cock, a splendid bird, and find the •weight to be eleven and one half pounds. He has been ohut up in the barn chamber from the first day of December last with five handsome pullets, from which I expect to raise a good stock of chickens, if possible to reserve eggs enough from many pressing demands. About the middle of March I shall have my poul- try in shape to be seen by any who wish to satisfy themselves as to the above statements. Yours, HOWARD B. COFFIN. Nbwxon Cobnek, Feb, 20. For the New England Farmer. BEARING YEARS OF APPLE-TREES. Mr. Cole : I have seen a good deal in agricul- tural papers about apple-trees bearing in odd years- I have been on the farm on which I now live eight- een years. I have one tree of the Baldwin apple, a part of which bears full every year, one part one year, the other the next. I do not now recollect that it has failed of bearing full, one part or the other, for eighteen years. I have a nrunber of trees of the Baldwin apple that bear in odd years, so that I have for a number of years had about two thirds as many apples in odd years as in even years, which, owing to the greater price they bring, makes my orchard about as much profit in odd as in even years, GEO. FITCH. South Bridgton, Jan. 24, 1850. Remarks. — There are numerous cases in which, part of an apple-tree bears in alternate years, and the other part in the intermediate yeare. The bear- ing year of a part of a tree may be fixed on certain years, while the other part bears in dilTerent years, on the same principle that any tree bears in certain years and not in others. A blast may come upon the windward side of a tree, owing to heavy storms at the season of blossoming, and change its bearing year on that side ; or a hot sun may kill the blossoms, or the organs of the flowers, on the side most exposed to the heat. This prevention of fruit may change the bearing year, as well as picking off the blossoms, or the defoliation of the tree by canker worms or other causes. — Ed. For the New England Farmer. MANURES. Mr. Editor : Having read frequent accounts in your excellent journal the past year, concerning the different modes of preparing and applying different kinds of manures to the soil, I propose to furnish your readers with a small experiment of my own, some four years since. Possessing a field on my farm containing a dozen acres or so, of an alluvial and loamy sod, I had planted of it, the year alluded to, about two acres in Indian corn, and being desirous to lay it down to grass the same fall, I was advised by a young man who worked for me that season, to cut it up and shock it. I did so as early as it would do, and sowed it down to grass and with winter rye, I think about the first of October. Being made acquainted by ocular demonstration with the good results of salt lye upon a piece of land belonging to one of my neighbors, I was induced to try the experiment on a part of my two acres of rye. Accordingly I laid it off into three equal lots. Upon the first I put two loads of salt lye, upon the second I put two loads of night soil, and upon the third lot I spread a moderate amount of meadow muck, which had lain in the barn-yard, in which were kept five cows over night, from the first of June to the time of laying down, at which time it was all lightly ploughed in. Now for the result. That part which received the salt lye was very heavy, and produced much the largest crop of rye. The part that received the meadow muck was next best, being a very fair yield. The part that was dressed with night soil was the poorest, being nothing more than middling. And so have continued the crops of grass every year since, varying in the same proportion. Now, Mr. Editor, I am not very fond of trying too NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 79 many experiments, or theories, or recommending their adoption by others, for the very good reason of sny limited knowledge of the cost. I am inclined to think that they who ha.ve the least experience in the art, are the most forward, sometimes, in giving in- structions to others. Having never farmed it on a very extensive scale, or had that experience which is necessary to constitute a good farmer, I have ever been caictious in adopting those experiments, some- times recommended by that class of farmers who are afraid of taking hold of a plough, or shovel, or hoe- handle, without fflcves on. CAUTION. NEWTo>f Cextre, Feb., 1850. THE USE AND VALUE OF NIGHT SOIL. That man gets his bones from the rocks and his muscles from the atmosphere, is beyond all doubt. The iron in his blood, and the lime in his teeth, were originally in the soil. But these could not be in his body unless they had previously formed part of his food. And yet we can neither live on air nor on stones. We cannot grow fat upon lime, and iron is positively indigestible in our stomachs. It is by means of the vegetable creation alone that we are enabled to convert the mineral into flesh and blood. The only apparent use of herbs and plants is to change the inorganic earth, air, and water into or- giuiic substances fitted for the nutrition of animals. The little lichen, which, by means of the oxalic acid that it secretes, decomposes the rocks to which it clings, and fits their lime for " assimilation " with higher organisms, is, as it were, but the primitive bone-maker of the world. By what subtile transmu- tation inorganic nature is changed into organic, and dead, inert matter quickened with life, is far beyond ■us even to conjecture. Suffice it that an express apparatus is required for the process — a special mechanism to convert the "crust of the earth," as it is called, into food for man and beast. Now, Lu nature every thing moves in a circle — perpetually changing, and yet ever returning to the point whence it started. Our bodies are continually decomposing and recomposing — indeed, the very process of breathing is but one of decomposition. As animals live on vegetables, even so is the refuse of the animal the vegetable's food. The carbonic acid which comes from our lungs, and which is poison for us to inhale, is not only the vital air of plants, but positively their nutriment. With the same wondrous economy that marks all creation, it has been ordained that what is unfitted for the sup- port of the superior organism is of all substances the best adapted to give strength and vigor to the infe- rior. That which wc excrete as pollution to our sys- tem, they secrete as nourishment to theirs. Plants are not only Nature's scavengers, but Nature's puri- fiers. They remove the filth from the earth, as well as disinfect the atmosphere, and fit it to be breathed by a higher order of beings. Without the vegetable creation the animal could neither have been nor be. Plants not only fitted the earth originally for the res- idence of man and the brute, but to this day they continue to render it habitable to us. For this end itheir nature has been made the very antithesis of ours. The process by which we live is the process by which they are destroyed. That which sup])orts respiration in us produces putrefaction in them. — What our lungs throw off, their lungs absorb — what our bodies reject, their roots imbibe. Hence, in order that the balance of waste and supply should be maintained — that the principle of universal compensation should be kept up, and that what is rejected by us should go to the sustenance of plants — nature has given us several instinctive mo- SivsA to remove our refuse from u£. She has nott only constituted that which we egest the most loathsome of all things to our senses and imagination, but she has rendered its effluvium highly pernicious to our health — sulphuretted hydrogen being at once the most deleterious and the most ofi'onsive of ail gases. Consequently, as in other cases where the great law of self-preservation needs to be enforced by special sanctions, nature has made it not only advantageous to us to remove our night-sod to the fields, but pos- itively detrimental to our health, and disgusting to our senses, to keep it in the neighborhood of our houses. — Eng. Paper, THE PARSNIP. Mr. Editor : Most farmers grow this root as a table luxury, but I have rarely seen it cultivated as a field crop. It is one of the finest and most valuable of vegetables, and in its neglect I behold illustrated the tyranny of custom. There are numberless and cogent arguments capable of being urged in favor of the parsnip. It is not only very easily cultivated, but one of the most nutritive roots that can be cul- tivated as a winter food for calves, cows, sheep, swine, and indeed, almost every description of domestic ani- mal usually found upon the farm. The soil required for the cultivation of this root, docs not vary greatly, in its essential characteristics, from that demanded for the cultivation of the carrot ; it should be hght, warm, and rather moist, but without liability to parch, and sufficiently rich in decomposing organic matters to insure a healthy development and matu- rity to the crop. The seed should be sown early, and the surface of the soil closely rolled, or consolidated by some artificial means in order to insure the geniii- nation of the seed — a result wiiich may be greatly facilitated by soaking before sowing, in some pre- pared steep ; say rain water in which a small quantity of nitre or saltpetre has been dissolved, or the stale from the barn- yard. As soon as the plants make their appearance, the weeds should be carefully ex- tirpated, and kept down during the season, or until the parsnips have acquired sufficient size to render their presence of little or no injury to the crop. Gypsum, applied in small quantities, at frequent intervals during the vegetable season, acts with highly advantageous effects upon the p;u-snip, as it docs also upon the beet and carrot. If the soil be rich and deep, with a well-graduated supply of moist- ure, I know of few vegetables wliich more abun- dantly repay the labor of the cultivator ; and as the plants are seldom attacked by insects, after the first two weeks, the serious losses and perplexing labora involved in the cultivation of other root crops, are, in the management of parsnips, as a general thing, unknown. The use of ffuaiio is highly recommended by some gardeners, in the cultivation of this root, as it is also in the cultivation of the beet, carrot, turnip and cabbage. In the few instances which have fallen under my owm direct observation, its appUeation to the parsnip has been uniformly productive of the best results. Bcnng a cheap fertilizer, of singular energy and efficiency, and involving but trivial cost in the appli- cation, I think it cannot be too highly recommended. Most persons who cultivate the parsnip as a table edible, do not take it up in autumn, but permit it to remain in the soil till spring. B)- adojjting a differ- ent course, however, and taking it up in the fall, say just before the closing of the ground by frost, wo secure to ourselves a much longer use of the plant, besides having it in greater perfection. When per- mitted to remain in the soil during A\intcr, it will fre- quently send out sprouts, and the textures of the fibrous parts become ligneous, and accjuire a pitchy jDr rcEinous flavor^ which renders them unpleasant to 80 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. most palates, and consequently depreciates their value for table use. If dug in the fall and carefully packed in boxes, with a suiticicnt quantity of mould from the beds in which they were grown, (in order to secure to the rents the same degree of moisture they were supplied with in their growing state,) they mav bo preserved until summer in the full power of all their more valuable and desirable qualities. It has been asserted by some cultivators who have introduced this crop into their routine, that it was preferable to the carrot ; and that wlien boiled, mixed with meal or steamed grain, it makes one of the richest, cheapest, and most healthful feeds for swine that can be obtained. In one of our leading agricul- tural publications, it is asserted that from eight to fota-teen hundred bushels of parsnips may be reason- ably relied on per acre, and that experience has already demonstrated the important fact, that taking one season with another, whore only ordinary atten- tion and expense in manuring and cultivation are bestowed, it costs one third less than the carrot, and considerably less than the potato. Horses eat the roots with avidity, fatten rapidly on them, and are capable, when confined to them as their only food, of performing as great an amount of labor, with less fatigue, than when fed on hay and grain. No insect appears to injure the parsnip ; the odor of its foliage is probably its protection ; and as to the roots, we are not aware that they are ever scarified or perfo- rated by worms. From these evils, so commonly ex- perienced in the cultivation of almost all other root crops, and which so greatly increase the expense of producing them, the parsnip enjoys a most singular and happy exemption. A NEW CORRESPONDENT. PniLADELPniA County, Dec. 19, 184!). — Germantown Telegraph. CHARCOAL FOR PLANTS. With respect to charcoal, whether it be wood, peat, or animal, I think that its value, either in agricul- tural or floricultural application, is not nearly so well known, nor so much appreciated, as it ought to be : that from wood I have long used with the greatest advantage, both in the drainage of pots and as an absorbent in the preparation of manure. For the former it is well suited, when placed over the hole in pieces large enough to prevent their falling through, and to the height of about a fourth of the pot, in the same manner as potsherds are employed. Owing to its highly antiseptic qualities, it will continue for several years in an undecaycd state, and consequently afford an efficient drainage for a much longer period than moss, while it is calculated not only to act in like manner as a conveyer of moisture to the plant, but will also tend greatly, from its powers of imbibing and gradually giving out any ammonia with which it comes in contact, and other fertilizing alkalies or gases that may exist in the soil, to produce a more healthy growth in the plant. " The peculiar property of charcoal," says Mr. Squarey, in his Treatise on Agricultural Chemistry, "and the only one that makes it iiseful in connection with the subject of manures, is its powers of absorbing various gases in the pores of its structure, and subsequently yielding them to moisture. It is proved beyond all doubt, that pure, fresh-burnt charcoal possesses the power of absorbing ninety times its volume of carbonic acid gas." And he further states, " If any manure has been applied, containing ammonia in its free state, that is liable to pass off in a gaseous form, the char- coal will absorb it a.s it rises, and retain it until the first rain, when the gas will be dissolved by the water and carried into the soil, there to be applied for the assimilation of plaixts ; aaxd the removal of the gas by the rain from the charcoal, restores its original power's of absorbing gas ; so that this substance, when ap- plied to the soil, acts as a constant reservoir for these valuable gaseous substances^ a property which neither time nor any circumstances can alter. Even Mhen, in the course of cultivation, the chai-coal originally applied on the surface of thb land, is ploughed under the surface — even there it does not lose its power of absorbing the gases, but carries on its operations with undiminished energy." Professor Johnston, in his valuable work on the Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, strongly recommends the mixing of charcoal, particularly animal charcoal, with liquid manure and other rich applications to the sod, but apprehends that the cost and scarcity of this sub- stance may preclude its being brought into general vise. — Gard. Chron., 1849, p. 485. SMUT-ITS PREVENTION. It is one of the happy advantages of the farmer's business, that he is less dejiendent on man and more upon his Creator, than those engaged in other occu- pations. Whether sowing, or reaping, or gathering, he must trust to Providence for most of his success. But there is one source from which the farmer often meets with heavy loss, in regard to which, ProAd- denee has left it to each man either to avoid it cer- tainly, or run the risk of leaving his crop to take its chance ; I mean, that every farmer may secure his wheat against smut, or he can let it alone. Soak, steep, or wash your M'heat in brine, and roU it in fresh slaked lime, and there will be little or no smut, according to the care you take in pre- paring it. " 1845, June 23, four positions (in my Egyptian wheat, unprepared) from which I gather all the smut heads within reach of my arm, give as follows : 9, 35, 15, 12. Four do. in that soaked, 0, 0, 4, 0 — being 68 to 4. " Five positions in white wheat imprepared, give 34 smut heads, whilst ten positions in that prepared only give 1." And to show the necessity of using lime to roll it in, — and mine was slaked just before using it, " in a walk through my blue-blade, I find thirty-three smut heads in the part brined only ; whilst a walk across that brined and limed gives only three. The smut this year is general, and in some fields forms one third of the crop. The land sown with wheat which had lain in brine all night, looks thin, and has looked so all the time." I must call particular attention to the last sentence from my journal, as subsequent experience has satis- fied me that if the wheat is allowed to remain too long in brine, it will not come up well. Another extract will both illustrate and explain my views : — " Oct. 7. The Mediterranean is up line, except that brined and limed, which is slow coming up, the dif- ference being marked on both sides. This was soaked for ten or twelve hours. I suppose it to be owing ta the extreme dryness of the ground and atmosphere which abstracted the moisture from the grain soaked." Since then I have merel}' p\it the wheat in, stir it round, skim it, draw off the brine, roll it, and sow. W. II. G. Frederick County, Ya., 1819. — Dollar Newspaper. Youth and Old Age. — As I approve of a youth that has scmething of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old roan that has something of the youth. He that foUows this rule may be old. i'.i body, but can, never he so in talnd.— - Cicevo^ NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 61 LUCOMB'S NONSUCH PLUM. This plum has not been cultivated to much extent in New England ; of course it has not been -well tested. Mr. Lackey, of Marblehead, whose favorable opinion of this fruit may be found in our last number, p. 60, remarked to us that he considered it almost equal to the Jefferson. We saw it last fall at Mr. L.'s, and it was very flourishing both in tree and fruit. Our engraving is from specimens which he kindly furnished, the quality of which was excellent. It will be seen, on p. 74, in our notice of the N. A. r. Society, that Mr. Thomas had an unfavorable opinion of this fruit, while others had a very favor- able opinion of it. It appears to be one of the most promising varieties, and worthy of experiments, if not of general culture. The fruit is rather large ; roundish, slightly flat- tened at the base, and considerably flattened at the top ; dark green, variegated with shades of yellow, and covered with white bloom ; the stem nearly straight, and two thirds or three fourths of an inch long, in a rather narrow, deep cavity ; suture broad and shallow ; flesh greenish, rather fine, rich, sweet, with an agreeable mixture of acid, llipons the last of August and the former part of September. The tree is hardy, vigorous, and a constant and pretty good bearer. English orij^in. FINE MUTTON. AVc lately saw, in the stall of Mr. Iliscock, No. 9 Fancuil Hall Market, some of the finest mutton and largest carcasses ever brought to this market. Mr. II. bought of Mr. George (joodhuc, Coberskill, Scho- harie Co.. N. Y., thirty-four fat sheep, supposed to be a cross of the Cotswold and Leicestershire breeds, both of which breeds are distinguished for their large size and fine mutton. The carcasses of the three largest weighed one hundred and eighty, one hun- dred and eight}'-two, and one hundred and eighty- four pounds, which far exceeds the largest ever brought to this market from England or from any section of this country. Mr. II. paid, for the largest five, thirty dollars each ; for the others, fifteen dollars each, delivered here. We have tried this mutton, and find it remarkably sweet and tender. We have often lu'ged upon our farmers the impor- tance of raising fat mutton, for our markets are scan- tily supplied with it. It would doubtless bo profit- able business. The great advantages for transpor- tation at a rapid and cheap rate, afford peculiar facilities for getting mutton to market, even from those sections where land is cheap. Many who grow fine wool would find it more profital)le to produce fat mutton and wool of common quality ; and this will continue to be good business, iintil our markets are better supplied with fat mutton. SOOT. The effects of this manure on growing crops, as a top-dressing, are immediate, owing to the large (quan- tity of sulphate of ammonia which it contains. It promotes in a high degree the growth of grass, and the second cut of clover is also great' y increased thereby. Soot promotes the growth of caljhagcs and other herbaceous jilaiUs in a remarkable manner, and is much esteemed for garden puri)0scs. It has been found advantageous as a tojj-dressing for wheat, but care should be taken not to apply it in lar>;c quanti- ties, or it may be injurious by burning the plants.— Trdiisactioiis oj' the llii/A/aiul liocicty. 82 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. JDomcstic Prpartmcut. The Influence of Womex. — It was an auspicious era in the world's history, when female intellect was delivered from the bonds of ignorance, and declared susccpti'olc of cultivation, and upon an equality in natural endowments Avitli the mind of man. Many illustrious men have been of the opinion that, as the " weaker vessel," woman was designed to be inferior in intellectual powers, — to be the servant, rather than the equal. However honest these may have been in their belief, and however strenuously they may have advocated, and endeavored to prove, the truth of the assertion, the historj' of modern times, the experience of our own age, most clearly furnish undeniable evidence to the contrary. Although it has been, comparatively, but a few years since a fe- male education was considered essential, there are a host of witnesses, who have distinguished themselves in every department of literature, and in every exer- cise of the mental abilities, to offer their testimony in behalf of woman's right to a thorough and practi- cal education. In the list of American women, we could point to many, whose depth of thovight, beauti- ful imagination, and refinement of expression, at least compete with, if they do not excel, the most extraor- dinary efforts of masculine writers. Nor is the proof of this equality alone dependent upon experiment. The Holy Scriptures, in recording the creation of man, give the strongest argument, and in the most explicit terms. As remarked by a learned writer, woman was not taken from the head of man, that she might become his superior, — but from his side, thus indicating her perfect equality ; not the ruler, nor the subject, but the participant in the joys or the sorrows of our race. The social state has placed her to preside over af- fairs around the domestic hearth — distasteful to the natural capacities of man ; where the harmony and peace of the family are especial objects of her guar- dianship. But this is not all ; the earliest impressions upon the human. mind, the first tutoring of the world, is confided to her. She is to plant the seeds of virtue or vice — of industry or idleness — in the soul of the infant. The new-born mind, fresh from the hand of its Creator, sjjotless and pure, is to dawn beneath the genial rays of a mother's piety, or to be seared and blighted by her negligence and vicious example. She is to stereotype upon the yielding surface lessons of reverence and godliness : to write upon its first pages, with the pen of holiness, a record of its obliga- tions to its Creator, and its future blessed immortality — or feed the sinful evidences of its fallen nature, for a fuller and more distant development, its pro.ieness to evil. IIow important, then, if these responsible situations are to be filled by woman, that she should be educat- ed, fitted and prepared for them ! By education we do not mean every thing that is generally classed under that head ; by no means. The spirit of impo- I ition, by v/liich no profession or vocation is unin- jured, has devised systems and branches, which it were far better if they remain unlearned. Nor do we allude to the most popular method of education, com- bining, as it docs, much that is useless, with a very small portion of available knowledge. It is the edu- cation of the heart, and the corresponding enlighten- ment of the mind with pure, practical, and necessary information. It is that education whi(di is calculated to instruct them in the objects of their creation; in the duties and obligations of the station which the foresight of Infinite Justice has assigned them; and the means by which thej' may act in unison with the designs of the Eternal; promote the enjoyment of their own privileges and comforts, and contribute to the happiness of others. These are things not to be learned in a day. Nor are they to be found in the resorts of fashionable seekers of amuscnicnt, nor among the gav and the trifling ; nor yet in the institutions of outward ac- complishments, and superficial instruction. All these are most eminent means of disqualifying woman for the duties naturally imposed upon her, and change her destiny from being the most potent power to im- part good, to an e\al destroyer, scattering abroad with a reckless hand the germs of vice, whose fruit can alone be fully recognized in eternity. Woman is not only the equal of man — his com- panion and helpmate — and the being to whom the first impressions of infancy are confided — but also the i^reseiwer of the union and the harmony of soci- ety. She it is whose approbation can nerve to fire the spirit of the coldest temperament ; whose frown will disjjirit the most ardent ambition ; whose plead- ing tear will melt the ice-clad heart, and draw from the close embrace of a frigid nature, the warmest and most sympathetic sentiments. She is the ruler of mankind — if not by holding the reins of political government, nor by preeminence in evangelical and sectarian power — still, she gov- erns, by the most potent of all sceptres — moral sua- sion. Her power in controlling man is almost unlim- ited ; and while, as a general rule, she is inclined to be mild and generous, she can be worse than tyranni- cal — for her dominion is such, tliat none will fail to acknowledge it, and few will venture to disre- gard it. In view of these facts, they who are to occupy this all-important position have no time to spend upon whimsical and temporary accompUshments, and shal- low, imperfect, and unnecessary systems of instruc- tion. So great an end must be difficult of attainment — and yet, unless it be arrived at, the design of the Almighty has not been carried out, and woman is perverted from the most perfect creation of Deity, and the most powerful means of instilling \'irtue, into a vain, foolish, and degraded creature. In short, the only study of woman should be — herself ! A theme sufficiently complicated to admit of the most i)rofound research, and continued inves- tigation, and important enough to demand the whole of her leisure time and attention. It is not neces- sary, nay, it is utterly superfluous, to crowd her mind with the literature of obsolete ages, and with theo- retical fantasies of speculative brains. She is not to fulfil her duties by theory, but by every day prac- tice ; why, then, withhold from her a tangible, useful education ? She is never to roam over the fields and converse with the inhabitants of the planets or stars — why, then, consume her time with the relation of pure sijeculations, and imaginary truths, when she has to acquire so much, which she must either use in her daily Ufe, or feel her unpardonable deficiency ? Whj' instruct her in the polish of an education, while she is ignorant of its elements ? Whj' teach her to execute the most beautiful pieces of elegant embroid- ery, and at the same time leave her unknown to the most simple lesson of domestic duty ? Why teach her to mimic the tawdry colors and motions of the butterfly, and suffer her to remain untaught in the objects and end of her creation ? Tliese are solemn inquiries — we feel them to be such — and we address them to those who have charge of the female mind ; and most earnestly rec- ommend a more universal attention to the practical education of young women. They are to be wives, practically — mothers, practically — guardians of young intellects, practically ; and should they not be aware of these facts, and, by a practical, tangible, and available education, prepared for the discharge of these responsible duties ? NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 83 T)ontl)*3 ^Department. How DO Tou SPEXD TOUR EvENiNGS ? — Young man, how do you spend your evenings ? Answer this ques- tion, and wc can tell you, almost to a certainty, what will be your future character. In our view, more depends upon the manner in which young men puss this season, as it regards their course and conduct in years to come, than upon any thing else. We have been an observer of men and things, for tlie last twenty years, and can point to many a youth, who has caused weeping and sorrow in his family, dis- graced his name, and is now an outcast in the world, or has sunk to a dishonored grave, who commenced his career of vice, when he broke away from whole- some restraint and spent his evenings in the company of the abandoned. On the contrary, we know many estimable young men — the pride and hope of their friends — who are working their way to favor and wealth, who spend their leisure evenings in some useful pursuit. Young man, listen to us, and take heed to our words — not that we wish to deprive you of a single pleasure, or debar you from any innocent amusement. We entreat you to be particular where and how you pass your evening hoiu-s. K you lounge about the bar-room, partaking of the vulgar conversation that is introduced, and join the ribald song, or stand at the corner of the streets, using profane and indecent lan- guage, you will soon so habituate yourself to low blackguardism and vile conversation, that no young man who respects himself will be found in your com- pany. ^caltlj JBepartmcnt. Medical Uses of Salt. — In many cases of dis- ordered stomach, a teaspoonful of salt is a certain cure. In the violent internal aching, termed cholic, add a teaspoonful of salt to a pint of cold water — drink it, and go to bed ; it is one of the speediest remedies known. The same will revive a person who seems almost dead from receiving a very heavy fall, &c. In an apoplectic fit, no time should be lost in pour- ing down salt and water, if sufficient sensibility remain to allow of swallowing ; if not, the head must be sponged with cold water until the senses return, when salt will completely restore the patient from the lethai-gy. In a fit, the feet should bo placed in warm water, with mustard added ; and the legs briskly rubbed, all bandages removed from the neck, and a cool apart- ment procured if possible. In many cases of severe bleeding at the lungs, and when other remedies fail. Dr. Hush found two tcaspoonfuls of salt completely stayed the blood. In cases of bite from a mad dog, wash the part with strong brine for an hour, then bind on some salt with a rag. In tooLhacho, warm salt and .water held to the part, and renew cd two or three times, will relieve in most cases. If the gums be affected, wash the mouth with brine ; if tlie teeth be covered with tartar, wash them twice a day with salt and water. In swelled neck, wash the part with brine, and drink it also twice a day until cured. Salt will expel worms, if used in the food in a moderate degree, and aids digestion ; but salt meat is injurious if used much. XHcdjanks' Department, ^xXq^ $^c Manufacture of Parchment Vellum is made of the skins of calves, kids, and dead born lambs ; and parchment is made of thin sheep and she goat skins. The wool or hair must be removed from them first, and then they are steeped in a pit of lime water. After they are taken out of the lime pit, they are shaved and well washed, and then stretched on a li'ame made of upright and croas pieces strongly fas- tened together, and the bars are perforated with a series of holes to receive hard wood or iron tapered pins. Each pin has a hole in it like a violin pin, to hold the struig tied to the skin, to stretch it, and pre- vent it from puckering while drjing. Skewers are also employed to stretch more or less of the skin on this frame, {hcrse,) according as a greater or less piece is required to get hold of. Some employ hoops in place of the herse, and this answers tolerably well. The great point is to stretch the skins as much as possible, keeping out all the wrinkles. While the skin is on the stretching frame, the workmen, with a currj'ing double edged knife, remove the fleshy ex- crescences by drawing the knife downwards. The skin is then sprinkled upon the fleshy side with chalk, and well rubbed with a piece of flat pumice stone. The pumice stone is then rubbed over the other surface of the skin without chalk. The skin is then allowed to dry, but must be protected from sun- shine and frost. It must not be dried too suddenly. When it is perfectly dry, the chalk is removed by rubbing it with the woolly side of a lamb"s skin ; but great care must be taken, in this process, not to injure the surface. AH grease must of necessity be removed from it; this is the object of steeping it in lime. After the skin is dried, it is transferred to a frame called the scropcr, where it is extended with cords, generally upon a piece of calf skin well stretched. The skin is placed with the tail downwards, when the rough edges are pared off with a sharp knife, and then the outside surface is scraped obli(iuely down- Avards till it becomes perfectly smooth, and whatever irregularities may remain, are removed by a fiat, smooth piece of pumice stone. To do this, the skin is placed upon a stool stuffed with wool and covered with soft parchment. It is called the cushion. The pumice stone should be very fine, the finer they are the better. Sometimes there are small holes made in the parchment skin ; these are neatly patched by cutting the edges thin and pasting on small pieces with gum water. Parchment is often colored green, which is done by a mixture of cream of tartar, verdigris, and nitric acid, (only a small quantity of the latter.) It is made into a solution of water and laid on evenly with a sponge — the skin having been first wet. Parchment receives its necessary lustre from the white of eggs, or weak gum water. — Sci. American, Ventilating Bricks. — The London Huildcr says that there has been registered in the Patent Office a brick so shaped, that when two are placed end to end, a circular space is left at the junction. This circular sjiace connecting from course to course, a wall formed with them is, to a certain extent, hollow, and admits of currents of air through it, either heated or otherwise. Each brick is nine inches square and three inches thick, the size of two com- mon bricks, so that only half the usual number is re([uircd to do a rod of brick work ; and as they pay but one duty, and are laid with a very little more labor than a common brick, the work may be exe- cuted at considerable saving. A common brick is used at the angle of each course. — Jbid. 84 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. EQUINOCTIAL STORMS. From many years' observation, we have formed an opinion that the common notion about the equinoc- tial storm, or line gale, is erroneous. We have often said to our friends, of the contrary belief, about the time the sun crosses the equator, that we had no storm, but they have said that it would come soon ; and after waiting so long for the line gale that a storm could not be considered as coming under that head, they have observed that it must have been such a storm that happened some days, or a week or two, before the equinox. This is a subject of considerable practical importance to fanners, as they are intimately interested in the condition of the weather ; therefore we copj' the following very interesting article, on this subject, from the Ohio Cultivator, which we are happy to meet with, as they confirm our ojiinions, which we think are founded on truth. We invite a close investigation of this subject in future. " THE EaUINOCTIAL STOEM " EXPLODED. (I P)-oi-g all things — holdfast to that which is good." Among the many errors that have been allowed almost undisturbed possession of the public mind, perhaps for centuries past, few are more common than the belief in equinoctial storms : and, as we shall pres- ently show, few notions are more destitute of sup- port either from science or actual observation. Our attention has been called to this subject for eight or ten years past, owing to the occurrence of the agri- cultural fairs in the month of September, and the objection which would invariably bo made against holding a fair during the week when the equinox would occur, on account of the supposed probability of bad weather. But on observation, we have no- ticed that from the 20th to the last of September was, if any thing, more commonly fine weather than any other period ; hence we discarded the popular doctrine of ot^iiinoctial storms. At the meeting of the Board of Agriculture in Cincinnati last spring — the time for the State Fair being under discussion — this "equinoctial storm" theory was strongly defended ; and knowing that Dr. Ilay, of Woodward College, had for many years kept an exact daily record of the weather, we have requested him to favor us with the result of his ob- servations upon this point. The following communi- cation is his answer, and we think it is conclusive ; but if anj' important facts or arguments are adduced on the other side, the Doctor has the daily records, and will give them. — Ed. Equinoctial Storms. — Is the weather, at that period of the year denominated the Autumnal Equinox, (Sept. 23,) generally stormy, or of a more unfavor- able character than at other periods ? This question is proposed in reference to the Northern and Middle States ; though what is true in regard to them, cannot vary materially in the Southern States. In reply to this question, it may be observed, that popular opiyiion has long since decided in the affirm- ative. The time when the " sun crosses the line " is, in the estimation of numerous individuals, a very important astronomical event, and quite worthy of being celebrated with storms of wind and rain, and a general disturbance of the atmosphere. The "line" {equator) is also regarded as some great physical development, like the mountain ridge, encircling the earth. In regard to popular opinion, it is onh' necessary to observe that it is a very unsafe guide, both with regard to the existence of facts, and the causes of phenomena, but especially the latter. There are, however, two methods of answering the question, both of which we shall briefly notice. First. Is there any thing at the period of the equi- nox, in the particxilar relation of the great operating causes, that has a tendency to produce an unusual state of the weather ? In reply to this it may be said, we have the equinox. And pray, what consti- tutes the equinox ? Simply the fact that the sun has no declination, or for a moment of time (and only a moment) is vertical at some point of the imaginary LINE on the earth's surface called the equator. But the svui is always vertical to some point on the earth's surface ; can it then be supposed that the mere fact of its being vertical at a certain point equally distant from the poles, shall have such a due influence as to conjure up vapors, storms, winds and rain, as if na- ture designed, by raising a great commotion in the atmosphere, to celebrate one astronomical period, while others, equally important so far as the earth ia concerned, are permitted to pass by unheeded and unsignalized ? Thus the periods when the earth passes through the aphelion and perihelion points have an important relation to the climate of the earth, and to the seasons of the year ; but as they are not generally so well known as the period of the equinox, they have not been furnished with storms to celebrate their advents. Seeo7id. What is the testimony of recorded obser- vations ? To this I reply, no writer on meteorology that I have consulted, makes any mention of such a phenomenon as in common parlance is denominated an equinoctial storm. I refer particularly to Kaemtz, Daniel, Howard, and Ferry, all of whom in their respective works treat of the subjects of rain, winds, and storms. One of these (Kaemtz) furnishes tables of the number of storms occurring at different places during each month of the year ; but at no place did the greatest number of storms occur either in Sep- tember or October. Now it can hardly be supposed, if such a phenomenon as an eqtiinoctial storm existed, that it would have entirely escaped the observation of men whose hves were devoted to the collection of facts pertaining to the science of meteorology, and reasoning from them. My own observations extend through a period of fifteen years, but the records of 1835, except the abstract, are not now to be found, so that I can only refer to them since that period. During this period oi fourteen years, te^i of these equinoctial days were either clear, or fair and pleasant days ; while two, though partly clear, were more than one half cloudy ; and two only were entirely cloudy and partly rainy. But those who maintain that there is usually a "6arf spell of weather" at or near the equinox, may wish to know how many such spells happen within some given period, of which the equinox was the middle. For the satisfaction of such, I would state, that by taking a period of one month, that is, about two weeks before and two weeks after the equinox, we have had five bad spells of weather, while on nine of the years there was no weather that could be called unpleasant. From those data it would seem, that if a great pub- lic meeting were to be held in the month of Septem- ber, it would be advisable to fix it for the 23d — the very day of the equinox ! — as the probabiUties are very strong (6-7) that it would be a dry day, and pretty strong (-5—7) that it would be fair, that is, more than half clear ; while the probabilitv that it would be wet is very small (1-7.) JOSEPH KAY. Woodward Col., Cin., Nov. 1819. Fat Cattle. — Hezekiah Taylor, of Westficld, Mass., has five pairs of steers, whose aggregate weight is 22,220. The several pairs weighed as fol- lows: 4,620, 4,020, 3,990, 3,880, 3,760. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 85 PROFITS OF A DAIRY. Mr. Editou : We have many times noticed in your paper, statements made by diifcrcnt writers on the profits of a dairy. Below wc give you an account of the proceeds of our dairy in the year 1819, from forty-one cows, six of which were heifers, having their first calves the same season : — 41 calves, at four weeks old, $-1 each $KA 00 3747 lbs. cheese, at 9 cents per pound 3.'57 32 6569 lbs. butter, best quality, for table use, at 20 cents per pound 1,.313 80 6070 gallons, or 18 gallons per day, new milk used on table, never skimmed, at 3 cents per quart 788 40 For manure 200 00 Total amount $2803 52 Expenses, &c. 10 tons wheat bran, or ship stuff, at ,f 10 per ton $100 00 900 bushels beets, at 12.J cents jjcr bushel.. 75 00 02 tons of hay, at $8 per ton 496 00 26 weeks' pasturing for 41 cows, at 12^ cents per week each 333 25 Slops from kitchen, during the year 15 00 Not expense .«!1019 25 Total amount $2803 52 Deduct expenses 1019 25 Balance $1784 27 Making an average for each cow, of Butter 150 lbs. 3^ oz. Cheese 96 lbs. 64 oz. Milk 160 gallons. The milk, it will be understood, is that which is used on table by boarders, never skimmed. Add manure and calves and the total amount for each cow $68 37 Deduct expenses 24 86 Net profit to each cow $43 51 Made of butter in the month of October, 1849 : 1st week 180 lbs. 2d " 201 " * 3d •' 191 " 4th " 187 " 6th (i week) 173 " Total in October 932 lbs. We prefer putting our cows in the stable while milking, at all seasons of the year. This affords an opportunity of messing twice a day, and is done regularly at time of milking, believing it the best time. Wheat bran, (or shorts,) mixed witli slops from the kitchen of dairy, makes a good feed for milch cows. Some think it quite objectionable and very un- natural for coics to cat or- drink whcij and milk, but we see no good reason for such objections. Wc have practised, for some years, feeding our cows with the whey and skimmed milk from our dairy, mixed with wheat, buckwheat, or rye bran, and have never seen any injurious effects whatever; but, on the contrary, believe it to be very bcneticial, and prodiutive of good sweet milk and butter. It is very necessary for milch cows to be well sup- plied with good pixre water, especially in the winter • Largest amount of any week during the year. season, when fed on dry fodder. We make a prac- tice of watering our cows twice a day, morning and night; this is given them in the stable, where they can drink at leisure, sheltered from cold and storm. New Leisanon 8u.\keh Village, (numbering one hundred and thirty persons.) — Pittajield CuUurist. nvlPROVEMENT OF STOCK. Wc copy the following article from tlie report of the Committee on Bulls, T. E. Payson, E^q., Chair- man, published in the Essex Agricultural Society's Transactions : — Naturally and intimately associated with our rcpor*, is the subject of "Improving the Breed of Cattle." A remark or two upon that subject may be neither uninteresting nor out of place. The importance of a more thorough knowledge, of clearer ideas upon it, than we now have, is apparent to every bodv. In fact, no such thing as breeding stock, as an art, is known among us ; and the man who has the credit of being a stock -raiser, generally gets it because he has a greater number of half-starved calves than his neighbors, and in whose stock there are as many varieties of shape and color, as there were in the stock of Jacob, when he separated from his father-in- law. Every imported bull that hap])ens to come iu his neighborhood, no matter what his blood, nor what the blood of his cow, is crossed with his stock. Now although crossing in any way is preferable to breed- ing in and in, yet this indiscriminate crossing wiU never, to any extent, improve our stock. If we get a good cow, it is the result of accident — mere chance. Experience, so far, has shown that importations from abroad, and the crossing with them, have iu no way benefited our milch cows. They may have furnished us better oxen in some respects ; but they have not yet helped xis to any more butter and cheese. Your committee are of opinion, that the only suc- cessful mode of improving our stock, is by a judi- cious, systematic, enlightened attempt, which has for its basis the native stock of the country. And it is only by an enlarged view of this, or any other matter connected with nature, that we can amve at the truth. The advantage of crossing has been spoken of; but let it be remembered, that if you expect good from it, you must bring together animals, )iot nearly related, but of the same breed. Nature is uniform in her operations. Wild animals of a particular breed are generally of the same shai)c and color. Flowers resemble each other. But by man's intervention, the beast, the bird, the flower, are made to assume new colors and forms. If these clianges are of value, they must be the result of sound judgment, enlarged views, enlightened experience, and a complete knoN\l- edge of the principles upon which nature operates. Until these arc attained, you maj' spend money, you may import stock, you may offer premiums, and no more benefit be derived from it, than has been from what has been done by this anil other societies for the last thirty years. We have no better cows now than we had then ; wc have no larger propor- tion of them ; and in our breeding, whether or not the calf which we raise will make a good cow, or bo good for nothing, is all mere chance. The State Society have, with a zeal worthy of imitation, in most respects, made ellbrts to improve the stock of the country. But has that zeal been entirely according to knowledge ? Can thej' put their finger on any point, and say. In this respect at least we have made some jirogress ? It may be that your committee have not full knowledge on this sub- ject ; but wo arc satisfied that if the stock " which boasts of a long line of ancestry of the purest and most approved breeds," and Ls not tainted with a 86 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. drop of " ignoble blood," is not more productive, so far as the dairy is concerned, than it is generally reported to be, it is better adapted to a royal than a republican territory. In conclusion, we hesitate not to say, that we have the elements of as good milch cows, as there are any where, and that if men M'ho have the means, will apply science and enlightened judgment to their developcmcnt, instead of going abroad lor cows, we can furnish better of our own, than can be found elsewhere in the wide world. ONIONS FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL. To give some idea to those who have not thought on the subject of the effects of age upon a cultivated soil, I shall here mention a fact that struck me as being not a little singular at the time it occurred. At Dunstaffnage, near Oban, in Argyleshire, Scol;- land, which is a mountainous country, and naturally a barren soil, a small garden was pointed out to me, on which was growing at the time one of the finest crops of onions I had ever seen. I took notice of it with some degree of surprise, because I had seen no other crop of onions in that district that was toler- able ; but my surprise was a good deal augmented on being told, that the present crop in that garden was by no means remarkable ; that it had been cropped with onions, year after year, from time immemo- rial ; that the present owner of it, who was a man above eighty years of age, had never seen any other crop than onions upon that ground; and that the oldest person alive, when he was a boy, had told him the same thing, and the crop was always an excellent one. Dunstatfnage was a royal palace, belonging to the kings of Scotland at an early period of their his- tory, almost beyond record ; and there can be little reason to doubt that this garden was brought under cultivation at that time, so that it cannot now be less than five hundred years old, and probably several hundred years more. I question much if the soil could have been rendered capable of producing suc- cessive crops of such fine onions, for a great many years after it was first turned up from the waste, by any device that the ingenuity of man could have suggested. To judge, then, of the most profitable mode of cropping such old soils, by the same rules that would apply to those which had not had time to be fully inatured, would be very absurd. Many cases of this sort would no doubt occur on our survey of the Netherlands, could it be properly efi'ected, — Dr. Anderson. MANURES. I apprehend that all are fully aware, that the prin- cipal source of vegetation is that of putrescent mat- ter; hence the importance of attention to the collec- tion of as much vegetable and animal substances, as can possibly be accumulated during the less busy part of the season. The bottom of the barn-yard should bo so enclosed, as that the extracts from the manures, produced by rains, could be retained, and absorbed by a layer of earth previously jjut in, say from four to ton inches in depth ; this under stra- tum is designed as an absorbent to retain all the ex- tractive matter produced ; and it will be found to contain a large quantity of fertilizing material thus secured, in addUiou to the araoiint of manure pro- duced in the usual way barn-yards are generally managed. This a^Ulitional compost may be used with decided benefit for the corn crop ; or it may be rcmov(!d in common with the vegetable manure of the yard for the winter crops. If intended for the latter crops, the whole ma.is should be well mixed together, and a most valuable mantiro Mill be the '■e&ult. The great object in the application of manures should be to make it afford as much soluble matter as possible to the roots of the plants, and that in a slow and gradual manner, so that it may be entiiely consumed in forming its organized parts. Manures from animal substances, in general, do not require a chemical preparation to fit them for a judicious application for the soil. They need only to be blended with earthly constituents, in a proper state of proportions, thereby preventing their too rapid decomposition. Agricultural chemistry teaches that all manures from organized substances contain the elements of vegetable matter, which, during putre- faction, are rendered cither soluble iu water, or aeriform ; and in this condition they are capable of being assimilated to the vegetable organs. Plants can grow only in places where they arc supplied with nourishment, and the soil is equally necessary to their existence, both as aflbrding them sujiport to a certain extent, and enabling them to obey those mechanical laws by which nature develops their perfection. A. S. Montgomery Co., Pa., 1850. — Dollar Newsjiapcr. ELECTRICITY. The earth is the great reservoir of electricity, from which the atmosphere and clouds receive their por- tion of the fluid. It is during the process of evap- oration that it is principally excited, and silently con- voyed to the regions above ; and also during the condensation of this same vapor, the grand and ter- rific phenomena of thunder and lightning are made maniJcst to our senses. In order to form a correct estimate of the immense power of this agent in the production of electricity, we must bring to our view the quantity of water evaporated from the surface of the earth, and also the amount of electi-icity that may be developed from a grain of this liquid. According to the calculation of Carvallo, about five thousand two hundred and eighty million tons of water are probably evaporated from the Mediterranean Sea in a single summer's day. To obtain some idea of the vast volume of water thus daily taken up by the thirsty heavens, let us compare it with something rendered more apparent than this invisible process. President Dwight and I'rofessor Darby have both estimated the quantity of water precipitated over the Falls of Niagara at more than eleven million tons per hour. Yet all the water passing over the cataract in twenty days would amount only to that ascending from the Mediter- ranean in one day. More recent estimates make the mean cvai)oration from the whole earth as equal to a column of thirty-five inches from every inch of its surface in a year, which gives ninety-four thousand and fifty cubic miles as the quantity annually circu- lating through the atmosphere. 'I'hus wo see the magnificent scale on which the great raachhie works. \)y. Fanaday has shown that a single drop of water contains as much electricity as an ordinary flash of lightning — enough at least to destroy the life of an elephant. Thus the little dcwdrop, from which the poet has derived such sweet images, may su"-pioyment, for whoever cultivates the earth, and covers it with rich and golden crops, renders it more bcautifnl ; and whoever causes the earth to yield its fruits, increases the means of human comfort and subsistence. Irrhsoi.utiox In matters of great importance, and which must be done, there is no surer argument of a weak mind than irresolution ; to be undeter- mined where the case is so plain, and the necessity so urgent ; to be always intending to lead a new life, but never to find time to set about it ; this Ls as if a man should put off eating and drinking, and sleeping, from one day and night to another, till ho is starved and destroyed. — TiUotson. 88 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. New England I'oui.tky Ekeedek, Containing a History of Domestic Fowls, witli Directions for Rearing and Management, illustrated with Engrav- ings. By a Tractical Poulterer. Eoston : R. B. Fitts & Co. This work embraces a variety of interesting matter to the poultry breeder, particularly in regard to the descriptions of fowls. It contains an engraving of the Cochin China fowls, taken from the only lot, as it is said, that have been imported into this country. Tliis breed has generally been confounded with the Shanghae. The IIokticulturist. — This work is devoted to the various subjects of horticulture, rural taste, and rural architecture. The editor, A. J. Downing, Esq., eustains a high reputation from his works, which have lone much to diffuse useful information and correct taste throughout the country. An important feat- ure in this work is the embellishment of rural residences, a subject almost wholly neglected in many sections. Published montlily, by L. Tucker, Esq., Albany, N. Y., at $3 per year ; Messrs. J. Breck & Co., agents in this city. Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture. — Our read- ers have occasionally read our favorable notices of this work. Each number contains outlines and minute descriptions of various important fruits, their origin, history, &c., with a great variety of other highly valuable mattei*. We are pleased that the price of this valuable magazine has been reduced, (as may be seen by advertisement in our advertising department,) as it will greatly extend the circixlation of the work. American Flora, in monthly parts, each part illustrated with beautiful likenesses of plants, taken from nature. The botanical descriptions, history, propagation, culture, and uses of each plant are fully given. By Dr. A. B. Strong. Green & Spencer, New York. This is a splendid, beautiful, and interesting work. A new edition has just been commenced, which affords subscribers an opportunity to begin ■with the commencement of the work. Illustrated Natural History, by the same ed- itor and publishers, is embellished with numerous engravings, which are remarkable for their lifelike appearance ; and so interesting is the matter, that if this work is put into a family, they will take great pleasure in gaining a knowledge of this important branch of natural science. It is montlily, at the low price of $1 per year. Transactions op the Norfolk Agricultural Society-. — Although this is tlie first number of this work, as the society has been in operation only one year, it is of large size, and well filled with interest- ing matter. Insurance Arstract for 1849. A locomotive is the only good motive that can be given for ruling a man on a rail. For the New England Fanner. HYMN TO FARMERS. Plough on ! ye vigorous sons of toil — God's noblemen, who feed mankind ; Your calling is to till the soil — The noblest work of hands and mind. Commissioned by the seal of God, Turn ye the stubborn glebe with pride ; For at your will shall forests nod. And earth to you its li-uits confide. Heaven's chosen almoners on earth. Your moistened brows shall bless mankind ; And as ye send your bounties forth, So each shall his own blessmg find. Toil on, and raise your standard higher, And let the crj' be, '♦ Higher still ! " 'Tis emulation fans the fire, And keeps alive the sturdy will. Tlie mace of power let others wield; Yoier talents spread upon the soil ; And God shall give a bounteous yield, And well reward your faitliful toil. D. Boston, Jan. 26, 1850. THE OLIO. A sharp Retort. — The following, from an ex- change paper, is the best hit that we have lately seen : "Two old gentlemen of our acquaintance were com- plimenting each other on their habits of temperance. ' Did you ever, neighbor,' said one, ' see nie with more than I could carry ? ' ' No, mdeed,' was the reply, ' not I, but I have seen you when I thought you had better have gone twice after it.' " A man who had become rich by his own exertions, was asked by a friend the secret of his success. " I have accumulated," replied he, " about one half my property by attending strictly to my own business, and the other half by letting other peojilc's alone." If the spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn no fruit. So, if youth be trifled away Avithout improvement, riper years will be contemptible, and old age miserable. It should be an indispensable rule in life, to hmit our expenses to our present condition ; and whatever may be our expectations, to live within the compass of what we actually possess. "Digby, will you have some of the butter?" " Thank you, inarm, I can't take any thing strong ; I belong to the Temperance Society." TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ^1 a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this otfi 'e. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage .^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1^ e^nts, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE boston STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ♦ ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agricaltnre not only gives riches to a nation , but the only riches she can call her o-wn. — ioUKso's. VOL. II. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1830. NO. 6. S. W. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOUIISE, Pkoprietor. NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY FOR THE IM- PROVEMENT OF DOMESTIC FOWLS. Feu. 28, the agricultural meeting v/as held at the State House, Mr. Calhoun, the president, in the chair. The subject was the formation of a poultry association. A few remarks were made in regard to the important subject of domestic fowls, and the advantages that would result from an association for the purposes of improvement in this branch of rural economy. Parts of the report of the commit- tee of supers'ision of the late Fowl Breeders' Con- ■^•ention were read, having a tendency to encourage the object of the meeting. A committee was appointed to prepare and report a constitutioii for the consideration of the meeting. In due time they reported a constitution, which was accepted. A committee was then appointed to nom- inate officers, who reported the following list : — Pfesicktit. — Samuel Jaques, Ten Hills Farm. Vice-Presidents. — Massachusetts: Paoli Lothrop, South Iladley ; J. C. Bennett, Plymouth. PJiode Island : John Giles, Providence ; W. S. King, Wood- land Farm. Maine: Russell Eaton, Augusta; Rufus Mclutiro, Parsonsficld. New Hampshire : Col. Ste- vens, Concord ; II. C. Parker, Manchester. Ver- mont : Frederick Holbrook, Brattloboro' ; N. T. Sheaf, Westmhister. Connecticut : C. II. Pendle- ton, Pendleton Hill ; Ethan Allen, Porafret. Treasurer. — George E. White, Boston. Recording Secretary. — John C. Moore, do. Cwrespondiiuj Secretary. — Henry L. Dcvorcux, do. Trustees. — Timothy House, W. J. Buckminstcr, Ebcn Wight, Boston ; E. S. Kelley, Ncwburyport ; B. W. Balch, Dcdham ; Alfred A. Andrews, Rox- bury ; John Brooks, Princeton ; John Mcnlll, Wm. Stickncy, Cambridge. The report was accepted, and the gentlemen nom- inated declared elected. The above list indicates the character of the con- stitution in regard to officers. The constitution pro- vides that all the above officers constitute a board of trustees for the general management of the affairs of the society. Any person may become a member for life, by paying two dollars. Two exhibitions are to be held annually, one in the summer, and the other late in autumn. During the time the committees were out, several gentlemen made interesting remarkis on the subject before the meeting. Col. Jaques, Col. ITiayer, of Braintree, and Mr. Giles, of Rhode Island, took .1 conspicuous part in the discussion. Gov. Briggs and other distinguished gentleraoji were present, and the haU was well filled. After the permanent organ- ization of the society, a large number crowded around the table, and put tlicir names on the list of mem- bers, which was headed by the governor of the commonwealth. Thus has this association for one of the most use- ful purposes commenced its existence under t!ie most favorable auspices, and we trust, that with the judicious management of the officers, and a favor- able response from the people, it will flourish, and spread its genial influence, not only over New Eng- land, but over the whole country. REV. MORRILL ALLEN. Tliis gentleman has long been distin::;vushed as an excellent practical firmer, for he w;is among the rao:it prominent pioneers in improvement, and the valuable instructions from hi,! pen have been sown broadcast over the country, often falling on a congenial soil, and producing an abundant harvest. Our friend has been so efficient in this cause, that ho is justly styled the " Model Farmer," the " Veteran Farmer of Pembroke," &c. He has earned an en- viable reputation, that will endure, while the fame of the aspiring demagogue, who owes his notoriety to transient causes, will be buiicd in rubbi.--h by the whirlwind of party strife. ^\'c arc happy in paying this tribute to genuine worth, and recording it in a work, whicli from its permanent form, and adaption to the library, will, we trust, survive for ages. Mr. Allen gives the worthy example of accumulating a handsome prop- erty by farming, for he received only a few hundred dollars a year for his clerical services. We regret that he finds it necessary to decline acting any 90 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. longer in an official capacity in the agricultural society of his county, as appears from the following resolve of the trustees : — "NVhcreas the Hon. Monrai-L Allen, of Pembroke, who, for thirty years last past, has emphatically iden- tified himself "-with the agricidtural interests of Plym- outh county, and by his science and practical skill in farming, has won the distinguished appellation of the " Model Farmer," has communicated his deter- mination, by reason of his advanced age, to retire from further official service in the Plymouth County Agricultural Society, — Therefore, Resolved, That this Board respectfully tender to Mr. Allex an acknowledgment of the obligations of this society to him for devoting so much of his time and talents to its objects, and for the eminent success and ability with which he has for many years tilled the offices of its President and Supervisor. Attest, JESSE PERKINS, Sec. LECTURES ON THE VETERINARY ART. February 28, and March 7, Dr. Brooks delivered lectures before the agricultural meetings, giving a history of the absurd practices in past ages, and the progress in veterinary science in modern times, in Europe. At the beginning of the former meeting, Dr. Warren, one of the trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, remarked that while Dr. Brooks was a student in Europe, the board of trustees of said society requested him to continue some years longer, for the purpose of attending the veterinary school at Altfort, near Paris, and studying the anat- omy and j^hysiology of the horse, and the mode of treating diseases, for the purpose of giving instruc- tion in these branches on his return to this country. Dr. Brooks's lectures were wholly historical in re- lation to this important art or science. He showed particularly the thorough studies and practice re- quired at the school we have named, before a student could receive his diploma. The time of attendance is four years, and those who do not make good progress are put back, in order to become thorough before leaving the institution ; so that some have to study five, six, or eight years. Such were the reg- ulations, that a more thorough knowledge of the vet- erinary science was required of graduates than was required of the students of medicine. He spoke of the French schools of this' character being far supe- rior to the English, both in thoroughness and in the time required to graduate. Dr. Brooks contemplates delivering a course of lectures on the diseases of the horse, another season. His historical account of the veterinary surgery showed research and close investigation ; but the audience were generally disappointed, as they ex- pected something of practical utility — some account of the anatomy and physiology of the horse, and the mode of treating diseases. We regret that Dr. B. did not condense hLs two historical lectures into a small space, and give the information so much desired and needed, and earnestly expected by those who felt the want of that information, which he had gained by embracing the superior advantages afforded him in the veterinaiy colleges of Europe. EGGS IN WINTER. We have often recommended special attention to fowls in winter, in order that hens might lay at a season when eggs are scarce and dear ; and we have no doubt that the great interest taken in poultry, on account of the recent excitement on the subject, con- sequent on the splendid exhibition of fowls last fall, has led to unusual care in the winter manage- ment of fowls. The article which w'e gave our read- ers on this subject, in our first number, has been copied into almost every paper that we have seen ; and we ofte^ hear of the favorable effects of extra attention to this interesting branch of rural econ- omy. This attention, we have no doubt, is one of the principal causes of the large number of eggs in our market this season. A few weeks ago, a dealer in this city bought eggs at fourteen cents per dozen — only half what he paid for them just one year pre- vious. In the article in our first number, to which we have alluded, we stated that one hundred and fifty hens produced nineteen hundred eggs in the month of January, even in the northern part of New Eng- land ; and that from a lot of hens, we had eggs enough in January to pay three times the cost of keeping them. We were lately informed by an am- ateur in this business, that from eighteen hens, he had seventeen dozen of eggs in the short month of February. Another remarked that he had seventeen dozen from twelve fowls, in the same month. In the Ohio Cultivator, a correspondent states that twenty-six hens, in two and a half months, begin- ning the first of December, produced forty dozen of eggs, besides enough for a liberal use in the family. These, with hundreds of other favorable eases, should lead to that attention which will produce a good supply of eggs in the winter season, instead of their being almost as scarce as lumps of California gold. Let every one consider that every animal that is worth keeping, is worthy of care and good man- agement. ♦- PRODUCE OF A SOUTHBOROUGH DAIRY. Mr. Editor : I send you the produce of twelve coAvs the present season, (with the addition of one farrow cow and one new Tnilch cow, the months of April and May.) Butter sold from the 1st of March to the 1st of December, 2287 lbs. Cash received for the same, $524 79 Butter consumed in the family, 126 lbs., at the same price of that sold, 29 94 To milk sold from the same the present season, 77 76 Calves sold from the same, 70 71 $703 20 GEO. W. GOODNOW. SouTHBOROUGH, Jan. 1, 1850. Mr. Goodnow has had a very fine yield from his cows. We have no better pasture land hereabouts than is found in Southborough. It will be seen that Mr. G.'s cows yielded considerably more than fifty dollars each, — Mass. Ploughman. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 91 BLACK SPANISH FOWLS. For the New England Farmet'. Mr. Cole : The fowls frojn which the engraving was delineated, belong to Francis Blake, Esq., of Newton Lower Falls, Mass. These fowls are, in the opinion of the writer, the only thorough-bred pair in this section of the country, and were exhibited on the IGth day of November, 1849, at the Public Gar- den, in Boston. In the foreground of the engraving is introduced a pair of Black Bantams belonging to Mr. Blake, for the purpose of showing the compara- tive size of these two distinct breeds of fowls, and how nearlj' in form and plumage they resemble each other : the Avattlcs, combs, and cheek pieces in both varieties are alike in color and form, the only diifcr- cnce being in the comb of the Spanish hen, which is drooping; the comb of the Bantam hen stands erect. The Spanish breed of fowls is highly prized in England for its size, and the beauty of its form and ])lumage. The color is a most brilliant jet black, the legs and bill corresponding witli t!\e color of tlie plumage; and the eggs produced by this breed com- mand a greater price in the markets of London, than those produced by any other breed. The hens of this breed are great layers, producing largo and white eggs of great wciglit and of superior flavor, and rarely show the least disposition to sit, and when they do sit, arc represented a-i negligent ^lurscs. The chicks are hardy and easily rai-e:l, of a shining I'lack color except the breast, which is white, as is a ring around the eyes and bill, with some white spots iinder the chin ; but as they do not become fully feathered until nearly full grown, they should be liatchcd early in the spring. The following letter the writer received from Mr. Blake, the owjier of the two breeds of fowls shown in the engraving, S. B. MOUSE, JU. S. B. Morse, Jr. Esq. Sir: In the drawing re- cently taken of my imported Spanish fowls and Black Bantams, the artist has grouped them together, for the purpose of showing their comparative sizes. Their jet black plumage, at present in line order, has a very beautiful purple and greenish metallic lustre. They arc of tine form, with immensely large combs, and wattles of brilliant scarlet, beautifully contrasted with very large ^^■hite check pieces, or car lobm, deli- cately shaded with purple ; the comb of the hen drooping, while that of the cock is erect, rendering his appearance qtiito dignified and regal. They are considerably above the medium size, but not remark- ably large. In this drawing you will notice the showy serrated comb, drawn from a cock reared by me during the last season, the comb of my imported cock having suffered from the effects of the voyage and cold. As layers, I believe all writers arc agreed, that their character is unsurpassed, Avhcthcr the number, size, or richness of their eggs is considered. " As table birds," says llichardson, " they hold a place in the very first rank, their flesh being partic- ularly white, tender, and juicy, and the skin possess- ing that beautifully clear white hue, so essential a requisite for birds designed for the consumption of tlie gormand." "They are, besides, prolific, ex- tremely easily fed, and in short, I know of no fowl I would rather recommend to the notice of the breeder." During the three years I have had this breed, the hen has -'■inifestcd no inclination to sit, laying almost consPanti'y. I^\ breeding, it will he necessary to employ some other vs .,\f.ty as mothers, for which purpose I would recommei:tf -"^he Dorking. The little l^lack Banta»>'-.'\"'mctimes styled the African Bantam, bui,-vhicU^\. "'.'^late as the Dwarf Spanish, are almost perfect ml. Allure counterparts of the Spanish, and may, I think, be regarded as the fowl fancier's ''bean i(k-al," so far, at least, as beauty is concerned ; and if the accounts of tho superior 92 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. delicacy of their flesh, and their laying qiialitios, arc to be relied upon, thcj- may prove of much utility. Cobbett's remarks in rcs^ard to pigeons may, I think, be appropriately applied to these birds. It is not sujjposcd that there could be much profit attached to them, but they are of this use : they are very pretty creatures, very interesting in their manners; they are an object to Ac\i^\vicJiildrpn, and to give them the early habit of fondness for ani- mals, and of scttiiifj a value on them, Avhich, as I have often had to observe before, is a very great thing. A considerable part of all the property of a nation con- sists of animals ; and if you consult your experience, you will find that a laborer is, generally speaking, of value in proportion as he is worthy of being intrusted Avith the care of animals ; and nothing is so likely to give him that excellent habit as his seeing, from his very birth, animals taken great care of, and treated •with great kindness by his parents, and now and then having a little thing to " call his otm." This breed, as I am informed, has very recently been introduced into this country from Antwerp, •where it is still very rare, and highly esteemed. I undci'stand that the person having the original stock has taken measures to obtain their history from abroad, which I hope may be introduced in a future edition of your work. A gentleman of much expe- rience (Dr. Wight) informs me that the eggs of this breed are larger in proportion to the size of the fowl, than any other known. This is an important consideration, and if I am not digressing too much, allow me to say a word or two in this connection. There seems to exist at present a tnania for fowls of the largest size, which in many instances are sought for -with sole reference to Aveight, •without regard to expense of keeping, qualities for the table, for laying, or breeding. I would suggest that contributors to future exhibitions furnish faith- ful accounts of their mode and expense of feeding, weight of their fowls, number and weight of eggs laid during the tjcar, summer and winter, and the general result of their experience in breeding. Such data, while it would remove all doubts from the minds of the most sceptical, as to the proht of this description of stock, would enable us to decide with accuracy, as to the comparative merits of the differ- ent breeds. I predict that such a comparison would lead to a preference for fowls of medium size, maturing at an early age, laying the largest number and -weight of eggs, with flesh of fine quality, and feeding at the smallest expense, in place of the uncouth, gaunt, raw-boned, long-legged breeds, witli coarse, flabby, dark-colored flesh, enormous eaters, and miserable layers, at present so popular with some of our fun- ciera. I am, verj' resijectfuUy, Your obedient sei-vant, niANCIS BLAKE. •p. S. Since writing the above, I have very care- fully weighed the eggs of the Bantam, which I find to be twelve and two flfths ounces per dozen, the fowls Avcighing two pounds ten ounces ; while the eggs from a pair of the China breed, weighing fifteen pounds and three quarters, Avcighcd but twenty-flvc ounces. I regret that I cannot at present communi- cate the result of an experiment, showinir accurately the expense of feeding the two breeds. For the Nero Emjlan^l, Farmer. "" DEEP AND SHAI^ \.0W DRAINING. Mr. Cole : I left fe^tly'^^^-y l^ist wit^^ o promise to Bpecify the various ^ „'._^iccs r-^a in draining, so far as my knowdedge^F'such extends, and now pro- ceed to the performance of that duty in such manner as I may. I have heretofore spoken of bush draining. It i* one of the most primitive systems^ and, as I de- scribed it, one which has permanency of effect, so far as the instance quoted demonstrated. The use of stones, small in size, or broken to the stipulated Aveight of from three to four pounds, eomuicnced Avith the introduction of the general system of thorough drainage. These Avere put into the trench to a height of from eight to ten inches from the bot- tom, OA-er Avhich straw Avas placed in order to pre- vent the mould from siftimj through the stones and choking the drains. Many thousands of miles have been laid, in this fashion in Scotland and the north of Ireland, and in every instance success hasfolloAVcd the system. Farmers in these countries were in the habit of gathering the stones from their soil for the purpose of thus using them ; but it Avas demonstrat- ed by scientific men that thcii- removal was prejudi- cial, through the detachment of one of the natural organic conditions the healthy groAvth of crops de- manded. In those instances Avhere the stones Avere thus removed fi'om the land, the geological structure of the locality forbade the supply from any other source — thus setting the inventive skill of agricul- turists to Avork to find a proper substitute. In Scotland a large proportion of the arable soil is of alluvial origin, or Avon by cultivation from the heaths — the " moors and mosses mony," Avith Avhich that country and Ireland abound. Peat is plenty in both countries ; and I think it Avas the Laird of Clcland (an estate in the eastern part of Lanarkshire, Scotland) Avhose inventive skill Avas first directed to the use of dried peat (or turf) in place of stones. Vast quantities of it are cut every year for fuel ; and it is well known that, when dried, it possesses the most enduring properties against every element ex- cejit fire. He condescended upon a shape which every mechanic A'ersant Avith the science of his trade, Avill admit to be most scientifically considered. A sectional description is giA'en below. He next had a spade made, the blade of Avhich cut one of the lon- gitudinal sides of the section, while a cutter, crossing the face of the blade, moulded the opposite side and both edges of the turf. This cutter Avas abovit an inch and a half in breadth, and, as well as the edge of the spade, made sharp. It Avas twelve inches long, Avith a plate proceeding horizontally from the tramp, (or the place Avhere the foot is put Avhcn the spade is used,) Avhich stopped the insertion of the spade into the peat bank Avhen full. The following cuts Avill shoAv the end or section of one of thesa turfs, and the combination of tAvo to make the Avater- course of the drain : — Fig. 1. Fi". 2. The above cuts are in exact proportion of one quarter of an inch to an inch, and the sectional shape of the spade Avill agree AA'itli an extension of i'Vf/. 1, according to this rule. When the two tvufs are placed in juxtaposition in the bottom of the drain or trench, the perj)cndicular side? (the outsides on the under parts) should touch the respective sides of the drain — at least, they demand no more room than is required for their in- sertion into the bottom of the trench. It will be observed by applying a straight edge to the perpen- dicular side, and along the side of the drain, upAvards, that there is an inverted, wedge-shaped space left between each turf and its corresponding side of the drain. This is necessary in two different and equally important respects : First, because it favors the uni- form shape of the turfs, which, turn them as you NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 93 may, upside down, and vice versa, arc still found in proper articulation ; and secondly', this shape fur- nishes the key to the strengthening, on the most un- deniably mechanical principle, of the fabric. Some supply wedges to suit these spaces, but this is not necessary ; a sprinkling of loose earth, sufficient to fill up the triangular gaps which appear in the sec- tion, is enough for all purposes. In proof of this, I may state to you that I have walked along the top of as many as twenty rods of peat drain, put in as quickly as" the turfs eould be dug from the mass, without any drying or preparation whatever, and I did not break through, or effect more than a consol- idation of the upper halves of the opposite turfs ; and as you well know, I am no chicken in point of weight. A moderate day's work of a man and boy will pro- duce from five hundred to six hundred feet of such turfs. I mean from one thousand to twelve hundred single cuts, twelve inches in length, per day ; I have known a man and boy produce twenty-seven hun- dred. Tiles in this country, I conceive, would cost somewhere about two dollars per hundred, in a well- supplied market, and more where scarce. Tlic ad- vantage of the aljove adaptation to farmers, will then be specially obvious, as many in New England have plenty of peat swamp to operate upon, and more land which demands draining operations. The perma- nency of peat is well known. Cultivators of such land need not be told of the tenacity of this vege- table mould to its original composition. I have seen peat drains of sixty years' standing, which retained excellent operative qualities, but the instance was isolated, and purely incidental ; still it was sufficient to test the lasting quality of peat as a medium for draining. I find that I have presumed upon too much of your valuable space already, and by your kind permission, ■will take advantage of the next consecutive number, and its successors, to follow out this subject. I really hope I may interest and profit, foa: no other motive lies at the base of the -wish of A FIRESIDE FARMER. Boston, Feb. 19, 1850. For the New England Farmer. BONE DISORDERS IN COWS. Mr. Editor : Your correspondent Wm. R. l^ut- nam, of Danvers, in his communications on this sub- ject, in the N. E. Farmer of Nov. 24th and Feb. 2d, adduces some facts in support of the theory that this disorder in milch cows is owing to the want of a sufficient supply of the phosphate of lime in their food, which, as it seems to me, do not justify his con- clusions. For example, in endeavoring to assign a reason why this disorder has not manifested itself in Hamilton, he says, " The farmers in that town are in the habit of using a considerable quantity of hay from the salt marshes of Ipswich and Essex. It is the practice of many there to keep a portion of their best salt hay till the time the cows go to pasture ; they will often eat it then, when they will not eat the best of English hay." This is all true — and equally true is it that salt hay is then fed out to our working cattle, and that they wUl eat it with bet- ter relish than the best of English hay. Not that palt hay is the sole feed for either cows or oxen at this season, but a« a change of food. Now, if your correspondent arrives at the conclusion, from these facts, that salt hay supplies the waste of bones in our cows, I ask if it also furnishes the bono material to our oxen, when he states, too, that oxen arc never affected with this disorder ? But I would inquire, what reason is there to believe that salt hay contains more of phosphate of lime than other hay ? The only evidence brought forward by your correspondent, is in the shape of an inference : *' From the large quantity of lime in the shells of clams and muscles found about these marshes, the inference is, that it contains a largo amount of phosphate of lime." With him I can say that I have never seen an analysis of this kind of grass ; but in Hitchcock's Geology of Massachusetts, page one hundred and six, is an analysis of marsh mud, by which it appears that the amount of phos- phate of lime contained in specimens from three localities, viz., Newburyport, Cambridge, and Med- ford, is loss than one per cent. The inference then would seem to be, that the amount of this ingredient in salt hay must be very small — so trifling as hardly to keep the bones of our milch cows from going the same way as the bones of those in Danvers, providing that this disorder is really owing to the want of a sufeciont quantity of this same ingredient in the food of milch cows. I have always supposed that cattle are fond of an occasional foddering of salt hay, for the same reason that thej' are fond of licking salt ; and I believe it to be true that cattle of aU kinds, oxen as well as cows, farrow cows and heifers as well as milch cows, are equally fond of it. Another fact stated by your correspondent is, that milch cows are liable to this disease " even while they were well fed upon good English hay and Indian meal." And again he asks, " Why is it that oxen and dry cows do well, while milch cows fed from the same haymow and meal barrel, become poor and stiff, if it is not because they do not get phosphate of lime enough to make milk and support the bones ? " If your correspondent will consult any analysis of Indian corn, he Avill find that the third largest ingredient contained in it, is this same bone-making pliosphate of lime, being indeed more than seventeen per cent, of Indian corn. How he will reconcile this fact with his theory, I am at a loss to conjecture. Again, he says, "Those farmers in Danvers whose cows have been aftected by this disorder, have not been in the habit of raising stock, but have sold their, calves to the butcher ; " and he then goes on to show the probable amount of animal matter (meaning, as you, Mr, Editor, say he means, jjhospliate of lime) that has been taken in this way from the soil. Now, it is a fact, I believe, that few, very few farmers raise many calves in Essex county — nine tenths of the calves in this part of the county are sold to the butcher. If this exhausts the soil of phosphate of lime in our part of the county, why should it not exhaust it in another ? There are many more pertinent questions that might be asked in reference to this subject. But it is much easier to ask questions on a subject like this, than to answer thera. I am free to confess that I feel the want of a better acquaintance with the whole subject — the diseases of animals and the analyses of various substances, and with other matters out of the range of ordinary experience and observation — a want, indeed, of just that kind of knowledge which an agricultural school would impart. This disorder in milch cows, whatever it may be, is one of those subjects which scientific men can best investigate and treat of — showing the cause and the remedy, and the reason of the remedy. All the facts in the case are important ; but the inferences drawn from them must be legitimately drawn, to command assent. I am as yet unable to see that the (so called) bone dis- order in milch cows is at all attributable to the want of enough phosphate of lime in their food — or, in- deed, that their bones are any more alfectcd than other parts of their svstem, when suffering under this disease. ' ALLEN W. DODGE. Hamilton, Feb. 23, 1850. 94 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Farmer. NOTES OF THE SEASON. Winter set in with just a sufficient fall of snow for good slcighlnf;;, about the first of December. The stonn came ofi' mild, and the snow remained quiet as it fell, so that it furnished fine opportunities for travelling, hauling wood, or, indeed, any business in which the farmer wished to engage. With small additions of snow, the sleiglxing continued fine until near the middle of the month, when in many places it was spoiled by the thaw, while in others, from the ice formed when the storm came off, it remained pass- able. On the afternoon of the 22d, a violent storm of snow came on from the south-east, from which the wind soon changed to north-east, and blew a tempest for three or four hours. This storm, as north -casters usually do, came oif mild ; but on the afternoon of the 24th it grew colder, and the 25th was a rough, cold, boisterous day. The morning of the 26th was the coldest of the season thus far ; the mercury sunk 10° below 0. January came in very mild, but not warm enough to waste the snow. Unusual mildness has charac- terized the month. The whole depth of snow which has fallen during the month is thirty-three and one quarter inches ; greatest fall at one time, nine inches, January 18 ; — the gross amount of rain, ten and one quarter inches ; — greatest fall on the after- noon of the 11th, three and one half inches, llain and hail fell to the depth of two inches the 21st. The number of days on which storms fell during the day and night was sixteen. There were seven days of entire cloudiness, when neither sun, moon, nor stars were seen, during the month. There have been but few days on which it has not thawed some, and very frequently the snow has softened through. The coldest day was the 29th, and the coldest morning the 30th. The ground has been unfrozen in the woods through the month, and timber has been per- ceptibly frozen only once or twice, and that only for a short time. The singing of Phcbe birds was heard on the 4th and 18th of the month, as blithe and gay as though spring had really given them welcome. The winter, with so much fine sleighing, and so much mildness, has of course thus far been a fine one for business or pleasure. Farmers have im- proved it well, as fine wood-piles and other visible facts will fully testify. If it should continue so fine until the spring opens, it will have no claim to the character of a dead, unprofitable one, as our New England winters are so often called : we hope it will prove an agreeable exception to all such. Yours truly, Feb. 1, 1850. W. BACON. For the Xeio England Farmer. MAKING SUGAR. Mil. Editor ; As the time for making maple sugar is approaching, a few remarks on the subject may not be wholly uninteresting, even though some of them may not be altogether new. In this, as in every thing else, the profits depend very much upon the maimer in which the work is done. Some fifty years since, all that was required in this part of the country was, a few troughs made by digging out one half of a poplar log, two or three feet long, and three or four iron kettles, which were suspended between two logs, in the open air. A chip was cut from the tree with an axe, sloping in such a manner that the sap would rvin to one corner of the cavity, and a spout was inserted with a gouge. At the close of the sugar season the troughs were inverted, and allowed to remain through the sum- mer. Under such circumstances we shall be almost ready to admit the remark of an old gentleman not particular for neatness, that the sap from his trees was so sweet that he could not see to the bottom of it ; and after adding the coals and ashes which would fall into it in boiling over an open fire, Ave shall readily perceive that the color of the sugar must have been decidedly rich. Now, although there may not be any one at the present time who is as slovenly as this, yet there are some who do but little better, making sugar as near to the color of tar as to sugar made as it should be, and but little better in taste. I do not pretend to any particular skill in this business, but for the benefit of those who know still less, I will endeavor to give a few plain directions, by which maple sugar may be made equal to the best brown sugar made from cane. In the first place, suitable vessels should be pro- vided to catch the sap ; and for this purpose I prefer pine tubs, made smallest at the top, because they are less liable to leak than those made of other timber, and they will catch less water, in rainy weather, by tapering upwards. They should not be painted on the inside, as the paint is liable to come off, and give an unpleasant taste to the sap. Hemlock and spruce tubs are apt to leak, and butternut will give a dark color. Spouts may bo made of common sumac with the least labor, but perhajis pine ones would be neater. The trees should be bored with a five eighths bit, and the tubs suspended by a cord or small wire from the spouts, or hooks, made for the purpose. When the trees are so scattered that it is necessary to use a team to gather it, a tub may be made of any required size, with a square hole cut in the upper head large enough to admit a pail, and a Ud fitted closely to this space. The tub should taper towards the top in order to retain its hoops, and stand firm on the sled. The sooner the sap is gathered and evaporated the better. For this purpose "sap pans," as they are called, are much the most economical. They are made of sheet iron, which should be of the best quality, from five to seven feet in length, fi'om two to three in width, and from six to nine inches in depth, and stiffened by a large wire around the top, with two handles on each side, for conve- nience in handling. This should be placed on cast- iron bars, over a fireplace built of brick, the inside of which should be about half an inch on each side smaller than the bottom of the pan. About one third of this, next to the chimney, should bo bricked up to within eight or ten inches of the bottom of the pan, as this will save fuel. A space the size of a brick should be left on each side, at the bottom, and about the middle of the fireplace, which will pre- vent it from filling up with coals, and may be stopped up at any time with a couple of bricks. With a pan five feet by two on the bottom, and three inches larger each way on the top, six barrels may be evap- orated in a day, by filling it at night, and leaving a good fire under it. Care should be taken, however, not to leave too much fire, unless the jjan is deep, as it sometimes " bums down." The pan should rest on the bars at all points, as otherwise they will be exposed to be bent by the heat. Good dry wood is absolutely necessary, and soft wood, such as hemlock or pine, is best, as it makes less coals, and burns clearer. The sap should be boiled to a sirup as thick as will run through a woolen strainer after it is cold ; it should then be strained, and allowed to stand over night to settle, after which it should be drawn off carefully as long as it runs clear. The white of eggs and saleratus, the quantity proportioned to the impurities contained in the sirup, should be mixed with it while cold, and it should be heated slowly until it begins to boil, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 95 when it should be carefully skimmed, or, if it is wished to have it very pure, strained through a woolen strainer, and then placed over the fire and the boiling finished. It is usually boiled until it becomes quite hard, by stirring until it is cold ; but the nicest sugar is made by evaporating until it will grain, and then, after letting it stand several weeks, draining oft" the molasses. For the purpose of " sugaring off," as it is called, a sheet-iron pan is as much superior to any thing else, as for boiling the sap; but it should be made smaller, say three and one half feet long by two in width, and nine inches in depth, and put together in the best manner. I almost forgot to allude to the article in No. 3 of the second volume of the Farmer, in which a cor- respondent of the Ohio Cultivator recommends pans with plank sides. Such pans were "all the rage" here a few years since, but those who made them, after using them a year or two, threw them aside, and obtained those made wholly of sheet iron. AV. F. B. AsHFiELD, March 4, 1850. For the New England Farmer. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. My dear Sir : For some days have I been anx- iously waiting the action of the legislature in rela- tion to the contemplated modes of promoting instruc- tion in agriculture. I hope no local or sectional prejudices are to be brought in to waiver the minds of any in relation to it. I care not luherc the exper- iment is to be commenced, if it can be done under auspices most favorable. Let it once be fairly started, and some Lyman will appear to help it onward. If not, the state itself is abundantly able, and the yeo- manry of the state should not be otherwise than willing. I have been hoping to witness a more distinct expression of opinion from the hard hands them- selves than I have yet seen. In the reports of the discussions at your agricultural meetings, it appears that the remarks are usually made by those who are more distinguished for speaking than for working. We want something from both. I care not how rough are the blocks, when first taken from the quarry; three chances to four, the roughest exterior covers the smoothest internal substance. Gems of purest water are often found surrounded Avith the most forbidding accompaniments. Is it not true that one half or more, of those who occupy the seats in the halls of legislation, are ranked under the denomination of farmers ? But have one half of these yet favored the public with their opin- ion ? Ask any of these gentlemen, at their own fire- side, and they will be ready to give you a reason — and oftentimes very sound ones too — for the faith that is in them. Why should they not be equally ready to give their reasons at the meetings mentioned ? It cannot be that they are ashamed of their reasons ; but it is that they arc afraid they shall not express them with so much ease and propriety of phrase- ology as some of their more favored associates. Whoever hesitates to give utterance to what he thinks, for this cause, fails in the duty he owes to himself and to the public. Of what use is a man's knowledge, if he will not let it be known ? I would not be the advocate of much speaking, nor would I have any one presume to s]>cak before he is prepared with something to say. But what I wish is, that each one would think for himself, and frankly and freely communicate what he thinks. In this way many valuable suggestions will be elicited, that can readily be moulded into form for use. In some instances I have noticed, where gentlemen have turned their eyes from their lesson, and haz- arded a remark that did not chime with all our notions, some have been disposed to sneer at their eccentricities. I doubt exceedingly the poUcy or propriety of any such movement. If a man makes his suggestions honestly, let him be commended, and aided in so doing. No true gentleman will ever pre- sume to do otherwise. I fear that I have already prated too long, and perhaps some will think I have only been preparing an apology for my own condi- tion. Truly yours. Feb. 28, 1850. For the Neto England Farmer. PROFITS OF ORCHARDING IN MAINE. Friend Cole : It may not be altogether uninter- esting to the readers of the Farmer to learn some- thing about the profits of this part of husbandry in Maine, in which, as a whole, such inattention has until recently been manifest. Notwithstanding the great majority of farmers in this state, who have paid any attention to the cultivation of fruit, have taken so little care of their orchards, as to receive but little, if any, profit, it is not the case with all. A neighbor of mine, who has a young orchard of about one acre, that has been well taken care of, informed me that he should realize about two hundred dollars for his crop of apples raised the past season. His trees have not yet come to maturity ; consequently a greater amount of income may be looked for ; yet it is difficult to conceive what other branch of hus- bandry, in this vicinity, could be made equally profit- able, with so small an expenditure. Another farmer in this county has a young orchard of about two hundred trees, of choice fruit, who, as I was informed, offered to sell his farm, valued at three thousand dollars, for what apples would grow upon it for fifteen years, to be transported from twelve to twenty-five miles, and the orchard kept in a flour- ishing condition. Much more interest is now apparent among farm- ers in Maine than formerly, in the cultivation of fruit as a souree of profit ; and with many, less fears are entertained of the business being over-done. D. TABOR. Vassalboro', 2d Mo.., 1850. For the Neio England Farmer. "NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS." Mr. Cole : I have been very much pleased, of late, to see the communications in the Farmer from Mr. Fowler, of Danvers, on the above-named subject. I think our native trees and shrubs have been neg- lected quite too long. I made up my mind last year that I would cultivate every native flowering tree or shrub that I could Ihid ; and having been em])loycil some time in collecting them for nurserymen, I know where to find many of them ; but there are some that I do not know where to find. Now, my object in writing at this time is, that, if there are others en- gaged in making such collections, that we can cor- respond with, and assist each other, by exchange or otherwise. I'erhaps this may appear to some too much like an advertisement ; if so, I hope they will take the benefit of it. I shall be gkid to buy those I want, or sell those I may have to spare, or can pro- cure. You may say to your correspondent N., of Danvers, that the hemlock here thrives well on poor, gravelly soils, and bears the shears as well as the buckthorn or arbor vit;e. B. F. CU'lTER. PiiLU^v-M, N. 11., Feb. 25, 1850- 96 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. FACTS IN POTATO RAISING. Tliis being the season for planting potatoes through- out the Northern States, and the agricultural com- niaiiity, no doubt, thinking much of the rot, and the probabilities of its affecting the crop about being planted, I have thought best to record an inter- esting fact in regard to that apparently incurable disease. In the spring of 1847, I turned under a sod on clay ground, and planted it with merino potatoes early in May. They grew well and yielded a heavy crop for the season. About the first of October I commenced digging, intending to bury them mostly in pits, on the held where they grew. I dug about fifty bushels, and buried them lightly in a round, shallow hole, when we were hindered from digging more at tliat time by a very heavy rain stonn, and the ground was completely saturated by water. Those dug at this time presented no appearance of rot in any way, and I congratulated myself on having a sound croi^ of potatoes once more. After about two weeks had elapsed, and the ground be- came fit to work, I began digging again ; but lo, the rot had appeared ! Small white specks covered the skin of very many of the potatoes, and some few were already rotten. I knew they were not to be saved, and put them in small pits of twenty or thirty bushels each, intending to handle them over, sort them, and feed them up to the hogs and cattle as fast as possible. They rotted so fast that I lost over one fourth of the crop in two or three weeks, before I could feed them to my animals ; and had they been left in the pit, I believe they would have all rotted before winter came ; yet they had only a covering of rye straw, and about two inches of dirt. After I had disposed of these last small pits, I turned to examine the larger one dug and buried before the rain. I opened it about the middle of November, six weeks after it had been made, and to my surprise found but very few rotten. I handled them over, and buried them again, depending on them for seed the follow- ing year. They came out in the spring fine, and were very good for eating, being all that were left of about eight hundred bushels that grew on the same field of four acres. Last fall, I dug early, and secured my crop before they were exposed to the heavy fall rains, and have lost very few by rot, scarcely any ; and I conclude that early planting and early gathering are the best guards against the potato disease. I have been confirmed in this opinion of late, by seeing a paragraph going the rounds in the newspa- pers, relating the success of the same management in some particular case ; and I thought it worth while to give the above to the readers of the Dollar News- paper. I have been sorely perplexed by this potato rot, and have never been able to find any other pre- ventive than the simple one above mentioned. I shall try it again. li. L. — Dollar Niwspaiter. UNDERDRAINING MEADOWS WITH THE SUBSOIL PLOUGH. Some of our best farmers have lately adopted, with entire success, the system of underdraining their heavy clay and wet meadows. This is done in the most summary manner, by attacliing two yoke of good oxen, or two pair of horses, to a strong subsoil plough, which penetrates to the depth of fifteen to twenty inches below the surface. The sod is divided and separated by the plough to a distance scarcely exceeding one and a half inches, which immediately closes after the furrow ; and if moist, when the operation is performed, th& tarf speedily tmites, and not even a line is visible beyond a few days. By this operation, a large underdrain is left at the bottom of the furrow, where the point, or nose, and wing of the subsoil plough has passed, and nearly of their size, which, in stiff soils, will remain open for years. On moadoAvs where there are puddles of stanchng water, as is always the case on stiff soils after rains, the effect is instantaneous. If the plough has been started in a ravine, or low part of the meadow, (as it should be, so as to form a descent for the surface watei',) when it passes through the little basins, the water vanishes as if by magic, and it is heard g-urgling rapicUy along its new-found aqueduct till it reaches the outlet. In addition to this more immediately perceptible effect, if the meadow thus drained be closely watched for a few weeks, and especially during wet weather, a marked improve- ment will be noticed over similar undrained meadows. The grass wiU be thicker, ranker, and more forward ; it win matiu-e quicker, and yield a heavier growth of sounder and sweeter forage. The distance of these firrrows, or drains, should vary according to the compactness or tenacity of the soil, and the frequency of the basins to be drained. In the heaviest soils, the drains may be advanta- geously run within ten feet of each other. If less adhesive, and few pond holes exist, the furrows raay be a distance of twenty or thirty feet. No meadows, unless of the lightest kinds, will be injured by this operation, while all others will be decidedly bene- fited. This results from the imperceptible yet rapid drainage of the water which is held in excess by the soil, and the escape of which is so beneficial to the vegetation. This operation has been adopted in England many years since, but with an implement considerably differing from the subsoil plough. It consisted simply of a pointed iron, some three inches in cUameter at its largest end, which was connected with the beam by two strong, thin colters. The iron point was often sent three to four feet below the surface, and required a strong force to move it. This implement has been principally superseded, where first adopted, by the substitution of thorough and more permanent tile underdraining. — Am. Agriculturist, WHAT IS A FAIR RENT FOR DAIRY COWS » What is a fair average number of pounds of butter per annum to be expected from a common lot of dairy cows in this country ? A proi^rietor of land, in Orange county, proposes to rent me his farm next spring, with fifty cows, for which I should engage to give him a certain nvimber of pounds of butter per head. Can you inform me what is a fair rent ? I am satisfied with the terms of giving one third of the crop for rent, but fear to accept his terms for the cows. A STRANGER IN AMERICA. The average annual yield of pounds of butter per cow is a very uncertain matter. We doubt whether it exceeds one hundred pounds per cow in Orange county ; though we believe that two firkins (one hundred and sixty pounds) arc considered a fair aver- age. We know one lot of ten cows that average three firkins each, equal to foiu- hundred and eighty pounds per annum. We believe the most usual rent is one firkin for each cow. We saw fifty excellent cows the other day, for which the farmer gives the proprietor a rent of sixty-seven pounds each per annum. In this uistance the farm is very productive for grass, and the daii-y conveniences of the best kind* When this is not the case, the lessee cannot afford to pay so hi.gh a rent. — Am. Agriculturist.. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. ^ FORBES FOUNTAINS. Besides the great utility of a jet of water on oma- mentiil grounds, it is one of the most refreshing and delightful things in the warm season. Fountains add greatly to the beauty of water jets. They may be had of various prices, from the simple vase, that costs but a few dollars, up to the large and magnifi- cent,'that are used in public places, that cost hun- dreds of dollars, according to one's taste, means, and situation. Any ingenious person may, by wood work, made in imitation of stone, or by bricks or stone, make very comely or beautiful fountains, at a very small expense. A great many people have convenient means of ha\'ing a jet of water on their ornamental grounds, at very small expense, especially in connection with water for the house and barn. What is more grate- ful to our feelings, on a hot summer's day, and in a dry location, than a stream or spring of water ? And when it is thrown up in a jet, in an ornamental fountain, it is one of the most bea^itiful things that can gladden the heart of him who surveys a tasteful scene, in a garden, lawn, or other place of embellish- ment. HORSE AND CATTLE MEDICINES, &,c. Dr. G. H. Dadd, Nos. 1 and 2 Ilayraarket Square, Boston, keeps a complete assortment of medicines for the various diseases incident to domestic animals. He is a veterinary surgeon, and he treats diseases by an improved mode, avoiding bleeding and powerful and dangerous mineral medicines, and going for the reformed practice, by the use of botanic medicines, mild means, and good management. His medicines arc prepared by him in his own lab- oratory, and he produces the highest testimonials in their favor from many of the most intelligent men in the country. Dr. Dadd has studied the art of heal- ing the human race, and he has had some practice in medicine and surgery in that profession, which enables him to be more thorough in his present prac- tice. From our acquauitanee with him, and the reasonableness of his system, we consider it strongly marked by common sense, the most important faculty in the competent practitioner. We cheerfully recom- mend Dr. Dadd's medicines to the consideration of the public, and we commend him to those who would consult or employ a veterinary surgeon. He is about publishing a Compendious Dictionary of the Veter- inary Art, embracing also Outlines on Anatomy and Physiology, and Directions for Feeding, Watering, and Management generally. LiTEUATunK AND EcoNOMY. — If a young man has a taste for literature, and virtuous and intelligent society, his economy will bo a thing of course ; be- cause his pleasures will not be expensive, and not dependent on the caprice of fashionable and extrav- agant associates. 98 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. For the New Englaiid Farmer. How TO LIA-E PRETTILY IX THE COUNTRY.* It is possible that the leading word at the head of this chapter is not sufficiently comprehensive and em- phatic to express all that is intended in what we here say of the farmer's wife in relation to good living. Admitting that to be the fact, it is not easy to decide what is living prettily, if it be not the fruition of the best fare at a very moderate expenditure. But, how- ever excellent may be the smoking viands on the farmer's table, when duly prepared, much would be added to the zest with which they are received, if more attention were paid generally to the table furni- ture. It cannot be denied that a nice clean table- cloth, a supply of comely dishes, spoons, castors, knives and forks duly arranged, not only impart a relish for what is in the dishes, but make an impres- sion that the family live prettily. Cheap as such articles are, it is surprising that they are not more abundantly provided. On the other hand, if the table furniture is in a ruinous condition — if it has been cast upon the table in wild disorder — if the whole indicate a sad estrangement from needful pu- rifications, a relish for the repast is greatly impaired. For such negligence there is no excuse. The excuse usually given, that none but the members of the familj' are present to witness it, is about as satis- factory as it would be for all the members of the family going to the table with unwashcn hands because none but themselves are present to witness the indecency. It is a species of domestic economy with which we have no fellowship, that a family live like pigs when by themselves ; and that all their efforts for good cookery, table furniture, and good fare, are to be produced only once in three or four months, when visitants arc present to witness the display. "We think families should have respect for themselves, for each other, as well as for those who occasionally partake with them. Such as make all their efforts in dress, or furniture, or in the culinary department, to please the eye or to secure the ap- plause of strangers and doubtful friends, become miserably paid for their toils. They live for others, and not for themselves. They toil for others, and not for themselves. And this they do, not on the principle of Christian charity, but for a breath of popular favor, as empty as the wind. A very large portion of family expenditures, particularly in what is called fashionable life, is made wholly on this prin- ciple, for others to gaze upon — perhaps to ridicule ; and not for the comfort or benefit of those who make them. Allusions have been made, in other parts of this work, to the article of clothing appropriate in the country ; but it may not be amiss to refer to it here, as one of the main features in hving prettily. To dress neatly at all times, and yet so as to occasion no pecuniary outlay incompatible with the ordinary means in rural life, requires good taste and good management of a high grade, especially in the female head of the family. The mother who can clothe her children, as avcU as herself, in a style of comeliness — always in a condition to be seen by strangers without mortification, and without an expenditure to em- barrass her husband — deserves of him, and of others, high commendation. This is one of the most val- uable accomplishments of the housewife ; and nothing in a greater degree contributes to the end made the * From the manuscript of the Farmer's Every Day Book, by the Rev. John L. Blake, D. D., to be published early in the spring of 18-50. subject of the present chapter. Where we see a family of children decently clad, clean, tidy, and of good breeding, especially in the more humble walks of life, we impromptu exclaim, They must have an excellent mother ! The country district school, with its forty or fifty little boys and girls, attired in the manner described, furnishes one of the best speci- mens of the hcaltliful simplicity, and the good do- mestic economy, in rural locations. Here the farmer's wife may gather laurels of unfading beauty and ver- dure ; in comparison of which the jewels and the costly attire of the fashionable lady in the ball-room are contemptible and worthless. And, indeed, what are the fashionable accomplishments of the lady of rank — her music, her drawing, and her flippancy ia French, to the abilitj' of the farmer's wife to rear up sons that will be eminent statesmen and divines, and daughters that will hold the highest position in society ? W hile the farmer's wife is doing thus much towards living prettily, we have a few things to add for the farmer himself to do, in this good work. Who is to see that the Sunday wagon, which is to take the family to church, and now and then appears on a holiday, is free from mud and dust, and has been duly honored with a coat of varnish ? The farmer himself, or his sons, if he have them of sufficient age. Who is to see that the court-yard and garden fence is in good repair, and made white with paint ? Not the farmer's wife, but the farmer himself, or some one under his direction. Who is to sec that the family mansion and the various out-buildings have been properly regai-ded ; the hinges and fasten- ings upon the doors all sound; the paint kept bright ; the windows free from broken glass ; and no loosened weather-boards to become iEolian harps to the rats and mice, while the family is asleep ? It need not be said, that this is the duty of the male portion of the household. Let not the male reader be dis- pleased, if one question more be propounded on this subject. Lastly, then, whose duty is it to see that the walks about the mansion be made clean and hard, and the grounds contiguous to it be relieved from nuisances of every description ? Surely, this is not the work of the farmer's wife, nor of his daughters. He should himself see that it is done. Hence, let it be said to the reader, male and female. Do respec- tively what is here set forth, and M-hcn the minister, or the doctor, or your relatives from the city, make you a visit, they will say to you in sincerity and truth, How prettily you do live ! JOHN L. BLAKE. Orange, N. J., Jan. 30, 1850. |loutl)*9 Department. Thoughts for Young Persons. — In a previous communication I intimated a purpose to converse with you, briefly, upon the importance of correct early habits. First, then : Such habits will appear important, when we consider their connection with ])hi/sical advantage. Health is among our greatest blessings. Whatever, therefore, can lawfully be done to pro- mote it, must be acknowledged our duty ; and what- ever impairs or destroys health, should be avoided as an evil, and regarded as an enemy. Every sinful indulgence, every irregularity of habit, at a period when our physical natures are so susceptible of injury, must, in some degree, disadvan- tageously affect the constitution, weaken our ener- gies, and hasten premature decay. Young lads who smoke cigars, and chew the poisonous weed of which they are made, reap an NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 99 early harvest of nervous diseases, as well as render their persons filthy and disgusting in polite society. Intemperance, also, despite all the efforts as yet made to abolish it, still has its votaries ; and young boys, not twelve years of age, are not too j'oung to become the victims of strong drink. Let the infant be fed with wine from the teaspoon — the prattUng child hold the gin glass in his own little hand — let the youth drink freely the well-mixed brandy and rum, and bloat upon copious draughts of strong beer, nor change his course up to manhood, and at the age of twenty-five, you may behold iu his person the infirmities of age. Eating late at night is also injurious to health. After having taken regular meals through the day, and the hour has arrived when the head should be safely pillowed in the arms of " nature's sweet re- storer," the young lad strays away (and some old lads) with his associates to the oyster saloon, and there imposes upon his already weaiy digestive organs the additional task of oysters, clams, nuts, pies, cakes, &c. Now, who will be at all surprised if the remainder of the night is spent in restlessness and frightful di-eams? The number is few, indeed, that can retire upon a full meal and sleep without interruption. Quiet rest is essential to the develop- ment of the physical powers ; and to deny that these and similar practices do Avaste the bodily energies, is to contradict philosophy and experience. Admitting then that such habits do us harm, it is not unreason- able to infer that great advantage must accrue to him, who, whUe in his youth, gives strict attention to rules of temperance, and whose hours for labor, rec- reation, and repose, are carefully prescribed. He who has no si/sfcm of living, is like a noble ship at sea without chart or compass, driven before the ever- varying winds of appetite and passion. If he do not split upon some rock of error, or go in pieces upon some rugged shore of disease and pain, or float dis- masted, unmanageable, and useless, upon the bosom of life's great deep, he wiU at least make a hazardous voyage, and reach the haven of longevity, as the soldier escapes unscathed from the field of bloody conflict, where ninety-nine of a hundred have fallen. Let us then, my young friends, estimate the true value of health, and carefully endeavor to promote it by every suitable means. In a word, let our every act be but a part of a complete system of habits and duties, and it can scarcely be possible that we fail to enjoy health, and secure its attendant blessings, down to a good old age. More anon. M. H. A. Hallowell, Feb. 4. — Maine Cultivator, i^ealtl) Department. Remedy for Asthma. — An individual who has suffered much from asthma, and who has in vain sought relief from regular physicians, wiahes us to give publicity to the following remedy : — " Procure common blotting paper, and thoroughly saturate it in a solution of nitre, (saltpetre,) and lot it be carefully dried by the lire, or by exposure to the rays of the sun. On retiring at night, ignite it, and deposit it, burning, on a plate or square of sheet zinc or iron in your bedroom." In many cases, it is said, this has enabled persons painfully alflicted to enjoy their rest. — Maine Culti- vator. Hundreds of nights within the last five years, when the bitter pain widened the time in proportion as respiration became more difficult — hundreds of nights has the difficulty been lessened by a suspen- sion of what seemed an almost interminable agony in the smoke of burning nitre. As a means of avert- ing present suffering, the subscriber can recommend, from his own experience, the use of saltpetre almost identically prepared as above. Many times has he lain down in a smoke condensed seemingly to the smothering of a common healthy breather, and found relief from the worst suffering. — lion. Isaac Hill. How TO rRESERVE IIealth. — Medicine will never remedy bad habits. It is utterly futile to think of living in gluttony, intemperance, and every excess, and keeping the body in health by medicine. In- dulgence of the appetite, indiscriminate dosing and drugging, have ruined the health and destroyed the lives of more persons than famine or pestilence. If you will take advice, you will become regular in your habits, eat and drink only wholesome things, sleep on a mattress, and retire and rise very regularly. Make a free use of water to purify the skin, and when sick take counsel of the best physician you know, and follow nature. ilTcdjanics' Pepartmcnt, Qivis, $^c. Difference between Iron and Steel. — Steel is iron passed through a process which is called cemen- tation, the object of which is to impregnate it with carbon. Carbon exists more abundantly in charcoal than in any other fusible substance, and the smoke that goes up from a charcoal forge is carbon in a fluid state. Now, if j'ou can manage to confine that smoke, and put a piece of iron into it for several days, and heat the iron at the same time, it will become steel. Heating the iron opens its pores, so that the smoke, or carbon, can enter into it. The furnace for this purpose is a conical building of brick, in the middle of which are two troughs of brick or stone, which hold about four tons of bar iron. At the bottom is a large grate for the fire. A layer of charcoal dust is put upon the bottom of the troughs, then a layer of bar iron ; and so on alter- nately, untU the troughs are full. They are then covered over with clay, to keep out the air, which, if admitted, would prevent the cementation. Fire is then communicated to the wood and coal with which the furnace is filled, and continued until the conver- sion of the iron into steel is completed, which gen- erally happens in about eight or ten days. This is known by the blisters on the bars, which the work- men occasionally draw out in order to determine. When the conversion is completed, the fire is then left to go out, and the bars remain in the furnace about eight days more, to cool. The bars of steel are then taken out, and either sold as blistered steel, or drawn to a convenient size, when it is called tilted steel. German steel is made out of this blistered steel, by breaking the bars into short pieces, and welding them together, draAving them down to a proper size for use. Substitute Paint Varnisji. — ReciiJe for a com- position to economize paint. To one pound of gum shellac add four ounces of borax and two quarts of water. Boil till dissolved. These proportions may be varied according to the quality of the materials used. After the paint is prepared for use, add nearlj- an equal quantity of the above, and stir until it unites. The paint will then be thicker than before, and must be reduced with oil or spirits of turpentine. The paint will now cover twice the surface as at first. 100 NEW ENGLAND FARMER, CHEMISTRY AND VEGETABLE FOOD. It is the object of chemical research not merely to explain known facts, but to remove misapprehen- sions and correct erroneous opinions. The recent determinations of the proportion of nitrogen con- tained in ■wheat have served both these purposes. Thus it was long asserted and believed, that the •wheat of warm climates always contained more nitrogen, and was consequently more nutritive and of higher money value, than the wheat of our tem- perate countries. But later researches have cor- rected this hasty deduction ; and have placed our home wheat in its proper position, economical and nutritive, as compared with the wheat of India, of Southern Australia, or of the Black Sea. Again, the British miller usually requires a portion of foreign wheat to mingle with our native grain, both to make it grind more easily, and to satisfy the baker with a flour that wiU stand much water. The pastry cook and the macaroni maker also demand of him a flour •which will make a peculiarly adhesive dough. These several qualities were supposed to be inherent only in wheat which abounded, in an -unusual degree, in gluten, and which was produced under specially favorable conditions of soil and climate. Modern chemistry has the merit of gradually removing these misapprehensions, and of directing us to the true causes of all such differences. So in regard to the superior amount of muscle-forming matter supposed to exist in wheat in comparison with other kinds of native grain, such as the oat. Experience had long taught the Scotch that oats, such as they grow in their climate, are a most nutritious food ; but the habits of the more influential English, and the rid- icule of a prejudiced lexicographer, were beginning to make them ashamed of their national diet. Chem- istry has here stepped in, and by her analysis of both, has proved not only that the oat is richer in muscle-forming matter than the grain of wheat, but that the oatmeal is, in all respects, a better form of nourishment than the finest wheat flour. But, what is more, chemistry has brought us acquainted with the value of parts of the grain formerly considered almost as waste. The husk or bran of wheat, for example, though given at times to pigs, to millers' horses, and other cattle, was usually thought to pos- sess but little nutritive virtue in itself. Analysis, however, has shown it to be actually richer in mus- cular matter than the white interior of the grain. Thus the cause of its answering so well as food for cattle is explained ; and it' is shown that its use in bread (whole meal bread) must be no less nutritive than economical. The true value of other kinds of food is also established by these inquiries. Cabbage is a crop which, up to the present time, has not been a general favorite in this country, cither in the stall, or for the table, except during early spring and sum- mer. In North Gennany and Scandinavia, however, it appears to have been long esteemed ; and various m.odes for storing it for winter use have been very generally practised. But the cabbage is one of the plants which has been chemically examined, in con- sequence of the failure of the potato, with the view of introducing it into general use ; and the result of the examination is both interesting and unexpected. "WTien dried so as to bring it into a state in which it can be compared with our other kinds of food, (-wheat, oats, beans, &c.,) it is found to be richer in muscular matter than any other crop we grow. Wheat con- tains only about twelve per cent., and beans twenty- five per cent. ; but dried cabbage contains from thirty to forty per cent, of the (so called) protein compounds. According to our present views, there- fore, it is prefiminently nourishing. Hence, if it can but be made generally agreeable to the palate, and easy of digestion, it is likely to prove the best and easiest cultivated substitute for the potato. And no doubt the Irish kolcannon (cabbage and potatoes beat together) derives part of its reputation from the great muscle-sustaining power of the cabbage — a property in which the potato is most deficient. Further, it is of interest — of national importance, we may say — that an acre of ordinary land will, according to the above result, produce a greater weight of this special kind of nourishment in the form of cabbage than in the form of any other crop. Thus twenty tons of cab- bage, and good land, will produce, in good hands, forty tons of drum-head cabbage on an imperial acre — contain fifteen hundred pounds of muscular matter ; while twenty-five bushels of beans contain only four hundred pounds ; as many of ■wheat only two hundred, twelve tons of potatoes only five hun- dred and fifty, and even thirty tons of turnips only a thousand pounds. The preference which some farm- ers have long given to this crop, as food for their stock and their milk cows, is accounted for by these facts ; while, of course, they powerfully recommend its more general cultivation as food for man. We may add, Avhile speaking of cabbage, that it is kno-wn to be so exhausting to many soils, that wheat will scarcely grow after an abundant crop of it. It springs up, indeed, but yields little straw, and early runs to a puny ear containing little grain. But the same analysis, which shows the value of the cabbage crop, shows also what it takes from the soil ; and explains therefore the kind of exhaustion produced by it, by what special applications this exhaustion is to be repaired, and how repaired at the least cost. Again : In many parts of our island furze or gorse grows up an unheeded weed, and luxuriates in favor- able spots, without being applied to any useful pur- pose. In other districts, however, it is already an object of valuable though easj' culture, and large breadths of it are grown for the feeding of stock, and yield profitable returns. Chemical researches show its nutritive property to be very great. Of muscle-building materials, it contains, when dry, as much as thirty per cent., and is therefore, in this respect, superior to beans, and inferior only to the cabbage. Under these circumstances, we can no longer doubt the conclusions at which some exper- imental feeders had previously arrived, nor the ad- vantage which might be obtained from the more extensive cultivation of gorse on many poor and hitherto almost neglected soils. The history of the tussac grass is familiar to most persons. A native of the Falkland Islands, where it grows in the large tufts or tussacs from which it derives its name, it is described as fattening in an extraordinary manner the stock, and especially the horses, which graze upon it. Some of the seeds -which have been lately imported into this country having vegetated, the grown-up plants have been analyzed ; and it was found, " that the proportion of muscle-forming ingre- dients in the dried grass is as great as in the best samples of wheat, oats, or barley ; and therefore the grass is of a very nutritious character." Thus its alleged feeding qualities are confirmed ; and we may look forward to seeing it, on further trial, domesticat- ed in Great Britain. The money value of the above investigations is obvious enough, and we do not dwell upon them. But the same branch of chemical inquiry deals -with questions of a larger and higher kind. — Edinburgh Review. The world is but one great family. \Vhat then is this narrow selfishness in us, but relationship forgot ? The making of turpentine has coraracnced on some of the pine forests of Elorida, and has proved very profitable. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 101 POTATOES. Mn. Editor ; I appear once more before the readers of the Germantown Telegraph, on a topic which all will acknowledge to be one of importance to the farmer — that of potato raising. I will give you our mode of culture, down here, where the potato may be regarded fis a staple product, and where its cultivation is as well understood as per- haps any where else on the globe. Potatoes planted early generally succeed better and produce more liberally than when planted late. There are various methods of cultivating this root practised, but I am aware of none that is preferable to the following : — Ereak up sward land in the spring, roll, harrow thoroughly, and spread on your manure in liberal quantity, harrow again, and having furrowed, place some good compost in the drills, drop your seed, and cover. The compost should be fine, consisting of rotten leaves, chip manure or muck — say one load ; house ashes, ten bushels ; salt, four bushels ; lime, five bushels ; gv'psum, one and a half bushel ; nitre, twenty lbs. ; the whole to be thoroughly incorporated and reduced, by repeated turnings, to a perfectly homogeneous mass. One shovel full of this in every hill wiU be sufficient. The potatoes may be covered with an instrument made by fastening two pieces of plank, six inches wide, and three feet long, together, in the form of an A, and drawing it lengthways of the rows b)' means of traces secured to the wide end. A cross-piece is secured to the upper part, into which handles are inserted for its guidance, similar to those attached to the hoe- harrow and cultivator. This instrument, which may be constructed in a few hours by any field hand who possesses sufficient ingenuity and artistic skill to " whittle a Yankee shingle," works admirably, and is one of the most perfectly operating labor-saving implements to be found on the farm. If necessary, the bottom of the sides may be scarfed away, say from one lialf the distance from the fore part to the hind part, reducing the sides by a gradual taper to one half or one third their width at the hind end. This will leave the rows over which it passes ele- vated somewhat in the middle, or just over the seeds — an arrangement sometimes necessary, espe- cially where the furrow plough has excavated but a shallow trench, or where the soil is too close or com- pact, from recent rains or other causes, to admit of the covorer gathering sufficient earth competently to inhume the seed, liy "shoeing " the coverer, which is effected by attaching two strips of iron to the lower edges of the triangle, and allowing them to project some two inches or so from the edges, inward, with a slight inclination downward, the entire surface between the rows will be " scraped," and the soil thoroughly loosened and refined. As soon as tlie plants make their appearance, a liberal dressing of lime and plaster, or house ashes and plaster, should be applied broadcast, and the cultiva- tor introduced to arrest the development of weeds. No ploughing or harrowing should bo allowed where the cultivator can perforin its sufficient work ; nor should there be any — not even the slightest — eleva- tion permitted about the plant. Some, perhaps, will question the philosophy of this theory, as it is a practice to which they have always been accustomed ; but this is neither here nor there in establishing the truth or falsity of the usage. Where a high conical hill is made around any vegetable, it can only serve as a drain or ditch, by which water is conveyed /row the vegetable and into jilacers — the interstices be- tween the rows, where it is not immediately wanted, and of course can efl'ect only a remote advantage; but a fiat surface allows the rain to penetrate the Boil immediately about the roota, and to exert its invigorating influences at once and with power upon the plants. Besides, in a dry time, the gathering of soil into hills, by exposing a greatly increased sur- face, augments the effects of drought. This no one can doubt who reasons upon the subject candidly. In cultivating the potato, many adopt a vcrv loose and reprehensible method ; they seem to tliiiik that it is a hardy vegetable, and will therefore " fight its way through," even though left alone and unas- sisted ; but this is an error, for altliough the potato will sprout, push upward to the inviting air, and fonn tubers, even when uuaidcd, yet its jjroductive- ncss and value, as a field crop, must ever intimately depend upon the care and cultivation it receives. No production better repays extra attention, none is more essentially injured by neglect. Weeds should never be permitted to overtop the vines, or indeed to corrupt the soil devoted to this root. They are no less injurious in the potato field, than in the" garden, or among the com crop ; and where they cannot be thoroughly extirpated by one or two hoeings, the operation should be repeated till they are completely eradicated, and the soil emancipated and cleansed. A NEW ENGLANDER. Near Claremoxt, N. H., Jan. 26, 18-30. — Germantown Telegraph. CAUSE AND EFFECT. In writing for the public, farmers should be care- ful to give nothing but the result of exact experi- ment on doubtful subjects. Too many, in their anxiety to discover the cause of diseases in grain, such as siniU in wheat, or the rot in potatoes, judge frora a single imperfect experiment ; whereas, such subjects require the most careful examination. Thus, a late writer in the "Newspaper " supposes he has discovered the cause of smut in wheat, frora the single fact, that after sowing oats that had been harvested before fully ripe, and his crop was much. injured with black, or smut oats, that of course the same must be true in regard to smut in wheat, and closes by asking, " If this is not the true cause, what is?" Now, he should remember that it is often much ea.sier to ask questions than to answer them. Now, it is all right to call attention to such, facts ; but before coming to any conclusion, it would be bettor to make a few more experiments, and then find whether smut in wheat and smut in oats is the same disease, and arises from the same or similar causes. My own experience is rather opposed to his theorj', having last season harvested both my oats and wheat rather greener than XLsual, and finding this season both remarkably clear of smut. Any thing calculated to thi'ow light on such subjects should be carefully noted, and repeated experiments made be- fore coming to a conclusion, as " appearances are often very deceptive." Another subject to which I would like to call attention is, that in giving the result of exj)eriment3 with lime, manure, &c., more care should be taken to state what kind of soil it has been apjilicd on, as there is so great a variety of soil and such a vast difference in the component parts of many, that farmeis arc often led into error in this way. For instance, some one applies lime to a soil in which it is naturally deficient, and of course with good effect — tlic result is known; and others again spend time and cajjital in applying it to a soil in which nature has deposited a great sufficiency, and the astonished farmer is able to see no effect whatever. Such has been the result in our neighborhood, where the soil is strongly impregnated with lime ; although applied in different wajs, not the slightest efi'cct has been produced on the crops since raiscil oa the land to which it has been applied. J. P. — Dollar Newspaper. 102 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. VALUE OF CORNSTALKS AS FODDER. The question is often asked, if cornstalks arc of rnucli value as foiUler. We answer, without fear of contradittion, that if -well saved and properly used, they are fully equal to the same weight of liay. Last year \vc fed three yoke of oxen on cornstalks, with the addition of no more feed than we should have used with the best English hay. Our mode of l)rei)aring them was as follows : — The stalks were cut with the ordinary cylindrical machine, in pieces of half an inch in length, and placed in a hogshead. Three gallons of boiling water, containing one gill of salt, was thrown upon them, and the top of the cask covered with a blanket. The steam arising from the hot water swelled and softened the cornstalks to tlioir original size ; and when cold, a little ground feed was thrown upon them, and thus fed to the cattle. The oxen worked hard all winter, each yoke bring- ing three loads per day, of more than a ton each, from a distance of three miles, and in the spring they were as well conditioned as in the fall. AVhen corn is raised to be pulled while green for boiling, the stalks will contain much more saccharine matter than when suffered to ripen. The stalks should be permitted to grow after the corn has been pulled. Cornstalks may be grown for fodder, with much greater strength than hay, and entirely capable of supplying food for animals, without the addition of grain of any kind ; and for milch cows, it would be equal Lf not superior to any other food. We refer to the method adopted by Mr. Webb, of Delaware, for the purpose of making sugar. As soon as the ears appear, pinch them off, and repeat this treatment twice ; the consequence Avill be, that the juice of stalks thus treated will contain as much saccharine matter as that of the sugar-cane ; indeed, we know of one experiment being made, which gave the juice of eleven degrees Eeaurae, while the juice of the sugar-cane as grown in Louis- iana is but nine degrees Beaume. This mode of growth, however. Mill only answer in such districts as, from want of market, find it unprofitable to raise corn for the cars. When this mode is adopted, the planting should be early, for the stallcs will neces- sarily require a hot sun to cure them. If cut too late, the sugar contained in the juice will be acid before they are dry. — Workinrj Farmer. THE PROPER MODE OF FEEDING CATTLE. An English writer observes that two great points in feeding cattle, are regularity and a particular care of the weaker individuals. On this last account, there ought to be plenty of rack room, that too many may not feed together ; in which very common case the weaker are not only trampled down by the stronger, but thoy are worried, and become cowed and spiritless ; than which there cannot be a more unfavorable state for thrift ; besides, they arc ever compelled to shift with the worst of the fodder. This domineering spirit is so remarkably prevalent among horned cattle, that the writer has a hundred times observed tlie master boasts running from crib to crib, and absolutely neglecting their own proven- der for the sake of driving the inferior from theirs. This is, much oftcncr than is suspected, the chief reason of this difference in a lot of beasts after a winter's keep. It is likewise, he says, a very com- mon and very shameful sight, in a dairy of cows, to see several of them gored and wounded in a dozen places, merely from the inattention of the owner and the neglect of coupling the horns of those that butt. The weaker animals should be kept apart ; and in crib feeding it is in some cases a good method to tie up the master beasts at their meals. Dr. Dean says there should be more yards than one to the barn where divers sorts of cattle are kept. The sheep should have a yard by themselves, at least ; and the young stock another, that they may be wholly confined to such fodder as the farmers can afford them. THE MILKMAID'S EAR GUARD. Every one who has had "gumption" enough to milk a cow, has experienced the miseries of a rap, now and then, over the ears, and sometimes in the face and eyes, by that effectual Hy-brusher — the cow's tail. This is most troublesome in fly-time ; but sometimes a cow, either being naturally ticklish, or uneas}' from some other cause, will use her lash in midwinter, when that appendage is not in a condition to give you a very favorable idea of its savory or odoriferous condition. Wc have often thought that some simple mode of obviating this evil would be of great service to milkers ; but "vvc could never hit upon any thing that suited us, and so we have always, when milking, borne the infliction like a martyr. Being at Col. Swett's, in Hartford, Oxford Co., not long ago, we saw his son, while milliing, use one of the most simple, and at the same time effectual contrivances for protecting your ears, in such cases, that you can imagine. On inquiring into the origin of it, we were informed that it waa believed to be first used (in that vicinity at least) by the late John xVUen, of Peru. It is made in the following manner : — Take a rope of good size, say that which is called inch rope, and cut a piece off about six feet long. Tie the ends together, and make a loop or hoop. Spread this open, and throw it over the cow's back in such way that the upper part of it will lie across the loins and forward of the hip-bones, and the hinder part fall over and enclose the rump of the cow, and hang down about half way from the root of the tail to the hocks and gambrel joints. This is all, and poor muUy will find, on whisking her tail, that there is a limit to its circuit ; and, although it is neither tied nor chained, nor slavery entailed, the "area of its freedom" is nevertheless essentially curtailed, and the milkmaid's cars no longer assailed. — Maine Farmer. TREE PLANTING. Among fruit trees, the apple, the quince, and the peach emit roots much more freely than the pear, plum, and cherry — and in light, sandy, friable soils, form much more easily than in stiff, moist, adhesive soils. These are familiar facts to all cultivators, and they serve as a guide in planting. But under all circumstances it is unsafe to plant a tree without reducing its branches in such a manner as to compensate for the loss of root, and general derangement inseparable from removal. Let us take, for instance, an apple-tree, six feet high, with a fine head and numerous side branches. This tree was growing vigorously in the nursery, with its roots sjiread out and well at home in the soil ; but the tree is dug and pulled up, part of its large roots are cut off, many of the smaller ones are dragged off, and before it is planted a great many more are dried or rotted and killed off. Thus the tree is left minus a great portion of its feeding roots, on wLich the top must depend for support. Its nice balance, which nature and art gave it in the nursery rows, is NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 103 destroyed, and without some compensation it cannot live — at least it cannot grow for a long time to come. The opening buds seek for nourishment, but after the little stock laid up previously is exhausted, they can find none, and perish they must. If a tree has attained a considerable size, and has a branching head, these branches should be cut back according to circumstances. A tree with large and healthy roots, and abundance of fibres, will sustain a much greater amount of head than a tree with short, poor, or badly mutilated roots, and few fibres. Apples, quinces, or peaches will bear more head than pears or plums, and so on. Trees taken fresh from the soil and replanted do not require the same degree of cutting as those that have been transported to a great distance. Trees that are planted in a light, mellow, Avarm, soil, favorable to the formation of roots, will require less cutting than those planted in a colder, stilfer soil, where roots will be emitted slowly. Trees taken up with the earth around the roots, and evergreens are the only exceptions. These are a few of the circumstances to be well considered by every one who plants a tree. Pruning and cutting back, must not only be done, but done well. It is next to manslaughter to cut and slash the branches of a tree with an old rusty saw-edged jackknife. It is nothing else than tree- slaughter. A pruning knife should be as sharp and smooth on the edge as a razor. "When a branch is to be wholly removed, it should be done smoothly, close to the trunk or limb on which it grows. If a limb is merely to be shortened, it should be cut close to a good plump and healthy looking bud, that promises to make a -s-igorous shoot. If the future shoot is desired to grow erect, the bud should of course be on the upper side of the branch cut ; and if desired to take a spreading or horizontal direc- tion, the bud should be on the under side. The object in cutting close to the bud (not so close as to injure it, is to avoid the piece of dead wood that must remain, Lf cut between two buds. Then the balance of the tree must be thought of. If the branches arc left longer on one side than on the other, \he tree will inevitably grow one-sided ; the shoots on one side will be more vigorous than on the other, and this will be another disaster. This is as plain as we can at present make the matter in a few ■words. To sum it up, in short, we would say : — First. Place the roots of youi- trees in a soil favor- able to the formation of roots. Second, licduce the heads in such a manner as to correspond with the character of the tree, the condi- tion it is in, and the season and situation in which it is planted. Third. In every operation exercise reason and care, for it Ls astonishing what even the unpractised hand will do, if he will but think. — Genesee Fanner. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. The following arguments in favor of exempting a man's homestead from liability, we find in one of our western exchanges : — " There are two leading reasons which ought to have great weight. The first is, that the direct tendency of exempting the homestead from debt, is to preserve the integrity of the family, both in society and property. It will keep the family together by keeping them at home — safe from all the storms of adversity. Now, the state which legislates has a deep interest in maintaining the unity and prosperity of the family. The Avhole is made up of its parts. Society is founded in the family. If no family is driven out to seek a precarious support — the state will have no paupers to maintain. In every state of society, no matter what the laws, the solvent must maintain the insolvent. In both the natural and Christian state of society it is the duty of the members of a family to do this to one another. If, then, the family can be kept united, and have a home to rely upon, it is almost certain they will be able to do it. "There is another reason almost equally strong, and which concerns the political health. There is no independence, strictly speaking, to be relied upon among people who have neither a' homestead nor the means of getting one. ilany of our laborers do get homesteads, saved from the profits of their labor. This should be encouraged — the whole community should be made independent, if possible." WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. More than nine thousand different kinds of animals have been changed into stone. The races or genera of more than half of these are now extinct, not being at present known in a living state upon the earth. From the remains of some of these animals, they must have been larger than any living animals now known upon the earth. The Megtherium, (large beast,) says Buckland, from a skeleton nearly com- pleted in the museum in Madrid, was perfectly colossal. With a head and neck like a Sloth, its legs and feet exhibit the Armadillo and Ant-eater. Its fore feet were a yard in length, and more than twelve inches wide, terminating by gigantic claws. Its thigh bono was nearly three times as thick as that of the elephant ; and its tail, nearest the body, was six feet in circumference. Its tusks were ad- mirably adapted to cutting vegetable substances, and its structure and strength were intended to fit it for digging in the ground for roots, on which it princi- pally fed. FIELD AND GARDEN ROLLERS. These implements are coming to be considered almost indisijcnsably necessary, in an improved state of cultivation. They are most successfully used on lands that are free from stones and stumps, to smooth the uneven surface ; and not ordy so, but their utiUty is also important in breaking the lumps of baked earth which obtain in clayey soils ; also in smoothing and levelling grounds that have been newly sown with grain, or that are to be laid down with grass, tending to the production of greater crops of grass at a cost of much less than would otherwise be necessary. The use of the roller on dry grounds sown with grain, causes the mould to enclose the seed, whUe it prevents the moisture from evaporating sooner than it otherwise would. The rolling of land in tillage, should be done when the ground is suSicicntly dry to prevent it from adhering to the roller ; but where grass lands are to be subjected to the process, it should be early in the spring, and when the earth is soft and wet. Hollers may be of various sizes, according to the team by which they arc drawn, as the weight must be increased in proportion to the size, consequently requiring a proportionate power to move them. The most suitable size for one horse, or for one yoke of oxen, is from twenty to thirty inches in diameter ; and the most perfect roller we know of, is made of a scries of cast iron rings, or rather wheels running on a large wrought iron shaft, which can be made of any required length or size, from a single section or ring, to use by hand on gravel Avalks, up to the various dimensions required for field work wliich are constructed with a frame or carriage, so as to form a box, or trough, running the whole length of, and both before and behind the roller, and intended to carry any additional weight, such as stones, &c., when it may be required. — Worcester Transcript. 104 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Annual op Scientific Discovery, a Year Book of Facts in Science and Art, exhibiting the most im- portant Discoveries and Improvements in Mechanics, Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astron- omv, Mcteorolog}', Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, Geography, and Antiquities, -with other use- ful matter; by David A. Wells, of the Lawrence Sci- entific School, Cambridge, and George Bliss, Jr. — In preparing this work, the authors have had excellent advantages, by access to all the scientific -works of this country, and of the principal countries in Europe, and by the counsel and contributions of some of the ablest scientific men in the country. They have performed their task in an able and faithful manner, and we recommend the work as one of great interest and utility. Published by Messrs. Gould, Kendall, & Lincoln, 59 Washington St. 400 pages, 12mo. The mechanical part of the work is neatly executed. Hatward's Vermont Gazetteer. — This work is not only useful and interesting to the people of Ver- mont, but to every man of business, and to every family, particularly in New England. The conve- nient arrangement of a gazetteer renders the valuable information it contains readily accessible, and a work of this kind is as indispensable to a man of business or of general information, as is a dictionary to a man of letters. The Common School Writing Book, by O. G. Badlam, New York, Collins & Brother; Boston, Rej'nolds & Co., 27 CornhiU. — This is the first work that we have examined that defines the breadth of letters, and the spaces between them, by fine oblique lines, leading the scholar to a uniformity of letters and spaces, until he forms the habit, and then these guides are omitted. It appears to us that this novel system possesses peculiar advantages, and we would commend it to the particular consideration of writing masters and teachers generally. The American Phrenological Journal and Mis- cellany, by O. S. and L. N. Fowler. New York, Fowlers & Wells, publishers. — This work is monthly, about the size and form of the N. E. Farmer, at $1 00 a year. It makes a very neat volume. Be- sides the peculiar science to which it is particularly devoted, it is highly interesting to every intelligent man, as a work of philosophy, education, &c., treat- ing of the qualities of the mind, its powers, liabil- ities to injury, and the importance of correct mental training. The Water-Cuue Journal, and Herald of Re- forms, in the same form, at the same price, and by the same publishers, is among the most valuable periodicals of the day. It commends a system that is too much neglected. There is no remedy for dis- ease so sovereign — there is no other thing, simple or compounded, that comes so near being a panacea as water. It may be used in a thousand ways, and by its variety of temperature from solid ice to the boiling state, it may be adapted to almost every disease, and to patients of every degree of strength, from the most robust to the most feeble invalid. Thousands, yea, millions of patients are paymg for medical aid and remedies, and lingering long with disease, which water, that every where abounds, properly applied, would wash away. We are particular on this sub- ject, as the people of this country arc afflicted with hydrophobia — a di'ead of water. AGRICULTURAL SONG. BY JOHN palmer. Plough deep to find the gold, my boys ! Plough deep to find the gold ! The earth hath treasure in her breast Unmeasured and untold. Clothe the mountain tops with trees, The sides with waving grain ! Why bring over stormy seas What here we may obtain ? O, Britain need not bring her bread From countries new or old. Would she but give the ploughshare speed. And DEPTH to find the gold ! Earth is grateful to her sons For all their care and toil ; Nothing yields such large returns As drained and deepened soil. Science, lend thy kindly aid. Her riches to unfold ; Moved by plough or moved by spade, Stir deep to find the gold ! Dig deep to find the gold, my boys ! Dig deep to find the gold ! The earth has treasures in her breast Unmeasured and untold. Thomas Fuller, the historian, so well known for his quaint sayings and bright points, was one day riding with a gentleman named Sparrowhawk. The name roused his fancj^ and he asked him what' was the difference between " a Sparrowhawk and an. owl." " Why, sir," replied his companion, '• the owl is fuller in the head, fuller in the body, and fuller all oner." AoE AND Perseverance. — It is a fault too much practised by both sexes to indulge in listlcssness, and a kind of hopeless languor, at the decline of life. Our energies and talents were given us to persevere to the end. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at $1 a year, or five copies for 5^, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. I|^ The Postage „^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and LI cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the boston stereotype foundry. [ih* ' ';r^fh>. DEVOTED TO IGRICULTU: D ALL ITS KIND-RED ARTS AKD SCIENCES. Agricult ure not only gives riches to a nition , bat th3 only r iohss sli 3 can call her own Jounson. VOL . II. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1850. NO, 7, s. w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE. Propuibtor. DISEASES OF ANIMALS, Feu. 14, at the agricultural meeting, Hon. Scth Sprague, of Duxbury, was called to the chair, and the above subject was discussed. Mr. Sprague re- marked, that as there was a groat want of skill in treating diseased animals, it was better to leave them to nature, than run th-c risk of injuring thera by administering medicines injudiciously. Dr. G. IL Dadd, veterinary surgeon, cf Boston, said that he approved of the remarks of the chair- raan. He was in favor of a reformed practice in treating animals, instead of bleeding and other harsh modes, as had been the practice of the old school. He then read from a work which he was about to publish, showing the impropriety and the dangerous effects of bleeding, which had been practised to a great extent, and which was recommended generally in foreign works on this subject. lie enumerated a large number of diseases for which bleeding was recommended ; and he contended that ns the prin- ciple of life was in the blood, the extraction of this fluid tended to death. Instead of this harsh and dangerous practice, means should be used to promote the general circulation of the blood, and produce an equilibrium over the whole system. Col. Thayer, of Braintreo, said that he had known cases in which he thought that bleeding was useful. Mr. French, of Braintrce, mentioned the case of a gentleman who was unwell, and wished to bo bled ; his physician refused ; he was afterwards bled, and recovered. Mr. Cole, of the N. E. Fanner, said that case of indisposition doubtless originated from too high liv- ing ; and had the patient been abstinent, and lived a few days on gruel or other light diet, he would doubtless have recovered without the loss of blood. He said that we should depend on good management, as to pure water and air, wholesome food, protec- tion from exposure, exercise or moderate labor, rather than medicine, to keep animals in a healthy condi- tion. He agreed with Dr. Dadd, generally; bleed- ing was a harsh practice, usually unnecessary, and destructive to health. Frequently the modes of doc- toring animals, and the powerful and harsh med- ioincs given, would destroy healthy animals. Instead of this, mild means and safe medicines should be used. The restorative powers of nature are great, and when the animal is placed under favorable cir- cumstances, it will generally recover. Mr. Buckminster remarked that he liked the views of Dr. Dadd. He thought that medicines given to beasts generally do more harm than good. In most cases mild cathartics should be given, to keep the bowels open, and the patient left to nature. Dr. Dadd made some further remarks on the gcr.- eral treatment of diseases, recommending mild and safe means, and the use of such simple medicines as may be found in the forests and the field. Mr. Vv'm. Parker, of Boston, stated a case of a horse, in which blooding seemed to give immediate relief. Dr. Dadd thought horses 7ni(jht recover after bleed- ing, but that did not show that bleeding was useful. Hon. Mr. Newell, of Essex county, thought bleed- ing was good in some eases. Hon. Mr. Calhoun moved that the thanks of the meeting be jiresentcd to Dr. Edward Brooks, for the interesting lectures which he had given at preceding meetings, which vote was passed. And he said that this discussion convinced him of the importance of having an institution where more could be learned of the diseases of animals and their remedies. DISEASES OF HORSES. We have a communication recommending three grains of corrosive sublimate, and three grains of red precipitate, as a dose for a horse afllicted with the horse-ail, stating that a horse recovered after taking two doses ; also recommending saltpetre, flour of sulphur, and antimony, for a cough from common cold and exposure. There may be cases in which horses have a consti- tution sufliciently strong to withstand both disease and the effects of unfavorable medicines ; but we regard all such powerful minerals, some of which are rank poisons, as dangerous, and liable to kill a well animal. 106 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. GRASSES. March. 22d, at the agi-icultural inccting, Mr. Cal- houn in tiic chair. Mr. Buckminster, of the Plough- man, said that our principal grasses were hcrdsgrass, redtop, and clover. Some farmers were satisfied with tlicse, but he thought that further experiments should be made on other grasses. Fowl meadow makes excellent hay for a change, but it soon runs out. Tiiis grass originated in Dedham. We want some grass adapted to wet lands. Mr. Asa G. Sheldon, of Wilmington, said that herdsgrass and redtop were the best grasses on strong soils, but on light soils clover was more profit- able. Ho thought that the time in which grass sheds its seed was a good season for sowing seed. It suc- ceeds bettor than when sown in spring. lie thought that two tons of hay to the acre were enough, and land that was ricli enough to produce four tons to the acre, should be devoted to other crops. Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, remarked that as a grass, clover was not so good as herdsgrass and redtop, but it was better for the land, ae rmxdo in each direction, on the same side, saving the time required to pass from one side of a land to the other, and the disadvantage of the team passing frequently over land for that purpose, which is sometimes very injurious. By this mode of ploughing there is no dead furrow, which is often a serious inconvenience, so much so, that some neat farmers take up the slices of the first furrows, and place them into the dead fur- rows, to make the land level. Another disadvantage is avoided, which is the turning of two furrows together, in the beginning of a land, forming ridges. These prominences, contrasted with the depressions caused by the dead furro"u-o, arc not only unsightly, but very inconvenient, both in tillage and grass lands. The hill-side plough is excellent for making roads, as the furrow-slice may be thrown to either side, as most convenient in constructing the road. It is also well adapted to ploughing by the side of fences or ditches, as the team may bo kept close to them, and the furrow-slice thrown from them in passing either way. Six or seven sizes of these ploughs arc made, vary- ing from the small, one-horse plough, up to the large, stout implement, suitable for a team of six or eight cattle, well adapted to breaking up rough, hard lands, or making roads upon an uneven surface, and with a soil filled with impediments. With a wheel and cutter, the hill-side plough makes smooth, even furrows. AMERICAN FRUIT-BOOK. As the season is at hand for attending to fruit trees, it may be well to call attention to the above book. It is not our design to recommend our own work, but we may be allowed to present the opinions of others. We copy the following from the Family Visitor, Cleveland, Ohio, by Professor Kirtlaud, senior editor of that valuable work. Prof. K. is one of the most distinguished pomologists and fruit- growers in the country. " A Book for Eveuy Body. — ' The American Fruit- Book, containing Directions for Raising, I'ropagating, and Managing Fruit Trees, Shrubs, and Plants ; with a Description of the best Varieties of Fruit, including new and valuable Kinds ; Embellished and Illustrat- ed with numerous Engravings of Fruits, Trees, In- sects, Grafting, Budding, Training, &c. By S. W. Cole, Editor of the Is'cw England Farmer, and Author of the American Veterinarian.' " This book is a neat duodecimo volume o£ two hundred and eighty-eight v^^cs, so well got up that it faitKiuUy fulillsall the promises held forth in its long and comjn'ohcnsivo title page. " Its merits and value are justly estimated by one who was obliged to contend Avith the confusion and perplexities which surrounded the subject of fruits and their cultivation at the west for forty years, and ahuost up to the prcsoiit time, with no other guides than Coxo and Forsyth. " Wc take pleasure in recommending it to the puldic as a cheap and brief, but very perfect epitome of Amci-ican fruit culture, including all the recent improvements and discoveries." The following arc a few of the commendatory re- marks of F. K. Phcenix, Esq., a practical farmer and experienced nurseryman, who edits the horticultural department of the Wisconsin Farmer, a new and interesting periodical in the " far west." " Mr. Colo has certainly approached far nearer the standard he has aimed at, than any other pomological author we are acquainted with. It is emphatically ' A Book for Every Body ' — much in a small com- pass, and at a small price. To get up such a work, on a subject that has become so very much ampliticd and extended as pomology, and especially of late, required great condensation, to present any thing like a fair synopsis of it. But we think that, in the main, it has been ably done in the work before us." ilr. P. in making an elaborate review of the whole work, says at the conclusion of his second chapter, " W'e cannot help iinrcscrvcdly expressing our ad- miration at the skill and judgment, the decided ability manifested by the author, in executing his task." One feature of this work is peculiar, as it is seldom met with in other books, which is, the naming the defects, as well as the f/ood qnaltties, of fruits and trees. Intelligent fruit-growers have frequently remarked that the simple word tmcertain, which occurs in the American Fruit-Book, would, had they seen it in previous works, have saved them, in several cases, an expense of fifteen or twenty dollars, in useless experiments on uncertain or variable fruits. We have received hundreds of commouJatory notices of this work from inteUigent conductors of joxirnals, and practical nurserymen, orchardists, and pomologists. But we need present no more, as our object is to call attention to tlie examination of the work. lOS NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New Enr/laml Farmer. CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. Mil. Cole : I have read with much pleasure the article upon " Potatoes," in your last number, from your correspondent, S. !M. Stanley, Esq. The sub- ject is an old one, upon which much has been writ- ten, and it seemed, a few years ago, as if nothing more need be, or eoidd be, said about it. lUit since the potato has been attacked by an epidemic disease, it has required different management, and a greater amount of skill than before, in order to preserve the nicest varieties, and raise them in sufficient quantity for even home consumption. It is not my purpose, in the following remarks, to put forward a favorite theory upon the rot and its remedies, but rather simply to state by what means I have ahcaijs suc- ceeded in raising a full supply of sound potatoes, notwithstanding the disease that is abroad. Tlie first year that the rot showed itself in this section, I had planted three rows wide of potatoes around a cornfield o£ eight, acres, which was well manured broadcast, with a compost of two parts muck to one of stable dung. The field was of quite broken surface, and the potatoes, in extending around it, encountered various qualities of loam. I had the curiosity to watch closely the effects of the epidemic on different parts of the land. Through the hollows, the soil was very rich, moist, (but not wet,) compact, and fine grained. Here the potatoes all rotted. Rising up from the hollows, the soil gradually be- came lighter, warmer, and more open, until on top of the knolls, it was either quite sandy or gravelly. So, too, the potatoes began to be gradually sounder, until on the warm open soil of the elevated portions of the field, they were almost entirely free from defect. Previous to this time, I had always chosen precisely the kind of soil of these hollows to grow potatoes in, and never failed of a large crop of fine quality. In the fall, the potatoes were dug out, immediately picked up, and put into the cellar, with more or less moist dirt adhering to them, — as had been my pre- vious custom. But they soon began to rot. In overhauling them, I found that all the way down, through the centre of the bin, they were more or less decayed ; wliile those that rolled over towards the ends of the bin were all sound. The baskets were invariably emptied near the centre ; the heap was of course the highest there, and the potatoes that rolled down to the ends of the bin, became free from dirt and moisture in so doing. As mj' bin was quite wide, and the accumulation of potatoes and dirt was the greatest in the centre, from always emptying the Iniskets there. I thought that healthful ventilation was thus prevented, and that was the reason they did not keep well. From the lights of that year's experience, I was induced to think that by planting my potatoes on warm open soil, of moderate fertility, and by hous- ing them in a dry state in the fall, and giving them proper ventilation after being housed, I should suc- ceed in growing and keeping them sound. I selected my ground for the next crop accordingly. I planted a part of my seed in pasture land, covered with a thickly matted sward, and ivs the locality was un- favorable for getting on manure from the barn-yard, I simply put a handful of mixed plaster and ashes in each hill. The remainder of the seed was planted in a tillage field, which had been four years in grass, and Avhich I manured well at planting time, from the barn-yard. The crop from the latter field was abundant, but not all sound. That from the pasture field was not so large as the other, but, beyond all comparison, of better quality. Not a single diseased potato was found, and their flavor and mealineas, when cooked, was remarkably fine. I was always aware that strong animal maniirc, applied to the potato crop, made the tubers a little unpleasant in taste. In harvesting these potatoes, I was careful to choose a dry, sunny time, digging them out in the fore part, and picking them up in the latter part of the da}-, in order to get them into the cellar in a clean, dry state. I was also careful to sort out all diseased tubers from among the mnnurcd crop. I made a new bin, with a plank bottom raised up three or four inches from the cellar bottom, to pre- vent dampness ; the sides of narrow boards, having a small space between them for ventilation ; and the bin being, when done, about four feet wide. I i>ut my potatoes into tlus bin in a dry, soimd state, and they kept so through the winter. Now this may have been a needless precaution ; but this I know, I have ever since pursued this course, and have not been troubled with rotten potatoes in my cellar. I have noticed that where a potato had at some time become slightly sjjecked with rot, those specks would dry down, and the rest of the potato remain sound, provided it was placed in a dr}', well-ventilated sit- uation. I havo also noticed that whenever I put potatoes in barrels, (which I sometimes do where I raise a few of some sort different from my main crop,) they are quite apt to get to sweating, and afterwards to show disease. This year's experience confirmed my previous con- clusions as to the proper soil and mode of harvesting and housing potatoes. I was further led to regard the effects of animal manure with suspicion, and my observation since would not lead me to advise the use of it, (certainly in large quantities,) until we shall have become pretty well rid of the epidemic that is now abroad. Ever since the experiments that have now been detailed, I have selected each year a warm, open, sandy or gravelly loam, bearing a I'ich thickly-matted sward. I find no land so favorable to the growth of nice ])otatoes, as good pasture. The land, by long lying to grass, becomes covered with a rich sward, whose roots intimately pervade the soil, forming a large mass of vegetable matter. This, when inverted by the plough, decomposes gradually beneath the surface, and furnishes a grateful and healthful food for the potato — a food far better for it, of late years, than strong animal manure. I have had good success in growing this crop by ap})lying a compost of muck and ashes, or muck and lime, the dressing being spread on the inverted fur- rows, and harrowed in. Three or four bushels of unlcached ashes, or a bushel of fresh lime to a half cord of muck, is about the right proportion of parts for the compost ; and they should be intimately mixed, so that the alkali may come in contact with all of the muck, thus neutralizing its acids. If lime is used, it is best to dry slake it, by sprinkling on just water enough for that purpose, and then mix it with the muck immediately, while it is yet warm. It will become ditt'used more uniformly through the heap if brought to a powder than if us'jd in lumps, and its action will be equally as quick. Last year I raised a fine crop of potatoes on a piece of pasture land, dressed Avith a compost of vegetable mould from the woodland, and lime. In August preceding, I dug up from the hollows of a wood-lot contiguous to the pasture, the leaves and mould there accumulated, and mixed the same vs ith lime, in the proportion of a bushel of the latter to a half cord of the former. In the sining the mix- ture was spread on the inverted furrows, and the potatoes planted. The crop was abundant and sound, and the cooking qualities excellent. With regard to the size of seed, I have never tried experiments with that precision that enables me to express an unqualified opinion. I -vi ill merely say. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 109 that I prefer to use seed of full medium size to that of small potatoes, thinking that the crop will average of better size by so doing. I will say, contidently, that four or five stalks in a hiU are better than more, and I adapt my seeding accordingly. I never use more than one half of a large potato in a hill for seed. F. HOLBROOK. BuATTLEBOKo', Vt., March 11, 1850. For the New England Farmer. NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS. CULTIVATION OF NATIVE SHRUBS. [Continued from p. 60.] The Moose Wood is a beautiful small tree, and found in abundance on the high and rocky land adjoining the Magnolia Swamp in Gloucester. It is distinguished for its striped bark, tlie beauty of its opening buds in spring, its large, handsome leaves, and pendent fruit, and is of the easiest cultivation in any good soil. The Swamp Tyrus, or June Berry, is a small tree or large shi-ub, found in low grounds, and blooming early in May. When in flower it possesses consid- erable beauty, and produces, in June, a small, pear- shaped fruit, of a sweet and pleasant taste, and is somewliat improved by cultivation. The June Berry belongs to the Apple family of trees and shrubs, and to which it is so nearly allied, that scions of the pear inserted into the stock of this shrub will grow and bear fruit. We have seen a Bartlett pear, of good size and quality, grown upon the stock of the June Berry. But we are inclined to tliink that pear-trees thus grown are short lived. From the early ripen- ing of the fruit of the June Berry, and its sweet flavor, it is a favorite with birds and insects, and they generally appropriate all of it to their own use, some time before it is fully ripe. It is easily culti- vated in any common garden soil. The Witch Hazel is a large shrub, and very re- m.arkable for putting forth its yellow flowers in No- vember or December. Its forked branches were once much used for divining rods, in the discovery of the precious metals. Found on the borders of woods. The Clothra is found on the margin of ponds, and exliibits its raceme of white fragrant flowers in Au- gust. It is a beautiful shrub, and will grow readily in a garden. The Water Andromeda is a low evergreen shrub, found in this vicinity, on the borders of Cedar Pond, in Wenham. Linnx'us has thrown a charm around this delicate and beautiful shrub, in his description of it, published in his tour in Lapland, where he there compares its flesh-colored corolla to the beauty of a fine female complexion. We have had it under cultivation for some time, and find that it requu'cs protection in winter. The Dwarf Cassandi-ia is a low, evergreen shrub, distinguished for its copper- colored leaves, and showy vernal flowers. Found more common than the An- dromeda, and requires the same protection in culti- vation. The Ink Berry is another low, evergreen shrub, of a handsome appearance, with flowers in the axils of the leaves, succeeded by black berries. It is usually found in wet swamps, but it may be seen on the mar- gin of the Magnolia Swamp, in a comparatively dry and rocky soil. Under cultivation, it is well to give it protection in winter. The Mountain Laurel, or Calico Bush, is a fine evergreen slirub, found in Gloucester, in the neigh- borhood of the Magnolia Swamp ; it is rather dilU- cult to cultivate in the garden ; it probably requires a sandy, peat soil. The Rhodora is a showy, early flowering shrub, found in low, wet grounds ; the flowers, which are purple, appear before the leaves. The Swamp Pink is another of those shrubs, whose flowers are conspicuous in low grounds. It is a fine, sweet-scented shrub, and is remarkable for tlic ex- crescences found growing on its leaves ; these arc sometimes sought after by boys, and eaten, under the name of swamp apples. The Climbing Staft" Tree is a twining shrub, and should be cultivated for its fine effect upon a lawn, when permitted to climb a tree. When cultivated in a rich garden soil, its great luxuriance prevents its showing many of its bright orange-colored berries. The Sea Groundsel Tree is a rare shrub here, and nowhere discovered as yet in this state, except those plants found last year at Nantucket, by Prof. John L. Russell. It attains with us, under cultivation, a height of four feet in a season, and with all the protection we have as yet been able to aft'ord it, it dies down to the ground every winter ; but it appears again in the spring, like a pcit-nnial plant, brings forth its flowcra ill September, which are succeeded Dy its silky seeds late in autumn. The Magnolia Glauca is found in a sw-amp, near the road leading from Manchester to Gloucester Harbor. We have been informed that it was first discovered, many years since, by Judge Parsons, who showed it to Dr. Cutler, of Hamilton, with a request that he would give him the name of the plant. The doctor informed his friend that he had seen it at the south, and it was tlicre called the Beaver-Tree, or Magnolia Glauca, and expressed great pleasure, as well as surprise, that so rare and beautiful a plant was found in his neighborhood. It is well known, in this vicinity, as an elegant shrub, of difficult cultivation when taken from the swamp where it grows. It is said to succeed better when obtained from seed sown in a sandy, peat soil. The plants should be sheltered from high winds, and the roots well mulched. The Cow Berry, a very rare woody plant, is found in North Danvers, and is distinguished for its fine evergreen leaves, its pretty pink flowers, and small red acid fruit. It is found in a dry soil, of easy cul- ture, and may prove worthy of cultivation for its fruit, as it can be used like the cranberry, which it much resembles. The Twin Flower is a small, creeping plant, with a woody stem, and is to be found in the greatest abun- dance in Gloucester woods. The flowers of this plant are white, and growing in pairs, with a drooping habit, of a singularly modest appearance, and pos- sessing some fragrance. This plant possesses consid- erable interest, from its being discovered by Linmeus, more than one hundred years ago, in Lapland ; and he was pleased to name it Linnai Borealis, in honor of himself. It ha.s, lilce the Cow Berry, a delicate fibrous root, that requires protection in winter. There are several other native shrubs worthy of notice, that we must omit, for wo have not yet for- gotten that you require your correspondents to be brief. Our next article wUl be upon the cultivation of native trees. S. P. FOWLER. Danyeus New Mills, Feb. 4, 1850. For the Knr England Farmer. CULTIVATION OF THE GOOSEBERRY. Mit. Cole. Sir : Much has been said and written concerning the Gooseberry, the cause of its disease, the mildew, and its cure. Strong soai)-suillar that sujjports the edifice of government ; he is the lord of nature. Look at him in his homespun and gray; laugh at him, if you will ; but, believe me, he cau laugh back, if he pleases. 114 NEW ENGLAND FARMEE. Pomcstic Department. Advice to Young Labies. — The editress of the Literary Gazette, Mrs. Lydia Jane Pearson, in an article addressed to young ladies, upon the subject of marriage, discourses as follows : — " Do not, as you value life and its comforts, marry n man who is naturally cruel. If he will wantonly torture a poor dumb dog, a cat, or even a snake, fly from him as you would from cholera. We would sooner see our daughter dying of cholera, than mar- tied to a cruel- hearted man. If his nature delights in torture, he will not spare his wife, or his helpless children. When we see a man practising cruelty on any poor helpless creature, or a fractious horse un- mercil'ully, we write over against his name, devil, and shun him accordingly. " We once knew a man, ay, a gentleman, who, during a ride for pleasure, became so demoniacally enraged at hie horse, which refused to go, that he sprang from his carriage, drew hU knife, and cut out an eye of the poor brute. The lady who accom- panied him fainted, suffered a long nervous illness, and will never recover from the horror the outrage gave her. And we knew the young lady who, knowing this of liim, was fool-hardy enough to be- come his wife. And we know how he tortured her ; how he outraged all her feelings ; how he deUghted to destroy whatever she prized, or took pleasure in ; how in his fits of passion he broke up her furniture, seized her by the shoulders, and shook her till she could not crawl to bed ; how he beat her ; how ho kept her poor babe black and blue with blows and pinches until her parents took her home, and shel- tered her from his cruelty. " If you have a suitor whom you feel inclined to favor, look narrowly into the temper and disposition of the man. Love may soften it for a while, or it may induce him to restrain or disguise it, but be assured, the natuial temper will remain, and the time wiU come, when your presence will be no restraint upon him. We have heard wives complain, * I was so deceived in my husband ; men are so deceitful,' &c. 13ut we believe, in nine eases out of ten, those women deceived themselves. They suf- fered the romance of theh own foolish heart to adorn their lover with all the excellences which their fancy attributed to a perfect manly character, and to draw a veil over all his vices and defects, which, if it did not conceal them, greatly softened or disguised their features. "Men are not perfect — women are not perfect. In all cases, there must exist a necessity to bear and forbear, but it does not therefore follow that you should marry a bad man, knowing him to be a bad man. If you do so, you deserve chastisement ; but a life-long misery is a terrible punishment. A bad man's wife must either live in a continual torment of fear, apprehension, and the bitter disappointment of her fruitless efforts to please ; or she must become callous, cold, insensible to pain, and consequentlj^ to pleasure. AVill you take upon yourselves either of these terrible alternatives ? We hope not." Custards without Eggs. — One quart of new milk, four tablespoonfuls of flour, two of sugar. Season v/ith nutmeg or cinnamon, and add salt to your liking. The milk should be placed over a quick fire, and when at the boiling point, the flour should be added, being previously stirred up in cold milk. As soon as thoroughly scalded, add the sugar, spice, and salt. This is an excellent dish, and deservedly priced by eveiy one who has tried it. lloutlj'0 ilBcpartment. Beware of Beginnings. — Young persons should, above all things, beware of beginnings, and by no means parley with temptations : their greatest secu- rity is in flight, and in the study to avoid all occa- sions of evil ; for the cockatrice, which may be easily crushed in the egg, if suffered to hatch and grow up, will prove a deadly serpent, hard to be destroyed. Advice to Young Men. — Let the bxxsiness of everj' one alone, and attend to your own. Don't buy what you don't want ; use every hour to advan- tage, and study even to make leisure hours useful ; think twice before you spend a shilling — remember you will have another to make for it ; find recreation in looking after your business, and so your business will not be neglected in looking after recreation ; buy low, sell fair, and take care of the profits ; look over your books regularly, and if you find an error, trace it out ; should a atroko of niisfortunc come upon you in trade, retrench — work harder, but never fly the track ; confront difficulties with unflinching per- severance, and they will disappear at last ; though you should even fall in the struggle, you will be honored ; but shrink from the task, and you will bo despised. gcaltlj IPepartment Hints to the Bald-Headed. — According to the following extract from an editorial article in the Bos- ton Medical and Surgical Journal, the easy and sure way to prevent baldness, is to go bare-headed, or wear a well-ventilated hat : — " A refined civilization has brought with it a train of phj'sical evils which it is in the province of science to control or subdue. Our tight hats, our warm rooms, closely fitting caps, silk nightcaps, from which the perspirable matter cannot escape, by their com- bined agency, in connection with other influences, not always easy to define, bring off the hair prema- turely, and turn it gray, sooner than personal vanity is willing to exhibit such evidences of decay. And this is not all ; the skin is actually in a low state of disease, the effects of which are recognized in the accumulation of dandruff — desquamation of the epidermis. The bulbs of the hair are inflamed also from the same cause, and from year to year the hair degenerates and becomes thinner, and not unfre- quently ends in baldness. On aU that part of th"} head not covered, viz., from the back side, between the ears, and on the temple, the hair generally re- mains to extreme old age, however much the apex may be denuded. If females wore equally tight cov- ering, the hair would probably suft'er very much in the same manner ; but their hght, airy bonnets admit of ventilation, and hence a bald-headed woman would be a phenomenon. WTio ever saw a bald- headed Indian ? We have had an opportunity of seeing various tribes, in all the freedom of an unre- strained savage life, but a sparse head of hair we have never noticed. Atmospheric exposure con- duces to the luxuriance of the hair, and a healthful condition of the scalp." Dandelion Coffee.— Dr. Harrison, of Edinburgh, prefers dandelion coifce to that of Mocha, and many persons, all over the continent, prefer a mixture of NEW ExXGLAND FARMER. 115 succory and coffee to coffee alone. Dig up the roots of dandelion, wash them -well, but do not scrajie them, dry them, cut thein into the size of peas, and then roast them in an earthen pot, or coffee roaster of any kmd. The great secret of good coffee is to have it fresh burnt aud fresh ground. — Cottage Gar- dening. illccljanlcs' department, ^rts, ^c. ASPHALTUM FOR COLORING WoOD WoRK. Advan- tages of staining itiside Wood Work of Dwellings, Stores, Offices, School Buildings, &:c. — Editor Ohio Cultiva- tor : From recent investigations and experiments, I think it can be shown, that much expense may be avoided, a more durable finish obtained, and better effect produced, by staining with asphaltuin, (bitumen,) and Tarnishing the inside wood work of dwellings, offices, stores, school buildings, and even churches, instead of painting in the ordinary mode. To finish well inside (not the best) with plain painting, three conts nrc necessary ; and then to pre- ser\-c the paint, improve the effect, and render clean- ing of the work more safe, two coats of varnish should be applied, unless the paint is white, and in that case it will have to be frequently repainted ; and in either way, the work has but a dead, heavy, and monotonous appearance. Graining gives a pleasing expression, and is very durable ; but it is expensive, and I suppose for that reason, is comparatively but little used. The staining process obviates the chief difficulty, (the expense,) and where the highest finish is not dcsu-ed, may be substituted in most instances, where graining would be proper, particularly upon pine. It shows the grain of the wood v.ith perfect distinctness, and in skilful hands the depth of the color and bhadmg may be varied, so as to produce excellent eifoct with but very little trouble. Increas- ing or diminishing the quantity of asphaltum used, or rubbing ott', or suffering the full coat of stain applied to remain on, are the means of varying the color ; and it may be varied from the appearance of a finish of mere oil and varnish, to that of a dark shade of rose wood. To prepare this staining matter, all that is needed Ls to dissolve the asphaltum (say two or three pounds to the gallon) in linseed oil, by boiling and stirring it ; then add a small quantity of spirits of turpentine. (For inside work, painters usually apply oil and spirits turpentine in nearly equal parts.) A C(jat of oil may be first applied, followed by the stain ; or there may be two coats of stain, as may be preferred. Uut one coat of the staining matter, I think, will generally be found sufficient, and make a more agreeable finish. After the stain tlicre should be two coats of varnish. "Window- s«sh may be fin- ished in this way with very good effect. From experiments which I have had made, and the opinions of experienced painters whom I have consulted, I doubt not that a given quantity of this staining matter would go much farther, and might be applied at less expense, than the same quantity of con^mon paint. Lead ground in oil will mix twenty-five pounds to the gallon of oil, and dry lead sixteen pounds ; and in three coat work, every super- ficial yard will require about one and a half pounds of paint. Asphaltum may bo obtained at from eight to twelve cents per pound. I give these facts to assist those who wi.sh to test the comparative expense of staining, with plain painting. Experienced paint- ers here tell me that to oil, stain, and varnish two coats, would be about equal in expense to two coats of painting. A room, the wood work of which is grained or stained in the manner proposed, is already more than half furnished, and needs no profusion of expensive furniture to comjilcte the other half. Plainness and simplicity in furniture, in such a case, will answer, and in my humble opinion, give better effect, than can be produced where the finish is with white, or any other plain painting. In Barnard's work on School Architecture, stain- ing with asphaltum is highly recommended, and it seems to have been used in finishing the best school buildings in Boston. CnARLES W. HILL. Toledo, Feb. 1850. — Ohio Cultivator. NAKED FALLOWS AND NAKED SOILS TEND TO STERILITY. There is no doubt of the truth of this proposition. Any observing man who has travelled l:u-, and ob- served carefully what was before him, cannot have failed to note this result. Occasionally old fields, or ooniiiions at the north, and whole plantations at the south, illustrate the assertion ; while in ancient king- doms, once world-wide renowned for fertility, as Palestine, large portions of Syria, Greece, Italy, and Spain, sterility now reigns supreme, where once the golden harvests waved in the richest profusion, and lowing herds and bleating flocks fattened on the lux- uriant meadows and grassy hill-sides. A few years of bad cidtivation, followed by abandonment of the naked surface to the elements, have wasted the rem- nant of fertility left by the last thriftless occupant. A Utile consideration will show the inevitable ten- dency of such management to similar results in our own country. A soil judiciously cultivated, where all that is pro- duced upon it is fed off upon the field ; or the refuse vegetation, as of stalks and roots, after its consump- tion by man or animals ; the offal of the finer por- tions, as of grain, the leguminous plants or farina- ceous roots, — where those are carefully husbanded and returned to the soil, with the addition compar- atively of a trifle in some of the essential mineral ingredients, as of plaster, lime, or salt, Avhen they are deficient, the soil will be constantly improving. The reason of this is perfectly obvious. Yegetati^in draws no inconsiderable share of its carbon, Avhich is between forty and fifty per cent, of its entire weight, from the carbonic acid of the atmosphere. This is stored up in the roots, stalks, and leaves ; and if car- ried back to the soil and incorporated with it, tends greatly to augment its fertility. In fruits fed to man or animals, much of this carbon is converted into carbonic acid, and given again to the atmosphere by their respiration. Yet much of the carbon, and nearly all the salts, or mineral ingredients of the food, are retained in their faeces; and if these are applied to the field, they will be found to have im- proved, rather than deteriorated, the soil from which they had been taken. It is the loss by the partial fermentation and decomposition of plants, grains, and grasses, in the curing and preparation for food, in addition to their largewaste from respiration in the animal system, which renders the process of improvement by ma- nuring with green crops (in which the whole product, as of oats, buckwheat, rye, clover, or cow pens, grown upon a field, is turned under by the plough) so much more speedy and efficient, than the slower, yet not less certain liiode of restoring all the offal and manure derived from the crop to the soil where it has been grown. Even a small quantity of such mineral manures, as lime, plaster, salt, or bone-dust, has a tendencv to absorb carbonic acid and ammonia ; and by a small outlay, the fertility of the soil may 116 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. be greatly increased, and the loss of these fertilizers by respiration and perspiration, when they first pass through the animal system, before their residuum is given back to the soil, may be fully compensated. One exception is to be admitted of the tendency of uncultivated fields to sterility. This is seen -where they su.^tain a natural growtli of vegetation, such as is exhibited in woodlands, prairies, and the sponta- neous growth of other plants in tolerable profusion ; for here the work of a self-sustaining fertility is con- stantly in operation. In all other cases, the rule holds true, and from this perfectly plain and obvious ])rinciple. If the soil be upturned and exposed to the sua, air, and rains, unsheltered by the kindly protection of its natural covering of vegetation, the oxygen from the air, and moisture it imbibes, stim- ulated by the sun's rays, acts upon the carbon of the soil, and converts it into carbonic acid ; and this, find- ing no rootlets of plants to absorb and condense it, speedily escapes to the surface, where it mingles with the atmosphere, and is wafted thousands of miles from the spot of its origin. As they become soluble, the earthy salts, finding no plants to appropriate them, are soon washed out of their naiivc bed. by the drenching rains, and pass onward through rills, brooks, and rivers, to the mighty ocean, hopelessly beyond reach. Calcareous and aluminous soils are partial, and only partial, exceptions to this general result. The}' absorb a certain amount of these fer- tilizing salts and gases, while all beyond pass off into irreclaimable waste. The relevancy of these principles is shown, by the devastations of numerous and once fertile cotton plantations in our Southern States. It was not the quantity of carbon and salts, (ash,) abstracted in the comparativeh' small proportion of lint, (pure cotton,) taken from the fields, although this, in a long series of years, would be considerable ; but it is owing to the necessarily cleanly cultivation required by this crop, and the nearly naked fallotcs thereby exi^osed to the drenching rains and an almost tropical sun. No weeds nor grass must be suff"ered to grow where a good crop is to be secured ; and the narrow strips, (rows,) of vegetable growth, which alone are suff'ered to usurp the field, except for the brief time when the crop is in full foliage, gives every facility for the escape of fertilizing matter through the action of the elements. Added to this, is the too frequent waste of the stalks, leaves, and seeds ; the two former being often suffered to decay on the surface and gradually disappear from rains ; and the latter suc- ceeds, at a later period, the other portions of the jilant ; or if fed to cattle or swine, their manure is dropped in the roads or by the sides of gullies, where it soon follows the same cliannels. A sirnilar effect is produced from the constant cul- tivation of grain, tobacco, flax, and most other plants ; and from their abstracting a greater amount of the ii.rtiliz!ng elements to give them maturity, than are taken out of the soil by cotton, this result is sooner reached. What is tiie remedy for this ? is the very pertinent inciviiry. There are but three, and one or more of these must be applied, or sterility is inevitable. The fields must have a frequent rotation of grass, clover, or some of the forage plants fed off, where grown, by animals, and their droppings left to fertilize the sur- face ; they must be restored by green crops ploughed in, as of clover, cow pea, or other crops, or they must be manured from the cattle yard, or its equivalent in mineral and vegetable manures. Each of these modes lias b.ecn often treated of in our preceding volumes, and they will continue to be noticed in all their vary- ing phases and merits in the succeeding ones. — Am. Agriculturist. He is unfit to rule others who cannot rule himself. USEFUL KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURE. Every practical man well knov.-s that almost any kind of soil, using the term soil as applying to single farms or small patches of territory, bears a certain kind of weeds, which tell, in. language not to be mis- undarstood, whether the soil is stiff or light, wet or dry ; whether it is easily or hardly tilled, what kind of husbandry is suited to it, what kind has been adopted. The lecturer could furnish a long list of the names of plants going to prove this. Now, this kind of knowledge comes directly home to every practical farmer, and it can be shown in a brief man- ner in what view this knowledge id most desirable to him. The weeds determine the method of cultiva- tion, from the ease or difficulty with which the fann- er can remove or eradicate them. If they are annual, once cutting them down will effect the desired object ; if biennial, they must be frequently cut down ; once or twice doing it -will not eradicate them. It is im- jjortant, also, to know something of the nature of the seeds ; whether they easily rot, or whether, being covered with a scaly coating, they will retain the principle of vitality for a long period. The farmer must also ascertain whether thp -weeds are those which propagate by their roots ; because, if they do, merely tearing them from the soil will not destroy them. Microscopic exanrination of plants is of the very greatest importance to the agriculturist. Smut affects, it is well known, many varieties of our grain now : this smut is proved to be a minute vegetable sub- stance, and this proof is obtained only through a microscopic examination. Kye is affected with er- got; growing with it and being ground vip with it, it has caused, at times, the most alarming sickness, and has resulted in death ; it is now used as one of our most powerful medicines. It has been ascer- tained recently, that the same fungus attaches itself to different varieties of grass, and springs up under much the same conditions that the ergot does upon the rye. It makes its ai^pearance in cold, wet lands, or when an excessively wet season is followed by a hot, dry summer. AVlien this grass grows, it has been long known that cattle will not thrive ; in some seasons it has been impossible to raise a single calt Attention was called to the grass from a knowledge of the effects of ergot upon the system. Thus it will be seen how important is a minute investigation of matters pertaining to the art of agriculture. The remedy in the case of grass would be to thoroughly drain the soil, and thus to kill off the rank, coarse vegetation. And this general remedy should be ap- plied for the rust and mildew, though special rem- edies may be adapted to special localities. Drainage not only removes the water, but renders the air drier. — Prof. Johnson. HOW TO SUBDUE A VICIOUS HORSE. The following fact occurred in the city of New York a few days ago. A beautiful and higli-spirited horse would never allow a shoe to be put on his feet, or any person to handle his feet, without a resort to every si^ecies of power and means to control him. At one time ho was nearly crippled by being put in the stocks ; he was afterwards thrown down and fet- tered; at another time, one of our most experienced horse-shoers was unable to manage him, by the aid of as many hands as eoidd approach. In an attempt to shoe this hor.je yesterday, he resisted all eiibrts, kicked aside every thing but an anvil, and came near killing himself against that, and finally was brought back to his stable unshod. This was his only defect; in all other respects he is gentle, and perfectly docile, especially in harness. But this defect was just on NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 117 the eve of consigning him to the plough, where he might work barefoot, wlien, by mere accident, an officer in our service, lately returned from Mexico, was passing, and being made acquainted with the difficulty, applied a complete remedy by the follow- ing simple process : He took a cord about the size of a common bed-cord, put it in the moutli of the horse like a bit, and tied it tightly on the top of the animal's head, passing his left ear under tlie string, not painfully tight, but tight enough to keep the car down, and the cord in its place. This done, he pat- ted the hurse gently on the side of the head, and commanded him to follow, and instantly the horse obeyed, peri'ectly subdued, and as gentle as a well- trained dog, suffering his feet to bo lifted with entire impunity, and acting in all respects like an old stager. That simple string thus tied, made him at ouce as docile and obedient as any one could desire. The gentleman who furnished this exceedingly simple means of subduing a very dangerous jn-opensity, inti- mated that it is practised in Mexico and South Amer- ica in the management of wild horses. Bo this as it may, he deserves the thanks of all owners of such horses, and especially the thanks of those Avhose business it may be to shoe or groom the animals. — SekcCcd. UTILITY OF INDIAN CORN. But what gives to Indian corn its great impor- tance, is the actual amount of nutritive matter wliich it contains. It is said to be third in this respect, wheat and rice containing a somewhat greater amount, though many place maize second onlj' to wheat. We have the analysis of Indian corn, which may be given as follows : — Silica 38.4.5 Potassa, 19.5 1 Phos. of lime, 17.17 Phos. of Magnesia, 13.83 Phos. of Potassa 2.2i Carbonate of Lime, 2.50 Carb. of Magnesia 2.1G Sulph. of Lime and ^lagnesia, 79 Silica, mechanically found, 1.70 Ahimina and loss, 1.65 — 100 making in all one hundred parts. In other words, we may say, on the authority of Dr. Dana, of Low- ell, there arc in it, of Fat-forming principles, gums, &c., 88.43 Flesh-forming principles, gluten, &c., 1.26 "Water, 9.00 Salts, 1.31 — 100 A glance will show how greatlj- the fat-forming principles predominate in the one hundred parts. There is hai'dly any grain which yields so much for the support of animal life. The difficulties and con- tingencies of raising wheat in the eastern parts of Massachusetts have discouraged its cultivation, so that we may say that Indian corn is by far the most profit- able crop, esjiccially as, when the offid is properly managed, there is no grain which restores so much to the ground. It is a fact, too, that it may bo cultivated longer in succession than any otlicr grain ; and if kept dry, it may be preserved for an indelinite jieriod without injury. The case and rapidity with which it recovers from a drought is truly remarkable. Many predicted, during the last summer, that the corn crop would be destroyed. The leaves were badly curled, and there was every indication that tlie crop would greatly suffer. Every one remembers how speedy was its recovery, and how rapid its growth after the change of weather. As a fattener for cattle, swine, and poultry, wc may say that Indian corn is unrivalled in utility. The analysis of Dr. Dana, as given above, is sufficient to show, at once, liow important it is for sucli pur- poses. As a food for man, it is extensively used, though by some thought to be too stimulating. — Flint's Essaij in Essex Ag. Transactions, A HINT ON A PRACTICAL SUBJECT. I have always felt a deep interest in the discus- sions of " Deojj vs. Shallow i'loughing," which have of late been had in your useful paper. I cannot bring myself to believe that any practical farmer would seriously advocate the system of shallow ploughing, where wheat and corn arc the staple crops. It is, to me, such an absurd theory, that I ascribe the opinion to theoretical farmers alone. Twenty years' experience, upon a variety of soils, has taught me that all land should be ploughed deep ; in the wet se.ison, the rains stand less on the top of the ground, to the injury of the growing crop ; in the dry season, the roots strike deeper and suffer less from the drought ; for that the roots of wheat or corn reach to tlic depth of the deepest ploughing will be manifoet to cuiy observer. In ploughing poor soils deep for the first time, a top dressing is neces- sary to give the crop a vigorous start, when the roots will soon reach as far as the ground has been stirred. Your correspondent, " J. A.," says — " Suppose you plough six inches, when your soil is but two, you have now mixed four inches of clay or sand with two of soil, consequently, you have now a predom- inance of those inferior elements over the productive soil, and deterioration of land is the inevitable con- sequence." How is this possible? Are we to be told that the roots of the plants will not penetrate four inches of loose earth ? And if tlicy do, where is the deterioration in either the land or the crop ? All know that land is injured by being exposed nakrd to the frosts of Avinter, or the heats of sum- mer. Does it not then naturally follow, that the deeper it is ploughed, the less proportion of the soil is exposed upon the surface to be injured in this way r " Plough deep, while sluggards sleep. And you'll have corn to sell and keep." Leeshurg, V.\., 1849. W. — Dollar Newspaper. GET THE BEST IMPLEMENTS. Mu. EniTOR : There is a species of mojigiel econ- omy practised liy some farmers, which cannot be too severely deprecated. If they are under tlie neces- sity of purchasing a plough, scythe, rake, hoc, or cultivator, instead of searching out the best and most perfectly finislied, they inquire for a cheap or me- dium-priced article, in order to ecoiiomize their ca.s];. Now, my experience in purchasing farming imi)lc- ments indicates exactly an opposite course. I inquire for the best, and purchase it. I would no more spend my money for a cheap plough, or lian-ow, or a cheap wagon — which are always much the dearest in the end — than I would fir a cheap school teacher, or a chea]) minister. IJuy only tlie best articles; this is the true economy, and all will find it so. — Germantoicn Telegraph. VALUE OF BONE DUST. In speaking of tlic value of bone dust as n ma- nure. Professor (Jray says, that "one bushel to a load of yard manure increases its value, as deter- mined by experiment, one half" He estimates that it is " eight or ten times as valuable as cow dung, and the (quantity of salts is sixty-six times that con- tained in an equal quantity of that substance." 118 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. LABOR. I see the man who scorns honest labor. Who clothes him vitli fine Hnen, and bids him fare sump- tuously every day ? On his back is the fleece of the peasant's sheep, sheared by the i^easant's strong hand, ■whitened in the clear flow of the mountain stream, and spun by hands, if not as white, more true and stainless than the crowned queen's ! Not a rag of all that curiously wrought, colored, and fash- ioned gear, which defends him from the keen frost, and scorch of summer, and gives him a grace in the rye of beauty — not a single rag is there, but rises up in judgment, and gives him back scorn for scorn. Foal and drone ! He has mistaken the true attitude of man — the heart of the great universe itself. An- nul that labor which he scorns, and he stands amid the elements of nature nude as when born. The polished hide which has felt the busj' touch of many hands, over which eyes have cried and hearts grown faint, crumbles from his shiftless feet — the bright, fair cloth, in its thousand forms, vanishes from his shrink- ing limbs — and the great inheritance of brick and mortar, the broad, fruitful lands sprung from the brain of genius and the hand of toil, and bequeathed to that miserable heir of humanity by hard, honest thrift, fly back into their wilderness l3cing, and the proud foot occupant stands possessionless and alone. Who now will minister to his wants ? who kindle even on the rudest cabin hearth a fire to stay the pitiless finger of the storm ? All-charitable Nature moulds not herself into palaces and ingots, and slaves rise not at the beck of imperious will. Ah, thou man, who scornest labor, look around and see that there is yet some dignity and beauty in toil ; that she has compassed some oceans, bridged rivers, delved in mines, and founded empires and practical religion in defiance of the taunt. Her giant will is busied with kifticr thou^ht than scorning thee as thou dcservcst ! Let her reproof and thy scourge be that thou art con- demned by God and man ; by God, who scorns not to build for himself a universe, clothe himself about with angels and hovering glories — by man, proud of his power to exalt the image and imitate the example of God. — Nineteenth Century. WIRE FENCE. At request, I send you a description of a wire fence we have been building, and the cost of the various items used in its construction. The wire used was No. 9, weighing one pound per rod. The posts are cast iron, three feet six inches high, besides a dowel of two and one half inches in length and one and one quarter inches in diameter, inserted in stone, and weighing about eleven pounds each. We first built a wall, three feet Avide and eighteen inches high, placing large stones for receiv- ing posts, at the distance of twelve and one half feet. This will guard against geese and swine, and attract the notice of larger animals, that they may not run against it. Had not the stone been on the ground, we should not have made it quite so heavy. As the fence separates a permanent meadow from the highway, avc set our posts about six inches from the front of the wall. The form of post is tapering to the top, flattened at the sides, and thinnest at the middle — designed to obtain the greatest strength of the iron used. (?) The distance of the first wire from the stone is four inches ; then a space of six inches, then seven inches, then nine, and, finally, of twelve inches ; the posts rising four inches above the top wire. The holes in the posts were not cast in, but drilled. Every other post Ave braced with round, half-inch iron, one end clasping the post oigyiteen inches from the bottom, the other entering the same stone as the post, eighteen inches from it. Midway between the posts, we placed others, of oval iron three quarters of an inch in breadth, drilled, like the others, but not fastened to the stone. We purchased unannealed wire, but were under the necessity of annealing it before we could use it. This Ave did in a fire in the open air ; and one side of each coil became more pliable than the other, Avhich made it troublesome in putting in. We intro- duced our Avircs, five in number, Avithout much trouble, except from our moA-able posts ; one person holding the coil and turning it in his hands. I think the better way Avould be, to have a reel for this pur- pose, as the Avire Avould come off more easily, and get loss ci-ooked. At each end we had strong, Avell braced, Avooden posts ; and fastening the Avire to one of them, Ave strained it tight at the other, by passing it through the post, and then through a cylinder of Avhite oak, about tAvo inches in diameter, and tAvelve inches in length, Avhich Ave turn by a carriage AA-rcnch, fitted to one end, and an iron rod put through a hole in the other; the rod, being close to the side of the post, Avas made fast bj"- a nail, to keep the Avire straight. In order to straighten the wire the Avhole length, •wo found it ncccssary, at the same time Ave strained at the end, to draw on it in various places, as the friction of the posts, and catching in some, would break one end before the other Avould be straight- ened. This we effected, by putting sticks through the joinings of the Avire, and draAving by hand. After the horizontal wires Avere drawn tight, Ave put in No. 1-5 wire, passing diagonally from the top to the bottom of every post, and crossing in the centre. It may be AvoA^en in any desirable form. The Avholo is painted Avhito, to protect it from the rust, improA'e its aj^pearance, and attract the attention of cattle. We have another short piece, Avhich has no Avail at the bottom, and is painted broAA'n, av hich the cattle do not see, and they run into it, much to its injury. The length of this fence is thirty-five rods. The cost Avas as folloAvs : — 180 lbs. No. 9 wire, at 6 cts $10 80 20 lbs. No. 15 Avire, at 8 cts 1 60 46 cast ii-on posts, 529 lbs., at 3 cts. 15 87 36 lbs. American iron for braces and small posts, at 5 cts 1 90 Blacksmith's bill for drilling posts, &c., 3 83 Paint, 1 00 Labor at wall, &c., 30 davs 30 00 $05 00 being .f 1 85 per rod. 0\ir experience alone Avould enable us to construct another at less cost ; and by bracing each post, they might be farther apart, Avithout any loss of strength. Many of the processes adopted bj^ us Avere not origi- nal; but as the building of Avire fence is j'et in its infancy, many parts of our plan may be Avorthy of adoption. If any one Avishes the fence invisible, let him set the stone for the posts in the ground, and paint the Avhole green or brown. A short piece of Avire fence does not look Avell, but in our case, it has added so much to the beauty of the field enclosed by it, as to be noticed by every one who sees it. T. S. GOLD. West Coexaa'All, Ct., Jan. 25, 1850. — Am. AffricuUurist. Oregon Wheat. — We have seen some sami>lcs of Avhcat groAvn in Oregon, Avhich, from its quality, deserves a passing comment. The grain is extremely fine, being very round and full, and, compared with that produced in Illinois, or other grain-groAving states, has an evident superiority. — N. O. Pic. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 119 CULTIVATION OF BLACKBERRIES. In the days of our boyhood, thousands and thou- sands of brier bushes impeded the progress of the far- mer as he labored to bring the forest into a fruitful field. On removing the forest growth, the brambles suc- ceeded, and were eonsidercd no small nuisance, though they often yielded bushels, nnci eomctluius cartloads, of fine fruit, beyond the consumption. At that time, we did not dream of ever cultivating, or recommending the culture, of this then obnoxious bush, as many barelegged and barefooted urchins could testify. But now our natural or wild fruits have disap- peared, and large cities and towns have created a demand for fruits, and those of the highest order com- mand a high price ; and among the very best and dearest fruits is the high bush blackberry, so common in Maine, and it may abound in other parts of New England, but in this region, the low bush or running blackberry prevails, which, in Maine, is called the sour blackberry, being far inferior to the high bush, both in size and quality. In Maine, the blackberrj' grows in all soils, from those that are tolerably moist and very rich, natu- rally, to the dry and poor. But on light, poor soils, the fruit is smaller and much inferior. The larger the fruit, the better the quality. This fruit abounds in new lands ; and after the land lias been long cleai*ed up, it flourishes well by the side of walls and fences, among logs, and in and around stone heaps, when it is not molested by more thorough culture and regard to neatness than usually prevail where land is com- paratively new and cheap. From the natural habits of the blackberry, we must infer the mode of culture, in the absence of experiments on this subject ; and perhaps some of our readers can give information on the garden cul- ture of this fruit. There is no doubt that it will flourish best in lands that arc now, or comparatively so. If cultivated in old gardens, or on lands that have been long under tillage, apply as manure leaves from the forests, also wood ashes and charcoal. liCaves, straw, old hay, and other litter used as mulching, would be excellent, especially on dry soils, and save the fruit from the efi^ccts of extreme heat and drought. Wc recommend the culture of the blackberry in the garden or field, as a matter of trial, both for sup- plying the family and the market ■\^■ith fruit. A3 so little has been done in this way, we cannot say ■whether it wUl be profitable ; but we think it will, for the raspberry, thimblebcrry, and other wild fruits, flourish well in the garden. A few amateurs raise fine blackberries in this vicinity, and we have seen some sold at a dollar a quart box, which were no larger nor better than we have seen in Maine of spontaneous growth. These gentlemen have a particular kind, that are held in high estimation, and we have obtained some of them to try by the side of some which we have procured from Down East. In our native place, we have picked a pint of blackberries from a single bush ; and wc have stood in one spot, without moving our feet, and picked a quart of as fine fruit as we have ever seen of this, or any other kind of fruit, from the highest cultivation. The blackberry is a valuable dessert fruit without preparation, or, like many other delicate fruits, it may be used with sugar, cream, &c. In cooking, it iiiaj be used in a great variety of ways, in puddings, cakes, pics, tarts, &c., &c. It is the very finest of fruits for vinegar, and in new countries, before orchards are established, and where farmers have not learned to avail themselves of the sap of the maple for vinegar, the blackberry is used for this purpose. We now have some fine blackberry vinegar, which we made a few years ago, from some fruit that was becoming too soft for other purposes. It is of a beau- tiful rich color, and it retains the peculiar aroma of the fruit. It far excels common vinegar. This fruit may be saved for future use, by making it into jelly or jam. SETTING FRUIT TREES. Great care should be taken in selecting fruit trees, in order to procure those that are vigorous and hardy, of good form, and suitable size ; and for this northern climate, they should be raised in the north, or in nearly the same latitude. It is of great importance that the trees should bo taken up with the greatest care, and well packed. In many cases trees are wrenched forcibly from the ground, with a loss of no small portion of their roots ; and sometimes there is a negligence in packing, so that the roots become dry and nearly dead. Trees should be taken up early, before vegetation commences, and secured by packing or laying in by the heels ; and then it may be well to delay setting till the soil is dry enough to be worked conveniently. If any roots are broken, they should be cut off smoothly and the top should be reduced even more in proportion. Even if no roots are lost, it is best to prune off a part of the top, especially when trees aro moved in the spring. Dig large holes 18 or 20 inches deep, unless the land is wet, and first fill in with loam and decom- posed sods, to a suitable height, and then plant tho tree with the roots extended in their natural position, so that they will be covered only a few inches deep when the earth is levelled. Scatter the subsoil from tho bottom of the hole on the surface. Make a basin 120 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. around the tree to catch the water ; and lay a few stones almost close to the tree, to keep the roots firm in their places, and some sods between the stones and tree, to protect it against the winds. It is much better to 7nidch the trees by laying straw, old hay, Bea-weod, or other litter around them, especially the first season, as this keeps the roots cool and moist in dry weather. If the laud has been well prepared by thorough culture, and liberal manuring of previous crops, no manure wiU. be necessary; otherwise, use well de- composed compost, and do not apply that directly to the roots unless well mixed with loam. If coarse manure only can be had, lay it around the tree for mulching, and as it decomposes, it will run doAvn to the roots. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. The Poultry Book, a Treatise on Breeding and General Management of Domestic Fowls ; with numerous original Descriptions and Portraits from Life ; by John C. Bennett, M. D., Physician and Surgeon. Boston; Phillips, Sampson, & Co. 310 P13. 12mo. In the execution of this work, the publishers have done themselves much credit. The paper is fine, the tj'pography beautiful, and the engravings are on a liberal scale. We have barely noticed the appear- ance of tlie work, and shall delay an opinion of its merits, as we have not had an opportunity to exam- ine it. Report of the Committee of Supervision of the first Exhibition of Poultry, lield in Boston, Nov. 1849. This is a very neat and beautiful pamphlet, con- taining an account of the diff'erent breeds shown, and by whom exhibited, with viiluable statistical informa- tion, and suggestions on the importance of forming a permanent association for the improvement of do- mestic fowls. It is ombellished with numerous por- traits of fowls, which show well on fine paper, with the excellent specimen of Mr. H. L. Devereux's typographic art. Price twenty-five cents. Sold by J. P. Jowctt, lledding & Co., Ticknor, A. Bowditch, and Phillips, Sampson, & Co. Tub Granite Farmer. — This new paper was re- ceived a few weeks ago, but has been neglected as it was mislaid. It is in quarto form, neatly executed, and well filled with interesting and valuable matter. It is under the patronage of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society. Published at Manches- ter, by James O. Adams ; Thomas R. Crosby, M. D., Editor. Price $1 50 per year. We trust that the intelligent farmers of the Granite State will give this paper a liberal support. American Industry and Skill. — It is said that the new Pasha of Egypt has ordered a set of elegant equipages to be built for him in the United States, to be ready during the spring. THE NEWSPAPER. BY CRABBE. Lo ! there it comes before the cheerful fire. Damp from the press its smoking curls aspire (As from the earth the sun exhales the dew,) Ere we can read the wonders that ensue ; Then eager, every eye surveys the part That brings the favorite subject to the heart; Grave politicians look for fa^'ts alone. And gravely add conjectures of their own ; The sprightly nymph, Avho never broke her rest For tottering crowns or mighty lands oppressed, Finds broils and battles, but neglects them all For songs and suits, a birthday or a liall. The keen, warm man o'erlooks each idle tale For " moneys wanted" and estates on sale, While some with equal minds to all attend, Pleased with each part, and grieved to find an end. To this all readers turn, and they can look Pleased on a paper, Avho abhor a book ; Those who ne'er deigned their Bible to peruse Would think it hard to bo denied their news ; JSmners and oolnts, thp wisest with the weak, ■ Here mingle tastes, and one amusement seek. This, like a public inn, provides a treat, Where each promiscuous guest sits down to eat ; And such this mental food as we may call. Something to all men, and to some men all. THE OLIO. What thet sit for. — A Quaker, who was exam- ined before a court, not using any other language than "thee" and "friend," was asked by the pre- siding judge, — " Pray, Mr. , do you know what we sit here for ? " "Yes, verily do I," said the Quaker; "three of you for two dollars each a day, and the fat one on the right for one thousand dollars a year." A wager was laid on the Yankee peculiarity to an- swer one question by asking another. To decide the bet a Down-Easter was interrogated. "I want you," said the bettor, "to give mo a straightforward answer to a plain question." " I kin du it, mister," said the Yankee. " Then why is it New Englanders always answer a question by asking one in return ? " " Du they f " was Jonathan's reply. " We praise men for fighting," says a caustic wri- ter, " and punish children for doing the same." If you are too poor to own a garden, buy a tub and fill it with earth, and cultivate a rose bush or a dahlia bulb. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ,«;i a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It nia.y be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 2o cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. ^° The Postage „^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and IJ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the bobton stereotype foundry. '''Y/?^/§xx DEVOTED TO IGEICBLIIIRE IHD ill ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation , but the only riches she can call her own. —Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1850. NO. 8. s. w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Propuietoh. LIST OF APPLES. "NVk arc often requested to give a choice list of apples and other fruits ; but a great difficulty attends the subject, as different varieties are suited to differ- ent climates, and to different purposes. The Bald- win is the most popular winter apple in this section, but it has less value in the northern part of New England, while the Ribstone Pij)pin, which is not worth cultivating here, succeeds well in Elaine, and perhaps it may be valuable in other northern regions. Some fruits are fine for the garden, being of the best quality ; but they may be of small size, and the tree a poor grower or bearer, so that they would not be profitable for the market. Yet there are some fruits that are generally good in different sections, and for various purposes. SUMMER APPLES. Red Astrachan, Williams, Sweet Bough, Cole's Quince, Foundling, Summer Rose, Manomet Sweet- ing, Benoni, Golden Sweet. The Early Harvest is about a week earlier than any of the above, but it is very uncertain in New England, being liable to crack and blast ; yet it may be worthy the attention of amateurs. The Summer Rose is a beautiful and excellent apple for the garden, but rather small for the market. Williams requires a strong, rich soil, and with high culture it is very large, beautiful, and salable. It is a moderate bearer. Cole's Quince succeeds well in Maine, its native state, and we have disseminated it widely for experiment. It is a good grower, a con- stant and good bearer, of a large size, of superior quality for cooking, and when thoroughly ripe and mellow, very fine for the table. Sweet Bough flour- ishes well in all parts of the country, and is excel- lent. ^Lanomct Sweeting is new and very promis- ing, and is later than Sweet Bough. FALL APPLES. Benoni and Manomet extend into autumn. Gold- en Sweet, a very fine apple, comes into use the lat- ter part of August, and continues nearly throiigh September. The following are valuable : — Richardson, Bars, Early Joe, Mexico, Garden Royal, Long Stem, Superb Sweet, Porter, Sassafras Sweeting, Gravenstein, Magnolia, Jewett's Red, Ilubbardston Nonsuch, Mother, Hurlburt, Richardson is a large and excellent fruit, moderate grower, not yet well tested. Bars has not been ex- tensively tested, but it is a good grower, and the fruit is beautiful and fine. Early Joe is a beautiful and first-rate dcsseit fruit, but should be eaten as they come from the tree, ilexico is handsome and excel- lent, but a very slow grower indeed. Gai'dcn Royal is among the very finest dessert apples, well adapted to the garden, but rather smiall for market. I-ong Stem is a good grower, fair fruit, and of a very high character; new and promising. Superb Sweet is a fine grower, good bearer, the fruit handsome, tender, and rich ; not extensively cultivated, but very prom- ising. Porter and Gravenstein have their characters well established as highly valuable fruits, both for the dessert and kitchen. They are adapted to differ- ent climates and locations. Sassafras is one of the finest autumnal sweet apples. Magnolia is a new and very promising fruit, not j"et well tested. Jew- ett's Red is an excellent apple for the dessert, but it requires very high culture, else the fruit will be im- perfect. Ilubbardston Nonsuch is one of the very best late fall apples for the market. It is large and fair, and very popular. Mother is also a late fall apple of the very highest character, and promising as to its habits, but Jiot yet well tested. Hurlburt is one of the very best apples, late in full and early in w inter. It is a good bearer, and the best and largest grower that we have among a variety of sixty or sev- enty in the nursery. It grows more rapidly than the Baldwin, which is famous for this quality. WINTER AND SPUING APPLES. Iklothcr and Hurlburt are early winter apples. The following are considered very valuable varieties : Rhode Island Greening, Danvcrs Winter Sweet, Baldwin, Sutton Beauty, American Golden Russet, Ribston Pippin, Seavcr Sweet, Red Russet, Roxbury Russet, Ladies, Sweeting, Northern Spy, Table Greening. Some ciiltivators consider the lihodc Island Green- ing one of the best of apples, but many complaia that it does not yield so much fair fruit as the Bald- win. As it has been somewhat neglected, the fruit 122 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. has of late sold higher than the Baldwin, early in winter. Danvers "Winter Sweet is very popular, and yet a great many -who cultivate it complain that much of the fruit is too small for market. "\Ve pre- fer the Scaver Sweet, as the fruit is larger, etiu.ally as good, a better grower, and bears more in odd years, when apples are usually scarce. The Baldwin is the most popular apple in New England ; but in the northern parts, some prefer the Kibston Pippin, and others adapted to a cold climate. Sutton Beauty is a new and veiy promising fruit, well worthy of experiment. See our first volume, page 146. But little kno-v^-n. When we prepa^red the American Fruit-Book, we had not fairly tested this fruit ; since that time we have tried it, and given it a place in a new edition now in press. American Golden Pwusset is one of the very best of apples, and it retains its excellence into spring, but it is rather sn\all for market. Red llusset is new, but very promising, and worthy of general trial. It keeps as well as the Roxbury Russet, is a better grower, and the fruit is better. Roxbury Russet is valued for its late keeping ; but it requires very moist, strong, rich land. It is uncer- tain, especially on old land, and dry or moderate soils. The fruit is dry, and not fii-st rate cither for the table or the dessert. I^adies Sweeting is rather large fruit, very beautiful, and of the highest char- RCter. It retains its excellence even till summer. A moderate grower. Not yet well tested in New Eng- land. Northern Spy has become famous for its beauty and excellent flavor, and particularly for its freshness after long keeping, even sometimes into summer. Some say that in its native region. West- ern New York, it requires high culture and close pruning, else the fruit will be small and imperfect as the trees grow old. We think this variety will cost about twice as much to raise it as the R. I. Greening or Baldwin, and owing to their later keeping and superior qualitj-, that they will be worth twice as much. Table Greening is a new variety, which we have disseminated widely for experiment. It has not yet borne, excepting in its native region, in Maine. It is excellent for cooking, and a very good dessert apple, exccxiting the flesh is rather firm. It has not the fine aroma of the Northern Spy, but it keeps much better. Further experiments are necessary, to show what are the best apples for spring and summer. A good cooking apple for this season will rank high, as it will save us from the disagreeable necessity of using dried apples, which we should hardly do, Avcre it not for the reputation of apples established by their use in the green state. LIST OF CHOICE PEARS. Hundreds of varieties of pears have been tried and rejected, and a large number have generally suc- ceeded very well under good management. The fol- lowing are among the most valuable, or the kinds that generally succeed Avell with good trcntment. ITie list is arranged nearly in the order of ripening. SUMMER PEARS. Madeleine, Bloodgood, Dorr, Rostiezer, Tyson, Dearborn's Seedling. Madeleine is our best early pear. Bloodgood is rather uncertain in New England, yet generally good. Dorr is not of high quality, but remarkable for growth, hardiness, and production. Rostiezer is a very great grower, and the fruit is first rate, but small for the market. Tyson is a Httle larger than the last, but not quite so good. Dearborn's Seedling is a fine, hardy variety, but as it is small, it is not profitable for the market, as the Bartlett comes into the market nearly at the same time. There are several other promising native summer pears on trial, among which are the Wadleigh, Muskingum, Osband's Summer, Zoar Seedling, &c. FALL PEARS. Bartlett, Wilbur, St. Ghistlain, Stevens's Genesee, Belle Lucrative, Cusliing, Flemish Beauty, Andrews, Beurre Bosc, Seckel, Louise Bon de Jersey, Buff'um, Fulton, Swan's Orange, ITrbaniste, Dix, Vicar of Wijikfield. Bartlett is the most popular fall pear here, but it is rather tender for a northern climate. Wilbur is a native, and vcrj' promising. St. Ghistlain is excellent for the amateur, but too small for market. Gushing does not rank so high in quality as others with which we have associated it, but it is a hardy native, and a great bearer. Beurre Bosc is of an excellent qual- ity, but as it is a slow grower and moderate bearer, it is not profitable for the market. Seckel is small, but it is the standard of excellence. Louise Bon de Jersey is very productive on the quince stock, but it has not been well tested, in orchard culture, on the pear stock. Buffum and Fulton are natives, and among our very best pears for the orchard ; they are very productive and salable. Swan's Orange is a new native, and promises to be one of the very best for orchard culture. ITrbaniste is one of the finest and surest of foreign pears. Dix is a native, but like some foreign kinds, very liable to crack and blast. Best for the amateur who has an extensive list. Vicar of Winkfield is a great grower, and a great and sure bearer. Fine for cooking, and very good for the table, when grown in a warm location, and well ripened. WINTER PEARS. Winter Nelis, M'Laughlin, Lewis, Beurre de Aremberg, Lawrence, Echassery, Easter Beurre, Pound for cooking. Winter Nelis is a SAveet, rich, luscious fruit, and generally succeeds well, but like nearly all foreign pears, it is a little uncertain. M'LaughUn is a hardy native of Maine, very promising, but not well tested. Lewis is a native, and succeeds well in a strong, rich soil, and rather warm location. Beurre do Aremberg is a very fine fruit, but rather uncer- tain. Lawrence is a native of New York, and is rather promising in New England ; not yet well tested. Echassery is an old variety, not hardly first rate, but very hardy and sure in orchard culture. Easter Beurre is a difiicult fruit to grow and ripen. When perfect, it is of a high character, and keeps late. It is adapted to a warm location in the garden. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 123 CENTRIFUGAL AND CENTRIPETAL CHURN, This engraving represents an improvement in the churn dasher, recently patented by Mr. Z. C. Rob- bins, St. Louis, for which a medal was awarded by the American Institute at their fair last auttimn. This dasher has a rotary motion, by a crank on a hor- izontal shaft. The cut represents a transverse sec- tion, or end view of the daslier. From the inven- tor's specification, we gather the following account of this machine. The dasher has several beating blades, a, a, h, h, &c., confined at each end to arms c, c, &c., which form the ends of the dasher. When the dasher is in motion, tlic cream is gathered between the diverging .surfaces of each pair of blades, giving it an outward or centrifugal direction, and by the joint action of pressure and suction, it is forced through the narrow space between their after edges, producing a most cflicicnt action on the cream for the production of butter. When the butter logins to separate from the cream, the motion is reversed, and the roar surfaces of the blades, h, b, &c., will give the butter a centripetal direction, and gather the butter, as fast as it is formed, into a roll in the centre of the dasher; thereby preventing the clogging and obstruction to the free movement of the dasher by the accumula- tion of butter upon it; so that the churning operation may be easily pursued, until all the butter is sepa- rated from the cream, and gathered into a roll. This dasher raay be used to advantage in cither a round or square churn. •' The peculiar position of the dasher blades, caus- ing them to pass edgewise through the cream, pre- vents their putting tlie whole mass of it into a rt)tary motion ; in conseciucnce of which absence of rotary motion in the body of the cream, the efficiency of the churning action of the dasher blades is greatly increased, and the dasher can be operated witl> oqual advantage in either a round or a square vessel. This form of churn dasher, it is believed, has the largest amount of rfTcctivo agitating surface that can pos- sibly be given to it, consistently with the preservation of such a degree of simplicity of form and arrange- ment of parts as will allow of free access to all the surfaces thereof that are brought in contact with cream, for the purpose of cleansing them ; without wliich last qualification, no churn will receive favor with dairy-women. "The centrifugal and centripetal churn dasher is equally well adapted to the churning of milk as it is to the churning of cream. After repeated experi- ments, it is believed I)y the inventor, that it will pro- duce butter from crcnm or milk in less time, and w ith a less expenditure of power than it can be accom- pUshed by the use of any other churn that has ever Ijccn patented or brought into use. " And also, that a larger quantity of butter will l>e produced from a given (Hiantity of cream or milk." yVc copy the following fi-om that very valuable work, the Farmer and Mechanic, New York : — "This invention, to which we alluded in the Farm- er and Mechaiuc of November 1, api)ears to us to bo based on purely scientific principles, and from the extensive sale, and numerous testimonials in their favor, their practical utility has not been ovor-esti- nratcd. Hundreds are in use in our own state, in some of the best dairies, and all who have used them speak of them in terms of enthusiastic approbation. We are informed that many are also in ajjeration in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of f^olumbia, where thoy are equally admired, saving, it is said, by their application, nearly fifty per cent., in time and labor, over the common upright reciprocating dasher. Any contribution to the great dairy interest of the country is worthy of high commendation, and this we deem a valuable improvement, and worthy of general adoption by the farming community." Tliese chums are manufactured and sold by Messrs. Rugglcs, Nourse, l^Iason, & Co., at Worcester and Boston. 124 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the Neic England Fanner. CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN. Mr. Cole : A field of stout corn, with lusty ears 6tanding out in every direction, has always been a pleasing si>;bt to mc; and it has been rather a matter of pride with mo, to grow about as good com as any body. I now propose to give you an account of my m,niagoment of two fields of this grain ; and should your patience tire with the particularity of ray details, I must remark that I am often obliged to lay aside that which I read upon farming, as of no practical use to me, because of the absence of details important for mc to know. I shall first mention a field of ten acres, that had lain to grass four years, and the soil of which is a warm, sandy loam. It was nicely ploughed to the depth of nine inches, in November. The manure was drawn on to the land in the fall, winter, and early spring, and placed in large heaps to prevent evaporation, and at convenient distances for again loading it into carts for spreading. One heap of forty loads was of muck from the barn-yard, upon which the cows had been yarded nights through the summer ; other heaps were of muck, turf, and scrapings of various sorts, thrown to the hogs, and by them worked over ; others were a compost of two parts muck to one of horse or cattle manure ; and the last was sixty loads of muck, composted with six hogsheads of fresh lime, of seven bushels each, mixed in August before planting. In May, these heaps were deposited over the field in smaller heaps, for the purpose of spreading, and at the rate of thirty loads per acre. The loads would average about thiity-fivc bushels each. The com- post was evenly spread on the inverted furrows, and at the same time a heavy hinge-harrow was started lengthwise of the furrows, going several times in a place, and then across the furrows, until the soil and manure were perfectly pulverized and mii>gled to the depth of three or four inches. I harrow plant- ing ground as much again as fai-mcrs in general do, and find my account in it too ; for the extra fine tilth thus obtained, makes much easier and better work of planting and the first hoeing, besides con- tributing to the rapid growth of the young corn. The liild was next marked out in rows, north and eouth, and east and west, at three and a half feet apart each way. Much care Avas Tisod to keep straight rows both ways, in order that the horse and cultivator might afterwards work the crop with the best execution. If rows are straight, one can ehavc the weeds, and stir the ground close up to the hills with the cultivator, leaving little for the hand- hoc to do. Besides, I perfectly abhor the sight of crooked corn-rows. Three and a half feet is prettj' wide planting ; but my corn is a large sort, and it will cover the grotmd at that distance apart, giving larger cai's, as well as standing a drought longer than if planted nearer. I am suspicious of the reasoning by which the conclusion is arrived at, that close plant- ing obviates the effects of drought ; for each stalk, in seeking to perfect itself, draws on tlic soil for its duo amount of moisture, and the demand is in this respect greater than that by evaporation. In planting the corn, six to eight kernels were avcU 8cattca-ed in each hill. I find that corn ears heavier, if well spread in the hill, than if thrown down into a heap, one kernel on the top of another. As the soil was a light sandy loam, the seed was covered about three inches deep. I have had my corn fail to come up well for want of sufTicicnt covering. If a dry spell succeeds planting, the corn will find more moisture to set it growing if well covered; and again, if a frost succeeds, which is not unusual with me, the little tender plants will not bo injured per- manently, if the planting has been deep ; but if it has been shallow, their vitality is destroyed. The seed was planted dry, with the belief, after a trial of various steeps, that it is as well so as any way. As soon as the corn was up sufficiently to folloAV the rows well, the field was worked with a horse and cultivator, twice in a row, both ways, and the hills were dressed with the hoe. A week or so after, the horse and cultivator were again used, both ways ; and so again, in another week ; and again, for the la>t time, the earth, this time, being slightly raised with the hoe, making the hills broad and flat. The stalks were also thinned to four or five in a hill. Nothing more was done till harvest, and nothing more needed to be done. The ploughing had been nicely executed the fall previous ; in the spring the surface was clean of grass or weeds, and brought to fine tilth with the harrow ; the manure was suffi- ciently fermented to destroy the seeds of weeds con- tained therein ; the frequent use of the cultivator kept the surface clean, and so mellow that the young corn came rapidly forward ; and soon after the second hoeing, the ground was completely covered with the crop, and all weeds were choked down. My cornfield was a handsome sight, on account of its perfect uniformity of luxuriance. It yielded me seventj' two-bushel baskets full of ears to the acre. Premiums are frequently taken for single acres, yielding double the corn that any one acre of mine did ; but whenever I can grow ten acres of corn, averaijinrj seventy two-bushel baskets of ears per acre, I say to myself, that is doing very well. Last year I planted a field of two acres to corn, in driUs. The preparation of the ground did not differ materially from that of the ten acre field just de- ^cribed, From some experiments in drill planting tried on a small scale, in previous years, I was in- duced to think that on good land, well manured, corn would yield rather more in drills than in hills. This lot being one where these conditions were all right, I marked it out in rows three and a half feet apart, and dropped the seed in the rows nine inches apart, which gave just the same number of stalks to the acre as if I had planted in hills three and a half feet apart each way, four kernels in a hill. The seed was dropped by hand, and covered with the hoc ; and it took about twice as long as it would to have planted in hills three and a half feet apart. The corn was worked with a horse and cultivator at six several times, in quick succession, and dressed twice with the hoe. As the rows were very straiglit, the cultivator was worked up close to the stalks each time, and the hoeing was not much, if any, more laborious than usual. As I was absent from home during the whole of harvest time, no measures were taken to ascertain the exact yield of this field. 13ut myself and others were well persuaded, upon comparison of the corn growing in drills with that in hills, on equally good ground, that the yield of the former would exceed that of the latter by at least fifteen bushels per acre. The stalks standing singly, nine inches apart, had each a better chance at air, moisttirc, and pasture ; the ears in consequence grew larger, and more of the stalks bore two cars, than would have been the case if planted in hills. On the whole, I was well pleased with this crop, and intend, this coming season, to plant five acres in drills. While upon my present subject, I will say a word about saving seed corn. All experienced farmers are aware that the productiveness and early ripening of any kind of corn, depends very much upon the man- ner of selecting the seed. I have a long-eared vari- ety, which I have been planting and improving for some ten or twelve years ; and although during that time I have tried, 1 presume, a dozen other sorts, I give the preference to the first-named sort. "What- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 125 ever may be said in favor of a change of seed, as regards other crops, there is no need of changing seed corn, provided proper care is used in the yearly selection of that for planting, liy proper attention to this matter, a variety may be perfectly adapted in its habits to a given climate and soil, and changed much for the better as to productiveness. The dif- ference in product, between careful selection in the field, and taking seed at random from the crib, will, in a very few years, be much in favor of the former mode, — the soil and cultivation being in both cases alike. As soon as the earliest ears are thoroughly glazed, I go over the field myself, selecting from those stalks that are " stocky " and vigorous, and that produce two good ears. The selected ears are taken imme- diately home, braided, and hung up in a dry, airy jilace. When I commenced with my favorite variety, it was difficult to find twin ears ; but now they are abundant. My crops also ripen ten days earlier than at first. I will not mention the length of the ears that might be found in my fields, but will say to you, Mr. Editor, come and see for yourself. F. HOLBROOK. Bkattleboko', Vt., March 26, 1850. For the Neto England Farmer. CORN FODDER, Mr. Cole; In your number for December 8, you published a communication headed " Corn for Fodder." In your remarks I entirelj' coincide, ex- cept in one statement, viz. : " But thirty tons of green stalks will not make twelve tons of dry fod- der; probably not more than si.\ tons." Wishing to have some exact data from which to judge of the profitableness of this crop, I tried some exi)eriments last year, for that purpose, and wrote down the results at the time. The field where I tried the ex- periments, was planted the 5th of June, in drills nearly three feet apart. On the middle of Septem- ber, I cut a bundle which weighed thirty-four pounds. The stalks were green, with a few small ears fit for boiling. I spread this bundle in as exposed a situa- tion for drying as I could find, and after three days of good weather it weighed nineteen and one half pounds. In seven days it weighed seventeen and one half pounds, and after a fortnight, ffteen and one half pounds. I put it under cover every night and every dull day, I also cut a bundle of green " tops " in the corn- field, which weighed thirty-one pounds ; one day after, it weighed twenty-two and one half pounds. After a week of sunny warm weather, it weighed fifteen pounds. This result, showing a shrinkage of about eleven twentieths, was not (juite as much as I expected. We had guessed the loss in drying would be from two thirds to three quarters of its weight. It would be interesting to me to hear of other ex- periments on this matter, and also the grounds upon which you estimated the loss in drying to be four fifths of the weight ; as one experiment is not entirely conclusive. I should be glad to learn what mode of curing corn fodder in large quantities you would recom- mend, and what modes are practised in the vicinity of Boston. I was about to write a list of other inquiries, but I will not extend this communication. Yours respectfully, J. II. A. HiLLSBoaouGH Co., N. H., Jan. 19, 1850. Remarks. — By some mistake this article has been delayed. Our statement that " thirty tons of green fodder Avill not make twelve tons of drv," is founded partly on experiments in weighing, and partly on judgment; but we say *^ probably not more than six tons." This latter remark is guess work, as appears from our qualification ; j'ct we have some facts, on which this fact is founded. We do not dispute the results of experiments as communicated, but we think experiments will not generally give such results. Our opinion is founded on the loss of weight in top stalks, as we have handled them much more than corn cut up at the gi-ound ; and a bundle that is quite heavy green, weighs onlj' a few pounds when dry. A farmer who raised large qiiantities of corn fodder, said that it required good land, higlily manured, and well naan- aged, to produce six tons of dry fodder. Now, on such land we should (jfcpect twenty or thirty tons of green fodder. Mr. Willard Earle, of Worcester, raised forty tons of green fodder to the acre. Is it possible to get twenty tons of dry fodder to the acre ? We are much obliged to our correspondent for calling attention to the subject, and we shall be happy to learn that we are mistaken, and that the crop of djy corn fodder is far larger than we consid- ered it, forming our opinion by inferences from facts, instead of direct facts. We regard this subject as unsettled, and request farmers to make experiments, both on top stalks, and on corn fodder, and report to us the result. As to curing corn fodder, it is best to sow it suffi- ciently early for it to be fit to cut while the weather is warm, and the ground warm and dry. After cut- ting it, expose it considerably to the sun, carefully securing it against storms and heavy dews. For the Kew England Farmer. NATIVE ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. Mr. Cole : There are many species of shrubs found in our woods and hedges, far more beautiful than a large portion of the exotic kinds which are carefully and extensively cultivated for ornamental puri)oses. Indigenous shrubs have boon employed to a limited extent, as yet, for embellishment ; but their merits are more appreciated as they become better understood. Some of the most splendid kinds have been trans- ferred from the forest to the garden, and are much prized and sought for. The Khododendron maximum, or Rose bay, as it is sometimes called, is a magnificent flowering shrub. It is somewhat rare in this section. The Kalmia, or Laurel, of which there arc throe species in this vicinity, all of which are beautifid, but rather ditHcult to cultivate, is an evergreen, and adds much to the landscape in winter, by its green leaves, which are always cheering to the sight at that dreary season. The Azaleas, of which wo have two species in this section, arc most splendid ; one bearing pink flowers, and the other white, and both having a very fragrant odor, resembling that of the garden pink. No col- lection of shruljberv should be without them. The Rhodora Canadensis, or false lIoneyHuckle, is a beautiful early flowering shrub, common in wet groimds, and worthy of a place in every collection. The common Sweet Brier, or native rose, is much improved bv cultivation, and perfumes the air with 126 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. its grateful odor ; it is also one of the stocks on which to bud the foreign kinds with the greatest chance of success. We have many species of Cornns and Viburnum with fine Ho\\ers, and more worthy of cultivation than miich of tlie exotic shrubbery now seen in gar- dens and pleasure-grounds. There are many other species which might be enumerated ; but the above will suilice, as examples, to awaken an interest on the subject, and remind us, while we are eagerly collecting the ])roductions of foreign lands, that our own fields and forests bloom with equal Si^lendor, though forgotten or unknown. O. V. HILLS. Leominster, Maixh, 1850. For the New England Farmer. CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. Mn. Cole : It is pleasing to see, year after year, the increasing interest taken in the cultivation of llowers ; for it indicates the advancement of civiliza- tion and rolinement, as well as a higher standard of morality in the community. But there is yet a large class so wanting in good taste, that thcj' consider the cultivation of flowers as a very useless employment. To this class I would say, that happiness is the aim and object of all the labor of man. The happiness of the least refined consists in sensual gratification. In proportion as mankind advance, they seek for more extended and more intellectual sources of happiness. One of these is the cultivation of flow- ers. Any one who has cared for, watered, and trained some choice flowering plant until it has re- warded the cultivator with its perfection of form and brilliant bloom, will assent to this. It not only gives ])leasure to the senses and intellect, but it teaches a moral to the heart. " God might have bade the earth bring forth Enough for great and small, The oak-tree and the cedar-tree. Without a flower at all." But would the amount of our happiness have been as gTcat, without these beautiful forms of nature ? jSIuch more might be said on the refined character of floriculture as an amusement ; but I have already occupied more space with this j^art of my subject than I intended. Many who set about filling a bonier with choice flowering plants, and who wish to select those both easy of cultivation and beautiful, are at a loss which to select among the thousands ottered by seedmen and florists. It is not my purpose, in this article, to offer a select list, but to make some remarks on a few of our native plants worthy of cultivation, and which 'Mr. Fowler, in two interesting articles on pp. 12 and GO, current volume of the N. E. Farmer, has omitted to mention. Scarlet Columbine is a well-known ^laj' flower, growing on dry, rocky hills, and in gravelly soil, of elegant habit, and bearing delicate pendulous scarlet flowers. When removed from its wild locality to the richer soil of a garden, it grows with great luxuriance, and produces tenfold more flowers than in its wild state ; but it should be transplanted into fresh soil every second or tldrd year. The White English and Wild Columbines should be planted together for the contrast of color. When thus situated, beautiful hybrids can easily be obtained from the seeds of the English Columbine, partaking of the character of both species, and distinct from either. The Cranesbill, {Geranium maciikUum,) when cul- tivated, produces an abundance of purple flowers in May and June. The root is valuable for its medi- cinal properties. The Bloodroot {Sanguinarla Canadensis) is an- other plant valuable in medicine, easily cultivated. The flowers appear in April ; they are very pretty, but short Hved. Lilies. — Lilitim superbum, L. Canadense and L. Pkil- adelphicum. These are all fine. The L. supcrbiim is the most magnificent of our wild herbaceous plants, — far more showy than the much-lauded new Japan lily, (L. lancifolittm.) They do best when trans- planted, early in spring, into deep, rich, and, if pos- sible, moist soil. If not naturally moist, the ground should be covered with straw or litter through the heat of summer. The Wild Lupine is found on dry sandy land, and well deserves a place in the garden. Its blue flow- ers appear in May, and are arranged in a long termi- nal spike. Ground Laurel {Epiffo-a repens) is a beautiful wild flower, blooming very early in spring. It has been introduced into the gardens of Europe, but is not cultivated here. Probably it would not stand our hot dr)' summers in exposed situations, but it might do well in a garden where it could be partially shaded. The Harebell {Campanula roiiaidifolia) is worth cultivating for its poetic associations. It is a slender plant, with narrow leaves, and pretty bell-shaped flowers. Hare in this part of the state. M. NoiiTH Easton, March 21, 1850. For the New England Farmer. PROPAGATION OF BOX Mr. Editor : In gardening, as in dress, ana other subjects, indi^-idual taste will more or less prevail ; accordingly the little evergreen dwarf box, has ever been to me a peculiar favorite ; not as a hedge or border for my flower-beds, but standing promis- cuously in single trees, and growing as much to nature as possible. Having but few trees in my gar- den, and wishing to increase my stock, and as my husband had relinquished the floral department to myself and daughter, I consulted such authority as I could find, as to the best method of propagating it. The uniform opinion was, that it would grow readily from slips. I accordingly made a number of efforts, but either through want of skill or pei-severance, had the mortification of seeing them all wither and die. One autumn, in the month of September, while hav- ing some tender plants potted for the greenhouse, the earth got accidontally heaped up around one of my box-trees, so as to cover the trunk and lower part of the branches ; and it remained so until the following spring. When the earth was removed to dress the borders, I cliscovcretl that the part of the branches that had been covei-ed, had thrown out roots from one to two inches in length ; it then occurred to me that I might probably accomplish my wish. I therefore took up the tree, and divided it into about thirty parts, laying the lower i)arts of the slips in water to keep the roots from drying, had a piece of ground prepared, and the slips set out, water poured around so tance of the body. Ante- riorly, at about the third part of the length of the insect, is situated a short or long rostrum on the under side, which it inserts into the epidermis of plants, and sucks out their juices. After pairing, when the eggs begin to develop themselves, the female dies, and her body serves as a protection and shield to her posterity, by covering the eggs till the young are hatched, when they crawl away. "While young, both sexes are alike ; afterwards the winged specimens arc developed fi'om the male's larva?, and acquire two wings, and usually two long tail- threads ; they arc thus very distinct from the female, which looks like a lar'va during her whole life. There is also a great dissimilarity in point of size, as the male in all the species is scarcely to be distinguished with the naked eye, while the female sometimes attains the size of a grain of linseed, and even that of a pea. The trees mostly infested with Coccus hesperidum arc the orange, the peach, the plum, and damson, the wild chestnut, and the vine. After many experiments, and due consideration of the nature of these insects, I luckily happened to think of a remedy which hitherto has proved the most effectual ; and I submit to the public the fruit of my investigations, with the pleasure that I can recommend it to the agriculturist, with entire cou- fidence in his good success ; thus the ravages of the Coccidie or coccus in the orange-tree shall disappear. Receipt. — Take one pound of quicksilver, put it into a glazed vessel, and pour upon it one gallon of boiling water, which let stand till it becomes cold ; then pour off the water fir use. llcpeat this on the same quicksilver (for it will retain its powers) till u suihcient number of gallons are provided to fill a vessel intended for the purpose. One in the form of a trough, that will hold twenty or twenty-four gal- lons, is the most convenient, especially for large plan- tations. Then to every gallon of this mercurial water add six ounces of soft green soap, dissolved in a portion of the prepared water. liCt the mixture stand till it becomes about milk-Avarm, which is the degree of warmth it must be kept to during the time of operation, which is performed in the following manner ; — It is necessary to brush off a few of the insects, (as in a common dressing,) especially towards the bottom of the leaves, where they will sometimes be so nu- merous as in appearance_to lie one upon another, in which case the mixture might be prevented from penetrating to the bottom insect. Then apply the composition to the tree with a large garden syringe, in a manner that the mixture will descend and pen- etrate to the very bottom of the leaves in the centre of the plant, whereby the insects which are con- cealed there will be totally destroyed ; after that, the leaves of tlic small-sized plants .should be tied together ; in such manner they will be longer im- pregnated with the liquid. The mixture will change the plants to a sad green color, which will give them the appearance of being spoiled, but as they become dry they will in a great measure resume their proper hue. During the operation it will be necessary to add a supply of hot mixture, in order to keep the whole to a jiroper degree of warmth, as also to make xip the deficiency which must naturally haj)pen. It will be proper to do this work on a fine day, and as soon in the forenoon as convenient, that the plants may have time to dry, which they will do in a few hours, and then they must undergo the same opera- tion a second time. The most eligible season for the dressing of the plants are March, in the beginning of the spring. The following mixture I have found to be ecjually efficacious with the former : — Take two ounces of soft green soap. One ounce of common turpentine, (resin,) One ounce of flowers of sulphur. Put those ingredients into a proper vessel, and pour upon them one gallon of boiling water. Let the whole be well worked together with a whisk, which will bring it to strong lather, and cause the in- gredients to incorporate. The mixture should be used milk- warm, and kept gently stirring during the time of using, to prevent the sulphur from subsiding. I must beg leave to observe, that I think this mixture may be of considerable use in preventirig the mildew on the peach and apricot ; for sulphur alone retards the progress of that most fatal disorder, and the soap and turpentine render the mixture of a slimy con- sistence, and leave a clammy coat or covering on the leaves, of a glossy appearance, which very likely may contribute to stop the progress of that disorder. But the fruit trees here having been constantly clear of the mildew, I have therefore not had an o;)portu- nity of making any experiments with thcnr. All the orange-trees under these operations did not seem to have sustained the least injury ; they grew more luxuriantlv than ever, and with the greatest safety. Having thus described my method of destroying these most troublesome insects, I shall now make a few necessary observations. It is allowed, that if boiling water be poured upon a suincicnt quantity of quicksilver, it receives a power capable of destroy- ing lice or insects ; but there wanted something to enable it to reach to the insects in question. Soap seemed to be the most proper vehicle for that pur- pose, ou a double account ; it is a penetrating sub- stance, and contains a quality of the former nature. Soap-suds have, perhaps, as great powers of pene- tration as oil, but oil being added to the second oj)er- atio)i must make the mixture of equal force. The quantity of soap used renders the mixture of a thick, slimy consistence, and consequently leaves a kind of coat or covering upon the leav(vs, which very prob- ably may prevent the insects from remaining, or even coming upon the plants iu case any of tliem were loft. Tor this reason it is of high nnportance to prefer the dry season for these operations, as 1 have already observed. Soap-suds cffcitually de- stroy the different species of insects that infest fruit trees growing against walls. Of these insects, the Aphis is the most common, as well as the most de- structive. It generally attacks with great violence the peach, cherry, and plum, 'i'he Aphides are uni- versally known bv the ap])cllation of lice. liEUNAKD IIPIYNOSO. For the New England Farmer. BOMMER MANURE. Mr. Cole : ilnch has been said upon the Rommcr Method, as it is called, of making manure, within a few years, and much money bus been i)aid for it, which I tl)ink in most, if not in all cases, might be 128 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. appropriated more economically in saline muck and other substances, is left to decompose by nature's process, without being to the trouble entailed by t/tis method. I I'cel no disijosition to detract from the merits of any, and equally willing to accord both honor and the benefit of improvements to their right- ful discoverci-s. But from pvd)lic statements, and ■which I have not known controverted, I liave been induced to believe that " Tlie Bommer Manure Method " claims that to \\'hich it is not justly entitled in respect to originality, (if not in point of merit,) as it has been proved to be in substance the old French method of Jaufrett, to which the public have a right without purchasing of Bommor, The writer of this is one of the many (prol)ably thousands) who have been duped with the tiatteriug statements proclaimed of the great benefits to be derived from the " Bommer method." I have bought it and proved it, and have been reminded of Franklin's whistle. I am acquainted with many who have proved it, but do not know of one who practises it. Farmers are a hard-working class, and should be informed in such matters, in ortler to prevent being sponged out of their hard earnings by inexperienced speculators. ■ A KENEBECK FAIIMEII. Ihr the New England Farmer. EFFECTS OF CHARCOAL ON FLOWERS. Mr. Editok : I clipped the enclosed article from the Boston Weekly Messenger some time since. I have tried the experiment but once, on my petunias both white and red, and I could see no effect like that described by Mr. Bcrauds. As it was a single experiment, and no particular pains taken with it, I do not consider it a full test. Will some of the votaries of Flora try it, and com- municate the result through the columns of the Farmer r No one need fear any bad effects from the charcoal, as it is decidedly beneficial to plants in pots, aside from the change of color. W. F. B. Asiix'iELD, March 26, 1S50. The Effect of Charcoal on Floweus. — The following extract cannot fail to be interesting to the botanist and the chemist, as well as to every lady who has a rose-bush in her garden, or a flower-pot in her parlor. It is from the Paris " Horticultural lleview " of July last, translated by Judge Meigs, of Now York, for the Farmer's Club of the American Institute. The experiments described were made by Kobert Bcrauds, who says, — " About a year ago, I made a bargain for a rose- bush of magnificent growth, and full of buds. I waited for theui to blow, and expected roses worthy of such a noble plant, and of the praises bestowed upon it by the vender. At length, when it bloomed, all my hopes were blasted. The Howers were of a faded color, and I discovered that I had only a mid- dling mvdtitlora, stale enough. I therefoi-e resolved to sacrifice it to some experiments which I had in view. My attention had been captivated with the effects of charcoal, as stated in some English publica- tioa. I then covered the earth in the pot, in which my rasc-bush was, about half an inch deep with pulverized r/mrcoal! Some days after, I was aston- ished to sec the roses, M-hich bloomed, of as fine lively rose- color as 1 could wish ! I determined to repeat the experiment ; and, therefore, when the rose- bush had done flowering, I took off all the charcoal aixd put fresh eartli about the roots. Yo.u may con- ceive that I waited for the next spring impatiently, to see the result of this experiment. When it bloomed, the roses were, as at first, pale and discolored ; but, by applying the charcoal as before, the roses soon resumed their rosy red color. I tried the powdered charcoal likewise in large quantities upon my petu- nias, and found that both the white and the violet flowers were equally sensible to its action. It always gave great vigor to the red or violet colors of the flowers, and the white petunias became veined with red or violet tints; the violets became covered with irrcc/itlar spo.'s of a bluish or almost black tint. ^lany persons, who admired them, thought that they were new varieties from the seed. Yellow flowers are (as I have proved) insensible to the infiuence of the charcoal." PREPARATION OF SARSAPARILLA. We would call the particular attention of our readers to the advertisement of Messrs. B. O. & S. C. Wilson, on our cover. The preparation of sarsapa- rilla has become deservedly popular, from its great efficacy in pui'ifying the blood, removing chronic complaints, and giving a general healthy tone to the system. We would urge upon the invalid the im- portant consideration of using vegetable medicines, which are not only safe, but efficacious. The prom- inent feature of this sirup is its preparation without alcohol, which is not only highly important in a moral point of view, from its temperate tendency, but it is far more powerful as a restorative ; for alcohol, in many cases, counteracts the valuable virtues of medicines, and frequently originates diseases more formidable than those for which the medicine is ad- ministered. SHOW OF FINE FOWLS. Agreeably to the notice which we gave in our last number, two pullets of the Cochin China fowls, re- cently imported from Dublin, by G. P. Burnham, Esq., also a cock and pullet, owned by Mr. B., re- cently imported from Canton, China, were exhibited in the Agricultural Hall, adjoining our office. These fowls are remarkably large for their age, and of fine appearance, considering theh- hardships in a recent passage from a foreign country. Those from Dublin appear to be a superior race of the large India fowl. Mr. Coffin, whose advertisement appears on our cover, also exhibited some fine fowls of the Shanghae, and various crosses. Mr. Dorr, who also advertises through the same medium, showed some fine specimens of Bolton Gray fowls. TEXAS AS A SUGAR COUNTRY. A Galveston letter of the 2d ult. says that the sugar production of this state is greatly on the in- crease, and that the quality is very superior. The grain and color are unsurpassed for bi-own sugar, and the flavor vastly superior. There is also sirup or cane juice, half boiled into sug-ar. From a document just sent to Congress, it appears that the production of wool in this country, diuing the last year, was 70,000,000 pounds, valued at $25,000,000. ^ Ohio. — The bill making ten per cent, legal inter-- est, in Ohio, has become a law.. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 129 '^pfi^^^ TARBELL PEACH. We cannot trace the origin of this fruit, but it has been long cultivated in Lincoln, in this state, and it is probably a native of that place. It has had sev- eral names, among which Royal Kensington has been the most common ; but it is very different from that variety. The tree is vigorous, and very hardy ; and the fruit is lai-gc, handsome, of excellent quality, and very salable in the market. It bears carriage well, and retains its good properties some time after gath- ering. The qualities of the fruit, and the habits of the tree, render it one of the very best varieties for orchard culture in the north, and preferable to foreign varieties, or those that have originated in warmer climes. An important requisite to success in peach culture, in this region, is the cultivation of those kinds that are natives of the north. The fruit is large ; roundish, a little flattened at the base, a broad suture extending nearly round it ; a rich yellow grovind, laoarly covered with red, which is very deep and purplish full in the sun ; flesh yel- low, red at the stone ; very juicy, rich, sweet, and of a delicious flavor. Ripens from the 10th to the 2.5th of September. ROOT CULTURE. This is a very important branch of farming, for roots are highly valuable, both for the table and for stock. In our long winters, animals become tired of dry fod- der, and roots are excellent to keep up a healthy condition of the system ; and with this valuable food, various kinds of coarse fodder may be consumed, and the stock kept in good condition. Root crops yield a very large amount of food to the acre. Where there is a demand for roots, this crop is very profitable for market. The land for roots may vary from tolerably moist to tolerably dry. The beet requires rather a moist soil ; the carrot will flourish well on a rather light, sandy soil. The land should be ploughed deep, and very finely pulverized, and the manure mixed inti- mately with the soil. The manure should be well decomposed, but if not sufficiently mellow, it is best to hasten decomposition by adding ashes or lime, and soil, with the animal manure, to prevent the escape of gases ; or mix the manure with the soil as soon as the earth is dry enough, that it may become partially decomposed before sowing the seed. Tliere is a great advantage in ploughing the land, and applying the manure early in the season ; and as soon as the weeds start, plough, harrow, or cultivate again, and so on till the season for sowing ; and these operations will produce fine tilth, destroy weeds, and intimately mix the manure and soil together. By pouring warm, or rather, hot water on hard seeds, such as carrot, beet, parsnip, &c., and soaking them two or three days in a warm place, the seed will vegetate much sooner, and get a start of tho weeds, Avhich will save great expense in hoeing ; and in case of hot, dry weather, and in a dry soil, tho seed will be far more sure to grow. Another advan- tage, in case of late sowing, the process of soaking hard seeds will expedite the growth about one week. 130 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic iDcpartmcut. Female Educatiox. — Xo Avoman is educated, says BaiT.p.p, -who is not equal to the successful nianage- moiit of a family. Although it does not require so much talent to rule a household as it docs to govern a state, still it rcciuircs talents of the same kind. As he makes the best general who has begun at the lowest post, and passed up through every grade of office ; as he makes the best admiral who entered the navy in the most inferior station ; because they, and they alone, are acquainted with the Avhole com- pass of a subaltern's duty, — so that woman will manage a family with the greatest ease and efficiency, who knows exxierimentally the duties of every mem- ber of it. Daughters who neglect this part of education are entirely without excuse, and their mothers are still more to blame. The very apology which is often made for the neglect of it, is the greatest condemna- tion of those who offer it. It is said by those who are growing up in ignorance of these things, "Any one can loain how to keep house when it is neces- sary. Any one who loves her husbiind, and is de- voted to his intei'ests, will make herself accomplished in those things as soon as she is married." As well might the young man say, " O, what use is it for me to learn a profession, or make myself acciuaintcd with the details of my business ? When I am married, if I love my wife, it will then be time enough to learn a profession, or to accomplish myself in the details of business." Would there be any surer omen of total failure and discomfiture ? That which a woman can learn to do under the tuition of love, can cer- tainly be learned to much greater advantage under the tuition of a mother. If it is all so easy to learn, then certainly they are utterly inexcusable who neg- lect it. It is no degradation to the finest lady to know all the details of domestic affairs. It is honor- able, and ought to be her pride. A woman, though she may be as beautiful as the morning, as wise as Minerva, and as accomplished as the (iraces, ought to know all the details of house affairs. Washing Ci-othes. — Mrs. Swisshelm gives the following direction how to wash clothes much soiled by field or otit-door work, especially when they are much saturated v.ith perspiration. " If yoti would take a teacup full of spirits of tur- pentine, and as much spirits of wine, with a quart of water, and a gallon of soft soap, or two pounds of hard soap, put them on the fire and boil a few nunutcs, then put the mixture away for use, and the eveiung before wash day, put your white clothes into cold water, with enough of this mixture to make suds, and let them stand all night, you will find your clothes very easy to wash. A little of this stuff thrown into the boiler, makes them white and clear, and if you rinse them well, does not injure the clothes." — Prov. Transcript. 13outlj'0 Department. Pleasures of Gaudexixq. — No one can be truly said to live, who has not a garden. None but those who have enjoyed it can aitprcciate the satisfaction, the luxury, of sitting down to a table sjjread with the fruit of one's own planting and culture. A bunch of radishes, a few heads of lettuce, taken from the garden, of a summer's morning, for break- fest, or a mess of green peas or sweet corn, is quite a different affaii- from the same articles brought in large quantities from market in a dying condition, to be ])ut in the cellar for use. And a plate of stni.sv- berrics or raspberries lose none of their peculiar flavor by passing directly from the border to tb.e cream, without being jolted about in baskets until they have lost all form and comeliness. And yet how many in the smaller cities and villages of our coun- try, possessing every facility for a good garden, either through indolence or ignorance, are deprived of this source of comfort ! And how many farmers, with enough land lying waste to furnish them with most of the luxuries of life, are content to plod on in the even tenor of their waj', never raising their tastes above the "pork and beans" of their fathers. For the Boys. — Seven classes of company are to be avoided, viz. : — 1. Those who ridicule their parents, or disobey their commands. 2. Those who profane the Sabbath or scofi' at re- ligion. 3. Those who use profane or fdthy language. 4. Those who are untruthful, play truant, and waste their time in idleness. o. Those who are of a quarrelsome temper, and ai-e apt to get into difficulty with others. 6. Those who are addicted to lying. 7. Those Avho are of a cruel disposition, and take pleasure in torturing or maiming animals. ^ealtlj Department Down urox Calomel. — The Scalpel, a New York medical publication, edited by Dr. Dixon, deals very plainly with many subjects connected with medical practice. The following qviotations from a late num- ber will serve to show the views of the editor upon calomel : — " In dyspepsia, or indigestion, when nothing goes right, and nobody knows why, it is a perfectly philo- sophical deduction, that something is wrong. It may be the blood, it may be the solids, it may be the spleen, it may be the brain. The whole case appears to bo a doubtful one — ' a may bo.' Does it not strike every medical logician, that the treatment of a disease should be in accordance with its condition? What better mode of treatment cotild bo pursued than the ' may be ' one ? Give calomel ! ' May be ' the patient will get better notwithstanding the calomel, and you, ' may be,' will get the credit. The worst Avhich ' may be ' is, that the calomel ' may he ' fatal to him ; but if it be, you have only carried out the theory of a medical 'may be,' to its t/iarapeu- ti'j conclusion. ****** " Some of the alterative effects of calomel are very apparent. Wc have known stout, healthy persons altered to lean, feeble ones. Some, whose stomachs were capable of taking and digesting any thing, were rendered incapable of taking or digesting at all ; others, who were always regular in their bowels, were so altered, that they found the necessity to reg- idate them the future business of their life. Some have a moderate-sized liver altered to a large one; others are so altered as to lose a large portion of their liver, already diminished. Some find out that they have kidneys, who never knew it before, and many can define the exact boundary of their stomachs, by the uneasiness which they feel, who fbrnrerly did not know they had a stomach. " There is, however, one valuable property in cal- omel above all other medicines, It is this ; If there NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 131 IS nothing the matter with the person who takes it, there very soon will bo ; and although, before its ad- ministration, it might be impossible to know or say what was the matter, if any thing, it will be very easy to do both, after it has been given. Decayed teeth, bad breath, foul stomach, irregular bowels, pains in the bones, weakness and weariness, are a small portion in the catalogue of ailments, which are most distinctly traceable to calomel. Dyspepsia, dropsy, and ] ilcs or fistula, may bo very easily procured, by one who will undergo a course of cal- omel. " If a medical man cannot find enough of disease to employ him, let him give calomel to that which he does find, and he will most assuredly find more. It may be proper, in some cases, to give sarsaparilla as well ; but that depends upon whether the doctor sells it. If he does, let him give it by all means." illccljaiiics' department, ^^Hrts, $^c. SixGULAH UsKS OF GuTTA Percii.v. — Nothing will better illustrate the infinite variety of uses to which this substance may be applied," than its complete adaptation to every work connected with the creation of a book. From it a paper very difficult to rend, and especially adapted to any documents exposed to wear and tear, as bills of exchange, share certificates, &c., and also for wrappers and envelopes of all sorts, may be made. It may be mixed with colors in printing, and thus a degree of permanency be given to impressions which they would not otherwise pos- sess. A strong and perfectly water-proof fabric may be formed, by simply laying a number of gutta percha threads, side by side, upon a foundation of cotton, linen, or other textile material, and passing the substance between two heated rollers, which has the effect to cement the threads firmly to the cloth, and to one another ; and finally, the threads of the gutta percha may be combined in the construction of fine cords or strings. The use of this material in binding books is important, as giving them additional strength. Its durability renders the treasures of a library less liable to the destructive attacks of in- sects, than they are Avhere paste, glue, and leather arc employed. The London Company for the man- ufacture of it, have taken out a patent, comprehend- ing among its objects the binding and covering of books, pamphlets, portfolios, writing cases, and sim- ilar articles. A solution of it used for paste, size, gum or glaive, wherever the same arc ordinarily employed in any of the processes of binding or covering ; as for ex- ample, in pasting in or down any of the end papers, or joints in attaching leather or vellum to the boards and backs, or in sizing for marbUng and gilding. Another solution of the same description is used as a vehicle for coloring and marbling the covers. In the sheet state it is used as a substitute for vellum, leather, and cloth. The advantages attending the use of tliis article are, first, a saving of time and expense in nrost cases, as it supersedes the necesshy of sewing or stitching, or of embossing or figuring each article separately ; and secondly, a great increase of durability, it being affected by neither cold nor water, nor by damp, nor by any of the ordinary variations of atmospheric temperature, nor by oil or grease, nor subject to the ravages of insects. We may rest easy as to the evil results of the loss of any common material. Gutta percha stands ready to take its place, if it is either hard or soft, librous or pulpy, hardware, ropes, wood- work, overshoes, plates, or any thing else. Coal Tar. — Recent experiments have demon- strated the fact that coal tar may be used success- fully as a substitute for paint. A correspondent of the Agriculturist says, — " I tliiidc it would be well to call the attention of farmers to the u cents a volume, if loft at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage .^i On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1^ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. DEVOTED TO IGRICULTURS OS ALL ITS UIMM iRfS iMO S^CrENCES. ACTicullure not only gives s-ich«s to a nation, but th? o.tly richss sb.e can call her ovtxi.-^iOHKSOV. VOL, IL SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1860, NO. 9, S. W. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON, I. NOIIKSE Pf'h-rietor, DRAINING. At the agricultural meeting, April 9, Ken. Mr. Daggett in the chair, the subject of Dniinmj was discusseil. Mr. B. V. French, of Braintrcc, opened the discus- sion. He thought draining of great importance. Cedar swamps, that are worth no more than a dollar an acre, as it requires one hundred years for them to produce a new growth of cedar, may be mad« to bear good grass, and the vegetable matter in them is vahiable manure for upland. The drains should gen- erally be about twenty-five feet apart, and so con- structed as to cut off the springs. When walls are made on wet land, drains may be made in a trench under the wall. Judge Bucl used pine boughs in the bottom of drains, and he saw that they worked well fifteen years after they were constructed. Mr. Felton, of Brookficld, had some experience in draining. He made wall drains by trenching and filling with small stones, which cost but a trifle. In under-draining, he digs two and a half feet deep, and liUs one and a half feet with stones, which affords an opportunity to till above the stones. In draining flat lands, he cuts ditches at the margin, to cut off the water that runs in from the high land ; and then makes ditches about four rods apart, and leaves them open. Sometimes, in under- draining, he sets flat stones together in the form of a roof, and tlicn fills in small stones. ^Ir. Buckminstcr, of the Floughman, said that we had but little high land that needs draining. We have many bog meadows that require it, which may be made to produce merchantable hay. But on the borders of brooks we get very good fodder, without draining or manuring. On flat lands drains should not be covered, as this would be an injury. Mr. French said that he had a great deal of land covered with hardback, alders, &c., that required draining, in order to render them productive. In making drains, it was best to dig down into the hard pan. Mr. Lathrop, of South Iladley, said that in rela- tion to lands bordering on streams, he had improved a piece of land of this description, so that he now cut t^^Xl^ty tons of good hay for cowrj, where before he cut only fourteen toas ef fowl meadow and other coarse grasses. A gentleman, whose name we did n'ot learn, said that he cleared a piece of land fourteen years ago. He cut ditches around it, but this was not suflicient ; he then cut drains through, about three rods apart, spread the mud from tlae ditches over the land, and sowed grs.ss seed. The land was rough ; he took out the roots and burnt them, and iraw he gets good crops, without having used manure. Mr. Brigham, of Westborough, said that the man- ner of draining depended on the situation of the land, and the materials at hand for filling the drains. He had land full of cold springs, which he had drained, and he found that it was greatly improved by manure. He found that draining his lands im- proved them very much, both for tillage and mowing. Hon. Mr. Daggett remarked that he had been much interested in the subject, which was not a dti/, though a cokl one. He thought it was not e\])cdicnt to drain some lands, and he named several cases in his region, where large crops of cranberries were obtained from wet lands. Where a manufactory was established, land was flowed, and the owner recov- ered damages nearly equal to the estimated value of the laud ; and in consequence of flowing, cranberries came in, and fine crops were obtained. The flowing of the land continued till the 20th or last of April. GRAIN CROPS. At the agricultural meeting, April 16, Hon. Jlr. Daggett in the chair, the general subject of grain crops was discussed. Mr. Cole, of the N. E. Farmer, said that the cheapest mode of improvement in raising grain or other crops, was in procuring superior varieties of seed, as it cost no more to cultivate valuable kinds than inferior sorts, and the produce is frequently much greater. We have other kinds of com as val- uable as the Parker, Dutton, or Brown, which are not generally known ; and wc ought to make exp.;. - imcnts that will show what are tho best kinds, and 138 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. their peculiar properties. In fruits we have more systems. We have varieties adapted to different pur- poses and seasons, and the cultivator can select such as suit his purpose. Improvements may be made by further experiments, in order to learn the best kinds of wheat, and other grain. A little seed of an im- proved variety will cost but a trifle, and it can soon be increased to an ample supply. Mr. Felton, of Brookficld, said that he had planted five kinds of corn, in order to get the best kind. He planted one kind from Canada, which increased very much in size in four years. He alluded to a new kind of rye cultivated in his vicinity, called white rye, which was considered superior. He spoke of the Indian wheat, a kind of buckwheat, which in his region was preferred to the common buckwheat. It yielded more, but the grain was a little inferior, on account of a thick hull. He made inquiries as to the value of millet, and remarked that the seed was considered valuable for fowls. Mr. Cole remarked that, as a grain crop, millet would not generally yield so niuch profit as some other kinds ; and for fodder, corn is more profitable, as it produced a larger crop, and the fodder was excellent. The seed of millet is very good for fowls, and when they need exercise, as is often the case in winter, it may be covered in earth, and they Avill have to scratch well to get enough to support them. Mr. Daggett spoke highly of the Indian corn crop. He thought a field of fine corn both valuable and beautiful. There were varioiis ways of cultivating it. He ploughed, in the fall, lands not in sward, manured in the spring, and then ploughed deeply. He found a compost of barn manure mixed with the bed of coal-pits an excellent manure for corn. He planted deeper than fanners generally, and he found it a protection against drought. He cuts his stalks, dries them one day, and then cures them in the barn. He makes the husks palatable to cattle by sprm- kling them with salt when mowed away. He thought that he covered his corn three inches deep. Mr. I.athrop, of South Hadley, said that he ploughed his greensward in the spring, as late as it would answer, so as to plant in season ; generally he ploughs about the 10th of May. The sod will decay the sooner if the ploughing be delayed till the grass has started, as it will decompose sooner than the sod that is turned over in the fall. After plough- ing, he spreads the manure and harrows it in ; and he would rather have two cords thus applied than three cords ploughed under. He plants deep, directs his workmen to cover three inches deep, and step both feet on the hill. He supposes that his men do not actually cover more than two inches deep, and after the earth Ls pressed down, it is probably from one to one and a half inches deep. "When planted in this manner, tlie crows never pull up his corn, though he has no scarecrows ; but they pass on and pull up his neighbors' corn, even when they have images to frighten them. AVhcn planted deep, the roots shoot down and become strong by the time the )>lades get above the surface, and if the crows attempt to pull it up, they only break it off, and after trying a little, they leave it. His soil is sandy loam, mixed with clay. Nearly all soils in this state will bear this deep planting, but it would not be proper on heavy soils. He ploughs eight or nine inches deep. He prefers cutting com up at the root, when the crop is rather light ; but it is inconvenient to harvest heavy crops in this way. Com cut up at the ground is easily husked, by two men standing on either side of a table, on which a bundle is placed, and husked by both, and then one throws away the bundle of stalks, while the other places another bundle on the table. We should raise corn as late as will ripen in our climate. If one kind of com ripens in three fourths the time of another kind, it will yield only three quarters as much. The later kind has an ad- vantage from the decomposition of the sod. Mr. L. said that the white rye was thought much of in his region. The long bearded, red chaff" winter wheat was the best. It was preferred to the white flint. Mr. William J. Buckminster, of the Ploughman, said that millet was a valuable crop to sow when it was out of season for other crops. It would bear late sowing. A peck is sufficient seed for an acre, as it is fine. It needs good soil in fine tilth. He re- marked that there was a variety of com. In planting this grain, it is best to plant twice as much as should stand, as the insects may destroy a part ; and if they do not, the largest plants may be selected, and the others removed with very little trouble. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Calhoun, president, and to Mr. Daggett, vice-president, for their faithful attention to their duties. Adjourned to the second Tuesday after the meeting of the legislature in January next. For the New England Farmer. LARGE FOWLS. Mr. Editor : Allow me to say through your col- umns, in reference to the size of the " Royal Cochin China fowls " lately imported by me, that I never claimed any very extraordinary dimensions or weight for them, as some persons pretend to suppose. Gen- tlemen who have seen them, however, have admitted that they are full large enough for beauty, and all practical purposes. I have never attempted, either to compare my fowls with, or to compete with, any other gentleman's birds, nor shall I do so. / am satisfied with them, and that is one point gained. For my Chittagonfj fowls, however, I do claim, that they are the largest birds in America, at this time, so far as I am acquainted. I have two hens of this breed now laying, which will weigh, one over eleven pounds, the other nearly ten and a half. I have three pullets, which will draw strong ten pounds each, and four more, that have 7iever yet laid ait egg, that ap- proach nine pounds each. This is size enough for me ! As to comparing my stock with any other varieties, I have never done so. I think my Cochin Chinas very superior fowls, in plumage, size, and model ; and I am sorry to learn that a wrong construction has been put upon my having lately sent my birds to Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, & Mason's to be seen. The Cochin Chinas exhibited there a few days since, will now weigh about eighteen pounds per pair. They are eight months old, only. Yours, &c., G. P. BURNHAM. RoxBURT, Mass., April 8. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 139 EMERIES SEED-SOWER AND CORN-PLANTER. This sccd-sower is adapted to hand or horse power ; and the sowing apparatus can be so arranged as to adapt it to the sowing of large or small seeds. It drops the seed at any desirable distances, and the changes are made with the greatest ease and expedition. As the gearing is of cast iron, it is regular, uniform, and durable. Seeds may be dropped in hills, or strewed along in a drill. The first premiums of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, of the Mass. Charitable Mechanics' Associa- tion, and of the American Institute, have been awarded to this sower ; also the first premiums of several county societies. As the seed-sower is in use at the most busy season, it is of great value in point of economy, not only making a saving of labor by despatch, but aid- ing the farmer, in urgent cases, to do his work at the proper time, which is a very important matter. Be- sides the saving of labor and despatch, which this simple implement aids in accomplishing, it drops the seeds more uniformly than it can be done by hand, tliercby saving seed, and giving a better chance for a good crop. The great objection to root crops is the expense of cultivation ; yet so much labor is saved by sowing with a machine, that this process is a mere trifie. For the Ncto England Farmer. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Mr. Com;. Dear Sir : I observe, in the X. E. Farm- er of March 30, a notice of a communication recom- mending " three grains of corrosive sublimate, and three grains of red procipitutc, as a dose for a horse afHi'ted with horse-ail," stating that " a horse recov- ered after taking two doses." Your own remarks, viz., that " there may be cases in which horses have a constitution sufficiently strong to witlistand both disease and the effects of unfavor- able medicines," are true, and it affords me much ]>lcasurc to welcome you into the ranks of the re- formers. I have no doubt that the community will find it to their interest to sustain your valuable journal, in the event of your continuing to sustain the non-poison principles. The blood-letting and poisonous systems of the allopaths have caused great destruction, as many of our farmers, from dear-bought experience, arc ready to testify ; they demand, and will have, a safer system of veterinary medicine — one that shall cine the ail- ments of their domestic animals, without entailing misery and degeneration, through the medium of the fleam, firing-iron, soalding mixtures, corrosive sub- limate, red precipitate, and a host of other destruc- tive agents. They (the allopaths) conclude that " f/(,s- ease is an unnatural condition," and must be met by an unnatural agent; that " corrosive sublimate will destroy life, therefore it must be used to cure." It appears to me that a man does not require more than an ordinary share of common sense to perceive that if " disease is an unnatural condition," it must bo met by a natural remedy ; one that shall not inter- rupt the harmony of the vital machinery, when it has free and universal action throughout the whole animal organization. Again, red precipitate is a powerful depressor of the vital power ; the chemico-vital action of the stomach can never assimilate it, except to act patho- logically ; it is still red precipitate, and always leaves unmistakable evidences of its encroachments on the mucous surfaces. The theory of making one disease to cure another, as heretofore taught and practised, is just as absurd as knocking a horse's brains out to make him stand still, or bleeding him to death with the vain hope of saving life — a theory that cannot stand the test of common sense. This theory has led to the use of deadly agents, all of which occupy a high rank in the materia medica of the allopathic school. If there is any necessity to do violence to the ani- mal organization in curing disease, then there is some justifiable ground for using the above agents ; but if there is not, let every man relinciuish the use of agents that have hitherto proved destructive, and resort to those that cooperate with, and not war against, the vitality of the animal economy. The mistaken idea that fever and inflammation ai'c disease, and that all diseases are under the control of the above, and other more or loss destructive agents, has led to the universal use of " sricntijic remedies ; " rem- edies that are calculated to kill, instead of cure. Yours with respect, GEO. n. DADD, M. D. Boston, Ajtril 3, 1850. TO CORRESPONDENTS. "We have a number of communications on hand, which will appear in our next. That of Mr. IIol- brook was rather late for this number, but we have given it a place near the close, as it is on a subject which is now before the farmers for action. We would call particular attention to it, as it shows how a great saving may be made in the cultivation of the carrot crop, which is among the most valuable of roots ; and an objection to its cultivation is, that it requires more labor than other root crops. 140 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For iJie yetc Emjiand Farmer. CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. Mr. Cole: I have been fully compensated for my communication on the potato in a previous number of your paper, by perusinfr the article which it called forth, from your valuable corrcsjiondcnt, F. IIol- brook, of Brattlcborough, Yt. With his views as there expi'cssed, from my experience, I have no dis- position to difler. That rather light, oiieu, warm soils, inclined to sand or f^ravel, are the most favor- able for the growth of some potatoes, I think no one can disj)\itc. My remarks were made in regard to adapting the soil to the growth of the potato, with- out any rcfcronce to the rot. You :)sk my opinion as to the effects of deep and shallow planting, derived from my experience, in regard lo the rot. I have never discovered any dif- ference as to the rot. The yield has generally been best, by furrowing the land, say four or five inches deep at planting, and then cultivating nearly level, or making no more hill than would naturally be pro- duced by passing the cultivator between the rows. As it respects the size of the seed, there is one error which is very common among farmers, and that is, the idea that if they plant below the medium sized, the number must be increased ; if not very small, two ■will answer, but if very small, three or four must be put in the hill. A little examination and reflection will correct this. Small potatoes contain as many eyes as large ones ; thej^ are only of a smaller size, and come up with less vigor, and instead of having two, three, or four times as many sprouts crowded together in a hill, the small, feeble sprouts require more nursing, and a soil well fitted to their growth. I am satisfied that one medium-sized, or small potato is all that should be put in the hiJl provided the hills are of a suitable distance to insure the best crop. Early planting and early digging have been my best safeguards against the rot, whether on dry or moist soils. Three years ago this spring, I planted a piece of ground with potatoes, well dressed with manure from the bam cellar, mixed with an equal quantity of mud, spread and ploughed in, and a mix- ture of ashes and plaster put in the hills. The land was sowed with buckwheat the year before, and was in fine condition. The main part was planted with the Carter variety ; the crop was abundant, and of large size. A part of them were dug the last day of August, and put into the cellar dry, while the vines were green and thrifty, and Avere' of the very best quality ; the remainder were left until the last of September, and more than three quarters of them were affected with the rot. Several other instances have come within my knowledge, with similar re- sults. Yours respectfuUv, S. M. STANLEY. West Attleborough, April 3, 1850. For the Neio England Farmer. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Mr. (Jole : The subject of agricultural education has frequently invited my attention, since the first agricultural meetings of the present session of the Massachusetts legislature, when the establishment of an "Agricultural School" was considered, soliciting the aid of the state government. I was led to reflect upon the necessity of the enterprise as an auxiliary to the ordinary means of agricultural education ; but I could not see its importance in so clear a Ught as some others were supposed to sec it. Many 'prob- ably think with me, who would not openly oppose I 9Tich a school, because they feel that it can do no hurt. I should have been gratified to send you a communication at that time, stating the humble views of one, of its inutility, or, at least, superfluity ; but feeling that I was in a veiy small minority, an:i not making a vocation of farming or horticulture, 1 forbore. As I have since noticed the expressions of doubt as to the propriety of establishing such a school, with your indulgence I venture to offer a few- thoughts on the subject. That agi-icultural education, or information, is not what it is desirable it should be, no one ])robably will deny ; but may not the same be said of all other education, whether of trades or professions ? Are not the sources of agricultural education more nu- merous and open to every one than any other me-ans of education r Can an intelligent man possibly reside in the countrj' without having more accurate ideas of farming than of any thing else, of whii-h he does not take particular pains to investigate ?• Farm- ers sons arc bom and brought up in an agriciiltural school ; and hence, if they intend to become farmers, they are as well prepared for it as a medical student is prepared to practise medicine, after passing through a course of study, and receiving his diploma. If a young man were bom and brought up in a medical or law school, and had there studied and practised either medicine or law as a vocation from his youth upward, we might safely conclude that his element- ary education would be suflicient for the commence- ment of regular practice. It would be the very best of schooling. But as a knowledge of the professions is not easily obtained in this way, by early theory and practice, schools and academies are necessary. All farms are schools of farming ; and are good schools just in proportion as they are extensive or well worked. We can hardly conceive why there should be specific schools for farmers, any more than there should be for carpenters, hatters, shoemakers, &c. If a man wishes his son to learn a trade, he puts him to some good establishment, where the trade is well carried on ; and this is the best schooling he can have. If a man wishes his son to become a fanner, who is not one himself, (which is rare,) he puts hin» upon some good fann, where at least bo can sujjpnrt himself; and this is as good schooling as the father would desire, or perhaps accept of, rfiould there be less or no compensation off'ered from other sources. Now, suppose an agricultural school were founded, largely endowed by the state, with all the necessary appurtenances for practising agriculture upon its most scientific and extended scale, — I am led to inquire, From what sources would it be supplied with students ? Here is a farmer with half a dozen sons : one chooses to learn a trade, another to study a profession, another to become a merchant, and so on ; one concludes to continue at farming, and keep his father's estate. But would he leave home, and sub- ject himself to expense by attending an agricultural school, for the sake of learning a vocation which he has always studied and practised ? Would he not say, " I can learn as much here, with the aid of a few books and agricultural papers, as I can any where else ? Why should I leave home for study and the experience of others, when they can be had here for a trifle?" I think farmers and farmers' sons, with very few exceptions, would reason in this way ; and this would be fatal to the general utility and self- preservation of an agricultural school. A man who owns no land, yet has sons to obtain a livelihood, would not think of teaching one of them agriculture, as he has no farm to cultivate. He would not put one or more of them to such a school with a view of their becoming overseers of farms, for few such per- sons are needed in this country, where land is go divided, and where there are so many owners and practical workers ; besides, the compensation being NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 141 small, compared with what they would expect from other vocations. I never heard of a man, that did not own a farm, Avho was desirous that his sons should be educated farmers ; and some only have consented to their working on farms as a means of their immediate support. If the sons of wealthy men only can, or are to patronize the institution in question, for the sake of acquiring the theory of agri- culture, with a view of superintending their own estates, upon which they have never learned by ex- perience, then the number Avill be ver}' limited, its l^opular usefulness will be fatally held in check, and it will only be known as a failure. I cannot perceive, then, if the above views be correct, how such a school can procure students on the naked ground of agricultural education. 1st. Because farmers' sons profess to know enough alread}', or can supply their deficit cheajjly by books or periodicals; and 2d. Be- cause those who are not farmers' sons, and have no land to cultivate, do not think of becoming farmers, certainly not till late in life, when they may have the means so to do. But if such an institution should be founded, and succeed in acquiring a sufficient number of students, could it do more for agriculture than is already doing by some of our "model farmers" and scientihc nur- serymen, who enjoy a well-earned reputation all over the state, and perhaps New England ? Are not these enterprising agriculturists and horticulturists doing every thing that science can suggest to advance and improve the cultivation of the soil in all its branches ? Are not their establishments the best schools of farm- ing ? And are not their instructions scattered, through periodicals, broadcast over the land, so that " he who runs may read " ? Besides, if a farm school were established in the central part of the state, would its instructions be generally valuable to those of other localities — that of Cape Cod, of the western coun- ties, &c. ? In short, is it reasonable to suppose that its useful experiments would prove so elsewhere, or that those of other cultivators from all sections would not be more satisfactory ? In a word, as before hinted, I cannot conceive that a special agricultural school is more needed than a public state school to teach architecture, sculpture, painting, or any of the various trades of art ; and in fact, hardly so much ; for these callings make draughts upon the whole community, while an agricultural school could only claim the farmers, who, I believe, do not feel the necessity of such instruction in such a manner. The learned professions make great draughts upon the whole community ; and young men designed for a profession, feel the necessity of leaving home to seek a lit education, (that which home cannot gen- erally furnish,) in some institution, wliere they must pass an ordeal of severe study ; but those who intend to be cultivators of the soil, having land, and being brought up to it, need no such foreign education, — or at least, it Avill be difficult to make them think so. Now who, and whence, are our farmers ? Farmers' sons, generally speaking, are averse to agriculture as a vocation, because it seems a drudgery, a mere slave's life. They are therefore eager for some other employment. But the homestead must be retained, and one of the sons generally takes possession of it on the death of the parents, by satisfaction to the heirs, who seek a place elsewhere. This is one source, an hereditary souixe, of farmers, and one very valuable and permanent. The other source is large — it is made up of retired merchants or mechanics^ in advanced life ; frequently wealthy, generally com- petent ; sons coming back, perhaps, to purchase a part of the old homestead, and erecting a new cot- tage ; and these are tlic men who need agricultural education. But will they attend a public institution to acquire this knowledge: No, that would be in- convenient ; they purchas© books, and subscribe lib- erally for periodicals ; and if they do not become skilful cultivators it is their own fault. Such per- sons, however, generally exhibit a good deal of zeal ; and in fact, they soon take the lead in agriculture, as the beautiful farms of many such gentlemen in the vicinity of Boston will well" attest. Your correspondent " W.," of Middleburv College, Vermont, in No. 7, Vol. IL, N. E. Farmer, highly commends (but not too highly) good agricultural papers. In my limited association Avith farmers, I have heard of many useful facts which I have not seen in jiriut ; and hence it is plain to me, that if cultivators were more in the habit of giving their experience to the public, agricultural papers and magazines would be far more useful. The press, after all, is the mainspring of improvement, for it scatters to every part of civilization the experience of tlie world. The views which I h&ve given above may be novel and unsound; but they are submitted with deference to your columns, hoping that they raaj' lead to a more general expression on the important topic of agricultural education. L. Boston, Aitril 4, 1850. Remarks. — We give our correspondent's views, but we do not indorse them. If the practice of fai-ming can be learned from good practical farmers, so can the practice of medicine be gained from an old lady well acquainted with the medical use of herbs, roots, and barks. And if medical schools are necessary for the purpose of giving the student a knowledge of those sciences that aid him in the healing art, so are agricultural schools necessary to instruct the young farmer in those sciences that appertain to his profession. "We believe that no one can deny this proposition ; for in no calling is a knowledge of so many natural sciences necessary as in that of the farmer, and to him may they be made available, as well as other sciences to other arts. At another time we may give our views more at length on this important subject. — Ed. For the Neto England Far>nei\ NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS. [Continued from p. 109.] CULTIVATION OF NATIVE TREES. The first tree we shall notice is the White Elm, sometimes called the American Elm. This beautiful and magnificent tree is very generally known in New England, and has long been a luvorite with all lovers of trees. It is of the most rapid growth, forming, in a few years, quite a tree, even from seed, and bears transplanting better than any otlier forest tree that I am acquainted with. It should be known by those about to transplant this tree, that as it advances in age, it presents three or four distinct forms of growth. The first is, when it rises tall and erect, and its head forms a fiat top, resembling a vase ; the second, when it throws up two or more brandies to a great height ; the third, when it presents somewhat the form of a wee;)ing willow, its branches growing downwards, and ahnost sweeping tlic ground ; til© fourth, when it assumes the form of the sturdy oak. The weeping form of the elm is better adnjitcd to ornament tlie grounds around a dwelling-house, than to stand by the road-side, as iti limbs frequently obstruct the street. The brandies of the tall, vase- ibrnied elm, when planted on tlie opposite sides of a street or avenue, generally meet at the height of 142 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. sixty or seventy feet, thus forming a perfect arch of great beauty. The lied or Slippery Elm is rare in this vicinity : there arc a few trees in AVcnhani Swamp, and some are found in the north part of Essex county. Many trees are destroyed, or greatly injured, by heedless persons, in stripping off their bark for medicinal purposes ; and in consequence of their receiving these injuries, they have become rare ; and but a few vigorous trees can now be found growing naturally, in this vicinity. This tree is smaller than the White Elm, more upright in its growth, and has a very thick, rough leaf. We have grafted the SUppcry and the Cork-bark Elm on the \\'hite Elm with good success. The staples arc all fine trees, and of easy cultiva- tion. The Kcd Maple is a most beautiful tree, dis- tinguished for its early, scarlet flowers, and the brilliant scarlet or crimson color of its leaves in autumn. It Nourishes best under cultivation, in rich, moist land, where it makes a rapid growth. The Kock Maple, if found at all, is a rare tree in this vicinity, except under cultivation. It is an interest- ing and useful tree, and when jilanted by the road- side, very ornanrental. Several European species of Maples arc large, ornamental trees, of easy cultiva- tion, particularly the Sycamore, or great European Maple, Norway Maple, and the Field ^laple. The Tulip-tree, although a native of Massachu- setts, is not found in this vicinity, except under cul- tivation. It is every way very desirable, and should be possessed by every lover of native trees, and de- serves general cultivation as an ornamental tree. It is distinguished for its Howers, which resemble the tulip, and its singular truncated leaves, presenting the uncommon appearance of having their ends cut off. We have found it of the most rapid growth, in a rich, moist soil, and readily and easily transplanted. It is a tree of the largest size in the Western Slates, and is there used for the finishing work of dwelling- houses. It is known by our joiners under the name of whitowood. It is usually to be found in the Boston nurseries, of a suitable size for transplanting. The American I,imo, Linden, or liasswood is sometimes found cultivated as an ornamental tree. It is distinguished for its large, dcejj green, heart- shaped leaves, its very fragrant fiowers, peculiarlj- attractive to bees ; and its rapid growth of white, soft wood. As it affords a deep shade, with a clean, bright green foliage, and fragrant flowers, and as its wood is soft, and possesses but little strength, it is in consequence very liable to have its branches broken by high winds : it appears to be better adapted for planting near and in the vicinity of buildings, thus affording it shelter and pnstection. Many fine spe- cies of the European- Linden trees are now cultivated, and can be obtained at the nurseries. The most careless observer of trees, in passing through our moist woods, must have observed a rather singular tree, resembling somewhat a large pear-tree, particularly upon viewing its bark. This is the Tupelo, or Gum-tree, a species of the Xy'ssa, a class of trees belonging to the Sandal wood family. AVe have never seen it under cultivation, although it would no doubt succeed well in a moist soil. It is distinguished for its glossy green leaves, its bright blue twin-bearing fruit, and in autumn, by its leaves becoming an intensely deep scarlet or crimson. The Scarlet Oak, cultivated upon a lawn, and per- mitted to stand alone, is a very ornamental tree, of easy culture and rapid growth. It is distinguished from other oaks by its thin, smooth, deeply cut, and polished leaves, which in autumn are changed to a deep crimson, of surpassing richness. The Black Walnut, which is found in Massachu- setts, is a handsome tree, of rapid growth, and of easy cultivation. Mr. Emerson, in his excellent and interesting report of the " Trees and Shrubs of Mas- sachusetts," says, " The Black Walnut unites almost all the qualities desirable in a tree : beauty, grace- fulness, and richness of foliage, in every period of its growth ; bark and husks, which may be employed in an important art ; fruit valuable as food ; " wood unsurpassed in durability for use, or in elegance for ornament." The Nettle-tree and the Hackberry are both found in Massachusetts, but have not been seen, to my knowledge, in the county of Essex. We should think they might be successfully cultivated in a suitable soil, which we should judge should bo moist and rich. Mr. Emerson says, tliat " the American Nettle-tree has a strong resemblance to an elm, and is often, by casual observers, mistaken for one. This tree," he says, " might be described to one who wished to be able to recognize it, as an elm, bearing purple, sweet cherries, which continued on the stem through the w^inter." It is rather a small tree, rising seldom above forty or fifty feet in height, and twenty or twenty-four inches in diameter. Michaux had found it in its greatest vigor on the Savamiah, where, in a cool and shady situation, he had seen trees sixty or seventy feet high, and eighteen or twenty inches in diameter. D. J. Browne, who has published a very imperfect work on the trees of America, says, " There is a Celtis occidentalis [the botanical name of. the Nettle-tree] in the United States, at Spring- field, in Massachusetts, fourteen feet in circumfer- ence." This would make a tree about four feet nine inches in diameter. Many persons confound the Celtis occidentalis, or Nettle-tree, with the Celtis crassifolia or Hackberry, sometimes called Hoop Ash. Michaux, speaking of the last-mentioned tree, says, " This is one of the finest trees that compose the dusky forests on the upper part of the Ohio, and is cer- tainly one of the most beautiful trees of its genus," The Buttonwood, or American Sycamore, is every where well known in New England. It is a noble tree, of rapid growth, and we regret that it has suffered for several years past from a malady, the cause of which is not yet well known. Many trees have been cut down in consequence of being thus injured. The attention of the earlier settlers of New England was called to this tree by the Indians, as will be seen by the following extract from a book published in 1675, by John Josselyn, Gent., entitled a "lielation of Two Voyages to New England." Josselyn was the author of that singular and rare production, "New England's Ilarities," being a de- scription of the trees, shrubs, and plants of New England, with rude cuts. Josselyn says, " The In- dians tell of a tree that grows far up in the land, that is as big as an oake, that will cure the falling sickness infallibly ; what part thereof they use, bark,, wood, leaves, or fruit, I could never learn ; they promised often to bring of it to me, but did not. I have seen a stately tree, growing here and there in valleys, not like any trees in Europe, haveing a smooth bark, of a dark colour ; the leaves like the great Maple in Enghmd, called Sycamor, but larger ; it may be this is the tree they bt-ag of." S. P. FOWLER. Danveiis New Mills, April 6, 1850. [to be continued.] For the New England Farmer. "BONE DISORDER IN COWS." Mu. EniTou : I must again ask the indulgence of the readers of your valuable journal, in attcmptmg to reply to your correspondent, Allen W. Dodge, of Hamilton. I was not aware before his last communication. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 143 that it was the practice of the farmers in that town to feed out salt hay to their working oxen after they were turned out to pasture ; but I knew that many of them fed it to their milch cows after they went to pasture. I have known milch cows to eat it at that time with greediness, when they would not eat English haj', or lick salt. He asks if it also furnishes the bone material for our oxen. So far as the system of the ox requires the bone material, I think it may ; and when the food contains more than the system requires, it passes off in the excrements. Tliis maj' account for the remark I once heard one of his near- est neighbors make, that he thought the manure made when cattle were fed upon salt hay was better than that made from English haj'. My Umited obsers'ation and superficial knowledge led me to think that the salt and lime daily deposited upon the mai-shes by the tide, would cause them to produce hay abounding in phosphate. Ilis informa- tion and research led him to think that if the cold and inert soil did not abound in phosphate, the hay would not. I think the soils in many of our old fields where the corn grows, which he says contains so much phosphate of lime, do not abound in it, before the manure is applied. But if we admit that salt hay does not contain any more phosphate of lime than English, yet the salt, as it passes through the various chemical changes in the stomach of the cow and in the soil, may there form phosphate of lime, so that the soil will not be so much exhausted as whore nothing is brought on to the farm from a foreign source. The expression, " well fed upon good English hay and Indian meal," I used in mylirst communication, to vindicate my neighbors from the implied reproach cast upon them for not feeding their cows well. ^^^len our correspondent said. If cows are well fed, who would ever dream of their bones being disordered. He says that Indian corn contains seventeen per cent, of phosphate of lime, and then he asks how I will reconcile this fact with my theory. I will thank him first to refer me to the analysis where it is stated that Indian corn contains so much phosphate of lime ; if it is a fact that it contains so much, then I will give my views upon it. In Dr. Dana's iluck Manual, page 51, it is stated that Indian corn contains one and a half per cent, of phosphate and sulphate of lime, about the same as marsh mud. In the same work, page 132, it saj's, " and one cow daily produces, in excrements, salts of lime sufficient for half a bushel of corn." If we add to this the phosphate of lime contained in eight quarts of milk, given daily by a cow, we shall see how she may dispose of the phosphate in four quarts of Indian meal per day, which is a good allowance, even if it docs contain as much as he says. In his first eomiiiuuication, Mr. Dodge says, that the soil in one pkice may Ix; as much exhausted as another, judging from the length of time it has been cultivated. It was my object to show that it did not depend so much upon the time that it had been cul- tivated as upon the course pursued, in exhausting the animal matter from the soil. I stated that i thought the practice of selling calves to the butcher, would exhaust the soil more of this ingredient than it would to raise cattle as they do in some parts of the country. I did not confine my remark to the county ; I admitted the practice was the same in other paits of the country. I do not understiuid what ho intends by saying " nine tcntlis of tlic calves in this pai't of the country are sold to the butclier. If tliis exhaust the soil of phosphate of lime in our part of the country, why should it not exhaust it in another ? " Several years ago, I was in the habit of visiting an aged farmer, who resided in the northern^ pai-t of Middlesex county. He prided himself much upon the good appearance of his cows. I was there in May of 18tG. Speaking of his cows, he said that for two or three years past, they had not done so well as formerly after they calved ; and this year thev are worse than ever ; " they are sick, but I "do not know what ails them." His daughter said, " Perhaps vour hay is not so good as it used to be." He said it could not be that, for his oxen were fed upon the same kind of hay, and they did well. He said he was ashamed of his cows, they wore so poor, but he could not help it ; it was not because he did not feed them well ; he gave them as much meal as he did his oxen — four quarts of Indian meal each per day. His oxen were good beef, the cows so poor that they could scarcely get up alone : their appearance was the same as that described in the American Veteri- narian, page 221. He showed me the hay. It was what is generally considered hearty hay, such as grows upon bound out land. For many years there had not been any hay, grain, or manure brought on to the farm. The principal crojis sold were hops, oats, and the produce of the dairy. I wUl not draw any inference. Absurd and visionary as your correspondent thinks this whole theory to be, it is not the language of exaggeration to say, that the information jjublished in the Massachusetts I'loughman, which led to the use of bone meal for this disorder, has been of more practical advantage to several farmers in this neigh- borhood than all the other agricultural information published for the last twenty-five years. There arc some things connected with this theory which we cannot now fully explain ; but it is founded upon a very simple principle — that a milch cow re- quires more phosphate of lime than a dry one. If it can be shown that she docs not, then I will reject it. If he will tell us how the fat and Uiuscle w;i.ste away when an animal does not receive sufficient food, then, perhaps, we shall be able to tell him how the bones waste away when they do not receive proper nourishment. So long as we find this disorder confined to those fiirms where there has been a course of cultivation ])ur- sued that would most exhaust the phosphate of lime, and the oxen and dry cows do well, the milch cows become diseased, and when bone meal is given to them, they recover, the natural inference is, that the disorder is caused by the want of phosphate of lime. I may not draw any infcrencc so logitimateh^ as to command the assent of vour corrcsijondent >ipon tliLs subject. WILLIAM P. PUTNAiL NouTH Danveus, A2>ril 3, 18-50. Kkmaeks. — We believe, as our correspondent has shown, that on old farms, where cows are kept for the dairy, the land becomes exhausted of bone earth, or phosphate of Umc, so that it does not supply fodder having a usual quantity of this ingredients The consequence is, that there is a \va.nt of phosphate of lime to supply the milk with one ounce of this ma- terial to every twenty gallous, according to chcmiial analysis, and that a further supply is necessary to supi>ort tlie bones and system geaerally. In sotjie cases farmers have changed their dairy business to that of raising stock, in consequence of the bone disorder amojig their cows^ a;id instead of sick cows, they have had healthy animals. Now, it seems, that we have found the cause and cure of this disease, and the symi)toras also ; and the only question is, wliether the disease is rightly named. If not, will some pathologist explain the subject and assign the proper name ? — Eu. 144 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. RED SHANGHAE FOWLS. For the New Englceiid Farmer. Mr. Editor : The Red Shanghae fowls have, •n-ithin the last three years, been introduced into the New- England States, from Shanghae, a port in China, but recently opened to the commercial world, situated on the River Moosong, north-east from Canton : the climate corresponds with that of Baltimore or Phila- delphia. In the year 1 848, Capt. A. S. Palmer, of Rhode Island, imported direct from Shanghae the red and white varieties, and in the same year, (^apt. Daniel S. Fuller imported the Red Shanghae, which res^cm- bled those imported by Capt. Palmer, so nearly as not to be easily distinguished, when placed together in the same yard. In 1849, a gentleman of this city, Daniel G. Bacon, Esij., imported, in the ship Van- couver, some Red Shanghaes for his own yard. The portraits, which head this article, were on- graved lEom a drawing made by Mr. S. E. Brown, of this city, of a pair of the imported fowls last men- tioned. The cock has a large, upright, single comb, deeply indented ; the wattles are large ; the neck is long, and is covered with hackles of a dark golden color, extending to the upper part of the hack ; the hackles on the rump are of a dark reddish yellow color, and are long and droojjlng. The feathers of the tail are black, shaded with a dark and glossy gi-ccn ; those on the under part of the ba<.ly are of a pale yellow color, intermingled with black" feathers ; the bieast is covered with dark red and black feath- ers, and the legs of the cock, which are stout and short, are covered to the toes with downy feathers, of a light buff color. The voice of the cock is coarse and harsh, resembling more a croak than the clear ringing notes of fowls of other breeds. The form of the hen is correctly shown by the engraving; the neck is covered with dr^rk brown hackles, and the feathers on all other parts of the body are of a dark brown color, tipped with, the most glossy black. ITie comb and wattles are small, and the tail is short and small. In the background are introduced the head and neck of a young cock but four months old, the progeny of the imported cock and hen, which now weighs eight and a half pounds. These fowls are now in the possession of Mr. Johu Fussell, of Jamaica Plain, Mass. Among the first importations, and prior to those of Captains Palmer and Fuller, was that of Capt. Forbes in 184S. Of the Captain Forbes stock, a writer in the Massachusetts Ploughman, Dr. J. C. Bennct, of Plymouth, Mass., says^ " Capt. Forbes, imported sixteen pairs, and a great proportion of them were of mixed blood. With the exception of one lot, none of the pullets of this bi-eed which have been forwarded to me as full bloods have proved ta be more than three quarters blooded, and some of them only half bloods ! This probably anses from the fact, that a part of the original importation were impure." Most of the hens of Capt. Forbcs's importa- tion have dark chestnut- colored hackles on the neck ; the body is covered with feathers of a light buff color. The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Christopher B. Marsh, of West Roxbury, Mass., giving an account of the Red Shanghaes im- ported by Capt. Fuller. Mr. Marsh says, " I have one rooster and two hens, which (^apt. Daniel S. Fuller brought out from Shanghae in May, 1848.. "The rooster and one of the hens, v^-ith some of their progeny, were exhibited at the Norfolk Agri- cultural Fair in Dedliam, Oct. 1849, and obtained the highest premium. They were also presented at the exhibition of fowls at the Public Garden, Bos- ton, Nov. 1849. The rooster was admitted to be the largest among the great numbers and varieties shown on the occasion. Probably there is not his equal iu this country. The hens have thus far done them- selves grea.t credit as layers ;, they pjre very domestic NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 145 and peaceable. The chickens have been noted for health, and also an ability, as Avell as a disposition, to take care of themselves, for while young they are active and ' self-helping little things ; ' and as proof that they well know how to take care of themselves, I will instance, that though I have taken them from the mother when only two or three weeks old, they have uniformly done well, and throve finely ; as well as any chickens I have ever kept. " The hens, very soon after their chickens are taken away, resume laying. In one instance, one of the imported hens laid the fourth day after her chickens "vvere taken from her, (the chicks being two weeks old ;) and she laid between forty and fifty eggs before showing a disposition to sit : not being allowed to sit, she resumed laying again in about a week. "I have now five chickens, five weeks old; and notwithstanding the season, December, January, have never known chickens hatched at any season of the year do better than these have. "The rooster weighs to-day, Jan. 17, 1850, twelve and a lialf pounds ; the hen that was imported with him, weighs eight and a half pounds ; one of her chickens, seven months old, weighs seven and a half pounds, and is probably as fine a specimen of the Shanghae hen as can be found. " Of the first chickens raised from those imported, four pullets were wintered over ; they began to lay the first of February, and they have been either lay- ing or sitting almost continually from that time to this. One has chickens now, five weeks old, two are sitting, and the other still laying. ♦' Three of them laid forty-four eggs from Decem- ber 24, 1849, to January 10, 1850. I have but two pullets of last summer chickens ; one of them has laid her third egg to-day, and will be eight months old to-morrow, January 18, and weighs seven pounds. The other will probably lay soon ; she is seven months old, and weighs seven and a half pounds, as mentioned above." These fowls, so far as they have been bred from the stock of Capt. Palmer's and Fuller's importation, have not fallen off in size or weight. Capt. Francis Alden, of Dedham, Mass., has some thirty Shang- haes, descendants from Capt. Fuller's importation, of great uniformity of size, form, and plumage ; the cocks weighing at eight months old eleven pounds, and pullets of the same age of eight pounds weight. Mr. B. W. Balch, of Dedham, Mass., has a large stock of lied Shanghaes ; several of his pullets weigh nine pounds each. Messrs. Alden and Balch give accounts of the prolificness of this breed similar to that of Mr. Marsh. The appearance of these fowls when young is awkward and ungainly in the ex- treme, not being covered with feathers until nearly six months old. One peculiaritj' of these fowls is, that the cocks do not show even the rudiments of the feathers of the tail until they are more than half grown. The flesh of the Shanghae is rich and juicy, well intermixed with fat of a most agreeable flavor ; and for making capons, they are quite ecjual to any other breed known in the New England States. It is very much to be regretted any fowls of impure blood should have been imported, as it has the tendency to cause many persons to condemn the pure bred fowl, which, all accounts agree, is possessed of many desi- rable qualities, and are prolific to an extraordinary degree. It is stated in the Massachusetts Ploughman, that Mr. Phillips, of Marshfield, Mass., had a pullet of this breed, which laid one hundred and twenty eggs in one hundred and twenty-five days ; then stopped laying for six days; then laid sixteen eggs ; eeasel laying four days, commenced again, and continued to lay regularly ; showing that tins breed is more pro- lific than any other known in this country. In 1847, Capt. Lockwood, of the ship Taitar, of Philadelphia, brought from Shanghae a smaller variety of fowls, which are now in the possession of a gentleman residing at Kensington, Philadelphia, to whom the writer is indebted for the following de- scription : — "You are innocently in error with regard to the Shanghaes and Cochins which I have. The small boned, and but slightly feathered on the legs, were brought from the city of Shanghae, by Capt. Lock- %vood, commanding the ship Tartar, of this port, in the summer of 1847. They are pure, or have all the characteristics of a pure and distinct breed ; weigh from fifteen to sixteen pounds per pair ; lay well, and are easily raised." He describes the other variety as follows : — " The other fowls are in some respects different. They were imported in the ship Huntress, of New York, by Mr. Taylor, in May, 1847, and cost, in Shanghae, ten dollars per pair ; quite too much for fowls to that manor born, which induces me to believe that they belong farther south ; hence, I call them Cochin Chinas. They were landed in the early part of May, were rather sickly in consequence of having been so long from the ground ; and yet, from that time till the following October, the hen laid forty- eight eggs, and hatched out two broods. The last, brought out in October, consisted of twelve chicks, of which ten were raised through the winter. They are therefore prolific and hardy ; think you not so ? " How far poultry may be crossed in the East, pre- vious to importation, I have no means of knowing. If they are there preserved pure and unmixed, then I have two distinct breeds ; viz., the unportation (small boned, and comparatively smooth legged, answering very much, in most respects, to some of the thousand and one discording descriptions of the Queen's Cochin Chinas,) per ship Tartar, in 1847, Capt. Lockwood ; and the ktrger fowl, heavily feath- ered on the legs, and weighing, per pair, from eigh- teen to twenty-two pounds, imported per ship Hun- tress, in 1847. Of this latter breed, about one half of the number of cocks come a peculiar Dominique, the rest red, with some black mixed ; the hens always either a Hght or dark bay color. Of the two impor- tations, the laying and breeding qualities are about equal, the chief difference being in plumage, weight, and feathers on the legs." Y'ours, &c., S. BRADFORD MORSE, Jk. TO WOOL-GROWERS. It is my intention to attend the great Industrial Fair at I^ondon, in the summer of 1851. I wish to contribute, on ray part, samples of American wool, and shall do so, whether I go or not. I should like a few fleeces from some of the best flocks in the Union, so that I can make up about 100 lbs. of each sample. The fine wool I want washed as clean as possible on the sheep, and put \ip in the best n^anner. It must be of this clip, as the next will be too late. It will be sorted at the Depot, and duplicates of the sorts kept, so that a proper estimate can be formed, after wo have received a report from the committee who may examine it th ire. It will afford an excellent op- portunity to compare our wool with (Jci-man and other foreign wools, and cannot but bo favorable to the growers. Editors of agricultural and other papers are re- spectfully re(iuestod to copy tliis notice. T. V,. PETERS. Bi'FF.^LO Wool Diirox, Aiiril 1, 1850. — Wool-Groicer. ^ Sheep abhor rains and wet in winter. These in- jure them more than cold or dry snow. 146 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. Country Girls. — Mrs. Swisshelm,of the Pitts- burg Visitor, has written some very fine things. We extract the following from her Letters to Cotmtrij GirU : — " Well, girls, I know that, lot others do as they will, yon have to work ; for if you do not, you would not be worthy the name of country girls. The drawl- ing concerns, who lounge round reading novels, lisp- ing about the fashions and gentility, thumping some poor hired piano until it groans again, and putting on airs to catch husbands, while their mothers are toil- ing and boiling in the kitchen, are not often met in the country. This class of girls are generally con- iincd to cities ; and you would be surprised to know how many of them are here. There are hundreds of girls in every large citj- who parade the streets in feathers, flowers, silks, and laces, whose hands arc soft and white as uselessness can make them, whose mothers keep boarders to get a Living for their idle daughters. These mothers will cook, sweep, wait on table, carry loads of marketing, do the most menial drudgery, toil late and early, with very little more clothing than would be allowed to a southern slave, •while their hopeful daughters spend their mornings lounging in bed, reading some silly book, taking les- sons in music and French, fixing finery, and the like. The evenings arc devoted to dressing, displaying their charms and accomplishments to the best advan- tage, for the wonderment and admiration of knights of the yardstick, and young aspirants for profes- sional honors — doctors without patients, lawyers without clients — who are as braudess and soulless as themselves. After a while, the piano-pounding simpleton captivates a tape-measuring, law- expound- ing, or pill-making simpleton. The two ninnies spend every cent that can be raised by hook or by crook — get all that can be got on credit, in broad- cloth, satin, flowers, lace, carriage, attendance, &c., hang their empty pockets on somebody's chair, lay their empty heads on somebody's pillow, and com- mence their empty life with no other prospect than living at somebody's expense — with no other purpose than living genteelly, and spiting their neighbors. This is a synopsis of the lives of thousands of street and ball-room belles, perhaps some of whose shining costumes you have envied from a passing glance. Thousands of women in cities dress elegantly on the streets, who have not a sulRciency of wholesome food, a comfortable bed, or fire enough to warm their rooms." To PRESERVE Milk. — If milk be introduced into bottles, then well corked and put into cold water, and gradually raised to the boiling jioint, and after being allowed to cool, be taken out and put away in a cool place, the milk may be kept perfectly sweet for half a year ; or it may be evajtoratcd to dryness, bj' a gentle heat and under constant stirring. A dry mass will thus bo obtained, which, when dissolved in hot water, is said to possess all the qualities of the best nulk. t)outl)*s Department. Nutritious Bue.vd. — Boil half a pound of rice in three pints of water, till the whole becomes thick and pulpy. With this and yeast, and six pounds of flour, make your dough. In this way, it is said as much bread will be made, as if eight pounds of flour, without the rice, had been used. — Am. Agriculturist. Science strengthens and enlarges the mind. Few of the youth in the country, we fear, appre- ciate or improve the advantages they enjoy — jjartic- ularly those afforded by the long winter evenings. The youth in our cities, at most trades, have to labor as long, and longer, in the winter than at any other season. The evenings are not their own, but their employers'. In the country the winter is a season of leisure. The farmer's son and daughter emploj' the evenings as best suit their inclination. What an opportunity this affords for mental improvement ! — a rare chance to gain that knowledge which shall prepare them for respectability and usefulness in the world. A young man, by the assistance of such books as all can prociu-c, in three or four winters can lay up a stock of knowledge that shall prepare him to act well his part as a farmer and citizen — a knowledge that will give him an influence over less intelligent neighbors, and if rightly used, will advance the best interest of the country, and the good of all. It is for every young man and ever)' young woman to decide Avhethcr this golden opportunity shall be improved — these evenings well spent ; or whether they shall be wasted, or worse than Avasted, in idle- ness and frivolity. We would not detract from your pleasures — far from it ; the pleasures of knowledge surpass any pleasure afforded by the too common amusement of the young. The fields of science afford solid pleasure — they furnish new sources of delight at every onward movement — they are strewn with flowers at every step. The pleasure of science is, perhaps, the only earthly exception to the words of the poet, that, " Each pleasure has its poison, too." In the pages of the Farmer we can only hope to arrest the attention of the youth, and then bid them go on, furnishing them facilities, as far as possible, to help them search for knowledge — ever holding up the encouragement that industry and perseverance in a rifrht cause insure success. — Genesee Farmer. <5calt!) Department. Causes of Diseases of Children. — It appears from the annual registers of the dead, that about one half the children born, die under twelve years of age. To many, indeed, this may appear a natural evil ; but on due examination, it will be found to be one of our creating. Were the deaths of infants a natural evil, other animals would be as liable to die young as man ; but this, we find, is by no means the case. It may seem strange that man, notwithstanding his superior reason, should fall so far short of other animals in the management of his young. But our surprise will soon cease, if we consider that brutes, guided by instinct, never err in this respect ; while man, trusting solely to art, is seldom right. Were a catalogue of those children who perish annually by art alone, exhibited to public view, it would astonish most peojile. If parents are above taking care of their children, others must bo employed for that pur()ose. These will always endeavor to recommend themselves by the appearance of extraordinary skill and address. By this means, such a number of unnecessary and destructive articles have been introduced irito the diet, clothing, &c., of infants, that it is no wonder so many of them perish. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 147 Nothing can be more preposterous than a mother vho thinks it below her to take care of her own child ; or who is soi ignorant as not to know what is proper to be clone for it. If we search nature throughout, we cannot find a parallel to this. Every other creature is the nurse of its own young, and they thrive accordingly. Were the brutes to bring up their young by proxy, they would share the same fate with those of the human species. It is indeed to be regretted, that more care is not bestowed in teaching the proper management of children to those whom nature has designed for mothers. This, instead of being made a principle, is seldom considered as any part of female education. Is it any wonder, when females so educated come to be mothers, that they should be quite ignorant of the duties belonging to that character ? However strange it maj' appear, it is certainly true, that many mothers, and those of fashion too, arc as ignorant, when they bring a cliild into the world, what to do for it, as the infant itself. Indeed, the most ignorant of the sex arc generally reckoned most knowing in the business of nursing. Hence sensible people become dupes of ignorance and superstition, and the nursing of chil- dren, instead of being conducted by reason, is the result of whim and caprice. Were the time that is generally spent by females in the acquisition of trilling accomplishments, employed in learning how to bring up their children ; how to dress them so as not to hurt, cramp, or confine their motions ; how to feed them with wholesome and nourishing food ; how to exercise their tender bodies, so as best to promote their growth and strength ; — were these made the objects of female instruction, mankind would derive the greatest ad- vantages from it. But while the education of females implies little more than what relates to dress and public show, we have nothing to expect from them but ignorance, even in the most important concerns. Did mothers reflect on their own imijortance, and lay it to heart, they would embrace every opportu- nity of iiiforniing themselves of the duties which they owe to their infant offspring. It is their prov- ince, not only to form the bodj', but also to give the mind its most early bias. They have it very much in their power to make men healthy or valetudinary, useful in life, or the pests of society. But the mother is not the only person concerned in the management of children. The father has an equal interest in their welfare, and ought to assist in every thing that respects either the improvement of the body or mind. It is a pity that men should pay so little regard to this matter. Their negligence is one reason why females know so little of it. Woman will ever be desirous to excel in such accomplishments as recom- mend tliem to the other sex. But men generally keep at such a distance from even the smallest ac- quaintance with the afl'airs of the nursery, that many think it is an affront, were they supposed to know any thing of them. Not so, however, with the ken- nel or the stables : a gentleman of the first rank is not ashamed to give directions concerning the man- agement of liis dogs or horses, yet would blush were he surprised in performing the same office for that being wlio derived its existence from himself, who is the heir of his fortunes, and the future hope of his country. It is really astonishing that so little attention should in general be paid to the preservation of infants, ^^■hat labor and expense are daily bestowed to prop an old tottering carcass for a few years, wliilc thousands of those who might be useful in life, perish without being regarded ! Mankind are too apt to value things according to tlicir present, not their fu- ture usefulness. Thougli this be of all others the most erroneous mctliod of estimation, yet upon no other principle is it possible to account for the general in- difference with respect to the death of infants. — Selected. flTcfljauics' DcjJt^rtmcnt, ^rt0, ^r. SurKRiou Red Ink. — Take a small quantity of the best carmine, about the size of a pea, and put it into a small phial with a little spirit of hartshorn to dis- solve it. "When dissolved, put as much pure water in it as will give it the desired shade, and then let the bottle not be corked for some time, to allow the hartshorn to evaporate, when it is ready for use. This ink is very permanent, and does not change its color. The common red ink is made by boiling brazil Avood, taking the strong solution and adding to it a small quantity of dissolved alum. It looks all the better to have a few drops of the muriate of tin added to the liquor ; not too much, however, or it will injure the pen. A quill is the only pen to use red ink with. If a small quantity of sumac and quercitron bark be boiled along with the brazil wood, it makes the ink still better — of a scarlet shade. Brazil wood itself is rather on the blue shade. For common purposes, we advise those who use much red ink, and make it themselves, not to forget the sumac at least ; but a very small quantity will suffice. The liquor should be strained through a cloth as soon as it is boiled, and when cold, bottled and kept well closed in the bottle. — Scientif.c American. REruLsioxs. — Steel and "Water. — Dr. Dalton, in his philosophical experiments, says, " If a blade of a well-polished knife be dipped into a basin of cold water, the particles of each of those two bodies do not seem to come in contact with each other ; for when the blade is taken out, the water slides off, leaving the blade quite drj-, as if it had previously been smeared with any greasy substance. " In the same way, if a common sewing needle be laid horizontally on a glass of water, it will not sink, but form a kind of trench on the surface, on which it lies and fioats about. This proceeds from the little attraction Avhich exists between the cold water and the polished steel. It is necessary that both the knife, in the last experiment, and also the needle, should be dry and clean; otherwise the effect will not be produced." Useful Hints. — I annex a few items of informa- tion for my brother farmers, which may be of some use to them, having satisfied myself of their value upon my own farm. A Beautiful Fire-proof Cement. — The French use a cement to protect the roofs and walls of their out- buildings from taking fire, composed of the following materials : — I.ime sufficient for a bucketful of whitewash ; mix with a pailful of water, and add two and a half pounds of brown sugar, and three pounds of salt; stir them well together, and the "cement" is conq)letcd. Coloring matters, such as lampblack, yellow ochre, or any other paint which will resist the action of the lime, may be added to suit the fancy of those who use it. This cement is said to afi'ord perfect security against sparks. It is very durable, and does not require to bo renewed oftcncr than once in four or five years. It is also ornamental. By mixing lampblack with a little Spanisli brown, a huo is given to the roofs very nearly resembling slate. 148 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. LABOR A NECESSITY AND DUTY. liV NEI.SOX SIZEU. Man is by nature a being of labor. His mental and physical constitution is wisely adapted to labor, and hc'never fulfils his destiny, and obeys the laws of his being, without it. Almost as soon as the •child can raise its head, it begins to sliadow forth this inherent element — he labors. That which in the cliild we call play, is his labor ; and most ear- nestly and faithfully does he perform it. Nothing would change the habits of the child as he advances in life, but the unsound public sentiment which writes disgrace on the perspiring brow of labor. As well might we shut out the light of day from the young as to deprive them of labor — they will work. If taught that useful labor is disreputable, they will seek sports of questionable moral tendency, on which to work off their surplus vitality and mus- cular energy ; and the world as well as themselves are deprived of all the usefulness which so much wasted labor might have produced. Labor is an effort of the mind and body exercised to produce some useful result. It is valuable wholly for its benefit to sentient beings, particularly to the human race. Nearly all that is produced by labor is the result of the industrious toil of about one half of the race ; the balance are mere consumers, drone - bees in the hive of human society, who prey upon the products of industry, lessen the aggregate of human comfort, and do little or nothing to compen- sate society for their sustenance. It is therefore not only unnatural and dishonorable to live a life of useless, unproductive existence, but it is mean in the extreme ; it is social robbery ; piracy upon the prod- ucts of the industrious world. No person has a right to live without a valuable contribution to the general stock of mind, morals, or money. The world supports him, and he owes it, in return, the efforts of hLs mind or muscles in the production of the useful and the true. To refuse to do this, in a moral point of view, is robbery. The idiotic, the insane, and the imbecile, are excusable — none others. If man Avould take lessons of industry from the whole world of organic and inorganic matter, and carry out, as he should do, the indication thus written in the practical language of action, useful, laborious, universal action, the race of idlers and non-producers would, by reformation, cease to burden and disgrace the earth. Nature is one great workshop. The tides and winds, electricity and magnetism, chemical and geological combinations and changes, the forma- tion and developments of organic life, are all speci- mens of incessant industry, evolving results of om- nipotent importance. Shall a part of the noblest of God's work, man, be the only exception to this great law of industry ? Shall earth, air, and sea, be instinct of life, action, unmitigated action ; and every species of animal, from the animacule to the ele- phant, exert an earnest industry, and man, having more wants than any animal in existence, be either too proud or too indolent to labor ? It is wrong and unnatural to be idle, or uselesslj- employed ; it is a libel on existence. It should, therefore, be regarded, as it truly is, disgraceful. — Farmer and Mechanic. PLANT THE BEST. Mr. Editor : My motto is, and mj' advice to every farmer is. Always propagate from the best. The effects of this rule, and of care in cultivation, are wonderfully exemplified in the history of almost every production of value at present to be found cither in the garden or upon the farm. Indeed, scarcely a single vegetable known cither to the gar- dener or farmer at this day, can be found in its pris- tine state. Wheat is a factitious production ; and so are barley, rj'e, and hemp, lliee and oats are also never found wild ; tliey are, together with the afore-mentioned grains, the result of careful culture, graduated upon principles of science and enlightened effort. The potato — one of our most valuable, and, perhaps, salutary of all our edible esculents — is a native of Chili and Monte Video, and is there a small, bitter, and disgustingly nauseating root. Cabbage, celery, and asparagus, likewise owe their present reputation and consequence in the vegetable world simply to the efforts of enlightened art. In their natural and unameliorated state, they are wholly M-orthless for purposes of food, cither for man or beast. The pear, the poach, the apple, plum, and apricot equally attest the effects of artistic skill and effort in improving the wild, insipid fruits of nature. In the floral kingdom, the results are even more remarkable. Not only have the various species of flowers been greatly improved, in numberless instances, by scien- tific cultivation, but there are cases in which indi- viduals may almost be said to have been created. That they are susceptible of wonderful and almost endless improvement, no one who has witnessed the magical influences of art, can for a moment doubt. Nor is this all. In the animal kingdom, we have witnessed results which, in the days of the old Cotton Mather, would have condemned the person who had been instrumental in their consummation to the dungeon, or, more probably, to the stocks ! An indi- vidual in Massachusetts recently announced through the public journals, that he was prepared to breed to order any color or form of animals that might be desired. If animals purely white were desii'ed, he could produce them. Any peculiarity of formation, or physiological development named, he would guar- anty to secure, or ask nothing for his toil. By selecting the best animals for breeders, and reserving them to propagate from, a farmer may exalt the character and consequently the value of his flocks and herds, to almost any extent desired. But this, unfortunately, is not the practice pursued by most breeders. The superior price which good animals always command in the markets of this country, and that short-sighted policy, originating oftentimes in the most sordid avariciousness of mind, which leads men to sacrifice future rewards to pres- ent gains, induces the owner to sell his best stock, and retain the meaner and less excellent animals on his farm. The same policy, also, is often blindly adopted in reference to grains. The fullest wheat is often sold, instead of being reserved for seed ; and what is the legitimate result ? Any one can answer. It is too obvious to every person, to require a reply. A PRACTICAL FARMER. Bald Eagle Farm, April 1, 1850. — Gennajitoton Telegraph. CHARRING BUTS OF POSTS. We take occasion, says the American Farmer, as the sjjring is now upon us, and fences will have to be constructed and repaired, to commend to the favor of our agricultural friends the practice of charring the but-ends of posts, before inserting them in the ground. We advise that the but-ends of posts be charred sufficiently far to leave about four inches of a part so treated above ground. That the durability of posts thus prepared will be greatly prolonged, wo have not the slightest doubt — nay, we believe that it will make one post last as long as three would, that had been planted without such previous prepara- tion, and that any loood susceptible of being wrought NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 119 into posts, can bj' this process be rendered compar- atively durable. Our reasons for this opinion are these : 1. Charcoal, being- indestructible, is not liable to be acted upon disadvantageously by heat and moisture, those active agents in the process of decay ; 2. Charcoal, though possessing great affinity for moisture, is a bad conductor of heat ; and therefore it is not to be presumed that it would, in this connec- tion, exert an injurious office upon the interior of the wood beyond the charred part, because the neces- sary degree of heat and moisture, to excite and carry on decomposition, would not be present; and 3. Be- cause the very process of charring the but-cnd would expel a considerable quantity of water and sap in the body of the posts, and thus relieve them, in a great degree, of the presence of the agent by which rot- tenness, when operated upon by heat, is most gen- erally brought about. Therefore, if you deprive the post of the cause of decay, as a consequence you must assure its preservation through a very great length of time. LARGE VS. SMALL CHEESES. The Ashtabula Telegraph, speaking of the great decline in the price of cheese in the northern part of Ohio, the last season, attributes it to the large size of the cheeses. " It is stated by one of our most intelligent and cautious merchants, that his experience of New York prices of cheese, acquired dui-ing his fall visit to make purchases, settled in his mind, conclusively, the form and weight of cheese intended for export or for city use. He found, on inquirj' at the highest sources, that while tive and a half cents was the top price for our large-sized cheese, the small sizes, say from ten to twenty pounds, were quick of sale at nine and nine and a half cents. This, he declared, was a fact worth knowing bj' a country merchant in the habit of buying cheese, and it is a fact worth knowing by those who make cheese. Large cheeses, however skilfully and carefully made and kept, are bad travel- lers. The principle of decomposition is inherent in every cheese, and nothing but dryness can arrest it ; but in large dairies this degree of dryness is difficult of attainment — is seldom attained. What is called Juiavim/ in cheese is simply fermentation ; and this is the lirst step to decomposition, which is inevitable, after the heaving has once occurred. The great losses heretofore sustained by foreign merchants — purchasers of large cheese — have made them shy of the article, and their loss of character has led to their fall in value. — Exchange. Kem.vuks. — Although the above facts may be true commercially, which we can hardly believe, yet we can never subscribe to the doctrine, that small cheeses arc better and worth more than large ones. Th-cre never was nor ever will be a good cheese niailx'., of only ten or twelve pounds weight — a position that every connoisseur, and real judge of a good article will at once endorse. It caimot in fact be other-vnsc, for it is self-evident, that the entire value of cheese depends upon a sec- ondary fermentation, a stage approaching to putrefac- tion — a ripening and thorough conversion, from the tasteless pulp of the tirst curdy matter, to that pecu- liar state that causes cheese to be cheese. The small cheeses dry, and never reach the stage of proper ripening ; while large ones possess the bulk, moisture, and heat consequent on fermentation, to carry out the chemical decomposition necessary to perfect the true article. It may be true that small ciiocscs sell best, and are the safer articles to transport, and more con- venient and within the means of the majority of purchasers ; but that ever a small cheese was as good as a large one, say those of forty pounds, and within the abihty of proper handling in the making, must be set down as utterly heterodox. The only possible excuse for forming such an opinion, must be predicated on the fact that we use our large cheeses at least one year too soon ; they arc not ripe, and passed through the fermenting stages, and arrived at the age of perfection — while the small ones become as good as they ever can be in a few months, — Rural New- Yorker, THE OSWEGO BEURRE PEAR. Mr. p. Baury : In accordance with a promise made to you last fall, when I presented you speci- mens of the Oswego Beurrc, I will give some further history of this pear, the result of three years' ex- perience, since it was described by Mr. Downing, in the January number of the Horticulturist for 1847. I ate my last specimen the 19th of P'ebruary inst. They were kept till this late period of winter, by packing in boxes Avith shorts. Every week, during the winter, previous to this date, I have eaten them, either baked or raw. Last fall a portion of the crop was kept on the tree much later than on any former year. My specimens were sound during December and January. The last, eaten the 19th of this month, was about one third decayed on one side, sound at the core, and retained the peculiar flavor of the variety well. If the Oswego Beui-re be allowed to remain on the tree till a sufficiently late period in the fall, I believe it may be relied upon in this latitude, both for the table and for cooking, from the middle of October to the last of January. From the fact that nearly all of the specimens heretofore tested by pomologists have been picked before fully grown, it has been pronounced an acid pear. Mr. J. J. Thomas, in the last edition of the Fruit Culturist, has very honestly, no doubt, said of the Oswego Beurre, it is " regarded as fully tirst- rate by those who like the vinous flavor of the Brown Beurre or Beurre d'Aremberg." I ate a specimen of the Oswego Beurre with a Beurre d'Aremberg, on the first of January last, and found them nearly as far apart in Havor as the I>ady Sweeting and llhode Island Greening apples, tested at the same time. Mr. N. Ooodsell, the pioneer promologist, of Western New York, who ate specimens with me last Christmas, pronounced it one of the most saccharine pears he ever tasted. From the early and profuse bearing of this saccharine pear, I believe it would be the most profitable article to cultivate, (whether po- monal or vegetable,) for the purpose of manufacturing sugar. Although a handsome pear, and uniformly fair, it has less of beauty than its parent, the White Do- yenne. It has the red cheek occasionally of the latter, and approaches it nearer, in general form, than Mr. Downing's cut would indicate. Beauty excepted, it has been pronounced by the Fruit Committee of our Horticultural Society here, superior to that " nc plus ultra of perfection in flavor and beauty," the White Doyenne, or Virgalicu. J. W. V. ALLEN. OswEOO, Feb. 27, 1850. We may add, that, from our own experience, tlio Oswego Beurre proves a vigorous and l)eautiful grower, and an early and prolihc bearer, both on pear and quince. — Ed. — Genesee Farmer. THE PASTURAGE OF BEES. Next to the situation of the bcc-hivc is the con- sideration of the bees" pasturage. When there is plenty of the white Dutch clover — sometimes called 150 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. honeysuckle — it is sure to be a good honey year. The red clover is too deep for the proboscis of the common bee, and is, therefore, not so useful to them as is generally supposed. Many lists have been made of bce-Howcrs, and of such as should be planted round tlie apiary. Mignonette, and borage, and rosemary, and burgloss, and lavender, the crocus for tlic early spring, and the ivy tlowers for the late autumn, might help to furnish a very pretty bee garden ; and the lime and the liquid amber, the horse-chestnut and the sallow, Avould be the best trees to plant around. Dr. Bevan makes a very good suggestion, that lemon-thyme should be used as an edging for garden walks and flower-beds, instead of box, thrift, or daisies. That any material good, howev- er, can be done to a large colony by the few plants, that, under the most favorable circumstances, can be soa\ti around a bee-house, is, of course, out of the question. The bee is too much of a roamer to take pleasure in trim gardens. It is the wild tracts of heath and furze, the broad acres of bean fields and buckwheat, the lime avenues, the hedgerow flowers, and the clover meadows, that furnish his haunts and fill his cell. Still it may be useful for the young and weak bees to have food as near as possible to their home ; and to those who wish to watch their habits, a plat of bee flowers is indispensable. — Am. Traveller. PROFITABLE COWS. Mrs. Ilincs gives the following account, which shows her superior skill both in managing cows and the dairy. We copy from the Greenfield Gazette, to which Mrs. H. has been a subscriber twenty years, and has always paid her subscription promptly, which is another commendable trait. I have five cows, and have sold, the past season, 1300 lbs. of butter, besides milk, cream, and butter for the family use. Our family will average eight. I raised seven calves last spring ; some of them quite early calves, and some late ; two of them I got of my neighbors, I have fatted 768 lbs. of pork, mostly on the sour milk. Now, let \i3 leave out one of the cows for the family use, and set the credit to the other four — say 1300 divided by 4 makes 325 lbs. to each cow ; the butter sold averaging 16i cents ; 325 lbs. at 16i cents makes $53 62 to each cow. The seven calves were worth $30, say $25 to the four cows ; and five hundred of the pork, at ,$6, will be $30 ; and the $25 for the calves, makes $55, divided by 4, leaves $13 75 to each cow ; this added to $53 62, will make ,$■37 37 to each cow. My cows are about middling sized, and of the native breed. They have a good pasture in summer, and good hay in winter, and that is all ; except in winter, I sometimes give Old Brindle a few small apples and potatoes, parings, and the like, to make her hold out her milk till some of the others come in. When I sec any thing in the butter line in your paper that beats the above, I Avill try again, MUiANDA inNES. MuNUOE, Feb. 18, 1850, Ikdustry, — Excellence is never granted to man, but as the reward of labor. It argues, indeed, no small strength of mind to persevere in the habits of industry without the pleasure of perceiving those advantages, which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly aiiproachcs to their point, yet pro- ceed so slowly as to escape observation. RED RUSSET APPLE. A few years ago we received specimens of this apple in April ; they were in fine condition, and very promising. The next year we received a few, and kept them into summer. The next year (1348) we obtained a barrel of this fruit to give it a fair test, and placed it by the side of a barrel of fine Roxbury Russets. Both kept equally well, extending into summer. But the lied Russet was the better, both for table and cooking, being intermediate, in its quality, between the Baldwin and Roxbury Russet. It resembled the Baldwin on one side, being of a bright red, and on the other side it was like the Roxbury Russet. We had already tried it in the nursery, and found it as great a grower as the Bald- win ; but the wood was different, being very red, with numerous light specks, and it was much harder than the wood of the Baldwin, and evidently more hardy. The young shoots were as large in length as those of the BaldM'in, but less in diameter. In fruit and wood it seemed to be a distinct variety, and very desirable, as it was so late, hardy, and vig- orous. We were informed that it originated on the farm of Mr. Aaron Sanborn, Hampton Falls, N, H. Some time last winter, a friend, who is an extensive fruit-grower, gave us a specimen of apple, which he said answered our description of the Red Russet, and ranked high as a valuable fruit for late keeping, and he told its origin, as it -was considered. The fruit appeared precisely like the Red Russet, as far as we could judge from a single specimen. This led us to inquire of Mr. Sanborn particularly as to his variety, and he thinks that he grafted many trees of the Baldwin, and one of them produced the Red Russet. He says that it is popular in that re- gion, and the neighbors are propagating it. We have thus given all we know about this fruit, and we regret that there should be any confusion about it, or any doubts as to this promising variety being entirely distinct, W'e hold that the stock has an effect in modifying both fruit and wood, but we hardly think that it would modify the fruit so as to appear very different, and keep three months longer than usual, and so affect the wood that it would appear very different indeed, both in color and tex- ture. We would still recommend the Rod Russet for trial, Wc shall examine further into the subject of this fruit, and that of our friend's, which resembles it, and give information on it by-and-by. We have ever been cautious about recommending new fruits, generally preferring several years' experience before introducing a new fruit for general culture. The great want of a fruit like the Red Russet induced us to bring it forward rather early, and we still hope that it will prove a valuable acquisition. Improve the Mivd. — No man who improves his leisure hours in useful reading and study, can fail in becoming distinguished in his profession, while he who spends his time in idleness or self-indulgence is sure to occupy an inferior position in life. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 151 For the Neio England Farmer. CULTIVATION OF CARROTS. Mr. Cole : When the time arrives for tying up my cattle for the night, in expectation of a mc3s of carrots, they rush for the stalls with a perfect loose- ness ; all eyes are intently directed towards the place from whence the favorite meal is to come ; and then ensues such a craunching of roots, and such a smack- ing of chops, that the observer, even though a sick man, soon becomes hungry, and would talk to you of the gusto of a full repast. It certainly is a pleas- ure to the humane farmer to be able, bj' the growing of carrots, so fully to gratify the taste, as well as to promote the health and sleek condition, of his agri- cultural animals. The carrot gives a better return than almost any thing the farmer raises ; if the land is well chosen and prepared, the work of tending it is easy and pleasant ; as winter feed, it highly promotes the health and growth of calves, colts, and store swine ; cows fed upon it almost invariably do well at calving time, and afterwards give a full flow of milk, yield- ing the best of butter ; and a daily allowance of it to the old horse causes him to forget his infirmities, and almost to renew his youth. I am, therefore, sur- prised that the carrot is not more generally grown by our farmers. Hoping to attract attention some- what to the importance and value of this root, I wiU now tell you what I know about cultivating it. In raising the carrot, the largest crop will be ob- tained, and the least labor will be required, by selecting a piece of old grass-ground, of deep fertile soil. Twenty loads per acre of partly fermented manure should be spread upon the grass, and the sod and manure turned under to the depth of eight or ten inches, in the very nicest style of the art. If the top soil will not admit of so deep a furrow by reason of a subsoil of hard pan near the surface, or if the sole of the plough, and the treading of the team, have formed a hard crust by long use in shallow furrows, the subsoil plough should be used, loosening and pulverizing the earth to such a depth as may give full range to the tap-root of the carrot. But if the surface furrow can be taken nine inches deep, that will answer. Twenty loads of line manure per acre (compost is the best) should be spread on the in- verted furrows, three or four inches deep of the sur- face made perfectly fine and mellow, and well mixed with manure by the harrow, and the seed immedi- ately sown. The rows should be two feet apart rather than nearer, because the after-culture can be more easily performed. There are various cheap machines for sowing carrots and other root seeds, with which a man can sow an acre in two or three hours, and do the work better too than it can be done by hand-sowing. It is a great advantage gained, to manure, plough, harrow, and sow at just the right time, one operation following the other in quick succession ; for the ground being tlius fresh, moist, and mellow, and the surface perfectly clear of weeds, the young carrots come on considerably ahead of other vegetation, and t\\% first hoeing — the most laborious part of tlie whole business — is done with comparatively little labor. The latter part of May, or first of June, is early enough to sow. For the same reason, the right time to hoe should at all hazards be seized upon. Every good cultivator knows that by attending to weeds as soon as they appear above ground, a victory over them is easily gained ; while a week's delay may cost a severe struggle to accomplish the same object. If for any reason, therefore, the weeds should come up ahead of the carrots, the ground between tlio rows should be hoed over, which can readily be done, for the wheel of the seed-sower will leave its track so distinctly as to point out where the young carrots arc. A light, iron-toothed rake is a capital tool to clean a carrot crop with, provided the weeds are young and tender. I have raised some crops with no other weeding than the frequent raking of the ground. It gives a very fine mellow surface, and the >york can be rapidly done. I do not spend as much time as some cultivators do in thinning out carrots, and no doubt the crop is thereby somewhat smaller ; but by regulating the sowing so as not to get on a very great quantity of seed, I can grow a good enough crop to satisfy me without the labor of thin- ning the rows. The advantages arising from the choice of an old greensward for the growing of carrots on, arc these : by ploughing it so nicely as to shut all the grass under to the depth of eight or nine inches, the vegetation of the then surface is not only put out of the way, but a new surface, free of weed seeds, is brought up, upon which the carrots can be grown with one third the expense they could be on old cul- tivated ground ; the decomposing sod beneath keeps the land light and mellow, is easily penetrated by the tap-roots of the carrots, forms a sort of reservoir for moisture, and, together with the manure turned under, furnishes abundant sustenance for the crop, in its latter and largest growth. The fine manure on top stimulates the young plants in the outset. In harvesting the crop, a light plough may be run near each row, and then, by pressing into the ground, on the side of the row opposite the furrow made by the plough, a broad, eight or ten tincd manure-fork, and by gently prying up with it, the carrots may be taken out rapidly, without injury. The tops may be cut off" with a sharp caseknife, or twisted off with the fingers. In stormg the crop, a root-cellar at the barn is just the thing ; and if one is not already provided, it had better be immediately. But if this is not thought convenient or best, a portion of the crop, for early feeding, can be put into the house-cellar, and the remainder stored in a hole or in holes in the ground, in the field, and covered temporarily with boards and earth, so that they can be removed any time when wanted. The expense of securing in this way is trifling. In preparing carrots for feeding, they may be emptied on to the barn-floor, and a good steel shovel, ground to a sharp edge, will, in vigorous hands, cut them up rapidly. But a Vegetable Cutter is better, and such a machine can now be had, at the agricultural ware- houses, at small cost. Five or six nice large carrots can be sot out, in the spring, in a warm, sunny spot in the garden, and they Avill furnish seed enough for the next year's sowing. The tops will grow high and rank, and a temporary frame will need to be placed aroiuid tlicm to keep them from falling to the ground and spoiling the seed. When the seed is ripe, it should be gathered in a dry state, and then, if well preserved, it can be depended upon the next year as sure to come up well. An acre of ground, well chosen, well manured, nicely ploughed and prepared, sowed to carrots, and properly tended, will yield eight or ten hundred busliels, at an expense, according to circumstances, of four to eight cents per busliel. Any farmer, liaving stock to winter, and wishing to carry them througli in high health and condition, who is not satisfied with such a result, must grow some other crop, unknown to me, to suit his fastidious taste. F. HOLBllOOK. Brattleboro', Vt., April 18, 1850. Does not the echo of the sea-shcU tell of the worm that once inhabited it ? and shall not man's good deeds live after him and sing his praise ? 152 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Dado's Rkformeu Vetkuinauy Art, and Dic- TioNAKY. — This work contains Outlines of the Anat- omy and Physiologj- of the Horse ; also, Practical Observations on Feeding, Watering, Shoeing, &c., written with a View of reforming the Veterinary Science ; containing, also, a Veterinary Dictionary, from the "Works of 11. White, V. S., adapted to the Present State of Reformed Practice in the United States ; with Remarks on Bloodletting, and the Use of Poisons, showing their Destructive Tendency. The author of this work, G'corgp II. Dadd, M. D., Veter- inary Surgeon in this city, is favorably known to the public by lus horse and cattle medicines, which have been used extensively ; and by his reformed practice in the use of mild medicines, and restorative means, instead of the harsh means, and powerful and dan- gerous medicines, used by practitioners of the old school. We commend the work as a valuable con- tribution to veterinary science, containing a large amount of \iscful matter. Something may be gath- ered of Dr. Dadd's views by his communication on another page of this number. This book is hand- somely executed, in i)aper, typography, engravings, and binding. Octavo, pp. 308. Published by the author, Nos. 1 and 2 Ilaymarket Square. The Boston Melodeon. — The recent edition of this excellent and popular work contains some pieces never before published in this country ; others are presented in a new dress, and a few are original. Boston; Elias Howe, No. 11 Cornhill. Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture. — The last number, as usual, contains much interesting and in- structive matter. Principles of the Human Mind, with a Lecture on Electro-Biology, by Alfred Smee, F. R. S. The philosophy of the mind, and the voltaic mechanism of man, are the subjects illustrated in this little work. New York : Fowlers & Wells. THE STUDY OF NATURE. The sneers of superficial naen upon the weakness which has appeared in the conduct of some inquirers into nature, ought to have no influence to discourage us from those researches. If some few have spent too much time in the study of insects, to the neglect of the nobler parts of creation, their error ought to suggest to us, not a total neglect of those inferior parts of nature, but only to avoid the mistake of giving ourselves wholly to them. There is no species which Infinite Wisdom has thought worth making and preserving for ages, that is not supremely worthy of our intiuiring into its nature. And it is certain there is more of curious workmanship in the struc- ture of the body of the meanest reptile, than in the most complicated and most delicate machine that ever was, or wUl be, constructed by human hands. Russia. — The cold in this country has been more intense than it has been before within the memory of man. A STICK OF TYPE, C. D. STUART. A Stick of Type ! What shot or shell From war's grim camp hath half the power } A Stick of Type ! with this one thought. That Freedom 's man's God-given dower ! That Stick of Type hath more of might Than warrior hosts or fortress walls. And it shall batter towers to dust That laugh at siege or cannon balls. That Stick of Type ! I see it break The eldest of the blood-built thrones, And lift the yoke from millions, bowed O'er dead slave-millions' bleaching bones. That Stick of Type ! Careering fleets Before it idly flap their wings. And bannered armies pass like chaff. Grown hideous 'mong remembered things. That Stick of Type ! God bless the Faust, . Who wrought it in his conquering brain ; That Stick of Type ! God bless the Hoe, Who scatters it abroad like rain. The Tj'pe ! the Press ! the living thought ! By steam and lightning sped abroad, Shall conquer yet, and bring to man The Freedom, Love, and Truth of God ! THE OLIO. As many as are the difficulties which virtue has to encounter in this world, her force is yet superior. — Earl of Shaftesbury. The total loss of reason is less deplorable than the total deprivation of it. — Coxoley. He that arms his intent with virtue is invincible. Human frailty is no excuse for criminal immo- rality. Leisure is a very pleasant garment to look at, but it is a very bad one to wear. The ruin of millions may be traced to it. Great talent renders a man famous ; great merit procures respect ; great learning gains esteem ; good breeding alone insures love and affection. The humblest author must embalm some flowers of thought; write often, then, that they may blos- som over your tomb. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ^1 a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 2-5 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage .^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and lij cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEllEOTYPKD AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDBT DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE IND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES Jigrioulture not only gives riches to a nation but the only riches she can call her own. —Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY MAY 11, 1850 NO. 10. s. w. COLE, EniTOK. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Proprietor. NATIVE AND FOREIGN FRUITS. GE>fER\LLY our nativG fruits are superior to foreign, both in vigoi- of tree and hardiness ; and in many cases, our native fruits are equal to the foreign in quality. We have but very few foreign apples that are worth cultivating ; nearly all our best standard kinds arc natives. The greater part of the foreign pears cultivated in this countrj' arc only adapted to the garden, or other sheltered locations, and the trees are generally of a dwarfish habit. They will not flourish under com- juon orchard management and exposure. They often dwindle av/ay under the rigor of our cold winters and hot summers. But our native pears arc gen- erally vigorous, long-lived, hardy, and productive ; and many of them are first-rate fruits. Some of them, that have endured the storms of one or two hundred winters, are still standing as firm monu- ments of the hardiness of our native pears. Some of our native pear- trees have borne ten or twelve barrels of fruit in one season, and a few have produced far more. We have seen a Ilai-vard pear- tree that yielded nine barrels of fruit in one year, which was sold at .f o 00 per barrel. We have an old tree, from which we gathered eleven bushels of fruit, after cutting off its toj) very liberally for two years, for the purpose of grafting. None of the fine varieties that have been imported, will compare in size with these venerable standards of the past and present age. Generally, in New England, we must rely mostly on our native pears, or do as we now are under the iieces.sity of doing, after spending a great deal of time and money on pears — go without them. As this is unpleasant, we get neither profit nor pleasure for this fancy work. Wc have native peaches equal in qiuditj' to the best imported kinds, and they are far more hardy for northern culture. When our horticulturists learn the importance of cultivating not only native kinds, but natives of the north, they will not complain so much of the failure of this crop. A good share of our finest cherries and plums are natives, and the natives are forming our largest and longer-lived trees. They are becoming stately orna- ments to rural Scenery, vi'hile many of the foreign varieties, though freqiiently vigorous for a few years, are comparative dwarfs. Nearly all our valuable strawberries are natives. Houghton's gooseberry not only far excels any foreign variety, but some cultivators consider it so much bet- ter, that they have excluded all other kinds from their grounds. We feel the want of more native small fruits, that we may have varieties adapted to our climate ; and the enterprising spirit that now prevails will soon produce them. Too much attention has been given to foreign fruits, to the neglect of our native varieties. Some horticiilturists have ransacked all Europe for new fruits, while native kinds have sprung up, flourished for many years within half an hour's walk of their dwellings, yielding fruits equal, and trees far superior in hardiness, to the foreign kinds that have been imported and sold at high prices. This zeal for foreign kinds of fruit would have a good effect, if there was a corresponding attention given to our natives, that they might be brought to public notice, and duly compared with exotics. Or if new foreign fi-uits, of high pretensions, were introduced merely for experiment, and not for speculation, attention to the subject would be commendable. But the sale of trees at enormous prices, which on trial prove worth- less, has a very discouraging effect, especially on bcErinners in fruit culture. DEPTH OF COVERING SEEDS. As to the proper depth Avhich seeds should be cov- ered, much depends on circumstances. Hard scCvU, such as onion, carrot, beet, parsnip, &c., that vege- tate slowly, should be covered deeper than turnip, cabbage, mustard seed, and other kinds that vegetate (luickly. If hard seeds are sown late in the season, on dry soil, and the covering Is shallow, there is dan- ger of the earth drying down to the seed before it starts. But besides the differences in the peculiar naturo of seeds, there are other circumstances that have a great effect, and require that the same apeciea of 154 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. seeds should be covered at different depths. Soils vary so much in texture, that in some, half an inch is a sufficient depth, -while two inches arc necessary in others. AVe have observed in our garden, that ■while some moist soils remain damp at the surface several days after a rain, other soils would dry doAvn one or two inches deep in the same time. On the wet land, half an inch depth would be suffi- cient covering ; but on the dry soil, two inches would be little enough ; and then rolling or pressing the earth closely on the seed is indispensable to insure vegetation. Seeds sowed early in spring require less depth of covering than those planted late in spring or early in summer, even on the same soil ; for as it is usually cool early in the season, the earth dries slowly, and if the seed is covered deeply it will not Tcgetate so soon, and it will be more liable to decay. In manj' cases, carrot seed is sown in dry soils, the last of May, and early in June, and it fails from the drying effects of a hot sun. The better way to guard against this loss, is to soak the seed in a warm place two or three days, and then drain off the ■water, and let it remain a few days longer in the moist state, until it is about ready to sprout. If it be more convenient, the seed may be sown after soaking a day or two. There is no danger in soak- ing hard seeds several days. In sowing soaked seed in a seed-sower, spread thinly, and dry off the moisture from the surface of the seed, or apply dry sand or plaster to dry them. We are induced to make these remarks from see- ing, occasionally, arbitrary rules prescribing the depth for covering different kinds of seeds, without any regard to the important circumstances of soil, sea- son, &c. TO MAKE PLUM-TREES BEAR. Mr. R. 0. Stoddard, Waitsfield, Vt., inquires how he shall make his plum-trees bear. He has trees that have blossomed for ten years, but they have borne no fruit. In many cases, plura trees ■which had perfected no fruit were rendered productive by putting salt around them. Salt is an excellent manure for plums, and it sometimes renders barren trees pro- lific. But the failure of plums is usually owing to their being stung by the curculio, (see Vol. I. p. 137,) from a short time after blossoming until the plums are half grown, or larger. This work is done so sud- denly and completel)', and when the plums are so small, that many cultivators think that no fruit has set. The little beetle makes her crescent-shaped marks on the plum, lays an egg in the slight wound, the egg soon hatches, and the larva cats towards the centre of the fruit, which soon falls, and the insect disappears in the ground. The application of salt late in fall, or early in spring, and sometimes any time before the blossom- ing of the trees, will frequently prevent the effects of the curculio ; but it is not always sure, and some persons resort to the sure remedy of jarring the insects off on to cloths, and gathering and destroying, Thisfs much labor. Some save their fruit from the depredations of this insect by smoking the trees. Apply the salt to the surface, and dig it in lightly. Spread it over the ground as far as the branches of the tree extend. Apply from a pint to two or three quarts to a tree, according to its size. One or two quarts to trees of medial size, or about half a peck to a square rod of land. Wc have prescribed this condiment for unproduc- tive trees, and have seen excellent effects from its use for several years in succession. A gardener had some fine plum-trees in a piece of asparagus, but he had no fruit, though the trees were large enough to bear. To improve his asparagus, he manured it lib- erally with dock mud, and after that time he had fine plums ; which was doubtless owing to the salt in the mud. But our readers will consider that we do not recommend salt as an infallible remedy for unproductive plum-trees, but as an agent that is often effective. EARLY VIRGINIA AND LARGE EARLY SCARLET STRAWBERRY. Ever since we saw a notice of the Large Early Scarlet Strawberry, in Downing's Fruit-Book, wc thought it was identical with the Early Virginia, and as we could get no definite information on this sub- ject, from numerous inquiries of horticulturists, wc sent to Charles Downing, Esq., Newburg, N. Y., and procured the I>arge Early Scarlet for experi- ment. We planted them in the same lot with the Early Virginia, in 1848, and last year we had fruit from them. In flower, and the whole plant, and in time of ripening, we could perceive no difference. This is one of the most valuable varieties of straw- berries in the country, and those ■who claim that seedlings recently introduced will displace this, will, we think, be much disappointed. It is very early ; the plants remarkably vigorous, hardy, and very productive. It has produced some of the largest crops ever raised in the country, and larger than any other variety that is so early. The fruit is very handsome, and of excellent flavor. The principal object of this article is to show the probable identity of those cultivated under the two names that we have mentioned. We shall make further experi- ments, and see the effect of new locations and dif- ferent seasons. It is estimated that five thousand head of cattle, chiefly cows, will cross from Canada this spring at Cape Vincent, and that not less than fifteen thousand Avill be sold this season to farmers in the States. The price varies from $9 to $15. The safest and most reliable business a young man can enter, is agriculture. A good farm, well at- tended, is an inexhaustible store, an endleas mine of wealth, from which the riches of the earth can be profusely drawn, if the owner will remember that this can only be done by the "sweat of his brow," by honest, diligent labor. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 155 WHITE SIIANGHAE FOWLS. For the Neio England Farmer. Mr. Colt: : In describing these fowls, and giving the history of the importation of them, I shall be obliged to make statements which -will conflict Avith those put forth in the work on poultry edited by Dr. J. C. Bennett, and jiublishcd by Phillips, Samp- son, & Co. The "White Shanghacs were first introduced into the New England States, in the year 1848, by Capt. A. S. Palmer, of "Westerly, K. I. Capt. Palmer, while fit Shanghao, made inquiries rcsjiecting the different kinds of poultry bred in its A'icinity, and learned that the white breed M'as most highly prized, on account of the size ; amount and quality of the eggs produced by it ; the quietness of the race ; the small amount of offal, compared with the other breeds ; and the early age at which these fowls came to ma- turity. Capt. Palmer put on board of his ship a large num- ber of choice specimens of the White Shanghaes, as well as those of tlie Kcd Shanghacs, and on his arrival in the United States, presented his selections to the lion. Nathan F. Dixon, of Westerly, R. I. This importation, by C^apt. Palmer, of White Shanghacs, is the only one ever made until the present year, when a merchant of this city, Daniel C. Bacon, Esq., received from Shanghac three speci- mens of these fowls, by the ship Vancouver, which arrived in March last. Mr. Bacon ])rcsented these fowls to Mr. Ebcn AVight, of Dedham, Mass., who now has them, and to whom I am indebted for the following letter containing a description of the fowls imported bj- Mr. Bacon. : — S. B. >IoRSE, Jr., Esq. Sir : Your note of yester- day, asking of me information in relation to the White Shanghacs, recently imported in the ship Vancouver, is received. The fowls, consisting of one cock and two pullets,, arrived here during the last month, March, 1850, and were in poor condition when coming from on ship- board, as all fowls suffer more or less when kept so long without coming to the earth. When the ship left Shanghac, there were two cocks and four pullets, and with great care they were enabled to save one cock and two jjuUcts. The fowls were selected with care, expresshj for the owner of the ship, and no pains were spared to obtain the purest and best that could be had in that quarter; and I think they do credit to the person who selected them. Immediately on their arrival here, the owner, a friend of mine, having no conveniences for them, handed over the entire lot to me ; and I sent them at once to Dedham, where they are doing well, having throve finely since coming to the earth. The pullets commenced laying at once, and have continued to give each their egg every day since their arrival. Their eggs are of a fawni or pearl color, being in this respect diil'ercnt from the thmisand niul one White Shanghacs, (so called,) which I take it arc merely a cross between our common white fowl and the Red Shanghac. Whether their eggs will come darker or not as they grow older, must remain to be seen ; at present tl^e eggs are of the color of the eggs laid by Mr. Burn- ham's Roval Cochin Chinas, and yet his birds are entirely different from both the Red and Whito Shanghacs, and very superior fowls too. Since their arrival, tlie feathers have come oui fully on the leg, and the portrait gives a very correct likeness. This must prove a valuable fowl, from their nat- urally quiet disposition, early nuiturity, and the great Buic which they can be made to attain to ; and siuce 156 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. all Shani^hae fowls arc so prolific, I mako no doubt these will make good the early indications <;ivcn. Very respectfully, E. V. IGHT. Boston, April 30, 18.50. The White Shanghaes imported by Capt. Palmer were pearl ^\hitc in color; the feathers were soft and downy, resembling more those of the Bremen goose than "the leatlicrs of our ordinary domestic poultry. The t;!il in tins breed is much shorter than in the red varicr'v. The combs and wattles in both sexes are s;.,al!,"thc combs not l.eing serrated or indentetl, as arc Jho e of the Ked Shanghae. llie logs were feathered to the toes, and were short and stout, and of a pale nankeen color, ;ipi)roaching nearly to white. The eggs were much larger than those of the lied Shanghae, and of a yellowish flesh color. It is much to bo regretted that so good a breed of fowls as were the White Shanghacs imported by Capt. Palmer, should have been lost for want of care and Mttention. But such is the case. The dis- position (f the White iShanghac being noa-combat- ant, and that of the lied Shanghae being quite the reverse, the stock of Mr. Dixon became but a mon- grel race of Red and White Shanghacs. The White Shanghacs, of which every huckster has a plenty for sale, and wan-anted pure, arc the progeny of the Pvcd Slijjnghae crossed on white fowls of other breeds, as tlie persons breeding from such White Shanghacs -will find to their sorro\s'. The White Shanghae described in Dr. Bennett's work on poultry, is one of this description, having the large serrated comb of the Red Shanghae, with the \\ hite plumage of some other fowl ; having a full end tlowing tail, which belongs not to the White Shanghae. Notwithstanding the elaborate description therein given, sotting forth the fact, that this same fowl has been selected by his owner, an experienced breeder, (I wonder how, -when, and Avhere he obtained his experience,) for the purpose of propagating the fine White Shanghacs imported {from where f) by his "friend Osborne." I may, at some time hereafter, refer to the book of Dr. Bennett, when writing descriptions of other breeds of fowls. Yours, &c., S. BRADFORD MORSE, Ju. For the Nctc England Farmer. MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. Mr. Editoh : There has been but little contributed to your paper upon sheep husbandry ; and knowing this subject must be one of interest to many of your readers, I send you the following sketch upon the general management of sheep. It is not advisable to turn sheep out to grass in the spring until there is a fair bite of feed, and we should then continue to feed a little hay and grain in order to keep up their strength, and prevent the f*cours. It is bad economy to allow the feed in our pastures to become very high or short : in tlio former case, it is less sweet, tender, and palatable ; in the latter, the sheep w ill not get a full supply of food ; besides, it is injurious to the land to feed pastures very close, especially in time of a drought. A fre- quent change of pastures is highly desirable ; this gives a greater variety of food, and thereby adds to the general health and thrift of sheep. In the lat- ter part of the pasturing season the grass is less nutritious, and many kinds of herbage become dry, hard, and unpalatable; consoquently a change of pasture Ls more important than early in the season ; and for the same reasons, sheep should be allowed a proportional increase of territory. Hilly lands are much to be prefen-cd for eheep pastures ; yet a small proportion of low, wet land is rather desirable than otherwise, notwithstanding it is of little use to sheep when there is a good supply of fresh feed on the upland ; but in the time of a drought, one acre of the former may be worth as much as ten or twenty of the latter. While at pasture, sheep should be salted at fre- quent and regular intervals. It is a good plan to mix sulphur or tar -wilh the salt, in a trough. These substances promote the general health of sheep, and kccii off the fly Avhich produces the maggot in the head. The washing and shearing of sheep should be per- formed by thorough and skilful -workmen. The Merino wool should be well soaked upon the sheep, and then let them out into a close yard, and in a short time they get up a heat and steam, which serves to dissolve the yolk, so that when taken in to wash, the oily matter, as well as the dirt, will be much easier separated from the iloece. The German method of soaking sheep in vats strikes me favorably, and I intend to try it. If the weather is warm and dry, sheep should be shorn in five to eight days after -washing. The shearers should not work any faster than they can cut the wool tlose and smooth, and without hacking the skin. By shearing close we obtain more wool, and of greater length, which is an important quality. When wool is unevenly shorn, it not only makes a bad appearance, but renders the staple of the present and succeeding fleece of un- equal length, and thereby lessening their value. It is highly beneficial to both lambs and ewes, to have lambs weaned by the twentieth of August or first of September ; the lambs will grow faster, es- pecially if they are allowed a more inviting growth of feed, which should always be the case, and it gives the ewes a chance to recruit their condition, and it renders them more ardent at the approaching season for breeding. It is natural for the lambs to be quite wild when first separated from the ewca, and as a matter of convenience, and for the purpose of taming them, a few old sheep should run with them. Eate in the fall, lambs should occasionally be brought into the yard and fed with a little sweet hay, roots, and grain. If this, is not practised, they wiU eat so sparingly of these substances when firs; brought into winter quarters, as to lose flesh. It is very essential that sheep should come up to the bai-n in good condition ; they are easier wintered, and less subject to disease and mortality. But in order to keep them in this condition, it will be neces- sary to bring them into the yards as soon as they fail of obtaining a good supply of food in the pastures; or if allowed to run later, they should be fed with a small quantity of hay or grain. When first confined to the yard, thej'^ need extra care for one or two weeks. Their hay should be sweet, and early cut, and they should receive daily a few roots, to coun- teract, in a measiire, the sudden change from green to dry food. Until the approach of spring, old sheep need no feed but roots once or twice a week, (which serve to keep the digestive organs in healthy tone, and promote the growth of wool,) and a good supply of dry fodder, early cut and well cured, the bulk of which should be hay composed of a good variety of the cultivated grasses. Hay shoukl be fed at morn and night, and the coarser forage, such as straw, briers, and many kinds of herbage grown in waste places, at noon. All of these, with the excep- tion of straw, should be cut when green, and full of leaves. Three or four weeks before the yeaning season, breeding ewes should have extra keep of grain and roots. It is preferable to have the grain fed in meal, and I think corn ground with the cob, and scalded, the best for the formation of milk ; and potatoes and carrots the best of the root kind. Well cured rowen is excellent feed for l-.tuibs at the com- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 157 rtiencement of winter ; and in addition to the best of tay, the daily and alternate feeding of roots and ■vvhoat bran through the winter is the best keep. Fed in this Avay, and pi-ovided with warm yards and sheds, they "vvill attain as much growth in the winter as in the following summer. Sheep kept for the object of wool-growing should never be made fat in the winter for the purpose of increasing the size of the fleece or carcass, as it does not pay the cost ; besides, it injures the quality of the wool, and they will not thrive as well in the pasture the following summer. It is always a matter of economy to have sheep improve their condition on summer keep. All animals manifest a fondness for a change and variety of food, and their health, growth, and condi- tion are much improved by the gratiticatlon of this instinctive desire. Sheep manifest the greatest fond- ness for change and vai'iety of any domestic animals, and derive the most benefit from it ; which may probably be attributed to the peculiar composition, structure, and abundance of the outward covering, which nature docs not demand of other farm stock. I am aware that many wool-growers pay little or no attention to change of food and pastures, feeding of roots, and several other matters alluded to in this article ; and the consequence is, they make a losing business of wool-growing. There is no doubt in my mind that the income of seventy sheep, well managed and cared for, would be more than one hundred sheep of a like qualitv indifferently treated. E13ENEZER BltlDGE. PoMFRET, Yt., April, 1850. For the Neio England Farmer. CHEMISTRY IN AGRICULTURE. Mr. Cole : Much is said of the aid chemical science is giving to the farmer. It is true that chemistry in the last half century has done won- ders ; but at the risk of the charge of heresy, and of being behind the age in this day of progress and light, permit me to express my doubts whether the r-cvelations of chemistry can settle decisively what kind of food is best, or contains the greatest amount of material for the growth and production of the various animals fed and used by man. So far as I can judge from observation of what has been done, chemical analysis is of but little value, compared with the experience of practical men. 'Hie labora- tory of the living stomach, with its solvents, shows different results from the baths and crucibles of the chemist. 'J'he hidden delicate operations of nature are not confined to the gauged mechanical operations in scientific experiments. The result of the analysis of Indian corn, for instance, in any number of chem- ical experiments, would show the same component parts ; but svdiject the same corn to the use of differ- ent animals, and the result would be as various as the different living laboratories employed. The flesh of the chicken made by this corn, though differing in flavor, fineness, or coarseness, according to the different breeds used, would not be pork made from the same material. The same corn woidd produce muscle or lean meat in the IJerkshirc hog, and fat in the Suffolk or Newbury White, and milk and beef in the cow. The disciples of Graham bring chemistry to their aid, to show that wheat contains more nutriment than beef. This would bo found true fed to grain- eating animals, but not so fed to carnivorous ani- mals. Wheat would fat a horse, but would hardly raise to maturity a young tiger or lion. Tlic moose will live and thrive on browse, — sticks as large as your finger, — but would languish on the best fine hay; the calf would thrive on such hay, but would starve on sticks. Considering these facts, and recurring to my own observations, I cannot believe in the hypoth- esis drawn from late cliemical analysis, that wheat bran, or hull, is more nutritious as food, than wheat flour. Whether pure flour, when eaten as food, Ls as hcalthfnl as when u^ed unbolted, is another ques- tion, and, in my opinion, depends upon other yrin- ci])les than the proportion of nutriment, as dis'.dosed by the chemist. It may bo that bread of bolted flour is too concentrated and close, and does its office better mixed with its hull, in greater volume, oven if the hull afford but little nutriment in itself, aB chopped straw is mixed with provender for horses ; or it may act mechanically, as a stimulant, by friction, and also a cathartic, as the late eccentric Dr. Ramsay supposed the rind or peeling of apples, potatoes, and other vegetables do, and insisted should be eaten with the finer parts. Chemistry will doid)tless tend to explain, in some degree, the facts disclosed by experience, and will give light and aid in pursuing experiments, in sub- stituting one aliment for another, but, I apprehend, will not afford a very safe guide to discover the most economical and best food for each species of domestic animal, for the various purposes for which Ave keep them. Most men of experience, in feeding compa- nies of laboring men, know the value of white beans as hearty food, which the crucibles of the chemist have not revealed. Nor has cliemistry yet exi)lained all the operations of the earth and soils on vegeta- tion. We see the sugar maple and pine side by side, drawing their nutriment, substance, and juices from the same source; the one yields sap, the other rosin — very dissimilar substances. Experience shows the sap in different years is yielded in very unequal quantities, and quite as unequal in sweetness. On the same soil we have our corn years, our wheat years, our fruit years. Chemistry and meteorology both afford but imperfect exjilanations of these phe- nomena, and little or no aid to the farmer, to direct his operations from year to year. The practice or art of agriculture, in all its branches, is dependent on too many circumstances and contingencies to be sub- jected to the fixed rules of science, like mechanics. But enough of this side of the picture. RUFUS M'INTIRE. Parsonsfield, March 20, 1850. For the New England Farmer. FARMING NEAR LARGE MARKETS. S. W. Cole, Esq. : Would not the assertion be generally subscribed to, that little or no stock of any kind (fancy excepted) should be raised in the neigh- borhood of a good miuket for milk, fresh butter, fresh provisions of all kinds, and where there is a demand for team work ? Is it not a fact, that in all the seaports in New England, grain is cheaper than it is in the interior? Is it not also a fact, that the ])rice of hay and pas- turage in the interior, range from one half to one third of the price on the seaboard, near great markets ? These facts, if admitted, would they not justify the following conclusions ? — That horses and oxen should be reared and trained, to the age of four or Jive years, where hay and pas- turage are cheap : after that age, the i)urchaser can make them earn their living. That select heifers two years old, that will come in in the spring, sliould be purcliased in October and November, as they could be obtained for half what it would cost to raise them near a city market. That full-grown wethers, (South Downs, if they can be had,) purchased from the back country in the 158 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. fall, may be stall fed for the market, in February, March, and April, and sold at remunerating prices. Tliat lean cattle, obtained in the sj)ring and fed on grass, green fodder, and an allowance of grain, would come into market profitably before the grass-fed cattle ■would arrive from the north. That shotes purchased in the fall, for butcher's meat in the spring, then to weigh short of two hun- dred pounds, and let them be replaced in the spring for the fall market, would be a profitable operation. That poultry can be reared to the most advantage near our seaports. That nciu: our great markets, persons who keep teams, cows for milk, stall-fed cattle and sheep, fat- ten swine and poultry, enrich their farms by the con- sumption of grain, that exhausted the land on which it grew, to the soutli and west. Qiiert/. "Will fifty bushels of corn given to twenty dollars' worth of lean hogs, make more meat or manure, than if fed to twenty dollars' worth of wethers, attentively stall fed ? Docs not fat mutton generally sell higher than pork, exclusive of the pelt ? Will not some of your subscribers experiment upon the subject, by occasionally weighing the live animals, and give the result to the public, through your paper ? Is there no way by which June butter can be kept sweet till October ? May it not be done by laying it down in small, strong white oak kegs, from twenty- five to fifty pounds each ; place these kegs in a tight cask, and fill round them either salt or a strong brine, and if possible, place the cask in an ice-house ? Whoever succeeds in placing June butter, in all its freshness of favor, into the Boston, Providence, and New York markets in the months of October and November, may be assured that it will readily com- mand twenty-five cents and upwards, a pound, for any quantity. If any of the above suggestions meet your views, and are considered worth publication, they are at your service for that purpose. A SUBSCRIBER. For the New England Farmer. THE POTATO DISEASE. ^Ir. Editor : I perceive by a late number of the Farmer, that " Dr. Richardson, of IMaryland, flatters himself that he has discovered the cause of the potato rot." lie says, " The rot is produced by the deposition of the egg, and the destruction of the pith or heart of the vine, (by consequence of the cir- culating capillaries,) by the larvae of an insect. This insect is of the curculio or weevil genus." This may be the case, and it may not. If this is really the cause of the disease in the potato, why, I would ask, is not the disease as prevalent and fatal on dr)', sandy land, as on loamy, moist land ? I have observed of late years, that potatoes grown on moist lands were affected earlier, and the disease was more fatal, than among those grown on dry land. I have proved this from experience on my own premises. I.ast year, for instance, I broke up a piece of worn- out pasture land, on the highest part of my farm, and spread on the surface, before plouglung, a light coat of winter manure, a good share of which was horse manure. I planted my potatoes about the middle of May, on this piece of ground. I also planted a small piece of ground with the same kind of potatoes, which was a deep, sandy loam, rather moist, without any manure, (although there was a light coat the year previous.) This piece was planted four or five days later, and received the same care as the other. In the fall the vines on the lii-st planted piece decayed earlier, and still there were but little signs of disease among the potatoes ; while the vines on the moist land retained their greenness much later, and on harvesting them, pretty much all the potatoes were diseased ; by actual measurement, not one fifth part were fit to put into the cellar. Those on the dry ground were but little affected ; not one bushel in twenty but that were sound. I do not ground my experience on this last year alone, but previous years have shown similar results ; thus proving, so far as my knowledge and observation go, that Dr. Richardson's "cause" is incorrect, especially in growing potatoes on my premises. It looks evident to me, that if the disease in the potato is caused by this insect in question, all fields wordd be alike affected, especially when joining each other. Many farmers lose a good share of their potatoes after having cellared them in the fall. To me it seems this might be avoided. If potatoes are per- fectly sound and dry when carried into the cellar, (say the last of October) little danger need be appre- hended from the rot. If potatoes are the least dis- eased when put into bins or barrels in the cellar, rotten potatoes sooner or later may be expected. Rot oftentimes proceeds from bruises received while digging. It needs a great deal of caution, in digging potatoes, to preserve them sound. Careless boys ought not to be allowed to dig potatoes intended for winter use. A lady at my elbow wishes to know if there is any remedy to destroy lice on snow-ball bushes. They completely cover the bushes just before blossoming. A. TODD. Smithfield, R. I., April, 1850. For tlie New England Farmer. MAHOGANY. "Mr. EorroR : Though the mahogany is a native of too warm a climate to allow of its cultivation as a timber-tree in this country, yet it is applied to so many uses, and is so well adapted for most of them, that some notice of it is required. There are three species of mahogany : common mahogany, (Sioietcnia mahogani,^ Swietenia fehrifugay and Swietenia chhroxylon ; the iirst being a native of the West India Islands and the central parts of America, and the second and third, natives of the East Indies. They all grow to be trees of considera- ble magnitude, the first and second being among the largest trees knowii. They are all excellent timber. Swietenia mahogani is, perhaps, the most majestic of trees ; for though some rise to a greater height, this tree, like the oak and cedar, impresses the spec- tator with the strongest feelings of its firmness and duration. In the rich valleys among the mountains of Cuba, and those that open upon the Bay of Hon- duras, the mahogany expands to so giant a trunk, divides into so many massive arms, the shade of its shining green leaves, spotted with tufts of pearly flowers, over so vast an extent of surface, that it is difficult to imagine a vegetable production, combin- ing, in such a degree, the qualities of elegance and strength, of beauty and sublimity. The jjrecise period of its growth is not accurately known ; but, as when large, it changes but little during the life of a maa, the time of its arriving at maturity is jDrob- ably not less than two hundred years. Some idea of its size, and also of its commercial value, may be formed from the fact, that a single log weighed nearly seven tons, was, in the first instance, sold in Trinidad de Cuba, for $1512, and resold for $2100. Mahogany of remarkable fineness is the most costly of fancy woods. As is the case with much other timber, the finest mahogany-trees, both for size NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 159 and quality, are not in the most accessible situa- tions ; and as it is always exported in large masses, the transportation of it lor any distance over land is so difficult, that the very best trees, both on the island and the maLn land — those that grow in the rich inland valleys — defy the means of removal pos- sessed by the Creoles. Masses of from six to eight tons are not very easily moved in any country ; and in a mountainous and roclcy one, -where much atten- tion is not paid to mechanical power, to move them is impossible. In Cuba, the inhabitants have neither enterprise nor skill adequate to felling the mahogany trees, and transporting tliem to the shore ; and thus the finest timber remains unused. The discovery of this beautiful timber was acci- dental, and its introduction into notice was slow. The first mention that was made of it, is, that it was used in the repair of some ships at Cienfuegos, in 1579. Its finely variegated tints were admired, but in that age the dream of El Dorado caused matters of more value to be neglected. The mahogany-tree is found in great quantities on the low and woody lands, and even upon the rocks, in the countries on the Avestcrn shores of the Caribbean Sea, about Hon- duras and Campeachy. It is also abundant in the Islands of Cuba and Hayti, and it used to be plenti- ful in Jamaica, where it was of excellent quality ; but most of the larger trees have been cut down there. It was formerly abundant on the Bahamas, where it grew on the rocks to a great height, and four feet in diameter. In the earliest periods, it was much used by the Spaniards in ship-building. When first introduced b}' them, it was very dark and hard, and without much of that beautiful variety of color which now renders it superior to all other lumber for cabinet works ; but it was more durable, and took a higher polish with less labor. At that time it was called Maderia wood, though it appears to have come from St. Domingo (Hayti) and the Bahamas ; of course it was wholly unknown to the ancients. The mahogany is a graceful tree, with many branches, that form a handsome head. The leaflets are in pairs, mostly four, and sometimes three, but very rarely five ; the pair oi>posite, and without any odd leaflet at the point ; they are smooth and shining, lance-shaped, entire at the edges, like those of the laurel, and bent back ; each leaflet is about two inches aud a half long, and the whole leaf is about eight inches. The flowers are small and whitish, and the seed vessel has some resemblance to that of the Barbadoes cedar ; hence some botanists have given the name of cedar to the tree. This tree so far cor- responds with the pine tribe, that the timber is ))cst upon the coldest soils, and the most exposed situa- tions. When it grows upon the moist soils and warm lands, it is soft, coarse, spongy, and contains sap- wood, into which some worms will eat. That which is most accessible at Honduras is of this description, and tlierefore it is onlj- used for coarser works, or for a ground on which to laj' veneers of the choicer sort. For the latter purpose it is well adapted, as it holds glue better than deal, and when properly seasoned, is not so apt to warp, or to be eaten by insects. When it grows in favorable situations, where it has room to spread, it is of much better quality, and puts out large branches, the junctions of wliicli with the stem furnish tliose beautifully curled pieces, of which the choicest veneers arc made. When among rocks, and much exposed, the size is inferior, and there is not so much breadth or variety of shading, but the timber is far superior, and the color is richer. The last description is by far the strongest, and is there- fore the best adapted for chairs, the legs of tables, and other purposes, in wliich a moderate size has to bear a considerable strain. Since tlie produce of Jamaica has been exhausted, there are only two iinds known : bay-wood, or that of the continent of America, and Spanish-wood, or the produce of the Islands chiefly of Cuba and Hayti. Though the bay- wood be inferior to the other, both in value and in price, it is often very beautiful, and may be ob- tained in logs as large as six feet square. It is, how- ever, not nearly so compact as the other ; the grain is apt to rise in polishing, and if it be not covered by a water-proof varnish, it is very easily stained. It also gives to the tool in carving, and is not well adapted for ornament. Spanish-wood cuts well, takes a fine polish, resists scratches, stains, and frac- tures much better, and is generally the only sort upon which much, or delicate, workmanship b"hould be expended. The colors of mahogany do not come well without the application of oil or varnish ; and if the best sort be often washed with water, or long macerated in it, they lose then- beauty, and become of a dingy brown. The red is deepened by alkaline applications, especially lime-water ; but strong acids destroy the colors. When the surface is covered by a colorless varnish, which displays the natural tint without altering any of them, good mahogany appears to the greatest advantage. The N. febrifuga, or East India mahogany, is a very large tree ; it grows in the mountainous part of Cen- tral Hindostan, rises to a great height, with a straight trunk, which, towards the upper part, throws out many branches. The head is spreading, and the leaves have some resemblance to those of the Amer- ican species. The wood is of a dull red color, not so beautiful as common mahogany, but much harder, heavier, and more durable. The natives of India account it the most lasting timber that their country produces, and therefore they employ it in their sacred edifices, and upon every occasion where they wish to combine strength with durabilitj- and elegance. The N. chloroxylon is chiefly found in the moun- tains of the Sicars, that run parallel to the Bay of Bengal, to the north-east of the mouth of the Kiver Godovery. The tree does not attain the same size as either of the former, and the appearance of the wood is different. It is of a deep yellow, nearly of the same color as box, from which it does not differ much in durabilitj", and could bo applied to the same purposes. . BERNARD KEYNOSO. April, 1850. For the New England Farmer. THE WtLD CHERRY FOR STOCKS-PEARS ON THE SHAD BUSH. Mh, Cole : I would inquire whether the English cherrj- can be grafted or budded on the wild black cherry with success. This is a common tree with us, and it is a very tlirifty, hardy tree, grows to a largo size, and lives to a great age. If the English cherry can be worked on this tree with success, it would become a source of great profit to us, in this cold climate. I have for the lust five years, grafted and budded the above-named tree, but without success in every case. I have seen very thrifty, healthy-looking cherry- trees budded on the wild red, or pigeon cherry. Some of them are three years from the bud, and are eight feet high, with a very beautiful top. I took sonic good fruit from tliem last season. The wild red, or j)igeon cherry, is also a very common tree with us. It grows well in poor soils, or even in gravel, where jiears had been grafted ; and I noticed in the X. E. Farmer, grew remarkably well on the shad bush or sugar pear, and also on tlR! wliite thorn. I will communicate one experiment to you. In the spring of 1847, one of my neighbors took from the forest some small mountain a>u, or round-wood, as it is sometimes called ; he set them in his front yard for ornamental trees. Soon after they were set, he saw \l recommended iji some agricultural paper, 160 NEW E-NGLAND FARMER. to graft the pear on that stock ; he concluded to try the experiment, and called on me to do the work. I cut his trees about one foot from the i,TOund, and set in the Kartlett pear; they united, and grow reinark- ablv well. I have this morning measured one of the grafts, and find it nine feet high ; branches spread six feet ; the tnmk or body, five inches in circum- ference one foot above the stock on which it Mas grafted. In trying experiments, if wo do not siiccood well in everv case, there may be some good result from it. ilespectfuUy yoiirs, JM. L. HAYES. F.VUMINGTOX, March, 18.50. Remauks. — Many experiments have been made in grafting and budding the common wild black cherrj' with our cultivated varieties, but we have heard of none that have succeeded. "VVe think that no cherry that produces its fruit in strings, will be a good stock for those varieties whose fruit grows in bunches, or singly. The wild black cherry, in the texture of its wood and bark, in the quality of its fruit, and time of ripening, is widely dilfcrcnt from aur culti- vated kinds. The small, rcd wild cherry, often called the- iiigcon cherry, in its w^ood, and manner of growth, very much resembles some of our cultivated varieties. The fruit resembles our soft-fleshed, acid cherries, and ripens about the same time. This may be val- uable as a stock for budding or grafting. — Ed. For the Neio England Farmer. THE BLIGHT UPON GRAIN. Mr. Cole ; We have frequently noticed, in agri- cultural papers, the A-arious causes attributed to blast upon grain, and thus far we have never seen any decisive or conclusive evidence given ; but of the many causes or reasons, the barberry seems to receive rather more than an equal share of denunciation. AVe think the cedar has a bad effect upon grain. Some kinds of grain were scarcely ever known to blast; for instance, the Bedford oats were once thought to be entirely free from blight, but they have been visited, and that too, it is presumed, by some fell destroyer yet unknown. A friend of ours, who was accustomed to raising these oats annually, attributed the l)light to the cedar, as there was no barbciry near, but the cedars were numerous, and sometimes bordering upon his grain field. He went to work and cut them down, and afterwards purchased new seed, which ho sowed and cultivated as he had jireviously been accustomed to do, and no blight appeared. Whether it was the cedar that caused the blight, we arc unable to say ; we therefore leave for the reader to judge. AVe think that the cedar is equally as injurious as the bar- berry ; we therefore recommend the cxtirjiation of both, when bordering or standing near grain fields. Neither of them is of intrinsic value. A VOK'E FROM " THE HILLS." WoBUKX, April 2, 18J0. For the New England Farmer. TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. Mil. EmxoR : There are many different opinions in relation to the time and method most favorable for transplanting evergreens. My friend S. relates the following incident in his experience, which seems truthful, practical, and suggestive of good and useful results. He says, being warmed by the singing of birds, and the genial influences of spring, (as we all are, or ought to be,) into the true spirit of iree-plant- ing, he went with some friends to a forest for ever- greens. They were nearly supplied, and had nearly finished the taking up of a pretty large tree, when the approach of a shower drove them home. The tree remained till the next year, and was then taken up, and transplanted with others from the same loca- tion ; and is now, after a lapse of four or five years, almost the only one of some fifteen or twenty, alive or worth preserving. He says, that the roots cut off the previous spring had been partiallj' covered with earth, and had sent out such quantities of new roots, feelers, &c., that its growth seemed hardly to be checked ; nor was the diminution of its freshness and vigor at all apparent. Many valuable fruit and ornamental trees are sacri- ficed every year, for the want of care, skill, and patience, in planting. Yours truly, S. Andover, April 16, 1850. For the New England Fanner. EFFECTS OF THE WINTER ON FRUIT TREES. Friend Cole : Th.e past winter was very favorable for fruit trees in this region. Snow came on early, before the ground was much frozen, and remained over four months, effectually protecting trees and shrubs in the nursery and elsewhere. A few warm days, of late, carried the snow nearly off; and as there was but little frost in the ground, the sap soon commenced flowing, and the buds began to swell ; but on the night of the 12th, we wore greeted with a severe north-east snow-storm, followed by piercing,, cold north-west winds. This produced a sudden con- traction of the bark, and cx^jansion of the sap, caus- ing the bark to burst badly. In cutting scions yes- terday, I noticed many trees in the nursery, which. Averc nearly spoiled from this cause. The injury has been greater on low or moist ground ; the bark cracks from three to six inches above the ground. Respectfully, S. N. TABER. Vassaluorough, Me., \th ino. 17, 1850. GRAFTING COMPOSITION. It is rather late in the season to offer new receipts for grafting cement, but it is a suitable time to make trial of new modes of making it, preparatory to cor- rect action another season. Mr. E. W. Osborne, of South Weare, N. IL, makes grafting composition in the following manner, and he says that it is excellent, and very conveniently worked by wotting the hands : — 1 pound best bar or brown soap, 1 do. beeswax, of good quality, 2 pounds good rosin. Rosin of a very dark or black color is not so good as the light-colored. Melt all together, and work thoroughly, as shoe- maker's wax. The following composition is used by some nur- serymen, and preferred to that in which there is tal- low : — 1 pint linseed oil, 1 pound beeswax, 6 pounds rosin. Melt, and work thoroughly* NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 161 SMITH'S ORLEANS PLUM. Stxontmes. — Cooper s Red; by some, incorrectlv, Red Magnum Bonum, or Violet Perdrlgon. This is among the most valuable plums. Though it mny not hardly equal in flavor some of the most luscious kinds, yet it has a mingling of the vinous with the saccharine flavor, that to some palates is equal to the very best. But the peculiar advantages i» this plum arc its good size, large growth, and great production ; and its generally being sure to produce a good crop, while many delicate kinds fail ; and it seems to be well adapted to different climates, soils, and locations, but, like most varieties of plums, it succeeds best on a strong, moist soil. All things considered. Smith's Orleans ranks among our most valuable plums, especially for the market. It is a native variety, raised from the seed of the old Orleans about twenty-five years ago, by a Mr. Smith, of Gowanus, Long Island. The fruit is large, or very large ; oval, or round- ish-oval ; a distinct suture on one side ; reddish pur- ple, covered with an azure bloom ; stem rather slender, in a deep and narrow cavity ; flesh yellow, rather firm, very juicy, and of a sprightly vinous flavor. Clingstone. Sept. 1 to 20. The young shoots are straight, reddish-purple, and glossy. The fruit, like that of many varieties of plums, is rather inclined to rot when it hangs very thick. Nature, in her silent ministrations, often speakcth in tones louder than the thx^nder. THE PROSPECT FOR FRUIT. Probably there never was a more promising pros- pect for fruit, in New England, than there is at present. In some sections of the south and west, the fruit buds or blossoms have been injured by frost, but we trust that out of New England the prospect is generally good. As the crops of fruit were very light last year, and the season was favorable for the production of wood, the trees made a great growth, and they indicate a most bountiful blowth. As the winter has been mild, the blossom buds have generally escaped in- jury from the cold, and the present cold, backward season is very propitious in retarding the blossoming of ti'ces until late in the season, which gives them a much better chance to escape injury from spring frosts. Another cheering consideration to the lovers of fruit, is the great increase of fruit trees, and the increased attention in the management of them. If the season should continue favorable, we shall doubt- less have the largest crop of fruit ever raised in this country. Our readers will please consider that this is an even year, and that we always have a good crop of apples in oven years, if the season bo favorable. All who are nice observers will find, every year, a con- firmation of our views on this subject, as wc have expressed them at various times. 1^2 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. A MoTHKu's Love. — There are few objects of contemplation more melancholy than the waste of human love which the aspect of this world presents ; of deep, tender, untiring, disinterested love, bestowed in such a manner as meets no adequate return ; and what must be the harvest gathered in, to a mother's faithful bosom, when she finds that she has reared up children who are too refined to share her humble cares, too learned and too clever to waste their talent on a sphere of thought and action like her own, and too much engaged in the pursuits of intel- lectual attainments ever to think of her ! Yet to whom do we look for consolation when the blight of sickness or sorrow falls upon our earthly peace, but to a mother ? And who but a mother is invited to take our afilictions or trials ? If the stigma of •worldly degradation falls upon us, we fly to a mother's love for that mantle of charity which is denied elsewhere. With more honored and distin- guished associates we may have joy, but the bitter tears of experience are wept upon a mother's bosom. We keep for our summer friends the amusing story, the brilliant witticism, or the intellectual discourse ; but we tell to a mother's ear the talc of our distress, and the history of our wrongs. For all that belongs to the weakness of humanity, a mother's aifection is sorely taxed : why then should not daughters have the noble feeling to say before the world, and to let their actions speak the same language, — " This is my earliest and best friend " ? Jellies for the Sick. — To make Pmiada, or Bread Jelly. — Cut a wheaten roll or loaf into slices, toast them on both sides, and boil in a quart of water, until the whole forms a jelly, adding more water if required; then strain, and flavor with one pound of white sugar, four ounces of red wine, and one ounce of cinnamon. Very nutritious. It may also be made with broth from which the fat has been skimmed, instead of water. Biscuit Jellij. — Take of white biscuit, crushed beneath the rolling-pin, four ounces ; cold water, two quarts ; soak for some hours, boil to one half, strain, evaporate to one pint, and flavor as above. Given in weakness of the stomach, dysentery, and diarrhoea. Rice Jdly. — Take of rice three spoonfuls ; boil in water, add ten sweet and five bitter almonds, and sugar to your liking ; make into an emulsion, and flavor with cinnamon or orange-flower water to your taste. Arrow-Boot Jelly. — Take of arrow-root one ounce ; rub to a smooth paste with a spoonful or two of cold water; then gradually add of boiling water half a pint, stirring all the while. It may be thinned with more water, if desired, and flavored with milk, wine, sugar, and spices, according to the palate of the patient. Hugo Jelly. — Soak sago in cold water from an hour to an hour and a half ; strain, and boil in fresh Avater till it becomes transparent ; then add wine, sugar, clear broth, milk, prunes, or spices to flavor. One ounce of sago will make a pint of jelly. Tapioca Jelly. — First, soak, strain, and boil the tapioca, as directed above for sago ; then flavor with lemon juice and peel, wine, prunes, raisins, or spices. One ounce of tajjioca will make a pint of jelly. Note. — The flavoring of any of the above-named jellies may be omitted or varied, with the advice of a physicLan. — Ai7i. AgricuUurint. i)outl/0 Department. Labor and Amusement. — This is a delightful season, and boys can make themselves useful by labor, and at the same time enjoy the highest degree of pleasure within the range of the human mind. What wonders are performed where even the little boy deposits m the earth a few seeds, of small size, and a young shoot starts up, and finally becomes a perfect plant or tree ; which no artist can imitate, and of which, Avith his skill from the experience of many- toilsome years, he could only make a sorry coun- terfeit ! The youth, acting in accordance with the science of nature, wliich is established and controlled by the Supreme Ruler, the kind Father of us all, can perform wonders : " Tall oaks from little acorns grow." By allowing boys a small spot for their own do- main, to cultivate a variety of useful plants, such as are congenial to their taste, they will take an addi- tional interest in the art of cultivation. It inspires them with independence, in regard to their fellow- beings, and with a consciousness of their dependence on that Power to whom they are indebted for the genial rain and sunshine. Without his aid they can do nothing, — not even start one seed into life. Without their works, no plants which they desire for a crop Avould sj^ring into existence. " The slug- gard will not plough by reason of the cold ; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing." How exalted the station, then, of those who are co-work- ers with the Iluler of the universe ! And while the youth is engaged in the most honorable and pleasant of all employments, — in the cultivation of the earth, — let him cultivate the mind, as well as the soil, and plant good seed in his heart, and carefully nourish and train the plants of virtue, and eradicate from that fruitful soil every weed of evU, however humble or specious its appearance. One clock strikes when there is a change from hour to hour, but no hammer in the horologe of time peals through the universe when there is a change from one era to another. i5ealtlj Department. Rise and DisArpEAHANCE of Diseases. — Some diseases have arisen and have since disappeared. Of this description are the leprosy and the sweating sickness. The leprosy appears to have committed the most extensive ravages, and to have had hos- pitals erected solely for its relief It became general throughout Europe in the twelfth century, and is supposed to have been imported by the crusaders. It has not been known in Europe since the begin- ning of the sixteenth century. The sweating sick- ness is supposed to have been introduced into Eng- land by the army which invaded it under Henry the Seventh. It prevailed from 1485 to 1551, and in some years, during one month in autumn, Avas equal in fatality to the plague. The diseases which have NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 163 arisen, but have not disappeared, are the small-pox, the measles, perhaps all other specific contagions, and syphilis. Though the exact period cannot be ascer- tained, there was a time when none of these were known here. The diseases which have prevailed with various degrees of frequency and fatality at dif- ferent periods, arc plague, dysentery, internal fever, typhus fever, small-pox, syphilis, scurvy, and rickets. The first plague was in 430, the last in which it was epidemic here, was in 1665. It was named in the bills of mortaUty as late as 1769. Internal fever, scurvy, dysentery, and rickets have declined of late years. Scarlet fever, consumption, gout, dropsj', palsy, and all nervous diseases, have uicreased. — Du7icans Essays and Miscellanea. illccljamcs' Pcpavtmcnt, ^rts, Ut. Acoustic Apparatus to enable the Deaf to HEAR IX Church. — At the Elder Street Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland, there is erected a contrivance for deaf persons to hear, which is well worthy atten- tion. In front of the book-board, and projecting semieircularly from it to the extent of about nine inches, is a deep, tapering cup or horn of gutta percha, tlie upper edges of which arc in the plan of a book-board, the longest diameter of its orifice being about eighteen inches. This is covered with cloth uniform with the pulpit, the drapery of which is arranged around it, so that the eye detects nothing but an elegantly curved outline, in place of a straight and box-looking front to the pulpit. The lower end of this corniforra cup tapers into a gutta percha tube of about two inches in diameter, which is carried down within the pulpit frame ; and to that main trunk are attached smaller pipes, which are laid out to the required pews, where a flexible tube with an ear-piece is connected, by means of which the deaf spectator becomes a hearer, even the very deaf, who did not hear one Avord, or the echo of one sound, before, and is enabled to follow the speaker through his whole discourse, as plain as if he spoke into the conversational trumpet. — Scientific American. Fire Arms differently charged. — Balls which fit accurately the bore of a j^iece, liave the greatest eft'cct, as they do not come out so readily, but give time for the greater quantity of powder to ignite. When the powder is rammed violently down, its effect is no greater, but somewhat less, than when barely pressed down witli the ball upon it. Gunpowder around a ball diminishes its effect, as it expands in all directions, and when it is upon the top of a ball it must in some measure act counter to its progress. By taking a ball and putting a little powder under, and considerable before it, its effects may bo almost nullifi(>d, and yet there will be considerable noise when the gun is discharged. Mahogany Stain. — 1. Pure Socotrinc aloes, one ounce ; dragon's blood, one half ounce ; rectified spirit, one pint ; dissolve, and apply two or three coats to the surface of the wood ; finish ofi" with oil or wax tinged with alkanet. 2. Wash over the wood with strong aquafortis, and when dry apply a coat of the above varnish ; polish at last. 3. Logwood, two ounces ; madder, eight ounces ; fustic, one ounce ; water, one gallon ; boil two hours, and apply it to the wood several times, boiling hot ; when dry, slightly brush it over with a solution of peailash one ounce, in water one quart ; dry and polish as before. LEACHED ASHES AS A MANURE. The value of leached ashes on dry soils, and in dry seasons, as a manure for grain and grass lands, haa been conclusively shown, in this and other countries, by carefully conducted experiments. Yet, as it seems useful and necessary to "keep before the people" such facts as are not fully understood and considered, we give some observations drawn from experiments heretofore published, for fear that this subject, in the hurry of the season, might otherwise be neglected and forgotten. The German agriculturist, Albert, of Roszlan, gives a circumstantial account of an experiment commenced in 1827, and continued for five years. A dry, sandy soil, which had lain in grass for eight years, was dressed with leached ashes, at the rate of sixty-six bushels per acre. The sod was first care- fully turned under, then the ashes hauled on and spread, and covered with a plough about two inches deep ; remaining in this condition six or seven weeks it was again ploughed three inches deep, so as to bring up the ashes, and sowed to buckwheat. A portion of the field, to which no ashes were applied, was treated in the same manner, so that the differ- ence might be noted. .The cost of the application was $6 2o per acre. The increased product of the first year was at the rate of five and a half bushels of buckwheat, with four hundred and seventy pounds of straw, estimated at $1 05. The increased product of the second year, when sown with rye, was six bushels per acre, with. six hundred pounds of straw, estimated at §5 25. The increased product of the third year, when in oats, Avas ten and a half bushels, with five hundred and fifty pounds of straw, estimated at .|j3 62^. The fourth year, the increased product, when in pastur- age, was estimated at $3 00 per acre. The fifth year it was again sown to rye, and the increased product was four and a lialf bushels, with four hun- dred and seventy pounds straw, estimated at .^l 06 per acre. The value of the increased product is $20 00 ; and we have no reason to sujjpose their effects were exhausted when the experiments were concluded. The estimates were made by Mr. Wag- ner, the translator, from the prices paid at the time in this country, as also was the cost of the ashes and labor. Unleached ashes produce a more powerful effect, and hence a less quantity is required. In the Albanj' Cultivator for 1842, the result of an cxporimeat is given, on an old meadow, mowed nearly half a cen- tury— of clay soil, stocked wiih all kinds of grass, where strong ashes wore applied, at the rate of thirty-two bushels per acre, j)roducing an increased product of nearly one fourth of a ton, while the same quantity of air-slaked lime produced no ben- eficial result ; and two bushels of clear, dry cow- dung increased the product only one hundred and four pounds, and the same quantity of horse manure but sixteen jiounds per acre. In the first of these experiments, four thousand four hundred and twenty-two pounds of leached ashes were ai)plicd, producing, in five years, an in- crease of four thousand three hundred and forty-one pounds of grain and straw, besides ptusturage equiv- alent to at least a ton of liay. In the second, about one ton of ashes increased the proJuct, in one year, one fourth that amount of hay; and in favorable seasons, we cannot doubt but that its effect would 164 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. continue at the same rate for four years longer. So the action of ashes must be chemical in its nature, giving a capacity to appropriate other fertilizers, -wliirh it does, perhaps, by imparting to the soil its pota-^h, -which dissolves the silica or flint of the soil, produfing silicate of potash, Avhich, according to Liebig, is required by all plants of the grass kind, in large quantities. On Vet ground, it should be borne in mind that aslics produce no effect ; and in wet seasons, the benefit is much less than in dry. — Rural Neio- Yorker. THE PEACH-TREE. Many years ago, in viewing the fruit garden of a New England friend, I noticed the bodies of his young peach-trees were securely bandaged with straw. The straw was tall, straight, standing upon the ground around the bodj' of the tree, being wound around with a cord. It was so thick as to prevent any insect from having access to the bark. Where the buts rested on the ground, earth was placed around them, two or three inches high, and rendered compact and firm by the pressure of the foot. In- quiring the object of this fixture, he replied, it was to prevent the grub at the roots. He said a certain kind of fly jnerced the bark at the surface of the ground, or, if the ground was light, a little below the surface, and deposited a nit, which produced the grub. That from the smallest beginning it often attained a large size, and sometimes girdled the vhole stock below the soil, thus wholly preventing the ascent of the sap, and causing the death of the tree. He remarked that the fly rarely injured the body at any considerable distance from the ground, its instincts leading it to the root, at or near the sur- face. He took me, however, to two trees, where the fly had made its perforations at the top of the straw, about three feet from the ground. The punctures were small, but distinct and visible, and on one tree were several in number. Most of them were en- larged, by cutting out with a small penknife the little deposits, but with no damage to the tree. It was not freijuent, however, that the fly ascended so high. Put at any rate, if the damage must be sustained, it •was better to have it in plain sight, where it might be speedily remedied, than below the surface, where it might destroy the tree. I intend to exan\inc all my young trees this spring, cutting out the grub whenever found, and flUing the wound with grafting wax, to prevent the escape of the sap, and to incase the bodies with straw, as above ; persuaded that, as a precautionary measure, it will be wise and profitable. E. D, — Rural Neic- Yorker, THE ROLLER. Mr. Editor : I am anxious to call the attention of your agricultural readers to this valuable implement, as, in my humble opinion, it is one no farmer should over be without. On almost all farms there are sec- tions where small stones exist in variable quantities ; sometimes the number is so great, and the si/e so small, that the labor of " picking," always a tedious and irksome one, is either neglected, or biit imper- fectly performed ; and when even all the stones are removed, the soil is not so well adapted, constitution- ally, for the production of most crops, as they ai-e where a portion of the stones are left near the sur- face— especially the smaller ones. By removing those of large size, say all down to the size of a man's fist, unless the number " is legion," and apply- ing a cylmdrical roller, of suitable size and weight, the residue will be pressed down even with the sur- face, and as effectually removed from the reach of the scythe, as though they had been picked and removed to the lines, or deposited in heaps. Expe- rience during a course of many years has satisfied me that light, loamy soils are deteriorated to a great extent, by the removal of all the stones they contain, although their presence on or near the surface is a serious obstacle to successful cultivation, and one which most farmers, who study ease and efficiency, are anxious to avoid. The roller, however, is im- portant for other purposes. Sandy soils can never be properly cultivated without its aid, as there is requi- site a degree of compression which no other imple- ment known in modern husbandry will confer. The extreme lightness and excessive porosity of such lands, while it renders them light and easy to work, prevents the retention of moisture ; without a liberal and equable supply of which, no soil, however affluent in humus, or the elements of vegetable nu- trition, can be made to exert its maximum force. Manure, applied to such soils, becomes, in dry season, but little better than so much wood ; it cannot fer- ment, but dries up, and lies entirely inactive, an injury rather than a benefit to the soil. The consol- idating action of the roller, therefore, is indispen- sably necessary to induce fernientation, and produce that compactness in the arrangements of its constit- uent particles, which enables the roots to assume and preserve a strong and reliable hold for the mainte- nance of the peculiar position nature has assigned, and the securement and approi^riation of their spe- cific food. The cost of the roller is a mere trifle, compared with the advantages resulting from its application. Stubble lands, which from the uneven- ness of the surface, often broken by slight inequal- ities, the presence of stones or turfs, which no action of the plough can effectually inhume or cover up, cannot be laid down with that degree of smoothness so desirable and important when contemplated in connection with subsequent agrestic details and oper- ations, may, by the application of this instrument, be rendered perfectly even, and so smooth that the scythe will easily be carried sufficiently near the sur- face to take all the grass, without extra trouble to the mower, or injury to his scythe. B. Bens.vlem, April 2, 1850. — Germantown 'Telegraph. FRUIT TREES. As the season for setting out fruit trees has arrived, we wish to throw out a few hints, by the way of cau- tion, against the folly of purchasing southern trees. It is a well-established fact that trees brought from the south will not succeed in New England, and the reason why they will not succeed must be obvious to every rational mind ; for being raised in a more congenial clime than ours, they are forced into an over-luxuriant growth, and the consequence is, that when they are removed to a colder clime, the change will as sensibly affect them, as it would to transport an inhabitant of Africa to the northern regions of Russia. For proof of these statements, we would refer to orchards in this vicinity, whicth have been set thirty years, and now present no better prospect of rewarding the possessor for his trouble, than when planted. Whereas, if northern trees had been set, they would now pay the owners one hundred per cent, on the capital invested. Thousands of southern trees are yearly brought to our cities, and sold under the assumed name of west- ern trees ; and thousands are deceived in this way. I am aware that it is hard to make many believe that these are facts ; but the time is not far distant when tliey will be acknowledged by every one, and NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 165 those who have purchased southern trees -will find to their sorrow that they have been deceived. But there is a vast difference in northern trees ; some are far better worth fifty cents each tlian others arc twenty. Be careful, then, and select good trees ; but select young, tluiity, if quite small, for they are far better than old, stouter ones. These things are facts, as far as our knowledge extends ; but we should be glad to have the views of others who have had experience in this matter. — Exeter (jV. H.) News-Letter. *■ THE COMPOSITION OF MILK. Modern chemistry has thrown much light upon this very important branch of rural economy. Of all agricultural products, none is more valuable, more widely diffused, or more difficult to dispense with, than milk, and the butter and cheese, manufac- tured from it. Many elaborate and careful experi- ments have been made by Boussingault in France, Prof. Thompson and others in England, with the view to test the quantity and quality of milk pro- duced by animals fed upon different kinds of food. These experiments have elicited many important facts of great value to the dairy farmer ; but much re- mains j'ct to be done before this subject can be fully cleared up. The economical production of milk by means of the machinery which Nature has provided, must be carefully studied, and reduced to a science. This article, which constitutes so large a proportion of human food, vvUl then be regarded as a legitimate manufacture, and improvements in the machineri/, or the animals w^hich elaborate it, will add millions to the agricultural wealth of the country. The component parts of milk in all animals, both herbivorous and carnivorous, is the same. It differs only in the proportion of its principal ingredients. Substances are, however, occasionally found in milk, arising from the peculiar food of the animal, which render it medicinal, or even poisonous. The follow- ing table exhibits the composition of the milk of different animals, in its ordinary state, as found by Profk. Ilcnry and Chevallier : — Woman. Cow. Ass. Goat. Casein, (cheese,) . . 1.52 4.48 1.82 4.08 Butter, 3.5.5 3.13 0.11 3.32 Milk sugar, 6.50 4.77 6.08 5.28 Saline matter, 0.45 0.60 0.34 0.58 Water, 87.98 87.02 91.65 86.80 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 From the above it will be seen that asses' milk contains much less butter and cheesey matter than that of the cow. It is probably this circumstance, and its similarity to that of the human species, which, from the most remote times, have recommended it to invalids as a light and easily digested drink. The richness, or proportion of butter and cheese, contained in cows' milk is well known to depend upon the food of the animal, the period of gestation, and the time of her giving the milk. That taken last froni the cow during the same milking usually contains much the larger proportion of butter. Its temperature is from 65^ to 75°. To the naked eye it seems a pure, white liquid; but when viewed through the microscope, an infinite number of minute globules appear, which contain the oily part, or the butter. When the milk is set away in the dairy, these oily particles, being the lightest, gradually rise to the surface and form the cream. But Avhen milk 18 exposed to the atmosphere, the sugar it contains slowly changes into an acid called lactic acid. Tiiis causes the casein, or curd, to coagulate, prevents the separation of the cream, and the milk becomes sour. As this acid is usually formed before all the buttery globules have risen to the si:rfacc, the curd always contains more or less butter ; sometimes as much as two per cent., or one half the whole quantity con- tained in the milk. Hence, the longer we can keep the milk sweet, the more cream we can obtain. Now, it is impossible to prevent the change of the sugar into lactic acid ; but we can in some measure coun- teract its effects by adding to the milk a substance that will absorb the acid as it is formed. Curbonatt of soda, or the common soda of the shops, is the substance which experience has proved best for this purpose. Less than a teaspoonful of soda dissolved in water, and well mixed with four qiiarts of milk, will often keep it sweet for four or five days ;. thus allowing all the buttery particles to rise, and doubling the quantity of cream. In very warm weather, more than the above proportion of soda is required. — Another advantage from this process is, that it mat- ters little what kind of vessels are used to contain the milk, whether of stone-ware, wood, or metal. In France large wooden tubs arc often used, with a faucet at the bottom, though which the liquid can be drawn off from beneath the cream. In this way the labor of the dairy is made much more simple and easy. In order that the butter may have no bad taste, the soda must be pure, and especially free from sulphaf^e of sodium, (glauber salts,) which it often contains. To test its purity, dissolve a little in water, and then add suiRcient vinegar to make it effervesce. Now put into this a piece of silver, as a teaspoon, for instance, and if, after remaining a short time, it retains its bright appearance, you may depend upon the soda as pure ; for if it contains the least particle of sul- phur, the silver will become tarnished. After the soda has been dissolved in water, it should be strained through a piece of linen before mixing it with the milk. From forty- eight to seventy-two hours are required completely to sepai-ate the cream. When this has been done, the liquid loses its white color, and acquires that bluish appearance well known to be the characteristic of skimmed milk. The souring of the cream is caiised by the acid formed in that portion of the milli that adheres to the oily particles, and can be prevented, or rather retarded, by the process above described. The car- bonate of mar/nesia, or twenty drops of ammonia, will be found to answer the same purpose as soda. F. Wasuin(;ton, Feb,, 1S50. — Genesee Fai'mer. THE WOOL PROSPECT. The prospect of the wool business, in JIaine, 16 not very flattering, even if wool should rise in price ; because there have been so many flocks wholly ex- terminated, and all of them thinned off', that it can- not compare with what it once was, put it in the best shape you please. Still there are many who feel much interest and anxiety in the biisincss. A writer in the Wool- Grower does not agree with us in the causes of this depression. Wo think experi- ence says to us, that we are right in the reasons which we give, why this business is not so good with us as formerly, viz. : The operations and changes in the taritt". There is no mistake about this, and every man who ever had any experience in wool-growing, knows full well that the fate of the business is to a greater or less extent held in the hands of certain men who are found a part of every year at Washington. Let that pass now. What are the prospects of the next clip ? We must refer to friend Peters, of the Wool-Grower, as the most re- liable source of information on this subject. After 166 NEW ENGLAND FAHMER. giving a view of the present state of the market, he observe-, " We cannot see any reason to believe that the early prices this season will materially exceed those of last spring. There are several reasons why the fanners will not get any advance. One is the short crop of wheat at the west. The farmers in that region will sell their wool early — it must be sold at any prices they can obtain, beca\ise that is the only product which will command cash. Specu- lators and manufacturers will avail themselves of this opportunity to supply their early stock. The result will bo, that if the farmers in this state and Ohio sell their wool early, it must be sold at prices which will be established by the necessities of their western brethren. But it is equally certain that wool held till late will bring prices equal to those which were obtained at the auction sales, for the manufacturer ■svill be compelled to pay those figures. Sorted wool will bring good prices during the season, as the sys- tem is becoming more and more popular with the man u f act ur e rs . " Well, what was the price at the auction sales ? This was the auction in New York, on the 13th of February. We have given the general results of this auction in a former number. The following table will give a more minute detail of prices. The amount offered was three hundred thousand pounds, and was sold in lots, as follows : — 13,000 lbs. common and quarter blood, .... 33 20,000 " ^ blood Merino 34 ® 3-5 44,000 " :{ and full blood Merino, 37 35,000 " Saxony and Merino, (Pa.) 38.^ 35,000 " " " (N. Y.)... 40 2.5,000 " extra fine do 43 30,000 " ex. fine Saxony (AVash. Co., Pa.) 46 15,000 " 5 full blood Merino (Pa. and O.) 38 15,000 " i blood Merino, 35^ 30,000 " I Merino, 36^ 19,000 " I to full blood Merino 38i 20,000 " full blood Merino and Saxony, 45 1,500 " black ficece, ".. 34 8,000 " unwashed rteece, 24^ i® 27 It was all American fleece wool. The above is the best information we can give of the tcooUrn prospect. The prospect of prices seems to be based upon the necessities of the western wool- growers rather than upon a fair valuation of the article, as regulated by cost of production, supply, and demand. — Maine Farmer. POROUS SOIL FOR POTATOES. It has been remarked by moralists that " blessings brighten as they take their Hight." The good, old- fashioned potato used to be raised so easily, and wore so abundant that wc never realized their worth until the potato rot came ; and then the blessings began to brighten, after they had taken their flight beyond our reach. Some remarks in regard to the culture of them we think would not be amiss, even if not quite in season to ayiply them in the act of planting. "SVe have always noticed that the best crops of potatoes are raiserl in what may be called porous soil ; for instance, new grounds that have been burnt over, and are full of half-burnt loaves and sticks, and ashes and coal, — and greenswards that have been turned over by the plough, and are not compact. From tliese facts we have supposed that althoiigh the vine of the potato requires some source to obtain potash, which enters into its substance largely, yet it requires a chance where the atmosphere can have a'-x'css to its tubers, and that while it is necessary tliat they should not be exposed to the scorching sun or drowning water, yet air is a very important ele- ment in its successful cultivation, and this it obtains in such situations as we have described above. In looking over some of the writers who have ventured to suggest any thing on this subject, we find one quoted in the New York Farmer and Mechanic, who seems to think that the atmosphere affords the principal part of the nourishment to this crop. It is true that we do not yet, after the researches in the chemical action of the elements, know how they are always assimilated, nor Avhat peculiar changes and aifinities are effected during the growth of plants. It is not impossible that decomposition and recomposi- tions, which are silently going on in the plant, may be such as to form substances from the ingredients of the atmosphere, and the aeriform substances and vapors with which it is filled, that we supposed must have come fi'om the soil alone. That the potato, for instance, can derive, in some mysterious or hitherto unknown process, potash, and lime, and soda, and the other mineral matters it contains, from the at- mosphere ; and hence the reason why it thrives best in such a porous soil as we have mentioned. Among the many plans devised to cultivate the potato, if you have not a piece of burnt ground, or turf, the breaking up of sward-land, and manuring with coarse, straw}' manure, if you are sure of suffi- cient moisture, is the best. The writer, to whom we alluded above, says that the following is the most successful plan that he has found in the cultivation of this vegetable, and that he speaks from experience. Select a piece of hard trampled ground, the harder the better. A lot on which stock of any kind, but particularly hogs, have been kept and fed, Avill be found to be the best. Break it up well, thoroughly and deeply one way, no matter how cloddy ; and do not harrow it any, but let the clods remain unbroken. The ground being thus broken one wa)', lay it off' into rows the other way, or across the ploughing, two and a half or three feet apart. Open these with a plough, running it back in the same furrow, so as to open the trench as widely and deeply as possible ; cut all the large seed potatoes so as to have a suffi- ciency of eyes on each piece. Then drop them in about six inches apart. Now fill the trench with straw or, chaff", or, if neither of these can be obtained, with leaves from the woods, or trash of some sort. This is very important to a successful cultivation of the potato, not, as is generally supposed, because it gives the potato room to grow and expand in, (though this is of some importance,) but because, as we have shown, it furnishes it with a kind of bed or nursery to grow in. We do not deny that it may receive some nutriment from the decomposing straw ; but then it must be entirely diifercnt from that af- forded by soil, as the straw must be entirely decom- posed before it can enter into the composition of soil. The trenches thus filled may be covered with the plough, and the "middles" entirely broken by the plough to the ridges, so as to leave a furrow only between each. Two workings, a weeding, and then afterwards, at the proper time, a hilling up, each aided by the plough, about twice between each row, will generally complete the cultivation. — Maine Farmer. EFFORTS TO EXTEND FLAX CULTURE IN IRELAND. As we have repeatedly stated, the Irish linen manufacturers are making every exertion to extend and encourage the business. They find the United States a capital market for them. Hadn't we bet- ter raise our own flax, and make our own linens ? The following scrap will show a little of their exer- tions in this business : — NEW ENGLAND FARMER. W FijAx. Prof. J. Hodges, Belfast, Ireland, in for- warding a prize essay for the culture of flax, aays, " I would recommend you to bring the subject of flax culture before the members of your important society, as at the present time it would be found well worthy of their notice. In Ireland, great efforts have been made to promote it, but the supply is not by any means equal to the demand for our own manufac- tures. At present, in Belfast, flaxseed of good quality can be procured with difficulty. Now, Amer- ica might supply us with great advantage, and without injury to our interests, as the crop is one which cannot be cultivated beyond a certain extent. Having devoted considerable attention to the subject, I shall be happy to give yon any information you may consider necessary for your direction. I send you below correct returns of the average yearly amount of flaxseed exported from Riga to Ireland, which will serve to show you our consumption : — 18-43, about 54,000 barrels. 1844 18,000 1845, 47,000 1846, 30,000 1847, 11,000 1848 29,000 1849 16,700." — Maine Fanner. CULTIVATING DWARF PEARS. Every intelligent fruit-raiser is aware of the neces- sity of cultivating and manuring the soU well, for dwarf pear-trees. S. B. Parsons states that he has seventeen hundred trees on four acres ; that he applied to this orchard, last spring, $150 worth of manure, and gathered, in the autumn, two hundred and seventy-flve bushels of potatoes, thirty tons sugar-beets, and a large quantity of turnips and cabbages — paying the expenses of manure and cul- tivation, and giving the peai'-trees a vigorous im- pulse. DURABILITY OF BONE MANURE. At the last meeting of the Probus (Eng.) Farmers' Club, a paper on the analysis of the soils of Carn- winick farm, the property and in the occupation of C. A. T. Hawkins, Esq., was read by Mr. Karkcek. Its object was to show the durability of bone manure for a period of ten years. It appears that, in 1835, a piece of waste ground was taken from the common, and prepared for turnijis, the larger part of which was manured with bone dust, at the rate of three quarters (twenty-four bushels) to the acre. (The whole of the turnip plants were destroyed by the fly ; consequently, little or none of the bone dust was used in that crop.) In the two following years it was successively cropped with oats, and with the last crop, laid down to per- manent pasture, in which state it has remained ever since. At the present period, the effect of the bone dust can be plainly distinguished — the land having a rich greensward, while the adjoining part, where no bone dust has been applied, has a coarse, sterile appearance. This, and a great many other experi- ments of the same character, made by the manager of the farm, in all of which the effect of the bone was ec^ually visible, induced the C'lub to send a sample of the soil from each part of tlie field on which the first named experiment Avas made, to Mr. Hunt, now curator of the Museum of Economic Geology, to be analyzed, in order to ascertain if the bone could be detected at the present time. It should be observed that Mr. Hunt was kept altogether ig- norant of the object of the Club, and that the result was perfectly satisfactory, inasmuch as he readily detected the bone in that portion of the field on which it had been applied ten years before. The following are the analyses : — No. 1. No. 2 Water, evaporated by stove-drying, 14.06 14.18 Vegetable and animal matters burnt off, 12.01 12.05 Silica and silicious grit, 49.54 49.50 Oxide of iron, 7.03 7.00 Carbonate of lime, 1.05 1.06 Carbonate of magnesia 0.25 0.35 Sulphate of lime, 1.05 1.04 Muriates 0.54 0.54 Alumina 7.10 6.04 Phosphate of lime, 0.10 0.75 Phosphate of magnesia, 0.00 0.05 Potash, 1.00 1.27 Humus and soluble alkalies, 6.00 6.17 Mr. Karkcek contended, from these analyses, that the experiment went to prove an important fact, which had been a disputed question among agricul- turists, viz., that the principal manuring properties of bone existed in the earthy matters, which consti- tute about two thirds of bone, and not in the oily and glutinous parts, constituting the remaining third. An interesting discussion ensued on the subject of the analyses, the Club being of opinion that the organic parts of bone evidently had a powerful effect as manure, but that it was next to an impossibility that any other than the earthy matter could have remained so long in the land, — the whole of the animal matter having probably been consumed by the two crops of oats — and they agreed with Mr. Karkcek, that the principal manuring properties of bone exist in the earthy phosphates. — Lonclo/i Agri- cultural Gazette. The above instructive article calls forcibly to mind an incident in our chemical experience in Georgia, something over a year ago. Two parcels of miner- als, having precisely the same appearance, were sent for analyses, with the implied understanding that they were fertilizers, like marl, from a common bed at diftcrent depths ; when, in ruth, one was from the Cherokee country and the other from Nova Scotia. The analyses were entirely satisfactory, although we had not the remotest suspicion at the time, that the substances had been prepared to test the skill of the analyst. We have found soils so poor that 5000 grains would give but one of sulphate of lime, or gypsum. — Gc?iesee Farmer. High Price of Hay. — The prolongation of win- ter has greatly enhanced the price of hay in this vicinity. It has been selling, for a week past at our market, for thirteen and fourteen dollars per ton. This is a higher price for hay than we have known it to bring here for a number of years. — Syracuse Jour- nal. Pal-lah Siiekp. — A flock of one hundred Paular sheep, of the Messrs. Bingham's selection, in Ver- mont, were recently sold to some enterprising wool- growers and breeders, in Lafayette, Onondiiga Co., for the sum of $ 1 400. Cleaning Treks. Trees and vines which are kept the cleanest bear the best ; like the liuman body, the pores of their skin become clogged with dirt, and retain gases which should escape. Trees, the bark of which has been scraped and scrubbed, become more thrivuig and more vigorous. 168 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Tkansactions of the Agrici'ltural Societies in Massachusetts, for the Year 1849 ; collated from the Original Ileturns, by Wm. 15. Calhoun, Secretary of State. — This volume or number is considerably larger than the preceding volumes of this work. It con- tains 422 pages. This work embraces the most im- portant doings of the Massachusetts State Agricul- tural Society, and those of the counties. It is well compiled and arranged, and it contains a large amount of instructive matter. The Farmer's Guide to Scientific and Practical Agriculture, by Henry Stephens, F. R. S. E., Au- thor of the Book of the Farm, assisted by John P. Norton, A. M., Professor of Scientific Agriculture in Yale College, New Haven. — This work will be issued in numbers, of 64 pages each. The whole wiU consist of about 22 numbers, embellished with 18 or 20 steel engravings, and illustrated with more than COO wood engravings. It will be completed in about one year. Twenty-five cents per number, or $5 00 for the whole work. Leonard Scott & Co., publish- ers, 79 Fulton St., N. Y. The first number contains a variety of interesting matter, and gives promise that the work will be highly instructive. Mr. Stephens is one of the best and most practical agri- cultural writers in Europe ; and Professor Norton is distinguished for his attention to agricultural science. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. From Charles Downing, Newburg, N. Y., a nur- scrj'man and distinguished pomologist, a variety of trees and scions, of new and promising kinds of fruit, which we trust will be a valuable acquisition to our nursery. Among this lot is the Dana pear, which originated in Western New York. This will doubt- less claim piTority, and, of course, a preference as to name, to the Dana pear recently originated in this vicinity, but not yet disseminated. From Isaac Southgate, Leicester, a tree and scions of what he calls the Cloth of Gold plum ; which he recommends (and we depend much on his opinion) aa one of the finest varieties. It may prove identical with some valuable kind already before the public ; which we intend to settle by experiment and com- parison. From N. P. Morrison, Somcrvillo, scions and fruit of Mcdficld apple. Mr. M. speaks of this as a fine keeper, and as great a grower as the Baldwin, which is indicated by the size of the scion. The fruit is medial size ; rather flat ; yellow ground, partially covered with dull red ; flesh firm, fresh, and of tol- erably good quality. From W. N. Andrews, Dover, N. H., specimen of ft new seedling apple, which recently originated in that town. This fruit is large ; roundish-obovate, somewhat irregular or angular ; nearly covered with bright red ; flesh firm, tolerably juicy, of a mild, pleasant quality, and, considering the lateness of the Kcason, remarkably fresh. From Capt. Silas Allen, Shrewsbury, scions of PvOckport Sweeting. Capt. Allen regards this as one of the very best late, sweet apples ; and so high a commendation, from so reliable a source, induces us to request him to favor us with a specimen of the Iruit next fall. From Nathan Norton, nurseryman, Greenland, N. II., trees and scions of Marston's Red "Winter apple. We have had some acquaintance with this fruit. It is large, fair, handsome, and of excellent quality. In Greenland, and that region, it is culti- vated by many fruit-growers, in preference to the Baldwin, LINES TO A ROBIN THAT FLEW IN AT A WINDOW. From snowy plains, and icy sprays, From moonless nights, and sunless days. Welcome, poor bird ! I'll cherish thee ; I love thee, for thou trustest me. Thou needst not dread a captive s doom ; No ! freely flutter round my room : Perch on mj' lute's remaining string, And sweetly of the summer sing. That note, that summer note, I know ; It wakes at once, and soothes my woe. I see the woods, I see the stream, I see — ah, still prolong the dream ; Still with thy song those scenes renew. Though through my tears they reach my view, Thus heedless of the raging blast, Thou'lt dwell with me till winter's past ; And when the primrose tells 'tis spring, And when the thrush begins to sing. Soon as I hear the woodland song, ril set thee free, to join the throng ! " " The most extraordinary man I know of, now living," remarked a friend of ours the other day, " is Mr. - — ; he never interferes with any man's busi- ness, but goes straight forward and attends to his own." There are three companions with whom a man should always keep on good terms— his wife, his stomach, and his conscience. The tenn "newspaper carriers" is now modern- ized, and stands thus : " Gentlemanly disseminators of early intelligence." Our prayer and God's mercy are like two buckets in a well — while the one ascends, the other de- scends. — Bishop Hopkins. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at Jjl ^ year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this ofRce. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage „^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state; and )ij cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. btereotyped at thb BOSTON STEREOTTPE FOUNDRY. MVOTSQ TO AGRIGULTUSE AND ALL ITS KINBRSD ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agricslt ure not feniy gives riches to a nalioii b'.it tie only ricliss she can ball heV -own. — Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY , MAY 25, 1850 NO. 11. s. w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Proprietor. WORK FOR THE SEASON. At this busy s-eason farmers hate more work be- fore them than they can perform in due time, and they may hardly need any suggestions on the sub- ject. In some sections the sowing of grain is not conaiileted, though it ought to have been attended to last month, had the season been favorable. Wheat, rye, oats, and barley generally succeed best vith early sowing, as thej- are less liable to rust. Yet sonic sow wheat late, at the risk of the rust, in order to scape the ravages of the grain worm ; and often this appears to be a judicious course. Millet and buckwheat succeed best when sowed late. Since the rot has prevailed, it is better to plant potatoes early ; yet it Avill answer to plant late. "We planted some last j'ear as late as the middle of June, and on very moist land ; yet they succeeded well, as they rotted but very little. So in regard to this sub- ject, "Better late than never." It is impossible for a farmer to do every tiring at the most suitable time, especially in a backward spring. The sooner the seed is sowed for root crops the better, after the 20th or 2.5th of May, excepting for turnip, which may be sowed from the middle of June to the first of August, according to the variety. This crop is admirabh' adapted to late sowing, when it is too late for beets, carrots, or parsnips. This is the month for planting Indian corn ; and when it is planted the last of the month, or early in June, it is better to plant rather early kinds, cspeciaUj- on frosty lands. In very warm summers this precaution may not be necessary, but it is well to prepare for seasons as they usually occur. In destroying weeds, and loosening and pulver- izing the soil around plants, a great deal of labor is necessary, and frequently before planting is com- pleted. When this labor is delayed, the expense of hoeing is much increased, and the growth of ten- der plants very much retarded. Newly transplanted trees should have the earth around them formed into a basin to hold the water ; and it is important to see that a part of the top of the trees is cut off. In some cases trees seem to start BO reluctantly, that it is necessary to cut off half the top ; and when they have been removed under very unfavorable circumstances, it is sometimes necessary to cut off all the top, to save them. In pruning fruit treos, wo'/prcfer cutting off large limbs in August or September, or later in the fall, as the v,-ounded part will remain sound. But at this season it is necessary to remove dead limbs, and those that interfere, to thin out tops that arc too dense, and cut off sprouts and small branches that are giving the tree a wrong direction. Most farmers, in the hurry of business which almost always occurs at this season, neglect to have a good variety of vegetables and small fruits for their family use. Every one should have a good supply of early and late sweet corn, early potatoes, early beans, both lor shell and string ; a variety of peas for different seasons, early and late cucumbers and melons, both musk and water ; early and late squashes, cabbages, and turnips : early and late parsnips ; also, rhubarb, asparagus, lettuce, radish, spinach, cress, and various other things, too numer- ous to mention. There is still time to attend to most of these vegetables. Small fruits, especially those that are early, should by no means be neglected. Strawberries, raspberries, thimbleberries, gooseber- ries, currants, blackberries, cranbcnics, and Other small fruits should receive attention, as well as the larger kinds. They come into bearing \'ery early, and yield large crops of fruit, which is very acceptable in hot weather, and saves much expense for meat, but- ter, Sec, which are far less palatable and wholesome. These small plants may be moved at this season, by taking up much soil with the roots. BONE MANURE. In reply to the inquiries of "S. P." in regard to the prices of ground bone, and where it is to be obtained, wo would remark that what is commonly called ground bone, is really only crushed bone ; a part of it is fine, but the greater part is in small pieces, not readily available to the plant ; hence it has been a practice in England, and by a few cultivators in thw country, to use sulphuric acid, and other 170 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. agents, in decomposing the bone, and rendering it readily available to the growing plant, by Avhich a much less quantity is required. If it be not decom- posed, the largo pieces -will remain many years, S€rv- ing the puq^oses of a manure for a longer time, but in a loss degree. See previous articles in this paper on the decomposition of bone. As we have not had an opportunity to make ex- periments in decomposing bones, and the cost of doing it with sulphuric acid is considerable, we use what is called wet bone, which is very fine, as it is composed of sawdust, made by a rotary saw driven with great velocity. This costs but little more per barrel than crushed bone. The wet bono is gen- erally kept for &ale by Messrs. Nourse, Mason, & Co. It may doubtless be obtained in other sections, where bones are used as a raw material in manufacture. The price of wet bone is $2 25 per barrel. Dry bone dust is a nice, pure article, which is given to cows for the bone disorder. On this subject, see American Veterinarian ; also; the first volume, and past num- bers of N. E. Faimer. Old lands usually become exhausted of bone earth or phosphate of lime, and for such, bone manure is valuable. It is usually the most valuable on dry soils, and particularly for the turnip crop, and for grape vines. But it is generally beneficial to most crops that the farmer or gardener cultivates. As to its profit, much depends on the advantages of pro- curing it, its price, and the price of other manures. As S. P.'s soil is a deep, black muck, or vegetable mould, it would be well to use some lime or ashes to destroy the acid which is probably in it ; and if it is rather moist or wet, drain it, and add gravel or sand to improve the texture. As bone manure is com- posed largely of the phosphate of lime, it tends to correct acidity ; but merely for this piirpose, it is not visually so cheap as ashes or lime. STEEPS FOR SEED CORN. This is a subject that has received considerable attention ; amd rraany experiments have been made on it, with varioiis success. Some have found an advantage from steeps, as they have thought, both in prom.oting the growth of the plants, and in pro- tecting the corn from vermin ; others, again, have received no advantage, and a few, still more un- fortunate, have destroyed the seed. Steeps should be used with great caution. When corn is planted late, soaking the seed in water twenty or thirty hours, or in some suitable steep a proper time, will cause it to vegetate earlier. We select a few items on the subject. Preparation* por Sef,d Corn. — I promised you last year, while you were connected with the Farmer, to send you a recipe lor republication, in regard to the prej^aration of seed corn. I took it from that journal several years since, and have used it with much satisfaction. " Dissolve one pound of sal ammoniac in eight quarts hot water. When reduced to blood heat, put one peck of seed corn into it. Let it remain eighteen hours, roll in plaster, and plant it.'" I prefer not to let the com remain in the prepara- tion more than sixteen hours, as, if it remains a little too long, it will not vegetate. It should be planted soon after it is prepared. I have used this recipe some four or five years, and Arith the best results. Corn prepared in this way will be ready for hoeing at the same time as corn planted without any prepa- ration — one week earlier, unless it happens to be verxj xcet iceather. When this is the case, the sal ammoniac is of little value. I have raised eighty bushels to the acre of com prqjared in this way. And I have never been troubled with the crows pirllmg up the seed. Perhaps I should add that sal ammoniac can be purchased for twenty-five cents per pound, although some merchants ask four and even six sliillings. S. P. CHAPMAN. Clockville, Mad. Co., N. Y., May, 1850. — Rural New- Yorker. Soaking Corn in Saltpetre. — I had the benefit of soaking com in saltpetre, to plant, well tested last year, on a small piece of ground, planted late. I had not enough soaked to plant all the piece. Where it was not soaked, the blackbirds pulled out abovft one third ; where it was soaked, they seldom touched a hill. But what was most peculiar, there happened to be one row planted with dry corn between two rows that were soaked ; of the dry, they took several hills clean, and, altogether, about one third of the row ; while they did not take more than one hill of the two saltpetre rows. JAMES C. TAYLOR. Atlantic, N. J. — American Agriculturist. FOOD RAISED ON AN ACRE. The amount of human food tliat can be produced upon an acre is worthy of great consideration. One hundred bushels of Indian corn per acre is not an uncommon crop. One peck por week will not only sustain life, but give a man strength to labor, if the stomach is joroperly toned to that amount of food. This, then, would feed one man 400 weeks, or almost eight years I Four hundred bushels of northern potatoes can also be raised upon an acre. This would give a bushel a week for the same length of time ; and the actual weight of an acre of sweet potatoes is 21,344 pounds, which is not considered an extraordinarj' crop. This would feed a man six pounds a day for 3557 days, or nine and two thirds years ! To vary the diet, we will occasionally give rice. This has been grown at the rate of ninetj'-three bushels to the acre over an entire field. This, at forty-five lbs. to the bushel, would be 4185 lbs. ; or, at twenty-eight lbs. to the bushel, when hulled, 2604 lbs., which, at two pounds a day, would feed a man 1302 days, or more than three and a half j-ears ! Upon reflection, it is not very wonderful that so mqny non -producers are able to find food, when we see how many mouths one laborer can fill. — American Agricidturist. Nature is a book of sweet and glowing ptirity, and on every illumined page the benevolence and good- ness of God are divinely showii. Study its pages, and learn wisdom. As well pass a kaleidoscope from hand to hand, and expect no trembling touch will alter its aspect, as to think to hear a story from mouth to mouth literally and accurately repeated. NEW ENGLxVXD FARMER. 171 ORNAMENTAL IRON FENCE. This cut represents an iron fence, recently got up by Mr. Ebenczer "Weeman, Nos. 16 and 18 Merrimac Street, Boston. This fence is in Gothic style, and is very ornamental. It is well adapted to cemeteries, front yards, and other purposes. It is neat, of medial lightness, and well proportioned. Specimens of this fence may be seen in Mount Auburn, on the lot (1268) of the late Ilollis Thayer, on Pine Avenue. Mr. Weeman makes iron fences of various descriptions, and he has some of the best original patterns, from recent designs. For the Xcw Enrjland Farmer. N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Cole : This society will hold its next show and fair at Albany, the first week in September next, commencing on the 3d, and continuing four days. It will, as wc learn, be held on spacious grounds pro- vided for it north of the city, and at a convenient distance between Albany and Troy. Ample arrange- ments arc making for the comfort and convenience of the large collection anticipated at this gatliering ; and by the spirit manifested by our Albany friends, we are confident they will make it the greatest thing for farmers ever witnessed in America. As this fair is brought ahnost to the line (Avhich we rejoice is only an imaginary separation, having no control over social feelings and general harmony) be- tween New York state and New England, we hope all our Yankee farmers will go and witness the tri- umph of our sister commonwealth; and that they will not only go themselves, but that those wlio can will take their wives and their little ones ; their Hocks and their licrds ; their useful and beautiful fabrics ; their fruits, so joyous to the eye and refreshing to the taste ; their beautiful flowers, sent to gladden the heart, and proclaim the skill and wisdom of their Creator, to beautify and interest the anniversary, and cement the bonds which naturally unite men en- gaged in the same noble ofhccs, and say to all men that we arc brethren, too closely associated to be moved by petty jealousies or sectional advantages. The exhibition will undoubtedly be worth ten times the cost incident to attending it, but its value will be greatly increased to those who carry in for exhibition ; for all such will naturally feel, however small the amount they exhibit, that they have a part and a lot in the matter, beyond that of being mere lookers on, to witness the triumphs of others. None need to fear for the safety of articles exhibited, for due care, we are confident, wOl be taken, by a thorough police, to have every thing, even the smallest, kept safely out of harm's way. "NVc again repeat the hope and expectation, that the fanners of New England will all set themselves about contcm- jilating an excursion to the New York State Cattle Show and Fair at Albanv next September. Ajn-U, 1850. " W. B. Deep planting is always to be avoided. We have an illustration of this error in our garden — two trees side by side, wliicli were jilanted five years ago, and were then of equal size. One was planted as deep as it previously stood, and is now twice ns large as the other, which was j)lanted a foot deeper, and has produced no fruit, while the former has yielded abundantly for the last two years. — Granite Fcunier. Jenny I/ind was offered some thirty thousand pounds to sing at the Imperial Concerts at the court of llussia. Jenny's significant negative to the offer was, " Hungary." Great is the triumph of genius, when the nightingale is too much for the eagle. Sf.t out a Tree. — Let no one who has a spot on which to place it, neglect to set out at least one tree this spring. 172 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Fur the Neio England Farmer. FARM BUILDIN^GS. ?tlii. Edttoh : In your number of April 13, vre observed a selected aitiilc, whicli treats of the merits of the difiercat nwitcrwls iised in tlic construction of farm biiildings. The writer enumei-atcs the advan- tages chiimcd for wood, by its advocates — "its cheapness, beauty, the facility of obtaining it, and the readiness with which it can be repaired ; " and asks wlicthcr they can be sustained. As to cheap- ness, he says he believes that " most fanners, who have their farms and buildings in decent condition, spend as much in repairing the structures for a term of years, as would pay the interest upon good stone ones." This is given as a mere ojjinion, unsup- ported by any ascertained and stated facts. Upon a (juestion of this kind we should be pleased to sec the tigurcs upon which the calculation is based — what the supposed amount of repairing upon a wooden building costing any given sum, for a term of years — what the difference in cost between constructing a building of the same dimensions, of wood, or of stone — and what the difference in the expense of repairing which each would require. Taking the statement referred to to be correct, it admits that, in the first instance, the cost of stone is much greater than that of wood, and that farmers have a capital, which they can well invest in the manner proposed ; while the fact that the former requires repairs as well as the latter, is entirely overlooked. The percentage for repaus upon substantial wooden buildings, always kept in decent condition, (and this will be the cheap- est, ) for a series of years, according to my experience, would form but a small capital to meet even the in- terest upon the dijferciice in costs between those of wood and those of stone, supposing the latter re- quired no repairs. But much of those expenses hav- ing been incurred for interior work, and roofs, doors, windows, &c., Avould have been necessary, of which- .soever of those materials the buildings had been constructed. The writer referred to says, "AVhen a man sells his farm with wooden buildings upo'.i it, such as are generally found in New England, it brings no higher price per acre, than if destitute of buildings altogether ; '" that is to say, the buildings being wood, they do not enhance the value of the estate. This is absui-d. No single instance, we venture to say, can be produced to corroborate this statement. Take two farms of equal size and of equal goodness, the one entirely destitute of every structure, and the other having upon it such wooden buildings " as are gen- erally found in New England,'' would any judicious man, who is called upon to appraise the estates, ap- praise them at the same value ? Would not any per- son wishing to buy, be willing to pay more for the one than the other ? Supposing a farm is offered for sale, with good wooden buildings upon it, and a person offers, and is willing to pay, what is considered, by competent judges, its value, and pending the contract those builcUngs should bo consumed by lire, would he afterwards pay as much for the remainder of the estate ? It is true, that farm buildings, whatever may be the materials used, will seldom be estimated and sell at their costs, llarely will a farm in good condition bring the costs of its improvements, putting the ordinary charges upon labor. Indeed, we know of good farms, which it is said would not sell for more than an amount sufficient to pay for the stone fences constructed upon them, at such a computa- tion. Then the liability of wooden buildings to take fire is considered ; and this is regarded as a " serious objection in the country," on account of the scarcity of file-engines. Stone structures arc certainly more secure from fire from without, but not within ; and where engines are scarce, it will rarely happen that either "arc ever extinguished " when once well on fire, Tlie advantage in favor of stone, if any, can be ascertained by the difference in. the rates of in- surance. Stone is then pronounced " emphatically the ma- terial for us at the north." Tlie writer says, " Its solidity, durability, strength, beautj", imperviousness to moisture, its coolness in summer, and warmth in winter, the facility with which it can bo obtained, render it, take it all in all, the best." A part of these qualities may be correctly claimed, but we do not consider them advanta(jes. A stone building is solid, but one of wood can bo constructed quite solid enough for all u?cful purposes. A stone building may or may not have greater strength than one of wood ; this depends upon the labor expended, and the quantity and quality of the materials used, in erecting it. But supposing it has, — is not a well- built wooden one strong enough? As to "beauty," we should prefer an ordinary house of wood well painted, to one built, as su'^- gested, of common pasture stone. Most of the stone ordinarily used in the country to build cellar and pasture walls is too large, heavy, and misshapen, and too difficult to hammer, to build the outside walls of farm buildings. There are some beautiful stone structures in the country, but they are expen- sive. In erecting farm buildings of that material, it would not answer to pay much regard to ornament. The '^beauty" part, especially if carried to tliat extent which an improved taste is reaching, must be of wood, to meet the condition of ordinary repub- lican purses. As to the imperviousness of a stone building to moisture, much also depends upon the kind or quality of the stone and mortar used, and the care and skill expended in erecting it. Where there is a deficiency in either, it is difficult afterwards to apply a thorough, remedy. Perviousncss to moisture is not a rare complaint with regard to stone. Downing says, the fault of dampness, which is generally fountl of stone buildings, can be remedied by Avhat is technically called furring off. This undoubtedly, to a partial extent, avoids the difficulty, but docs not wholly eradicate it. There is an atmosphere lilcc that of a vault or cellar, in the rooms of stone buildings, in the winter, which have not been heated for some days. Many of our stone churches, which are not heated but once a week in that season, are wholly unfit for an invalid to attend. " Bad mortar," says Waistell, a celebrated English writer, " is the main cause of the decay of all otcr modern buildings, from the cottage to the palace." And in connection with this subject he remarks, that "lioman cement should be used in the foundation, in exterior jointing, and frequently even plastering in the interior in different proportions, according to circumstances." This material is seldom here used for such purposes, if for no other reason than for the additional expense. We do not think that the mor- tar ordinarily used here is superior to that used elsewhere, while the frost, being more severe, acts more freely, and produces a greater injury. Stone is certainly more durable than wood, but the latter is more readily repaired. Whether the walls of a house be of one or the other, the building is of use so long as the doors, windows, and the interior materials ajid work admit of its being kept in hab- itable order. The old stone walls would be of little value of themselves alone. If proper attention is paid to repairs, the wooden house will fully realize the wishes of the writer referred to, when once Avell built ; " there it stands, to be transmitted to children, and children's children, unto the third and fourth generation," and longer if desirable. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 173 It is generally thought, perhaps, that stone is warmer in winter and cooler in summer than Avood. We have never been convinced of the trnth of this opinion by any reasoning of others, or by our own experienc-e. Stone is a better conductor of heat than •wood. In winter, the rooms of a wooden building are more readily heated, and will better retain the varmth. "Walls of stone when cold, being thick, arc not then much affected by the sun's rays. In sum- mer, the sun heats them to a high degree, and from their thickness, they retain greater heat than will ordinarily pass off in the night. A neighbor of ours, a great stickler for the advantages of stone, says he has observed that the rooms of a stone house continue cooler later into the warm weather, and continue warmer later into autumn, than those of wood. Why is tliis so, except for the reason that the walls of stone cooled by the cold of winter, arc less readily heated, and being thoroughly heated, arc less readily cooled ? It is often said that the buildings in our country make an unfavorable impression upon foreigners, because they arc- built of wood. They have the appearance of being mere temporary tenements, boxes, hastily built, and to be removed at a con- venient opportunity. Let us not place too much value upon such opinions, nor attempt to please the taste of sti'angers accustomed to see structures of other materials, (mud and turf, as well as stone,) unless for substantial reasons. For our part, we prefer the clicei-ful buildings of our ov.n happy vil- lages, to the heavy, solid, gloomy, and sombre struc- tures of stone. But the main objection to stone is its greater expense. Farmers who have more capital than is sufficient to build of wood, and do not mind making an outlay, if not a sacrifice, can try the experiment of erecting stone ones ; but we should advise them to expend their extra funds in improvements upon the land. L. C. E. Peovidence, April 27, 1850. For the New Enyland Farmer. NATURE AND OFFICES OF EARTHS AND SOILS. I. Eartus and Soils being the laboratory wherein the food or nutriment of the plant is prepared, and the media through which it is conveyed to the root, it becomes a matter of primary importance to the gardener and agriculturist to obtain correct ideas of their component parts, and of the oHiccs they per- form in the work of vegetation. It will also be very useful to acquire a method of general classijication, so as to arrive at some degree of precision and system- atic arrangement. On this subject, says the Ency- clopaedia of Gardening, at No. 1031. 1. : "A correct classification of soils may be founded on the presence or absence of organic or inorganic matter in their basis. This will form two grand classes, viz., ]>riin- itive soils, or those composed entirely of inorganic matter ; and secondary soils, or those composed of organic and inorganic matter in mixtures. These classes may be subdivided into orders, founded on tlie presence or absence of saline, metallic, and carbonic matter. The orders may be subdivided into f/enera, founded on the prevailing earths, salts, metals, or carbon ; the (jenera into species, founded on their dif- ferent mixtures ; the species into varieties, founded on color and texture, and snhvariefies, founded on moist- ure, dryness, richness, lightness, etc." In naming the genera, the first thing is to discover the prevailing earth or earths ; thus, " Sir IInm])hry Davj' has observed, the term sandy soih shoiild never be applied to any soil that does not contain, at least, seven eighths of sand ; sandy soils, that effervesce with acids, should be distinguished by the name of calcareous (chalky) sandy soils, to dis'tingui>]i them from those that are silicious, (of the natui-e of flint.) The term clayey soils should not be applied to any land which contains less than one sixth of impalpable earthy matter, not considerably effervescing with acids." The word loam should be limited to soils containing at least one tliird of impalpable earthy matter, copiously effervescing with acids. In gen- eral, the soils, the materials of which arc the most various, are those called alluvial, or which have been formed from the depositions of rivers ; and these deposits may be designated as silicious, calcareous, or argillaceous, (clayey ; ) and in some cases, the term saline may be added as a specific distinction, appli- cable, for example, at the mouths of rivers, where their alluvial remains are overflowed by the sea. II. TuE Qualities axd Value of Soils are dis- coverable botanically, and by chemical analysis. First, botanically, that is, by the plants which grow on them naturally. The sainfoin {Jieydesarum ono- bryi(ris) is almost always an indication of a calcareous soil ; the connnon colt's-foot, {lussilayo-farj'ara,) of blue clay; purple sandwort, (arenaria rubra,) of poor sand ; the common wood sorrel, {oxalis acctosella,) of the presence of iron. Secondly, by chemical analysis. The quantity of soil best adapted to a perfect analj-- sis is stated to be four hundred grains ; it should bo collected in dry Aveathcr, and exposed to the air tiU it becomes dry to the touch. The process of analysis is complicated, and one of extreme nicety. Some cultivators may be qualified to perform the necessary operations, but in general a degree of accuracy is required which can onU- be obtained by constant practice, founded upon scientific principles. The following is the analysis of a fertile soil in the neigh- borhood of Bristol, II. I. : in four hundred grains, there were of water, .52 ; silicious sand, 210 ; vege- table fibre, .05 ; vegetable extract, .03 ; alumina, .48 ; magnesia, .02; oxide of iron, .1-1 ; calcareous earth, .30 ; loss, .06. On the utility of analysis. Dr. Ure (Diet, of Chem.) observes, that " no system can be dcAised for the improvement of lands, independently of exi)erimcnt ; but there are few cases in which the labor of analytic trials will not be amply repaid by the certainty with which they denote the best meth- ods of melioration, and this will particularly hajipen when the defect of composition is found in the pro- portions of the primitive earths. In supplying or- ganic matter, a temporary food only is i)rovided for plants, which is in all cases exhausted by means of a certain number of crops ; but when a soil is rendered of the best possible constitution and texture with regard to its earthy parts, its fertility may be consid- ered as permanently established. It becomes capable of attracting a very large portion of vegetable nour- ishment from the atmosphere, and of producing its crops with comparatively little labor and expense." III. Of the irsEs OF Eaktus. Pure earths, ex- clusively of organized matter and water, are allowed, by most i)hysiologists, to be of no other use to ])lant3 than that of supporting them, or furnishing a medium by which they may fix themselves in a situation favorable to their future growth. But eartlis and organic matter, that is, soils, afford at once sujiport and food. Tluis the pare earths may be considered as the mechanical agent in the soil. They consist chiefly of metallic bases united to oxygen, not readily decomposable ; and consequently they cannot bo reasonably supposed to be convertible into the elements "of organized matter, Avhich, as lias been stated, are chiefly found to be oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and azote. IMants, it is true, consume a small portion of the earths they grow in, as is dis- coverable by burning, for their ashes are found to contain earths ; but the quimtity has been as ertoined 174 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. never to equal more than a fiftieth part of the -\vcight of the plant consumed. The earthy parts of the soil are chiefly useful in detaining -water, so as to supply the proper proportions to the roots of the vegetables ; and thev arc likewise efficacious in producing the ~J»roper distribution of the animal or vegetable matter. The earths, -when duly mixed with such matter, pre- vent it from decomposing too rapidly, and regulate the supply of its soluble parts in jiroper proportions to the roots of the plants. The earths are also neces- sary to the existence of plants, both as affording them nourishment, and enabling them to fix themselves in such a manner as to obey those laws by which their radicles are kept below the surface, and their leaves exposed to a free atmosphere. IV. The due Texacity and Cohekknce of the Soil arise from the finely-divided matters of its con- stituent parts, and they possess the power of giving those qualities in the highest degree when they con- tain much alumina (pure clay.) A small quantity of finely-di^-ided matter is sufficient to fit a soil for the production of turnips and barley ; and a tolerable crop of turnips has been produced on a soil contain- ing eleven parts out of twelve sand ; a much greater proportion of sand, however, always produces abso- lute sterility. Tenacity is obtained by certain pro- portions of finely-divided vegetable and animal de- composable matters in union with alumina. V. Fkiaiulitv, oil Looseness of Texture, is chiefly occasioned by the adraixtm-o of sand ; and in a certain degree this quality is of importance, in order that the operations of culture may be readily conducted, that moisture may have free access to the fibres of the root, that heat may readily be conveyed to them, and evaporation may proceed without obstruction. As alumina possesses all the properties of adhesive- ness in an eminent degree, and silex those of friabil- ity, it is obvious that a mixture of those two earths, in suitable proportions, would furnish every thing wanted to form the most perfect soil, as to -water, and the operations of cultivation. In a soil so com- pounded, water -will be presented to the roots bj'^ caiiillary attraction ; it will be suspended in it, as in a sponge, in a state of minute division, so that every part may be said to be moist, but not wet. VI. The Power of Soils to aissorb Water from THE Air is much connected with fertility : when this power is great, the plant is sujiplied with moist- ure in dry seasons ; and the effect of evaporation in the day is counteracted by the absorption of vapor from the atmosphere by the interior parts of the soils during the day, and by both the exterior and interior during the night. The soils that are most efficient in the su])plying the plant -with water by absorption from tlic atmospliere are those in which there is a due admixture of sand, finely divided clay, and car- bonate of lime or chalk, which mixture constitutes a loam, with some animal and vegetable matter ; and which are so liglit as to be freely penetrated by the atmosphere. The productiveness of soi/s is influenced by the nature of the subsoil on which tliey rest. "When they are immediately situated upon a bed of rock, they arc rendered dry by evaporation much sooner than when the subsoil is of clay or marl. A clayey subsoil will sometimes be of material advan- tage to a sandy soil, and will retain moisture so as to be capable of supplying that lost by the earth above. A sandy or gravelly subsoil often corrects the imper- fection of a too great degree of absorbent power in the true soil. In calcareous countries, where the surface is a species of marl, the soil is often found only a few inches above the limestone, and its fertil- ity is nevertheless unimpaired ; though on a less absorbent soil this situation would occasion barren- ness ; and the sandstone and limestone hills may be easily distinguished at a distance in summer, by the different tints of vegetation. The grass on the sand- stone hills usually appears brown and burnt up ; that on the limestone hills, flourishing and green. In the Island of Cuba, and others, -where the subsoil is chalk to a considerable depth, the verdure of grass, and of young trees and shrubs, is often retained during parching seasons, while in many other situa- tions the grass is cntii'ely scorched, and the trees lose their leaves, owing to the continuance of dry weather. Chalk absorbs moisture readily, and retains it tena- ciously ; hence, in hot, dry summers it gradually affords moisture to the roots of plants at a time when more open and porous soils are comparatively de- prived of moisture. VII. C'HEMiCjVi Agency of Soils. Besides the mechanical uses of soil, there is another agency between soils and organizable matters, which may be regarded as chemical. The earths, and even the earthy carbonates, have a certain degree of chemical attraction for many of the principles of A-egetable matter; when boiled with pipe-clay or chalk, they form a combination by -which the vegetable matter is rendered more difficult of decomposition and solution. Pure silica and silicious sands have little action of this kind; and the soils which contain the most alumina and carbonate of lime, are those which act with the greatest chemical energy in preserving manure. Such soils merit the appellation, which is commonly given to them, of rich soils ; for the vege- table nourishment is long preserved in them, unless taken up by the organs of plants. Silicious sands, on the contrary, deserve the term hungrtj, -which is commonly applied to them ; for the vegetable and animal matters which they contain, not being at- tracted by the earthy constituent parts of the soil, arc more liable to be decomposed by the action of the atmosphere, or carried off from them by water. In most of the black and brown rich vegetable moulds, the earths seem to be in combination with a peculiar extractive matter, afforded during the de- composition of vegetables ; this is slowly taken up and attracted from the earths by water, and appears to constitute a prime cause of the fertility of soil. VIII. Soils may be improved by Pulverization, or the minute divisions of the particles by mechani- cal labor; and umler this term are included the oper- ations of ploughing, harrowing, digging, trenching, hoeing, and raking. It is of the most essential ser- vice to land, and induces fertility in a variety of Avays. It opens the ground, and thus promotes the regular diffusion of water. It tends to increase the quantity of vegetable food, by enabling the water holding nutritive matters in solution, to convey it more equally to the roots of plants. Pidverization, by opening the soil, promotes and assists the free ingress of heated air, and thus regulates and im- proves the temperature of the soil; it also intro- duces, and as it were buries, a portion of the atmos- pheric air, and thus furnishes another source of elec- tro-chemical decomposition and combinations. 2'ho depth of - pulverization must depend upon the nature of the soil and subsoil. In rich, clayey groiuid it can scarcely be too deep ; and even in sand, unless the subsoil contains principles noxious to vegetables, deep comminution should be practised. When the roots arc deep, they are less liable to be injured either by excess of rain or drought; the rad- icles arc shot foi-th into every part of the soil, and the space from which the nourishment is derived is more considerable than when the seed is superficially inserted in the soil. IX. Soils may be improved by adding to, or sub- tracting FROM, THEM INGREDIENTS IN WHICH THEY ARE DEFICIENT, OR SUPERABOUND. If a Soil, of gOod appearance and texture, contain sulphate of iron, it may be ameliorated by quicklime ; if there be excess of calcareous matter, it may be improved by the .ap- plication of sand or clay. Soils too abundant in NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 175 sand are benefited by the use of clay, marl, or vege- table matter. By burning soils, considerable chemical change can be brought about. The bases of all common soils are mixtures of the prunitivc earths and oxide of iron, and these earths have a certain degree of attraction for each other. When clay or tenacious soils arc burnt, they are brought nearer to a state analogous to that of sajid. In the manufacture of bricks, the general princijjle is well illustrated : if a piece of dried brick earth be ai^jjlied to the tongue, it will adhere to it very strongly, in consequence of its power to absorb water ; but after it has been burnt, there will scarcely be any sensible adhesion. The soils improved by burning are all such as con- tain too much dead vegetable fibre ; also, all such as contain their earthy constituents in an impalpable state of division, that is, stiff clays and marls ; but in coarse sands and rich soils, containing a just mix- ture of the earths, and in all cases in which the tex- ture is sufficiently loose, or the organizable matter sufficiently soluble, the process of bui-ning cannot be useful. X. Trees improve bad Soils. It certainly is not one of the least recommendations of planting, that it may be made to contribute essentially to the im- provement of a bad soil, as is the case on sterile heath and commons, where three means, the conse- quences of the planting, act together in promoting such improvement. The first is, the shade of the trees, which, by decomposing the vegetable matter on the surface soil, renders it at once more fertile, and easily penetrable by the root. The second is, that by the decomposition of the annual fall of leaves, an addition is made to the vegetable soil, and that of the very best description. The thii-d circumstance is, that as the roots collect a great deal of their sup- port from a depth much lower than field vegetables are used to reach, they hence convert the useless into tiseful. In short, instances arc not wanting, where land previously producing little besides heath, has, after producing a crop of trees, proved, without further means, very tolerable pasture. BEIIXAIID REYNOSO. For the New England Farmer. CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN. Mb. Editor : In reading F. Ilolbrook's article on this subject, I was much pleased with his manner of cultivation, in some respects, particularly the prepara- tion of the soil, and the method of saving seed-corn. Deep planting, too, in case of frost, is an advantage, as the corn is much more likel^^ to start again if killed down to the ground. But in advocating wide planting, I beg leave to differ from him. lie says he is '* suspicious ^f the reasoning which favors close planting as a protection against drought." Now, if, as ho scenis to imply, in planting double the number of hills, we raise double the number of stalks on an acre, his reasoning might be in some measure cor- rect ; but I think that if, instead of doubling the number of stalks, we leave a less nunilx>r in a hill, so as to have three as often as we should have two at the usual distance, the extra draught upon the moisture of the soil will be fully counterbalanced by the in- crease of shade ! I think, too, that Mr. IL furnishes us witli evidence in favor of close planting, in the fact that the corn planted in drills yielded from ten to fifteen bushels more than that planted in hills. Another point, in which I should differ from Mr. H., is iir the application of manure wholly by spread- ing ; although I do not advocate the opposite course, oi applying it all in the hill. I think the land should be made rich by spreading manure on the surface, and ploughing it in, and then a small quantity of well-rotted manure should be applied in each hill. In a climate as cold as the central and northern parts of Xew England, some- thing is required to warm the ground, and keep the young plants thrifty during the cold weather which sometimes succeeds the time of planting in the spring. This the manure in the hill sujjplics, while that which is spread carries it through, and causes it to ear better ; thus obviating objections, to which either mode, alone, would be liable. I iiave now given you my opinion, in part, as to the best method of planting, and applying mantire, and I will give you a few facts to show how it works in practice. Previous to 1838 we applied our manure mostly in tlie hill, and planted our corn at the dis- tance of three and one half feet each way ; planting as much ground as we could manure in this manner, and hoeing it twice or three times, as we could spare time before haying ; after which, it was generally left until time to harvest. I do not recollect partic- ularly about the crops obtained, as I was young at that time, but I am told that eighty bushels of cars were considered a large crop, and fifty or sixty a fair average. But the summers of 183u and 1837 were so cold, that in this way we got no corn at aU ; and in 183S we planted less than half our usual (quantity of land, and applied as much manure as we had pre- viously allowed for the whole. In addition to this, instead of having the hills three and one half feet in the rows, we planted them about t\\'0 ; and we were careful to hoe thoroughly three timer, before haying, and, immediately after haying, all the weeds wliich had escaped were pulled up and thrown into the hog-yard. The result was, that instead of sixty bushels to the acre, we obtained one hundred and sixty. Since that time, we have pursued a similar course with like success. We generally spread about twenty-five loads of manure to the acre every other year, and put from eighteen to twenty in the hill every year. (These loads contain only twenty-five bushels to the load, which, taking the average, would be considerably less than Mr. H. applied.) By keeping the ground wholly clear of weeds in the manner I have de- scribed, which makes the least work in the " long run," wo have obtained from one hundred and forty to one hundred and sixty bushels ears to the acre, and the land was constantly improving. On one piece, containing one liundred and twenty- eight rods, after managing it in this way for two or three years, we raised a fraction short of sixty bush- els of "clean, heavy oats ; and there were four apple- trees under whicli but little grew, so that there was, in fact, no more than three fourths of an acre ; be- sides which, eight hens lived on them for some time before they were harvested. This would make the oats yield at the rate of eighty bushels to the acre. While speaking of this piece, there was another fact, which goes to confirm what you have remarked in a former volume. When we seeded it with grass, we sowed hcrdsgrass and clover, mixing them together, and sowing the whole of the piece alike ; but a part on whicli we had raised corn produced clover, with scarcely any hcrdsgrass, and a part on which we had raised potatoes produced hcrdsgrass, with as httic clover. W- !'• ^' ASUFIELD, M.V.SS,, April 19. liicMAUKS. — As to the distance of planting corn, much depends on the size. The Canada corn, and the small cap corn, will bear n&ir planting ; and with- out close planting, a" full crop cMnnot bo obtained. These kinds require twice as many phuits on an acre as would be proper for the lai'^'O varicJics.. — Ep, 17G NEW ENGLx\ND FARlvrER. DORKING rOAVLS. For the Neio England Farmer. Mr. Cole r This breed of fowls derives its name from a town in England, where, some fifty j-^are since, it was introduced from China. These fowls •were selected by a person, a native of Dorking, Suney, who resided in the East Indies, and hold a civil office under the Honorable East India Company. The fowls Avcre brought to England in one of the company's ships, and were carried to Dorking, where they were highly prized by the recipients, as great curiosities, on account of the fifth too, the snow- white plumage, and the soft and downy feathcrs^ with which they were covered. These fowls were for many years bred with the utmost care, by the family of the ix>rson who se- lected them, and were kept by them exclusively, the family regarding it a matter of some honor to be the sole posscsvSors of this race ; and only within a few years, the thorough-bred fowl has been allowed to go out of their possession. That the Chinese possess a race of fowls which have the filth too, is proved by the fact, that a gen- tleman of this city has received direct from Ca)iton, China, a pair of fowls, which have the fifth toe de- veloped as fully and distinctly, and in the same form, as tlic best bred Dorking. These fowls, which arrived within the last six weeks, arc also covered with a snow-white plumage. I have been thus particular in giving the history of the Dorking fowls, from the fact, that Dr. J. C. Bennett^ in the Poultry Book, on page 200, says, " For instance, the Dorking fowl was originally pro- duced by crossing the Great Malay with the English Game fowl, as an accident ; but it by no means fol- lows that Dorkings are the luiiXoxm, oi: qvqn the coni- mon result of such a cross, for hundreds of such ex- periments have proved unsuccessful. In order, then, to produce pure Dorkings, the breeding must con- tinue from the original stock, carefully avoiding ' close,' and ' in and in ' breeding." Pure Dorkings from the Great Malay and the English Game ! llie plumag-e of the pure bred Dorkings is white, with legs and bill of th& same color. The fifth toe is also an indispensable characteristic.' The combs are both single and double. The wattles are of me- dium size. The hens are good layei-s, constant sitters, and most excellent nurses. The flesh of these fowls has an agreeable flavor, and is rich and juicy. The average weight of these fowls is from twelve to four- teen ])Ounds per pair. The c-ggs are large, rich, and nutritious. The chicks are hardy, and easily raised. The engraving was made from a drawing of a pair of Dorkings which were two years'old at the time it was taken. No thorough-bred Dorking ever has logs or bill of any other color than wliite. Dorking fowls which show any other color, are of impure blood, and can- not be depended upon to produce their like. AU s:peckk-d, faioH-colorcd, or black Dorkings arc mongrels, and any person having the thorough-bred white Dorkings, can produce, by crossing with other breeds, mongrel specimens of such color as they may desire. On page 74, Dr. Bennett has favored the reader with an elaborate description of the Black Dorking, given by Mr. N. C. Day, of Lunenburg, ]Mass., ivho says, " they came from Philadelphia." " Their bodies arc of a large size, * * and of a jet black color." * * " The neck feathers of some of the cocks are tinged with, a bright gold color, and those of some of the NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 177 hens bear a silver]/ complexion." (Je< bhxck, bright gold color, and silvery complexion ! ^ " Their tails arc shorter and broader than others of the race," (what race?) " and they feather rather slowly." I, for one, cannot suffer such gross misrepresenta- tions to pass unnoticed. Dr. Bennett has no apology for suffering ^Ir. Day's statement to appear in his •work. Dr. Bennett, if he had but a slight acquaint- ance with the different breeds of domestic fowls, would have seen at once, that the Black Dorkings described by Mr. Day were a mongrel race, into •whose composition the blood of the Black Java largely entered. Yours, kc, S. BRADFORD MORSE, Jr. For the Neio England Farmer WHITE SHANGHAE FOWLS. Mr. Cole : In the account of the "White Shang- haes written by me, and published in the last number of ■j'our paper, an error occurs as to the year in -which the importation of the Shanghae fowls by Capt. A. S. Palmer, of Westerly, R. I., was made. The gen- tleman from whom the information was received, has had an interview with Capt. Palmer, and in a letter bearing date May 9, 18.50, says, "In one of my communications to you, I gave it as my opinion, that the fowls of Dixon were not Shanghaes — not hav- ing been imported from that place, but probably from Canton. That information, though derived from two sources, was incorrect. Capt. Palmer informs me that he brought them from Shanghae, in the year 184.5, via Canton. He put up two large coops of them, but succeeded in bringing home only eight pairs, most of the largest having died on the passage. He says that they ate fowls on the passage that weighed eleven pounds, dressed ; and that some of his fowls died on the passage, in consequence of becoming too fat. '\Mien he arrived in Canton, the fowls were nearly as great a curiosity to the people of that place as they were here. He also informed me that his was the second vessel that ever entered the port of Shanghae. " Capt. Palmer's brother has just brought from Shanghae several pairs for the captain, of two or three sizes ; one pair he speaks of as being uncom- monly large. I endeavored to purchase a pair of the captain, but he says that fifty dollars would not pur- chase a pair." Yours, &c., S. BRADFORD MORSE, Jk. For the New England Farmer. CONGENIALITY OF STOCKS AND SCIONS. Mr. Cole: This subject seems to be very imper- fectly understood, probably from the fact that thoso most engaged in horticulture have but little time or desire to try experiments. Enough has been done, however, by amateurs and others, to show that scions set in unnatural stocks will frcqiiently grow, and that some such scions are productive of fruit, even better than on their own bottoms. The drawback, however, is, that they will not live so long. But the pear on the quince, which some years past was thought to be l)ut of short duration, is now known to live twenty-five years. This union seems to be the most siicccssful of unnatural unions. There was a paraj^raph in the first volume N. E. Farmer, p. 40, •which had traversed the rounds of the horticultural papers, stating that a gentleman visiting England had tasted of an apple grown on a piar stock, and that " it had a peculiar flavor, somewhat like a pear." See, also, the same on p. 79. It seems from these paragraphs, that the apple can be successfully in- grafted into the pear. It is not understood, however, that the reverse is so successful, if we except the Seckel pear, which is said to do quite well so far as tested. Now, in this union, can it make any differ- ence whether the pear is the scion or the stock ? If the Seckel pear docs well or better on the apple, may there not be some other varieties which will do as ■well ? There seem to be different natures in pears, (as some will, and others will not, grow well on the quince ;) and may we not reasonably infer that there are many other pears ■which, by proper testing, will yet be found congenial ■with the apple ? Having last year quite a number of suitable apple stocks, I in- serted some of the scions of the Beurre Did, Louise bon de Jersey, and one of the Beurre d'Aremberg. The two former kinds did ■well as respects growth ; the latter put forth only a couple of leaves, and died the last winter. The Diels and the Jerseys are grafted a foot from the ground, and I shall let them take their course, and at some future day may report their fate. This year I have inserted a variety snug to the ground, with a vie^^v of their re-rooting. I have two other pears inserted on forest stocks, (dif- ferent from any which I have heard experimented upon,) and anxiously •«'ait the issue. I intend to make still further experiments, for my own gratifica- tion. I have heard of pear scions bearing well on apple- trees in a bearing state, and think that inserted in small stocks they may begin to bear a little ; but ■whether they will so continue, in either case, is doubtful. Nevertheless, it seems to me, that if the apple will do well on the pear, the pear will do equally well on the apple. L. Boston, April 22, 1850. For the New England Farmer. "CORN FOR FODDER." Mr. Cole : Having seen several inquiries, in the New England Farmer, with regard to raising corn fodder, and having been in the habit of raising it for a number of years, I will give j'ou a statement of my method of raising and curing. I think that sweet corn is preferable to any other. I sow it in drills, about three feet apart. I furrow deep, and fill the furrow with compost, and drop the corn the whole width of the manure, and from two to three inches apart. I always cut it up before the frost. I stook it up immediately after cutting, in bunches so large that I think the ■v\-ind will not blow them over. I place my arms round near the top, and bring them in as tight as I can, then break the tops over as you would a shock of stalks. I let them stand out till they are sufficiently dry to pack away in the barn. I have never had any trouble in curing fodder in tliis -way. AV. S. Medfield, May 8, 1850. CULTIVATING DWARF PEARS. Every intelligent fruit raiser is aware of the neces- sity of cultivatir.g and manuring the soil well for dwarf pear-trees. S. B. Parsons states tluit he has seventeen hundred trees on four acres ; tliat he ap- plied to this orch.ird, last spring, $150 worth of ma- nure, and gathered in the autumn two hundred and seventy-five bushels of potatoes, thirty tons of sugar beets, and a large quantity of turnips and cabbages -— paying the expenses of manure and cultivation, and giving the pear-trees a vigorous impuLo. — Maiao Farmer, 178 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Dtpartmcnt. The Educatiox of Farmers' Daughters. — Most of the fanners of our country arc the sons of farm- ers ; and most of their -wives arc the daughtci's of farmers. This shows the propriety of educating our children with reference to our own occupation. The first and most important step towards the improve- ment of the great agricultural community, is the im- provement of the mind, by a proper early education. Until they, as a class, are as well informed as those engaged in other pursuits, they must and will feel a degree of dilHdcnce, a want of confidence in them- selves. The most important duty we have to per- form, cither as parents or citizens, is that of properly educating and bringiiig up our children. Until the farmers so discharge that duty, as that their descend- ants rank oi^ual with those engaged in other pursuits, they will be guilty, as they too long have been, of a great dereliction of duty. I am well pleased to -see, of late, able articles in our journals, on the subject of giving our sons an agricultural education ; but this should be coupled with a good common education, at least. I am prov- ing the Avant of this, in. almost every sentence I write. "We should also remember, that the education of our daughters is of equal importance, and that com- mon justice requires that we give them an equal chance with our sons. It is true, our women do not vote at our elections, or hold political offices, or man- age the out-door concerns of the farm ; but it is equally true, that they exercise their full share of influence in all our concerns. They have the mould- ing, direction, and training the minds of our chil- dren — the boys to the age of ten or twelve, and the girls to a much greater age ; and nature has admi- rably fitted them for the performance of this impor- tant duty. Their earlj' impressions, derived from the mother, are indelibly fixed in their minds, and have great weight in forming their future characters. Most of us, who had a mother living after w-e became old enough to recollect, can well remember the fine sympathetic feelings she possessed, and taught us ; and these are among the noblest feelings of the human heart. We can also well recollect the rigid principles of morality taught us by her, and the lasting impression they made on our minds. If •we look about among our acquaintance, we shall sec that wherever there is a well-educated, intelligent mother, there is also an intelligent family of children. And this is a much more important matter, than the rearing of fine, high-blooded animals with four legs. If we will divest ourselves of pride and prejudice, and examine coolly, we shall see that our women liave greater influence over us, than Ave are generally willing to admit. Nor is the importance of educating our daughters less in a pecuniary, than in a moral and intellectual point of view. Much of the success, prosperity, and comfort of every farmer, depends upon the manage- ment of his in-door concerns, by his wife. There is no occupation in which intelligent women are more useful than that of farming. If wc will look about among our acquaintance, we shall see that wherever there is a wife of the right stamp, if the husband possesses ordinary ability and industry, they Mill be prosperous. If I am right in this, it shows the ne- cessity of properly educating our daughters, and cjic- ing them a i^rojier traitiing in all matters that relate to good housewifery. Let us fit them to make good farmers' wives, and they will answer for those en- gaged in other pursuits. "NVe should first attend to the useful and substantial part — that well done, if we can afford it, to do something by way of the orna- mental. But it is feared that some of our farmers pay too little attention to the former, and too much to the latter. A young lady, with ever so fashionable an educa- tion, if she possessed no knowledge of the kitchen, and the different departments of housekeeping, however well she might show off" in the parlor or drawing- room, would make a farmer a very unsuitable com- panion ; she would not be worth as much as Lot's wife after she became salified, because he could pro- cure from her salt for his porridge. The first and most important step is, to make our common schools good. If this is neglected, the great middling class of farmers, and almost all the poorer class of people, will fail in giving their children a proper education. "NVe should make our common schools such that our scholars can go from them direct to the academy, to good advantage, or procure a good common education without. "\Vheu this is done, we shall have an intelligent agricultural com- munity. A FAllMER. — Chickopee Telegraph. To CLEAN Knives. — Charcoal, ground to powder, is one of the best things ever discovered for this purpose. |)outl/s Drpartmcut. Good Society. — It should be the aim of young men to go into good society. "We do not mean the rich, the proud, and fashionable, but the society of the wise, the intelligent, and the good. Where you find men that know more than you do, and from whose conversation one can gain information, it is always safe to be found. It has broke down many a man by associating w^ith the low and vulgar — where the ribald song was inculcated, and the indecent story, to excite laughter, and influence the bad pas- sions. Lord Clarendon has attributed his success and happiness in life to associating with persons more learned and virtuous than himself. If you wish to be respected, if you desire happiness and not misery, we advise you to associate with the intelli- gent and good. Strive for mental excellence, and strict integrity, and you never will be found in the sinks of pollution, and on the benches of retailers and gamblers. Once habituate yourself to a vir- tuous course — once secure a love of good society — and no punishment would be greater than by acci- dent to be obliged, for a half a day, to associate with the low and vulgar. (5caltl) Department. Individual Odor. — Bathing. — The quantity of heat, perspiration, or moisture continually passing from the body is very great. Frequent exposure of the naked body to the air, changes of clothing, and bathing, are necessary to health. No person can be considered cleanly without their observance. " It may shock the feelings of a young lady," says Mrs. Farrar, in her Young Lady's Friend, "to be told that this large quantity of matter which is con- stantly passing ott' through the skin, has an individ- ual odor, more or less disagreeable in different per- sons. Now, each person is so accustomed to his own atmosphere, that he is no judge of his odor ;_ but, since most persons can recollect some of their friends NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 179 who affect them disagreeably tliis way, all should bear in mind the pof5sibility of so offending others ; and, though none of us can change the nature of the Etmosphcre, which we are always creating aiound us, we can prevent its becoming a nuisance by the accumulation of excreted matter on the skin or in the clothing ; we can, by washing every part of the skin once in twenty-four hours, be sure of sending off oulv fresh exhalations." iHccljanics' Pepartmcnt, Qivis, $^c. The Ohio Indestructible Mineral Paint. — A paragraph in the last number of the Farmer and Mechanic, asking for information in regaixl to this valuable article, induces me to state the result of my own experiments with it. I have used it on tin, wood, iron, caiiras, and brick, and find it exceedingly well adapted to either. For tin roofing it works exceed- ingly well, becoming in twenty-four hours sufficiently set to resist storms, and continues to indurate for several months, until it becomes a perfect stone coating, apparently sufficient, when three good coats are applied, to endure for half a century. Applied to wood covering, whether on the roof or sides of buildings, it is equally valuable. It sets as soon as ordinary lead paint, and, as when used on tin, con- tinues to harden gi-adually, until it becomes perfectly indurated, or like slate. In this state, a quantity of glowing anthracite coal, or a small charcoal fire kindled on the surface of the wood thus painted, has no effect other than to char the wood underneath, decomposing or removing the paint. Any thing like cinders or burning materials, driven through the air and falling on Avood thus covered with the paint, would fad. to ignite the wood at all. For canvas or burlap roofs, or other covering, it requires three coats, and forms a perfect protection from the ele- ments, and is ajiparcntly as durable as metal. For iron, it seems to adhere with great tenacity, and forms a i^erfoct incorrosive surface, protecting it from all the effects of exposure to the atmosphere. For hrick or stucco work, this paint seems to be invaluable, as two or three coats of it on the surface completely preclude moisture, and obviate the great evil at- tendant on brick dwellings, arising from the absorp- tion and retention of moisture from the outside. In short, I have tested its qualities in a most thorough manner, and have full confidence in the extraor- dinary properties claimed for it b)' the proprietor. The article thus tested was of various colors, and furnished by Mr. W. II. Starr, G7 Eeckman Street, who is general agent for the same, and has issued a pamphlet with full description, directions, &c., in regard to this paint. H. S. — Farmer and Mechanic. Blue Writing Ink. — Four ounces sulphate of iron, two and a half drachms of sulphuric acid, one ounce, or q. s. nitric acid, six ounces fcrrocyanide of potassium ; water q. s. Dissolve the sulphate of iron in one pint of water, then add the sulphuric acid, and heat the solution to boiling ; tlicn pour in the nitric acid, in small quantities at a time, contin- uing the boiling until the iron is peroxidizcd. dis- solve the ierrocyanide of potassium in two pints of water, and add the former solution, when cold, to this. Collect the precipitate that will be formed on a filter, and carefully wash it with distilled water, until the blue precipitate begins to dissolve in the water. It will now be found to be soluble in pure water, although insoluble if any other salt bo present. Rub what remains, in a mortar with distilled water* until a clear solution is obtained, of the required in- tensity of color. A Httle oxalic acid is sometimes added, but this is not necessary, if the above instruc- tions be carefully followed, as tlie precipitate will be perfectly and permanently soluble in pure water. — Scientific Ainerican. SUBSOIL PLOUGHING. The value of subsoil ploughing seems not to be generally understood in this country. In the reno- vation of old lands, that have been long under cul- tivation, there can be no reasonable doubt, that the breaking up of the under soil, which has become hard and almost impenetrable for air, roots, or moist- ure, and the gradually bringing up to the surface, or the intermingling with the surface, soil of substances from which former crops (if of a culmiferons class, such as wheat, oats, Indian com, &c.) have extracted little or nothing of theu- fertilizing properties, is one of the most effectual means to bring the soil into its original productiveness, that can be adopted. This principle of culture, which has been in ojieration some twenty-five years in Europe, is operating in a large increase of agricultural product. In this country we have not had sufficient experi- ence to come at a correct comi^arative estimate of the system. An account of its operation, and some of the results as experienced by the writer, who has used a subsoil plough for the last five years, may not, Mr. Editor, be uninteresting to some of your readers. This plough follows in the bottom of the furrow left by the seed or surface plough, and may be set by a gauge, or screw, for any depth desii-cd, from eight to twenty inches. This plough has been constructed (or improved from its original construction) on prin- ciples appearing the best titted to break up, or dis- integrate, the soil at this depth, without throwing it up to the surface, as is the case with the surface plough. Some of the benefits derived, beyond the free admission of the air, are that, in seasons of drought or dry weather, the roots can strike down deep below the action of heat, and obtain moisture. So too, in seasons of wet weather, the surplus of moisture can easily pass down through the subsoil, so as to be beyond an injurious influence on vegeta- tion. After the ground has received one thorough operation of the subsoil plough, it can be worked with much less expense, and be dry, and ready for use much earlier in the spring. I have a field of about two acres, one half of which, in the spring of 1810, was subsoilcd; the other part was left -without this operation. With a view to ascertain the value of subsoiling, the field was manured alike, and planted to corn, the last of May. The summer was dry, but not a hill on the subsoilcd part intimated the want of moisture, while on the other part, the leaves rolled very much, and the product was less of fruit and stalk. The field was laid to grass in the fall, and I have mowed it four years, with the same comparative rcsidt as with the corn. Perhaps I ought to have stated, that in preparing that part of the field where the subsoil plough was not used, it was ploughed \\ith a large sod plough, to the depth of twelve or fourteen inches; and also, that wc considered it the best texture of soil. I have another field, that has been under the hoc for the last nine years ; six years ago, at the time of its coming into my possession, it produced about twenty or twentv-five' bushels of corn per acre ; the next spring (IS 11) it received a thorough operation of the subsoil plough. Since that time it has been culti- vated for early vegetables, potatoes, peas, beans, vines, 180 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. &c., without any extra dressing of manure, and still with an increasing product from year to year. It is believed that all lands are benefited by subsoiling. I have not tried it much on light, sandy soils, but there are some of our very best fanners in the state, ■who have tested it on this kind of soils, that believe it to be of equal benefit on these, as on hard soils. It is hoped that many of the farmers of the county and state will try these ploughs the coming season, and note the result. Ploughs are kept at Manches- ter, Concord, and Nashua, the prices varying from eight to sixteen dollars ; and -we venture to predict that any farmer paying ten or twelve dollars for one, will never feel that liis money was paid for a useless implement. B. SHATTUCK. Bedford, 1850. — Granite Farmer. N. H. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. We acknowledge ourself deeply interested in the progress and welfare of this infant institution. AVe feel that on its successful operation, its early, rapid, and strong progress, depend great interests to our hard-soiled and rock-ribbed state. The objects of the society are to promote agricultural and mechanical interests ; — to assist in the general diffusion of more enlarged and scientific views on these subjects ; — to bring the practical working men of the state together from time to time, that they may compare notes and strength, acquire individual zeal by associated labor and emulation ; and to rally around a home centre that interest that has in time passed looked abroad for its objects of desire and care. There is, we are aware, upon this subject a mistaken sentiment, that has in times past, and that may now, to a certain extent, prevent many from coming up with cordial and hearty effort to the aid of our new society. It is this. We hear it occasionally suggested that it may do for New York to support liberally a State Society — her soil is rich, easily tilled, and consequently such a course will pay. Massachusetts may clo this to advantage, as she has more wealth to expend in agricultural inves- tigations, greater facilities for advanced cultivation, and more inducements in the shape of a market de- mand. AN'ith the exception perhaps of tins last advanta<;c, are not the very reasons assigned as ob- jections to hearty labor for, and support of, a State Society, the venj reasons why the most earnest labor of every individual should be freely iind uns^jaringly given for the sxipport of such a society ? Are they not the most urgent reasons why the new State So- ciety should receive unmixed sympathy and most cordial support ? Is New Hampshire soil hard to cultivate, and does it yield its returns from force and grudgingly ? Who then more than the New Hampshire farmer needs to call to his aid all the resources of science, that he may compel the more easily the unwilling earth ? Who needs more than he the benefits of associated effort ? For one individual to attempt for himself alone a tithe of all the chemical and obsei-vational experi- ments needed upon the varieties of our soils, would consume a lifetime in unrequited toil. And if, as it has been in times past, no one of these experiments should be put on record, at the end of tliis lifetime the farming community would be no wiser than be- fore. Each one would be obliged to go over the same ground for himself, and that as though no other had ever tried that path before him. Association puts the acquisition of a whole body of experimentalists into the possession of each indi- vidual ; a member of an elKcicnt association becomes gil'tod with the hundred eyes of the fabled Argus, with which to pry into the secrets of nature, the hun- dred hands of Briarius, with which to work in a hundred fields of labor. That New Hampshire soil is poor and hard, then, is the best reason why the New Hampshire farmer should strive for better modes of culture. Science has locked up in her depositories all the secrets of our hard soil, and the farmer has but to ask of her, and she wiU instruct him how to make the difficult easy. If our farms arc the " strong man armed," science is the " stronger than the strong man armed." That New Hampshire has not the wealth that other states may have, furnishes another reason why her farmers should combine their energies to bring wealth to their state by a better and more scientific mode of culture. What farmer is there, in our state, that could not by more care, a more intelligent labor^ and a more judicious application of means to an end, se- cure the same croj) from half the number of acres ho now cultivates ? In the language of the " Old Man of the Mountain," " Where's the use of mowing, tugging, and sweatin" over 30 to 40 acres of land to get 20 tons of scorched wiry redtop or speargrass, and this too filled with sorrel, whiteweed, and black- berry vines, wl\en by proper culture, and as cheaply, in the long run, he can get the same quantitj* of well, made herdsgrass from 6 or 8 acres." If the intimation conveyed in this query of the venerable " dweUer among the rocks " is true, that twenty tons of hay now grown on from thirty to forty acres, might be made to grow on from six to eight, to say nothing of improved quality, it is nothing beyond the limits of a reasonable sujjposition that on the same or even less amount of land the grass crop of the state might be doubled in a very short time, by a more intelligent adaptation of means and agencies. Supjjose this done. The amount of hay raised in New Hampshire is put down in the last Patent Report, (not the one pre- sented to the present Congress,) as 680,000 tons. Let this crop be doubled, and at fair average of the prices of hay throughout the state, the productive wealth of the state Avould be increased more than six mil- lions of dollars. Tliis is but one of many products of the soil that go to make up the agricultural wealth of the state. It is, then, one of the plainest dictates of common sense, that time, labor, and money, in- vested in the ways and means of increased knowledge of the natures of soils and crops, and the relations be- tween them, — in increased facilities and in better constructed implements of culture, — in any thing that shall give the farmer more entire control over the natural elements, is time, labor, and money, most wisely given. The New Hampshire State Agricultural Society affords to the farmers of the state just the field in which to labor for the increase of its wealth. This increase, too, is not only general, but individual. The state is richer because, and only because, the indi- viduals composing it are so. We intend recurring to this matter again, and would close by urging upon our citizens, generally, attention to the claims of this society. " Union is strength," and in the increased strength and pros- perity of one interest, and especially one so vital, all arc made stronger. — Granite Farmer. MANAGEMENT OF SWINE. Messiis. Editors : I give you my experience in the management of swine. In the first place, I take December pigs, let them run with the sows two months, then wean them, and enclose them in a pen, in which they arc moderately fed on corn, with as much milk from the dairy, or good swill of some kind, as will keep up a thriftiness. As soon as clover is in blossom, I leave oft' grain feeding, and givo clover three times per day until after harvest. I then turn them on to stubble. They remain there imtil NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 181 about the first of September, whence I remove them to a pasture aljaccnt to my cornfield, and keep up their condition by givins; them a small quantity of green corn. When the time of fattening; comes on, I have my hogs in very fine condition to take on fat. I enclose them in a pen, and feed them altogether on corn and water, and by the time the weather is cold enough, which is the latter part of November, I slaughter them at the ago of about eleven and a half months. "NVith this treatment, they weigh from two hundred and twenty- tive to two hundred and fifty pounds dressed pork. In the mean time, my second litter comies on in June, which have the benefit of the stubble with the first litter ; and running with the sows, and suck- ing, they get a very fine start. At about two months old, I wean them and enclose them in a pen, taking the same process as with the first litter, only forcing their growth more rapidly by giving good slops, and as much corn as prudent, without fattening too rap- idly for their growth. I continue this process until the first of January. -I then slaughter them at about the age of six and" a half months. They will aver- age one hundred and fifty pounds of dressed pork very readily. This is no fiction, but matter of fact, from personal observation. You will now i^erceive that from one sow, say having two litters in one year, eight pigs in each litter, the result will be as follows : First litter, eight pigs, weighing two hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty pounds each, aggregate eighteen hundred to two thousand pounds ; second litter, eight pigs, average one hundred and fifty pounds, aggregate twelve hundred pounds ; which would make from three thousand to three thousand two hundred pounds of dressed pork from one breeder. This has been my treatment of hogs for the last few years, and I am satisfied it is the most profitable way I have ever tried, brother farmers, this is an exper- iment on tlie Bedford hog, which has the qualities of enormous size, and great tendency to fatten at any age. Yours, &c., EDMUND J. ROSENBERGEK Smith's Creek Farm, Va., Jan, 1850. — Genesee Farinar. FREE MARTINS. When a cow produces twins, one of which is a male and the other a female, breeders have applied to the latter the appellation of " Fur.E Martin." Among many the i)rcsumption is, that such are always bar- ren;'but it would appear from a note published some years since in the Albany Cultivator, from the pen of I. Cope, of Chester county. Pa., that such is not the case. ilr. C. says, — " Having spoken last year to some of my friends, of instances to which it was likely that heifers were likely to breed, both of which were twins to males, I can now state that they both produced calves this spring. As it is supposed by most that this circxim- stance can only happen when the heifer is the larger of the twins, I have made some inhen cut up. This is the kind for baking. Full Siceetings, — The Golden Sweet, often called Orange Sweet, which ripens the last of August, and continues through September, is excellent for baking. The Sassafras Sweet is said to be excellent for baking, but as we have had only a few specimens, we have not cooked them. It comes into use in September, and sometimes continues through the fall. The Pumjjkin Sweet is an excellent baking apple, but a poor bearer. There are many other fall sweet apples of some notoriety, but their habits are not well known. Superb Sweet is one of the finest early fall sweet apples for the dessert, but it is probably too soft as a cooking apple to be used with milk. Roxbury Russet. — It is evident that this fi'uit does not flourish so well in this section as formerly, and many cultivators are discarding it ; yet we think that tliis defect is not owing to any decline in this fruit, for it still flourishes well in new countries ; but it is doubtless owing to our lands becoming old, and ex- hausted of some essential ingredients. If original forests were cleared off, and the land planted with this fruit, it would doubtless flourish as formerly. We often complain that fruit declines, when, in reality, the land declines, and the fruit declines only as a consequence of the declension of the land. Analysis of Fruits. — This would be a nice business indeed for the chemist ; and we doubt that he would determine what elements give to fruit its peculiar flavor and fine aroma, for these depend on properties remarkably e\iinescent and volatile, that arc passing away with more rapidity than the man of science can produce his manipulations in his laboratory. Leland Pippin is the standard name of this fruit, for under this appellation we first described and in- troduced it to public notice. Wc are aware that this fruit may be kept until winter, but we have observed that it loses its good qualities after October. It is usually disposed of in this market in_ September. This fruit is of a high quality, but rather too acid for the table, according to the taste of many. Those who like mild fruits would prefer Bars, Long Stem, Richardson, Garden Royal, and Magnolia, which are milder, and some of which rii^en about the same time, and others earlier. A NEW MANURE. Robert Bryson, Esq., of Cumberland county, about eight miles from Harrisburg, has been experimenting for the last ten years, to make exhausted tan-bark available and valuable as a manure. Besides his magnificent farm, he likewise carries on the tanning business. Finally, after a great deal of expense and many failures, he has succeeded in discovering a method of producing from the tan an efficient manure. This is his plan : he has his tan wheeled out on a level piece of ground, and levelled off, two or three feet thick. Over this he spreads a layer of two or three inches of lime, and over that, again, a stratum of tan, then a layer of lime, and so on. He lets the bed, so prepared, remain for two years : at the end of that time he finds himself in possession of a bed of manure, the effects of which upon the land can hardly be surpassed for the richness of its product and the duraVde fertibty which it imparts. — Lancaster Go. (^Pa.) Farmer. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 183 BARN-DOOR ROLLERS. "We would call the attention of farmers, who are building or repairing barns, to the valuable article represented by the above cuts. The cost of rollers is about the same as that of hinges, but they are far more substantial and durable ; and as doors hung on them are less exposed to injury than those on hinges, of course they last much longer. A door sliding upon rollers is usually more convenient, especially when partially opened. Every farmer who has not this improvement should examine into its merits. " Economy is wealth." For the New England Farmer. CHERRY CULTURE. "Don't talk of tree culture to me," says old Hunks. " It takes too long for 'em to grow ; there's no use in trying to raise 'em ; and then, the trees may all die, and you are no better off than you are now ; or if they do live, a fellow may not live to get any good of 'em." Now, in this matter we have only to say, that the growth of cherry-trees, under proper care, is very rapid. We can show, — and so wc presume many others can, — from scions set in the spring of 1849, growths of more than four feet the following sum- mer. We can also show scions set in 18-18, as well set with fruit buds now, as you will find on any tree of twenty years' growth. We have seen trees grafted, near the ground, into stocks of not more tlian an inch and a half in diameter, in full bearing the third summer. And yet many will not put out cherry- trees because they do not expect to live to see them bear. Assure any of these individuals they will not live thi-ee years, and sec the effect it would have upon them. Tliey would probably think your words false, though they might not say so. With regard to a lass of them, a tree is as sure to live and flourish as a horse or an ox. Care must be taken in both instances in order to insure success. But who ever stopped raising oxen, or horses, or hay, or grain, because they might not succeed ? No prov- ident man will do such things, llisks are necessary in any pursuit that is to result in success, and they are attended with less expense, and "greater certainty, in trees, than almost any investment one can make." Every man can raise his own trees. Sow the pits in autumn, and before the second following autumn is past, they may all be budded, or the third vear they may all be ingrafted from bearing trees, which may, perhaps, result in earlier productiveness. So, in six years from the pit, the cultivator may begin to gather fruit. Six years ! look back upon it and see how short a time ; and how much of this time has been spent in whining over things that seemed im- possible or impracticable ? Enough in the latter to enable any one by well-applied industry, to fill his j-ards with choice fruits, and his field Avith produc- tive orchards. A cherry-tree ! Why, it is a very model of beauty through its whole growth. If it had no other quality but its symmetry, it is well worthy of culture as a shade tree ; but when to these graceful proportions, and its boatttiful foliage, we can add the great amount of most healthful and delicious fruit it will yield, and continue to yield in greater quantities, only for the gathering, not only for one generation, but a long series of years, who can blame us for wondering that its cultivation is not universal : W. B. April 20, 1850. LOW-HEADED FRUIT TREES. By having low-headed fruit trees, the sun, which is, perhaps, in our hot and dry summers, the cause of more disease and destruction in fruit trees than all other diseases together, is kept from almost scalding the sap, as it does in long, naked trunks and limbs. The limbs and leaves of a tree should always effec- tually shade the trunk and keep it cool. The leaves, only, should bave plenty of sun and light ; they can bear and profit by it. If trees were suffered to branch out low, say witliin one or two feet of the ground, we should hear very much less of " fire-blight," " frozen sap-blight," black spots, and the like. The ground is always looser, moister, and cooler under a low-branching ti'ce, than under a high one. Grass and weeds do not grow a hundredth part so rank and readily, and mulching becomes unnecessary. The wind has not half the power to rack, and twist, and break the tree, and shake off the fruit — a matter of no inconsiderable consequence. The trees will be much longer lived, and more prolific, beautiful, and l)rofitable. The trees are more easily rid of destruc- tive insects, the fruit is much less damaged by falling, and the facilities for gathering it are much greater ; there is less danger in climbing, and less of breaking limbs. The trees require less pruning, and scraping, and washing ; and the roots are protected from the jjlough, which is too often made to tear and mutQato them. What an iron net is habit, and how securely it binds U3 in its folds ! 184 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Thoughts on Domestic Life, by Nelson Sizcr: New York, Fowlers & Wells.— This is a pamphlet of 48 pages 12mo., containing very interesting articles on several subjects in relation to social life. Price 12i Ct3. An Intuoduction to the Water- Cure, by Dr. T. L. Nichols.— This work is also published by Fow- lers & Wells, at 124 cts. It is, in brief, a Treatise on the Condition of Health, the Cause of Disease, the Propirtics and Remedial Effects of Water, &c. The Student, a Family Miscellany, devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Physical Improvement of Youth. Monthly, at $1 00 per year. Fowlers & IVells, publishers. — The first number indicates that this will be a very interesting and instructive work. The Culture of the Carrot, and Manufacture OF Patent Woad. — This is a small pamphlet, by C. Farmer, Ellington, Ct., who has a patent right for making woad of carrots ; and this work contains cer- tificates showing the success and utility of the pro- cess. They also show that this patent woad is superior to the foreign. We would call the attention of dyers to the subject. It is also worthy the atten- tion of those cultivators who would give their atten- tion to the investigation of new subjects. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Mr. Nourse, the publisher of the Farmer, grate, fully acknowledges the receipt of a fine pair of Bol- ton Gray fowls, from Master George Dorr. These fowls are from the choice stock exhibited by Mr. James Dorr, of Dorchester, at the poultry fair last fall, which was regarded by competent judges as pure, and among the finest in the country. We trust that those who have purchased eggs from this stock will find that they produce fowls true to their name, and a valuable breed. Of Master H. B. Coffin, Newton, a dozen of eggs of the Gueldcrland fowls. These eggs are remarkably large, which property is peculiar to the eggs of this breed. They are from stock imported by Capt. Dev- ereux, of Marblehead, — the pure race. From Wm. 0. 11. Gwynneth, Portland, Me., scions of the Baldwin apple, cut thirteen months since, by J. Larrabce. They appear remarkably fresh and fine ; and Mr. L. will oblige us by giving his mode of keep- ing scions so long in fine condition. Horticultural Society. — A gentleman of this city, of fine taste and considerable experience in the culture of trees and flowers, has suggested the pro- priety of forming a City Society, for the purpose of enlarging the amount of knowledge on those subjects, by mutual conversation, and adding to the beauty and health of our city, by exciting more attention to cultiire of trees and flowers. Will some one propose a plan ? — Granite Farme?: THE SILK-WORM'S WILL. BY MISS H. F. GOULD. On a plain rush hurdle a silk-worm lay, When a proud young princess came that way ; The haughty child of a human king Throw a sidelong glance at the humble thing, That took, with a silent gratitude. From the mulberry leaf her simple food, And shrunk, half scorn and half disgust, Away from her sister child of dust ; Declaring she could never see Why a reptile form like this should be. And that she was not made of nerves so firm, As calmly to stand by a " crawling worm." With mute forbearance the silk-worm took The taunting words and the spurning look. Alike a stranger to self and pride, She'd no disquiet from aught beside, And lived of a meekness and peace possessed, Which these debar from the human breast. She only wished for the harsh abuse To find some way to become of use To the haughty daughter of lordly man ; And thus did she lay a noble plan To teach her wisdom, and make it plain That the humble worm was not made in vain — A plan so generous, deep, and high. That to carry it out she must even die, " No more," said she, " will I drink or eat ! I'll spin and v.-eave me a winding-sheet, To wrap me up from the sun's clear light. And hide my form from her wounded sight. In secret then till my end draws nigh, I'll toil for her ; and when I die, I'll leave behind, as a farewell boon, To the proud young princess, my whole cocoon, To be reeled and wove to a shining lace. And hung in a veil o'er her scornful face ! And Avhen she can calmly draw her breath Thro' the very threads that have caused my death, When she finds at length she has nerves so firm As to wear the shroud of a crawling worm, May she bear in mind, that she walks with pride In the winding-sheet where the silk-worm died ! " We do not always converse with reason, to learn what we ought to do ; but it is good to learn some- times what we ought to avoid. Wisdom is not always grave, nor folly gay. Industry and perseverance merit success. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at ^I a year, or five copies for $i, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. I^ The Postage <^i On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and lij cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the BOSTON stereotype FOUNDRY. ^^^^A DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE IN Agricult ure not only gives riches to a nation but the only riches she can call her own. —Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY , JUNE 8, 1850 NO. 12. s. w. COLE, Editoe. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Propkietor. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. We hope that more care Avill be observed in taking the agricultural census tliis year, than was the case in 18i0. Some years ago •\ve published an article shoM'ing the gross errors of that census. It is far better to have no agricultural statistics taken, than to have them so erroneous. In many respects we can guess far nearer the true items than is the marshal's census, and certainly guessing would be a more eco- nomical mode. Our attention was called to this subject a few months ago, at the State House, when Mr. iMorse was reading the report of the Committee of Super- vision of the poultry exhibition, before the meeting for forming a New England Poultry Association. We are astonished that the good sense of the committee had not led them to detect the great errors iu the poultry statistics, or those of other items with which they compared them. But instead of this, they gave currency to them, and they have been copied into l^apers, and into Dr. Bennett's Poultry Book without comment as to the most glaring errors ever published. In the committee's report it is stated " that the value of poultry in the state of New York was more than the value of its sheep, the cntii-e value of its neat cattle, and nearly five times the value of its horses and mules." What absurdities ! Did the cora- , mittee, and others %^ho gave currency to them, look or think beyond the fallacious figures ? Now, let us examine this statement. New York is mostly an agricultural state ; and in the cities and large towns, where little or no attention is paid to agriculture, the value of horses exceeds that of poultry in a far greater proportion than in the rural sections. Generally, in the country, each farmer has twenty head of cattle, worth $25 each, making a total of $500, where he has $25 worth of poultry. And in case the farmer has only half that value in cattle, he will usually have not more than half the value in poultry, making, as we should guess, the neat stock worth at least twenty times as mucli as the poultry. And instead of the poultry being worth nearly five times as much as the horses and mules, we believe that farmers average one to two horses, worth $100, while they would not average $20 worth of poul- try. Then, if we are correct, instead of the poultry being worth five times as much as the horses and mules, they are worth five times as much as the poultry ; making the value of poultry only one twenty-fifth part as much, in proportion to the value of the horses and mules, as has been stated. We have said enough to show the absurdity of relying upon figures, when they are so far from the truth, that a little reflection must show the error. The good sense of the observing farmer will support us in our guess-work. The reader will please to con- sider that we have estimated fowls at usual prices before this mania prevailed, that has led to specula- tion and deception, and consequently given a ficti- tious value to common and mongrel stock. LATE CROPS. As the spring has not only been backward, but. there has been much wet weather, which has pre- vented farmers despatching their business with usuA. expedition, in such seasons, and as moist lands ara too wet to work, and in some cases the seed is rotting in the ground, it is impossible for farmers to attend to their usual crops in due time ; therefore, as an ex- pedient, they should raise late crops in order to get their usual amount of produce. Canada corn, and other kinds of early corn, may be planted as late as the 10th or 12th of June. Fre- quently good crops may be obtained with so late planting ; and if it is only partially ripe, it may be cut on the approach of frost, and stocked, and it will make sweet bread. Potatoes generally bear late planting well ; but since their liability to rot, if planted late, it should be on dry land, both to forward their growth, and prevent injury from heavy rains in the fall, before harvesting. When planted late, it is desirable to plant early kinds. I-ast year, we planted early pota- toes late in the season, and they obtained a full growth in season for digging the former part of Sep- tember, so that they rotted but little. 186 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Early beans will usually ripen well when planted as late as the middle of June. The ^lon-iinachce, or Pierce bean, and Bremen, or large white six weeks bean will bear planting a fortnight later than the small pea bean ; and they yield about as much, and sell about as high in the market ; generally, the former sells higher than the pea bean. These two varieties are white, and well adapted to field culture ; and their early ripening is frequently an important advantage. Turnips may be substituted for other root crops which could not be planted in season. The early turnip beet, the Bassano, and the Early Sugar will j'ield good crops when sown as late as the middle or 20th of this month, if the seed be soaked a few days before sowing. These roots are of excellent quality, both for the table, and for stock ; and by sowing a little nearer than usual, a large crop may be obtained. Late vegetables, when there is time for their growth and maturity, generally yield the largest crops ; but when it is too late to plant them with a fair prospect of success, it is better to attend to early kinds, which in urgent cases may come in with great advantage to supply the deficiency. In some cases, buckwheat may be substituted for other grain, and it may be sown as late as the last of June. Farmers should not be discouraged from the tardiness of the season. With judicious manage- ment, they can yet plant with a fair promise of reap- ing. ♦' SALT AS MANURE. Common salt is a compound, consisting of the two simple elements, chlorine and sodium ; three parts of the former to two of the latter. The inorganic elements, or those substances which plants take up from the earth, are usually reckoned fourteen, two of which are supplied by salt. In some plants, chlorine and sodium are rather prominent, and in others they are small. In the ashes of one thousand pounds of wheat, there are, of different elements, 11.77 pounds in the grain, and 35.18 pounds in the straw. In the grain are 2.40 pounds sodium, and .10 pounds of chlorine. In the straw are .29 pounds sodium, and .30 pounds chlorine. In the ashes of one thousand pounds of red clover (dry) arc 5.29 pounds sodium, and 3.62 pounds of chlorine. We do not suppose that these results of chemical analysis are, in every respect, correct, but they are doubtless near the truth. As the simple elements of salt constitute important component parts of plants, it is a good manure where these elements do not already abound. On old lands, these elements become in a measure exhausted, unless restored by the application of salt manures, or the free use of salt hay on the farm ; or on lands near the sea, salt in sufficient quantity may be supplied by salt spray. In some cases of high winds, in severe storms, the salt spray is carried con- siderable distance inland, so as to affect seriously some kinds of trees, and other vegetable productions. So it is evident that some lands are greatly im- proved by the application of salt, while others aiti already abundantly supplied with it. Again, some plants require a large quantity of salt, or those simple elements of which it is composed, while others con- tain but A'cry little in their composition. This is like a thousand other subjects in agriculture. We have before us a vast field for experiments, with numerous variations and modifications from soil, climate, season, crops, and other circumstances. On most lands, and for most crops, salt is a good manure, and its utility, in point of economy, depends on its price, the price of other manures, the price of produce, &c. On old lands, it is valuable for destroy- ing insects, and in England it is frequently used for this purpose, even where it has no important bene- ficial effects as a manure. Various quantities of salt are applied as a manure, according to the crop ; usually from five to ten or fifteen bushels. From five to seven bushels to the acre, for turnips and cabbages, has an excellent effect in destroying worms, and promoting the growth of the plants. It is an excellent manure for all the turnip and cabbage tribe, and similar plants, such as mustard, &c. Salt is a good manure in old orchards for all kinds of fruit-trees. Apply eight or ten bushels to the acre. For plum-trees, twenty bushels to the acre, or half a peck to a square rod. Asparagus requires more salt than any other plant we cultivate. A suit- able quantity is one hundred and sixty bushels to the acre, or one bushel to a square rod. Dock mud, or other salt manure, may be cheaper than salt, and if it cost much, it will not be profitable to use it so Uberally. We cannot give definite rules for the use of salt, nor show the precise advantage to the crop in its use. We have used a mixture of wood ashes, salt, and plaster in turnip drills, only a moderate dressing, and obtained as large a crop of turnij^s as from decom- posed stable manure and ashes, and the cost, both of the manure and the application, were much less. But we cannot say how much each ingredient in- creased the crop. We have tried each substance separately, with an equal expense to each drill, with- out any satisfactory result, otherwise than each seemed to be nearly equally beneficial. Will our readers who have made any useful exper- iments on the use of salt, give us the result of theii- experience. Getting Good by doing Good. — Benevolence is a fundamental law of our moral being ; and the man who labors for his fcUow-mcn secures thereby the gratification of his most commanding principles of action ; but he who labors for himself alone, stirs up against his own peace some of the most operative elements of his worst nature. Burr Millstones. — The Burr millstones pro- duced in Georgia are said to be fully equal to the best French. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 187 GARDEN ENGINE. This is a very useful machine, constructed on the principle of the fire engine. It may be moved to any part of the premises, and worked by one person ; and some engines are so constructed as to conve- niently admit of the aid of several persons. With a good machine, water may be thrown fifty to sixty feet, and it is very useful for watering gardens, washing windows, &c., and for protecting buildings against fire. It is also excellent for syringing trees and shrubbery, with various kinds of liquid prepara- tions, for the destruction of insects. These engines are fitted with suction hose, to draw water from wells, reservoirs, &c., which may be done while they ai'e in operation in discharging water. The price of good machines is from $S0 to $35. SHEPHERDIA. In regard to inquiries concerning the Shepherdia or Buffalo berry, we remark that its native place is the Rocky Mountains, and it is perfectly hardy and fiourishcs well m ^Maine. The price is probably about fifty to seventy- five cents each, according to size. They should be set in pairs — one staminate, the other pistillate — from six or eight feet apart, which will alloAV them room to grow, to twelve or fifteen feet. The two kinds can be distinguished by the leaf or bud ; the pistillate having a long slender leaf, while the staminate has a shorter leaf, approaching nearer the oval form. The form of the buds corresponds with that of the leaves. This is ornamental as a plant, and the fruit, Avhich grows only on the pistil- late tree, is very beautiful, and excellent also for preserves. If these shrubs, of good size, are well transplanted the last of September or the first of October, they will grow the next season, as though they had not been moved, and probably bear fruit also the first year. It is propagated by seeds. Besides its utility for ornament and fruit, as a shrub it makes a good ornamental hedge. For the New England Farmer. ELEMENTS OF SCIENTIFIC AGRICUL- TURE. Mr. Cole : An essay with this title, by Prof. Norton, has found favor with the New York State Agriciiltural Society, and will soon be given to the public through the medium of their annual publi- cation. If we do not mistake, it will bo found admirably well adapted to instruct those who arc inclined to learn. Sunplicity of language and dis- tinctness of illustration are its prominent charac- teristics. The author has, in a good measure, happily avoided the use of technical and unusual terms. No treatise of the kind, so well suited to form the basis of agricultural instruction in our public schools, has come to our knowledge. We trust it wiU be found highly useful as a text-book for popular in- struction. Many things are here stated as simple elements, the demonstration of which has been the result of much observation and labor. It not unfrcqucjitly happens, that the most useful truths when known and distinctly stated, awaken surprise, that they should have so long passed without notice. One of the greatest obstacles to the acquisition of agricultiu-al science, has been the forbidding garb in which it has been arrayed. But our object is not to write an essay, but to call attention to one that has been written. P. Danyers, May 30, 1850. CATTLE DESTROYED BY EATING WILD CHERRY. Deacon Joseph Wadsworth, of North Becket, re- cently had three cows and two steers poisoned by eating the twigs of the black cherry. The first died in two days, and the last lived eleven days after eat- ing the cherry. We have been for years aware of the fact, that there was abundance of poison in the cherry. It contains considerable prussic acid, Avhich is among the most deadly poisons. Many have supposed that nothing but the wilted leaves were dangerous ; but the poison is in the green leaf as well as the wilted. In the summer, creatures will not ordinarily eat the green leaf, but the wilted leaf is eaten readily.— Berkshire CuUurist 188 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the Xew E/ifflund Farmo: CHARRING AND SETTING FENCE POSTS. Mr. Coi-e : I observed in your present volume, page 148, an article taken from the American Farmer recommending charring the but-cnds of i)osts for fence. Now, as the public may be deceived as I once •was, I will say a word about this matter. " Ex- perience " is said to be the best " schoolmaster." "When I -was a lad, my father made a set of bars at the end of a lane leading to the cow-pasture. One of these bar-posts outlasted the other two or three limes over ; at last, the good post, which had lasted 60 long, was, by accident, turned out of the ground by running the cart against it, whereupon it was found that the post had been charred as far as it vent into the ground. This fact, corroborated by others, led me to conclude with great certainty that charring would add greatly to the durability of posts, burning them as far up as they were set in the ground. Now, as I was about to build a garden fence and a barn-yard fence in the spring of 1818, I cut and split, out of the very best of Avhite oak timber, a sufficient quantity for this purpose. Those posts were all charred with great care to five or six inches above the surface of the ground when set. But to my great surprise and disappointment, all had to be renewed in seven years. In 1819, I set about two hundred and fifty posts to fence through the swamp, peat-muck soil ; all of ■ these posts, without charring, are good to this daj', thirty-one years' standing. "We have another fence about seventy rods, set in IS 30. These posts are on upland, set chiefly top-ends in the ground, all of which are sound, with the exception of a vcrj- few, which were broken by a severe wind this spring. But on examining these broken posts, it is found that they were set but-end down. Now, I am inclined to believe, so far as I have tried the experiment of charring, it has been not only a considerable item of expense, but has been a serious damage to the durability of the timber. Perhaps, if I had allowed my posts to season perfectly before they were charred, and then burned the top-ends of the timber instead of the buts, and set all my posts top-end down, I might have been more successful. It has been my invariable rule for more than twenty years to have all my posts set top down ; — but my men are sometimes careless, and set a post the same end down as it was grown in the woods ; but these usually tell the stupidity of the workmen in fifteen or twenty years, by breaking off at the surface of the ground. How long posts are to last in the ground, top down, must be left for time to determine. Twenty-one years in coarse, porous, sand does not yet tell cither in regard to oak or cedar. Per- haps, some of your correspondents may give some information on each of the foregoing points, and will greatly oblige a lover of improA'ement by communi- cating the same. llespectfully yours, JOHN M. AVEEKS. West Farms, near Middlebury, Yt., May 6, 1850. For the New England Farmer. CORN FODDER. Mr. Editor : Various opinions have been given on the utility of corn to be cut green and given to milk cows for the puri)0se of increasing the quantity of milk. I was induced last season to try the experi- ment ; so far, at least, as to satisfy my own mind in relation to it. The comparison, you will perceive, was made between dry hay and green corn. The result of the trial was as follows : — Aug. G, the weight of the milk was 98i pounds, 7, " " « 94| " '< 8, " " " 97 " « 9^ « « « 101 " " 10, " " " 102| " Monday and Tuesday, (6th and 7th,") the cows were fed wholly on hay. On the 8th, they were fed partly on hay and partly on corn ; on the 9th and 10th they were fed entirely on corn in the morning, with a foddering of hay at night. The milking was done wholly by myself, and at the same time each day, and carefully Aveighed. The pasturing was the same during the whole time, which was rather poor, inas- much as it was very dry. "Whatever difference there was in the weight of the milk, I think, must have been made by the feed given them. The compara- tive cost of the corn and hay I have no means of knoicing, but I guess the corn cost the least. Mj' pasturing is such that I must have something upon M'hich to feed my cows, and I have for years raised corn for that purpose. I shall commence planting for fodder about the 20th inst., and again about the 30th, and so on about once a week tiU the 1st, or perhajDS the 10th of July, which will furnish fodder from about the 1st of August to about the 1st of October, or till the frosts come. D. MERILL, 2d. Methuen, Mass., May 10, 1850. For the Neip England Farmer. CARROTS. Mr. Editor : I was much pleased with a com- munication in your paper of April 27, headed " Cul- tivation of Carrots," and I agree with the writer, Mr. Ilolbrook, on their value as an article of food for stock — horses, as well as cows. For fiA'o winters past, I have used them for mj- horses, and they ap- pear in as good flesh and condition in the spring as when I gave them grain. In my manner of cultivation, I differ somewhat from the plan recommended by Mr. Ilolbrook. "When I commenced raising carrots, I was told by persons of more experience in farming than myself, that I should not sow them before the first of June, as I could then plough in a crop of weeds before sowing, and should not have so much weeding to do after the carrots came up. This plan I tried till I was satis- fied it was not the best one. The method I now pursue, and which has given me less trouble than any other, is as follows : About the first of Decem- ber, I select a piece of land that has been cultivated the previous summer, plough subsoil, and harrow it. I then cart on, and spread evenly over it, forty loads, thirty bushels to the load, of compost manure, it having been previously prci^ared by being beat up very fine, — plough it in as deep as a single horse plough will do it, and let the land remain in a rough state during the winter ; as soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring, say by the 20th of April, I plough, harrow, and sow my seed. B}' this method I got through with the second weeding before haying comes on, and the carrots get an carh' start before the ground becomes dry, which frequently happens before the middle of June. My first weeding I do mostly with the hoc ; but the second is done very carefully by hand, thinning the roots at tlic same time to six inches apart, in the rows. !My bed I make as level as possible, and I put the rows four- teen inches apart. Last year I harvested eleven hundred bushels per acre, at a cost of six and a half cents per bushel, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 189 which I consider the cheapest crop a farmer can raise for his stock. The reason so many farmers get discourastccl and discontinue raising roots, is because they sow them so late that the Aveeding time comes on while they are engaged in liaying, which they do not like to leave ; consequently the young plants arc overgrown, and by the time they can be attended to, it is too late, and their crop is ruined. I use a seed-sower procured of Messrs. Rugglcs, Nourse & JIason, which I like very much, as it docs the work per- fectly. O. BiLLERicA, May 15, 1850. For the New England Farmer. OLD TREES IMPROVED BY CULTIVATION AND GRAFTING. Many fanners neglect to do aught to their old trees, lest they make a bad matter worse ; but old trees, that are not too much decayed, may, by graft- ing, be brought to bear excellent fruit. Effectually to bring this about, the land about the trees should be well cultivated : if the whole surface is not broken up v.-here the orchai-d stands, the ground, at least, around the trees should be spaded up ; and better to forward the growth of the trees, potatoes may bo planted, after having the land well manured. This plan followed up while the process of grafting is going on year after year, the owner will soon have the satisfaction of seeing his old decaying apple-trees presenting beautiful tops, and loaded with choice fruit. When I first moved out on the farm I now occupy, there was an old apple-tree standing in one corner of the door-yard, which was of little consequence as it then was, although it bore pretty plenty of apples, but were scarce worth harvesting. Four years ago I commenced cutting off the top, and inserting scions ; I put in but few the first j'ear, (which was done merely for an experiment ;) these thrived so well, I was uiducod to repeat the operation. The tree had a large branching top, capable of receiving about one hundred and fifty scions. The operation was per- formed in three different years. I have now the pleasure of seeing a tolerably thrifty tree, with a nice top of grafted fruit. Last fall I had about a peck of apples, and the tree this spring bids fair to reward me for my labor. For four successive years I have grafted in an old orchard of one of my neigh- bors, which consisted of about one hundred trees. I'urt of the orchard has been repeatedly cultivated, while the rest has been spaded up around the trees, and the same planted to potatoes. Some of the first grafted trees present tops sufKciently large to bear the present season, while others are coming on nicely. In the same lot, separated only by a private road, is another orchard of the same size, and trees of the same ago, which have been left to talco care of them- selves, with the exception of an occasional trimming. The difference in the appearance of the two orchards is perceptible nearly as fur as the trees are visiljle. The one that has been nursed and taken care of looks thrifty and flourishing, while the other has a sickly and decaying loolc. Now, mark the difference in the views of the two individuals, owners of the orchards. One is for putting his trees in a condition to be of benefit to others, if he does not live to take the good of them himself. The other is of the opinion, that as he is becoming advanced in years, and not likely to live to reap the benefits in Itis day, he will leave his trees to take their own course. Supposing all were of this opinion, supposing our fathers had been of the same opinion, wliat would have been the state of our farms, when left to us ? Is it right to suffer our property to go to decay, because we are i:ot likely to live to enjoy it? Should we not feel in- terested for our children, as our fathers have done for us ? Certainly. Then let us take care of our orchards — hnprove our old trees if they are worth it — if not, transplant new ones, and if rce are not benefited by them, we shall have the gratification of having left something for our children, and those that come after us. ALBEKT TODD. Smitufield, 11. I., 1S50. For the Neio England Farmer. BONE DISORDER IN COWS. Mr.^ Editor : Lest j-our readers weary of the re- peated articles on this subject, this shall be the last from my pen, unless I have something to communi- cate of more importance than at present. I can add nothing new to what I have said — I have no theory to maintain — all 1 wish is, that the true cause of the disorder maj- be ascertained, and if it be eventually proved that the one suggested by yourself and your correspondent is the true one, I shall be as ready to admit, as I have been to question it. I do not doubt that a peculiar disease exists, in some sections of this country, in milch cows, and that bone meal has been successfully used as a remedy. The symptoms and the cure of the disorder, I suppose, are well known to the farmers whose cows are thus affected. Eut I cannot j'et see — perhaps I require stronger proof than the nature of the case admits — that the dis- order is owing to the want o^ sufficient phosphate of lime in the food of cows afflicted with it. Your correspondent, Mr, Putnam, has given some interesting information respecting this disease ; but in attempting to trace it up to the want of phosphate of lime, he docs not, in my view, connect the one with the other as an effect with a cause. I will not again cite examples from his communications in proof of this — but will merely, in conclusion, refer him, for the statement made by me, that Indian corn con- tains seventeen per cent, of phosphate of lime, to the essay on that grain, by Mr. Flint, which, together Avith an essay by himself on the same subject, is to be found in the transactions of the Essex Agricul- tural Society for 1819. The analysis there given Avas the authority I consulted ; and approA-ed as this essay has been by our oAvn society, and by the Xcav York State Agricultural Society, I need not, I sup- pose, cite any other authority. At all eA'cnts I leave the subject here, hoping that sooner or later some ncAV light may be shed upon it. ALLEN ^\. DODGE. ILvMiLTON, May 13, 1850. For the New England Farmer. SETTING FENCE POSTS. ^Iit. Editor: I have for some time been satisfied of the economy in setting posts for permanent fence in lime mortar. I have proved the plan, and give it my sanction, for permanent record in your paper. Air-slnked or refuse lime (at ten cents per bushel! ansAvcrs ; and the cost except labor is not over one cent per post. We dig the holes with a spade, and haA'c two semicircular pieces of sheet iron to put down round the post, and after filling inside Avith mortar aiul outside Avith earth, draw up these pieces, and the Avork is done for many years. It dries hard as stone, and remains " in statu (pio." I set the top- end down. I5ENJAMIN WILLARD. L.VNCA.STEK, Mag 21, 1850. 190 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the Neio England Farmer. WHITE SHANGHAE FOWLS. Mil. Editor : In a recent communication to your paper on the " White Shanghaes " it is stated that thcv arc a separate breed of fowls. Will your cor- respondent, or some gentleman versed in feathci-ed genealogy, give lis his authority ? The statements of your correspondent contain several errors in point of i'act, which are likely to mislead those who are interested in fowl-breeding. 1st. The importation of Capt. A. S. Palmer was made in 18-16, and not in 1848. 2d. It consisted of eight red Shanghae fowls, and no icJiite ones, and is believed to be the earliest im- portation made, as Capt. Palmer's ship was the third American vessel that visited the port of Shanghae after it was thrown open to American commerce. 3d. The White Shanghae fowls spoken of as lost by Squire Dixon are purelj- fabulous as a distinct breed. As this stock multijilies, white ones come by laws yet undiscovered, as they do among almost all other races of fowls, however purely bred. 4th. Squire Dixon's stock is not mongrel, but is as puxo now as when first imported ; so much so, that they are considered by Capt. Palmer equal to an importation made by him this s^jring. The fowls of the Dixon stock grow as large as any of the fresh importations. They are extensively scattered in Ivhode Island, and in the adjoining towns in this state. It is quite common for the farmers to have a Shanghae cock with their common breed of fowls. The cross has very much increased the size and Ciuality of the poultry brought to our markets. If there is a distinct species of White Shanghae, it is not known to Capt. Palmer. We venture a prediction that the White Shanghaes mentioned in the communication, if they are pure blood, will turn out some fine red chicks in the course of the sum- mer. STONINGTON. Man 30, 18.50. Note. — The cn-or as to the date of Capt. Palmer's importation was corrected by Mr. Morse, in our last number. — Ed. FARMING ECONOMY. Messrs. Editors : Twenty years ago it was a common saying among farmers, that all a man could make in farming was enough to support his family, and, possibly, save a hundred or two hundred dollars a year besides. Farmers Avho held this idea were, no doubt, honest ; they only judged of the profits of farming from their own management. Even now, a great many farmers suppose that in order to make money by farming, they must do all the labor them- selves; they say they "can't afford to hire help." This is evidently a great mistake, for if the farmer makes his own labor profitable, he could make that so which he hires, under good management, and without that, no labor can be profitable. Labor in this country is high, in proportion to ■what it is in older and more populous countries ; but I do not regard this as a subject of regret, for who is " worthy of his hire " if the day-laborer is not ? If the high price of labor operates against the in- terest of some, it tends greatly to improve thcf con- dition of the masses. As a matter of course, the farmer will save as much manual labor as possible, consistent with the pmpcr cultivation of his farm. But a great point in farming economy consists in the adoption of labor-saving machines and improved implements. Yet a good deal of hand labor will always be required to carry on fanning advanta- geously. The question is often asked whether capital laid out in fai-ming can be made to pay. In reply, I would say, I have known many instances where money laid out in this way has paid well. It is true, that time is required for this result ; but I believe that capital invested in farming need never pay less than six per cent. ; and under good management, it may yield even eight to ten per cent, on the original stock. The culture of fruits — such as apples, pears, peaches, &c. — often yields a profit of eight to fifteen per cent. A great barrier to improvement in farming is the erroneous value which farmers often put on money. They seem to think that a dollar is worth much more than its equivalent in wheat, or any agricultural product. This leads them to hoard their cash with scrupulous care, fearing to trust the earth with the loan of a cent — the risk being so much greater, as they say, than on deposits in banks. This difficulty can only be removed by demonstrating to the farmer the certain success of a better system of manage- ment ; which will gradually inspire confidence that labor and money expended on the soil shall not go unrewarded. L. DURAND. Derby, Ct., Feb., 1850. — Albany Cultivator. BREAKING ROCKS BY FIRE. Messrs. Editors : While perusing the February number of the Cultivator, I obsen-ed a statement from one of your correspondents in regard to the manner in which he cleared his land of stones. His mode was to excavate a large hole upon one side of the boulder, and partially under the rock, which he wished to remove, and then roll it in. I think the process might well be replaced by one which is much more economical. Your correspondent obser\'es that it is very hard to drill some "hard-head" rocks — an assertion which I truly confirm, having been en- gaged in the business myself, for weeks in succession, upon my father's farm, in Lewis countj'. New York. In 1843, we were clearing a piece of ground of stone by the aid of the drill and powder. One very cold day, a fire was built upon a rock, which was, perhaps, four feet in diameter, near the wall where we were at work. By means of the heat there were large scales loosened on the top of the rock, which were taken off with a crowbar, and used for filling up the centre of the wall. Subsequent to this, a fire was built ujion the same rock ; and some time after, the scales being removed, it was ascertained that the rock was broken through in two different directions, dividing it into four nearly equal parts. The quarters being left with face sides, fitted them admirably for laying into wall. From this time henceforth, the drill was dispensed with. Experi- ment showed that one man could carry a sufficient quantity of wood to break any rock, which a farmer might be desirous of removing from his fields. An- other great advantage was, that wood of little value, such as old pieces of rails, stumps, and the like, might be used with advantage and economy. There is one point which must not be neglected, if success is expected ; that is, to keep the rock clear of shells while heating. To do this with facility, the tools required are a sharp iron crowbar, and a pair of large tongs. As soon as any shells are found to have started up, the fire should be removed with the tongs, and the scales carefully taken off with the bar. This is the only secret in the jjrocess. The object is, that the heat may bo applied directly to the solid rock. The fire should then be replaced witli the tongs, and so on until the stone is broken. Tluowing oil cold water is superfluous. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 191 One man can attend twenty of the fires, or one man can perform as much work in this as ten will with drills. The beauty of the process is, that it is performed comparatively without danger or expense. DENNIS JOHNSON. Mt. Airy Ag. Ixstitute, Pa., Feb., 1S49. AVe have seen rocks broken by the process above described, and we endorse what our correspondent says in regard to it. — Eds. — Albany Cultivator. A FULL STOP TO THE BLEEDING OF GRAPE-VINES. Mr. Editor : I devote a few moments of my time to inform all cultivators of the grape how to put a com- plete and final stop to the bleeding of the vines, whether from pruning or accident : I should like to say more about the grape, but have not the time just now. Two or three years since, in the month of May, I was overhauling my vines and tying them up for the season, when I found the pruned ends bleeding pro- fusely. I was surprised at this, as the vines were trimmed in December previous, before covering them for the winter. My better half, ilrs. J., heard me grumbling at something amiss, so I told the occasion of my perturbation, and she immediately set to work to find a remedy. This remedy teas found forthwith, and a comical one it is. Here it is, without more ado. Take a little atom of cotton batting, as large as a bean ; dip this into " Turlington's Balsam of Life," and bind it with three or four turns of thread over the pruned end or eye, first wiping the bleeding part dry. If this docs not stop the flow of sap in twenty-four hours, drop on a little more of the ♦' lialsam," and it will stop, certain. It was supposed that the balsam would do what nothing else will, eff'ectually, from the fact, that, notwithstanding the saliva, and general moisture of the mouth and tongue, yet the balsam of lii'e will cling fast for many hours to the tongue and interior of the mouth : so, notwithstanding the profuse flow of sap from the vine, which forces through sealing- wax, bits of bladder, and every thing else, yet the balsam stai/s put, and closes up the pores. I have tried it repeatedly, and again three days since, with uniform success. I know it will answer, and I know that many a cultivator of the grape-vine will thank us for the information. Try first, and laugh afterwards. Sat vcrbum — (or vcrbum sat r) A. J., Jr. WiscASSET, May 11, 18.50. — Maine Farmer. CORN SUCKERING. Your correspondent " J. J." of Centreville, New Jersey, wishes information in regard to suckering corn. If corn hills are four feet apart each way, and not more than three stocks in a hill, there Avill be no necessity of suckering the corn, for the increase, and the excellence of the suckers for fodder, will fully compensate the injury done the maturing of the crop by their growth, and the expense of suckering Avill be saved. If corn has been planted close, it can be suckered ami thinned out soon after the suckers make their appearance, and from that time on, till the ears are set, provided it is carefully done. Dry weather is the best time to sucker or tliin out corn. I will not go inside of my cornfielci. wlien the corn is wet, if I possibly can avoid it. I plant from four to six acres of corn every year ; the hills are four feet apart each way, and six grains in a hill. After I have finished ploughing, and the corn is about two feet high, I begin to sucker and thin out as fast as a yoke of oxen will consume the forage, taking out the weaker stalks and suckers from the largest hills, re- serving the smaller, as need may require, to feed my oxen — and so continue on until I have gone through the entire lot, leaving but three stocks in a hill. In this manner, I get a vast amount of feed, and cannot see any perceptible detriment to my crop of corn, as the yield appears to be about as good as my neigh- bors', on the same kind of land. I would advise J. J. to succor his corn by suckering out the hills as soon as the suckers are from six to eight inches high ; but it should be done carefully. The fewer stalks there are in a hill, the larger will be the ears ; and so of consequence M'ith suckers. In proportion as the hot sun gains access to the roots of the corn, after a soaking rain, so will the ears increase in size. If corn don't stand too thick on the ground, and hands are scarce and wages high, and there is other urgent work to do, it would be as well to let nature take her course, and the suckers to grow. P. F. W. Newpoktville, Bucks Co., July 24, 1850. — Dollar Newspaper. MOVABLE FENCE. Eds. New-Yorker : I have become a subscriber to your valuable paper, and would wish to make a suggestion in regard to fences, since the subject is so often referred to by your correspondents. Mr Langworthy wUl recollect the miniature length of fence exhibited at the Monroe County Fair, in 18f 4, (I think.) This kind of fence has been used to some extent, in this neighborhood, and found to do well, as no part of it is to be in the ground. It is made as follows : — Saw straight-grained stuff of any hard wood six inches wide and one and a half thick ; saw other the same thickness, four and a half feet long, seven inches wide at one end, and four inches wide at the other; cut with a saw across the wide end, (and eight inches from the end,) one fourth inch deep, and split off so as to form a shoulder. Then cut your six by one and a half stuff, three feet long ; clap the wide end of the other on to this three foot piece in such way as to form a capital T inverted, (tlius j^,) nailing them strongly together ; bore two and a half inch holes at proper distances through this tapering piece for rails to pass through, having the lower rail pass through both pieces. Saw the rails two inches square, and fourteen or si.xteen feet long, having a piece of inch board, with corresponding holes to slip on to the middle of each length or panel. Set these ground or cross-pieces on flat stones, so that they will rest on the stones at each end — cap with inch stuff six inches wide. If you wish to have a movable fence, make each panel by itself; or if stationary, then bore the holes immediately above each other. J. II. AuA.Ms's Basin, March, 18(50. — Rural New- Yorker. The Seasox. — Our spring here has been un- usually cold and backward; up to the middle of May we had rarely a warm spring day; but it has been a fine season for ])lanting, and all liave had a long and favorable time for com])lcting their im- provements. The weather now. May hi, is fine, and fi-uit-trec3 arc loaded with blossoms, promising a' most abundant crop. The thinning process will very generally have to be resorted to, if no untimely frost or other accident occurs after this date. — Genesee Farmer. 192 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. A VETERINARY COLLEGE. By the fullo-wing article it will be seen that Drs. Dadd and Ilurlinian propose to establish a Veter- imiry College in this city. As to the great titility •which would result from an establishment of this ch;vracter, none will dispute. Wo need a place where men who design to become practitioners in the veterinary art, can learn, under skilful direction, the theory and practice of this profession. There is no reason why a business of so much im- portance, both in the cause of humanity and in a pecuniary consideration, should be left to chance or ignorant pretension, while it may be enlightened by science, and improved by practice, as well as any other system or pursuit. "SVe trust that gentlemen who are in favor of pub- lic improvement, and contributing to the relief and comfort of our domestic animals, that conduce so essentially to our necessities and pleasure, will give to this enterprise a liberal support. We have occasionally spoken of Dr. Dadd, and his reformed mode of practice, by which harsh modes of treatment, and violent means, falsely called remedies, are dispensed with, and the animal is treated with humanity, and in accordance Avith reason and com- mon sense ; allowing the operation of the wonderful restorative powers of nature, assisted with good man- agement and mild means. Dr. Hurliman is a graduate from the celebrated Veterinary College at ilunich, in Switzerland. We hope that the intelligence and zeal of these gentle- men, with the cooperation and liberal aid of the public, will lead to the establishment of an institu- tion that will be an honor to our country, from its highly favorable and practical influences. Subscriptions in accordance with the following proposals will be received at this office. rnoPOSALS for establishing a veterinary college AND infirmary IN THE CITY OF ROSTON. The undersigned, fcferinanj Practitioners of the city of 13oston, respectfully call the attention of the people in New England to the lamentable fact, that the humane and praiseworthy science that teaches man how to ameliorate the condition of our domestic animal is totally neglected. That in consequence of this neglect, many thousands of our most valuable animals die prematurely, occasioning not only indi- vidual, but also national, losses. Cruelty, and igno- rance in the treatment of disease in domestic animals, have been more destructive than the pestilential sword, and will continue to exercise their devas- tating inrtucnce on the animal kingdom, until veter- inary knowledge shall be diffused. The undersigned have abundant testimony to prove that the great mortality, among horses in particular, may be prevented. The records of the Veterinary Colleges of England, Erance, and Germany also prove this fact ; and that a knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology ; the proper management in the stable and out of it ; the proper metliod of feed- ing, shoeing, watering, grooming, kc, are the media through which many millions of valuable animals nave been saved from certain destruction. The Almighty has endowed that noble animal, the horse, with all those moral powers, diifering from ours, not in kind, but only in degree. They, like us. have memory, ideas of reflection, reason, feelings of gratitude, and duty ; and it should be the pride and duty of every'man to sympthizc with those who, though our slaves, have common feelings with us ; the interest of everj' man speaks the same language. Hence the American people, to whom Ave appeal, have great encouragement, as interested individuals, to aid us in diffusing veterinary information. The beneficial results of such information will be, that the diseases of horses, cattle, and sheep will be bet- ter under>tood, and the dreadful loss which this country sustains will very soon be materially dimin- ished. The veterinary science is efficient in itself, and has given unequivocal proofs of its ability to enlarge the boundaries of general medicine. It has lately acquired an importance, and received such im- provements, as predicts a great revolution in this branch of knowledge. The undersigned propose to erect a suitable Col- lege edifice and Infirmary, similar to those now estab- lished in Europe. This we propose to do by the aid of voluntary contributions, for which purpose we respectfully solicit donations. If seconded by liberal contributions, our success will be immediate, and the people of New England will be enabled, with pride, to point to an institution devoted to the cause of humanity. GEO. 11. DADD, M. D., V. S. DIl. I. I. HUKLIMAN, V. S. PROSPECTUS. Privilege of Subscribers. — A subscription of one hundred dollars and upwards Avill entitle the sub- scriber to send, when sick or lame, any number of horses to the Veterinary Infirmary, during such sub- scriber's life, provided said hoi'ses are his own per- sonal property. No charges are made cither for med- icine, attendance, or operation ; the subscriber merely paying for the keeping and shoeing of said horses. In cases Avhere it is impracticable to remove such horses from the subscriber's stable, they will receive daily medical attendance, without charge. A subscription of twenty dollars entitles the sub- scriber's horses to medical treatment for one year, subject to the same rules as above. The subscribers to this institution Avill have the privilege of visiting the infirmary, museum. Sec. ; and any information relating to the managing of domes- tic animals will be communicated by the Professors. Mode of Instruction. — The Professors will deliver daily lectures during the sessional course, {of si.z months in each year,) on the theory and practice of Medicine, Surgerj-, and Surgical Anatomy, Physiol- ogy, Pathology, and Chemistry. Illustrations and experiments will be conducted in the most advan- tageous and instructiA'e manner. In addition to the usual course of lectures, the pupils will attend the daily practice of the Infirmary. The period requisite for obtaining a knowledge of the veterinary art will be regulated by the talents and industry of the pupils ; yet all candidates for graduation must have attended two full courses of lectures, and must well sustain an examination in the different branches of veterinary study. Any donations of money, or preparations adapted to facilitate illustrative teaching in any of the de- partments, are respectfully and earnestly solicited. No subscriptions called for unless a sufficient sum is raised to accomplish the object. False Economy. — The American Agriculturist es- timates there are ten farmers Avho waste fifty dollars annually in manure, where there is one who pays a dollar for an agricultural paper, Avhich would show him how to save it. ;:fi.«r;M>^K;>^'>'^''^-A^^.^^'^^ NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 193 For the New Englatid Farmer. A GROUP OF CHOICE FOWLS. Mr. Cole : Your readers arc herewith presented with an engraving of three distinct breeds of fowls, of the Galliis tribe, belonging to Geo. P. Burnham, Esq., of Melrose, Maiden. The equals of thcni can- not, in my opinion, be found in New England. The engraving is tlie work of Mr. Samuel E. Erown, No. 50 Cornhill, Boston. Mr. Brown delin- eated the fowls from life, and, in the completion of the whole work, has shown abilities rarely possessed by one individual. The engraving was printed " in tint," personally, by Mr. C. II. Freeman, of the firm Devereux & Co., printers, at No. 162 Washington St., who, deservedly, have the reputation of being unsurpassed in all that relates to the art of printing. The small figures in the nriddle foreground are the portraits of the Sir John Seabright Bantams, belong- ing to Mr. Burnham. The plumage of this breed of Bantams is variegated, being black feathers alter- nated with those of a bright orange color. The tail and wings arc black, sometimes shaded or flecked with white. The colors of the hens are not so bril- liant as those of the cocks. The Seabright Bantams are much smaller than Bantams of other breeds ; the pair belonging to Mr. Burnham weighing, at sixteen months old, but twenty-four ounces the pair. For a description of the other fowls shown in the engra^'ing, the reader is referred to the letter from Mr. Burnham, which is here inserted. S. B. Mouse, Jr., Esq. Dear Sir : The group of my Cochin China and Seabright Bantam fowls, so admirably portrayed in the picture by Mr. Brown — a copy of which you kindly sent me on the 25th inst. — is life-like, and very satisfactory ; and I send you herewith a description of them, which you can use at jjleasure. The two chief figures in the foreground represent a cock and hen of the Cochin China tribe, and as they are somewhat peculiar in their characteristics, I ■v\ill devote a paragrajih to them especially. The cock is one of six fowls of ray own importa- tion, direct fi-om Canton, early in the present season. His color is quite dark, the prevailing shade of plumage bomg a rich, glossj', greenish black, on the breast, sides, and legs ; the hackles, wings, back, and rump feathers are of a bright red ; his legs are dark; wattles, heavy; eye, very large; prominent comb, and very short tail. He is a splendid bird, not yet ten months old ; his weight this day is ten and one quarter j)Ounds. The hen is a perfect match for the cock, in color and general appearance — dark plumage, (black, sav- i".g her neck-hackles,) of very fine form, and one of the rarest birds I have ever yet seen. She is also imported directly from Canton, and was sent me by a gentleman-fancier who chanced to sec my rooster, and who considered him a fitting mate for such a fowl. I weighed this hen on the 27th of May — she drcio ten pound.i, strong, though she had but just come from the sitting-coop, and was not so heavy by half to three quarters of a pound, probably, as she will be in fair laying condition. A few of her chicken.s, hatched this spring, have proved rare specimens, for domestic birds. The other pair of large fowls, in the background of the picture, arc also correct portraits of the Koyal Cochin Chinas imported by nic, last winter, from Dublin, and which have ah'eady been fully described in the books lately published, as well as in the " New England Farmer." The pullet therein portrayed I have already spoken of. She commenced laying about the middle of February last; up to the 27th of May, one hundred and four days, she laid ninety- two eggs, and she is now laying daily. Her weight is now eight and one quarter pounds. One of the others which accompanied her from Dublin wei^rhs Hght nine pounds ; the average is about eight and one half pounds. The Canton pullets which I received with the dark cock will weigh from eight to eight and one half pounds each ; they are very superior birds, and are uniform in color and general characteristics. The hens are a Hght brown, with the feathers tipped on barred with black. The legs arc yellow, and tho forms very handsome. The chickens from this stock are quite uniform, and, thus far, very hardy. The "Seabright Bantams" are true to the life; and I need only say that the pair shown by the artist are as beautiful samples of this breed as I hav2 ever seen. The joint weight of the cock and hen is but a trifle over a pound and a half ; and the latter is now laying vigorously ! I shall be happy to show-this stock to yourself and friends, at my new residence in Melrose, at any time hereafter, where I tnaij have a few choice specimens to dispose of during the coming season. With the assurance that your artist has done himself credit in this beautiful and accui'ate jiicture, I am Yours truly, GEO. P. BURNIL\M. RoxBURY, Mujj 29, 1850. Mr. Burnham, in the foregoing letter, speaks of the dark-colored cock and hen as being Cochin China, although differing in size and color of plu- mage. The Royal Cochin Chinas are parti-colored, with light-colored bills and legs. The color of the others is very dark, nearly black, with black legs and bills. There is also a great difference in the ear lobes and wattles, both in size and form. In ray opinion, the dark-colored fowls are much superior to the Royal Cochin Chinas, yet the Cochin Chinas have no competitors in any other breed of fowls ui tliis country. There is at the present time a great inclination, on the part of many persons, to give to mongrel fj-.vls the names of well-known and truly valual)le fowls. In the Poultry-Book by Dr. John C. Bennett, on pages 54, 55, and 5G, an account of the Shakebag fowl is given, and portraits of fowls imported by the " Tremont House," and kept at the " Samoset House," are shown. Dr. Bennett says, " they are magnificent birds," " they are exceedingly rare in this country, this being the only importation of which I have knowledge." Richardson says of the Shakebag, " A good many years ago, there used to be a varictj- of fowl much in request in England, called the ' Shakebag,' or the ' Duke of Leeds ' fowl, his grace of that name, about sixtj- or seventy years ago, having been a great ama- teur breeder of them." Mowbray, in 1816, says of the Shakebag, "For- merly the largest variety. * * It has been entirely worn out for sorac years. It was called the Duke of Leeds breed, but it does not appear whether his grace first raised the variety, or whether it arose merely from improving the size of the common dunghill kind, or from any foreign cross. The only one 1 ever possessed was a red one, in 1784. * * * The breed of Shakebags has been for many years extinct." Martin saj's of the Duke of I/Ccds fowl, or Shako- bag, " A breed of game fowls, of enormous size. * * The breed is now extinct." W. B. Dickson does not mention the Shakebag or Duke of Leeds fowl in the last edition of liLs work, on poultry. Thus it seems, by the authority of all English writers on poultry, that the Shackbag, Shakebag, or Duke of Leeds fowl has been lost for many years. What apology can Dr. Bennett otter for this mistake? Yours, &c., S. BRADFORD MORSE, Ju. 194 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Pomestic Department. To PKEVEXT :MiLK SOURING DURING THUNDER- STORMS.— Wo have heard great complaints from daii-y women, about their milk getting sour during a thunder-storm, although perfectly sweet a short time previous. The following plans, suggested by a correspondent, will prevent this in a great degree : All the pans containing the milk ought to be placed upon non-conductors of electricitj^ such as blocks of baked wood, pieces of glass, or wood that has been well painted and varnished. The following articles are most easily provided : Beeswax, feathers, and woollen cloth, are also non-conductors, but incon- venient to bo used. All these articles will insulate the pans, and prevent the electric fluid from enter- ing, which is the cause of acidity ; or is, in fact, the principle of acidity itself. If glass basins were sub- stituted for tin pans, the plan would be better still, and there would then be no necessity for the practice suggested above. The glass would preserve the milk much longer sweet than pans, and the acid would have no effect upon it. We are not aware of any acid that has the least impression on glass, except the fluoric acid. All iron vessels, or vessels com- pounded of iron, as tin pans, attract the heat very readily, and of course sour the milk ; and such is the affinity of iron for an acid, that we doubt much if it is ever washed out entirely. Iron vessels, we arc confident, are the very worst that could be used for the purpose ; they are even inferior to wood. — Am. Agriculturist. A Mother's Voice. — The editor of the Cincin- nati Atlas, after a visit to the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, at Columbus, Ohio, relates the follow- ing : — We inquired of an intelligent and modest young lady, who had become deaf from sickness when two years and a half old, whether she could recollect any thing of sounds or words. She answered that she could not. It occurred to us that there might have been at least one sound which might be remembered even from that tender age, and we ventured to inquire whether she had no recollection of her mother's voice. It will be long before we forget the sweet, peculiar smile which shone upon her features, as, by a quick inclination of her head, she answered, yes. What a v.'orld of thought and feeling clusters around such a fact ! In all her memory there is but one sound, and that is her mother's voice. For j'cars she has dwelt in a silence unbroken from without, but those gentle tones of love still linger in her heart. There they can never die ; and if her life should be prolonged to threescore 3'ears and ten, o'er the long, silent track of her life, the memory of that voice wUl come, in loveliness and beauty, reviving the soul of weary old age with the fresh, lovely sounds of her cradle hours. |loutl)*0 Department. Only one Step at a Time. — Horace is a round- faced, white-headed little boy, three years of age. One Sabbath morning, as we came from our chamber, we overheard his mother say, " Here, Horace, my dear, carry this book into your father's study, and lay it on the table." The little fellow took the book, went to the foot of the stairs, and there he stopped. We wish our little readers could have seen him, as he stood gazing up that long flight, from the bottom to the top. Such a look of discouragement surely never before came over the countenance of a little boy. He seemed to say, by his appearance, " How can I go up all these long steps ? " The watchful eye of the mother immediately saw his trouble, and with a sweet, encouraging A'oicc, she said, " O my son, it is only one step at a time." And so the little boy found it. When he looked at the long, steep journey, and thought of it all together, it seemed a task too great for his tiny feet ; but when he thought of it " only one step at a time," it seemed an easy matter. And how many a " hill of difficulty" would disappear, if we would think of it "only one step at a time." The long Sabbath school lesson, the hard sum in arithmetic, the errand a mile off, the big pile of wood to be carried into the house, the bed of strawberries to be weeded, all appear easy to accomplish, when we remember it is only one word, one figure, one step, one stick, one weed, at a time. Whenever, then, little reader, you feel discouraged at some task your mother has assigned you, think of this mother's remark to her white-headed boy, " only one step at a time." You must surely be a faint- hearted little fellow, if one step frightens and dis- courages you. Well, if you can take one step, you can take the next, for that is only one step, and then another, and so on to the top. Try it, and not be chicken-hearted. — Well-Spring. Duty of Labor. — No man can rise from the workmair's rank. Fall he may, and often does, from that state, but to rise above the order the great God has established to govern his world, is impossible. Every man should be a workman, and fill up a work- man's rank. He must fill that or a loafer's. He who made tho world never made a spot on it for an idler. He never made a man who has to live by his brains alone, or such a one would have been all brains. Body and soul, powers physical and mental, are to be used, else they never would have been given ; and whoever finds himself in possession of a pair of hands, a set of bones and muscles, may rest assured that he has a command to use them. ^ealtl) Department. Health. — Horace Mann thus discourses of health, in his new book, just about to be issued from the press of Ticknor. Reed, & Fields : — " Appetite is Nicholas the First, and the noble fac- ulties of mind and heart are Hung^aian captives. Were we to see a rich banker exchanging eagles for coppers by tale, or a rich merchant bartering silk for scj-gc by the pound, we should deem them worthy of an epithet in the vocabulary of folly. Yet the same men buy pains whose prime cost is greater than the amplest fund of natural enjoyment. Their purveyor and market-man bring them home headaches, and indigestion, and neuralgia, by hampers full. Their butler bottles up stone, and gout, and liver com- plaint, falsely labelling them sherry, or madeira, or port, and the stultified masters have not wit enough to see through the cheat. The mass of society look with envy upon the epicure who, day by day, for four hours of luxurious eating, suffers twenty hours of sharp aching ; who pays a full price for a hot sup- per, and is so pleased with the bargain that he throws in a sleepless and tempestuous night as a gratuity. English factory children have received the commis- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 195 eration of the world, because they were scourged to •work eighteen hours out of the twenty-four ; but there is many a theoretic republican, who is a harsher Pharaoh to his stomach than this ; who allows it no more resting time than ho does his watch ; who gives it no Sunday, no holiday, no vacation in any sense. Our pious ancestors enacted a law that sui- cides should bo buried where four roads meet, and that a cartload^of scones should be thrown upon the body. Yet, when gentlemen or ladies commit suicide, not by the cord or steel, but by turtle-soup or lob- ster-salad, they may be buried in consecrated ground, and under the auspices of the church ; and the pub- lic are not ashamed to read an epitaph upon their tombstones false enough to make the marble blush. Were the barbarous old law now in force, that pun- ished the body of the suicide for the offence which his soul had committed, we should find many a Mount Auburn at the cross roads." illccljanics' Pcpartment, Qirls, Uc. The Hydro-Electric Light. — After a period of six years, employed in a series of experiments, con- ducted upon the most philosophical principles, and continued with indefatigable perseverance, Mr. Henry M. Paine, of Worcester, has completed his " Mag- neto-electric Decomposer," — an ingenious apparatus for evolving hydrogen and oxygen gases from water, by the agency of electricity, generated by mechan- ical means. The gases thus obtained may be used for light, heat, and motive power, and have already been practically tested for the two first named pur- poses, on a considerable scale, with wonderful effect. At his residence, on Tuesday evening, April 23, Mr. Paine exhibited the operation of his invention to a number of gentlemen of Boston and Worcester, some of whom have considerable experience in the gas business ; and others have taken great interest in plans and projects having in view the production of artificial light at cheaper rates than it can be fur- nished by the means hitherto employed by gas man- ufacturers. ^Ir. Paine had his house brilliantly lighted up, although he used only one small burner for each room. The light was exceedingly strong and white, and so pure that the most delicate shades of blue and green, in some colored prints, could be instantly distinguished at a distance of several feet from the burner, (a common gas-burner, ) which was supplied with gas from a pipe whose diameter did not exceed one quarter of an inch. At the same time that the light was being exhib- ited, the mode of using the gas for heating was also shown. A small jet of pure hydrogen, bct\\een two circular plates of iron, raised a few inches from the floor, was lighted, and in a few minutes an equal and genial heat was diffused throughout the apartment. Thus the astonished party had the liglit and heat together, supplied from the same source below, and their expressions of admiration were unbounded ; nor were they abated when they wore led down into the cellar to examine the exceedingly small machine by which the gas was made. The box containing it was about eighteen inches square and eight in depth. We cannot give the details of the interior of tlie macliinc, but will simply state that, as its name indi- cates, it evolves magneto-electricity by purely me- chanical action. From the above-mentioned box there ran fiat copj er wires into the decomposing jar, which was about two feet in height, and six or eiglit inches in diameter, partly filled with Mater ; in this jar, by the action of the electricity just spoken of, pure hydrogen gas alone was formed from the water, ■whence it passed into two gasometers or reservoirs about the size of a barrel each. The pole, at which oxygen gas is hberated, on this occasion passed into the ground, so that hydrogen oidy was evolved by the action of the machine. The process of carbon- izing the hydrogen for illumination is exceedingly simple, and was open to view. It is very cheap, so much so, that Mr. Paine says that the cost of car- bonizing the gas he has burned in his house in three burners, every evening for a week, has not yet amounted to one cent. The hydrogen is used for the general purposes of light and heat, and the oxvgen can also be secured in a second jar, and may be used with the hydrogen to produce the " calcium light" for lighthouses. Mr. Paine has also discovered a principle by which he can rcgiilate the quantity of electricity to be dis- charged into the decomposing jar. A large machine has recently been perfected by Mr. Paine, of suffi- cient power to supply three thousand burners with gas ; it is set up in the Worcester Exchange, and only occupies a space of three feet square by six inches in height. One cubic foot of water will make two thousand one hundred feet of gas ; and a weight of sixty- seven pounds, falling nine feet ui an hour, will make, from this large machine, one thousand feet of gas. The apparatus can be applied to gas works o any kind, and be used with any of the gas fixtures at present in fashion. — Boston Post. SELECTION OF SOILS FOR ANALYSIS. We arc often asked how soils should be selected for analysis, whether entirely from the surface, or part from below, what quantity is required, &c. As earth is not a crystallized substance, whose com- position may bo ascertained by its geometrical form, but is heterogeneous in its character, we must be careful that the sample selected should represent an averaged quality ; and to do this, it will be neces- sary to bear in mind that the lighter and soluble por- tions of soils are both to be found in excess in low parts of fields or at the bottom of slopes, and indeed, even accidental deep furrows in flat fields mav, by a single shower, be rendered the recipients of more than a due proportion of particular constituents. Other parts of a field, by being underlaid by a tight subsoil, may remain wet for a suflicient length of time to induce the decomposition of some of the integrants of the soils, and subsequent evaporation of the more volatile portions. For the proper selec- tion of a specimen of soil for analysis, where the results obtained are to enable the cultivator to select the proper manxircs for his crops by knowing the deficiencies of the soil, it is necessary to select from a large number of places, and at different depths, mixing them all together, and tlicn taking a pint or less of this mixture as the average of the surface soil of the field. A sample so selected, although it cannot be ex- pected to represent an exact average of the quality of the surface soil, will still be sulfieiently near for all practical purposes. The a*JOve directions apply particularly to the sur- face soil, or that which has been freely worked, and which has sustained vegctal)les ; but when the advice of a consulting agriculturist is intended to be asked in relation to the abilities and proper crops for such a soil, and the manures required for its greater fer- tilization, fee., then an analysis of the subsoil should also be made. Py the subsoil, is meant that under poi-tion which has not previously been disintegrated by the jjlough ; and the parts of the subsoil selected for analysis should be equally assorted in position and depth, to at least as great a depth as could be 196 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. reached by a subsoil plough. These selections of soils for analysis should never be made soon after a manuring, as the soluble portions -will pervade the soil in more than dependable quantities, and thus lead to errors. "SVc often receive copies of analyses, Avith a request to advise modes of culture, manuring, Sec, Sec, and too often are compelled to visit the locality, simply because the applicant has not been sufficiently ex- plicit in his communications. We should receive, accompanying the analysis, a description of the farm generally — such as the fertilizing materials upon it, marl, muck. Sec, Sec, and when known, the class of rocks pervading or underlaying the subsoil ; also, some account of the -qjrevious mode of manuring, depth to -which it has been ploughed, elevation above the sea, and indeed all fiicts which may in the most remote degree affect the economy or require- ments of the farm. — Working Farmer. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Dr. Lee, superintendent of the agricultural de- partment of the Patent Office, iir his report to the commissioner making suggestions in reference to the ways and means now available for improvements of American agriculture, offers the following remarks on agricultural education : — Since 1823, when Judge Buel introduced the first bill to establish an agricultural college in the state of Now York, by legislative aid, constant efforts have been made to render the study of rural economy as a science, not less than its practice as an art, popular in this country. Twenty-seven yeai-s have now elapsed, a whole generation has passed off the stage, and New York, with her five hundred thousand cul- tivators of the soil, is still without the first agi-icul- tural school worthy of the name; nor is any other state in a better condition. Dark as this view of agricultui-al education reaUy is, it is the darkness that precedes the dawn of a bright and happy day. Men who have labored for the improvement of agri- culture, and the elevation of agriculturists, for a quarter of a centurj% with little of hope, and less of pecuniary reward, now realize the beginning of an auspicious change in public sentiment. Thanks to agricultural journals and societies, the people w'ill soon discover that labor and capital devoted to tillage and husbandry arc as worthy of legislative consid- eration, as labor and capital employed in mining, commerce, and manufactures. So soon as this truth shall be fairly comprehended, the long struggle of the friends of improvement will be crowned with success; and the victory won over both ignorance and its traditions. It is, indeed, wonderful how long those enlight- ened, reasoning farmers, who, like Washington, cherish a due respect for their high calling, have had to beg, and beg in vain, of state legislatures, and of Congress, for a little assistance to prevent the universal impoverishment of American soils. Whatever has been done to arrest the exhaustion of arated lands, lias been effected not only without due aid from government, but in spite of a mistaken policy, which encouraged the removal of all the elements of bread and meat from cultivated fields, and their speedy transportation beyond the possibil- ity of restitution. Neither the earnest recommen- dation of the illustrious farmer of Mount Vernon, nor the prayers of two generations of agriculturists, nor the painful fact that nearly all tilled lands were becoming loss and less productive, could induce any legislature to foster the study of agriculture as a science. Happily, this term, when used in connec- tion with rural affairs, is no longer the subject of ridicule. Some pains have been taken in this report to prove that one thousand millions of dollars judiciously ex- ponded, will hardly restore the one hundred millions of acres of partially exhausted lands in the Union, to that richness of mould, and strength of fertility for permanent cropping, which they possessed in their primitive state. ' The continued fruitfulness of the earth is an in- terest far greater, and more enduring, than any form of government. If the twenty-two millions of people now in the United States may rightfully exhaust the natural fertility of one third of tlic arable lands of the coun- try, the forty-four millions who will be here twenty- five years hence may properly consume the produc- tiveness of the remaining two thirds of all American territory. A great principle is involved in the science of agri- culture, which reaches through indefinite genera- tions, and forms the basis of all possible improve- ments, and of the highest hopes of our race. All advancement is impracticable in a country that closely approximates the condition of a desert. As a nation of farmers, is it not time that we in- quire by what means, and on what terms, the fruit- fulness of the earth, and the health and vigor of its invaluable products, may be forever maintained, if not forever improved ? Those are questions of universal concernment, to the careful and rigid investigation of which no man should refuse to lend a listening ear. A govern- mental policy which results in impoverishing the natural fertility of land, no matter by what popular name it is called, must have an end. It is only a question of time, when this truly spendthrift course, this abuse of the goodness of Providence, shall meet its inevitable punishment. To show the necessity of reform, a plain estimate has been made, in the chapter on " agricultural statistics," to prove that we annually waste enough of the elements of bread, without which, not the first kernel of corn can- be foi-mcd, to produce one thousand million bushels of this important staple. The Board of Agriculture of Ohio estimates the crop of corn in 1849, within the limits of that state, at seventy million bushels ; and it will hardly be extravagant to say, that the farmers of Ohio, In- diana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin export a million tons of breadstuffs and provisions, where they import one ton of the atoms drawn from their virgin soils, to form agricultural products. Can it be said, in truth, that a million tons of bread and meat arc produced from '>iothingf Will it be contended that the earth, within the reach of good ploughing, contains an unlimited amount of the precise things consumed to make the plants, whose organic and inorganic elements are taken from the soil, and never restored ? If this be true, then all fertilizers are not only unnecessary, but absolutely worthless. This cannot be so ; for lands that seventy years ago pro- duced from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels of wheat in the state of New Y'ork, now yield only from six to nine bushels per acre ; and in all the old planting states, the results of exhaustion are still more extensive, and still more disastrous. A lack of mental culture and discipline is the most serious impediment to the dift'usion of agricultural science among the mass of farmers. Its language is to them an unknown tongue. Hence tlie most sub- lime truths in the economy of natm-e are shut out from the popular understanding. It is feared that this will ever bo the case until schools designed to teach those branches of learning which the practical farmer greatly needs, but does not possess, are estab- lished and maintained throughout the United States. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 197 So long as we refuse to plant the seed, it is folly to expect a rich harvest of knowledge. We over-estimate the value of mere physical strength, like that of the ox or mnle, and under- estimate the intrinsic worth of cultivated, well- de- veloped reason, in practical agriculture. No incon- siderable degree of mental culture must precede all scientitic tillage and husbandry. An oak is not ma- tured from an acorn in a day, nor in a year ; nor is it i:iossible to form, in a single generation, a univer- sally educated and highly improved race of men. Such improvements, to be general, and fixed in a people as a distinguishing feature in their character, must be deeply impressed on several successive gen- erations. As a class, farmers have few advantage? for being well informed in the rapid progress now making in the economical improvement of soils, cultivated plants, and domestic animals. This lack of oppor- tunity is a serious misfortune, and leads to this prac- tical result : With -5,000,000 farm-laborers — 2,700,000 in the slaveholding, and 2,300,000 in the free states — American agriculturists so misdirect this immense power of production, that the injury done to 100,000,000 acres of land is nearly equal to all the apparent net profits on the whole rural industry of the country. To illustrate an important fact, as well as prin- ciple, let us suppose that a farmer produces crops worth $1000, and that they cost him, including all expenses for labor, wear of implements, interest on capital, &c., $850. Nominally, ho has a profit of $150 ; but it often happens, that, if he under- takes to replace in his cultivated fields as much of potash, soda, magnesia, phosphorus, soluble silica, and other elements of crops, as both tillage and cropping had removed, it will cost him $175, or $200, to effect that purpose. It is only by consuming the natural fertility of the land that he has realized any profit. In a national point of view, all labor that imj^ov- crishcs the soil is worse than thrown away. No fact in the science of political economy is more imj^ortant than this. To reduce a field, which in its virgin state produced forty bushels of corn per acre, down to twenty in ten years, and then cultivate it forty years, and harvest only twenty bushels per acre in place of forty, is equal to a loss of four hundred bushels of corn per acre in the aggregate, or half the diminished product, without any equivalent what- ever. Thus to impoverish land is to wither the muscles of both man and beast employed in its til- lage. Human toil is often jiraised for being highly productive, when, had the whole truth been known, it would have been seen to be remarkably destructive. Labor never creates a particle of new matter by ploughing deep or shallow ; but it frequently places the elements of grain, cotton, and provisions beyond the reach of all scientific farmers who may live here- after, and find the soil wanting in the raw material for making human food and raiment. Is it not the duty of government to diffuse among its citizens acknowledge of the true pi'inciples of til- lage, and impress upon them the obligation which every agriculturist owes to posterity, not to leave the soil lie cultivates in a less fruitful condition than he found it ? When we understand better the importance of concentrating labor instead of scattering it ; when we shall come to estimate duly the superior profit of " a little farm well tilled," over a great farm half culti- vated and half manured, overrun with weeds, and scourged with exhausting crops, we shall then fill our barns, and double the winter food for our cattle and sheep, by the products of our w.xstc Ltn h. THE CURCULIO. This insect has become very destructive to plums, particularly, and as it is a great evil, which should receive more attention, and which requires further investigations, the following recent communication from Dr. Eastman Sanborn, of Andover, to the Pu- ritan Recorder, will be read with interest and profit. In our first volume, we introduced Dr. S. to our readers, in relation to this subject. His thoroui'h and numerous experiments on this subject give an importance to his articles. A few years only have passed, since the curculio, or Rhijnchaenus Nenicphar, was Icnown as the de- stroyer of fruit. At its first appearance, its demands, like those of many other invaders of the vegetable kingdom, were modest and unpretending. It seemed quite satisfied with visiting here and thcu-e tender plum-trees, and depositing its egg in their fi'uit. But, alas ! " The young disease which must subdue at length. Grows with its growth and strengthens vfith its strength." The present year this invader holds almost the entire kingdom of Pomona in subjection. Apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and nectarines have fallen a Y>rej to it. What further encroach- ments it is to make on the productions of the soil, in 1850, and in succeeding years, may well excite the most serious apprehensions. Individuals and asso- ciations, if not legislatures, should put forth such exertions as will exterminate it. In compliance with your request, that all exper- iments calculated to give valuable information upon this, as well as other branches of agriculture and horticulture, may be reported, I here submit a few ex- aminations made in 1819. If they suggest thoughts, or lead to discoveries which shall have a tendency to preserve to us the golden productions of our fruit- trees, and thus gladden the heart of honest industry, and reward labor, my object will be abundantly accomplished. May 18. Plum-trees in my vicinity were in fuQ bloom, and, to be in season for the curculio, I had a platform built on cross-bars and stakes, four feet high, covering the entire surface of the earth under a Green Gage and a Bolmar's Washington. These trees stood nine feet apart. The expense of the ma- terials was less than two dollars. From this dijte to Wednesday evening, June 6, the trees were jarred morning and evening. Thou- sands of otlier insects, perfectly innocent, but which are often mistaken for curculio, fell upon the plat- form, but not a solitarj' insect of this tribe was to be found above or below it. The wind was west and north-west. The next morning, June 7, on jarring the trees at six o'clock, though jarred so thoroughly the previous night, a whole shower of curculio fell upon the boards, and were secured in network cages for exhibition and experiment. At seven o'clock I*. M., about a dozen more were taken, and " shown up " in due form. I speak of this operation as the duty of all who have the opjiortunity of exhibiting " these foxes, these little foxes, that spoil our tender fruits," till all fruit-growers may recog- nize them wherever they sec them. At this time, the plums were about the size of the marrowfat pea. June 8. At six o'clock A. il., I jarred off live curculio ; at seven o'clock P. ^I., six ; on tlie morn- ing of the next day, two; but at night, r.one. Be- tween this time and the evening of tlie loth, none were taken. At the last date 1 caught one ; the next morning, two, and on the s:une day, one. On the morning of June 18, another sliov.'cr of a dozoji 198 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. fell at the first jar ; in the evening, none. On that day, ill the nionunj;, two were caught, and in the evening, the same number. The plums were at that time nearly half their full size ; and those that were first bitten began to fall. On breaking them open, I found that the grub had worked its way over nearly the whole circumference of the kernel, and was about ready to enter the earth and assume its beetle form. I prepared glass jars, pai'tially filled with earth, for their reception, in such a manner as to render visible all their changes. I also prepared jars and kegs of earth for the apple, pear, peach, and cherry. On June 20th, in the morning, no curculio fell from the trees, but at even- ing I found one, and dej^iosited the bitten fruit for experiment. On the 21st, the temperature being 90° at three o'clock P. M., I caught one curculio. On the 22d, three in the morning, but none at night — the thermometer standing 100° at one o'clock, 90° at four o'clock, and 85° at six o'clock P. M. On the 23d of June, three curculios were caught, the wind being west and south-west. A few rose- bugs {Cetonia aiirata) appeared on the blossoms of the Charryanthus, (?) and on the leaves of the Sweet- water Grape. I secured them in network cages, to observe their habits, means of reproduction, &c. I found also worms coiled up in the apple-leaf, which are very numerous, and deposited more fruit bitten by the curculio. On the 24th, we had a strong west and south-west Avind, and I found no curculios. On the 25th, the wind blew from the west and north ; and I observed that the blossoms and foliage of the Charryanthus were nearly covered with rose-bugs. I placed pans of hot water imderneath, and jarred them off into it. I then gave some of them to my fowls, which did not seem to relish them, and threw the remainder into my fish-pond, where they were eagerly devoured. After the appearance of the rose-bugs, I found but few curculios, not more than three or four from June 25th to July 17th. Finding that my plums were out of danger, I re- moved the platform, and had the felicity to see my trees bowing to the earth and loaded, as many per- sons of taste and judgment declared, with several bushels of the finest Gages and Washingtons. I speak this, not boastingly, yet confidently, as the result of my experience. Two other Gages, Avhich blossomed equally full, yielded but one perfect plum, though subjected to a groat variety of popular exper- iments, quite too numerous to be mentioned. Reproduction of the Curculio. The plums which have been bitten by this insect, and deposited in jars June 28th, produced, on the 28th of July, one curculio, on the 30th, three ; and the number increased for several successive days. These jars were set in a window with a southern aspect, but shaded from the sun. On the 5th of August, the plums deposited in other jars at the same time, but sunk in the coldest location in the garden, produced curculios. I attended carefully to this ex- periment, to satisfy myself and others in relation to a question asked by Hon. ilr. Calhoun when the subject was discussed last winter at the agricultural meetings. It was then intimated that these insects come from the earth in the same season in which they enter it, and this was attempted to' be proved by the fact that they had been seen to, when buried in earth in ajar. But the inquiry was made, whether this fact was not owing to their exposure in the jar to a warm temper- ature, and whether, if buried in the cold earth, they would not remain there during the winter. However cold the position, or late the deposit of these grubs, in about sLk weeks they return to the surface perfectly furnished, winged, and equipped for their work of destruction. I come to this con- clusion from many experiments, and much research. For two seasons I have had an opportunity of wit- nessing the daily changes of this insect, from the moment it leaves the fruit till it reappears. I know the order and time of its appearance, and have it pre- served in twelve or fourteen of its different stages, showing what changes it undergoes from day to day. From the great variety of jars and positions in which the grub of this insect was preserved in 1848, not one curculio has appeared this year, (1849.) In the latter part of May, broad covers were placed under trees which were subject to their ravages last year, from M'hich the fruit fell and deposited them in the ground, but not a single curculio was caught in them, proving conclusively that they do not come up from the ground, as is generally supposed. Also, peaches bitten by the curculio were put into a keg half filled with earth, and placed in a cool, shady place in my garden. In due time, thirty or forty curculios made their appearance beneath' the network which covered the top of it. The decayed fruit was removed, and the insects kept confined as before. In three or four weeks, all of them were found dead on the surface of the earth, none haA-ing reentered it. These, and many similar experiments which I need not at present describe, satisfy me that neither the curculio nor its grub burrow in the ground during the winter ; and, consequently, that the common practice of guarding against its ravages by various operations in the soil, rests on a false theory, and is productive of no valuable results. Truth alone can make us fiee, and crown our efforts with success. If every fruit-grower will examine carefully the habits of this insect, and report the result of his labors, we may yet see them subjected to human control. " Many a shaft, at random sent. Finds mark the archer little meant." I am permitted, through the courtesy of Judge Greenleaf, of this place, to relate to you a very in- teresting and successful experiment, one that is worthy of the imitation of all our cultivators, and capable of application to various kinds of fruit. As soon as his young apples began to fall, he employed boys to pick them up from day to day, and put them in barrels by the sunny side of his house. On emptying them after a few days, he found at the bot- tom of the barrel a large handful of small white grubs or Xi/mpkae. Fi'om all the barrels he obtained a full quart, which were destroyed with hot water, except a handful which he put into a glass jar half filled with earth, into which they immediately de- scended, and from which, in due time, reai^peared bona fide Rhijnchaenus Nenuphar, or Plum Weevil, alias curculio, and as a curiosity they were exhibited to very many. My neighbor, Mr. A. W. Pike, also brought me a vial swarming with curculio, which he obtained from cherries bitten bj' this insect, and deposited as above described. I have the results of many other experimenters, all affording' materials for valuable discoveries. Dear sirs, if I had not already taxed your patience too long, I would describe similar experiments on the rose-bug, apple-leaf Avorm, and other insects inju- rious to our fruits, but I will defer this till a future occasion, and will close with an interesting fact, of which I had nearly forgotten to speak — the rearing of curciilio from the black wart, which often appears on the plum-tree. I had, at one time, living speci- mens from this source ; also from apples, pears, plums, peaches, and cherries, all of which, examined through a powerful microscope, presented the same general appearance in form, size, and color. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 199 BEES AND HONEY. I have seen a communication in your paper, signed " S. W. R.," Darlington, Beaver county, Pa., on removing or transferring bees from hive to hive, for the purpose of cleansing from worms, or taking the honey. The way stated may be good, but I think my plan better. It is said to be the French mode, as practised by the honey raisers of France — that is to say : take an empty gum or hive precisely of the same size and dimensions of the one you Avish to change or transfer, turn the full hive bottom upwards, and place the empty one on top ; tie a cloth around the middle to prevent the bees from coming out ■where the two hives join ; then take a stick and crack around the full hive, and the bees will all run up into the empty hive. By putting your ear close to the hive you can hear them passing up. When you have reason to believe they are principally all up, lift off the top hive, set it down on the bench, and take away the hive -with the honey, some eight or ten yards from the bee bench, and take out the honey. What bees may have adhered to the honey-comb ■v\-ill fly back to the new hive. In this -way you need not kill a single bee intentionally. I have practised this plan with success when the season is good for honey-making, which is not every year. Bees are like every thing else ; there are good and bad seasons for them. Sometimes they will hardly make enough to keep them through the winter, and other years they will make as much again as is necessary to keep them. When I have no other object in view than the honey, I rob them in this way from July till August. They will, if a good season, as I before observed, fill the second hive before frost. There are various opinions as regards the size of the beehive. I generally make them from eight to twelve inches square. The proper time for transferring them is early in the morning, or when it is rainmg, as the bees then are all in the hive. T. M. Neav C.\.stle City, Del., 1849. — Dollar Newspaper. BEANS. There is, perhaps, nothing grown by the farmer more profitable than white beans. The small, round kind is preferred to any other, and may be raised as easy as other kinds. The labor required is not as much as some suppose. Beans may be raised with less labor than a crop of corn. An acre will yield from twenty to thirty bushels, and as a bushel is worth from !|!l 25 to $1 7o, the straw and pods being the best kind of fodder for sheep, there can bo no more profitable crop grown. It is a mistaken idea to think that it will not pay to plant beans on good soil. They will grow better than any thing else on a poor one, but they will yield much more abundantly on good. Beans grow best on gravelly soil, neither wet nor cold, but moderately moist. But they may be planted to advantage on any ground where corn will grow. From an experience of six years, I have adopted the following method of culture : I mark the field, after being ploughed in furrows about one foot or a little less apart, and drop four or five beans in a hill, and then cover sHghtly, as the beans reciuire all the heat of the sun to germinate c^uickly. I plant from the 10th of May to the 20th. Tliey generally want but one hoeing, unless the ground is very grassy, when they reen, a watery spot is found in the middle, and a well-defined streak of disease is marked from thence to the root on which it grew. The injury appears to have been confined to the late potatoes. Whether this i:)rove the origin of the potato rot or not, it is an evil of great magnitude, and demands the attention of entomologists and farmers." The writer hero very prudently refrains from ex- pressing a decided opinion that these weevils are the exciting cause of the potato rot ; and there is suffi- cient reason for this caution. The insect referred to is, in its mature state, a little beetle, about three twentieths of an inch long, be- longing, as my correspondent rightly judged, to the weevil tribe. It was first described by Mr. Saj-, in July, 1831, under the significant name of Baridius trhiotatus — the three-dotted Baridius. The Chevalier Schocnherr, in a large work, extending to several volumes, and exclusively devoted to the description of all the known insects of this tribe, redescribcd this species imder the name of Baridius vestitus, so called in allusion to the vesture of short gray nap that covers its body. In fact, its gray coat and the throe black dots on its back, (one on each side of the base of the thorax, and the third on the scutcl or escutcheon,) as Mr. Say remarked, distinguish this species sufficiently from all others. Mr. Say found it in Pennsylvania and in Indiana, and I have speci- mens from the. former state, and from North Caro- lina. It has never fallen under my notice in Massa- chusetts, nor am I aware that it has ever occurred in New England. Now, before we attempt to charge this or any other insect with being the cause of the potato rot, we must prove that the insect is coextensive with the disease ; for there can be no doubt that the disease in all parts of Europe and of America, wherever it has appeared, is specific and identical in its charac- ter. It is a-s much a disease unique in its kind as is tlie Asiatic cholera, and almost as extensive in its range. This being true, the same cause that origi- nated and propagated the disease in Europe, must have extended and continued it in America ; and whenever this cause shall cease to act in one jjlacc, v/c may reasonably hope that its infiuence will begin to subside in other and more distant places. It would be. not only unphilosopliical, but contrary to all analog)-, to attribute the disease to one cause, or to one kind of insect, in Europe, and to another cause, or to another kind of insect, in America. Let us, then, inquire what arc the facts in regard to the insects in question, and in regard to other insects that have been supposed to be the cause of the potato rot. Are they as universal as the disease ? Naturalists, being those who are most conversant with the subject, will tell us that Baridius trinotatus is wholly unknown in Eurojic, and that it is exclu- sively confined to America, where also its range is limited to a part of the country only. On the other hand, the A2Jhis dct-asfa/or, which Mr. Smcc has described as the cause of the potato rot, is confined to Europe, and perhaps also to a comparatively small part thereof. If due weight be given to siich considerations as these, shall we not be brought to the conclusion that potato rot is independent of any such causes as the attacks of insects ? It has long been my opinion that the potato rot is a disease of an epidemical character, propagated by a kind of malaria, or atmospheric poison, capable of extensive difi'usion, and though of uncertain dura- tion, destined to come to an end in the course of time. How far the change in the constitution of the potato produced by cultivation, may have had any in- fluence in the production and propagation of the disease, will be an interesting subject for investiga- tion. We may find that some varieties, like the St. Helena potato, either from original hardiness of con- stitution or from some other cause, have hitherto been exempt from the disease ; and that new and vigorous varieties raised from the seed, may have power to withstand its attacks. And perhaps we may find that new soil, like the virgin loam of the forests, vm- changcd by tillage and manure, and uncontaminated by the exudations of agricultural crops, may prove most favorable to the free growth, healthy condition, and early ripening of the potato, and thereby enable it to pass unhurt through a visitation of the epi- demic. T. W. HARllIS. C.VMHRIDOE, Mass., May 28, 1850. For the Neio England Farmer. WHITE SHANGHAE FOWLS. Mil. Editok, : In the last number of your paper, a correspondent, " Stonington," saj'S, "In a recent communication to your pajier on the ' White Shang- haes,' it is stated they are a separate breed of fowls. Will your correspondent, or some other gentleman versed in feathered genealogy, give us his authority r" " If there is a distinct species of Wliite Shanghae, it is not known to Capt. Palmer." That there is a breed of fowls at Shanghae with white plumage, is shown by those imported in March last, now in the possession of ^Ir. Wight, at Dcd- ham, Mass. These fowls were obtained at Shang- hae, and were shipped by the Vancouver, and pur- chased at a much greater price than is paid for the ordinary store fowls, with Avhich the foreign ships arc supplied. The progeny of those White Shang- haes has been, so far, without the slightest deviation as to color, (as I am informed by Mr. Wight,) show- ing that they are a distinct breed. The Shanghae fowls imported by Capt. Palmer, and presented by him to Mr. Dixon, and of which " Stonington " speaks so highly, Avere undoubtedly the remainder of the store fowls put on board of Capt. Palmer's ship, and were of mixed blood, hav- ing the same character that fowls purchased, under similar circumstances, for ships leaving any of the ports of this country, would possess, and it requires NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 205 no search for " undiscovered laws " to account for the white phimago thrown by their descendants. The fowls, when bought by Capt. Palmer, were of mixed blood, and were selected, not for breeders, but for being eaten during the voyage. " Stonington " cannot, it seems from the tenor of his communication, believe there can exist at Shang- hac a breed of white fowls, because "it is not known to Capt. Palmer," and ventures " a prediction that the White Shanghaes mentioned in the communica- tion, if they are pure blood, will turn out some fine red chicks in the course of the summer." If " Ston- ington " has no better ground on which to found his prediction than the want of knowledge of Capt. Palmer, I place no reliance on his opinion, and no faith in his prediction. "Who " Stonington " is, what facilities he may pos- sess for obtaining information, and how well he may be " versed in feathered genealogy," I do not know ; but it is hoped that he will, when he next attempts to correct " several errors in point of fact, which are likely to mislead," &c., favor the readers of your paper with his real name and place of residence. I dislike to reply to a person who does not give his name to the public. For tlie account of Capt. Palmer's examination of the different kinds of fowls at Shanghac, and of the loss of the "White Shanghaes by Mr. Dixon, I am indebted to John Giles, of Providence, K. I. ; and what reason he could have to give false information, I leave the reader to judge. Yours, &c., S. BRADFOllD MORSE, Jr. For the Xeto England Farmer. EARLY BEARING-QUINCE STOCKS FOR THE NORTH. Mr. Cole : "Will you, or some of your able corre- spondents, give information, through your valuable publication, on the following subjects ? When large fruit trees are grafted, will the scions bear fruit sooner when taken from bearing trees than ■when taken from young trees ? Will pears flourish when grafted on quince stocks, as far north as New Hampshire? (lat. 43° 15'.) If so, or in trying the experiment, what variety of the quince is preferable ? INVESTIGATOR. North Ciiarlestowx, N. II., March 6, 1850. Remarks. — There arc different opinions as to Bcions from bearing trees bearing fruit earlier than those from young trees. We think that there is generally but little difference. If the scion is old, the stock must also have age and vigor, before the scion will bear. W^e have cut scions from bearing trees, which scions (as is evident from others that re- mained) would have borne fruit the next season, set them on young stocks, and managed well the trees, and they have not borne for seven or eight years. At the same time, such scions set on bearing trees have borne plentifully the third year. We have had scions that retained so much of their original dispo- sition to bear, that they bore the first season, but afterwards became so modified by the young stock, that they did not bear again for six or eight years. A few days ago, a fi-uit cultivator showed us a seedling set on a standard tree to forward its bearing. It had not borne, though set as long a time as is necessary for seedlings to bear on their original stock. So there is a doubt whether the bearing of seedlings can be much hastened by grafting on bearing ti-eos, though it may be done by working them on dwarfs, and pursuing other modes of causing early maturity. We do not consider these questions settled, but we do think that it is of but little importance whether scions arc cut from bearing trees, or young trees, fcr the purpose of grafting young trees. Will some of our correspondents give us their experience in reganl to the time of bearing of scions cut from old and young trees, and set on bearing trees ? Peai'S will doubtless flourish as well on quince stocks in New Hampshire, as in a more southern clime, if such pears are selected as are adapted to that region. We think that there is but Uttle differ- ence in the value of the different varieties of quince for the pear ; but further experiments may give us a different view of the subject. The most vigorous stocks are best, but we do not, in this respect, per- ceive much difference in the apple, pear, and Portu- gal quince. Yet these arc unsettled questions, and we need more light on them. — Ed. For the Ncio England Farmer. MILDEW ON GOOSEBERRIES. Mr. Cole : The prevalence of the mildew on many of the choice varieties of gooseberries, has become so common, that many have, in utter despair, abandoned the cultivation of them. We had well nigh con- cluded that any further attempts in their behalf were useless ; and had it not been for a kind of farming denominated " book farming," found in our agricul- tural journals, Ave should long ago, probably, have consigned our bushes to the rubbish heap, and con- cluded that there was an end of the whole matter. From the experience of some one in this matter, we learned that salt meadow hay placed around the bushes had a good effect- Such hay does not grow on the mountains of Berkshire ; so we applied a sub- stitute, without knowing whether, in our case, wc should kill or cure. If we had done the former, there would have been no loss, for the bushes were worthless as they were. In the first place, we dug in a plenty of fine ma- nure among tlie roots of the bushes. Rotten chip manure is excellent for the purpose ; so are composts. Early in the season wc gave as much as half a i)int of rock salt to each bush, laying it so far from the stalk as not to interfere with it. This salt is in a state of decomposition until it is gone, and its efi'cct is to keep the ground cool and damp — two essentials to the perfection of this kind of fruit. After salting, litter with any waste hay or leaves ; these also tend to keep a uniform moisture and temperature around the roots. 15 y managing in this way, we have re- stored our old buslies, so that last year we had as fine a crop from them as thej' ever gave in their most pabny days. When the mildew first appears, sprinkle tlic bushes over with brine, and it will check its progress. Other remedies have been recommended, which we have tried Avith less success. One, fur instance, says, if they are alloAvcd to groAV in grass-land, the mildcAV Avill not touch them. This avc have tried, but with us it Avas no go ; our berries were as fatally shielded over as Avhen the ground Avas cultivated. The prevalence of the disease undoubtedly depends much on soil and locality. In most cases they prob- ably succeed best in moist, cool loc;ditics. It is in such AVC find them in a state of nature. At the 206 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. same time, the soil must be open, so that the roots •will have ample means to extend themselves. "NVc have as yet been able to find no variety that is l)i-oof against this plague. Some are more subject to it than others. Those ■vvho are not willing to employ a little labor and a trifling cost to remedy the evil had better throw away their bushes, and done Avith it. liut lor om-selves, the crops of last year and year before were an ample remuneration for the labor we employed, and we have no doubt but others will find as good a compensation in the same way. Yours truly, W. B. May, ISoO. IIemamcs. — Foreign gooseberries are very liable to mildew, but Houghton's Seedling is free from this evil. "\Ve have cultivated this variety for several year--, both on moist and dry land, also on a poor soil, and under high cxilture, and we have them both in sheltered and exposed situations, and we have never seen any mildew on them. It is a great grower and bearer, and the fruit is of the highest quality. This is perfectly healthy, while our foreign kinds growing in the same lot are blighted. But as it is desirable to cultivate a variety, the prevention recom- mended by our correspondent is important. — Ed. For the Neio England Farmer. MILDEW OR INSECTS ON GRASS. Mr. Cole : In my letter to you to send me the Farmer, I forgot one thing ; and that is, our herds- grass, as it is beginning to head, is attacked by an insect, or the miller, and it is stopped in that state, and remams so until it starts at the bottom and comes up anew. I have talked with a good many men about it, but I do not find any one that can give any information. They have noticed that it did not come up, but knew not the reason ; they attributed it to the drought or some other cause. I have noticed after the larvre hatched, as I suppose, as I have been walking along in the grass, the millers would fly before me like grasshoppers, when they are thick. They are a very great damage to our crops of grass. They do not attack a field until the third year after seeding, and then they do not take more than half the heads, and the fourth year they take almost every head. And now I wish that you would send out an in- quiry in the Farmer, to find out whether other parts of our country are affected like this vicinity; and also to find, if possible, a preventive, for it is a very great injury to our grass crops. INQUIRER. Waitsfield, Vt., 1850. Rem.vrks. — Will some of our correspondents throw light on this subject, if it has come within their experience ? Two years ago, we had a piece of herdsgrass that was afi'ceted with mildew, and we attributed it to very thick sowing on wet land ; and we expected to see it again last season, but it did not reappear, although our grass was so thick that we had three tons of fine hay to the acre, at one mow- ing, on the very spot where it was blighted the pre- vious year. But this blight might be different from that mentioned by Inquirer. — Ed. For the New England Farmer. BLUE FLAG. Mr. Editor : Can you or any of your correspond- ents inform mo of a method of eradicating the blue flag {iris versicolor') from grass land? We have a field in Avhich it has obtained roothold, and is rapidly spreading. Tlic ground is low, but not very wet, the superfluous water being taken off by a drain. The soil is very shallow, with a hard, stony subsoil, which prevents ploughing. The lot has received abundant top-dressings, and has, until within a year or two, yielded good crops of grass. The flag is now so abundant as nearly to ruin the crop. If you have met with similar cases, perhaps you can give some information on the subject to a SUBSCRIBER. Remarks. — We have destroyed blue flag, and almost every other worthless plant, by ploughing, thorough culture, manuring, and growing of crops. We have no experience in destroying blue flag where the land cannot be ploughed. Will some of our readers give the information desired ? — Ed. For the New Etigland Farmer. SELECTING FRUIT TREES. Mr. Editor : Though the subject of this epistle comes a little out of season, yet, owing to its manifold importance, it may net come amiss to discourse upon it occasionally. We would not recommend the farmer to select the thriftiest trees that he can find, because it is no un- common thing for the nurseryman to have thrifty growing trees ; he can manure his nursery well, and take aU other necessary care, thus force them along with all possible means, get them in a short period large enough for sale, and looking very nice and handsome, will sell readily, and at a very high price. No, we do not recommend such trees, because, unless they are kept in equally as good cultivation as they have been, (and I hope and believe that it is not cus- tomary for farraers generally to force their orchards,) they wiU not last so long as those that thrive chiefly in accordance with the laws of nature. No, farmers, do not purchase a tree out of a nursery where they are tall, slender, sleek, and smooth as a candle, unless you wish to keep them in a high state of cultivation. Trees should not pierce the sky, like Cleopatra's Needle, or as once did the celebrated towers of Bologna. No, it is enough for the human masonic art to do this, but the vain intention should never be practised upon the productions of nature. D. WARREN JOHNSON. Winchester, May 25, 1850. For the Neto England Farmer. MILLET. Mr. Cole: In your number of May 11, in an article headed " Work for the Season," I notice you mention millet, among other kinds of grain. I live in a section where millet is entirely unknown as a field crop. I should like to be informed how much seed it requires to sow an acre; how much an acre in good condition would probably yield ; what it is worth per bushel, and what is its use or uses ; also, if it should be sown on laiid rich enough to raise NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 207 ■wheat or corn, or if it will grow on poorer land to advantage. Any information in regard to the above inquiries, would be gladly received by a SUBSCRIBER. Ryegate, Tt., June 4, 1S50. Remarks. — Millet is a small grain. The seed is valuable for fowls, but rather dear for this purpose, ■when purchased in the market. A good crop yields from fifteen to twenty-five bushels. If sown in drills for seed, one peck of seed is sufficient ; but if sown broadcast for the same purpose, nearly half a bushel is necessary; and when sowai broadcast for fodder, about tluee pecks should be sown. Some cultivators say that a less quantity is sufficient, and others more. Millet is often cut before ripe, and used for fodder, but it will not yield so much fodder as Indian corn. Millet requires land in high tilth, the same as for a good crop of wheat. It is rather uncertain in this climate, and though long known, and frequently tried, it is but very little cultivated. On rather poor land, buckwheat is a much better late crop. June is a good season for sowing millet. It should be sown as early as the 20th or 2.5th, and better for being sown before these periods. The usual retail price of millet, at the seed stores, is $2 00 per bushel. For the New England Farmer. CULTURE OF POMEGRANATES. Mu. Cole : The generic name, Pimica, of this tribe of plants seems to have arisen from the circumstance of the 1'. grcaiatum being found growing in that part of Africa where ancient Carthage stood ; the ancients called the fruit Malum Punicum, Carthaginian apple ; and Fumum granutum, kcrnellcd apple. The specific name, granatum, from gramtm, grain, on account of the grains of its fruit, was borrowed from the latter. The Grecians seem to have set very great store by this fruit. The tree was first brought to Rome from Carthage, in the days of Sylla ; and Pliny infonns us, that the color to dye cloth, called Punicus, is ob- tained from the flowers, and that the Romans used the rind, flowers, and every part of the fruit, in medi- cine. Sloane says, "The rind of the fruit, together ■with the bark of the tree, is still used in some parts of Germany, in the dj-eing and preparation of red leather." The rind also produces as good ink as that made from galls. In its Avild state it grows to a bush from sixteen to eighteen feet high, and bears profuse crops of fruit, something after the manner of haw- thorn. "NVinc made from this fruit was strongly recom- mended by Lord Bacon, Dr. Buchan, and others, for complaint of the liver, or, if the wine could not be had, newly expressed juice might be used in the morning, with a little sugar and a small piece of green citron peel. ITie Persians make a very favorite drink of the rind, with the addition of cinnamon. The P. nana is used as hedges in Jamaica and the Island of Cuba ; its leaves are diminutive, and its red flowers, altliough not large, are pretty conspicuous : the fruit in such situations is highly ornamftital, and of the most excellent sweet flavor. Propagation and Culture. — The usual mode of prop- agation Ls by layers. Lay down the branches of the prc\-ious year's growth in May, merely pegging them, without making any iiicision, and by the autumn they wiU have made good roots, and may be taken off" any time before the buds break, and planted either in larger sized pots, in a mixture of good rich loam and a small portion of sandy peat, or against a warm wall. ITiey will also strike freely by well- ripcncd cuttings, taken off in the autumn, and planted in pots filled with equal quantities of light sandy loam and peat, covered over with a hand or bell glass, and set in a shady part of the greenhouse or stove, keeping them perfectly free from mould, or even dampness, until the following February, when they should be plunged in a bark or hot bed, where they will speedily strike roots ; they should then bo potted off" separately, and again plunged in a brisk heat until tliey have established themselves ; they may then be gradually hardened, until they will bear the temperature of the greenhouse, carefully repot- ting when required. The second year alter they are struck, they may be turned out, under a south wall, in front of a stove or greenhouse. "Where they are intended to be planted, take out the soil to about the depth of twelve inches, and lay at the bottom about four inches thick of broken stones, or other hard rub- bish, to prevent the root from striking deep, and in- duce them to run near the surface ; for if once they get deep, however suitable the soil may be for their growth, they will flower but very partially. Fill up the trench with a good strong, rich loam, mixed with a small portion of sand, if it is inclined to bind. Pruning. — Proper pruning will greatly assist their flowering. All the flowers are produced at the ex- tremities of the young branches formed the same year ; care should therefore be taken to bring only the strongest buds into action, instead of filling the tree very full of Avcak shoots ; to accomplish this, cut out all the weak branches of the former j'car, and shorten the others according to their strength ; by these means, a quantity of flowering wood may be obtained throughout the whole tree. Grafting. — The yellow, white, and double scailct varieties are often grafted on stocks of the common one ; the operation is performed in February or March, after the same manner of the apple, &c. To bring the fruit to perfection, it is indispensable that the tree be trained against a flued wall, where it will have a higher tempei^ature to swell up and ripen. BERNARD REYNOSO. For the New England Farmer. BLOSSOMING OF APPLE-TREES. Mr. Editor : By the remarkable cold and cloudy weather during the month of May, just past, and the heavy rains, and north-east and easterly winds, the blossoming of apple, as well as other fruit trees, has been delayed to a later season this year than usual. You published my account of the time of blossoming of apple-trees, in the Farmer, in the number for June 23, 1819, p. 213. In that account, containing a tabic of their blossoming in Mansfield for fifty-two years, but one year they were delayed as late as June, and that was in the year 1812, when the blossoms were not out full till the 2d of June. The next latest was May 31, 1832. The earliest in said table was in May 8, 1830 ; — difference of the two extremes, twenty-four days — mean of which is May 21, which is exactly the mean of the said fifty-two years. This year I consider apple-trees were not out in full blossom till June 3, one day later than known for the past fifty- three years. I noticed that many apple-trees of late varieties, the Russet, &c.. for in- stance, were not fidly out even on that day. And also, some trees, in cool and wet locations, were uot fully expanded. My rule in determining the time W 208 NEW Ei\GLAND FARMER. to note when their petals had begun to fall to the ground ; that is, as many petals had fallen as what remained to expand. Tlic old red cherry were this year equally as late as the apple. Most respectfully yours, ISAAC STEAIIXS. Mansfield, Mass, Jime 6, 1850. WHEN SHOULD GRAIN BE CUT* It has ever been the practice with most farmers to permit their grain crops to remain in the field until fully matured. This, it was thought, was indispen- sably necessary to secure the complete development of all those characteristic excellences iipon which the value of most grains, used for food for man and beast, is found intrinsically to depend. To cut it, therefore, one day before its entire and perfect mat- uration, was supposed to detract to some extent from its nutritive powers, and consequently to diminish somewhat the value of the crop, without securing any advantages worthy of consideration in re- turn. The assumption uj^on which this hypothesis is predicated, is, that the stalk acts merely as a con- duit, or tube, through which, as the grain demands it, the nutriment is conveyed from the soil. No allowance is made for the action of the vitalizing fluid, or sap, which is supposed to act merely as a solvent, and is arrested and rendered incapable of operating any favorable action upon the grain, as soon as the crop is cut, though the stalk be replete with sap, and the grain unfilled, or immature. My own experience, however, aided by the experiments and observations of others who have made these phenom- ena a subject of critical and patient investigation, induces me to adopt an altogether different view of the case ; and this, I find, is the fact with raanj' of the most distinguished scientific writers both in this comitry and iir Europe. In the 2d volume of British Husbandry, pp. 136, 137, it is said, — " The question has been for some time agitated, regarding the state of rijaeness in which grain should be reaped ; and it has been recommended as a general rule of ijractice, to cut down the crop before the up- permost grain can be shaken out. Taking all things into consideration, it seems to be the most prudent plan to have the grain cut before it is fully ripe ; but in this a medium course should be adopted ; for, although grain, if allowed to become too ripe, as- sumes a dull, husk}' hue in the sami^le, yet, if not ripened enough, it shrivels in the drying." Cadet de Vaux asserts that " grain reaped eight days before the usual time, has the berries larger, fuller, and finer, and better calculated to resist the attacks of the weevil. An equal quantity of the corn thus reaped, with corn reaped at maturity, gave more bread, and of a better quality. The proper time for reaping, is that when the grain, on being pressed be- tween the fingers, has a doughy appearance, like a crumb of bread jiist hot from the oven." Mr. C. Howai-d, in the lleport on Select Farms, says, " Wheat ought never to be allowed to remain uncut till it is fully ripe. Experiments, easily made, will prove to every cultivator of it, that by permit- ting it to stand imtil the straw has lost its succulcncy, he gains nothing in plumpness or bulk of grain, but loses much in color and fineness of skin ; besides which, he incurs the risk of shelling, by the high wind, or by its being cut under the influence of a burning sun. " AVhen fully ripened by standing in the shocks, no dry hour should be lost in getting it well secured." Landon observes, that '* in harvesting wheat, the best farmers, both in England and on the continent, agree that it ought to be cut before it becomes dead ripe. When this is the case, the loss is considerable, both in the field and in the stack-yard ; and the grain, according to Von Thaer, produces an inferior flour." These extracts from the most distinguished the- oretical and in-actical writers on agriculture, might be multiplied ad iiLfiiiitum ; but enough has been pre- sented, I presume, to show what is the general belief upon this important subject. Mj' own experience, also, goe.s to corroborate the correctness of the theory which proposes that all grain intended for human food, or for feeding animals, be cut at least five days before it becomes mature. In the summer of 1836, I had a piece of oats, about four acres, which were remarkably stout. As hay was that season rather short, and as less than a medium crop had been har- vested, I wished to preserve the straw of this field in a condition which would render it in some measure an efhcient substitute for English hay ; and with this view, cut the whole of my oats at a period of their growth when the straw was perfectly green, but not before the berries had become somewhat hard to the touch, though by no means ripe. From appearances, I was induced to believe that about five days of dry, warm weather would be required to ripen the crop ; and in this opinion I was afterwards confirmed by the time required fully to ripen a small strip which I caused to be left near the centre of the field, the produce of which was afterwards carefully threshed and weighed. The weather was favorable during the harvest, and the sheaves were stored without injury from the wet. On comparing the produce of that portion of the field to which the sickle had been in- troduced first, with the produce of that which had been allowed to become fully matured before cutting, there was no perceptible difference either in the size or weight of the grain ; but there was a marked dif- ference in the appearance and value of the straw. That which was cut first, retained its green, brilliant hue, and was eaten by my cows and young stock with the greatest eagerness and avidity ; whereas that from the other section was rejected, and was used for lit- tering horses, hogs, sheep, and other animals kept on the farm. Since then I have made it an invariable rule to cut my oats (of wheat I raise but little) as soon as the heads begin to turn. I allow the crop a fair time to make, and bind in small sheaves, which I expose for several days to the sun, if the weather be favorable ; if not, I stack them a while before de- positing them in the barn. A COUNTY FAEMER. June 1, 1850. — Germantown Telegraph. Mathematics of Bees. — The warmest admirers of honey, and the greatest friends to bees, will never, I presume, contend that the young swarm, who begin making honey three or four months after they are born, and immediately construct these mathematical cells, should have gained their math- ematical knowledge as we gain ours, and in three months' time outstrip Mr. Maclaurin in mathematics as much as they did in making honey. It would take a senior wrangler at Cambridge ten hours a day, for three years together, to know enough of mathematics for the calculation of these problems, with which not only every queen bee, but every undergraduate grub, is acquainted the moment it is born. — Sidney Smith's Sketches of Philosophy. Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver, and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings. — Burke. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 209 ST. GHISTLAIN PEAR. This pear is of a fine texture, and usually high quality. It is a native of Belgium, and ranks among the best pears for garden culture, under careful man- agement. But notwithstanding the excellent quality of the fruit, it is not adapted to general orchard cul- ture for the market, or for this market, as it is too small to sell for what it is really worth. Wc have seen them in the market, in fine condition, but the sale dull ; and one cultivator of this fruit in this vicinity, who has about twenty trees, informs us that he shall change them to some other variety, as the size is too small for the market, though tlio quality is first rate. Sometimes a superior pear attains a high reputation, and sells well in market, though rather small. This is the case with the Seckel ; but it comes in when pears arc not usually very plenty, and it attained its high character when but few vari- eties were cultivated. With the great variety of excellent pears now generally known, and several ripening with this kind, and as the St. Ghistlain, like most foreign pears, is variable, it will never gain a notoriety that will cause it to sell for what it is worth in the market, — that is, in this market, with the present preference for large fruit. Characteristics. — Size medial ; pyriform, neck nar- row and tapering ; pale yellow, sometimes a red tinge ; stem usually an inch and a half long, varjdng from slender to stout, and fleshy at the fruit ; very shallow basin ; flesh whitish, fine, melting, buttery, juicy, of a fine delicious flavor, first rate when in perfection, but occasionally varying to second rate. Ripens in September, and is better when gathered rather early, and ripened in the house. Growth upright and vigorous. Shoots light brown. Hardy and productive. It flourishes well on its own stock or as a dwarf. Our drawing is made from specinjens presented by our liberal friend, Mr. Andrew Lackey, Jr., Marblc- hcad, where wc saw, last season, a tree of this vari- ety, grown on the English white thorn, and trained on a building, of large size, remarkable vigor, and well loaded with the finest looking fruit that wc ewr saw of this variety. It Avas sufficiently large to sell well in market. 210 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. It was a remark of Dr. Spurzheim, that " the physical education of woman was of more impor- tance to the welfare of the world, than that of men." "Whether full assent be conceded to this or not, no one will deny that a proper development of woman's physical powers should attend that of the intellect- ual and moral. It has become a topic of common remark, as well as regret, that Avhile the mental fac- ulties of females are subjected to a wise and salutary discipline, their physical training is almost totally neglected. It will not be for a moment doiibted, that woman's happiness and usefulness arc, in a great measure, proportioned to the health she enjoys, and that all other qualifications will be of comparatively little avail, if this precious boon is denied to her. It should then bo a subject of special attention with parents and educators to secure to the daughters of our land the fullest amount of energj' and comfort to be derived from an early and judicious regard to the demands of their physical constitution. Occu- pying, as woman does, a loftier position, as respects moral intiucnce, in our own than in any other coun- try,— and to which is justly ascribed our singular and growing strength as a people, — it is a matter of great practical importance, not only to her, but to society in genera], that her training, in all respects, should be such as is adapted to the maintenance of her present exalted rank. It is observed that girls at this day are far less effi- cient in whatCA'er appertains to bodily strength and power of endurance, than were their grandmothers. The privations with which the latter were familiar in their childhood and youth, taught them self-reli- ance and contentment under subsequent and more propitious circumstances ; the free air they breathed purified the vital current, imparting health, anima- tion of spirits ; and the pure water they drank satis- fied their thirst without vitiating the taste : roared amid such influences, strangers to those fashion- able maladies which modern refinement has induced, they were companions worthy the patriots of the revolution. True, their means of education were limited ; but a deficiency of books was supplied by a perfect mastery of the few they possessed, by a closer observation of nature, and the exercise of a clear and vigorous understanding. That the jiresent generation of the female sex is infe- rior to their predecessors in point of strength, health, and length of life, and fast deteriorating in those quali- ties which gave them energy and character, is a fact, it is believed, generally acknowledged. Nor is this in any degree surprising. For while the brother is permitted to engage in all those invig- orating pastimes which his nature and inclination demand, the sister is habitually admonished for in- dulging in those healthful amusements to which her disposition leads her. She is taught that all those natural impulses, arising from exuberance of spirits and the joyous hilarity of youth, are rude, boister- ous, or ungenteel, and should therefore be repressed. If she goes forth to breathe the fresh and pure air of heaven, she must walk with the measured step and gravity of a funeral procession. Should her instructor permit her to trundle her hoop, to exercise her lungs beyond what is regarded as the standard of propriety, the fond and fashional^le mother inter- feres, protesting that her daughter is becoming rude and unladylike. Nor is this all ; at a time of life when most capable of profiting by instruction, and when in seasons of relaxation, she should be allowed the freedom of the mountains, the hills, and the meadow, in order to impart the glow of health to her cheek, cheerfulness and animation to her spirits, strength to her memory, and vigor to her intellect, the daughter, noio a young lady., is ushered into society. A round of gay and often frivolous amusements follows this important event. Late houi's, late suppers, stimulants, an^ excite- ment drive sleep from the pillow. Weary and dis- ordered both in mind and body, she rises, idly to spend the hours of the day, till the return of even- ing shall bring her renewed scenes of gayety and pleasure. A few years thus passed introduce her to the cares and duties of domestic life. Destitute of self-reli- ance and self-control, ignorant of her own powers and capabilities, with a constitution impaired, it is not strange that when the stern realities of life are to be met, she fades and sinks to an untimely grave. Would mothers, when visiting the burial-place of the dead, but read the inscriptions carved to record the age and worth of those who died at a period of life when, by a judicious training, they might have been the light and centre of the domestic circle, and would they reflect that a maternal pride, or possibly their own ignorance of the laws of health and of life, is hurrying their daughters to a like premature end, there would be hope for those to whom their education is intrusted, that these now young and beautiful daughters will be restrained from scenes of dissipation and folly ; tUl, through the plastic influ- ence of education, physical, intellectual, and moral, they " may be as centre stones polished after the similitude of a palace." — Family Visitor. l)oittl)'s Department. Sympathy. — A mother who was in the habit of asking her children, before they retired at night, what they had done during the day to riiake others happy, found her young twin daughters silent. The older ones spoke modestly of deeds and dispositions, founded on the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." Still those little bright faces were bowed down in silence. The question was repeated. "I can remember nothing good all this day, dear mother ; only one of my school-fellows was happy because she had gained the head of the class, and I smiled on her, and ran to kiss her. So she said I was good. This is all, dear mother." The other spoke still more timidly. " A little girl who sat by me on the bench at school, had Ipst a baby brother. I saw that while she studied her les- son, she liid her face in her book, and cried. I felt sorry, and laid my face on the same book, and cried with her. Then she looked up, and was comforted, and put her arms round my neck. But I do not know why she said that I had done her good." The mother knew how to prize the first blossom- ings of sympathy. She said, " Come to my arms, beloved ones ! To rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep Avith those who weep, is to obey our blessed Redeemer." Never laugh at those who do not dress as well as you do. They may know a great deal more than you. They probably" are better far to their parents or little brothers and sisters. Treat them kindly. Don't look at their clothes, and then at yours, as if to say, " See how nice I am dressed." Such conduct is mean and ill bred. Don't be guilty of it. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 211 gealtl) ?Bcpartinent. No Excuse. — Our farmers never forget the barn, the corn-crib, nor the "spring house;" but a bath room, quite as necessary to the comfort and health of their households, rarely enters into the calcula- tion. Even when it is impossible to convej' a suffi- cient supply of the element directly into the house, a sponge and plentiful buckets of water will be found to answer the purpose admirably, where the city bath is unattainable. No person is excusable for neglecting a daily ablution with the common " wash- bowl and pitcher" apparatus within reach; and with them, a square of oil-cloth to protect the carpet or floor, he may gain comfort and increasing strength, with very little trouble and expense. The only objection that can be urged against this healthful practice, is prompted bj' indolence — a cowardly shrinking from the trouble, and mayhap of the first plunge ; but this grows less and less ; habit steps in to aid us, and by rising a few minutes earlier, the busiest man or woman may secure the necessary time. Then the warm glow, and brisk and health- ful circulation, that succeed the chUl, is an ample repayment for all transient discomfort. The un- shrinking use of a coarse crash towel, a short, quick walk in the open air, if possible, directly after, and our word for it, the most delicate of you all will re- turn with such an appetite as you never know going from chamber to breakfast room without the appli- cation prescribed above ; a prescription that we would enforce by earnest solicitations, for a trial at least, to those of our readers who wish for a long life and healthful one. — Neal's Gazette. illecljamce' ^Department, C^rts, ^r. Lithography. — Lithography is the art of print- ing from stone. This process is based upon the fact that printing ink, being largely composed of oil, will not adhere to any surface which is wet with water. Every one knows how utterly impossible it is to mix oil and water. To lithograph, then, all that is necessary is, to draw on the smooth surface of a drj- Stone, with a greasy crayon, whatever is desired to be printed. A weak solution of nitric acid is then rubbed over the stone, which fastens the drawing so that it cannot be rubbed off. After this, a solution of gum-arabic is passed over the surface, and then the stone is ready for printing. By means of a sponge, water is now rubbed on the stone, and while yet wet the inking roller is api)lied. The ink of course adheres to the lines of the draw- ing, because they are oily, but to the wet stone it does not stick. The paper is now laid on, and, with the stone, passed through the press ; the result being a beautiful and exact copy of whatever is drawn. Such is the process by which the lithographic prints, that are sold in all paits of our country, are made. The colored ones are painted with water paints after the printing is completed. _ The stone employed for lithography is of a pecu- liar kind of Ume and clay nature, resembling in ap- pearance a ."mooth, yellow hone, yet possessing the quality of absorbing water. This 'stone is known as lithographic, or compact lime. It is found chiefly in liavaria, one of the German states, though there' are quarries of it in England. The Bavarian stones, however, arc those most uni- versally employed, and their importation is a consid- erable object in commerce. In New York these stones are Avorth from five to ten cents per pound. — T/te Studetit. Ieox Houses. — A young man in New York has invented a new mode of constructing iron houses, of which the Tribune gives the following description : — It embraces a rigid frame of cast-iron pillars, with other parts of .sheet iron. Pillars of peculiar con- struction are placed at equal distances, and each in- terlocks with the girdles, and cross sills, as well as the lintels, doors and window frames, and all the parts which requu-e to be firm, or to brace other parts. The panels are of sheet iron, as also are the floors, ceilings, and shutters for the doors and win- dows. To every part of the house there is an inte- rior and exterior wall, leaving an air chamber between; this renders each room fire proof, and each, if desired, may be rendered air jwoof. The roof is also of iron, and couples to the walls and floors. The frame may be ornamented in the cast- ing as taste shall dictate, and the whole may be painted to perfection, equal to the finest fresco work. The house will resist any kind of atmosphere in the most perfect manner, and when put togcthx^r, is so strong that it may be turned over and back again without injury. These buildings will be more desi- rable than any other, and may be taken apart in a few hours, and re-put together on another site with entire facility. Having been taken apart, one may be packed in a small space, as the whole is in sec- tional pieces, so as to be fitted for rebuilding, and for changmg the form, or extending in either direc- tion, or in height, within a few hoias, without pre- venting its use while being so altered or added to, and without loss of any of the material of the origi- nal building. — Family Visitor. Remarkable Mechanical Talent. — There is a French Canadian boy at St. Hyacinthe, who has con- structed a working model of a steam locomotive complete in all its parts, about eighteen inches in length, without any assistance or instruction even in the use of tools. He is only about fourteen years of age, and has had to make for himself every imple- ment necessary for his work, with the exception of one or two files. Among these implements is a rude species of turning lathe, and the tools for making screws. His models have been the engines wliich he has seen on the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Bailway. — Montreal Herald. REMARKS ON BARK-BOUND CHERRY- TREES. In the last February number of the Horticulturist appeared an article from Prof. Turner, of Illinois Col- lege, upon the disease of the cherry-tree ; attributing it almost entirely to the trees becoming " bark bound," and advising for its remedy the peeling of tlie outer corticle of bark entire. I liave the greatest respect and esteem for Prof. Turner as one of my own correspondents, and as one who is doing much to advance horticultural science at the west. Yet, not having perfect faith in his theory, I trust it will not be deemed uncourtcous in me to state what I consider the primary cause and the ultimate remedy ; pro\-idcd, in so doing, I occupy not too great a portion of your columns. With an eye to this subject, I have, during the four years past, examined a large number of cherry-trees of all ages and sizes, and growing ujion vaiicd soils. 212 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. As Prof. Turner says, writers have advised various specifics ; one a blue clay, another light, thui soil, &c., and all, like unto Mr. Allen's system of orchard- ing, on a large scale, and laying his orchard down to grass — being only to diminish the annual growth of the tree by lessening the amount of ascending- sap, and thereby producing a short growth of fine, close grain, fully ripened, and capable of enduring the sudden and exciting changes of our western cHmate. " Again, others have shaded the trunks from the hot sun in summer." This I have myself practised, not only in summer, but also in -winter, and have seen the same practised upon trees of twenty years' age, and as Prof. T. remarks, " the remedy has as often failed as it has succeeded." The slitting with a knife was practised by a friend of mine, an amateur in fruit culture, many years since, and without success ; coming at last to the conclusion which impressed the mind of Rev. II. W. Beecher, who, in a few remarks respecting this prac- tice, says, he " should as soon think of slittmg the skin on a boy's leg, or on calves or colts, as a regular part of a plan of rearing them, as to slash the bark of sound and healthy trees." Prof. Turner does not advocate the slitting of the bark, I am aware. Yet I allude to it here, from the fact of having noticed a large number of trees this season most unmercifully slitted and gashed — vertically, horizontally, zigzag, and waved : " Prof. Turner, of Illinois College, ad- vises it, and we thought we would try it." Every one who has ever tried it upon trees, knows that by slitting the bark of almost any tree when it is in vigorous growth, it will immediately expand, as tliough it had been compressed by a bandage. Arti- ficial channels so produced are, however, soon filled up by new granulations or layers of bark, and of course as much " bark bound " as before the oper- ation. Prof. Turner would strip the entire outer corticle from the tree, and by tliis, check the accumulation of sap to the gorging of the vessels of the trunk as dead matter. This, I believe, is the practice as ad- vised by him to be pursued. Prof. T. remarks that this dead matter accumulates vipon " the southern side of the tree, to bo frozen and torn off by the frosts of winter." The word southern, I presume, is placed rather to designate the side of the tree upon which the "dead matter" is most generally sup- posed to be found, than as decisive of the otily side upon which the tree is affected. But to my own observations and belief. And first, the bursting of the bark is not confined alone to the cherry, but may be found upon the apple, pear, peach, and Unden-trce ; possibly uj^on others, but not to my knowledge. The same exudation of sap or gummy matter does not follow such bursting, ex- cept in the x^cach. This bursting is also as rarely found upon trees of the common Hazard or the Kentish as upon the apple and pear ; and therefore the trunks of these varieties are naturally as healthy and little subject to this bursting of the bark as other si)ecies. To satisfy myself of this, I have examined num- bers of large trees of Hazards, both growing upon the richest of clay loam soil, on moderate soil, and upon a sandy loam ; and also have examined the trunks of large trees, the tops of which are yearly producing the Black Heart, White Heart, BigaiToau, &c. Hany that I have seen were grafted or budded at about one half the distance up the trunk, leaving one half the trunk Hazard, and the other of the budded variety. In all cases, I have found the Haz- ards the most free fi-om any bursting of the bark. The rage with purchasers of trees to procure " large, straight, and thrifty trees," has doubtless been an incitement to nurserymen to prepare the soil in "which they are growing trees for sale, so that they could produce a growth of from eight to eleven feet in a season ; and this urging of the soil too often aided by the strong roots of an old sucker, rather than the fibres of a young seedling. Those trees, so produced, cannot have wood as firm and close as is natural to the cherry, because the growth is bevond its natural habit. The trees, therefore, are not as capable of enduring our sudden changes of climate as they would be were they grown only about three and a half to four feet the first season — forming a close, fine grained wood, well ripened. That a close grained, well ripened Avood endures our climate best, is allowed by all ; and is proved by a notice of such trees as the Elm, Haple, and Seckel, or most natural pear- trees, contrasted -with the Ailanthus, Willow, and many other rapid growing varieties. That peeling the outer corticle of a tree entire may not produce a healthy plant out of one diseased from its birth, I do not assert ; but as yet I am not in- clined to such belief. I regard the tree so diseased from its infancy that if left to continue where first grown, or transplanted to even a richer or poorer soil, six years — nay, often two years will not have passed without the evidence of over-feeding in youth show- ing itself, by bursting of the sap vessels and exuda- tion of its sap ; this as often upon the north side of the tree as upon the south, caused not directly by the hot sun, but mainly from the coarse, spongy nature and early habit of the tree, easily acted upon by sudden changes of temperatm-e. If we advance the idea that some A'arieties are more hardy than others, that some wdl endure our climate when others will not, we should certainly attempt to build our support upon the evidence given by such trees as were of close grained wood, and moderate growers from the first. These may be found in the Dukes and Horellos ; the Belle dc Choisy and May Duke being rarelj' complained of as affected by the bursting of the sap, although of late I have heard of two instances of the latter variet}-, both, however, traced to the fact of being upon sucker stocks, and having been excessively stimulated during their first year's growth, afterwards in good strong soil. The "fire-blight," or "frozen sap-blight," in the pear, is rarely found in the Doyenne or Seckel, but often upon the Bartlett and Duchess d' Angouleme ; and it is argued by writers to be induced from the rapid growth and spongy texture of wood in the latter varieties. So, why not this bursting of the bark in the cherry be attributed to the same cause ? The pear, in " frozen sap-bUght," does not exude a gum, because such is not its nature ; but its black- ened appearance upon the body often coincides with that upon the cherry, and have by the writer been removed in the same way. To support my own views of the necessity of trees being not too much stimulated in early growth, I have examined in others' grounds, and have those in my own grounds — those that Avcre grown slowly, say not over four feet the first season, in close prox- imity to others that were grown some eight feet the first year from bud. The result as yet has been, that while, of the trees grown slowly at first, as many are. of the rapid growing varieties, as among those grown rapidly the first year ; yet those of early slow growth have hardly shown any exhibition of bark bursting, while the others have abounded yearly in blackened spots, and bursting bark, and when cured in one place upon the body, has shown itself in others, and at last among the larger Umbs. That peeling the outer corticle entire may not aid the tree for a time when so diseased, I may not now say ; but that it wiU promote it from a sickly to a healthy tree, I doubt. And if it will aid or resusci- tate the cherry, why will it not the pear ? NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 213 The recommendation to grow the limbs low upon the bodies of the trees, is one which I think I ad- vanced in a communication to the Praii-ie Farmer some two years since, and therefore I of course coincide with Prof. Turner in that point ; but beyond that, I would, to produce permailfeit healthy cherry- trees, have them worked (if low down) upon small seedling stocks, planted in ground that will not cause a growth the first year from the bud, of over four feet ; or rather, I should jircfcr the bud or graft in- serted just below the point at which the head is intended to be formed, as iu that case a less amount of the tree is removed when cutting back to the bud, a less injury is caused to the stock, and less growth of that season the result. Trees so grown during the first two years from the bud, I think, may then be transplanted to ainj soil, and be no more liable to "bark bursting " than the pear or peach. "With those trees already planted that are subject to being affected with " bursting bark," I find no difficulty in healing diseased points, by simply cut- ting away all dead matter, washing the Avound with strong soap-suds, and wrapping it up in fresh cow droppings. Very respectfully, F. R. E. Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 1849. As nothing is easier than the culture of all the finest cherries on the Hudson, and throughout most of the Middle States, we know but little from our own observation of the difficulties Avhich are largely experienced in Western States, and therefore wel- come these intelligent discussions to our pages. The excessive luxuriance of growth caused by the fer- tility of many western soils, is undoubtedly the cause of many obstacles in the way of the fruit- grower, which must be met by a resort to various counteracting expedients on his part. But even here, bark-bound trees are occasionally seen. Our own remedy here is scraping the trunks, and washing them repeatedly with soap-suds ; but we have also seen bark-boiind trees restored to a sound normal state by the old and long-practised expedient of slitting the bark. — Ed. — Downing' s Ilorticulfun'nt, Remarks. — Some varieties of cherries, generally those that are foreign, are rather tender for our cli- mate. They are liable to be injured by the extreme heat of summer, and cold of winter. The Black Tartarean is among the most tender kinds cultivated in this section. In extremely hot days, young standard cherry-trees, that have only short limbs, and those up high, are liable to have their trunks destroyed by the hot summer. We have noticed that some of our cultivated kinds v.eTe killed last summer, while Mazard-trees near them, with trunks equally exposed, were uninjured. Therefore, a good method of forming a large, durable tree, is to raise up a hardy Mazard, and then graft or bud into the limbs. But as wc are now adding to our lists of valuable cherries several fine natives, we shall soon have twice as many as we need to culti- vate, and we can exclude those that are tender in tree, also those that are so liable to decay in fruit, in case of wet weather when it is ripening. Besides several hardy and excellent native cher- ries already introduced, many others, from our best native seedlings, are on trial, and we shall soon be able to make a choice list, sufficiently extensive for all seasons of the cherry, for all purposes, and to suit all tastes, after excluding every kind to which there is any serious objection, even if the excluded kinds fihould be more numerous than those retained. The cherry is generally a very rapid grower, and a great error in cultivation is, setting on rich land, or manuring too highly. When the tree groAvs rap- idly, the wood is soft and tender, and more liable to injury from the hot sun, or severe cold, or from the sudden changes from heat to cold, and the reverse. The limbs of the cherry should be trained so as to protect the trunk and main branches from the sun, particularly from the almost vertical noonday sum- mer sun. If we could raise some of the best varieties of cherries from seed, without budding or grafting, as we do many kinds of peaches, we should accomplish an important object, both in getting more hiirdy trees, and saving the labor and risk of budding and graft- ing, which processes are more liable to fail in the cherry than in other varieties of fruit, jDarticularly that of budding. — Ed. N. E. Farmek. CURIOUS FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY. It is but little more than forty years since the first crow crossed the Genesee River westwardly. They, with the fox, the hen-hawk, swallow, and many other birds and insects, seem to follow civilization. The locust borer is not of more than thirty years' introduction into the United States, and has not yet reached the native groves of the locust-tree at the south and west. It commenced its ravages on the east side of the Genesee River in 1830, and it was seven years before it crossed to the west side. The grain worm, or weevil, began its course of do^tructiou in Vermont, about the year 1828, and it progresses in the course it takes from ten to fifteen miles a year. It has not yet reached Western New York to any extent ; but the destroyer is on its march, and desolation will follow its track in this great wheat-growing region. Rose-bugs have been so common in some of the Eastern States, that on the sea-shore they have floated in winrows on the sands, having been driven into the sea by winds, and drowned. They have only made their appearance in this region, in any quantities, within two or three years. The cedar or cherry bird was first noticed west of the Genesee River in 1828, and now it is so great a pest as to induce many to give up the cultivation of cherries, especially if near woodland. The plum-weevil, or curculio, which is indigenous to America, being unknown in Europe, was first dis- covered by Mr. Goodsell, the first editor of the Gen- esee Farmer, since which time it has disseminated itself over the whole continent. The gopher, a species of ground squirrel, with pouches on the outside of its checks to carry the dirt from its hole, is very plenty on the west side of Mis- sissippi, in Missouri and Iowa, but has never yet crossed the river into Illinois or Wisconsin. It only works in the night, burrowing in holes and run-ways under ground — subsisting on the roots of trees, grasses, and vegetables. There are persons who have suffered by their depredations for twenty years, who have never been able to catch, or even see one, of these nocturnal depredators. The cut-worm is of recent origin. The first it was noticed as doing much damage, was during 18 IG and 1817, noted as the cold years, when the whole north- ern country approached the very brink of famine. They are now universal. The Hessian fly was introduced, it is supposed, by the foreign mercenaries in 1777, on Long Island, from their baggage, or in the forage for their horses. 214 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. It has proved the greatest post on this continent, with perhaps the exception of the weevil. That tlic recent appearance of depredating insects is to be attributed to a new creation, or the sponta- neous production of existence, would be unphilosoph- ical to admit ; yet there is a mystery attached to their sudden ingress into our fields and gardens. They m;iy have existed as rare specimens, and of dillicult propagation, until civilization and luxury introduced the i)roi>er pabuliun for their existence and multiplication. — Selected, BUSHES AROUND CULTIVATED LANDS. It is a very common thing, in some sections, to see the borders and corners of fields cultivated in cereals, and in grass, overrun with bushes. This is a bad practice, and no correct farmer will allow it to exist. The tendency of most bushes is to extend their roots, and send up shoots at a greater remove from the parent stock every year, and thus ultimately to over- reach upon and occupy the field. A rod or so of good fertile land around a large field is of no small value, and should be cultivated, and made to produce something of value to the owner, instead of being a disgrace and an expense to him. When these occu- pants have been permitted to stand for several years, extending their roots, and acquiring annually new size and energy, they become formidable tenants, and most farmers contemplate their removal as a task too onerous and expensive to be attempted. But the best way is to cut them do^^•n close to the roots, and having removed or carefully biirnt the tops, beat off, as fast as they appear, every sucker the roots put forth. This, in a short time, will utterly annihilate them, and the soil be cleansed for the action and amelioration of the plough. Old fields are often defaced by clumps of bushes in the open sections — generally around stumps or ledges, or heaps of stones. After attaining a size too large for the scythe, they are generally neglected, and permitted to occupy the soil, to the exclusion of profitable vegetation, with- out any attempt whatever to coerce or arrest their growth. No correct farmer will permit the existence of these evils. A COUNTY FARMER. — Gerniantoion Telegraph, TEMPORARY SHEDS IN PASTURES. It is not often the case that we find any accommo- dations for shelter provided for animals while con- fined in pasture lands ; although such an arrange- ment appears to be indispensable to the comfort and health of most animals during a part of the year, and especially during the cool and bleak weather of the spring and autumnal months. Temporary sheds, which are erected at slight expense, conveniently situated, and supplied with litter, afford ample pro- tection, and are always resorted to whenever the weather is inclement, or too cold or wet for the ani- mals to remain comfortably in the open air, especially at night. Sheep, in an especial manner, arc greatly benefited by this system of protection, as no animal experiences greater inconvenience from wet, and par- ticularly from drenching rains, which saturate their fleeces, produce chills, and often eventuate in un- pleasant, if not fatal diseases. My method of erect- ing such structures is, to insert four posts deeply in the soil, at the four angles of a parallelogram, twenty by fifteen feet ; those on the front rising to the height of nine feet from the surface of the ground, and those on the back, five. This gives slope enough, and the animals can stand erect in the back part without interfering with the roof. No floor is necessary, as I keep the surface of the ground constantly covered witli some absorbent matter, such as loam, rotten wood, chip manure, leaves, or rushes, to take up the urine, and thus become manure. Gypsum is occa- sionally sprinkledgi^ver the bedding to fix the am- monia, and thus contribute to render the material more efficient as a fertilizer of the soil. The wall- ing up and roofing is accomplished with boards lapped at the edges, and securely nailed. In the in- terior, at proper distanc&s, there are boxes secured to the walls for salt, salt and ashes, and provender. In order that the animals may have free access at all times to the shed, I have the front open to the height of six feet, and secure proj^er ventilation by opening several small holes in the ends and rear, which I pro- vide with sliding shutters, so that in rainy weather they can be securelj- closed. I have found that animals accommodated in this way are fain to resort to their sheds nightly, except during that part of the season Avhen the warmth or heat of the weather renders it more comfortable to remain in the open air. The manure made in this manner by means of economizing the urine and solid excrements thro\igh the agency of the absorb- ent stratum and mineral fixers, more than compen- sates for all the trouble and expense involved in the erection of the sheds, to say nothing of the superior thrift and healthiness of animals thus treated, over those which are neglected and exposed. If the pas- ture is large, or the number of animals kept in it great, the number of sheds must be in proportion to the shelter required. For sheep, lower sheds are desirable — so constructed as to prevent other ani- mals from entering. Where the pasture adjoins the barn-A^ard, sheds are not so essential, as the animals will come home for protection when the weather is cold or wet. A MONTGOMERY CO. FARMER. — Germantown Telegraph. THE FARMER'S LIFE. William Gilmore Simms, in his " Father Abbott, or the Home Tourist," thus beautifully represents the life of the farmer : — "The principles of agriculture were simple, ex- ceedingly. That they might be so, God himself Avas the great first Planter. He wrote his laws, visibly, in the brightest, and loveliest, and most intelligible characters every where, irpon the broad bosom of the liberal earth ; in the greenest leaves, in delicate fruits, in beguiling and balmy flowers ! But he does not content himself with this alone. He bestows the heritage along with the example. He prepares the garden and the home, before he creates the being who is to possess them. He fills them with all those objects of sense and sentiment which are to supply his moral and physical necessities. Birds sing in the boughs above him, odors blossom in the air, and fruits and flowers cover the earth Avith a glory to Avhich that of Solomon in all his magnificence was vain and valueless. To his hand we owe these fair groves, those tall ranks of majestic trees, these deep forests, these broad plains covered with verdure, and these mighty arteries of flood and river, which Avind among them, beautifying the loveliest inequalities, and irrigating themSvith seasonable fertilization. Thus did the Almighty Planter dedicate the great plantation to the uses of that various and Avondrous family Avhich was to follow. His home prepared — supplied with all resources, adorned Avith every variety of fruit and floAver, and checked Avith abun- dance — man is conducted within its present limits, and ordained its cultivator under the very eye and sanction of Heaven, The angels of heaven descend NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 215 upon its hills ; God himself appears within its valleys at noonday ; its groves arc instinct with life and purity, and the blessed stars rise at night above the celestial mountains, to keep watch over its conse- crated interest. Its gorgeous forests, its broad savan- nas, its levels of flood and prairie, are surrendered into the hands of the wondrously favored, the new- created heir of heaven ! The bird and the beast are made its tributaries, and taught to obey him. The fowl simimons him at morning to his labors, and the evening chant of the night bird warns him to repose. The ox submits his neck to the yoke ; the horse moves at his bidding in the plough ; and the toils of all are rendered sacred and successful by the gentle showers and the genial sxuishine which descend from heaven, to ripen the grain in its season, and to make earth pleasant with its fruits." VEGETABLE NUTRIMENT IN RAIN. Gaseous as well as vegetable and mineral matters are brought bj' rain from the atmosphere. Nitrogen and hydrogen, in the form of ammonia and carbonic acid, — the two last foi-ming the most essential ele- ments in the food of plants, — are brought down by rain. " The nitrogen of putrefied animals," says Liebig, " is contained in the atmosphere as ammonia, in the state of gas, which is capable of entering into combi- nation with carbonic acid, and of forming a volatile salt. Ammonia, in its gaseous form, as well as all its volatile compounds, is of extreme solubility in water. Ammonia, therefore, cannot remain long in the at- mosphere, as every shower of rain must effect its condensation, and convey it to the surface of the eartli. Hence, also, rain water must at all times con- tain ammonia, though not alwaj-s in equal quantity. It must contain more in summer than in spring or winter, because the intervals of time between the showers are in sum^mer greater ; and when several wet days occur, the rain of the first must contain more of it than that of the second. The rain of a thunder-storm, after a long protracted drought, ought for tiiis i-cason to contain the greatest quantity con- veyed to the earth at one time." As regards the quantity of ammonia thus brought down by the rain, — as 1132 cubic feet of air, satu- rated with aqueous vapor at 50° Fahrenheit, shauld yield one pound of rain water, if the pound contain only one fourth of a grain of ammonia, — a piece of ground of 20,910 square feet — 43,560 square feet being in an acre — must receive annually upwards of 80 lbs. of ammonia, or 65 lbs. of nitrogen, which is much more nitrogen than is contained in the form of yegetable albumen and gluten in 2650 lbs. of wood, 2500 lbs. of haj', or 200 cwt. of beet root, which are the yearly produce of such a piece of ground ; but it is less than the straw, roots, and grain of corn, which might grow on the same surface, would con- tain. Snow water yields ammonia as well as rain water, and the snow which is next to the ground, and which fell first, yields more than what lies above it. The ammonia contained in snow and rain water possesses a smell of perspii-ation and putrefying matter, a fact which leaves no doubt of its origin ; for " the am- monia received from the atmosphere by rain and other causes is as constantly replaced by putrefaction of animal and vegetable matters. A certain portion of that which falls with the rain evaporates again with tlie water ; but another portion is, wc suppose, taken up by the roots of plants, and, entering into new combinations in the different organs of assimila- tion, produces, by the action of tlicse and of certain other conditions, albumen, gluten, &c. The chemical characters of ammonia render it capable of entering into such combinations, and of undergoing numerous transformations." TREATMENT OF HORSES. Proper management in their feeding, exercise, and dressing will promote the health and act as a most salutary preventive against many disorders, and pre- vent most, while they will keep unimpaired in strength and vigor of constitution, this noble animal in his domesticated condition. For it .must be re- membered that the simplicity of the horse's diet, when good in kind, and dispensed with judgment, secures him from the complicated disorders \\hieh are the general effects of injudicious treatment. Mastication does much to prepare the food of the horse to undergo the digestive process ; but the evi- dences which are afforded by the substances voided by this animal, indisputably show that it fails to no inconsiderable extent in the performance of this im- portant work. Hence, we hold it as a truth, that all the alimentary substances, to be profitable to the stomach of the horse, and consequently conducive to a healthy condition, should be not only nutritioTXS and bland, but should be eaten in that state in which it is best calculated to aftbrd the most nutriment, and easiest of digestion. If this principle be true, the plan of cutting the hay and bruising the corn and oats before they are put into the manger, is decidedly better than when given in a whole or uncrushcd state, putting the saving out of the question, which would be no small item in the account ; and besides, the horses are kept in much better condition. No general directions can be laid down for. the feeding of horses but this : horses that work regularly should be fed in proportion to the amount of labor performed, and not kept to certain regular feeds, whether they work or not. A due degree of exercise is of the utmost importance to maintain a horse in vigor and a healthy condition. It is, perhaps, obvi- ous to every one, and should be obser^'cd, that a horse should not be put on any violent exercise when he has a full belly ; move him moderately at first, and he will gradually increase his action. Grass is often necessary, more particularly to horses glutted with food, and use little exercise ; but a month or two running to grass \s> proper for most, those especially that have been worked hard and have stiff limbs or swelled legs. Horses that have been impaired by quittors, bad shoeing, or other ac- cidents, are also best repaired at grass, and where the muscles or tendons are contracted, require turning out to pasture, for by the continual gentle exercise in the field, the limb again recovers its usual tone and strength. When horses are taken up from grass, if they should become hot and costive, mix bran and chopped hay with their feeds, and give alternately a feed of scalded wheat bran for a week or two ; let their ex- ercise and diet be moderate for some time, and in- creased by degrees. It is a certain evidence of a healthy condition when on exercise his sweating abates, and does not turn Avhite like soap lat'icr, but runs off like water : this is a sure sign that the juices are in a healthy condition. — Dollar Neionpa- per. "When old pastures are broken up, and made arable, not only has the soil been enriched by the death and slow decay of the jilants which liavc kit solulde mat- ters in the soil, but the leaves and roots of the grasses having at the time, and occupying so large a part of the surface, afford saccharine matters, which become immediately the food of the crop, and the gradual decomposition affords a supply for successive years. 216 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS, IIovey's JjIagazine of IIokticulture. — Among the interesting miscellany in this valuable ■work, is an article on the Curculio, and the Codling Moth, or Apple "Worm. We are pleased to find so many •waging war against the insect tribe. Hovey & Co., Merchants Row. The IIorticultukist, by A. J. Downing, is a very iiiteresting work. Among the prominent subjects are rural architectiire and landscape gardening. The leading article in the Juno number treats of laying out and embellishing rural A'illages. Luther Tucker, Albany ; Jos. Breck & Co., Boston. Illustrated Botany, by Dr. Strong, New York, is a very useful work, and most beautifully embel- lished with numerous engravings. Illustrated Natural History, by the same au- thor, is adorned with many representations of ani- mals, remarkable for their accuracy. These two works are a second edition, with im- provements. The present is a favorable time for subscribing, as only a part of the first volumes have been issued. Specimens may be seen at our office. Hotchkiss & Co., Agents, Boston. The Farmer's Guide. — This work, by the cel- ebrated English agricultural writer Stephens, em- braces, in a concise form, his verj' able, elaborate, and expensive work, "The Book of the Farm." Notes •will be added by Professor Norton, of Yale College, adapting it to this country. New York, Leonard Scott & Co. Boston, Fetridge & Co., 20 State St., and 132 Washington St. Think. — Thought engenders thought. Place one idea upon paper, another will follow it, and still another, until you have written a page. You cannot fathom your mind ; there is a Avell of thought there which has no bottom. The more you draw from it, the more clear and fruitful it will be. If you neglect to think yourself, and use other people's thoughts, giving them utterance only, you will never know what you are capable of. At first j'our ideas may come out in lumps, homely and shapeless ; but no matter ; time and perseverance will arrange and polish them. Learn to think, and you will soon learn to write : the more you think, the better you will express your ideas. Hidden Fountains. — In order to discover foun- tains under ground, before digging for them, people were formerly accustomed to go out at sunrise and ascend some hill or high place, and there lie down on their stomachs, with their chin touching the ground. If, from any spot in the landscape, a mist of exhala- tion were seen to arise, they made sure that by digging there, they should find a spring of water. Depravation of morals or manners spreads like leprosy over a whole nation. A COTTAGE SCENE. BY MRS. SIGOURNEY. I saw a cradle at a cottage door, Where the fair mother with a cheerful wheel Carolled so sweet a song, that the young bird. Which timid near the threshold sought for seeds, Paused with a lifted foot, and turned his head As if to listen. The rejoicing bees Nestled in throngs amid the woodbine cups That o'er the lattice clustered. A clear stream Came leaf)ing from its sylvan height, and poured Music upon the pebbles — and the winds. Which gently 'mid the vernal branches played Their idle freaks, brought showering blossoms down. Surfeiting the air with sweetness. Sad I came From Aveary commerce with the heartless world ! But when I felt upon my withered cheek My mother Nature's breath, and heard the trump of those gay insects at their honeyed toU, Sparkling like winged jewelry, and drank The healthful odor of the flowering trees. And bright- eyed violets : — but most of all. When I beheld 'mid slumbering innocence. And on that young, maternal brow, the glow Of those affections which do purify And renovate the soul, I turned me back In gladness, and with added strength, to run My thorn-clad race — lifting a thankful praj'er To Him who showed me what there was of heaven Here on the earth, that I might safer walk. And firmer combat sin, and surer rise From earth to heaven. THE OLIO. A voter, deficient in personal beautj', said to Sher- idan, "I mean to withdraw my countenance from you." "Many thanks for the favor," replied the candidate, " for it is the ugliest mug I ever saw." Paradoxical. — The Sons of Temperance are unit- ed in love and harmony, and yet new divisions are springing up every day. " It is very curious," said an old gentleman a few clays since to his friend, "that a watch should be perfectly dry, when it has a running spring inside." Men are very frequently like tea — the real strength and goodness is not properly drawn out of them until they have been for a short time in hot water. It is the hardest thing in love to feign it where it is not, or hide it where it is ; but it is easier coun- terfeited than concealed. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Satiurday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at $1 a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. I^ The Postage .^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1^ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYTE TO UN DRY. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY , JULY 6, 1850 NO. u s, w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Propr] ETOR. CONGRESS OF FRUIT-GROWERS. [Concluded from p. 202.] In our last number we gave a list of apples se- lected by the Congress for general cultivation ; also a rejected list. We now proceed with other fruits. List selected by the Congress in 1848. Madeleine, Dearborn's Seodlin;^, Bloodgood, Tyson, Golden Eeurre of Bilboa, Bartlett, Seckcl, Flemish Beauty, Beurre Bosc, Winter Nelis, Bourro d'Arem- bcrg ; aud for 2}articular localities, White Doyenne, Gray Doyenne. Additional List selected in 1849. Kostiezer, Belle Lucrative, Fulton, Andrews, Buf- fum, Urbaniste, Vicar of Winkfield, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Uvcdale's St. Germain, for baking. New Varieties, which give promise of being worthy to be added to the list for general cultivation. Duchesse d'Orleans, Brandywine, Chancellor, Doy- enne d'Etc, Beurrc d'Anjovi, Manning's Elizabeth, Brando's St. Germain, Pratt, Ott, Striped Madeleine, Ananas d'Ete, Jalousie de Fontenay Vendee, Van Assenc, Doyenne Ijoussouck. Rejected List. Croft Castle, Swiss Bcrgamotto, Soiisreinc, Thomp- son of New Hampshire, Tucker's Seedling, Trubs- hurdy Dulle, AVhitfield, Winter Orange, Wurtzer d'Automnc, Yutte, Crassane, Winter Crassane, Citron of Bohemia, iladotte, Frederic of Prussia, Famcnga, Forme Urbaniste, Fantasic Van Mons, Lederbirne, Louis Bonne, Lansac, Madame Vert, MiUer's Seed- ling, Marquise, ^larcellis, Navez, Alexander of Russia, Admiral, Aston Town, Autumn Bcrgamot, D'Amour, Angers, Beurr6 d'Angleterre, Beurre Seu- tin, Beiirre of Bolwiller, Forme dcs Delices, French Iron, Green Fair, Grise Bonne, Garnstonc, Green Catharine, Green Sugar, Gros Blanquct, Green Chisel, Hays, Hawthorne's Seedling, Horticulture, Hastiveau, Ipswich Holland, Jargonelle, (of the French,) Kramelsbirnc, Lincoln, Louis of Bolognc, Orange, Orange Tulippe, Phillips, Pitfour, I'latt's Bergamottc, Passe I^ong Bras, Prince's I'ortugal, Pope's Scarlet, Cuvclicr, Chat Grille, Chair a Dame, Charles Van Jtlons, (old,) Cassolette, Coiupte de Fresnel, C'opea, Caillat Rosat, Clara, Bon Chretien d'Espagne, Bon Chretien of Brussels, Bergamotte Sylvange, Bergamottc Fortunee, Beauty of Winter, Belmont, Bczi Vact, Bruno de Bosco, Blanquct a Longue Queue, Burgomaster, Elton, Royal d'Hiver, Rouslette St. Vincent, Swan's Egg, Saint Bruno, Clapp, Citron de Sirentz, Dearborn of Van Mons, Downton, Duquesne d'Etc, Doyenne Mons, Dcs- champ's New Late, Dumbarton, Doyenne Dore, En- dicott, Pitt's Marie Louise, Rouse Lench, Sans Pepins, Surpasse Meuris, Fondante d'Etc. List 2}roposed for Rejection, but retained agreeably to a rule which is in our last number. Ambrosia. — Mr. Elliott objected to its rejection. Amande Double. — .iMr. Manice, of Long Island, N. Y., objected. Beiirri d' Elbec. — Mr. Ilovcy objected. Boucquia. — Mr. Hovey objected. Bergamottc Part/ienaij. — Mr. Mantell, of New York, objected. Cumberland. — Mr. Manice objected. He consid- ered it a good baking pear. Colm'ar d'Eti. — Mr. Hovey and Mr. Mantell ob- jected. Infant Prodige. — Mr. Parsons, of Flushing, N. Y., objected. Gilogil. — Mr. Reid, Elizabethtown, N. J., and Mr. Mantell, objected. With them it was good on the quince. Dodge. — Dr. Brincklc, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mr. Hancock, of Burlington, N. J., objected. Valle Franc/ie. — Mr. Hovey objected. Windsor. — Mr. M'Intosh, of Cleveland, O., Mr. Reid, Mr. Hovey, and Mr. Saul, of Newburg, N. Y., obj ccted. Roussclet de Stuttgardt. — Mr. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., objected. Belle de Brussellcs. — Mr. Barry objected. With him it was a fine and beautiful fruit. Mr. Hovey obicctcd. He said it was a very handsome, showy pear, but a third-rate fruit. Mr. S. Walker, of Bos- ton, said the fruit was handsome indeed, but utterly worthless. Sugar Top. — Mr. M'Intosh objected. Sugar of Ilouersiperda.—IAT. Manice objected. Princess of Orange. — Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, N. Y., objected. i/cMc/. — Mr. Saul and Mr. M'Intosh objected. Ih-ricart. — Messrs. Hayes, of Newark, N. J., Man- ice, Hovey, and Saul, objected. The committee having submitted their list of re- jected fruits, Mr. Hancock proposed the Dumorticr and the Passans do Portugal. Mr. Hovey objected to the former, and Messrs. Ilovcy and Walker objected to the latter. 218 NiTVV ENGLA.ND FARMER. Mr. Miller, of Carlisle, Pa., proposed to add Prince's St. German to the rejected list. Messrs. M'Intosh, Monson, of New Haven, and Terry, of Hartford, Ct., Manice, Hovey, and Col. Little, of Bangor, Me., ob- jected. The pears in the selected list are among the best in this section ; but the foreign kinds arc usually better adapted to the gai-den of the amateur, than to general orchard culture. They are rather uncertain, in the best locations, and with extra care. Further experiments will bring forward a larger list of native fruits ; and on these we must rely mostly, especially for the north. List selected in 1848. Grosse Mignonnc, George IV., Early York, ser- rated, Large Early York, Morris's White, Oldmixon Freestone, CooledgeFavoritc, Bergen's Yellow, Craw- ford's Late ; and for particular localities, Heath Cling. No list of peaches was selected in 1849. We have native peaches of the north, that are better for the market than the above, which, with one exception, are natives of a warmer climate. List selected i7i 1848. Jefferson, Green Gage, Washington, Purple Fa- vorite, Bleecker's Gage, Coe's Golden Drop, Frost Gage, Purple Gage; arid for particular localities, Im- perial Gage. The Washington is rather insipid, very liable to rot, and a poor bearer. There are other kinds that are more profitable. Neio Varieties of Plums, which give promise of being worthy to be added to the list for general cultivation. M'Laughlin, Rivers's^ Favorite, Quetsche, St. Mar- tin's. GRAPES. — Selected in 1849. Under Glass. Black Hamburg, Black Prince, Black Frohtignan, Grizzly Frontignan, White Frontignan, White Mus- cat of Alexandria, Chasselas de Fontainbleau. Native. — For open Culture. Isabella, Catawba. Neio, native and promising. Diana. NECTARINES. — Selected in 1849. Elruge, Early Violet, Downton. APRICOTS. — Selected in 1849. Large Early, Breda, Moorpark. RASPBERRIES. — Selected in 1849. Red Antwerp, Yellow Antwerp, Franconia, Fas- tolff. Ncio and pi-omising. Knevette's Giant. STRAWBERRIES. — Selected in 1849. Large Early Scarlet, [or Early Virginia. — Ed.] Hovey 's Seedling, Boston Pine. Ncic and j^rotnising. Burr's New Pine, Jenney's Seedling. We have made experiments which show that the Large Early Scarlet of New York is the same as the Early Virginia of New England. It is evident that the Early Virginia of New York is a different fruit. CURRANTS. Selected in 1849. Red Dutch, White Dutch, White Grape, May's Victoria, Black Naples. GOOSEBEiiiuES. — Selected in 1849. Houghton's Seedling, Woodward's Whitesmith, Crown Bob, Red Cliampagne, Early Sulphur, Lau- rel, Warrington, Green Gage, Green Walnut, Iron- monger. The Congress adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, in 18.50. QUINCE STOCKS FOR THE PEAR. The editor of the New England Farmer gives it as his opinion, that pears will flourish as well on quince stocks in Now Hampshire (lat. 43° 1-5') as in a more southern clime. We have always sui:)posed this was not the case, as many trials have been made to raise quincc-trccs in that vicinity, and so far as our knovri- edge extends, they have invariably winterkilled. At any rate, we should prefer pear stocks. — Plymouth Rock. The editor of the Rock mistakes in his supposition that quince-trees will not endure the cold of the north. There may be some tender kinds that are liable to injury. We have seen quince-trees grow- ing in Maine, (lat. 43° 45') without injury from the winter. The Shakers in Alfred, Me., used to raise about fifteen bushels of quinces annually ; and quinces have been raised on the Kennebec, in Maine. We cultivate several kinds of quinces, and they appear to be as hardy as other fruit trees. We should prefer pear stocks, (excepting for dwarfs,) as is remarked in the above article ; but that was not the subject. The question was as to the hardiness of the quince for stocks in that climate. Its utility, com- pared with the pear stock, is another question, and much depends on the purpose for which it is culti- vated, whether for large standard trees for the orchard, or for dwarfs in the garden. The Bee-Moth. — It will be seen by the adver- tisement of Mr. Whalen, on our cover, that he calls the attention of the public to a new mode of pre- venting the depredations of the bee-moth. We have no knowledge of this mode. Mr. W. is said to be known as a writer on agriculture, and as the presid- ing officer of the Saratoga Agricultural Societj'. Magnolia. — In a former number of the Family Visitor, we described some of the species of this genus of trees, and recommended their cultivation as an ornament to our parks and door-yards. At this time, (^lay 7,) the M. Purpurea, Conspicua, and Sololangiana are in full bloom with us. Their showy and beautiful flowers attract much attention, — FawuVy Visitor. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 219 GRASS-SCYTHES. Tlie scythe is a very valuable implement, as by its aid one of our most important crops is secured ; and as it is used at the most busy season of the year, it should be of the first quality, and kept in the best condition. In some cases a farmer would better pay the price of a scythe for its use only one day, in order to have a first-rate tool, rather than use a poor one. A good implement not onlj' saves strength, but it makes a great gain by expediting labor. The ton of hay that is left standing in consequence of the slow progress of the mowers, from the use of poor tools, may stand too late, and lose in quality enough to pay for several scythes. Of late years, less improvements have been made in the scythe than in most other farm implements. When a boy, we used to admire the workmanship in the construction of the scythe, by which a tool of so much extent was made very neat, light, and fre* qucntly so well tempered as to preserve its firmness, give it a keen edge, and yet avoid breaking or turn- ing against hard substances, unless some luckless wight, who had more strength than judgment, occa- sionally spent the former in bringing his scythe against a gi-anite stone. Within a few years past, there have been great im- provements in the manufacture of scythes, by the use of superior machinery, by which the work is both greatly expedited and facilitated. Some improve- ments have also been made in the form of this imple- ment. Formerly the scythes were generally made very long, and much ciirving at the heel ; recently, they arc usually made a little shorter, (and of course they are hung out further,) and they are less crooked at the heel, but they have a gentle curve from the heel to the point. This construction makes the scythe lighter, and the labor of using it less, as the mower has better command of the scj'the, particu- larly on rough land. A great deal depends on the right use of the scj'the. We have known a man of only moderate strength to mow all day with one of double the strength, and do as much labor. At the close of the day the weaker man would be much less fatigued than the stronger. The mower who is skilful, swings liis scythe gently, and injures it but a trifle if he strikes an impediment, while one who depends more on strength than skill, will strike with all his might against a stone, dulling his scythe so that there is much delay in grinding ; and perhaps by twisting it out of shape, and such rough usage, it is soon worn out, or it becomes misshapen, and its firmness and elasticity are destroyed. To mow with ease, the scythe should be swung gently, in a horizontal line, or parallel with the sur- face of the ground, entering the grass nearly on the right of the mower, and leaving it, or cutting the last part nearly on the left ; so that the standing grass in the swath will be nearly in a semicircular form. GRAIN-SCYTHE-BUSTI-SCYTHE. The grain-scythe is broad, and is peculiarly con- structed for the purpose of cutting grain. With the use of this scythe, in a cradle, one man will cut grain as fast as four men with sickles. The bush-scythe is an implement necessary for almost every farmer ; though some may be so neat as to have their farms free from bushes. In many cases the gra.'^s-scythe is used to its injury, in cutting up bushes in the field, which should be done by n stouter tool, well adapted for that very purpose. 220 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New EngUitxd Farmer. THE RADIATION AND CONDUCTION OF HEAT. Mr. Cole : No meteorological phenomena arc so pregnant with interest, or of such preeminent import to the farmer, as the transit of heat from one sub- stance to another, and from terrestrial bodies to the atmosphere. And yet, speaking generally, there is scarcely a cultivator who can clearly cxjilain their nature, or definitively state how they are accom- plished. Many most ridiculous notions concerning them are rife in the world of horticulture, a few of which have even been supposed to receive confirma- tion from professedly scientific sources ; so that it is incumbent on some one to place the subject in so simple a light, that no further mistakes may be jus- tifiable. Philosophers have long since determined that changes of temperature, in common Avith all other procedures of nature, are regulated by certain un- varying laws. Of these, one of the most prominent is the transition of heat from a warm body to any cold one that may be contiguous, till the temperature is equalized. Now, although air is too seldom re- garded as a refined and svibtile substance, such is its imquestionablc nature. Hence the process termed radiation, is, in point of fact, though to a limited e.Ktent, a kind of conduction ; the small particles of matter of which the atmosphere is composed being the media through which, when brought into contact with objects on the earth's surface, their heat is ab- sti-actcd. The above position does not, however, wholly hold good; since heat is said to be capat)le of pervading a vacuum, and matter cannot consec^uently be a neces- sary auxiliary to its dispersion. For all practical purposes, therefore, and likewise to facilitate the in- culcation of the precepts of science, a very proper distinction is made between radiation and conduc- tion. Both are the result of expansion — one of the most striking properties of heat ; but the former is the means through which the temperature of a body is lowered by diffusing itself into a colder «*>, while the latter term is applied to the passage of heat from a Warm solid substance to a cold one, when placed in immediate contact therewith. Radiation, as the very word implies, is the diver- gence of a number of heated atoms, in the forms of rays, from a body thoroughly warmed ; or, as some assert, it is the mere emission of calorific rays, causing a greater or less undulation in the constituents of the atmosphere, whereby an increase of temperature is occasioned. Thus the sun radiates heat perpet- ually, some of its rays being transmitted through our air to the earth, by Avhich they are received, and from which, during the absence of that brilliant hmiinary, they again emanate in a similar manner. It is very frequently confounded with refraction, which is quite another process, and most markedly different ; radiation being the simple issue of heat from any surface, and refraction the interception of i) - rays by an interposed screen, and their re-radia- tion from thence towards the point from whence they ori'^inally proceeded. For example, the earth refracts many of the rays that reach it from the sun ; and it ij chiefiy from this cause that the geniahty of our atmosphere arises. But it also imbibes other rays, and the radiaiioti of these serves to prevent a coldness during the night, that would be wholly destructive to both animal and vegetable life. Having thus faid the basis of the application of artificial coverings to plants on the principles of science, the following hints on protection will not be misapprehended. Plants, being formed of earthy and atmo.siiheric elements, combined and concentrated according to their peculiar powers, have, in propor- tion to their porosity, and with a slight reduction on account of their vital energy, the same tendency to radiation as soil. Unless, then, this bo duly inter- ru})ted, the more susceptible kinds must be subjected to irrenicdiable injury ; whereas, if radiation can bo effectually suspended, they will be perfectly safe in the most severe weather. It follows from these premises, that the old method of supplying fire heat to plant-houses, Avhcrc the sole design is to exclude frost, is radically wrong ; indeed, it is a positive and total waste, expended, too, on an object that cannot sometimes be realized by such a practice, and the failure of which is more or less likely to be fatal to the plants. If it be demanded what I Avould substitute for it, I vrould suggest — prevent the esca2)e or radiation of heat, and there will be no need to essay the supply of a deficiency that does not exist. If these hints on radiation have received half the attention -which their subject demands, the reader will be ready patiently to pursue the investigation as it concerns conduction. I have distinguished the two processes by showing that the first phrase char- acterizes the transmissions of heat to the superin- cumbent air, while the topic now to be discussed embraces the deprivation of temperature which a body suffers on being touched by a colder one. On the extent to which the latter circumstance is ob- viated, the merits of any system of covering plants, whether in houses, frames, or the open ground, must to a very great degree be wholly dependent. It is notorious to every inquiring person, that heat is much more speedily dissipated when the substance containing it is in direct connection with some less highly heated material. But the more humble mem- bers of our profession find it difficult to comprehend or believe this fact; let us then, adduce an easy illustration. If a bar of cold iron (which, perhaps, is one of the most rapid conductors of heat) bo placed within an inch of a person's hand, the dim- inution of caloric, (heat,) Avhich its vicinity occa- sions, is scarcely perceptible ; but if the same sub- stance be grasped, or laid on the hand, the abstraction of heat is so sensibly felt, that without a strong efi'ort of volition, the iron would be immediately dropped. Again, the atmosphere of an apartment may be exceedingly comfortable as regards temper- ature, and altogether consonant with the appetencies of a sensitive person, while by pressing the hand against glass of which the outer side is exposed to a severe external air, considerable pain will be expe- rienced from the loss of caloric consequent on such an act. I have chosen these commonplace examples the more completely to demonstrate the position, although the experience of the cultivator of extensive practice might at once decide this point. 'There is the most apposite analogy, in respect to heat, between an indi- vidual in a confined room, and a plant in a sort of tent-like, or any other protective frame. Both may be kept from perishing by frost if situated in the middle of the area, biit both must undergo the loss of those parts which are in contact with a thin cov- ering closely communicating with the outer air, if frost be sufficiently severe. Proofs of this have often been furnished in the case of plants whose shoots touched the glass or mats by which they were sur- rounded. Herein, therefore, lies the art of protecting plants. They must first be envtloped in a material which is known to be an impcrloct radiator of heat, so that their own temperature may, for the most part, be retained within or around them. And secondly, that material should be so disposed that no part of it be nearer than about two or three inches to the exterior shoots. The importance of confining and tying i*, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 221 the outer branches of shrubs that are wished to be covered, will thus be plainly discernible. Plant-houses and frames have yet to be treated of. It is generally imagined that no resemblance is trace- able between the operation of sheltering these, and that of protecting isolated plants, because specimens in the former are aheady guarded by a sheltering surface. The principle, however, remains unaltered and unalterable, whatever may be the conditions in which the plants exist ; and is as applicable in the one instance as in the other. Glass, it is well known, radiates heat with astonishing rapidity, and the temperature which a glazed surface derives from the house or frame beneath it is so great, that were the additional covering made use of allowed to lie fiath'' upon it, heat would be conducted from the entire apartment with very little less celerity than if the glass were exposed, or this last removed, and mats substituted for it ; the only difference of result from the cases before mentioned being, that the tcltale plant would be rather more slowly robbed of its caloric, instead of at once raerelv having a single member frozen. EEllNARD REYNOSO. For the New Enfjland Farmer. WILD CHERRY POISONOUS. Mr. Cole : I noticed, in a late Farmer, an article copied from the Berkshire Culturist, of a number of cattle killed by eating the twigs of the wild or black cherrJ^ I never have personally known of an in- stance of cattle having been injured by eating the wild cherry twigs or leaves in their green state ; though when the leaves are Avilted, they are known to be poisonous. I should not sujiposc that cattle would browse enough of the cherry twigs to kill them, though this might be, and in this instance was probably the case. This cii-cumstance reminds me of a note which I addressed to the Albany Culti- vator, on this subject, a few years ago. A reply was given, which Avas, no doubt, from the pen of the late and lamented Willis Gaylord. It reads thus : — " It is known that the leaves of the wild cherry, if eaten by cattle, when they are just wilted by the sun, will kill them ; whereas when they are green, and also after they are dried, they are not at all hurt- ful to cattle. Can you give us the reason why just at the wilt of the leaf, they are poisonous ? " L. DuRAND." " Heply. — The poisonous qualities of the cherry are owing to the prussic acid wliich they contain ; and of the various kinds of cherrj% the laurel or bird cherry is the most dangerous. It was from the leaves of this tree that the poison ■was formerly obtained. AVhilc the leaves are fresh, the poison is so diluted with the juices, that it loses most of its energy ; and besides, animals cannot cat the same quantity of fresh leaves that they will of wilted ones. The consequence is, they obtain from the wilted leaves a much larger qtumtit}'' of poison, and that in an undiluted state. In drying the loaves thoroughly, the poison is lost with the other juices ; for of all poisons, prussic acid is the most difficult to confine or retain in purity. The numerous instances of the death of animals from eatuig wilted cherry leaves, should render farmers cautious how they allow cattle to have access to them in that state, or, indeed, to any extent in any other. — Ed." K this will benefit you or your readers, you can give it room in the Farmer. It may be found in the Cultivator, Sept. 1813, p. MO. Yours, &c., L. DURAND. Derby, Ct., June 11, 1850. Remarks. — We copy the following from the Amer- ican Veterinarian, but we do not now recollect the authority for stating that green cherry leaves are poisonous ; but it is stated on some authority which we considered reliable. " It has been stated that cherry leaves are free from poison until they have wilted ; but cases have occurred in which the green leaves have poisoned animals. It is said that they contain ^jrussic acid. Peach leaves contain prussic acid also, and they arc supposed to be poisonous." In regard to the peach, it should be considered that it is strongly allied to the almond, and that prussic acid is made from the bitter almond. As to green leaves bemg poisonous, they may be less so than the wilted, and yet be injurious in large quantities. Some comparatively mild liquors arc regarded as not intoxicating, as they contain so small a percentage of alcohol that but few have a stomach of sufficient capacity to hold liquor enough for the alcohol to seriously affect the brain. We once heard an old toper say (as he was pouring down cider, resting occasionally, and fetching a long breath, as the ^perspiration ran down his face) that he could get drunk on cider, but it was hard work. Cattle and horses will feed by the side of yew, as it is growing, and will not eat it. Left to nature, they shun poison ; but when the leaves arc dried and mixed with haj^ — prepared by art — they will eat them, and often die suddenly from their poisonous effects. — Ed. For the New England Fanner. WINTER WHEAT. Mr. Cole : I have pursued the following plan in the growing of wheat ; — 1st. Spread manure, and plough in. 2d. With the first harrowing, spread a little more manure, and ashes or slaked lime. 3d. Ash or lime the grain when sowed. 4th. Plough in if possible, or cultivate in. Deep planting (say two inches) protects the roots from being broken off by spring thawing and freezing. 5th. Turn over old mowing stubble. The heat of the second crop, with the manure to aid it, produces better wheat than old, rich, cultivated soil. 6th. Get in the crop by the 1st September, and should it make too much growth, (little danger of this,) let in the calves, and keep it down. 7th. Roll hard, and should the sod appear hard as a pavement, the grain readily springs up. 8th. Spring rolling packs the roots, and spreads the grain. This process is of vast benefit to newly laid down grass lands. Now, a word for the consideration of farmers. Winter wheat, like winter rye, yields a third more than spring wheat, is far »u])orior in quality and color, ripens earlier, is less liable to ru.it. It ripc.is three Aveeks earlier, the labor is performed in a less busy season, (August and September,) and to crown all, our crop is as sure as in Ohio, or any western- state, and averages as large. They raise ten to twelve bushels to the acre, aver- age, for a term of years, as recently stated by a gen- tleman from that state. We can and will do better. There are wheat fields now, in l-lssex county, of great luxuriance and promise. Referring to one in l)articular, is a piece belonging to Rev. Mr. Eoring, North Andover, which was sown and stocked down 222 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. to grass last September. The wheat is in fine con- dition, and the grass is also doing well. It was sown 0:1 sod, or mowing land. "Winter rye was sown along- side, on old, rich, cultivated ground, imdcr much more favorable circumstances, apparently ; the rye ii almost a total failure, while the wheat is of much promise. But when prejudice ceases to be tolerated, when groundless /('(1/-S shall be overcome, when pugnacious editors shall yield to facts, and allow experience the hsnefil it icould impart, we trust the "Old Bay State" may yet be made "to bud and blossom like the rose." In bringing this notice thus early in the season before the farmer, it is for the object of his easting about the farm for a little patcli for an experiment in wheat growing ; and should you prosper, ask your legislature to give you a bounty of ten cents a bushel, more or less ; and should you succeed, ray word for it, the oxen would be yoked, the plough set in motion, and it would become an onerous tax to the state before five years had expired. Would not its direct benefits accrue, it being a product of our own soil, and from our own labor ? Yours respectfully, II. P. Bosxox, June 15, 18-50. xIemarks. — As this article is from one who has good success in raising winter wheat in this region, we hope that his recommendation will be duly con- sidered by our farmers. We know of cultivators who raise winter wheat with almost invariable suc- cess. Why will not others, with equal advantages, try and see what they can do, and not be discouraged without even making the attempt ? We have on hand a small quantity of Koss Blue Stem winter wheat, which we received of Hon. Riifus M'Intire, of Parsonsfield, Me., for distribution. We should be pleased to supply those who would try it. Sec our first volume, pp. 11, 320, 327. — Ed. For the New Eni/lund Farmer. OF WHAT IS INDIAN CORN COMPOSED? Mr. Cole : In your paper of June 3 is a commu- nication from A. W. Dodge, referring me to the essay of Mr. Flint, published in the Transactions of the Essex Agricultural Society ; where it is stated that Indian corn contains 17 per cent, of phosphate of lime. I think the table in which this statement is found is an analysis of the ashes of Indian corn, not of corn before it is burnt ; for in the table which he gives from Dr. Dana, he says that all the salts amount to but 1.31 per cent. It appears to be the object of Mr. Flint to show that corn abounds in fat- forming principles, not in phosphates. It cannot be a correct ex])lanation of his essay that Indian corn con- tains 17 per cent, of phosphate of lime ; accompanied, as that table is, by Dr. Dana's, in which it is stated that the salts, including phosphate, suli)hate, and carbonate, amount to but 1.31 per cent. Corn, when compared with other grain, is found wanting in phosphate ; the same analysis which finds 17 per cent, in the ashes of corn, finds 40 per cent, in oats. In Professor Hitchcock's report on a reexamina- tion of the Economical Geology of Massachusetts, p. 45, it is stated, that Indian corn, by the analysis of the late Professor Gorham, of Harvard College, contains 1.5 per cent, of phosphate and sulphate of lime. If chemists can find but little more than 1 per cent, of phosphate of lime in corn, and if our hens cannot find enough in it to form the shells of their eggs, is it strange that our cows, whose bones, when in a healthy state, contain 50 per cent, of phosphate of lime, should suffer for the want of it when they are giving milk ? WM. 11. PUTNAM. NoKTH Danveiis, 1850. For the Neto Enr/land Fanner TO PREVENT THE PEACH-BORER. Mr. Cole : I have long been much interested in every thing pertaining to the culture of fruit, though hitherto I have not been in a situation to accomplish much at it practicallij. And among those matters of interest which have attracted my attention partic- ularly, the "peach-borer," its ravages, and remedy, liave occupied a prominent place. I have tried, during a course of years past, almost every means of relief and protection that seemed to jiromise success, and was within my reach ; but all to very little pur- ])ose, until about a year since, inasmuch as my trees would invariably fall victims to that destructive pest, by the time they attained sufficient age to begin to produce fruit. A little more than a year since, I noticed, in some publication, a hint that crude horse manure, packed around the collar of the tree, might probably prove useful as a preventive. Accordingly, in the spring of 1849, (having left that part of my trees naked and exposed to the influence of the pre- vious winter,) I applied the horse manure, closely packing it around the collars of the trees, and cover- ing an inch or two deep with the ashes of hard coal. My trees were unmolested during the season, and upon a partial examination last fall, and a more thorough one this spring, they were all found in ex- cellent condition, except one ; and that contained but one solitary grub, which, from its size, had prob- ably summered and wintered there, having escaped detection at the time of originally packing the tree. I have repeated the process this season, and hitherto not a sign of the borer appears. From my exper- iments thus far, I am inclined to think that this, if faithfully applied every spring, will prove a very effectual protection against this troublesome enemy. Yours, with much respect, T. M. DWIGHT. Weatuersfield, Ct., June 18, 1850. Remarks. — As the experiments made by Rev. Mr. D wight promise that he has discovered a very simple and convenient remedy for a great evil, we hope that many of our readers will make the application at the proper season, and report the result, that its efficacy may be fairly tested, and the question of its utility settled. — Ed. For the New England Farmer. THE CURCULIO. Mr. Cole : Much has been said as to the habits of the ciirculio, and modes of destroying it. I have tried two modes this season, viz., — First, with sul- phur water ; and rather thinking it of no avail, I adopted the second mode, by spreading a cloth under the trees, and shaking them ; and think this the only sure remedy, as I have destroyed more than one hundred the past ten days ; first commenced destroy- ing from fifteen to twenty per day, the last two days only four or five, on plum-trees. I found two on a cherry-tree. I have not tried this class of trees much. My object in writing you now, is merely to know NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 223 what species of hufjs or insects those large ones are, in a vial I have sent you for insiDCCtion, in company with a few cuiTulios. I send them to you, thinking they might be of some use, for you to show to some of your friends. I have found that I did not commence soon enough destroying the curculio on the plum-trees, as you ■will find by the punctures on some of the plums and cherries I have sent to vou. Yours, rcspcctfuUv, "benjamin boynton. Stoxeham, June 18, 1850- Remauks. — Among the common curciilios which our correspondent has sent to us, are a few about six times as large, or about twice as long, and twice as large in diameter. We have examined these insects through a magnifying glass; but as the lai'ge ones were dead when we examined them, we could not have so good an opportunity to judge of their ap- pearance. The larger ones appear to be precisely of the same form and color as the smaller, but it is rather sur- prising that the same insects should be together, of sizes so widely different. A question arises whether they are of the same species. A few years ago, a friend sent to us some curculios of different sizes, precisely like these. It was then stated that the larger insects did not do any damage, though found in company with the smaller kind, that Averc destroy- ing the plums. A question may arise whether the larger insects were mere spectators, or did their mis- chief unperceived by our friend. For the New England Farmer. MILLET. Mr. Cole : We have sometimes grown this grain for the purpose of feeding to milch cows, Avhcn green. It may be sown as late a.s the 10th of July : it does not rust like oats and barley when sown late, but it requires a fine, well-pulverized soil, and fine manure. When there is a i^rospect of the hay crop being light, it is well to mow a piece of land early in July, and plough and harrow it well, and sow millet for the purpose of curing it for winter fodder. It does not yield so much as corn for green food, but it is much easier cured, and makes better dry fodder than corn. If the present hen fever should rage long, it may become an important crop for feeding young chick- ens, as they arc very fond of it, and thrive well upon it. WM. li. PUTNAM. WHY ARE ASHES MORE VALUABLE THAN LIME OR GYPSUM AS FERTILIZERS! Our neighbors of I^ong Island have become famous for their trade in ashes. They send their boats the entire length of the Mohawk valley, and they would push their enterprise as far as the Black River valley, if the Black River Valley Canal was complete ; and they could well afford to transport not merely the live ash, but the refuse ash, which has been ex- hausted for its potash. They have been in the habit of buying the refuse of the asheries of Albany and Troy, and paying as much for it as the soap- maker paid originally for the live ash. In looking about for a fertilizer, the Long Islanders have found by experience, that they form the best which they can employ. The question which we have pro- pounded demands an. answer ; we therefore proceed to state, that ashes owe their value to their composi- tion. Our reader wiH^ perhaps, say that he knew this before. Very well. We say again, and more to the point, that ashes, spent and unspent, owe their principal value to the potash in the first instance, and to the phosphates, and to lime and magnesia, in the second. We design to speak mainly of spent ashes ; though wo believe farmers had much better keep all their ashes for their corn and wheat lands, rather than sell them for one shilling per bushel. Spent ashes, then, we repeat, are valuable for the phosphates they contain, together with the lime and magnesia, which arc in a state of great siibdivision. Besides the foregoing elements, silex, both soluble and insoluble, is present. The amount of the former will varjr in the quantity, by the intensity of heat to which the vegetable may have been subjected; and both will vary according to the plant from which they may have been obtained. Thus the yellow pine, which grows on the sandy lands west of Al- banj% contains in its ash of bark nearly one half of its weight of silica. When the value of ashes is sought for, it maj- with propriety be said, that they rank next to bone-dust, — containing, as they do, phosphate of magnesia and iron, together with a large percentage of lime. The ash of the forest, as well as fruit-trees, is as various as their own products ; scarcely two agreeing either in the amount of ash they yield, or in the elements which compose it. — Farmer and Mechanic. TURNING IN GREEN CROPS. During the last ten years, the practice of turning in green crops has been extensively adopted ; and, so far as my observation extends, it has been attended with the most flattering results. Old, worn-out fields, which had become so thoroughly emasculated as scarcely to repay the cost of cultivation, have, by this process, been thoroughly renovated, and at a less cost, probably, tlian they could have been in any other way. In passing tlu-ough the country, our at- tention is often drawn to farms which have been im- poverished, by an enormous and emasculating sys- tem of cropping, to the state of barren karro fields. Nothing can bo more forbidding than the appearance of barrenness which they exhibit ; yet even those are not hopelessly barren. By ploughing under the slight vegetation they produce, and following up the undertaking by a liberal application of lime, unless the soil itself is of a calcareous nature, and then sow- ing buckwheat, peas, or clover, to be turned in when in blossom, a degree of energy will be communicated which will secure the continuance of increased and increasing fertility, and, under a judicious system of rotary cropping, insure good crops for a period of many years. " 'Tis folly in the extreme to till Extensive fields, and till them ill; Shrewd common sense sits laughing by. And sure your hopes abortive die ; For more one fertile acre yields. Than the huge breadtli of barren fields." Some have recommended millet as an excellent article for turning in ; but, of all cultivated crops, with the exception, perhaps, of red clover, I con- sider buckwheat the best. By eoramencing early, three crops of this grain may be turned in in ono season, a dressing wliich will be found sufHcient, under ordinary circumstances, for the most exhausted soil, and which is by no means objectionable on the score of expense or cost. A PRACTICAL FARMER. Bald Eaoli; Farm, Ma>/ 22, 1850. — Uermantmvn Telegraph. 224 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. TREATMENT OF HAY. Ilay, in England, is scarcely ever put in barns. It keeps" well in stacks, made up as they are in the neatest manner, and carefully thatched with straw. Xothin"- can be more beautiful and workmanlike than the m;uincr in which these arc made up ; and for hay, the lonjj; stacks are decidedly preferable to those of a round Ibrm, as it is cut down for use, in such case, with more advantage. The formation of a stack, M-liich is often done by women, is a work of much skill, which is the fruit only of practice ; the thatch- ing of a stack in the best manner requires both art and experience, and there are men Avho make it a profession. "When well executed, the hay for years is impervious to wet. During the formation of the stack, — which, when intended to be large, must sometimes wait for several days the progress of the haymaking, — the most careful farmers have a large tarpaulin or canvas covering, to suspend upon poles over the stack, in order to protect it from the rain. I refer to these mmute circumstances, to illustrate the extreme carefulness with which m.any of the op- erations of husbandry are here conducted. When the hay is to be used, a whole stack is never removed to the stables at once, but is carefully cut down as a loaf of bread might be cut, and alwaj's done up and bound in trusses, intended to be of fifty-six pounds each, and in that way carried to be distributed to the animals. This requires some extra labor ; but the farmers find their account in it. IIow different this is from the careless and wasteful manner in which things are managed with us, -where I have often seen horses and oxen standing knee deep in the litter of the very best hay, which has fallen and been tossed out of the mangers ! The consequence of this extra- ordinary painstaking is the most economical manage- ment of their products. The animals have a regular allowance, and are not at one time surfeited, and at another time star^'ed ; and not a handful of hay is ■wasted. I have never been quite able to understand the old proverb, that " a penny saved is twopence earned ; " but I quite understand the folly of wast- ing that which is the product of severe toil and ex- pense, and the immorality of throwing away that which the bounty of Heaven bestowed for the com- fort and sustenance of man or beast. I once heard a minister say, in his sermon, that some persons were charitable in spots. I think, in a similar sense, it may be said that some persons are economical in spots ; and that many persons who will chaffer and higgle half a day, to save a sixpence in the price of an article, will often throw away shillings in their neglectful or wasteful use of it. — Colmans European Agriculture. ADVANTAGES OF FORESTS. The Honorable G. P. Marsh, in his address before the Rutland County Agricultural Society, makes the following excellent observations in regard to the ad- vantages of forests : — "The functions of the forest, besides supplying timber and fuel, are very various. The conducting powers of trees render them highly useful in restor- ing the disturbed equilibrium of the electric fluid ; they are of great value in sheltering and protecting more tender vegetables against the destructive effects of bleak and parching winds, and the annual deposit of the foliage of deciduous trees, and the dccomijosi- tion of thcLr decaying trunks, form an accumulation of vegetable mould, which gives the gi^atest fertility to the often originally barren soils on which they grow, and enriches the lower grounds by the wash from rains and melting snows. "The inconveniences resulting from a want of fore- sight in the economy of the forest, are already se- verely felt in many parts of New England, and even in some of the older towns in Vermont. Steep side hills and rocky ledges are well suited to the perma- nent growth of wood ; but when, in the rage for im- provement, they are improvidently stripped of this protection, the action of sun, and wind, and rain soon deprives them of their thin coating of vegetable mould ; and this, when exhausted, cannot be restored by ordinary husbandry. They remain, therefore, barren and unsightly blots, producing neither grain nor grass, and yielding no crop but a harvest of nox- ious weeds, to infest with their scattered seeds the richer arable grounds below. Eut this is by no means the only evil rcsultmg from the injudicious destruc- tion of the woods. Forests serve as reservoirs and equalizers of humidity. In wet seasons, the decayed leaves and spongy soil of wood lands retain a large proportion of the falling rains, and give back the moisture, in time of drought, by evaporation, or through the medium of springs. They thus both check the sudden How of water from the surface into the streams and low grounds, and prevent the droughts of summer from parching our pastures, and drying ujj the rivulets which water them. On the other hand, whore too large a proportion of the sur- face is bared of wood, the action of the summer sun and wind scorches the hills which are no longer shaded or sheltered by trees, the springs and rivulets that found their supply in the bibulous soil of the forest disappear, and the farmer is obliged to surren- der his meadows to his cattle, -which can no longer find food in his pastures, and sometimes even to drive thorn miles for water. Again, the vernal and au- tumnal rains, and the melting of snows of winter, no longer intercepted and absorbed by the leaves or the open soil of the Avoods, but faULng every where upon a comparatively hard and even surface, flow swiftly over the smooth ground, washing away the vegetable mould as they seek their natural outlets, fill every ravine Avith a torrent, and convert every river i^to an ocean. The suddenness and -sdolence of our freshets increase in proportion as the soil is cleared ; bridges are washed awaj-, meadows swept of their crops and fences, and covered with barren sand, or themselves abraded by the fury of the cur- rent ; and there is reason to fear that the valleys of many of our streams will soon be converted from smiling meadows into broad masses of shingle, and gravel, and pebbles — deserts in summer, and seas in autumn and spring." HOW TO DESTROY MOLES. Mil. Bateham : I see several articles in the Cul- tivator respecting moles, and the most easy way to destroy these posts of the garden and cornfield. Several years ago, I cleared my ground of them al- most entirely, by the use of the castor oil bean. My practice was to take a handful of the beans in my pocket, and wherever I found one of their roads, I just thrust my forefinger through the crust, drojij^ed in from six to ten beans, and covered up the orifice. The next time the mole comes along, he cats the bean, and is thus destroyed. "NVc think this a much safer and easier method than any we have seen, as most poisons lose their strength in a very short time, when put in the ground. A single plant in a garden, well cultivated, would produce beans enough to poi- son moles for a number of 5'ears. It grows easy, and is a iine-looking plant, I have always succeeded in raising as many as I wanted. Yours, &c., SAJSIUEL BLACK. — Ohio Cultivator. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 225 IMPROVED HYDRAULIC RAM. H, spring or brook ; C, drive or supply pipe, from spring to ram ; G, pipe conveying water to house or other point rcquii-ed for use ; B, I), A, E, I, the ram ; J, the plank or other foundation to which the ma- chine is secured. This is a perfectly simple and effective machine for forcing a portion of a brook or spring to any re- quired distance or elevation, where a proportionate fall can be applied. The various uses of the ram are at once obvious, viz., for the purposes of irrigating lands, and supplying dwellings, gardens, farms, fac- tories, villages, engines, railroad stations, kc, with running water. The simplicity of the operation of this machine, together with its effectiveness and very apparent dixrability, renders it decidedly the most important and valuable apparatus 5'et developed in hydraulics, for forcing a portion of a running stream of water to any distance and elevation proportioned to the fall obtained. We will briefly explain the operations of this ma- chine. A small stream of w-ater — say of one or two inches diameter ■ — has a descent of four feet, passing through this machine. As it passes with increasing rapidity, it soon lifts up a valve that closes the place of its discharge from the machine. The velocity of the water in its descent gives it an impetus or force which, when the valve is closed, forces the water up the pipe G, until its force from its velocity is spent ; then the valve at the place of discharge falls, and allows the water to pass on again through the ma- chine, as at the beginning ; at the same time, a valve in the bottom of the pipe G closes, and sustains the water in that pipe. These operations and changes are repeated in rapid succession. A rei^rescnts an air chamber, communicating with the pipe (i, which, by the pressure of the air, keeps ti constant stream flowing up the pipe G, as in a lire engine. A stream one or two inche? in diameter, with a fall of four feet, will throw a small, constant stream up a bank fifty or seventy-five feet elevation, in a direct line or obli([ucly, which stream will be suffi- cient to supply a house, a barn, and a surplus for use in the garden, or for other purposes. These machines may be used where there is only two feet fall. The (quantity of Avater raised depends on the size of the stream and the fall, and the height it is to be raised. It is estimated that a stream of given dimensions and fall wlU. raise one twelfth of the water ten times the height of the fall. Say, if the main stream falls five feet, and discharges tAventy-four gallons per minute, it would throw xip a small stream fifty feet, discliarging two gallons per minute. These machines are very durable, being made of substantial materials ; and they are not liable to get out of order. They are of various sizes, and they vary in prices from seven to twenty dollars. Where a house is on an elevation, and there is a valley near by, with a small stream of water and a moderate fall, these machines are admirably adapted to throwing water to the elevation for various purposes. These rams may be seen in the Agricultural Room adjoining our office, and they are in operation in many parts of the country. HAY CAPS. We hope that farmers will pay sutiicient attention to tills subject, to obtain a few caps, say enough to secure a ton of hay or more, and try them, Yiuious substances are used, such as old canvas, mats, cotton cloth, &c. Cotton cloth is very cheap, costing but little for the material and making. Take two pieces of cotton cloth, (a yard wide or more,) two yards, or, better, two and a quarter yards long, and sew them together. Turn up the corners, and sew them to make loops, through wldch sticks may be put and run upward in the hay, to prevent the wind from bloAA-ing the caps off. Some prefer making a loop for the stick by tying a piece of large twine into the loop in the cloth. Wc prefer cloth about one yard and three to five inches wide, so that the caps may be about two and a quar- ter yards wide, and the same in length. In some cases the saving of hay from the use of caps will pay all the expense of the caps in one season ; and there have been uistances in which the saving by the use of caps during one storm, has been equal to the cost of the caps. 226 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Dome0tic IBcpartmcnt. TiiAiNiXG OF CniLDUKX. — Tlio most essential qual- ifications for trainiiif^ a child well, are not of a nature to bo communicated by books, or lectures on educa- tion. They arc, lirst, the desire to be right in the matter ; second, sense ; third, kindness ; and fourth, firmness, ^\'here these are wanting, the wisest ad- monitions in the v.orld -will be of no other use than to relieve the mind of the person who throws them away. The doctrine of an eminent writer, (of a gen- eration now nearly gone,) that a child should be reasoned into obedience, had, in its day, more of a misleading efficacy than might have been thought possible ; and many a parent was induced to believe that a child should be taught to give its obedience, not because it ivas obedience, but because the thing ordered was reasonable ; the little casuists and con- troversialists being expected to sec the reason of things as readily in real life as in the dialogues be- tween Tutor and Charles. The common sense of mankind has now made an end of this doctrine, and it is known now, as it was before the transit of that eminent person, that obedience — prompt, implicit, unreasoning, and almost unconscious — is the first thing to be taught to a child, and that he can have no peace for his soul without it. That first and fore- most rule of exacting obedience is so far from being subject to the condition of showing reasons, that I believe a parent with a strong will, although it be a perverse one, will train a child better than a parent of a reasonable mind, tainted by infirmity of pur- pose. For, as " obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams," so an au- thority wliich is so absolute by virtue of its own inherent strength, is better than one Avhicli is shaken by a reference to the ends and purposes, and by rea- sonable doubts as to whether they are the best and most useful. Nor will the parent's perversity, unless it be unkind or ill tempered, occasion the child half so much uneasiness in the one case, as the child will suffer from those perversities of its own which will spring up in the other. For habits of instant and mechanical obedience are those that give rest to the child, and spare health and temper ; whilst a recu- sant or dawdling obedience wiU keep it distracted in propensity, bringing a perpetual pressure on its nerves, and consequently on its mental and bodUy strenijth. To PRESERVE Beefsteaks. — As the Avarm season is fast approaching, when meat cannot be kept for more than a day or two in a fresh state, it wiU be of no inconsiderable benefit to many, to be informed, that if fresh meat is rolled up in Indian corn meal, it ■will keep fresh for four or five daj-s. The steak should be laid down in pieces from one to three pounds, and each covered entirely with the meal. — North Am. Farmer. l)outl)'s IDcfartnunt. Bees. — The honey-bee surely deserves the first place. Its abode is like a palace, compared with most other insect houses ; indeed, from the number of its inhabitants, we may more properly call it a city. The industry, too, of this little creature is such, as to give it a strong claim upon our attention ; and I dare say you have often watched it, flying from flower to flower, and returning home heavily laden with yellow dust. The bee has many good qualities besides diligence, to render it a favorite, and these we shall see as we go on with its history. You most likely have seen a honey-comb, and tasted the sweet liquid it contains. Do you not think it very wonderful, that small insects should be able to make wax and honey, neither of which men have the power of making? How much labor, too, must it cost to build and fill the numerous cells ! Let us follow a colony of bees through the various tasks they have to perform, and we shall see with what surprising instincts they are endowed. Many countries abound with wild bees, and these form their own nests ; but here we keep them under an artificial covering called a hive, which is made of straw. These hives have a little opening on one side, for bees to go in and out at; they generally stand upon a wooden bench, and in cold weather are placed under some sort of shed. A swarm of bees, on entering a new hive, imme- diately want cells or little chambers, in which to store up tiieir honey, and bring up the young. These cells cannot be made without wax ; the first business, therefore, is to obtain that substance. You probably suppose that the bees collect it from flow- ers, and that they will go out and fetch home a store. But no, they seem to be quite idle, and hang in long rows, like garlands, or strings of beads ; one at each end taking hold of the roof, the rest clinging to each other's legs ; and so they remain for four-and-twenty hours, without moving. This does not proceed from laziness, however, nor are they waiting to think what must be done : you will never guess why they hang thus ; so I must tell you. Wax, instead of being found in flowers, as some people imagine, is formed in thin cakes, under the scales which case the bee's body. It appears that it is made best while they are quite quiet ; and this is their way of taking rest. While they are clustering, the wax is forming ; and when they have hung a number of hours, it may be seen under their scales, which then appear edged with white. And now, at last, a bee comes out from the crowd, cleans about an inch, by driving away the others with his head, and settling in the middle of this space, begins to lay the foundation of a comb, which is a flat piece of wax, composed of a great number of cells. These cells are joined to each other's sides, and placed in a double row, end to end, so that each side of the comb is full of holes, flt for containing eggs or honey. The bee we have just mentioned pulls out the little cakes one by one from its w^x- pockets, holds them in a pair of pincers, with which its legs are furnished, and works them about with its tongue, which is as useful as a trowel. When these are flxcd to the roof of the hive, it disappears among its companions. Other bees follow this example, adding their little store of wax, until a lump is formed large enough to work upon. The cells are then shaped by another set of laborers, and a third party flnish and polish the work, by drawing their mouths, their feet, and their whole bodies over it again and again, until it is quite smooth. Some, in the mean time, collect food, and bring it to those which are working at the cells, that they may not be hindered. When a laborer is hungry,' he bends down his trunk before the bee which is to feed liim ; this trunk is a movable mouth, like what you must often have seen in the fly ; a few small particles of honey are poured into it by his companion, and he then goes on with his work. Though there are many thousand laborers in a hive, they (lo not begin in several places at once, but wait until a single bee has laid the foundation, as I have just described to you. Each bee has only a certain (juantity of wax ; so they must make it go as far as possible. If the cells Avere made round, a NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 227 great deal would be wasted in filling up the spaces between, as you may see yourbolvcs, if you lay a number of marbles together. If they were square, they would not suit the form of the young bees which are to be placed in them. They arc therefore made with six sides, so as to join together exactly, and are very convenient, besides consuming the least wax, and filling the least space possible. Now, the cleverest men might have spent years in discovering this admirable plan ; but, taught by God himself, the little insect, without study or contrivance, has adopted it from the hour of its creation. — Familij Visitor. ^ealtl) JDcpartment. Asthma. — There is no complaint more harassing than asthma. The Newark Daily Advertiser, a re- liable i:)aper, pledges himself to cure this distress- ing disease with the following simple remedy : Take one and a half ounce sulphur ; one ounce cream-tartar ; one ounce senna ; one half ounce anisesoed ; pulverize, and thoroughly mix the same, and take one teaspoonful in about two tablespoon- fuls of molasses on going to bed, or at such time through the day as may best suit the patient ; the dose once a day may be increased or diminished a little, as may best suit the state of the bowels of the individual. Half a spoonful of citric acid, (which may always be bought of the apothecaries,) stirred in half a tum- bler of water, is excellent for the headache. illcrl)anics' ?Departmcnt, ^rts, $Ct. How Axes are made. — The process has been greatl}' simplified within the last two years. The iron is rolled out in bars the proper width and thick- ness of an axe, and six, eight, and ten feet long ; it is heated, and cut off by a large pair of shears, propelled by water power ; another workman picks up the piece, and places it between a die and the punch, and the punch comes down and forces a hole for the handle by punching out a piece. An iron mandrel is then inserted into the hole, and it is immediately put under another press, which forms one side of the axe ; it then goes into another die, and forms the other side, and is then placed in an upright position, and a chisel comes down and splits the " bit " of the axe ready for the steel ; it is then thrown aside. All this is done at one heat, and in less time than it takes to write the modus operandi. The blade of the axe is then put in and welded, passed along to the forger, tempered, and is cast upon the ground to cool. As soon as cold, it is taken up and j)laned down to an edge by a planing machine, and finished up with emery wheels — painted, la- belled, stamped, and is ready for market. — Bath Advertiser. Charcoal melted. — The possibility of melting charcoal has at length been satisfactorily proved by the experiments of M. Despretz. Up to the present time, chemists have considered this an impossibility ; M. Despretz, however, not only melts this refractorv substance, but solders one piece to another, and even volatilizes it. The heat to oif'ect this purpose is gen- erated by a powerful galvanic battery ; the light and heat evolved is so great that, even in approaching it only for an instant, there is danger of violent head- ache and pain in the eyes ; and moreover, the face may be burnt as by a powerful coup de soldi. To avoid this, the operator conducts his experiments under the shades of thick blue glass. Platinum clippings, and other metals difficult to fuse, are readily converted into a solid mass. This wUl prove of great service in the arts. New Uses for Granite. — The Dublin Evening Post states that a Mr. McDonald, in Scotland, has discovered a method of calcining granite to a fine clay, of extraordinary strength for pottery, especially for making water pipes, some of which are as largo as eighteen inches bore. — Farmer and Mechanic. DRAINING WARMS THE SOIL. It is reported that in a garden in Hampshire, the temperature of the soil has been raised fifteen degrees by di-aining heavy land four and a half feet deep. This, if true, is a prodigious gain — beyond any thing that we could have anticipated as a permanent result, even in summer. Winter is of course excluded from the statement. Circumstances prevent our exam- ining the statement in the case alluded to ; but, allowing for some exaggeration, there can be no doubt that a result sufficiently approaching it to be of the greatest value, is attainable. It is now for the first time that the public atten- tion has been drawn, in the Gardener's Chronicle, to this highly important subject. On the contrary, wc have, on several previous occasions, pointed out the undoubted fact that an increased temperature is one of the most valuable results of deep drainage ; a more probable cause of the immediate improvcmcat of the health of crops than the mere rcnc\s'al of water, or introduction of air into the soil. The nature of deep draining is in fact such as to render additional access of air to the roots of plants too in- considerable to be appreciable. It is only when deej) draining and deep trenching accompany each other, that any great access of air to roots beyond wliat is customary, can be anticipated. Where botli are secured, the effect is certainly magical. We have now before us a piece of land, which in 1845 was trenched and drained to the utmost depth which the nature of the situation would permit. The trenching was through London clay down to gravel, to about three and a half feet ; the draining was the same. It could be no deeper. In the win- ter of 1845— (5 it was planted, and the following is now the height after four seasons' growth : Ashes, thirteen to fifteen feet; elms, twelve to thirteen feet; oaks, twelve feet ; alders, fifteen feet ; larch, thir- teen to fifteen feet ; mountain ashes, eleven to tliir- teen feet. Yews have made from eleven to twenty- lour inches growth ; Douglas firs, transplanted between August and October, 1818, fifteen to tliirty-one inches; cryptomcrias, twenty-one to twenty-four inclies ; and hollies, eight to twenty-four inches, during the last summer; and what is not a little remarkal)Ic, a fuclisia has lived in this ])lace without any i)rotcc- tion, only dying annually down to the grouml level. All the plants now measured were common nursery stiiff' when planted. Of course the whole i)lantation does not consist of trees that have grown at tlie same rates as those just mentioned; such n tiling never occurred ; but the trees are in general in the liighest possible health ami vigor, in a cold, tenacious daj', which before being trenched would hardly bear grass enough to make it worth cultivation. 228 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. The improved condition of the land has no doubt contributed to this result; but we think it impos- sible to doubt that a considerable increase of tem- perature of the soil must have mainly contributed to produce such exuberant growth. Unfortunately tliis cannot now be made matter of proof, because no register was kept of the temperature before the trenching and draining were resorted to. There exists in Essex, not a hundred miles from Brentwood, an orchard of apples, pears, plums, and cherries, which was planted about twenty-two years ago, in a heavy clay trenched down to an iron pan, on which it lies. For a few years the trees grew pretty well, that is to say, as long as their roots were near the surface, and received the warmth of the summer's sun ; but as they advanced downwards, the growth became " small by degrees, and beautifully less," till at last it ceased, and nothing flourished but an abundance of gray lichens, with which the branches were covered. The owner was advised to drain it three feet below the pan. In the first year afterwards, vitality was roused so effectually that the lichens began to disappear, cast off by the swell- ing bark, and the last stage of decrcintude had been exchanged, by the end of the first six months, for youthful vigor. In the second and third seasons after the draining, the trees made shoots from four to five feet long. We have no doubt that the main cause of this remarkable and sudden change was the elevation of temperature consequent upon every deep drainage. Rain becomes heated by the surface soil, and carries its temperature with it as far as it sinks into the soil. The gain in this way is variously estimated at from ten to fifteen degrees in summer — an enormous gain, which places plants on a hotbed — for soil heated ten degrees above tlic ordinary temperature is nothing else. Deep draining, therefore, not only offers con- siderable security against the introduction of roots into water channels, but has the great and unsus- pected advantage of considerably raising the temper- ature of the earth which is in contact Avith the drains, deep as they may be, for w^ater cannot sink rapidly into earth without carrj'ing warmth along with it. This is now so Avell understood by men of intelligence, that it is superfluous to dwell upon it. — London Gardener s Chronicle. THROWING BREAD AWAY. We hear complaints, on all sides, that money is scarce, the times hard, and that it is difficult for the poor, in these dull times, to get a living. We sup- pose that by the word " living " is meant the prime staple of life, or, as it is sometimes called, the " staff of life," — bread. New bread is so jilenty, that we throw half of it away. In order to show wherein this is done every day, let us " reason together " a little. The principal material of which bread is made, in New England, is flour ; and this, you all know, is made of wheat. The good old days of corn bread, and " rye and Indian," have gone by. Times have changed ; and we may well say, that we have changed most essentially with them. People may say what they please about the "hardy New Englanders." There used to be such a race ; but they are disap- pearing, and an effeminate race growing up to supply their places. There are many causes for this deteri- oration of the strength of the people, but the princi- pal cause is the present mode of living. We throw away the best half of the wheat, and eat only the finer parts. Every body must have superfine flour upon their table. Well, to make superfine flour, the wheat must be ground fine ; the meal must then be bolted through the finest bolts or sieves ; and the bran and other coarser parts are carefully separated, and consigned to the pig trough or cattle manger. What did the Almighty make these parts of the wheat for ? For the nourishment of man ; but man has become so " unco " wise, that he throws them one side, and picks out only the finer particles ; and he dearly pays the penalty of his folly, in decreased health, strength, and general stamina of constitution. Let us inquire into the ingredients of wheat ; and, that we may not rest wholly on our own individual authority, we will call others in who have carefully examined the physical and chemical nature of wheat. Prof. Johnston has done this pretty thoroughly, and so we will draw upon him for a few facts. First, we will take into consideration some of the materials of our bodies ; and, second, what is needed to keep up the repairs or supplies of these materials as fast as they are wasted or spent in the course of life. The solid parts of the human body are fat, muscle, (flesh,) and bone. The liquid or fluid parts of the body contain also the fat, and muscle, and bone ingredients, in a fluid state, whereby they are conveyed to different parts of the body, to be deposited where needed. Now, every body knows that these three substances are liable to constant waste, and require to be renewed constantly. To renew them, we must cat food ; and if we eat food that contains fat-maliing, muscle- making, and bone-making materials, and the food is digested in a healthy manner, this waste is repaired with ease and pleasure. As Ave commenced with the article bread, we will confine ourselves to that. Vegetable food contains these three ingredients or materials, and especially wheat. That food must be the most nourishing that sup- plies all the ingredients of the body most abundantly, on the whole, or in proportions most suited to the actual wants of the animal that eats it. Now, the graiii of wheat, yoii know, consists of two parts, the inner grain, and the skin that covers it. The inner grain is your suijerfine flour, and the coA'ering is the bran. The miller is not able to peel the outer part per- fectly away from the inner, and so a little of it is always mixed with your flour ; but by the process of bolting it is removed more completely than in any other way, and it may be considered as Avholly sep- arated. According to Prof. P., of th.e fat-making materials whole grain contains twenty-eight pounds in one thousand ; fine flour, twenty pounds ; bran, sixty pounds. Thus you see, that, while a thousand pounds of whole grain will give you twenty-eight pounds of fat, a thousand pounds of fine flour will give you but twenty, and a thousand pounds of bran will give you sixty. If, therefore, you grind the wheat all together, you get nearly half as much again of fat-making material. Well, how is it with muscle, or flesh-making mate- rial ? Whole grain contains one hundred and fifty- six pounds in one thousand ; fine flour, one hundred and thirty pounds. So you see that wheat, ground all together, gives one fifth part more muscle mate- rial than fine flour. Our muscles, you will allow, are very serviceable, and their strength of great importance to us. Ought we not to supply them with right materials ? But when we bolt our wheat, and use only the fine parts, we throw away about two pounds of such out of every ten. Of the bone-making material, whole grain contains one hundred and seventy pounds in one thousand ; bran, seven hundred pounds ; fine flour, sixty pounds. You will certainly allow that bones are a very im- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 229 portant pait of youi- bodies ; and j-ou -will see, by the above, that, as it regards them, the whole meal is nearly three times more nourishing than the fine flour. Now, let us sum the whole together, and sec if we have not made out a clear case, ■\'lz., that we are daily actually throwing a vast quantity of food away. One thousand pounds of whole meal contain — Muscular matter, lo6 pounds. Bone matter, 170 " Fat matter, 28 " 354 One thousand pounds of fine flour contain — Muscular matter, 130 pounds. Bone matter, 60 " Fat matter, 20 <• 210 Now, deduct 210 from 354, and you have 144 pounds of matter %'ery essential to nourishment thrown out. Who, then, will say that we arc not throwing away food every day of our lives ? Is it any wonder that wo are growing up a delicate and an effeminate people ? Our children, instead of being fed upon coarse bread, and turned into the open air for exercise, whereby lungs and limbs may bo exer- cised and expanded, are fed on flour cake, of the finest kind, and 7newed up in air-tight houses, like plants in a hot-bed, which wilt on exposure. We do not wish to be ultra in our notions or ex- pressions, but we honestly believe that the man who invented the bolt to a flour mill, cursed the nation. — Maine Farmer. THE MOST PROFITABLE BREED OF SHEEP. There is much discussion upon the question as to the most profitable breed of sheep. One party as- serts that the true breed is the finest and purest Sax- ony ; another is equally certain that it is the hardy, gummy Merino ; a third is opposed to all fine-woolcd sheep, and can onlj^ grow the South Down ; while still another can see no profit in any but the long- woolcd and stately Cotswold or Leicester ; while a great multitude are in favor of the mongrels obtained by a cross from a part or all of the kinds mentioned. The object of raising sheep, as of any other kind of farming, is to make money, — to turn the annual herbage into cash. The best breed of sheep for the farmer to adopt will depend, in a great degree, vipon his locality ; whether near or at a distance from a good market for live stock, as large towns, or upon railroads leading thereto ; whether in a grain-grow- ing or a grazing district, or in a warm or a cold cli- mate. It is settled that a fine staple of wool cannot be grown upon a profitable carcass for the butcher. A large and early-maturing sheep, like the South Down and Cotswold, cannot be made to produce a fine clothing wool ; but the wool they do produce is val- uable, and brings a remunerating price, especially the long wool of the Ijciccstcrs. Then coarser and larger bodied sheep require a larger amount of pasture, and cannot be kept in large flocks. For the farmer who keeps but a few, say from fifty to one hundred, we should recommend the coarso-woolcd sheep. Many a farmer who can keep his fifty or sixty head could make his two dollars annvially, clear, upon each, with very little trouble. It would require care ; and that is what a great many farmers complain of, though constantlj' grumbling about hard times. In a warm climate, and especially' at the south, fine-woolcd Saxons should l)e preferred. The experience of years demonstrates that, in the growing of fine wool, the south need have no competitor, and we feel fully satisfied tliat it would now be the most profitable branch of their agricultural industry. There arc ^flocks in that region which produce "wool that can- not be surjiassed by any in Germany. Among them, and perhaps the very first, is the ilock of M. 11. Cock- rill, Esq., of Nashville, Tennessee. For evenness, firmness, and strength of staple, his fiock has not yet been outdone by the very highest-bred German flocks. Though there is little encouragement for growing fine wool any where, yet we should advise our friends south not to abandon it, but to keep steady alon"- ; for it will not be many years before they will l-.ave the fine wool market entirely to themselves ; for the amount of strictly fine Saxon wool grown this side of the Ohio Kiver will grow less and loss every year. Some men who have superior flocks, like our friends Reed, of Dalton, Ohio, and Ladd, of Ilichmond, Ohio, and who are fond of, and understand, breeding, will-continue them, and make them profitable ; but we fear that, unless there is some great change soon, the Saxon will not spread north and west. The great belt of our country lying north of the Alleghany Mountains and the Ohio Kiver, and ex- tending clear up to the Ilocky ^Mountains, seems ad- mirably adapted for the Negretti and Infantado branch of the Merino families, as south of that line docs for the Escurial and Electoral branch. The best repre- sentative of this branch is found in what is now termed the Vermont Merino. They are a hardy race, with thick, hea\'y fleeces, full of gum and yolk, and formed to withstand well the rigors of our hard win- ters. Like their congener, the Saxon, they delight in a dry soil, and M'ill thrive upon pastures where larger sheep would starve. In Vermont, objections are made to this breed of sheep by wool dealers, be- cause the wool is so heavy by reason of its gum and 3-olk. It may not be so profitable for them, but it shows the great value of the breed for cold and bleak regions. 13ut as this sheep travels west, it loses this objection ; for in this state, and throughout the Avest, the wool retains its firmness, but loses much of its superfluous gum and oil, but none of its vigorous constitution. Crossed upon the common breeds of Ohio, Michigan, and the other western states, it pro- duces a valuable breed, giving a finer and heavier fleece, and a stronger and more healthy habit. This breed is not confined to Vcnnont, but may be found, in great purity, in this state, and Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Among the best now in our mind is the flock of our friend, Mr. Dickinson, of Victor, whose communication on the subject of his flock can be found in the last volume. It is not necessary here to particularize the various mongrel breeds which have grown out of these great loading families. We believe that one great cause of controversy has arisen from not taking a true view of the great and natural division of our country into nortlicrn and southern wool-growing sections. Around large cities, and upon small farms, coarse- woolcd sheep will be found the most profitable ; while in the milder climate of the south the Saxon, and in the colder regions of the north the Merino, Avill be found the true breed. — The Wool-Groiccr. POULTRY RAISING. Having had some experience in breeding poultry, I will state a few facts that have come under my ob- scn-ation, presuming, however, that they will be of little interest in comparison to the writings of the alilc pens that have preceded me on tliis subject. There aj^pears to be felt a considerable interest in regard to the n\imcrous breeds of foreign fowls that now begin to be conunon among us ; and the only 230 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. important question is, Are they any better than our common breeds ? Allow- mc to make a few remarks on the Poland Fowl, to begin Avith. Some few years ago, I pur^ chased a pair of this breed, for •which I paid fotir dollars. They -were of a shining jet black, with white tufts, or topknots, on their heads, of great beanty. I was told that they were great layers, and that they never sat for incubation, or hatching their young. If these facts were true, I considered a great dilfioiilty overcome to the successful keeping of fowls as a matter of profit. In brief, I found that my hens of this breed, after a fair and full trial, did not lay any more eggs during the year, in the aggre- gate, than our ordinary fowls, that sit once in a sea- son, and rear but one brood of chickens ! Three, and sometimes four, eggs a week, per hen, were the average number laid by them. The chicks were raised under other hens. In regard to sitting, it is true that they do not sit ; but it is rather a disadvantage, since they will fre- quently make a mock attempt at it, and cover their eggs a few days, a part of the time, render them ad- dle, and leave them. They are, also, diminutive in size. Their flesh is of a poor flavor, and it is very hard fattening them ; and, in fine, as a market fowl, or for the table, they do not begin to compare with some of our domestic breeds, that can be purchased for fifty cents or less per pair, the country over. They are greatly subject to diseases ; so much so, indeed, that I think I may safely say, that a hundred of them would employ constantly one person skilled in the "Materia Medica" of dunghill tribes. They arc very tender, fit for a southern latitude only, one would suppose, from the effect of a severe winter upon them. I found that, in order to breed these fowls in pure blood, they must have a yard by themselves, and not even be allowed to see other fowls ! It is, indeed, a fact, that the mere act of Avitnessing other fowls, in adjoining enclosures, avLII destroy the purity of the breed. [This is new to us. Can it be explained ? — Eds.] I crossed the breed with success. I placed a Po- land cock with a half dozen hens of the Dominica, or blue-spotted breed. This amalgamation produced a beautiful black hen, with a close coat of feathers, and a fine, black tuft of feathers upon the head. The color Avas iuA-ariably a perfect jet black in hens, while the cocks Avere also black, but Avith a Avhite tuft upon the head, less full, and more upright, than the pure breed. The hens A\-ere fine, constant laj'crs, seldom Avishing to sit. Their flesh Avas Avell flavored, and the degree of fattening that they attained, Avhen Avell fed on corn, oats, &c., Avas astonishing. Indeed, on one occasion, I had to put them on a short alloAvance, even in the season of incubation, Avhcn foAA'ls are gen- erally poor, fearing that I should lose them through extreme fatness or obesity. If one desires a fowl for its singularity and beauty, it is Avell enough to buy Polands ; but he Avho pur- chases in the expectation of finding them a more profitable foAvl than our common breeds, Avill find himself sadly mistaken. It is probably true, that, on some occasions, there haA-c been great layers of this breed ; and the same of any other kind. If a gen- tleman should chance to got a large number of eggs from any single or specific number of fowls, on some particular occasion, it is no criterion of Avhat every man may do. They have their years of prolific abun- dance, and they haA-e their seasons of sterility. Food and good management, in the rearing of foAvls, haA'o their beneficial results, but the same person seldom succeeds alike during a scries of years. T. B. MINER. Cltxton, Oneida Co., N. Y. — American AgricuUiirist. PULVERIZED WOOD FOR CATTLE. The folloAving ncAV thing, in the Avay of food for cattle, is furnished by a !Mr. Daniels to Chambers's Journal. lie says, " About three years since, I had occasion to send my cart-horses frequently through a piece of coppice Avood, and Avhenever it happened that they stopped Avithin reach of the rods, they Avould greedily devour every bough they could come at. This I noticed many times. At last I was led to examine the rods on Avhich I had seen them feeding, and found them completely stripped of their branches, some of Avhich Avcre of a A-ery considerable thickness. This led me to suppose that there must be some good qualities in the wood ; and this consideration induced me to get some pulverized, and giA'cn to my cart- horses, Avhich experiment Avas repeated at scA-eral different times, until I was fully satisfied that it had no injurious effect on them. After this, I Avas led to give it to my gig-horses Avith their corn ; and, haA'ing ascertained that it did them no injiury, I had machin- ery prepared for reducing the Avood for the purpose of food, and began to feed both cart and gig-horses, as also my coavs and pigs, mixing a portion Avith all the food Avhich Avas given them. This practice I have continued for the last ten months. Previous to feed- ing my horses in this Avay, they had each three quar- ters of a peck of oats and beans giA-en them per day, for Avhich are noAV substituted three pints of barley per day. They are in equally fine condition as Avhen fed in the usual Avay, and more playful and free in their work. Soon after the Avood Avas mixed Avith the fod- der giA-en to the coavs, their milk, as Avell as their condition, Avas much improved. For several Avceks I^ast, I have been feeding sheep Avith the puh-erized Avood, together Avith crushed Swedish turnips ; and thej'' also appear to improve by it. I have likewise fatted four pigs successively, mixing this food Avith barley meal, and the results have proved most satis- factory." This statement, howcA'cr strange it may sound, is not so startling, when avc remember that the woody matter of trees is, in its chemical nature, nearly al- lied to starch, and that it alAvays contains some niti'O- gen; so that, in reality, it furnishes the ordinary materials of food, in another form. We presume, hoAvcA'cr, that Avhite-Avooded, and not resinous, trees are those Avhich furnish Mr. Daniels's cattle Avith the ligneous pulp they thrive so aa'cII upon. THE CODLING MOTH. We copy from Hovcy's Magazine of Horticulture part of a communication ujson the insect Avhich is the parent of the apple Avorm, that is so destructive to our fruit. It is by M. II. Simpson, Esq., SaxonA'illc, Mass. The other insect to Avhich I alluded is the codling moth. This little moth deposits her egg in the eye of the apple ; they commenced last year about the 1.5th of June, and were so destructive on my trees, as to take about all the curculio spared, and many of the Bartlett and Passe Colmar pears. They are about all the season, or until the middle of September. There are two or three crops of them. I produced them from the egg in about five weeks. They were tAvo Aveeks eating before they Averc ready to go into the chrysalis state, and three Avecks before the per- fect moth appeared. They are a small gray moth, Avith a distinct mark upon the hind part of tiie Avings, of a broAvn color, edged Avith copper ; they do not extend their Avings more than seven eighths of an inch ; they are very lively at night, and entirely at rest in the daytime, from A\-hich I infer that they fly only at night. I have never been able to find one NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 231 upon the trees. After the egg is hatched, the worm eats tothe centre of the apple, and then out at the side, and are the cause of the windfalls, or moth- falls. I saved a number of apples by placing a piece of beeswax over the eye ; but the plan, for i)ractical purposes, is to syringe the fruit with Mhitowash. This will fill the eye, and thus prevent the moth from laying her egg. I am happy to state, that I discov- ered a trap for the larva; of this insect, by which an orchard can be cleared of them with little labor. Noticing two or three of the larvae creeping upon a piece of cotton cloth, which was thrown accidentally into the crotch of an apple-tree, my curiosity led to further examination, and, to my surprise and pleas- ure, I found thirty of the larvoD in their silken homes, going through their chrysalis state. They knit the folds of cloth together with silken ties, and there quietly change from the loathed worm to the perfect insect, which is perhaps as beautiful, under a micro - scojjc, as any production of the insect tribe. I again placed the cotton cloth in the crotch of the tree, and examined it in three weeks, and found another en- campment of them in the same state, and hence con- cluded they were quite in my power with very little labor. The cloth should be placed in the tree about the 2.5th of June, and should be examined every three weeks, as it requires about this time to go through the chrysalis state. In one or two seasons, they must be destroyed, if this operation should be followed up. Thej' find their silken web very readily attach to the little fibres of cotton, and, by tying the cotton cloth to the tree, the v\'ind will not disturb them. There is still another insect which does some dam- age to the foliage and fruit of trees. The perfect in- sect is a long, dark, slender fly, with long feelers and two steerers behind; they were found on the trees as early as the loth of March, mating ; they lay their eggs in the young bud.. As soon as it opens, the egg hatches, and the young larva commences eating the young leaves, and curling them up, in which he makes his home. They are destroyed by applying the white- wash to the limbs of the tree. The whitewash also kills a very destructive little insect, the eggs of which are contained in little muscle shells, on the bark of the apple and pear trees ; [a species of coccus. - ■ Ed.] I will communicate the effect of syringmg the trees ■with the wash before the buds break, in July, when the whole eftect of the experiment Avill be known. THE RAVAGES OF INSECTS. Such insects as Hessian and wlicat flies, curculios, weevils, army and boll worms, annually destroy crops to the amount of twenty millions of dollars. If a pirate on the high seas, or an Indian savage on land, injures the property of a citizen to the amount of a few dollars, millions are expended, if need be, to punish the offender. This is right. 13 ut when pub- lic enemies of a different name do a thousand times more injury to a whole country, are its citizens under any necessary restraint which forbids their making a common effort to protect their property from insect devastators ? Parasitic plants, such as rust on wheat, and many fungi, as well as injurious insects, are on the increase. To attempt to explain the reasons %ohy this is so, would lead at once into questions in animal and vegetable physiology, out of place in this brief sj-nopsis of such rural topics as are believed to be of general interest. It may not be amiss to re- mark, however, that many boys are apparently edu- cated to kill all small birds that subsist mostly on insects, so soon as these youngsters are large enough to shoulder a gun. Government can do miich to check the ravages of insects, by collecting and diffusing useful information as to their- habits, times of transformation, and the best means of destroying or avoiding them. If farm- ers fold their arms, and say that nothing can be done by the science of entomology, nor by any other means, what but an increase of the evil is to be expected ? Not to try to escape the infliction, is treating one's enemies with unmanly forbearance, and evinces a belief in fatalism worthy a disciple of Mahomet. — Patoit- Office Report for 1849. ANALYSIS OF SOILS, MARLS, AND FER- TILIZERS. Something should be done in reference to the anal- ysis of soils, fertilizers, marls, and other minerals constantly sent to the patent-office .for that p\irpose. For many years, chemists and philosophers have been investigating the affinities and other peculiarities of "molecules," or ultimate indivisible particles of mat- ter. These scientific researches have revealed many important truths and natural laws, which have a di- rect bearing on all the economical purposes of agri- culture. Some pains should be taken to impart a knowledge of these laws to all practical farmers. When we consider how little opportunity the mass of agriculturists have to study the chemical compo- sition of their soils and crops, it will readily be seen that information of this kind is greatly needed in all operations which aim to feed cultivated plants with their appropriate aliment. Prof. Henry, the distinguished secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has authorized me to say that the extensive chemical apparatus and excellent laboratory of tlic institution will be at the service of any reputable chemist, to make investigations for the increase and diffusion of knowledge in this branch of science. I have compiled for this report about one hundred analyses, embracing most of the cereals, several grasses, clovers, legumes, roots, cotton, tobacco, flax, and the ash of fruit and forest trees, from the latest European and American authorities. Tliese analyses will be found valuable for reference. An elaborate paper on the " Study of Soils," giv- ing the chemical composition of their parent rocks, the amount of the elements of crops in a cubic foot of earth available as food for plants, together with researches into the annual production and consump- tion of mould, the variation of the temperature and hygrometric properties of soils, has been deferred, to keep this document within a moderate size. For a similar reason, no space has been allowed for mere guesses at the quantity of grain and other crops grown in the vear 1849. — Ibid. Tax ox F.vumixg. — The county commissioners, for some years past, have assessed upon farmers a tax for their occupations, for county purposes. Objec- tions having been made against this as illegal, a case was stated for the opinion of the court, and argued before his honor Judge Gordon, by Messrs. Filbert and Salladc for the county commissioners, and Henry "W. Smith, Esq., on behalf of the farmers. On Fri- day last, the court gave judgment for the defendants, thereby deciding that it was illegal to tax farmers for their occupations. — Berlcs Co. {Pa.) Press, A Fact you Daiuywomex. — I. E. Philbrook, says the Vermont Chronicle, kept three cows on liis farm last year, from which his mother, a lady ninety years of age, with his assistance, made, in nine months, nine hundred pounds of butter, eight hundred pounds of which were sold in the town of Ilardwick. This is a fact worthy of record and emulation. 23Q NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Gallery op Illustriocs Americans. — This work contains the ijortraits and biographical sketches of twcnty-lbur of the most eminent citizens of the re- public, since the deatli of Washington. It is a very splendid and beautiful work, published semi-monthly, on imperial folio drawing-paper, in a new and mag- nificent style. These portraits are very skilfully ex- ecuted, and do great credit to the artists, Brady and D'A\^gnon. The letter-press, or biography, by the editor, C. Edwards Lester, is brief, comprehensive, and appropriate. No. six contains the portrait and history of Col. Fremont, senator elect from Califor- nia, and one of the most illustrious men of the age. Now York : G. P. Putnam ; D. Applcton & Co. ; C. S. Francis & Co. — Boston: Redding & Co., 8 State St. The Illustrated Domestic Bible, by Rev. Ingram Cobbin. — "We have examined the specimen number of this work. The mechanical execution is remark- ably neat, the print of good size, clear, and distinct ; the illustrations are prepared for instruction rather than decoration ; and the commentaries and prac- tical reflections are judicious, interesting, and well adapted to edify and instruct the reader ; and they are apparently free from sectarian bias. The editor has long been distinguished for his sound evangel- ical writings and anti-sectarian principles. This work is published by Samuel Hueston, 139 Nassau St., New York, at 25 cts. a number ; to be com- pleted in twenty-five numbers. It will contain seven hundred engravings, and three finely executed steel maps. It will be issued on the first and fifteenth of each month. He who swallows up the substance of the poor, will, in the end, find that it contains a bone which will choke him. THE GRAND EXHIBITION OF 1851. BY MARTIN FARQUHAR TUl'PER. Hurrah' for honest Industry ! hurrah for handy SkUl! Hurrah for all the wondrous works achieved bj' Wit and Will ! The triumph of the artisan has come about at length, And kings and princes flock to praise his comeliness and strength. The time has come, the blessed time, for brethren to agree, And rich and poor of every clime at unity to be. When Labor, honored openly, and not alone by stealth, With horny hand and glowing heart may greet his brother Wealth. Ay, Wealth and Rank arc Labor's kin, twin breth- ren all his own. For every high estate on earth, of labor it hath grown ; By duty and by prudence, and by study's midnight oil, The wealth of all the world is won by God-rewarded toll! Then hail ! thou goodly gathering, thou brotherhood indeed ! Where all the sons of men can meet as honest labor's seed; The tribes of turbancd Asia, and Afric's ebon skin, And Europe and America, with all their kith and kin ! From east and Avest, from north and south, to Eng- land's happy coast. By tens of thousands, lo ! they come, the great in- dustrial host, — By tens of thousands, welcomed for their handicraft and worth ; Behold ! they greet their brethren of the workshop of the earth. Right gladly, brother workmen, will each English artisan Rejoice to make you welcome all, as honest man to man. And teach, if aught he has to teach, and learn the much to learn, And show to men, in every land, how all the world may earn ! Whatever earth, man's heritage, of every sort can yield. From mine and mountain, sea and air, from forest and from field ; Whatever reason, God's great gift, caii add or take away. To bring the worth of all the world beneath the human sway ; Whatever Science hath, found out, and Industry hath earned, And Taste hath delicately touched, and high-bred Art hath learned ; Whatever God's good handicraft, the man He made, hath made ; By man, God's earnest artisan, the best shall be dis- played ! O, think it not an idle show, for praise, for pride, or pelf; No man on earth who gains a good can hide it from himself : By any thought that anything can any how improve. Who help along the cause of all, and give the world a move ! It is a great and glorious end to bless the sons of man. And meet, for peace and doing good, in kindness while we can ; It is a greater and more blest, the human heart to raise Up to the God Avho givcth all, with gratitude and praise ! TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and liandsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at $1 a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It ma)' be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. !^ The Postage „^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state; and IjJ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the BOSTON STEREOTYTE FOUNDRY" DEi^yiy TO ilGEioULTuRI ilNiJ ALL I fS KhUEED aR TS AND SCIENCES. Agricultars not only gives riches to a nation , but the only riches she can call hei own. - -JOHNSOX. VOL .11, SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1850. NO. 15. s. w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON • J. NOURSE, Proprietor. STRAWBERRIES. REMARKS OK DlFFEBEN't VARil5tJEi3, The Strawberry crop is becoming an important one, both to the cultivator and consumer. It is a very delicious fruit, admirably combining rich acid and saccharine qualities, -which render it very welcome in hot weather ; and its being the earliest fruit in the season gives it an additional iraiiortance. Every family in the country should have a good supply of strawberries, they are so delicious, and so much more palatable and wholesome than meat, but- ter, rich cake, &c. AVe would rather have for supper a piece of good bread, with fine-flavored strawberries, tempered with sugar, than the most costly and rich- est dishes that the wide world can afford. So valuable is this fruit, that every farmer, and every one who has room in his garden, should raise it for his ov.i\ family, at least, unless he is fortu- nately in a region where the delicious wild strawberry abounds. And we trust that so much attention is now given to the cultivation of this fruit for the market, that every family can have a supply at mod- erate prices. The farmer should consider that a bed of strawber- ries, two rods long and one wide, yielding a fair crop, ■will give him two quarts a day for twelve days, and twice that quantity if the yield be very large. A gardener*in formed us that from less than one square rod he had twenty quarts. But little land, ma- nure, and time, is required to afford this most de- licious and healthful luxury — to children a most delightful treat. \Mio will neglect to cover their bright faces with smiles of joy as they partake of the delicious feast, or lose the opportunity of illus- trating the beneficence of our heavenly Parent in his bountiful gifts, and the kindness of friends in providing such fine delicacies to cheer their grateful hearts ? With these preliminary remarks on the importance of the strawberry, and the advantages of extending its culture, we proceed to give an account of a num- ber of the most prominent varieties in general culti- vation, or wliich seem to have claims to this distinc- tion. V.'c hare often said that the cheapest of all ilViprovements in the cultivation of vegetables, or rearing of animals, was the selection of the best va- rieties ; for, although this may cost a little more a^ first, a beginning may be made, and soon enough will be produced for one's own supply, and perhaps a sur- plus that will bring an extra price, and make an am- ple return for the original stock. We cultivate strawberries for our own use, also for the purposes of experiment, that we may test all the varieties that have claims to excellence, in order to learn their hardiness, vigor, the quality of fruit, time of ripening, and various other habits ; and to supply a few plants with other nursery productions. Li ad- dition, we have examined for years the principal strawberry plantations in this region, also our mar- ket, and we confer with the principal cultivators and dealers in this fruit. If these advantages can enable us to give to the cultivators of this fruit any useful information, we do it with pleasure. Whether we cultivate fruit for our oAvn use, or for the market, the time that each variety ripens is wor- thy of consideration, in order that we may have fruit in succession, or have it for the market when it will bring the highest price. Our strawberries are on a fine loam, tolerably drj'; the immediate location is rather warm, having a southern aspect, but not for- ward, as it is not far fi-om the water. The following are the times of ripening of several varieties, which, in regard to comparing one with another, will not differ much from an average of sea- sons : — Early Virginia, June 22 Ijargc Early Scarlet, •' 22 Boston Pine, «« 26 Willcy, " 26 Jenncy's Seedling, " 27 Black Prince, " 27 Hovey 's Seedling, " 28 Fay's Seedling, " 28 Wood, or Alpine July 1 Ncwiand's Mammoth, " 1 Milford Native, " 4 Tlie time named is when the fruit began to ripen, and, generally, it continued about one week. Jen- nev's continued in use nine or ten days. This tablo 234 NEW ENGLAND FARMEll. agrees very nearly with previous experiments, and with the experiments of many other cultivators, in the comparative time of ripening, which is the main subject in view, as it shows the inexperienced how to select so as to have a succession of fruit. Earhj Virginia. — This is the best early strawberry generally known in this section. It is one of the princiijal kinds for main crops, and some cultivate it almost exclusively. The plants are very strong, vig- orous, and hardy, enduring the cold of winter, and succeeding well on dry soils, as well as on those rather strong and heavy. The fi-uit is medial size, very handsome, and of excellent quality, which it retains well after picking. It sells well in the mar- ket the next day after it is picked. It is very pro- ductive. We have accounts of its yielding some of the largest crops ever produced from any variety. It is nearly perfect in its blossoms, and is a good varie- ty to fertiUze pistillate kinds. Large Early Scarlet is the same as the above. Boston Pine. — We say in our Fruit-Book, "cul- tivators give various accounts of it," and we still say the same. Its merits as a market fruit are not well tested. Some extol, others condemn it. This fruit seems to be peculiarly adapted to strong soils, and under high culture, planted in hills, or the plants well thinned, it yields large crops ; but if the plants are thick, it sets more fruit than it can perfect. The plants are strong, vigorous, productive, and hardy, enduring our cold winters well. The fruit is quite large, beautiful, and of a sweet, pleasant flavor, as taken from the vines. Some prefer it for its mild- ness ; others give a preference to sub-acid fruits, which in the hot season are admirably adapted for the table, with a little sugar. This fruit becomes insipid soon after it is picked, and does not appear well in market the day after'gathering. Some persons think that this fruit will take the place of the Early Vir- ginia ; but we think that it is a great mistake, for its quality is not so good for a market fruit, and it ripens so much later, that half of its crop, or more, comes in with Ilovey's Seedling, and other late varieties. On the contrary, the Early Virginia comes so early tliat it is nearly or quite gone when the late kinds come in. Some say the Boston Pine is abo^U as early as the Early Vii-ginia. Now, let us see what a wide differ- ence this little w"ord makes, though it seems to mean almost nothing. The first boxes of Early Virginia brought into tliis market this season, sold for more than one dollar per box ; and when several cultiva- tors brought them in, they sold at fifty cents per box. But when the Boston Pine was ripe, good strawber- ries sold at twenty cents a box. The Boston Pine is nearly perfect in its flowers. Willey. — This is a famous strawberry in Ohio, producing large crops of excellent fruit. The plants arc remarkably vigorous, hardy, and productive. The fruit is tolerably large, and of excellent quality. Wc have had but little experience in this variety, having had fruit from it this season only, and have not seen it in cultivation by others. It is very prom- ising, and worthy of trial. Mr. F. R. Elliott, Cleve- land, O., a well-known pomologist, raised of this va- riety 1345 quarts on one fourth of an acre of land. Tlie Willey which we have is pistillate, staminate, and some blossoms are nearly perfect. Wc have se- lected pistillate plants, and set them by themselves, and some of them produced staminate plants the next season. This is contrary to the opinions of some horticulturists. Jenneifs Seedling. — This is a new variety, not yet cultivated to much extent, but it is very promising indeed. The plants are strong, vigorous, productive, and hardy, enduring our winters without injury. The fruit is large, very handsome, and of a very high quality. It is sub-acid, and to this some per- sons object ; but as the strawberry is usually used Avith sugar, and in hot weather, when a little acid mingled with sweet is very acceptable, wc think that this will be a very popular fruit. There is no straw- berry that we should prefer to this to come immedi- ately after the Early A^irginia, for our own use. Time must determine its merits for the market. Mr. Jen- ncy raised, on one fourth of an acre, at the rate of more than 4000 quarts to the acre. This plant is mostly pistillate, but we believe that it yields good crops without a fertilizer. Black Prince. — Some praise this highly, others condemn it with severity. It has a peculiar flavor, that is pleasant to some, and to others it is offensive. Some amateurs will cidtivate it, but we do not think it will be valuable for the market. Ilovey's Seedling, — This is one of the most valua- ble of strawberries. It has not the vigor and hardi- ness of the Early Virginia, Willey, and Jcnney's Seedling, but it usiially endures our cold winters well. AVhen it produces a very great crop, the plants are sometimes rather thin the next season, either from the effects of the winter, or from exhaustion. The size of the fruit is extremely large, the color is beautiful, and the flavor is mild, rich, and excellent. While some persons admire its mildness, others pre- fer more acid, lilie Jenney's Seedling, Early Virginia, Willey, &c. This variety is remarkably productive, and, owing to its large size, and the readiness with which the fruit parts from the hull, it is picked with less expense than any other variety. One cultivator in this vicinity had several hands that picked seventy boxes each per day. One acre of land, mof?tly of this variety, produced 4000 boxes, and the yield was largest from this kind. Fay's Seedling. — We prefer Ilovey's or Jenney's to this, and they ripen about the same time. Wood, or Alpine. — This is an old variety, which held an important place as a late strawberry before the introduction of Hovey's, and other late varieties. Newland's Maimnoth. — All the mammoth about this is the mammoth Mimbug which George Newland, of Palmyra, N. Y., played off in selling the old Wood strawberry for a new and superior variety. Milford Native. — A good fruit, and very late, but neither vigorous nor productive. Richardson's Seedlings we have not thoroughly test- ed. His Late promises to be valuable, as it ripens after most others are gone. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 235 e.m. ADJUSTABLE SCREW WRENCHES. The above cut represents the Patent Adjustable Screw AYrench, invented by L. Coe, of Worcester, in its various sizes. By the arrangement, combination, and proportions of the several parts, these wrenches are remarkably convenient, efficient, substantial, and durable. As the jaws are movable, they are adapted to general use, as they may be readily applied to a broad or narrow substance. The farmer and mechanic will find it the most convenient article of the kind, from its application to all purposes to which various wrenches of a different construction are adapted. The screw that moves the sliding jaw is very easily operated and properly adjusted to any nut, screw, or other .substance, by the thumb of the hand that holds the wrench, while the other hand may be engaged. Tliis article is very neatly finished, is very handy from its size, and the price is moderate. The prices range from $1,1 2i to $.3,50. This wrench is taking the place of all other screw wrenches. They are sold, wholesale and retail, by Messrs. lluggles, Noursc, Mason, & Co., Quincy Hall. STACKING HAY. In many portions of our country more than one half of the hay is " stacked out ; " cs])ecially is this true of the newer portions of this state. Now, ef- fectually to secure this vast amount of fodder is an object greatly to be desired. For thirty years I have been in the habit of stacking liay. I have observed also the method by which others put up their hay. The common way is to build a stack, top it up, and let it jcmain a week or two, until it has become somewhat flattened by settling ; then put another top upon it, and still, perhaps, the third, before it is left to remain for winter use. By this method, from half to three quarters, and even a ton, is spoiled for V c- use of stock. The philosophy of the thing is this : The sweat of the hay rises to the surface of the stack, and lodges on the outer or upper surface ; put- ting on the second top shuts this moisture in, and the hay of the first top is spoiled in consequence of it. The second top is spoiled by its exposure to the weather ; thus a double loss is sustained by the over- careful farmer to protect his hay. My method is to make but one top. If the weather is fair, build the stack to the " shoulders," (that is, to the point where the top begins to form,) let it remain a day or two to settle, then finish up the stack ; a little swiimp is best for the top. When buQt in this way, I have found, on romovmg the first lock in winter, the hay below as bright as when it was first put up. If there is a prospect of storm, some boards may be placed on the stack so as to protect it while it is being settled, as farmers say. If no boards are to be had, and bad w'cather is at hand, top up your stack ; or, if you get a tolerably fair top, never touch it again ; if not, throw off your whole top when the weather becomes fair, and finish out your stack. In this way, you need not have any hay injured in the least, only just so much as is exposed to the weather. R. K., Jk. Clinton, Lenawe Co., Michigan, 1850. — Fhil. Dol. Neicspaper, VIRTUES OF SMART WEED. It is almost a sure remedy in a case of colic. Steep and drink the same as in any other herb tea. In the next place, it is worth five dollars per hundred for a stock of cattle, if it is cut and well ciu-cd when in full bloom. Give an ox, cow, or horse one poimd per week during the time they are iiji to hay, and it will keep their bowels and hide loose. It is an ex- cellent physic. If a horse has one pound per week, there is no danger of his having bots or worms of any kind ; and they will eat it sooner than they will the best of hav. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. 236 NEW ENC4LAND FARMER. For the New Enijhind Farmer. STONE-RAKES -A NEW POTATO DISEASE -GUM FROM PEACH-TREES. Mil. Cole : Permit mc to acldiess you a very mis- cellaneous letter, though ui^on topics distinct in their character, and which -would admit of much more lull consiileratinn. My object is to elicit intbrmation I'rom those qualified to give it, trusting it would be prized iy others as -well as myself. Stoxe-Rakes. — For about two years I have be- stowed no small labor to clear a garden, of about a quarter of an acre, of stones. The greatest portion of the ground consists of what arc usually called cobble stones, of all sizes, from those of fifty or sixty pouifds, to those no larger than a pea. Indeed, close examination shows that stones constitute the mass of the earth. Every ploughing brings to view a new crop. One of my oldest neighbors insists that since commencing the cultivation of his garden, he has lowered the ground about two feet, simply by re- moving stones. Now, I inquire if there is, or, if not, whether there should not be constructed, a strong stone -rake, with teeth projecting forwards, to be drawn by oxen, which would both loosen and draw together the stones, upon land of this description. Let there be different sets of teeth racks, with teeth at different distances, according to the size of the stones to be loosened up and collected, and means provided for inserting them as they shall be needed. A loaded common harrow, to follow a subsoil plough, (provided such a plough could be made to penetrate sufficiently dee]^ in such soil,) might throw up many of the stones ; but I ask for the means of not merely loosening, but of gathering them. But what shall we do with the stones ? I venture to say, draw them off upon stone-boats, and make them into dobie fences, as they make dobie houses at the Avest, or build houses with them, if you please. A New Potato Disease. — Last year some bulbs of my potatoes, called Sand Lakes, at an early stacje of their growth, showed disease in the stalk. The lower leaves turned brown, and decayed and died first, and then the other leaves successively did the same, and the tops of the stalks, though green, re- fused to expand naturally, and grow ojily in a curled, dwarfish form, and all the stalks, after a sickly, stunted growth, prematurely died, while the hills adjoining flourished, and continued growing with a healthy appearance, generally, through the season. I found the dwarf and diseased hills, when I dug. them, yielded a very few and small potatoes, but free from rot. I had manirred well with stable manure. This season a far larger number of tlie hills are struck with the same disease, and are going the same way. I have just pulled up and examined one of them, but can detect nothing peculiar in the seed planted, and find no CAndence that the effect is pro- duced by insects. My Mercers and other kinds do not yet show signs of this disease. If any explana- tion of it can be given, I would be glad to obtain it. It .should be remarked that, lacking stable manure, I have manured with the best deposit I could get from the i-oad, and put a half pint, perliaps, of unleached ashes, mixed together with the soil, in each hill. Has any trace of this disease, unattended by rot, hitherto attracted attention r It is sure very much to dimin- ish my little crop. I would know if planting, year after year, the same ground with potatoes, has any thing to do with the effect in this case. I doubt it, because, in a newly-turned piece of turf land, I find one or more hills similarly affected. Gum from the Peacu-Tkee. — "Wounds of insects I know let out gum ; but it seems certaiii to mc that there niust be another cause. I have a young tree, a blood peach from Long Island, and it has a wonder- ful propensity to gumming, where I can find no trace of any insect. In the fork of the two principal branches, it exuded largely last summer, and the bark adjoining died. I cut out the dead bark, and found gummy juice lying between it and the wood. The edges of living bark healed over, but they are pro- pcnse to send out gum. The tree has set with a few peaches, and vigorotis new shoots are growing, but gumming is going on at the parting of the branches, and here and there gum ajipears upon the body, and just around, the bark is sure to be loosened from the wood, and dead or dying. The cause and cure I would gladly learn. Had I your Fruit-Book, Mr. Editor, I might, perhaps, not need to ask. Truly yours, J. LEE. Salisbury, Coxx., July 2. PiEMARKS. — Stojic- Rakes. — In removing small stones from the soil, caution is necessary, as in many cases the soil is greatly injured by their removal. This is shown by numerous experiments. In one case, all the stones on a piece of land down to a small dimension, and to a certain depth from the sur- face, were sold for the purpose of making a road ; and the consequence was, that land which was before productive became poor. Small stones are con- stantly decaying from exposure to the air, from the action of the soil, as, by deep ploughing or subsoiling, fresh and new elements are brought in contact with them ; and by the application of manures, particu- larly such as ashes or potash, the stones become cor- roded, and furnish fertilizing ingredients as food for plants. In tillage, stones arc a great inconvenience ; but in mowing, small ones, if not extremely thick, may be pressed into the earth by the use of the roller. It is difficult to determine how far small stones should bo removed from tillage lands. AVhcre there is a plenty of gravel or sand, small stones are less useful than they are in soils where clay, marl, or mud abounds. Nexc Potato Disease. — Wc have Peach Blow pota- toes that have been affected in the s^me manner as named by our correspondent. The Sand Lake po- tato resembles the Peach Blow, and what he calls the former may be the latter. The first year we planted the Peach Blow, they were on new land, and they were healthy. The next year they were on old land, but which was not in potatoes the previous year, and they were much affected by disease. The next year we planted them in several places, mostly where potatoes had been raised the previous season, and of the early-planted on dry land, nearly half of the hills failed, while by the side of them other hills, of the same variety, were perfectly healthy and pro- ductive. We planted some late on wet land, and about one tenth part failed. We examined carefully for insects, but could dis- cover no cause of the disease. The tops grew very slowly soon after they came up, the leaves curled up, and the most of them died ; yet they lingered along, and produced a few potatoes about the size of robins' eggs. We found this effect from planting large and small seed, cut and whole. We planted about fifty kinds of standard potatoes, and one hundred and fifty seedling varieties; and none were affected with this disease but the Peach NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 237 Blow, and we have excluded it from our list, as un- worthy of cultivation. Others have given the same account of this potato. Gttm from Peach- Trees. — Sometimes gum runs from peach-trees by reason of insects, as the worm, for instance, eating around the tree, between the bark and wood, at or just below the surface ; but gum often runs from peach-trees from causes not dis- tinctly known. Trees that seem perfectly healthy in early spring, and are very smooth, and apparently in a vigorous condition, are soon seriously affected by the gum running from various parts of the body and branches, which indicates a decline or speedy death of the tree. In this climate the peach is far from its native and peculiar home, if we regard its origin ; and it is seri- ously alfected by our cold or changeable winters, and by our cool springs, constantly varying in temper- ature, or remaining constantly cool and uncongenial to plants originally from a much warmer clime. The best remedy for this evil is the same as we should recommend for the potato disease which has been named : Examine carefully, and cultivate the most hardy varieties of fruits and vegetables. Information on these subjects from our correspondents will be ac- ceptable. — Ed. For the New Etigland Farmer. VALUE OF LIME IN AGRICULTURE. Friend Cole : As yet we hardly know whether to count lime on our list of manures or not. We do not know how, and when, and where it will be ben- eficial and profitable for us to apply it. I notice that A. J. Downing, in his Fruit and Fruit-Trccs of Amer- ica, has thrown some light on the use of it in the orchard ; and, as every farmer may be supposed to have an orchard, it may not, perhaps, be amiss for me to note here a few of his remarks. Speaking of fruits, (p. 558,) he says, " AVc are not without remedy for varieties that have partially de- cayed in a certain district. If the trees have once been productive of excellent fruit, and arc still in a sound condition, though enfeebled, a thorough re- newal of their powers will again restore them to health. To effect this, a heavy top-dressing of lime, and, if the soil is light, of loamy claj-, should be re- peated a couple of seasons. The bark of the trunk and large branches should bo well scraped," &c., &c. On p. 328, he says, "The use of lime in strong soils as a fertilizer, instead of manure, is "worthy of ex- tensive trial, because lime has a tendency to throw all fruit-trees into the production of short-jointed fruit-spurs, instead of the luxuriant woody shoots induced by animal manure." This is a hint worth remembering. Again, on p. 35, alluding to a work by Dr. Schultz, of Berlin, he writes, " The author, who has devoted considerable time to the subject, states that common salt and chloride of lime contrib- ute greatly to the flowering of most plants, to which, however, they can only be applied with safety in small quantities. 'Salts of lime,' he continues, 'ap- pear to produce so nearly the same effect as those of potash aTid soda, that it is only necessary to place lime within their reach, if there is no deficiency of manure in the shape of general food. lyimc will, in the main, promote in an astonishing degree the fruiting and flowering of most plants, because calca- reous salts promote evaporation and the concentration of the sap.' " Of this Downing remarks, " Althouo-h we cannot coincide with many of Dr. .Schultz's views as expressed in this work, yet the remarks just quot- ed agree so entirely with facts that have come under our own observation, that we gladly place them be- fore the cultivator of fruit-trees." liut I will not quote more now from a work which every one may read for himself. According to Dr. Emmons's analysis of the ash, the pear contains, Pliospliate of Lime. Lime. 27.22 IS.Qi 6.50 30.3G Potash. SapAvood, 22.25 Bark, 6.20 The apple contains, Sapwood 16.19 Bark, 4.93 17.50 18.G3 2.42 51.57 If this be correct, it will readily be seen that a strong growing tree will exhaust the soil within its reach of a large quantity of lime in a few years. The soil may contain at first a sufficient quantity; but a tree that has grown fifteen or twenty j-ears in one place will usually be found feeding upon short allowance, unless lime, as well as other food, has been supplied. Small crops and poor fruit common- ly testify to some neglect on the part of the culti- vator. According to Professor Johnston, the different crops of grain, turnips, i&c., carry away lime nearly as follows : — 25 bushels wheat, 9 lbs. 38 " barley, 15 " 50 " oats, 9 " 25 tons turnips, 140 lbs. 9 " potatoes, 270 " 2 " red clover, 126 " No doubt that we often apply, at great expense, large quantities of animal manure to exhausted soUs, when, at the same time, a small part of it, Avith a proper addition of lime, would produce a far more beneficial effect. But there are unexhausted soils, even in Massachusetts, which lime would greatly benefit ; some heavy, sour, cold and wet, and swampy soils, to which it would be the best manure that could be applied to render them productive. The particular action of lime on soils has been well stated in the first volume of the N. E. Fanner, p. 100. But what is the best kind of lime to be used ? Although all kinds may be beneficial, when properly applied, still all kinds may not be equally so. We know that, in some cases, lime thoroughly air-slaked is better than the caustic, and that old lime plastering is bet- ter than cither. This, of course, depends upon cir- cumstances. On page 275 of the Farmer, vol. i., I see it quoted from an English paper that " the best lime, for agricultural purposes, is that which is light- est, whitest, and softest to the touch ; the jmrest and strongest lime is always the lightest." I am inclined to think that oyster-shell lime is by far the best for agricultural purposes generally. I have never seen an analysis of it, but I have heard it stated from good authority that it contains a much greater percentage of pure lime than the conunon stone lime ; ajlso, that it is very white and very light. It is the opinion of most fruit-growers, I believe, that oyster-shell lime is much the best. If it contains more pure lime, why may it not bo better adapted than any other to render cold and swampy lands pro- ductive ? Oyster-shells in abivndancc may be pro- cured in our cities, where it is usually a bill of expense to get them out of the way. If they could be collected and burned cheaply enough to make them available as manure, (as no doubt they could be, if there was a sufficient demand,) farmers and fruit-growers might be sui)plied with an article wliich they very mucli need, and the place of wliich it is not easy to supply with any other manures. An analy- sis of shell lime would be useful as a starting-point in the investigation of its agricultural value. It is said to contain other ingredients in addition to the lime, which are useful to vegetation. Of the amount 238 NFAV ENGLAND FARMER. or value of these I have as yet no positive informa- tion. I wish to see in the Farmer an article on the value and proper use of oystcr-shcll lime ; and if these remarks shall be abridged, or left out altogeth- er, to make room for it, I will not complain. Kespecifully thine, N. D.vv\ERS, Ith mo. 1, 1S50. For the New Eiigland Farmer. FOWLS. Mr. Cole : The poultry mania still continues to rage ; it has caused considerable excitement and speculation, has been carried on to a great extent, while at the same time it is our humble opinion that there has been " more cry than wool." "Will some one tell us how or in what time will a purchaser who pays from ten to fifteen dollars for a pair of fowls be remunerably compensated ? It is an old adage that " money makes the mare go." So in this case with fowls, at the present time, a few persons have imported a new breed, some, per- haps, of superior size, and, after a considerable " puff- ing and blowing," they have got the " wind up," and thus induced some with whom " tin " is plenty to purchase them at an exorbitant price. What supe- rior qualities are there about the Cochin China fowls, which have been sold at twelve dollars per pair ? Certainly it did not cost near that sum to import them ; and as to the size of their eggs, thej' are no larger than many of our common native breed ; but from the external appearance or color of their eggs, they may be filled with some rich and valuable lucre — who knows ? Again, the size of the Cochin China docs not vary much from that of some native fowls, which may be purchased from a dollar and a half to two dollars per pair. The Shanghae fowls are very large ; but is their difference in size so much more than that of our common fowls as to augment their price from two to fifteen dollars per pair ? We like to see consistency used in all things ; but it seems evident that glitter- ing gold is the chief desire with some persons. Correspondents are considered the bono and sinew of an agricultural paper, because experience is their teacher ; but with them it sometimes happens that "chaff is m.Lxed with the wheat." MIDDLESEX. Winchester, June 27, 1850. For the New England Farmer. GRAFTING CEMENT-ITS APPLICATION. Friend Cole : Having derived much useful infor- mation through the medium of agricultural papers like tlic Farmer, I sometimes venture 'to throw some of my ideas into the public fund ; and if any thing can be gleaned from them of any worth, I shall feel rewarded for any thing I can do. For two years past we have made grafting cement as follows : One pint of linseed oil, five ])ounds of rosin and one of beeswax, which we apply warm with a small painter's brush. It requires much less labor to put it on, and not so much cement is used as when applied cold in the ordinary way. In addi- tion to the saving of time and cement, it is prefera- ble on account of adhering more closely and remain- ing longer. Our success in grafting is better in this way than with clay or cement api^lied as formerly. D. TAI30K. Vassalboro, Cth mo., 1850. For the New England Farmer. g GOOSEBERRIES. Mr. Cole. Sir : I send you some specimens of gooseberries that were grown on new land, in a cold situation, the soil not more than six inches deep ; it has been under-drained, and, in the three years that it has been under cultivation, it has in all never had more than at the rate of four cords of good manure to the acre. Tlie cultivation of all the specimens was alike, and, with the exception of No. 2, grew within a few feet of each other. No. 1 is an English variety, and the best I ever raised. No. 2 is a great bearer, and the bush a thrifty grower ; it was taken from the Avoods five years ago. No. 3 I got, sixteen years ago, in the garden of Richard Harbank, in Newtown, near the Kenrick nurseries ; this bush grows large, is a great bearer, good only for cooking. It is bad to pick on account of thorns. No. 4 was taken from the woods in the fall of 1848, and from many difi'erent bushes, and is no better than hundreds of others in the nursery, where they stand in rows three and a half feet by one foot in the row. I never saw any mildew, on No. 1, before this year, and tliis, I suppose, is owing to the bushes being so thick. No. 5 is one of a different variety, which I brought from the Crawford Place, at the SVhite Mountains ; they are not near as good as the specimens I had last year, and for eating I think are better than any of the others. The bush grows long; it bears well gen- erally ; but there has not been much more than half a crop this year on any kind. This last kind grew on hard, gravelly land, not very favorable for this fruit, and the bushes were more than twice as thick as they should be. Yours, &c., B. F. CUTTER. Pelham, N. II., July 10, 1850. Remarks. — We are much obliged to our friend for his box of gooseberries. The general injury to this fruit of foreign origin, and the remarkably healthy appearance of our native varieties, shows that we must rely on seedlings of our wild goose- berries, or crosses of them with the foreign.- Hough- ton's Seedling is such a cross, and it is doubtless worth more than all the foreign kinds that have been tried in this country. The experiments of Mr. Cutter show, that, by cultivation, our native wild gooseberries may be in- creased in size and production ; and, as to quality, they generally rank much higher than the foreign, being of a finer texture, thinner skin, and of a milder and superior quality. The varieties Nos. 2 and 3, sent to us by Mr. C, appear to be great bearers ; and they are nearly as large as gooseberries generally sold in this market, and of superior texture. We have no doubt that superior varieties of our wild fruit would be profit- able to cultivate for the market. The Wheat of Ohio. — In many parts of the state the wheat liarvcst has commenced, and the promise for an aliundant harvest has never been better. In the south part of the state, much of the crop is already safe. It is too late now to have the crops affected by bliglit. The heads are well filled, and the kernel plump. — Ohio Journal, July 1. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 239 THE TERM OF PERPETUAL CONGELA- TION. As we ascend in the atmosphere, the temperature of the air diminishes with our altitude, by a rate somewhat affected by seasons, hours of the day, &c., but which is generally one degree of Fahrenheit's thennometer for every 343 feet of elevation. This is the average rate, for it is not uniform. Near the earth, the diminution of temperature, as we ascend, is very rajjid ; then again, more gradual ; and again, at very lofty elevations, accelerated. By ascending, therefore, at any latitude, we reach a point where moistiirc is always congealed. This point is of course highest at the equator, and lowest at or near the poles ; and for other latitudes, at intermediate points of elevation. An imaginary line, extending from the equator to the pole, forms the curve of perpetual congelation. In the accompanying diagram, AB represents the height of the term of perpetual con- gelation at the equator, — about three miles, — and the line BC represents the line of latitudes, while AC represents the curve alluded to. 70° .50° iO'^ 30° 20" 10° S CO w It meets the surface of the earth before reaching the pole, as it is well known perpetual frost sur- rounds the poles. In our latitude, the altitude of the term of perpetual congelation is about nine thousand feet. The cirrus cloud, as we have before stated, consists of the frozen vapor above this limit, while the other varieties of clouds float below it. The cause of the intense cold of the upper regions of the atmosphere is not at first view obvious, since the general law respecting heat (or hot air) insures its elevation. The upper portion of air in a room is warmer than the lower strata : and the atmosphere is heated by conduction, coming in contact with the heated earth. It is so transparent that the sun's rays are not absorbed by it, in their passage through it. Another general law, however, is here interposed to prevent the escape of this genial atmosphere, so essential to the e-\istcnce of animated beings. That law is — llarefaction causes a diminution of tena- pcrature — an increased capacity for caloric. Intense cold is produced in the vacuum of an air-pump ! Sir John Ilcrschel has recently proposed a practical application of this principle, — in which, however, he was anticipated by one of our own countrymen, — maintaining a uniform, low temijcrature, in an iso- lated space, as a room, freezing water, &c. The at- mosphere decreases ver%' rapidly in density, as the altitude increases ; the heated air, rising, expands ; this rarefaction causes dimmution of temperature, and hence an equilibrium is soon reached. Local circumstances fre(iucntly modify the application of tins principle. The frost or snow line is not always at the same elevation, in the same latitude, on differ- ent sides of the equator. In Cliili, latitude 41^' south, the lower limit of perpetual snow is six thousand feet. The air is sometimes very mild in elevated districts. Valleys are warmer than level plains of the same altitude, as the hills reflect and radiate heat to them. In Switzerland, spots of verdure may be found in the midst of perpetual snow and ice. The Glacier of Grindenwald, in the canton of Berne, covering twelve hundred square miles, has upon its borders not only trees of hardy growth, but delicate verdure. It is also said, that upon the Ilimalayah mountains, extensive pastures exist in valleys which are fifteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. — Fa in ihj Visitor. TO PRESERVE FLOWERS. Procure a flat dish of porcelain, into which pour water. Place upon it a vase of flowers, and over the vase a boll glass, with its rim in the water. The air that surrounds the flowers, being confined beneath the bell glass, is constantly moist Mith water that rises into it in the form of vapor. As fast as the water becomes condensed, it runs down the side of the bell glass into the dish, and if means be taken to enclose the water on the outside of the bell glass, so as to prevent it evaporating into the air of the sitting- room, the atmosphere around the flowers is continu- ally damp. The plan is designated the " Hopean Apparatus." The experiment may be tried on a small scale, by inverting a tumbler over a rose bud, in a saucer of water. — Selected. PARSNIPS. A correspondent has written to inquire " whether we know, by ouj- own experience, the quality of the parsnip for feeding and fattening pigs." In answer, Ave beg to state that at our farm at Catlands Bing- men, we have been in the habit of employing pars- nips for that purpose, for some time. Upon reference to our books, we find that on the eleventh of Octo- ber, 1S47, we put up two shoats of eleven weeks old, and fed them on skim milk and parsnips, for three months, when they Avcre killed, weighing two hun- dred and thirty-one pounds. They were Avell fat- tened, firm in flesh, and the meat of excellent flavor. The quantity of parsnips consumed by them was nine bushels each. — Sussex {Eiiylish) Express. We have often wondered that no account is made of this valuable root. All the world is alive to the value of the carrot, while this esculent is entirely overlooked. That the parsnip contains more saccha- rine matter than the carrot, or even any of the beets, we are satisfied. A very excellent wine is made of it, which we venture to assert cannot be made from any other of the whole root crop. Its estimation, as an edible for the table, also tells in its favor. And a herd of hogs, turned i)\to a field containing bagas, beets, carrots, and parsnips, would not be long in settling the question which they like the best ; and as they cannot read the Genesee Farmer, and arc not influenced by any of our blundering theories, and trust alone to experience, and that uncrrmg guide, instinct, in the place of reason, we are disposed to give them the credit of being very capable judges — very. — Genesee Farmer. 240 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For tlie Xew England Farmer. HAYING. Mr. CotE : The -weather is fine for haj-ing, and we farmers are iniproving the tunc, as we think, to the best advantiige. The question is often asked, What is the best method to eure hay ? Some think it best to expo.-i'3 it to the sun until it is perfectly dry. I tliink it best to cut and cock it the same day, and cure it in the cock. This is preferable, as it is less work, and the hay is heavier. The crop is unusually large this season, in this vicinity. A rilACflCAL FARMER. Amesbuiiy, July 1-5, 1850. Remarks. — Ilay is better for being put in cocks after partially cured ; and this mode i^rotccts it from the dew. It may be opened to the air a short time, to finish drj-ing. When opened in the usual "way, but a small part of the hay is exposed to the sun, and that only a short time, as the most of it dries from exposure to the air and winds. Hay, like herbs, is injured by much exposure to the sun ; and •when it is nearly dry, it should be raked up imme- diately. The sweet fragrance wafted from the field of drying hay upon the gentle breeze, tells plainly that the fine aroma is given to the winds. FINE TURNIPS. Mr. Samuel Pierce, of Maiden, has for many years generally raised large and fine crops of early tur- nips ; so that he has acquired a high reputation for this crop. This season, he has the largest and finest crop of turnips of any one in this section. We have seen many loads which he has brought to market, and they have been remarkably fiiir and smooth. For daj's and days in succession, he has brought in 500 or 600 bunches, and one day last week he brought in 1000 bunches, which sold, on an av- erage, at 87^ cents per dozen ; a nice little sum for one day's product of a crop that continues long in succession. MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. This association has exhibitions every Saturday, which arc open to the public, without charge, from 12 to 2 o'clock. These shows are very interesting. Of late there have been fine displays of flowers ; and the smaller fruits also make a prominent part of the exhibition. There is usually on the tables a variety of fruits from the hothouse. Those who exhibit fruits should have them arranged by 12 o'clock, and they are requested to let them remain until 2 o'clock. Some years ago the weekly exhibitions of this society were free to the public, but since they have been held at the society's new hall, pay has been re- quired of visitors, until this season. We have ever regarded the rule requiring pay of visitors to the weekly shows as a narrow policy, that would defeat its object, and have an unfavorable influence ; and we are pleased that this rule is abandoned. Throw open the doors to the public weekly, and it will cali in many an exhibitcr, who does not "wish to be charged for going to see an exhibition partially his own, nor beg the privilege of a free pass ; and when comes the annual or semiannual show, there will be a large attendance. T*he public will be liberal in return CHARCOAL FOR ROADS. We had an opportunity last week of passing over a portion of the charcoal road between this place and Oconomowoc. The road is now being built by chopping the wood four feet in length, and stacking it in the centre of the road bed, to the width of about six feet. It is then covered with dirt and straw, and fired in the usual manner. At first, the timber was cut into log- ging lengths, rolled and piled in the centre of the road. This manner of operation has not proved sat- isfactory, the larger timber not charring with suffi- cient facility to produce the necessary quantity of coal, and has therefore been abandoned for the mode of operations above mentioned. It is found that three cords of wood to the rod is sufficient to cover the road to the requisite thickness. After the wood is well charred, the pit is opened, and the coal is raked towards the sides of the road, leaving it eighteen inches in the centre, and twelve at the sides. The road thus formed soon settles into a compact bed. The piece of finished road that we saw had not been travelled much, but it was hard and solid, and left little impression of hoof-raarks. The recent rains have had a tendency to increase its compactness, while it is left entirely dry. If these roads wear as well as we have every reason to ex- pect, in our opinion, coal will prove to be the best material known for the construction of substantial and durable roads. The contractor has nearly suffi- cient wood cut for the completion of three miles, and calculates to have it all ready for burning by the first of July. — Watertown Reyister. Wheat. — The Rochester (N. Y.) Daily American is informed by Mr. John Park, of Gates, that the heads of wheat this year contain about twenty-five per cent, more kernels than the usual average. GREAT YIELD OF HAY. One of the handsomest residences, with one of the best, if not the best mowing lot in this state con- nected with it, is owned by H. W. Clapp, Esq., of this town. It is at the east end of Main Street, fronting on Main, Franklin, Church, and High Streets. It was accurately surveyed in 181-5, by Osias Roberts, Esq., and found to contain eight acrc^ and one hundred and fourteen rods. The buildings, ])leasure grounds, and garden, occupy one acre and fourteen rods, leaving in the mowing lot seven acres and one hundred rods. On Monday last, Mr, Clapp, with a large number of men, commenced cutting the grass on the mowing lot, and cut and housed it all last week, in beautiful order. On weighing the hay, the product of the seven acres and one hundred rods was found to be, tweiitiz-nine tons, Jour hundred and iiinetij-seven pounds ; or over four tons to the acre. If there is another lot in the state that will produce the same amount of hay, we should like to hear of it. The hay was all of the best quality. — Green- field Gazette and Courier. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 241 SUMATRA GAME FOWLS. For the New Etigland Farmer. Mr. Cole : Herewith you have the portraits of the above-named fowls, engraved, by Mr. S. E. Brown, No. 50 Cornhill, from a drawing made by him of a pair in possession of Mr. John Fusscll, Jamaica Plain, Mass. The progenitors of this race of fowls wore, several years since, brought from the Island of Sumatra. The utmost care has been used to prevent the possi- bility of a cross in this stock. This breed of game fowls is, in my opinion, equal, if not superior, to anj' other in the New England States. The hens are good sitters and nurses, and, for the size of the fowls, produce large eggs. The cocks have a brilliant plumage, and the hackles on the neck are very long and full-feathered, making a "perfect shawl." The body is round and plump; the neck is long and powerful ; the breast full ; the wings are long, and cover the thighs. The beak is hooked and stout. The thighs are large and sinewy, and well set to the body ; the legs are dark-colored and long ; and the claws are strong, and, with the legs, exhibit great muscular power. The belly is compact, so as not to interfere with the agility of the fowls, which they possess to a remarkable degree. The tail is very long, and by its beauty adds much to the appearance of these birds. The chickens are easily reared, and bear the climate of New England as well as those produced by any other stock. The ficsli of the game fowl is considered by all per- sons who have eaten it as equal, if not superior, to that of other breeds, and, for the size of the fowl, there is less ofl'al than in any other. For the incubation of eggs of rare and valuable breeds of fowls, game hens are to be preferred to all others. Amateurs and fanciers will lind it much to their advantage to employ game hens as incubators of the eggs of the ditfcrent breeds of Bantam fowls, as they are not so heavy or so clumsy as to break the eggs, and at the same time are most careful mothers, rarely or never injuring their chicks by their impetuosity, as hens of other breeds sometimes do. Game hens will most fearlessly attack cats and dogs in defence of their chicks ; and I have known in- stances where full-grown rats have been killed by them. Many persons are deterred from keeping game fowls by the reputation the cocks have acquired, un- justly I think, of being quarrelsome. The true bred game cock is not, my experience teaches me, quarrel- some or vindictive. He resents the interference of any cock with his vested rights and privileges, and requires an instantaneous apology for an insult, and, if his antagonist demurs, a battle is commenced with- out the least delay. If the opposing cock retreats, the true game does not follow, but with a loud, ex- ulting, and derisive crow expresses his triumph ; but when game meets game, death to one or both is inev- itable, as true game " never retreats." This often occurs at the first flirt. I have known an instance where both cocks were instantly killed by a " brain stroke." For the rearing of chickens a constant and regular supply of small grains is required. The best kind is wheat, being preferable to barley or buckwheat. Indian corn, of course, is not to be used, on account of its great size. I do not approve of giving to chicks any moist food, particularly Indian meal, as it will ferment in a short time and become sour. Chicks should not be compelled to fast. Their crops are small, and the power of digestion is so great that, if the food is not constantly within their reach, they arc soon exhausted by the growth of feathers and bone, lose their strength, and death is the result. I have used the " screenings " of wheat for feeding chicks, and find them quite as good as wheat, although cost- ing much less. AN'heat screenings of superior qual- ity can be procured of P^arle & Thornton, No. 1 Kail- road Avenue, Commercial Street. Yours, &e. S. BRADFORD MORSE, Jr. To DESTROY Blue Flag. — A correspondent, of Pawtuckct, R. I., in reply to an inquiry as to the best method of killing blue flag, recommends covor- i:ig the flag four to si.x inches deep in common sand; then add a small quantity of manure mixed with loam. The grass will increase, and the flags disap- pear. 242 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Drpartmcnt. CHEESE MAKING. I milk four cows and make two curds, I run the milk v\p as soon as it is milked, and put just rennet enough to fetch the milk ; if there is too much it is apt to give the cheese a bad- taste. Let the milk stand one hour after it has come to curd, and then cross it oft' about an inch and a hall" square, and let it stand until it begins to settle ; then dip it into a cloth to drain, and stir the cloth once in a while till it is quite dry ; then slice it into scalding water, and let it stand until it is quite cool ; then I keep it in cold water till the next day, Avhen I make my cheese. Then put it into Avarm water till warmed through, then let both the curds get almost cold before break- ing. I break it Mith my hands quite tine, and squeeze it as drj' as I. can with my hands before putting it into the hoop. Then press with very little weight for three hours, then turn and put on more weight. Let it press till the next morning, then turn it into a dry clotli, and rub it well with salt, and put on all the weight I can. Turn it again at night, and rub with salt, and press till the next morning. Take it from the press and rub it with pork fat, and set it in a cool place to dry. I use a teacup full of ground rock salt for a peck of cheese. MARY M. MACOMBER, Hansoti. The milk is set warm from the cow, and when turned to curd and slowly and thoroughly drained, sliced into water as warm as you can bear your hand in it. When cold it is placed in a cloth for draining, and drenched with cold water; and when well drained, placed in an earthen vessel of cold water in the cellar till the next day, when another curd is made in the same way, which, while scalding the first, is laid in upon it, Avhen both are drained off to- gether, and drenched as before. When dry, it is made tine and the salt well stirred in, and to twenty- live pounds of cheese add five ounces of salt, and it is ready for jiressing. When it has pressed twenty- four hours, it is taken out and covered Avith thin cloth, snugly sewed at the edges, and put back for another day's pressing ; when done, it is rubbed over with lard or tish butter, and turned daily till ripe. The cloth protects it from the flies and mould, stays it while the rind is tender, and prevents it from stick- ing to the shelf; and it is not a quarter the work to tend cheese made in this way as without covering. A free use of cold water in drenching the curd, re- moves all wheycy substances, which tend to rancid- ity, and much less salt is necessary ; consequently the cheese is softer, especially when lightly scalded. ELIZABETH HAYWAllD, Flympton. My method of making cheese is as follows : I strain my night's milk into a tin kettle, which I use to warm it in. In the morning I take oft" the cream that rises during the night, and add warm milk to it, stirring until it mixes. I then put it into the kettle, and while warming, stir it all together until it is as warm as when first milked from the cow. I tlicn put in my morning's milk, and a sufticicnt quantity of ren- net to curdle the milk in a short time. After sepa- rating the curd from the whey, I hang it in a cool j)lace till the next day. I then j^ut warm whey to it, and let it remain until I have scalded my second curd ; I then put it together, and drain it till it is quite cool before I chop and salt it. I use ground rock salt. ANNIE W. WOOD, Bridgeicater. — riymoulh Co, Ar/ricuUural Transactions. Why Women are unhealthy. —Many of the physical evils — the want of vigor, the inaction of the system, the languor and hysterical aft"ections — which are so prevalent among the delicate young women of the present day, may be traced to a want of well- trained mental power and wcU-excrciscd self-control, and to an absence of fixed habits of employment. Ileal cultivation of the intellect — earnest exercise of th? moral powers — the enlargement of the mind by the acquirement of knowledge, and the strengthen- ing of its ca])abilities for cff"ort, for firmness, for en- durance of inevitable evils, and for energy in com- bating such as they may overcome, are the ends which education has to attain ; else weakness but be- comes inftrmity. The power of the mind over the body is immense. Let that power be called forth ; let it be trained and exercised, and vigor both of mind and of'body will be the result. There is a homely, unpolished saying, that it is better to Avcar out than to rust out ; rust consumes faster than use. Better, a million times better, to work hard even to the shortening of existence, than to sleep and eat away this precious gift of life, giving no other cogni- zance of its possession. By work or industry, of whatever kind it may be, we give a practical kiiiowl- edge of the value of life, of its high intentions, of its manifold duties. Earnest, active industry is a living hymn of praise, a never-failing source of happiness ; it is obedience, for it is God's great law for moral existence. — The Physical TrainiiKj of Girls at School, by Madam de Wah, l)outi/0 Department. Counsels foii the Young. — Never be cast down by trifles. If a spider break his thread twenty times, twenty times will he mend it again. Make up your minds to do a thing, and you will do it. Fear not, if a trouble comes uj^on you ; keep up your spirits, though the day be a dark one. Mind what you run after ! Never be content with a bubble that will burst, or firewood that will end in smoke and darkness. Get that which you can keep, and which is worth keeping. Fight hard against a hasty temper. Anger will come, but resist it strongly. A spark may set a house on fire. A fit of passion may give you cause to mourn all the days of your life. Never revenge an injury. If you have an enemy, act kindly to him, and make him your friend. You may not win him over at once, but try again. Let one kindness be fol- lowed by another, till you have compassed your end. By little and little, great things are completed ; and so repeated kindness will soften the heart of stone. Whatever you do, do it willingly. A boy that is whipped to school never learns his lessons well. A man that is compelled to work, cares not how badly it is performed. He that pulls oft' his coat cheerfully, strips up his sleeves in earnest, and sings while he works, is the man for me. Evil thoughts are worse enemies than lions and tigers ; for we can keep out of the way of wild beasts, but bad thoughts win their way every where. The cup that is full will hold no more ; keep your heads and hearts full of good thoughts, that bad thoughts may find no room to enter. — Selected. A good fai-mcr is generally a true friend, an affec- tionate husband, an excellent parent, and an honest man ; and it is an established axiom that a well-tilled field denotes not only care (ind industry, but the su- pervision of an enlightened mind. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 243 ^caltl) Department. Importaxce of Flannel. — The following ex- tract, from Robertson, on Diet and Regimen, should not be overlooked by emigrants to California : — •' Sir George Ballingal, in his lectures on military surgery, adduces the testimony of Sir James Maerigor to the statement that, in the Peninsula, the best clothed regiments were generally the most healthy ; adding that, when in India, he witnessed a remarka- ble proof of the usefulness of flannel in checking the most aggravated form of dysentery, in the second battalion of the Royals. Capt. Murray told Dr. Combe that he was strongly impressed, from former experi- ence, ■with a sense of efficacy of the protection afforded by the constant use of flannel next the skin ; that ■when, on his arrival in England in December, 1823, af- ter two years' service amid icebergs on the coast of Labrador, and the ship was ordered to saQ immediately for the West Lidies, he ordered the purser to draw two flannel shirts and pairs of drawers for each man, and instituted a regular daily inspection, to see that they ■were worn. The precautions were attended with the happiest results. He proceeded to his station with a crew of one hundred and flfty men ; visited almost every island in the West Indies, and many of the ports of the Gulf of Mexico ; and notwithstanding the sudden transition from extreme climates, returned to England without the loss of a single man, or hav- ing any sick on board on his arrival. It would be going too far to ascribe this excellent state of health solely to the use of flannel, but there can be little doubt that the latter was an important clement in Capt. Murray's success." ilTccIjauics' ?Ilepartinent, ;7lrt0, ^r. Sun-dried Brick Houses. — A correspondent of the Artisan thus describes the construction of a house of this description recently erected in Smithtown, Long Island : — The house that I have erected, I can assure you, is most substantial and warm. The walls are nine inches thick. The material of which they are built is rather novel to many, as they are built of unburnt brick, nine by twelve inches, and five inches thick. They •were formed in moulds ; the earth of which they ■were made, was dug from my cellar and foundations. The earth thus dug up, after being properly tem- pered, was put into strong moulds, and then pressed ■with a powerful lever press, and then turned off into the sun to dry. They are called pics, or sun-dried brick. My main building is twenty-three by twenty-six feet, and twelve feet high. The kitchen is sixteen by twenty-three feet, and nine feet high. The heiglit here set down is taken from the top of the first tier of beams. I dug my foundations two feet deep, and rammed the bottom, then filled in, and rammed, as I filled in, cobble stones the size of a walnut, or less, until the trench was full. Then I built hard- burned brick, one foot high, on which I laid my first tier of beams, and tlicre commenced my pics wall. It took about five thousand pies of sun-dried bricks to build the said house. Had I commenced to build earlier in the season, I should have made all my partition ■walls of the same material ; but as it was, my di- viding walls I have made in the usual manner. I finished the outside first with a scratch coat of lime and sand, over which I put a light coat of cement, which makes the walls impervious to water or damp. I plastered upon the wall, inside and out, without lathing. The plaster sets remarkably quick and hard. The whole expense of mason work, from foundation to garret, for laying up the walls, building \\]y a cellar six feet in diameter, and three stacks of chimneys, lathing and plastering inside and out, was seventy dollars. There arc ten rooms. I could now make brick enough for such a house for, I think, thirty- Jive or forty dollars. The question will, no doubt, be, as it has been already often asked. Will it stand the frost r Last fall I could only say wo will see ; but now I say, if it stood through la*t winter like a rock in the sea, against which the waves have been lash- ing for ages without effect, so I say of my walls ; if the hard, pelting rains of the past winter, and which were often succeeded by hard frosts, did not affect my house, I think I can risk it in perfect safety for all time to come. It will easily be perceived, by what I have written, that there is a great economy in building walls with this material. J. EISIIEii. Smithtown, April, 1850. Glass W^yter Pipes. — We are glad to know that glass tubes are now coming into a very general use for conveying water. Mr. Wm. T. De Golyer, of Sche- nectady, N. Y., has a patent for making tubes of such a form as to couple different lengths together, and form glass conductors for water, of any length. About 1000 rods of glass pipes of different diameters have already been laid down, and Mr. John Matthews, of First Avenue, this city, has tested tlie strength of a pipe one and one quarter inch in diameter, made at the Albany Glass Works, (Mr. ilaycr, 139 Front Street, New York, is agent,) aiul found it capable of standing a pressure of two hundred pounds to the square inch, or a column of water four hundred and fifty feet high. Mr. Wilson, of Hastings, a few miles out of the city, has connected these glass tubes with an hydraulic ram, to stand a pressure of eighty feet high. After the joints were cemented only four days, the water was let on, and the joints were found per- fectly tight. It is well known that glass is anti-cor- rosive, and resists all action of the elements of air and every kind of water : it is therefore indestructi- ble, and when kept from the action of frost, it may be considered as enduring as the everlasting hills By them water is conveyed in all its purity from the fountain, as the interior is too smooth to allow any weeds or vegetable formations to adhere to it. We do not know the price for laying down difterent sizes of pipe, (although they are very cheap,) but Mr. De Golyer or Mr. Mayer will no doubt promptly furnish all necessary information on the sul)ject, if letters are addressed to them, post paid. — iiciuntijic American. GRASS LANDS. -THE ADVANTAGES OF RE-SEEDING. The difFerencc between crops of grass on old mead- ows and pastures, and those which have been lately seeded, is so obvious as to attract the attention not only of every farmer, but of every person wlio has an opportunity of nuiking the conqjurison. This difference may not be quite so apparent this year in New York, where there have been abundant rains, and where report says that grass looks finely ; but in the west, where we have been travelling for several weeks past, there has been abundant opportunity to make tlie comparison between the two systems. The severe and protracted drought, whicli lias lor several weeks prevailed every where in tlie west, from Buf- falo to the Mississippi River, (which has now fortu- nately been relieved by abundant rains,) has been a severe trial to the old meadow.s and pastures, many 24i NEW ENGLAND FARMER. of which will in consequence produce very limited crops. This is ever the case in dry seasons, except perhaps on peculiar soils or meadows subject to the overtlow of streams. IIow different tlio case with newlj'-secded fields, and especially where plenty of clover has been sown ! The vigor of the growing crops, the deep green color which it presents, even in the most trying seasons, and especially the abundant yield which it affords, are all convincing proofs of the benefits to be derived from the frequent breaking up and re-seeding of grass lands. "We are aware that there is much diversity of opinion among fanners, as to how far this practice should be carried, and on what soils it is to be prac- tised ; but we think that those who have looked care- fully to the x>rodiict of old and newly seeded fields for a term of years, will agree with us that it is far too frequently neglected. Some soils, such as river bottoms and lands subject to overflow, and possibly others, under peculiar cir- cumstances may profitably remain permanently in grass. "With those who advocate such a practice we are not disposed to debate the question. They are frequently, though perhaps not always, right. Other lands, well adapted to grass, if well seeded, may prof- itably be suffered to remain many years without dis- turbing the sod, especially if care is taken to give them an occasional top-dressing Avith manure — ash- es, plaster, or some other fertilizer. The practice is more admissible if the soil, as is often the case, is hard to cultivate, stony, and difficult to secure an even surface by the removal of stones, &c. In such cases perhaps a slight diminution of crop, or an in- creased outlay for manure, can be submitted to, rather than go to the trouble and expense of break- ing and re-seeding. We doubt, however, whether the practice has not obtained of continuing even such lands too long in grass. Another class of lands well adapted to grass, but at the same time easy of tillage, are frequently con- tinued in meadow or pasture long after they have ceased to produce a bountiful crop, and when the owner's interest would be much better consulted by a judicious rotation. As a general rule, lands which, at first seeding, will produce two tons of hay per acre, degenerate in a few years to half that quan- tity — when, by breaking up and taking off one hoed crop, and one of small grains, both of which will af- ford a profit, the land may be seeded anew and pro- duce as well as at first. The occupant of such lands is too apt to have a short supply of both straw and grain, and especially of roots, for his stock, when the course we have recommended would afford him just the supply he needs, and enable him to keep far more stock, even were his grass crop no better, which we are not at all prepared to admit. But the lands which suffer most for want of fre- •qucnt breaking up and re-seeding, are the dry, grav- elly, or sandy soils, which, although they produce good crops of grass for two or three years when first seeded, soon " run out," and cease to give that boun- tiful return which a judicious system may secure. Such lands are generally well suited to the grow'ing of grain of some kind, and frequently peculiarly cal- culated for a rotation of the various crops in con- nection with clover and timothy. It is this class of soils which demands the adoption of the system of rotation which wo have suggested, and which is now so successfully practised by many farmers in all sec- tions of the country. A rotation embracing four or six crops, of which two or three shall be grain and three or four grass, will secure at all times good grass crops, and at the same time enable the soil to recover from the exhaustion of the grain crops before it is again appropriated to such purposes. We will not now submit any plan of rotation, but every farmer Can judge for himself what system is best suited to his soil and circumstances. Our object will have been gained, if we succeed in fixing the subject in the minds of those farmers whose grass crops are this year suffering so severely, and induce them to look for the remedy, in future, to a more systematic and well-digested rotation of crops, and especially to the proper seeding down to grass of their lands in- tended for that crop. The quantity and kind of seed is a subject of importance, and one which may well afford a text for a separate article. — Rural Xeic- Yorker. ON THE DIGNITY OF LABOR. {From a Sjjcech of the Bishop of Oxford, at ike West- minster Meeting in Aid of the Exhibition of the Works of Industrt/ of all Nations, to be held in 1851.) I believe that the tendency of this exhibition is to benefit the working classes. I am not one of those who have any secret misgivings as to there existing any intestine warfare between Christianity and sci- ence or manufactures. I know that there are men upon whose excellence it would be needless for me to enlarge who do entertain such apprehensions. In the quiet of their learned study, conversing with times that are gone by, they are startled by the din of the busy age, as it rises through their windoM'S. They listen with apprehension and dislike to the voice of the age in which their lot has been cast, and they call it a mechanical age, and find with it other such like faults. Now, I do not sympathize with their opinions. I deny, and hold it as unworthy of Christianity to suppose, that there can be any oppo- sition whatever between the fullest development of those faculties with which Almighty God has fur- nished man, and that Christian faith which is to train those faculties to their highest ends. When from these abstract considerations I turn to the actual world around me, and survey these mechanical inven- tions, I see in many instances beneficence marking these very mechanical improvements, and they have a direct tendency to ameliorate the condition of the lower classes of the people, and to brmg within their reach advantages which were before restricted to the richer grades of society. And then, moreover, whefiier we regard the results of mechanical science or the products of art, I think we shall be convinced that there is a connection between perfection in these and the faith of Christianity. As an historical fact, it is plain that there never was a country or a time which could long maintain preeminence in art or science divorced from Christianity. I believe that the history of all countries will show this. Look for a moment at the Chinese. We find that nation, so eminently gifted with those special facul- ties which would naturally make them superior in all the mimetic arts, in a state of perpetual stagnation, having lost even the power of using the inventions of former ages. And this is so because they want the spring which Christianity alone can give to set all their faculties in exercise, and to develop them to their highest standard of perfection. I think it, therefore, my part, holding the place which I do in the Christian church, to come forward, not with any secret misgivings ; not with any cold, injurious doubts or hesitations ; but heartily, and I may say, rejoicing- ly, not in spite of my Christianity, to aid according to my powers in the development of science and the mechanical arts. This it is my firm belief that it is my duty to do, and I feel that I am on my right ground when I stand here and address these observations to you. But I feel, moreover, that it is possible a na- tion may be too much occupied with the works of art, and Avith the triumphs of science ; and that in attending too exclusively to these, it may lose that eternal llow of life, without which all external devel- I NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 245 opmcnts are worse than useless. I see, or think I see, that the proper attribute of Christianity, and of a Christian teacher, is, that they should mingle in works like these; and that, in doing so, they should try to call attention to the wants and the necessities of the producers of these works, and to remind the' nation that, after all, man is greater than his works, and the workman superior to his fabric. So this ex- hibition calls attention to the dignity of labor ; it sets forth in its true light the dignity of the working classes ; and it tends to make the other people feel the dignity which attaches to the producers of these things. THE ENGLISH RACE-HORSE. The English race-horse boasts of a piire descent from the Arabian, and under whatever denomination the original stock of our thorough-bred horses have been imported, namely, as Turks, Barbs, or royal mares, there can be no doubt they were selected by the patrons of the turf, and by their agents, during the reigns of James I., the two Charleses, James II., and the commonwealth ; and whether they were brought from Barbary, Turkey, or the continent of Europe, they were considered as the triie sons and daughters of the desert. The first Arabian ever seen in England was imported by Mr. Markham, in the reign of James I., and the first foreign mares of any note were brought over by the agents of Charles II., under the denomination of royal mares. The change of climate, the pasture, and extreme care and atten- tion in breeding by the best stallions, (and never for- getting the maxim that " From the brave descend the brave,") have wonderfully increased their size, their strength, and their powers of endurance ; and it is generally believed, bj'' the most learned men of the turf, that a first-class English ^race-horse would give eighty-four pounds to the best Arabian which can be found, for any distance under ten miles. In 1828, a match was made at Calcutta between the English horse Kccruit, carrying one hundred and forty-eight pounds, and the best Arab at the time in India, Pyr- amus, carrying one hundred and fifteen pounds, two miles. Piccruit had been a very short time in India, and had tender feet, which disabled him from taking strong work, notwithstanding which, he won in a trot. The clearest proof of the improvement which has taken place in the English race-horse, is the fact tliat no first nor second cross from the imported Arab, with the exception of the produce of one mare by the "SVellesley Arabian, (Fair Ellen,) is good enough to win a fifty-pound plate in the present day ; where- as, in 17iO, our best horses were the second' and third crosses from the original stock ; and we have no rea- son to assume that the Arabian horse of ISoO has degenerated from his ancestor of 1730. • The most distinguished progenitors of the English race-horse are the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, Curwen's bay Barb, and the Godolphin Arabian ; and no horse of any eminence has appeared in England, in the last hundred years, which does not inherit their blood. Of the two former, we know very little ; they were the sires of Basto, and of Flying Childcrs ; but the blood of the Godolphin Arabian is in every great stable in England. He was a thick-necked, heavy-shoiddcred, over-topped horse, without ap- parently a single good point adapted to racing qualifications. Goldfindcr and Eclipse, both foaled in 17G4, were considered the most extraordinary horses in the last century — Sir C. Bunbury always asserted that Goldfindcr was the best horse. The celebrity of Eclipse, as a stallion, has contributed to his fame far more than his public running, which only lusted two years. Horses of this era were rarely put into traming before they were three years old ; some never appeared until they were five years old ; and all the great matches and sweepstakes were made for long distances, four, six, and eight miles, ^lany writers have, therefore, inaagined that the horses, in olden times, were more adapted to stay a distance, than our present bi-ecds ; but it does not follow, because it was the fashion to run long dis- tances in 1750, that the horses of that day had great- er powers of endurance. Heavy weights and long courses were in vogue, because it Avas the custom for owners and amateurs to ride in the last half mile with the leading horses ; a feat not very difficult of attainment, considering that the race-horses had run four miles before they joined the party. Our expe- rience teaches us that the first cross from the Arab frequently show speed ; but there are verj' few in- stances of the first or second cross which can run be- yond the distance of one mile in good company. I, therefore, suspect that the form of the best race- horse of 1750 is inferior to that of a common plater of the present day. It is computed that there are upwards of two hun- dred thorough-bred stallions, and one thousand one hundred brood mares, which produce about eight hundred and thirty foals annually ; of these are generally three in the first class of race-horses, seven in second class ; and they descend gradually in the scale to the amount of four himdred and eighty, one half of Avhich never catch the judge's eye ; the re- mainder are either not trained or are found unworthy at an early period. lleferring again to shape and condition, a good judge may be deceived as to the individual condition of a particular horse. There arc horses which run best apparently lustj', and others are only up to the mark when they carry no flesh, and Avith very slight muscular developments. There are very few horses which require the same work, the same food, and the same physic. Thick-Avinded horses, Avith strong constitutions, may be SAveated every fivO days during their preparation, and Avill take three times as much Avork as some delicate mares and geldings, of AA'hich there are many that never Avant a SAveat. One horse cannot gallop Avhen the ground is deep ; another, with thin feet, cannot move if the ground is hard ; and a heavy fall of rain Avill upset scientific calculations. Mares seldom run in their best form before the month of August ; and geldings are considered to be best in the spring. — lioic-s. SEX OF EGGS. During the last summer, says a correspondent of the Plough, Loom, and .^Vnvil, I Avanted to raise a stock of poultry from a favorite hen and cock. They Avcre of the black- breasted red game breed. The cock Avas purely bred, but the hen Avas a little crossed. The eggs she laid Avcre of a deep buff" color, and as she was the only hen I had Avhich laid yelloAV eggs, they Avero easily collected. When I hixd tAventy-six eggs, I put thirteen of the largest under a brood hen to be hatched; one egg got broken, and the other twelve had chickens in them ; one, however, died in the shell, and so the number Avas reduced to eleA'on. Of these, one died before I could ascertain its sex ; of the ten remaining, eight Avere cocks and tAvo Avere pullets. The thirteen smaller eggs I also put under a brood hen, and she liatched me ten chickens. Of these, eight Avere pullets and two Averc cocks. There is no ditrcrence in the shape of the eggs laid by the same hen ; in size they vary but little. I observe this peculiarity, that although the hen had vcUoav legs and the cock bhuk, yet, through- out four broods, Avhich I liave ha'l from the same lien and cock this summer, every yclloAV-legged chicken has proved a cock, an.d every black-lcggeii one a pullet. 246 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. MEDICINAL QUALITIES OF THE GRAPE. The New York Commercial, in an article on the grape, says this fruit is one of the best and most ■wholesome medicines. This affords an additional in- ducement for the culture of this popular fruit. The CommcrL'ial says, — " In the vineyard districts of France, Spain, and other vine-growing countries, the medicinal proper- ties of the grape are well known and highly prized. The free use of this fruit, as we are advised, has a most salutary effect upon the animal system, diluting the blood, removing obstructions in the liver, kid- neys, spleen, and other important organs, giving a healthy tone and vigor to the circulation, and gener- ally augmenting the strength of the entire animal economy. In diseases of the liver, and especially in that monster compound affliction, dyspepsia, the sal- utary and potent influence of a ' grape diet ' is well known in France. The inhabitants of the vincj'ard districts are never afflicted with these diseases ; which fact, however, alone would not be conclusive evidence of the medicinal qualities of the fruit of which they freely partake, since peasant life is rarely marred with this class of ailments ; but hundreds who are thus afflicted yearly, resort to the vineyard districts for what is known as the ' grape cure,' and the result proves to be a cure, except in very long, protracted, and inveterate cases, which are beyond the reach of medicinal remedies. The invigorating influence of the ripe grape, freely eaten, upon the feeble and de- bilitated, is very apparent, supplj'ing ^'igor and the rose hue of health in the stead of weakness and pal- lor, and this by its diluting projierty, which enables the blood to circulate in the remoter vessels of the skin, which before received only the serous or watery particles. " In these remarks, however, we must be under- stood as sj)eaking of the fruit when perfectly ripe. Unripe grapes, like all unripe fruits, are detrimental to health, and derange the digestive organs, and those depending upon, and sympathizing with them." IMPROVEMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Few arc aware how susceptible of improvement is the living machinery which elaborates milk for nearly every family in the Union. There is a reliable ac- count in this report, of a dairy of forty-one cows kept in the state of New York, which yields sixty- two dollars in butter, cheese, and milk, as the prod- uct of each cow a year. From the returns of the last state census, it is safe to say that 1,100,000 cows are noAV milked in that state, which arc supposed to yield about twenty dollars per head. To imj^rove these up to an average annual product of thirty-one dollars each, (that is, to one half what the best large dairies in the country now yield,) would add $12,100,000 to the income of the citizens of a single state. This gain by the improvement of one kind of rural machinery would be equivalent to creating a capital of $'200,()00,000, and placing the money M'here it woiild yield over six per cent, interest in perpetu- ity. If the thirty millions of sheep in the TTnited States gave as good returns in wool for the food con- sumed as the best 100,000 now do, it would add at least 00,000,000 pounds to the annual clip of this important staple. In one of his letters to Sir John Sinclair, General Washington saj's, in substance, " that at the time he entered the public service in the war of the revolu- tion, his Hock (about 1000) clipped five pounds of wool per liccce. Seven years after, when he returned to his estate, his flock had so degenerated that it gave an average of only two and a half pounds per head, which was the common yield of Virginia sheep then, as it is now." Although the numerous importations of superior sheep, cattle, horses, and swine, have greatly benefit- ed the country, it must be admitted that much has been lost by suffering improved animals to deterio- rate. Every wool-grower should ponder well this fact. If two and a half pounds of wool will pay the whole cost of keeping a sheep a year, five pounds will pay one hundred per cent, profit on that cost. Washington was eminently a "book-farmer," and was anxious to gain knowledge from the educated agriculturists of Europe and his own country. His overseer believed in kccj)ing sheep as his father did, and was opposed to all innovations in hTisbandrj% There are now not far from 6,000,000 horses and mules in the United States ; and it is not too much to say that, in a few generations, these animals may be improved full thirty dollars a head, on an average. If so, the gain by this increase of muscular power, and its greater durability, will be $180,000,000. K we study critically the machinery for converting grass, roots, and grain, into beef and pork, the differ- ence is found to be still more striking. If the facts relating to this subject were spread before the peo- ple, great improvement would soon follow, and all classes share equally in the profits of more produc- tive labor. — Patent Office Report for 1849. ATTACHMENT TO A PLOUGH FOR TURN- ING UNDER GREEN CROPS, &,c. I will describe to you a fixture which I use for turning imder clover, peas, weeds, &c., which I think preferable to a roller or an ox-chain attached to a swingletree. Saw off a block from some hard, dura- ble, and heavy wood, say about ten inches long, and three and a half or four inches in diameter; then take a piece of trace-chain, about three feet long, confine one end to the block by driving a small sta- ple in the end, having first passed the staple through an end link of the chain. Point the other end of the block, and attach a larger chain in the same manner to that. Tie the short chain (attached to the square end of the block) to the rod which passes through the mould-board and beam of the plough, by wrap- ping it around (the beam) at that place ; drop the block in the bottom of a furrow which has been al- ready opened, (of course on the mould-board side,) draw up the long chain, and attach that to the clevis pin or clevis ; be sure that you have both chains just tight enough to permit the block to lie in the furrow below ; allow no slack. The short chain gath- ers the clover, weeds, &c., and bends them down ; the weight of the block prevents the chain from rising, and the plough laps the dirt over the weeds, whilst they are in a recumbent position. I am this day turn- ing under weeds as high as the heads of the plough- men, which are almost wholly concealed. II. Nansemond County, Va. — American Farmer. Medicine for Horses. — Many seem to imagine that the constitution, physiology, and diseases of the horse are different from those of man and other ani- mals. This is a mistake. The common diseases of the horse are similar to those of men ; and the same medicines, in those diseases, are as tiscful to one as to the other. Some writer states that the doses should be from eight to twelve times larger when the horse is the patient. The anatomical structure of the stomach is such as to forbid his vomiting, so that an emetic should never be given. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 247 EARLY-BEARING FRUIT-TREES. Friend Hoi.mks : How soon ought a tree, of suit- able size for setting, to produce fruit, under ordinary circumstances ? This is a question often asked, but vague and ditficult to answer; still, it may be some- what moditied by the following conditions : — 1. Varieties. — It is well known that certain varie- ties of the apple, pear, plum, and cherry are dwarf- ish by nature, bear abundantly while quite young, and consequently they are rather short lived, but well calculated to satisfy Yankw impatience. 2. Artificial Mean^s. — Trees which are naturally of coarse growth and lofty habits are often broiight early into a bearing state, by bending the branches so as to compress the sap vessels, and prevent rapid growth, girdling, &c., or any method to check the descending sap, and cause the formation of fruit buds. 3. By assisting Nature. — Trees are endowed by nature with the necessary organs of fructification, and man can do much to aid in developing those organs, by furnishing them with sufficient nourish- ment, containing the specific food, or the elements of the tree and its fruit — by judicious pruning and training, so as to form low and open tops, and strong, vigorous branches. Where there is a disposition for a long and slender growth, the heading-down or shortening-in system is admirably calculated to in- duce fruitfulness. If trees are in a vigorous condition, well trained and well set, three years from the graft or bud, they ought to produce fruit in from three to live years after setting. It is re(iuiring too much to expect a young tree to produce a full crop of fruit, and at the same time to make rapid growth, soon after setting. We must dispense with one, and, if we look to the real value of the tree, it will be the former. To those who have fruit on trees which were set last spring, I would say, Be sure and pick it off, or at k-dst the most of it, if you look for future profit. A few days since, I observed an apple-tree, set last spring, with seventy apples growing on it. I imme- diately picked one half; the remainder would be quite too many to remain, under ordinary' circum- stances ; but the tree was well set and mulched, and it is now making a fine growth. We once had a small pear-tree, about four years from the graft, which set a very full crop of fruit, and viewing it with feelings somewhat allied to those of the parents of a precocious youth, who pnide themselves with the idea of astonishing their neigh- bors with an enfant prodige, we sufi'crcd it to rally its whole physical strength in ripening the crop ; but it was too much for vegetable nature to endure. It lingered a year or two, and then died. SIGMA. Vassalboro'. — Maine Farmer. ON THE GOOD EFFECTS OF MULCHING. It seems to me, that when any one has found a practice in horticulture not generally known to be of great value, he owes it to his neighbors and fellow- laborers in the cause to make it public. I tried the value of mulching — i. e., covering the soil over the roots of trees with straw, litter, sea- weed, or whatever else may be most convenient for retaining the moisture, keeping the earth cool, and preserving a uniform temperature — pretty exten- sively last year. I not only mulched newly-trans- planted trees, but garden vegetables, egg plants, okra, &c. Encouraged by the good results, I covered the ground under melons with straw ; and this year I am trying it with various flowering shrubs and plants. The great advantage of mulching is unquestionably for transplanted trees. I think it may be safely said, that a tree having only one third of its original roots left, (and the top, of course, shortened back in pro- portion,)— such a tree as would die, nine times out of ten, with common treatment of watering, &c., — may be invariably saved by mulching. Watering the trees that have been transplanted every day or two, for a month or six weeks afterward, as I have seen many do, is a matter of no small labor and cost. It helps to kill the tree, I am satisfied ; if not by the constant and violent alternations of wet and dry, which the tree suffers in this climate, then with the hardening and baking of the ground which it causes. On the other hand, the tree once planted, it can be mulched (if the materials are at hand) in five min- utes ; and from that time forth it demands no more attention, no carrying of water, no stirring of the ground. The ground is also kept in that state of steady moisture and coolness most favorable to the growth of new roots ; and, if there is any vital power in the tree, it is sure to show itself in this way. As to the importance of preventing the soil from parching up in the summer, especially when j-ou are raising somewhat delicate plants, every one can see it for himself without demonstration. I have found it easy to cultivate some garden favorites in this way that gave me a good deal of trouble before I tried it. Indeed, so great is its efficacy that some German ag- ricultural Avriters, as you are doubtless aware, have not hesitated to take the ground that covering the earth with a coat of straw acts more beneficially upon a crop than giving it a coat of manure of any description. Although I am not prepared to take this extreme ground, I am confident that mulching, especially to the fruit and ornamental tree-grower, is a practice of great value, and much too little un- derstood by most persons. Yours, A CONSTANT HEADER. DrxciiESs County, N. Y., Mag, 1850. Remarks. — Our correspondent is not a stronger advocate of the advantages of mulching than we are. Indeed, we have, for the sake of experiment, covered a piece of ground with straw in the German manner, in a small vineyard of about an acre in our o\m premises, in order to notice if there is any other value in the application than that arising from main- taining the soil in the best condition for growth. — Ed. IIort. — Downing' s Horticulturist. DIVISIBILITY OF MATTER. A remarkable instance of the divisibility of matter is seen in the dyeing of silk Avith cochineal, where a pound of silk, containing eight score tlireads to the ounce, each thread seventy-two yards long, and the whole reaching one hundred and four miles, when dyed scarlet, does not receive above a drachm addi- tional weight ; so that a drachm of the coloring mat- ter of the cochineal is actually extended through more than one hundred miles in length ; and yet this minute quantity is sufficient to give an intense color to the silk with which it is combined. — Familij Visitor. A SptKN-mn Plant. — At a recent .sale in Eng- land of exotics, a rhododendron arboretum (elcgan- tinum) was exhibited, which had upwards of one hundred and fifty blossoms. The plant measured seventeen feet in "circumference, was six feet in di- ameter, and six feet in height. 248 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. HoRTicui.TuiusT. — The July number contains a variety of valuable matter, and a beautiful engraving of a "Rural School-House." This subject should receive more attention. In building school-houses, convenience is often sacrificed to a too rigid econo- my, and generally, or, we might say, almost univer- sally, no attention is paid to cmbcUishraent. This ■work is pul)lished bj' Luther Tucker, Esq., Albany, N. Y. Joseph Brock & Co., Agents, Boston. Ohio State Fair. — A friend has handed to us a pamphlet containing a list of the premiums, and the regulations, with the names of the awarding com- mittees of the First Annual Fair of the O. S. Board of Agriculture, to be held at Cincinnati, Sept. 11, 12, and 13. It is expected that this will be a great show, and that it will be attended by an immense assemblage of people. Catalogue of Shokt-Horn Cattle, contains an account of thirty-three head of Short-IIorns, owned and mostly bred by J. F. Sheafe, which will be sold at auction on the 29th day of August, at one o'clock, at High Clifl', one mile above New Hamburg, Dutch- ess Co., N. Y. LOW-HEADED FRUIT-TREES. By having low-headed fruit-trees, the sun, which is, perhaps, in our hot and dry summers, the cause of more disease and destruction in fruit-trees than all other diseases together, is kept from almost scalding the sap, as it does in long, naked trunks and limbs. The limbs and leaves of a tree should always effectually shade the trunk and keep it cool. The leaves, only, should have plenty of sun and light ; they bear and profit by it. If trees were suffered to branch out low, say within one or two feet of the ground, we should hear very much less of " fire blight," " frozen sap blight," black spots, and the like. The ground is always looser, moister, and cooler, under a low- branchmg tree than under a high one. Grass and weeds do not grow a hundredth part so rank and readily, and mulching becomes unnecessary. The wind has not half the power to rack, and twist, and break the tree, and shake off the fruit — a matter of no inconsiderable consciiuence. The trees will be much longer lived, and more prolific, beautiful, and profitable. The trees are more easily rid of de- structive insects, the fruit is much less damaged by falling, and the facilities for gathering it are much greater ; there is less danger in climbuig, and less of breaking limbs. The trees require less pruning, and scraping, and washing ; and the roots are protected from the plough, which is too often made to tear and mutUate them. IMPROVEMENT IN SUGAR REFINING. The London ?tIorning Herald states that an impor- tant improvement has taken place in the manufacture of sugar. It says, " By means of the now well-known patent for drying by centrifugal force, and the aid of a few simple adjuncts, sugar, which took from three to five weeks to refine, is now done in as many min- utes. Incredible as this may seem, the whole pro- cess, with the result here stated, has been witnessed by our informant at the sugar-houses of Messrs, Finzcl & Son, at Bristol. Moreover, sugars altogether unsalable in our markets were converted in a few minutes into an article worth about .'JiSjlS." — Am. Artisan. For the New Etu/land Farmer. REPLY TO A FRIEND, WHO ASKED, "ARE YOU AN ADMIRER OF NATURE?" BY MRS. E. C. LOOMIS. Yes, I love Nature ! On its varying face I gaze, and ne'er grow weary. There I trace The hand of God, which fashioned all, and 'neath The azure dome of heaven alone I bow To worship Him. 'Tis June ! The balmy breath Of many Howers is round me. Hoses fiuig Rich odors on the soft south wind, and bend Their graceful heads, as if to woo its sweet Caress. The countless blossoms that look up From grassy coverts with their starry eyes, Are gentle messengers of love. They tell Of one more beautiful than they. O, list Their gentle teachings ; pass not carelessly The lowliest of them all. Come fortli with me, And revel in the loveliness which decks The brow of Nature. We will roam nt will O'er meads with flowery carpets. We will trace The streamlet's course, and listen to its melody. The birds with their sweet minstrelsy shall cheer Our walk, and from the shadowy grass we'll pluck Tho luscious berries nestling there. I'll lead You to my favorite haunt — a blooming bower, Where moss and violets mingle, and the sheen Of sunliglit falls, in flickering beauty, through The boughs of never-fading green. 'Tls here I sit and while away the summer hours. With book or needle, or in converse sweet With those I love. A banquet rich and rare Doth Nature spread for me — a pure delight To fashion's votaries unknown, araid Tlie pomp of city life. Lebanon, June 24, 1850. THE OLIO. A man Avas brought up by a farmer, and accused of stealing some ducks. The farmer said he should know them any Avhere, and went on to describe their peculiarity. "Why," said the counsel for the pris- oner, " they can't be such very rare breed — I have some very like them in my yard." "That's very likely, sir," said the farmer ; " these are not the only ducks of the sort I have had stolen lately." The presbytery of Bethel, Pa., has resolved that marriage on the Sabbath is in violation of the fourth commandment. Courage consists not in hazarding without a cause, but being resolutely minded in a just cause. TERMS. — The Neav England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 41G pages, at $\ a year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage ,^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and lij cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the boston stereotype foundry. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation , but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. V OL . II. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1850. NO. 16. s. w. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON J. NOURSE, Proprietor. THE APPLE-TREE BORER. Thi.s borer, which also infests the quince, moun- tain ash, and various other trees, is frequently so de- structive to applc-trces, that some orchardists have almost been disposed to abandon their cultivation. We hear of a great many remedies for the injury done by this insect, and of various modes of pre- venting their depredations, and we hope that more experiments will be made on this subject. The grass and weeds should be kept from the tree, that the operations of the worm may be known. Ashes, lime, and other offensive substances, laid around the tree, have, in some cases, prevented the operations of the borer, but it is not infallible. Va- rious oifensive or corrosive washes may be used to advantage, but they cannot always be relied on. All these things have a good effect, and cause greater scarcity of worms. "When no plants are growing around the tree, and the earth is smooth, the operations of the borers may be seen by the dust thrown from their holes ; and as they enter just under the bark the first year, they \vill do but little damage that season, and they may be easily destroyed, without any material injury to the trees. But when they have operated the second year, it is not only a great deal of labor to destroy them, but the trees are seriously injured or are destroyed by them. Therefore it is important to attend to this subject in season, and make thorough examinations, and use effective means to destroy these depredators. When the cultivator has been so negligent as to allow the borers to penetrate the tree to a considera- ble distance, they may be destroyed by running a piece of wire, whalebone, or other elastic substance, into their holes. Truman Clark, Esq., of Walpole, remarks that he destroys them by plugging their holes with tobacco. ITiesc worms evidently enlarge the holes where they enter, as they continue to grow larger, in order that they may have sufficient room to throw out the chips or dust which they make in their borings. The tobacco may stop their operations in this respect, or the odor of it may destroy them. It has boon observed that a lighted match, put into the hole of a borer, and plugging up the hole imme- diately, will destroy it. On the 310th page of our first volume, a corre- spondent states that he destroyed the worms that were in his trees, by putting around each tree one or two shovelfuls of wood ashes, and a covering of four inches of swamp muck over the ashes. This re- mained from April to August, and on remo-s'ing it, the worms were destroyed, as they could not operate with this body of earth around their holes. In our warfare against this formidable insect, we should endeavor to prevent the deposition of the eggs upon the tree, bj' some offensive substance, or destroy them by offensive or corrosive matters, or arrest the progress of the borers soon after they enter the tree, else they will do the work of destruction, and the killing of the borers will not repair the evil, though it may prevent their increase, or liinder the insect from escaping and propagating a litter of young depreda- tors. THINNING FRUIT. Those cultivators who have not had much experi- ence in raising fruit, neglect to thin it ; consequently, their fruit is inferior, both in size and quality, and the quantity no larger. Owing to its inferiority, it sells at a much less price than it would under judicious management. One peach-grower informed us that he had taken off two thirds of his peaches, and as they increased in size, and appeared too thick on the trees, he said that he was sorry that he had not taken off one half of the other third. One man complained to his neighbor, that a certain variety of the peach which his friend had advised him to cultivate was a poor bearer. " Stop your complaint," was the rcpl)% "\m- til you sell your fruit." He raised on one tree three dozen of peaches, sold them at two dollars per dozen,. and was satisfied. In many cases it is necessary to thin fruit, reduc- ing it, sometimes, to one half the specimens, and sometimes a still greater reduction is necessary. Be- sides the injury to the fruit from too large a crop, the tree is also injured by exhaustion, which will 250 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. stint its growth, render it unhealthy, and cause light crops in future, particularly in the next season. Experience in tliis business is necessary, for but very few persons can be taught, by precepts, the great importance of thinning fruit ; so they will go on al- lowing too much to remain on the trees, till they gradually learn, from practice, the good eifects of thinning. ♦ WEEDS. As soon as the haying season is over, or in dull weather, every opportunity should be improved for the destruction of weeds before they go to seed. A single stroke of the hoe will destroy a weed that would prodvice seed for hundreds, if neglected, which would require a long time for their destruction. How often do we see, early in the fall, a crop of weeds, fully equalling, in amount of produce, the cultivated crop ! In this case, and in all cases Avhere there is only a moderate crop of weeds, the cultivated crop is reduced in value, besides the serious injury from propagating a great pest. Some weeds are succulent, and when dug up they may be turned to some small account by throwing them into the hog-pen. When this is not convenient, and there are many weeds, it is best to jiilc them into heaps, that they may decompose and form manure. When allowed to remain scattered on the ground, they become wasted in decomposing. The gases are scattered to the winds, and a small amount of almost useless fibrous matter remains. To save all the fer- tilizing matter of weeds, throw earth over the heaps, or bury the weeds in the soil. SUMMER PRUNING OF GRAPE-VINES. Grape-vines are generally poorly managed. The trimming late in fall or early in spring is insufficient ; consequently by midsummer the vines become a dense mass, and then the wood and foliage are reduced in the most injudicious manner, without any regard to the peculiar nature of the plant ; and in this way the crop is frequently nearly destroyed. The main vine, or laterals, running from the fruit, should be allowed to extend until August, and gen- erally it would better grow until the middle of that month, and then it should be only pinched off at the end, — not cut back, as many practise. Some im- prudently cut back to the fruit, others almost to it, which will check the growth of the fruit, and retard or prevent its ripening. If this is done early, say in July, nature makes an effort to repair the injury by throwing out lateral branches ; and this often increases the evil which it was intended to remove, as the lat- erals make the dense mass of vines still greater. Lot the shoots extend from the fruit in every way, and direct them separately, so as not to form a mass of vines ; and when the vines are too thick, cut out branches that have no fruit on them, and lateral shoots, extending the vines far in every direction, and keeping them open to the sun ; but do not remove 1p-,„o^ „^v t^i-^o f-i-.o— --".^ .-r, .,-,oi. :t;oii astoi -^ the sun shine on the fruit, as this injures it. Ex- pose the leaves to the sun, and let them protect the fruit from his powerful rays. We are sorry to say that some professional horti- culturists manage grape-vines no better than the veri- est novice, and the management of both is much worse than no management, or entire neglect. In numerous cases we have seen the crop ruined by cutting back close to the fruit, by those whose whole life has been passed in the garden. One gentleman has just re- marked that he paid a gardener six dollars for spoiling his vines. BUDDING. August is the month in which the greater part of budding is done in this part of the country. Plums, cherries, and pears, that are several years old, or of moderate growth, are usually in condition for budding about the first of the month ; but in some seasons these species of trees, when young and vigorous, and the season favors a late growth, will answer to bud the last of August, and even in the first week in September. Much depends on the weather, the soil, and various other circumstances that affect the growth. The middle of September is a good time to bud peaches of one season's growth. The operator must depend on his judgment as to the proper time, as it varies with seasons and other con- ditions. GRAIN CROP. From numerous accounts from different sections of the country, it is evident that the crop of wheat, in most regions, will be remarkably good. In foreign countries the crops arc also very good. Hence we may suppose that there will bo a good supply of wheat and flour, and at moderate prices. The crops of rye and other small grain are good, or very prom- ising. In the west the crop of wheat is unusually large, notwithstanding the very severe drought in May. TO GUARD THE LUNGS WHILE THRESH- ING. The following may be depended upon as a perfectly safe and convenient mode of guarding the lungs while threshing, as I have tested it for several years, and never knew it to fail : Take a piece of fine sponge, about two inches thick in the centre, and about four inches broad ; cut out a little in the centre, so that it will fit the nose and mouth, leaving it about three fourths of an inch thick over the end of the nose and mouth ; moisten it well, and squeeze it out, so as to prevent its dripping ; fasten a string to the outer edge of the sponge, on each side of the face, and tie it back of the head, and one can worlt in a perfect smother for hours — I might say days — with- out any of those disagreeable sensations that arc always experienced without such precaution. This Avill not obstruct the breath one tenth part so much as a piece of gauze will when drawn over the face. I would rather give one dollar per day for a good sponge, than to tend a threshing-machine Avithout it. AN EXPERIENCED TIlKESIIEli. — Amerir"^' * ■'riculturist. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 251 _ -j^^^d. fi^^f:^^ "'^-s^-v.^i -/^^$^i' > H. ' ^"^ ^.^n ^^=y^' CHEVIOT SHEEP, The Cheviot sheep are among the most distin- guished breeds in Great Britain. They are remark- able for their hardiness, and are admirably adapted to hills and mountains in cold regions ; not only enduring cold and storms, but hard fare. They come to maturity rather early, and their flesh is of supe- rior quality. Their wool is rather coarse, and used mostly for combing purposes. This is the principal breed kept on the Cheviot Hills, an extensive elevated range, where snows and storms often prevail during the winter, and where they are supported on the grass and hay of these hills. So long have they been kept on these moun- tains that their origin or introduction to them cannot be distinctly traced. The size of the Cheviot sheep is moderate, weth- ers averaging from twelve to eighteen pounds per quarter : the color of the face and legs is white ; the countenance open ; the eye lively and prominent ; the ear large ; the body long ; and the limbs are long, which fits them for travelling, and enables them to pass over bogs and snows. The fleece is close, which protects them not only from cold, but from snow and rain. This breed of sheep has been extended over the Highlands in Scotland, and is becoming very popular in elevated regions. They rank among the best in quality of mutton, and they fatten vcrj' readily ; and though their fleeces are not fine, they ai-e rather large and profitable. We have no doubt that this breed of sheep is well adapted to the elevated and hilly regions and mountains in the middle and northern parts of our country, and we hope that experiments will bo made to test their utility in such regions. This subject has received but little attention. Hon. Daniel Web- ster has some of this breed on his farm in Mai'shfield, and he is much pleased with their appearance. But from what we have heard of his farm, we should not think that this breed is so well adapted to it, as some of the larger breeds, that are accustomed to lux- uriant herbage on flat or slightly rolling lands. The)- will doubtless be propagated on this farm, and dis- tributed and fairly tested in more elevated regions. The Cheviot breed has been crossed with the Lei- cester, which gives them finer forms, but the wool is longer and coarser. This cross prevails considerably in Scotland, where it is much admired, and is taking the place of the native black- faced breed of that country. He is a public benefactor, who, by the prudent and skilful outlay of his money in bettering its con- dition, shall make a single field yield permanently a double crop ; and he who docs this over a sq\unc mile, virtually adds a square mile to the national ter- ritory — nay, he does more ; he doubles, to this ex- tent, the territorial resources of the country, with- out giving the state any larger actual area to ilc^fcm!. All hail, then, to the improvers of the soil ! Hcaitli and long life be their fortune — may their hearts be light and their purses heavy — may their dreams bo few aiul pleasant, and their sleep the sweet repose of the weary — may they see the fruits of their own la- bor, and may their sons reap still heavier liai vcst-s. — Sekcicd. First procure first-rate animals for your farm, and then procure good, humane, and intelligent men te take care of them. 252 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Faryner. INJURIOUS INSECTS. Mr. S. W. Cole. Dear Sir: The insects, accom- panying your letter of the oth instant, were Aphides, or plant-iicc, in several stages of growth ; those with black bodies and long Avings being the males and fe- males, those like bugs and without wings being half grown ; and the flakes, like mould, being the cast- skins of the young. Various remedies have been suggested for destroy- ing aphides on apple-trees ; but I do not know any that are effectual, and, at the same time, applicable on a large scale. In a small way, as on a few young trees, the insects may be easily destroyed by syrin- ging repeatedly with a solution of oil-soap, or dipping the infested twigs in a wide basin or pan containing this liquid. Ashes or lime may also be used with advantage, being thrown upon the twigs and leaves when wet with dew or rain. Perhaps syringing with lime-water will be found a good remedy ; but experiments are wanting to test its efficacy. As usual, we have had our full share of destruc- tive insects during the present season. My own little place gives me some opportunity of seeing their power of doing injury, and of trying to check their ravages. The common web-making caterpillars of the apple- tree (^Clisiocampa Americana^ have been very few in number. I have been in the habit of examining my trees when out of leaf, and taking off the ring-like clusters of eggs and destroying them, so that very few escape me ; and when these are hatched in the spring, and the caterpillars begin making their webs, which are easily seen on small trees, they are searched for, and are destroyed by a single grasp. On the other hand, the canker-worms {Anisopteryx vernata) have returned in great force, and have done more damage in this vicinity than at any time since the year 1840. Repeatedly, during the last three years, I have called attention to the fact of the grad- ual increase of these noxious vermin, but I am not aware that my efforts have been seconded in any quarter. The females rose in great numbers last au- tumn, and they continued to rise, at short intervals, during the unusually mild and open winter, which was extremely favorable to their operations, and most unfavorable to the success of the usual means for ar- resting their progress. It followed that tarring in the fall and spring was of very little use, and the trees were well seeded with eggs, during the winter, for an abundant harvest of canker-worms. Again I have had an opportunity of verifying the truth of statements heretofore made by others as well as by myself, — statements contradicted by some writers in the Western States, — that the females lay their eggs on the small limbs and twigs of the trees, and not ordinarily on the trunk. On my place, there are apple-trees of various sizes, some very large, and otliers quite small. On both, the females were found laying their eggs near the extremities of the branches, a!id not at all upon the trunks. Our unfortunate experience, during the last winter, must not lessen our faith in tarring as a preventive ; for such an open Avintcr may not soon occur again. Let not tarring be neglected next autumn, after the first hard frost. "While the canker-worms were eating up the leaves, the curculios {Co7wtrachelus Nenuphar) were stinging the fruit. Apples, cherries, and plums, at various stages of growth, have been attacked by them. My Baldwin apples began to drop when not much bigger than musket-balls. I should think that full one half of all that have fallen have been stung by the plum-Aveevil ; the others were bored by the common apple- worm, {Carpocapsa Pomonella.) These insects arc easily distinguished from each other ; the latter having feet, which are wanting in the plum- weevil. Cherries, when weevil-stung, do not ordi- narily droji off. Hence, among ripe cherries, wormy ones are often found ; and not a few of them are eaten hy the incautioiis, who, however, may have the satisfaction of knowing that thereby they help to check the increase of these insects. The robins and cherry-birds doubtless come in for their share of the spoils and of the spoilers. If the plum-weevils want to escape this kind of retributive justice, they must stick to the plums, and let the cherries alone. As for the wormy apples, we can diminish the evil some- what, by gathering, every night and morning, all that fall, and giving them to our swine. It is a mis- take to suppose that the plum-weevil stings the plums only when the fruit is small. My trees were jarred every night and morning from the time that the fruit was set till it had grown as large as cher- ries, and not one curculio was taken in the sheets spread below them, and not a single plum, up to that time, appeared to have been stung. Circumstances prevented my continuing this precaution afterwards ; and now I find that nearly all the fruit has been at- tacked. Last year, I saved my plums by j arring the trees till the fruit was grown to its full size. On the 1.5th of June, I found a single rose-bug, {Macrodactyla subspinosa,) but saw no more till about the first of July. These insects have been very troublesome, in this vicinity, during several previous years, doing great damage to plum, cherry, and ap- ple-trees ; but their numbers are much reduced during the present season, and the fruit-trees above named have suffered scarcely at all from their at- tacks. I have not, however, neglected gathering all that were within reach in my garden. Of other destructive insects some notice may be taken at a future time ; the present communication being quite as long as may suit your convenience. Respectfully yours, T. W. HARRIS. Cambridge, Jtilij 13, 1850. Remarks. — The insects which we sent to Dr. Harris were from large apple-trees, the leaves of which were turning yellow and black, and falling from the trees. For a few years past, these insects have been prevalent and very destructive in some sections, and they seem to be increasing. Wc have destroyed aphides upon young shoots of nursery trees by the use of whale oil soap, but it would be a great deal of labor to apply it to large trees. — Ed. For the Neto England Farmer. EARLY BEARING OF FRUIT-TREES. Mr. Cole : I have seen an inquiry in your paper of June 22, whether large fruit-trees, when grafted, will bear fruit sooner when the scions are taken from bearing trees than when taken from young trees. I have followed the grafting business for the last fif- teen years, every spring, excepting the past one, setting from 3000 to 4000 scions each season, and am always trying experiments. I have found that scions taken from an old bearing tree will bear fruit in less than half of the time that they will taken from a very young and thrifty tree, and much sooner than they will from a medium-aged tree. I ingrafted some young apple-trees with the Porter apple, eight years ago, and a part of the scions I took from an old tree, and a part of them from very young and thrifty trees. Those that I took from the old tree have borne three years ; the others have apples on them this year for the first time. Many other similar cir- cumstances could be mentioned. I have upwards of NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 253 one hundred varieties of pears, and nearly or quite as many apples, and I have tried many ways to bring them to bearing as soon as possible, but have not, as yet, found any way that I could get fruit as soon as to graft them" into a tree that had come to maturity. Therefore I have no hesitation in saying that, with my experience, scions taken from an old tree and set in'a young tree will bear much sooner than others ; and scions taken from a young tree and put in an old tree will bear much sooner than on their own stock. L. BURT. Walpole, N. H., July 15, 1850. Remarks. — We should be pleased to learn the results of other experiments on this subject, as other persons have come to a different conclusion from that of our correspondent. Here is an important point for consideration. A scion is taken from an old bearing tree, and set in a small stock near the ground, and in the summer of the same season the shoot from that scion is used for budding, with other shoots from the tree that the other scion was taken from. Now, will that scion, from its being only a few months on that young stock, lose its disposition to bear to as great a degree as though it had remained several years before it was used for budding ? For the New Englaiid Farmer. FOOD OF PLANTS. Tlie food of animals always consists either of other animals, or vegetables, or a mixture of both, together with water, or some fluid containing a considerable portion of water, for drink ; that is, as a solvent to the more solid matters. Plants, again, strictly speak- ing, subsist on drink alone, being, indeed, incapable of taking up any solid matter, at least till it be pire- ^iously dissolved or diffused in water. There is an obvious and well-known proof that plants live on water, chiefly, if not altogether, de- rived from hyacinths and other bulbs placed in glasses, and supplied with water, in which they blow as well as in a garden. It is found, however, that they do not thrive unless the water is regularly changed, in- dicating that it is not the water alone, but something in the water, which becomes exhausted and deterio- rated by the feculent slime discharged by the plant. It has also been found, by experiment, that distilled water will not support a healthy growth in plants ; and moi^t, if not all species, when planted in pure calcined sand, and watered with distilled water, quickly die, as they do when quite deprived of water. From chemical analysis and experiment, it appears that the chief matters taken up by the plants, be- sides water, consist of carbonic acid gas and azote, together with a few salts, such as potash; and out of these, and the hydrogen and oxygen of the water, all vegetable products seem to be wholly or chiefly elaborated. ^Ir. Lassaigne proved that these all pass into the plants from without, by the ingenious exper- iment of analyzing the chemical constituents of seeds before and after germination. AVhen, by chemical experiment, substances are foiuul in plants different from those supposed to have been introduced from the soil, it is not to be inferred that the plants have created these, but that they have gradually taken them up in very minute por- tions, till a considerable quantity has been produced. It is projjcr to confess, however, that we arc still mueli in tlie dark upon tliis interesting subject, it being extremely difficult, if not impossible, to trace the fluid taken up by a plant after it passes beyond the sur- face. BERNARD REYN080. AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL CONGRESS. In conformity with the resolutions passed at the last session of this national institution, its next meeting will be held in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 11th, 12th, and 13th davs of September next, A. I). ISoO. The Ohio State Board of Agriculture, and the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, will also hold their Annual Exhibition at the same time and place, and the latter have geijerously offered to provide for tlie accommodation of the Congress. All agmcultural, horticultural, jioinological, and kindred societies in the United States and the Canadas are hereby respectfully invited to send such number of delegates as they may deem expedient. In order to facilitate the objects of this association, to promote pomology and the sciences ujion which it depends, to collect and diffuse a knowledge of re- searches and discoveries in this important depart- ment, delegates arc requested to bring with them specimens of the fruits of their respective districts, with lists of the same, and also papers descriptive of their art of cultivation, of diseases and insects inju- rious to vegetation, of remedies for the same, and whatever will add to the interest and utility of the convention. Packages of fruit not accompanied by its proprie- tor, may be addressed to the care of Messrs. John F. Dair & Co., Lower Market Street, Cincinnati, O. These should be very distinctly marked, '♦ For the American Pomological Coxgress." All societies to be represented in this Congress will please forward certificates of the election of their several delegations to J. B. Russell, Esq., corre- sponding secretary of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society. Delegates will also report themselves at the Burnet House, on the morning of the 11th, where a committee will be in attendance to take charge of their fruits, and from whence the Congress will proceed to the hall assigned for its meetings. MARSHALL P. WILDER, President. S. B. Parsons, J> P. Barry, > Secretaries. Geo. W. Deacon, J July 4, 1850. Editors who feel interested in the objects of the above association are respectfully solicited to notice this circular. Remarks. — Although this association will be held in a comparatively new part of this new world, yet we shall expect not only numerous and excellent pro- ductions in the west, equal to any thing that can be produced in any part of the world, but a large gath- ering of the most intelligent and most eminent grow- ers of fruit. Already this young region takes the lead in some pomological productions. More straw- berries and grapes arc raised around Cincinnati than in any other section of the country ; and throughout the great west are pomologists second to none in the Union, and the number is large in that region that are doing themselves great honor and the country much good by their zeal and ability in this worthy cause. The doings of the Ohio Fruit Convention, which have been pubUshed for several years, are among the most instructive and reliable works of the kind that have been published in our country. Be- sides the contributions and attendance from the west, other parts of the country will also be well represented. — Ed. N. E. Farmer. 251 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. WILD FLOWERS. To those of our lady readers interested in floricul- ture, we -would recommend, for the adornment of their gardens, one great and inexhaustible storehouse of beauty ; namely, the woods and fields, with tlicir wealth of uncultivated blossoms. It is in the power of almost every one to draw from this source, and, such is the perversity of human nature, perhaps on this very account, the opportunity is neglected. While various flowers, neither graceful nor fragrant, are admitted into the limited precincts of a garden, because, perhaps, they are rare, of difficult growth, or foreign extraction, many a wild, sweet native of our own hills and valleys would be altogether denied a place there. This is in bad taste, and the usual plea, " O, they are so common ! " is by no means a reasonable or satisfactory objection. Whatever is perfectly beautiful might claim a place, though this would include so immense a collection that, of course, we Avould recommend a judicious selection from so vast a stock. How often in gardens have we seen the coarse and common althea towering in pride, and usurping a place which might have been filled to great advantage by a clus.ter of wood laurel, with its evergreen glossy leaves, and its rich, heavy clus- ters of rosy blossoms, or even by a specimen of the magnolia, with its white, glittering flowers, and its delicious perfume, scenting the whole garden ! We have heard it advanced, particularly by foreigners, that our wild flowers have no smell ; but let any one ride along the skirts of a wood, on a calm si)ring morning or evening, and judge for himself. Nothing can exceed their delicate odor, and we liave often discovered their hiding-places by this telltale charm. We have not the slightest wish, in this article, to discourage the cultivation of our numberless and beautiful garden plants. We would not bo so un- derstood. Their strong claims shall meet our atten- tion in due season ; but, at present, we think of ad- vocating the cause of the too much neglected ofl"- spring of the fields. In gardens in the city, their presence is always desirable and grateful, and they improve amazingly by cultivation. One objection often urged against them is, that they are single. This, to us, is a great charm ; and if our readers will but compare the hue of a single blossom with that of a double one, they will be con- rerls to our opinion. Take, for instance, a single dahlia or wild rose, and compare the color with that of a double one. Has the latter the same brilliancy of color ? Does it glitter like the former, as if sprin- kled with gold-dust ? This difl"crencc, too, is very perceptible in all white double flowers. They never have the purity of single ones. Still, all the cfl'orts of some of our gardeners seem to be directed to the one point of creating monsters in the floral world. No matter how delicate and beautiful the original blossom, it must be reproduced with three heads in- stead of one, to satisfy their elegant taste. Flowers are often totally ruined by this plan. AVe have seen hyacinths so double that they could not possibly ex- pand, and were worthless ; and last spring we re- ceived a bunch of violets, — violets ! ladies, — with heavy little monster heads, which they seemed to hang down, as well they might, in very shame. We expect soon to see a double heart's-ease, or lily of the valley. If so, bad taste will have reached its cli- max. — North American Farmer. A NOBLE HORSE. Grant Thorburn says, "I once saw a horse, in the neighborhood of New York, dragging a load of coal (twelve hundred weight) in a cart. The lane was very narrow ; the driver, some distance behind, con- versing with a neighbor : the horse, on a walk, came up to a child, sitting on his liind quarters in the middle of the road, gathering up dust with his little hands, and making ' mountains of molehills.' The horse stopped — he smelt of the child ; there was no room to turn off. With his thick lips he gathered the frock between his teeth, lifted the child, laid him gently on the outside of the whole track, and ' went on his way rejoicing ' — and well he might rejoice ! he had done a good deed." SUMMER MANAGEMENT OF PYRAMIDAL TREES. No matter how well trees may have been pruned before the growing season commenced, a little atten- tion during summer is absolutely necessary. It is impossible for the most skilful pruner in existence to cut exactly, in all cases, at the proper point, or at least at the point that would induce the precise de- velopment of buds and branches that he wants ; cer- tain buds will push with greater or less vigor than he had reason to expect, from their appearance and po- sition, and thus the balance proposed to be main- tained is broken. In such eases, we must, at the proper moment, when growth is going on, resort to what is called pinching — nipping off" with the finger and thumb (a sharp knife is better) the point of such shoots as are exceeding their due relative propor- tions. The leading shoot, that is intended to consti- tute the main trunk of the tree, should always take the lead ; none of the lateral or side-shoots should be permitted to dispute its supremacy. If these shoots had been timely nipped, the branches below them and the leader above would all have had their just proportions. We therefore point this out as an item of very great importance in growing pyramidal pears. When the tree is left to itself during the whole season, and in the fall we find it grown so out of proportion a great deal of severe pruning is necessary to restore the balance, these strong branches next the leader have to be cut to one eye, perhaps, and the whole pyramid is injured and considerably retarded. What we have said has reference mainly to the lead- ing shoot and those in its vicinity ; but it applies with exactly the same force to all the main side- branches, which may be considered as so many lead- ing shoots, and will require the same care and treat- ment. There is another evil that must be remedied by pinching ; for instance, when we cut a leading shoot or a side-shoot, expecting all, or nearly all, the buds below the point where we cut, to break and make side-shoots or spurs, and, contrary to our ex- pectations, only two or three at the extremity grow, leaving the others dormant. To make these lower buds break, we must pinch those above them at a very early day. This checks the flow of sap, and concentrates it in the lower parts, causing the buds there to break. This is the way to have all the branches covered with fruit-spurs their whole length. Pyramidal pear-trees on quince stocks are naturally so fruitful, generally speaking, that pinching to form fruit-buds and spurs is rarely necessary. The i)rin- cipal point to keep in view is the form. On pear stocks, however, both objects must be kept in view. All we have suggested on this point will be necessary in both cases. Pinching to promote fruitfulncss, consists in pinching or breaking ofl' the ends of the small side-shoots, stopping their elongation, and turn- ing the sap into the formation of fruit-buds. This is practised continually as growth advances, and the condition of tlie trees renders it proper, principally through July and August. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 255 This pinching, to promote fruitfulness, requires more skill and practice in pruning, and much more physical information respecting trees, tlian any other pruning. If done too soon, or too severely, the ob- ject is defeated by having the buds break into new shoots, instead of forming fruit-buds, thus requiring pinching and pinching again, before the object is at- tained. Vigorous and feeble growers require differ- ent degrees of pinching, and require it to be done at different seasons. Different soils and climates all affect this matter so much, that no general rules can be safely adoi)ted. Some rank growers on free stocks cannot be brought into bearing by this means, until the pinching and pruning are so severe as to weaken, to some extent, the whole force of the tree, lloot- pruning has the same effect, and, in such cases, is quite necessary ; but this must be done in the fall, when growth has terminated. — American Agricultu- rist. WHAT FARMERS OUGHT TO KNOW. Let us see what farmers ought to know and do, to raise themselves to the character of professional men ; and what almost any of them might accom- plish in the long winter evenings, at a trifling cost for books, and a little more expense of hard thought and attention. A farmer ought to understand the leading princi- ples of chemistry. The soil he plods among at the plough-tail is not a mere inactive mass, sticking to his shoes when wet, and choking him with dust when dry. It is a vast laboratory, full of many and strange materials, always in action, warring, combining, changing, pei-petually ; to-day receiving accessions from the heavens ; to-morrow pouring them into the wide sea, to be again supplied to other lands. The earth is all but a living creature ; aiul he whose busi- ness has been slanderously said to be but " of the earth, earthy," should surely understand the soil's iiature, its elements, its likings, and its diseases. ^he farmer should understand physiology. Under his care he has the noblest forms of creation — the ox, the horse, the sheep. Can he spend a lil'e among them, and not know how the heart beats — how the nerves thrill — where lie the muscles — what are the principles of action, and the seats of disease — how the fat grows — and how the bones are formed ? Can he be a breeder, who has never studied the peculiar- ities of races ? Can he be any thing but an empiric, who undertakes to feed and fatten cattle, without knowing of what the food is composed, and what parts of the body require this or that element ? The farmer should have a knowledge of medicine, and of the elements of surgery ; for though, in this respect, when applied to human ailments, it may prove that " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing," yet many a fine animal is allowed to become dog's meat, because its owner could not distinguish be- tween a fever and an inflammation, set a bone, nor bandage a wound. The farmer should be a botanist, llie primeval curse of mother earth was, that she should bring forth thorns and thistles ; and many other noxious weeds, besides, have since been added to her progeny. How great the amount of toil expended, and how serious the loss of crops, from such plants as Canada thistle, burdocks, Turkey weed, and a host of others, let those tell wlio have been the sufferers. Many books have been written on such things ; many plans have been given for eradicating them ; but unless the farmer can distinguish them — unless he knows their character, histories, and modes of growth, how un- aided does he go to his task ! Besides, botany, in all its shapes, is the natural science of the countryman. How does the seed germinate ? IIow does the ten- der leaf unfold itself ? How is the blossom impreg- nated and the fruit formed ? "What will injure, what improve each plant ? All these are questions which every farmer should have studied and ascertained. And can any one be content to spend a life in igno- rance of the names and characters of the trees and flowers that are so gorgeously spread around him, painting his fields and woods' with their thousand hues, and rendering this outward world a mass of beauty? The farmer should be — or, shall we say, should wish to be — a naturalist. No one has so many op- portunities of observing and noting the habits and peculiarities of animals, birds, and insects. In some cases, this knowledge may be of inestimable service. It must always be a pursuit of pleasure, and cannot fail to refine and improve the mmd and sensibilities, both towards the inferior creation, and towards man. But time would fail to tell of what the farmer ought to know and understand. There is no knowl- edge which would not be serviceable to him. There is none which Avill not elevate him in the scale of intellectual beings ; and, what, perhaps, is more im- portant to many, there is scarcely a physical science which he will not find putting money into his pocket constantly. How many times in a life would a ba- rometer save a whole harvest ! IIow many black- smiths' and carpenters' bills may be escaped by the humble knowledge of the use of tools ! Now, if our farmers would but become self-instructors, and if, instead of doing just as their great-grandfathers'did before them, they would think and learn for them- selves, no profession would become more honorable, carry more weight in society, nor be more ardently sought after by the active and intelligent of all classes. Instead of our young men rushing from the country to the city, the city youths would yearn to be farmers ; and instead of the chief emulation being who should save most, the strife would be who sliould accumulate the most by the profoundest ex- periments, most successfully carried into jiractice. By these means, farming would cease to be the mere drudgery of " dirty-handed industry ; " and every operation would become scientific, based on great principles, breeding new thoughts and new results, and ending in valuable acquisitions. Instead of the poet describing the farmer as one w^ho " Wandered on, unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought," we should have farmers themselves distinguished authors of valuable works ; scientific, at all events, if not poetic. Some such great minds we already have employed in farming, but, unfortunately, that is not yet the character of the class. G. F. Michigan", Jan. 5, 1850. — Am. Ayricult, SHADE-TREES. Sii.VF.u M.\rLr, {Acer dast/carpium.) — This should occu])y a conspicuous place in the highways and ])ublic grounds. It is a native of our state, and is found in moist, sandy soils, jjarticularly along the margins of streams. To its graceful form and rich tints much of the beauty of the landscape-views along the Ohio, Muskingum, and other large rivers, is owing. It is more hardy than the sugar maple, and adapts itself to all varieties of soil. The inhab- itants of cities and villages at the west should cmjiloy it instead of the sickly and filthy locust-tree. — /awj- ily Visitor. Decavcd grain, of any kind, is highly injurious to stock. It has a paralyzing effect upon the animal fed with it, oftentimes causing death. 256 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. DESIGN FOR A COTTAGE Wc copy the following interesting article from the Albany Cultivator, and are indebted to Mr. Tucker for the accompanying engra'V'ing and plans : — Eds. Cultivator : Enclosed is a plan and perspec- tive view of a small farm-house. It will be seen by a glance at the plan, that the house is nearly square — the cheapest of all forms. The size is twenty-nine by twenty-six feet, with a hall .and porch, together ten feet square, and a wood-house in the rear, twelve by sixteen feet. The hall is placed in the middle of the fi-ont, and may be lighted by a window on each side, of the width of one glass, or by a window in the door. From the hall, we en- ter the sitting room, which is twelve and a halffcct wideby eighteen and a half long, light- ed by two win- dows, and has a crockery closet at c. At the left, as we enter, is a tirst tlook. bedroom, nine by twelve and a half feet, with a large clothes-press under the stairs : passing through, we enter the kitchen, twelve by eighteen and a lialf feet, which is lighted liy two windows, and has doors opening to the pantry, stairway, and wood-house. The pantry (five feet by nine) is liglitcd by one win- dow, and has a door at o, opening on the cellar stairs. In the wood-house. A, is an opening for throwing in wood, six or seven feet from the floor, four feet square, closed by a door ; B is a work-bench, with a •window over it. On the second floor are four fine bedrooms, three of which have commodious closets. The garret can be reached through a scuttle near the chimney, by means of a Hght ladder, which, when not in use, might be placed against the wall at L. The first floor is intended to be nine feet high, the second eight. The cellar might be made under the whole house, or only under the back half. 0 is the outside cellar stairway. It will be objected by many, that this house has no parlor. This plan is not intended for those who have the means to build a room cspeciaUy for company, but for that large class of farmers who, while they do- sire something convenient and tasteful, cannot aff'ord to pay for a room which they do not use themselves, A glance at the plan will show that it is intended to be built of wood. For the outside covering, per- pendicular boarding is preferable to clapboarding, bo- cause it is firmer and cheaper. I hope the exterior that I have sketched is sufficiently expressive of ru- ralness. Although the desire for novel- ty, and the wand of fashion, have done much towards cre- ating the prevalent rage for rural Gothic dwellings, yet the intrinsic beauties of the style will always command for it the admiration of the rural architect, and it has now become so common in most parts of our country, as no longer to be considered a fantastic novelty by the staid portion of our people. All Avho examine the various forms of domestic ar- chitecture can now easily have opportunities of see- ing its beauties and detecting its faults. The features which designate principally the style of this building, are the verge-boards and tlic bold projection of the roof. (The roof in the engraving is represented hardly steep enough for the style.) To support this projection, the rafters (wliich should be of rather large size, say six by four inches) should SECOND FLOOR. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 257 run past the plate their Avhole size, about eighteen inches or two feet. The square end of the rafter is, I think, a decided- ly ornamental feature of the otherwise plain eaves. The verge-boards I have represented in the heaviest style that is admissible, because any but substantial- looking ornaments are out of place on a farm-house, and as a kind of example to operate against the other extreme — Himsiucss. The only finish necessary for tlie roof projection, is, that the roof-boards over the projecting part should be of inch and a half stuff, (to prevent the shingle nails from coming through,) planed on the under side, and matched. The eavc- trough might be of tin and nailed to the roof, or formed by nailing a narrow board to the edge of the lower roof-board. The ceiling of the porch should be made in the same way as the roof projection ; the posts of six inch stuff, made octagonal by trimming off the corners, the top and bottom being left square. The front door I have represented in the drawing as pointed. As, however, there is no other feature of the kind in the house, I have come to the conclu- sion that it looks ambitious and out of place, and I beg leave to have the reader consider it square. To the chimney I have sought to give an ornamental effect, by capping it with two slabs of stone. I will conclude with a few words in regard to the interior finish. In all parts of our country ]nne is the material most used for the interior wood-work of dwellings, and it is a common practice to cover it with white paint. How such a practice could ever have obtained among an intelligent people, I cannot understand. Its warm, lively color, when freshly planed, is peculiarly adapted to give rooms a cheer- ful and smiling expression. When we know that this pleasing tint can easily be preserved, and ren- dered even more soft and bright, by varnish, at no greater expense than would be incurred in giving it a good coat of paint, can we help being surprised that its beauties have been so long carefully con- cealed by the cold glare of white paint ? Besides, the color of the pine, as brought out and pre- served by varnish, harmonizes with furniture much better than any paint, and would of itself add much, apparently, to the furniture of a room. Darkened and mellowed by time, it would, at length, with the inmates of the house, assume that sober, though still cheerful, expression, which gives to age one of its greatest charms. While on this subject, I will say a word about black walnut, which, where the intention has been to varnish, has been used more than any other wood for the interior finishing. It has been much used in cabinet work, and is one of the most beautiful of our native woods. Its dark, rich shades impart to the lofty apartments of mansions a statelj' and appropri- ate dignity ; but for the rooms of ordinary residences, its sombre hue renders it quite inappropriate. And were I to have the choice of two evils, I would pre- fer white paint with its glare, to black walnut in its gloom. F. J, SCOIT. Toledo, Ouio. SALT FOR FRUIT-TREES-FATAL EXPER- IMENT. FuiENi) I!\TETiAM : For the information of your readers, I will relate a disastrous incident that has happened to me. Having learned, from agricultural papers and otherwise, that common salt is a good manure, especially for fruit-trees, and also a pre- ventive of injury by insects, and being determined to have a good orchard of the best fruit that I could get, I had procured two hundred fruit-trees, mainly apples, but some pear and peach ; and in planting my trees, I threw into the hole, and touching all round the roots of each tree, about half or three quarters of a pound of salt ; the result was, that the salt killed every tree around which it was put. The sap carried the salt up to the very top buds of the tree, so as to be tasted in them. Some per- sons have thought that it might not have been the salt that killed the trees; but there can be no mis- take that it was the salt that killed them, as I had planted six trees before the salt was brought into the field, and one other tree was missed and no salt was put about it, and these seven trees not salted are alive and growing finely. I do not wish to discourage people from using salt as a manure, but to caution them against using it as freelj' and in the manner that I did. I think that if salt be mixed with rich mould soil, or manure, and not allowed to touch the roots of the trees, and es- pecially not in large quantities, in its crude state, it may be used with safety and advantage. On the 22d and 23d insts. the fruit in this vicinity was greatly damaged by frost, but not all killed. Wheat looks well. Our meadows are very back- ward. Corn is coming \\\} badly, on account of the dry weather and frosts. Early-planted corn and potatoes arc much injured by the frost ; so are beans, cucumbers, and garden plants generally. Yours very respectfully, JOHN FOSTER. Cumberland, Guernsey Co., 0., May 28. Remarks. — We truly sympathize with friend Foster in view of his misfortune, and thank him for the caution which his experiment affords to others. If he had observed what was said on this subject in our paper last year, (p. 218,) we think he would have not made the mistake he did ; and, in fact, we have never, to our knowledge, seen the practice recommended of applying salt to newly-planted trees ; especially should it not be apfilied in the soil directly in contact with the roots, as in its crude state it is poisonous to vegetation ; while, in a di- luted state, (dissolved by rains and incorporated with the soil,) it is found beneficial, applied in mod- erate quantities to trees of bearing size. — Ed. — Ohio Cultivator. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF OHIO. We have received this report, which makes a good volume, of nearly 300 pages. It is truly gratifying to sec how rapidly agricultural improvcmont is jiro- gressing in Ohio. Nothing shows it better than the increased size of these reports, coining, as a great bulk of its contents do, from the several counties, and giving a good history of the leading crops in each, by actual residents. For accurate information as to the real condition of agriculture throu^'h the state, we consider this volume entirely ahead of cur own more bulky Transactions. 'ITie state of Ohio will owe an immense debt to a few men, wlio have stuck to the Board of Agriculture until they have succeeded in arousing a feeling among the farmers that will make them second to those of no other state. We predict for their great fair at Cincinnati, on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of September next, an exhibition that New York might well be proxid of. And why should not Ohio be foremost among the first ? There is no state in the Fnion that possesses, to so great an extent, all the elements of boundless prosperity that she does ; and we hope her citizens will not allow her resources to remain long undevel- oped. The first great step towards it is to build up her agriculture. The real wealth of this world lies within a foot of the surface of the eaith. If any man doubts, let him dig. — Wool-Grower. 258 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. For the New England Farmer. FLOWERS. Who docs not love flowers ? They are such pure and beautiful things, such sweet gifts from our heav- enly Father, scattered with lavish hand to gladden the hearts of his creatures ! Xot for the wealthj' alone do they bloom, but the lowliest cottager may claim them as his own, to beautify his humble home. I never passed a cottage overhung by vines, where roses and honeysuckles mingled, and jessamine peeped in at the windows, without thinking that there must be, in that lowly abode, hearts full of love — love for the beautiful, and love for God. How pleasant to see young children bearing their hands full of the fragrant treasures — twining them in gar- lands for those they love, or scattering them over some lonely grave ! Methinks that children surrounded with flowers — taught daily to gaze upon them and examine and ad- mire their wonderful structure — cannot grow up unmindful of their Maker. In their hearts will be planted an affection for the lovely and beautiful in Nature, and they will " look through Nature up to Nature's God." " Blessed be God for flowers — For the bright, gentle, holy thoughts that breathe From out their odorous beauty, like a wreath Of sunshine on life's hours." E. C. L. Milk Cellaks. — Farmers about to build a dwell- ing should know that, by carrying up a large flue (twelve inches in diameter and circular is the best) in the chimney-stack from the cellar, and having a window or two opening to the north, or cold side of the house, out of the cellar, they can have as good a "milk room " under their house as could be had over a spring, that may be perhaps two hundred yards or one fourth of a mile off ; which is so j^lensant to go to in bad •weather, especially by the female portion of the family. The floor should be flagged with stones, as they can be kept sweeter and are colder than either bricks or cement, which absorb " spilt milk," and thus taint the atmosphere. The walls and ceiling should be plastered, to facilitate whitewashing and cleansing. Nothing but milk and cream should be kept in the room, as a pure atmosphere for cream to rise in is absolutely essential to the making of sweet butter. What is needed to have a cool, sweet cellar, is a cur- rent of air, which will be secured by the aforesaid flue and the open windows — as a strong current of air is at least ten degrees colder than the same air at rest. Chubnixo. — Farmers ought to know that churn- ing can be done with any good churn in five to fif- teen minutes, as well in winter as summer, by having the temperature of the cream right — say sixty to sixty-two degrees. The temperature of an ordinary sitting or living room, in winter, to be comfortable, is sixty-five to sixty-eight degrees, and a closet opening into such a room would be the best place to keep the pot in the winter. In the summer the cream can be readily reduced to the right temperature, by breaking up clean ice and putting it into the churn. A thermometer, which is necessary to regulate these matters, costs but one dollar ; and such an in- vestment every farmer ought to make, who has churning to do, and thus save labor and time, which is money, and make this much-dreaded part of the duties of fai-mers' wives and daughters much pleas- anter and easier — and for this I know they Avould thank your modest correspondent, if they knew him. — Ohio Cultivator. 13outl)*s Department. Curious Facts. — The greyhound runs by eyesight only ; and this we observe as a fact. The carrier- pigeon flies his two hundred and fifty miles home- ward, by eyesight, viz., from point to point of objects which he has wiarAef? ; but this is only our conjec- ture. The fierce dragon-fly, with twelve thousand lenses in his eyes, darts from angle to angle with the rapidity of a flashing sword, and as rapidly darts back ; not turning in the air, but with a clash re- versing the action of his wings — the only known creature that possesses this facultj". His sight, then, both forwards and backwards, must be proportiona- bly rapid with his wings, and instantaneously calcu- lating the distance of objects, or he would dash him- self to pieces. But in what conformation of his eye does this consist ? No one can answer. A cloud of ten thousand gnats dance up and down in the sun, the minutest interval between them, yet no one knocks another headlong upon the grass, or breaks a leg or a wing, long and delicate as these are. Sud- denly, amidst your admiration of this matchless dance, a peculiarly high-shouldered, vicious gnat, with long, pale, pendent nose, darts out of the rising and falling cloud, and settling on your cheek, inserts a poisonous sting. What possessed the little wretch to do this? No one knows. A four-horse coach comes suddenly upon a flock of geese on a narrow road, and drives straight through the middle of them. A goose was never yet fairly run over; nor a duck. They are under the very wheels and hoofs, and j-et, somehow, they contrive to flap and waddle safely off. Habitually stupid, heavy, and indolent, they are, nevertheless, equal to any emergency. Why does the lonely woodpeck- er, when he descends his tree, and goes to drink, stop several times on his way, listen, and look round before he takes his draught ? No one knows. How is it that the species of ant, which is taken in battle by other ants to be made slaves, should be the black, or negro-ant ? No one knows. A large species of the star-fish possesses the power of breaking itself into fragments, under the influence of terror, rage, or despair. " As it does not gener- ally break up," says Prof. Forbes, " before it is raised above the surface of the sea, cautiously and anxious- ly I sunk my bucket, and proceeded in the most gentle manner to introduce Ludia to the purer ele- ment. Whether the cold air was too much for him, or the sight of the bucket too terrific, I know not ; but in a moment he proceeded to dissolve his corpo- ration, and at every mesh of the dredge his fragments were seen escaping. In despair I grasped at the largest, and brought up the extremity of an arm with its terminating eye, the spinous eyelid of which opened and closed with something like a wink of de- rision." With this exquisite specimen of natural history wonders — for naturalists can only vouch that " such is the fact," and admit that they know no more — we shall close our digression. — The Poor Artist. As a man is, under God, the master of his own fortune, so he is the master of his own mind. The Creator has so constituted the human intellect, that it can only grow by its own action, and by its own action it will certainly and necessarily grow. Every man must educate himself. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 259 ^caltlj Department. To STOP A Fit of Coughing. — A correspondent of the London Medical Gazette states that, to close the nostrils Avith the thumb and linger during expi- ration, leaving them free during inspiration, will re- lieve a fit of coughing in a short time. In addition to the above, we state, from personal knowledge, that to press the tinger on the upper lip, just below the nose, wiU make the severest premonitory symptoms of a sneeze pass off harmless. We have found tlie remedy useful many a time in creeping on game in the woods. Love of "Water. — Some persons shrink from bathing, but when they once get used to it, it is in- dispensable. A medical writer says, — " Let a child wash himself all over every morning for sixteen years, and he will as soon go without his breakfast as his bath." fllccljanics' Department, ^rts, $^t. Dyeing Woods For dyeing wood a ^ne black color, have a ehairmakcr's copper fixed, into which put six pounds of chip logwood, and as many ve- neers as it will conveniently hold, without pressing too tight ; fill it with water, and let it boil slowly for about three hours ; then add half a pound of pow- dered verdigris, half a pound of copperas, and four ounces of bruised nutgalls, filling the copper up as the water evaporates ; let it boil gently two hours each day till you find the wood to be dyed through, which, according to the kind, will be in more or less time. Fine Blue. — Take a clean glass bottle, into which put one pound of oil of vitriol ; then take four ounces of the best indigo, pounded in a mortar ; put them into a vial, (take care to set the bottle in a basin or earthen glazed pan, as it will ferment ;) after it is quite dissolved, provide an earthen or wooden vessel, 60 constructed that it will conveniently hold the ve- neers you wish to dye ; fill it rather more than one third with water, into which jiour as much of the vitriol and indigo, stirring it about, as will make a fine blue, which you may know by trying it with a piece of white wood ; put in your veneers, and let them remain till the color has struck through. The color will be much better if the solution of indigo in vitriol is kept a few weeks before using it ; also the best trough you can use, is one made of stone ware. Fine Yellow. — Take of the root of barberry four pounds, reduce it, by sawing, to dust, which put into a copper or brass trough, add four ounces of turmeric, to which put four gallons of water, then put in as many white veneers as the liquor will cover; boil them together three hours, often turning them ; when cool, add two ounces of muriate of tin, and you will find the dye strike through much sooner. Fustic and quercitron will also dye good colors, the former with alum, the latter witli muriate of tin. Bright Green. — Proceed, as in the above recii)C, to produce a yellow with fustic, and add the vitriolatcd indigo, as much as will produce the desired color. Bright Red. — Take two pounds of genuine Brazil dust, add four gallons of water, and after putting in vour veneers, boil them well for at least three hours ; then add two ounces of alum and a little salts of tin, and keep it lukewarm until it has struck entirely through. Purpk. — Take two pounds of chip log-wood and half a pound of Brazil dust, add four gallons of wa- ter, and after putting in your veneers, boil them well for at least three hours, then add six ounces of pearl- ash and two ounces of alum, and let them boil two or three hours every day till you find the color struck through. The Brazil dust in this recipe is perhaps superflu- ous, as it only contributes to make the purple of a red cast j use muriate of tin very Uttle. Orange. — Let the veneers be dyed, by either of the methods given, of a fine deep yellow, and while they are still wet and saturated with the dye, trans- fer them to the bright red dye, till you find' the color has penetrated equally throughout. NEGLECTED MANURES. liquid manures, tanks, &c. Analytical Laboratory, Yale College, New Haven, Conn., June, 1850. Eds. Cultivator : Having now mentioned, in suc- cession, a variety of manures in a number of classes, — having called attention to the fact of their being al- most universally neglected, and to the leading char- acteristics which in the several cases constituted their chief value, — I propose to leave this subject, lest your readers shoiild find it becoming tedious. It is far from being exhausted ; indeed, it is but begun : still, enough has been said to call into exercise, on the part of attentive readers, a spirit of watchfulness, that nothing worth saving shall escape them in future. In the present letter, I shall notice the great waste of liquid manure which occurs in many parts of the country, and the imperfect methods of attempting to preserve it, which arc often adopted. Chemical analysis shows the liquid manure, or urine, of animals, to contain many valuable fertil- izing substances. It is always particularly rich in nitrogen, also in the alkalies, potash, and soda, and in carbonic and sulphuric acids. The excrements of birds contain both the liquid and the solid part to- gether ; hence their great richness : this fact alone should convince the farmer that, in losing the liquid, he greatly reduces the value of his solid manures. The nitrogen in fresh urine exists there chiefly in the form of a substance called urea : this consists in a large part of nitrogen, and, if dry, may be exposed to the air for a long time, before it undergoes an)- perceptible change. In the presence of water, how- ever, and the other substances with which it is asso- ciated in urine, a species of fermentation soon commences ; it is then speedily changed into carl)on- ate of ammonia, which readily escapes into the at- raosj)herc. In warm weather, the smell of this am- monia escaping may be perceived after the lapse of a very few hours. If the fermentation be allowed to proceed, the whole of the nitrogen will be trans- formed into carbonate of ammonia, and the larger part of this will evaporate into the air. If this con- stituent can all be retained, and the licpiid applied to the crops, it is found to be a powerful manure. I'rof. Johnston states that at Flanders the urine of each cow is valued at about $10 per annum. Scarcely less valuable are the drainings from the dung-heaps, or from barn-yards. These contain large quantities of ammoniacal substances, and also of useful mineral ingredients, dissolved out from the solid parts of the manures. They undergo the same fermentation as urine, but more slowly, and the am- monia also escapes in this case. Where the manure, as is to be seen in many yards, isexjjosed to constant washing by rains, nearly every thing soluble in water is gradually dissolved out, and it is thus rendered quite inferior in (juality. 260 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. The question now arises, How are these valuable liquids to be preserved ? and how is the loss of their ammonia to be prevented ? The method of accom- plishing this, may vary with circumstances and situ- ation. "Where it is practicable to build the barn v.pon a side-hill, there is probably no better plan than to form a cellar beneath it, where all of the solid ma- nure can bo thrown from above, and the liquid con- ducted down upon it. A layer of peat or muck upon the floor would prevent any thing from soaking tlu-ough and escaping. In certain situations, manure kept in this way becomes too dry, and does not de- '^ompose properly ; in all such cases the liquid manure would be doubly valuable. Some farmers turn in hogs to root over and compost the material in such cellars. Manure made in this way is neither exposed to evaporation nor to washing ; and one load is worth two, or even more, of the bleached and washed straw and stalks, which we see being carted out from some yards. If it ferments too much, it is necessary to turn it over to check fermentation ; mixing earth and sprinkling plaster over the top is also a good practice. In cases where the formation of the ground does not admit of a convenient cellar under the barn, a tank is the most advantageous receptacle for the liquid drainage. This may be made by digging a square hole at the lowest part of the premises, and render- ing it water-tight by a lining of planks, brick, or stone. This is far better than an open hollow, such as day be seen in many yards. These are not only disagreeable to the eye, and a source of many incon- veniences, but they expose the liquid to the full evaporating and decomposing influences of the sun, so that it decreases and deteriorates in a very rapid manner. Many farmers think that a tank must necessarily be made of great size, or it will overflow. If all the ■water from the eaves of the farm-buildings be allowed to flow into it, such a necessity exists ; but if this water is carried away by separate drains, as it should be, then the quantity flowing into the tank cannot be excessive. During the summer, except where much stock is kept, or after showers, little liquid ■would be collected, especially if the yard were spread •with muck. Where there is much stock, a drain should be made to lead their urine directly into the tank. The next question that arises is relative to the disposition of this liquid from various sources, after "we have got it into the tank. From what has been said, it Avill bo seen that it is extremely liable to fer- ment and putrefy, and to lose a large portion of its most valuable ingredients ; this will not happen quite so soon in a covered tank as in the open air, under the influence of the sun, but still it cannot, during warm weather, be delayed long. There are several methods of treatment which have been found successful. Some farmers mix two or three times its bulk of ■water, thus retarding the fermentation until they have leisure to distribute the liquid over their fields, •with a common water-cart. In most cases this would be a troublesome mode of management. A more convenient way is to pump it up, and pour it upon the surface of manure and compost heaps, sprinkling them over with gypsum at the same time. Where neither of these plans will answer, it is quite practicable to preserve the ammonia by sprin- kling in occasionally a little sulphuric acid, say one or two pints ; this converts the carbonate of ammonia into the sulphate of ammonia, a compound far less volatile than the carbonate. The same eff'ect may be produced by adding gypsum or sulphate of lime ; sulphate of ammonia is formed in this case also. The propensity that gypsum has to form this com- pound, when it is brought into contact with ammo- nia, explains its beneficial action in arresting the escape of that gas from fermenting manure heaps. Even when ammonia is rising so as to be visible in white fumes, and perceptible to the smell, a sprin- kling of gypsum will arrest all further escape for a considerable length of time. In situations where it is convenient to employ them, peat, peat ashes, wood or coal ashes, rich mould, &c., are good materials to throw into these tanks ; they -will absorb nearly all of the valuable, parts of the manure. The tank soon fills up in this case, and must be cleaned out at comparatively short intervals. These methods of using the liquids from the barn- yard and the stables are all perfectly simple and practicable, while at the same time they involve little expense. The manure saved is of the most powerful character, and will, upon trial, be found to add very greatly to the resources of any farm. The subject of water from the sewers of towns has lately attracted much attention in England, and Prince Albert has quite recently made public a plan for extracting, on a large scale, the valuable sub- stances which it contains. He proposes a large up- ward filter ; that is, to bring the water into a re- ceptacle under such a head as to force it upward through a filter of sand and gravel. The clear wa- ter passes off above, and the solid matter remains below the filter, to be taken out and iised for manure. I think that certain practical difficulties would at- tend the working of this plan, and the prince seems to have overlooked the fact, that the clear water, which runs away, contains every thing that is solu- ble in water, and of course much that it is important to preserve. In any case, the system would bo too expensive for this country, but is worthy of mention as showing how much value is placed upon this spe- cies of refuse abroad. Wherever land lies so that it can be irrigated from the sewers of large towns, such irrigation will be found a most effectual and eco- nomical method of enriching it. For my next communication I shall endeavor to select some more savory subject than has occupied our attention in the preceding letters of this series. JOHN P. NOKTON. — Albany Cultivator. ♦ MANURES-WHAT FARMERS OUGHT TO KNOW. The annual waste of valuable manures by farmers makes, in the aggregate, an immense sum. Suppose it to be but five dollars' worth (a low estimate) for each one in the county, and in the whole it will amount to thousands. Waste is the conseqiience of carelessness. Loads of vegetable matter are suff'ered to be scattered about in by-places, and never collected for use. Draining from the yards (perhaps to a running brook) is an- other process of gradual waste. The soluble ma- nures thus carried off" are of more immediate value to the growing crops than the remaining solid por- tions, the latter having to decompose and be dissolved in water before plants receive any benefit from them. Some have so little regard for the animal excre- ments, that the cattle and sheep are permitted to roam at pleasure, during the winter and spring ; and, in too many instances, wander about the highways. The hay and cornstalks are often fed in these places, and such portions as the cattle refuse to cat are lost, because never gathered up ; and the droppings also remain, as though the laws of the country required the wagon-track to be a rich soil. Many places may be seen where there is quite as much manure in the road adjoining barns as in the yards. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 261 It is a common custom, \n villages, to enrich the gardens in the spring with the best manures, costing a high price ; and then, during the summer, men are hired to throw that same manure (now concentrated into plants called weeds) into the street, as if thcy were noxious articles. Carry them to the manure heap, and give them as much attention as the clean- ings of the stable. Dead animals are carted to hollows and by- places, as remote as possible, and left to be eaten by crows and other animals, or to decay and render the surrounding atmosphere unpleasant and unwhole- some. This is not good economy. Take the carcass to some convenient place, where you can give it a good covering of earth. As decay progresses, the tlosh passes into gases, which arc taken up by the soil, and thereby the earth forming the covering is rendered more fertilizing than the matter taken from the b«rn-yard. Thus the farmer can manufacture eight or ten loads of rich compost, with little expense or trouble, and cheaper than any other process. The bones arc not to be disregarded. Have them put into a convenient place, and when a rainy day comes, break them up in small pieces, and scatter them on your lands. They arc much used for wheat, corn, and turnip crops. Bone-dust, in some portions of our country, is considered an indispensable article, and in England is in very general use. Human bones have been gathered on the battle-field of Wa- terloo, and carried to England by ship-loads, there to be used for manuring land. They are considered of sufficient value to be transported from this coun- try to England for that purpose. Save your soap-suds. Instead of throwing them near the kitchen door, to form an offensive mud-hole, pour them on the manure heap, or sprinkle them on the meadow. Make but one trial of it, and you will not again cast them away as useless. Leached ashes are supposed to be of little value — an entirely erro- neous opinion. Coal ashes are also condemned, and cast into the streets. They are an active promoter of vegetation, and, hence, worth saving. If you would raise good crops, they must be fed. All vegetable matter which will decay, affords nour- ishment, producing cash in the shape of grain, &c. ; therefore look after it as carefully as you do the six- pences in the purse. — Deekertoxcn Home Journal. MANAGEMENT OF NEWLY-TRANSPLANT- ED TREES. The season thus far has been quite auspicious for success in transplanting trees ; yet they should not now be neglected, but they should be well mulched, to keep tlie earth loose and moist, in case a drought should ensue. Apple-trees of good quality, well set, may be considered Avorth not less than one dollar each — enough to take care of. It is evident that nature proportions the roots and tops of trees so as to balance : the roots searching out and furnishing nourishment sufficient for the top or branches ; but when trees arc transplanted, more or less of the roots are left in the ground, and not unfrequently many of the small fibres become so dried as to unfit them for performing their office as feeders, (which ought not so to be ;) nature's course must become checked in the vigorous growth of the tree. It must therefore be evident that advantage will be derived from lessening the tops, so as not to impose a tax upon the roots, which their feeble con- dition will not allow them to pay. It is probable that, in most cases, the tree would live if tlic top should not be reduced, but often the struggle be- tween life and death, for a time, is doubtful ; and if the former obtains the victory, it is but a pitiful one — the tree not ha\nng made any growth, h\ which case it seldom recovers enough to flourish well the succeeding season. In most cases, trees, when trans- planted, rc(iuire some thinning of their tops to give them a good, open, and spreading head, which is es- sential to the good quality of the fruit. But when they do not require thinning, heading back, or the shortening system, as it may be called, may be practised to advantage. It is generally au easy matter to form and obtain a good head, where there are healthy and flourishing roots to feed and drive it forward ; and vice versa. D. T. Yassalboro', Qlh mo., ISoO. — Maine Farmer. HOW CITIES EXHAUST THE FERTILITY OF LAND. There has been enough of the elements of bread and meat, wool and cotton, drawn from the surface of the earth, sent to London, and buried in the grovmd or washed into the Thames, to feed and clothe the entire population of the world for a cen- tury, under a wise system of agriculture and horti- culture. Down to this day, great cities have ever been the worst desolators of the earth. It is for this that they have been so frequently buried many feet beneath the rubbish of their idols of brick, stone, and mortar, to be exhumed in after ages by some an- tiquarian Layard. Their inhabitants violated the laws of nature, which govern the health of man and secure the enduring productiveness of the soil. How few comprehend the fact, that it is only the elements of bread and meat, evolved during the decomposition of some vegetable or animal substance, that poison the air taken into human lungs, and the water that enters the human system in daily food and drink ! These generate pestilence, and bring millions pre- maturely to their graves. Why should the precious atoms of potash, which organized the starch in all the flour, meal, and pota- tatoes consumed in the cities of the L'nited States in the year 18.50, be lost forever to the world ? Can a man create a new atom of potash or of phosphorus when the supply fails in the soil, as fail it must, un- der our present system of farm economy ? Many a broad desert in Eastern Asia once gladdened the husbandman with golden harvests. While America is the only country on the globe where every hiiman being has enough to eat, and millions are coming here for bread, how long shall we continue to im- poverish ninety-nine acres in a hundred of all that we cultivate ? Both pestilence and famine are the offspring of ignorance. Rural science is not a mere plaything for the amusement of grown-up children. It is a new revelation of the wisdom and goodness of Providence, a humanizing power wliich is destined to elevate man an immeasurable distance above his present condition. To achieve this result, the light of science must not be confined to colleges ; it must enter and illuminate the dwelling of every farmer and mechanic. The knowledge of the few, no mat- ter how profound, nor how brilliant, can never com- pensate for the loss sustained by neglecting to de- velop the intellects of the many. No government should be wanting in sympathy with the people, whether the object be the preven- tion of disease, the improvement of land, or the ed- ucation of the masses. One per cent, of the money now annually lost by reason of popular ignorance, would suffice to remove that ignorance. — Patent Office llcport. Retire early, and rise early, 262 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS IN HORSES. The transportation of live stock by railroad has been latterly much, adopted on the principal lines in this coTiutry. It is, in many cases, cheaper to con- vey animals in this way, besides avoiding the great loss of weight which takes place, especially in fat animals, when they are obliged to travel to market. The present season, many horses destined for sale in New York and Boston have been brought to Albany by railroad from Western New York. On reaching Albany, it has been common for them to tarry sev- eral days, in order to appear in the market in the best possible condition. Many of these horses, while stopping here, have been attacked with inflammation of the lungs, which, in several cases, has terminated fatally. The disease has sometimes been so violent and rapid in its progress, that death has ensued with- in twenty-four hours. We are informed that the frequent occurrence of this disease in horses brought by railroad has been a discouragement to that mode of conveyance. Without pretending to a particular knowledge of the circumstances, we will venture to suggest that the primary cause of the disease is the contincment of the animals in a heated and vitiated ntmosp,hcre in the cars. Their sudden transfer to the open air, or to an atmosphere of much lower temper- ature, produces the effect so well described by Youatt : " The discharge from the skin is at once arrested, and the revulsion, or pernicious effect of the sudden stoppage of a natural evacuation, falls on the lungs, too much weakened and disposed to inflammation by heated air and poisonous fumes." The first difficulty is probably accelerated, in many instances, by over- feeding and want of exercise. As a prevention of the disease, the better accom- modation of the horses in their railroad transit should be the first object. The next should be to feed mod- erately, using constant care in regard to the protec- tion of the animal from the effects of the changes of temperature, giving daily exercise, with good groom- ing. Should the evacuations from the bowels indi- cate constipation, the administration of simple ca- thartics will bo safe. A dose of Epsom or Glauber's salts — half a pound to a pound, according to the symptoms — may be given. But, in a disease of so important a character, it will be safest, when it makes its appearance, to intrust the animal to a skilful veterinarian — Albany Cultivator. IMPROVED STOCK-SHEEP. Me. Freas : On this important subject most intcl- jgent farmers at this day manifest a laudable and iecp interest. The position assumed by the agricul- tural press is rapidly arousing attention to it, and jur farmers begin to reason and act, and to denude themselves of their old and long-cherished preju- dices, in proportion as the light reflected from the page of science upon their path becomes more lumi- nous and well-defined. As the natural consequence of this, we find that the annual fairs now held in most of the states for the promotion of agricultural improvement, are rapidly increasing in interest ; a more decided and generous public spirit is obvious ; the animals exhibited are more numerous and of bet- ter quality ; and far greater pains is taken by farmers generally to render these important institutions wor- thy of the " great interest," and an honor to the states and counties of whose enterprise and prosperity they speak. lu reference to most valuable animals, the Sheep, the truth of the foregoing observations is strikingly apparent. The old coarse, long-wooled varieties, though possessing value for particular purposes, liave already become nearly obsolete. Twenty years ago, no farmer anticipated seeing a Dishley, South Down, or Teeswater animal at these fairs, any more than the farmer of the present day dreams of seeing there the Cashmere goat or the Alpaca. I wish to be distinctly understood in this matter, for I am speak- ing not of particular localities, where the spirit of generous improvement and emulation dates from a period long antecedent, in point of time, to the com- mencement of the chronological segment above al- luded to, but to the country in general. At that time we had no agricultural press, and no George III. to encourage honorable efforts. But the fact is now happily far otherwise. Though, in most of the states and territories, legislators remain al- most wholly inactive upon the subject, public spirit and enterprise, together with an ever-restless wid enlightened press, are accomplishing much in our behalf, and will no doubt supply, in time, the want of legislative patronage and protection, at least to a considerable extent. And now, Mr. Editor, as many of your agricultu- ral readers are, no doubt, desirous of availing them- selves of all the advantages which science and expe- rience so liberally aflbrd to the enlightened in effect- ing the improvement of their flocks, I beg leave to submit the following observations by that distin- guished friend of agriculture, Arthur Young, in ref- erence to selecting sheep. In the first place, Mr. Y. remarks " that the general principles which guided Mr. Eakewell in breeding a beast or a sheep for the butcher, explain his own stock, which is in the high- est perfection when examined with an eye to these perfections.' ' 1. " In all his exertions, his aim was to obtain that breed which, with a given amount of food, will give the most profitable meat ; that in which the propor- tion of useful meat to the quantity of offal, is the greatest." 2. Points of the beast. On this plan, the points are those where the valuable joints lie ; the rump, the hip, the back, the ribs, and, after these, the flank ; but the belly, shoulder, neck, legs, and head should be light, for if a beast has a disposition to fatten, and to be heavy in these, it will be found a deduction from the more valuable points. A beast's neck should be square, flat, and straight, or, if there is any rising, it should be from a disposition to fatten and swell about the rump and hip bones, and the belly should be quite straight, for if it swells it shows a weight in a bad point. He prefers to have the carcass well made, and showing a disposition to fatten in the valuable points. So far on seeing. 3. Feeling. Mr. Bakcwell, in order to decide whether a beast has the right disposition to fatten, examines by feeling. His friend, Mr. CuUey, who has had an infinite number of beasts go through his hands, agrees entirely with Mr. Bakcwell in this cir- cumstance, and when with him in Norfolk and Suf- folk, was surprised to find lean bullocks and sheep were absolutely bought there by the eye only. So absolute- ly is the hand necessary in choosing either, that they both agreed that if they must trust to the eye in the light, or to the hand in the dark, they would not hesitate a moment in preferring the latter. Tlie form of the bone, in sheep, is quite hidden ; it is the hand alone that can enable us to decide whether the back is flat and broad, and free from ridge on the back bone, or can examine, correctly, if the other points are as they should be. The disposition to fatten is discoverable only b)' feeling. Speaking of the sheep generally, the points to ex- amine are the same as in the ox --flatness, breadth of back, a spreading barrel carcass, -with flat belly, and by no means curved or hanging. The essential is the carcass, and a disposition to fatten in the NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 263 carcass, and perhaps to have the least tallow on the sides. The keeping of sheep on most of the upland and hilly farms of this country is, generally speaking, a lucrative business. If selected -with reference to their meat-making or wool-producing properties, and with a well-digested system of breeding and man- agement, these animals are rarely debilitated by dis- ease ; it is principally owing to neglect and careless- ness that they sicken. By most farmers the winter management of the sheep is deemed a matter of trivial importance, whereas the reverse of the propo- sition is true. If sheep are confined in large num- bers, in confined and poorly-ventilated enclosures, with an inadecjuate supply of pure water, and with poorer food, the legitimate consequence is premature debility, disease, and death. At the period of pro- ducing their young, the most assiduous attention should be accorded to the dams. They should be provided with warm quarters, well littered and ven- tilated, and supplied with food of a generous and strengthening description. The young, wlien drojjpcd, should be carefully looked after, and food calculated to invigorate tlie system, and to produce a healthy and vigorous action of the lactescent organs, be lib- erally supplied to the dams. In tlie summer, and during those months when tliey are permitted to run at large, they require to be carefully watched, especially when depastured in large Hocks. The free use of salt is highly benefi- cial, or a mLvture of salt and ashes ; and if the forage is shortened by drought, or of an ungenial or innu- tritious order, the deficiency should be supplied by daily feeds of grain, roots, or by soiling. As a general rule, however, it is injudicious to crowd them together in largo numbers, even where the pastures or ranges are spacious : it is better to divide the lintory into lesser divisions, and to appro- priate to a certain number an allotted space. By so doing many unpleasant contingencies will be obvi- ated. Shelter, even in summer, is essential, often- times, to the sheep. During this period, showers are often experienced, and exposure to drenching rains, during which the atmospheric temperature suddenly falls to a comparatively low point, often produces disease, and even death. One error, and a very essential one, in the practice of farmers, I will here notice. After incurring a heavy expense in purchasing valuable animals, many proceed as if they supposed they had actually ac- complished all that is necessary. Instead of pro- viding good and secure pastures in which the ani- mals may find abundant and nutritious herbage dur- ing their range aixl isolation from other Hocks, they turn them into the highway to be crossed by breeds of inferior traits, and emasculated or half starved from a lack of timely and proper food. The conse- quence of this insane procedure is, that they arc disappointed : the animals, so eagerly sought for and purchased at perhaps an exorbitant price, fail to realize their expectations, and all subsequent efforts, as improvement in that department, are prematurely and forever renounced. This is necessarily an injury to the community ; it tends to induce scepticism and unbelief as to the legitimate merit and fcasil)ility of the enterprise, and thereby to discourage all laud- able efforts on the part of many who would other- wise have embraced an early opportunity to assist, by their own personal example and influence, the advancement of so good a cause. A WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIiMEK. Sf.vkn Hill Farm, Juhj 3, 1850. — Oermantown Telegraph. In Cheshire, Mass., an apple-tree has borne from 90 to 110 bushels of apples in a season. PROF. ESPY'S THEORY OF STORMS. As some interest has been awakened here of late on meteorology, we propose to present our readers a brief view of the " theory of storms," called the " Espy theory " — so designated to distinguish it from another and kindred theory, named the " lled- field theory." The latter theory, presented by W. C. Rcdlield, Escj., of New York, is supported by Lieut. Col. Reid, of the Royal Engineers, and Dr. Dove. Mr. Espy, in his theory, professes to explain all the phenomena of rain, hail, snow, waterspouts. Minds, and barometric fluctuations. The following Ls a brief synopsis of his theory : — 1. Atmospheric air is subject to expansion, — ei- ther by heat or by a diminution of pressure. 2. Aqueous vapor is specifically lighter than at- mospheric air, — its weight, under given circum- stances, being only about five eighths that of air. 3. "When a portion of air becomes lighter than the surrounding air, from expansion by heat, from being more highly charged with vapor, or from any other cause, it ascends. 4. Air, in ascending from a lower to a higher re- gion, is subject to diminished pressure, and conse- quently to expansion. 5. The atmosphere is capable of containing, and does always contain, a certain quantitj' of water in a state of transparent vapor. 6. This capacity of the atmosphere for containing water increases much more rapidly than the temper- ature. 7. The quantity of water actually in solution va- ries greatly at different times and places, independ- ently of the temperature ; the air, at a given tem- perature, sometimes being filled nearly or quite to the extent of its capacity, while at others, it falls far short of it. 8. If, from any cause, the temperature of a portion of air, containing a given quantity of vapor, be re- duced to a certain point, that is, at all below the dew-point, it must deposit a portion of the water. 9. Expansion, arising from diminished pressure, is attended by diminished temperature. The actual diminution of temperature, on this account, in as- cending from the surface of the earth, is about a degree and a fourth for every hundred yards ; and consequently air, highly charged with vapor, that is, with a high dew-point, would not have to ascend very high before condensation must commence. 10. The condensation of vapor is attended w'ith the disengagement of a very large quantity — more than a thousand degrees — of latent caloric. In other words, sufficient caloric is set at liberty, by the condensation of a given quantity of vapor, to raise the temperature of a hundred times that quan- tity of matter (of the same specific caloric) ten de- grees. Heat is the life-giving clement in this theory, as of every other storm theory. W. — Rural New-Yorker. riiYsicAL Influenck 01' IIaiut. — Proficiency in all handicrafts is the legitimate result of the jjliysical in- fluence of habits. The blacksmith makes a nail, for instance, well and tiuickly only after many and often rejieatcd trials. The haiul and eye must be edu.catcd, habituated to the work, and then they cannot fail. It is so with all mechanical professions. The artisan, by a long apprenticeship, becomes acquainted with the use of the proper tools, and at last tlie master of his trade, and the liabits then acquired, whatever may be his after situation, will influence his whole life. 264 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. The Fakmeu's Every-Day Book ; or Sketches of Social Life in the Country ; with the Popular Ele- ments of Practical and Theoretical Agriculture, and Twelve Hundred Laconics and Apothegms, relating to Ethics, Peligion, and General Literature ; also Five Hundred Receipts on Ilygeian, Domestic, and Rural Economy. By Rev. John L. Blake, D. D., Author of Family Encyclopaedia of General Literature, and a general Biographical Dictionary. Auburn, N. Y . : Derby MiUer & Co. 654 pp., octavo. — Among the most interesting and useful -works connected with agriculture, this must hold a conspicuous and high rank. Besides a large amount of practical matter, it abounds in valuable articles and sentiments that tend to improve the taste and elevate the farming commu- nity. The work is executed in a neat and handsome style, and embellished with beautiful and very ap- propriate engravings. Dr. Blake has been long and extensively known as a popular author of numerous works, and we are pleased that, with the wisdom of long experience and the ripeness of vigorous age, he has given his attention to agriculture, and has com- mended and adorned it with his polished pen. This work should not only be in the library of every farmer, but it should hold a prominent place in the library of every family in the country ; for it pre- sents ably and truly the importance of agriculture, and the advantages and pleasures of rural pursuits. Our readers will recollect that we have presented them with a few interesting articles from this work, which were politely furnished by the author previous to its pubhcation. The Illustrated Domestic Bible, No. 2. — We recently noticed this valuable work, by the Rev. J. Cobbin. Fetridge & Co., 20 State and 132 Wash- ington Streets. Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts, for 1850, with the Rolls and Messages. — This volume contains 584 pages, showing that the long session of the legisla- ture must have been a laborious one. Circular of the Central Committee of the United States on the Exhibition of all Nations, to be held in London, 185 1. Washington : printed by Robert A. Waters. — This is a pamphlet containing rules and regulations in regard to the great industrial show, with arrangements for forwarding articles from this country, all of which must pass under the inspection of the Central Committee, or a sub-committee ap- pointed in each state. liETTERS ON THE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY We are indebted to Hon. Horace Mann for his Letters on the Extension of Slavery into California and New Mexico, and on the duty of Congress to provide the trial by jury for alleged fugitive slaves. Farmer's Guide. — We have the fifth number of this able and instructive work, from Fetridge & Co. List of Premiums, and Rules and Regulations for the third Cattle Show and Horticultural Exhibition of the ^Xlarjland State Agricultural Society, to be held in Baltimore, Oct. 23, 24, and 25. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Of Mr. George Hyde, (of the late firm of S. & G. Hyde,) nurseryman, Newton, a box of Hyde's Late Black Cherry. This fruit strongly resembles, in ap- pearance, the Black Eagle, and, like this fine varie- ty, it is of a very rich and excellent quality. The Late Black is about a week later than the Black Ea- gle, and is a very promising kind. It is hardy and vigorous. Of Mr. John Washburn, Plpnouth, Knevette's Giant Raspberry. This is a large red berry, resem- bling the Fastolff in its general appearance. It ripens between the Fastolff" and Franconia, and is fully equal to either of them in quality, having more flavor than the former and less acidity than the latter. It ripens between these two, and the plants are said to be more hardy than either of them, so that they will endure our winters unprotected. It is new and promising. Also Ironmonger Gooseberries, remarkable for vigor and productiveness. The fruit is not largo, but the quality is better than that of extremely large kinds ; yet it has not that very fine pulp, delicate flavor, and smooth, thin skin of Houghton's Seedling. OUR GRANITE HILLS. " Thanks be to Goil for the mountains." EY MRS. SARAH J. HALE. "What glorious thoughts, what glorious themes To mountain tops belong ! The law from Sinai's summit came ; From Sion, sacred song ; — And Genius, on Parnassian heights. His banner first unfurled ; And from the seven-hilled city waved The sword that swayed the world ! Then let us raise the hymn of praise ; To us the hills were given ; And mountains' tops are altars set To lift the soul to heaven. Though Europe's plains are crushed with chains, As every tyrant wills, Yet Freedom's light is flashing bright Along Helvetia's hills ! And should our Eagle stoop his wing O'er prairie, plain, or sea. Mount Washington an eyrie holds Of deathless liberty ! Then let us raise the song of praise — To us the heights were given ; Our Granite Hills are altars all, To lift our hopes to heaven. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is pubhshed every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 416 pages, at gl a year, or five copies for ^^i payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ The Postage .^ On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1.^ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY ^m^^^mmBM / \v^V^,^w^v^vt DEVOTED TO JIGRICULTURS AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. VOL. II. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1850. NO. J7. S. W. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Peoprietor. THE CURCULIO. This formidable insect has done immense damage this season, by stinging plums and other fruits. In some sections nearly all the plums have been de- stroyed by it. "We have often recommended the use of salt as a remedy. It is not an infallible remedy or prevention, but it is usually a protection, and when it docs not prevent the evil it lessens it. A cultivator remarked to us, some years ago, that a i>lum-tree of good growth had borne no fruit, though it blossomed full every spiring. "\Ve advised him to apply salt early in the spring, which he did for several years, and he had good crops of fruit. Recently he neglected to salt the tree, and the fruit failed. Dr. S. A. Shurtlcff has used salt around his plum- trees for many years with good success, both in pre- venting the operations of the curculio, and the black wart ; and his valuable communications on this sub- ject, which we published some years ago, have been very instructive to others. A short time ago we were on the farm of Mr. Moses Jones, of Brooklinc, under whose skilful man- agement almost every spot of earth and every fruit- tree yields well ; and observing that his plum-trees were bending beneath their heavy and growing load of fruit, wo inquired how he prevented the depreda- tions of the curculio. lie said that he jarred the trees morning and evening, and let the curculios go as they fell from the trees, and they flew away and returned not, as he supposed. His plan was remark- ably successful, but as it is difficult to recognize these little insects, it would not be easy to determine whether his neighbors suffered from his driving, instead of killing the insects, from his trees. So a doubtful moral ciuestion is involved in this mode. Mr. John Day, of Bo.\ford, informs us that for some yeai-s his plum-trees, mostly the Green Gage, did not produce fruit, though they blossomed fully. This season he applied a small portion of salt to them in March, and in T^Iay, he applied more ; and as he had several trees of the same kind, he thought that he would " kQl or cure" in one case. So he spread around one tree, as far as the branches ex- tended, a peck of salt, nearly covering the ground. The tree is three or four inches in diameter ; it is so full of fruit that he finds it necessary to thin it. Other trees were salted less, and they have less fruit on them. Some of the fruit on this tree, which is a Green Gage, has been stung, but the operations of the curculio were abortive, as there have been no Avorms in the fruit. The fruit might become impregnated with salt, so as to prevent the hatching of the egg, or the devel- opment of the young ; or the curculio, on stinging the plum with its proboscis, might find the plum too brinj' for a nidus for its yo«ng. Without any regard to our suggestions, the facts communicated by Mr. Day favor the opinion of many that the prevention by salt is by its imparting a slight saline taste to the fruit, readily perceived by the insect, rather than by destroying the insect in the ground. THE SEASON AND THE CROPS. The WE.vrHER. — - May was a cold, wet month, and the spring was one of the most backward ever known. Pine weather commenced about the first of June, and since that time it has been very favorable for vegeta- tion. It has generally been warm, and we have had a good proportion of rainy and fair weather. There has been no drought, and only once have there been symptoms of it ; and even then the busy farmer wished for more sunshine that he might make hay. The Chops have generally been good, or are prom- ising. An abundant harvest will crown the labors of the skilful and industrious husbandman. 7/f/y. — This crop is one of the largest ever raised in New England. But farmers sliould be cautious, and not count too much upon it, and prepare to win- ter too much stock. Large hay crops do not spend well, and early in the season the grass was cut im- mediately after several weeks mostly of dull weather, and the hay, as well as the strawberries that ripened at that time, lacks substance and flavor. Old hay is mostly consumed throughout the country ; and owing to several fine seasons for grass, there is a great deal 206 NEW ENGLAND FARiMER. of stock in the land, and should it be low, an attempt will be made to winter an unusual amount; and should we have a long, cold winter, some will find that early in spring their cattle are not worth the value of the hay that they have consumed. Rijc is good, but a part of the crop has suffered from the unfavorable weather at harvest. Wheat. — It is too early to determine how far this crop will be affected by the great evils, rust and the grain worm. Indian Corn is rather backward, but it is growing luxuriantly, and gaining rapidly upon the season. Potatoes have had a fine season, and they are making a good growth. From the last of June to the present time, August 8, we have had frequent rains, and generally warm, muggy weather, just the kind that predisposes potatoes to rot, and in many cases they are becoming affected, in some localities, to a considerable extent. Bright weather, like the pres- ent day, may check it. Though we do not consider warm, wet weather the primary cause of potato rot, yet we regard it as one of the principal predisposing or secondary causes, and one which is indispensable to its production. Fruit. — Small fruits, such as strawberries, goose- berries, currants, raspberries, whortleberries, and blackberries, have been abundant, and this market has been well supplied with them for two months. They are delicious and wholesome, and fill an im- portant place between the late apples and the early apples, pears, peaches, plums, and grapes. Owing to the cold, wet weather in May, the crop of cher- ries was very light. There is a fair prospect for a middling crop of plums. Pears vary from empty trees to those that are breaking down under their loads, where the negligent cultivator has omitted to thin the fruit. See Mr. Ives's communication, show- ing that while the cold, wet weather totally de- stroyed all prospect of a crop from some varieties, others wholly escaped. The prospect for pears is generally pretty fair. The Bartlett, the leading pear in this section, is rather thin, which led some to suppose that it would be large and fine, but there is a blast upon it in many places, giving it a rusty appearance. There is a prospect of the largest peach crop ever raised in New England. Some cultivators have expended much time in thinning their fruit. The apple is the most important fruit, as we obtain large crops with little expense, and it is in use nearly the whole year, both for the kitchen and for the dessert. Apple-trees blossomed full, and there was a prospect of one of the greatest of crops ; but in warm situations in this region, and generally farther south, the blowth was before the cold, wet weather had passed, which caused great injury. But on high lands, and farther north, the trees did not blossom until we had pleasant weather, and excepting partial injury from the pelting of heavy storms, the season is favorable, and as is usual in crien years, we shall have a good, though not very great crop of apples. Farmers, as well as all others, have abundant rea- sons for gratitude to Him who givetb rain and sun- shine, seedtime and harvest ; and while we eat the fruits, may we remember whence every good an'd perfect gift comcth. SOWING GRASS SEED - IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. August is a very favorable season for sowing grass seed, especially when it is wet. It will answer to sow very early in September, but the sooner it is sown after the 1st of that month, the better. Omit the clover seed until March, as it is liable to winter- kill when sown late in summer or in fall. Grass lands that need renovation, and are too wet for tillage, may be improved by ploughing, thor- oughly inverting the sod, and laying it over smooth and even ; then manure the land well, and harrow thoroughly, first lengthwise, then obliqueh', so as not to turn up the sod. When finely and deeply pulverized, and the surface made level, sow grass seed, and then use a very light harrow or brush har- roAv. If grass lands are smooth and level, and free from coarse, wild grass, weeds, bushes, &c., they may be improved by a good top-dressing, without ploughing. In some cases lands have been kept in high condi- tion in this way for twenty j'ears, at small expense, and the crops have been large. Under this manage- ment, good grass land will furnish means not only for its own renovation, but a still larger amount of manure for the improvement of other lands. WATERING LANDS. A loamy soil, that is much watered, soon becomes hard, the surface is glazed, rendered in a great meas- ure impenetrable to the air, and consequently it is no longer capable of affording, in dry weather, the neces- sary nourishment to the plant. The sources of its fertility are obstructed. This may be better under- stood by some of our readers, when we state on the authority of Sir Humphry Davy, that a soil in the greatest degree absorbent, exposed to the atmosphere till it becomes dry to the touch, still contains mois- ture equal to one eighth part of its whole weight. This is discovered by subjecting it to a lieat indicated by 300° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Now, all water not chemically combined, but only " adlicring to parts of the soil, is in constant use in vegetation,'" and the one eighth part referred to is of this kind. If we estimate common fertile soils, however, as con- taining only one twelfth part, then in four hundred pounds of soil, even when it is dry to the touch, wc shall haye thirty-three pounds of water in store for the use of vegetation ; and it is particularly worthy of notice, that such soils, when deprived of a portion of this by plants, procure a fresh supply by con- stantly absorbing water from the atmosphere, where it exists in the state of vapor. In effect, a good soil is a perpetual fountain, even in dry weather. From these statements it must be evident that unless tlie ground is frequently cultivated, and kept mellow, so that between its particles the air can pass in, the latter cannot impart the moisture which it holds in solution ; but when the soil is frequently broken, minutely divided, and prevented from conglomerat- ing, it will ac(iuire and retain moisture. — Selected- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 267 NEW HORSE POWER AND GRIST-MILL. This cut represents a new railroad horse power, on the plan of the endless chain, with a mill attached for grinding grain. It is got up by Messrs. Emery & Co., of the Albany Agricultural Warehouse. The horse power combines the best advantages of the endless chain principle for economy, durability, con- venience, and for the ease, safety, and comfort of the laboring animals. The gearing is such that the fric- tion is slight, and the machine substantial, A good horse power affords numerous opportu- nities for substituting animal for manual labor ; which is of great impoTtance, as the former is far cheaper than the latter. The labor of a horse gen- erally costs less per day than that of a man, and yet the horse, in labor adapted to his condition, will do six times as much as a man. A machine con- structed like this which we have figured, is not liable to disorder, and its wear is so slight that the expense for repairs is but trifling. The mill attached is allowed to be of the best con- struction, and it operates with efficiency and de- spatch when driven by this power. The price is moderate, and the whole construction durable, ex- cepting the grinding plates, and a new set costs only $ 2, ON FATTENING CATTLE AND SWINE. The committee appointed to report on the best method of fattening cattle and swine would offer the following as tlicir views on the subject. (The present year there has been no application for pre- mium.) Select the best formed cattle, from five to eight years old, of quiet disposition, and good appetite, inclining to fatten. After the spring work is over, commence giving them the liost pasturage durin" the summer, also the best fall feed until they come to the barn ; then feed them with good hay and Indian meal, at first from one to two quarts per day, gradually increasing till six or eight quarts arc given, until they arc slaughtered, or about fiftec-n bushels of meal to each animal. This process fur- nishes the largest weight, the best quality of beef, commanding the highest price in the market, and at the present prices, a profit to the owner. Also, with respect to fattening swine, — sclent those weighing about one hundred pounds, whi:-h will cost about ,^.j each, purchasing corn at the com- mon rates. Keep them in a large, roomy yai"d, with a good supply of loam from the road-side, and mu.-k from the swamp, giving them a dry room to lodge in. Feed them with throe quarts of corn per dvA' for one year. This will give four hundred pountis of good pork, which has usually paid lor all the corn and the first cost of the animal ; and what is taken from the yard will pay well for all the labor Avhiih has been expended. For the committee. JEREMIAH COLMAN. Newburyport, Nov. 9, 1849. — Trans, Essex Ag. Soc. THE POTATO FLY. The potato crops ai-e suffering severely from tlic ravages of the "potato fly" — some patches, our own among the number, arc almost stripped of their leaves. We do not know what effect this will Inive upon the young jjotatoes, as we are wholly uniu- quainted witli the fl}', not having, to our kno\vledge, ever seen any thing of the kind. Can some one en- lighten us on the subject ? Will some one .ancrgan, of Boston. Those spa- cious halls are wcU-fillcd with the very best produc- tions of mechanical skill of almost every description. This show is not distinguished for a large number of new inventions, but a prominent feature is the supe- rior design and skilful execution of a vast number of productions, wliich gives it a peculiar richness and splendor, never before excelled, and probably never equalled in any former exhibitions of this associa- tion, or any other in the country. This fair is noted for a great variety of articles of decided necessity, convenience, and comfort, as well as of ta.stc, luxury, style, and fancy. Tlie agricul- tural implements hold a prominent and respectable place. In design, workmanship, neatness, and fine finish, they vie with the best articles in the exhibi- tion. The whole show is a grand specimen of tlie inge- nuity, skill, enterprise, intolligcnco, and industry of our New England people, and marks this emphat- ically as the age of improvement, and this as the peculiarly favored land of industry, skill, and enter- priae. 314 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. MIDDLESEX CATTLE-SHOW. This festival came off at Concord, on Wednesday of last -week. The day was fine, but rather forbid- ding in its appearance in the morning, which doubt- less kept some persons at home. The number in attendance was tolerably large. The finest part of the show was the ploughing match, which was well contested, on a piece of low land with a heavy soil, uneven surface, and tough sward, which required great strength and good discipline in the team, and skill in the ploughman, to do good work ; yet the ploughing was done remarkably well, which, under such unfavorable circumstances, was highly credit- able. Hon. George Boutwell, of Groton, delivered an able address. The subject was the character and influence of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The show of fruits was very good indeed, but not extensive. There were a few fine specimens of vege- tables. There were also but a few articles of do- mestic manufactures, and they were generally very good. The large fairs take up many of the best pro- ductions in this branch. The show of stock was pretty fair, but not large. There were not so many cattle on the grounds as were exhibited last year. Some of them were fine. The native cattle in this county are mostly of mod- erate or small size, and generally marked as good milkers. Only a few swine were shown, but the most of them were fine models for form and symmetry. For some years past, this society has shown some of the finest pigs that we have seen. Only one lot of fowls. No horses. As wc did not attend the dinner, wc cannot report the witty speeches and toasts that are usually heard at the festive board on such occasions at old Con- cord. The Independent Horse-rake was exhibited by Charles Gill, Esq., of Exeter, N. H,, and put in practical operation. It attracted much attention, particularly from the committee on implements, who gave it a complimentary notice, and awarded to Mr. GiU a gratuity of $5. CATTLE-SHOW AT WORCESTER. This farmers' holiday took place last week, on- Thursday. The day was fine, and the concourse of people that attended was immense, probably not less than ten or twelve thousand people. The large ex- hibition at Worcester attracted great attention ; and its central situation, with railroads diverging in every direction, afl'ord great facilities for travelling to that point. The ploughing match did not excite much inter- est ; and although this county has a larger number of working oxen than any other in the state, and probably as fine or finer ones, there were on the field only twelve single teams ; and the land was so very light and easy to plough, that one horse, or a yoke of steers, with a boy, was sufficient team to do good work. With fine teams, skilful ploughmen, and good implements, the work was, of course, very well done. The show of cattle was very large, and of almost every description known in this country, and of almost every class. There were calves, heifers, steers, bulls, cows, working oxen, and fat cattle. Of breeds, there were the native, the Durham, Ayr- shire, Devon, Creampot, and some others, though thej' might not bo named ; and these were mixed and compounded in almost every way, forming all kinds of crosses, so that we should deem it almost impossible to describe some of the varieties, a few generations hence, on a common card. Generally the cattle are large, and well adapted to labor and beef; and some animals were fine models for milkers. But the cattle of this county, generally, do not indicate that milk is the leading object, and perhaps it is not well that it should be. It is a very desirable object, but unattainable, to combine, in the same race, good working, milking, and beef properties. Animals well made for milk will not generally fatten readily ; and the animal that is well made for strength, and abounds in muscle, is not well made to secrete milk, and change food into the liquid element. The show of swine was rather small ; less in ex- tent, and not so fine in appearance, as at former shows. Yet some specimens were very good. Only a few sheep. No horses. Why not ? There was a good show of fowls, much better than we usually see at cattle-shows. The butter and cheese were of fine appearance ; but, for so large an agricultural county, the quantity was rather small. On the whole, the show was very good, and satis- factory and instructive to the large number of spec- tators ; and it gave ample testiraonj^ that the heart of the commonwealth is gradually improving in agri- culture and its kindred arts. Rev. Mr. Tracy, of Sutton, delivered the addre.S3 at the dinner table, which we did not attend, as w« wished to spend a few hours in the horticultural rooms. The address was commended as brief, sen- sible, and instructive. Ex-Governor Lincoln, the president of the society, presided at the table in his usual style of courtesy, pleasantry, and wit. MAKING STONE FENCE. With us the motto would be, whenever stones were removed from the field. Put them into a wall. If ten rods cannot be made, make five, and the next time the field is ploughed, and more loose stones appear, make five rods more, but do not throw them into the corners of the fence, nor into the street. As to the kind of wall, we should like to see posts with two wires connected with a wall. If boards arc put upon the posts, the wind frequently moves the posts and injures the wall. We feel confident that a wall with wired posts may be made one half a foot thin- ner than when boards are used, and yet be more durable. The posts might be smaller, and the cost, on the whole, much less. — Culturist and Gazette. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 315 RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON, & CO.'S NEW STUBBLE PLOUGH. OF PLOUGHS AND PLOUGHING. Editors op the Ci'ltivator : In the Cultivator for March last, there are some ideas of mine upon "Ploughs and Ploughing." I there mentioned that, with such ploughs as I had used, I had not been able to turn stubble land in a manner that seemed to me to be the most desirable, nor to plough so deep a furrow in greensward land as I wished; that I had stated my difficulties to Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason, & Co., and that they were getting up some new patterns of ploughs with the intention of obvi- ating my difficulties. These gentlemen have now completed three sizes of a new plough for green- sward, and two sizes for stubble land. One of the largest of each size I have tested thoroughly, and I am now happy to be able to say that they meet my wants entirely. The mould-board of the stubble plough is of a considerably shorter construction, and is wider at the heel, in proportion to its length, than that of any good sod plough ; and this gives it great turning power, enabling it to take up its loose furrow-slice, throw it all over to the desired place, completely in- verting as well as pulverizing it, and leaving a clean channel behind for the reception of the next furrow. The castings, both of the mould-board and land side, are considerably higher than is usual in ploughs, which prevents stones and clods of earth from fall- ing over and down between them, and thus aiding to fill up the furrow channel. The beam, immediately forward of the standard-bolt of the castings, is high and arching, giving a clear space of eighteen inches between the beam and the sole of the castings. — When the plough is at work in the furrow, the extra space left between the surface of the ground and the plough-beam, in consequence of the increased height of the latter, effectually prevents the wadding up of stubble, coarse manure, or other impediments, im- mediately forward of the standard ; and thus ai'C avoided those vexations so frequently experienced when ploughs of the common construction are used. In June last, for the express purpose of testing this plough in regard to its ability to keep itself clear from clogging, I spread a dressing of the coarsest kind of long manure over an acre of corn-stubble land, and set the plough at work in furrows eight inches deep. The acre was ploughed, and the ma- nure all covered, without once stopping the plough to clear it, and without any effort on my part to pre- vent its clogging. With this implement, the plough- man may choose any furrow he pleases, from five to twelve inches deep. The small size of the stubble plough is intended to meet the wants of those fann- ers who work their stubble lands with light teams. The largest size is easily drawn, in sandy or gravelly loams, by a pair of stout horses or oxen, if the fur- row is not more than eight inches deep. U)r^<^ RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON, & CO.'S NEW SWARD PLOUGH. The greensward plough is of quite different con- struction from that of the stubble plough. Its point is long, rising very gradually towards the standard, with a share gradually widening to its full breadth and cut. The plough enters thr ground in the form, so to speak, of a long, tapering wedge, lifting th'- 316 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. furrow-slice in a gentle and easy manner, laying it smoothly over into its proper place, with an easy draught by the team, and -with little assistance from the ploughman. It has also a space of eighteen inches between the beam and the sole of the cast- ings, which prevents all clogging. The roller is at- tached to the side of the beam, instead of being placed under it, and consequently it can be made ten to twelve inches in diameter, thus avoiding that constant groaning and laboring iijjon the axis which are liable to occur where small rollers are used. The dial-clevis and draught-rod, by which the team is attached to the plough, is an improvement, I think, upon the common clevis. Besides being a stronger and more durable attachment, it enables one to set his plough with entire accuracy in any desired fur- row, from the shallowest and narrowest to the deep- est and widest, that it is capable of taking. The largest size of the greensward plough is in- tended for the draught of four cattle. I have used it, and it works well in furrows all the way from six to twelve inches deep, but it delights especially in deep furrows. When set for ploughing a foot deep, the most proper width for it to take is sixteen to sev- enteen inches ; and the width of course lessens with the lessening of the depth. The next size is a three cattle plough, to be used in furrows not exceeding nine or ten inches in depth. The smallest size is a two cattle plough, designed for furrows not exceed- ing seven or eight inches in depth. The height of beam is the same in all the sizes, and the general form and principles of working are the same ; the variations being in the amount of work done, and the force of team necessary to do it. The accompanying cuts show the general form of these ploughs. F. HOLBROOK. Bkattleboro', Vt., Auff. 12, 1850. — Albany Cultivator. For the New England Farmer. PEACH-LEAF CURL. !Mu. Cole : I perceive, in the last number of the N. E. Farmer, that Dr. Brown attributes the curl of the peach leaf to the " cold northerly and easterly winds in the month of May." These views, you say, coincide with your own. Now, gentlemen, with all due courtesy, I would beg leave to differ from you as to the cause. This peach-leaf curl is no new disease ; it has existed for several years, and has shown itself about the same time, (from the middle of May to the middle of June,) and we always have more or less cold north and east winds in the spiiiig of the year ; and, for aught we know, these may be an inciting cause; but how does it happen, if thej- are the immediate or sole cause, that the trees are not more universally art'ccted ? For so far as our observation extends, not more than one tree in twenty has shown symptoms of the blight, and those rarely contiguous, but scat- tered about in all ])arts of the orchard ; and then there appears to be little or no difference in the prev- alence cf the disease in any location. If your theory were correct, we might expect to find trees more all'ectcd in elevated positions, or near the sea-shore, exposed to the most chilling blasts ; and yet we find those trees no more affected with the curl than trees more remote, and in a sheltered position, or even trees trained to a high board fence, with a southern exposure. \Ve should think the curled leaf described by Dr. Brown was more virulent than we are accustomed to in this region, and somewhat anal(|gous to the " yel- lows," for he says, " The leaves have been gradually dropping from the trees to this time, (Aug. 1,) and those now on the trees are from new shoots," &c. The curled leaf has not thus affected trees that have come under our observation ; and we challenge any one now, having no knowledge of the fact, to desig- nate a tree in our orchards (and we have more than three hundred trees) that has been affected with the bUght. M^e know of no instance in which the dis- ease has proved fatal ; it undoubtedly retards the growth of the tree in a measure, but it is of short duration, and the trees put forth new foliage, and the second growth is vigorous. The " yellows," if we understand it, (for we have no experience in the matter,) causes the fruit to ripen prematurely, sends out new shoots, causes a general decay, and speedy death ensues. There seems to be but little analogy between the yellows and curled leaf; but as to the cause and rem- edy, we are as much in the dark as we are of the present locality of '< the lost tribe of Israel." C. Pembroke, Sept. 7, 1850. Remarks. — The "yellows" in peaches is a per- manent, and generally a fatal disease, which may be propagated by contagion. The "curled leaf" is a temporary disease, that affects the foliage. It is of a transient nature, and it only affects the tree as would the destruction of the foliage from any other cause. This season our most healthy trees were severely affected with this leaf disorder, and it came upon them suddenly, like a blast. We think it comes too suddenly, and operates in too cool and stormy weather to be the effect of insects ; hence we infer that it is a blast from unfavorable weather. On our grounds, which are near the sea, almost every tree was affected with the curled leaf, and among them many healthy young seedlings, that are very hardy against cold weather. The few that es- caped were evidently more hardy against the blast than others ; for one kmd, that was peculiar in this respect, escaped in several situations, though amidst others which were much injured. We had several early varieties, that were only one year from the bud, and yet they blossomed full ; among them Avas Hall's Down-Easter, a very hardy kind against cold weather. The effect of the curled leaf was the destruction of the fruit on all but Crawford's Early Melocoton : this escaped the disease, though in a row beside those affected, and it bore fruit. The fruit on older trees was not so much affected, though the curl was equally destructive to the foliage. The views of correspondents on this subject are very acceptable. We may learn important facts by investigation and the expression of various opin- ions. — Ed. For the New Emjland Fartner. SPENT TAN BARK. Mr. Editor : Will you, or some of your corre- spondents, inform a young farmer whether tan bark can be made valuable as a manure ; and if so, what is the best mode of applying it ? 1 sliould think to pile it up into a heap, and mix swamp muck, ashes, and ])ut on all the sink-water and soap-suds ; every farmer has a large quantity of this material. One of my neighbors is a tanner, and has a large quantity NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 317 of this spent bark, and wishes me to try some of it. Now, if any one of our good farmers will inform me, I shall be much obliged. Will some of our mechanics have the goodness to give a plan of a sweep horse-power ? I wish to build one in my wood-house to saw my wood with. Very respectfully vours, B. F. CONANT. Lyme, N. H. Remauks. — Mix spent tan bark in layers with liberal quantities of lime, ashes, potash, or other alkalies, and let it remain until it becomes old and mellow, losing its tannic acid, or astringent principle. This may require a year or two. The preparation of a compost, as mentioned by our correspondent, will be a good mode, but it must remain some time, that the tan may become partially decomposed, and lose its astringency. If tan be thrown into a heap not so deep as to pro- tect the centre from the modifying influences of heat, air, and rain, it will become partially decomposed in a few years, and make a good manure, particularly for trees and shrubs ; but it will be the better by mixing lime or ashes with it, and forming a compost with mud, peat, or loam, and a little animal manure. Soap-suds, sink- water, and urine wiU make valuable additions to any compost heap. — Ed. For the Neio England Farmer. ON RAISING PLUMS. Friend Cole: In No. 17 of your paper, I noticed an article under the caption *' To protect Plums," in which the writer informs us he once owned a farm two years, and had had some experience in the cul- ture of the plum. The first j'ear he had no ripe fruit. The second year he hired a man to trim his orchard, who inquired if he should trim the plum-trees: he replied, no ; he had concluded to cut them down, as they bore no fruit ; but being told they would bear well if trimmed while in full bloom, he consented to let them stand, and had them trimmed accordingly. To his astonishment he had a great supply of fruit of the best quality for two years, when he disposed of his farm ; and he goes on to say, he had no doubt, by jiruning as above described, they would continue to bear as long as they lived, and that the pruning added to their longevity : that, instead of its being the insects which cau'^c the plums to fall, it Mas owing to the top of the tree being too large. I should suppose, l)y the above, that its author was not acquainted with that species of insect which destroys so much fruit of different kinds, especially the phun ; it ho had born, he would not have ad- vamed >uch crude mitioiis as the above. In the same paper. ^Mr. J. Day, of Boxford, states that he saved his plums by applying salt to the earth around the trees as far as the branches extend ; in one case, he put a peck of salt to one tree. I think if he Hi>plies the same quantity another year, he will find neither plum nor tree alive. I judge by what I have seen in this place, of the application of salt for three years, without saving a plum, but to the injury of the trees. In this town there is an unusual quantity of plums this year, although their (quality is somewhat injured by cracking ; some kinds rot liad also. Is not our good crop owing to an open winter, such as the last, which destroys many insects ? and to the late and wet spring ? Some have syringed their trees with salt brine, and others with sulphur water, and all have an abundance of plums. Being in the employ of ^Vllen Rowe, he desired me to take care of his plum-trees. I consented, and com- menced syringing them, soon after the fruit began to set, Avith sulphur water and whale-od soap ; but the practice which was most successful, and best adapted, in my opinion, to stop the ravages of the curculio, was shaking the frees, while a cloth the size of a sheet is held under the branches completely around the trees. I went through the operation lor weeks, oi shaking, sometimes once and sometimes thrice a day. The last time 1 found any curculio was the 18th of July, up to which time I destroyed more than one hundred and fifty of them. This is the first year that plums have been perfect on the trees. Smith's Orleans cracks some, and the Washington rots on the trees, owing, perhaps, to the season being un- usually wet. The Beurre Diel pear cracks bad oh the quince and on the pear stocks. From plums put in a vial August 1st, that con- tained the larva, there are now perfect curculios. Potatoes are rotting very much. Yours respectfully, BENJAMIN BOYNTON, Jk. Remarks. — Pruning plum-trees will cause them to produce finer crops ; but the pruning should be done in the same way as that of the peach, by head- i7ig in. All stone fruit should be pruned in this way, excepting a few limbs may be cut at the trunk while the tree is young, to give it proper height and form. — Ed. For the New England Fanmer. PLOUGHS. Mr. Editor : As I was passing through the city of Poughkeepsie, on the east bank of the Hudson, I noticed a plough with a mould-board about eighteen inches long, (or half the usual length,) and with but one handle, with a pin about twelve inches long through the upper part. I inquired of the propri- etor of the store before which it was placed, the pur- pose for which it was there. He answered, " To he sold." I asked if such ploughs were salable in that region ; he said, " Yes, there was no demand for any other." They had sometimes attempted to sell the I)loughs made in Massachusetts, with two handles, and long mould-boards, but the farmers there did not like them. On looking at the land in and about the city, I could not sec that it varied essentially from the land in the counties of Norfolk and Worces- ter ; where, I am confident, ploughs of this de- scription would be thrown one side, as of no value. IIow does it happen that cultivators of the soil are so dilatory in adopting improvements ? If I do not mistake, these cast-iron, short mould-boards were first introduced by Wood, of Western New York, for which a patent was obtained about thirty years since, a renewal and further extension of which has been sought the past season. But that they can be as valuable, and as conveniently managed with one handle as with two, is to me highly imiirobable. I confess I was struck with astonishment, that there should be a region within one hundred miles of New York or Boston, where modern improvements had so imperfectly penetrated. I had supposed the Eag.'e of Ruggles & Co., and the Centre Draught of Prouty, had taken possession, more or less, of every corner of our land. t>cpt. 10, 1850. 318 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Farmer. THE LATE WILLIAM STICKNEY. To THE Editor of the N. E. Farmeh : The grave has closed over another of the farmer's friends. In the bosom of his mother earth sleeps peacefully, now, one who, a short month ago, walked in the height of health and strength, among his growing crops, and had his hopes, and his fears, his calculations, and his disappointments. Now, still in his narrow bed, all hopes and fears, all forethought and all regret, are merged in a changeless, and, we humbly trust, a happy certainty. William Stickney was a farmer to his heart's core. Amid all the excitement of a city life, and the fasci- nations of business enterprise, his thoughts ever turned, with unvarying constancy, in their search for comfort, to the hill-side where roamed his noble Devons ; to the vale where pastured the gentle South- Down ; where grew the tasselled com and the wav- ing wheat. Thither, as a bird to her nest, he sped to lay down care at the gate, .and to call up all the cheerfulness of other days. The care-worn man became a hope- ful, free-hearted youth, when his foot pressed the greensward of his mountain homo. And the echoes of the hills welcomed, and returned the gleeful laugh of the man that yesterday was the thoughtful, word- sparing merchant of State Street. It was as a breeder that Mr. Stickney had especial claims upon the grateful remembrance of the farmer. His Devons, which he has imported and bred in their purity, will challenge comparison with any other herd of this breed in the country ; while his judi- cious crosses upon the celebrated " Creampots " of Col. Jaques, have furnished grade-animals, that will compare at the pail with the milky Short-horns. The older cows of this herd yield from twenty-three to thirty quarts of milk per day, at the height of their flow. The South-Downs of his importation and pur- chase also rank with any flock that has come under my notice. In his stock of swine, however, there is no one in the country, so far as I am informed, that pretends to a rivalry. The beautiful Suffolk, the favorite breed of the late king of England, and also of the present farmer- prince ; the solid and substantial Middlesex ; the clean-limbed, kind-feeding Essex, may aU be seen in his pens at Westminster, Vt., and will weary the nicest judgment with their strong and conflicting claims to superiority. Tired at last with the task that is ever beginning anew, the doubtful purchaser or judge assures himself to a certainty, by selecting all the three. It was of a Suffolk sow, of Mr. Stickney's impor- tation, that our friend, of world-wide celebrity as a breeder, (and an old-fashioned gentleman, let me add,) Col. Jaques, of the Ten Hills Farm, advised Mr. Webster as follows : " Mr. Stickney has now im- ported a sow, from which we may form a breed that will defy the world." In this opinion, Mr. Web- ster, upon a careful inspection, coincided. Col. Jaques is at work with the models now, but the moulds are at Mr. Stickney's farm. How much comfort have not these humble but useful animals afforded to the enterprising and en- thusiastic farmer who has gone from us, as they grew under his watchful eye, models of form ! and how cheering to the good heart, now still, that to beauty was added utility ! If we rear a column to him who has devastated a province, and scorched the teeming earth from hori- zon to horizon into the sterility of a desert, consis- tency claims that we should not thus mark our appre- ciation of the just and the good, who feed the hun- gry and clothe the naked, by bringing within their reach the best and most economical means of supply. To these men is erected a column of blessings from grateful hearts, that overtops the pyramids, for it reaches heaven, and will outlive them, for it endures as long as want and gratitude exist. To the inventor of the cotton gin, which so mate- rially reduced the expense of cotton-cleaning, and consequently of the cloth, how grand a pile of grat- itude has been built by thankful hearts, that never knew his name ! Hastening home with the speed of the wind, to share some new-found joy or sudden sorrow of those dear to us, we invoke a blessing on him who harnessed the resistless power of steam, to be our fleet, yet docile coursers. Unconsciously to ourselves, we pay this silent tribute to a benefactor. And hereafter, sir, when these improved animals shall have driven out of reach the hungry, unthriv- ing beasts that, without adequate return, eat up the substance of the poor, and shall furni.sh to him com- fortable subsistence for himself and his family at light expense, let then the " blessing of him that was ready to perish " be the monument of William Stickney. W. S. K. For the Neio England Farmer. EARLY MATURITY OF FOWLS. Mil. Cole : The subjoined paragraph has been going the rounds of the papers, as giving a fact of unusual occurrence : — " In Newark, N. J., a gentleman has two chickens which began to lay when four months old, two months sooner than usual." I have met with it so frequently, that it has in- duced me to offer the result of my own stock's val- uable qualities. About the first of last March, I gave half a dozen eggs, a cross between the Shang- hae and the Black Poland, to Mr. William HiUman, of Prince Street, Boston. They all hatched out on the 25th of the same month, and one of the pullets — the only pullet from the eggs, I believe — laid on the 9th of August, and laid an egg daily fur the next fourteen days, without intermission. It will be no- ticed that she was only four months and fourteen days old when she laid her first egg. In my own yard I have pullets of the same cross, hatched from the 5th to the 11th of April last, that have laid for some days ; while I have full-blood Shanghaes of both the Forbes and Marsh fowls. White Dorkings, Bolton Grays, and Black Polands, of the same age, that do not yet bear fruit. The inferential fact de- duced from these statements seems to be, that this particular cross show earlier maturity than the full- blood fowls exhibit. What is the experience of others ? !• F. S. SoMERViLLE, Sept. 12, 1850. For the New Eiigland Farmer. WINTER WHEAT IN MAINE. Mr. Cole : That Maine has become satisfied it is too expensive to go to New York to mill, is becoming quite evident, from the off'ort making to raise her own bread. Several hundred bushels of winter wheat were sown last fall in this state, and scarcely has a failure been known, under good management, of realizing a good, and in many instances a very large crop, ranging from fifteen to fifty bushels to an acre. Much has been sown the present fall ; in some sections nearly every farmer has tried a little, from NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 319 one to ten bushels ; and even I have heard of some who have sown from fifteen to twent}'-five bushels. Seed has now become very scarce, and many will not be able to obtain it, unless they make use of wheat obtained from the west for grinding, which will not be likely to succeed so Avell as the Kloss or Blue- stem variety, which is mostly raised, and believed to be the best adapted to the climate of Maine. Should the next season prove as faA'orable as the last for winter wheat, a largo amount will be raised, furnish- ing seed in abundance, and much to manufacture into flour, superior to that generallv obtained from abroad. A MAINE FAllMER. A MACHINE WANTED. Among the innumerable inventions which have rendered the present age celebrated, we have not found or heard of one that is just what we need for hulling barley. There have been several invented, which promised, for a time, to work well ; but either they were not durable, or did not work in all respects so perfectly as was wished, or they were too expen- sive. Now, hulled barley is an article that would come into extensive use and demand, could it be provided cheaply. We do not by this mean what is sold at the apothecaries' shops under the name of "pearl barley," but the barley deprived merely of its hull. It is then a wholesome, nutritious article for scups and puddings, and it would supply the place of rice very extensively, provided it could be pre- pared at a cheap rate. Several years ago, the Ken- nebec County Agricultural Society offered a pretty generous premium for a machine that would hull barley or oats in an expeditious and perfect manner. Two or three machines were brought forward, but none of them exactly came up to what was desired. Tlie best one that was offered was the invention of a couple of young men east of this, whose names we do not recollect. It was made, if wo mistake not, in this manner : A wheel, say a foot and a half in diameter, and three inches thick, was filled with board nails, (cut nails,) with their points projecting outwards. This was hung on an axis, with a case or shell, wliich shell was also full of similar nails, with their points projecting inwards. The wheel was made to revolve with great speed, and the barley, which was fed in by means of a hopper, was thus subjected to a terrible scratching among the nails. This would hull admirably for a short time ; but the nails soon grew dull, and needed to be replaced very often, and hence it was not used long. We used barley that was hulled in it, and found it to be ex- cellent. Cannot some Yankee invent a machine for this business that will be cheap, efficient, and durable ? If so, let him speak. — Maitie Fanner. GRAPES. It seems now to be pretty well settled that large portions of our country are eminently calculated for the culture of the grape. Already, in the vicinity of Cincinnati and St. Louis, large vineyards are estab- lished, and large quantities of wine annually manu- factured. The groat incjuiry of interest connected with this enterprise is for native grapes of good qual- ities. The foreign varieties fail in tliis country, and growers have as yet but two varieties, the Isabella and Catawba. Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, has repeatedly ad- vertised for cuttings of native grapes. He has received from various sources over three hundred specimens, which he has tried, and has found among them all only four or five that ho thinks will pro 'C to be good wine or table grapes. A little attention to our wild grapes may discover some new varieties that would prove to be valuable. We have spoken of this subject as an introduction to our acknowledg- ments to W. Choate, Esq., of Derry, for some very large, nice, and early grapes. We should douot whether the variety would ever be of the first value as a table grape, but it seems to us to possess qualities that would render it valuable as a wine grape. The specimens sent us, however, were by no means bad to take. We aj^pend the statement of Mr. C. with regard to the grape and the effect a change to a richer soil has had upon it. We would recommend that Mr. Choate should manufacture some wine from it, if he has not already, and test its quaUty. " The sample Avhich I send you is from a native vine, which was transplanted from the woods to my garden six years since. It has produced abundantly with cultivation, and has become about thirty days earlier than the original stock, and fifteen days earlier than any other m this place, and very much larger. Some have measured three inches in circumference. Of the quality, you wUl judge." — Granite Farmer. CELLARS. Probably one of the chief causes why vegetables of certain kinds, particularly carrots, beets, and turnips, rot so soon after being deposited in the win- ter bins, is the want of proper care in ventilating the cellars in which they are deposited. The Germans, who are famed for their exemplary domestic economy, are rigidly circumspect in this particular. In all or most of their houses there is a communication main- tained between the cellar and the principal chimney, in order to facilitate the escape of the noxious and stagnant gases engendered by the vegetable and other contents. It is a well-known fact that the air in cellars, from its rapid deterioration and impregnation by nauseous miasma, soon becomes highly deleterious to health ; and to this fact, doubtless, is attributable, in a great measure, the almost uninterrupted ill health of many families among us, both in town and country. — Berkshire CuUurist. New Hampshire Wine. — We had not supposed that there was a drop of grape wine manufactured in the state ; but were agreeably disappointed, the other day, by receiving from Mr. Conant, of Milford, a half dozen bottles of delicious wine, manufactured by himself. It is a perfectly pure article, no alcohol hav- ing been put into it, in any shape, during its manu- facture. Many friends have tasted it with us, and all uiute in pronouncing it A No. 1. — Grafiite Farmer. HINTS ABOUT MANURES. One of the most important things that should claim the attention of the farmer, is the management of his stables and yard ; and yet how much are these neg- lected ! Did farmers but know their interest, they would devote more time to these. Two very valua- ble portions of manures, and whicli are great pro- moters of the growth and fructUity of vegetation, are uric acid, and the ammonia which is generated. These, being volatile, speedily evaporate, unless pre- ventive means arc adopted. Frequently have I noticed large yards of manure exposed to the scorch- ing sun and drenching rains. Little thought the 320 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. owners that the most valuable portion was being evaporated and washed away. One half the quantum in bulk, to which the proper and necessary attention had been psijd, would have been more valuable. My mode and manai;cment of the yard, S:c., being differ- ent, and, as I think, entirely superior to any I have observed, I give it for the benefit of your readers. The whole yard containing the manure should be under cover. It should be large enough to contain, besides the manure, lime, charcoal dust, braize, saw- dust, or spent tan — the charcoal, if practicable, and road scrapings, loam or dirt dug from fence rows, of each a heap, large or small, in proportion to the quantity of manure likely to be made. The bottom of the yard should be hollowed out, in a partially concave manner, in order to prevent the escape of all liquids ; this should be covered with a slight coating of charcoal dust, and then each time you remove the manure from your stables, which should be at least once a week, you should spread it evenly over the yard, cover it with another thin coating of charcoal, one of lime, and finally with dirt. The heap should be occasionally sprinkled with common salt, pickle or fish brine, and well moistened with all the soap- Buds, &c., you can save and collect. The lime assists ihe decomposition, the earth becomes permeated and impregnated with the generated ammonia, and hence becomes manure. The charcoal retains the uric acid, and whatever other volatile portions that would otherwise escape. The salt so acts upon the seeds of weeds, &c., that are in the manures, as to prevent their germinating when hauled out into the field, and the soap-suds, &c., besides aiding the " manure making " process, prevents the heap from '^Jlre fann- ing." E. S. A. P. — Dollar Neicsvaper. ALL ABOUT APPLES. Picking Winter Apples. — The usual time of pick- ing winter apples is the last of September, or the fore part of October ; many leave them until the middle of October, which improves the flavor, though they do not keep so well. In order to pick them, some take a small basket in the tree, fill it, and then let it down by means of a rope, which will upset the basket. As a better mode, some recommend placing bags or piles of hay under the tree to throw the apples on ; the hay to be so formed that the apples will roll off as soon as it strikes ; but I would recommend to fruit- gatherers the machine called a " fruit-gatherer," an axlicle by which a man is enabled to pick the fruit while standmg on the ground, and also much faster than in any other way. The apple should bo pulled so as to retain the small stem only ; and to do this it is necessary that the upple should be pulled in a right line with the stem. If the apple is twisted a little, it will come off easy without the leaf. Preserving Winter Apples. — After picking in the fall, the apples should be kept in some cool shed until the weather becomes so cold as to render their removal to the cellar necessary, in order to keep them from freezing ; for it is heat and moisture that hastens their decay. Apples that are to be kept long must be kept cool and dry. A cellar which has ice in one part of it is desirable. We have always found them to keep best by having hanging shelves for their reception. Another Mode. — To keep Apples for Spring Use. — The following, judging from experience, I believe to be a very elficient mode of keeping apples: They are to be kept in chaff. First put a layer of chaff sprinkled with quicklime over the bottom ; then a layer of apples, followed by another stratunr of chaff and lime, and so on until the cask is filled. In regard to this method, the editor of the Genesee Farmer says, — " It is well known to all those who have been in the practice of burying apples in heaps, that the fruit comes out in the spring much fresher, and oftener flavored than it does Avhen kept in open bins in the cellar — a part of the flavor, in the latter case, doubt- less evaporating. This method has all the advantage of burying, with another which we will explain. When one apple among many in a bin rots, the adjoining ones are contaminated ; and not unfre- quently a mass of rottenness occurs, surrounded by much sound fruit. Now the use of the lime is to absorb the gases generated by the putrefaction, and prevent such leaven from spreading." It does not recjuire much lime ; less than a quart for a barrel is sufficient. Apples for Stock. — As there are always at this time of the year apples lying under the trees rotting, per- haps a few remarks in regard to feeding them to stock, will not come 'amiss to some of your readers. They may be turned to profit by feeding them to hogs, cows, horses, and sheep, as they are admirably adapted to promote the thrift of stock generally. Some have imbibed a very strong prejudice against feeding them to cows ; but the idea that cows fed on them will shrink their milk, is altogether absurd ; that is, when fed in a judicious manner, with ripe, well-matured apples. I have no doubt that if fed too freely, when the food taken is of a succulent and fermentable nature, it will be likely to produce fever ; but overfeeding with potatoes, &c., will be just as likely to prove injurious. As to the quantity which should be given a common-sized cow, I would not recommend more than a peck to half a bushel, ac- cording to the appetite of the animal. This amount will answer the purpose of a liberal feeding with hay and grain. LEOXADE. — Dollar Newspaper. HARVESTING ROOTS. It is a great error to suppose that roots, such as beets, turnips, carrots, &c., when intended for stock- feeding, should be housed early. It is, on the con- trary, much better to let them remain out till the weather becomes quite severe. A heavy frost does not injure the turnip, if it is in the soil. I have known the ground to freeze quite hard before their removal, and no injurious consequences resulted from the circumstance. And beside, the growth of the turnip, after the weather becomes cold, is much more rapid than during the milder season. Cabbages, like tui-nips, are also very essentially benefited by remain- ing out, even till snow falls. Some, indeed, allow them to remain out all winter ; but this is a pernicious practice, for although they are liable to become dis- eased, and rot, if they are too early removed to the cellar, yet it is always well to have them under cover, in order that they maybe " available" when wanted for use. I^' — Germa}itow7i Telegraph. Men who know the same things are not long the best company for each other. But bring to each an intel- ligent person of another experience, and it is as if you let off water from a lake, by cutting a lower basin. It seems a mechanical advantage, and great benefit it is to each speaker, as he can now paint out his thought to himself. We pass very fast, in our personal moods, from dignity to dependence. And if any appear never to assume the chair, but always to stand and serve, it is because we do not see the company in a sufficiently long period for the whole rotation of parts to come about. — Emerson. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 321 CATTLE TIE. BULL RING. The cattle tie is a very convenient chain for con- fining cattle in the stables. The large ring moves up and down the stanchion or post. When not in use, it is hung upon a pin in the stanchion, above the animal's neck. On confining the animal, the chain is dropped astride his neck, and the T end is run through one of the small rings, according to the size of the animal's neck, where it remains fast. This fastening is cheap, neat, durable, convenient, and secure; it is also the most comfortable way of confining an animal to a post, as the chain easily Inlays up or down, according to the motion of the animal, in eating, lying down, and rising. The old mode of fastening animals with bows is discarded by those farmers who know the superiority of the tie chain. The bull ring is made very neatly. It opens on a hinge, and is fastened with a screw, all smooth and even with the ring, as may be seen in the cut. This ring is easily ii^serted into the nose of the bull, by punching the cartilage between the nostrils. The most savage and refractory bull becomes tame and submissive on having this neat and simple attach- ment, as the attendant has complete control over him, and he may be led by the nose as readily as the most servile politician. WORCESTER HORTICULTURAL EXHIBI- TION. "We had the pleasure of visiting this show last week, and wo found that this young association, in some departments, outrivallod some of her older sis- ters. The show of fruit was extensive and excel- lent. There were not so many pears as we find at the show in this city, or in Esse.x county ; but this branch was respectable in extent, and in quality equal to any thing to be found in any section. Some pears are fairer in that section than in this, being less exposed to cold storms and sea breezes. The Bartlett pears are much finer in that region ; the Seckcl is generally inferior, the same as it is here. The display of apples was large, and very fine in appearance. Among them were many nameless va- rieties, very fair and beautiful ; but their real merits are but little known to the public. We hope that the committee -will examine into the qualities of all valuable varieties, and introduce them to the public under an appropriate name, and with a definite de- scription. In a new association, the officers have a great deal of labor on their hands, if they discharge their duty so as to promote the good of the commu- nity. The show of peaches was very fine ond large, and among the largest and handsomest were many new seedlings. Worcester possesses one of the finest lo- cations in the world for fruits ; her soil is congenial to their production, and these natural advantages arc seconded by numerous enterprising and intelligent cultivators. A combination of these favorable cir- cumstances will produce wonders, and cause the hills and dales to blossom with beauty, and smile with plenty. AN AGENT TO DECOMPOSE OLD TAN. Messrs. Editors : Observing in your paper an in- quiry for an agent to decompose old fan in three months, permit me to submit the following mode : — Make an admixture of lime and salt in the follow- ing manner : Common salt is composed of chlorine and sodium ; and if throe bushels of shell lime, )iot from the kiln, be mixed with one bushel of salt, it will combine with the chlorine, and form chloride lime, thus setting free the soda, which combines with the carbonic acid from the atmosphere, and forms car- bonate of soda. Both chloride of lime and carbon- ate of soda are capable of decomjiosing woody fibre or other organic matter better than lime ; and in doing so, unlike lime, they do not drive out the am- monia, and arc therefore preferable to lime. Shell lime is much better than stone lime. The mi.vture should be turned every other day for ten days, and then mi.vcd with the tan, at the rate of four bushels per cord, and in four months it will be fully decomposed. This mode, for cheapness, quickness, and thorough decomposition, in my opinion, cannot be exccUccL All that is asked for it is a fair trial. I respectfully submit this, hoping that it will be favorably received. Yours, &c., JOHN W. GULICK. — Exchatige. Joy and Grief. — It is notorious to philosophers, that joy and grief can hasten and delay time. Locke is of opinion, that a mnn in great misery may so far lose his measure as to think a minute an hour ; or in joy, an hour a minute. 322 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. Domestic Training. — Permit us to say to those mothers who interest themselves in the education of their children, Be assiduous early to plant domestic taste in the minds of your daughters. Let your little girl sit by your side with her needle. Do not put her from you when you discharge those employ- ments which are lor the comfort of the family. Let her take part in them as far as her feeble hand is capable. Teach her that this will be her province when she becomes a woman. Inspire her with a desire to make all around her comfortable and happy. Instruct her in the rudiments of that science whose results are so beautiful. Teach her that no selfish gratification, but the good of a household, the im- provement of even the humblest dependant, is the business of her sex. When she questions you, repay her curiosity with clear and loving explanations. When you walk out to call on your friends, some- times take her with you ; especially if you visit the aged, or go on errands of mercy to the sick and poor, let her be your companion. Allow her to sit by the side of the sufferer, and learn those nursing services which afford relief to him. Associate her with you. Make her your friend. Purify and perfect your own example for her sake. And while you mingle with domestic training, and with the germ of benevolence, a knowledge of the world, of books, to which it will be a sweet privilege to introduce her, should you be able to add not a single fashionable accomplishment. Still be continually thankful in shielding her from the contagion of evil example. Rice Balls. — Pour upon half a pound of rice three pints of boiling milk, and boil it with a little cinnamon, sugar, and lemon peel, until it is quite tender ; allow it to remain until it is cold, and then make it into balls. Beat up two eggs, roll the balls in it, and afterwards in grated bread crumbs ; fry them in lard, drain them on a piece of jjaper, and serve them up covered with sifted sugar. Rice Fritters. — Slice the rind of a lemon, and boil it in milk, with sugar enough to sweeten it, and a cup of rice. When the rice is quite soft, take it out ; beat up the rice Avith a glass of brandy, shape it into fritters, brush them with yolks of eggs, cover them with bread crumbs, fry them in butter, and serve them up with lemon juice squeezed over them. |)outl)'0 Department. Economy is due our Employers. — " Waste not, want not," is a good old proverb. " He that is faith- ful in little, is faithful also in much." A person who takes no care of the materials committed to his hands by his employer, will never duly husband his own property. Economy and wastefulness are habits that will infiuence us in all things, both when we are en- gaged about our own substance, or that of another. To waste another's goods is the same as to rob him. The loss in both cases is equal, and the principles whence they spring very much alike. The man who takes care of his employer's goods is sure to look after his own, and thus is on the road to prosperity. It would be difficult to calculate the immense loss of property that every year occurs from carelessness and want of economy. Some persons are worth nearly half their wages more than others, because they never injure or waste any thing. The employer being wealthy, or the stock abundant, is no excuse for carelessness. A loss is a loss, and a robbery is a robbery, whether taken from the heap of the miser, or the smaller store of the indigent. "Gather up the fragments, that nothing may be lost," is a divine command. Heaven allows nothing to be destroyed. There has not been a single drop of water wasted from the creation until now. The decomposed ele- ments of last autumn are the aliment of our present spring. Economy, rigid economy, is one of the laws of nature; and we shall not realize "the good time coming" until we have a careful and economical world. Let this spirit prevail, and not only will the master be saved from loss, but, in many instances, the servant will rescue himself from the union. j^ealtl) Department. Deafness. — James Yearsley, an English surgeon, has discovered, according to the Medical Examiner, a curious and efficient mode of relief for deafness resulting from scarlet fever, &c., in cases where the drum of the ear has been broken. It is simply to moisten a small pellet of raw cotton, and gently push it down the passage of the car till it reaches the drum at the bottom ; adjusting it till it produces the best hearing. This adjusting is necessary, else it may make the deafness at first only greater. Mois- ture is indispensable. The cotton should be changed every morning. Many other cases arc cited in proof. Cure for Hydrophobia. — At Udina, in Friule, a poor man, lying under the frightful torture of hydro- phobia, M'as cured with some draughts of pure vin- egar, given him by mistake, instead of another po- tion. A physician of Padua got intelligence of this event at Udina, and tried the same remedy upon a patient at the hospital, administering to him a pound of vinegar in the morning, another at noon, and the third at sunset, and the^man was speedily and per- fectly cured. ilTccl)anics' Department, ^rts, Uc. Healthful Buildings. — The following remarks are from an article by T. S. Bell, M. D., contained in the July number of the Western Medical and Surgical Journal. It is founded on an address by A. H. Stevens, M. D. After remarks upon the im- mense amount of sickness and death caused by a culpable neglect of the plain laws of health, en- forced by a startling array of facts concerning the prevalence of disease in particular dwellings and localities, to which the " plague district " in Louis- ville adds a fearful chapter. Dr. Bell proceeds with the following suggestions : — We cannot quit the important subject without calling attention to the important facts contained in the appendix of Dr. Stevens's address. These facts are connected with the sanitary construction of coun- try dwellings, ventilation, drainage, &c., and bear on subjects on which medical men are often questioned, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 323 and on which they should be prepared to give cor- rect information. We present a synopsis of the val- uable views given in this appendix ; they are in accordance with the time-honored observations of the fathers of medicine and their successors, and many of these facts were well known to the classical writers of Greece and Rome. 1. The site of a country dwelling should be chosen in reference to its height above the adjacent grounds, its exposure, its drainage, and the quality of its ■water. Springy grounds should be avoided. If there is a marsh, or any other source of malaria, the house should be to the westward of it, because west- erly winds are most prevalent. In all countries the winds are purifiers of the air. If there is a belt of wood betAveen the house and the swamp, it should be left as a protection against malaria. If there is none, a screen of pine or other dense growing trees should be planted ; such trees as will attain a height of at least twenty feet. (In the absence of evergreens, we consider the pawlonia imperialis the best tree for this purpose. It will grow from twelve to fifteen feet in a season, if it has a good soil ; its limbs are compact, the leaves very large, and it is oue of the most beautiful of all flowering trees. — Ed. Jour.) If there is any reason why water should gather around the foundation of the house, a drain should be cut so as to prevent it. Dry foundations prove the dryness of the contiguous grounds. A well near a house affords a good drainage ; the deeper it is the better. Trees should not be left too near the house, nor should rank herbage be permitted to grow and decay in the immediate vicinity. 2. When there are no sufficient reasons for another preference, a south-easterly aspect is the most healthy for a residence. Trees on high land on the north- west are a protection in the winter. Whatever the aspect of the house, the south side should have its full share of windows. Southerly windows are the most pleasant in winter, and are unobjectionable at all other seasons. 3. The cellar should be dry, clean, well ventilated, and well lighted. No wood nor decaying vegetable matter should be placed about the cellar. It should communicate with the air above the house by a flue in the chimney stack. In default of this, it should be ventilated by lateral apertures. If any part of the cellar is floored, the air should be drawn from beneath the floor into a chimney flue. Chimney flues should be round, for bituminous coal. Trcdgold says, the diameter of the flues in inches should be equal to the square root of the height in feet ; thus, fifty feet high would require (7X7 = 49) seven inches. 4. Every bed-room, especially if small and with- out a chimney flue, should have a ventilating aper- ture not less than four inches square, communicating ■with the attic above, and led through the roof by a proper conductor, except in cases where the door of another room can be left open ; in this case the ven- tilation is sufficient. No bed-room should be on the ground floor. But rooms on the second floor are healthful, those in the attic still more so. (Univer- sal observation proves the truth of these views. — Ed. Jour.) 5. I'iazzas, used as sitting places in summer and autumnal evenings, excej)t those on the southerly or westerly sides of houses built of stone or brick, are unhealthful. Stone or brick walls retain the boat of the afternoon sun until a late hour at night. A ve- randa with windows is not liable to the same objec- tion. It is essential that a house shall be well lighted by the sun. 6. The windows and chimney of a room represent a siphon, with one branch pcrpcndicidar, and the other horizontal. The air should enter the doors and windows, and rise in the flue. Dr. Arnott, of Eng- land, has invented a self-acting valv?, which prevents a back current. 7- A fire in damp weather during the autumnal evenings, and even in the cool evenings of summer, is exceedingly healthful. If there is absolute neces- sity for a lower bed- room, a hrc in the early part of the evening should always bo made during the sickly season. It ventilates the room, brings in fresh air, and dries the air thus introduced. Dry air is not r. vehicle for 7nalarious emanations. 8. A sitting-room should be well lighted by the sun's rays. 9. A tallow candle deteriorates the air rapidlv, and when not snuffed, the deterioration is still greater. Gas is less vitiating. The burning of a tallow candle raises, in one hour, the temperature of twenty-seven meters of air from the freezing to the boiling point of water. A carcel lamp, in one hour, raises from the freezing to the boiling point fifty cubic meters of air. These facts will enable ajiy one to judge of these sources of heat and vitiation in crowded and well-lighted apartments. 10. Collections of persons in a room vitiate the air by emanations from the bodies, and from respiration. Ten cubic feet per minute is the amount necessarj' for the healthful respiration of one person. This should be doubled in bed-rooms, and fourfold for sick-rooms. Irregular draughts of air may be pre- vented by making the air enter the room through wire, cotton, or silk gauze. 11. Upper ap.artments are safest against malarious diseases, but most dangerous for diseases arising from emanations from the bodies of the sick. 12. The dangers of low, undrained lands, and of fogs from such localities, are well known. Drainage removes these dangers. It has been found that drainage in England has elevated the temperature on some occasions six degrees, and evening chills luo no longer experienced in well-drained localities. In New York, the temperature is said to have been raised fifteon degrees by drainage. Thus compara- tive immunity is afforded, not against marsh fevers only, but cholera, rheumatism, and acute inflamma- tory diseases. " In the statistical account of Scotland are found, among many others, the following notices of the great advantages derived from draining : In Fourdown, 'so much drainage that now no sickness; formerly, agues common, now quite unknown ; ' in Carmylie, ' health improved from drainage ; Kcnnon agues very prevalent sixty years ago, now never met with ; ' and a long chapter is filled with similar state- ments from all the rural districts of England and Scotland. But why look abroad ? In ()nondaga valley. New York, health is much improved by its drainage, and the experience of every one will supply facts in illustration. "It is not sufficient to dry only the surface of the ground by drainage, in order to prevent cfTectually the formation of miasmata ; it is essential that the drainage should be deep and thorough, for the poison may emanate from moist decaying vegetable matter below." 13. The modern art of engineering employs new and cheaper nutans than were fornu'rly used for draining. I allude to the substitution of small pipes for large drains, from the discovery of the fact that they are less liable to become obstructed, i)rovidcd they have a descent of not less than one per cent, of their length. " Now, it is proved that whilst house drains of such sizes and construction as have been enforced by the commissioners of sewers, accumulate deposit, drains of a much smaller size kocj) ])erfeetly clear. Thus, wliilst a twelve inch drain, which is recjuired by the Kent and Surrey, and the tower hamlets and the city commissioners, accumulates deposits, and generates no.xious gases, a tubular earthen-ware 334 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. drain, of nine times less capacity, or of four inches in diameter, or proportional to the house, of from three to six inches, keeps perfectly clear. Even three inch drains convoy away the refuse from middle-sized houses, and keep perfectly clear, whilst the lariicr permeable brick drains, which are usually charged three times the price, are choked up." " Mr. Hoe, the surveyor of the Holborn and Fins- bury district of sewers, who led the way in system- atic improvements in the form and construction of main lines of sewers in the metropolis, recently, at our suggestion, made experiments on the rate of flow of water through the common brick drains for houses, as compared with the rate of discharge through earthen-ware drains of the same capacity, and with the same run of water. The general results which he gives are, that, through the earthen- ware tubes, the rates of discharge are increased to an im- portant extent : in the smaller and more frequent forms to the extent of more than a third. In other words, an economy of one third the quantity, to obtain the same result, is effected by them, and the general efficiency of the drainage in ordinary runs proportionately augmented, as will appear, at a greatly reduced price. " The following are examples : — " Table of Comparative Run of Water through Brick iJrains and Glazed Pipes. Depth of Time through Time through water. glazed pipes. brick drains. Level 5 inch. 38 50 iJ inch, in oO ft. ^ " 164 2.5 \\ " " .51 " 19 27 24 " 3 " 18 26 l| " " ^ " 2.5 36 34 u 4 " 1,5 22 6 " \^ 21i — First Rep. Met. San. Com'rs." Mr. Caldwick, of London, has received, from Swit- zerland, a pipe which has served for drainage five hundred years without injury or obstruction, under the pressure of a great head of water. These are facts of great value, and should be well and strongly impressed upon the public mind. We have been intending to prepare a set of rules on these subjects ; but Dr. Stevens's suit our views so well, that we prefer using his. There is but one defect in them, and that is the absence of all reference to filth and unclcannoss. Families that have dirtier habits than a free hog (and there are many such) may attend to all the thirteen rules given above, and still be sickly. If there is any one vice for which society should extend no pardoning gifts, it is the wicked- ness of unclcannoss. Those guilty of it should have no vernal bloom nor autumnal fruits to bless their cheerless filth. — Family Visitor. OVER-CROPPING. This is the leading vice of agriculture in this por- tion of the Southern States. The small and neat farm — that is, the farm small enough in all its ar- rangements for the management of the force which cultivates it — is the "angel's visit" of Southern husbandry. One meets with but few such farms, and meets with them far apart. Instead of farms where every thing appears in complete order and arrangement, one often meets with those widely- spread tumble-downs, where disorder and derange- ment are tumbled together in every variety of con- dition ; and this arises principally from over-cropping. The maxim of agriculture, that the productions of the earth must ever be in proportion to the tillage, seems generally to be neglected, or not known in this part of the state ; for, to frame a maxim from the system mostly pursued, the productions of the earth are in proportion to the quantity of surface to which the appearance of tillage can be given. In every department of agriculture, our whole section of state is in a condition of comparative infancy. Can it be said that the production of any article is carried up to the capability of the soil and climate ? The farmer who throws into the shape of cultivation a wide sur- face, which he merely ploughs and hoes, while his mind is as free as vacancy from any thought about the nature of the soil, which he takes as nature gives it, and of the different circumstances of climate that may weary his labors and shorten his crops through the existence of some radical deficiency in the soil, or in the system of culture, may say he raises what he consumes, and sometimes what he sells ; but he owes to God more thanks for a good season than he owes to himself for the exercise of skill and judg- ment. To obtain as much as possible from the num- ber of acres one man can cultivate, and to cultivate no more than may be made to yield the most profit- able quantity it is capable of yielding, should be strictly regarded by every farmer as the worthiest object of his study and his labor ; for the best course of preparation, the best adaptation of soil wliich the manoeuvres of cultivation can oppose to the vicissi- tudes of climate, and the perfect quantity and best quality of that quantity per acre, must remain un- known and unenjoyed until we become content to cultivate less space, and to exert in the premises more practical science and experimental knowledge. A heavy crop from a high state of fertility and cul- tivation, is always the only advantageous one. It shows the skill and industry, properly applied, of the fanner who produces. It shows the practicable ex- tent of agricultural development. In short, it is an example creditable and profitable to him who exhib- its it — worthy of imitation and rivalry, and highly beneficial to the agriculture of the state. No farmer complains of this kind of a heavy crop ; it is a real benefit, and a source of much pleasure. But a crop which is a heavy crop because it occupies a greater number of acres than the cultivator can manage, under a system of culture thoroughly adapted, is commonly no better than the wilful cultivator of such deserves to have. — Mobile Herald and Tribune. ACCLIMATIZING EXOTIC PLANTS. Let no one imagine he will successfully acclima- tize an exotic plant without paying strict regard to the circumstances of the plant in its native habitat ; such, in part, as situation, aspect, elevation of site, temperature, humidity, time of flowering, seasonal changes, &c. These circumstances must be all more or less studied by whomsoever would successfully acclima- tize exotic plants. A plant may be a native of a country warmer than our own in some degree, yet if its native situation be a moist height, or shady mountaii\ side, we should undoubtedly do wrong in placing it in a dry, hot, sheltered situation in this country. On the other hand, a plant may be a native of a colder country than our own, yet if its native situa- tion be a sunny, sheltered, and dry one, and its sea- son of flowering late, it would surely be wrong and profitless cultivation, in this country, to place it in a dull, damp situation ; which, were we to look to the only one circumstance of its coming from a colder country, we would naturally do. Again, a plant may be, or may seem to be, from such a cool or native habitat, as to feel our summer sun too strong and NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 325 scorching for it, and accordmgly require shading from its too powerful beams ; while we must not, on the strength of that circumstance, conclude that the plant Mill stand our winter's rigor without protec- tion. "We must first learn whether it be a native of the northern or southern hemisphere ; if of the lat- ter, that will account for its inability to withstand our summer's sun at a season when, though it be summer with us, it would be winter with the plant in its native habitat ; and, its nature not being changed with its situation, it is only harassed by our summer's sun, at a season when it should have and strive to enjoy its winter's rest; therefore it cannot withstand our winter's rigor at the season appropri- ated to it by nature for its summer of excitement. "Were it not for this circumstance, there is no doubt that the half-hardy Sollya HeterophyUa, Billarderia Longifora, &c., would be among our hardiest wall plants. These are circumstances the acclimatizer must well attend to, ere he plant out a single exotic ; and next, and of equal importance, the soil in which the exotic is placed, be its richness or its poorness what it may, must be of an open, free, unretentive texture, and well draijied. Such exotics, in general, as are na- tives of boggy or marshy places, can only be kept ■well over winter in felt-covered pits or frames, or at the bottom of ponds fed by springs. The plant must be started into a fine and rapid growth in spring and early summer, so as to have its growth completed and properly ripened before winter, when a covering of as dry and impervious a nature as possible must be laid over its roots, and around its base, or life knot, so as to exclude alike the frosts and the moisture of our changeable winters. If the bole or branches of such plants receive any protection, it ought to be of a nature more to exclude moisture than air, which is often useful in the severest winters. By observing these simple and easy rules, I have never found much difficulty in having stout and abundant flowering specimens of such, generally considered greenhouse, as Wistaria Sineiisis, Maurandya, Barclayana, Jasmines of all kinds, &c. On various aspected walls, in many and cold parts of Scotland, they do well for years; ■where others of a much more hardy nature, but dif- ferently treated, died during the winter, these plants Survived. — Annals of Horticulture.^ PEAT AS MANURE. In the report of the New York County (New Brunswick) Agricultural Society, we find some use- ful observations on the value of peat as manure, bj' I'rof. liobb, of Frcdericton, a gentleman of high standing as a geologist and chemist. He gives three modes by ■which this substance may be advan- tageously used for the improvement of soil, as fol- lows : — 1. It may be carted to the barn-yard and spread all around, so as to absorb all the liquid manure, which it will do like a sponge ; not only will it soak up and fix li([uid and gaseous matters, which would otherwise be lost, but it will thereby take on a state of fermentation itself, which will result in its becom- ing soluble and proper for the food of crops. When one layer is soaked and fermented more or less, it must be renewed or replaced by fresh stutt' from the bog, which Avill thus become a permanent benefit to the farm. 2. The peaty substance may be advantageously composted and brought to a soluble form thereby. If three loads of half-dried peat earth be mixed w iih Mie of stable manure, (green,) there will be formed four loads of manure equal to cow dung itscli', for the ordinary root and grain crops. A layer of dry peat should form the base of the compost heap, then a layer of green manure, then alternate layers of peat and manure, ending with a tJtick layer of peac. If ashes be added, or if the heap be occasionally wa- tered with urine, decomposition will be more rapid, and the compost be more fertilizing. In si.x: weeks, more or less, according to the season, the heap may be shovelled over, and then carried on to the field, where its effects are equal, if not superior, to the same quantity of common dung. It may be applied to any soil deficient in vegetable matter, and in any way, exactly as if it were well rotted yard manure. By ashes alone, the peaty earth may be likewise con- verted into the food of plants ; but I believe it is best to use them as above directed. 3. The peat may be burnt in the fields, for its ashes, which are applied with very good efi'cct as a top-dressing to meadows, at the rate of forty or fifty bushels to the acre. — Albany Culticator. THE RESULT OF SKILL AND INDUSTRY. I have traversed the great Erie Canal, from one end to the other ; floated on the waters of the Ohio Canal, and returned to the sea-shore by the Pittsburg and Pennsylvania canals and railroads. What a magnificent excursion ! What mighty triumphs of art and labor are here ! What a moving of the af- fections ! What an expanding of the imagination ! How many beautiiul and splendid visions have floated before the mind, Avhich were surpassed by the great realities ! Here were deep basins exca- vated, and noble and long-stretching embankments, which rivalled the neighboring hill-,. Here were rivers, hundreds of miles in length, flowing at man's pleasure, and in channels formed by his hands. Here were streams crossing streams, on beautifully arched aqueducts. Here were mountains of granite pierced through and through, and a passage opened through the heart of adamantine barriers, for vehicles freighted with human life. Here were deep inland occ-a;is, mingling their waters with the mighty sea that sweeps from pole to pole, bearing upon their quiet tides ten thousand floating and deeply-laden arks, myriads of human beings, active in the pursuit of business or pleasure ; accumulations of wealth from the deep and tangled recesses of the forest, now first springing into life under the touch of civilization, from the glittering fields of polar ice, and from the shores of the Western Ocean ; accumulations whose growing extent defies all calculation. All this, too, is the work of a little animal of the ordinary height of sixty inches, with only two feet and two hands, and of an average duration of less than twenty yeai's — his mighty implements, a hoe, a pickaxe, and a spade ! Such are the results of intelligent, concen- trated, persevering labor. — Henry Colinan. CROPS IN SOMERSET COUNTY. W^e make the following extract from a private let- ter, dated at Cornville. We arc glad to hear that the crops are coming on so finely, and take this op- portunity of once more recommending to our brother farmers the cultivation of winter wheat. We are receiving every day the most favorable accounts of this crop, from every part of the state, and there is every reason to believe that, should the seasons prove favorable, it will soon be the mo.st iirofitable crop that a iarmcr can raise. After a few words concerning other matters, our correspondent says, — "Some subjects touched \x\w\\ in your paper, es- pecially ' winter ^vhcat,' hit our case, at present, to a 326 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. nicety. We sowed a bushel last year ; a part of it on old corn ground, and the rest on burnt land. The burnt land yielded the most, but it was smutty. One of our neighbors raised this year the greatest crop ever known in this town. He sowed only two bushels on as many acres of land, and from what he has threshed, he judges he shall obtain from seventy- five to eij^hty bushels. It was the ' Banner wheat.' I just write this to let you know that we can raise wheat in Somerset, as well as they can in Kennebec or Aroostook. Somerset is * right side tip ' in these matters, if in no others ; all we have got to do is to sow the seed, and we are up with you ; and this is just what farmers are doing now. Every one has sown a little, and some have sown from four to six bushels apiece " The above speaks well for the crops of next season, and we think that if the seed be well sown, there need be no doubt of a good yield the coming year. — Maine Farmer, LIVE POSTS-WIRE FENCES, &,C. Under the caption of " Wire Fences," in the June number of the Agriculturist, I sec a statement that a wire fence has been built for $200 per mile, suffi- cient to turn cattle, horses, &c. Cheap as this may appear, I think I can offer a plan of constructing a fence sufficient to turn cattle, at a far less cost, say $10 or $12 per mile, which, if it prove practicable, ■would be some saving. The plan I propose is, to procure about eight quarts of long-leaved pine seed, and sow them on a breadth of land where the fence is wanted, not ex- ceeding two feet in width. There is no danger of getting them too thick ; the thicker the better ; say as thick as you would sow buckwheat, I should think might answer. They will require the cattle and other stock to be kept from them for about four years, but will need neither cultivation nor attention of any kind, except to destroy the worms, which will be likely to attack some of them, in the month of June, in the second, third, and fourth years, after which, they will be out of danger of worms and stock ; and, by the sixth or seventh years, cattle could not force their way through them, and if they come thick enough, there will be but little danger to be appre- hended from animals of the smaller kind. I have a pine thicket now growing, not sown, how- ever, with design of fence, in many places of which a sucking pig of a few weeks old could not pass be- tween them, and I infer, if the pines will grow so close without arrangement, they would do the same with. The above is a theory based upon observation. You can take it for what it is worth ; but I intend to put it into practice the coming winter, to some ex- tent. Should it prove practicable to make a fence of this description, large farms could be enclosed with it without much loss, especially when land is cheap, and a great deal of waste land, or commons, might be enclosed. In regard to live posts for wire fence, it occurs to me that pines would be better adapted than any other kind of wood, as they would grow large enough in a few years ; and I think the turpentine would prevent corrosion of the wire. Should this prove correct, I think there could be nothing more suitable ; for they are rather more a fertilizer than exhauster of poor land, at least, and I think they would add to the beauty of the farm. Fancy to yourself a farm hand- somely laid off with rows of evergreens at intervals of forty or fifty feet in a row. Do you not think it would he an improvement on the zigzag fence of the present day ? As for the ground occupied, wheat, I think, would grow up to the very roots of the tree. I have just harvested wheat five feet high, within the distance of a common cart track from a row of pines, in places thick enough for fence themselves. Corn is growing on the opposite side, and looks quite healthy within a few feet of the trees. This row is about one eighth of a mile in length, sowed with the design of seeding an old field, which the introduction of guano has saved the trouble. I now intend to thin it out on the plan above proposed, and insert wires with a handsaw, and hope to make a formidable fence. Z * * .♦ — America7i Agriculturist. Remarks. — At an agricultural meeting, a few years since, at the State House, Mr. Sheldon, of Wilmington, recommended the preceding plan of pine hedges for fences, and stated facts in regard to the rapid growth of pines under his own observation that favored this plan for fences. One advantage is the growth of pines for timber or fuel, if wanted for these o purposes, after the trees become large. — Ed. RECOGNITION OF VOICE BETWEEN THE EWE AND THE LAMB. The acuteness of the sheep's ear surpasses all things in nature that I know of. A ewe will distin- guish her own lamb's bleat among a thousand, all braying at the same time. Besides, the distinguish- ment of voice is perfectly reciprocal between the ewe and the lamb, who, amid the deafening sound, run to meet one another. There are few things that have ever amused me more than a sheep-shearing ; and then the sport contintics the whole day. We put the flock into a fold, set out all the lambs to the hill, and then set out the ewes to them as they are shorn. The moment that a lamb hears its dam's voice, it rushes from the crowd to meet her ; but, instead of finding the rough, well-clad, comfortable mamma, which it left an hour or a few hours ago, it meets a poor, naked, shrivelling — a most deplorable-looking crea- ture. It wheels about, and uttering a loud, tremu- lous bleat of perfect despair, flies from the frightful vision. The mother's voice arrests its flight — it returns — flies, and returns again, generally for ten or a dozen times before the reconcilement is fairly made up. — Lay Sermons, by the Eltrick Shepherd. RUTA BAGA TURNIPS. Mr. Editor ; I wish to offer a few remarks rela- tive to the most profitable method of feeding the ruta baga to stock. It has generally been the custom with farmers, and I presume still is so, to cut the roots, and feed them to the various animals raw. A ma- chine, however, has recently been invented, by which these roots are reduced to a finer and much more eligible condition for feeding, and in less time than it requires to cut them. The machine by which this is effected is called a " rasping machine," and is so constructed that roots of all sizes are at once reduced to a soft, pultaceous mass, very nearly resembling pumpkin when prepared by the " gude vrow " for pies. In this condition it requires no mastication by the animals of consequence, and may be mixed with facility with chopped or " chaffed" straw, cornstalks, or coarse hay, all of which are eagerly partaken of when mixed with it, by almost every kind of animal except the hog, on the farm. Horses will " rasp " their own food ; all that is necessary being to place the large roots in their mangers, with no further pre- vious preparation than merely to see that they are carefully cleansed and freed from dirt. If one has NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 327 much rough fodder to dispose of, he cannot, provided he has root crops of any kind, do better than to pur- chase one of these machines. It will pay for itself in one year, beside adding greatly to his own con- venience and the comfort of his stock. A LOWER-MERION FARMER. — Germantoion Telegraph. POTATO ROT AGAIN. We have accounts from all parts of New England, from some parts of New York, and from several of the British provinces, stating that the potato rot pre- vails in the greatest degree of virulence that has ever been known. Probably iu no country has it ever been so severe at any period. It is said that in the neighborhood of Portsmouth, N. H., where potatoes were sold last year to the amount of $100,000, there will not be enough for home consumption. We are informed that in Nortli- ampton, in that state, where the sales of potatoes amounted to $14,000 last year, it is estimated that there will not be half enough for home use. It is stated that in one section a ten-acre lot of potatoes was offered for $10. In another case a three-acre lot was offered for seventy-five cents. A fanner, who had a lot of several acres, offered a dollar to any one who would find a sound potato in the lot. A man took his hoe, and searched for a while, and gave up the pursuit. In short, we should judge, from what we have seen and heard, that in many sections, and probably in New England generally, there are not now so many sound potatoes as were planted. Many farmers say that they have not so many as they planted. In some cases, potatoes that were planted early, attained a good growth, and were dug before the rot com- menced, have kept well ; in other cases of the kind, they have nearly all decayed. This disease is a very serious calamity to the coun- try, for the potato is by far the most valuable of vege- tables, and perhaps of more importance as an article of necessity or luxury, or as a staple in commercial transactions, than all other vegetables. Those farm- ers who have gone extensively into the culture of this root, depending on its sales to pay their ex- penses for labor, will be much affected by their heavy losses. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. From Dr. Holmes, editor of the Maine Farmer, Thompso7i s Favorite apple. It is large and beautiful, resembling the Gravenstein in appearance, but in the same climate it would ripen a month earlier. It ap- pears to be of excellent quality, but it was rather too ripe for us to form a correct opinion. Dr. II. thinks that it is equal, if not superior, to the Williams apple, and it ripens about the same time. Raised from seed by a Mr. Thompson, of Mercer, Me. Of Samuel Walker, Roxbury, president of the Mass. Horticultural Society, a variety of specimens of fine pears. Mr. Walker cultivates a very exten- sive assortment of this fruit, and is testing abnost every variety, foreign and domestic. Of Andrew Lackey, Marblehead, a great variety of plums, specimens of pears, &c. Among the plums is the beautiful Jefferson. The St. Catharine is a small plum, but a great bearer, and excellent fruit. Of John Washburn, some fine specimens of early quince, of the apple form, probably his excellent seedling from the apple quince. From J. S. Sayward, editor of the Courier, Ban- gor, Me., M'Laughlin plum, in prime condition. We are pleased that this variety more than sustains the high reputation that has been given to it. We tried this fruit, with some friends who are among the best judges, and we all considered it fully equal to the Green Gage, which, as to quality, seems, in the opin- ion of many, to be unrivalled. It is much larger than the Green Gage, and a better grower ; and as we had this fruit from a region so much further north, fully ripe, before the Green Gage was gone here, we think that it will ripen enough earlier than the Green Gage, to form a succession with it. Mr. Sayward says that it ripens about the time of the Imperial Ottoman, which is an early plum, specimens of which we have also had of our friend. They arc beautiful, of excellent flavor, and well adapted to a northern climate. Also, Penobscot plums, which are of good size, and fine appearance ; but the quality is only medial, like a large number now in cultivation. From John M' Wales, Milford, fruit and scions of Wales's Velvetine peach, a new seedling raised by him, of the highest character. Although this fruit was picked before quite ripe, in order to send with the scions, yet it ripened well, and was among the very finest that we have tasted this season. One specimen was kept six days, and yet was excellent. The size of those we received was medial, but Mr. W. says that they are generally large ; the form roundish, with a deep suture on one side ; the ground color a golden yellow, mostly covered with a deep, rich red, of a beautiful velvety appearance ; the flesh a deep yellow, with a tinge of red next the stone, very tender, juicy, sirupy, and luscious. The stone is small, but as the specimens we had were picked before fully ripe, we could not determine whether it was a freestone. It usually ripens about the 20th of September. From Col. E. Hale, Rock Bottom, Hale's Meloco- ton peach — the same that is described in the Amer- ican Fruit-Book. This peach is uniformly good, very rich, and among the finest raised in the country. It produces the same from the seed. We have many young trees in our nursery, all perfectly uniform. From D. Merrill, 2d, ]\Iethucn, largo, fine-looking grapes, raised without culture ; but the flavor is too much of the wild or foxy taste to be valuable, as bet- ter kinds are getting into u.se. From O. V. Hills, Leominster, apples without a name. They are large and fair, and an excellent cooking apple ; but as they come in early in Sep- tember, when fine peaches, pears, and plums are plenty, they arc not fine enough for a dessert fruit. We do not know the name. 328 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. From John Copp, Wakefield, N. H., a variety of fruit — not all correctly named. The sweet apple, as supposed, is the Sweet Bough ; very large, fine specimens. This is the best very early sweet apple cultivated. It succeeds well in different climates and locations. The specimen marked Jewett's Red, is the Gravenstcin, and one of the finest and most beautiful apples cultivated. It is of a large size. M'illiams a2)ple is correctly named, but very small. It needs a strong, rich soil, and high culture, to give it large size and fairness. It is hard to raise, but when perfect, very handsome and salable. One cultivator in this vicinity has put a cart-load of ma- nure around a tree yearly, and he has sometimes sold the fruit for five or six dollars a barrel. One year he sold the fruit from one tree for forty dollars. It is not Avorth raising under common culture. The plums are the Washington, as marked, a pretty good, luscious plum, but not of the highest character, and it is rather a[)t to rot, and only a moderate bearer. The pears marked Beurre d'Aremberg are not cor- rect, as it is a winter pear, and these were over ripe, so that they could not be recognized. The other pears were decaying. From friend J. Oliver, Lynn, Mexico apple, which i.s of a good size, very handsome, and of excellem, flavor, but we are sorry to say that on large trees, and in the nursery, it is a very poor grower. It originated in Canterbury, Ct. It is good for the private garden, but will not be profitable for market. From J. L. Lovering, Hartford, Vt., specimens of two varieties of pears. One is very large, fair, and handsome, and we very much regretted that so noble- looking, hardy fruit should be of inferior quality. It may sell pretty well in the market, as this is the case with the old Bell or Windsor pear, which is of poor quality. But the purchaser ought to have good fruit, and the cultivator will eventually find it the most profitable. The time is coming, and it has already arrived in regard to some kinds, when fruit will be so plenty, none but the good will sell. Also Udall's Seedling pear. This fruit is remarkably fair, and of a very hardy appearance. It is but little inferior to the Bartlett, and some persons have preferred it to that popular variety. As it was ripe in Vermont early in September, it would ripen here in August, and pre- cede the Bartlett. We think that for general culture, particularly in the north, it will prove a valuable variety, more especially as many kinds that flourish here, fail in colder regions. Both of these pears were raised from seed, by Col. Lionel Udall, of Pom- fret, Vt. From John Cummings, Woburn, several very large, handsome, and excellent varieties of peaches, among them George the Fourth, a very popular variety. From Leonard Cheney, Southbridge, scions of a new and unusually early peach. Friend Earle, of the Worcester Spy, speaks very highly of this variety, both as to its quality, and extra earliness. Also the Cheney peach. This fruit has attracted particular attention at Worcester horticultural show, and the committee have commended it very highly. We find it one of the finest fruits both in appearance and quality. It is large, (a dozen sent to Mr. Earle last 3'ear averaged over ten inches in circumference,) roundish ; whitish -yellow, with a beautiful red cheek in the sun ; flesh greenish-white, extremely tender and melting, juicy, rich, and delicious. The quality is first-rate. The stone is small and free. It is re- markable that the original tree, now standing where it came up, on cold, wet land, within fifteen feet of a cold brook, has produced over two bushels of ex- cellent fruit this season. It usually ripens about the middle of September. We have several other lots of fruits, which we have not room to notice in this number. POULTRY EXHIBITION. We would call the attention of our readers to the advertisement of the poultry show, on our cover. The splendid hall selected for this purpose affords peculiar advantages, more especially if the weather should be unfavorable. Wc like that feature in the exhibition, by which a part of the proceeds of the show shall be distributed in premiums and gratuities, giving due encouragement to exhibiters. THE OLD FARMER'S ELEGY. On a green mossy knoll, by the banks of the brook That so long and so often had watered his flock. The old farmer rests in his long and last sleep. While the waters a low, lisping lullaby keep : He has ploughed his last furrow, has reaped his last grain ; No morn shall awake him to labor again. The bluebird sings sweet on the gay maple bough ; Its warbling oft cheered him while holding the plough ; And the robins above him hop light on the mould. For he fed them with crumbs when the season was cold. Yon tree that Avith fi-agrance is filling the air, So rich Avith its blossoms, so thrifty and fair, By his own hand was planted ; and well did he say, It would live when its planter had mouldered away. There's the well that he dug, with its water so cold, With its wet dripping bucket, so mossy and old ; No more from its depths by the patriarch drawn, For the " pitcher is broken " — the old man is gone I And the seat where he sat by his own cottage door, In the still summer eves, when his labors were o'er, With his eye on the moon, and his pipe in his hand. And dispensing his truths like a sage of the land. 'Twas a gloom-giving day Avhon the old farmer died; The stout-hearted mourned, the affectionate cried. And the prayers of the just for his rest did ascend, For they all lost a brother, a man, and a friend. For upright and honest the old farmer was ; His God he revered, he respected the laws ; Though fameless he lived, ho has gone Avherc his worth Will outshine, like pure gold, all the dross of this earth. — Knickurbockcr. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEKEOTYPE POUNDUY. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES, Agricultare not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. VOL. II. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850. NO. 21 S. W. COLE, Editor. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Proprietoh. NORFOLK CATTLE-SHOW. This festival took place at Dedhain, on ^Ycdnesday, the 25th. ult. The day •n'as fine, and an immense number attended. The first performance was the ploughing match. There was a large number of teams on the field, and the work was generally done remarkably well. Li some places the land was un- even, and the furrow-slice Avas turned up hill ; yet the work was well done. After ploughing, as usual, a specimen of subsoil ploughing was given, which showed how readily the soil can be loosened to a great depth ; and every intelligent cultivator can judge of the great utility of this process, as the soil to a good depth is rendered permeable to the roots of plants, and a circulation of moisture is kept up in time of drought. The drawing match was well performed. The display of fruits, flowers, vegetables, articles of do- mestic manufacture, and mechanical productions, was under one half of the spacious tent of Mr. AV right, which is two hundred and fifty feet by one hundred and fifty. Notwithstanding there was much room for this department, the place was crowded, and it was difficult to see some articles. The show of fruits Wtis extensive and fine, comparing favorablv with the very best and largest exhibitions of the sea- son. There were some very fine and rich articles of domestic manufacture, evincing good taste, excellent skill, and patient industry. The bread was among the most conspicuous articles in this department, the result of liberal premiums for the best. This feature was highly commendable, for what is of more im- portance than the staff" of life ? The show of cattle was largo, and generally very good. There were many handsome animals — some excellent models for labor, others for milk ; and a few made a very conspicuous figure as fine, fat animals. The exhibition of swine was verj' good, and some of the specimens were excellent. The show of fowls was far larger than we had ever seen before at a cattle-show. There were about one hun- dred and twenty coops, of almost every breed known in the country, and many new varieties and crosses. At the meeting-house, the president of the society, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, made a few appropriate remarks on the formation and progress of the society. Hon. C. P. Adams deUvered an interesting address on the peculiar condition of agriculture in that county. He exhibited statistics showing that the increase of agricultural products did not keep pace with the increase of population. He remarked thai only about one fifteenth of the county was undei cultivation, and he urged more attention to the sub- ject of agriculture, particularly to the keeping of milch cows. The address was able and instructive, and was listened to with jjleasure by a large au- dience. A hymn composed for the occasion, by Mrs. Sig- ournej', was sung ; also an original ode, by Mr. Keys, secretary of the society. At the dinner table, under one half of the capa- cious tent, about twelve hundred persons were seated. Hon. Mr. Wilder presided, in his usual pleasant and courteous manner. He made some interesting re- marks, and occasionally gave sentiments to call up distinguished gentlemen to address the assembly, or respond in a sentiment. Mr. James, the novelist, made a brief and interesting speech ; and Dr. Put- nam's able remarks were well spiced with wit and humor, and were received with great applause. The officers of this society form an intelligent and eff'ective corps, and every thing seemed to be well arranged and executed. They were particularly at- tentive to invited guests, who were received at the residence of Hon. John Gardner, ho having kindly opened the doors of his mansion for their reception. Although this is but the second exhibition of this society, as to its judicious arrangements, and its ex- hibition, it is not a whit behind other associations that have had long expcrienc», and in some depart- ments it seems to excel. ESSEX CATTLE-SHOW. This show took place on Thursday, the '26th ult. The day was very unfavorable, as it stormed most of the time ; yet the show was excellent, and a large 330 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. number of persons attended, but not so many as usually attend in fair weather. There was a large number of teams on the plough- ing field, and the match was nobly contested, regard- less of the pelting storm. Generally the work was done remarkably well. The show of cattle was larger than usual, and there were many fine animals. There was a good number of horses, mostly young ones — a larger show of this class of animals than is usually seen at our exhibitions. The display of fowls was very fine, and larger than we have ever seen at similar shows, excepting that at Dedhara, and it nearly equalled that in extent and variety. The exhibition of fruits was among the finest of the season. The pears, in extent and fine appear- ance, surpassed this branch in any show that we have witnessed this season. Several noted varieties, that have generally been inferior this season, were very large and fair at this show. At the dinner there was a very large number. Mr. Proctor, the president of the society, presided at the table in a courteous manner. Short speeches were made, and sentiments given by several gentlemen. We came away before the address was delivered, which was by Hon. Caleb Gushing. The worthy officers of this society politely attended to invited guests. CUSHING AND MANNERS PEARS. Some years ago, several good judges of fruit, after several close investigations of the subject, stated that these two pears were the same ; and regarding their opinions as good authority, we stated in the Amer- ican Fruit-Book that they were probably the same. We expressed a doubt on the subject, as there were opinions to the contrary. Mr. Hovey, in his Mag- azine, remarked that these two pears were not iden- tical, as he had both growing on his grounds, and the wood and the leaf were diff'erent. At this time Mr. Hovcy's Gushing tree had not borne ; and when it did bear, it proved to be the Dearborn's Seedling. As he had it from what he considered a reliable source, he depended on its correctness, and drew his inferences accordingly. After Mr. Hovey had yielded his opposition to the identity of these two pears, it seemed to be a settled question among pomologists generally, that Gushing and Ilanners were identical. But from some late facts brought forward on this subject, it seems that the question was settled wrong. Mr. Edward Marsh, of Quincy, a fruit-grower, and a nice observer, re- cently informed us that he cut scions from the origi- nal Gushing tree in Hingham, and from the original Hanners tree in Boston, and he set them into differ- ent trees in his garden. In due time both bore fruit, and the growth of the trees, the form of the leaf, and the size and appearance of the fruit, are different. A few days since, Mr. Marsh kindly favored us •with specimens of these two fruits, and they were evidently different. The Hanners was larger than ■we ever saw the Gushing. They differ considerably in form ; tiie Ilanners being broader at the stem, or shouldered, while the Gushing tapers nearly to a point at the stem, having a small cavity, and of course only slightly shouldered. Sometimes the Gushing is considerably shouldered, but generally it is not, while the Hannei's almost invariably is. The Gushing is usually a very smooth pear, of a yellow color, while the Hanners is not very smooth, but has slight inequalities, and has considerable rus- set sprinkled over the yellow. We could not judge of the Ilanners pear from its quality, as it was past its prime ; but Mr. Marsh thinks that its quality is a little superior to the Gushing, and it is generally con- siderably larger. He says that it is a greater grower than the Gushing, and the leaf is shorter, and ap- proaches nearer to a round form. These facts from Mr. Marsh's experiments are stub- born things, and as he has gone so thorough into the investigation of the subject, we think that they arc entitled to respect. It is supposed that the Hanners pear was imported from Europe, and it was named for the gentleman who owned it. ROT IN TURNIPS. Mr. Editor : I have noticed, recentlj-, several ar- ticles in the agricultural journals, complaining of the prevalence of this disease. It is no new thing, but has been more or less fatal to the turnip crop for several years. As long ago as the year 1839, I had a yard of ruta bagas nearlj^ ruined by it ; and in a yard containing not less than six distinct varieties, the same season, scarcely one was unaffected. This fact proves conclusively that the disease is not con- fined, as many have supposed, to the ruta baga, but that it attacks, indiscriminately, every variety of the turnip tribe. What the cause of this disease may be, is a question I am not prej)ared to decide. It may originate in excessive manuring Avith green, unfer- mented manure; or from too great a supply of hu- midity in the soil, accompanied with a high temper- ature ; or it may be the consequence of a physical deterioration, the same as in the case of the potato. Lime used in large quantities is said to have pre- served some crops ; but this, I think, is a gratuitous assumption, as no systematic experiments have as yet been made, to demonstrate its preservative or remedial powers. It is to be hoped that efforts will be made by our farmers to ascertain both the cause of the disease and the remedy to be applied. RUTA. — Garmantotcn Telegraph. PRESERVATION OF THE PUMPKIN. Preservation of pumpkins through the greater part of the winter, if sound and well ripened- '" easily attained, by stowing them in a mow of dr^ hay or straw, or placing on a barn floor and covering with any Ught forage. A dry cellar will frequently keep them sound, but these are usually too moist for this purpose. They ought occasionally to be looked after, and any showing evidence of incipient decay, should be immediately used. All the partially ripe, small, and imperfect, should be fed soon after taking from the field. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 331 AGRICULTURAL FURNACE. This furnace is adapted to boiling vegetables, and cooking food generally for stock. It may be used to advantage for many mechanical purposes, and it it convenient for various uses in household manage- n^ent. There is a boiler neatly enclosed with an iron case, and so arranged that the fire passes around the boiler, imparting to it a large amount of heat in proportion to the fuel consumed. The whole is set on a small box stove, so that it maj' be used safely in any situa- tion. It is portable, and may be moved with great convenience from place to place, as desirable. These furnaces save all the trouble and expense of setting boilers in brick or other materials, and they require but very little room. The growing scarcity of fuel in many parts of the country should lead to the most economical means of saving it. In some cases, the expense of cooking food for stock, owing to the high price of fuel, is so great that it is neglected. This evil may often be remedied by judicious management. Economy is M'calth. These boilers are of various sizes, from fifteen to one hundred and twenty gallons. MUCK. Mr. Editor : There arc few farms belonging to the readers of the Telegraph, on which this article, so valuable and adjuvant in enriching the soil, can- not be obtained in abundance. AVhen liandy to the premises, time cannot be bcttfer employed "than in carting it out, and j)reparing it for manure. This latter process is acco^l[lli^hc(l in several ways. Rome- times it Ls taken from the muck-bed in autumn, carted to some convenient jdace, and there left ex- posed during winter to the action of the frost. This process greatly ameliorates it, renders it fine, and deprives it of its jieculiar acid, the action of which, when unneutralizcd, is prcjiidicial to vegetation. Sometimes it is mixed with (luicklimc, which more speedily deprives it of its acidity, and renders it almost instantaneously fit for use. Another mode of preparation is to cart it into the cattle and hog yards, where it is permitted to remain until spring, absorbing and drinking up the urinary matter, and thus as it were, imbibing new principles of fertility, while it loses its original baneful properties. I have known muck thus managed to produce excellent eff'ects on vegetation, especially on Indian corn, a crop ordinarily considered as rather dainty. The most judicious method, however, I think, is to allow it to remain in the yards during the winter, and then stack it, adding one cask of quicklime and a bushel of gypsum to every cord of muck. The year after, }-ou will have an article of great value to lay on your lands, and one that, under ordinary circumstances, if your soil is not calcareous, will be better than the best stable dung you can obtain. As a top-dressing for grass lands, muck, in almost any possible state of preparation, is unsuitable. It dries too quick, and is thus in a great measure lost, when so applied. If you have grass lands to top-dress, it will be found more judicious to make use of your animal excre- ment for this purpose, and apply your muck compost to your cultivated crops. On very low, moist lands, this objection of course is overcome by circum- stances ; but on high, arid lands, exposed in the spring to the direct rays of the sun, its application is absurd, and can never be productive of good results. A COUNTY FARMER. — Germantown Telegraph. Remarks. — We should dissent from the remark that animal manure should be used as a top-dressing, and muck in compost applied to cultivated land. In no case should animal manure be applied as a top- dressing, alone, but it should be comj)03tcd witli earth, and better for being composted with soil dif- ferent from that to which it is to be apjilicd ; with gravel, sand, or sandy loam, or common loam, for moist, heavy lands, or lands of clay, mud, muck, peat, &c. ; and with mud, muck, peat, clay, or clayey loam, for gravelly or sandy soils, or any high lands that are rather dry. If animal manure is applied alone, as a top-dress- ing, much of it will be wasted by evaporation ; but if applied to tilled lands, it may be saved by plough- ing in immediately, and by harrowing, it will form a compost with the soil. — Ed. N. E. Farmer. 332 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. NEW YORK STATE FAIR AT ALBANY. Wc liave delayed publishing any tiling concerning this great exhibition, with a view of presenting to our readers a particular account from, some correct ob- server. "We copy from the Albany Cultivator. The Tenth Annual Show and Fair of the New Vork State Agricultural Society was held near this city, according to appointment, during the 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th days of last month. It was another grand gathering of the leading farmers, or, perhaps we might with more propriety say, the leading citi- zens of the Empire State, with multitudes of our brethren from other states, and the adjoining British provinces. The number of visitors was greater than at any previous exhibition. This is sufficiently proved by the receipts for admission, which reached $10,465 61. The greatest amount received in any previous year was $8,144 55, taken at Syracuse in 1849. A heavy rain occurred on the day and night preceding the opening of the exhibition, and another on Thursday night following, which doubtless pre- vented the attendance of some who Avould otherwise have been present. The rains completely saturated the ground with water, which occasioned some in- convenience ; but as an offset to this, they prevented the rising of dust, which, if continued dry weather had prevailed, would have been a great annoyance. Much credit is due the various railroad companies in this state for the facilities they afforded the public in attending the fair. They all gave half-price tickets during the week, and carried stock and articles in- tended for competition gratis. This is a liberal plan, which Ave believe gave entire satisfaction, and it has, also, well rewarded the owners of the roads. We are sorry to say that the directors of the road between this city and Boston but partially adopted this plan. Had they pursued the same course as the New York roads, the number of visitors from the cast would have been greatly increased, and the road would have made, in the aggregate, a much greater amount of money. We presume this latter fact will not in future be overlooked by men who have the general reputation of shrewdness. Considered in reference to itself, and as a whole, this exhibition may be said to have fully equalled any former one. If, in some of the departments, a deficiency existed, it was amply made up by the fulness and richness of others. The whole number of entries was greater than on any former occasion. The number for horses was two hundred and eighty- six, cattle four hundred and scventy-tivc, sheep live hundred and sixty-seven. The horses and most of the cattle were stationed in sheds provided for them. This shelter was necessary to protect them from the hot sun, to which they must have been otherwise exposed. But in regard to the appearance of the show, it had an unfavorable effect, as it ct«npletely withdrew from observation most of the animals which usually constitute so prominent and attractive a feature in displays of this kind. The occasion has been, generally, one of high gratification ; it has iifforded the means of obtaining much valuable information, not attainable in any other way, in regard to the various objects brought together ; and the vast asscniblage collected and dis- persed without the occurrence of any accident to lessen their enjoyment. The people are beginning to look upon these ex- hibitions in their proper light. On the part of com- petitors, the principal benefit is not the taking of prizes ; it is the opportunity of bringing their ani- mals or articles prominently to the notice of thou- sands of persons to Avhom they would otherwise never be known. The objects are not only seen, but they are compared, and by comparison, their relative defects or excellences are made apparent. It is in this way, only, that correct knowledge can be ob- tainecL A farmer, who breeds any kind of live stock, can form no safe opinion of its actual value, Avithout comparing it with other stock of the same breed. So, too, of the mechanic, in reference to his various productions ; and in every branch of industry, im- provement can only be estimated by comparison. Nor is the advantage of comparison of less con- sequence to purchasers than producers. In procuring a horse, a cow, a yoke of oxen, or a plough, or other implement or article, it is, of course, desired that it should possess the properties Avhich Avould fit it most perfectly for the purpose to which it is to be applied ; and by having side by side the \-arious descriptions, a discriminating eye is able to select the best, with almost infallible certainty. These advantages are distinct and independent of the awards of premiums. The people, so far as they have the opportunity of seeing for themselves, generally form their own opin- ions, and are but little influenced by the decisions of others. Ho7-ses, — The display of horses was hardly equal, in respect to quality, to the shoAvs of the two pre- ceding years ; yet there were noble specimens in the different classes. In blood-horses there Avas but lit- tle competition. Among those on the ground, we noticed the celebrated " Trustee," the sire of the famous running mare " Fashion." Though bearing evident marks of age, he still shows some excellent points. His head and eye have the striking linea- ments and expression so justly admired in the Ara- bian horse ; his limbs are clean and sinewy ; the fore leg, in particular, is remarkable for the length of arm, and for the width and shortness of the shank. "Leopard," an imported horse, owned by O. K. Lapham, of Kceseville, is an animal of much nerve and fire ; rather tall, and somewhat light in the fore hand for hard Avork and endurance, but not too much so for a racer. " Consternation," now OAvned by !Mr. Burnet, of Syracuse, has heretofore receiA^ed the first premium in this class, and is a horse of Avell- doscrA*od reputation. " Young Alexander," OAvned by Mr. Ireland, has also received the first premium as a blood-horse, and attracted here, as on former occasions, much attention. In the class of " all Avork," Ave noticed the Avell- knoAvn " Morse's Gray." Several of his progeny were also on the ground, Avhich did credit to the sire. The young horses by the celebrated Vermont " Black-IIaAvk," shown by Messrs. Felton, of Ticon- deroga. Breed, of CroAvn Point, and BigeloAV, of Bridport, \t., Avcre animals of fine appearance and good action. Among " draught horses " Avas a stallion oAvned by Joel Young, of Ncav Scotland, got by the imported horse " Sampson," and another owned by William A. Keese, of Kceseville, by the same sire, both of Avhich Avcre good specimens of this class of horses, as Avas also a five-year-old marc of the same stock, Aveighing fourteen hundred pounds, exhibited by E. Corning, Jr., of Albany. There Avere several pairs of handsome matched horses. Those of Mr. Plumb, of this city, and Mr. Faxton, of Utica, Avcre much admired. Among the young horse stock deserving particular notice, was a pair of yearUng geldings, owned by William B. Seymour, of Clinton, Oneida county. Cattle. — There was a greater number of cattle exhibited, than for several previous years. The fat cattle were not as numerous as at Syracuse, and the Devons Avere not out in so great numbers. There Avas more competition in Short-horns, and they AVcre in general of better quality than they have been for several previous years. The most extensive exhib- itors of Short-horns Avere Messrs. Vail, of Troy, ShcrAvood, of Auburn, Rotch, of Butternuts, Hill- NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 333 house, of Watervliet, and Chapman, of Clockville. There were other competitors, who showed in less numbers. Col. Sherwood's "Third Duke of Cam- bridge," and several other animals shown by him, imported during the past and present season, are very superior specimens of Short-horns. The bulls of Mr. Thorpe, of Albany, Mr. Vail, of Troy, Mr. Chap- man, of Clockville, Mr. Lathrop, of Massachusetts, Mr. Miller, of Canada, were animals of much merit, each of which had their respective advocates. Two young bulls, lately imported, shown by Lorillard Spencer, Esq., of Westchester county, were among the best animals in this class. They were of good size and form, and evidently of thrifty ]\abit. There were many excellent cows. Among several, it must have been difficult for the committee to apportion the awards. The rod cow of Mr. ¥. M. Rotch, two of Mr. Ilillhouse's cows, Mr. Vail's " Esterville 2d," Col. Campbell's, and one or two of Col. Sherwood's, were all tine cows. The display of Herefords was smaller than last year — there being but tifteen of this breed on the ground. There were among them some lirst-rate animals. The four-year-old bull, shown by W. A. Keese, of Peru, was in all points a beautiful and good animal. Mr. E. Corning, Jr., of Albany, also exhibited a good bull and several cows, and some young stock. His cow " Victoria " will compare favorably with almost any cow we have ever seen ; and without intending any invidiousness, we think she was not excelled by any on the ground in respect to a combination of useful qualities. Mr. Keese's " Matilda " is also a very valuable cow. In this class we missed the usual display by Mr. Sotham, of Black liock. The Uevons were not equal in numbers to the show of last year, but as to quality, were not inferior to any former show. Among the bulls we noticed " Major," purchased at the Syracuse Fair of Mr. Gappcr, of Canada, by 11. II. Van Rensselaer, of Butternuts. This animal still maintains the appear- ance and qualities for which he has heretofore re- ceived much merited commendation. " Bloomfield," shown by Mr. Hurlbut, Winchester, Connecticut, is a beautiful and valuable bull ; and the bulls shown by Mr. Sanford, of Orwell, Vermont, and Mr. Cowles, of Farmington, Connecticut, were fine. Very fine cows and young stock were shown by E. P. Beck, of Sheldon, Wyoming county, H. N. Washburn, But- ternuts, L. C. Collins, of Dutchess county, Mr. Hurl- but and Mr. Cowles, of Connecticut. Mr. Beck's display was less in extent than usual, from his having lately sold a lot of fine animals to the governor of "Wisconsin. The Ayrshires shown were chiefly from Mr. Pren- tice, of Albany, and Mr. R. L. Colt, of Paterson, N. J. Among them were excellent stock for the dairy. A bull of a fine dairy tribe was shown by Mr. Woodford, of Avon, Connecticut. Mr. Colt exhibited a heifer and bull lately im- ported from Hungary. They arc of good size for their age, and their skins possess good handling quality. Their form has notlung in particular to commend, though their limbs arc good, and they are said to be fast walkers. Their color is iron-gray, and their general characteristics indicate that they are a very distinct and pure breed. Mr. Colt also exhibited an Alderney or Jersey cow, a most delicately- formed and dcer-likc animal — just such a cow as, with constant care as to shelter and feeding, would afford a large amount of cream and butter. The number of cattle shown as " grades" was much greater than we have seen at any former ex- hibition. They were chiefly cows and heifers, and among them were many of excellent quality. De- serving special notice was a cow, four years old, the produce of a Connecticut cow by the imported Short-horn bull " Marius." She was owned by Mr. Thomas Boll, of Morrisania, Westchester county. She api>eared to combine with the most faultless symmetry nearly every point indicative of perfection in a dairy cow. Several fine heifers of the same stock were shown by Mr. Bell. The cows and heifers of John Townsend, of Albany, and those shown by Isaac Sheldon, of Auburn, were evidently valuable stock. The fat cattle comprised several fine animals. The four-year-olds shown by Mr. Wadsworth were decidedly the best of their age that we have ever seen. Indeed, we heard it remarked by experienced judges, that they exceeded in symmetry and light- ness of offal any cattle which had evor come to their notice. A four-year-old shown bj' Mr. Sheldon, of Sennett, was of fine form, and, with the advantage of another year, will be Avell developed. A fat Durham cow, owned by Ambrose Stevens, of New York, w.is remarkable for lightness of offal and weight in the most valuable parts. The working o.xen made a good appearance. We saw none of them tried at a_ load, and cannot say whether or not they were subjected to a trial of tliis kind. Five yoke of fine cattle were shown by J. S. Wadsworth, and a team of ten yoke, several of which were fine, from Kinderhook, by J. P. Beekman. There were many fine steers, of one, two, and three years old. We noticed, as verj' superior, both the two-year-olds and yearlings, shown by S. A. (nlbert, of East Hamilton, and admirably broken and trained by S. A. Gilbert, 2d, a lad fifteen years old. The yearlings were calved the 5th of April, 1849, and weighed, at the time of the show, twenty-two hundred povmds. They are of almost unexceptionable form.* They were a cross of the Short-horn and Devon, — the color being that of the latter. A very fine pair of two-year-old steers, a cross of Short-horn and Devon, were shoAvn by B. Benedict, of Alexander, Genesee county. They were broken and trained, in the most perfect manner, by Jervis P. Benedict, fourteen years old. Sheep. — The show of sheep may be said to have been quite superior. The large Merinos, commonly known as the " Taintor stock," were shown by Messrs. Bingham, of Vermont, F. M. Rotch, of But- ternuts, and L. C. Collins, of Dutchess county. Other Merinos were shown by Col. Sherwood, H. M. Dart, Ilarpersficld, R. E. Keese, Ausablc, J. Hinds, J. S. Pettibone, John Campbell, and George Campbell, all of Vermont. Of Saxons, very superior specimens were shown by C. B. Smith, Woolcottville, Connecticut, of the stock imported by Smith & Catlin, from Germany. We have, on a former occasion, expressed a favorable opinion of these sheep. This oj)inion is fully sup- ported, so far, and we think will continue to be, by the success of the stock in this country. S. II. Church, of Vernon, showed Saxons from his well- known flock. Of Long-WooUed Sheep, the number of really well-l)red ones was )iot hirge. Mr. Rathl>un, of Otsego county, showed some good shec]). But the I>cicesters, shown by Messrs. George aiul ^\'illiam Miller, of Markham, C. W., were the iirincipal at- tractions in this dejjartment. Some of the ewes, shown by William Miller, were, in form, almost i)cr- fect models of what a mutton sheep should be ; and it is to be hojied, that our breeders of tliis class of sheep have derived some useful hints from the fine specimens which have been thus brought before them. * These and tlio Iwo-yenr-olds shown hv Mr. (iilhort, :iii(l tlir thr«'e-yp;ir-ol(ls of .Mr. .>iiiir, which rpreivotl the first priiuiMiii, were "sold to lloii. H. V. I'linch, Hiaintrec, Maws. 334 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. The South Downs made a very good show. They were chiefly from the flocks of Messrs. Sherwood, Itotch, Mclntyre and Wakeman. There were good animals in each of these lots. The fat wethers of Col. Sherwood, and several cross-bred South Down and Cotswold wethers, shown by Mr. Mclntyre, were capital specimens, and did not fail to attract the at- tention of those who know good mutton. Swi/ie. — This department was not well filled. In numbers, it was less extensive than at any former show for several years, and we saw no animals of remarkable appearance. Some good pigs were shown by William Hurst, of this city, and by Winant Vounghans and William Webb, of Darien. Poultry. — There was a much better display of poultry than at Syracuse, though it was hardly equal to the show at Buffalo. Much of the good api)earance of this department was due to K. L. Colt, Esq., of Paterson, N. J., who exhibited speci- mens of four kinds of geese, and several varieties of fowls. E. E. Piatt, of this city, showed a collection of fowls, embracing several valuable breeds. Mr. P. had also a fine specimen of the curassow. Fine specimens of the Dorkings were shown by F. M. Kotch, of Butternuts, and very handsome specimens of the Spangled Hamburg or Bolton Gray fowl, by John Chadwick, of New Hartford. Some beautiful rabbits, very large, with pendent ears, were shown by R. H. Van llensselaer and F. M. Kotch. Dairy Products. — There was a respectable show of these ; but we were unable to take particular notes in tliis department, on account of the derangement occasioned by the tent, in which the articles were placed, having been blown down. The show of Farm Lnplements was large and at- tractive ; but we think there was less competition, and lor this reason less variety, than at Syracuse. Emery & Co., of Albany, filled a building of their own, one hundred by forty feet, besides occupying a much larger area in the open field. In front of their building was a fountain, which constantly sported its beautiful jets of water, and added much to the ornament and interest of the general exhibition. There were other extensive exhibitors of implements, as Messrs. Starbuck & Co., and Bosworth, Kich, & Co., Troy, Wheeler & Co., Albany, and Eddy & Co., l-nion Village. But we must reserve our notices of particular articles in this department till our ne.xt number. The " Mecha7iics' Hall" contained a great number of useful articles, under the head of machinery, of various kinds, stoves, and other contrivances for house-warming and culinary purposes. Considerable of the machinery was kept in operation, the power being derived from a steam engine put up for the purpose, by Messrs. Low & Co., of Albany. A power printing press was worked during the exhibi- tion, which explained the art of printing to thou- sands, by whom it was before a mystery. The pro- cess of printing on stone (lithography) was also here exemplified. The " Manufacturers' and Domestic Hall " presented a display, which, in variety, richness, and beauty, ex- ceeded any thing of the kind we have before seen ; but for want of room, we must defer particular notices till a future occasion. The Fruit and Floral Department was well filled. In regard to fruits, we believe the display was, with the exception of peaches, equal to that of any pre- vious year. It was the general expression that this department was better filled than at any exhibition since that at Poughkeepsie, in 1844. Among the principal cxhibiters were Henry Vail, Troy ; El- ■Wcinger & Barry, llochester ; II. L. Colt, Paterson, N. J.; Jonathan Battey, Keeseville ; E. P. Prentice, Dr. II. Wendell, Isaac Denniston, Elisha Dorr, James Wilson, Dr. March, of Albany ; L. Menand, WaterA^iet; Norman Briggs, Schaghticoke. Among the mo.st attractive objects was a basket of fruits from Mr. Vail, tastefully ornamented and placed in a conspicuous position, containing thirty-four va- rieties of apples, thirty-one of pears, ten of plums, eight of peaches, nine of grapes, and one Christiana melon. Mr. V. had also a box, containing a grape- vine, on which were eight well-ripened and hand- some bunches of grapes. The splendid bunches of black Hamburg and other foreign grapes, from Mr. Colt, received much praise. The show of plums, from Mr. Denniston and others, was very fine. Of Veyctubles, there was about the usual display. C. F. Crossman, Rochester, made a large contribution to this department. Specimens of blood-beets, shown by him, were unusually fine. The Address, by Prof. Amos Dean, was received with well-deserved approbation. His main subject was " Agricultural Education, the training up of the young mind with special reference to the pursuits of Agriculture." This subject was ably and thor- oughly discussed, and was shown to lie at the very foundation of improvement in this branch of in- dustry. In our next, we shall endeavor to give a more comprehensive view of Prof. D.'s highly valu- able remarks. Several distinguished gentlemen visited the show- grounds, among which were Ex-President Van Bu- ren. Gov. Fish, Gen. Wool, Com. Thomas Ap C. Jones, Hon. Mr. Ferguson, of Canada, G. P. R. James, Esq., (the celebrated English literary writer,) and a grandson of Gen. La Fayette, from France. Delegates were in attendance from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Agricultural Societies of Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and various county societies in other states. COMPOST YARDS. Mr. Freas : In a modern work, published not long since, in Scotland, entitled the Book of Farm- ing, there is a drawing delineating the " compost yard." It is represented as an appendage, distinct from, yet appertaining to, the barn- yard, and contains a '^tank," or, as I should denominate it, a cistern, for the reception of the urine, or liquid matter gen- erated in the sties, cotes, cattle, horse, and sheep yards, and so positioned or located as to receive it through a system of pipes. Into this cajjacious and convenient reservoir is thro\vn, from time to time, muck, virgin earth, or bank soil, and on this is poured, occasionally, the urine of the cattle, soap- suds, and the rich wash from the manure heaps. In this way a large amount of these absorbent sub- stances are enriched, and rendered subservient to, and highly efficient in, the fertilization of the soil. If our farmers would but adopt this system — so economical in its details, and apparently so beneficial in its results, we should probably, in a short time, hear far less of scanty crops and imjjoverished fields. It is time for the American farmer to arouse, and by a vigorous effort shake off the lethargy which has so long bound him down to indigence and profitless toil on fields emasculated and unproductive. Light and intelligence are ditt'using their rays over the rest of the world, while we are indolently reposing like the sluggard spoken of in Scripture. Let this not be. We have already too long neglected our best inter- ests ; let us now arouse from our stupor, and no longer slumber. The Scotch are a singularly industrious and eco- nomical people ; they turn every thing to the most profitable use, and the influence which Scotch enter- prise has operated in elevating the agricultural char- acter of England, and the rest of the civilized world, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 335 is to her a source of greater honor than all the vic- tories and conquests of the latter, since the days of her feudal regime. The establishment of the High- land Society wrought wonders ; and since then she has progressed rapidly, her course being ever onward, till her system is now the most perfect of any, and the efforts of her farmers, in every department of Geoponics, more successful, circumstances consid- ered, than those of any peoi^le on the face of the globe. Here, in tliis free country, where millions on mil- lions of virgin soil are to be had for a mere nominal equivalent; where the market is always open to the products of industry, and where, from our rapidly increasing population, every article produced from the soil by farm labor is certain to bruig a remuner- ating price ; and where from these, and other cog- nate and collateral causes, the young agriculturLst is supplied with the most cheering inducements to per- severe in the bright pathway of improvement, — ag- riculture, both as a science and as an art, makes but a dilatory advance. It languishes from lack of pub- lic spirit — that esprit i/ii corps which is so operative in the mind of the Scotch farmer, and which leads him to dread nothing more than the disgrace of being beaten or excelled. When shall we arise ? when shall we assume that rank among the nations we so emi- nently deserve r AN OLD FAHMER. — Gcrmantown Telejraph. REASONS FOR KEEPING THE BEST BREEDS OF STOCK. Many reasons might be urged why farmers should keep only the best breeds of stock. While it is true that an abundance of food AviU apparently improve any breed, or at least hide their deformities, it is also true that the same food, fed to the same varieties of animals, though of different breeds, will contribute both to the beauty of the animal and interest of the owner. Early maturity, and a disposition to take on fat, are intimately connected with the shape of the ani- mal. I'ut few persons have the perseverance and discrimination to make a Bakewell; yet scarcely a man can be found, who, if called upon to decide be- tween two animals of different organization, but will instinctively decide in favor of the round- barrelled, small- boned, dcop-chcsted, in preference to the slab- sided, coarse-haired, rough-boned, narrow-chested animals ; and yet, with our certain knowledge of these facts, how few are there amongst us who make a reasonable application of the knowledge they pos- sess ! And if any one is found possessing a spirit of improvement, how often is it the ease that he is beset with obstacles, and his efforts counteracted on every side ! At all times, through the summer, may be seen herds of cattle, hogs, &c., rambling in every direc- tion, turned out by their owners to curse community, in their daily task of highway robbery and usurpa- tion. Suppose one of our citizens, at great cost, intro- duces a superior Durham bull. If he is permitted to pasture in fields adjoining the highway, to iirovent evil associations is impossible ; fences will be broken down; he is led off by these marauders, and how- ever docile by constitution he may be, these evil as- sociations will soon make him ungovernable. Tlie owner is soon compelled to fit him for the shambles. In the Empire State, the case supposed may not apply, but in Ohio, this is no fancy sketch ; and not- withstanding the public may be benefited by the in- troduction of the bull, in stamjnng his character or good points in liis offspring, in the stock of the neighborhood, the owner's chagrin, disappointment, and loss of money have been the result. But how can this be remedied ? I answer, by disseminating the right kind of knowledge among the people. If every farmer could be induced to become a sub- scriber and a reader of the American Agriculturist, the American Farmer, the Plough, Loom, and Anvil, the Ohio Cultivator, or any one of these, how soon would the aspect of these things be changed ! The slumbering faculties would be aroused, a spirit of emulation in husbandry in general, and an improve- ment in breeds of farm stock in particular, would pave the waj' for the passage of a law prohibiting animals from running at large. And then, how quickly would our fields be dotted over with beau- tiful square-formed Durham cows ! How soon would our long-nosed, razor-backed, slab-sided, alligator land-pikes, which some people call "hogs," give place to the Chinese, or some other decent breed of swine ! The evils resulting to the community from bad breeds of hogs extend much further than is gen- erally supposed. Almost every person, at one time or another, has had ocular demonstration of the hard feelings, heart tearings, open quarrels, and ex- pensive lawsuits, engendered by the instrumentaUty of these trespassers, which husk our corn and dig our potatoes for nothing, and, like the prince ol darkness, are always " roaming about, seeking what they may devour." But these evils, great as they may be, are not to be compared to the deleterious effects they have upon mankind. Man is a physio- logical being, and his physiological existence de- pends upon certain important principles or laws. Every one knows that man is an eating being. Did ho cease to eat, he would soon cease to live. The food eaten is received into the stomach ; this, in the process of digestion, is formed into chyle, and this, by the action of the oxygen of the atmosphere, in- haled by the lungs, is formed into blood ; and from this blood are formed the bones, the sinews, the muscles, and tendons of the human frame. Conse- quently, whatever is eaten by man, and not thrown off as extraneous matter, becomes assimilated into the system, and becomes interwoven into the very texture and existence of man himself. Is it not, therefore, as clear as demonstration can make it, that if a man were fed exclusively, for a sufficient length of time, on long-nosed alligators, or land-pikes, he would eventually, as far as animal physiology is con- cerned, become " bone of their bone, and liesh of tlieir flesh " • He would be all hog except the bristles. And when we consider the very intimate connection between mind and matter, is it not equally clear that this animal system, composed, in whole or in part, of swine, will have a powerful in- fiuence in the formation of the character of the manr that the animal propensities will become stimulated, and will usurp the throne ■ And when reason is thus subjugated, the man is transformed, from being a good nu^mber of civil sux^iety, to a complete Ishniael- ito, whose hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. I desire no better index to the general character of a neighbor for benevolence, l)cace, love, and good will, or their opposites, than the breed and appearance of the hogs reared and eaten by the j)e<:>ple who reside there. And were I seeking a location, I would select some green spot in the desert of Sahara, rather than settle down among a people whose exclusive food was alligators or land- pikes, o. — American AijricuUurist. For the ycaa- ending in April last, nearly one hun- dred and twenty millions of pounds of beet-root suyar were manufactured in France. 336 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. MULCHING FRUIT-TREES. We have lately seen several instances of this sj's- tem, which should commend it to general adoption in all cases -where there can be any hope of benefit from its use. The first was in an orchard consisting of nearly a thousand apple-trees, belonging to Mr. L. F. Allen, on Grand Island. This orchard had been planted four or five years, on a hard, clay soil, and during all the previous so isons had made little growth, nor scarcely boi-ne a- apple. Last spring, a large forkful of swamp-grass was spread around the trunk of each tree ; and the consequence has been, constant dampness on the surface of the ground be- neath the hay, and a more vigorous growth than has ever before taken place, while almost every tree is covered with fruit. As the owner proposes giving us a full description of his orchards, and their treatment, we omit further notice of them for the present. Another friend practises mulching with salt hay, which is much better for this purpose than the pre- ceding. This contains an additional ingredient for attracting moisture in the salt combined with it. Many plants require shade and moisture, and when protected by this, will thrive and yield abundantly, which, if not thus protected, would be entirely un- productive. Another friend uses the shives (the fine, woody portions) of flax. By giving a thick covering of these to the ground around the trees, all the benefits of moisture are secured. There is a decided advan- tage in the use of this material, as it does not require to be raked ofi" like hay and straw, on the approach of cold weather, to avoid harboring field mice or other vermin, which frequently commit great rav- ages among the trees during winter, when they have a hiding-place near. The cutting of the hay or straw in a cutting machine, would prepare it equally well for this purpose, as the shives of flax. Tan bark, or saw-dust, is also useful ; but it is better to have the latter discolored, so as to approach a dark brown. This color facilitates the radiation of heat, and the consequent formation of dews, both of which circumstances largely augment production. — Am. Agriculturist. Remauks. — By mulching trees, they are placed in a condition similar to trees in the forest. They are protected from the scorching sun and parching drought ; and they are kept nearer a state of equi- librium of temperature during the various changes from heat to cold, and the reverse ; of course there will be a more uniform growth, and less liability to disease in trees, and imperfection in fruit. Tan should remain a few years after taken from the vat, until it is partially decomposed ; or lime, a^ihes, or other alkaline substances should be mixed with the tan, to destroy the tannic acid, else it may injure the trees which it is intended to protect. See articles in the last number, on the preparation of tan. — Ed. N. E. Fakmek. ANIMALS IMITATING DEATH TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. During a visit to Cumberland, we found several hedgehogs in Inglewood Forest. One of these, in order to destroy it, we put in the pond. It swam about in a circular direction for some time, and reached the shore. After putting it into the water a second time, it remained motionless, and apparently dead, and we left it on the grass. During the night, however, it walked away. The spider will imitate death to save itself; and canaries have been taught by some showmen to look as if they were dead. The most curious case, however, is that of a fox, in the north. A farmer had discovered that they came along a beam in the night, to seize his poultry. lie accordingly sawed the end of the beam nearly through, and, in the night, the fox fell into a place whence he could not escape. On going to him in the morning, the farmer found him stifi", and, as he thought, lifeless. Taking him out of the building, he threw him on the dunghill ; but in a short time Renard opened his eyes, and seeing that all was safe and clear, galloped away to the mountains, showing more cunning than the man who had entrapped him. — Pres. Johnson. FALL MANAGEMENT OF BEES. The months of October and November are the season when the state of the apiary will require particu- lar attention. The hives should be examined, and those not containing honey enough for its occupants to sustain them during the winter must be fed. An ordinary swarm of family bees will consume from fifteen to twenty pounds of honey, from October to May. If the winter be very mild, more than this quantity will be required ; but not in an ordinary season. The apiarian should be able, from practice, to know at once, on raising his hives, whether the above quantity exists in them, or not. Hives that have been occupied several years, will be as heavy without honey, as others that have been used but one season, with from five to ten pounds ; therefore an allowance must be made for the weight of old combs and bee-bread. — Miner. WOOL-GROWING AT THE SOUTH. We have before us some verj' fine samples of wool, received from Mr. Davison, of Culpeper county, Virginia. It is surprising that so little attention is paid to this subject, throughout the whole length and breadth of the Southern States. It does seem to us that there is no region under the sun where wool can be raised so cheaply as there. They have the climate and a vast amount of pasturage that is now lying idle. There is no stock a farmer can breed that will com- pare with sheep for profit. The fleece comes annu- ally, and the carcass is always valuable. For a warm climate, mutton is the most healthful meat, as well as the cheapest. Why don't the planters go more into the business ? We have often asked the ques- tion, but get, as yet, no answer. On a great many plantations, it does seem to us that there would be no ditticulty in inducing the negroes to give up their dogs, and keep a sheep or two in their place : a small premium for the fleece or the lambs would soon make the sheep a part of the household. It has been urged that the blacks will not make good shepherds. We do not believe any such thing. Wo think they would make the very best, with a little instruction ; and the older people, who could not work hard in the field, would do well with the sheep in their summer rambles. — Tlie Wool-Grower. ENORMOUS WHEAT CROP. A correspondent of the Detroit Daily Tribune, writing from llomeo, Michigan, states that Ira Phil- lips, of Bruce, Macomb count*,-, last week harvested and threshed, from two acres of ground, one hundred and twenty-four bushels of wheat. The wheat crop of Macomb county, and indeed of all Michigan, will be unprecedently large. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 337 APPLE-PARING MACHINE. Those "who have used these machines are aware that they make a great saving of labor. The one represented above has peculiar advantages, and those who have used it say that it will pare three or four bushels in an hour — a great saving on the slow pro- cess of paring with a common knife. This machine is geared so as to expedite the opera- tion by rapid revolutions of the fruit, and the work is done with great despatch. The knife is moved round the fruit by machinery, and when it is peeled, it is thrown off instantly by a spring in the machine, and the knife returns to its former place, ready to begin upon another apple. These ingenious contri- vances require less labor and skill in the operator, and enable him to work with greater expedition. These machines have forks of thin, elastic prongs, adapted to paring peaches. The price is moderate. THE POULTRY SHOW, Held last week in the hall over the Fitchburg Rail- road depot, was a grand exhibition, both in extent and variety ; and as to the general appearance of the fowls and birds, it was all that could be expected at this season of the year, when the old fowls are moulting, and many of the young ones are not fully grown, or well Hedged. This was by far tlie largest show of the feathered race ever made in this country ; and in variety it has never been excelled, for there were not only almost every breed, but a large number of varieties, crosses, mixtures, mongrels, &c. The weather was generally fine during the show, and a very large number of visitors had the gratification of seeing it. We may give some particulars in another number. FALL MANAGEMENT OF ASPARAGUS. A subscriber requests a few hints on this subject, and inquires whether the stalks should be cut away in the fall. When the plants are dead, the stalks should be cut and removed, and they may be used as litter for hogs, or otherwise converted into manure. It is better to cut off the stalks a little above the sur- face ; then the remains of the stalk may be removed more conveniently in the spring, than when it is cut just below the surface, as the but is then out of sight. These old huts of the stalks should be re- moved early in spring, that they may not obstruct the tender shoot. If the roots of the asparagus have been set low, in a trench, shallow ploughing, in the fall, will bo a good mode of culture, for the purpose of destroj-ing the weeds, pulverizing the soil. Sec. If the roots have not been set sufficiently low to admit of plough- ing, the harrow may be used to advantage. If there is a lack of richness in the soil, api^ly manure before ploughing or harrowing. HATCHING CHICKENS. An American, named Williams, near Champigny, France, has an establishment for tlie artificial incu- bation of eggs. lie has been very successful, follow- ing, as near as possible, the means adopted by the mother hen, in the application of the artificial heat. As in her case, he applies the heat from above, and following her instinct as his guide, he frequently re- moves the heat, leaving the eggs free to imbibe the necessary amount of oxygen. So far, his success has been complete. lie finds ready .sale for all his broods, which are sent to market A\hcn twenty days old. His furnaces are kept constantly at work to furnish poulets for the Paris markets. — Paris j^ap^r., The Granite Farmer, speaking of the potato rot, savs, "In one field, of wliich a friend spoke, the rot of the tubers was so entire that the stench ari.sing from the ground almost forbade any one's crossing the field." In Norway, it is estimated that the number of persons who are preparing to emigrate to America amounts to twenty thousand ; being two per cent, of the entire population of the kingdom. From the commune of Loelag alone, which contains five thousand one hundred and ninety- five inhabitants, six hundred and sixty-three individuals are about to embark for New York. 338 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. domestic ^Department. The Fate of Nations dependent on Mothers. — Tlie destiny of a nation is shaped by its character ; and that character, the aggregate character of all its individual citizens, will ever be found to be moulded chictiy by maternal hands. Each mother may seem to do very little towards such a result ; but the mil- lions of mothers in a whole country must, with in- evitable certainty, leave their own impress upon its general character and destiny. I remember hearing, more than ten years ago, an anecdote quite in point, which strongly impressed this truth on my mind. We all know too well the comparatively ill success of the republics at the south of us. From one of these republics in the northern part of South America, a gentleman of high social and political standing there, a sagacious statesman, and a thoughtful, anxious patriot, who mourned over the bad results of the experiment made by his own country in the work of sell'- government, came to ours, for the purpose of leisurely examining our in- stitutions, and of ascertaining, if possible, the true secret of their success, and of our great national prosperity. My informant reported to me the result of this gentleman's observations in two cases. He attended one of our military musters, and on witnessing the general spirit of the scene as indicative of a popular passion for arms, and especially the eager, enthusias- tic interest of the young in the passing pageantry, he turned to his companion, and very emphatically said, " That, sir, will ruin you. It is the passion of the people for war, and their reliance on the sword to carry their points, which has been our bane and ruin in South' America ; and, unless you check it in season, it will prove your ruin too." He knew not the counteracting influences silently at work through the land ; but he soon had an opportunity to catch a passing glimpse of them. This accomplished stranger, a Roman Catholic, visited New Haven, Ct., and was present at an even- ing party, where were gathered the tlite, gentlemen and ladies, of that well-known centre of learning and social refinement. There was nothing in the appear- ance of the men to excite surprise, or special atten- tion, for he had seen others of similar accomplish- ments ; but the character of the women, the position they held in society, and the influence they were so obviously qualified and permitted to exert, struck him with such admiration and delight, that on re- tiring from the scene, he exclaimed, " I've found it now. I have ascertained the secret of your success in self-government, prosperity, and greatness as a republic. , Yo>i owe it to your women. I never saw the Uko before. Suck mothers must, and no others can, make a nation like yours. Give us, in South America, such women for mothers, and we should, ere long, follow hard alter you in the race of national prosperity and happiness." Well did Najjolcon say to Madame de StaOl, " France wants mothers." Yes, every land, the whole world, " wants mothers ; " mothers of the right character and influence. Liberty, religion, almost every thing for time and eternity, depend, under God, very much on what they are, and what they do. Our world can be neither redeemed, nor reformed, nor saved from ruin, without mothers, good mothers ; and every improvement in their character is one of the surest possible guarantees for the gen- eral improvement and welfare of our race, through all coming time. — Rev. George C. Becktoith. Sweet is the memory of departed worth. Husk Beds. — Now (the husking season) is the time to secure the best and most durable of undcr- beds. All the inner husks of the corn should be saved for this purpose. True, it takes a great many to make a bed ; but when once the sack is filled, it is a bed for life, and is the lightest and softest thing of the kind that one could desire. The husks curl up as they dry, and never mat down afterward. More- over, no insects ever lodge in them, as vermin do in straw. They are perfectly clean, and, being of a strong and tough texture, they will not wear out for years. We regard a good husk bed as cheap at five dollars. A young married couple, to the end of life, live they ever so long, will have no occasion to fill a new under-bed if they once have their sacks filled with good, soft, well-dried corn husks. We had all of ours filled fifteen years ago, and they are this day " as good as new." — Gospel Banner. i3outl)'0 JBepartinent. Maxims to guide a Young Man. — Keep good company or none. Never be idle. If your hands cannot be usefully employed, attend to the cultivation of your mind. Always speak the truth. Make few promises. Live up to all your engagements. Have no very intimate friends. Keep your own secrets, if you have any. When you speak to a person, look him in the face. Good company and good conversation are the very sinews of virtue. Good character is above all things else. Never listen to loose and infidel conversation. You had better be poisoned in your blood than in your principles. Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts. If any one speaks evil of you, let your life be so virtuous that none will believe him. Always speak and act as in the presence of God. Drink no kind of intoxicating liquor. Ever live, misfortune excepted, within your in- come. When you retire to bed, think over what you have been doing during the day. Never speak lightly of religion. ilako not haste to be rich if you would prosper. Small and steady gains give competency with tran- quillity of mind. Never play at any kind of game. Avoid temptation, through fear that you faiay not withstand it. Earn your money before you spend it. Never run into debt, unless you see a way to get out again. Never borrow if you can possibly avoid it. Do not marry till you arc able to support a wife. Never speak evil of any one. Be just before you are generous. Keep yourself innocent, if you would be happy. Save when you are young, to spend when you are old. Never think that which you do for religion is time or money misspent. Always go to meeting when j'ou can. Read some portion of the Bible every day. Often think of death, and your accountability to God. Read over the above maxims at least once a week, (Saturday night.) !*• S« — Gazette and Courier. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 339 ^caltl) JBcpartment. Exercise, Fresh Air, &c. — Downing's Horticul- turist expatiates on the advantage to our women of often seeking the air, and using abundant exercise, as the true means of preserving health, and impart- ing to beauty a more captivating freshness. An ex- cellent article thereon linishes thus : — •' A word or two more, and on what ought to be the most important argument to all. Exeix'ise, fresh air, health — are they not almost synonymous ? The exquisite bloom on the cheeks of American girls fades in the matron much sooner here than in Eng- land— not because of the softness of the English climate, as many suppose. It is because exercise, so necessary to the maintenance of health, is so little a matter of habit and education hero, and so largely insisted upon in England ; and it is because exercise, when taken here at all, is too often as a matter of duty, and has no soul in it ; wliile the English woman who takes a lively interest in her rural employment, in- hales new life in every day's occupation, and plants perpetual roses on her cheeks, by the mere act of planting them in her garden." For Sore Throat. — A stocking, warm from the foot, bound on the neck at night, is good for sore throat. For a severe case, put warm roasted potatoes into the stocking ; and after so warm an application and perspiration, as a consequence, avoid too much exposure of the neck the next day. illecl^amca' Pcpartmcnt, ^rts, Uc. The Uses op Iron in Buildings. — The uses of iron are only beginning to be appreciated. We per- ceive, by a late London paper, that it is quite a com- mon thing to receive orders from Australia for sets of iron houses. These are prepared and despatched with as much readiness as any other descrij)tion of manufacture. In New York and Philadelphia, iron fronts are also beginning to appear. The experi- ments that have thus far been tried, in this new move- ment, have been quite successful. A correspondent of the New York Mirror thus speaks of the advan- tages of iron over brick, wood, or stone. The hints are worthy the attention of builders. First, as regards form and shape. Forms which stone could never be made to assume, varying from the lightest fairy structure to the most elaborate de- signs of the Grecian or Doric. Saving of space in foundation, discarding the cum- brous pile of stone, and substituting a firmer and more compact base. The capability of being speedily and easily erected, or of being taken down and removed without a loss of time or material. Protection against lightning — a philosophical cer- tainty. Security against fire. In addition to the iron pre- senting no "food for fire" naturally, in the formation of the parts of an iron building, it can be shown, that it can never be injured by contraction in the event of internal conflagration, or cracked by the sudden application of water, even were it brought to a white heat. Ventilation — the nature of the material affording the best method of securing the most perfect system of ventilation. Facilities for the transmission of sound — a desid- eratum in all churches or public buildings adapted for large audiences. Absence of vermin — avoidance of mildew, and absorption of dampness. For the application of paint — the best known ma- terial, afi'ording a beauty of external finish, with a protection from the weather. Durability, strength, and firmness ; in particular for factories employing steam and heavy machinery. Strengthening properties of iron I'm' the constitu- tion, as a principle of health. External and internal ornamental finish, by the means of castings. Economy — the slight effects of time or wear, the slight repairs necessary, and the ease and small ex- pense with which additions may be made. The repetition of form, through the medium of easting. A single design may be multiplied a thou- sand times, at the simple expense of the iron, saving time and manual labor. The peculiar adaptation of iron to the formation of circulinear and graceful lines, in contradistinc- tion to the rectangular and perpendicular. The se- vere rules which govern the Gothic or Grecian struc- tures, in the laying of the stones, can be departed from in every essential particular. In connection with this last-mentioned advantage, much might be said in regard to the adaptation of antique forms to the wants of our commercial com- munity, and whether shapes more in kecjiing with the purposes intended would not bo preferable to the Grecian temple or the other structures of the ancients, however beautiful they may appear at Home or Athens. The foregoing are a few of the man)' advantages which iron affords over every other material in use for the construction of our dwellings, factories, ware- houses, or churches. The subject ought to be exam- ined into and treated by men of science ; and the public, in these days of burning down and building up, should give their careful attention to a material which carries with it the three great essentials of house-building, — a saving of time, labor, and expense. FAILURE OF THE PEACH CROP. K the disease which has attacked the peach in this region is to prevail, it Avill effect a great revolution in our prospects relative to that delicious fruit. It has shown itself more or less for four or five years past, but never to the extent it has this season. It has been assigned to various causes ; but, from close and constant observation, we are satisfied that atmospheric influence is the sole cause, and probably from a sudden decrease of temperature, in some way connected with its electrical state. By a failure of the vessels in the petiole, or stem of the leaf, to return the sap sent up, an increased growth is produced of the fleshy, pulpy covering of the leaf — it increases, thickens, bends, and curls — becomes mildewed, and falls oft", leaving the tree no lungs to breathe and carry on elimination ; and when there are no dormant buds ready to reproduce leaves, the limbs gum and die, the fruit ahnost entirely fails with the fall of the leaf, and the croj) is lost. There is quite a difference in the degree in which ditterent varieties are affected. (Crawford's Etu'ly Yellow stands the disease better than any other va- riety cultivated in this region — the Early Purple, an early and mildewing kind, next — and some of the late clings, and those uncultivated, resisted the disease, while many other highly- esteemed varieties were left entirely naked. If this affliction is to prevail, the Early Crawford, 340 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. a large and very showy peach, though not of the most choice and tasty kind, will become a very im- portant article to cultivate. Others undoubtedly possess the same powers of resistance to the predisposing cause ; and the observ- ing and noticing those varieties will become ex- tremely important in peach-growing districts. Tliis disease — if disease it may be called — has not extended to the Jersey and Delaware orchards ; for peaches are said to be so plenty in New York and other seaboard towns, as not to bring the price of cartage from the country to the city. Plums are almost a total failure, from the extreme east to the west, in this latitude ; and we predict a great crop next year, so far as the ravages of the cur- culio will affect it, as they have not been able to propagate their species, from the want of the proper nidus for their eggs. — Rural New- Yorker. Remarks. — The above article, referring to West- ern New York, shows very clearly that salt spray is not a cause of the curl on the peach ; yet trees may be more liable to injury from being near the sea, or large bodies of fresh water, as from them storms may bo more frequent and severe. It appears that the Early Crawford peach escaped the curl in New York, as M'cU as in this region, which confirms our views as to its being hardy against this affection. — Ed. FRESH AIR. Man acts strangely. Although a current of fresh air is the very life of his lungs, he seems inde- fatigable in the exercise of his inventive powers to deprive himself of this heavenly blessing. Thus he carefully closes every cranny of his bed-chamber against its entrance, and he prefers that his lungs should receive the mixed effluvium from his cellar and larder, and from a patent little modern aquarius in lieu of it. Why should man be so terrified at the admission of the night air into any of his apart- ments ? It is nature's overflowing current, and never carries the destroying angel with it. See how Boundly the delicate wren and the tender little robin sleep under its full and immediate influence ; and how fresh, and vigorous, and joyous they rise amid the surrounding dewdrops of the morning. Al- though exposed all night long to the air of heaven, their lungs are never out of order ; and this we know by the daily repetition of their song. Look at the newly-born bear, without any nest to go to. It lives and thrives, and becomes strong and playful, under the unmitigated inclemency of the falling dews of the night. I have here a fine male turkey, full eight years old, and he has not passed a single night in shelter. lie roosts in a cherry-tree, and is always in the priinest health the year throughout. Three dunghill fowls, preferring this cherry-tree to the warm ])erches in the hen-house, took up their airy quarters with him early in October, and have never since gone to any other roosting-place. The cow and the horse sleep safely on the cold, damp ground, and the roebuck lies down to rest in the heather, on the dewy mountain top. I myself can sleep all night long, bareheaded, under the full moon's watery beam, without any fear of danger, and pass the day in wet shoes, -without catching cold. Coughs and colds are generally caught in the transi- tion from an overheated room to a cold apartment ; but there would be no danger in this movement if ventilation were attended to — a precaution little thought of now-a-days. — Watterton's Essays on Nat- wai Historij. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. "WTiat the farmer requires in erecting a domicile which shall be the home of his future years, the homestead around whose altar his affections shall cling, and where he can retire after the busy, bus- tling scenes of the world shall have been succeeded by the calm, holy tranquillity of rjuiet eve, are, — First. Cheapness. Many opinions are entertained by different architects as to which mode is cheap- est. Some prefer frame houses, while others are equally in favor of plank buildings, which require less work to frame ; others differ as to the form of building. While some prefer the winged story-and- a-half cottage style, others show their preference in building houses small on the ground, and of greater height, say two or three stories ; others are equally in love with the " octagon " form of building. How much each of these forms deserves to be copied, we proceed now to consider. The winged form of building is perhaps the most in vogue at present, and perhaps no form can be less deserving of imitation at the same time. Al- though to eyes which profess to be tasty in this respect the winged form may appear beautiful and conve- nient, yet, upon consideration, no form appears more absurd, or more at variance with the common law of nature. Winged houses indeed look better than winged apples or pumpkins probably would ; yet when we consider that the form which will contain the most room, at the same time that it occupies the least outside space, is better in this respect, we must acknowledge that square houses are preferable to winged ones, and, on the same principle, that octa- gons are preferable to squares. Mathematics teaches us that a spherical surface encloses more than any other shape in proportion, and evcry-day experience likewise teaches us that this is one great end secured by nature in the rounding shapes of fruits, grains, &c. Second. Durability is another great object to be desired. Now, the form which will best withstand the storms and tempests of winter, and best ward off the merciless peltings of our northern rains, is the most durable, as it will prevent houses from going into premature decay. Here nature again is our monitor, and teaches us that the spherical form ex- ceeds every other for warding ofi' the extremes of boisterous weather. Third. Convenience. Too many of our farmers, in building, set aside their own better judgment, and listen to the advice of self-interested architects, whose main object in recommending .such and such plans is to replenish their own purses at the expense of tneir employers. Now, in presenting this hasty sketch to the public, we do it with the desire of obtaining information on the subject of building. Should any of your correspondents or readers feel a desire to en- lighten me on the subject, the information will be thankfully received. They cannot fail to perceive that I incline favorably to the octagon form ; and now, who knows any thing in regard to it ? Let some one speak (through the medium of the newspaper) who has tried the plan, and tell us how he likes it ; its cheapness, durability, convenience, &c. MERRITT. — Dollar Newspaper. STRENGTH OF WIRE. As the subject of wire fences is now receiving con- siderable attention, and as inquiry has been made in regard to the strength of diflerent kinds of wire, we give the following table, from an essay which lately received a prize from the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. It shows the number of pounds each of the sizes of various kinds su.stained before NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 341 breaking. The lengths tested were ten feet. The wire called " common " was the ordinary wire of commerce, and is said to be made mostly from the coarser sorts of iron. The " prepared " wire is made from a tincr description of iron, is more carefully manufactured, and is superior in quality to the former. " Charcoal " wire is considered the best and strongest of any of the qualities made. It is drawn from iron which is worked chiefly by wood charcoal. The " annealed " wire is considered " tlie very wor.st that can be put into a fence. From its being soft, it is readily stretched by any weight or pressure that may be brought to bear against it ; and, as a conse- quence, is thrown from one side to the other, as stock may happen to touch it." It is said also to oxidize or rust more easilj- than any other kinds. Common Wire. No. 8 broke with 590 lbs. ) -.tr-^v ^ ^-ui ,, „ ., ,. o.i .< f Without perceptibly .. 4 .. .. 1269 " 5 stretching. Annealed Wire. 605 lbs. — stretched about 4.^ inch. No. 8 broke with " 6 " " 832 •' 4 " " 1282 Prepared Wi)-e. No. 8 broke with 955 lbs. — stretched about 1 inch •• 6 " " 13cS0 " — " "I " •< 4 K « 2163 " — " "I " Charcoal Wi7-e. No. 8 broke with 1264 lbs. " 6 " " 1762 '• " 4 " " 2656 " — Albany Cultivator. Stretched about the same as prepared wire. IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. Agriculture has been aptly styled " the nursing mother of all the arts." It is the basis, the soul of our national prosperity. Commerce and manufac- tures conduce, in a great measure, to wealth ; but the cultivation of the soil ever has been, and ever will continue to be, the fountain-head of all the streams of a country's resources. There can be no strength in a state, and no moral health among the peo])le, when the tillage of the land is neglected. Wo can date the decay of power and \irtue of many nations from the decline of their agricultural industry. In Home, for instance, when the wise ])oIicy of fostering agriculture was pursued, a healthful spirit jicrvaded the whole state. Then the laws were imiuirtially administered, and justice done to all. Then labor was accounted honorable, and statesmen, and generals, and philosophers cul- tivated their farms with their own hands. It was then that from among the tillers of the soil arose a Rcgulus, a Cincinnatus, and an invincible soldiery. It was then that the " seven-hilled city " breathed defiance to her enemies, and caused nation after na- tion to yield to the resistless power of her legions, until the Roman eagle waved over the known world. But when largesses of corn wore bestowed upon an idle populace, when agriculture was neglected, and war laid waste the fertile fields of Italy, then Roman virtue and Roman vigor fled. Soon intrigue, vice, and venality took firm hold in the state, until finally the '• pale mother of empires " was abandoned to her enemies, and the j)alaces of the Cicsars echoed the tread of the victorious barbarian. History abounds ;n examples illustrative of the important "fact, that the enduring greatness of a nation is mainly foumled upon its agriculture, and rulers will do well to in- crease the prosperity of those who swing the scj'the and hold the plough. That country whicli does not possess Mithin itself the means of affording subsistence to its own inhab- itants, is, if we may trust the voice of experience, destined to sink to early ruin. National power based upon commerce alone, unsup])orted by a flourishing industry, which ministers to human wants and grat- ifications, must fall to the ground. Merely commer- cial states, dependent upon contingcneic.-; for their very life-blood, and imbued with that spirit of spec- ulation which tends to enervate the body and corrupt the mind, contain within their own bosoms the seeds of dissolution. Phoenica, Carthago, Genoa, Venice, and Holland of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- turies, all bear witness to this fact. There is much truth in these verses of Goldsmith : — " Trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay, As ocean sweeps the labored mole away; "WTiile self-dependent power can time defy. As rocks resist the billows and the sky." To her unsurpassed agriculture England is most indebted for her support in the midst of those tre- mendous pressures which so often have threatened to crush her. It is the unparalleled cultivation of her soil that has enabled the Uritish people, placed upon a rock-bound i.sland, to excel the world in every article of fabric, to maintain an unrivalled navy, and l)lant their power in every quarter of the globe. Firm are the foundations of the strength of that na- tion, which in time of peace is nourished from the resources of its own industry, and in war can rely upon the strong arms and undaunted hearts of its yeomanry, to sustain its rights in the din of strife or in the roar of battle ! Upon agriculture, in addition to the necessaries and common comforts of life, depends the success of every other employment. It is agriculture that builds up our crowded cities, covers our fields with yellow grain, and diffuses life and vigor throughout the land. It is agriculture that supjjorts our gigan- tic manufactories, ringing from their basement to their attic with the music of free labor, and causes our ten thousand ships to dance upon every rolling billow, and spread their sails to every propitious gale. Says Lord Erskine, in his political romance called Ajmata, " You might as well hope to see the human body in active motion when palsy had reached the heart, or a tree flourishing after its roots were decayed, as expect to see manufactures, or arts, or industry of any description, progressive, wlicn agriculture has decUned." Paralyze it, and you weaken the pulse of enterprise, stiffen the fingers of machinery, and clip the wings of commerce. De- stroy it, and you bury in one common grave national power and individual prosperity. — Martin's Address in ISinonian tSociety, Yale Collcje. DURABILITY AND DECAY OF PLANK ROADS. A plank road may reejuire a removal, either because it has worn out at top t)y the travel ujjon it, or be- cause it has been destroyed at the bottom by rot. But if the road has travel enough to make it profit- able to its builders, it will wear out first, and if it docs, it will have earned abundantly enough to re- place it twice over, as we shall see presently. The liability to decay is therefore a secondary considera- tion on roads of importance. As to natural decay, no hemlock road has been in use long enough to de- termine how long the plank can be preserved from rot. Seven years is perhaps a fair average. Differ- ent species of hemlock vary greatly, and upland ;M2 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. timber is always more durable than from low and Avet localities. The pine roads in Canada generally last about eight years, varying from seven to twelve. The original Toronto road was used chiefly by teams hauling steamboat wood, and at the end of six years began to break through in places, and, not being re- paired, was principally gone at the end of ten years. Having been poorlj- built, badly drained, not sanded, and no care bestowed upon it, indicates the minimum of durability. Oak plank cross-walks are in Detroit, the plank being laid flat on those of pine. It is be- lieved that oak plank, well laid, would last at least twelve to fifteen years. One set of sleepers will out- last two plankings. Several Canada roads have been relaid upon the old sleepers, thus much lessening the cost of renewal. VINEYARDS ABOUT CINCINNATI. Editors of the Cixcinxati Gazette : ' I was yesterday at some of the vineyards on the Ohio, be- low the city, and, among others, at the vineyard of 'Mr. Duhmc, who, I understand, resides in the city. The location is a good one, with a favorable soil, and is, I believe, the largest vineyard in the state. It requires his personal attention. The grapes ripen badly, and a large portion of them cannot ripen at all. In some parts of Europe, where their summers are cool, they find it necessary to shorten the leading branches intended to produce the next year's crop, and thin out the leaves, and head in the short branches, and fully expose the fruit to the sun and air, to insure its ripening. This method, in our hot climate, is often highly injurious to the plant, and destructive to the fruit. If the heading in of the leading shoots be done early in the season, the fruit buds of the following year are thrown out. As an experiment, I one year, by successive heading, had the fruit of four successive years on the plant at the same time, and, the fall being favorable, the second crop ripened its fruit. Where the fruit branches are frequently tojipcd, and the wood becomes ripe, the sap ceases to flow, and the fruit cannot ripen. This is the case at the vineyard of Mr. Duhme. In our hot climate, no more lateral branches should be taken from the main shoots intended for next year's fruit than to give them the necessary length. The fruit branches should be topped when in blossom, beyond the second eye from tlie last blossom, and after that, allowed to grow without topping. In our climate, to ripen the fruit, a portion of shade is necessary ; for where there is growing young wood, there Ls, of course, a full flow of sap to the fruit, without which it shrivels and drops off". This day I visited a German settlement on the Ohio, connncncing about twelve miles above the city, and extending about four miles. The hill commences close to the river, and rises gradually ; the usual bottom land being on the opposite side of the river. The soil is porous, and well calculated, in my opinion, for the cultivation of the grape ; and nearly "the whole of the four miles is occupied by vineyards, and there are also some on the top of the hill. Two of the vineyards belong to Englishmen ; the owners of all the others are Germans. Most of the vineyards in this vicinity have suffered severely from the rot ; and some vinc-dressers, ex- pecting, in the early part of the season, to make from two thousand to four thousand gallons of wine, will not make one hundred. Yet their vineyards are on the sides and tojis of the hills, fully exposed to the sun and air. But the subsoil is a stiff clay, reten- tive of moisture. These localities will, I fear, be always subject to rot, and yet the vineyards w ill be found more profitable than any other crop. To per- sons having a porous soil, I would recommend the cultivation of the Herbemont grape. It is a fine grape, both for the table and for wine, and perfectly hard}-. It makes wine of superior quality, similar to the Spanish Manzanilla, or Mansina;lla, as it is gen- erally pronounced. This grape has a soft pulp, and resembles the best foreign table grapes. Lick Run, in our immediate vicinity, will make one of the most beautiful rural spots in the world. It will soon be a continuous line of vinej'ards. I wish some of our poets would visit it in May or June, and give it a more beautiful and appropriate name. They may rack their brains for months, and not find one worthy of the scene. It is diff'erent on Mount Adams, which is in a double sense in connection w'ith the heavens — its height, and proximity to the great telescope of Professor Mitchel. The highest street is called Ce- lestial Street. Commanding as the view is, the name surely equals it. N. LONGWORTH. P. S. I have just returned from a visit to the vineyard of Mr. Langdon, on the bottom of the Little Miami, eight miles above the city, in a sandy soil. That porous soil is not subject to the rot in grapes, is exemplified here. His misfortune is, in fact, too large a crop of fruit — an unusual complaint this season. Yet he will have a poor vintage, arising from two causes, which prevent the fruit from ripen- ing. The first and least cause is, too much fruit, from leaving too much bearing wood. There was more than the vine could give a supply of sap for, in a favorable season. The second and great cause is the same as at the vineyard of Mr. Duhme. The fruit has no shade, few leaves, and but little young wood on the fruit branches, to carry sap to the grapes to ripen them. The wood is life, and the circulation of the sap stopped. Not one fourth of the grapes will ripen perfectly ; many of them shrivel and drop, and many of them scarcely change color. A favor- able fall will aid them. I observed, in the vineyard of Mr. Langdon, that the Catawba vine is much closer jointed than in our richer land, where there is a subsoil of clay ; and one of my German vine-dressers assured me this is al- ways the case. This would indicate an increased crop, and the change probably depends on the rich- ness of the soil. An important inquiry is, Will the grape, in a sandy soil, yield an equal amount of sugar ? I wish our vine-dressers to direct their attention to this subject. In some of our vineyards they have both soils, and the question will be easily decided. The color of the Catawba grape is no certain evi- dence of its ripeness and richness. They are often of unusual dark color this season, yet the juice has one eighth less sugar. N. LONGWORTH. — Cincinnati Gazette. CURE FOR GLANDERS. In answer to one of your subscribers, inquiring what will cure " Nasal Gleet," or discharge from the nose of horses, I would say, that I have cured many with the following simple compound, and two cases that were called glanders confirmed, viz. : Take one tcaspoonful of common rosin, one tablespoonful of copperas, two tablespoonfuls of salt, and four spoonfuls of dry ashes ; pulverize the rosin and cop- peras, and mix the whole, and give it in bran or shorts, or oats, dry, and in four weeks* time, by giving the same quantity twice a week, I cured the tw© cases of glanders. I have used the same in cases of cold or catarrh, and three or four doses have per- formed a cure. I have also used it for horse distem- per with success. O. W. — Dollar Nfwspapei: NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 343 ABILITY OF THE EAST TO GROW WHEAT. The gradual failure of the Eastern States, and a part of this state, to produce wheat, is an enigma of difficult solution. The state of Vermont, even, -with its Boreal climate, once was a wheat-growing region, and continued to grow more or less, pre%'ious to the advent of the weevil, or grain Avorm ; but it was nearly abandoned in most of the New England States, and in the eastern part of this state, long before this period, as a reliable and profitable crop. The analysis of soils of the same apparent texture and compo-;ition does not show any important differ- ence in their constituents. The diluvium — drift or soil that covers this continent — was not created in the locale where it lies, but is the triturated masses of the rocks covering a vast extent of country, and ■was distributed by currents and disturbances of the " world of waters " that once covered the whole globe, before the " waters were gathered together." Now, although the western district is underlaid by a sedimentary, calcareous substratum of rocks, yet the soil is not found, by analysis, to take any distinc- tive character from that peculiarity. It can hardly be climate that affects the wheat plant, as we are in the same latitude as our middle, northern and eastern counties ; and yet with us it is a certain crop — the great reliance for profit by all the farmers of this region and the great west. If lime, or potash, which are admitted to bo im- portant constituents of wheat, are lacking, and they have been used up by cultivation, or if the soil lacks any other required j^c-bulum of Avheat, let them be artificially applied ; they are perfectly within the reach and ability of the farmer. As the grain worm has ceased to exist at the east, simply from the want of the means to propagate itself, let the farmers commence wheat husbandry again — clover, lime, and ash their land — sow early, that the plant may have strong roots to withstand the winter — and we feel persuaded that success Avould follow their efforts. There is no witchcraft about raising wheat : a few well-conducted exjjori- ments would tell the story, and perhaps end in con- ferring incalculable benefits to the present non- ■wheat-growing regions. — Rural Xeto-Yur/ier. LEAVES AS MANURE. Leaves, buds, and tender branches are peculiarly rich in the vegetable alkali ; besides which, they contain other organic elements derived fi'om the soil, enrich its surface, tending to prevent its exhaustion, or, when newly applied, — that is, toother ground,— to enrich it more than superficially. Leaves — and the remark is applicable to the ten- der branches also — seem destined by nature for the manure of forest land, and, indeed, of ground gen- erally wherever trees grow. The roots collect the inorganic elements essential to vegetation from the soil, penetrating deeply and widely ; the leaves de- tain and store up a certain portion of them with other elements derived from the atmosphere, such as are required for their growth ; and these, returned to the soil with the fall of the leaf, and there under- going decomposition, arc ready to be appropriated again, and rc-administer to the process of vegetable growth. — Farmer's Herald. The intelligent have a right over the ignorant the right of instructing them. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Thk Farmer's Guide. — We have occasionally noticed this valuable work, by Mr. Stephens, one of the ablest and most practical agricultural writers of Great Britain. In the eighth number is the com- mencement of notes by Professor Norton, which are very interesting and instructive, and are intended to adapt the work to American agriculture. It is neatly printed, at a moderate price, and is illustrated by nu- merous engravings. New York : Leonard Scott & Co. Boston : Fetridge & Co. The Illus-trated Domestic Bible, with Notes, Reflections, Questions, &c., by Rev. Mr. Cobbin, is very neat and instructive, and admirably adapted to families ; it is beautifully illustrated, and published at a low price. New York : Samuel Ilueston. Bos- ton : Hotchkiss & Co. The (Old) Farmer's Almanac, by Robert B. Thomas. — We gladly welcome this old social friend to our table. It has made its annual visits to the farmer for more than half a century, and as the author is as young and jolly as ever, it seems a« though he would live forever. Boston : Jenks, Palmer, & Co. Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, from William Reid, Elizabethtown, N. J. ; contain- ing a list of a large number of varieties of fruits, with short descriptions. Letter to the Hon. J. M. Clayton, Secretary of State, on the Independent Oriental Nations, &c., &c., by Aaron II. Palmer. This pamphlet contains val- uable information. Washington : Gideon & Co. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. As we had many presents of fruits, wc could not notice them all in our last. The greater part of these fruits were received a few weeks ago. Of E. C. Purdy, I>Iedford, Editor of the Boston Daily Mail, the Purdy peach, a seedling of his own raising. This peach is among the largest size, and the most beautiful, and wc have not tasted of a finer fruit this fall. It ripens the last of September. If others will cultivate it so as to bring it up to the same size, it will be a valuable acquisition for the market. Mr. P. has also kindly furnislicd us with some of the stones, and wc hojjc to raise the same from the seed. From Elijah Wyman, 3d, Woburn, several very fine varieties of peach, the names of which are not familiar to us. From Briggs Arnold, East Abington, a seedling peach called "Penniman," which resembles the Early Crawford in appearance, but it is sweeter, and of less flavor. Another seedling (" Ben Pratt") peach was picked too early for us to judge of its quality. No. 4 was excellent, but we do not know the name. From John Day, West Bo.xford, some fine pcachei. 344 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. From Joseph F. TITden, Newbury, Vt., a mam- moth tomato, that weighs two and one half pounds. Of ISl. L. Hayes, Farmington, N. H., pears raised on an apple-tree. This pear is occasionally seen in this region, and sometimes exhibited for a name. It is of a pleasant, vinous flavor. Mr. H. has raised a good crop of pears, for several years, from scions of this pear set in a standard apple-tree, — a rare case of success in this mode of raising pears. From James S. Draper, Wayland, Garden Royal apple. This fruit is small, fair, and handsome, and of the highest quality for a dessert apple. Also, Holland Pippin, good for cooking; Cole's Quince is true to name. From John Copp, Wakefield, X. H., Porter and Minister apples — true and fine specimens. From B. F. Cutter, Pelham, N. H., fifteen kinds of seedling peaches. Mr. Cutter procured some good peaches in the Boston market, and planted the stones. The trees succeed better than the bud- ded varieties, and the fruit is generally larger, hand- somer, and of better quality, and they bear better. Here are additionrd arguments in favor of natural peach-trees, instead of budded kinds, which we have urged for ten years. The greater part of the varieties sent to us were very fair, handsome, and of good quality. From Elisha Bunce, Westford, Isabella grapes, pretty well ripened ; the best of the kind that we have seen this season. From Henry Fish, Hopedale, Milford, eight vari- eties of grapes, native wild, and seedlings. Some of them are tolerably fair, but generally they have too much of the rank, foxy, or musk taste. Of Job C. Stone, Shrewsbury, Mother apples ; very large and fair. This promises to be one of the finest late fall apples. It is of a good size, very beautiful, and of the finest quality. Also, Leland Pippin, a fine, handsome variety, ripening from the middle of September to the last of October. We have noticed that in the state of New York, and in some other sections of the country, this is called Leland Spice ; but this is without proper authority, for we first introduced this apple to public notice, under the name of Leland Pippin, after consulting Dea. Daniel Leland, of Sherburne, on the subject, who has raised and disseminated this variety exten- sively. Of Charles H. Pendleton, Pendleton HUl, Ct., Dennison's Redding apple ; small, very beautiful, and pleasant ; not sufficiently ripe for us to judge well of its quality. Mr. P. says that it usually at- tains medial size. Of John Hay ward, Hancock, N. H., several vari- eties of apples ; among them are Jewett's Red, or Nodhead apple, a superior fruit, but it requires high culture to produce fair fruit. It is a very popular apple in some sections of New Hampshire and Maine. The large, conical apples are the Holden Pippin, a great grower, great bearer, and excellent for cooking, but rather acid for the dessert. Other kinds not known here. Of Benjamin C. Pratt, Hanover, Pratt poach — a seedling which he raised some years ago, and which he continues to propagate from the seed, in its purity, as he cultivates no other. Although we name this last among our fruits, it is far from being the least in point of utility. It is large ; rather oblong, and irregular in form ; yellow ground, much covered with dull red. The flesh is very rich, and of fine flavor, ranking among the best. It is a pecu- liar excellence in producing the same from seed. Mr. Pratt remarks that it forms a large, hardy, long- lived tree, and that it is a great bearer. It is covered with a remarkably thick, furzy, or woolly substance, which is an advantage in protecting it against storms and insects, and a disadvantage as to selling it in markets where it is not known. HOME. 'Tis home where the heart is, wherever that be, In city, in desert, on mountain, in dell ; Not the grandeur, the number, the objects we see, But that which we love, is the magical spell. 'Tis this gives the cottage a charm and a grace Which the glare of a palace but rarely has known ; It is this, only this, and not station or j^lace. Which gives being to pleasure, which makes it our own. Like the dove on the waters, a rest-place to find. In vain for enjoyment o'er nations we roam ; Home only can yield real joy to the mind; And there, where the heart is, there only is home. THE OLIO. A young lady, who was rebuked by her mother for kissing her intended, justified herself by quoting the passage, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." " Pa, isn't that man in what is called the spring- time of life ? " " Why, my sonr " " 'Cause he looks so confounded green." " Genius will M'ork its way through," as the poet remarked, when he saw a hole in the elbow of his coat. A beautiful Oriental proverb runs thus : " With patience, the mulberry leaf becomes satin." Gratitude for favors shown is the distinguishing trait of a truly noble mind. TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome volume, at the close of the year, of 41(3 paa;es, at gl a year, or five copies for Ji?4, payable in advance. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 2.5 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 1^ THb Postage .^i On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1.^ cents, or 39 ecnts a year, beyond those distances. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTOX STEREOTYPE rOUNDRY. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agricult ure not onlf g^ires riches to a nation, bat the onlf riches she can call hei own. — Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1850. NO. 22. s. w. COLE, Editor, QUINCl ' HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Proprietor. KEEP NOT TOO MUCH STOCK. It is frequently a great error in farmers to winter, or attempt to winter, too much stock. When we have large crops of hay, it does not spend so well as usual, and one is very liable to be deceived as to his means of wintering stock. There is but very little old hay in New England, and much of the large crop of the present season had but little sunshine on it before it was cut ; there were several weeks mostly cloudy weather just before haying commenced ; of cour.sc, it was very deficient in sweetness and nutri- tion. And a large part of the grass that was cut late had but little sunshine on it after it was cut, and a great deal of it wa.s poorly made, or injured by storms. When there is a very Inrge crop of hay, it is not good economy to keep animals enough to consume the whole the first winter, for a scarcity of hay often follows, which, occurring when there is a great amount of stock in the country, must reduce it to Tcry low prices. In this respect, every individual must judge and act for himself; and we throw out these hints for reflection, for we frequently hear of cattle dying of starvation in the spring, or suffering so much from short allowance that they are but yery little profit the coming season. At the present time, stock is in good demand, and any one who has a surplus of animals, can reduce tliem to a suitable number for wiiitcring without sac- rifice. Those who attempt to winter too much stock, depending on buying hay, often find, late in winter and spring, that many are in the same situation ; and it is truly one in which misery does not love com- pany. AN OLD HIVE OF BEES. Capt. John Pierce, North Chelsea, informed us that he had a hive of bees twentj--six years old. They were put into a hive of three sections. He had taken off the top section five or six times, and after taking out the conff Jiower, and aftir the fruit was formed, such a course might effectually protect the fruit from attack. Against their attacks on the fruit grown in dry meadows I cannot suggest any preventive. liespectfuUy yours, THADDEUS W. HARRIS. Cambridge, Mass., ikpt. 3, 1850. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Friend Lovctt Peters, Westborough, has commu- nitated to us the following remarks on the diseases of animals, in reference to what he had seen on the sul)ject in the American Veterinarian. Friend P. is in a vigorous old age, after having seen more than fourscore years. He has been a successful farmer, and paid great attention to animals; but while we would claim for him a respectful consideration of his new theory in regard to the cud of ruminating ani- mals, we are not prepared to endorse his views. Loss of Cud. — I doubt whether a ruminating ani- mal ever lost its cud ; probably no one will demy that every ruminating animal makes its first cud ; then why not another ? It is also doubted whether a ruminating animal brings from the stomach to the mouth what has been swallowed, to remasticate it. It seems unreasonable that it should be so, for two reasons : one is, that on examining the contents of an animal's stomach, there will be found whatever the animal has eaten or drank, all mixed up together ; and how can it be separated ? Another reason is, that a pair of oxen well fed in the morning, and worked all the forenoon, and chewing the cud but very little, will eat just as much at noon as if they had chewed the cud the whole forenoon ; and they will go through the same process in the afternoon, — no chewing of the cud, yet all they have eaten is gone. Now, I never have believed this notion of animals bringing up from the stomach all that had been eaten, to remasticate, nor the cud, but have supposed there was a secret place of deposit for the cud ; and I find such is the fact, and the place is under the tongue ; and probably a new cud is made when the animal ceases eating. Scours in Calves. — Put half a pint or three gills of cider in a bottle ; open a vein in the calf's neck, and let about the same quantity of blood into the bottle as you have of cider ; shake it well together, and give it to the calf. One dose generally effects a cure ; if one does not, a second, with me, always has. Tail Sickness. — There is no need of animals ever being tail-sick. My method of managing calves' tails is a complete preventive ; at least it has proved so with me, in a practice of twenty years or more. It will be found, by a careful examination, that every calf has a small spot in the tail, sometimes not more than half an inch in length. By nipping with the thumb, on each side of it, and a little way from the end, it will be found considerably smaller. Cut the tail off at this small place, and if it is rightly cut, the animal will have a beautiful switch, that it can swing over its back much easier than it can those heavy slit tails which some have. There will then be no tail sickness, nor cutting of tails after. Horn-Ail. — I believe there is a mistake about the seat of this disease. The opinion of some is, — and mine among the rest, — that the disease is on the liver, and disease appearing in the horns is the effect, not the cause ; and I am confirmed in this opinion by some examinations which I have made after the ani- mal was dead. If the seat of the disease is on the liver, then tur- pentine between the horns could do no good, as I have never found it to be. With salt, pepper, and soot, equal parts, given in powder, I have cured many which I believed to have the horn-ail badly. For the Neio England Farmer, FRUIT AS FOOD. -GRAFTING. Mr. Cole: The importance of fruit- raising, in a pecuniary point of view, is now comparatively well understood by the more intelligent portion of our agriculturists and horticulturists. Many are now devoting much time and capital to its culture — an investment far more lucrative than many other branches of industry. The importance of fruit as an article of diet, however, seems not so generally appreciated. There are a few, indeed, who regard fruits as almost indispensable to health ; but the great NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 349 mass still use them as a dessert rather than as food ; and not a few studiously avoid them, as active agents in producing most of the diseases which appear durinfr the warmer portions of the year. It is an unaccountable occurrence, that these de- licious fruits are provided by a wise Providence, just at the time when we naturally expect bowel difficul- ties, and that they are so universally palatable, if not provided for a definite purpose. And who dares as- sert that this design is not a wise and benevolent one ■ Who can produce a shadow of evidence that it is not remedial f It is unquestionably true that some forms of dis- ease sccrn aggravated during the abundant supply of the more delicious fruits. This is attributalDJe to their abuse rather than their use. That an indiscrimi- nate use of crude, unripe, or decayed fruit is decidedly injurious, is too apparent to admit of doubt. When their use is regulated by an enlightened judgment rather than blind, voracious impulse, we may expect far different results. When fruit shall constitute a prominent article of diet, at certain periods of the year, instead of cumbrous additions to an already overloaded stomach, we may know something of the legitimate use of these luxuries. To say nothing of such as, by their timely appear- ance, juicy character, their peculiar combination of sweetness and acidity, and their rapid decay indicate their definite design, there are still others which may be appropriately used during most of the year. I refer l)articularly to the apple, grape, pear, &c., in their extensive variety, all of which possess, to a greater or less extent, valuable medicinal properties, es- pecially the first. The aperient qualities of the apple render it peculiarly valuable in this age of dyspep- tics, and it would not be too much to expect that its general introduction as food would almost, if not entirely, annihilate this destroyer of human hap- piness. Aside from this, they have claims, as connected with their nutritive principles, which should not be overlooked. The recent difficulty in raising the po- tato suggests the propriety of a substitute. In Eng- land, in time of scarcity, the apple had been some- what extensively used, and regarded as nearly as nutritive as bread, — more so than the potato. In France and Germany, they are extensively used by the laboring classes with favorable results. With a small (juantity of bread, they, not unfrequentlj', con- stitute the entire meal. That they can be easily raised will not admit of a reasonable doubt. A tri- fling inve>stment, with the requisite knowledge of the best methods of preparing and adapting soil, prun- ing, iScc, will secure an ample return, not only in gustatory jdeasurc, but in a pecuniary point of view. In what maimer these may be raised in the largest (}uantity and of a superior (juality • — for it should be our object to get the best — is a matter of much im- portance to the farmer. It is not sufhcient that we have Jruit, but that we have such as may be palatable, and conducive to health in the highest degree. To ctlect this, the culture must be conducted on scien- tific principles. Jiundom experimenting is far too expensive for the mass of producers, and unwise in any. The more particular design of this article is to refer to certain observations and experiments, com- municated to the writer by I^oring Wheeler, Esq., of this village, a gentleman who is much interested in fruit culture. He has raised, during the present season, several varieties of pears from scions inserted about fifteen months jjrcvious. Some of these pro- duced some four or five large pears, though thcv were only about one third of an inch in diameter, and six or eight in length. In selecting these, he was very careful to use only those of the second year's growth. He is of the opinion that fruit may be secured the^r«< year, by proper care in selecting, in- serting, &c. If so, fruit of any inferior quality may be changed without any loss of time, or diminution of the annual crop, by simply ingrafting most of the smaller branches in this manner. A singular result came under his observation some few years since, which, though it may seem incredible to some, is nevertheless true. A peach-tree, which produced only an inferior fruit, was budded from one of a far different quality. The bud seemed to live about six months, though it did not branch. During the following season, the branch in which it was in- serted produced fine peaches, while the rest of the tree remained as usual, though, aside from this, nothing special was done to the tree. In the course of several succeeding years, as many branches became renovated in a similar manner, until the whole tree was radically improved, after which it died, without any visible cause. This tree and fruit were examined by several men of integrity and judgment, though none were able to explain the process by which such a change was effected — a change by which worthless fruit became valuable and delicious. If any of your readers are familiar with any thing of tRe kind, or if you can throw any light upon this singular freak, it will be very acceptable to readers in this vicinitv. J. H. IIANAFORD. Newton, Upper Falls, Sept. 17, 1850. For the New England Farmer. INSECTS-THE CROPS. Mr. Cole : I enclose the exuviae and egofs of aii insect found upon a branch of one of my apple-trees. Not an entomologist myself, I much desire more in- formation as to this particular species of insects, and hope you will give it in the P'armer. It seems this worm wove her shroud between a twig and a leaf drawn down upon itself, and then layed and ce- mented over its profuse deposit of hard eggs, and died. I should have done better to have cut off the twig, and not scraped off the cocoon, but preserved over winter till the eggs hatched. What I liave read of the cur- culio and codling moth does not at all correspond with the habits of this insect ; for I understand this breeds in the ground. Nor is it the spring caterpillar. What is it r I suspect it to be the autumnal cater- pillar, that weaves bags upon various trees, not only apple-trees, but wild cherries.' My peaches, despite thinning out, dwarf, wilt, and refuse to enlarge to proper size, and small branches are dying. In one twenty-four hours' time my Mer- cer potatoes died, or rather nil turned brown, and white mould attacked the tubers, and thev rot fast. Other sorts show rapid decay of tops, and soon I shall see the result, (."orn will be good, if frost holds off late ; otherwise it will not generally be sound. Win- ter and s[)ring wheat is good ; and as to apj)les, thev will be scarce in this town, though there will not be an entire failure. Yours, trulv, J. LEE. Salisbury, Ct., Atigi. 31, 1850. Remarks. — The above has been delayed by mis- take. As to the insect, we are not acciuaintcd with its habits. We endeavor to learn all we can of these tiny tribes, which, although so small as to seem hard- ly worthy of notice, are known to be powerful ene- mies. The Mercer or Chenango potato is more lia- ble to rot than most other varieties ; and as this fact has been well known to farmers, they have made a 350 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. great mistake in not substituting more hardy kinds for it. The crop of apples is very unequal iu differ- ent sections of New England. In some sections it is great, in others nearly a total failure. SETTING KETTLES FOR BOILING FEED. The importance of cooking food for fattening ani- mals having been conclusively settled, and now uni- versally admitted, the cheapest and most economical manner of performing this process, as relates to the consumption of fuel, is worth the inquiry. Some over-particular persons, in constructing a furnace for this purpose, build a spiral flue around the caldron, on the supposition that the longer they can keep the heat in contact with the kettle, the more economical. This form of construction is bad : it destroys the draft and renders the fire black and sluggish ; and to form the spiral draft requires so much masonry to touch the kettle, that not more than one half the sur- face is in contact with the heat, and therefore is lost as a conducting agent. ,, It is not advisable to set a caldron capable of con- taining less than sixty gallons ; and if ninety gallons, or three barrels, the better. In laying out the plan for the brick work, take the diameter of the kettle at the largest point ; add to this twelve inches for a six-inch space on each side, and to tliis twice the thickness of both walls ; and, in the direction that the flue or arch is intended for receiving the wood, add two feet, so that the struc- ture shall be two feet longer than its width. Kettles now-a-days have a projecting flange at the top, and two horns to rest them upon the brick work. By means of chains or ropes, suspend the kettle over the exact point where it is intended to be fixed — its bottom at the right distance from the bottom of the fii-e pit, to allow a proper quantity of wood to pass under — then carry up the walls to the height of the mouth of the arch, which is to be in one end of the longest direction of the furnace. At this point place some iron bars over the arch and one across, near to that side of the kettle, and lay over the arch, and up to the kettle and half way round it, two courses of bricks, touching the kettle at a point where the sides commence rising — by which arrangement the hre is made to impinge against the entire bottom, and, pass- ing past the centre, returns around the sides, and passes up the chimney over the mouth of the arch. The structure is then complete by bringing the walls to the height of the kettle — gathering in towards the top, so that the entire flange rests upon the brick work. By this construction it will be seen that the fii-e strikes against the bottom, and passes up the end and back around the whole body of the boiler, not injur- ing the draft, and brings the blaze in contact with the entire surface, except where the two thicknesses of bricks touch it over the arch. A seven or eight inch stove pipe, of which a cheap, second-hand article can always be procured, answers all the purposes required for a chimney, and costs less. A smaller kettle, fitted with steam pipe and a steam chest, is probably altogether the most desirable method of cooking food for animals ; but its prepara- tion in a proper and substantial manner involves an expense of fixtures — an outlay that but few farmers are willing to encounter, for merely fattening the animals for household use. — Rural New-Yorker. People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy. PUMPING A LAKE DRY. Dr. J. V. C. Smith, the editor of the Boston Medi- cal and Surgical Journal, who is now on a visit to Europe, gives an interesting description, in his edito- rial correspondence from Holland, of the manner in which the Lake of Haarlem is drained by steam engines, and its waters sent to the sea. "Six miles from Amsterdam is the inland Lake of Haarlem, twenty-one miles long by eleven wide, which three hundred years ago was found to be per- ceptibly increasing by shooting its waters farther an'' farther, and covering up the land, threatening th,^ first commercial port of the realm with destruction by flowing in upon its back. Various schemes, at that remote epoch, were devised by able counsellors to stay the threatening danger. Throe Dutch engineers, of acknowledged ability, proposed draining off the water, first raising it by windmills. They are entitled to remembrance, from having suggested the very plan adopted in 1819 for averting an impending ca- lamity. Seven years since, delay no longer being safe, a canal was dug around the whole circumference of the lake, averaging two hundred feet in width by nineteen deep. Three monster steam engines are housed on the sides of the lake, some six or eight miles apart, each moving eight monstrous iron pumps. All the pistons are raised at once, at every revolution of the machinery, raising twenty-five thousand gal- lons of water, which is emptied into the canal, whence it is hastened on, by a fourth engine, faster than it would otherwise move to the Zuyder Zee ; and it thus reaches the sea fifteen miles distant. In April, 1849, the pumps, worked by three of the mightiest steam engines perhaps ever constructed, were set in motion ; and up to this date, July 25, 18o0, have lowered the contents of the lake seven feet. By next April, it is anticipated that the bot- tom will be fairly exposed, and all the water con- veyed away from its ancient basin. All this is exe- cuted at the expense of government." LARGEST GRAPE-VINE IN THE UNITED STATES. Under this head the Natchez Free Trader, of the loth instant, has the following paragraph : — Mr. William Casey, corner of Union and State .Streets, in the city of Natchez, can boast of a grape- vine which is, undoubtedly, the monarch vine of the United States. It rises from the ground in a single trunk of some three inches in diameter, nearly straight and well proportioned, to the height of about nine feet, when it spreads into branches, and covers and embowers the trellis work of quite a large gar- den, besides climbing a tall tree. The weight of the immense clusters of grapes hanging upon it, now about half grown, is estimated at a ton. To stretch out any of the branches in a direct line, they would measure from three to four hundred feet. The vari- ety of this grape is not natural to the country, but was brought up to Natchez in the old Spanish times. It is called the "Jack Grape," from " Spanish Jack," the nickname of the Spaniard who planted it. Some years ago, Madame Bingaman, now dead, offered Mr. Casey five hundred dollars if he would remove the vine safely to her garden in the environs of the city ; but no sum of money whatever would induce the owner to part with it. It produces a wine which has the taste of hock. Brave actions arc the substance of life, and good sayings the ornament of it. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 3.-,] NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE FAIR. The first annual cattle-show and fair of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society took place at Concord, on the 2d and 3d of October. It indicated a good start with this infant association, which prom- ises prosperity and success in the worthy cause. We take the following extracts from the report of this ehow, ill the Granite Farmer, a new and valuable paper, published in Manchester. The first annual exhibition of the State Society is over, and the question whether New Hampshire eould have a good fair, has become a li.xed fact. The occasion, to Avliich the friends of the society have looked forward with anxiety, as settling the point of the sympathy of the peopk with the move- ment, and determining also the measure of the soci- ety's inriucnce on New Hampshire agriculture, has Come and gone, and proved a glorious triumph to tlie friends of the society. The show, in all its depart- ments, exceeded the hopes of the mo.st sanguine. In the stock department, how little was known of what to expect from the different parts of the state ! and yet, for our small state, wliat a show of first-rate blooded stock ! The movement was an experiment ; but how tri- umphant has the experiment been ! With what courage will we go on for another year, confident that the interest of the show will be doubled ! Too much honor cannot be given to the enterprising and | laborious oflieers of the society, for having, in the main, aecomjjlished this triumph to New Hampshire agriculture and art. But we must pass hastily in review the contents of the various halls. The central ornament of tlie Depot Hall was the disjilay of fruits. The show of our own state fruits, although limited in variety, was most excellent in quality. The ajjples were large and nice. The pears were of a few varieties, but of good quality. There were several varieties of grapes in very handsome clusters. There were but few peaches or jdums. The show of articles of domestic manufacture and needle-work was very large, and attracted much at- tention. Our space will not admit of a particular mention of the different articles. When all were excellent, it would be invidious to select. There Avcre elegantly-wrought spreads of ])ure white, that ■were beautifully done, and from the lady visitors won unqualilied admiration. There were beautiful floral ornaments from Hanover, Orford, and Concord, sev- eral specimens of prepared grasses, that showed much taste. Tliere was a good show of vegetable productions and field crops. K. Mitchell, Manchester, exliibitcd a basket of very fine and large sweet potatoes raised by him. There were many specimens of corn which looked well ; as large and as perfect as any that can be pro- duced. A. P. Cate, Northfield, exhibited a small, early variety, which ripened the last of August, and an eight-rowed corn, very long ears, large kernel, and small ci>l), fully ripened at the top and ends. The Duttou corn, a large twelve and fourteen rowed variety, has ripened extremely well. The specimens exhibited by Josej)h Robinson, CJoncord, were from a crop jilanted May 28, on pine plain lands, and plucked Sept. 30. They arc all twin ears, and arc, he says, but a fair specimen of his crop. The imiiroved Dutton, by (ieorge W. Ncsmith, are splendid large ears. John R. French, Plymouth, exhibited a new vari- ety of oats, which are hardy, early, prolific, heavy, and not liable to blast as other varieties arc. They weigh forty-eight pounds to the bushel. He says, " One single stalk of oats was found near a j)ond iii Corinth, Vt., where wild geese congregate in vast numbers for a sununer resort. It was cultivated, until he now has several hundred buslicls." If not new, it is most certainly a valuable variety. Tliere was not a great variety, nor a great ciuaiitity of potatoes exhibited. A large, fair, kidney-sliapcd variety of potatoes, called here the New Yurhers, hy J. S. Noyes, Concord, are the best samples we have seen this year. It appears to have escaped the rot better than any other varieties on Mr. Noyes's farm : but he has named the potatoes wrong. It was known in Boston a few years since as the St. Ilckna variety, and, under that name, was for a very long time po;)- ular as the best boiling potatoes then cultivated ; it has however, yielded to the destroyer, and is uo\r hardly known in Massachusetts. Benjamin Whipple, Dunbarton, exhibited the Jackson Reds, a large size potato, which has also withstood the rot, while other varieties on tlie same farm, and in the same town, have been almost en- tirely destroyed. The Jackson Reds are represented to be good yielders, and, in the present condition of things, as safe a variety as can be planted. In addition to those mentioned before, is a barrel of New York Whites, (we still believe them to be the old St. Helena's,) from D. Woodman, ileredith. They are the finest kidney-shaped we have seen any where in the potato seasons. We arc informed that they have withstood the rot well, only a few being affected by it. Seth Eastman, Concord, showed samples of three varieties, the White Cristia. Red Cristia, and the Western, and all three have been prolific and unharmed. A barrel of Western Reds, grown by Isaac Hill, Concord, uiion pine plain la r.l, were beautiful to look at, aud we are told they are superior for the table. There were eighteen entries of butter, which looked universally fine and good. They were sam- ples of both June and September churnings ; some of it was neatly put up in half pound lum])s. Tliere was quite a number of entries for new and old cheese. In addition to the above were mammoth pump- kins, squashes, beets, Ike. Then there were several specimens of honey. An interesting feature in the exhibition was James A. Cutting's patent changeable beehive, with bees and honey in them ; they were to be seen working. James Priest exhibited the same hive unoccupied; and Hiram M. Clark, Alton, another pattern, with honey and bees in them. There was also on exhibi- tion Stoddard's self- protecting hive, which, lue in- ventor says, bids defiance tu the miller. Of agricultural implements and machinery, the exhibition was quite full and interesting. TUoro were three patterns of ploughs, from the manulao- tories of Currier, lioe, MJ Co., (,,'oncord, J. L. Robin- son & Co., Concord, and the Ames Swanl plough. Currier, Hoe, c*i; Co. exhibited the Yankee eorn- shellcr, straw-outters of tlie Ruggles, Nourse, i^ Ma- son pattern, ox yokes and bows, and a variety of farming and gardening implements. The yokes of ex-(iovernor Steele attracted much attention and commendation. Other yokes, ol a good form and finish, were exhibited by 1'. M Ros- sitcr, MiU'ord, and by A. I«. Simpson, Durham. Tlie latter gentleman has introduced an improvement, for which be has applied for letters patent, by dis- pensing with the ring, and using instead a s,h«>rt chain, which is hooked to the draught chain. This improvement rcqvuvcs two rivets in the yoke, but it is so arranged that the strong ox bears his due pro- jiortion of the labojr, and the weaker one is so much favored. This result, he says, cannot be attained, under the old arrungeiacut. 352 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. The cattle pens were admirably filled ; and we Terily believe that no persons upon the i^round were more surprised at the excellence of the exhibition, than were the different, exhibitevs themselves. The orator, Dr. IJeekman, of New York, fresh from the fields at Albany, where was exhibited the best stock in the country, said that the cattle-show was in the highest degree creditable for the first essay. He had seldom seen better stock ; the show of horses was also considered excellent ; while the sheep were of a superior order. This, coming from a good judge, who is not given to flattery, is praise indeed. There was a full-blood Durham, two years and nine months old, from E. C. Starkweather, of Walpole, which was esteemed by some the finest animal in the pens. He took the highest premium for two years old. He is of fine proportions, and by next spring will be excelled by no animal in the state. We regret that our state of health forbade us to attend the ploughing match. The field was located about half a mile from the centre of the town, upon an elevated plain. The land was dry, and free from stones, but covered with a thick, tough sward.— There were upwards of two thousand spectators. The number of entries was eleven single ox teams, and three horse teams ; the ploughs used were Cur- rier, Doe, & Go's., and J. L. liobinson's patterns, both Concord ploughs. The teams were well trained, of fine proportion.?, in good order, and were a.s fine specimens as need be seen. One eighth of an acre was allotted for each team. The time of ploughing did not exceed twenty minutes. There have been better matches than this ; there should be better at the next show. We close as we began, by saying, that, all things considered, the fair showed a strong interest among the people ; one which will, rightly directed, accom- plish great good for the state. It was triumphantly successful. THE VALUE OF CANALS AND RAILROADS TO FARMERS. Canals and railroads are what, in popular lan- guage, are termed internal improvements, the phi- losophy of which has not generally been duly con- sidered. The community has seemingly looked upon them with apathy. Instances have not been few, where there have been obstacles thrown in their way, as if the country were to be ruined by them. And they have been mainly viewed in reference to the stock-owners, as sources of unnatural wealth. Or, if canals and railroads were to be tolerated among the yeomanry of a country, they must be located in the immediate vicinity of every man's own door ; or they were to be execrated and condemned. Dr. Blake, in his recent excellent work, the Every- Day Book for Farmers, remarks, " Canals and rail- roads may now and then be found first-rate invest- ments. Ordinarily, they are not. Hence, nothing is now said of them as investments. This is a matter for individual capitalists to investigate. The yeo- manry and the business men of a country are to look upon them principally as the agents for develnping and promoting the individual and combined wealth connected with, or located in, the districts att'ccted by them. Hence a state or a populous city, in estab- lishing them, may be comi)aratively indifi'erent about the percentage annually to be received upon their cost. If the locations are judicious, it is of minor importance nothing is received. We will illustrate that meaning by a familiar case, readily understood by agriculturists. Here is an in- dividual owning a farm of two hundred acres of excellent land. A broad river, without a bridge, runs through the centre of it. The land was be- queathed to him on the condition that he should never sell or lease any part of it, but cultivate the whole as one farm. His house and outbuildings are on one side of the river ; and, to get at the other side, for every day's work, or for ev«ry load of ma- nure put on it, or every load of produce to be returned, he has to go a distance of five miles ; ten miles both ways, which takes up one half of an entii-e day. Now, is it not apparent that it costs the owner double to cultivate that portion of his farm beyond the river that it docs the other ? Hence, if the latter is worth one hundred dollars per acre, the other cannot be worth above fifty dollars an acre. Now, if a bridge were made across the river, connecting the two por- tions of the farm together, it is evident that the one beyond the river would be doubled in value ; that is, that hundred acres will at once be worth one hun- dred dollars per acre instead of fifty, as it was before. The bridge, therefore, to this farmer is really worth five thousand dollars. Here is exhibited the opera- tion of railroads and canals." We will now suppose an individual, with a valu- able farm in the south portion of the state, and two hundred miles from the city of New York. The farm is fertile, and produces most abundantly — per- haps four times as much as needed for consumption on it ; but so far from any market, nothing could be sold from it. This farm, in the immediate neighbor- hood of the city of New York, would be worth two hundred dollars per acre ; but, remote as it is, it has been estimated at no more than fifty or seventy-five dollars per acre. Yet the moment the Erie liailroad is completed, it becomes worth, at least, one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, inasmuch as all its surplus produce can be carried to market, as conveniently and as cheap as though it were only fifteen or twenty miles from the city, and no railroad. Thus, under corresponding circumstances, all property upon or adjacent to a good railroad or canal rises in value, perhaps, even more than to balance the amount of outlay for the improvement. Why is it that in the northern part of the state of New York cities and villages have arisen, and wealth has been created, as if under the influence of magic ? It is because of the Erie Canal. So hereafter cities and villages will arise, and wealth will be created iii the south part of the state, on the completion of the Erie Railroad. So it would be every where under analogous auspices. Farmers, therefore, should not fail to encourage internal improvements. Choose men in your state and national legislatures who will vote for them. No matter whether they are near you or remote. No matter if they pass through the centres of your farms, obliging you to make miles of ad- ditional fence. You will be paid for it over and over again, no one can tell how many times. No matter it they are ten, fifteen, or twenty miles from you ; the life-giving impulse to business will be felt by you. Every one cannot be equally near to them. To a community, good roads, good bridges, and railroads or canals, are the same as good fences and fertile fields are to a single farm. Here is a rational founda- tion for politics, whether exerted for the state or the general government. Viewed in reference to such an end, the elective franchise is of inestimable worth ; whereas exerted only for the benefit of demagogues and poverty-stricken politicians, it is of no essential value. — Thii Farmer and Mechanic. None are so hard to please as those whom satiety of pleasure makes weary of themselves ; nor any so readily provoked as those who have been always courted with an emulation of civility. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 353 LOMBARD PLUM. Sykonymeb. — Bleecher's Scarlet, Beekman's Scarlet. This plum is one of the greatest of growers ; it is remarkable for its productiveness, and it is very sure to bear a large crop, even when most other varieties fail from unfavorable weather. It is of good size, and of handsome appearance. These great and im- portant excellences rank it among the most valuable kinds, although it is not of first-rate flavor. Many kinds equal it in quality, and several varieties excel it in this respect ; yet it is a very good, sweet, lus- Qtous fruit. Fruit of medial size ; roundish-oval, slightly flat- tened at the ends, slight suture ; pale red in the shade, and delicate violet red in the sun, thin bloom ; stalk two thirds of an inch long, quite slender ; flesh deep yellow, juicy, pleasant, and of fine quality, but not rich. Clingstone. Good for cooking, and for the dessert. Ripens early in September, and con- tinues till the 20th or 2-5th. The shoots are smooth and glossy, of a bright purple. It is well adapted to light soils. Our engraving is from a fine bunch presented by Mr. Andrew Lackey, of Marblehead. The fruit is rather larger than usual. Money is a very good servant, but a bad master. It may be accused of injustice towards mankind, inasmuch as there arc only a few who make false money, whereas money makes many men false. 354 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Pomestic Department. Letteu to CorNTUY Girls. — I have wanted, girls, lor a long time, to p;ivc you a long lecture on dress ; not because you do not think enough about it, but because you do not think right. It is a very important matter to be well dressed, and most people feel this ; but very few ever learn the art. Women waste more time and money disfiguring themselves than in all other occupations and amusement. Yes, and they waste health and happiness also. There is an inconceivable amount of worse than useless sew- ing done in this country. Thousands of women ruin their health, send themselves to an untimely grave, putting in stitches that are neither useful nor orna- mental. I believe you country girls are peculiarly addicted to this folly. Miist of you make your own dresses, and few of you understand it well ; conse- quently, you imagine the more stitches you put in, the better. Then, from want of properly cultivated taste, you are addicted to buying cheap finery. You need not deny this to me, for I know you too well. I have carried my slippers to meeting, and hid jny coarse shoes behind a log, a little too often not to know how country girls dress. Your storekeepers know it too, and bring out such a parcel of cheap, tawdry, inany-colored finery as would be likely to take the fancy of a set of Indians. If they can get a lawn or a calico with sixty-seven dozen colors in it, so much the better. You buy it, — spend a great deal of time to make it nicely, — spatter it over with rufHes, folds, and frumplcs, that would disfigure any thing. Then, the first time it is washed, fifty-two dozen of the colors fade ; you have a dirty rag that is fit for nothing but to wipe the floor. You lament the loss of your money ; but what of your time? The habit of sew, sew, sewing at a gar- ment sixteen times as much as is necessary to make it, has become an evil of suflicient magnitude to require legislative interference. I once saw a city lady go to the country for health, pale, nervous, cross, miserable, with a little child as miserable as herself. By way of enjoying fresh air and exercise, she sat down and sewed diligently, for two full days, to jiiake an apron for the child. There were folds, buttons, and braid, frumples, and fandangoes past count; and she had some dozen to make of that same sort, while the poor little child martyr was condemned to imprisonment and stripes, to prevent its disfiguring the evidences of its motlier's insanity, which it wore on its poor miserable little person. I never felt more strongly tempted to do any thing, than to roll mother and child, finery and work-basket, in a mud-puddle. I really thought her husband should have been enti- tled to a divorce. Health, happiness, and comfort ■were banished from his fireside by the sewing demon. She completely ruined her own health sewing, then murdered her children by inches, to keep them from spoiling her work. A woman who cannot make a half dozen bibs for children in one day, and with all the reb. 364 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Fanner. "STUDY TO HAVE A LARGE DUNGHILL." Mu. Cur.E : The value of form-j-ard manure seems to be geiiorall}- admitted. Its application to the soil lios at the very root of success in husbandry. With it, the farmer can accomplish every thint^ that others have done before him ; without it, he is as thouu;h his hands were tied ; he can do nothing. It is his caiiital, which, ■when safely invested and prudently manaf^ed, will ere many days return to him with in- terest. In all ages of the world has its worth been recognized ; and those ancient works on agriculture that have come down to us abound in allusions to its imi)ortance, and give curiously minute instruc- tions for its preservation and use. The ancients justly thought that the character of a farmer can best be ascertained by comparing the size of his dung- hill with the number of acres he has in cultivation. They all agree in calling it the basis of his prosperity, and the source of domestic comfort and happiness. But how forgetful of all this are thousands of the farmers who make it a boast that they live in the enlightened nineteenth century — many of them claiming to be men of intelligence and sagacity ! They appear to think their land does not require a good supply of nutriment, in order to produce an abundant crop. They actually starve their land, while they would not be willing to starve their cattle. They very -well know that a poorly-fed ox is not able to labor, and cannot be converted into prime beef, as well as that milk cannot be expected froTn a cow which is kept on a scanty pasture ; and furthermore, that both the qualitj- and the quantity of beef and milk are in proportion to the excellence of the food given. The profit is large or small ac- cording to the manner in which the animals may be kept ; and surely no profit can be realized where the owner's care is simply to sustain the breath of life. Precisely so is it with cultivated land : it re- quires nutriment the same as a cow or an ox ; and when not kindly treated, it can no more yield a lib- eral return, than either of those animals can, Avith- out being well fed, furnish good milk and beef. A new soil, that is, one which has long lain idle, may jiroducc several good crops without the assist- ance of manure ; but so soon as the elements of fer- tility arc consumed, unless some fertilizer lie applied, it becomes barren, and must be allowed to lie fallow until it can abstract from the atmosphere that of which it has been robbed by the shiftless husband- man. It can be exhausted, just as a source is in the course of time emptied, when it is subject to a con- stant drain, and never replenished ; it can be " worn out," like a man in the prime of life becoming faint and feeble from the want of food. A good soil, in the hands of a good farmer, is more generous than the purse, which restores that only with which it has been intrusted. It acts the part of the faithful servant, who, in returning the five talents to his lord, adds thereto the other five talents which the first have gained while in his care. It is the honest banker, who is, at the appointed day, ready with both principal and interest for the depositor. If it be [iropeily managed, it is sure to be found liberal ; but where nothing is given it, nothing can be expected in return. Cato, one of the teachers of Roman agricul- ture, said the first point in good tillage is to plough, the second is to plough, and the third is to manure. Dig your land well, manure it according to its wants, and you may trust to Providence for a rich reward. The soil will not then lose its fertility ; and you should continue improving its character until further improvement becomes impracticable. This is the pleasure, this the profit, of husbandry. From the foregoing, it appears that farm-yard manure is of some value ; that it is necessary to the supj)ort of vegetation, as well as to the maintenaaco of fertility in the soil. Without it or a substitute, the land cannot produce grass, grain, or roots, either in abundance or of good quality ; and as without these there can be no beef, mutton, milk, &c., both the farmer's family and his stock must perish. Tlie conclusion is obvious : if manure be so essential to the support of life and worldly prosperity, how val- uable is it, how highly ought it to be prized ! — Noticing can be plainer. We estimate the value of some things very properly ; we do not throw away, or expose to the access of thieves, our dollars and eagles, because we know that, when once lost, they come not to our possession again. As money has a fixed, ascertained value, farmers are apt to look after it carefully. No class of people can be more prudent and economical in its disposition, not spending a cent unnecessarily, nor suffering the opportunity of gain- ing a sixpence to escape. Even as money has a fixed value, so has manure ; it can be sold for cash, or can be brought to market after having been converted into wheat, flour, potatoes, or pork. It is the nat- ural food of the soil, without which it is sterile and unprofitable. And yet these same farmers, who are so provident as regards cents and si.xpenccs, seem to care little or nothing about the proper management of their barn-yards. While each one is careful to keep a strict watch upon his breeches pocket, he is perhaps annually suff'ering dollars' worth of manure to be wasted on his premises. Having a cash value, either in its natural state or in the shape of " prod- uce," it deserves as much attention as the silver and gold ; and to waste the one is quite as foolish, aj', as culpable, as to waste the other. Though the value of manure is generally under- stood, and will be universally admitted, yet many of our farmers manifest almost a perfect indifference as to its preservation. Such men can always be iden- tified by their unproductive fields, and by granaries that do not overflow at harvest time. They do jiot realize the importance of saving all the manure made by their stock, and suffer portions of it to be dropped ill lanes and public highways, while the remainder is spread over large barn-yards, as though it were de- sirable to expose it as much as possible to the atmos- phere. That which falls in the road is of course altogether lost, while the most valuable parts of that in the yard are abstracted by the sun and rain. In a hot day, the ammonia rises in such quantities as to annoy the passing traveller; and after a shower, a little stream of rich, highly-colored water may be seen running off to fertilize the fields of a neighbor. This is a serious loss ; for those gases that escape in the air, and the "liquid extract" that drains off upon another's land, would, if retained, greatly aug- ment the future crojj. It may be easily discovered that this is a total loss, by observing the diminished pile of dung. Farmers might with the same pro- priety leave the doors of their corn-cribs opened wide, so as to invite the entrance, and tempt the honesty, of every vagabond. No banker would con- sider the contents of his vaults safe, unless they were under the guardianship of lock and key. No prudent person would trust in his pocket the hand of a stranger, unless, indeed, the pookct happened to be. empty. Now, why should not the hard-working husbandman be just as particular to protcjt the treas- ure of his barn-yard against those notorious thieves called the elements ? We say to you all, brother farmers, look to your manure heaps. Make it your endeavor to save every ounce of the dung and urine that come from your cattle. It perhaps cannot be expected that you will succeed in preserving the whole, but you will have cause for self-congratulation if you avoid only one half of the loss that your neighbors sustain. This is NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 365 by no means a difficult matter. In the first place, it ought to be your object to get all the manure you can. Therefore, instead of permitting the stock to spend the whole of the day in winter idle in the field, or chased up and down the road by vagrant curs and idle urchins, keep them in the yard, which should be of sufficient extent to allow them room for exer- cise, and thus you will have their excrements secure in your possession. Let your hogs be at work in turning over the refuse of the premises, such as weeds, leaves, sods, &c., that you have thrown in the pens, and converting it into excellent manure. A clever pig can in this way be made to earn a good part of his living. You must, in the next place, try to save what you have got, and to increase its bulk. The dung ought not to be spread over the whole yard, but, on the contrary, to be gathered in a heap, or heaps, so that no greater portion may be exposed to atmospheric intluences than is absolutely neces- sary. Instead of leaving it to suft'cr from sun and rain, keep it in the cellar of your barn, or in a shed which can be made with rough boards at a trilling expense. If you cannot give it such protection, then, at least, cover it over with muck or loam, to retain the rising gases. Where the urine that falls in the cattle sheds is not conducted to a cistern or tank, it may be absorbed by some fresh earth, forest leaves, or refuse litter. The mi.xture of these materials with the dung and urine is beneficial rather than injurious, as fermentation is thereby moderated, and the loss of the most important parts is prevented, so that the whole quantity becomes of nearly an equal value. By following up this course for a few weeks, you will be surprised to sec how easily and cheaply you have increased the bulk of your manure heap, and in the coming harvest your heart will rejoice in the prospect of a well-filled garner. To every agricul- turist in the land, we say, in the, language of good old father Cato, " Study to have a large dunghill." C. C, Jk. Hawthorn Hedges, N. J., Oct. 17, ISJO. For the New England Farmer. NEW ENGLAND AGRICULTURE. Mr. Editor: Permit a Xcw-Yorkcr, who has just returned from a tour through a portion of New Eng- land, to express, through the columns of your jour- nal, the gratification he has experienced at witness- ing the improvements in agricultural and rural matters, which have taken place there in the last four or five years. Although Nature has not been so lavish in her bounties, and has not bestowed upon your portion of the earth so rich and fertile a soil, or such facilities for its cultivation, as are enjoyed in other parts of the Union, a substitute has been pro- vided, in the industry, intelligence, and enterprise of your people ; who have converted your rocky and barren wastes into productive and fertile fields, and introduced a system of culture in many places highly successful. To one who has been accustomed to look upon the larger farms of Central and Western New York, and to witness the agricultural operations there carried on upon a more extensive scale, and who has re- cently Iravelled over the vast prairies and expanded plains of the Great West, your New England farms do indeed look small, and seem pinched and con- tracted. Instead of broad wheat and corn fields, such as Ave see in the west, not less, in some in- stances, than two to four Inmdred acres in a single field, your little patches look small indeed. But as an offset to all these seeming disadvantages, you have a ready market in your own inuncdiate neigh- borhood, prices double those obtained by the western farmer, and, what is of still greater moment, you are favored with all the advantages of society and social position. You have churches, schools, and all the institutions calculated to improve and elevate the minds of your citizens, almost at your own doors — privileges whicft are denied, to some extent at least, to many citizens in the new states. In the cultivation of the soil, even in New Eng- land, where, if any where, perfection ought long ago to have been reached, there has been, it ajjpears to me, evident improvement. The crops are better, and the farms look better, than in former years. In many places the stones have been converted into fi-nce, the bushes have been destroyed, and fields heretofore worthless rendered productive and profitable. But the changes which strike a str.anger most forcibly, and which are giving to many of your towns an appearance of beauty seldom equalled, are to be observed in the vicinity of the cities and larger villages. The rapid multiplication of fine country residences, the taste and beauty with which the surrounding grounds are laid out, and the fine order in Avhieh they are kept, have given to New England a reputation wider than her limits, and highly creditable to her citizens. In this respect she is far in advance of other sections of the Union, not perhaps in the magnificence and expense of dwellings, but in the simple good taste, harmony, and keeping, which are every where dis- played. The exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association closed before I reached lios- ton, so that I was deprived of witnessing a show which is spoken of, on all hands, as highly creditable to the institution and to the state. Y'ou can hardly appreciate the regret experienced on account of my inability to reach Boston in time to witness the ex- hibition. As a small recompense, and determined to see some of the sights, I found my way into the weekly show of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- ciety, at its hall in School Street. Although disap- pointed in the quantity of articles on exhibition, the exceeding beauty and apparent excellence of the fruits on the tables made up for any defects, and I left the hall impressed with the fact that you need not go beyond your own neighborhood for the finest fruits. Such peaches, grapes, and pears it has sel- dom been my good fortune to see, and I doubt not they would have tasted far better than they looked. Not the least agreeable was that portion of my stay in the city devoted to an examination of tfie agricultural implements in the extensive warehouse of llugglcs, Nourse, Mason, it Co., in Quincy Hall. Such a collection can hardly be found elsewhere in the country ; and to those gentlemen is the highest credit due for the great improvements in this branch of industry. Eor nothing has the intelligent farmer greater cause to be thankful, than for suitable, appro- priate, and neatly-made implements, increasing as they do, not only the pleasures, but the profits, of agricultural labor. I fear, Mr. Editor, that the object with Avhich I commenced this article has led me into a longer talk than was contemplated, or than you can find room for in your columns ; if so, I can only promise not to trcspas's again. Kespectfully yours, Rome, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1850. SfiiSTiTi-TE FOR Soap. — A late French author recommends potatoes, three fourths boiled, as a substitute for soap, in washing hands. The use of this jirevents chapinng in cold weather, and retains the skin soft and healthy. 366 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Reported for the New England Farmer. CAMBRIDGE CATTLE MARKET. ANNUAL EEPOHT. There have been at this market durinf^ the year ending Oct. 22, 1850, — 56,14 1 cattle, of which about 28,814 were beeves, and 27,330 stores, consisting of working oxen, cows and calves, yearlings, two and three years old. There have also been at market 168,204 sheep and lambs, 7,678 swine, 1,245 horses, and a large number of fowls and veal calves, not nu- merically calculated. E.xtra cattle, and sheep and lambs, have generally been brisk, and sold readily at fair prices ; but the market for the inferior qualities of cattle has been variable. Some days it has been active, and good prices were realized ; at other times it has been dull, and sales slow. Since the first of last January (less than ten months") 2,843 cars have come over the Fitchburg railroad, and 1,447 over the Boston and Lowell rail- road, loaded with cattle, sheep, horses, swine, and fowls. No. from each State during the Year. Cattle. ^L^b,"'' Swine. Horses. Maine, 17,233 14,056 24 New Hampshire, 13,411 48,371 15 69 Vermont, 17,914 88,442 1,381 418 Massachusetts, 5,749 14,657 431 237 New York, 511 1,043 5,733 15 Canada, 1,326 1,635 482 Ohio, 118 Total, 56,144 168,204 7,678 1,245 This market is within four miles of Boston. Oper- ations were commenced about one year ago, since which time it has increased in business and impor- tance with unexampled rapidity. It contains one hundred and eighty-eight yards, for the accommoda- tion of cattle and sheep, one hundred and thirty- seven of which have been built the present season, with convenient lanes leading to all of them ; the whole covering an area of twelve or fourteen acres. The yards are all free, no charge ever having been made for the use of any of them. The Fitchburg railroad, which connects with the Vermont and Mas- sachusetts, the Cheshire, the Rutland and Burlington, the Sullivan, Central, Ogdonsburg, and the Connec- ticut River and Passumpsic railroads, passes through these yards. By means of these roads, cattle, &c., are brought from Canada, New York, all parts of Vermont, from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and landed from the cars direct into the yards. The Fitchburg Railroad Corporation have now nearly completed two side tracks for the accommodation of the cattle trains, where they will be able to run off of the main track about ninety cars, which can remain there until wanted. The Boston and Lowell railroad, which connects with the Northern, and several other railroads lead- ing through the different sections of New Hamp- shire, has a sjiacious cattle depot at Somerville, within two hundred rods of the market, with an extensive side track for running off the cattle trains from the main track ; and all other requisite con- veniences for landing and yarding the cattle, sheep, &c. The eastern drovers, also, coming from Maine and Now Hampshire, who drive their cattle on foot, find in this market a desideratum long desired. From the foregoing statistics, it will readily be seen that nature seems to have pointed to this spot, with an index not to be mistaken, as the most suit- able location for the great Cattle Fair of New Eng- land. Wed7iesday, Oct. 23, 1850. For the Neio England Farmer. THE POTATO ROT. Mil. Editor : I have a fact to state, in regard to this disease, and wish to know if you or your read- ers have noticed similar facts this year. In the town of Stonington, Ct., there is a very general complaint of this disease, and I have yet heard of but two pieces of land exempt. These are peat swamps, re- deemed by ditching. One of these was planted late on account of the water, and M'as manured only with coarse sea- weed. The potatoes are of fair size, and •without any appearance of rot. If too much mois- ture be the cause of the disease, why is this piece of land, in a season so wet, entirely free from it ? Has the superabundance of carbon in the peat any thing to do with it ? Is the gradual exhaustion of carbon in the soil bj' successive cropping, one of the causes of this disease ? It seems to me that facts, in a sea- son so generally visited with this blight as the pres- ent, are worthy of particular notice, and may help us to some better knowledge of the cause and cure of the disease. STONINGTON. Remarks. — The facts mentioned by our corre- spondent have been noted in Ireland. Peat has a wonderful preservative quality, so that it protects the potato from disease, even under the serious dis- advantage of a wet soil. We should be pleased to have further information as to the effects of raising potatoes in a peaty soil. — Ed. For the Neic England Farmer. CALEF APPLE. Mil. Cole : I herewith send you a box of apples which were grown on my farm, called by us the Calif or Calf apple. The original name we do not know, but tradition says that the tree which first produced the fruit, in this section of the country, was grafted by Governor Hancock, of Massachusetts, who brought the scions, and grafted the tree himself, while on a visit at Squire Calef 's. The tree is now standing, of a verj' large size, and has the appear- ance of one of the " old settlors ; " it yet produces well, though it has suffered from neglect. The fruit is of large size, excellent for cooking, and pretty good for eating ; in use October and November. The tree is hardy, a great grower, a great bearer, and produces yearly a large amount of fair fruit, fully equal, if not superior, to the Baldwin in productive- ness. It blossoms some four or five days later than other trees, so that it is often likely to escape blights from cold, when other fruits fail. All things consid- ered, I regard it as a very desirable variety to culti- vate. Yours, &c., THOMAS HANNAFORD. Cape Elizabeth, Oct. 22, 1850. Remarks. — We have tested this apple, by baking and stewing, and find that it is superior for cooking. It is large, and very fair. — Ed. We do not oiiSERVE. — If the stars were to appear but one night in a thousand years, how would men believe, and preserve for many generations, the re- membrance of God which had been shown ! But every night come out these preachers of beauty, and lisht the universe with their admonishing smile. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 367 NEW SPECIMENS OF GRAIN. A gentleman from M;iri;iosa states that on entering the 8an Joaquin Valley, tVoiu Los An<;clos, in Sep- tember last, he passed along the eastern hanks of Tulare Lake, by a route not travelled previous to that time. He found large and flowing streams emp- tying into the lake from the cast, and numerous well-disposed Indians, with their tioeks of cattle and horses. The most singular objects that met his eye were several varieties of grain, wliich he believes to have never been met with before. One of the>c resembled barley, and grew in vast quantities, often covering areas of thousands of acres. Another varie- ty \vas smaller, like millet, but not less beautiful, lint the most singular of them all, and eciually abun- dant, was what our informant termed pop-corn. He stated that the natives cut and threshed out large quantities of this, which he supposed they lay up in store. This grain they ''parch" like pop-corn. — Pacific News. RAISING POTATOES FROM THE BALL. I took the seed in the fall, put them in paper, and kept them in a dry place. The 1st of April, 1847, I planted the seed in line, rich earth, in a box in the house, kept tlieni there until the 10th of June, occa- sionally in the open air, but not under glass, as I had not prepared the means to force them, which I think would be desirable to gain tLme and size. I then, Juno 10, planted them in the open ground. I pro- tected the vines the first year from frost, to obtain a longer season until the let of November. On dig- ging them, I found some as large as hens' eggs, the largest portion smaller. They produced seven varie- ties such as I now give you — one like the English red ; two like long and round pink eyes ; one like the pink eyes, but no red in the eye ; one like the dark jjurple ; one like the blue ; and one like the lady linger, of large size. The second year, 1848, I planted the seed raised, like other potatoes, but in rich earth, but did not protect them in the fall to in- crease the growth. The vines were killed before they were entirely mature. I dug them the '20th of October, when they were the \isual size of potatoes. This year, the vines were killed by the frost as early as the 2d of October, when they were green and growing vigorously, and I believe they would have been larger. They were dug the 10th of October. One weighed one pound ten ounces ; twelve others, twelve ])ounds ten ounces. The long jiotatoes are more mealy at one end than the other, which shows they have not their full growth. I do not know the kind of potato from which the seed from the ball was obtained. The land, half an acre, was a pasture ; ploughed once, 1st of May, 1848 ; carried on eight loads ma- nure from the cow stalls, and eight loads of leached ashes ; sjiread them even, then dragged it well ; planted corn about May 10 ; had a good ero]) on the half acre; ploughed it in the fall; about May 12, 1849, ploughed, dragged, and planted the half acre without any manure. The soil is fine sandy loam, land rolling, very mellow. The following is the expense of cultivation : Ploughing and tilling the ground, if! 1 oO ; seed, six bushels, ,f;;i ; jdanting, §1 50; hoeing, ,<;1 50; digging will cost about .f:{ ; also, half a barrel of plaster, when up, $1 ; making the whole expense $10. I am confident that the lialf acre will yield at least 230 bushels, which, at four shillings the bushel, is $ 115 lixpcnses of cultivation, 10 Which leaves a balance of ^ 105 I am confident I could easily sell the potatoes for the above sum, which would be the nice sura of $210 per acre, for use of land and small capital in- vested. The following particulars I consider to be impor- tant in the cultivation of potatoes : I ploughed the land si.x inches deep ; planted the potatoes three inches deep, leaving the hills level with the earth, and I planted the rows three feet ajjart, and the hills two feet from centre to centre, making forty-four hills to the square rod, which gives seven thousand four hun- dred and eighty hills per acre. Allowing fourteen hills for a bushel, (as some of mine yielded) gives five hundred bushels to the acre. I fully believe that if I had seed from the balls sufficient to have jilauted an acre, and cultivated them, as I did what I planted, they would have produced at least five hundred bushels this season. My land is mellow ; did not plough between the rows, but hoed the weeds up, leaving the hills nearly level with the top of the ground, until the potatoes grew, and then raised the hills above the level. I believe the usual way of ploughing deep between the rows of corn or potatoes is a bad practice, especially in dry seasons; a smiill cultivator is much preferable. AMION KILLAM. — A. Y. Staio Tra7isactions. PREPARING BONES FOR MANURE- DIS- SOLVING THEM IN SULPHURIC ACID. By breaking up the solid and tenacious structure of bones liefore applying them to the soil, their ma- terials are much more readily ajjpropriated by plant.s. If applied in the condition in which they are fouud in the animal, years would elapse before they would thoroughly dissolve and mix their elements with their kindred dust. By the mechanical op'r.^tion-: of breaking, crushing, grinding, or .«awlng, or the chemical change effected by dissolving in sulphuric acid, or by steaming, burning, or fermentation, they are ready, at once, to yield their nutritive properties to the crops. In this country, bones are generally ground before using as manure. Immense quantities are furnisb.ed by the manufacturers of buttons, and othi^r products of bone, and this is so finely divided by sa^ving and other manipulations, as to need no further jjrcpara- tion. But in Europe, much of the bone is prejarcd for agricultural purposes by dissolving in suljihuric acid. This is done by mixing two or three paits of water with one of acid. If the bones have been pre- viously crushed, one third their weight of acid will dissolve them ; if they have not been jneviou^ly bro- ken up, then half the quantity may be retjuired. The sulphuric acid is worth, usually, iu this market, about two and a half cents per pound, while the bones, especially the refuse ones, in the interior, may be considered as valueless for any other purjjo.-^e ex- cei)t manure. If there be no means for grinding, tVicn we say decidedly, wherever manure is desirable, (and where is it not r) it will generally pay for dissolv- ing the bones in the acid, if obtainable at the above price. It may, however, be a still more ecor.omical preparation to burn them, by which the earthy mat- ters, the jjhosphatcs, iS;c., are all left in the rcMduum. Tlie suliihuric acid is, of itself, a fertilizer of rnuth value, and by its application aloni', will, under favor- able circumstances for its application, produce good returns. We should, however, esteem it, in this country, as too expensive for general use, consider- ing its relative value as comjjared with our products. Fermentation of bones is quite as economieal sw burning, and by this process, fertilizing portions, whieh would otherwise l)e expelled and driven off into the atmosphere, will be retained witli the earthy matter, and remain to add to the value of tlie compoat 368 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. heap. Each of these methods we have more than once detailed in the previous columns of our paper; but the great value of bones, as fertilizers, induces us frequently to recur to it. — A/net-ican Ai/riculturist. ANALYSIS OF THE APPLE. Although apples have been eaten ever since the days of Adam, we believe the chemical composition of them has not, until recently, been determined by actual anah'sis. This analysis has been made by J. 11. Salisbury, M. D., who has communicated the results to the secretary of the New York State Ai^ricultural Soci- ety, and they have been published in the Transac- tions. The varieties analyzed were the Tolman Sweeting, Koxbury Russet, Kilham Hill, English Russet, and llhode Island Greening. In the ashes of the Roxbury Russet and Rhode Island Greening he found the following mineral substances : — Russet. Greening. Carbonic acid, 14.11 18.03 Silica, (flint,) 2.278 1.412 Phos. of iron, 1.564 1.277 Phos. acid 15.057 1 1.664 Lime, 4.857 4,421 Magnesia 1.903 2.211 Potash, 34.958 38.440 Soda, 25.173 22.781 Chlorine, 2.300 2.272 Sulphuric acid 6.889 8.019 Organic matter 5.021 7.503 100.000 100.000 Dr. Salisbury observes, that in silica the apple is by no means rich, containing, in the varieties exam- ined, from about 1 to 2.3 per cent. The phosphate of iron ranges from about 1 to 2.2 per cent. ; the phosphoric acid from 11 to 15 per cent. ; the lime from about 3 to 5 per cent. ; the magnesia from about 1 to 2.2 per cent. ; the potash from about 35 to 42 per cent. ; the soda from 19.3 to 30.4 per cent.; the chlorine from 1.85 to 2.33 per cent. ; and sulphuric acid from 6.65 to 8.02 per cent. It will be seen, therefore, that the percentage of ashes in the apple is small : 1000 pounds of fresh apple contain about 827 pounds of water, 170.4 pounds of organic matter destroyed by heat, and 2.6 pounds of inorganic matter or ashes. 1000 pounds of dry apple contain between 17 and 18 pounds of water. 100 pounds of the ashes, according to this analysis, deprived of the carbonic acid which is formed when burning, contain 13 pounds of phosphoric acid, 7 pounds sulphuric acid, 38 pounds of potash, and 25 ])ounds of soda. The organic materials in the apple are made up principally of a species of gum, and also of sugar and vegetable extract, malic acid, albumen, &c., all of which the doctor has laid down in tables, with their several proportions. What is the practical use of this analysis ? j-ou will say. Why, a guide to the best kinds of manures for your orchard. Supply it with such manures as will art'ord the materials found in apples, viz. : For phosphoric acid, bones, in the form of burnt bones, or bone dust ; sulphuric acid and lime, in the form of plaster of Paris ; potash, in the form of ashes, and such like materials, &c., &c. By knowing what are the principal materials of the apple, we can judge better what it requires for food itself, in order to give us the greater return. — Maine Farmer. A CURIOUS FACT. The relation of the study of plants with agricul- ture will be well understood by the following extract from I'rofcssor Johnston's lectures : — " It is a fact familiarly known to all of you, in ad- dition to those circumstances by which we can j)er- ceive the special functions of any one organ to be modified, that there are many by Avhich the entire economy of the plant is materially and simultaneously aft'ected. On this fact the practice of agrieidture is founded, and the various processes adopted by the practical farmer are onlj' so many modes by which he hopes to influence and promote the growth of the whole plant, and the discharge of the functions of all its parts. Though the manures in the soil act immediately through the roots, they stimulate the growth of the entire plant ; and though the applica- tion of a top-dressing to a crop of young corn or grass may be supposed first to affect the leaf, yet the beneficial result of the experiment depends upon the influence Avhich the application may exercise on any part of the vegetable tissue." In connection with this part of the subject, he adds, " I shall only further advert to a verj- remark- able fact mentioned by Sprengel, which seems, if correct, to be susceptible of important practical applications. He states that it has frequently been observed in Ilolstein, that if, on an extent of level ground sown with corn, some fields bo marled, and others left unmarled, the corn on the latter portions will grow less luxuriantly, and will yield a poorer crop than if the whole had been unmarlcd. Hence, he adds, if the occupier of the unmarlcd field would not have a succession of poor crops, he must marl his land also. Can it really be that the Deity thus rewards the diligent and improver ? Do the plants which grow in a soil in higher condition, take from the air more than their due share of the car- bonic acid, or other vegetable food it may contain, and leave to the tenants of the poorer soil a less proportion than they might otherwise draw from it ? How many interesting reflections does such a fact as this suggest ! What new views does it disclose of the fostering care of the great Contriver — of his kind encouragement of every species of virtuous labor ! Can it fail to read us a new and special les- son on the benefits to be derived from the application of skill and knowledge to the cultivation of the soil?" STEADINESS OF PURPOSE. In whatever you engage, pursue it with a steadi- ness of purpose, as thougli you were determined to succeed. A vacillating niiiul never accomplished any thing worth naming. There is nothing like a fixed, steady aim. It dignifies your nature and in- sures your success. Who have done the most for mankind r Who have secured the rarest honors : Who have raised themselves from poverty to riches : Those who were steady to their purpose. The man who is one thing to-day, and another to-morrow — who drives an idea pell-mell this week, while it drives him the next — is always in trouble, and does just nothing from one year's end to the other. Look, and admire the man of steady purpose. lie moves noise- lessly along; and yet, what wonders he accomplishes ! He rises, gradually we grant, but surely. The heav- ens are not too high for him, neither are the stars beyond his reach. How worthy of imitation ! — Ru- ral Naw- Yorker, He who falls in love with himself will find no rivals. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 369 Jdoiufy) rCo c^^M^i^^i?Uy Professor Johnston was born in Kilmarnock, Scot- land, and was educated in Glasgow University. lie paid particular attention to the study of chemistry, and he improved himself in agricultural knowledge by travelling in various parts of Europe. At the foundation of Durham University, in England, he was appointed professor of chemistry and mineralogy. He was also professor of chemistry of the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland. His lectures on agricultural chemistry and geology, and various other works on agricultural science, have been circu- lated very extensively in this country, and in the most enlightened parts of Europe. In 1849, he delivered the address at the annual fair of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society. In the winter following, he delivered a course of lectures before the society, and the members of the legisla- ture, on the relation of science to practical agricul- ture. He also delivered a course of lectures before the Lowell Institute in this city, and before the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. Professor Johnston ranks among the first scientific agriculturists, and his writings are well adapted to illustrate and promote correct practical agriculture; and wc are pleased that they arc so widely diffused, and that arrangements are making to circulate them still more extensively. C. !M. Saxton, New York, has recently published, in a neat volume, the Lectures on Practical Agriculture before the N. Y. State Ag- ricultural Society. It should have a place in the library of every agriculturist. Professor Johnston is still in the best stage of life for collecting and disseminating useful knowledge, in a discriminating and successful manner ; and we hope that the world will be further enlightened by his future labors. FORESTS AND STREAMS. The remarkable man Ilumboklt has reduced it almost to a demonstration, tliat the streams of a country fail in proportion to the destruction of its timber. And, of course, if the streams fail, our season will be worse ; it m\ist got drier in jjropor- tion. Every body knows, who can number twenty years back, that the watercourses have failed con- siderably, and that the seasons have been getting drier and drier every year. II\imboldt, siicaking of the valley of Arg\ia, ^'cnezucla, says, the lake re- cedes as agriculture advances, until large plantations of sugar-cane, banana, and cotton- trees were estab- lished on its banks, which, (banks,) year after year, were farther from them. After the separation of that i)rovince from Spain, and the decline ot agricul- ture, amid tlie desolating wars which swept over this beautiful region, the process of clearing was arrested, the old lands grew up in trees with a rajjidity com- mon in the tropics, and in a few years the inhab- itants were alarmed by a rise of the water, and the inundation of their plantations. T-et a man be treated as a brute, and ho will be- come more brutish than a brute ; but treat him as a rational being, and he will show that he is so. 370 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Domestic Department. Female Education. — Shame on us, that we, who boast of haviiifi; raised woman, in the nineteenth cen- tury, to the position in life which she ou<^ht to hold, so educate her tliat not one of her powers, physical or mental, can ever attain a full and healthy action. Better go back to the days of our great grandmother, and be content with Dilworth's Spelling-Book, and Assembly's Catechism; — nay, better go to far earlier days, when neither catechism nor spelling-book de- tained the damsel from the distaff or the loom, than real", for the coming generation, a race of nervous wives and sickly mothers. When the boy runs merrily after his ball, or chases in the race, or leaps over the bound, the girl must walk demurely in the garden, because, forsooth, running, and leaping, and jumping are ungraceful in the girl. When the boy runs freely over the hills or through the woods in the summer, or coasts down the hill or skates merrily over the pond in the win- ter, the girl, untrusted, unbefitted, walks pensively, by the side of her teacher, to the village, or takes a two mile airing in the sleigh, once a week. She never pitches the quoit, never throws the ball, never slides down the hill, never roams through the woods, because, save the mark ! these are deemed unfem- inine. In fact, she never thoroughly exercises her body at all, and, in consequence, soon becomes unable to endure any kind of physical fatigue. " Fit only for boys," said a principal of a large female institute to me, the other day, when I remon- strated with him on the importance of these and other like exercises for the girls. For boys, indeed ! And has not a girl a physical system to be developed, and matured, and invigorated ? Has she not fatigue to bear, obstacles to encounter, hinderanccs to over- come, enterprises to carry out, duties to discharge ? Has she not the burden of life to carry, and its toil- some road to travel for herself? In her own sphere does she not require, through life, all the energy, strength, and endurance of which her system shall be capable ? It matters not whether she is to live in the midst of fashion, or to move quietly in the circles of country life, or to find her lot on missionary ground, or to struggle against unforeseen adversity, — all that can be made of her during her years of edu- cation, physically, morally, and intellectually, she will need. To every woman, whatever situation she may occupy, life is a fact, stubborn, earnest, real, to be shaped and moulded by her own efforts, or to be borne and endured by her own fortitude. Happy is she who is prepared for it, not by her own desiiairing efforts in after life, but by the judicious, careful, and thorough discipline of early education. — i\''. Y, Com. Advertiser, The late Mr. Colman, in his letters from Europe, speaks with admiration of the interest the wives and daughters of the farmers and landed proprietors of England manifested in every thing that appertained to agricultural improvement. They composed more than one half the audience at society gatherings, were every where jircsent, and showed an amount of knowledge on all subjects connected with domestic economies and agriculture, (and that, too, without •'o'erstcpping the modesty of nature,") that rendered them not only the most interesting of teachers, but the most cliarming of companions. No tine points in a celebrated milker escaped their commendation, nor defects their practised eye ; they were amateurs in the flavor of cheese, and discrirainatin'r critics on the merits of butter — able as well to arrange a bouquet with the most exquisite taste, as with statu- esque fingers to mould butter in its most attractive form. This is as it should be. Knowledge of every thing but evil is the highest civilization, and we hope New England women will not be backward in following, to a greater extent, the admirable example of their elder sisters. — Mass. Ploughman. Woutl/s Department. Murderers of Parents. — This kind of murder would seem the most brutal and criminal that can be conceived. Murder is a crime of the darkest dye. It finds no apology with God or man. Yet for a per- son to destroy his dearest earthly friend seems worse than murder. That children and youth are ever un- grateful and unkind to parents, is unpardonable — that they bring down their gray hairs to the grave by their impiety and recklessness, is inhuman, and more than beastly. Yet the Bible speaks of and rebukes such sins — " murderers of fathers, and mur- derers of mothers ! " In the first place, a violent destruction of life is not necessary to constitute murder. John says, " Whoso hateth liis brother is a murderer ; " that is, has the spirit of a murderer. Children sometimes do more than this, however. They bitterly destroy their fathers and mothers by their conduct. How, then, may this be done ? let us here enquire. First. A young man may murder his parents by the choice of his companions. Good parents feel the deepest solicitude for the moral training of their children. They know that the society of the idle and irreligious will corrupt and ruin their children. Indeed, they know that they are alreadj' contaminated, when they seek such companions. The " plague spot " on their character is thus revealed. The parent shudders at tlie thought that his child has chosen the vile and profane for companions. He knows that he has entered the path that conducts to ruin, and sees him, in fearful anticipations, about to be ingulfed in the awful abyss. Especially does this thought sap the life- blood of the parents, when the child has ceased to listen to kind admonitions and anxious warnings. Then it is that anguish fills his heart ; early gray hairs cover his head ; deep furrows plough his fore- head, and a premature grave receives his body, worn out by the care, grief, and anguish caused by the an- ticipated profligate life of a wayward cliild. Second. A young man may murder his father and mother by immoral and unprofitahlc conduct. This is often done by the anticipation of such a result. But how much more heart-rending and dreadful, that the beloved child is actually contam- inated ! that his innocence has gone, his heart is hardened, and he has become an abandoned prod- igal ! Were an assassin to plunge a dagger into the l^arent's bosom, it would be kind in comparison with the murderous influence of such coixduct of their child. They remember his innocent infancy and childhood, his fondness for his j)arcnts, his obedience and gratitude, and all that endeared him to his loving parents. They see him now, O, how changed ! He has cut himself away from home influences, become pro- fane and dissipated, and is hastening on to certain destruction. What a terrible termination of a par- ent's fond hopes ! How much worse to bear than death by any other means ! Youthful readers, are you becoming the murderers of your fathers and mothers ? — Aurora of the Val- ley. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 371 t^ealtlj Pcpartmcnt. Pepper. — One of the most useful vegetables in hygiene is red pepper. Especially in warm countries has it been considered invaluable as a stim- alant and auxiliary in digestion. Among the Span- ish and French races it is used in the largest quanti- ties, and they invariably enjoy most excellent health. Of late, particularly since the cholera visited our state, our planters have begun to discover the virtues of this vegetable, and mingle large quantities of it with the food of their negroes. Considerable atten- tion has been drawn to the selection and cultivation of the best kinds of pepper. Among those who have appreciated the importance of this vegetable is that admirable planter, and e.xceedingly practical gentle- man, Col. Maunsel White, the proprietor of " Deer Range," commonly known as the model sugar plan- tation. Col. White has introduced the celebrated tobacco red pepper, the very strongest of all peppers, of which he has cultivated a large quantity, with a view of supplying his neighbors, and diffusing it through the state. The tobacco pepper yields a small red pod, less than an inch in length, and lon- gitudinal in shape. It is exceedingly hot, and but a small quantity of it is sufficient to pepper a large dish of any food. Owing to its oleaginous charac- ter. Col. White found it impossible to preserve it by drying ; but by pouring strong vinegar on it after boiling, he has made a sauce or pepper decoction of it, which possesses, in a most concentrated and in- tense form, all the qualities of the vegetable. A single drop of this sauce will flavor a whole plate of soup or otlier food. The use of a decoction like this, particularly in preparing the food for laboring per- sons, would be found exceedingly beneficial in a relaxing climate like this. Col. White has not had a single case of cholera among his large gang of ne- groes since that disease appeared in the south. He attributes this to the free use of this valuable agent. — N. O. Delta. iUccljamcs' Pepartmcut, Qivts, Uc. Coating Ikox with Copper. — To coat iron with copper, as well as it has long been done by tin, has occupied the attention of many inventors for centu- ries. Their labors have uniformly failed of success. They have produced a mechanical union between the copper and tin, such as by the electrotype pro- cess, but for all truly useful purposes no good result was produced ; no coppering of tlic iron by a chem- ical union was ever accomplished until within a short period, and a knowledge of tliis discovery has been known to but a very few. The discoverer is Mr. Pomcroy, of Covington, Ky., who secured, after no little trouble, a patent for the same on the 8th of last January. ^Ve have seen samples of plate iron (one of which is in our office) coppered and finished by Mr. Pomcroy's process. Unless the edge of the plate was seen, no one could tell that it was any thing but a coijper plate. The application of this discovery to the coating of iron, so as to make it more durable, and render its apidic^ation to various branches of art more expansive, makes it one of the most valuable discoveries of tliis or any otlier age. The iron can be coated with any thickness of copper, and spikes for ship-l)uilding have been tested, as we have been told, and found to answer as well as those made entirely of copper. As a matter of economy, then, this discovery will greatly cheapen the price of sailing vessels. For boilers, roofing, coating of pipes, covering iron with the precious metals, harness plat- ing, &c., this discovery is singularly applicable, and will be the means of increasing the general comforts of the human race. — !Scienti/ic American. Water-proof Cloth. — The best water-proof cloth made is that of India rubber ; no other cloth can equal it. Oil cloth comes next in order. Wool- len and cotton cloth may be rendered nearly water- proof by dipping them in a solution of alum and the sulphate of copper. These two substances should be used in about equal quantities. The cloth should be dried in a warm room afterwards. If cotton cloth is dipped into a very weak solution of glue, and afterwards into a hot and strong solution of alum, and then dried at a high temperature, a very good water-proof cloth is the result, ay, and one that is nearly incombustible. — Scientific American. ROUGH FODDER. Mr. Editor : I do not know whether many of your agricultural readers make much account of their "rough fodder," that is, of their top and but stalks, &c., but one thing I can assert, and without fear of contradiction, I think, by any who have econ- omized this species of feed, and that is, it is mu"h too valuable to be lost. Every farmer should keep on his farm a sufficiency of the various kinds of stock to consume all the vegetable matter his lands pro- duce. In this way he will greatly augment his re- sources, and at all times be supplied with that most essential requisite to successful agricultural enter- prise — an abundance of manure. The belief enter- tained by many, that there is no nutriment in corn- stalks, after the corn has been matured, is altogether a false assumption ; it rests wholly on fallacious data, and should be abjured at once as unworthy of a moment's thought. If we take the stalks of Indian corn, and pass them through a chaffing machine, mix them with a small quantity of rasped ruta baga, carrot, or beet root, and a little Mater, with just sufficient salt to season them well, and feed them to stock, we shall find that the animals will not only hold their own, but actually increase in weight. This demonstrates the actual existence of nutritive matter in this species of fodder, and in large quan- tity ; for the small additament of rasped root can be but a slight accession to the alimentary power of the feed, as but a small quantity is supplied ; the object being not so much to augment the nutritious- ness of the mass by commi.xing it, as to give a more sapent flavor thereto, and to correct, in some meas- ure, any unpleasant taste which may have been en- gendered by mould, or the imperfect curing of the fodder, in the field or barn. It has now become ([uite common in many sections to allow the top stalks to remain till the corn is taken from the fielil, as the filling of the grain is believed to be more per- fectly accomplished under this system of manager ment, than it is when the toj)s are removed. Of course the top stalks are less valuable as fodder ; but they are by no means valueless. Chalied in this manner, they are eagerly devoured by most animals ; and a great advantage resulting from chaHing is, there is no waste or loss. Every particle is con- sumed, and thus all the products of the farm, which have required manure for their support, are converted to an economical use, and in process of time are again resolved into the food of plants, liy having a chatf- ing machine, and a machine for rasping roota, and 372 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. one for crushing corn-cobs, all of which cost but a mere trifle, compared with their actual intrinsic value, a fanner may make an iinincnsG saving in the course of a rear. A PIIACTIC-VL FAIIMER. — Germ,aiUoK.-n Telegraph, DOMESTIC FOWLS. The quality, that is, the fineness, juiciness, and richness of flavor of the flesh of domestic fowls, is of much more importance than their size ; and I consequently reject all coarse-meated fowls, however large they may bo. There is no difficulty in discrim- inating between coarse and fine fowls, at any time. "When chickens, if the down is straight and stands out, and the body and limbs are loosely jointed, the meat is coarse ; but if the down is glossy, and lies close to the body, and the body and limbs are com- pactly formed, the me-.it is fine ; — and when grown, if the fowl is light in weight, in proportion to its size, the flesh is coarse ; but if heavy, the flesh is fine. There is, also, a fitness in the quality of the flesh ; for, if the meat is fine, the bones are fine, and vice versa. If the flesh is fine, it is juicy and richly fla- vored ; if coarse, dry, fibrous, and insipid. The color of the legs, too, is quite material in judging of the quality of fowls. All other things being equal, dark- legged fowls have the finest flesh, and are most hardy. Turkeys, which have the finest fiesh of all fowls of their size, have black legs ; pheasants, partridges, and quails, all of which are very fine-fleshed fowls, have dark legs ; the game cock, likewise, which is universally acknowledged to be the finest-fleshed of all the domestic fowls, except the wild India fowl of Calcutta, has dark legs ; and this is equally true of the wild India fowl itself, the specific gravity of which, likewise, exceeds that of any other fowl. I do not wish to be imderstood, however, to say that all dark-legged fowls are fine, or that all yellow or white-legged ones are coarse, for much depends on the breed ; but I do say, that the darkest leg which pertains to the breed, indicates the finest fowl. For instance, the Shanghae or Cochin China fowls, " of the pure blood," always have their legs of a bright red and j'ellow mixture, beautifully shaded together. Now, if you wish to select a fine fowl of this breed, choose one of the darkest shade of these colors. The great Java fowl, of pure blood, uniformly has black or very dark legs ; and if you wish a fine- fleshed one of this breed, select one with the black- est legs. The black Poland fowl, of pure blood, has white or blue legs. Select the blue for the finest, that is, select the darkest of the natural color, what- ever that color may be. Fowl fanciers ahvays select yellow legs ; l>ut lowl-eatcrs, tliat is, those w'ho re- gard the quality of the bird, select dark legs. The color of the feathers, too, has more or less to do with the quality of the fowl. Some breeds have much more brilliant plumage than others; but when we speak of the brilliancy of the plumage, we mean in comparison with others of the same breed. If, there- fore, you select a fowl of rich and glossy plumage, when compared with others of the same breed, de- pend upon it, the legs will be dark of the kind, and the quality of the bird will excel. PULVERIZED WOOD FOR CATTLE. About three years since, I had occasion to send my cart-horses frequently through a piece of coppice wood, and whenever it happened that they stopped ■within reach of the rods, they Avould greedily devour every bough they could come at. This I noticed many times. At last I was led to examine the rods on which I had seen them feeding, and found them completely stripped of their branches, some of which were of a verj' considerable thickness. This led me to suppose that there must be some good qualities in the wood, and this consideration induced me to get some pulverized, and give it to my cart-horses ; which experiment was repeated at several different times, until I was fully satisfied that it had no injurious effect upon them. After this, I was led to give it to my gig-horses with their corn ; and having ascer- tained that it did them no injury, I had machinery prepared for reducing the wood for the purpose of food, and began to feed both cart and gig horses, as also my cows and pigs, mixing a portion Avith all that was given them. This practice I have continued for the last ten months. Previously to feeding my horses m this way, they had each six quarts of oats and beans given them per day, for Avhich is now substituted three pints of barley per daj'. They are in equally fine condition as when fed in the usual way, and more playful and free in their work. Soon after the wood was mixed with the fodder given to the cows, their milk, as well as their condition, was much im- proved. For several weeks past, I have been feed- ing sheep with the pulverized wood, together with crushed Swedish turnips, and they also appear to improve by it. I have likewise fatted four pigs suc- cessively, mixing this food with Ijarley meal, and the results have proved most satisfactory. — 3/;-. Dan- iels, in Chamber' s Journal. The statement, however strange it maj- sound, is not so startling, when wc remember that the woody matter of trees is, in its chemical nature, nearly allied to starch, and that it always eoutains some nitrogen ; so that, in reality, it furnishes the ordinary materials of food in another form. We presume, however, that white-wooded, not resinous, trees are those which furnish Mr. Daniels's cattle with the lig- neous pulp they thrive so well upon. — Ohio Family Visitor. CURE FOR A BELLOWSED HORSE. Some few weeks since, being overtaken by a severe thunder storm on my way home, I took refuge under a shelter where were assembled several gentlemen from the same cause. One of the gentlemen thus accosted me : " Why do you not cure your horse of the bellows ? " " For the very reason that I can- not," I replied. " Well, stranger," says ho, " when I am at home, I cure all such cases, and warrant them, at ten dol- lars a head ; but as I am a long way from home, and your horse is a valuable one, I will tell you how you can cure him effectually in a few days. In the first place," says he, " give your horse salt in his water for three mornings in succession ; alter that, pound up a piece of blue-stone about the size of a chinque- pin, and mix it with wet meal ; give him the same for ten consecutive mornings, feeding him rather lightly for those ten days ; and if he is not well at the end of the ten days, I will give you my head." I have tried the remedy, and it has wrought a per- fect cure ; and I now give it to the readers of the En- quirer, that they may save their ten dollars too. — Columbus Enquirer. Any one may do a casual act of good nature, but a continuation of them shows it is a part of the tem- perament. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 373 THE FIRST OHIO STATE FAIR-A NEW ERA IN THE AGRICULTURE OF OHIO. Well, the State Fair -is over, and the tens of thou- sands of farnici-s, mechanics, and others who a-sombled at " Camp Washington," during the memorable three days, to witness the triumphs of productive industry, have returned to their homes, well pleased, we trust, with the exhibition, and inspired with new resolu- tions in favor of prui/rMs and improccment. Certain we are that the heart of every true Ohioan must have glowed with pride and exultation in view of what was there shown as already accomplished by the in- dustry and skill of his noble state, and the assurance of greater things to be accomplished in the future. The weather was highly j^ropitious for the Pair. The number of persons in attendance was very groat ; fully equalling our expectations. At times, we should judge, there were from twenty to thirty thousand l)eople on the ground, and probably not less than forty to fifty thousand entered the enclosure during the exhibition. The low stage of water in the Ohio River prevented thousands from attending who would otherwise have been there ; and we learn that it was found impossible to convey all upon the railroad who wish to go by that mode from Springfield down- wards. The amount of receipts from the sale of tickets and badges, including exhibitor's fees, was about $8000 ; to which may be added receipts from subscriptions of citizens of Cincinnati, say $1600, and from sale of lumber, &c., $liOO ; —total receipts, about $11,000. The beauty and fitness of the grounds, and the liberal and convenient arrangements of the committee, ■yvere admired and commended by all. The spectacle presented to the beholder during the height of the I'air was very grand and animating. The spacious enclosure, with its grassy slopes and inviting shade trees ; its numerous tents and booths with waving flags and .streamers ; the throngs of cheerful specta- tors ; the countless carriages, omnibuses and canal boats, all moving and swarming with people ; the prancing horses, and lines of stately cattle, the whirl and clatter of machinery, and the sound of martial music, — all combined to produce an effect on the minds of sjiectators not easily forgotten by such as never before attended an exhibition of the kind. — Oltio Calticatur. BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. Horace Grecly, of the Xew York Tribune, in writ- ing from the N. Y. State Fair, thus speaks of the utility of such exhibitions : — "There cannot be less than two or three hundred different kinds of agricultural implements on exhi- bition here — horse-rakes, cultivators, straw-cutters, siiljsoil and other ploughs, new beehives, horse-i)Ower saws, &.C., &e. I have considered this altogether the most important feature of the Fair. A great ox may be reared by a greater fool ; but no man who ever worked a year at farming can spend a day among the implements and inventions without being stimulated to think. The great end of all such exhibitions is an improvement of the breed of farmers — of men. Now, the man who has been t^kinrming over a hundred acres of land fir the last twenty or thirty years, plough- ing six inches deep, manuring with his good wishes, and growing fifteen or twenty bushels of corn to the acre, cannot spend a day in one of these Fair enclo- sures without being startled and ashamed. These iubsoil ploughs, one of which, properly used, would double his product of corn and vegetables, and in dry »c,asons treble it — these straw-cutters, with one of which his scanty crop of hay might have been made, ■«iTh the ui I oi straw, sta»ks, ii:c., to winter his stock bountifully — those cultivators, seed-planters, horsc- rakes, and other labor-saving implements, must set him thinking. " What sort of crop do those fiirmers obtain who use such implements r Who make the most by fanning — the fifteen or the fifty bushel corn-growcre ? What sort of farmers is it who are able to buy hmid wh«i any is for s>-.le low for cash ? What sort of farming leaves land in a condition to sell advantageously r These questions arise spontaneously in the- simplest minds, and they can be answered. I don't believe a farmer can attend three successive Fairs and not re- solve to farm better thaouirh all his life ai'terwardsv" SUGGESTIONS FOR FARMERS, If you have any bean straw, do not permit it to bo wasted, but feed it to your sheep. These aniirsiils are remarkably fond of it, and will ])artake of it freely when they refuse the best En2;lish hay, or oven grain. It is sometimes passed through a chuffing machsiie, and fed to them while suckling their lambs ; but I consider this superfluous, as I have nc^'er yet kno^vn them to refuse it even when they have been too sick to partake of other food. Mouldy beans miiy bo cleansed, freed from theu* disagreeable odor, and ren- dered excellent feed for sheep, simply by pouring hot water over them. If not very strongly tainted, they may possibly be rendered fit for culinary purposes. I'cas that are "buggy" make an excellent feed for swine. The nutritive matter contained in the pea is greater, per pound, than that of any other vegeta- ble, and when ground into meal, or niolhfied by .soak- ing, it becomes one of the best articles for fattening swine possible to be obtained. Peas v>hiuh have " bugs " in them are utterly unfit for human food ; and there is no disjiosing of them in the market*; so that, all things considered, their appropriation in this manner is the most economical that can be devised. Yards. — See that all your yards arc now replen- ished with some substance that will absorb and retain the liquid excrement voided by your animals doling the fall and winter. It will subserve a double pur- pose — furnish a good bed for the animals to repose on before the snow falls, and during the cold, chilling nights of the later autumn, and supply an excellent manure for your field crops in the spring. More at- tention should be accorded to this subject, and I trust farmers will soon awake to fresh ai)i>iication of its importance, and graduate their course accordingly. — Germantown Telegraph. A NEW AND ECONOMICAL MODE OF FORCING VEGETABLES. It has been suggested by a foreign pajier, that the waste steam of manufactories may be advantageously applied to the roots of plants ; and without any ex- pense for artificial heat, large (luautitics of tropical fruits and vegetables may be raised at all times, bo- sides such of our own as we can otherwise have in perfection only during the summer months. A series of common draining tile, laid within .suitable distances underneath properly i)rej)arcd beds, con- taining the plants, which should admit or .shut off the exhausted steam by cocks, would be all that is necessary for the underground arrangements. Mois- ture would bo thus communicated as well as heat, and a slight covering of wood, or l)rick, and glass, to protect the plants from frosts or cold air, would b« all that is essential to securing the most prolific ■.rio\vth. — Hura! .\ctc- lorkirr. 374 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. CATTLE. Few people arc aware that it is nearly as easy to alter the frame ol' our cattle as it is to alter the style of our dwellings. John Bull, for instance, has gone on to improving his oxen until he has got a breed almost without legs. From the returns of the last census, it is safe to say that 1,000,000 cows are now milked in this state, which are supposed to yield about .s20 per head. To improve these up to an average annual product of $31 each, (that is, to one half what the best large dairies in the country now yield,) would add ,$12,000,000 to the income of the citizens of a single state. This gain, by the improve- ment of one kind of rural machinery, would be equivalent to creating a capital of $200,"000,000, and placing the money where it would yield over six per cent, interest in perpetuity. If the thirty millions of sheep in the United States gave as good returns in wool for the food consumed as the best hundred thousand now do, it would add at least sixty million pounds to the annual clip of this important staple There are not far from six million horses and mules in the United States ; and it is not too much to say, that iu a few generations these animals may be im- proved full $30 a head on an average. If so, the gain by this increase of muscular power, and its greater durability, will be $180,000,000. If we study critically the machinery for converting grass, roots, and gn-in into beef and pork, the difference is found to be still more striking. If the facts relating to this subject were spread before the people, great improvement would soon follow, and all classes share equally in the profits of more productive labor. — Albany Knickerbocker, THE GUINEA HEN. The Guinea hen, or Pentado, is near an everlasting layer. They are said to unite the properties of the turkey and the pheasant. They are a native of Af- rica, though said by some to belong equally to this country, and are easily domesticated. Its flesh is more like that of the pheasant than the common fowl, both in color and taste, and is reckoned a very good substitute for that bird. It assimilates perfectly ■with the common fowl in its artificial habits and kinds of food. Its gait is peculiar, as are also its cries. They are fond of marshy places — always perch during the night in high situations or on trees. It is a little singular that American farmers do not turn their attention to these fowls. A know- ing Jcrscyman, named David Bonner, from England, hired a patch of five acres four years ago, and com- menced raising eggs for the New York market. — Bonner has never hired any help, and at this moment owns a farm, for which he paid $ 4700, of which the buildings cost over $3000. His farm is all paid for, he owes not a cent in the world, and he owns a flock ■which varies from 800 to 1200 Guinea hens. — tiuf- folk Donocrat. PLANTING TREES. The most remarkable, if not the most culpable neglect — that which indicates an imamiable and uncultivated, as well as an improvident nature — is the omission, on the part of gentlemen in the coun- try, to plant trees about their homesteads, for shade and ornament, if not for fruit and profit. Let any one who would be convinced how easy it would be to provide, iu a few years, even in the most exposed and barren situations, all the beauty and luxury of a Ratural fonsl, only walk as fai- as the Lunatic Asy- lum, between Spruce and Pine Streets, Philadelphia, and see how thriving is every one of the handsome trees so thoughtfully planted out there last autumn, at the instance of Mr. Cresson, in anticipation of the failure, some years hence, of the old sycamores. The work is only to be once well done, and the trees -well protected, and then they may be left to endure for- evci^, as monuments of the good taste of the planter, transmitting his memory with gratitude to posterity. AVe remember now, at the moment of scribbling this hasty but earnest exhortation to all young friends to plant trees, — maples, horsechestnuts, locusts, lin- den-trees, (any thing but Lombardy poplars,) — that there is in the garden, near the house at Douraghn Manor, Maryland, the classic residence of the late venerable Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a weeping- willow, stately and graceful, like her who placed it when a child, that will always be associated with the name of Mrs. Caton. How much more are such memorials to be coveted, than monuments stained with blood, and cemented with the tears of the widow and the orphan! — The Flou(/h, Loom, and Anvil, RYE-WHEAT. "\\'e received, several days since, from Mr. B. F. S. Griffin, of West Newbury, a bag of the most beau- tiful white rye we have ever seen, and, since then, have fully tried its value. Served up at the table in the form of pancakes, it is food fit for the table of a queen, and nutritious and healthful far beyond any preparations of wheat flour. It is well known that the northern nations of Europe, even the Germans, subsist principally on rye, making comparatively but a limited use of wheat and potatoes. We have often thought, in view of the poor, dark-colored rye which is seen in this country, that they were to be pitied for the coarse and hard fare upon which they fed, although it might be pronounced wholesome food. If, however, they have an article of rye any thing to be compared to that which Mr. Griffin has produced, our ej^icures may envy rather than pity them. Mr. Griffin has been quite successful in growing wheat and rye. He informs us that he has measured his wheat, and found the product fifteen bushels to one bushel of sowing, or at the rate of thirty bushels to the acre. His rye produced twelve bushels to one bushel sown. The potato fails us so frequentl}', that our Ne^wr England farms are in danger of becoming sadly de- jireciated in value, unless some improvements in husbandry are adopted. We are strong in the belief that it is time for our farmers to bestir themselves in this matter, and pay less attention to the potato, and more to other substitutes for food. We learn that many of them are about to sow wheat this season. — We do not see why this section of the country can- not grow wheat as well as the old lands of Europe, which have been laid down to it for many genera- tions. Let the experiment be tried, and liberal re- wards offered for those who succeed best in keeping off the rust and the weevil, its two great enemies. If wheat fails, then why not try rye, barley, and buckwheat, as a substitute for the potato r In Penn- sylvania, Western New York, and Ohio, on the best wheat land in the country, the farmers use only a limited quantity of their own wheat, and grow fat and hearty on rye and buckwheat a!id barley cakes. All that we need is, that the farmers should under- stand the cultivation, the millers the preparation, and the girls become adepts in cooking these, to supply our tallies with more nourishing and healthful food than wc now have. We do not know but the potato rot may be sent to save mea from indolence iu Itie NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 375 cultivation and cooking of their food. The potato has been so easily cultivated and readily cooked, that it has, perhaps, attained an undue imiiortance. — Newbunjport Ilerald. GOLDEN RULES OF LIFE. All the air and the exercise in the universe, and the most generous and liberal table, but poorly suf- fice to maintain human stamina if we neglect other cooperatives — namely, the obedience to the laws of abstinence, and those of ordinary gratification. We rise with a headache, and we set about puzzling our- selves to know the cause. We then recollect that we had a hard day's fag, or that we feasted ovcr- bountcously, or that we staid up very late ; at all events, we incline to find out the fault, and then we call ourselves fools for falling into it. Now, this is an occurrence happening almost every day ; and these are the points that run away with the best por- tion of our life, before we find out what is for good or evil. Let any single individual review his past life, — how instantaneously the blush will cover his check, when he thinks of the egregious errors lie has unknowingly committed ! — say unknowingly, because it never occurred to him that they were errors until the effects followed, that betrayed the cause. All our sickness and ailments, and a brief life, mainly depend upon ourselves. There are thousands who practise errors day after day, and whose pervading thought is, that every thing which is agreeable and pleasing cannot be hurtful. The slothful man loves his bed ; the toper his drink, because it throws him into an exhilarativc and exquisite mood ; the gor- mand makes his stomach his god ; and the sensualist thinks his delights imperishable. So we go on, and at last we stumble and break down. We then begin to reflect, and the truth stares us in the face, how much we are to blame. — Canadian Agriculturist. HOW TO CULTIVATE THE APRICOT. A sound, practical article from the editor, recom- mends as the chief requisite for success, and to pre- vent the frequent loss of the trees from various causes, — First. To keep the trees low, and to head back the shoots in spring, avoiding the practice of trimming up to a naked stem, and thus exposing the bark to the action of the hot sun. Second. To pro- vide a deep, well-drained soil, well fertilized with wood ashes. Third. To plant in a cool aspect, to prevent the too early swelling of the buds, and their consequent danger from spring frosts. Fourth. To prevent the loss of the young crop by daily jarring down the curculio on spread sheets. Where only half a dozen trees are cultivated, there is no mode of making war upon this insect so sure and reliable as jarring the trees daily during the month of May, with a pounder, (sheathed at the end with India rubber,) gathering the insects upon the sheets and destroying them. The experience of a correspond- ent is added, that though previously unable to de- pend on his trees for a single apricot, after putting the jarring system into practice, he actually obtained three thousand most beautiful and luscious apricots, the first season of trial, from five trees. — Albany Cultivator, The potato disease ifl making fearful rayagca in ■ome parttt of France ; more bo than during the last two years. NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. The Maiiuiage Ring ; or, How to make Home Happy. From the writings of John Angel James. — This is a most beautiful little work, both in typog- raphy and binding ; and the good advice it contains corresponds with its fine appearance, and is admi- rably adapted to making home happy. Boston : Gould & Lincoln, 59 Washington St. Adduess before the Cincinnati Horticultural Soci- ety, by Edward D. Mansfield, Esq. — A very inter- esting work on the history and progress of horticul- ture. Adduess before the Mass. Charitable Mechanics' Association, at their sixth exhibition, by J. S. Skia- ner. — This is an able work, by a veteran agriculturist, showing the advantages of association, and the inti- mate connection and dependence of the different industrial classes on each other. A Treatise on Grape Culture, in Vineyards in the vicinity of Cincinnati, by R. Buchanan, Esq. — W'c are indebted to friend Ernst, president of the Cin- cinnati Horticultural Society, for this instructive work. The Agriculturist's Guide axd Almanac, for 1850. New York : James G. Reed. — Besides the usual astronomical calculations, and other matters common to almanacs, this work contains a variety of agricultural matter, and a blank memoranda for every day in the year. It is beautifully illustrated, and bound in a neat, compact form, convenient for pres- ervation. Monthly Family Circle, and Parlor Annual. — This is a very interesting magazine. Each number contains thirty-six octavo pages, is printed on good paper, and contains a splendid steel plate engraving, and a fine wood cut or colored flower, and occasion- ally music. Price only one dollar per year. New York : James G. Reed. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Of John Washburn, Plymouth, Ilolton Sweeting apple ; very large, fair, and handsome ; remarkably tender, and of excellent quality. Also, tlie Loring Sweeting. We have occasionally seen this fruit, and though of superior quality, we have objected to it for want of fairness and sufficient size. Perhaps wo ought to have blamed the culture, for these speci- mens arc very largo, nearly a foot in circumference, and very fair. This variety is not yet in use. It is a winter apple, of excellent (juality. Almost every thing comes to its highest state of perfection under the skilful management of friend Washburn. From A. S. Swcetser, Cumberland Centre, Mo., apples for a name. They arc the Moody apple, for- merly considerably cultivated about Portsmouth, N. H., and it is still very iwpular in that market ; but of late it is not propagated much, a.i it is apt to fall, a.s .Mr. .Sweetser remarks, and it ii rather a pool 376 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. bearer. This is its general reputation. The fruit is quite large, nearly round, very fair, yellow ground, mostly covered with red ; the cavity is nearly full, and many of the specimens have a very prominent protuberance on one side of the stem ; in some cases this fleshy prominence projects considerably above the base. This is a distinguishing characteristic. — We have seen them in this market selling at good prices. The quality is very good. Late fall and early \vi;itcr. From J. Cummings Haskell, Ilockport, large cran- berries, of a singular form, being nearly square, the corners only slightly rounded. The largest berries are seven eighths of an inch in length, and two and a half inches in circumference. They were raised in •1 meadow, without artificial culture. Of Lovett Pratt, Amherst, N. H., fair-looking aweet apples, good for baking, but rather tough and dry for table use. From Simon Burnham, HoUis, !Me., winter apples, large, fair, and remarkably handsome ; which we M'ill notice further when in season. Of Anthony Hatch, Saugus, very fine-looking apples, rather large, mostly bright red, and very handsome. The quality is pretty good. From Isaac Steer, Burrillville, R. I., a box of ex- cellent ajDples. They are large, flat, golden yellow, crisp, juicy, and of a fine, sprightly, aromatic flavor. This is a good-looking apple, and one of the finest in quality that we have tasted this fall. If its habits are good, it is worthy of cultivation. In use in Oc- tober. From Andrew Lackey, Marblehead, very handsome specimens of the Compte de Lamy pear. This is an excellent fruit, and we have noticed it at several ex- hibitions, and it has been remarkably fair. Also, Pierce apple. This fruit is rather small, of fair ap- pearance, and middling quality. Of Jonathan Fowler, Salisbury, Beefsteak apple. It is of medial size, very handsome, and of pretty good quality. Generally in use late in fall and early in winter. It originated in Amsbury. Also, Glout Morceau and Urbaniste pears. Since we noticed some St. Michael pears, from J. li. Levering, Hartford, Yt., another variety has ripened, of excellent qiialitj'^ ; but we cannot deter- mine as to the name from a single specimen. We should be pleased to have six or eight fair specimens another season. The apple No. 2, from Leonard Cheney, South- bridge, is the Hubbardston Nonsuch. A very good fruit, and quite popular in this market. The other variety is not yet in use. From Cyrus Iv. Moore, Parsonsfield, Me., apples that strongly resemble the Porter in their general apppearance. They are not quite so large as the Porter, but the quality is fully equal to that popular apple. It ripens about the same time. Also, fine specimens of Louise Bon de Jersey pear. Fruits from Mr. Elliot, of Greenfield, and Mr. (Ti^v'yr.ncth, PortlnnrI, will be noticed in our next. THE FARMER'S BOY. BY FINANCES D. GAGE. O, a jovial farmer boy I'll be. As free as the birds that sing, And carol my merrj' song of glee Among the flowers of spring. With a whoop who hoy, to drive my team,. Before the rising sun. To slake their thirst in the silvery stream, Shall be my morning's fun ; — To see the hungry porker fed. And hear him grunt his thanks ; To rouse the calves from their grassy bed, To shake their drowsy flanks ; To draw from the generous cow her store. With young hands strong and free. Till the brimming pail is running o'er With the foaming luxury ; — To haste to the garden with hoe and seed,. While the dew is on the spray. To plant, to trim, to hoe, and weed The morning hours away ; To raise the flowers for the honey-bee,. With their petals bright and f^ir j O, I love the budding flowers to see. In my garden here and there ;. — Or away to the fields with the reapers hie,. And toil the livelong day. And think of the happy time when I Shall be a man — as they. To plough, to harrow, to plant, and sow The rich and fertile lands ; To reap and bind, to pitch and mow, With strong and willing hands. O, I would not live in the crowded town,. With its pavements hard and gray. And its lengthened streets of dusty brown,. And its painted houses gay, — Where every boy his ball may bound Upon his neighbor's dome, And every shout and every sound Disturbs some other's home. The squirrel that leaps from limb to limb,. In the forest waving high. Or the lark that soars with its matin hymn,. Is not more free than I. Then give me the trade of a farmer boy, From city trammels free, And I crack my whip, and cry, " Who hoy ! O, a farmer boy I'll be ! ■Ohio Cultivator. TERMS. — The New England Faumer ispubli-shei?. every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome- volume, at the rlose'of the year, of 416 pages, at Jjll a, year, or five copies for $i, payable in advance. It mav be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 2.5' cents a volume, if left at this otlice. As it is stereo- typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. Iggr The Postage .^gi On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a yeaj:, withim the state, or within 100 miles out of the state; and 1.^ cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. stereotyped at the boston stereotype roundrtc. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. Agricnltare not oaly gives riches to a nation , bnt the only rich es she can call he r own. — Johnson. VOL . II. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1850. NO. 24. s. w. COLE, Editok. QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. J. NOURSE, Pkoprietoh. PROFIT OF COWS-USE OF ICE-STEAM ENGINES FOR FARMERS. Mr, Joitn Day, of West Boxford, has communi- cated to us the following facts in relation to the profit of cows. Their publication may assist some, who contemplate embarking in this business, in making their estimates on expense and income ; and others, who now attend to the dairy business, may from these facts gain some aid by way of improvement. Mr. Day keeps foiirteen cows, and the principal dairy product is butter. He estimated the amount at one hundred and fifty pounds to each cow, for the season. When v/e saw him, a few weeks ago, it lacked but a few pounds, to each cow, of this amount. He has sold his butter in Lawrence, at twenty cents per pound throuj^h the season ; this is $30 to each cow. He sold his calves at $5 each, making the income $35 to each cow. The pork made from the milk, and the ings raised on it, were worth from $80 to $100. Mr. Day supposed that this sum would hardly be suffi- cient to pay the expenses of taking care of the dairy. The raaniire from the cows would pay the expense of taking care of them, including that of milking. Mr. Day reckons the expense of wintering his eows, whether he feeds roots, grain, or other food, eijual to two tons good Engli.ih hay, each, which is worth, with him, on an average, about $10 per ton. The usual price of pa.sturing is $6 for the season. In the fall, when the feed fails in his pasture, he turns his cows on his mowing fields, not having pro- t vided green corn or other food to make up the defi- Mency in pasturage. Mr. Day has not lost any cows for fourteen years. He fattens and tunis off for beef some cows every fall, and keeps his stock good by purchasing heifers that were two years old the spring previous, that arc with calf, and so forward that he can make a sure calculation. He has convenient opportunity for pur- chasing, as many droves of eastern cattle pass near him, and are kept over night near his residence. As he sells his cows considerably higher than the price of the heifers he buys, — nearly enough higher to pay the expense of fattening hia cows, — it oosta hira but a little to keep )iis stock jjooi. The room in which the milk is set, the churning done, and the butter worked, is kept at a temperature of 62°, as indicated by a thermometer suspended in the centre of the room. This is effected by the use of ice, which costs but little, as an ice-house is filled for this and other purposes in the family. Ice water is used generally for drink, as it is regarded as more pure and wholesome than other water, especially in time of drought, when the water in wells and springs is frequently but slow drainings from the soil, im- pregnated with various unwholesome substances. When the weather is cool and clear, the windows of the dairy-room are opened for ventilation. Mr. Day uses tin pans, and he fills them only two and a half inches deep with milk. He churns three times a week during the warm season. He usually churns himself, and he does not wish for the butter to come in less than an liour, as he thinks that he gets more and better butter than by rapid churning, or any process that would produce butter in a few minutes. This is a sad commentary on the wonder- ful inventions for churning, for which great excel- lence is claimed because they will produce butter in a few minutes. It is the intention of Mr. Day to have a steam engine for churning. He now has one of four-horse power, for mechanical purposes, when water is low, (but too far from his house to use in churning,) that a boy fourteen years old can safely manage, which requires only twenty cents worth of fuel per day to run it, as he uses cheap kinds of fuel. If he used that which is merchantable, it would cost about fifty cents per day. He intends his steam engine for va- rious other farm purposes, such as sawing wood, &c Mr. Day made an ice-house eleven feet square, and seven feet high, at an expense of $25. It holds about twenty-five tons ; and three hands, with two pairs of oxen, will fill it in two days. He takes the ice from a mill pond near by. If farmers knew the great utility of ice, and the small expense at which icc-houscs may be built, this luxury, which is becoming one of the necessaries of life, as it becomes well known, would be common among farmers, and contribute largely to the excel- ic'.ioc oi" dairy pro.lu its. 378 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. THE NEW ENGLAND FOWL SHOW. The first show of the New England Fowl Associa- tion came off November 12, 13, and 14. The weather preceding the show, and during the exhibition, as well as the succeeding day, on which there was a sale by auction, was most delightful, being clear and remarkably mild for the season. The show was held under Wright's mammoth tent, that is two hundred and fifty by one hundred and fifty feet. This large area was generally well filled with coops and cages, and in most cases there were two tiers, and some- times more. The whole arrangements seemed well made, and creditable to the officers of the society, who had the management of the exhibition. This show was a grand one in very deed, probably never half equalled in extent by any similar exhibi- tion of any country, in any age ; and in variety, we believe that it was never rivalled by any excepting that of Noah in the ark. There was almost every breed that we have ever seen, heard of, or read of, and numerous new varieties which some, before they saw this show, never dreamed of; fur nowhere on the face of the earth are people so prone to mix up various breeds of animals as they are in New Eng- land : hence a great many new crosses are formed. The whole number of fowls and birds, including rabbits and guinea pigs, was probably not far from six thousand. We counted them carefully on the third day, in the forenoon ; and allowing that eight or nine hundred had been taken out, (which is rather a lib- eral allowance,) the whole number Ava.s about six thousand. This is surely a large number, a grand collection of the feathered race, and ought to satisfy those who feel a deep interest in the success of the affair; and we do know that the frequent statement of the number at fifteen thousand is a great exagger- ation, and not to be relied on, though it receive offi- cial sanction. This seems like some publishers of newspapers, representing their lists of subscribers to be several thousands higher than reality. But to return to the fowls, and leave people to crow as they please : it was a most delightful show, s>s vast in extent that one got tired of seeing ; and so various that he soon got lost in comparing, and en- deavoring to estimate properly, each lot in so great and various a collection. There were fowls of every size, from the beautiful little Bantam that weighs only a few ounces, to the majestic Shanghae, and other large breeds, that weigh from ten to fifteen pounds. In this collection the large breeds prepon- derated, not only in weight, but in numbers. Some of these large races that have been kept several years in this country, and skilfully managed, are receiving improved forms. So far as uniformity of appearance, in many re- spects, and beauty, is concerned, also in large size, many of the foreign breeds are superior for the ama- teur and fancier ; but for profit in laying a good lot of good-sized eggs, and furnishing a large number of chickens of excellent flesh, many of our common native breeds or varictiefl still rank among the best ; •od we regret, as may be wpH «i:ippcsc3 from our previous remarks on this subject, that our own native fowls were not more fully represented at a show so extensive and so various as to include almost every variety of foreign fowl. Yet the show was a magnificent one, and great good will grow out of it, and out of the excitement that has prevailed to so great a degree, and so con- stantly for a long period. People will learn, from the deep attention to the subject, what fowls are the most valuable and the most beautiful; common sense will finally prevail, and each breed will be es- timated according to its true merits. The subject is worthy the attention of every citizen, whether he be a producer for profit, or a fancier who gratifies a commendable taste for the beautiful and useful, or a consumer, who is particularly interested in the good quality of the flesh and eggs of fowls. There- fore we all have cause to rejoice at the success of this great and useful enterprise, and that a fever so conducive to healthy action on this subject has uni- versally prevailed. NEW BEDFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCI- ETY. Henry H. Crapo, Esq., chairman of the fruit com- mittee, has politely furnished us with the reports of the annual exhibition of this association. They show that it was large and varied, and indicate that this society, though in its infancy, is in a very flour- ishing condition. From the long list of contributors, and the variety of fruits generally shown by each, it appears that in extent and variety this exhibition must have compared well with the best shows in the country. We copy the following from the report of the committee on fruits : — The committee, in presenting their annual report, are much gratified in being able to say that the show of fruits on the occasion exceeded that of any former exhibition, and bore ample testimony to the favor- able results which have thus far attended the labors of the society. The display of fruits, and more particularly of pears, was very fine, notwithstanding the present season has been an unfavorable one for the growth of most kinds of fruits ; and especially when the limited means of the society is taken into the ac- count. Of pears, there were nearly one hundred different varieties upon the tables, embracing most of the really desirable kinds now cultivated. Many of them were truly magnificent in appearance, being very large and fair, and bore e-\adent marks of good culture in a congenial soil. Of other fruits, the show, as formerly, was limited, very little attention having heretofore been given to their culture, although in this respect there was evidently an improvement upon former exhibitions. From the exhibition as a whole, the committee are encouraged to hope that the efforts of the society to advance the cause of pomology by increasing a love, and diffusing a taste, for the culture of choice fruits, will be attended with abundant success. Happiness depends on the mind, not on any exter- na! '•ircumstances. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 379 iwj. :^jt,iif. SAUSAGE OR MINCING MACHINE. This' is a small, compact machine, remarkably strong and durable, as it is made wholly of iron and steel. It works -with ea'^e and rapidity, and is very effectual in its operation, i^erforming its work in the best manner. We would recommend, to those per- sons engaged in the manufacture of sausages, an ex- amination of this machine. Such is the competition in almost every branch of manufacture, that it becomes necessary for the oper- ative to avail himself of every species of labor -saving machinery. This is true economy, and this cardinal virtue is essential to success. This machine was formerly constructed mostly of wood ; but recently a great improvement has been made by lluggles, Noursc, Mason & Co., by making the case and cylinder of iron, so that it is now wholly composed of the most durable materials. The cut on the left represents the machine closed, as it is in operation. That on the right represents it thrown open, exposing the cylinder with its cogs, and the knives. The length of the machine is about fif- teen inches, the width eight, and the height about the same. The cylinder can be conveniently re- moved from the machine for the purpose of clean- ing it. The umer part of the macliinc forms a barrel, in which is a cylinder with three rows of pegs. The meat is placed in the hopper, and it passes between the cylinder and the case, and is then forced by the pcijs against the rows of knives, when it is quickly minced, and it passes onward, tending to the end op- posite the hopper, by the spiral form of the rows of pegs, where it is discharged. The strength of a man is amply sufficient for turning it. The price is ,$12. BILBERRY, OR SWAMP PYRUS. In regard to the article on the bilberrj', on page 546 of this volume, Dea. S. P. Fowler, who is a nice observer of trees and shrubs, thinks that the inquirer M. is mistaken as to the name of the shrub in ques- tion, as it is probably the Swamp Pyrus ; called also June Berry, Shad Bush, and Sugar Pear. This has •ometimes been used with success as a stock for the pear. We have had fine specimens of the Bartlett pear raised on it. Whether it can be used to advan- tage in this way to much extent, has not yet been ascertained. Wuoxo Credit. — The article " Prepare for Win- ter," which has recently appeared in several papers, credited to Deckertotcn Home Journal, made its first appearance in the N. E. Farmer, last November. — How did the Journal manage to get the credit of it ? FEATHER BEDS. Tlie want of feathers is altogether artificial, arising from a disregard of the physical and moral well- being of infants and children ; and he who has the good fortune never to have been accustomed to a feather bed, will never in health need or desire one, nor in sickness, except in cases of great morbid irri- tation, or excessive sensibility, or some disease in which the pressure of a firm or elastic substanc^e might occasion pain. But when a rational regard to the preser\-ation of health shall pervade the commu- nity, feathers will no more be used without necessity or medical advice, than ardent spirits will be swal- lowed without the same necessary advice. The phy- sician has frequent occasion to see persons who are heated, sweated, enfeebled, by sleeping on feathers, as if from a fit of sickness ; enervated, dispirited, relaxed, and miserable. — Medical Intelligencer. ASSAFCETIDA. This article is obtained from a large umbelliferous plant growing in I'ersia. The root resembles a larpo parsnip externally, of a black color; on cutting ii transversely, the assafcrtida exudes in form of a white, thick juice, like cream, which, from exposuia to the air, becomes yellower and yellower, and s\i last of dark-brown color. It is very apt to run into putrefaction ; and hence those who collect \\. carefully defend it from the sun. The fresh jui.-o has an excessively strong smell, which grows weaker and weaker upon keeping; a single drachm of tlie fresh fluid smells more than a hundred pounds of the dry assafoetida brought to us. The Persians are commonly obliged to hire ships on purpose for iti carriage, as scarcely any one will receive it along with other commodities, its stench infecting every thing that comes near it. — Scientific Americmn^ 'Kii laat »-r!"i'iT? 'tii rtjiw ••iviit/uu t»t»c jiiho*>' 380 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Far the New Englattd Famier. DiXON'S STOCK CHINA FOWLS-THEIR COMPARATIVE MERITS. Mk. Cole : In a former number of j'our journal, I intimated that I might have something to say, in a future one, of the comparative merits of the Hon. Mr. Dixon's stock of Shanghae fowls We would gladly avail ourselves of the present fowl excite- ment to call the attention of those interested in fowl breeding to some facts going to show their compara- tive merits. The past season we have kept some fifty hens in all, consisting of several different breeds and crosses. We have noted particularly their laying qualities ; ai\d are now prepared to state, that we have no hens that have laid as well as those of Dixon's stock of China fowls and their crosses. Next on our list stands the Dorking and Dominique fowls. Of the former we had only two hens, and of the latter sora«i half dozen. We had also one pair of Forbes's stock of Shanghaes, but none of Marsh's stock. Hence we cannot speak from personal knowledge of the laying qualities of the latter ; but my Forbes hen, although she laid tolerably well, has by no means equalled my hens of the Dixon stock. I am aware that it would be injustice to the Forbes stock to conclude, from the number of eggs laid by this single specimen of that stock, that they are not as great layers as Dixon's stock ; but we propose to give ox- tracts from some voluntary letters, received of A. H. Oilman, Esq., an ardent fowl amateur, of Portland, (to whom we sold a number of the Dixon stock,) which go to confirm the opinion wo entertained from our own limited experience. In a letter bearing date of June 24, 1850, Mr. G. says, " My poultry yard flourishej grandly ; and as for your stock, it cannot be surpassed in any point. The six hens began to lay the day after they came, and I don't think they have missed a day up to last week, when three wished to sit. As I had a choice lot of their eggs, I set them. They have been per- fectly healthy in every respect. <'One thing I wish to mention in regard to your stock ; They take care of themselves better than any fowls I ever saw. They are regular in their hours for laying and roosting, and make little or no noise. I would sooner lose any three of my other stock than one of yours. * * * I am keeping a regular account of each stock, as to laying, feed, &c., winch, if you care to see, some si.x months hence, I will forward. * * * My yard contains now Palmer's [Dixon's] Shanghae, one cack, six hens ; Marsh's do., one cock, one hen ; Fovbcs's do., one cock, six hens ; Cochin China, one cock, three hens." In a letter of June 27, speaking of some White China fowls of the Dixon stock, which I wr.s about to send him, he remarks, "If they only arrive, and flourish as the Palmer's do, I shall be too glad. • * * I never saw finer looking fowls than yours." In a letter of July 10, acknowledging the receipt of the White China fowls, Mr. O. says, " The I'.ilmcr importation flourish very well, and at the present time four of them are sitting; one nice brood of Palmer's came out three days since, and on? is coming to-day. r.i:ery egg has hatched thus far." Under date of September 13, Mr. G. says, "The White Shanghaes are doing well. Both hens are with chicks," &c. " In fact, all the fowls (with the exception of my Marsh cock and hen) that I have had of you are diiferent from my other breeds. Take your Palmer stock, for instance ; they are gentle, regular in their habits, never interfere with the chickens that have the same j'ard. They arc also very tame — will all eat from my hand ; and then, not one of them has ever been the least sick since I received them. The same can be said of the White Shanghaes. My Marsh cock and hen are the same ; but I cannot say as much for the Forbes stock. They are not equal in laying qualities ; more hui^gling in all their ways. The male is very large, but not by any manner of means equal to yours." Under date of Portland, October 18, 1850, after speaking of some of his other fowls, he remarks, " My Palmer's are my pets, after all ; every chick is finely formed, and I have not lost one from sickness ; they are all hardy, and fast growing, and turn out fawn-colored. " Do you remember that dark hen in the Palmer breed, that you sent me ? She has laid over fifty-five eggs, brought up two broods, and now I have sat her again. That speaks well, don't it?" It seems to devolve on me to relate what that hen did before sending her to Mr. G. I believe she laid about thirty eggs, and, to my knowledge, sat six weeks, hatched two broods, which were given to other hens, the last a few days prior to sending her to Mr. G., which was on the 5th of June. Had I time and room, I might relate other striking facts that have occurred, adapted to show that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find greater layers or sitters. The size of the Dixon stock of Shanghae fowls, we believe, is equal to any of the late importations. The roosters will weigh from eight to twelve or thir- teen pounds, and the hens from six to nine. In fact, Mr. Dixon states that it is his impression that he weighed one pullet whose weight was ten pounds. The name by which this stock is generally desig- nated east of Westerly is Shanghae ; whilst at that place, and still west, it is generally denominated China, or Cochin China, probably from the fact that most of them have but few or no feathers on their legs. A part of this stock is the same, in my opinion, as that received by the Queen, and imported by Mr. Burnham, under the name of Cochin China. This, we think, is demonstrable from the color of the eggs and fowls, and their form, general appearance, and characteristics. We were strongly inclined to this opinion before we saw 'Six. Burnham's fowls, but that fully confirmed us in that opinion. The fowls of Mr. Burnham, denominated Koyal Cochin China, had it not been for the card on his coops, we should have taken as fine specimens of the Dixon stock. Should any one doubt it, he Is requested to call and examine some of our own specimens of the Dixon stock. In fact, Mr. Burnham says that the form of his fowls *' resembles that of our best bred Shanghaes ; and my opinion strengthens, with a further acquaintance with both, that the two varieties sprang from the same original stock. My Cochin Chinas " he adds, " are clean-legged ; the Shanghaes, feathered," &c. We will only add the opinion of that celebrated fowl amateur. Dr. Eben Wight. In a letter under date of Boston, May 23, he says, " I am strongly inclined to the belief that many of the Shanghae fowls which have come out (meaning those with smooth legs) are from the same stock as were those received by the Queen, under the name of Cochin China. For instance, Marsh has two vai'ieties ; the cock is feather-legged, as well as were some of the hens ; but his best hen, very dark-plumaged, smooth-legged, was probably from the same stock as were the famous Cochin Chinas. That best hen has laid one hundred and seven eggs in the last consecu- tive one hundred and fourteen days." Again, speaking of Dixon's stock, he adds: — " Whether white or red, they arc very fine in form, and here have proved very prolific." He also gives NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 381 it as his opinion, that Dixon's stock and Marsh's " are among the best, if not the best, ever imported into this country." In this opinion of Dr. Wight we most heartily concur, for our own experience has led us to believe that there has been no better stock imported into this country than that of the Hon. Mr. Dixon ; and we presume that a part of Mr. Marsh's is the same. Many who have that stock speak of it in high terms. In conclusion we ought perhaps to state, in justice to the stock, and to prevent imposition, that it is very difficult to obtain the pure stock, even in the imme- diate vicinity of Mr. Dixon ; and I am confident that much that has been sold in Boston and elsewhere as pure Palmer or Dixon stock * has been almost any thing else. This is emphatically the case with the White Shanghae, or those sold for that fowl. CHAS. H. PENDLETON. Pendleton Hill, Oct. 31, 1850. For the New England Farmer. EFFECTS OF FOOD ON MILK. Mr. Cole : I -wish to make some inquiry, through the medium of your valuable paper, concerning the method used by the dairymen who use carrots and other roots as feed for milch cows. Now, with me, there is a diihculty which I have hitherto been uji- able to overcome in this matter. I can taste the feed in the butter. If the cows are allowed to feed on lands where leeks grow, the milk is scarcely fit to feed to hogs. Moreover, if the cows are allowed to feed in the swamps, then something combines with the milk, we know not what it is, and the butter is neither fit to eat or sell. We have sometimes allowed our cows to feed on turnips, cabbages, and carrots ; but I can always taste the food given to the cows in the butter, except when they are fed on Indian meal, pure grass onlj', or hay clear from weeds. I fi'equeutly read of good dairy people living near the cities, and I understand they make great use of roots to feed to cows in milk, as well as other stock ; and I hear of no complaint of the eftiuvia communi- cated to their butter, or even the milk, where there is 80 much sold every day in the year. Am I mistaken ? I think I can most certainly taste any thing in but- ter that ought not to be found there. Is there any way to prepare roots so as to prevent them, when fed to cows, from communicating any disagreeable or un- pleasant flavor to the milk ? If so, why do not some of the wise ones speak out, and let the public know about these matters ? Or have they done so, and I not observed it ? We believe our agricultural editors know a great deal about such matters ; and we are inclined to look to them for information on agricultural subjects as we would to Webster's Dictionary for the true diffi- nition of words. Ilespcctfully yours, JOHN M. AVEEKS. West Farms, near Middlcbury, Vt., Nov. 1, 1850. P. S. Please inform me where a few pure Alder- noy cows may be found. Remarks. — The subject here presented is one of gieat importance both to the farmer and consumer ; and we hope that some of our correspondents will attend to it, and prescribe some remedy or abatement of the evil complained of, and show what kinds of * We hive dceignated tlic fir«t importation of Capt. Piiliiiur by Dixon atock, ill order to di^tiiiguiHli it (rum a roecnt importation by bis brother. i'^i; ".iH -i.ii (■.*.■. ,.:./. . '.ij ij,'._ ■ food are most desirable for milch cows, otherwise than the common and staple articles, good sweet grass and hay. For the New England Farmer. CARBONATE OF LIME. Mr. Editor : I have heard it stated that a mill was soon to be set up at North Adams, Mass., for the grinding of common marble. It is claimed for the carbonate of lime, that it is as good a fertilizer as the sulphate. Will you, Mr. Editor, inform us, if com- mon marble, reduced to powder, possesses any value as a manure ? and if so, what is the philosophy of its action upon vegetation ? STONINGTON SALE OF FINE STOCK. An account of the recent sale of the excellent stock of the late Mr. William Stickney, at Westminster, Vt., may be interesting to many of our readers. We copy it from the Montpelier Watchman. It was marked for an earlier number, but it was mislaid. At this sale, about seven hundred and fifty farmers, stock breeders, and gentlemen amateurs, representing every New England state and the border counties of New York, were gathered together at one o'clock precisely, on the afternoon of the 9th instant, at the quiet and beautiful little village of Westminster ; and five minutes afterward the first animal offered (Jes- ica, seven years old, a full blood Devon, from the Patterson herd) was struck off to Col. Lewis G. Morris, of New York, for $125. The following are the prices for which some of the sales were made : — Dulls and Bull Cahes. — AVilliam IV., a full blood Devon, seven years old, $90. Duke of Devonshire, a full blood, $70. Comet, full blood, imported, two years old, $270. Boz, five months old, $25. Dandy, four months old, $10. Red Jacket, three months old, $25. Coios. — Juno, nine years old, half Creampot and half Durham, $42 50. Lady Anne, nine years old, half Creampot, one fourth Devon, one fourth native, $47 50. Jessie, seven years old, full blood Devon, $125. Stately, four years old, half Creampot, half Devon, $50. Delight, four years old, half Devon, half native, ,$10. Star, four years old, three fourths Devon, one fourth Creampot, $75. Gypsy, seven years old, half Devon, one fourth Creampot and one fourth Durham, $87 50. Beauty, three years old, $57 50. Lady Anne, three years old, three fourths Devon, one fourth Creampot, $57 50. Cherry, three years old, $57 50. Belinda, three years old, half Devon, one fourth Creampot and one fourth Dur- ham, $70. Cream Cup, three years old, $57 50. Lady Jane, three years old, full blood Devon, $107 50. Dido, a full blood, same breed, $95. Flirt, four ycar.s old, $G2 50. Two-year old Heifers. — Jeannie Deans, $65. Kath- leen, $57 50. Fashion, $57 50. Jessie, a full blood Devon, $160. Annette, $62 50. Yearlinq Heifers. — Butter Cup, .$105. Jess.omine, $150. Belle, $40. Dairymaid, $400. Frolic, $57 50. Gazelle, $42. Heifer <7aiw«. — Fanny Elslcr, $31. Fancy, $16. Bessie, $22. Jessamine, $150. Steers. — One pair, four years old, $100 ; one pair, three years old, $80; one pair, one year old, $G6. Sheep. — Mostly South Downs, from $16 to $18. Stoine. — All the way from $16 to $80, mostly of c82 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. t'l.e Suffolk and Middlesex breeds. One Suffolk sow, §30. One sow of the Middlesex breed, $70. Pigs six weeks old, $11. Mr. G. F. \Yliitney, of this village, purchased one of the full blood Suffolk, imported by Mr. Stickney ill 18i7, which weighs 450 pounds, and may now be seen at his stable. THE PRINCIPLE ON WHICH PLANTS ARE PROPAGATED BY CUTTINGS. The propagation of plants by cuttings is an opera- tion of frequent use, and of considerable importance in all horticultural establishments. The many thou- s;\nd i)lants that are annually propagated to embel- lish flower-gardens and pleasure-grounds, and tlie taste displayed in the arrangement of colors, demand the greatest skill, vigilance, and forethought to pre- pare, to arrange, and to provide for the display. The conditions necessary for the propagation of plants by cuttings are, a certain portion of organized matter, the assistance of leaves, a degree of heat and moisture accordant with the nature of the plant, and free drainage at the roots. When the ascending sap reaches the leaves, the water is discharged through the minute invisible pores, and by the decomposition of carbonic acid gas, which separates to carbon, and sets the oxygen free, a vital action is performed, by which the sap is changed into the organic matter, or descending sap. It is then that all parts of the plant are supplied with a store of organized matter, which renders the parts ht to be employed as cuttings. When removed from the parent, that store, under proper management, will enable them to put forth roots and new leaves, and develop all the parts required for the growth of the plant. If the shoots are in a rapid state of growth, full of rising sap, their tissues lax and not matured, failures may be expected to attend all attempts to propagate them by cuttings. The next part of the subject is to iiiquire in what manner the leaves retained on the cuttings assist the protrusion of roots, and the development of other leaves. As the removal of the cuttings from the parent branch will make no change in the nature of the sap, which is always more or less in circulation in the wliolc system of the plant, and it is the office of the proper juice to descend in the cuttings to the joint at wliich it was cut ; when its downward course is im- peded, it accumulates there until a callus is formed, and roots are protruded ; the organized matter of the cutting is diminished to supply the development of roots, and leaves are required to secrete more, to replace that which was expended in the formation of roots. It is when there is sufficient organized matter in the cutting to supply the roots, without exhaust- ing its own vital energies, that the external assist- ance derived from the leaves may not be needed. — Hcientific American. NAMES OF PLANTS. The importance of having all plants, including fruit-trees, properly named, even in small gardens, cannot be too clearly pointed out. A plant may have beautiful foliage and flowers, but without a name it yields comparatively little interest. Every plant has a history of its own, and the first step towards ob- taining a knowledge of that history is its name ; the next, its native country and year of introduction into our gardens. A garden of plants without names is like a library of books without their exterior super- scriptions. Numbers are only useful to nurserymen. All garden plants should be properly named. The season of propagation is chiefly when plants are out of bloom, and the want of diligent care in retaining their names too frequently leads to a confused no- menclature. The vast numbers of new i)lants which are being continually introduced, as well as the host of garden varieties every year brought under the amateur's notice, are quite perplexing to him, unless constant attention to correct labelling is observed. Then, again, with regard to fruits, how much uncer- tain.ty would be removed by keeping labels of a per- manent kind to every tree ! Small gardens cannot, or ought not, to find room for indifferent kinds of fruit, or uncertain bearers ; hence the importance and the advantage of knowing every kind we cultivate. How much trouble is thereby avoided ! for it fre- quently happens that the difficulty and expense of obtaining the name of a single fruit are much greater than the attention necessary in keeping the names to the small collection which the limited space of a sub- urban garden admits. With respect to the particular kind of label which is most desirable to employ, there is a good deal of uncertainty. Some persons prefer some of the new kinds now in existence, while others adhere to the old wooden label, which, after all, has not yet been very satisfactorily superseded; whatever kind of ma- terial is employed, however, the names should bo accurately and distinctly written. — Granite Farmer. Rem-vrks. — The best mode that we have ever seen for marking trees, either on labels or stakes for nurseries, is that recommended in the American Fruit - Book, by cutting notches. These labels are easily made ; the materials are always at hand ; the system is so simple that a cliild will learn it in five minutes. By hanging the labels with wire, they will last twelve or fifteen years ; and by writing the name on the label, it may be easily read, and the numbers by notches may be relied on when the writing has faded ; and the name may be renewed occasionally, if neces- sary, as it fades, by whitling the label again and writing anew. It is the simplest, cheapest, most convenient, and most reliable mode for reading readi- ly, and preserving the name permanently. — Ed. N. E. Fakuek. CULTIVATION OF CRANBERRIES. The Barnstable Patriot gives a full account of the sixth annual meeting of the Barnstable County Ag- ricultural Society, on the 16th ult. We select the following rejjort : — This statement of Mr. Edward Thatcher, of Yar- mouth, was made to the Committee on Fruit. The following is a statement of the course pursued by me in the cultivation of the cranberry. July 12, 1845, I purchased, for $40, one and a half acres of land — about one half a sandy beach, and the remain- der a low peat meadow covered with water. A rim of about six feet in width, ax-ound the bog and between the water and the beach, had a few cranberry vines on it, which had been closely fed off. In the spring of 1846, I drained the bog and covered about one eighth of an acre with sand three inches thick, and set it with cranberry vines in rows two feet apart, and hoed them four times in the season of 1846, and once in the sjn-ing of 1847. The grass then got advantage of me, and I left the vines to work their own way. They have now nearly overcome and worked out the grass and rushes. On the remainder of the bog I strewed vines, and trod them in the mud, by walk- ing OA'er them. These grew with rapidity without NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 383 any further care except flowing in the winter. In the fall of 1848, I gathered from ten rods, where no sand had been spread, as many bushels of cranberries, •while on the part sanded I had scarcely as many quarts. The latter are now doing better, having got the advantage of the grass, and I think will finally •work it out. I have this year, on the quarter of an acre offered for premium, quite a good crop, although the worms destroyed nearly one half. I have picked one square rod of the light-colored variety, set in the mud, and it yielded two bushels and twelve quarts. One square rod of the small dark-colored variety, on the mud, yielded one bushel and two quarts. The large red variety yielded on the mud two bushels to the square rod. The whole quarter is not yet gath- ered ; it will yield about thirty-five bushels, about one half of the vines being set on mud and one half on sand. In selecting meadow for cranberries, lit is highly necessary to select such as will not dry in summer ; but much also depends on the selection of the vines, as the committee will see by the samples here pre- sented, all having the same soil and the same treat- ment. The saynpl-es are twt selected, but sent in precisely as they grew. The whole expense on the above bog up to the present time does not exceed $40. I have received from the sales of cranberries, up to the fall of 1849, $3'20 00 Deduct for picking, one fourth 80 00 All other expenses for setting, interest, &c., 40 00 120 00 Net profit, 200 00 EDWARD THACHER. Yaumoutu Port, Oct. 15, 1850. We know not why it is that so little attention is paid to the cranberry in this county. In the eastern part of the state it is considered a valuable crop, and cue raised without difficulty. There is a great abun- dance of land in almost all our towns, and especially all those bordering on the Housic or Housatonic Rivers, well adapted to this fruit. Indeed, any ground which will produce corn, it has been said, will produce good cranberries. Still their native place seems to be in low grounds. That its cultivation is profitable, there can, as we think, be no doubt. Nor is there any danger of an over-supply. The price might be- come less, but improved methods of culture and im- plements for gathering would enable the article to be afforded at a lower price ; and if that was the case, the consumption would increase with the supply. We should like to see some of the grounds which are now completely worthless producing their fifty or one hundred dollars per acre, in cranberries. We should like to see the hardback give place to the cranberry, having the utmost confidence that it could not be less profitable. — CuUurist and Gazette. BEANS- HARVESTING CORN. Mr. Editou : Since my last letter, I have har- vested my beans, and am now ready to give you my opinion of the best way. I pulled them when the leaves were quite green, and laid them on the gra.s.s sufficiently long to let the leaves wilt a little, and then hauled them in, and spread them on some poles, across the beams, directly over the barn floor. I spread them a foot thick, and when I got them down to thresh, I found them in good order. The beans turned out bright, and the vines were completely dried. I consider this much the best way to save beans. You not only avoid the exposure to rains and Bttildew, wliich they are liable to when stacked in the fields, but the vines, by being cured when a little green, rctaiji their sweetness and make better fodder. Stacking them is a very good way, if rigbtly done ; but after the labor is expended, what better are we off .' they are still in the field. The labor of stacking them is enough to get them into the barn and put them where they will dry equally as well, if not a little better, than when stacked. In regard to com : much has been said, through the columns of your paper, about the best way to harvest it. I have been, heretofore, rather in favor of the old way of topping the stalks ; but this year I let it stand until the ear was pretty well rii)ened, cut it up at the roots, and then got it into the barn and husked it. I think this the better way. Some stack it in the field after cutting it up. This is also a good way. The fodder is much better, and the corn ripens better, to let the top stalks remain. After husking, I stowed the stalks away as usual. In writing the above, I do not pretend to say that my way is altogether the best — I express my opinion. Others may think differently, and perhajw have a better way; if so, let's have it. F. A. A. K. Fayette, November 2, 1850. — Maine Farmer. A MINE OF PAINT. Yesterday forenoon we spent a short time verj- pleasantly in an examination of the paint mine, recently opened in West Springfield, by Skinner and Hancox, of this town. The substance from which the paint is obtained is a shelly stone, hard in its natural state, but affected like lime by the air. Ground fine, and mixed with oil, it forms, without other ingredi- ents, a neat, durable, fire and water proof paint. The stone lies in diamond- shaped masses, and extends through four acres of a bluff on the bank of the Aga- wam River, opjjo.site the Mitteneag factory. Two colors have been obtained so far — slate and freestone. The stone is entirely free from grit, and affords a paint one half or two thirds cheaper than lead. We have been shown some very handsome specimens of work done in this paint. An analysis of the stone by Prof. Jackson has resulted in a highly favorable report. — Sprint^field Post. WORKING COWS-HORSES. In France, it is not uncommon to sec the cow per- forming, in the fields and on the roads, the tasks usu- ally imposed on th'» males of her species. A few cases of the same have occurred recently in our o\vn country, and the presumption is that the practice will, ere long, become quite common. The people of France assert — and the a.sscrtion is corroborated by the attestation of many Scotch farmers — that the cow, if properly managed, is capable of performing as much labor as the ox ; that her motions are quicker, though her strength is less ; and that she is seldom irritable or vicious under the yoke. But the French arc a remarkable people. The Horse Abattoirs, Montfnu- con, in I'aris, — places where all sentiments of kindly commiseration and pity for these useful and valuable animals are utterly banished from the human breast, — show the penchant of the French for economy in a revolting light. A vast number of these animals, living and dead, are brought annually to those sham- bles, where they are mercilessly huddled together in encloBuros so limited and confined as scarcely to ad- mit of the slightest exercise, and not unfri-quently without even an apology for food, or the blessings of rest or air. Uy an estimate compounded in the year 384 new'ei^gland FARMER. 1827, it was ascertained that not less than thirty-five of these miserable animals were brought to Montfou- con daily, making a yearly agp;regate of twelve thou- sand seven hundred and eighty-five ! Of this vast number, upwards of three fourths entered the sham- bles alive. They are usually despatched by one of four methods ; the first of which is by injecting air into an opened vein ; the second, by severing the spinal marrow in the neck ; the third, by felling with a blow on the head ; and the fourtli, and most cruel, by stabbing the victim repeatedly ia the chest with a knife. Before slaughtering, the hair is removed from the neck and tail, and disposed of generally to the saddler and chair maker ; the hides arc sold to the tanners. In the year 1739, a previous ordinance was revived, prohibiting, under certain penalties, the sale of horse-flesh, in the Parisian markets, as human food; but during the revolutionary struggle, when the fanning interests were in a depressed and languishing state, the scarcity of provisions was so great that horse-flesh was again used by most classes ; and it is aascrted that many, who partook of no other food for six months, received no injury whatever from its use. The aborigines of this country, liowever, who, dur- ing Philip's war, were, from their straitened cir- cumstances, often compelled to live for weeks, and even months, on horse-flesh, appear to have experi- enced very diiferent results. " We have eaten horse-flesh," said an old warrior, ■who had fallen into the hands of the whites, *' and now horse-flesh is eating us." By them it was gen- erally deemed harmful, and was never partaken of as common food, unless from necessity alone. In 1803, the open use of horse-meat ceased alto- gether in Paris, and mostly through France ; but during the scarcity of 1811 many butchers again made sale of it, and the medical faculty having decided that the flesh of the horse, when uncontam- inated or unaffected by disease, was a sound and per- fectly healthy article of food, its open sale was once more sanctioned by a public law. But in 1814, this privilege was again withdrawn, but to be revived in 1816; and, "at this day," remarks a late writer, " horse-flesh is daily exposed for sale, with other ani- mal flesh, in the meat stalls of the Parisian market." It is, however, supposed, on credible data, that a very large, perhaps a greatly predominating proportion of the horse carcasses of Montfaucon are used as manure, and for feeding animals ; yet, notwithstanding this ap- propriation of large quantities, much is undoubtedly sold to the poor without their knowledge. All the workmen employed in the abbatoirs live wholly up- on it, and are a singularly hardy and active set of men. " It probably," remarks a distinguished writ- er, "strengthens their nerves for their disagreeable business, as it spirited up our early ancestors of the north to their human butcheries." The use of horse-flesh as an article of food among the northern nations is demonstrated, by the existence of certain papal bulls, to have ceased upon their conversion to Christianity ; but the people of Denmark appear to have recently recurred to their old habits, and are the first to have authorized the plenary sale of horse- meat among the ordinary articles of the market. The various parts of the animal are worked up, at Montfaucon, into oil, glue, and other articles of com- merce ; in short, the whole animal is appropriated to some use. Even the shoes go to the cutlers and iron- mongers. It is a trade to gather the larvae for fowls and animals. The camel is a valuable animal to the Bedouin ; so also is the horse to the ingenious people of la belle France, A COUNTY FAHMER. November 4, 1850. HIGH FARMING. The English journals are filled with experiments of high farming, and all agree that fair remunerative profits can only be realized by such practice, while the political economists of England boldly assert " that the adoption of high farming alone will ren- der legislative protection unnecessary." If tiiis be true of England, why not with us? Has it not been proved that, by using full quantities of manure with thorough cultivation, better profits can be realized even with the first rotation of crops, than by the ordinary sluggish mode of farming r Are the farmers of New York and the adjacent states asleep, that they do not see from past experience what must be the result of longer continuing the exhausting pro- cess ? Do they not know that one half of the farms of Virghiia are worn out ? that the wheat crop of Ohio is less than two thirds per acre what it was thirty years ago ? and that the average wheat crop of New York is not more than fifteen bushels per acre? We have published that Dr. John WoodhuU, of Princeton, has raised fifty-seven bushels of wheat per acre ; that Allen Middleton, of Crosswicks, N. J., and many others, have raised one hundred and twen- ty-four bushels of shelled corn per acre ; and indeed that all who pursue hiffh /arming properly are ren- dering their vocation profitable, in addition to render- ing their land more valuable for future crops. We are tired of hearing those who have neither tried nor investigated the truths of high farming as- sert that " it costs too much," Those who have tried it know better ; the excess of profits are always many times greater than the excess of expenses. A manu- facturer who requires one hundred horse-power to turn his machinery, might as well do it by hiring men enough to 2>crform the whole labor instead of using the steam engine, as for a farmer at this day to refuse the lights of science as applied to agriculture. We have visited many farms during the last three years, and advised modes of manuring, culture, &c., based on the chemical constituents of the soil, and we venture to assert that in every case the improved l^rofits of any two acres would have paid our whole charge for services. Nor is it necessary that we should be employed ; for every farmer who has an analysis made of his soil, and reads The Working Farmer attentively, is capable, without the advice of any one, to farm with profit. We should be glad to publish the English articles on this subject, but at this time they ai-e so much mixed up with the local politics of the day, in which our readers have no in- terest, that we cannot use them. We last year hired a piece of ground in our own neighborhood, which was worn out, and had refused corn. Last winter we made an analysis of the soil, and found it short of chlorine, pho.sphate ot lime, soda, potash, and ammoniacal matter. We manured it this spring with a compost costing one dollar and thirty-one cents per acre. The chlorine and soda was supplied by common s