UMASS/AMHERST

312066 0308 0405 0

VE COLLEGE
EPOSITORY

m

I

LIBRARY

OF THE

5

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

NO.__L(d_4i(c DATE.^^-IS.'SS:.

SOURCE. .(lQ]le^e...X\A_nas_..

-p ^ ^
rev

SPEQAL COLLECTIONS

t AJRCHrVES

THE

NEW ENGLAND FARMER

A MONTHLY JOURNAL,

DEVOTED TO

AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE,

AND THEIR KINDRED

AETS AND SCIENCES;

EMBELLISHED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS*

"AGRICULTURE IS THE TRUE NURSERT OF PATRIOTISM.

SIMON BROWN, EDITOR.

FREDERICK IIOLBROOK AND HENRY F. FRENCH, ASSOCIATE EDITORS.

VOLUME VI.

BOSTON :

PUBLISHED BY JOEL NOURSE,

Q U I N C Y HALL.

1854.

INDEX TO THE SIXTH VOLUME.

Abortion in cows

Acknowledgments .......

Address, Mr. Russell's, 17; Mr. Greeley's, 52; Mr.
Proctor's, 82; Mr. Coming's, 116; Mr. King's,

Advice, good

Agriculture, and the President's message, 52; na-
tional, 74: ; literature of, 8G; improvement in, 89;
Mass. State Board of, 97, 260, 495; south, 108;
Maine State Board of, 112; adapted to man, 113 ;
statistics of, in Fi-ance, 114; statistics of, 133;
spirit of, 171; in Mass., 183; review of, 212; in
Nova Scotia, 27C; in Egypt, 362; fairs, 374; in
schools, 382; its essentials, 394; exhibition of, in
England, 395; and the professions, 444; instruc-
tion in, 451; Hawaiian, 524; what Boston has
done for

Aims, our, are too low

Alms-house, State, at Tewksbury, 455, 474,493, 507,

Animals, introduction of domestic, 310; feeding, 3 48,
371, 389, life, 397, 409, 419; playfulness of,
464 ; feeding of

Ants, red 389,

Apples, 16; and other fruit, 176; best, 254; storing
them in sawdust, 280; gathering, 431; summer
rose, 433 ; the early strawberry, 433 ; trees, about,
458; Orne's early, 469; for cows, 485; sweet,
492; large, 509; a new, 513; in San Francisco

Apricots, rust on ...... .

April, Monthly Farmer for

Ashes, coal, 48; house, 180, 195; and lime with
muck, 228; will they dissolve bones, 246; and
lime, 322; coal, a remedy for bugs, 364; on pota-
toes, 369; and sawdust, 384; leached . 467,

Atmosphere, and its effects upon animal life .

August, Monthly Farmer for

B.

Bachelors, badly treated

Bagg, Richard, Jr., life of .

Barley and corn ....

Bathing

Beautiful and the useful .

Bear, story of a .

Beef, good, 266; high price of

Bees, death of, in winter, 21 ; culture
160,325

Beets, early June ....

Birds of New England, 35, 142, 251; and flowers,
271 ; and their songs

BIa/3kberry ....

Blossoms in September

Book, for the farmer, 99; Elliot's new fruit,
lessons in chemistry, culture of the grape,
landscape gardening, bee culture, 263 ; farming
a. swamp, 307; the modern horse-doctor ,

Bones, cheap experiment in decomposing, 186
save the, 216; meal ...

Borer, locust-tree, 448; apple-tree

Boston in 1774

Bots in horses

Boy, on the farm, 308; planting a . . . 366

Brake, the pasture 98

Bread-making 197, 342'

Brick-making, machine for 387

Buckwheat 526

Budding, time for 411, 414

Buds, tying down . 466

Bugology vs. squashology ..... 207
Builders, facts for . . . . . . . 446

Bushes, destruction of 432

Butter, and milk, 41; and eggs, 48; pound of, to a
gallon of milk, 50, 509; products in Berkshire,
58; and cheese, 72; why don't it come, 138, 160,
168, 210, 330; fine samples of, 149; rancid, 203,
292; making, successful, 220; good yield of, 264,
298; packing of, 347 ; making and preserving, 382, 389

of, 76

128,

Cabbage, setting out

551 Calendar, for January, 9; February, 57; March,
438 105; April, 153; May, 201; June, 249; July,
297; August, 345; September, 393; October,
441; November, 489; December

Calves, rearing, 118; gnawing wood

Camel, about the ....
527 : Canada, climate of

431 1 Carrot, 108; vs. corn, 174; and onions, 220; Mapes
264 i on the culture of . . .

Cataract, a lofty ....

Caterpillars .....

Cattle, tying up, 74; fat, 80; holdfast
555 New England, 245; why eat horse-ma
70 hay over, 312; show, national, 3'
399 Fitchburg, 483 ; at Leominster, 498
532; salt for, 547; show, U.S.

Cellars, barn ....

Cetonia, Inda

Charity ....

526 Charcoal, its alimentary character
254 i Cheese and butter, 72; as a digester
257 I Chemistry, and farming
427 1 Cherries and plums, to dry
475 I Chess, or cheat
460 Chestnut, the
285 I Chimney, smokeless, 134; salt your

Chinese, for farmers or gardeners
347 Chip dirt ....
219 Churn, Tyler's

in, 195; of

nure, 278;

, 518; at

warts on.

first
234;

299;

431
547
534

311

388
534
553
422

145

190, 205;

Cider, refining, 99; and tobacco, 113; mills,417, 480, 57

Clay, burnt ....

Clothing, effects of, on human skin

Clover, seed, sowing

Club, Concord farmers, 43, 59, 110,
farmers' ....

Colt, how to take height of .

Cork

Congress, pay of members of .

Corn, measuring, 102; weight and measure of, 115;
cobs and grinding, 122; fine crop of, 133; in the
crib, 138; where does it all go, 159; vs. carrots,
174; soakfed for horses, 180; old colony, 196;

269

537
387
106
358

401, 485
. 367
. 335

564

. 20

457, 485

. 398

. 46

. 376

. 421

. 330

. 424

. 19

. 416

. 368

. 467

. 531

545
309
210

355

289
304
490

INDEX.

Ill

Page
preparing seed, 204, 2G7^ profit in raising, 205 ;
steep for seed, 244; great crop, 244; and barley,
257; for cows, 2C5; experiments in, 2C8; south-
ern, 292; and the wire-worm, 292; green, for
pudding, 34G; extensive field of, 467; crop in the
United States, 535; and hay, best method of
getting ........ 576

Cows, stabling and feeding, in winter, 85; milch,
80,259; profitable, 93; garget in, 166; milk and
butter, 170 ; carrots for, 173 ; extraordinary, 202 ;
green corn for, 265; tails, cutting off, 291 ; sum-
mer feed for, 331; milker's assistant, 353; to
prevent kicking, 388; abortion in, 399; milch . 552

Country, our, area of 184

Cranberry, upland, 38, 109, 244, 509, 528; about 494

Credit, giving 471

Crops, great, 23 ; and the weather, 224 ; green, for
summer use, 290 ; what is carried off by, 333 ;
rotation of, 346; in Massachusetts and Califor-
nia, 362, 388; when to be gathered, 407; in
Maine, 510; in Concord, Mass. . . 510, 534

Criticism, a, on the New England Farmer . . 99

Crow, the 213

Cucumbers, how to plant, 289; plan for growing,

311; great yield 431

Cultivator, reversible tooth 288

Curculio, the, 134 ; to keep from plums, 210 ; to de-
stroy, 234, 315; remedy, for the . . 325, 504

Currant-bushes 172, 426

Curiosity reproved ...... 504

Crystal-palace awards 125

D.

Dairy, improvement of .

Daisy, white ....

December, calendar for .

Dogs and pigs

Drill, the grain

Drought, in Northern Vermont

Durham heifers

Dying

. 163, 169

. 100, 409

. 537

. 53

. 257

396, 437, 459, 463

. 35

. 436

E.

Eggs, and butter, 48; preservation of, for winter

use, 69; large, 195, 253; to preserve
Egypt, no rain in .
Emigrant aid company ......

Essex county society ......

Evening, winter .......

Evergreens, pruning . . . . .329,

Exercise, proper use of

Fairs, agricultural, 374, 415; at Exeter, 486, 510;
at Providence, 486; Hampden Co., 486, 521;
New Hampshire State, 486, 534; Middlesex,
South

Farm, chronicles of a clay, 15; trees on the, 22;
products, effects of railroads on, 76; accounts,
77; fences, 78; a model, 89; for experiments,
111; stick to the, 286; viewing of, 359, 391;
entire, 375; Prince Albert's, 430; of Harvey
Dodge, 451; a one acre, 529; Wm.F. Porter's,
income of, 541 ; State, at Tewksbury

Farmer, the, 18; club, 43, 59, 110, 145, 190, 205,
355; Monthly, for December, 53; for January,
60; for February, 107; for March, 230; for April,
264; for May, 293; for June, 302; for July, 385;
for August, 399; for September, 507; for Octo-
ber, 549; for November, 572; for December,
537; and the Governor, 58, 94; in public places,
60, 133; thrifty and thriftless, 85, 271, 276; the
Granite, 126; legislative, 131; arithmetic, 259;
shall I bo a, 307; the valley, Connecticut, 323;
home of the, 335; tact in selling, 379; theoreti-
cal, 408; hint to, 442; why discontented, 445;

352
505
250
374
38
363
374

521

560

Page
wants of the, 491; notice of Monthly, 538;
signs of a thrifty ...... 559

Farming, in New England, 127, 167, 211, 261; by
steam, 84, 95; quackery in, 137; shall I engage
in, 278; northern, 280; profits of, 287; condu-
cive to health, 311 ; what kind of, 357; in Ohio,
366; successful, 383; 100 years ago, 412; in
Palestine, 418; on poor land, 422; is it profitable,
467; specimen of, 476, 500; is it respectable . 541
February, calendar for . . . . . .57

Fence, a new kind of, 192, 290, 387; posts . 304, 327
Fever, a remedy for scarlet ..... 423

Fields, reclaiming old 387, 509

Firewood, comparative value of . . . .40
Flowers, and birds, 271; to crystallize . . . 343
Flour, of wheat, bolted and unbolted, 455; fluctua-
tions in ........ 4S

Fly, larva; of the crane 210

Food, dry, 51; cooked and uncooked, 269; summer,

for cows and pigs, 331; variety of necessary . 384
Fowls, to prevent from scratching .... 467

Fountains, natural • 353

Fox, his revenge / . 278

Friday, the cold of, 1810 . . . . . 68

6.

Garden, observations in, 19 ; what it should be, 87,
99, 193, 208, 282, 332; work in, 129; irrigation
of the, 281; farmer's, 210; weeder, 330; subur-
ban, 430; a good, 463; that never fails, 495; of
E. W. Bull, Concord, 502; manure for, 509; why

fruitful 533

Gentleman, the country 244

Geological surveys, benefits of ... . 174
Girls, make them independent .... 447
Grafting, suckers on common plum . . . 641

Grain, harvesting, 373; proper time for cutting,

375,389; nutrition in various .... 493
Grape, vines, bearing and pruning, 49; the Concord,
98, 99, 161, 162, 195, 509, 511; wine, 437; Ca-
tawba 535

Grapes, transplanting and grafting . . . 554

Grass, seed sower, 159; rye, 195; burden, 196; seed-
ing land to, 268; tall, 387; for pastures, 425;
sowing in the fall, 449; means. . . . 545

Gooseberries, mulching ...... 28S

Guano, 37, 116,542; how to use, 126, 129,195, 216,
232, 266, 368, 378,442; factory, 179; correspon-
dence about, 279; ituportation of, 501, 512; do-
mestic, 533 ; what our country pays for . . 534

Gutta-percha pipe 388

Gypsum and ammonia 67, 575

H.

Harrow, improved hinge 245

Hazel, witch 215

Heat, lasting effects of . . . . . 339, 438
Hay, to find value of odd pounds, 259; and hay-
making, 301, 350; cutting and securing, 360;
cutters, to save children's fingers from . . 462

Hedges, hemlock 195

Hoe, horse 115, 240

Hoeing 299, 356

Hogs, profit of feeding corn to, 39; fine, 239; fat-
tening, 240; killing in Cincinnati . . . 494

Home, my country 169

Hominy ........ 464

Ilomceopathy, veterinary 413

Hop, roots, 265 ; ubout the ..... 479
Horticulture, operations of . . . . . 427

Horticulturist, the 627

Horn, to straighten steers, 81 ; shavings . . 219

Horse, careful use of, 49; swallowing a, 62; frozen
or starved, 80; kicking, 106; cruelty to the,
126; how to subdue a vicious, 144; carrots for
the, 173; shoe, clastic, 210; blind teetii in, 253;
foot of the, 304, 324; doctor, the mudern horse,
311; instinct in the, 319, 438; radish, 349, 365;

IV

INDEX.

Page
blinds on the, 367; vs. mules, 374; manage-
ment of the, 403; bots in the, 422; lampas in
the, 424, 520; docking, useless and barbarous,
555; known by his ears ..... 558

Houses, iron 370

Humus . . . . . . . .31

Husbandry, chapter on . . • . 377, 404, 482
Hybridizing 250

I.

Ice-house 400, 419, 531

Implements, farm, 174, 432, 528; in Illinois . . 243
Indian mode of storing winter supplies, 312; Mo-

quis, the . , 470

Innoculation, eEFects of 233

Inquiry and observation 546

Insects, habits of, 300; slimy slug, 314; destruc-
tive to peaches, 399; cetonia inda . . . 457
Interest, compound ...... 134

Iron houses 370

January, calendar for .
Jones, Ellen, a story
June, Monthly Farmer for

Lampas in horses

Land, poor, made rich without manure, 73 ; exhaust-
ed, 83; poor, advantages of living on, 306; grav-
elly, 531; grass, grass-seed . . . .

Leather, water-proof ,..•..

Legislative agricultural society, 91,100, 119, 131,
_ 136, 139, 146, 164, 181, 187, 204, 214, 221

Lice on hens

Life, tenacity of ...... .

Light, use and influence of

Lightning, rods, 320, 356, 397, 405, 444, 454, 481;
not humbugs, 500; a man killed by .

Lime, oyster shell and stone, 20; slacking, 32; su-
perphosphate of, 46, 106, 216; oyster shell, 128,
320; muriate of, 196; and ashes with muck, 228;
benefits from, 298; and meadow mud, 303; and
ashes, 322; phosphate of, 528; from gas-works

Locust, yellow, 48, 205, 479, 482; tree-borer .

Longevity, average of

Lye, salt

M.

Machines, mowing, 98, 509; prepare land for, 223;
reaping, 149; sewing, 235; influence of, on civili-
zation, 338; in farming

Man, which is the happiest

Manures, preparation and application of, 14, 20,
387,474; Chinese, 45, 109; solid and liquid, 168,
178; classification of, 207; potash as a, 240; hen,
253, 547; specific, 270; save the, 275, 289; cost
of, 337; almost equal to guano, 379; covered and
uncovered, 390; perfect ....

March, Monthly Farmer for .

Market, taking fruit to

Maryland, cattle show .....

May, calendar for, 201 ; Monthly Farmer for, 293 ;
the poor man's . .......

Meadow, sowing to grass, 120; mud, 195; mud and
lime, 303; muck, how to use, 406; reclaiming a

Meal, cooked and uncooked . . . . .

Meat, new system of preserving ....

Meats, and vegetables . . . .

Mechanics, vegetable, 175; country and city, 185,
241,471; city, and farmers . . . .

Medicines, quack . . .

Melons, squashes, cucumbers, how to plant .

9
310

302

424

568
00

220
437
185
416

512

500
448
504
560

415
462

574

230

453

25

319

431

187
548
473

552
338
289

Men, agricultural, distinguished, death of, 398;

young, hints to 483

Mills, cider 573

Milk, and butter, 41; four quarts for a pound of

butter, 50; measure and weight of, 09; weed,

98; statement about, 347; ideas about, 365;

cows shedding, 406; high price of, 508>; 550;

solidified ........ 555

Mississippi, winter in, 336; a trip up the . . 505

Muck, 195; how to use 406

Mules vs. horses 374

Muskets and spades 276

N.

Nature, beauties of 563

New England, glory and renown of . . .40
Nova Scotia, agriculture of . . . . . 478
November, Monthly Farmer for . . . .572

0.

Oak pruner 351

Oats, Kentucky 466

October, Monthly Farmer for .... 549

Ohio, farming in 366, 434

Onion, tar water for maggot in, 28, 532; culture of,
190, 289; and carrots, 220; maggot in, 329; the

potato, 330; how to save the .... 527

Orchards, pruning of 157

Oswego, mills and business of .... 453

Ox, finest in the world ...... 54

Oxen, large, 270; working . . . ... 486

Oxygen, effects of, in germination . . . .331

Oyster, Maryland trade in 144

Paints, zinc, 71; painting, 364; of soap, white-lead,

and oil . 550

Paper, new material for, 185; value of agricultural 497
Pasture, different grasses for, 425 ; old . . .531
Peach, trees, to preserve, 305 ; insects destructive to

the, 399; failure of the, 399; seedling . . 509
Pear, 17; the Dix, 64; vegetable, 114; tree, culti-
vation of, 283 ; the Beurre Bosc, 337; fine . 511
Pea, and turnips, 137; pods, alcohol from, 383;

early 560

Picture, a beautiful ...... 413

Pine, sugar of the Oregon, 384; woods pasture and

southern cows ....... 390

Pipe, gutta-percha . . . . . .388

Plants, chemistry of, 138; roots of, 238; protector
for, 254; new, 326; splendid, 353; maturity of,
354; the butterfly, 394; poisoned, 407; matur-
ing 497, 540

Plaster, new use of, 183; how to apply . . 330
Plow, double, 30, 47, 51, 115; comparison of, 41;
steel, double, 177, 178, 312; and plowing, 258;
a good ........ 547

Plowing, fall, 30, 572; deep, 162; deep, and plant-
ing ......... 576

Plums, to keep eurculio from, 210; trees, warts on,
239; and cherries, to dry, 330; English wheat,

469; trees 431

Points are pins 26

Pomace apple 389

Pond, a runaway 452

Posts, to preserve 250, 304

Poudrette 126, 244

Potash as a fertilizer ...... 240

Potato, disease in, 100, 154, 231, 259; cut, for
planting, 250; planting small, 275; ashes on,
369; fall planting, 469; origin of, 532; sweet,

195, 293, 437
Poultry, management of, 47; house, a model 113;

and eggs, 253, 265; food for . . .389

Premiums, of Franklin County, 96; on farms, 99;
Middlesex County, 523 ; at fairs . . . 557

INDEX.

Progress and improvement
Prosperity, effects of
Pruner, oak .
Pudding, green corn
Pumpkin, 244; large .
Puritan, the .

Quinces

R.

154,

Railroad, stockholders of, 29; agricultural and com
mercial value of ... .

Rain in a year .....

Rat, and weasel, 51; how to get rid of .

Recipes for honey cakes, 246; for tea cakes and
icing for cakes .....

Report of State Board of Agriculture

River, an unknown ....

Robin, the .......

Roots, cultivation of, 132; importance of

Rose, bugs, 109; bush, 404; climbing .

Science, democracy of ..... .

Scions, cutting .......

Beasons, cycle of, 255; the, 274, 292, 320, 321,

387, 534,

Seed, sower, 186; sowing clover, 210; for an acre
of beet, carrot, and turnip, 244; change of, 256;
and buds, 333; saving grass, 386; grass, sowing
in the fall, 449; clover, when to sow, 532; grass

Sewing machine .......

Shade, a fertilizer .......

Shell, marl . . . . . ...

Shows, agricultural, in 1854 .....

Shoes .........

Sheep, husbandry, 13; colds in, 14; polled, 24; im-
prove the farm, 176; profits of, 180, 389; South-
down, 198, 339, 4(;5; care in feeding, 246; salt
and ashes for, 278; signs of health in, 320;
French merino buck, 321; scab or itch in .

Silk, culture of ...... .

Slug, slimy ........

Socioty, officers of Windham County, Vt., 18; Ver-
mont State Agricultural, 03, 354, 443; Worces-
ter County, 71; U. S. Agricultural, 87, 178;
Franklin County, 90; Connecticut State, 90;
lei;islative, at State House, 91, 100, 119, 131,
136, 139, 146, 104, 181, 187, 204, 214, 226;
Hampshire County, 95, 112; Framingham, 97;
New York State, 130; officers of Worcester
County, 160; Middlesex County, 216, 221, 277,
519; Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden, 224;
American Pomological, 238, 484, 513; Norfolk
County, 245; Essex County, 365; Bristol County,
411; New Hampshire State, 535; Cheshire Coun-
ty, N. H

Soils, on renovating, 206; do they lose manure by
leaching, 267; classification of, 277; mixing,
305; influence of, on color of flowers, 352; sha-
vings, horn, for, 219; mulching with wood, 351;
the, 380; analysis of, 406; improved by shade,
499 ; corrective of ..... .

Spades, and muskets ......

Spider, nest of ...... .

Squashes, how to plant, 289; marrow, 330, 471;
old

Squirrels in the woods

Stable, a model, 196; a barn ....

Statistics, agricultural .'....

Steers, how to break, 275 ; yearling, in the mud

Stock, too much, 15; Durham, 35; wintering, 37;
feeding, 75, 143, 184; high prices for, 267; ex-
periments in, 268 ; salt for ... .

Stoves

Page
423
553
351

340
204
150

575

548

32

406

294
159
135
401
284
531

Strawberries, 320; runners

Stump puller .......

Suckers, don't pull them . . . . .

gugar, how much do wc eat, 75; maple, 98, 262;
great crop of, 135; trade in, 341; pine of Ore-
gon

Sulphur

Surfaces, laying out ......

Swallow, the .......

Swamps, reclaiming ......

Swine, fattening, 24, 242; profit of feeding corn to,
39; and dogs, 53; Suffolk, 98; is it profitable to
fatten in New Eflgland, 155; fine, 239; charcoal
for, 278; garget for sick, 329; treatment of, 369;
killing in Cincinnati, 494; scurvy in

System, solar, symmetry of

Page
545

485
71

384
502

293

418

77

532
123

319
112

542

568
235
117
479
398
174

433
338
314

535

558
276
367

398
396
223
133
562

325

294

Tanners' trimmings ...... 555

Tanning 477

Tesch maker, James E. . . . . . .31

Thanksgiving 28

Thrush, anecdote of ..... . 517

Timber, time to cut, 52, 328; ship, 135; forest-
trees for 309

Tobacco ........ 113

Tomato, setting out, 209, 284; figs . . .465

Trade, having a ...... . 400

Transplanting, fall and spring .... 454.

Trees, on forms, 22, 352; tall vs. low-limbed, 23 ;
autumn transplanting of fruit-trees, 29, 39, 238, '
368; plum, salting of, 38; wash for, 38, 307;
trimming, 38; planting, 39; peach, 97, 173;
shade and fruit, 187; extraordinary, 209; natu-
ral beauty of ornamental, 237, 314, 416; plum,
warts on, 239; fruit, wh.at kinds to plant, 242;
a barren pea, 244; washing and scraping, 303;
finest, fur timber, 309; protection for, in winter, .
326; H. W. Beecher on, 450; manuring, 454;
the locust, 479; the yew, 480; removing large,
511; barking a, 531; forest-trees, how to start,
532; fruit, cuttings of, 542; forest, 563; sowing
seeds for ....... . 5C8

Tripoli, or Bergmeal . . . . . . 1 18

Underd raining . . . . . . .150

Urine, waste of . , . . . . .11

Useful and beautiful 474

Vegetables and meats, English .... 473
Vegetation, history of, 44; state of, at the close of

May 351

Veterinary school of Alfort ..... 50
Vermont, agriculture in, 90; mountains of, 119; no

city in ....... . 503

Virginia, agriculture in .... 27, 41

W.

Wages 468, 504

Walks, gravel ....... 377

War, and the linen-trade ..... 428

Warts on plum-trees 239, 278

Water, plenty, 23; how to find .... 367

Weasel and rat ....... 51

Weather . . . . . . . .323

Weeds in door-yards ..... 306, 41 J

Well-digging 339

Westborough, State f;irm at 227

Wheat, per acre, 127, 141,230; winter, 315, 429,
461; must in, 355; a purifier of the atmosphere,
381; crop in California, 381 ; in .Alassachusetts,
402; crop of, 419; price of, 463, 466; manuie

INDEX.

for, 4G7; brittle straw of, 479; crop in Canada,

555 ; trade in .
Wheel, ancient spinning
Whitewash .
Windmill, a new .
Windows, stop cracks about
AVit'e, the way to make her cheerful, 08

the farmer's
Willow for osiers .
Wine, currant, 409 ; grape
Witch, hazel, 135; test
Wood, green
AVorld, the, how made .
Worms, winter, 213; palmer

berry, 311; an army of, 3

canker

honor to

437.

244; silk and mul-
24; rearing silk, 382;
. 340, 3G3,

Page '

Brown's Improved Patent Grist Mill
556 South Down Sheep
184[Chapin's Portable Cider Mill .
2781 Nichols' Patent Corn and Cob Crusher and
414 1 verizer .....
3941 Simple and Cheap Stump Puller

Plan for Breaking Colts
456 A New Apple ....

42 A Weather Vane ....
463 Tolman's Sweet Apple .
351 McGregor's Patent Portable Furnace

43 Windmills, Improved Governor for
300 Emery's Sawmill ....

Y.

Year, the new ....

Youth, training to a wrong occupation

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Winter Nelis Pear .

Short Horn, or Durham Heifers

Pruning Grape Vines

Danvers Winter Sweet Apple

A Modern SuSblk Stallion

Pruning a Peach-tree

A Model Poultry House

Baccillaria Navicula (Infusoria;)

Garden Work

Batchelder's Corn Planter

Wells' Patent Grass Seed Sower

The Concord Grape

The Steel Double Plow .

Village Homestead as it is — unimproved

Village Homestead as it should be — improved

Ketchum's Mowing Machine .

The Sewing Machine

The Horse Hoe

An Improved Hinge Harrow .

A Plant Protector .

The Grain Drill

Homestead of the Thriftless Farmer

Homestead of the Thrifty Farmer .

Expanding and Keversiblo Tooth Cultivator

French Merino Buck, " Old Tiger "

The Andrews Pear

The Post Augur ....

Cow Milker's Assistant .

Expanding and Reversible Harrow

A Garden and Fire Engine

Dog Power-Churning

The Robin .....

Hickok's Patent Improved Cider Mill

Summer Rose Apple

The Early Strawberry Apple

388

11
413

Pul-

17
33
49
65
81
97
113
118
129
145
159
161
177
194
209 i
225 [
235j
240
245
254
257
272
273
288
321
337
330
353
369
385
385
401
417
433
433

POETRY

The Forest Trees .
A Home Picture .
The Maize — A New Corn Song
The Old Washerwoman .
To Farmers .
The Good Old Plow
The Ass and the Lamb
Trade and Spade .
Kings of the Soil .
Birds of New England
The Laborer and the Warrior
The Bee and the Cricket
The Seasons .
Song for the Seasons
The Plowman's Song
Farmer's Girls
Go Forth into the Country
Speak Soothing Words and Kind
The Child and the Flower
Chimes for the Times
The Poor Man's May .
The Voice of the Grass .
A Shower
A Ray of Light .
Jonathan Slow ; or, Faith, Ho
[The Seer
j The Nights .
j An Elegant Ballad
The Farmer's Song
Think of Me.
The Kanzas Emigrant .
j Signs of Foul Weather .
I A Farmer's Wife I'll Be
Verses for the year 1900
Song of the Farmer
Bless (Jod for Rain
! A Song of the Railroad ,
[It Isn't All in Bringing
j Let Me In
(The Harvest Hymn
[ Love's Fairy Ring
The Pumpkin
Gems .
[ Evening
Lady Jane . .

Up

pe, and Charity

INDEX.

CORRESPONDENTS.

Page
A 175

A Constant Observer . . 37

A. B. C 98

Alden, David , . . .144
Alden, Samuel . . . 196

Allen, E. S. . , , 388, 196
A Reader, 53, 62, 107, 231, 264, 293,
302, 385, 399, 507, 509
A Subscriber, 85, 99, 126, 138, 195,
220, 244, 387, 389, 414, 419, 479

Ames, R. W,

Agricola

A. G. H.

A New Hampshire Girl

A Gardener .

A. R. H.

A. M. .

A.S. .

A Young Farmer

A New England Farmer

195
287
307
311
314
388
389
389
413
531

B.

B. .

B. L. .

Bagge, J. N. .
Barrett, James A.
Bacon, William
Bassett, William
Blake, J. E. .
Blake, James A.
Blake, Joseph
Blythewod
Brown, A.
Brown, Silas, 29, 137,
455
Brown, David E.
Bliss, 0, S. .
Brad .
Branch, T. C.
BufiFum, T. B,
Besonnett & Brown
Bullock, Horace
Butler, S. G.
Bugbee, W. .
Burditt, J. D.
Brown, W. D.

26, 278
. 195
. 254
. 195
. 355
. 478
. 75
. 320
. 400
64, 305, 504
. 264, 509

306, 399, 408,
, 493, 506, 507
, 320
. 292
. 356
. 81
. 339
. 478
. 266
. 320
. 329
. 366

223, 510, 523

C.

Calvert, Charles B, . .512

C. 179

C, S.W 244

Carpenter, George . . . 292
Chandler, Samuel . . . 163
Clement, Asa .... 234
Comings, A. Q., 26, 83, 354, 378, 456,
540

C. B. C 509

Copeland, R. Morris, 89, 117, 193,
208, 283, 333, 389, 475
Colburne, J. W. . . . 244
Coburn, P. D. ... 523
C. W 532

Cross, Elihu
Cutter, B. F.
Curtis, L. W.

Page

. 74, 135

173,205,365,463

. 118, 444

Dadd, G. H 403

D. C. . 64, 127, 167, 211, 261
D. F 244

D, A.
D, M.
D. W. L

D. S.

Doolittle, Jonathan

. 278
. 476
. 19
352, 463
. 338

Durand, L. 31, 95, 231,374,491,499

Eaton, Jesse

E.J. .

E. N. C.

E. B. B.

E. P. B.

Elsie

E. N., Jr.

E.J. .

Essex

Everett, Joshua T.

. 195
257, 312
. 367
. 509
. 532
. 169
. 245
534
51, 277, 309
. 132

F.

Far East . . . .541
Farmer, W. H. . . . 307
Farmer, Jacob B. . . . 213
French, Henry F. 77, 196, 235, 279,
357, 447, 462

French, Josiab A. ,
Franklin
Franklin, B. H.
F. A. .
Fairbanks, D. H.
Fowler, S. P.
Fletcher, Sumner
Fletcher, Thomas S.
Fletcher, S. . . ' .
Fifield, A. B. .
Farmer, a New England .
Farmer, an inexperienced
Field, F. . . .

G.

128

. 69

. 137, 349

. 275

. 509

35, 142, 251

. 281

. 281

.369

. 527

. 531

532

534

G. G. G,
G. P. .
Gay, David
Grafton .
Gregory, James J.
Green, George B.

G. S. R. '.
Goodrich, C.
Griggs, J. G.
Goodhue, Ira

. 196

. 241

. 329

. 11

. 234

. 265

. 339

. 478

112, 155, 207, 437

. 168

. 202

Gay, B. W.
G, D. S.
Green, J. S.

Page
383
467
526

H.

Harris, Thaddeus William,

210,

363,

457

,485

Harriman, R.

.

329

Hammett, John

.

244

H

,

95

H. D. W.

,

48

H. P., 250, 304, 315,

377,

404,

429,

461

,482

H. S. .

,

59

Herrick, Israel

,

99

Hersey, E.

33*6,

351,

411

Hills, 0. V. .

219,

420

Hapgood, Joel

.

431

Hinckley, M. .

.

245

Hadley, Orson

.

265

Hadley, Joseph

315

H. B. .

274

Holbrook, F. 63, 155

228,

322,

323,
414

Holmes, Henry

,

160

Hopkins, Lewis S. .

108,

399

H. S. S. .

.

329

H. F. .

,

356

Howard, L.

.

479

Howe, Joseph

.

187

Hoe, Ichabod

.

529

Hunt, Leander B. .

,

421

Hutchinson M.

.

389

Ingham, E.

. 196, 387

I. S.

. 271, 416, 422

Ignoramus

. 437

Inquirer

. . 466

J.
J. .

J. T. .

J. W. P.

J. N. .

J. T. W.

J. F. C. H. .

Jackson, Charles T

Jennings^ S. AV.

J. H. S.

J. S. .

J. H. A.

J. D. .

J. M. C.

J, W. N.

J. U. C.

J. W. A. B. .

J. F. .

J. R. .

Jones, Hiram W.

. 21

. 13

. 15

. 28

. 127

99, 351

. 118

. 216

. 166

. 134

. 195

. 357

. 396

. 291

. 431

. 477

. 338

. 478

. 509

INDEX.

K.

Page

P.

Page

T.

Page

Kinsley, E. .

, .

292

Page, Benjamin

.

128

Taylor, Ora J.

.

244

Kimball, M. W. .

,

388

P. 180, 183, 258, 330

471, 485

,528

Tenney.S. . 32, 253,

292,

299

Knowledge

•

512

P. M. .
Parker, Levi .
Peasant Bard .

99
329
466

T. A. S

True, N. T. .

Todd, A. . . .

75,

268

326

€8

L.

Philbrick,J.B.
Pierce, W. .

330
285

Tyler, John M.
T. B. L.

289
479

Lackey, Andrew

. 469

, 511

Pierce, Mrs. S.

292

T

531

Leonard, T. J.

98

Pratt, Minot .

401

Lincoln, W. S.

! 93

115

Piper, N.

338

Lighten, Daniel

.

329

Proctor, John W. .

149, 220

330

L. II. .

.

330

Poor, Henry, 250, 304

315,377

404,

V.

Lyman, David

.

223

429, 461

,482

Putnam, W. R.

442

Varney, L. . . .
Verbum Sap Sapienti

•

359
115

M.

Q.

Vermonter

206,

500

M. . . 39

26

9, 369,

388

M. A. .

111

Quimby, S. D.

, ,

506

Marsh, E.

210

W.

Matthews, L. .

239

Mechanic, a city

18

5, 241,

471

R.

Walker, Amasa

154

Milan .

9

1, 119,

461

W. B

389

M. E. S.

'336,

505

R. B. H. . 25,

27

0, 387,

405

W. D. B. . . 223,

510,

523

Minich, Hiram 0. .

.

195

R. H. H.

444,

135

Webster, J. W.

196

Mclntire, Rufus

.

497

Randolph, B. F. .

.

98

Webster, Charles .

510

Merriam, H. AV.

243,

424

Raymond, Joseph .

,

98

Welles, Joseph H. .

138

Merrill, John M. .

•

531

Reed, A. H. .

,

481

Willard, Benjamin .

219,

351

M. F. D.

316

Reynolds, Joseph .

501,

511

.Willard, J. B.

359

M. P. N.

431

Richardson, James, Jr

,

186

Wright, J. S. . .

149

Moody, Charles

.

98

Rich, M. B. C.

,

265

AVright, George

387

Morrison, Jane A. .

186

Bobbins .

509

W. . ^ . .

347

Morrison, N. P.

1

3, 176,

254

Roxbury Russet

•

340

4

N.
N. C. .

195

s.

X.
X

95

N, ...

.

389

S. F.

22, 45,

280

Needham, Elias

.

509

Shed, Levi

100

New Subscriber

,

244

Sheldon, A. G.

41

Newton, Joseph W.

100

Smith, E. M. .

532

Y.

Northern Subscriber

312,

509

Smith, Lyman

100

Noble, William, Jr.

242,

406

Smith, Derby .

466

Y

21

Nutting, George F.

122

192,

265,
467

Smith, E. W. .
S. G. B.

466
397

Young Farmer

•

303

Nutting, I. H. 382,

42

1, 504

542

Skylight
Spartacus
Stockwell, A. V. .

364
215
321

^^**' ....

521

0.

Stoddard, R. 0.
Stratton, H., Jr.

196
275

*• 58, 162, 268, 36*, 375,

379,

459

One of 'em

,

380

Stratton, John

467

Orland, H. F.

.

922

S. W. B.

531

.

.

229

ll^pskAIMIi^

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, JANUARY, 1854.

NO. 1.

RAYNOLDS <fe NOURSE, Proprietoks.
Office Q.iiincy Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FREU'K IIGLKROOK,^ Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

CALENDAR FOR JANUAEY.

"Tlie shutter closed, Uie lamp alijiht,
The faggot chopt and blazing bright, —
Tlie farmer now, from labor free,
Dances his children on his knee ;
While underneath his master's seat,
The tired dog lies in slumbers sweet."

T IS within the memory of
many of our readers, that in
the course of the last forty
years the habits of farmers,
in the winter months, have
materially changed, especial-
ly in their evening occupa
tions. HqHhv schools of vice
could scarcely be devised by
him who would see how ra
pidly and thoroughly he
could contaminate the un-
susjiecting j^outh of country
places, than those which
were establis''ied, and most
liberally supjjorted, in near
ly all the towns in New Eng-
Isind, in the village stores !

The short day's work over, the cattle tied up
and supper hastily swallowed, most of the males
af the family hurried oflf to the stores ; all had
caught the mania, from the stripling of a fcAv
years, to the man bowed with age and wlios
locks had blossomed for the gi-avo ! Wlicre th
distance was thought to be too great for walking,
the faithful old liorse that had been hauling wood
all day was liitchcd to the sleigh, and after leav
ing his freight, left to "bide the peltings of the
pitiless storm," shiver in the cutting blast, or,
haply, if the elements were kindly, nod over the
dilapidated stone wall or rickety fence, now and
then disturbed in his slumbers, pricking up his
ears, and wondering at the uproarious mirtli with-
in, louder tban the crash of tlie falling forest
trees during tlie day in the woods. 1

These nightly gatherings contained all the ele-l

ments of corruption ; no man or boy returned to
his roof-tree from them with unsullied purity. In
their withering cmln'aces his good principles were
undermined, his moral sense blunted, and his affec
tions weakened for those whose happiness ought
to have been to him above all price. Those were
times when it was fashionable to drink intoxicat-
ing liquors. The little tin, glass and gill cups,
the half pints and pints, were in greater demand
to jX)rtion out the burning fluid, than were the
scales and measures to furnish the flour and oil,
the sugar and coffee and tea, to supply the de-
serted board at home.

Drinkmg inflamed the passions, and these in-
duced betting, gambling, and trials of personal
prowess, which often ended in bloody noses, broken
heads, and neighborhood quarrels, in which their
wives and daughters were often involved. Such
was the practice through much of New England
for many years. Its consequences were plain all
over the land. Unpaintcd and dilapidated houses
and barns, straggling fences, tumbling walls, and
lonely fields, half-starved and scurvy cattle, and
ragged, unwashed and uneducated children, were
its types. Husbands grew negligent in their per-
sonal appearance, and indifferent as to the world's^
estimation of thorn, and the poor wife and mother
care-worn and disheartened, while mortgage after
mortgage rested with overwhelming power upon
tlio farm, until it l)ecame inovital)le tliat the home-
stead must be abandoned, and they must seek
somewlicro else in the wide world a habitation
(their Home they had lost) for themselves and
their suffering little ones.

Tliis terrible scourge to the land has been great-
ly alleviated, but not entirely done away ; it will
never be until the farmer comes to converse mostly
of things instead of jrrsons, and he can find pro-
fit and amvisement in hooks, and jiloasiirc in tlie bo-
som of his ow!i family. But the great change that
has taken place is encouraging. The fine dwellings
upon thousiinds of our farms, especially the warm

10

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jam.

and commodious barns, the better fences and finer
stock, the fairer and more productive fields, togeth-
er with the reclaimed lands, so long unsightly
blotches on our own beautiful inheritance, all
show that labor is more wisely directed, that the
standard of morals has been elevated, and that
Home and the domestic relations of life are more
fully appreciated.

Everywhere there is a higher degree of intelli-
gence and civilization. There are more good
dwellings and farms — more comfortable chairs,
more good beds, and more carpets on the floors of
the poorer people. Thousands have rooms com-
fortably warmed, with stoves for cooking, that
were formerly pinched with cold, and prepared
their scanty meals over green fuel in huge stone or
brick fire-places ; so they have convenient kitchen
utensils, where was to be seen scarcely more than
an iron pot, a few articles of tin ware, and a few
plates, of all sizes and colors, pewter, earthen
and crockery.

Scarcely a house can be entered, however far
away among or on the mountains, but what the
schoolmaster, or his representative, may be found;
the Atlas, Geography, Grammar, Arithmetic, Na-
tional Reader, Philosophy, Algebra, besides News-
papers, Biographies, and something of the valuable
literature of the day. A conversation with the
sons and daughters soon shows that they have ac-
tive and inquiring minds, which will not be satis-
fied that all things are right, because they have
seen them done in a certain way.

We say, then, that there has been great pro-
gress, and that the last year has efiected its full
share. Can there be any better Farm Work for
Janxtary, for all of us, than to take a retrospect
of the past, find encouragement in its teachings,
and start on the new course with vigorous steps
and determined will ^ We hold such a review to
be eminently practical, as much so as to discourse
of cattle and crops, meadows and manure, or pigs
and poultry.

Accounts. — ^These are all settled for the year
1853, so that we have nothing more to say about
them !

Fuel. — If the reader will peruse again the
articles recently given upon fuel, he will see the
unprofitableness of burning wood green, and the
vexation which it causes in the family. Now is
the time to get up the year's supply and prepare
it for use.

Tools. — All cleansed, repaired, and ready for
use ■? Some of them had not been painted for sever-
al years. "All done sir ; step this way." Ah,
neighbor Careful, that is a sight which would
ha'*^ gladdened old Jethro Tull's heart. Not a
bolt or wrench in a plow, not a tooth in a rake,
nor a tine in a fork, is lacking. The demon of dis-
cord never disturbs your pillow.

Leave one good pitchfork and one rake about
the barn floor for use, and place all the rest in
the tool-room, if- you desire to keep them whole
through the winter.

About the Cattle. — Aikin, in his calendar,
observes of this time of year : — "The domestic cat-
tle now require all the care and protection of the
farmer. Sheep are often lost in the sudden storm
by which the snow is drifted in the hollow, so as
to bury them to a great depth beneath it ; yet
they have been known to survive many days in
this situation. Cows with much ado scratch up
a few mouthfuls of grain ; but for their chief sus-
tenance they must depend upon the hay and other
provision of the farm-yard. Early lambs and
calves are kept within doors, and tended with as
much care as the farmer's own children."

"Now, Farmers, to your helpless charge be kind;

Baffle the raging year, and fill their pens

With food at will ; lodge them below the storm,

And watch them strict ; for, from the bellowing east.

In this dire season, oft the whirlwind's wing

Sweeps up the burthen of whole wintry plains

At one wide waft, and o'er the hapless flock.

Hid in the hollow of two neighboring hills,

The billowy tempest whelms ; till upward urged,

The valley to a shining mountain swells,

Tipt with a wreath high curling in the sky."

Cattle will need salt, and a little clean ashes,
occasionally mixed with salt put in the cut feed
for horses, is excellent for them.

Sheep. — They do not care so much for the cold ,
but they require a dry atmosphere, they should
therefore, go out and in at will. They will
be found in the clear and intensely cold nights
lying on the trodden snow in preference to lying
down in the barn ; while in quite warm, but damp
weather, they lie in the barn or under the sheds.
Sheep require careful treatment and keeping as
well as the other stock. An occasional feed of
corn, beans, turnips, or carrots, with access to the
branches of evergreens thrown into their yards,
will bring them out in the spring with full fleeces
and carcases, and large, vigorous lambs.

Colts and Steers, if carefully handled daily, will
need no breahing of heads or limbs in order to
make them work for you. Accustom them to the
harness and yoke for weeks before you want their
services, and when they understand what you want,
they will do all they can cheerfully.

Peach Trees may be headed down during the
warmer days, while the heads of all the family
may be most profitably 7i//c</ iij) with useful know-
ledge, virtuous principles, and a sincere desire to
make everybody about them Happy through this
New Year.

A Fine Piece of Beef. — Mr. Reuben Thompson,
one of our old subscribers, of Plympton, Mass.,
deposited on Thursday, one of the finest fat beeves
in the stall of Messrs. Holden, Bullard & Co.,
Quincy Market, that we have seen for many a

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

11

day. It was not large, but so mingled and strat-
ified -with the d«licious fat and lean, as to make
even an alderman's mouth water. The ox took
the first premium at the late Exhibition of fat cat-
tle in Pljnnouth county.

THE NEW YEAR.

The last year has been one of great agricultU'
ral prosperity throughout our favored land, and
one, we .confidently believe, of much progress in
the Art. Mind, among the farmers, has had more
thought for the causes and reasons of things, than
ever before, and it promises to be still more active
and inquisitive in the future.

With regard to ourselves, we intend to keep a
steady di-aft in the old harness ; attentively gath
ering up for your pleasure or profit, whatever
seems of permanent value.

Our correspondents have been able and oblig-
ing. AYe are happy of the opportunity to tender
them our congratulations, and express our obliga-
tions, and the hope that our personal relations
may be more intimate. No important changes in
the management of the paper are contemplated.

During most of the past year, the time and at-
tention of both the Publishers has been greatly
occupied in building, laying out grounds, and fit-
ting up recently purchased estates. This, with
our beino; obliged to move to make room for the
Mechanics' Fair, has necessarily interrupted our
operations somewhat. Yet the interests of
the Fanner have gradually advanced, and new
readers have been added from nearly every sec-
tion of the country. We only need prompt
payments from all to enable us to say that we
are encouraged " on every side."

To each and all, we wish a prosperous and
happy year.

For the Neiv England Farmer.

WASTE OF URINE.

Mr. Editor : — Having for years been of the
opinion that the farmer's greatest loss in fertiliz-
ing 8ul)stanccs, is in the almost entire waste of
urine from all animals, I was much gratified by
finding in the report of the Commissioner of Pa-
tents for 1851, House Doc. 102, pages 380 and
381 of said report, an article gathered from the
groat London exhibition, on the subject of the use
of urine compounded with plaster, &c., and mat
ing what is there called urate. From that sug-
gestion, I proceeded last March to save what
urine I conveniently could, and at tlie time of
planting corn, selected ^ an acre of land for the
experiment, in a lean state of fertility ; this land
had been manured seven ycai-s since ; the next
year seeded to grass with oats ; then in grass four
years, and in oats last year. I prepared a com-
pound, whicli for brevity I will call urate
this manner : To the urine, which liad become
putrid, I added 325 lbs. of ground plaster in its
raw state, about 3^ bushels of house ashes, and
enou<^h common sand, about f6ur bushels, to re-
duce it to a state of dryness convenient to be sown

broadcast over the i acre of land, which was done
as evenly as possible, and thoroughly harrowed in,
leaving suflicient of the urate to put about one
spoonful in the hill at planting.

The crop was small and light, as was antici-
pated ; but the corn at all times through the sea-
son, until ripened, exhibited a luxuriant green
and apparent healthiness uncommon for so small
a growth. I have no douht the preparation
would be of great utility on land in a good state
of fertility, for a crop of corn.

Having a small quantity of the urate left, I
used it in planting potatoes, where the efiect was
more gratifying. A piece of old mowing, broke
up the fall before, thoroughly harrowed, and
marked out with a plough for manuring in the
hill, was selected for its application. We applied
about i to J of a fair shovelful of good manure
to the hill, in the midst of which one row was
left, and about a heaped table spoonful, or per-
haps h. a gill of the urate applied to each hill ; the
yield exceeded that of the manured land by sev-
eral pounds in a row of 75 or 80 hills.

In another part of the same field the experi-
ment was carried still further. In the following,
the rows were all side by side, of equal length,
and no manure, except the application mentioned,
was used : —

EOWS FIFTy-rOUB HILLS IN LENGTH.

a

'.a rt 3

Lbs.

32} n 42
104

Lbs. Lbs. Lbs.

1. Potatoes, common or middling size, no

manure of any kind, weight about
one-1'ourtli pound 14

2. Do., common or middling sized, spoon

fuUurate 14 94i 9}

[Plaster and Ashes applied after hoeing first time.]

One large potato in hill, weight 27 93i 14i 107*

Two small potatoes to the hill 10 68 J 12 80i

One small potato to the hill 5} 62i 6^ 69

One-half large potato in hill 13 78 10 88

The next row was planted with middling sized
potatoes; in yield much like the last weighed ;
the rain prevented our weighing them at the
time.

From the foregoing it will appear that the
urate, or some other cause, produced in fifty-four
hills, 62 lbs. more than the same numlicr without
any application at all, but the bare soil.

Piermont, N. H., Dec, 1853, Grafton.

Remarks. — A model communication, friend
Grafton, and we hope it may be succeeded by
others as practical as this.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

The Granite Farmer states that at a recent
meeting of the Executive committee of the Hills-
borough County (N. H.) Agricultural Society, it
was voted to hold five monthly meetings of the
society the ensuing year, viz. : at Now Ipswich, the
last Thursday in December ; at Amherst — the semi-
annual meeting — the last Thursday in January ;
at Brooklino, the last Thursday in February ; at
Woodbury Village, Antrim, tlie last Thursday in
March. The time and place of the remaining
meeting to bo hereafter designated

12

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

For the New England Farmer.
DRAINING.

The question has often been advanced, and as
often responded to, in various forms, in the col-
umns of the Farmer and elsewhere, "What does
the agriculturist most essentially want in order to
promote the best interests of his vocation?" and it
ia a very frequent observation that he wants more
scientific knowledge, and better information as to
the best modes of farming, &c. But it appears to
me that a great many know a "leetle mite better"
about these things than they pretend. At any
rate, I think there are a great many of the agri-
cultural implements now in use, and some ways of
working, that "ca/i7 be beat;'''' as the old man said
when he pulled up a carrot. But then again, in
order to view the statute of truth with some cor-
rectness, we must walk all round it. On the oth-
er hand, there are some operations carried on in a
style that seems about as ridiculous as plowing
with the horses hauling by the tail. This is ap-
plicable, in most instances, to the system of
thorough draining which has come under observa-
tion ''Down East." Perhaps the method is a little
better " Out West,'' but 1 am inclined to believe
that you, too, want some modification in that
particular ; and as I have had some experience in
draining, I shall just lay before you some brief ob-
servations on the subject in my own blunt way.

This very important and most essential opera-
tion has been carried on to some extent by the
farmers around the suburbs of the little city of
Calais, Me., and St.Stephens,N.B., and an outline
of the drains there will serve as a description of
most I have seen in other parts of the country.
They are opened about 3i feet wide at the top,
and vary in width at the bottom, from 2 or 2i feet
to 1 foot,and are from 2i toS^ feet in depth, being
from two rods to a greater distance apart. They
are filled with stones to within a foot or 15 inch-
es of the surface, for the most part, some with cul-
verting and some without. The large drains are
calculated as receptacles for the muckle stanes. Now
I predict that drains of this description will not be
long in getting choked up, and will ultimately be-
come of little service in any country, particularly
in these parts, where the action of the frost is so
penetrating, and renders the soil of a pliable tex-
ture, so that it is easily washed away or run down
when a heavy rain-storm descends.

Vermin are also most likely to seek a rendez-
vous in such drains, making holes from the surface
down to the stones, which gives the water a great-
er chance for the work of destruction, and besides
they are far more expensive than drains of a more
serviceable and permanent nature.

When drains are intended to be filled with
stones, they ought to be ruled or lined on the
surface not more than 15 inches wide, and dug
out to the depth of three feet. The bottom and
side should be left as clean as the nature of the
ground will admit, and then filled with clean small
cobble-stones to the depth of not more than 12
inches, with a neat small culvert. They should
be nicely levelled on the top, and have a covering
of straw or bush, then be tilled in as soon after as
possible. Drains of this description will answer the
purpose in most land, 3G feet apart. The leading
or main drains will require to be proportionate in
their dimensions and construction to the extent oi

their tributaries, or of the run of water that may
be expected to flow into them. They should in
all cases, however, be not less than three inches
deeper than the others.

Drains 18 feet apart, and 27 inches deep, taken
out in the bottom with a narrow spade, and
cleaned as for tile, with six inches of beach or small
stones, will answer ; but when tile can be procured
at a reasonable rate, they are superior to stones or
anything else. The best kind of tile for tributaries,
are those oT a semi-circular form, 4 inches wide
and 14 inches long, open en the base. It has been
recommended that they should be perforated with
holes to admit the water; but they should have no
holes ; they are better without them, and the clos-
er they can be laid to each other the better. Soles
in all cases should be dispensed with except in soft
places, where they are absolutely necessary. Tiles
cannot be laid so snugly on soles, besides, they arc
apt to be shifted or misplaced, or even broken by
any pressure from above. The best covering above
them is the top soil free from stones. A little
straw might be used, but any stone or bush is apt
to do more harm than good. There are many far-
mers who think that they must make a chance for
the surface water to get in, but there is a great
mistake in this matter. The surface water "7»'ill
get in fast enough. It must be borne in rhind that
plants derive most of their nourishment from water,
even more than is generally supposed. This has
been clearly demonstrated by placing a vessel filled
with earth away from the surface of the ground,
and raising a plant in it by watering it. The
plant when grown may be as heavy as the whole
earth in which it was raised ; and yet it is found
on being removed that the earth will weigh as
heavy as when first put in. The conclusion is that
the plant has received the elements of its con-
struction from the water and the atmosphere.

Accordingly when the water is admitted too
freely, besides being injurious to the drain, it may
run off without leaving its fertilizing and nourish-
ing elements in the soil.

Again, it has been doubted by some whether a
great portion of the high land in these parts can
be benefited by draining. They allege that it is
already too dry, &c; but it should be borne in mind
that drying is not the only object to be attained by
draining. 1 have seen even comparatively dry land
materially benefited thereby, so much so, indeed,
that the crops on it were far less liable to be in-
jured by the drought than before. Why, sir, there
are some of the best farmers \n Scotland, bo en-
thusiastic in this, that they have the tiles plas-
tered up at the joining with wrought clay, and that
even when the drains are 3 feet deep, to prevent
the water from getting in too fast.

But again I would say, let those who have any
doubt about the accuracy or gospel of these state-
ments, or I would invite any one, to put the thing
to the test by actual experiment. Let them try
the garden. Let them open the drains, 27 inches
deep and 18 feet apart, or from that to 36 inches
deep and 30 feet apart, according as they think
will best suit the nature of the ground ; and as the
price of tiles, (according to the advertisements
which have appeared in your journal) is beyond
the reach of farmers of common means, let a suit-
able conduit be made, of some wooden construc-
tion. Wood will last a long time in a drain, cer-
tain kinds of it at least. There are some parts in

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

13

Scotland where wood has been used very exten-
sively for drains. Nor is that the only material
that has been used there. In clayey land I have
seen black thorn-bushes used exclusively. Also
furze, (whin,) heather, &c., and even tough-top
sod, all to good purpose.

But, to conclude, I would just remark farther,
that there are certain wet lands_ which are conse-
quently cold and 60ur,where draining may not be of
much apparent benefit the first season ; there being
certain peculiar elements lying dormant which I
cannot scientifically describe, that are brought in-
to action by the operation of draining which it
takes some time to accomplish, and which may re-
quire the assistance of a sprinkling of lime, a
little manure, (about half the usual quantity,) and
some extra stirring, (subsoiling,) and then — Mr.
Brown, what do you say?

There is much that might be brought forward
on the theory of draining, and its advantages ;
possibly I may take up the subject another time.

Harvey, York Co , N. B., Dec. 6, 1853. j. t.

PRACTICAL HINTS IN SHEEP HUS-
BANDRY.

Mr. Editor :— Allow me, through your valua-
ble journal, to reply to a few questions often put
to us by young wool growers.

Fouls or Foot Rot.

Is it curable, and by what process 1 Experience
affirms that it can be cured efl'ectively by the follow-
ing method. 1st. Pare and scrape the hoof most
throughl}', ridding it of all offensive matter by
means of a sharp knife. 2d. Then apply a strong
decoction of tobacco, in which has been dissolved
as much blue vitriol (pulverized,) as will dissolve,
to which is added a small portion spirits turpentine.
The vitriul is a caustic — the tobacco is healing —
and the turpentine is penetrating. In slight affec-
tions two applications, five or six days apart, will
effect a cure. In severe cases it must be followed
up for a few weeks. I have known sheep that
walked on their fore-knees, not being able to touch
their fore-feet to the ground, completely cured by
this remedy. Remember that the knife performs
an essential part in the cure ; use it thoroughly.
Butter of antimony, lime, alum, white lead, vitriol
and other caustics have been used and failed. The
tobacco is needed to heal.

Sheds for Sheep. •

Do sheep require housing in the winter month ?
Most certainly ; no domestic animal needs it more
and none gives better returns for the outlay. Es-
pecialhj is this true in Obi^i, and other Western
States, where the winters are open and rainy, and
the weather very changeable. Let a flock of sheep
be once thorougly drenched with rain and sleet,
and then exposed for fifteen hours to a northwest
blast, which freezes the fleece around them, and
consumption and death will mark many a victim,
and ere spring, greatly enhance the amount ofl
crow-bate upon the farm.

Said an enterprising wool-grower of Vermont in
our hearing the other day, " I would not have my
flock of 600 sheep once thoroughly wet to the hide in
winter f )r S50. Rather than suffer it, I would shut
them up 30 hours without food or drink." The
advantages of housing are manifold. 1st. A large
per centage of deaths are avoided. 2d. Much less

food is consumed. 3d. A much heavier and better
flecee is obtained. 4th. The flock comes through
the winter in a much finer and healthier condition.
5th. The lambs are more vigorous and likely to
live. In short, reason, economy and humanity,
all conspire to teach the important lesson — -pro-
vide suitable stables for your sheep. And he who
can and will not do it, ought himself to sleep
bare-footed and alone, on a couch of straw, with
open windows and under a leaky roof, where the
winds go piping and careering through every crack
of his cabin, for six months at least, until he
shall have learned to sympathize with the dumb
beasts God has committed to his care' and keep-
ing.

Tups — How Treated.

November is the month for coupling the ewe
and sire. As five months usually intervene be-
tween conception and delivery, every flock-master
can decide for himself how early to have his lambs
make their appearance. Ohio can adopt a period
3 or 4 weeks earlier than Vermont. The buck
should be kept up to generous feed during the
tuping season, and allowed to serve from 8 to 12
ewes per day only. One leap is considered suffi-
cient, and the ewes served should be taken from
the flock and placed in another field. In 12 or
15 days, a flock of 150 ewes can be served by one
buck, with less injury to himself than he would feel
by being turned out to run with 60 ewes. Again
his lambs come more vigorous and healthy, from
the fact that they were begotten when the sire
was in proper trim. After the flock has all been
served, turn the buck and ewes together for a few
days, to ensure service to any delinquents.

Salt in Winter.
Place a box in the shed, in a secure place, where
only one sheep can approach it at a time. Fill
this with 6 or 8 quarts of salt, and it will be found
that the flock will partake of it in such quantities,
and at such times as nature directs. When the
box is emptied, fill again.

Do SuEEp Need Water in Winter?

They do, most certainly. A Dutchman of my
acquaintance once shut up a flock of sheep and
fed them on dry hay and corn with no water.
Within six weeks several died. A post mortem
examination came to the very correct conclusion
that they died of thirst. His only excuse was,
when interrogated on the subject, that "he sup-
posed sheep would live without water!" His sup-
position was a costly one, and taught him an im-
portant lesson. He remembers it to the present
time. The fluids of the system must be supplied.
Hence, water is highly necessary to the well being
of the flock.

Grain — Its Utility — Which is Best.
The kind and amount of grain fed to a flock of
sheep, will be regulated wholly by the object in
view. For mutton purposes, corn is the best, be-
cause its properties are to lay on fat. If growth
of carcass be the object, as it shinild be with lambs
from 4 to 12 months of age, then oats, peas and
beans are the best grains, as their properties are
to fivor the growth of bone and muscle. If wool
be the main object, then wheat and rye, peas and
beans are the best, as they contain a larger per
centage of the constituent properties of wool,
than other grains and directly promote the wool

14

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

secretions. Breeding ewes may be kept in too
high condition to bring a healthy and vigorous
lamb. The error is usually on the other side.
Sheep that are kept up in close winter quarters
for five months,not being permitted to roam in the
fields, greatly feel the need of succulent food.
Beets, carrots, turnips and bran, or mill-feed, are
fine substitutes for winter pasture.

If these hints shall aid any one in swelling
the increase of the American flocks, which have
been on a stand-still for eight years — owing in
part to the vast numbers that are annually con-
sumed by this meat-eating nation — our object will
be attained. S. B. Rockwell.

— Wool Grower.

THE FOREST TREES.

BY ELIZA COOK.

Up with your heads, ye sylvan lords,

Wave proudly in the breeze,
For our cradle bands and coffin boards

Mu8t come from the forest trees.

We bless ye for your summer shade,
When our weak limbs toil and tire;

Our thanks are due for your winter aid.
When we pile the bright log fire.

O, where would be our rule on the sea.

And the fame of the sailor band,
Were it not for the oak and cloud-crowned pine

That sprung on the quiet land?

When the ribs and masts of the good ship live,

And weather the gale with ease,
Take his glass from the tar who will not give

A health to the foresttrees.

Ye lend to life its earliest joy.

And wait on its latest page;
In the circling hoop for the rosy boy.

And the easy chair for age.

The old man totters on his way.

With footsteps short and slow;
But without the stick for his help and stay,

Not a yard's length could he go.

The hazel twig in the stripling's hand

Hath magic power to please;
And the trusty staff and slender wand

Are plucked from the forest trees.

COLDS IN SHEEP.

These animals are not unfrequently affected with
colds and coughs during the winter season, attend-
ed with mucous discharges, or a running at the
nose. The best and most effectual remedy with
which we are acquainted, are the spines and
boughs of the white and yellow pine and hemlock,
and common tar. The latter should be rubbed over
their noses, which may be easily and effectually
accomplished by spreading it on a board, and
sprinkling salt over it. The animals will devour the
tar with the salt, and not with so much care as to
prevent their noses from becoming pretty well
smeared with it. Careful attention and liberal keep
will strengthen sheep, and greatly assist them in
bearing up against this disease.

After sheep have been kept on dry fodder sever-
al weeks, they highly relish green or succulen,
food. If they are confined to the yard, scatter over

it the evergreens mentioned above, and they will
be found to leave the best timothy or clover, and
feed on the pine and hemlock leaves. Turnips,
beets, or carrots chopt, and fed to sheep, tend to
keep them strong and in a healthy condition, and
there is nothing lost to the farmer in feeding these
and occasionally a few beans or a little corn. They
yield more wool, and larger and stronger lambs,
under such treatment, and afford more profit than
if scantily fed.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF
MANURES.

Mr. Editor : — If there be any one subject that
demands the attention of the Massachusetts far-
mer more than any other, it is, "/Ae preparation
and application of manures, -^^ the means whereby
the recuperative energies of the soil can be re-
stored. We have no lands on which crops can be
grown year after year, without the application of
fertilizing ingredients. Animal manures, are the
first for this purpose^but their quantity is so
limited under ordinary circumstances, as to fur-
nish only a small part of the needed supply. With
the best economy in the preservation of the mate-
rials found in or under the stable of the cattle, or
in the pen of the swine, it will not be practicable
to make more than one-third part , as much manure
as is needed upon the farm. How shall the other
two-thirds be supphed? This is the question. For
those lands situate on the borders of the ocean, as
are many farms in the counties of Esses, Plymouth
and Barnstable, the best resource is the material
thrown upon the beach, and on the rocks along the
shores ; where these materials can be had, there
need be no want of manures. Another rich and
valuable supply is found in the muscle beds, and
on the flats along the shore. For many purposes,
the very best of fertilizing materials may thus be
obtained. Hundreds and thousands of loads of mud
and muscle bed are gathered every year,in the coun-
ty of Essex, and spread by means of railroad con-
veyances in all the towns between the Meri-imac
and the sea. I have myself procured a supply of
muscle bed , to be sent to Andover, to an intelli-
gent cultivator of vegetables there — who was much
pleased with the article — and found his benefit in
procuring it ; as will every man, who has a young
orchard of apple trees, that he wishes to keep in
thrifty bearing condition. No better application
can be made when properly applied, and on ground
properly managed. I have again and again seen
its benefits ; and therefore speak of it with confi-
dence. But the source of fertilizing material to be
relied on more than all others, is the bogs and
swamps every whore to l)e found. Here are the rich
materials gathered for centuries, washed from the
adjoining hills, waiting to be restored to their orig-
inal position. The wonder is, that so much of the
richness of the soil remains on tliese hills ; one
would suppose it would all have been washed into
the valleys. Still, there is found, on steep declivi-
ties,much of fertility. How to gather and how to
compost the materials found in the swamps and
meadows, should be the grand study of the farmer.

Here let it be remarked, all mud is not alike —
some needs to be managed in one way, some in aa
other ; some can be beneficially applied to the up

1^54.

MEW ENGLAND FARMER.

15

land, in the state in which it is first dug — and good
crops are the consequence. Other parcels will be
benefited by being exposed and frozen, and thus
pulverized. Every kind of mud can be advanta-
geously deposited in the barn-yard, the barn-cellar
and in the pig-pen, and these mingled with an
equal quantity of other material — whereby the
quantity of manure on the farm will be doubled.

Of late much is said about the concentrated es-
sence of manures, such as the phosphates, guano,
poudrette and the advantages to accrue from the
analyses of soil, whereby the deficiencies and su-
perabundancies, in the constituents of soils, can
DC distinctly pointed out. Without doubt, by the
aid of chemical science, many improvements may
be made. But our farmers generally are not chem-
ists, nor may we expect them to be; and however
clearly these things may be demonstrated, the
greater part of cultivation will still go on, as here-
tofore,— especially while the doctors themselves
disagree so much in their prescriptions, and the
mode of their operation. One will tell you that an
ounce 0^ a certain p/tosp/ia^e, applied to a square
rod of land, is sufficient to ensure a full crop of
wheat upon the land ; — and without such applica-
tions no wheat can be grown ; and this fact he
will assure you, can be made certain, by a careful
analysis of the soil. This may be so — but I have
little confidence in such prescriptions. I believe
it will be found like many of the highly sublima-
ted notions relating to certain phosphates, put
forth, with much assurance by those who profess
to know.

These pompous assurances bring to mind an an
ecdote that occurred many years since, while my
grandfather and his neighbor Marble were trav
elling in the county of Merrimac, N. H., where a
farmer was planting his corn, on a pine plain,
without any manure. My grandfather said to him,
"My friend I how much corn do you expect to get
to the acre, in the manner you are cultivating it?"
tie replied, "With the blessing of God, we may get
ten or fifteen bushels to the acre." His rough
companion by his side made answer, "Give me a
good shovel-full of dung in the hill, this is the best
blessing I want." Now sir, give me a good shovel
full of dung properly applied to each hill of corn,
and I will value it more with the blessing of God
than all the phosphates prepared by all the chem-
ists in creation. J. w. p.

December 15lh, 1853.

TOO MUCH STOCK.

We should never keep more stock on our farms
than we have the means of keeping well. One
animal properly cared for, and liberally tended,
is worth more than two poorly kept. It is a
strange but common error in rural economy, to
appropriate to two, or perhaps three animals, the
food which is barely sufficient to sustain one. —
This singular error is often adopted by the far-
mers of an entire town ; consequently there is lit-
tle or no good stock to be found, and the profits
resulting from stock-keeping and raising are
greatly diminished, while the price of keeping of
all kinds is, as a necessary and inevitable result,
ruinously high.

liivery farmer should keep just sufficient stock

economically to consume the keep his fields pro-
duce, and no more.

He should select the best animals to propagate
from, and dispose of the pooriest. "Breeding-in-
and-in" should be cautiously avoided, and the
greatest care taken to prevent deterioration by
the introduction of inferior animals, whether na-
tive or foreign.

CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM.

This is a capital book— reprinted from the Eng-
lish by Danforth, IIawley & Co., of BufiFalo. It
has an American Introduction and Notes, by Lewis
F. Allen, of Buffalo, N. Y., a gentleman of great
agricultural experience, and one of our best wri-
ters on the subject. The work describes the pro-
cess of draining and reclaiming some of the wet,
clay lands in England. This is done in such a
lively and attractive style that to read it will afford
a treat to the scholar as well as the farmer and
the general reader : The American Editor says :

" The clear, vigorous, racy style in which its
thoughts are clothed will attract the man of taste,
while the sound and practical truths which are
set forth will arrest the attention of all who feel
an interest in their several subjects. They describe
the process by which the most forbidding surfaces
of swamp and bog land, (leaving out the wide fen-
lands, like those of Lincoln and Cambridgeshires,)
by a moderate outlay of capital, may be turned
into productive fields, teaming with agricultural
wealth— a labor of the past century, in which the
landholders and flirmers of England and Scotland
have been engaged, and in the results of which
their agricultural products have been quadrupled,
their population trebled, and now enjoying more
of the comforts and the luxuries of life than at any
former period."
Below are a few extracts :

FINISH TUOROL-GHLY WHERE YOU BEGIN.

" Your experience and mine will differ very
much if you do not find more expense, and more
regret, left behind invariably by an under-dione
than by an over-dona job. 'The first expense is the
least' in agriculture— and in every thing else per-
haps, with the old exceptions of Law and Matri-
mony."

OPPOSITION TO PROGRESS.

"No sooner had the persecuting infidelity^ of man
(the same in every age) begun to crucify his great

theory of THE NUTRITION OF PLANTS FROM THE AT-
MOSPHERE, than the use of Guano and of inorganic
manures began to give it proof. ' Burn a plant,
whether it be an Oak-tree or a stalk of Clover,'
(for 80 the assertion of the groat Analyst may be
briefly epitomized,) ' and the trifling ash jt^ leaves
will show you all it ever got from the soil.' But
the bulk, the weight, the great mass of its vege-
able structure— where is that gone 1

' Into liic Air :
And what xrcmrd corporfa/ hiuli melted
Like breath into the wind ! '

The weiglit, the bulk, the vegetable mass, of a
crop, is simply, its Carbon. Combustion just un-
does what GROWTH did : and nothing more. Itre-
combincs the Carbon of the plant with the Oxygen

16

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

of the air, and their union is Carbonic-acid ^as; the more important of the two, after all. f waa
the very substance which the leaves of a plant going to say that in a pretty long and intimate
/fee/ w;;y/i in tlie air where it is presented to them experience of a ratlier curious soil to deal with,
in its gaseous form, in which alone they can ab- and to which never did man,liorae, or implements,
sorb it: they do absorb it; and in their clever deny the epithet 'stiff,' — I too, like them, have
little liihuratory, they pick out the carbon and re- j had my own dumb reflections, and not the least
turn the oxygen ; just as our own lungs take up| emphatic of these have grown out of the every day
the oxygen and return the nitrogen. Multiply the, phenomena of mind acting pon mind. You tell
two surfiices of an oak-leaf by the number of; a man something, to-day, or express an opinion,
leaves on the tree, and you will ba able to form 'or assert a fact, about a" thing which he has per-

Eome idea of the enormous surface, which the
plant annually presents to the atmosphere to carry
on this work of absorption.

But the roots — what is tlieir use then?

Examine them through a Microscope, and you
will see that, as the Leaves are adapted to inter-
course with Air, so the roots are adapted to
Water : not stagnant water : for the sponge rots
which is always saturated, and their myriad fibers
are each furnished at the end with a sponge, ca-
pable of rapid expansion and contraction — suited,
therefore, to a medium in which moisture should
be ever on the move, downward by gravitation, or
upward by capillary attraction. This is the true
condition of the soil demanded of the mechanical
department of husbandry. ' Pulverize your soil
deeply,' said Jethro TuU, who thoughtthat plants
lived upon fine particles of mould : and he said
rightly, but in so fnv as he said only half, and
thought that was all, he thought wrongly."

FALL MANURING.

"Decay is only slow combustion : and when you
are burying gi-eat cart-loads of carbonaceous man-
ure in the soil before winter, you are making a
hot-bed underground, which will raise the tem-
perature of the soil throughout the long reign of
Jack Frost, and preserve many a tender seed that
would otherwise perish : and herein lies the chief
and wise application of all carbonaceous or bulky
manure. Rightly, then, so far as their know-
ledge went, did our forefathers, who knew noth-
ing of Turnip culture, plow in their long manure
before winter : a poor practice at best, we say, to
put manure in immediate contact with a grain
crop, but not more poor than to apply to a green
spring-crop, under the burning sun of June, the
treasures of the Farm-yard whose spirit is exhaled
before the body is buried, and whose body is not
rotted time enough to afford its remnant of inor-
ganic food to the crop it is applied to."

FARMING WITHOUT KNOWING HOW.

" Wh>j do you think — why docs everybody think
— that he can farm without having learnt how;
that agriculture (if you like that word best) is an
exception to every uther human labor or pursuit,
a contradiction to all Natural Law, and will bring
a livelihood witliout study,cost or apprenticeship."'

OPERATION OF "MIND UPON MIND."

"Among the v irious experiences which the much
more social Agriculture of the last twenty years
has brouglit, (f)ra change has come over us in
that particular .since) there is none which has
struck me more than that part of its philosophy
which ctr.sisrs in the operation of mind wjwummt/.
Tliat of ' mind upon matter' is not a very new
subject : we see it every day — and hear of it too,
till it is something tiresome : just now we are on
a different theme, and a less trodden : ' mind
upon mind' is our point at present, and perhaps

haps never noticed or never heard, before; he
smiles, starts, shakes his head, or delivers himself
in some other way, for the ways are various in
which men ' behave' (as the chemists call it)
under the infiltration of a new idea. Whatever
the mode may be, one thing you may be sure of,
that in the grunt, the smile, the laugh perhaps, in
fact whatever it may be that meets you, the atti-
tude of mind betokened is that of — dissent. lam
far from complaining of it : some of my best hands
have given me infinitely the most mental grave-
ling in this respect. But what I Jo complain of,
and want to know where to apply for remedy,
(since the Law tells us that for every Wrong
there lies one; — is that these same hard-headed
fellows, workmen, neighbors, friends, kind advi-
sers, or whatever other relation they may hold —
six, twelve or eighteen months afterward, coolly
come to me, and with all that air of profound
thought that becomes a man of reflective character,
down-calving as one may say wiih something in-
tensely wise, announce tome in new language of
their own, the very thing which I at such time
suffered a small martyrdom in the vaiu endeavor
to urge w^on them."

Aside from the intrinsic value of the book, as
a teacher, we regard it as a valuable contribution
to the agricultural literature of the country, and
one of those books which will guadually lead the
farmer, sometimes, awaj' from the dust and toil of
his calling to commune with other minds, who
have, perhaps, taken a hig'ier and wider range of
the employment.

"What THE Apple Man says in 1853." — Mr. N.
P. Morrison, of Somerville, informs us that he has
just received ten dollars and eight cents for one bar-
rel and 28 apples of the Ilubbardston variety. —
These apples were sold by the retailer at 50 to 75
cents a dozen. Mr. M. cultivates about eight acres
of land ; his fruit crop, this barren year, brought
him eight hundred and fifty dollars ! For 26 bush-
els of apples he received sixty dollars. For 136
barrels, hereceived/oMr hundred and eight dollars.
Fur strawberries and raspberries, one hundred dol-
ars. The balance, to make up the whole sum,
$850,00, was for cider apples, sold at 8 to 12 cents
a bushel, and for early windfalls sold in July ;:nd
August. Perhaps some of our young men will
come to the conclusion that the market for i,'<iod
fruit is not yet overstocked.

^^ The value of the articles which hare patsed
over the Erie Canal the present year is estimated to
be ^39,626,362— being #5,2-12,443 more tluu the
value of the freights last year.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

17

THE WINTER NELIS PEAR. j

The above litie poi^rait of the Winter Nelis,
was taken froiu a pear grown in the garden of Mr.
Andrew Lack.ey, of Marblehead, a gentleman
whose fine taste and zeal in the cultivation of
fine fruits is worthy of imitation. Downing
says : —

"The Winter Nelis holds, in our estimation,
nearly the same rank among winter pears, that
the Seckel docs among the Autumnal varieties.
We consider it unsurpassed in rich, delicious fla-
vor, and indisponsable to every garden, however
small. It is a very hardy and thrifty tree, and
bears regular crops of pears, which always ripen
well, and in succession. Branches diverging,
rather slender, light olive.

It is a Flemish pear, and was originated, above
twenty years since, by M. Nelis, of Mechlin.

Fruit of medium size, or usually a little below it,
roundish-obovate, narrowed- in near the stalk. —
Skin yellowish-green at maturity, dotted with gray
russet, and a good deal covered with russet patch-
es and streaks, especially on the sunny side. Stalk
an inch and a half long, bent, and planted in a
narrow cavity. Calyx open, with stiff, short di-
visions, placed in a shallow basin. Flesh yellow-
ish white, fine-grained, buttery and very melting,
abounding with juice, of a rich, saccharine, aro-
matic flavor. In perfection in December, and
keeps till the middle of January."

MR. RUSSELL'S ADDRESS.
We give below several paragaphs from the late
Address of George R. Russfxl, Esq., before the
Massachusetts Charitable Mtchanic Association at
Boston, September 27, 1853. Did our limits al-
low, we should be glad to give the reader the
whole address.

EVERY BODY PRETENDS TO WORK.

We live in a country where it is very uncomfor-
table to do nothing. Loafing is at a discount, and
is the most wearisome of occupations. Carlyle
says that "ease is for no man," and if ease means
idleness, he must have been thinking of us. In
the cities of Europe there is a class which passes
through life witlTout doing anything useful. _ Time
has sanctioned the profession, and it consists of
suflicient numbers to keep one another in counte-
nance. But here the attempt is a desperate one.
and of such doubtful estimation that the most in-
veterate lounger feels it necessary to incur the ex-
pense of a gilt sign, to indicate that he has a
place of business. It is in vain that he goesround,
seeking for sympathy. He feels that he is in every
body's^way, and is like the truant boy in t!ie sto-
ry, who invited every animal lie met to play with
him, but as all were too busy to attend to him, he
finally concluded that he had better go to school.

DESIRE FOR ACCUMULATION.

The almost universal desire for accumulation i.;
wisely implanted in our race to urge us to exer-
tion, that we may not desist from labor while there
is duty before us, but may be stimulated to con-
tinue on the field of action when no longer goaded
by the spur of necessity. There is honor in the

18

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jus.

acquisition and possession of money fairly won and
judiciously expended ; and when we look around
us and see what has hecn done among us by the
union of opulence and benevolence, we have' rea-
son to speak with gratitude and respect of the gen-
erous men who, having once built up a name and
fortune, have left behind them lasting memorials
that "the good teas 7U)/interred with their bones.*'
But it is one thing to amass for the sake of liber-
ality and humanity, and quite another to grind,
atid haggle, and shave, to feed inordinate avarice
or to gratify a foolish ostentation, which manifests
vanity without taste, and extravagance without el-
egance, proving that there may be a vulgarity in
riches wiiich cannot be concealed by all their
agencies and appUances. Overgrown fortunes,
with us while they are evidences both of public
prosperity and individual sagacity, are of very
temporary influence whether for good or evil.
Where entailed estates arc happily unknown, the
divisions and subdivisions of an inheritance, how-
ever large, soon reduce it to inconsiderable frac-
tions ; and at the end of a generatioiror two, the
descendants of the rich man must work for their
daily bread. Other names arise to go through the
same unvaried process, live their little hour, and
be swept away to be known no more. Such is the
unfailing doom of wealth ; and as time bears up
new names and consigns the old ones to oblivion,
there is doulitless many a righteous retribution in-
scribed on liis revolving circle.

NOT TO RIDICULE OR DESPISE NEW TUING3.

The world's history is full of the persecution of
great men, who stepped forward in advance of
their age, warning us to look kindly on honest
purposes, and to judge with charity what we do
not comprehend. Let us not ridicule or despise
new things, because they conflict with our obser-
vation or seem to be impracticable. There is hiird-
ly a discovery or invention in art that has not had
its day of trial and discouragement. Many a man
has gone heart-broken to his grave, in whom the
fire of genius has burned, unseen and unappreci-
ated, when adverse circumstances, or shrinking
timidity, or cold neglect, or the want of a kind
word, have come like a mountain upon him and
kept his secret buried forever. Prison bars have
been pressed by throbbing brows which would have
redeemed the world. The records of the world are
full of the neglect of merit, and yet nothing has
been told. Perhaps there is scarcely a man living
who has not during some portion of his life, known
some one who pined unheeded, wanting the genial
air and sunshine which never came. Men get mis-
placed, and do not meet the magnet to draw out
the metal within them. Mediocrity writes verses
when it should be holding the plow, and the true
poet does the drudgery of life, not dreaming why
the lire torments him. The flint and steel aro>cold
and cheerless until struck together, and they may
never come in contact.

ICE AND GRANITE, CUIEF TRODUCTS OF NEW ENGLAND.

Ice and Granite, it is said, are the chief prod-
ucts of New England ; and they fitly symbolize the
hardy character of her sons. It seems to be a uni-
-yersal law, that in those regions where Nature
sparingly gives forth her bounties, and the coy
earth reluctantly responds to the attentions of the
husbandman, moral worth increases and manly
virtues find more room for development. Blessed

is the land whose children must work to live. Tho
luxury that heralds decay finds no congenial rest-
ing place where toil is both necessary and honora-
ble ; and the surest pledge of enduring prosperity
is found where industry is the ruling influence.
Labor is the magic talisman that transmutes our
rocks into gold, and sends our rivers to temper the
sun in his own dominions. It converts our barren
hills to grain fields, covers the wilderness with its
foot-prints, and raises factories, and villages, and
cities, with a celerity which seems tlie result of
mere volition rather than tlio agency of human
hands. It has made us what we are ; and if we
care for the preservation of our patrimony, and feel
a generous pride in our distinctive character, we
must acknowledge and honor it.

THE FARMER.

Some one has truly remarked that "the true
flirmer is always a philanthropist." Not only does
he toil for the provision of his own wants, but fn
all his efforts, aims and undertakings, he is per-
petually stimulated by the benevolent desire to
leave the world better and more happy than ho
found it. Says an elegant author — "We con-
template Agriculture as subsidiary not only to
abundance, industry, comfort, health, but to good
morals, and ultimately to religion. VA'e regard
the farmer, stript to his employment, and cultiva-
ting his lands, as belonging to the first order of
noblemen." In the language ufChanning — "Real
greatness has nothing to do with a man's sphere.
It does not lay in tho magnitude of his outward
agency, but in the extent of the effect which he
produces."

Every student of history is undoubtedly aware
that a very great majority of the distinguished
men of our Revolution — its war lions and states-
men, wore from the producing classes. Wash-
ington, Jefferson, andStark, were farmers; Frank-
lin a printer, and so with hundreds of others thai
might be mentioned.

The following description of the fiirmer is by
Phineas Fletcher, and will apply to thousands of
the class.

Hia certain life that never can deceive him
h full of thousand sweets and rich content |

The smooth broiid beeches in the field receive him
With coolest shade till noontide htat be spent.

His life is neither lost in boisierous seas.

Or the vexatious world; or lost in slothful ease.

Pleased and full bleet he lives when he his God can please.

WiNDUAM Co. Society, Vt. — The following gentle-
men were recently elected officers of the Wind-
ham County Agricultural Society of Vermont, for
the ensuing year, viz: — .

Mark Crawford, President.

L. GBuss, K.j^gpj,pgj^^^jg
John Iui-'ts, ^
Henry Kellogg, Secretary.
Chas. K. Field, Treasurer.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

19

A HOME PICTURE.

One autumn night, when the wind was high

And the rain fell in heavy plashes,
A little hoy gat hy the kitchen fire,

A-po|ipiiig rorn in the ashes :
And his sister, a curly-haired child of three,
6ai looKing on just close to his knee.

The blast went howling round the house,

As if to get in 'twas trying ;
It rattled the lalch of the outer door,

Then it seemed a butiy crying :
Now and then a dror' down the chimney came,
An<l sputtered and hissed in the bright, red flame.

Pop ! pop ! and the kernels, one by one,

Came out of ihe embers flying ;
The boy held a long pine stick in hand,

And kept it busily plying -,
He stirred the corn and it snapped the more,
And fHstei juinix-d lo the clean-swept floor.

Part of the kernels hopped out i.ne way,

And a part hopped out the other •,
Some flew plump into the sister's lap,

Some under the stool of the brother 5
The lilile girl gathered them into a heap,
And culled them "a flock of milk-white sheep."

At once the boy sat as still as a mouse,

And into the fire kept gaiing ;
He quite f rgot he was |>opping corn,

For he looked where the wood was blBZing ;
He looked and he fancied that he could see
A house and a barn, a bird and a tree

Still steadily gazed the boy at those,

And f ussy's back kept stroking.
Till his sistt-r cried out, "Why, George,

Only 6«e how the corn is smoking I"
And, sure enough, when the boy looked back,
The corn in ihe ashes was burnt quite black.

"Never niit:d !" said he "we shall have enough,

So now letH sit back and eat it ;
I'll carry the stool, aod you the corn —

It's good — nobody can beat it."
She took up ihe corn in her pinafore,
And they ate it all, nor wished for more.

Harper''s Magazine.

and thriftily, they must be well hoed after plant-
ing. " They may remain in the nursery rows two
or three years, but if more than two years, the
tap root should be cut away with a sharp spade.
They will then throw out side-roots, and will en-
dure transplanting the next year all the better.
There is no difficulty in transplanting chestnuts, if
the tap root has been cut off a year or two before.
We transplanted six trees last spring from a
nursery in this neighborhood, and they have since
made an average growth of three feet.

Many p3ople complain that their chestnuts are

I stunted in their growth, or, that they grow crooked.

'■' This may be remedied by cutting them down even
with the ground so soon as they have become
stout enough. They will then throw up a nice,
straight shoot, that will grow very rapidly, and
very little if any time is lost in making a large and
healthy tree. The whole nurishment from the
roots, however, must be thrown into the one
shoot, by cutting or rubbing all others off. — lotea
Farmer.

For the New England Farmer.
OBSERVATIONS IN A GARDEN.

SUPER- PHOSPHATE OF LIME.

For the few past years, I have been on the look-
out for a cheap concentrated manure. Last year
1 tried guano on a few young trees, and was well
satisfied with the results. But this season I was
told that there was none in the market — although
there was occasionally a little, but very dear, and
sold in too large quantities. Guano will always
sell well, and why is it that our merchants do not
import more, if it is to be had? Disappointed
in procuring this article, I purchased a sufficient
quantity of Deburg's super-phosphate of lime, to
give it a test. But instead of making vegetables
"yuwjj," it did'nt hardly keep them awake ; and
this was discovered only when it was too late to
remedy the evil. Later in the season, a dealer in
the article told me he had some that he knew was
good. Still I shook my head, when he, (deter-
mined that I should try it) gave me 15 or 20
pounds. I tried it in corn and around corn, and
Messrs. Editors: — "Will you please to givej also around potatoes, cucumbers, squashes, toma-
your readers some directions for the cultivation of! toes, &c., but did not perceive any benefit. Tha
•(hestnuts. I tried to raise them two years ago,j potatoes and tomatoes look very fair, but not so
from seed, but failed entirely, and a neighbor tried well as if ordinary manure had been used. The

CULTIVATION OF THE CHESTNUT.

i^em last year with like success.
Yours, &c.
Columbus City, Juiva.

There is no difficulty in raising chrstnuts from
the seed, if proper precautions are taken in gath-
ering, preserving and planting the seed. The
die.stnuts which are designed for planting should

corn, cucumbers and beans, are a little below re-
spectability ; and the poor squashes hav'nt been
able to keep alive upon it ! The article was De-
burg's. Now I ma unable to say what its composition
was (though I fancied I saw a little guano in it) ye4
I can hardly conceive of a chemical composition,
having so many ingredients as it is said this has,
that would not have told more beneficially. If all

be gathered as soon as they are fully ripe, and *''^ ^^*^*^^ '^^^^ ""^"^ permanently yij:?^ in this new
" " " " ?st should be selected, fertilizer, I might venture to say it evolved one,

the largest and plumpest
They should be immediately placed in mould or
rtfted earth and put away in the cellar, or buried
in the ground, out of the way of the frost, rats
and children. Be sure to use earth enough about
them to prevent their iicating. When the spring

•nd ploughing it deeply, and plant the seed in
rows three feet apart in the rows. They should

and that was suspicious !

PLCU TREES.

The curculio has committed its ravages as usual
this season on my trees, and those of the neigh-
bors, in spite of brick and mortar paving, which

opens, prepare a place of ground, by pulverizing some of them have adopted. On some trees that

set full, hardly one was to bo seen in August. But
next season they anticipate better results, as they

not be covered deep, else they will rot in the say the insect will not ))e able to burrow beneath
ground. Half an inch of covering will answer the tree the present. But how did the curculio
every purpose. If you wish them to grow straight I get up through the pavement /Ajs season? The

20

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

best remedy which I have tried, as yet, is sprink-
ling the fruit and the ground -with slacked lime.
If the spiritual rappers, who profess to shed so
much light on benighted man, in the form of fan-
cy theology, would lend their aid in exterminating
this pest to the culture of the plum, there's a bare
chance that they might do some good ! And any
reliable facts from them, as a remedy for the po-
tato rot, would be handsomely rewarded by the
State.

WASH FOR TREES.

For the two previous seasons I have used ley as
a wash on about 20 young apple trees, simply pass-
ing a moist sponge once over the surface of the
bark. These treesgrew well, and only one seemed
injured by it, which finally died. I am. not certain
that the ley hastened its death, as the tree was
not vigorous, and might have died at any rate ;
but the dark and cracked appearance of the bark
led me to believe that it was injured by the wash.
On the whole, I think ley rather dangerous. The
past season I used a mixture, which seems to me
preferable — one certainly which I shall try again.
Fine soap-stone dust, with a little lime, was mixed
with strong soap-suds, to about the consistence of
paint, with a small quantity of yellow ochre stirred
in to improve the color, and applied with a brush.
The trees grow finely wiih this harmless coating,
and new, in November, are of a very uniform light
fawn color, the body of the mixture having been
washed off by the rains. I think this wash pos-
sesses all the good qualities of ley, without the
bad.

THE DIS PEAR.

I find this pear is highly valued in the market,
though not handsome, and sells for from 50 cents
to one dollar per dozen. As to quality, very few
pears equal it, and an extensive retailer of fruit
told me a few days ago, that, in his opinion, it
was "a great way ahead of anything else." Its
good quality is not denied, but Mr. Cole and other
cultivators say, "that it is uncertain, and 15 years
in coming into bearing." The obvious remedy
would be to graft it on the quince, or upon old
pear stocks. But a nursery-man says it isn't good
on the quince, though it might possibly bear ear-
lier, and that scions set in an old pear stock must
be fruitless for 15 years I For a pear so excellent
as the Dix, one having so strong a character, and
retaining it even in the last stages of decay, this
is discouraging. Can not some cultivators who
read your journal speak more hopefully of this
fruit? D. w. L.

West Medford, Dec. 6th, 1853.

Published in monthly numbers of 32 pages each,
by Alfred E. Beach, 86 Nassua St., New York,
Price 50 cents a year.

Remarks. — Thank you, sir, and hope to hear
from you again.

People's Journal. — This is the title of a new
paper, which we have just received. It is princi-
pally devoted to Agriculture and Mechanics ; and,
if the first number is a fair sample, the journal
will be no small addition to the rank of similar
publications. The number before us is profusely
illustrated, with forty engravings, some of them
very fine and of a large size. It is printed in an
excellent manner, and altogether presents a most
inviting appearance, which we hope will not fail to
secure it a large sphere of usefulness.

For the Tfew England Farmer.
MANURES— BARN CELLARS.

Mr. Editor : — I am much obliged to you for
showing such deference to my wishes in relation
to that long communication. It fills a little more
space than I expected : otherwise, with the excep-
tion of a few slight errors — the greatest one in the
" conclusion," where it should read, "the results
of the experiments q/our best practical chemists,"
— it answers my sanguine expectations. But I
was sorry that you found it necessary to remark
on its great length , and shall regret that so much
of my worthless scribbling was mixed in with
those excellent extracts from our best authors, if
it prevents the reading of the latter. I divided it
as it was for two reasons ; 1st, it was a season of
little leisure, and I could write but a few lines at a
time ; 2d, some farmers' boys have but little leisure
for reading, and that mode of dividing would give
them ample stopping places. For one I prefer
entire articles, even to ten pages at once, rather
than be ten months, or even weeks, reading the
same number of pages. Indeed, I seldom read
anything that is '■'■ tobe continued^'' till it is discon-
tinued ; then, if it is interesting, it can be read
more understandingly and without the vexatious
suspense and anxiety that enters so largely into
the experience of readers of "Popular Tales;" if
uninteresting ,it is a gratification to know one is not
to be bored with it again. One reason for the
great length of the communication was, being un-
willing to omit regular reading for the sake of
finishing it, I continued to find, in every agricul-
tural book I took up, and every paper that came
to hand, something that seemed to prove that the
guidance of science is preferable to that of un-
scientific experience.

Without waiting to see whether Mr. Silas
Brown and his friends — arrayed in their inviola-
able armor — turn upon me and overthrow me, I
wish to make another reference to him on his
" Barn Cellars, Restorative Gases," &c. A cor-
respondent of the Maine Farmer, Mr. Jabez D.
Hill, of Moscow, in a criticism on the above named
communication, says : — " It is true that the gases
from my dung heap have not succeeded in escap-
ing from the world ; but what individual benefit
do I derive from the fact that they have been con-
condensed in the great laboratory of nature
and descend with their fertilizing influence upon
my neighbor's swamp?" I thinkProf. Jolmston —
as capable of " accurate chemical experiment and
nice observation" as any man in America, — says
the gases are absorbed by plants in propnrtion to
their healthy, thrifty condition, nature herself
seeming to be partial to the fields of the best cul-
tivators. Your correspondent says: "I am not
able to comprehend what loss green manure can
sustain in a few weeks while lying in n conical
form as thrown from the window before the pro-
cess of fermentation takes place to disengage the
gases." Probably no one could comprehend the
loss sustained if the process of fermentation could
be prevented for the time. But it appears from
the sentence before the one quoted, tiuii the de-
composition of manure is hastened by the action

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

21

of rain and snow, which in this country seldom
falls at intervals of weeks. As good authority as
the CuUivator affirms that even freezing and
thawing wastes the valuable properties of manure.
It is also well known that Prof. Mapes, a practi-
cal farmer as well as chemist, mixes large quan-
tities of prepared muck with his manure, to ab-
sorb the volatile portions. In answer toyour cor-
respondent A., of Tarrytown, N. Y., let us see
what Dr. Dana and Prof Johnston have told us
about manure and the loss it sustains by exposure.
Muck Manual, 3d. edition, Sec. 191. "Estimat-
ing the nitrogen as ammonia, the yearly produce of
one cow is 156 lbs. of nitrogen, equal to 189 lbs.
of pure ammonia, or equal to 677 lbs. of bi-car-
bonatc of ammonia of the shops. A single cow
will, therefore, give annually, fed on hay and
potatoes, 31,025 lbs. of dun^, containing 4800 lbs.
geine, G77 lbs. carbonate of ammonia, 71 lbs. of
bonedust, 37 lbs. of plaster, 37 lbs. of chalk, 24
lbs. of common salt, 15 lbs. of sulphate of potash.
Lectures on the applications of Chemistry and
Geology to Agriculture : XVIII, ^ 11. "The
recent urine voided in a year by a cow 13,000 lbs.,
' solid matter 900 lbs., containing of urea 400 lbs.,
and yielding of ammonia 230 lbs. When left to
ferment for 5 or 6 weeks alone, and with the ad-
dition of an equal bulk of water, the urine of the
cow loses a considerable proportion of volatile
matter, and in these several states will yield in a
year.

Solid Yielding of

Matter. Ammonta

Recent urine 9[.0 lbs 226 lbs.

Mi\ed with water, after 6 weeks.. 8"0 lbs 200 lbs.

Unmixed, after six weeks 550 lbs 30 lbs.

^ 17. Of farm-yard manures, &c. 10 cwt. of dry
food and straw yield in recent dung 23 to 25 cwt.,
at the end of six weeks 21 cwt. , after eight weeks
20 cwt., when half rotten 15 to 17 cwt., when
fully rotten 10 to 13 cwt." Muck Manual, Sec.
204. " Barn-yard manure is too often exposed to
rain. Its salts are thus washed out and the
natural liquids mixed vrith it drain away, and are
thus lost. It is a positive money loss, for the com-
position of an imperial gallon of this muck- water,
as determined by Johnston, in two samples, is as
follows :

s-S

S C

■a i«
S *>

■«s.S

S a S

1. Ammonia 9.60 grs. 23.30 grs.

Solid orgunlc matter 200,80 77.60

Solid inorganic, crashes 268.83 518.40

479.20 grs. 617.30 grs.
2. The ashes of a gallon consis-
ted olalkal. salts 207.80gra. 420.40 grs.

Phosphate of lime and magne-
sia, with a little phosphate

of iron 25.10 44.50

Carbonate of lime 18.20 31.10

Carbonate magn. and loss 4.30 3.40

Silica and a little alumina 13.40 19.00

268.80

518.40

These results speak for themselves. They show
rills of wealth gushing from the former's manure.
Bridgewater, Vi., Nov. lOlh, 1853. j.

a bone, throw it in. It is wonderful how they
accumulate. If you want to dissolve them, make
a pile of bones and fresh ashes ; wet moderately,
and leave it for a month or so. In every two
hundred lbs. of bones there is enough animal
matter, phosphate of lime, and salts to grow an
acre of wheat ; and, we know not how many
barrels of apples. When you plant a fruit tree,
give it bones at the root.

Bones. — Have these carefully saved. Keep an old
barrel beside your ash house, and whenever you find

For the New England Farmer.
DEATH OF BEES IN WINTER.

Mr. Editor : — Believing that the several com-
munications relating to the death of honey bees
during the winter months, which have appeared
in your paper, may have convinced many of your
readers that they die for want of proper protection
from the cold, and not being satisfied that such is
the fact, I feel bound to submit, for the considera-
tion of ycAir readers, such facts and opinions as
have been gathered from many years of experience
and careful observation.

The fact that most bees die during our coldest
winters has naturally led ©lany to suppose that
intense cold is the agent which causes their death;
but a careful observation will, I am confident, lead
to a different conclusion. If cold is the only cause
of their death, tight hives and warm houses will
be the remedy. But he who tries this remedy,
will often find it a fatal one for the bees.

Every case which has come to my knowledge,
where bees have died, have been in tight hives,
while those in the same house, that lived, were in
open hives. To more fully satisfy myself on the
subject, in December last, I took three swarms for
an experiment. No. 1 was a young swarm in a
hive with ironle^s 3-4 of an inch in length, to al-
low a free pass of air between the hive and the bot-
tom board; this was placed in an open pen exposed to
the coldest winds. No. 2 was nine years old, in a
hive of similar construction, but protected at the
bottom by a cellar, and placed in a warm house,
though in an exposed situation. No. 3 was seven
years old, in a hive with legs h an inch long, pro-
tected by a cellar, and covered with thick rugs,
and also placed in a warm house.

The result was as follows: — In No. 1, about one-
half pint of bees died during the winter ; in the
spring they were in good condition, and the first of
June sent out the largest swarm I ever had. No.
2 lost but very few bees during the vrinter, had a
middling sized swarm. No. 3 lost more than a pint
of bees during the winter, and did not swarm. At
the present time they are all doing well.

If the cold, and that alone, will cause their
death, why did No. 1 survive the intense cold of
last winter? or why did a swarm of my neighbor's
which were in an open hive, escape, while in the
same house, three swarms in tight hives died?

The following is my opinion. The vapor arising
from the animaljheat, or breath of the bees, often
collects in such quantities as to run down the sides
of the hive to the bottom, where, in very cold
weather, it congeals, and thus seals up the hive
and makes it nearly air tight, with the exception
of the entrance, which is easily closed by the first
driving snow storm. To suppose bees can live a
single day with a hive thus closed, would be un-
reasonaljle. That all bees which die in cold weath-
er are killed in this way, I will not attempt to as-

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jaw.

serfc, but that some do, I am fully convinced by ac-
tual experience. That bee-hives should be as well
ventilated as our dwelling-houses I have not a
doubt; in fact, I am fuUysatisfied that a hive should
never set within three-fourths of an inch of the
bottom board, though I think it may ]je well to
place a cellar loosely round, during the winter
months, to keep the winds from driving directly
through the hive. T.

TREES ON FARMS.

Another point of some importance, as connected
with British farming, is thac of scattering trees in
the hedges and open fields. On lands devoted
exclusively to pasturing, such are needed for their
shade ; and, scattered generally over a country,
they add much to its beauty and picturesqueness.
Especially is this the case in this country, where,
owing to a damp atmosphere, the falling leaves
Boon decay and mingle with the soil, instead of be-
coming dry and littering the land and highways,
as with us. Englishmen are jultly proud of their
old, spreading trees. Landlords often enter it in
their leases, that no tree shall be cut down. Still,
in those parts of the "empire, where the fai'ming
is best, the trees are going. You now see but few
trees in the wheat-fields of the low-lands of Scot-
land, for instance ; and very few in the fields of
such farmers as Mr. Pusey and Mr. Mechi. These
men do not sacrifice their love for the beautiful in
nature. They cultivate treesin their proper place.
They are the. last men, I suppose, who would
leave a country naked and bald ; but trees have no
longer a place among their wheat and barley.

In our land of scorching summers, let there be
trees. It would be barbarous to root them out
from our cultivated fields, where they are injurious,
without, at the same time, securing their growth
in other places, where they are not only harmless,
but pleasing to the eye, conducive to health, and
often more profitable than anything else the soil
will grow. Let them stud our pasture lands, as
gems of beauty and of comfort. Our cattle need
the means of coolness in summer, and warmth in
winter. Only by attending to this matter, shall
we ever approach that excellence in this depart-
ment, which our British brethren have attained.
More depends upon cherishing the breeds we have,
than upon importing new. Let trees line our
highways. Their roots and tops will be a little
injurious to the bordering lands, but not much ;
the weary traveller and his beast will rest under
their shade ; our children will delight the palate
from their produce ; and our grand-children build
their houses with the timber they grow. If our
road-sides were adorned with a tree once in five
rods, the rows alternating with each other, as for
as convenient, the roads, with the exception of
here and there a wet place, which might be inter-
mitted if thought desirable, would not be a whit
worse, and in many soils would be far better. If
one-fourth of these trees were rock maples, they
would furnish sugar for the population, whenever
it should be cheaper to manufacture than to buy ;
and no one knows what future times will be. Ru-
ral dwellings should be adorned by shade trees.
An American farm-house, under a sun shining
intensely at least two hundred and fifty whole
days in a year, is a very difierent thing from an
English country residence, where the sun scarcely
shines as many hours, and that mainly morn-

ing and evening. Yet the Englishman' tal<es ca
to provide his residence with trees ; the breeze
that enter his windows come purified by a previous
passage through dense foliage : while too often the
American neglects to surround himself with these
conservators of health and comfort ; so that he and
his family breathe air, not only scorching hot, but
often surcharged with carbon and ammonia. An
American fasra-house, without trees at a little
distance, (not so near as to produce injurious
dampness,) is out of all taste, is unfavorable to
health and comfort, and in utter disregard of the
great law of adaptation to circumstances of situa-
tion and climate. — Albany Cultivator.

For the New England Farmer.
LOW-LIMBED, VS. TALL TREES.

Oak, elm, maple, pine and most other trees,
which, in a dense forest, send up smooth, bare
trunks, that may be measured by tens of feet, will
in an open field, if left to themselves, limb out
near or quite to the ground. Analogy seems to
suggest the propriety of allowing apple trees, in
similar circumstances and in our climate, to fellow
their own modest instincts in this respect, instead
of compelling them to Bloomerize, without even a
leaf to protect their spindle-shanks from the direct
rays of an August sun.

On this theory, confirmed by some little ob-
servation, I planted an orchard of over one hun-
dred trees in the spring of 1850. After consider-
able inquiry among nursery-men, I bargained with
the Messrs. Lake, of Topsfield, who said they
could furnish just what 1 wanted — trees not tall
enough to sell well ! They were to be two years
from the bud ; consequently small at best, and still
smaller for being "stunts." Some were however
three or four years old — less attention being paid
to age than to the required form of the trees.
When they were delivered, Mr. L. pointed to a
slim, lank-bodied, small-topped tree, and remark-
ed, "there is a fine one— sold it for 75 cents ; but,
as it is not taken away, you may have it for 50'
cents." I replied, "I would like to see it grow
with the low-limbed trees I have bought of you for
a shilling each, and will promise to set it out well."

Now for the result of four seasons' growth.

The tall tree was put in the garden, and in a soil
in which a Louise Bonne de Jersey pear, planted "
near by and at the same time, has added full six
feet to its stature ; while the twigs of the apple
have shot out one, two, sometimes six inches a
season ; but not enough in the four years to change
its original forlorn appearance. The trunk, a foot
from the ground, measures six and a half inches in
circumference, and is now, as it was when planted,
nearly of the same size all the way from the
ground to the limbs, which branch out 5 feet high.

The small trees were set in a light, sandy and
gravelly soil, from which wood had been previously
cut ; was cleared ofiF and plowed in the fall pre-
vious, when a compost of meadow mud, lime,
ashes and leaves, was made into piles, convenient
for use in setting the trees in the spring. This is
all the "manure" they have had, except what they
may have stolen from corn and potatoes, lightly
manured in the hill, that have annually been
planted among the trees, and one mulching of
coarse meadow hay. I have measured a row of
14 trees, which I think a fair average of the or-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

23

chard, and find the circumference of the smallest
six inches ; of the largest, ten inches ; average of
the whole fourteen, about one foot from the ground,
seven and one-half inches. The shortest trunk,
seventeen inches ; the tallest, three feet ; average
of the fourteen trunks, two feet three inches. I
measured one limb that had grown eight feet in
the four seasons, but in most cases I could not
decide where the first year's growth commenced.
But, take the trees together, the small ones have
made about as many feet as the tall one has inches.

The esact circumference of either the small trees
, or the tall one when plainted, is not known ; but,
while the first have changed from mere bushes to
respectable trees, the latter has remained in statu
quo.

The tall tree has been full of blossoms every
spring, but has borne no fruit. Of the small ones,
seven bloomed last year, (the third year from
planting) , and matured seven apples ; this year
twenty-one bloomed, but only one apple ripened.

Injustice to the tall tree, I ought to add that
it has sent out shoots every season from both roots
and trunk, apparently for the purpose of remedy-
ing iis unnatural position ; but these have been
regularly Jack-knifed, to give the tree a "fair
chance," and the full benefit of "cultivation."

Winchester, Nov. Sth, 1853.

GREAT CROPS.

The Annual Meeting of the Rocfdngham, N. H.,
Fair, was holden at Exeter, on the 9th inst. We
find in the News-Letter the report of flie commit-
tee on crops, awarding the following premiums :

The Committee on crops awarded the following pre-
miums :

To .Joseph Winslow, of Epping, for 111 bushels and 14
quarts, of Indian corn on one acre of ground, $5.

To .Joseph C.lley, of Nottingham, for 121 bushels and 14
quarts of Indian corn on on«acre and 23 rods of ground, $3.

To .''tfphen Dow, (JT Brentwood, for 175i bushels of Rye
on 4 acres 41 rods of ground, $4.

To D iiiiel C. Long, of Kingston, for 301 bushels of wheal
on one acre and 24 rods of ground, $4.

To A. C. Taylor, of Hampton, for .50i bushels of Barley on
one acre and 10 rods of ground, $4.

To .James II. Dow of Rye, for 68 bushels Oats oa one and
a half acres of ground, $4

To Rufiis C. Sanborn, of Haraptonfalls, for 151i bushels
of carrots on one quarter of an acre of ground, $3.

The Committee on Bog Meadows awarded to G. C. Brown,
of Stralham, a premium of $5.

The above are certainly large corn crops. We
were wondering what appearance that field would
present, which gave to its fortunate owner, one
hundred and eleven bushels and fourteen quarts of
corn on one acre ! We have recently harvested
a field wliere we obtained about sixty bushels, only,
to the acre. On passing through it repeatedly
before it was cut, we could find scarcely a dozen
hills to the acre that contained o/i/y three ears; on
most of the hills there were four ears, and on
many of them were five, six and seven, making
an average, as we thought, of five ears of good
sound otjrn to each hill. Wo planted three feet
and six inches apart, each way, giving .3,555 hills
to the acre, which multiplied by 5, the number of
ears to the hill, gives 17,775 cars on an acre. The

common eight-rowed, yellow corn,will require 270
ears for a bushel of shelled corn. Now dividing
the number of ears on an acre by the number of
ears (270) required to make a bushel, and it gives
65 bushels and about 27 quarts, to the acre. Now
if 46 bushels of corn were added to an acre sue
as has been described, it will not seem strange
that we wondered what kind of an appearance it
would present. It certainly would be a sight such
as we have never yet been permitted to see.

HOW TO HAVE PLENTY OF WATER.

Pure, clear water, forming, as it does, at the
same moment, both the emblem and embodiment
of refreshment and comfort, is looked upon as a
vital element of satisfactory existence, by all who
hate dirt, parched lips, dusty lungs, stratified de-
posits (m the skin, and parti-colored linen. It also
forms a most agreeable class of pictures for the
eye, in the form of placid sheets, bubbling
brooks, sprinkling jets and flashing fountains; and
through the ear, it gives us the music of cascades,
the thunder of cataracts, and the grave roar of
ocean surges.

It is no wonder that all are ready to labor for
and welcome so agreeable a companion. The large
cicies have brought it many miles in hewn mason-
ry, at a cost of millions, that they may syringe
their streets, feed their baths, and keep a ready
antidote for the incipient conflagration. The coun-
try resident longs for the termination of the parch-
ing drouth, when drenching rains shall fill his cis-
terns, replenish his failing well, and set the brooks
in motion. Many are looking with envy at some
rare and "lucky" neighbor, who happens to have
an unfailing spring; and others, as we have often
witnessed, placing the water hogshead on the ox-
sled, proceed to drag their needed supply from a
distance of one to three miles, as the case may be,
and as they can get it from the pond, creek, or
some better supplied risident. We have positively
seen a wealthy farmer drawing rain water a mile,
after having allowed five times the amount he ever
would have needed to run to waste immediately
before his eyes ; qnd we venture to assert that
not one farmer in a hundred who has suffered from''
a want of water during the present year's severe
drouth, has not committed a similar waste, though
perhaps sometimes less in degree.

The great mass of country residents seem to
have no more conception of the enormous floods
of clear, pure rain water, that annually pour oflf
of the roofs of their dwellings, wood-houses, barns,
sheds, and other out-buildings, than if they had
never heard of such a huge watering-pot as the
clouds in the sky. If all the rain which falls in
the Northern States within a year, should remain
upon the surface of the earth without sinking into
it or running off, it would form an average depth
of water of about three feet. In the Southern
States, it would be more ; within the American
tropics, it would amount to about ten feet ;" and
near Bombay, in Asia, to twenty-five feet.

Every inch of rain that falls on a roof, yields
two barrels for each space ten feet square ; and
seventy-two barrels are yielded by the annual rain
in this climate, on a similar surfiice. A barn
thirty by forty feet, yields annually 804 barrels

24

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

that is enough ybr more than two barrels a day, for
every day in the year. Many of our medium land-
holders have, however, at least five times that
amount of roofing on their farmeries and dvpel-
lings, yielding annually more than four thousand
barrels of rain water, or about twelve barrels or
one hundred and fifty ordinary pailjuls, daily. A
very small portion of this great quantity is caught
in the puny and contemptible cistern and tubs
placed to catch it ; but full-sized, capacious res-
ervoirs, fit to hold this downward deluge, we know
not where to find, even in a single instance !

It is true, that where a constant draught is
made on a cistern, it need not hold the full year's
supply — even one-sixth part, will, in general, an-
swer; as the variations in the wet and dry seasons
do not often amount to more than the rain of two
months. But allowing all this, where shall we
find a cistern for a thirty-by-forty-feet barn that
holds this sixth, or 170 barrels? Or one propor-
tionately large, for a broader roof 1

Now what would the large supply of water from
sufficient cisterns enable the farmer to do 1 Or
rather, what might he not do with it?

1. In the first place, all the cattle on a farm
well furnished with buildings, might obtain all the
water needed for their daily use.

2. Or, if instead, the usual proportion were
supplied them by streams and wells, a large up-
per cistern would furnish all the conveniences of

remark, a ewe that appears to the casual observ-
er to be without horns is not always a perfect poll.
There must be a cavity, instead of a fulness,
where the horns usually attaches, or she can-
not be depended upon to produce polled lambs
with certainty, although the sire be polled.

The result of my eight years' labor is, I do not
now have but one horned ram lamb in about ten
or twelve ; and I do not believe that I have sac-
rificed one iota in form or constitution, or in qual-
ity or quantity of wool.

Some of my objections to horns are briefly as
follows :

1. The substance that goes to make horns is the
same that enters into the composition of wool.

2. If rams are polled you may let all the pure-
blooded ones run entire to the age of one or two
years, and then any that are rejected as rams will
make as good wethers as if gelded while lambs.

3. Where horned rams run in flock in summer
they are sure to fight, and if they do not kill each
other outright, loose the skin about the horns, be-
come fly-blown, and without constant care more
or less of them die.

A gentleman who has been engaged in wool-
growing over twenty years, and who keeps near
two thousand sheep, told me he annually lost
rams enough from these causes to pay all his tax-
es.

4. Horned rams frequently strike ewes in the
side, bruising them, loosening their wool, and oc-

as

showering, washing, and sweeping off feculent

matter, which are derived in cities from pipes and ! casionally causing them to cast their lapibs.

hydrants. 5. You can shelter and feed about double

3. Or, if large cisterns were placed in the up- many polled as horned rams in a given space.
per part of the farm-buildings (where the space In conclusion I would say lam always open to
they would occupy would be of little comparative conviction. Has any one a reason why sheep id a
value,) they would supply a fountain one-fourth domesticated state should have horns T — Wii. H.

of an inch in diameter, spouting fifteen feet high,
for two hours every summer afternoon — the cis
terns being unoccupied in winter.

4. In addition to supplying the fountain they
would keep up the water in a pond at the foot of
the fountain, thirty feet in diameter, (or with
equal surface) and allow eight barrels to flow off
daily for watering cattle or for other purposes,
during the hottest evaporating days of summer. —
Country Genlleinan.

POLLED SHEEP.

Tnos. Brown — Esteemed Friend : There are
two reasons which induce me to offer a few re-
marks to the Farmer on the subject of Polled
Sheep. One is, I believe a decided advantage
may result to the wool-growing community from
a consideration of the subject. The other is, I
am now compelled to buy horned rams for a cross
of blood, because I cannot get such polled ones as
I desire that are not nearly allied to my own
stock.

I believe that nearly all middle and long-wool-
ed Sheep are polled, while the males of the finer
wooled varieties are usually horned.

I have for many years regarded horns on Sheep
in a domesticated state, as not only a useless,
but a troublesome and expensive appendage; and
in 1845 fortunately getting hold of a very super-
ior polled ram, I commenced to try to breed a flock
which should be hornless. I proceeded by not on-
ly selecting polled rams, but, so far as practica-
ble, perfect polled ewes also ; and here let me

Ladd in Ohio Farmer.

FATTENING SWINE.
The business of fattening swine is often ren-
dered far more expensive than it n«ed be. Many
farmers feed only their best and most valuable
grains and vegetables, and feed them raw. Tn this
way a much larger quantity of food is required,
than would be necessary, were the food prepared
by boiling or steaming. Indian corn, fed whole, is
always an expensive article in fattening any ani-
mal, and those who rely upon it exclusively for
making pork, must not be surprised if their meat
costs them more per pound, than the same is
worth in the market. Many farmers are aware
that the corn consumed by an animal, will, if sold
in the market, at the common market price, pur-
chase more pork than it will make. But by select-
ing poor corn, grinding it into meal, perhaps with
the cobs, and cooking it either by boiling or
steaming, and when convenient mixing it with
boiled potatoes, turnips, beets, carrots or pump-
kins, all of which are highly nutritious and salu-
tary in their effects upon the general health, a
very considerable and important saving may be
made, and the pork, instead of being an expensive
article of food, will be rendered an economical
ne.
In connection with every piggery there should

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

25

be an apparatus for steaming or boiling, where the
several articles of food can be prepared and tem-
pered with economy and ease. Apples are excel-
lent for feeding swine, and if boiled or steamed
and mixed with corn and cob meal, will be found
to contribute essentially to the economy of fatten-
ing not only of swine, but of other animals. A
person who was some years since engaged rather
largely in fattening pork for the northern market,
assured us that he preferred apples and meat to
any other diet. lie expressed his belief that pork
could be fattened on this food, for four cents per
pound — less even, we thought, than upon any
kind of grain. In this economical manner the far-
mer may every year fatten pork not only suiEcient
for his own use, but frequently a surplus for the
market, and it will be of the best quality.

Fnr the New England Farmer.
MARYLAND CATTLS SHOW AND FAIR.

Mr. Editor : — The Annual Cattle Showand Fair
of the Maryland State Agricultural Society was
held near this city, last week. Your readers may
perhaps be interested in reading a brief account of
the manner in which such exhibitions are con-
ducted in this region.

The show occupied four days. Admission was
obtained, only by paying twenty-five cents. In
New England, this farmers' festival is free to all ;
as free as the light of the sun. But there are rea-
sons why an admission fee should be exacted here.

The ground occupied, being near the city and
being devoted exclusively to the interests of the
Society, is subject to a ground-rent. The fixtures
being of a permanent character, are more costly.
On three sides of the lot, containing, I should
judge, twenty-five acres, there are substantial,
covered stalls, opening toward the centre, neatly
whitewashed and numbered. Near the centre,
there are a number of buildings, designed for the
accommodation of exhibitors of mechanical and ag-
ricultural implements, and for ofiices. These build-
ings, though slightly built, are in good taste, — are
very commodious, and make an imposing appear-
ance. There is also a building in whicn hay and
grain are kept for the accommodation of exhibitors.
In front of these buildings is a race course, or hip-
podrome, the track being covered with tan-bark,
and the whole enclosed with a railing. These
buildings and fixtures necessarily involve much
expense.

Then the amount paid out in premiums is much
greater. Thirty-five hundred dollars was, this
way, disbursed last week. FurthermorCj there
seems to be propriety in imposing a tax upon the
multitudes, who go out from a large city, like this,
to gratify an idle curiosity, and who contribute
nothing to agricultural improvement, except in the
consumption of her products.

Tlie State, I am told, has made no appropriation
to agricultural societies, so that if progress be
made, it will be attributable to individual enter-
prise and liberality.

Our national government, as well as many of the
State governments, seems very reluctant to re-
cognize agriculture as among the departments of
human industry which deserve protection and en-

couragement. Four-fifths of the whole popula-
tion of our country are agriculturists. And yet
while millions are annually expended for the ben-
efit of commerce and manufactures, agriculture
gets only a Patent OflBce Report, once in a twelve-
month.

But I must to the show. The exhibition of
Horses was very good. There were some valu-
able studs, breeding mares and matched geldings.
The Morgan breed seemed to be in the ascendant.

The farmers of Maryland have hitherto paid but
little attention to the raising of horses. As good
horses may be found in Baltimore as elsewhere ;
but most of them are brought in from other States.
IVeat stock was in great abundance, but not in great
variety. I saw no working oxen, nor any steers.
Of bulls, old and young, and milch cows and heif-
ers, there was a great abundance. The Durhams
and Devonshires seemed to predominate. Of these
breeds there were several very superior animals,
both bulls and cows. There w^re also Ayrshires,
Alderneys and Natives, and fine specimens of each.
I should judge, from this exhibition, that prefer-
ence is given, in this region, to the Devonshires.
They doubtless e:^cel in symmetry and beauty of
form and color, and perhaps in hardihood. But
for the dairy, I think them inferior to the Ayr-
shires, and for the stall, by no means equal to the
Durhams.

The show of Sheep was excellent. A great num-
ber and superior specimens. The Bakewell,
South Downs and Native breeds, were the princi-
pal. Three Iderino bucks of recent importation,
"could not be beat." I know not why Maryland
may not successfully compete with Vermont in wool-
growing. In this climate, sheep need no shelter
in winter, and will do well with but little hay or
grain.

In the department of Swine there was a very
liberal show. The Berkshires were fully repre-
sented; the Chester breed, and the Native also.
There were a few SufFolks, which were much ad-
mired and sold for a high price. The Berkshires
are favorites with the farmers in this region, on
account of their hams, which are thought to be
superior. The Chester hogs, from Chester coun-
ty. Pa., are popular in this State, if popularity can
be predicated of a brute animal, on account of
their size. They .are sometimes made to weigh as
much as seven hundred pounds, dressed.

There was one pen of hogs, from Virginia, which
were greatly admired. There were fifty-one, all
of them very fixt, and said to be only sixteen
months old. I. think they would average three
hundred and fifty pounds dressed. The tender said
they had had no meal ; their food being dry corn
with water. It was a spectacle well calculated to
make the mouth of a Gentile water.

The show of Poultry would not suffer by com-
parison with the great "Hen Convention" which,
whilome, came off in Boston. Such a clucking
and cooing and cackling and crowing as was kept
up in the grove, occupied by this department,
must have been a rare treat to ornithological ama-
tuera. The chicken mania must have taken strong
hold, and been widely diffused in this region. All
the "improved" breeds, from the majestic "Impe-
rials" down to little sputtering bantams, were ex-
hibited, finer specimens I have never seen. There
wore also in abundance, geese, ducks, turkeys,
peacocks, Guinea-hens, pigeons and nondescripts.

26

NEW ENGLAND f'ARMER.

Jak.

Of Agricultural Implements there was a great dis-
play. Machines for threshing, mowing, reaping,
sowing, planting, grinding, sawing, making bricks,
cutting hay and vegetables and pressing hay and
tobacco, were exhibited in the full tide of success-
ful experiment. Plows in almost endless variety,
harrows, rollers, and all the smaller implements,
were exhibited in great numbers.

Among the plows, I noticed the left hand plow
which is common among the Germans, in Penn-
sylvania ; also the short plow, which is in general
use in this State. Tlie Michigan plow and the
subsoil plow I did not notice. The latter I know
has been extensively used here.

I have mentioned many things and many ani-
mals, which I was glad to see in the enclosure. As
a faithful chronicler, I must name what I should
have preferred not to see at the show.

We are told that when the sons of God had assem-
bled on a certain occasion, Satan came also among
them. In like manner, or in some manner, when
the farmers of Maryland had driven together their
flocks and herds, for the laudable purpose of taking
counsel together and stimulating each other to
greater exertions for improvement, in the honor-
able calling of tilling the soil, the "critter" was
found among them. Thinking, perhaps, that a
"Cattle Show" would embrace every species of
animals, wearing horns and hoofs, he made bold
to enter.

In New England, the farmers' festival is a tem-
perance gathering. So it will be elsewhere, when
farmers generally understand the inseparable con
nexion between sobriety and thrift. Above the
door of one building, I read "Ladies' Saloon,'
where refreshments of various kinds might be ob
tained, In another part of the enclosure was a
stall, where eatables and drinkables were displayed.
This must have been done with the approbation of
the managers of the show. The triumph of the
Maine Law ticket, in this city yesterday, gives an
earnest of better things in future.

Allow me to mention in this connexion, one
gratifying fact. President Pierce visited the show,
during its progress. After looking at the various
objects of curiosity, those who had him in charge,
thinking to do him a special favor, conducted him
into an office and set before him the intoxicating
cup. The president, to his honor be it said, peremp-
torily declined.

Suffice it to say, this exhibition was highly
creditable to the State, and furnishes abundant
evidence that the cause of scientific agriculture is
progressing in Maryland.

Yours, R. B. n

Baltimore, Nov. 1, 1853.

For the New England Farmer.
OYSTER SHELL AND STONE LIME.

Mr. Editor: — Can you, or some of your corres-
pondents, give any information relative to the val-
ue of oyster shell lime, when compared with com-
mon barn-yard manure. I would also like to inquire
if you have ever tested its value when used for
cement. By answering the above inquiries you
will confer a favor. B.

Proctorsville, R. I., Nov. 21, 1853.

Remarks. — Will some of our correspondents
who have the knowledge, reply?

For the Neio Ens^land Farmer.
POINTS ARE PINS.

BY A. G. COMINGS.

Once on a time, imagination has it, a grave de-
bate-arose concerning pins. Assembled and as-
sociate wisdom gave to the subject great impor-
tance ; and those who were in the habit of ma-
king pins, with those who were accustomed to us-
ing pins, together sat and listened ; while mer-
chant princes and knights of the counter entered
fiercely into the conflict.

There was something in the subject, pin, which
was truly great. There was also something very
small. These were pinhead, and pin-point. There
was something long, but nothing short ; and so
was the grave debate ; much talk, but no de-
cision.

The world will not be harmed by knowing a lit-
tle about how this great debate was carried on,
so I will try to tell them ; but if nobody ever
heard or saw the like, they will perhaps hardly
believe me. But they will pardon me, fori must
copy a little after the debaters themselves, if I say
things without wit or wisdom.

The contest about pins was not whether pins
were of use ; for this everybody knew ; and where
people had knowledge, there was no place for de-
debate. Neither was it a question whether any-
body manuflictured pins ; for the manufacturers
were on the ground, to discover whatever might
have an influence on their chosen occupation.
* The whole debate was on the important ques-
tion, "what constitutes a pin?" The debaters
were divided into three classes, namely, the great
pleaders, the long pleaders, and the sharp plead-
ers. The great debaters urged that the head was
the chief end and substance of a pin — that a thing
without a head was no more a pin ^\an an old
maid was a part of mankind. If you use one to
attach one part of the web of humanity to anoth-
er, it will not stay put ; but will surely shove it-
self right out of place, because of being without
a head. It would be difficult for me, unaccus-
tomed as I am to reporting such great arguments,
to do full justice to those who so forcibly argued
that pin-head was pin.

The long pleaders suited their manner to their
subject, and made long and polished speeches to
prove that the bar constituted the pin. There
was much in their pleas. So long arguments,
however, I have not time now to report.

The sharp pleaders contended that the point
was the essential and indispensable end and sub-
ject of a pin ; so much so that the point really
constituted it a pin.

From the three contending parties might be
heard the cries, '^ Head is pin ;" — "J5ar is pin;^^
— ^^ Point is pin.^'

I was about to denounce the whole assembly —
it was on my tongue to call them all a set of fools,
making mockery of truth, when the genius of re-
flection addressed me saying, "utter no word of
condemnation. You are a farmer. You are
numbered among agricultural writers ; and you
can find folly to condemn in your own department.
You may hear men crying, Ilead is pin, — Point is
pin, — Bar is pin, among agricultural writers."

"Then I saw and considered it well ; I looked
upon it and received instruction."
There is a class of farmers who depend wholly

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

27

upon quantity, in the preparation or making of
manure. They oifer premiums to those who will
make the most manure according to the amount
of stock kept. They are continually crying '-Head
is pin." Now any fool can pile stufF together to
make a heap ; yet his heap of manure may be no
more suited to supply the wants of the soil than
a saw-dust pudding would be to meet the crav-
inofs of an empty stomach. There is something
besides quantity to be considered, in making
large heaps of compost. Bulky manures, large
masses of old vegetaljle matter arc as necessary
to the soil as a head is to the pin. Without
them the soil will certainly remain in as bad con
dition as any old maid in this wide world. You
may dress it, and sigh over it; but it will bring
fyrth nothing but grief and sadness. It will be
barren. It must be married, that is, cultivated
according to the natural laws of vegetable want,
before it can be in any other condition than that
of barrenness. The carbonaceous matter necessa-
ry to the maturity of a plant, and especially of a
plant bearing seed, will not all be supplied from
the air during the short life of the plant. Plants
draw carbon from the atmosphere, but not in suffi-
cient quantity to meet the wants of any thing
more than dwarfs in vegetable life. More than
ninety-eight pounds in every hundred pounds of
wheat.or rye grain belonged originally to water
and air. These are driven off into the air by the
process of burning. This is the pin-head to agri-
culture. An omission at this point, in our agri-
culture, will certainly prove unfortunate for us.
But we may have ever so much old vegetable or
carbonaceous matter in the soil, and not in the
state it should be in to feed plants, or where the
soil lacks the mineral or earthy ingredients of
plants, and we may cry out pin-head is pin, as
much ae we will, we shall find that the crop fails
of coming to maturity.

There is another set of men connected with ag-
ricultural papers and books who are continually
crying, "Point 18 pin." They are from week to
week making exhibition of the tables which chem-
ists have prepared to show what the little end of
vegetation is made of. That is, they give an an-
alysis of the ashes of plants, and discourse untir-
ingly upon the importance of supplying these sub-
stances, which are the elements of plants. Tru-
ly, the point of a pin is very necessary to the per-
fection of the pin ; but these men may stand and
cry, "Point is pin. Point is pin," as long as they
please, in agricultural matters, and when I take
off my hat to make a bow to them, on the high
road of agricultural progress, they may expect
it to be done in the style a Quaker would do it.
The fact is, after all, that the chemical compo-
sition of the inorganic or earthly matter of vege-
tables and plants is only the little end of the
greatest of all matters to a dependent world. It

The intelligent general management of a farm
is, unquestionably, the most important of all
things about farming. There are a class of far-
mers, however, who entirely abuse this idea, and
contend that this is the whole matter. They de-
spise all ideas of improvement, and all helps from
abroad. We hear them incessantly crying, "Bar
is pin." They care not for pin-head orpin-point.
They want neither green crops nor meadow muck,
neither guano nor any thing else.

So important is this matter, that I say without
hesitation that I have no disposition to be satis-
fied with books or papers, on agriculture, which
are not edited by men who are practical farmers.
Others may tell us many good things, but they
give us so many bad lessons at the same time,
that they cannot be relied upon. Hence the
strong objection's to " Book farming." We want
a pin to have a good head, a good point, and a
well formed and polished bar. We want full
views in agriculture, also. a. g. c.

Mason, N. H.

AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA.

The Editor of the Boston Journal not only loves
the garden, and knows how to procure some of
the finest fruits and flowers that are produced in
this vicinity, but knows how, also, to benefit his
readers by laying before them, in his daily /ourno?,
many it 3ms of interest in relation to agriculture
and horticulture. From his paper we copy the
following account of the progress of Agriculture
in the Old Dominion : —

Agriculture in Virginia. — A State Agricul-
tural Fair was recently held in Virginia, which
appears by tlie published reports to have been
the largest, most enthusiastic, and most interes-
ting gathering of the kind ever held in this coun-
try, and one which promises to be of immense im-
portance in advancing the interests of agricul-
turists in that State. We have had some brief
accounts of this fair. It commenced on the 1st
of November, when, however, only the oflicers
and members of the Society were admitted with-
in the enclosure. On the 2d, the gates were
thrown open, and not less than twenty thousand
of the best population of the State were admit-
ted. Everybody was not merely gratified, but as-
tonished, as well at the immense concourse as at .
the extraordinary display of the agricultural and
mechanical resources of the State. The annual
address was delivered by John R. Edmunds. On
the 3d, there was a plowing match, at which
Madame Sontag, the vocalist, gave $100 as a
premium to the successful plow. Half the premi-
um was given to the colored plowman, (a slave,)

and half to the owner of the plow and team. On
fs to me a settled and certain fact that there are 'the 4th, the exhibition was brought to a close by
ninety-nine failures in crops from other causes the award of premiums, and these were by no

about which little or nothing is said by the class
of teachers referred to, where one such failure can
be attributed to a lack of the requisite inorganic

means few nor small, and the valedictory address
was pronounced by Ex- President Tyler.

But the most enthusiastic portion of the per-

elements of plants. In the use of guano, super- jformance was exhibited in the nightly meetings

phosphate, plastei^ salt, and lime, without sup-
plying the soil with carbonaceous matter, men
are imitalring the sharp pleader, crying "Point is
pin." Now all these are very valuable, and chem-
ical analysis also ; but we have had enough of ma-
king everything out of the little end of a thing.

of the Agricultural Society during the week, at
Metrop.jlitan Hall. Of this the National Intelli-
gencer says :

"On the second night a proposition was intro-
duced by Lewis E. Harvie, Esq., of Amelia, to

28

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

raise twenty thousand dollars, to be invested in
State stocks, as a permanent endowment of the
Society. This was responded to in the most en-
thusiastic terms, various gentleman putting down
themselves and their whole families, to the third
generation, as life members of the society, and oth-
ers pledging their respective counties for from $500
to $1000. The meeting was protracted to the
hour of twelve, and before adjourning the sum of
thirty-nine thousand dollars had been raised !

The same scenes were enacted on Thursday and
Friday nights, and the enthusiasm was kept up
in a practical manner, until upwards of sixty thou-
sand dollars were subscribed ! A suggestion that
the Legislature should be called upon for a sub-
scription was promptly put down, several members
declaring that the farmers of Virginia, now that
their spirit was aroused, needed no help of that
kind, but would rely on themselves; yet, during
the proceeding, it was found that professional men,
mechanics, and merchants, all claimed the right
to aid in putting Virginia agriculture upon a firm
and enduring basis. A wag declared that, so far
from asking Legislative help, the society was now
ready to shave the Slate debt .'"

Think of this, farmers of Massachusetts ! Six
ty thousand dollars subscribed in two days to ad
vance the cause of agriculture ! Here is a spirit
and example worthy of emulation. Virginia has
heretofore displayed but few signs of healthy ag-
ricultural progress. Her farms and plantations
have been cropped and cropped until they have be-
come exhausted, and then have been abandoned.
But we presume, one of the first effects of this agri-
cultural furor, will be the introduction of new and
improved modes of culture, by which the soil
may be' kept in heart, or reclaimed. The agricul-
tural wealth and prospects of Virginia will thus
receive an ijopetus which will place her on a par
with other States whose natural resources are
not so great in this important branch of industry.
We look upon this fair as the dawning of a new
and brighter day for Virginia.

For the New England Farmer.

TAR- WATER FOR THE ONION
MAGGOT.

Mr. Brown : — As I have been a constant read-
er of your Monthly Farmer for a year past, and in
it have noticed some remedies to save onions from
being destroyed by the maggot, I thought, this
last season, I would try one and see if it would do
any good, as I have for several seasons past lost
most of my onions by the maggot. Therefore, last
spring, when I sowed my onions,! made the drills
and sprinkled ground plaster into them first, then
sowed the onion seed on the plaster, and covered
it with the soil,and as soon as the onions were up
five or six inches high, I procured two quarts of
tar and put it into an old tin ten quart pail of wa-
ter. I stirred the tar up and let it soak one day,
then turned the tar water off into a sprinkler and
sprinkled it over the onions about twice in a week,
which saved the most of them, and larger and bet-
ter onions I never raised in my life, they being the
white silver skins. I lost a small part of them, I
think, by not applying the tar water soon enough,
as the maggot had got into a few before I began to
make use of the tar water.

Yours respectfully, J. N.

Meredith Village, N. H, Nov. 15, 1853.

THANKSGIVING.

We have already uttered some thoughts in rela-
tion to this institution which annually unites, once
more, the scattered households of our beloved
New England. It is suggestive of many pleasant
thoughts ; arrests the current of worldly ambition,
chastens the hot pursuit of gain, strengthens the
ties of affection, and lifts our hearts in gratitude
to Him who knows all our wants, and who has
abundantly supplied them.

In a former article we briefly spoke of the Vari-
ety and Wealth of the Harvest. We will now give
a few moments to a consideration of the Develop-
ment of Agricultural Science. This is a prominent
cause of the variety and abundance of which we
have already spoken. The cultivation of the earth
has become a Science and lays under contribution
many other sciences ; all the natural sciences are
its auxiliaries — botany, chemistry, geology, &c.
A multitude of the best minds of this country and
Europe are engaged in it. Many of our universi-
ties have a department assigned to it, and all,
probably, eventually, will. Some of the State gov-
ernments have organized an agricultural Depart-
ment; while others have the subject under consid-
eration ; and even the national government would
have had a Bureau of Agriculture, ere this, if
the politicians could have spared time from their
party tactics. But the farmers — three-fourths of
the voters — will soon call their attention to the
subject. What an amount of talent will these
great organizations turn to this chief industrial
pursuit I Every experiment, discovery, or im-
proved method, in any corner of the country, will
immediately be made universal. And then what
a multitude of local societies to reduce to practice
all this knowledge, correct it and confirm it by
experiment! It is an Art as well as a Science;
and it is a fine art, as well as a useful. It covers
the land with beauty as well as riches, and what
is not the least benefit,this pursuit is elevated from
a mill-horse round of toil to an intellectual pursuit,
to a pursuit of taste and refinement. A Farmer's
Club in a town, in its weekly discussions through
the winter, will do as much to cultivate their minds
as their farms. How much superior to the old
practice of drinking cider and telling stories at
their nightly gatherings.

Another blessing of vast importance to our com-
fort, is the elevation of the Mechanic Arts. They
are elevated in more senses than one. They are
elevated in dignity. In early times, the trades
were badges of servitude — only the slaves and serfs
were mec(hanic8 ! The mechanical part we now per-
form by machinery raises more individuals into
the character of overseers. We have greatly im-
proved upon the ancients. They made war upon
their neighbors and took the vanquished to do
their menial work We have pressed the elements
into our service, which God made for that very

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

29

purpose. AVe have made the flaming fire draw our
chariots, the vild torrent of the hills turn our
spindles, and let the weary steed and the oppressed
captive go free. Labor is now raised to the digni-
ty of an intellectual pursuit. The engineer, and
even the factory girl tending her looms, are raised
to the position and emolument of overseers.

The mechanic Arts have conferred vast benefits
upon agricultural pursuits ; they are also elevated
in the elegance and abundance of their products.
Contrast the elegant cutlery and glass which now
grace the tables of all classes, with the wooden
and pewter plates and spoons of even forty years
ago — the carpets and papered walls, even of the
poorest now, with the sanded floors and smoky
wainscotting of the most wealthy then ! Compare
the busy housewife, drawing out her solitary
thread month after month, to clothe her family,
with the modern factory — its polished machinery
moving like the planetary system, and with almost
as much silence and velocity ! Compare the qual-
ity, variety, and elegance of fabrics now, and
their prices fifty years ago.

The efiect of these improvements cannot be
otherwise than beneficial. A great increase of
comforts, and a great diminution of coarse, hard
labor, must tend to raise and refine society. It
will be felt more by the poorer classes ; for the
wealthy never were condemned to want and drudg-
ery. Released from the more wearing labor, and
one person being able to do the work of forty,
they must necessarily have more time for social
and mental enjoyment and improvement.

We have thus enumerated a few of the blessings
which demand our gratitude and thanksgiving ;
others, without number, are constantly flowing in
upon us. The-possession of this beautiful heritage
which God has given us, with its healthful moun-
tains and fertilizing streams ; its variety of climate
and varied productions of soil in different latitudes;
the Union and harmony of the States, our noble
institutions, and the independent and wholesome
municipal regulations of the towns. These are
blessings known by no other people in^the degree
which we enjoy them.

May they find a lively response in every heart,
and influence us all to be anxious for ourselves
less, and seek the happiness of others mure.

4. The roots, where cut, heal better, and are
prepared to send out fresh ones even before the
frost is out of the ground.

5. The winter and spring rain settles the earth
around the roots.

6. The trees are well established before warm
weather overtakes them.

Autumn Transplanting of Fruit Trees. — Hot
eifs Magizine gives the following reasons why
autumn transplanting is prcfera1)le to that of
spring, on all soils in good condition for the growth
of fruit-trees, and they should be planted in no
other :

Autumn planting is better than spring for th>
following reasons :

1. The time is longer than spring.

2. The ground is in better condition.

3. The trees are then in the most dormant
state.

For the New England Farmer.
RAILROAD STOCKHOLDERS BENEFAC-
TORS TO THE COUNTRY.

Messrs. Editors;— It is a fact that the original
stockholders of Turnpike roads, Canals and Rail-
roads, as a general thing, have benefited the pub-
lic and injured themselves, that is, if we consider
the money spent by individuals for the good of the
public, a loss. ' Very few of the enterprising men
who have gone ahead in making new discoveries
and public improvements have been rewarded with
anything like an equivalent for their services ex-
cept the gratification every benevolent man feels
at doing good. From before the days of Elijah
the prophet down to the days of Columbus, and
then to the present time, the prophets, astrono-
mers, inventors of printing and numerous other
public benefactors, have not been treated with
marks of esteem or extrinsic politeness by the
greater mass of mankind.

At the commencement of railroad making in
this country erroneous opinions were formed by
many people who were suspicious that some kind
of a monster monopoly was about to take place to
trespass upon individual interest and deprive them
of their rights, and that railroad corporations
would enrich themselves on the " spoils" of the
travelling public. It is true that the railroad
mania commenced among v.-ealthy men of an en-
terprising description, who were willing to hazard
in a game which promised novelty if not riches,
and it is also true that other rich men, differently
organized, would not vest a dollar in any direction
unless in stocks where they were sure of being the
better by 9 or 12 per cent, interest. Many of the
landholders in the country, influenced by the
clamor of interested persons, obstinately refused
to sell their land at any rational price when a
railroad would enhance the value of their property
to more than double its former value. That same
bigotry which has in all ages been the annoyance
of every enterprise, seemed to revive and show its
hideous figures as late as the 19th century. The
stockholders in railroads acting from the motives
of gain, novelty, public benevolence or from what-
ever influences have been among the greatest bene-
factors to the farming interest as well as every
other interest, e^rcept their own, in the coun-
try. The original stockholders have "beat the
bush" and the farmers, speculators and non-stock-
holding business public, have caught the bird
The stockholders are accountable for every expense,
liable for every damage through carelessness of
officers, and accidents, are prosecuted for every
little injury of person or property, and fined with-
out mercy by an unfeeling jury for frightening
" distressed damsels," including other mishaps to
the end of the chapter of mi.sfortunos. On the
other hand, the non-stockholding, riding public,
have no risk to run only the risk of bruises, broken
bones, broken necks, and strangulation and sufib-
cation under drawbridges and in muddy streams,

30

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

which calamities are not much thought of provid-
ed there is steam enough put on to produce the
desired speed.

On the whole, the land proprietors and those
who have not lifted a Bnger to aid in the construc-
tion of railroads have received the benefit in the
rise of their lands and the cheapness of conveyance
of persons and freight, too much at the expense
of enterprising stockholders, who are spectators
of the success of their philanthrophic schemes to
benefit their country. According to the weekly
sales of stocks in railroads very few of them pay as
high as 6 per cent, per annum on the shares, and
more which pay but little or nothing; but still the
stockholders ought to feel well rewarded for the
accomplisment of their successful enterprises in
acts of benevolence.

It is to be regreted that railroad corporations
have not better feelings toward each other ; if
they were disposed to assist, instead of exercising
a baleful competition to injura each other, it would
be more in Christian character, and more to the
pecuniary advantage of all parties. Where there
IS litigation there is always waste, and the direc-
tors of railroads would do well to have as little
money as possible spent in ill nature, that the
deserving stockholders might have more to com-
pensate them for the risk they have run and the
expenses they have been at. 1 hope the millennium
among railroad corporations will soon take place,
when they will sit down in smiling repose to-
gether, (I do not mean on the track,) when there
shall be no disagreement among them to cause
injury to either party, when tliey shall all agree
in equitable charges for passengers and freight
that railroad conveyance throughout the country
may be sustained without bearing too heavily
upon an enterprising class of citizens. This war-
fare of driving one another from the field gener-
ally costs more than it comes to ; the ground is
genarally purchased at a dearer rate than it would
cost by treaty. Christian policy is the best, after
all. Silas Brown.

Wilmington, 1853.

N. B. I have made assertions in the above com-
munication, if doubted, I think I can prove by
statistics which are omitted in this that the com-
munication should not occupy more than its share
of room.

has always required the same team to plow the
same depth and width with a single plow. But we
have great confidence in the knowledge of the ed-
itor of the Cultivator in agricultural dynamics,
and hope he will explain to us the reasons for his
opinions.

DOUBLE, OR MICHIGAN PLOW.

The Albav.y Cultivator, in reply to questions of a
correspondent, aays : — "The Michigan Plow,which
is strictly a ^re?icA-plow, is a capital implement,
but it requires nearly double the amount of team
to draw it, that is needed for a common plow of
corresponding size."

We have given the double plow a pretty fair
trial on our own farm, and have conversed with
several excellent plowmen, in regard to the amount
of power required for this plow, compared with
one having a single mould-board, and the opinion
is common that the double plow requires no more
power, if, indeed, it does quite as much, to do the
same amount of work. We plow a furrow eight

and nine inches in depth by ten inches wide, with

two pair of oxen, on a stiff sward land, where it 1 the first time, and the subsoil brought to the suV-

For ike New England Farmer.

FALL PLOWING, &0.

Mr. Editor : — Much has been written and said
of late, on the subject of -'Fall Plowing," as
whether advisable or not. Some contend that it
is a great advantage to plow ground wanted for
spring crops in the fall, while others say very lit-
tle or no soil should lie exposed to the frosts of
winter in a plowed state. Our experience leads us
to say that fall plowing is a benefit and an advan-
tage according to circumstances. Some eight or
nine years ago, we turned over a homestead mead-
ow just before winter set in, and in that condition
it lay till spring. We endeavored to plow as near
six inches deep as we could, and as the work was
done with'the "Prouty Plow," it was, of course,
well turned over. The soil was an upland old sward
which had not been plowed for some thirty years.
In the spring the soil was levelled down with the
roller and harrowed without plowing, and planted
to corn, when a heavy crop was produced. No
manure was plowed in the fall previous, nor was
any used in the spring excepting some compost,
which was spread on the gravel knolls. Since that
time we have turned over meadows in the same
way, and in the spring spread on a heavy eoat of
fresh manure,mixing and covering it as well as we
could with the harrow, and not plowing it again
for fear of tearing up the old sward. In this way
fine crops of corn and potatoes have been pro-
duced at small expense of labor But a better way,
we think, would be, to give the old meadow or
sward a good covering of stable or dung manure,
turning it down six or eight inches deep, and let-
ting it lay till spring. Still, as stable or dung man-
ure is not generally at hand in the fall, a good
way is to get the o-^nure all out on to the sward,
or meadow, in the s^ "'ng, and then in the first of
May, spread and turn 'm'^ manure all down with
a six or eight inch furrow, ^"e consider the differ-
ence betwixt fall and sprin„ plowing, as being
more with the convenience of the farmer as to
time, than whether the soil shall be killed by one
process, or cured by another. Both plans have
their peculiar advantages — fall plowing in break-
ing down oM swards that are inclining to stiff clay,
and exposing a multitude of larv^ ot nsects to
killing frosts, while spring plowing has all the ad-
vantages peculiar to itself. All farmers of "pro-
gress" go in for deep plowing. And yet we think
a great deal of unnecessary talk has been made as
to know just how long time it shall take to get d<jwn
to a certain depth of soil, say ten inches. There is
little danger that a farmer will plow an old i old
at a depth of eight or ten inches the first tii.io,
unless it should be done by the double plowi'.i;^ of
surface and subsoiling. We never have yet ir-en
an acre of soil, whether it be a good soil or an 'Id,
barren soil, that ever was injured in the long run
by deep plowing. Others may have seen divee .ly
to the contrary, and if so, then all very well, 'i'uke
an old barren field and plow it eight inches deep,

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

31

face will have a sterile appearance. In that case the
aianure or most of it, should be spread upon the sur-
face and worked into the soil with the harrow and
©ultivatcr. This top or subsoil, after it has under-
gone the action of the sun, air and rains together
with the workings of the harrow, cultivator and
hoes will become as good, or even better than the
top soil turned to the bottom of the furrow,by the
end of the season. We think as much will be
gained in deepening the soil for a permanent im-
provement in one season in this way, as would be
gained in two or three years by lowering the plow-
ing an inch or two in a season. On many farms
the soil is so uniform that one kind of plow, and
other implements, to match is all that will be neces-
sary for the farmer to have,if they are of the right
kind, such a3"Prouty'8" or "Ruggles" pattern. A
good sward plow will be a good plow to plow mel-
low or stock ground, as we have found after ten
jears trial. Many teachers will say,that you must
have one plow to plow sward ground and another
to plow mellow ground, one to plow Sat surfaces,
and another to plow lapped furrows, and so on.
Now there is no objection that we can raise to far-
mers having all these plows if they feel so disposed
But three or four plows of the right stamp
costing from eight to ten dollars a plow, makes £
handsome sum when put together. If every person
averages one good plow, it will be more than we
shall expect to see in the next ten years to come.
Of course we do not mean to say that all soils
should be plowed with one plow, it will vary of
course, according to cireumstanees. But a plow
■ that will turn a furrow eleven or twelve inches in
width, may do the work just as effectually as one
taming a 7 or 8 inch furrow. The difference is
not so much in the width of the furrow slice cut,
as it is in the manner in which the work is done.
The difference would be a quarter or a third
more furrow slices in a field, in one case, than the
other, but no difference in the yield of the crop
will be seen. The same principle may be applied
to mellow plowing, a heavy plow could work the
soil over just as effectually as a light plow, and at
the same time do the work much faster with econ-
amyoftime. Yours, &c., L. Durand.

Derby, Ct., Nov. 29, 1853.

JAMES E. TESCHMACHER.

One after another, the good and the useful are
taken from us, while yet in the midst of life and
health , leaving wide chasms in the ranks of those
devoted to our beloved Art. Even if they were
fully ripe, like a shock of corn in its season, and
their days of active usefulness were over, we should
scarcely know how to spare them ; but when cut
down suddenly, taken from our sides, as it were,
while laboring in our accustomed fields, it deeply
impresses us with the sublunary nature — even of
the richest and the best of all things here. While
we cherish their memory, therefore, in our deep
eet heart, we will do as they would probably have
advised us, press on with duty, whatever it may
be, and endeavor to add as many real blessings to
the world as they have added.

At a special meeting of the Massachusetts Hor
tlcultural Society, held on the 12th day of Novem-

ber, 1853, the death of James. E. Teschmacher was
announced by Samuel Walker, of Roxbury, (late
President of the Society.)

On motion, the President, J. S. Cabot, of Salem,
appointed Samuel Walker, William S. King, and
B. V. French, a Committee to draft resolutions
expressive of the sense of the Society upon their
loss. ,

The Committee reported the following preamble
and resolutions, which were adopted :

Whereas, God in his Providence has called from
this scene of his 'labors, in the fulness^ of his
strength, and suddenly, without premonition, our
beloved associate, James E. Teschmacher— it is

Resolved, That the ISIassachusetts Horticultural
Society, while they acknowledge the inscrutable
wisdom of God, and bow before this solemn evi-
dence of his power, deeply and sincerely mourn the
loss they have sustained. In Mr. Teschmacher
this Society possessed an accomplished and expe-
rienced horticulturist, a wise and cautious adviser,
and an active and useful member, while each of ua,
his late associates, ever found in him an intelhgent,
interesting and unpretending companion, an hon-
orable man and a firm friend.

Resolved, That in his death, Science, Literature
and the Arts have been deprived of an earnest stu-
dent and a faithful expounder— one ever anxious
to learn, and always willing to impart knowledge.

Resolved, That, in token of esteem for the char-
acter and acquirements of our late associate, and
of sorrow for his loss, the members of this Society
will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty
days.

Resolved, That we tender our sympathy to his
bereaved widow and family ; and that the Presi-
dent of the Society be requested to transmit to-
them a copy of the Preamble and Resolutions^ and
that the same be published.

The Society then, as a farther mark of respect,
immediately adjourned.

HUMUS.

The fertility of a soil is generally considered to
depend upon the quantity of humus it contains.
No matter how efficient it may be in organic sub-
stances, a portion of organic matter is indispensa-
bly requisite to ensure productiveness. The best
and most economical method of supplying humus
to soil, perhaps, is by turning in green crops. —
When this method of amelioration is adopted, the
vegetables selected for turning in* should be such
as derive the most of their nourishment from the-
atmosphere, or in other words those which are
least exhausting to the soil in which they grow.
Up to the period of inflorescence, buckwheat, peas,
clover, and a variety of other plants classified in
the same category, draw but slightly from the
soil, the economy of nature being such in regard to
them, that a comparatively small amount of ali-
ment is demanded from this source. Hence it is
that soils which are nearly or quite deficient of
vegetable energy, are abundantly capable of pro-
ducing a largo amount of haulm, though they
would necessarily fail to perfect a crop of grain.
When buckwheat, peas, clover, etc., are inhumed

32

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

by being carefully and systematically turned in by
the plow, and imbedded in the soil, the vegetable
organism is immediately broken up, and converted
into humus on vegetable food : the fermentation
or putrefactive process, requisite to this result be-
ing completed with greater or less rapidity, accord-
ing to the state of the weather, and the character
and con dition of the crop at the time of turning
it down. The gaseous products of the fermenting
mass are imbibed readily, and with great facility I
by the soil, while the other products— viz : those!
of a solid or fluid character, if permitted to remain
undisturbed, are speedily incorporated and mixed
with it. But should the soil be again plowed be-
fore the process of decomposition has been thor-
oughly perfected, as is too often the case, especially
when a dry crop is to succeed a green one, much

unproductive. We are of course speaking of soils
characterized by a vastly preponderating amount
of aluminous matter, and not of that more com-
mon and valuable description of lands, known as
clayey loams. These are so constituted as rarely
to demand any effort whatever on the part of the
cultivator, to change their constitutional charac-
ter, and are generally capaciEed for productiveness,,
if but a slight quantity of manure is applied, an-
nually, to the crops they are required to produce.
But in all tenacious, viscid and retentive clays,
which require loosening, the fermentation of a
green crop, produces highly beneficial results. It
also communicates to the soil many principles of
which it was before deficient : such, for instance,
as the inorganic elements of vegetation, and assists
powerfully, in rendering soluble, and therefore ap-

the larger portion of the gaseous, and not a small propriable, the insoluble substances it previously

per centu ■>. of the fluid products,will be dissipated,
and of course lost to the soil. It is therefore a good
plan to turn in the green crop with a deep furrow,
and prepare the surface for the reception of the
seed to be sown, by harrowing, as the plow goes
too deep for profit, and prevents thereby, to a cer
tain extent, the very results it is intended to pro
duce. A writer in one of our most popular agri-
cultural publications, discussing the importance
to the fanner, of this systeni of amelioration on
light arenaceous soils, says : —

"In order to obviate wastage, .and to render the
mass more speedily and effectually available to the
growing -plants, it is recommended before turning
the amehorating mass, from twenty to twenty-five
bushels of lime to the acre be applied. This, by
its powerful action upon the buried fibres and fo-
liage, will induce a vigorous and rapid fermenta-
tion, and as the lime will immediately absorb and
fix the carbonic acid, one of the most important
products of vegetable decomposition, as well as form
a ready combination with the vegetable matter of
the mass, its application is highly essential in or-
der to obviate unnecessary waste, and to flicilitate
both the decomposition of the haulm, and the ap-
propriation of its fructifying products, by the in-
tended crop. Lands of a light, arenaceous texture
are often indebted for their supposed incorrigible
sterility and unproductiveness to the predomi
nance of noxious acids or salts. These are some-
times innate to the soil, though more commonly
produced by the application of matters intended
as manures. But whatever their origin or char-
acter, they are speedily neutralized and rendered
perfectly inoxious by lime. Should there be ex-
tant any original or insoluble humus in the soil,
it will also, by the efiicacious action of this miner-
al, be converted into a salutary and highly nutri-
tious pabulum, or food for the succeeding crop."

On clayey lands, the turning in of green crops
has a tendency to break the cohesiveness which is
one of the principal causes which render them

contained. On this account, unfermented manure
is always beneficial to such soils, and productive
of the most obvious effects, both on the soil and
crops.

For the New England Fariner,
RAIN IN A YEAR— SLACKING LIMB.

Mr. Editor : — Will you or some of your corres-
pondents who have a rain guage, please inform
me through the Farmer, the quantity that usually
falls in a year? {a.)

How much water should be applied to lime
when slacked, for agricultural purposes, and how
much salt should be added to the water? (i.)

How much of the slacked lime ought to be add-
ed to a cord of muck to be used as a dressing for
potatoes in the hills, (c) Please answer and
oblige. S. Tenny.

E. Raymond, Me.

Remarks, ia.) — The amount of rain falling in
the course of a year varies in different places. Iq
an English work, we find the statement to be,

Under the tropics of the New WorlJ 115 inches.

" " '' Old Wot kl 76

Within the tropics generally 95i "

In the temperate zone of the New World,

(United States,)... 37 "

Of the Old World ZH "

Generally Zi'i "

We have no reliable tables at hand to show the
amount of rain falling annually in the New Eng-
land States, but have supposed it to be not quite
so much, (including snow) as stated above.

ip.) Add salt to water so long as the vrater will
dissolve it, then wet the lime with it until the mass
falls in a fine powder.

(c.) Add equal to a cask, at least, of unsLscked
lime to each cord'of meadow muck ; and m(ne, if
lime comes to you at a cheap rate. The whole
should then be worked over most thoroughl v , so
that all the muck may be impregnated with the
lime.

I^In Buffalo.one firm alone have sold and shipped
over four thoii?and barrels of apples this fall.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

33

m

I— H

02

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

SHORT HORN, OR DURHAM HEIFZ3RS

The Short Horned Cattle, under which denomi-
tion are included the HoMerness and Teeswater
breeds, have been supposed to have derived their
origin from a cross with some large bulls that were
imported a century ago, from Holland into York-
shire, and in the east and north parts of which
country the two latter breeds had been long es-
tablished and deservedly esteemed.

The cattle are of a good size, and are beautiful-
ly mottled with red spots upon a white ground ;
their backs are level ; the throat clean ; the neck
fine, but not too thin, especially towards the shoul
der; the carcass full and round ; the quarters long ;
and the hips and rump even and wide. They
stand rather high on their legs, but this must be
carried to a very little extent ; they handle very
kindly, are light in their bone, in proportion to
their size, and have a very fine coat and mellow
hide. They paesess the valuable properties of fat-
tening kindly at an early age, and of yielding large
quantities of milk.

There is considerable diversity of opinion as to
what breed of cattle is best for the yoke, the
shambles and for milk ; but we bs-lieve that who-
ever rears and feeds well the Short Horns, will
have no cause to complain of them for either of
the objects mentioned above.

For the New England Farmer.
BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND.

THEIR PAST AND PREf>ENT HISTORY No. 8.

BY S. P. FOWLER.

The American Robin is found throughout the
whole of the North American continent. Itshab
its are so well known to every one, that no des-
cription is here necessary. The claim, which this
bird is supposed to have upon our protection, in
consequence of its feeding on insects, is, we fear,
not well founded. We have noticed some contro-
versy in our horticultural journals upon this point,
and are sorry to be compelled to take the unpopu-
lar side of this question, against the claims of the
robin, as a bird, iieeful to the farmer and horticul-
turist. The Redbreast is a thrush, feeding for the
es ; sometimes, and
perhaps from necessity, upon insects. We had
proceeded thus far in our communication, when a
female friend lookingover our shoulder, exclaimed,
you certainly do not intend to give the robin a
bad name, and publish it to the world, by send-
ing it to the editor of the Neiv England Farmer.
I replied, you would not have me exhibit the
character of the robin, to our fi^rmers and horti-
culturists, in a more favorable light than the truth
would warrant. You wrong me in supposing any
such thing. Wrong you, quoth our fair friend,
her sympathy for the good name of her favorite
bird, being now fully enlisted ; who has wronged
youl certainly, T have nt»t, it is you, that has
wronged the dear llobin-red-breast, that covered
with leaves t'le babes in the wood, and whose in-
nocence and social habits, have so long been sung
in pastoral poetry, and nursery rhymes. I had

reason to expect, sir, something better of you,
than this, after all your assertions of love for our
birds. And as to robins not eating insects, you
certainly are mistaken, for I have noticed them
several times, the past summer, feeding theh"
young with worms. Ah ! my dear,~but the earth
worms, which you saw in the robins' mouths are
not insects, and I am sorry here to notice your
ignorance. And I am unwilling that your robins
should destroy them, as they are entirely harm-
less, and useful in pulverizing and preparing the
soil fur plants. And I am constrained to say,
that after many years' observation, I do not hesi-
tate to pronounce tlie robin as the greatest of all
pests to the cultivators of fruit, not even excepting
that personification of mischief to the horticul-
turist, the Cherry Bird. It begins by committing
its depredations on the first fruit ripe in the gar-
den, and continues to do so, until the last is gath-
ered. There are also many trees, shrubs and
plants, whose fine appearance in Autumn, depend-
ing principally upon their scarlet fruit, that are de-
prived of all their beauty ])y robins, in their eager
desire to obtain the berries as soon as ripe. There
is hardly anything in the shape of small fruits
or berries they refuse. We have seen them feed
upon the berries of the Buckthorn and Arum,noi>-
withstanding they were made to feel their drastic
powers. They also devour Poke-berries, until theii
very flesh is stained with their crimson juices.
The claim which the robin may be supposed feo
have on our sympathies, in consequence of its re-
lation to its English namesake, is, in our opinion,
rather slight. The English robin is smaller than
ours, and resembles it in nothing but its red breast.
It cannot, I think, be any nearer related to your
favorite bird, than fifth cousin. And now, al-
though truth has compelled us thus to speak of
the robin's Iiabits, we do not wish to be understood
as entertaining any murderous feelings towards
him, such for instance, as would, under any cir-
cumstances, however provoking, tempt us to shoot
him. No, nothing shall move us to harm "the
little bird wi^Ji bosom red," for notwithstanding
" all their faults, we love them still." We will
continue to cherish and protect them, for the
honest confidence they manifest toward us, for
their pleasant and vigorous note, on a bright and
beautiful spring morning, and for the interest and
beauty they impart, in common with other birds,
to the landscape and garden. We will protect
them, in fine, for the love we entertain for all birds;
the love of an ornithologist, so ardent and strong,
like that which prompted in view of death, the
author of the American Ornithology, Alexander
Wilson, to exclaim, " bury me where the birds
will sing over ray grave." The next bird, which
will claim our attention is the King-bird, who
stands at the head of the Fly-catcher tribe. His
habits are well known to every farmer, and he is
distinguished for his love for the honey bee, hnd
his fondness for seeking every opportunity to tease
a hawk or crow. This constant liabit of the king-
bird, in attacking birds of prey, and driving them
from the precints of the fiirm-yard, together with
his feeding upon insects, renders him of service to
the farmer, and more than counterbalances the
mischief he sometimes occasions, by his fondness
for honey bees. We cannot do better, in vindica-
tion of the character of the king-bird, than to
quote the language of Mr. Wilson, who says "the

36

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

death of every King-bird is an actual loss to the
farmer, by multiplying the numbers of destructive
insects, and encouraging the depredations of
crows, hawks and eagles. For myself, I must
say, that the king-bird possesses no common share
of my regard. I honor this little bird, for his ex-
treme affection for his young ; for his contempt of
danger, and unexampled intrepidity."

Mr. Wilson continues, "as a friend to this per-
secuted bird, and an enemy to prejudices of every
description, will the reader allow me to set this
matter in a somewhat clearer and stronger light, by
presenting him with a short poetical epitome of
the King-bird's history !"

"Soft sits his brooding mate, her guardian he,
Perched on the top of some tall, neighboring tree.
Thence, from the thicket to the concave skies,
His watchful eye around unceasing flies.
Wrens, Thrushes, Warblers, startled at his note.
Fly ill a fright the consecrated spot.
He drives the plundering Jay, with honest scorn,
Back to his woods ; the Mocker to his thorn ;
Sweeps round the Cuckoo, as the thief retreats ;
Attacks the Crow ; the diving Hawk defeats ;
Darts on the Eagle downward from afir,
And, 'midst the clouds, prolongs the whirling war.
All danger o'er, he hastens back elate,
To guard his post, and feed his faithful mate.
^Behold him now, his family flown.
Meek, unassuming, silent and alone ;
Lured by the well-known hum of favorile bees.
As slow he hovers o'er the garden trees ;
(For all have failings, passions, whims that lead
Some favorite wish, some appetite to feed ;]
Straight he aiights, and, from the pear-tree spies
The circling stream of humming insects rise ;
Selects his prey ; darts on the busy brood,
And shrilly twitters o'er his savory food.
Ah! ill-timed triumph ! direful note to t'.ee,
That guides the murderer to the fatal tree ;
See where he skulks ! and takes hisgloomy stand.
The deep charged musket hanging in his hand,
And gaunt for blood, he leans it on a rest,
Prepared, and pointed at thy snow-white breast.
Ah, friend ! good friend ! forbear that barbarous deed.
Against it valor, goodness, pity, plead ;
If e'er a family's griefs, a widow's woe,
Have reached thy soul, in mercy let him go !
Yet should the tear of pity nought avail.
Let interest speak, let gratitude prevail ;
Kill not thy friend, who thy whole harvest shields,
And sweeps ten thousand vermin from thy fields;
Think how this dauntless I ird, thy poultry's guard,
Drove every Hawk and Eagle from thy yard ;
Watched round thy cattle as they fed, a; d slew
The hungry, blackening swarms that round Ihem flew.
Some small return— some little right resign,
And spare his life, whose services are thine !
—I plead in vain ! Amid the bursting roar,
The poor, lost King-bird welters in his gore."

Another bird of the Fly-catcher tribe, we shall
now notice, is the Pewee, a loitering fellow, with
a drawling note, which some would think indicat-
ing great laziness. But upon a better acquaint-
ance, his note would no longer be considered
lackadaisical, but simply pensive, without affecta-
tion. He certainly loves his ease, and spends many
a warm sultry summer's day perched upon a dry
branch of an old oak, in apparent listlessness, but
not unmindful of the hum and motion of the in-
sect world around him ; occasionally launching
forth into the bright sunsliine, to secure some pass-
ing fly or small wild bee, and again returning to

his perch in the shade. The Pewee feeds upon
insects when they are to be obtained, and when
these fail, in Autumn, upon wild berries. There
are in New England several species of these birds
to be found. These are the Pewet, Fly-catcher,
or Phebe, River-sided Fly-catcher orPe-pe, Wood
Pewe, and small Pewee. The farmer has no rea-
son to complain of their habits. The Cedar-bird,
perhaps better known as the Cherry-bird, is dis-
tinguished for its beautiful silky plumage, tjje gen-
tle fondness of its disposition, and its gluttonous
habits. They arrive from the south about the first
of April, and feed principally upon insects, until
the ripening of the mulberries and cherries. At
this period, they are well known as great pests in
the fruit garden. And should we stop here, in
our investigation into the character of the Cherry-
bird, we should be compelled to admit, they had
but little to recommend them to the tender mer-
cies of the cultivators of May Duke's. But we
are happy however to notice, that the usefulness
of this bird to the cultivators of fruit, is at the
present time more generally admitted, than it was
when Mr. Wilson wrote its history. The author
supposed that the use of the Cherry-bird to the
farmer consisted principally in their agency in
transporting various kinds of seeds and berries, on
which they feed, the action of the stomach not
injuring their vegetative powers. In other re-
spects however, their usefulness to the farmer
may be questioned ; and in the general chorus
of the feathered songsters, they can scarcely be
said to take a part. We must rank them there-
fore, far below many more homely and minute
warblers, their neighbors, whom Providence seems
to have formed, both as allies to protect the pro-*
perty of the husbandman from devouring insects,
and as musicians to cheer him while engaged in
the labors of the field, with their innocent andde-
lighful melody." Such was Mr. Wilson's opinion
of the merits of the Cherry-bird. Since this dis-
tingished ornithologist's time, the character of this
bird is in better repute, we trust, among intelligent
and discerning horticulturists. It having been
found, at least in the towns and cities in the east-
ern part of Massachusetts, that the Cherry-bird is
very useful in destroying the canker worms. The
period from their arrival, which we have said, is
about the first of April, to the time of their pair-
ing, which takes place the first of June, is spent
by these birds, congregated in small flocks, in pro-
curing their insect food, principally canker worms,
and small caterpillars, And in this connection,
we would notice the social habits of the Codar-bird,
as observed by ourselves, as well as others. We
have seen a flock, containing some six or eight of
these birds, after having silently fed upon the can-
ker worm to repletion, seat themselves in a row
on a dry limb, in a state of listlessness, pluming
their wings, and occasionally lisping their feeble
note, and thus quietly digesting their meal. Pres-
ently, one of their number, more vigilant than the
rest, discovers at a short distance from the perch,
a well-fed insect, which he at once seizes, and po-
litely presents to his neighbor on his right, who,
declining to partake of it passes it to the next,
who also refuses to eat it, and it is in this way,
sometimes passed round several times, before one
can be found to accept it. Notwithstanding this
disinterested trait in the character of the Cherry-
bird, they are sometimes gluttonous in the ex-

185-i.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

3T

treme, gorging themselves with fruit, until no
more can be swallowed, and even in some cases,
filling their throats so full, as to cause suffocation,
resulting in death. Although we have said in
this communication, that these birds are the per-
sonification of- mischief to the cultivators of fruit,
more especially the cherry, yet, in view of the
many insects, particularly that pestiferious one,
the canker worm, which they destroy from the
time of their first arrival, to the ripening of our
early fruits, we should pause when meditating
some murderous design upon their lives.

s. p. F.
Danversport, Nov. 18lk, 1853.
[to be continued.]

For the New England Farmer
"SOMETHING NSW— GUANO."

Mr. Editor: — I have recently seen it asserted,
by gentlemen claiming to have superior intelli-
gence in matters agricultural, that an article
written for publication, was not worth publish-
ing, "on the ground of its not suggesting any-
thing essentially new on the topics treated."

An ambition to show off some new thing, is the
rock on which many founder. It seems to me,
to put forth ideas useful and practical, in a man-
ner calculated to convince the understanding, is
an effort much more deserving approbation, than
simply showing something new. These new the-
ories, and speculative notions, are the bane of all
useful improvement. Take for instance, the ac-
counts that have been given of the application of
guano, to the growing of crops in New-England.
How many have succeeded to their expectation
by such application? One in ten, perhaps. When
they do succeed, proclamation is made of their suc-
cess. When, they do not, it is carefully kept
in the back ground. Beyond question, there is
much virtue in this fertilizing material — but it
can only be wsed to advantage — by those who
know how to use it.

One of my neighbors, a gentleman of high
standing in the community, owning a farm of 200
acres, on which he has expended at least $100
an acre — besides the first cost, for which his fath-
er paid, set about raising a better crop of grass
than any of his neighbors. Accordingly he select-
ed a couple of acres of meadow-land, turned it
over, pulverized it fully, and put on a liberal dress-
ing of guano, and sowed his grass seed. The
consequence was, his seed came up, and there it
stopped — and when the time for mowing came,
there was nothing to be mowed, while his neigh-
bor, having a meadow of like character adjoin-
ing, plowed it as usual, and applied a fair dress-
ing of compost, costing much less than the guano
— and there grew more than three tons of hay to
the acre, the present season. So much for some-
. thing new — without understanding it.

A Constant Observer.

Remarks. — IIow could the knowledge of the
proper use of guano ever be acquired without the
aid of experiments 1 We believe judicious ex-
periments are doing much for the farmer, while
we deprecate that foolish 'pride of opinion which
prevents a person, about engaging in such a work

as you have described, from making proper in-
quiries of those more familiar with the use of
guano than himself.

THES WINTERING OF STOCK.

Taking the last census as the basis of the calcu-
lation, and there are at this time about six hundred
million dollars worth cf live stock in the United
States. Their value exceeds that of all the man-
ufacturing establishments in the country, and also
exceeds the capital employed in commeice, both
inland and foreign. Live stock is an immense na-
tional interest, but one which has been sadly over-
looked by American statesmen and writers on
public economy. How to winter cattle, horses,
hogs, sheep, and" poultry in the most economical
way, all things considered, is a subject on which
an instructive volume might be written.

The science of animal physiology sheds much
light on the business of keeping live stock, both in
winter and summer ; and if properly studied in its
bearings on this great interst, would add indefinite
millions to the income of farmers, and the wealth
of the nation. But how can we pursuade our
readers to study animal physiology in connection
with the production of the flesh of their domestic
animals 1 It is impossible to show them the val-
uable fruits of any science relating to husbandry
before its seeds are permitted to be planted and
cultivated in any State in the Union. Neverthe-
less, as the truths of science and the truths of em-
piricism never contradict each other, many learn
?)y the latter not a little of the wisdom taught by
the former. Thus science informs us why it is
that cattle and other animals subsist on less food
in winter, and keep in better order, if well stabled
or housed, and regularly fed, than they will if
subjected to the rigors of cold storms, snow, rain,
mud, and irregular feeding. The latter system
consumes both forage and flesh needlessly, and, of
course, involves a prodigious loss to such as fol-
low it.

Warmth is the equivalent of food, because food
is used in the bodies of all animals to generate
what we call animal heat. How far warm stables
will save hay, grain, roots, corn-stalks, and other
food of domestic animals, is not known ; but a
number of experiments lead to the conclusion that
one-third may thus be saved with advantage to
stock. A man at work out in the cold of winter,
needs double the food that would serve him if he
remained idle in a warm room through the winter;
and the same is true of an ox or horse. A large
share of all domestic animals do not work, and are
kept for the production of flesh, milk, or wool.
They need a reasonable amount of exercise to pre-
serve their health, as well as good keeping in the
matters of food, drink and shelter.

In wintering hogs, true economy requires that
one should keep no more than will give the maxi-
mum of flesh for the food consumed. To keep a
pig without his gaining in weight involves not on-
ly the loss of the food he consumes, but all the in-
jury resulting from stunting his growth. Few are
aware of the damage done to young animals by
prematurely arresting the growth of their bones
and muscles. A stunted pi^, calf, colt, or lamb
has received an irreparable injury. You can no
more fully make amends for the shock given to the
vital functions, than you can give a horsB a new

38

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

Jan.

seeing eye in place of one that has been put out
by violence. No after-feeding of a horse will give
him a new eye; and no good keeping will develope
an animal frame perfect in all its parts after it has
been stunted in youth.

Most farmers attempt to keep too much stock,
both in winter and summer, for their food to he
manufijtured into flesh, dairy products, or wool
A few superior animals well housed in winter, and
well fed at all times, yield the largest profit. Of
course, stables should be properly ventilated that
all animals may have a full supply of pure air.
Most stables, and all sheds, give too much of it,
especially in cold wintry weather. Look out for
a plenty of straw, or other litter, to absorb all
urine, unless you have a tank or other reservoir
for it to run into. Manure is now as valuable as
money at ten per cent, compound interest ; for all
the crops that manure aids so much in their annu-
al growth sell at high prices. It costs nearly as
much to plow, plant, hoe, and harvest an acre of
corn to obtain 25 bushels as 50 bushels ; and ma-
nure will double the crop. — Genesee Farmer.

For the New England Farmer.

UPLAND CRANBERRY.

Messrs. Editors : — I some time since informed
you that I had on my farm in Carver, cranberries
growing on high, sandy land, and 1 send you a
sample that you may see the quality. Crossing my
field where corn and rye grew but a short time
since, I saw cranberries growing on the hills quite
thick ; they must have been propagated by seed.
More than a quarter of an acre was covered with
vines, and they were quite full of fruit in many
places, of the best kinds ; it is about five years
since the crop of rye was taken ofi". While the
fruit was injured by the frost on very low mead-
ows this year, I found it perfectly sound on my
apland; not a single berry was hurt. I have in-
formed you before, that my best fruit grew on up-
land, and I am confirmed in my belief this year.
I picked the fruit last week ; there are bushels now
on my fields perfectly sound where the water nev-
er stands, and in all seasons it is perfectly dry.

SALTING PLUM TREES.

For many years I have salted my plum-trees and
had large crops of fruit, but last winter I omitted
to salt the trees, excepting three, and the conse-
quence was, that I had no plums excepting on the
trees that I salted, which confirms me that the
only sure way to get a crop of plums, is to put
salt around the trees in the winter ; about four
quarts is sufficient for a tree ; put it around in a
circle about a foot from the tree, any time in Jan-
uary ^or February will do, without regard to snow
being on the ground.

POTASH WASH.

I have used it ever since my first communica-
tion in 1840, and find that if I put four ounces in
two gallons of water, for young trees, or eight
ounces in two gallons for old trees, that no injury
is done, but a great deal of good : it removes or
kills all the insects that are in the bark, and it
loosens all the useless bark, destroys the moss
and kills all the lice and scales. It should be
done in March or April, and then scrape off the
loose barl^in about a week.

TRIMMING TREES.

Fall is the best time to trim trees. It removes
the surplus wood that otherwise would take the
sap, and heals over much quicker than at any oth-
er time. If long limbs are cut off, put on paint to
keep out the wet and prevent cracking. I think
the best time for trimming all kinds of trees is
when the fruit is gathered. I liave tried all seasons
and have come to the above conclusion.

S. A. SnURTLEFF.

Spring Grove, Nqnantum, Nov. 25//t, 1853.

Remarks. — The cranberries sent are high-col-
ored and very fine. They very closely resemble
those we have raised ourselves on sandy upland.

The young orchardist will not fail we hope, to
notice how sparingly Dr. Shurtleff uses potash
water as a wash for trees— /our ounces, only, in
two gallons of water, for young trees, and double
that quantity for old trees. In careful hands we
believe such a wash would not be injurious ; while
the pound and gallon practice is a most danger-
ous one.

For the New England Farmer.
WINTER EVENINGS.

Winter is rapidly hastening his rather unwel-
come appearance ; unwelcome, because of the
gloomy aspect he gives to the fields and forests,
the garden and nursery, which for months have
received such a large share of our attention, and
occupied so large a place in our thoughts, as we
have meditated upon the sublime beauty of the
vegetable world. The sun, as if unwilling to linger
long on the dreary sight of earth reft of its beau-
ty, hastily disappears behind the western hills.
To all, whose business lies beneath the open sky,
the hours of labor are made less, and the time for
rest and pleasure and improvement increased. The
mechanic in his workshop may pursue his calling,
since art can supply what nature refuses, and the
lawyer, doctor and minister, have long been fabled
to grow wise by the use of midnight oil. But the
farmer scorning to labor when nature seeks re-
pose, quits the business of the day, with the going
down of the sun, reserves the long interval be-
tween labor and rest, to be devoted to whatever
pursuit inclination or fancy may dictate. His even-
ings are almost his only leisure time, and how to
spend them, is an important question. How shall
the farmer occupy the only time, in which he is
busied with the cares and duties of his avocation,
so that he may receive the greatest benefit, is the
query which we propose to consider.

If the inquiry was, how have farmers spent their
evenings, it might be easily answered. The store-
keeper would perhaps tell of their nocturnal as-
sembling at his mart of trade, to smoke "short
sixes," talk politics, discuss town matters, hear
the news, and engage in other equally interesting
employments, ll^ie taverner might divulge what
is no secret, that where the carcass is, there the
eagles gather together. He might draw a picture,
"founded on facts," as the novelists say, that
would give farmers rather too prominent a position
for their own credit. He might tell of a room,
dark and dingy, filled with the fumes of rum and
tobacco, loathsome in the extreme to the unpollu

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

39

ted, and intimate that some farmers spend their
evenings here.

The mechanic might tell of farmers and farmers'
boys who pass the closing hours of day, at his
shop, growing wondrous wise, over the chess and
chequer-board, and unravelling all the mysteries
of cards and dice, occasionally relieving the dul-
ness of the game by relating some obscene tale, or
engaging in vulgar jest, and to this add the home
picture, of yawning and dreaming and gaping for
something to do, or for bed-time, and we have the
whole routine of some farmers' evening employ-
ments. We would not intrude upon the sacredness
of the domestic circle^ but just draw the veil suf-
ficient to discover the misspent hours of dreamy
reverie, and to mark the deadening effects of idle-
ness.

But how can the farmer, profitably, spend his
evenings? To answer this question, by suggesting
how they might be improved, shall be my object,
and if I succeed in breaking the spell by which
too many are debarred from a fruitful source of
happiness, I shall receive my highest reward.

The past is a vast store-house filled with the
wisdom and the folly, the virtue and the vice of
generations passed away. To unlock this reposito-
ry and become famihar with the recorded page, is
a most fitting employment. So long as farmers are
susceptible to the influences of good and evil, and
capable, with "the rest of mankind," of becoming
virtuous or vicious, it will be of importance that
the characteristics and progress of truth and error
be known, else how shall he imbibe the one, and
reject the other.

To mark the progress of agricultural art and
science, to learn the various means by which all
strive to gain the same end — an abundant harvest
— can hardly fail to interest and improve every
"tiller of the soil."

In the sciences of geology and botany and chem-
istry and natural history, what a field is open for
the farmer to traverse, and how fitting that he who
lives and labors in nature's laboratory, should ac-
quaint himself with the objects and operations
with which he is surrounded. How can a portion
of the long evenings be better occupied than in
reading the volumes of Liebig and Grat 1 What a
.change would be wrought on the face of New Eng-
land, how would the repulsive assume the beaute-
ous, if a sense and perception of the beauteous,
were cultivated by studying the works of the la-
mented Downing. There are lessons of instruction
on almost every subject connected with the farm,
by Thaer and Dana, together with a host of other
kindred spirits, who are sowing broad-cast the
fruits of their research and experience. Let it not
be said that they "cast pearls before swine." Can
anything but careless indifference or culpable neg-
lect prevent the devotion of your leisure hours to
the acquisition of that knowledge, so capable of
contributing to your prosperity and usefulness and
happiness 1

Man alone is a recluse. Society makes J;he cit
izen, and the attrition of society wears away many
a rough block, that juts out, but to disfigure the
structure. It is a happy feature of the day, that
association is so often made to supersede, or to
co-operate with individual action. It checks the
rashness and smoothes the asperities, gives union
to effort, and harmony to action. There are med-
cal societies and musical associations, teachers' in-

stitutes and missionary anniversaries, all showing
how effective is united effort. Is it not time that
farmers catch the spirit of progress, and seize the
means of improvement, so profitably enjoyed by
their brethren in other fields of labor J What a
vast good would be done if an association of far-
mers was formed in every town. Not an associa-
tion in name only, but a living, acting and work-
ing organization ; with its regular meetings for dis-
cussions and lectures. It is impossible for such a
society to exist long without making its mark.
Dreamers will be converted into thinkers, talkers
into speakers, and sensual indulgences into active
intelligence. **•

Chester, N. H., Dec^, 1853.

Remarks. — Most excellent advice ; we hope to
see it put in practice in your own town. There are
plenty of intelligent persons, and those much in-
terested in the Great Art, directly aboi^t yc-u, to
form a Farmers^ Club, whose operations shall be of
more real value to the permanent prosperity of the
town than a donation of $20,000 would be.

SPIRIT or tkh agricultural

PRESS.

Setting Fruit Trees.
The question has been very broadly discussed
this last fall, whether autumnal or spring, trans-
planting of fruit trees is best ? The subject baa
been introduced into nearly all .our agricultural
exchanges, and we find them generally agreeing, —

1. That no tree should be set where standing
water will cover its roots through a considerable
portion of the winter and spring ; leaving the in-
ference that the first important operation in plant-
ing an orchard is thorough draining if the ground
requires it.

2. That trees may be transplanted with the
best success while in a state of repose ; that is,
from the time when the leaves have fallen, to that
when the ground begins to freeze, and that if left
until spring, they must be taken up before the sap
is in motion.

3. That more depends upon the manner in

which the work is done, than upon the particular

season.

Profit of Feeding Corn to Hogs.

In the Ohio Cultivator, an excellent agricultural
journal published at Columbus, Ohio, is an article
from the Ohio Agricultural Transactions for 1852,
by C. C. Sams, designed to answer the question as
to how much pork a bushel of corn will make.

"It is estimated, from an experiment made by
S. B. Anderson, that 100 bushels of corn will pro-
duce 1,050 lbs. of gross increase in the weight of
hogs. 100 thrifty hogs were weighed and put in^
to a pen. They were fed for 100 days as much
corn as they would cat. The average consump-
tion was 100 bushels every six days. The average
gross increase per hog for the 100 days was 175
lbs., or at the rate of 1| lbs. per day.

It thus appears that I bushel of corn will pro-
duce a gross increase of lOi lbs. Throwing ofif

40

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

1-5 to come at the net weight, gives 8 2-5 lbs. of
pork as the product of 1 bushel of corn. If 8 2-5
lbs. of pork are iimdo by 1 bushel, or 5C lbs. of
corn, 1 1'). of pork is the product of 6| lbs. of
corn.

From an experiment made by Samuel Linn, of
this c )unty, with 58 hogs, as reported in the Pa-
tent Oilioe Report for 1849,6^ lbs. of corn produced
1 lb. of pork.

From the experiment of the Hon. H. L. Ells-
worth, reported in the Patent Office Report for
the year 1847, it appears that 3 4-5 lbs. of cooked
meal made 1 lb. of pork. This experiment was
on a small scale.

Assuming thnt it requires 6| lbs. of corn to
make 1 Ih. of pork, the edit of its production will
be seen from tlie following table. The labor of
feeding and taking care of the hogs is not includ-
ed in the estimates :

When corn costs 12Jc ^ bu., pork costs lie. ^^ ib.

When corn costs 17c. ^ bu., pork costs 2c. ^ ib-

When corn costs 2oc. ^ bu., pork costs 3c. ^ lb.

When ci>rii costs HSc. ^ bu., pork costs 4c. ^ ft

When corn costs 42c. ^ bu , pork costs 5c. ^ lb.

The following table shows what the farmer real-
izes for his corn, when sold in the form of pork :

When pork sells for 3c. ^ lb. it brings 25c a bu. corn.
" " 4 " " 33

" '• 5 " " 42 "

" " 6 " " 50 "

The Glory and Renown of New England.
Mrs. Bateham, who conducts the ladies depart-
ment of the Cultivator, frcm which we have quoted
above, has been rambling over New England dur-
ing the past summer, and thinks "the days of its
greatest glory and renown have seemingly passed
away." We hope that it only seems so — that such
is not really tlie fact. To our eye. New England
never appeared brighter and more prosperous than
at the present time. The New England mind was
never more active, never scattered its blessings
more diffusely over the world in the way of its
books, its machines and manufactured articles,
than at the present moment. Agriculture is cer-
tainly at a higher point than it has ever before at-
tained, while the Homes of New England are
probably not surpassed by any in the world, in the
comforts and elegancies of life. Thei-e is a higher
degree of civilization among all classes than was
ever known before. The schools are not only
better, but all are required to attend to the means
of education; there is ropra in them for all, of what-
ever degree, and no good excuse is left for grow
ingup in ignorance and vice. The state of relig-
ious feeling in the public mind is better, as all sects
have more carefully considered the apostle's in-
junction to "love one another," which has greatly
broken down sectarian divisions. Poetry, painting,
music, with all the fine arts, and commerce and
manufactures, have all been in healthy progress,
while there are comparatively fewer poor, and a
greater general intelligence among all ; with this
increase of comforts and intelligence the duration
of human life has also increased. New England
is so threaded with railroads, and the communica

tion from place to place so easy, cheap, and con-
venient, that it has become much like one great
family — we visit and see each other almost every
day.

These circumstances are so favorable to 'physical
growth and mental development, that we can an-
nually spare from our homes enough of the sons <
and daughters of New England to found an "em-
pire in the west. These are the "stars that West-
ward take their way," carrying with them the
stern principles that well sustained them on our
"shallow, rocky soil," and which will enable them,
(with your assistance) to make the waste land of
the West to blossom like the rose. There, Mad-
am, does that look as though the "glory and re-
nown" of New England had passed away? Per-
haps we may be honored with a share of your next
visit, and discuss the subject more fully.

CojiPAiiATivE Value of Different Kinds of

Firewood.

The Plough, Loom and Anvil, gives a table

showing the comparative value of different kinds of

firewood, which is worthy the attention of all who

use wood as fuel.

To those who are in the habit of using wood as
a principle article of fuel, a'knowledge of the re-
lative comparative value of the various kinds in
market cannot be unimportant, particularly as
the consumer is thus enabled to judge of tlie com-
parative difference in each, and consequently to
select the cheapest, or that which is offered in
market at the lowest price in proportion to its re-
lative value. For this purpose we have compiled
the following table, originally prepared from care-
ful experiments, conducted on the most correct
and strictly philosophical principles. It shows
the weight of a cord of different kinds of wood,
when dry, or seasoned, and the comparative value
of the same, assuming as a standard the shell-bark
or white-heart hickory :

Lbs. in a Prop. Comp.

curd. value. value.

1.

Shell-bark Hickory,

4469

$1 00

$7 40

2.

Common Walnut,

4221

95

7 03

3.

White Oak,

3?21

81

6 09

4.

White Ash,

3420

77

5 70

5.

Swamp Whoi

tleberry,

3361

75

5 55

6.

Shrub Oak,

3337

74

5 47

7.

Apple Tree,

3115

70

5 18

8.

Red Oak,

3083

69

5U

9.

RlRck Oak,

3103

66

4 89

10.

White Ueech,

2936

65

4 81

11.

Black Birch,

2815

63

4 67

12.

Yellow Oak,

2818

60

4 44

13.

White Elm,

2692

58

4 29

14.

Mai)le,

2668

f4

4 00

15.

Buttonwood,

2449

52

3 85

16.

Spanish Oak,

2391

51

3 77

17.

White Birch,

2369

48

3 56

18.

Pitch Pine,

1904

43

3 13

19.

White Pine,

1868

42

3 11

20.

Lombardy Poplar,

17-4

40

2 96

Each cord of wood, when green, is estimated to
contain 1443 lbs. of water. The farmer, then,
who takes a cord of green wood to market, has a
load not much less for his team than his neighbor
who should put on with his cord of dry white oak,
three quarters of a cord of seasoned pine, or make
up his load of more than iwo coris of dry white
birch . W e have always considered the carting of
water to market, especitxlly over rough and heavy
roads, an unwise and unprofitable business.

1854.

I^EW ENGLAND FARMER.

41

Agriculture in Virginia.

The Southern Planter, Richmond, Va , states
thatowuig to the various instrumentalities put in
operation, the Committee appointed by the State
Society can report that since the annual meeting
in December last, the number of members has
been increased from 339 to at least 4,000 ! and the
funds in the hands of the Treasurer from $2GS to
about $8,000.

In preparing for their State Show the Society ex-
pended $10,000, and with the prospect that such
a large sum would prove an economical expendi-
ture. It affords us great pleasure to notice these
energetic movements in the Old Dominion.
Milk and Butter.

The Editor of The Ploughman says he has De-
von cows and heifers that "will yield one pound of
good butter, from four quarts of milk. " He states
that this result has been obtained "after repeated
trials by himself and others, and that there can be
no mistake or accidental luck in the matter."

THE MAIZE.

A NEW^ CORN SONG.

BY W. W. rOSDICK, OF NEW YORK.

"That precious seed into the furrow cast,
Earliest in Spring-time, crowns the harvest last."

PuffiBE Carey.
A song for the plant of my own native West,

Where nature and freedom reside,
By plenty still crowned, and by peace ever blest,

To the corn ! the green corn of her pride!
In climes of the East has the olive been sung.
And the grape been the theme of their lays,
But for thee shall a harp of the backwoods be strung,
Tliou bright, ever beautiful Maize !

Afar in the forest the rude cabins rise.

And send up their iiillars of smoke.
And the tops of their columns are lost in the skies,

O'er the heads of the cloud-kissing oak —
Near the skirt of the grove, where the sturdy arm swings

The axe, till the old giant sways,
And echo repeats every blow as it rings,

Shoots the green and the glorious Maize!

There buds of the buckeye in spring are the first.

And the willow's gold hair then appears.
And snowy the cups of the dogwood that burst

By the red bud with pink tinted tears.
And striped the bowls which the poplar holds up

For the dew and the sun's yellow rays.
And brown is the pawpaw's shade-blossoming cup.

In the wood near the sun-loving Maize !

When through the dark soil the bright steel of the plow

Turns the mould from the unbroken bed,
The plowman is cheered by the finch on the bough.

And the black-bird doth follow his tread.
And idle, afar on the landscape descried, -

The deep lowing kine slowly graze,
And nibbling the grass on the sunny hill-side

Are the sheep, hedged away from the Maize.

With spring time, and culture, in martial array

It waves its green broad swords on high.
And fights with the gale, in a flultering fray,

An<l the sunbeams which fall from the sky —
It striken its green blades at the zephyrs at noon.

And at night at the swift flying fays,
Who ride through the darkness the beams of the moon,

Through the spears and the fl:igsof the Maize.

When the summer is fierce still its banners are green.

Each warrior's long beard groweth red,
Ilis Emerald bright sword is sharp pointed and keen,

And golden his tassel-plumed head.
As a host of armed knights set a monarch at nought,

They defy the Day God to his gaze,
And revived every morn from the battle that's fought.

Fresh stand the green ranks of the Maize ! «

But brown comes the Autumn, and sere grows the corn.

And the woods like a rainbow are dressed,
And but for the cock, and the noon tide horn,

Old Time would be tempted to rest.
The humming bee fans off a shower of gold.

From the mullein's long rod as it swajs.
And dry grow the leaves which protecting enfold

The ears of the well-ripened Maize.

At length Indian Summer, the lovely, doth come.

With its blue frosty nights, and days still.
When distantly clfear sounds the waterfall's hum,

And the sun smokes ablaze on the hill.
A dim veil hangs over the landscape and flood,

And the hills are all mellowed in haze.
While Fall creeping on, like a Monk 'neath his hood,

Plucks the thick rustling wealth of the Maize.

And the heavy wains creak, to the barns large and grey,

Where the treasure securely we hold,
Housed safe from the tempest, dry sheltered away.

Our blessing more precious than gold!
And long for this manna that springs from the sod.

Shall we gratefully give Him the praise.
The source of all bounty, our Father and Gcd,

Who sent us from heaven the Maize !

For the New England Farmer.
COMPARISON OF PLOWS.

Mr. Editor : — I noticed'in your paper of 2Gth of
November a difference of opinion between some of
the papers, on the Michigan Plow, which leads me
to make the following remarks.

I have tested the Michigan Plow with "Rug-
gles, Nourse & Mason's" Eagle No. 20 (which I
consider one of the best single plows,) to my sat-
isfaction, and find that two yoke of oxen will plow
one acre of ground the same depth with the single
plow, as easy as three yoke of oxen of the same size
can with the Michigan Plow. For this extra work
in plowing with the Michigan Plow, I charge one
dollar per acre.

The question may be asked, why should the Mi-
chigan Plow require more strength to draw it than
the single plow ] I answer, because the Michigan
Plow splits the furrow slice horizontally, and if
the inquirer wishes for more reasons, let him take
hold of a stone that has a horizontal seam in it,
in order to turn it over, and when he gets it fair-
ly on a poise let the top half of the stone slide off
and by the time he gets the other half fairly on
top of it, he will have a tolerable good idea why
the Michigan Plow requires more team to draw it
than the single plow.

Now the honest farming community like to hear
both sides of the question, provided they think the
first side worth hearing. Now for the benefits of
the Michigan or Double Plow over the single
plow.

First, in furrowing, twenty-five cents. Second,
in covering, twenty-five cents. Third, plowing for
hoeing first time, fifty cents. Fourth, hoeing first
time, fifty cents. Fifth, plowing f)r hoeing second
time, twenty-five cents. Sixth, lioeing second time,
twenty-five cents; making in the whole two dol-

42

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

lars per acre, leaving a balance in favor of the Mi-
chigan Plow of one dollar per acre.

These are facts as near as 1 can state from what
experience I have had on common sward land.
Now how much better the crop is, I consider every
farmer who tries the experiment has a right to his
own opinion. But I am willing to risk my own,
thatit is not less than a dollar per acre, but have
no authority to dispute any man if he should say
it was five dollars. A. G. Sheldon.

Wilmington, Nov. 28fh, 1853.

CULTURE OF WILLOW FOR OSIERS.

The attention of many persons has been turned,
from time to time, to the cultivation of the Osier
Willow, but with indifferent success, for the want
of accurate knowledge in the pursuit. The Wil-
low has already become an importent item in
the commerce of the country, as articles man-
ufactured from it are introduced into most all of
the occupations of life. Those interested in its
cultivation will find an excellent essay on the sub-
ject in the transactions of the Norfolk County So-
ciety, for 1852, by John Fleming, Jr., of Sherborn,
and from which some extracts will be given here-
after. The article below was prepared by Charles
Downing, Esq., of Newbury, and we presume may
be relied upon.

The culture of Willow, for Osiers, when its
principles are well understood, is not difficult, and
the profits under good management are very great.
The fear that the supply may overreach the de-
mand is not only groundless, but, on the contrary,
it is susceptible of proof, thab for a long time to
come, the demand must increase far beyond the
proportional increase of production in this country,
it is but about fifty years since England received
almost her entire supply from the continent. The
long continued wars cut off this supply, and the
deprivation was so severely felt that it became a
matter of national concernment, and Premiums
were awarded for the formation of Willow Planta
tions. Men of every degree of means, of all ranks,
from the Peasant to the Lord, engaged in it, and
its cultivation extended very rapidly ; (the Duke
of Bedford having a plantation of one thousand
acres,) yet to the present time prices have not at
all declined, but rather advanced. Sang, in his
"Osier Plantations," in the year 1812, stating from
his own knowledge, says, some good plantations
have yielded, annually, for several years, a profit
of £25 to £30 sterling; some as high as £40 to
£45, but these very favorably situated, and tended
with great care. In 1852, from reliable informa-
tion from different quarters, the good plantations
yield from £30 to £40 nett, and some as high as
£50; American fields are equally productive, and
prices in New York, Philadelpha and Boston
about twenty per cent higher.

A great discouragement arose at the commence-
ment of Willow Culture in this country, from the
failure of the most vigorous growers of Europe to
produce good Osiers — Viminalis, and the cele-
brated Longskin, of Nottingham — their most pop-
ular Osiers, are nearlv worthless here, not being
adapted to our climate. By one comprehensive
that difficulty has been disposed of.

Dr. C. W. Grant imported all the European Osiers
of note, and, by careful experiment, ascertained
which are suited to our climate, and also which
varieties are most valuable. Among many that
have proved to be good, three have been found of
surpassing excellence: —

1. Triandra — It is perfectly hardy, thrives in a
great variety of soils, and is as productive here as
any European Willow in its own country. Its
rods are long, tough, and pliable, and particularly
adapted for all kinds of split work requiring those
qualities.

2. Forbyana — Another very valuable one in all
respects; and

3. Purpurea, or Bitter Purple Willow — valu-
able in all respects as an Osier, and particularly
so for work that requires long, slender, unsplit
wands, of great toughness. The intense bitter-
ness of its bark and leaves renders it exempt from
the attacks of beasts and insects, and consequent-
ly adapted for making live fences. Lasting fences,
very ornamental and profitable, may be made of
it, producing a crop of Osiers yearly. This may
be characterized as the "Elegant Willow," its
leaves and shootsr considered ; but of the three,
Triandra is the most ornamental, having very
showy catkins. These compose a complete assort-
ment for basket-makers, supplying all their wants.
Salix Caprea makes a tolerable Osier, and, in con-
sequence of flowering very early, is useful for feed-
ing bees. Its catkins make a very beautiful ap-
pearance, being very large and of brilliant colors.

To plant an acre, from ten to fifteen thousand
cuttings are required ; those of vigorous upland
growth possess for more vital energy than those of
lowland production, and make the most healthy
and productive plantations. Cuttings are used
from eight to fourteen inches in length ; ten to
twelve inches is probably the best for deep soils,
and not more than eight on very retentive soils ;
not more than three inches should be left out of
ground. They are set in rows three feet apart,
and from twelve to sixteen inches distant in the
rows. The first two crops will be in proportion to
the number of cuttings, but after four or five years
they will entirely occupy the ground, even if more
than sixteen inches apart ; but when the value of
the early crops is considered, twelve inches will be
found to be the most economical distance.

Willow will grow in any soil, and thrive in a
great variety of soils, but gives its best returns on-
ly in such as are well suited to its habits. It is a
lover of moisture, but does not tolerate standing
water, or soil sodden with water nearer than with-
in one foot of the surface during the growing sea-
son. Overflowing in winter is not objectionable,
nor is overflowing from a freshet in summer, that
soon passes off. A very deep, rich, sandy loam,
diluvial and alluvial, such as constitutes many bot-
toms not so much elevated above the stream that
winds through them, that by diving down -in the
previous soil two or three feet in midsummer, the
roots cannot find moisture — if kept clear of ram-
pant weeds, will give an astonishingly vigorous
growth, yielding three or four tons per acre. The
occasional overflowing that would render such of
little value for crops, would be rather advanta-
geous to willow. Any retentive soil rich and deeply
worked — any clayey loam, or even heavy clay,
freed from water by draining, if necessary, will
give great returns as Osier fields. Deep alluvial

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

43

soil, that has not water standing on its surface, or
too near it in summer, is excellent ; so is drained
swamp, when brought under cultivation. But
here it ought to be remarked, that very different
considerations should direct the choice of a cite for
a Willow plantation in this country, from those
which obtain in England or on the continent, where
labor is very cheap and rent for land very dear, so
that the price paid annually for rent and taxes for
a good piece of ground, would purchase the fee
simple of a piece of ground as eligible in this coun-
try. It is true that Willow can pay for draining
and cultivating land that is fit for nothing else —
but the inference is not legitimate — that because
it is adapted for nothing else, it must be well
adapted for Willow. But the contrary is. general-
ly the case, a low, level bottom, from which a crop
has just been removed, if in the Spring properly
prepared and planted, would on and after the sec-
ond year, give a nett percentage, on investment,
that nothing else can approximate, and with a
certainty that pertains to no other crop.

Cuttings must be prepared in fall or winter, but
to avoid being thrown out by frost, not planted
till spring; if necessary, they may be kept in a
cool place until last of Mayor June even, without
much injury — but April or May is preferable time
for planting, or as soon as warm growing weather
\a established.

Wherever it is practicable, the ground should
be deeply worked ; subsoiled at least, but better
if trench plowed and then subsoiled. Fields that
have been previously cultivated will have the ad-
vantage of easy tillage, but where the ground is
soft and wet, deep and rich, simply turning over
the sward with large deep furrows, and following
with subsoil plow, will give perhaps as good a
growth of Willow as any other preparation. The
surfece should be made level before setting the
willow, on account of convenience in cultivation.

The entire cultivation required the first season,
18 such as would be given to a crop of corn, and
may be chiefly done with a cultivator, on land that
is 60 firm as to admit the travelling of a horse; but
simply keeping the weeds down in ground that is
too soft is often all that is required, yet great pro-
ductiveness is generally inseparable from clean
culture.

For the second and third years, frequent commu-
nications with some successful cultivator, whose
knowledge and experience enable him to give pre-
dse directions in every stage of operation, will be
very important if not indispensable ; after that the

Elantations will be fully establishedand a sufficient
nowledge acquired to manage the business pleas-
antly and successfully.

The Society voted to meet on Monday evening
of each week throughout the winter. Success at-
tend their efforts.

Farmers' Club in Fkamingham. — At the recent
annual meetirsg < f this Society, Wm. Buckminster
was chosen Proidcnt, Aiuel S. Lewis and Abner
ILwEN, Jr., Vice Presidents, J. H. TEMPLb:, Secre-
tary, David Fisk, Treasurer.

The Trustees, one for each school district,
elected on the same day, are J. W. Clark, Ilollis
Hastings, George Trowbridge, Willard Haven,
Metcalf Pratt, W. G. Lewis, Charles Capen, Pe-
ter B. Davis, Liberty Cbadwick, James Brown,
Bben Stone.

GREEN WOOD.

It is to be hoped that there are not many New
England farmers who are in the practice of using
^reen wood for their cooking stoves, or for warm-
ing their rooms. The wood-house is generally as
important an appendage to a New England home,
as the barn, and is usually filled with seasoned
wood sufficient for a year's supply. But there are
some, we observe, who still use wood in its green
state for fuel, hauling a load now and then, when
the demand becomes imperative, and chopping
just enough to appease the clamor in the kitchen.
There are several objections to such a course •
first, the moral effect is decidedly bad, as it is a
requisition upon the women much like that imposed
on the Israelites of old ; they were required to
make bricks without straw, and you require the
women to cook, and warm the children without
fuel, or at least with wood that contains in every
100 pounds, 35i pounds of cold water. Now it re-
quires time, and patience, and a great stock of
good humor, to puff and encourage into steam and
vapor 35^ pounds of cold water, in a frosty morn-
ing, when the children are to be got to school in
season, and the men are to be started for the
woods. If this trial occurred only once a week
it might be supported with some degree of com-
placency ; but it comes every day, and many times
in the day, and often when care and over labor
have fatigued the body and weakened the will. The
mind is thus brought into an easily excited state
and gives way to words and actions unnatutal to
itself when not thus unjustly tried. Green fire-
wood should be rejected as the demon of discord
in the family ; while it smokes, and steams, and
sputters, and refuses to toast or roast, or bake or
boil, it makes the children sulky and tart, the
husband gloomy and severe, and the poor wife
anxious and disheartened. Many a scene of do-
mestic felicity has been smoked and sizzled out of
existence, by the use of green firc-icood !

In the next place it is bad economy to burn green
fire-wood, and to show tliis, conclusively, we give
below a statement made by Dr. Lee, in the Gene-
see Farmer, several years ago. He says :

"\7e have been burning, for the last month,
green black and white oak wood, cut from wmali
trees. Our students find on analysis that 100 lbs
of this wood contain 35.^ lbs. of water and less than
one pound of ash. We demonstrated in an article
published in the last Farmer, that 1000 degrees of
heat are taken up in converting water into steam
which occupies a space 1G9G times larger than
that filled by water. Although the quantity of la-
tent heat contained in a cord of green wood is not
increased by seasoning, and hence the hitter can
evolve no more sensible heat than the former ; still
in burning green wood, or wet wood, it is almost

44

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

impossible to avoid the loss of one-fourth of the heat
generated, in combination with water, in steam and
vapor. Most of the heat rendered latent in these
gaseous bodies passes up chimeney, where they are
condensed, and give out their heat to warm all out
doors.

We are anxious to give the most unscientific reader
a clear idea of this subject, for it is really one of
great practical importance. Look at it, then, in
this light : You have divided your 100 lbs. of green
oak, beech, or maple wood, into 65 lbs. of dry com-
bustible matter, and 35 lbs. of cold water. Every
pound of this water you evaporate in green wood,
and throw the hPMt away by the consumption of a
part of your 65 lbs. of fuel, and then take the heat
evolved by the balance of your fuel to warm your
room. How many ounces of perfectly dry wood
are required to transform a pound of water into
steam, we cannot at this moment say; nor can
we determine what portion of the heat taken up by
steam in the combustion of green wood is again
evolved by condensing in the room where the fire
is made. We believe, however, that the usual loss
is about equal to one-third of all the heat contained
in 65 Iba. of kiln-dried wood; and that the gain in
seasoning wood under cover is at least 25 per cent. ' '

For the New England Farmer.
HISTORY OF VEGETATION—NO. 2.

Tn accordance with my design at a former writ-
ing, I now purpose to follow out briefl:y some of
the more important changes which take place in
the process of vegetation,after the plant has become
fully developed.

Vegetable economy — so to speak, is a subject
fraught with a considerable interest ; especially
when we consider the close analogy there is be-
tween the vegetable and the animal kingdom. But
yet how many there are of us, even, who have
been "brought up in the woods," with plants for
our almost constant companions, who can hardly
recognize in a tree an organic thing ? Nay, how
many who are entirely ignorant of its internal
economy, or the various "ways and means" by
which it attains to its gigantic proportions. It
has been said, and truly, that nature was like unto
a great book, always spread out before us — always
replete with instruction; yet while it is the high
privilege of the farmer to be ever under her im-
mediate guardianship, to hold daily communion
with her "visible forms," of what avail is it, in-
deed, if her "various language" be to him, after
all, a dead letter. Of what avail is it, we say, if
there are "sermons in stones" or "books in the
babbling brooks," if they are written in a language
whicli he will not take pains to understand. We
often spend years over some antiquated product of
ancient lore, or conning some critic's

" articles

On Hebraic points and the force of Greel; particles,"

yet with how little zeal do we employ the means
within our reach for gathering up those lessons of
wisdom, written "in the stones" on the blade of
grass, or in "the babbling brooks," orwhich are
made so strikingly manifest in the history and
economy of that most common product of nature
— a tree. But to proceed more directly with our
thesis.

First. The hark, like the skin of the human body.

is composed of three distinct coats, the epidermis,
the paranchyma and the cortical layers. The epi-
dermis is the external covering of the plant ; it is a
thin transparent membrane, and is either silicious
or resinous in its nature. In those plants noted
for strength or hardness, the epidermis is almost
entirely silicious, while in the opposite variety, it
is resinous. The design in thus uniting materials
of this character in the composition of the outer
covering of the plant must be obvious. The hard-
ness of the one and the resin from its want of affi-
nity for water, in the other, preserves the plants
from the destructive effects of violent rains, severe
climates, or inclement seasons.

The paranchyma is immediately beneath the
epidermis ; it is that green rind which appears
when we strip a branch from a tree or a shrub
from its external covering. It also forms the green
matter of the leaves and is composed of tubes filled
with a peculiar juice. This juice, it may be well
to say in this connexion, differs much in its nature
in different species of vegetables. For instance, it is
sometimes saccharine, as in the sugar-cane, some-
times resinous as in'firs and evergreens, sometimes
of a milky appearance, as in the laurel. In break-
ing a young shoot, or in bruising a leaf of laurel,
we shall observe this piece to ooze out in great
abundance. And it is by making incisions in the
birk, that pitch, tav and turpentine, are obtained
from firs and pines. And, by the way, the well
known durability of this species of wood is chiefly
owing to the resinous.nature of its peculiar juices.
With regard to the chief use of these juices, it is
supposed that it is from these that the plant more
immediately derives its nourishment.

The cortical layers are immediately in contact
with the wood, and consist of small vessels through
which the sap descends after having been elabora-
ted in the leaves. The cortical layers are annual-
ly renewed, the old bark being converted into
wood. Immediately beneath the cortical layers,
then, is the alburnum or wood, through whose
tubes the sap ascends. The wood is composed of
woody-fibres,mucilage and resin. They are disposed
in two ways, longitudinally and concentric. The
former is called the silver-grain of the wood, and
the latter the spurious grain. These last disposed
in layers from the number of which the age of the
tree may be computed, a new one being produced
annually by the conversion of the bark into wood
The oldest and most internal part of the alburnum
is called heart-ivood. It appears to be dead, at
least no vital function, are discernible in it. It is
through the tubes of the living alburnum that the
sap rises. These, therefore, spread into the leaves
and there communicate with the extremities of the
cortical layers, into which they pour their con-
tents.

Now, if we have done with the anatomy of the
plant, we will treat a little more particularly upon
that which constitutes its "life-current" and which
amounts almost to a circulation.

First. The sap, evidently composed of water
absorbed by the roots, and, like the blood in
the human system, holding in solution the va-
rious principles which are to contribute to the
nourishment and support of the living thing, as-
cends through the tubes of the alburnum into the
stem, and thence branches out to every extremity
of the plant, where it is elaborated by the leaves,
(by which operation its super-abundant fluid is

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

45

thrown off, and itself reduced to a proper consist-]
ency to be assimilated to all its parts) it then makes
its way downward through the vessels of the cor-
tical layers, and in its progress deposits in several
sets of vessels with which it communicates, ma-
terials on which the growth and nourishment of
the plant depend — descending no farther and in
no greater quantities than is required to nourish
the several organs, so that while the sap rises and
descends in the plant it does not undergo a real
circulation.

The last of the organs of plants is the Jloicer or
blossom-which produces the fruits and seed. These
may be considered as the ultimate purpose of na-
ture in the vegetable kingdom. But the seed
which forms the final product of the mature plant
we have already examined.

These then are the principal organs of vegetation
by means of which the several chemical processes
which are carried on during the life of the plant
are performed . R. h.h.

Burlin-gton, Fi., 1853.

For the New England Farmer
CHINESE MANURES.

Some time since a correspondent of the Farmer
inquired how it is that, — while England not only
imports breadstuffs, but ransacks almost the whole
world for guano, bones, and other fertilizing arti-
cles to keep up the produce of her fields, and, in
our own country, as a general rule, the soil dete-
riorates in proportion to the length of time it is
cultivated, — the Chinese, without commerce and
with but few domestic animals, have maintained
the fertility of their soil for the successive centuries
during which it has supported a wonderfully dense
population 1

With the hope of obtaining an answer more sat-
isfactory than any I have found in the few books
on China within my reach, I addressed a note to
the Rev. Mr. Syle, of the Episcopal Mission to
China, who is now on a visit to his native land,
after a residence of some years in China. Believ-
ing his kind reply will prove a valuable contribution
to the columns of the Farmer, 1 forward it to you
for publication.

Providence, R. /., Nov. 20th, 1853.

Stilman Fletcher : — Dear Sir, — Many and
pressing engagements have up to this time hin-
dered me from replying to your letter of Oct. 4,
in which you make certain inquiries concerning
the method of manuring practised by the Chinese.
I will do my best to answer your question ; though,
in doing so, I must beg you to bear in mind that
I can only speak of what has fallen under my own
observation in the city and neighborhood of Shang-
hai.

The most important manures there used were
human ordure and urine (especially the latter) di-
luted with water and poured over the vegetables
as they grow. It is also thrown over the rice
fields as they stand partly flooded with water. In
order to obtain this valuable, though not delecta-
ble manure, the country people send boats up to
the city every high tide, and into these are emptied
the contents of all the privies and urinals, which

are to be seen all through the streets — not to men-
tion the contents of the chamber utensils which
the women bring out every afternoon, as a matter
of course — every one to the back door of her own
house, where it is received in larger buckets by
men who come round for the purpose, and Avhose
occupation it is to carry it off to the boats before
mentioned. The public "necessaries," which
stand generally in rather conspicuous situations,
are quite valuable as property, and the money ob-
tained for these chamber products are among the
perquisites claimed by the servants of a family.

One other principal article of manure is the oil-
cake which results from the compression of a small
bean (grown chiefly in Shangtung). After being
bruised and steamed, this bean yields a consider-
able quantity of. oil, and the cake that remains is
found quite valuable for its fertilizing properties.
This also is applied as a liquid, the cake being
steeped and stirred up in a good deal of water.
Besides being thus used, the cake is given in small
quantities as feed for cattle — that is, for the wa-
ter-ox or buffalo, which is the animal employed al-
most exclusively in working their land. It is to
the excrement of these animals that they are in-
debted for those compost heaps to which your let-
ter alludes ; though the Chinese also make heaps
or rather pits of the mud which they draw up from
the bottom of their canals, and into which they
throw and pack down straw and weeds, and all
kinds of garbage and corruptible matters. These
after a while are spread over their fields. Ashes
of wood and even of straw, are carefully preserved,
and used with the most pains-taking economy — a
small handful being put over the exact spot where
the vegetable is expected to spring up. Even the
hair which the barbers shave off the heads and
chins of their customers is used as a manure, and
sold for so much a pound. Boys go about the
streets with baskets and little rakes, and may he
seen gathering out particular sorts of dung (es-
pecially that of dogs) for particular purposes, with
all the fastidiousness of epicures. Tea leaves are
also counted valuable for manuring purposes.

These, as far as I can recollect, are all the arti-
cles used in the parts to which my observation has
extended. It may be as well to remark, perhaps,
that the plain on which Shanghai stands is one of
uncommon extent and fertility, indeed, Mr. For-
tune (with whose works on China you are perhaps
acquainted) supposes that there is no similar ex-
tent of surface upon the face of the earth under
such high cultivation — a succession of three crops
— beans, wheat and cotton, is sometimes raised on
the same land in one year.

As some compensation for my delay, I will send
you by the first convenient opportunity, some na-
tive Chinese pictures delineating the successive
stages in the raising of tea, rice, silk and cotton.

It will afford me much gratification to know that
I have contributed in any degree to the dissemina-
tion of useful knowledge even on such an unsavory
subject — adding only this one remark that the
Chinese save everything which has a manuring val*
ue. I remain, dear sir, very truly yours,

E. W SVLE.

The "Native Chinese pictures" alluded toby
Mr. Syle, are neatly done up in four volumes, of
twenty-four colored paintings each. Their "peru-
sal" has afforded me a rare treat, by the artistic

4G

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jak.

skill displayed, by the information they afford, and
by the rich van of the humorous which pervades
the whole. But I must defer a particular descrip-
tion of these hieroglyphical delinalions to a future
time, in the hope of being better able to read them
understandingly. s. p.

Winchester, Dec. 5, 1853.

SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME.

Domestic Manufacture. — The discussion re-
specting the use of superphosphate of lime still
continues in many of the agricultural papers, al-
though the real question seems to be, not whether
the superphophate of lime is useful and profit-
able as a manure, but whether those who man-
ufacture it, and supply the market, do "Me honest
thing," and really sell what they pretend to. We
all know that animals, in order to have a full,
healthy increase of bone, &c., must take into their
stomachs food that contains phosphate of lime —
that this food must be derived either directly or
indirectly from the crops of the earth, and that
these crops must derive it from the soil in which
they grow, and if the soil doesnot containit, who-
ever cultivates that soil, must supply it in some
form of manuring or other.

We all know that the bones of animals, after
having been formed in part of phosphate of lime,
will, as matter of course, supply it again to the
soil, if suitable chemical action be brought to bear
apon them in such a manner as to decompose
them, and liberate the several ingredients fi*om
the affinities which bind them together in the
form of bone. Hence, every bone that you
see kicking about by the wayside, contains valu-
able matter for the growing crops, and might very
easily be made useful as a dressing to the soil. —
But how shall this be done? We have frequently
given directions how the farmer could do this, in
a small way, but, as line upon line and precept
upon precept is as good in farming as it is in morals,
it will do our readers, we opine, no harm to have
their attention turned to the subject again. Some
very plain directions for doing the work of decom-
posing bones in a domestic way, were given last
week in the "American Agriculturist," from
which we will copy a portion, and as you may
wish to refer to these directions, from time to time,
it will be well to keep them in some convenient
place, for the purpose of referring to them occa-
Monaliy, until the process is well fixed in the mind.

To makeSuperpuospiiate of Lime. — Some bones,
•ome sulphuric acid, and some wood hooped bar-
rels, or half hogsheads, are all the articles need-
ed.

After placing the barrels in a convenient place,
a few carboys of sulphuric acid may be obtained.
These carboys hold from 120 to 180 lbs., and by
•tipulating to return the carboys, you can gener-
ally obtain the acid for two or three cents a pound.
Put into the barrel a quantity of water, and then
pour in some acid. The acid should be added by
a small portion at a time, and the mixture be al-
lowed to cool before more is added, as great heat
is produced by mixing acid and water.

You want about two and a half quarts of water,
for one quart of acid, although strict accuracy in
this particular is not needled. Use a pitcher or
eatthern vessel for measuring the acid and water.

You may now put in the bones ; they would be bet-
ter to be crushed or broken up ; and you may put
m as many as you can punch down into the liquid.
As they settle down you can add more from
time to time. Let this stand from six to twelve
weeks, stirring it with a stick from time to time,
and you will have a liquid superposphate of lime,
as good as can be made.

When you wish to apply it to the land, pour out
the liquid, leaving the undissolved bones still in
the barrel, and mix the liquid with someunleaehed
ashes, — say two quarts of ashes to a gallon of the
liquid, and then mix the whole thoroughly with a
large quantity of dry manure, or even with any
dry soil, and it is ready to be sown upon the field
broad cast, or put in the hills with the seed. If
put in direct contact with the seed, be sure to have
it well mixed with a large quantity of muck or
other substances, say two or three gallons to
a cartload. This mixing can be done with a shov-
el on the floor or ground.

Improved superphosphate of lime is made by add-
ng something that contains a large quantity of
ammonia, and in order to make it of yours, as
prepared above, omit adding any ashes, but add
more or less urine, or liquid from the manure heap,
and then dry with muck as before directed.

After pouring out the liquid superphosphate
from the barrel, you can add more water, acid and
bones, and let the process go on anew. Thefarti- '
cle is just as good or even better after it has stood
one or five years. Should the hoops chance to
burst off, pour the liquid into another vessel, or
set it on the top of another, and let it thro
into it by pushing out the bottom. — Maine

OHARCOAL— ITS ALIMENTARY CHAR-
ACTER.

Some farmers are disposed to ridicule the idea
that in the simple and hitherto disregarded article
of charcoal, the agriculturist possesses an assistant
of great and surprising energy. Yet such is the
fact, indubitably, unless all science is to regarded
as a mere house of cards, built up but to be thrown
down again. But it is not for the purpose of de-
fending it against the cavilling and carping spirit of
such as deny its claims to the character of a manuri-
al agent, that we now take up the pen, but rather fco
present a few isolated facts in reference to its capac-
ity of acting in some cases, and uiukr certainly modi-
fied, and somewhat peculiar circumstances, as a
substitute for the food of animals, instead of as an
aliment of plants. The incidents or facts given be-
low in illustration of the truth of the position sug-
gested, are from the most reliable sources, and
may be depended on as strictly and rigorously cor-
rect.

Many years since, while one of the Liverpool
traders was fitting cut in the port of New York,
a pig was missing from on board, and was sup-
posed to be lost. After taking in her cargo, the
vessel put to sea. A few days aftpr, it was found
that the pig supposed to have been lost, Mas in
the coal-pen, but as the location of the latter ren-
dered approach somewhat difficult, it was conclud-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

47

ed to leave the animal to his fate. At the termi- ]
nation of the voyage his pig-ship was not only
found to be alive and vf ell, but very considerably
improved in condition, though with the exception
of charcoal, there was nothing within his reach
which he could have svyallowed from the com-
mencement to the conclusion of the voyage— a pe-
riod of nearly thirty days.

"A family being driven from the city of New
York by the fever, were absent six or eight weeks
before it was deemed prudent to return. A num-
ber of fowls confined in the loft of a work-shop,
were forgotten at the time of leaving, and as it
was known that there was nothing provided for
their subsistence, it was expected on their return
that they would be found starved to death. To the
astonishment of all, the fowls were found alive and
fat, though there was nothing upon which they
could have fed, except a quantity of charcoal and
shavings ; water being supplied from the grind-
stone trough."

The following experiment was made by a gen-
tleman of New York, to whom the foregoing facts
were communicated by a friend.

"He placed a turkey in a box or enclosure, four
feet long, two feet wide, and three or four feet
high, excluded light as much as could be done,
and allowed a free circulation of air, and fed the
turkey with soft brick broken fine, pounded char-
coal, and six grains of corn per day The box was
kept locked. At the end of the month, the turkey
was killed in the presence of several gentlemen,
was large and heavy, and on being opened was
found filled with fat. Nothing, on dissection was
found in the gizzard and entrails but charcoal and
brick. Last winter the experiment was repeated,
and with the same success."

A late writer on this subject says: — "When it
is remembered that wood, sugar, and several oth-
er substances, some of which are most nutritive,
are compounded of nearly the same original ele-
ments, it would seem possible, by animal chemis-
try, to convert them to the purpose of sustaining
animal life ; though all experiments with wood or
charcoal have failed."

of even lid. (22 cts.) per score, will realize Os.
lOd. ($2,40) per hen. Breed: Evidently the best
are the Dorking, and "fowls which have black
legs are the best for roasting, while those with
white legs are the best for boiling." For laying,
the Dutch every-day layers or the Spanish are ex-
cellent. Sitting : Having observed that the ear-
liest chicks in the neighborhood were every year
in possession of the same person, we were induced
to ascertain the cause. We found that the eggs
were not taken from the nest, and as soon as she
had about 13 she commenced to sit. Fowls, in-
deed, in their native haunts, never lay more eggs
in a season than they can hatch. Those who
keep Dutch every-day layers, or the Spanish hen,
should keep three or four Dorking hens to do the
hatching business. Remember that no success
can be expected from poultry keeping— 1st. If
their houses be damp, cold, unclean or badly ven-
tilated ; 2d. If the food they eat does not close-
ly approximate to that which they get in a state
of nature, viz. : a mixture of vegetable and animal
food; 3d. If the water they drink be stagnant,
the drainage of the manure heaps, &c. ; 4th. If
the strongest and handsomest be not bred from.

MANAGEMBNT OF POULTRY.

Farmers may gather some useful information
upon the subject i'rom the following extract from
an English paper : —

Poultry House. — The floor should be cleaned at
any rate once a week. It should be sprinkled with
sawdust, ashes, peat, or, best of all, peat charcoal.
The nests should be lined with moss, heath, or
short straw ; neither long straw nor hay should
be used — the darkest nests are preferred by the
hens. A poultry yard should contain : 1. A grass
plot; 2. Fine gravel ; 3. Slaked lime or other cal-
careous matter ; 4. Ashes kept dry by being
placed under cover ; 5. Pure water. Eggs : Hens
of the best variety will lay in a season from IGOto
210 each, or an average of 185, which, at the rate

For the New England Farmer.

DOUBIiS PLOW.

Mr. Editor : — I have just read in your paper
of this date, a letter from that genuine Yankee
farmer, Mr. S., of Wilmington. His remarks al-
ways indicate careful observation and sterling com-
mon sense. When he says that it takes one-third
more power to operate the double plow, split-
ting the furrow slice into two parts, say one three
inches thick, and the other five — than it does to
turn a furrow slice of the same width and_ depth,
with a single plow — his remark is not in accord-
ance with my observation. I have tried the same
experiment with considerable care, and came to
the conclusion that the double plows required no
additional power.

In proof of this, a dynamometer was applied to
both, and the power estimated in several consecu-
tive furrows, and the best opinion that could be
formed at the time, was, that the double plow
went the easier of the two. I cannot perceive
the force of the illustration drawn from friend S.'s
split stone — though I freely admit he knows much
better about handling stone, than I do. With the
other nropoiitions in his letter, I fully accord.
Observatioi!* from such men, drawn from the
farm itsslf, are what are wanted for instruction.
I am glad that the farmer of Wilmington has ta-
ken hold of this double plow. He has long since
shown the public how to grow the best orchard
in his county ; I hope he will continue to use his
plow, until he points out the way to improve the
average of the crops of Indian corn, tliroughout
the county, from 35 to 50 bushels to the acre — as
I am confident can readily be done, with proper
attention. *«*

Dec. 10, 1853.

Remarks. — In another column, we have given
some remarks on the same subject from the
Country Gentleman. The double plow is gaining
friends, and it is important that it should be well
understood.

48

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

EXTRACTS, REPLISS, &0.

Eggs and Butter.

D. G. Hitchcock, Augusta, Ga., inquires : —
" What is the best method of preserving eggs 1
How should butter be put up to keep it sweetl
and what will restore it to its natural taste when
it has become strong or rancid?"

Eggs packed in fine salt, always with the small
end down, will keep in this climate, for several
months, sweet and sound. We have kept them
for half a year without perceiving the least change
in their flavor, by packing them tightly in a cask,
and pouring over them lime water, about the con-
sistency of whitewash, or a little thinner. The
lime water acts upon the shells, so that if they are
immersed several months, the shells will be
found somewhat thinner than when put in.

Butter made properly h very easily preserved.
The cream should be churned ivhile it is sweet, the
buttermilk thoroughly worked out, — not washed
out with cold water, — about an ounce of salt ap-
plied to a pound, packed away in the tub closely,
and kept as much as possible from the air. This
is the whole operation of making and keeping
good butter. It is not the pure butter, which is
an oil, that becomes rancid, but the buttermilk
that is with it. We have seen a statement from
a French paper, that the bad taste and smell of
butter may be entirely removed by working it over
in water mixed with chloride of lime. The dis-
covery was made by a Brussels farmer whose prac-
tice has been to take a sufficient quantity of water
to work it in, and put in it from 25 to 30 drops of
chloride of lime for every 10 pounds of butter.
When it has been worked until the whole has been
brought into contact with the water, it should be
worked again in pure water, when it will be found
sweet. This plan may easily be tested, and we
should think it worth while for those dealing in
butter to try it.

The Yellow Locust.

Information is desired as to the best method of
cultivating the Yellow Locust, {a.) How is the
seed to be prepared, where to obtain it, and price ;
(b.) the .'proper season for planting, — how deep
and how far distant for Forest tvood? If you or
any of your correspondents will answer the above
questions you will obigle many

Wi7idsor, Vt., Dec. 3, 1853. A Subscriber.

Remarks. — (a.) The seeds of the Yellow Locust
should be sown in a rich, free loam, an inch or
two apart every way, and covered with light soil
from a quarter to half an inch deep. The seeds
may be sown in the autumn or spring, and under
favorable circumstances, the plants will be from
2 ft. to 4 ft. high the following autumn; the lar-
gest may then be removed to where they are to
remain, and the others transplanted into nursery
lines. If the seeds are not sown in the autumn
it would be better to keep them in the pods until
spring, but in a dry state.

(h.) CoBBETT recommends steeping the seeds in
hot water, but we should not approve it. If it is
particularly desired to sow the seed at a late day
in the spring, in order to save one season, it would
be well to steep the seeds for a few hours in warm
water just before sowing. The seeds may be ob-
tained at Ruggles, Nourse & Masons, at a price
ranging from 50 to 75 cents a pound. We will
refer to the subject again, and speak of the locust
more at length.

For the New England Farmer.
COAIi ASHES.

Increased attention is now being accorded to
this article as a manure. Men of science have as-
certained that it possesses intrinsic value, and
practical farmers are testing the correctness of
scientific dedutions, by experiment. The editor of
the Germantown Te/e^rffjuA — T. R. Freas, Esq.,
says :

" It is our opinion that these ashes are more or
less valuable as amanm-e, according to the char-
acter of the soil to which they are applied. To
hard land, and an unfriable soil, or where clay
predominates, wo believe anthracite coal ashes
will prove of much value, as our limited experience
would confirm, having used the ashes as a manure,
for ten or twelve years, in a limited degree, and
firmly believe it to possess nutritious properties,
to a desirable extent."

Professor Norton, whose position in the scien-
tific world entitles his opinions to high respect, ex-
presses himself in much the same way, and at the
late scientific convention, Mr. J. B. Bunce, a
chemist attached to the Yale Laboratory, presented
a communication on the subject of the soluble in-
gredients of anthracite coal ashes, and the appli-
cability of the latter to manurial purposes. Mr.
Bunce finds that water "dissolves between 3 and
4 per cent, of both red and white ashes, while
acid from 17 to 18f per cent. The soluble matters
consist principally of alumina, iron, lime, and
magnesia ; but their is also some soda and some
potash — together, from 1.8 to 3.3 per cent. —
nearly 2 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and from 3
to eight per cent, of sulphuric acid."

The presence of these acids, in connection with
the alkalies, the lime and magnesia, give a value
to these ashes, and in the opinion of Mr. Bunce,
"would justify their extensive use for agricultural
purposes." h. d. w.

Fluctuations in Flour. — The Baltimore Ameri-
can contains an interesting table on the fluctua-
tions in the wholesale price of flour in the three first
months of the year from 170G to the present time.
fn March, 1706, the price was $15 per barrel ; in
Jan., 1800,- $11 per barrel; in March, 1805, S13;
during the war 1812-15 the highest price paid was
$11 ; in 1817, $14,25 was paid ; in_ March, 1821
it was as low as $3,75 ; from that time to 1828 it
did not go above $7; inl820 it was as hioh as S8,50;
the next year as low as $4,50; in 1837, $11, (the
time of the flour riots in New York) ; in 1838-9,
" ' ; in 1841 it was down to $4,50 ; in 1843 to

,87 ; in 1844, $4,25 ; in 1845, $4 ; and _ from
that time to the present did not go alwve $6 in the
months named. In the early part of 1853; flour
was as low as $5,25 per barrel ; now it is much
higher.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

49

GRAPE VIHES-BEARING AND PRUN-
ING.

Many of our people are now supplied, until the
first or middle of January, vnth. delicious Isabella,
or other Grapes, raised on their own premises,
•without the aid of artificial heat, or of any un-
usual care, or expense. In favorable spots, by the
sides of buildings, we believe the Isabella will ri-
pen every year, and when once trained there, and
properly cared for, it will remain in at hrifty and
bearing condition for many years.

The grape loves a moist soil, but not one where
water stands in it. An excellent sj)ot is near the
back door of the house, where it will be conve-
nient to throw sink water or suds from the wash
tubs, several times a week.

The proper time for pruning is in the autumn,
soon after the fall of the leaf, and in this opera-
tion very much depends, as to the success you may
meet with. We give herewith, from Cole's Fruit
Book, some of the different forms of training.

The Cane, or Renewal Sys- a
TEM. — The first season one
• branch is trained up ; in the
fall this is cut back to 3 or 4
eyes, and the next season an-
other is trained up, and the
first is extended ; both are then
laid down and trained horizon-
tally, near the surface ; and
from each a cane is trained up,
(a. a.) The next season these ^'« Cane System
■will bear fruit, and two more canes, {b, b,) trained
up to bear fruit the next season, when a, a are

yards, by walls, trees, buildings, &c. In gardens
or vineyards, a trellis may be formed by setting
posts, or stakes 6 or 8 feet high, and nailing on
narrow strips of ))oards, or stakes alone are suffi-
cient, if sot 15 or 20 inches apart. In vineyards,
where the vines are about 3 or 4 feet apart, some-
times only one stake is set to a vine, and the later-
al or oblique branches are trained to the neigh-
boring stakes.

Pruning of grapes is not generally well under-
stood. Some do not prune at all the proper sea-
son ; they have a mass of vines and only a little
fruit, and that poor. Another absurdity, which
is often added to the above, is cutting off the young
shoots in summer, just above the fruit, and some-
times still worse, picking off the leaves to expose
the fruit to the sun.

The sap ascends to the leaves, and there min-
gles with matter, absorbed by tlie foliage, then it
is digested, or elaborated into food, which descends
to nourisli the plant. So essential are the leaves,
that the Ijlight on the foliage destroys the fruit,
and a frequent repetition is death to the plant.
The leaves, not the fruit, shouldb^e exposed to the

cut out near the horizontal branch, leaving one sun. Wc urge this point, as thousands mistake

eye, and new shoots trained, and so on. Dr. W.
C. Chandler, of South Natick, jMs., trains in this
way, and he has sent us fine Isabellas an inch in
diameter. Some train up the main vine perpen-
dicularly on a building, to a convenient place, and
then extend canes horizontally, and renew as above.
The cane system gives excellent fruit, as it is al-
ways on new wood ; but the yield is generally

and grapes are generally mismanaged.

As pruning the vine young prevents the growth
of the roots, i)ut little should be done for a yearjor
two after it is set. In Nov., or early in Dec., all
vines in open culture should be pruned liberally.
If pruning in spring, before leaved out, they will
bleed ; they may bleed in spring if pruned in win-
ter. In pruning rather tender vines, leave more

larger by spur or fan training. The canes should jwood than is needed, as some may be killed, and
be as much as 2 feet apart. If the vine is strong, finish pruning in spring as soon as the leaves are

the horizontal branches may be extended, so as to
have 8 or 10 canes.

The Spur System is the
training up of the main stem,
and of spurs horizontally, cut-
ting back the spurs, annually,
to 2, 3, or 4 eyes of the new
wood, according to the
strength of the vine, and num-
ber of the spurs. 5^ ~--»

W^hen the spurs have ex- ly^^^
tended too far, cut out a part,
yearly, training up new ones, ,^>y->
thufT changing all the wood^^^'^
to new ; and as the vines be-
come old and unproductive,
cut down part at a time, and
train up new ones. This will
combine the cane and spur
method, and is an excellent
system.

The Fan or Tree System,
or other convenient modes,
are practised in vineyards,
and in common garden cul-
ture, or in training grapes in

The Spur System.

nearly developed, when the life of the vine may be
seen. In summer allow a good growth beyond the
fruit, and al^out midsummer, pinch off the ends
of the branches, fo check them, and cut out feeble
laterials, and branches on which there is no fruit ;
then there Avill l)c much foliage to absorb the mat-
ter, and prepare nutriment ; and l)y checking the
growth of wood, it will be appropriated to perfect
the fruit. The two great errors are in neglecting
to cut off us^jless wood in fall, and in depriving
the plant of useful foliage by close pruning in
summer.

Careful use of Horses. — An acquaintance lost
his horse a few days ago, in a manner that would
suggest an habitual caution in driving. The horse,
a valualtle one, well kept, in good spirits, and in
perfect healtli , was taken from the stal ile and driven.
He had asceuded a long and liard hill within the
first mile of drivmg, and as soon as the summit
was reached, tiie driver, as is the habit of many,
touched liim with the whip; he si^rang, stopped,
staggered and fell, and by the time the driver could
alight from tlie carriage, he was dead. An exam-
ination showed that a large blood-vessel near the
heart had been ruptured.— ^i^ar^je?- and Planter.

50

NEW ENGLAND t'ARMER.

Jan.

For the New England Farmer.

REPORT

OF THE TRANSACTIONS AT THE VETERINARY

SCHOOL OF ALFORT.

BY GEORGE H. DADD, VETERINARY SURGEON.

During the last sessional year, students at this
valuable inatitution have had rare opportunities
for acijuiring a knowledge of various branches, in
veterinary science ; from their annual report we
learn, that the number of animals admitted for
treatment, and returnable defects, or as subjects
of surgical and therapeutic experiment, are as fol-
lows :

Of the horse tribe 1041

Of the bovine tribe 22

Of smaller species 383

1446

Animals submitted to consultation were, —

Horses 6510

Cows 33

Asses and Mules 80

Doss 397

Goats 17

Cats 4

Pigs 3

7044

Making in the aggregate 8490 animals over which
the students have extended their observations.

"If we add to this the number returned the
previous scholastic year, 7994, it will be seen that
the pupils receiving their diplomas, after having
Bpent two years at school, have had opportunities
of instruction in veterinary medicines and surgery
from the considerable number of 16,484 subjects
of diflFerent species."

We sincerely hope that ere the year 1853 has
passed, to be able to report on the transactions of
an American veterinary scliool ! Such institution is
surely needed ; for the people of this country are
now in the same condition regarding veterinary
matters, as existed among those of the mother
country previous to the endowment of her veteri-
nary university. And if ever we should be visit-
ed by those fearful epidemics, or epizootics, that
have to such an alarming extent prevailed through-
out the British dominions, the pestilental sword
will be no less keen, nor destructive here, than it
was in the former country. But we have enough at
the present time to arouse our agriculturists from
their long slumber of indifference to united action
for the advancement of a science, which has, and
is still calculated to sow broadcast the germs of use-
fulness. It is well known that there are constant-
ly oocurring among various descriptions of live
stock, thousands of premature deaths, and a like
number of unnecessary cases of disease, every
year, which might be prevented by the aid of vet-
erinary science. Many of our farmers have, to
their sorrw and mortification, discovered tliat the
off-jpring of many fine and costly animals rapidly
degenerate, and they know not the why nor the
wherefore. Then, again, observe the countless
number of malformed, and otlierwise defective
horses that are to be met with, in all parts of the
Union ; inheriting through ancestral descent a
broken down constitution, a weak, porous, bony
Btructure, which sends out its morbid growths, in
the form of spavin, ringbone, splent and other
osseous deformities ; to the utter ruin of the sub-
ject's reputation, and his owner's anticipations.

Does the former seek a remedy ? If so he should
read the Book of Nature, as it is written by Om-
nipotence on the face of universal creation, and
recognize there through the intelligence of man,
in germination, growth and maturity of both ani-
mate and inanimate matter. Let the farmer who
is thirsting for knowledge, knock at the door of
veterinary science, and it shall be opened unto
him, and he shall there learn by what means ra-
ces of animals degenerate. It has been discovered,
and the same is true of brutes, that malformation,
decrepitude and premature death result from dis-
regarding the immutable laws of nature. Ask
the surgeon how and by what means the sons of
Adam deteriorate, and he vull tell you they have vio-
lated God's uncompromising laws, as they apply to
our mental and physical natures. Do you desire
proof of this 1 If so, you are referred to the Nobles
of Spain and Portugal— to the lunatics of this, and
other conntries,and to the countless hosts of weak,
puny, living — yet half jdead-of all nations, that are
to be met with — the architects of their own infir-
mities. If other and more convincing proof be
needed, we have only to contrast the stalwart
frame and iron constitution of our departed ances-
tors with the present exotic and diminutive race,
and the difference appears almost as great as that
now existing between the Uoti and the la77ib. Ilenoe
there is a fine field for American talent and indus-
try, in that branch of veterinary science known
as comparative physiology. Finally, .if it were not
for the enterprise manifested by our wealthy agri-
culturists, in importing stock from abroad, and
thus mingling good blood with the common herd,
the live stock of this country would be little else
than walking skeletons, fit subjects only for some
friendly epizootic. Let a siiuiU portion of the
money, now expended for the purchase of foreign
stock, be invested in standard works on the collat-
eral branches of veterinary science, to be studied
in our schools and universities ; and a little sum
be appropriated for endowing a school like that at
Alfort, then our native stock might be so improved
and perpetuated as not to need foreign aid.

For Ike New England Farmer.
A POUND OP BUTTER TO A GALLON
OP MILK.

This is the question. The veteran Editor of
the Mass. Ploughman says be has a stockiOf
Devon cattle, each and all of which will do this;
and he challenges the world to show the cotitrary
of this. This is toeing the mark. This is com-
ing up to the scratch boldly. Mr. B. knows what
he is talking about, and understands what he says.
If his cows and heifers, be they Devon, or what
not, will do this, it is more than any other set of
cows ever have done, in this or any other coun-
try. If they will not do this, then his statements
are calculated to mislead. Mr. B. must know it
to be folly to make such statements, unless they
are true. Within three months, it has been
avowed in his editorial columns, speaking then in
relation to Jersey cows, that no animal would do
this. I then supposed what he said was true. I
supposed the statements made about the Jersey
cows, at Lf) well and Dracut, were not true. I
supposed tliere was some gum-game in this mat-
ter. But if what Mr. B. now says is true, — I
admit that I have done injustice to the Jersey

i854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

51

cows, on the Merrimack. The richest produce
that I have ever known from a cow, and she was
the best cow I ever knew, was one found of but-
ter to one and a quarter gallons of milk, taken from
the cow, under circumstances most favorable.

I do not say, Mr. Editor, that what Mr. B. says
of his Devon stock is not true, — but I do say,
that I will find the man, able and willing to pur-
chase as many animals as he will bring on, that
will yield a pound of butter to every five quarts
of their milk, at anytime within /owr mo7iths oi
their calving ; — and pay therefor, double the fair
market price for such cows.

This is not vain-boasting — but is an offer made
in good faith. Come, friend, will you stand your
hand]

Dec. 15, 1853. Essex.

DRY FOOD.

most animals will winter as well as upon the best ^
English hay.

Pumpkins and squashes, as well as roots and ap-
ples, are often prepared and mixed with refuse
fodder in this way.

But— as we believe, the true way of preparing
feed for farm stock of all kinds is not yet practised
in the country. We believe the time will come
when steam may be used, so that after paying the
interest of the cost of the fixtures and fuel, a sav-
ing of nearly or quite one-fourth of all the hay,
roots and grain may be made, and that the far-
mer may have that surplus over and above what
he now has, to sell. vVho, among our enterpris-
ing farmers, will commence the experiment ?

There are numei'ous disadvantages necessarily
attending the feeding of neat stock exclusively on
dry food. Horses, oxen — and in short, all domes
tic animals — fed on cut hay in a dry state, obsti
nately refuse, after a time, to consume all that is
given them. They become fastidious, and conse-
quently less healthy and thrifty in condition than
when fed partly on moist or succulent food.

The process which experience has demonstrated
to be the most judicious and economical, and, at
the same time, the best adapted to promote the
several objects contemplated by the feeder is the
following : —

A trough, or other suitable vessel of sufficient
capacity, is to be provided, and into which a suffi-
ciency of cut oat, rye, or wheat straw, stalks or
hay, is to be put, to furnish all the animals with a
single meal. For every three animals to be fed,
add four quarts of meal with just enough water to
moisten it, and let it stand for several hours, or
if practicable, till incipient fermentation has com-
menced, and a slight acidity is perceptible. In
this state feed it to your animals, and you will find
that not a particle will be refused by them, and
that they will continue in better condition than
when fed exclusively on any other feed. If desir-
able, the process of preparing the food may be
further systematized by having several troughs for
mixing the ingredients. This will enable the feed-
er to prepare food in advance of his wants, and
consequently to have a feed always ready at the
hour it is wanted. A straw-cutter of the latest
and most improved pattern, should be found on
every farm. It will enable the husbandman to
work up, to good advantage, a large amount of
material that would otherwise possess no actual
value except for manure. By cutting corn stalks,
tops and butts, fine, mixing with them a quan-
tity of roots or apples chopt into small pieces, or
raspt with a rasping machine, and scattering over
them a very small quantity of meal of any kind,
together with a little salt, a very palatable and
nutritious food will be secured, and one on which

THE RAT AND THE WEASEL.

My informant states that a farmer in the State
of Maine of his acquaintance, had noticed at dif-
ferent times for the period of two weeks, combats
between a large rat and a weasel in his barn ;
from which encounters the latter invariably came
off second best. One day, being at work near his
barn, his attention was attracted to the weasel
very busily engaged in digging a hole in a dung
heap. He watched the weasel until he had "tun-
nelled" the heap ; and made a hole of considera-
ble size at the entrance and about half way
through the heap ; the rest of the hole was ta-
pered off, so that; at the place of egress it was of
barely sufficient size for the slim little body of the
weasel to pass through. "When the plotter had
finished his hole, he went into the barn and en-
gaged his antagonist ratship. Beaten, of course,
again in the encounter, the weasel ran, pursued
by the rat, into the hole of the dung-hill, the
grain-eater little suspicious of the snare laid for
him. Like many unfortunate human beings, the
poor rat was "stuck," and halted sadly between
the two extremes ; while his cunning little foe
emerged from the small end, and whipping round
briskly to the larger entrance, "brought up the
rear," and that was soon a dead rat. Here now
was a regular plan laid, a shrewd design carried
out successfully on the part of the weasel for de-
stroying a foe which was too much for him in a
fair fight. It showed forethought and contrivance,
and these are very strong symptoms of something
more than mere instinct, — reason. — Valley Far-

THE MICHIGAN DOUBLE PLOW.

We perceive that the Neio England Farmer, in
consequence of too brief an explanation on our
part, has entirely misunderstood our remarks in
relation to the team required for this plow. Our
experience in this matter gives precisely the same
results as those found by the New England Far-
mer, with the exception, perhaps, that we think
decidedly less draught required than for a common
plow cutting the same width and depth.

A Michigan plow of a size corresponding with
a common plow, will cut a furrow one-half deeper,
or as three is to two, and consequently must run
harder than the latter. For plowing nine or ten
inches deep, two yoke of oxen or two pair of com-
mon horses are required ; for one foot in depth,

52

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

the largest size Michigan plow is needed, and must
be drawn liy tliroe yoke of oxen.

For a given dipth, we are satisfied the Michigan
plow requires tlie least draught in consequence of
the inverted slice being composed of two distinv.t
portions, which are more easily turned and thrown
where they are to lie, than one thick, stiff, and
unmanageable sod. At the same time the work is
donein a far better manner, especially when the
plowing is quite deep, and quite so to do the work
well with a single mouldboard. — Country Gentle-
man.

THE OLD WASHERWOMAN.

FROM THE GEtlMAN CHAMISEO.

Behold her busy with her linen.

Yon ancient dame, with silver hair,
The briskest of ihe washerwomen.

Though six-iiiui-seventy years are there ;
So she has followed, year by year,

The honest toil at which yon find her.
Filling with diligence the sphere

Of useful labor God assigned her.

In her young days, (for she is human,)

She loreil, and hoped, and wedded too ;
Well has she known the lot of woman.

Seen cares and sorrows not a few.
Her dear sick man she sought to save,

(Three cliildren faithfully she bore him,)
Nor did she bury in fhegiave

Her faith and hope, when earth closed o'er him.

The precious charge now laid upon her

With cheerful energy she bore ;
She trained them up in fear and honor,

Virtue and jirudence all her store.
At length, to seek their livelihood.

They took her blessing and depaited ;
A lone old woman now she stood,

Yet cheerful, hopeful and stout-hearted.

She spared, and scraped, and saved each penny.

And spun by night the flax ehe bought.
And of fine iImx thread yards full many

At last she to the weaver brought.
He wove her linen white as snow ;

Her needle and her scissors plying,
A spotless burial dress she so

Prepared against her day of dying.

Her dress — herlurial dress— with pleasure

And sacred pride she lays away ;
It is her first, and last, her treasure —

The frnil of mmy a toilsome day.
She puts it on God's Word to hear,

When Sabbath bells sound holy waruirg,
Then lays it up a^ain, to wear

The night before the eternal morning.

And would that I, when night shall find me,

Might read, in life's last sinking sun,
That I had wrouglit the work assigned me.

As this good d:irne her task has done ;
That I had learned life's joys to drink

In such full and even tneasure,
And could upon my grave-clothes think.

At last with such a heart felt pleasure.

Agriculture and the "Message." — We cannot
but express our surprise, and sincere regret, that
the President, in his recent Message, entirely over-
looked the most important interest of the nation
— that of Agriculture. Tliis great pursuit un-
derlies andjsustains all others, and yet, inthisdocu-
mentj deliberately written and pretending to touch

upon all the leading interests of the people, no
allusion whatever is made to it. We find it stated,
that, " taking the last census as the basis of cal-
culation, there are at this time about sLv hundred
millions dollars worth of live stock in the United
States. Their value exceeds th&t of all the man-
ufacluring eslaUishmenls in the country, and also,
exceeds the capital employed in commerce, both inland
and foreign. And yet Agriculture is not ac-
knowledged as having existence in our pursuits.

WHEN SHOULD TIMBER BE OUT.

Editor Ohio Farmer: — What is the proper sea-
son for cutting timber, to ensure its greatest dura-
bility, is a question of considerable importance to
the farmer, in a country where it is an object to
sa^e timber and avoid unnecessary labor, as it
makes a great difference in the profits of a farmer
if his fences have to be renewed once in five years,
when by cutting his timber in a proper season they
would last ten.

The time settled on by tradition appears to be
the month of February. Perhaps the reason is, the
winter in the most convenient season for doing
such work, there being more leisure time then than
in summer ; and because it has been generally
done at that time, it is sujiposed to be the right
one. But if any one will be at the trouble of cut-
ting a tree in the winter or spring, and one in June
or July, and making them into rails, and then see
which will last longest, he will not need any other
argument to convince him that tradition is at fault
in this case at least.

Perhaps the case may be different with some
kinds of timber; but hickory, ash, basswood,
beech, and maple, and some other kinds, cut in
the winter, when the bark is tight to the wood,
and the sap in the heart of the tree, becomes sap-
rotten and worm-eaten before they have time to
season, and fall to pieces in a short time; while
that which is cut in summer, the bark being loose,
and the s'ap near the surface, can easily be peeled;
when it dries immediately, and becomes as hard as
a bone, and will no doubt last from one-third to
one-half longer tlian the former. Trees can be cut
down in summer, and left with the tops on, to be
worked up at leisure with very good advantage.

Bedford, O., 1853. E. J. Young.

— Ohio Farmer.

MR. GaEELEY'S ADDRESS.

-We have received from the publishers, Messrs.
Fowlers & Wells, New York, a neat pamphlet of
33 pages, containing the address of Horace Gree-
ley, before the Indiana State Agricultural Society,
at its annual fair, Oct. 13, 1853.

The address is entitled, "What the Sister Arts
teach as to Farming," and its object is "to set
forth some of the principles which underlie the
whole fabric of productive art and industry, and
to show their application to the farmer's vocation
as well as others." This it docs in a clear, forcible
and consistent manner, showing that farming, like
all other productive arts, is not independent of
general rules, and that the princijiles which it is

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

53

necessary to observe, in order to be successful in
other vocations, are of equal importance to the
tiller of the soil. Paj-ing but little attention to
the peculiar operations of the farm, the address
inculcates the principles of thoroughness, and a
perfect mastery of the pursuit of agriculture, par-
tially and theoretically. Mr.* Greeley closes his
address ■with an eloquent appeal to the "gener-
al experience, and the heart of humanity," in fa-
vor of*he "calm perennial joys of a humble rural
home.'' We commend the address to all, as filled
with good thoughts and valuable suggestions, and
we are sure that no one will rise from its perusal
without feeling in his heart a new and more car-
nest longing for the "serene joy which shall irra-
diate the farmer's vocation, when a fuller and
truer education shall have refined and chastened
his animal cravings, and when science shall have
endowed him with her treasures, redeeming labor
from drudgery, while quadrupling its efficiency,
and crowning with ])eauty and plenty our boun-
teous, beneficent earth."

PIGS AND DOGS.

[Mr. Willis, in one of his recent Idlewild letters,
says:]

In my daily rides, of late, I had thought my
neighbors' dogs rather more filibusterous than
usual, and I was wondering whether it was owing
to the frost-sieve which I was allowing kind Dame
Nature to spread protectingly over my upper lip,
when a friend gave me the key to their excitabili
ty. This is the hog- killing season.; and it appears,
that with the scout of blood in the air, the farmers'
dogs became annually furious. They bark at all
comers, even those witli whom they are well ac-
quainted, and in their assaults ujDon th^ passers-
by, they quite forget their usual polite distinc-
tion between beggars and gentlemen. Pig influ-
ence, even after death, is thus hostile to good
manners. One cannot "kill his own pork," and
have also a well-behaved dog. And I must own
that I am pleased with discovering a new reproach
to the animal — for it is one of the obstinacies about
which I am most reasoned with, by my household
advisers, that I cannot consent to keep a pig.
"There's an unrighteous amount of swill wasted,"
aa my man eloquently expresses himself — "twenty
dollars a year in good sweet pork that you know
all about." But, satisfactory as it may be to eat
pork with which one has been previously acquaint-
ed in the shapfc of swill, my abliorrence outweighs
both the economy and the pleasure. If it were
nothing else, the voice of theljrute is doom enough
for him. ("Oft in the stilly night," etc.) And
as one must rcmeml;er daiiy, every creature of
which one is l)ouud, as the master of a home, to be
mercifully mindful, I will have a home without a
pig — if my own taste and my dog's better manners
are arguments tliat continue to prevail.

B^ Monroe D. Randall, district school teacher of
Belchcrtown, has been ordered to pay $10 and costs
— amounting to about ^;:jO, for inflicting excessive
punishment on a female pupil. He appealed.

For the New England Farmer.

THE MONTHLY FARMER FOR DE-
CEMBER.

This number completes the volume and the year.
This is as it should be. A periodical should no
more end in April or October, than Thanksgiving
or Christmas come in dogdays. These long eve-
nings, too, are just the tunes for holding family
councils on the suljject of taking the Fanner an-
other year, for, as Young says, "Night strikes
thought home ;" and formers arc obliged to think
over their expenses pretty carefully. But until
Agricultural Colleges, Lecturers,or something else,
shall take the place of agricultural pajiers, we do
not see how we are to get along Avithout the Far-
mer. But this is wandering from our text. Let
us glance at the contents of the number for De-
cember.

A MODEL FARM.

Although Congresses and Legislatures may neg-
lect to establish in our country any thing like the
"Model Farms" of Europe, that so take the fancy
of some agricultural writers and speakers, still we
are not left entirely without models. Scattered all
over the land, unpretending as worth, and retiring
as modesty, are yet to be found, thank heaven,
thousands of model farms and model farmers, of
the true American stamp. "How to secure a home
and be Independent" j^laces one of these models
before us. When young men cease to imitate, and
older ones to admire, such examples as the history
of Mr. Stow affi^rds, and look to the legislature
for their "models," the "decline and fall" of our
empire will begin, and very much where that of
the Roman did.

BIRDS.

No. 7 of Mr. Prowler's series of articles on the
"Birds of New England," which treats of the
Swallow tribe.

CALIFORNIA.

The land of gold promises to become a land of
farmers. Messrs. Byrant & Co., on page 573,
speak of the agricultural capabilities of the coun-
try, while "California Matters" give some of the
premiums offered there on agricultural productions;
and "Gold against Hay" is a sensible article, —
but what's the use of talking ? Though a Califor-
nia outfit may cost more than a farm in Iowa, and
every ounce of gold dust twice its market value,
and the lives of half the minors, yet thousands
must and will "see the folly of it for themselves."
cows.

A likeness and statement of the cow that took
the first premium at the Middlesex County show.

FAIRS.

Brief notice of agricultural fairs in C'heshire
County, N. II.; full account of ihe National Horse
Exhibition, where the receipts were $10,000 ; of
the Augusta, Georgia, Show ; of the Hampshire
County Exhibition ; with naia>s of officers of the
Rockingham, and of the Hillsborough, N. II. So-
cieties for 1854.

FRfrx.

If "J. T. W." wlio Aakes inquiries about graft-
ing pears on tlic JMoiintain Ash, lias not the
monthly Farmer for May, 1 sliould advise him to
obtain it, and read an article by Mr. Goodrich, on
page 224, and a few lines on page 204, before he

54

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

lay out much labor on the jNIountain Ash, vinless
he intends to scU liis pears "two years from the
bud." Other valua])le articles on"Gathering and
Preserving Pears ;" caution against selectifig va-
rieties for cultivation from specimens exhibited at
"Exhibitions of Fruit ;" "Remarks on Transplant-
ing Trees,"' and notice of a new seedling "Frost-
Proof Grape."

GARDEN.

The editor gives us some Autumnal reflections
in "The Garden," with hints on work there for
the season ; "A short Garden Chat" on peaches,
peas, and beans ; and "The product of an acre and
a quarter," in Canada.

IMPLEMENTS.

An editorial on "Agricultural Implements ;" a
cat and description of a "One-horse Farm Tilt-
cart;" with an article on "Agricultural Machin-
ery," which says, " though thousands of very in-
genious men have labored for years to improve the
plow, still the best now in use consume live-sixths
of the moving force to overcome friction and cohe-
sion."

MANURES.

In a report of the proceedings of a late meeting
of the Board of Agriculture I am glad to notice
the appointment of a committee on the waste of
fertilizing substances in cities, and from the names
of the committee, think we may believe the mat-
ter will not end in the "iJesoZi'e" by which they
were appointed. We find also a "Table of Man-
ares," giving the composition, mode of application,
weight, &c., of several special manures ; remarks
on "Bones and Sulphuric Acid ;" "A New Ma-
nure ;" and the "Meadow Mud" controversy, con-
tinued ; in which the editor says "many things
are recommended to the farmer that are altogeth-
er unattainable by the great mass of cultivators ;
and many courses or plans proposed that can only
be adopted by a few." IIow true ; and yet this
idea has subjected his remarks to the criticisms of
the Tribune and of "Glen." No wonder there is
prejudice against book-farming ! I was brought vip
among farmers that had hai'd work to get salt for
their pork, where lime enough to plaster the
"square room" could not be had by all, and where
an oyster shell would have been placed in the calj-
inet of curiosities on the mantel piece.

PIGS AND TURNIPS.

Thoughts, suggestions and facts on feeding pigs
on turnips. Though not much of a turnijoite my-
self I can wish all manner of success for ^Mr.
French in his experiments. One country raises
turnips with a profit ; another sugar beets ; and a
third, Indian corn — but this does not prove that
either country can succeed with all these articles.
When Cobbett went back to England he attempt-
ed to get up a corn fever among the farmers there,
but with as little success among practical men, as
the turnip advocates have thus far met with in
the United States.

REMEDIES,

' for "Warts on Cows ;" for
and for "Burns."

those of Normal schools, then will Mr.GoLDSBURY's
argument be to the point, and the "Agricultural
Lectures proposed by II. S." can be delivered by
those "having authority." "Science as a co-work-
er" with the farmer is recommended by Mr. Perrt.
He says, "It cannot be possible that agriculture
alone, of all the arts, must stand aloof from the
aid offered by science. All other industrial occu-
pations owe their elevation and importance to it."
Now is it not a fact that agriculture suj^ports two
periodicals devoted to its interests, where the oth-
er "industrial occupations" support one — pays for
two volumes on the "application of science," where
they pay for one? Shoemakers and masons, wheel-
wrights and tailors, may be far ahead of farmers,
in science, but I have no proof of it.

TITLE PAGE AND INDEX.

The printer gives us a neat title-page, and the
editors a copious index of subjects, illustrations,
and correspondents for the volume. From which
it appears that some two hujidred and forty differ-
ent individuals have contributed more or less of
their thoughts or knowledge, during the year ;
that some 47 cuts or pictures have illustrated its
pages, and that the mere names of subjects lill up
nine columns. It may be that there are some
readers who will throw aside this index with the
feelings of the lady who remarked of Dr. John-
son's Dictionary, "though the language is magni-
ficent, I don't think much of the story," yet the
great majority will agree with Daniel Webster in
his estimate of the value of an index, when he
said "I never look at a book that has none."

SHEEP.

Nine particular, and a good many general rea-
sons for preferring "Merino sheep for mutton" and
other purposes.

WHEAT.

Several encouraging instances of success in rais-
ing wheat in New England, the past season, are
mentioned in this number. A Reader.

Winchester, Dec, 1853.

THE FINEST OX IN THE WOULD.

An ox, acknowledged by all who have seen him
to be the most extraordinary one they have ever
heard of, is about to be fca-warded to the Smith-
field Cattle Show, from Sir H. Vcrney's, of Clay-
don House. He was bred and fed by the Hon.
Baronet, and is a pure short-horn. He is rather
over five years old, and is supposed to be much
heavier than the famous Durham ox, about which
so much noise was made at the beginning of the
present century, or than the American ox, which
some few years since attracted so much notice.
Ho stands nearly 18 hands high, and measures 6
ft. Gin. from hip to shoulder, 3 ft. across the hips,
Oft. 11 in. in girth behind the shoulder, and 12 ft.
in length from the tip of the nose to the rump,
while his depth from chin to brisket exceeds 4 ft.
6 in. He is exceedingly well made up, particular-
ly along the whole length of his l)ack ; and not-
withstanding his great size, presents none of those
[monstrous fatty excrescences which so generally
seiK^cj!;. » disfigured the highly-fed beasts, and were so gen-

When government shall take the business of ag- crally condemned a few years since. He has been
riculture into its hands, as it has done that of ed- fed upon grass, cake and corn ; and is supposed by
ucation, and be able to place the graduates of various judges, who have courteously been permit-
" Farm Schools" into lucrative places, as it does I ted by Mr. Eraser, Sir II. Verney's steward, to

For "Borers
"Lice on Cows :

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAR:>.ii.w.

55

visit him to weigh upwards of 300 stone. Not-
withstanding his great weight, he is exceedingly
active, is very tractable, and is a capital feeder;
indeed, Mr. Eraser docs not hesitate to express his
belief that the animal could stand feeding for an-
other year.#In color he is a light roan, with white
predominating, and is altogether a very handsome,
quiet beast, with a kind head and docile eye. —
Bucks {Eng.) Chron.

OrouiKl Bone.

^bnertislng Dcfiartmcnt.

University of Albany.

DEPAKTMENT OF CHEMISTRY.

J? S. CARR, JI. D., Professor of Chemistry and its applica
J. tious to A^'riculture and the Useful Arts.

F. E. UAKIN, Instructor in Analytical Chemistry.

This department of the University, havhig been permanently
established, a spacious Laboratory wUI be opened for the recep-
tion of Students, on Tuesday, the 10th day of January next.
There will be a Course of Instruction in Practical and Analyti-
cal Chemistry, and a Course of Lectures on the appUcations of
Chemistiy to Agriculture and the Manufacturing Arts, continu-
ing dui-iug a term of three months. The Laboratory will be open
from 9 A. M. to 4 P. M.

The Lectures will be delivered in the evening, and will be free
of charge.

For Laboratory Instruction, $20 per term, or $10 per month,
for a shorter period. Students will be charged with breakage
and the Chemicals they consume. Students will also have ac-
oess to the State Agricultural and Geological collections.

Analysis of Soils, Ores, Mineral Waters, &c., made on reason-
able terms.

Address Prof. E. S. Cap.h, at Albany, or either of the following
gentlemen -. Lcther Ticker, office Albany Cultivator ; Hon. B
P. Johnson, State Agricultui-al Rooms ; Dr. J. H. Ajuisbt, 669
Uroadway. '

Dec. 17, 1853. 4^-.

U. S. and Foreign Patent Agency,

No. 39 State Street, Boston.
SAMUEL COOPER,

LATE Chief Examiner in the U. S. Patent Office, procures Pa-
tents m this and Foreign Countries.

REFERENCES.
The undersigned. Principal and Assistant Examiners in the
Limted States Patent Office, have for several years been well ac-
quainted with Mr. Samuel Cooper, lately a Prmcipal Examiner
m this Office, and take pleasure in stating that he is a gentleman
of the highest moral character, of unquestioned knowled<'e in the
business and practice of the Office, and that his scientific attain-
ments are such as eminently fit him for the business in which he
13 about to engage.

Hekry B. Ren-wick, ) „ • • ,
L. D. Gale, '(Principal

J. II. Lane, ^Examiners.

T. R. Peale, 1

Tnos. H. Everett, I Assistant

F. Socthgate Smith, f Examiners.

\Vm. Cuacncy La.vgdon, J
From long acquaintance and mtimate official relations with
Mr. Cooper, I fully and heartily concur m the foregoing recom-
mendation made by my late colleagues.
^ , Wat. P. N. Fitzgerald,

vec. ol. tf Late Principal Examiner of Patents.

Super-PIiosphate of Lime,

TN bags and barrels, ma.le by C. B. DEBURG, a warranted
^i^k'^'^'JI,!-!*''?",";".'' ''"''''''' ''■'"' <■"•• directions for use. For
^leby GEO. DEVEN POUT, 5 Commercial, comer of Chatha^
St., Boston, agent for the manufacturer.

rrtl^"«*^"^^*^?.'''?"J"'^"''"°' ^o'le Dust, Burnt Guano, and
Urass Seeds of reliable qualitv.
March 26, 1S53. tf*

For Sale,

THE attention of the Scientific Agriculturists and others. Is In-
vited to a new article of ground bone. Bone manure has long
been known to be the most fertilizing article in use, not except-
ing even guano, but there has always existed a difficulty in pul-
verizing it at a cheap rate in manure, that it will speedily and
powerfully operate on the soil. That difficulty has at length
been overcome, and the article is now offered in its pure and most
efficient state, ground to any desired fineness, and at the same
time retaining all its ammonical and gelatinous matter, consti-
tuting the fertilizing qualities, which causes this manure to be so
superior to all others; and another consideration in its favor is, thai
it can be furnished to order fresh ground, retaining all its virtue,
at a very short notice, and at a reasonable rate. AH orders ad-
dressed to the subscriber will meet with prompt attention, and
all necessary information furnished by

JOSEPH MORRILL,
No. 6 South Market Street
Jan. 7, 1854.

NEW BOOK BY REV. JACOB ABBOTT.

"Rollo on tlie Atlantic,"

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITU dIGINAL DESIGNS.

Bt Jacob Abbott.

" HOLLO ON THE ATLANTIC"

IS the first book of a series to be published under the geDCral
title of HOLLO'S TOUR IN EUROPE.

Extract from the Preface — j

" The books are intended to^be books of instruction rather than
of mere amusement; and in perusing them, the reader may feel
assured that all the information which they contain, not only in
respect to the countries visited, and to the customs, usages, and
modes of life that are described, but also in regard to the general
character of the incidents and adventures that the young travel-
lers meet with, is in most strict accordance with fact. The main
design of the narratives is thus, the communication of useful
knowledge, and everything which they contain, except what is
strictly personal, in relation to the actors in the story, may b«
depended upon as exactly and scrupulously true."

PUBLISHED BY

WM. J. REYNOLDS & CO.,

24 Cornhill, Boston.

[Cr And for sale by Boaksellers generally. Also just pub
lished, " The Colcmbian Glee Book," by J. W. Woodbctit
containing the greatest number of Choir Glees, Songs, &c., ever
published in one collection; 320 pages. CoiJies sentby mail post
Ijaid on receipt of one dollar.

Dec. 31, 1853. 2wis

Suffolk Breeding So^is, Boars and
Pigs.

The subscriber having sold his farm, now
offers his entu-e Stock at low prices, all of
which was either bred or imported by the
subscriber, viz : 14 young Breeding Sows
and Boars, all of fine patterns ; 2 old Breed-
ing Sows, one in Pig ; 15 Pigs from 10 to 12
weeks old. Persons in want of fine Stock, pui-ely bred, are in
vited to examine this stock before purchasing. Apply to

LUTHER GILBERT, Newton Lower Falls.
Dec. 24, 1853.

Bees.

A FEW Strong Swarms of Bees, m patent hives, with glass
backs and full of honey, all in fine condition. Price $10
each. For sale by LUTHER GILBERT,

Newton Lower Falle.
Dec. 24, 1853.

Just Received,

ihe Hungarian Bull and Cow, belonging
to the estate of the late Hon. Daniel Web-
ster ; also a full blooded Alderney Bull.
To be seen on the premises.

Jan. 7, 1854. tf

PFR SHIP SHAW.MUT, and for sale wholesale and retail
500 doz. Cattle Ties.
500 " Halter Chains.
1000 pairs Trace and Lead Chains.

PARKER k WHITE,
59 and 63 Blackstone Street, Boston.
Dec. 10, 1853. 6w.

Bound Volumes.

BACK VOLUMES of the NEW ENGLAND FARMER, ele-
gantly bound in Muslin, Gilt and Embossed, are now for sate
at this office.

56

JSEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jan.

CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER.

Calendar fur January Page 9

The New Your — ^V;l?te of Urine — Good Kxampk- 11

Draining 12

Practical Hints in Slieep llusbiindry 13

The Forest Trees — Colds in Sheep ^ 14

Chronicle of a Clay Farm — Too Much Stock 15

Mr. Russell's Address 17

The Farmer 18

A Home Tieture — Cultivation of the Chestnut 19

Observations in a Garden 19

Manures — liarn Cellars 20

Death of Bees in AVintor 21

Trees on Farms — Low-Limbed, vs. Tall Trees 22

Great Crcps— How to have Plenty of "Water 23

Polled Sheep — Fattening Swiue 24

Maryland Cattle Show and Fair 25

Oyster Shells and Stone Lime — Points are Pins 26

Agriculture in Virginia 2

Tar-water for the Onion Maggot — Thanksgiving 2S

Kailroad Stockholders Benefactors to the Country 29

Double, or Michigan Plow — Fall Plowuig, &c 30

James E. Tesclunacher — Humus 31

Bain in a Year — Slackening Lime 32

Birds of New England, No. 8 35

" Something New — Guano" — The Wintering of Stock 37

Upland Cranberry — AVinter Evenings 38

Spirit of the Agricultural Press 39

The Maize — Comparison of Plows 41

Culture of "Willow for Osiers 42

Green "Wood ' 43

History of "Vegetation — No. 2 44

Chinese Manures 45

Superphosphate of Lime 46

Charcoal — Its Alimentai-y Character 46

Management of Poultry — Double Plow 47

Extracts, Replies, &c — Coal Ashes 48

Report of the Transactions at the Veterinary School of Alfort. . 50

A Pound of Butter to a Gallon of Milk 50

Dry Food— The Rat and the Weasel 51

The Michigan Double Plow 61

The Old AA'asUerwoman — AVhen should-Timber be Cut 52

Pigs and Dogs .53

The Monthly Farmer for December 53

Mr. Greeley's Address 53

The Finest Ox m the World 54

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Winter Nelis Pear 17

Short Horn, or Durham Heifers 33

Grape Vines — Reaxiing and Pruning 49

NEW ENGLAND FAEMEU

Is published on the first of every month, by John Ravnolds
and Joel Nourse, at Qnincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK IIOLBROOK, ? AssociaHJ^
HENRY F. FRENCH, j Editors.

03- Terms, 81,00 per annum in advance.

(C All subscriptions to comn)ence with the volume, Jan. 1.

The Farmer, ia devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Hor-
ticulture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neai
volume of 576 octavo jiages, embellished with numerous en
gravings. It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and
gilt, at 25 cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication.

SZt Also published at the same ollice every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND PARMFiR, (WSEIkLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family ISeii-sjiaprr.

The News and Miscellaneous departments under the charge
of WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full find careful re-
port of the news of the Markets, and the news of the week,
such as Domestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congres
sional and Legislative proceedings, Temperance and Religiou-
Intelligence, and ageneral variety of Literary and Miscellanes
0U8 matter, adapted to family reading, coiiiprising more use-
ful and valuable reading matter than anv other Agricultural
Newspaper published in New England. Everything of a hurt-
ful or even doubtful tendency will be carefully e.xcluded from
its columns.

Cr Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agri-
cultural department of the weekly.

[ET Postmasters and others, who will firward four new
subscribers on the above named terms, for either publication,
shall receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

BZr All orders and letters should be addressed, //osZ-/)ai<f,

RAYNOLDS &, NOURSE,
QuiNcr Hall, South Market Street, Boston

Jj' Postage. — The postage on the New England Farmer
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents i)er year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the oflice
where the same is received.

Oyster Slieli Lime,

rpIIE subscriber has been induced, at the request of several of
X his fririils in the farming interest, to enter into the manufac-
ture ofSHKLL LIME, for farming purposes, and is now pre-
pared to deliver at any of the railroads in Boston or Charlest-
town, the article in lots of from 10 to 100 barrels, at the low price
of 33 cts. per barrel, or if taken at the kiln in Medford Street,
Charlestown, at 30 cents. The money must be sent with the
order.

Also, for sale, 100 ban-els Thomastou Lime, in lots to suit pur-
chasers.

Application may be made at No. 76 State Street, Boston, or at
the Kiln, situated on Gould's Wharf, (so called) Charlestown.
JAMES GOULD, Agent

inr The shell lime made into mortar, with fovu- barrels of sand
to each barrel of lime, will make a cement of better quality than
the best of Thomaston lime, for cellar walls or stone work of any
kind.

It also contains double the quantity of Phosphate of lime than
is contained in stone lime, consequently for fanning pm'poses is
much the cheapest.

March 26, 1853.

Muriate of LiMie,

A superior article for top dressing Grass Lands, put up in bar-
rels and delivered at the railroads in the vicinity. Proportion
about three hundred Ijarrels to the acre.

March 21, 1853. tf. JAS. GOULD.

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAIilLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

Imported Suffolk Boar,

BULRUSH.

The subscriber now offers the services
of hi.s SulVolk Boar, Bci.ul-s.'i, (to those who
wish to improve their Stock.) Bulrush was
imported last spring, and is now about one
_^ year old. -He is rcmarkaljly vigorous, and
"-*' a superior animal. He will be kept for the
present, at my stable, near the Depot, Concord, JIar-s.

JOHN RAYNOLDS.
Dec. 17, 1863. tf.

THE superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. The mode of attaching the forward mould-board to the
beam, by which great strength and dm-ability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of lucety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, jdacing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, iu taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to the surface,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, ro-
qmring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strmnent, — and indeed, in all tolerably ft'ce loams, rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the jilow, in proportion to
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to quality and durability 6f
material, tborouglmess and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehou.=e, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RUGGLES, NOL^lSE, MASON & CO.

AprU 30, 1853.

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, FEBRUARY, 1854.

NO. 2.

RA.YNOI,DS & NODRSE, Proprietoks.
Office. .. .UfiNCY Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK, 1 AssociATB
HENRY F. FRENCH,) Editoes.

are
in

^,^V»^l*A" u^

CALENDAH FOE FKBEUARY.

s THE fields
now locked
frost, and
earth is reposing
and gathering en-
ergies for another
; season, suppose
we close the shut-
ters, stir up the fire, and in this
warm precinct, map out the
heart, as it were, and see what
are its objects, motives and de-
sires for the future I But particularly in reference
to rural life.

If wo were allowod to invade the dominions of
the clergyman, select a text and draw deductions
from it, we should, of all others, select the words
— "-Magnify thine office.'" Failing to observe the
injunctions of this short and simple precept, thou-
sands are ever afloat upon the sea of life, as the
tempest-tossed and sliattered barque upon the
ocean, with rudder gone and reckoning lost
Without a love for the occupation in which we
arc engaged, combined with a steady aim and ef-
fort, few enterprises will be successful, and lea.st
of all, perliapa, that of the farmer. That his
motives and desires are the liappiness of himself
and those dependent upon him, together with that
of the race, we have studied his character and as-
sociated with him too long to entert;iin a doubt.
That self-aggrandizement, an inordinate desire for
distinction, and a reckless expenditure of means
to attain them, cannot be justly charged to tlie
farmer, must be clear to all. Yet with these most
laudable intentions, he is in too many instances
dificouttmted with his condition in being obliged to
•uitivatc the earth for his support.

Tn tracing the lines upon this map of the heart
which lies so fairly before us in the mellow light,
w« find no evidence of culpable ambition, no deep

laid schemes for gaining political power, no pro-
pensity for litigation with a ntyghbor, or low cun-
ning to defraud him of his honest due ; but on
the contrary, most of its various fields are fair,
._ glowing with Ijenevolence and love, and speaking
^ Peace on earth, and good ivill to men.'" Still, he is
discontented. That which we speak is no idle fan-
cy of ours. Hundreds of visits to their homes,
and free conversations with the inmates of the
farmer's household, have indelibly impressed the
unwelcome truth upon our heart, that in number-
less cases he is dissatisfied with his occupation.
If the assertion needs sustaining, proof, undenia-
ble, may be found in all the cities ; thry arc glutted
with a surplus population, deluded 1)y their tinsel
and glare, too lazy to work, too proud to beg, but,
alas, oftentimes not too moral to steal. These
"ragged regiments," scattered in the country and
"subduing the earth," might .stand among the pil-
lars of the nation instead of becoming a burden to
it, and rotting in idleness and luxury and subse-
quent poverty and disease, a plague-spot on the
body politic.

As the good physician seeks to find the caust)
of the disease he is called to cure by ascertaining
the particular organ a8"ected, so must we seek
hire, the cause of such wide-spread dissiitisfoction
an 1 discontent, and in order t> do thi.«, must again
recur to the map still on tlie table before us. Here
we find a field possessing all the natural qualifica-
tions of soil, variety, aspect, &c., and capal)le of
readily receiving the genial suns and fertilizing
rains, when properly cultivated, — and tliis is ita
name — "T/jc Intellectttal Field." But what an
appearance d»es it present ! Tlie fences of stone,
or rails, or brush, straggle away into tlie pasture!
and wood-lot ; stumps and rocks project upon its
surface while burdocks and brambles and count-
less baneful weeds scatter themselves in wild lux
uriance through all its length. Here gush up
chillin" spring waters, which flowing over the sur-
face ,encourago the growth of rank plants unfitted

58

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

Feb.

for the use of man or beast, and, like evil passions
in the uncultivated heart, check every plant of
kindlier growth. And, strange to tell, this ne-
glected field is the most prominent one on the
map ; it may be seen from the windows of the
house, from every othei portion of the farm, and
overlooks the highways leading to the to^vns of
Happy Dale and Sweet Content. And this is the
cause of the dissatisfaction pf which we speak —
a neglect to cultivate "T%c Intellectual Field T^
From year to year it lies a dreary waste — the gentle
dews and refreshing rains fall upon its hard, unyield-
ing surfxce in vain ; the sun wai-ms it but to be
reflected back with all its vivifying power, and
the sweet breath of spring drops no fatness there.

Such is the manner in which the farmer treats
the intellectual field, while the others are cultiva-
ted with unceasing care ; and until justice is done
to this, the most important of all, farming will
be but a trcad-mill'k\.i\(i. of occupation, and will of-
fer few inducements to the young and enterpris-
ing to enter its courts.

In this branch of culture, the farmer possesses
great advantages — he can work in this field
in the winter ; his garners are full, and close and
constant application is not necessary. We can-
not say now how this cultivation should bo accom-
plished ; he must think it out himself. February's
snows, and winds and storms, cannot suppress the
emotions and desires of an earnest heart, but will
ofi«r opportunity for it to explore new and interest-
ing fields, so that it shall increase in wisdom and
usefulness through each revolving year. But this
may be said — We must not be satisfied merely
with what we can see. There is an "inner man"
to be cared for. Because Winter scenes assume
the sway, they should not cut ofi" the delightful
anticipations of Spring, the glory of the fields in
Autumn, the return of flowers, "busily working
at their gay toilets, and weaving their fontastic
robes, and shaping their trim forms, and distilling
their rich essences." What a race should we be,
if we knew and cared to know of nothing, but
■what we can see and prove !

"Whose mind is but the mind of his own eyes,
lie is a slave — the meanest you can meet."

But there are some visible things to be done,
and we will attend to them now — the first of which
is to

Look at your Young Trees. — The deep snows,
followed by rain storms, will prove destructive to
young trees unless attention is paid to them. Many
young pear trees, particularly, were covered by
drifts, and if they are allowed to remain and freeze
about the branches,they will be dragged down by
the settling snow and rain, and broken. When fros
ty,these branches are tender and break easily. The
young apple trees, quinces, and valued shrubs,
should also be looked after.

TuE Farm. — Profit, and great convenience, will

be found by making a sketch of the outline of
the farm, and then of its existing divisions, giving
the buildings their proper position.

Scions. — Cut scions now and place them in a
cool damp cellar, or cover with sand, tliat they
may be ready for use.

Seeds. — Prepare seed corn, potatoes, peas, beans
and all other seeds that you intend to plant, and
make it an invariable rule to select the best of what-
ever kind you use. Great improvement may be
made in the quality of crops by the strict ob-
servance of this rule, and probably of quantity,
too.

TuE Stock — Of all kinds — will frequently re-
quire the master" s eye ; it will not answer to trust
too much to hired hands. Tlierc will be no profit
in careless and indifferent keeping. Cattle like
diSerent kinds of food the same day. Working
oxen, especially, but all neat cattle, will thrive
better for being supplied with good beds of litter,
as they will lie warmer and easier, and keep clean-
er]

This is, in our opinion, a part of the Farm
Work for February ; if you do not like the
sketch, kind reader, write one out yourself, and
lay it before us.

For the Ifew New England Farmer.

THE G0VEE2J0E AHD THE FAEMER.

Mr. Editor: — I am pleased to observe in your
paper of this date, a notice of what liis Excellency
said in his late message, of three full columns, in
relation to the interests of the farmer, and the
advancement thereof. As more than one-half the
population of the State are directly engaged in the
cultivation of the soil , and the remainder are dea
pendent on its productsfor subsistence, there seems
to be a peculiar propriety in the Executives of the
State, and of the Nation, giving their favor and
approbation to the employment of the farmer.
We hope his Excellency, who is ex-officio, of the
Board of Agriculture, Vi^iW continue his favor to the
cause of the farmer, and do all he has promised,
and even more. x.

Jan. 21, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

BUTTER PRODUCTS IN BERKSHIRE.

[IN ONE WEEK.]

Cow No. L.June 346 lbs. milk 16 lbs. 11 oz. butter.

September.. 3.31 " 16 " 5 «

Cow No. 2. .June 440 " 17 "

September. .410 " 16 " 14 "

Cow No. 3. -June 337 •' 15 " 11 "

September.. 298 " 15 " 1 "

Cow No. 4.. June 319 " 15 " 8 "

September.. 24.S " 13 " 8 "

Cow No. 5.. June 319 " 12 "

September.. 280 " 11 " 4 «

3328 lbs. milk. 150 lbs. of butter.

Being one pound of butter to 22 pounds of milk
— not quite up to those cows which are said to
froducc a pound of butter for '•'■each and every gal-
lon of milk.'''' Berkshire farmers must look out, or
Middlesex speculators in stock will out-run them.
Jan. 11, 1854. *

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

59

For the New England Farmer.

CONCORD FARMERS' CLUB.

Last eveniag, (Jan. 5th) the Farmers' Club had
a public meeting, and although the walking was
very bad, there was a very good attendance of gen-
tlemen and ladies. A very interesting lecture was
delivered by Simon BROWN,Esq. He began by speak-
ing of the antiquity and honorable character of
Agriculture, and its importance as the basis of na-
tional wealth and prosperity; prosperity founded on
commerce may be interrupted by war, or destroyed
by competition ; but that which is founded on
Agriculture is of a more permanent character. He
then spoke of the means by which Agriculture has
been improved, and is to be still further improved;
and of the sjaecial importance of Chemistry and
Vegetable Physiology, and urged their study upon
the youth of the community. He spoke of the
many facilities we enjoy in the shape of improved
methods of cultivation, and improved agricultural
implements, when compared with our fathers ; and
ui'ged the importance of farmers availing them-
selves of all these facilities. He spoke of the im-
portance of association for mutual improvement
in agricultural knowledge, and the influence they
were exerting and of the value of the agricultural
literature which is growing out of the wants of
the times, and mentioned the names of several books
which every farmer should have as a part of his
agricultural stock.

The lecturer then addressed the wives and daugh-
ters of the farmers, and pointed out the Lmpor
tance of their being truly helps meet for him. He
exhorted>?iJiem to make themselves acquainted
with all the [fii-ocesses of the farm ; with the na-
ture of different ooiis, and the crops suited to each,
and with u^e best times and methods of cultivat-
ing the various crops on the farm. He told very
finely, the story of Mr. Colman's visit to an English
landholder, whose accomplished lady claimed his
company for the day, took him over the broad
fields which her husband was cultivating, and ex-
plained to him the various processes of cultivation
which were goiffg on, and the reasons upon which
each was founded ; showed him the stock and the
dairy, answered all his inquiries respecting the
breeds of cattle, and swine and sheep — and the dif-
ferent methods pursued with each. And after hav-
ing thus walked with him some eight or ten miles
over their extensive domain, and shewed herself
thorouglily acquainted with both the science and
the practice of agriculture, she presided at the din-
ner-taljle with all tlie grace and elegance of a lady
who had spent her life in the drawing-room. So
our farmers' wives should be prepared to direct
the affairs of the fiirm in the absence of their hus
bands. They should take an interest in tlie em-
ployments of their husl>ands, and ch^ them witl
their smiles and co-operatiou ; and here he quoted
most appropriately—

"To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east,
With first approach of light, we must be risen.
And at our pleasant labor, to reform
Yon flow'ry arbors, yonder meadows green."

And Eve's beautiful reply,

"With thee conversing, I forget all time,

All seasons and their changes, all please alike."

The lecturer referred to Mrs. Loudon's book on
gardening, and the cirsumstances under which it
was written, and to the scientific writings of oth-
er ladies, and to others still, who have aided and
encoui-aged their husbands in the various pursuits
in which they have been engaged. The moral
tone of the address was of a high order, and the
whole performance was highly creditable to its
author.

After the close of the address, an interesting
and animated discussion took place upon the fol-
lowing subject; "The Home of the Farmer —
How can it be rendered in the highest degree
pleasant and attractive ? ' '

Mr. Wm. D. Brown read a finely written and
highly poetical essay of about ten minutes' length,
in which he described the situation and construc-
tion of farm buildings, their convenient arrange-
ment, and the neatness and order in which they
should be kept, as important elements in the
pleasantness and attractiveness of the farmer's
home, and then referred with great naivete to at-
tractions which might exist within the house, but
which he, as a bachelor, could be supposed to know
but little about.

He was followed by Dr. Reynolds, who inquired
to whom the farmer's home was to be made at-
tractive ■? To people of the beau moude 1 To gen-
tlemen in gloves'? To fashionable ladies ? Or was
it to be rendered attractive to the farmer's sons
and daughters, so that they might be contented to
remain upon their paternal acres ? He supposed
the latter the most important class to be attracted.
It was a general complaint that our young men
were all going to the cities, to California, to Aus-
tralia. How can these young men be induced
to remain at home, and devote their energies to
the improvement of agriculture 1 He thought 'it
must be by giving it a more intellectual character,
and thus elevating it to a level with the profes-
sions. To this end they must be educated for the
business of farming, as other young men are ed-
ucated for other callings. They should be taught
Agricultural Chemistry, Vegetable Cliemistry and
Physiology, Geology and Botany , and all that per-
tains to the science and practice of agriculture.
Thus the craving of the youtliful mind for knowl-
edge will be satisfied. His labors in the field will
lie guided by fixed principles, and be attended
with more certain results.

When agricultural education and scientific cul-
tivation shall Jjccome general, then the business,
the calling, the home of the farmer will become

60

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

in the highest degree attractive to thinking, enter-
prising YOung men. Pleasant situations, orna-
mental trees, flowers, avenues, neatness and or-
der are all desirable and all contribute much to
the pleasant associations connected with the far-
mer's home, but these alone, without something
that shall occupy and satisfy the mind, will not be
sufficiently attractive to keep our young men and
youug women in the business of agriculture. Dr.
R. was followed by J. B. Farmer, Esq.,whomade
eome remarks upon the manner in which the wife
and daughter discharge their duties, as an impor-
tant circumstance connected with the farmer's
happiness. The cleanliness and order of the house
and the comforts of the farmer depend essentially
upon the wife and daughters, and if they would
keep him at home and make home pleasant to him,
they must attend to those things.

Other gentlemen not belonging to the club were
then invited to tuke part in the discussion. Some
interesting remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Frost,
especially with reference to bringing mind to bear
upon the cultivation of the soil. Where there was
the best cultivation there was the most mind en-
gaged in it. Where he saw about the premises
beautiful flowers, finely cultivated gardens, neat
avenues, delicious fruit, he was sure to find culti-
vated mind. Rev. Mr. Angier followed in some
remarks upon the importance of habits of person-
al neatness in the farmer as having much to do
with the comfort of home. He should carefully
clean his boots, and leave in some back room the
frock in which he took care of his cattle and
cleaned his horses, and not disgust his wife and
daughters by bringing the cow-yard into the sitting
room. The wife and daughters should show that
they sympathise with the father in his labors, and
do what they can to make him comfortable after his
day of toil. They should meet him with a pleas-
ant smile, and be ready to attend to his wants.
Elizabeth should get his slippers, and Susan take
away his boots, and all should be emulous to make
him feel that his comfort is an important consider-
ation with them.

The interest of the discussion was kept up
till nearly ten o'clock.

The meetings of the Club have been held week-
ly, at the houses of the members, since the latter
part of October. At our next meeting the subject
of garden fruits is to occupy our attention,

I will endeavor to keep you informed of passing
events in our good old town, especially when any
thing occurs which I think of sufficient general
importance to merit a ])laco in your paper,

Yours, truly,, h. 3.

Watekproof for Leather. — Linseed oil, one
pint; yellow wax and white turpentine, each two
ounces ; Burgundy pitch, one ounce. Mix and col-
or with lamp black.

For the New England Farmer.

MONTHLY FAEMER FOR JANUARY.

As almost every body takes some sort of reckon-
ing of progress and prospects, on the commonce-
ment of a new year, it may be well for us to ask,
here, how stands the cause of agricultural im-
provement ■? We are prompted to do so especial-
ly by the fact that the number of the Farmer be-
fore us, which commences the new year, and the
number which closed the old year, point out sev-
eral signs of the times, which, by one and another,
seem to be regarded as unfavorable to any very
speedy advance. Of these, however, we s'nall be
able to notice only one — the fact that agriculture
does not offer as higli a premium for talent as do
other professions.

I shall not attempt to controvert this fact ; in-
deed, I must go furthtx, and admit that I cannot
do it. None but a dreamer will ask for proof of
the assertion that individual New England far-
mers cannot afford to pay those in their employ-
ment the $1800 a year that city school-masters
command, or the $3 to $7 per day tliat factory, l)ank
and railroad corporations, ship owners and exten-
sive merchants, pay their competent superinten-
dents. In this state of things, suppose a dozen or
two of young men were to graduate yeiirly from
an agricultural college in each State of the Union,
masters of one-half the sciences proposed to be
taught in them, — would they not say, "Unless
farmers will pay as high a premium for talent as
other people w^iil , we shall seek oilr reward in
other pursuits?" And would they not as surely
and justly do so, as the farmer will sell his pro-
duce to the highest bidder ? For ought I can see,
then, looking m this direction, our " day of dark-
ness" tends only to a darker, di'earier night. The
wheels of our car of progress are blocked, if not
reversed. And a "Happy New Year" can mean no
more, agriculturally, than "may yopfls- shadow
never be less," — seeing it can riever^ibe larger.

Now I prefer a more hopefuly#J?i!; of the subject.
What though institution, iftnd systoms^^vf educa-
tion which answer well in old countries', where the
population is dense, where one man owns land
enough for a county, and has tenants enough to
people whole villages, should fail here, where
population is sparse, where each individual is as
good as a lord, and where every man —
" that by the Plow would thrive,

Himself must either hold or drive,"
or do both , any way ho can fix it ?

In the history of the colonization of our coun-
try, we find that the codes of laws which were
drawn up in the closets of English statesmen and
philosophers, often proved utterly impracticable in
the wilderness here, and were superseded by suck
simple regulations as neighbors chose to adopt.
Bancroft intimates (vol. ii., p. 145) that Locke's
elaborate constitution for Carolina failed because
" ho believed it possible to construct the future
according to the forms of the past."

In the revolutionary struggle also wo find that
"the wisdom of this world" was confounded.
Duane (Military library, Art. Origin of Rifle
Corjis) says, that the means and mode of defence
which the Americans adopted in the early contests
not only in8|)irited the British army during the
remainder ofthe war with dread and apprehension,
but actually effected an important change in

854.

NEAV ENGLAND FARMER.

61

European tactics. Had the yeomanry of that day
■waited for the drilling of a scientific military
school, instead of hastening just as they were,

"With lopp'd down hats and rusty guns,"

to the contest, the world might have lost a lesson
on the efficiency of light troops, and we our nation-
al independence.

Our history is full of similar instances, but
these ai-e sufficient to indicate the true principle of
national prosperity, — The use of means adapted to,
and growing out oJ\ our peculiar circumstances.

And I believe that agricultural progress in this
country must be made on the same principle. In-
stead of persisting in our reliance upon the institu-
tutions of the past, we should open our eyes to the
indications of that Providence wlio rules the pre
sent, and it would be well if we could do it with
the conviction that "it is not in man that walketh
to dii'ect his steps. " Fora long time we have been
attempting to "direct our steps" towards agri-
cultural schools and model farms. We have com-
menced tlie work at various times, and in various
parts of the country, but have met with utter fail
ure in every instance.

During the same time an "Institution" has
sprung up spontaneously in our land, with a
sweep as wide as the wants of our j^eople — a sort
of clairvoyant institution, whose "students" may
saw shingles in Maine, dig gold in California, cut
ice in ^Massachusetts, or raise wheat in ]\Iinnesota
and cotton in Georgia, without breaking up the
class, or losing a single lesson of the term, or a lee
ture by any of its professors ! This institution is
the agricultural Press. A new power to be sure,
and still in its infancy. But while our incipient
agricultural colleges have furnished no signs of
promise, the infant agricultural press has multi-
plied its books and papers till the secluded moun-
taineer, and the remote "squatter" are beginning
to read about farming, and thus, perhaps uncon-
sciously, are imbibing potions — homoeopathic
though they may be — of the milk of science, that
will gradually form an appetite, and a digestion
for stronger food. This must be supplied, and to
do it, the best talent of the land will eventually be
secured to the cause of agriculture, and that
through the Press. Suppose that the interest of
one hundred thousand dollars, which would scarce-
ly suffice to keep a half-starved college in existence,
was to hn expended yearly in I'ewarding the service
of such talented, scientific and experienced men,
as might l)e induced to devote a portion of their
time and energies to enrich the ample columns of
the Ni'w England Farmer, who will undertake
to calculate the results of the investment.

But here I leave the future, to take care of it-
self, while I attempt a brief synopsis of the first
number of the Monthly Farmer for 1854.

BIRDS.

No. 8 of Mr. Fowler's articles on the Birds of
New England, in which many people will be sorry
to find the Robin gets a rather bad name.

CATTLE.

Articles on "Short Horn, or Durham Heifers,"
with a plate, on "The Wintering of Stock," and
on "Dry Food."

" DRArNING."

Comments and directions by one who has evi-
dently l)een schooled to tlie business in the old

country. But it will be a long time before the
farms of New England will be drained, as he re-
commends, " 27 inches deep and 18 feet apart."

FIRE WOOD.

While ready to endorse the caution of the Edi-
tor against smoking and sizzling domestic felicity
out of existence by the use of "Green Wood,"
my experience does not confirm all that chemists
say of the relative value of green and dry wood.
Prof. J. J. Mapes says, (Nov. Farmer, 1851)
"Tliree cords of green or partially dried wood
will not warm a room for as great a length of time
as one cord well dried." Now, although a "most
unscientific reader," and knowing nothing of the
"rationale" of the matter except what I have
learned by chopping wood and tending fires from
my youth up, I must be allowed to shake my head
when told that one cord of anybody's dry wood
will warm a room as long as three cords of green
or "partially dried" white oak or hickory, how-
ever learned may the man profess to be who says
it. In "The table of the comparative value of
different kinds of Firewood," white pine is put
down as worth $3.11, and pitch pine, $3.18;
or seven cents diflTerence per cord. In this section
white pine sells for four-fifths only of the price
that pitch pine readily commands.

FAIRS.

An account of the "Maryland Cattle Show and
Fair," held in Baltimore, last November. Among
the fine display of domestic animals, the writer
regretted to find a specimen of that miserable breed
— the striped pig, that "run out"so many farmers
in New England, years ago; but rejoices that Presi-
dent Pierce, who w^as present, refused to take a
look at the "critter." " Agricvilture in Vir-
ginia" heads an account of the State Fair, at
which $60,000 were subscribed to advance the
cause of agriculture in the Old Dominion.

FRUIT.

The unusual scarcity and high price of winter
apples, this j'ear, give more than usual interest to
articles upon this subject, and may perhaps in-
fluence some to resolve, at least, to plant trees of
their own. That one man, Avho cultivates only
eight acres of land, should sell $850.00 worth of
fruit, this barren year, (page 1(3) is rather excit-
ing to those who cultivate much more land with
for less to sell. If any where near market, you
may plant ti-ees, and let the croakers croak, — glut
the market first, if you may, and then your cattle,
if you can — poor creatures, eating dry hay all
winter, how they would relish a half peck of ap-
ples occasionally ! But what says the Farmer ?
Don't your mouth water as you look at that
"Winter Nellis Pear !" What do yow think of
those " Observations in a Garden," as the wri-
ter discourses of Plum Trees, Wash for Trees, and
the Dix Pear? Of " S. F. 's " Low-limbed vs.
Tall Trees?" of those six rcjisons for preferring
' ' Autumn Transplanting of Fruit Trees ? " of those
remarks on salting Plum Trees, Potash Wash, and
Trimming Trees, to be found by looking in the in-
dex for "Upland Cranberry?"

GRAl'ES.

An illustrated chapter on " Grape Vines — Bear-
ing and Pruning."

" GREAT CROPS."

A statement of several Premium Crops in New

62

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

Hampshire, with editorial comments on "one
hundred and eleven Ijushels and fourteen quarts of
corn on one acre!" Although the editor has
been among the great-crop folks a good deal, he
says such a field "certainly would be a sight such
as we have never yet been permitted to see."

MANURES.

To the farmers of New England this is the
great subject for study and discussion ; for, of
what use are mowing machines and hoi'se-rakes
where grass don't grow, of double plows and bright
hoes in a barren field 1 Our old farms must be
enriched or our sons will go to the west, to the
shop, and store. We want, then, all the aid
that science can afibrd, all the teachings that ex-
perience in all parts of the world has suggested.
Hence the value of an agricultural paper depends
in a good degree upon the attention given to the
subject of manures. On this principle the first
number of the Afon^/i/y Farmer for 1854 is un-
usually rich and instructive. On turning over its
pages Ave have marked eight articles that treat of
this subject. First "Waste of Urine," in con-
nection with "Chinese Manures," suggests the
means of a great saving in the management of com-
mon materials. While "Preparation and Ap-
plication of jManure," "Something New — Guano,"
and "Observations in a Garden," give some hits
on the vest-pocket nostrums of the day, they have
many suggestions of general application. The
great object of the writer of "Manures — Barn
Cellars," seems to be to prove that "the guidance
of science is preferable to that of unscientific exj^er-
ience." I believe they are seldom antagonistic, and
ought to be harmonized, not jJut in opposition. The
learned professor and the ignorant Chinese, for in-
stance, arrive at the same conclusion as to the
value of urine. But at this rate ofwriting I shall
have to pass over the articles on "Humus," on
manufacturing "Superphosphate of Lime," and
the inquiry about " Oyster-shell Lime," without
comments, although I must say it is a little strange
that an article which has been so highly recom-
mended and so long advertised as oyster-shell lime
has been, should still be so little known as a
manure.

PORK.

" Fattening Swine" is an article full of practi-
cal suggestions of economical ways and means of
making Pork, and on pages 39 and 40 are some
valuable experiments showing how much pork a
bushel of coi'n will make.

PLOWS AND PLOWING.

Four articles on the "Double Plow;" one by
Mr. Sheldon, who finds tliat two yoke of oxen will
plow as easily with a sirfgle plow as three yoke
can with the double plow; the other three articles
contend that the double plow is worked as easily
as the single, at a given depth. With a disserta-
tion on "Fall Plowing, &c." by L. Durand.

SCIENTIFIC.

"History of Vegetation, No. 2," by "R. H. H."
Nature of "Coal Ashes," and the constituents of
"Manures" from Johnston, &c.

SUEEP.

" Practical Hints in Sheep Husbandry" is an
article ajipropriate to its caption, and "Polled
Sheep" gives some half-dozen objections to horns
on sheep.

TEMPERANCE.

The illuminated "Calendar for January" is a
temperance lecture that must stir the feelings of
those of us who are unfortunately old enough to
have our boyish memories printed all over with
painful reminiscences of "the times when it was
fashionable to drink intoxicating liquors." The
editor has drawn a gloomy jjicture of those days ;
but that is a fortunate person whose experience
will allow him to doubt its truthfulness ; whose
boyisli ears have never listened to the ATilgar story
and the obscene jest that were repeated evening
after evening in those "schools of vice" — the
village stores ; and who knows nothing of the
privations endured by the family to meet the grog
bill, of how the best cow and the best sheep, were
selected yearly by the merchant, and driven away
to pay for more rum, and of how whole districts
might be found in which not a single newspaper
was taken, and not one house in four could pro-
duce a dictionary. Is the blighting curse of in-
temjierance returning 1

TREES.

"Trees on Farms," after admitting that scatter-
ing trees in open fields in England are "going,"
advises their continuance particularly in the pas-
tures of our dry and scorching summers.

VARIOUS

other articles, which perhaps from their individu-
ality could not well be classified, richly deserve
notice. " Points are Pins" I have read over and
over. "Rail Stockholders" ought to be studied by
all who own shares or ride in the cars. "Chroni-
cles of a Clay Farm" is l)y no means as "heavy as
mud." Some excellent hints on the Improvement
of "Winter Evenings;" on "Thanksgiving;"
on the "Cultivation of Willow," &c.

A Reader.
Winchester, Jan., 1854.

SWALLOWING A HOESE.

Mr. Gardner, in his "Travels in Brazil," con-
firms the early accounts respecting the size and
prodigious swallowing capacity of the boa con-
strictor— accounts which certain naturalists, whose
researches never extended beyond the galleries of
a museum, are in the habit of treating with ridi-
cule and unbelief. "The boa," said he, "is not
uncommon throughout the whole Province of Go-
gaz, particularly by the wooded margins of lakes,
marshes and streams. Sometimes they attain the
enormous length of forty feet ; the largest I saw
was in this place, but it was not alive. Some weeks
before our arrival at Sape, the favorite riding horse
of SenorLagoeira, which had been init out to pas-
ture not far from the house, could not be found,
although strict search was made for it all over the
hazienda. Shortly after this, one of his vaqueros,
in going through the wood by the side of a small
river, saw an enormous boa suspended in the fork
of a tree which hung over the water ; it was dead,
but had evidently been floated down alive by a re-
cent flood, and being in an inert state, it had not
been able to extricate itself from the fork before the
waters fell. It was dragged out to the open coun-
try l)y two horses, and was found to measure thir-
ty-seven feet in length. On opening it, the bones
of a horse were found in a broken condition, the
head being uninjured. From these circumstances

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

63

it was conceded that the boa had devoured the
horse entire. In all kinds of snakes the capacity
for swallowing is prodigious. I have often seen
one not thicker than my thumb swallow a frog as
large as my fist ; and I once killed a rattle snake,
about four feet long, and of no great thickness,
which had swallowed not less than three frogs,
one of which swelled out its side nearly twice the
thickness of the other parts. I have also seen a
very slender snake that frequents the roofa of
houses, swallow an entire bat three times its own
thickness. If such be the case with these smaller
kinds, it is not to be wondered at that one thirty-
seven feet long should be able to swallow a horse,
particularly when it is known that, previously to
doing so, it breaks the bones of the animal by coil
ing itself round it and afterwards lubricates it
with a slimy matter which it has the power of se-
creting iu its mouth.

For the New England Farmer.

VERMONT STATE AGRICULTUEAL
SOCIETY.

A A'isiT TO David IIill, Esq., Bbidpoet, Tt.

Mr. Brown : — I recently attended the annual
meeting of tliB Vermont State Agricultural Soci-
ety, at Middlebury, held for the choice of officers,
awarding of the winter premiums, and other bus-
iness. The officers of last year were mostly re-
elected. Premiums were awarded for various fine
field-crops, for the best system of preparing ma^
nure, and for essays on various subjects. I will
endeavor to furnish you with some of the essays
and statements on crops and manure, for publi-
cation in the N. E. Farmer. The meeting was
well attended, harmony prevailed, the Treasury
was found respectable in funds on hand, and the
members parted with the feeling that the pros-
pects of the society are good. Those who have
ever engaged in starting associations of this kind,
without funds, and with everything to bo ar-
ranged and ventured upon without the aid
of exact experience and precedent, under-
stand well that there is work in it. The Ver-
mont Society is now entering upon its fourth year ;
and although it began in great pecuniary weak-
ness, it has had the suppport of resolute and in-
telligent men, each year has added materially to
its strength and efficiency, and I believe it is now
favora))ly regarded by a goodly number of our
citizens.

After the meeting of tlie State Society, upon in-
vitation of David Hill, Esq., I accomjmnied him
to his place in Bridport, to see his celel)ratod
horse, old "Black Hawk," and his progeny. —
Persons who haveevor visited Mr. Ull, never for-
get his hearty hospitality and pleasant address.
Thougli now considoral)ly in years. Black Hawk
feeds well, is vei'y animated and vigorous, and as
playful as a colt. Every precaution which good
judgment would dictate, is used to promote Black
Hawk's health and prolong his life. His winter
apartments are such as become a horae of his fame

and value. He has a room some twenty feet
square, high, airy and of healthy temperature,
with the natural ground for a floor, sprinkled with
clean straw, where he has liberty to roll, frolic^
and do as he pleases. He passes at will from this
room to a stable and manger where he is fed. He
neither wears shoes, halter nor blanket ; is not
groomed, though kept free from filth l^y perfectly
cleanly apartments ; and his food consists of the
best quality of hay, with but little grain. By
means of this winter treatment, his blood is cooled
and purified, constitutional vigor is promoted, and
his life will probably be lengthened. Stock horses
of the Morgan breed, if kept too much confined
and too high in old age, are liable, from their
great appetite and powers of digestion and assim-
ilation, to become too fat, and to be suddenly at-
tacked by apojjlexy. At a suitable time in the
spring, Blacli Hawk is shod, harnessed and exer-
cised daily in a gig, nicely groomed, and fed more
highly with grain.

Black Hawk is of a coal black color, has a
heavy mane and tail, is of splendid conformation,
and very intelligent. His pedigree has been often
stated in print, and you are doubtless aware that
he was got by the famous horse "Sherman Mor-
gan," out of a sporting mare considerably in the
blood of the thorough-breed. The experienced
eye, in observing Black Hawk, readily detects in
him the Morgan qualities of compactness, sub-
stance, a full developement of those organs which
give great powers of digestion and assimilation,
docility and kindness of temper, combined with
tho oblique and liigh shoulder, liberty of limb and
high mettle of tho thorough-l)red. His combina-
tion of blood is very remarkable ; and it may per-
haps be doubted if his like has ever been kno-wn
for perpetuating the qualities of the sire so uni-
formly in so ^numerous a progeny. AVith due no-
tice, Mr. Hill could assemble more than a hun-
dred horses begotton )iy Black Hawk, all showing
that uniformity of conformation and movement,
almost incredible to persons not conversant with
the fiict — all possessing extra trotting speed, with
docility, spirit, and that intelligence which read-
ily learns whatever it is desiralile to teach them ;
in short, witli that rare eombinatiim of qualities
fitting them for sporting, fancy or practical ser-
vice.

It is an interesting fact, that Black Hawk has
])een frequently a pecuniary benefit to persons
in moderate circumstances in his neighborliood.
Several instances were cited to me of young men,
fiirmers, mechanics and others, who having bred
from him, have from the sale of their colts real-
ized enough over and above tiic cost of production
to clear them of debt, and enable them to pursue
their legitimate callings to advantage.

Mr. IIill has several young colts liy the old
horse. One, a recently -weaned foal out of a val

64

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb

uable Morgan mare, is very promising. This marc lish farmer able to meet this constantly increasing

was by the celebrated old Morgan Horse "Com-
et," or sometimes called "the Root Horse;" and
her dam was of Messenger descent. Mr. Hill had
the misfortune last spring to lose a two-years-old
colt, own bi-other to the one above named, and
which I thought a year ago now, the most prom-
iaing colt of hi:< age I had seen.

Mr. Edgar Hill, son of D.Hill, Esq., and living
near his father, has a young stallion by Black
Hawk, out of the dam of the "Myrick Horse."
He is a stock horse of great promise, and several
ojjportunities have already occurred to sell him at
a high price. ]\Ir. Edgar Hill has several prom-
ising colts by Black Hawk. He is trying the ex-
periment of coupling Black Hawk with fillies of
his own get, so as to obtain colts three-fourths in
the blood of the old horse. Great care is used,
however, in selections for this course of breeding ;
none but mares of extra limb and substance being
chosen. He has a three- fourths blood weaned
foal, which is very fine and vigorous, and argues
well for the experiment.

Where mares of extra trotting speed have
been coupled with Black Hawk, the colts have
with few or no exceptions proved fast trotters ;
and indeed almost any good middling mare bred
to him produces a colt of considerable more value
than the average of serviceable horses.

F, HoiiBROOK.

Bratfleboro'' , Jan.ll, 1854.

demand ? The answer is by bringing to his aid the
most recent discoveries in science, relating to the
constituents of different soils, rotation and adapta-
tion of crops, tlie chemical qualities of the various
vegetables cultivated, and of the food whitli they
require, &c., together with the latest improvements
in agricultural implements. And in like manner,
the New P]ngland farmer can compete with the
Western, only by employing the same means. But
the New England farmer lal)ors under this addi-
tional disadvantage. Taking in the whole coun-
try west of the Alleghany mountains, the jiropor-
tion of the population engaged in agricultural
pursuits is as eight to one in all other pursuits.
There, where the forests and the prairies arc to be
subdued, the old remarkof Adam Smith still holds
good, that a widow with eight children is sought
after and married as an heiress ; and as in the days
of the patriarchs, the gi'eater the number of ar-
rows in the quiver of the Western cultivator, the
greater is his strength in the gate.

Against this all but overwhelming competition,
the New England farmer, on his sterile soil and
worn-out acres, can never sustain himself, except
by bringing to his aid every improvement which
discovery in science and invention in ai't has
brought to light, and which is adapted to his pur-
pose. To cry out against these improvements and to
refuse their assistance, is, therefore, clearly suici-
dal. The vast importance of this topic to the
prosperity of New England can hardly be overrat-
ed, and some other considerations relating to it,
will be presented in subsequent papers. d. c.

Waltham, Jan., 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

FARMING m NEW ENGLAND-No. 1.

The farmers of New England can successfully
compete with those in the more fertile regions of
the West, only by conducting their operations
with superior science and diligence. It is only by
the aid of science and the cheapness of labor, that
the British agriculturist can save himself, under-
the operation of the free trade system,from being in-
undated by American productions; and the relations
of the New England farmer to the Western, is
quite analogous to that between the English and
American. In England there is hardly 07ie culti-
vator of the soil to four manufacturers and arti-
sans, but in the United States, the case is exactly
the reverse, there being about four cultivators of
the soil to 071C in all other occupations. By the
census of 1831, out of 3,414, 175 families in Great
Britain, 901,134, or nearly a fourth, (282 in lUOO)
were employed in the ja-oduct of food. The cen-
sus of 1H41 showed a still greater disproportion be-
tween these two classes, the agricultural popula-
tion having in many places declined, and the man-
ufacturing having immensely increased. The cen-
sus of 1851 exhibited a wider disproportion still
so that now considerably less than one-fourth are
employed in raising food lor considerably more
than threi!-fourths of the population.

In the face of all these facts, however, the impor-
tation of corn into Great Britain, except in cases
of unusual scareity, has been gradually diminish-
ing for the last thirty years. How, then, is the Eng-

ReMz^rks. — In this and subsequent articles which
we are promised, the reader will find the subject
of Neio England Farming discussed in a manner
differing considerably from the usual mode of con-
sidering it, and must, we think, convince the
doubting of the importance of a more systematic,
and scientific management of farm affairs.

For the New England Farmer.

THE DIX PEAE.

Mr. Editor : — In the Farmer for January, a
correspondent, in speaking of the Dix Pear, says
that it does not fruit for 15 years on the pear
stock, and that the obvious remedy would be to
graft on the quince. But a nurseryman says that
it is not good on the quince, though it may pos-
sibly bear earlier, and that scions set in an old
stock must remain fruitless for 15 years. I have
three trees on the quince, planted four years, all
of which bore a fair crop of fine Dix pears, and
look well for the coming season. Barry, in the
Fruit Garden, says of this excellent pear, "it suc-
ceeds on the quince double worked, but not other-
wise." I can see no sign whereby you could tell
that they have been double worked. The trees
are vigorous, and about six feet in height..

Yours, Blytukv,'00B,

Swampscot, Jan. 12, 1854.

Cheap Paint. — An excellent and cheap paint,
for rough wood work, is made of six poands of
melted pitch , one pint of linseed oil, and one pound
of yellow ochre.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND F^VRMER.

G5

DANVESS WINTES SWEET APPLE.

An ahaiulancc of good winter sweet apples is
demanded in oar markets more than any other
fruit. EvcrjlK)i]y likes them, cooked or uncooked ;
they arc wholesome, easily prepared, and ought to
be plenty and cheap.

We were fav.)Ted vnt\i tlic original of the por-
trait above, by the Hon. J. W. Proctor, of Dan-
vcrs, a gentleman who, although not a farmer,
watches agricultural progress with unceasing in-
terest. In a coramuuication to the Farmer of
last year, he says : —

" Ah to the Dan vers Sweet, we know the town
and tlie farm on which it originated. I have been
familiar with it from my (earliest years. It was
owned by Daniel Kpj>es, Esq., at the time of the
discovery of the tree from whicli so many good
apples have proceeded, and which now continue to
refresh all lovers of apples and milk, (than which
few l)ctter dishes can be found.) This apple
holds its original character with great distinctness.
It has not tlie varicity of shades that mark the
BaMwin — it is unmistakable. Perliaps, like all
other fruits, modified somcwliat by the strength
of the soil, or exposure to the sun ; for all fruits
ara benefited by a fair exposure to light and heat,
as well as the animal creation. IIow far these
fruits have been, or are liable to be modified by

the stocks on which they are budded or engrafted,
is an inquiry beyond my power to answer. If the
stock does not have some induence on tlio quality
of the fruit, 1 should think it very strajigc — but
that it does, I am not prepared to assert. If it
docs, then we can never be certain of continuino-
any particular variety of apple for any conside^
ablu' length of time.''

Jlr. IIvDE, another of our intelligent corres-
pondents, and a practical fruit culturist, in an
article in volume 4, page 17G, docs not speak so
favorably of this variety.

We consider the Danvers Winter Sweet a varie-
ty richly worthy (jf cultivation. It takes its
name from the town in which it originated. —
Fruit of medium si/.i", roundish oblong. Skin
smooth, dull yellow, with an orange blusli. Stalk
slender, inclining to one side. Calyx set in a
smooth, narrow basin. Flesh yellow, firm, sweet,
and rich. It bakes well, and is lit for u.se the
whole winter, and often until April.

C^ At the recent Oliio State Fair, a rare genius
took u])on the show gr.)und a hand cidcr-m.ll of
the improved kind, together with a quantity uf ci-
der apples, and essentially hit three Ijirds wi'tli one
stone. He made his cider; s<jld it as fast as made

66

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

at five cents a glass ; and at the same time showed
hifl machine to the best advantage.

FARMERS IN PUBLIC PLACES.

The presa has been burdened of late years
with lofturos and sermons and satires, addressed
to agriculturists, reprobating the fact that, on
public occasions, as cattle shows, &c., when
speeches are to be made, they fall into the rear,
and speak only by proxy. Facts are as stated. AVe
have a word or two to say as to their propriety.

We remember that Lord ^lansfield is reported
to have said that he should be as much ashamed
to know statute law as not to know common law.
The reason is obvious. Statutes are constantly
changing, and not one in a hundred is ever called
to the notice of a lawyer. Hence, to study them
so as thoroughly to understand them in all their
relations, would be time thrown away, and labor
without profit.

It is so, in our opinion, with the entire catalogue
of working-men. If any one has the "gift" of
public speaking without study, or experience, or
science, we know not why he may not show it up.
For the sake of the bar and the pulpit, and for
their clients' and hearecg' sake, we vdsh this
faculty did " come by nature." But we are per-
suaded that it is not thus that men become elo-
quent, or persuasive, or instructive. Such quali-
ties are only the result of much reading, of careful
and close study, and no little experience. Hence,
if farmers do make speeches, the presumption is,
that the result Avill be about as if a lawyer were
to undertake some of tlie most difficult and intri-
cate of farmers' work, or a clergyman were to
undertake to play the mechanic.

True, we have some lawyers and some doctors,
and some men of leisure, who enrol themselves on
the list of farmers. Some are educated at college,
or other equally useful institutions, so as to make
them conversant with languages and with science ;
and thus, and thus only, are competent to acquit
themselves handsomely in public speaking.

But not one half the lawyers, nor one half the
ministers, nor one half the doctors, can make a
good speech at a dinner- table, or at a public an-
niversary. Our Benevolent Societies, annually
meeting in New York and Boston, are obliged to]
use over their old stock, and that, too, several
times within our own recollection, and even then
fail to sustain the interest with which they first
began. This is a matter of notoriety. Under
such circumstances, to laugh at farmers for not
exposing themselves as volunteer bores, is far from
being judicious or in good taste.

The farmer who toils all day, and at night makes
plans for to-morrow, how can ho be expected
to liecome a good and acceptable speaker? If he
has acquired the art before he becomes a fixrmcr,
or the mechanic before ho becomes a working
mechanic, it is all well. We wish many, a multi-
tude, might thus qualify themselves before they
commence these arduous pursuits.

Besidiis, our farmers arc proverbially modest
men. Dilfurent causes conspire to make them so
We shoald regret a eliange, and nothing would so
thoroughly effect this change as frccjueut public
debate. We have known a few absolutely ruined
by this very process. They "outgrcAV their shoes."
They substantially outgrew their dresses and their

entire habits, and, like some of old, did nothing
but hear or tell some new, and yet some thrice
told story.

We commend these considerations to our agri-
cultural friends, and to the press. It is not nec-
essary to be a good public speaker in order to be a
MAN. At the same time, some of our most fluent
"orators" are, and are regarded as, very small
men, while those who are always speaking in
public are always lauglied at. Of this, the last,
we never knew an exception. — Plough, Loom and
Anvil.

THE OLD CORDWAINER.

One moon-shiny night, Thanksgiving was coming,

I mounted in haste Uncle Jeremy's marc ;
0£f, Dobbin, said I, let your trotters be drumming',
Down towards Uncle Lot's, and she soon had me there.

O, good Uncle Lot,

I remember the spot,

And the bench where he sat,

With his strap o'er his knee ;

Our shoes were all ready.

For me, and for Neddy,

For Dolly, and Betty,

For Sally, and Hetty;
What a faithful old cordwaiuer was he.

Then there was the stitching so strong and so nice,

Why, the threads held the leather, as strong as a vicej
There was none of your pegging, nor none of your nailing.
No fretting, no scolding, no jarring, no railing.

When shoemaker Lot,

He worked on the spot,

Which I've not forgot,

With his strap o'er his knee ;

He was honest and fair,

And exact to a hair,
WTiat a useful old cordwainer was he.

But alas ! now-a-days, how changed is this matter, —

Now honesty seems to go begging about ;
One scarce has a shoe, or a coat, or a garter.
That lasts more than three weeks, before 'tis worn out.

O that some Uncle Lot

Would again take the spot,

And the bench where he sat,

With his strap o'er his knee ;

And would work at the trade,

And have shoes faithfully made,

No cheating, no cozen.

No rips by the dozen.
What a useful old cordwainer he'd be.

BUFFALOES.

A member of Gov. Stevens' northern route ex-
ploring party, in a long communication to the
St. Louis Republican, written from the head of
Yellow Stone, relates the following among many
other "sights and incidents" of the party thus
f\%r:—

On Sunday, after a march of some ten miles,
the buffaloes were reached. They were before
and on each side of the train. For miles ahead
it seemed one vast drove yard. They were estima-
ted by some as high as 500,000— ,200,000 is con-
sidered a very low estimate. Drawing up the
train at our usual lialt at noon, a large nerd were
about half a mile aliead. The hunters, six in
number, were immediately dispatched, well
mounted on spare horses reserved for that especial
purpose, and the whole train had an opportunity
of witnessing a buffalo hunt. The hunters dashed
in among the herd, picked out the fattest of the

1»54,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

67

cows, and then sepaVatinc the selected (;nes from Mr. Campbell made an experiment which he
the herd, soon despatched them. In less than an gayg -was conducted as follows; —
hour the wagons were sent but a small distance

from the route to receive the choicest pieces *of the
buffalo.

In the next two days' march the hunters were
kept some distance ahead, to koep off the buffa-
loes ; it was the only way the safe passage of the
train could be insured through this sea of flesh.
The pack mules and spare animals following on in
the train, too numerous to be separately led, were
hard to control ; and despite every precaution
and care, one horse and four mules were lost, tliey
getting mingled with a herd of ^buffaloes. Every
effort was made to reclaim them — hours 'spent in
their attempted recovery. The efforts were en-
tirely useless.

WILL DRY GYPSUM ABSOKB AMMO
UIA?

That is, will dry ground plaster, spread on the
manure heap, prevent the escape of its ammonia,
80 that on entering the stable where horses are
kept, or the barn cellar, where the droppings from
the leanto are collected, we shall not smell any
odor from them 1

As these escaping gases are very valuable, and
as the amount of plaster now annually used for
this purpose, amounts to a heavy item of expendi-
ture in farm husbandry, the question is an impor-
tant one.

That the planter so used upon manures will ab-
sort) the ammonia, the editor of the Maine Far-
mer says he "has always considered to bo the true
doctrine, he having sprinkled it on fermenting
heaps of horse manure, and thereby destroying the
dSor." He adds, "we have also scat-tered it in
and about privies, and neutralized the offensive
odors thereof, for a time, and without any fur
ttier examinatiun supposed the theory correct. ' '

On the other hand, the editor of the Rural
New-Yorker "denies that plaster will thus unite
T*lth ammonia, unless it be dissolved." To es-
tablish this theory he says a scientific farmer and
■fffiter took some plaster and guano and rubbed
ihcm together in his hand, and upon applying it
to the nose, found that "instead of fixing the am-
monia, the pla8t(T aid(!d the decomposition of the
guano, and the ammonia was driven off with con-
iderable rapidity."

The test was a simple one, but was it a fair
ono ? Could a sufficient quantity of plaster be
held in the hand to neutralize the odors of even a
single thim])lc-full of so concentrated and power-
ful a manure as guano ? ^Ye think not, and do
not consider such a test as settling the question.

The editor of the Farmer, in support of his the-
ory, quotes the experiments of another practical
man, Professor Camimjetx, of North Carolina, "by
which it would seem that plaster in a dry state
docs actually absorb, or rather decompose, carbon-
ate of ammonia, while flying off from fermenting
manures. ' '

" A barrel was filled with fresh scrapings from
the stalls of horses. Over the manure, as throvkTi
in, a little ground plaster was sprinkled from
time to time. After the barrel had been compact-
ly filled, it was allowed to stand some weeks un-
til it had gone through the heating process which
always takes place when newly collected manure
is thrown into heaps. But during this heating or
fermentation (as it may with propriety be called,)
there was none of that 'vapor' or strong odor
which ordinarily arises from fermenting manure
heaps. When the mass had become cool, clean
rain water was pasfjed through it and collected
at the bottom of the barrel. This water was
found to contain one of the elements of plaster,
and one of the volatile substances (carbonate of
ammonia) above alluded to. On emptying the
barrel, a white powder, looking very much like
plaster, was found mingled with its contents. But
when tested, this powder was found to contain on-
ly one of the elements of plaster ; while it con-
tained also one element of the volatile carbonate
of ammonia just mentioned."

We have great confidence in the theory of the
editor of the Farmer, and that confidence has
been gained by several years' practice of that the-
ory. When the horse-stalls have been ne"-lected,
and the odor arising from them has become ex-
ceedingly pungent, we apply the dry plaster, and,
presto, the stalls are sweet. And so of the cattle
stalls, the cess pools, the drains, and any other ol-
factory nuisance that comes in sight.

This dry plaster, however, is never applied to
dry substances. When thrown upon the horse
and cattle stalls, the litter and the floor are wet •
if they were dry, there would probably bo no
odor. 'But who has dry piles of manure in these
days of inquiry and progress ? Certixinly not the
man who is in the habit of using plaster. The
dry heaps under the barn windows, rescmblino-
camera dung that has bleached an age on deserta
of sand, belong to men of (another age, who
laugh at you for expecting to find virtue in stones,
and look upon ammonia as a cabalistic word
Avhich, like Pandora's box, is filled with all man-
ner of evil.

The theory of the editor of the Rural New-
Yorker, in this view of the case, may bo correct ■
we do not believe, however, that it is necessary to
go to the trouble of loacliing the plaster, and
using the water thus impregnated with it.

The bast mode of retaining the valuable proper-
tics of manures until they are wanted for use is
to apply to them daily, such portion of finely pul-
verized, old meadow muck as will take up the
juices so that none of them will leach out. This
muck is the cheapest, most accessible and conven-
ient, and at the same time ono of the most cam-
cious absorbents and best deodorizers at the com-
mand of the farmer. Try it in the filthiest pool
or on the most fragrant heap of offal you can

68

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

find, and see what a magic power it possesses !
Keep a winrow of it in the cellar in front of the
place where the droppings from the stall accumu-
late, and each day cover them so as to add as
much again muck as there is of the droppings,
and the whole mass shall be of as much value as
the same number of loads of pure droppings, left

"To waste its sweetness on the desert air."

No man in this State was better qualified, we
think, to pronounce an opinion upon this subject,
than the late Mr. Phinney, of Lexington ; no
other person, probably, had used so much muck,
or made so many careful experiments with it upon
almost all kinds of crops. AY e have often heard him
say that three loads of compost prepared as we
have described above, was fully equal to three
loads of the unmixed manure.

resort, and his time spent (if there is nothing else
called for,) in reading interesting books to his
wife and children.

There is much more which might properly be
said, but I trust " a word to the wise is suffi-
cient." A. Todd.

Smithficld, R. I., 12th mo., 1853.

For the New England Farmer.

THE WAY TO MAKE A WIFE CHEER-
FUL.

I am aware that many husbands feel inwardly
to complain because their wives do not always
wear cheerful countenances. Now I would say
to such that the fault is not in the wife, but in
the husband generally. So far as my observations
will prove, in nine cases out of ten, the husband
is in the fault when things do not go right in-
doors. I am well convinced that there are those
who have been husbands for years, who do not
know, or rather who do not seem to know, what
belongs to them as husbands. And for those of
this class I desire to impart a little information,
hoping that they and their wives may be bene-
fited thereljy ; for I deem it indispensable to the
happiness of a family to have the wife cheerful in
and around the house-fire-side. *

Now it is well known that many husbands will
lie in bed in the morning, and allow their wives
to get up and build the fires. In my opinion this
does not belong to her to do, (unless her husband
is indisposed.) It comes under the head of the
husband's duties to build the fires, draw the wa-
ter, and put on the tea-kettle ; and further, when
there are children, he should assist in dressing
them ; for there is nothing that will put a smile
on the face of the wife like having a "good start"
in the morning. And at all times during the
day (whenever he is in the house) , the husband
should interest himself in the care and manage-
ment of the children. Anotlier thing will add
greatly to the cheerfulness of the \rife, and that
is, always enter the house with clean feet. Tracks
of muddy boots on a clean floor are very apt to
put an unpleasant look on the fiice of a tidy wife ;
and well it may, for there is no need of a husl>and
being so slovenly. No husband need be in so
much of a hurry, or so negligent, but that he can
clean his feet on the door scraper. Can not every
husl^and see that a little neatness on his part
eaves labor to the wife 1 One thing more I will
mention, which in my opinion tends very much
to the ol)ject in question ; and that is, for the
husband to spend as much time with his family
as possible, certiiinly his leisure hours. His
house should be made the place of his evening's

THE COLD FRIDAY OF 1810.

The 19th of Jan., 1810, was a day the intense
coldness of which will be long remembered by those
who experienced its rigor. Those who were not
out of doors, but had reached an age rendering
them capable of retaining impressions then received,
have doubtless a recollection of occurrences taking
place around them. The evening previous was as
mild as those we have been favored with in such
numbers this winter ; but in the night the wind
changed, the wind suddenly became cold, and the
mercury in less than 16 hours descended to 13 de-
grees below zero. A boisterous wind prevailed, by
which trees, and in some cases houses, were blown
down, and the day became memorable in New
England as "The Cold Friday. ' ' Here in Concord,
so near as recollection serves, there was very little
going ft-om place to place. Farmers piled on the
wood and attended to their cattle, and that was
about all for the day. In this village, such as
went to the neighbors or to a store, upon errands
which could not be deferred, sped over the ground
like squirrels, and were fortunate if they returned
with no flesh frozen by the intensity of the frost.
From vol. v. of the New Hampshire Historical
Society's Collections, the following account is
taken of an occurrence on that day in the town of
Sanbornton :

'On Friday morning, the 19th of January, Mr.
Jeremiah Ellsworth, of Sanbornton, finding the
cold very severe, rose about an hour l:)efore sun-
rise. It was but a short time before some part of
his house was burst in by the wind. Being ap-
prehensive that the whole house would s(3on be de-
molished, and that the lives of the family were in
great jeopardy, ]Mrs. Ellsworth, with her youngest
child, whom she had dressed, went into tlie cellar,
leaving the other two children in bed. Her hus-
band undertook to go to the nearest neighbor,
which was in a north dii'ection, for assistance, but
the wind was so strong against him that he found
it impracticable. He then set out for Mr. David
Brown's, the nearest house in another direction,
at the distance of a quarter of a mile. He reached
there about sunrise, his feet being considerably
frozen, and ho was so overcome with the cold, that
both he and Mr. Brown thought it too hazardous
for him to return. But Mr. Brown went with
his horse and sleigh with all possible speed to save
the woman and her children from impending de-
struction.

"When he arrived at the house, he found Mrs.
Ellsworth and one child in the cellar, and the
other children in ])ed, their clothes having been
blown away by the wind, so that they could not
be dressed. Mr. Brown put a bed into the sleigh,
and placed the three children upon it, and covered
them with the bedclothes. Mrs. E. also got into
the sleigh. They had proceeded only six or eight
rods beibre the sleigh was blown over, and the
cliildren, bed and covering, were scattered by the
wind. Mrs. Ellsworth held the horse, while Mr.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

69

Brown collected the children and bed, and placed more to the gallon than the other. This variety

them in the sleigh again. She then concluded to
walk, but before she reached Mr. Brown's house,
she was so benumed by the cold, that she sank
down to the ground, finding it impossible to walk
any furrier. At first she concluded she must
perish, but stimulated by a hope of escape, she
made another effort by crawling on her hands and
knees, in which manner she reached her husband,
but so altered in her looks that he did not at first
know her. His anxiety for his children led him
twice to conclude to go to their assistance; but the
earnest importunities of his Avife, who supposed he
would perish, and that she should survive but a
short time, prevented him.

'Olr. Brown, having placed the children in the
sleigh a second time, liad proceeded Init a few rods
when tho sleigh was l)lown over and torn to pieces,
and the children driven to some distance. He then
collected them once more, laid them on the bed
and covered them ; and then called for help, but
to no purpose. Knowing that the children must
soon perish in that situation, and being pierced to
the heart by their distressing shrieks, he wrapped
them all in a coverlet, and attempted to carry
them on his shoulder, but was soon blown down
and the children separated from him by the vio-
lence of the wind. Finding it impossible to carry
them all, he left the youngest, the one who hap-

Eened to be dressed, placing it by the side of a
irge log. He then took them one under each
arm, with no other clothing than their shirts, and] three- tenths. Few animal substances are so

in measure produces great confusion of ideas — and
demands precise regulation by law.

In looking at the statements of the several claim-
ants for premiums on milch cows, in Worcester coun-
ty, as recently published in the Transactions, I
find the average product of the several cows pre-
sented, during the first ten days ui June, 1853, to
have been 40 lbs., or 20 quarts a day, to each cow.
Now if Worcester milk is equal to Middlesex milk,
this would give 5 lbs. of butter a day to each
cow. The man who shall introduce a stock that
shall do this, will be entitled to name it as he
pleases. Am I wrong in my calculation ? If I
am, I should like to ))e corrected. Is he wrong
in his statements 1 If he is, the sooner they arc set
right, the more to his credit will it be. I would
cheerfully travel a hundred miles to see some of
these '■'■gallon cows''^ or '■'■butler stock''' — and when-
ever the owner has them prepared for exhibition,
I think all admirers of good butter should be there
to see. Fr.\nklin.

THE PRESERVATION OF EGGS FOR
WINTER USE.

It should be borne in mind, that eggs arc main-
ly composed of al))umen, mixed with a minute
quantity of the salts of sulphur, phosphorus, lime,
and magnesia. The shell consists mostly of lime.
Of the whole weight, the shell constitutes about
one-tenth, the white six-tenths, and the yolk

in this Avay, though blown down every few rods
he arrived at his house, after being absent about
two hours. The children, th(mgh frozen stiff,
were alive, but died within a few minutes. Mr.
Brown's liands and feet were badly frozen, and he
was so much chilled and exhausted as to be unable
to return for the child left behind.

"The wind continued its severity, and no neigh-
bor called until afternoon, when there was every
reason to believe the child left was dead. Towards
sunset a physician and some other neighbors hav-
ing arrived, several of whom went in search of the
other child, which was found and brought in
dead. The lives of the parents were saved, but
they were left childless."

Mr. Brown, we are informed by a gentleman of
Sanbornton, lived until a few years ago, but never
recovered from the effects of that day. He l)ecame
nearly or quite blind, and continued thus as long
aa he lived. — N. H. Statesman

Fur the IV^ew En>;land Farmer.

MEASURE AND WEIGHT OF MILK.

Mr. Editor : — Being under the necessity, by
reason of the violence of the storm, of keeping
close aboard, I Avas thinking of your neighbor's
"butter stock," Avhich yield a pound of butter,
for each and every four quarts or gallon of milk,
and the quere arose whether he recbmed 8 or 10
pounds to a gallon. The ordinary mode of reck-
oning has been after the English rule, 10 lbs. to
a gallon — though this is not the standard rule, at
present, in this country. Eight pounds is near
the weight of a gallon — iviw measure. I wish
he^ would be particular in his information on tliis
point, Ijecause it makes about one-fifth part differ-
ence, wliether you reckon ale and beer or wine
measure, one containing about 40 square inches

trescent as eggs, unless preserved with care. The
shell, composed as it is mostly of lime glued to-
gether with a trifle of animal matter, is its most
nutural and safe depository. Yet even the shell
yields gradually to the action of the atmosphere,
so that a part of the watery fluid of the egg es-
capes, and air occupies its place, thus injuring the
quality of it. The great secret, then, of preserv-
ing eggs, is to keep the interior in an unaltered
state. This is best done by lime water, in Avhich
a little common §alt is infused. Tiiis constitutes
a fluid perfectly indestructible by air, and one that
is so allied to the nature of the shell as not to be
absorbed by it, or througli it into the interior of
the egg. On the other hand, salt or lime, in a
dry state, will act on tho moisture of the egg, as
will strong ashes. This plan, also, will save more
cofo^s in a given space than any other. It will also
admit of keeping them in cellars ever so damp,
and, I had almost said, ever so foul, since nothing
will be likely to act on the lime-water. As eggs
are very nearly of the specific gravity of water, and
so near Avith it I liave little doubt that eggs bar-
reled up tightly, in lime-Avater, could be trans-
ported as safely as pork. Lime-Avater may be
made in the most careless manner. Seven hun-
dred pounds of water will dissolve about one pound
of lime. A pint of lime, therefore, throAvn into a
barrel of water, is enough, while ten times as
much can do no hurt, and Avill not alter the
strength of it. The salt, which I do not deem
very nuportaut, should teputin a small quantity,
say a quart to a barrel. All are aAvare tliat a
very large quantity of salt may be dissolved in
water, ^iirine, strong enougli for pork, would un-
doul)tedly luirt eggs. Having made your lime-
watiT, in barrels, if you arc a merchant, and in
stone pots, if you arc a small householder, drop
your eggs on the top of the water, when they Avill

70

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Tbe.

settle down safely. It is probably important
that no bad eggs go in, as it is supposed by some
that they would injure others. To test your eggs
put them in clean water, rejecting all that rise.
A better remedy is to look at them through atube
— say a roll of paper — by day-light, or hold them
between your eye and a good caudle by night. If j
the eggs are fresh, they will, in either case, look
transparent. If they are little injured, they will
look darkish. If much injured, they will lopk en-
tirely dark. Eggs, well put up and kept in this
manner, will keep, I cannot tell how long, but
until they are much more plenty and cheap than
at present, quite long enough. Leached ashes
well dried, and even grain, have kept eggs very
■well, in my experience ; but no method is so cheap
and obvious as the lime-water. As lime absorbs
carbonic acid slowly, and thus l^ecomes insoluble,
80 almost any lime, even though it has been
slacked for months, wilt answer the purpose.
Lime-water, permitted to stand still, will immedi-
ately be covered with a transparent film. This is
the lime of the water uniting with the carbonic
acid of the atmosphere, and returning to the state
of lime-stone, and does not hurt the eggs. — Mark
Lane Express.

TO FARMERS.

Neat be your farms : 'tia long confessed

The neatest farmer is the best.

Each bog and marsh industrious drain,

Nor let Tilo balks deform the plain,

Nor bushes on your headland gro-.T,

For briars a sloven's culture show.

Keat be your barns, your houses neat,

Your doors be clean, your court-yards sweet;

No moss the sheltering roof enshroud,

Kor wooden panes the window cloud ;

No liUhy kennels foully flow,

Kor weeds with rankling poison grow ;

But shades expand and fruit trees bloom,

And flowering shrubs exhale perfume ;

■With pales your garden circle round ;

Defend, enrich, and clean the ground ;

Prize high the pleasing, useful rood,

And fill with vegetable good.

THE ATMOSPHERE AND ITS EFFECTS
UPON ANIMAL LIFE.

A very interesting lecture was delivered by Dr.
Griscom at the New York Mechanics' Institute,
on the "Influence of Air in connection with Ani-
mal Life." Some of them would be surprised to
hear that they lived at the bottom of an immense
ocean of air fifty miles deep ; yet it was so, and
the color of this ocean, which is called the atmo-
sphere, is a deep cerulean blue. To perceive this
it waa necessary to be able to see at once the
■whole volume, and also on a calm and clear day,
for no color could be perceived if seen in small
quantities, or when there was either wind or hazi-
ness. In like manner the color of water could
not be seen in small quantities, and was only per-
ceptible where there was a vast expanse of ocean.
The air was also a substance capable of condensa-
tion and expansion. Its expansion wtis seen in
the winds, by which ships were made to traverse
the ocean, and also in windmills. The tornado
was another phase of its expansion, by which
trees were uprooted and houses overturned, and
■was almost equal to the power of steam. The

greatest weight of the atmosphere was fifteen
pounds to the square inch , and this weight presses
on every way, both upward and do'wnward. To
explain the pressure upwards, the lecturer exhaus-
ted the air out of a large vase, which then re-
mained fast to the plato on which it stood, but
on the air being let in it was easily removed. I
remember, said he, being asked the question, if
there is a pressure of fifteen pounds to the square
inch, the reason why we were not at once crushed
by the weight ; but this is, as I before explained,
because the air presses in all directions with the
same equal force, and hence there is an equili-
brium. This is a most important element, and
one that requires to be known, and also that the
air never presses more than fifteen pounds to the
square inch.

The next quality of the air is ehisticity. Press
it to make it occupy a smaller sjsace than it other-
wise would, and then take away the weight, and
it comes back and occupies its original space.
The lecturer then explained that in the air there
were two gases ; one oxygen, which is that part
of the atmosphere by which chiefly we live, and
which is the one-fifth part ; and the other nitro-
gen, which is four-fifths of the atmosphere. Oxy-
gen supports life and combustion, and nitrogen
restrains its effects and dulls its operations. The
quantity of air which a person consumes deju^nds
in a measure on one's self, and by training can be
made more or less. The tailor and the shoe-
maker take little in comparison with the laborer,
and the public speaker or singer, or those who
cry commodities ibr sale through the streets. A
man in good health makes eighteen respirations in
a minute, and in twenty-four hours consumes
fifty-one hogsheads of the air. As the oxygen
which supports life is so small, we ought to be
very particular how we permit other gases to mix
with it and vitiate it. The blood when it enters
the lungs is black, but when the oxygen acts on it,
it becomes red, and sends it through the veins to
impart life and animation. This black blood is
produced by carbon, and imparts the blackness
which we see in the face of persons who lose their
lives by suffocation, because the air was not al-
lowed to reach the lungs to purify it. When
we send out the air from the lungs, we do not
send it in the same manner as we inhaled it, for
when exhaled it is as deadly a poison as arsenic
or corrosive sublimate. The lecturer showed this
by experiments, and filled a vase with his own
breath in which a lighted candle would not live.
It was such air as killed persons who went down
into wells in the country, or who died when a pan
of charcoal was placed in a room. The danger of
taking impure matter into the stomach waa not
so great as into the lungs, for the stomach had
power to eject impurities which the lungs had
not. Besides the impure air which we esliale
there are 2,800 pores on every square inch of the
surface of the body, and to a body of large size
there are 2,590 square inches ; and these mul-
tiplied make 7,000,000 of pores. There is a
sort of drainage pipe in the body, which sends
out matter as well as gas, and this pipe is calcu-
lated at twenty-eight miles long. The particles
of matter which are sent out and which do not
dissolve, are so numerous, that in China, where
the houses are low, and a great many persons are
in the habit of assembling in one room, it baa

1854-

NEW NEGLAND FARMER.

71

been discovered that, after fifteen or twenty
years, these particles adhere to the ceiling of the
rooms, and the farmer will contract to put up
up a new ceiling if they are allowed to take down
the old one, so valuable has it been found for
manure. — Scientijic American.

ZINC PAINTS.

We are glad to find this now article coming in-
to very general use wherever it can be obtained.
Some of its principal merits are thus summed up
in one of the Circulars of the company engaged
in manufacturing it :

The following facts, which are the result of
accui-ato exjxn-iment, show that zinc paints are
much cheaper to the consumer than lead :

100 lljs. white zinc paint will cover, when ap-
plied in three coats, on new work, as much sur-
face as 1(J()| lbs. pure white load ; but, estimating
that it Avill cover but fifty per cent, more surface,
and that it sold at the same price per pound as
pure white lead, then the cost would be just two-
thirds the cost of lead ; to say nothing of the du-
rability and beauty of zinc paints.

This argument (their relative cheapness) alone
should decide the question in favor of the use of
zinc paints ; but their other merits are of more im-
portance,

"White zinc, even when exposed to coal, gas,
bilge water and sulphurous vapors, retains its orig-
inal In-illiancy and whiteness ; white lead quickly
turns yellow.

Apartments ^W5/ pointed, may be slept in with
impunity ; whereas, according to the best au-
thority, rooms should not be used for sleeping
apartments for two or three months after being
painted with lead.

The agents of the company have is.sued the fol-
lowing directions for using it : —

Tlie paints manufactured by the N. J. Zinc Co.,
and ground in oil, are to be used precisely like
white lead, thinning it for outside work with
light colored linseed oil, and for inside use with
spirits of turpentine or oil, having enough sicative
mixed with the paint in the keg to make it dry
for twenty-four hours. In winter a small quan-
tity of zinc dryer, or any of the ordinary dryers,
may Ije added.

FoH Porcelain Finish. — Tliin the zinc, ground
in varnish, with enough Damar varnish to make
it work free, and apply it only on a pure white
ground, recently painted \vith zinc and thorough-
ly dried. If the first coat docs not produce a
sufficient gloss, apply a second.

On new outside work, it is recommended to ap-
ply a coat of gum shellac, to prevent the sap or
pitcli of the wood from staining the paint, made
as fijllows : To 1 gallon alcohol, add about 2 lbs.
gum shellac ; dissolve by a gentle heat, then add
about 2 ll)s. dry white zinc, and strain ))efore us-
ing. It will dry in five minutes, and will pay the
cost of its application, bj' the saving of paint in
finishing the work.

White Zinc P.^ints should be kept in a dry
place, never be covered with water in the keg, as
it will cause the paint to harden.

Fifty pounds of zinc will cover as much sur-
face as 70 to 90 lbs. of lead, according to tlie na-
ture of the surface and style of work.

The paints ground in oil, are put up in kegs of
25, 50, 100, 200 lbs. and upwards.

Ground in varnish, in cans of 10 to 25 lbs.
each.

Dry white zinc in barrels of 200 lbs. each.

PRICES.

No. 1, or Snow White, ground in Oil, ^ lb 9 cents.

No. 2, or Silver White ground in Oil S cents.

Brown Stone Color, ground in Oil 6 cents.

IJrown Zinc, ground in Oil 5 cents.

AVhite, ground in Viirnish, for Porcelain finish 15 cents.

No. 1, or Snow White, in bhls. of 200 11)3 61 cts.

Zinc Dryer, ^ gallon '$1.50

Damar Varnish, (White Varnish) ^ gallon 1.75

TRANSACTIONS OF WORCESTER AG-
RICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We acknowledge the receipt of a copy of these
Transactions, from the attentive Secretary of the
Society, William S. Lincoln. We have not yet
had opportunity to look over its pages. The fol-
lowing remarks are from one of our most observ-
ing correspondents in Essex County.

"As in the beginning, so now, the name of Lin-
coln is conspicuous upon its pages. It is grati-
fying to witness the efforts of distinguished gen-
tlemen to instruct their fellow-citizens. This re-
mark is elicited by the perusal of the Report on
Milch Cows. In these days of fancy estimates, it
is salutary to return to sober instruction. Few
men have had better experience in thLs matter,
than the author of this paper. He says, *we
wish only to suggest, that what has been done
elsewhere, may be done again, and here, — and that
with judgment in the selection of stocks, and care
in the rearing, as fine animals, of any race, may
be found on our farms, and seen at our shows, as
ever graced the Cattle Fairs of England.'

Numerous other papers, in this neatly arranged
publication, will be perused witli instruction. In
some of them attempts at ivit are apparent. This
is a dangerous article to meddle with. Unless
carefully spiced, it soon becomes stale. In the
hands of a Lincoln and Poole, wit is acceptable ;
but when forced in, it nauseates. We perused
the learned and eloquent address, before this So-
ciety, and while we were instructed by the au-
thor's remark on titles to estates and the princi-
ples of free trade, we could not but think it bet-
ter fitted to some other arena, than a C\ttle
Fair."

DON'T PULL OFF THE SUCKERS !

Messrs. Editors : — In the Country Gentleman
of week before last, I noticed an inquiry with re-
gard to the propriety of pulling off from the Indi-
an corn, the scions commonly called suckers. In
my opinion, neither do the advocates for pulling
off nor those for allowing them to remain, give
correct reasons for their pmctice. Indeed, I have
never known a farmer intelligent on this subject
nor have I any confidence that experiments con-
ducted as proposed in the article referred to, will
lead to any practic;il results. A little observa-
tion, science will give us more useful information
on tins subject, tlian years of experiment without
it. That the 8uck(>rs have an important office to
perform in the production of the corn crop, and
therefore, should bo allowed to remain, will I
think, appear from the following consideration.

72

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

The Indian com (Zeamays) is a monoecious plant,
that is, the staminate and pistillate blossoms oc-
cupy different positions on the same plant. The,
tassel, as it is commonly called, is the staminate
blossom, and furnishes the pollen l)y which the
silk is im})regnatcd, and the new kernel is pro-
duced. The cob which bears the silk or pis-
tillate l)lossoms, is in process of elongation after
the poUon or dust has disappeared from the tassel.
Just at the point wliere more pollen is needed to
impregnate the silk at the end of the cob, the
suckers and abortion stalks supply it, thus filling
out the cob with kernels to the very tip or end.
Where the suckers have been pulled off, it will be
found that one or two inches of the cob is barren,
thus causing quite a diminution of the crop. What
amount of diminution the crop may suffer, 1 am
not able to say definitely, but give it as my opin-
ion at least, from a twelfth to a fifteenth part.
If these suggestions appear of any value, you are
at liberty to publish them, hoping they may be
remembered until another year comes around.

Yours, &c., W. H. Scr.\m, Sand Lake Academy
— Albany Cultivator.

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

We give below a portion of the Report of the
Committee of the "Rhode Island Society for the
encouragement of Domestic Industry, on the sub-
ject of Butter and Cheese. We are under obliga-
tions to Stefuen H. Smith, Esq., the Secretary,
for copies of the Transactions of that Society.

From these experiments it is shown that to ob-
tain the best of sweet butter that will keep for a
greater length of time than any other without be-
ing rancid, we must churn sweet cream — that if
the butter-milk is valuable in market, and the
butter can be disposed of soon after it is made,
there will be the greatest gain by churning the
sour milk and cream together — that by scalding
the milk and then taking off the cream, the milk
is best for market — although the yield of butter is
greatest, and the flavor good, it must be put in
market direct from the churn and consumed with-
out delay or it becomes rancid and worthless ; —
that in proportion to the quantity of butter pro-
duced from the cream of a given measure of milk,
reference being had to the length of time the cream
is suffered to remain upon it, will be its liability
to become soonest rancid ; — that the excess of
weight as exhibited aliove is to be attributed in a
great measure to the absorption and combination
of caseine (curd) with the oleaginous (oily) por-
tions of the cream ; — that the prevalence of civ-
eeine, although it is not objectionable by impart-
ing any unpleasant flavor while new, renders the
butter of less value, as it soon grows rancid ; and
for the further reason that it is used, necessiirily,
more profusely than new butter, which has less
curd in it. It has been fully proved that milk
contains on an average only one per cent, more
curd than butter.

Dumas saj's, "that the facility with which but-
ter becomes rancid, depends on the presence of ca-
seine, (curd) from which it is necessary it sliould
be separated in order to its preservation."

This can be effected by fusion (melting) . For
exportation to hot climates, or for the purpose of
preserving early-made butter sweet through the

heat of summer for winter's use, it should be
clarified before salting or much working. For
this purpose it is put into a lipped vessel and placed
in another of water, whicli is to be gradually
heated, till tlie butter is melted. Care must be
taken not to over-heat it ; it must be kept melted
until the curd and Imtter-milk have settled ; the
clear melted butter is then poured off from the
sediment into small white kegs, containing from
twenty to thirty poundseach, orinto majile canni-
pails, of Shaker manufacture, for family use.
When sufficiently cooled, and before it hardens, it
may be salted with less than half an ounce of fine
rock salt to the pound, but as it is difficult to in-
corporate the salt well, the salt may be omitted
and tlie butter will keep perfectly sweet. What
butter remains in the vessel will rise to the top,
and harden like tallow; when taken off the amount
of curd and butter-milk will apjiear. You will
then have the pure article, equal to the best of ta-
ble butter for all the purposes to which sweet oil
(as we get it) or drawn butter is applied — it is
perfect for shortening — melt it in milk instead of
water. It is not suitable to spx'ead cold on bread.

One of your committee in the warm season last
year, took seventeen pounds of sweet salted lump
butter and proceeded as above directed. What
settled at the bottom after melting, was composed
of two ounces of limpid whey, two ounces of fine
salt, and twelve ounces of curd, in all one pound.
Had this curd not been extracted, the whole long
before this (2d of Feb.) would probably have
been rancid. The experiment proved perfectly
satisfactory, and is recommended to the public.
Store-keepers back in the country who take in but-
ter, would find it to their account by putting it in
practice, thereby diminishing the amount of
"grease-butter" sent to market.

Adulteration of Milk, fi'om Boiuman^s Medical
Chemistry, as published in the Providence Journal,
some time since ; — "We have no chemical means
of ascertaining whether water has been fraudu-
lently added to milk ; the only effect being to di-
lute it and render it of poorer quality. A know-
ledge of the specific gravity cannot here be made
available, since the abstraction of cream, which
has a lower specific gravity than milk, may be
made to neutralize the effect produced by the ad-
dition of water, — the tendency of the removal of
the cream being to raise the specific gravity, or
weight of the milk, and that of the addition of
water to lower it. A specimen of milk, therefore,
which has been impoverished by the abstraction of
cream, and still further weakened by the addition
of water, may be made to possess the same specific
gravity, or weight, as it had when taken from the
can."

The average product of cow's 'milk is 15 per
cent, of cream by the lactometer.

It is of quite as much importance to ascertain
the average product of curd ; but this can only
be done by actual experiment, as no instiumeut
will show it, Liebig says the nutriment in milk
depends on the amount of curd it contains ; and
not on the amount of butter. An experiment was
tried by feeding a dog with Ijutter only ; he became
very ftxt, his hair was sivturated with grease and he
died at the end of thirty days. Those who were
opjiosed to this view of tfie subject repeated the
experiment and the dog survived, but this result
was attributed "to the great amount of casiene
(curd) contained in the butter.

1854.

NE\y ENGLAND FARMER.

n

If the object of a Dairy be to make Cheese,
cows pliould be bred and selected that give milk
rich with curd ; if the object be Butter, those that
give a light milk will produce most ; but if the
object being the greatest profit in selling milk,
such cows should be selected as will give the most
milk and from which the least butter and cheese
can be made from a given quantity.

It is a remark often made, and with truth, by
those who have the care of dairies, that there are
individuals among their cows, whose milk 3-ields
little or no cream, butaliounds in curd ; while the
milk of others is very deficient in curd, but is not
lacking in cream. The perfection of milk is the
union of these two desiralde properties, and its
greatest defect in the absence of both.

A cubic foot of pure water weighs 1000 ounces
avoirdujxds very nearly.

The weight of all sulx^tancos, except the gases,
(all being brought to one temperature,) is, m re-
lation to that of pure Avater, whose specific gravi-
ty (weight) is represented by unity, or one, thus:

1.000
Butter is lighter 0.942

Cream " 0.980

New milk average is he.ivier 1.02S

Skim milk " " 1.038

In a former communication on the subject of
Butter making, we disapproved of the practice of
adding water to the cream, and of washing the
butter, to rid it of its butter-milk. The carbonate
of lime, found in water, causes the incrustation,
which forms on the inside of utensils in which it
is boiled. Butter absorbs the lime and magnesia,
present in salt and in water, when it comes in con-
tact with them ; it has an injurious effect on its
quality and preservation. It is therefore in all
cases safest not to wash it, even if the water be
pure, it will in a measure destroy its fine fragrance
and flavor.

The use of pure salt cannot be too often recom-
mended to those who have dairies in charge. !More
than a millicm of dollars can be annually saved to
our farmers in this country by attention to this
point. No one denies that good pure salt is made
at our salt springs liy solar evaporation, if taken
from the first pan where all the crystals are per-
fectly square ; but this s;ilt comes to the consumer
with various degrees of adulteration ; and is there-
fore cheaj), as to the first cost. After the square
crystiils of pure salt have ceased to form ; then, by
further evaporation the salts of magnesia and
glaubers s;ilts begin to show long needle-shaped
crystals very 1)itt«r to the taste ; easily dissolved
and always found moist in damp weather. It will
not preserve fish or meat, and when used for l)ut-
tcr, will dissolve and run from it like water. —
Whereas rock salt gives it firmness, which facili-
tates the extraction of butter-milk and preserves it
sweet. Many bags marked rock salt, have been
filled more than once ; and many others never came
in contact with it. Let the farmers club together,
and send to a sea-port and get the best of Rock
salt, sift out the fine, wash and dry the lumps,
and have it ground at any gristmill in the neigh-
borhood, as our fathers did, before the introduction
of the very improved fine Liverpool bag or blown
salt.

For the Committee, Steven H. Smith.

they have discovered the rot in potatoes to be
caused by an insect or maggot which eats into the
potato, near the root or 8t«m andapoisons it. They
made this discovery last fall, while digging their
potatoes, and have since frequently found the mag-
got in those which were diseased. They recom-
mend as an effi'ctual remedy the application of a
spoonful of sulphur to the vines of each hill when
the potatoes arc hoed. Our correspondents are good
practical farmers and may be right, but tlie expe-
rience of more than one season will be necessary to
establish the fact. — Dover {N. H.) Inquirer.

TuE Potato Rot. — Eli Demeritt, of Strafford,
and Aaron Bridge, of Nottingliam, write us that

E'jr the yew England Fanner.

POOR LAND MADE RICH WITHOUT
ADDING MANURE.

As this is rather a new theory, some may ask
^w is it possible to make poor land i-ich without
putting on manure! I answer, by shading it. But
my opposer may say if shade' makes land rich, why
does not the soil under large trees become extreme-
ly fertile ! To this I answer as follows : the growth
of the tree is constantly exhausting the soil, and
if the shade did not tend to fertilize, the soil would
soon become so impoverished that unless manure
were artificially added the tree would die. If any
one wishes to be convinced of the truth of this
theory, let him try a piece of poor land in the fol-
lowing manner ; cover it all over with In-ush three
feet deep, let it remain covered four years, then
remove the brush, and he will find that the soil
lias become rich although no manure has been ad-
ded ; at the same time let him leave a piece uncov-
ered by the side of it, so as to see the difference.

Every intelligent farmer in the New England
States knows that if he crops a field for twelve or
fifteen years in succession without adding manure,
the land will l)ecome so impoverished as to be al-
most worthless ; Ijut he may enter the forest and
examine the soil which has been exhausted l)y the
growth of tim1)er for hundreds of years, and he
will find it is still very rich. Now I ask, how the
fertility has thus been kept up, if the shade does
not tend to fertilize ? My opposer may s;iy it is
kept up by manure made from the leaves of the
trees. I will admit that the foliage tends to fer-
tilize, but as the quantity of matter returned to
the soil in this way is so small compared with what
is taken up by the growth of the timber, it is
very evident to every wise hus])andman, that there
must be another great source of fertilization, or
the soil would soon become exhausted. I have
about come to the conclusion, that of all th©
ehanges which vegetable and animal substances
undergo during their decomposition, the product
of the one only which has proved to be the ali-
ment of plants, is the residue of putrefaction. I
also think that a close, cool, dark and damp loca-
tion, with a contact of air, is indisjxiusable to the
generation of tlio putrefaetive pi-ocess. Putrefac-
tion may be ci)nsidered the ultnuate result of veg-
etable! and animal decompositions, because it forms
the only product incapable of any other change.
The surface of the earth will readily undergo the
putrefiictive process, if favorably located, that is,
if densely shaded. Dr. Baldwin s;vys that the
fertility imparted to the earth by shade, that is
manure made of tlie earth itself, is more durable
and therefore more valuable, tlian tliat made of any
other sul»8tance whatever, lie wiys no animal or

74

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

goes

vegetable substanee can properly be called man- of Two nundrcd and Fifty Millions per annum to
xire, until it undergoes the putrcdictive process, our annual Agricultural product, is attainable,
because it is not Jit?or the food of plants until it wliat an immense addition to our national wealth
goes through this process. |would thereby bo insured ! Four-fifths of this

would probal)ly be permanently added to the
wealth of the country — that is, the farmer whose
annual product should be swelled from §1,000 to
$1,250, or fnrai $2,000 to §2,500, would not
eat or drink the surplus, but would invest the
greater part of it in new buildings, fences, barns,
implements, furniture, &c., &c., giving profita-
ble employment to mechanics and laborers, and
largely increasing the business of merchants and
the income of professional men. Such an addition
to the annual product of our Agriculture would
increase the consumption of Manufactures, domes-
tic and imported, in far greater ratio, since from
the annual product of every farm the food of those
making a living on it must fii-st be taken for home
use, affording no business or profit to any one else,
leaving only the surplus to form the staple of trade;
and an addition of twenty-five ]x?r cent, to the an-
nual product of each farm would proliably double
the annual exchanges and general trade of the
country. — N. Y. Tribune.

Some farmers that do not well understand this
new system may ask this question ; how can straw
benefit land when spread upon its surface? you
have said that it cannot act as a manure because
it has not been through the putrefactive J)rocess. 1
answer by shading it. You may ask farmers that are
in tlie liabit of mii^iing flax, and rotting it upon
their own land, if the grass is any larger where the
flax lay than elsewhere ; they immediately answer
yes. Ask them why it is larger, they say the flax
has manured the land ? Ask them liow has it man-
ured the land 1 And not more than one in twen-
ty can tell you.

Some have advised farmers to draw leaves from
their woodlots to convert into manure ; but I thinly
this will not answer in all cases. Suppose a maiT
has a very small woodlot, scarcely enough for the
use of his farm ; if he draws manure from this it
will diminish the growth of his timber, which will
be a damage to his farm. In other words, it may
turn out like this : a certain man had a garden
which was vei-y rich , but the rest of his farm was
very poor ; he drew fifty loads of the soil of his
garden and put it upon his poor land, which had
a very good effect on that, but it ruined his gar-
den.

The cheapest and best way that I can think of
to shade land, is with clover. Seed your land thick
with clover, and let it grow as large as possible
without feeding it off; (for the more dense the
shade, the sooner the land becomes rich ;) let it
remain shaded in this way for three years ; then
you may remove all the clover if you wish, and
plow up the soil, and you will find it has become
rich, although no manure has been drawn into the
field. Let this much suffice at this time. lie that
rejects this, Avould reject more of the same doc-
trine. Eliuu Cross.

Hoosick, Renss. Co., N. Y.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE.

The total value of the annual products of the soil
of the United States is now about One Thousand
Millions of Dollars ; and no one who knows what
Science has done for Agriculture will doubt that
the same amount of labor which is now employed
in producing this aggregate, might be so applied
a3 to secure a total product thirty per cent, great-
er, or One Thousand Three Hundred Millions. But
scientific, skilful, thorough Agriculture, always
employs more than the shiftless, slouching sort too
generally prevalent ; and it is certainly within
bounds to estimate that our Agriculture might l)e
so improved as, l)y tlic help of additional la1)or
now unemployed and unproductive, to give an ad-
ditional product of fifty per cent., or Five Hun-
dred Millions per annum — an achievement which
would double the wealth of the country every eight
or ten years. Whosoever will carefully review the
Agriculture of a single State, or even an average
County, in any part of the L^nion, and estimate
how much its product might be enhanced by Irri-
gation, Manuring, Deep Rowing, Draining, &c.,
will perceive that our calculation is far within the
truth.

But suppose that only half of it, or an addition

For the New\England Farmer.

TYING UP CATTLE.

" I also will show miae opinion." — Job 32 : 17.

Mk. Brown : — Dear Sir, — ^There are remarks
from your pen, in the Farmer (Nov. 26tli), in
answer to J. Dimon's question, of Wakefield, R.
I., as to the " best method of securing cattle in
the barn," from which I beg leave to dissent.

That stancheons may secure cattle more safely,
as far as getting loose is concerned, I do not
doubt ; but for practical msc, i. e., for tying up
oxen and cows, I dislike them very much.

To tie up oxen that work the live long day, and
have them hang by the head all night, with
scarce an inch play of room for tui-ning to rest
their aching necks, is bordering hard on cruelty,
in my humble opinion. If the stancheon is put
up exactly perpendicular, it is hard to lie down
and get up in, and the position is hard to rest in.
If the upper end stands towards the cattle, it is
hard to feed in, as they can reach but a short
distance for their food, unless they get down on
their knees. I have seen cows, before they had
got fairly accustomed to them, spring quite a
number of times before they could get up. In
the act of rising, they first start up on their
knees, then sjaring forward to raise their hind
parts, and in so doing their shoulders strike the
stancheon, and the concussion is so great as to
knock them back several times, before thay can
balance themselves in that confined position, so as
to get up. When cattle are lying down, they
hang with tlieir horns against the stancheon, and
their necks stretched to the utmost extent, and
there they must remain, Avithout the power to
raise or lower the head.

Young cattle miglit be tied in stancheons, and
stand with safety nearer together than v/hen tied
with ropes or chains, were it not for spoiling the
shape of their horns, or at least badly injuring
them. This with me is a serious objection ; for
wlio does not like to see a handsome pair of horns,
on a cow even, and much more so on oxen ?

As far as I am able to judge, chains fastened

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

75

around the neck with a spring hook or snap, are
the easiest for the cattle, the safest, all things
considered, and the most economical way of se-
curing cattle in the barn. I have used them sev-
eral 3'ears, and find them very convenient, and
easy for cattle to repose in, and would advise any
one who has stancheons now in use, to change
them for chains the earliest opportunity.

As the swallow controversy appears to be agi-
tated at times, I will add that 1 saw them quite
plenty in Wilmington, Vt., the 30th of August.
Yours ever, with respect,

J. E. Blake.

Warwick, Me., Dec. 12, 1853.

Remarks. — We agree with you that chains give
the cattle more liberty when standing, and more
ease when lying down, than they can have in
stancheons. Yet we changed from chains xo
gtanchcons, and so have most of the farmers in
this vicinity, thinking tlie latter the best, all
things considered. Thank you for your article,
and hope to hear from you again.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

FEEDING STOCK.

Mr. Editor : — The season has again arrived
when stock must be housed and fed ; and al-
though the weather has been so mild that stock
have found nearly, if not quite, all their living
in the fields and pastures, up to within a short
time, still, the amount of hay on hand is not
large for tlie season. It therefore behooves ev-
ery farmer to make the most economical disposi-
tion practicable, of hay and other fodder. Last
year the supply of hay was still less than this
which induced me to adopt a system of feeding
with a view to determine, if possible, the most
economical disposition of fodder. ^luch has been
written, and many valuable suggestions made
through the Farmer, upon this topic. Yet many
farmers still doubt whether any improvement lias
been made in this branch of their business. The
method I adopted, and its results, I will endeavor
to give fur what they are worth.

The stock fed was eight cows and four oxen.
Four of the cows gave milk all winter, and four
came in, in Feliruary and March. I commenced
my plan of feeding, December 1st. To each of my
four milch cows, 1 gave nine pounds of common
meadow hay, cut and wet with scalding water, to
which was added two quarts of fine feed — and
fed out us warm as might be night and morning.
My dry cow I fed thesiime, minus one-half the^i/if
feed. My oxen were fed the same (they wt-rc not
worked any to speak of) only sulistituting a>b
meal for i\\ii fine feed, and part of the time suli-
stituting the same bulk of cut corn stocks instead
of the meadow hay. At noon time I gave all
round a small foddering of cut corn stover. Up
to December first, I fed my milch cows on uncut
English hay. Upon the warm, cut meadow hay
and finefetd, my cows immediately increased their
milk and kijit tlirougli in first rate condition. My
oxen gained tiesh all winter, and at spring were
fair beef.

The cows that came in in Febniary and ^farch
were fed in the siime manner, only substituting

half English hay. All the fodder was measured
at every feeding through the winter. The small
quantity fed at noon, I counted equal to two
pounds of hay. At the latter end of March, my
meadow hay was all exhausted, when I fed my
milch cows wholly with the liest of clover hay,
cut and served up as before, reducing the quanti-
ty oi fine feed one-half. My cows soon fell off in
their milk.

It is generally understood, I believe, that the
average of milch cows, rc((uire twenty-five pounds
of English hay per 4av in order to keep in good
condition. Taking tins for granted, we have the
following as the results of my experiment : —

Twenty-five pounds of English hay, — worth on
an average $13 per ton, or G4 mills per pound
equal to 0^ cents. Twenty pounds meadow hay,
worth ordinarily $G per ton, or 3 mills per
pound, equal to (J cents — two ([VLnriR fine feed ,
worth forty cents per bushel, equal to five cents,
making eleven cents, which substracted from IGiJ
cents, leaves 5\ cents gain per day for each cow
by the latter mode of feeding. It may be said,
this gain is not sufficient to pay for the fuel to
heat the water and the extra labor involved. If
five cents per day fjr each cow was all the ad-
vantage to be found in this disposition of fodder,
I grant it would "hardly pay," but there are oth-
er and quite important gains — the most essential of
which is an increased quantity of milk ; and cat-
tle fed in the way proposed, are kept in much
better condition, and are therefore worth more in
the spring ; especially is this the case* with cows,
as it makes quite a difference in their value,
whether they have got to appropriate tlie larger
part of their summer feed to restore the flesh lost
in winter, or whether the principal part of their
food shall go to the production of milk. Again,
with a little extra labor and a small outlaj- for
grain, more stock can be 1)etter wintered. Stock,
too, fed with a regular given quantity, (varying
only to suit the emergencies of temperature) af-
fords a sjitisfaetion to the feeder in knowing when
his stock is sufficiently fed, ^vhich every good far-
mer knows the Avorth of. There are other con-
siderations in connexion with this subject, which I
should like to advert to, but must defer to some
future time. T. a. s.

Westboro\ Dec, 1853.

Remarks. — We shall be vei'y glad to hear from
you often. The above is worthy of careful con-
sideration.

HOW MUCH SUCJAR DO WE EAT ?

Last year there was consumed in thix country
about 750,000,000 lbs. of cane sugar, and 27,000,-
000 lliH. of maple sugar. This gives more than 24
pounds of cane sugar, and one pound of maple
sugar to every man, woman and cliild. This does
not include molasses or honey. If tliis sugar was
put into barrels holding two hundred pounds, and
each liarrel occujiied a space of three feet square
onlv, it would require 33() acres of land for it to
stand upon. The liarrcls, if placed in a row,
would ri-aeh two hundred and twenty miles, if
this sugar M-as put up in paper packages of five
pounds each, it would require 140,400,000 sheets
ofwrajiping paper, and if only a yard of string
was used to each package, there would l)c re(j[uired

76

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

Feb.

439,200,000,feet, or 83,000 miles of string— three
times enough to go around the earth. If every
retail clerk pold one hundred pounds of sugar each
da}-, it would require ncixrly 25,000 clerks to sell
it all in the year. If the dealers, wholesale and
retail together, made a profit of only two cents a
pound on this sugar, these profits alone would
amount to nearly $15,000,000. Can some of our
young school friends tell us how much tea this
would sweeten ? — American Agriculturist.

EFFECT OF RAILROADS ON FARM
PRODUCTS.

The annexed paragraphs are from an Address
by George F. Magoun, Esq., delivered before the
Des Moines Agricultural Society, in Iowa, as wo
find it published in the Iowa Farmer.

I naturally mention here, as a great aid to
agriculture, improved roads. Plank and rail-
roads are simply science applied to locomotion.
Why is a farm on a railroad worth ten times as
much as one 50 miles distant ? Because its pro-
ducts can be carried swiftly and cheaply to a dozen
of the best markets, while the latter is confined to
one, and that a poor one.* Railroads have in-
creased the amount of milk bought in Boston five-
fold, and advanced pasture land 130 miles from
New York 600 per cent. Property in 70 counties
of Michigan has increased in value in a term of
years $55,000 ,000 ,but three-fourths of the increase
has been in those 12 counties which are traversed
by railroads. The Illinois Central will add $40,-
000,000, the Burlington and IMissouri R. R. will
add $15 or $20,000,000 to the worth of the lands
over which it passes. You can raise a better and
surer fruit crop than the orchardists of western
New York, but theirs is hurried by steam to the
best markets in a few hours, and sold three or four
times while you are getting yours to a poorer
market. Chicago has been supplied with peaches,
&c., this season from Alton ; another season and
our own county will pour into that market, and
the noble orchards and nurseries which flank our
beautiful Orchard City will rise to the value of a
near neighborhood to the Garden City of the
Lakes. Some of you will yet send off your apples,
wheat, pork, potatoes, beef, mutton, to the Lake,
and they pass from your doors T)y rail, and get
your advanced price, and on your return pass an
old fogy neighbor trundling his into town in his
slow and ancient wagon. f ^Michigan farmers
changed the balance of trade in favor of the State
$2,000,000 one year, by putting in more wheat ;
but without a quick run to market their excess of
wheat would have rotted on their hands. With-
out railroads it would take 2 months, at $50 or GO
a head to get lieeves from the West to New York,
and they would arrive unsaleable. Now they go
in 7 days, in prime order, at a cost of $10 or $12,
and at the rate of 22,000 a week : they go even
from the Cherokee nation, west of Arkansiis,
marked with the hieroglyphics of the Indians who
raised them. A Des Moines county farmer has
proved it will pay here to raise stock for the
shambles of the Atlantic cities. One advantage
of railroads is the dressed meats that can be con-
veyed 1000 miles fresh, leaving hides, horns, offal,
&c., behind for fertilizing and other purposes.
Ohio dressed moats are now on the tables of New

York city. Another advantage will be that artifi-
cial fertilizei's can l)e brought to us cheaply when we
know how scientifically and profitably to use them.
Railroads decrease the fluctuations of markets it;
will not long be true tliat "ten wet days in Eng-
land derange the exchanges of the world." They
improve the outward aspect of the country — farms
which are under the eye of passing thousands
daily arc neater, cleanlier, and more tasteful —
perhaps the occupants are also ! I would not say
how much our railroads, east and west, will make
us prosper, but I will say that the men are r ^w
here in middle age, who, l)efore their white 1' lira
are harvested by death, will see the fruit md
grain and cattle of Southern Iowa and the Platte
V^alley become an important offset in New York
to our purchases of English, French, and German
goods, and in the Pacific ports to our importations
of silks from India, and teas and porcelain from
China and Japan.

* A ton of com is estimated not to be worth hauling by a wagon
when 170 miles from market ; while at the sane* distance upon a
railroad it would be worth $22 10. A ton ot wheat 330 miles
from market is not worth the hauling by wagon. Vlt by railroad
it would be worth $44 35.

t A single hotel in Chicago consumed daily 125 dozen eggs, 200
chickens, 68 bushels potatoes, 200 pounds butter ; $250 is paid
monthly for milk, $300 for bread, $960 for meats, &c. Would
our fanners have here such markets for their small produce. and
grain .' Let them help the Eailroads, asd the Kailroads
WILL help them.

For the New England Farmer.

BEE CULTURE--NO. 1.

In this and subsequent communications which
may be furnished, I propose to invite attention to
a most interesting and profitable branch of rural
industry. In so doing, I would not be understood
as calling the attention of agriculturists alone to
this subiect. The impression has too long existed
that the cultivation of the soil alone, or especially,
is concerned in the management of thellonuyBee.
There are very many individuals in every commu-
nity as well situated, to say the least, as the hus-
bandman, for successful prosecution of this enter-
prise. It is not an enterprise which requires great
capital or great muscular energy or great extent
of territory, as personal possessions. Any individ-
ual, however limited his resources, who has com-
mand of a little leisure,may share in the luxury and
profits which result from the labors of the lloney
Bee, and the amount of time required in the va-
rious operations of Bee-culture is much less than
is generally supposed. There are ten months of
the year during which Bees may be said to take
care of themselves ; that is, the attention which they
need is very trifling. The aggregate degree of at-
tention which a dozen swarms of Bees require
during the year is less than a dozen house plants,
or a single canary, bird would necessarily demand.
The time is at hand when professional men and
young persons, and even females and aged persons
who are much at home, will be among our most
successful Bee-keepers ; to say nothing of the me-
chanic, who being muchat home is peculiarly well
situated for giving attention to tfiis enterprise.
When the 8ul)ject shall be proi)erly understood,
especially when the lesson shall be effectually
learned, which some have learned, that the Honey
bee can be domesticated or rendered manageable,
as truly and almost as safely as any other crea-
ture which is made for the service of man, or as

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

77

safely as the cow'' or the horse, Bee-culture will
be greatly increased. Then it will be regarded in
its true liglit as affording ample remuneration to
those who enlist in it. The iirofits resulting from
a judicious and proper system of Bee-culture may
be safely estimated at from 100 to 500 per cent,
per annum. In this statement I give merely the
results of my own experience in Bee-keeping for a
period of 12 years. There is no living creature
which is subject to the control of man which pays
80 large a profit upon the capital invested and the
time employed, as the Honey Bee, when a proper
system of Bee-culture is adopted.
North Bridgeioater, Mass.

For the New England Farmer.

FARM ACCOUNTS-RECLAIMING
SWAMPS.

BY HENRY F. FRENCH.

What have rational men a right to expect from
any department of labor which occupies a large por-
tion of the community ? Not, surely, that it should
make every man rich, for wealth is comparative,
and to be rich, signifies to have more than one's
neighbors have, and in that view very few can be
rich any where. The wealth which, in the city,
is expended in gilded coaches, with footmen in
livery, and in marble palaces, and gold and silver
plate, or that which, in the country village, at-
tempts to ape the follies of city life, is neither pos-
sible nor desirable, to the many.

A business which in any country affords to any
large class, comfortable clothing, shelter, food, a
good education, good society, religious culture, in
a respectable position, and enough to guard against
the common chances of accident and misfortune,
and old age, without labor so severe as to impair
the health of body or mind, is all that reasonable
men can hope for. Neither the sudden acquisition
of wealth, nor exemption from jAysical labor, is
deemed desirable 1)y us, for men in general, how-
ever pleasant it may seem to be made the excep
tion one's self.

Farming is thought, by many, to be an unprofi-
table business, but I am not prepared to admit it
to be so. It is difficult to decide whether it is so,
or not, because with us it is not kept sufficiently
distinct from other employmentvS to enable us to
learn its results. A farmer is generally a mechan-
ic, or trader, or speculator of some kind. He
deals in lumber, or cattle, or connects something
else with farming.

If farmers could be induced to keep accurate ac-
counts, either of particular operations, or of their
whole farming l)U8incse, we should have some
means of forming correct opinions.

To illustrate my idea, and to show that re-
claiming swamp lands for grass, if properly done,
icill pay, I send a condensed statement of my oper-
ations on a meadow in Exeter. The price paid
for i t was generally thought, at the time, to be

very high, and probably no looker-on, while my
work proceeded, ever believed that it was other
than a waste of money. I consulted a gentleman
who had had charge of the land several years, and
he said it had been examined by the best farmers,
who had agreed that it was, the most of it, entire-
ly worthless, and could never be made productive.
On the very part pronounced the worst, I have
cut three and a third tons of hay to the acre, at
one cutting. The account shows that my expen-
ditures and the interest on the cost, have exceeded
$800, since I bought it, in 1844, and yet that at
the lowest price for hay, the lot has repaid it all
and much more. The soil is part a clayey loam,
and part ))lack mud upon sand. My account was
kept very exactly for my private use. The hope
that farmers may be induced to keep such accounts,
and that their faith in the gratitude of Mother
Earth to her sons for their attention to her may
be increased, has induced me to publish it. I do
not regard the work as very well done, and I
know that twenty tons of hay might have been
profital)ly raised, instead of fifteen, upon the lot,
had I treated the whole as I treated part. I have
sold most of the hay yearly, so that the weight
was ascertained, and not merely estimated.

THE COURT HOUSE MEADOW.

DU.

$639,00

18-44. To purchase money for 7 acres,

May. plowing, &c., for potatoes, 97 rods, $9,14

12 bushels of seed potatoes, 3/)0

11 loads manure and hauling, 26,9S

ditcliing, 5,00

breaking up one acre, six yoke oxen, 14,50 53,62

Nov. six months interest on cost, 19,17

1845. To 5 casks of lime, 5,45

plowing, and cultivation of oats, and ^ '

potatoes, 2 (,93

seed potatoes 1,80

making roads and planting potatoes 11,68

fencing, 35,15

15 loads of manure, 30,00
labor of men and oxen, plowing, dig-
ging stumps, ditching, levelling,
spreading manure, and digging

potatoes, 79,30

grass seed, 2,25 193,46
interest on balance of last year, 39,00

1846. To grass seed, 2,27

1 bbl. of guano, 5,60

stable manure, hauling and composting ,24,42
labor of men and oxen plowing and lay-
ing land to grass, U,70 46,99
interest on balance of last year, 47,90

1817. To manure, and hauling and composting, 32,50
labor of men and cattle, clearing up

the last piece, 02,50

ditching, &c. 8,00

grass seed and rye, 3,75 06,75

interest on balance of last year, 47,00

10,00
49,69

1849. To interest on balance of last year, 46,97

1850. To interest on balance of last year, 43,69

1851. To plowing and laying 1 acre to grass, and manure, 25,00

interest on balance of last year, 40,70

1852. To 7 loads stable manure, hauling, com-

posting and spreading, for top
dressing, 19,25

interest on baance of last year, 20,34

16,71

1848.

To labor,

interest on balance of last year.

1853. To interest on balance of last year,

CB.

THE COUHT HOUSE MEADOM'.

1844. By 6 tons pood hay standing,

meadow grass and second crop,
61 bushels potatoes,

$14fc0,24

32,00
0,00
16,20 54,20

78

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

I8i5.

184fi.

1847.

18«.

1S49.
1850.
1851.
1852.
1853.

By 7 tons of hay standing,
25 bushels of oats,
3 bushels of barley,
SO bushels j>oUitoeB,
wood,

By 10 tons of hay standing,

40 bushels potatoes, (on eharcs,)

By 121 tons hay standing,
8 loads mud hauled.

By 15 tons of hay standing,
5 bushels of rye,

By 15 tons of hay standing,

By 15 tons of hay stand iiig,

By 12 tons, (one acre sokl off,)

By 9 tons hay standing.

By 9i tons hay standing,

Balance, being the present cost of the lot
paying all expenses, and 6 per cf nt.
est to November, 1853,

£6,00

10,00

2,50

15,00

1,00

90,00
20,00

95,00
4,00

100,00
6,000

, after
inter-

84,50

110,00

99,00

105,00
105,00
90,00
75,00
100,00
133,00

504,54

$1460,24

The result of the operation, agrkidturaUy speak-
ing, 18, that the lot has paid all expenses of labor,
fencing and manure, six per cent, interest annual-
ly, and $134,46 more. But this is not all. More
than half the lot was, when purchased, a worth-
less swamp, part filled with hassocks so that six
yoke of oxen were required to plow it, and part
covered with stumps, from which the wood had
been recently cut. Now, the whole is a clean lev-
el mowing field, free from all obstructions ex-
cejjt a few open ditches.

I think the fair value of such land is alwut
$200 an acre, near any good market, and to show
that my ojiinion is not singular, it may be stated,
that I hare sold enough of the lot, since last hay-
ing time, at $16C,75 per acre, to bring mo $505.
It adjoins no street, and was purchased merely for
agricultural purposes, and was subject to an in-
cumbrance for which I had received $100. I also,
in 1851, sold a little more than one acre, for $340,
a part of which perhaps was for fancy, though it
is occupied only for farming.

Farmers can make money by reclaiming wet
meadows, and the foregoing statement shows it.
This land was no better than thousands of acres,
which may be bought, in New England, at ten
dollars an acre, yet I paid for it nearly a hun-
drajl, because it joined my garden where I then
lived, and like all land owners, 1 like to buy all
that joins my own. Farmers can attend to sucli
work at times of leisure, for themselves and their
cattle. I 23aid one dollar a day, for every day's
work of a man or yoke of oxen. The account will
show that the hay, wliich was of the first quality,
of herds grass, was estimated at only from six to
eight dollars per ton, until 1852,when it is set down
at about nine. This is a lower price by far, than
the average, in our region, in past years, prior to
1844. "This year, I sold it from the field at sixteen
dollars. Again, every cord of manure is charged
at four dollars, whether purcliascd or hauled from
my own barn, and this is twice the cost of mak-
ing it in most lucalities. Then, as usual, I fol-
lowed no beaten path, but tried all sorts of scien-

tific oxporimonts in a small way, \^-ith limo and
guano, and with l)arluy and rye and Oiits, on pla-
Q2S where it was said they would not grow. Ev-
erybody knows that these experiments are expen-
sive to him who tries them, however tliey may
help the cause. Indeed, I flatter myself, that with
the added experience of ten years, I can manage
wild lands to much ]x;tter advantage than this
lot was managed. I sold a part because my home
is now on a new fiirm, where I am indulging my
propensity to make rough places smooth, on land
which cost me but twenty-five dollars an acre, eo
that my interest account will not consume the
profits.

The three acres which I still hold of the "Court
House Meadow," are worth more per acre than
what I have sold.

Now, whether we regard the annual product of
the land, or its selling value, it must appear that
reclaiming swamps, is sometimes at least a profit-
able business, and that is the proposition which my
statement and remarks are designed to illustrate.

n. F. F.

Exeter, N. H., Dec. 29, 1853.

FARM FENCES.

This subject is an exceedingly important one,
more so, we are confident, than many persons sup-
pose it to be. Those who have been in the habit
year after year, of mending up two or three miles
of brush fence, about their pastures in the spring,
and occasionally called away during haying and
harvesting to "stop the gaps" made by hungry
cattle, will be able to tell the cost and vexation
of such insecure, perishable and expensive modo
of fencing the farm.

"We find in one of our exchanges some remarks
on the subject which we copy freely, and for which
we should be glad to give the proper credit if we
knew from whence they came. The wi'iter says —

"The best fence is a good stone wall ; but if
wood is used, skill and judgment are necessary in
the selection of material and the mode of prepar-
ing it.

"The first item for consideration, in this mat-
ter, is j?/-s^ cost, and the second is durability. —
Sometimes a third item may be important, to wit,
the land used vip by the fence. The second is the
oidy one of these that can be estimated with any
degree of accuracy by any general furmula, and
even this one is far from being uniform. But let
us say a word of each.

"1. The stone wall. If material is at hand, or
in the soil, and no especial obstacle or objection
comes in to vary the result, our own opinion is de-
fcidedly in favor of stone fences. When propjrly
laid, they outlast the builders. We know ol' fen-
C(!S of this kindi^ apparently as good as new, that
have stood at least fifty years. These sampL^s are
chiefly of faced walls, with deep foundations, cost-
ing originally two or three tunes as much as aii or-
dinary fence. But if they last as they now jn'om-
ise, the amount expended in their construction wa
a capital investment.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

79

"It is well known that, in most parts of New
England, stone wall is the prevailing style of fence,
both on the highway and for dividing lots ; and
in all that region with which we are well acquaint-
ed, we have never known a farmer who did not
prefer stone to any other material for this pur-
pose.

"To secure durahility, the foundation should
be placed below the action of frost, and the
whole should be laid by a skilful man, so as to
secure to the greatest extent the aid of gravitation
and friction in resisting all violence from either
side. When thus laid, this fence is a good secu-
rity against domestic animals of all sizes.

"But sometimes stones are scarce, and timber
is very cheap, while labor may also be expensive.
So it often is where pine barrens or other forests
abound. There is also a great difference in the
amount of defence, so to speak, which is required.
Sometimes, it is chiefly, a mere landmark to point
out a highway, and some of the oldest parts of
New England furnish evidence that even this is
unnecessary. The path beaten by the hoofs of
horses or oxen, and worn by the friction of wheels,
is the only index of the existence of a road, while
nothing but a marked tree or a post or stone, in-
dicate a plurality of owners of the soil. Such re-
gions of country, however, furnish no occasions
for the application of any general rules on this
subject."

On the minds of those who have made and used
different kinds of fences, there will be little or
no doubt that where stones are near at hand, they
make a cheaper fence than any other material ;
and yet there arc many farmei's in New England,
■where the fields, directly about the buildings, are
enclosed with wooden fencas which must be thor-
oughly made over, perhaps as often as every 10
or 15 years, and which must be repaired every
year. This is done, too, to enclose fields abound
ing with rocks, over which the teams are stumb-
ling and the plows and rakes are constantly being
broken.

2. "As to wooden fences, cedar, no doubt, is
the most durable of all woods, and where it is
abundant, so as to be cheap, it should be pre-
ferred, especially for posts."

Chestnut posts, properly set, will last from 25
to 50 years ; and as this wood is found in many
locations where cedar does not grow, it may be
considered as the most durable next to the cedar
and locust.

"All woods are made more durable })y being
chfirred before they are set in the ground. De-
cay or decomposition is a chemical process which
requires the presence of certain elements whicli,
in charcoal, are essentially wanting. Charcoal,
we suppose, is never chemically decomposed ])y ex-
posure to the air or water. It may cruml)le. It
may be attacked in certain situations l)y elements
not generally encountered. It may absorb mois-
ture, so as to be liroken by frosts, and the like ;
but still charring wrll pays its way, when timljers
are to bo set in tlie ground. But they should
not be charred so extensively as to weaken mate-
rially their strength . "

Mistakes are often made in charring posts while
in a green state. This is supposed to render the
post less durable than though it were not charred
at all. The wood being full of sap, the charring
prevents it from passing off, and the centre of the
post decays, while the outside shell remains sound ;
but the post is so weakened as to become useless.

Many experiments go to prove that the small-
er end of timber should be set downward. The
rationale of this is rather hypothesis than physio-
logical demonstration, since we know of nothing
which has been actually discovered, which implies
an upper or under side to the circulating vessels
which compose the wood. The tubes and cells
present similai: appearances at each extremity,
though their form or shape, tapering or otherwise,
may liave an important bearing on this phenome-
non."

We consider ih& facts of more value to us at pres-
ent than to understand their rationality — though
to understand the causes of things is pleasant.
The evidence which may be adduced to show that
posts set with their small end down, last longer
than they will with the large end down, is of too
high a character to be lightly rejected. In Vol.
5, of the Farmer, page 208, Jlr. J. Davies, of
East Barnard, Vt., states that in 1838 he took a
stick 14 feet long and cut it in the middle, set-
ting the butt of one up, and the other down, 12
feet apart. In five years, the one with the butt
down rotted off, and the other stands sound yet.
A writer in the Hartford Times and two writers
in the Germanioivn Telegraph, made experiments
and confirm the statement of Mr. Davis.

Mr. Otis Briguam, of Westboro\ Mass., page
256, same volume, says that thcresult of 40 years'
experience \^th him, is, that common fence posts
set in the ground green, and butt end downwards,
will last, in a sandy loam, about 10 or 12 years.
The same set in a like situation, inverted, will
last 15 or 18 years.

"We might give an estimate of the cost of va-
rious styles of farm fence, as Some of our cotempo-
raries have done on kindred topics, l)ut no one
would perhaps be a safe ])asis of calculation, for
one hundred miles square. Hence we leave the
subject here, giving in a tabular form the items
which cacli man must estimate for himself. These
will vary, of course, witli the season of the year,
even on any given territory and for the same job.
These items em1)race tlie following : —

1. Cost of material, and of preparing it.

2. Cost of transporting to the spot.

3. Preparing the ground for the superstructure,
whether a wall or posts and rails.

4. Cost and amount of labor to be employed.

5. A^alue of land affected by tiie fence, wliethcr
by occupying space or liy causing shade.

"As to the age of timber and tlie season of the
year when it should lie cut, to secure the great-
est durability, — young or at least sound timber
should be seli!cted, and the spring or early sum-
mer is probably the best time for cutting it. The
latest growtii will then have become somewhat
hardened, and the condition of the sap at that

80

NEW ENGLAND FxVRMER.

Feb,

time is said to be favorable to their remaining
sound for a long time. AVe do not attach mucli
importance however to the hypothesis.

Mr. Emersox, in his very valua1)le report on the
Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts, eeems to be
of the opinion that aufumn is the best time for
cutting tunber ; this opinion was sustained by in
formation from many valuable resources. W(
should think the spring, when the tree is full of
sap would be the worst time for cutting,

"Wire fences arc not generally approved, so
far as our observation extends. When wires
are stretched across a cheap frame, they may be
very convenient for enclosing temporarily a small
plot of ground, l)ut for a permanent fence they
will not pay. If they are u«ed, they should be
confined in their place by passing thi-ough substan-
tial wooden posts, sufficiently near each other to
attract the notice of animals. For one objection
to them is, that cattle do not see them, and hence
they are exposed to a degree of violence, even from
quiet animals, which will severely try their
strength. Live posts, earthen or luirnt clay posts
and the like, we regard as ingenious, rather than
practically useful. They may sometimes answer
well, but not as a general practice."

If the writer has had experience in the erection
and use oi wire fences , we should be surprised at
his conclusions. We believe wire fences may be
more cheaply constructed than any other, and
will be found as durable and efiBcient as any, a
stone wall excepted. The difficulty has been in
straitening the wires. This process is simple and
easy when one knows how. A small roller of wood,
and two iron pins 18 inches in length each, will
help to overcome every difficulty. The whole pro-
cess is described in former numbers of the Farmer.

"A fence, the lower half of which' is stone, and
the upper half rails or wires, may serve a very
good purpose, and where stone is scarce, it may
be the best form of fence.

"But, whatever style is adopted, let the materi-
rialg be of good quality, and the work be done
skilfully. Sham fences are among the most ex-
pensive forms in which a lack of practical skill
m farming operations is often exhibited.

HORSES FROZEN OR STARVED.

When the country was new, and rude farm-
houses with rattling windows, uneven floors,
warped clapboards and open fire-places were the
best habitations that could be procured ; when the
drifting snow found its way through windows and
doors even to tlie bed eham1)er, when the clothing
of the people was scant and thin, it was hardly to
be expected that horses sliould l)e privileged with
warm stables or covered with tliick blankets. Ne-
cessity knows few laws, and the poor man's horse
suffers accordingly.

But times have changed. Thrifty people of New
England are able to procure houses impervious to
wind and snow, and clothing that makes our cold-
est days quite tolerable to healthy people. They
possess also means of warming their houses, which
makes them most delightful as the sweeping blasts
of winter grow more intense.

In many, pcrhajis most cases, the condition of
the horse and of his less intelligent neigliI)ors, the
cow and tlie ox, has gained cquall^^ But tlie ex-
ceptions are far tix) numerous. Men who take no
agricultural papers, who have no inl)orn taste for
improvement, are frequently content to do as their
fathers did. Hence, cattle exposed to the frost and
storm of winter, with little shelter, perhaps with
none ; and horses are allowed — tell it not where
slaves have as their only focxl a scanty allowance
of corn ] tread ! — to feast themselves on a northern
hill-side in the open field, day and night upon a
stock of withered grass ! It would not pay to envy
the feelings of men who can permit such practices.
The sight may furnish an argument to sliow that
self-interest is not sufficient to insui-e kind treat-
ment to chattels of two or four feet, and that
slave-holders are as kind-hearted as their northern
brethren ; but how can it minister to the comfort
of a Christian man in a winter's night to reflect
that his cattle or horses — however young they may
l)e — are exposed to its rigors, how he can rest cjui-
etly or be cheerful at home or abroad, while his
half-starved horses are shiveting with cold, may
well excite surprise in a truly benevolent mind.
Among semi-barljarians, with their rough, coarse
natures, among men who delight in war, it might
bo expected that their horses would be cruelly
treated, as they are ; but among Christians in Noav
England such sights are not to be expected, and
ought not to be witnessed. In some cities, per-
haps in most, the law protects the horse from the
open and excessive violence of his master, for the
sight and sound are revolting to the finer feelings
of humanity, and tend to debase and biaitalize
those who witness it, to say nothing of its effect
on the passionate and cruel driver.

But against a process which kills domestic ani-
mals by inches — against a system of freezing and
starvation which tortures the horse, and blunts
the finer and nobler system of him who practices
or allows it, the law can raise no barrier. It can-
not pi'otect the poor brutes, nor those whose prox-
imity to such a person makes them involuntary
witnesses of hig cruel neglect. Much as their kind
feelings are outraged by such conduct, they can
do littie more than remonstrance and protest
against it. It may be possible, however, through
The Examiner and other agricultural papers, to
diffuse information respecting both the cruelty and
the expensiveness of such an exposure and neglect
of horses and cattle, till intelligent men would as
soon ride "bareback," without bridles, build
barns without roofs, and attempt to fatten hogs
on dish-water, as to keep stock without providing
warm, dry, well-ventilated stables, abundance of
well cured hay,&c,, or without covering tlie horses
when it is necessary for them to stand long in the
ojien air in a cold winter's day. Economy, good
taste and good morals, unite in requiring the
change of the old system for the new. — Norwich
(Ct.) Examiner.

Fat Cattle. — Seth Bush, Esq., of this town,
weighed, on Monday last, six pairs of oxen w!iic^
"talked up" as follows:— 1st pair 4800 ; 2(! do.
,4200 ; 3d do, 4100 4th do. 4090 ; 5th do. ^;8 ;0 ;
6th do. 3G00. Such Ixjcf would be a rare commod-
ity any where else, but here our farmers make
nothing of "buiMing" cattle a little less iu size
than the ancient Behometh. — West field Neiv Let'
Hr.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

81

A MODERN SUFFOLK STALLION.
The best breed of horses for the farm and the
road — for cultivating the soil and takinj; its jiro-
ducts to market — for general farm purp ises — is a
subject of great interest to very many of our
readers. For the carriage and light vork, tliit;
country can furnish as good and as fast horses as
any other, but for the heavy work on a farm — its
breaking up and deep plowing — our common horses
lack the strength and bottom, there an essential
requisite. This subject has of late attracted con
siderable attention, and a writer in a recent num
bar the of the ^A■oo^ Grower arul Stock Registrr has
an extended article on Farm horses, their points,
&c., from wliich we extract the following on one of
the favorite breeds of British agriculturists. — Ru-
ral New- Yorker.

"In Pingland the Suffolk is considered the best
breed of horses, adayded for all purposes of mod-
ern agriculture. At the recent annual show of
the Royal Agricultural Society, this breed carried
ofi' all the prizes, as it did the highest one at the
great sliow at Windsor in 18.51.

The modern Suff)lk horse still retains many of
the best points of the ceiobrated 'SufF)lk Punch,'
but his height and size have been increased by
admixture with the Norman and Yorkshire breeds.
He is higher in the witliers than the Punch — it is
"loubtfal if tliis is an iiriji-ovement — legs lighter
**M fi itcer tlie sides iiion; roiuuli'd, and altogeth-
^ ** m ire beautiful and symmetrical animal. The

horse of .Mr. Catlfn, (portrayed at the head of
this articl.',) is a good representation of the breed,
and is doubtl>ss the '■••sr firm horse in great Bri-
tain, as to him was awarded the fir>t prize of $150,
at the great Wiuds.ir .SJiow in 1851. These horses
are by no me ins |.!.'nt)ful, and if well 'r^d, com-
mand hij;h prices. There are, however, in England,
a.> in tills countiy, any qumtity of hnrsss th:it can
be Ijought cheap— and are dear at any price."

For the Ifcn- EiiS'/t'i'd Fiinner.

TO STRAIGETEU STEERS' HOENS.

Friend Brown :— In reply to a subscriber inquir-
ing how to straighten steers' horns,! give my meth-
od. Steam the horn you wish to straighten by
Ijinding on a iMjiled potato, hot, then take a sharp
rasp and rasp the horn on the side you wisli tQ
straighten ; then scrajio smootli and thin with a
piece of glass, and put on some thin oil, well
rublied in a few times, for three or four weeks.

I would like to ini^uiro through the Farmer,
how to kill Avhito daisys, and what way liouse
ashes may l)e used on a farm to the best advan-
tage. T. C. Br.vncu.

Cornwall, Vf., 1S53.

Rem.vrks. — You will find in another part of
this number some remarks on the wiiito daisy.
Wood ashes is valuable on most crops, perhaps
all. We have found great l)enefit to the corn
crop by ajtplying a gill to each hill, placed near
the young plants just before the first hoeing. They

82

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

are exeelleut spread 1)roailcast on grass land ; so
are they about apjilc trees, dug into the soil, and
CHI any of the garden crops.

THE GOOD OLD PLOW-

Let them sing wlio iu:iy of the battle fray,

And the deeds that have long since past,
Let them chant in i>raisc of the tar whose days

Are ppent on the ocean vast.
I would render to these all the worship you please.

I would honor them even now ;
But I'd give far more from my heart's full store,

To the cause of the Good Old Plow.

Let them laud the notes that in music float,

Through the bright and glittering halls ;
While the amorous twirl of the hair's bright curl.

Round the shoulder of beauty falls.
But dearer to me is the song from the tree,

And the rich and blossoming bough.
0, these are the sweets which the rustic greets

As he follows the Good Old Plow.

full many there be tliat daily we see,

With a selfish and hollow pride.
Who the plowman's lot, in his humble cot,

With a scornful look deride ;
But I'd rather take a hearty shake,

I'rum his hand, than to wealth I bow ;
For the honest clasj) of his hand's rough grasp,

Has stood by the Good Old Plow.

All honor be then to these gray old men,

When at last they are bowed with toil ;
Their warfare then o'er, they battle no more,

For they've conquered the stubborn soil ;
And the chaplet each wears, is his silver hairs ;

And ne'er shall the victor's brow.
With a laurel crown, to the gave go down

Like the sous of the Good Old Plow.

Genesee Farmer.

MR. PROCTOR'S ADDRESS.

We are under ol)ligations to Brooks Shattuck
Esq., President of the Hillsborough County, N. H.
Agricultural Society, for a copy of Mr. Proctor's
Address, delivered before that Society in Septem
ber. We listened to the Address with much grati
fication at that time, and spoke of it through these
columns, as one that Avould l)e remembered. AYe
do not understand Mr. P. as ol^jecting to the in
troduetion of foreign stock, or of free experiments
in crossing ; but rather, that our native cattle hav
not had a fair trial with others — no one family
having been kept pure, and receiving that careful
attention in feeding Mdiich the Short Horns, Dev-
ons, Ayrshires and others have had.

Two or three paragruplis are given from it be-
low, with the liojie of referring to it again.

Working Oxen. — I have witnessed not less than
forty plowing matclies, -with an average of twenty
ox-teams in each ; but I do not remem!)er a single
instance where any superiority of power was man-
ifested in tlieir operations, by the imported over
the native cattle. If tliey possess this power,
would it not have been made apparent under such
circumstances? I luive know attempts to exclude
expert ploAvmen from liolding the plow, but I nev-
er knew any attempt to exclude export oxen from
drawing it; and if I had, I query, whether the
slow moulded Durhams would have been thus pri-

vileged. I have seen the massive Durhams, the
descendants of the far famed Denton of Northbo-
rough, moving in the plowing field side hy side
with the snug built, bright-eyed native ox from
Sutton — a little more than half as large — and was
constrained to say, that the work was quite as well
done by the latter as the former. If you were about
to select your man for promptness and expertness of
labor, would you take the largest to be founds
By no means. I have seen the snug built little man,
weighing not over IGO pounds, who would lay on
his back the largest lubber tliat came along. The
same rule applies to oxen for labor.

MiLcn Cows. — Our milch cows, for the making
of butter and cheese, the primary object for which
they are kept on most farms, are certainly not in-
ferior to any others. In expressing this opinion, I
take into view their feed as well as their products.
I have seen many cows within" thirty years, and
the very best I have seen have been native. Such
was the opinion of Timothy Pickering and John
Lowell, gentlemen of discrimination, observation
and high character for intelligence and truth as
any others. Not speculators in stock — vvith no
prejudices to conquer, or preferences to reward.
That I may not do injustice to these venerable pi-
oneers in improvements, who did more in Massa-
chusetts to awaken public attention to the inter-
ests of the farmer than all others, I beg leave to
quote a single sentence from a Report submitted by
Mr. Lowell, on milch cows, exhibited at the show
in Brighton, October, 1822, when Mr. Pickering
was associated with him on the committee ; and I
myself was present, a stripling looking on. Says
he :

"Although the milch cows of Great Britain and
the Netherlands are in general far superior to our
own, I have never seen an imported cow with equal
merit with some of our own, that iiave been oifered.
So fully am I convinced of this |4;uth, as well as
that our country possesses a very considerable
number of these fine cows, that I am persuaded if
Great Britain or the Netherlands, or all Europe
combined, were to send us te7i cows, selected each
of the best quality there to be found, New Eng-
land alone would furnish twenty, that would equal
them in the quantity of 7nilk, butter and cheese,
they would respectively produce.''

Obstacles in the Way. — Perhaps there arc no
greater obstacles in the way of the advance of the
farmer than w^hat arises from the mistaken ap-
prehension of the superiority of the employment.
There are many young men, (of which I confess
myself to have been one,) who foolishly seek what
they imagine to be a more elevated and dignified
pursuit than the tillage of the ground. They wan-
der from the home of their birth, where contented
labor would have insured peace and prosperity, in
pursuit of a phantom of the imagination, dazzling
to the eye, Init not easily grasped by the hand, —
and when the hand is supposed to be upon it, it
not unfrequently is found not to be there. Many a
man, after struggling in vain, until he has no
power to struggle longer, looks back uj)on the less
asjjiring companions of his youth, comfortably
provided on the farms secured Iiy their well direct-
ed industry, and bemoans his own erratic judg-
ment.

So many instances of the kuid have occurred
that I consider the principle as well estiiblished ''^
any other, in political economy. Often, by gr*sp-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

m

ing at too much, the whole is lost, as we learn
from the dog in the fable. The power of the cul-
tivator is increased by concentrating his operations.
How otherwise can it be explained, that the cul-
tivators of vegetables, in the vicinity of dense pop-
ulations, pay, and can afford to pay, three, four,
and five times as much for lands, as those of like
quality can be procured for, a f(?w miles distant ?
A great change in this respect has taken place on
the farms witli which I was best acquainted when
young. The carrot, the beet, the turnip, tlm onio?i,
and various kinds of herbs, now engross the better
part of the cultivated acres. In fact, other crops
are now looked upon as preparatory and subsidiary
to these, because these are the most reliable pro-
ducts of the farm. It is not over-stating to say,
that the net increase per acre, after a liberal al-
lowance for all contingencies, has been three-fold
by the change. AVhere twenty dollars per acre
was considered a good return from ordinary farm
products, sixty or more is now realized. And in
instances, not a few, double this sum.

For the New England Farmer.

EXHAUSTED LANDS.

i:y a. g. comings.

The sterility of New England soils is prover])ial,
From every quarter we hear the cry, '-Our lands
are exhausted. ' ' The suliject becomes of great im-
portance, when we know that exhaustion has taken
place to so great an extent as is indicated in our
soils.

We may rush to a hasty conclusion as to what
constitutes the exhaustion of our soils, and spend
thousands of dollars to effect a remedy, wh.m the
whole amount may be little or no better tlnm
thi'own away. To avoid this, who will not sje the
importance of understtinding wherein the soil is
exhausted? It will be said by one that the soil is
exliausted of its potash ; by another, that tlie soil
has not enough of the constituents of common salt ;
by many, that there is a great want of lime, or
phosphate of lime ; and another still may tell us
that it consists in something else.

The chemists of our time offer to settle the
question for us, by analysis of soils. If this would
meet the difficulties of the case in theory, it never
will in practice. Our uneven lands are so broken
and varied that almost every acre, (I might have
said almost every square rod,) of our gi'ound would
need a eliemieal examination. If examinations by
the acre might )je sufficient, (which certainly
would not be,) even then the cost of the examina-
tion would bo more tlian the worth of the land
after it was examined, in most cases. The far-
mers of New Engbind will never jiay the expense
of a chemical exuminatiun of their soils, to any
great ext(;ut ; and to expect a remedy from that
quarter would be little lietter tlian it would for
travellers to expect ships and steamboats to fly in
the air iu time to come. It is wholly out of the
question. There are and will be instances in which
analysis of soil will bo of the first consequence to
the farmer. But there are and alwaj-s will be
very few in New England. Tlio thing is entirely
out of tlie question, for the farmers of N. E. to
get tlii'ir W(Vi-n out lands analyzed.

The worn-out or exhausted lands of New Eng-
land,or t'los) wiiieh are often spoken of as such, are
very generally supposed to be exhausted most in the

mineral or inorganic substances required by grow-
ing plants. Is this idea coureet? Is it not, after
all, the real truth of the matter, tliat the exhaus-
tion of our soils consists much more in the organic
substances of plants ? I think it is so, and that
the remedy is pcrfectl}^ within the reach of onr
farmers, in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred.
(a.)

There are in Nev.- Hampshire, I believe, thoos-
ands of acres which are regarded as pretty much
worn out, and whicli are sufficiently supplied with
the mineral or inorganic elements of plants to en-
dure cropping for hundreds of years, without thoae
substances being exliausted. At the same time
there is not a sufficient supply of the organic con-
stituents of plants to mature one good crop, in the
same soil. I can look in every direction over hun-
dreds of acres, where tlie land presents a like sur-
fiiee, having an- active surface-soil of comparative
little thickness, iu which the amount of old veg-
etixblc matter is not sufficient, if it could all Ix)
prepared at once as food for plants, to sustain one
half a decent crop of corn, potatoes or oats. At
the same time, the earthy or inorganic ele-
ments of plants, those which would remain after
the l)urning of a plant, as ashes, arescattered free-
ly through the entire subsoil, to any depth to
which we may descend, even if it were a thousand
feet. While the thin, surface soil may i)e in some
measure exhausted of the mineral constituents of
plants, (and still more of the organic,) every part
of the subsoil is as full of those mineral or earthy
constituents as an equal amount of the sur-
face soil was in its original state. Were it not
that those suljstances in the sul)soil are combined,
frequently, if not generally, with substances which
are injurious to vegetable growth, and which must
be overcome by the well-directed efforts of the far-
mer before t!ie subsoil will become an active agent
of good to vegetation, there would be no question
but the deepest plowing would m all cases secure
l)est results. ^\' here tlie subsoil is possessed of in-
jurious suits i:au!.-''s, it must be Ijrought up in
smaller quantities, or the land must lie fallow for
a length of time ; unless some extraordinary ap-
plication of neutralizing agents is to be made.

Upon land where we are told that the phosphate
of lime is quite exhausted, we see trees growing
rapidly, of the very kinds which show the prcsenoe
of an abundant supply in the soil. The thin, sur-
fiice soil is perhaps exliausted of phosphoric acid
and lime ; but t'le kind of trees which grow there
may tell to a certainty that there is still an abun-
dant supply,

^lany are led to suppose that the pota.sIi is all
taken out of their soil, and t'ley are procuring
large quantitii's of hard wood ashes to supply t'lC
lack, Avhile in much of the same land the amount
of potash which is contained is perfectly measure-
less and inexliaustable. 'J'iie soil needs working
and managing in a proper manner to bring it into
use, because it is now ct)inbined with otiier sub-
stances, forming coarse particles or lumps which
grooving plants cannot use. (/».)

To prepare the abundant mass of eartliy or
mineral sultstances of the subsoil lor use, ccrtiiin
substances from among the organic constituents of
plants, or those which are thrown into the air by
burning, are necessary. These being exhausted,
there is a lack of power to a.ssimilate and prepare
the inorganic substances or eleniejits for use.

84

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

The i^pplioation of hard wood ashes, in liberal
quantities, to such land as I have spoken of, may
cause them to produce a more ready and rapid
growth of whatever is to be raised, by decompos-
ing the small amount of vegetable matter in the soil;
and yet, wliile it ajipears to benefit it very much,
it may be hurrying it to a hopeless sterility.

The exhaustion is chiefly in the organic sub-
stances required by the growing plant. (There
are lands which form an exception, it is readily
admitted.) To supply what is needed, at the
cheapest rate, and by the readiest moans, is, I
think, the greatest of all questions now before the
farmers of New England. It will cause a faithful
and careful estimate to be put vipon deep plowing,
throughly working the soil, the use of green crops,
meadow muck, guano, urine, &c. a. g. c.

Mason, N. H.

Remarks. — (a.) We beg leave to call especial at-
tention to this part of our correspondent's proposi-
tion. He does not believe that inorganic manures
are useless, but that they are not absolutely essen-
tial on most of our farms in greater quantity. If
the idea should become general that a free applica-
tion of salt-petre, lime, plaster, superphosphates,
guano, &c., were indispensable, it would do more to
discourage the farmer and check agricultural pro-
gress, than any other doctrine witliin our knowl-
edge. No. The farmer, in most cases, has the
elements of fertility under his own control, — first
in the excretions of his stock carefully preserved,
and secondly, in restoring to his fields the organic
matter which for untold ages has been washed from
them into the valleys at their Ijase.

(fi.) In the cultivation of most crops the soil is
not made sufficiently fine before planting or sow-
ing, and the hoed crops are not stirred often enough
afterwards. The reason of this is, that we do not
yet clearly see where a large portion of the fertil-
izers come from that perfect our crops. When
we become convinced that they are supplied by
the atmosphere that surrounds them and ourselves,
then we shall begin to inquire, how they can be
arrested, and converted into our grain, grass, and
fruit crops. We cannot, here, go into details on
this point, but wo beg him who doubts to look at
the matter candidly for a moment.

In riding a single hour on an engine with the
engineer, he sees, with his own eyes, that a cord
of pitch pine wood is used, together, as he is told
with several hundred gallons of water. He looks
into the pan under his feet and finds but a mere
handfull of ashes there, and wonders what could
have become of eight feet of wood and some hu7i-
dreds gallons of water in less than sixty minutes I
He has seen dense columns of smoke issuing from
the murky throat of the machine, and streams of
hissing vapor from the steam-whistle — the first
of which would have suffocated him immediately,
and the latter proved fatal equall}' as quick ; and
yet, in this wonderful alom))ic, the Atmosphere,
these substances are so suddenly resolved into their

original elements and compounds, that his friend,
standing on a car a little behind him, breathes them
with perfect impunity.

The atmosphere consists of a mixture of oxygen
and nitrogen gases, a little car Iconic acid and watery
vapor ; but it contains besides many other substan-
ces which exercise an important influence upon
vegetable life. Volatile matter constantly arises
from decaying animal and vegetable substances,
from the meadows, manufactories, sewers, and
every substance that is perishing. The sea con-
stantly sends up a portion of its common salt,
and where chemical operations are carried on, vast
quantities of gases are constantly carried into the
air. What becomes of them ? If they are not re-
turned to the plants, where do they go'? Why does
not the earth diminish in bulk where so much is ta-
ken away, if nothing is returned ? But if they re-
turned, in what condition inust the soil be, in order
the more freely to receive them? We answer, in a
light, fine and porous state, and this brings us
back to the point from whence we started, where
we will at present leave the subject for the reflec-
tion of the reader himself.

STEAM FAKMIMG.
It is pleasant to see that this wonder-working
power can bring landlords and mill-owners into so-
cial intercourse, honorable to both sides ; it is not
less remarkable that it bids fair, ere long, to merge
the two great classes in the one class of manufac-
ture. In one aspect itis exalting the present man-
ufacturers to a level with the lords of the soil — in
tlie other it is converting the landlords themselves
into master manufiicturers, and their farms into
manufactories. The day after Mr. Salt's princely
fete, Mr. Mechiwas the invited guest of the Ilerte
Agricultural Association. An earl, and a baron,
and so forth, were assembled, in expectation of
the speech of the day from a London tradesman ;
one who had made an irruption from tlie counter
(with wealth amassed there) , into the broad acres
of the territorial aristocracy. Nor did the guest
disappoint the nobility and squires who liad invi-
ted him evidently to stimulate their own tenants.
He dealt out wholesome suggestions to landlords
with large estates, complaining of want of capital
to improve ; honestly advising them to sell part of
their land, and improve the rest with the money.
He rebuked tenants, who, clinging to the old ways,
grudged the landlord a fair interest for the money
he had laid out ; but the burden of his speech was
steam.

The amount of steam power in any agricultural
district he took as the test of its condition. Peo-
ple thought him crazy when he first put up a steam
engine ; but now, two makers in the village had
more than they could do to supply the neighbor-
hood fast enough. Lincolnshire and Norfolk far-
mers have, some of them, one, two, and even three
engines on a farm ! Herts had l)ut made a be-
ginning ; he was sure they would soon get deeper
into it. But the grand agricultural achievement
of steam is yet to come. Its advent is nigh. Mr.
Mechi is now building the engine, at a cost of two
hundred pounds, which is to plow tlie land and

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

85

do almost everything besides. A Canadian en- icidedly historical, too. So were Hogarth's pio»
gineer, neglected in his own province, is working tures, and told their story to the public with as
atTiptree, under Mr. Mechi's patronage ; soon the \^^ directness and force as Junius or the Dun-
imrilement IS to be ready which 18 to revolutionize . , . „ ,^ , . p ^.u^ o+;„„

SSitish agriculture, to"^ enable farmers to plow ^^^d, and were felt as keenly as any of the sting-

twelve inches deep instead of five inches, and to
benefit agriculture aljout ten millions of pounds
per annum ! "What are all the budgets of rival
chancellors of the exchequer to this ? His guests,
the gentlemen of the top boots and gaiters at least,
were withheld, either liy utter blank astonish-
ment, or by not having heard so much Latin from
exclaiming Credal Judaus Apella ! However, the
sober truth remains, that we have now farms in
which steam does all the fixed machinery work,
that such farms are increasing in number, and that
machinery of every kind is so rapidly extending
that the farm is fast assimilating to the manufac-
tory ; and tliat the farmer and his laborers bid
fair, in another generation, to equal in intelligence
their brethren of the towTis. — Eng. paper.

ing sarcasm of either.

Hogarth would have found plenty of subject
matter in your picture on the right for one step in
the Rake's Progress. P;iS3 it along.

STABLING AND PEEDING COWS IN
WINTER.

Can you inform me through the columns of the
Country Gentleman how I can prevent my cowa
from lying in their manure when in the stable ? I
have tried every way that I can think of, but all
to no purpose — for every oiorning their udders are
80 filthy that it would take five or ten minutes and
one gallon of water to wash them clean. My sta-
ble floor is good, slopes back three inches in ten
feet. I clean it out every day and cover over with
clean straw. Unless I can find some remedy I
shall have to abandon stabling altogether.

Should cows be fed before or after milking, or
does it make any difference in product of milk or
butter ?

Ought cows to be subjected to long stripping,
or not ? I have a heifer with her first calf, that 18

A GOOD HIT.

The Pennsylvania Farm Journal, published at
West Chester, gives an excellent contrast between
the thrifty and thrift-/cs5 farmer, in two engrav-
vings, opposite each other. The picture on the
left shows the nice and convenient farm buildings, ,

tastefuUy set off with shrubbery, shade trees, fineiJ^^PO^^^ !« ^f"^ ^ ^f S ,^^^°' ""f ] ^^ ''.?,: Tin
r •' T , , 1 1 11 1- J to spend the time unless the product ot milk 18 in-

fences, good gardens and roads, and all enlivened L^eased thereby.

by the most active industry of men and teams in j^\^^ -which is the best straw and hay cutter
the fields. On the right, not a shrub or shade for general use with which you are acquainted;
tree is to be seen near the buildings. The roof of what is the price, and where it can be obtained?
the barn is in waves, like a troubled sea; the Or will it pay ^^*^^^^.*° ^J^"^\^^''^f ^J^^^j^"^^^^

weathercock is keeled over, while the doors look ^^^^^' ^^^ ^ J _ P "^ J , , i^

, , . « 1 m 1 1 your whole time at / o cents per day, ana can pur-

as though they had just come out of a dreadful • ^^^^ j^ay at seven or eight dollars per ton ?
spree and didn't know which way to lean. Brok- Please give me all the information you can on
en slabs, old wheels, tin pots and cast off boots and [the above subjects, which will be^ tliankfully re-
used up crockery are scattered in the door-yard, ceived by

Emaciated cows are mumbling away at the hay
stacks, while lank and haggard oxen are drinking
at a trough at the end of the house farthest from

A SUBSCRIUER.

Connellsville, Pa.

To keep cows clean during the period of their
stabling, we have found it absolutely necessary to
the barn, and lean horses are collecting the scat-: clean the stables at least twice a day, and more ca-
tering blades of grass on the dreary looking pas- pei--ially in the evening just before spreading their
ture in the rear The sheep, with their backs ^«ds of straw for the night They should also have
, , • w . 1,, ,1 ^ ,, • . room enough to select a clean place to lie m, and

humped up, might stand "all fours" m a two k^ tied so as to lie down and rise again without
quart measure. The foreground is embellished t^g least inconvenience. With these precautions
with the skeletons of dead cows, pigs and poultry, we have no difficulty in keeping them clean.
The hogs have just Ijroken through the rickety The udder of some cows is more easily drained
fence, which Tom is patching up, while Sam, club ^^^^^ o.^ others. Where necessary for completely
. , , , i. xu i •? t- 1 11 emptAang the udder, long-stripping must not be

in hand, hangs on to the tail of a long-nosed, lop- ! g^^^^te^ C'ows which are not milked clean, di-
eared, race-hog, which he is belaboring with un- minish in quantity, and soon "dry up." The pro-
merciful blows. The 1)ull-dog, Grip, has another cess of stripping may possil)ly be continued so long
by the ear, whose direful squallings set the hens, m to be a waste of time, but we have never kno^yn
turkeys and geese into a perfect flutter. h" ««^"7'^°«,« ^^ this sort, for not one milker in

„ '' 1 , ., . . xi 1 . • i twenty does the work thoroughly enough, especiai-

To complete the picture, the lout-propnetor U^ ^^^^^.^^ ^h^ close of the year, when the sup-
sits in the piazza, perched on the hind legs of his Liies are given down more slowly,
chair, contemplating the scene before him, and A cheap and perfect straw-cutter has not yet
complacently listening to the rebukes of a woman pcen made. Those manufoctured by Emery, Rug-
11 1 u u I i. r 1 1 -1 dee. and others, consist of a cylinder or knives

who has popped her head out of a broken window, » 71'. '„ n • „^„ ifi^ .,r„i ^„f «-;fK

. / ii ' cutting on a roller of green hide, and cut with

just in time to see the hogs destroy what few gar-L^.^..^^. "^.^^ ^nd rapidity, and do not easily get out
den vi-'getaljles were left, from former depredations. Lf order. They have but one serious defect — they
Your hit, Mr. /owraa/, is admirable — it is do- 'will not cut shorter than an inch, which will do

86

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

tol?r.i1)ly -svell for haj and straw, but not for
corn-stalkfci. Tlie price is six or seven dollars,
and upwards. Tiio clieaper ones do not cut so
fast nor so short as thuse of higher price and
more numerously furiiislicd with knives. Sau
ford's t-traw-eutter, sold, if we mistake not, by
Rapalje &. Co., of Kocliester, costs about 12 dol
lare, and consists of two cylinders of knives work-
ing into each other like the teeth of two cog-
wheels. It answers well for corn-stalks, crushin<!
and cutting at one operation, but from somt
«iuse unknown to us, does not appear to liave
been extensively used. For cutting very short,
we have not yet found a machine that is at once
reasonably cheap, eflBcient, and durable for long
use.

Cutting fodder lias several advantages. Straw
and hay may 1>e intermixed and both eaten to-
gether, and mastication rendered more complete
and perfect ; corn-stalks, if cut finely enough,
will be more thoroughly eaten, and the manure
will be fine, instead of coarse, long, and unfit to
apply till thoroughly rotted. We have no accu-
rate experiments to show the precise amount saved
by cutting ; an acquaintance informs us he finds
the yearly saving in keeping a single horse, to be
twenty dollars, out of fifty, formerly required ;
but we think his estimate too high. The public
very much needs more accurate experiments on
this subject. — Country Gentleman.

MILCH COWS-AN ANSWER.
In the "Newspaper," of Nov. 16th, I find an
article headed "Milch Cows." W. R. wishes to
know how many milch cows can be v/ell kept on
twenty or twenty-five acres of average grass, ex-
clusive of winter feeding? Also, the average
quantity of butter that can be made from said
cows — the num1)er of hogs or pigs that may be
kept from such a dairy — the best mode of winter-
ing covrs, and the management of corn-fodderl In
answer, I would say, that from fifteen to eighteen
cows could be well kept on twenty or twenty-five
acres of grass, on good soil. Cows will produce
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds
of butter per annum each, which will average, say
one hundred and seventy pounds each, for fifteen
cows, making a total of two thousand five hundred
and fifty pounds per annum. Two cows will keep
three liogs well. Some say two pigs to one cow-
is a fair proportion, but we will say three pigs to
two cows, to insure good feeding that will make
twenty-three pigs to fifteen cows. Cows should
have a warm stable, well ventilated, so as to have
a good supply of fresh air; during the day they
should Ite provided with a yard, having a southern
exposure, for cows are fond of the sun in the win-
ter ; the 3'ard should be provided with shelter, to
protect the cows from cold winds and inclement
weather. At night they should be stabled, and
fed with well cured hay. A little bran is of great
benefit to a milch cow', even six quarts a day will
make a great improvement in her milking, to say
nothing of lierself. Cows should be fed or fod-
dered tlireo times a day, and iiave a plentiful sup-
ply of good food, and fresh water to drink Avhenevcr
they Avish. As to corn-fodder, the best I am aware
o' is, to cut it in pieces of from eight to twelve
Inches in length, and steam and scald it, first add-
ing a little salt to the mess ; by so doing the cows

will eat it up very eagerly, and there will be no
long corn-stalks in your manure. Coi-n-fodder
served after this manner is as good as hay for milch
cows. — Phil. Dollar Newspaper.

THE LITERATURE OE AGRICULTURE.

Our own estimate of books which exjject to make
farmers, where there has been no practice or ap-
prenticeship, is not higher than our estimate of
books which jjropose to make Christians by the
same short process. Wc remember, as if it were
yesterday, how blankly we looked in each other's
faces, when, on a fine spring morning, having
bouglit our radish-seed, we prepared to jilant it,
and consulted the "Dictionary of Gardening," —
and read together, "Tlie well known mamier in
which tliis vegetable is cultivated renders any ol)-
servations thereon unnecessary.''^

We relate this experience as a hint to preachers,
as to what is necessary and unnecessary in dis-
course.

It is at the same time an illustration of the rea-
son why no book can make a farmer. AVe have,
noAV, two books before us, — which show, in wholly
different ways, how wide is the range of thought
which belongs to the great science of farming, —
and what constant stimulus to intellectual effort
that man has, who would diligently apply himself
to explore it. It is no little satisfaction to see
how many men set themselves to making two blades
of grass grow whei'e there has been but one.

The first of these two Iwoks is the Patent-Of-
fice's Agricultural Repjort for 1852. It was made
up under some earlier administration, and only
concluded by Mr. Hodges, who seems to be well
aware of its deficiencies. To speak of the first of
these first, we would suggest that it ought to have
been completed before the 28th of February, 1853,
and then ought to have been pirinted before now.
Phillips & Sampson, Crosby, Nichols & Co., or
any other firm of publishers who are awake, would
feel disgraced if an octavo volume like this cost
them six or seven months time in the pi'inting. It
should have l)een written, printed and distributed,
before the 1st of March.

Within its covers there is, as usual, an immense
range of correspondence, with no index, — no run-
ning titles, — nor other clue to its contents. There
Is, however, here a great deal of really valuable
information, mixed with the trasli to be expected.
It is a singular merit to lie claimed by hardly any
other book, that the climate, soil and needs of al-
most every State are specifically alluded to in these
different communications. And we do not doubt
that careful readers will draw^ information from
one part of the Union, into such form a« shall suit
their purposes in another. The book, as it stands,
is a sort of compost heap just made. The result
of it will undoul)tedly be good harvests. But it is
of no great use just as it is, — it needs a good deal
of fermentation, and careful spreading, liPvrrow-
ing over, and working in with other soil.

Our other book, alluded to above, is a curious
illustration of the tribute of one art to another,
of the machine-shop to the farm. AVc have,
long since, made a walk tln-ough Ruggles, Nourse
& Mason's Agricultural Warehouse, the amuse-
ment and instruction of a leisure hour. We have
here, in a hundred and fifty pages, the catalogue

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

87

of tools and machines, made by them, for farmers,
— in number and variety to stagger the belief or
understanding of any but a connoisseur. Let no
one suppose that l)ecaiise ho knows what a hoe,
and rake, and spade, and plow and harrow are,
he has exhausted even the typos of agricultural
mechanism. Here are lactometers ; the English
talacre ; post augers ; meat cutters and sausage
fillers. Here is the science of plowing very well
laid out, and illustrated by the several forms »f
plows which these manufacturers have devised for
iis requisitions. Plows for all soils, — all slopes
of surface, and even left-hand plows for the left
handed Gorman and Dutch farmers of the West
There are nearly a hundred plows in this list, of
different varieties.

No one can leave such a book, without abandon-
ing forever the notion that one of the great sub-
divisions of laltor is more useful than another
Each is lost without the other. The farmer can-
not say to the mechanic, "I have no need of thee"
— more than the foot to the hand, or the ear to
the eye. — Christian Register.

UNITED STATES AGEICULTUEAL
SOCIETY.

The Second Annual Meeting of the United
States xVgricultural Society, will bo held at
Washington D. C, on Wednesday, February 22d,
1854.

Among the objects of the Association are the fol-
lowing : —

The acquisition and dissemination of the best
experience in the Science of Agriculture : —

The union of the men who desire to advance to
its legitimate rank, this most important of all hu-
man pursuits ; — and

The increase and extension throughout our
counti'y of a more cordial spirit of intercourse
between thefriendsof Agriculture, by whose coun-
tenance and co-operation this Society shall be ele-
vated to a position of honor and usefulness worthy
of its national character.

Business of importance will come before the
meeting. A now election of officers is to be made,
and in which every State and Territory is to be
represented.

Applications will be laid before the Society for
the holding of National Exhibitions in different
parts of tlie Union.

Delegations are respectfully solicited from all
the Agricultural Societies in the country, and th((
attendencc of all Agriculturists, who may find it
convenient to honor the occasion with their pres-
ence. :NL\ksiiall p. Wilder, President.
William S. King, Rec. Secretary.

January, 1854.

Remarks. — We have attended the two annual
meetings of this Society at Washington, and found
great pleasure in mooting so many earnest friends
of the cause from various parts of the Union. We
hope to meet them again, with numl^ers of our
citizens, together with delegates from every State;
in the Union. It is an occasion of interest and
importance, and those who have never visited the
federal city will find it a most favorable time to
be there during the sittings of tlie National So-
ciety.

For the yew England Farvier.

WHAT A GARDEN SHOULD BE!

Few words awaken a greater variety of pleasing
remembrances and ideas than Garden ; and its ut-
terance strikes a chord, that, swelling and vibra-
ting, carries us back to the l)irtli-place of iiian,
and thence, lingering in the valleys of India, oliml>-
ing the mountains of Europe, nestling among the
glades and parks of England comes to us fraught
^Tith mysterious meaning, and manifests even here,
m bare, bleak, rocky New England, how endeared
are its associations and memories to the refined
mind.

Is it wonderful that every mind should feel it a
part of its own nature to love the garden, the
l)irth-place of man, and his resort ever, for repose,
pleasure, and instruction ? Would any philosophy
be far wrong that, starting with the assumption,
that God manifestly interferes in the special ac-
tions of his children, should assert the first em-
ployment of man, and his natural and congenial
one, was gardening? Were it desiralde to
prove that division of labor constitutes the wel-
fare of communities, that sin of Adam,which drove
him from the garden of Eden, would seem an in-
tentional interference of God, to prevent all the
dwellers on the earth being tillers of the soil.
When driven thence, and forced to seek their sup-
port, some of his descendants, too lazy to cultivate
the earth, would turn to loss laborious occupations,
and try to substitute the w'ork of the wits for
that of the hands.

It is worthy of notice, that amongst the more sim-
ple of the civilized nations, all refinement sought
its expression in some connection with the garden.
If we instance the Greeks, we cannot fail to re-
member that Plato and Aristotle taught in gar-
dens, and that Pliny and Horace were devotees to
its culture and beauty. Our Saviour passed his
most trying hours on earth in a garden, and
through all later time, men of leisure and refine-
ment devote their first wealth and opportunity to
developing some of nature's beauties. This pecu-
liar tendency of man for such arc«>rt and pleasure
could not escape the poets ; and therefore it is,
that we find all the Amative and Lyric poets, with
some of the Epic, basing much of their claim to
attention on the praises of garden walks and plea-
sures. There the talcs of love are told, parties
of pleasure planned and executed, and grave coun-
cil held ; and when the place is not specially re-
ferred to, some of its gifts or associations, are the
aljsolute or symbolized medium of courtesy and
intercourse.

Were the critic to carefully unthread from the
acknowledged language of love, letters, and socie-
ty all the images and epithets owing their origin
to some connection with gardens and liowers, he
would deprive it of half its ornament.
The greatinfluonce over the mind of an association
with the beautiful during youth, is manifested in
the lives of all great men ; and it would l>e almost
possil)le to decide on a man's general character
from the place where he lived, and the scenery
that surrounded him ; and yet, however much the
distant scenery may have moulded the more ma-
tured mind, its effect is not to be compared with
that of the immediate surroundings of tlie cradle
and homestead upon the more pliant mind of
youth. Can wc expect the highest developments

8f?

NEW ENGLAND FARRIER.

Feb.

from one, who, struggling through youth in a
hovel, is tarn h1 on to tlio world at some advanced
period of life to lig'.it for himself ? Or to particular
ize a little more, and to select one of our New
England farm housi-s as an example ; what benefi-
cial inthuMK-e will that homestead exert upon the
finer feulings, wliore the sole motto is, "Money
makes the mare go," or "A penny saved is a penny
gained ;" where not only thrift is taught, but where
IS seen the daily practice of storing in some stocking
find, old desk, or Itank vault, thoso dollars, a few
of which would have tightened the cracks in the
barn, rehung the door, reset the decaying fence
posts, repaired tlie paling or destroyed the hedge
of nettles, burdock and wild lettuce that disputes
the entrance. Is not that father to blame, who,
by neglecting all out door ornament, has lost all
vcstiges'Of beauty and comfort to tiie homestead,
so that the growing boy is ashamed to own that it is
his homo ? Does the son or daughter neglect one
bit of house or farm work in order to beautify the
front yard, train the vine over the window, (jr erad-
icate the weeds from the pathway !

On the contrary, do we not all know that the
time devoted to such things, uihcji once the begin
ning has been made, is "between whiles," and never
missed ■? And have we not all seen the speaking eye,
and swelling heart of the child at the gate, when
passing strangers have stopped to notice and praise
the farm-house, as embowered amidst flowers,
shrul)s and trees, its pretty vine-clad porch has
met the view !

Less often would the lad leave the half-finished
supper of a summer eve for the country store, were
there a little weeding or t3'ing to do in his sister's
garden; how proudly he would cull his Sunday nose-
gay for the little girl around the corner, and half-
chokingly whisper the invitation to come and see
our garden . It is not often that we see in country' vil-
lages attempts at real gardens ; it is commonly
some stray corner that cannot be used for anything
else, or some Int of Iwrder grudgingly spared,
that is devoted to flowers — Init wherever it does
exist it sets the example to all, and gives a certain
degree of character and elevation, to the house to
which it belongs. In our American homes too
much attention has been paid to the "almighty
dollar ;" and though some few pinks and a stray
rose or two, border the front Avalk, most get
no farther, and meet the argument of beauty, &c.,
by the unanswerable rejoinder, "it won't pay!
won't pay!" Indced,if measured, even in money
value, it will pay. Somehow a connection with the
culture of flowers gives a delicacy and refinement to
the most boorish, and the more earnest tlie love for
them, the more sure are other refinements and culti-
vation to follow. It is really surprising to notice
how soon after even our rough Irishmen are intro-
duced into' gardens and green-houses, they begin
to soften and humanize, and thus stand ahead of
all their brot'ners. Certainly no one will be
found to deny that in America, education is of the
highest value ; we all know how difficult it is to
induce lioys and girls to study; they are too fond of

f)lay ; 1)ut teach them to love flowers, and not on-
y to love them for their beauty and fragrance,
but for their relation to all other animated life ;
show them how mysteriously they are formed there
he earth, and coming up into daylight, grow
wax by a hidden power, not one whit less mar-
us than that which developes men and ani-

mals; show them that it is not only for their
particular worth they are to be prized, but be-
cause—

"There's never a leaf or a blade too mean
To be sunie happy creature's palace ;"

show them that each flower has not its single
insect dependent upon it for its support, and that
just as in its weakness and diminutiveness it con-
tributes to the welfare of the animal kingdom, so
in its strength and might does the oak, and with it
all other ti'ees.

In this way you may arouse their curiosity ;
3'ou may lead them along till they find themselves
enwrapped in the love and study of natural histo-
ry, and from that hoAV short a step to all other
knowledge ; for it is not the ground covered so
much, as the habit gained, of application. Were
no farther ))enefit obtained than polish of manners,
few would doutit of the moneyed value of tlic ac-
quisition ; for were it the market gardener, the
l)lowman, the shop-keeper, or professional man,
he will gain most wealth, who, other things being
equal, has most refinement of manners.

In farming communities, however,too much work
devolves upon the males, to allow them to devote
a great deal of time to gardening, or to the ar-
I'anging and caring for Sowers ; tlie most that can
ha expected of them will lie, the doing the rough
work in spring and fall, and they must leave to the
females the remainder. No work can be more con-
sonant Avitli the best idea of woman, than the cul-
ture of flowers, and to them all lint heavy work
might be left. So predominant a thing, however, is
fashion, that but too often, many who would like
to have gardens of their own arc deterred because
they think it will look strangely to be seen work-
ing in them. Care nothing about looks ! Be assured
you will get more health, strength and looks into
the bargain, l>y devoting a portion of each day to
flowers, than by bending over fancy work, or de-
vouring the last new novel. What ever is true in
the country, where like seems not to breed like,
and where because the men work in the field, the
women feel they may not bo partakers of any out
of door employment, it is less so in cities and large
towns, where very many take the entii-c charge of
their flower gardens during the year, with the ex-
ception of the spring digging, and who, bringing
to their aid their usual taste and skill, seem even to
surpass themselves in all rivals of equal advanta-
ges. In close connection in the world of letters
with this kind of occupation, is botany, which
seems of all the sciences to be the only one special-
ly adapted to woman. For in it there is none of
the labor of the geologist or the dirt of the chem-
ist. But it is an investigation of the rarest l)eau-
ties of nature, accompanied with an entire free-
dom from all that makes learning disagreeable, —
oflering the attractions of sun and fresh air, flowers
and fruit, and at the same time giving a width and
comprehensiveness of mind unsurpassed by any
other study. AVe pass most naturally and easily
from the garden darlings, to the wild flowers; from
the idea of them as plants, to their connection with
the animal world ; taking some one plant as our
type,we may name and arrange hundreds of others
that before we could know nothing of, beyond the
fiiet of their.existence and general appearance.

In the garden, too, the tired husbandman may
stroll, the day's work over, and at the same time
ho rests his wearied limbs, refreshes his whole
physical man, and instructs his mind.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

89

Here too, is the favorite play-ground of childhood,
and better here, l>y far, than amongist the la-
boring men or by the road-side with the idle loaf-
ers of the village. And -when the uiotlier needs
change and pleasure, after she has laid aside
broom and duster, where better may she turn lier
steps than down paths fringed with roses and lilacs;
noAv stopping to train a broken or sti-aggling Ijraneh
or plnek a flower ; or revel in the warm sunsliining
and summer breeze,

Thus far the garden has been treated, as though
there were but one kind. Such is not the case, and
it were best to divide it under difTurent lieads.
First, "Flower and Kitchen Garden,"' tlien Flow-
er Garden, into the artificial and natural, in eith-
er of which we may have flower borders, l)eds, in
parterres, 6hru))bery,vines or trellises, &c., and in
close connection with which may be hot-houses,
conservatories, or mere house and lawn, or yet
simpler still, farm-house and front fence.

For the present we will leave the subject, to be
recommenced at tiie consideration of the true flow-
er g-arden, as it best accommodates particular lo-
calities. R. M. COPELAND.

Jan., 1854.

For the New Ens'/and farmer.

PROMOTION 05" AGRICULTUEAL IM-
PROVEMENT.

Whoever takes a retrospective view of the ag-
liculture of Massiichusetts during the last quarter
of a century, must be convinced, that greater pro-
gress has Ijeen made in this fundamental liranch
of human industry, during that period, than in
all previous time.

AViiile heretofore, agriculture has, in some mea-
sure, been looked upon as a pursuit that might
well be left to the least informed, it is now assum-
ing tliat rank among the professions of men, which
it must in tlio future, always hold. Underlay-
ing, and upholding all other pursuits, it should
receive that encouragement and support, which its
intrinsic merit demands. Among the prominent;
causes, which has given an impetus to this pursuit
is the publishing of able papers devoted to the
subject, and the establislunent of agricultural
societies.

Altjiough the county societies have done much
to efi"ect an improved husbandry, and all that
their limited means will permit, still, there is
very much more desirable to be done. The time
seems to liave arriv(;d when each county society
should have a faiTu upon wliieh stock shall be
reared from the most valualde domestic animals,
which this, or any other country affords. Upon
whirh reliable exjieriments shall be made in the
cultivation ol"cro|)S, and the most profita])le man-
ner of feeding animals. Where the most desira-
ble varie-ties of fruit trees shall be })lanted^ and
their adaptedness to the locality tested. \Vliere
the most valua!>le grains and vegetables shall be
produced. Where exact experiments shall be
made in the application of the various fertilizing
mati'rials in tlie production of j^lauts. In short,
from whence the whole agricultural connnunity,
shall see, by example, the best mode of culture,
and be able to obtiiin the best animals (or tlie im-
provement of stfjck. While the county societiesi
are doing what tliey may for the ja-omotion of ag-i
riculture, it is lK)ped and believed, that there ure|

in the community men of opulence, and of a
generous puldic spirit, who, when they see what
some of these societies are most desirous to do,
will, sooner or later, make such a donation as
shall enal)le them to carry into effect so im{)ort-
ant an object. Such a gift for such a purjiose
would give new energy to agriculture, and be a
monument to the memory of the donor, more en-
during than pillars of granite, or inscriptions in
"eternal brass." Fortunate would be the society
so favored, and happy the individual whose name
would be i-emembered, while ages roll away.
Lynnfield, Jan. 9, 18-54. Essex.

A MODEL FARM— WHO WILL ESTAB-
LISH IT ?

Massachusetts stands conspicuously among the
States for her enterprise, wealth, and benevolence.
Her industrious children have conquered and en-
riched her hard and rocky soil, built up beautiful
villages and pleasant homesteads all over her land,
busy with the hum of wheels, the blows of ham-
mers and the earnest activity of thousands of in-
genious heads and hands. She has erected cities,
from whose ports she sends out ships unsurpassed
in their fleetness and in the comforts they aflbrd
their occupants, and which enrich the world by
the articles of warmth and industry which they
convey from the hands of her artizans to the remot-
est shores. Her merchant princes and good men have
aided in the establishment of noble institutions to
ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate, to
preserve the morals of the young and tempted, to
elevate the arts and sciences by establishing schools
for the encouragement of their devotees, and in
providing the means for the education of all. The
world will always be the better for the munificence
of her Perkinses, Appletoxs, Lowells, Lawren-
ces, LixcoLNS, Shaws.Peaijodys, Bates, and many
others of enlarged and liberal views. They have
done well, and their memories are embalmed in
the hearts of a grateful people, a monument more
enduring, and of a thousand fold more value, than
rocks or metals piled together for the elements to
beat upon and crumble into dust.

Wherever Ave go we are reminded of their be-
nevolence by the libraries, asylums and institu-
tions of learning which they have originated or
sustained. But in the midst of all these, the in-
terests of agriculture — the great interest underly-
ing and sust^iining all the rest — have been over-
looked.

It is a universal feeling all over our State, in the
minds of our young men and women, thatthe pur-
suit of agriculture is not as profitable, genteel, or
honorable, as most other kinds of })UMiness. This
springs from a want of knowledge of its true char-
acter. This impression must be ei*adicated, and
how to accomplish it is the probl<>m to be soh ed.

We believe this may be done in a great measure
l)y establishing one or more Modrl Farms in each
county in t!io State, where all may see what re-

90

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

8 ults can be obtained in this noble Art, by a com-
bination of system, energy and skill, sustained and
encouraged by ample means, where some of the
best minds, both among males and females, may
be thoi'ouglily educated for every branch of hus-
bandry, and be made acquainted with the books
and lives of the distinguished leaders in rural in-
dustry.

There ia no place among us now where this can
be doue. The county societies are limited in means,
and can only encourage the common operations of
the farm. Few, or no, long-continued experi-
ments are made in the breeding of stock, in the
various crops of grains, fruits and roots, or in the
analysis, draining, and general management of
soils. In their action, the farmer sees no associa-
ted effort upon single points where ample means
command the largest experience, the most patient
investigation and the ripest learning to unravel
their mysteries.

Here, then, is what we need. Who among our
opulent men, men of enlarged views, whose hearts
swell with the desire to be useful to those who
shall come after them, will lay the foundation of
an institution from whence shall flow perpetual
blessings to the sons of toiH Whose memory shall
be cherisod in the hearts of our children, and in
those of their posterity, as the benefactor of the
masses, and who opened unto them the gates of
knowledge 1

We are confident that the good old Common-
wealth has many gentlemen who would gladly aid
this good cause if some definite plans were laid be-
fore them, and they could see that their bounty
would really aid the efforts of the farmer in ob-
taining a better knowledge of his occupation. Sim-
ilar thoughts are uttered in another column of
this paper by one of the most intelligent cultiva-
tors in Essex county. Who will second these sug-
gestions ?

Franklin County Society. — The annual meet-
ing of the Franklin County Agricultural Society
was held on Saturday, January 7, and the fol-
lowing persons elected its officers for 1854 : —

Henry AV. Cushman, President.

JosiAH Fogg, } ^r ' n j i
T M / ^^'ce f residents.

Lucius Nims, f

H. G. Parker, Secretary.

W. T. Davis, Treasurer.

holden on the 11th instant. They purpose to have
model farms, and the constitution requires the
holding an Annual Cattle Show and Fair. Press
the matter vigorously, fi'iends.

Connecticut State Agricultural Society. —
We believe the good people of this State are still
without any State organization to encourage the
pursuit of agriculture. In the last numl)er of
The Examiner, published at Norwich, in which
the agricultural portion is ably conducted by our
occiisional correspondent, ]\Ir. Clift, the subject
of a State Society is strongly urged, and a Consti-
tution sot forth . An annual meeting was to be

For the New England Farmer.

THINGS AWAY UP IE VERMONT.

LAMOILLE COUNTY.

Mr. Editor : — The time was when almost all
from Varmount, who happened to get strayed
away down as far as your city, were called " rather
green ;^^ and many the jokes that were played on
them; but sometimes they got an ^^ appropriate^'
reply. Well, they could not naturally be otherwise
than " green," as they " grew up" in the green
valleys, with the "green mountains" and hills
all around them. "But things are not now as
they used to be ;" for time has -wrought a change
in the " face of the land," and also in the heads
of the people. It is now Jmoicn, as can be seen by
your reports of stock, produce, &c., compared with
that from other States, that there is something
valuable in Vt. Lamoille county, though it does
not contain so many " broad acres," as" some other
counties in the State, and though it is intersected
by two of the loftiest ranges of the green moun-
tains, contains as good land for farming as there
is in the State ; and in it lies one of the most
beautiful and lovely valleys in New England. This
valley lies between the two ranges of mountains
that intersect the county, north and south ; is 8 or
10 miles wide, generally level, the soil excellent, easi-
ly to be worked^and free from stone, — unlike some
partsof New England. Stowe, the most southern
town in this valley, that lies in this county, is one
of the handsomest and best in the State. Morris-
town, north of it, extends to the valley of the
Lamoille River, and is aljout equal to Stowe in
beauty and excellencies as a farming town. The
Lamoille River passes west through the centre of
the county, and has some very good falls for pro-
pelling machinery. The falls and cascades at
Morristown are exceedingly beautiful and roman-
tic ; and there is a chance for extensive manufac-
turing establishments. A little of your Boston
capital and energy would make the waters that
pass here tell something beside their babljlings ;
though there are now some improvements. Hyde-
park, the shire town, (25 miles north of Montpe-
lier,) lies north of Morristown and the Lamoille,
and is a good farming town. This town is cele-
brated for " growing" hops. They " calculate"
that the expenses of cultivating and harvesting an
acre, after the first year, are about the same as an
acre of corn. They plant about 1000 hills to the
acre and get 2 lbs. to the hill, in a good season,
which would be 2000 lbs. to the acre, and at the pre-
sent pHces, 40 cts. per lb., would amount to §800.
Pretty good pay for cultivating an acre of land.

The valley of the Lamoille contains some excel-
lent farming towns. Johnson and Cambridge,
down the river, are very good. There are other
towns in the county excellent for stock, dairy, &c.
Some of the "back places," and the sides of the
mountains, are covered with beautiful forests,
which will be more valuable at some future time
than at present ; tliough wood and lumber have
advanced in price within a few years. The far-
mers, in tliis vicinity, now have something to en-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

91

courage them to do well, (encouragement is some-
thing to iifarmer as Avell as to au cdit-or,) for their
produce, stock, dairj-, &c.,have advanced from 25
to 50 per cent, within a few years; and the}- can
get cash too. ^lany have learned that it will pay
to^ improve, as well as Avork their farms ; for those
farms that have Ijoeu well cultivated, are now
vrortli one-half more than they were a few years
ago. One great cause, that has advanced the
prices of farm produce here, is the facility to get
it to market, since the railroad came tiirough this
vicinity. Such clumsy fellows as potatoes, oven
in this cold season, are sent to your market, week-
ly, from " these regions ;'' and the farmer takes
the cash for them at his door at prices nearly 100
per cent, higher than he once could. Ten or fif-
teen years ago, the farmers here could seldom get
cash for numy kinds of tlieir produce, and when
they couhl, it was at such prices a.s would not
recompense. Now, everything they can raise "is

food as cash in hand," and at "fair jjriccs."
ormerly the goods, brought from "your town,"
and elsewhere, by the merchants, were sold, many
kinds, 25 to 50 per cent. higher than at present. Islost
farmers tlien bought on credit, to be paid in pro-
duce, after they could raise it. The merchants
charged 25 jier cent, or more than for "cash
down," and when the farmer brought his produce,
he did not realize but small pay for his lal^or.

Many a farm had to be mortgaged, and at last
go into the hands of the merchants by such deal-
ing. Now alhiost everything the farmer can
raise brings cash, at prices 25 to 50 per cent, high-
er then formerly, while many kinds of the mer-
chant's goods are as much lower, Avhich makes
quite a difference infooting upthefarmer'saccount;
and his profession is now considered as profitable
and honorable as any. The farmers here now
take courage, and there can be no mistake, that
improvement in cultivating the soil is advancing.

And there is also an improvement in the minds
of the farmers, aa regards that profession, else
they could make none in the soil ; for no one can
do a thing till he k7unvs how to do it, and we hope
many a farmer is striving to obtain that know-
ledge which gives power to his profession. Yet
there arc some old fogies who think they know
it all now, and tliat their experience supercedes
all scientific investigation. All improvements in
the arts and scicnc(!s have had opposers, even by
those whose interest it was to encourage and pro-
tect, and there are many who still plod along in
the "same old be:iten patli," and say there is no
use to try to do more than what has been done to
improve agri(;ultural business. But the dark
cloud, that has low(!red on the l)row of many an
honest farmer, must eventually be dispelled by the
1)riglit rays of intelligence, that now shine
tiirough the whole land.

There are influences in operation that cannot be
resisted. The hundreds of agricultural societies
and journals in the union are obtaining, and
spreading broad-cast througli the land, that
knowledge which must sometime influence and
benefit cvei-y farmer. Already Is that influence
greatly felt even away up in this l)ack corner.
Many a farmer has received "much good" by pe-
rusing the N. E. FarmT; and many more miglit
receive, in useful knowledge, if they would take
and r«iad that excelleut paper, 500 per cent, on
tlieir money advanced. Milan.

Morristown, Lamoille Co., V(., Jan. 1854.

Remarks. — The other portion of your article,
not being particularly connected with the foro-
jgoing, will be given at another time. Imbue all
[others with your own spirit and the occupation
of farming will soon take a different hue.

FIEST AGRICULTUEAL MEETING,

At thb Statb IIolse, Jan. IT, 1S51.

At the close of the series of the Legislative
Meetings at the State House last winter, Mr.
Flint, the Secretary of the State Board of Agri-
culture, was requested to call this opening meet-
ing to order, and take the preliminary steps for its
organization : but being detained by sickness and
the pressure of other duties, Mr. Proctor, of Dan-
vers, called the meeting to order, and nominated
Col. "Wilder to act as Chairman fur the evening,
and he was elected.

On taking the Chair, he expressed his gratifica-
tion at being present upon the opening of another
series of these interesting meetings, his hearty co-
operation in their objects, and willingness to take
part in their deliberations whenever it might bo in
his power. He spoke of the benefits of a free in-
terchange of opinions in a familiar manner, and of
the encouragements to the friends of the cause in
the manifest progress of the last year, in the new
interest evinced by ncirly all classes of our people.
lie said that a gentleman had already expressed a
willingness to contribute fifty thousand dollars to-
wards the establishment of an Agricultural school
whenever the Commonwealth would appropriate
double that sum for the like purpose. He then
spoke of the improvement in the implements of
husbandry, the use of guano in restoring exhaust-
ed lands, of the great increase of the crops com-
mon to our soil, and the earnest desire of all to
promote the great Art.

The meeting was further organized l)y the elec-
tion of an Executive Committee to consult and
co-operate with Mr. Flint, the Secretary of the
Sttite Board, in arranging the business of future
meetings. This committee consists of Messrs.
Brown, Proctor, French, Sprague, Smitu of the
Senate, Russell, and Sewall of the House.

Messrs. Simon Brown and AV^illiam J. Buckmix-
STER, were elected Secretaries.

The President then called upon Professor NAsn,
of Amherst College, who was accidentally present,
and who had recently returned from an agricul-
tural tour in Europe, to favor tlic meeting with
sumo remarks relating to his visit. Mr. Nash said
he was unwilling to occupy the whole, or a largo
portion of the time of this meeting-— believed it
would bo better employed by a free interchange of
thoughts among practical farni'-rs — would however
say a few words about his recent tour in the Brit-
ish Islands.

Ho landed at Portflmouth on tholOthof Juno

92

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

Feb.

found it bcyoud his expectations a strongly forti- which is the geographical centre of the island and
ficd place — after strolling an hour or two among
the long guns of its ramparts, and surveying the
naval station at Gosport, and looking out upon
Britain's wooden walls, floating majestically on
the neighboring waters of the Spithead, he was
impressed more strongly than an American well
can be at home witli the desirableness of perpet-
ual peace and amity between England and Amer-
ica.

A subsequent visit to "Woolwich, Chatham and

other military stations served but to deepen this
impression ; not that America has anything to
fear from England or from any other quarter ; for
80 long as she pursues her mission of developing
the resources of a new world justly and peacea-
bly, she has nothing to fear from abroad, nothing
out of herself ; but you no sooner set your foot on
the soil of England than you begin to feel at
home; on the l)road ocean you had felt that you
was fur awaj', but in England you feel at home ;
it is impossible not to recognize the people there
as brethren ; you look at a name over a door, it
is the name of your nearest neighbor ; you look
over the next door, there is the name of your best
friend ; you look over a third, and see your own
name, over a fourth is the maiden name of your
wife ; something very like this had happened to
the speaker again and again. It was impossible
not to feel at home and among brethren in Eng-
land ; and then again so kind and respectful are
the feelings of Englishmen towards Americans,
that, if one has anything in the shape of a heart
in him, he cannot help praying that there may be
peace and friendship forever between usand them.
War would be n family quarrel — the worst of all
quarrels to heal. It would be fratricide. If any
gentleman here does not feel this, he could not
see England's power, or enjoy her hospitality
without feeling it.

The speaker could not forbear from stating,
that Englishmen had often said to him; "we
hear that your school-books are full of revolution-
ary talcs calculated to inspire hatred against us."
They said "ire are not tlie men who sent armies to
burn your cities and slaughter the inhabitants ;
we no more approve the counsels of Lord North ,
or the weakness of George III. or the brutality of
some of his officers than you do." The charge
with regard to our school-books is partly true, and
the evil should be remedied at once.

At 12 o'clock on the same day of landing, he
took the ferry-boat for the Isle of Wight ; land-
ed at Rye seven miles from Portsmouth ; found
this a beautiful and thrifty town ; fell in here
■with an old friend from America, and agreed to
take a pedestrian tour with him over the island,
consid(!ring that, however, as a pedestrian tour
which consists in riding on coaches and walking
alternately. From Rye we went to Newport,

the largest town on it. Here we spent the Sab-
bath ; and after twice attending church as we
would have done at home, we visited East alid
West Cowes, ship-building stations on the north
side of the island. In this visit we passed down
the east tank of the Medina. This led us by the
Queen's palace Osburne House, and the residen-
ces of many of the English gentry on this island.
From East Cowes we crossed the river to West
Cowes, and returned to Newport by the west
bank of the river. On ^Monday morning we visit-
ed the house where the last effort was made to
treat with the unfortunate Charles II — an inter-
view in which English loyalists would say, he
completely outwitted his enemies, but in which
English freemen would say that he exhibited such
a dogged hostility to the people's rights as ren-
dered him worthy of his fate. From this old
building, now used as an academy, we went to
Carisbrooke Castle, an immense structure, the
residence of royalty, at times,for tome fifteen hun-
dred years. Here we were shown the room in which
Charles I. was long imprisoned, and from which
he was taken to London, where he was condemned
and beheaded. Wherever you go in England,
you find reminiscences of this unfortunate king;
and everywhere you find the conflicting opinions
of him before alluded to. From Carisbrooke, we
continued our tour far towards the west end of
the island, turning thence south, and passing
along the southern coast and the eastern hack to
Rye. This took us through the best agricultu-
ral parts of the Island, as good perhaps as any in
the British Islands, if not in the world.

The land in this island, amounting to perhaps
100,000 acres,is all beautiful, much of it eminently
good. The scenery is exquisitely fine, alternating
lieautifully cultivated vales with gently swell-
ing hills there called downs and fed by almost
numberless southdown sheep. The land is divided
into farms of from fifty to seven or eight hundred
acres, and some larger, embracing several thousand
acres. The staple vegetalile products are turnips,
barley and wheat ; the animal products are beef,
mutton, wool and pork. The Isle of Wight is
often called the garden of England. Its exquisite
beauty entitles it to the name ; and in addition to
feeding a population of some sixty thousand peo-
ple, it sends immense amounts of produce to Lon-
don.

The farms in this island are generally divided in-
to large fields. The plow-share of reform has been
driven through the old, wide-spread hedges, cutting
fixrms into many small lots, and thus covering, as
in many parts of England, yet unreformed in this
respect, one acre in twenty-five of the land, and
sheltering game enough to consume a large per
cent, of the crops. Nothing can be conceived
more beautiful than the cultivation of this island.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

93

The hedges are almost uniformly so trimmed as to
occupy but little land ; scarcely a weed could be
found on the island. A general rule in leasing
land is, not to permit the growing of two white
crops in succession. The owners are also shy of
oats. They regard oats as an exhausting crop ; in
traversing the island, you see here a field of wheat
covering forty, sixty or one hundred acres ; then
a like extent of turnips , a field of barley, or a
patch of oats, or scarcely one of flax. In one place
you see five Juindred or one thousand acres of down
(rolling hill land) grazed by thousands of sheep ;
and near by meets your eye a rich valley, fed by
scores of fine Durhams, Herefords or Devons.

Amid so much that is so bright, beautiful and
cheering, one thing grieves the American who
comes here, to the very heart ; — agricultural
laborers are not half paid. Nine shillings sterling
(about $2,12,) per week is the uniform price paid
for farmer labor. The laborer boards himself. The
land being let in lai-ge portions to the great far
mers, it is impossil)le for him to get a few acres,
or a patch even, to cultivate on his own account
In nine cases out of ten, the sole dependence for
his family is in his wages, unless his wife works
in the field, or he has children old enough to draw
wages. There is terrible oppression, and yet it is
hard to say who is the oppressor. One can hardly
find it in his heart to blame any one.

The intercourse of the landed aristocracy with
the tenant former seemed to us kind and gener-
ous ; nor could we say anything worse of the ten-
ant farmer than that he, in accordance with a
general mercantile principle, buys his labor as
cheap as he can. The fact is, the evil is the re-
sult of a state of things, for which the farmers
are not alone responsible, and which is now in a
rapid process of reform. Labor on the farm is
now rising in price, in most parts of the kingdom,
especially in portions intermingled with mercan-
tile and manufacturing interests, so that now
farm laborers in the vicinity of large towns are
getting 12, 13, 14 and in some cases as high as 15
shillings a week ; though still, in the pui-ely ag-
ricultural districts, as in the Isle of Wight, wages
remain as low as nine shillings a week. The la-
borers in those districts have not yet found out
that wages have risen ; it will be years before they
will ; but the time will come, thanks to America
and Australia, rather, thanks to Divine Provi-
dence, when labor in Great Britain will be fairly
rewarded .

The President then called upon Isaac Davis,
President of the Worcestor County Society, who
drew most interesting comparisons between the
modes of culture and building in this country and
England and Franco.

Ajiasa Walker, late Secretary of State, spoke
upon several topics, but particularly in relation
to the importance of agricultural lectures in the

town lyceuras, and that efforts by the State Board
to furnish lecturers would prove of signal benefit.

Dr. Reed, from Berkshire county, also spoke of
the importance of more attention to agricultural
matters, by the citizens of the towns in Farmers'
Clubs.

Mr. Dodge, from Worcester county, spoke par-
ticularly of the improvement which had been ef-
fected in plows, and of the effects upon the old
homesteads of the State by the introduction of so
much foreign labor.

Mr. Lawton, from Berkshire county, at a late
hour, made some pertinent remarks, and then the
following question : — Is the increased culture ot
Indian corn worthy the attention of the farmers
of the Commonwealth 1 was announced as the sub-
ject for discussion on next Tuesday evening, when
it is expected His Excellency the Governor will
preside.

There were an unusual number of active and
earnest gentlemen present, and the meeting pass
with great spirit and gratification to all.

The meetings are free for the attendance of all,
and it is hoped that our agricultural friends, and
indeed, all others, vsdll avail themselves of this
opportunity to gather, as well as to impart, val-
uable information to others.

For the New England Farmer.

PROFITABLE COWS.

Mr. Editor : — I noticed at the time, the account
published in yoar December number, of the Al-
derney cows, owned and cxlii))ited at the last
Middlesex Fair, by Mr. Elijah M. Reed, of Tewks-
bury. ;My attention has since been particularly
called to the statement of Mr. Reed, as evidenc-
ing, in a high degree, the superior quality of this
stock for the dairy. I conceded the great value
of the animal — and the large yield of milk and
butter, but did not coasider it so unusual as to be
astonishing. Nay, I insist that the records of our
Shows for the last few years would, taking into
consideration the feed, show a better result.
With your leave, I will submit the proof to my
friend through the columns of j'our paper. Mr.
Reed's statement is, that in 7 days of May, and
9 days of September, IG days in all, his cows yield-
ed 195 qts. of milk, which gave 30 lbs. 4 oz. of
butter ; so that, taking, an average of both trials,
there was a yield of 12 qts. of milk daily, produc-
ing a daily average of 1 lb. and 15 oz. I)utter.
The fractions I have discarded throughout tho
comparison.

This yield was ujion the generous keeping of
2 qts. of meal per day. Now let us see whether
or not the Worcester cows are loft entirely in the
shade by this lady of foreign blood.

I prefer, in making the comparison, to go back
a number of years, so that, if it be said the com-
parison is witli chance cows, it will be seen that
we have a good many of them.

In 1844, Mr. II. B. Leach, of Grafton, exhibit-
ed at our Show a cow, of what breed we are not
informed, wIk^sc daily average from the 10th to
the 20th of Juno was, omitting fractions, 14 qtg.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

Feb.

milk, and 2 8-10 Ihs. of butter. How she was fed
docs not appear. |

In 18-10, a i Ayrsliire cow of Wm. Eames, of:
Worcester, gave, taking the required trials of
June and Septeniher together, a daily average
yield of 1-i qts. milk, and 1 lb. 1-4 oz. butter ; this
was upon <rrass only. A cow of what we call
native breed, (l)ut undoubtedly of mixed blood,)
was exhibited in 1848, at the AN^orcester Show by
myself, which, for the 9 first days of June, gave an
average j-ield of 18^ qts. of milk, and of over 2 lbs. of
butter daily, and for the iirstO days of September,
a-n average of 13^ qts. of milk, and of 1 lb. lloz
butter per day. lier feed was a small supply of
corn fodder in addition to pasture. No meal or
^orts was furnished her.

In 1849, Jos. A. Keed, of Princeton, exhibited
a cow at our show, whose average daily yield for
20 days, the first 10 of June and of September,
was 12 7-10 qt«. of milk, and 1 lb. and 14 oz. of
Jjutter. This cow had no meal.

In the opinion of the committee for that year,
tho best cow was exhibited Ity the late Hon. John
W. Lincoln, (now owned by me,) whose daily av-
erage, for the first 10 days of June, was over 15
qts. of milk and 2 lbs. 2 oz. butter, and for the first
10 days of September, of over 14 qts. of milk, and
a trifle more than 1 lb. 15 oz. of butter. This cow
was furnished nothing save what she gathered for
herself in the pasture.

In 1850, a cow was exhibited by me, whose dai-
ly average for the first 9 days of June and Sep-
t(anbcr, being 18 days, was 1 "lb. 10 oz. butter.

In 1851, Horace Cuenery, of Worcester, exhib-
ited a cow which during 10 days of June, and 10
of September, gave a daily average of 15 qts. of
milk, and 1 lb. 13 oz. butter.

In 1853, 11. P. Reed, of Princeton, exhibited a
cow, whose daily yield for tho first 10 days_ of
June and September, averaged over 14 qts. milk,
and more than 1 lb. 13 oz. butter.

None of these cows had meal furnished them.
What they would liave yielded liad they had, as
Mr. Reed's, "^/.'roj/i,'/* ihc winter 2 qts. of corn and
cob meal, 1 qt. of shorts and good hay per day,
in summer, good pjasturing with the addition of
srain (how much?) occasionally through the
arought in July and August, and 2" quarts of meal
TER DAY, xohtk we ware testing- the properties of her
milk/or but ter, '' o^ comsa can only be conjectured.
I might extend this comparison much farther, by
going into other counties of the State. But enough
has been done, I think, to s;itisfy the doubts of
my friend.

After air, no one would more highly prize an
Aldcrney than myself, and, if their price were
within the means of an cvcry-day working farmer
like myself, no one v/ould sooner purchase them.
I should like to see an account of the yield of
one running with a herd of cows, and kept, not as
our farmers arc too apt to keep their stock, half
weighed down by the manure wdiich clings to their
aides, but kept as all animals should bo, cleanund
warm, and fed on good luiy and roots througli the
winter, and furnished Avith good pasturage onli/
througli the summer. A comparison between an
Aldcrney, and one of any other breed of cows,
would then be of some value.

Yours, W. S. LI^'C0LN,

Worcester, Jan. 4, 1854,

Remarks. — We are exceadingly obliged to friend
Lincoln for the above "string of facts" in rela-
tion to the Worcester cows. Such facts are encour-
aging to us who cannot afford to j^ay the high prices
which are demanded for foreign stock, and will in-
duce us to pay more attention to such as is produced
within ourselves. These rej^resentations, made as
they are by gentlemen of close observation and un-
doubted integrity, in diflferent parts of the State,
will produce the results so long desired, viz. — bet-
ter care of our native stock, and a better knowl-
edge of the comparative merits of the various
breeds among us.

FARMING, AND OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

We have attentively read tlie Message of our
new Governor to the Legislature, and find that,
while all the other interests of the Commonwealth
have been considered, Agriculture, which is th«
basis of them all, is not noticed. Well, as faith-
ful chroniclers, we will endeavor to show the peo-
ple that the Governor is right — that the capital
invested in Agriculture in the State is so insig-
nificant as not to be worth mentioning in a grave
state paper in which the interests of the people
are discussed ; we will give the facts and figures,
at any rate, and then let the farmer, who is con-
sidered competent to look after his own interests,
while tho merchant and manufacturer need the
fostering care of the government, — we will let the
farmer, wo repeat, judge for himself.

In the year 1850, the improved land of the State
amounted to 2,133,436 acres, and the cash value of
the farms was $100,076,347; the farm imple-
ments and machinery were worth §3,209,584; the
value of the live stock was $9,649,710 ; and the
value of the wheat, rye and Indian corn of that
year, was $2,857,732, to say nothing of the hay,
fruit and root crops, which would be as much
more. These sums find the farmer investing cap-
ital and producing crops in a single year to tha
amount of one hundred and twenty-seven millions,
six hundred and fifty-one thousand, one hun-
dred and five dollars ! Rut then this interest
is too small to be brouglit before tho assembled
wisdom of the Commonwealth ; or it may be con-
sidered dangerous, and likely to override, and
crush all the other industrial pursuits.

The other principal industrial pursuits gave for
the same period, in capital invested and goods pro-
duced in the cotton and woollen manufacture, in
pig iron, castings, wrought iron, malt and spirit-
uous liquors, and tanneries, an aggregate oi eighty
millions, three hundred thousand, nine hundred and
fifty-four dollars — leaving a l)alance oi forty-seven
millions, three hundred and fifty thousand, one hun-
dred and fifty-one dollars, in favor of the industry
of the farmer. Wo do not intend, now, to go
into an exact statement of the comparative value
and importance of the pursuits of our people-^

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

95

it is not necessary to our object. We have not
mentioned above, the products of many occupa-
tions, such as the manufacture of boots and
shoes, "willow and wooden ware, many other
tilings ; neither have we taken into account,
on the other hand, the oat and barley crops,
beans, peas, early vegetables, strawberries, and
other small fruits, the great staples of butter,
cheese and milk, and the important articles of
timber and fuel. If all were fairly stated, we be-
lieve there would still l)e a large credit to the far-
mer, beside that found aliove.

Then we have in the Commonwealth, a State
Board of Agriculture, composed of representatives
from all the county societies, together with three
persons appointed by the Governor and Council.
This Board was cstaljlished by the Government of
the State, sanctioned by it, and has continued to
receive something of its attention and care, and
His Excellency the Governor, His Honor the
Leiut. Goverxok, and the Hon. Secretary of the
Commonwealth are members of the Board ! But
from this ]\Iessage the people of the Common-
wealth will learn nothing of the condition, or ex-
istence even, of this l)ranch of the Government.

Nor do we desire to array one class of our peo-
ple against another, or to excite discontent in any;
all their varied pursuits are necessary to promote
the wealth, dignity and glory of the Common-
wealth . We only say this — that the farmer and
his interests have boen, and still are, neglected,
by those whom they place in power ; that his
occupation does not hold that estimation in the
public mind which its importance merits, and that
until his interests are regarded, and his claims to
the common respect acknowledged, our voice shall
be heard in his favor so long as we have power to
speak.

For the New England Farmer.

TRAli^SACTIOKS OF THE HAMPSHIRE
AG-EICULTURAL SOCIETY.

AT AMIIEKST, 1S53.

This young and promising society is starting
aliead of most others, in their annual publication.
If we do not mistake, it will be found a work of
much interest. Tlie address by Rev. Mr. Hunting-
ton of Boston, is one of the happiest we have ever
perused. It amuses and instructs at the same
time ; without any pretensions to superior knowl-
edge, lu; hits the nail directly on the head. It must
have produced a(U;cide(lly lavora1)le impression on
his heai-ers. What is most creditable to the society,
all the people of the vicinity , /(^ male as well as male,
engaged in the exhibition. "]\Iore than one thous-
and entries were made for the premiums offered.
The Reports too, are not the hasty effusions of the
moment, but well considered and arranged essays
from gentlemen fully competent to the service.
Where such a feding exists, progress is certain.
Older societies must wake up, or the younger will
run away witli the laurels. x.

January Sih, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

FARMING BY STEAM, HAY-MAK-
ING, &c.

Mr. Editor : — That the Americans, as a body
of men, or "Yankees arc a fast people," no one
can doubt who has watched the course of events
for the past few years. Not content with apply-
ing steam power for railroads, steamers, and sta-
tionary engines, &c., it then" must be applied for
forming purposes, sucli as carting manure, plow-
ing, sowing seed, and so on, and in a few years all
our heavy farming will be done by "steam," so
that very little "hand labor" will be necessary on
the farm.

We have been led to these remarks in reading
an article, a short time ago, in the "iVtw York
Tribune,^^ on "llay-making by Steam." The
writer says, "Let' the grass be heaped up as fast
as cut, and covered with an India rubber cloth.
Then a pipe from a steam-boiler, mounted upon
a wagon, may be inserted under the centre of tte
pile, and steam applied to a degree of heat strong
enough to almost cook the whole heap, at any
rate to prepare it for rapid sun drying. We be-
lieve, from some experiments which we have seen
in drying other vegetable substances, that green
clover may be prepared in three hours for safely
stowing away in the barn. By using metal caps
instead of cloth, the jirocess of steaming may be
continued to a degree sufficient to expel all the
moisture. AVhotb.er it can be used economically
upon the farm, is the point which we wish to see
settled, and that is what the agricultural societies
should determine. Steam has already been ap-
plied to carry manure to the field, plowing the
ground, and threshing the crop. No doubt it will
soon be applied to sowing t!ie seed and reaping, as
well as mowing, and it only remains to cure tlie
green grass as fast as cut by the same powerful
agent.

This is not a chimera unworthy of thought. It
is a subject which, sooner or later, will attract the
serious attention of that portion of farmers wIk)
do think, &c. A\''e confess that this plan of curing
green grass in heaps into dry ha}^ by a "steam
boiler," carted around the meadow on wheels is
the last operation in hay-making out. In all our
experience in hay-making, tlie very best ao^ent
that we have yet found for curing ha^^ is "old
fashioned sunshine," and a plenty of it. Some sea-
sons we are cut short of that "agent," to a great
extent, by cloudy weather, and then we have to
resort to air and wind, and also by curing liay in
the heap by natural heat.

The plan of curing hay in the "heap" has been
practised by many farmers fur the last forty yeara.
And in case of clover hay it should l)e invariably
cured in that way, and stirred as little as possi-
l)le till made. And in case of very hot, dry sea-
sons, wo are inclined to think that if all grass wa«
one-half cured in tlie heap, it would be an im-
provement in quality of the hay. Still, tlie main
dependence for hay-making is "sunshine;" not
for one or two hours only, but until tlie hay is
well made. And whoever lives twenty-five years
licnce, will see sunshine in as great- demand for
hay-making as now, "steam boilers" to the con-
trary notwithstanding. As for phiwing by steam,
we are aware tliat this plan hlis been strongly re-
commended by some "theorists" fur several years

96

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

past, but we know not of the ilrst trial ever being
made in this country. If we mistake not, a trial
was made in England, of steam-plowing, but it
turned out a "failure and a humbug," as we
should very naturally expect. There are, proba-
bly, some farmers, that can use a small, station-
ary steam engine to grind feed, move a threshing
machine, straw-cutter, and wood-sawing, perhaps,
at a cheaper rate than by horse-power. But in
nine cases out of ten', we believe that the horse-
power is the cheapest, most eifeotual, and the best
power that can be used on the farm. As to car-
rying manure to the fields by steam-pOAver, we
suppose an allusion is made to Mr. Mechi, of
England, whose exjierimcnts, in reducing solid
manures to liquids, and then forcing tbem through
iron pipes to different parts of the farm by a
steam-engine. But according to the testimony of
many English farmers, Mr. Mechi, as yet, is
only an experimenter and a learner, and should
not be considered a teacher, until he has had more
experience in the business. We repeat what we
have often said liefore on tlds suVijcct, that we are
not half as anxious that steam-engines should be
introduced on farms to do farm-work, as we are
that farmers th.emselves should improve in the bus
inees. VV^e believe that there is already more im-
proved farming implements in our " Agricultural
stores,"' than farmers will make practical use of
in the next fifteen 3'ears to come, to say nothing of
steam-engines. We have no idea that labor-sav-
ing machines on farms, will so supercede hand hi-
bor, but tliat hand lal)or v.'ill always be in great
demand on the farm. It is not always a safe rule
to judge of improved farming throughout the
State, by visiting our implement stores and seeing
the various improved tools for farming. For it
is one tiling to bring out new implements, and tlie
next thing is to have t!iem put to use on the farm
Yours, &c. L. DuRAXD.

Derby, Ct., Jan. bth, 185-1.

F|IANKLI2? GO. PEEMIUMS.

We copy from th.e Greenfield Gazette and Cour-
ier, the statement of Messrs. Stebbins, of South
Deerfi(!hl, Smith & Sons of Sunderland, and Pow-
ers, of lladley. The Gazette says "the statements
of these motlel farms arc very interesting, and
show that farming, when rightly conducted, is the
most profitable of all pursuits.

It will be observed that these premium farms
are all small in the number of acres. That of Mr.
Stebbins, who took the first premium of $20, con-
tained forty-one acres. The amount expended on
his farm for labor, interest, &c., was $848 50,
the products $1940 25, leaving a net profit of
$1091 75. The following is tiie substance of his
statement : ' '

When I came in possession, in 1831, ten acres
of it consisted of a poor-worn out buck-wheat field.
In 1838,1 resolved to have a better farm. I hauled
on clay, at the rate of fiity loads per acre. Then,
I spread twenty-fiv(; loads of manure to the acre ;
sowed two hundred pounds of plaster ; plowed all
in together ; planted corn, and obtained a fair crop.
At the outset, I tried but three acres, Ijy way of:
experiment; and, after witnessing the result, Ij
continued until I had treated the ten acres alike.

After corn, I planted oats, and stocked down to
clover.

By use of clay and manure, I have made all my
land as good as the best, and increased my pastures
one hundred per cent, in quantity and quality of
feed. I have practised plowing deep and do so,
now, but in a different way from my former prac-
tice. I now plow in manure four or five inches
deep ; then subsoil as deep as I can run a subsoil
plow. I prefer tliis to running deep, in order to
turn up the subsoil. I commonly plant my land
two years in succession ; tliercl )y mixing soil and
manure, and pulverizing the soil for grass. In-
stead of oats, I raise barley, which I deem far moro
profitable to the. farmer. AVhere we made one
hundred loads of manure in 1838, Ave now make
three hundred and fifty loads. I haul from sev-
enty-five to one hundred loads of earth into my
barn and hog yards, annually, to absorb the liquid
manures, whichi consider as valuable as the solid.
I tliink much of hogs for the manufacture of com-
post manure. I have used salt witii good resalts,
on both grass and wheat. For old, worn out jjas-
tures, I recommend the free use of })laster, and for
fruit trees, I apply salt and lime, freely, and wash
often with white l-^y.

My farm has been divided, the present year, as
follows : twenty-three acres of mowing ; thirteen
acres in corn and potatoes ; three in barley and
two in wheat. Sly stock consists of three pairs
of oxen ; three steers three years old ; five cows ;
seven two years' old ; three yearlings ; oneliundred
and fifty sheep and twenty-five liogs. '

The farm of Austin Smith and Sons, wlio took
the 2d premium of $15, contains seventy-three
acres, thirteen of which are in pastures. The
amount of expenditures was $1788 65, of products
$302'J 15; net profit $1240 50. They say :

It is our practice in raising Indian corn, to plow,
or liarrow in manure, at tlie rate of twelve or fif
teen loads to the acre, and to :'.]iply a handful of
ashes, in the hill, at planting. We hoe four times,
and usually seed tlie land with clover, red top, and
timothy, for the next year's mowing.

AVe have put compost manure for 1)room-corn,
in the Inlls, at the rate of sixteen loads to the acre,
until the present year ; wlicn we have applied it,
as on our Indian corn land, at the rate of tAvelve
loads to the acre. We added I'alf a spoonful of
superphosphate of lime and plaster in the hill.
We planted our broom-corn with Woodard's corn-
planter, and we have never known our land so
well and uniformly stocked as the present year.

We prefer, for a wheat field, to turn over a rich
and warm clover sward. Oats, Ave have nearly
done raising. We plow from six to nine inches
deep, and loosen the soil a little deej^er each suc-
ceeding year. We usually make about three liun-
dred and fifty loads of manure, every season.

Mr. Loomis of Whately, who drcAV a premium
on an apple orchard, made the following state-
ment :

My orchai'd contains OA'er 100 trees, a part of
which Avere set in 1844, others in 1847, and the
reuKiiiider in 1848. The holes Avcre dug six feet
in diameter and about tAvo feet 'k'cp, and filled
witi; a compost of SAvamp muck .iud barn yard
manure. The trees Avere carefully set in the
spring of the year, Avhich I ecmsider preferalile to
fall setting. I have not lost a tree.

Lkonard Loomis.

Whately, Nov. 7, 1853.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

97

MASS. STATE BOAUD OF AGRICUL-
TURE.

TiESDAT, Jantauv 17, 1854.

Board met at the State House. Present : His
Excellency, the Governor, the Lieut. Governor,
and Secretary of State. From those appomted
by the Gov. and Council, Marshall P. Wilder,
and from the counties ; IMessrs. Brewer, of the
Hampden, Brown, of the Middlesex, CLAPP,of the
Franklin, Dodge, of the Worcester, FRENCH,of the
Norfolk, Lawton, of theHousatonic, Page, of the
Bristol, Proctor, of the Essex, Reed, of the Berk-
shire, Smith, of. the Hampshire, and Spragce, of
the Plymouth, societies.

After the reading of the proceedings of the last
meeting by Mv. Flint, the Secretary, a brief
discussion ensued relative to the farm connected
with the Reform School, at Westboro', and then
the Secretary commenced the reading of his first
Annual Report of the Board. The reading was
continued through the day, but often interrupted
by animated and most instructive discussions by
the members of the Board. The reading and dis-
cussions continued through the day, until a late
hour, when the Board adjourned.

Wednesday, Janiauy IS.

Reading of the report was resumed , and after
being contiaued two hours, was suspended for the
transaction of other business — when, on motion of
Mr. Proctor, it was

Voted, That the committee appointed to confer
with the Trustees of the Reform School at West-
boro', be authorized to make all suc'i arrange-
ments as they may think advisable, and to join in
such petition or recommendation for authority
from the Legislature, as may bo necessary for this
purpose.

Thcbsday, Ja.ntauy 19.

The reading of the report was resumed, and oc-
cupied most of the day, and was not concluded,
when it was laid aside for the transaction of other
business. It was then

Voted, That in the opinion of this Board, if it
shall be deemed expedient by the Legislature to
grant acts of incorporation for agricultural so-
cieties, the geographical limits of such societies
should be distinctly defined, so that no two soci&
ties hereafter to be entitled to the bounty of the
State, shall cover the same territory.

On motion, Marshall P. Wilder was request-
ed to prepare and report to the Board an Essay on
the Culture and Preservation of Fruit, and a sim-
ilar vote was passed requesting Harvy Dodge, of
Sutton, to report on the culture of the Turnip.

Voted, That the services of Charles L. Flint,
Secretary of this Board, have been fixitlifully and
eflBciently pcrf(jrmcd, and his discharge of the du-
ties of liis oflice meets the entire approbation of
Board. The Board tlien adjourned. I

PEACH TREES.

The large crop of peaches last year destroyed a
great many trees; almost all orchards shov.' the ef-
fects of it in their broken and dangling branches.
These should ha sawed ofl'now, if not already done,
and the heads of all tliosc not In-oken down headed
in. AVe give below from Cole's Fruit Book, a
descnption with illustratiims, of the proper man-
ner of performing the work.

unprcned.

" Prune peaches in fall, or early in spring. The
fall is preferable, as by the reduction of the top,
the tree will be less exposed to injury. Prune at
the extremities, by cutting off one-third, or, when
very luxuriant, one-half of the last growth. This
mode is called shortcning-in or hcading-in, and it
is most conveniontlj' performed with stout shears,
having long, wooden handles.

Trees pruned in this way will bear earlier, and
produce larger, fairer, and better fruit, and larger
crops to the acre, if set near, as we Rave recom-
mended ; and tliis mode will prevent over-bearing,
by reducing tlie blosssom-buds, and save the ex-
pense o^ thinning the fruit. It will also keep up
a constant succession of new wood for the next
crop, for the fruit is on the previous year's growth.

This is l)y f;\r the ))est system of pruning, as it
keeps the trees low and close, saving them from
destruction by excessive crops, heavy winds, damp
snow, sleet, and ice. It also economizes room, by
many trees to the acre; it promotes health, vigor
and longevity, and a constant production of good
fruit.

SUORTEXED-IN.

This system is now becoming general, and high-
ly useful. A tree shortcncd-in is covered with
fruit and foliag(>, like the neat small figure; w'liile
the unpnincd tree (or that pruned only at the
trunk) presents the deformity of naked branches,
witli the fruit and foliage only at the extremities,
like the large;, ugly figure, first given.

Agriculture at Framingham. — Wo had the
pleasure of meeting many of our friends at Fra-
mingham on the evening of the 16th inst., at their
Lyceum and Farmer's Clul). Tlicre was an ad-

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

dress and afterwards a discussion on the question
—^'Hoiv can fanning be made so profitable and at-
tractive that farmers'' sons loill choose their fathers''
occupationV Messrs. P. Johnson, C. Capen, C.
R. Train, Major Wheeler, Simon Brown, Thomas
Gould, Wm. Buckminster, and others, took part
in the discussion, and many valuable facts were
elicited. We are glad to find the citizens of that
wealthy and beautiful town so earnestly engaged
in promoting the interests of agriculture.

EXTKACTS AND REPLIES.

milk weed MOWING MACHINES.

Can you tell me of any practicable method to
destr^ ??zzVA: weed'? I have it on my farm, and it
is increasing very fast, (a.)

Are 3'Ou acquainted with the mowing machines
now in use, and Avili j^ou give me your opinion
which is the best ? I have come to the conclusion
that I must have one for the next season, and it is
very important to get the best. (6.)

York, Me. Charles Moody.

{a.) Thorough cultivation will eradicate milk
weed, sorrel, ivhite weed, (ox-eye daisy,) and this-
tles, from a single field ; but if milk weed pre-
vails in the pasture lands, and springs up, as we
have sometimes seen it, extensively, under the
walls and other pi ices where the soil is not culti-
vated, you must cut them down about the time of
their flowering, and persist iu it as often as they
spring up. They will not live long, deprived of
their stems and leaves.

(b.) In the Monthly Farmer, vol. 4, p. 370, you
will find an engraving of Ketchum's Mowing Ma-
chine, and in vol. 5, p. 457, a description of the
machine, and the manner of working it, by Mr.
K. himself. Not having yet used any of these
machines, we can only give the opinion formed
by seeing several kinds, and by what others have
said of them. This opinion is that the machine
spoken of above is the best yet introduced. They
are manufactui-ed and sold by Messrs. Ruggles,
Nourse, Mason & Co., who have the right for New
England. In their Illustrated Catalogue (a copy
of which we have requested them to send you) you
will find a faithful drawing of the machine, with
some testimonials of its qualifications. It is our
intention to try one of them next season.

MAPLE SUGAR.

Gents : — Below you have an answer to "Who
can beat this?" Your humble namesake, Ruel
Smith, made this season past, 4250 ll)s. maple su
gar on his farm, and in this town was made the
same spring, 135,000 lbs.! a. b. c.

COUNTY SOCIETIES.

Dear Sir : — I should like to see an article thor-
oughly canvassing the merits of County Agricultu-
ral Societies — giving instances of their practical
benefit, the best mode of conducting the same —
officers and committees necessary — mode of con-
ducting fairs — systems of premiums, &c., also
presenting the obstacles to their formation, success

or practical value — and objections to them enter-
tained by any. I have taken your paper the past
year, and have been entirely satisfied with, and
prize it the more highly as it eschews long, often
rejieated personal controversies, which so readily
find access to some other papers.

B. F. Randolph.
Freehold, Monroe Co., N. Y., 1854.

Remarks. — Who will gratify our correspondent
and thousands of other inquirers, in the particulars
mentioned. Having his thoughts turned to the
subject, cannot he write the article himself, as
well, or better, than any other person ? We hope
he will try.

a LITTLE, YOUNG, SUFFOLK PIG.

Mr. Joseph Raymond, of Hubbardston, writes
us that Mr. John Browning, of that town, killed
a Sufiblk pig on the day that it was nine months
old, "which weighed when dressed and well dried
oS,four hundred and eighty-five pounds .'"
a fine pig.

Mr. JosiAH W. Pettigrew, of Ludlow, Vt.,
slauglitered a pig on the 6th of Dec. which was
247 days old and weighed 356 pounds !
the concord grape.

In reply to the inquiries of the Gospel Banner,
whether the new grape introduced byE. W.Bull,
Esq., "is the Isabella," we have to say that it is
not, nor a seedling of the Isabella — ^nor like it,
"being of different shape, larger, handsomer, and
better," as was pronounced by good judges at the
Mass. Horticultural Society, who tested both at
the same time.

In his Magazine for December, Mr. IIovey
says : — "It has not only proved by far the earliest
grape we have, but also one of the most delicious,
having, in the place of the musky flavor of the
Isabella, the rich aroma of the Catawba, with
which probably its parent was somewhat ferti-
lized." We have tested the grape for two years
past and have confidence in the statements made of
it.

PASTURE BRAKES.

Inquiry by T. J. Leonard, Wc5/()?i, Vt. "How
shall I destroy the common pasture brake? " Well,
we don't know — it is a hard subject to deal with.
If it grew in bunches, or the hassock form, you
might undermine them with the bog hoc ; but if
It is what we suppose you mean, the brake that
springs up in nearly all moist lands that are not
cultivated, the common pteris aquilina, you will
find it a difficult plant to eradicate short of plow-
ing and thorough cultivation. Try a thick spot of
them with a liberal sprinkling of salt spread on in
January, and next summer, when in bloom, try
another patch by mowing them off as closely as
you can. Burning will not destroy the roots un-
less the burn is very deep. We shall look to you
for some reliable information in relation to the
subject.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

99

To Israel Herrick, Dcrry, N. H. We reply to
your queries as to what books we would reccom-
mend for the inquiring farmer, with a great deal
of pleasure. A few only will be mentioned, viz. :
— Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees of America ;
Dana's Muck Manual ; Elements of ScientificAgri-
culture, by Norton ; American Muck Book ; Ru-
ral Architecture, by Allen ; Fruit Garden, by Bar-
ry ; Bridgeman's Gai-deuer's Assistant and Kitchen
Gardener's Instructor ; Rodger's Scientific Agri-
culture, and Elements of Agricultural Chemistry
and Geology, by Johnston ; the Farmer's Com-
panion,by Buel. The list might be considerably ex-
tended, but these would make a good beginning.

COMPLIMENTARY.

" The great subject of agriculture is attracting
more and more attention every day, and I am
truly glad to see that it begins to assume the im-
portance that it really deserves. Your paper,
which comes promptly every week, is full of the
right kind of matter, and if the tiller of the soil,
with such a help in his hands, fails to learn, then
I shall tliink thei-e is not much hopes of this gen-
eration. You have undertaken a vast work, and
I should think in some respects, a discouraging
one, for even in this 19th century there are those
so ' old fogyish' that they are not willing to
practice or believe anything they may see in a book
or newspaper. I am glad to know that there are
those who do appreciate your labors.

Newton Centre, 1854. j. F. c. H."

REFINING CIDER.

Dear Sir : — If you will give a friend the best
method to fine cider, and say whether any article
should be added to prevent it from growing hard,
I am confident you will oblige many.

A Subscriber.

If you wish to be very nice with it, filter through
sand, add half a pint of mustard seed to each bar-
rel, in a long bag, so as to leave room 'for it to
swell. After standing in the tightly-closed casks
several mouths, rack and bottle, but do not drive
the corks until the cider has stood in the bottle 24
hours.

GRAPES.

" Which are the best grapes — the Concord or
the Diana? and which make the best wine."
Bedford, N. H. p. M.

The Concord grape has been pronounced by
many good judges to Ijc superior to the Diana. It
has not the musky flavor of the Diana, but a rich
aroma instead, which is to most people more agree-
able. It is very thin skinned, has an abundant
juice, and makes an excellent wine. We under-
stand it will be for sale by Hovey & Co., by the
first of April next, and will be advertised in the
papers.

The Concord grape is said also to surpass the
Diana in its more vigorous growth and bearing.
The Diana has Ijccn growing for four years past
by the side of the Concord, and does not bear one-
sixth part the crop which the Concord grace docs.

PREMIUM FOR FARMS.

"We have often thought, that one of the best
modes of encouraging the farmer, was to offer pre-
miums for the entire management of the form.
This view is supported ])y the result of such offers
in the County of Hampden, the present season.
Three competitors appeared.

Mr. Stebbins, on a farm of 40 .acres.

Mr. Smith, on a farm of T3 acres.

Mr. Powers, on a farm of 87 acres.

Amounting to 200 acres.

Mr. Stebbins states his nett profit at $1091,75

Mr. Smith states his uett profit at 1240,50

Mr. Powers states liis nett profit at 1165,25

Amounting. to $3497,50

or an average of more than $17 per acre. Who
will say that this is not a fixir income from lands
that can be purchased for less than $100 the acre 1
Who will say there is no profit in farming 1 ' '

^ WHAT EARLY IMPRESSIONS DO.

The extract below is part of a letter from a
firm doing an extensive business in one of our
cities, whose reputation for energy and integrity
is well known to all in our Commonwealth, and
whoso business operations arc extended to nearly
all the marts of trade in the civilized world. See
what they say for rural life. We emphasize a
few words by inserting them in italics.

"As we were born farmers' boys, we took our
first industrial lessons in riding horse to plow, drop-
ping corn, driving cows to pasture, or 'jocund
drove the team afield,' and are indebted for what
of energy/ ive have, and love of labor, to jrist that
traini?ig. Although our tillage is mainly in other
fields, our early associations and primitive tastes
remain with all the fervor of a first love, and hav-
ing our gardens, to which we have lately added
five or six acres, 'suitably divided into mowing
tillage, pasture and woodland," we arc grown
young again, and have to express our obligations
f(3r the welcome weekly visits of the N. E. Far-
mcr.''''

Yes, valued friends, and what is more than
growing "young again," you will never grow old
in the garden ; employment there is perpetual
life. The tenement you occupy may by-and-by
falter and fail to do the soul's bidding, but the
spirit itself will still dwell in the green pastures
beside the still waters, until it passes on to its
higher and holier state.

A CRITICISM.

We have before us a letter from a correspond-
ent, signed "Consistency," saying some good
things of ourselves, and indulging in some criti-
cisms upon those who would impress the public
mind, if they could, witli the idea that we arc
mere "book fixrmers," knowing little or nothing
of the practical operations of the art. The criti-
cisms are severe, but just, but we shall withhold
them at present, believing that in pursuing our
plain path of duty, regardless of the carpings of
the ill-natured, we shall in the best manner sub-

100

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

serve the interests of our readers. The extract
wliich wo make says —

"As to your being book-farmers, that may be
opinion rather tlian a matter of fact. I asked an
eminent agriculturist (a man of discrimination
and sound judgment, wlio has been President of
one of the most thrifty county societies in this
State, and as such reflected honor upon himself
and the society,) which paper published in this
State, he would recommend a farmer to take to
aid and assist him in his calling ; he answered
without hesitation. The New England Farmer.

THE POTATO DISEASE.

The Rev. Lyman Smith, of Charlotte, Vt.,
writes us that he has prevented the rotting of po-
tatoes l)y sprinkling the tops with ashes, as soon
as they made their appearance, a table spoonful
to each hill, and after hoeing applying the same
amount again. The ashes were applied immedi-
ately after a shower, or upon a heavy dew. After
such applications he has had no rotten j)otatoes.

THE WHITE DAISY.

Joseph W. Newton, Norwich, Vt. The best
way to kill out the ivhitc daisy is to plow deep,
manure well, and cultivate carefully. Where the
plant is not very thickly set it is often weeded out,
but it requires considerable patience and per-
severance. Cattle will not feed it down, and
standing in the grass fields, you cannot cut it when
m bloom, so as to injure it, nor poison it with
salt or any other nostrum that we know of. The
plow, manure and hoe, with some new plant in-
troduced, will gain you the victory. With re-
gard to your other inquiry. We consider clover
the best plant to plow in as a green manure.
Turn it under, not when in its most green and
succulent state, but when the heads are turned a
little brown ; that is, when it first begins to de-
cline. Sinclair says an acre when in flower,
yielded him 20,418 pounds, containing 717 pounds
of nutritive matter. Theroots are neirly as valu-
able as the top.

Levi Shed, Hillshoro'', .N H. Plow your
meadow as deep as you can with two pair of oxen,
early in August ; pulverize it with the cultivator
and harrow into as fine a tilth as possil)le ; ma-
nure with barn manure if you can — if not, apply
300 pounds of guano per acre," broadcast, and
harrow in with the seed. An application of ashes
would l)e higiily beneficial. Would it not be bet-
ter to take up one or two acres each year, and
work and manure thoroughly, than to attempt
more?

Farming in New England. — The especial atten-
tion of the reader is called to the article of "D.
C," in this number, and to other papers which
will follow this on the same subject. The writer
is well informed on the topic he has chosen, and
writes with such directness and force, that his ar-
ticle will be read with both pleasure and profit.

SECOND AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At the Statk House, Jak. 24, 1854.

Subject. — Is the Increased Culture of Indian
Corn worthy the attention of the Farmers of this
Commonwealth ?

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Flint,
Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, who stated
that the Governor was prevented from being pres-
ent by indisposition, but that hcAvould take pleas-
ure in attending whenever his health would per-
mit.

Whereupon Mr. Seth Sprague, ofDuxbury,
was called to the chair ; ]\Ir. Sprague announced
the subject for discussion, and oiFered a few re-
marks thereon.

The subject of the cultivation of Indian Corn,
he said , was one of great importance to the far-
mers of Massachusetts. It is a native product of
our soil, and has always been a principal crop
with our farmers. We could cultivate it with
greater profit than at present, were it not for the
facility with which it can be raised in the great
Mississippi valley, where it costs not more than
fifteen or twenty cents per bushel. Yet we have
the advantage'of transportation in our favor, which
keeps corn here as high as fifty or sixty cents per
bushel.

We have much to learn in regard to the varie-
ties to be planted, as well as regards the modes of
culture. There has been a great advance in this
respect within a few years. The crops have been
doubled ; we must plant less, manure and culti-
vate better. Corn he considered one of the best
materials for fattening cattle he knew of, proba-
bly better than oil cake. Nothing imparts more
strength and power of endurance to cattle.

[^Ir. Flint suggested to the meeting whether it
would no*t be desirable to have lectures not exceed-
ing three-quarters of an hour each, at these meet-
ings, on practical subjects, to be followed by dis-
cussions ; stating at the same time that the State
Board of Agriculture had voted to furnish $100
to defray the expense of the lectures, if they were
desired by the meeting.

Mr. Simon Brown advocated the measure, and
moved that the Executive Committee secure lec-
turers for such occasions as they saw fit.

The motion was carried.]

The discussion was then resumed, liy Dr. Rey-
nolds of Concord, at the invitation of the Presi-
dent. He said, Johnston's table of the nutritive
matter yielded per acre, when cultivated in differ-
ent crops, if reduced to data con-esponding to the
crops yielded by our soils in New England, though
Bomewhat different from his results, cannot fail to
throw some light upon this subject.

Johnston takes thirty bushels of corn to the
acre as the basis of his calculation. But land
with us that will yield 25 bushels of wheat or 50
bushels of oats, w^ill yield 50 bushels of corn. Our

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

101

Agricultural Societies have not, for years past,
given a premium for corn to l&ss than from 70 to
100 bushels to the acre, and no good farmer will
be satisfied Avith less than 50 bushels. We will
therefore take 50 bushels for the gi-ound of our
calculation. Johnston adopts GO lbs. to the bushel
as the stiindard weight. This is 4 lbs. more than
our stiindard weight, but Massachusetts corn will
weigh GO lbs. as often as 50. We will therefore
take 60 lbs.

50 bushels of corn at GO lbs. the bushel ,will weigh
3000 lbs. One bushel of corn by his analysis
yields 53| lbs. of nutritive matter. The nutritive
matter in one lb. then will be represented by
161-180 of a lb. or 14^ ounces nearly.

The nutritive matter in 1 lb. of meal is by the
sjime analysis 11 2-10 oz. nearly. 25 bushels of
wheat at GO lbs. the bushel, is 1,500 lbs. Then
we have 3000 lbs. of corn at 14^ oz. to the lb.,
and 1500 lbs. of wheat at 11 2-10 oz. to the lb.
Now if we multiply the number of pounds of corn
by the ounces of nutritive matter in a pound, and
the number of pounds of wheat by the number of
ounces of nutritive matter in a pound, we
shall have the amount of nutritive matter yielded
by the two crops respectively.

3000 X 14.5 = 271Si lbs.
1500 X 11.2 = 1050 lbs.

Difference, 1668

in favor of the corn, or considerably more than
double the amount of nutritive matter in the acre
of wheat. We call the wheat straw equal to the
com straw, which we think about a fair estimate.

There is another view of this matter which we
ought also to present.

25 bushels of wheat at $1,65 per bushel will
amount to $41,25. 50 bushels of corn at 90 cents
will be $45,* leaving a balance of $3,75 in favor of
the corn — which will just about pay the addition-
al expense of cultivation.

Thus if the crop is to be sent to market, the
wheat crop, considering the smaller cost of trans-
})ortation, is quite as valuable as the corn crop.
For the feeding of stock or hogs the corn crop is
worth more than double the wheat crop.

If we institute a similar comparison between
the corn crop and the turnip crop, wo shall ascer-
tain their comparative value. We will take half
of Johnston's estimate, 15 tons to the acre, as data,
and we shall have 3600 lbs. of nutritive matter
from the acre. Now if we add to the nutritive
matter in the corn that which is contained in the
stover — viz. 1020 lbs., we shall have 3738 lbs. of
nutritive matter in the corn crop,whichis 138 lbs.
more than that in the turnip crop. Carrying on
the same analj'sis, we find that a pound of tur-
nips contains 1 11-16 ounces of nutritive matter
to the pound, while a pound of corn contains 14^
ounces. Then one pound of corn is equal in nutri-
tive matter to 8| lbs. of turnips nearly.

If we reckon turnips at 50 lbs. to the bushel,
we shall have one bushel of corn equal to 10
bushels and 20 pounds of turnips. If corn is
worth 90, then turnips arc worth a fraction less
than 9 cents a bushel, for consumption. Turnips
have been worth from 25 to 30 cents a bushel
this winter in this market. If we take 12 tons of
turnijjs to the acre, which we think a truer basis
for our calculation, we shall have 858 lbs. of nu-
tritive matter in favor of the corn crop. If wc
allow 15 tons of turnips to the acre, the oil in the
corn will be more than double that in the turnips,
and on this the fattening property essentially de-
pends.

If we compare clover hay, at 2 tons to the acre,
we shall have 2420 lbs. of nutritive, to 3738 lbs.
of nutritive matter in the corn crop. We find that
1 lb. of clover hay yields 8g ounces of nutritive
matter to the lb., nearly, making 120 lbs. of clo-
ver hay fully equal to a bushel of corn. Then
when corn is 90 cents a busliel, clover hay should
be worth $15. For as 120 lbs. of hay are to 90
cents, so are 2000 lbs. to $15.

I know it has been said that 1 lb. of meal ig
equal to 4 lbs. of good hay. If so, yankee farmers
would not use hay worth $20 per ton, when the
nutritive matter which it yields is worth but $7,50
compared with corn. The fact is, that 2 lbs. of
good hay is about equal to 1 lb. of meal. This
makes hay worth $15, when 60 lbs. of corn is
worth 90 cents. At the present prices, we had
better use more corn than wc do. Meadow hay,
at one ton and a half per acre, by which, I sup-
pose, Johnston means other kinds of cultivated
hay than clover, yields 1720 lbs. of nutritive mat-
ter, less than half the nutritive matter contained
in 50 bushels of corn, including the stover ; mead-
ow hay yields 8 4-21 ounces of nutritive matter to
the lb. — a fraction less than clover.

Johnston makes the oat crop yield more nu-
tritive matter than the wheat crop ; but he calcu-
lates from oats at 42 lbs. to the bushel. If we
take oats at 32 lbs. to the bus'icl, we find that the
nutritive matter contained in 50 bushels, including
the straw, is 2183 lbs., something more than one
half the value of the corn. I have not spoken of
the potatoes, from the uncortainty of the crop ;
could wo be sure of 27,000 I'ls. or GOO bushels to
the acre, we should have 5385 lbs. of nutritive
matter — 1G47 lbs. more than in the corn crop.

Major Wheeler, of Framingham, considered
corn, at the present prices, 95 cents to $1,00 i>er
bushel, as a very profitable crop, for almo.-jt any
farmer can raise 50 bushels to the acre, and tliG
stalks are excellent for cattle, bettor than hay.
He thought it best to cultivate corn on a flat sur-
face. The land should be plowed deep, and the
corn planted two feet apart one way and three
the other.

Mr. Brown, of Concord, expresaod the belief

102

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

that Providence intended the corn crop should be
a principal one in New England, and for several
reasons. In the first place, our climate is admi-
rably adapted to its cultivation. Our dry and
hot summers perfect the corn crop when other
crops fail. He considered if one of the most
beautiful crops that grows. In every part of New
England it may be raised for 50 to 00 cents per
bushel, and in the event of a general war in Eu-
rope, now extremely probable, a great and un-
usual demand will be opened for it for some time
to come. Even now, our exports of breadstuffs
are large, and have amazingly increased over last
year. The exports from the port of New York
from Jan. 1st to the 19th in the years 1853 and
1854, were as follows :

1853. 1854.

Wheat, bush 151,419 4*2,648

Coi-
Flour, bbl3 .

. 16,002 265,076

. 65,691 150,342

Making an increase in the value exported in
two weeks this year, over last, of $1,247,800. In
view of these facts, and the probable increased
demand, ]\Ir. Brown thought it would be good
policy for New England farmers to pay especial
attention to the crop. He considered the fodder
obtained from corn-fields, yielding 50 or 60 bush-
els to the acre, as worth as much as the average
crop of English hay we cut to the acre.

Major Wheeler said he used to think the corn
crop a very exhausting one to the land, but now
he felt convinced that there was no crop less ex-
hausting. ^

The Chairman stated that much attention had
been devoted in Plymouth county, to the raising
of corn, and with great success, yields of 100, 120,
and even 145 bushels to the acre being attained.
The corn is planted closely, not more than two
feet apart. Some have planted two feet apart
one way and 18 inches the other, and succeeded
well. On certain kinds of soil, when planted
closely. Jthe corn, will shade the ground, which is
better^than to expose the soil to the heat of the
month of August, particularly if it be high land.
Yet he would not recommend as a general rule,
or as a matter of economy, the planting of corn
less than three feet apart. The corn planted in
Plymouth county has a small stalk, with a full

large ear.

Mr. SuELDON, of Wilmington, believed that
corn did lietter when planted closely. If the land
is well manured, there are not so many suckers
when planted in this manner. On two lots of
which he was cognizant, the thickly planted corn
did better than that which was planted with lon-
ger intervals between. He believed that a good
fair acre of corn fodder, contained as much nutri-
ment as an acre of hay, and he thought that
raising corn was a good preparation of the ground
for hay. It will draw more from the land than
hay, but nothing in comparison with other crops.

Mr. Proctor, of Danvers, thought the com
crop was worthy of increased attention, because
it was one of the most certain crops. True, we
sometimes lose the crop by frost, as in 1816,
and perhaps once or twice since, but it is very
rarely the case. It is as certain, if not more so,
than any other crop of grain we raise. With in-
creased attention to culture, our average crops
would be increased 50 per cent. — they could be
brought up to 50 bu. per acre. Mr. Proctor alluded
to the difficulty which has been experienced in as-
certaining the amount of a crop, from the lack of
a standard measure, and stated that the Board of
Agriculture had decided that 80 lbs of corn, as
taken from the field in the ear, constitutes a bush-
el. Bat when this corn is fit to grind it will have
shrunk 20 per cent. One consideration which fa-
vors the raising of corn, is that the drought occur-
ring in August and September, which is so an-
nojang to farmers, may be counteracted by raising
green corn for fodder, which is the best article
that can be fed to cows. The ^quantity that can
be raised has hardly any limit. After cutting his
hay, the farmer can turn the s'od, and plant corn.
The farmers of Essex County regard it as the
bc^t mode of guarding against drought.

Mr. Lawton, of Berkshire County, stated that
the committee of the Housatonic Ag. So. selected
a rod in a lot of 40 acres of corn offered for pre-
mium,— that rod being neither the best nor the
poorest in the lot, but as near an average as they
could judge — and reckoning from the yield of that
rod, tiiC amount per acre was a trifle over 100
bushels per acre. He considered corn fodder ex-
cellent for cattle ; it will make a cow give more
milk than anything else. The corn used in Berk-
shire is the yellow 12 rowed corn, resembling very
much the Button. Would plant three feet apart
and four kernels in a hill. Turn the furrow over
flat and harrow down, and then plant the com
with a mixture of ashes and plaster.

Mr. BucKMiNSTER inquired whether some other
variety, as the sweet corn, although less bulky,
might not contain more nutriment than the South-
ern corni

]\Ir. Dodge, of Sutton, offered a few remarks
enforcing the advantage of plowing deep for corn.
He would plow 11 inches.

The Chairman, then, at half paf=t9 o'clock, an-
nounced the subject for next Tuesday evening, as
follows, and the meeting adjourned :

^'' What can he done to make the Home of the
Farmer more attractive and agreeable?^''

It is expected that there will be a lecture at the
next meeting.

Measuring Corn. — To measure corn in the ear
in a crib : Multiply the length, width and depth
of the bin together, and their product by 4i. Out
off the right hand figure,and the remaining figures
will be the number of bushels of shelled corn, and
the figure at the right, the decimal of a bushel.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JOai^ SAUL,

WASHINGTON CITY, D. C,

lias to offer to his Patrons and the public, the sub-
joined list of Nursery Stock. Tlie whole is of
finest descriiition, in the best order, and will be
sold reasonable.

200 Cedrus Africana, 6 to 9 and 12 to 18 inches.
1,000 " deodara, 1 year seedlings.
500 Cedrus deodara, 6 to 9 and 12 to IS inches.
200 " " 2 to 3 feet.

500 Fuuebral Cypress, 4 to 6 and 6 to 9 and 9 to 12 inches.
1,000 .Junipers English, 6 inches.
1,000 " " 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 feet.

1,000 Pinus excelsa, 1 year seedlings.

500 " " 9 to 12 and 12 to 24 inches.

8,000 Scotch Firs, 8 to 9 inches.
200,000 Silver Firs, European, 4 to 5 and 6 to 7 inches.
50,000 " " " 7 to 8 and 8 to 9 inches.

10,000 " " " 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 feet.

2,000 " TVebbiana, 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 inches.
500,000 Norway Spruce, 4 to 6 inches.
500,000 " " 6 to 8 inches.

50,000 " " 9 to 12 inches.

10,000 " " 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 feet.

3,000 Yews, English, 6 to 9 and 9 to 12 inches.
1,000 " Irish, 1 to 2 feet.
10,000 Larch, European, 4 to 6 Inches.
20,000 " " 1 to U 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 feet.

3,000 Currants, Red, Dutch and Grape.
2,000 " Victoria or Houghton Castle.

2,000 " White Dutch and Grape.

2,000 " Llack Naples.

10,000 Gooseberries, Best Lancashire Taritties. ,

6,0U0 Kaspberries Fastolff.

4,000 " Antwerp, Red and AVhite and JIagnum Bonum.

2,000 Plums, all the leading varieties, strong.
80,000 I'ear Stocks, strong, 1 year.

Catalogues can be had on application.

JOHN SAUL.

AGRICULTURAL

WAREHorsE a:vd seed store,

QUIXCY HALL, OVER THE MARKET, BOSTON.

THE Proprietors having recently enlarged their Warehouses,
and increased their works at Worcester, would respectfully
Invite the attention of Planters and Dealers in AGRICULTURAL
& HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, GARDEN and FIELD
SEEDS, &c., to their stock, comprising the largest and best as-
sortment to be found in the United States, which are offered at
low prices.

Of PLOUGHS — we have the greatest variety of kinds and
sizes.

Improved Sod Ploughs, for flat furrows — improved Scotch
Ploughs for hipped furrows — improved Stubble Ploughs, which
are especially adapted to deep tillage, or varying from 6 to 12
inches in depth.

Self-sharpening, Hill Side, Sub-soil, Double Mould, Com, Cot-
ton and Rice Ploughs.

Cylinder Hay Cutters, Smith's Patent Lever Gate, and others
Patent Corn Shellers, with and without Separators. Seed Sowers,
of various sizes and prices. Batchelder's patent Corn Planter,
improved. Fanning Mills of various sizes. Horse Powers, Thresh
ing Machines, Thermometer Chum, Dash Chum, Corn Planters,
together with almost every article wanted on the Plantation,
Farm or Garden.

Illustrated Catalogues sent gratis on application, post-paid.
RUGGLES, NOURSK, MASON & CO.

Boston and Worcester, Mass., Jan. 1, 1853. tf.

B. G. Wilder's Patent S<alamanaer

SAFES.

Warranted Free from Dampness.
Also, HALL'S P.VTENT GUNPOWDER
I PROOF LOCK, manufactured and for sale
byWM. ADAMS & CO., late Adams, Ham
mund & Co., sole proprietors of the above
Patents for the New England States, corner
of Cross and Fulton Streets.

All Safes sold under the name of " Salamander," " Wilder's
Salamander," and " Improved Salamander," are spurious unless
marked patent.

Legal Decision. — The public are informed that after a full
trial in the Circuit Court of the United States, Messrs. Edwards
& Holman have been found guilty of violating the p.atent held by
the subscriliers for the Salamander Safe. The subscribers under-
stand that Messrs. E. k II. now make and sell, under the n.ame
of " Improved Salamander Safe," an article filled with some other
substance than the patented filling, and that the Safe thus made
is not the true Salamander Safe, and has never been tested as
Buch. WILLIAM ADAMS & CO

Dec. 3, 1853 ly

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

eagle double plows.

THE superior nurits of the>e Plows consi-.t in
1. The mode of attaehiug the furwiiid muuld-board tO the
beam, by which great strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to thesurface,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring litye labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tol^'ably free loams, rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
tlie amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the suliscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to qnality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

AprU 30, 1853.

Oyster Shell Lime.

THE subscriber has lieen induced, at the request of several of
his friends in the farming interest, to enter into the manufac-
ture of SHELL LIME, for farming purposes, and is now pre-
pared to deli%'er at any of the railroads in Boston or CharleSf
town, the article in lots of from 10 to 100 barrels, at tlie low price
of 35 cts. per barrel, or if taken at the kiln in Medford Street,
Charlestown, at 30 cents. The money must be sent with the
order.

Also, for sale, 100 barrels Thomaston Lime, in lots to suit pur-
chasers.

Application may be made at No. 76 State Street, Boston, or at
the Kiln, situated on Gould's Wharf, (so called) Charlestown.
JAMES GOULD, Agent.

O" The shell lime made into mortar, with fom- barrels of sand
to each barrel of lime, will make a cement of better quality than
the best of Thomaston ILme, for cellar walls or stone work of any
kind.

It also contains double the quantity of Phosphate of lime than
is contained in stone lune, consequently for farming purposes is
much the cheapest.

March 26, 1853.

Muriate of Liisie,

A superior article for top dressing Grass Lands, put up in bar-
rels and delivered at the railroads in the vicinity. Proportion
about three hundred barrels to the acre.

March 21, 1S53. tf. JAS. GOULD.

Garden Seeds.

TTTE respectfully solicit the attentionof purchasers of GARDEN
VV SEEDS to our extensive st )ck, which we offer for sale. We
have all sorts of A'egctable Seeds that have proved worthy of cul-
tivation ; also, Grain, Grass and Flower Seeds. All the varieties
are raised and selected expressly for our trade, and we do with
confidence recommend them to all who desire to i)rocure seeds
that will prove true to their names.

(Cjr- Catalogues gratis, on application.

RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.,

Jan. 1. Over Quincy Market, Boston.

Bound Volumes.

BACK VOLUMES of the NEW ENGLAND FARSIER, ele-
gantly bound in Muslin, Gilt and ilmbossed, are now for sate
at this ofhce.

104

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Feb.

CONSENTS OF IHIS NUMBER.

Calendar for i'cbruiiry Page 57

The Governor and Iho Farmer— Butter Products m Berkshire. .58

Concord Farmers' Club 59

Monthly Farmer for January 60

Swallowin},' a Horse 62

Vermont ^tate Agricultural Society 63

Fanning in New Eufrland, No. 1— The Dix Pear 64

Farmers in Public I'laces— Th'; Old Cordwaiuer— Buffaloes 66

Will dry Gyjisum Absorb Ammonia ? 67

The way tomake a 'Wife Cheerful— The Cold Friday of ISIO

Measure and AVeight of ililk 69

Tlie Preservation of Kggs for Winter use 69

To Farmers — The Atmosphere and its Kffects upon Animal Life. 70
Zinc Paints — Transactions of Worcester Agricultural Society. .71

Don't Pull off the Suckers ! 71

Butter and Cheese 72

Poor Land made Rich without Manure 73

National Agriculture — Tyini^ up Cattle 74

Feeding Slock— llow much Sugar do we Eat .' 75

Effect of Railroads on Farm Products 76

Bee Culture— No. 1 76

F'arm Accounts — Reclaiming Swamps 77

Farm Fences 78

Horses Frozen or Starved 80

To Straighten Steers' Horns 81

The Good Old Plow — Mr. Proctor's Address 82

Exhausted Lands ^3

Steam Farming 84

A Good Hit— Stabling and Feeding Cows in Winter 85

Milch Cows — An Answer— The Literature of Agriculture

United States Agricultural Society 87

What a Garden should be • 8'?

Promotion of Agricultural Improvement 89

A Model Farm- Who will Ef tablish it .'

Things away np in Vermont 90

First Agricultural Meeting , 91

Profitable Cows 93

Farming and our New Governor 94

Transactions of the Hampshire Agricultural Society 95

Farming by Steam, Hay-Making, &c 95

Franklin Co. Premiimis 96

Mass. State Board of Agriculture 97

E.xtracts and Replies 98

Second Agricultural Meeting 100

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Uanvcrs Winter Sweet Apple 65

A Modern Suffolk Stallion 81

NEW ENGLAND FARMER

Is published on the first of every month, by John Ratsolds and
Joel NorRSE, at Quincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, } Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, J Editors.

[J3" Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.

(Cr All subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.

The Farmer is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of puVilication.

jj" Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

All Independent Agricultural Family Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous dei)artnients, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report ,of
the news of the Markets, and themews of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
a^jted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

[13= Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agi'icul-
4ural department of the weekly.

0= Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

tj° AH orders and letters should be addressed, post-paid.

EAYN0LD5 &. NOURSE,

QciN'CY Hall, Soitii Market Street, Bostox.

Peach Trees.

.97

1 Bone.

THE aUention of the Scientific Agriculturists and others, is in-
vited to a new article of ground bone. Bone manure has long
been known to be the most fertilizing article in use, not except-
ing even guano, but there has always existed a difficulty in pul-
rerizing it so that it will speedily and powerfully operate on
the BoTl — at a cheap rate. That difficulty has at length
been overcome, and the article is now offered in its pure and most
efficient state, ground to any desired fineness, and at the same
time retaining all its ammi)uic:il and gelatinous matter, consti-
tuting the fertilizing qualities, which causes this manure to be so
superior to all others; and another consideration in its favor is, that
it can be furnished to order fresh ground, retaining all its virtue,
at a very short notice, and at a reasonable rate. All orders ad-
dressed to the subscriber will meet with prompt attention, and
all necessary information furnished by

JOSEPH MORRILL,
No. 6 South Market Street
Jan. 7, 1854^ Smostf'

Super-Pliospliiite of Lime,

IN bags and barrels, made by C. B. DEBI'RG, a warranted
pure and genuine article, with full directions for use. For
sale by GEO. DKVENt'ORT, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
St., Boston, agent for the manufacturer.

Also, for sale. Ground Bone, Bone Dust, Burnt Guano, and
Grass Seeds of reliable quality.
March 26, 1853. tf*

Patent Giiiii Perclia Pipe,

FOR PUMPS, AQU'EDCCTS, &e.

mniS matiu-ial has been in use upwards of five years, and the
\_ sales are constantly increasing. The material is free from
•U the great objections to metal pii)e8.

Refer to Gushing & Mack, Lo'.VcU, J. N. k M. Barr, Nashua,
Geo. M. Barrett, Concord, Mass., A. Littlelield, Milford, Mass
For sale at wholesale and reuiil by

CHARLES STODDER,

De«. 3, 1863. 3mos. 75 Kilby Street.

in?" Postage. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.

The Protective Hee-lilve.

I7OR simplicity nf construction, facility of management, cheap-
ness, durability and profit, this Hive stands unrivaled. It
furnishes complete protection against the encroachments of the
Bee-moth.

" Your Committee are of opinion that it affords the protection
claimed by its inventor." — Plyjnouth Co. A^. Report.

" The Committee consider this tlie best model for a Hive which
they have ever noticed." — Bristol Co. Ag-. Report.

" I regard it as superior to any other with which I am ac-
quainted."— J. V. C. Smith, HI. D.

" I do not sec how it is possible that my Bees should ever be
injured by the Moth so long as I continue to use yovu- Hives." —
J. ;r. p. Jenks, A. M.

Premiums were awarded to this Hive at the Mechanics' Fair in
Boston, and at the Plymouth Co. Ag. Fair in 1853. It receives
the unqualified apjiroval of every Bee-Keeper who uses it. A
circular containing a description, cut, &c., of the Hive, sent to
any address, if a request is accompanied by a single letter stamp.
All communications addressed to

HENRY EDDY, M. D., North Bridgewater, Mass.

Jan. 7, 1854. eow3m

Imported Suffolk Boar,

BULRUSH.

The subscriber now offers the services
of his Suffolk Boar, Bi'lrush, (to those who
wish to improve their Stock.) Bulrush was
unported last spring, and is now about one
year old. He is rera?.rkably vigorous, and
a superior animal. He will be kept for tlie
present, at my stable, near the Depot, Concord, Mass.

JOHN EAYNOLDS.
Dec. 17, 1853. tf.

Wanted,

ATHOROCOn bred Farmer and Gardener, to take the charg«
of a farm situated 15 milcj from the city; one who is wellac
quainted with his business, none other need apply, address No.
27 Tremont Row.
Jan. 21, 1854. 8tV

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, APRIL, 1854.

NO. 4.

RAYNOLDS i NOTJRSE, Proprietors.
Office. ...QiiiNCY Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK, 1 A.SSOCIVTK
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

CALENDAR FOU APRIL.

"Now the poklen morn aloft
Waves her dew-bespan^leJ wing ;

With vermeil cheek, ami whisper soft.
She woos the tardy Spring ; '

Till April starts, and calls around

The sleeping fragrance from the ground."

EEPXNG April ha.scome,
and "hath put a spirit
of youth in every
thing." Not so rough
in her moods as March,
I but still more uncer-
tain. She "is at once
the most juvenile of the
months, and the most
feminine — never know-
ing her own mind for
a day together. Fickle
as a fond maiden with
her first lover : — coying
it with the young sun
till he withdraws his beams from her, and then
weeping till he gets them back again." But April
is a sweet mouth , after all. It is a month full of
promises: — every sweet breath from the South,
and every gentle shower, is a new promise of glad
and beautiful things ; and then what a charming
hope remains. And with all this promise for the
future, Ajiril brings the early flowers and birds,
with their fragrance and their son^. ■ What is all
the "pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious

not to fall into error. The first is, not to touch
the land until it is in a fit condition to l)o plowed,
even though the season may be a little late for
this work. If the proper drainage and evapora-
tion has not taken place, the workman will find
that the furrow turned over has been pressed into
a kind of mortar, so that when the harrow is ap-
plied, instead of the furrow falling into a fine
tilth it breaks into lumps, which become baked
and hard, impervious to air and watw, and likely
to remain so through the entire season. These
not only mar the appearance of the field, but are
in the way of the cultivator and hoe, and constant-
ly roll upon the young and tender plants and de-
stroy them.

But another error is, plowing too shallow, for
the sake of doing the work quick, and pressing
forward the spring work rapidly. This is done
at the expense of much comfort all through the
remainder of the season, and a considerable abbre-
viation of the crop, whatever it maybe. Nature,
if aided a little by giving the surplus water an
opportunity to run off, will bring all lands into a
proper condition to be plowed and planted, through
her powerful alembics, the sun and air, quicker and
better than anything that man can do for it. In
this important operation, bring in the head to the
aid of the hands, and the work will prosper bet-
ter.

Sowing Gr.'Vin. — Sow early — that is, as soon as
the soil is in condition, — then your crops get a
good start before drouths come on

Autumn, compared with these! Somebody has T.^ "^'T ■;——--— ^ thus the roots
compared life to a "Fitful April day"-wewish ith . ..^ '. are struck deep, are widely spread

. April day

were no worse, for most of the April "fits" are
very pleasant ones indeed.

But we will let the poets take care of them-
selves, while we look a little after the

Plowing. — There are two or three, general rules
to be observed in this operation which are so es-
sential to success, tliat we hope our ijoung read-
ers, at leagt, will give them so much attention as

and will perfect their seeds.

Carrots. — Sow early, and disregard the old no-
tion that by sowing late you save a good deal of
weeding ; that doctrine has lost many a crop of
carrots. See some remarks on the cultivation of this
root under the head of "E.xtracts and Replies."

Pkas. — They laugh at Jack Frost, and may bo
put in early — especially if you want a crop in
June.

154

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

APEIfi

Fences. — AYeak fences are something like weak
resolutions — the former will not keep off vicious
cattle, nor the latter vicious propensities. See that
they arc all stout and strong, in good season, be-
fore the animals have found out a weak spot.

Fruit Trees. — All that are intended to be
transplanted should be taken up before a bud or leaf
starts, set in by the heels, and kept until the ground
is ready to receive them. Great care must be ob-
served not to injure the roots, stem or branches.
Set no more than you can put down in the most
thorough manner, and find time to take care of
afterwards.

The Garden. — Clean up the strawberry-beds ;
cut out the old wood from the raspberry bushes,
and tie those which remain to stakes or trellises,
and look after the curi-ant and gooseberry bushes.

TuE Floaver Garden. — A few — if only a very
few — should be about every farm-house. They are
pleasant to the children, and to the traveller as he
passes ; and it will promote your own good nature
to see others happy.

The Door Yard. — It is always a bad sign to
see the wood pile scattered about the yard, min-
gled with old wheels, worn-out baskets, bones,
liorns,parts of wagons, and wrecks of old carriages.
A green, clean, smooth lawn is always attractive
and pleasant, and is highly suggestive of the same
good order in-doors.

April is]a most important month to the farmer,
and all its duties should be performed with fideli-
ty and promptness.

condition of agriculture in the town given, with
such manifestations of a decided interest in the
cause as will rapidly promote its interests. About
two-thirds of all the towns in the State were
heard from, and it is mainly from these materials
that he has given us the interesting details of the
condition of agriculture in the several counties.

It was our intention to extract freely from this
report, which we shall hereafter do, in relation to
particular subjects ; but on recurring to the first
part of the report in which the Secretary reviews
the past and present condition of the agriculture
of Massachusetts, we find the whole so full of in-
terest and so applicable to all New England, as
well as Massachusetts, that we shall give the first
fifteen or twenty pages, entire. We believe wc
have no reader but would be glad to see the whole,
and as only a comparatively small number of cop-
ies of the report is printed by the State, we shall
draw upon its pages more liberally for that reason.

Aside, however, from the aid afforded by these
returns, it will l)e evident to the reader that the
Secretary has given all the subjects which he has
discussed much earnest thought and investigation.
Indulging in no crotchets or fanciful speculations
of his own, lie has given a mass of valuable and
reliable facts which will strongly tend to increase
the products of the State and thereby add materi-
ally to its wealth. We wish a copy of the report
could be placed in the hands of eaeh farmer of the
State.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
BY C. L. FLINT.

Last week we briefly alluded to this report, and
said wc thought it a document of more value than
any that has pi-eceded it in this State , on agricul-
tural subjects. A more careful examination fully
sustains the opinion then expressed. No other
State publication has ever attempted to collate
from the several towns important information
in relation to the stock, the grass and grain
crops, pasturage, woodland, the fruit crojDS
renovation of lands, manures, farm labor, profits
of farming, points of excellence in the different
breeds of cattle, &c. &c.

In order to draw out the information desired on
these several subjects, together with many others
which we have not enumerated, the Secretary pre-
pared a circular, containing some 28 questions, a
copy of which he sent to every town in the State
on the first of September last, and to such individu-
al as he supposed was interested in the subjectand
would give full and correct answers to the ques-
tions propounded. In many instances his antici
pations were fully realized ; his questions not
only being answered, but a brief sketch of the

For the New England Farmer.

REMEDY FOR POTATO ROT.

Mr. Editor : — The best remedy I have ever
found for the disease that has proved so injurious
to the potato crop, is to plant a kind of potato
that is never affected with the disease. This I
have done successfully for the last ten years, not
losing a single crop, nor a single bushel, during
the whole time. The kind T used was introduced
into this town by my father, some 20 or 30 years
ago. It is a black potato, much- like the black
chenango. It is of a good quality, take the sea-
son through, especially from April to August.
It is very productive, and has given me at the rate
of some 350 bushels to the acre. I plant several
kinds for the sake of variety, but all have been
more or less^Bulyect to the rot, some entirely de-
stroyed by at, except this. I have, therefore,
come to regard it as the only reliable kind ; and
therefore plant the principal part of this sort,
so as to be sure of a crop, whatever may be the
fate of other varieties. I have now about 200
bushels on hand, perfectly sound and good.

I make this communication because many far-
mers may not know that there is a kind of pota-
to, and that a very good one, which they can al-
ways safely and profitably raise. No one can say,
of course, that they never will rot, but my own
experience is, they never have.

I am yours truly, Amasa Walkjbr.

North Broohfield, March 1, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

ISS

For the New England Farmer.

IS IT PROFITABLE TO FATTEN SWINE
IN NEW ENGLAND.

The question of the profit of fattening swine in
the New England States was suggested by read-
ing an extract in the Monthly No. of the New
England Farmer for January, 1854, taken from
the Ohio Cultivator, Vind. detailing the results of an ex-
periment projected in Ohio, to determine how much
pork a bushel of corn will make. It appears from
the extract, that S, B. Anderson weighed ofiF 100
thrifty hogs, placed them in an enclosure, fed them
100 days with as much corn as they would eat,
and found that they consumed, on an average, 100
bushels every six days, and made an average gross
increase, per hog, for the 100 days, of 175 lbs.,
or at the rate of \\ lb. each, per day ; that 1
bushel of corn made a gross increase of 10^ lbs. of
pork, or, by throwing off 1-5, to come at the net
weight, that 1 bushel of corn made 8 2-5 lbs. of
pork, net. It further appears, that if 1 bushel
of corn makes 8 2-5 lbs. of pork, then —

When pork sells for 3c per lb., corn bring 25c perbu.

»* t* 4 *' *' 33 "

"■ 5* " " 42 "

" " 6 " " 50 "

The extract does not state the condition of the
corn fed to the 100 hogs, but I suppose it was fed
whole and uncooked, and perhaps on the ear.
Whether or not, on the basis of the above table of
prices, it is profitable to Ohio farmers to feed corn
to hogs, is more than I know.

Hero in New England, it is not profitable to fat-
ten swine on clear corn, unground and uncooked,
nor in any form, if the system of feeding is a loose
and careless one ; but I shall attempt to show
that with proper management, we can make pork
at a profit.

Numerous interesting accurate experiments have
been made in various parts of the country, to de-
termine the difference between cooked and un-

him, he frequently related to me how he made this
amount of pork with a bushel of corn, and I have
no doubt but he knew, with great accuracy, where-
of he affirmed. I have now before me the records
of experiments made by several other persons, and
they show that 1 bushel of corn, ground and
cooked, will make all the way from 12 to 16 lbs.
of pork, net.

Taking the lower estimate, if 1 bushel of com
makes 12 lbs. of pork, then —

When pork aelU for 6c per lb.

corn brings 72c per bu.

u 6j u

78 "

» " 7 "

" 84 "

" 7i "

" 90 «

u u 8j " » 102 "

But there is another circumstance connected
with the rearing and fattening of swine, which, if
properly attended to in practice, will make the
business more profitable than the above table indi-
cates : I mean the great quantity of valuable com-
post the swine will manufacture, if supplied with
suitable raw materials. There can be no more
legitimate and pertinent inquiry for the farmer of
New England than this, — How can I convert the
waste or unemployed vegetable substances on and
around my fiirm into good manure ? In consider-
ing, then, the policy or profit of fattening swine,
the item of manure must have a prominent place
in the account.

On the basis that a bushel of corn, ground into
meal and properly fed, will make 12 lbs. of dressed
pork, we will take four early March pigs, of a
good breed, and when they are six weeks old place
them in a pen. I name four pigs, because that is
about the right number to be in one pen together,
and excite one another to eat and thrive well, and
work industriously in tumbling the compost over.
The four pigs shall be fed till 'J or 10 months old,
and shall from time to time be supplied with ma-
terials, in a well-arranged pen, for making manure.
We will state the average price of the first quality
cooked food for fattening swine, and resultinglof pork at 7 cents per lb., which is a low estimate,
greatly in favor of the cooked food. The late taking a run of 10 or 12 years past. The aver-
Mr. Colman made a very valuable communication [age price of corn for 10 years past, in my locality,

to the Transactions of the Essex County Agri
cultural Society, detailing various experiments of
his in fattening pigs upon Lidian meal boiled with
water. Here are the results of three of his ex-
periments :

2 pig3 in 18 days consumed 6 bu. corn, .ind gained 93 lbs., gross
2 " 20 " 4i " " 104 "

4 " 19 " 7i " " 103 "

Total of gi-ain consumed 18 bu. Total gain, 300 lbs.

Averaging the three lot of pigs, the gross in-
crease was 16§ lbs. One of the pigs in the first
lot was killed at the expiration of the experiment,
and his net dressed weight was found to be 1-5 the
less than his gross live weight. If then we deduct
1-5 from the average gro.ss gain of the 8 pigs, we
find their net gain to have been 13i lbs., or that 1
bushel of corn, ground into meal and the meal
cooked, made 13 J lbs. of pork, net.

The late Mr. Phinney, of Lexington, Mass., of
great and varied experience in agricultural matters,
was celebrated, among other things, for his supe-
rior breeds of swine, and mode of reiiringand fat-
tening them. He gave several communications to
the public, showing that 1 l)ushel of corn, fed in
the form of cooked meal, will make from 12 to 15
lbs. of pork, net weight. In conversations with

would not exceed 80 cents per bushel ; but we
will call it 84 cents. With these conditions, the fol-
lowing statement may be made :

The four pigs, fed till 9 to 10 months of age, on prepared
corn meal, will weigh, on an average, dressed 300
lbs. each, or in all 1200 lbs., worth 7c per lb $84,00

Supplied with raw material, they will make from 25 to
35 loads of compost, measuring 35 bushels each, and
richly worth a bushel of corn each ; say 30 loads, 84c 25.20

$109,20

The following deductions must 1)e made :

Worth of pigs at 6 weeks old, $2 each $8,00

A bu. of corn making 12 lbs. of pork, and the pigs weigh-
ing 300 11)8. each, they have each consumed 25 bu , or
in all 100 bu. at 84c 84,00 $92,00

Balance, ever and above 84 cents per bu. for the corn, of
17 cents per bu., or in all $17,20

The above balance of $17,20 will well pay the
labor of feeding and of supplying compost ma-
terials, and a pile of compost has been prepared,
at a cheap cost, which will make a good mark
wherever applied on the farm.

The foregoing calculations are in a good degree
based on experiments made by other pei-sons ; but
on a careful review of my own practice for several
years past, I can furnish a statement showing the
profit of fattening swine in a more favorable light

156

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aprii,

than the above account presents. Before giving
my own account, however, a few considerations
will l)e mentioned, which though more or less in-
cidental, are yet quite important to the subject
in hand.

In fattening swine, very much of the profit de-
pends upon the breed of hogs fed ; some breeds
paying a good profit for what they consume, while
others, fed on the same amount and quality of
materials, barely pay or make a loss on what they
eat. Crosses of the SuflPolks or Mackays with our
best larger breeds are certain to pay well for fat-
tening, if properly fed. The best practical pigs,
however, that I have had any experience with, art:
those made by a half-and-half cross between the
Suffolk and Mackay breeds. The cross-bloods
possess the essential qualities of early maturity
and a tendency to take on flesh rapidly, combined
with bone enough to stand uj) straight on their
legs till the time of slaughter ; and can easily be
made to weigh from 300 to 400 lbs. , at ten mouths
old. With such pigs, I always feed out my corn
courageously, and realize a satisfactory return for
it in pork and compost.

The amount and value of the compost made dur-
ing the time the pigs are fattening, will depend
upon the care and system used in supplying good
materials to them, in a well-arranged pen. The
materials thrown to the pigs a little at a time and
often, may be waste or unemployed substances,
of every name, which are rich in vegetable matter
— such as muck, scrapings from the forest, thick-
ly-matted turf, — especially if from a soil different
in kind from that to which the compost is to be
applied, — green brakes and bushes of a year's
growth, green Aveeds of every kind, the rich wash
centering in hollows, strawy horse-manure which
cannot otherwise be preserved from damage, be-
fore wanted for the land, &c., &c. The pen for
four pigs should not exceed some 15 feet square ; or
perhaps the best proportion, considering the con-
venience of getting tlie materials in, and the com-
post out of the pen, is some 10 or 12 feet wide,
by 16 feet long — thus concentrating the droppings
within a small space, making the compost up in
height rather than in length and width, and les-
sening exposure to evaporation. The pen should
be dry, cool and airy, in distinction from a slough,
should not be in a dark, miry, foul place away
down under the barn, and should be covered witli
a roof — a cheap one will do. Shelled corn should
be occasionally forked into the compost, to encour-
age the pigs to work. There should be a feeding-
apartment, leading out of the compost pen, and al-
ways kept perfectly sweet and clean.

For feeding the pigs the first 8 or 10 weeks of
what may be called the forcing or fattening pro-
cess, or say through September and October, it is
well to raise a mixed crop of the lighter grains, as
peas and oats, or barley and oats ; for this kind of
feed causes the pigs to make more bone and size of
carcase in proportion to what they gain in pork,
than corn-meal does. For this period, I prefer
peas and oats to any other grain, and sow for the
purpose 1^ bushel of peas with 1^ bushel of oats
to the acre. The product is about the right mix-
ture for feeding ; and ground into meal and fed in
about equal quantities with cooked vegetables,
the pigs commence fattening finely, while at the
same time they make bone and grow rapidly, so
that fed the following two months on corn and

cob-meal they easily attain a weight of from 300
to 400 lbs. eacli, dressed, and are strong enough
in their legs to stand up well till the day of slaught-
er. During this period, also, the refuse apples,
small potatoes, and meaner portions of various
root and garden crops, some or all of which are
always afforded by the fixrm, may be advantageous-
ly cooked and fed to the pigs. A boiler should be
set in a convenient place for cooking swine-feed,
andjihe boiling may be effected with very cheap
fuel. Two tubs should be provided to receive the
boiled food, and fed from alternately, — the mate-
rials in once undergoing the desirable fermenta-
tion while feeding from the other. The cooked
vegetables, smoking hot, should be placed in the
tub in layers with the ground peas and oats, the
whole mashed fine together, and after standing
covered an hour or so, the wash of the dairy and
kitchen may be added, making a thick soup of
the mass, which may then stand to undergo a
moderate fermentation. If fermentation however
is carried too far, the quality of the food will be
injured; but if suffered to proceed to. a mild de-
gree, the food is the more readilj' dissolved by the
fluids of the stomach, and more fully appropriat-
ed in the carcase.

For the last 7 or 8 weeks, or through November
and December till the time for slaughtering, I
prefer cooked corn and cob-meal to any other feed.
The meal is more light and bulky than clear corn-
meal ; swells very much by cooking ; distends with-
out overloading the stomach ; is not .so concentra-
ted but what its nutritive projjerties are easily and
fully digested and assimilated ; and the ground
cob, besides its considerable amount of nutritive
matter, is known to possess alkaline properties
which go to neutralize the too great acidity apt
to be produced in the stomach by ground corn.
An accurate experiment has been made in Virgi-
nia, to ascertain, the amount of saccharine or nu-
tritive matter in the corn cob. Ten bushels of
corn and cob, and ten bushels of clear shelled
com, were in separate lots subjected to distilla-
tion. The ten bushels of corn and cob yield-
ed thirteen gallons of spirits, and the ten bush-
els of clear corn eighteen gallons. Allowing
that the ten bushels of corn and cob would have
given five bushels of shelled corn, there would be
left as the product of the cobs, four gallons of spir-
it, or nearly half as much as was afforded by five
bushels of corn.

Having thus stated the incidental but impor-
tant considerations connected with the question I
am attempting to determine, I am now prepared
to make out an account of the profit of fattening
swine, based on personal knowledge and practice.

Four early March pigs, of a first rate breed, are
placed in a pen when 6 weeks old, or about the
middle of April. Those of the same age are se-
lected, and if all of one litter so much the better,
as they will be more likely to live in peace togeth-
er. From about the middle of April till the first
of September, which is about 20 weeks, they are
kept on light cheap food, as the wash of the dairy
and kitchen, with a little corn and cob-meal add-
ed after the first 4 to 6 weeks ; and they also have
the weeds and other green trash of the garden
thrown to them from time to time. After looking
the matter over carefully, I have concluded that
if the light and mixed food of this period is esti-
mated as of the average value, per day, of 8 quarts

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

157

of corn and cob-meal, that will certainly equal,
and I think exceed, the real cost of keeping.—
Ei"-ht quarts of corn and cob-meal per day, is 56
quarts per week, or 35 bushels for 20 weeks, equal
to IT-i bushels of clear corn, the price of which we
will call 85 cents per bushel, though the average
price of corn for ten years past in the region
around me will not exceed 80 cents ; say then

17J bushels of corn, at 85c per bu $14,87

The miller's toll for grhiduig 35 bu. corn and cob,

at ic per bu li^O $16,27

Through Sept. and Oct., which is SK weeks, the
four pigs have i bu. per day of peas and oats,
ground, mixed with i bu. per day of cooked
hot vegetables, the whole slightly fermented ;
they consume, then, 3i bu. of peas and oats
per week, or say 30 bu. in the 8i weeks, worth
60c per bu 18,00

Also, 30 bu. small potatoes, or other refuse vege-
tables, worth, cooked, 20c per bu., which is
rather high - 6,00

The miller's toll for 30 bu. peas and oats, at 4c

perbu 1,20 25,20

Through November and December, till kilhng
time, say 8 weeks, the four pigs have, on an
average, the meal made from 1 bu. of ground
corn and cob, per day, well cooked, which is
7 bu. corn and cob per week, or 56 bu. in all,
equal to 28 bu. of corn, worth 85c per bu 23,80

Toll for grinding 66 bu. corn and cob, 4c per bu. . . .2,24 26,04

Worth of the four pigs at 6 weeks old, $2 each 8,00

.$75.51

Total cost of fattening the four pigs

The other side of the account :

When slaughtered, the pigs will average 300 lbs.
each, dressed, or will weigh 1200 lbs. the
four, worth 7c per lb 84,00

They have prepared 30 loads of compost, between
the loth of April and 1st of Jan., worth a
bushel of corn, or 85c per load 25,50 109,50

Deduct cost of fattening 75,51

Balance, over and above market price of the ma-
terials consumed $33,99

MEMORANDCSf. — If the price of corn were $1 per bu., then on
the 17^ and 28 bushels of corn in the above account of cost of
fattening, there would be au addition of 15c per bushel, makin^
an increased cost of $6,82.

So fixr as I can judge, or have reason to believe,
the above statement of the cost of getting four pigs
of a first-rate breed up to the weight of 300 lbs
each, dressed, is plenty large enough ; but if the
reader should insist that it ought to be made larg-
er, I in turn may with propriety claim additions
to the other side of the statement, while the aver-
age price of corn for a run of 10 years past would
not, in my region of country, exceed 80 cents per
busliel, my pork has on an average sold for more
than 7 cents per lb. ; and I think it may be truly
said that an extra quality of pork, such as the
system of feeding a first-claas breed of pigs as
above described may always make, will any year
command, in any considerable market, from ^ to
li or 2 cents per lb. more than the current price
of pork. As for the weight of the pigs, I may
claim some 100 lbs. or more addition on the four;
and as for the compost made by the pigs, I had
better pay one dollar a load for it rather than not
have it.

By feeding the four pigs from Seiit. 1st, to a1)0ut
Dec. 1st, on a greater quantity of cooked vegeta-
bles and a less quantity of meal per day than is
reckoned in the above account, the expense of feed-
ing would be lessened ; but in offset, the pigs thus
fed, and. killed at the age of 10 months, would
not weigh as much, tlic texture of the pork would
not be as firm, nor the price quite as high a.s if
fed as stated in the account above. Still, farmers
situated in localities rather unfavorable to the
profittible raising of grain, and where it commands!

rather a high price in proportion to the price of
pork, may find it advisable, in fattening swine, to
feed more largely of cooked vegetables and less of
grain than is my custom, and take up with a less
amount of pork.

For (me, I am satisfied that it is profitable to
fatten a good breed of swine here in New England,
provided the business in all its departments is
managed understandingly and with strict system.
I have to say to my brother farmers, that before
purchasing town manures very largely, or send-
ing money off for foreign concentrated fertilizers,
it IS well to look about and see if the cheaper ma-
terials and means at home are fully employed for
fertilizing the soil at. a less cost. The substances
near at hand and fit for making a rich compost,
are none the less valuable as fertilizers because
they lie common and in abundance on every hand.

F. HOLBROOK.

Brattlcboro\ March 4, 1854.

For the Neio England Farmer.

PRUNING ORCHARDS.

Mr. Farxier : — Were a tree gifted with speech,
what complaints should we hear on visiting most
orchards in New England. Of harsh treatment —
commencing with that bane of all nurseries tind
young trees, the murderous jack-knife in the nur-
sery— then torn from its place, leaving a large
portion of its roots, and set as we would a stiike to
struggle by itself. The poor tree hesitates a year
or two whether to attempt a new existence or give
up the ghost Avithout further struggling — many
of them, particularly root-grafted trees grown in
hot-beds of manure, very sensibly prefer the latter
course; and who can blame them]

For a few years past many places in New Eng-
land have been flooded with tall shrubbery, mis-
namcd apple trees, by unprincipled or ignorant
speculators from Western New York. These have
been sold by calling on individuals and getting
orders for trees (?) to be sent the next season.
The seller has a speech for every one, stereotyped
for liim l)y the owner before starting, and talks so
learnedly of the height of his trees, their rapid
growtli and root grafts, that he induces many to
engage them in advance. The trees are received
in due time, and the purchaser, much to his sur-
prise, finds a bundle of long switches of some
three years' growth grafted on pieces of mutilated
roots, instead of such trees as he expected. But,
he says, perhaps they may grow — it is a small mat-
ter to quarrel about, so he plants them for an or-
chard, and in three years a good portion of them
are not to be found in this world.

Such as have been reared in New England in tlie
good old way, practiced and taught by our Far-
tJiers, are more hardy, and commence a new strug-
gle. Removed from the protection of their fellows
in the nursery, they attempt to protect their na-
ked trunks from our burning suns by twigs and
leaves, but are still pursued by the old enemy, the
jack-knife, if the owner finds time to use it. Af-
ter growing in a state of half starvation in a soil
deprived of its original ingredients necessary for
their health and productiveness until thoroughly
diseased, they then attempt a new existence by
throwing out new limbs or sprouts, but are now
met l)y tlie axe and hand-saw, the sprouts are
broken off and the large limbs removed in quanti-

153

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aprii,

ti38, in March or April, when the owner, having
completed his winter's work, has time to do it.
As Avarm weather approaches, a poisonous sap
runs from the wounds, blackening and killing the
bark, when a few years ends their miserable ex-
istence.

This may look like a fancy sketch, but I ask any
intelligent cultivator, looking at cmise and effect,
if it is not the true cause why so many orchards
in New England are worthless at fifty years of age,
instead of being healthy and fruitful at two hun-
dred years old, as they would be with proper treat-
ment.

A tree left to itself needs little or no pruning.
Look at our fields, where we find owners of taste,
we find a liberal supply of shade-trees where Dame
Nature planted the seeds and has taken all the
care of them. Does she not dispose of all the
small twigs and leaves on the bodies as soon as she
has no further use for them? And, as a whole,
does she not form as good or even better, more
healthy and graceful tops, than we find generally
in orchards that have been liberally aided with
the jack-kni^e and hand-saw? Certainly from
such a teacher we ought to be able to take some
practical lessons. I do not say that pruning is
never necessary, but do say that, in the culture of
treSs, nature should be studied and aided, never
thicarted.

When one procures trees for orchard planting,
his inquiry should be, not how tall ? but what is
their diameter at the base ? — are they on entire
roots 1 — at what distance have they grown from
each other in the nursery? — what has been their
exposure to winds ? — have they been once or twice
transplanted and cultivated so as to be well filled
witli fibrous roots ? — and have they been grown in
ordinary soil, or have they a forced growth by
stimulating manures? I will not insult the com-
mon sense of any man by saying what answer
should be given to these questions. No tree re-
quiring a stake should be planted in an orchard.
If not rooted and grown enough to stand alone
against all winds without, throw it aside as use-

Trees properly planted require attention during
the first few years to form a well balanced top,
taking out some and shortening othfcr limbs. After
this the pruning required is very trifling — in most
trees none during the ordinary life of man. But
in this wicked world we must take things as they
are and not as they should be, or would have been,
with proper early attention and culture, and as
far as practicable, remedy evils already existing.

The most common error in pruning is thinning
out the whole interior or central portion of a tree
to "let in the sun," thus destroying one-half of
the l)earing branches, leaving long, naked limbs
producing fruit only at the ends beyond the reach
of anything larger than a raccoon, without the
aid of long ladders, lessening the quantity of fruit
and injuring the quality. Apples protected by
leaves are much better, larger and fairer, (being
grown as Nature designed,) than when grown on
the ends of long branches, exposed to the sun in
July and August. In the cool, moist and cloudy
atmosphere of England , this course is not only pro-
per but necessary, some of our American apples
even requiring the trees to be trained to a wall to
ripen their fruit, but the course practiced and
taught by the best English cultivators is for their

climate, not for ours. A tree properly trained foe
them in a few years may be ruined by the hot
suns and cold winters of New England.

Trees require different training, depending on
varieties. A course proper to perfect the North-
ern Spy or Newtown Pippin is wrong for the
Rhode Island Greening and northern varieties gen-
erally.

When old trees are grafted, a very different
course of thinning out is necessary, and generally
during the first few years it is necessary to cut out
many of the grafts. It is of little use to prune
old trees standing on worn out Soils (as is the
case with most of our old orchards) without first
cultivating, manuring and supplying alkalies, of
which the soil has become exhausted ; but as this
article is already quite too long, I shall say noth-
ing of cultivation.

When a tree throws out sprouts on its branches
it is a sure indication of disease, and the natural
remedy is to leave the best to form new limbs and
gradually remove the old branches. If this is done
with the ^r5i sprouts, it will be necessary to leave
very few, and cut out old branches accordingly.
Old decayed trees which have been entirely neg-
lected, when filled with vigorous shoots, can in a
few years have entire new tops by reserving the
strongest in proper places and cutting out all the
old limbs. These, every man understands, should
be cut close to the growing limbs, and so as to heal
well, and covered with some composition. The
best I have ever tried is composed of tar thickened
with brick dust, and applied when warm with a
brush. Grafting wax or Gum Shellac dissolved in
Alcohol is liable to peel off on large limbs.

The time for general pruning in New England
is in June or early in July, "after the first growth.
The sap is then rapidly formed, and descends from
the leaves so that all fresh cuts commence closing
immediately. Large dead and dying limbs may
be cut through the summer, September and Oc-
tober, if covered with composition. All winter
pruning is bad. February, March and April are
the worst three months in the year for pruning
any trees. Sap soon after ascends, flows from the
fresh wounds made by cutting large limbs, poison-
ing and killing the bark, and, if a general pruning
is then done, it is very destructive.

I am aware that winter or early spring pruning
is advocated by many very intelligent men, but in
a country where every winter the themometcr falls
from 10'^ to SC^ below zero it is far better to let
trees alone. If any one will notice an orchard so
treated (and it is often done) — see it again in August
with the black and dead bark on limbs and bodies
caused by flow of sap, and mark its progress a few
years, he must be satisfied it may be as well to cut
a tree at the root and i-emove it entii-e, as to cut
off one-fourth of its top in the winter or early

apnng.

Burlington,

C. Goodrich.

Vt., March, 1854.

Remarks. — We bespeak for this article more
than the ordinary attention of the reader.

li^ Many who find the day too long, think life
too short ; but short as life is, some find it long
enough to outlive their characters, their constitu-
tions, and their estates.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

159

WHERE DOES ALL THE CORN GO TO?

When we read of the twenty-five thousand bush-
els of corn raised in a single year, by Mr. Ells-
worth, in Indiana, and of the ten, fifteen, twen-
ty, and twenty-five hundred barrels produced on
single plantations or farms in Virginia or Ohio,
Ixjside the vast aggregate from the smaller planta-
tions and farms scattered through the land, well
may we inquire, "where can it all go to ?"

On looking at the pages of the: '^Untied Slates
Economist, ^^ a most valuable paper printed at New
York, and principally devoted to money matters,
commerce, manufactur&s and state of the markets,
we find at least a partial solution to the question

This paper gives a statement of the corn shipped
from the port of New York within the short
space of two weeks ending March 11, 1854, as fol
lows : —

To LiverpooV, 305,738'bushels.

Xo Belfast, 12,930J "

To Queeustown, ^ 13,016 "

T» Glasgow, 35,398 "

To Lomlon, 7,470 •'

To British N. A. Colonies, 1,330 "

To British West Indies, 630 «

To Cuba, 686 "

From Philadelphia, mostly to Liverpool :

Corn, 302,037 bushels. Corn Meal, 63,236 bushels.

From Boston, to foreign ports :

Corn, 7,512 bushels. Corn Meal, 1,500 bushels.

From Baltimore, to foreign ports :

Corn, 69,U6 bushels. Corn Meal, 720 bushels.

We subjoin the following table as affording at
a glance the amount exported in a single week,
and also the aggregate since Jan. 1. Compara-
tively little is sent from the Southern ports, most
of it being first brought North, and re-shipped to
foreign ports.

posed of by sending it ofi" to feed our hungry breth-
ren across the water. We have no idea that this is
any thing like the true amount sent out of the
country ; but if it is, it is only a moiety of the
whole amount expended.

Corn meal has now become an article of food
in almost all families of the county, so that vast
quantities are required for this purpose ; then look
at the immense amount fed to horses, cattle, swine,
poultry and sheep. There is scarcely a town in
New England but uses its six to ten thousand bush-
els a year, of southern corn, in addition to the
products of its own acres, and then must be added
the vast amount used for distillation.

Even in New England, the corn crop is an easy
and profitable one to raise, with a ready market
at the door of any farmer who produces it. War
or no war, a large surplus beyond our own wants
will be needed ; in this view it becomes us as far-
mers, to see if we cannot produce enough for our
own wants and keep our cash for some other pur-
poses than expending it for corn.

E.\ports of Corn from

New York to foreign ports

for the week

ending March 9, 1854,

compared with the corresponding week

of last year :

, 1853 . , 1854 >

To—

Bush.

Value. Bush.

Value.

Liverpoool,

86,178

$57,128 129,434

$127,479

GUisgo\r,

20,744

20,745

Belfast,

S«S80

5,927

Havre,

3,803

3,650

British West Indies,

65S

448 100

100

Cuba,

349

418

New Grenada,

240

170

Total Corn,

93,816
109,982

$63,503 154,430

$152,392

Total in February,

$76,856 555,606

$564,564

Total in January,

42,840

31,690 383,927

327,498

Since Jan. 1,

248,638

172,049;i, 094,053

1,044,454

Now if wc multiply the amount sent from the
single port of New York in one week by the 52
weeks m a year, we shall liave the enormous amount
of eight millions and eight thousand bushels sent
from a single port in one year !

Then wc have gathered above, that, the sum of
444,481 bushels have been sent from the ports of
Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston, in about two
weeks, which, multiplied by 2G, half of the weeks
in tlie year, would give an aggregate o£ eleven mil-
lion, Jive hundred and fifty-six thousand, five hun-
dred and six bushels, making 19,664,506 bushels dia

WELLS' PATENT GRASS SEED SOWER.

The above represents the mode of operating a
very desirable and ingenious hand-implement for
sowing grass seed. It is a simple hopper with a
zinc bottom perforated with holes, of equal size
and distance apart ; the seed is distributed by
means of a flat rod on the bottom, extending from
one end to the other, with notches corresponding
with the holes in the zinc, and notched on each
side, which keeps the seed in motion, and equally
dividcl from one end to the other. It is worked
by a small lever on the side, to which is attached
a guageby which the machine can lie regulated to
sow any quantity desired ; it sows tlic seed very
accurately, is not liable to get out of order, and is
neat, simple and cheap. It is very useful to the
farmer, for the easy, rapid and perfect performance
of a labor otherwise very difficult. Price $4.

First Annual Rki'ort ok the Secretary of
THE Board of Agriculture. — We have exam-
ined this Report sufficiently to come to the opinion
that it is the most valuable document tliat has yet
been issued i' this State, on agricultural subjects.
It is wri^U A in a clear and comprehensive style,
and • a phraseology so plain and direct that no

160

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

one -will find diiBcuItj in understanding all its
parts. We shall improve the earliest moment to
speak of it more at length and give the reader
extracts from its pages. Mr. Secretary Flint has
done himself great credit in the production of this
Report, and the document is an honor to the State
under whose auspices it has been produced.

For the New England Farmer.

BEE-CULTURE~-No. 3.

Another obstacle to l:ee-calture consists in the
destruction of the bees by the bee-keeper.

This cruel and barbarous custom still prevails
to a greater or less extent in almost every portion
of the country. It necessarily prevents the le-
gitimate and natural increase of colonies, and lim-
its greatly the pi'ofits which might otherwise be
derived from tlicm. This has been done under the
mistaken apprehension that this procedure be-
comes necessary in order to secure the avails of
their labor. This policy is about as wise as it
would be for the poultry-keeper to destroy his
fowls in order to get possession of the eggs which
are found within, or it reminds one of the woman
who, as the Latin fable relates, had in her posses-
sion a hen, which laid daily a golden egg, and
being somewhat avaricious in her tendency, killed
the hen hoping to come into possession of all the
golden eggs at^ once. The case is this, in most
instanc3s there is a destruction of bees to the value
of $5,00 in order to secure three or four dollars
worth of houey. In many instances the ratio of
profit is much less than this, and it is profit the
backward way. Tliis mode of procedure does
not pertain to any successful system of bee-cul-
ture. How very different the result, in a series of
years, when all the increase is kept alive and kept
at work.

Another obstacle to bee-culture is found in the
rehictaiice of very many persons to engage in the
enterprise.

This reluctance has its origin in fear. It arises
from the fact that bees are furnished with a little
formidable weapon of defence, whose sharp point
is much dreaded by those who are very imperfect-
ly acquainted with them, but very little dreaded
by the experienced apiarian. He knows that it
is merely a weapon of defence, and not one which
is used in sport. It is employed only in desperate
cases, or those which are considered desperate, in
which they are willing to die in the conflict. The
bee when it stings leaves its sting in the wound,
and the extremity of the abdomen is torn,olf with
it, and he dies soon after. The experienced apia-
rian gives his bees to understand early, by very
cautious and gentle management at first, that they
are not to be harmed by any of his manipulations.
In other words, his bees soon become accustomed
to his jircsence and are not annoyed by it, and are
not tempted to use upon him their weapons of
defence. Hence his fears are at an end. He finds
his bees are domesticated or rendered manageable
in the same way and upon the same principle as
any other creuture wliich is subject to his control,
viz: hy familiarity, gently conducted at first , and
often repeated, until they arc no longer strangers,
and there is no longer any trouble.

North Bridgewater, Mass.

THE BEE AND THE CRICKET.

Br GEORGE KE.NT.

A Bee, one day, in arboi- lay,

Or rather was fond of humming ;
Busy and blithe, taking his tithe

Of "anise, mint, and cummin."

A Cricket near was in high cheer.

Chirping in lively dittj- ;
The work as di-udge he thought "all fudgs" —

For toil he felt no pity.

Tvras summer time, each in his prime, '^

One bent on mirth and pleasure ;
Wise to provide, the other plied

His task, for winter's treasure.

The summer's day has passed away,
And Autumn brought "Jack Frost j"

Each in his turn began to learn
Of time to count the cost.

The Bee eould show of cells a row

Of well-filled sweetest honey ;
The Cricket's song had brought along

No food "for love or money."

The winter came — for very shame,

The Cricket was found dodging
In any nook where he could look

Por miserable lodging.

The Bee was hived, and joyous thrived.

In comfortable quarter ;
Among his friends his winter spends

In pleasure, as he ought to.

Now which, think you, oa sober view.

The wisest part lias acted t
If you have doubt, don't find it out

As Cricket poor in fact did.

Little Pilgrim.

For the Neiv England Farmer.

WHY DON'T THE BUTTER COME.

Mr. Editor : — I notice the inquiry of Joseph
H. Wells as above, and will say we Vermonters
have had similar trials in years past, but sinc3
the introduction of 0. R. Fyler's Patent Butter
Working Chui-n, those things have passed away. I
am informed from good authority, that one thou-
sand of these churns were sold to the fixrmers in Ver-
mont, last season. I have seen a list of more than
three hundred farmers that use them, all speaking
in high terms of them, not^nly to churn, but to
work and salt the butter ; the cream is broken four
times each revolution, and they will churn any
cream that can be c?iurned in short order. This
churn is a new "patent, only about one year and a
half old, and no rights have been in the market,
but we are told there will be this year. The re-
tail price is, 4, 5, 6, 7-^ dollars, and if friend Wells
will send me any of the above sums, I will send
one of those churns; and if he is jealous of strang-
ers, and will give me his address, I will send
him one, and if it don't do the work he wants,
may only pay expenses of transportation.

Henry Hoi^es.

Grafton, Vt.,Feb. 20, 1854.

Worcester County Agricultural Society. —
This society has elected the Hon. John Brooks, of
Princeton, a member of the State Board of Agri-
culture, in place of Harvey Dodge, Esq., of Sutton,
whose term had expired.

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

161

THE CONCORD GRAPE.

162

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

April

THE CONCORD GRAPE.

Long ago impressed witJi the opinion that our
native grape was capable of being greatly ameli-
orated and improved, through the seeds, Mr.
E. W. Bull turned his attention to their production,
and now has growing more than 2000 seedling
plants, from some of which he hopes even to beat
himself. It will take a long time to prove them
all, but tlie result cannot be otherwise than im-
portant ; for the natural habit of the vine once
changed or broken, variation takes place in such a
manner that no opinion can be formed of the
product. His success in raising the Concord
Grape is the best proof of this.

Mr. Bull has given a brief history of this new
variety, and it will be noticed that he calls it a
seedling from our native grape of the second
generation. It is this ; some years ago he found a
chance seedling growing upon his grounds near
a wall ; as there are no wild grapes in the near
vicinity of his place, lie removed it to his garden,
where he watched it with some care, and gave
it good cultivation. In a year or two it produced
a few bunches of fruit, ripening as early as the
last part of August, and remarkably sweet and
free from the foxy flavor of the wild type. The
idea at once occurred to him that another gener-
ation would be a still greater improvement, and a
parcel of seeds was saved for planting. His an-
ticipations have been fully realized ; the Concord
Grape was the produce of these seeds. We annex
Mr. Bull's account of the origin of his vine.

Concord, Mass., January, 1854.

"I send you the history of the Concord Grape,
•M^ich you desired for your excellent Magazine.
I have by no means said all that can be said for it,
my desire being to have it come fully up to the
expectations of those who may cultivate it, which
I have no doubt it will.

" I believe I have before stated to you that my
vine is growing on a poor sandy loam, overlaying
gravel, which has not been trenched and but slight-
ly manured ; add to this, the late spring and
early autumn frosts, which we are liable to in
this deep valley of Concord, and the summer
droughts, which are very severe with me, and I
think you will conclude with me that it will be
likely to keep up to its character under almost
any circumstances.

"And here let me say that T have cultivated the
Isabella, and many other kinds of grape, for fif-
teen years, without being able to ripen them in
open culture, and it was this constant failure which
led me, ten years since, to raise seedlings from
our native grapes, in the hope that I should obtain
a hardy grape that would give me a sure supply
for my tal)les. In this I have succeeded beyond
my expectations.

"The Concord Grape is a seedling, in the second
generation,of our native grape, and fruited for
the first time four years since, l)eing at that time
the only seedling I had raised which showed a de-
cided improvement on the wild type.

"Notwithstanding its unfavorable position, it
has proved a groat grower and bearer, and very
consant to its quality and season. Tlie seedlin'j-
from which the Concord was raisod grow near to
a Catawba, and, it is quite possible, was imprc"--
nat(;d by it, it having the flavor of that variety.
Tiie parent vine was a good and sweet grape,
large, black, and ripe the 20th of August. '

"Tlie Concord grape, as I said before, is a strong
grower; the wood strong, the foliage large, thick,
strongly ncn'ed, with a woolly under-surface, and
has never mildewed nor rusted under any vicissi
tudes of weather.

"The grape is large, fi-cquentiy an inch in diam-
eter, and the bunches handsome, shouldered, and
sometimes weigh a pound. In color it is a ruddy
black, covered with a dense blue Isloom, the skin
very thin, the juice abundant, with a sweet aro-
matic flavor, and it has very little pulp.

"It ripens the 10th of September. The first
ripe bunch of the season was exhibited at the Mas-
sachusetts Horticultural Society's Room, on the
3d of September, 1853. The vine was neither
pruned nor pinched, nor had application of any of
the horticultural arts, whereby precocity and size
are attained, my object being to ascertain what
would be the constant habit of the vine I suppose
that its quality would be much improved in a more
favorable climate, and that its superiority to the
Isabella would be as apparent under such circum-
stances as it is here.

"The great want of the country in this latitude
is a good table and wine grape, which shall also
be early, hardy, and prolific. The Concord Grape
fulfils these conditions, and I feel a sincei'e plea-
sure in offering it to my countrymen."

E. W. Bull."

We close our account of the Concord Grape
with a more full description.

Bunch, large, long, neither comparct nor loose,
handsomely shouldered ; Berries, roundish, large,,
three-quarters of an inch in diameter, sometimes
measuring an inch ; Shin, thin, very dark, covered
with a thick blue bloom ; Flesh, very juicy, nearly
or quite free from pulp; Flavor, rich saccharine,
and sprightly, with much of the delicious aroma
of the Catawba; ViJie, very vigorous, making strong
wood; Leaves, very large, thick, strongly nerved,
not much lobed, and woollj' beneath. — Hovey^s
Magazine.

For the Nov Ensr/and Farmer.

ERROR IN JUDGMENT.

Mr. Editor : — It was recently urged, by an em-
inent gentleman. President or Vice President of
one of our County Agricultural Societies I believe,
that deep plowing and thorotigh pulverization was
all that was necessary to be done, to prepare land
for a crop ; — and that no benefit whatever accrued
from the application of manures. In proof of
this, he said he had grown four acres of corn the
last season , that yielded forty-four bushels to the
acre, (fair measure,) by this manner of cultivation.
I fully credit his statement. Now, sir, suppose
four cords of manure had been applied to the acre,
would he not probably have had Jifly per cent.
more corn ; and would not his land have been in a
much better condition for the production of grass,
for lialf a dozen years to come? The putting for-
ward such statements, by men of high standing
in the community, does much harm. Under very
peculiar circumstances, perhaps, a fair crop can be
grown without manure ; but such crops will not
Iiogin to justify the omission of its application.
And whoever concludes that it will, errs in jtidg-
mcnt. *

Feb. 22, 1854.

1854.

NEW" ENGLAND PARMER.

163

IMPBOVEMENT OF THE DAIEY.

Lexinc;ton., Jax, 0, 1854,
To Ihc Trustees of the Massac/mscils Seciely for

Promoting Agriculture.

Gentlemen- — In a communication -which I have
just received front the Ron. E. R. Hoar, iatc
President of the JJiddlcsex Agricultural Society,
lie informs lue that ho huA a conversation some
weeks ago with oee of the members of your Board,
in regard to the mode in which tlie State Society
<~ould best promote agricuiturui improveKients,
through the agency of the County Societies ; and
that he then suggested, that if tlie Trustees of the
State Society had fujids which they ceuld spare
for the purpose, it might be well for them to
divide the State into disti-icts, pcrlvapg four in
number ; the Western Counties one, TTorcester
and Norfolk one, the Southern Counties one, and
Essex and Middlesex the fourth ; that should the
sum appropriatefl admit of it, $150 should be
offered in each district, as premiums foir the best
■dairy of cows, not less than *•/> in number, which
should have been owned for five months previous
to the cattle shew by ths exhibitoT, divided into
three premiums of $75, $50, and $25, open to
competition io any pei-son iu either of the coun-
ties composing the district, and offering it in
Middlesex this year, and in Essex next, or vice
versa, and in like manner in each of the other
■districts.

In case the funds of the Society would admit
of offering only $100 to each district, in premiums
of $60, $30 and $20, or in two premiums of $60
and $40, it might be proportionably useful.

The foregoing plan presents a mode of offering
premiums, which if not entirely new, has been
adopted only to quite a limited extent, by any of
our agricultural societies. The object is one of
great importanco : the advancement of that impor-
tant branch of agriculture which pertains to the
dairy. Hitliei-t > the attention of agriculturists
has been niainl3' directed to improved modes of
culture, with t(?(» little regard to the dairy, or the
stock best suit&l io its purposes. It i!i true that
to this end the Trustees of the Maasachusetts
Society have for many years past directed their
attention, and not -s^ithout beneficial results. —
That all their eflort« should have been crowned
with entire succ.-s* could not reasonably have
been expected. That they had aided in awaking
the minds of farmers to a sense of the importance
of greater improvement in this branch of husband-
ry, cannot l)e questioned. There is still much
need of further effort to advance this department,
and bring it nearer to perfection.

In tlie confident belief that the plan above
mentioned, if carried out under pjoper regula-
tions, would have a useful and beneficial effect, I
bog leave to offer it for your consideration, cherish-
ing the hope that it well not be deemed unworthy
of your adoption and encouragement.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Saml. Chandler.

teution which was duo alike to its subject and its
source.

At the last meeting of the Board, the under-
signed were appointed a Committee to communi-
cate to you the conclusion to which the Trustees
had come, with full powers to arrange all the
details which might be necessary for carrying
their views into effect.

You have done the Trustees of the State Society
no more than justice in saying that "they have
directed theiv attention for manyyaira past to the
adv-ancemcEt of that important part of Agricul-
iture which pertains to the Dairy.'' They deem
ine departiaent ef husbandry more interos'ting or
imore important, and they will gladly avail them-
jselves of the suggestions of exiierienced farmers,
in doing whatever more may bo in their power in
the same directton-s.

With this view, and in conformity with the
general ideas of ly'ourself and Judge Hoar, they
have authorized and instructed the undersigned to
select four counties in different quarte;s of the
Commonwealth, in which premiums for the best
dairy cows shall be offered by the State Society
during the present year, and they have appro-
priated the sum of six hundred dollara for the
purpose. Should the result of this experiment
fulfil the expectations which they are encouraged
to form, it ie not improbable that a similar course
will be pursued in the other counties in succeed-
ing years.

For the pra«!ont, however, we are authorized to
announce to ^-ou, and through you to the farmers
of Middlesex, and other parts of the State, that
the Agricultural Societies o^Middlcseoc, Berkshire,
Worcester and Bristol, are hereby severally em-
powered by the Trustees of the State Society,
to offer the following premiums for the present
year, and to call upon our Treasurer for their
payment, viz : —

For the best dairy of cows, not less than six in
number, and which shall have been owned by the
exhibitor and kept within tlie county not less than
five months previous to the Cattle Show, $75.

For the second best do, $50.

For the third best do, $25.

You will observe that we have so far departed
fi-om your suggestions, as to confine the competi-
tion to the separate counties, instead of adopting
the district system, which you proposed.

And we desire, also, to add, that the whole re-
sponsibility of judging as to the cattle exhibited,
and of awarding the premiums, ia intended to be
left to the County Societies, respectively, subject
only to the conditions and limitations which hare
been already stated.

"We remain. Dear Sir,

Respectfully, your obedient servants,
RoiiT. C. W^i.\THRor, )
James Brow.v, \ Committee.

Geokoe W. Lyman, l

Boston, Feuruary 18, 1854.
Gen. Sani'l Chandler, Lexington :

Dear Sir — Your communication of January
0th was duly received by the Trustees of the
Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture,
and has been considered by them with all the at-

Dkstruction of Birds at VAN9iTTARTlsL.ijfi>

They generally take 2,000 to 2,200 in each pit,
in the morning, at one drive ; and then jumping
into the hole, they sot to work to pick tlieir poor
captives, pulling offoidy the feathers of the body,
and throwing the carcases out of tho hole. Thie
is hard work, and l)oforo the end of the season
their nails often como off from the continual pluck-
ing. The feathers of 25 birds weigh only a pound,

164

NEW ENGLAND FARMEE.

Ap

■which sells at Launccston for tAvopence ; but
Tucker, his wife, and Dick, collected during the
season a whole ton, to do which thoy must have
killed 56,000 birds. What an enormous quantity
must be annually destroyed amongst the whole
party ! and yet they say that the flocks do not
appear to diminish. — A Sketcher's Tour Round
the World.

SEVENTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At the State House, Tcesdat Evening, Feb. 28.

Subject: — Dairy Products, — What class of ani-
mals are best fitted for the malting of butter and
cheese, and ivhat is the best mode of feeding for
these purposes ?

The meeting wag called to order by Hon. Seth
Spr.\gue, of Duxbury, and on his motion, Hon.
John C. Gray, of Boston, was chosen to preside.

Mr. Gray, on taking the chair, said he was
wholly unprepared to make any elaborate remarks,
ou the subject of the evening's discussion. He
considered it a very interesting topic, because the
products of the dairy contril^ute largely to the
sustenance of the people of this country. In form
ing a dairy, the first point is in selecting tlic stock
and in doing this he thought fine imported stock
should not be overlooked, because we can mix
their blood with that of our native stock. We
all know of the improvement which has been ob
taincd in our breeds of sheep and swine by means
of imported animals. Of foreign breeds of cows,
he mentioned the Alderncys, as possessing many
desirable qualities as milkers, although not hand-
some animals, nor so good as some others, on ac-
count of their leanness, — and alluded to some
specimens of this variety owned by the State Ag-
ricultural Society, which yield much richer milk
than any other stock. Still, he thought we ought
to direct our attention to selecting dairy stock
from native breeds. One advantage they possess
is, that they have grown up on our own soil and
in our own climate, which renders them hardier.
In this connection he referred to the Oakcs cow,
which gave 15 or 16 quarts of milk per day, 6
quarts of her milk making one quart of cream.
He did not know that she had been excelled by
any animal of foreign blood. In his opinion,
the most rapid method of improving our stock
and securing general good results is to select the
finest animals to be found in our ovra villages.
Mr. Gray said there was one point often over-
looked in the management of dairies, viz. , keep-
ing the milk of each animal separate, whereby
the quality and quantity of milk which a cow
yields maybe ascertained and her value accurate-
ly detevmined. If this course be pursued, instead
of turning the milk all together, it may not un-
likely be found that a cow may l)e found in a
herd which is actually unprofitable, and which
it is for the interest of the farmer to get rid of.

Mr. Setii Sprague said he did not own a dairy

farm, and kept but few cows. Yet he had kept
both native and imported cows, and found that
both varieties varied in degrees of excellence. Sin-
;le cows could be selected either from the foreign
or native stocks which would go far before any
of their kind. He had an Ayrshire, which he ob-
tained from the farm of Mr. Webster, that gave
last summer during 8 days in June, 59 lbs. of
milk per day. He found in the fall, however, that
the native cows held out best, and in the year
round, would be found equal to imported stock.
So far as his knowledge extended, it was not gen-
eral for all the cows ol' one variety, except, per-
haps, the Alderney, to be superior milkers. A
gentleman in his immediate neighborhood has a
full-blooded Ayrshire, which he obtained from the
State Society, from which he gets but very little
milk. Still, there is probablv a larger propor-
tion of good animals among foreign stock than
in native stock. The great question is, where
shall we get a race of good milkers 1 Tlie Oakes
cow, which is so celebrated, has no_ progeny which
equals her, and this is found to be the case with
all extraordinary milkers.

Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, remarked that there
was a great diversity of opinion in regard to which
were the best breeds of dairy stock, and for that
matter he felt unsettled in his own mind. It has
taken sixty or seventy years in England for them
to raise their pet breeds, and it will take us as
long as that to raise ours. The speaker who pre-
ceded him (Mr. Sprague) considered foreign stock
decidedly the best, but he could not agree with
liim. Generally, he did not know as they did any
better than other races. The foreign cows yield
extraordinary quantities of milk only in exceptional
cases, and that cow which gives the most milk is
not consequently the best cow, for there is a great
difference in the amount of butter which the milk
from different cows will make. Cows, too, which
yield largely of milk, eat a large amount of food.
We need a race of cows which shall be good for
their teef and hides, as well as for their milk.
The Alderney cow is a lean animal, and her hide
is thin and unsubstantial. These considerations
should be taken into account in deciding the value
of an animal. We want a race which shall com-
bine in the greatest perfection, milk, beef and shoe-
leather. He thought there was as much in feed-
ing as in breeding cattle. He had some doubts
whether it was not best, on the whole, to keep
cattle poorly during the winter ; get as much bone
as possible, and put on the muscle when we get
cheap pasturage. At any rate he was trying the
experiment this winter with his cattle. It is a
pretty nice question. He thought there was a
doubt whether Ayshire stock would succeed as
well in this country as had been expected — but
only a doubt, as there is yet no proof. They have
not got acclimated. The D urham give more cheese,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

165

and the Devons and Ayshire more butter, in pro-
portion, and it is a question whether the cow that
gives more cheese and less butter, is not just as
valuable as the one which gives the more butter
and less cheese. Ayshire stock, he thought, would
make the best workers, as he had observed that
they came up from the pastures cooler than the
other stock, and have evidently better wind,
which point was illustrated in a bull which he
walked behind a quick stepping horse for several
miles, the animal, after being in the barn ten
minutes, showing no signs of his journey. He
had had more experience with this than other
foreign breeds. lie had experimented with na-
tive stock, but found that the Ayrshire £ui-ned
out best: but yet he would not argue from
this that the native cannot be improved, but
only that it is not so pure. They can be improved,
but a great difficulty is experienced in regard to
crosses — there is no certainty about them. In
forming a dairy, education is as essential to the
cow, as in qualifying the human mind for its du-
ties. Cows should be treated kindly, fed Avell, and
kept in perfect health from birth. So with work-
ing cattle, they should be brought up in the yoke,
and learned to work for a living.

Mr. Cook, of Scituate, inquired how it happened
that a cow might give more cheese than butter ?
He conceived that the same food was required for
both.

Mr. Brooks replied that caseine and oil, the
former a chief ingredient in cheese and the latter
in butter, required different nutrition for tlio cow
to produce them, as for instance, if he wished to
obtain a large quantity of milk, he should feed
his cows on succulent matter, such as turnips, car-
rots, and the like ; but if he desired butter, he
would give them Indian meal, or similar food.

Mr. BucKJiiNSTER alluded to the necessity of hav-
ing a race of good milkers. We ought to give
premiums to that man who endeavors to get up a
good breed, not to the person who rides about the
country and selects the best animals he can find.
He did not know why we might not have a race of
good animals. In rearing horses we depend on
the blood, and we could also depend on it in rais-
ing cows, if wo would only give the matter pro-
per attention, and select the best animals. He
knew of an imported cow, a very handsome ani-
mal, costing .$400, which was of little value for
milk, and whicli he believed would never bear a
calf, Mr. CusiiiNG, of Watertown, sent a man
abroad some ten or a dozen years ago, to select
some Durhams, but he "had become dissatisfied
with them. He probably sent a man who did not
understand selecting good cattle, and got imposed
upon. Mr. B. gave an account of some stock de-
rived from a herd of North Devons imported into
Baltimore many years ago. He had six heifers
from this stock, from the milk of two of which he

obtained in a little less than 12 quarts, three
pounds of butter. Some of this milk put into a
tube eight inches long, yielded two inchesof cream.
The milk from all his cows of this breed was equal-
ly rich. He thought it would prove a good race
for milk. It is superior in form and flesh to the
Aldernoy.

Mr. Brooks expressed the belief that many cows
could be picked out which would do just as well
as the cases just cited.

The Chairman referred briefly to the best food
for dairy stock. Fresh grass, of course, is the best,
but as it cannot always be liad, a substitute is
needed; and in his ojiinion, cornstalks raised in
drills was the best for fodder. In winter, carrots
he conceived to be the best.

Mr. Dickinson said his farm embraced a good
deal of pine plain land,and in summer the feed of
the cattle often comes short. A year or two ao-o
he accidentially discovered that the long necked
summer squash was a most excellent substitute for
pasture feed in times of drought. They produce
very rich milk, grow rapidly, yield handsomely,
and hold on until October. He had two cows,
and usually planted twenty hills of squashes,
which he broke off green and fed out to his cows
at the rate of four bushels per day, — two in the
morning and two at night. Others had followed
his example, and were greatly pleased with the
result.

Mr. Sprague referred to Mr. Brooks's state-
ment of keeping cattle on short feed, in order to
make the liones grow, and said he would like to
see that gentleman's cattle and his barn. He
coul^ remember when it was the practice to keep
cattle much out of doors in winter, and feed them
on salt hay, some contending that it was necessary,
in order to make them hardy ; but they came out
poor enough in the spring. In his opinion, if we
want good cattle, we must feed them well, and
keep them from the cold. All good authorities
in stock raising agree on these 2:)oints.

Mr. Brooks replied that he merely expressed a
doubt whether such a system might not be a good
one. He thought it a question whether, when
feed is as dear as it is generally with us in winter,
it is not best to let tlie flesh fall off, and put it on
again when feed is cheap. Not to starve tlie stock,
but to keep tliem in comfortable condition. He
considered it a question whether high or low feed-
ing was the most judicious, and for that reason he
was trying the experiment.

Jlr. SuELDON, of Wilmington, remarked in re-
gard to feeding stock, young cattle might be fed
too highly, if it was intended to keep them to old
age ; Init he tliought the fiiilure in nine times out
of ten was in not feeding them high enough. As
to breeds of stock, in looking l)ack to tlie oxen he
had owned, and noticing those lie considered the
smartest, he found that tlie Ayrshires M'cre the

166

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

best on the foot, while the toughest resembled
North Devons. He thought North Devons and
Ayrshircs might be selected through the country,
from wliich a good stock might be reared in a very
few years. lie did not think that imported cattle
would do so well as the second, third or fourth
generation of their descendants.

Mr. Russell, of Pittsfield, was of the opinion
that it would require a long period to get up a
race, and referred to an improved breed of sheep
which had been in the course of breeding by a
gentleman in Germany since 1811. They now
surpass anything in this country for wool. He
thought that failures to secure good stock were
often produced by the sires, and should prefer
those which come from good milking stock. Until
a good race of milkers is produced, he thought
the best course to be pursued, was to purchase
native stock, selecting the best animals and reject-
ing all which did not prove good. He was now
pursuing this plan, and thought that in eight or
ten years he should have a better dairy stock than
he has ever had.

even the above-named small dose. A larger quan-
tity could be used at a dose with safety.

Any one acquainted with the effect of iodine
on the human system, knows its tendency to pro-
duce an absorption of the mammoe. Dr. R.
Coats, Philadelphia, reports a case in the "Medi-
cal Examiner," of the complete absorption of the
female breast from iodine ; but the mammoe recov-
ered their original developments after the lapse of
a year. Iodine is principally employed in diseases
of the absorbents and glandular systems. (See
U.S. Dispensatory.)

Hydriodate of potash can be procured of arty
apothecary, and dissolved so as to allow 10 grs.
to each spoonful of water, increasing the doses
till it gives effect on testing the urine.

Dedham, 1854. Ebex Wight.

Boston Cultivator.

GARGET IN COWS.

Messrs. Editors : — At the solicitation of a
friend, who has saved a valuable cow from the
hands of the butcher, I am induced to make known
through your columns a remedy for the Garget.
Some years since, I met with a fine imported Dur-
ham cow, on the way to the butcher, the owner
parting with her in consequence of her being
afflicted with the garget. The owner had ti'ied
all the usual modes of eradicating the disease, af-
ter which he put her under charge of a distin-
guished Veterinarian, who, after a six-months'
attendance, discharged her as incurable. ,

Deeming her a good subject for a treatment
with iodine, and not knowing whether it had
been used in the case, I purchased lier at wliat
she was worth for beef. At that time she gave
but a few drops of milk at a time from one teat,
the other three having ceased to yield any — the
udder and teats were swollen and hard. I deter-
mined to make use of iodine in the form of hydrio-
date of potash, being solvent in water, and if it
failed to exhil)it its effects on the system, I would
resort to an ointment, (20 grs. iodine to 1 oz.
hogs lard,) applied externally, to the udder and
teats. I commenced by giving 10 grs. of hyd.
potash in a table spoonful of water, three times a
day, mixed in a mash of sliorts or meal ; and
though the dose was unusually small for a cow,
still as it was giving unmistakable signs of effect,*
I did not increase the dose. In seven days she
gave milk freely from each teat, and in three
weeks she was discharged as cured. The result
in the foregoing case was so favorable, that I ad-
vised my neighbors, who had cows afflicted with
the garget, to make trial of the same remedy. I
have known of its trial in at least forty cases,
and in every one the cure has been effected with

* IlydrirKlate of Potanh passes quicklj into the secietiona, ea-
pecially the urine. It may be detected in the latter by first ad-
ding to the cold secretion a portion of starch, and then a few drops
of nitric nctd, when a blue color will be produced.

For the New England Farmer.

IMPROVED SUPERPHOSPHATE OF
LIME.

Mr. Editor : — Having during the winter of 1851
-52, noticed several articles extolling very highly a
fertilizing compound under the above title, and
being in want of a concentrated manure, I was in-
duced to make a trial of the same, in order to
test its fertilizing qualities, believing that if it
possessed one-half the virtues which it is claimed
to be endowed with, it would be just the thing I
wanted. I accordingly sent for, and obtained a
bag of it.

Well , my first operation was in the garden , where
I applied it freely to all sorts of vegetables, from
the aristocratic corn-stalk down to the humble
squash-vine, skipping alternate rows and hills,
but never could perceive any difference in the
growth.

Sometime in July I inverted a piece of sod
which I sowed to turnips, and topdressed with the
compound, omitting a strip across the centre of
the piece, and although superphosphate of lime is
known to be a favorite manure for turnips, there
could not in this case be any difference discerned
throughout the season, either in quantity or qual-
ity, between that portion which was topdressed,
and that which was not. It is also said to be an
excellent topdrcssing for grass lands ; accordingly,
after haying, I selected a piece of land, warm and
dry, but so reduced in fertility as scarcely to jjay
for swinging the scythe over it. Two square rods
were marked off, on one of which I sowed ashes
at the rate of 40 Ijushels to the acre; and on the
other sowed compound (for in truth I know not
what else to call it) at just double the cost. The
past season the ashed rod was marked by a luxu-
riant growth of clover and grass ; the other by
— four stakes — and nothing more.

Notwithstanding my experiments thus far were
attended with results so unfavorable, I resolved to
make another trial the following season on differ-
ent soils and crops. Accordingly I ajjplied it at
the first hoeing to my corn- and potatoes on alter-
nate rows ; and afterwards to common turnips,
ruta bagas, and carrots, on reclaimed meadow
land, with no l)etter results than the previous sea-
son. Now I am driven to the conclusion that my
soil must be very ungrateful, or, that the manu-
facturers must be deficient in conscientious scru-
ples. The use of portable, or concentrated man-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

167

uree, will no doubt add materially to the agricul-
tural productions of the country. And no doubt
many instimces may be singled out where they
have proved a profittiblc individual investment.
But the existing high prices, together with the
risk of getting a worthless article, renders it ex-
tremely questionable whether it will not, in the
majority of cases, prove to be a whistle too dearly
paid for. j. u. s.

Colebrook, Ct., Feb. 15, 1854.

THE SEASONS.

FUOM THK CEnMAS.

Hay and corn and buds and flowers,
Snow and ice and fruit and wine, —
Suns and Seasons, sleets and showers.
Bring, in turn, tliese gift divine.
Spring blows, Summer glows.
Autumn reaps. Winter keeps?
Spring prepares, Summer provides,
Autumn hoards, and Winter hides.
Come, then, friends, their praises sound :
Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring,
As they run their yearly round.
Each in turn with glatlness sing !
Time drops blessings as he flies —
Time makes ripe and Time makes wise.

For the New England Farmer.

FARMING IN NEW ENGLAND—No. 3.

Another serious obstacle to successful farming
in New England, is, a servile imitation of theiuays
of our fathers. Reverence for antiquity is gener-
ally a virtue, but that unreflecting imitation of
faults and excellencies of our ancestors, is neither
consistent with good sense, self-respect, nor pro-
gressive improvement. In the vicinity of our cities
and larger towns, we see much less of the evil to
which I refer, than in the country. But wo need
not go very far into the interior, even of Massa-
chusetts, before we shall find melancholy evidence
that farming is still conducted very much as it
wixs a hundred years ago. What our fathers did
from necessity, we continue from habit. Though
the hum of industry is heard around every water-
fall, and smiling villages have sprung up, as it
were by enchantment, on those rocky and forbid-
ding sites which our fathers thought were "made
only to hold the world together," the old farms
in the vicinity look as they did half a century
since, only a little more desolate from year to
year. The house is as innocent of paint as it was
the day it was "finished." On one side of it, the
builder was just three clapboards short, and they
have never been supplied,and the lining boards have
always been, and still are, visible to every passer
by. Two or three panas of glass were not set in
one of the windows, and their places, together
with those which "the childnm" have created in
other parts of the mansion, are filled with old
hats and worn-out comfortables. The brackets
which were used for shingling the roof, stand there
etill, to answer the treble purpose of exciting the
mirth of the traveller, awakening tlie mortifica-
tion of every person of taste, and of saving the car-
p«inter the trouble, (if perchance they do not be-
come too rotten,^ of putting on others, when the
house is sliingled again. Instead of a neat and
easy-working pump, the old, crazy well-sweep
hangs there yet, creaking in the wind, supported

by a crotch leaning at an angle of forty-five de-
grees with, the horizon,and creating an antagonistic
combination of forces, which works in all possible
directions but the right one : — the whole concern
seeming to have been contrived for the especial
purpose of taxing to the uttermost the strength
and patience of the "good woman," and of set-
ting at defiance every principle in mechanics, and
all possibility of drawing water. One consola-
tion, however, is left to the mistress of the house
— the bucket is so old and leaky, though she fills
it full at the bottom of the well some forty feet
deep, by the time it reaches the curb, half of the
water has run out, to the sensible relief of her
prc5cn/, if not of hery)//wrc, muscular exertions.
A stream of liquid manure runs from the barn-
yard into the road, furnishing ammonia gratis to
all wlio pass by the premises, but making lean
pork for the. owner next winter. His cows would
be alarmed at the sight of a turnip or a carrot,
and the strong probability is, that it will take
more than "four quarts of their milk to make a
pound of butter." Like the editor of one of our
agricultural papers, and as his OAvn fiither did be-
fore him, he throws his manure from the 'lean-to
out into the open air, that it may be thoroughly
washed and cleansed and dried, before he applies
it to his delicate acres. His barn has no cellar,
his pigs no shelter. lie raises corn, or rather
stalkSjOn the same land, for four successive years.
His meadow is not drained, nor his upland favored
with a coating of pulverized muck. His farm is
growing poorer year by year,and he would gladly
sell it and " move to the West. ' ' He wonders why he
does not get along as well as his neighbor Thrifty,
whose buildings are painted, whose barns and
storehouse's are full, and whose cattle cover the
surrounding hills. He works as hard as his neigh-
l)or, but after all, things will go the wrong way
witli him. He is short of money and wishes to
borrow, while Thrifty always has some to let — to
every body but him.

Now, there is neither poetry nor caricature in
this representation, but simple sol)er truth ; and if
it should chance to fall under the notice of any til-
ler of the soil, who is conscious that he sat for the
picture here sketched, I would in all seriousness
ask liim, whether his want of success is not to be
attributed to his following //te beaten traek of his
fathers? Do you not cultivate the acres they did,
in precisely thdr xray? Have you taken the pains
to inform yourself, whether some at least of the
alleged improvements in farming of the present
day, are not real, substantial, improvements, and
worthy of your imitation and adoption ? Do you
take, pay for, "read and inwardly digest" the
"Mio England Farmer,'^ and keep yourself well
posted up, in regard to the progress which agricul-
ture has made Avithin the last twenty years ?
Wallham, Feb., 1854. d. c.

Rem.vrks. — If we had not seen, with our own
eyes, the very evils which our correspondentjiames,
we should certainly feel inclined to consider his
assertions as extravagant. But it is scarcely a
week since we saw a farmer's barn-yard,and that,
too, where all the droppings are tlirown into the
yard, literally swept by the dissolving snows, and
not only "a stream of liquid manurt;," but mani/
streams, coursing their joyful way across the yard

168

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

to the brook below I With the merchant, a case,
parallel with this wastefulness and folly of the
farmer, would ]xs to provide his year's stock of mo-
lasses, pay for it, and then draw the spigots, and
suffer it torun into the gutters and streets. Every
oljser^'ing traveller must have noticed the instances
of shiftlcssness which are recited above. That
there has lieen great improvement, "D. C." willi
allow ; but his argument is, that more is demand
ed, and that ]>ccause it is not made, is one princi-
pal cause of the want of success.

Cow's urine, analyzed by Br.\nde, gave hydro-
chlorate of

Potass, and ammonia 1.5

Sulphate of potass 0.6

Carbonate of potass 0.4

Phosphate of lime O.S

Urea 0.4

Water 96.9

100.0

Human, analyzed by Berzelius, gave in 1000
parts,

I'rea 30.10

Lactic acid 17-14

Uric acid 1.00

Mucous 0.32

Sulphate of potass 37.01

Do. soda 0.00

Phosphate of soda 3.16

Do. ammonia 2.94

Hydrochloratc of soda 1-65

Do. ammonia 4.45

Phosphate of magnesia and lime 1.50

Silicic acid 1.00

Water 933.00

1000.00

In consequence of the quantity of sulphate of

SOLID AND LiaUID EXCREMENTS OF
ANIMALS.

It has frequently been suggested by writers on
agriculture, that the liquid excrements of animals
are a most energetic and efficient fertilizer ; but very
few, if any, have been at any trouble to inform
their readers of what they are composed. Chem-
ical analyses have been made of almost all the ar-
ticles used as agents of fertility, and we'iiow sub- soda not being carried out, the figures in the last
mit the following tabular exhibits, showing theU^is^^-ysis appear imperfect. The table is given, as
components of five of these, viz : cow duno-, horse! p^iblished, however, and will be sufficient, we pre-
sume, to demonstrate most conclusively that urine
is much too valual)le an article to be neglected, or
suffered to run to waste. By taking proper meas-
ures for economizing it, and mixing it with muck^
mould, rotten wood, or indeed,with any sul^.stance
of an absorbent nature, and applying it to our
crops, we shall find that it will always be produc-
tive of eminently beneficial results. It is not, how-
ever, judicious to apply it in its crude state, a
certain degree of fermentation being essential to
the development of its fructifying energies which
depend upon the putrefactive process. In irriga-
tion, both urine and soap suds possess great value.
Both articles contain the food of plants in a state
of solution, and therefore in a condition to be im-
mediately appropriated by the vegetation to which
they are applied.

For the New Engltiml Farmer.

HOW TO MAKE THE BUTTER COME.

Mr. Editor : — In the last week's Farmer the
question is asked, "why don't the butter come V
I would answer that question by stating the plan 1
have adopted to make it come quick. The cream
is put into tin pans, and placed on the stove with
a moderate fire; I then commence stirring it slowly
in order to have it warmed alike in all parts of the
pan. As soon as it feels neither hot, nor cold, })y
putting in the finger, pour into the churn. In from
5 to 15 minutes the butter will come. I liave tried
this plan for the last two winters and it has not
failed once to bring the butter in the a1)0ve time.

I have tried, or seen tried, almost all kinds of
churns, from the old dash and barrel, of bye gone
days, down to the late ^^ double acting atmospheric^^
humbug, and am satisfied in my own mind that
there is no great difierence in most of them, so fax*
as the labor of churning is concerned .

J. G. Griggs.

Centre Rutland, Vt., 1854.

dung, cow urine, horse urine and human urine.

Cow dung — the animal being fed on straw,
leaves, hay and potatoes, contained, in 100 parts,
when fresh —

2.2 bile, in a state of alteration.

8.3 mucous, &c.
14.1 non-digested (crude) vegetable remains and ashes.
75.4 water.

Haidlen's analysis of the ashes, gives six per
cent. They were composed of the following ingre
dients : —

Phosphate of lime 12.9

Do. magnesia 10.0

Perphosphate of iron 8.5

Carbonate of potass 1.5

Sulphate of lime 3.1

Silicic acid 63.7

Loss 3

100.0

Of horse manure, (the animal being fed on oats,
straw and hay,) 100 parts contained : —

Biliary matter, and coloring matter in a state of

alteration 3.7

Mucous, (crude,) &c. &c 6.3

Non-digested vegetable remains and ashes 20.2

Water 69.8

100.0

The ashes was six per cent. Their constitution,
according to the analyses of Jackson, was as fol-
lows : —

Phosphate of lime 5.

Carbonate of lime 18.75

Phosphate of magnesia 36.25

Water 40_

100.00

Of horse urine, according to Vauquelix,
parts contained.

Carbonate of lime 1.1

Do. soda 03

Hippurate of soda '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.2A

Uydrochlorate of potass .'.'.".*.'.'.' .'oio

Urea , 07

Water ;;;;;. .'.v .',* .■.■;;.' .'.'.■oi.'e

100

100.0

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

169

IMPROVEMENT OF THE DAIRY.

The attention of the reader is called to a letter
from the President of the Middlesex County Agri-
cultural Society to the Trustees of the Massachu-
setts Society for promoting Agriculture, and the
reply of the Trustees. The proposition, it will
be seen, has been responded to by the Massachu-
setts Society with that efficient liberality by which
it has always been distinguished whenever satis-
fied that the use of its funds would promote the
interests of Massachusetts farmers. The move-
ment is well-timed, and in the right direction.
The premiums are sufficiently largo to attract and
justify the attention of our most skilful and intel-
ligent dairymen, and the result must be highly
beneficial. We cannot refrain from expressing
our obligations to the mover of this experiment,
and to the Trustees, for their appreciation of its
merits, and liberality in carrying it out.

For the Ncn' England Farmer.

MY COUNTRY HOME.

"The country for mj home — the city for my
visiting place," said I in my girlhood. "Poh !'"
said my farmer uncle, "what do you know about
the country, whose only experience has been the
few short weeks of a summer's vacation^" But
I fancied tliat as I had the taste to appreciate the
beauties of country life, so I had sense enough to
get along with its trials, — indeed, methought, af-
ter all, these could not bo so very much greater
than those pertaining to city life.

After awhile I spent a winter in the country.
Now surely upon such experience had I not a right
to my say about country life? But my more
thoughtful aunt Avould not allow that I yet had
the right or rather the ability to choose impartial-
ly. "It may 1)0 very nice," said she, to visit in
the countr3- free from care, with nought to do but
read and write from morn till night, or walk or
ride or visit at the convenience and pleasure of
your own will ; wait till you have lived in the
country' and kept house there." Now the country
has bi'on luy home for a whole six months — not
summer months all, either. I've had a cow and a
pig and some chickens. If this isn't country ex-
perience, I know muddy carpets and a mud be-
spattered husband is ! Have I not yet reached the
point of impartial judgship — the i*ight to my own
wise opinion, unfettennl by all these ifs and ands
and buts — though they do chance to bear the
weight and authority of emanating from older and
wiser heads than mine ? Perhaps my good friends
will say "0, your six months has been only a sort
of village country life. "Wait till you have made
jour home — that farm which is now in all its
pristine beauty — ^just as the lied Man left it."

The woodman's axe and the brush scythe are
producing quite a civilized look on that farm, las-
sure you. But if you choose, I will waive the
question, or rather its decision, till I have had
a few years' experience upon the new homestead

An old lady, thinking 1 could hardly reconcile
such a life with my city habits, opened her eyes
iu astonishment at the pleasure I expressed in
prospect, "Why you don't say, — well la'posoyou

like ^siee, and there's plenty on 'em, I guess, up
in them woods."

0, if -^ and should see me ensconced

in that little cottage, which is already modestly
peeping up in the centre of the clearing* for away
by the roadside, with rail fences about and plenty
of stumps all around, would they denounce the
taste that held me contentedly there T

I manage to find almost as much happiness in
anticipation and memory as in reality. So I look
into the uncertain vista of a few succeeding years.
I see in front of the wee house in the grove re-
served for that especial purpose, a pleasant and
commodious mansion, where are gathered the many
little comforts and some luxuries that tend to make
home happy, and the carrying out of social hos-
pitalities, a pleasure unalloyed by the fatigues of
inconvenience. I would have a winding carriage
way from the road— through smooth shaven lawns
—and there should be clumps of shrubbery and
ornamental shade trees. I would have a hedge
row, or at least, neat fences should displace the
unsightly rails. Wide spreading boughs should
o'ershadow the extent of boundary along the road-
side. The garden, with its vegetables and small
fruits, should lie such an one as only an imaginary
garden could be. On the hill-side, orchards with
all the improved varieties of fruits. Vines rightly
trained should yield their teeming stores. Animals
of the "best improved" should dot the pasture
grounds. An occasional field of grain should come
in by way of contrast and variety. I would have
an enclosed verandah as a conservatory for exotics
whose verdure and bloom would cheer the heart
and charm the eye during those long winter months
in our cold North West.

These are some of my dreams, rough sketched,
that haunt my thoughts when in moments of mus-
ino- reverie, I apportion and adorn those acres so
rich in soil, so l.ieautiful in location.

This is my home, as my hope and foncy paint it.
What a sweet spot to rear my children. To dwell
thus in the miiLst of natural beauty will surely
tend to make them good if not wise.

In whatever portion of the world their after lot
may place them, will they not ever treasure the
sweet recollection of home? Round that little
word will not bright thoughts ever cluster ?_ "A
thing of beauty is a joy forever;" then it is no
trifling thing to rear a beautiful home, if by
this means one inextinguishable ray of joy lights
the hearts of our children through life. Our la-
bor then will not be in vain. "Remembered joys
are never past." Then though their whole after
lives be darkened by some incurable sorrow or af-
fliction, how fondly will they cling to these re-
membrances.

I know the difference between bright and pleas-
ant memories, and those that are sombre and sad.
Nought but the former would I bequeath to my
little ones. If all pleasure in their after life should
be taken from them, there would be that in their
past, which would be to them sweet and never
failing sources of pleasure. For this I would have
them a home of beauty, not of splendor. If hum-
ble, it should yet possess attractions, which loving
in their cliildhood, they should enjoy through life.
Some poet has sung, "A sorrow's crown of sorrow
is remembering happier things." It may be so
with regard to some kinds of happiness but hardly
true, llliink, of the remembered happiness of a
pleasant home and childhood.

170

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aprii.

"But," says one/'there's many a slip 'twixt the
cup and lip," and you may never possess those
good things of which you so fondly dream. It
may be so. It is not impossible that all our sweet
antieipati4>n8 should Ix; crushed. Everything is
uncertain, but not for this sliould we cease work-
in'' and hoping. If life and health are spared and
no untoward events occur, we must we shall, the
most of them. Thus strong'is my hope.

I know the bounding, gleeful joyousncss of my
youth has passed. I may never again romp with
the same childish delight through the woods — up
the hills and along the valleys. Ah ! well I re-
member how gladly I hailed those vacations.
Once escaped from the decorous bearing seemly
for a city miss, I was like an uncaged bird, wild
in my unchained freedom. My strength might
now prove but weakness should I attempt those
long rambles, when I climbed the heights — de-
scended the ravines in search of those oeautiful
things, the wild flowers. But other forms are
growing up to take my place in these woodland
rambles, and other hands may cull the "posies" of
our bright prairie-land . While Mamma must con
sent to be content with the more passive enjoy-
ments of country life and nature's beauties, and en
joy them through her children. Elsie.

Waukesha, Wis.

Remarks. — Thanks to "Elsie" for her favor.
"Short sketches of life in the West," or "Incidents
on the Prairies," will prove interesting to our rea-
ders. We hope to hear from you again.

MILK AND BTJTTEK COWS.

A statement is published, verified by a respon
sible name, of the product of milk and butter, of
14 Ayrshire cows, the property of Edward M.
Shepard, of St. Lawrence county. New York,
which is worthy of being laid before our readers.
It is, briefly, as follows :

Mr. Shepard, had 14 cows, Ayshires and their
crosses on natives, half-bloods, six heifers milking
for the first time — time, the third week in June —
feed, grass only.

Allowing one cow for family use, and deduct-
ing 40 per cent, from heifers, and his trial stood
thus:

Cows ,

Heifers 6, reduced to cows, is.

3.6

11.6
Deduct one cow for family, is cows 10.6

The product for the week was 12 lbs. 12 oz
per cow, the first week in July, feed grass only,
and much affected by drought, he milked twenty,
eight of which were heifers, milking for the first
seasjn, and this trial stood thus:

12 cowi, less one for fimily, is 11.

8 heifers, 40 per cent, off is 4.8

Full cows 19-8

SONG FOE THE SEASONS.

BY B.VRKT CORNWALL.

When tlic merry lurk doth gild

With hi.s song the summer liours ;
And their nests the swallows build

In the roofs and tops of towers ;
Ami the golden gorse-flower burns

All about tlie waste ;
And the maiden Slay returns

With a pretty haste ;

Then how merry are tlie times !
The Summer times ! the Spring times ?
Now, from off liis ashen stone,

The chilly midnight cricket crieth ;
And all merry birds are flown ; .^

And our dream of pleasiu'edieth ;

Now, the once blue laughing sky
Saddens into grey ;

And the frozen rivers sigh,
Pining all away !

Now, how solemn arc tlie times !■
The Winter times ! the Night times '.

Yet, be merry ; all around

Is through one yast change revolving ;
Even night, who lately frown'd,

Is in silver dawn dissolving :
Earth will burst her fetters strange,

And iu spring grow free :
AU things In the world will change,

Save — my love for thee 1

Sing then, hopeful are the times t
Winter, Summer, Spring times '.

The product for the week, per cow, was 14 lbs
13 oz. and a fraction over.

But, lest you might ^think my allowance for
heifers too much, which, however, is considered a
just allowance V)y the dairymen of this country,
the result of the last trial, without any deduction

for their being heifers, was 12 pounds 5 oz. and al spent in their attempted recovery.
fraction per head, for the week. 1 were entirely useless.

BUFFALOES.

A member of Governor Stevens' northern route
exploring party, in a long communication to the
<S^. Louis Republican, written from the head of
Yellow Stone, relates the following among many
other " sights and incidents" of the party thus
far :

On Sunday, after a march of some ten miies,
the buffaloes were reached. They were before
and on each side of the train. For miles ahead it
seemed one vast drove yard. They were estimated
by^some as high as 5U0,000 — 200,000 is consid-
ered a very low estimate. Drawing up the train
at our usual halt at noon, a large herd were about
half a mile ahead. The hunters, six in number,
were immediately despatched, well mounted, on
spare horses reserved for that especial purpose,
and the whole train had an opportunity of wit-
nessing a buffalo hunt. The hunters dashed in
among the herd, picked out the fattest of the
cows, and then separating the selected ones from
the herd, soon despatched them. • In less than an
hour the wagons were sent but a small distance
from the route to receive the choicest pieces of
the buffalo.

In the next two days' march the hunters were
kept some distance ahead, to keep off the ]>uffa-
locs ; it was the only way the safe passage of the
train could be insured through the sea of
flesh. The pack mules and spare animals follow-
ing on in the train, too numerous to be separately
led, were hard to control ; and despite every pre-
caution and care, one horse and four mules were
lost, they getting mingled with a herd of buffaloes.
Every effort was made to reclaim them — hours

The efforts

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

171

SPIRIT OF THE AGRICULTURAL
PRESS.

HORTICULTURE.

"The taste for Horticultural pursuits, ' ' says Hov
ey's Magazine, "is steadily becoming more extend-
ed. AVherever a town or village is settled, even
in the remotest sections of our wide country, there
may be found neat gardens, filled with the better
varieties of our fruits. * * * The great West,
where, a few years since, native seedling apples
comprised the principal fruit, now claims only a
secondary place in the variety of pears, peaches,
cherries, &c."

There are, comparatively, few farms now, that
are entirely without some of the better sorts of
fruit. All, we trust, have gone beyond that point,
when an abundance of the common cider apples
satisfied their wants. Most farmers now have a
email variety, at least, of the apples suited to the
different seasou.s, and so coming into perfection
as to aiibrd a supply from September to April.
And they are not willing to stop with this, but
carefully cultivate the plum, peach, pear, and
some of the smaller fruits, the strawberryf cur-
rant, raspberry, &c. The cultivation of these soon
begets a stronger love for the garden, and thus
this delightful appanage of the house has found
favor with the farmer, and given a new aspect to
rural scenery. The quarter, half, or whole acre,
is now often seen filled with choice fruits and

ing into life and beauty around them, they also
cultivate -tlie graces which shall adorn them more
than all that wealth can give. In their garden
conversations, too, they excite such a love in each
other for the beautiful and good, that their whole
lives are tempered by the sweet influences of these
fresh and impressive employments upon their duc-
tile hearts. So, cultivate the flowers.

WH.'VT SUOULD THE STATE DO FOR FARMERS .

Such is the significant question asked by the
Farmcr^s Companion, published at Detroit. "If
the government," it says, "by establishing an ag-
ricultural school, can make us better farmers, so
that every acre of land yields annually ten dollars,
where now it yields five, then we hold it to be the
duty of government to establish that school — with
our own money, remember — for all the govern-
ment's money comes outof our pockets." It then
adds, "in 1850, we had 2,000,000 of acres under
cultivation in this State. Who doubts, that if
the farmers were as well instructed in their bus-
iness as the engineer is in his, we could not just
as easily make our farms yield at the least $2
an acre more, yearly ? * * * It has been
thoroughly proved in Europe, and well proved in
America, that thorough drainage, on the average,
adds thirty per cent, to the crops. In 1850, we
raised 5,000 000 bushels of wheat; drained land
would have given us 7,500,000 bushels, equal to
as many dollars. But as individuals we have

FLORICULTURE.

vegetables and tended with considerable skill and' not the capital to drain our lands. " We cannot
care. here, give the reasons for these opinions, but en-

tirely agree with the Companion, that the gov-
ernment of every State may do something for its
agriculture which will shortly come back to its
treasury in a three or four-fold degree,

MANURE, {not sermons,) in the stones.
The Farmer and Artizan, published at Port-
land, Me., Marcian Seavv, editor, contains an
address by Doct. N. T. True, before the Cumber-
land County Agricultural Society, which is full
of striking truths. It says : —

"Almost any granite quarry contains all the
mineral elements, and nearly all in the right pro-
portion, to form a good soil. Could, then, a piece
of granite bo completely crushed and pulverized,
it would, at once, form the mineral basis of a

The same writer says, "if the taste for the cul-
ture of plants and flowei-s has not kept pace with
that for fruits, it has still made a good advance,
especially in the out-door or hardy department of
ornamental gardening. '

House plants and flower gardens are evidences
of taste and refinement. The sweet-scented gera-
nium, or a delicate rose, would hardly be expected
in the parlor of an irascdble woman, or the daffo-
dil, coreopsis, or mourning bride, in the garden
of a rude, ignorant and unfeeling man. But if
placed there by some friendly hand, they would
gradually root out the perverse spirit and kindle
in its place sentiments of good-will, affection and

love. Children, reared among flowers, will feel 8'"'^'^ ^^!(' ''"^ *'".« y^'^H^ V" ^'^^ manner in which
Ai.„:_ i.:„ji„:„fl „ rru^^c. :x„ „' u-___ J^"'^ '^^"''^ ^^^'^ Originally formed. But it is nec-

their kindly influences. That ferocity among boys
to torment dogs, kill cats and destroy birds, will
be tempered into a healthful princijile of self-
preservation, by engaging in the cultivation of
beautiful flowers.

An encouraging feature among the farms is the
prevalence of more, and better gardens, in which
each has its well-defined limits devoted to a vari-
ety of annual and perennial flowers. Here the
mother and her children control the operations ;
and while they cultivate the delicate plants spring-

essary that the elements which compose such a
soil be in a perfectly soluble condition before they
can become food for plants. This is effected by
the influence of one element on another. ' '

HOW NATURE RENOVATES A WORN OUT SOIL.

"In this connection, let me call your attention
to one of the processes that nature adopts to ren-
ovate a worn out soil ; she makes use of a rotation
of crops. Suppose we visit tlie plains in Bruns-
wick, where tiicre is but little potash in the soil.
Well, what is going on there? Nature has plan-
ted there during the present century, at least, the

172

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

pitch pine (Pinus rigida) for the unmistakable
purpose of renovating that [miserable, soil ; — a
hard case, gentlemen, but nevertheless true. These
trees send down their roots in some instances, it
is said, to the depth of seventeen feet, and bring
to the surface the potash and other elements. But
does this tree deposit its potash in its wood or
bark 1 By no means — the wood of the pine re-
quires but little potash, but it carries it through
the tree into the leaves, which require a large
proportion of that element. These leaves fall ev-
ery year and assist by annual acquisitions in the
foi-mation of a new soil, so that even on the un-
promising sand plains of Brunswick and other
towns, you will tind nature slowly, but surely at
work, forming a suitable soil for some other crop,
which in the lapse of ages she may see fit to in-
troduce."

now DEEP SUALL WE PLOW?

"Let me ask how many of you have ever made
trial of the subsoil plow 1 Or, are you willing to
suffer the subsoil to remain as hard as granite for
fear your manures will be wasted 1 A great mis-
take, gentlemen. Manure cannot descend out of
the reach of roots of plants in any soil worth the
cultivation. Plow deep and manure accordingly,
and you double the number of acres you cultivate.

"I see the countenance of an intelligent and
successful farmer kindling up, and seeming to say,
'I plow deep, sir.' Right, my friend ; go home,
and if the subsoil be anything besides a pure,
coarse gravel, or sand, plow deeper yet. Much of
the land in this county will bear plowing to the
depth of eighteen inches. Exceptions, I am
aware, exist, but they are much fewer than is
generally supposed. If you expect to obtain a
crop with a very little manure, then plow shal-
low, manure shallow, sow shallow, and reap shal-
low.

Some of the happiest and most independent
men in the land, or in the world, are to be found
in New England, who possess but a few acres of
land, yet who keep it in a high state of cultiva-
tion. It costs such a man not half so much for
seed, for labor or for taxes, as he who half culti-
vates double the number of acres. By deep plow-
ing you bring within reach of plants a fresh soil
which has not been exhausted of its potash, lime
and other elements which are readily solu1>le, and
easily controvertible into food for plants."

WUERE SHALL WE COMMENCE IMPROVEMENTS?

The "Soi/ of the South^'' Columbus, Ga., in its
salutations to its readers at the opening of the
year, has some excellent words which are applica-
ble in this region. It says : — "The wear and tear
of the last quarter of a century, upon the new
lands of the south, has in it a lesson of no doubt-
ful import. What will be the effects of a contin-
uance of the same operations for a like period to
come, needs no prophetic skill to tell. Need we
persist in error, just for the privilege of having
that many more steps to retrace, or shall we re
solve now to commence the reformation?* * *
It will have to be made. We cannot much longer
give up all the time and labor, to cultivate and
gather the crop ; but to improve the land must
olaima fair share of attention also."

SHORT CROPS IN ENGLAND.

The Farmcr^s Magazine, (England,) for De-
cember, estimates the wheat crop in the United
Kingdom at about two-thirds of an average. To
cover this deficiency some thirty-tiuo inilUons of
bushels will l)e required, which added to the aver-
age imports of good seasons, for the consumption
of 1854, will pi"oV>a])ly amount to the enormous
quantity of seventy millions of bushels! Our far-
mers should not entertain the fear, for a moment,
that the market is to 1)e overstocked in any of the
staple crops. On the contrary, there never has
been a time when their prospects of a fair reward
for their labors were better.

HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR.

The American Farmer, published at Baltimore,
in its budget of suggestions at the opening of the
New Year, says: — "In commencing a new year,
you should so arrange your system of farming, as
never to be at a loss throughout the season for
what next you are to do. Make it a point of duty
not to cultivate more land than you can cultivate
well. Let not the ambition of being considered
a large cultivator induce you to overcrop yourself.
One acre well manured, well plowed, harrowed,
and rolled, if well tended afterwards, will produce
more than three where these things have been
omitted. The more noble ambition for agricul-
turists, is that which excites the desire not only
of being considered , but of being in reality a good
culturist, of so cultivating his land as that, while
it yields abundant harvests, it may be gradually
improving in its productive capacities."

But we must pause here, though having refer-
red to a few only of the valuable journals upon
our table. They abound in highly scientific and
instructive articles, as well as the practical details
of the art. We regret our inability, from want
of space, to copy more frequently and extensively
from the pages so ably and usefully filled, and
from which we are daily instructed.

The careful reader will notice by the above ex-
tracts that there is great activity of mind among
the farmers ; because, if it is found in the agricul-
tural press, it is the farmer himself Vfho incites it
by his increased intelligence and interest in the
occupation.

HOW I SAVED MY CUEUAIJT BUSHES.

On returning home after an absence of a couple
of years, some four years since, I found my cur-
rant bushes, which were in rows on the outside
of my garden, overgrown witli witch-grass, and
was informed by my l)etter half that she could not
welcome my return with a glass of currant juice ,
as her bushes had yielded but a very few currants
the season past. I could not think of losing them,
as I was too fond of their fruit, and besides, they
had cost me mucli labor. Digging them up and
rooting out all the grass was too great a task, there-
fore I thought I would try and smother it out. I

54.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

173

covered the earth around them to the depth of two
or three inches with tan bark, putting some half
a dozen shovelfuls into the centre of each bush. It
operated to a charm, — the grass was exterminated,
and the next season I spaded in the tan bark, and
since then my bashes liave yielded bountifully. I
am satisfied that vegetable dressing is equally as
good, if not better, for trees and shrubbery than
barnyard manure, which I save for field dressing.
Topsham, Nov., 1853. D, p. h.

Maine Farmer.

CAREOTS FOR HOESES, MILCH COWS,

&c. &c.

BY OXE WUO UAS HAD TUOROUGH EXPERIEXCE,

The value of the carrot as an article of food
for hors;!S and milch cows in winter and spring,
is very iar from being universally appreciated,
else its culture for that purpose would be more
general. There is nothing grown by the farmer
that yields more abundantly in proportion to the
labor, nor is there a production of the soil that
will furnish a greater amount of nutriment to the
acre than this root, for the use above named. They
are a most admirable food for horses, in winter
and spring, as they possess the peculiar quali-
ties necessary to promote health and vigor in
the animal during the period of the year when
there is no grazing. They are, indeed, they best
known substitute for grass, as regards horses, and
if given in sufficient quantity, with as much straw
and salt as the horse chooses to consume, will
keep him in as fine condition in every respect
A medium sized horse requires from two to three
pecks a day, when standing in the staVde, and an
additional peck when put to labor ; though if the
labor be very severe and constant, corn meal
may be profitably added, (a.) One hundred
and eighty days, or from Nov. 1st to May 1st
is the average time during which there is no graz-
ing. A horse will, in that time, if i:iut to hard
labor, and fed upon straw and oats, consume at
least ninety bushels of thelatter,or halfa bushel a
day ; and thirty bushels peracre being an average
yield, it requires three acres of ground to produce
the amount. Now for the carrots. One thousand
bushels per acre is less than an average crop when
properly cultivated, (though I have grown at the
rate of two thousand, on highly manured ground,)
and two Isushcls of them contains rather more
nutriment than one of oats ; therefore less than
one-fifth of an acre of carrots is equal to three
axjres of oats ! The expense of tillage for this
fifth of an acre is about the same, all told, as for
the throe acres of oats. It also requires about
double the labor to feed them, that it ordinarily
does grain, as they should be chopped or cut with
a knife, in small pieces, for feeding. But this
additional labor, together with the extra cost of
enriching the soil beyond the usual condition of
oat-ground, is but little in comparison with the
more than fifteen hundred per cent, increase of
nutricioua matter on the same quantity of land.
Carrots are almost uijivcreally a favorite food
with horseg ; l>ut should one refuse them at first,
an appetite is soon cultivated, and he devours
them greedily. The effect of carrots upon horses
always is, when fed liberally, a bright eye, a'
glossy coat, and an energetic, healthful appear
ance.

As a regular food for milch-cows, through the

winter and spring, carrots are very valuable.
They increase the flow of the milk, give it a deli-
cious flavor, and always insure yellow butter in a
legitimate way. They are, without doubt, prefer-
able to any other root, all things considered, fw
cows giving milk through the winter, or for new
milch-cows before grass. They are said to fatten
on them, when boiled, much faster than on pota-
toes, and sheep are usually very fond of them.

Carrot tops, fed to horses and cattle in Novem-
ber and Decemljcr, are worth their weight in good
meadow hay, and an acre of them is equal to half
an acre of ordinary meadow, {b.)

When the enormous yield of this root, and its
value as a healthy diet for stock in winter is duly
considered, it is somewhat surprising that its cul-
ture is so generally neglected, especially by those
ha\ing but a few acres. Every farmer and kitchen
gardener knows how to raise a bed of carrots for
family use, and they have only to enlarge their
space and apply the additional labor, to extend
the benefit to the yard and stable, and through
them to their own pockets. l. h. w.

Phil. Dollar Newspaper.

Remarks. — "Two or three pecks a day" would
probably "scour" any horse so that he would be
unfit for labor in one week. Unless the horse ia
very large, and fed mostly on dry hay, without
grain, one peck j)er day will be found a liberal
feed of carrots.

{b.) The term "meadows," used here probably
means upland, and not, as with us, low ground
producing an inferior quality of liay.

For the New England Farmer.

DOES COLD KILL THE PEACH TEEES.

Friend Brow.v : — Some years ago it was a pop-
ular doctrine that a certain degree of cold, say 12*^
below zero, would kill peach buds, but I did not
believe it, as within the last few years the belief
has become general that they were not afiected by
extreme cold. I have been examining my trees to-
day (Feb. 22,) and have not been able to find a
living bud, and for certain reasons I think they
may have been destroyed by the extreme cold.
Sometime betweeu the 28th of Nov. and the 10th
of Dec, I Avas at work among my peach trees,
and examined the buds on eight or ten trees, and
found them all alive. About the 16th of Jan.,
1854, I was pruning and heading in my trees, and
examined again and found them all alive. Some-
time during the week commencing Jan. 29, I was
at work again among them and^found some dead
buds, the most of them, ho we^-er, were alive. Now
they are all dead ; and I find by looking at my ac-
count of the cold mornings that on Jan 25th the
mercury went 12'^ below ; 2'Jth 17* below ; Feb,
5th, 10'^ below, and Feb. 7th, 20'^ below. Now,
as the ground has not been thawed, and no warm
weather of any conseouence has ensued, I can aC'
count for their destruction in no other way than
by the cold. Yours &c. B. F. Cutter

Pel/iam, N. H., Feb, 22, 1854.

Shoes. — Next to agriculture the shoemaking
business is the most important and profitable pur-
suit in Maasachufietts, and has the largest number

174

KEW ENGLAND f'ARMER.

ApRii.

of persons engaged in it. The Andover Advertiser
says that the aggregate vahic of boots and shoes
manufactured in this State is $37,«00,090, o-r
more than that of all the other States combined—
and far exceeding that of any other manufacture
in the Commonwealtli. About one-third of the
above amount is sliipped to New York, and the
remainder is sent to the South and West, to Cali-
fornia, the West Indies, South America. Australia,
the Sandwich Islands, England, and the European
continent. Lynn is more extensively engaged in
this business than any other town, making nearly
five milliong of pairs annually. Then come in
succession Danvers, S-toneham ami Graftan. In
the hitter town, a single raamifacturer uses one
hundred liuehels of shoe pegs every year. The
pegs used in this immense business are mostly
made in New Hampshire ; they are cut by ma-
chinery, and one firm manufiicturos fifty bushels
per day. Machinery is also nov/ used to a con-
siderable extent, for sewing and stitching the
leather.

CARROTS vs. CORH.

Mr. Editor : — Reading in No. 3 of the present
volume of the Farma\ the report of committees
on crops of the Kennebec Co. Ag.ricultural Socie-
ty, led to some thoughts about carrots. Which
is worth the most, an acre of carrots or an acre of
corn 1 I see Mr, May raised 199 bushels af eo.rs
of corn, which he reckoned at 50 cts. per bushel,
amounting to $99,50. He estimates the cost of
plowing, planting, hoeing and liarvesting, at
$2&,50, but makes no mention of the fodder.

Capt. Foster raised on one-oighth of an acre
130 bushels of carrots, which be sold for two shil-
lings per bushel. This is after the rate of 1040
bushek per acre, which, at the price the Captain
sold for, amounts to the sum of $3-10,06. He es-
timates the cost at $10, making $80 per acre,
which I think is about right,, leaving a profit of
$260,00. Now, Mr. Editor, any one can niake
figures for themselves. I think carrots are profit-
able roots to raise. We can raise more of them
than any other root, and it is not so much woi'k to
raise them as naany people think it is,, till they
try a few. I have raised carrots for three ye;u-s,
and like them much. I raised GO bushels the past
year, and am feeding them to my cattle (10 in
numlier) one-half bushel per day, v,-hich is not 2

?uarts apiece, and they do well on them and straw.
think 1 can winter a stock of cattle on c>at straw
(cut when the straw is about one-third turned)
and one-half peck of can-ots each a day, as well
as on second quality of hay.
— Maine Fanner. Jona. S. Lo.ngley.

Benefits of Geological Surveys. — Three years
ago the Legislature of North Carolina made an
appropriation for a geological survey^of the St ite.
The discoveries of the first year developed the ex-
istence of cop])er and gold ores, drew to tlicin the
attention of capitalists, and have already iiKruased
the revenues of the State to five times the cost of
the whole survey. In the second year, s.-ams of
the purest bituminous coal, some of them iifteen
feet in thickness, extending through a region of
some forty-five square miles, rewarded their inves-
tigations. It is estimated that every thousand
acres of these seams will yield thirty millions of
tons of bituminous coal of the best quality.

For tke New England Farmer.

FARM IMPLEMENT FAIR.

Mr. Emtok .— I had oceasi^m hiyt suisiiwes to ad-'
dress you respecting the introduction of the mow-
ing miichinc. It has occurred to me that t-lievo i»
a kindred sulyect to w) ich it may l>e well ta call
your attention. I observe that you free jU(Mitly no-
tice the imiirovements inagvieuitural iiu[)lem.ents^ •
and I consider this as something which gives pe-
culiar value to your truly cxeelteut paper. It is
an interesting inquiry, how can these new inven-
tions Ix; most successfully introduced, so as t-o be
properly appreciated by the farming community.
They are not to be seen at our agricultural ware-
houses, nor at our cattle shows, nor yet at the
Mechanic's Fair. We hear, indeed, that they are
to be found at the Crystal Palace, some two or
three hundred miles off, but for aught we know,
they may never be any nearer, and that may be
the first and last that we ever hear of them. Now
I would propose to meet this exigency, that we
have a Farm Implement Fair, in connection with
a practical exhibition of the mowing machine.
This movement may be thought to be a novel one,
but it is not more so than the Horse Fair at Spring-
field, and it is believed that it is not less impor-
tant.

The proposition of holding a national exhibitron
of horses, in connection with the Hampden Agri-
cultural Society, was first made by George M. At-
water, in May last. A committee was then ap-
pointed to take the subject into consideration, as
the society did not deem the object of the exhihi-
tion as coaiing exactly within their sphere, and
out of the action of that committee has grown this
grand exhibition, whose objects have been so gen-
erally appreciated and forwarded by the press
throughout the country.

The horse has been called the gi'eat civilizer of
man. That I deny. It was said with much more
truth, "Wherever a man comes, there comes revo-
lution. Man is the wonder-worker." The horse
is undoubtedly a noble animal, but he can do
nothing of himself. It is only when harnessed to
human inventions that he becomes efficient. It is
left to the skill and agtmcy of man to increase his
power, and make it available ; it is by man's con-
trol and efforts, that he is made to aid in the great
machinery of civilization. I certainly have no dis-
position to undervalue the capability of the horse,
and while it is admitted that he is important in
the progress of tlie arts, it cannot be pretended
that the genius and efforts of imm are less essen-
tial ; indeed, I think that the pre-eminence of our
rational nature over mere brute force, is clear and
rncontestible. Award then to man his just place
in the march of improvement, and let him stand
conspicuous in the great work of progress.

If tlien there is nothing in the merits of the
cas(> why a Horse Fair should have the precedence
over a Farm Implement Fair, the question is»
whether the demand for the latter has Ivi^n oi*
can be supplied in any other way. I have already
stated that the implements in question are not to
be found at our cattle shows. The farming uten-
sils there exhibited, occupy but a small space.
They generally consist of a plow, hoc^ hay-cutter
and apple-parer, and are crowded into a cnnier or
six foot s(}uare. While every possible variety of
fruit is spread out in profusion, agricultural im-
plements form but a meagre and insipid ptvrt of

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

175

the show, and are almost overlooked or forgotten.
How is it with the Mechanic's Fair? Here, per-
haps, the farmers' department is better represent-
ed, but even here the display is mostly confined to
the old and common tools of the farm, and there
is little^which from its novelty and importance in-
vites attention. As a significant fact, 1 notice that
the editor of the Ploughman states, that he ex-
pected to see a mowing machine at the last exhi-
bition, but did not find one there.

It is not much consolation to know that they
are to 1)e found at the Crystal Palace. They are
not accessible, visible or tangible to the great body
of our farmers, and there is little reason to hope
that they ever will be. Should w^e ever have a
Crystal Palace in our neighborhood, they would
probably eome v^'ith it, but this is an event upon
which we cannot calculate. If it should ever oc-
cur, it most likely will be in some remote period
of the distant future. But while we cannot go to
the Crystal Palace, nor bring it to us, we can
transport a part of the mighty whole into our
midst; we ca-u gather that portion which most
nearly concerns us as a farming community, and
have a show quite as interesting to us profession-
ally, as the Great Fair at New York.

And now if it is asked what is to be gained by
the introduction of all this machinery, I answer,
much every W'ay. It not only multiplies the pow-
er of production, but at the same time diminishes
its .cost. Take Ketchum's Mowing Machine, for
example. In the ordinary act of mowing, the mo-
tive power comes out of the man ; he has emphat-
ically to put his shoulder to the wheel, and make
it go ; but by the use of the machine, he is relieved
from this exhausting toil ; the hibor is transferred
from the man to the team. He is released from
the wear and tear of personal effort, he takas the
place of an overseer, and at the same time is able
to push forwai-d the work five times as fast as he
couldrdo it himself. He thus saves himself, and
saves time, and time is money.

The jirocess of unloading hay is usually a slow
and toilsome one. Pitched and mowed away as
It commonly is with a fork, it will take two or
three men fifteen or twenty minutes to remove a
load. By the use of a certain apparatus construct-
ed by Mr. J. A. H. Ellis of Rochester, New York,
'Hie man can do it as well in less than five minutes.

Ream's patent corn harvester is upon the same
labor-saving principle. It will cut with the labor
of a horse and boy, from sixteen to twenty acres of
corn a d-ay, and lay it in bundles all ready for
binding.

Such are some of the triumphs of genius. Great
as they are, they are but a specimen of what has
been achieved in the improved implements of the
farm. A correspondent of the Ploughman, in his
observations upon things at the Crystal Palace,
remarks, "If we were to judge from the number
of labor-saving implements, and the recommenda-
tions, we think our farms might be carried on with
fewer Irishmen than they arc at present. Un-
doubtedly many, perhaps a majority of them, are
adapted to some sections of our country, and are
a great saving of labor."

In the scarcity of farm laborers, Irishmen are,
with few exceptions, the only men to be had, and
they are generally i-aw hands,green in every thing in
which we wish to find them efficient. If then the
hossc and the ox can be humanized by the magic

power of machinery, so as to serve as a substitute
for this precarious help, of which we know noth-
ing, and upon which we cannot rely, why should
they not have the preference ? In the one case,
we have a sure and never failing resource ; in the
other, all is doubt and uncertainty.

In view of these facts, I have been led to pro-
pose a Farm Implement Fair, to be held at a season
when we can have a practical exhibition of the
mowing machine. Taken conjointly, they would
mutually lend attraction to the time and place. /
would have this Fair for the benefit of inventors. It
is not to he supposed that individuals would bring
their machines from distant sections of the coun-
try, without some consideration. No one could
afford to do it at his own charge. Now it is be
lieved that the sale of tickets for admissioji to the
shoicfor two or three days, would secure an ample
fund to meet this contingency, And gratuities might
be awarded by an exaniining committee, which
would operate as a bounty upon the products of
American genius. I was happy to find that the
President of the United States alludes to this sub-
ject in his late message to Congress. "I commend
to your favorable consideration the men of genius
of our country who by their inventions and dis-
coveries in science and art, have contributed large-
ly to the improvements of the age, without, in
many cases, securing for themselves anything like
an adequate reward." It is only by a just and
liberal patronage, that we can stimulate the best
minds to labor in the wide field of invention.

Aside from the practical advantages of a Farm
Implement Fair, it would be a museum to every
curious and inquisitive mind. It would be a high
day, a great day, for the place where it should be
held. Is it asked where shall we hold it ? I would
answer at Concord. There the Agricultural So-
ciety have a building suitable for such an exhibi-
tion, and the warm and generous spirit of the peo-
ple afford ground to hope that they would give a
hearty response to this movement. You, Mr. Edi-
tor, are a Concord man, you move in a circle of
influence which gives peculiar weight to your
opinions and efforts. If, then, what I have ad
vanced in this communication, meets your views
and wishes, I hope you will have the frankness to
say so, and if not, as a committee of ways and
means, I trust you will suggest some other meth-
od by which the same great object can be better
accomplished. A-

Actou, February!, 1854.

Rem.vrks. — We most heartily concur with the
opinion so succinctly and earnestly expressed by
our intelligent correspondent. Our County Show
has been sadly deficient for several years in the
number and variety of Farm Implements present-
ed. As a single item of encouragement to our
friend, we will say that we have engaged a Mow-
ing Machine, and intend to use it in our neighbor-
hood during the next haying season. We hope
his suggestions will induce some action on the
subject.

Vegktaijle Mecuamcs. — There is a n inavkable
tree on the farm of the late Hon. Olney Ballon, of
Cumberland, R. I., which is an emblem of himself
in his struggles against the obstacles of life. An

176'

m^V ENGLAND Ji'Ail.MEIt.

JjPRBt

old elm standiug nciir a mass of rocks, died ^ A
young elm then upjieared in a fisLSure of tliis rock,
casting down its slender roots, and in twenty or
thirty yciu-s, it lias Ix'eouie a foot and a half in. dir
amcter. Its roots have penetrated into and under
the rock, and have lilted and thrown ofiF about
xvcn tons of it, and have loosened and partly
lifted ten tons more, wliich in a few yearswill be
separated from the m&s°. Tlie roots to lx?a? the
immense pressure upon them,have become changed
from the ordinary appeax-an'jciuid have a tough
casing which may be compared to the skin of an
alligator. The provisions tlius miulo by nature
for the growth of the tree under sudi difficult ch--
cumstances, funiish a striking specimen of what
mjiy 1» called vegetable mechanics.- The greatest
wonder is tliat the toots could grow and expand
under such a hctivy preseui-e of hard substance. —
Providence Post.

For tJie New Knsrland Farmer.

THE "APPLE MAN'S" STORY.

Friknd Browx : — As you have honored me by
the title of "Apple JIan," and seeing not long
»inx;c an article ra the Farmer, giviTig an account
of my fruit crop,, the last barren season, I thought
it might not be amiss to give you a few more par-
ticulars respecting the same. The lot of land on
which my buildings stand, contains between Sand
'.> aci-es, about 7| of whicli I cultivate ■, planting
or sowing, where it i.'^ not too-sha«Iy, except a small
patch wiiere I keep a cow. The amount realized
from my fruit and other crops was, as near as 1
can calculate, for apples,. $025'; pears, quinces
and clierrici?^, ,f 1G5 ; strawberries, raspberries and
currants, $115; vegetables and fodder, $120;
sum total, $1025. The quantity of manure used,
1 think would fall short of live cords. I plow
late in the fiii"!, after the ieaves dm>p froni the tree.
Use the plow and cultivator in summer to keep
down the weeds, -where it is not planted. I think
all the lalx)r performed in raising au\\ msirketmg,
I could have done myself (although 01 years of
age,) with the exception of paying out to children
twenty or twenty-live dollars for picking straw-
berries and peas ; and considerwL it a pleasant
and healthy exercLso too. I have found by long
experience that any kiixl of business whatever,
which we choose to pursue foi' a liveHhood, or
gain,, requires ■perseverance and ccanoniy. We
should always count the cost 1)efore entering into
any l«-ancli of industry ^ m order to make ils happy
and prosperous.

When I purchased my farm, my principal ob-
jc-ct was- the cultivation of fruit. I have given
strict attention in j)runing and grafting and have
cultivated about thirty varieties of apples ; som/?
of them are s^^-edlings selected fromdifforeut towns,
in (xrder to test their qualities and productivLUoss.
Some of tliem you have had an opportunity of
seeing arnl testing, my Red Favorite particuLu'ly.
Tlie Baldv,;Ln, I think, is the stiuidard apple as
yet, although soiii-'what depreciated ; the llub-
bardston commands ahiglier price, but will not
keep as long. Now, sir, as I au\ located acar good
market.^, my advantages for selling fruit have Ijcen.
extremely good, tlierefore, my businesa thus far
has proved to be a profitable one. I have had
many doubts with regard to overstocking the mar-
ket with fruit. One year ago the market was

glutted with apples. If there is nothing to blast.
tlie crop in the future,. I see no reason why tht-
luarket may not bo overstocked again, tlierefore.
fanuers who live in the couiitry, distant from.'
market, who do net pcssuss the kno\vle(lg'u re-
quired for cultiviting fruit ti-ees, I think their-
money and time (aa the luarkets now ai'o,) would
!)e l)etter appropriated to the raising of neat stocky
iwid other coinitry produce. A man Itought oF
me last season 750 scions, and liircd theu^ &et. He^
says there is not more then one in twenty which
are alive. This is one instance, out of many,,
wliere money and time haveljeen thrown away and!
trees very much injured.. I would, however, re-
commend the grafting and pruning, fruit trees
anywhere in the country, if it can ]jo thoroughly
done, so as to meet the approbation of the owners,.
in giving them their desire of the choiceat fruits
the country affords. N. P. Morrison.

Somcrville, Feb. 6, 1854.

Remarks. — ^We have no fears that the market
will be overstocked -with s;ood fruits.

FAKMS HIFBOVED BY KEEPING
SHEEP.

To some extent, keepijig sheep is found to im-
prove a farm, as they consume much feed that
is left by other stock and lost, and at the same-
time enricli the ground, and give it a better Und
smoother appearance.. This is shown by instan-
cosquotetl in the Tiransactions of the Norfolk Ag-
ricultural Society, which we relate in brief: —

A man having a siaall farm, fc^rnierly kcptfcrtjr
sheep, fou? co-ws tmd one liorse, and had fooa
enough for them the year round,. The price of
wool falling, he sold his sheep, and for a numbec-
of years has kept other stock altogether. He
now keeps but three cows and one hoi-se tlue year
round, and pastures two cows extra through tho
sununer, sells very little hay — ^not half enough to>
keep another cow ;: Ivo hiis- the same amount of
pasture.and mowing as when he kept the forty
sheep in addition to his other stock, and yet his-
farm does not look near as well as then. lie used
to raise turnips among t'le corn for his sheep t&
eat iu winter, luid gave the-ju besides, a few bush-
els of grain. The lamb.*., ho-wever, more than paid
for his extra feed.

Another f<u*mer for a ^reat num}>er of years;
kept aljc>ut sixty sheep, eight or nine cows, (or
otlier stock equal,) one pair of oxen and one horse
After keeping the sheep for a numl)er of yeai-s, he-
found he could then keep as Lirge a stock on hi&
farm with the sixty sheep, as he could keep with-
out tliem before ; showing that they liad improved,
the farm to furnish their ovrcn support. To stock
a farm entirely with sheep would not be so profit-
able as to keep a limited num])er — ^yet it would
pay :is well as other stock. The object is to keep
iTiough to consume that part crf the veg.>tatioa
peculiarly fitted to sheep, and which othev stock
will not eat, adding at the aame time enriching;
elements to tho pastures and yards by their ma-
nure. It is the opinion of many farmers, that
pastures for other stock may be improved lij keep-
ing a small flock of sheep upon them a portion of
the time, and die opinion seems IViirly supported
both by reason and experiment. — Wool Groicer.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

177

CD

H

o
w

O

178

NE\Y ENGLAND FARMER.

April

STEEL DOUBLE PLOW.

This plow has been well tested, aud is coming
into use very generally. We use it with satis*
faction, antl believe we can do our work easier,
cheaper, and better, with it, on smooth land, than
witli any other plow. "We take our description
from lUiggles, Nourso, Mason & Co.'s illustrated I
catalogue. The double plow is not a new imple-|
ment, as it has been usod in England for manyj
years; but these manufacturers have made im-i
portant improvements in it. I

"The forward mould-! )oard is connected witli|
the beam, and its depth of furrow is adjusted asj
follows: A substantial iron llange is fastened to'
the under side of the plow-beam by two bolts jjass-!
ing up tlirough the Uange and tlie beam and made'
tight ou top by nuts and screws : the flange has'
two rows of slots in it to receive the bolts from!
the landside of tlie forward plow, and the l)olts
make the plow entirely and substantially fast to
the flange when their nuts are tightened; and by!
means of the slots in the flange, the forward plowj
is raised or lowered and made perfectly fiist and'
secure at any point wanted for the regulation of,
its depth of furrow, and any requisite depth may!
thus be secured to any degree of nicety. The for-j
ward mould-board turns the sod-furrow as widcj
as the working of the whole plow, and the earth j
on top assuming an arch-like shape, is naturally
opened, while the eSbrt of the rear mould-
board brings up the deeper soil, completely cover-
ing and filling the surface, so that the sod-furrow j
is in no case liable to be brought to the surface by
harrowing or other processes of after-cultivation,!
the surface of the furrows lies arching, the cohe-j
sion of the soil is neutralized, its integral parts'
are disunited, and the plowed land lies light!
and mellow, and almost as fine as if harrowed, — ■
indeed, in some free soils rendering the use of the'
harrow quite unnecessary. Two other sizes of
the Double Plow are made by the manufticturers,
namely, Nos. 31 and .35, —No. 31 being a size
smaller, and No. 85 a size larger that the No. 33
above represented. These sizes afford a range of
work from 7 to 15 inches deep."

FKRTiLizEns. — The official report of the Minister
of Finance of the Republic of Peru states that ac-j
cording to the recent measurement of scientific;
men the Chincha Islands now contain 10,401,4(30
tons of guano. Peru possesses also many other
guano_ deposits containing a very considerable
quantity, the measurement of which has been or-
dered l)y government. Largo deposits of guano
are also scattered about the Indian Archipelago,
and specimens of bats' guano have been sent to
England from Peuang. But a member of the
Chemical Society in London, Mr. Way, believing
that all these immense stores of agricultural
wealth must be exhausted in a few years, has
brought the subject before the Society. There are
at Farnham, in Surry, deposits of "soluble'or gel-
atinous silica," some eighty or one hundred feet
in thickness, and covering an area of several miles.
This silica, Mr. Way says, can be easily made to
combine with lime, forming silicate of lime, which
is very beneficial on light lands, inasmuch as it
prevents the over luxuriance of growing grain,
aod strengthens the straws. — Journal.

UNITED STATES AGEICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society commenced
its session at Washington on the 22d of February;
l>ut owing to the unprecedented storm which had
delaj-ed the arrival of delegates, no business waa
transacted on the first day.

THtRSDAY, Feb. 23.

The Society was called to order at half-past ten
o'clock — Hon. Marshall P. AVilder, President,in
the chair — W. S. Ku^g, Recording Secretary.
About 100 members were present from 19 States.

The President delivered his annual address,which
was referred to the executive committee for publi-
cation.

On motion of Col. C. B. Calvert, of Maryland,
business committees of three were appointed, to
whom were referred the various sulyccts brought
before the meeting.

A committee of one from each State was also
appointed to nominate officers.

Prof. Mapes, of New Jersey, had several sub-
jects to present, if he knew the proper time to do
so. He had in his hand a head of wheat, part
wheat and part chess, whicli he wished to offer.
It was placed in his hands 1)y a farmer of Livonia,
Livingston county. New York. He had also a
new style of plow to bring to their notice.

Mr. Dederrk, of Albany, New York, moved
that a committee of three members on tlie subject
of Agricultural Machinery be appointed, and to
report to the Society. He spoke at some length
in explanation of the great importance to the ag-
ricultural interest of being placed in j^osicssion of
the best implements for the prosecution of their
labors. The motion prevailed, aud Messrs. Ded-
erick, Musgrave,of Ohio, and Mapes, wore appoint-,
ed.

Mr. Dentox Offutt, of Lexington, Kentucky,
moved the appointment of a committee on Animal
Physiology, and the general improvement in all
respects of domestic animals. It was a subject of
high importance.

Mr. Calvert testified to the influence, to him
wonderful, whatever it was in itself, of Mr. Of-
futt's power over at least one animal, the horse.
He had been an eye witness to a scone at the
Maryland State Fair, which m;iy Ite m(;smerism,
j or magnetism, or what not; but Mr. Offutt re-
duced almost instantaneously a horse noted for
vicious propensities, to gentleness and tractability.
He warmly seconded the motion of ]Mr. Offutt.

An invitation from Mr. Glover to the society
to visit his collection of models of fruits at the
Patent Office was then read. The invitation was
accepted, and a committee consisting of Messrs.
Worthington, Berckman, Wardor, IMunn and
Richards, was appointed to report upon tl;e same.

The President then offered for (Consideration the
contents of two communications coiiiidentially
committed to him. One was from Mr. Joel
Hitchcock, of St. Lawrence county. New York,
on the subject of a remedy for the potato rot ; the
other on tlie subject of a remedy for the devastations
of thecwrci<//o on fruits,by some person whose name
did not transpire. The object of the parties seemed
to l)e to get their remedies to be tested l)y the so-
ciety through committees of the same, and reports
made at the meeting of next year.

The question on the reference of these propo-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

179

sals gave rise to a very animated debate, in whicli
views of very opposite character in respect to the
probable value of the alleged discoveries were
elicited. They were finally, after a strenuous op-
position, referred to the Executive Committee, to
test the modes proposed and to report to the next
annual meeting of this society.

The subject of the Curculio was referred to a
committee, consisting of the President and Messrs.
Brinckle and Berckman.

A committeec was appointed to petition Con-
gress to make some arrangement with the govern-
ment of Peru, by which Guano might be procured
at reduced prices.

A communication from Mr. James Pederson, on
tlie subject of introducing the Alpaca or Peruvian
sheep into the United States, was then read by
Mr. Munn, of New York.

At the evening session Professor Mapes exhib-
ited and exjilained an improved sub-soil plow, in-
vented by himself.

Friday, Feb. 24.

In the absence of the President, Hon. Joux A.
KiNx:, of New York, was called to the chair, when
Professor Fox, of Michigan, delivered an address
on the best moans of extending Agricultural Edu-
cation in the United States, which excited consid-
erable discussion, during which the President of
the United States rose, and, addressing the Chair,
tlianked him for the intelligence that had been
furnished liim of the suasion of the society ; spoke
in terms of compliment and approval of so much
of Prof. Fox's address as he had heard ; acknowl-
edged the higli interest and importance of the o!)-
ject of the society, and of the question Ijeforo it ;
and said that while he should be most liappy to
remain during the interesting proceedings yet to
be had, other duties demanded his retirement, and
compelled him to Ijid them good morning.

The question of petitioning Congress to purchase
Mount Yernon, for the purpose of making it the
site of a national Experimental Farm, was dis-
cussed by Messrs. Taylor, Calvert, EAKLL,Bi<ow.\,
King and others, without coming to any definite
conclusion. At the evening session, on motion of
Mr. Earll, the memorial of the Maryland State
Agricultural Societ}', petitioning Congres.s to pur-
chase Mount Yernon lor an agricultural school,
was tivken up and read.

Mr. Frencu, of JIassachusetts, advocated the
adoption of tlie resolution. It was carried, and
Messrs. Blair, of Maryland, Eai-U, Brown, King, of
New Y'ork, and French, of Massachusetts, were
appointed a committee to present it to Congress.

Mr. Buow.NE, of Pennsylvania, made a report
from tlie committee appointed to investigate Mr.
Donton Olfutt's system of animal physiology.

Jlr. IloKiiiNs, of Ohio, presented a memorial from
citizens of (Jhio asking the countenance and pat-
ronage of the society to a cattle exhibition to be
held in September next, in Springfield, Clark
county, Oliio, which was referred to the Execu-
tive Committee.

lion. M. I>E.\s;o.\ presented a I'esolution, in be-
half of Mr. Meacham, of Ycrmont, that a Nation-
al Exliibition of Sheep be held in the course of the
year in tlie Stat(; of Vermont, at sucii time and
place as the Agricultural Society of Yermont shall
appoint. Carried.

Mr. Fi.Ncii, of N(;w York, proposed that a mon-
ument should be erected to the memory of John

S. Skinner, the pioneer of Ameri<*an agricultural
editors.

Mr Browne, of Pennsylvania, supported the
proposed tribute.

A resolution, which recommended a ston'> in th«
National Washington Monument, with a suitable
inscription, was carried.

Mr. Bradford, of Delaware, made a report on
the guano trade, narrating the interview of tlic
committee on the subject with i\Ir. Dudley Mann,
Assistant Secretary of State. Hopes are enter-
tained that arrangements may be made with Peru
by which the price of guano will be reducetl.

Mr. Cai SIN, from tlui committee to examine and
audit the accounts of the Treasurer, reported,
complimented their accuracy, and stated a balance
of $;i,005 in favor of tlie society. Of this upwards of
one thousand dollars have been contributed at tha
present meeting.

Mr. Benson read a bill now before a committea
of Congress creating an Agricultural Bureau.

Mr. Calvert recommended the creation of an
Agricultural Department, on an equal footing with
the other agricultural Departments, the Secretary
to have a seat in the Cabinet.

Peter A. Browne, of Pennsylvania, spoke at
length on the various propositions for Congres-
sional aid, and gave iiis own opinions.

Mr. King, of New York, moved that the society
adhere to the resolutions of last year, asking for
a full department.

We do not find it stated whether this, or any
other resolution on t!ie subject, was adopted.

AddressL's were deliven-d by Dr. AYarder, on
the Cultura of the (irape — by B. P. Poore, on the
History of Agriculture, and by Dr. Eddy, on Bees
and Bee Culture.

OFKKEKS FOR TUK ENSUING YEAR.

Tiie o'Hcers of the I'liiied States Agricultural
: Society for 1854 are :
j Pn'sKunt — Marsuai.i, P. Wildeh, of Mivss.

Vice F residents — I'J, (uno from each State rep-
resent-.'d.)

1 Ea-rnitivc Co/ninit/cc — C. B. Calvert, John A.
King. A. L. Eiwin, J. I). Weston, B. P. Poow,
A. AVatts, Joiin Jones, \V . S. King.

Cor. and Rcc. Secntary — \V . S. King, of Bos-
ton.

Treasurer — William Selden, of Wasliington.^

For the New England Farmer.

GUANO FACTORY.

Some years ago, I thought I would try my luck
in keeping a few hens. The house I kcH^p them in
is a rough, cheap concern. I put some ei'otehes
into tlio ground, l>oarded up outside and inside,
then filled in with saAV dust to make it Avarm. It
is well lighted witli glass windows, and well ven-
tilated, and a small stream of water runs through
it. The roosts will accommodate about one hun-
dred hens, tliat l)eiiig the numl)er I usually keep.
Under the roosts I throw three (u- four ox-carfc
loads of dry miKtk, chip dirt, &c., which I haul
over two or three time's a week with my manure
hook, I bury their grain in it, and make them
work for a living, which gives tliem exercise in
cold wcatlier. In the spring, I have a fine heap
of home made guano. If there is anything im-
ported tliat is better to make our crops grow, 1
am mistaken. C\

Bra(tk/)oro\ Vt.

180

NEW ENGLA>'D FARMER.

April

HOUSE ASHES.

The value of house ivshes as a stimulant of vege-
table life, is now iiappily too well understood to
need any illustration. On corn, wheat, garden
vegeta))le8 and root crops in general, the highly
beneficial ell'ects of wood ashes, have probably
lx)en witnessed by every one. In compost, tlicy
arc also of great value; and as a to2>dressing for
gross land — especially where the land is cold and
inclines to the production of moss, or has become
"bound out," ashes are of thegreatest service. In
the cultivation of fruit trees, no application is of
greater efficiency, or productive of more immetliatc
or obvious results.

The eflfcct of leached ashes upon the crop may
l>e as good, perliaps, for one or two years as that
of the unleaclied, but it cannot be as permanent,
as most of the potash is washed out by the process
of leaching. "Wood ashes may be used to advan-
tage to almost every class of crops, but especially
as a dressing for grass, grain, millet, and Indian
corn ; but they are the most perceptible upon leg-
uminous plants, such as clover, peas, beans, &c.
Aa a top-dressing to grass lands, they root out the
moss, and promote the growth of white clover.
Upon red clover, their effects will be more certain
if previously mixed with one-fourth of their weight
of plaster."

But there is a remarkable difference in the
quantity of potash produced by equal weights of
different trees and plants. In Sir Humpurey Da-
vy's Lectures on Agricultual Chemistry, Ave find
a table showing this difference in several kinds of
trees and plants, whicli we give below as a matter
of interest to the curious. Potash was once called
"salts of wormwood," and the reader will perceive
that the name was not inappropriate when he no-
tices that wliile the oak has only 15 parts in 10,000
oif potash, wormwood has 730!

PARTS OF POTASHES.

10,000 parts of the poplar iiroduced 7

" " beech 12

• " " oak 15

" " elm 39

" " vine 55

" " thistle 5:5

" " fern > oz

" " cow thistle 106

" " bean -JOO

" " wormwood 7aO

There is no doubt, now, among any agricul-
tural people, of the great value of aslies as a fer-
t lizer. It was held in as higli estimation among
the Rfjmans, and the ancient Britons, as it is at
this day. A German counseller, IlERESUAcnius,
in his Treatise on Husbandry, published in 1570,
tells us that "in Lombardy, they like so well the
use of ashes, as they esteem it* farre aboue any
doung, thinking doung not meete to be used for
the unholsomnesso thereof." Their use a,) a ma-
nure is also very general in England at this day.

AV'ith this concurrent testimony, therefore, of
tlic value of ashes, we hope to see less of it in the
gutters and higliAvays, and more upon the gardens
and fields.

Tor the New England Farmer.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

The suggestion in the last number of the Farmer,
as to the establishment of experimental farms in
the several Counties of the Commonwealth, and
the appropriation of some portion of the funds of
the County Societies to the management of these
farms, are wortliy of delil)erate attention. It is
ertainly true, that very little benefit accrues
from the awarding of premiums, when they are
sought merely for the money obtained. Unless the
claimant is moved by the desire to improve him-
self and his neighbors, by his experiments, but
little benefit will be derived from them. If he is
moved by such a desire, how can it be carried out
better, than on farms established for the purpose,
where all the operations will be carefully observed
and reported.

If I do not mistake, something of this kind Ib
contemplated by the Legislature, in placing the
farm at Westboro' under the care of the Board of
Agriculture. By so doing, two o])jects will be
gained at the same time. 1. The Board will have
an opportunity to display their skill in farming.
'2. The boys will be instructed in useful labor.
Allow me to congratulate the community, that
this Jirsc step in the way of improvement has been
taken. If judiciously pursued, it cannot fiiil to be
beneficial. If farming is what it is cracked up to
be, it cannot fail to sustain itself under such man-
agement. ^

How would it answer, for the Legislature to re-
quire of County Societies, to invest a part of their
funds in expcrimcTital farmsjnstcad oi' paying stock,
as now required 1 Certainly such a requisition
might be made of all societies to be incorporated ;
for which several applications are now pending.

I am heartily glad to see the remarks of the
gentleman from Plymouth. He never speaks with-
out luiving something to say. p.

Feb. 27, 1854.

SOAKED CORN EOR HORSES.

One of the most successful and judicious far-
mers in the vicinity of Baltimore, effects a saving
of from one-third to one-half of his corn, by soak-
ing it thoroughly before feeding. His method is
this: — two empty vessels, hogsheads, or something
similar, are jilaced in his cellar where there is no
danger from frost, and filled to the chime with
ears of corn. He then pours in water, till the re-
ceptacles are filled. When well soaked, the com
is fed to the horses, and when the contents of one
cask is consumed, it is again filled, and the ani-
mals fed from the other. Even cobs, soaked in a
similar manner, but in pickle instead of pure wa-
ter, are eagerly devoured by cows, especially if the
usual allowance of salt is withheld. The corn
cob contains a large quantity ofi nutriment, and
is by far too valuable to be thrown aAvay. r. f.

Chester, Kent Co., Md., Jan. 2, 1854.

Remarks. — This has become a general practice
among judicious farmers, who feed their horses
upon corn. Our estimable friend, David Lan-
dreth, Esq., who keeps a number of fine horses
upon his great seed form, near the town of Bris-
tol on the DelaAvare, always feeds them upon
soaked corn, and has done so for several years,
He considers it a decided advantage. — German'
town Telegraph.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMEE.

181

EIGHTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At the State House, Tcesdav Eyexisg, March 7, 1S54.

Subject, — The Culture and Preservation of
Fruit.

The meeting was called to order at 7^ o'clock
by Mr. Simon Brown, and Hon. Mr. Brooks, of
Princeton, was invited to take the chair for the
evening.

Previous to entering on the discussion of the
topic for the evening, jMr. Holmes, of Nova Scotia,
delivered a short but interesting lecture on the
subject of Vegetable Physiology.

The lecturer, after alluding to the many lieau-
tiful and gorgeous scenes which are presented in
the vegetable world — in the grass of the fields, the
flowers, the shrubs, and the wonder which they
excite, remarked that if we turned our attention
to their construction and growth, we should find
them equally wonderful and interesting. A plant
consists of three essential parts — the roots, the
stem and the leaves. The roots extend themselves
into the earth, the stems stretch upward and
spread into branches, and the leaves shoot from
the latter. The stem is a bundle of small tubes
cemented together in a vertical position, and con-
sists of four parts — the pith, the wood, the bark,
and the medullary rays, the latter being those
rays which we find radiating from the centre
of the tree to the bark. The wood consists of two
parts, — the true wood, and alburnum, or now
wood. The root when it leaves the stem, differs
but very little in character from the stem itself,
but as it penetrates the ground, first the wood, and
then the pith, gradually leave it, and finally no-
tliing but a pithy, soft wood, covered with bark,
remains. The green matter in the leaves corres-
ponds with the inner bark of the tree, from which
the leaves derive theii' color. The function of
the roots of a plant is to absorb and convey to the
stem those juices which nourish and sustain it, as
water, carbonic acid, &c. Gases, when in a state
of solution, also enter by the roots — as ammonia,
and oxygen, — and lime, magnesia, and other min-
eral substances, are absorbed in this manner. It
ia also a function of the roots to select the par-
ticular kinds of food which a plant needs, and re-
ject all others, — a fact which has been demonstrat-
ed. They also promote the excretion of certain
substances which liave jierforined their part. The
pith of a tree does not seem to perform any very
important function, as it may be removed without
causing, apparently, any great injury. The leaves
of a plant are its lungs. If the roots of a plant
in leaf arc put into a l)asin of water, the water
will disappear, having l)een evaporated Vjy the
leaves. Their most important function is to in-
hale carbonic acid, that groat essential for the
growth of a phmt, and cxliale oxygen; but tliis
proccas is by night inverted, the plant absorbing

oxygen and throwing off carbon. The amount of
carbon inhaled during the day, however, far ex-
ceeds that emitted by night. Different substances
may be composed of precisely similar elements,
combined in exactly the same proportions ; some
of these substances may l)e transformed one into
another. By the application of heat, the woody
fibre may be changed into gum, the gum into starch
and the starch into sugar. The character of a
plant cannot be determined by its chemical ele-
ments. In growing plants the temperature of the
climate should be consulted. Plants indigenous
in warm latitudes will yet germinate and thrive in
much colder ones, showing that the seed possesses
a heat of its own. The light is prejudicial to ger-
mination. The pistils of ilowers, which are the
germs of the fruit, are at first tasteless, but after a
while as they grow, absorb oxygen, and be-
come sour, remaining so until the fruit attains its
full size, and begins to ripen, when the sourness
subsides and the fruit becomes sweet by the accu-
mulation of sugar. Apples will ripen after be-
ing taken from the tree, if supplied with oxygen.
The lecturer concluded by remarking that scien-
tific agricultural chemistry was the key by which
it was hoped at some future time the diseases of
plants might be discovered. As it is, the science
has already rendered great services to the farmer.
At the conclusion of the lecture, the Chairman
invited remarks upon the subject oi fruits, and
called on

jNIr. Field, of the Senate, who remarked that
he had cultivated some kinds of fruit to some ex-
tent, and with unusual success. This -success he
attributed to his manner of culture, which is in
the fall to dig in around the tree all the leaves
which have fallen from it, and then spread six to
ten fork-fulls of manure about it.

Mr. Russell, of the house, said he felt interest-
ed in the subject, but he should prefer hearing the
opinions of gentlemen of more exj^ericnce, than to
occupy the time with remarks of his own.

Mr. Simon Brown, of the N. E. Farmer, fol-
lowed and remarked that he had nothing special
to say in regard to the subject, but felt great in-
terest in it. lie sincerely believed in tlic advan-
tages of cultivating fruit, and to a very considera-
ble extent ho considered it a profitable crop when
properly cultivated, with a soil and climate con-
genial to its growth. He would speak of but one
kind of fruit — apples. lie believed that tliis crop
might be increased four fold from what it now is,
and still be found a profitable one. Instead of at-
tempting to raise potatoes to feed swine and cattle,
we may resort to the apple crop with profit. It
is an easy crop to raise, when its management is
understood, is easily harvested, and affords suffi-
cient nutriment to make it worthjj^ the attention
of the farmer to cultivate it as a common feed for

182

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

Btock. Of this latter fact he had been assured by
a great uian3' persons ^Yho had tried the experi-
ment. .Suppose a man has a ten acre lot, with
ten applo trees thereon, he will get more grass in
ten years l»y liuviiig those trees on his lot, than he
would get without them. Tiiey have a great ef-
fect in retaining tlie moisture in the land, which
is an important advantage in our dry hot summers.
And then suppose from those ten trees, ten bush-
els of marketable apples are gathered, amounting
to one hundred bushels of ai>ple8, which are ob-
tained besides the grass crop. He had no doubt
such a result might occur for seven years out of
ten. The cultivation of apples is as simple, al-
most, as that of a hill of corn, if begun rightly.
He would have his nursery trees shaped in the 7iur-
sery. They should not stand thickly, causing
them to run up slenderly, l)ut where the light and
air can come to them ; and for the lirst two or
tliree years allowing the lateral shoots which come
out in spring, to remain through the summer and
autumn. The leaves are the lungs of plants, and
if these little side shoots are cut off, the growth
of the tree is retarded, and sometimes entirely
suspended. He would cut them off late in the fall,
and if quite small, leave them through another
summer. The ground should be plowed deei^ly,
and pulverized well, and made as rich as a corn-
field Avould be which was intended to be laid down
to grass, and from which two tons of hay per
acre is expected. Dig around the tree, spread j
manure, add annually a little ashes, and they willj
grow on almost any soil. If properly taken care!
of when young, the full grown tree will rarely]
need trimming. The top of the tree should be'
kept open, to admit the light and air to ripen thel
fruit, for there is nothing that grows but needs aj
liberal supply of the sun. Mr. Brown said he^
would not wash trees unless they had the appear-
ance of needing it, were mossy, or stunted by
neglect, and then a thorough scrubbing with soap
suds would give them a new start. Old orchards
he should not cut down, so long as there was two
or three inches of sound wood left ; but the trees
should be trimmed properly, and a crop of apples
can be obtained from them quicker than from young
tx'ces. Pruning should not be done in spring, after
the 8;ip is in motion, because it will continue to
flow from the wound, and soon becomes bitter and
poisonous ; it is so acrid and pungent as to mark
ita passjige down the bark of the tree by a black
stripe, which frequently kills the bark, and thus
commences the destruction of the tree. He would
trim, he said, iu the autumn, after the leaves have
fallen, say in October and November, or omit it
until Juue.

Mr. CofKLAND, of Roxbury, remarked that when
a man plants a tree he should look at it as it
would look twenty years after, and trim it while
young, as he would like to have it appear at the

end of that period, a thing which is perfectly easy
to accomplisli. As a general thing, trees have roots
of about the same size and number as the branch-
es ; and if large Ijranchcs are cut off close, tlie cor-
responding roots die and become a canker to the
tre«. H cut so as to leave a small branch on the
stump, the sap will flow into that, and the tree
will remain healthy. Great care should be exer-
cised in obtaining trees from nurseries, as there is
much deception practiced in regard to them. In-
stead of buying a cheap article, the farmer should
send to some nurseryman who has estalilished a
reputation for honesty, and by paying a fair price,
lie will obtain trees Avhieh he can rely upon. The
speaker instanced a case of successful cultivation
of dwarf pears, which was brought about by
thinning out the blossoms and fruit on the trees,
limiting some of them to ten or a dozen pears each,
thereby vastly increasing the flavor, size and
l)eauty of the fruit. This fruit, raised in New
Jersey was sold in the Philadelphia market in the
height of the season, for $1,00 to $2,00 per dozen,
when the same varieties, raised in the ordinary
way, did not command over $1,00 per bushel. He
thought farmers were too much afraid of this
mode of culture, and did not understand its ad-
vantages.

Mr. French, of Braintree, alluded to the neces-
sity of starting right, by selecting a congenial soil
and preparing it rightly. It should be plowed
deeply, and if trenched with the spade it would be
an improvement. All those who cari"ied off the
premium for fruit last year raised it on light,
loamy soil. Pears on quince stock will bear plant-
ing a little deeper than those in their own stock.
If a tree, with the roots spread, is planted, too
low, it will become stunted and cease to grow;
but if planted on the top of the ground, as the
speaker had five acres, and then cover the roots
with manure, they would flourish exceedingly.
Out of 400 planted in this way he lostbutiit'o. He
thought old trees should not be gi-afted all over at
the same time. If the ti'co islarge,say 10 or 12 inch-
es in diameter, grafting the whole head at once,
will generally prove the death of the tree. If done
gradually the process is more likely to succeed.
Trees should be set out two rods to forty feet apart;
and on being set out the care of the tree is just
begun, instead of being finished. It would be
better to turn cattle into a cornfield than into an
orchard, because in the former the damage may
be remedied the next year, while in the latter, it
never can be. Animals, by rubbing against a tree,
rub off a kind of grease, which is very deleterious
to the tree. Some old farmers complain that they
cannot get any fruit from their orchards ; and no
wonder, for on examination it will be seen that
it is as much as the trees can do to live. The
leaves look yellow, and the ends of the limbs are
dead, a certain sign that the nourishment of the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

183

tree is exhausted. By breaking up the ground
and cultivating it, in two years, such an orchard
may be made to yield good fruit. Mr. French
dwelt on the need of a State fruit farm, where all
the different varieties of fruit, as they come before
the community, may be tried and their value as-
certained. This would be of great benefit to the
farmer, as by applying to the superintendent he
could ascertain at once the best varieties. A sub-
scription of one dollar from each farmer in the
State would yield one hundred thousand dollars,
and this sum would establish such a farm, on
which farmers' sons might be educated especially
for agriculture.

Mr. CuKTis exhibited to the meeting some ad-
mirably preserved pears, which were the result of
a secret process for retarding tlie ripening of the
fruit.

Mr. Brown announced that the Executive Com-
mittee had written to Dr. Lee, of Rochester, N.
Y., in regard to lecturing, and he was expected
to lecture on next Tuesday evening ; but if he
should fail, a lecture would be delivered by Mr.
Howard, of the Boston Cultivator, on the subject
for that evening, viz.

Neat Cattle, — What is the best method for
improving stock to be kept on the farm ?

For the New England Farmer.

AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Senate document No. 7, just come to hand,
gives encouraging assurance, that agriculture is
soon to occupy ifs appropriate place in the coun-
cils of the Commonwealth. No one can arise from
the perusal of this paper, without being forcibly
impi-essed with the vastness of the field of labor it
opens. This bird's eye glance, at the comparative
conditions of farming now, with what it was one
hundred years ago, affords some criterions to hope
what it may bo, one hundred years hence — even at
the same rate of progress. But when the go
ahead propensities of the age, are taken into view
— it may not be easy to estimate, the proportions
it may attain.

We are pleased with the discriminating intelli-
gence, modified by a commendable diffidence, ap-
parent on every page of this Report. Much l)et-
ter to bo so, than in a dictatorial, authoritative
style. It is always better not to make assertions,
than to retract assertions. Few things in agricul-
ture are so certainly known, as to be averred with
entire confidence.

In the notice of the culture of the cranberry,
more new ideas arc presented, than on any other
topic. This is indeed, to most, a new species of
culture ; governed by rules somewhat extraordi-
nary, deriving support chietiy from air and ivaler,
and nut from the soil. Considering the excellence
of this fruit, and the increasing demand for it, it
will not be surprising, if the diffusion of this in-
formation, should greatly extend its culture. We
have ourselves, in tlie North-easterly extremity of
the State, more than once, witnessed the successful
upland culture of the cranberry — ^generally accom-
panied with a liberal dressing of mud from the

meadows, operating not as a fertilizer, but as a
sponge to retain moisture.

We looked with interest, to soe what might be
said of the "native stock of New England ;" but
we do not find the author prepared to add to our
assurance on this topic. He tliinks the Devons,
as a class, were not known in England, at the time
of the first importation of cattle hero. This may
be, but it I>y no means follows from this, that they
did not have the same origin as the Devons of Eng-
land. They certainly have a most striking family
resemblance ; and in our judgment, aflbrd the best
basis fur permanent improvements.

We commend the perusal of these pages to all
who are willing to be instructed in matters agri-
cultural; feeling confident, that the Jirst Report
of the Secretary will be found entitled to a favor-
able reception. P.

March 'ith, 1854.

NEW USE OF PLASTER OF PARIS.

Although proposing a new remedy for that most
distressing and discouraging disease, spasmodic
asthma, may not be an agricultural topic, yet if
the use of it should relieve only two out of twenty
farmers who we know are troubled with this dis-
order, it cannot be said that it has dune farmers
no good. AYe will here promise that Ave have not
tried this remedy, and know nothing practically
in regard to its remedial powers.

We send the story of its use around, with a
view to have it tried by the suffering who have as
yet obtained nothing to relieve them. We find it
communicated to the Bosto7i Medical Journal, by
J. P. Root, M. D., of New Hartford Centre, Ct.
He gives two cases, as follows :

"Some three years since I was called to see a
severe case of spasmodic asthma, in the person of
a young lady of eighteen years. After going
through with the articles commonly used in such
cases, but with little effect, T accidentally hit upon
the use of 'plaster of Paris,' in mixture, with al-
most magic-like result.

The only thing previous to this that gave her
much relief was the smoking of stramonium leaves.
Since using the plaster, however, she has been con-
stantly improving. In fact, for the last two years
or more, she has nearly forgotten what formerly
alarmed not only herself and friends, but troul)led
her physicians. I have used this article ever since
with similar results.

About two months since I was called to witness
the agony of a little girl of twelve years, lately
moved into tliis vicinity — more to console her
friends than to relieve the sufferer, as they had
given up the idea of ever seeing her cured, or even
made better ; for, to use their expression, they
had 'been to all the doctors, and they didn't do
lier any good.' She had not been in a recum-
bent position for a week. I immediately com-
menced the use of my favorite remedy, with results
as before.

The mixture should be prepared similar to limo
water, and used freely, diluted in water or milk,
on each recurrence of the spasm."

Dr. Root goes on to s;iy that he is in the habit
of prescribing, for his astlnnatic patients, cold
sponging about the neck and chest every morning,
fullowod ])y l)risk friction.

The retiders of the Farmer will see that a tria
of this remedy will not involve much expense

184

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Al'RIL

ThroAV a handful of plaster into water. It will
take a>)oiit wvon liuudred parts of water to dis-
solve one part of tlie plaster.

Having attended to the human patient, let us
consider it agriculturally, and inquire if it would
not be useful for horses that have the heaves.
Wo consider the two diseases analogous, if not
identical in eliaractcr. We also consider tliem to
originate in a peculiar condition of the stomach.
Same years ago we noticed tliat "hcavey horses,"
as they are called, were enormous eaters, and we
have been assured by some men who have occasion-
al attacks of asthma, that previous to the recur-
rence of the attack their appetite increases, and
they eat much mure than at other times. AVe
have also known lieavey horses mucli relieved by
drinking water from a tube in which lime had
been thrown.

Try the plaster of Paris water for them.

Query. — Did you ever know an animal tliat
chewed the cud have t!ie heaves? Wq never did,
and hence we think that our position is correct,
viz: that these diseases originate in the stomach.
The lungs of the ox and those of the horse vary
but little in structure. Their stomachs vary very
much indeed. The ox chews Iiis food Dver a se-
cond time, and it is very perfectly "digested. The
horse chews his food but once, and it is not so
perfectly digested as that of the ox. The horse
has the heaves — the ox does not. W^e throw these
hints out for phthisicky folks to think of at their
leisure. — Maine Farmer.

usual custom was two skeins in one day for each
to spin. Tliere was a festival in Providence, in
1700, where tiiore was a splendid ox roasted, called
th(! Federal Ox. I was there at the time, and saw
the ox while roasting. This may not be interest-
ing to thee, so I Avill omit saying moi'e on thia
suljiject. I herein sign my name, this eighth day
of the 4th month, 1853. Elinor Fry."

Journal of the N. Y. State Ag. Society.

AHCIEIsT SPINFIFG WHEEL.

E. H. Pease, Esq., of this city, deposited in the
Agricultural Kooms, a Spinning Wlieel, in good
preservation, received from Mrs. Elinor Fry, of
East Greenwich, who gives the following interest-
ing account of it :

"I will, with pleasure, give thee the history of
the curious spinning wheel, as for as I know. In
1754, the wheel came to my fother's house, in
East Greenwich, from Narraganset. Whether it
originated in England or Ireland, I cannot say,
but it had been in America near one hundred
years when it was brought here. In 1771, I, El-
inor Fry, spun on the said wheel one piece of
lawn h.andkerchiefs, 12 in number, as good as
those imported from England ; the ladies here
were cuuiIdus to excel, and were so patriotic, they
chose the fabric of our country, and toiled with
their own liands to spin lawn for their dresses,
proclaiming independence of Great Britain, for
some of us were so happy as to have farms of our
own to clothe us ; and our fathers encouraged us
to wear such as we made. The identical wheel
spoken of, Samuel Fi-y,'my fotlier, gave to me, and
I, Elinor Fr^^ presented it to Erastus II. Pease, to
hold or sell, as he pleases.

In regard to the spinning party, it was done in
1789, to celel)rate the Federal Constitution and to
encourage manufacturing in the State of Rhode
Island. 21st of April, 1781), 48 patriotic ladies
assembled at the court house in East Greenwich,
with their own Avheels, their own flax, and for
their own use spun 178 skeins of linen yarn in one
day, from sun-rise to setting at night ; one lady
spun seven skeins and one knot, it being the most
spun l)y any one of the company ; there were sev-
eral that Bpun six skeins in the same time ; the

OUR COUNTRY'S AREA.

From a table [jrepared l)y Col. Abert, of the
Topographical Engineers, we find the total terri-
torial extent of the United States as follows :

Square
Area of the Pacific Slope, or of the region watered hy

rivers falling into the Pacific

Area of the Mississippi Vallej', or the region watered

by the Mississippi, Missouri aud their tributaries 1

Area of the Atlantic Slope, proper 637,190

Area of the Atlantic Slope, including only the

waters falling into the gulf of Mexico west of the

Mississippi 186,6i6

Area of the Atlantic Slope, including only the

waters falling into the Gulf of Mexico east of the

Mississippi 146,860

Total of the Atlantic Slope, or the region whose

waters fall into the Atlantic

Miles.
T78,266
237,311

967,576

Tot;il area of the United States and their territories 2,981,153

No one can look over these figures without being
impressed with the exalted destiny that awaits our
country. Already our empire equals in extent
tlie Roman in its palmiest days, and all this im-
mense territory and soacoast is guarded by a stand-
ing army of only 12,000 men and 70 ships of
war.

Tiie next census and measurement of the Rc-
puldic may include Cuba, tlie Sandwich Islands,
Sonora, Lower California, and perhaps tlie Cana-
das, giving a population of nearly Thirty-Nine
Millions, and a territory of Seven Millions of
square miles. The period between 1840 and 1850
added Texas, New Mexico and California to the
Union, comprising a million square miles. The
next ten will not fall behind its predecessor in the
accomplishment of "Manifest Destiny."

For the New England Farmer.

FEED OF STOCK.
Mr. Brown : — The criticisms in your last pa-
per, upon the comparative value of articles as food
for stock, are well calculated to restrain crude and
inconsiderate statements. I am not surprised at
all, that ]Mr. II>. should apprehend that the "plan-
ter's devil" had been poking fun at liim, when a
pound of carrots is estimated as only e<jual to i
of a pound of hay, or 1-12 of a pound of meal.
Conclusions like these must result from a partial
and imperfect view of the subject. Next to actu-
al experiments in feeding, — the price of these ar-
ticles in the market, may be taken as evidence of
their value. If, year after year, shrewd, practical
men are found growing carrots, and feeding them
to their animals the presumption is very strong,
that they liave value ni them. I would as soon
rely upon such results, as any chemical analysis.
That tlie general condition of animals is im-
proved by feeding on carrots, and that they are
a i>alatable feed, there can be no doubt. How
far they increase the quantity of milk, is a ques-
tion on which difierent opinions are entertained.
When the model farm, for Middlesex shall be es-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

185

tablished on the plains of Concord, where the
first germs of freedom were moistened with blood,
under the supervision of the intelligent observers
there situated, it is to be hoped more light will
dawn on this and other subjects.
Feb. 28, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

COUNTRY FARMERS AND CITY ME-
CHANICS.

Mr. Editor: — I am one of that great multitude
of farmers' boys, who, early imbibing the notion
that farming is less profitable than most other
kinds of Ijusiness, learn a trade, and finally find
themselves city mechanics. A grand good position
to look back from, and which I have long wished
some one of our class, more competent than my-
self, would improve for the benefit of our succes-
sors ; for it seems that farmers' boys, and girls
too, are still looking to the shops and stores of the
city, as a refuge from the poverty of the fiirm.

Oji looking back from this stand-point upon my
past ex2:)erience and observation, the first convic-
tion which occurs to my mind is, that farming is
more, and other business is kss profitable than
they seem to be. I have lately received a letter
from a brother, who not "taking to a trade" now
owns a small farm. Alluding to my old notions
of the unprofitableness of forming, and to the
high prices I now pay in the city for all kinds of
provisions, he says, in the familiar style of family
correspondence :

"On looking at the amount and variety of arti-
cles consumed and worn out by farmers ; tlie in-
terest most of us pay when wo first begin in the
world ; our carriages and harnesses ; our clothing,
food, &c., for ourselves and little ones, I think
there must lie profit somewhere in forming, great-
er than you used to allow. Look into our buttery,
our clothes-press, our cellar, our barn, and pig-
pen,— nothing to brag of, as you know, — but yet
enough if all were put into a bill to make quite a
sum. If farmers were to give their forms credit
for rent and everything you pay money for, which
their farms produce, they would need something
of an income to foot the yearly bill — and would
find out, I I)elieve, that forming is not quite such
poor and unprofitable lousiness as some of us think
it to l)e."

Farmers handle but little money, and hence are
apt to look upon the weekly wages of meclianics
as large, Avhich will barely supply a family with
the necessaries of life. I recollect my feelings,
when a boy, on hearing of a mechanic who re-
ceived ten dollars a week in the city. I could hard-
ly imagine what one man could do with so much
money ; or, when it was possible for others to
put themselves in the way of getting such wages,
anybody should be willing to stay and "gee-haw"
oxen on a iarm at fifty cents a day ! Well, I left
the farm, and have reached the goal of my boy-
ish ambition. 1 am in Boston, with ten dollars a
week !

But how much better oflFam I, after all, than
most of my schoolmates are, who were compelled
to work for twelve to fifteen dollars per month,
Avhile I was receiving thirty to forty? Little if
any; and wliy ? Because "circumstances alter
cases." Before I kept house I had twelve to fif-
teen dollars per month to pay for board, washing,

mending, and other unavoidable incidentals — a
very important item that farmer-])oys seem never
to take into account, — and then, when sick, my
watcher's, nurse's, doctor's, apothecary's, board-
ing-house keeper's, and washerwoman's liills were
all made out on the ten-dollar-a-week system, and
took off" the dollars almost as fast as my pulse
beat in a high fever. While the farmer-boy who
works by the month is Jboarded, washed and
mended, "in the bargain," and, if sick, is taken
care of at the lowest figure, or carried home to be
nursed by his motlier and sisters.

If tlio editor thinks the foregoing remarks worth
publishing, I may take time to say something up-
on the relative advantages and trials of support-
ing a family upon a farm in the country, and on
ten dollars a week in the city.

A CiTV Mechanic.

Boston, March 0,' 1854.

TENACITY OF LIFE.

Among the lower animals tenacity of life is the
most remarkable in the polypi ; they m;iy be jwuud-
ed in a mortar, split up, turned inside' out like a
glove, and divided into parts, without injury to
life ; fire alone is fatal to them. It is now about
a hundred years since Trembly made us acquainted
with these animals, and first discovered their in-
destructibility. It has subsequently been taken
up by other natural liistorians, who have followed
up these experiments, and have even gone so far
as to produce monsters by grafting. If they be
turned inside out, they attempt to replace them-
selves, and if unsuccessfully, tiie outer surfoce as-
sumes the properties and power of the inner, and
the reverse. If the eifort be partially successful
only, the part turned liack disappears in twenty-
four hours, and that part of the body embraces it
in such a manner tliat the arms which projected
behind are now fixed in the centre of the body ; tlie
original^ opening also disappears, and in the room
of feelers a new mouth is formed, to which new
feelers attach themselves, and this new mouth
feeds immediately. The healed extremity elon-
gates itself into a tail, of which the animal has
now two. If two polypi be passed into one an-
other like tubes, and pierced through with a bris-
tle, the inner one works its way through the other
and comes forth again in a few days ; in some in-
stances, however, tliey grow together, and then a
double row of feeh^rs surround the mouth. If they
bo mutilated, the divided parts grow together
a^ain, and even pieces of two separate individuals
will unite into one.

New Material kor Paper. — We have just ex-
amined, says the Baltimore Sun, several "samples
of paper made of reeds or cane, of a species which
grows in great abundance in our southern States ;
and also a sample made by the same process from
white pine shavings. In such an age of invention
as this, incredulity is not to be tolerated ; there-
fore we submit witli the best possible grace even
ti) tlie white pine. The reed paper is (piite a prom-
itfixig article. Another sample comjioscd of rac^
and reeds, one-third of the former and two-tliirds
of the latter, is quite a fine article, and its value is
estimated by the makers equal to that of ratrg
worth 12i cents per pound. TIk; paper from pine
shavings is designed for wrapping or envi'Iopo pa-

186

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

per. It was first blenched and then colored for
that purposi', and is valued at 12^ cents also. The
inventors of" it, B. A. Darendor and Henry Lowe,
of Baltimore, arc sanguine that with proper ap-
paratus a pajier can be manufactured of reeds or
•wood, as tlie main staple, by their process, worth
12i to 10 cents, and at a cost not exceeding Gj
cents per pound.

For the New England Farmer.

CHEAP EXPERIMENT IN DECOMPOS-
ING BONES.

The value of bones ai^a manure, ground or pulver-
ized, and more especially dissolved and formed into
super-phosphate of lime, is now just beginning to
be appreciated by practical agriculturists in this
country, as its beneficial effects, upon root-crojos
particularly, have come to be known by experi-
ence.

Formerly bones were only regarded among us,
as a nuisance, to be thrown in the street, or to be
dumped into some hole with the skeletons of old
tin pans and kettles, broken pots, &c.; — and the
carcases of defunct cows and horses were carted
away into some lonely swamp, or distant place in
the wood ; and not till they had been made an ex-
port, for several years, from this country, by our
English Ijrethren, did it occur to the American
cultivator that "old bones" could be of any pos-
sible use.

But when our good farmers began to feel that
the saving of manure was a tiling of such vast impor-
tance, and that the barn-cellar — as my old grand-
father used to say to his gardener — was their
" jewel box," then they began to look around them
for material ; and leaves, sods, ashes, pond-mud,
peat-earth, oyster-shells, bones, &c., came in use
to encourage and aid a more enlightened economi-
cal farming.

Yet still, a great obstacle in the way of the more
general use of bones, is the expense and difficulty
attending tlieir pulverization or decomposition.
However prudent a farmer may be in collecting and
saving bones, skeletons and carcases, if there is no
"bono mill" anywhere within a dozen or twenty
miles of him, he is no lietter off for manures than
before ; as it is well known, that half a century
may pass over them in an unpulverized state witli-
out very much of their nutritious qualities being
extracted, even during such a lapse of years.
Again, the expense and laborious care of decom-
posing them with sulphuric acid or vitriol, — es-
pecially to the majority of farmers, who are not
accustomed to such delicate jobs as handling sul-
phuric acid, and making nice experiments with
chemicals, — discourage the mass of them from at-
tempting to go into the manufacture of " home
made super-phosphate of lime."

Hence it lieconics an important inquiry, espe-
cially as tliis manure is found to be so exceedingly
valuable, whether some cheap and easy way of de-
composing l)ones cannot be discovered, for the bene-
fit of the common fiirm.

Without alluding to other experiments, in re-
gard to dissolving hones in strong lye, &c., — that-
have been partially successful, I propose, here,
in as few words as possible, to describe an experi-
ment, made on a small scale, with bones and horse
manure, that may lead many readers to still fur-
ther experiments, and at length end in some im-
portant practical result.

An intelligent and thoughtful neighbor of mine,
Mr. Edward Willis, a soap manufacturer — whose
father Inis taken a great deal of interest for many
years in agriculture, especially in the aj^plication
of ashes to light worn-out lands, and from whom
our great neighbor, the late Daniel Webster, used
to pi-oeure hundreds of bushels of ashes a j'ear for
similar lands — recently made an experiment of
this kind. Taking a quantity of bones, none of
tliem perhaps larger, and most of them smaller,
tlian a man's two fists, he made a good layer of
fresh horse dung, on which he placed a layer of
bones, then another layer of manure, then a layer
of bones, and so on, to the top, covering the heap
over well with the dung. It lay somewhat longer
than he intended, and was allowed to become to
some degree fire-fanged, but the bones ivere utterly
dccomposid, disintegrated and dissolved. So that
the whole heap had become a homogeneous mass,
and you could not even detect any bones in it. Now,
why would not this manure be fully equal to
ground bones, — be nearly or about as good as any
of the super-phosphates, — even the "Improved
Super-phosphate" of our delightful and scientific
friend. Prof. Mapes, which I have found so very
valuable, especially in its application to my root
crops, pear trees, lvc. Mr. Willis thought in a
further experiment, that he should either manage
to moisten the heap, or else not allow the mixture
to remain so many weeks undisturbed ; and I
suggested to him the advantage of covering over
the whole mixture at the very commencement of
such experiment with charcoal, peat earth, plas-
ter or some absorbent of ammonia, and then after
the decomposition of the bones had been effected,
to mix it in with the rest of the heap.

I have thus written out an account of this ex-
periment, so very successful as A\r as dissolving
the bones is concerned, as a matter of suggestion
to others, and with the hope that it would induee
some of our practical farmers, at a time of leisure,
to try the same experiment, and after they have
made application of the manure thus manufac-
tured, to give to their brethren through the me-
dium of the New England Farmer, an account
of its fertilizing effects as compared with other
<;ompost8. James Richardsox, Jr.

Kingston, Feb. 11, 1854.

Re.marks. — Capital. This will be the means of
cleaning up many a door-yard, as well as doub-
ling the turnip crops.

For the Tfew England Farmer.

PROFITS OF SHEEP.

Mr. Editor : — Having a short time since seen
in your paper a notice of the great income of the
Vermont sheep, I have thought it might not be
amiss to say something of the income of sheep in
Maine. The income of my 18 sheep, that I win-
tered last winter, has been $90,80, the present
year. In April, I sold one sheep that did not
have a lamb, for $4. For the wool sheared from
the other 17, I received $31,80, having 40 cents
per pound. For 24 lambs, I received $-55. My
sheep number the same as last winter, keeping one
of my lambs to supply the place of the sheep I
sold. Jane A. Morrison.

ParsonsvUle, Me., Feb., 1854.

185i.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

187

For the New EJigland Farmer.

COOKED AND. UNCOOKED MEAL.

Mr. Brown : — I received a letter from you
some time since asking for information in regard
to my experiments in feeding swine on cooked and
uncooked meal. I have recently tried no experi-
ment, but did in 1842 feed five swine on cooked
and uncooked food for about IQO days for which I
received a premium, and the result was published
in the transactions of the Essex Agricultural Socie-
ty for that year, which I presume you have in
your possession. The result was rather in fa-
vor of the uncooked meal, and different from what
T expected it would be, as I had previously been
accustomed to scald the meal, thinking that it
was better. 4 ^^^ aware that the result of differ-
ent experiments is not alwa^-s the same, still I
was pretty well satisfied with the experiment, as
I fed them nearly all the time myself, personally,
and was sure that there was no mistake or misrep-
resentation. I have also had some experience m
feeding swine on different kinds of roots, such as
potatoes, beets and turnips, also on apples. Po-
tatoes are unquestionably the best of any roots,
being very palatable when cooked, and were for-
merly a profitable crop to raise for that purpose.
But they are now so degenerated and subject to
disease that the scanty crop is more profitable for
the market than for swine.

Turnips and bests when cooked and mixed with
meal will do tolerably well for store shoats, and
some swine may fatten tolerably well on them,
but for most swine they are not palatable. And
1 think for the most part that the corn crop is
quite as profitable for swine as tho root crop, as
there is considerable saving in labor and expense of
cooking. I have also used apples, and think well
of them in the fall of the year for store shoats,
as well as for cattle. In regard to the exj^ense of
raising pork, there seems to be different opinions.
I was informed by Mr. Phinney some years since,
that when corn was worth 75 cents per bushel,
pork could be raised for six and a quarter cents
per pound. I however, kept an account of the
expense of raising pork for one year, while I made
about 5000 pounds, and came to the conclusion
that it coat at least 7i cents per pound when corn
was worth 75 cents per bushel, and offset the
manure for tho labor.

vShould you like further information in I'cgard
to my former experiment, I will forward it to
yon. Respectfully yours,

Joseph Howe.

Remarks. — Whatever Mr. Howe may bo pleased
to communicate on this subject, will bo received
with pleasure.

Shade .and Fruit Trees. — As the spring of the
year approaches, wovild it not be well to call the
attention of towns, in their corporate capicities,
to setting trees in the highways ? Some of the
advantages would be that tlie roads arc not so li-
able to fill with drifted snow ; they would afford
shade and fruit for travellers, protect orchards
fiom depredations, and would perhaps yield income
enough to pay the expense ot the labor and the
towns' poor, and have a surplus left. — Boston
Courier.

NINTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At the State Hoise, Tle.?day Evening, Makch 14.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Simon
Brown, who announced Col. Newell, President
of the Essex County Agricultural Society, aa
Chairman for the evening.

Mr. Newell, on assuming the chair, at once
introduced Dr. Lee, of Rochester, N. Y., as lec-
turer for the evening.

Dr. Lee remarked that he knew of no better
response to the invitation to address the Society
on the subject of Agriculture than to offer a few
suggestions intended to promote the inere;iso and
diffusion of agricultural knowledge. The intelli-
gent gentlemen before him hardly needed to be re-
minded of tlie old truism, that "knowledge is pow-
er." There are, however, some well-informed
men who fail to discriminate between an increase
of knowledge and the mere cxtcnsioji of it to a
greater number of persons. It is necessary, to ex-
tend any subject, that we be sure of our facts,
and that the reasoning from those fixcts is logical.
In the last century, when it was discovered in
France, that the sulphate of lime was a valuable
fertilizer, a great addition was made to the agri-
cultural knowledge then existing in the world.
That was a substantial increase of the profession-
al knowledge of the farmers of that day ; but that
increase would have been comparatively valueless
had there not been called into requisition, means
to extend the information to all the fanners of
that kingdom and the reading farmers of other na-
tions.

In the first place, we should increase the knowl-
edge we now possess as practical farmers. 2d.
We should extend that knowledge, so that tho
wisdom of each individual may ))e communicated
to all who are pursuing agriculture as a profes-
sion.

The value of the press to extend useful knowl-
edge is well known. The farmers of the United
States support more agricultural journals than all
tho world beside. This fact enables us to commu-
nicate at once to all who are interested in agricul-
ture, every new fact in tillage which may be dis-
covered. Very little could be accomplished in
the way of eradicating tlic prtyudices which retard
all progress in reducing to practice improvements
in agriculture, or in separating useful facts from
pernicious fictions, without the facilities which the
press affords.

Not only has science to subdue a thousand un-
happy prejudices, but it must devise ways and
provide means to give our rural population somo-
tliing better than their muscles witli which to till
the earth, — knowledge. The great question for
educated men to decide is, how they can best en-
large the boundaries of knowledge, so as to add
to the wealth and happiness of the millions. Mas-
sachusetts ought to contribute a few dollars every

188

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

year for the purpose of investigating the resources
and properties of her soil, and the varieties and
value of its vegetable and agricultural produc-
tions. For fifty years it has been known that lime
is a most important element of fertility ; and dur-
ing all that time it has been important to ascertain
the least quantity of this mineral that will suffice
in common soils for all useful purposes. In the
county in New York where the speaker lived, the
soil contained more lime than the soil of New
England ; and according to the census of 1850,
that county produced 500,000 bushels of wheat,
more than was raised in all New England. Does
not this fact exemplify the importance of knowing
the difl'erence between one soil and another 1 What
is there to prevent the farmers of jNIassachusetts
from comparing tons of their soil with that of the
West 1 Do they not need an increase of their pre-
sent knowledge on this subject 1 They may exhibit
year after year fat cattle, fine stock and handsome
fruit, but agricultural fairs are the least useful of
all agencies for the advancement of agricultural
science. It requires more profound research than
such exhibitions ever witness. A public institu-
tion is needed, which shall teach to one class of
students all that is known in the rural arts and
sciences ; and to another,' how to interrogate na-
ture, and advance science and art from things
known to things unknown. One department should
be well adapted to the labor of imparting knowl-
edge to all interested in the subject. The other de-
partment should be confined to experiments and
analyses for developing new facts in the mineral,
vegetable and animal kingdoms. With each of
these kingdoms, the farmer has much to do ;
hence, he should be acquainted with the laws of
each ; but he can never learn them except by
means of associated scientific observations. Few
farmers make any useful additions to the science
of agriculture ; audit would seem necessary, there-
fore, to employ men whose talents, genius and ed-
ucation peculiarly fit them for such service. Ag-
ricultural economy now presents a most inviting
field for making important discoveries, and achiev-
ing a lasting reputation.

As an illustration of what might be determined
by scientific investigation, the lecturer remarked
that 100 pounds of wheat or corn consumed a giv-
en weight of soil ; and he had great confidence in
the force of science to determine how much of
mould and how much of minerals had been con-
sumed in the growth of plants.

The point to be solved is this ; how much of the
substance of the soil is absorbed to make 100
pounds of ripe wheat or corn, or other crop? IIow
much of the nourishment of the plant is drawn
from the atmosphere, and what and how much
from tlie earth'? By proper experimenting, there is
no difficulty in ascertaining how plants grow.

If it be admitted that this matter ought to be

studied, as a part of our profession, the question
may be asked, how and where should it be studied,
and by whom ? When it is admitted that any
branch of knowledge is worthy of study, then it
is also admitted that a school is needed to facilitate
such study. An agricultural school is not an
end, but a means to attain an end. It is not
enough to purchase a farm for experimental pur-
poses. It should be supplied with scientific appa-
ratus, and students, and the public should have a
clear understanding of the whole economy and la-
bors of the school, so that no one may be disap-
pointed in the results. The Professors should be
tlioroughly qualified to dischargc^their duties.
The want of men qualified for such positions, the
speaker remarked, has long been felt. There is
a plenty of material in the country that may be
used to increase agricultural science, but it is a
little too raw for immediate use. Before he had
had an opportunity of seeing Congress, he had
hoped that it would establish an institution de-
signed to furnish a thorough agricultural educa-
tion to young men, who should become the educa-
tors of the Avhole country — that a national nor-
mal school of agriculture might be established to
furnish teachers for all the States. It is a poor
compliment to republican America that we are
compelled to go to monarchical Europe to learn
the very rudiments of agricultural science. Ag-
ricultural Physiology is important to the farmer,
but no work on the subject was ever published in
America, and but one in England, and that a poor
book. Europe does not furnish text books adapt-
ed to the wants of an American institution.

It is far more desirable that scientific men should
make additions to our knowledge, than labor to
extend the present knowledge to the many. The
discoveries of Liebig in practical chemistry creat-
ed a greater amount of interest and resulted in
more benefit than could be accomplished by a hun-
dred teachers of old facts. The speaker regarded
the increase of knowledge — that is, the develop-
ment of new facts illustrative of agriculture, — as
the point now to be pursued. And how is it to
be done? He thought ws should unite the high-
est scientific attainments in the country with the
highest practical attainments among farmers.
Bring the two together— have then work in con-
cert. The man of science will go astray. Liebig
generalized facts prematurely, and the result was
he fell into error, and brought rural science itself
somewhat into disrepute.

Experiments show that a j^lant takes but a very
small 250rtion of its food from the soil ; it draws
its chief nourishment from the atmosphere and
water. Science has demostrated that one-half of
the weight of all our agricultural plants is noth-
ing but the elements of water, oxygen and hydro-
gen, and four-fifths of the other parts are carbon,
or coal. Nine-tenths of the wood of plants are

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

189

water, which falls from heaven and cost nothing.
What we want is to study the laws of nature so
closely that wo shall understand them perfectly,
so that we can make one day's labor give us three
times as much as it now yields. A seed, in grow-
ing, first takes in moisture. There must be a free-
dom of motion in the germ, and water gives that
freedom; there is an absorption of oxygen, on the
same principle as we inhale it into our lungs, and
that combined with the carbon in the seed, really
burns it and evolves heat. If a quantity of wheat
is placed in a bin and water added, it grows hot.
That heat is the commencement of vitality. If
you plant corn on wet ground, prematurely, the
ground being moist but too cold, if the seed starts
to sprout ii rots. If it do not, the roots descend in
to the chilly ice water beneath, andjare checked and
the plant may die. This shows the connection
between germination, the growth of plants and
temperature. It had been supposed until recently
that the growth of plants increased in proportion
as the temperature was raised, but this opinion
has been proved to be erroneous. Corn planted
at a temperature 20 deg. above the freezing point
in 48 hours gained three grains in weight ; raising
the temperature to 40 deg. above freezing, instead
of gaining in the same length of time i'rom three
grains to six grains, it is found that the plant has
grown as the square of the increased temperature;
and increased to 12 grains. Therefore, the plant
increases four fold more than the increase of tem-
perature. The growth of plants is governed by
fixed laws, and we should study and obey them.

Taking.up the subject of Agricultural Meteorol-
ogy, the lecturer remarked that he only wishad to
show that a scientific knowledge of the laws of
nature has a direct bearing on everything done on
the farm. Study the matter ^of temperature.
Take the western shore of England. They can-
not grow corn there, because the climate is too
cold, but they grow wheat ; yet if there happens
a cold season, their wheat does not ripen. Last
year the season Avas remarkably cold throughout
western Eui'ope, and the lecturer said he had
prophesied that the crops would bo short. He
raised last year al)out 700 bushels of corn, but in-
stead of selling it when ripe,he supposed this corn
must be worth moi'e, hereafter, because the season
had Ijeen unpropitious in western Europe, and
the crop there must bo a short one ; grain Avill
therefore go up, whether there be war or not
that corn is now worth 90 cents to $1,00 per
bushel. These laws, if understood, can be turned
to a practical account, and if the farmers of this
country should urge the Smithsooian Institute to
turn its attention to agricultural meteorology, it
would prove of great lienefit to them.

Referring to the matter of making inquiries by
letter for information on a aulnjcct was very unsat-
isfactory. Old facts are returned in plenty, but

new ideas are not to be obtained. Take the dairy,
for instance. He never could get an answer to
the question "How much Initter ought a thousand
pounds of good timothy hay to produce?" or,
"How much pork ought 100 lbs. of corn to pro-
duce?" Both of these questions are important,
and might be easily settled, and so of others.

A^ncu/^ura/cn^</ieerj?i^'-, too, demands attention.
A good work on this subject is needed, and yet
there is no one who has treated of engineering in
connection with agriculture. "We need to know
how much water a piece of ground will contain,
how much of it is evaporated, and how much ab-
sorbed by the plant. Land will evaporate. 40
inches of water, where not 30 would fall during
the year. Now if a man needs all the water that
falls on his farm, why let it run off in the fresh-
ets? It may be retained to produce crops. The
evaporation of water is a curious thing. It is
done simply by the action of heat expanding the
water and makes it lighter than the atmosphere.
Solar heat is the true source of all the water pow-
er in the world. If there were no evaporation,
bhere could be no streams floj^ing from the moun-
tains. Sunshine is the great agent in causing
plants and trees to grow, and is the source of
all muscular power.

Sunshine sustains all the vital and mechanical
power in the world. Farmers have not studied
this power, and yet they can make it earn them
money. The lecturer said he did not propose that
every farmer should devote his life to such re-
searches, but that a few of the best men of the
nation should be employed for the purpose, while
the farmer would reap the benefit. Will it be
said that the State of Massachusetts cannot em-
ploy five men all their lives ^ Supposing each
wants a salary of $3000 a year ? that would be
but $5,000 yearly expense. We are indebted to
Europe for nearly all our scientific information ;
we have no agricultural science which we can call
our own. He had more confidence in the action
of Massachusetts in this important matter than
in any other State because she has already done
more for education.

Turning to agricultural chemistry and geology,
the lecturer remarked that chemists have not gen-
erally been practical men, and have not looked at
the subject from an agricultural point of view.
They operate on 100, or perhaps 1000 grains, in
making an analysis of soils, but he thought that
amount too small. If he desired to ascertain the
difference between the soils of western New York
and Massachusetts, he would take a cubic foot of
each.

It is a universal law of nature that all animals
and plants give back to the earth and atmosphere
an exact equivalent for the food which they con-
sume. Supposing they did not, tliey would, by
impoverishing the earth, finally become extinct.

100

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

ApRit

Man is the only animal tliat impoverishes the land
that feeds him. If you take a million bushels of
wheat from Ohio and consurao it here in Massa-
diuBctts, no equivalent is returned to the soil of
Ohio for the matter taken from it, and the land
is impoverished to that extent. The Erie canal
conveys a million tons of nutritive matter from the
lands of the AVest, Avhere it carries one ton back to
i-estore fertility. We arc converting the most for
tile lands in tlic world into a barren desert by this
means ; this is our wisdom .

Dr. Lee concluded his highly interesting lecture
by asking why farmers, altliough in a majority in
the country, did not do anything to elevate and
improve their jirofession? His remarks were lis-
tened to witli earnest attention, and at the close,
Mr. Proctor, of Danvers.movcd that the thanks of
the Society be presented to Dr. Lee for his able
lecture, which was seconded by Mr. Spkagve, ol
Duxbury, and unanimously carried.

The subject for the evening's discussion — Farm
Slock, — was, on motion of Mr. Proctor, postponed
until next Tuesday evening,wlien a lecture will be
delivered ther?on liy Mr. Howard, of the Boston
CuUivator, and the time of the meeting was taken
up until the adjournment by a discussion of the
subject of experimental farms, and agriculture
generally', which Avas participated in by ^Icssrs.
Proctor, Spragie, Brooks, Dodge, Buckminster
and Col. Newell, the Chairman. Dr. Lee also
took occasion to say that by his remarks in regard
to agricultural science in this country, he meant
that we did not do anything to advance it, did not
cultivate it as we cultivate the soil.

THE CULTURE OE ONIONS.

Mr. Edikir : — My success in raising onions has
led many to ask "how it is done." They say the
mao-"^ot and the large brown worm have been so
destructive that they iiavc done trying to raise that
valuable vegetable. In answer to such inquiries
permit me to reply.

There are at least six kinds of onions. But
they are of the same species. The leek, the giir-
licli, the hill-ouions, the top-onions, the bod and
the silver onions. From the fact, that wlicnever
irtiions haveljeen found growing wild, they are al-
ways found most plentifully and most flourishing
in muck soil, 1 liave taken the hint to prepare my
anion bed with a plentiful sup}ily of muck first put
into the hog-yard, and then well mixed with com-
mon soil. It 1 plow the ground, I take care not
to have the ground too light. As the roots of
anions do not go down deep, they will not stand
drought 80 well in light as in more common soil,
liesides, onions bottom better where tlie ground
has been rotted ur hard trodden.

1 cultivati'. tiic" top-onion," for several reasons.
.Ail black seed onions are slow to come up. 'I.'hc
weeds get tlie start of them and tlien you are
r>l)ligcd to get down on your hands and knees and
weed with your fingers. Then warm weather has
come on and the maggot fly commences with the
young plant and destroys it. And the black seed

onion is so late that the black worm is just in sea-
son to bite off the tender stalk and so devours the
onion.

But plant the "top-onion" seed, which is al-
ready a little onion, you may get them well growing
in April. They come up immediately, so that you
may lioe them twice or more before Aveeds appear.
And before maggot or worm time, the onion has
got the ground by possession. "When the weeds
appear, you may march right along with your hoe
and go over with a bed large enougli for twenty
l)ushels, before breakfast.

The reason why maggots have ever destroyed
the top-onion is, that they were planted too late.
They should be planted as soon as the snow and
frost disappears. Some put out in the fall and do
well. I have never tried it. The top-onions on
good ground are large as any. They arc sweeter
and more juicy than other varieties, and can be
raised almost as easy as potatoes.

I have given away and sold seed for several
years ; and when the exjjeriment has been fair, all
have been satisfied. I intend to give away and sell
before April, ^jcc/re bushels of seed. S. Morgan.

Bristol, Jan. 13, 1854.

P. S. — Perhaps there is no vegetable more agi'ee-
able to the stomach of a dyspeptic, than fried or
boiled onions. — Middlebiiry Register.

CONCORD FARMSaS' CLUB.

TucESDAT Kyenikg, Fkbruaky 9, 1854.

Reports being called for, an excellent one on
Root Crops was made by Elijah Wood, Jr., and
another by one of the members, which, being
much shorter, we give in this connection, on
Farm Buildings.

The first difficulty, and one which cannot ordi-
narily be overcome, in the arrangement and con-
venience of Farm Buildings, is the fact, that most
persons enter upon the farm where the buildings
are already constructed. They ai-e too good, per-
haps, to be pulled down, wliile tliey arc not con-
venient in their location or arrangement.

He who enters upon a farm entirely free from
buildings, ought to regard as the first thing, the
convenience of their situation ; and to this end
must be considered the best shelter, feeding and
watering of live stock ; the carriage of the crop,
and of manure, and the preservation of the pro-
duce, lie will not, probably, be able to combine
all these advantages, but must seek to obtain as
many of them as possible.

The relative location of the several buildings to
each other, is the second important consideration.
I would not have them connected witli each other,
for several reasons : first, on account of health, ae
it is always difficult to prevent the odors arising
from the styes, sink drainage and barn cellars
from penetrating the dwelling. Second, on account
of the liability of the loss of the whole by fire, if
it chances to originate in any one of them. And
thirdly, the imjiossibility of giving the dwelling
that air of neatness, order and licalth, in all its

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

191

surroundings, when tbe out-buildings are compact-
ly placed near the dwelling-house. But no gen-
eral rule can be laid down as to how far apart the
buildings sliould stand ; that will depend upon
various circumstances, such as the nature of the
ground, the supply of water, and the particular
kind of business for which they are to be used.

A moderately sized, but well-finished dwelling
house, I should strongly recommend. A large
house, partially finished, has an unthrifty appear-
ance to the traveller, is cold, inconvenient and
comfortless to the fixmily,and is a reproach to the
owner, if he planned it himself. There is one
room, however, in the dwelling of every farmer, of
which I will speak, because if he does not find com-
fort and convenience tliere, it is quite likely they
will not be found on his premises anywhere : — that
room is the kitchen — the place where cluster the
family and the afiections, as well as the bountiful
products of the farm ; it is not the outer court of
home, but the centre of home itself, on the farm,
and the index either of the prosperity or decay of
its occupants. The kitchen should be ample in its
dimansions, and supplied with all the nameless
conveniences which are of more consequence than
the aid of foreign "help.'" Dry wood and soft

black spot in the centre of the abdomen ; the belly
paler than the back. The extremity or tail, light-
colored and furnished with two horns above, and
two feet by which that part was slightly raised
when the worm was in motion. By lamp-light,
we could discover no other feet, or stripes, either
lateral or longitudinal. Mr. F. found these
worms in large numbers on the snow, in a state of
great activity, and not only upon the surface, but
an inch or more below it. The snow lay upon a
reclaimed meadow, the ground bare near it, but
no trees or bushes within twenty rods. When we
saw them, they had been confined eleven hours,
but were still as active as arc insects in June.
What are they^ Where did they come from?

The President then announced the subject for
the evening's discussion, viz. : — What are the best
methods of raiiing, keeping, and feeding Poultry
and Swine ?

Mr. C. W. GooDxow said the rearing of poul-
try had become fashionable, and he considered it
a fashion which afforded many conveniences, a«
well as a pleasant occupation. He had instituted
experiments with some degree of exactness, and
found that it takes 4-5 of a quart of corn to keep
a hen one week, making 1^ l)ushels a year;

water are indispensable, and should be near at l^^ns, on an average, cost 37 cents, which makes

hand. In this climate, the kitchen should be on
the south side, but protected from summer suns
by shade or piazza. In such a kitchen the graces
will bloom as well as the posies, and virtues will
rise as well as the buckwheat cakes ; the presiding
genius, whether over the stove or over the tub, will
be good nature, and the children will remember
the dear old spot, where they first cracked jokes
arid nuts, or perhaps kissed a pretty girl while
playing blind-man 's-buffjas the sunny place of ex-
istence, and ever turn to it from the turmoil of
life, with unabated delight.

The corn-crib or barn should be separate from
the other buildings — but with this exception I
would have all the others under one roof. The
rooms for carriages, implements, &c., should be
separated by tiglit partitions. Horses, oxen, cows
and young cattle, should each have their particu
lar places assigned. There should be a good cel-
lar for roots under tlie barn, into which, if sufii-
cicntly large, th(i wagons and carts might be win-
tered. If I could avoid it I would have no manure
under the barn. Witli sucli an arrangement, and
the possession of a common share of philospiiy and
good nature, the farmer ouglit to be a happy
man.

Mr. Jacob B. Farmer then presented a bottle
containing some 30 or 40 worms, some of them half
&n inch in length, somewhat resem!)ling canker
worms, though not having the same motions.
The head is bla^k, tlic body of a brownish gre;!n,
and sufliciently transparent to show an internal

the hen and keeping cost §1,(J2 ; a hen will lay
on an average, 82 eggs, wliich, at 15 cents a doz-
en, will give $1,03 as income. Now add 37
cents as value of the hen, and you have a remainder
of $1,40, making a loss of 22 cents on each hen.
But in order to illustrate the subject more
fully, he had taken pains to call upon some
of his young friends, who, he knew, were largely
engaged in rearing poultry and kept precise ac-
counts, for statements which would be more satis-
factory than any he could make himself. In re-
sponse to his inquiries, James A. Barrett has
furnished him with the following statement : —

Sir, — At your request I have looked up my ac-
count of the expense and income of my fowls for
the year 1853.

I commenced the year with ninety fowls ; but
in the course of the first nine months, I reduced
them to thirty -five.

They laid during the year six hundred and six-
teen dozen of eggs. I have raised about one hun-
dred chickens. Their food has been mostly dam-
aged corn and wheat, oats, sweepings of mills,
meat, &c.

The receipts, including epffs, chicken.s, &c., after
re-sorving enough to ni.iko up the original num-
ber of ninety, amount to $157,71

Manure, or guano, estimntcd at 20,00

Making in all $177,71

Cost of keeping $106,95

Leaving a net profit of $70,76

Mr. BARRKTT'sstatinnent, I think, is somewhat
incomplete, and cahnilatod to give too large an
idea of the profit of raising hens. I would, how-
ever, recommend to every one who conveniently

l'J2

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

can, to keep hens — by po doing they may have at
nearly all times, chickens fit for the table, and
fresh COLO'S. Another young man who is interest-
ed in the subject, has sent me the following ac-
count : —

statement of the profits on poultry for the year 1853-4.
Received for 265 doz. eggs sold $50,75

" 36 pairs chickens sold 34,05

March 1, 1854. On hand 46 fowls, worth

60 eta. each 23,00 |107,70

Kxpenses, for corn $9,91

" cobmeal 8,77

" buckwheat, oats, meat, kc 8,47

On band, March 1, 1S54, 46 fowls, worth

42cts. each 19,-32 $46,47

Net gain $61,23

Concord, March 9, 1854. J. IS- Bkuws.

Mr. Jons Raynolds said he thought Poultry
and Swine comprised .an important part of the
farmer's stock ; he spoke of the origin of fowls,
of the value of different breeds, and thought those
i>f a medium size, all things considered, are the
most profitable, and our yellow-legged common
fowls are not excelled by any for the taljle, and
2)erhaps not for laying ; he spoke of the amount
of poultry in the Union as making an item of
great national wealth, amounting to no less a
sum than $20,000,000 annually ! The State of
New York alone had $2,373,000 value in this
stock in a single year. The amount of sales of
poultry at the Quincy Market, Boston, for the
j-ear 1848, was $674,423,00, and the eggs sold in
and around the same market, during the same
period, amounted to 1,129,735 dozen, making
the amount paid for eggs at that market $203,-
352,30, and the sales in the city for that year, not
much short of $1,000,000. There arc now many
breeds of poultry among us, and many opinions
respecting their qualities and profitableness. The
larger kinds make a stately appearance, but are
more expensive to keep, and I have strong doubts
whether t!ie quality of their flesh, or even their
eggs is as good as of the smaller kinds. There
are many of the fanaj breeds, ns they are called,
that are quite ornamental, as well as valuable
layers. Most of these, however, have blue^or slate-
colored legs Avhich arc generally objected to by
epicures. The foAvls most sought for at present
are the Brahma Pootra, Golden Poland, Bolton
Grey, Black Spanish, White, Red, and Black
Shanghai, Chiltagong, and Cochin China. Mr.
Bennett, in his treatise on Poultry says there
are four important requisites to success in the
management of fowls —

1. That they have atnplc space.

2. Thorough ventilation.

3. Perfect cleanliness, and

4. A variety and sufficiency of good food and
pure water.

Mr. John B. Moore, President of the club,
said he believed the raising of poultry might be
made profitable as that of any other stock or crop

of the ftirm, according to the amount of capital
invested in it. Fowls are also a pleasant feature
of the homestead, one in wiiich all the members
of the family feel an interest, so that while they
gratify by affording a pecuniary profit, they afford
enjoyment by their appearance, social habits and
attachments. A year or two since he erected a
building for fowls and enclosed an ample space
for them to range in and had taken pains to keep
an exact account of profit and loss.

For the two months of January and February, 1854,

he valued the fowls at $37,30

Keeping the same 13,13

Use of hen-house 2,00

$52,43

He sold 97 doz. eggs for $24,25

Sold fowls for 7,35

Value of fowls on hand 36,99

Making $68,59

Deduct cost 52,43

Leaving a jirofit in two months of $16,16

These fowls had not had the range of the barn
and yard, but were strictly confined to their own
premises, for Avhich reason he doubted whether
they would show so favorable a return, as those
would running at large, other things being equal.
The average cost of keeping ho had ase-jrtained to
be ?j>!i mills per day.

The question for the next evening's discussion
is — To what extent viould ornamental gardeiiing
be made profitable to the farmer 1

For the New England Farmer.

A NEW KIND OF FENCE.

Dr. C. B. Greene, of Windsor, Yt., has intro- ,
duced into this region a process of kyanizing wood,
with blue vitrol, so as to render it very durable.
He takes stakes, (ash, elm, oak, or any suitable
wood) 5^ feet long, and steeps 2 feet of the sharp-
ened end till thoroughly soaked in a solution of blue
vitrol. One lb. of vitrol to 40 lbs. water is his
rule. These stakes arc then driven firmly into the
ground, about 15 inches. The tops are then
brought into a straight line, and a strip of board
4 inclics wide, placed upon the top of the stakes,
and nailed with one nail to each stake. The stakes
are 8 inches apart. Dr. G. afiirms that after paj"-
in 24 cciits per rod, or $2,40 psr hundred, for his
stakes, he can pay all other cost ujjon such a fence
and hire it made at 20 cents per rod, or at 50 centf
per rod, the whole cost.

By experimenting upon a piece of basswood
board, 7i years since, which he placed in the
ground then, where it has remained perfectly sound
to this time. Dr. G. is of opinion this fence will
be very durable, and as its cost will be even less
than 50 cents per rod, to farmers who can cut their
own stukes, it must eventually by a very common
kind of M dividing line."

Among Dr. G.'s advantages over common fence,
he says cattle and sheep can't get through it, hors-*
i^ won't jump it, hogs will go a good distance
round, rather than climb over it, and a lazy man
can't set in the s/iac/e of it. G. F. Nutting.

Chelsea, Vt., 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

193

, For the New England Farmer.

WHAT A GARDEN SHOULD BE.

Having reviewed somewhat hastily the general
innate love for gardens and their accompaniments,
together with their benefit to man, it will be well
beiore descril)ing any form or forms to go back a
little, and try to learn what lias always constitut-
ed a garden. The first of which we have any
knowledge, is the garden of Paradise, and wheth-
er a minute description would have been unwor-
thy Holy "Writ or not, we do not know anything
of the arrangement of its surface ; but as flowers
and fruits were spoken of promiscuously, and as it
was one of nature's own planting and arranging,
it is not unreasonable to presume it was of the
kind to which common consent has affixed th
term natural, owing to the absence or conceal-
ment of art, in contradistinction to the artificial
where art is ever made prominent, and where v^e
do not so much admire the beauties of nature, as
the inventor's genius.

Man did not long possess this Paradise, and
■was obliged to make gardens for himself; at first,
at least, he had too much to do to get his living to
give any time to the beautiful, and consequently
gardens are mentioned again only at a much later
period. In later times there were the gardens of
Babylon, with their pillars and terraces ; here art
was most distinctly seen; the natural and beauti-
ful elopes were eschewed, and rather than see and
own beauties of surface, and vegetation that were
free to rich and poor alike, the Babylonian aristo
orats mounted up in the air, on high pillars, ter-
races, "which they covered with a few inches of
earth, and managed to keep in a moderate state of
culture and vegetation by unwearied care. Such
gardens, doubtless, gave the city a very elegant
appearance from a distance, but could be a source
of personal gratification to very few. It is rea-
sonable to suppose, that then, as now, wealth did
not, by consequence, give an appreciation of the
beautiful, and douljtless many happy cottagers
had their little borders filled with beautiful flow-
ers and rich fruits which gave to their hard-work-
ing owners more zest and pleasure, than all the
luxury wealth could impart to its sated possessors.

Nor is the Bible the only book that tells of the
gardens of antiquity : Homer describes the gar-
den of Alcinous, which was to him the most
magnificent aCTair the world could conceive. How
magnificent we should have thought it, we can
judge when wo know it was a four-acre lot fenced
in with a high green liedge, tliat enclosed a fruit,
flower and kitchen garden, all mixed together;
that it was laid out in straight lines and right an-
gles, and enlivened with an occasional statue.

The Roman style copied closely the Grecian,
with the addition of labyrinths of paths and trees,
grottoes and caves, in rocks that were transported
for miles to ornament the grounds; on the sides
of the path were men and animals, cut out of box
and yew trees, statues and fountains; and amongst
the flower beds, round and oval fish-ponds ; all as
far as miglit be from the beautiful, luxuriant na-
' ture of Italy. They eared not so much to devel-
ope nature, as to display the evidences of their
own wealth.

In later times we find the stately gardens of
Versailles, and other European cities, uniformly
modelled by the most artistic hand, and to a great

degree copies of those I have described as Roman.
It was reserved for England to sublime out of the
whole mass of artificial gardening, a truer and
more natural style.

I have not attempted to give the exact steps, or
to delineate all the varieties of gardens and gar-
dening; but to show how slowly man progressed,
after being ejected from Paradise, to the true ap-
preciation and reproduction of the best natural
e fleets.

But few are insensible to the beauties of flowers
and trees, or the grander charms of the wide-
spread landscape, combining mountains, hills, val-
leys forests, rivers, lakes; or the quiet seclusion
of the narrow dell, or the harmonious combina-
tion of grass and trees ; and as men became more
accustomed to analyze their likes and dislikes,
and the reasons for seeking or neglecting certain
objects capable oP giving pleasure or its opposite,
they asked themselves Avhy they still went to the
woods and fields to admire nature, and revel there
in her beauty of color, and luxurious abandon,
and yet produced at enormous expense in their cul-
tivated grounds nearest home, and most often to be
gazed upon, the very opposite of that the}" so
much loved ; and why they might not rather have
just these natural charms for the same money, and
be enabled to enjoy at home, what otherwise they
must seek abroad.

Such a spirit soon introduced a more rational
system of tilings, and founded the natural style
of gardening.

AH who have followed me in my narrative thus
far, will agree that tliis result was very desirable,
but unfortunately only to be enjoyed and prac-
ticed by the owners of extensive estates ; and they
particularly who have but a small piece of ground
adjoining the house to be devoted to flowers and
ornament, whilst they adi.iire the change, will de-
plore the necessity which from narrowness of
boundarj^ condemns them to the right-angular
and rigid in lines, and the systematic and precise
in matters of ornament. Here it will be best to
pause a little on the reasons for preferring one or
another kind of improvement, before giving any
special directions regarding the most 'desirable
changes.

First, it is especially necessary not to confound
the idea of beauty with any mere conformation
of lines and figure ; too many who have become
dissatisfied with the system of right angles and
straiglit lines have fallen into tlie opposite ex-
treme, and now twist and turn their paths and
walks for no good at all, till they become more
ridiculous and disagreeable than the straight. Re-
member that a chief element of beauty is fitness,
and that nothing can compensate for its al)sence.
Instinctively tlie mind associates the idea of
paths with getting somewhere ; now if any path
seems bent liere and there at v.-ill, by which the
distance is prolonged, the effect is disagreeable;
but if it evidently tends to avoid an elevation,
a group of trees, or any other natural obstacle,
it is at once agreeable and praisewortiiy, and if
the arrangements on eitlier side are such as the^y
should be, the change for the most direct route is
not noticed. Deception is at all times unworthy,
but to get the greatest amount of pleasure and
beauty is not deception, and if any path or wood is
deflei-t(id to gain citlier, no argument based upon
deception is applicable.

194

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

I am aware that the natural system, as it has
been abused, lias met with much disfavor, but
where easy, flowing lines have been substituted for
the rigid, straiglit and stiff, particular!}' if accom-
panied with proper ornamentation, the change is
not tmplcasant, it will evcTi be spccialhj agreeable.
Aa the proprietors of small places are the most
troubled to arrange their pleasure grounds consist-
ently with correct ideas of beauty, I shall treat of
the arrangements befitting the grounds of village
homes : and the immediate surroundings of the

farm-house, firat ; because what is true of them, ivill
be of country residences and parJi-Uhe grounds, on
a large scale, and vice, versa. As botany teaches,
the leaf is the type of the tree.

I subjoin an imaginary plan of the surround-
ings of but too many homes in New England vil-
|lages, as they shmildnot he, hut are. I wish to show
particularly, the farmer and mechanic, that they
I may have beauty, elegance and comfort , at the same
Icostivith stiffjicss, awkwardness and discomfort.

taof

Village Homestead as it is— Unimproved.

a. Ilouse.

b. Kitchen.

c. Woodshed.

d. Barn.

e. Pife'-sty.

/. Main Carriage Road.
g. Path from Shed to Barn.
k. Path from Kitchen to Barn.
i. Patli from Kitchen to Garden.
j. Path from front door to Garden.

k. Patli to front door.
/. Border of Currant Bushes,
m. Dilapidated elms in front.
n. Rows of Apple trees,
o. Manure heaj).
p. Gooseberry border.
q. Grass,
r. Flower Border,
s. Kitchen Garden.

The above wood cut represents a village home-
stead, hundreds of which, of the same size and
shape, or slightly differing, are familiar to all.
Tlie_,„land itself is half an acre in size, on which
is a house 40 feet square, with Land woodshed of
proportionate dimensions ; there is also a barn,
40x30 ; at one corner of the barn, o, is a large
pile of manure exposed to the washing and beat-
ing of wind and i-ain ; this manure-pile is sur-
rounded by the hog-pen, whose squealing and
noisome inhabitants are plainly perceival/lc by
all.

The buildings are all more or less painted ; pro-
bably white in front, and bright staring red on
the^ back and sides ; in some places there are
blinds, but in more none, and probably the barn
doors are swinging in the wind. Every path is
straight, and if it is inconvenient to go around
the corners, another path isAvorn across the grass
/, is the road up to the barn; this road is shut
from the main street, by either a pair of bars, or
a three-barred gate, generally halting on one
hinge, k, is the path to the front door, which al-
so is closed by a gate, commonly composed of pick-
ets, one or more of which are askew, or broken

out. h, g, c andj, are paths througli the garden
and gi-ass, to and from the house and barn ; in
every case it is necessarj' eit.her to go around a
long and awkward corner ,or cross grass or plowed
land to the detriment of all concerned, m, is a
row of half-starved elms, from the woods, or per-
haps of overgrown and neglected apple trees — af-
fording more suckers and canker worms than ap-
ples, s, represents tiie tillage by dotted lines, q,
grass by straight lines. In tiie grass at the west of
the liouse are perhajis two large elms or other fine
trees, which have most likely been disligured^by
a barbarous course of scraping Avith the fruit tree
scraper, and a coat of whitewash. At ji, n, we
have apple or other fruit trees, all of which indi-
cate tl'.e absence of a true horticultural skill, and
in too many cases, of even the wish for anything
better.^ On the west side is a long picket fence,
out of which numy slats have been lost, thus ac-^
commodating the neiglibors or the j^ropi'ictor's
pigs and hens in their friendly visits. Very like-
ly, in homesteads of the better order, the front
will be j^rotectcd by a light, white paling, in per-
fect repair, and finished at an expense of need-
less carpenter work, sufficient to h ; a(

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

195

other fences in order. Against the fence on the
W. N. and E., there will be, probably, a row of
moss covered currant or gooseberry bushes, or
perhaps raspberries. On either side of the front
walk, k, are two borders, r, r, for flowers, which
in some cases will have a few stunted roses and
pinks, and perhaps a few roots of phlox or other
perenials.

The border, p, is filled with some berry fruit,
and the whole tilled surface will be more or less
qpyered with fruits, vegetables, and most of all,
loeeds.

I do not mean to say that this is the only ar-
rangement that would be seen in sucli a place, for
many would evince care and neatness, but I doubt
not, many of my readers will have recognized
the very place I have been describing, before get-
ting thus far. So mueli for the unimproved ; the
next time, I will describe the same place altered
by the hand of care and taste.

I have selected a square half-acre from the gen-
eral habit of cutting up village lands into rectan-
gular shapes, and of course my description and
strictures apply equally well to other homesteads
of any size and shape, which are managed in the
same careless and short-sighted manner.

R. Morris Ookeland.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

PRICES OF CROPS IN OHIO.

Corn is selling at this time and place at 40 cts

— ^wheat at $1,25 — rye 50 cts. — clover seed, $4,75

^bushel — oats 25 cts. — timothy seed, $2,00 — flax

seed, 80 cts. — potatoes 50 cts. — apples, green, 50

cts. per bushel — hogs, gross, $2,50 per hundred.

Hiram O. Minich.

Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, March 7, 1854.

ASHES HOLD-FAST IN CATTLE.

New Subscriber, Derby, Vt. — Tha hold-fast , on
cattle, is supposed to be occasioned by the old teeth
being retained when the new ones are starting,
which causes the new teeth to grow out of the side
of the jaw. Make an examination, and see if
something is not wrong with the teeth. Bathe
the parts externally with arnica water.

Ashes spread broadcast on grass lands will prove
highly Ijcneficial. Apply them to corn around
the hill at the first or second hoeing ; scatter them
about your apple trees — they are valual^le on any
crop.

now TO APPLV GUANO.

B. L. Gilford. — For corn, spread 300 pounds to
the acre and harrow in, after pulverising and mix-
ing with any moist loam ; or, if you use other
manure, apply a handfuU of the mixture to the
hill before dropping the corn. For grain crops,
broadcast and harrow under. For grass, broad-
cast, and use in a rainy day, early in April. It
is more pleasant to use it when mixed with loam

perennial rve grass.
Jesse Eaton, Meredith Village. — The grass you
sent is probably the perennial rye grass, though
■we had not enough of it for examination to feel
quite sure about it.

hemlock for hedges.

H., ForestviUe, Ct. — "Is hemlock of any value
for hedges, either for ornament or for making
fence 1 ' '

Hemlock makes a higlily ornamental hedge,
when well kept and trimmed. We have never
known it used as a fence, and doubt whether it
would ofl'er a suiBcient resistance against cattle.
In transplanting, young and thrifty plants should
be used, and their roots, after having been care-
fully taken up, should not be exposed for a moment
to the sun and wind. From the ground, set them
at once into wagons or boxes, and cover the roots
witli light earth, or damp straw or hay, where
they should remain until the ground is ready to
receive them.

large eggs.

James A. Barrett, Concord, Ms. — "The two
eggs enclosed weigh i of a pound each. These,
and one more, weighing three ounces, were laid by
one of my Shanghai hens in four days. I have
found a number since supposed to have been laid
by the same hen, that weighed about three ounces."

R. W. Ames, Roxbury, Mass., informs us that
he succeeded in raising, last year, 5170 grains of
good sound corn from a single kernel planted !

GUANO.

J. H. A., Fairhavcn, Mass. — Guano is selling
now at $55,00 a ton — $2,75 per hundred pounds.
There is no necessity for mixing guano with sand
or loam, when you are to sow it broadcast, so far
as the crop is concerned ; but it is more comforta-
ble sowing it. Apply the manure to your plain
lands, by all means, in preference to the guano,
if you can obtain an ox-cart load for fifty cents,
as you suggest. With manure at that price you
can raise any crop you please, within reasonable
limits.

meadow mtjd.

Dear Farmer : — Please inform me through
your next number, the best way of preparing
meadow mud for a manure for light upland loam.

A Subscriber.

See Monthly Farmer, vol. 5, pages 01, 340,
341. Meadow mud that has been dug out and
exposed through the winter would Ijo a good fer-
tilizer, and one which all crops require. Tlie "way
of preparing" is simply to make the whole fine, and
mingle intimately by turning the heap over.

concord grape SWEET POTATO.

N. 0., Eden, Me. — We shall give a full account
of the "Concord Grape " in another column,
stating price and where it may be purchased.
The sweet •potato is raised in this State and in the
southwest part of New Hampshire. The slips
may be obtained in the market at Boston, or you
may sprout the potato in a liot-bed yourself. The
slips should beset about the first of June, same as
you transplant cabbage plants. They are very
hardy.

196

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

Mt'UlATE OF LIME.

"Is not Mr. Gould]8 advertisement of muriate
of lime, an error, which recommends 300 barrels
to the acre ? One would tliink that a pretty
strong auKKint, and if not very cheap, rather ex-
pansive as a dressing G. G. G.

Chester, Conn., Feb. 7, 1854.

Read 300 pounds, instead of barrels.

MTR.VTE OF SODA BURDEN GRASS.

To J. W. Webster, North Fairhaven, Mass.
The price of "Burden grass," per bushel, is $1,-
50 — tliere is very little in market. After making
inquiries at several places, where similar articles
are sold, we could find no "nitrate of soda," at
any price.

A HALF SUFFOLK PIG.

Samuel Aldex, of Lyme, N. H., killed a pig
eight months and twenty-two days old which
weighed when dressed (exclusive of rough lard)
401 pounds ! k. c. b.

Or/ordville, 1854.

OLD COLONY sweet CORN.

R. 0. STOnoxiiTi^WesfJielJ, Vt. — "I planted this
kind of corn last year on the IGth of May ; it was
in silk the first of August. Gathered some for
the table on the 4tli of Sept. — the stalks were
large and some of them ten feet high, many of the
oars being 6 feet from the ground. There being
no frost until the last days of Sept., it came to ma-
turity. As an experiment, I pulled the suckers
from two rows, and I thought the ears were bet-
ter and earlier for it, notwithstanding some say
'don't sucker your corn."'

BEST SEED SOWER.

E. S. AhLES, Jacksonville, Vt. — "You will confer
a favor on a subscriber, and others, by informing
them through your very valuable paper, Avhicli is
the best Seed Sower, now used for sowing car-
rots."

The best Seed Sower with which we are ac-
quainted is one represented in Messrs. Rugglcs,
Nourse, jMason & Co.'s Catalogue, and called
"Seed Sower No. 2." The brush and cylinder of
No. 2, which distributes the seed, go by gradua-
t'3d rows of iron cogs or gearings, which operate
simply and uniformly, are durable, not likely to
get out of order, and by which the speed of the
dropping may be increased or lessened, and large or
small seeds sown, in all their varieties, at any
desiraljlc distances, in hills or drills. There is a
larger kind for use by horse power.

E. Inguam, Lnhanoa, N. H. — See vol. 4, page
108, Monthly Farmer, for an excellent article on
the buclithorn. There is no difficulty, whatever,
in cultivating it. Buckwheat or clover may be
turned in green, with great advantage, on the
light lands you speak of.

Improved Poudrette. — Thisarticlc is advertised
in our columns. We know nothing about it, nev-
er having used it. It may bo easily tested by the
purchase of a barrel or two for trial.

For the Ifew ilngland Farmer.

CITY RAIIROADS---A MODEL STABLE.

1!V HENRV r. FKE.VCII.

One would hardly expect to find in the midst of
a great city, much that would be of value to the
practical farmer, but during a day latel}' passed in
New York, I chanced to ascertain some facts, which
seem worth placing on the record.

By invitation of J^uies S. Libby, President of
the "Sixth Avenue Railroad Company," which*
runs from Barclay Street, just in the rear of the
Astor House, to Forty-fourth Street, a distance of
three and a half miles, I passed over the road and
visited the stables of the company, where are kept
the four hundred horses, which draw the cars, in
which are conveyed annually, for greater or less
distances, five and a half iniU'ums of passengers.

City railroads are much discussed, now, both in
Boston and elsewhere, and probably some statisti-
cal information on the subject may not be unin-
teresting. Again, the exact amount of food re-
quired for each animal, and the amount of labor
he can endure, ought to be known to every farmer,
but unfortunately, the man who cuts his own hay,
guesses at the quantity, and lets the boys feed it
out, without weight or measure, is not in the pre-
cise position to inform us of the expense of sup-
porting his live stock, and on the farm, labor is
too irregular to furnish much information as to"
the capacity of animals for work.

The human force of the company referred to.
consists of sixty drivers, sixty conductors, one
man for each sixteen horses at the stable, eight
blacksmiths who do the shoeing for the whole, be-
sides harness makers and painters and a few oth-
ers.

The stable is of brick, two hundred feet square,
and two stories high, with an attic. The two sto-
ries are occupied by the horses, which are led up
to the second story, over an inclined plane. The
attic is occupied as a hay and grain room, and
one old horse, wdiich seemed nearly blind, proba-
bly because, like the fish in the Mammoth Cave,
there was nothing to see in that position. This in-
dividual amused himself, and served his race, by
woi'king a horse power hay-cutter, with whicli,in
seven hours daily application, he is able to supply
the wants of his four hundred bi-ethren in the lower
regions. The philanthropists of the great city,
who labor so zealously for their fellows, and seem
to make so little progress, I think may gain cour-
age, by contemplating the example of this patient
quadruped. Although constantly striving forward,
he has never advanced a single inch, but he is ac-
complishing a vast deal of good by his efforts in
the*riglit direction. Water is brought by an aque-
duct into the attic, as well as theoblier stories,and
all the food is prepared by mixing the chopped
hay with corn meal, and wetting it in one large
box. It is then dropped, through wooden conduc-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

197

tors, to the lower floors, and distributed to the
various stalls. Every part of the establishment
was perfectly clean, and kept in thorough order.
Mr. William Euiutt, the superintendent, who
knows, by the way, as much about hor8es,as any
man in New York, has his various troops under as
good discipline as a military academy. A fine of
one dollar is imjiosed upon every ostler who leaves
a bucket or shovel insiglit, when not in use, and I
think more dirt may often be found in one stall in
a farmer's barn, than could be scraped together
from the whole estiildishment. But five horses
were, at the time of my visit, disabled from work,
of the whole number, and only seventeen have
died in two years past. Their average allowance of
food is one hundred pounds, or two bushels of
meal per week, and about eight pounds of hay per
day, for each liorse, and yet they are all kept in
the finest condition. A car, drawn by two horses,
and with scats for twenty-eight persons, leaves the
stable every two and a half minutes through the
day. The time allowed down is thirty-eight min-
utes, and up forty minutes, and notwithstanding
the difference in the number of passengers wlio
stop the car to get in or out, at any point on the
route, the time of running seldom varies one min-
ute. Each team runs three times down and back,
daily, making for evex-y horse twenty-one miles a
day, at once without unharnessing. Forty cars
are emplo3'ed, costing about $850 each ; and Mr.
Ebbitt informed me that the cost of the horses va-
ried froui eighty-five to a hundred and forty dol-
lars, each. Occasionally, by mistake they purchase
one which proves to be worth four or five times as
much, and when that fact appeai-s, the horse is
fitted for the market and sold for a higher sphere
of action.

Mr. Ebbitt showed me one specimen of the ge-
nus horse which is worthy of a place in Bainum's
museum. It is a mare of full size, without a hair
to cover her nakedness, not even by way of mane,
tail or ej-elashes. She is of a mouse color, fat and
well formed, and at a little distance would pass for
a sleek-haired animal, were it not for her perfectly
ridiculous looking tail, which in grace and propor-
tions, resembles tliat of a cleanly dressed porker.
They say she "was ever tims since childhood's
hour," and has had two colts of the same style of
beauty. It strikes me that a few bottles of Bogle's
Hyperion Fluid might be used on her with a fair
opportunity to test its merits.

The forty cars run each eleven trips a day, mak-
ing in all sometliing more than three thousand
miles of travel.

The cost of constructing this route with a doul)le
track, and of equipping it witli cars, horses and
harnesses, together with the real estate, was some-
thing more than seven hundred thousand dollars,
and the stock has thus far paid ten per cent, div-
idends annually.

The only waste noticed about the establishment,
is in the management of the manure, a groat part
of which passes off in liquid form into the river,
while the remainder is sold for §1000 a year, not
more than one-third of what should be received,
according to the number of horses.

As a model city railroad, with the Ix^st Presi-
dent and Superintendent tliat can be produced,
the former by the v/ay a New Ilampsliire man, I
think this company is worthy a more particular
notice than a very hasty visit enables me to give.

n. F. F.

Cairies' CDipai-tmcnt.

BEEAD-MAKING.

We shall not presume to instruct our lair read-
ers in the art of bread-making. The process,
however, involves some scientific principles, whicK
we propose to explain, in continuation of our se-
ries of familiar remarks on chemistry. Wheat
flour contains two principal ingredients, gluten
and starch, besides a small per cent (4-100 to
8-100) of sugar. The outside uf the kernel of wheat
contains a larger proportion of gluten than the
finer flour. These two parts of the flour may be
separated easily by enclosing a little flour made
into a stiff paste, in a linen bag, and kneading it
in a basin of water, until the water that comes
through is no longer white. The starch by this
process escapes from the bag, and the gluten, a
tough, adhering mass, remains within. Many
ladies have noticed the different kinds of flour, in
the ease with which it is kneaded. The tougher
kinds contain the most gluten. The bakers prefer
the latter sort, because it admits of more raising.

If flour were simply mixed up with water, and
baked without raising, it would make a very close,
indigestible and unpalatable Ijread, hardly worthy
of the name. To becomesoft, light and palatable,
the dough must be raised. This is effected, ordi-
narily, by one of two common processes. In mak-
ing what is generally known as raised bread, —
improperly so distinguished, because all bread is
raised either Ijefore baking or in the process, — the
dough is made up witli water only, it may be,
and a small portion of yeast, which is to act as a
ferment. In the making of cream-of-tartar or
sour-milk liread, the means of raising it are differ-
ent and act in a very diflerent way, chemically.
In the first, the fermentation of tlie yoast or leaven
is extended to the mass of fresh dougli. Tlie de-
composing gluten acts upon the sugar and rosolvea
it into alcohol and carbonic acid gas. This gas,
in the form of little air bubbles, is disseminated
through the loaf, and expands or raises it, being
prevented from escaping by tlie glutinous nature
of the dough. The alcohol formed by the fer-
mentation is expelled from the dough by tlie heat
of the oven. It has been collected sometimes, in
large bakeries, — but hardly pa\'.s for the trouble.
The dough somctimos liccomes sour before 1)aking,
in consequence of a second fermentation — the
acetous — by which the alcohol is con\erted into
vinegar, on the absorption of o.xygen hxnn the air.
It then becomes necessivry to introduce into the
dough some alkaline substance, as soda or salera-

198

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

tu8, which unites with and noutralizes the acid,
and makes the dough sweet again.

In the second kind of bread, named above, the
carbonate acid to raise it is obtained from the car-
bonate of soda, or of potassa, (saleratus) — by
mixing with it in the flour some acid, as sour
milk, ei-eam of tartar, or cider or vinegar or hy-
drochloric acid — either of which, by its stronger
affinity for the alkaline base — the soda or potassa
— unites with it and liberates the carbonic acid.
We see that by this mode of raising the bread, the
sugar of the wheat is retained in it ; whereas by
the other process it is converted into alchohol and
carbonic acid. We see also that the use of soda
or Siileratus is very diffei'ent in the two kinds of
bread-making. In the first, the alkaline base is
required to neutralize the acetic acid, — in the
second, the carljonic acid is needed to raise the
bread. In each case a neutral substance is left in
the bread ; in tfie first, an acetate of soda-^in the
second, a base of soda or potassa, united with
whatever acid is used.

Bread when baked is neither starch nor gluten.
The globules of starch which remain unbroken in
the flour, swell and burst under the influence of
the moisture and heat, and with the gluten unite
chemically with the water of the dough and form
bread. No separation of the starch and gluten
can be effected after baking. Even a portion of
water chemically united with the bread can not
be separated from it by evaporation. The hardest
and driest bread has water combined with the
flour.

Gluten is the most nutritious part of the flour.
The bran, therefore, should not be excluded from
the bread, if we have regard to its highest nutri-
tive qualities.

The crust of bread, when moistened and re-
turned to the oven, becomes smooth and shining
A portion of the starch, in the process of baking
is converted into gum. This gum on being moist-
ened spreads over the surface of the bread produc
ing the smooth surface, and also giving the crust
a taste which the 1)read does not have. Corn bread
has a peculiar aromatic flavor, owing to an oil
which is disseminated through the meal. The
inferiority of meal long ground, to that which is
fresh, is due to the change which exposure to the
air has made in these oily particles. — Portland
Eclectic.

South Down Sheep. — Can you or some of your
numerous subscribers inform me through the pages
of the Culthuitor, where I can get the full blooded
South Down Sheep, and what they will cost a
pairl — S. D. Jefferson Co., Ind.

South Down Sheep can be procured of L. G
Morris, Fordham, Westchester county, N. Y. ;
Col. J. M. Sherwood, Auburn N. Y.; Z. B
Wakeman, Little Falls, N. Y.; and several other
breeders in this State. The prices vary from $20
to $100 or more per pair, according to quality.
Country Gent. _

Connecticut State Agricultural Socukty. —
Officers for 1854.

Samuel T. Huntington, Hartford, President.

John A. Porter, New Haven, Recording Secre-
tary and Treasurer.

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

O" A limited number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted in tlie monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

RATES.

For one square 15 lines, one insertion $1,00

For each subscfjuent insertion 50

[CT The above rates will be charged for all advertisements,
whether longer or shorter.

Walnut Grove Nursery.

NEWTON CENTRE, MASS.

The subscribers have on hand as usual a large
stock of Fruit and other Trees, which they are pre-
pared to sell at very reasonable rates. Among
others, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Grape
A'ines, Raspberries, Blackberries, kc. &c.
Also, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Ptoses, Herbace-
ous Roots, Creepers, &c. &c.

A siilendid lot of Sugar Maple, 8 to 10 feet high, $30 per hun-
dred.
6000 Apple stocks, $10 per thousand.
5000 Buckthorn, 2 to 3 years, $15 to $20 per thousand.
Large and fine Norway Spruce; Arbor Vitse for hedges and
standards.

Fine lot Red Dutch Currants, $6 per thousand.
Scions will be furnished, if ordered early.

Other things too numerous to mention. All orders will be prompt-
ly attended to, and the trees securely packed, when desired, for
whicli an extra charge will be made. Catalogues sent to post-paid
applicants. All packages delivered in Boston free of expense.
JAMES HYDE & SON.
Newton Centre, March 18, 1854. w*tf

- R. M. COPELAND,
Landscape and Ornamental Gardener,

TTT'ILL furnish plans of Cemeteries, Public Squares, Pleasure
VV Grounds, Gardens and Farms, with directions for their lay-
ing out and improvement, also for the construction of every
species of buildings connected with Ilorticultuie or Agriculture,
Barns, Green-IIouses, Conservatories, Rustic Arbors, &c. ,
whether for use or ornament.

He will furnisli lists of the most approved and desirable orna-
mental and useful Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers ; also, plans
and estimates for every species of underdraining, and wdl con-
tact for and superintend the removal of trees of every size un-
der fifty feet, at all seasons of the year.

Refers to — Hon. M. P. Wilder, Dorchester.
" S. H. Walley, lloxbury.
" Samuel Walker, Roxbury.
" J. W. Edmands, Newton Centre.
Prof. II. W. Longfellow, Cambridge.
J. W. Proctor, Danvers.
Simon B.sown, Ed. of N. E. Farmer.
R. M. C. may be addressed Box 320 Boston Post Office, and
No. 3 Dudley Block, Roxbury.

March 25, 185i. cow5t*2

To Farmers.

THE subscriber is now prepared to receive orders for the Im-
proved Poudrette. It has been manufactured under the ad-
vice of some of the best agricultural chemists in the Country,
and is now commended to the public as the most certain and cheap
Fertilizer that can be obtained, acting favorably on. all crops,
and on all soils. Six different articles are used in its composition,
wliich combined make it a perfect manure for every crop raise<l
in New England. It is finely adapted to corn, and the present
and prospective high prices of this indispensable crop, ought to
induce all farmers to increase the quantity planted, which they
can do profitably by using the Improved Poudrette.

Prof. Mapessays of it, "no farmer using itonce, will be willing
ever to dispense with it." I raised corn with it the ])ast season
at a cost of ;Ie8S than 40 cts. ^ bushel. Price in Providence $1,50
^ bbl., cash. It can be obtained of Messrs. PARKER & WHITE,
59 & 63 Black stone Street, Boston.

T. B. HALLIDAY,
18 West Water Street, Providence, E. I.
Feb. 25, 1854. 3mo*

Fruit and Ornamental Trees.

The ])roprietor3 offer for sale an extensive assort-
ment of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the choice standard varieties, for the Garden or
Orchard; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grape Vines
&c. 1000 Bucktliurn and Arbor A'itio for Hedgee.
S. & G. IIYDB.
NcwHn Corner, March 18, 1854. w*tf

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

199

Valuable Poiatoes for Sale.

POTATO ROT.— A REMEDY BY WISE IMPORTATION AND
REPRODUCTION !

THE subscriber offers the following valuable varieties of pota-
toes for sale. Tlie N . Y. State Agricultural Society have gen-
erously eiicourajfed their importation and culture.

1st. THE ROUOII PURPLE CHILI. This was imported at
a great e.xpense from South America, in 1851, and was the only
BOrt out of eight adapted to our climate. For hardiness, yield,
and quality for the table, it has no equal. Seventy-five small
parcels of it were widely spread, in ISM, over twelve Northern
States. Erom more thau one third of them, embracing nine
States, reports have been received. These reports, notwithstand-
ing the "unfa vorableness of the season, usually show a yield vary-
ing from twenty to si.\ty pounds, from one pound planted. But
two cases of disease have been reported, one from Mass., and
one from N. Y., both in circumstiinces of very unfavorable cul-
ture. The adaptation of this variety to the varying soil and cli-
mate of our country is such as to render it superior to any now
cultivated. Price $8 ^ Bushel.

2d. SEEDLINGS OF THE ROUGH PURPLE CHILI. These
were derived from the seed-ball of the preceding, in 1852. They
present a considerable number of varieties. They have been
chosen by three successive selections, from nearly eight hundred
varieties, so as to secure hardiness, the best yield and fine flesh.
In season of maturity many of them, and in color and shape the
most of them, exceed the parent. They are now ofiered to the
public, after a most laborious and costly cultivation, in the full-
est confidence that they will make an addition of valuable sorts
to those now in use, such as have never before been made. Con-
nected with them are some other sorts of the same age, and
equally valuable, and similarly selected from three other families.
Many of these seedlings were widely tested the last year, in con-
nection with the Rough Purple Chilis. JIT Those varieties of
these seedlings which are too late for the Northern States,
have been expressly selected for the South. Price $8 ^ Bushel.

O" Each parcel ordered will be safely packed and directed
to the purchaser by Railroad, or Express, as directed, and at
the expense and risk of the purchaser. No package failed last
year to reach its destination.

Xir Dealers will be allowed a discount of twenty-five ^ cent.

jj* Purchasers who take parcels from my house and pack for
themselves, will be allowed twenty-five ^f cent, discount.

33= All orders answered /or cash only.

RESIDENCE, near the State Lunatic Asylum.

CIIAUNCEY E. GOODRICH,

•Utica, N. Y., Feb. 10th, 1S.54.

References.

The following persons are acciuaiuted with Qtasc potatoee,
having all cultivate<l them the last j'ear :

D. A. Bulkley, Williamstown, Mass. A. S. Mitchell, Farm-
ington, Conn. A Bradley, Whitestown; H. 11 Eastman, Mar-
shall ; Dr. II. P. Hays, Wyoming ; J. W. Briggs, West Maoe*
don ; M. P. Covert, Schenectady ; Sam'l Buckingham, Pougl^
keepsie, N. Y. R. L. Colt, Patterson, N. J. R. C. Walkac,
Klizabeth ; Jas. S. Negley, and Jno. Fleming, Pittsburg, PS.
J. C. Holmes, Detroit, Mich. B. Murray, and H. L. Brush, Ot»
tawa ; Rev. «. W. Oale, Galesburgh, 111. ©. D. Cathcart,
Bristol, Ind. A. C. laham, Madison, Wis.

March 1, 1854.

liigliland Nurseries, Ncwburgh,

NEW YORK.

A. SAUL & CO., in inviting the attention of their
patrons and the public in general, to their very ex-
tensive collection of Fi?f//7' JN/J ORNAMEN-
TAL TREES, SHRUBS, SfC. 6(C., would re-
spectfully inform them that the stock which they
offer for sale the coming spring is unusually fine,
both as regards quality of trees, variety of kinds, &c., &c.

The soil and climate of our Hudson Highlands have rendered
proverbial the success of the trees sent from here to all parts of
the union, and the accui'acy and precision so indispensable in the
propagation of fruit trees, for which this establishment has long
been celebrated, render errors in nomenclature of rare occur-
rence.

They have propagated in large quantities, all the leading
standard varieties, wliich are proved best adapted for general
cultivation, especially those recommended by the American Pom-
ological Society ; as well as novelties of bothn^^jue nmd foreign
origin.

To particularize within the limits of an advertisement would be
impossible ; they refer to their general catalogue, a copy of which
will be sent to all post-paid apjilicants, on enclosing a post office
stamp.

The following comprises a portion of their stock, and are all of
fine growth, viz :

Pears in over 400 varieties, both standards on their own stock
for orchard culture, and on the Quince for Dwarfs, Pyntmids, and
Quenoucle, for garden culture.

Apples in over 300 oirieties, both standards and dwarfs ; also,
Cherries, both standards and dwarfs; Plum, Apricot, Peach, Nec-
tarines and Quince trees in every variety.

Grape Vines, (both native and foreign, for vineries ;) also, Goose-
berries (50 best Lancashire varieties.)

Currant, Raspberry and Gooseberry pUmts of all leading and
known kinds, together with Seakale, Asparagus and Rhubarb
roots.

Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Vines, both deciduous and ever-
green, suitable for street and lawn planting, embracing all the new
nd rare Conifers, Weeping Trees and Shrubs of recent introduc-
tion.

Roses in every variety, including Hybrid perpetual, Hybrid
Bourbon, Hybrid China, Hybrid Damask, Prairie, Boursalt,
Ayrshire, and other hardy, climbing and garden varieties, as well
as the more tender Tea, China, Bengal, Bourbon, and Noisette
varieties.

Herbaceous plants, a large collection of Psonies, Phlokes Com-
panula, Penstemon, (Enothera, &c., &c.

Dhalias and bedding plants for the parterre and flower garden,
in large quantities and variety.

Hedge Plants, 500,000 strong 2 year old Osage Orange in three
sizes, at $10, $8 and $6 per 1000. Also Buckthorn plants, 2
years old at $8 per 1000. Arbor Yit;e for screens, kc, &c.

Dealers and planters of trees on a large scale will l)e dealt with
on the most liberal terms.

Newbui-gh, March 18, 1854. 5w*l

One Dollar a Year! 50 Cents a Volume.
SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS!

The People's Jouriitil,

AN ILLUSTRjVTED RECORD OF AGRICULTURE, ME-
CHANICS, SCIENCE, AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
1]TVERY Number contains .32 Large Pages of Letter-Press,
J Beautifully I'rinUd on Fine Paper, and PROFUSELY IL-
LUSTRATKT) with ENGRAVINGS, forming at the end of each
year, TWO SPLENDID VOLUMES, comprising Four Hundred
Pages, and Illustrated with about FIVE HUNDRED ELEGANT
BNGRAVINGS,

The entire cost being only ONE DOLLAR.
The People's Journal was commenced in November, 1S63, and
has already attained a large circulation. The November Num-
ber contained 40 engravings, the December Numl)er 72 cngrav-
ihga, the January Number 47 engravings, and the February
issue has 61 engravings, making in all 220 illustrations, although
only fonr numbers have been published. These relate to Science,
Art, Mechanics, Agriculture, and Useful Knowledge, in accord-
ance with the general planof the work. Nopublicationof the kind
has ever been produced wiih such magnificence or at so cheap a
price. It is admired .Tiid taken by every one who sees it

Term.s.— To Subscribers — One Dollar a Year, or Fifty Cents for
Six Months. Subscriptions may be sent by mail in coin, post
Office stami>s, or bills, at the risk of the publisher. The name of
the Post Office, County and State, where the paper is desired to
be sent, should be plainly written. Address, postage paid,

ALFRED E. BEACH,
No. 86 Nassau Street, New York City,
Editor of the People's Journal.

A LII1ER.\L DISCOtTNT TO POST MASTEK.S ASn AGENTS. ~

Single copies 12i cents. Specimens sent on receipt of four
.postage stamps.

leb. 4, 1854. 4w4*

Suffolk Jiiic! Middlesex Pigs.

I have now a prime stock of imported or
full bred Suffolk and Middlesex Swine, for
sale.

33= Having just bought the entire stock
of G. W. Wilson Esq., of MALDEN, in-
cluding his fine old Boar and Breeding
Sows, I can fill orders with superior s.imples — old or yovmg.
The stock can be seen at my residence, Boardman St., Melrose,
Mass. Address GEO. P. BURNHAM,

Bo.x 22, Post Office, Boston.
Feb. 4, 1854. 4tw3tm^.

Foreign Patents.

Pkople's Patknt Office, (
86 Nassau St., New York. >

THE undersigned continues to act as Solicitor and Agent for
securing Patents in all countries where they are granted.
He is represented in Europe by hnnorable and reliable men, of
long tried experience, through whom he is enabled to secure Pa-
tents in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Belgium,
Germany, Austria, Rus'-ia, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, &c. His
facilities for transacting foreign Patent business are unsurpassed.
He can generally obtain Certificates of provisional I'rotectiop
from the British Patent Office, within six weeks from the tiro
the invention is first committed to his care. The cost of Britial
and other foreign Patents, to Americans, has been greatly re-
duced.

The undersigned may be at all times consulted, free of charge,
liy letter, or per.sonally at his ofliee, in reference to Patents, In-
ventions, &c. .Ml consultations and business strictly privat*.
For further information, ai>i)ly to or address

ALFRED E. BE.\CH,
Solicitor of American and Foreign Patents,
86 Nassau Street, New York.
Feb. 11 ,1854. lw*April

200

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

April

CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER.

Calendar for April Page 153

Is it Profitable to Fatten Swine in New Knglaud 155

Pruning Orchards 157

Where Docs all the Corn go to 159

Bee-Culture— No. 3— The Bee and the Cricket 160

The Concord Grape — Error in Judgment 162

Improvement of the Dairy 163

Seventh Agricultural Meeting 164

Garget in Cows — Improved Super-Phosphate of Lime 166

The Seasons — Fanning in New England — No. 3 167

Solid and Liquid Excrements of Animals , 168

now to Make the Butter Come 168

Improvement of the Dairy — My Country Home 169

Milk and Butter Cows — Song for the Seasons — Buffaloes 170

Spirit of the Agricultural Press 171

How I saved my Currant Bushes 172

Carrots for Horses, Milch Cows, &c. &c 173

Does Cold Kill the Peach Trees 173

Carrots vs. Corn — Farm Implement Fair 174

The "Apple Man's" Story 176

Farms Improved by Keeping Sheep 176

United States Agricultural Society 17S

Quano Factory 179

Ilome Ashes — Experimental Farms 180

Soaked Corn for Horses ISO

Eighth Agricultural Meeting 181

Agriculture in Massachusetts 1S3

New use of Plaster of Paris 183

Ancient Spinning Wheel — Our Country's Area 184

Feed of Stock 184

Country Farmers and City Mechanics 185

Tenacity of Life 185

Cheap Experiment in Decomposing Bones 186

Profits of Sheep 186

Cooked and Uncooked Mtal 187

Ninth Agricultural Meeting 187

The Culture of Onions — Concord Farmers' Club 190

A New kind of Fence 192

What a Garden Should be 193

City Railroads— A Model Stalile 196

Bread-Making 197

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Wells' Patent Grass Seed Sower 159

The Concord Grape 161

Steel Double Plow 177

Village Homestead as it is — Unimproved 194

NEW ENGLAND FARMEE

Is published on the first of every month, by John Havkold ' and
Joel Noi'rse, at Quincv Hall, South Market St., Bnston.
SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, } Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, j Editors.

lET Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance,
mr AH subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exc/iisire/p to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 26
cts. a volume, if left at the oflice of publication.

inr Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Neicsjiaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuabte
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its colunms.

UZF Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the AgiicuV
tural department of the weekly.

O" Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

[CT All orders and letters should be addressed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS & NOURSE,

QuiNcr Ham,, Socth Market Street, BosTOif.

O" Postage. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.

Grass Seeds.

EED CLOVER SEED, Northern, Southern and Western.
WHITE CLOVER SEED,
HERDS GRASS SEED,
RED TOP SEED, Northern and Southei-n,
Of superior quality, selected expressly for our retail tra<le, <it
lowest cash prices.

Also, Mixed Seeds for Lawns.

For sale by RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON k CO., Quincy
Ilall, (over the Market,) Boston.
March 25. 4w*

Asiatic Fowls.

For sale at Auction ])ric€S, a choice lot of
Asiatic Fowls, consisting of the Brahma
Pootra, Chittagong, Grey Shanghai, and
Cochin China varieties, all young fowls, and
warranted to be of pure blood, and of the
largu breeds. Per pair, $10. Two puUeta
and a cock, $15. Coopi-il and sent by express, to any part of
the United States, promi(tly, on receipt of the money. The above
I)rice3 are extremely low, the ordinary charge for the same birds
being $20 to $30 per pair.

ALFRED E. BEACH,
86 Nassau Street, New York.
Reference — P. T. Barnxm, Esq., President of the National
Poultry Society.
March 11, 1S64. 4wl*

Brahma Fowls.

The celebrated Brahma Fowls, purely bred,
also Canton and Marsh Shanghae or imperial
fowls, for sale at fair prices.

WILLIAM N. ANDREWS,
Dover, N. H.
March 1, 1854. 2m

Eggs for Hateliiiig.

»j^ Tlie subscriber oflfers for sale, the com-
ing season, Brahma Pootras Eggs, from as
gone! stock as can be found in the country.
His fowls are kept entirely distinct from all
others, and persons wishing eggs from the
above justly celebrated fowls, may rely on
them as being pure. All egg.s carefully packed, and sent any
distance. Price $4 per doz. AH communications will receive
immediate attention. Please address

JOHN A. LORD,
March 25, 1854. 4t Kennebunk. Me.

Super-Phosphate of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate effect, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency of PAos/)/iaie, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its application. It is com-
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Suliihate of Am-
monia, &8.

For sale, with full directions for use, in bags of 150 pounds
each. No charge for package. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

GEO. DEVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Fertilizers.

BEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Super-Phosphate of Lime. — "DeBurg's No. 1."
Poudrette, of the best quality.
Ground Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes.
Ground Boue, Bone Dust and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds of reliable qu;vlity at the lowest market price.
GEO. DAVENPORT,
6 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Every Farmer Should Own

SCIIENCK'S KITCHEN GARDENER— Price 50 cts.
BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS— Price 75 cts.
COLE'S DISEASES OF ANIMALS— Price 50 cts.
COLE'S AMERICAN FRUIT BOOK— Pkick 50 cts.

New editions of which have just been published by JOHN P.
JEWETT&Co., and are for sale at all the Book and Seed
Stores.

March 4, 1854. 2nil3

DEVOTED TO AGRICUIrTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, MAY, 1854.

NO. 5.

RAV^'OI.DS & NOIIRSE, Proirietohj
Office. .. .CiiiNcv FIvll.

SIMON RROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK. » assocute
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Edijors.

CALENDAR FOR MAY.

" Then siiig, ye bird?, sin?, .sing a joyous f cms !

And let the young lambs bound

As to the tabor's sound !
We in tho leilit will join your throng, •

Ye that pipe and ye tliat plaj',

Ye that through your hearts to-day

Feel the gladness of the .Mat."

G.\iN', May has come,
bringing vrith it a new
'existence to all — a new
phase of animated Na-
ture. All vegetable life
springs into anew vigor,
luxving now succeeded in
shaking off the cold em-
Viraces of winter. The
minials h^ok, and act,
glad — the calves bleat,
the cows low, the laiubs bound in sportive gam-
bols over the hillocks by the side of their affection-
ate dame — the cocks sirg incessantly and the hens
cackle garrulously, big with importance, as they
are preparing for tlieir anticipated broods! The
.hamlet is vocal witli pleasant sounds, and the eye
is gladdened with pleasant sights.

But M.\Y does not impart new animation to the
lower orders alone. The desponding find new hope
— the melancholy are more cheerful, and the sick
grow strong in tlic soft breezes, wafted from a
world of new flowers at tlie south. Even tlie lit-
tle childi-en have an instinct for the spring, and
feel it to the very tips of their fingers.

"All the earth is gay ;

Land and sea

Give themselves up to jollity."

May, too, is marked as the Month of Loves —
lovers stray in the old woods, linger mid the sol-
emn, deep-broathing pines, stoop by the murmur-
ing brook and pluck the gay cowslip, or dream of
happiness that never dies as they stand in the
grand cathedral of the primeval oaks. The loves
and lays of the poets are incited by the return of

spring ; and when wo can spare a moment from
money-getting, or fame-getting, perhaps ive shall
establish some of the ceremonies which liave so long
prevailed in England in the merry month of May.

"It would b» a pleasant sight, to see

A little Tillage company

Drawn out on the first of May

To have their annual holiday : —

The pole hung round with garlands gay ;

The young ones footing it away ;

Tlio aged cheering their old souls

AVith recollections and their bowls ;

Or, on the mirth and dancing failing,

Tlieir oft-times-told old tales retaleing."

Not only the country people there, but the
trades-people, mechanics, and chimney-sweepers,
have their "good-times," in May. The milk-
maids dress fantastically, and decorate themselves;
and their lovers with evergreens and flowers, and
dance on tlie villagt^green. The May-Pole is erect-
ed, and festooned with ribbons and flowers, and
with pipe, and fiddle and drum, they express their
joy at the return of May.

"The hedges and trees, they are so green,

As green as any leek —
Our Heavenly Father, He watered them
With His heavenly dew so sweet."

But Seed-Timk has come, too, and we must
hasten away from the Mojj-Polc, and see if the
waiting soil does not demand our attention now.

Plowing and Manuring. — Soils arc so diffei--
ently constituted and located, and present so manj'
peculiarities of their own, that only a few rule*
are of general application. That a gradual deep-
ening of the soil is higlily beneficial to crops is a
well settled principle. But even this must be
varied according to the manner in which the ma-
nure is to be applied, — so that it seems neceseary
that each shall experiment for Iiimsclf on his own
land. Some most exemplary farmers spread green
dressing upon the sward, and turn it under from
six to ten inches, and say that they obtain fine
crops of corn from the process, while others de-
clare that they have tried it with an utter want of

202

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Mat

8UCCP89. Now it would seem that each one might
settle this question for himself, by tre iting the
same f ekl, with the sime kind and amount
of manure, ilrst by plowing under, and second by
first plowing, and then spreading the manure and
working it down two to five inches by the plow,
cultivator, horse-hoe or liarrow. An experiment
of this kind instituted upon each part of the farm
where the soils vary, would produce such results
as to satisfy most persons what particular pro-
cess they ought to pursue with regard to the
depth to which manure should be placed from
the surface.

Steei'ing Seed Corn. — The blackbirds, crows
and cut-worms have ruined the prospects of many
a fair field of corn, and obliged its owner to de-
vote it to some other crop, after the beautiful
blades had come up and made a fine start. To
prevent this, the attention of the reader is called
to several articles on the subject, recently given in
these columns. Steeping the corn in salt-petre or
copperas water, will give it such a taste as to
make it disagreeable to the birds, and it is saidal
80 to the cut-worm. Soaking the corn in water
and then rolling it in tar and plaster will also act
as a preventive.

Green Corn for Summer Fodder. — Sow south-
ern corn as early as the ground will permit, a
few rows at a time, and continue at intervals of
one or two weeks, and you may help out the
parched pastures and keep up a liberal supply of
milk. The soil should be deeply plowed, and gen-
erously enriched.

Grafting. — Treat the old trees gently — keep
oflF the hob-nail boots, axes and hatchets. Graft
the topmost branches this year, and leave tlie oth-
ers to assist nature in carrying out the operations
she has begun. Dig about the trees — feed them
with a dressing of good compost, a little ashes, a
few handsfull of bone dust, scrape slightly and
scrub their old trunks with soap and water, and
then stand by and see how they will yield you in
five or six years — sometimes they will in three or
four — the delicious Baldwin, Ilubbardston or
Northern Spy. If some of your young trees have
been injured, have contracted a stunted habit or
are in any way deformed, ovorliau-1 them thor-
oughly about the roots, then cut off close to the
ground, and insert a Hunt Russet, Sweet Bough,
or Morrison's Red if you can get it.

Take up one hundred of your little nursery
trees — if they are half an inch in diameter they
will answer — cut off the tap, and most of the oth-
er roots, keep them in moist earth and graft at
your leisure ; then set them in nursery rows and
cultivate well, and you will so(m he supplied with
the best of trees for continuing out your orchard.
TuE Corn Crop. — See article on "Profits of
raising corn," in another column, and in the

weekly Farmer of April 22, by B. F. Cutter,
Esq., of Pelham, N. H. He makes it quite clear
that his corn cost him but 53^ cents per bushel,
^V^e know Mr. Cutter so well aa a pains-taking
and careful man, that we have no doubt whatever
that his statement is correct. Well, then, kind
reader, "go and do likewise," and make money
out oi your corn crop.

Small Fruits. — How did the raspberries, cur-
rants, strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries, &c.j
succeed that you set last year ? Add a few more
to them this spring — you will be convinced by-and-
by that there is profit in it.

The Garden Generally. — Get in peas to suc-
ceed those sown in April — plant an asparagus bed
if you have none — sow lettuce, parsley, onions,
and all tlie vegetables desired for the table.

Carrots. — There is no certainty of a good car-
rot crop unless they are sown early ; the moment
the soil is suitable in May, get in the seed. And
now one word for

•The Ornamental. — If it has not been done be-
fore, strikeout a simple plan for a garden which
shall be in some degree ornamental, and at the
same time not much obstruct the operation of the
plow. Work constantly tg this plan, and it will
soon grow into beauty under your hands — and the
beautiful will really be a hcarV s-ease in your gar-
den. We do not urge anything intricate, expen-
sive or extravagant ; simply a path or two, and a
pleasant border from which to look over upon
your fine beds of garden sauce, tomatoes, and
melons, and squashes, and sweet-potatoes, and
egg-plants, and savory herbs. The conception of
the thing is the most difficult ; when this is
done, the job is half accomplished, and you at once
determine to indulge a little in The Ornamental.
I'Whoa! gee a little, Billy," great caro is necos-
sai-y among these young trees !

E.XTRAORDINARY Cow. — We published a few
weeks since Mr. Hobart's statement relative to a
cow which he has — three and a half quarts of
whose milk produced a little more than one pound
of butter, being a better yield of the butyraceous
qualities — or, considerably exceeding the statement
made a short time since in the Plovgliman hy its
editor, j\Ir. Buckrainster, concerning his extraor-
dinary Devons — these yielding a pound of butter
to four quarts of milk. Mr. B. however msut
yield the palm to our neighbor, Mr. Ilobart, who,
by the way, has at our request furnished our i"ead-
ers with the following additional statement, rela-
tive to his extraordinary cow :

Mr. Editor: — Sir, In answer to your inquiries
in regard to my cow, I reply: — She is of the com-
mon native breed, dark red color, medium size,
weighing, I should judge, between six and seven
hundred pounds, and is ten old this Spring. Her
only keeping has been corn stalks, and common
English hay. She had no meal or any other food,
than the aliove mentioned.
— Amherst Express. R. B. Hobart.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER,

203

RANCID BUTTER.

HV OWEN MASO>f.

"A French ecientific journal states that it hasbeen
ascertained by frequent experiments, that the bad
smell and taste of butter may be entirely removed
by working it over in water mixed with coloride of
lime. The di.scovery was made by a Brussels far-
mer, whose practice is to take asuliicient quantity
of pure cold water to work it in, and put into it
from 25 to 30 drops of chloride of lime tor evei-y
10 pounds of butter. AVhen it has been worked
until the whole htus been brouglit into contact with
the water, it should be worked again in pure wa-
ter, when it will be found to be as sweet as when
originally made. The experiment can easily be
tried, and we commend it to our citizens who are
driven to the necessity of buying rancid butter, or
of using none.

Another effectual mode of renovating butter is
said to be, to churn it over with milk until the old
salt and bad taste are all removed, and then work
it over and salt it afx-esh. Wa tind the aliove in
the Syracuse S/ar and think it may be worth a
trial."'

The above article has Ijcen extensively copied
into agricultural as well as political newspapers.
We have tried both of the methods described, ns
well as some of our own, and have found them all
utterly ineffectual for the renovation of butter that
has once become rancid. The best disposition to
be made of such butter is to put it into the recep-
tacle for soap grease. Anything so offensive, to
all but those of the coarsest taste, must be un-
wholesome.

Pure butter, that is salted with pure salt, may
be kept for years without becoming rancid ; tliis
we know to be a fact, and butter makers would do
well to inform themselves of all the causes produc-
tive of rancidity, or any other quality tliat inter-
feres with its preservation cr injures its flavor and
relish.

In an editorial article of the Journal some weeks
since, almost all the poor butter was charged to tlie
want of skill or attention on the part of the dairy
women. A correspondent, whose communication
is rather too long for puI)lication, comes up to the
defence of this useful class of tbe community, and
attributes nearly all the poor buttej^to the neglect
of farmei's in providing suitable places for the
keeping of niilk and l)utter. A short essay, Ijy
one of the best judges in the State, was pul)lished
in the trans;ictions of the Rliode Island Society for
Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and in pam-
phlets for general distribution, in which the author,
while he does not overlook the circumstances influ-
encing the quality of butter noticed by tlie Jour-
na/and its correspondent, points out several others,
and very comprehensively the means of avoiding
them.

That writer consid(!r8 that the use o( impure salt,
from Liverpool and Onondaga, is one of the most
common caus'»sof that rancidity and ))itterncss tliat
characterize, in a greater or less degree, by far the

freatest portion of the butter brought hither from
[ew York.

That the quality of butter made in New York
has constantly d(!t(Tioratcd, from whatever c;iuse,
wo think is undeniable. Time was when there was
no difficulty in procuring a prime article, and
*'(joshen butter" had a reputition equal to the
best products of our own dairies ; but of the butter

for winter use, sold in this market during the past
two years, three-tifths would be branded as grease
in England, and it deserves no better name any
where.

The exorbitant prices it has commanded for some
time past seems to have produced a perfect reck-
lessness in regard to its quality, both on the part of
tlie makers ot it and tlie large dealers, and the mar-
ket has at lengtU become glutttd with the execrablo
stuff- We wish no greater punishment to them
than that they should be compelled to eat the ar-
ticle with which they hoped to grease the throats
of tlieir customers at the rate of 30 cents per pound.
CJood liutter is Ijoth a necessary and a luxury, and
it constitutes a most important item in the dispo-
sable products of the farm ; tlie whole community
are therefore interested in having all tlie causes
investigated and exposed which contribute to the
deterioration of its quality, and the authorities of
New York are specially interested in ascertaining
what portion of the mat« of bad butter, sent from
that State, is fairly attributable to tlie employ-
ment of impure salt. We have seen many ana-
lyses of the New York salt, some purporting to
have been made by authority, and all reprcstuiiiing
it of the purest khid. That the purest salt may be
made from the brine springs of Onondaga there is
no doubt, and yet it is difficult to find commercial
samples, even of that which is sold under the name
of "dairy salt," in which the presence of lime,
magnesia, and sulpnuric acid, may not be detected
by the appropriate tests, showing contaminations
of two or more of the following articles, viz. : Ep-
som and glaubers salt, sulphate of lime and the
chlorides of calcium and magnesium — precisely
such ingredients as a chemist would prescribe with
which to make bitter butter.

Very recently, at our suggestion, a friend has
subjected to chemical examination every variety of
salt to be found in this market. xVmong the six
or eight varieties examined, that from Syracuse,
called dairy salt, was the most impure, while the
purest variety was that from St. IMartins, as pre-
pared and ground by Messrs. Sweet and Angell.

The term "rock salt," though erroneously ap-
plied, is meant, in this i^irinity, to designate the
clean, coarsely crystallized article, produced by
solar evaporation and imported from the ^Ve8t In-
dia Islands. The very liest samples of this saltare
alwaj's procured I)y our most skilful butter ma-
k(,Ts, by whom it is carefully washed, dried and
poun<led or ground very (inc. If carefully selected
and thus prepared, it is generally sufficiently puro
for the jiurposi!. If any douI)t of its purity exist,
it may l)e determined l>y the following process. If
istilled water cannot easily be procured, collect
some rain water as it falls, in a clean earthen fian,
(not from the roof.) and in it dissolve a portion of
the salt. Take Iialf a gill of the solution and add
to it three or four tea sjioonfulls of a solution of
carbonate of soda, and boil in a glass dish or a well
tinned vessel a few UKUiu'nts, tiien jioiir into a
tumbler. If the solution become milky, and a
white sediment form, tiie presence of lime or mag-
nesia, or l)oth, is certain. Into a wine glass of
another portion of tiic sidution, put drop liy drop,
a solution of chloride of harixnn, and if the li(iuid
become milky and a wliite precipitate form, the
presttnce of sulphuric acid is certain. Salt upon
wliich these tests produce tliese effects is unfit for
butter-making. If, however, the solutions show

204

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Mat

only a very sligiit milky tinge, as when a drop of
milk is iuided to :i wine glass of water, the foreign
contaminations ai(! not in such quantity us to ma-
terially injure the s;ilt. These tests are easily ajv-
plied,inexpfnsive,aiul pulHciently decisive for prac-
tical purposes. The carbonate of soda and chloi'ide
of barium can be procured of any scientific apoth
ecary.

We commend the essay alluded to above to
those who are engaged in butter making. Copies
ciin be obtained of the Secretary of the Rhode Is-
land Society for t!ie Encouragement of Domestic
Industry.

Fraud in Bitter Making. — The recent expo
sures that have been made of the adulteration and
rnamifacture of milk in New York, are so disgust
ing in their details, that we should suppose an in-
habitant of that city could hardly look at a milk
pot without a sensation of nausea. It would seem,
from the following article, that similar practices are
resorted to in the making of butter, l)ut we defy
the most ingenious rascality to make, of whatever
material8,a worse article than is now often sold in
the market :

"The Boston Herald, in an article on this sub-
ject, says unprincipled speculators have been, and
are still at work adulterating butter prepared for
the market — though the blame is generally thrown
on the dairies. From evidence that has come to
our knowledge, says the Boston Herald, we are
persuaded that this adulteration is extensively
practised. A correspondent who has purchased
and tested the base article, writes as follows : — 'A
new fraud appears to have been discovered in but-
ter-making. The fraud is this : The butter-maker
adds a substance which appears to be of a vegeta-
ble natui-e to the i-eal butter. A dealer of whom
I purchased a few lumps, told me that the express-
man who delivered the butter to him from Green-
field, acknowledged that when they churn the
cream, it is now an almost universal custom to
put rennet into the butter milk, to turn it to a
cheese, and so work it with the butter for market,
increasing the quantity about thirty per cent. I
discovered the fraud by melting the butter in the
oven, and found that a substance equal to one-third
the original weight was left. The person of whom
I purchiised tlio Initter says that this fraud is very
extensively })ractised, especially for the New York
market.' " — Providence Journal.

For the New Enf^land Farmer.

LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTURAL MEET-
INGS.

Fkiknd Brown : — I perceive this series of meet-
ings wound uj), a little before the subjects assigned
for discusHion had been exhausted. The last of
these, if I remember right, was, "In what manner
can the State. l)est advance the interests of the far-
mer?" . This is a toi)ic, peculiarly appropriate for
8uch an assembly, provided you can get them
there. But if they won't come in, it must be met
in some other form.

In all the reports of tho discussions, the last
winter, little or nothing has been said about the
education of the farmer, or the establishment of
sohools for this purpose. Is this idea to be aban-
doned'' Or is it deferred only to some more con-
venient season ?

It is gratifying to learn thatsomething is about
to be done, by way of experiment, on the State
farm at Westboro'. This, in my judgment, is the
liej^t thing that has been started tiy the Board of Ag-
riculture ; both in illustrating what can Ikj done, in
the application of tlic principles of science to cul-
ture ; and in the preparation of a numerous classof
laborers to superintend tliis culture. One hundred
young men will annually leave this institution,
and come upon the community under the necessity
of earning their livelihood, llow important is it,
that they shall be well fitted to do this. When I
took my pen in hand, I thought of speaking in
detail how this could best be done. But on the
whole, I think it is most prudent to leave it in the
care of those, on whom it devolves, by order o-f
the Legislature.

April 8, 1854.

PREPARING SEED CORN.

Many farmers who pride themselves excecsively
on their practical wisdom, denounce the idea,
DOW very prevalent among the more intelligent
part of the community, that the corn plant can
in any way be benefited by preparing the seed,
before planting it. They cite nature tosubstanti-
ate their sceptiesm, forgetting that where nature
proceeds exclusively upon her own original system ,
she very rarely has to contend with obstacles
which operate so fiitally against the artistic oper-
ation of her laws in the care of human enterprise
and eifect. In the natural propagation of fruits
and vegetables, an excess of seed is invariably dis-
seminated, so that if a large portion should perish,
or be destroyed, enough, and more than enough,
would be left to realize the design originally in-
tended. But man adopts a diiferent system. He
intends to sow and plant only enough "to grow ;"
consequently it is of the utmost consequence that
it should grow. Hence he very often finds it ad-
visable to assist the efforts of nature by the power
of art. In regard to preparing seed corn, a vei'y
successful experiment was made some years sinee
byMr. Laxsi^ Wetmore, of Pennsylvania, and
which has been repeated by several cultivators of
intelligence and veracity, in other sections of the
Union, with equally fortunate results. The jno-
dus operandi is reported by Mr. Wetmore, in hi&
published account, to have been as follows :

"At noon of the day ]>efore planting, 18th of
May, I put my seed corn to soak in a strong de-
coction of copperas water, say two pounds of cop-
peras to warm, soft water sufficient to cover a
bushel of corn. The next morning took out a
peck, added a pint or more of soft soap, stirred it
thoroughly, then put on plaster enough to make
it convenient for j)lanting, m,y one quart. The
whole field wasplanted with the seed thus prepared,
with thecxception of four rows, which were planted
with seed without preparation. The afterculture
of the whole was alike, — passing tlirough each
way with the cultivator twice. The four rows
last mentioned were cut up, harvested, and the
corn weighed and measured by itself; also, four
rows next adjoining, the seed of which had been

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEIHER.

205

prepared as aliove. The produce of the four rows
from the unprepared seed, was eleven bushels and
a half. The produce of the four rows from tlio
prepared seed, was seventeen bushels — a difference
of live and a half bushels of ears in one hundred
and twentj'^ hills J"

It takes about six quarts of corn to plant an
acre, at the usual distances, say three and a half
feet each way ; so that for six quarts of seed
corn, six ounces of copperas would be required —
an ounce to a quart is near enough as a general
rule.

Wheat growere and gardeners well know the
value of liming wheat, and steeping garden seeds
where thej desire an early and vigorous growth.
A little aid to the corn plant while the weather,
perhaps, is too cool, or the plant does not find the
Sustenance it needs in its immediate vicinity, will
give it such a start as to keep it in advance of
other plants not so treated throughout the season.
We can see this in the fields of smaller grains,
where a plant which started early and vigorously
keeps the precedence over its fellows throughout
the season, and in the autumn has perfected a crop
proportionately large,* •

Fer tb£ JVeiv Kngtand Fariaer.

PROFIT IN RAISING CORN.

Friend Brown : — Agreeable to my promise,' I
now send you, iis neiir as I can, the cost of rais-
ing and the profits of three acres of Indian corn,
grown on my farm the [last year. Tlie land was a
light, sandy loam, and had been in grass 7 years,
one-third part of it very thin and poor, and the
crop suffered considerably by the dry weather,
the following is the account :

l>a.

Manure, (i82, one-half of it) , 41,00

Plowing 12,00

Harrowing 3,00

Furrowing, one way 1.50

Seed 1,00

PlanUn^' - 4,60

Hoeing, ti)ree times , 18,00

Cutting and getting stalks 8,00

Harvesting 18,00

Bent of laud 18,00

Total expenses $125,00

Deduct fodder 4 5,00

ashes droptin the hill, a large handful to 2 or 3
hills, and the work charged at ^1,00 per day, al-
though some of iteost me much less. By t!ie above
it will be seen that a man must raise about 32
bushels per acre, to pay the expenses of manur-
ing and cultivating. B. F. Cutter.
Pelkam, N. H., March., 1854.

Cost of corn $80,00

Ce.

Cr. by fsdder 45,00

Or. by 150 bushels corn 160,00

Net pro6 ts $70,00

Cost of corn per bushel 43J cents.

Pro&t per acre $23,33}

Coat, pei- acre, of cultivation ..$41,66 6-10

Of course, the cost of cultivating Corn must
vary much with tl)e different kinds ot land. The
above was free from stones, and very easy of cul-
tivation, generally, but was infested with witch
frass that made the expense of hoeing much greater,
'he manure is estimated at $1,00 per load of 30
bushels, was composted in the barn cellar, mostly,
and was good — was plowed in U inches deep.
There was a compost of plaster, hen manure and

CONCORD FARMER'S CLUB.

Teik.sdav EviiXi.sc;, .March 31, 1854.

The subject for discussion was — "In what way
can our milk be disposed of to the best advan-
tage."

Dea, Tai'bell submitted the following statement
as the result of his experience, in selling milk and
making butter.

He keeps eight cows uniformly — when milk
sells at 18 cents in summer and 22 cents in winter,
per can of 8 qts., — he receives §25 less than he
would, if he made the same into butter. When
milk sells for 19 cents in summer, and 23 cents in
winter, his 8 cows yield him .><11,50 leas than they
would if he made butter. When he sells his milk
in summer for 21 cents, and in winter for 27 cents,
which is the price for the present year, he receives
jf;25 more than he would, if the same milk were
made into butter. He docs not take the labor in-
to consideration in the foregoing statements, but
thinks it would cost $25 more this year, to make
butter, than to sell the milk, thus making a differ-
ence of $50 this year, between soiling milk and
making butter, — the same being in favor of sell-
ing tlie milk. Dea. Tarbell furnished the follow-
ing statement of income from 8 cows, for 3 years.

In 1S46, he sold niiik for 41,51

Uu tter 152,27

Calves 46,79

Value of skim milk 20,00

Vxliie of butter used in family 32,50 $293,07

In 1817, he sold milk to ajaount of 36,99

Butter 155,08

CiUves 47,20

ViUue of skim milk 20,00

Value of buUerused 31,50 290,77

In 184S, he sold milk to amount of 231,25

Calves 35,32 206,57

The Dea. gives his cows no grain except a very
little in the spring,

E.WooD,Jr., has milked 23 cows during the past
winter ; each cow has given him over $t)0 worth of
milk. He gives each cow 4 quarts of grain per
day, 2 quarts of oil meal and 2 quarts of Indian
meal or shorts — amounting in value to $18 per
year for each cow. Mr. Wood thinks it more
profitable to sell milk than to make butter, at the
present prices for each.

Dr. Rkvnolds thinks making butter would
be more profitable than sidling milk, if good but-
ter cows were selected, lie thinks from one-third
to one-half of all the cows selected for milk, are
not good cows for butter.

J.\cobB. Farmer, thinks if the farmer lias suf-
ficient help, it will be more profitable to make
butter ; but if he has to hire his female help, it

206

NEW ENGLAND PAKMER.

Mat

will be better to sell the milk. His cows have all
averaged him $7 per month for each cow, during
the past 3 months.

The club chose Dr. Reynolds, J. B. Moore,
E. Wood, Jr., and SuiON Brown, a committee to
assii^n experiments to each member, to )>e tried,
during the present year.

The club voted to meet at the house of the Sec-
retary, on the loth of April, to consider the as-
signments above referred to. They also voted
unanimously to partake of a supper with their
ladies and invited guests, at the Middlesex hotel,
on the I'Jth of April. C.AV. Goodnow,

Secretary of the Club.

In accordance with the above vote, the Club
met on the 13th of April, and voted to try the fol-
lowing experiments during the coming summer,
which several experinionts were assigned as fol-
lows, to different members of the Club.

Experiment 1. — To plant an equal number of
hills, of the 12 rowed, and of the 8 rowed Piy-
moutli corn, and weigh tlie proihict of each, in
tlie fall. Tlie cultivation and soil to l)e as near
alike as possible.

Assigned to C. W. Goodnow and J. B. Moore.

Experiment 2. — To cut the stalks on 50 hills of
corn, at the usual time, cut up 50 hills at the
ground, when tlie corn is glazed, and let it mature
in t'le shock, and let the stalks remain on 50 hills
until fully ripe, and weigh the corn on each, when
dry.

Assigned to J. B. Fanner and J. P. Brown.

Experiment 3. — To plant equal areas with corn
3^ feet apart, each way, and oJ^ feet one way
and 18 inches the other way, and weigh the corn
on each, wlien dry.

Assigned to Simon Brown, Daniel Tarbell and
F. A. Wheeler.

Experiment 4. — To plant the same quantity of
ground with corn, of the same kind, with compost
manure, at the rate of 25 loads to the acre, and
with guano, at the rate of 250 ll)a. to the acre,
and weigh the corn in the autumn.

Assigned to Jos. D. Brown.

Experiment 5. — To take half an acre of grass
land, spread 10 loads of manure on the same, then
plow it G in(;hes deep, harrow and furrow out with-
■jut breaking the sod. Put 8 loixds of manure in
the furrow, and plant corn; agjiin, take liulf an
aero of grass land, plow the same 10 inches deep,
spread on 24 loads of the same kind of manure,
plow it in with a horse, and plant corn at the same
distance, as in the other piece, and measure the
corn raised, in tlie fall.

Assigned to Ciiarles A. Hubbard, J. Warren
Brown and Levi Miles.

Experiment G. — To sow not less than ha)f an
acre of winter l)lue stem wheat. State the mode
of cultivation, the quantity and weiglit of wheat
raised, and the quantity of sec^d to the acre.

Assigned to Simon Brown and J. D. Brown.

Experiment 7. — To sow equal areas with a pe<^k
and with half a bushel of millet seed, and weigh
the result.

Assigned to E. Wood, Jr., and John Raynolds.

Expcrirnent 8. — To sow 2 and 3 bushels of oat»
to the acre, and measure the crop.
Assigned to Cyrus Conant.

Experiment 9. — To sow equal areas of land, with
carrots, 15 inches and 24 inchesapart, other things
being equal, and weigh the crop.

Assigned toA.H. W heeler and Gardner Wheel-
er.

Expcri/nent 10, — To plant equal areas with car-
rots, with compost manure and with guano, other
things being e(^ual, and weigh the products.

Assigned to J. B. Parmer, W. D. Brown and
S.G. Wheeler.

Experiment 11. -Raise equal areas of Ruta Bagas,
with compost manure and with guano, and state
the resuU,

Assigned to J. B. Farmer and Edvrin Wheeler.

Experiment 12. — To sow rye with 250 lbs. of
guano, to tlie acre, by the side of rye, without any
guano, and report the quantity and weight of each.

Assigned to E. W. Bull and J. P. Brow^n.

Experimerit 13, — To spread 200 or 300 lbs. of
guano to the acre on gi-ass, and compare the re-
sult with grass on similar land without guano.

Assigned to E. Wood, Jr.

Experiment 14. — To spr^d on the same kind of
grass land, 3^0 lbs. of guano and 20 loads of com-
Y)Ost, and compare the results.

Assigned to J. B. Moore and Jona. Wheeler.

Experiment 15. — To compare the raising of tur-
nips Avith bone-dust and with compOst. Stating
the qifantity of each used, and the result.

Assigned to Minott Pratt and Simon Brown.

Experiment 16. — To compare the raising of
turnij^s with super-phosphate of lime and with
compost manure.

Assigned to J. B. Farmer and E. R. Hoar.

Experiment 17. — To compare guano with su-
per-phosphate of lime, in the culture of corn.

For the New Euglasid Farmer,

ON RENOVATING SOILS.

Dear Sir : — In your Feb. No., is an article by
Eliiiu Cross, Hoosac, N. Y., whose caption is
enough to awaken every sleepy or lazy farmer in
the country. It purports to answer the greatest
question that has interested the farming commun-
ity for many years. I examined it with interest ;
the theory is true, but it is impracticable, except
the last paragraph, and this, in my humble opin-
ion , is not the most perfect way of renovating worn-
out lands. He says, seed your land thick with
clover and let it grow without feeding for 2 or 3
years, and then you may remove the clover and
plow up, when you will find it rich. Can Mr. 0.
believe that, to let the clover remain on the ground
and waste away on the surfiice by bleaching and
evaporation, is better than to plow it in when fully-
grown ? In my opinion, he begins this pariigraph
on a false supposition, or it contains a eontradie^
tion in its terms. He cannot get a grov.'th of
clover on worn-out lands; it will not stock, as
we term it, or come up, and grow on &ueh lands ;
buckwheat will grow much l>etter, and answer
quite as well as a covering. I have for a long
time considered that those plants that have a
braid leaf are less exhausting than those that a re

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

207

narrow and shade butlittle, but when fully grown,
they should be plowfxl in while they cont<iin the
most esculent matter ; this will lighten and en-
rich for the next crop, wliich should be put on as
soon as possible; should the land be adapted to
rye, sow immediately, let it stand until the next
June, then plow and sow buckwheat again, and
so continue until your land will stock with clover;
then you may remove, as Mr. Cross says, but
don't sell it to be presstvi and go to Massachusetts,
as is the practice herein Vermont, where it grows
near enough to be done with reasonable transpor-
tation to the line of the Railroad. Here is a new
and alarming source of impoverishment to our
farmers; hay, grain and vegetables, are grown on
purpose to be sent out of the country, and this is a
new source of inipovei-ishment to our soil. I wisli
some able pen would take this evil up and show it
more fully to our farmers ; they think they are
making money by farming, because they pocket
^100 more, now, by selling off their hay, grain
and potatoes, than when they spent it on their
farms, when, in reality, they impoverish their lands
in a ratio that will alarm them a few years hence,
and leave them with a worthless farm, or nearly
80. A Vermonter.

CLASSIFICATION OF MANURES.

The following classification is taken for Stock-
hardt's Field Lectures. The best manures are
given first.

I. MANrKES Ricn in Nitrogen.

1. Snbsla7ice contammg ammonia, (very forcing.)
Ammonical salts of all s<Trts, good guano, urates,
and putrid animal substances, such as blood, flesli,
skins, &c.; poudrette, gas-w-ater, putrid urine,
draining compost, fermented stable manure, es-
pecially of sheep and horses.

2. Azotized substance that are easily decomposed,
(somewhat quickly forcing) — Horn-shavings, glue,
boiled flesh, bones liquified by acid, steamed and
highly pulverised, oil-cakes of all sorts, malt-grain
and the refuse of ))eer-breweries, fresh urine, drain-
ings, stable manure beginning to rot.

3. Azotized sidislances that are decomposed xcith
difficulty, (slowly forcing.) Bone-dust coarsely
powdered, woolen-rags, fresh stable manure.

4. Substances containing nitricacid, (quickly forc-
ing.) Nitrate of potash [ordinary saltpetre,] ni-
trate of soda or Cliili saltpetre, nitrate of lime, or
decayed stable-walls, rubbish of old clay walls,
and old compost earth.

II. MANCKia Rich is Carbon : ^forming )iumus.]

Stable-litter, straw, foliage, weeds, forest leaves,
eaw-dust, lawn and garden trimmings, rotten
mould, turf, earthy Ijrown-coal, and vegetable
substances of nearly all sorts.

III. Manures coNrAiNivo Potasd : (strongly forcing.]

Potash, nitrate of potash, malt-grain from beer-
breweries, urine of Itreeding cattle, wood ashes,
foliage, stalks and leaves of all sorts, lawn and
garden trimmings, building rubbish, street-sweep-
ings, compost, burnt clay and loam, marl of many
fiorts.

IV. Manxhes containing Soda : (less visibly operative.]

Common ^^alt, refuse salt, Chili salt, saltpetre,
ioap boilers' lye, urine, certain sorts of manuring
salts, Boda felspar, and some other kinds of stone,
soap-suds, dish-water.

V. Mancrk Kich in Phosphoric Acid (seed forming.]
Burnt bones, bone black, sugar refuse from re-
fineries, phosphorite, and a few other kinds of
stone, poor guano, raw bones, bone dust, true
guano, animal substances of all kinds, oil-cake,
malt-grain, from breweries, solid human and ani-
mal excrements, stable-manures, urine of carniver-
ous animals, wood ashes, straw leaves, &c.

VI. MANrnKS containing SuLriiURio Acid : (partly direct ma
nures partly absorbent of manuring substances.]

Gypsum, sulphui-ic acid, green vitriol, sulphur-
coal, ashes of pit-coal, turf, and brown coal.

VII. Manuabs Rich in Limb.
Burnt lime, chalk, marl, gypsum, ashes, ashes
of brown coal and turf, Iniilding rubbish, pond-
mud, and soap-boilers' ashes.

VIII. Manures Rich in Silica.
Pit-coal ashes, as also ashes of all sorts, sand,
straw, stable-manure, &c.

IX. Manures that Pclveuizk the Son..
Sulphuric acid, muriaticacid,lime, mai'l,humus,
&c.

X. Manures that I.vrROVB tub Soil.

Lime, marl, loam, sand, j)ond-mud, vegetable
mould, turf, &c.

Here is a fine classification of the chief manures
that arc employed as fertilizers. Tiiey sb.ould be
chosen and applied according to tlie nature and
condition of the soil, as well as with reference to
the crop, that is to be produced. Many of the
manures are compounds — hence the reason why
you find them repeated in the different classes.
The farmer should preserve this classification, and
use it until he finds a better one.

For the New England Farmer.

BUGOLOGY VS. SaUASHOLCGY.

Mr. Farmer: — The remedy prescribed by one of
your correspondents is much like one I once heard
from a celet>rated physician.

A ]iarticular friend of mine, an eminent profes-
sor and president of a medical college, and withal
a popular man, particularly with tlie ladies, for
his varied knowledge, social qualities, love and
knowledge of Ijotany, flowers, &c. &e., was convers-
ing with a bevy of young ladies. Among other
things lie told them they could eat as many onions
as they pleased, and by «iting another article all
the effect would 1)e so neutralized that no one would
suspect they had (sver seen one. Their curiosity
was excited, and all were anxious to liear the rem-
edy. The professor gravely told tliem that after
eating a hearty meal of onions, they should wit a
quantity of garlicjt.

Now if your correspondent had a large plat of
autumnal marrowfat Rqu;u-;hesor cheese pumpkins
— and tliey were attacked by an array of striped
bugs — what would he do? Certainly, according to
his theory, not plant melons and cucumbers
among tliem.

A more certain remedy for bugs may be found
in simple yellow Scotcli snuff— just sprinkle it on
their leaves — it will not injure them, and there
will be at once a general stampede among the
!)ng8. I have tried it nearly twenty years without
fail. C. Goodrich.

Burlington, Vt., 1853.

aos

NEW ENGLAND FARAfEK.

Ma

For the yew Eni^land Farmer.

WHAT A GARDEN SHOULD BE.

The wi.x>d-cut accoiupunyiiig this article reprc-
aents the Buaie plot of groiiiul as did the one
in the last week's paper, with this difference,
that the former was, as too maay are, inconve-
nient and ugly ; the latter is arranged witli an eye
to both convenience and beauty. I do not mean
to say that many may not criticise the present ar-
rangement, but all must admit that the mere lines,
irrespective of filling, present more agreeaV)le and
harmonious combinations to the educated eye,
than those of tlie former plan. Doubtless, it may
be said tliat the description accompanying that
engraving was unfair, for there, all things are
dirty, ill-kept and in confusion, qualifying cir-
cumstances whicli would destroy the beauty of
any place ; I admit that I did show the dark side,
and designrdly, for any one can make sucli allow-
ances for tlie better as the more or less manifest ne-
cessity of the example before them demands. In
the former case we have seen that when the pro-
prietor wishetl to take iiis wife to ride, or to
church, she must either get in at the barn, or else,
after driving out through the gate at the end of
the farm road to the front entrance he will tliere
take her in ; on iiis return, he will drop her, rain
or shine, at the same place, to open the gate, and
dodge the drops up the long path, or she must
hold his liorse, whilst he opens the great gate,
getting out in the b;irn, run for tlie back door.
As will be readily seen, the curved road,y, does
away with this necessity ; here there is but one

fate, and from the carriage to either the front or
ack door is but a short distance; or should he
wish to leave a barrel of flour at the kitchen, it
is but a short distance to cai-ry or roll it, without
being obliged to cut up the grass.

So, too, the paths through the garden, to load
from the house and barn ; they all bend in such a
manner as to offer the readiest means of exit and
entrance, without leaving sharp corners to be cut
across.

The long, straight path up to the front door,
rendering tlie house and its contents visible each
time the door was opened, is gone, and the few
trees, indicated, have l)roken off the dii'ect sight
from the street, whilst the flower l)eils, h, offer a
pleasing object to the eye, when we step out in
the cool summer morning to breathe the fresh air,
or listen to the birds. To tlio house have been ad-
ded the porch and verandahs, 7, affording a cool
promenade morning, evening and mid-day, and not
only screening the windows from the hot sun, but
when festooned with vine8,furnisliingmore beauty
than any otlier possible ornament.

Moreover, verandahs or piazzas, when trelliscd
with wood, or better, a cheap arrangement of
wire, offer one of the best opportunities for the
growth of the grape, giving both beauty and fruit,
or the woo<lbine with its ricli sumtner green, and
autumn red foliage, or the honeysuckle with its
luscious fragrance, or tlie roses of every hue and
shape. Where taste has Ixicn developed for such
ornaments, and the commoner vines have been
used, the Wistaria with its million clusters of
purple blossoms, or the strong, sturdy B-jgnonia
make a delightful variety.

The best vines for common use are the grape,
(Isabella) the clematis, woodbine, (Ampelopsis,)

the monthly trumpet honeysuckles, and tlie hardy
roses; of one thing there can be no doubt, that
for beauty, fragrance, fruit, and immediate orna-
ment, the different varieties of vines are unsur-
passed. Could I have but one division of ornamen-
tal iiegctotion, I should lake vines; and xvhcn vrop-
rrly arranged on the house, the dread of injury to
the ivood is entirely uvfounded . The entrance gate
is carried a little Ijack Irom the roaH, which gives
greater esise of access, and admits the tying a
horse aside from the street.

We do away with the pile of manure, altogeth-
er, by digging a cellar to the barn, and coyer the
small, outside pig-sty, with shrubs and vines ; we
also have put some vines about the barn; proba-
bly the grape.

Flower Ixxls, A, are cut out of the grass, and
sliould be kept well filled with flowers of a uni-
form size and time of flowering ; thcvse directly in
front of the house may be planted with a variety
of l)ull)s which will ))egin to l)loomas soon as the
snow is off (Snowdrops) and end only with the
frost ; the interspaces may be filled with annuals,
gillyflowers, gilia, mignionottc, &c. The groups
d.irectly under the windows are ornamental shrubs;
perhaps no more satisfactory outlay can Ive made
than in a judicious selection of flowering shrubs ;
— get those varieties that will begin to bloom ear-
ly (Cydenia,) and leave off late, (Althea ;) get ros-
es that do not blossom once only in the season, (old
fogies,) but remordents, and pcrpetuals that will
flower every month.

So, too, with flowers ; get perennials as much
as possible, and thereby* acoit? /Ae necessity of re-
peated plantings: such flowers and shrubs give the
greatest amount cf return for the least amount of
trouble. The groups of trees, from the middle of
the west side.^to the upper corner of the east,
should be entirely ornamental, mostly deciduous,
but a fair intermixture of evergi'eens ; the best and
cheapest Evergreens are Hemlocks and WJiite Pine;
one of the most l>eautiful, the Norway Spruce of
whose beauty few can have any conception who
have not seen it ; — thex\rl)or YittJe is well enough
in the shade and as a hedg»3, but never makes a
beautiful tree. From the deciduous trees, select
those which have the most beauty of spray, other
things being equal, for remember you are to see
them through winter, and do not care to be look-
ing at a lot of stul)lx;d and blunt ends for six
months, when you might bo feasting your eyes
with the most elegant and graceful coml)inations
of buds, twigs and branches; for this, as for many
other qualities,the American Elm takes precedence;
but be very careful not to scraj^e the bark of your or-
namental trees, daubing th-in afterwards ivith any
vile combinations of lime, sulphur and mud to kill the
bugs, thus destroying one of the chief est beauties cf
the trees, without doing any good, and too often
causing much injury. In the little green p;itch
by the back door may be set one or more orna-
mental trees, as a protection to the shed, and a
shade to the windows of the l>ack side of the
house ; the 8;ime also at the corner of the barn,
and in tlie bond of the carriage road opposite.

In the garden and other unoccupied grounds
may be planted all kinds of fruit trees, the more
the better, as far as the room ivill permit ; in a
small place, dwarf varieties of pear are best for
their early maturity ; and as apples occupy a great
deal of room, with but comparatively little profit ^

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

209

Village Homestead as it should be— Improved.

180 £

a. llouso.

b. Kitchen.

c. W..i..ished.

d. liain and Cellar
f. l'ig-3ty.

f. Main Carriage Road.
S. I'atli to front door.
h. Flower Beds.

J. Kitchen Garden and Orchard.
j. Verandahs.

it will be b;>st to reduce their numbers, and increase
the other kinds ; beside the fences and path?, set
ourrantsi, gooseberries and raspberries ; of the two
former, the tree varieties are best, as they do not
sucker. Having thus given a detailed account of
the niKessury changos, I -will close with reitera-
ting tiiat however pleasing the arrangement of
lines, trees and flowers is in itself, it is al>-
solutely nothing, unless the owner is ever ac-
tive in keeping the ichole place in a state of repair ;
nothing can compensate for the absence of neatness.
Wo may have boen deceived, and have purchased
almost worthless varieties of trees and shrubs,
but tliat is na reason for allowing them when
planted to become a disgrace to the garden ; if
good for nothing, pull them up, and if unable to
l)uy others, let the green grass fill their places ;
if possible to disencumber ourselves of the idea
that the greater or less first cost constitutes cheap-
ness, believe the experience of those best qualified
to judge, that it is never economy to buy ill-shaped ,
unhealthy trees, or bad varieties because they are sold
loic ; nor yet that it is good economy to get trees
&c., from the woods, because they cost nothing;
taking into account tlie first cost of getting them,
the long time they stand, almost bare poles, and
the usually inferior sliapos they assume when
they do grow aft(;r mudi pruning and coaxing,
7n//*y ry trees arc far best and cheapest. 1 have no
time to enter upon the minutiu of roots and branch-
es to prove this, as may easily be done, but must
leave that for the future. In respect to gates and
fences, Imild the cheapest consistent Avith strength,
the most unpretending and unobtrusive, for there is
no surer indication of bad taste and pretensions,
tlian a co.'^lly carpenter's monument of white pint'
and white paint. Make the fence simple, of good
but cheap material (rustic poles t'cry good!) and
then paint it a dark color ; why cover your fences
with white, so as to force your boundary lines on

your own and every one's else eye, at the same
time making a direct violation of the harmonies
of nature ; the same may be, and has been said of
painting houses. What can lie more glaring and
disagreeal)le in a hot day than the sunny side of
a white house, dazzling the eye, as much as the
sun ? Vine.s and trees relieve the glare, somewhat,
but the effect is almost always forced and unnat
ural.

Is the argument of the durability of white,
{even if it can he proved to be more lasting than other
colors) enough? Did any man ever wear iron
pants and coat for their durability ? If durability
is the aim, build of stone, wlien you will get it,
and harmony of colors at the same time.

Filially, we all remember that neatness, order
and beauty outside, indicates the same within ;
and to quote from a learned European, "the care
of flowers and cultivation of plants, do not merely
contril)ute to the maintenance of health ; they
soften the p issions, and elevate the taste above tiie
affairs of cvcry-day life. In the home around
wliich we 8 'o a well kept garden, internal order
almost always prevails ; and where there is a flow-
er stand outside, there is almost always a book
shelf witliin." R. Morris Coi-elaxd.

lioxbury, March 24, 1854.

Extraordinary E.KOTic. — A fine specimen of a
magnificent tree, recently introduced into tliis
couiitry from California, is now growing in the
neighliorhood of Exeter, at the nursery of I\Iessrs.
Jeitch. This tree, from its extraordinary height
and large dimensions, nuiy well be_ termed the
monarcli of the Californian forest ; it grows in a
solitary district on the elevated slopes of the Sierra
Nevada, at an elevation of 5,000 feet from the lev-
el of the sea. From HO to 90 trees exist, all with
in the circuit of a mile, and varying from 250 feet

210

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

May

to 320 feet in height, and from 10 to 20 feet in di-
ameter. The cones are about two inches and a
quarter long, and two inches across at the thickest
part ; the trunk of one tree, which Messrs. Veitch's
collector (Mr. Lobb) saw felled, was perfectly sol-
id, from the sapwood to the centre, and, judg-
ing from tlie number of concentric rings, its ago
has been estimated at 3,000 years. Of this vego-
t;vblc monster 21 feet of the bark, from the lower
part of the trunk, have been put in the natural
form in San Fx-ancisco for exhibition ; it there
forms a spacious carpeted room, and contain a pia-
no, with seats for 40 persons. On one occasion
140 children were admitted without inconve-
ience.

SOWING CLOVER SEED.

Where clover seed was omitted in laying down
lands to grass last fall, it may very properly be
done now, and probably with complete success.
Our own ojiinions on the subject are well sustained
in the article below from the Philadelphia Dollar
Newspaper.

In answer to an inquiry in the last number of
the " Newspaper,'^ as to the best time to sow
clover-seed, I remark that it is my opinion that
the spring or winter is the best time, for the fol-
lowing reasons : Clover sown in the fall, is apt to
be killed. First. — By the dry weather which
usually prevails in October and November. Second.
If the weather is favorable, and the clover should
get a start, tlie action of the frost would be more
liable to destroy the young and tender roots, es-
pecially in a clay soil, where I have seen the clover
drawn entirely from the ground, by the expansion
of the soil from frequeat freezing and thawing. I
have always succeeded by sowing in March. The
first good snow that falls in the month of March,
sow your seed, and, as you can see it on the snow,
you can sow it more evenly than when sown on the
ground, and when the snow melts, it leaves the
ground soft and moist, and the seed is buried even-
ly at the proper depth. When the first warm
weather comes it springs up and becomes sufficient-
ly vigorous to live through the succeeding fall and
winter.

PLUMS-THE CURCULIO.

Sir : — As I am a reader of your Weekly Tribune,
I saw a statement in your Address at our State
Fair whei-cin you mention that Dr. R. T. Under-
bill, of your State, succeeded in saving his Plums
from the ravages of the Curculio by jilanting his
irees so as to have them hang over water. Now,
since every one has not such a situation, I will
mention how Mr. Joseph II. INIather, of Goshen,
20 rpiles eouth-east of this place, succeeded in sav-
ing his Pjuins this season. After having tried
many ineffectual remedies, and Avhcn the Curculio
had already coi^nienced its work, he mixed sul-
phur and lard with a little Scotch snuff and rubbed
it freely upon the body and branches of his trees.
In a few days the Curculio had all left. The con-
sequence was that he had such a crop of Plums
that he was obliged to prop up the branches to
keep them from breaking off.

I shall try the remedy next season.. If you think
the recipe worth printing, you can do so. I see
jao good reason wliy it will not do as well for

others as for Mr. Mathews.-^REUBEN Chapin, in
N. Y. Tribune.

For the New England Farmer.

LARVJE OF THE CRANE FLY.

Simon Buown, Esq.: — Dear Sir — Yesterday, Mr.
Flint brought tome the bottle of grubs, which you
sent by him. He said that they were found in
considerable numbers, on snow in Concord lately, '
and tliat they were alive when taken ; l)ut they
were dead when received.

They are of a livid or pale brownisli color, about
half an inch long, thickest at the hinder end of
the body, and tapering towards the other end.
Above the vent, there is a kind of coronet of short
spines, four of which are longer than the others,
and the latter are black at the points. These gruba
are tlie larvae or young of some kind of crane-fly or
Tipula, and resemble the figures of the larvae of
the European Tipula corniciva and Tipula oleracea,
two sjijccies vulgarly called daddy long-legs, in
England, and well known there for their injury, in
the larva) state, to the grass-roots of meadows. In
thevoluraeof "Insect Transformations" belonging
to the "Library of Entertaining Knowledge," will
be found a short account of the European insects
above named, pages 252 to 255 inclusive, to which
I beg to refer you. The Concord grubs, like their
European prototypes, probably lived in the ground
upon the roots of grasses. How they came to be
dislodged from their quarters I cannot tell.
Respectfully yours,

Thaddeus William Harris.

Cambridge, Mass., March 16, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

HOW TO MAKE THE BUTTER COME.

Mr. Editor : — I noticed in your valuable paper
of Feb. 18th, 1854, an article headed "Why don't
the butter come?" I have waited until now to
see if some one would not give the information
which Mr. Joseph H. Welles, of Columbus, Ohio,
inquired for ; I would inform Mr. Welles that I
suppose it is a species of garget that troubles his
cows. I have been in trouble like his several times,
and have as many times found that a little nitre,
commonly called salt-petre, administered to my
cows occasionally, has been an effectual remedy ;
in a dose not more than a table-spoon even full,
given every other day, for two or three times; it
is equally effectual in summer as in winter ; pul-
verize it and give it in grain or meal.

E. Marsh.

Montpclier, Vi., March 13, 1854.

Elastic Horse Shoe. — We are glad to find that
the inventive genius of the day has been exercised
for the direct benefit of the animal of all others
the most worthy of such regard. Mr. J. O.
Jones has invented and patented, and is now man-
ufacturing in this city, an Elastic Horse Shoe,
which is regarded by those who have seen and
used it as an effectual preventive for all the trou-
bles to the feet of the horse which are caused by
constant concussion upon stone pavements and
hard roads. The shoe is made of German spring
steel, with India rubber inseated in the heels to
give it elasticity. — Traveller.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

211

For the New England Farmer.

FARMING IN NEW ENGLAND-NO. 4.

I turn aside this week from the regular series of
papers on New England farming, to answer "Ag-
rlcola," who puts to me in your paper of the 11th
instant, the following inquiry :

"Will your correspondent 'D. C inform your
readers in what respects the New England farmer
cannot compete with the Western farmer, whether
in the projits or amount of produce?^'

On a close examination of this question, it ap

em, but that he cannot do so, without bringing
to his aid the helps of science, and of superior indus-
try and skill. Summoning these to his assistance,
he will approximate much more nearly to his
Western competitor, in valuable results, if he does
not actually exceed him. "Agricola," therefore,
has presented a question which, in its own terms,
is logically absurd, and one which docs not grow
out of my argument, considered in the conditions
in which it is stated.

But, waiving both these difiBcuItios in the way
of making any direct reply to his inquiry, there

pears to be extremely indefinite, and perhaps it are certain well authenticated and stubtorn facts,
may be said to be no question at all. The "profits" which throw much light upon the general subject
of farming are so necessarily intolved in the " ....

"amount of produce" raised, that tlie two things
cannot be separated, and therefore do not admit
of a separate consideration, or of any direct com-
parison. I might, therofore, with entire respect to
"Agricola," abstain from any argument upon the
subject, till he presents the point of his diflBculty
in a more tangible form, or in a shape which in-
volves some logical consistency and some real is-
sue. How can any man institute any comparison
between Eastern and Western farming, so as to
show whether the former can "compete" with the
Latter, unless the "profits" of both are estimated,
and how can such an estimate be made, unless
the "amount produced," at the East and West,re-
epectively, be taken into the account? If the
Eastern farmer can raise one bushel of com as
cheaply as the Western, after the difference of in-
terest in their landed investments — the difference
in the price of labor and other expenses, the dif-
ference in the prices which they get for the bush-
eljWhen it is sold, are considered ; it does not fol-
low that they et;ind on the same level, because the
much greater ^'^a/nount'"' which the Western farmer
can raise on his more numerous and richer acres,
may most materially affect their relative incomes.
It is an admitted fact that a farmer here who
raises seventy-five bushels of corn to the acre, re-
alizes a greater percentage of profit, than his
neighbor who raises only forty bushels to the acre,
for the expenses to the one, relatively to the
^^ amount produced, ^^ are less than those to the
other. It is on this principle that we all regard
those farmers in New England, who always raise
the largest crops on the same number of acres, as
the best farmers. They are the best farmers eith-
er because their lands are the best, or because they
are cultivated tlie best, or both. On either sup-
position, they are the best farmers, because they
bring about the greatest results, relatively to the
expenses they incur.

Precisely so it is, mutatis mutandis, or as be-
tween the Eastern and the Western farmer, only
that the Western lias this immense additional ad-
vantage in his hands, he can put many more acres
every year into corn, relatively to the JEastern far-
mer, than the best Eastern farmers can, relatively
to their competing neighbors. The "profits" of
farming, then, both at the East and the West, are
80 intimately connected with, or rather so indisso-
lubly involved in tlie "amount produced," that
no intelligent or intelligible argument can be in-
stituted between them.

But I would recall the attention of "Agricola"
to the real and obvious meaning of my argument,
on which his inquiry is based. I did not say that
the New England farmer cannot, under any cir-
cumstances, successfully compete with the Weat^

under consideration between us.

In the reports made to the Commissioner of Pa-
tents for the year 1852, by some of the most intel-
ligent farmers in New England and the Western
States, they state the average amount of wiieat
vnd corn raised to the acre, in their respective lo-
calities, and also the cost of production. There is
a singular and wide discrepancy in the results,
among the farmers of Maine and Vermont, for
example, and an equal want of agreement among
the farmers at the West, as to the average amount
raised per acre, and the expense of producing the
same. These statistics are therefore by no means
so accurate and reliable as they should be, and
yet some conclusions, approximative to the truth,
can be gathered from them. By a somewhat care-
ful collation of these numerous and discrepant re-
ports, we come, I apprehend, to this general re-
sult. With regard to the article of wheat, in our
imperfect and generally unscientific methods of
cultivating the soil, we make no approach to a
successful competition with the Western farmer,
either as it regards the amount raised, or the cost
per bushel. New England does not raise one fif-
tieth part of the wheat which is consumed by her
own population. We should undoubtedly raise a
much larger quantity, if it could be done profit-
ably, but it cannot be done profitably, so long
as our modes of cultivation are so imperfect, and
the Western soils continue to be so highly adapted
to its production. It is most manifest, therefore,
that New England does not now successfully com-
pete with the West in the raising of wheat,
"either in the profits or amount of produce. ^^

In respect to corn, pork, beef, hides, wool, live
hogs, butter and cheese, we stand in a somewhat
better relation to the West, though the immense
quantitiL>s of these articles which find their way
from beyond the Hudson to the Eastern markets,
will astonish any one who will examine the statis-
tical returns on the subject. Of all these articles,
we import for our own consumption a far greater
amount, than we export of our own production,
for theconsumiitionof othei-s. Indeed, we export
none at all of our own producing. In not one of
these important articles of living, do the farmers
in New England supply our own wants, much
less do we have any to spaye for our neighbors in
Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, New York, Ireland or
England. So long, therefore, as our present modfr
of cultivation continues, it is as clear as the sun
in mid heaven, that notwithstanding the higher
prices which obtain in New England, wc can
never successfully compete with o.ur Western
friends, in any uf the gresvt birtinclies of agricul-
ture, That can Iks done, only b^ superior science,
groiiter skill and more untiring industry, n. c.

Waltham, March, 18^4.

212

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

REVIEW OF THE PAST AND THE PRES-
ENT CONDITION OF AGRICULTURE.

I propusi', in my first Report, to review the past
and present condition of tlie Agriculture of Mas-
sachusetts. The past will be found, it is thought,
full of interest and instruction ; the present, full
of encouragement and hope. The discussion of
epeeial suhjects will l)e left to a future occasion,
with the exception of sucli suggestions as seem to
spring naturally from the facts stilted. This seems,
indeed, to be the only course which can be pursued.
Previous to the organization of the present Board,
there has been no permanent department or public
officer, whose special duty it was to collect the fticts
necessary for the guidance of the Legislature, and
the various societies in their efforts to advance the
cause of Agriculture among us. The principal
object of the Board, during the past year, has ac-
cordingly been to procure the desired information.
It is these doings, which I now have the honor to
report for your consideration.

We cannot, without some little reflection, make
full allowance for the difficulties which surrounded
the early settlers of New England. We must re-
member that they exchanged a country far ad-
vanced in civilization, — and notwithstanding its
rude tillage and its large tracts of uninclosed
moors, probably better cultivated than any other
on the globe, — for one entirely new to them, with
a climate and soil unlike any which they had
known before. They were to begin a life in'which
their previous experience could afford them little
or no aid, in a wilderness which was to be sub-
dued by their own hands in the midst of a thous-
and ol)>taeles. The system of cultivation which
they had learned and practised in their own land,
would not serve them here. They were to start
anew, and acquire, painfully and laboriously, the
knowledge which was applicable to their new sit-
uation. If wo find their progress to be slow, let
us not wonder that it was so ; we should rather
wonder that they advanced at all, or even that
they did not perish in the wilderness amid the pri-
vations and the sufferings of winter.

For many months after their arrival, they had
no beasts of burden ; when at last a few cows were
brought over from the mother country,* they were
poorly fed on coarse meadow hay, and often died
from exposure and want of suitable food, or fell a
prey to the wolves and the Indians. Owing to
the difficulties and expense of importation, the
price was so high as to put them beyond the reach
of many, even in moderate circumstances. A red
calf soon came to be cheaper than a black one, on
account of the greater probability of its being mis-
taken for a doer and killed by the wolves. When
cows were so high as to sell in 1636, at from twen-
ty-five to thirty pounds sterling, and oxen at forty
poutids a pair, a quart of new milk could bo bought
for a penny, and four eggs at the same price.

It should be borne in mind, also, that the cattle
of that time, even in England, were not to be com-
pared with the Iteautifvil animals now seen there.
The ox of that day was small, ill-shaped, and in

*The first cattle were imported by Edward Winslow, in the
ship Charity, March, 1624. Having been sent out as ngent by
the I'lymiiuth Colony, he brought over four animals, tliree o
which were heifers. One authority says they arrived in the ship
Ann, the first voyage of wlijch was ma<le in 1623 ; but there can
be no (lonlit tliut the cattle referred to, at the time of the distri-
bution of cattle in 1627, came in u subaeuuont voyage made by
that vessel '^ '

every way inferior to the ox of the present time.
The sheep has, since then, been improved to an
e({ual, or even greater extent, both in form and
size, and the fineness and value of its wool. The
draught horse, so serviceable on the farm, long
the pride of liOndon, and now equally of Boston,
and the noble breed of race horses, so celebrated
for their fleetness, were not then known. It is dif-
ficult to appreciate fully the changes, which the
increased attention to agriculture has effected in
domestic animals, even within the la!<t century.

Dui'ing the early part of the last century, the
average gross weight of the neat cattle brought for
sale to the Smithfield market, was not over three
hundred and seventy pounds, and that of sheep,
twenty-eiglit pounds. The average weight of the
former, is now over eight hundred pounds, and of
the latter, over eighty pounds. On account of the
high price of cattle at that period, and the risks
to which they were to be exposed, it is not proba-
l)le that the settlers purchased even the best spe-
cimens of the animals then known in England,
Such being the state of things, we may easily im-
agine that the first cattle imported into New Eng-
land, were of a very inferior quality.

Nor was the difficulty of procuring agricultural
implements the least of the obstacles which the
early settlers had to encounter. Some wore im-
ported from the mother country, but all could not
obtain them in this way. The only metal to be
had was made of bog ore, very brittle, and liable
to break and put a stop to a day's work. The im-
plements of agriculture seem, for the most part,
to have been made from this metal, and with com-
paratively little fitness for the purpose for which
they were designed. Even those imported from
the mother country were not only of the rudest
construction, but were also extremely heavy and
unwieldy ; for the men of that time had not dis-
covered the art of diminishing weight without lee^
sening strength. The process of casting steel was
not invented till more than a century later, (1750)
and then it was kept a secret in Sheffield for some
years. The number and variety of implements
have been infinitely increased, even within the last
half century, to meet the wants of a moreadvanced
husbandry, to which, indeed, tliese mechanical im-
provements have, in their turn, largely contribu-
ted.*

It is true that the Pilgrims, on their arrival in
this country, had the benefit of the plants at that
time cultivated and used as food by the Indians,
yet they were wholly unaccustomed to these, and
were ignorant of the mode of using them as food,
and of the manner of their cultivation. Indian
corn, the staple product, and the pride of Ameri-
ca, had never been seen by them. Pumpkins,
squashes, potatoes and tobacco, were almost equal-
ly strange to them.f

* Tlie colonists do not soem to have been provided with plows ;
for we find that twelve years after the landing at IMyniouth, the
furrmers about Boston, having no plows, were obliged to break up
the bushes with their hands and hoes, to prepare their lands for
cultivation ; ami eyen so late as 1637, there were but thirty-
»even plows in the whole State. Jt was the custom, even to a
much later ilcriod, for one owning a i)low, to do most of the plow-
ing in a town ; going alxiut from one part of the town to another.
The town often paid a bounty to one who would buy and keep a
plow in repair, to do work in this way

t The potato was so rare in England at the beginning of the
17th century, as to be served up only in very small quantities.
It was sold at two shillings a pound, for the queen's table, and
was used as a fruit, baked into pies, seasoned with spices and
wine, and sometimes eaten with sugar.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

213

When their necessities taught thcui the value j
of those plants, they were not slow in adopting
the Indian methods of cultivating them. As the]
general cultivation, in the colonies, continued]
much the same fc^r many jears, with only sliglit
modifications on the introduction of the plow, it
may not be inappropriate to turn our attrition,
for a moment, to tlio agriculture of the natives.

It is well known, that most of the hard work
necessary to supply their limited wants, fell to the
lot of the women, assisted, sometimes, by old
men and little boj's. Among their thankless tasks
was that of farming, which they carried on to an
extent quite remarkable, when we consider the
rudeness of the tools with Avhieh they worked, and
the circumstances in which they were placed.
They had no art of manufacturing metal, and of
course could have no proper implements of agri-
culture. Their cultivation was not so rude, how-
ever, as one would naturally supftose. Tliey made
a kind of hoe by tying the shoulder bhide of a
moose, bear or deer, to a stick or pole.

The land, when selected, was clexircd, hy keep-
ing up a fn-e around the foot of each tree till its
bark was so burned that it would die. They then
planted their corn. When a tree fell, it was
burned into pieces of such a length that they
could be rolled into a heap and burned to ashes.
fn this way, by degrees, a piece covered Avith
wood, was wholly cleared. An industrious wo-
man could burn off as many dry fallen logs in a
day, as a strong man could, at that tkne, cut "with
an a.Ke in two or three. They used a stone axe,
made much in the same way as the hoe above de-
scribed, to scrape the charred surface of the logs,
and hasten the burning. This mode of clearing
was common through the western part of the
State. In'tlie eastern part, the tree was some-
times girdled Avith the axe, and thus killed, Avas
allowed to dry, and then burned by kindling
fire around it, as above described.

They taught the settlers to select the finest ears
of corn for seed, to plant it at the proper time,
and in a proper manner, to weed it, and to hill it.
They Avere accustomed to dig small holes four feet
apart, Avith a clumsy instrument, resembling the
one described, which, in the eastern part of the
State, was sometimes made of large clam-shells.
Those living in the vicinity of the sea-shore, put
into each hole a horse-shoe crab or tAA'O, upoi
which they dropped four, and sometimes six ker
nels of corn, and covered it Avith the implement
with which they had dug the hole. In the inte-
rior, a few small fishes in each hill Avere used as
a fertilizer. Beans were planted with the corn
after it had come up, and grew up supported by
it. Great attention Avas paid by them to the
protection of their growing crops. Not a weed
was to be seen in their fields, and the corn Avas
carefully guarded against destruction by insects
and birds. To prevent loss by the latter, a small
watch-house was erected in the midst of a field of
corn, in Avhich one of the family, often the oldest
child, slept, and early in the morning rose to watch
the blackbirds. It was their universal custom to
hill the corn about tAvo feet high, for its 8uj)port,
and spots may often be seen at the present day,
which were evidently cultivated by them. The
colonists very generally imitated this custom, and
it has been continued down to our own times.
The men planted and cured their tobacco, which

Avas, ordinarily', the &nly plant they worked up-
on, the Avomen managing all the rest. — Flint''s
Report of Mass. Board of Agriculture.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

THE CROW- WINTER WORMS.

Friend Brown : — I find in the Aveekly New Eng-
landFaxmrr, Vol. 9, No. 3, an "Ode to the Crow,"
Avritten by Mr. Soul, in Avhich he giA'es that bird
a bad name, looking only at the dark side of his
character ; now if this rule alone is to be ol>served,
of judging of evil deeds, I fear Ave should have but
very few l)irds, l)easts, or men, that Avould not
stand as low as Mr. Soul places the crow. It ia
my purpose now, hoAVCA'cr, to mention but one act
of his kindness, Avhicb I noticed to-day.

You proltably have received those Avorms I sent
you, yesterday, Avhich I found by the side of my
meadoAV. As I AA^as passing over that meadoAV
my attention Avas draAvn to something on tlie snow
and ice. I accordingly stopped, and on examin-
ation found great uuml)crs of Avorms, AvMch in
their acts and looks, Avere unlike any thine I eA"er
saAV. I will not attempt to describe them, but as
you have some of them, I wish you or some one of
your friends, more al)lc than myself, Avould do it.
They were as thick in spots as a person Avould soav
oats ; some of them crawling on the top of the
snoAV and ice, others in the AA-ater, whilst a great
many Avere apparently craAvling up through the
ice and suoAv, all having life anii animation. I
looked on the ground Avhere the snoAV Avas all
gone, and there I found a number, but not hav-
ing my glai^ses Avith me, I couldn't readily see
them. But I haAC strayed a little from the crow,
but not from his food. To-day, I heard a great
caAving of the croAvs, and on looking up, beiiold !
there Avei-e hundreds of them lighting and lit on
the same piece of land Avhere I had discovered the
worms, apparently as happy as CA'cr Avere. pii^s in
clover, and as busy picking up somethino' as ever
a hen was picking oats. I Avaited until they AA'ere
all gone, then went to see if they had taken any
of the AVorms, and to my delight they had takta
nearly CA'cry one of them that were on the snoAV
but I noticed that they Avere just as busy on tlie
bare ground as they were on the snow, and I have
no doubt but they found the worms as plenty
there, although I could not see as many ; neither
have I any reason to believe that the Avorms were
gone before the crows came, for there was a corner
of the field on Avhich the crows did not go, and
there I found tlie worms after the croAvs had gone.
Here, now, is one kind act which I believe to be
of more real value than all the damage tlie crowo
ever did me. I hope they Avill continue to visit
me daily for one nu)nth,. at least. My particular
object in writing this, is to know if these worms
may not be the same :is the palmer worm that in-
fested our country last year, although they are
somcAvhat changed in their looks and actions. If
you, or any one else can give an account of them
and their habits you Avill much oblige,

J. B. Farmer.

Concord, March 10, 1854.

Rem.\rks. — We would inform Mr. F.vrmek, tha

Ave sent the bottle of Avorms to Professor Harris
at Cambridge, and that to-day. the 18th, we have

214

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

Mat

received a note from him in rdation to them which
we will publish next week.

TENTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At tub State UoiiK, Tuksdav Evesiso, March 21.

Subject, — Neat Cattle — What is the best meth-
od of improving the stock of animals to be kepi on
our farms ?

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Simon
Brown, Chairman of the Executive Committee,
and Hon. B. V. French, of Braintree, was invited
to preside for the evening.

Mr. French, on assuming the chair, introduced
Mr, S.VNFORD Howard, of the Boston Cultivator,
who proceeded to deliver a very interesting lecture
on the subject of farm stock.

Mr. Howard opened with a succinct history ofj
the domestic ox, its origin, kindred species, &c.,
which displayed considerable research and a full
knowledge of the subject. The ox, he said, could
not be traced to any extinct race of animals, or to
any now in existence, and although there is gen-
erally supposed to be but one species of the do-
mestic ox, yet there are different breeds, varying
in their characteristics. Breeds are of two class-
es, natural and artificial, the latter being the re-
sult of man's agency — as the Ayrshire cattle may
be called an artificial breed.

The object in breeding cattle should be to propa-
gate varieties which combine most fully those
qualities needed for a specific purpose, as for beef,
milk, or lalx>r. These qualities are somewhat
antagonistical, particularly fattening and milk-
ing. Piit cattle should be marked by fulness and
rotundity, while the milch stock should be char-
acterized by flatness rather than roundness. The
animal, too, which has the greatest tendency to
fatness has insufGcient muscle and nervous energy,
for lalxir. Stock can be best improved by culti-
vating for specific purposes, Some farmers think
a stock should be obtained which will combine all
qualities, but this is unreasonable. No farmer ex-
pects to get his clothes, shoes, farming utensils,
&c., all made by one individual ; and on the same
principle, he should rear stock ibr particular uses,
A great point in rearing stock is to provide suffi-
cient food and shelter, for until this is attended
id, it is of little use to talk about breeds. Far-
mers lose immensely every year by insufficient feed-
ing. As to breeds of cattle, nothing definite can
be said, \\\ reference to this section of country, be-
cause no adequate experiments have been made
'm this matter in this section of the country. Dif-
ferent breeds are required for different localities.
Mr. ilowARD submitted tljQ following list, as the
best he could recommend :—

As Dairy stock, on poor and rough soils, the
Kerry breed, -which is indigenous to the mountains
of Ireland, apd jrepresonted by all authorities aa

combining a remarka}>le hardiness of constitutioD
with superior dairy qualities^ especially for but-
ter.

2d. For better soils and milk-selling establish-
ments, the Ayrshires.

3d. For cities and towns, the Jerseys, at the
same time testing them by fair trials as to general
adaptatiooa.

4th. A selection from the common or so-called
Native stock., to be subjected to a systematic course
of breeding.

5th. Crosses of the Ayrshire and Jersey with
the common stock, the offspring to be kept separ-
ately for such a period as may be necessary to
test their qualities.

For fat stock, of secondary value for dairy pur-
poses,— on poor and rough soils and severe climate,
the West Highland Scots.

2d. For somewhat better soils, Galloways and
Devons.

3d. For medium soils, Hekefords.

4th. For the best soils and a milder climate,
the fattening variety of Suort Horns, tried, also
in comparison with the Hercfords.

The Herefords, "West Highlanders, and Devons-
are excellent draught cattle. Our climate is a
very trying o*ne for cattle, on account of its ex-
tremes of heat and cold, and this is one reason
why the Short Horns have so seldom succeeded
in New England. The Western Highland breed
is a very hardy one, and fatten as readily the
third year as any other variety. In England it
is considered the model in the improvement of all
other breeds as to form.

At the close of Mr. Howard's lecture. Col.
Newell, President of the Essex Agricultural Soci-
ety, inquire! of him the qualities of Ayrshire
stock as working cattle.

Mr. Howakd said he had never known full-
blooded animals of this stock to work well. He,
however, had no acquaintance with them as work-
ing cattle — only as dairy stock.

Mr. Sprague of Duxbury, said he was familiar
with the breeds of cattle kept on Mr. Webster's
farm, embracing several foreign varieties. The
farmer in charge esteems the Devons as the best
working cattle. The Durhams are slow, although
possessing great strength. Some people Siiy that
Ayrshires are smart and good workers, and oth-
ers say that they are vicious.

Mr. Sheldon of Wilmington, said he had a yoie
of Ayrshire oxen from the Webster farm at
Franklin, N. H., which he purchased last August
from Mr. Ames. They are stout, active cattle, ful-
ly equal to any he ever had. He thought he
had never owned any cattle which would travel
twenty miles quicker than they, although he had
never owned lighter cattle. They plowed last year
at Concord and obtained the first premium, fin-

1854,

NEW ENGLAND F.\RMER.

215

ishing their lot sis minutes quicker than any oth-
er. The Durhams he considered best for beef.

Mr, French, the Chairman, said that, after
considerable experience in raising cattle, he had
come to the conclusion, that the milking proper-
ties of an animal were matters of mere ofcance, —
good qualities in this respect not being confined to
any particular breeds. Aj'rshire arc about as good
for milk as any, but their forms are not so good.
The best ox he ever owned came froai Worcester,
and was of the Holdernesi breed. The Herefords

are a good breed, well adapted to thecountry,largc, so, the best kind for this purpose
good milkers, and making good beef. The Alder-
neys are ver}'^ popular now, as yielding very rich
milk, and being gentle, but theyai*e not much for
beef or working. The Devons are altogether too
heavy for this section of the country ; they may do
well with the blue grass of Kentucky, but they
generally fail on the short feed of this region. He
had tried Ayrshires and Durhams, but had given
them up, and was now trying Devons, which he
found to be fair, good milkers. In England the
largest recorded yield of milk, was given by a De-
von. One good quality which they possess, is an
almost unvarying uniformity of color, a pure red,
which may vary a shade in difl'erent animals, and
they possess great symmetry of proportion. Their
beef commands a higher pi-ice in the New York
market than any other, being sought after by ho-
tel-keepers, on account of its juiciness. He felt
well satisfied that his Devon oxen were unsurpassed
by any other breed ; they are smart and tractable.

Mr. Lincoln, of Worcester, said he knew of half-
blood Ayrshire oxen which were excellent working
cattle, but had never seen any full-blooded. They
are quick, active and hardy, and teachable, and
what some called high spirited, but what he called
timid, lie owned all the Ayrshire stock of the
late Col. Lincoln, and did not think more gentle
cattle could be found on any farm. He considered
the red Ayrshires equal to any breed, and as sur-
passing the Devons in activity.

Col. Newell, of Essex, thought the foreign
breeds of stock, should be kept pure. The Ayr-
shire, if kept pure, would furnish the best milk
stock for Massachusetts.

Mr. Dodge, of Worcester, thought that as good
a way as any, in raisin

best animals, without regard to their breed. Wei Again, at a dwelling-house situated on high
have not paid sufficient attention to the subject in ground, and where a scanty supply of water was
this country, to establish any general rules

proportion to the population, than in New York,
the latter produces 45 lbs. of butter per cow on
an average, while Florida yields but one 100th of
a lb. per cow. One breed of cattle may do best in
a locality where another would fail.

Mr. BrooKS, of Princeton, thought farmers did
not pursue their systems of stock raising long
enough. It takes a good while for foreign stock
to get acclimated.

The sulyect for next Tuesday evening, is — Sheep;
can they be advantageously kept on our farms? if

For the New England Parmer.

THE "WITCH HAZEL."

OR, THE rUENOMENA OF RnABDOMANCY.

Mr. Editor : — In your journal of Feb. 11th, I
noticed a few remarks upon the Witch Hazel, and
its utility in detecting the localities of waier and
precious metals in the earth ; and I beg leave to
lay before your readers a few additional iacts, and
some remarks thereupon.

A year or two since, I witnessed some experiments
with the "hazel wand," and had an opportunity
to test its action. A crotched stick was cut and
carried in a perpendicular position, a lir.inch of
I the crotch being held in each hand. The diviner,
so to call him who carried the rod, slightly stoop-
ing, walked slowly along ; for a short time the rod
remained upright ; but suddenly it commenced dip-
ping, and continued so till it pointed directly to
the earth below. This was repeated several times
and it was found that in whatever direction this
locality was approached, the same depressions of
the rod would take place. But, in order to pre-
clude the possibility of deception, two of those
present held firmly in their hands the ends of the
stick which extended beyond the hands of him who
carried the rod. In this manner, the diviner ap-
proached the hidden water course, and the rod,
as before, suddenly turned towards tlic earth ;
but so firmly was the stick held, that it was liter-
ally twisted and the bark Avas left in the hands.

This fully satisfied us that there was no decep-
tion, and further experiments proved, that in the
hands of certain pei'sons, the "hazel wand'' would
veritably indicate the localities of water in the
earth .

The same diviner was requested to examine a
certain piece of ground, and decide at what depth
a supply of water could be found ; after a few
trials, lie fixed the depth at eighteen feet. In the
course of a mouth or two, a well was dug and w;V
stock, was to select the [ter was obtained as liad been foretold.

on

Mr. FuExcu alluded to the neces^iity for a State
institution where the question of the comparative
value of diflferent breeds could be satisfactorily set-
tled.

Mr. Coffin, of New Hampshire, said a great
deal must be allowed for difference of climate in
different States. The great butter and cheese pro-
ducing States of the Union are Nortli of Pennsyl-
vania. While in Florida more cows ai'c kept in

obtained at a great deptli, he made examinationa,
and according to his directions, a well was dug
near the house,anda never-failing supply of w;ater
was obtained at a depth of only eight feet.

Instances of higlily successful experiment ^ might
be multiplied, bgt,"l forbear to xyoax-y any one's
patience with rtiiraeuloii? predictions out of my
own personal knowledge. I have seen several oth-
ers try the experiment, but witli no success, except,
in one case, and that only partial. The rod, in
all cases wliicli I have observed, rotated in the
same direction, that is to ftiy, from before, back-

216

NEW ENGLAND FARMER-

Mav

ward : but upon mines of coal and iron, it has
beell aseertainc'l, tlio rotary movement takes place
in a contrary ilirci-tion.

In the minin;^ districts of the West, it is stated
upon credil)le authority, that the viens of load are
discovered in this way, and that failures never oc-
cur, except in the hands of those whoso nervous
temperaments arc apt to vary. But it is helievod
that the rod is attracted, not by the metal itself,
but by currents of water flowing constantly over
the deposits of lead.

With these facts before us, wc must concede the
existence of the divining power in certain persons,
llhubdomancy, or the nietliod of divining as above
descril>ed, has engaged the attention of the first

ijhilusphers from the earliest ages. It is not to
)e accounted for by any species of legerdemain or
deception, nor solely by magnetism or electricity,
though by these agents some plausible counterfeits
have I)een produced. But, liowever nameless the
invisible agent may be, we must concede that it
emanates irom certain localities in the earth, ready
to act upon the organisms of all susceptible to its
influence. Now this mundane agent must neces-
sarily be developed by some action, chemical, ma-
terial, or of the electric force, constantly going on
in the earth. That such actions are taking place
at all times and that they ar3 attended with a re-
markable evolution of force, is beyond a reasonable

loubt. To quote another, "Force shows itself in
■ very thing that exists in the heavens or on the
earth. It pervades every atom ; rules the motions
.,f animate and inanimate beings, and is as sensi
i le in the descent of a rain-drop as in the Falls of
Niagara ; in the weight of the air as in the periods
./•■' the moon. There is a physical power which not

inly 'ninds satellites to their planet and planets
u-ith suns and sun with sun throughout the wide
!'xtent of creation, which is the cause of the dis-
turbance as well as of the order of nature, but it
physically binds man to man, and man to na-
ture."

This universal distribution of force, joined with
thdi'extreme susceptibility of the nervous system
to mundane agf!ncies,constitute a cause capable of
producing an cff'cct as wonderful as any of the ano-
malous phenomena of the present day.

Let every one that feels an interest in the mat-
ter, test the action of the "hazel wand" in his own
hands, and ascertain whether or not his nervous
organism is susceptible to the influence of this in-
visible agent. "Study Nature and her operations,"
and the tide ol' superstition will flow back from the
shores of the civilized world, presenting a broader,
clearer view of the hitherto unsuspected relation
in which wc stand to the universe. Spartacvs.
Lexington, Feb. 2()(h, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

SAVE THE BONES.

Mr. Editor : — 1 licrc-in enclose two dollars for
the New England Farmer, which still continues
to 1)0 a plain, common sense paper, and the one
price system I admire, whicii you spoke of in one
of your late numl)ers. It gives ii^ great pleasurt'
to see that the people are getting interested in ag-
ricultural aflairs, in the good old Bay State. I
hope the time is not far distant, when the Maine
people shall be more interested in the cultivation
of the soil, which is at present but poorly done.

There is one thing which I wish to make mention
of, ■which is in regard to the bones wliich are
thrown away, or kicked about for a season and
then carted of with the rest of the rubliish, into
some Ijy-placc. Now if every fayiily would save
them, it would be a pr(>f5tul)h3 business for many
people throughout the country, to collect and
grind them for use. If there is any profit in ship-
ping them to Europe, there must \te in keeping
them at home. I tliink they aK) worth as much
as guano, pound for pound, if not more. 1 do be-
lieve" there are thousands of dollars lost ever year,
l)y throwing them away. S. W. Jennings

North Wayne, Me., 1854.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY SOCIETY.

The Middlesex CVnuity Agricultural Society of-
fers the following Premiums for the encourage-
ment of Agriculture, Household Manufactures,
and the cultivation of Trees, within the County of
Middlesex.

We would call the attention of our friends to
the section on The Dairt/, as one of unusual at-
traction and importance. In addition to the reg-
ulations there laid down, we would recommend to
all competitors to weigh their cows on the first
clay of June and the first day of September; then,
knowing the weight of each animal and the
amount of milk yielded in a given time, a pretty
fair calculation can l^e made as to the comparative
value of largo and small cows. We understand
the committee on the subject will require full and
precise answers to all the questions propounded.
Farms.

For tlie best cultivated Farm, regard being had to the
quantity of produce, manner and expense of cul-
tivation, and tlie general appc-arances of the
Farm — all statements to be made in writing, $25 00

For the next best, one set Transactions of the Massachu-
setts Society for the promotion of Agriculture.

For the next best, 12 0&

Peat or Bog Meadow.

For the best conducted experiment on not less than one
acre of Wet or Swam'p Meadow Land, in reclaiming:
the same for a ijervoij of at least three saccessive
years, with an exact statement of the mode of re-
claiming, expenses, &c. 12 00

For the best experiment on similar laud, appropriated to

the grovrth of Wood, 8 OQ

Cranberries.
To the person who shall exhibit the best result
from the artificial production of Cranlx;rries, from
seed or by transplanting, by experiments made in
a term of not loss than three years, in the County
of Middlesex, accompanied by a full and particu-
lar description of the process of cultivation, }^^0,00,
to be awarded by a Committee specially appointed
for that purpose.

Forest Trees.

For the best plantation of White Oak Trees, not less than one-
half an acre, nor fewer than 5U0 trees ttiereon, to be raised
from the acorn since 18;il>, ami which shall be in the best
thriving state in tne autumn of 1854, one set Transactions
of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agricul-
ture.
For the second best, 1 5 00

For the third best, 12 00

For the best plantation of White Ash Trees, not less than
an acre, nor fewer than 150 trees thereon, to be raised
from the seed, and which shall be in the best thriv-
ing state in the autumn oriS54, 15 00

1854>

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

217

For the second best, 10 00

For tUe third best, « 00

For the best plantation of Elm Trees, uot less than i of an
acre, nor fewer than 80 trees thereon, to be raised
from the seed, and which shall be in the best thriv-
ing state, in the year 1864, S 00
For the best grove of Sugar Maple Trees, not loss than
200 trees, set out since 1849, and which shall be in
the best thriving state, in the year 1854, 5 00
For the best 25 Sugar JIaple Trees, set out since 1849, oae
■copy of i;merson''s Forest Trees.

Fruit Trees.

For the best Apple Orchard, not less than "5 trees, which

shall have been planted or set out since the year 1844,

and shall be in the best thriving state in the year

1854, 12 00

For the second best, 10 00

For the third, 6 00

For the best engr;ifted or budded Pear Trees, not less than

35 trees, set out since tke year 1844, and in the best

thriving state in the autumn of 1854, 10 00

For the next best, 6 00

A full statement, in writing, of the soil, mode
of cultivation, and treatment in regard to insects,
must be furnished to the committee.
Fruit.

Apples — For the best specimens, of at least 6 varieties $8 00

the next best, 6 00

the next best, 4 00

the next best, 3 00

the uext best, 2 00

For the best single dish of Apples, 3 00

the next best, 2 00

the next best; 1 00

f EA^RS — For the best specimens of at least 6 varieties, 6 00

the nex-t best, 4 00

the next best, 3 00

the next best, 2 00

For the best single dish, 4 00

the uext best, 3 00

the uext best, 2 00

the next best, 1 00

The Committee on Apples and Pears are al-
lowed ,S^ 10, to be expended in gratuities, if thej
deem proper.

Peaches

-For the best single dish,

the next best,

the gext best,
Plfms^ — For the best single dish,
Q&APSS — For the best shoir of varieties,

the best single dish,

the next best,

the next best,

• Assorted Fruit.

For the best basket of Assorted Fruit,
the next best,
the uext best.

3 00
2 00
100

2 00

3 00
2 00
1 50
100

Certificates will be required of the manner and
expense of growing the Silk, with evidence accom-
panying the same.

Aoriccltcral E,xperimknts.

For the greatest quantity of Rye on an acre, not less than

30 bushels to the acre, 10 00

For the greatest quantity of Indian Corn on an acre, not

less than 75 bushels to the iicre, 10 00

For the greatest quantity of Potatoes on an acre, not less

than 300 bushels to the acre, 8 00

For the greatest quantity of Carrots to the acre, not less
than i of an acre, and not less than thirty thousand

pounds to the acre, 10 90

For the greatest quantity of Wheat on an acre, not less

than 30 bushels to the acre, 6 00

Flax.

For the best experiment in the cultivation of Flax, on not
less than i of an acre, with a full statement of the
quantity of manure, quality of the soil, weight of

crop, and method of cultivation, 25 00

For the uext best, 15 00

Lite Stock.

For the best Native Bull, not under 1 year old, 8 00

the uext best, 5 OO

For the best Ayrshire Bull, 8 00

the next best, S 00

For the best Devon BuU, 8 00

the next best, 5 00
For the best Bull Calf, of any breed, not over 12 nor under

3 months, 4 00

the next best, 2 00

For the best yoke of Working Oxen, 8 00

the next best, 7 00

the next best, 5 00

For the best 3 year old Steers, 6 00

the next best, 3 00

For the best 2 year old Steers, 5 00

the next best, 3 00

For the best Milch Cow, native breed, 8 00

the next best, ' 6 00

the next best, 4 00

For the best Ayrshure Cow, 8 00

the next best, 6 00

For the best Devon Cow, 8 00

the next best, 5 00
For the best Bull and Cow of any foreign breed, not already

enumerated in the above, each, 8 00

For the best Milch Heifer under 3 years old, of any breeds, 6 00

300

2 00
100

Melons.

For the best show of Melons, 2 00

the best Water Melon, 1 00
the next best,

the next best, 50

And the Committee allowed $5 for gratuities.
Vegetables.

For the best show of Vegetables,
the next best,
the next l>est,
the next best,
the next best.

$6 00
6 00
4 00
300
200

And the Committee to be allowed $10 more for
single specimens, to be awarded as they shall think
proper.
Wuite Mllberrv Trees and Culture of Silk.

For the best^antation of White Mulberry Trees, not less
than 150 in number, which shall be in the best thriv-
ing condition inthe autumn of 1854, 15 00
For the next best, 10 00
For the next best, 8 00
For the next best, 7 oo
For the best specimen of Silk, not less than 2 lbs. 8 00
For the next best, 7 oo
For the next best, 6 00

4 00

5 00

3 00

4 00
2 00

4 00
2 00

the next best
For the best 2 year old Heifer,

the next best.
For the best yearling Heifer,

the next best.
For the best Heifer Calf of any breed, with a particular
statement how it has been raised,

the next best.

None of the above animals, except Calves, will
be entitled to premiums, unless they have )iceu
ovvneil in the county of Middlesex at least six
months previous to the time of exhibition.

Milch Cows and Heifers will not be entitled to
a premium unless the owner furnishes a certifi-
cate, showing the mode of keeping, and quantity
of milk given or butter made.
The Dairy.

The following premiums arc offered through the
liberality of the "Massacuusetts Society for the
Improvement of Agriculture," viz : —

For the best Dairy of Cows, not less than six in nuniticr,
and which shall have been owned by the exhibitor, and
kept within the County not less than five months pre-
vious to the Cattle Show, $75 00
For the second best, do. do. 50 00
For the third best, do. do. 25 00

All competitors will be required to "pay tlie
strietc'^t attention to tlie following regulations :

1. The cowsmust be prestnited at tlie place of
Kxbibition, and answors, in writing, given to the
following questions :

2. Where were they bred and raised?

118

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

May

3. "What breed are they?

4. "Wliat is their age, respectively?

5. On what day did they drop their last calf?

6. At what time were they turned to pasture ?

7. What was the kind and quality of pasturing?

8. What was the kind, quality and quantity of
other food furnished them ?

9. For how long a time was other food fur
iiished ?

10. What was the weight and wine measure of
milk from each cow, or from all the cows, on

June 1, Morning Evening. Sept. 1, Morning. Evening.

" 2, " 2,

" 3, " 3,

" 4, " 4,

" 5, " 5,

" 6, " 6,

" 7, " T,

" 8, " 8,

*' 9, " 9,

11. If butter was made, how much did each
cow make during the days above specified ?

12. How much was made from the time of
turning to pasture till Sept. 10 ?

13. How long is your cream usually kept be-
fore churning?

14. What is the manner of preparing the butter
after it comes ?

The Committee will require the affidavit of
one or more persons, of the amount of milk or
butter produced

Fat Cattle.

Tor the best yoke of Fat Oxen,
the next best, rto.
the next best do.

$8 00
600
4 00

A statement of the mode of fottening, and the
expense of the same, must accompany the entry.
Swine.

For the best Boar, , $6 00

Tor the best breeding Sow, 6 00

For the best Pigs, not less than 3 in number, from 4 to 8

months old. 5 00

For the next best, 2 00

Horses.

For the best Stud Horse, $10 00

For the best breeding Mare and Colt, • 5 00

For the best 2 year old Colt. 6 00

For the best yearling Colt, 5 00

Poultry.

For the best live Turkeys, not less than 5 in number, $3 00

the next best, 2 00

For the best live Geese, not less than 5 in number, 3 00

the next best, 2 00

For the best live barn-yard fowls, not less than 5 in number, 3 00
the next best, 2 00

Plowing Watch.
To owners of the twelve Plows which shall ]_>e
judged to have done the best work with the least
expense, on 1-8 of an acre,

Double Teams— 1 Plow, $10; 2 do. $7; Z do. $6; 4 do. $5.
Single Trams— 1 Plow, $10; 2 do. $7; 3 do. S*>; 4 do. $5.
Horse Teams— 1 Plow, $10; 2 do. $7; 3 do. $6; 4 do. $5.

Trial of Working Oxen,
Will take place immediately after the delivery
of the Address. All competitors in this trial must
enter their names with the Secretary, before 9
o'clock on Tuesday. Trial to commence at 11
o'clock.

Spading Match.

For the best performance in spading, not less

than ten inches in depth, on a piece of not less
than sixty square feet of sward land ; due regard
being had to time, the thoroughness of the pulver-
ization of the soil, and the state in which it is left
for the reception of seed, th» labor to be performed
with a common square Spade. To commence at
10 o'clock.

First premium,

$5 00

Third prsmitcm.

$3 00

Second "

4 00

Jourth "

200

Fifth "

100

Bread.

To women over 20 years, or married : — For the best home-
made 'VVheaten Bread, made with yeast, and baked on

the day before the exhibition, not less than 4 lbs. $4 00

For the next best, 2 00

For the next best, 1 00

For the best, made by a girl under 20, and unmarried, 4 OO

the next best 2 00

the next best, 1 00

Full statements of the whole process of making
and baking will be required.
Butter.

For the best new churned Butter, not less than 12 lbs., a

set of Silver Tea Spoons.

For the next best, 2 50

For the next best, , 2 OO

For the next best, 1 60

For the next best, 1 00

Certificates of the manner in which it has been
made and preserved will be required.

Needle Work and Household Manufactures.
The sum of Forty Dollars is awarded for the
best specimens of the above articles, in such sums
as shall be deemed proper by the Committee who
examine the articles.

Machines and Tools.
To tl# person who shall produce at the Show
any Agriculturallmplement of his own invention,
which shall deserve a reward, not exceeding ten
dollars, to be comj>eted for by any person though
not residing in the County.

Certificates ai*e to be produced to the Committee
proveding its utility. a

Agricultural Tools and Implements.

For the largest variety of the best Agricultural Tools and

Implements,

$10 09

For the New England Farmer.

GTJANO AND SUPER-PHOSPHATE. .

Friend Brown : — ^I have read your paper from
time to time, hoping that I should find some relia-
ble facts in relation to the use of guano and super-
phosphate, but as yet the statements of different
journals and pereonsare so conflicting, that I am at
loss to know which to purchase for my pasture.
Paris works admirably ; but I wanMo manure it,
and it must bo done with one of those articles. In
my last, I informed you that 1 had six rows planted
with corn. No. 1 guano, 2 phosphate, 3 guano
and paris, 4 ashes, 5 paris,and no manure in the
hill of the Gth. The 1 and 3 did not come up well,
as there was butlittlerainafter they were planted,
and tlie guano was not dissolved. This replanted
where it was necessiiry. The phospliate grew rap-
idly, and could be distinguished from the other, as
far as you could see, the corn ripening off much
the soonest.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

21d

Result on harvesting. No. 1, 125; 2, 120; 3, 108;
4, 100 ; 5, 100; 6, 95 pounds. Thus we see that the
guano comes out ahead, but the worms ate the
roots of No. 2, so it was not really a fair test. I
am inclined to think that the guano is the most du-
rable ; but think the phosphate the best for corn,
as it will not injure the seed, and will bring it for-
ward rapidly, so that the frost will not injure it !

L. W. Curtis.
Globe Village, Feb. 18th, 1854.

RiMARKS. — There are numerous causes occurring
to vary the experiments made with these fertilizers.
Such as you have made will satisfy you by-and-by
with regard to their value, respectively.

and stony loams, because as they are of a spongy
nature and receive and retain moisture, they will
so continue in the ground for a long time, and
nourish the crops in the driest seasons. It ought
not to be expected, therefore that so much benefit
will I)e derived from horn-shavings the first year,
as they will yield afterwards.

(c.) The refuse of horn was formerly sold ia
England for $10 per ton ; what its present value
is, under a better knowledge of the value of these
specific manures, we are unable to say.

For the New England Farmer.

■flOHN SHAVINGS.

Mr. Editor; — AVill you inform me through your
valuable paper what substances horn is found to
contain by analysis (a.) and in what quantity they
should be applied as a manure ? {b, ) Combs are
mattufactured on an extensive scale in this town,and
horn shavings have been employed for fertilizing
purposes to a large extent, formerly, and often
with the most beneficial results; yet, from a want
of the desired information, they have sometimes
been applied in too large (quantities or on unsuit
able ground. Enough has been witnessed of their
effects, however, to show that they are a most
powerful manure, which, under the direction of
the scientific agriculturist, would increase the
productions of the soil many fold. Hundreds
of tons of these shavings have been sold in late
years for chemical purposes ; the price at present
is eighteen dollai-s per ton, and the question is,
whether they are not worth more than that for
agricultural purposes ? (c.) O. V. Hills.

Leominster, 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) The four principal organic parts

of horn, that which would burn away, are.

Carbon, . . 51.99

Hydrogen, &.12

Nitrogen, 17.28

Oxygen and Sulphur, 24.01

100.00

(i.) Horn shavings have been exensively used in
in England, as a fertilizer, and are considered as
a very powerful and durable manure. Having had
no experience in the use of this article, we are not
able to say what quantity it would be judicious to
use ; but a person accustomed to applying man-
ures would be enabled to judge of their activity
by careful oI)servation, and arrive at correct con-
clusions in a single season. As they are a power-
ful stimulant, we would recommend that they be
reduced to a fermented compost, either by the
agency of horse-manure, or acids. Joun'stox says
that one ton of horn shavings ought to enrich the
soil as much as five tons of blood. In consequence
of their dryness, however, the horn decomposes
much more slowly than the blood. Another wri-
ter, we believe Houghton, says they are generally
allowed to agree best with gravelly and dry, sandy

PLOWMAN'S SONG.

H¥ THK '■PEASANT BARD."

Sweet are the fields where the cloTer ia springing,
And blithe is the carol that floats from the bough ;

And soft vernal briezes a gladness are bringing
To cheer me as gaily I follow the plow.

Though hard be my toil, and dew-drops of labor
Make damp the brown looks that encircle my brow,

No envy I feel for my ease-loving neighbor,
For pride more is mine, as I follow the plow.

The lordling may boast of his titular story ;

The vote-seeking grandee obsequious bow ; #

What care I for all their nonsensical glory .' —

A NOBLE OF NATURE, I foUoW the ploW.

I muse upon those, while turning the furrow,

Who, call'd like Elisha, are glorified now !
Though hand delve in earth, yet the mind need not burrow,

But spring to the light, as I follow the plow !

Valley Farmer and Mtehani*

For the Ifew England Farmtr.

EARLY JUNE BEET.

Mr. Editor : — Below are a few lines about my
Improved Early June Beet, originally in the flat
turnip form, but now they run deep, and hold
their bigness like Mangol Wurtzel, thus increas-
ing the crop full one-third in weight per rod. It
has been a maxim with me, (as you know when
we have anj^thing good, we want our friends to
share,) to publish and circulate any thing I haA-e,
new or nice among my brother yeomen. Having
found root crops quite profitable, when fed regu-
larly to any and all my stock — promoting health,
quietness and flesh, and to none more than swine.
I have set about improving each kind, so as to ob-
tain the greatest amount of the fairest roots. I
have succeeded to my entire satisfaction, and much
beyond my anticipation. Hereafter, I may give
you another article on the subject ; but just now,
I will only siiy that I set out several bushels of
my improved early June beet last spring, which
did finely. I can now spare seed to any who wish
to get it. I mention two surpassing excellencies
of this crop. First, when the seed is soaked, it
comes up so quickly, large and fair, that they
can be hoed before the weeds start. Second, their
rapid growth and early maturity gives an admira-
ble feed for swine, just when they most need it
Sows and pigs like the variety, and eat tops and
bottoms with avidity — with the increased milk of
the sow, they grow as fast as the beets. Learn-
ing to eat and love these when young, they will
winter on them perfectly well. I have now three
fine S0W.S witli pig, that have had little else than
roots, and weigh from 200 to 250, Milch cows

220

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Mat

are much benefited hy feeding them in the same
■way, l)efore green corn comes. A second crop
may be Bown in the same rows where the first are
pulled.

An acre sowed as early as possible for a sum-
mer supply as above, and the last for winter,
pulled by the 2.5th of July in time to sow witli
turniis and bronuis, Avill be one of the most pro-
fitable acres of the farm ; giving two root crops
in one season, and one early cut of l)romu8 lor
green feed, the following June; or for hay or for
seed, the bromus having a sprinkling of urine
and water, after mowing, will give three cuts in
the summer. As ever, yours truly,

Lancaster, March 14. Benjamin Wili^vrd.

For the New Enslnnd Farmer.

SUCCESSFUL BUTTEE-MAKING.

^Ir. Brown : — I scml you answers returned, to
the queries on dairy management contained in my
note to Mr. Rogers, published in your paper of
the last month.

1st. "The measure used was beer measure.''^
^2d. "The/ec</ at the time consisted of a peck of
darrots to each cow, morning and evening, with
Bufficient good English and salt hay, and nothing
else.''''

3d. "The milk was set for one locck, churning
every Friday."

4th. "The pansused were^of tin — G in number —
15^ inches in diameter, into each of which was
put one gallon of milk."

5th. "Crowell's patent churn, No. 2, was used."
Gth. "Care was taken to prevent the milk freez-
ing, when in the pans."

These are small items, but as the business of
life is made up of items of this character, I thought
they might be interesting to those who regard the
ex])i'riment as worthy of notice. Especially at
this time, when the State Society have wisely de-
termined to apply tlicir means so lil)erally, to the
encouragement of dairy management. 1 know
not anything they could have done better. It is
most creditable to tlie gentlemen who f)roposed it,
and equally so to those wlio so promptly adopted
it. If each claimant sliall be requij-ed to_ return
distinct answers, to sush pertinent inquiries as
should l)e appended to the offers of premiums, a
mass of information will l>e elicited, of value far
greater than the amount offered. I feel confident,
wben the time comes, lor tlie dairymaids of Essex,
to put in tlieir claims, there will be many claim-
ants. Our farmers are not fond of driving their
good cows, many mih'S to a show ; but their wives
and daugliters are pleased" with an ojqiortunity to
Bhow wliat tliey have done at liome. In this way
alone, may it lie determined, what may be expect-
ed of good stock, througli the 8ea."!on. If thcState
Society will continue to co-operate witli County
Societies, where most needed ; and we shall n(jt so
subdivide these County Societies, as to weaken
their influence ; it seems to me, our organization
for improvement, will be is complete, as circuni-
Btances admit. It will not be long before some
■ystem of instructing the farmer shall ]>o devel-
oped, wortliy of Massachusetts.

Very truly yours. J. W. Proctor.

Danvers, March 13, 1854.

For the iVeiv Ensland Farmer.

ONIONS AND CARROTS.

Mr. Brown: — Dear Sir, — will you be so kind
<V8 to inform nie how onions and carrots are raised
togetlier, on tlie same gi-ound — when each is to be
sown — in what manner — on what kind of soil, and
how many seed to the acre? (a.) Unions and car-
rots are raised extensively in Bristol, from wheace
we get our supply.

I have land lying on the river which produces
grass much better than our comuitm meadow, but
the quantity somewhat less from year to year, i
am satisfied the land ought to be plowed and man-
ured ; and I should l^e very glad if you would tell
me what course to pursue. I do not want to plant
it, as it is overflowed when freshets occuy ; and as
these oftener occur in winter than sjummer, would
not spring be the best time for plowing and seed-
ing ?(A.) Would ashes, leached or unleached, alone
do for manure! The land is firm, and may be
plowed at any season after the frost is out.

If ashes will do for this land, how many per
acre? A Subscriu-er.

Taunton, 1854.

Remarks. — («.) We have seen onions and car-
rots cultivated together, but do not think it the
Ixist way to cultivate either crop.

(6.) Perhaps the best way would be to seed
down your land in spring upon a crop of barley ;
this does not choke the young grass plants as oats
will. But if you lay it down early in August, we
do not think it would injure the grass even if it
were flooded a few weeks in winter.

FACTS IN HUMAN LIFE.

The numlier of languages spoken in the world
amounts to 8061 — 587 in Europe, 89G in Asia,
27G in Africa, and 1264 in America. The inhab-
itants of the globe profess more than 1000 diffcu-cnt
religions. The number of men is about equal to
the number of women. The average of human
life is about 28 years. One-quarter die previous
to the age of seven years ; one-half before reaching
17 ; and those who pass this age enjoy a facility
refused to one-half the human species. To every
1000 persons only one reaches 100 years of life ;
to every 100 only 6 reach the age of G5 ; and not
more than one in 500 lives to eighty years of age.
Tiierc are on earth 1,000,000,000 iniiabitants ; and
of these 333,833,333 die every year ; 91,334 every
day ; 3780 QMiry hour, and GO every minute, or 1
every s<!Cond. These losses are about balanced by
an equal number of births. The manued are
longer lived than the single, and above all those
who ol>serve a solier and industrious ccmduct. Tall
men live longer than short on(!S. Women have
more chances of life in tluariavor, previous to lac-
ing fifty years of age, than men have, l)ut fewer
afterwards. The number of marriages is in pro-
portion of 75 to every 1000 individuals. Marriages
are more frequent after the equinoxes ; that is
during the months of J une and December. Those
born in the spring are generally more robust than
others. Births and deaths are more frequent by
night than hy day. The number of men capable
of bearing arms is calculated at one-fourth of the
pojailation. — English Quarterly.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

221

ELEVENTH AGRICULTURAL MEET-
ING,

At the State House, Tuesday Evesixg, March 28, 1854

Subject, — Sheep — can they be advantageously
kept on our farms? If so, tckat are the best kinds
for this purpose ? #

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Sprague,
of Duxbury, and Mr. II.vrvev Dodge, of Sutton,
was called on to preside.

Mr. Howard, of the Cultivator, ^Yas called on
by the Chairman to open the discussion. Mr.
Howard said he considered the matter of keeping
sheep one of the most important subjects which
had been discussed here this winter. We keep
live stock in this section of the country as a mat
ter of necessity, as a general thing in order to
procure our milk, butter, cheese, &c. ; but if stock
is to be kept to turn off from our farms in the
shape of meat, there are some sections where sheej
can be made "more profitable than any other live
stock, for this reason — they can live where other
animals cannot ; they can live on jtnnr- ooll, of
whigh we hare large quantities. On such lands
mutton can be made cheaper than beef. Our sit-
uation is approximating continually to that of
the old countries in Europe, our population is
increasing in numbers and density, and it is an
important question how it can be fed. In Eng'
land, the best mode of accomplishing this oliject
absorbs the attention of tlie farmers, and they
keep a great number of sheep. Mutton is eaten
there in large quantities ; and it is eaten more
in this country than formerly. Therefore the ob-
ject with us in Massachusetts, is rather to raise
mutton than wool. As to varieties, it is uncer-
tain .which is most profitable, but considering the
great demand for meat, some of tlie English mut-
ton breeds would be more profitable than the Span-
ish breeds. Of the English varieties, the Leices-
ter, South Down and Cottswold are the best. The
Leicesters havd" demonstrated a very important
point — tlie production of a well-defined and estab
lished breed, by crossing, and they improve every
other long-haired breed in England or Europe.
The Cottswold are derived from the Leicester, are
larger tiian tlie latter, have more andlonger wool,
and have a hardy nature, but are longer in arriv
ing at maturity, and have more lean than fat meat
The South Downs, as they exist in this country,
are a somewliat artificial animal. They are a
close wool sheep, of comparatively small size, ac
tive, will graze on short pastures where larger an-
imals would hardly live, and are remarkable for
the richness of their meat. There is an improved
South Down breed, which does not mature quite
SO early as the Leicester — perhaps it is a year long-
er in maturing. In the English markets it brings
two cents a pound more tlian any other kind of
mutton. In time it may be made as profitable
here. It is not so active as the old South Down,

and perhaps the quality of the meat has deterio-
rated a little, still, it is far superior to any other
kind of sheep. The Spanish sheep, as a variety
for wool, are unquestionably the most profitable
we have any account of in the world. When
properly bred, they become as hiirdy as native
sheep. They are not so good mutton sheep, either
in quality or in tendency to fatten, as the other
varieties mentioned ; but there is no sheep that
will produce so many pounds of wool in propor-
tion to the weight of the carcass, as the Spanish
Merino. It is an original breed, and there is good
reason to believe that it is the same variety which
was fostered by the agriculturists of Rome.
Within the last hundred years several branch
breeds have sprung from it. First, the Saxony,
which has a vei-y fine wool. Another is the French
Merino, a mixture of three or four Spanish varie-
ties, but very uncertain in its progeny. A hand-
some, compact ewe will perhaps turn out a l.nm>>,
the very opcositp -f -I'^t is aesircd. They have
Deen introduced into this country as a matter of
speculation, which has turned out very profitably
for the speculators, but whether to the benefit of
the farmer, is another question. The speaker
was not cognizant of any systematic experiments
with this breed, but has been informed by a per-
son who had compared them with the old Span-
ish stock, that they were less profitable. Anoth-
er variey is called the Silesian, which is larger in
size than the best Merinos of Vermont, but of re-
markable symmetry and beauty, with the thickest
and evenest fleeces, second only in quality to the
Saxony. It is said they turn off the largest
amount of wool in proportion to the carcass, of
any variety. They are worthy of further trial.
We see in all this, the necessity of experiment in
regard to breeds, in order to give the farmer accu-
rate knowledge in regard to the best varieties for
his use.

Mr. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agricul-
ture mentioned a variety called the Oxfordshire
Downs, produced by judicious crossing, by an Eng-
lish gentleman. Tlie cross is Leicester and Cotta-
wold. They are of very handsome form, and prom-
ise to liecome a valuable variety. Wool, he fur-
ther remarked, can be raised cheaper at the West,
where the flocks have vast prairies to roam over,
than it can here, and our farmers cannot compote
on this article, while in raising mutton for the
market we have the advantage. Therefore it is
now the object to raise the latter. For this pur-
pose the South Down and crosses are probably the

best.

Col. Newell, of Essex, said he had seen some
of the Oxfordshire Downs, wiiich were in the pos-
session of Mr. Fay, of Lynn. They are very su-
perior sheep, and Mr. Fay, considers them prefer-
alile to any other variety. They are a cross of the
Leicester and South Downs. The speaker said

222

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Mat

there were some full blood South Downs in his
neighborhood which were certainly very good
sheep, large, and wool of very good quality, and
they raise up a gre;vt many lambs. Tlie Leicesters
come to maturity earlier than any other sheep,
but whether they are the best sheep for us, is
doubtful. They are not so good for wool, and the
lambs the first year arc worth but very little.

The Chairman mentioned the manner of feed-
ing sheep pursued by Mr. L.\wton, Great Barring-
ton, in the western pjirt of the State. He keeps
800 sheep, and feeds them one quart of corn each,
per day, and all at one time.

^Ir. RrssELL, of Pittsfield, said he had noticed
that the half blood Merinos did not produce so
large lambs as the full bloods, but they were very
fat — fatter than any other he knew of. He was
firmly of the opinion that a cross of the French
Merino with the South Down, would produce a
most profitable variety. He saw a lot of about^thir-
ty tun Diuud Fx^^o), \rerinos on the Hudson river
last fall,which were fine sheep, and wouia pruijabi^j-
weigh 140 lbs. each, per live carcass. They were
not fine wooled generally, but he picked out six or
eight from the lot which had very fine wool. The
wool on any of them was fine enough for de laines.
He thought a cross of them with the South Downs
or "old-fashioned" or native stockjwould be success-
ful, but should give the preference to the "old-
fashioned" on one or two accounts ; one is that
their lambs mature quicker. He also spoke very
favorably of the Silesians, as yielding a long, fine
and compact fleece, and possessing a very hand-
some form. A year old sheep of half blood French
Merinos, sliorn at Hinsdale, last year, yielded 4
lbs., 13 ouucesjof wool, which sold for 60 cents
per lb. The animal weighed only 44 lbs.

The Chairman said he thought we must use tur-
nips as feed for sheep.

Mr. Howard said he understood there were ep-
icures in this city who would not eat anything but
Plymouth County mutton, because,they said, Dan-
iel Webster was the greastest epicure in this coun-
try, and imported pure South Down sheep, whose
blood has l»een disseminated in Plymouth county,
and they must have good mutton in that county.
He desired to hear from Mr. Spragub on this
point.

Mr. 8prague said he knew very little about
sheep, altliough he knew Mr. Webster had sheep
which wer.' wortli seven or eight dollars. H<^
then went on to remark concerning sheep in Great
Britain . There sheep have more muscle than here,
and a }x;tter admixture of fat and lean flesh. Sheep
intended lor the table should not have too much
fat. Mutton is growing more popular in this
country. The great difficulty in raising it here is
our hot sun. In England the climate is moist.
Farmers in this country have paid little atten-
tion to the raising oC mutton, ];ut it is impor-
tant that they should.

Mr, Russell remarked that considerable had
been said in regard to the quality of the meat of
fine wool sheep, — that it was not so good as the
coarse wool varieties ; but he thought this opinion
would be found erroneous on investigation. The
South Down appr^Kimates to a fine wool sheep.

Mr. Coi'ELAND, of Roxbury, thought the value
of different kinds of feed for farm animals, should
be studied more, and should be made statistical.
It is said on good authority tliat 90 11>8. of turnips
will make 1 lb. of beef, and 85 lbs. of corn will
make the same amount. Prof. Nash had said
that the reason why English mutton was less rank
than our, might be the fiict that English mutton
is fed on turnips. In regard to the matter of buy-
ing animals at a certain age to fatten, instead of
raising them, he thought it the more profitable
plan , because after the bone and muscle are formed,
tlie cost of fattening is much lessened, and a lar-
ger profit is made on an animal after this period
than before. In England it has been found (al-
tKaiigh the matter is not definitely settled) that
cattle, after a certain age, f<vtton first inside, and
then outwardly,

Mr. Howard said he did not think that the con-
nection between feed on turnips and good mutton,
could be established, for the best mutton in the
English markets is grown on the hills and heathers,
and is never fed with turnips. The difference is
not the result of climate on feed, but in the germ
or breed.

Mr. Russell said he considered himself a good
judge of mutton, and thought the matter was not
treated properly. Mutton should not be eaten
until it is a fortnight old, when it is exceedingly
tender and palatable. This system is pursued in
England.

The Chairmam expressed his concurrence in
this view of the matter. He also alluded to the
want of some rule for raising animals. We can tell
by the eye what is a good animal, but we do not
know how exactly to produce another like it. He
believed that hybrids from the French merino were
going to be of great benefit to this country.

Mr. Russell offered soiae remarks in relation
to offering premiums for fine animals He thought
the most judicious plan would be for the agricul-
tural societes to award premiums for several ani-
mals to be raised by one person, because the selec-
tion of a single remakable animal for premium had
no tendency to improve breeds of stock.

The Chairman inquired of CoL Newell whether
sheep would eat wax-wood !

Mr. Newell replied that they would eat it and
thrive on it. A gentleman of his acquaintance
had puchased a flock for the very purpose of era-
dicating it from his farm, and was successful.
He had no doubt that the qviality of mutton was
improved by feeding roots. Sheep fatten full as
well, and the mutton is better than when fed on

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAilMER.

223

corn. He considered it a question whether it was
not a good plan to keep an equal number of sheep
in pasture with cows. They destroy weeds and
bushes which the cows would leave, and thus in-
crease the amount of feed in a pasture, besides
feeding closer than cows. Many of the farmers
in Essex county are convinced that it is a good
plan.

Mr. SpRAGUEsaid he owned a pasture, where ten
or fifteen years ago, before he bought it, sheep and
cows were fed, and although he had fed less stock
there, and no sheep, the pasture was not so good
now as then. He also spoke of the necessity of
having pure blood in breeding cattle or sheep ;
there is no certainty with half blood. It is said
that we must not breed in and in, but gentlemen
in England have done it for 75 years without bad
effect.

The Chairman was of opinion that we might
"breed in and in" to a certain extent, but beyond
that it would be very injurious, as in the case of
the Suffolk hog.

Mr. Flint read from his report the opinion of
the Berkshire farmers in regard to feeding sheep
in the same pasture with cows, which was decid-
edly averse to the practice. They run over the
pasture to got the finest feed, thus destroying the
coarse feed for the cows ; and being a strong-
scented animal, no cattle will feed where they
huddle.

Mr. Russell said he had observed that his
sheep ate the whiteweed in his pasture, one sea-
son, on being removed to it from another locality

Col. Newell said it had got to be very common
in Essex county to employ sheep to eradicate "ox-
eye" from the farms. Col. Emerson, a large far
mer there, fiaid he had no doubt that they will do
more than anything else to accomplish the pur-
pose- He procured them for this very object.

The subject for next Tuesday evening is — Grain
Crops — wheat, rye, barley and oats — their value
as compared with Indian corn, and as preparatives
for grass.

For the New England Farmer.

PEEP ARE YOUR GROUND FOR THE
MOWER.

In five months, haying will be upon ua. Shall
we break our backs over the scythe ? or shall we
wake up to the times in wliich we live, hang these
already well worn instruments ovi the "tree" and
with our horses shave over our fields with ease
and rapidity 1

Whichever of these instruments we choos(
UB do one thing as soon as the spring opens ; clear
every stick, chip and -stone from our fields, and
roll them while soft.

Whether we use the scythe or mower this labor
will be well expended. If you have no idea of
procuring the machine, your good-natured neigh
Dor may take pity upon you and mow your grass
with his mower after he shall have done a month's
haying in ten days.

Don't neglect uneven fields, for these machines
will mow on quite uneven surfaces.

The day is at hand when the scythe over which
we have so long groaned is to be laid aside, and
the faithful horses must be called from the shade
to cut our grass, and the man who persists in
mowing by hand will be gazed at as a relic of the
past, like a plow of the last century, a fit subject
for Barnum's Museum.

This to some may look extravagant, but will
not five years hence. Show me the man who for
economy's sake will ride his own horse from Bos-
ton to New York — that will weave his cotton
cloth by hand — that will split his own lumber
with an axe, while a saw-mill is running at his
side, and I will admit that there is one man who
may continue deaf to the chipper of the mower
as it glides under the grass of the meadows.

"Ketchum's" is doubtless the best mowing ma-
chine yet made. The Country Gentleman and the
Scientific American support me in this opinion.

The machine is simple in construction having
had some most valuable improvements made upon
it since last year and is durable if properly used.
Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co., of Boston
and Worcester, are making them and from the
specimens of improvement which they have given
us, I think it safe to look for a good machine.

David Lyman.

Middletown, Conn., Feb. 4, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

BARN STABLES.

Mr. Brown : — By the request of one of the pub-
lishers of the Farmer, I send you a short article up-
on Barn Stables. He tells me that frequent in-
quires are being made at the office by those about
building.

I should choose to have the leanto on the North
side of the barn, for these reasons. If the barn is
tight, the leanto will be warm enough in winter ,and
by being on the North side, it will be comfortably
cool in summer. Cows in this vicinity are "tied
up" every night the year round, with certain ex-
ceptions. It is well, therefore, in building to
think of the heat of summer as well as of the cold of
winter. Then if the leanto is on the North side,
the droppings are farthest from the sun and air.
This arrangement, too, allows the opening of the
cellar — which is very desirable — to be upon the
South side.

With a few exceptions, the good barns in Concord
are furnished with stsmchion fastenings for all
the cattle beside working oxen. No one doubts
but that an animal is a Tittle more comfortable
tied witli a chain than by stancliions. He would
enjoy it to have the length of the stable ! But with
animals as with men, society imposes some re-
straints to compensate for some advantages! No
respectable cow within my knowledge complains of
the stanchions, if the good, sweet fodder is only
"brought on."

With working oxen, the case is a little different.
They are larger, and more gentle and easily man-
aged. Their limits are stifler, and they require
more space to lie down in. Their necks are weary
with the heavy yoke, and need the relief of turn-
ing from side to side. Tlierefore, working oxen
should be tied with chains.

But there is another reason : Working oxen in

224

mSW ENGLAND J'^iKMEK.

Mst

the short days oi winter iiro not unyoked at noon.
Now if tlie cntranee to the stixhle is by a wide roll-
ing door, and no stanchions in the way at the
stiill, your team may be eating at once in a com-
fortaI)le jilaoe, and they will nut waste the hay by
trampling it into tlie snow or mud.

Stanchions are just the thing for turl)ulcnt
young cattle. A little liay soon coaxes them to
put their heads through, and if you chose, you
may connect the moveable stanchions together, as
I have before represented in the Farmer, and fasten
• the whole row by a single latch. This is a great
saving of time and of very disagreeable labor when
the cattle come in di-ipping wet.

Stanchions save room. The cattle, tied in them,
eat from the side of the barn-floor. Then, too,
any orts or leavings, are expeditiously gathered
with a rake, or the Hoot swept with a broom.
Whore cattle are tied in stanchions the labor of
feeding is trifling. A forkful of hay may be shak-
en along before t'nem as a man walks. The
stanchion should be three inches wide and one and
d, half inches tliick, of hard wood. The widtli
apart of the pieces when set depends a little upon
the neck of the animal. The distance usually
is about eight inches. It is well to have one
or two extra pin-holes in the lower timber. The
stanchions may be set a little farther apart at the
bottom than at the top. The animal tries to escape
when standing. The space between the stanchions
of each animal should be filled w^ith a strong
'plank. Tliis precaution would have siived one val-
uable animal in town this winter, and is necessary
to save hay. Now what shall be the plan of the
floor? For cows it should have a very gentle in-
clination, and be just four feet four inches long.
Where the standing floor has varied from this in
the best Ixirn in Concord, it has been altered. Mr.
Joseph George, of this town, a very careful carpen-
ter, tells me the milkmen agree that a floor four
feet and fi)ur inches in length is the best. Cows
tied upon it keep clean and dry. I saw a few
days since some cows in the well arranged and
attractive barn of Mr. John Raynolds. as dry and
clean as if under an oak upon the green sward.

The standing floor for steers and oxen should
vary a little in length as well as pitch from that
for cows, ibr obvious reasons, (a.)

At the lower end of the standing floor, behind
the animal, there should be a trench twelve or four-
teen inclus wide, and five inches deep. This
trench is indispensable to the animal's cleanliness
and comfort. It receives and holds all the drop-
pings in a small space, and the labor of "cleaning
out" the stable is very much less than by the old
arrangement

The sci.ttles should shut upon the bottom side
of the trt:nch in sucli a manner as to allow of
a ready es^;apeof all liquids. The scuttles should
be upon Bi listantial hingijs, and turn over upon v.
platl'orm, or walk, beliind the cattle, of convenient
width.

There is one comfort about modern bams which
is worth a gr!at deal more than it costs. I mean
light — the introduction of a plenty of good sized
BQOvalile windows. Cattle enjoy light. It cer-
tainly is desiralile to have it to work by, yet how
many liarns now depend upon the frequency of
the cracks lor its abundance! or open the "great
doors," of a siiarp morning, to see how to feed
the cattle. It is important, no doubt, to ventilate a

stable well, but still, very desirable to have control
over the apertures.

jV good Ijarn is worth more to a farmer than a
showy house. The house may impoverish him,
but the barn will aid him directly in, securing a
competency or fortune ; which lot, I hope, in con-
clusion, is to be a part, only, of the pleasant ex-
perience of your readers. w. d. b.

Concord, Mass., March 4, 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) In order to shorten or lengthen
the floor upon which the cattle stand, the planka
may be left loose, and under the fore-feet of the
cattle a plank inserted of any desired width, so
that the floor may be lengthened or decreased to
any desired length, with a few minutes' labor.

The Weather an© the Crofs. — In regard to
the condition of growing wheat, there is a good
deal of speculation. Accounts from Ohio vary ;
some papers say that the prospects are vei-y bad ,
and that the farmers talk of plowing up their
fields ; others, that the wheat throughout Ohio bids
fair to be as good as usual. An account from
Michigan says that wheat is generally good, and
looks promising. At Nashville, 111., the season is
said to be unusually early, and the .prospects fa-
vorable ; a much larger breadth of spring wheat
has been sown than ever before. In Lake county,
Iowa, it is said that so favorable a spring was nev-
er known.

At St. Louis, on the 29 ult., there was a severe
frost, and a day or two previous a light fall of
snow. The same weather had been experienced &
Keokuk, Peoria, and other places, and fears were
entertained in regard to fruit. The Jackson (O.)
Standard, of 30th ult., Siiys that frosts have de-
stroyed entirely the fruit in that section. Of
peaches, the Middleioion (Conn.) Herald of 31st,
has the following :

Arc the Peaches Killed? This seems to be a ques-
tion on the lips of almost every one. The cold
March weather for some days past has awakened
this solicitude about this excellent and delicious
fruit. The general opinion with good judges so
far, we believe, is that unless there should be a
still harder freeze than we have had of late there
will yet l>e a fair crop of peaches. Should so much
good fortune as this befal us we may rest assured
that there will also be an abundance of other fruit.
Plenty of peaches always bring plenty of other
fruit.

South Carolina and Georgia papers, of the last
week in March, speak of heavy frosts, and fear
that much injury \i\\\ )je done to fruit. — Boston
Journal.

Hampshire Frankun and Hampden AcRictrt-
TURAL Society. — Officers for 1854.
Paoli Lathrop, President.
Wm. 0. GoRHAM, Secretary.
Benj. Barrett, Treasurer.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

225

KETCHUM'3 MOWmG MACHINE.

The accompanying cut, which we copy from
Messrs. Riggles, Noukse, Mason & Co.'s cata-
logue, represents Ketchum's ^Mowing Macliine,
which is considered a thoi'onghly successful ma-
chine, for the purpose of cutting grass, and the
only one that has cut all kinds of grass, heavy or
light, wet or dry, lodged or standing, in the best
manner, without clogging or interruption.

It lias taken six first premiums the past season
(1853.)

We annex the following testimonials, which are
the more valuable from the fact that they are ex-
• tracts from business letters : —

TESTIMONIALS.

at Howard Co., Buffalo: — I am better pleased
A\.ith the Machine, the morel use it; I doubt not
tt will beat the world. I am surprised to find it
requires no more power ; my two horses don't
worry at all ; the speed required is just right ; in
short it works to a charm. I think the Machine
will probably be worth sixty dollars, or from that
to one hundi'ed and twenty dollars, to me, this
season. David Lyman.

Durham, Conn., July oth, 1853.

Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co.:
Gentlemen — You ask me to state to you my opin-
ion of K'/ chum's Mowing Machine. I bouglitone
of you last s[)ring and used it on my farm, wliicli
is level huul and I'ree of stone, during the last sum-
mer.

Its operation was viewed l>y many practical
farmers in my vicinity, and every c^ne exi)res8ed
the liiglu'st degree of satisfaction and approbation
of its work. I requ(>sted my Imad farmer, Samuel
I. Pickrring, a man well known and of ap-
proved knowledge in farming, to give me his opin-
ion of tli(! instrument. Ills reply was, "I think it
one of the best machines I evm- knew — with two
horses I can mow one acre of g)-ass in forty min-

utes, the surface being smooth and three tons of
hay to the acre, and with two first rate horses,
twelve acres might be mowed in a day, working
twelve hours for the day. In the single operation
of grinding and whetting scythes, it will save a
large farm, twenty dollars in one year, as wages
were last year. As to spreading grass, no man in
the world can spread grass, as it is left Viy this
machine !" Such is the reply of my farmer, and
from my own observation, I concur in the truth
of this statement.

Yours, respectfully, Josiah Quincy.
Boston, Feb. 26ih, 1854.

Howard & Co. — My Machine (one of your im-
proved make) has cut two hundred acres of grass,
and all is right yet, except I have broken out one
cutting tooth ; it is not injured onetlollar l)y using ;
it cut nineteen acres in thirteen hours, that would
average two and a half tons to the acre, with a
team not as heavy as my sorrel horses, on the
22d day of July, which Avas the hottest day I
think we have had here this summer. It is de-
cidedly the best blowing Machine ever known in
Ontario County. * * There has been
a perfect rush from different parts of this county
and Cayuga county, to see my Premium Machine,
as 1 style it. * * * J sold it, after
cutting two hundred acres, to Mr. AVatekmam, for
one hundred and twenty dollars. lie would have
given one hundred and fifty dollars for it, had I
asked it. A. C. Loomis.

Geneva, July 2'^d, 1853.

I send you two dollars for knives for 3-our Mow-
er. You will bo able to sell from twenty-fivo to
thirty Machines hero next season. I go round
mowing ; there has not l)etui a day since I com-
menced mowing i)ut I have iiad from five to ten
persons after me to mow. I have m6wed in four
towns ; I average from ten to sixteen acres per
day ; I have mowed nine acres in one aft(Tnoon.

D. W. SCHOONMAKER.

Waterloo, Seneca Co., July 7th, 1853.

22G

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

TWELFTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING,

At the Statk IIoi-sk, Tiesday Kvesiso, April 4, 1851.

Subject, — Grain crops — wheat, rye, barley and
oats — thexr vahic as compared with Indian corn,
and as preparations/or grass.

Tlie lueeting was called to order by Mr. Simon
Brown, and lion. Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, was
invited to preside.

Mr. CoPELAND, of Roxbury, at the suggestion,
as he said, of the Executive Committee, spoke at
some length on the treatment of fruit and forest
trees at this season of the year. Trees should not
be scraped, as has been done to the trees on Bos-
ton Common this spring. It is argued that Scrap-
ing ornamental and fruit trees, destroys noxious
insecls which cluster in the bark ; but insects will
be found on but few varieties of trees, among
which are the apple and the pear, and in these
cases they should be removed with soap suds, made
just strong enough to kill the vermin and not in-
jure the tree. Neither scraping nor washing with
any caustic preparation should be pursued. The
insects most injurious to trees, as the borer and
trimbex cohrinba, go through the bark into the
wood, and of course neither scraping the tree nor
washing it with caustics will reach the evil. —
Scraping is an unnatural pi-ocess, and besides a
very disfiguring one, greatly impaiinng the beau-
ty of the tree. Another objection is that by re-
moving the outer bark, the inner bark is exposed,
and evaporation ensues, which is sure to sap the
life of the tree. In cases where old orchards have
been reclaimed, the trees being scraped, it is ow-
ing to the cultivation, the manuring, &c.,and not
to the scraping that the revivification is to be as-
signed ; the trees would have recovered without
the scraping.

< Mr. BucKMiNSTER, of the Plowman, controvert-
ed Mr. Copeland's views in regard to washing
trees. He was decidedly in favor of caustic wash-
ing on some kinds of fruit trees, especially apple.
There is nothing like caustic ley for destroying
all moss, parasites, &c., on trees, and he could
recommend no better treatment.

Mr. Brook.s, the cliairman, mentioned the case
of a gentleman who was greatly troubled by the
apples dropping from his trees. To remedy the
evil; he adopted the expedient of stripping the
trees of their bark between the 10th and 20th of
June, and the most successful results followed,
the apples remaining on the trees, and a new bark
growing in one season.

Rev. Mr, Sanger, of Dover, inquired of Mr.
CoPELAND if he considered trimming trees injuri-
ous 1

Mr. Copeland said he did not. In regard to the
case cited by the chairman, the explanation is
this. The sap which runs up a tree comes down
in the bark, and if that bark is removed from the
trunk of the tree, the sap will go no further than

the edge of the bark, and flow back into the
branches, increasing the number of buds, the
sweetness of the fruit, and adding to the amount
of its nutrition and improving its general quali-
ties. As to parasites and lichens on trees, it could
be proved that they did not irtjure a tree in the
least.

Mr. Sanger, of Dover, recurring to the subject
proper for the evening, said he had sufficient ex-
perience as chairman of the committee on grains
in the Norfolk Society, to change his opinion in
regard to the profitableness of the grain crops.
He considered them all profitable — wheat, rye,,
barley and oats — the least profitable to his knowl-
edge having netted a profit of about 50 per cent.
He had known instances of 25, 28 and even 30
bushels of wheat per acre in Norfolk county.

Mr. Russell, of Pittsfield, was of the opinion
that New ^England farmers could not compete
with the West in raising grain. Corn is the best
food for animals. Good heavy barley is worth
about three times as much as corn.

Mr. FiSKE, of Framingham, did not think that
small grains could be raised in Massachusetts,
without very high manuring, but corn can be
raised almost anywhere. Tlie great enemy to
corn, the drought, he avoided by deep plowing.
On a piece of poor land where corn had failed for
two years, he plowed thoroughly the third year,
used no manure, but put a shovel-full of mud in-
to each hill. In plowing among his corn, he
plowed two furrows, turning from the corn. This
he followed with a harrow with fine teeth which
he permitted to run through the hills, as it did
not destroy corn enough to do any injury. When
the hot season came on, and his neighbors' corn,
on land better manured, was rolling up, not a leaf
in this lot was curled, and the ground was moist"
from the surface to the depth of four feet. He
obtained 40 bushels per acre, from it. He believed
that we needed not to look to the West for grain .
Mr. FisKE entirely disapproved of the use of cul-
tivators, as they merely scratch the surface, and
are "old fogy" implements, altogether.

Mr. Brown, of the Farmer, said the cultivation
of winter wheat was being introduced in New
England of late years, and had proved quite suc-
cessful, particularly the blue stem variety, which
is said to make the finest of flour. He believed
that the corn crop was the best that could be raised.
It can be grown for 50 cents per bushel, and almost
any one could raise it at a cost not exceeding 75
cents per bushel. To raise the comparative value
of grain crops, he recommended the drill system
of cultivation pursued in England, by which
the profits can be largely increased, by an en-
hanced yield, and a saving of one-third in the
amount of seed sown. The machine for drilling
carries and plants the seed at the same time,
dropping it in a straight lino, and all at the same

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

227

depth, while if sown broadcast, some of It will be
half an inch and some an inch below the surface,
producing an uneven and diminished growth, and
wasting much seed — equal to one third. Oats are
generally used in laying down land for grass, but
he thought barley was better, and still further,
that both were unnecessary. Plant corn on a flat
surface, instead of hilling it up, after the English
fashion. English farmers are obliged to hill their
corn on account of the moisture of their'climate,
which hilling is designed to obviate by causing the
moisture to settle away from the corn. Our cli-
mate is dry and hot, and therefore this system
should not bo pursued, but the corn planted on a
flat surfiice. To lay down such land to grass, sow
the seed after the last hoeing, and work it in with
a hand-rake. He had succeeded as well in laying
down land in this way as any other.

Mr. Sanger sustained the views of Mr. Fiske of
Framingham in regard to deep plowing for corn.
He also reqncst<-d Mr. Copeland to explain the
best method of trimming trees.

Mr. Copeland explained the causes of increased
moisture in deep plowing, which is owing to the
plowed land reflecting more heat than unplowed
land, and therefore contributing more for con-
densation and fall when the sun is declining of the
moisture which always exists in the atmosphere,
even in the hottest weather. The capillary attrac-
tion of the earth is also more efficient, and moist-
ure is circulated both from above and below with
greater facility. As to trimming trees ; he was
averse to much trimming, hut would cut from the
ends of the limbs rather than from inner branch-
es, unless limbs crossed. To cut away the dead
wood and crossed branches, he thought sufficient.

Mr. Sfrague, of Duxbnry, expressed the convic-
tion that each farmer must raise crops according
to the circumstances in which he is placed, and
deci<le for himself which is more profitable. He
also contended that farming was comparatively a
very unprofitable calling, at least in Plymouth
county.

Mr. Fiske, of Framingham, denied the unprofit
ableness of farming, and cited his town as proof
to the contrary.

The CiiAiKMAN also argued the profits of farm-
ing, and went into an interesting comparative
etatement to show that New England can compete
with the West in raising corn. He advised farmers
to consume all their produce on their farms, and
secure their money returns on beef, butter, milk,
&e, — because every bushel of grain going from a,
farm takes with it the means of raising another.

Mr. RussEL, of Pittsfield, controverted the \'Ci\
of competing with the West in the article of corn,
alleging that they have much the advantage in the
matter of labor.

After a few remarks appropriate to the closing
meetipg of the series, by Mr, Brown, the meeting
adjourned sine die.

STATE FAUM AT WESTSOROtJGfl.

In June or July last we gave a brief account of
the foundation of this Institution of charity, of
the location and capabilities of the farm, and that
it was then contemplated by the Board of Trus-
tees to place the farm under the care of the State
Board of Agriculture. This transfer was made
on the 24th of March, 1854. In the instrument
of transfer it is declared that "the purpose of this
arrangement is, to relieve the Trustees of the care
and management of the agricultural portion of
the establishment at Westborough, to provide an
experimental farm to the Board of Agriculture,
and to furnish greater facilities for the employ-
ment and instruction of the inmates of the Reform
School in Agriculture and Horticulture, in accord-
ance with what are believed to havel^een the views
and wishes of General Theodore Ltman, the found-
er of the Institution, while the products of the
farm shall continue to be applied for the use of
the school substantially as under the former man-
agement."

The prime object of the founder was the refor-
mation and well-being of the boys, and that object
will still animate both Boards, under the new
arrangement. But the extent of the farm, and it»
adaptation to the various crops, with the great
advantage of a market without stepping off the
land, offer facilities for a more extended cultiva-
tion, and more exact experiments with stock,
manures, trees, plants, draining, irrigation, sub-
soiling and reclaiming, than the Trustees could
find opportunity to attend to, after discharging
their duties in relation to the'school itself.

With the Institution, that is, the school for the
reformation of the boys, the Board of Agriculture
has nothing to do, more than to find employment
for as many boys as the Superintendent can spare,
and to place them under such influences and in-
struction as will increase their skill in agriculture
and horticulture, while it affords thorn healthful
occupation' in the open air. It is supposed that
the amount of labor thus supplied may amount,
in the course of the present year, to the sum of
four or five thousand dollars.

Some portions of the farm are exceedingly rocky,
and will require an outlay of from fifty to two
hundred dollars an acre, to clear them out. This
is the case with some of the land directly in front
of the principal buildings, which must bo thorough-
ly reclaimed before any well defined plan of the estate
can 1)0 completed. The division fences remain much
as they were when the tract was purchased, and lit-
tle has yet been done in the way of draining, or
bringing the fields into a high state of cultivation.
With regard to landscape gardening and rural
architecture, nothing has been attempted ; and
so far are we from any disposition to find fault
with this, that we think the Trustws have shown
a wise forethought in declining to take up a work

228

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

so widely difforent from that with which they wore
charged. Their duties have been to perfect the
plan for the reformation of juvenile offimders, and
not to make an exhibition of their skill in laying
out parks and pleasure grounds. By the exercise
of good sense and a i-efined taste, the estate may,
however, boeomo one of the most ])eautiful in the
Commonwealth ; and under the judicious niana^^e-
ment of the Boai-d of Agriculture, Ave hope to see
it, from year to year, gradually assuming the
beauties and principles of the art of landscape
gardening, in order to please the eye, as well as to
produce beeves and milk and corn, to sustain the
corporeal powers. Though the fields be well cul-
tivated and nodding with ripening crops of corn
and grain, and the earth bursting with the rich
treasures of her root harvest, we wish to see spots
where the smotfth lawn shall extend to the lake
shore, or the lover of seclusion may say —

" Here Nature in her unafltcted dress,
Plaiteil witli valleys aud imbost with hills,
Enchast with silver streams, and fringed with woods,
Sits lovely."

With tiie strong working force of men and teams
which such a farm requires, there will be frequent-
ly a day when both may be applied to such work
as is not absolutely necessary to the production of
the greatest croiis, but may be applied to grading,
embanking, road-making, &c., which will effect
wonderful changes on the farm in the course of a
few years, And without the necessity of a specific
appropriation for such purpttses. We do not,
thereibre, think it "travelling out of the record,"
as the lawyers say, to suggest to the Board the
importance of immecliately o))taining such a sur-
vey of the whole, and sucli a plan or laying out of
the grounds as the combined Avisdom of the two
Boards, together with such artistic aid as they
may call in, will suggest — so that every valley
filled, or hillock levelled, every pathway to cul-
tivated fields, every rock removed, or tree or shrub
planted, shall be so much done towards complet-
ing the plan adopted. From a personal knowledge
of most of the gentlemen composing the Board,
we have no doubt tliey possess the skill to numage
■ the farm j.leasantly and profitaI)ly, and at the same
time settle many im])')rtant questions in agricultur-
al operations which arc now involved in mystery,
and in which our readers, everywhere, are inter-
ested.

weighed in the course of a few days, and stamped
with his right number, as if he had undergone a
formal trial of his strength, speed, and temper. A
stranger comics from a distant school, with better
dress, with trinkets in his pockets, with aii-s and
pretensions. An older boy says to himself, "Its
no use ; Ave shall find him out to-morrow." — Em-
erson.

The AVorld a Tuibunal. — A man passes for
what ho is Avorth. Very idle is all curiosity con-
cerning other people's estimate of us, and all fear
of remaining unknown is not less so. If a man
knows tliat he can do anything, that he can do it
better than any one else,' he has a pledge of theac-
knoAvledgment of tliat fact by all i)er8on8. The
world is fidl of judgment days ; and into every as-
sembly that a man enters, in every action heat-
tempts, he isgaiiged and stamped. In Cv^ery troop
of boys that Avlioop and run in each yard and
square, a new comer is as avcU and accurately

For the New Eni^lnnd Farmer.

COMPOSTING LIME AND ASHES V/ITH
MUCK.

Improved Cultivation, &c.

F. Hoi.TJUOOK, Esq.: — Dear Sir, — Having been
long familiar with your articles on agricultural
topics, I cannot but feel, in addressing you, ia
some measure, as if communicating Avith an old
acquaintance.

You will perhaps think me unreasonable to
trouble you with interrogatories, after reading j'our
articles detailing your practice and experience so
particularly.

But having learned thus much, makes me anx-
ious to learn something more ; and if you can
spare a few moments to devote to my inquiries,
you will much oblige me.

Having commenced farming in this place, in a
small way^, within the last year — and having an
acre or tAvoofmuck swamp, I wish to make use of
some of it with ashes or lime the coming spring.
I have intended to use ashes ; but am not sure I
can obtain them in sufficient quantity ; and sliould
like to know whether your expeiiehce with lime
continues to be as successful as you represent it to
have been in former articles.

Mr. Mapes and Mr. Dana l^oth recommend ashes
to compost with muck, but seem to be rather shy
of lime unless slacked with brine. Have you had
any experience Avith Mr. Mapcs' "Salt and lime
mixture?" Which Avould you consider preferable
on the whole — ashes at 14 cts. per luishel, or lime
at the rate I can get it at from Boston 1

Would you not prefer shell lime to stone lime?
I see the shell lime advertised at CharlestoAvn at
30 cts. per bbl. — about 3 bushels, I suppose.
Would you use lime in preference to potash — in
case ashes cannot be obtained ?

I have written to Dr. Dana, Imt he said he had
nothing to add to the directions in his "manual"
— excepting that he had sometimes recommended
the muck to l)e spread on the land, and then the
ashes sowed on and both harroAved in together. How
should you think that Avould do ? It seems to me
as if it must be better to mix the two and let them
lie in compost for a Avhile.

How long Avould you think it necessary, to let
the compost lie — (when applying either ashes or
lime) before using? My muck was dug i-ather
late in the fall.

My land is a ratlier thin soil ; some parts rather
stony (small cobldes ;) other parts a gravelly
loam ; others inclining to sandy loam ; is situated
rather low, and pretty level ; — and tlte original
groAvth of timber pi'obably, mostly pine, — with
oak, chestnut, &c.

It has lain in pasture some years, and is pretty
wiiW run out. I tliink I shall try your method of
turning over the sod in August or September, and
seeding Avith grass.

AVould you sow clover at that time, or sow

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

229

herds grass, &c., at that time and clover in the
spring?

WJiat variety of corn do you plant, or would
you reoommend, — 8 or 12 rowed? Could you!
send me a few quarts, in case I should order it, of}
a good and productive kind ? I jilanted the Small\
Canada last season, but it seems a pretty smalli
busifitss.

But lest I should weary your patience, I will
close. Should you think of any other suggestions
relative to muck, or any improved methods of
cultivation, I shall be very thankful to receive
them.

Very respectfully yours,

Mmxh 1, 1854:. *

De.vr Sir : — lemlirace my earliest leisure to re-
ply to the inquiries proposed in your h;tter of the
1st inst. I often receive letters of inquiry about
farming matters, which I answer cheerfully, not-
withstanding the innovations upon my time in-
volved in such answers, feeling willing to contri-
bute mj- mite towards agricultural improvement.
1 have judged it propter to answer your letter
through the medium of the Nciv England Farmer,
trusting that inasmuch as your inquiries are of
similar import to those frequently proposed by
other persons, and therefore possess general inter-
est, and your name and residence are withheld
from the public eye, you will not think the sancti-
ty of private correspondence very seriously in-
vaded .

You will realize good results from compasting
muck with lime alone ; but if the lime is slaked
with brine, the compost Avill be enough better to
warrant tiie expense. Dissolve a bushel of salt in
water enough to slake five or six bushels of fresh
lime to a f ne dry puwder — slaking the lime no
faster tiian wanted for immediate use. applying it
to the muck while hot, and covering it at once
witli more muck. A cask, or three bushels of
fresh lime will do very well for five loads of muck,
of about one-half-cord each; but a bushel of lime
to a load of muck would 1)0 better. It is an im-
portant point in composting, to mix the materials
nic.ly; and hence the layers of muck and lime
should be thin and frequent — say the muck four
to six inches and the lime in the right proportion
— so that the lime may act cfiectually in neutra-
lizing acidity and promoting decomposition. Af-
ter I3 ing three or iLur weeks or longer, the heap
should lie tliorougldy overhauled.

(jluod unleached ashes, at 14 cents per bushel,
may in many localities be profitably composted
with muck ; but if you buy shell-lime at the price
you named, and the I'rcigtit is not too high, you
may probably find it advisable to use lime instead
of asiics, considering the relative cost of the two.
If ashes are employed, about two bushels will be
needed to each iialf-cord of muck. I cannot in-
form y(ju of the relative advantage of using stone
and siiell-lime, as the former being plenty with
me at a moderate price, I have not used the latter.
Whatever Doct. Dana says to you regarding
composts, is entitled to great consideration. My
imp^''.s^■ion is, however, that ho would not advise
you generally to In-oadcast tiio muc-k and asiies
and mix tliem thus, in preference to mixing thorn
in a heap to stand avvhilo before being ai^ilied to
the land. By mixing them in layers to remain
in heap a few weeks or months, the acidity of the

muck will be fully neutralized by the alkali of the
ashes, and the desirable decomposition carried for-
ward.

You remark that your land is of a thin soil, and
pretty much run out. Then you had better at
once adopt measures to deepen the soil. In shin-
ning your land, probably the plowing was cpiite
shallow, and nothing below the depth of four to
six inches was ever stirred. You had better bo-
gin plowing seven or eight inches deep certain,
manuring well whatever you plow. Don't Ijg
afraid of a little yellow dirt. Deepen your plow-
ing a little at the commencement of each new ro-
tation of crops, allowing the original under soil to
remain on the surface through that rotation, to be
modified and improved by atmospheric action and
the compost manure. To secure this result, let the
first plowing for a given rotation be as deep as
you wish to stir the land, and subsequent plow-
ings, such as turning under the stubT>le of hoed
crops preparatory to seeding to grass, quite shal-
low, leaving the turf underneath through the ro-
tation. These remarks are meant to be gen-
eral ; you may of course find it convenient in
practice to vary from them more or less ; but, in
general terms, they indicate a cheap and quick
mode of improving a poor thin soil .

Such portion of the land as you would prefer to
seed immediately to grass, without intervening
hoed and grain crops, you had better plovy in
August or Septem'ier, as you propose doing ;
sj^read your compost on the inverted furrows, har-
row and mix it well with the subsoil turned up,
and sow herds-grass and red-top seeds; on a late
snow in spring, sow red and white clover seeds ;
and a few weeks later, on a still, misty day, sow a
mixture of five to ten busliels of unleaclied ashc-s
and one bushel of plaster to. the acre, which will
stimulate the young grass to push out roots vigor-
ously and cover the surface of the land, and choke
down sorrel, which is very apt to grow on such
land as yours. !Mow for three or four years, or as
long as the crop of grass is satisfactory ; then plow
an inch or two deeper than before, and manure
and seed as before. After two or three courses in
this way, the land will be well filled with vege-
table substance, and have that depth, I)ody and
consistence of soil which will protect the crojis
from ordinary drought and cause agood yield.

For pretty level lands of a medium texture of
soil, and free from stumps, fast rocks and other
con.siderable obtruetions, you will find the Double
or Sod and Sub-soil Plow an excellent instrument,
— particularly in coblily fields, as it hugs the
ground famously and maintains great uniformity
m dejith of plowing.

In localities favorable to the growing and ripen-
ing of corn, it is generally best Jo plant a variety
of good size of ear. I plant a very largo sort of
eight-rowed yellow corn, which ripens well on my
warm llats, Init would be too late for you. I have
generally pn.'ferred large eight-rowed to largo
twelve-rowed corn, bocaus(^ the former has less
cob to 1)0 cured than the latter, ]Kirticularly attho
but, and when several hundred bushels are to be
cribbed up rapidly at husking-time, is not quite
so liable to mould in l)ad weather. Tiie little
Canada corn, although of the very first quality for
feeiling purposes, does not yield largely at the
best ; and to olitain a large crop for tliis kind of
corn, thi> hills nmst be planted very near together,

^30

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

which increases the expense of cultivation; and
then it requires tlic patience of Job to husk the
crop. There is a variety of eight and ten rowed
white corn, grown pretty generally in Plymouth
County, Mass. , which from all accounts I should
think might do well on your thin soil. It is re-
presented as yielding better on poor land than most
other sorts of corn. It has quite a large ear, and
small stalk in proportion to the ear. You can ob-
tain it at the seed stores in Boston.
Very truly your friend,

F. HOLBROOK.

BraUkboro\ Vt., March 1-4, 1854.

For the Neio England Farmer.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR MARCH.

A weekly agricultural journal in the newspa-
per style has advantages that do not belong to a
monthly publication in book form. Not exclusive-
ly agricultural, the weekly is at once a map of the
farm and a "map of busy life," — a medley of big
crops and l)ig accidents; of scientific essiiys and prac*
tical suggestions ; reports of hen conventions and
speeches in Congress ; prices of stock in Brighton
and of stocks in State Street ; advertisements of pa-
tent medicines and of patent manures. But the
monthly, while it may lack something of this va-
riety and freshness, has strong claims on the pref-
erence of reading farmers. It is compact and
convenient for preservation and reference ; without
which an agricultural journal, or indeed any pub-
lication, is of little worth to me. A single peru-
sal of an elaborate article, on any subject, embody-
ing the results of much reading or of great experi-
ence, is of little value to most minds after the
hipse of a few months. The facts become dis-
placed, confused, forgotten ; and in a practical use
of them, the careless reader often finds himself in
the dilemma of the good old lady, who, on giving
directions for testing the genuineness of indigo,
said, if put in water it would either sink or swim
if good, but she had forgotten which ! A working
book for both farmers and mechanics should be of
portable form, so that it maybe consulted in field
and shop. Such is the monthly Farmer. Bound
up, it is an ornament to the library ; and if any
farm.er can read the sucecssive numbers without
receiving a dollar's worth of profit, and a dollar's
worth of pleasure, in the course of the year, he
must be very near j^erfection, or something worse.
But to the number before ug,

AGRICLaTUKAL MEETINGS,

This number of the Farmer furnishes reports of
three Legislative Agricultural Meetings, at which
Plowing, Manures, Itoots, and IIow to make Home
Attractive, were severally discussed. Valuable
and instructive as these debates have proved to be
to the farmers not only of Massachusetts but of
the whole country, a more hearty co-operation by
those in General Court assembled, would give a
greater freshness and originality to the proceed-
ings of the society. Why don't tliey do it? Are
farmers friglitened awaj' 'l>y the idea tiiat remarks
made here on sjiving manures, planting potatoes,
feeding calves, &c. &c., will class them with pub-
tic speakers, and orators? An article entitled
"Legislative Agricultural Society" shows what
these debates should be, while another, "Legisla-
ijvc Farmers," tells what they are. We find also

a report of the discussion by the "Concord Far-
mer s Club" of Indian Corn ; and "Agriculture
South" gives some account of the agricultural as-
sociation of the Planting or slave-holding States ;
while we are informed that among the principal
points at which the "Maine State Board of Agri-
culture" aims is to introduce the study of agricul-
tural science into every school of the State. When
thirty-nine fortieths of the children of the farmers
of the United States are able to attend no higher
school than that of the district in which they live,
how can they be reached by means of other and
higher institutions ?

"birds of new ENGLAND."

No. 9 of Mr. Fowler's articles give the life and
character of the Blue-bird, the Bob-olink, and the
Cat-bird.

BUTTER.

"Fine Samples of Butter" made from milk at
the rate of four and one-quarter quarts to a pound.
An inquiry, "Why don'tthe Butter Come?" well
answered by "Butter Making."

CORN.

Besides the discussion of this crop by the "Con-
cord Farmers Club," we have an article on "Corn,
Cobs and Grinding" contending that, at the rate
millers take toll, it is not profitable to have the
cobs ground.

CROPS.

Comments on the "Weight and Measure of
Corn," for premiums ; accountof raising "Wheat
— forty-five bushels per acre," in Marlboro, N. H.;
of a "Fine crop of Corn," in Epping, and of a
great crop of sugar in New York, from a single
tree.

"feed for stock."

An account of the process adopted by the writer,
for cutting and steaming the winter food for five
cows, on which they "give as much milk as they
would on good June feed," and a saving of "about
one-fourth of my usual winter's feed," is made.
fruit.

Direction for the "Cultureof Cranberry vines,"
and plain observations on "Cutting Scions," pre-
serving and transporting them.

garden.
The bright mornings and warm days that dawn
on us here in March, are just enough to remind
us that once more has the time of the singing of
birds returned, and that spring-work will soon call
us from the garden to the field. Let us read then
what is said of "Garden Work," and how to ra.i8e
crops of "Peas and Turnips" on the same land.

IMPLEMENTS,

Recommendation of "The Double Plow and
Horse Hoe," by one who puts his own hand to the
plow. Cut and description of "Batchelder's Corn
Planter."

INSECTS.

"The Curculio" — a complaint that all remedies
fail. "Bee Culture, No. 2." "Rose Bugs" kept
off by ashes sprinkled on the leaves, and aXout the
roots of rose bushes.

MANURES.

"Fertilizers" — suggestions for trials of carbon-
ate of potash, aqua ammonia, sulphate of potash,
and water in which vegetables are boiled, but no
promise by the writer to make the experiments

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

231

himself! "Extracts and Replies" give the price,
«S;e. of Poudrette, and directions for using guano.
"Shade as a Fertilizer" — strictures. on a previous
article with the same caption. Both Avriters seem
to admit as a fact, that successive crops of wood
enrich the soil. On the principle of the advan-
tages of rotation, wood may prepare the soil for the
growth of ordinary cultivated crops, but from ob-
servation, I conclude that each successive crop of
wood grows slower and smaller than its successor
— thus indicating the inalnlity of the soil to pro-
duce wood crops, as well as corn crops, indefinite-
ly. "Mr. King's Address at Northampton" op-
poses the use of manure as a top-dressing.

POULTRY.

Although a little provoked at our own liens for
adopting a line of policy by which we lyvve eggs
plenty when they are cheap, but none at all when
they would sell at good advantage, we cannot help
admirin;^ the very pretty "Poultry House" fig-
ured and described by the editor in this number.
Biddies that live in this top-knot style, certainly
ought to emulate the exploits of that old speckled
hen, whose sad fate is commemorated by the few
successors of the ancient Bards, who yet sing the
songs of yore.

ROOTS.

The writer of the article "Carrots," &c., gets into
a sad snarl by trying to learn the value of this root
fmm tables of analysis, and published statements
and opinions. Is it not time that agricultural
writers and speakers learn caution in the use of
stray facts and tables of figures ? "Cultivation of
Roots" tells how to raise carrots so as to make
money by the operation, — after hitting me a slap
for going back to the old well-curb, by which
means our well is famed as the best water iu the
neighborhood,

SCIENTIFIC.

"The Symmetry of the Solar System," an arti-
cle contending that all truth in astronomy is not
yet developed, and that the science is not always
to remain where it was left two hundred years
ago. It also contains some general remarks on
Symmetry, that I commend to the consideration of
those who adopt the principle latterly taught in
high quarters, that "confusion," in laying out
grounds, planting trees, and even in the arrange-
ment of buildings, is the highest manifestation of
skill and taste that man is capable of. "Tripoli
or Burgmeal," is the caption of a letter from Prof.
C. T. Jackson, showing that specimens of a depos-
ite found in a pond in Maine, are composed of very
minute shells. I regret that an examination which
suggested the thought that

"The very dust we tread upon was once alive,"
should have been the occasion for introducing a
pun couched in lanijuage that can ))C tolerated
in few respectable families. The "Chemistry of
Plants."

VARIE'tY,

From "Mr. Coming's Address" we have have
two pictures — Foolish Fanning, and Profital)le
Farming. _"M<mntains of Vermont." A taste
for movmtain scenery seems to be rapidly increas-
ing among the pleasure-seeking classes of our cit-
ies. And well it may. "Whoever has stood upon
a high mountain, has one bright spot in his mem-
ory. My own pilgrimage to the summit of old

Mansfield, years ago, was so pleasant, that I hope
many people will accept the invitation of friend
Milan, to try the hospitality of Stow people, and
the splendid view from the top of this mountain.
Many other articles must be passed over with a
brief, or no notice at all, such as, "Chrystal Palace
Rewards ;" "Quackery in Farming ;" "Farm for
Experiments;" "Rearing Calves;" on the trial of
"Reaping Machines," "Underdraining," &c.

A Reader.
Winchester, March, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

POTATO EOT.

Mr. Editor : — The potato as an article of food
has become one of the most necessary and impor-
tant productions from the soil that is cultivated
by the farmer. And as all classes feel the loss of
the potato, so much so that a table of meats and
vegetables cannot be spread without it, the article
must alwaj-s be prized , as being one of the neces-
saries of lite. The fearful malady in shi\pe of the
"rot" that has spread over the whole country and
other countries in the last ten years, has caused
much alarm among all cultivators as to its real
cause, whether a remedy for it can 1>e found out,
or whether the cultivation of the potato will not
finally have to be abandoned altogether. As to
the real cause of the "disease," it is presumed
that we all know as much about it now, as we
shall in the next ten or twenty years to come, and
that, in reality, is just no knowledge at all. —
And all the certain and sure remedies which
have been put forth by different individuals, we
consider not to be worth one red cent as a cure
or preventive, as a general thing. For instance,
one man puts salt and lime into his potato hills
and they do not rot ; anotlier cultivator cuts oflf
the tojjs of the potatoes in the latter part of the
season, as soon as the rust strikes them, and that
saves his crop. Another farmer plants his crop
on high and dry ground with little or no manure,
and that saves his crop, and so on to the end of
the chapter. And yet it is enough to know for
us all, that the potato has and continues to rot in
all seasons and soils, climates, conditions of cul-
ture, &c.

Whether this disease will continue for another
ten years of course we know not, but are inclined
to think, however, that in time it will run out l>y
cultivation, and the potatoes Ijccome sound again.
As to the general mode of potato culture, there
are probably almost as many plans and theories,
as there are farmers, and jierliaps every cultivator
will have his own way of doing the l)usiness.
With many farmers tliore lias been a great change
in the manner of cultivating the crop in the last
few years, while many others follow the same
system that they did twenty-five or thirty years
ago; "no change" is written on their system,
which they prove by their works.

It would be a matter of curious history for the
future to know how many certain and "sure rem-
edies for the potato rot" have been put forth dur-
ing the last ten years, by difffivnt individuals in
this and otlicr countries. So far as our knowl-
edge goes, M'O know not of tiie first "line" of reli-
able information whereby any plan has yet been
brought out as a certain preventive against tho
disease,

232

NEW ENGLAND I'ARMER.

May

We have been led to tho^o remarks by seeing
an advertisement in the hist number of tlie Coun-
try Gentleman, headed '■^Potato Rot — a remedy by
wise importation and reproduction. ■ Valuable pota-
toes for sale, 4"r."' These potatoes are for sale by
Cliauney K. (ioodrieh, of Ctiea, N. Y., and are
what he calls "The Rough Purple Ciiili," import-
ed at great expense from South America in 1851,
and they are now ofiered for sale at the very mod
erate price ofeigiit dollars per bushel. ]Mr. Good
rich says that in 1853, his seed potatoes were scat-
tered over twelve Northern States and that re-
ports? have been heard from nine States, and Init
two cases of rot have been reported. Now taking
JNIr. Goodrich at his own word and his seed pota-
toes and importations, and we say they are not a
"wise remedy' against potato rot." Because if
they were, they would not rot at all under any
circumstances of cultivation or soil, climate, ttc.
That new and valiuible varieties may be brought
out by Mr. Goodrich's plan by importing and pro-
ducing seedlings from the ball we do not doubt.
But tlic system is not new at all, as it has been
pi-acticcd by a great many other cultivators since
the *'rot" made its appearance. But that. this
sj-stem of importing and reproducing from the
ball, will give that hardiness of constitution which
Mr. Goodrich tells for, we do not so readily be-
lieve. And possibly iiis seed potatoes may be worth
the price asked for them, as every cultivator will
be his own judge on that point. What we con-
tend against is, of offering for sale seed potatoes
of that character as a sure remedy against "rot"'
when it is no such thing, as Mr. Goodrich well
knows. We repeat Avhat we have often said be-
fore, that as yet no certain or sure remedy against
the "jiotato disr'ase" has been found out. But
if ever sucli a remedy can be found out, it will be
worth wliile to have it made known, and let the
"finder" be well rewarded for his labor.

Yours truly, L. Dcrand.
Derby, Ct., Feb. 25//;, 1854.

USE OF GUANO.

There seeems to be still considerable misappre-
hension as to the proper way of applying guano as
a fertilizer, and a word or two at this time, when
so many are making preparations to use it, may
not be inappropriate. The question is often asked
whether guano will prove a permanent fertilizer —
that is, as permanent as the common manures of
the farm? Our own experience on this point has
not been extended through a sufficient space of
time, to justily the expression of a decided opin-
ion. We have supposed, however, tliat the coars-
er and less concenti-ated manures of the farm would
have a more permanent action than guano. For
instance : we have sujjposed that an acre of sward
land, plowed, manured with twenty loads of the
common barn-yard or cellar manure, and planted
with corn two years, receiving the same quantity
of manure the second year that it diil the first, and
the third year sowed with oats, or barley and grass
seed, would continue to produce fair crops of grass,
much larger tlian an acre of the same land would,
treated with 300 pounds of guano to the acre, for

the same time. Coarse manures, covered up in
the soil, undergo a process of fel-mentation, and
i^rudually give off their ))ropertieK to the roots ia
which they come in contact ; while guano, already
highly concentrated, and volatile, must, we think,
give off its ammonia, and other properties, much
sooner than the coarser manui'es.

L5xcking experience ourselves, as already men-
tioned, wc have sought to learn that of others,
and in that experience find our opinions abundant-
ly sustained.

Com. Tuos. Ap. C. Jones, a gentleman of exten-
sive travel, and the hero of tlie Monterey aflair on
the Pacific during the war with Mexico, cultivates
a farm ifi Fairfax Co., Va., about 12 miles from
the city of Washington. Most of tlie land of that
county had become so impoverished by repeated
tobacco crops, that it was proverlnal, that the
more of it a man owned the poorer he was. We
have passed his fiirm many times and S3en his fine
wheat, cornand clover fields, in wide contrast with
those of many of his neighbors, and once called at
his mansion to have a little social chat with hiu;
on subjects agricultural, but he was not at home.
We know enough, however, of his modes of cul-
tivation, and his chai-acter for uprightness anA
sound discrimination, to place great confidence in
whatever he says in relation to these subjects.

Com. Jones presented an essay to the Maryland
State Agricultural Society, last fall, upon which
the Judges awarded him the prize. This essay is
mostly a detail of his own practice and experiences,
and a paper which we should be glad to lay Ijefore
our readers without abbreviation ; but it is too
long, occupying eight or ten closely printed pages "
of the American Farmer.

But it is with reference to what he says of gua-
no that we have introduced the Commodore and
his excellent essay. He says, "guano should not be
aj^plied the second time to the same land, unless
in combination with other fine manures ; nor should
it ever be applied in its crude state, to land that
is in good heart, i. c., land that will ))ring thirty
bushels of Indian corn, or 15 bushels of wheat per
acre without it ; not but that gmmo in some such
land might increase the product of both wheat and
corn, enough to pay for itself, but if it should, the
soil will be robbed of its fertility, and will be left
in a far worse condition than when the guano was
first applied ; at least, such have been my own re-
sults in its use, and such is the universal charac-
ter of guano in Peru, as I then learned upon per-^
Bonal inquiry, from the mouth of all persons (with
whom I conversed) engaged in gardening and ag-
ricultural pursuits ai'ound the city of Lima, the
cajiitol of I'eru, from whence we olitain the best
guano. I have frequently been in Peru, first in
1835, again in 18-12 — 3, and more recently in 1848,
and on each and every occasion, I took tlie great-
est pains to obtain all possiljle information as to

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

233

the value of guano as a manure, and the mode of
applying it to fiuld and garden culture, as well as
to its ijfcds vpon the land, and with one accord and
•without a solitary exception, I was told that land
stimulated liy the use of guano, soon became ut-
terly worthless, unless the stimulus was kept up
\->y repeated ajiplieations. This was the reason as- !
signed for so little use made of guano where the
cost of the article is merely nominal, not exceed-
ing more than half what we willingly pay for
leaelied aslies in the District of Columbia.

Another question constantly asked, is, — "Witli
what sliall we mix guano before using it?'" If
pown broadcast, we sec no otlier good reasi:)n for
mixing it than the greater convenience of sowing,
— and in that case we should mix witl^some of
the soil upon which we were sowing. If to 1)e ap-
plied to the liill, there is danger of destroying the
seed if it comes in contact with the unadulterated
guano. There seems to be a great desire to mix it
with something, — but until those using it know
what tlie effect of such mixing is, they had better
use it alone, Avhen In-oadcast, or mixed with loam
when u.«d in the hill. Dropping and mingling
in the liill amounts to the same thing, but it is a
moi'e tedious work.

On this point, too, we are able to turn to testi-
mony of the liighest character. Levi Baktlett,
Esq., the aide associate editor of the Journal of
Agriculture, in an article in the March numl)er
on "Giuano, Ammonia, and some other things,"
says : —

"It is a very common thing for farmers to mix
gypsum Avith their guano, for the alleged purpose
o\ fixing the ammonia. The theory of this is, that
the srdphuric at-id of the gypsum, will comlnne
with the annnonia of the guano, forming the non-
volatile sulji'iate of ammonia, and the carbonic acid
of the ammonia will unite witli the lime, ix'sulting
in carbonati> of lime. Now, this is true, if tlie
gypsum is in solution ; but it requires some 500
pounds of water to dsssolve one pound of gypsum.
But in a stati; of nwist poivdcr, gypsum, brought
in contact witii guano, liberates the ammonia, and
it Hies ofl' and escapes into the air.

Some two years ago, a writer in tlie Richmond,
W/iig, with tlie signature of T. S. P., (supposed
to l)e Thomas S. I'leasants, of Peterslturg, Va.,)
states tliat he had recently taken some pains to
'investigate the matter, and tlunks lie lias ob-
tained a number of important facts.' His inves-
tigations related chietly to mixing plaster with
guano. lie says, 'the result was, that in nearly
eyery case, the action of guano was impaired by
the addition of yilaster, very much in proportion
to till- (puintity of gypsum employed. W hen mixed
tog(!ther in anything like equal proportions, the
efiFect of the guauu was entirely destroyed. In one
or two instances, where plaster had I>een liberally
us(h1 with stable manure, the effect was equally
injurious.'""

This is testimony not easily invalidated, and we
have no doubt is correct.

For the Hexv Ensrland Farmer.

EFFECTS OF INNOCULATION.

Mr. Editor: — In the reports of tlie Legislative
-Vgrieultural meetings of last winter, I remember
reading a statement made Ijy one of the speakers, re-
specting the effects of innoeulation on the longevity
of fruit trees, in which he contended that innoeula-
tion did not tend to shorten the life of the tree; with-
out attempting to discuss tliis ever interesting and
very important question in the economy of fruit-
culture, I would present a few facts relative to a
very agedpeacli tree, whicli may go towards form-
ing that great cluster of facts which make the
kernel of a general truth.

Every fai-mcr in Massachusetts looks upon his
peacli tree as comparatively a short-lived tree, of
rapid growtli, quick maturity and sjieedyold age.
Yet in sunny France, as Mr. J. J.Tuojias informs
us, trees which are here annually and freely
pruned, have lived to the age of one hundred
years; and in northern Oliio and western New
York, the peach tree has been known to bear fruit
for forty or fifty years. Y'et even in these most
favored regions of our land, a peach tree which
verges towards halfa century is an anomaly which
almost calls for a pilgrimage. AVe should not ex-
pect, therefoi'e, to find trees of so venerable an age
growing among the bleak hills of Ma.'^sachusetts,
much less shouldwe look for such on an inhospitable
seacoast, exposed, too, to the blighting influences of
our chilly east winds. Yet we can record one in-
stance, which .perhaps may elicit others.

Hearing that in a field in the outskirts of the
town of ^larblehead , there lately stood a very ^ed
peach tree, I visited the locality in the summer
of 18.52, and found the tree yet standing, in the
midst of a mowing field situated in a low plain,
about halfa mile from the sea on the south. On
the south the sea was in view, and on the south-
east the plain was terminated by a range of hills
close bordering the ocean. A hill rose gently to-
wards the north-east, sufficiently to allbrd some
protection. Excepting a hill- top, a more exposed
situation could not easily be found. The tree was
standing in what was probalily a gravelly soil,
among a quantity of loose stones, then newly cov-
ered with turf. From within a foot of the centre
of the trunk, a low ledge rose aliruptly at an an-
gle of alxiut 00"^, extending some twenty-four
feet towards the N. East, and rising five feet from
the surface. The tree lias two distinct trunks,
which apparently were once united below the sur-
face, but were then so decayed as to have no ap-
parent contact. The main trunk leaned at quite
an angle toward the N. East. Tlie tree was aliout
twelve feet in height, with a diameter T>f about
one foot at the surface ; tlie head was small.
Though at the time I visited it, it was entirely
dead, yet it had some life the year previous, and
within four years had yielded v. crop of a bushel.

Upon making inquiry of several highly respect-
able citizens, I was informed liy one, that hisre-
memlirance of the tree extended back thirt^'-five
years ; that this was the only tree which had ever
stood on the sjtot ; that during this period the field
had been plowed twici;. T'y another, that lie was
C(>rtain the tree stood there forty-six or seven years
ago, and was then of size, liy a third, that ho re-
membered it when a young Ijoy i-iitv-seven years
ago, and that then it was a bearing tree ; that at
that time and ever since it has been the mark for

234

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

every school-boy to pelt and rob. This was as far
as I could trace back its history. Respecting its or-
igin, the opinion uniformly given was, that it was
a chance seedling ; tliis is corroliorated by the qual-
ity of the fruit, wliich one gentleman declared was
"terrible" for eating, though good for preserving.
I obtained a transverse section of the trunk, but
could make out about forty rings of annual
growth, though the laterones' wereso nai-row and
BO much decayed, as to render them very liable to
be overlooked. The conclusion to which I came,
was, tbat this was a line illustration of the strong
preservative power of the natural stock, when un-
enfecbled by the cunning contrivances of man ; im-
parting, in tliis instance, a tenacity of life that had
enabled it to contend successfully for over half a
centiiry, against the neglect of men, the rudeness
of boys, and the opposition of the elenients.

James J. H. Gregory.
Hingham, Mass., Fed. 7, 1854.

NEW BOOKS.

American Frcit Grower's Guide, a new work on Fruit, by
F. R. Elliot, Esq. New York: Saxton, 152 Fulton Street,
185i.

From the cursory examination we have been able
to give this woi'k, we should pronounce it a gopd
one. Mr. Elliot has had experience, and knows
the importance of being cautious in the recommen-
dation of fruits. No man, it seems to us, is fully
qua^fied to compile such a book, who has not gone
througjh the tibial of rearing trees, as carefully as he
has his own children, and found them at last, bit-
ter everywhere, both in the "mouth" and in the
"belly." Among the little thingswof life there is
scarcely a keener disappointment than this.

Tiic illustrations of this work are far more
striking and satisfactory for showing the inside as
well as the outline. The fruits are represented as
cut open, showing the core and seeds, and some-
times the appearance of the pulp. The book is
printed in Sa.xton's good style, and has a good in-
dex. One of our most accomplished fruit grow-
ers thinks the author has not done himself full
credit in the delineations — that many of them are
not as large as the fruits represented wi'l justify.
When a second edition is printed, we suggest that
instead of the words, "index of fruits," being
placed on the top of each page over the index as a
running title, that the names of the fruit be in-
serted, as "Apples — peaches — plums, "&c. Upon
the whole, the "American Fruit Grower's Guide,"
though not without its faults, is the best work we
have on the subject.

First Lrssoss is Chemistry asd Geology, as applied to Agr—
culture. Boston -. Dayton & Wcntworth, 1854.

Tliis is a capital little work, designed for
schools, and will introduce these interesting sub-
jects to the pujnl in many diflferent ways, make
him familiar with the terms used, and increase his
love for rural occupations by enlightening his
mind in relation to them. We shall be glad to see
such a work introduced into all our schools, and

that the girls will be required tp study it as well
as the boys. Dayton & Wentwortli, Boston,
1854.

The CcLTi-RE or the Grape and Wine-making: by Robert Bu-
chanan. With an appendix containing directions for the Cdl-
tivation of the Strawberry, by N. Longworth. Fifth Edi-
tion. Cincinnati: Moore, Anderson & Co., Publishers.

This work gives the mode of cultivating the va-
rious kinds of grapes in vineyards for wine-mak-
ing, and the manner of making the wine, and we
hi^e no doubt is a safe guide to those engaged in
the business. Indeed, the Iwok apjwars to be filled
with what the cultivators of the vine ought to
know. We might read the book with a better
relish, perhaps, had we tested the sparkling Ca-
tawba itself ! The article on the Culture of the
Strawbe^y is full of interest to everybody who
has once tasted strawberry and cream. Better
judges than ourselves on the subject of the grape,
say the work is an excellent one.

For the Nexv England Farvier.

TO DESTROY THE CURCULIO.

Mr. Brown : — I perceive your Burrillville, R.
I., correspondent has been much annoyed by that
most villanous insect, the curculio.. To prevent
the ravages of this "bug" the "specifics" recom-
mended have been many, and with the exception
of two, they have proved as effectual with me as
with the gentleman referred to. Now though I
do not expect to advance an original idea, I will
proceed to give the details of a plan which has
proved more effectual than all others, in dimin-
ishing the number of those troublesome scamps, at
least so far as my own experience is a fair test.

Take ten yards (and if your trees are very large,
more will be required, and add another breadth)
of cheap sheeting, cut the same in three equal*
parts and have them sewed together so as to form
a mammoth sheet, cut half way through the mid-
dle, and have it hemmed ; with this you can com-
pletely cover the ground under the trees, and
with the aid of two or three children to assist in
holding the corners and spreading the same, a
vast number of cureulios may be destroyed in one
hour's time. The way to proceed is this : after
your sheet is spread give the trees a sudden jar, if
the trunks are not more than three inches in di-
ameter, nothing more than the hand will be re-
quired ; if trees are large, liave at hand a large
mallet with the corners rounded off, and wound
with cloth, under which there should be a little
stufling to prevent injury to the bark ; strike with
that square against the stem of the tree?, then at
once with a pair of pincers made of the thumb
and fore finger, dispatch the cureulios, or they
will soon be off. Be sure and pinch hard enough
to break their shells. If you have lielp sufficient
to hold the slicet up to the lower branches when
the tree is shaken, more cureulios will be secured,
for I have noticed that in their descent from high
trees they sometimes fly before striking the cloth.
If the insects are numerous, visit your trees once
a day, say just before sunset, and you will thin
them out fast.

If you have cherry trees in bearing, visit those
with your sheet and mallet and pincers. Every

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

2.35

dozen insects treated in this way, makes the num-
ber less to propagate the species; but most other
plans only drive them to other places, if indeed
they have any effect at all.

The other method is, pick the fallen fruit, and
either burn or empty it in the water where the
embryo curculio will drown. I think this insect
propagates its species as fast in apples, as in any
other fruit. If any one doubts this, let him visit
a tree laden with fruit, when it is about the size
of cranberries, or walnuts, and carefully exam-
ine the abortive specimens with which the earth is
sometimes literally covered ; observe the crescent
marks, and the small worms in the fruit, and I
trust he will be convinced.

Where these fallen specimens are expased to the
scorching rays of the sun, it usually bakes them,
and theii- contents ; but when shaded, the embryo
curculios nearly all mature. Pick and boil or
empty this infected fruit into the river. This
may seem like too much labor, but you will sure-
ly receive a rich reward for care and labor thus
bestowed .

Dracut, Feb. 15, 1854. Asa Clement.

For the New England Farmer.

SEWING MACHINE.

BY HENRY F. FRENCH.

" Work — work — work,

From weary chime to chime.

Work — work — work,

As prisoners work for crime,

Band and gusset and seam,

Seam and gusset and band.

Til) the heart is sick, and the brain benumbed

As well as the weary hand." Hood.

To THE Ladies of New E.nglaxd: — Were an
angel to appear before you , some pleasant morning
in spring, and say, that he had come to bestow
upon you, for your patient endurance of life's
wearisome labors, a reward of two hours of time
daily — two hours of waking conscious, active time,
for all your future life, how would your schemes
of life expand. Your education and early asso
ciations have inspired you with a taste for literary
pursuits, but family cares, the want of servants,
and the want of time, have compelled you to re
linquish them.

You were instructed in music and drawing in
your youth, you cultivated flowers, and traced in
botany, and its kindred studies, the curious analo-
gies of nature, but in later years, your time has
been filled with duties more imperative, and with
a secret sigh, you have, without complaint, sacri-
ficed on the household altar, the pleasures and
graceful accomplishments of your early years. A»
to mere amusements, you could, well enough, Tjear
that loss, but to feel that the cultivation of the
mind must cease, that you must stop in the pur-
suit of knowledge, while husband and brother and
friend are still advancing, to be conscious that
the sympathy that once bound you together
in intellectual pursuits, is daily lessening, this is a
burden that no one can help you to bear.

Blessing the good angel for tliis roost precious
gift, you, who better than all others, know its
value, would treasure it with Sixered care. You
would devote it, not to frivolous amusements, not
to idleness, or dreamy listlessness, but to social en-
joyments, to mental culture, and to active benevo-
lence.

Constant physical labor is not, perhaps, a sevare
burden to the ignorant and degraded, but for one
whose moral and intellectual training has elevated
him to the true appreciation of life's great ends, a
merely servile life, a life of manual labor, is not
enough. To ladies of education and refinement,
the petty toils and harassing cares of the family
are trying, indeed, but when we add to those, the
constant demand upon them for labor with the
needle, an employment, trying alike to the pati-
ence, the sight, and the nervous system, an em-
ployment which never ends, which takes every
moment that ought t<)be given to leisure, amuse-
ment or reading, we have some idea of the value
of the angel gift, with which we commenced.

The spiritualists tell us of the influence of mind
over matter, how, by niiere force of the human
will, tables and other lifeless quadrupeds may be
made to walk, as if alive, but the laws by which
such things are done, are not sufficiently under-
stood, to ena1)le us to work out from them any
valuable practical results. But the laws by which
wood and iron may be constructed into machinery,
and so made, instead of human l)ones and sinews,
to perform servile labor, are working, always, for
human comfort and human freedom.

Of tliis description is the recently invented Scu:-
ing Machine, an invention doubtless, sent down
from Heaven, in answer to the prayers of suffering
thousands, an invention destined to ))e8tow upon
New England women the priceless boon of time
for mental cultivation and social enjoyment.
Slavery to the needle is the peculiar slavery of
New England ladies. The price of such labor,
to those who are paid for it, is pitifully small,
and yet the customs of society demand so large an
amount of needlework, that even those, who among

236

NEW ENGLAND PARxMER.

May

ue are accounted rich, cannot afford to pay for it.
Other avonues to competency are opening to our
daughters, who must labor to live. The pen of
the editor, the types of the printer, the tools of
the painter, the engraver and the designer, are al-
ready, partly, in female hands. Let us encourage
-the republican sentiment that labor is not degrad-
ing, and give employment to women, in whatever
departments of mental and physical toil, she is
found best fitted to fill. Let her teach in our
schools, let her tend the looms in our fac-
tories, let her take the place of the dandies behind
the counter, let her write in our banks and count-
ing rooms, and keep the records in our offices.
•Give her the clerkships in our post offices and other
departments of the government, and do not longer
drive her from fair competition with the other sex,
and so depress the value of her labor, and keep
her dependent and helpless. Let a good educa-
tion, and a pure character, be to your daughter,
as to your son, a capital, that shall ensure an in-
dependent support. Read Hood's "Song of a
Shirt," and then sneer, if you can, at the efforts of
those, who are striving to provide for woman bet-
ter rewards fo^r labor than the poor pay of a sew-
ing girl.

" Oh ! men with sisters dear,
Oh ! men with mothers and wives.
It is not linen you're wearing out,
But human creature's Uvea."

While female labor is finding more profitable
employment than sewing, no relief could come to
ladies in charge of families, except by the use of
machinery. I am told, that the common sewing
for a family of eight persons, would employ one
sempstress constantly. Now this, in any part of
our country, involves a great expense. At the
South, where women are bought and sold, your
living machines would cost, perhaps, a thousand
dollars, and bo very expensive to maintain. At
the North, we cannot afford the expense of hiring
such labor, but fortunately, we can now do what
is far better than either. In my own house, in
Exeter, we have in use, one of "Wilson's Stitch-
ing Machines," manufactured by Wheeler and
Wilson.

It has been tested long enough to justify us in
confidently recommending it to those who have
large families, and what most of us, in New Eng-
land, have therewith, limited means of support. A
woman's pen is alone competent to set forth the
advantages of this wonderful piece of mechanism.

The following statement is from the pen of Mrs.
E. Oakes Smith, a lady not unknown to fame.
The ladies of my own household assure me that
the good qualities and conduct of the machine
are by no means overstated :

Messrs. Wueeler & Wilson, Manufacturing Co.

Gentlemen : — Having had one of your sewing

machines in my family for more than two months,

I am willing, unsolicited, to give you my testi-

mony in its favor. Adverse as I am to append
my name to the ordinary projects of the day, I
wish, nevertheless, to say something through such
a medium that may benefit my sex.

In the first place then, your m-ichine is all that
it purports to be. I have myself learn.jd to use it
with skill, that I may pronounce undei-standingly
upon its merits.

I have never had a needle broken in its use, nor
has it in the least become disordered ; notwith-
standing that I have allowed several persons to
learn upon it, and all kinds of household work has
been executed thereon ; indeed fine muslins and
heavy broadcloths have tested not only its delicacy
but strength also.

Secondly the work does not rip, and every
housekeeper can appreciate that quality. The
work is what is called stitching, and I find it
much more elegant than a common hem for all
needle purposes. It gives handsome finish to the
tucks and hems of skirts, while in shirt-making no
work done by the hand can compare with that ex-
ecuted upon the sewing machine.

No woman's eyes or fingers can execute work
with an equal ptrecision and finish

.Thirdly, it is a vast saving, not only of nerves
and patience, but of time also. The machine is
equal to the labor of nine or ten persons. One
individual can sit profitably at the machine, and
do that proportion of the work.

Now these are facts which I wish to present to
the heads of families. I wish to see the petty toil
of my sex lessened whenever it can legitimately be
done. I find the sewing machine does this in one
very essential branch of home industry, and, there-
fore, I wish to urge upon families and neighbor-
hoods, to combine together and procure an instru-
ment calculated so much to alleviate house hold
toil.

If our brothers ply any vocation of thrift or ne-
cessity, they are careful to procure the best tools.
They do not hesitate to expend hundreds and thou-
sands for the purchase of all sorts of "labor-saving
machines" to lighten their own burdens.

Now, will they not carry the principle further,
and by the purchase of the sewing machine, lessen
the toil, the anxieties and the wear and tear of
nerves to their wives and daughters ? I do not say
say this to sell your machines, gentlemen, but I say
it because I sympathize with my sex.

I know how wearisome is the bondage of the
needle to woman, and I seize upon this invention
of the sewing machine as one of the best means of
relief the age affords us. I do not know that it
is even second to the cotton-gin.

I look upon machinery as the great emancipa-
tor of the word, and am doubly thankful to see its
benefits extended to the relief of us — our sex.

The price of this machine, $125, is to many
quite startling. The man who can readily enough
pay twice that sum for a piano, for a daughter
who has no taste for music, or for an observatory
and weathercock on his barn, or for a new car-
riage, which he does not need, and has not room
for, in his buildings, cannot afford to pay so much,
for so small a matter as his wife's health and hap-
piness !

But I will not, even in jest, thus wrong my bro-
ther men. When they have once seen this little

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

237

machine in operation, when they have seen ma-
terials of all descriptions, from a camln-ic kerchief
to a boy's overcoat, i-apidly, faster than half a
dozen persons can fit the work, beautifully stitched
and finished, when tlicy have seen the labor, which
would have occupied the hands of the loved ones
of their households the livelong day, performed
in a single hour, they will bo foremost in the ex-
periment, and join in blessing the kind angel,
which has l)rought this unexpected alleviation to
the condition of New England matrons.
Exeter, N. H., March 28, 1854.

NATURAL BEAUTY OF ORNAMENTAL
TREES.

Mr. Sr.F.ErER : — Excuse me, sir, if I once more
call your aUontion to one of the most barbarous
violations of good taste ever indulged in by the den-
izens of Boston, or any other city or town.

You will recollect that in the course of the last
Bummer I wrote you a letter answering a query I
had seen in your paper, as to the utility of scrap-
ing and R'hitewasiug shade and ornamental trees.

Lest I weary your patience, I will notrepeattlie
detailed arguments I used to prove the folly and
evil of such a proceeding, but will ask your atten-
tion a short time, whilst I pursue tho subject a lit-
tle farther.

That letter was written too late to remedy the
evil of that year, and I take this early time to re-
awaken interest, vdih the hope of preventing its
repetition.

The winter frosts are beginning to relax their
hold, and the long spring rains are seeking to unlock
thefrozeen fastnesses of the earth : now, therefore,
let all feel again tho ardor of the last season to do
their share towards l)oautifying nature. However
much the rains may be able to thaw the earth, one
benefit has already resulted from them, in the re-
juvenating and re-developing of the mosses and
lichens.

Perhaps you remember that I dwelt, in the be-
fore mentioned letter, at some length upon the rare
beauties of color and form portrayed upon the
boles of tho trees, l)y the lichens and liverworts.

The long rains and misty weather of sprjng are
peculiarly favorable to the development of this
kind of beauty, and I now call upon you, and all
lovers of nature, to look forth and recognize it
around you ; do you love the rich coloring of the
painter's landscape! Look upon the stem of the first
noble elm j-oumeet, unimprocrdbythehandofman,
and you will find tho artist's boasted beauties set
»t nought.

When first your eye meets the tree's stem it will
see only a rich deep In-own, blue, or golden yellow,
but as it lingers longer, as curiosity draws you
neax-cr tho tree, new charms will develop them-
selves with surprising rapidity ; the uniform brown
will separate mto the most harmonious shading
ofred, brown and black ; the blue will become now
white, now blue, now purple or green ; the gold-
en yellow will burst upon you through the mist
and gloom like tiie lingeruig of last summer's
Bun. You may see golden tints rivalling Claude's
sunsets, and blacks and browns Hurpa.ssing Rem-
brandt. If you are a lover of the beautiful in form,

where i an you find such mazy interweavings of
■ vor changing and beautiful lines as in the outlines
of lichcnsand liverwort8,whero frond overlies frond,
or bending and rising, conform to tlie roughness-
es of the l)ark. Can any one fail to bow with rev-
erence before tlio deep scarred and furrowed bark
that tells of wars witii tho elements, and battles
fought and victories won, before we were even
children ; or when we see some kindly tuft of moss
with its long gray locks bending and nodding over,
and clasping, tho broken stem, or decaying trunk,
can we help comparing it to the grey hairs (jf age?
Lot no bar))ario hand touch the bark of a forest
tree ; as soon scrape (to clean) the fair skin of
3«our child or the surface of an alal)aster statue.

I have met the argument of utility bol'ore,and
shown its unsoundness, and now appeal to nothing
hut the love for God-given beauty. How disagree-
able tho contrast and shock, when gazing upon the
outspread branches of some mighty tree, seeming
the very impersonation of strength , grandeur , grace
and beauty, our descending eye meets no easy gra-
dation from tho graceful sweep of the rich brown
branches, blending with tho harmoniously painted
stem, but a tuft of brush on the top of a column
of whitewashed wood. Let no Dno who has ever
laid, or permitted another to lay a ruthless hand
upon such charms, and remained unrepentant, dare
to claim the least appreciation of tho beautiful, or
true taste — he must be devoid of it. D;) you think
the artist's eye could have suffered it, or the artist's
hand executed it? No, it is the result of bad logic,
aided by the dicta of some ignorant pretenders to
the title of gardeners or foresters.

But before I leave the su))ject, allow me to say
something regarding the planting of trees, and the
kinds to be selected. In making plantations by
the roadside or in our grounds, several conditions
must be taken into account ; beauty in the winter
and early spring, shude and beauty in the summer,
an easy and rapid growth, and particularly, if by
the roadside, a desire to have them beautiful and
healthy for several years.

Were they willing to bear the noise,' dust and
heat of cities, some of the evergreens would be
most desirable, but for their perfection , fresh and
fi'co air is necessary.

Next to them is the American elm. Of late a
cry has arisen against tho elm, l)ecau8e it loses its
leaves early and is liable to worms ; tho latter dif-
ficulty, care will for tho most partromedy, and the
former is more than counterbidanced by its won-
derful couibinatioii of good qualities. No other
treo combines at once elegance, delicate beauty,
symmetry, grace, strength, power and grandeur, in
any similar degree.

Begin now, sir, and watch the deciduous trees
through the year, and see if at the emi of it you
do not agree with me that the American elm is
nearer an evergreen than any otiier. Look at it
now — witli its stem and top delineated against the
yellow evening sky ; iiovv soul-inspiring are the
ideas it suggests. And now draw nearer ; look up
through its Ijranclies and see its tracery against the
blue beyond, with tlio mazy interweaving of hough
over bougii, the elegant feathering of tlie spray,
and the almost leaf-likeness of tho buds. Wait
now a little till tlie sun and rain have swellal those
buds, and tiieir ))ursting sides part for tlie coming
flovjd. Now you will think it has leaved ; but no !
another change is taking place ; the leaf is starting,

238

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Mat

and before you are aware, the whole tree has leaped
into groen clad life.

Time passes, and other trees have also been cov-
ering their limbs with a green mantle. But soon
the summer is gone, and before any other harbinger
of the winter, the sensitive elm begins to leave
the sober green for bright yellow, and our streets
and lanes are decked for a gala day. The leaves
drop — but has the beauty passed with them? Is it
even diminished ? We are no longer charmed with
the rich luxuriance of vegetation and its color,but
again we have the beautiful outline against the
sky. Believe me, sir, I do not wish to detract
from the claims of other ornamental trees, for few
know them better or appreciate them more than I,
but if we are to plant for the best effects in this
half winter clitnate, the trees must have a winter as
well as summer beauty.

Let all compare for themselves the naked charms
of all the ornamentixl trees ; look upon them in
their parts, appreciate their wholes, and I doubt
not most will agi-ee with me, that the American
Elm is the most perfect of all deciduous trees, and
as an emblem of beauty, of that happy combina
tion of parts necessary for the perfect whole, is un
rivalled.

As to its easy, quick and sure growth, nothinc
need be said. One thing more and I have done
How long are trees planted in public streets expec-
ted to live? Is it not for many, many years? and
do you suppose any of our city fathers or of their
Irish foresters, ever ask themselves how long-lived
the tree they are about to set ought to be, by nature ?
I assure you, sir, that twenty years will see many
of the species of trees, now most often planted, ie-
yond their prime, and when they have died, and been
removed, lohat kind of trees do you suppose will grow
in their exhausted beds? Very rcspecfuUy,

Roxbury, March 10, 1854. r. m c.

Boston Journal.

AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

The fifth session of this National Association,
will be held at Horticultural Hall, in the city of
Boston, Massachusetts, commencing on Wednes-
day, the thirteenth day of September next, at ten
o'clock, A. M.

It is intended to make this assemblage one of
the most interesting that has ever been held in this
country, on the subject of Pomology. All Ilorti
cultural, Agricultural, and other kindred Associa
tions, of North America, are therefore requested to
send such number of delegates to this Convention,
as they may deem expedient.

Pomologists, nurserymen, and all others inter-
ested in the cultivation of good fruit, are also in-
vited to attend the coming session.

Among the objects of this Society, are the fol-
lowing : —

To ascertain, from practical experience, the rel-
ative value of varieties in different parts of our
widely extended country. To hear the Reports of
the various State Fruit Committees, and from a
comparison of results, to learn what fruits are
adapted to general cultivation ; what varieties are
suitable for particular localities ; what new varie-
ties give promise of being worthy of dissemination;
and especially, what varieties are generally inferi-
or or worthless, in all parts of the Union.

In order to facilitate these objects, and to collect
and diffuse a knowledge of researches and discov-

eries in the science of Pomology, members and del-
egates are requested to contribute specimens of the
fruits of their respective districts ; also pipers de-
scriptive of their art of cultivation ; of diseases and
insects injurious to vegetation ; of remedies for the
same, and whatever may add to the interest and
utility of the Association.

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has
generously offered to provide accommodations for
the Society, and also to publish its proceedings
free of expense.

All packages of fruit intended for exhibition,
may therefore be addressed as follows : — "For the
American Pomological Society, Horticultural Hall,
School Street, Boston Mass. ;" where a Committee
will be in attendance to take charge of the same.

All societies to be represented, will please for-
ward certificates of their several delegations, to
the President of the American Pomological Socie-
ty, at Boston.

Marshall P. Wilder, President.

H. W. S. Cleveland, Secretary.

Boston, April 1st, 1854.

ROOTS OF PLANTS— TRANSPLANTING.

The roots serve to hold the plant in its place in
the earth, and at the same time perform the im-
portant functions of respiration, and of absorp-
tion of moisture and of the various matters which
go to make up the substance of the plant. It is
the only part of the plant which takes up the
earthy matter, that is, the peculiar part of the
plant. The power of the roofs in absorbing wa-
ter may be tested by taking a small plant from
the earth and immersing its roots in a vessel of
water ; let it be a tumbler ; and having another
similar vessel with an equal quantity of water
standing near. The difference in the diminution
of the body of water in the two vessels will be
very great, and will show the quantity absorbed
by the plant. It will take up many times its own
weight of water in a very short time. An experi-
ment with four plants of spearmint in this way,
being kept with their roots in water 56 days,
proved that they took up about seven pints, the
weight of which was about 54,000 grains, while
their own weight was only 403 grains — being
nearly twice and a half their own weight each
day.

The absorption of the water by the roots must
be in proportion to the exhalation by the leaves
and the digestion and assimilation in the tissues in
the plant, or it will suffer in health. This is the
case in seasons of drought or in dry situations.
The absorption is mostly performed by the new
and growing root fibres or spongiolos, which are
spongy at the extremity. These young fibres are
therefore of vital importance to the plant ; and
by breaking these, in removing a tree for trans-
planting, the power of absorbing nourishment is
diminished, often to such a degree that the tree
languishes, and sometimes perishes.

One of the most wonderful things in the vege-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

239

table physiology is that each different plant] peared, but tlm3 far we had discovered no chang.
should, by means of this absorbent power of the ^ the warts themselves

roots, take up only that peculiar earthy aliment
which is suited to its constitution. Thus if a
stalk of wheat and a pea vine grow together, the
roots of the wheat take up the silex, while those
of the pea take up the calcareous parts of the soil.

WHEAT.

According to the most correct analysis, wheat
contains in one hundred parts, 33 per cent, of
ashes, and these ashes consist of 12 per cent, lime,
salts, and 51 of silicia, or sand. Hence, wheat
will sometimes succeed after buckwheat, as they
are composed of different elements, both of which
may co-exist in the soil.

PEAS.

The soil for peas should not be too liberally en
riched. A great degree of fertility appears not
to be required to develop the excellencies of this
crop, which is indebted less to the soil than many
other vegetables, and more to the air, for the food
which perfects its growth. .

For the New England Farmer

WARTS ON PLUM TREES.

^Ir. Brown ; — I had noticed that my plum trees,

Some days later, however, about the 20th of
June, we found on examination of the tumbler,
that these warts had become masses of black, po-
rous matter, evidently eaten through and through
by some worm. Still there was enough of cohe-
sion about each mass to preserve its form, except
that it was somewhat increased in size. Opening
these masses, we discovered in each a small white
grulj with a dark head ; in some, more than one
grub. A few days later, this grub liad become a
chrysalis. Still later I examined again, and found
on removing the cover, several small black flies,
of slender form, such as we had never before no-
ticed, some of which escaped us. These I sup-
posed to proceed from the warts, because on ex-
amination I found in some of them certain little
insects, evidently becoming transformed into flies.
One chrysalis I opened, contained an insect of a
grayish color, looking as much like a bug as a fly.
Another contained the same insect in a torpid
state, which after a little exposure to the air be-
came active. These, I suppose, both became flies
after the lapse of a little more time.

Of the connection between the little worms first
mentioned, and the warts, I have no opinion, be-
cause they soon after appeared in countless myri-
ads, on trees upon which there are no excrescences
like those on plum trees.

From the other facts I draw the following infer-

of which I have several varieties, durin"; somci ,. , ,, ,., ,, ,, n i i *. • ' i 1 1

, • re 1 1, u 1 ' ences — that the little lly alluded to, is prob.ibly

years, were becommo; disngured by the unseemlyi ,, ■ ,■ n i • ^i- n I i • i.i"^

•' ' r 1 • I n 1 I •' i the mischief-makcr in this case — that durin<<; the

excrescences, or which there have been so manyi -^ a •, -^ • i " xi

, . , V 1 i. T i.1 1 i. T 1 1 ii. i. t summer it deposits its ejro; in, on, or under, the
complaints of late. 1 thou";ht i would attempt, at' , • r. • ^ ., •^i'"' • i.i ^ ■

A ... o . ,. , s\ I bark, infusing therewith a poison that occasions

least, to ascertain the cause, since this knowledge ^, ' '^ , • ^ r xi

• -J. 1,1 t T i. * -1 T 1 1 the excrescence, winch forms over the i

18 indispensable to a cure. Last April, I resolved „. , n , i- 1 1 -i. .i i. i -t. i-

i i ,^ n . .r.^^. .,11 n.^ f-.„,\„i -,1 I ,1 K. effectually to shield it — that here it lies
to cut up at tlie roots all the trees which had be-' ^, . y ^., ^, , ,.

egg so as
s through

warts, that the wood was in almost every in
stance diseased to tlic heart. While engaged in
this process, my son severed a number of the
warts carefully from their stock, and placed them
in a tumbler covered with a glass cup-plate. Two
or three weeks subsequently, on a further exami-
nation of the trees, he found several warts which
had commenced a vigorous growth, about which
were a multitude of little white worms, apparent-
ly of the same species as those which later in tlie
season committed such fearful depredations iu
the orchards and otlier fruit trees through tlie
country. In some cases, these worms had formed
their nest aV)out the wart, in others, seemed im-
bedded undm* the bark, so that when disturbed,
they would r.^tirc from view. But the wart, ratii-
er than the adjacent parts of tlie limb, seemed to
be their home. This was before tlie worms made
their appearance on the trees generally.

Several pieces of limb having these excrescences
upon them, my son cut off, and we placed them
with the warts before collected, in the tum])ler,
which we placed in a vessel of water, hoping
thereby to prevent the escape of anything from it.
The genial atmosphere of the house hastened the
growth of the worms, and ns our covering wag not
sufficiently close they escaped, and many of them
were drowned, while some succeeded in swimming

preventiv(
cut off, either in the autumn, or early in the
spring, every branch on which an incipient wart
makes its appearance, and burn it.

I know, Mr. Editor, that it is not commonly
safe to base a theory upon a single experiment, or
investigation. I therefore only give you the pro-
cess of my investigation with its results, and my
deductions therefrom, without any strong confi-
dence that these deductions are correct. Perhaps
others have investigated this matter in a similar
way. If so, I hope we may learn the results.

Certain it is, that unless something can I)e done
I to arrest the destruction now in progress among
the plum trees of this region, we shall soon cease
to enjoy this delicious fruit. L. jSIattuews.

Cormmll, Vt., Feb., l'^b\.

Fine IIogs. — A few days ago, we saw at stall
70, Quincy Market, eight of the finest porkers of
the season. They were the property of J. Fogg,
Esq., of Deerfield, Mass — I Suffolk, but one year
oUl, and the lot weighed 2,428 jxtunds. They were
fed on equal parts of l>room corn seed and Indian
corn, both ground, until the first of January, and
after that time on corn meal alone. The first prc-

it the Franklin

mium was awarded thesi; swine
to the edge of the vessel, from which they Ictl Cattle Show last fall. The weiglit given above
themselves down by their web to the table on was after the shrinkage hail l)ecn deducted. We
which the vessel stood. These worms soon disap- have never seen a finer lot of pork.

240

NEW ENGLAND FARxMER-

May

THE HORSE HOE.

This out repiT.'>eiits an instrumont recently in-
vented l)j tlie manufixctnrers, Messrs. Ruggles,
NouKSE, Mason & Co., ■which they name the Horse
Hoe, and which we have used through one season
and have spoken of in terms of approbation. It
is designed for the hoeing or cultivation of corn,
the various root crops, cotton, hops, young nurs-
eries, and hoed crops generally ; is quite light,
easily managed, and of very easy draught for one
horse or mule ; a tliorougli pulverizer of the sur-
face-soil, and exterminator of weeds and grass.
The forward tooth is simply a coulter, to keep the]

implement steady and in a straight-forward direc-
tion ; the two side or middle teeth are miniature
plows, which may be changed from one side to the
other, so as to turn the earth from the rows at
first weeding when the plants are small and ten-
der, or towards them in later cultivation — at the
option of the operator ; the broad rear tooth ef-
fectually disposes of grasses and weeds, cutting off
or rooting up all that come in its way, is a thor-
ough pulvwizer of the surface, sifting the earth
and weeds tlirongh its iron prongs or fingers in
the rear, leaving the weeds on the surface to wilt
and die, and the ground level and mellow. For

hoeing carrots, turnips, &e., where the rows are
narrow, the side teeth are taken out, and the roar
tooth with the forward one as a director to guide
the instrument, hoes and mellows the ground be-
tween the rows very perfectly. The mortises i»
the frame or wood work of this instrument are
adapted to receive the kinds of teeth used in the
Expanding and Reversable Tooth Cultivator ,which
we shall give next week.

For the New England Farmer.

POTASH AS A FEKTILIZEE.

Mr. Editor: — Seeing an inquiry in your paper
of 25th ult., whethtn- any one had ever made use
of the Carbonate of Potass as a fertilizer, I answer
that 1 liavc tried it on a limited scale with satis-
factory results. jNIy immediate object, in the first
place, Avas to kill out the sorrel in a garden bed.
Having liroken up a Riiiall piece in a favorable spot
in a pasture for the purpose of raising carrots, I
found in a few years that the sornd was creeping
in from tlie adjoining grass ground faster than I
coukl conveniently destroy it l)y tlie use of ashes,
lime or the hoe. I therefore sislected a particular
l>ed for the trial of tlie Potasli, reserving others for
other experiments, having for convenience divided
the piece into lieds 2 rods long and i rod wide.
As sorrel roots or rath(;r runners are near the sur-
face, I iirst lev('lh;d the bed, and then sowed on
the surface 2 ll>s. Saleratus, and raked it in with
a common garden rake, scarcely doubting but that
the ley would be so strong as to prevent my seeds

year were the best I ever raised, but 1 am not cer-
tain but that tome other fertilizers that I had ap-
plied in previous years aided in bringing about
this result. The Potash seems to hav(! a three-
fold Ijeneficial effect. It not only siccetens, as it
were, the ground, but furnishes food for plants,
and servrs to keep the soil moist liy absolving
moisture from the atmosphere.

As Ammonia is exceedingly volatile, I think the
method of applying diluted Aqua Ammonia, as
suggested by your correspondc^nt, somewhat objec-
tionable. I propose the following, instead, which
will, at least, have this recommendation, "if it do
no good it will do no harm." The Carbonate of
ximmonia is made by mixing Chlor. Ammonia with
Lime. Any one can satisfy himself of this hy pul-
verizing a little of the former (tlie common Sal.
Am. of the shops, which is not costly) witli rather
more tlian an e(pial (quantity of pulverized Lime ;
A doulile decomposition takes place and Carb. Am-
nion, and Clioride of Lime formed. Now if Lime
be ploughed in, and intimately mixed with the
soil at a considei-abio depth, and a small quantity
of Sal. Amnion, be scattered on tlie surface and
raked in, it will slowly and gradually dissolve, and
coming in contact with lime, will give out Ammo-
nia, which will be absorbed by tlie soil and be taken
up ))y the plants as required l>y them. A similar
mutual decomjiosition takes place, and Ammonia
is evolved if pearlash is used instead of Lime. Per-
haps charcoal would be a good addition as an ab-
sorbent. ■ But after all, Mr. Editor, a single line
of successful experiment is worth a whole page of
theory. I hope that some of your readers who have
leisure and means, will try the above and other

from sprouting. JJut I was mistaken ; they came experiments, and let us know the results, wliether
up and grew finely. I have since tried it on other favarable or otherwise. I suppose that the par-
crops with decided good cfTect. My onions last ' ticular proportions of the ingredients I have men-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

241

tioned are of no great consequence, provided there
be an excess of Alkali. Should this mode of gen-
erating Ammonia prove successful, and I see no
reason why it Avill not, it may, after a few exper-
iments to ascertain tlie proper quantities, be use-
ful in proparins^ hot-beds, &c. G. P.
New Salan, March, 1854.

For the Ifrw En^ldiid Fanner.

COUHTSY FARMERS AND CITY ME-
CHANICS-No. 2.

Mr. Brown : — In my first article, which you
did me tlie kindness to pulilish, I promised to say
something at another time upon tiie subject of pro-
viding for and rearing families in the city and in
the country. IJut 1 tindit a much liarder subject
to write upon tlian to think about, as indeed most
8u})jects are to tliose little aocustom<!d to giving
their thoughts a "local habitation and a name."

I remark, then, byway of beginning, that botli
my own experience and my observation of the ex-
perience of others, teach me that the advantages of
a city arc decidedly on the side of single or
unmarried mechanics ; and that it is from con-
fining their observations to this class, that country
people form a too favoraltle o{)inion of city life. I
am willing to admit that an unmarried mechanic,
if a superior workman, and blessed with health
and those habits of economy learned only in the
countrj', maj/hvy up more money in the city, than
a journeyman farmer can in the country ; or, if a
little given to display, that the city j'outli may
dress and k(!ep himself in better-looking style than
can the farmer-) loy — his boots muy l)e higher pol-
ished, and so may liis manners, — (both are some-
times injured by the process) and that on his
visits to his country friends he may display a free-
and-easy bearing in company that is admired bj'
the ladies, and envied by tlie other sex who find
themselves doomed to tread the "dull round their
fatliers trod."'

But folks ai'e not always young, not always
single. In both city and country, matrimony
seems to bo as much in the course of nature, as
the rheumatism or old age. The city mechanic
with his ten dollars a week marries ; and — a most
favorable supposition — let him choose a country
girl for his wife ; one who was bi'ought up to
similar habits of economy with himself. Over-
persuaded by the advice of city friends, they com-
mence life by "boarding out." Six dollars and a
half a Aveek, leave three and a half for clothing,
firewood, lights, &c. They soon find this will not
do. They must keep house. Several half days
are lost in "house-hunting," and the happy pair
find themselves established in their humble home.
Established .' Have they bought the tenement
they occujiy, and mutually resolved to take hold
and pay lor it as quickly asjiossilile, so that their
home though homely may soon be their own!
Nothing oi the kind. City journeymen seldom
think of such a thing. They have hired it — hired
it for a month ! Ten dollars a month fur bare
rooms to live in ; but every body says it is vcnj
cheap. Many who have no larger wages jiay one
hundred and fifty, two hundred, two hundn^d and
twenty-five, fifty, seventy-tivo, and even three hun-
dred dollars a year.

Here then they have fairly "begun the world."
Every thing has been "put to rights." The car-

pets, furniture, &c., which were selected almost
as much on the opinions of their newly made city
friends, as liy their own taste, and which cost
rather more than what their own judgment dicta-
ted as necessary to "l)egin witli," have been ar-
ranged, and are all paid for. The good house-wife
has had time to look about the premises a little
more thoughtfully, and to contrast her new home
with the old one that she left so willingly. She
has nuudi better furniture ; her parlor, though
suuiUer than the "square-room" of her father's
house, is neater, prettier, nicer. But her empty
cellar, or no cellar at all I She does wonder, as
the "marketing" is brought home, that she used
to think so little of the hug.s potato-bin, the bar-
rels of pork, the firkins ot Initter, pots of lard,
boxes of apples. Heaps of "garden sauce, "_ shelves
of milk, cream, cheese, pickles, good old eider ap-
ple-sauce, &e., that used to clutter-up //;uV cellar.
Now, all these things must be purchased — and at
such prices! Nine dollars for a little heap of coal,
and the same for a cord of wooil to kindle it, twen-
ty-six cents for a pound of butter, thirty to Ibrty
lor a peck of potatoes, twelve to twefity for a pound
of fresh meat, twenty to thirty for a dozen of eggs,
and luckly if not stale, at that, — every pound of
lard, every string of onions, every quart of beans,
every pint of milk, and even every pail of water
(if they take the Cochituate) has a price, and a
price that must be paid or the article cannot be
had.

These are small things, to be sure, but " Small
sands the mountains make," cents make dollars,
and "trilles life," and it may be well for those who
envy the large wages of city mechanics to heed
even these small leaks that so many of us find
quite sufficient to sink our ships.

Now, to put the result of our cogitations, thus
far, into a sort of arithmetical statement, we will
allow our young house-keepers three dollars a
week for fires, liglits, provisions, &c., two dollars
and fifty cents a week for clotliing, bedding, fur-
niture, utensils, &c., and, say, twelve dollars a
year for pew-rent and two for use of library, and
for lectures, — making no allowance for a "hole in
the pocket" that is so often i'ound by the tempta-
tions of a city, none for theatres or concerts, none
for cigars, — and vie have,
Dr.

For rent of rooms, per year $1'20,00

For provisions, &c. " 156,00

For clothing, &c. " loO.OO

For pew-rent, library, &c. " 11,00

S'*-0,00
Cr.
By wages at $10 per week $520,00

Balance for a "rainy day" $100,00

Before taking this result as the basis of a com-
parison of the relative profits of city mechanics
and country farmers, several questions arise for
discussion. Do all city mechanics get as much as
ten dollars a week? Do not some get more > Do
their families always consist of only two members?
,\re they ever sick, or out of work ' Is their rent
ever rais5d. or their pay cut down ' Do they ever
move, despite the caution of Franklin, that three
removes are as l)ad as a fire ? These questions
can probably l)e answered by those who liave the
patience to read this article, as well as I shall do
it if I nuike the attempt in a liiture number of
the Farmer. A CiTV ^IecuajSIC.

Boston, April, 1854.

212

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

May

For the Ifcw Erij^iand Farmer.

THE PROFIT OF FATTENING SWINE.

Tlie following facts are offered in corroboration
of tlio views advanced in my late article on the
profit of fattening swine in New England ; —

On the KJth of December last, 1 pnrchased four
pigs which were the remnants of two litters born
about the same time in September previous, and
put tlicm in warm apartments, embracing a
place for making compost and an eating room
leading out of it. Once a fortnight or so during
the winter, about a cord of either muck or scrap-
ings from the woods was thrown into the pen, and
daily the manure from two horses. Tlie pigs
were kept bountifully supplied with sti-aw for
bedding, which they arranged in one corner of
the compost pen to suit themselves. Enough fer-
mentation was generated in the compost to make
their bed warm, and so far to keep out frost that
it only appeared in a liglit scum during the very
coldest days. The scrajiings from the woods con-
taining some nuts together with decayed sticks
and roots, contributed to the health and thrift of
the pigs.

_ From Dec 16th, to the 18th of March, the
pigs had as much corn and cob-meal as they would
readily eat, when it becoming inconvenient to ac-
commodate them longer with apartments, they
were sold to the butcher at 8c per lb. — he throw-
ing in the slaughtering.

Immediately after feeding them ata given time,
the meal for the next feeding was measured out
and put in the bucket and hot water added — the
contents standing in a warm place to soak and
swell, and I)ecoming vei-y much increased in bulk
before being fed to the pigs. The meal consumed
was exactly measured from day to day, and the
quantity is known to be as follows : —

First 29 days four pigs ate 348 quarts, or 12 quarts per day.
Next 49 " " 8S2 " 18 " "

Next 15 " " 336 " 21 " "

Total corn and cob consumed 156G quarts, or 49 bushels.

In order to satisfy myself of the amount of corn
involved in the above 49 bushels of corn and cob-
meal, I have measured out enough corn in the
ear to make, if shelled, just a bushel of corn, had
it cracked and ground, and found it made by
stricked measure a little more than two bushels
of corn and cob- meal. An inferior quality of corn
in the ear miglit not quite hold out measure when
ground ; luit I am satisfied that a full medium
quality will hold out, where the toll is paid in
money, and shall therefore call the above 49 bu-
shels of corn and cob equal to 24^ bu. clear corn.

The four pigs weighed, dressed, G16 lbs-., and
made some 10 loads of compost more than would
otherwise liave been made. They may therefore
be accounted with as follows : —

616 lbs. of |iorlc, a 8 c., net $49,28

Deduct 49 l)u. corn and cob, or 24i bu. clear

corn, a $1 per bushel 24,50

Toll for prindinK 49 bu. corn and cob, a 4 c.

per bu 1 ,96

Paid for pigs, Dec. 16th, $4 each 16,t)0 42,46

Balance, over and above $1 per bu. for corn

consumed, of 28 c. per bu., or in all 6,82

And the pigs have left 10 loads of compost,

worth a bushel of corn each 10,00

From wliicli deduct, if you please, the cost of

supply injr the raw material, say 50 c. per

load, which is rather too high 5,00 5,00

I regret that I did not have the pigs weighed on
the lOth of December, because if I had done so
it would be easy now to find how much more pork
a Imshel of corn ground, cooked and fed with the
addition of the cob was in this case made ; Imt
from as exact an estimate as I can form, judging
from the weight of some of the better pigs of these
two litters, sold a few days previous to the time
1 bought mine, I am induced to think the pigs
must have gained not far from 15 ll)s. of pork for
each bushel of clear corn consumed ; which, con-
sidering that the fattening process was conducted
during the very coldest portion of the year, argues
pretty well for feeding corn and cob ground to-
gether.

1 have briefly to add to my former remarks on
selecting pigs for fattening, that so far as I know,
pigs of a round, barrel-like frame are apt to yield
rather thin pork and too much offal ; but those
having extra thplh of carcase, and not so fine bred
as to lack bone to sustain them while fattening,
nor so coarse bred as to be too late in maturing,
but of a just proportion in this regai-d, are the
right kind for profit. Pigs bred too fine, early
cripple in the legs when fed high, so that they are
unable to exercise sufliciently to promote healthy
appetites and strong digestion, and therefore make
but light weight, and their pork is not generally
so saleable nor desirable for domestic purposes as
that of younger pigs of the first quality. Pigs
with rough, staring bristles and a generally well
look, are not so kindly to fatten as those of a mel-
low and wavy appearance and quiet disposition.

F. HOLBROOK.

Brattleboro\ March 28, 1854.

PLANT THE FRUIT TREES.
Those who have the 4th volume of the Monthly
Farmer, are referred to the excellent Essay by Col.
Wilder, on the varieties and preservation of fruit,
on pages 194 and 195, and to the list given by
Mr. French, of Braintree, on page 197 ; also to a
selection of pears on page 225, and on page 241,
same volume for a list by Mr. Jaques, of Worces-
ter. But for the convenience of those who cannot
make this reference, we give selections fi'om the
lists of these gentlemen.

CoL. Wilder's List.

APPLES.

Williams,

Minister,

Fameuse,

Ilubbardston Nonsuch,

Roxbury llussi't.

For Winter Sweet Apples ;

Seaver Sweet,

Danvers Winter Sweet,
: Tolman's Sweet,

Lyman Sweet.
PEAKS.

For twelve varieties, add :

Andrews,

Belle Lucrative,

Seckle,

Flemish Beauty,

Urbaniste,

Glout Morceau.

Profit on the four pigs $11,82 |

For three sorts :
Large Early Bough,
Gravenstien,
Baldwin.

For six soris, add :
Red Astrachan,
Porter,
Rhode Island Greening.

For twelve sorts, add
Early Harvest,

For three varieties :
Bartlett,

Vicar of Winkfield,
Beurre d'Aremberg.

For six varieties, add .
Bloodgood,

Louise Bonne de Jersey,
Golden Beurre of Bilboa.

PEACHES.

For three sorts .- For six sorts, add ,

Early York (serrated foliage,) Large Early York,
Crawford's early, George Fourth,

Old Mixon Free. Crawford's Late.

1854.

KEW ENGLAND F.UIMER.

^3

Mr. French's List.

As the best early apple, Mr. Frencu recommcmlf^
tlie Early Harvest. The best apple is the White-
Scek-iio-Iurther. If he had but one apple tree, he
would prefer the R. I. Greening. The best sweet
apple is the Seaver. For two varictes, he reeom
mends the Porter and Rhode Island Greening
For the four best summer variotiea, the Harvest,
Red Astrakhan, "Williams Favorite, and Summer
Pearmain. Four best autumn varieties. Porter,
Fameusc, Gravenstein, and St. Lawrence. Best
five winter varieties, R. I. Greenini;, Whitc-Seeak-
no-further, Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, and True
Nonsuch. The best apple for stewing is the Haw-
thornder.

If he could have but one cherry, it would be
Downer's Late Red ; the best of all cherries is the
Knight's Black Eagle. The earliest cherry that
is prolific is the May Duke — the latest the Late
Duke.

The Green Gage he considered the best of plums
If one plum is to be selected, he would prefer
Prince's Imperial Gage; for two, add Smith's
Orleans;* for three, Gee's Golden Drop.

George Jaques' List,
pears on quinck.

NAME. TIME OF RIPENING.

1. Ueurre d'Amalis Sfpttmber.

2. Louise Bonne de Jersey Sept. and Oct.

3. Vr'oaiiiate Oct. to Nov.

4. Duchcsse d'Angonleme November.

5. licurre Uiel Nov. and Dec.

6. Glout Morceau Dec. and Jan.

PEARS ON PEAR ROOTS.

1. Rosteizer Aujj. and Sept.

2. Rartlett Sipteml)er (curly.)

3. Flemish Beauty September (late.)

4. Seckcl October.

5. Dix Oct. and Nov.

6. "iJeurre d'Aremberg Dec. and Jan.

Extending the list, I would add, —

7. Madeline August.

8. Andrews September.

9. Rclle Lucrative September.

10. Louise Bonne de Jersey Sept. and Oct.

11. Trbaniste Oct. and Nov.

12. M'inter Nelis Dec. and Jan.

APPLES.

1. Tortcr Sept. and Oct.

2. Oraveustein October.

3. Uubbardston Nonsuch Nov. to Feb.

4. 11. I. (Jreening Nov. to March.

^ f>. Balilwiu Dec. to .March.

* 0. Uoxbury Russet March to J une.

The best four sweetings, perhaps, are, —

1. Large Early Bough August.

2. Jersey Sweeting Sept. and Oct.

3. Danvers Winter Nov. to April.

4. Ladies' Sweeting Jan. to May.

We observe that in the above lists tlie old St.
Michael is omitted. When in perfection, tliis
pear is scarcely excelled by any that grows ; or,
at any rate, by only three or four varieties. Of
late years, we arc told that it has succeeded quite
well in many localities. In setting even one dozen
of trees, we should certainly include the St. Mi-
chael,— known also as the White Doyenne, Vir-
galieu. Butter Pear, &c.

For the New England Farmer.

ILLINOIS FAEM IMPLEMENTS.
Mr. Editor : — A leader of tlie IScw York Trib-
une supposes a plow with other than a cast iron
luould board, to be a curiosity now-a-days. Now_
without much humility, and as a corn grower ot
twelve years standing, in Suckerdoin, I am free to
say tliat I have never seen a cast iron mould board
plow in use in Illinois ; yet we do some plowing
liere. I propose giving a list and description pt
the implements I have in u.-k) for loorking the soil.
I use, in the first place, the "Breaking Plow,"
drawn l)y four yoke of o.xen and cutting a slice
twenty inches wide and two deep, or an inch and
a half if quite level. The plow is 40 inches on
tlie bar, 34 on the edge of wing, is provided vyith
rolling cutter, and for mould-board is provided
with 4 rods placed one aV)Ove the other at inter-
vals of 3 to 4 inches, thus saving much friction
and weight, breaking 2^ acres per day. Next in
order is the cast steel pU)w, with wrought iron
bar, and cast iron upright ; the wing and mould-
board of cast steel from J to i of an inch tliick^
cutting a furrow 15 inches wide, and from 3 to 7
inches deep, as is required. The entire plow
weighs GO lbs., and can be held with ease by a
boy ten years old. For a span of liorses >vcighing
2200 or 2400 lbs., 3^ acres is a fair day's work.
My harrow is an old-fashioned triangle frame with
I'J teeth ; a little Ijchind the age.

For sowing small grain, I use a machine run-
ning on two wheels and dwiwn by one horse, sow-
ing ten feet wide each passing and 20 acres per day.
For marking up corn ground the first way I use a
sled with 4 runners, 3 feet long 4 feet apart, and
drawdi by two horses ; 30 acres is a day's work,
fhen with the "corn planter" drawn by a span
of horses, with a boy to ride on the machine, and
handle the tricker, and a hand to guide the team,
2 rods at a time are furrowed, crossed and covered,
and 15 acres are planted per day.

The next is the "Cultivator"' used when the
corn is small ; then the "Tending Plows" of cast
steel, and "riglits and leits" wliich _ we run by
pairs. They cut a ten inch furrow in width, are
rio-ged Avith one handle each, and one horse at-
tached to each plow, but the plows are not at-
tached to each other at all, only the horses are at-
tached to each other by a double rein, such as are
used always in driving a span, which the plowman
puts under one arm and over thi other sliouldcr,
while he holds one plow in each hand. One horse
and plow are upon either side of the row of corn,
it passing under tlie plowman's right arm, as he
extends it to the opposite side of the row to hold
the right hand plow. Thus 7 or 8 acres are plowed
a day, "(one row being plowed at each passing) and
45 aci-es to the hand tor the season.

I have used the "Pairs"' or "Rights and Lefts"

for four years, thereby doubling the amount^ of

corn raised with the same labor, so far as tending

is concerned. 1Ie.>irv W. Mekri.\m.

Little Town, Tazewell Co., 111. Feb., 28, 18o4.

The Country Gentleman, Albany, N. Y. Lu-
ther Tucker, Publisher. There is not, in our
opinion, a more valuable agricultural journal in
the country than the one with the title above. Ita
views arc sound and clearly expressed. The paper

2244

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Ma*^

is made up by one who has a Printer's eye, and a
Printer's j?^. Tiio type is clear, the paper good,
and the whole managed with so much good taste
and good nature, that it is a model for us all ; and
if this paragraph should cause a thousand persons
to take it, pay for it and read it, weshall be glad.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

CKAXliERRIES.

In the March No., I oljserved an article on cran-
berry culture, and as I design going into the busi-
ness to the extent of a few acres, I want to incpiire
of some of your numerous correspondents who may
have had experience in the business, in regard to
the liability of tlie plants being hove out of the
ground by the action of frost, in wliat we call wet,
cold, heavy land, and thus killed. As we have a
good supply of this kind of land in Berkshire, it
may be turned to good account if the vines will
stand the frost. Wii. Nojsle, Jr.

Remarks. — Some of our readers, we know, have
had experience in this matter, and perhaps, will
aid brother Noble in his operations.

PALMER WORMS.

Mr. Editor : — Anticipating another visit from
those destructive insects, called palmer worms, the
present season, some of us have began to tar our
apple trees, and have caught a great many millers
and grubs, a sample of \vhich I send you. I sup-
pose the millers to be the male, and the gruljs the
female, as Ijy inspection you will find them to con-
tain a large number of eggs ; the tar should be ap-
plied every day , just before night, which can be
done with little labor, with a paint brush, having
the tar warm if the weather is cold. c. 9. w.

Chester, N. H., April IQih, 1854.

Remarks. — The insects had no form or comeli-
ness left, when they i-eached us.

STEEr FOR SEED CORN.

In your next paper please give your opinion
upon the subject of steeping seed corn ; ancl what
is the best sulistance for such a purpose; also,
whether any of the concentrated manures have
been profitably applied to potatoes. Being a young
farmer I desire to obtain information on the above
points. Ora J. Taylor.

Ludlow, Vt.

Remarks. — See article in another column, about
seed corn. We can tell you nothing satisfactory
about the potatoes.

USE OF SALER.VTUS, &C., IN BREAD-MAKING.

To D. F., Canaan Four Corners, Columbia Co.,
JV..y.—^We should be pleased to see your essay
on this subject, but could only extract briefly from
it.

BUCKWHEAT AND OATS.

John IIammett, Chilinark ,Mass . — Buckwheat is
the crop usually sowed for a green crop to turn
under. A bushel of seed is sufficient for good rich
land, where the seed is the desired crop. Taking
that quantity as the standard, and on a rich soil,
the poorer the land the more seed will be required.

BEET, TURNIP AND CARROT SEED FOK AN ACRE.

A Subscriber, Warren, Vt. — Of beet seed, it
will require between 3 and 4 pounds to sow an
acre v,nth a seed sower ; of turnip seed, i to 1
pound ; and of carrot seed from 1 to 2 pounds.

PUMPKINS.

M. Hinckley, Barnstable. — Make your land as
rich as you can — place the hills 8 feet apart, and
before dropping the seed, scatter some fine manure
over them ; leave a dozen plants for the bugs, for
awhile, then select one or two of the best for run-
ners. Alter they have gone as far as you think
a pumpkin vine ought to travel in a single season,
pinch off the ends of some of them and see what
the effect will be.

A barren pear TREE POUDRETTE.

New Subscriber, Eliot, Me. — Can a fruit tree
be compelled to bear fruit? The tree in question
was grafted to the Pound pear, at the time being
about two inches in diameter. I let it remain six
years, and never received a pear from it, then cut
the top off, and grafted it to the Bartlett pear,
which was four years since, and still no pears yet.
I thought I would let it alone this year; if it bore
fruit, well, if not, I should remove it, root and
branch. If there is any thing you can tell me to
cause ii to oear fruit you will oblige me much.
The tree is thrifty, and of good size.

When should poudrette be applied to corn ; in
the hill at planting, or on the surface at the com-
ing; of the corn ? and how much to a hill ?

Remarks. — If your pear tree does not blossom
this spring and sot the fruit, in June, say from
the 10th to the 15Hi, with a sharp knife slit the
outer bark down carefully, and remove it all from
the first set of limbs to the ground, and next year
your tree will probably fruit. Apply poudrette
broadcast, or in the hill before planting — a gill or
more to the hill.

STUFFING BIRDS.

E. N., Jr., North Dighton. — We have sent you,
by mail, a copy of the monthly Farmer, for July,
1852, containing full directions how to stuff birds.

Mr. J. W. CoLBURNE, of Springfield, Vt., writes
that he raised on his farm the past season 7i acre,
of corn, which averages 105 bushels to the acre,
weighing 56 lbs. per bushel, and the cobs 12 lbs. —
In the spring of 1852 he applied 40 ox-cart loads
of manure to each acre, and last spring 50 ox-cart
loads more, making 90 loads to each acre in two
years — each load containing 35 bushels, potato
measure. The corn was planted on the IGth of
May, with the corn-planter, dropping plaster and
ashes with the seed, about 5 bushels to the acre.
At the first hoeing, a single handful of ashes and
plaster w'as applied to each hill, and after the
second hoeing a table-spoonful of plaster alone. —
Three stalks were left in each hill. For this crop,
Mr. Colburne received the first premium, both
from the Vermont SUxte and Windsor County So-
cieties.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

245

oso. Either half may ^i^' //////// ¥///////// / / / /

e while the implement is /.' ////.•''//•''••■/■.'■/•■'••'•'' ••■'.•' /

' / / .' /. / '■ / f ! > ' ' ' ' ' '

IMPROVED HINGE HARROW.

Among the various kinds of harrows in use, we
are inclined to think that the one represented
above, whieh we find illustrated in the Catalogue
of Messrs. Kuggles, Nourse, ^lason & Co., will
be found to possess more advantages than any
otlicr. /

This harrow is usually made to take a breadth
of 5 feet. It is composed of two pieces of frame- /
work, connected to each other by iron hinges /
coming together like common l)arn-door hinges,
and which, extending across tlie pieces width- / .>
wise, are bolted to each bar, thus greatly /
strengthening the harrow. The ends of the/ /
bars are secured from splitting by iron rivets. / ,
The harrow may be folded double, or separated''//
into two parts for the convenience of transpor-/// ^
tation or other purpose
lifted for any purpos

in motion ; and the easy and independent play
of the parts up and down upon the hinges, en-
ables the instrument to adapt itself to the
surface of the ground in all places, so that
whether going througH hollows, ^r over knolls
and ridges, it is always at work, and every
tooth has an operation upon the soil. There
are thirty teeth in the harrow, and yet they stand
cqui-distant and wide apart each way, so that
while from their number and arrangement the
ground is worked fine, they are not liable to clog.
This harrow is made heavy for rough land and the
pulverizing of sod furrows, or light for grain and
grass seed. It is a very light, pretty harrow for
one horse, when made of bars 2^ inches square,
with teetli of half-inch steel ; and thus made,
and carrying a breadth of five feet, one horse will
harrow as much ground, in a day with it, as is
usually accomijlished by two horses. It is made
to draw either end forward ; and when the teeth
become dull by working in one direction forward,
tlie teeth may be hitched to the other end, and
they are sharp again.

For the New England Farmer.

CATTLE OF NEW ENGLAND.

On the last page of an interesting paper on the
climate of New England, from the pen of Hon
John C. Gray, President of ^Massachusetts Soci
ety for Promotion of Agriculture, we find tlie fol
lowing sentence — "A race of cattle has grown up
among us whicli, though a very moderate degree
of attention has been paid to them on the whole,
\H higlily distinguished by its vaUialile (jualities in
every essential particular ; and although tlie im-
portation of valuable foreign animals should liy
no means be discouraged, it is far from certain
that the liest mode of improving our domestic cat-
tle is not by careful selections from our own
stock." It IS pleasing to find the views hereto
fore put forth by Pickering, fjowell and Colman,
in relation to the cattle bred and born on the

rocky hills of New England, so fully indorsed by
one so competent to judge. If we do not mistake,
these are the sentiments of the reflecting yeoman-
ry of the country. If this be so, let our motto
be — improve the native breed.
March 4, 1854.

NORFOLK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We notice by the Dec/ham Gazrtte, that the
Sixth Annual Meeting of this Society was holden
at Dedham, on Wednesday, the 29th of Ma^ch.
Oflicers and a Board of Trustees were elected for
the year : —

Marshall P. Wilder, President.

Benjamin V. French, ~

Samuel D. Bradford,

CnEEVER Newhall, 1 y.^^ Presidents.

John Gardner, [

Ralph Sawyer,

Charles C. Sewall,

Hon. Thomas Motley, of Dedhara, introduced
the following motion which was unanimously
adopted : —

That the thanks of this society be and are hereby presented to
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, for his very able and untiring exertions
in the cauae of Agrculture in general, and especially for his de-
ration to the best interests of this society from its commence-
ment,and also for his consent to yield to us tliose acceptable ser-
vices for another year.

On the adoption of the above vote Mr. Wilder arose, and in an
elo<iuent and feeling manner, acknowlLMlge<I the gratitude and
happiness ej;])erienced, in finding that his services in behalf of
the society and to the great cause of agriculture, had been ap-
preciated and declared, lie confesse<l that he had been a lover
and devotee of the cause of agriculture from his earliest years, and
that he had spent a large ])art of his life in its service, witli no
hope of reward l)eyond the genenil welfare, and the generous
and kind apjireciation of his friends and the community. He
trusted that the society woulil continue to i)rosper, that its ben-
efits to all classes of the community would be increased, and to
that end his services, while living, should never be wanting.

The efforts of the Norfolk Society have been
singularly successful — not lucky, there has been
no luck about it, but this success has been the le-
gitimate result of good management and hard
work ; controlling everything at the right moment,
and leaving nothing to chance. With such men

240

NEW ENGLAND PARMER

May

as compose its officers, and many whom we recog-
nize in the new list of Trustees, the Norfolk Socie-
ty will make a broad mark not only upon the land,
but on the minds of the people.

£ab"K3* fDi'pavtmcnt.

Will ASHES DISSOLVE BONES.

A friend of ours, in whom we have entire con-
fidence, informs us tliat seven years ago lie fell in-
to tlie practice of reducing bones by means of ash-
es, by a sort of fortunate blunder. Being at the
head of a large family, in which fresh meat was
largely consumed, he Ibund that his Irish cook was
in the habit of tlirowing all the bones out of the
back window. This drew such a bevy of dogs,witl)
voices, bass, tenor and treble, about the house,
that it was impossi'ile to sleep quietly. In order
to withraw temptation from the dogs, and to pre-
serve the ))ones ior the use o^ his land, to be pre-
' pared in some way then unknown, he ordered
the bones to be carried and put into an old sugar
hogshead, place in a grove at a little distance from
the house, and the ashes from the kitchen to be
thrown on them, the hogshead to be uncovered
that the rain might fall into it. Whenever an of-
fensive smell ai'ose from the btmes, which was only
in dry times, he found that a little water thrown
on prevented it. As soon as the first Iiogshead
was full, another was placed by it and filled, and
then another. His intention was to use the ashes
and bones on Indian corn, supposing that by the
next spring the bones would be somewhat softened
60 much so that they might be pounded to pieces
with a sledge hammer on a flat stone. The ham-
mer and stone were actually procured for the pur-
pose. But no bones were found, except near the
top of tlie hogshead last filled. Instead of the
bones, were found soft soponaceous masses, retain-
ing the form and size of the original bones, but
none of their hardness. They were easily cut
througli with a shovel and mixed with the ashes;
and when so mixed and applied to corn at the rate
of half a pint to the hill, they proved an excellent
manure of corn. The experiment has been repciited
every year since with good effect, not only produc-
ing great crops of corn, but manifestly leaving the
ground in good order for a succeeding crop, with
but very little yard manure, no more than a quar-
ter of what would be regarded as a fair dressing,
Siiy from tiiree to four loads to the acre. The
land is a light loam, and has been under the plow
incessantly for more than twenty years, bearing
for the last eight years hoed crops every year, gen-
erally corn and potatoes alti.'rnately, but some of
the time corn two years in succatsion. — Country
Gentli inan.

Fall Cake and Fkkding oi- Sheep. — Shecj;
should never I)e permitted to grow poor in th(j
fall. Cive them the best feed you can, and if
consistent with your concerns, put tliem in the
yard at night, if at all cold or stormy, and in the
morning give them a little of the best hay you
have, or a few oats, and after they have eaten turn
them out again. Just remember at this season
they need care and attention, and your own good
judgment will suggest the maimer in which it
can be most properly bestowed. — Gcrinantown
Telegraph.

DOMESTIC RECIPES.

Honey Cake, No. 1. — Three-quarters of a pound
of butter, three-quarters of a pound of sugar, six
eggs, two pounds of flour, one table-spoonful of
ground cinnamon, half a gill of cream, one quart
of honey, one talde spoonful of dissolved salajra-
tus. Beat the butter and sugar to a cream ; beat
the eggs and stir in with the flour, cinnamon,
cream and honey. Beat the whole for ten min-
utes, then stir in the sukcratus. Line your pan
with several thicknesses of paper, well ))uttered ;
pour in the mixture, and bake it in a slow oven.

Honey Cake, No. 2. — Half-a-pound of sugar,
half-a-pound of butter, one pint of honey, one
table spoonful of cinnamon, one teaspoonful of
nutmeg, as much flour as will form a dougii. Stir
the l>utter and sugar together, add the nutmeg,
cinnamon and honey, and cnougli flour to form a
dough. Knead it well, roll it out in sheets, cut
it in cakes with a cake-cutter or the rim of a tum-
bler, place them on tins, and bake them in a mod-
erately hot oven. Before you set them in the
oven, wash them over with a little honey and wa-
ter mixed in equal quantities. — National Cook
Book.

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

inr A limited number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted in tlie monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

KATES.

For one square 15 lints, one insertion $1,00

For each subsequent insertion 50

[O" The above rates will be charged for all advertis.ments,
whether longer or shorter.

Fowls and Eggs.

The subscriber oflfcrs for sale during the
coming season, Brahma I'ootra Fowls and
Kggs. Fowls all carefully bred from as pure
blooded stock as can be found in the United
.^. States. All at the shortest notice, and care-

^^-ife^^^p" fully cooped and >;ent to any pi'.rt of the
United States, "or the Canadas. Price is $2,00 per doz.
Address jM^^t paid, C. P. AlJliOTT,

April 1,1854. 7w^ Moiitpclicr, Vt.

Wanted,

I N AITUENTICE, about 16 years of age, to leani the Car-
i'V riage-painting and Harness-making business.

Also, for sale, a large lot of Harnesses, covered and open
wagous, 1 slide-top liuggy, 1 two-wheeled Chaise, second-hand
Carryalls and Wagons, and 1 good Sulkey.

HOLLIS HASTINGS.
Framingham, Mass., March 25, 1854. tf

8iit!'oik Hogs.

^ FULL niood Suffolk Hoars.

1 4 " " "

5 lircediiig Sows of from J to J

B'or sale by

Andover, Mass., April, 8, 1854.

C. G. McNKIL.
3ir

Sutt'olk Swine.

The subscriber offers for sale, on reason
able terms, several full blood Suffolk Sows,
of different ages, two Boars, and a dozen
I'igs. Some of these animals are of the
^.^^ best quality for symmetry and beauty, and
are the descendants of Swine which were

imported from England last spring.

March 18, 1854

HKNKY M. CLAllliK,
Linden lla;e, Waltham.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

2t

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAGLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

TIIK superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. Tlie moile cf attaching the fDrward mould-board to the
beam, by which groat strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility-.

2. The entire and hamlsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row tiikcn by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill tothesurface,
and at the same time brrak open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving tlie plowed lan<l in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tolerably free loams, rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. Tlie remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCKSTER EAGLK
DOriiLU I'liOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to qnality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
tlieir working properties.

Manufictory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RUGQLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April 30, 1853.

Walnut Grove iVursen.

NEWTON CENTRE, MASS.

The subscribers have on hand as usual a large
stock of Fruit and other Trees, which they aru pre-
pared to sell at very reasonable rates. Among
others, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Grape
Vines, Raspberries, Blackberries, &c. &c.

Also, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Herbate
ous Roots, Creepers, &c. &c.

A splendid lot of Sugar Maple, 8 to 10 feet high, $30 per hun
dred.

6000 Apple stocks, $10 per thousand.
OOUO Buckthorn, 2 to 3 years, $15 to $20 per thousand.
Large and fine Norway Spruce j Arbor Vitaj for hedges and
!>tandards.

Fine lot Red Dutch Currants, $6 per hundred.
Suions will lie furnished, if ordered early.

Other things too numerous to mention. All orders will be prompt-
ly attended to, and the trees securely packed, when desired, for
which an extra charge Will be made. Catalogues sent to post-paid
applicants. All packages delivered in Boston free of expense.
JAMES lUDE & SON.
Newtou Centre, March 18, 1854. w*tf

Siiper-Plio.sphate of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found ecjual, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate effect, and. much
more permancintly benelicial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency of Phosphate, which is often
the Ciise. All crops are benefited by its application. It is com-
posed of ground botie, dec.'mposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
adileJ a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am-
monia, &».

For sale, with full clireotions for use, in bags of 150 pounds
each. No cliarge for i>ackage. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Liine."

GEO. DEVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commereial, corner of Chatham
Street, lioston.

Feb. IS, 1851. tf*

Choke Fowls.

For sale, one or two pair of fowls, of e.ach
of th.! following prolific and beautiful breeds:
Gold and Silver Pheasants, Spangled Po-
lands, P.olton Grays, Dutch every day L:iy-
;e;?^ll^=^J»^'?<^ '^'■''i ''I'lck Spanish and Black Uantani; also
--^i^^Ja :.^l^> .Java Pea Fowls,and splendid Turkeys of the
Great N irf.ll; or Virginia breed. Also for sile. Eggs for Hatch-
ing, frjin tlu White Shanghai, and some of the othfT breeds,
which are in sejierate enclosures, to ensure the purity of the
eggs. For further particulars address

II. II. LITTLE, East Marshfield,

Plymouth Co., Mass.
March 11, 1854. 4w*May

Fertilizers.

EEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Supi.T-lMiosphate of Lime. — "Deliui-g's No. 1."
Toudrette, of the best quality.
Gr.iund Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes.
Ground Bone, Hone Dun and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds of reliable quality at the lowest market price
GICO. DAVENPORT,
5 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1854, tf*

Fruit and Ornamental Trees.

Th.- proprietors offer for sale an extensive assort-
ment of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the choice standard varieties, for the Garden or
Orchard ; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grape Vines.
&c. 1000 Buckthorn and Arbor Vita; for Hedges.
S. & G. HYDE.
Newton Corner, March 18, 1854. w -tf

R. M. COPELAND,

Landscape and Ornamental Gardener,

WILL furnish plans of Cemeteries, Public Squares, Pleasure
Grounds, Gardens and Farms, with directions for tlieir lay-
ing out and improvement, also for the construction of every
species of buildings connected with Horticulture or Agriculture,
Barns, Green-Houses, Conservatories, Rustic Arbors, &c .
whether for use or ornament.

He will furnish lists of the most approved and desirable orna-
mental and useful Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers ; also, plans
and estimates fir every species of underdraining, and wdl coo-
tract for and superintend the removal of^trees of every size im
der fifty feet, at all seasons of the year.

Refers to — Hon. M. P. Wilder, Dorchester.
" S. II. Wai.i.ey, Roxbury.
" Samitbi, Walker, Roxbury.
" J. W. Edmasds, Newton Centre.
Prof. H. W. Longfellow, Cambridge.
J. W. Pkoctok, Danvers.
SiMo.v Brown, Ed. of N. E. Farmer.
R. M. C. may be addressed Box 326 Boston Post Uifice, an.1
No. 3 Dudley Block, Ro.xbury.

March 25, 1854. eow5t*2

The People's P«Jtciit Oiticc.

THIS well known establishment is still carried on under the
personal superintendence of its founder, ALFKEIJ E. BEACH,
by whom all the necessary drawings, specifications, and ilocu-
nients, for Patents, Caveats, &c., are prepared with the utmost
fidelity and dispatch.

Persons wishing for information or advice relative to Patents
or Inventions, may at all times consult the undersigned without
charpie, either personally at his office, or by letter. To those
living at a distance, he wouhl state, that all the needful steps
necessary to secure a Patent, can be arranged by letter, just as
well as if the party were present, and tlie expense of a journey
be thus saved. All consultations strictly private and e onliden-
tial. When parties wish to be informed as to the probability of
lieing enabled to obtain Patents, it will be neccsstiry for them
to forward by mail a rough (mtline sketch and description of the
invention. No fee or charge is made for such examinations.

"VXw first stfjj, always, in securing a Patent in this country, is
to prepare a model, from which the necessary drawings arc
made. If the undersigned is engaged to prosecute the applica-
tion and prepare the various papers, the mmlel must tirst be
sent to the PEOPLE'S PATENT OFFICE. S6 Nassau St., New
York, after which, it will be forwardi'd to Washington.

Models from a distance may be sent by express or otherwise.

For further information apply to or address, jiost paid,
ALFRED E. BEACH,
Solicitor of American and Foreign Patents,
People's Patent Office, 86 Nassau Street, New York.

Feb. 18, 1854. lw*May

Bound Volumes.

HACK VOLUMES of the NEW ENGLAND FARMER, ele
gantly bound in Muslin, Gilt and Embossed, are now for sale
I at this office.

248

NEAV ENGLAND FARMER.

May

CONTENTS or THIS NUMBER.

Ciilendar for May Page 201

Rancid ISuttcr 203

LeRislsitivc Agncultuial >lcetin);s — Preparing Seed Corn.... 204

l*roflt in Kaisiiig Corn — Concord Farmer's Club 205

On Renovating Soils 206

Classification of ^lanures — Bugology vs. Squashology 207

What a Oarden Should Be 20S

Sowing Clover Seed — Plums— The Curculio — 210

Larva; of the Crane Flj- — IIow to Make the Butter Come 210

Farming in New Kngland — No. 4 211

Raview of the Past and the Present Condition of Agriculture. .212

The Crow— Winter Worms 213

Tenth .\gricultural Meeting, — 214

The '-Witch Hazel." 215

Save the Bones — Middlesex County Society 216

Guano and Super- Phosphate 218

Horn Shavings — Plowman's Song — Early June Beet 219

Successful Butter-Making — Onions and Carrots 220

Facts in Human Life 220

Kleventh Agricultural Meeting 221

Prepare your f i round for the Mower — Barn Stables 223

Twelfth Agricultural Meeting 226

State Farm at Westborouph 227

Composting Lime and Ashes with Muck 228

Monthly Farmer for March 230

Potato Rot 231

I'se of Guano 232

Effects of Inuoculation 233

New Books — To Destroy the Curculio 234

Natural Beauty of Ornamental Trees 237

American Pomological Society-Koots of Plants-Transplanting. 238

Warts on Plum Trees 239

Potash as a Feriilizer 240

Country Farmers and City Mechanics — No. 2 241

The Profit of Fattening Swine — Plant the Fruit Trees 242

lUionis Farm Implements 243

Extracts and Replies 244

Cattle of New England — Norfolk Agricultural Societj- 245

Will Ashes Desolve Bones 246

Ladies Department 246

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Village Homestead as it should be — Improved 200

Ketchum's Mowing M.ichine 225

Sewing Machine 235

The Horse Hoe 240

Improved Hinge Harrow 245

NEW ENGLAND EAEMEU

Is published on the first of every month, by John Raynold' and
Joel Noiksk, at Quincv Hall, SoutJi Market St., Boston.
SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDLRICK HOLBROOK, > Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

ICr Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
O" All subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Far.mer is devoted exchisively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavcj jiages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of jjublication.

XT" Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricu/htral Familij Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings, Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper publislied
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency v/ill be carefully e.xcluded from its columns.

[Cj" Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as tlie Agricul-
tural department of the weekly.

03= Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for cither publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

(O" All orders and letters should be aildressed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS & NOUREE,
QciscY Hall, South Market Street, Bo.ston".
53= Po.STAGE. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.

To Farmers.

THE subscriber is now prepared to receive orders for the Im-
proved Poudrctte. It has been manufactured undtr the ad-
vice of some of the best agricultural chemists in tl-.e Country,
and is now commended to the public as the most certain and cheap
Fertilizer that can be obtained, acting favorably on all crops,
and on all soils. Six ditllrent articles are used in its composition,
which combined make it a perfect manure for every cri^p raised
in New En^dand. It is finely adapted to curn, and th9 present
and prospective high prices of this indispensable crop, ought to
induce all farmers to increase the quantity planted, whii.'h they
can do profitably by using the Improved Poudrette.

Prof. Mapessays of it, "no farmer using it once, will be willing
ever to dispense with it." I raised corn with it the past season
at a cost of less than 40 cts. ^ bushel. Price in Providence $1,50
^ bbl., cash. It can be obtained of Messrs. PARKER & WHITE,
59 & 63 Blackstone Street, Boston.

T. B. HALLIDAY,
13 West Water Street, Provi.ience, R. I.
Feb. 25, 1854. 3mo*

Cranberry Plants.

BELL, or Egg shaped Variety — commonly raised in New Eng-
land, and no doubt is th^ best variety for cultivation — they
are hardy and prolitic — sometimes produce over 250 bushels ^
acre, after 2 years, and neeils but little cultivation. Circulars
relating to culture and price will be forwarded to :f )plicaiits.

F. TROWliUlDGE,

New Haven, Conn
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Fruit and Ornamental Trees,

HEDGE PLANTS, SHRUBS, &c.

WILLIAM HALL, Bradford, Mass., oflers for
sale his u>ual assortment of Apple, Pear, Plum,
Peach, Cherry, Apricot, Quince, Current and
Gooseberry Trees. Ornamental trees of large size.
A fine collection of Roses including the New
White and Yellow Climbers. A fine stock of Buck-
thorn, Privctt, Arbor Vita; and Norway Spruce, plants for
fledges.

Orders promptly attended to.

April 9, 1853. tf.

One Dollar a Year! 60 Cents a Volume.
SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS !

The People's Joisniai,

AN ILLUSTRATED RECORD OF AtilurULTURE, ME-
CHANICS, SCIENCE, AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
"I7VERY' Number contains 32 Large Pages of Letter-Press,
iJ Beautifullv Printed on Fine Paper, and PilOFi'SELY IL-
LUSTRATEoVith KNGRAVINGS, forming at the end of each
year, TWOSI'LKNUIU VOLUMES, comprising Four Hundred
Pages, and Illustrated with about FIVE HUNDRED ELEGANT
ENGRAVINGS,

The entire cost being only ONE DOLLAR.

The People's Journal was commenced in November, 1853, and
has already attained a large circulation. The November Num-
ber contained 40 engravings, the December Number 72 engrav-
ings, the January Number 47 engravings, and the February
issue has 61 engravings, making in all 220 illustrations, although
only fonrnumbers have been published. These r^^'late to Science,
Art, Mechanics, Agriculture, and Useful Knowledge, in accord-
ance with the general plan of the work. No publication of the kind
has ever been produced with such magniticence or at so cheap a
price. It is admired and taken by every one who sees it

Terms. — To Subscribers — One Dollar a Year, or Fifty Cents for
Six Months. Subscriptions may be sent by mail in coin, jiost
office stamps, or bills, at the risk of the ]iublisher. The name of
the Post Office, County and State, where the pajjcr is desired to
be sent, should be plainly written. Address, postage paid,

ALFRED E. BEACH,
No. 86 Nassau Street, New York City,
Editor of the People's Journal.

A LIBERAL PISCOr.VT TO TOST MASTERS AND AC.KMTS.

Single copies 12' cents. Specimens sent on receipt of foiu-
jjostage stamps.

Feb. 4, 1854. 4w4*

SuHblk and Middlesex Figs.

I have now a prime stock of imported or
full bred Suffolk and Middlesex Swine, for
sale.

(0° Having just bought the entire stock
ofG. W. Wilson Fsq., of MALDEN, in-
cluding his fine old Boar and Breeding
Sows, I can fill orders with superior samples— old or young.
The stock can be seen at my residence, Boardman St., Melrose,
Mass. Address GEO. P. BURNHAM,

Box 22, Post Office, Boston.
Feb. 4, 1864. 4tw3tm^.

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, JUNE, 1854.

NO. 6.

KA.yNOLDS & NOURSE, PROPniETOns.
Office.. ..QuiNCY Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K nOLBUOOK,, ;
HENRY F. FRENCH

Associate
Editors.

CALENDAR FOE JUNE.

"A thousand beauties lost to vulgar eyes,
Now to tlie scrutinizing search are spread."

HE " leafy month of June," as
the poet Coleridge calls it,
never looked lovelier — never
^was more lovely — than it is
this year. April was a montli
of contradiction ; instead of
shedding gentle tears, it blew
fierce storms, and froze the va-
por upon the trees -which had
been driven from the "vexed Bermoothes," or the
angry Atlantic waves. Buds and flowers refused
to coma, and the birds fled to the shelter of forests,
or were liuricd witli snows and perished in the
fields. Bat Nature will have her ways, and she
has fast made up in the richness and luxuriance of
the latter Slay, her sad deficiencies in April.
Sufishine and showers have been frequent m May,
and rapid and rich has been the growth of vege-
tation, under their genial influences.

"The quicken is tufted witli blossom of snow,

And is throwing its perfume around it ;
The wryneck replies to the cuckoo's halloo,

For joy tliat again she has found it ;
Tlie robin's red breast
I'eeps over her nest,
In th-; midst of th'j crab-blossoms blushing' ;

And the call of the pheasant

Is frequent and pleasant.
When all other calls are hushing."

If all were as observing of the l>eauties of na-
ture as was lIowiTT, the writer of Uiesc charming
descriptive lines, a thousand instructive books
would soon take the place of those of the imagin-
ation, and a poor sickly imagination at that.

June, this year, is luxuriant almost beyond pre-
cedent ; t!ie abundant May rains have been
warmed by the sun, and have given the grass a
growth and a color which jirouiise well for the
hay harvest.

Tlie apple trees, now, this 18th day of May, are

in full blossom, and out of ^/y-^jfo years, from
IT'JS to 1840, we find but some half dozen years
when they bloomed earlier. Indeed, vegetation
has come forward with a Canadian puce during
the last sis or seven days.

Frost remained in the ground unusually late,
so that the redundant water could not pass freely
ofi", and tlie frequent and heavy rains in May have
prevented the plowing and preparation of many
acres of rather low and springy lands. Grass and
grain look well ; for tl'em the cool weather ha?
been favorable, so that, altogether, there is no
cause for despondency ; all will be right to those
who unite cheerful hearts with a proper degree of
skill. By the 5th of June, a wider breadth of
land will be devoted to corn than was, probably,
ever given to the corn crop in New England before.
People have also made liberal preparation for the
root crops, so that we trust a. larger portion of
corn than ever may be spared for the hungry
across the seas.

June is the most active month for vegetation ;
whatever gets a good start in this month will be
pretty likely to come to perfection ; "the farmer
must therefore be stirring Avith the lark, and
watch the whole circle of his fields." Great loss
and vexation are occasioned by seemingly slight
neglects now. If weeds, for instance, once get
above the plants you are cultivating, the injury
these occasion by retarding their growth is not
the only one, for in extracting them they disturb
and often break their roots, and thus destroy them.

Millet. — Wo still advise the gromng this crop,
!>oth for seeminer and winter fodder. Sow by the
middle of the month, cigiit to twelve quarts of seed
per acre.

The Gauden will require daily care.

IIoEiNc; iiuist not be neglected, in the hot, sunny
days.

Cateri'illaks. — These insectg have appeared ia

250

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

great numbers — make jelly of them as fast as pos-
sible.

Young Trees must not be allo-vYcd to retain
much fruit the first year or two of bearing.

Striped Bugs. — Scatter a little yellow snuff
over the plants ■when the dew is on them — not too
much, or it will destroy the plants.

The Curculio. — Sift lime dust or ashes over
the fruit when it is wet.

McLCii about young trees, shrubs, currants,
gooseberries, or anything else you wish to keep
moist — this and deep plowing are the antidotes
for drought. These are a part of the geoponics
of the month , and if neglected now, you will scarce-
ly catch up with them thi^i year.

HYBRIDIZING.

The doctrine of the cross fertilization of vegeta-
bles, or the "mixing," as it is termed, of certain
varieties, is now too well understood to admit of
a question in any mind. We hear farmers fre-
quently contending that potatoes of different kinds
will "mix" the first season they are grown in the
immediate vicinity of each other. Thus the
white and colored varieties, although previously
grown at a distance from each other, if planted in
alternate rows, or hills, will produce a speckled
progeny. But this is not the case. Crossing, in
the vegetable as in the animal kingdom, can only
be brought about in the natural way — i. e., by
cross impregnation or fertilization. All plants and
vegetables of the same genus, whose period of
blossoming is identic, are susceptible of hybridiza-
tion in intermixture, by means, and through the
agency of blossoms, and in no other way. The
pistils of the blossoms of one variety receive the
fertilizing dust, or fecundating pollen, from the
stamens of the other, and the seed necessarily con-
tains the germ of the variety with which it has
become impregnated by the intermixture.

In this way, a good kind of melon, squash,
pumpkin or cucumber, often has its valuable dis-
tinctive characteristics merged in those of some
less desirable kind, and vice versa. Indian corn
presents many varieties, and intermixtures are con-
sequently frequentjhere as in the culmiferous class.
The farmer should understand these things, in or-
der to proceed profitably with his labors.

Acknowledgments. — Our acknowledgments arc
due the Commissioner of Patents, and to the Hon.
Tappan Wentwortu, at Washington, for sundry
parcels of seeds ; to IIenrv Clark, Esq., of Poult-
ney, Vt., for a copy of the Constitution, By-Laws,
list of officers and premiums of the Rutland Coun-
ty ,Vt., Agricultural Society ,for 1854, and Charles

EMIGRANT AID COMPANY.

An act of incorporation for a company bear-
ing this title, was granted at the recent session of
our State Legislature. At a meeting of the per-
sons named in the act, held on Friday, aswe learn
from the Traveller, a list of by-laws was reported,
the more important of which provide for an an-
nual meeting in Boston on the first Wednesday in
June, for the choice of officers, and that the Board
of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor
more than fifteen members. A report was sub-
mitted detailing the proposed plan of operation,
which is to aid emigrants to homes in the West,
and by so doing secure the Western territories to
freedom. The capital is not to exceed $5,000,000,
and in no single case assessments greater than
10 per cent, are to be called for. The corporators
believe that if the Company be organized at once,
as soon as the subscription to the stock amounts
to $1,000,000, the annual income to be derived
from that amount, and the subsequent subscrip-
tions maybe so appropriated as to render the most
essential service to the emigrant ; to plant a free
State in Kansas ; to the lasting advantage of the
Company, and to return a handsome profit to the
stockholders on their investment. The report
closed with recommending a meeting of the stock-
holders on the first Wednesday of June, for per-
manent organization, and arrangements were made
to have subscription books for the stock immedi-
ately opened.

For the New England Farmer.

POTATOES— WHEAT.

Gent. : — Allow me to say to my farming
friends, a little spring wheat is worth trying for
^/j/5 year, and when September comes, two or three
acres of winter wheat may do them infinite bene-
fit another year. Three acres to each fi.xrm will
bread the farmers of New England.

In the various kinds of Jong potatoes, cut off
the end of S7nall eyes ; plant for the table and the
market, the body of the potato. Small eyes and
small potatoes must give a small yield, and finall
potatoes, to be consistent with nature. Please
try the experiment. Do you plant the tifs of
your corn'? Yours truly, u. p.

New York, May 1th, 1854.

To Preserve Fence Posts. — In so important a
branch of farming, we endeaver to give everything
that may have a beneficial tendency. A writer,
E. II., in the lixiral New-Yorker ,s.^eixks, confident-
ly of the following plan of preserving posts : — "I
prepare my posts for setting and then let them
season. I then take coal tar, and paint them with
three coats of the same. I paint the post from
about four inches above where they set in the
ground to the bottom, and the end that sets in
the ground also, — putting the paint on hot. A
gentleman informed me that he had known a fence
set in this way, that had stood forty years, and

.^,>..,.vjixx.ux.uxcuouuiu.j. i«..o..,auuv.....u... ^^^_^^ ^^ permanent then as at first. I think this
W. Stewart, Esq., of Washington, for a copy of 1 ^. • ^ • ^^^^ cheaner than lime, and more

the Census Returns of 1850.

way IS easier
durable."

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

251

For the Neiv England Farmer.

THE BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND,

THEIR PAST AND PRESENT HISTORY... .NO. 10.
EY S. P. FOWLER.

The Indigo Bird has not, like many others of
our feathered tribes, attracted general notice, at
least in the eastern part of INIassachusetts. It is a
bird more particularly found in gardens and or-
chards, during the breeding season, where, from
the top of an old pear tree, the mate will enliven

and animate by its song, the landscape glowingi _ , ^^ , in^ . 4 • t • i •

with beauty and fragrance under the rays of a |ogists as the Purple 1 inch or American Lnmet, is

noon-i'
tiie

or as most persons would say a blueish white,
without any spot or blotch whatever.

The food of the Indigo Bird consists principal-
ly of insects, worms, caterpillars and grasshop-
pers. They likewise feed upon various _ kinds of
seeds, and it is said they can be reared in a cage
on the usual diet of the Canary. The_ male bird
may be known by its rich blue livery, tinged with
verdigris green ; and the quills and tail feathers
dusky, edged with greenish blue. The female is
yellowish-brown, above, paler beneath. The beau-
tiful and cheerful songster known to our ornithol-

summit of the chimney, or the point of a forked
lightning rod. This beautiful bird is, with us, only
a summer resident. It passes the winter in trop-
ical America, and is first seen in Massachusetts
about the 20th of May. The female seldom at-
tracks much notice in her humble dress, and is
not often seen. She constructs her nest of grass
and leaves, and places it in a low bush. There
are singular discrepancies amongst ornithologists,
in regard to the color and markings of the eggs

distinctly remember the time, when this bird was
not to be found in the vicinity in which we re-
side, except in open pine woods or dense cedar pas-
tures. The Purple Finch is a very hardy bird,
having been found by Doct. Richardson on the
banks of the Saskatchewan river. This bird
leaves the eastern part of ^lassachusetts for the
South, from the first to the middle of October.
We noticed this autumn, many lingering after
this period and feeding upon th3 berries of the

of thelndifo Bird. MrT Wilson remarks, the! boney-suckle. In spring they arrive with us ear
eggs, generally five, arc blue, with a blotch of i Ij in May, and are seen Iccaing upon the expand

purple at the end.

Mr. Audubon, in his octavio edition of 1841,
says the female lays from four to six eggs, which
are blue, with a spot of purple at the large end.
In a note sent to Mr. Audubon by Doctor Brew-
er, -syhen speaking of the Indigo Bird, the doctor
says the eggs, four in number, are eleven-six-
teenths of an inch in length, seven-sixteenths in
breadth, and of a uniform white color, without
the slightest blotch or mark. lie continues, I
have never met with an egg having this purple
blotch at the larger end, which you [Audubon]
and Wilson mention as existing there, although
my observations are taken from the contents of
more than eight nests. By way of reply to Dr.
Brewer, ^Mr. Audubon says, I have before me at
this moment, an egg of the Indigo Bird, procured
by myself, which has several dots toward tlie larg-
er end, and of which the general color is not
pure white, but as described by Nuttall, greenish
white, or rather, as I would call it, lightish blue.
Mr. Nuttall says, the eggs of the Indigo Bird are
about five, and are greenish white, and are with-
out spots. Doct. DeKay, in his history of the
birds of New York, as given to us in the State
Survey, says, when describing the Indigo bird,
their nests are placed on some low Ijusli witli
white immaculate eggs.

Mr. Peabody, in his report on the ornithology
of Massachusetts, notices the discrepancies in re-

fard to color and markings of the eggs of the
ndigo Bird, and thinks the subject is greatly in
want of attention.

Mr. Giraud, in his Birds of Long Island, says,
the eggs of tbe Indigo Bird are usually five in
number, and of a bluish color.

Who can decide when distinguished ornitholo-
gists disagree ? We have not the vanity to sup-
pose that anything we may olTer, will settle this
question, but our own observations upon this sub-
ject,— with the eggs of tlic Indigo Bird on a table
before us, are these. They arc of a greenish.

ing flow«r-buds of the elm, and are conspicuous
from their beautiful appearance, and fine notes,
resembling those of the Canary. The pine forests
at the North appear to be the home of this Finch ,
and this partiality for evergreen trees continues,
when it visits our gardens and seeks our protec-
tion. It may l)e that the increased cultivation of
evergreens within a few years, in our gardens, have
served to attract them from their former haunts.
It is somewhat singular, from all we can learn,
that Wilson, Audubon or Nuttall, do not appear
to have ever seen the Purple Finch's eg^s or nest.
Mr. Nuttall says, "although several pair of these
birds usually pass the summer in this vicinity,
[Cambridge] in spite of the utmost diligence, con-
tinued for three years, I have never yet been
able to discover their nests, although I have seen
the female collecting wool from a fence for the
purpose. General Dearborn, however, informed me
that he had seen the nest of this species [in July.
1830] containing young,fixed on the low, horizon-
tal branch of a balsam fir, contiguous to a house,
and even near a path. The outside appeared to
be lined with lichens, and the wliole was neatly
and compactly formed. They seem indeed much
attached to evergreens, frequenting their shade,
during the heat of the day. They sing at vari-
ous times, but most vigorously in the morning and
evening."

Bonaparte remarks that much confusion exists
in the works of naturalists, respecting those finch-
es and bulfinchcs that are tinged with red. And
Swainson is almost persuaded that there are two
distinct species of these Purple Finches, which
not only Wilson, but all modern ornithologists oi'
America have confounded under the same name.

The male American Linnet^ or Purple Finch
may be known by the deep crimson on the head
and chin, with t!ie breast and rump paler, inclin-
ing to rosaceous.

Several pairs of these birds have built their nests
in our neighborhood, the past season. One was

252

NEW ENGLAND F.VRMER.

June

taken from the hranch of a pear tree, about fif-
teen feet from the ground. The bottom and out-
side of the nest was composed of small twigs, tak-
en from the larch and honeysuckle, of three or four
inches in length. These small portions of the end
of the branches were gathered })y the female bird,
by breaking them off Avith her bill, of a suitalile
length to form the bottom and sifles of her nest.
Upon this loose and open frame work, was laid a
close and compact nest, made from small fibrous
roots and strips of bark taken from a grapevine —
The inside was well lined with pieces of thread,
wool and hair, and contained four bright emerald
green eggs, marked at the larger end, with small,
black, unequal dots and blotches of dark purple.
The internal width of the nest was two inches and
a half, depth one inch and a half.

Mr. Audubon, in the 3d vol. of his "Birds of
America," New York octavo edition of 1841, page
172, makes mention of receiving a communication
from a friend well known as a distinguished Or-
nithologist, upon the habits of the Purple Finch.

In this communication to Mr. Audubon he says,
"I have had the good fortune to meet with its
nest this season. Mr. Gabot found another, and
is probably the first naturalist who has done so.
The nest which I found, was built in a cedar tree,
at the distance of five feet from the ground. The
tree stood by itself in a small pasture, which was
sparingly covered with half-grown cedars. The
nest itself was rudely constructed ; it was com-
posed externally of coarse grass and weeds, lined
with fine roots of the same, and little care seemed
to have been bestowed on its completion. The di-
ameter of the exterior was 7iine inches, the brim
three inches, the depth oneinch, the external depth
two inches, giving it thus a shallow or flattish
appearance. The eggs, four in number, were of
a bright emerald green." It is evident that Mr.
Audubon's Boston friend has made a mistake, in
the measurement of the nest of the Purple Finch,
and in the description of its eggs, or what is more
probable, the errors have occurred by the careless-
ness of the printer. From a conversation we once
had with Mr. Audubon, we are inclined to believe
that many errors exist in the writings of our Or-
nithologists on the subjects of nests and eggs of
our birds.

The claims of American Linnet or Purple Finch,
to the protection of the horticulturist, we will now
consider — and we are sorry liere to be compelled to
observe, that this l.)eautiful and interesting strang-
er, upon a more intimate acquaintance, indulges
in occasional habits tliat arc calculated to provoke
the cultivator of fruit, and to render him obnox-
ious. We Iiere allude to the mischief occasioned
by these l>irds in spring, by eating the expanding
buds of fruit trees. But this hal)it of the Finches
is, so far as we can learn, as we have before no-
ticed, only occasional . The buds of the elm , being
more sweet and mucilaginous, are preferred, and
constitute their pnucipal food in spring. IIow
extensive the injui-y sometimes produced by these
birds may have I>een, we do not know, but we
presume it is not great. We have never heard any
complaint of this sort, from cultivators in this vi-
cinity. Tlicir food, in summer, consists principal-
ly of insects, and in Autumn, when tliese fail,
they subsist on juicy berries, as those of the honey-
suckle. May we not claim for this fine bird tlie
protection of horticulturists? Those persons, who

derive pleasure in the cultivation of extensive gar-
dens, and love and seek the companionship of birds,
may do much to allure them from their woody
haunts, to the cultivated grounds and abodes of
men. Tiiiswe may eflect by the introduction and
cultivation of the diflerent varieties of forest and
ornamental trees and shrubs, in our grounds, par-
ticularly evergreens. There is a constant and nat-
ural tendency in some of our birds, to become at-
tached to peculiar kinds of trees and shrubs, usual-
ly found in tlie woods, in consequence of their af-
fording them food and shelter, or in lieing those
usually selected, in which to build their nests, and
rear their young. When tliose favorite trees of
particular birds arc removed to our cultivated
grounds, they are not unfrequently followed by
the feathered tribes. In this connection we would
notice, at long intervals, the visits to our gardens,
of that most interesting bird, the Wood Thrush.
But we can hardly suppose that this eminent
songster of the wood, with all his shyness and love
of the deep forest shade, will ever become an in-
mate of our gardens. And for the purpose of di-
recting the attention of farmers to this bird, who
never interferes with their crops, we will quote the
description given by Mr. Audubon of its note.

"The song of the Wood Thrush, although com-
posed of but few notes, is so powerful, distinct,
clear and mellow, that it is impossible for any per-
son to hear it, without being struck by the effect
which it produces on the mind. How often, as
the first glimpses of morning gleamed doubtfully
amongst the cluskj' masses of the forest trees, has
there come ujton my ear, thrilling along the sen-
sitive cords which connect that organ with -the
heart, the delightful music of this harbinger of
day ! The musical powers of this hermit of the
woods must be hoard to be fully appreciated and
enjoyed."

There is a more common species of Thrush found
in our woods,which is sometimes mistaken for the
Wood Thrush. This bird is Wilson's Thrush or
Veery. Its song, although resembling that of the
Wood Thrush, is less powerful, but is nevertheless
extremely pleasing. Wilson's Thrush, like its
near neighbor, the Cat Bird, is frequently in the
habit of leaving its haunts in the woods, to take
up its summer residence in our gardens, providing
it can be accommodated with shelter and shade,
wherein to conceal itself. The plaintive note ot
this Thrush is sometimes heard in a summer eve-
ning, after the close of day, and from this pleasing
habit of serenading, it has been called the Night-
ingale. The food of this specie^, consist of vari-
ous kinds of insects and worms.

We have been sorry to notice this spring (April
25, since the above article was written) the Purple
Finch feeding upon the flower buds of the pear
tree, after the buds of the Elm had expanded into
(lowers. s. p. f.

Danversport, Dec. 27, 1850.

Remarks. — This letter closes the pleasant and
instructive series upon the "past and present his-
tory of the Birds of New England." They have
gratified a large class of our readers, tiiosc who
love the ways of nature, and have been extensively
circulated in other journals. Mr. Fowler does
not love nature by halves ; the plants and flowers
have their attractions for him, too, — and although

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMEE.

253

immersed iu business, he is still the ardent lover
and student of the beautiful and wonderful forms
and changes about him. lie knows that

'•There's beauty all arounJ our paths, if but our watchful eyes
Can trace it mitlst familiar things, and through their lowly guise."

"We hope his pen Avill not be idle, — but that
through it he will continue to speak to us, until
our appreciation of the beautiful is as comprehcn
sive as his own.

POULTRY AND EGGS.

Few persons, we apjirohend, have any correct
idea ofthe magnitude of trade, botli at home and
abroad, in poultry and eggs. Having recently had
our attention directed to a work embodying some
• interesting statistics on the subject, we jwoposc
placing them before the reader. The amount of
sales of poultry at theQuincy market, Boston, in
the year 1848, Avas six hundred and seventy-four
thousand four hundred and twenty-three dollars,
wliile for the city of Boston, they exceeded four
millions. The number of eggs sold in Quincy mar
kot was 1,12U,735, the price paid for them being
about $20o,352, or an average of IScts. per doz-
en. The sales in the Avhole city, it is supposed,
fell little short of $1 ,000,000. the daily average
consumption of eggs at three of tho hotels, iu that
year, was 200.

The city of New York, however, it is estimated,
expends a million and a half of dollars yearly, in
the purchase of eggs. Probably the amount in
1853 was much larger, as the above estimate was
made in 1848. One single dealer in Philadelphia
sends to this city daily, one hundred barrels of this
commodity.

Ireland and France are great egg-exporting
countries. "VVc have not the most recent statistics,
bat they are of sufficiently late date to rippvoxi-
mate to the present condition of the trade. M'Cul-
loch says that the amount paid yearly by Eng-
land to Ireland for eggs and poultry is from
£200,000 to £300,000. The yearly value of eggs
alone exported from Ireland t# Great Britain ex-
ceeds £100,000. The number is probably 70,-
000,000 and 80,000,000. The British census for
1841 gave an ad valorem estimate of the poiiltry
stock in Ireland, in which each fowl was valued at
only sixpence sterling. According to this estimate,
it showed that in the province of Leinster the
stock of poultry amounted to £50,243 ; in Con-
naught, to £35,210 ; in Munster, to £(32,830,
and in Ulster, to £47,883; making a total of
£202, 172. But even at the low average named,
tho amount proljahly much exceeds this, as the
people supposed the inquiry was made to obtain
the basis of some new t;ix, and reported the num-
ber a8*bcing less than it really was.

The numl)er of boxes of eggs shipped by the
city of Dublin steam j-jacket company's vessels to
London during the year 1844-5 was 8,874. A
box of the usual dimensions contains 13,000 eggs.
but occasionally larger ones are used, capable of
containing four times tluit number ; so that about
23,505,500 are annually shipped from Dublin to
London. To Liverpool, in the same year, in the
same company's vessels, were shipped 5,135 boxes
containing 25,505 eggs : giving a total export from
Dublin to two ports of England of 48,539,900,
valued at .£122,500. Since then, however, tho
trade has enormously increased.

In 1840 Great Britain imported from Franco
txnd Belgium 90,000,000 of eggs, the duty upon
which (one penny per dozen) amounted to £34,-
000. Nine-tenths of the foreign eggs imported
into (Jreat Britain are from France. The impor-
tation thence in 1842 Avas 89.548,741; in 1843,
70,415,831 ; aiid in 1844, 67,487,920. The yearly
importation ex "eds 80,000,000. The consumption
of eggs in Paris is estimated at upwards of one
hundred millions yearly. Supposing a fowl to pro-
duce one hundred and twenty eggs annually —
which is perhaps a fair average — tho reader may
imagine the immense'stock of poultry that must
be kept in France. Any one who has travelled
in that country is aware that they are reared in
vast numbers, tluey being the most profitable stock
on the many small farms owned or tenanted by
the French peasantry.

The late poultry shows have tended to awaken
new interest in the breeding and rearing of poul-
try by our own fiirmera, especially tliosc whose
land IS situated near large cities, or where there
are means of rapid transport to such cities. Though
we are far from believing all the stories which in-
terested parties, or amateur poultry keepers put
forth, there can be no question that, with econom-
ical management, the poultry-yard becomes a
source of Lirgc profit, as it is of unabated interest.
On this subject, however, others are far more com-
petent to speak than wo are. But we are glad
when a new impulse is given to the rearing of any
domestic stock, and though the present movement
iu that direction looks a little too much to extrav-
agance in size, or peculiarity of l)roed, its more
mature result will be beneficial to tlie farmer, and
through him to the consumer. — Neic York Com-
mercial Advertiser.

For the i\cw EiigUind Farmer.

HEN MANURE.

Mr. Editor : — Having a quantity of henmanui*e
on hand, and wishing to know how to use it to
the best advantage, I take the liberty to inquire of
you, or some your correspondents. How sliould
it be prepared, and how, and when applied ! On
vAiat crops is it most beneficial I What is its val-
ue as compared with stable manure?, AVill it kill
corn if applied in the hill at planting ?
'E. Raymond, Ale. S.Te.nxv.

Remarks. — A neighbor of ours, who keeps some
one or two hundred fowls, finds an important item
of profit in tlie home-made guano which he is en-
abled to manufacture from tho droppings of the
roosts. These ai-e carefully covered with sand,
loam, or old muck, thoroughly mingled in the
spring, and a single handful applied to tho hill.
In tliis way a large cart i'uU of about 40
bushels, will manure an acre. lie iuids it about
as active as the Peruvian guano.

"Blind Teeth" in horses, if let alone, cause
the animal to go blind. Hence tlie name. They
should be broken out as soon as discovered. One
hand should hold the animal's jaws apart, while
another with a nail-puncli, or something of the
kind, and a hammer, accomplishes the work. —
lOid.

254

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

For the New England Farmer.

BEST APPLES.

Mil. EniTuR : — Tlie best varieties of fall and
winter appU-s which 1 have cultivated for the mar-
ket, arc the Baldwin, llubardston lioxbury Ilus-
tict, K. I. fireening, Seaver Sweet, Pound Sweet,
and Green Sweet. Other varieties I have which 1
think should be ranked among the best of fall and
winter apples, Hunt or English Russet, (the qual-
ities of -wliioh the editor of the Farmer, can better
describe,) Red Russet, Lyscomb, Red Favorite and
Thompson apple. Russets require strong and
moist soil. For early apples, Williams Sweet
Bough, (for -which I received $60 for 26 bushels)
the past season, and Porter. I have 15 or 20 of oth-
er varieties,some of them seedlings which I am cul-
tivating in order to test their qualities and pro-
ductiveness, before recommending them for prop-
agation. N. P. Morrison.

Somervillc, 1854.

comparatively small expense. They should be
made in such a manner that the glass will slip
easily up or down, when it becomes necessary to
give the plants air. To protect the frames from
weather they should be well painted.

S. P. Fowler.
Danvcrsport, March 13, 1854.

A PLANT PEOTECTOR.

The cut above represents a cover made of tin
and glass, which is portable and convenient for the
protection of young plants, such as squashes, mel-
ons, cucumbers, tomatoes, &c., and will prove as
effectual against frost as against bugs. The glass
may be easily raised in the grooves so as to ad-
mit the air, which, when closed, admits the
heat, and light, but excludes the bugs.

The description below and one of the protectoi^,
from which the cut was drawn, were furnished
by friend Fowler, of Danvcrsport. He says —

Feeling tlie want, several years since, of some-
thing to protect and bring forward early and ten-
der plants in our variable climate, I was led to
construct a Hand Glass, tliat would combine cheap-
ness with utility. One of these contrivances for
the protcct'o 1 of plants or flowers in a garden, I
now send you for examination. The English
Hand Glasses are made, by placing in an iron or
zinc frame, small pieces of glass, fastened together
by narrow strij>s of lead. To make or repair these
covers, much of the glass is required to be cut to
conform to the frame. The difficulty in repairing
the broken glass, together with tlieir expense, has
probably prevented the more frequent u.so of the
Hand Glass-in garden operations in New England.
The one I send you to-day, as you will perceive,
will require no cutting of the glass, the frame be-
ing made to correspond to the size of tlie pane.
This being window gla88,when accidentally broken,
can easily be replaced. Any tin plate worker can
make thLS'! glass covers from sheets of tin, of the
* size you desire, and they can be furnished at a

For the New England Farmer.

LIFE OF RICHARD BAGG, Jr.

BY. J. N. BAGGE.

jMr. Editor : — I know not how to render Agri-
culture a more essential service, than by sketch-
ing the life of one of the most noted farmers of
Hampden County. Although his namesake and
fellow- townsman , there was no consanguinity be-
tween us, consequently no one can accuse me of
partiality.

Besides, I lay claim to advantages, in treating
of his character, possessed by few others. Joined
to a general neighborhood acquaintance, may be
added, that of pupil and member of his family.
Once, he was my teacher, and thrice my employer.
I thus had facilities for seeing much of him in
private life, and knowing some of his virtues. The
subject of this article was born in 1812, and died
in 1852, in West Springfield, his native town.
His parents, who are still living, are farmers of
the old school, and are in good circumstances.

The boyhood of our subject was remarkable for
an activity and intelligence beyond his years.
His promptitude and youthful manliness, made
him the pride of his parents and the villagers.
His was no mediocrity of attainment. He was
first and foremost, both in the scliool-room and
play-ground. He was a leader rather than a fol-
lower. He was bold, -without being impudent, —
punctilious without being mean, andslirewd with-
out being cunning and treacherous.

His love of books and study were very great.
Everything within his reach was read with aston-
ishing avidity. In those days, one or more terms
at some incorporated academy -were considered
necessary, to give character and finish to a young
man's education. Young Richard was according-
ly sent to Monson. Here he made groat profici-
ency and rapidly fitted himself for college. But
now a new difliculty obstructs his path. Ill
health, brought on by close application to study,
prostrates his corporal system, and he comes home,
in the opinion of his friends, to die with con-
sumption. But he would not be idle. Activit;^,
which had always characterized him, was his
ruling passion now. He went to work in his fa-
ther's garden. He extirpated every weed, and made
great exertions to augment the growing corps.
Ho procured glass frames and made hoi-)jcds,
(tlie first that the writer ever saw,) till his father's
garden glittered like a crystal palace.

His mysterious movements attract public at-
tention, and the neighbors stop and examine his
works, and ask him questions. But he was a
man who kept his own counsel. His replies were
always terse, sensible and cautious. No unguard-
ed answer escapes his lips. He communicates
nothing important to be reserved, and reserves
nothing important to be known. His health be-
gins to improve under a rigid system of diet and
exercise', and he assists his father in the lighter
duties of the fiirm. He is entrusted with the aale

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

255

of the farm produce. lie used to say that the
first time he went to market, he drove his fatlier's
oxen and a load of pumpkins, the proceeds of which
amounted to ten dollars. His success encouraged
him. The demand for farm pi'oduce increases, and
home industry is inadequate for the supply. He
begins to speculate and buy of others. Winter
comes on, but he cannot be idle, and he takes the
school of a neighboring village.

Here he matures his plans for the enlargement
of business in the coming spring. He hires land
and sows unsparingly and skilfully. He is the
only man of his trade in the community, and he
controls the market. The families of the wealthy
are pleased with theurbanity of the young farmer,
and ask him to call often. Success attends him.
As fast as his means will allow, he increases oper-
ations. He hires men and buys tools and teams,
and adds field to field.

In 15 years from the commencement of his
Agricultural operations, he became the largest
gardener in the County, if not in the State. He
had about 40 acres under garden cultivation, and
some of it produced 2 and 3 crops per annum. Of
Asparagus and Onions he had several acres each.
Ho hired a great many men, and has been know to
employ in the busiest season of the year 60 persons.
It was instructive to pass through his grounds,
which were always accessible, and witness the
clean and careful culture and the skilful blending
of different crops, so arranged that when one was
removed, another would immediatelj' fill the place.
He undertook the culture of one piece of land, so
barren and sandy, that its improvement seemed
utterly hopeless. He carted on large quantities
of muck, ashes and manure, — he brought leaves
and mould from the woods, — he plowed in green
crops and used guano, until, literally, he made
•'the desert to rejoice and the wilderness to bud
and blossom like the rose. ' ' This ground , to-day-, is
like an X)a6is in the desert, a fruitful field in the
midst of surrounding sterility. 500 Baldwin apple
trees, planted by his own hands, grow thriftily on
this plain, a living monument to liis industry and
skill.

Every thing he undertook was vigorously car-
ried to its completion. His motto was, "what
you arc resolved to do, begin it this minute," and
this was the secret of the immensity of his labors.
Some men accomplish more in a short life, than
others in a long one, and so this man, though
dead at 40, lived longer and accomplished more,
tlian most men at 80. His spirits never seemed
to flag like those of other men. He looked a dif-
ficulty directly in the face, and walked up to it
while looking.

He considered a matter well, before he enlisted
in it, but once engaged, he worked with all his
might. Like Napoleon, he was just as courage-
ous the day after defeat as before. No sooner
was a difficulty vanquished than he sought out
and grappled with another. His presence, even,
inspired confidence. He had the power of infus-
ing ambition into those around him. Wherever
he went tlicrewas life and energy. He was regu-
lar and precise in all his movements, and required
regularity and precision in all whom he controlled.
Every workman had a place for his hat and cloth-
ing, labelled with the name of the one occupying
it. Every tool and implement had a place, and
was thoroughly cleaned after using. Printed reg-

ulations for the government of his workmen, hung
in his kitchen.

His defects consisted in an over promptness.
He seemed so anxious to reach the mark, that he
sometimes went beyond it. Take him all in all.
however, he was a good man, beloved by his fami-
ly, respected in the community and an honor to
the church of which he was a member. His life
and his burial will not soon be forgotten, by those
among whom he lived. He has left a worthy ex-
ample to all young men, showing clearly that en- .
ergy and intelligent industry is all that is needed,
to make forming profitable.

West Springfield, Mass., 1854.

THE CYCLE OF THE SEASONS.

The following article was published in the .S'c<//s-
man, upon the cycle of the seasons, and will inter-
est many of our readers, we have no doubt. The
measure below called a hectolitre, is equal to two
bushels and five-sixths of our measure — the franc
is equal to 18 cents and 6 mills of our money.

"The 'uncertainty of the weather' has been a
subject of complaint to the husbandman from time
immemorial. Science has shown, however, that
law and order prevail in many phenomena once
deemed to be under the blind dominion of chance,
and ingenious men have indulged the hope that a
key might yet be found to the irregularity of the
season — not that we shall be able to prognosticate
whether any particular day or week will be foul
or fair, but that we may have rational grounds
for expecting a good season or a bad one,
or a series of good or bad seasons. Intelligent far-
mers believe that a course of abundant crops is
pretty sure to be followed by a course of deficient
ones ; but whether the cycle of good and bad
crops is of a determinate or a variable length, and
if determinate, how many years arc required to
complete it, are points upon which opinions differ
widely, and certainty is perhaps despaired of-

"A paper read a few days ago by M. Bacquerel
to the Academy of Science, on the culture of wheat
in France, supplies statistical facts of some value
bearing on this subject. They show that there is
a periodicity in the recurrence of good and bad
harvests ; that five or six years of abundance, and
five or six of scarcity, follow each other pretty
regularly. From want of capital and enterprise,
and good means of internal communication, the
French are more dependent on their own harvests
than we are in this country, and the difference be-
tween a good and a bad year telling more strong-
ly on their markets, serves better to test the in-
fluence of the season. M. Becquerel quotes from
Hugo the following table of the average price of
wheat for all France :

Francs Shillings

per hect. per qr.

1816to 1821— period of scarcity 2-2.60 543. 5U.

18-2'2 to 18-27— perial of abundance 15.80 Sfis. 4d.

1828 to 18a'2— period of scarcity 22.00 503. "d.

1S3:5 to 1837— period of abundance 16 16 37s. 2d.

1838 to 184-2— niixcfl period 20.31 463. 8d.

1843 to 1847— period of scarcity 25.63 5 J.s. Od.

1840 to 1852- period of abundance 16.68 383. 4d.

^V<i arrive at a similar result by comparing the
imports and exports of wheat, and taking the ex-
cess of the one over the other :

256

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

Hectolitres.

Scarcity... 1816 to 1821 Excess of Imports... 6,247,000

rientv ..1822 to 1827 " iJxports... 1,2d8,000

sSy:..18>8tol832 " Imports... 9 528.000

Plenty .. 1833 to 1837 " Kxports... 944,000

MUed ...ISaS to 1842 " Imports... 1,126,000

Scarcity... 1S43 to 1847 " Imports... 18,697,000

Plenty . . .1848 to 1852 " Kxports. . . 13,188,000

"Tlio hectolitre contains 22 imperial gallons, or
three hectolitres are a tritie more than a quarter.
It will be observed that the importation of wheat
in France, in years of scarcity, is very small Avhen
'compared with ours. This, in the period from
1843 to 1847, while wheat averaged 59s.— a very
high price in that country — the whole imports in
the five years were only 20,101,000 hectolitres,
from which, deducting 1,164,000 of exports, there
remained for consumption only 18,097,000, or
0,400,000 qrs. In the period of scarcity, from
1810 to 1821, when the price was 54s. 5d., the
imports were only 0,247,000 hectolitres in six
years, or about 345,000 qrs. annually.

"The five years from 1847 to 1852 were years
of abundance both in France and Britain. Sup-
posing, then, that the change takes place quin-
quennially, we should now be at the commence-
ment of a period of scarcity , and that the present
year fulfils this character is manifest from the
state of the markets on both sides of the Channel.
The French average for the first two weeks of No-
vember, as given in the Monit'mr a few days ago,
was 29.97 per hect. , or 08s. 1 Id. per qr. — a famine
price in France; and the British average for the
whole of November was 71s. Id., marking rather
severe dearth. It is, therefore, a question of some
importance, whether we are to regard the present
deficient crop as a pure 'casuality,' an evil which
an opposite casuality the next year's abundance
may redeem, or as the first of a series of bad crops.
In our opinion, the hypothesis of a five years'
cycle, embracing the latter conclusion, though not
established beyond challenge, lias a sufficient pro-
bability to render it worthy of entering into the
calculations of farmers, corn merchants, contrac-
tors for public works, and even ministers of state.

"A hypothesis offered to explain anomalous or
seemingly discordant physical fiicts is more readi-
ly accepted when we can trace in it the operation
of some physical cause. In the Scotsman of the
7th of September, 1845, we gave an account of a
memoir published by Schwabe, a German astrono-
mer, on the spots of the sun, in Avhich he main-
tained their periodicity — that they increased for a
certain term, then diminished for an equal term,
and that the interval between the maximum and
minimum was about five years, so that the cycle
was completed in about ten. This conclusion
rested on the observations of eighteen years, which
(as Colonel Sabine informed the British Asaocia
lion at Belfast) have been since extended to twenty-
six years, and with tlie same result. Now, as the
light and heat of the sun are obviously essential
to the success of grain crops, it occurred to Gau-
tier, a French or Swiss man of sciencs, to compare
Schwabe's cycle of the solar spots with the results
of the harvests in France as shown by the price of
com ; and he found that, taking the years in
groups, to eliminate accidental influences, those
in which the eun had few or no spots coincided
with years of abundance, and those in which the
spots were numerous with years of scarcity. AVe
have here, then, a glimpse of a physical cause or

account for these alternating periods of scarcity
and plenty, which experience has forced upon the
attention of our farmers. It is true that the spots
of the sun cover but a very small portion of his
surface at any time, but the decrement of heat in
a bad year is also small compared with the whole
quantity which the earth receives from the sun ;
;ind it is not improbable that, besides causing a
direct loss of light and heat proportioned to their
size, spots Avhen abundant may indicate a general
enfeeblement of the heating and illuminating
power of the whole surface of the sun.

"The progress of science is constantly adding to
our knowledge of the latent ties Avhich connect the
most distant parts of nature. Those minute de-
viations from the normal position of the magnetic
needle, called its diurnal variation, were dis-
covered a hundred years ago, and gave plain indi-
cations of solar influence. It w^as only known
within these few years that these variations were
tliemsolves subject to variation — were greater in
some years than in others — and that another class
of phenomena, called 'magnetic storms,' sudden
and seemingly unaccountable disturbances of the
needle, di.sclosed themselves. It is now found that
these are periodical also. To use the words of
Colonel Sabine, 'there is a periodical variation or
inequality affecting alike the magnitude of the
diurnal variation, and the magnitude and fre-
quency of the distui-bances of storms, and the cycle
or period of the inequality appears to extend about
ten of our years, the maximum and minimum
being separated by an interval of about five years."
Perhaps bye-and-bye the hope and prospects of
the husbandmen may be read in the vil)rations of
the compass."

Fact veksus Theory. — It is a common notion,
that to have good crops the seed must be often
changed, and many farmers relying on this theory,
sow seed that is "far fetched and dear bought.'.'

In a conversation, last evening, with Mr. Jona-
tlian Nelson, of this city, well known here as a
substantial farmer and S reliable man, ke in-
formed me that he helped reap a field of rye, the
past summer, of a little less than one acre and a
half, yielding thirty-eight and a half bushels of
excellent quality ; that he has helped reap fifty-
five successive harvests of rye on tiie same farm,
owned by his father, (the late Deacon Nelson)
and himself, that in all that time the seed had never
becnchangid ; that the first of those fifty-five har-
vests was from seed raised on the same farm by
the former owner, and that he knew not how long
the process of independent husbandry had been
carried on l)y his predecessor.

Facts and theories often disagree but nature is
constant and true to herself. — Worccstei- Spy.

To THE Trustees of the Middlesex Agricul-
tural SociTEY. — The Commissioner of Patents has
forwarded to the Secretary of this Society, under
the frank of the Hon. T.\ppan Wentworth, a
package of the improved King Philip or Brown
coi-n, for each Trustee, which may be had on ap-
plication at thjs office, or at the residence of the
Secretary in Concord. Sijion Brown,

May 10, 1854. Secretary.

1854,

>iJEW ENGLAND FARMER.

237

GRAIN DRILL.

W'e have eften spekcn ef the impertarKje of the
Kirain Drill as a labor-saving machine. The cut
•above v.'ill -show how simple a thing it is, and how
^easyjind readily the seeds may be put into an acre
■of laad-, all in straight Kn«*", and at regular dis
tanc'es from each otlier. The seeds are deposited
at a uniform regulated depth, fe-em which arises
41 considerable saving ef seed, one-third at least,
'VN'hile. there IS, usually' , a considerable increase in
tlie crop over the broadcast sowing.

As the machines are ceustructed in England,
they ate cemplicated, cumbersome and expensive,
■and it is probably for this reascn that they have
not come inte general use.

Below are two cuts, the first showing the grain
.asitcpmee up and appears ■?rhen sewn bi'oadcast,
4)y hand : and the second, how it appears when
«own by the drill machine^

i \\mn%m\

iNlr. BiNTs-s gives fi=.'e or six other Tcasees for
drilling, but tliey a-re net quite applicable to our
modes ef huslmndry. He also states that fifty-sir:

J J. 1.1.1 111 1

GXIAIN SOWN BY MACHINE.

bushels of wheat, per acre, have been raised ca
the light soils of Norfolk, England, by drilling.
One great advantage of this mode is, that if the
field is first harrowed down level, the-drfll deposits
the seed at an equal depth ; it then comes up all
at th<3 same tiise, and the crop is even and pre-
sents a fine appearance through the whole season .

CTRAIN SOWN BY UANB.

The advantages derived from using drill nia-
"^hioes for so'wing wheat and other small grains,
have been summed up by Mr. IJinns, at a meeting
■of an English agricultural society, as follows : —

1. The seed is delivered with regularity.

2. It is deposited at a proper depth,

S. The weeds duriiig the growth of the plants,
may be deetroyed with great facility. [In this
country the weeding of grain is not common. In-
deed, when it is sown broadcast, weeding it could
■not be done without destroying the crop.]

4. By admission of the sun and air l)etwecn the
TOWS, a stronger and healthier plant is produced,
4ind of course a heavier crop.

For the New England Farmer^

BARLEY AND INDIAN CORN.

Mr. Ebitor : — In the New E/ii^litud Farmer's
report of the twelftli Agricultural Meeting at tlie
State House, Mr. Russell, of Pittsfield, is repre-
sented assaying that '■'good hea%'y barley is worth
three times a& much us corn."' Now as thespeaker
could not bavo inteudod to make that statement.
Avill you favd? your rca-ders with what he did
mean, as to the relative value of the two mentioned
grains.

I have raised barley, more or less, for ten youva
past, and am of the impression tliat a bushel of
good well cleaned 'x;:! \ will make as much pork
as abusliel of corn. Indeed I think it particular-
ly adapted to tiie purpose of lattening pork. When
ground fine and tlifi meal scalded and allowed to
steind till fenncntation commences, hogs love it
l)ettcr tban any food I ever fed them, and I think
they will thrive faster tlian on any otlier.

Tliat Ijarley is equaJly good for other animals I
doubt not ; but what I wish more to call the at-
tention of yor.r readers to, is, the fact that grass
seed, sown with barley, always catches.

Much complaint is heard now-a-da^s of th«

258

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JUNR

failure of grass seed to catch or grow ■when sown
with grain. Now I have never knoM'n a foihiro,
when good seed has been sown on good hind, with
barley. Two years ago this spring I sowed a field,
one half with oats and the other half with Ixirlcy,
and stocked the whole with timothy and clover.
At harvest, where the oats were gro\vn, there was
no grass, while beneath the barley there was a
lusuriantgrowth of it. This expei-iment, with my
former obson-ation, satisfied me that barky, and
not oats, was the grain to grow, when seeding land
with grass.

I have raised repeatedly, fifty bushels, and onc-e
more, from an acre of land. e. j.

Lebanon, N. H., April 18, 1854.

Remarks. — We cannot tell our correspondent
what Mr. Russell meant. Tliat barley is a pro
fitable crop to raise, and better than oats to lay
down land upon, we have no doubt.

For the New England Farmer.

PLOWS AND PLOWING.

Complete pulverization of th.e soil is the basis
of all successful culture. This is brought about
mainly by the use of the spade and the ploiv
Where personal la})or abounds, and the extent of
culture is limited, the spade may be advantageous-
ly used. Under its use, the culture may be more
thorough than any other. But where the power of
the ox or tlie horse is enlisted in aid of that of
man, the plow is the implement to which these
powers are applied.

From earliest times, Avhenthe crooked stick was
first apjjlied to this purpose, to the present day,
the plow in some of its forms has been the imple-
ment of first importance, in the labors on the farm.
Notwithstanding its long-extended use, it has re-
ceived more variations in form and greater im-
provements within the last fifty years, than any
other implement. And although it now has an ad-
inirable fitness for its purpose, it is probably des-
tined to still greater improvements.

Within a very few years, a form of plow has
been introduced, embracing such decided advan-
tages, as to entitle it to the application of the
plow by way of distinction. I speak of the double
plow, which cuts two furrow slices at the same time
— laying a few inches of the turf over flat, and
thus throwing the next substratum directly upon
it. On land adapted to this operation, as are all
cultivated gi-ounds, that have been properly freed
of obstructions, it is apparent that the use of this
plow will leave the ground in a state for much
easier and more perfect culture, tlian any other.
Suppose nine inches to be the depth of plowing
thought expedient — lot the first furrow be cut to
the depth of three inches — and the second to the
depth of six inches, nnd you liavc the perfection of
work. By the use of the liarrow or the cultiva-
tor, this last furrow slice can readily be broken
up, so as to work as easy as old ground — by which
we mean ground that has been under cultivation,
one or more years.

J*crliaps it will bo objected, that the vegetable
naaterials or the richest part of the soil is buried
too deep J)y this operation ; and that the materi-
al thrown up with the subsoil will not be found
favorable for the growth of plants. Such objec-

tions will be found more theoretical than practi-
cal, when it is known that very few plants are
grown the fibres of which do not extend as deep,
at least, as nine inches ; and M'hen it is considered
also, that this depth is absolutely necessary to
protect the plants against the scorching raj-s of
our summer sun. Many a plant has withered and
died for want of such foothold. There is no vege-
table or plant, Avithin our knowledge, that will not
grow better through the entire season, under a
cultui-e as deep as this, than with a more shallow
culture.

Another consideration connected with this mode
of plowing is worthy of particular notice. It
places the vegetable matter in a position for de-
composition where its benefits will all be pre-
served and used by the growing plants, at a time
when most needed. The first impulse should be
given to the growing plants; by the dressirg of
compost applied at the time of planting. About
three months after this, when the vegetable fibres
in the buried turf begin to decay, the gases dis-
engaged by the process will be absorbed and taken
up by the growing plants, and are peculiarly well
fitted to aid their growth. Whereas, if the turf
had been broken to pieces, and much of it left
near the surface, as is usually done in the ordina-
ry process of plowing and harrowing, very much
of the sustenance given to the growing plants
would be lost by evaporation. We have seen
this distinctly illustrated on a field of onions
where the vegetable matter turned under the
furrow slice (green oats, for instance) were left
undisturbed, and right side by side, the land
was cultivated with like crop and like manure,
excepting the underlayer of oats ; — and the ei'op
over the oats amounted to 700 bushels to the acre,
when the o.thor was less than 500 bushels to the
acre.

We have seen it stated that it requires more ef-
fort or powfr to operate a plow cutting two fur-
row slices, than one cutting a single furrow slice
of the same width and thickness as the two. Such
was our first impression, when we operated *he
double plow. But our impressions have been cor-
rected by the actual measurement by the di/na-
momctcr of the power used in the operation.
When we reflect upon the principles involved,
we think it quite clear, that the double plow will
go with more steadiness, and less power of draft,
than the single plow. If this be so, we cannot
imagine a single valid objection to the use of this
implement. We have repeatedly recommended
its use, and feel confident that we are doing the
farmer a good service in still recommending it.

Cheerfully granting to the gentlemen who first
brought into use among us this form of plow, all
the credit that can be claimed for so doing, we as
heerfully grant to these other gentlemen, who
have so far improved upon the form first used, as
to olniate all the material difficulties in its first
operation — to wit, the want of perfect tun ing and
laying of the first furrow slice. Tliis we think an
essential element in the operation of the plow.

While scientific men attempt to press upon la-
boring men uniformity in their operations in
breaking up tlic soil, it is curious to oI>serve how
they themselves differ in the fii'st elements of
these operations. Instance, in their mode of
spelling the name of the implement : one using
four letters as ploic — the other six letters a»

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

259

plough — both having the same sound and pronun-
ciation. Why these different modes of spelling
the same thing is thus continued, it is not easy to
(say. The shorter mode, unless some good reason
can be given for adhering to the longer, is certain-
ly preferable. It is certainly no sufficient reason
to say it used to be so. Because such a reason
once adaiitted would exclude all improvements.
On referring to dictionaries, we find both modes
of spelling inserted, with no preference given. On
referring to agricultural journals we find both
modes adopted — the "eminent guide" in this op-
eration, in Massachusetts, uses six letters — the
equally respectable guides in New York, Pennsyl-
nia and Ohio, use only four. "Who shall decide
•when doctors disagree?" v.

FARMER'S GIRLS.

XT.p in t}ie early morniii?, ju>t at the peep of d;iy,
Straining the milk in tlio d;ury, turning the cot\s a\ray,
Sweeping the flcor in the kitchen making the bed* up stairs,
Washing the bre;ikfast dishes, dusting the parlor chairs.

Brushing the crumbs rrom the pantry, hunting the eggs at the

burn,
Cleaning the turnips for dinner, spinning the stocking yarn.
Spreading the whitening linen down on the bushes below,
Bansacking every meadow where the red strawberries grow ;

Starching the "fixens"for Sunday, churning the snowy cream.
Rinsing the pails and strainer down in the running stream,
Feeding the geese ami turkies, making the pumkiu pies,
.Jogging the little one's cradle, driving away tlie flies ;

<jri»ce in every motion, music in every tone,
Beauty of form and feature thousands might covet to own,
Cheeks that rival spring roses, teeth the whitest of pearls,
One of these country maids is wortt a score of your city girls.
—Seic York Tribicne Hm-len M. I/ADD

FARMERS' ARITHMETIC.

Perhaps in no one thing is the "arithmetic" of
the farmers put to aseverer test than in ascertain-
ing the value (perhaps with cold fingers) of a
^iven number of pounds of hay at a given price
To those I would recommended the following
rule of Adams, as easy, practicable, and infallible :

Rltle. — Multiply the number of pounds of hay,
or coal, by one Lalf the price per ton, pointing off
three figures from the right hand. The remain-
ing figures will be the price of the hay, or coal,
(or any other article by the ton,) in cents and
mills, which can easily be reduced to dollars.

Example. — What will be the cost of 058 pounds
of hay, at $7.50 per toni

SoLUTio.v. — $7.50 divided by two, equals $3.75
—by which multiply the numb !r of pounds, thus :
058
$3.75

3290
4(100
1974

$2.4G||750

The principle in this operation is the same as
in interest — ilividiug the price by two giv(!8 us tlie
price of half a ton, or 1,000 lbs., and pointing off
the three figuros to the right is dividing by 1,000
— the sime as in interest. The result above we
have found to be $2.46, which is correct. And
now, brother farmer, get youi pencil, and see if
jou cau find the abovti rule ia fault.

Fur the New England Farmer.

MILCH COWS.

Mr. Editor :— I received from you, by hand of
B. F. Cutter, Esq., a copy of the transactions cf
the Middle.'^i^x Agricultural Society, (for which I
am much obliged to you,) and at the same time
an invitation to write an article for your paper,
on milch cows, for wliich I am not so much
obliged, l)ut will try and give a few ideas on the
su])ject. I have never kept more than from
twelve to fourteen cows, and so fur as my experi-
ence goes, I have come to the conclusion that it
is best to keep good ones, and no more than I can
keep leell. When they come to the barn in the
fall, I am careful to give them a change of feed
as much as jiossible. To those that do not give
milk, I give tlic poorer hay, and occasionally corn
husLs, stalks, tl'C, until about six weeks before
calving, when I give them better haj', and some
grain. By this way of managing, the flesh that
the cow |,uts on by her own industry in summer,
is easily kept on through the winter, witli a little
extra care, which enables her to bring us a good,
strong, healthj^ calf, worth at least five dollai-s,
when four weeks old. To the cows that 1 milk
through the winter, I give good hay, giving them
for a change a foddering, of clover, husks and roir-
en (if y.e liave it,) almo^ every day. The clover
I always intend to use up before the first of
March. I feed them on chop twice a day, mix
ing a few hours before feeding, giving them about
four quarts of shorts and two quarts of cob-meal
a day with about half a bushel of cut hay of poor
quality, with a table spoonful of salt at each tiia"
of feeding. Thi-s I think produces more milk
than the same quantity of grain given in any oth-
er way. Great care should be taken not to excite
the cow when driving to water or the pasture. If
the boys must drive them, do not let but one drive
at a time. Kindness pours out the milk and lays
on the f\xt. Kicking cows, are always plenty,,
where there are kicking milkers; / linow it by ex-
perience. It is an old and true saying, that "good
pastures make fat calves," and it is equally true,
that much feed make much milk. As to the dif-
ferent breeds of cow;^, I have not had much ex
perience. I have one that is called the cream-
pot breed, which is one of the beat I have ever
owned for milk. There are quite a number of
half blooded Ayrshire in the neighborhood, which
have the name and appearanceofbeinggood milk-
ers. I am rather partial to the old native breed
for milkers, when I can get tlie right pattern ;
that is, I want a cow of good size, one that will
make 5.^ or 0 hundred of beef when fatted, wide
between the eyes, small horns, long slender neck,
head inclining downwards, rather a thin skin,
l)road across the kidni3's, small tail, small flattish
leg, the udder larg'*, running well forward and
back, equally qu;u-tvi\:d, and the teats well apart,
thin thighs, and last, bat not lea.st, a large crooked
milk vein running well forward with a large hole
at tlie end. One thing more should l)e takon into
consideration, and tliat is, the disposition, which
can almost always be told by the (cuncenancc.
Tameness and docility of temper greatly enhauccH
the value. One tiiat feeds at ease and does not
linjixk over fences, and is kind to her a9.sociatc6,
will always yield more milk, than one of the op-
posite disposition. Wl\cn I buy a cow of the

2G0

NE\T ENGLAND FARMER.

June

above description, I am pretty sure I have got
a good one, and think the above marks are a very
sale guide to purchase by. I have lately been
reading Guenon's Treatise on Milch Cows, and find
it a good -work. Ilia ideas on diseases and their
treatment are vt'orth knowing. His books only costs
thirty-seven and a half cents.

Now, Mr. Editor, I have complied with your
request, in a very fecl)Ie manner, and will only
say, that I hope you will extend the same invita-
tion to some other person more competent than
myself, and thereby get more and better ideas.

John M. Tyler.

PeViam, N. H., March 31. 1854.

STATE BOAED OF AGEICULTURE.

Met at tue State llouss April 10, 1854.

His Excellency, Gov. Warhiiurn, presided.

The committee appointed to consider the terms
and receive the transfer of the farm, reported that
tlicy had met a committee from the Board of Trus-
tees, at the farm, on the 24th of March last, and
completed the transfer, and passed over into the
hands of the Board of Agriculture, all the land,
with the exception of an acre or two immediately
about the institution, ifeogcther with the stock,
fodder, farm implements, &c. &c. On the 29th of
the same month, the same committees made an ap-
praisal of the property, of all sorts, and entered
the same upon the instrument of transfer.

The act authorizing the transfer was then ac-
cepted by the Board, together with the agreement
and the appraisal of the committees, and the whole
report of the committee was accepted.

The Board then adopted a code of By-laws, for
the future government of its affairs, the second
section of which is as follows : —

Sect. 2. — There shall be annually elected by the
Board, a superintending committc of the farm at
Westboro', consisting of eight members, whose
duty it shall be to meet at the farm once in each
month, and oftener if they deem it necessary, to
make such arrangements and give such directions
to the farmer as the various crops, trees, stock,
and other interests of the farm may require. Tliis
committee may be sub-divided, and give direction
to its divisions at its own discretion, and shall re-
port fully to the Board at each of its quarterly
meetings.

The committee appointed under this section is
as follows :

Marshall P. Wilder,

Moses Newell,

Simon Brown,

B. V. Frencu,

John Brooks,

J. A. Nasu,

Henry M. Clai-i-,

Seth Sprague.
The Board then directed that the committee ap-
pointed to superintendent the farm operations,
cause a survey of the farm to be made, with a plan
of the whole, accompanied with suggestions for
general improvements, to be submitted to this
Board at the quarterly meeting in July.

Messrs. Brown, Wilder and Wright were
elected a committe on Finance,

Messrs. Page, Brewer and Smith were apjwint-
ed a committee to audit the accounts at the close-
of the fiscal year.

After the several items of business had been dis-
posed of, there Avas a general conversation, occu-
pying considerable time, in which the members of
the Board expressed their opinions of the true
mode of managing the farm, and it was found that
upon most of the important points, there was a
harmony of opinion which promises much in all
future operations.

On Wednesday, April 11, the superintending
committee met at the farm, and after a general
survey of the fields, pastures, stock, impalements,
&c., assembled at the farm house, and organized
the committee by the election of Mr. French, of
Braintree, as chairman. It was then ro/f^, 1. To"
direct the farmer to prepare the land for such
crops as it is contemplated to put in this springs
according to a schedule heretofore prepared by Mr,
Brown and the Farmer, and now laid before the
committee.

2. To sub-divide the committee of eight intO'
four sub-committees, as follows: — 1. On the sur-
vey, plan, and general improvement of the farm,

2. On the purchase, sale, and feeding of stock.

3. On the field and garden crops. 4. On provid-
ing and regulating the labor. And the sub-com-
mittees were elected as follows :

On general improvements^' Messrs. Brown and
French.

On the purchase, sale, and feeding of stock,
Messrs. Brooks and Newell,

On the field and garden crops, Messrs. Wilder
and Nasu.

On providing and regulating the labor, Messrs.
Sprague and Clapp.

The operative forces for the present management
of the farm are now complete, as in addition to
the duties detailed and specially assigned, the
secretary of the Board will have a general super-
vision of the whole, and from time to time suggest
whatever may seem to him to be deficient in the
plan of operation, or whatever of additional ener-
gy ought to be imparted to it in order that it shall
succeed.

But any striking results, either in the crojis or
tlie general improvement of the land, cannot rea-
sonably be expected for the present. It must be a
work of time to accomplish either. What lands
are best adapted to particular crops, what fertili-
zers are best for these crops, what depth to plow,
and when to sow and plant, are all questions
which must be decided by careful practice and
experiment. And so it must be with the stock
and fruits. We can only hope, now, that the
Board will bring its collective wisdom to bear up-
on a single point, viz : — that it will make a corr£Ct

1854.

NEW E}^Lx\ND FARMER.

2G1

beginning, so that every labor and expense shall
contribute to a desired result, and that the exam-
ple shall be one, worthy of imitation by every for-
mer in the State, as well as those who desire to
embellish a private country home — that good sense
and a pure taste shall be so blended with a wise
system of practical farming as to satisfy the good
people of the Commonwealth that there may be
both beauty and profit found in rural life, when
its afi'.iirs arc properly conducted.

For the iVf if England Farmer.

FAKMING m HEW ENGLAND-No. 5.

The constant deterioration of the soils in New
England, and indeed, throughout most of the ag-
ricultural c^stricts of the United States, is a fact
of portentous and alarming significance, though
it has not yet arrested very extensively the notice
of the public. Probably there is no one fixct, in
our agricultural economy, of more pregnant inter-
est than tliis, in its bearings upon our future pros-
perity. Some statistics, illustrating this down-
ward tendency in our ability to produce the fruits
of the earth, will now be given, and they will, 1
think, conclusively prove that a more prudent,
skilful and scientific mode of cultivating the soil,
is absolutely indispensable.

Between 1840 and 1850, three hundred thous-
and acres of land were added to those previously
under [improvement in [Massachusetts. Ninety
thousand acres were added to our mowing lands,
and yet there was a relative depreciation of the
hay crop during that decade of years, of 12 per
cent. Our tillage lands, during the same term,
were increased forty thousand acres, and yet there
was an absolute depreciation in our grain crop of
six hundred thousand bushels. The pasturage lands
were increased more than one hundred thousand
acres, with scarcely any increase of neat cattle,
and a reduction of one hundred and sixty thousand
sheep, and seventeen thousand sicinc.

The same law of deterioration is also observable
in the richer regions of the South and AVest —
showing, that with our present unskilful modes of
farming, we are taking much more from the pro-
ductive ability of our soils than wc are returning
to them, and that our agricultural prosperity is
really and constantly on the wane. Tliis down-
ward tendency is partially hidden from public ob-
servation by the vast products which arc raised
upon the new and almost limitless regions wliioh
arc every year put under cultivation at the AVest ;
Ijut the fact itself is still indubitable.

In the Stiite of New York, between the years
1845 and 1850, 671,092 acres were added to those
previously under improvement, and of course,
there ought to have been at least a corresponding
increase in the agricultural products of the State.
But what was the fact?

The number of horses decreased 58,111.

Milch cows decreased 68,066.

Of other caltlc, there was a decrease of 127,525.

Of sheep, there was a decrease of 2,990,624.

Of swine, there was a decrease of 560,092.

Of potatoes, the decrease was 7,255,066 Ijushcla.

Of peas and beans, there was a decrease of 1,182,054 bushels.

Of flax, the decrease was 1,958,485 pounds.

Of wool, the decrease was 3,793,527 pounds.

Of wheat, the decrease was 270,724 bushels.

Of buckwheat, the decrease was 450,724 bushels.

There was an increase in the amount of corn,
rye, oats, barley, hay, butter and cheese raised in
that State, but'no greater than would have been
expected from the increase tf the population,
which was 494,323, during those five years.

In Tennessee, the number of cattle raised was

In 1840 .... *! 822,861 hea.l .

In 1S50 750,765 head.

Showing a decrease of 72,086 head.

In Kentucky, more than nine-tenths of the en-
tire area of the State are covered with farms. The
number of neat cattle raised was

In 1S40 789,098 head.

In 1850 • 753,312 head.

Showing a decrease of 33,786 head.

Horses and mules raised in Kentucky :

In 1840 395,853

InlS50 381,291

Decrease 14,562

It is estimated by intelligent farmers in Indiana,
that their river bottoms, which used to produce an
average crop of sixty bushels of corn to the acre,
now produce only forty. In "Wisconsin, which is
younger still, it is estimated that only one-half tht
number of. bushels of wheat are now raised on the
acre, which were raised twelve years ago.

These estimates are based on the returns made to
the Patent Ofiice, and are as reliable as any now be-
fore the public. "What, then, is the conclusion of
the whole matter 1 It is this, that the soils of
New England, after all the admonitions we have
received upon the subject, are annually growing
poorer, and that even tlie virgin lands of the
Great West are rapidly becoming exhausted of
their fertility. Other and better modes of culti-
vation must therefore be introduced and practiced,
or our country — now the gramiry of the world —
may at no very distant day, become dependent on
other lands for its daily bread. AVithin fifty years,
our population will undoubtedly reach the enor-
mous number of o«c hundred millioris ; but the
grave question is, how are these teeming myriads
to be fed and clothed and educated, if our present
impoverishing agricultural proces,ses are to^ be
continued? AA''e have territory enough, and it is
j naturally rich enougli to support a population of
lone thousand millions — a number to which we
niay yet attain — but how can they be sustained,
unless some method is devised to keep up the pro-
jductive capabilities of our country, and return to
our liberally discounting soils, as much, at least,
as we abstract from them ? This is a problem,
which many thoughtful and far-seeing men are
beginning seriously to ponder, and which requires
no little wisdom to solve.

The large annual exports of our surplus cereal
productions, furnish no replgf to the positions tak-
en in this article, but rather go to corroborate
them. Such surplus only shows that we are stim-
ulating our farms to the highost point of present
productiveness, for the sake of immediate benefit,
while wc are making no compensating returns to
the acres on which we are levying such exhaust-
ing conscriptions. Our apparent prosperity is de-
ceitful. AVe arc attempting to fill our own pock-
ets, at the expense of future generations.

Waltham, April, 1854. D- c.

262

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jtsaz

For the New England Farmer.

MAKING MAPLE SUGAR.

Simon Brown, Esq.: — Dear Sir, — At the sugges-
tion of my friend, lion. F. IIoi.BftooK., I send you
licrcwith a Stimiile of Maple sugar, and accompa-
nying it a Bbiteinent of the process of luanu-
ufaoture which I have adopted after*n experience
of forty years in the bueiuess. The Siimple is not
sent as one of superior excellence, but is a, fair av-
erage of some half ton made annually, ■\vithout_any
refining, ia the manner described herein.

TAPPING.

This is performed with a half-inch bit, to the
depth of from 2^ to 3^ inches, according to the
size of the tree. A good, sound, thrifty part of
the wood is selected, without much regard to
the side of the tree. The buckets are made per-
fectly clean and sweet by scalding, both at the
commencement and close of the season, and are
attached to the ti-ee l)y a small nail driven up
close, so as to level the bucket. The spouts are
made of dark colored wood, with a small orifice,
so as not to attract the sun's rays, or dry up, and
sharpened in such a manner as only to crowd at
the surface of the tree.

The sap is gixthered with a team, in holders
standing upright on the sled, and is drawn direct-
ly from them by means of a spout with the sti-ain-
er attached into the sugar house, which is built
on a side-hill to favor tliis operation, and so save
labor, and prevent waste. The sugar house is
well-ventilated by doors and windows, and suffi-
ciently capacious to hold all the fuel wanted, and
also all the sugaring apparatus.

The boiling is performed in two sheet iron pans,
of the capacity of 1;^ bbls. each, set end to end in
a brick arch, 1 foot high in the door, with the
chimney in the roar, and a cast iron door at the
mouth, and another smaller one in the middle of
one side to put in wood and give a proper draft.
Such an establishment is capable of boiling away
one barrel per hour, and will require about one-
half cord of wood per 100 lbs. of sugar.

When so far boiled down as to apron from a
tin dipper, it is removed to a smooth caldron ket-
tle, set in an independent arch on one side of the
chimney, and while still warm, about two quarts
of fkimmed milk per 100 lbs. of sugar is well
stirred in, and then it is raised to boiling heat,
and passed through the strainer frame. It is then
put immediately into a brass kettle, (set in anoth-
er arch on the opposite side of the chimney, in a
movable manner,) and boiled down rapidly, until,
when blown in bubbles from the sugar trier, it
will rattle distinctly on the boiling sugar, when it
it taken off, partially cooled in the kettle, stirred
a little, and ladled into the caking moulds to pre-
pare it for market.

APPARATUS USED.

A dipper made of liable tin, holding one gal-
lon.

A strainer frame made of four upright pieces of
scantling (something similar to the frame of a table)
with strips of l)ouid nailed on the top, and at the
sides to hold them together. Nails are driven in-
to the legs to which three strainers are hung, one
above the other, by loops at the corners; the up
per, being a common milk strainer, the next thick-
er, and the bottom one a very thick flannel. Tiie
syrup passed through this apparatus will be so

perfectly pure that no sediment will settle, if it
should stand ever so long, and there will be no need
of boys to hold strainers till the patience even of
a young "Job" would be exhausted.

A sugar-trier is merely an elastic tM'ig, with a
knot so tied in the end so as to leave an orifice of
the size ofaninepenny bit. This is thrust into the
Iwiling sugar, and makes good fun for the children
to blow off the bubbles. If used as above recom-
mended, there is no need of failing in sugaring
ofFjust right once in a hundred.

Caking moulds are made with a bottom of zjnc,
with strips of wood nailed on around the sides,
and legthwise, into which are put partitions of
zinc crosswise, making oblong cakes of any size
and number on a mould which the manufacturer
may fancy.

KEMAUKS.

By the above method the sap is never cooled
until the sugar is entirely done ; consequently a
saving of fuel, labor and syrup is made, and in my
opinion the quality of the sugar is better.

A half-inch bore is better than a larger one, as
it docs not injure the tree so much, and it will af-
ford full as much sap, taking the season through
The flow of the saccharine fluid depends mainly
on the depth of bore, not on its size, as many im-
agine.

A nicer and whiter sugar may be made by do-
ing it down slightly, and draining in a tub with
a wet cloth on the top ; but the flavor of the arti-
cle is not so good as that of the cake sugar un-
drained. I come now to a point on which I have
the misfortune to differ from most writers for the
agricultural papers. The prevailing opinion seems
to be, "that all sap will make, equally white sug-
ar with the same care and attention. ' ' I am satisfied
both from analogy and observation, that this is a
mistake. My opinion is that the nature of the soil
has as much to do with the quality of maple sug-
ar as it has with thatof wheat or any other vegetable
production. No two things in the vegetable king-
dom are in every respect precisely the same. Their
character depends in a greater or less degree upon
the mineral and other substances in the soil. The
sugar maple groAving in a limestone soil takes up
lime, as any observing man can easily discover by
settling pure syrup strained as above described. L
have sugared off the bottom of such syrup, and
found it to be more than half pure lime, in a fine
state of solution. It is very white, but will not
adhere in a cake. Nearly all the very white sug-
ar which has fallen under my observation at our
fairs came from a limestone soil. The presence of
gypsum undoubted'y would have the same eftect,
while iron would have an opposile ono, and so of
otiier minerals, according to their character. In
selecting the ground for a mi gar orchard, therefore,
the preference should be given to such soils as have
for a base, mineral subst^inccs affording a light
color.

Please excuse the length of this article, for the
subject is nearly inexhaustible, and for some of
tiie notions tlierein I feel somewhat of the partial-
ity of a father to his children.

Yours tr\ily, Ira Goodhue.

\Vesi?ninsicr West, Vt., AprillO, 1854.

Remarks. — We are obliged to Mr. G.,not only
for the liberal samples of his excellent sugar, but

1854v

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

263

for the description of his process of manufacturing
it, and remarks upon the soils best adapted to the
sugar orchard. To us, good maple sugar is a lux-
ury, and as an accompaniment to a great variety
of common dishes it is unsurpassed.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

LANDSCAPE Gardening : or, Parks and Pleasure Grounds,
WITH Practical Notes ox Cointuv Residences, Villas,
PcBLic Parks and Gardens. By Charles II. Smith, Land-
scape Gardener, Garden Architect, &c., with Notes aud Ad-
ditions, by Lewis 1\ Allen, £axton,N. Y.

There is no man, permanently settled on his
farm, hut may profitably introduce something of
landscape gardening about his house ; it may be
a. very Utile, but that little will give the whole
premises an air of neatness and comfort and at
traction -which larger and more pretending homC'
steads shall utterly lack. We have seen a ten^
ant so beautify the premises which he was occu-
pying by virtue of a lease, and with little pros
pect of remaining after that lease had expired
that the whole property was considerably en-
hanced in value in the course of a few years
This was done with a view to supply his table
with the common garden fruits and vegetable, but
at the same time the promptings of a true taste
were indulged, and the beautiful grew up under
liis hands, as well as the crops he was cultivating.

But tliis taste for the beautiful, if natural to
all, has never been developed, and something is
needed to excite it and lead it on. Good exam-
ples among us, in such a degree of landscape gar-
dening as would be feasible to all, would do much,
— but we must have other helj^s. The book be-
fore us, may prove such a help. It is plainly
written, gives all the suggestions neccssafy to be-
gin and complete a desired plan. In some x'espects
it is not adapted to our climate and mode of liv-
ing ; but the notes by Mr. Allen, — one of our
most practical farmers, as well as a gentleman of
fine taste in rural art, — will obviate any difficulty
on that score. The book is well printed on largo,
fair type, and sold at $1,25, by Tappan & Whit-
temore, Boston.

Eddy on Bek-Culture, and the Protective Bee-IIivk. By
IIexby Kddy. With an introductory notice by Dr. J. V. C.
S.MiTH. Uararell & Moore : Boston.

, Dr. Eddy has evidently given the subject of
Bees, and the Bec-Hive, much attention, and has
treated the subject simply and intelligibly, so that
those who "i-un may read and understand." His
teaching, we believe, is safe throughout, and the
bee-keeper will find it valuable.
The Practical Farmer.

The second number of this newspaper is before
us — the first was duly received, but was spirited
away before we had time to read it. It is a large
and handsomely printed sheet, and fdled with val-
\iable and practical articles. Its Editors are al-
ready well known to the public as the Editors of

the Journal of Agriculture, which paper will
hereafter be made up from the agricultural por-
tion of the Practical Farmer. We welcome to the
field every co-worker in the great art, and hope to
see good husbandry spring up everywhere from
the suggestions and teachings of this Practical
Farmer. Boston : William S. King, Editor ;
Prof. J. J. Mapes, and Levi Bartlett, Esq., As-
sociate Editors.
Transactions OF the Norfolk Agrictltural SociETr, for 1853

Like its predecessors, thesa liransactions are of
high inserest, The Address, by the Rev. F. D.
Huntingdon, is a« excellent one ; many of the
reports are made up in a condensed form and are
instructive. The society is prosperous and useful.
In another column we give a report from these
pages on milch cows.
Transactions of the Bkrksltre Agkiccltubal Society.

The Transaction.'] of this society are before us,
and denote a growing interest and wholesome pro-
gress in old Berkshire. The Address was by Jus-
tus Tower, the President of the Society, and is a
good one. The printer, in this case, does not do
himself so much credit as do the farmers.

"GO FORTH INTO THE COUNTEY,"

Go forth into the country

From a world of care and guile,
Go forth to the untainted air,

And the sunsliine's open smile ■,
It shall clear thy clouded brow —

It shall lose the worldly coil
That binds thy heart too closely up,

Thou man of care and toil .'

Go forth into the country,

AVhcre gladsome sights and sounds
Make the heart's pulses thrill and leaj*

With fresher, tiuicker bounds.
They shall wake fresh life within

The mind's enchanted bower ;
Go, student of the midnight lamp,

And try their magic power.

Go forth into the country,

With its songs of happy binls.
Its fertile vales, its grassy hill;<,

Alive with flocks and herds.
Against the power of sadness

Is its magic all arrayed —
Go forth and dream no idle dreams,

0, visionary maid !

Go forth into the country.

Where the nuts' rich clusters grow;
Where the strawberry nestles 'mid the furze

And the holly-berries glow.
Each season hath Its treasures,

Like thee all free and wild —
Who would keep thee from the country.

Thou happy, artless child .'

Go forth into the country ;

It hath many a solemn grove,
And many an Jiltjir on its hill*,

Sacred to peace and love.
And while with grateful fervor

Thine eyes its glories scan.
Worship the God who made it all,

0, holy Christian man !

Dublin Univ. Mag.

264

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JuXE

For the iVeto England Partner.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR APRIL.

Without in tlie least disparaging the abundant
labors of tlie editor, which certainly indicate no
ordinary degree of ability, experience and indus-
try, the careful reader will perceive that for much
of its attraction and interest, the Farmer is in-
debted to correspondents. Including brief inquir-
ies and suggestions, ■we find that the Number for
April contains forty distinct contributions, from
probably about as many diflerent individuals. If
it be true that, "In the multitude of counsellors
there is -wisdom," the readers of the Fanner cer-
tainly have a good prospect of becoming wise.
But liow long would this continue to be the case,
did not the correspondents of the Farmer, like
guests at the mansion of a true gentleman, feel
that they are at home, — free to speak, and act
and be, themselves, — with no sense of intrusion,
no fear of some "iron-bedstead" that is to test
their dimensions? We annex lists, of correspond-
ence. Editorials, Selections, and Illustrations, for
the April Number, in the order of paging.

CORRESPONDENTS.

Amasa Walker, fMass.) Potato Rot.

F. IIolbrook,(Vt.) Raisiug Pork.

C. Goodrich, (Vt.) Pruning Orchards.

, (Mass.) Bee Culture.

Henry Holmes, (Vt.) Churns.

*, (Mass.) Manures.

J. II. 8., (Conn.) Supei'-phosphate of Lime.

D. C, (Mass.) Farming in New England.

J. S. Gregg, (Vt.) Churning.

Klsie, (Wis.) Country Home.

B. F. Butler, (N. H.) Peaches killed by Cold.

A., (Mass.) Implement Fair.

N. P. Morrison, (Mass.) Fruit liaising.

C, (\t.) Home Guano.

P., (-Mass.) Agriculture in Massachusetts.

P., (Mass.) E.\perimental Farms.

, (Mass.)'. Feed of Stock.

A city Mechanic, (Mass.) City and Country Life.

J. Richardson, (Mass.)..., Decomposing Bones.

Jane A. Morrison, (Me) Profits of Sheep.

Joseph Ilowe, (Mass.) Cooked Meal.

G. F. Nutting, (Vt.) Dr. Greene's Fence.

K. M. Copeland, (.Mass.) Ornamental Grounds.

H. F. French, (N. H.) N. Y. city B. R. and Stables.

New Subscriber, (Vt.) Ashes— Holdfast.

H. B. Mincli, (Ohio.) Prices of Produce.

And Fourteen others Make Inquiries and Suggestions.

EDITORIALS.

Calendar for April.

First Aunual Reports of the Sec. State Board.

Where docs all the Corn go to ?

Seed Sower.

Reports (14 cols.) of Tth, 8th and 9th Legislative Agricultural
Meetings.

Solid and Liquid Excrements of Animals.

Improvement of the Dairy.

Milk and Butter Cows.

Spirit of the Agricultural Press.

Steel Double Plow.

House Afhes.

Report Concord Farmers' Club.

Extracts and Replies.

SELECTIONS.

Concord Grape — State Premiums on Dairy — Remedy for Oar-
get — How I saved my Currants — Carrots — Sheep — United Slates
Agricultural Society — Soaked corn for Horses — Asthma cured by
Plaster of Paris — Ancient Spinning Wheel — Onious, Breadmak-
ing, &c.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Seed Sower — Concord Grape — Steel Double Plow — Unimproved
nomcstc.id.

Notwithstanding the condensed form of state-
ment adopted and the small type used in the fore-
going table of contents, does it not present a for-
midable-looking text for the poor reviewer? To
give every topic un appropriate notice, and every
writer "liis moat in due season," would reqliire
iLore "heads" in his discourse, than parson Prosy

ever allowed in a sermon. He has not the courage
to make the attempt, this month. Nor dot's there
seem to be need of it. The April number is a cap-
ital one — it speaks for itself. Who thivt has read
it will spare it from his files, for the cost of a year's
subscription ? A single number of the Monthly
Farmer, in which a IIolbkook shows how farmers
can make both money and manure by raising pork
in New England ; a Goodrich and a Morrison,
discourse on Fruit and fruit-trees ; a French des-
cribes a stable two hundred feet square, and two
stories high, where four hundred city horses are
kept and fed under a discipline as strict as a Na-
poleon could desire ; and a Copeland shows what
a garden should be ; in which a city girl, now the
wife of a Wisconsin farmef, tells us how she en-
joys "a cow, a pig, and some chickens," and a
farmer's boy relates his experience as a city me-
chanic ; in which the proceedings of three Legis-
lative Agricultural Meetings are recorded ; in
which a native grape, worth five dollars a vine, is
pictured and described, — I submit, that a single
monthly of whose contents all these articles are
but specimens, is as much beyond the criticism as
it is above the commendation of A Reader.
Winchester, April, 1854.

For the New E)\i;lan(l Farmer.

A GOOD YIELD OF BUTTER.

Mr. Editor : — I ov\7i a cow, who is 5 years old ;
she calved the 22a of January, 1854 ; weight of
the calf at 4 weeks old, was 78 lbs., sold for 10
cts. per pound : The cow now gives 10 quarts of
milk per day ; so 7iiuch for the calf and milk. Now
for the butter, which is as follows : Last Wed-
nesday night I measured 2A quarts of milk from a
pail which contained all the milk my cow gave
at that time, w^hich was 5.^ qts. I strained it into
one pan, set it into my pantry, which opens into a
warm room ; the next night I measured the same
amount iTito another pan, which made 5 quarts,
and set it into the same room. Last Saturday my
wife skimmed both pans of the milk, and put the
cream all into one pot, and liy stirring it from 5 to
10 minutes it produced a nieelump of butter which
weighed 15 ounces. So much in the month of
March. You shall heaa; from this cow again in the
month of June. A. Brown.

East Abington, Mass., March 6, 1854.

Laroe Pumpkins. — Having had good success
the past season in raising fine large pumpkins, I
will give you my plan and experiment. The
ground planted was a warm , clayey loam , descend-
ing to the south. I planted the 20th of May, with
corn and one and two pumpkin seeds in a hill ,
used about one table spoonful of plaster, or gypsum
to the hill. The field was a clover sod, plowed
once and harrowed three times. When the vines
commenced to run, say one foot in length, I gave
them a careful hoeing. After tlie fruit was well
set, or some was six to eight inches in diameter, I
covered the stem, and a small portion of the vine
joining tlie stem, with moist, loose soil ; the result
was, that roots directly from the stem of the pump-
kin were formed, and the fruit derived sustenance,
and plenty of it, judging from the size and weight,
which was from eighty to ninety pounds. — Ploiio-
boy.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

265

For the New England Farmer.

GREEN COEN FOR COWS.

Allow mc to make a few statements tlirougli
the columns of your paper, in regard to what is
so commonly known in Massachusetts and in parts
of N. 11., yet so seldom practiced in this section
of Vermont and many parts of Massachusetts,
even — the practice of supplying cows with a
cheap and valualile kind of food at that season
of the year when drought or rain, gi'asshoppers
or none, the freshness of Juno feed is past, and
common cows and common pastures alike "begin
to shrink."

Most farmers in this vicinity consider it one of
the ^'■necessary evils" that, during August and
parts of the adjoining months, their cows should
be either half-stiirved or allowed to re-roam over
the oft-trodden pastures, and be content with a
supply of withered grass, or browzo from the
neighboring woods. The result is, of course, a
i'Y/?j/y ahuniluncc of milk, butter and cheese, and
instead of the cows gaining in flesh and preparing
for their winter service, are reduced in flesh, and
before dog-days are past, too many of them be-
come "spring poor," and when they come to the
barn for winter, look so much worse for the
"wear," that one must conclude that the whole
summer's feed has '■^nin to milk and not to flesh."

In the spring of 1852, two bushels of the south-
rrn 7/eZ/oio-flat corn were procured and sowed in
the usual way, i. e. in drills 3 feet apart — manur-
ing well, and taking care that the corn be so thick
in the drill that no stalk should grow more than
an inch in diameter. The season was unusually
dry, and some farmers were obliged to feed out
hay to their cows. Those who were prevailed up-
on to "try" the new notion had corn in plenty
from the 1st of August to the 20th of September.

The result was, this "book farming" plan met
with universal approl)ation, and in the spring of
1853, the procurer was requested to supply his
neighbors with seed to the amount of thirty bushels.
Most of this was sowed within two miles of this
village.

After this fair trial during the season past, our
farmers estimate the value of this feed to each
cow, to bo from three to five dollars, over the usu-
al practice of grass feeding only. This is made
up by the milk and condition in which the cows
are found wlicn coming to winter quarters.

During tlie present month, those who wish for
corn are sending in orders for their supply, and if
we may judge by tlie present amount called for,
full 50 buls. will bo sown in this vicinity the
present season.

As dry fodder, we think a larger amount may
be raised on an acre than of any otlicr substance
we have yet been acquainted with. I have cured
the growth on six square i-ods, and fed one medi-
um size cow, giving her all slie would eat, (after
cutting with a straw-cutter) in thirty-seven days.
Thus the crop from one rod kept the cow a little
more tlian one week.

The difficulty in curing will be an objection to
its general use on a large scale, but as green feed
we know of nothing its equal, when compared
with the expense of raising.

The question is often asked, "Why is not our
tommon corn just as good ?" An equal amount
is as good. But the quantity on the same ground

is very much less than of the southern, and it
will not reach a size fit for cutting as early.

Our garden sweet corn is raised in some places
with sucocss, and Imt for the trouble of preparing
seed for future use, would be more valuable for
the latter part of the season.

The southern corn may be had of Messrs. H. &
S. P. liill. No. 58 Main Street, Charle.stown, and
of any grain dealer in the cities, and in many of
our villages.

I prefer st^abling my cows through the summer
(thus saving all the manuro,both solid and liquid)
and then feed them in the morning. In this way
cows will not acquire the '■^ habit'' of waiting
around the gate in tlie pasture, in the latter part
the day, as whqn fed at night.

Plant about May 10th, June 1st, and June
15th, so as to keep a tender supply from July 2d,
through the month of Septemljcr. g. r. n-

Rando/pk, Vt., April 15th^ 1854,

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

HOP ROOTS.

Mr. Orson U. ADhuy, of Hyde-park, Vt., informs
us that he can furnish Hop roots for 25 cents for
one hundred, ready to plant, and that they can be
sent by mail, at trifling expense.

HENS- — SHOATS — GRINDING CORN.

M. B. C Rich, Mount Vernon, Ohio. In reply
to your inquiries alx)ut the kinds of hens and
shoats which are considered the best in New Eng-
land, we have to say that the Shanghai, Cochin
China, Black Spanish, Golden Poland, and per-
haps one or two other varieties, have their several
admirers. The flesh of the large kinds, in juicy
tenderness and richness of flavor, bears no favor-
able comparison to that of our common fowls.
Some of the mixtures, as the Shanghai and Cochin
China, are great layers, and good mothers. The
Buck's county. Pa., fowls, are about the right
size, are good layers, and are good on the table.
The Dorkings are a similar variety, and upon the
whole, would probably prove as valuable a variety
as any we have.

Suffolk Swine bear off the palm at present in
pigdom. It is an excellent breed — is quiet, gro'WB
well and lays on fat readily, and when well served
upon the taljlo would make any reasonable Jew
regret that he had forsworn pork.

There are a variety of mills used for grinding
corn, by hand or by horse power, and arc for sale
in the agricultural warehouses.

THE YELLOW LOCUST.

1 have about ten acres of land, on which I wish
to grow the Yellow Locust — will you inform me
how to prepare the seed so that it will vegetate —
where the seed can be obtained and price ? also,
whether the seed should be planted where the
tree is to remain, or is it 7icccssary to transplant?

Windsor, Vt., 1854. Gko. B. Green.

Remabks. — Some attention has been given to
the cultivation of the Locust as a forest tree, in

266

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JlTNB

various parte of the country, and we believe with
pretty good succcse. The tree grows rapidly and
produces timber of great value. We have never
prepared the seed for planting, but can say how
it ha« been done by others ; and on reference to
Bome of the best English works, we find the prac-
tice by our own people sustained by some of the
best writers on the plaiitiug and preservation of
forest trees.

Doct. Samuel Baud's method of preparing the
seeds was to pour boiling water on them, and let
it stand and cool. The hard outer coat Avould
thus be softened, and if the seed swelled by this
operation, it might be planted, and would soon
oome up.

Judge MiTcnELL, of North Hempstead, Long
Island, took a quantity of seed ami put it in an
earthern pitcher, ami poured upon it water near
to boiling. After standing 24 hooirs, he turned
off the water and selected the seeds that were
swelled by this application of heat and moisture.
To the remainder he added hot water again, and
after 24 hours, selected as before, and so again the
third time. lie planted the seeds in drills about
four feet apart, and in eight or ten days they were
all above ground. About three years after this,
these were transplanted on a side hill of waste
ground which had lain for many years unculti-
vated, which was soon improved by the addition
of a large grove of valuable locust trees, in the
most thrifty condition.

Prof. IlKN'snAW put some seeds into boiling wa-
ter ; others he actually boiled 1^, 3, G, and even
15 minutes ; he planted them afterwards in the
earth, and they all sprouted and grew in half the
time that seeds did which had not been boiled or
soaked. When young, the plants must be pro-
tected from cattle.

Dr. DrowxV, of Rhode Island, says that "the
easiest method of raising the locust is as follows :
Plant fifteen or twenty trees on an acre, and
when fifteen or twenty feet high, run straggling
furrows through the ground, and wherever the
roots are cut with the plow, new trees will start
up, and will soon stock the ground with a plenti-
ful growth."

GOOD BEEF.

Horace Buixock, Esq., of Rehoboth, recently
slaughtered a beef which I think is worthy of be-
ing recorded in your valuable paper. It had been
stall-fed with meal for about one 3'oar ; .age four
this spring. It weighed as follows : — Cross weiglit,
1081 lbs., dry weight, 1200 lbs.; rough tallow,
119 lbs. ; hide. 111 lbs. The girth was 7 feet, 1
inch. The meat was sold in this city for $8,50
per hundred, which taking into consideration the
high price of all kinds of provision,was very cheap.

Providence, R. I., March 18, 1854. e. d. b.

The Editor indulges in a Beef Steak ! — Beef
Steaks is riz, most certainly — but we could think

of nothing else so appropriate wherewith to taste
and try the Tomato Ketchup, of friend Cutttu, of
Pelham, N. II. Beefsteak, and Tomato Ketchup !
Any description would be of little aid and comfort ;
would only "make the mouth water," without
sustaining the stomach ; you must buy them j'our-
setf. CcTTER prepares a small ocean of the ketch-
up annually, and if any body can do it better,
his bottles have n't made their appearance this way.
That's all !

PERUVIAN GUANO,

The notice which we have recently been led to
take of various estimates of the supply of Guano
at the Chincha Islands, has induced a friend to
send us a statement or report, made and published
in England in December last, by Geo. Peacock,
F. R. G. S. The statement is founded upon a
personal survey, made by Mr. Peacock during four
months special devotion to the sulyect, in an open
boat, all along the coast of Peru. His survey was
made at the instigation of the Br. Government, with
a promise of 1000 tons of guano as compensation,
which promise, it is said, has never been fulfilled.
The English holders of Peruvian bonds, secured by
the proceeds of the guano islands, began to appre-
hend a failure of their guaranty; and hence, prob-
ably this survey. As to the Ctiincha group, Mr.
Peacock says : — Journal.

"I estimated in 1844 that the quantity remain-
ing on the northern island alone, was at least ten
millions of tons ; although it had been worked by
the Indians from time immemorial, and although
a very large quantity had been removed since the
permission of its first exportation to Europe in
1841 ; besides the immense quantities that had
been used by the Peruvian farmers since the con-
quest. At this time (1844) I measured the cliff
of pure guano lying in a north-eastand south-west
direction, where it had been worked in upon from
the north-west verge of the rocky basement to-
wards the middle ridge of the island; I found it to
be 85 feet perpendicular, and I calculated that by
the time tlie workings had reached the summit or
crown of the hill it would be at least 100 feet in
section to the rocky base, all pure guano.

I did not examine the other two islands, merely
landing on them, the deposits there not having at
that time been opened upon ; but Senor Villa, who
examined them in 1842, declared that they con-
tain, in his opinion, considerably larger quantities
than the northern island, the middle one being the
largest of the three. A rough estimate was formed
that from 40 to 50 millions of tons existed on this
group. Senor Don Framisco de Rivera, the late
charge d'affaires of Peru in London, who was en-
trusted with my plans and estimates of the new
guenarosdiscovcredbyme, found (as 1 was informed
in 1840) that valleys filled with guano to tlie lev-
el of the sumunding liill of this material, up-
wards of 120 feet in depth, existed in the Chincha
group, and that the quantity might be said to be
practically inexhaustible during the present gener-
ation.

However, independent of these immense deposits
on the Chincha Group, theLobos, Guanape, Ilua-
ura and other islands upon the north-west coast of
Peru were estimated by me to contain some five
millions of tons of it, at least ; whilst that truly

X854.

NBW ENGLAND FARMER.

2>7

■wonderful sugar-loaf shaped peninsular, the Pavil-
ion de Pica, in the province of Tarapaca, still con-
tains some four or live millions of tons ; and whilst
the Hunnillas, Chipana, Lobos, and other known
guaneros on the south coast of Peru, between Iqui-
que and the river Loa, contain some four or five
millions more amongst them. Thus, independent
of the Chinchas, there are some thirteen or four-
teen millions of this invaluable manure still known
to exist, and I am therefore of opinion that the
holdei-s of Peruvian stock need be under no appre-
hensions of their guarantee falling short whilst
the demand for this indispensable article remains
practically inexhaustible, as I firmly believe, with
JSenores Rivera and ^Tilla, it to be."

PREPARING SEED CORN.

As the planting sc;ison is now near at hand, it
may be useful to present such modes of preparing
corn for planting, as appears to have answered the
purpose desired. We therefore append two modes.
The first is from 0. F. Marsiiai., of Wheeler, N.
Y. , and the other is from a correspondent of the
Albany Cultivator, who dates at Xeuia, Ohio. —
Ger. Telegraph.

1. I have made frequent experiments in prepar-
ing seed corn, without success, except one made
last spring. I took soft soap, put some in a ket-
tle, warmed it over the fire, put in the seed corn,
and gave it a good stirring, adding as much plas-
ter as would adhere to tlie corn. The corn came
up good and quick, and looked vigorous and
healtliy. The alkali in the soap is a strong ferti-
lizer. The wire worms did not di.sturb that plant-
ed with the seed soaped — that part not soaped,
was injured more or less by the worms. Lest
some should attribute the manifest difference be-
tween the soaped and unsoaped seed, to the plas-
ter, I took some thick molasses, put a few quarts
of seed in a kettle, as above stated \ there was as
much plaster attached to this seed as to that
soaped. The greater part of the field was planted
with seed in its natural state. The soaped seed
came up the quickest and best. Will others try
the experiment ?

2. Take a tight vessel of convenient size, into
which put the seed corn, adding sufficient warm
water to cover the corn ; the water so warm that
the hand cannot be kept in it ; stirring the corn a
few ti«ncs, that it may be thoroughly wet, letting
it stand in the water from ten to twelve hours,
then take the corn out of tlic water, and put it in
a nice pile on the barn floor, cover it with a blan
ket for the space of two nights and one day, then
plant as soon as possible.

My informant says (iiaving confidence in him
in this matter,) tliat on last year, his seed corn
treated as above, came up so well, that he had not
to replant any, whih) the same variety, planted on
the same day, in the same field, and not treated as
the above, but dry, came up very indifierently,
liaving to be rephmted.

What is still better, (says my informant,) the
prepared seed came up sooner, and apparently kept
a week in advance in the growth durin<' the season.

The E.\d of Life. — No man has a right to live
solely for himself; but should live to do good, and
Bcatter bleesings all around him.

For the New Enrrlnnd Fanner.

EXTRAVAGANT PRICES FOR STOCK.

Mr. EniTOR : — Sentinel as you are on the watch-
tower of the farmer, it is your duty to give the
alarm, when danger is near. W itliin a short time,
we have seen accounts of prices most extraordin-
ary, paid for "full blood animals" purchased in
England, to bo introduced to this country. In-
stance at the sale of Lord Ducie's Stock, it is said
£100 was given for a bull ; — £700 for a cow ; —
£350 for a calf, 6 weeks old, only ; — and so on ; —
dearly indiftxting a mania in this matter. I am
pleased to see, tliat the Editors of the Farmers^
Companion and Gazelle, a well conducted journal
at Detroit, Michigan, have cautioned their readers
against such follies, page 34, ofcuri-ent volume ; —
and assured them, that as fine animals as were
ever reared, can be introduced from England, at
less than one-quarter part these prices. It adde
nothing to the intrinsic value of an animal, thaf
its ancestor was a Peer of the Realm. Republican
as we are, we are easily captivated by baubles.
We are "well assured that first class animals can
be purchased and imported from England, at a
cost not exceeding $250 each.

April 19, 1854.

DO SOILS LOSE THEIR MANURES BY
LEACHING?

Not often. 'Tis only the coarsest sands or grav-
els, and such as are almost wholly destitute of
clay or vegetable matter, that permit manures to
pass downward through them. Nearly all soils
absorb the valuable portion of the manures which
have dissolved by rains after apjiliiuition, before it
has descended five inches. To l)e satisfied of this,
one has only to examine the soil at the bottom of a
barn-yard, and he will find a few inches only
that have become at all charged with the fertile
extract of the superincumbent manure.

The true source of escape is by evaporation. If
only partially buried, or the soil is principally si-
licious and coarse, the ammonia, carbonic acid,
and other fertile gases, which may have been de-
veloped by decomposition, or dissolved by rains,
may evaporate from the surface or through the
loosely associated particles of the soil, and pass off
into the general storehouse of the atmosphere.
And it is in this way nearly all manures escape
from the soil. A perfect correction of this de-
fec*', is to bury the manures at a sufficient depth,
and keep the soil above, well supplied with vegetjv
ablc water, both living and dead.

We have seen tlie principle aliovo asserted,
most fully proved by the appearance of a muck
heap made by compounding fisli with loam. AVhen
made with a single layer of Manhadden or Moss
Bankers in the middle of a heap four feet high,
tlie oil and other fertilizing matters dissolved in
the decay of the fish, has been found to mark dis-
tinctly to the eye and smell all tlieaiiperincuml>ent
mass of earth while it had not reaohod four inches
below it. A clear understanding of the road ma-
nures travel, may aid many a farmer to arrest
their progress, who would otherwise spend a large
amount in unavailing cffc)rt8, to secure them from
their fancied escape in another direction. — iV. Y.
AgricuUor.

268

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

June

For the New Knglaiid Farmer.

SEEDING LAND TO GRASS.

Mr. Editor : — There are few, if any, opevation.s
in husbantlrj of more importance to the farmer
than tJuit of seeding land to grass. Nor are there
many operations concerning the mode of perform-
ing which, there is more variance of opinion.
Some favoring spring, others fall seeding ; some
contending for heavy seeding, others for light. So
important and oft recurring is this operation of
the form, that it would seem strange that the best
mode has not long since been decided, beyond all
controversy. The purchase of grass seeds is quite
an item of money expense ; its failure to produce
its desired return is followed by a still heavier loss
in the time and labor expended in applying it to
the soil, and the season's crop of grass.

The practice of seeding in the spring, Avith some
kind of grain, generally oats, is, I believe, too haz-
ardous and uncertain. Every farmer knows full
well that one of the greatest obstacles with which
he has to contend in New England is ^]-ougfii.
That his grain with which he seeds in the spring
is ready for harvest at a season when drought is
most likely to ensue. That during the growth of
the grain, the blades of grass are kept from mak-
ing much if any progress ; the shade of the grain
rendering them weak and tender. That the remov-
al of the grain at once exposes these feelile plants
to the scorching rays of an almost vertical sun,
which withers and burn them up beyond recovery.
The greater portion of these plants are so small at
the time of harvesting the grain, that they escape
the too often casual observation of the farmer, and
when the sun has burned them up, he concludes
the seed was worthless, and forthwith blames the
seedsman for the failure of his crop. Many thou-
sands of dollars are thus annually lost in Massa-
chusetts alone. I have tried this mode of seeding,
and am satisfied that it is altogether too hazardous
an operation to be tried the second time. Fall
seeding, too, if left undone later than the first of
September, is also dangerous, both from early and
late freezing and thawing of the ground, which
destroys the plant in its weak and feeble hold up-
on the soil. Summer seeding at the last hoeing
of corn is in favor with many farmers, but tliis
method of seeding, has always appeared to me, to
be a slovenly moide of farming — perhaps not neces-
sarily so, if sufficient pains were taken to keep
the ground level, and to cut up the corn below
the surface, which is seldom done.

Last season I determined to seed down in August
having taken a crop of oats from the 1 md, it hav
ing been planted two years Avith corn ; having
harvested the oats which stood a few days longer
than was desirable, I carted on ten ox cart loads
of good barn-yard compost to the acre, plowed it
in, harrowed and sowed licrds grass, red top and
clover. In a few days the land was well covered
with a second crop of oats from the seed scattered
in the process of harvesting, the grass came up
finely and the field presented a very beautiful ap-
pearance. By the first of October the oats had
got up a foot high. I turned my milch cows in for
one hour a day at first, and when partly fed off,
prolonged their stay to two hours. Such a field
of green fodder, at such a time, proved a valua-
ble acquisition. The grass continued to thrive,and
now presents a very promising appearance. The

oat stubble left in the fall, has, I believe, been
no unimportant protection to the young grass
roots through a hard winter.

So highly satisfactory was this operation, that I
shall pursue it again this season — sowing about
two bushels of oats to the acre with my grass
seed. The advantages, I deem to bo three-fold.
First, if your seed is good, you will be sure of not
losing it by drought or early frosts ; secondly, it
afibrds an economical opportunity of applying a
little fresh food for the support of 3'our future
crops, thus laying the land to grass in such good
heart, that if it has l>een dealt with properly in
its previous cultivation, it will need no top-dress-
ing (which in my humble judgment is a most ex-
travagant expenditure of manure, except upon
low, wet lands) until it is again taken up for cul-
tivation. And, lastly, it gives you a fine crop
of green fodder at a season when it is greatly
needed. t. a. s.

Wesibo}'o\ April, 1854.

Remarks. — The subject discussed above, is an
important one, and we think suggestions may be
found in this article worthy of careful considera-
tion, as great losses are annually experienced in
laying down lauds to grass.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

EXPEaiMENTS, STOCK, CORN, &c.

jMr. Brown : — The assignment of subjects for
experiments by the Concord Club, as presented in
your paper this morning, is admirable. Let each
of those who engage in these expci'iments, make
an exact minute of their operations, at the time ;
and let the committee who assigned the subjects,
have an eye to the several parcels under cultiva-
tion, at least once a month ; and a mass of infor-
mation will accumulate, of more value than is
ordinarily presented in the report of any of our
societies.

The butter products of your neighbor's Devon
stock should no longer be questioned — since it
appears that Mr. Ilobart's native stock has done
twelve per cent, better than his, on ordinary feed,
alone. Farmers should learn from these, and other
facts recently given to the public, that hy proper
care, in selecting cows for the making of butter,
that double the quantity of butter can be o1)*ained
from the same quantity of milk, and generally, I
believe, the less the quantity of milk from which
the cream arises, the better the quality of the
butter.

The well drawn statement of the farmer of Pel-
ham shows that there is a profit in growing In-
dian corn, at fifty bushels per acre. If the yield
is double this, as has been the present season, by
several cultivators in the County of Norfolk, one
rising as high as 129 bushels to the acre — it proves,
that corn is not only one of the most useful, but
one of the most profitable crops, that can be grown.
A careful analysis of these statements will show
that where the hills were about two feet apart,
ibur stalks in a hill, or one stalk to each square
fnut of land, the largest product was grown. Some
excellent suggestions on the growing of Indian
corn have recently appeared from the "model
farmer" of Pembroke, and the "sound practical
farmer" of Warner. There can be little hazard

18U,

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

269

In fallowing the instructions of such men. Their
locks have whitened in the service ; and although
the energies of their muscles may falter, the energy
of their minds is ueimpaired. *

April 22, 1854.

For the JV«« K7ig-laud Farmer.

COOKED AND UNCOOKED FOOD.

Mr. Ckowx : — The communication from Mr.
Howe, in the iV. E. Fanner of 18th inst., is cer-
tainly an important one, inasmuch as the very ac-
curate and conclusive experiment w^ith uncooked
meal, for the feeding of sv.'ine, goes very far to
establish the question that it is better than cooked ;
a question which has been very much debated.
It contravenes the generally received opinions and
practice of most raisers of pork. •

I wish Mr. Howe, er some other extensive far-
mer, would extend the experiment to the various
otlier articles, which are usually fed to swine.
The expense and labor of cooking food for swine,
as usually practised, is no small item in the cost,
more especially for small farmers. I shall never
believe, till I see some satisfactory experiment, that
the food for swine, or other stock, requires to be
cooked in order to be eaten by them, or that the
process of cooking imparts additional nutriment,
I should rather expect that the process of cook-
ing might dissipate, by evaporation, some of the
•essential properties of the articles cooked.

The boiling or steaming of hay and straw,
'.vhich has been heretofore suggested and recom-
mended, seems to me to be a wild fancy.

Shall we undertake to pamper the appetites of
our cows and horses with all the refinements of a
Fi'onch cook ? Man departs from the original in-
tentions of nature, by calling to his aid the vari-
ous processes of the culinary art. The more plain
and simple his food, the more perfect is man, in
•all the essential attiibutcs of his nature. Those
who indulge in the gratification of a pampered ap-
petite are not the most efficient members of the
community, and the direct tendency is to deprecia-
tion ; hence, the continued revolutions in the so-
cial relations of society — the lesser indulgent
classes go up while the more luxurious go down.
The rich cannot resist the temptation to ease and
indulgence which their riches give to them, and by
which they arc enervated and, consequently de-
scend in the scale of their social relations.

I had written thus much before seeing the ar-
ticle from Mr. Ilolbrook, of Vermont, in your
last. Lie has given us a very valualjle communi-
cation, on the management and feeding of swine,
and of the amount of pork made by a bushel of
eooked Indian meal, which he thinks is better
than uncooked meal. This is at variance with the
experience of Mr. Howe, who made a pretty fair
experiment with five j>igs.

As has been before said, docs the cooking add
anything to the material stufi"?

1 do not know but swine or other stock might
eat a little more of some food, wlicn cooked, than
when not, or when mashed up with the more pal-
atable, might take some articles which they would
refuse when given alone. But then it becomes a
question whether those articles which would l)e
refused alone, afford much appropriate nourish-
ment. Tlic Author of nature has given them in-
stincts to discriminate between what is suitable
for their support and what is not.

The farmers want an experiment made which
shall decide for them this question, because if
nothing is gained, the expense of Iwilers, fuel and
much labor will bo saved.

I wisli Mr. Howe, Mr. Ilolbrook, or some oth-
er extensive raiser of pork, would institute a fair
and careful experiment, and give us small farmers
the benefit of it.

So far as my experience has been, and the ex-
perience of many good farmers, whom I have con-
sulted, the practice of feeding swine with all the
common articles raised upon the farm, without
cooking, has been pursued with success. The
grains, most roots and fruits arc readily eaten, in
their natural 8tate.

If there are some v/hieh swine refuse, it is pro^
bable they are more suitable for some other kinds
of farm stock, and would not do swine much
good if they were forced to eat them. jk

Topsfield, March 28, 1854.

SETTING OUT CABBAGE, TOMATO,
AND OTHEE PLANTS.

Last spring we saw a farmer setting out a hun-
dred cabbage plants in the following manner. The
plants were pulled up from the seed bed without
loosening the ground around them, and as this
was pretty compact, three-fourths of the fibrous
roots were broken off. He then made a round
hole with a stick about half an inch in diameter,
thrust in tlie plant, dropped in earth to fill up the
hole, packed it down, poured on a considerable
quantity of Avater, and then covered up the plants
with a burdock leaf te keep off the sun's rays, and
left them to grow as best they could. We reques-
ted the privilege of setting out twenty plants for
him, and proceeded thus :

First, we went to the seed bed, and with a flat
stick loosened and lifted up a quantity of dirt a-
round the roots, taking care to break very few of
the most delicate fibres. We next went to the
cabbage ground, and with a hoe prepared a place
for each plant by mellowing and pulverising the
earth several inciies in diameter. We scooped out
a large hole with the hand, deep enough for a
plant, and set it in carefully, with considerable
loose earth still clinging to it. The roots were
left spread out just as they had grown, finely pul-
verised soil was then sprinkled in to fill up the
hole, and carefully pressed down around the plant.
We then added about half a pint of filthy water
from the swill-pail, and requested that the plants
sliould be lei't without any protecting covering.
Our farmer friend said lie could never spend so
much time with a few plants. But mark the re-
sult.

During the latter part of summer we visited the
"cabbage patch," and found thatof the 20 plants,
one had been injured by a careless blow from the
hoe, and one had grown feebly, while seventeen of
them bore large, solid heads of cabbage. Of the
eighty other plants set out at the same time ia
the same soil, fifteen only had large heads, twen-
ty-nine bore heads of medium size, fourteen had
barely lived and were not worth harvesting, while
tAventy-two had not survived the transplanting.

The next Iwst preferable method we know of to
set out cabbages is, to first grout them. — Aineican
Agriculture.

270

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Jitnb:

For the Ifew England Farmer.

LTJSUS NATURE.

Friend Brown : — Knowing that you take a
deep interest in all the proiluctions of nature,
■whether natural or unnatural — normal or abnor-
mal, I will give you an account of what I have
met with, which seems to partake of the Lusus
Naturce Imprimis. Near the Crystal Palace, in
New York, a pair of oxen were exhibited, said to
weigh 9000 pounds. They came from the fertile
West, where animals and vegetables, having abun-
dance of room and no lack of nutriment, seem dis
posed to expand themselves. The keeper said they
had been accustomed to hard work till within one
year. He thought they had some Durham blood,
but mostly native. What a contrast between
these noble looking animals, and the little rats,
we often meet with in some portions of our coun-
try, whicli become venerable with age, before
they acquire sufficient size and strength to sustain
a yoke !

What man has done, man may do. Every far-
mer may raise good cattle ; he may not make
them all weigh i'orty-five hundred pounds each,
but 'twould 1)6 well if he were to aim at it.

There was also a Shetland cow, eight years old,
and but thirty inches high. By her side Avas a
calf nineteen months old, not yet weaned, nor hav-
ing had a calf, though giving milk. This calf was
half Ayrshire, and somewhat larger than it» moth-
er. Here is a case for dairymen and physiolo-
gists.

There were also Bake well sheep with wool full
tliree feet long. Query. — Why does not wool , like
the covering of other animals, fall otf when it
ceases to be needed and becomes a burthen ?

Last of all Avas a Jewish a))omination — a pig,
one-fourth Berkshire, three-fourths native, weigh-
m^ fourteen hundred and scvni pounds. Among
the Irish tenantry, tlie pig, being set apart for the
payment of taxes, is called the "Rent-payer," or
the "Rent ;" — sucli a "pig" at the pi'csent prices
of pork would pay the rent of a larger estate than
an Irish potato patch.

But obesity and monstrosity are not confined to
the brute creation.

Col. Wood, of Cincinnati, has now on exhibi-
tion in this city some rare specimens of humanity,
— which prove conclusively that there are ex-
tremes in human nature.

It is a common remark that Miss, or Mrs. So-
and-so", is a great lady. Now the greatest lady
living, Col. Wood says, is Mrs. Scholey, a native of
New Jersey, now a resident of Ohio. She weighs
seven hundred and sixty-four pounds; one hun-
dred and fifty pounds more than the celebrated
Daniel Lambert. Her naked arm measures three
feet and two inches, and her waist nine feet and
a half. Truly her husband has his arms full, if
not his basket full of blessings. Mrs. S. has a
good countenance, is highly intelligent, and con-
verses with freedom and great propriety. She is
of German descent; says her grandfather weighed
more than four hundred pounds ; has two sisters
who weigh more tlian two hundred pounds each ; '
and a })rother who weighs two hundred and fifty I
pounds. She has always enjoyed good health, cats
no more food than other people, and much loss
than a dwarf who accompanies her, and is but thir-
ty inches in height. She has tried, by dieting and]

by medical ti'eatment, to reduce her weight — but
without success. Next in this group, is Mis»
Richardson, of Alstead, N. H. She is nineteen
years old, and weighs six hundred and seventy-
four pounds ; which is sixty-four pounds more
than the great English giant weighed. The moth-
er of Mias R. accompanies her, and is a small and
lean woman. The father is said also not to bo
above the ordinary size ; she rises and walks with
apparent ease. Mrs. S. cannot rise without assis-
tance.

So you see, Mr. Editor, New Hampshire prO'
duces not only great men, but great women ; and
New Jersey, too, may boast of women as great a»
any other sister State.

Tliere is also, in this group, Mrs. Ellen Briggs,
of Ohio, 32 years of age, the mother of three chil-
dren, and but 80 inches in height. She is well
proportioned — vei'j graceful in form — has a good
countenance, speaks P]nglish, French, and' Ger-
man, dances perfectly, and all that.

Now have not 1 proved that Nature, in the'
world of matter, yjlaj-ssome fantastic tricks'? An5
docs not every day's observation show, that m
mind there are no less wonderful vagaries ?

At the President's levee, on Friday evening last,
I witnessed some rare specimens of animated na-
ture Avithout paying an admission fee.

T!ie President seemed in good health and fine-
spirit?. He certainly does the honors of the Ex-
ecutive mansion Avith ease and dignity.

The assemblage furniBhcd a fine illustration of
the levelling tendency of Repubiicani.sm. Jammed
into the fivmous "EastRoom," side by side, shoul-
der to sliouldcr, were representatives of every
grade in society. Whigs, Democrats, Free Soilers
and Unionists, — Hards and Softs, — Hunkers and
Progressive?, — Liberals and Rami'ods, military
chieftains at.d soaplock dandies, — gentlemen and
boors, — philosophers and dolts, stately matrons
and coy nuiidens, beauty and deformity, pride
and humility, Avisdom and folly. Catholic and
Protestant, American and European, all hud-
dled together, cheek by joAvl, in truly democratic
style.

It is well that the "dear people" have access to
their rulers, and well would it be, if their pru-
dence should keep them mindful of the source
Avhence they derive their power, and thus prevent
them from enacting unrigliteous laws.

Baltimore, Feb. 27, 1854. r. b. n.

SPECIFIC FERTILIZERS.

We would suggest to our friends who are about
to use guano, poudretto, super-phosphate of lime,
plaster, salt, salt-petre, or any other highly con-
centrated manure, to omit, in all cases, the appli-
cation of them on a portion of the same field, so
that it may be plainly seen whether the crop is
any better where they are applied than where they
are not. It is only through the aid afforded by
such experiments that Ave shall be able to come
to satisfactory conclusions as to their value. It is
very important for us to know, not only that these
manures are valuable, but also to know hoiv valu-
able they are, in comparison with the common
manures of the farm. In order to obtain this

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

271

knowledge, we must not only grow crops side by
eide, with and witliout the guano or other fertil-
izer, but must weigh and measure the crops them-
selves, grown on equal portions of ground. In
such a process we can obtain valuable results,
whether favorable or unfavorable.

We agree with the American Agriculturist, that,
"in applying commercial super-phosphate, which
is in a finely-divided state, we do not think it nec-
essary to mix it with any other substance, unle^
it is to come directly in contact with the seed. In
the latter case, it should be well mixed previously,
with a considerable quantity of muck, or rich
earth, or even with loam.

•'It is hardly worth while to apply less than 200
lbs. to an acre ; on poor soils, or those of ordinary
quality, 400 or 500 pounds per acre would not be
too much. We prefer the latter quantity for ex-
perimental trials, though we would advise using
dilTerent quantities on adjacent plots, in order to
better mark the effects. 200 lbs. per acre would
only allow about one pound to 218 square feet,
which is a plot a little less than 15 feet square.
This is only two-thirds of an ounce to a square
javd. Double this quantity would be little enough
from which to judge anything of its effects."

For the New England Farmer.

THE FLOWERS AND THE BIRDS.

Friend Brown : — "The flowers appear on the
earth ; tiic time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."

So sang the great monarch of Israel, whose eyes
were not too exalted to behold the beauties of na-
ture and the exquisite beauties of the springtime
thereof; whose ears were not so lofty but that he
could listen, with delightful praises, to the great
God who made him, to the sweet voices of the
beautiful birds.

The splendid garniture of periodical birth, has
again come to beautify the earth, the blithe birds
have returned, bringing their sweet minstrelsy
with them, to revisit the orchard, the meadow, the
garden and the wood. Let them not be regarded
as unworthy of the protection of the husbandman,
and ben(;ath his notice ; nay, they arc tlie friends
of the farmer, and the companions of the cultiva-
tor, and "my Father made them all."

Let not the modest flowers be trodden under
foot, or be passed l)y as a thing of nought, for
they are beautiful ; why then, should tlie farmer
neglect them entirely ? llathcr let him cause some
border to bloom with beauty ; the affections will
not sufler thereby, the heart will not become hard-
ened by such lal)or ; they will be a source of pleas-
ure to the household, and will catch the eye of
the traveller passing by ; in sliort, where the flow-
ers arc cultivated and loved so well, stratagems
and spoils can scarcely dwell. i. s.

4th mo., 1854.

f^" There is nothing more dangerous to the
virtuous than association with the guilty who
possess amiable and attractive qualities.

THE THRIFTLESS FARMER.

"Stop them hogs — what in the the rea-
son you didn't patch up that fence better ,when you
were about it? 'Stu-boy, 'stu-boy— yank 'em,
Tiger, I'll learn 'em to keep out of the garden !
Now fix up the fence and keep them hens out, or
you'll ketch it,"

Such wore the ejaculations of Farmer Thrift-
less, on a bright May morning, when the hogs
and hens for the hundredth time had broken into
the miserable garden ; but he had uttered the.se
words as many times before, and the scene did
not disturb his equanimity so much but that he
resumed his seat under the dilapidated porch, and
began to ciiarge his old pipe with a new fill of
tobacco. But his poor wife, whose sweet looks and
sweetness of temper had been sorely tried by the
confusion which had reigned supreme about her
for many years, could not look on undisturbed.
She loved order and quiet, and her meek and gen-
tle spirit must soon leave the revels of creaking
hinges and flapping doors, and all the wild disor-
der about her, for the undisturbed realms of the
peaceful and quiet grave. Iler last entreaty falls
upon the ear of Farmer Thriftless like water upon
the flinty rock. Young Hercules, with his club,
and Tom Careless, with his hammer, were des-
patched in the words with which we commenced,
to rout the enemy and repair damages !

Now, reader, behold them. First, the house,
the Farmer, and his poor, over-worked, heart-
broken wife, — the patched barn, — the doors, — the
weathervane and the roof; the stacks, horse and
cattle mingled in with broken wheels and other
trumpery. Then in the foreground see the fight-
ing cocks, the skeletons of diseased cows and hogs !
See Tom cock his eye and scratcli his head in be-
holding the youthful Hercules break the ribs of
the hungry pigs, and put the fowls in a tremen-
dous flutter. There is a life and truthfulness in
the scene too sad for mirth, ludicrous as it is.
Will any of our friends confess that they sat for the
picture ! We have endeavored to improve a little
upon the suggestion of our excellent brotlier of
the Pennsylvania Far?n Journal, and hope to re-
ceive his approval. The F'ori Wayne Times comes
to our aid, too, in the life-like portrait before us
Now "look on this picture, and then on that"
which we shall give next week, and judge for
yourselves of the merits of each.

The thriftless farmer provides no shelter for hia
cattle during the inclemency of tlie winter ; but
permits them to stand shivering by_ the side of a
fence, or lie in the snow, as best suits thcm._

IIo throws their fodder on tlie ground, or in the
mud, and not unfrcquently in the highway ; by
which a large portion of it, and all the manure,i3
wasted.

lie grazes his meadows in fall and spring, by
which they arc gradually exhausted and finally
ruined.

272

NEW ENGLAND FAHSfER.

JcNi

His fences are old and poor — ;iust sucli as to
kt h\a neiglibor'y cattle break into his ficM, and
teach his oivn to be unruly and spoil his crop.

He neglects to keep the manure from aroun<J
the sills of his barn — if ho has mio — by which
they ai-c i^rematurcly rotted, ami his barn de-
etroyal -

lie tills, or skima ovor the suyfaco O'f his land,
until it is exhausted, but never thinks it vro-rth
Tvliile to manure or clover it. For the first, he has
no time, for the last he "is not able."

He has a place for nothing, and nothing in its
place. He consequently -wants a lioe or a rake

or a hammer, or an augur, but knows not where-
to find them, and thus lose&much time.

He loiters away stormy days and evenings when
he should' be repairing hia utcnmls, or improving
his mind by reading useful books or newspaper.

He spends much time in town, at tlie corner of
the street, or m the "snake holes," complaining:
of hard times, and goes homo in the evening,
"pretty well tore.'-

He hiis no shed for his fire wood — consequently
his wife is out of humor, and his meals out of sea-
son.

He plants a few fruit trees^ and his cattle forth -

IIOMKSTEAD OF THE TIIKIFTLE9S FARMKR.

with destroy them. He ''has no luck in raising
fruit." ^ ^

One-half the little he raises is destroyed by his
own or his neighbors' cattle.

His plow, drag, and other implements, lie all
winter m the field where last used ; and just as he
in getting in a hurry, the nest season, his plow
breaks, Ixjcause it was not housed and properly
eared for.

Somebody's hogs break in, and destroy his
garden, because he had not stopped a hole in the
fence, that he had been intending to stop for a
week.

He is often in a great hurry, but will stop and
talk as long as he can find any one to talk with.

He has, of course, little money ; and when he
must raise some to pay his taxes, &c., he raises it
at a great sacrifice, in some way or other, by pay-
ing an enormous shave, or by selling his scanty
crop when prices are low.

He is a year behind, instead of being a year
ahead of his business — and always will be.

When he pays a debt, it is at the end of an
execution ; consequently his credit is at a low ebb.

He buys entirely on credit, and merchants and
all others with wliom he deals, charge him twice
or thrice the profit tliey charge prompt paymas-
ters, and are unwilling to sell him goods at any

cost. He has to beg and promise, and promise and
beg, to get them on any terms. The merchants
dread to see his wife come into their stores, and
the poor woman feels depressed and degraded.

The smoke begins to come out of his chimney
late of a winter's morning, while his cattle are
suffering for their morning's feed.

Manure lies in heaps in his stable ; his horses are
rough and uncurried, and liis harness trod under
their feet.

His bars and gates are broken, his buildings un-
paintod, and boards and shingles falling off — he
has no time to replace them — the glass is out of
the windows, and the holes stopped with rags and
old hats.

Ho is a great borrower of his thrifty neighbor '»
implements, but never returns the borrowed arti-
cle, and when it is sent for, it can't be found.

He is, in person, a great sloven, and never at-
tends public worship, or if he does occasionally do
so, he comes sneaking in when the service is half
out.

He neglects his accounts, and when his neighbor
calls to settle with him, has something else to at-
end to.

Take him all in all, he is a poor farmer, a poor
husband, a poor father, a poor neighbor, and a
poor Christian.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

273

HOMESTEAD OF THE THRIFTY FAR-
MBE.

In contrast with the homestead of farmer Shick,
already presented, we now give a view of the beau-
tiful grounds and residence of farmer Thrift. And
what an attractive home it is. What an air of
neatness and comfort pervades the buildings ; every
board is tight, and every door swings true to its
place. No broken windows or dangling gates, no
old pots or pans, no old carts and wheels, mar the
general appearance of order which prevails. What

an animated scene the fore-ground presents ! IIow
stout and^leek are the horses — how vigorous the
men — how appropriate the implements they are
using ! Children, reared and educated in such a
home, will carry out influences with them to make
the world a better and happier one. And then, to
adopt the language of the Pennsylvania Farm
Journal, the provident and thrifty farmer has
three rules for regulating his business, which he
observes himself and enforces on those around him ,
viz. : to do everv thing in the right time, convert

HOMESTEAD OF THE TUKIFTT FARMER.

everything to its proper use, and put cverj' thing
in its proper place.

He buys only the improved breeds of cattle,
horses, sheep and swine, and keeps no more than
he can keep well, either in summer or winter.

He always drives on his work and never lets his
work drive him.

His animals are never under fed or over
worked.

His outhouses, wood-shed, poultry house, pig
pen, wagon house, spring house, and corn crib
are nicely white-washed or painted on the outside,
and kept clean and neat within.

He has a tool house, and a place for every tool
in it, which may bo wanted for any ordinary farm
purposes, such as mending implements, making
axe or hoe or fork handles, &c., and also for stow-
ing carefully away, such as will not be Avantedfor
another season.

He has sheds around his barn-yard, to protect
his cattle from the weather, and warm, well ven-
tilated stables for his cows and young stock, and
also a cellar or shed, to protect his manure heap.

He has leaves or other refuse vegetable matter,

together with soil from his headlands, convenient
to his barn-yard, to compost with his manure
heap, through the winter.

He does not allow the liquid manure to escape
into the nearest stream, a quarter or half a mile
from his 1iarn-yard.

His barn, and sheds, and dwellings are all sup-
plied with good spouting.

His fences are always in good order, and mate-
teriaL^ for repairing or renewal, arc collected and
made during winter.

His wood-shed is supplied with wood, cut in
August, always one year ahead.

His wife never scolds, because she never has oc-
casion to.

Her cellar and pantry are always supplied with
the needful raw material, which she works up in-
to a palatable form to fill up vacuums at meal
times.

Heavy bread, cold buckwlieat cakes and rancid
butter arc novelties which her gudc man and the
children have heard tell of by some of the neigh-
bors, but have never seen.

When a friend or two calls to lodge, a plate of

274

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

good ripe Rumbo apples, a pitcher of cider, and a
dish of boiled chestnuts, irebrought for discussion
around the stove of an evening.

lie considers it a duty to promote the circulation
of agricultural papers, and has saved himself some
hundreds of dollars by following the advice of the
Nciv England Farmer.

Ilis crops are always equal, and often better than
any in tlic neighborhood, and are kept clear of
weeds.

He watches the markets, and sells his crops at
the highest prices.

lie makes it a rule always to spend a little less
than he makes.

Himself and wife arc both industrious, the chil-
dren arc brought up in the same way, and are not
allowed to shoot the birds, smoke cigars or chew
tobacco.

He buys and sells on the cash principle, and
thus saves himself from losses and bad debts.

He has a large fruit orchard, well supplied
with every variety of fruit to ripen in succession.

He studies the theory as well as the practice of
farming, has cleared ofl'thelast $100 of mortgage,
and is seriously talking of making a bid for his
neighbor Sloven's farm, which is up at Sheriffs
sale.

He goes to church on the Sabbath, minds his
religious duties, and brings up his children to do
the same, lives respected, and dies regretted, as a
useful man and good Christian .

For the New E7igland Farmer.

THE SEASON.

Mr. Editor: — The season in this section of the
State, if, indeed, it be not even so tliroughout
New England, is cold and backward almost be-
yond precedent ; the mountains of "Old Cheshire"
are still hal)ited in their garb of pure Avhito. The
cold winds whistle among the leafless trees, under
which lie tlic snow and ice piled in wild confu-
sion. The snow has mostly disappeared in tlie
vales, and in suiuiy locations, l)ut the hills and
mountiiins arc still clothed in white. There are
but faint signs of returning vegetation, even in
pleasiyj^t places ; Jask Frost still holds sway over
all the vegetable kingdom. Winter grain has suf-
fered severely from the intense cold of spring,
and according to present appearances the crop
must be light — jtill it may yet revive ; the powers
of nature are sometimes healing, and the mild
breath of summer, with the "genial shower," may
agreeably dis,i[ipoint the present expectations of
farmers in tliis vicinity. I have noticed a few in-
stances of small fruit trees being slightly injured
by unusual accumulations of ico around their
trunks. Just above the ground where the trees
stood in an unfavorable location and were not
properly banked up, the ice formed by continual
thaws during tlie winter, and followed by immedi-
ate freezir g, and this process continued late into
spring, ami thus by compression on the|outer bark
of the tree causing it to peel off. All such, trees
may be saved by immediately applying any adhe-

sive plaster to the exfoliated part, so as to protect
it from the action of the elements. Last but not
least, the spring birds came as usual, in quite a
merry mood, butl regret to say, met with a "cold
reception" from the elements; a violent north-
easter soon dispersed them, and I fear many liave
perished — some have however returned, and are
to-day "discoursing sweet music" from the tree-
tops to all those who are favored with the ear.
West Keene, N.H., April 22, 1854. n. b.

Remarks. — The blue-birds in this vicinity were
nearly all dispersed or destroyed in the severe storm
which occurred here on Saturday, the 15th, and
Monday the 17th of April.

STATEMENT OF JOHN H. ROBINSON.

Gentlemen : — Herewith I send a statement of
the yield of milk from six of my cows for the
year beginning Septcml>er 20th, 1852, ending
Septemljer 20th, 1853.

I have selected from my stock such as I intend-
ed to keep the entire year ; not, however, so much
with reference to their milking properties at any
given time within the year, as with the view of
ascertaining precisely the average yield per day,
through the year, of what may be considered good,
fair milkers.

Two of them calved in September, 1852 ; two
in December, and two in January, 1853 ; so that
it will be seen that four of them have been in
milk only for eight or nine months iu the year.

The whole yield has been 16,653 gals., making
an average for each cow per day of 7 quarts, 1
pint, 1 gill. Tlie greatest average of any one of
the six has been 9 quarts, 1 pint, per day ; and the
smallest average 5 quarts, 1 pint ; all measured
by the Beer Measure, about the 20th day of each
month, and a memorandum made by myself of the
product of each cow, separately. The milk was
delivered for the Boston market at an average
price of 14 cents per gal., at the barn, which
would amount to $582,82, or $97,13 for each
cow.

The feed has been, in the winter, tlie best of
English and salt hay (half of each,) with half a
bushel of brewer's grains per day a part of the
time, or, instead of grains, half a pock of corn
and oil meal soaked in water twelve hours before
feeding. In the summer and fall, no grain, but
good pasturage, with a plenty of green corn fod-
der. They have received no better attention than
the balance of my stock, all having been fed with
the same quantity and in the same way.

My rule is, wlxen feeding from the barn, to have
them fed and milked about the same time each
day ; say hay three times, grain twice, and water
three times, the last watering at 8 o'clock in the
evening, which I consider very important. In
winter my milch cows are kept for the most
of the time in the barn, often, in very cold weath-
er, for two weeks together.

The cost of keeping, at the present high price
of hay and grain, may, I think, be put down at
al)out $2,25 per week, from November to June,
and the rest of the year at 50 cents ; making the
vviiole cost for the year about $75 per head.

As sucli a difference of opinion prevails as to
the average yield of milk from a stock of cows, I
have ventured to present somewhat at length the

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

275

particulars herewith submitted, and if in the opin-
ion of tlie Committee they are considered of any
importance, they may be disposed of in such way
as IS judged best. Very respectfully,

John II. Koeinson.
Dorchester, Sept. 21, 1853.

Trans. Norfolk Ag, Society.

For the New England Farmer.

SAVE THE MANURES.

Dear Farmer : — Although I am not a reg-
ular reader of your valuable paper, yet the inter-
est which it advocates has a strong, deep hold on
my affections. And though my present business,
leads me in an entirely different channel, still I
look forward with pleasure to that time when I
shall tlirow aside tlje cares and perplexities of
trade, and become the sole proprietor of a few
acres of land, whereon I can carry out a few of the
many improvements which are recouimended by
your valiu\ble journal. I was born and bred a
fanner, ))ut, lilce too many of our young men, I
thought I should be perfectly happy if I was only
a merchant. But after four years experience, 1
should he glad to leave the noise and confusion of
the city behind, and once more follow the plow.

My object in writing these lines, is, to make a
few i-emarks to the farmers of New England, on
the folly of wasting the vianure made in their
yards and stables. As ready money and good credit
is the merchant's capital, so is good ?namirc the
farmer's be.'it friend and capita!; wliich if judicious-
ly applied, will cause the soil to bring fortli an
'hundred fold," and amply repay him for any ex-
tra troulde or expense which lie may incur.

To the farmers of my native place \ woul 1 speak
plainly luit truly.

One-half, and perhaps more, of tlie firmers of
that town have water running in an aqueduct in-
to a trough or cistern in their yards, while few,
if any, have a well constructed drain to carry off
the surplus water.

In winter, while the manure is frozen hard, it
does but little damage if the water runs into, or
through the yard ; but when spring comes, and
the manure is thawed out by rains, or the sun,
then it does do damage, and much more too, than
our farmers are aware of.

When the water collects in the yard, the first
thing done by the owner is to cut a ditch through the
lowest part of the yard, and allow the water to run
off, thereby losing his labor, and wasting his capi-
tal.

First. By allowing the water to run through
the yard, carrying off nearly all the liquids of the
manure. Secondly. When the sun shines warm,
the manure being always wet, the farmer loses l)y
evaporation a great pirtof the ammonia, which by
the way is the most valuable part.

Now I would ask, if it would not be much bet-
ter to have a well constructed drain, leading from
their cisterns away from their yards ? thereby re-
taining the whole strength of the manure, and do
away with one evil at least.

Again. Most of the farmers throw the manure
from their stables, where it is left to the action of
the frost, rain and sun, until it is frozen, leached
and dried, leaving the bulk, but the strength is
gone.

Now I ask any candid minded man, if it would

not be much better to build a shed, at comparatively
small cost, over his stable windows, so as to effect-
ually protect the manure (rom the action of the
elements, and allow it to retain its full strength.
Another improvement would be to cart 40 or 50
loads of sand under the shed, and spread it on the
stable floor two or tln-ee times a week, so as to re-
tain the liquids, and then mix with the manure
thrown from the stable. One year's trial will con-
vince the most skeptical. II. Stuatton', Jr.
Hartford, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

BREAKING STEERS.

Mr. Editor : — Having used many different pairs
of oxen, I have many times found the necessity
of their being hand}', much more so than most
oxen are ; for it is many times inconvenient, b>
sides being expensive, to have oxen that you can-
not use anywhere, without some one to go by the
side of them; and sometimes it is necessary that
they should be very liandy, csi)ccially in plowing,
and most certainly in plowing in a young orchard,
where the trees liave been set but a sliort time.
As the saying is, it is hard learning old dogs new
tricks, and I think it is something so witli old ox-
en. As tlicre are many old oxen that never have
l)een taught only to gee and goahead, (unh'ss you
are at the side of tliem the whole of the time) I
think it is necossiiry that there should be more
pains taken to have them thorouglily broke,
when they are steers, and be tauglit what it is
necessary that they should know, before tlicy get
to be six or seven years old. INIany people who
raise cattle to soil when they are four or five
years old, would get mucli Initter paid for them
if they would thorouglily break them when young,
when you tan manage them more to your wish.
Xo doul)t there is a great difference in cattle about
learning and understanding. I would recommend
to all persons having steers, not to place too much
dependence in their boj-s, or young and inexperi-
enced hands at the business, for it requires judg-
ment, and a good teamster, to break or handy a
pair of steers in first rate order. F. a.

Baldicinville, March 23, 1854.

PLANTING SMALL POTATOES.

We have given no little attention to this sub-
ject for manj years, and have settled the matter
conclusively in our own minds, that it does not
pay to plant small feed. For fifteen years we
planted the same nameless variety', on the same
soil, and at the end of that time found no deteri-
oration in the quality or yield, but rather an
improvement. NVe have invaria'^ly thrown out
from our seed all potatoes less in size than a hen'a
egg, and also rejected those overgrown, pithy, or
irregular shaped.

In some favorable seasons, and on particular
soils, those purchasing and planting the small po-
tatoes which we have rejected, have raised crops
equal to or more prolific than our own ; but one
year with another, we have averaged thirty to
fifty per cent, better crops of good potatoes, than
our small potato neighbors.

What we have found true in regard to potatoes,
wc have also, by long practice, proved true in re-
gard to other kinds of seed. Our plumpest and

276

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

June

earliest griiins have alwaj-s been reserved for prop-
agation, and our neighbors can testify tliat our
practice has been attended with good results. —
American A sirkuTturist.

THE TWO AEMIES-MUSKETS AND
SPADES.

Time-honored customs, that do not possess the
inherent elements of substantial utility, must give
way before the general improvement among man-
kind. Tlie practice of keeping costly standing ar-
mies, where education and moral influence should
form the great safeguard of society, is becoming a
matter of less importance now than in the wretch-
ed days of feudalism. The following remarks from
the New York Economist, present a strong contrast
between tlie United States war-army, and one of
the peace-armies in our Western States :

The United States army numbers about 10,000
men, and they cost the country last year, $8,525,-
240 for pay, subsistence, clothing, etc. That is to
say, §820 per man, or if we deduct the militia
expenses, $200 per man. It would puzzle any one
to tell of what service were those men, living use-
lessly in barracks and old forts, eating three meals
per day, and turning out occasionally to touch
their caps to their olHccrs.

The Illinois Central Railroad army numbers
10,000 men also, and they receive from the com-
pany .$3,700,000 per annum, in return for Avhich
they labor ten hours per day upon a work, that
gradually stretches itself through the most fertile
plains, connecting the great lakes with the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers.and ultimately with theGulf
of Mexico.

The relative advantages of these two armies to
society present an interesting matter for study,
and are graphically sketched by the New York
Post.

The prospective building of the great Central
Railroad of Illinois alone, has added to the wealth
of that State, in the appropriation of real lands,
the sum of forty millions, within a strip of but
twelve miles in width, and the actual construction
of the road will bring to a ready market millions
of aci'cs of land now owned by tlie general govern
ment, which, were the road not constructed, would
lay waste for years to come. The Federal govern-
ment employs ti;n thousand men at an expense of
> eight millions of dollars to carry muskets. The
Central Railroad Company, employing ten thous-
and men at less than four millions, confers a vast
property on the State, upon the Federal govern-
ment, and upon thousandsof farmers. Year after
year the government spends millions of dollars, ef-
fecting nothing, and resulting in nothing but the
turning loose of superannuated 8oldiers,made pau-
pers by a life of idleness, to prey upon the indus-
trious the remainder of their existence,

The Illinois Company, by three years expendi-
tures, establishes 700 miles of rails through proli-
tic farms, many of them owned by the persons
whom they employed to build the road — men of
industry, vigor, wealth and intelligence. The
United States, in thirty years, have spent .$200,-
000,000, enough to build a double track to the
Pacific, and they have nothing to show for the
money but some old forts, guns, tattered uniforms,
and demoralized veterans.

AGRICULTURE IX NOVA SCOTIA.

We arc under obligations to Mr. Brown, of the
firm of BcBsonett & Brown, Halifax, for a printed
account of the "Agricultural Exhibition of Nova
Scotia" in October last, by which it appears that
the occasion was one of great interest — Some 7 to
10,000 persons attended the show, and the stock,
grain, vegetables and articles of home manufac-
ture were numerous. The spirit manifested muse
work out important results in the agricultural op-
erations of the Nova Scotians. The words below
are from the "Speaker's Addi'ess," whose name
is not given. Beside this, however, several excellent
speeches were made on the occasion.

Look around upon those tables, and see what Nova
Scotia can do to reward the industry of her sons —
here are proofs of luxurious vegetation, of which
any country might justly be proud ; here is a field
for generous rivalry which will advance the inter-
ests and elevate the character of our common coun-
try. Agriculture is no mean or vulgar pursuit —
it taxes the highest efforts of the intellect and
brings into play all the knowledge which science
has revealed to man. Cross the Atlantic, and you
will find the farmers of the Mother country not
inferior in point of intelligence to any people in
the world. There you v/ill find the noblest and
most cultivated minds turning from the pursuits
of the Statesmen — or law — or physic — and devo-
ting themselves to husbandry ; and it is a Avell
known fact that all tlie American Presidents who
have survived the toils and dangers of that eminent
station,and many of the other distinguished public
men in America have passed the evening of their
days in superintending the operations of the
plough. In our own country Farming is getting
more and more to be a favorite pursuit, and is
attracting the regards of men of opulence and leis-
ure.

FARMERS.

Adam was a farmer while yet in Paradise, and
after his fiill, commanded to eai-n his bread by the
sweat of his brow.

Job, the honest, upright and patient, was a
farmer, and his endurance has passed into prov-
erbs.

Socrates was a farmer, and yet wedded to his
calling the glory of his immortal philosophy.

St. Luke was a farmer, and divides with Pro-
metheus the honor of subjecting the ox for the
use of man.

Cincinnatus was a farmer, and the noblest Ro-
man of them all.

Burns was a farmer, and the Muse found him
at the plow, and filled his soul with poetry.

Washington was a farmer, and retired from
the highest eai-thly station to enjoy the quiet of
rural life, and present to the world a spectacle
of human greatness.

To these names may be added a host of others
who sought peace and repose in the cultivation of
their mother earth ; the enthusiastic Lafayette ;
the steadfast Pickering, the scholastic Jeflerson,
the fiery Randolph, all found an Eldorado of con-
solation from life's cares and troulilcs, in the
green and verdant lawns that surrounded their
homesteads.

185-i.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS.

The want of soino system of classifying soils
has long boon ft-lt. The arbitrary terms in com-
mon use convey no definite idea of the sulyect. A
writer in the Fanncr''s Magazine recommends a
classification based on analysis. We are not pre-
pared to say that this mode is at present practica-
ble, but it is at least worthy of attention. His
plan is as follows :

1. Siliceous soi/s, containing from 90 to 95 per
cent, of sand. These would be divided, on the
same principle, into blowing sand, coarse sand,
good agricultural sand, and calcareous sand.

2. Loamy soils ; 70 to 90 per cent, of sand sep-
arable by washing, subdivided into coarse sandy
loam, fine sandy loam, rich loam, and calcareous
loam.

3. Clayey soils, with -10 to 70 per cent, of sand ;
divided iuto clay loam, clay, and calcareous clAy.

Each of these soils, termed calcareous sand,
calcareous loam, &c., contains 5 per cent, of
lime.

Marlcy soils constitute a fourth group, in which
the proportion of lime ranges between five and
twenty jier cent. , and are divided into sandy marls,
loamy marls, and clayey marls.

Calcareous soils contain more than 20 per cent.
of lime. They are divided into sandy calcareous,
loamy calcareous, and clayey calcareous. While
in calcareous sands, clays, and loams, the propor-
tion of loam does not exceed 5 per cent. The dif-
ference of composition denoted by difference of
name, is similar to the sulphates and sulph?7es of
chemical nomenclature, which contain different
proportions of sulphuric acid.

According to the quantity of peljbly fragments
yielded by a square yard, or by a cu1)ic foot of the
soil, thc3' may be denominated gravels, or gravelly
sands, loams, and clays.

Vegetable soils vary from the common garden
mould, which contains from 5 to 10 per cent, of
vegetable matter, to the peaty soil, in which the
organic matter is about GO to 70 per cent. They
will be vi'gL'tablc sands, loams, clays, marls, &c.

Considered geologically, soils may l)c classed in
three groups :

1. Local soils, or those derived exclusively from
the debris of the rock on which they rest, unmixed
with materials of other rocks.

2. Erratic soils, containing the unmixed mate-
rials of several, and in many cases distinct forma-
tions, transported by currents of water which, at
the close of what is called the testary period ol
geologo, acted irrespectively of the present lines of
drainage and sea levels.

3. Alluvial aoW^, composed of finely divided mat-
ter, transported and deposited by rivei's and tidal
currents, in subordination to the existing levels
and lines of drainage.

American Flax Growing.— The American Linen
Company, composed of some of the best business
firms in this city, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston,
Fall River, (their mills are at Fall River,) have
issued a circular to all the farmers of America, to
encourage them to grow flax, which we copy in
another place for the information of our readers.
The Coiiipany Turnish samples with prices affixed
and proiiiiwi' to jiay thope prices for all the flax of-
fered within a year ; so that tlie grower has noth-
ing to fear from an over-stocked market.

The American Linen Company has expended
over $450,000, and expect to make the sum over
half a million, in completing the l)cst establishment
in the world for spinning and weaving fine shirt-
ings, sheetings, table linen, and goods for men's
wear. They will require two millions of pounds
of lint, and hope to manufacture from half to
three-fourths of a million of dollars' worth of
goods per annum ; and they particularly desire to
do this from American flax, l)ut at present are un-
able to procure a supply, ft is not grown in the
country. Shall this be said another year? Shall
it be said that a country of such an unbounded
extent of cheap rich soil must import the raw flax
for its own manufacturing \ There is no time to
be lost. Farmers, prepare your ground for flax !
—N. Y. Tribune.

For the New England Farmer.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE MIDDLESEX
CO. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Fon TUB Year 1S53.

Although, to use the language of the Chairman
of the Committee on milch cows, this society "ha?
gone somewhat over its time," it has now "come
in," with a production, full grown and well formed,
which will hereafter be referred to as a model for
imitation.

The Report on farms, and tlie statements con-
nected therewith, using, as tliey do, the right words
in the right place, neitlier more nor loss, are well
suited to confirm our long-cherished impressions,
that tliis is one of the best modes, in which agri-
cultural societies can operate, to benefit the far-
mer. Select a committee, who will labor, con
amorc, and go into all tITe towns of the county,
and visit all who will receive them, and it Avill
not be difficult, in any of our towns, to find ob-
jects worthy of being reported. It will not do to
wait for claimants to come forward of their own
motion — for if you do, tiie chance is, that many
objects most worthy will be passed without notice.
Real merit does not protrude itself — it needs to be
sought out by those who have discrimination to
distinguish it, and independence to declare truly
what they find.

Having heard much of the "Ijutter products"
of this region, we wei'e curious to o1)serve what
the "butter committee" would say of the "butter
stock" of the County. Their report affirms all
that has been said of Mv. Reed's extraordinary
Jersey cow. It is worthy of notice, also, that of
the two cows, to which _^r.s7 premiums were award-
ed for their yield of butter, four ([itaris of the
milk of one yielded as much butter as sixteen
quarts of the milk of the otlier. This is a differ-
ence that would justify experiments, to ascertain
the principles on wliich butter is made. We
learn that the Exhibitions by this Society have
been permanently located at Concord ; and that
convenient accommodations have been provided b^
the generosity of the inhabitants of the place. This
will do, so long as the border towns are satisfied
therewith ; but no movement should be made to
lesson the general interest in the operation of the
Society, or to provoke inexj)edient subdivisions.
Having more than once witnessed the Exhibitions,
by this file leader of our County Societies, we are
[(leased to find it going ahead, with all tlie energy
of youth. May its prosperity be perpetual, and

278

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

may the yoiinji; men of other counties emulate the
zeal and intelligence of those of Middlesex.
April 24, 1854. Essex.

Remauks. — Residing in Middlesex County as
we do, and feeling a deep interest in the prosperi-
ty of the Middlesex Society, we cannot help ex-
pressing our gratification, and, in the name of the
Society, its thanks, for the commendations be-
stowed upon it hy one who has been liimself the
honored President of the Essex Society for many
years, and a gentleman whose interest in the
noble cause is not surpassed by any.

A FOX'S REVENGE.

A respectable man of the county of Montgom-
ery resided on tlie banks of the Hudson river.
Que day lie went to a bay on the river, to shoot
ducks or wild geese. When he came to the river,
lie saw six geese beyond shot. He determined to
wait for them to approach the shore. While sit-
ting there, he saw a fox come down to the shore,
and stand some time and observe the geese. At
length he turned and went into the woods, and
came out with a very large bunch of moss in his
mouth. He then entered the water very silently,
sank himself, and then keeping the moss above the
water, liimself concealed, he floated among the
geese. Suddenly, one of them was drawn under
the water, and the fox soon apj^eared on the shore
with the goose on his back. lie ascended the
bank, and found a hole made by the tearing up
of a tree. This hole he cleared ; placed in the
goose, and covered it with great care, strewing
leaves over it. The fox ^hen left ; and while he
was away the hunter unburied the goose, closed
tl'.e h(de, and resolved to awa t the issue. In
about half an hour the fox returned with another
fox in company. They went directly to tlie place
where the goose liad been buried, and threw out
the earth. The goose could not be found. They
stood regarding each other for some time, when
suddenly the second fox attacked the other most
furiously, as if offended by the trick of his friend
During the battle he shot them both. — Murray's
Creation.

BLACK WARTS— WHITEWASH.

Black warts on phim trees should be cut out
and burned. Should they re-appear, repeat the
operation till tlie evil disappears. .But this course
is not always effectual. We knew a tobacco chew-
er to cut out a large wartona plum tree, and tak-
ing the quid from his mouth, warm and juicy,
applied it to the wound, and on that spot there
was no gathering of the wart afterwards.

WUITEWASn.

Remember that whitewash is one of the finest
things in the world to promote cleanliness and
health. Old buildings, the coverings of which
may not be worth the expense of a coat of paint,
and which arc so unsightly that you are justly
ashamed of them in their present condition, may
be made to appear almost like new work by the
application of a few coats of whitewash. Fences

around the house should be washed or painted,
also the interior of all out-buildings, barns, sheds,
hen-houses, granaries, &c., and the walls of the
collar, as well as the overhead ceilings of the
rooms in the house. A liberal use of this sanita-
ry material is of great consequence ; lime being a
powerful dislnfector, and highly efficacious in y>vo-
moting health at all seasons of the year. Pow-
dered lime sprinkled over the bottom of the cellar
after the roots are removed in the spring, and re-
peated occasionally through the season till cold
weather, will prevent the unpleasant odor ordina-
rily engendered by warmth, and keep the atmo-
sphere jnire and sweet.

SALT AND ASUES FOR SHEEP.

Ilave a trough in your sheep shed or pasture,
and keep it well filled with a mixture of salt and
ashes — one part of the former to three of the lat-
ter.

CHARCOAL FOR SWINE.

Throw to your swine, occasionally, a handful of
charcoal. Breeding sows, and those with litters of
pigs, will not only eat a little charcoal, but like old
bones, and will sometimes eat a bit of lime mortar
as large as a hen's egg — they should, therefore,
come to the ground every day.

For the New England Farmer.

SHALL I ENGAGE IN FARMING ?

Mr. Brown : — Dear Sir, — Being a subscriber
and a constant reader of your valuable paper, and
noticing that you are always willing to answer
the many questions which are jaroposed to you, 1
would like to inquire through the columns of your
paper, if a young man, with a small capital, of
say eight or ten hundred dollars, may advantage-
ously engage in farming in ]\Iassachusetts 1 and
in what part of the State could he best locate, tak-
ing all things into consideration? If you, Mr.
Editor, or some of your correspondents, some of
the old experienced farmers of the State, whose
names wo often see in the Farmer, Avould give
this subject a little attention, and impart a little
good advice on this subject, you will no doubt
oblige many others beside myself. b.

For the New England Farmer.

WHY DO CATTLE EAT THE HORSE
MANURE?

Mr. Editor : — I wish to make some inquiry
through the columns of your paper, in regard to
cattle eating horse manui'e. Some of my cattle
seem to have a ravenous appetite for it, as it is
thrown into the barn cellar. I should think they
would eat more than one half of it.

Is it a natural appetite;, or do they eat it in
place of something else wldeh they ought to have?
is there anything lost in the way of manure, or is
there something gained in the way of keeping?
If there is a loss, what is the remedy ? d. a.

Wtlton, April 3, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

279

For the New England Partner.

GUANO-PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

, A'. H , April 28, 185-i.

Henry F. French, Esq.: — My Dear Sir, — I have
bought some ^!/a«o; what shall I do with it, and
hoio shall I do it 1 I want to try the experiment
up here in th.o country, as I suppose its principil
use is as a .sort of gi^nteel eity fertilizer, and not
adapted to tlie rural regions. I want to try it,
on some corn, potatoes, squashes, cucumhers, &c.,
and I know no more about it, than I do of the San-
critlanguiigo, and as you are au fait in the matter,
just develop your resources, for the benefit of your
race, and tell me how to make two ears of corn
grow, where three would grow without it. * * *
Yours truly, r. M.

Exci-r, N. II., May 1, 18-54.

JIv De.\r Sir : — I am much at a loss how to
reply to your.'^ of the 28th ultimo. My last con-
versation with you on the subject of Agriculture,
was, I think, in 1852, when you were a member of
the New Ibimpsiiire Legislature, and I, as a pri-
vate individual, was urging the propriety of some
action by your august bod^', in aid of the cause,
either by thj appointment of a Commissioner, the
creation of a Board of Agriculture, or by pecuni-
ary assistance to the Societies.

Your views, at that time, coincided with those
which have prevailed for some years among the
farmers, who constitute always a majority in the
Legislature of this agricultural State. You verily
believed, that scientilic farming is a humbug ; that
while in all other pursuits, advances have been
constantly made, and men have been greatly bene-
fited l)y diligent research, by comparing results, by
making known the success and failure of their ex-
periments, by meetings for discussion, by exhibi-
tions of their products, by understanding accurate-
ly the nature of the substances upon which they
labor — you verily believed that a farmer's father
and grandfather arc the only valuable authorities,
and that "the traditions of tlie elders" are of more
weight, than all the laws of nature, and all the
attainments of science. In short, you seemed to
believe, with Dogberry, that "to be a well favored
man is the gift of fortune," but that ^o farm, as
well as "to read and write, comes by nature."

And thus by tlic countenance, which educated
men like j'oursclf, who ought to know better,
have givf'n to the prejudices of ignorant men,
against tiio value of accurate knowledge, in this
most imj.ortant department, our good old Granite
State, which stood foremost in the day of battle
for the d(;fence of the soil, and which has done
gloriously for the cause of education in her com-
mon schools, has fallen far behind her sister
States in her zeal for the promotion of this branch
of knowledge and while 5lassachusctts and New
Y'ork and Maine, and nearly all the other States,
are appropriating money liberally for tliis object,
wc have neitlier a Commis.sioncr nor Board of Ag-
riculture ; and not one cent is contributed to aid
the County Societies, in their desperate struggle
with poverty, for existence.

But now you begin to inquire, what you shall
do with guiino. Adam and Cain knew nothing
about the Cliincha Islands, and our great grand-
fathers, consequently, left no traditions on that
Bul)jcct,and you really feel a.g if something may be

learnt, even about farming. I remember an an-
ecdote about a farmer, who had a lawsuit, and
was told by his lawyer that he had filed a demur-
rer in his case. "A demurrer," said the farmer,
"pray tell me. Squire, what sort of a thing that
is!" It was hopeless to attempt an explanation
of a matter so abstruse, and the lawyer would not
attempt it. "Go hojne," said he, "my good fel-
low, and hoc your corn and potatoes, and feed
your cattle; the Almighty never intended you
should understand what a demurrer is."

Now,]my dear sir. I have no doubt that you know
exactly what a demurrer is, but I have serious
doubts whether it was ever de.'-igned that you
should know anything about guano, or anything
else connected with agriculture. If it had been,
you would not in this last half of this enlightened
nineteenth century, be left in such heathenish
darkness, as to imagine that anyljody could in a
single letter, give you the information you desire.

Not long ago, I received a letter requesting me
just to take the trouble to inform the writer the
best mode of planting, rearing, pruning and cul-
tivating an orchard ; and another from a stranger,
who said he had accepted an invitation to deliver
an address before an agricultural society, and as
I was in the way of writing on sueli topics, re-
quested me to suggest to him a subject and a pihiu
for his discourse, and such remarks as might be
proper. I have not had time to answer thcso let-
ters yet, and it would be a still greater task, to
undertake the education of a grown up pupil, on
the subject of guano. My advice to you, is, how-
ever, to commence with the last five volumes of
the Ncio England Farvicr and read all the arti-
cles therein contained, on the subject. You will
find no less than ten in the volume for 1853. Then
read what you find in the Granite Faruirr and
Visitor for the past two years.

But 3'ou ouglit to be more thorough than tliis,
and make yourself acquainted, not only with the
constituent elements of guano, l)ut of the plants
into the coustitution of which, you intend it shall
enter. Johnston's Elementsof Agricultural Chem-
istry and Geology, is a capital work for you, and
Browne's American Muck Book contains a chap-
ter of twelve pages on Guano, which you ought
to read and understand befure you use an ounce.
You would do well, also, to review Stockhardt's
Principles of Chemistry, which you probably stud-
ied in college without understanding what it
meant.

You will, also, find in the appendix to the
American edition of Johnston s Agricultural
Chemistry, some very iutiiresting experiments with
guano on the various kinds of crops.

Were you one of that class of the community,
who believe that there is some advantage in know-
ing how to conduct farming operations, who read
agricultural papers regularly, who are members
of an Agricultural Society, and a Farmer's Club,
and so learn what i\w rest of the world discov-
ered long ago, it would hardly l)e necessary to re-
fer you to so many books ; but your inquiries
make it quite certain tiiat like tiic good lady who
visited the White Mountains, and forgot to look
at the scenery, you have spent your lile in a coun-
try full of tliia kind of knowledge, without think-
ing to acquire it.

Allow me, my friend, a word or two moro la
conclusion. Should you pursue your present

230

NfiW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

idea of experimenting Avith guano, and find that
from your ignorance of its properties and tlie true
modes of using it, j-our corn never sprouts, and
your potatoes do not come up till dog days, 1
pray you do not j^iublish your testimony that gua-j
no and scientific agriculture have both proved
humbugs, just as you expected. I read of a man
once, wlio was advised to try salt as a manure, and
he did try it, and wrote his opinion for publica-
tion in an agricultural paper. He said he was
satisfied that salt did more hurt than good ; that
he put a half pint into each hill of potatoes, and
half of them never grew at all, and those that
did grow came to nothing.

Another man, who tried guano on his cucum-
fcers, said that on applying it one morning to some
hills already up, the vines grew so fast that he
was obliged to run to get out of their way, Ijut
they kept uj) with him and twined round his legs
so as to stop him. lie then put his hand into his
pocket for his jack-knife, with which to cut loose
from them, and found there a cucumber gone to
soed ! Now, if you expect your cucumbers and
squashes to grow at that rate, you will probably
be disappointed.

Excuse me if I have herein addressed you as a
person somewhat unlearned in the mysteries of
Agricultui'c. It is manifest from the fact that you
do not state in your letter what Am/c? of guano you
have procured, that you do not know the differ-
ence between the Peruvian and Saldanher Bay
guano, although the first contains about 17 per
cent of ammonia, and the latter about 1.^ per cent.,
while the latter contains more than twice as
much of the phosphates as the former, so that
tliey are about as much alike as salt and salt
petre.

I am glad to see that you are beginning to
take an interest in this subject. If at any time
I can be o^ further service to you in the "pursuit
of knowledge under difficulties," I hope you
will not hesitate to command my services.

With sentiments of the highest consideration,
yours truly, Henry F. Frkxch.

R. M., Esq.

Storing Apples in dry Sawdust. — I have a
dark closet in my house, or rather I live in a row
with windows back and front. The house is four
stories high, and the length from front to back is so
great, that we have three rooms on the floor, the
centre dark. On the third story the floors are
plaster, and I find the temperature so even that I
use it for a wine-store in preference to the cellar,
and have it fitted with bins. In this room I put
some hampers of apples (like pearmains.) I want-
ed one of the hampers and turned the apples in one
of the binns, amongst the dry sawdust (pine saw-
dust.) A fortniglit ago we looked at them, hav-
ing used up the others gathered at the same time,
and fi'om the same tree, all of which were much
wrinkled, but on taking those off and from among
the sawdust, I found them in a most beautiful
condition; those covered with sawdust were as
plump and fresh as when gatliered ; while those
partially buried were only so to the extent covered
with the sawdust, the upper portions being wrink
led. 1 am so pleased with the discovery, that I
shall pack them in lunns next year, for I have no
doubt they will keep in this way till next Christ
mas. — Ayr {Scotland) Advertiser.

For the New England Farmer.

NORTHERN FARMING.

The following brief account of farming on the
"Line" was written at my request, and submitted
to me, with the privilege of offering it for pul)lica-
tion, "entirely on my own responsibility." It
is at your service, Mr. Editor, if you think, with
me, that many readers of the Fanner will be glad
to know how people live where corn ripens once in
four years, or so, where apples will not grow, and
where a snug little frost every month in the year
is no uncommon occurrence. My brothers object
to the publication of their statement, on the gi-ounds
that some of their neighbors are better farmers
than themselves ; that they have no big stories to
tell — nothing to brag of, at all ; that, beginning
the world entirely empty-handed, they have not
even "got a-going" yet ; and that by putting them-
selves or their farm "into the papers," they shall
exhibit more vanity than good sense. They con-
sent to its publication, therefore, only on condi-
tion that the editor and myself will step in be-
tween them and the force of these objections.
Yours, &c., s. F.

Winc/icsicr, May, 1854.

Situated in the northeast corner of Vermont,
about one-half mile west of Connecticut river, and
extending almost to Canada lino, our farm consists
of two hundred and seventy-five acres'; one hun-
dred acres enclosed as a mowing field, of which ten
to fifteen are cultivated yearly ; one hundred acres
pasturing, and the remainder woodland, on which
are twelve to fourteen hundred maple trees suit-
able for "tapping," andplenty of good spruce and
hemlock for building, fencing, &(?. We purchased
in 1849, and it was then considered to be in a good
state of cultivation, for this section, as a stock
form .

The amount of hay cut in 1848 was about 70
tons; in 1843, 90 tons. Of grain we raised in
1852, oats 000 bushels, buckwheat 200 ; in 1853,
oats 250, buckwheat 200 bushels. Of roots — last
year (1852) potatoes 200 bushels, (badly rotted)
turnips 200 ; in 1853 about as many potatoes, (a
very light crop,) and 300 bushels ruta-bagas on
one-half acre. Have measured and fed turnips
and buckwheat, and we estimate turnips worth
12A, when buckwheat sells at 40 to 42 cents, and
oats at 30 cents per bushel, for feeding raw to
shoats, but think the best way Ave can feed tur-
nips is to cattle in winter with hay — say to cows,
oxen , and calves ; calves we think pay best for
turnips. Fall before last we cooked turnips, but
could not see much advantage in it.

The great object of our cultivation here is the
production of grass. For this purpose we think
the best course is to keep land in tillage only one
year. Spread on manure, 30 to 40 loads, (of 35
bushels,) and turn over the sward in the spring,
with a furrow seven inches deep, harrow thoroughly,
sowing the grain after it is partly' harroAved ; then
bush it over, after which grass seed is soaatq, and
rolled, which sufficiently covers the seed, and
leaves a smooth surface for the scythe. For pota-
toes, land thus prepared is furrowed, the seed
dropped, and covered by a light furrow turned
upon the potatoes from each side of the roAV ; cul-
tivated tAvice, with very little hoeing, as fcAV Aveeds
start up by this process, and we find hand-hoeing

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

281

laborious and expensive. But our springs here
are so shorf that we cannot do it all in this way.]
So we plow some in the fall, si^read the manure
on the furrows in the spring, and harrow it in.
Find that manure used in this way makes the first
crop better than when plowed under, but does not
sustain grass as long. By cultivating only one
year, and plowing under the manure we get good
crops of hay from five to ten years, while oats in
two or three years would exhaust the manure and
soil too. The land we plant is seeded down the
second year. As plenty of clover grows from
seed in soil or manure, we generally sow only
herdsgrass. We use but little manure as top-dress-
ing to grass land, believing it more economical to
plow it in.

We compost manure by carting into the yards
one hundred or more loads of muck. Although
wo have no swamp or bog-meadow, we consider
ourselves fortunate in the possession of the best
beds of muck we were ever acquainted with.
About one liundrod acres of our form is what is
known in Vermont as ^^ intervale'''' — lying on Leach
Stream, near its junction with the Connecticut
river, fifty acres of which ai-e annually overflowed
in the spring, by the melting of the great body of
snow that accumulates on the hills, which are still
covered by primitive forests, and frequently in the
fall also,. In the depressions of this low land we
find valuable materials for manure. The "bed"
fi'om which we arc now supplied is nearly circular,
some five rods in diameter, and ten feet deep in the
centre. It is composed apparently of vegetable
matter entirely, no sand or gi-it being perceptible
The beneficial efleet of this muck, plowed in just
as it came from the bed, has been distinctly per-
ceptible after twelve successive mowings. Our
neighbors, who can purchase manure at the vil
lage, one mile distant, for one dollar a load, are
■willing to pay us twenty-five cents a load for our
muck, and say they can make manure with it fas-
ter and cheaper than by purchasing and drawin_
In the fall we will put into one of our yards, say,
one hundred loads of muck ; during the winter
twenty head of cattle are yarded upon it, but sel-
dom fed there, and in cold weather are out of the
barn but a short time each day ; during the sum-
mer twelve cows are kept in the yard nights, and
in the fall, one year from the time it was put in,
and with no additions except the droppings of the
cattle, wc have a compost which is worth more for
crops than stable manure.

Our stock, this winter, consist of seventeen three-
years old steers, twelve cows, four oxen, and three
horses. Sold one cow a few days since for $o2,
and reserve lier calf. ^V'e give our cattle a "fod
derin"" in tlie murniug before light ; when that is
licked up they are turned into the yards, and the
stables cleaned ; after tlicy have drank and aired
themselves the cattle are jiut into the barn and fed
Just before niglit they are again let out, and tl e
stables cleaned for the night. They are fed in the
evening. Stock, especially young cattle, require
more care here than in milder climates. We have
some days every winter when it is not safe to leave
our calves in tiit^ yard for an hour, if we would
not have their feet and horns frost bitten. This
year we have sonu; twelve or fourteen tons of hay
more than our stock will consume. Hay is worth
ten dollars, which is high for this place.

We employ both oxen and horses ; prefer oxen

for hauling manure, wood and hay, horses and
oxen for breaking-up, and horses fur raking hay
and most other kinds of work.

A\'e make butter and cheese for our own fami-
lies, and ij;150 to $200 worth for sale. Find it
quite profitable to raise pork at present prices.

For fencing, we consider boards with cedar
posts, which are plenty here, the cheapest.

0 ur only orchards are maple trees. Least spring
wc made something over 2000 lbs. of sugar. For
samples of which, the Massacluusctts (Jhari table
Mechanic Association awarded us a diploma, last
fall, and the Editor of the Fanner a handsome
"acknowledgment." As this "harvest" occursin
a comparatively leisure scas(jn of the year, wo re-
gard it as the most profitable brancli of our busi-
ness, in favorable seasons. We commence about
the first of April, with the snow often three feet
deep (by measure, not guess) and end the first of
^lay, when the snow is pretty much gone. Back
a short distance from the Paver, much sugar is
made in May, in which month snow-shoes arc
sometimes used in gathering sap.

Although apples and many other kinds of fruit
do not succeed well here, and corn will not ripen
so as to make good yellow meal oftener than about
one year in four, yet we have currants, raspl)erries,
&c. in profusion, and a growth of oats, buckwheat
and potatoes perhaps not equalled in Ncav Eng-
land. Good farmers here i-ais9 from seventy-five
to one hundred bushels of oats per acre, from 20 to
40 of buckwheat, and before the prevalence of the
disease, from 300 to 500 bushels of potatoes were
frequently raised on our intervales. Wc esteem
oat straw as valuable feed for stock. It grows
here as high as a man's shoulders. By sowing
from 4 to tj bushels per acre, we get a fine straw
that is readily consumed ))y cattle, especially if
the grain is cut early and tlie threshing is not
done too carefully. Last winter, from December
10, to February 15, we kept thirty-eight yearlings
entirely on oat straw, and although they might
not appear quite as plump as though fed on hay,
we thought they did rather better in the summer
than hay-fed yearlings generally do. Perhaps the
straw, or the grain in it, maybe more favorable to
the growth of bone, than hay is.

A few years ago the farmers of this section were
far from market — in fact, very much "out of the
world." But now the railroads have, for all prac-
tical purposes, brought the Brighton and Faneuil
Hall markets up to "Canada Line," — and greatly
increased the value of all we have to sell, as well
as of that of the land on which it is raised.

SlM.NER Fi.ETCUKR,

Tuos. S. Flbtcuer.
Canaan, Vt., April, 1854.

IREIGATION OF GARDENS.

From repeated expniments we are induced to
draw the conclusion tlsat next to manure, the
great prime mover in successful culture, there is
nothing more important to vegeUible growth in
many cases than irrigation. Practical gardners
regard it as indispensable, and a large share of
their success depends on copious watering.

Some interesting instances, which have recently
occurred, may be worth stating. Two rows of
raspberries stand on ground in every respect alike,
except that ono receives the drippings from a

282

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

wood-houso, and the other does not. The watered
row is fully four times as large in growth as the
other. Again — the berries on the bushes of a
Fastolph and Franconia raspl^erries were^ at least
twice as large when tlie soil was kept moistened,
as afterwards when allowed to become dry ; a rep-
etition of the watering again doubled their size.
Again — a near neighbor, who cultivates strawber-
ries for market, and uses a water cart for irrigat-
ing the row3, raised at the rate of one hundred
and twenty bushels to the acre, on common good
soil by this means ; and he noticed that where
the cart was left standing over night, so that the
water gradually dripped from it, for some hours,
upon a portion of the plants, the fruit had grown
to double the size of the rest in twenty-four hours.
It should be observed that these advantages of a
copious supply of water pertain chiefly to small
or annual plants. The roots of fruit trees, being
larger and deeper, are to be supplied with mois-
ture in a different way ; that is, by a deep, rich,
mellow soil, kept moist by cultivation, or by cov-
ering thickly with litter. "Water applied to the
surface rarely descends so low as the roots,and only
hardens the soil to a crust. — Albany Cultivator.

For the New England Farmer.

WHAT A GARDEN SHOULD BE.

Ab the end of the first article upon the garden,
it was expected that the next would consider the
flower gai'den in its beauties and varieties, but it
has been neglected until now. As the warm
sprisig hastens its steps, and the golden summer
re-approaches our cold hills and valleys, the love
for flowers revives ; when the sap first starts, and
the l>uds swell, even the dullest laborer gladly
greets the saxifrage and violet, whilst the refined
welcome them with an enthusiasm, not again awak-
ened by any after-comers of the floral year ; but,
happily enough, each season has its own set ol
pleaoures, and human sympathies, and as month
succeeds month, new interests arise, till the yel-
low and rosy harvest ; then the cold winter blasts,
once more drive back into mother earth each loi-
tering straggler of the spring's darlings.

Wc have seen that varied gardens have marked
the world's progress, but they have ever been the
peculiar luxuries of the rich and great. Not so
with us ; in our prosperous country, every pru-
dent man can own a house and plot of land, and
may there collect comforts and pleasures unknown
to his equals in another hemisphere ; — whilst the
day laborer lias his little coruer, the more pros-
perous mechanic and merchant have their acres.
With the land comes the question, how may it be
best used? If the income is small, it is, how it
may be made most conducive to the welfare of the
family ; and the question is generally answered
by the needs or desires of the appetite, and soon
fruit trees and vegetal^les fill the spot.

But even amongst these, there is room for a few
of nature's favorites ; do not judge of the worth
of the possession by its monicd value, and how far
it will fill the purse, or gratify the passions.

Man has a higlier aim thtm merely to live ; he
has a future, and must develope liimsclfnow, so
as to take such a position then as he may have a
right to.

Tliere is no more sure method of cnnolding the
mind, than the contemplation of something higher

than ourselves, than to be not of the earth, earthy.
Let us surround our families with mcFC utility,
and they must become utilitarians ; if we would
make a boy close and avaricious^ or their oppo-
siteS) we cultivate those qualities in youth ; if
we would unfold his higher nature, we can only
do it by offering it every inducement to manifest
itself. But to leave the ethics of the subject, and
come directly to the thing before us, the plot
of ground, what is the first tiling to be done after
its acquisition ? Ascertain hoAv much land you
can afford to keep free from weeds. Remember,
we ought not judge a man's gardening qualities,
bij the amount of land he tills, but how well he culti-
vates ; better quarter of an acre full of fr uit and
flowers, than half, where every other plant is a
weed. Having decided hoAv much land is to be
kept in culture, lay the rest down to grass; then
from the piece selected, allot a certain amount to
flowers, but do not think any gravelly knoll or
corner will answer ; you cultivate them for their
beauty, and nothing is more dependent for 'perfec-
tion, on gejicrous nurture ; the common mistake is,
in making a flower garden, a compound of gravel
walks, flowerbeds, and turf edging.

Abandon the idea of a Jlowcr garden, and sub-
stitute/^oioe?" ie^/s; the common method is to lay
oflf the land into a square, or some other regular
figure, and then subdivide that into ovals, circles,
triangles, &c., entirely forgetting that' walks fill
with rubbish and must be as carefully cleaned as
the beds themselves ; and that the eflect of math-
ematical divisions and sections is necessarily stiff
and formal, and in every way alien to the natu-
ral beauty and grace of flowers and plants. To
economise labor, if nothing else, avoid extra paths;
get the flower garden surface into a thick, rich
turf; dig deep, and manure well, that the grass
may never suffer from drought, and then you will
soon have a beautiful emerald setting for your
jewels. In this turf cut out such figures as please
your fancy, the more irregular the better ; here
arises a difficulty ; the roots of the grass are ever
liable to grow into the beds, and choke the Q.O'w-
ers ; to prevent this, drive down strips of slate,
bricks, or even cedar poles, around the perimeter
of the bed, driving them down flush with the sur-
face, in order that the grass may cover them over,
they Avill present an effective barrier to all va-
grant roots. Next remember that the best way of
avoiding weeds in the beds, like vices in the mind,
is to cultivate flowers or virtues ; cover the ground
with them so closely, that the weeds shall have no
chance.

After the beds are ready, 1st, select plants of
about uniform heights to fill them, so that none
shall ovei'shadow the others, or if some must grow
liigher, let them be in the centre or at the back,
and grade down from them with more dwarf vari-
eties. 2nd, select according to tljc season — have
bulbs for the spring, and jierennials and bedding
out plants for the summer and fall. Get all the
best varieties of perennials, and next biennials, as
they save the trouble of refilling the beds every
year ; but you may want something else for filling;
to sup23ly this Avant, plant the seeds of annuals, or
better still, get every spring a few Heliotropes,
Verbenas, Geraniums, Mexican sago, &c., from
the nearest green-house ; these latter are univer-
sal favorites, because they bloom steadily from the
time of planting until frost, and may then be tak-

185=1

NEW England parxMer.

283

en up, potted and preserved for another year.
3d, select such a variety of shrubs as will com-
mence blossoming in April or May, and continue
till October. 4th, get the very best varieties of
Perpetual Roso8 ; far be it from me to decry the
charms of the old June Roses, (those that bloom
only once in the year) few better appreciate
the delicate Maiden's Blush, the Crimson Dam-
ask, the Hundred Leaf, or the Provence, but I
am forced to prefer the Bourbons, the Hyljrid
Perpetuals, the Chinas, the Teas and the Noisettes,
which like the Orange, give buds, fruits and flow-
at the same time.

In conclusion, let these bo the cardinal points
in the formation of a flower garden ; have no
7nore ground than can be kept free of loccds ; plant
only such flowers as will keep continually in
bloom ; set the beds in the grass, and mow it oft-
en, so that the flowers may ever be prominent ;
get the greati^st 'possible variety of flowering
shrubs, particularly thos^ that will commence
early, and leave off late ; the best shrul^ is that
one which has not only flowers, but a fine and last-
ing foliage, and berries for the birds : have just as
many Perpetual Roses as may be, and do not be
disheartened because you cannot do all the first
year; "little by little the bird builds its nest."
Keep your flower beds well filled ; Inillis for the
spring, perennials or biennials and bedding out
plants for the summer and autumn ; and be, above
all things, careful to keep j'our flowerbeds, &c.,
just as free from weeds, dirt, and disorder, as you
would your day-book, for where the garden is
neat and beautiful, there happiness and peace will
delight to dwell, and bless the inmates of the
house.

A list is subjoined of s <me Df the best and
cheapest bulbs, roots, shrubs, &c.

R. Morris Copeland.

CHOICE BUT rOJIMON AND EASILY PROCURED VARI-
ETIES OF BULBS, ROOTS, &c.

NAME.

Snowdrops,

Crocus,

DafTodil,

Ilyiiciiiths,

.Toiifiuil,

Tulips,

Iris,

Stars of Bethkhem,

Lily, Wliile, Blackberry.

Tiger, Yellow,

Day Lily, (Ilt-merociUis,

Solomon's Seal,

(Jladiulus,

Duhlia>),

Ragged RobWn,

Violets,

Valerion,

Peonies, dwarf and tree,

I'inks and Carn ilioiis,

Pride of the Meadow,

Phlox, dwarf and other v

Lychnis,

Monkshood,

Campanula,

Lily of the Valley,

Forget-me-not,

Hollyhocks,

Veronica,

Asters, (native sorts,)

American Cowslip,

Golden Rod,

Columbines,

Vervain,

Lythrum,

Spiderwort,

Larkspur,

Ranunculu:!,

Lupine,

Chrysanthemum ,

TIME.

March,

April and May,

May,

May and June,

Summer,

May,
Summer,

May,

June,

June, July, Auf^st,

aricties.

Juno and July,

May and June, . Whil

May,

June and July,

July to October,

May and July,

July,

June and July,

July to October,

May and July,

July and August,
June to October,

June to August,

June,

September and October,

COLOR.

White.

Varieties.

Yellow.

Varieties.

White.
Varieties.
Varieties.

AVhite.

Varieties.
White and Purple.

Varieties.

Red.
Varieties.
Variegated.

Varieties.

Scarlet.

Varieties.

and Blue.

WhiU;.

Blue.

Varieties.

Pink.
Varieties.

Yellow.

Blue.

Varieties,

Yellow.

Blue.

Anterhinum,
Fox Glove,
Canterbury Bell,
Sweet William,

Mignionctte,

Petunias,

Tassel Flower,

Gillyflower,

I'ansies,

Amaranths,

Asters,

Marigold,

Balsams,

BIENNIAL.

June to October,
June to July,

ANNUALS.

Varieties.

Blue and Whiie.
Varieties.

June to Nov., Green and White.

June to October,

April to Nov.,
Aug. to Sept.,
Aug., Sept. and Oct.
June to Sept.
July to Sept.

BEDDING OUT PLANTS.

Varictiei.

Scarlet.

Varieties.

White and Red.
Varieties.

Verbenas,
Heliotrope,

Mexican Sage,
Scarlet Geranium,

Lnntana,

Ageratum.

Fuschia,

PERPETUAL KOSES.

nOlIlBON.

Souvenir de La Malmai.son,
Dupetit Thouars.

CHINA KOSES.

Madame Bosanquet,
Eugene Beauharnais.

NOISETTE ROSES, {running.'}
Aimee Vibert,
Old Noisette.

HYBRID PERPKTUALS.

La Reine,

Duchesse of Sutherland.

TEA UOSKS.
Safrano,
Devoniensis.

AYHSiiiRK, {running.)
Ruga,
Alice Gray.

JU.NB ROSE.S.

Old Red Moss,

C'abl)agc.

RISNISG KOSES.

Prairie,
Boursault.

SHRUBS.

TIME.

April,

April anK May,

Way,

NAME.

Daphne Mezerium,

Cornelian Cherry,

Cornus Florida,

Cydonia Japonica,

Mahonia, Evergreen,

Lilac,

Snowball,

.\zalea,

Roses,

Flowering Almond,

Spireas,

Shrubby Cinquefoil,

Shrubby St. Johnswort,

Privet,

Rhododendrons, Ev'g,

Laurel, "

Clethra,

Andromada,

Althea,

Thorn (Haw. & Washington)

With the above', or a selection of
den may be kept in continual bloom
to November. ^

June and July,

M.iy,

May to October,

June,

September,

June,

June and July,

July and August,
July to Stpteinber,
July to September,

COLOR.

Red.

Yellow.

AVhito.

RL>d.

Yellow.

Bed and Whit<?.

Varieties.

Yellow.

White.

Varieties.

Varieties.

them, a gar-
from March

R. M. C.

CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR TREE.

The principal reasons deduced liy the orcliard-
ist for neglecting or refusing to plant as many
pear trees as will bear some proportion to the num-
ber of his apples, and other trees, are tliat the
first cost of the pear tree is generally more tlian
double that of the apple ; it is longer in coming
into bearing: it is more liable to leafor sap blight,
&c. These objections may look formidable, but
thej" are not insurmountable.

It is true that the cost at the nursery of 100
pear trees, is more than that of 200 apple trees;
and tliis must continue to bo so, for the.cxpencc
of raising pear trees for a suitable size for market
is much the greater ; but when jilaiited in the or-
chard tliey require no more attention than other
fruit trees; in order to make them do their beet,
they reijuire cultivatiun and attention far beyond
what is usually extended to them.

A well cultivated pear tree is as prolific as an
apple tree of tlie same si/e, and the fruit alwaye
sells at more than (loul>le tlie price of apples, so
that the cultivator g(!t» full return for hia extra
outlay for his pear tree.

It may be Bald that it will not bear transportation

284

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

equally -well witli apples ; but it will be recollec-
ted that most varieties of pears improve by being
gathered before they are quite ripe and allowed to
ripen off the tree ; if this course is pursued, the ob-
jection fails.

A very popular method of cultivating the pear
is by working it upon the Angei's' quince stock ;
by this means tlie tree is dwarfed and thrown into
bearing at an early age.

Some varieties succeed better on the quince than
on the pear stock, while others refuse to grow up-
on the quince unless they are double worked ; that
is first work a free growing variety upon the quince,
then the refractory one upon the free gi-owing
pear.

Many persons appear to mistake the term ' 'Dwarf
Pear," thinking small fruit is what is meant. It
it is not the fruit, but the tree that is dwarf.

The best stock for dwarfing the pear is the An-
gers' quince. The apple is made dwarf by being
worked upon the Paradise stock ; and cherry upon
the Cerasus IMahaleh.

For the orchard we prefer to grow the pear on
its own stock, but for gardens and small enclosures
we would select the best varieties that are known
to succeed well upon the quince, and grow them
as dwarfs.

Varieties of the pear that are late in producing
fruit Avhen worked on pear stocks, maybe brought
into early bearing by judicious pruning and pinch-
ing.

If the tree is permitted to branch, say three feet
from the ground, and pruned into a pyramid form,
leaving the lower branches the longest, and cut-
ting back those above, it will not only bring the
tree into a handsome shape, but the pruning that
it gets to keep it in this shape tends to throw it in-
to bearing. Pinching the ends of the growing
branches the last of August or first of September,
so as to stop the growth and ripen the wood, will
cause the formation of fruit buds. — Farmers'' Com-
panion.

THE TOMATO.

This vegetable has now become a universal f\xv-
orite, and is considered wholesome as well as pal-
atable. It is as easily raised as a hill of potatoes,
after the plants are tv^-o or three inches high — but
the seeds being small, they require a little care to
get them well started. They flourish on any soil
where Indian corn will, and require nothing pecu-
liar in the mode of cultivation. Tomatoes may
be prepared in the autumn, as they usually ai-e for
the table, then bottled, corked and sealed with
sealing was, and kept through the year. It is
not absolutely necciisary to go to the expense of tin
cans.

In speaking of the tomato, the Work'mg Farmer
says : this plant requires shortening in for early
fruiting. Ninety per cent, of the tomatoes grow
within ISinchesof theground,and ninety percent.
of the vine above that point. As soon as the low-
er tomatoes are the size of a hen's egg, the small-
er ones with the upper part of the plant should be
cut off. This will cause the main part of the crop
to swell rapidly and pi'oduce abundantly, Avhile
the portion removed is of no value, as their ripen-
ing would have occurred late in the season, and if

permitted to remain, would have lessened the
amount of the main crop.

* * * Early planting is true of most crops.
Great mistakes are sometimes made as to depth.
There are very few seeds that benefit by deep
planting. Many are very scaly and light, and so
foeljle that they cannot emerge from the ground if
placed below the depth of ~ half an inch. This is
particularly true of the carrot. Half an inch
seems to be the greatest depth at which the car-
rot can be planted with certain success as to ger-
mination. When planted early they are more
likely to germinate readily than when sown later,
because the seed is so slow in germinating that
the sun is likely to bake it, and in many cases the
seeds-man is blamed, when, in fact it is the fliult
of the cultivator. We find, therefore, that car-
rots have to be planted early, or c^uite late, to sue
ceed well, and it is preferable, of course, to plant
early.

IMPOETANCE OF EOOTS.

Many consider roo^ culture an absurdity ; but
the following table, compiled from reliable datix,
will show the fallacy of such a conclusion, so far,
at least, as the nutrimental character of the sev-
eral products enumerated in the list are con-
cerned. The object is to exhibit the comparative
value of the several vegetables, as ascertained by
a series of experiments by Boussingault. He re-
marks that in comparing the results of his inves-
tigations with the results of the practical experi-
ence of farmers in feeding cattle, he found a most
remarkable coincidence between the theoretical
and practical deduction : —

Wheat 1.91

Rye 2.00

Farina of Uarley 2.02

" Cabbage 1.48

" Carrots 1.70

" Potatoes 2.25

Potatoes 1,096

• Carrots 1,351

Cabbage 1,440

Turnips 2,383

The table from which we take the above, em-
braces a number of other vegetables, which, how-
ever, as they are not and probably never will be
cultivated in this country as food, we have deemed
proper to omit. The influence of climate, season,
manure and mode of cultivation, doubtless has a
tendency to vary, considerably, the value of many
vegetables. Hence the results of an analysis con-
ducted in France, might not tally, in all respects,
with the results of a similar process instituted
hei'C, or in England.

But we rely more on the results produced by a
careful feeding of roots and the grain to a stock
of cattle through the winter, than upon tables so
isolated and barren of explanation or accom-
panying circumstances, as are the above. Bous-
singault made eight or ten experiments with
roots upon several working horses, and came to
the conclusion that 100* pounds of timothy hay
may be taken, as ascertained by experiment, to be
equivalent to

185i.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

285

280 pounds of potatoes.

280 pounds of artichokes.

400 pounds of beet.

400 pounds of ruta baga turnip.

400 pounds of carrots.

These equivalents were ascertained in the ex-
periments with tlie horses, and it ajipears that
where they gained on an equivalent of steamed
potatoes of 30.8 lbs. instead of the 11 ll)s. of
hay, they lost flesh on 38.5 lbs. of carrots instead
of the 11 lbs. of hay.

But admitting that it docs take 400 lbs. of car-
rots to be equal in nutritious properties to 100
lbs. of good hay, for the sake of the argument,
then let us see whether it is profitable or other-
wise to raise them as food for our stock.

On land that has been plowed eight to twelve
inches deep, and manured as is usual for our best
crops of corn, it is fiiir to suppose that 800 bush-
els of carrots shall be produced on an acre as an
average crop, which, at 50 lbs. to the bushel, will
give tAventy tons per acre ; then if the 400 lbs.
of carrots are equarto 100 lbs. of hay, the 20
tons of carrots will bo equal to five tons of hay
per acre, which we must get in order to equal the
carrot crop ! The expense of tending the carrot
crop would be greater than the usual cost of get-
ting an acre of hay, l)ut not much more than that
of cutting, curing and getting in the five tons
which are required to equal the carrot crop.

There is another important consideration, how-
ever, which must not be lost sight of. That the
carrots perform an office beyond that of the mere
nutriment they may afford, no one who has fed
them out and noticed their effect on the animals
using them, will doubt. There is no feed that
that makes the eye brighter, the skin softer and
the hair sleeker, in both cattle and horses, than
the carrot. It keeps up the appetite and general
condition admii'ably. Horses, oxen, cows, calves,
and sheep arc extremely fond of them, and eat
them greedily at all times.

In the winter of 1852 — 3, we fed 7 cows on
good English hay, cut and mixed with one quart
of oil meal and two quarts of cob-meal, per day,
for each cow. In the wintur of 1853 — 4, the
same cows, coming in at about the same time, fed
on hay cut upon tlie same ground as that of the
previous year, and with the addition of 4 bushels
of ruta bagas per day, but not a spoonful of grain
of any kind, gave just double the gallons of milk
that they did fed on the grain ! The circumstan-
ces under which the cows existed, both winters,
were alike, with the exception of temperature —
Ihe weather being much the coldest when they
gave the most milk. The barn, liowevcr, in
which tliey were kept is a very warm one, so that
in the coldest weather they were always comfort-
able.

These facts, therefore, will have more influence
in our selection of crops for milch cows, than any ta-

bles of the chemists, or any of the jwpular preju-
dices against the cultivation of roots. Our climate
and soils are suited to the roots which we need in
order to enable us to realize ready cash from the
sale of hay, and we hope to see this summer a lib-
eral breadth devoted to the root crop.

SPEAK SOOTHING WORDS AND KIND,

Speak sootliing words and kind,

Breathe tender tones and dear,
To the afflicted mind,

In sorrow's languid ear,
Help suffering man across

Life's tottering Bridge of Sighs,
Count all things else mere dross,

But gain the heavenly priT.e. ^

Speak soothing words and kind

Wear honor's spotless garb .

All through the march of life,
Strike off the poisoned barb

Of envy and of strife ;
The true reformer's song

Chant, lark -like, on thy way;
Till night wears out the wrojig

And all is perfect day.

Wear honor's spotless garb

Twine friendship's noblest wreath

Around thy brother's brow,
Who wears his vest beneath

As warm a heart as thou ;.
The hope, the gem, the star,

The all that life endears,
0 ! let no trifles mar

The friendship formed for years.

Twine friendship's noblest wreath.
Sow virtue's holy seed

O'er the heart's fallow-ground,
Eradicate each weed

That e'er springs up around ; *
Spread gospel news about,

■Where'er thy feet may roam,
Till all mankind may shout

A joyful harvest home.

Sow virtue's holy seed.

Mark Lam Express.

For the New England Farmer.

HIGH PEICE OF BEEF.

Mit. Brown : — I notice in your paper, in re-
marking on the Cambridge and Brighton Cattle
market, that drovers are paying exorbitant prices
for cattle and sheep, and that the butchers are de-
termined not to support tliem in so doing any long-
er— it is wisely added, if they can help it.

If these men would come into the country where
their good beef is fattened, and learn the high
price of the food they consume, also the higli price
paid for almost every article of food for man, they
would admit that they would more likely Imve to
pay higher prices than lower. The former that
sells his cattle for $7 per cwt. now, do his best,
cannot get as much breadstuff as two yea ra ago,
when he sold his beef for $5 per cwt.

I live in Stanstead, Canacfa East, where there
arc hundreds of hei\d of good oxen ready for mar-
ket. A few of your cattle buyers have been here
where they used to purchase our beef cattle for
Boston market ; but the insult is, they go away,
saying the duties are so high that they cannot pur-
chase— the duties being $20 to $40 on a pair of

286

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

J L-NE

good oxen. If the cattle dealers would have cheap-
er beef, let them try to reduce the duties, and
Canada will supply your market with good beef
at present ju-iocs for a time at least.

Yours, W. Pierce.

Stanstcad, March 2ls(, 1854.

STICK TO THE FARM.

liV IIENRV F. FRENCH.

Stick to the farm, young men. Now when land
and its products, the true wealth of the nutiun,
are within your control — when corn and wheat,
and hay and cattle, and the produce of the dairy,
bring double their former prices, ..whih' the wages
of farm lcil)(jr, always the last to be afl'jcted by
fluctuations of business, or political afiairs, have
advanced comparatively little; now, when the
nations of the eartli are re-converting their plow-
.shares and pruning hooks into swords and spears,
when great armies are gathering together to des-
tro3' each other, and lay waste the beautiful earth,
which God has given toman to "till and to keep ;''
now, when the labor of whole countries is diverted
from producing the means of feed and clothing
and sheltering and ])lessing nu^nkind, to a worse
than idle consumption uf the produce of your labor ;
now while the farmer is rapidly gaining the re-
spect and wealth and influence due to his position
as "lord of the land," be not seduced from your
honorable and independent place, by whisperings
of ambition, urging you to seek for wealth or ease,
or honor, in a city life.

You are tempted to exchange the hard work of
the farm, to become a clerk in a city shop, to put
off your heavy boots and frock, and be a gentle-
man, behind the counter ! You, by birth and edu-
cation, intended for an ujiright, independent, manly
citizen, to call no man master, and to be no man's
servant, would Become at first, the errand boy of
the shop, to fetch and carry like a spaniel, then
the salesman to fill the place which at best, a girl
would fill much better — to bow and smile and
cringe and Hatter — to attend upon the wishes of
cveiy painted and padded form of humanity — to
huml)ly suggest to rakes and harlots, as well as to
starched and ruffled respectability, what color and
fabric best becomes the form and complexion of
each — and finally, to become a trader, a worship-
per of mammon, as Carlyle says, "a kind of hu-
man heaver that has learned the art of ciphering,'"
compelled to look anxiously at the pi-ices current
of cotton and railroad stocks, in order to learn
each morning, whetlier you are bankrupt or not,
and in the end, to fail and compromise with your
creditors and your conscience, and sigh for your
native hills.

Or, perhaps, your party being in power, you
would obtain a clcrksliip at Washington, and re-
move your little fanuily from the north, to a more
genial climate, to live at your ease, and grow rich
on twelve hundred dollars a year ! Y'^ou give up
your little farm, your New England privileges of
schools and churclies, your independent and in-
fluential membcrsliip of parish, and district and
town and ciuirch, the woods and play-grounds for
your cliildren, your friends and kindred and home.
Twelve hundred dollars is a large sum to you, half
the price of your farm perhaps, twice the amount
of the minister's salary. With your habits of
economy and thrift, you can live on half the

amount. Your ari-angements are to be made.
The homestead is sold, and you are landless. Af-
ter all, it is not so easy parting with our house-
hold gods. The trees our hands have planted
take root in our hearts, the vines and roses, twined
Ijy our own fingers, and those of our loved ones,
over rustic arbors, cling round us more closely
than we thouglit. Your labor has been mingled
with the soil of every field. Tears are in the eyes
of your wife, at every thought of departing, but
she trusts in your superior judgment, and no mur-
mur escapes her lips at your decision.

You have left your home. At the end of a
single year in "the city oi magnificent distances,"
you have bitter realizations of the meaning of that
phrase. It has proved indeed to be full of magni-
ficent distances, for you, from happiness, from in-
dependence, from advantages of every kind. For
the first time, you have felt how sore a thing it is,
for a northern freeman to be dependent, to labor
at stated hours, at the bidding of a superior officer,
to feel that the office you fill, ou which depend
3'Our very means of living, for j^ourself and family,
is held at the arbitrary will of another, who may,
if he please, make a servile conformity of your
views with his own, on political or What you may
deem moral questions, the condition, by which
you retain your place. You, who at home, had
never seen the man who dared claim to be your
superior, are foi'ced to submit to the iron rule of
caste, to send your card to the Secretary, whom
you once knew perhaps as an equal, and wait an
hour, with the colored servant in the hall, to be
told at last, to call another day — to be slipped
over, or shaken off by the "member" whom you
helped to elect, and who had now no further use
for you ; and consume your energies in endeavor-
ing to keep the toe of your boot from proximity
with that partof his person, where his hon6r holds
its seat — to be assessed to support party presses,
whose principles you may despise. In short, you
have sold your manhood for an office, your birth-
right for a mess of pottage. But the half is not
yet told, for the mess of pottage, even,isnotsufl5-
cient for your wants. Your salary is at starva-
tion point. You must pay two hundred dollars
for a house, with two parlors and a basement for
servants, without a cellar, without a closet, with-
out a pump or aqueduct, without a sink, or clothes-
yard or garden. Your wife with the aid of a ser-
vant, cannot do the work so easily as she did it
alone, at the north. All the water comes from
the city pump, a dozen rods oflT, in buckets ; the
slops are poured into the street, your clothing is
crammed into wardrobes, your supplies must be
procured daily at market, in contemptible quanti-
ties— in short, everything, except the parlors,
which are for show, and to make you seem i-espect-
able, must be richly carpeted and curtained, evei-y-
thing else is adapted to the idea, that labor is de-
gradmg, and that the comfort and convenience of
those who perform it is not worth consulting.
The thrift, and energy and comfort of northern
households, is unknown in this latitude.

Look now, at the prices of necessary articles of
food. On your farm, however small, your cellar
was always filled with an unlimited supply of all
such vegetables, as you desired, and bai-rels of
beef and pork of your own slaghtering. Your
granary had always as much of corn and rye, and
perhaps of wheat, as you cliosc to use. Your

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

287

cows gave you milk and butter in abundance at
all times, and your garden and orchard, fruits for
yourself and the children, and the neighbors, with-
out stint. Now, (I give actual market prices in
Washington) you buy one peck of potatoes for
'•three levies," or thirty-seven and a half cents,
beef at sixteen cents a pound, turkeys at from one
dollar and quarter to two dollars each, chickens,
with the shells scarcely ofl' their heads, not larger
than robins, at twenty-five cents each, Initter at
thirty-one cents a pound, and milk at eiglit cents
a quart, and so on to the end of the chapter. In
stead of enjoying the abundance of the earth, as
you have been accustomed to do, you begin to as-
sociate the idea of dollars and cents, with the food
on your taldc ; you are compelled to vex yourself
with economizing in the details of living, instead
of by system, and to feel j-our soul gradually nar-
rowing in, to a conformity with narrow circum-
stances. You find yourself a poorer man than
while upon your hard northern farm, poorer in
your animal means of living, poorer in comparison
with those around you, poorer in independence, in
prospects fur the future for yourself and family,
poorer in everything.

We might follow this train of thouglit into fur-
ther details, did time allow it, but enough, it is
hoped, has been said, to induce an independent
Northern farmer to hesitate long, and consider
■well, before he exchanges his position for any
place, where any master comes between him and
his Maker. — Country Gentleman.

For the New Eni^land Farmer.

PEOFITS OF FAKMING.

Mr. Editoh : — Your correspondent ''D. C." may
think my answer to his "No. 4" too long delayed ;
the delay is for want of time only. I did not by my
question expect to compel him to use up so much of
his time or your paper — as the question is so "ex-
tremely indefinite" as "to be no question at all,"
as "the profits or amount of produce," are so
"nearly the same that no argument can be in-
stituted between them," as the question is "logic-
ally absurd," and as he nevertheless concluded to
waive all objections and answer it, he might have
done so with less labor to himself, or less use of
your valuable paper. But without running into
the same error, 1 well know, and of course shall
admit that the "profits of farming" depend much
on the "amount produced," yai they do not en-
tirely ; the quality of tlie products, or the state of
the market, has much to do with it. Why is it
that New England i)caches s ell better than New
Jersey ones ? Is it not because they are better,
and if they are not better, because more arc raised
here then than there ? And were not our peaches
better than those of New Jersey, we could make
nothing comparatively by raising them, and yet
this ditferenee secures to the peach growers nearly
all their profits.

Again, it sometimes happens that the supply is
so much greater than the demand, that nothing
or next to nothing is made. Take the same arti-
cle : 1 know of many farmers iu this vicinity, and
I presume your correspondent knows more tlian
one, who could not give away their peaches last
year, and busliels were fed to tlic hogs, or rotted
on the ground, and Ijushels more were sold for
the lowest prices, just what was oficrcd. So in

other things— a few years since, Vermont farmers
were all getting rich by raising wool ; they en-
larged their farms and their flocks, and raised not
only more, but more relatively to their acres.
Wliat was the consequence? They kept their
wool on hand, and the greater the amount of the
product the less the profits.

Again, there maj' be two nirmers side by side,
and their crops may bo equal in amount, and yet
one will make much larger profits than the other
— he will sell so much better, that he will out-
strip his neighbor entirely — and no one will deny
but that this selling is one essential part of farm-
ing, or that Avithout a tact at tliis, a man is no
farmer at all.

Two farmers in the same town may have farms
which arc adapted to difiercnt products ; one may
be able to get a much larger crop than the other,
and yet the small crop may be the most profitable,
for the reason that the demand for that is enough
greater to make all the difierence, perhaps more.
Now we can, in many respects, produce articles of
better quality here, than at the West; we raise
better corn, pork, butter, cheese, tobacco, fruits,
and probably garden vegeti\l)les, and it may be
some other things. Indeed, tlic West cannot com-
pete with us in the quality of farm products gen-
erally, if they can in any particular ; a moderate
share of information makes this too obvious for
argument — nor also get as high a price. All will
admit that we get a liigher price for all or nearly
all our products. How then can we make as
much ? I do not mean, nor is that the argument,
wliether a man here can make as much on one
acre, as a "Western farmer can on two. It is sim-
ply Avhicli of tlie two, taking the whole expenses
into account, will have gained the most money.

Now this has been ascertained as nearly, per-
haps, as it is possible to do, and you have pub-
lished the whole thing in 1854, and subsequent
information has not, that I have seen, esscutially
changed this. It will then be seen that the de-
cision of this question is clearly in favor of the
New Englaml former. In some articles, such as
wheat and corn, the Western farmer will receive
more, for he Avill cultivate more acres; the popu-
lation is sparse there, and lie has room to do it ;
while here, farms are small because the popula-
tion is dense, and yet some of these small farms
have enriched their owners, much more tiian
Western farms ; it may not be in corn or wheat,
!)ut in other farm products to which the land is
adapted, and this is the highest evidence of our
abilty to compete with "W^estern farmers ; and
even in the articles of Avhcat and corn, there are
cases in New England of farmers raising as much
per acre as in tlic West. But your correspondent
says he did not naean that Ave could not compete
with farmers at the West under any circumstan-
ces and he admits that Avith certain helps wa miglit
CA'cn exceed them ; but docs he not see he is in a
circle ■? and that he might as aa-c11 say at once,
that we can compete AA'ith, if not exceed them.

I do not think I should have noticed "D. C.'s"
article I)ut for tAvo reasons — one is that it AA'as cal-
culated to prejudice our young men against farm-
ing, Avhich is tlie most natural, moral and healthy
employment, and Avlien conducted with skill, has
proved the most lucrative in the end ; another
reason is, tliat it Avas calculated to discontent men
Avitii NcAv England farming. Our citizens have

288

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

long been in search of the promised land, and yet
nowhere is there such highly cultivated land, and
Western men, Avlicn here, seem to think, as I have
heard themeay, that they know nothing about liv-

ing. There was only one Eden — there )8 only one
New England, and it is not best to permit any
spirit to make the dwellers discontented with
their homes. 'Aguicola.

EXPANDING AND REVERSABLE
TOOTH CULTIVATOR.

As the season opens upon us, and the laud is
becoming fit for the plow and other implements
used for lightening it, we wish to lay before the
reader such improved forms of them as have come
to our knowledge, and as we believe will be pleas-
ant and profitable for him to use. The plow and
horse-hoe have been already given this spring,
and now we introduce the Expanding and Revers-
able Tooth Cultivator. We prefer the Horse-Hoe
to any implement of this kind, but some may choose
the one repesented above. The expanding imple-
ments will become more or less loose and rickety,
and are inclined to run out at the sides, making
them hard for the person who holds them. The
Horse Hoe runs straight, is easily guided, and by
running it twice in the row, that is, out and
back in the same row, will accomplish more good
work than any other implement we have ever
used.

The implement figured alove is highly approved
Ijy some farmers. The points or shares of the
teeth are made of steel or cast iron, and are fas-
tened to the shank or standard by bolts and nuts,
so that cither kind of shares may be used on the
game standard, clieaply replaced when worn, and
one substituted for the other. The shares being
also revcrsable, are thereby very enduring, as when
one end is too much worn to be effective, they
may be changed to the other end down, and a
double amount of service obtained.

The tioth represented at the left, in the fig-
ure of teeth detached, is made of all steel, and
known as "Roger's Patent," and may be used,
but requires a different mortice ; the centre tooth
is cast iron, and fits the same mortice as the steel

pointed above described,
furnished separately.

The various teetli are

MULCHING GOOSEBERRIES.

In the August number of the Western Horticul-
tural Review we find the following letter from j\Ir.
John N. Brower, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., on the
subject of mulching gooseberries :

I beg your acceptance of a small sample of
gooseberries from my garden, which, from their
fine size and flavor as well as their perfect freedom
from rust or mildew, will prove that, by proper
cultivation, this delicious fruit may be raised with
perfect ease and in the highest perfection. I re-
member, several years since, while you were visit-
ing us, that you suggested the use of soapsuds or
some alcalime wash, as a remedy for the mildew
or blast which has so generally affected this fruit,
and for the preservation of which many applica-
tions had been used but without success. I tried
them all, but in vain; scarcely a berry out of
hundreds would escape the rust, and many of my
bushes dwindled and became worthless.

Some years ago, observing the extremely luxu-
riant and profuse growth of the off-shoots or suck-
ers, in the early spring and during the fruiting
season, which the gooseberry bark put forth, and
that the rust never made its appearance until they
had attained some size and in such quantity as to
abstract a large proportion of the nutriment af-
forded by the root, an idea, occurred to me that
the diseased condition of the bush and fruit was
the result, not of moisture, or sun, an insect rava-
ger, or want of adaptation of soil, but simply a
lack of nutriment, or, in professional phrase, an
atrophy of the plant and fruit, by reason of the
large proportion of sap consumed by an useless
amount of woody fiber and leaf, and which was
necessary for the full and perfect development of
the fruit. Acting upon this impression, I pruned
very liberally, and throughout the fruiting season
leaving no more Avood than what bore fruit, and
carefully removing all shoots having a light green

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

289

color and very rajiid growth. My success has
been perfect, and Avhcther in the open sun or un-
der shade, 1 never fail of an abundant crop of fine
fruit. My only preparatory cultivation is mulch-
ing the buslies with rich compost every winter and
spring. The bushes from which these two varie-
ties are plucked I obtained from our friend Elliott.
I have lost their names.

THE CULTURE OF ONIONS.

Mr. Editor : — My success in raising onions, has
led many to ask "how it is done." They say tlie
maggot and the large brown worm have been so
destructive that they have done trying to raise that
valualjle vegetable. In answer to such inquiries
pei-mit me to reply.

There arc at least six kinds of onions. But they
are of the same species. Tlie leek, the garlick,
the hill-onion, the top onion, the red and thesilvcr
onions. From the fact, that whenever onions have
been fuuml growing wild, they are always found
most plentifully and most flourishing in muck soil,
I have taken the hint to prepare my onion bed
with a plentiful supply of muck first put into the
hog-yard, and then well mixed with common soil.
If I plow the ground, I take care not to have the
ground too light. As the roots of onions do not
go down deep, they will not stand drought so well
in light as in more compact soil. Besides onions
bottom better where the ground has been rotted
or hard trodden.

I cultivate the "top onion" for several reasons.
All black seed onions are slow to come up. The
weeds get the start of them and then you are
obliged to get down on your hands and knees and
weed with your fingers. Then warm weather has
come on and the maggot fly commences with the
young and destroys it. And the black seed onion
is so late that the black worm is just in season to
bite off the tender stalk, and so devours the onion.

But j51ant the "top onion" seed, which is already
a little onion, you may get them widl growing in
April. Tliey come up immediately, so that you
may hoe them twice or more before weeds appear.
And before maggot or worm time, the oniou has
got the ground by possession. When the weeds
appear, you may march right along with your hoe
and go over with a bed large enough for twenty
Imshels, before breakfast.

The reason why maggots have ever destroyed the
top onion is, that tliey were planted too late.
They should be planted as soon as the snow and
frost disiippears. Some put out in tlie fail and do
well. I liavc never tried it. The top onions on
good ground are large as any. They are sweeter
and more juicy than other varieties, and can lie
raised as easy as potatoes.

I have given away and sold seed for several
years ; and when the experiment has been fair, all
have been satisfied. I intend to give away and sell
before April, twelve bushels o/ seed . S. Morgan.

Bristol, Vt., Jan. 13, 1854.

Middkbury Rcgisttr.

IIOW TO TELL THE IIeIGUT TO WHICH A CoLT

wiu, ATTAIN WHEN FuLL Grown. — When the foal
is three or four weeks old, or as soon as it is per-
fectly straightened up, measure from the junction
of the hoof with the hair, to the middle of the
knee-joint, and the numlxjr of inches will be the

number of hands in heiglit to which the colt will
grow. Thus, if the measure is IG inclics, the
liorse will be 16 hands high. This rule, it is said,
will hold good in nine cases out of ten. — Indimia
Farmer.

HOW TO PLANT CUCUMBERS, MELONS
AND SaUASHES,

TO AVOID DESTRUCTION BY BUGS.

As the cost of seed is trifling, we have for the
past few years always succeeded in getting good
vines by the following process. Insteail of plant-
ing a lew seeds in hills at the distance they would
ultimately be required to grow, we iiave put in a
large quantity over the whole ground ; so that at
first we had a hundred plants where oidy one was
needed. Sometimes we have had a plant come up
on every two inclics over the whole bed.

As fast as the expanding leaves of the vines in-
terfere ^vi/h fach other we cut ofl' the wea/.Tr ones
with a pair of shears, so as not to disturb the roots
of those remaining. The "bugs" have always
materially assisted in the thinning process, but we
have never failed to find twice or tlsricc the needed
number of plants entirely untouched. AVhon be-
yond the reach of danger from insects, all the
weaker plants are removed ; and a solitary vine
left here and there has been enough to cover the
ground.

The same ground will yield much butter, by
having the vines at equal distances from each
other, than if two or three are left together in the
Siimc hill, since the roots have more room to grow,
and they find a greater amount of nourishment
when thus isolated. The fruit will also be more
solid and of better quality.

It should jjlso be remembered that air and light
are essential to the growth and maturity of the
fruit; and it is better to occasionally cut out a
thrifty plant, than that the ground be too densely
covered. Just vines enough to thinly cover the
ground, will produce better than double this
number. — American Agriculturist.

For the New England Farmer.

FERTILIZERS.

The preparation and application of manures is
Ihe foundation of all succesrjful culture. This is
particularly true on the long used fields of New
England. Most cultivators direct their attention
to the crop of the season, with little or no regard
ta those which are to follow. In this respect, our
modes of culture vary essentially I'rom the modes
best approved in Europe, where the aim is, while
one crop is growing, to have the land made better,
for that wliicli is to follow.

Without the apjilication of fertilizing materials,
in some form or other, it is in vain to expect abun-
dant crops. Plow and pulverize as much as you
may, it will not grow the plants, without some ad-
ditional stimulant. The question then is, how
shall these stimulants be obtained in quantities
sufficient to give fertility to the entire farm.

Look about among tlie farms, and their prod-
ucts will be found very nearly proportioned to the
manures used thereon. And when the manure is
itself the product of the farm, either by saving,
composting, or otherwise, then it is the main-
spring of profit in the farming ojierations. Con-

290

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

scquently he tliat best succeeds in preparing man-
ures, is most likely to be the most successful far-
mer.

In farming, like all other pursuits, there are al-
ways thoso M'lio are seeking some shorter road to
the point of destination. For this jiurpose, manj'
kinds of condensed fertilizers have recently been
introduced — and often with results most striking.
We have heard of many such by the application
oi guano. But whether this can be brought with-
in the command of farmers of small means, we are
not distinctly advised. That it frequently oper-
ates well, on the crop of the present season, there
can be no doul>t ; but whether it will 7iccd to be,
or bear to be repeated year after year, remains to De
demonstrated. So with many of the chemical
combinations of substances now in tlie market.
Many of these contain the power of giving a vigor-
ous start to growing plants, but what will be
their lasting operation upon the soil, remains to
be seen. The effects of a liberal dressing of well
prepare:! manure from the stable or barn-yard,
arc seen for years, and can be calculated on for
a certainty. If such be the fast, in relation to
the improved fertilizers, it is important to be
known. That it is not, I am not prepared to
say ; — that it is, 1 have not seen anywhere dis-
tinctly shown. On this point instruction is much
needed.

GREEN CROPS FOR BARK USE IN
SUMMER.

It is the great number of cattle that a British
farmer keeps on his farm, which by furnishing so
much good manure, enables him to raise such good
crops. The turnip crop, occupying one-fourth his
farm, furnishes him the»grand means of keeping
so large a stock during the winter months ; and
the practice of soiling his horses and cattle, ena-
bles him to keep more animals than he otherwise
could during summer.

By soiling, is meant the system of feeding cattle
in sheds and stables on green food grown for the
purpose, instead of allowing them to graze the
fields at pleasure. That more food can in this way
be obtained per acre, few will question. That we
can adopt soiling, except in some few cases near
1 irge cities, admits of some doubt. One of the
great objections to the practice is the greater
amount of labor required in mowing and carrying
to the barn the green food, than in letting the cat-
tle cut it themselves. Another objection is that
our climate is not so well adapted for the produc
tion of succulent summer food as the cool moist
climate of the IJritish isles. Yet, as we have of-
ten said , Ave obtain heavier crops of red clover
than do British farmers, and red clover is there
considered one of the l)est crops for soilingpurpos-
es ; and could it be grown with as mucli certainty
and in such quantity as in Western New York, it
would be much more extensively used.

We believe it would pay every farmer to take
an acre or two of clover, as contiguous to the barn
as possible, and manure it highly in the fall or
spring. It would be found of great advantage to
cut and feed to the horses in the stable at noon,
and for an hour or so before turning them into the
field in the evening. A few acres so manured and
cut early, would afterwards yield a splendid crop
of clover seed ; or it might be mown twice, as
green food for the horses and cattle.

Indian corn is perhaps the best food that wc can
grow for green food in summer. It stands drought
better than any other crop ; and if the soil be rich,
an immense amount of nutritious food can be ob-
tained per acre — certainly more than from any
other summer crop. Fur this crop the soil should
be either naturally very rich or be well manured.
Let it be prepared as you would your other corn
land. The deeper it is plowed, and the mellower
it is made, the better. i^tiwr^jwAe/s of seed should
be sown broadcast per acre, as soon after corn
planting as possible. If the soil is moist and in
good, line order, soak the seed corn for twenty-
four hours previous to sowing. In this way it
will be up in two or three days, and will get the
start of the weeds; and if the corn is sown thick,
and grows well, it will smother them all, and leave
the land in good condition for the following wheat
crop. Perhaps, however, it would be best to sow
the corn in rows twelve or fifteen inches apart,
and hoe it once or twice ; the corn would grow
more rapidlj', and the soil would be cleaner.

Lucerne answers Avell for soiling purposes, but
its cultivation is attended with considerable labor
in keeping the soil free from weeds. It is a peren-
nial plant, and does not reach its full growth till
the third year. On a ricli, sandy loam, well under-
drained, plowed, and subsoiled, immense crops of
lucerne can be grown. Guano is a splendid manure
for this crop, and possesses the advantage of being
free from weeds. Lucerne is sown early in spring,
in rows from one to two feet apart; eight or ten
pounds of seed per acre. It must be frequently
hoed and kept free irom weeds, and should be cut
but once the first year ; in after years it will afford
three or four crops in a season.

Remarks. — This article, from the Genesee Far-
mer, calls attention to a subject of considerable
importance to us at this season of the year. In
most parts of New England the drought has been
severe for three seasons in succession, and the cattle
have suffered much for want of grass. Many of
the pastures are too rocky to be worked and the
feed on them, therefore cannot be increased much
by any means that we are at present aware of,
l)eyond what they have heretofore afforded. The
deficiency must be made up in some other way,
and we know of none so eisy and cheap as the
cultivation of the southern flat corn. AYe would
recommeud that it be sown in drills, rather than
broadcast, and cultivated, in all respects, in the
same manner as our usual corn crops are treated.
The butter-maker and the milk-seller who have re-
lied on their scant pastures, will find their profits
handsomely increased by feeding out this crop.

Hints to the Farmer. — Keep your enclosures
in good repair. If a post or a stake rots supply
its place with another before it fall and introduces
your own or your neighbor's cattle into your corn
or wheat field. Stone walls are the most valuable
of all enclosures, where one has the materials for
erecting them, or where they can be obtained with-
in any reasonable distance, walls are cheaper than
any other fence that can be constructed. A farm,
surrounded with good walls, may be regarded as

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

291

enclosed for all time ; the materials, although the
walls may fall, or he thrown down, never decay.
Next to walls, we may mention stump fence as the
most valuable species of field enclosure. Propcrlj'
constructed, on land that docs not "lieave," they
endure for generations, and ordinarily subject the
farmer to but little expense* for repairs. Hedges
of thorn ai'c also valuable, and produce a most
beautiful effect upon a landscape. They arc also
very durable and efficient.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

CUTTING OFF CATTLE's TAILS.

Mr. Editor : — I wish to inquire through your
paper whether it is necessary to cut off the end
of neat cattle's tails every spring? Will you
please to explain what the effect is upon them ? I
am young and inexperienced in sueh matters.

Kecne, N. II. J. w. N.

No — the practice of cutting off the tails of
neat cattle is not necessary ; it is a barbarous rel-
ic of which this ago ought to be ashamed. It is a
CTuel mutilation, causes a wasteful loss of blood
which is again to bo supplied by your grass, hay and
grain, and deprives the animals of the means which
nature provided to protect themselves from the in-
sects wl'.ich annoy them. Why did He who
formed them furnish along tail, so admirably pro-
vided with a brush at its end, but ft)r some good
purpose ! The advocates of this shameful prac-
tice may say that blood-letting is necessary — that
the end of the tail becomes soft, and that unless
it is cut off the animal will sicken and die. But
such reasoning is nonsensical, and the effects of
an old superstition ; you might as well cut a man's
leg off because the end of his great toe is soft by
the irritation of his boot.

There is a mania among the hired men to cut
off the cows' tails, and their arguments are won-
derfully strengthened by the recollection, that if
the tail is only a foot or two long, it will not be
very likely to come into their faces while milking.
The superstition has had its popularity altogether
too long.

There is a sickness not uncommon among cat-
tle soon after they are turned to grass, which is
proljably occasioned by a sudden change from
dry to succulent food, and at the same time from
a dry and warm temperature to cold winds,
storms, and exposure to the night air. The hind
limbs are affected, sometimes the joints swell, and
there is a tremljling and a giving way, so that the
animal can scarcely drag itself along. In Eng-
land, it was supposed that the origin of this diffi-
culty was in the tail, and was called tail-i/l or iail-
slip, and has come to us under the expressive
term, tail-sick! Mr. Dick, of Edinburgh, has
taken up this sulyect in a very interesting point
of view, in the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.
He says —

"The farmer and thecowloech believe that the mis-
chief passes along the cow's tail to the back, and

that it is on account of something wrong in the
tail that she loses the use of her legs ; and tlien
some set to work and cut the cow's tail off; while
others, less cruel, or more scientific, make an in-
cision into the under surface, and allow the wound
to bleed freely, and then fill it up with a mixture
of tar and.salt, and we know not what.

"In some parts of tlie country, the practitioner
is not content with this treatment, but supposing
there is witchcraft in the Ijusincss, he has recourse
to some charm in addition to the cutting and
dressing. This charm consists in 1)iuding a small
piece of the rovran tree on the extremity of the
tail, and making a black cat pass three times
round the cow's body, over her back, and under
her belly, (which, if it happens to be a strange
cat, as is often the case from the necessity of tiie
color, being black) so enrages the animal, that she
mews and scratches with all the fury to which she
is so easily excited, until she escapes from the
hands of the necromancers, leaving them con-
vinced that the devil has got into the cat.

"The disease, in ordinary cases, is said to con-
sist in a softening of the bones about the extremi-
ty of the tail, and is to be distinguished by the
point of the tail being easily doubled back- upon
itself, and having at this doubling a soft and
rather a crepitating kind of feel. But what is
the real state of the case 1 The tail is length-
ened out to the extent of about three feet, and is
formed like a common whip. Towards the extrem-
ity, the bones terminate gradually, becoming in-
sensibly smaller as they proceed downwards. At
tliis part is said to be found a soft space — the tail-
slip. Beyond this again, a firm swelling cartila-
ginous portion is found, covered with hair to
brush off the tiies witliin its roach. Now why
have we the long column of bones ; the termina-
tion with a soft space of a lew inches ; this thick-
ened, hard, cartilaginous part at the. very extrem-
ity, and that extremity covered with hair, but
with a view to form a whip to drive off, and with
the greatest possible effect, the insects which
wound and torment the animal 1

"Here the column of bones forms the shaft or
handle of the whip — the soft part, the connection
between the handle and the thong, while the
thickened extremity may be easily recognized to
represent the tliong, and the hairs to form the
lash, or point ; so that we have a whip to drive
away the flies, and so complete a one, tliat the
coachman may borrow a lesson from its construc-
tion.

"We trust, therefore, that our readers will
never be found again looking at the tail of the
cow for on explanation of palsy, or any other
complaint; (lor we believe this tail-slip is sup-
posed to be connected with various other mala-
dies ;) but wo will allow them to examine it once
more, in order to admire its adaptation to the pur-
pose for which it is requiried, and the peculiar
contrivance of this supposed disLiascd part, for the
more effectwal accomplishment of this natural
purpose."

We think the above will satisfy our inquir-
ing friend that if the t;iil is really diseased, that
the origin of the difficulty is not in the tail itself,
but suffers with the other parts of the system.
It is not improbaljlo that relief may 8(mietime8 be
afforded by this cropping, but there arc remedies

292

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

bettor than to luutilato and disfigure the animal
for life.

THE SEASOX.

I have not done the first stroke of farming
yet, and may not for a week to come. We are
now having the first spring rain. The frost is
mostlj_ out, hut the ground has not settled until
this rain, which I hope will do the tiling in good
earnest. • I have learned to look upon the Farmer
as an old and well-tried friend, and to welcome its
appearance, laden with stores of the good and the
"seful." S. Texney.

East Rayynond, Mc, May 9, 1854.

0. S. Bliss, Milton, Vt. — You must write Rev.
J. T. Trask, of Fitchburg, Mass., for information
about the stump puller. Millet seed is worth two
dollars a bushel. For particulars in relation to it
as a crop for fodder, see monthly Farmer, for 1853,
pages 157 and 203. On good land, well manured,
eight quarts of seed is sufficient for an acre.

H. F. OsL.vjsD, Paxton, Mass. — "Will you
please inform me what kind of manure will be the
best for potatoes on wet, clayey land, where barn^
yard manure cannot be had?"

If you must plant such land with potatoes, and
havo no coarse manures, try guano on a portion
of it — on another try ashes, sawdust, &g. But
the best use for such land is to plow, manure and
lay down to grass in August.

Mr. George Carpenter, Orange, Mass., writes
that he has a pair of twin lambs which at birth
Vi-eighed 19^ lbs., and another which weighed ll.i
lbs., from two English "smut sheep." A neigh-
bor, Mr. R. E. Carpenter, has a calf whicli
weighed at birth 140 pounds !

E. Kixslev, Derby, Vt., writes: "you will con-
fer a favor by informing me what is the best and
most profitable way of raising southern corn for
fodder ; also the best way of curing it for winter
use, and where I can get good seed ?"

Plow and manure your land well, and then
make a broad, shallow furrow, by going both ways
with a small plow, and then sow the corn liberally
in the furrow. Five or six rows ten rods long each,
we should think, Avould require half a bushel of
seed. The common yellow or white flat southern
corn, such as may be found at any of the grain
stores, is the kind mostly used. It should be sowed
quite tliick or it will grow so stout that the cattle
will refuse to eat it. It is a very difficult crop to
dry sufficiently for winter use, Init with favorable
weather may be cured by allowing it to wilt for a
day or two after cutting, then tie in small bundles
near the top and hang upon the fences or poles
laid up fur the purpose.

much as his were. I had seen bone-dust recom-
mended in the Cultivator some time before, and
therefore took beef-bones, burnt them and pound-
ed them fine, and put two ta))le-spoonruls of the
dust, one of flour of sulphur, and a little wood-
ashes, in her feed,which completelj' cured my hog,
which brought me as fine a litter of pigs as ever I
raised, obtaining for them the first premium at the
last agricultural Fair held at Providence, R. I.
— Boston Cultivator. Warwick.

Mr.

For tiie J\'ew England Farmer.

RANCID BUTTER.

Editor : — Dear Sir, — I have just been

reading a long article in the Farmer of April 22,
on rancid butter. I am not aljout to write an es-
say on butter-making, but I do wish to ask one
plain question, and that is this. What possible
difficulty is there in tlie way of (at least some) of
you Boston folks having good butter ? I do know
that there is good butter made in the country, and
you might just as well have it right from the dairy
as to have it go through the hands of speculators,
to be spoiled, and then pay them a heavy fee for
their trouble of spoiling it. They come and tell
us they can afibrd to pay ns 14 or 15 or at the
most 16 cents per lb., for our butter, if it iaveiy
nice, and after compounding it with equal parts of
other grease, they go to your market and sell it
for double what they gave, and the dairy-women
are scandalised for making such miserable butter.
Now 1 do not believe in tTiis mode of doing busi-
ness. If you have my butter, why not have it of
mc? not of the third or fourth person, Avhich
method takes all the profit from me, and gives it
to him who don't deserve it; it also increases your
butter bill, and that, too, for a poorer article than
I Avould furnish.

We have some three or four hundred lbs. nice
maple sugar we should like to sell — no dead ne^
groes in it. Mrs. S. Pierce.

Londonderry, Vt., 1854.

Sick Hogs. — IMessrs. Editors : — I saw in a late
Cultivator, an inquiry liy Mr. Snow for a remedy
for lanie hogs, and would say to him, I had a
breeding-sow last spring,whicli,when she had gone
about one-quarter of her time, was taken yeryl izer.

Remarks. — Though, perhaps, not intended for
publication, we give the above excellent letter for
the benefit of our butter-eating and maple sugar
loving friends. We have not seen a pound of first-
rate butter these three months ; nor have we any
doubt but that the good butter is mixed, as intima-
ted above. There is no eatable so scarce in mar-
ket, as that of good butter.

CORN AND THE WIRE- WORM.

Mr. JouN Wormley communicates the fact to
the Michigan Farmer, that at the time of plant-
ing his corn, he put two or three pieces of corn
cobs in the hill, and that in a few days if there
are any wire-worms in the soil, they will be found
in the pith of the cob, and will remain there
without interfering with the corn. The editor of
the Farmer suggests that at the first hooing it
would be well to take out the cobs and burn
them, and thus destroy the worms. Tlio remedy
may be easily tried, and the cob would undoubt-
edly be worth something to the hill as a fertil-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

293

For the Ifcw England Farmer.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR MAY.
This publication "liaa been laid upon our table,"
as the editors pay ; and for aught I can see, it
looks just as well along-side that loaf of brown
bread, as it would in the study of the literary
man. It has been read, too ; it never stays long in
our house -without that. Beside "ourselves,"
here are four boys large enough to read the pieces
or to crow over the pictures, and when we add
tiie neiji;h!)ors who help U3 patronize the paper,
we shall have probably a'lout the right figure with
which to multiply the whole number printed, in or-
der to ascertain very nearly how many pcojde read
the Fanmr, and to form some opinion of the in-
fluence, on young and old, which must be exerted
1)y it as a whole, and by each article as a part.
These facts ought to be kept in mind liy all who
write for the paper. AVero the readers of the
Varinrr to be assembled in some vast grove, and
we, the occasional contributors to its columns,
several!}' called to the 'vstand' ' and obliged to read
our respective jiroductions, flice to face with the
congregated multitude, should Ave have no cause
to regret tliat we took no more pains in the ar-
rangement of our tlioughts, in our mode of ex-
pression, or in the brevity of our articles ? How-
ever this might be, I think the following Table of
Contents of t!ie May Farmer will show that most
of us would have no occasion to be ashamed of
the company in which we should find ourselves
placed.

coKnESPO^■^)EXCE.

, (Ms.) Legislative Ag. Jleilings.

1!. F. Cutter, (N. 11.) I'runt in Raising Corn.

A VeniKinttT, (Vt.) Renovating Soils.

C Goodrich, (Vt.) Bjgology vs. Sciuasb.^ilopy.

R. M. CopclaiKl, (Ms.) What a Garden Should be.

I'rof. Harris, (Ms.) Larvae of the Crane Fly.

K. Marsh, ( Vt.) IIow to make the Dutter Come.

D. C, (Mass.) Farming in New England.

J. B. Farmer, (Ms.) The Crow— Winter Wornis.

Spartacus, (Ms.) Witch Hazel.

S. W. Jenning.s, (Me.) Save the Rones.

L. W. Curtis, (.Ms.) Guano and Super-phosphate.

O. V. Hills, (.Ms.) Horn Shavings.

Renj. Wdlard, (Ms.) Karly June Beet.

J. W. Proctor, (Ms.) Butter Making.

\ Subscriber, (Ms.) Onions and Carrots.

David Lyman, (Ct.) Mowing Ground.

W. D.M., (Ms.) Barn Stables.

F. Holbronk, (Vt.) Composting.

A Reader, (.Ms.) Farmer for March.

L. Daraud, (Ct.) Potato Rot.

J. J. H. Gregory, (Ms.) KlTects of Inoculation.

Asa Clement, (.Ms.) To Destroy the Curculio.

H. F. French, (N. H.) Sewing Machine.

L. >latlRWs, (Vt.) Warts on Plum Trees.

G. P., (.Ms.) Potash as a Fertilizer.

A City .Mechanic, (Ms.) City Life.

F. HoHirnok, (Vt.) FaUeniiig Swine.

H. W Merriam, (111.) lilinois Farm Implements.

^ , (Ms.) Cattle of New England.

Ten or twelve others Make inquiries and suggestions.

KDITORI.'VL.
Calendar for May — l'rei)aring Sc d Corn — Concord Farmer's
Club — ^Tcnth, JCleventh and 'J'welfth Legislative Agricultural
Jleetings— Middlesex Co. Premiums— The Weather and Crops—
Ketchura's Mowing Machine— State Farm at Westboro'— Use of
Guano— Roots of Plants, Transi)Iantiiig— Horse Hoc— Fruit
Trees— E.\tracts and Replies— Iminoved Hinge Harrows.

EXTRACTS.
Extra Cow— Rancid Butter- ClassiQcation of Manures— Sow-
ing Clover Seed — I'lums, the Curculio — Past and Present (-'on-
dition of .Virriculture — Plowman's Song — Natural Beauty of Or-
namental Ti-.is — .Vmerican Pumological Society — Will Ashes
Dissolve Bones ?

For want of time, it is impossible for me to at-
tempt any sort of review of tlic contents of this
number of the Farmer. Still, I am unwilling

to let the occasion slip Avithout expressing my
hearty commendation of the action of the Con-
cord Farmers' Club in respect to agricultural ex-
periments. It strikes mo that the club have set
an example that other similar associations will
do well to follow, — an example the club Avill yet
be proud of. The results of the experiments
which individual members of the Concm-d Club
have pledged themselves to make, Avill )>e looked
for with interest liy tlie readers of the Farmer,
where we hope to find their reports, in due sea-
son. A "Concord Club" in every county of tho
Union! A Re-vder.

Winchester, May, 18.5i.

CULTURE OF THE SWEET POTATO.

This delicious and wholesome vegctalJe may be
raised without difficulty in the Ncav England States.
It will not be quite so highly flavored, or dark
colored as the southern, but iswell worthy a place
in CA'cry kitchen garden. By placing a potato in
a hot-bed, or even on the grass, covered Avith fine
loam and horse manure, sprouts enough may be
obtained to plant several hills ; the shoot aiust be
pinched out Avith the' nail and transplanted in the
same manner that cabbage plants are. The
treatment afterM-ards may be the same as for the
cabbage. The vines run upon the ground like t!ie
cucumber vine, and are very beautiful. Plant on
sandy loam and the hottest place you have ; the
first AA-eek in June is early enough.

Slips ready for transplanting may be obtained
of L. Rand & Co. — 84 Quincy Market, Boston.

LAYING OUT SURFACES.

To lay out an acre in a circle. — First fix a centre,
and Avith a rope as a radius seven rods, three
links and threc-eigliths long, one end attached to
the centre and kept uniformly stretched, the
SAveep of it at the other end Avill lay out the
acre.

For one-quarter of an acre, a rope three rods
•■xnd fourteen links Avill be the right length.

For one-eighth of an acre, a rope tvjo rods and
thirteen links will be enough.

Triangles. — If you wisli a triangle to contain
just an acre, make each side nineteen rods, five
and a half links long.

A triangle Avhose sides arc six rods and tAventy
links long each, will contain one-eighth of an
acre.

To lay out an Ellipse or Oval. — Set three stakes
in a triangular position. Around these stretch a
rope. Take aAvay the stake at the apex of the
triangle, which Avill be Avhere tho side of the OA'al
is to come — move the stake along the rope,
keeping it tight, and it Avill trace out tho oval.

A square, to contain an acre, or just one hun-
dred and sixty rods, sliould have each of its
sides just tAvelvo rods, ten feet and seven-tenths
lone

g^' The original color of black garnicntacanbe
restored by saturating i\\o. rusty parts with an in-
fusion of logwood appH.'d Avith a sponge ; "dry
and press oli'Avith a hot iron."

294

NE\"r ENGLAND FARMER.

Junk

I

STOVES.

The quantity of air that ruslics up a stove-
pipe in windy ■weather, in much f^reatcr than
■when it is couiparativcly calm, unk'BS the room is
uncommonly tight. On this account every stovc-
ipo ought to have a valve or damper to rogu-
ate that quantity. But there is another rea-
son Avliy there ought to be a valve : when the
fire is newly kindled, much smoke has to pass off,
and may need the whole capacity of the pipe ;
but wnen tlie Avood is nearly reduced to coal it
may be partially closed ; and during the process
of combustion, they who sit near the stove ought
to be attentive, and regulate the draft according-
ly. Since I Avrote last, a valve of this description
has been fixed in tiie pipe ; and I am satisfied
that in windy weather, one-half of the wood is
saved. In calm weather, it is of less account,
though still very useful. 5^" The fire now keeps
as well through the night a.s on a hearth.

An Inv.\lid.
— Country Gentleman.

fialries' JDcpavtment.

WHY DON'T LADIES LEAEN TO COOK.

Among the common things to the teaching of
which public attention is now so strongly direct
ed, it is to be hoped that the art of cookery — one
of the commonest, and yet,a2)parently, one of the
most neglected of all — will not be forgotten. The
instruction of the female peasantry in this useful
art would be as advantageous to themselves when
married and settled on their own hearths, as to
tiie families of the middle classes, in which before
marriage they officiate as domestic servants. Emi-
gration and abundance of employment have given
to the servants at home the uppcrhand as com-
pletely as if they were in Australia. On all sides
wo hear complaints of the difficulty of finding, and
of retaining when found, a cook who can roast a
leg of mutton, and make batter pudding or pea-
soup. In point of fact, we have heard of ladies
who have it in serious contemplation to dispense
with servants altogether, as the least troublesome
alternative. Without wishing matters carried
quite so far, we are convinced that many of our
fair friends would lose nothing, cither in point of
respectability or happiness, while they could add
at least one-third to the effective incomes of their
husbands, if they were to spend a little more time
in their kitchens superintending the preparation
of the family dinner, instead of contenting them-
selves with ordering it — if, indeed, they conde-
scended to do even tliat. Some forty years back
ladies were driven to slioemaking as a fiishionable
way of killing time. Why not try a little cook-
ing? Thanks to the nu)dern stoves with their nice-
ly arranged skillets and stewpans, which science
and skill have sul^stituted for the blazing kitchen
hearth of other days, young ladies of the nine-
teenth century just passing its j^rime, nuiy cook
without Boiling their fingers or injuring tlieir com-
plexions. Were it not ho, we would not recom-
mend them to cook. We would rather live on
bread and cheese all our lives.

It will be said, perhaps, tliat our notions with
regard to female education and employment ai-e
too antiquated — that in these matters, as in every-

thing else, a new era has dawned, and the solid
course of in.stvuction now given in colleges for la-
dies will be triumphantly appealed to. Ladies,
however, who possess these solid acquirements —
who like Lady Jane Grey, prefer Plato to a pic-
nic— will be least likely to neglect the economy of
the kitchen. They will thoroughly understand
tlie dignity of the employment, and call to mind
all the poetry of cooking. To say nothing of the
dinner which Milton describes Eve as preparing
when "on hospitable thoughts intent," there are
the Homeric banquets, at Avliich kings literally
"killed their own meat," and at which queens
and princesses turned the spit for the roasting,
or drew the water and chopped wood for the boil-
ing. Cooking is classical, and no lady will dis-
dain to take part in it who has read of these
feasts in the original Greek. Let it be observed
that it is the middle and working classes on
whom we wish to urge the importance of the
study. An earl's daughter can afford to be so ig-
norant of common things as not to be able to rec-
ognize chickens in a poultry-yard, because they
do not run about with a liver under one wing and
a gizzard under the other, though our modern
poultry shows, it must be confessed, have done
much to dissipate this error. A knowledge, hoM'-
ever, of the art of cooking is of more importance to
the wives of the laboring population tiian to those
of the middle classes, because it is the art, Avhen
properly cultivated, of making a liitUegoa great
way. A French arm.y can subsist in a country
where an English one would starve, and chiefly
for this reason — -a French soldier can cook. —
Mark-Lane Express.

ENGLISH RECEIPTS.

Tea Cake. — Rub into a quart of dried flour of
the finest kind, a quarter of a pound of butter ;
then beat up t\vo eggs with two teaspoonfuls of
sifted sugar, and two tablespoonfuls of washed
brewer's or unwashed distiller's yeast ; pour this
liquid mixture into the centre of tlie flour, and
add a pint of warm milk as you mix it ; beat it up
with the hand until it comes off without sticking ;
set it to rise before the fire, having covered it witJa
I cloth ; after it has remained there an hour,
make it up into good-sized cakes an inch thick ;
set them in tin plates to rise before the fire during
ten minutes, then bake them in a slow oven. These
cakes may be split, toasted, and buttered after
they are cold.

Icing for Cake. — Beat the white of one egg
perfectly light — then add eight teaspoonfuls of
loaf sugar, pounded fine and sifted, very gradually,
beating it well ; after every spoonful, add one drop
of the essence of lemon, or rose-water, to flavor it.
If you wish to color it pitik, stir in a few grains
of cochineal powder or I'oso-piuk ; if you wish it
blue, add a little of what is called powder-blue.
Lay tlie frosting on tlic cake with a knife, soon af-
ter it is taken from the oven — smooth it over, and
let it remain in a cool place till hard. To frost a
common-sized loaf of cake, allow the white of one
egg and half of another.

Pleasant. — Going to "meet her by moonlight,"
and after waiting for two hours, to find yourself
still "alon?."

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

295

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

XT A limitcil number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted in the monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

R AT e;^.

For one square lo lin!:3, one insertion $1,00

For each subsequent insertion 50

O- The above rates will be charged for aH advertisements,
whether longer or shorter.

W<alnut Grove Nursery.

NEWTON CENTRE, MASS.

The subscriberg have on hand as uoual a large
stock of Fruit and other Trees, which they ara pre-
pared to sell at very reasonable rates. Among
others, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Grape
Vines, Uaspberries, Blackberries, &c. &c.
Also, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Uoses, Ilerbace
ous Roots, Creepers, &c. &c.

A splandid lot of Sugar Maple, 8 to 10 feet high, $30 per hun
dred.
6000 Apple stocks, $10 per thousand.
50O0 Buckthorn, 2 to 3 years, $15 to $20 per thousand.
Largo and fine Norway Spruce; Arbor Vitte for hedges and
standards.
Fine lot Red Dutch Currants, $6 per hundred.
Ssions will be furnished, if ordered earlj'.

Other things too numerous to mention. All orders will be prompt-
ly attended to, and the trees securely packed, when desired, for
which an extra charge will be made. Catalogues sent to post-paid
applicant.s. All packages delivered in Boston free of expense.
JAMES HYDE & SON.
Newton Centre, March 18, 1854. w*tf

Fruit and Ornamental Trees.

The proprietors offer for sale an extensive assort
ment of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the choice standard varieties, for the Garden oi
Orchard; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grapevines
&c. 1000 Buckthorn and Arbor Vita; for Hedges.
S. & G. HYDE.
Newton Corner, March IS, 1S54. w*tf

To Farmers.

THE subscriber is now prepared to receive orders for the Im-
proved Poudrette. It has been manufactured under the ad-
vice of some of the best agricultural chemists in the Country,
and is now commended to the public as the most certain and cheap
Fertilizer that can be obtained, acting favorably on all crops,
and on all soils. Si.x different articles are used in its composition,
which combined make it a perfect manure for every crop raised
in New England. It is finely adapted to corn, and tlis present
and prospective high prices of this indispensable crop, ought to
induce all farmers to increase the quantity planted, which they
can do profitably by using the Improved Poudrette.

Prof. Mapessays of it, "no farmer using it once, will be willing
ever to dispense with it." I raised corn with it the past season
at a cost of less than 40 cts. ^ bushel. Price in Providence $1,50
^ bbl., cash. It can be obtained of Messrs. PARKER & AVIIITE,
59 & 63 Blackstone Street, Boston.

T. B. IIALLIDAY,
13 West Water Street, Providence, R. I.
Feb. 25, 1854. 3mo*

Super-Phosphate of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate effect, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency o{ P/iosplintf, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its application. It is com
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am
monia, &?.

For sale, with full directions for use, in bags of 150 pounds
each. No charge for package. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

GEO. DEVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commereial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 18M. tr*

A Fine Jersey Heifer Calf,

Fu!l-bloo<ied, of [ihi Motley Stock,
dropped March 'Zo, for sale by

J.J. DIX\VELL,
66 State Street.
May C, 1854. tf

Rejected Applieatieiis, &e.

Pkople's Patknt Ohick, 1
No. 86 Nassau St., New York. 5

THE undersigned respectfully gives notice that he is at all
times prepared to pay special attention to the prosecution of
rejected applications for Patents; also to contested and interfer-
ing cases. In some instances he will undertake to prosecute re-
jected cases, receiving no compensation unless the Patent is
granted.

Patent business of eveiy description, whether before the
United States Commissioner, or the Circuit and United Slates
Supreme Courts, promptly attended to.

The undersigned being represented at the seat of government
liy William P. Elliot, Esq., formerly of tho American Patent
Office, possesses rare facilities for immediate reference to the
patented models, drawings, records, assignments, and other of-
ficial matters. Examinations for particular inventions at the
Patent Office, made on moderate terms.

Persons wishing for information or advice relative to Patents
or Inventions, may at all times consult the undi rsigne<l tvithout
charge, either personally at his office, or by letter. To those
living at a distance, he would state, that all the needful steps
necessary to secure a Patent, can be arranged by letter, just as
well as if the party were present, and the expense of a journey
1)0 thus saved. All consultations strictly confidential. The
whole expense of Patents, in the United States, is small.
ALFRED E. BEACH,
Solicitor of American and Foreign Patents,
No. 86 Nassau Street, New Y'ork.

Feb. 25, 1854. lw*June

One Dollar a Year! 50 Cents a Volume.
SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS !

The People's Journal,

AN ILLUSTR.\TED RECORD OF AGRICULTURE, ME-
CHANICS, SCIENCE, AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
EVERY Number contains 32 Large Pages of Letter-Press,
Buautifullv Printed on Fine Paper, and PROFUSELY IL-
LUSTRATED with ENGRAVINGS, forming at the end of each
year, TWO SPLENDID VOLUMES, comprising Four Hundred
Pages, and Illustrated with about FIVE HUNDRED ELEGANT
ENGRAVINGS,

The entire cost being only ONE DOLLAR.
The People's Journal was commenced in November, 1853, and
has already attained a large circulation. The November Num-
ber contained 40 engravings, the December Number 72 engrav-
ings, the January Number 47 engravings, and the February
issue has 61 engravings, making in all 220 illustrations, although
only four numbers have been putilished. These relate to Science,
Art, Mechanics, Agriculture, and Useful Knowledge, in accord-
ance with the general plan of the work. No publication of the kind
has ever been produced with such magnificence or at so cheap a
price. It is admired and taken by every one who sees it

Tek.ms. — To Subscribers — One Dollar a Year, or Fifty Cents for
Six Months. Subscriptions may be sent by mail in coin, post
office stamps, or bills, at the risk of the publisher. The name of
the Post Office, County and State, where the paper is desired to
be sent, should be plainlj' written. Address, postage paid,

ALFRED E. BE.ICH,
No. 86 Nassau Street, New York Cit}-,
Editor of the People's Joiurnal.

A LIBERAL DISCOUST TO POST MASTERS AND AGENTS.

Single copies 12V cents. Specimens sent on receipt of four
postage stamps.

Feb. 4, 1854. 4w4*

EDWARD HARRISON-S

PATENT GRIST MILL

Received the highest premium at the World's
Fair; and more than two hundred and fifty of
them have been sold within two years. The
stones are French Burr ; the frames and hoppers,
cast iron; and the spindles, cast steel. They
will work both for flouring and on all kinds of
grain, and will k'.'cp in repair longer than any
other mill. Having just completed my new
buildings, for manufacturing and running them, I am now i>re-
pured to supply all orders for all the sizes, from twenty inches to
four fee*, diameter, including a sui)erior farm and plantation mill,
which will grind corn in the best manner, by horse power, or
even by hand. Public attention is invited to this small mill in
particular. Descriptive circulars, with cuts, sent to post-paid
applications. EDWARD HARRISON,

Sole manufacturer, end jirojiricter nf the Patent.

New Haven, Ct.
April 29, 1854. 6m^

Bound Volumes.

BACK VOLUMES of the NEW ENGLAND FARMER, cle
gantly bound in Muslin, Gilt and Embossed, arc now for sale
at this office.

296

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

June

cou^rn.^rs op this number.

CaleiiJ;ir for June Vagc2l0

Ilybridi/.ins — Emigrant AM Company 250

^oUto— Wheat 2&0

Birds of Now Knaland, No. 10 251

Poultry and E;;gs — Hen Manure

Life of Kicliard Bagg, Jr 254

The Cicle of the Seasons 255

Barley and Indian Corn

Plows ami I'lowin? 25S

Farmers' Girls — Jlilch Cows 253

State Board of Ajrriculture 260

Farming in Niw England — No. 5 261

Slaking Maple Sugar 262

New I'u'olications — "Go Forth into the Country" 263

Monthly Farmer for April— A Good Yield of Butter 261

Green Corn for Cows — Extracts and Replies 265

Peruvian Guano ; 266

Preparing Sied Corn — Extravagant Prices for Stock 26

Do Soils Lose their Manures by Leaching .' 267

Seeding L'u.'l to Grass — Experiments, Stock, Corn, &c 268

Cooked and Uncooked Food 269

Setting out Cabbage, Tomato, and other Plants 269

Lusus Naturtc — Specific Fertilizers 270

The Flowers and the Bird?— The Thriftless Farmer 271

The Season — Statement of John II. Robinson 274

Save the Manure — Breaking Steers — Planting Small Potatoes. .275

The two .Annie? — Musket and Spades 276

Agriculture in Nova Scotia — Farmers 276

Classification of Soils 277

Transactions of the Middlesex Co. Agricultural Society 277

A Fox'i Revenge— Black Warts— 'Whitewash 278

Shall I engage in Farming 278

Why do Cattle Eat the Horse Manure i" 278

Guano — I'rivate Correspondence 279

Northern Farming 2S0

Irrigation of Gardens 281

What a Garden Should be 282

Cultivation of the Pear Tree 283

The Tomato — Importance of Roots 284

Speak Soothing Words and Kind 2S5

iligh Price of Beef 285

Stick to the Farm 286

Profits of Fanninif 287

Mulching Gooseberries 2:

The CuUure of Onions — Fertilizers 2S9

IIow to Plant Cucumbers, Melons and Squashes 2S9

Green Crops for Farm Use in Summer. 290

P^xtracts and Replies 291

Rancid Butter— Corn and the Wire-Worm 292

Monthly Farmer for May 293

Culture of the Sweet Potato — Laying out Surfaces 293

English Receipts — Ladies Department 294

ILLUSTRATION'S.

A Plant Protector 254

Grain Drill 257

Homestead of the Thriftless Farmer 272

llomeste.ad of the Thrifty Farmer ." 273

Expaudiiig and Revtrsable Tooth Cultivator 288

Craiifeerry Plants.

BELL, or Egg shaped Variety — commonly raised in New Eng-
land, and no doubt is the best variety for cultivation — they
are hardy and prolilic — somelimes produce over 250 bushels ^
acre, aft».T 2 years, and needs but little cultivation. Circulars
relating to culture and price will be forwarded to api>licants.

F. TROWBRIDGE,
New Haven, Conn
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Fertilizers.

EEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Super-Phosphate of Limi-. — "DeBurg's No. 1."
Poudri tte, of the best quality.
Ground Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes.
Ground Bone, Bone Dust and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds of reliable quality at the lowest market price.
GEO. DAVENPORT,
5 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

8iiirt)!k Swine.

The subscriber offers for sale, on reason
able terms, several full blood SufVolk Sows,
of dillerent ages, two Boars, .and a dozen
Pigs. Some of these animals are of the
— _,,^-._^ best quality for .symmetry ami beauty, and
f**^ - '^ are the descendants of Swine which were
imported from Kagland last spring.

HENRY M. CLARKE,
Ijnden Pl.-.ce, Walthani
March 18, ISol' tf

NEW ENGLAND EAllMEE

Is published on the first of every month, by John Uaynoi.d and
Joel Noikse, at Quincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.
SIMON BROAVN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, } Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, > Editors.

O" Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
aZT All subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Ilorticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravingsl
It may l)e elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication.

(nr Also published at the same office every Salurdny, on a
large handsome folio sliL-et, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful renort of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Sliscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising tiiore useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Ncwtpaptr jrublished
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

{SZr Terms §2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural departmjjpt of the weekly.

[HT Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub
scribers on the above named terms, for either publicaticn, 'shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

[J3° All orders and letters should be addressed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS &- NOUSSE,

Qi'iNCY Hai.i,, South Markkt Sti:i;et, Lo.stox.
l^y Postage. — The postage on the New^ England Farmer,
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.

AGRICULTURAL

WAiiEHOisE \m mm 8toiie,

QUINCY UALL, OVER THE MARKET, BOSTON.

THE Proprietors having recently enlarged their Warehouses,
and increased their works at Worcester, would respectfully
invite the attention of Planters and Dealers in AGRICULTURAL
& HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, GARDEN and FIELD
SEEDS, &c., to their stock, comprising the largest and best as-
sortment to be found in the United States, which are ofiered at
low prices.

Of PLOUGHS — we have the greatest variety of kinds and
sizes.

Improved Sod Ploughs, for flat furrows — improved Scotch
Ploughs for lapped furrows — improved Stubble Ploughs, which
are especially adapted to deep tillage, or varying from 6 to 12
inches in depth.

Self-sharpc-ning, Hill Side, Sub-soil, Double Mould, Com, Cot
ton and Rice I'lnughs.

Cylinder Hay Cutters, Smith's Patent Lever Gate, and others
Patent Corn Shellers, with and without Separators. Seed So\yers,
of various sizes and prices. Batchelder's patent Corn Planter,
improved. Fanning Mills of various sizes, Horse Powers, Thresh
ing Machines, Thermometer Churn, Dash Churn, Cora Planters,
together with almost every article wanted on the Plantation,
Farm or Garden.

Illustrated Catalogues sent gratis on application, post-paid.
RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

Boston and Worcester, Mass., Jan. 1, 1853. tf.

PARKER, WHITE & GANNETT'S
Agricultural Warehouse and Seedstore.

The subscribers have recently enlarged
their Warehouse by the additicn of tw^o
stores, running east to the corner of North
Street, so that they are now able to show
their friends and customers a more complete stock in their line of
manufacture and trade, than ever before, viz. : Machines and
hnphinents. — Imprnved Greensward, Stubble, Michigan, Sub-
soil and Double Mould Board Plou'S, Seed Sowers, Cornplanters,
Cultivators, Harrows, Ox Yokes, Wheelbarrows, &c.

Tuttle's, Gr.aves & Ilatche's, Markhara's, Jackson Mason's,
Clark's and Waterbury Hoes.

Ames', White's,A'aungban & Cobb's, and other Cast Steel Shov-
els and Spades. Tools of all sorts. Seeds, Trees, Fertilizers, at
U'hok'Sale and Retail.

PARKER, WIUTE & GANNETT,
47, 53 & 63 Blackstone Street, Boston.
April 15, ISot. 6w

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI .

BOSTON, JULY, 1854.

NO. 7.

aVYNOLDS & SOURUE, Proprietobs.
Office.... QuiNCY Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK, 1 AssociATK
HENRY F. FRENCH < E^ditors.'

CALENDAR FOR JULY.

"Tlien cam? Jri.Y, boiling like to fire,
That all his garments he had cast away ;

Upon a lyon raging yet with ire
He boldly rode, and made him to obey :

Behind his backe a sithe, and by his side,
Under his belt, he bore a sickle circling wide."

N July, the great Hay Month,
the principal portion of this im-
portant crop is gathered. There
is something in the collecting of
this delightful harvest which in-
spires animation and pleasant
emotions in all. The mowers,
the spreaders and the rakers, in their white shirts,
make the landscape a most lively scene, while
the sweet odors of the drying blossoms come to
the senses upon every breath.

How the farm has filled up — what a fulness
there is all about the homestead. The fences are
half hidden in the spires of the ripening red-top,
the heads of the herds-grass, and sweet blossoms of
the red clover. How your neigh])or's house is
hidden from view by the thick foliage of the old
apple trees, the stately ash and the droopinn- elm.
Honeysuckles of varied hues and odors twine
around tlie pillars of the piazza, or climb kindly
over the lattice of tlic old porch to shut out tlie
noontide sun. "The woods and groves have dark-
ened into one impervious mass of sober uniform
green, and having for awhile ceased to exorcise
the more active functions of the spring, are rest-
ing from their labors, in that state of 'wise pas-
si veness' which we, in virtue of our infinitely great-
er wisdom, know so little liow to enjoy."

How appropriately is every thing ordered ! The
heat is now greater than in any other mouth, just
at the moment when it is most wanted to save one
of our most important crops. But fervid as are
the days, nature is still lavisliing her favors, for
besides the flowers of la.st month, there are now
the candy tuft, the catcli-fly, columbines, egg-

plants, French marygold, marvel of Peru, and
rose? and lilies. So the woods and grove.s pro-
duce new flowers, and the roadsides ure orna-
mented with the blue-bell and other g;iy blossoms
to gladden the traveller's eye.

Before the month closes, the rye will be yellow
and ready for the sickle. The "oats will whiten
apace, and quiver, each individual grain on its
light stem, as they hang like rain-drops in the
air." The wheat and barley assume a dull green
while tlieir swelling ears bow before every breeze
that blows over them. There is a beautiful
adaptation of things to each other, and of partic-
ular things to the whole.

"The poetry of the earth is never dead ;
When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,
And hide in cooling trees, a voice will ran
From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;
That is the grasshopper's."

So all the lower orders of creation live their lit-
tle life in joy, happy in the adaptation of their
habits and wants to the condition of things about
them. Some pour forth their melodies before
the sun streaks the east in the early morning ;
some chirp and sing in the hot and fervid noon,
and otiiers utter their plaintive notes in the cool
and sombre evening. The farm is full of profita-
ble teachings to every reflecting mind.

Though late in starting, vegetation has had a
rapid growth, and now the crops generally look
well. Without much more rain, the grass crop
will be, at least an average one, and so will the
small grains, tliough rye, perhaps, may not be as
heavy as for two or three years past.

Corn looks well — it has had a good color from
the start. But guano and the crows have been
unusually destructive upon it ; much now will de-
pend upon the heat of the season, and upon

Hoeing. — Many persons continue to throw up
hills about the corn, and even upon quite dry soils.
This mode of cultivation may answer on low lands,
but we cannot believe it a good one, on such land

298

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JCLT

as is generally used for the crop. Is it known
whether the Indians hilled their corn before the
English cultivated it among them 1 A proper hoe
ing of the corn must not be neglected, during the
early part of haying. Keep the ground clear of
weeds, and the surface in such fine tilth as to re
ceive t!ie greatest benefit from the sun, rain and
dews.

Haying. — Do not delay this work too long. By
selecting a field here and there, or even a part of
a field, that has come into fit condition to be cut,
you Avill gain in the excellence of the fodder, far
more than the loss will be of cutting in small par-
cels. Do not make the hay too much. In a
bright, hot, July day, herds grass or red top, cut
early in the morning, spread evenly and frequent-
ly stirred, can be made sufficiently in one day, to
keep sweet and perfectly well through the winter.
The juices are fairly burnt out of a great deal of
hay, and it is carried to the barn so wiry and hard
that the cattle eat the leaves and refuse the rest.
A little salt may be added to hay with advan-
tage.

Harvesting Grain. — The cutting of wheat,
barley, rye, and oats, is often dela^-ed too long,
and the loss arising from it is in several ways.
By early cutting,

1. It will not fall out and be lost upon the
ground.

2. The grain cut early will make more bread,
and the color will be more delicate.

3. You prevent an unnecessary exhaustion
of the soil — for after the stem reaches a certain
state, if nutriment is gathered by it, it is not con
veyed to the grain. And,

4. The straw will be altogether better, whether
it is to be usod for fodder or domestic purposes.
Whenever the straw becomes dry its action upon
the grain has probably ceased. But is it not too
long to wait until the whole stem is dry ? The
stem is smallest directly under the head, and
when that part is dead the crop may be harvest-
ed, and will produce the greatest weight of grain.

Turnips.— Where the peas, potatoes and other
early crops have been taken off, put in rata bagas,
and later in the month the flat turnip.

Cabcages. — Cabbages for late crops may be
set.

Melons, squashes, cucumbers, and all the gar-
den plants, should be kept clean and carefully
tended every way. It will not l)e too late to put
in melons and cucumbers for pickles early in this
month. Celery may be planted out in trenches.

Seeds. — Collect all seeds as fast as they come to
maturity.

_ Lime. — To receive the greatest benefit from lime,

it must be kept as near the surface as jiossible.

rhe reason is this : its weight and minuteness give .

it a tendency to sink ; and after a few years of cul-| skimming the pans.

tivation, a large portion of it will be found to
have gone beyond the depth of its most efficient
action. Hence it is advisable to* spread it on the
ground after plowing ;«then harrow it well in, and
allow it to remain in grass as long as good crops
can be had. When the lime is settled down be-
low the reach of the common plow, the subsoil
plow will prolong its effect, by enabling the at-
mosphere and the roots of plants to penetrate the
subsoil likewise.

THE CHILD AND THE FLOWER.

"0, tell nie, mother," saU a fair young child,

As he gazed with his earnest eyes,
"Who made this flower ? What painted it so ?
What gave to it that deep rich glow.

Like the blue of the beautiful skies '"

"He who made that flower, my darling boy,

Who maketh the thunders roll ;
lie made the earth, the sky, the sea,
The flower, the fruit, the loaf, the tree,

And gave to thee thy soul.

"Is His home, dear mother, that southern land,

Where the perfumed breezes play —
%Vhere the gorgeous birds, with golden wing,
Slake bright the never changing spring

In bowers that are ever gay ?"

"His home, my child, is beyond the skies,

A paradise of flowers,
Where little children — angels there —
Paint those flowers so bright and fair,

And bring them to this land of ours."

"0, how I wish that home were mine,

And you were with me too ;
I would paint a wreath so strangely fair
And twine it, mother, for you to wear —

A crown of heaven's own hue !"

BUTTER.

Not one pound in five of the butter sold in the
market is fit for human food. Buttermakers should
remember these few short rules :

The newer and sweeter the cream, the sweeter
and higher flavored will be the butter.

The air must be fresh and pure in the room or
cellar where the milk is set.

The cream should not remain on the milk over
thirty-six hours.

Keep the cream in tin pails, or stone pots, into
which put a spoonful of salt at the beginning,
then stir the cream lightly each morning and eve-
ning : this will prevent it from moulding or sour-
ing.

Chum as often as once a week, and as muCh
oftener as circumstances will permit.

Upon churning, add the cream upon all the
milk in the dairy.

Use nearly an ounce of salt to a pound of but-
ter.

Work the butter over twice, to free it from the
buttermilk and brine, before lumping and pack-
ing.

Be sure that it is entirely free from every par-
ticle of buttermilk, or coagulated milk, and it
will keep sweet as long as desired.

In Scotland, a syphon is sometimes used to
separate the milk from the cream, instead of

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

299

HOEING.

the ground level, you ■will be saved the mortifica-

As the season for plantmg and hoeing is at tio^i «[ beholding them wilt and wither in time of

hand, a few words upon thos3 subjects may not be
deemed out of place.

So far as the hoeing of corn is concerned, more
correct ideas and practices have been gradually
adopted within the past ten years, and we seldom
now see in a cornfield, any other than a very low
flat hill, if any hill at all ; but witl^. almost all
other hoed crops, such as beans, hops and especial
ly potatoes, so far as my observation extends', the
same high conical hills are still made around
them as were made tliirty or forty years ago. —
Now 1 readily admit that there may be lociitiuns
when such shaped hills may be beneficial and use-
ful, such for instance as in low, clayey soils liable
to overflow in heavy showers (though such arc
seldom planted,) but the trouble lies in not mak-
ing these exceptions, and we therefore sec the
farmers who still adhere to the old practice of
high hilling, do so to all their diS'erent hoed
crops and on all kinds of soils. This I believe to
be a great mistake, and those who have discontin-
ued the practice with their corn, believe they de-
rive great advantages from the change, especially
in dry seasons, obtaining much larger crops and
leaving the fields in much bettor condition for
plowing the coming spring, saving the labor of
splitting the hills, as it is termed.

Seeing now the advantage to corn, of not hill-
ing, why should not the intelligent farmers push
their investigations a step farther and inquire if
the siime practice cannot be extended to the pota-
to. But I anticipate in the outset that an objec-
tion may be raised in the case of the potatoes,
and that it may be urged that it is positively nec-
essary that it should bo earthed up in order that
room be furnished for the tubers to form ; but
what evidence have we of this? So when the
subject of not hilling corn was first agitated, it
was urged that it was necessary in order that new
sets of roots might be formed to brace up the
plant when it attained its full height, and prevent
its blowing over, but upon trial and investiga-
tion it was discovered tliat these roots were mere
ly the result of hilling up, and farther, that corn
not thus hilled up and thus supported by new
roots, stood equally as well the assaults of wind
and storm, and the practice of high hilling was
discarded as emini ntly injurious by shedding oflT
the rains from the roots and exposing a much
larger surface to the sun's rays for evapoi'ation
during the heats of summer.

Now might it not prove upon investigation that
the potato might do equally as well, and even bet-
ter, without any hilling at all ? In tlie discussions
upon the subject of hilling corn, it was with
much* pertinency asked, if nature had not pro-
vided a way to support a stalk of corn against
an attack of wind, without recourse to art, and
may it not be asked with as much pertinacity, if
nature has not provided a way to pi-oduce the tu-
ber of the potato plant without recourse to an
artificial hill or mound around the plant ? But
I am aware tliatit maybe still furtlier urged, that
in earthing up potatoes you give them more room
and a greater chance for expansion , and thus in-
crease tlieir size ; but to this I would say, just
plow your ground deep and well, pulverize your
soil, and your pot;ito will iind ample room to ex-
pand between the hills and rows, and by keeping

drought. But again it may be urged that as up-
on the examination of the potato root and stalk,
it is found thei-e are numerous offshoots of roots
above the original, evidently produced by hilling
up, tlicrefore the amount of roots are increased
and consequently the tubers. To this I would
answer, that it is by no means certain that the
original or lower roots would not have produced
as many tubers, and larger ones, if left to the evi-
dent course of nature. What would be the most
natural inference to draw from the fact, that af-
ter the potato plant is fairly uj) and its roots well
developed, it is earthed up and its first roots laid
below the benign influence of light and air ?
Would it not be, that it would tax the energies of
the plant, to again produce and throw out a new
series of roots, and thus lessen the supply of nour-
ishment to the original ones? It certainly so
seems to me, and it is perfectly evident to my mind
that the true course to pursue in raising potatoes
is, to spread the manure upon the surface and
turn it well under with the plow, and then fur-
row for the crop from three to four inches deep ;
drop the seed in the bottom of the furrow with a
little ashes and plaster ; cover two incl.es ; run
the cultivator between the rows in hoeing, and
finish the cultivation with leaving the ground per-
fectly level. , This course in all ordinary seasons
would insure the crop against drought, and except
in very wet ground (which by the way should
never be planted with the potato during the prev-
alence of the rot,) would, I believe, insure a great-
er crop than with the present practice of hilling.

The practice of making high hills I believe is
still kept up in the cultivation of hops, and to this
may we not attribute the short crops that occur
occasionally, as they are more generally raised on
light loam or sandy soils ? I think the subject
should attract attention, and experiments should
be instituted to test the weather.

Mi/ford, May 20, 1854. H. A. Daniels.
Farmer and Visitor.

For the yew England Farmer.

CHEAP EXPERIMENT IN DECOMPOS-
ING BONES.

In the Monthly Farmer for April, page ISG,
there appeared an article from the pen of James
RicuAKDsoN', Jr., under the above caption. After
speaking of the former waste of bones and of their
being at last brought into use as an article of ma-
nure, and the difficulty attending their decompo-
sition, by being ground or dissolved in sulphuric
acid, he adds, "without alluding to other experi-
ments, in regard to dissolving bones in strong lye,
&c. — that have been partially successful, I pur-
pose here, in as few words as possible, to describe
an experiment made on a small scale, with bones
and horse manure, that may lead the reader to
still further experiments, and at length end in
some practical result." He then goes on to de-
scribe the experiment, informing us that it was
made by a soap manufacturer.

As to the experiment of decomposing or re-
ducing bones to a powder by boiling in "strong
lye," I know that it will do the job in a few hours,
for I have done it. Tlio time occupied was about
four hours, stirring occasionally. I am now try-

300

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

ing an experiment of decomposing them in lye
"without l)oiling, and you shall know the result.

It soeins that Mr. Willis, the conductor of
the experiment alluded to, is a "soap manufac-
turer," so tliat without doubt the bones he used
had been boiled in "strong lye" sufficiuntly to de-
prive them of all their animal matter, thereby
rendering them so brittle that they might have
been pounded up without much difficulty. Hence
"strong lye" had much to do with their decom-
position. Gypsum should be mixed with bones
and lye, to retain the ammonia, if the bones are
fresh. S. Tenney.

HABITS OF INSECTS.

Small as the subject may appear to persons
whose minds have not been turned in that direc-
tion, the study of insect life and of the habits and
character of the numerous varieties and families
of insects which infest our fruit trees, farms, and
gardens, is intensely interesting, and when once
entered upon, leads to a kind of knowledge which
may be turned to practical account in the man-
agement of the ftirm or garden.

The insects injurious to vegetation are some of
them so destructive in their habits as to be a great
pest to the farmer. To guard against their rav-
ages and prevent the serious injury if not the total
destruction of our crops, requires in some instances
a full knowledge of the habits and of the laws of
insect life, a knowledge which very few fai'mers

A few men in this country have directed their
attention to these subjects, and have given to the
world the benefit of their researches. Prominent
among these is Dr. Harris, of ]\Iassachusetts, whose
book is regarded as a standard work upon insects,
a work from which a vast amount of practical in-
formation may be gained.

To show the intimate knowledge which may be
acquired of the habits of the insects which infest
our orchards and gardens, we copy fi-om Dr. Har-
I'is's work the following account of the Aphis or
plant lice, and of the intimacy subsisting between
them and the ant. — New York Farmer.

"The genus to which plant lice belong is called
aphis, from a Greek word which signifies' to
exhaust. The following are the principal char-
acteristics by which they may be distinguished
from other insects. Their bodies are short, oval,
and soft, and are furnished at the hinder extremi-
ty with two little tubes, knobs, or pores, from
which exude almost constantly minute droits of a
fluid as sweet as honey ; their heads are small,
their beaks are very long and tubular, their eyes
are gobnlar, but they have not eyelets, their an-
tenna) arc long and usually taper toward the ex-
tremity, and their legs are also very long and
slender, and there arc only two joints to their feet.
Their ujyper are nearly twice as large as the lower
wings, are longer than tlie body, arc gradually
widened toward the extremity, and are nearly
trianguLir ; they are almost vertical when at rest,
and cover the body above like a very sharp-ridged
roof.

******

"Plant lice seem to love society, and often herd
together in dense masses, each one remaining
fixed to tlie plant by means of its long tubular
beak; and they rarely change their places till

they have exhausted the part first attacked. The
attitudes and manners of these little creatures arc
exceedingly amusing. When disturbed, like res-
tive horses, they begin to kick and sprawl in a
most ludici'ous manner. They may be seen, at
times, suspended by their beaks alone, and throw-
ing up their legs as if in a high frolic, but too
much engaged in sucking, to witlidraw their
beaks. As they take in great quantities of sap,
tlicy would soon become gorged if they did not
get rid of the superabundant fluid tln-ough the
two little tubes or pores at the extremity of their
bodies. When one of them gets running over full,
it seems to communicate its uneasy sensations, by
a kind of animal magnetism to the whole flock,
upon which they all, with one accord, jerk up-
ward their bodies, and eject a shower of the hon-
eyed fluid. The leaves and bark of plants mucli
infested by these insects are often completely
sprinkled over with drops of this sticky fluid,
which, on drying, becomes dark-colored, and
greatly disfigure the plant. This appearance has
been denominated honey-dew ; but there is anoth-
er somewhat similar production observable on
plants, after very dry weather, which has received
the same name and consists of an extravasation or
oozing of the sap from the leaves. We are oftun
apprised of the presence of plant lice on plants
growing in the open air, by the ants ascending
and descending the stem. By observing tlie mo-
tions of the latter, we soon ascertain that the
sweet fluid discharged by the lice is the o)>ject of
these visits. The stems swarm with slim and hun-
gry ants running upward, and others lazily de-
scending with their bellies filled almost to burst-
ing. When arrived in the immediate vicinity of
the plant lice, they greedily wipe up the sweet
fluid which has distilled from them, and when
this fails, they station themselves among the lice
and catch the drops as they fall. The lico do not
scom the least annoyed by the ants, but live on
the best possible terms with them; and, on the
other hand, the ants, though unsparing of other
insects weaker than themselves, upon which they
frequently prey, treat the plant liee witli the ut-
most gentleness, caressing them with tlicir anten-
na), and apparently inviting them to give ovit the
fluid by patting their sides. Nor are the lice in-
attentive to these sdlicitations, when in a state to
gratify the ants, for whosft sake they not only
seem to shorten the periods of the dis^'iargc, but
actually yield the fluid when thus pressed. A
single louse has been known to give, it drop by
drop successively to a number of ants tliat were
waiting anxiously to receive it. When the plant
lice cast their skins, the ants instantly remove the
latter, nor will they allow any dirt or rublnsh to
remain on or about them. They even 2irote(:t them
from tlieir enemies, and run about them in the
hot sunshine to drive away the little icinieumon
flies that are forever hovering near to deposit their
eggs in their bodies."

How TUE World was Made. — If you want
to know how the world was made, look into a
basin of dirty water — your wash bowl for example.
See the thin particles of matter gradually come
together by mutual attraction, and then hang
suspended in the watery element, or sink to the
bottom. Each particle is instinct with a sort of
life or force, which impels it to seek out some

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

301

other substance, and by continual accretion thus
build up a little world of matter. This as soon
as the aqueous fluid disajipear? becomes dry land or
earth, and afterwards undergoes various igneous
changes. How this matter originated is another
thing a long way antecedent to its formation into
existing shapes. Many of the ancients held it to
be eternal ; but the first verse of Genesis settles
that matter, and informs us that it was God who
created it. This probably is tlie sum of all we
shall ever know upon the subject. — Maine Farmer.

HAY AND HAY-MAKING.

Dr. Holmes, of the Maine Farmer, very truly
remarks in relation to this subject, that

"The grass crop is one of the most important,
if not Me most important of all to the farmer, and
the making or curing the grass is an operation
upon wliich turns, after all, much of the value of
the crop. A short growth, if Avell prepared, is
more valuable than an abundant one spoiled by
an improper management in making."

The hay crop may well bo considered as one of
great importance to the agriculturist, being one
of the principal products of the farm, and the one
on which he relies for the sustenance of his live
stock during winter, and a considerable portion
of the fall and spring.

Yet while all concur in regarding this crop as
of prime consequence, there are but very few,
comparatively speaking, who adopt the same
modes of cutting and preserving it. We know,
indeed, of no subject embraced in the routine of
agricultural engrossments, on which there is ex-
tant a greater discrejianey of opinion and prac-
tice. It is important that some general system
should be adopted as well in the management of
this crop as in that of grain, at least so far as re-
gards the time and manner of cutting and secur-
ing the product. A late writer, in some judicious
reflections upon the importance of tliis crop, and
the modes of curing it says : — "That mode which
will secure as much of the natural juices as possi-
ble, and in the cheapest practicable manner, is
tlie one I have endeavored to attain. Counting
nothing for board and team, wo do not pay ou.t
,<;1,00 per acre for cutting and securing our hay,
at an average of one and a half tons per acre. In
this section of the country the lands are princi-
pally of clay, and are quite free from stones. AVe
lose ten times more out of hay by cutting too
late than too early. Many let their clover and
lierds-grass stand till the seeds are ripe, and of
consequence the stems become hard and Aviry ; a
good share of the leaves have changed to a brown-
ish state, and the natural sap has left the plant."

In cutting most, perhaps all kinds of grass, we
think that the proper period is that, when the
whole system having attained its maximum devel-
opment, the flowers have unfolded, and when
there is a largo flow of rich and saccharine juice
in the stalks and leaves. Some species of grass, it

is true, increase somewhat in bulk after infloree-
ccnce, but with the majority of plants used for
hay, the development of the flower indicates, with
sufficient accuracy, the attainment of their maxi-
mum excellence, and the time when they may
perhaps be most economically cut. The article
above quoted says : —

"To get at the most proper time for cutting, let
us inquire what rule the gatherer of herbs adopts
in filling his medicine chest, or the distiller his
plants. In collecting herbs and plants, they cut
them as soon as they come into flower. At this
period they contain all their useful qualities, and
by cutting at this period they secure the greatest
quantity of oil ; but herbs that are cut at this pe-
riod and dried in the sun, lose much more of their
invigorating and essential qualities than they do
if dried in the shade. Plants of all sorts, if tjiey
are cut in full vigor, and afterward carefully dried ,
without any waste of their natural juices, either
by bleaching with rain or evaporating in the sun,
contain a quantity of nourishing matter nearly
double what they do when allowed to attain their
full growth and make some progress toward de-
cay. When mowing is delayed, as it very frequent-
ly is, till an advanced period of the season, when
plants have not only reached their ultimate
growth, but begin to decay, this description of
herbage must become tasteless, dry, tough, and
less nourishing. Also over care in drying in the
hot sun, by bleaching the juices of tlie early
grasses, must produce a similar kind of fodder."

In curing clover hay, tlie principal value of
which consists in the heads and fuli.igo, we have
observed, that when cut early and crod in "gra.s3
cock," as it is called, the hay p>>:es33d a much
more brilliant and l^eautiful appearance than the
same quality of grass, cut at the same time, and
cured in the open air, or under a free exposure of-
ten for a protracted period to the sun. By cut-
ting this grass when the crop is in full blossom ,
allowing it to remain in the swath the first day
after mowing, till nearly night, and then turning
it carefully with a fork so as to expose a fresh and
unwilted surface to the night dews, and cocking it
in the afternoon of the second day, in small com-
pact cocks, of about eighty pounds unmade hay,
to the cock, it Avill make evenly and tlioroughly,
and may be pitched and oven trodden down in
mow without being dcj^rivod of its heads or finer
leaves. The color will be a most beautiful green,
and the flowers will be almost as fresh in color
as when cut. After cocking, let the weather bo
fair or foul, no opening or tui-ning, (unless in case
of a protracted storm) of the "grass cocks"
should be allowed. It is unnecessary, as tlie hay
will "ciW-e" completely through, and the outside,
wlien saturated with water, will soon dry off,
and eflect no Imrm whatever to the liay. You
will never see mouldy hay, if this method is adop-
ted, in "making" or curing it. In forming grass
cocks, tlie fork is preferable to the rake, which is
of service only in gathering up the scatterings^
and regulating the size and shape of the cocks.

302

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

For the New Enf^land Farmer.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR JUNE.

It is so difficult for me to find time even to jot
down a few thoughts suggested by reading the
Farmer, that I often wonder liow others have
leisure to write as much as they do. But the fact
is, I suppose, that "Many hands make light
work." Here in the number for the busy montli
of June, is a larger list of original communications
than is usual for the more leisure seasons ; and,
as will be seen, a very wide variety of subjects are
discussed, in a brief, pithy, farmer-like style.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIOXS — Ollly.

n. p., (N. Y.) Small Potatoes for Seed— Wheat.

S P. F , (Ms.) History of Birds of New England.

^. Tenny, (Me.) Hen Manure.

N . P. Morrison, (Ms.) Best Apples to Raise.

J. N. Bagce, (Ms.) Biograpliv of a Gardener.

E. J., (N.'^II.) Seeding with Barley.

S. P., (Ms.) Plows and Plowing.

John M. Tyler, (N. H.) Milch Cows.

D. C, (Ms.) Farming in New Kngland.

Ira Goodhue, (Vt.) Making Maple Sugar.

A Reader, (Ms.) Monthly Farmer for April.

A. Brown, (Ms.) Great Yield of Butter.

G. F. N., (Vt.) Green Corn for Cows. *

(ieo. B. Greene, (Vt.) Yellow Locust Trees.

E. -D. B., (R. I.) Good Beef.

, (Ms.) K.xtravagant Prices for Stock.

T. A. S., (.Ms.) Seeding Land for Grass.

*, (Ms.) . . .Experiments.

M., (.Ms.) Cooked and Uncooked Food.

R. B. H., (.Md.) Great oxen,cows, sheep, pigs and

.1. S., (Ms.) Flowers and Birds. [Women.

H. B., (N. H.) The Season—Frozen Trees.

II. Stratton, Jr., (Ct.) Manures.

F. .A.., (Ms.) Breaking Steers.

Essex, (Ms.) Middlese.x Agricultural Society.

B., (Ms.) Shall I engage in Farming >

1). A., (Ms.) Why do cattle eat Horse Manure.'

Henry F. French, (N. II.) A Lesson on Guano.

S. & T. S. Fletcher, (Vt.) Account of their Farm.

R. M. Copeland, (Ms.) Flower Garden.

W. Pierce, (Ca;i.) High Price of Beef.

Agrieola, (Ms.) Profits of Farming.

Fertilizers.

S. Tenny, (Me.) The Season.

Mrs. S. Pierce, (Vt.) Mixing Butter.

A Reader, (Ms.) Monthly Farmer for May.

Seven or eight others Make inquiries and suggestions.

Which, by the way, with the replies of the Ed-
itor, are usually among the most instructive por-
tion of the whole paper.

Here then we have almost as many different
writers as there are pages in the Farmer, without
taking into the account the usual variety of Edi-
torial and Selected articles. To me, this is a most
encouraging feature of the times, as well as of the
Farmer. To those who believe that the facts
which are to constitute an American System of
Scientific Agriculture, are to come up from the
broad fields of Practice, the labors of these cor-
respondents, who are experimenting, observing,
inquiring, in all parts of our diversified country,
have a value and imjDortance much greater than
they can have with those who believe that these
facts are to come doxun from Colleges, State Farms,
or Chemical Laboratories. These working, think-
ing, men, — stationed on our hills and in our val-
leys, on the sandy plain and on the cloddy clay,
on the worn-out soils of the East and on the new
eoils of the West ; operating in almost every cli-
mate, from a tropical to a polar one, and engaged
on j^roductions as diversified as their circumstances
are various, — even if they are not actually build-
ing up a "Science," certainly are doing much
to make agricultural publications valuable, by
their interchange of experience, practice and re
suits, however simple each one's record may ap
pear to himself. Send on your communications

then, — give us your failures as well a.s your tri-
umplis ; your disappointments as well as suc-
cesses— there is room for them all in the columns
of the Farmer. Here you speak, first, to a multi-
tude of "AYeekly" readers of a newsjiaper, and
tlien neatly done up in book-form, "lettered and
gilded," your productions appear on the shelves of
agricultural libraries, throughout the country, to
histruct and amuse ge'nei-ations yet unborn, as
well as the men of your own time.

The foregoing list of original contributors, how-
ever, comprise only about one-iialf of the whole
number of articles which make up this number
of the Monthly Farmer. Among the more strik-
ing of which, are the pictures of farm^er Slack and
farmer Thrift; pictures too true for mere fun,
for who has not seen the original of Farmer Slack 1
But it is not my intention to give even an index of
the contents of this number.

I have a word or two for "B.," who asks, ap-
parently in good faith, ^^ Shall I engage in Farm-
ing V^ This depends, my good sir, on yourself.
If you wish for our advice, please stand- out, so
that we may have a look at you. Are your shoul-
ders broad and your back strong, or do you pride
yourself on small gloves and narrow boots? Can
you stand heat like a salamander and cold like a
seal, or must you carry an umbrella in dog-days
and a foot-stove in Winter? Are your sinews
hardened by out-door labor, or enervated by in-
door confinement ■? Did you earn your "eight
hundred dollars" by hard knocks, or did it "fall"
to you ■? Can you work fifteen hours a day in
hay-time, or are you President of a ten-hour con-
vention'? Arc you willing to eat and use the poor-
est, so as to sell the best, or must you be served
first in all good things? Have you learned the
trade of farming, or do you think it comes by na-
ture and cattle-show addresses ? And, lastly, how
is it with 3'our "woman ?" AVill she, like the one
described on page 259 of this month's Farmer,,
be

'•Up in the early morning ; just at the peep of day,
Straining the milk in the dairy, turning the cows away.
Feeding the geese and turkeys, making the pumpkin pies,
Jogging the little one's cradlC; driving away the flies .-"'

or would a loose cow frighten her out of her wits,
and a pail of water be too much for her strength ?
Does she glory rather in spending five dollars ,than in
saving five cents ? Answer these question satisfac-
torily to yourself, before you take any body's ad-
vice to "engage in farming," or 3'ou may find the
acclimating process rather severe for your nerves.
Mr. French gives us a capital article, headed
'^ Slid: to the Farm,'" — an article that ought to
be put in a frame and hung up in every fai-m-
house in the country, — but there is a great difier-
euce between advising to "Stick to the Farm,"
and recommending every agricultural dreamer to
"engage in farming," without regard to his fit-
ness for the business. The farm is a capital nur-
sery of men for other professions in life, but 3-our
villages and city boys and girls are poor sprouts to
put out on the farm — sort of hot-bed plants, that
cannot stand the rough influences of out-door life.
When merchants, mechanics or professional men,
or their sons, conclude to turn farmers, I advise
them to try the business at first, as apprentices or
"hired men;" if they find they have stamina
enough to work out the whole season, and shrewd-
ness enough to lay up a hundred dollars a year

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

303

from their wages, then they may reasonably think
of setting-up for themselves ; and it will matter
little what part of Massachusetts, or of the Union,
they locate in, — such farmers prosper everywhere.

A Reader.
Winchester , June, 1854.

SCRAPING AND WASHING TREES.

AVe have read the whole report alluded to be-
low, and believe it well calculated to arrest some
of the outrages against nature, so common, par-
ticularly in cities. Mr. Copeland is an enthusi-
ast in his profession, but his "zeal is according to
knowledge," and we look for many a reform to
take place through his instrumentality. We wish
we could spare room for the whole report, but as
we cannot, the condensing pen of Professor Nash,
of the Conn. Valley Farmer, will give the reader
its general outlines.

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has
published a report made to it by a committee ap-
pointed to inquire into "the uses and abuses of the
practice of scraping and washing trees."' The
conclusions arrived at are so diametrically opposed
to the prevalent opinion and practice, and seem
at the same time so well supported by arguments,
that we need no apology for publishing the resolu-
tions in which those conclusions are contained,
though we do not endorse everything contained in
the report.

The resolves referred to are as follows :

"That, whereas it isa common custom to scrape
oflf the outside bark of fruit and ornamental trees,
and wash and plaster them with lime and other
preparations, in the hope of benefiting the trees
by the destruction of parasites and insects injuri-
ous to vegetation, and of improving their general
appearance, the Massachusetts Horticultural So-
ciety do hereby resolve, for reasons which have
been stated, that we consider this practice of no
benefit to the tree, fi"om its inability to •ffect the
majority of the insects which are really injurious;
and unnecessary in the case of lichens and mosses,
they being not the cause but the consequence ol
disease and decay, and a positive violation of the
laws of vegetable physiology, and consequently an
injury to all trees, (but to ornamental ones in
particular,) to an incalculable amount.

2d. That lichens and mosses, in a healthy
state of the tree, are, so far as can be ascertained
no injury to the bark, but from theirvaried colors,
form one of its chiefest ornaments. Any opera-
tions for their removal are to be scrupulously
avoided and reprehended.

3d. That as strict in(juiry lias shown tliat bark
lice, woolly apliis, and some borers, do lay their
eggs and hatch their young upon the bark of ap-
ples, pears, peaclies and maples near the ground,
and in the forks of the branches, a gentle rublung
witli some pliable but stiff wire or other brusli
on the parts aff'jcted, to be followed by a washing
with weak, soap, or whale oil soap, suds, is desira-
ble, ami will be of benefit wlicni a careful exami-
nation sliall luivc shown tliat the eggs are deposit-
ed upon any tree in question, but that this pro-
cess IS unnecessary and uneconomical when the
presence of the enemy h^is not been most clearly
proved."

The other resolutions are to the same effect, one
of them being directed against all alkaline prepa-
rations plastered on to trees.

These conclusions are endorsed by Geo. B. Em-
erson, the learned author of the Trees of Massa-
chusetts, and 1)y Mr. Tuckerman, who has made
the sul)ject of lichens his particular study. They
are, moreover supported by many arguments,
drawn from practice, experiment, theory anl an-
alogy, but we have not space to enter upon these.

The report is drawn up by R. Morris Copeland,
a gentleman who has adopted the occupation of a
landscape gardener, which we take to mean the
tasteful arrangement of grounds. At any rate,
we observe that he lias been employed to lay out
the grounds around the new Insane asylum at
Taunton, and the Reform School at "NVesiboro".
"We should have said that this profession was not
as yet likely to thrive in this country. If it docs
so we shall b3 only too glad, as it will indicate an
increased culture of taste, a quality which unfor-
tunately is by no means so often displayed in this
country as could be desired. Very many appreciate
a tasteful thing when they see it,but very few can
make anything tasteful themselves. This is es-
pcciall}' true in ornamental gardening, where or-
nament is too often only another name for caprice
and absurdity. i\Ir. Copelani seems to us to be
starting in the right way, for in his report he pro-
tests most strenuously against torturing nature,
urging on the other hand that she be followed and
imitated. — Conn. Valley Farmer.

For the New England Farmer.

MEADOW MUD AND LIME.

Mk. Editor : — I have an inexhaustible bed of
muck on my farm, which I have used more or less
in the raw state for some time, and have not re-
ceived much benefit from it, excepting what has
been carried into the yard or stable. As near as
I can describe it, it is "decayed vegetation." Now
what I want to know is this, can I by mixing lime
with it, make a compost that will produce a crop
of corn, rye, oats, or grass, without the aid of
other manures? (a.)

The land which I wish to use it on, is yellow
loam and slate stone soil. How much lime to the
load, and how much muck to the acre.

The/ford, F^., 1854. You.ng Farmer.

Remarks. — (a.) There is morc_^ difficulty in an-
swering the above query, than tfie inquirer is
proljably aware of. The "yellow loam and slate
stone soil," may be highly calcareous, or it may
abound in alkalies, and must be treated as one or
the other prevails. If effervescence takes place
freely upon the application of acids to some of
the soil, it is a calcareous loam, and the lime
would scarcely be necessary. But if there were
no effervescence, the compost of muck and lime
would be valuable. But it is at least doubtful,
whether such a dressing upon your fields would
give them much permanence of fertility.

Suppose you experiment upon one acre. Upon
one quarter put 12 loade, of 30 Itushels eacli, of
muck, and 12 bushels of lime. On another quar-
ter, add the same amount of mack, and omit the

304

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

July

lime. On the third quarter, the same muck and
12 bushels of unlcaohed ashes, and on tlie fourth
quarter not anything, and let us know the result.
Sinclair, in his Code of Agriculture, classi-
fies loams into four sorts: 1. Sandy ; 2. Gravelly;
3. Clayey ; and 4. Peaty ; but if decomposed slate
contains a considerable portion of lime, and much
of the remaiug portions of the soil are evidently
of vegetable origin, we do not see why the term
"calcareous loam" should not be used as well as
"sandy," "gravelly," or "clayey" loam.

For the New England Farmer.

"A HORSE'S FOOT"-AGAIN.

Messks. Editors : — I was struck with the won-
derful mechanism of the horse's foot, so minutely
described in your last issue. No one, of the most
common observation could read it without being
instructed, yet this same foot, so necessary to the
wants of man, is the careless concei'n of many.

Now R'ith your permission, T will give you my
own cxprrience in this matter. I purchased a mare,
originally sound. Her feet became tender ; slie
had a colt. At three yeais old, her feet became
tender also. The question arose, did the colt inher-
it tender feet ? Is disease entailed with the brute
creation 1 1 found it for my interest to sell the
animals. It was painful to drive them on a hard
road. I then purchased a powerful mare, with
great action. In a few months she began to crip-
ple, and showed stiflfness in the limbs. I investi-
gated and sought the cause. She stood on the
same soft bed occupied by her predecessor, which
was the same with the colt. This was her ma-
nure, &c., with straw litter thrown in daily to
keep her clean. It was suffex-ed to remain till 2^
feet deep, then pitched out. It was found to con-
tain great heat and strongly impregnated irifh am-
monia. The hoofs stood in constant contact with
heat, while the body of the animal was ex^^erienc-
ing the heat of a hoi bed while lying down. There
was no escaping it. The conclusion was, that we
had ignorautly been manufacturing tender feet,
and the proof was apparent in this way. I sub-
stituted a plank foor, washed the legs and feet out
clean, with cold water, 2 or 3 times a day, which
retarded the fever in the limbs, and brought a re-
turning moisture to the hoofs. She soon recovered
in every respect, which convinced me of the too
common error m the country of keeping horses on
a hot manure bed instead of a hard floor.

From whence comes pinched feet, corns, tender-
ness, and swellings of the fetlock joints and legs?
Do not too many cases begin in the pens where the
colts are wintered, and stand in their filth, with
occasional littering, for decency's sake?

Are not their young, tender feet susceptible
of disease, and are not many contracted in this
way? My experience satisfied me, and I was in
season to save as sound an animal as ever travelled
from impending ruin. 1 could trace no other
cause. Should this communication meet the eye
of Doct. Dadd, wo should be happy to hear his
views in regard to it, through your excellent pa-
per.

Knowledge upon this subject can do the horse
growing farmers no harm — pei'haps, much good
What he begins ignorantly to accomplish, is easi-

ly finished by an unskilful farmer, and a hard,
crue/ driver. Yours truly, u.p.

New YorJc, June 13, 1854.

Remarks. — There are few subjects which demand
the attention of the farmer more than that of the
proper management of the horse. A good horse,
sound and kind, one that will work in any har-
ness,— one that is not skittish, will not stumble,
kick, overreach or interfere, and that is active in
the carriage as well as sttady on the farm, is now
considered so valuable by those keeping but one,
that scarcely any price will induce its owner to
part with him. Such animals are very rare. The
practice alluded to by our intelligent and observing
correspondent, is quite common, and ouglit to be
discontinued, and the floor occasionally washed
with cold water and sprinkled with plaster or weak
copperas water. The efforts of Dr. Dadd, a vet-
erinary surgeon in this city, are calling more at-
tention to the horse than has been given him here-
tofore, and we think will have a decided tendency,
not only to improvement in the animal himself,
but in the modes of treating and managing him.

CORK.

Cork is nothing more or less than the bark of
an evergreen oak, growing principally in Spain
.md other countries bordering the ]Mediterranean ;
in English gardens it is only a curiosity. "When
the cork-tree is about fifteen years old, the bark
has attained a thickness and quality suitable for
manufacturing purposes ; and after stripping, a
farther growth of eiglit years produces a second
crop ; and so on at intervals of even ten or twelve
crops. The bark is stripped from the tree, in
pieces of two or three inches in thickness of con-
siderable length, and of such width as to retain
the curved foi'm of tiie trunk whence it has been
strip2:)ed.*The bark peeler or cutter makes a slit
in the bark with a knife, perpendicularly from
the top of the trunk to tlie Iwttom ; he makes an-
other incision parallel to, and at some distance
from the former ; and two shorter horizontal cuts
at the top and bottom. For stripping off the piece
thus isolated, he uses a kind of knife with two
handles and a curved blade. Sometimes after the
cuts have been made, he leaves the tree^to throw
off the bark by the spontaneous action of the veg-
etation within the trunk. The detached jjieces
are soaked in water, and are placed over a fire
when nearly dry ; they are, in fact, scorched a lit-
tle on both sides, and acquire a somewhat more
compact texture by this scorching. In order to
get rid of the curvature, and to bring them flat,
they are pressed down with weights while yet
hot.

To Farmers. — The Hartford Times mentions a
farmer who took up a fence after it had been
standing fourteen years, and found some of the
posts nearly sound, and others rotted off at the
bottom. Looking for the cause, he discovered
that the posts which had been inverted from the
way they grew were solid, and those which had
been set as they grew were rotted off. This is cer-
tainly an incident worthy of being noted by our
farmers.

1854.

NEW- ENGLAND FARMER.

305

CHURNING. I

As the season of butter-making is at hand, it is
a proper time to present to the reader whatever
may facilitate the operation, and at the same
time save manuaUabor. Churning is a laborious
work even with the best churns, and under the
most favorable circumstances; and occasionally,
when the butter ia long in coming, it becomes a
discouraging and vexatious labor and one that se-
verely taxes the patience. A gentleman extensive-
ly engaged in dairying in Western New York,
onco informed us that he had long used a ma-
chine somewhat similar to the one ^represented
above, and operated it with a cosset sheep, who
came at the call of a whistle and did the churning
every morning. A large dog, or a child, will also
answer the purpose well. The machine ia now
made so as to be very light, yet with saflScient
strength to do the churning of a large dairy, or
to drive a grindstone, or to be applied to other
purposes.

The manufacturers describe it as a simple end-
lees platform, formed upon two india rubber
straps, with strips of light yood firmly rivetted to
it. This endless platform is supported by a drum,
about 12 inches in diameter at each end, and the
whole so arranged that it can be elevated to any
angle required by the weight of the dog, or work
to be done by it.

It will be seen by the cut that the movement
produces both the vertical and rotary motion, so
that it may be applied to the crank or common
das'.i churns, or both, at the same time. Tliey may
be found at the Agricultural Rooms of Messrs.
Rugglcs, Nourse, Mason & Co. — Price $12,50.

to lay a large number of eggs, but cannot do so
without the materials of the shells, however nour-
ishing in other respects her food may be; iudood,
a fowl fed on food and water, free from carbunate
of lime, and not finding any in the soil, or in the
shape of mortiir, which they often eat on tlie walls,
would lay no eggs at all with the best will in the
world."

For the yew England Farmer.

PEOTECTING PEACH TREES.

Mr. Editor : — In the Farmer of last week you
make a few remarks on peach blossoms ; you ask
if any person ever attempted to protect branches
of the peach tree by bringing them together in the
autumn, and covering them with matting or pro-
tecting them in any way other than by snow. In
order to protect peach trees in this manner, it is
necessary to keep the trees dwarfed by pruning,
which may easily be done by beginning while the
trees are small, as it is not the cold, but the sud-
den changes in the weather that we wish to pro-
tect the tree from. The covering need not be
heavy ; I have covered peach trees in the follow-
ing manner : — take four long spruce poles and set
them round the tree with the tops inclined to the
top of the tree ; tie the poles together at the top,
then take some old mats and roll around the tree
and make fast to the poles. I do not think it is
necessary to cover tlio trees clear down to the
ground, but only as far down as the branches.
i'lie result of tliie covering was a good crop of
fruit, whilst the rest of the trees in the orchard
were barren and fruitless. I think it is better to
leave them open a little at both top and bottom,
to admit air in warm weather; the peach being a
fruit that is very uncertain in this part of the
country, it is very iiiiportant to try some way to
have a few good peaches, for good fruit brings a

ood price at all times. Youre,
Swampscoit, May 29, 1854. Blythkwood.

Feeding Poultry. — Professor Gregory of Aber-
deen, in a letter to a friend, observes : — "As T sup-
pose j'ou keep poultry, I may tell you that it has
been asccrtuined that if you mix with their food a
sufficient quantity of egg-slielis or clialk, which
they eat greedily, they will lay twice or thrice as
many egga as before. A well-fed fowl is disposed

Mixing Soils. — The benefit derived from the ap-
plication of clay to very light, sandy soils, are of-
ten most remarkable. Clays may also be much
improved by the application of sand, and those
whose "garden spots" chance to be in need of
either amendment, will find early spring the best
time to attend to it.

306

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

For the Tfeiv Ens^land Farmer.

ADVANTAGES OF LIVING ON POOR
LAND.

Messrs. Editors : — What advantage is there in
having a poor parcel of hind for a farm 1 I will
try to state the advantages, as I view them, if it
would, atford any amusement or gratify the curios-
ity of the reader. To live, stay on, or rather get
a livingoff of poor laud, will call latent fiiculties
into activity. If the farmer makes up his mind
to get his meat, bread and vegetables, by making
poor land better, his thinking powers will be
called into exercise to select the best course to be
pursued to accomplish his purpose.

In the first place, his faculty of skill will be
called into exercise in order to adopt the best
method to improve his poor land, then the neces-
sity of his circumstances will confirm him in the
habits of industry ; and his wallet, not being very
highly replenished with cash, will be a practical
lecture to him on economy, and his ambition to
accomplish his purpose, will excite his energy to
action, and hope of reward will prompt him on
to perseverance and patience "in well doing" to
the time of harvest. Here we can see faculties
and talents exhibited and applied to useful pur-
poses which would have continued smothered in
the bosoms of the rich, for the want of the com-
pulsive power of necessity to excite them to ac-
tion. The young man who is solely dependent
upon his own efforts and resources, has every fac-
ulty for self-support called into requisition. The
great display of mental and physical efforts is
seldom the result of riches and luxury. The
young man in easy circumstances, whose every
want is supplied without any of his own exer-
tions, has nothing to arouse or call his native fac-
ulties into exercise which have been in a dormant
state, and till necessity is forced upon him, they
will continue to sleep ; he is educated to such
numberless wants that it would be impossible to
have them supplied from the products of a poor
land farm. AV ould the inhabitants of New Eng-
land have probably been more intelligent, ener-
getic, industrious, persevering, enterprising, vir-
tuous or even more wealthy had their soil rivalled
that of the mighty and far-renowned valley of the
Mississippi ? Riches and rich land have a tenden-
cy to deteriorate, rather than to invigorate both
the mental and physical faculties ; idleness and
dissipation are frequently the offspring of plenty.
It was said by a farmer of my acquaintance who
had lately bought a large worn-out farm, "that
any clown could live on rich land but the man for
me, is he that has skill and ability to get rich on
poor land," which has frequently been done to
my knowledge.

This farmer went to scattering leached ashes
and compost upon his poor land, and soon had the
satisfaction of seeing his crops, of grass, especial-
ly, increased to nearly ten fold . 1 have known nu-
merous instances of young men of small capital
to purchase poor farms because they were cheap,
and in a few years become independent farmers,
and as comfortable livers as any in New England.
Discipline is necessary to make a good soldier,
and equally necessary to make a good farmer.
The New England farmers have been trained on
what western peoi)lo call hard, sterile land, but
this very land has made them what they are;

they are renowned throughout this, if not for-
eign lands, as a people well-trained in the arts,
which require unilinching industry in overcoming
obstacles thrown in the way by arbitrary rulers,
as well as subduing the rugged soil.

If the land in New England requires three
times the labor to produce any given quantity
that the western land requires, it is a course of
discipline, though rigorous, which has not been
without its advantages. If idleness is the mother
of vice, industry is the guard of virtue. It has
often been said'by my western friends, that the
habits of the New Englanders were much needed
there ; they think the leven of industry might
produce a wholesome fermentation which might,
ultimately, leaven the whole population.

A modern writer observed that had there been
no New England, there would have been no re-
public in America to boast of. Had the lot of
the same men who have subdued the land covered
with stumps and stones in New England, been
cast upon the richest land of the great valley of
the west, it is possible they might have been en-
ervated, and their posterity become a degenerate
race. They might have fallen an easy prey to
the ambition and domination of the mother coun-
try, and to this day, been the humble servants of
the British queen. Living on luxuries, sleeping
on down, and having all wants supplied without
knowing their value, does not qualify men to re-
sist oppression or fill their brains with patriotic
blood. Those who boast of living on the proceeds
of three days' labor in the week, generally have
very little reason to boast of their conduct during
the other four days.

It appears by the reports of charitable associa-
tions that the residents on the hard soil of New
England, subscribe more for various benevolent
purposes, than the inhabitants of all the other
States in the Union. So we fancy, Mr. Editor,
that we can trace out some advantages by being
inured to the hardships and constant employment
growing from the necessity of our location as in-
habitants of New England. Silas Brown.

Wilmington, 1854.

Remarks. — Excellent. We hope every reader
will give this article an attentive perusal, and es-
pecially those who find themselves in the possee-
sion of poor lands.

WEEDS IN DOOK YARDS.

One prolific source of spurious vegetation on
our farms, is the neglect of which too many of
our agricultural friends are guilty, to destroy, at
the proper season, the weeds which befoul their
door-yards, and unoccupied places by the road-
side.

As the soil in such places is almost invariably
affluent in the prineij)les of vegetable nutrition,
those weeds which are indigenous, ordinarily
flourish with great luxuriance, and if not eradica-
ted with a timely hand, produce an abundant crop
of seeds, a very considerable proportion of which
find their way in time, and by a variety of ways,
to the fields and cultivated grounds, where they
radicate, and render the labor of cultivation per-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

307

plexing and unprofitable. Never suffer a -weed to
mature on your premises ; cut down, root up and
annihilate all. This is the only true policy. This-
tles, white- weed, mullen, burdock, chickory, and
a host of other indigenous and exhausting produc-
tions, which are of little or no value, are ever
ready to spring up, and abridge the profits of the
farm, and require no idle hand to hold them in
check. All weeds are gross feeders, and sap the
soil more than cultivated plants of e<:iual size and
wsight.

BOOK FARMING A SWAMP.

Mr. Editor : — I have recently purcluised about
20 acres of land, being a slice ofl' from the sides
of two adjoining farms, both now vastly too large.
The soil is a light loam, perfectly free from stone
and beautiful land to cultivate, but in a miserable
state of cultivation. In the centre, on either side
of the old line brush fence, is a muck swamp con-
taining about two acres, which has been covered
with aider bushes time out of mind, and has been
the receptacle of the wasli of the highway eversince
the settlement of the town. In 1851, I let out
the land at tlic halves, while erecting my building,
and took what the unlucky tenant pleased to give
mo, which I assure you was not much. -

The last season I carried it on myself, and I
increased the potato crop 55 bushels to the acre,
the corn crop 20 bushels to the acre, and oats 20
luishels to the acre. I planted about an acre of
corn on land so poor that the man of whom I pur-
chased .said it would not raise corn at any rate,
and so all my neighbors said ; liut as I knew noth-
ing about farming, I was fool enough to try. I
began by carting 49 loads of manure, about half
horse and cattle manure, rather strawy. I then
plowed it, holding tlie plow myself, and I put in
pretty much all ])ut the beam and handles, and I
must confess, that after the operation the land
looked rather pale ; l)ut as "revolutions never go
backwards," I Avas determined to go ahead. I took
care that the manure was covered immediately
after spreading — I then put into the hill, on about
three-quarters of the piece, a liberal supply of
the very best stable manure from a neighboring
l)arn-cellar, and on the remainder I put swamp
mud, that was carted out the fall before, and
mixed with barn-yard manure in the proportion
of one load of manure to eight of the muck. —
iJotli patches were cultivated alike.

Now for the results. In four to six weeks
from planting, the corn where muck was used,
would weigli at least four times as much as the
other, and was much more even and of a better
color. !Many of my neighl)ors examined the
piece, and were perfectly astonished at the dif-
ference in fiivor of the compost, at the same time,
remarking that the other would overtake it bo-
fore harvest. The other did gain upon it, but
was never nearly as sound and }ie;ivy. The differ-
ence, in the fall, was strikingly apparent. The
crop I did not mc;isure, but it was admitted on
all hands, that more than an average crop was
raised on what w\xh termed a miserable piece of
land wholly unfit for corn.

Now, Mr. Editor, tliat is book-fanning, for I
know very little about any other, and I intend to
book-farm that swamp on to the rest of my land.

after having prepared it in a barn-cellar ; and if
the land wont produce better crops than it did
in other hands, then I will emigrate to the West,
that's all. I do not tliink compost better for the
land than stable manure, but I believe for a corn
crop it is worth fifty per cent. more. ay.

— Journal of Agriculture.

For the IVrw England Farmer.

SHALL I BE A FARMER?

"Shall I engage in fixrming, and when," is the
inquiry of your correspondent B., in the Farmer
of the Gth inst. The question is asked of Massa-
chusetts farmers ; ))ut a New Hampshire farmer
ventures an ans.wer, — which is, certainly engage
in farming, if j'ou are an intelligent, enterprising
and industrious man, — and being a subscriber to
the New England Fanner, is indication of intelli-
gence at least. We want you to engage in the most
ennobling calling that occupies human beings —
cultivating the earth.

On tlie other hand, if you are a stupid dolt,
believing that Adam and Abel knew all that is
necessary to know about farming and rearing
flocks, and that scientific cultui-e is a humbug, and
agricultural papers are a nuisance, thenbeadvi.scd
to go thy Avay to college and a profession, or any
where else, rather than to the farm, fur the gener-
ous earth now mourns and looks sad by I'cason of
so many stupid cultivators.

As it is of less consequence where a man is than
what he is, if you are of the right sort, you need
have no difficulty in selecting a spot of earth i\;rn
farm, that needs your care, and will reward abun-
dantly your labor, both of head and hand.

Yours truly, W. H. Farmer.

For the Ifeic England Farmer.

WASH FOR FRUIT TREES.

Various compounds are recommended as washes
for fruit trees, — as potash, ley, soda, Avhite-wash,
&c. In the January number of the Farmer, D.
W. L. advises a mixture of soap suds, soap stone
dust, lime and ochre, an application of doubtful
utility I should think. Some of the above I know
have proved injurious and destructive, and others
I thing rather objectionable. The design of all
washes should be to free theljark of foreign substan-
ces— as dust, moss, insects, &c., cleansing the Imrk,
opening the pores and stimulating to healthj' action.
I have used Avith good effect, soap suds (for econo-
my) that in which clothes liavc been Avashed, ap-
[ilied very freely with a sponge, and in some in-
stances witli a soft scrubbing brush. For tAvo
years past have used once during the growing
season, (the mimth of June I prefer) soft soap, 1
part, soft water 2 parts, applied with a sAvab and
rubl)ed quite hard; it should bo used during damp
weather or just before rain.

Cultivators of fruit trees now are very much
annoyed Avith the green aphis, tlic bark and scab
louse; — the Avoody aphis, lias also made its ap-
pearance. For tlie first on apjile trees I find a de-
coction of Quassia a perfect remedy. I make it
quite strong — 1 lb. of Quassia chips (costing 8
cents) to S galls. Avatcr l)oiled to 0 galls. , applied
witli a garden syringe. To two or three trees bad-
ly infested, I found it neces>^ary to make a second
application. Previoua to tliis experiment, the

308

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

trees had entirely ceased growing, the leaves
curled up, and with the shoots and small limhs,
became discolored and dirty. I tried various
remedies with but little benefit, until at last 1
heard of Quassia. The trees in each instance soon
after commenced a second growtli, making vigor-
ous shoots, entirely free of the aphis. I presume
this decoction will prove equally efficacious and
harmless on other varieties of trees, but have not
tried. A white-wash of soft soap, water and lime is
recommended for the bark louse. I have not
tried it, but feel prejudice against any application
which will form such a lasting coat — closing tlie
pores of the bark. I believe that soft soap diluted
with the Quassia water, will prove a remedy if
applied early in the season, while the insects are
young; I intend trying it. Will some of your
correspondents experienced in this matter, advise
as to the best mode of ridding our orchards of
these destructive insects? a. g. n.

Waukesha, Wis., 1854.

OUT-DOORS AT IDLEWILD ;

OR COUNTRY-LIF£ WITHIN CITY REACH
BY N. P. WILLIS.

I find the fixrmers generally willing to admit
that a boy's work for fow hours a day, would
fixirly pay for his hoard. In pushing inquiry as
to the different kinds of farm work, I find, too,
that there is but a small portion of it which is be-
yond the strength of a well-grown lad of fifteen.
For ditch-digging, hay-pitching, cradling of grain,
wall-laying and heavy plowing, they would de-
pend, of course, on the main strength of a regular
"hand;" but for sowing, light-plowing, hoeing,
weeding, carting and scattering manure, reaping,
thrashing, and all the lesser industries of stock-
tending and barn work, a smart boy is often as
capable as a man. This applies to grain farms,
or to those mainly devoted to hay and stock.
Where the produce is only fruit or vegetables for
the city market, the work is easier, and perhaps
the whole of it could be done by boys.

But boy-labor, to be reliable for the master,
must not be boy-slavery. It must be enlivened
and steadied by an understood footing of recipro-
cities between boy and master — both having an
interest in its being faithfully done. And this is
a state of things that could not be entered upon
to-morrow — with the present general idea of how
boys may be used. Information is sadly wanted
on this subject. The most valuable addition that
could be made, just now, to "literature for the
people," would be a manual of boy-employment
and treatment — defining his rights like those of a
hired man, giving the terms of an agreement for
his labor, specifying his privileges of spare time
and agricultural instruction, describing the care
of him by the mother of tlio funiily, and plainly
stating the ways to make liim think for himself
and respect himself, and so l)e thouglit of and re-
spected by those around him. With this kind of
understanding, every intelligent farmer could prof-
itably take half a dozen boys to work witli hi.s one
or two hired men, and teach them farming while
allowing them to play enough and r«ad enough
as well as earn enough — a Utopian idea for the
present, perhaps, or, one at least by which the
foor boy is not likely to profit for a while.

There is a class of boys, however, for whom I
think a beginning might be made immediately
practicalde — the sons of parents who could clothe
them, provide them with books and see to their
schooling and incidental wants for the first year.
[The clothes, by the way, are the sore spot in boy
wrongs in the country, and the extinguisher to
that boy ;;;vV/e without which his character becomes
the fruitful soil for rustic meannesses. Among
the old farmer's "dodges," the excuse for all his
overworkings of the boy is "the money it costs to
clothe and school him" — while the poor lad's habi-
liments are the remainders of the old man's worn-
out coats and trousers, fitted and patched with such
skill and taste as Heaven may have vouchsafed
to the old woman's needle. The consciousness
(No. 1) with w^iich the "young farmer" walks
about in a pair of patched and big-breeched pan-
taloons "fitted" by only cutting the legs off at the
knee, and the consciousness (No. 2) with which
lie hears himself glorified by a political orator, a
few years after, as the country's "independent
bulwark," "bone and sinew," "nature's gentle-
man" and "best citizen," are two points between
which, to say the least, there is a chasm.]

There are progressive steps of agricultural life
under this phase, of course, which would follow
in due succession. A literature for the boy-class
of farmers is wanted — beginning with a simplifi-
cation of so much of the science of soils and pro-
ducts as the youthful mind could readily under-
stand. Other and correlative knowledge might
be selected and combined into a series expressly
designated The Young Farmer's Library. A
newspaper for them would soon flower upon this
stem, and it is not difficult to imagine that the
pride and enthusiasm of boys throughout the
country might thus be gradually interested in the
pursuit.

One word as to an important point — the sub-
sequent setting up of the young farmer for him-
self. It would be but a "middling sort of chap,"
in this part of the country, who should have
lived and worked in a neighborhood, for years, and
not have character and credit enough to get trust-
ed for land to live upon. Almost every one of
our oldest and now independent farmers took his
land originally on that tenure. But, while a
much smaller quantity of land is wanted for the
skilful and well practised gardener, the profits are
far beyond those of ordinary farming. The soil
increases in value, too, under the hand of the
cultivator. By purchasing forty acres, he could
so improve, while taking off crops, that twenty
would sell, after four or five years, for more than
the cost of the forty. Tliis has occurred so often,
as to be calculated on, among regular prospects
and resources. And it is for this facility of a first
start on arriving at manhood — a start upon char-
acter without capital — that I should advocate the
education by boy labor upon single farms, in pre-
ference to education in Farmers' Colleges. Ever
so well instructed in a large institution, the youth
is adrift, when he leaves it. To have a farm, (aa
a stranger wishing to settle anywhere,) he must
buy and stockit, with "money down." And, not
only has the laboring boy the advantage of hav-
ing supported himself, and extended his roots of
character and credit where he means to grow and
flourish, but the practice of his agricultural edu-
cation has been vpon the soil, and in the climate,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

309

and among the associations, ivhcre his future indus-VBwi one claim has been presented, a brief siixia-
try is to be applied. He 18 already at home when ment of -which, Avill be found in the last volume
" " ■ ■ ■ " ■" • ^ •■• ■■ 1.1 of Massadnisctts Agriculture, ^a.g(!s\\^ ioW).\n

relation to ■which, the committee who watched its
progress, (consisting of gentlemen of as much ex-
perience and observation as any in the country,)
say, "if the land is of any value for any other pur-
pose, it will not p ly for continuing a fence about
it for this purpose," — that is, in the manner in
which this plantation was conducted. There
was no want of zeal or knowledge in the gentle-
man who made this plantation — the land was in
a tim])er growing region, where oaks have flour-
ished for centuries — but still, the committee say,
the culture will not pay.

Allow me to suggest, whether a few of the acres
on the State farm at Westboro' cannot with pro-
priety be appropriated to an experiment of this
character. What more delightful appendage to
such an Institution, than a flourishing grove of
oaks? Let different modes of rearing be tried, and
their various progresses be noted and reported. —
Sixty years hence, when the boys who may assist
in depositing the acorns, shall themselves be
among those entrusted with the care of the Insti-
tution— they Avill bless the memory of those who
suggested the experiment. F^ssex.

May 15, 1854^

EFFECTS OF CLOTHING ON THE HU-
MAN SKIN.

The London Lancet presents some excellent
ideas on the subject of clothing. Let a person iu
bed be covered with sufficient blankets to pro-
mote perspiration, and let these blankets be cov-
ered with an oil or India-rubber cloth, or other
impervious fabric ; in the morning the blankets
will be dry, but the under surface of the India-
cloth will be quite wet. The blankets, by their
dryness, show that the exhalations of the body
pass through them , and would pass through them
to the surrounding air had they not been inter-
cepted by the impervious outer covering. Thus
it is inevitable that the habitual use of an imper-
vious covering is injurious. Its eflect must be to
place the body in a constant vapor bath, in which
the insensilile or healthy perspiration is constant-
ly becoming condensed into the form of humidity,
and being prevented from passing off in its clastic
and invisible form, the perspiration is thus con-
stantly checked, and skin eruptions must be the
I'csult. Nevertheless, it must be less injurious to
check perspinition, in some degree, by a water-
proof overcoat, than to get soaked witli rain.
There can be no doubt but water-proof fabric*
may be made very light, and so formed as to be
worn in wet weather, and yet allow some room
for perspiration. But still they arc not healthy,
and should never be put on but in cases of ex-
treme necessity.

Any person who has worn a water-proof outer
garment for some time, knows by experience that
it causes weakness and cliills. No person should
wear a garment but such as allows tlie vapor or
persj)iration which is continually exuding from
the skin to pass off freely. For tiiis reason a
frequent change of entire clothing conduces to
health. Clothing should be light and warm, and
not too tight. A happy change in the fashions
has taken place within a few years; it is the eub-
stitution of loose outer garments for the old-fash-

he begins — already familiarized with the obstacles
and resources which so vary with different locality.
— Home Journal.

CHIMES FOR THE TIMES.

Be ye not jealous over-much.

But hope, ami time will make you better;
There is a faitli care cannot touch,

Which leaves the soul without a fetter.
0, it is but a sorry creed

To look for nothing but deceiving —
Te meet a kindness, in your need,

With a smile of misbelieving I
The tide of ill is not so strong;
Man loves not always wrath and wrong.

It cannot be that every heart

Is steeled so much against its neighbor ;
Let each with reason play his part.

And fruit will spring from out the labor ;
Progressing still life's journey through,

Be just and kind towards your fellow,
Remembering whatc'er you do.

That duty spreads the smoothest pillow;
And ne'er the hand of friendship spurn,
But trust, and man will trust in turn.

Some men there be who deem it good

In trade to overrtach a brother ;
And some who would not, though they could

Upraise a hand to help another ;
Th;y detm not, though convulsions wide

May show the earth by danger shaken,
That still of hearts unjust through pride

A dark and true account is taken ;
Kingdoms may quake and thrones may fall.
But Ood is looking over all.

O, join not then the strifes of men,

But hourly show, by waxing kinder,
That ye have reached the moment when

Reason no more is growing blinder I
And though ye hope that time should yield

A change for each benighted nation.
Seek not at first so wide a field

To fling the seeds of reformation;
But sow them first in hearts at home,
Then trust in God, and fruit will come.
Annjield Pottery, Glasgow. Wm. Lylk.

For the New England Farmer.

FOREST TREES FOR TIMBER.

How can these be successfully cultivated 1
A primary purpose of the Legislature, in giv-
ing money to Agricultural Societies, was, to en-
courage the growth of such trees. Accordingly,
for thirty-five years premiums were offered by each
of the yocietics favored by the l)ounty of the
State ; — but where are the trees? If you, Mr. Ed-
itor, can point to any plantation that has sprung
up by reason of tliese otters, and grown to be wor-
thy of notice, I should like to know it. That such
trees will grow on our soil, there can be no doubt.
The time is coming when an imperative necessity
. will exist, for their being made to grow.

When the generous ofter of 07ie thousand dollars
cash, was made by R. S. Fay, Esq., of Lynn, for
the ten b^st acres of oak, grown from acorns, on
common pasture land, I had hoped that some of
the owners of many acres of such land, from
■which little or no income is realized, would have
been induced to make the experiment. This offer
■was made eight years since, payable in five years.

310

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

ioned, tight, cloao and pinching overcoats. Too
few flannclri arc worn in America, especially along
the easttrn ct)asts, where sudden changes are frc
quent, and whore many cold rains fall during the
■winter sea.'-on. Cliildreu should always have
their outer garments for winter made of woolen
materials. Although India-rubber over-shoes are
excellent for walking in the street in wet weather,
or when there is a thaw with snow upon the
ground, they should never be worn at any other
time, and should bo taken off as soon as the wear-
er enters a house. They prevent perspiration in a
great measure, and are only useful as a lesser
evil than getting the feet completely wet from out-
side water.

INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC ANI
MALS.

The following account of the introduction of do-
mestic aniiwals into tliis country has been con
denscd from the Census Report. It furnishes a
clue to the origin of our native cattle :

The first animals brought to America from
Europe were imported by Columbus, in his second,
voyage, in 14 'J3. Ho left Spain as admiral of
seventeen ships, bringing a collection of European
trees, plants, and seeds of various kinds, a num
ber of liorses, a bull, and several cows.

The first h(jrscs brought into any part of the
territory at present embraced in the United
State were landed in Florida by Cabeca do Vaca,
in 1527, forty-two in number, all of Avhich per
ished or were otherwise killed. The next impor-
tation was also brought to Florida, by Do Soto, in
1539, whieli consisted of horses and swine, among
whicli were thirteen sows ; the pi'Ogeny of the
latter soon increasing to sevei'al hundred.

The Portuguese took cattle and swino to New-
foundland and Nova Scotia in the year 1553
Thirty years after, they had multiplied so abun-
dantly that Sir Richard Gilbert attempted to land
there to obtain supplies of cattle and hogs for his
crew, but was wrecked.

Swine and othcsr domestic animals were brought
over to Arcadia by M. L'Escarbot, a French law-
yer, in 1G04, the year that country was settled.
In 1G08 the Frencli extended their settlement into
Canada, and soon after introduce various animals.

In IGOy, tliree ships from England landed at
Jamestown, in Virginia, with many immigrants,
and the Ibllowing domestic animals, viz : six mares,
one horse, six hundred swine, five hundred domes-
tic fowls, with a few sheep and goats. Other an-
imals had been previously there. In IGll, Sir
Thomas Gates brought over to the same settle-
ment one hundred cows, besides other cattle. In
IGIO, an edict was issued in Virginia, prohibiting
the killing of domestic animals of any kind, on
penalty, ol death to the accessory and twenty-four
hours' wliipping to the concealer. As early as
the years 1G17 the swine had multiplied so rapidly
in the colony that the people were obliged to pal-
lisadc Januistovvn, to prevent being overrun with
them. In 1G27, the Indians near the settlement
fed upon hogs, which had become wild, instead of
game. Every fauiily in Virginia, at that time,
which had not an abundance of tame hogs and
poultry was considered very poor. In 1G48, some
of the settlers had a good stock of bees. In 1GG7,
sheep and mares were forbidden to be exported
from the province. By the year 1723, or before,

sheep had somewhat multiplied, and yielded good
fleeces.

The first animals introduced into Massachusetts
were b}' Edward Winslow, in lG2i, consisting of
three heifers and a bull. In 1G2G, twelve cows
were sent to Cape Ann. In 1G21), one hundred
and fifteen cattle were imported into the planta-
tions on Massachusetts Ray, besides some horses
and mares, and several ponies and forty-one goats.
They were mostly ordered by Francis lligginsons,
formerly of Leicestershire, wlience several of the
animals were brought.

The first importation into New York was made
from Holland, by the West India company, in
1G25, comprising one hundred and three animals,
consisting of horses and cattle for lireeding, be-
sides as many sheep and hogs as was thouglit ex-
nedient.

FARMER'S GARDENS.

As a general thing, farmers do not provide them-
selves with good gardens ; at least, so far as the
writer has travelled, he has seldom soon what he
would call a good garden on farms. The excuse
for this neglect is generally the same witli all of
them — they "have no time to attend to such small
matters." And yet it may safely Ijo asserted
that an acre of ground appropriated to a good
garden, will be more profitable to the farmer than
any other ten acres of the farm. The interests of
the fiirmer, the comforts of his family, the good
condition and health of his whole household, re-
quire such a garden on every farm in the coun-
try. And it should be a garden, not a mere ex-
cuse for one, a mei'c weedy patch. It should be
one so managed and arranged, tliat every vegeta-
ble of a wholesome quality for human food should
be raised in it, in perfection, and at the earliest
season. After a winter's diet on solid and gen-
erally salt animal food, the liuman constitution re-
quires the deterging operations of free vegetable
and fruit diet, and as a general rule no one can
dispense with it safely. Besides this, the natural
appetite calls for it, and tliere are few pleasures
tliat may be so safely aud even beneficially in-
dulged in. In the latter part of winter and
early in spring, measures sliould be taken to secure
carli/ vegetables of all kinds capaljle of very early
cultivation. Details will not be expected here;
there are other books and papers appropriated to
such infoi'mation ; but I cannot help saying that
when I am at a farm house, at a season when ear-
ly peas, beans, cabbages, cucumbers, potatoes,
green corn, lettuce, &c., are properly in season,
and find none of these luxuries on tlie table,
nothing but the blue beef, salt pork and beans or
potatoes of winter, I am I'rce to say I do not envy
that farmer's life, nor his family their enjoyments.
These very people are fond enougli of such things
when they go to the city, and it is not, therefore,
want of taste. It is simply the fault of negli-
gence. Why may not every farmer in tlie Sti\te
have every kind of early vegetables on his table as
eaidy as any gardener near the cities can raise
them? There is not a single reason why he
should not, while there are agreat many why ho
should. The gardeners have to incur a very con-
siderable expense in procuring hot manure for
their hot beds, while the farmer has it in his barn-
yard. The gardener has every thing to purchase,
aud draw a considerable distance, while the farm-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND F.VRMER.

311

er has nothing to buy. The small quantity of
lumber required is probal)ly rotting on his prem-
ises. It -would onljr be a source of amusement
during winter, for him to construct the frame of
a hot bed and prepare the manure and bed for
use. Having done this, and got his plants in a
thrifty state, he can in a sliort time, -when the
season arrives, get his garden ground in order and
make his plantations. And then he -will have all
these vegetable luxuries as early as any of his
to-wn friends can purchase them. It only requires
a little industry and attention to accomplish this,
and tissiiid before, his cnjoymeut, his health, and
even his interest, as -well as the comforts of his
family, will be benefited by it. — Country Gcntlc-
mmi.

FARMING.

Among the most vigorous class of people the
farmer may be found. There are many ways by
which men of this present age procure the neces-
saries of life: but no occupation is more conducive
to health and liappiuess than farming. There are
several ways by which this may be exemplified.

First. — In order to make the muscles of the hu-
man body rigid and strong, they should all receive
their due propo»tion of exercise. Those trades
and kinds of exercise that tend to give every mus-
cle its proper share of action, both of the upper
and lower extremities, are most salutary, as it
tends to develope and strengthen them equally.

Second — The purer the air we breathe, the
longer can tlie muscles be employed in labor.
"What department can l>e more thoroughly venti-
lated than the open fields?

Third — Light has as great an influence upon
man as it has upon the plant, particularly that of
the sun. You have doubtless noticed a plant that
grows in the shade is Aveak and pale. The same
is true of man; both, in order to make them
strong, require the stimulus of this great agent.

There might be numerous other reasons brought
forward to show that farming is most conducive
to health ; but it is useless to multiply them. In
regard to happiness, I would ask but one ques-
tion to bo i-esolved in your minds. What is health
but happiness? Knowing that farming promotes
the greatest blessing, let each and every one of us
be engaged in this business, for shop work, (par-
ticularly shoe making) does not bring the lower
limbs into any action while the upper limbs are
constantly employed. The air in-doors, where la
borers are employed, is not so healthy as it is in
the great dejiartment or shop, owned by "Uncle
Sam, which was not planned by man, and needs
no ventilation. In-door work is not exposed to so
lar light; hence let us devote ourselves to that
■which affords us the purest air, and which exer-
cises the muscles in the right mode ; and that, as
■wc have already proved, is Farming. — Fanner
and Mechanic.

An Excellent P^an for Growing Cucumhers
— We clip the following from an exchange. AV(
liavc tried the same plan and proved its excellence
— Amcr Agr.

Take a large barrel, or hogshead ; saw it in two
in the niiddle, and bury each half in the groun '
even with the top. Then take a small keg an„
boro a small hole in the bottom ; place the keg in
the centre of the barrel, the top even with the

ground, and fill in the barrel around the keg with
rich earth, suitable for the growth of cucumbers.
Plant your seed midway between tlie edges and
the keg, and make a kind of arbor a foot or two
high for the vines to run on. When the ground
becomes dry, pour water in the keg in the evening
— it will pass out at the bottom of tlie keg into
the barrel and rise up to tlie roots of th5 vines,
and keej) them moist and green. Cucumbers cul-
tivated this -way will grow to a great size, as they
are made independent both of drought and wet
weather. In wet weather the barrel can be covered
and in dry the ground can be kept moist pouring
water in the keg.

THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR.

This is a new work, containing practical obser-
vations on the causes, nature, and treatment of
disease and lameness in horses, embracing the
most recent and approved methods for the preser-
vation and restoration of health. With illustra-
tions. By George II. Dadd, M. D. Boston:
John P. Jewett & Co. Cleveland, Ohio : Jewett,
Proctor & Worthington.

Wc know Dr. Dadd well, and arc satisfied that
he possesses most important qualifications for
preparing such a work as he has placed before us,
viz : — the habits of a student, and the most untir-
ing application of all his energies to tlie cause in
which he is engaged. In many respects this is the
best work we have seen on the subject of the die-
eases of the Horse. It treats of some diseases
which have come before us, but which we have
not before seen described and prcscriljcd for, and
what is a thousand times better, it denounces with
a humanity creditable to the author, the barbar-
ous pi'actices which have prevailed through many
years. This book advocates no burning of the
mouths of colts with red hot irons, or drenches of
oil of turpentine or nitrous and sulphuric acids.
It is well printed, and illustrated with twelve
very appropriate and interesting engravings.
We shall have occasion to refer to it again.

For the New England Farmer.

THE MULBERRY AND SILK WORM.

Mr. Editor: — Will you allow me to make some
inquiries through the columns of your valuable
paper ! There are near my resilience some thirty
or forty mulberry trees, and I wish to inquire £f '
the silk worm could not be reared and the cocoons
sold to some advantage ; and if so, where they
could be sold ?

What is the expense of the machinery required
to manufacture sewing silk, and where it can be
procured ? Also, wlicre the eggs can be procured T
If you, Mr. Fiditor,or any of your corrospondcnte,
will answer these inquiries, or give any informa-
tion on the subject, it would very much gratify
A New Uaupshire Girl.

Remarks. — We hope some of our young corree-
pondents will be able to answer the aliovo inqui-
lies — wc possess very little knowledge of the sub-
ject.

312

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JlLY

For the New England Farmer.

DOUBLE PLOWS.

Mr. Editor : — I recently took on trial, have
bought imd am now using a double or Michigan
Plow, of which I wish to say a few words to your
readers, if, peradventure, there be any among them
who doubt or are ignorant of the superior excel-
lence of that plow over all others.

And, brother farmers, the best advice I can
give you is, try it! try the Michigan plow, with
a view to your own advantage, fully and faithfully,
and you will be convinced that it is one of the
things needful for the more successful cultivation
of our top-worn and surface eochaustcd soil.

I have used my plow on plain and side hill,
among briars, bushes and roots, turning furrows
from six to twelve inches deep, and cutting from
t«n to sixteen inches wide, and every trial has been
satisfactory, though I took hold of the matter, at
the outset, faithlessly and reluctantly. And I
now declare that I will use no other plow on
sward land till some benefactor of his race (and
who is more worthy of that application than he
who invents a really useful agricultural imple
ment ?) shall produce an improvement upon the
ilichigan.

Upon the importance of deep plowing, most in
telligent cultivators agree; and this is the chief
excdlence of digging deep and at the same time
turning completely over a wide furrow slice, hid
ing all grass that may be growing on the sod
with finely pulverized soil. It is sometimes ob
joctcd that soil turned up from a great depth is
cold, dead and worthless ; which if true, is obvia
t<;dby the use of this plow, as it, instead of solely
inverting the furrows, at thesametime mixes and
mingles the bottom and top soil together, thus pro-
ducing just the result desired.

As it regards the strength of team necessary to
use the double plow, I am convinced that four
oxen will draw it easier than any other, doing the
same amount of work, regard being had to the
depth and width of furrow slice. e. j.

Lebanon, N. B., May 15, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

HAY OVER THE CATTLE.

Mr. Editor : — I have often queried whether
there was any truth in the saying, that injures
hay to lay on a scaffold over stables where cattle
are kept through the winter. I, as most people
do, select the best hay for oxen and cows, and put
it upon scaffolds, where the same are stabled. I
have often noticed the cattle would eat hay from
the bays in preference to the scaffold hay. Now
I wish some one more experienced than myself to
answer the question, whether it does receive an
injury? Yours truly,

Northern Subscriber.

Canaan, N. H., May 15, 1854.

Remarks. — In barns that are tight, we have no
doubt that hay receives some injury in being over
the leanto where cattle are tied. A gentleman
recently informed us that an examination into this
matter was made last year in the town of Grafton,
this State, ])y several perso s, and they found the
hay on scaffolds considerably affected, and, as they

concluded, depreciated in value, by remaining
over the cattle.

INDIAN MODE OF STORING THEIR
WINTER SUPPLY.

This vei-y brief sketch of the agriculture of the
Indians would not be complete, without an allusion
to their mode of storing their winter supply.
Large holes were dug in the earth, and the sides
carefully lined with bark. This was also the work
of the women. The corn and the beans, after be-
ing dried in the sun, or on racks or flakes over a
fire, were thrown into these holes, and then covered
up level with the surface of the ground. They
were thus preserved, if necessary, through the
winter. These excavated barns were carefully
concealed, b}' tlie women, from their luzy husbands
and sons, lest they should discover and cat up all ;
yet, with all care they could take, the hogs of the
colonists often unhinged their barn-doors, and
helped themselves to the golden treasure. His-
tory says, that one of these Indian barns was dis-
covered by the Pilgrims, at a time when their store
of grain was so reduced as to contain but five ker-
nels of corn to each individual.

In addition to this provision "for winter, they
sometimes made large boxes of Avicker-work, or
bags or sacks of hemp, which were filled and kept
in the wigwam, for the more imriiedlate wants of
the family. Grass they had no occasion to cut,
tliough it grew in great abundance along the mar-
shes and the rivers, and in places which had heen
cleared for cultivation. It was of a coarse quality,
yet it made the only hay used by the colonists for
some time after the settlement.

To the rude implements used by the Indians,
the colonists added the plow. We may well
imagine the surprise of the natives at the first sight
of a plow. They could not understand so compli-
cated a machine. They wanted to see it work,
and when it tore up more ground in a day than
they, wiih their clam-shells, could scrape up in a
month, and they saw the colter and the share to
be of iron, they told the j^lowman if he was not
the devel himself, he was very much like him.

The first sight of a ship, it will be remembered,
had excited their wonder even to a greater extent.
To them it was a floating island ; it masts were
nothing but trees ; its sails were clouds ; its dis-
charge of guns was thunder and lightning ; but,
as soon as the thunder and lighining ceased, they
pushed off their canoes to go and pick strawberries
on the island !

After this cursoi'y survey of the method of cul-
tivating the earth, in practice among the Pilgrims
and iheir Indian neighbors, we are better prepared
to trace the progress of agriculture down to the
present day. It was, at first, the only pursuit of
the settlers, and long continued to be their chief
occupation.

We have seen that poor and miserable cattle,
poor and miserable implements — yet both as good
perhaps, as the time and their means afforded —
and poor and miserable ideas of farming, charac-
terized the agriculture of the first English settlers.
Nothing was done which was not forced upon them
by the pressure of necessity. Their wants were
so many, that it required their most vigorous ex-
ertions to provide what was indispensable, and
they had no time to seek out now principles of ag-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

313

ricultural Bcienco or improvements in practical ag-
riculture.

The first kw years 'vvero spent in extending the
settlement, exploring the country, and seeking for
new and better lands. In the space of thirty
years, no less than forty small towns were incor-
porated, of which Springfield was the most wes-
tern. An attentive observer is struck l)y the rest-
less disposition to move from place to phice, even
in the early days of tl;e settlement. Land new
and rich iu mould, the accumulation of ages, did not
require very careful cultivation, to secure an abun-
dant return. But a few years of constant crop-
ping exliausted its productiveness. The prdprie-
tor could easily obtain otiier lands, to bo subjected
to the same process. lie raised wheat until the
land become too poor, and then he raised corn ;
and when it Avould no longer produce corn, he
sowed barley or rye, and so on to beans.

The number of intelligent cultivators was few,
and for the most part agriculture was in a state
of extreme depression. This staie of things con-
tinued with little change, down to the period of
the Revolution. That it was so, will appear
strange, wlien we consider that even in England,
where land was high, comparatively', and the de-
mands for produce much greater than here, there
was, during the same period, none of the interest
and enterprised which have since changed the
whole face of the kingdom.

It should be mentioned, however, that iu 17-47,
the Rev. Jared Eliot, of Connecticut, began the
publication of a series of essixys on farming, full
of valuable suggestions, and marked throughout,
by a degree of intelligence and good sense far in
advance of his time. His experiments in draining,
and in the improvement of .salt marsh, are among
the earliest attempts at real progress in the coun-
try.

But, with very few exceptions, there was no
spirit of inquiry to give a charm to agricultural
labor, and it was performed l)y the farmer as an
evil which must be endured, from stern necessity.
Having no love for his occupation, he paid no at-
tention to the selection of the best stock, and the
best seeds. Owing to the imperfect provision for
schools for the great body of the people, the boy
was trained up to a narrow routine of labor, as
his fathers had been for a century before. He
often affected to despise all intelligent cultivation
of the soil, and not only scrupulously followed
the example of his fathers, but also advised others
to do the same ; thus transmitting to us in the
line of succession, the very practices which had
originally been derived from the uncivilized Indian.
The manner of settling new lands being such as
has already been described, it will be seen that
the population must have been scattered over a
large extent of territory by the middle of the last
century. Ten counties had been incorporated, and
one hundred and forty towns. The proportion of
the population collected in the great centres at
that time, was comparatively small. Boston con-
tained less than fifteen thousand inhaljitants, and
next to tliat stood Marblchead ; but it miglit al-
most be said, that in neither of these did the
liouses quite shut out the woods and the fields;
for in the former, — by far the largest town in the
State, — the space now occupied by the Common
and the western slope of Beacon Hill, including all
the western part of the city, was used as a pasture

for cattle. The spots where some of -our most
flourishing towns and villages now stand , were
then covered with a dense forest.

Few of the rural population of that day saw a
newspaper or a journal of any kind. At the com-
mencement of the last century there was not one
published in the State, and in 1750 there were but
four. The circulation of these Avas confined, for
the most part, to the metropolis ; a few copies
being sent to clergymen in the country. There
were but six in 1770, and one of these was discon-
tinued in June of that year, for want of support,
Tlie facilities of travel were so limited that few of
the farmers ever went beyond the borders of their
own towns, unless it were to market. It will be
seen, therefore, that there was no opportunity of
cultivating i^hose larger and more generous senti-
ments which now mark the progress of civilization,
and the spread of knowledge and intelligence
among the people. Obstinate adherence to pre-
judice of any kiad, is now generally rcgai-ded as a
mark of ignorance or stupidity. A centiiry ago,
the reverse was the case. In many a small coun-
try town, a greater degree of intelligence than was
possessed by his neigld^ors, brouglit down upon
the farmer the ridicule of the whole community.
If he ventured to make experiments, to strike out
new paths of practice, and adopt new modes of
culture; or if he did not plant just as many acres
of corn as his fathers did, and that too in "the
old of the moon ;" if he did not sow just as much
rye to the acre, use the same number of oxen to
plow, and get in his crops on the same day; or hoe
as many times as his father and gi-andflither did ;
if, in fine, he did not wear the sauvi homespun
dress, and adopt the same religious views and pre-
judices, he was shunned in company by the old and
young, and looked upon as a mere visionary. He
kuQw nothing of a rotation of crops. "With fire-
places adapted to make the largest quantity of
ashes, he had no idea of their uso, and would have
sold them for the smallest pittance in money. The
use and value of manures were little regarded.
Even so late as within the memory of men still liv-
ing, the barn was sometimes moved away to get
it out of the way of heaps of manure, by which it
was surrounded, because the owner would not go
to the expense of removing these accumulations,
and put them upon his fields.

The swine were generally allowed to run at
large, the cattle were seldom housed or enclosed
at night, during the summer months, the potato
patch often came up to the very door, and the lit-
ter of the yard seldom left much to admire in the
looks of the barn or the house. Men who suf-
fered their cattle to run loose in the summer nighta,
thought it necessary to let them run at large very
late in the fall, and to stand out exposed to the
severest colds of winter "to toughen." Orchards
had been planted in many parts of the State, but
tlie fruit was mostly of an inferior quality, and
used mainly for the purpose of making cider.

In the latter part of the last century many left
the seaboard and removed to the interior, to avoid
the inconveniences arising from tlie difficulties be-
tween this country and Great Britain, and other
causes. More attention seems, then, to have been
paid to agriculture. The population liad now be-
come scattered over tlic whole Stat(>, and the
whole territory had, in 17'iO, been incorporated
into towns or districts. Men had begun to cmi-

31-i

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

grate to the so-called inexhaustible West ; which
at that time, meant Central or Western New
York.

A few public spirited and patriotic men now
began to see the necessity of some such associated
efibrt as should excite the public mind to such ac-
tion as would lead to the development of the in-
dustrial resources of the State. — Report of Sec. of
Board of Agriculture .

SLIMY SLUG.

[SBLASDRIA CERASI.]

Tiiis insect is extensively know© to pomologists
as an inveterate enemy to the pear tree. It fre-
quently makes its appearance all at once, and in
such numbers, as well nigh to baffle the most en-
'ergetic efforts to destroy or arrest them. They
commence depredations, generally, on the upper
surface of the leaves, eating out and entirely des-
troying the soft sapid substance forming the con-
nections between the ribs, leaving each leaf upon
which they locate and. prey, in appearance, like a
sieve bottom, or a piece of loosely fabricated gauze.
Their physiological appearance bears no similitude
to that of the canker-worm, being shaped nearly
like a tad- pole. Their color is dun, sometimes
quite dark, and their length is from an eighth to
half an inch, but rarely more.

DowMXG speaks of this insect in his work on
the "Fruitsand Fruit Trees of America," page 328;
and it is also mentioned by Kexrick, in his "Or-
chardist," page 55. Both of these authors recom-
mend similar means for its destruction, and to
them, all who are interested are respectfully re-
ferred.

A writer in an Eastern paper, remarking upon
the Selandria Cerasi, by which his pear trees had
been greatly injured, says : — "I bought, a month
since, a garden syringe ; also, a keg of whale oil
soap, for seventy-five cents, and with these two
articles of trifling cost, have destroyed thousands
of flies, slugs, and worms, which infest plum trees,
hop, melon and other vines. The soap will make
even a full grown caterpillar wink, and derange
his appetite effectually."

Another cheap and effectual method of destroy-
ing the "slug," is given by the same writer as
follows : — "Take a piece of very coarse cotton
cloth, say twenty inches square, and tie uj) the
corners of it, enclosing one or two quarts of air-
slacked lime, or unleached ashes therein, and
make it secure to the end of a long, light pole.
In the morning, while the dew is on, elevate the
sack above the topmost branches of the tree, strik-
ing the end of the pole with a small mallet, occa-
sionally, and moving the pole or sack about till
every leaf is finely dusted over with the lime or
ashes. This operation need not bo repeated, if
once thoroughly performed. The time requisite
for a full grown tree is not over fiveminutes. Pear
trees should be scraped, both tops and trunks, in

May or June, and washed with a mixture of soft
soap, lime and green cow manure, put on with a
brusli, as a very thick wash. Have a quart or
two of iron scales or cinders broken fine around
each tree. It keeps them healthy, and prevents
blight. Washing the trunks and larger branches
with strong soap suds, is another remedy highly
spoken of. ' '

The above recommendations are all well enough
in judicious hands ; but great care must be used in
5crfl^mo--^rubbing is a better term — and in the
use of lime. Old plaster from the walls of hous-
es, broken fine, and mixed with pulverized char-
coal, bone dust, guano and gypsum, sliould also
be placed around the roots, and incorporated
thoroughly with the soil.

There are few departments of flirming which
more liberally remunerate the farmer, than fruit-
growing. Our markets are but imperfectly sup-
plied with many kinds of fruit, which are conse-
quently in great demand, and at high prices.

There is a small "slug" which frequently
proves destructive or highly injurious to the clover
plant, in its earlier stages of development, and
which is easily destroyed by lime. A very slight
dressing is said to be sufficient. It is a fact. gen-
erally Avell known to agriculturists of intelligence,
that a very slight dressing of this mineral will,
on light soils, bring in clover, a grass that makes
a fine crop of valuable hay, with but very slight
impoverishment to the soil. It has also been as-
serted, that its alkaline properties are effectual in
destroying the fungus ov mosses which often gath-
er on the stems and branches of the trees. Look
after the slugs in season.

For the New England Farmer.

OENAMENTAL TEEES.

In the Farmer for the present month you copy
an article from the Boston Journal on the Natur-
al Beauty of Ornamental Trees. Not agreeing
with the writer, "R. M. C," in the article re-
ferred to aljove, I beg leave to make a few remarks
on the same. First, the Avriter sets down those who
have the care of the forest and ornamental trees of
your city, as ignorant pretenders to the title of
gardeners, or foresters ; it may be that they are
ignorant of what is their duty, either as a garden-
er or forester, but does that take the name from
the man of j)ractice 1 I mean tlie man that has
studied to be a forester, as much as our friend
"R. M. C," has studied at college to become a
landscape and ornamental gardener? Why is it,
I ask, that some gentlemen in Scotland and Eng-
land employ six, eight, and in some cases, eighteen
or twenty foresters, from one end of the year to
the other, taking care of their forest and orna-
mental trees and shrubs? Surely, it cannot be to
lay a ruthless hand on the trees entrusted to their
care. No man worthy of the name, will cut a
limb unless needed,any more than he would scrape
the fair skin of his child, or the surface of an al-
abaster statue. In the choice of ornamental
trees, the writer holds up the American Elm as

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

315

the most perfect of all deciduous tree?. The
American Elui is worthy of a place in every col-
lection, but where will you put the English
Elm, and the Rock Maple? Go to Vermont and
see that noble tree in its state of nature, and you
will see something far before the American Elm ;
and where in the list would you place the favor-
ite Lime or Linden (English !) Take a walk, if you
please, to the west part of your city, and where
will you find elms to bo compared with the trees
of this class, planted six or eight years ago, in
Charles Street ? For rapid growth and beautiful
foliage, there arc few trees to be compared with
the European Linlen.

One remark on scraping or cleaning, and I draw
to a close. When the elms or any other trees
are removed from the country to the city, they do
not enjoy such vigor as they do in the country ;
this can be helped by washing with soap suds,
which Avill keep the bark clean and free from in-
sects. A Gardener.

Lynn, Mai/ 10, 1854.

For the New Eng'land Farjiier.

WINTER WHEAT.

Messrs. Editors : — As a Mas^-achusctts man,
and feeling a deep interest in all that pertains to
her Avolfare, permit me to call the special atten-
tion of farmers to the letter of H. J. T., of Lunen-
burg, published in the Plough/nan, May Gth, in
relation to a crop of wheat raised in that tov\-n by
Mr. Micah Marshall. He says, "the farmers of
this town are determined to raise their own wheat —
there were sown more acres of winter wheat last
fall, than have been for the last twenty years."

Is not this example worthy tlie emulation of
every town in your State? I look for this glo-
rious millennium, among your farmers. I have
urgently advocated wheat-growing for the past
seven years. I have said, in the public prints,
that I raised 25 bushels of winter wheat to the
acre, averaged for six consecutive years, but I
was accused by the publisher of having tlie "fat-
test kind of land." What else should the fai-mer
cultivate but ' ' fat-land ? ' ' AVh}- should he go over
four acres of ground to get 100 bushels of corn,
if the same manure will give it on one acre ? La-
bor is the cost, figures show it, as nearly three to
one.

Your Stiite is e.xalted above any other in scien-
tific Horticulture. Among your people, it is lit-
tle^shortofa mania. But, how commendable,
how profitable. See that pear tree, loaded in
gi-aceful festoons, sixteen for a dollar ! — running
a stream of silver into your pockets, and setting
your tongue afloat with an involuntary tide at a
sight so charming. And thus, may we expatiate
on the yfboh fruit calendar ; but bread is the main
stay of the farmer, and Avhile he would bestow so
much anxious care for a tree, and to produce every
crop, he neglects this main stay — cherishing the
long established impression, that there is no lime
in the soil, and consequently there can be no wlicat
raised.

The Lunenburg flwrner says, 13G years' improve-
ment had not exhausted the lime. Here lies the
fact, tliat every shovel-full of barn-yard manure
possesses in itself, and restores to tlie soil, a certain
amount of lime — so that land, wcU manured, is
well limed.

Now, in what part of this "great country"
does not wheat grow ? South, AV est, North and
East, even to the Bay of Fundy. AVhy should
New England be exempt? Is her geographical
•position wrong ? Common sense gives the emphatic
answer — xo. It is as easy to raise iv/jcat in New
England, as it is to manufivcture New England
rum from molasses, and a much safer and more
profitable crop for the people — (correct me, if I
am wrong.) Then, farmers of New England,
"Lords of the soil," wake up — make the trial,
and my humble word for it, the day you will never
rue. Respectfully, n. p.

P. S. Spring wheat makes dark, heavy flour,
and is liable to rust, but the f;irmer is bound to
try it this year. Winter wheat must be sown ear-
ly in Sept., and in moist, heavy lands, planted
deep that the roots may not be thrown out by
frost, or should the blade be broken off, the roots
will revive it again. At the West, wheat is
plowed in. ii. p.

Rem.vrks. — The above very interesting, and very
useful letter, is from one of the sons of our be-
loved State, who has allowed the "cares of the
world" totempt him into the great "city of Go-
tham," but whose thoughts still come back to his
first love. Like a true pilgrim, he cannot forget
the pleasant homestead where he first knew the
world, nor the interests of those with whom he be-
gan life's journey. He has frequently, and ear-
nestly, urged upon the farmers of his native Slate
the importance of cultivating winter wheat ; we
have seconded his efforts as we have had opportu-
nity, and certainly have "practis.nl what we
preached," for we have now between two and
three acres of the winter blue stem growing, and
as handsome as ever stood upon the ground. There
is no difficulty, in our opinion, in producing as
fine wheat in New England as on the Short Hills
in Virginia, or the best lands in Western New
York. We hope to see a liberal breadth of land
made ready for this crop for sowing early in Sep-
tember.

For the New England Fanner,

' THE CURCULIO.

Mr. Brow.v : — I liavo young plum trees t'liat
have borno a little fruit annually, most of which
the curculio has destroyed. Last year they came
into full bearing, and being loth to lose the crop,
as soon as the destroyer came, I took soap suds
that had stood in the sun some days, and had be-
come quite putrid, with which I wet the fruit and
foliage efTectually, and then dusted it over witli
dry slaked lime I had no doubt of its efficacy,
but expected to apply it two or tliree times ; it suc-
ceeded, however, beyond my most sanguine expec-
tations. I applied it but once, and I think there
was not a single plum touched on the trees by the
insect. On one tree near by, that was not thus
treated, I could not find a plum that had not two
marks of the insect, and on one I counted thirteen.

Joseph Hadley.

Hydcparh, Lamoile Co., Vt., May, 1854.

31G

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

For the Xew England Farmer.

ELLEN JONES.

A STOKY FOR GIRLS.

One fine December night, the air was clear and
cold, and three children were pressing their faces
against the window, eager to catch the first
sound of bells — sleigh bells.

"I see theiii," said Eddy, the youngest of the
tliree, who was allowed the favor of standing in a
high chair, and thus looking out througli the up-
per squares of glass ; ''I can see something."

"Let me stand in your chair a moment. Bub,''
said Lizzie. "Yes. 1 believe it is father and El-
lon," said she.

"I know it is," said Mary, "for I hear the bells ;
it's our bells."

Even the mother's ej-e beamed with unwonted
pleasure as her youngest darling exclaimed,
"here they arc, father and Ellen ! 0, Ellen, she
looks like a queen — with a feather in her bonnet ;
how beautiful!"

A general rush was made for the door as Mr.
Jones tenderly, and perhaps a little proudly,
lianded his eldest daughter from the sleigh.

How the younger children crowd around, eager
to observe every look and catch her tones, as she
receives her mother's warm grasp, and returns
her proffered kiss. To them, sister Ellen was
quite an important j^ersonage ; aside fi*om her be-
ing the eldest daugliter, she had been six months
ina Seminary. Having been in a city, was, to the
brother and sisters, in itself a groat event. That
much was expected of Ellen, they were fully
aware ; many little arrangements, and alterations'
in household matters, had they joined Avith their i
mother in making, solely in reference to Ellen's
return.

Farmer Jones felt a glow of honest pride as he
gazed on Ellen's fine face with a look of love.
Certainly sister had improved in personal ap-
pearance— so thought the children, as after tea
they all gathered around the open fire-place, and
turned their eyes to mother's right hand, where
sat Ellen in the little rocking-chair.

Mr. Jones, instead of reading his weekly paper
aa usual, damp from the press, dries it carefully
before the blaze, and lays it upon the table ; to
tell the truth he knew he shouldn't understand or
remember a word if he read, for his mind was now
with his children, particularly with tire one who
had just entered the home of her happy child-
hood.

The children ask Ellen a few questions, which
she answers, not quite as readily as they had sup
posed she would, and mother tells them, "that as
Ellen is tired, and almost enough of a stranger to
be called company, she thought they ought to en-
tertain her."

"Come, Eddy," said she, "can't you tell Ellen
something that has taken place since she left us ?
I think you can say something that will please
and interest sister ; just think, she has been away
from us since June."

Ofcourse, little Eddy supposed his sister would
be as much interested as himself, and commenced
with, "0, Ellen ! we've had such nice times, on-
ly we. wished you had been here," and then the
girLs joined with Eddy and recounted the many
joyous, free, and merry times that good children
who live in the country know all about. How in

summer they ranged over the green fich's, or
played beneath the shade of the tall pines in the
deep wood, and in the winter, when the air was
clear and bracing, and the long hills covered with
the icy snow, how the boys drew their sleds up
their smooth sides, and with the girls glided swift-
ly down and far over the interval below. 0, those
were merry times; even ftirmer Jones' eye lighted
up with pleasure at the recital.

"It's finecoasting now, is it, my son?" said Mr.
Jones. "Ellen will be a fresh customer for you
to-morrow ; 'twill take a day or two to rub off
the city polish, wont it though?" turning to El-
len and patting her under the chin.

"I_don't know, father," said Lizzie, "the city
girls that I've seen are as big romps when they
are out here, as any of us. There's cousin Kate
and Jane, when they were here last summer, they
could beat us all*; yes, and how everybody loved
them ; nobody was afraid of them, for all their
father was so rich." ,

"What made everybody love them I" said Mrs.
Jones, who had looked a little sad for a few min-
utes.

"Because they were so kind-hearted," said
Lizzie.

"Because they were so real polite," said Ma-
ry.

"It was because they wern't a mite proud," said
Eddy, "and every time I see old lame Isaac, he
asks me something about them, and says, 'raal
ladies them was.' "

Somehow the evening wore away pleasantly
enough, but without Ellen's seeming quite so free
and glad, so happy and satisfied, as was Ellen of
A year ago. The children easily accounted for
this if the}' noticed it, by supposing it was a very
sad thing to part with teachers and school-mates.
They retired and left Mr. and Mrs. Jones arrang-
ing matters for the morrow as they sat by the bed
of bright coals.

"Wife," said Mr. Jones, "they give me a very
good account of Ellen at B. Mrs W. says she is a
fine scholar, — ambitious, — and a good share of
self-respect. They all advised me to have her re-
turn in the spring. But the question is, can we
afford iti We've had to make^ an extra effort to
do what we have for her ; but there, if I was sure
she would reixiy us, I shouldn't mind that or
more."

"We can tell better how to act in this matter
when spring comes, — we Avill try and make Elle^
happy at home till then," said Mrs. Jones.

"Ileigho ! well, I've a notion it takes more to
make girls happy that have been to these city
schools," said Mr. Jones.

The next morning found the family seated
around the breakfast table before it was dawn ;
Mr. Jones being a hard-working, industrious man,
found the old maxim, "Earl}' to bed" &c., for his
special interest. They knew it would require some
effort for Ellen to rise an hour earlier than had
been her custom ; so as she did not appear, they
said it was "no matter; bye-and-by she would
got up as early as any of them." Ellen made
lier appearance soon after the fitmily loft the ta-
ble.

Just now Mr. Jones entered and said to the
cliildren, that George and Sarah S., children of
their nearest neighbors, were coming with their
sleds, and if their mother could spare them for an

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

317

hour, they might go to the top of the hill and
slide. "VVhere's Ellen?" said Mr. Jones, "call
her; there'll be no better coasting this sea-
son, and of course, George S. knows of no one
that he will be more pleased t-o see on his sled."

'•Ellen is up stairs;" said Mrs Jones, "but I
hardly think she will go."

'Go ! why yes she will go, or else she is not El-
len Jones. Call her, mother, and we'll see."

As Ellen entered, it was evident to Mr. and
Mrs. Jones that something was the matter, for
there were traces of tears, and her countenance
was by no means a happy one.

"Ellen," said Mr. J., "George and Sarah S.
are coming with their sleds — the children have
gone to meet them ; Avould you like to go out and
slide down hill with them a few times ? You can
spare her, can't you, mother?"

"I would rather not go," said Ellen, without
raising lier e^-es from the floor.

!Mrs. Jones now silently motioned to her hus-
band to say nothing further to Ellen. She was
left alone with her daughter, who looking out of
the window asked her mother, "if things always
looked alike to her?"

Jilrs. Jones smiled, and saying that was a queer
question, replied that the same things did appear
differently at different times, for the reason that
we view the same objects with such various feel-
ings. "I expect you enjoyed yourself very much
while you were away, this winter and summer ;
you were happy, were you, my daughter ?"

"Yes mother, happier than I shall ever be again,
if I've got to stay at home," replied she, at the
same time bursting into tears.

"AVhy, m3' child, do tell me why you feel so,
why this change ? I must know Ellen ; your hap-
piness is very dear to me. Do not let us see you
unhappy, if it is in our power to make you feel
otherwise."

"\yell, mother, perhaps 'twould have been bet-
ter to have let me stayed at home."

"Why, my child?"

"Because, there is everything beautiful in the
city, and of course I must, I could not help Ijeing
happy thei'C. Uncle's house is so different, so
much pleasantcr, so much more elegant than this.
0 , this looks like a prison beside it ; their kitchen
looks prettier to me than our parlor. And then
aunt never works as you do ; it is far pleasantcr
to have servants. 0 , 1 wish I had never gone from
home, and then I shouldn't have known but it
was Avcll enough here;" and Ellen drew a long
sigh.

"Well, my dear, if you don't Avish it, we will
not again send you ; you will forgive your father
and mother for placing you in circumstances
which caused 3'ou, to be so unhappy. vSui-ely we
made a great mistake, and 0, Ellen, y on don't
know how great an effort we made, to give you
tlicse advantages."

"I don't want you to talk so, mother."

"But my dear, you are taking a wrong and mis-
taken view of everything, and O, Ellen, how little
you know of the world ; if I had time, I would
tell you how, for months before you left us, your
father and I exerted ourselves to give you an op-
portunity to acquire knowledge, and to make j'ou
happy. Let me beg of you, Ellen, not to speak to
your fatlier, as you have to me ; it does seem to
me that you can overcome these feelings at once, if

you choose — at any rate you will shortly, if you
will make an effort, and cherish kind and gentle
feelings. ATill you try ?"

"Yes, mother, but it's no use ; I can't make be-
lieve contented."

The children returned and gave Ellen an ac-
C3uut of their hour's enjoyment. "Such a good
time," exclaimed Eddy, "you never had down to
uncle's, I know ; George was real sorry not to see
you, Ellen."

In the evening the faniily were seated around
the open fire-place whose cheerful blaze made
shadows on the Avail, and threw its light over the
whole.

"Now for some popped corn, Eddy, and some
apples," said Mr. Jones.

"Yes, father, I've got it all shelled n^ady." Sec
our new corn- popper, Ellen," said Eddy.

Ellen said nothing, but looked as though it were
a little beneath her dignity to notice such childish
things. After a few moments' shaking — pop,
pop, snap, — and it was quickly turned upside
down, and emptied of its snow-white ker-
nels. Soon the large dish was filled, and the red-
cheeked apples were beside it. Ellen Avas now
quite cheerful, more so than she had been since
her return, and the evening passed pleasantly.
Sweetly sounded her fine voice as Avith her mother
she joined in singing

"There is a land of piire ck-ligh*,"

and Avhen she knelt with the others, and her fath-
er prayed that they might be "that happy family
whose God is the Lord,'' Iioav did her mother's
heart fill Avith grateful emotions to the Giver of
every blessing.

Ellen took a candle from the mantel, and light-
ing it, pleasantly bade her father and mother
"good night ;" as she closed the door, her mother
heard her exclaim.

"What is it, Ellen,'' said she ; "did you not
speak to me ?

"No, but it is shockingly disagreeable to have
these talloAV candles ; it's too bad, tallow drop-
ping upon my dress ; so different from uncle's gas
lights — well, I must bear it, no use to say a Avord
— though I despise these things."

Mrs. Jones closed the door and made no reply.

"Wife, Avhat ails Ellen ?" said Mr. Jones,as she
reseated herself. "What has got into her? I
think it's pretty Avell, if Ave'vc got to make an ef-
fort to raise money to send the children aAA'ay to
school, only to come back and despise homo. It
seems to me she has made up her mind to be vni-
happy. AYhat course shall aa'c take Avith her?
It is having its effect upon the younger ones —
they look up to Ellen. Do you think Eddy didn't
say to me out in the barn to-day, 'that the rea-
son his feet AA'Cie so cold was, because Ave had no
carpets on the floor ;' I asked him Iioav he kncAV,
and he said 'Ellen said so.' ''

"I'm very sorry," said Mrs. Jones, "but Ellen
is not really uuamiable — once let us touch her
better feelings, and certain! am she has them,
and she Avill sIicav as kind and as true a heart as
any child Ave have got."

"T knoAV it, but 'tAVont do to be harsh, we can'ti
scold it out of her ; and I'm afraid we can't coax
it out very quick."

"Shall you go to the village thisAA'cek?" asked
Mrs Jones.

318

NE\r ENGLAND FARxMER.

July

"Yes, I shall go day after to-morrow ; shall we
lot Ellen go over and spend the day?"'

"That Ls what I was thinking of," replied Mrs.
Jones. "We must be gentle as well as firm, and
her good sense -will show her better, bye-and-by,
I hope."

Pleasantly felt Ellen, if we judge from her
beaming countenance, as seated in the sleigh by
her father's side, on a fine morning, she bade her
mother and sister "good-bye ;" pleasant visions of
village girls, rich furniture and charming music
were flitting through her mind, and a feeling like
contempt for her own home, and something like
pity for its inmates mingled with these pleasura-
ble feelings. "But they don't know any better,"
she inwardly felt. "Yes, and didn't you," said a
little timid voice speaking from the chamber of
her secret thoughts, "didu't you enjoy your child-
ish sports at home, when you didn't know any
better? Didn't you have a better time when you
played in the oak pasture ; yes, and didn't you
have a better time in the garret, even, playing
blindman's buff,than in uncle J.'s parloi-s ?" Then
Ellen was almost obliged to own to herself that
'twas so. Then she thought how full of enjoy-
ment the children were the day ])efore, when it
stormed, sitting on grandmamma's settle, and call-
ing it uncle's velvet lounge.

""W ell, it's because they don't Icnow any bet-
ter, and i do hiow better. I wont stoop or bend
to their homely notions again ;" and Ellen tossed
her head with quite an air for a young Miss_, in
confirmation of this thought, as her father reined
his horse to the door of a shabby looking cottage,
in one of the back streets of the village they had
just entered.

"NoAV, Ellen," said her father, "I want you to
get out here, and stop a spell ; I am going to thr
mill to get this bag of corn gi-ound , and may be
you would rather not have an}- of your young
friends know that you rode with a l)ag of com."

Ellen blushed, for she didu't sujipose till that
moment, that her father understood licr motive,
when she expressed a wish to walk part of tlio dis-
tance. "If I shouldn't call for you very soon, El-
len, don't be worried, for you will find an old
friend here ; try and enjoy yourself, and be sure
and stay till I call for you ; there, give these
things to Mary," said he, handing her some bun-
dles; "don't knock, walk right in."

"Mary, Mary," thought^shc, hesitating a mo-
ment on the door-step, "it must be Mary Teel,
who lived with us when mother was sick ;" and
then she heard a lullaby noise, and the faint wail
of an infant, and softly she opened the door of a
dark entry. Closing this, she felt her way to
the opposite door, and entered alittle room. She
was for a moment, unable to distinguish objects,
but a kind, though unfamiliar voice greeted her,
and placing a broken chair by the stove, invited
her to be seated. Ellen now looked around the
dark room ; dirk, not l>ccause there Avas no pleas-
ant sunlight without, but because there was but
one little window of four squares for it to gain
admittance to this attic room.

In one corner was a low cot bed, upon which lay
Mary Teel. Little had Ellen seen of sickness, —
yet one glance told her that Mary was very ill.
Then as her eye wandered from the bed to the
mean and wretched appearance of everything in
the room, she for a moment had a feeling of dis-

gust, and felt unkindly towards her father for
leaving her there. It was but for a moment,
however, for Ellen, as we said before, had a kind
heart, and when she saw Mary's baby lifted from
its little broken cradle, and placed in the ])ed by
its mother, and heard the woman who attended
her describe her intense sufferings, with that dis-
tressing sickness, the rheumatic fever, her heart
melted.

No visions of her uncle's splendid parlors now
rose before her, but she was thinking how Mary,
pretty Mary Teel, two years ago, watched by the
sick bed of her mother, with a heart as free fi-om
sorrow and care as was then her own. Then as
Mary, awaking frum the fitful slumljer into which
she had fallen, placed her bright eyes on Ellon,
the color on lier cheek heightened, and slie
reached outlier thin hand to grasp Ellen's, which
was quickly placed in her's — feeble was the grasp,
yet it thrilled tlirough her inmost soul.

" 'Tis kind in you, so kind, to come to see me,
'a friend in need is a friend indeed !' Such a sweet
thouglit I had while I was sleeping ; I thought
your dear mother stood by my bed side, and with
her sweet voice she sung

'P:viu and death and night and.anguish,
IJutcr not the realms abore.'

and now you will sing it to me — 0, I wish you
knew some more, my head is so weak, I can't
think much."

Ellen placed her hand over her eyes, now swim-
ming in tears, and thought for a moment ; "I be-
lieve I know some of it," said she ; then bending
low she repeated,

'■Endless pleasure, pain excluding,
Sickness there no more can como,

There no fear of woe intruding,

Sheds o'er iteaven a moment's gloom."

Mary listened with clasped hands and closed
eyes, and then'softly added

"Lay thy supporting, gentle hand,
Beuoafh my sinking head."

Tlion in a g.nitl ) wiiisper she asked Ellen if she
could sing it like her mother. She did so with a
low, sweet voice, and Mary remained silent for a
few minutes after looking earnestly at her ; then
motioning for her to lean over the bedside, she
whispered in her ear, "Are you happy, dear'
0 yes, you must be ; I am, I have everything to
make ??!£ happy." Ah! those words sunk deep
in a kind l>ut sensitive nature.

Where were Ellen's fancied sorrows? Scattered
to the winds.

Mary now slept, and Ellen for the first time
thought of the articles her father gave her for
Mary. She untied the bundles, and first were a
dozen candles — "tallow candles." "0, kind in ye
dear, to bring them," said the woman, "we've
got along nicely though ; we've burnt rags in a
little dipper of grease, but it's not so neat, you
know, i'ou must be used to sickness, dear," she
said as Ellen handed up the other articles, "to
know how we needed just these things."

"iMy mother is," was the reply. "Well, dear,
surely you was kind as could be, to come here —
young folks like you aint always so thoughtful
like, but you'll have your reward. S/je," point-
ing to tne bed. '■'■she is a saint, and oceans of sor-
row she's waded through. When her husband
died and left her in sore want she never mur-

1854.

NEW ENGI^iND FARMER.

319

mured a word, nor in all her sickness, nor no evident excitement, to the spot where but a few
time, has a sharp word fell." ! moments before, he and his companion had been

How chan"-ed were Ellen Jones feelings, as ere {seemingly safely fastened. Surprised to find his
she placed her head on her pillow that night she j horse [loose, and struck with liis singular conduct,
prayed "deliver us from evil." Then did she feel Mr. A. immediately followed, and iound the oth-
that no evil indeed had ever fallen upon her. And

in after years, when she had become a useful and
a happy woman, did she often recur to that visit,
believin<r that God taught her there, that "to

er lying in the water, entangled in the rope, and
struggling to keep his head from being submerged.
While Mr. A. proceeded to disengage the unfor-
tunate horse, his noble benefactor stood by, mani-

life.

Brentwood.

make others happy, is one of the truest objects of I festing the utmost solicitude and sympathy, and

when his mate was extricated from his situation,
and again upon his feet upon terra firma, tlie gen-
erous creature exhibited the most unquestionaI)le
signs of satisfaction and joy. That this intelli-
gent animal should have noticed the unfortunate
situation of his mate — that he should know where

THE POOR MAN'S MAY.

those who would limit the power of reasoning to
the "genus homo." — St. Anthony's Ex.

We h.ive had repeated occa.-ion to extract some beautiful pas-
sages from poets wlio are now moving in the humblest walks of]
Ufe. Of these, John and Mary Saunders are worthy of especial i tO apply for rescue, and inhis efforts should sun-
note, for the extreme sweetness and simpUcity of their produc- j der a thrCC-fourths of an inch rope, and fin ally
tions. They do not aim at lofty subjects, but are content with j that he should exhibit SO high an Upproci^ion ot'
those that come peculiarly within their own observation. Hence] the event, are Curious circumstances to US, and cOUl-
their poems are natural, and because natural, they are pleasing, m^nd themselves to the thoui;;htful consideration 0\
Sweet May I they tell me thou art come :

Thou art not come to mc;
I cannot spare a single hour.

Sweet May ! to welcome thee,
(iod knows how hard I've worked tliis week.

To earn my children bread ;
And see, we have an empty board, —

My children are unfed.
And art thou still the same sweet May

My childhood loved so well,
When humming like a happy bee.

Along some primrose dell,
I thought, 0 ! what a lovely world

Is this, dear God has given.
And wondered any one should seek
For any other heaven ?

The hawthorn buds are come again,

And apple blossoms too ;
And all the idle, happy birds

May sing the long day through.
The old green lane awakes once more,

And looks, perhaps, for me;
Alas ! green lane, my heart may die —

I cannot come to thee.

SINGULAR CASE OF INSTINCT IN A '
HORSE.

We do not remember ever to have heard of a
more remarkable exhibition of equinine intelli-
gence than was communicated to us a few days
since Ijy Mr. Allen, of this place. The circum-
stances as they were narrated to us are as fol-
lows : —

Mr. A. had for a considerable time a span of
sprightly little horses, that he had never separa-
ted. In the stable, in the field, and tiie harness,
they have always been together. This has caused

DEMOCRACY OF SCIENCE,

EY JOSIAH nOLBROOK.

Consolidation and diifusion are two operations
distinct and opposite. Both are witnessed in
wealth, government, religion, knowledge, and
nearly every thing human. However applied, the
one is despotic and. the otlier democratic. The na-
ture of man and the progress of society tend to con-
solidation at the expense of diffusion. The spirit
of republicanism is to promote diffusion and put
checks upon consolidation ; and that, too, as con-
nected witli all the leading interests of human
beings.

Democracy of science is the subject now under
view. The true democracy of science is "to in-
crease AND DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEn"

the design of Smithson. This is also not only a
great, but the great object of national and State
policy — not to consolidate but diffuse knowledge ;
and knowledge interesting to all, especially farmers
and mechanics, as they constitute more than seven-
eighths of all civilized communities. "

The development and the application of the na-
tural resources of our country stand first and fore-
most in furnishing that kind of knowledge inter-
esting to all. It shows possessions and the modes
of using them — strictly the "use of talents."
But with development and application tliere may
be diffusion ; there may also be consolidation. It
is one thing to liave our mineral resources devel-
oped, and a knowledge of them so diffused that

a strong attachment to grow up between them. \ every farmer may know the character and capa

A few days ago, he went with them out to Lake
Minnetooka, on a fishing excursion. Taking them
out of the carriage, he led them to the lake and
tied them several rods apart on a strip of grass
that grew upon the shore, and left them to feed.
Returning to the shantee, he threw hunself upon
the floor, to await the return of the party who
had repaired to the lake to fish.

Not much time had elapsed before tlie sound of
ai)proaching horse's feet attracted his attention,
and a moment after, one of his horses appeared at
the door. The animal pul his head in, and givin

bilitios of his own fields. It is quite another thmg
to have our country subjected to scientific explor-
ations, however full and complete, and the results
placed in ponderous volumes, and those volumes
confined to the shelves of college and State libra-
ries, to be little read and less understood. The one
is diffusion, the other consolidation. The one is
carrying out the purpose of scientific explorations,
and applying the knowledge obtiiined by them for
the benefit of those who need it, and those who
paid for it; the otlier is evidently a perversion of
funds designed for diffusive knowledge, wealtli.

one neigh, returned at a slow gallop, yet under' morals, and power, to personal pride and individ-

520

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

ual aggrandizement. The one tends to democracy,
tlie otlier to despotism.

As the spirit of the age is the democracy of sci-
ence— the diffusion, not the consolidation of knowl-
edge— an attempt will be made to point out sev-
eral subjects of science, -with'such plans and modes
of promoting them as will tend to bring knowledge
to every man's door, and to give to it free access
))y every farmer's son and every mechanic's daugh-
ter. As the schools of our country constitute or
ought to constitute not a "■national university,''''
but a "university of the nation," special endea-
vors ■will be made to present such subjects, plans,
and modes as will aid in training the young beings
composing them for success in their future voca-
tions ; to put them on the track of "practical

SCIENCE, rRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY, AND CHRISTIAN JIOR-
AI,S.''

should they be set out, how set, and what land
will they do best onl David E. Brown.

FrankUn, N. //., 1854.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

rOISON FOR RATS.

Can you inform me through your paper what is
the best poison for rats where hens are kept ?
Boston, May 25, 1854. a. s.

Remarks. — Sprinkle about a little flour or meal
for a day or two, and after that add a small quan-
tity of strychnine.

LIGHTNING RODS.

Will the Editor give through the Farmer the
necessary information in regard to liglitning rods.
Arc they a safe and certain protection from the
fluid 1 Of what materials and how should they
be constru"cted ? Are buildings or persons injured
ever, or life destroyed when they are properly put
up ? By answering these inquiries and adding
such infoi-mation as you may wish in regard to
the whole subject, I doubt not you will oblige
many of your readers. Yours truly,

Essex, Vi., May 20, 1824. S. G. Bvtlei:.

Remarks. — The subject is an important one, but
in a season like this, when much of the usual
spring work is crowded into the space of a few
days, wo cannot give that attention to a matter
like that whicb is the subject of inquiry above,
which it merits. Nor shall we ever be able to say
that no person has ever been injured where rods
are properly put up. Last summer we noticed
some eight or ten accounts in the papers, of de-
struction of both life and property by lightning,
and in every case there were rods attached to
the buildings struck. Unless properly put up we
believe there is more danger than to be entirely
without them. Perhaps some of our correspon-
dents, blessed with leisure and good will, may
make themselves useful in a consideration of this
8ul)jcct.

Our friend will please bear in mind that farm-
ing is our business, and that wo believe fully in
the "old saw,"

'•Not with his hands, hut with his sight,
The master keeps his woikinen riglxt."

CULTIVATION OF STRAWBERRIES.

1 wish to inquire the method of cultivating
English strawberries? AYhat time in the year

Remarks. — The best season for setting straw-
berry plants is in the spring — in May. Set one
row, then 15 inches ofi" another, and 15 inches
more another row ; then leave a path 30 inches
wide. After they have been cultivated a few years,
the plants may be transferred to the 30 inch path,
and the bed renewed. For field culture, plant
the rows three feet apart so as to cultivate with a
horse.

LIME TURNIPS the SEASON.

IIow shall I apply oyster shell lime to the soil
to tliebcst advantage? My soil is a heavy, moist
loam, Avith a hard pan bottom, some two or three
feet iVom the surfece. {a.)

Will turnii^s, either English, or ruta-bagas, do
well for winter food for stock, sown at this season
of the year, or any time in May? Will they not
grow large, corky and nearly worthless, sown at
this season on good land ? I have a piece of new
hill burnt land, cleared last fall and sowed to rye
and seeded, but the rye has nearly all winter-
killed. Tlie soil is good, but the most of it is too
rocky and stumpy to plow ; will carrots do any-
thing on such land without the use of the p>low ?
I have queried a good deal in my own mind what
kind of a ci-op to sow (or plant even) to get the
best return for my labor, and the more I queried,
the farther I AA'as from coming to any conclusion
as to what was the best method for me to pursue,
and in my dilemma I ask for advice, {h.)

The season is very backward in this region as it
must be throughout the country. Ground froze
hard last night, and water nearly three- fourths of
an inch thick, making the cattle which have been
turned out look rather sorry. We hope we have
had our last freeze for this spring, and that vege-
tation will soon make rapid strides.

Mr. Charles C. Stevens, of this town, gave me a
jMalay hen's egg, which measured 2 inches in di-
ameter, 3 inches long — CJ inches in circumfer-
ence one way, and 3 inches the other way. Is
that often beat ? * James A. Blake.

Wancich, Mass., 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) Sow a part of the lime broad-
cast and a part in drills or the hills and note the
effect. The slightest covering will be sufficient.

{h.) Your burnt hill land will be excellent for
turnips ; the common flat turnip will probaljly
succeed best, as the ruta bagas require a mellow
and somewhat deep soil. The middle or last of
July will be early enough to sow the seed, and if
carefully raked in on such land, you may reason-
ably e.\peet a most abundant crop.

Signs op Health in Sheep are, a skittish
brightness, clear azure eye, florid, ruddy eye-
strings and gums, teeth fast, breath sweet, nose
and eyes dry, respiration free and regular, feet
cool, dung substantial, wool fast and unbroken,
skin of fine florid red, particularly on the brisket. —
Lawrence on Cattle. •

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMEE.

321

For the Pt'ew England Farmer.

FRENCH MEEIITO BUCK, "OLD TIGER."

Old TiGEU is 5 years oM, 18) lbs. wei^-lit of
carcass, 10 Iba. 11 ox. Wright of fleece, and very
clean for unwashid wool. The ■wool is fine and
even for that variti^y. His stock is superior, and
sought after by many of our best wool growers. 1
have repeatedly refused $500 for him. I pur-
chased Old Tiger, as he is called, August 20th,
1850, of Mr. A. S. Bingham, of Cornwall, Vt.;
he is known as the Taint cr Stoch. I paid s200
for him, and I confess that it has been tlie l)est in-
vestment 1 ever made, having realized the sum of
$1200 profit from him in three years. My pres-
ent flock consists of French, Silesian and Spanish
Merinos, selected mostly from Mr. Cami'bell's
celebrated flock, who is now breeding each variety
distinct, except in a few cases of cross with each
other, which have thus far proved very satisfac-
tory. Very truly,

Braiileboro\ Vi. A. V. Stocjcwei.l.

PROSPECTS OF THE SEASON.
The frequent rains and cool weatlier liat-e giv-
en the fields an unusual richness; on old fields
grass was considerably winter-killed, and the crop
will bo rather light, notwithstanding the favora-
ble weather ; on fields more recently laid down
the prospect for a full crop is favorable. Winter
rye, and the few pieces of winter wheat we have
seen, look well. Oats and barley also promise
well now. Corn has generally come well where
it has not been scorched by coming into contact
with guano. We have hoard of a good many
acres to be replanted from this cause. The grain

must not come in contact with the guano, even
tliough the latter is mingled with four or five parts
of loam. Nor should the guano be in a mass be-
low the kernels, because when the root strikes
down into it, the guano is quite sure to kill it.
When guano is applied to the hill it should be
scattered over a surface one or two feet square.
Potatoes are up well and generally look finely.

There is good promise of a Axir fruit crop.
Cherries will not be so abundant as last year, but
in some sections quite plentiful. The peach crop
will be light — the winter was too severe. If we
mean to secure an annual crop of this delicious
fruit, we must devise some way of protecting the
trees. See two articles in last week's paper on
this subject. Apples promise well, a sufficient
amount of fruit hanging on to give a good supply,
wlicre the worms have not destroyed the foliage.
Tlie caterpillars came early and were numerous,
and in some of tlie towns near Boston have been
succeeded by the canker worm, which has made
great havoc among the orchards. In passing
tlirougli tiie town of Marll)orough last week — said
to be the second best farming town in tlie State — wo
saw numerous orchards nearly defoliated l)y cater-
pillars ; the branches were bare of every tiling but
the huge, ugly nests of the caterpillar — a striking
contrast to the usual good husbandry of our agri-
cultural friends in tiiat beautiful town. On the
whole, the prospects to the farmer are encourag-
ing ; prices of all kinds of produce are higli,and
with diligence and economj-, he cannot fail to reap
a fair reward for his labor.

322

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

For the New England Farmer.

[COBHBSPONDENCE No. 2.]

APPLICATION OF LIME AND ASHES

iOll TIIK IMl>]lOVKMENT Of LAND.

Shorcham, Vt.,Fth. '11, 1854.

Mr. Holbrook : — Dear Sir, — Althougliyou are
a stranger to me, personally, you arc uot through
the press, and as you frequently give your views
on different sulijects relating to agriculture, 1
should be pleased to receive a conununication
from you on the application of unslacked ashes
and slacked lime.

My soil ismostlyof a deep, rich, dry loam, some
of it heavy, some light, and plaster of paris has
had a good effect, and I am told has been applied
for 30 years past. My crops have not been as
large and good as the cultivation would indicate.

Generally, I have raised winter wheat after
corn, and the most I ever raised was 28 bush. per|
acre — average 14 bush. Since I liave been on the
farm (15 years) I have not raised a first rate crop
of winter or spring wheat ; there has been some
defect, either it would lodge ; be too thin ; the fly
would injure it ; or the rust would strike it and
spoil the berry.

Now can I not apply ashes or lime to advantage
and have a larger and more equal yield ?

Refuse lime can l)e had for three cents per bush-
el within three miles, and I think ashes can be
bought in town for G or 8 cents, as there is no
ashery, and most of the faraiers prefer to selj
them. I have thouglits of applying ashes and
lime to grass lands when they are dry, but have
no experience, and do not wish to use many with-
out more knowledge than I have on this subject.

I have previously paid more attention to raising
grain than grass, but am convinced with the pres-
ent high price of labor that the jirofits of the farm
would be larger should I reverse it and give tb.e
grass crop the preference.

I tliink since 1839, the average crop of hay has
not l)een over | of a ton per acre, and pasture in
proportion.

Should you be pleased to answer this communi-
cation, it would be received as coming from high
authority, and I shouldgovcrn myself accordingly.
An early I'eply will much oblige

Your liumble servant, .

Dear Sir : — Your letter of Fob. 27th, was duly
received, and I take the first convenient opportu-
nity to answer it. Omitting your name and resi-
dence, I reply to your inquiries through the me-
dium of the New England Farmer, hoping that
thus I may be anticipating inquiries kindred to
yours froai other persons and saving some writing,
and trusting that under the circumstanses you
will not seriously object to this mode of communi-
cation.

The exhaustion of land by long-continued ap-
plications of }ilaster, without suitable applications
of stable manure, has been often illustrated. Plas-
ter stimulates the soil to give up its fertility freely
to growing crops, but does not enrich it like or-
ganic or stable manures. Perhaps to a greater or
less extent this is your case.

Probably your land needs rest from wheat, as
generally it is a crop which will not, to an equal de-
gree with several other crops, bear repetition at short
intervals on the same land. Throw wheat out ofi

your rotation for a few years, or at least cultivate
a loss Im'adth of it for a while than heretofore,
and makt; the intervals longer between groiving it
on a given field ; as thus your land will be gaining
what it has been robbed of by the wheat, while at
tlie same time it will be yielding well in other
crops, and ultimately, will give you good crops of
wheat again.

As your land is mostly a deep substantial loam,
l)y giving it large doses of lime you might for a
time realize a considerable increase in your crops
of wlieat, and indeed in most other crops; but
such application, without corresponding dressings
of organic or stable manure, would ultimately ex-
haust your soil. On this mode of using lime is
founded the proverb — "lime enriches the fiithers
but impoverishes the sons ;" — the reason of which
is, that its principal or more powerful action up-
on the soil is chemical and mechanical, rather
than as manure in the strict sense : chemical, as
an alterative and stimulant, rendering wdiatcver of
fertility the soil contains, whether free, or locked
up in noxous compounds, readily available to the
growing crops ; mechanical, in modifying the tex-
ture of the soil, such as by opening and loosening
stiff loams and clay, making them more permeable
to air, heat and moisture, and easier to work.
But it is not my province to deal very minutely in
theoretical considerations, and I shall therefore
reply to you mostly in the practical view. I
would commend to your attentive perusal, "Lec-
tures on Agricultural Chemistry," by Prof. John-
ston, wherein 3-ou will find the whole subject of
lime as used in agriculture, as well as many other
important matters, very fully, clearly and a))ly
discussed, l^ou would also do well to read "The
Field Book of ]\Ianures," by Browne.

If you can buy lime and ashes at anything like
the prices you name, you had certainly better em-
ploy them, in connection with organic substances,
in the improvement of your land. Mix the lime
or ashes with muck from swamps and bogs, rich
turf',the rich soil washed into hollows and ditclies,
pond mud, &c., making up the compost heap in a
similar mode to that indicated in my correspond-
ence with another gentleman, recently published
in the Fanner, and marked No. 1. But as he
proposed using fresh lime, which increases in bulk
three or four fold by slaking, and as you design
using refuse lime already slaked, you had better
mix from three to five bushels with a half-cord of
the muck, &c., with or without salt, as you may
deem expedient. By applying lime or ashes in
compost as a1>ove stated, you can use a larger
quantity to the acre than would l)e advisable if
tliey were applied alone, and will realize all the
good effects they can naturally produce, without
the disadvantage of ultimately exhausting your
soil, as the vegetable organic matter of the com-
post Avill maintain and increase the staple of the
soil . It will ^JC well to spread as much as twenty-
five or thirty loads of the compost to the acre, —
liarrowing it in on the surface rather than plow-
ing it in deep, as the tendency of tlie lime and
aslies is downwards in the soil. If convenient,
make up tlie compost several months before it is
wanted for use, as age improves its quality ; but
a few weeks before will do.

If instead of raising grain so exclusively as you
say you have heretofore done, you turn your at-
tention moro to the production of grass and the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND F^iRMER.

323

roaring of stock, you y\-i\\ be in the y\Ay of niak-( bring a clear day to the farmer, though it may be
iug more manure than formerly to give back to: cloudy till ten or eleven o'clock in the forenoon,
the land, — especially if you cart waste substances, I Spider-webs will be very numerous about the tops
like those above named, to the barn and yards to| of the grass and grain some cloudy mornings, and
be mingled with the cattle-droppings, — while atjfifty year's observation has shown the writer of
the same time the change will atford more rest to J this tliat these little weathcr-guessers seldom fail
the land, so that it will improve in some qualities; in their predictions of a fair day. — Ex.
now feeble or raissino;. I

If in this latter way you can make manure
enough to dress the fields Avell, then, inasmuch as
you can buy lime and ashes at so very low prices,
you may probably find it advantageous to use
them as alteratives and stimulants, in the form of

THE VOICE OF THE GRASS.

This charming littlo poom we li.ivi; !:itoly seen in tlie English

papers without a signature, and publislied as btlon^ing to Kng-

l»nd. It was written by Mrs. Sarah Roberts, of Portsmouth, N.

. tr J 1 1 1 L • I '^•' •'^"'^ ^^'"* origin.iUy printed in the Portsmouth Journal. —

top-dressings. iou doubtless understand that it; jiary Ilowitt, in her "Pictorial Calendar of the Seasons," quotes

is not advisable to put lime with stable-manure,,it witii highprais
as it induces violent fermentation and tlirows off
the ammonia of the manure. But apjily the ma-
nure to your hoed crops, of corn, potatoes, i*co.,
and then the next year, or whenever you sowj
the land with grain and grass seeds, ajiply lime
and haiTOw it in with the seeds. It will tend to
sweeten the land, increase the grain cri^p, bring
in the grasses well, and keep out sorrel. During
the time the filed is in grass, you can profitably
top-dress it once with ten to twenty bushels of
ashes to the acre.

Tlie quantity of lime which it is politic to spread
on an acre of land, depends considerably on ±hc
qualitj' of the soil, and the climate in which it is
located. Stiff clays, and deep moist loams rich in
vegetable sulistance, will bear a larger dose of
lime than dry shallow sands or gravel ; and a
given variety of soil will bear more lime in a lui-
mid than ia a dry climate. The farmers in Eng-
land and Scotland are said to use from one to two
busliels of lime oa a square rod of ground, or at
the rate of 150 to 350 bushels per acre. But tliis
is a very heavy dose even on their stiff soils and
in their humid climate, and would probably lie of
very doubtful utility with us in New England.
You had better apply a bushel of lime on from two
to six square rods, or from 25 to 80 1>ushels per
acre, as experimental trials shall dictate.

If the stables and yards do not afford all tlie
manure you want for the tiilagc-fjclds, you can
make up the deficiency by compostii'g lime or
ashes with muck, &c.

Other fields, in grass, which you wish to make
more productive than tliey now are, by a cheap
process and in the shortest practicalne ]>eriod, may
be smoothly turned over in September, dressed
with twenty to thirty loads of the compost of lime
or ashes with muck, &c., seeded directly with
herdsgrass and red-top, and in the s)>ring with
clover. This compost will also be good to use on
such portions of the pastures as ai-e level enough
to plow.

If your plows are of the too common sort which
can only skim the surface of the land, cast them
aside and procure larger and ))etter ones, and
l)low each field deeper and deeper at each rota
tion of crops, till you have made a good active
soil nine to twelve inches deep.

Very truly yours,

F. IIOhBROOK.

Farmers, NOTE Til IS. — In a cloudy morning, it is
a matter of importance to the farmer to know
whether it will be sunshiny or showery in the af-
ternoon. If the ants have cleared tlieir liole nice-
ly, and piled the dirt up high, it seldom fails to

It is worthy of it.
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;

By the dusty roadside,

On the sunny lull-side.

Close by tlie noisy brook,

In every shady nook,
I come creeping, creeping cverywhera.

Here I come creeping, smiling everywhere;
All round the open door,
Where sit the aged poor.
Here with the children play,
In the bright and merry May,

I come creeping, creeping everywhere. _

Here I come creeping, creeping evei-y where;

In the noisy city street,

My pleasant face you'll meet,

Cheering the sick at heart.

Toiling his busy part.
Silently creeping, creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;
You cannot see me coming.
Nor hear my low sweet humming;
For in the starry night.
And the glad morning light,

I come quietly creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;
More welcome than the flowers.
In summer's pleasant hours;
The gentle cow is glad,
And the merry bird not sad

To see me creeping, creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;
When you're numbered with the dead
In your still and narrow bed.
In the happy spring I'll come.
And deck your silent home,

Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;

My humble song of praise.

Most gratefully I raise

To Him at whose command

I beautify the land.
Creeping, silently creejiing everywhere.

The Connecticut Valley Far.meu. — We intend-
ed to have called attention to the I\Iaj' number of
this excellent paper before. It is published at
Springfield by S. Bowlks & Co., and edited by
Professor J. A. Nash. The farmers, and indeed,
men of every occupation, will find the Connecticut
Valley Farni'ir not only an instructive, but an
interesting paper. Prof. Nash gives it much of
his own earnest spirit, while his teachings are
sound and valuable for all. The people of the
A'alley not only, luit over the broad land, would
be benefited by a perusal of its pages.

3-24

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

THE ARMY OF WORMS.

In the summer of 1770 this whohi section of
country was visited by an extraordinary caLimity,
.such an one as this country never exiierienecd ))e-
fore or since, beyond what I shall hero specify.
It was an army of Avorms, which extended from
Lancaster, N.H., to Xorthfield, Mass. They began
to appear the latter part of July, 1770, and con-
tinued their ravages until Septeniljer. The in-
habitants denominated them the "Northern Ar-
my," as they seemed to advance from the north
or northwest, and to pass east and south, althougli
I did not learn that they ever passed the hit^h

This visitation, which destroyed the principal
grains for that year, was felt severely by all the
settlements; for it not only cutoff their bread-
stuffs, but deprived them of the means of making
their pork to a great degree, and reduced the quan-
tity of fodder for their cattle. The settlements at
Haverliill and Newbury did not feel this calamity
quite so much as those infant settlements in the
towns nortl\and south of them. They had been
longer in their settlements, had some old stock of
provisions .on hand, and had the means to procure
supplies from Charlestown, or by the way of
Charlestown. Jonathan Tyler, of Piermont, re-

land between the Connecticut and Merrimack riv-|liit«l tome that that settlements in that town
crs. They were altogether innumerable for mul- i^'cre left without means of subsistence from their
titnde. Dr. Burton, of Thetford, Yt., told me he jo^^n farms. His ftither drew hay on a hand-sled
had seen whole pastures so covered that he could] "?*->» t'^^ ice from the great Ox-bow in Newbury
not put his finger doAvn upon a single spot with- ' to support his cow the following winter. And had
out placing it upon a worm. lie said he had jit not been for two sources opened for their sup-
seen more than ten bushels in a heap. They were;l"'i"t, they must have deserted

unlike anything the present generation had ever
seen. There was a stripe upon their backs like
black velvet ; on either side a yellow stripe from
end to end ; and the rest of the Ijody was brown.
They were sometimes seen not larger than a pin :
but in their maturity they were as long as a man's
linger, and,i»oportion ably large in circumference.
They appeared to be in great haste, except when
they halted to procure food. They filled the hous-
es of the inhabitants and entered their kueading-
troughs, as did the frogs of Egypt. They would
go up the sides of the house, and cover it in such
a compact column that notliing of the boards or
shingles could be seen! They did not take hold
of the pumpkin vine, peas, potatoes or flax; but
wheat and corn disappeared before as by magic.
They would climb up the stalks of wheat, cut off
the stalks just before the head, and almost as soon
as the head had fallen to the ground it was de-
voured. To prevent this the men would "draw
the rope,'' as they termed it; that, is two men
would take a rope, and pulling from each other
until it was nearly straightened, they would then
pass through their wheat fields, brush off the
worms from the stalks, and by perpetual action
they retarded the destruction of their wheat ; but
it was doomed finally to extinction.

There were fields of corn on the meadows in
Ilaverliill and Newbury standing so thick, large
and tall, that in some instances it was difficult to
see a man standing more than one rod in the field
from the outermost row But in ten days from
the first appearing of the "Northern Army,"
notliing remained of this corn but the bare stalks !
Every expedient was resorted to by the inhabi-
tants to protect their fields of corn, but all in
vain. Tliey dug trenches around their fields a
foot and a half deep, hoping this might prove a
defence ; but the ditches were soon filled, and the
millions that were in their rear went over on the
backs of their fellows in the trench, and took pos-
session of the interdicted food.

About the first of September, the worm sudden-
ly disappeared ; and where they terminated their
earthly career is unknown, for not the carcass of
a worm was seen. In just eleven years afterward,
in 1781, the same kind of worm made its appear-
ance again, and the fears of the people were much

the town. One
was tlie extraordinary crop of pumpkins in Hav-
erhill and Newbury. The corn being cut off' and
the pumpkins remaining untouched by the North-
ern Army, they grew astonishingly and seemed
to cover the whole' ground where the corn had
stood, and the yield was great. The people of
Haverhill and Newbury gave the settlers of Pier-
mont -the privilege of carrying away gratis as
many pumpkins as they would. They went up,
made a kind of I'aft, and transported them by wa-
ter to Piermont. The raft was simplyan inclosed
space made by four timbers within which the
pumpkins floated on the water. It was towed by
men in a skiff.

Another source of support was open to them in
the immense number of pigeons which Providence
sent them immediately on the disappearance of
the Norihern Army. Nothing could equal their
number, unless it was the worms that had preced-
ed them. The Tylers of Piermont, Daniel, David
and Jonathan, commenced taking pigeons on the
meadow west of Haverhill Corner, and in the
space of ten days they had taken more than four
hundred dozen ! They carried them to Piermont,
and made "a bee" for picking pigeons ; and tvro
or three times a week the people of Haverhill were
invited down to Mr. Tyler's to pick pigeons. —
Tlioso who wont had the bodies of all they picked,
the Tylers having the feathers ; and they made,
says Jonathan Tyler, "four decent beds of those
feathers." The bodies of these pigeons, when
dressed, dried and preserved for the winter, were
very palatal^lc and nutritious, and proved a good
substitute for other meats. — Power's History of
Coos.

A HORSE'S FOOT.

The foot of a horse is one of the most ingenious
and singular pieces of mechanism in the animal
structure, and scarcely yielding to any in regular-
ity, and in complexity of parts, and simplicity of
iirn. The hoof contains series of vertical and

tluii

m lamina^ of horn, so numerous as to amount
to about 500, and forming a complete lining to it.
Into this arc fitted as many laminae belonging to
the coffin bone ; which sets are elastic and adhe-
rent. The edge of a quire of paper, inserted
leaf by leaf into another, will convey a suflacient
excited; but they were comparatively few in num-lidea of this arrangement. Thus the weight of
ber, and no one of the kind has ever been seen the animal is supported by as many elastic springs
since. las there arclaminte in all the feet, amounting to

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

325

about four thousand, distributed in the most se-
cure manner, since every spring is acted upon in
an oblique direction. Sucli is the contrivance for
the safety of an animal destined to carry greater
weights than that of its own body, and to carry
those, also, under the hazard of heavy sliocks. —
MaccuUoch.

HONEY BEES.

The Albany Cz<//n-ff/':>r has an interesting article
on honey bees, from the pen of a distinguished
professor, from which we quote the following
paragraph .

"Many, nearly everybody supposes that the bee
culls honey from the nectar of flowers, and simply
carries it to his cell in the hive. This is not
correct. The nectar he collects from the flower,
is a portion of its food or drink ; the honey it
deposits in its cell is a secretion from its mellific,
or honey secreting glands, (analogous to the
milk secreting glands of the cow and other
animals.) If they were the mere collectors and
transporters of honey from the flowers to the
honey comb, then we should have the comb fi'C-
quently filled with molasses, and whenever the
bees have fed at a molasses hogshead. The honey
bag in the Itee performs the same functions as
the cow's bag or udder; merely receives the honey
from the secreting glands, and retains it until a
proper oppoi-tunity presents for its being deposited
in its appropriate storehouse, the honey comb.

Anotlier error is, that the bee collects pollen
from tlio flowers accidentally while it is in search
of lioney. Quite the contrary is the fa c-t. When
in search of nectar, or honey, as it is improperly
called, the bee does not collect pollen. It go:'S in
search of pollen specially, and also for nectar. —
When the pollen of the flower is ripe, and fit for
tlie use of the bee, there is no nectar ; when there
is nectar, there is no pollen fit for use in the
flower. It is generally supposed, also, that the
bee constructs the wax, from which its comb is
made, from such vegetable substances. Tliis is
likewise an error. The wax is a secretion from
its body, as the honey is; and it makes its ap-
pearance in small scales or flakes, under the rings
of the belly, and is taken thence by other bees,
rendered plastic by mixture of the bee's mouth,
and laid on the walls of the cell, with the tongue,
very much in the way a plast^er uses his trowel."

from 10 to 80 curculios, which were destroyed.*
Finding that my sheeting mildewed when on the
ground, I suspended each sheet to a branch on
the tree, so as to dr^-. When returning to shake
the trees, I found that not a single curoulio could
bo obtained from a tree on which a sheet had been
suspended. I removed the sheets from tree to
tree with the same result — no injury was done to
the fruit on any tree from v.hich tlie sheet was
suspended.

The coming season I sliall suspend on(! piece or
more, (varying according to the size of the tree,)
of about one yard, painted white, made fast to
two small pieces of wood, suspended from the
centre of the top stick to a branch of the tree, and
shall suspend these on the west side of each tree.
Should the tree be large, I should recommend ad-
dint; two or more additional sheets.''

A NEW EEMEDY FOR THE CUEUULIO.

Mr. A. Robinet, of Bedford, Cuyahoga county,
Ohio, communicates the following to the Cin-
cinnati Horticultural Society, as the result of an
experiment of one season, but needing further
trial to confirm its value. AVe have little faith
that it will be found effective, but as it is easily
tried, we will give it a place. — Ohio Cult i color.

0

"Last spring 1 determined to save my plums if
possible, and accordingly provided myself with two
wooden bows bent l)y a small cord fastened to each
end so as to form a semi-circle of such size Wiit
when the two were placed together, a perfect cir-
cle was made about 7 or 8 feet in diameter; the
intermediate space of each semi-circle was filled
with sheeting. These I at regular intervals placed
on the ground beneath the tree.^ and shook the
trees ?o as to bring down usually at each shaking

SALT YOUR STOCK.

]Most persons, probably, arc aware of the lienefi-
cial efiect of salt upon the human system. By the
ancients, salt was held in high estimation, and
every one has doubtless noticed how extremely in-
sipid meat and veg.etables are when cooked witii-
out it, or with only an insufficient supply. Hors-
es, cattle and sheep, in short all domestic animals,
should be regularly supplied with it at all seasons.
The lil)eral use of this mineral impi-ovcs their con-
dition and promotes their health, and when they
have acquired the habit of partaking of it freely,
there is no danger to be apprehended from their
taking too much.

Salt promotes digestion, and destroys or dis-
lodges worms, which at certain seasons effect a
lodgment in the stomach and alimentary canu!.
We have, most of us, probably witnessed wit!i
what avidity wild, and undomesticated animals
seek at certain times the creeks and estuaries
which indent the shores of the ocean — the "salt
lakes," and what long journeys, dangers and dif-
ficulties they voluntarily encounter to reach them.
This is the result of pure instinct ; it is not to be
attributed to mere caprice, as some have imag-
ined.

Horses, sheep, neat cattle and swine arc all
equally eager for this sanatory and invigorating
substance, and cannot bo maintained in a healthy
and thriving condition without it. The former,
it has been remarked, when liberally supplied with
salt, arc seldom afllicted by the "bots," or with
that scarcely less to be dreaded disease, the cholic.
In salting sheep, especially during the vernal
months,when the green, succulent and highly fer-
mentable matter of which they partake has a ten-
dency to create stomachic derangements, we have
thought it advisable to have a shed erected, and
fitted with a range of boxes, in which a supply
of salt can be constantly kept, and to whi(;h the
animals, at all times, can have free and unre-
strained access. A mixture of one part salt to two
or three parts of wood ashes,may alsobe deposited

32G

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

in some of the boxes. This mixture possesses
highly sanatory properties, and should bo provid-
ed for all animals, particularly Avhen first sent to
pasture. They soon acquire a relish for it, and
partake of it with great avidity.

Salt is also a valuable article in compost. Ac-
cording to CuTiicERT Johnson's statement, it is
now extensively used for this purpose by the far-
mers of Great Britain, and has been found singu-
larly beneficial, particularly on light soils. The
"squash-vine destroyer," he says, is easily pre-
vented from committing its depredations by the
application of brine, which is also a preventive of
aphides, or plant lice, which so frequently lay
waste the turnip and cabbage yards. But it
should here be observed, that the direct applica-
tion of very strong brine will prove fatal to the
plants, and that it should be used for this pur-
pose onl^' in a weak state. By pouring it around
the roots, it will tend to dislodge worms and oth-
er insect depredators.

NEW PLANTS.

much attention. New kinds of fruit, and new
varieties of those already cultivated here, might
be introdued with great advantage.

More attention has been given to the introduc-
tion of improved breeds of animals than to seeds
and plants. The effect of this is seen in the im-
provement of nearly every kind of domestic ani-
mal— horses, cows, oxen, hogs, sheep ; but the in-
troduction of new species of animals has not re-
ceived so much consideration. A discussion has
indeed been raised upon the practicability of in-
troducing the camel for the overland journey to
the Pacific, and something has been said of at-
tempting to domesticate the bisDn. The latter,
we have little doubt, would be successful, and
very beneficial ; tire former appears to be rather
chimerical. Yet we will not undertake to say
that the camel, or even the elephant, might not
be employed with advantage in some part of the
country. At least, we shall never know till we
try. — Providence Journal.

Considerable attention, yet much less than the
importance of the subject demands, has been lately
devoted to the introduction of foreign seeds into
this country. We have now within the limits of
our government, every variety of soil and climate,
and we are dependent upon foreign countries for
many articles whicli, by judicious cultivation,
might readily be supplied from our own resources ;
and many other articles which have long been
rai.ied here, are susceptible of a great improve-
ment in their cultivation and preparation for mar-
ket. Something has been done by the Nationil
Institute, something by the local agricultural so-
eioties, and something by enterprising and liberal
seamen, who have brought home the seeds, and
plants, and animals of other countries, and added
new products to our own. Some of the staple
products of the country originated from seeds
whicli were brought here as an experiment, or by
accident ; and it is probable, that of all the ar-
ticles which enter largely into consumi:)tion with
us, there is comparatively few which might not,
with proper care, be raised within some part of
our widely extended boundaries.

Indigo and madder are two articles for whicli
very large sums are sent from this country. —
Both might be profitably raised here. Indigo was
once extensively raised in the Southern States,
and the adaptation oi our soil and climate to the
production of madder has been repeatedly proved.
A very interesting, and we believe satisfiictory,
expcrimrnt, has been tried in the raising of tea.
Excellent wine has been produced in the Western
States, and in some of the Southern, and it is
said that we have regions as well adapted to the
cultivation of the grape as any in France or Italy.
The substitution of lijght wines for the distilled
spirits of liome production would prove of no dis-
advantage to the cause of temperance. We be-
lieve it is a well-attested fixct, that intoxication is
rarely witnessed in wine-growing regions. The
cultivation of flax and hemp will receive an im-
pulse from the new process which is exciting so

For the New Enshmd Farmer.

PEOTECTION FOR FRUIT TREES IN
WINTER.

Messrs. Editors : — In answer to an inquiry in
your last week's paper, whether trial had been
made by any one in protecting the peach, I am
happy to say that I have tried it with complete
success. I have peach trees in their fifth year,
which liavo never suffered in the least from the
coldest weather. This place is situated one de-
gree north of Portland in the White Mountain re-
gion, about 700 feet above tide -water. The prev-
alent idea that extreme cold alone will kill the
peach, I believe must be abandoned ; or rather,
the idea that Avhen the thermometer is 12'^ below
zero it is fatal ; I have contended for several years,
that it is not so much the extreme cold as the
strong winds, pelting sleet and snow, and sudden
changes of temperature, that affect the peach. We
had the thermometer once last winter at 34°, and
at several times from 12"' down to tliat extreme
degree of cold, and yet our peach trees that were
protected by matting or fir boughs were not injured
at all.

My practice is this. Late in the fall, I draw
the limbs of the tree together and put round some
matting, a single fold will answer, drive a stake
down by the side of tli^tree and fasten the tree to
it. One man can protect from one to two hun-
dred trees in a day ; care should bo taken not to
unwrap them too early in spring, so as to expose
the fruit buds to the late frosts.

I also protected a locust tree in the same way,
simply by lashing a few fir boughs to the north-
west side of the tree. It now looks as bright as
if it were growing in the latitude of Philadelphia.

I can see no reason Avhy peaches cannot be
raised in any part of Maine simply by protecting
tliem in this way.* It may not l)e known to all of
your readers that although we live so far to the
North, tlie ground is rarely frozen to any extent,
in vAM|ter. The early snows prevent this, so that
it is only the tops of such trees that need special
protection. It is useless to attempt the cultivation
of the peach in this State without some kind of
protection ; they may survive one, two, or even
three winters should they be mild, but the fourth
may kill them all down.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

327

I can see no reason why the tender varieties of
dwarf pears and plums may not be protected in
the same way, and thus largely increase our lux-
uries. A little pains must be taken even with the
apple tree to make it flourish. I have known per-
sons object to cultivating the Isabella grape, sim-
ply because they were told that the vines must be
protected through the winter; such a person
ought not to possess many comforts.

N. T. Tra-E.

Bethel, Me., May 27, 1854.

Remarks. — Wo thank Mr. True, and "Blytue-
wooD," for their prompt, interesting and mlua-
ble replies to our queries about protscting peach
trees. "We have often thought of trying the ex-
periment with matting, but never found the con-
vc7iient opportuijjty. These letters show strongly
t!ie importance of a free interchange of facts and
opinions through the columns of an agricultural
newspajper.

POST FOR FENCES.

i\lR. FsEAS : — Where it is necessary, as it gen-
erally is, to erect farm fences with posts, it is a
matter of some importance to secure such materi-
als as will be most durable. Oak, ash, chestnut,
and cedar, are used in different States, and all,
perliaps, have a higher degree of value than other
kinds of native wood. Yet the natural duralnlity,
or power of resisting decomposition, which these
woods possess, may be very materially increased
by art. The practice of setting post in a reversed
position, or with the tops in a direction contrary
to that of gi'owth, is highly recommended by some
Avriters, and in many cases wliere the experiment
has been made, its result appears very strongly to
favor the theory upon which it is predicated. Still
we are in possession of no reliable data which can
be regarded as sufficient authority for an unquali-
fied recommendation of the usage, and must await
father developments, ere we accord to it the impor-
tance which its numerous, and in many instances
intelligent advocates, assume for it.

But fliere can remain no dou])t in the mind of
any person, tolerably well informed on scientific
subjects, that there are many ways in which the
durability of wood, when placed beneath the soil,
can be increased cconomkally. Nature herself
teaches us this fact. If, for instance, we desire to
secure the duraljility of a fence post, wc know
that charring the portion exposed to the action of
the soil, will enable it to resist decay. Charcoal,
we have all of us seen, is almost indestructible
when inhumed in wet or moist situations ; and
hence, if we create a coat of tliis substance around
the sides, and over the lower end of a post, we in-
fer that it will not speedily decay, or rot. Per-
haps of all methods of resisting this contingency
— always unpleasant, and often expensive to the
farmer, charring, is alone tlie most economical and
effectual. Posts that rarely last more than eight
or ten years, may tlnis be made ta endure twenty
or thirty. This is not mere theoretical assertion ;
it has been actually and repeatedly demonstrated
by experiment, and its truth could be corroborated
by the testimony of hundreds. Kyanizing,or the
process of first exhausting the air in the pores of
wood, and then filling them with some mineral so-

lution, is another method ; but this is too expen-
sive for most farmers. The wood so prepai-ed,
however, becomes almost as hard and indestructi-
ble as iron, resists friction, and is applied to uses
where all the strength and impermeability, as Avell
as rigidity of iron, is required. In a long run, it
would, no doubt, richly remunerate one for tlie
expense, but at present it can only be made avail-
able on works where large capitals are employed.
The abundance of acid contained in the sap, is
one of the principal causes of rot. Hence the
steeping of it in solutions of potash ,lime,or in strong
ley, tends to promote its durability ,as the alkales-
cent liquid destroj's the acid, and frees the wood
from its action. — Geimantown Telegraph.

We coi^y the above for the purpose of endorsing
its truths and objectihg to such portions of the
article as we conceive to be erroneous.

There can be no doubt that the charring of a
portion of the posts to l)e inserted in the'ground,
materially increases their durability, as the anti-
septic property of the charcoal formed must have
such an effect. It is also true that revL-rsing the
posts relatively to the position of their growth
will cause them to last for a greater length of
time.

When the lower or butt end of a lo,:j; is phu.-ed
in water, the water will rise in the capillary tubes,
and thus, by the combined effects of moisture ;'.nd
atmosphere, decay will ensue. When the position,
however, of the log is reversed, and the upper
end placed downward, the water will not rise, and
hence the conditions for decay are not so readily
present.

Wc should, however, differ widely from t'le
writer of that article in his assertion that the in-
troduction of salts, proper for the preservation of
wood is too expensive for the use of the farm:;!' ;
for many salts may be used with great profit, \i\ :-
terially increasing the duraljility of the wood.

The cause of tlie decay of wood is princip;'.Hy
due to tlie presence of vegetal)Ie albumen, and if
this be coagulated by the use of such mineral salts
as will render it insoluble, the ordinary conditions
for decay will be arrested ; thus, in a hogshead or
or tub containing a dilute solution of corrosive sub-
limate, chloride of zinc, or sulphate of iron, posts
may be immersed to the deptli intended for inser-
tion in the ground, and tlie vegetable albumen
contained in the capillary tubes of the wood will
be coagulated and rendered indestructiljle, and
that too without material cost.

The most effective of these substances is cor-
rosive sublimate, discovered by Mr. John Kyan,
of England, the inventor of the Kyanizing pro-
cess. ^

Some of the sleepers of the Amboy railroad
were Kyanized, and after having been in use for
more than twenty years, are still perfectly sound,
while those not so treated, have required renew-
al.

In the Woolwich dockyard, in England, a num-
ber of posts were Kyanizedmorc than thirty years
ago, and still they are found to be in a perfect
state of preservation, while those not so treated
have required frequent renewal.

The chief decay of posts occurs at the iuuuedi-
ate surface of the ground, where moisture and air
more frequently meet and exercise their comluncd
inlluence. A hole Iwred in a post immediately
above the surface of the ground, and a small por-

523

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

tion of corrosive sublimate throw in this hole, and
then closed by a tarred plug, tightly driven in,
will presurve'thc post for. a long time from decay.
This hole should rftich from the outside to the
ccutre, and the slow solution of the corrosive sub-
limate from the slight amount of moisture sus-
tained in tlie post, and renewed ther*e by natural
causes, will disseminate it througout the portion
most likely to decay.

'SVe cannot agree with the writer that the al-
kalies will preserve wood. It is true that small
portions of lime may be used, because it is soon
converted into carbonate of lime, by the carbonic
acid of the atmosphere, and thus loses its causti-
city ; but soda, potash, and the other alkalies will
decompose woody fibre very rapidly, even after
becoming carbonates. If the amount used would
only be sufficient to neutralize acids in the wood,
forming soluble salts with such acids, and then
passing-away by solution, the effect might not be
so deleterious ; but the slightest excess of alkali
so applied would materially accelerate the decom-
position of the work. — Working Farmer.

WHAT TIME SHALL WE CUT TIMBEE 1

Never i}i iviiiter, but always in summer. It
should be cut during the most rapid season of
growth, and while that season is drawing towards
a close. The same rule should be followed that
skilful nurserymen observe in performing the
operation of budding — that is, just as the termi-
nal bud on each branch begins to form — as soon
as it is first evident that the growth of the branch
is about to terminate, but is still in active progress.
Experienced tree-propagators have found that
much earlier than this, the juices of the tree are
in too thin or liquid a state to form a good ad-
hesion between the bud and the peeled surface. —
From tlie moment that the bark separates freely
from the wood, these juices continue to thicken,
until growth ceases altogether and the new wood
is completely formed ; and when tliis new wood is
in the state of a thick paste or cement, then is
tlie time that the bud will adhere most perfectly.
This is the period when the bark may be peeled
from a tree without destroying its vitality. And
this is the time for cutting timber. Early in
spring, tlie tree is full of sap, which is little else
than pure water, and which has been gradually
accumulating through winter by the absorption
of the roots, with no outlet for its escape, as there
is in summer through myriads of leaves. While
the tree is tlius replete with water, it is in the
worst condition to be cut. But towards mid-
summer, when a portion of this water has passed
off thi-ougk the leaves, and the rest has been
much thickened by conversion into material for
wood, the case is very different ; for while the
watery sap promotes only decay, the thickened
juices soon dry and harden, and assist in the
preservation of the wood.

We have recently been furnished with a number
of facts, in corroboration of this opinion, by
Isaac Hathaway, of Farmington, Ontario county,
N. Y., an old and enterprising settler, a close and
extensive observer, and who has had much ex-
perience in connexion with saw-mills and timber
erections. All his observations tend to show the
great difference between winter and summer cut
timber, and induce him to think that, cut at the

best period, it will last under the average of
circumstances three times as long as when felled
in winter. In one instance, a fence, consisting of
winter-cut materials, a part split into rails, and
a portion in round poles, of beech, maple, iron-
wood, bass-wood, &c.,had completely decayed in
fifteen years, and none of it was even fit for fire-
wood. In another case, a quantity of l)ass-wood
rails were cut in summer, and split from the
brown or heart portion of the tree. This was
done about fifty years ago ; thirty years after-
wards the fence was quite sound, and even now
some of the same rails remain undecayed, although
much worn away liy the weather. Winter saw-
log^left over one summer at the mill, are usually
much decayed for several inches towards the
interior ; summer-cut logs, which have lain a like
period, are always sound. He has cut hickory
for axe-helves ; if done in winter, decay soon
commences, and the worm whicffloves this Avood,
often wholly destroys its value. Summer-cut, he
has never known it to be attacked by the insect,
and indeed it seems too hard for them to penetrate.
lie had occasion to examine several old frames of
buildings, and in every instance where the period
of cutting could be determined, the same striking
difference in durabillity was conspicuous.

He related several experiments on the durability
of posts, one of which is worthy of repetition. —
In a gravelly soil, where the water never remains,
a stone bottom a few inches thick was laid in the
post-hole, on which the post was set, and was
then surrounded with stone closely rammed in on
every side. As a consequence, the water never
remains long enough in contact with the post to
soak its interior, as would be the case if damp
earth passed its outer surface. Such posts con-
sequently give promise of remaining sound, after
some years' trial, at least twice the period of those
simply packed in earth. He also finds that posts
of what is termed the white cedar in western
New- York, (the American abor-vita;) last niiich
longer when set green with the bark on, than if
sawed and seasoned, which he attributes to the
protection afforded by the duralile bark, against
the vicissitudes of rain and drouth, and the air
and weather generally.*

Now tliat the season is approaching, best
adapted for timber-cutting, as indicated in the
preceding remarks, we hope those interested will
at least satisfy themselves on the subject by a fair
and careful trial. — Country Gentleman.

* In orJinary instances, liowever, aboTe ground, the bark by
preventing seasoning, only accelerates decay.

aUACK MEDICINES.

We unhesitatingly condemn as injurious, nine
hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of all the
patent medicines, mixtures and salves, and washes
which are in use. In this country alone, more
than one hundred millions of dollars ! are every
year paid for those nostrums, which are far worse
than useless. While some of them may remove
or modify one disease, they are sowing the fruit-
ful seeds of a scoi'e of others.

A plain moderate diet of mixed food, Avith
proper exercise, is the best safeguard against the
attacks of disease. Abstinence is generally the
best medicine. When the system has become dis-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

329

arranged, give it time to right itself, not load
its weakened vessels with new work in digesting
and disposing of new materials wliich furnish the
elements of irritating substances, requiring med-
icines to remove them from the system. — Am. Ag-
riadturist.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

Mn. Editor : — Permit mc to inquire through
the medium of your paper the best mode of pre
venting the maggot from eating onions ? I have
been very mucli troubled with them for two years
past ; cannot some of your subscribers inform us
what will stop them? R. IIakriman.

Hcnniker, May 30, 1854.

Remarics. — "J. M. T.," in the Maine Far
mcr, says the egg of the onion maggot is de-
posited in the skin of the seed, and that by soak-
ing the seed in water, a little warmer than blood
warm, tlie egg will be destroyed and the crop
saved. He also recommends soaking the seed in
weak copperas or saltj)etre water.

Daniel I/IGUTO.v, in the Monthly Farmer for
1852, says that sprinkling the young onions with
tobacco water will destroy the egg, which is de-
posited on the top, snug to the growing onion.
"U. S.," of Sagamore Fftrm, Rye, N. II., says he
tried the tobacco water after the maggot had de-
stroyed a portion of the crop, and completely
arrested their progress

WHERE SUALL I FARM IT ?

Mr. Editor : — There was an inquiry made
through your columns a few weeks ago, where a
man could lay out a small amount of money in
a farm in Massachusetts at the best advantage,
say from ,slOOO to $2500? Please answer, and
you will oblige many that are now thinking of
going to farming. u. s. s.

Lawrence, May 29, 1854.

Re-uarks. — We are glad to hear that many are
looking for farms, and it would bo pleasant for
us to be able to direct each and all to that El Do-
rado of human aspirations — a good farm. But
■we are, unfortunately, not able to answer the
question propounded. Tilings are nearly equal,
whether one is located near a city and a good
market or remote from them ; if near, the first
cost of the farm more, and taxes and living ev-
ery way is more expensive, than if a little remote.
You most inquire, and take a stroll yourself
through such towns as seem to offer the best ad-
vantages.

CRIIIUING.

Mr. Editor : — I would inquire through your
invaluable paper whether cribbing (so called from
their gnawmg the crib) in horses is considered a
disease, and if so, is there any remedy that can be
depended upon as a cure? W. Buguee.

East Barnard, Vt., May 29, 1854.

Remarks. — We concur with the opinion below,
from Dr. Dadd's Modem llorse Doctor :

The act of cribbing consists in grasping the
crib, on a given point, with one or both jaws, at
the same time uttering a laryngeal sound, resem-
bling a grunt. A cribbing Jiorse has generally
been considered unsound, but we know not on
what grounds ; for we look upon a horse as sound
so long as he can perform the duties of an ordi-
nary horse without inconvenience or lameness; he
may have defects, l)oth as regards form and action;
but such are not to l)e construed into unsound-
ness. It is a remarka1)le fi^t that very few crib-
bers fail to perform the duties required of them.
They may, once in a while, liave an attack of col-
ic ; but that is not due tocriblting, but to indiges-
tion ; still the popular belief is, tliat cribbing is
either the result or cause of colic. The author's
oiiinion is, that cribbing is a habit acquired or
hereditary ; that the sound or grunt originates ia
the vocal organs, from air admitted witliin them
and expelled without entering the trachea, and
in consequence of air supplied to them from the
lungs during expiration. The grunt is evidently
an expiatory murmur, and tlie air necessary for
producing such is derived from one of these
sources. Some contend that the animal swallows
wind and thus creates flatulency, colic, &c. ; but
the idea is perfectly ridiculous. ' It is our firm be-
Jitf, based upon a knowledge of tlie structure of
the parts involved in the mechanism of respira-
tion that neither man nor horse, Ity voluntary act,
ever has power to svv allow atmospheric air. The
organs of respiration and deglutition differ so ma-
terially in their anatomical and phyniologieal rela-
tions— have each a special function to perform —
tliat it is impossible for one to perform the func-
tion of the other which should be the case if a
horse actually swallows wind — atmospheric air —
and then, as some others contend, regurgitated it.
On these grounds, we question, therefore, the
correctness of either theory. If horses possessed
the power of eructating wind or gas from the
stomach, we miglit expect in violent cases of flatu-
lency, to notice its escape in this way, which the
author has never yet been able to do. Crib-biting,
therefore, being nothing but a habit or vice, can
only be corrected by means and appliances which
prevent the subject from indulging in it. In this
view, all sorts of contrivances have been resorted
to, and among them was one which was invented
by Sir Peter Sawin. The space between the bot-
tom of the hay-rack and the outer edge of the
manger is boarded over, forming a steep, inclined
plane, leaving in this way, no edge or point on
which the horse can fix liis jaw. Attached is a
glass or slide opened only at mcal-time. lie uses
common bar soap as a preventive, wliich is to be
rubl)ed on the edge or outside of the crib, and ro-
newed as often a6 necessary.

David Gay, of New London, N. H., says gar-
get root, steeped in water, will cure sick pigs, if
tliey are allowed to drink as much as they will of
the liquor. It is a sure remedy for blind stag-
gers, and costiveness, and excellent in other die-
eases. It is also good for cattle.

PRUNING EVERGREE.NS.

Levi Parker, of Wilmington, states that pines
and other evergreen trees pruned in the latter
part of May or early in Juno will not bleed or be

330

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

injured by the operation of prunin
tested them bv many trials.

lie has For t/n New England Farmer.

STATE OF VEGETATION AT THE CLOSE

A GARDEN WEEDER. QJ* MAY.

neat and handy little '^wcedei-" for (jrass is abundant and luxuriant. We yester-

- I^//'"^'**f?,f^,*Y?,J!^*:^?li!lL ""k^'^y ^'^^^' ^ ^'^^^^^ *« ^'■'^''^^^^ ^''^"^ ^^^^ applied a

sprinkling of the liquid collected at the stable, in

I have a
garden be

board about a foot long, 3 inches wide ; these bi
ing placed 6 or 8 inches apart like the runners of
a small sled, are fastened to a small piece of board
at each end -which comes to about ^ inch above
the bottom of the side pieces ; at the top in the
centre is anotlier piePe which serves as a handle.
Upon the bottom are nailed 3 strii:)S of sheet iron,
ground to an edge, about:] inch wide, one at each
end and one in tlie middle. When the ground is
dry this is pushed along between the rows a little
below the surface, and very neatly pulls up or cuts
off the young weeds, and leaves them in the path-
way. After a very little practice any one will be
astonished to see how easily, thoroughly and
quickly the Avork is done.

PLASTER BUTTER WON'T COME.

Mr. Brown : — Permit me to inquire through
the medium of your valuable paper, what is the
best mode of appljdng plaster to potatoes or corn.
I have never used any, and thought that I should
try some this year. My soil is a dry, sandy loam,
w)iich has been plowed deep this spring, and barn-,
yard manure turned in under the turf. Also,
wiiat the reason is that the "butter won't
Come?"" I have three cows which have been kept
on dry hay with a few carrots this winter, and
have had a plenty of salt, and it requires some-
times three hours churning to bring the butter
with the cream kept and -prepared in the usual
m inner and churned at a temperature of about
6l2 ' Fahrenheit. Cannot some of your intelligent
subseribers inform us of the cause of this, and the
remedy. J. B. Piiilbrick.

South Deerfichl, N. II., 1854.

]'emakk:s. — Sow broadcast on a portion of the
land, and on a anotlier portion apply it to the
hill or drills. In 1849, when the potato rot was
at its hoiglit, we sowed about a pound of salt-
petre and four pounds of plaster to the square
rod, and had 235 bushels of excellent Chenango
potatoes on an acre and a half of land.

THE POTATO ONION.

JIk. Brown ; — I have recently seen an onion
which is called the potato onion. It is described
by Mr. Isham, of New Alstead, N. II., to be easily
raised, profitable, and much milder than common
Borts. ilc sets them out in hills, similar to seed
onions ; they grow in clusters of two or three
large ones to six or eight in a hill. Mr. Isiiam sets
out the smallest ones and he thinks tliey are the
the most profitable. l. h.

Northjield, Mass., 1854.

which bad been infused a quantity of guano, and
we think we never saw a more marked effect, from
the application of any fertilizing substance. The
path of the application of the liquid, was as dis-
tinct, more than doubling the quantity, both in
thickness and height, as would be that of the
mower, casting his swath. This application was
made about the first of the present month — not
exceeding two hundred pounds of guano to the
acre. If by applying $5 Avortn of labor and ma-
terial, a ton of hay can be created, it is not easy
to specify a better investment. When facts like
these are seen M'ith our own eyes, here is an end of
argument. Slur as much as you please, the appli-
cation oi fancy manures, the growing grass now
waving in the breeze will outweigh all such slurs.
On the same field is an illustration of the benefits
arising from the application of the combinations
of different fertilizers, but not so distinctly
marked, as that of guano dissolved in urine.

The blossoms upon the apple trees still hold on,
and give promise of a full harvest. Cherries are
sparse, and poorly filled. Pears are falling from
the trees. Peaches there are none. Corn plant-
ed since the 10th of May, is doing well ; that
which was planted earlier has a sickly appear-
ance. An experienced farmer assures me, that he
has grown as fine corn plaAed the last of M.ay
and first of June, as at any other period ; and in
confirmation of this, he is at this moment occu-
pied in planting his corn, his ground having been
waiting for the seed ten days or more. No bene-
fit accrues from putting seed in the ground, before
it is fitly prepared to receive it ; "Once well done,
is better than twice poorly." p.

Mcnj 31, 1854.

Remarks. — Probably the common "top onion,"
so called, raised a good deal at the South, and
much more mild than our common onion.

To Dry Cherries and Plums. — Stone them,
and half. P.iek them in jars, strewing sugar be-
tween each layer

For the New England Farmer.

AUTUMNAL MARROW SftUASH.

Mr. Editor : — The repuldication in your paper
of this morning, of the facts stated by Mr. 1. M.
Ives, relating to the first introduction of the "au-
tumnal maiTow squash," iy scer/s ^/m^ came in a
letter from Northampton — brings to mind certain
other facts, that came to my knowledge, in an-
swer to inquiries suggested by Dr. Harris of Cam-
bridge, on the same subject.

Without going through all the details, the sub-
stance of these were that JMrs. Tucker, of Salem,
wife of Lewis Tucker, Esq., who formerly kept
the Sun Tavern in Essex Street, furnished seeds
of tills sciuash to one E. Wdlman Osborne, a gar-
dener in Danvcrs, (now living at Ware, N. II.,)
who grew them and carried them into the market
at Salem, several years, before the time mentioned
by Mr. Ives. I do not doubt, that Mr. Ives 52/^;;-
posed what ho stated to be true ; nor do I doubt,
that Mr. Osborne knows what he states to be
true. The same thing was known to Mr. Daniel
Buxton, Jr., and Mr. Abram C. Osborne — men of
as much accuracy of observation and recollection
in all matters of vegetable culture, as any others.
I simply mention these things in illustration of

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

331

the propriety of the old adage, "that one story is
until another is told."

Very truly yours,
Danvcrs, May 27, 1854. J. v. p.

SUMMER FEED FOR COWS AND PIGS.

Messrs. Editors : — I have an extra nice litter
of 11 pigs, now nearly four months old. I wish
to keep tlicm all through the season, and fatten
them. What can I raise most profitably for early
and late feeding? I have clover growing finely,
which I design partly for them. Is it better to
fence a part of it, and turn them in , or keep them
in the pen and mow the clover ?

I have ten co^s, a large portion of the milk of
v,-hich is sold. I liave not sufficient pasture unless
I use for this purpose a field which for two years
has been used as a meadow ; and in this field and
in the same enclosure, is an acre ormore on which
potatoes were planted last year. This acre I in-
tended to have sowed very early to oats and grass,
and then pasture the whole. But the season has
been too wet to allow of this. Few persons in this
region have sowed oats yet. Now can I hope to
get any feed from the said acre this year ? The
loss of the use of this aci'c would not be great
Had I better pasture the remaining ten acres, till
August or September and sow the one acre? Or
■would it ]).; better to keep part of my cows in the
stable and depend on soiling ? The plan of soil
ing, exclusively, I intend to try as soon as I am
prepared for it. "
season .

from an acre ; ])ut the best way is to allow pas-
tures to grow a foot high or more before turning
in, and where portions of sucli pastures can be
divided by hurdle fences, it is the best way.

It is commonly best to sow ashes on grass in
autumn or winter, and plaster on clover early in
spring. Experiment, oidy, can show where these
measures will pn)ve profitalile. We do not per-
ceive any advantage in sowing them after guano
at this season, yet under particular cir<;umstances,
which experiment alone can decide, it may be suc-
cessful.— Ex.

THE EFFECT OF OXYGEN IN ACCEL-
ERATING GERMINATION.
Mr. Humboldt discovered, in 171i3, that simple
metallic suljstances are unfavorable to germination
of plants, and that their oxydo favor it in propor-
to their clegree of oxydation. This discovery in-
duced him to search for a substance with which
oxygen might be so weakly coml)ined as to be
e^vsilj separated ; and he made choice of oxj-gena-
ted muriatic acid gas, mixed with water. Cresses
(Leyidium Satirum) seed put into it showed germs
in six hours ; in water, thirtj'-two hours. The
seeds exhibited an enormous quantity of air bub-
bles. These do not appear in the water till thirty
or forty min«tes.

These experiments, announced in Humboldt's
Floi-a, and in his aphorisms on the chemical physi-
been repeated by others ;

ology of plants, nave

they were made at a temperature of from 12 to 14
I am only partially ready this|Reaumer (near 64^' Fahrenheit.) In the summer

of 1799, Humboldt began a new series of cxperi-

When is the best time for sowing ashes and U^ents, and" found, that by joining the stimulus of

plaster ? Wliere guano was sowed on grass three
weeks since, would it be of any advantage to sow
ashes and plaster? w.

New Brilnin, Ct.

The cheapest food for pigs through the season,
that we know of, is tender young clover, refuse
or sour milk, and in autumn, the dropping fruit
of an apple orchard. Practical farmers differ as
to the propriety of cutting clover and soil. One
of the most skilful farmers in Western New York
thinks it decidedly best to shut up his pigs, and
cut and feed the clover to them, alleging, from his
own experience, that running about a pasture
wastes more value of flesh than the cost of soiling.
Others have given a different opinion, but these
may not have fed their pigs regularly, nor pro-
vided them with the necessary comforts of a close
pen. Certain breeds may also be better adapted
to confinement than others. We should like the
results of accuratii experiments on this subject.
A crop of peas may I)c found advantageous as food
for hogs.

The gr.\at objection to soiling cattle, is the
amount of hibor in cutting, and conveying to them
their food, watering, cleaning stables, providing,
and securing their comfort at all times, a part of
which id apt to be neglected in this country of
scarce and iiigh priced labor. Although several
favorable reports liave been made in favor of soil-
ing, the fact that it lias never been adopted for
any length of time, successfully, by our best farm
ers, is against its utility, and we cannot recom
mend it as a general practice. Keeping closely
grazed pastures, is very unprofitable, it is true ;
cutting higii grass will afford twice as much feed

caloric to that of oxygen, he was enabled still more
to accelerate the progress of vegetation, lie took
the seeds of garden cress, peas, French beans, let-
tuce, and migonnette, equal quantities of which
were thrown into pure w-ater, and the oxygenated
muriatic acid aka temperature of SS"' Fahrenheit.
Cresses exhibited germs in three hours in the oxy-
genated muriatic acid ; while none in the water
were seen till twonty-six hours. In the muriatic,
nitric, or sulphuric acid, pure, or mixed with wa-
ter, there was no germ at all.

These dfscoveries may one day be of gi'cat bene-
fit in growing plants. Several distinguished phil-
osophers have repeated them. Professor Phol, of
Dresden, caused the seeds of a new kind of Euphor-
bia, (India rubber is one of them — Meigs,)
taken from Bocconi's collection of dried plants,
110 or 120 years old, to germinate. Jacquin and
Vandett Schott, at Vienna, tried all the old seeds
of the Botanic Garden, twenty or thirty years old,
every atteiupt to make them vegetate in the ground
having fiiiled, and he made the greater part of
them vegetate ; even the hardest seeds j'ielded to
this agent, ^'ery valuable plants are now grow-
ing in Vienna by this treatment. Humboldt made
the seeds of Clusia Rosea, brou^jht from the Ba-
hamas by Boose, (and which hatl resisted every ef-
fort to make them grow in the ground,) vegetate
by a new method of his — that is, by mixing tlie
seeds with a paste made of the black oxydc of
manganese, and pouring over it diluted muriatic
acid. The vessel in wliich the mixture is made
must be covered, but not tight ; for if so, an ex-
plosion will occur. The temperatur3 of the mix-
ture must be about 95"^ of Fahrenheit. — Journal
de Physique.

332

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

July

For the New England Farmer.

REARING SILK WORMS.

Mr. Editor : — Having had some experience in
rearing tlie silk -worm, and reeling cocoons, I ven-
ture to reply to your fair correspondent's inquiry,
"can tlic worms be raised and the cocoons sold
to advantage !" I answer, I do not think they
can. Our climate is too changeable for the health
of the worms ; the change from dry to wet, which
we frequently have about the first of August, cre-
ates a disease of the most fatal kind. I have seen
it spread with sucli fearful rapidity, that out of a
hundi-ed thousand worms ready to spin their co-
coons, not two thousand lived to complete their
task. If your correspondent's trees are the white
mulberry, they are much better for the health ol
tlie worm than any other variety, but the expense
of picking the leaves is such that unless labor be
very cheap, it will not pay, even if the worms
prove healthy. The expense of machinery for
making sewing silk would be considerable, a good
twisting machine, if new, would, t think, cost at
least two hundred dollars. The most profit would
be to reel the cocoons and sell the raw silk, for
wliieh there is a ready market in this vicinity.
Any mechanic can make a reeling machine in one
or two days, if provided with a description of one.

I presume eggs can be procured in Connecticut,
but [ cannot refer to any individual who has them.
Siivrh further information as I possess will be free-
ly ;iiven, if desired. E. Hersey.

llinirliam. Mass.

For the New Englani Fanner.

WHAT A GARDEN SHOULD BE.

Having discussed Gardens at some length under
tlieir oruamentiil aspect, lest the accusation be
brought that the useful has been forgotten, this
article sliall be devoted to the special considera-
tion of the Kitchen Garden.

. We are wrongly apt to associate with the word
Garden, a corner of land filled with weeds and
flowers, and another corner marked into rows, by
a regiment of White Birch, bean poles, and pea
buslies, with an intersprinkling of corn stalks,
some squashes — vines, and a great deal of rubbish,
where, as the country people say, the "Garden
Sauce" is grown. Now, as theobjectofthisarticle is
to have a little talk about this very " Garden Sauce,"
let us see if we need to abandon our much loved
vegetables, irt impi'oving our homestead, and mak-
ing its surface, a little uTore pleasing to the eye.

Rather than abandon them, it would be better
to lose much that would be pleasing of the purely
ornamental, for in the countr.y, people are very
dependent upon the vegetables of their own grow-
ing, as markets arc rare, and but ill supplied.
^^''ere there no oth(;r argument for their culture
but this, it, alone, would be enougli, but there is
a still stronger one : few are aware how conducive
to health the summer veget;ibles are : all authori-
ties agree in recommending their free use ; and
the danger of cholera arises, not from the bad ef-
fects of good, fresh vegetables, so much as from
the stale and wilted denizens of the market. It is
always a matter of very great surprise to city resi-
dents, to find so little attention paid to the growth
of anything l>ut potatoes, corn, and a few beans,
in the country. Leaving bricks and dust for green

lanes and trees, they revel in the fresh air, and
with a keen appetite, eargerly await the promised
dinner, imagining all the dainties of the vegetable
world they have heard of, strawberries and cream,
green peas, sweet corn, tomatoes, &c. When to
their surprise they see the kitchen maid return-
ing from the neighbor's with a bought, or bor-
rowed pint of milk, and meet with the excuse from
the matron, that "she regrets the lack of aspara-
gus, lettuce, &c., but the butcher didn't bring
any, and its so hard to get vegetables in the coun-
try." The difficulty lies in the dread of trouble,
not in the trouble itself: do not be so afraid, good
sir, after you have come homo from the day's
work, to drop a few peas, or tomatoes or lettuce
seeds ! and do not let your imagination dwell ,
upon the hot days' weedings by and bye.

It is a great shame, that it should be universal-
ly true, that it is no where so difficult to get veg-
etables as in the country. It will not do for you
to say, anytime will answer for that work. Any-
time is no lime. Believe me, the ten minutes of
aggravation a day, your wife will feel when the
dinner presents no variety ; of disappointment
you will experience when you find your wife is
not a fairy, and cannot produce baked beans and
potato in any other shape than baked beans and po-
tato, and is unable to alter the everlasting veal and
bread, into green peas and sweet corn, — is much
more, than the mere trouble of weeding and sow-
ing the seed. But weight enough has not been
given to the healthfulness of vegetables : we are
too essentially a meat-eating race ; we do not
know how to make the most of things ; and hun-
dreds of poor families might enjoy a luxurious
variety, would they but use the bounties of the
vegetable world. The English and Euroj^ean
poasiintry, live entirely on a vegetable diet, and yet
are quite as healthy as we are, and hundreds and
thousands of our poor people have more sumptu-
ous meat fare, than the majority of the inhabitants
of the old world. Lay off, then, in your garden,
a bit of land ; plant a few of the different vege-
tables, just enough to supply yourself, and do not
make that fatal mistake of getting so much land
under culture.

People are inclined to go to work too largely,
and plant enough of a few things, to supply sev-
eral families, and then to allow the quantity to
take the place of variety. It is very easy to calcu-
late how much you will want, and when you have
decidt d do not plant all at once, but have a suc-
cession ; plant a row of peas and coim to-day,
another in a week, and another the third week ;
then have a few hills of squashes, summer and
winter, and remember it is no economy to cover
the land with winter squashes to the exclusion of
summer vegetables ; — it is robbing Peter to pay
Paul, and no gain ; then a few hills of melons, some
distance from the squashes, to prevent impregna-
tion of seed. Have some ten tomato plants, a lit-
tle patch, ten feet square, of carrots, another of
parsnips, a few hills of rhubarb, or jDie plant, a
small square, say 20x20, of asparagus, and dotted
in, a few pepper plants, some cucumbers, and in a
corner by themselves, one hundred raspberry vines
with two or three strawberry beds, 4x20 feet.
On the edge of the walk, set currants and goose-
berries, and a little farther in, dwarf pears. By «
a judicious selection of place, you can get two or
thr.Jfc crops a year from some of the land ; the par-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

333

snips will bo eaten before time of planting, when
their place may be taken by radishes, and they be
followed by peas, and they by a few turnips. To
the other early peas, the parsnips may follow :
on the corn land you can grow squashes, and vice
versa.

Half an acre arranged in this way, will give all
that a family of sis persons can possibly need,
but Ifc sure to remember at starting, that yon
want no more land under culture, than you can
keep free from weeds, and to plant no greater quan-
tity than you can use yourself. Where the most
of the surface is under culture, and the ornamen-
tal is entirely excluded, there is danger of a too
great sjiirit of utility ; thercforedonot forget that
we must feed the mmd and soul as well as the
body, but pay a due regard to both. It is very
desirable, however, to keep each division by itself,
and not mix them together heterogeneously. No
one wishes to see gilly-flowers and cabbages side
by side, because they are of the same fomily ; let
the two divisions be just as separate as parlor and
kitchen, but do not omit either any more than
one of these two rooms from your house. It may
seem rather late to make this appeal for the vege-
tables, but there is yet time for tomatoes, late
peas, sweet corn, carrots, jiarsnips, and cabbages,
and when you read over this list, recall the sa-
vory dishes they may be compounded into, and be
willing to give your wife the assistance you can,
in the culinary department. Lest the succession
of the vegetables should be forgotten, an ennu-
meration may be of service ; first parsnips, then
asparagus, rhubarb, radishes, lettuce,, dandelions,
peas, beans, cucumbers, corn, squashes, tomatoes,
carrots, turnips, cal)bages and potatoes. For
fruits, strawberries, raspberries, currants, cher-
ries, melons, pears, peaches and apples, — all with-
in the reach of every owner of one hundred and
fifty feet square of land.

R. Morris Copeland.

Roxhury, June 3, 1854.

PRODUCTION OF BUDS AND SEEDS.

In considering the production of vegetable buds
and seeds, of somo insects, of more perfect ani-
mals, says Erasmus Darwin in th(J Zoonomia,
the modes of generation may be divided into soli-
tary and sexual. The first consists in solitary,
lateral generation, as in the reproduction of
•weeds and bulbs of vegetables, and of the young
of the polypus, and of the hydra stcntoria, or of
the solitary internal generation, as of the ap/iis,
vine frcttcr , actcnia, sea anemone tcia, tape worm
&nd volvcx; all of which are properly a vivipa-
rous progeny, as they are produced b^' spawns, or
eggs, or seeds. In these modes it is believed that
fibrils with fermative attitudes, and molecules
with formative propensities, produced by, or de-
tached from, various essential parts of their re-
spective systems, float in the vegetable or insect
blood. Tiiose may be termed animalized parti-
cles of primary combination, consisting of a solid
particle adjuined to a peculiar appetartcy or pro-
pensity ; which latter may bo termed its ctkerial
part; as magnetism or electricity may be addud
to iron or to other inanimate bodies.

The various ways in which plants are propa-
gated, opens a wide field of observation to the
student. The various phenomena involved in the
evolution of the almcst innumerable species of
vegetable productions, and the singular and as-
tonishing wisdom with wliich means are adapted
to ends, wnll aflbrd ample scope for the investiga-
tion of the most acuminated and persevering in-
tellect, and is a field, the treasures of which hu-
man genius and perseverance can never entirely
exiiaust.

WHAT A WHOLE CEOP CARRIES OFF.

Below we give another chapter from Johnston's
"Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geolo-
gy," which we think will be found interesting to
every reader, whether ho cultivates the soil or not.
There are so few technical terms employed, and
the author's meaning is made so clear by the use
of forcible and perspicuous language, that we al-
ways take up the work with a new pleasure. And
so will other*.

The importance of the inorganic matter con-
tained in living vegetables, or in vegetable sub-
stances when reaped and dry, will appear more
distinctly if we consider the actual quantity car-
ried ofi" {'rom the soil in the series of crop.

In a four years' course of cropping, .in which
the crops gathered amounted jier acre to —

1st year, Turnips, 20 ton.? of bulb.s ;uid 6} tons of topa.

2d year, IJarley, 40 Ijushtl^ of Go lbs. eucli, aiul 1 ton of straw.

3d year, Clover and Hye-Grass, 1\ ton of each in liay.

itii year, Wh'.'at, lb bushels of 6o"lbs., and IJ tons of straw.

1". The quantity of inorganic matter carried
oif in the four crops, supposing none of them to
be eaten on the land, amounts to about —

Potash 317 lbs.

Soda 51 "

Lime 193 "

Magnesia 55 •'

Oxide of iron la "

Silica 350 "

or in all about 11 cwt. ; of wliich gross weight the
different substances form unlike jiroportions.

2'*. As till clearer view of these quantities will bo
obtained by a consideration of the fact, that if we
carry off the entire produce, and add none of it
again in the shape of manure, we must or ought,
in its stead, if the land is to be restored to its
original condition, to add to each acre every four
years —

Dry pearl-asli 465 lbs.

Common bone-dust 652 "

Kps )ni salt.s 326 "

Common salt 116 "

Quick-lime 70 "

Total 1529 lbs.

Several observations suggest themselves from a
consideration of the aliove statements.

First, That if this inorganic matter be really
necessary to the plant, the gradual and constant
removal of it from the land ought, by and by, to
make the soil poorer in tliis part oi' the food of
plants. ji

Second, Tliat the more oi the crops which grow
upon tlie land we r.ituru to it again in tlie form of
manure, the less will tliis deterioration be percep-
tilde.

Sulphuric acid 108 lbs.

Phosphoric acid 116 "

Chlorine 70 "

Total 12S4 "

334

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

JULT

Third, That as many of these inorganic sub-
stance?— the potash, soda, &c., — are readily solu-
ble in ivatei-, the liquid manure of the farmyard,
so often allowed to run to waste, must carry with
it to the rivers much of the saline matter that
ought to bo returned to the laud.

Fourth, If the rains also arc allowed to run
over and wash the surface of tlie soil, they will
gradually deprive it of those soluble Sivline sub-
stances which appear to be so necessary to the
growth of plants. Hence one important benefit
of a system of drainage so perfect as to allow the
rains to sink into the soil where they fall, and thus
to carry down, instead of away, what they natu-
rally dissolve.

And, lasthj, That the utility, and often indis-
pensable necessity, of certain artificial manures —
though, in some districts, perhaps arising from the
natural poverty of the land in some of the miner-
al substances which plants require — is most fre-
quently owing to a want of acquaintance with
the facts above stated, and to the long-continued
neglect and waste which has been the natural con-
sequence.

In certain districts, the soil and subsoil contain
within themselves an almost unfailing supply of
some of these inorganic or mineral substances, so
that the waste of them is long in being felt ; in
others, again, the land contains less, and therefore
becomes sooner exhausted. This latter class of
soils requires a more careful, and usually a more
expensive mode of cultivation than the first ; Ijut
both will become at length alike unproductive, if
that which is yearly taken from tlie soil is not in
some form or other restored to it.

One thing is of essential importance to be re-
membered by the practical farmer — that the de-
terioration of land is often an exceedingly slow-
process. In the hands of successive generations,
a field may so imperceptibly become less valuable,
that a century may elapse before the change prove
such as to make a sensiWe diminution in the val-
ued rental. Such slow changefe, however, have
been seldom recorded ; and hence the practical man
is occasionally led to despise the clearest theoreti-
cal principles, because he has not happened to see
them verified in his own limited experience ; and
to neglect, therefore, the suggestions and the wise
precautions which tlieso principles lay before him.

The special agricultural history of known tracts
of land of different qualities, showing how they
had been cropped and tilled, and the average
produce in graio, hay, and stock every five years,
during an entire century, \\'ould afford invalua-
])\'i materials both to theoretical and to pi-actical
agriculture.

General illustrations of this sure though slow
decay may be met with in the agricultural history
of almost every country. In none, perhaps, are
they more sti-iking than in the older slave States
of North America. Maryland, Virginia and
North Carolina — once rich and fertile — by a long-
continued system of forced and exhausting culture,
have become unproductive in many places, and
vast tracts have been abandoned to apparently
hopeless sterility. Such 1 mds it is possible to re-
claim, but at what an expense of time, labor, ma-
nure, and skilful management ! It is to bo hop>ed
that the newer States will not thus sacrifice their
future power and prospects to present and tern
porary wealth— that tlie fine lands of Ohio, Ken-

tucky, and the Prairie states, which noAV j'icld
Indian corn and wheat, crop after crop, without
intermission and without manure, will not be so
cropped till their strength and substance is gone,
but that a ])etter conducted and more skilful hus-
bandry will continue, icithout diminishivg the 'pre-
sent, crops, to secure a permanent fertility to that
naturally rich and productive country.

PR.\CTICAL DEDUCTIONS TO HE DR.\W^\ FROM A KNOWL-
EDGE OF THE INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS OF PLANTS.

Several important practical deductions are to be
drawn from what has been stated in regard to the
inorganic constituents of plants.

1°. Why one crop may grow ivcH lehcre another
fails. — Suppose, for example, a crop to require a
peculiarly large supply of potash — it may grow
well if the soil abound in potash ; but if the soil
be deficient in potash and abound in lime, tlien
this crop may scarcely grow at all upon it, while
another crop to which lime is especially necessary
may grow luxuriantly.

2°. ^yhy mixed crops grow well together. — If
two crops of unlike kinds be sown together, their
roots suck in the inerganic substances in different
proportions — the one more potash and phosphoric
acid perhaps — the otiier more lime, magnesia, or
silica. They thus interfei-e less with each other
than plants of the same kind do — which require
the same kinds of food in nearly the same propor-
tions.

Or the two kinds of crop grow with different
degrees of rapidity, or at different periods of the
year ; and thus, while the roots of the one are
busy drawing in supjilies of inorganic nourisliment,
tho>sc of the other are comparatively idle ; and
thus the soil is able abundantly to supply the
wants of each as its time of need arrives.

3'^. Why the same crop grows better on the same
soil after long intervals. — If each crop demands
special substances, or these substances in quanti-
ties peculiar to itself, or in some peculiar state of
combination, the chances that the soil will be able
to supplj' them are greater, the more distant the
intervals at which the same crop is grown upon
it. Other crops do not demand the same sub-
stances,'or in the same proportions ; and thvis they
may gradually accumulate on the soil till it be-
comes especially favorable to the particular crop
we wish to grow\

4^. Why a rotation crop is necessary. — Suppose
tlie soil'to contain a certain average supply of
all tlioso inorganic substances which plants require
and that the same corn crop is grown upon it for
a long series of j'cars — this crop will carry off
some of these sul)stances in larger proportion than
others, so that year by year the quantity of those
which are thus chiefly carried off will become rela-
tively less. Thus at length the soil, for want of
these special substances, will become unablo to
bear a corn crop at all, though it may still con-
tain a large store of the other inorganic substan-
ces wliich the corn crop does not specially exhaust.
Suppose bean or turnip crops raised in like man-
ner for a succession of years, they would exhaust
the soil of a different set of substances till it be-
came unable to grow them profitably, though still
rich perhaps in those things which the corn crop
especially demands.

But grow these crops alternately, then the one
crop will draAv especially upon one class of sub-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

335

stances, the other crop upon another ; and thus
much h^rger crops of each will be reaped from the
same soil, and for a much longer period of time.

On this principle the benefit of a rotation of
crops in an important degree depends.

[>'' . What is meant by exhaustion. — Thus, ex-
haustion may either be general, arising from the
gradual carrying off of all the kinds of food on
which plants live — or special, arising from the
want of one or more of those substances whicli the
crops that have been long grown upon it have
specially required.

To repair the former kind of exhaustion , an ad-
dition of many things to thesoilmay be necessary;
— to repair the latter, it may be sufficient to add a
needful supply of one or more things only. In
showing how this may be most efficiently and
most economically done, chemistry will be of the
most essential service to the practical man. Be-
fore entering further upon this point, however, it
will be necessiry to study also the nature of the
soil in which plants grow.

CATERPILLARS.

These are a great pest to farmers, though com
paratively harmless in a city. Tlie eggs from
which tiiey are hatched are placed around the
ends of tlie branches, forming a wide ring consist-
ing of three or four hundred eggs in the form of
short cylinders, standing on their ends close togeth-
er, and covered with a thick coast of brownish
water-proof varnish. The caterpillars come forth
with tlie unfolding the leaves of the apple and
cherry trees in the latter part of April or the be-
ginning of May. The first signs of their activity
appear in the formation of little angular webs be-
tween the fork of the branches a little below the
cluster of eggs.

Under the shelter of these tents the caterpillars
remain concealed at all times when not engaged
in eating. In crawling from twig to twig, they
spin, from their mouths, a slender silken thread,
which is a clue to conduct them back to their tents.
They gradually enlarge their nests until they ac-
quire a diameter of eight or tea inches. They
come out together about 9 A. M. to eat, and all
retire at once when their regular meals are fin-
ished. During bad weather, however, they fast,
and do not venture from their shelter.

From the first to the middle of Juno they begin
to leave the trovs, wander about a while, and final-
ly get into some cuvier or other place of shelter,
and make their cocoons. From fourteen to seven-
teen days tlicreafter, the insect bursts its chrysalis
skin, forces its way into the softened end of the
cocoon and appears in the miller form. It is then
of nasty or reddish brown color ,and expands from
an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half.
Tlicse millers appear in great numbers in July,
flying about and often entering houses by night.
At tliis time they lay their eggs, preferring the
wild cherry, and next tiie apple.

Where proper attention is not paid to the de-
struction of them, they almost entirely strip the
apple and cherry trees of their foliage during the
seven weeks of their life in their caterpillar form.
The trees, wliere they arc suflFercd to lireed for a
succession of years, become prematurely old, in
consequence of their efforts to repair, at an un-
ftcasonable time, the loss of their foliage, and are
rendered unfruitful and worse than useless.

How are they to be destroyed ?

1st, During the winter and spring collect and
destroy the eggs. They are tlien reacUly discov-
ered, and may all be removed with littli^rouble.

2d. When the destruction of the eggs has been
neglected or overlooked, and the caterpillars are
building their nests, prejiare some whale or train
oil, the stronger and more rancid tlie better... Then
take a light pole of ccmvenient length, with a swab
upon the end, and rub the oil into the nests. It is
well to rub it also upon the limbs just al)ove and
below the nests. This operation is best performed
some misty or foggy morning before the worms
leave their nests. 1 know by al.uindant experience
that it will entirely destroy every nest upon
which it is performed, and every caterpillar in the
nest.

3d. When the time for this process is past, and
the millers begin to appear in July, hang upon the
trees wide-mouthed bottles one-third filled with
two parts of vinegar and one of molasses. In this
way myriads may be caught.

In my small garden I made this experiment last
season Avith twenty-four bottles hung upon the
fence. In seven days from June IGth I caught
forty-two quarts of millers and Hies, but tlie
amount gradually decreased to about half a pint
a day. I then placed the bottles in my large pear
trees, and the number taken was greatly increased.
The whole amount thus cauglit during the season
was four bushels and twelve quarts.

May 29, 185'4. Charles Rojjinson.

New Haven Palladium.

For the New England Farmer.

THE FARMER'S HOME.

Mr. Editor :— Having during the past year
ti-avelled thi-ough a portion of this, and some of
the adjoining New England States, I have liad an»
opportunity to observe many New England far-
mers' homeSs

While there are some wliich present a pleasing
and inviting aspect, there are many so cheerless
and uninviting, tliat they seem to send a chill
through one's whole frame. Buildings are loca-
ted without any regard to appearance, "^nd every
ornamental tree and shrub in their vicinity has
fallen before the woodman's axe withouta thought
except how many potatoes could be grown on the
land ; in front of the dwelling, where sliould be
gravelled Avalks, graceful sliade trees, beautiful
shrubs, carefully trained elimbingvines and pretty
flowers, are geese and pigs, or bleating calves and
noisy ducks whose utility seems to consist in giv-
ing the inmates of the house timely notice of the
approach of a stranger, who easily judges of the
number of acres the i'armer possesses, by the size
of the wood-pile and the number of broken wheels,
carts, sleds, plows, and other worn-out farming
implements which flank the yard on either side.
Should the stranger, before entering the house,
desire to learn more of the character of the per-
son he is about to visit, he has but to cast his ej'e
into the adjoining shed, one end of which is used
as a tool house ; if plows, harrows, and other im-
plements are in one confused mass, and tlicir ap-
pearance indicates that tlie iien-roost is above, lie
may safely conclude tliat if the boys have not al-
ready gone to the city with the idea that farming
is pretty dirty business, it isonly l)eeause they arc
not yet old enougli to ciirry out their own desires

336

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

The man who can take hold of the handles of
such plows as I have seen, and not look back, must
be one wl^sc mind is so absorbed in the word ntil-
f7y that he tliinks of nothing but the fattening of
his land as each turning furrow scrapes guano
from his plow, not even joerceiving the increase of
his own weight, liy an external application of the
same material upon his hands.

I do not believe man was placed here to spend
his whole time in procuring gold with Avliich to
enlarge his farm, for what prolitcth it a man if he
gain the whole township and lose his own happi-
ness? The farmer who would keep his children
at home, shouldneglcct nothing within his means
to make his home attractive. Let neatness and
order manifest itself in every department ; let him
beautify wliat he already possesses, rather than
enlarge hi.s farm, and thus make his home so at-
tractive that his children no longer seek the arti-
ficial beauties of the city, bat become satisfied
with the purer and superior attractions of their
rural home. There is perh.aps no class better able
to make their homes attractive than the farmer,
but in his eagerness to acquire more territory he
often fails to perceive it.

I could name individuals who own hundreds of
acres of land, but cannot sp-are a rod for a flower-
garden for their daughtere, or an acre for an or-
chard for their sons, and yet lament that their
daughters yearn to be tending the loom of some
manufacturing company, and their sons the coun-
ter of some city merchant.

I cannot but hope that the time is fast approach-
ing when the farmer will be as eager to satisfy
the wants of his family, as he now is those of a
stranger, and thus make his home a happy one,
and his children contented. E. Hersey.

Hingham, Mass.

For the Ne2v England Farmer.

WINTER IN MISSISSIPPI.

A winter in Mississippi has none of those exhi-
larating accompaniments which characterize a
New P^ngland winter ; no merry eleigh-bells, no
skating, q0 coasting. One never sees here, moth-
er earth, covered with her pure, snowy mantle;
or the trees hung with glittering crystals. Yet, a
winter in Mississippi is not without its charms.
If it has not a coronet of diamonds, it wears a
wreath of roses. Winter in Mississippi is like
life itself, a strange mingling of sunshine, clouds
and rain. Now, the genial suu warms into life
and beauty the slumbering rose-buds, and the
gardens are blooming with hyacinths, narcissus,
and other varieties of the bulbous family. The
forests, too, are interspersed with evergreens ; the
dark, rich magnolia, with its lustrous foliage glis-
tening in the sunsliinc ; the brighter, more cheer-
ful holly, witli its coral berries, the hopea, water-
oak, with a variety of others, peculiar to this lati-
tude ; so that, although many of the trees shed
their leaves in autumn, the forests never wear
that aspect of desolation, that they do in colder
climates, during the winter months. Then, too,
there arc miles, and miles of hedge, made of the
beautiful, evergreen, Cherokee rose. One of the
most pleasing features of a southern landscape in
February, is tlie yellow jessamine, its evergreen
foliage, contrasting beautifully, with its profu-
sion of golden blossoms ; perfuming the air with

a delicious fragrance resembling heliotrope. Each
particular flower, viewed separately, is not strik-
ingly beautiful ; but the vine itself, twining
around the fence corners, or hanging in graceful
festoons from the smaller trees, laden with sweet
blossoms, has a charming effect. The variety ©f
the feathered tribe adds another beauty to our
winter scene. Besides the gay red-bird, mocking-
bird, and other birds peculiar to the South, we
have some dear little robins from good old Mas-
sachusetts. Who knows but they are the very
ones that build their nest, every year, in the old
elm, that shades our own "Beloved IlomeV

But all is not sunshine in Mississippi. Winter
has its clouds and storms. The to-day, so bright
and beautiful, is succeeded by a dark to-morrow.
The pattering of the rain-drops is the first sound
that greets the ear in the morning, and it lulls
you to slumber at night. Day after day, the rain
comes down. Then the weather gradually be-
comes colder, and colder, and at last the clouds
are dissipated, and the glorious sun shines forth
in all his splendor. Then follow tliree white frosts,
then a few days of warmth and sunshine, then a
rain. Winter does not put a stop to the work on
a plantation. The negroes are busy, plowing,
making fences', and clearing land, to be in readi-
ness to plant t'he corn and cotton in the spring.
Christmas comes once a year, and is observed with
fcitivitics corresponding to Thanksgiving in New
England. There is a Avhole week of holidays,
which the servants enjoy vastly, in a succession of
parties and visiting. There is a fiddler on almost
every plantation, and music, and dancing are eu-
joyc'l with as keen a relish in the cabin l)y torch-
light, as in the brilliantly illuminated ball-room.

Houses in Mississippi are not built so much in
reference to comfort in winter, as in summer, and
stoves are regarded as abominations, not to be tol-
erated.

In a cold day, a cheerful fire is blazing on the
hearth, but there is such a mania for fresh air,
that the doors and windows must be wide oj^en, so
there is no danger of being too warm. Happily,
however, the very cold days are few, and far be-
tween.

Of the amusements, and pleasui-es of winter on
a plantation, 1)ut little can be said. The gentle-
men arc great huntsmen, and unrivalled equestri-
ans, and the ladies, too, are fond of riding on horse-
back. But there are no lyceums, or concerts, so
that we are dependent on our own resources for
enjoyment. M. e. s.

Kcl/eriown, Miss., May, 1854:.

Remauks. — We are glad that the intelligent
daughters of Massachusetts still retain an interest
in the columns they were in the habit of perusing
before becoming citizens of the West. We shall be
irlad to hear from "M. E. S." again.

To C0RRR.SPONDENTS. — A "Farmer" will find
our views briefly expressed in another part of the
paper, iu relation to the subject upon which he
writes. Perhaps he has written under some mis-
understanding of the article which he criticises.
Several inquiries and valuable communications are
on hand, which shall receive attention.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

337

COST OF MANURE.

How many farmers continue to "vvork their farms
•without profit, for the want of asufficient amount
of fertilizers,. and many, too, whose income from
other sources than their farms, enables them every
year to loan an excess on mortgage. _ Nine-tenths
of their time and energies are fpent in tilling the
poor and worthless farm, to prevent its running
them in dcht, and still, they are unwilling to.in-
vest a single dollar in the purchase of manure, to
be refunded with double interest in a single season.

The question simply should be, will a dollar's
worth of manure produce more than lOG cents
worth of corn beyond the expense of jn-oducing it,
and beyond the natural crop of the land. We
say that an extra dollar properly invested in man-
ures, will produce an excess crop of five dollars
worth of corn in a single year, and, in many cases,
a much larger ratio of increaso, besides leaving
the land worth nearly, or all tlie cost of manure,
better for future crops. What would be said of
the merchant who should loan so much of his cap-
ital on l}ond and mortgage, that ho had not suf-
ficient means to keep the necessary stock of goods
to supply his customers ? And why should the
farmer loan his money to others at six per c;'nt.
per annum, when he could earn a profit, in ad<li-
tiou to the interest, by using it himself? When a
farmer's income is truly in excess of his farm, then
he is consulting his best interest by investing his
money where it may bo used by others for his ben-
efit ; but until his own business is properly cared
for, he is wrong to part with the mjans necessary
to its success.

Many a farmer now worth .slOOO boyond his
farm -was worth the same on arriving of age, and
might have rendered his farm capable of produc-
ing a similar sum every year in excess of his
wants, if, during the first year of his business, he
had placed the $1000 in his soil in the shape of
manure. Nor is this truth confined to tlie weal-
thy farmer, for many who now work 100 acres of
land and remain poor, might l)ecome comparative
ly ric',1 in a few years, by using the same amount
of manure on 50 acres winch they now use on 100.
So long as further additions of manure will in-
crease the product beyond cost, the fii^mer should
continue to increase the quantity used ; and if he
cannot do so by any other means, he should re-
duce the quantity of land tilled. — WorJ.ing Far-
mer.

THE BEURRE BOSC PEAR.
Elliot, in liis new work on Fruit, says this pear
should have a place in the smallest collection.
Downing goes farther, and gives it unqualified
praise. Ho sa^-s it is large, handsome, a regular
bearer, always perfect, and of the highest flavor.
It bears singly, and not in clusters, lookiijg as if
thinned on the tree, whence it is always of fine
size. It was raised in 1807 by Van INIons, and
named Calebasse Bosc, in honor of M. Bosc, a
distinguished Belgian cultivator. Having also
l)een received at the garden of the Horticultural
iSocifty of London, under the name of Beurre Bosc,
Mr. Thompson thouglit itbcst to retain this name,
as less likely to lead to a confusion with the Cale-
basse, a distinct fruit. The tree grows vigorously ;

shoots long, brownish olive. Fruit large; pyri-
form, a little uneven, tapering long and gradually
into the stalk. Skin pretty smooth, dark yellow,
a good deal covered with streaks and dots of cin-
namon russet, and slightly touched with red on
one side, ^alk one or two inches long, rather
slender, curved. Calyx sliort, set in a very shallow
basin. Flesh white, melting very butterj^, with a
rich delicious, and slightly perfumed flavor. Ri-
pens gradually, from the last of September to the
last of October.

\\

u

/

^y^iTrr*

THE ANDREWS PEAR.

This pear {dotted outline) is stated ])y Downixg
to be a favorite native seedling. It is found in the
neighborhood of Dorchester, and first introduced
to notice by a gentleman of Boston, wliosc name it
bears. It lias, for the last 15 years, been one of
the most popular fruits. It is of most excellent
flavor, a certain and regular bearer, even while
young, and the tree Avhich is very hardy, never
suflers from blight. Fruit rather largo, pyriform,
one sided. Skin smooth, and rather tliick, pale
yellowish green, with a dull red cheek, and a few
scattered dots. Stalk aljout )xn inch and a quar-
ter long, curved, set in a very shallow, blunt de-
pression, or often without depression. Calyx open,
placed in a small basin. Flesh greenish-wliite,
full of juice, molting, with a fine vinous flavor.
Early in September. Shoots diverging, light olive.

3i}5

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

For the yew England Farmer.

SILK CULTURE.

Mr. Editor : — In the Farmer of May 27th, an
inquiry on tliis subject is presented liy a "New
Iluiup.shire Girl." •

Somewhat more than twenty years have
ehipsed since a movement was commenced, in
which the writer of this article took a zealous
and rather prominent part, to introduce the rais-
ing of sillc into ^Massachusetts. Considerable ex-
pense was incurred to colonize the mulberry tree
and the silk worm from Connecticut. The at-
tempt was successful, and prosperity attended the
enterprise under the auspices and fostering aid of
agricultural societies and the legislature of the
State, until a blight came over it in the shape of a
disastrous speculation in mulberry trees. The ru-
in _ produced by this folly was so signal, as to
chill the ardor and stagnate the efforts of many,
who had enlisted in the cause with high expecta-
tions, and with enthusiasm in due proportion.
The waning that followed was even more rapid,
than the waxing which had preceded. Still it
may be said, that the amount of raw silk pro-
duced, and in a fit state for the manufacturer,
was quite considerable. The market, however,
declined, and was soon at an end.
• The last act, on the part of the writer of this
article, to sustain an interest to whicli he had de-
voted so much attention and labor, was the intro-
duction and advocating of a motion, in the Mas-
sachusetts Legislature, to encourage females, by
bounty, to manufacture sewing silk, which may
be done with little outlay. The committee, to
which the question was referred, did not report
favorably to the plan, and the sun of hope went
down in despair.

Now, in reference to particulars of the infor-
mation wanted, it may be said, that the machin-
ery for getting raw silk from tlie cocoon is a reel,
the cost of which, when the article was in de-
mand, was about $10, as manuftictured in vari-
ous places ; in Dedham, for one instance, in the
vicinity of Boston, (fa how many cocklofts it
may be stowed away among other useless lum-
ber, for want of employment, is matter of conjec-
ture only.) The eggs for the worm may, proba-
bly, be obtained any Avhere in the region of silk-
growing, and Mansfield in Connecticut, is as likely
a place as any to be in a condition of persever-
ance, as regards this kind of husbandry.

Should any one resolve on making a trial of
the business, directions how to proceed may be
gathered, unquestionably, from the archives of
the State, and the New England Fanner also,
from witliin the limits of that period especially,
ft'hen Rev. Henry Colman was Agricultural Com-
missioner, and likewise editor of the New Eng-
land Farmer.

If I could bo of any service to the "New Hamp-
shire Girl,'' in the way of offering suggestions, I
might address her in a strain something like the
following : "Dear Miss, if you have any thing of
the spirit, the ardor, the indomitable resolution
of Joan of Arc, and can get access to comrades, in
any considerable number, of like temperament,
sentiments and feelings, disposed to embark with
yo!i in a sclieme so doubtful, yet so laudable,
bring them together in convention, (female con-
ventions you know, are as common as daisies in

the spring, ) and make formal representation, by
resolution, to the conscript fathers, (which in
modern dialect means young men , mere striplings,)
of the Granite State in legislative halls assembled ,
that the daughters of the Commonwealth are not
averse to sharing in the industry necessary to the
commonweal, and would gladly be put in the
way of earning and even producing, some portion,
at least, of the silks indispensable to the adorning
of their persons. They, therefore, humbly peti-
sion your honorable body to adopt measures for
retaining at home a moiety of the immense sums
of money sent abroad for silk goods, and let it be
so invested as to give employment to female
hands,and shield them from poverty, vice and deg-
radation. If this expedient fails, try the agricul-
tural societies, and ask them, if it will not profit
the country as much, to have our silks produced
at home, as to have our soil occupied with other
fane}'' articles, which cannot be transplanted from
distant regions bu t at great expense. Let cattle,hogs
and hens, whicii eat up so much of our farming
wealth to gratify a taste for imported stock, re-
main where they are engendered, and let the in-
dustry which is wanted to give scope to unem-
ployed hands and to furnish us with home enjoy-
ments, without going f\ir away to obtain them,
have the benefit of the outlay."

The residue of the argument I have in em-
bryo. J. F.

Charlemont, June 8, 1854-.

INFLUENCE OF MACHINERY ON CIV-
ILIZATION.

The annexed eloquent extract is from iha^'- Phil-
adelphia Daily Ledger,'''' — ^a paper always able and
uniformly correct : —

"The influence of these reforms on civilization
cannot be estimated too highly. The old preju-
dice against machinery, which never had any hold
on men of real intelligence, is now disappearing
even from the minds of the most ignorant. Every-
where the great truth is being acknowledged, that
the influence of machinery is to elevate the condi-
tion of the human race, by substituting skilled la-
bor and directing talent for mere executive work.
In other words, men are elevated, so far forth, from
machines to makers and controllers of machines.
The higher qualities of their nature are being
called into exercise. Instead of going tlie same
unvaried round of labor for generation after gene-
ration, like a blind horse forever travelling the
narrow circuit of a mill, they are throwing the
burden of all mere mechanical work on machinery,
subjecting the dull and inanimate forces of nature
to their will, and making iron and steel submissive
agents. If the reforms, already made in this di-
rection, afford any criterion for the future, the
time will come eventually, when nearly all that is
irksome in labor will be avoided, and then that
part of the curse pronounced on Adam at least be
alleviated .

Yet this aspect of the influence of machinery
and civilization, though the most important, is
precisely the one least regarded. It is far more
common to hear the cheapening effects of machi-
nery extolled than to have these enfranchising and
elevating influences pointed out. We do not deny
that the placing of cottage goods Avith the rcacli
of the poorest, has materially improved the physi-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

cal condition of the human race, and therofoi-e in-
directlj' refined and enlightened mankind. But
this is only tlie ultimate, not the proximate result.
Nor is it without alloy. And to a certain exten*
the effect of machinery in this direction is enerva-
ting and sensualizing. It advances civilization in
its physical aspect, ))ut not in its moral, intellec-
tual, and religions ones. It fosters less the spir-
itual and mrntal part of humanity than that ba-
ser part Avhich is 'of the earth, earthy.' But ma-
chinery, regarded as a means to banish man's
slavery to toil, hy substituting brain-work for the
labor of the hand, is the high road to that fuller
and more perfect development of society, which
poets have painted, philosophers predicted, and
revelation, it is believed by many, expressly prom-
ised."

For the New England Farmer.

SOUTH DOWN SHEEP.

Mr. Editor : — I read last evening in the Far-
nier the discussion on sheep, and was somewhat
interested. I keep South Downs, and like them
much ; they are quiet, thrifty and handsome, with-
al. I sold one of my neighbors 26, last fall, and
a short time since I called to see them, and they
had 48 as fine lambs as need be ; one sheep had
three, and all doing well. I sold the wether lambs
from them last year at $4 per head, to the butch-
er— my nei^^hbor will probably get more than that
for them this year, (and there is no doubt at all
but he can, if he chooses.) We will say that he
get $200 for lambs, and allow say $40 — a low fig-
ure— for wool, gives $240, a handsome return from
only 2d slieep. The sheep were nearly all half
Idood, except three, perhaps, that were nearly full
bred. I have a flock of full blood consisting of 30
tliat have now living, and about two months old,
48 lambs (if I count right) the same number as
mj- neighbor gets from his 20 mixed breed. The
mixed breeds seem as hardy, and about ns produc-
tive, as the full bloods; perhaps they are more
pi'ofltable for practical purposes, as they generally
shear considerably heavier fleeces. I get more for
my lambs when I sell them, on account of the
breed. I sold all the bucks I had last year, at pri
ces varying for 7 or 8 to 25 dollars, as for quality
and size, and bouglitone of L. G.Morris for $50
I have this year a few nice lambs sired by an im
ported buck now owned by J. Tiiorne, of Duchess
Co., that sold in England for $050.; they are good
lambs, but a stranger could not, I think, select
them from among the others. T. B. Buffum.

Newport, R. I., 1854.

Lasting Eikects of Heat. — The French, during
the time their army remained under Bonaparte in
the Holy I^and, constructed two very large ovens
in the castle of Tiberias. Two years had clafLsed
at the time of our arrival since they had sot fire to
their granary ; and it was considered a miracle I)y
the inhabitants of Tiberias, that the combustion
was not extinguished. We visited the place, and
perceived that whenever the ashes of the burned
corn were stirred hy thrusting a stick among them
sparks were even then glowing throughcjut tlie
heap, and a pi-j'-e of wood being left tlierebecauui
charred. The heat in those vaulted chambers
where the corn had been destroyed was still very
great. — Clarke's Travel.

THE poor AUGER.

Digging post holes with a
common spade is a some-
what slow and fatiguing
operation ,and may ba much
facilitated with a good post
auger, such as is represented
above. This auger is used
in a way similar to the com-
mon auger for boring tim-
ber, and with it post holes
are readily made in sand,
loam, clay or alluvial soils.
We hope it may not be ob-
jected to because its con-
struction is a little more
scientific than the spade.
The high price of labor
urges W5, at any rate, to
avail ourselves of all the la-
bor-saving implements tlia
we can.

For the A'cio England Farmer.

WELL-DIGGING.

Bletoxism. The faculty of perceiving and in-
dicating subterranean springs and currents by
sensation; so called from one Bleton, of France,
who was sujiposed to possess this fiiculty. Wil-i
Dr. Webster, in loco.

Bletoxist. One who has the faculty of per-
ceiving subterranean springs by sensation. Vide
Dr. Worcester.

As acknowledged, there are more things in
heaven and earth than our philosophy has hither-
to dreamed of, the probable presumption arises
that the idea involved in the above terms and defi-
nitions is not a mere chimera, but a fixed fact
which may be rendered suljservient to the general
good.

Let certain persons take a "fork" of cherry,
peach, hazel, willow, or the like, of one or two
years growth, full of sap, and so hold the extrem-
ities, firmly grasped in tlie hands, tliat the fork
will be upward ; when they come into the vicinity
of a spring of living water, the fork will bend to-
ward it, and when the person stands immediately
over tlie water, the rod will point directly down-
ward .

In the hands of others, the fork, or a "divining
rod" prepared for the i^urpose, Avill turn//7)/n, in-
stead of /« the water, yet will indicate its locality
with nearly equal exactness.

A good Bleton ist Avill also discover silver, iron
and other ores by means of tlie rod, and persons
often amuse cadi other by hiding a half-dollar in
the ground, within a proscribud limit, and the di-
viner finding it with luinost absolute certainty.

As intimated tlure are only certain persons, in
whose hands the rod will work, and in some of
these, not at all times ; it therefore becomes an

340

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

important quv-*;,,,,^ j^ -whose hands will it work,
and why not at all tuu^t

Electrically, tlic race is clabB'ifi.>,l. Males arc

Eositive ; females negative. This is navurf>, and
J this very general law of relation of the sexes,
much, that is now considered inexplicable hj
many, may be satisfactorily explained.

Many males arc negatively electrified, and it is
found ))y exiieriment that such have this power or
flxeulty of perceiving subterranean springs: &c.,by
sensation, and that generally any one who is a
good biologic, mesmeric or "spirit-rapping" me-
dium, is a good Bletonist.

Living (not deep) water, silver, iron and the
like, being relatively posilive electrically to such
persons, the rod in their hands, when immediately
over any of these substances, points in a direct
lino to it, and there1)y indicates its locality.

In the hands of those who are positively elec-
trified the rod is repelled ; which is also in per-
fect accordance with the well-known electric law,
that likes repel each other.

It has also been ascertained, that the physio-
lo.^ical changes that are constantly going on in
our bodies, change temporarily, if not sometimes
permamently, their electric state from negative to
positive and the opposite, and hence the well-
known fact that, not at all times, in the
same person's hands, will the rod operate ; a cir-
cumstance which, probably, more than any oth-
er, has led more to believe the whole thing to
bo a humbug, but which, if the above suggestion
has any tveight, must obviously be expected to
occur.

The rule by which the depth of water is ascer-
t.iiaed,is to measure from the point where the rod
/ 'i>i7is to bend toward, to where it points directly
/ ' the water perpendicularly. This will give the
i\ pth, nearly, and it will be perceived that the
f^paere of attraction begins at about an angle of
4P. It seems hardly necessary to point out the
value of this science to the agriculturist and oth-
ers. By it much money and time may be saved,
and land otherwise comparatively worthless, ren-
dered immensely valuable. G.

Barton, Vt.

For the New England Farmer.

CANKER WORMS.

As a subscriber to your valued journal, from
its early commencement until the present time,
may I be permitted to avail myself of a small space
in your columns, oifering a few remarks in refer-
ence to that pest of the ruralist and the farmer, in
the "Span or Canker Worm ?" Another of their
annual devastations has just been completed, and
in many places the fair promises of spring have
l)een wholly destroyed by their ravenous besieg-
ings. Indeed, in some sections in our vicinity,
they appear to liave come forward in increased
numbers, and, like

"Giants refreshetl with wine,"

have carried perfected destruction wheresoever
they have gathered and assailed. Many years
since, I believe tliesc depredators were not known
among us. And although many able treatises
have of late been written on the habits of this vo-
racious insect, accompanied with cautions as to
their increase ; and although various plans have
been suggested for their extirpation, yet, we be-
lieve nothing has as yet been effected, accomplish-

ing fully the end desired. The process of tarring
we believe has performed all it promised to, when
faithfully continued. Yet, where there are many
trees, this process is peculiarly laborious, and dis-
grecalde. And accompanied as it is, with the
drying rapidity of the tar, (although thinned with
oil) and the injury it oft inflicts on trees, owa
would think it, by no means, the best resort that
the ingenuity of man can i-each to effect the ob-
ject desired.

Girdles of oil cups, tufts of cotton and clipped
straw, with various other imbecilities, have been
used, and yet with no beneficial rcsidts, as the
numberless burned orchards in our vicinity, bear
ample testimony to.

At a period when societies are formed, to en-
courage the production of fruits and flowers — when
premiums are liberally offered for tfio best exhibi-
tions of yVM;7, vegetable or grain, and horticultural
societies reward generously for the largest cherry
or pumpkin — one would think a little of their
munificent encouragement might, (profitalily to
mankind,) be diverted and appropriated to him
who could rescue whole orchards from destruction ;
instead of showering all their encouragements on
the one who could grow the biggest apple or to-
mato in the country.

But really ^Messrs. Editors, — seriously and re-
ligiously, I think the subject is worthy of, and
demands better attention than has yet been
given to it. For, of a truth, the evil by no means
mitigates or diminishes ; on the contrary, is must
fearfully and disastrously increasing. Surely
the subject calls for the keenest investigation,
alike of the agriculturist, of agricultural societies,
of the farmer, the chemist, the practical or even
the unpractical man. For with the ravages of
this insect still annually being spread over our
beautiful orchards and groves, ought we to sit still,
indifferent to the regular augmentation of this af-
fliction, or at once endeavor to devise some means,
if possible, to stay and extirpate it where it is^
Recently we have had shown us a glass belt, (made
in two segments, so as to encircle the tree, and thus
arrest the rising of the insects,) invented and pa-
tented by Mr. A. Everett, of Roxbury, Mass.,
which we are told promises to be effectually use-
ful. The inventor informed us awhile since, that
its use had been adopted with great favor l)y Dr.
TiiADDEus Wm. Harris, our distinguished Ento-
mologist ; and we should be glad to hear from our
talented and indefatigable friend, the doctor, on
this point, or any other that might profitably be
availed of, as a curative for the increase and rav-
ages of this devastating insect. Dr. Harris, in
various articles contributed to your journal and
other agricultural periodicals, as also in his able
"Treatise on Insects," has given some valuable
suggestions, as to the destruction of the "Canker
Worm ;" but yet none Avhich we think wholly ef-
fectual, unless pursued at great cost of time and
patience. And this, too, with little beneficial re-
sult, should one happen (as is oft the case) to have
a "Lazy Bones" for his neighbor, Avho would
quietly sit for a coat of tar and feathers, ratlier
than bestir liimself, with the "love of his neigli-
bor as himself" in his heart, and lustily ^^tar
away ; ' ' and thus remove a past pei'nicious exam-
ple of laziness and indifference, for agoudly lesson
of industry, and "of doing as one would be done
unto."

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

341

Perhaps, Messrs. Editors, some of your numer-
ous contril)utors or subscribers may afford benefi-
cial and useful hints on this subject. For surel}'
it cannot be that this marauding insect, the "Can-
ker Worm," is indistructible ; or that its annual
return to U8, blasting many of the best hopes of
the farmer, is but the embodiment of tliat worm,
which thescriptufe tells us "never dies."

Anxious to do all in my poor ability to effect
this desired object, I would gladly be willing to
associate myself with any ten or twenty pex'sons,
a,nd off3r a premium, not less than 500 dollars, to
see if something cannot be effected, to overcome
effectually' this continued and increasing devasta-
tion and evil. Will the agricultural or horticul-
tural societies join hand ?

Your friend and admirer,

RoxBURV Russet.

HIGH PRICES-EMIGRATION-SUGAR.

We copy below from the United S/alcs Econo-
mist, a v.iluable commercial journal published
and conducted by Thom.\s P. Ketteli., at New
York. We give the whole article on the subject
of Sugar, that the reader may get an idea of the
amount imported, and that which is made from
beets. Something of the cost of producing sugar
on the plantations may be gathered from the let-
ter dated at New Orleans.

Since 1S47 the number of immigrants tliathave
arrived has reached 1,750,000 souls, a number
more than the whole population of the Kingdom
of Hanover, which has an area of 14,27*J square
miles, and whieh exports $5,000,000 per annum,
and which is taxed $G, 500,000 per annum. Since
the year 1847 a population equal to the wiole of
that Kingdom, has, with its capital, skill r.ud in-
dustry, been poured upon the cities and plains of
the United States at a moment when California
was sending hither fifty millions of gold per an-
num, stimulating the production of railroads, and
every species of manufacture, giving i\ili eiajdoy
ment. It is not to be wondered at tliat such a
host of persons rushing into the United States,
seizing upon and vivifying every branch of Indus
try, should not only have caused a produ'^tion of
commodities but have consumed a large b'lpply.
Tlie high prices of produce in the past for,r years
have recpiited labor and encouraged enterprise,
and tlie short European crops of the present year
have served to send the current of labor into a
cultui-ar employments, hence the rising valu s of
Western lands. Immense tracts like those pene-
trated by the Illinois Central Railroad, ure in ea-
ger demand, and with the prospect of prolonged
political difli.nikies in Europe, the intrinsic value
of the lands is more than doubled. Land winch
raised GO liushels sod corn at 15 cents po'- bushel,
yielded iJO por acre and paid for the labor. The
same labor now realizes, ny the advance in C'»rn to
40 cents, $24 per acre. The external man i testa-
tion of the national prosperity is in the tx ports
from New York, to which point the sii olns larm

of greater numbers and improving wealth, must
be met, but also those of inhabitants generally'.
Thus, in 1847, the population of the United States
was 20,050,000, it is now 25,000,000, according
to the estimates of natural increase ; if to this is
added 1,500,000 immigrants, the number is 26,-
500,000 in the Union. If the consumption of
goods in 1847 Avas $20 per liead per aimum, and
is now $30 per head per annum, the result would
be as follows :

Population. Cons'iition per licaj. Value.

1847 20,650,000 $20 $-Ho,000,000

1851 26,500,000 30 779,50O,0i.K)

Increased 5,850,000 $10 $:it36,500,OCO

The receipts of gold from California have, de-
clined to some extent by reason of the enormous
losses that have been sustained on goods sent
thither last year. As compared with other arti-
cles, however, gold now conmiands the highest
price. It has risen within the year more than any
other article, since it will command at its place of
production, more of other products of industry,
than it would at any one time since the discovery
of the mines. Goods and produce are lower there
than at New York, and as the facilities for gold
digging and washing are greater, without any ap-
parent diminution in the yield of the mines, the
same amount of la'ior will give a greater quanti-
ty of gold, and that gold will command more com-
modities. These are elements which promise for
the close of tlie fiscal year 1855 a state of affairs
the reverse of that which is now experienced.

SUGAR.

The sugar trade of the world has received in the
last ten or fifteen years, a great impulse througii
the changed commercial policies of our own and
other governments. The improved prosperity of
the people of England and Europe, as well as t)f
the United States, leading to larger consumption,
on the one hand, while the development of the cul-
ture of the cane in Louisiana, and the beet sug.ir
in Europe, has tended to enhance the general sup-
ply, which again has been checked by the cour^J
of the British and French governments in respect
to their sugar colonies. The great reduction of
the sugar duties of Great Britain has had the ef-
fect of increasing the consumption of raw sugar
in the British Islands, 50 per cent. The duty on
foreign brown sugar in England, which was 00s.
per cwt., prior to July, 1840, has been 14s. since
July, 1851, and in this year 1854 the duties on
raw and refined will be equalized. Before the re-
moval of the proliibitive duty of GGs. in Great
Britain, Cuba, in bond, was lOs. Gd. per cwt.; it
is now 25s. Gd., the immense consumption raising
the price to the producer. The consumption in
Great Britain has steadily increased as follows :

Colonial. Foreign.
Cwt. Cwt.

1842 4,325,785 2,139

1853 6,159,267 1,033,095

Total. ^ Dutit?.

Cwt. • i,

4,327,974 5,485,413

7,552,362 4,031,270

The reduction in price and duty is equal to
,$50,000,000 per annum to the sugar consumers,
while the enhanced remuneration to the growers
is manifest in the increased supply. While tlie
British demand for sugar was thus enhanced, the

j)roduce t-rnds ; and we find that this value is now colonies produced less, and the extra demand from
tar in advance of the famine year for prodm o, ir- England fell on the markets of the world. In the
respective of specie. same period, although the aggregate consumption

It follows tliatnotonly the wants of imnii::;rants of sugar on the continent increased, the demand
who create a demand for goods in the doubh- ratio [for cane sugar was checked by the extended [>ro-

342

NEAV ENGLAND FAEMER.

July

duction of beet root sugar, -which has reached
150,000 tons \wr iiniiuin. Of this,in the German
Customs Uuioii tlio increase has been from 15,000
to 02,000 toHS,fonniii<j; now one-half of the whole
consumption of sugar in theZollveiein. In France
a great increase in the production of beet sugar
took place under the protective policy of the
government, wliich discriminated in its favor
against the cane sugar of the colonies, until the
growth became large, and then it reversed its poli-
cy, discriminating in fovorofcane sugar. Never-
theless, the course of the Provisional government
in 1848, towards its colonics, diminished the re
ceipt of colonial cane sugar in France from 120,-
000 to 00,000 tons. In the United States, the du^
ty up to 1857 was 2;^ per cent, per lb. Since then
at 30 per cent, it has averaged about 1 cent per
lb., and yields a revenue of $4,500,000 per an-
num. Since 1842 the increase in production and
importation has been steady as follows :

IMrtKT OF SlOAll AND CROP OF LOUISIANA.

, Imports, lbs. , New Orleans.

White. lirown. Total, lbs. crop. lbs.

1843 1,098,025 63,534,331 71,632,356 140,000,000

1853 1,000,000 506,000,000 601,000,000 321,934,000

There wore in operation in Louisiana in the
year 1853, 1,481 sugar estates; of which thei-e
were worked Ijy steam 943, and by horse power
538. TJsing-tlie old process by open kettles, 1,428;
using the vacuo process, 53. The total value pro-
duced was ,$12G,*J2'J,000, more than equal to this
year's cotton crop.

The increase iu foreign supply is 430,000,000
lbs., and in domestic 182,000,000 lbs. The latter
finds an increasing and rapid sale up the Missis-
sippi yalley and through the West, some of it com-
ing to New York through canals and lakes. Of
the imported sugar, by far the largest proportion
is from Cuba, and more than one-half is refined
in New York, in 17 establishments which employ
4,500 men on a capital of $10,000,000, and pro-
duce $20,000,000 worth of refined sugar per an-
num. It is undoubtedly the case that the use of
refined sugar is becoming more general. The re-
finers, whose business up to 1842 was protected
by allowing them a drawback on the refined sugar
exported, and which drawback gradually became
greater than the duty on the raw sugar, now, in
common with all other sugar consumers, demand
a repeal of the sugar duty.

Under the supposition that the present duty is
an advantage to sugar growers, equal to the amount
paid, (1 cent, per lb.,) then the amount paid by
all the sugar consumers in the country is $8,200,-
000 per annum, of which the government gets
$4,500,000 and the. sugar planters $3,700,000,
which would be about $2,500 to each estate.
The sugar planters deny, however, that they make
any protit, as follows:

H^ New Orleans, May 9th.

Messrs. Editors — My attention was drawn to
the enclosed article in your valuable paper, and I
propose to give you my own experience as a sugar
planter in a few words, and as the last season was
one of unusual production, and my crop larger
than usual, I think it is not an unfair selection ;
and as it is not in my way to inquire into my
neighbors' affairs, I cannot pretend to give you
their experience, still I venture the assurance that
very few realize eight per cent, per annum, and
many of them are making, in my opinion, more
leeway than headway.

My plantation, witk 100 negroes, cost me $100,000 00

I m.iUe 600 hhds. su},'ar of fair quality, sold at 3i cts. 16,250 00
25,000 gallons molasses, 14 cent 3,500 00

$19,750 00
Paid the merchant's commissions on sale of

the crop, 2i per cent., is $443 75

Freiglit to (lie city of N.Orleans, $l,12i ^hhd. 75p 00
Freight on 700 libls. Molasses, 75 cts. ^ Ijbl. 525 00

Overseer's wages 1,200 00

Sugar maker 300 00

Kngineer to superintend my own engineers 250 00

120 bbls. Mess Pork, at $14 1,680 00

Paid for 700 Molasses bbls., at $1,50 1,050 00

Paid for assistant Cooper to make 500 sugar

hhds. 62i 312 00

One suit of Jeans and Limiseys for the Ne-
groes, at $3 300 00

Two suits of Summer wear, $1,50 300 00 •»,

Shoes for the workers, s.ny two pairs for 70

persons 157 00

Purchase of 6 mules to replace others 840 00

Taxes 342 00

600 bbls. Corn, at 65 cents 520 00

Physician's bill for the year 250 00

Paid for Plows, Carts, &c 295 00

Uepairs of Kngine, resetting Kettles, Fur-
naces, &c 560 00

Iron, Salt, Hay, &c 225 00-$1Q,300 75

Deducted from sale of crop, leaving $9,440 25

Being less than 6 per cent, interest on the in-
vestment. In these expenses I do not include my
family or house expenses, nor do I take into con-
sideration the loss of some valuable hand.s — plac-
ing the births against the deaths.

The very great increase in the production of su-
gar affords evidence of far better general results
than are here represented, and it is to be remarked
that the crop has inci'cased threefold since the
duty was reduced from 2i to 1 cent.

Catiies' IDfpartmcut.

ERRORS IN BREAD-MAKING.

SOFT UKEAD.

"What is the reason," I am asked, "that soft
bread is so much used ?" Many ignorant persons
prefer it ; it can be swallowed without much
mastication, and the labor of kneading is much
abridged. Bread, to be good, requires much knead-
ing, and baking until the crust is Avell-browned.

MEDICAL TESTIMONY.

Medical men have had their attention drawn to
this subject, (the use of alkalies in bread-making,)
and many efibrts have been made to discover an-
tidotes, and to prevent the ill effects of alkaline
compounds ; and although medical men disagree
on many points that come within their province,
yet on this point they are nearly unanimous as to
the cause, the effect, and the remedy. Some of
the effects of the long-continued use of alkaline
compounds, are, difliculty of breathing after mo-
tion, weariness, heaviness, gums apt to bleed on
the Slightest touch, fetid breath ; and "dissections
of sucli cases have always .shown the blood in a
very dissolved state." The remedy is abstinence
from alkaline compounds, with a diet of fresh
vegetable or wholesome fiirinacea.

INDIAN CORN,

Is a noble gi-ain, a rich boon, nicely covered up
and presented to the human family in a clean
condition; no grain more so. The meal of this
grain , so far as I have observed, is ground too
tine, so that when it is cooked it has a pasty con-
sistence. Corn ought to be always coarsely
ground. It is naturally more friable than wheat.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

and in this respect it has the advantage over
wheat. Thia friability is a valuable mechanical
property, and should never be injured by grind
mg or cooking. A good mechanical condition is
an indispensable requisite to easy digestion;
therefore, friability ought to be stamped on every
dish, and marked on every loaf and cake. All
doughy, glutinous and pasty bread and puddings
should be avoided ; they do not become the tables
of an intelligent and cultivated people ; the time
and fuel expended in preparing doitghy bread,
and pasty puddings, is worse than a dead loss.

MILK IN BREAD.

I have more olycetions than one to milk in
bread, but the most serious is, that persons of ad-
vanced age, whe are in the daily use of milk-made
bread, will be exposed to suffer from an over sup-
ply of osseous or bony matter, and particularly
80 if their kidneys be affected. Bread should al-
ways 1)e made with water, and when so made, it
is suitable for the aged and the young, the sick
and the well. And as for sour milk, a micro-
scopic view would, I presume, present additional
arguments agrainsi: its use. — Water-Cure Journal.

TO CRYSTALIZE FLOWERS.

The experiment is simple and can be tried with-
out difficulty. Dissolve eighteen ounces of pure
alum in a quart of soft spring water, (observing
proportion for a greater or less quantity) , by
boihng it gently in a close tinned vessel, over a
moderate fire, keeping it stirred with a wooden-
spatula, until the solution is complete. When
the liquor is almost cold, suspend the subject to
be crystalized, by means of a small thread or
twine, from a lath or smiU stick laid horizon-
tally across the aperture of a deep glass or earth-
ern jar as being best adapted for the purpose, into
which the solution must be poured. The re-
spective articles should remain in the solution
twenty-four hours ; when they are taken out,
they are to be carefully suspended in the shade
until perfectly, dry. When the subjects to be
crystalized are put into the solution while it is
quite cold, the crystals are apt to be formed 'too
large; on the other hand, should it be too hot, the
crystals will be small in proportion. The best
temperature is about 95 deg. of Fahrenheit's ther-
mometer. Among vegetable specimens that may
be operated on are the moss rose of the gardens,
cars of com, especially millet-seed, and the beard-
ed wheat, berries of the holly, fruit of the slow-
bush, the hyacinth, pink, furze-blossoms, ranun-
culus, garden daisy, and a great variety of others ;
in fact, there are few sulyects in the vegetable
world that are not eligible to this mode of preser-
vation. The fitness of the solution for the pur-
pose may bo ascertained by putting a drop of it
on a slip of grass, and seeing if it crystalizcs as
it cools, if 80, the solutionis sufficiently strong.
Then twist around a sprig of plant, a cinder, or
wire ornament of any kind, some cotton, or still
better, some worsted. After being immersed as
already directed, the surface of the whole will
be found covered with beautiful crystalizations.

An Old Saying. — An old writer says that when
cannons were introduced as negotiators, the canons
of the church wore useless — that the Avorld was
governed first by mi/rum and then by nitrvm —
— first by St. Peter and then by Salt Petre.

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTI

EAGLE DOUBLE PLO » « .

THE superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. The mode of attaching the forward mould-board to the
beam, by which great strength and durability arc secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of worj£ and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and haiidsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or Fcat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to the surface,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tolerably free loams, rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLK
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to quality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RtJGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April 30, 1853.

Fertilizers.

BEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Super-Phosphate of Lime. — "DeBurg's No. 1."
Poudrette, of the best quality.
Ground Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes.
Ground Bone, IJone Dust and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds of reliable quality at the lowest market price.
GEO. DAVENPORT,
5 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1864. tf*^

Ground Plaster,

I7OR SALE, at White's Mills, HAVERHILL, Mass. Apply to
' JAMES D. WHITE.

Every Farmer who desires to renovate poor pastures, improve
his mowing, increase and improve his crops of corn and pota-
toes, should give this article a full trial; it is a great addition, to
any compost heap.
Fine clover usually follows the sowing of plaster.
Jan. 28, 18&4. tf.

Cranberry Plants.

BELL, or Egg shaped Variety — commonly raised in New Eng-
land, and no doubt is the best variety for cultivation — thuy
are hardy and prolific — sometimes produce over 260 bushels ^
acre, after 2 years, and needs but little cultivation. Circulars
relating to culture and price will be forwarded to ai)plicants.

F. TROWBRIDGE,
New Haven, Conn
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Improved Church Vanes,

ALL COPPER,

MANtTFACTUEEl) UY

MESSRS. J. & C. HOWARD,

WEST BRIDOEWXtER, MASS.,

MAY be purcli.i-'od at the Quincy Hall .\gricultur:il Warehouse
South Market Street, Boston.
July 1, 1854. tf

344

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

July

CONTE.^TTS OF THIS NUMBER.

C:ilcn(l:ir for Jul v 297

The Cbiia and the Flower— Butter 298

Cheap Kxperiment in Decoinposnig Bones — Ilocing 299

Habits of Insects 300

Hay iiiid Ilay-Makuig 301

Monthly Farnu-r for June 302

Scraping and Washing Trees — Meadow Mud and Lime 303

"A Hi.rse's Foot" — Again — Cork 004

I'rotecting Ptach Trees 305

Advantages of Living on Poor Land^ 300

Weeds in Door Yards 306

Book Fanning a Swamp — Shall I be a Farmer ? 307

Wash for Fruit Trees 307

Oi:t-Doors at Idlewild 308

Chimes for the Time — Forest Trees for Timber 309

Effects of Clothing on the Human Skin 309

Introduction of Domestic Animals — Farmer's Garden 310

Farming — The Modern Horse Doctor 311

The Mulberry and Silk Worm 311

Double Plows— Hay Over the Cattle 312

Indian Mode of Storing their Winter Supply 312

Slimy Slug — Ornamental Trees 314

Winter Wheat— The Curculio 315

Ellen Jones 316

The Poor Man's iMay — Singular Case of Instinct in a Horse.. 319

Democracy of Science 319

Extracts and Ileplicg 320

Prospects of the Season 321

Application of Lime and Ashes 322

The Voice of the Grass 323

The Army of Worms — A Horse's Foot 324

Honey Bees — A New llemedy for the Curculio 325

Salt Your Stock 325

New Plants — Protection for Fruit Trees in Winter 326

Post for Fences 327

What Time Shall we Cut Timber ? — Quack Medicines 328

Extracts and lleplics. . . . i 329

Slate of Vegetation at the Close of May 330

Autumnal Marrow Scjuash 330

Summer Feed for Cows and Pigs 331

The Kffect of Oxygen in Accelerating Germination UJ31

What a Garden Should Be 332

Rearing Silk Worms , 332

Production of Buds and Seeds 333

What a Whole Crop Carries Off 333

Caterpillars — The Farmer's Home 335

Winter in Mississippi 336

The Beurre Bosc Pear — Cost of Manure 337

Influence of Machinery on Civilization — Silk Culture 338

South Down Sheep — Well-Digging 339

Canker Worme 340

High Prices — Emigration — Sugar 341

Errors in Bread-Making — Lady's Department 342

To Crystalize Flowers 343

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Churning 305

French Merino Buck, "Old Tiger" 321

The Andrews Pear , 337

The Post Auger 337

EDWARD HARRISON-S

PATENT IKRIST MILL

Received the highest premium at theWork^^
Fair; and more than two hundred and fifty of
them Lave been sold within two years. The
stones are French Burr ; the frames and hoppers,
cast iron; and the spindles, cast steel. Tliey
will work both for flouring and on all kinds of
kj, grain, and will keep in repair longer than any
^ other mill. Having just completed my new
buildings, for miinufacturing and running them, I am now pre-
pared lo supply all orders for all the sizes, from twenty inches to
four fee*, diameter, including a superior farm and plantation mill,
which will grind com in the best manner, by horse power, or
even by hand. Pu\)lic attention is invited to this small mill in
particular. Descriptive circulars, with cuts, sent to post-paid
applications. EDWARD HARRISON,

Sole manufacturer, and propricter of the Patent.

New Haven, Ct
April 29, 1854. 6m^

ftlLVCY HOISE.

BY ALANSON LONG,

KEPT ON STRKTfJT TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES,

No. 1 BRArrLE SQUARE,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER

Is published on the first of every month, by John Ratnoi.d and
Joel Nouiise, at Qnincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.
SI.MON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLISROOK, ) Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

[nr Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
SZr All subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be efcgantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication'.

(ET Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, \inder the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous mutter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

Uj" Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural department of the weekly.

0= Postmasters and others, >\'ho will forward four n^w sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, s^hall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one .year.

(nr All orders and letters should be addressed, po.tt-paid.

RAYNOIiDS & NOUESE,

Quinct<Iall, SorTH Market Street, Bosto.n'.
rjj- Postage. — ^The postage on the New England Fanner,
monthly, is IJ cents jier quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid iu advance at the o(Bc«
where the same is received.

Super-Phosphate of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate eff(x;t, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency of Phosphate, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its apjjlication. It is com-
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am
monia, &8.

For sale, with full directions for use, in bags of 150 pounds
each. No charge for package. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Supcr-Phosi)hate of Lime."

GEO. DAVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 1854. if*

Premium Swine.

a.'f^''^?'*^^ "■■'■■"'■'^^

Suffolks from Morton's Piggery, have taken
the highest premiums, as may be seen by
the published transactions of tlie Massa-
chusetts State and Norfolk County Agricul-
tural Societies. The stock now for sale is
large and well assorted, embracing the pur-
est and best blood of this unequalled breed. Pigs, properly
paired for breeding, $30 a pair. For prices of Boars and Sows,
see catalogue, which will be sent by mail on application. Ani-
mals purchased forwarded by Express or vessel from Boston,
with pedigree. Orders must be accompanied by a remittance.
JAMES MORTON, West Needham. or
G. H. P. FLAGG, Boston, Mass.
June 10, 1853. 4wV>'

Farm for Sale,

in? Opposite Brattle St. Church,
Nov. I

BOSTON

Situated in HOLLISTON, one mile from the de-
pot, on the Milford Branch Railroad, and centre
of the town ; on the main road from lioUiston to
Hopkinton, and near a school. Said farm contains
eleven acres of excellent land, and is well supplied
with Apple, Pear, Peach, Cherry and Plum trees, in bearing
order; also Currants, &c. Two excellent wells of water. The
buildings consi.st of a good two-story House, 29.x40 with a n L,
wood-house. Shoe-maker's shop and a barn 34x41 and cellar un-
der the same, in good repair.

For particulars iaquiro of ADDISON WARFIELD, on the
premises.
July 1, 1654.

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI,

BOSTON, AUGUST, 1854.

NO. 8.

RAYNOLDS & NOURSE, PnopRiETOKS.
Office Quincv Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK,, i Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH 5 Editors.

land,

CALENDAR FOE AUGUST.

The fit'Iiis are all alive with sultry noise
Of labor's sounds, and insect's busy joys ;
The reapers o'er their glittering sickles stoop.
Starting full oft the partridge corers up ;
Some o'er the nestling scythe go beuding on ;
And shockers follow where their toils have gv.ie.
Heaping the swaths that rustle in the sun.

Clare's S/itpli€rd''s Calendar

UGUST, with US, is not
the principal harvesst
month. The wheat and
rye crops are gathered
in July, in New Eng-
und we believe in all the
wheat-growing States. But the
oats, barley, peas and beans, and some
early fruits and vegetables, arc harvest-
ted in August. The late meadow grass
is also cut in this month, which closes
up the hay-harvest, with the exception of the "after-
math," as the English call it, or, as. we usually
term it, the "second crop."

The "Mirror of the Months" likens August to
"that brief, but perhaps best period of human
life, when the promises of youth are eith(!r ful-
filled or forgotten, and the fears and foretli(.>nght,
'connected with decline }iave not yet grown strong
enough to make themselves felt ; and consequent-
ly when we have nothing to do but look around
U8, and be happy." Fur it is in this month that
the year, "like a man at forty, has turned the cor-
ner of its existence ; but, like him, it may still
fancy itself young, because it does not fed itself
getting old. And perhaps there is no period like
this, for encouraging and bringing to perfection
that habit of tranquil enjoyment, in which all
true happiness must mainly consist ; with pleasure
it has in<leed little to do ; but with happhuss it is
everything."

The great pressure of the season is over, and
that is what the amiable writer whom we have
quoted moans, when he says "we have nothing to

do but look around us and be happy." For in
haying and early harvest, every body is in motion
— every available hand is pressed into the service,
"llay-days" do not continue long, and they
must be briskly improved. But now that the
grass and rye and wheat-fields are smoothly shorn
and their contents heaped in generous profusion
in the bays and on the scaffolds of the barn, the
farmer breathes freer, and looks upon the labors
of his hands with a pride and satisfliction never
equalled, unless, perhaps at the close of the gi-,:r
Indian Corn Harvest.

But we gather our ample harvests in a more
matter-of-fact manner than did our ancestors. —
We make no demonstrations of gratitude or joy.
"They crowned the wheat sheaves with flowers,
they sung, they shouted, they danced, they invit-
ed each other, or met to feust, as at Christmas, in
the halls of rich houses ; and what was a very
amiable custom, and wise beyond the commoner
wisdom that may seem to lie on the top of it, ev-
ery one that had been concerned, man, woman and
child, received a little present — ribbons, lacts, or
sweetmeats." But we arc. grateful, notwithstand-
\t\"-, and read the newspapers and calculate^ mop'
than did our ancestors.

But we must not linger too long in tiiis pleat-
ant field. Changes are taking place — the floweri^
are sensibly diminislied, while later and hardier
kinds appear, especially in waste places. Towards
the end of the month the beech tree turns yellow,
or the maple into cr;.!i>5on and purple, the first
symptom of approaching autumn. The birds hav-
ing reared their broods, are now in social eompa-
nios feeding on the perfected seeds, or those who
find more congenial aliment in insoet life are con-
gregating in larger companies, and make them-
selves busy in preparations for their annual mi-
gration Houth. The "swallow peo[)le" hav<' either
gone, or have gathered upon the roof of the barn,
the old apple tree, the top rail of the fence, or the

346

NEW ENGLAND F^VRMER.

Aug.

com spires, where they diacuss in cheerful mood
the nuoossary prei^arations for their departure.

But iiK-re homely cares press, and we must at-
tend to some of the duties which particularly
claim attention in August.

Saving Grass Seeds. — Sufficient attention is
not given to the saving of seeds. It is not a diffi-
cult matter, even without theaidof a macliine for
the purpose, to gather all the clover seeds that
may be wanted on a farm of common size. It
may hd taken from the second- crop, and threshed
and cleaned up as are other seeds. So with herd's
grass— leave a square of a few rods where the
heads are large, and where no weeds are int(!r-
raixed with the grass, and at the proper time cut,
thresh and clean it up. Every dollar saved in this
and various other ways by the farmer, will give
his Ciish account a favorable aspect at the end of
the year. Indeed, a little pains will give the small
farm.T all the seeds he requires, of every kind, so
that he need not expend a shilling in money for
them. Also, carefully preserve all other seeds
which will be needed for another year's use.

KvK AMONG Corn. — Those persons wishing to fol-
low a crop of corn with rye, will find it a pleasant
way to sow the seed on a flat hoeing and har
row both ways between the rows with a suita))le
impL>m:mt, or rake in, which may be done rap
idly.

KuTA Baoas. — Give them a dressing of ashes or
superphosphateof lime just before hoeing, leaving
a vow occasionally without the fertilizer, that you
may note the difference between them.

BcDDiNG. — Most persons now understand the
process — we merely remind them that the time
has come to do it.

Ditching and Meadow Mud. — August usually
offers the most fiivorable sea-son for ditc'aing
swamp lands, and for throwing out a supply of
meadow mud. There is scarcely a farm but needs
ditching somewhere. VV'c can refer the reader to
various tracts of land where their owners have
been operating in a greater or less degree for ten
years, in order to bring low places into the pro-
duction of good grasses natural to upland. But
thoy have all failed up to this time, though they
have toiled annually to accomplish the desired
object. The hands have been active, Mhile not a
ray of scientific skill bus guided their operations.
The poruwil of a single chajitf r ofa good work on
Draining would show them : ow futile are such
eCFurts against the laws of nature.

Those who have not used meadow muck will be
surprised to find what a rapacious abisorlwnt it is
[f thrown out now and left where it may dniin, it
will b;x\-;nie quite liglit in the course of tliroo or
four mor.ths, and tlicn may bo hauled in tho win-
tor, at a triflug expense.

I4AYING Lands to Grass. — August, too, is a

mo,st* favorable season for this operation. This
practice is now, generally, well understood. On
lands naturally too moist for hoed crops, it is a
pleasant and profitable way of bringing it back to
yield good grass crops, to plow deeply, manure
well, pulverize finely, and sjed liberally ; and if
well dun in this month the young crop will gain
sufficient strength to resist the freezing of winter.

The Wheat Crop. — There is really no necessity
for the farmer to paj' out much cash for flour.
The winter blue-stem and some other kinds of
wheat will floiirish finely on most of our New
England liilla, provided it be properly put in, in
August or September, the ground liberall}' en-
riched and limed. An acre will ordinarily Ixi
sufficient to supply a family of eight or ton per-
sons. Make an experiment on a fourth of an
acre, you that doubt.

These are only a portion of the things which it
is particularly proper to attend to in the fejrvid
month of August.

GREEIf COEN PUDDIHG.

This is one of tho uumorous rural luxuries
which the farmer has always the power to obtain
at small expense. Tho following is tho recipe for
making it : —

Take of green corn, fall in the milk, twelve
ears, and grate it. To this add one quart of sweet
milk, one-fourth ofa pound of fresh butter, four
eggs, well beaten, pepper and salt as much as may
be deemed necessary ; stir tho ingredients well
together, and bake in a buttered dish. Some add
to the other ingredienta a quarter of a pound of
fine sugar, and eat with sauce. It is an excellent
dish, cold or warm, with meat or sauce; but ep-
icures of the most "exquisite taste"' declare fdr
it, we believe, and with the first service.

As green corn, particularly Prof. Mapes' new
kind of sweet Ci.rn, may be kept the year round,
tills excellent dish may be as common on the ta-
ble of the farmer as meat or bread .

ROTATION OF CHOPS.

The difference of soils, location and other cir-'
cumstances of different farms, renders tho establish-
ing a uniform series of crops in all cases imposai'de.
In some places spring wheat must be raise(i instead
of winter wheat. In others, rye must be made a
sulwtitute for wheat. A good course in some in-
stances is :

1 yciir, Corn or potatoes.

2 " Wheat or rye.

3 " Clover.
Or 1 " WMieat.

2 " Corn, potatoes.
n '< Wheat, rye.

4 " Clover.

Or corn and potatoes may }ye followed by ]>ar-
loy or peas, and then wheat. Before t! e crop
O'fcorn in all <'aseH manure plentifully. Manure
may also bo api)li(^d to great advantage when tho
field iestockisd to grass.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

34f

ABOUT BEES.

Mk. Editor : — Some two or three years ago, an
acquuintaiico of aiiiu; gave mo a receipt whk-h
he claiuiud lis infallible against the" bee moth or
miller. 11' it is of any utic, your readers "and
the rest of mankind'' are welcome to ihe knowl-
edj^e of it. I have not tei^ted it myself, partly be-
cause 1 could not get the sweet dag rout in my vi-
cinit}'. and partly because I do not suS'er ;i8 yet,
from t-jc uioth. I have but a email stock of been,
and 1 i ndea\or to keep my hives populous ; tlicn,
;is eoun as the weather will admit, I raise thehivt;
aboat lijali'inch or more from the bottom board,
by pins in the corners. The miller then hae a
poor cb.ance to d.pot;it her eggs where the hive is
full of bees. Besides this, I keep a good look-
out to catch and kill all the marauders 1 can.

A friL'nd residing in Kingston, Tenn., who keeps
largo •lumbers of i)ei'S, and lias excellent success,
pursu 'S a similar course. A pair or two of wrens
have for several years much assisted him, in build-
ing th.Mr nests close by. Especially when pro-
viding tor their young would they visit the hives
at all hjiirs of the day, i\h' any chance worm, or
axat out larviG of the bees.

But to tiie rceipt, which follows; Take dried
sweet flag, pulverize it very tine, make is into a
dough, well working it with strong spirits of tur-
pentine, then dry it in the sun or by a gentle
lieat. When well dried pulverize it again anci
again, make it into dough with spirits of turpen-
tine, this time adding a portion of common salt
Dry it and it is ready for use, :'.nd may be kept
onhanl. ' [Strew it on the bottom board and
around the hive. The miller, my informant says,
will select it for depositing her eggs, where the}
will stay deposited as the mixture very soon de-
stro^'S t'leir vitality. Jt is inoilensive t^) the bees,
but its p jwer over life in tie embryo is bo great
that even hens and other eggs are made worthless
for hatching by wrapping a coating of it around
them for a s.;ort time. T. E. Wktmore.

Nurth Cannon, Michigan, June 26, 1854.

Maine Fanner.

THE MILKMAN'S GOHVENTIOK,

AT MxV.NCUEcTKR, N. il.

Pursuant to the notice, a meeting of the per^one
cng iged in raising and selling milk was held at
the Cicy Hot 1, July od, at 10 o'clock. A. M.

The C:iaini!an stated the object of the meeting
to b ■, to take into c nsideration the expediency of
raising on the piricc of milk.

Mr. J. Plumer, of (-uffstown, said,

That he usually kepi 20 cows and sold his milk
iu Manchester, at 4 cents per qt., but at the price
ol'cows, keeping, &c., lie had come to the couclu-
aion to abandon tho business if the price was not
increased,

Mr. ytevens, of Goff'town, *aid,

That he kept 20 cows ami sold his milk iu Man-
chester. He said when cows could be bought for
$25, a piece, hay 10 or 12 dollars a ton, and corn
four sliillings a bushel, farmers could make money
in raising and carry it to market for 4 cents a qu.;
but now cows iiad advanced to HO and 45 dollars,
bay gone up to 20 and 25 a ton, corn a dollar and
a quarter a bushel, he could not make it a paying
business, and s'.oiihl atop if tie price did not rise.

Mr. iSwallovv, of Nashua, said,

That he carried the milk of 30 cows to the city,
of Nashua, and had sold it for 4 centsper qu., but
he said he pieferred to raise pork than sell Lb
milk lor that p'licc.

Mr. H. R. French, of Bedford, said,

That he had tried an experiment in taking the
relative value of selling his milk and making it
into butter, the result of which was that the -
Cer gave the most profit.

Mr. Hall, of Bedford, said,

Tiiat he thought ti;at it would bo bettor for
him to 8(11 a portion of his hay and grain, than to
raise milk at tho {ireeent price.

Mr. I). 11. Burr, oi Bedford, said,

That his cows (and he had tried to get tliel')e8t,)
would not average more then five qts., during tho
year, and that no man could allord to sell milk at
i.is door short of .'5 eta. for 12 months, or 4 centa 6
uiontlis.

Mr. French, of Bedford, said.

That last fall he bought 0 cows, also l>ought
his grain and hay, and kept an account of pro-
duct, which cost him 4 cents per cjt., allov.ing for
shrinkage in his cows.

Mr. tSiuittuck said that the people in the city
of Concord had piid 5 cents per quart for milk
since last October, and tliat he had been inibrmod
that it was contemplated to advance to 0 cents
per quart, this fall ; ho was certain that for him-
self it would be better to turn his attention to
iuakiug butter and raising pork, than to sell his
milk at the diK>r lor 2^ and 6^, 0 months, as he had
done.

Further remarks were made by Messrs. Jones,
iluse. Cross, and others. After which it was vo-
ted without one dissenting voice, that the j.Tico
>f milk be raised to 3 ct-s. per qt. for G montha.
and 4 for 0 months, to commence Monday, July
10, 1854.

Great harmony of action prevailed through th<?
deliberations. B. Suattuck, Chairman.

F. K. Fi!FNCH, Secretary.

Nashua Gazclte.

fnr.lhe /few En/^land f'arnit-r.

PACKING BUTTER.

Mk. Editck ; — The communication ®f N., of
Randolpjh, Vt.. raninds me of my nigloct to an-
swer a pjrivate note. I will tell liim what i think,
and jou can publish it, if you think it wtrth the
while :

Lump l)u{ter packed in strong brine, will kcop-
as well as when packed in tubs, in the usual way.
But "butter pn.-lc;! in tubs, sa^iV, as is usttaliy
done," d tea not keep well :

If kept long in i)rine, it will suffer mott.rially in
oj!or upo.i tiie surface, and if put in packag sof
more the.i one or two tiers of lumps, they w^iuld
get badly jamed before reaching market, and ia
either cas! would have to b(! rc-worhd lieforc of
fered for sale, or sufj'er materially in price. N.
would not like to trust commission merchants to
"work over" his butter ; nor would lie send his
dairy maid; for though the visit might please her,
she would prefer to do the work at homo iu her
owti nicr, ckan sanctum.

In very cool weather, lump butter may bo sent
to Boston, when new and sweet; but I do not
think would Itring more than if nolid packed in
tubs, d^;ducti!ig the cxp«n«ij of extra /'reight and

348

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aco.

care. For new made, or perfectly swe-it butter,
solid, packed iu tube, maybe made into "lumps,'"
after it roaches market, ])y the use of butter moulds,
without being re- worked. And 1 think that four-
fifths of all the lump butter sold iu Boston and other
large northern cities, is so made from tub butter.
Groiun, July 3, 185i. w.

FEEDING ANIMALS.

THE FOOD MUST SUPPLY THE SAIJNE ANB KARTIIY

MATTERS CONTAINED IX AND DAILY REJECTED

BY THE UODV.

The full-grown animal daily rejects a quantity
of salhic and earthy matter withdrawn from its
wasting tissues ; while tlic growing animal ap-
propriates also every day an additional portion in
the fornuition of its increasing parts. The food
must yield all this, or the functions Avill be im-
perfectly performed.

1. The flesh, the blood, and the other fluids of
the body contain much saline matter of various
kinds — sulphates, muriates, phosphates, and other
saline compounds of potash, soda, lime, and mag-
nesia. The dry muscle and blood of the ox leave,
when burned, about 4!^ per cent, of saline matter
or ash. The composition of this saline matter is
represented in the following : —

Blood. Flesh.

Phosphate of soda, (tribasic,) - - 16,77 45.10

Chloride of sodium, (common salt,) - 69,31 \ 45 oi

Chloride of potassium, - - - 6 12 i

Sulph;ito of soda, - - - 3.85 trace.

Phosphate of magnesia, - - - 4.10)

0.\ide, with a little phosphate of iron, S.2S > 0.84

Sulphate of lime, gypsum, and loss - 1.45 )

All these saline substances have their special
functions to perform in the animal economy, and
of each of them an undetermined quantity daily
escapes from tlie body in the perspiration, in the
urine, or in the solid excretions. This quantity,
therelbri', must be daily restored by the food.

2. It is interesting to remark how tlie mineral
matter differs in kind in the different parts of the
body. Thus, blood contains much soda and lit-
tle potash — the former in the serum, the latter in
the gloltules — the cartilages much soda and no
potash, and the muscles much potash and little
soda. So phosphate of lime is the earth of bones,
and phosphate of magnesia the cartli of the mus-
cles. So also the presence of fluorine character-
ises the bones and teeth, and that of silica, the
horny parts, hairs and feathers of animals — while
an abundance of iron distinguishes the blood and
the hair.

The distinction now noticed between the blood
and the muscle is not brought clearly out by the
analysis above given of the comparative composi-
tion of the saline matter of each. It is seen more
clearly in the following comparison : —

The mineral matter or ash

of o.\ blood

of ox flesh

contains,

contains.

per cent.

per cent.

Common salt,

- 47 to 51

—

Chloride of potiissium,

. — —

10

Potash,

- 7-8

36

Soda,

- 12 - 14

—

Phosphoric acid

- 3-7

36

Oxide of iron,

- 7 - 10

1

From the blood, therefore, as a common store-
house, each part obtains, by a kind of selection,
the mineral matter which it especially requires.

It has not yot been accurately determined by
experiment how much saline matter must neces-
sarily be excreted every day from the body of a
healthy man, or in Avhat proportions the diticrent
inorganic substances are present in what is ex-
creted ; but it is satisfactorily ascertained, that
without a certain sufficimt supply of all ofthem,
the animal will languisli and decay, even though
carbon and nitrogen, in the form of starch and
gluten, be abundantly given to it. It is a wis'.*
and beautiful provision of nature, therefore, that
plants are so organized as to refuse to grow in a
soil from which they cannot readily obtain an
adequate supply of soluble inorganic food, —
since that .saline matter, which ministers first to
their own wants, is afterwards surrendered by
them to the animals tliey are destined to feed.

Thus, the dead earth and the living animal ars
but parts of the same system, — links in the same
endless chain of natural existences. The plant i?:
the connecting bond l)y which they are tied to-
gether on the one hand, — the decaying animal
matter, which returns to the soil, connects thcix;
on the other.

3. The bancs of the animal are supplied with
their mineral matter from the same original source,
— the vegetable on which they live. The dried
bones of the cow contain 55 percent, of phosphat*
of lime with a little phosphate of magnesia, those
of the sheep 70, of the hoi'se G7, of the calf 54,
and of the pig 52 lbs. of these phosphates in everj'
hundred of dry bone. All this must come from
the vegetable food. Of this bone-earth, also, a
portion — varying in quantity with the health, the
food, and the ago of the animal — is every day re-
jected. The food, therefore, must contain a daily
supply, or that which passes off will be taken from
tlie substance of the living bones, and the animal
will become feeble.

The importance of this bone-earth will be more
apparent if we consider, — First, that in animals
the bones form not only a very important but a
very large part of their bodies. The body of a
full-grown man contains 9 to 12 lbs. of clean dry
bone, yielding from 5 to 8 lbs. of bone-earth. In
the horse and sheep tlie fresh moist bone has been
estimated at one-eighth of the live, or in the sheep
to one-fifth of the dead weight, and to one-third
of the weight of the flesh . Second, that in a
growing sheep the increase of bone-earth amounts
to about 3 per cent, of the whole increase in the
live weight. And — Third , that every hundred
pounds weight indicates 5 or 0 of phosphate of
lime.

It is kindly provided by nature, therefore, that
a certain jDroportion of this ingredient of bones is
always a.ssociated with the gluten of plants in its
various forms, — with the fibrin of animal muscle
and with the curd of milk. Ilence man, from hia
mixed food, and animals, from the vegetables on
which they live, are enabled, along with the ni-
trogen they require, to extract also a sufficiency
of bone-earth to maintain their bodies in a healthy
condition.

TUE rOOD MU.ST SUPPLY THE WASTE OR IXCREA,«E
OF FAT IN ANIMALS.

Every one knows that in some animals there is
much more fat than in others, but in all a certain
portion exists, more or less intermingled witli the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

34a

muscular and other parts of the body.* This fat

is subject to waste, as the muscles are, and there-
fore must be restored by the food. All the vege-
table substances usually cultivated on our farms
contain, as we have seen, a notable quantity of
fatty matter, Avhich seems to be intended by na-
ture to replace that which disappears naturally
from the body.

A full-grown animal, in which the fat may be
regarded as in a stationary condition, requires no
more fat in its foud than is necessary to restore
the natural loss. In such animal the quantity of
fatty matter found in the excretions is sensibly
equal to that which is contained in the food.

But to a growing animal, and especially to one
wliich is falieniiiL'-, the supply of fatty matter in
the food must be greater than to one in which no
increase ol' fat takes place. It is indeed held,
that, in the absence of oil in the food, an animal
may convert a portion of the stai-ch of its food into
iat, — may become liit while living upon vegetable
food in which no large proportion of fatty matter
is know to exist. And it can hardly be doubted,
[ think, that the organs of the living animal are
endowed with this power of forming in a case of
emergenc}- — that is, when it does not exist ready
formed in the food — as much fatty matter as is
necessary to oil the machinery, so to speak, of its
body, iiut the natural source of the fat is the oil
contained in tlie food it eats, and an animal, if in-
clined to fatten at all, will always do so most read-
ily when it lives upon food in which oil or fat
i'ounds.

It docs not however follow, because fat abounds
in the food, that the animal should become fatter,
— since if starch be delicient in the food, the fat
coatainiog no nitrogen, may be decomjjosed and
worked up for what may be called the purposes
of respiration. This working up of the fat, al-
ready existing in the body, is (me cause of the ra-
pid emaciation and failing away of fat animals
when tlie usual supply of food is lessened, or for
a time altogether withheld. The fat is indeed
considered i)y some as nothing more than a store
laid up by nature in a time of plenty to meet the
wants of resj'iration when a season of scarcity ar-
rives,— that a fat animal is like a steam-frigate
heavily lailen with fuel, which it burns av;ay dur-
ing its voy ge for the purpose of keeping up the
riteam.

It is by reference to this supposed purpose ol
the fat of the body, and to the possibility of using
it up for the purposes of respiration, that the
beneiits of repose, of shelter, of moderate warmth,
of the al)sence of light, and even of a state of tor
por, in conducing to tlie more speedy fiittening of
cattle and sheep, are explained. Exercise causes
more frequent respirations, and hence a grcuter
waste of that part of the I'ood which should be
laid on in the lijrm of fat. Cold also has the
same effect, since mm-e iicat must be produced in
the interior of the animal — in other words, more
frequent respiration must take place, in order to
make up for the greater loss of heat by exposure
to the external air.

Thus, as was stated at the commencement of the
present chapter, a study of the nature and func-
tions of the food of animals throws additional light

* At Port Pliilip, in the boiling-houses, a Merino shcop df 55
lbs. gives 20 ll)s. of tallow, and of all weight above 53 lbs. four-
fifths are tallow.

upon the nature also and final uses of the food of
plants. It even teaches us what to look for in
the soil — what a fertile soil must contain that it
may grow nourishing food — what we must add to
the soil when chemical analysis fails to detect
its actual presence, or when the food it produee8
is unable t) supply all that the animal requires.

SPECIAL WASTE IX THE PERSPIRATION OF ANIMALS,
AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS FUNCTION.

Animals perspire that they may live, and this
function is as necessary to a healthy life as cither
breathing or digestion. The skin, like the lungs,
gives off carbonic acid and absorl)s oxygen. But
it differs from the lungs in giving off a much lar-
ger bulk of the ibrmer gas than it absorbs of the
latter. The quantity of carbonic acid which es-
capes varies with circumstances. It is sometimes
equal to a thirtieth, and sometimes amounts only
to a ninetieth part of that which is thrown off
from the lungs. But exercise and hard labor in-
crease the evolution of carbon from the skin, as it
does from the lungs. In motion, the human body
gives off nearly three times as much as y/hen it is
at rest ; while from a horse, when put to the trot,
the car):onic acid of the skin augments as much as
an hundred and seventy times. (Gerlach.)

Water is also given off from the skin as from
the lungs, and every one knows that fat exudes
from its pores and lubricates the surface of the
body. The salt taste of the perspiration is an
equally familiar proof that a portion, at least, of
the s.vline matter derived from the waste and
change of materials in the b nly escapes through
this channel.

Nirtogen also escapes from theskin. The quan-
tity of nitrogen in the food is a third or a fourth
greater than tliat contained in the .'-\)lid and liquid
excretions. (Barral.) This tliird or fourth,
therefore, is supposed to be given off by the organs
of perspiration, tlie lungs and theskin. A cow
or a horse is reckoned to exhale by the skin and
lungs about 400 grains of nitrogen daily ; a man,
perhaps, 100 ; and a sheep or pig 8 grains.

(BOUSSINGAULT.)

The functions of the skin, therefore, are very
important ; and thus, in the practical feeding of
animals, a healthy and clean condition of theskin
must contri!)ute not only to healthy growth, but
to a profitable employment of vegetable produce
in rearing, maintaining, and fattening them.

Johnston^ s Ag. Chemistry and Geology.

Tn' Ihr. New Ens^lund Farmer.

HORSERADISH.

Mr. Editor : — I saw an inquiry in your paper
in relation to the cultivatiun of horseradish, and
can tell the inquirer how it ought to be done,
lake a piece of moist meadow land and ridge it up
in ridges three feet apart, one way ; then take
horseradish roots, from one-fourth to three-iburtha
of an inch in diameter, and cut them into pieces
one inch in length, and plant one piece in a place,
two feet apart on the top of tlie ridge, covering
them about an inch deep, and cultivate aa
you do for potatoes. After the severe frosts in the
fall, pull the roots and keep off the small fibres,
and pack the remainder closely in the cellar and
cover with turf to prevent the roots from drying.
Worcester, 1854. B. H. Franklin.

350

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

ON MAKING HAY.

Mr. Editor : — Aa we are about to engage iu the
procc!*.'} of hay-making, an important Ijusincss in
thi« latitude, a few wovdH on the t-ubject of cur-
ing liay may not bo unacceptable.

fher*' is, in my opinion, a very great mistake
existing in regard to tliis matter. It is an old
adage, "make buy wliile the siin shinen," and
many seem to think tlie more sun they can got
opon their hay the better ; here is the mistake to
whic'il allude. I am confident that a lai-;;e por-
tion of the hay in this country is lost l)y this pro-
cess of over-drying in the sun. Tlic iarluence of
the Bun is partly that of distillation. It has the
po\Yer to expel, not only the watery elements con-
tained in plants, but the r«il life-sustaining sub-
«t:ince of the plant itself, which goes to form the
fat, fljsh, wool and bones of aU ruminating ani-
mals.

It is asserted by the distiller of plants, that to
procure the most oil, they must not bo dried in
the s'.in, as it not only lessens the quantity of oil,
but also diminishes the flavor.

Now, hay maj^ be exposed to tlie action of tlie
sun's rays, until there remains little but tlie woody
fibre, and there is no more nourishment in it than
there is in so many tons of ]iine rails. Thus,
frroi one-tenth to four-iifths of tlie nutritious part
©f hay is lost iu the process of luiy-makiug ; in
what might be more propjily called a process of
tiistillation. 1 have reason to believe that iu
the State of Vermont, alone, there was lost dur-
ing th:i last season, in this way, more than fivt
hundred thousand dollars wortli of hay, which,
if it had been ■wisely retained, niiglit have gone to
nourish many flocks and h.erds. A great part
was resolved again into its constituent elements,
and pass.'d a.wayiu a gaseous form.

For example, we will suppose that F.irmcr A.
eut« ten acres of grdss, that would weigh 25 tons
jjroen ; he reduces that by judicious curing in the
san and cock to 15 tons and puts it under shelter,
where, })y the continued process of making, it is
farther reduced, and when in the highest stage of
preservation, the whole quantity of liis crop of
fragrant hay weiglis 11 tons. Farmer B. also
•uts irom his 10 acres the same quality md (quan-
tity of A. But under B's. rigid proca^ of "drying
and curing," as he calls it, reduces his 25 tons of
gras-i in the field to eight tons ; after lousing, it
shrinks one ton more. Now for the result.

I?«rmer A's. mow of hay to the nmnunt of 11 tons, is richly

woiih $10^ ton $110

And fanner li'B. 7 tous, valued at $8 ^ ton 66

l/javini; farmer A. nett over B $54

To make this arrangement more plain. In
the above estimate, I have valued A. 's crop of
hay at $2,00 per ton, or twenty per cent, more
than B.'s. We will now 8ul)tract that which is
of no value from each number of acres mowed.
That is :—

A.'biiiow ....11 tons. Ti.^a mrtv; . . 7 tons

Woody fibre 3 *' Woody tiliro 3 "

Solid nutriment.

Solid mUrlmciit 4

We see that hero A. has retained, in th
curing process, twice as mucli as B., of the fat
and Ib'sh-lbrming elements; thus you see that the
only (issential properties contained in the 25 tons
df grass may be all estraeto<i in three ways. One

process is by steeping in water, which cxtracta
more rapidly than the second, whicli isbyevapor-
aii<m, or the influence of warm air. The tiiird,
and most jn'ofitahle method for the Auieriean far-
mer, is by dissolving the hay in the animal JisUl-
Irry. By this process of docompo.siug the aliment
in ti.e stomach of animals, and of recomposiug it
in a new form, and thus prejiaringit lor circula-
tion and nutriment, is the phi/osop/ur's stone of
which I am endeavoring to elucidate.

A majority of hay enr.ers the barn quite tO)
dry, that is, too much of the nutritious quali-
ties of the grass are exhausted in the hav field.
One may place his hay quire too rapidly into large
bodies and quite too gretp, an ( suHer loss by ko
doing. In the mean time, u thtit hay had been
divided and stored in several pilaces a large per
cent, of nutriment might have been retained.

When tiie hay-maker is desirous of stacking or
mowing his hay a little too green, he may do so
with impmnity, by occasionally adding a layer of
dry straw or old hay, to absorb tlie gases which
would pass oii', if under the influence of the sun.
'laying may sometimes be expedited in this way,
and to advantage ; for stock will eat the straw or
old hay with avidity, which has retained the prop-
erties of the green. hay, in the straw or old hay,
though that may only have been of second quali-

Another good method of securirig your hay as
green as possible, is to pntvide s 'veral places of
storage, so tlmt but a few loads miiy be stored to-
gether the same day. Tiie more .-^lowly the pro-
cess of collecting the hay together, the richer it
will be in quality, if cut in proper time. If the
hay is underdone it is a good practice to cast it
upon an open scaffold, or remain cm the load, to
sweat over night. All hay underdone siiould bo
pressed as tightly as possible in the mow, but if
over cured or ripened, the more solid it is pressed
thj bettor.

A stack of hay, to Ijc made properly, should be
several days going up, for the double purpose of
saving the nutritous qualities and giving it time
to settle by degress.

Grass should he first wilted, and if no dew or
water fills on it, put into cocks, and made into
hay by degrees. In the time of mowing, if the-
grass gums the scythe it requires little or no dry-
ing ))efore it enters the barn.

Hay may heat in the mow to a certain extent,
and stock will eat it freely. When it is liable
to over-heat, it must be overhauled, or a square
cut out of the centre, wiiich will check the iieat
by coming in direct contact with the air. A chim-
ney is sometimes formed by setting bundles of
straw on one end, one on top of the other, com-
mencing near the bottom of the stack or mow,
and ending near the top. Hay, as belbre stated,
when over dried, will never become solid in th?
mow, and compact hay will go much farther,
pound for pound, than hay loose in bulk.

Every stack or mow, divided by a iiay-knife, and
first out fed one part, will spend much better,
when fed in this fresh state, than that, which con-
stantly exposes a large surface to the action of the
air, S. W. Jkwett.

Middlebury, Vt., July 5, 1854.

Remarks. — We regret that friend Jewett had
net sent us this article a few weeks earlier, that

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

351

our hay -makers might have had the full henefit of
this season. By reference to the remarks whieli
we have made on this su')Ject he will see that we
l)elieve in the doctrines he has laid down in regard
to hay-making — indeed, a good portion of our
hay is put into the barn on the same day that it
is cut, and we have nut had a pound of musty
hay for years. This is really a matter of great
importance to tlie farmer, and he ought to give it
more attention.

Tor the New England Farmer.

THE WITCH HAZEL TEST.

Friend Brown : — Noticing an incjuiry by R. 11.
II. in your March No., "What dependence can
be placed on the use of witch hazel for determining
water courses," &c., and some editorial remarks,
I am induced to give you some of my experience.
Some 5-3 years ago, my father, after erccii g a new
got of l)uildings, wished a well to accommodate the
barn, which v/as on pine plain land. A man
in the adjoining town of Harvard, professed abili-
ty to designate the situation and depth of springs
by means of hazel rods or whale-lione. Ho was
sent for, and came; I watched his operati«ms, and
found they would turn and point to the spring,
and by g.iing round he would estimate the depth.
He said there was no spring nearer than G rods to
the 'larn, where he decided water might he found
12 fiet from t!ie surface, wliich lie would warrant
for $2. It WIS paid. I took the hazel rods he
usdi (he had the whalebone, tlie end impregnated
I tiiink he said with quicksilver, and a green hazel
say 15 inches long, split half way) and found they
would work in my hands as well as his, either o!
thi'm, but not in another p^rsim's present (*iy (> or
8 of the tamily.) I was surprised to see and feci
their pov/^erful twisting. The man said "There is
not one in 500, in whose hands they will work.
You ought to give yourself wholly to this business,
it is so rare a favor, and would be an immense
8a\ing if generally known and av.iilablc." (Such
was my father's confidence that he started two
teams to draw stone, and put two men digging
early next morning, and strange to tell, hy 11
o'clock, tiiey got water, and made grog and drank
in tlie well — commenced stoning and the water
rose more than half way to tlie top, as fast as
they could lay the stone. I may add it was a nev-
er failing spring.

Another more striking case came to my know-
Icdg' in East Williamstown, Vermont. A gen-
tleuian with whom I stoppi:d some time, said he
had often found springs in that way in many j)arts
of the 6tate. lie had occasion for a well in a lot
of his own. The rods indicated a powerful spring
15 Icet deep, it was in a liard pan, vciry hard. He
dug about 15 feet, and found no water. (Jot his
rods and went down; the rods strikingly indicated
the spring to be in the centre, at tlie very point
they had reached. He took the pick-axe struck
in, and raised a lump. He 8;i.w i\v. water running
in a course like a tulic, some ^ of an inch in diam-
eter, lie took a sm.ill piece of moss, and with
his linger pressed it into the hole closidy, so that
the water could not run oil", and it boiled up raji-
idly and steadily, till the well ran over, which it
has continued to do ever since ! I saw thivS pow-

erful spring, and the large grass growing, irriga-
ted iiy its overflowing.

Why the witcii bazel,and no other kind of wood,
should be attracted by running water, — in some
hands and not in others, is a problem that remains
to bo solved ; but that such is the fact, I have not
doubted for ha/j'a century. Bknjamin Willard.

Lancaster, 1854.

MULCHING. WITH WOOD SHAVINGS.

Mr. l^DiTou : — Never having seen anything
written upon the subject of mulching fruit trece
with wood shavings, I venture to suggest to such
of your readers as have young orchards, the pro-
priety of trying the experiment.

Having had but two years experience, I am not
prepared to say they are bettt^r than any other
material, but I am iree to confess they have thus
fiir surpassed anything I have ever tried.

Having a few fruit trees set on a barren knoll,
which, although they had yearly received a li'wral
mulching with grass, assumed the appearance of
premature decay, and in fact had already taken
the dov,'n hill course, I resolved to try the effect
of mulching with shavings. Around eo-ch tree I
put two barrels of shavings, within a circle of
eight feet in diameter, leaving a small space be-
tween the shavings and the tree to )« filled with
fresh earth. To keep the shavings snug, a thm
coat of grass was spread over the whole. To fully
tj.^t the experiment, a part of the trees were ti-eat-
ed the same as they formerly had been. After the
lapse of one year, (which was last year.) those
trees mulched with shavings put oat vigorous
shoots, and by their dark green foliage could be
easily distinguished from the others at a great
distance. 8o well satisfied was I v/itii the result,
I last year used upwards of a hundred barrels
which have proved equally as lx!nefie?al to the
trees, while the first I mulched continue to thrive
even beyond my expecfcitions.

If any of your readers have used the above
named material, 1 hope they will communi&ite
the fact, and state with what success.

1 have found brush from evergreen trees to Ije
an excellent material for mulcning young or-
chards. E. Hersey.

Hingham, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

THE OAK PRUNER.

Mh. Brown : — The oak primer Sietiocoru.'s (El-
aphn/ion) pu/atur has again made i's appe;irance
in great numbers ; I have seen some oaks as badly
used as tliey were two years ago, when many
were afraid that our oaks w'ere to be totally de-
stroyed. Some of our oaks present a ragged ap-
pearance, with numerous dead limbs iianging,
that have been sawed ofl", but not blown down.
They work other trees, — such as apple, walnut,
iuiii)le, Sec. — to some extent. The question may
he asked, "What can be done to prevent the rava-
ges of these insects?"' Dr. Harris suggests — and
a wise suggestion it. is — that the branches be gath-
ered up and burned, thereby destroying the grub.
L -t us all act on this advice, and next year wo
shall nut be s..) much troiiblt^ with this nuisiince.

.1. y, c. H

Newton Ctntrc, July 2lsi, 1S54. .

352

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

INFLUENCE OF SOILS ON THE
COLOR OF FLOWERS.

It is not, perhaps, generally known as it de-
serves to be that the color of flowers depends, to a
considerable extent, upon the character of the
soil on which they grow. The splendid and bril-
liant yellow of the Hypoxia is only seen on close
and compact clays, while tlic Lupine is success-
fully grown only on soils of a sandy or arenaceous
description. The marl indicator, or veronica,
grows only on calcareous lands, or those having a
large percentumof lime in their composition. The
ialinum,in Pennsylvania, is never fouad except in
magnesian rocks, where it flourislies with great
vigor and luxuriance, though wholly incapable of
cultivation in any locality to which magnesia is
not common, or in which it does not exist to a
greater or less extent. Among the almost count-
less varieties of plants which beautify the earth,
some only vegetate in brine — as the marine varie-
ties found on the margin of the sea ; others, on
the contrary, are aerial, and like the mistletoe, seem
to derive their sole nutriment from the air, while
there are others again which flourish only in
fresh water, and w^hich are incapable of success-
ful culture in any other situation, like the water-
lily, and the wild rice of the West.

There are plants known to the botanist, which
are confined exclusively to the soil„ and which
never rise above the surface — others that canbe
made to germinate only in stones, and to which
common air and moisture are instantaneous
death ! Such facts appear astonishing, yet the
botanist recognizes in them but another manifes-
tation of that Divine Wisdom which regulates the
phenomona of life, and scattei's beauty and love-
liness equally over all the earth. In the cultiva-
tion of flowers, therefore, w^e should endeavor to
ascertain the circumstances most favorable to their
growth and vigor. Tlie soil has, as we have shown,
a strongly modifying and characterizing influence
in this department, and its action should be well
understood to ensure perfect success.

TREES ON FARMS.

Another point of some importance, as connec-
ted with farming, is that of scattering trees in the
hedges and open fields. On lands devoted exclu-
sively to pasturing, such as are needed for their
shade, and scattered generally over a country,
they add much to its beauty and jncturesqucness.
Especially is this the case in this country, wlicre,
owing to a damp atmosphere, tlio falling leaves
soon decay and mingle with the soil, instead of be-
coming dry and littering the land and highways,
as with us. Englishmen arc justly proud of their
old, spreading trees. Landlords often enter it in
their leases that no trees sliall be cut down. Still
in those parts of the empire, where the farming is
best, the trees are going. You now sec but few
in the wheat-fields of the lowlands of Scotland,

for instance ; and very few in the fields of such
farmers as Mr Pusey and Mr. Mechi. These
men do not sacrifice their love for the beauliful
in nature. They cultivate trees in their })roper
places. They are the last men, I suppose, who
would leave a country naked and bald ; but trees
have no longer a place among their wheat and
barley.

In our laud of scorching summers, let there be
trees. It would be barbarous to root them out
from our cultivated fickle, where they are injuri-
ious, without, at the same time, securing their
growth in other places, where they are not only
harmless but pleasing to the eye, conducive to
health, and often more profitable than anything
else the soil will grow. Let them study our pasture
lands, as gems of beauty and of comfort. Our
cattle need the means of coolness in summer, and
warmth in winter. Only by attending to this
matter sliall we ever approach that excellence in
this department, which our British bretlireu
have attained. More depends upon cherishing
the trees Ave have, than upon new. Lot
trees line our highways. Their roots and tops
will bo a little injurious to the bordering lands,
but not much ; the weary traveller and his beast
may rest under their shade, our children shall de-
light the pallet from their produce ; and our grand-
children build their houses with the timber they
grow. If our road-sides were adorned ))y a tree
once in five rods, the rows alternating with each
other, as far as convenient, the roads, v>-ith the ex-
ception of here and there a wet place, which might
be intermitted if thought desirable, would not ba
a whit the worse, and in many soils l)e far better.
If one-fourth of these are rock maple, they might
furnish sugar for the population, whenever it
should be cheaper to manufacture than to buy ;
and no one can tell what future times may be.
Rural dwellings should be adorned b^' shade trees.
An American larm-house, under a sun shining in-
tensely at least two hundred and fifty days in a
year, is a very difl'erent thing from an English
country residence, where the sun scarcely shines
as man_v hours, and that mainly morning an d even-
ing. Yet the Englishman takes care to provide
his residence with trees ; the breezes that enter his
windows come purified by a previous passage
through dense foliage ; but too often the Ameri-
can neglects to surround himself with ihQSQ conser-
vators of health and comfort ; so that he and his
family breathe air, not only scorching hot, but
often surcharged with carbon and ammonia. An
American farm-house, without trees at a little dis-
tance, (not so near as to produce injurious damp-
ness,) is out of all taste, is unfavorable to health
and comfort, and in utter disregard of the great
law of adaptation to circumstances of situation-
and climate. — Albany Cultivator.

For the New England Farmer.

TO PRESERVE EGGS.

Take a suitable tub or pot, and put in a layer
of salt; then set in a layer of eggs small end down,
cover them with salt one inch thick; then another
layer of eggs, and so continue. Eggs will ketp
for twelve months if kept in a dry cool place Iree
from frost. D. s.

Jaffrey, June 30, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER

353

COW MILKER'S ASSISTANT.
This little implement will prevent a good deal
o? swearing. So you see it has a moral beai-ing.
Notwithstanding the practice is wicked, vulgar,
and ungentlemanly, a good many persons whd
milk cows, swear worse than "our army did ir
Flanders," when provoked thereto, by a rousing
switch in the face with a vigorous cow's tail. It
does i*ather disturb one's equanimity, especially
if the animal has just risen from her bod, where

the t;iil has beeti recumbent in what certainly icill
give color and fragrance to the rose ; but we should
not be willing to jeopardize our veracity by saying
chat it is cither of them in its present form.

Letters a, a, show the part attached to the large

ord on the leg, just at the point of the hock: 0, b,

che jaw (now closed) into which the hair of the

tail is inserted, and c, c, the springs by which the

other parts are opened.

We have used it, and find that it answers the

purpose for which it was intended most admirably.
It is made of brass, is perfectly simple, and will
l)e wanted by all who have not razeed their cows'
t^iils.

The Elon. John M. Ware, of Seabrook, N. II.,
is the inventor of the implement, and, we under-
stand, haa secured a patent upon it.

AN OHIO NOVELTY.

Up in Bryan, Williams county, Ohio — in the
town — there is a novelty wliich is rarely to be ex-
ceeded in cui-iosity anywhere. All over the village
the people are I'avored with natural fountains.
The item thus describes the novelty :

It is suppoaod that there is an underground
lake, at tin; dupth of some forty or fifty feet, of
considerable extent, as water has been found when
bored for, for several miles around. Tliis is also
apparent from the fact, that every new well tluvt
is l)ored uif 'cts the strength of others in its imme-
diate vi.:iuity, until its stream is elevated by means
ofastoktoan equal iieiglit. The amount of
water discharged by these fountains, however, is
not proportionate or equal — they vary considera-
bly in iliU'Tent parts of the town, the strongest
ones biitig geneniUy east of Main street. The wa-
ter cun be raised in proix)rtion to the stream
forced up. There are several that fill a two incli
augur hole at the height of eiglit fiKit above tlie
surfaci! of the earth, and the otiiers issue a some-
what smaller stream to tlio height of twelve or fif-
t'><?n feet. Some of the larger onf^fl frequcntlv

throw up fisli, and we are told that there is a very
strong fountain about a mile east of this place, in
which fish of a blackish coh)r, of the length of
three inches, have been seen.

The work of procuring water is simple and easy.
There are seldom any stones met with, to obstruct
the course of the auger, and but one or two days
are required usually to sink a well, of five or six
inches in circumferance, the necessary depth.
Water is found at an average depth of 42 ^wt.
The augur passes through a loose nand until it
strikes what is called "a hard pan," a bed of solid
blue clay, of from two to three feet in thickness,
and of such a natare that it requires a drill to
penetrate it. Immediately below this "hard pan"
lies the water embedded, it is supposed in quick-
sand, as for some days, in some instances weeks,
lurge qiuuitities of fine wliite sand are ejected by
the water, but the stream finally becomes pure
and clear and no nand is afterwards seen.

No season or state of the water has any eflect
upon those living fountains — nor drouglit nor flood
can cliange their em-rents — tliey are ever the same
— their source is inexhaustible, and therefore they
cannot fail.

Sri,K.\DiD Plant. — There is now in full bloom,
in tlie Liverpool Botanic garden, a beautiful
specimen of the Wistaria simnsis. This spkndid
jihint, which is considered the finest specimen in
Britain, covers a space of wall amounting to near-
ly nine hiindred square feet. At the present tiiui'
ther(! are about six tliousand racemes or bunclie*"
of flowers on it, each bunch Ix^aring on an avnr-

354

NEW ENGLAND FiVRMEK.

Aug.

age about fifty-five flowers, so that it bears on
the whole about 330,000 individual flowers. In
addition to the pleasure given to the eye, this
plant yields a most grateful perfume.

For the Aew Ejisland Farmer.

MATURITY OF PLANTS.

BY A. G. COMINGS.

The life and maturity of the varions plants and
vegetables wliich are cultivated among us. is a
subject upon which a little more study and inqui-
ry may be profitable.

Plants which are growing in a soil which con-
tains no ear])on, either in the form of vegetable
matter, or otherwise, cannot mature their seed.
Supplied with the mineral or inorganic elements
necessary to their growtlit they may draw suffi-
cient carbon from the atmosphere to promote the
growth of the stalk ; but not to mature seed. The
organic elements necessary to produce a good
growth of wheat straw, and also shrivelled and
worthless seed, may bo produced upon soil where
nothing is wanting for the production of a good
crop of grain but an increased quantity of old
vegetable matter in the soil. It is so also in this
respect to the fitness of soil for maturing corn,
rye, oats, &c.

We can produce a good crop of turnips or cab-
bages, with but a small amount of old vegetable
matter in the soil ; if the mineral elements neces-
sary to their growth are supplied in sufficient
quantity. But if we want to raise cabbage or
turnip seed, and have it perfectly mature and
o-ood. we must set them in a soil which is well
supplied with carbon, in such a state as to feed the
roots.

Those plants which produce seed the first year
of their growth, and then die, draw away the
suljstance of the root to mature the seed. Their
death is therefore consequent upon this exhaus-
tion. Those which produce seed. the second year
of their growth, and then die, are exhausted by
producing the seed. This is the case with clover ;
and yet farmers find fault with clover because "it
so soon runs out." But let the elements neces-
sary to its growth be in the soil, and let it be
mowed every year when just in blossom, and it
will live many years, and the roots become very
large. AVhen the nature and value of clover comes
to be understood, farmers will see it their interest
to cultivate it.

Seed-producing crops always exhaust the soil
greatly of that which in old soils is most want-
ing. If wo would continue to raise much grain,
of any kind, and not reduce the soil to utter bar-
renness, we cannot too 'soon consider the impor-
tance of plowing in green crops.

Some plants do not come to maturity, to pro-
duce seed, for several years. Among these, I be-
lieve we class potatoes, liaised from seed they
must generally have several years of growth be-
fore they will produce seed. Before they become
mature, they feed carbon and other elements
more largely from the atmosphere, and produce
larger tubers. Tliey do not generally rii)en early ;
and they appropriate more carbon in the form of
an atmospheric gas. After they become seed-
producing kinds, they pour less downward into
the tubers, and consequently an excess of gaseous
food is more injurious to them, and they are more

lia])le to disease. Roots and seeds do not com-
monly grow at the same time. In tlic period be-
fore maturity, every plant feeds more from the
atmosphere ; and at maturity more from the soil.
This decides where it must draw its nourishment
and support from, and what is, at different peri-
ods of growth, tlie current of its juices.

Nobody expects to see potato-l)lig]it in early
summer, before the vines have come near to ma-
turity ; but why not? Simply because such a
thing has never yet been known. But, there is,
doubtless, a reason for all this.

The growth of grass for a few days after blos-
soming, exhausts the-soil more than many days of
growth does befo*e th.e time of blossoming.

Large quantities of corn fodder may be raised
with very little exhaustion of the soil, if it ma-
tures no seed.

Here is enough for somebody to talk about un-
til somebody Avill do better by the subject.

Mason, N. H.

VERMONT STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

The Fourth Annual Fair of this Society will be
held at Bratilcboro\ on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday, September 12, 13, and 14, 1854. The
premiums offered areliboi-al, and embrace nearly
everything produced by the farmer. Persons re-
siding out of the State, may compete for premi-
ums on foreign stock, plowing, and all articles in
the floral, mechanics', and manufacturers' halls ;
and may make entry of animals or articles of any
class, for exhibition merely, which will be admit-
ted within tlie enclosure for that purpose, if
deemed worthy by the Executive Board, or its
agent at the Secretary's office.

To those who have not visited the region, there
will be an additional adducement, to witness the
romantic scenery in and about Brattleboro' — the
rich intervales of the Connecticut and the grand
mountain scenery on the New Hampshire side.
On more than one public occasion we have shared
the ho.spitality of the people, and feel safe in say-
ing that the Vermonters will only act out their
generous impulses, when they do everything need-
ful to make their visitors djifii-fortable and happy
during their stay among them:

The officers of the Society are as follows : —

lion. Frederick IIolbrook, of Brattleboro'^
President. II. B. Stacy, of Burlington, E. Ham-
mond, Middlebury, J. W. Colburn, Springfield,
and E. B. Chase, of Lyndon, Vice Presidents,
J. A. Beckwith, Middlebury, Cor. Secretary ;
Charles Cummings, Brattleboro', Rec. Secretary;
Edward Seymour, Vergennes, Treasurer, and E.
P. Walton, Montpelier, Auditor. The Directors
are Messrs. B. B. Newton, Henry Keyes, J. M.
Vail, George T. Hodges, Portus "Baxter, John
Gregory, A. L. Bingham, John Howe, 0. Wood,
and George Campbell. Lyman P. White, Super-
intendent at the Fair.

All the Railroad companies in Vermont will

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMBlR,

355

carry animals an I article? for exliiliitions to or
from the Fair, free of charge, and visitors each
way, at half fare. It is also expected that sim-
ilar arrangements will bo made with railroad com-
panies out of Vermont.

For the Nttv Englomd Farmer.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

It is an old and long harped sulijcct,we are very
well aware, and if they had been organized, as the
bonetit of farmers require, all over the laud, in ev-
ery town, every school district, then they would
nut furnish so irksome a subject for so many
readers as wo from the very lethargy of the people
may suppose they do now. .

We have urged the establishment of these in-
stitutions both in public and private until we
liave very little hope that what wo have to say
will be read. But once more, dear reader, we ask
your attention. We have a new story to-day, and
it may interest you. At any rate, we took cour-
age as it was told to us, and have felt refreshed by
its prospective influence ever since.

In the town of Sunderland, Franklin County,
a Farmers' Club was formed in January, 1853.
There*wore only twenty-four individuals associa-
ted in its first formation, liut what then ? If there
had been only thi'ee, those would have found a
living benefit from so associating, and their num-
l>er, like the annual circles on the oak,would have
increased, until the shadow of their good work
would have spread far.

Fully to illustrate the objects of this club, and
to show what results may be anticipated from its
labors, we give, as a friend has given us, the fol-
lowing articles from its constitution.

"Art. 2. The object of this club shall be, the
circulation of general intelligence and practical
instruction in all brunches of Agriculture, Horti-
culture and Floriculture.

First, by the establishment of discussions, lec-
tures, exhibitions, experiments and other means
for the general circulation of knowledge on sub-
jects embraced by the club.

Second, by procuring the most rare and valua-
ble kinds of seeds, scions, ptlants, shrubs and
trees.

Third, by the establishment of a correspond-
ence and exchange with other bodies interested
in the same object.

Fourth, Ijy planting shade trees on all the ave-
nues of tlie town."

Now, wo have no doubt but this Sunderland is
destined to be one of the most beautifully attrac-
tive places in our country, if art is called into ac-
tion, as we may suppose it will be, through the
iuQuenee of tljis club. The intelligence of her
sons, too, if they carry out tlieir broad plan ofin-
vo»tigation and improvements, will more than
keep pace with the progress of the age, and beau-
tiful results both in mind and matter will lung )yi
found there, and will go out fi-om them to give a
richer tone to improvement in their own and oth-
er places.

It gives us jileasure to be able to say the num-
ber ot'meraljers of this club is increasing, — that an
agricultural library, if not already formed, is in
contemplation, and that every indication is given
of its permanent succoes.

If every town would adopt the course adopted
by Sunderland, it could not be long before our
country would Ijecome. wliat nature has designed
it to be, a garden of iVrtility and exquisite beau-
ty. We can readily infer this, when we see what
individuals have accomplished in the renovation
and improvements of their own premises. And
what individuals have accomplished in a less but
brilliant way, the united eflPorts of a community
can certainly carry out with less labor and far
greater success l)y their united operation.

One object of the association is, to plant shade
trees until all the streets in that venerable town
become avenues of cool and refreshing shades. To
tlie slothful, this may look like a bold and haz-
ardous enterprise— yet we think that three years
Avill see it accomplished, and tlie trees all flourish-
ing in healthful vigor, the pride of the inhabi-
tants, and the comfort and admiration of all
travellers. AV hat a picture ! A town noted fur
thrift, v,I:o.se streets are all shady avenues ! It
will ijj an advance of many steps beyond wliat
the progi-ess of the age appears to indicate. It
will be giving new beauty to a bright gem in the
diadem of earth.

But, supposing the adjoining towns sliould for
one or two seasons adopt the same course as is
being pursued in Sunderland. Suppose the same
spirit should operate through Franklin County,
would not Franklin County be thought the bright-
est jewel that glittered on the craggy In-ow of old
Massachusetts \

Let it be a prime consideration in the economy
of our State, to adopt this system of improvement,
and how soon all our thoroughfares would bceo;;io
inviting shades, and Massachusetts would ac-
quire a renown in her rural pursuits which
would give her a higher rank than she now in
her glory possesses in the national sisterhood, and
which command for her unabating respect
through thenations of the earth.

May we not hope in view of this matter, that
when the bountiful harvests which the earth
promises as the reward of persevering labor are
all gatliered, and the season of unbroken care and
unremitted labor has passed, and the leisure they
demand has come to relieve the wearied mind and
toilvvorn body, that many, very many towns in
our State, will establish similar institutions and
pursue the same laudable olijects until the triumph
they promise is fully attained.

Yours, truly,

Ehtiwood, June 8, 185-1. w. r..

REMEDY FOR SMUT IN WHEAT.

Messrs. Editors : — I see a writer in the Coun-
try Gentleman asks for a preventive for smut or
fungus in wheat. Tliis, together with the fre-
quent inquiries nuido I)y our northern friends, in
tlie wheat growing regions, induces me to give you
one that is simple, cheap, never failing. It is sim-
ply a soTik in water in wliicli Idue vitriol has been
dissolved, in tlie following proportions : For each
■1 or 5 bushels wheat, dissolve 1 H). blue vitriol in
water, sufficient to cover and propeily soak the
wheat ; let it remain in tliis soak 20 to 21 liours
— sow immediately after taken out of the soak.
Pursue this annually and propeily, and my word
for it, you will never more hear complaint of smut
in wlieat, liowever luKily the seed from which it

356

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

was grown may have been mixed with smut. Tliis
is the discovery (at least in this State,) of an old
and succcssfij planter and wheat grower of this
district; and has been tested many years, always
successfully, by hundreds, yea, thousands. Some
say this soak also effectually eradicates cliess, in a
few years, but of tliis I am not fully satisfied. I)ut
when pi-operly applied and used, that it is a sure
and effectual remedy for smut, there is not the
shadow of a doubt.

If new, or untried, with you, get a single far-
mer to make the experiment. He, you, or the
country generally, will never regret it. — R. Slcw-
nrf, in Country Gentkman.

A SHOWER.

1!V REV. RALFU liOVT, A. M.

lu the valley that I know, —

Happy sccue !
There are meadows sloping lo*',
There the fairest flowers blow,
And the brightcat waters flow

All serene ;
But the sweetest thing to see,
If you ask the dripping tree,
Or the harvest-hoping swain.

Is the rain.

Ab, the dwellers of the town,

How they sigh,
How ungratefully they frown,
When the cloud-king shakes his crown.
And the pearls come pouring down

From the sky!
They descry no charm at all
Where the sparkling jewels fall,
And each moment of the shower

Seems an hour.

Yet there's something very sweet

In the sight.
When the crystal currents meet,
In the dry and dusty street,
And they wrestle with the heat,

In their might !
While tliey seem to hold a talk
With the stones along the walk.
And remind them of the rule,

To "keep cool !"

But in that quiet dell.

Ever fair.
Still the Lord doeth all things Well,
When his clouds with blessings awei)
And they break a brimming shell

On the air ;
There th« shower hatli its charms,
Sweet and welcome to the farias,
As they listen to its voice,

And rejoice !

For the New England Farmer.

LIGHTNING RODS.

Mr. Brown: — I saw an inquiry iu last week's
Farmer, whether lightning rods are a "safe and
certain protection from the duid," and also, if
persons or buildings are ever injured, or lift' des-
troyed, when they aro properly put up? In an-
swer to the first inquiry, I wouldsay that "Liglit-
ning Rods," when properly put up, are safe pro-
tectors. They should l)e made of iron or copper
(iron is the less expensive, and answers every pur-
)x>fle ;) they shoiild bo at least one-half inch in
diameter, three-fourths would Ixi better, and if

made of more than one piece, should be closely
connected.at the joints by firmly screwijig ono sec-
tion into the other, because where they are linked
together, as many rods are, thej' arelial)le to rust
between the joints and break the connection — for
the rust is not a good conductor of the electric
fluid — and from this cause tlie lightning will some-
times fly off from rods constructed in this manner.
To put thorn upis the next operation ; the rod
should terminate at the bottom in 77ioist earth, in
a well or cistern of water if convenient. The rods
should be fastened to the building, once in four or
five feet by staples of iron or brackets made of
wood, but the rod, at the fastening foints, should
always be guarded by a short glass tube ; many peo-
ple use necks of bottles broken off and pushed ou
to the rod before the operation of putting up is
commenced.' The rods should extend upwards to
a distance of four or five feet above the object to
be protected, and should be made pointed and
pronged at the top, and it is well to have them tip-
ped with silver. On large buildings,. more than
one is needed ; they should not be placed more
than thirty feet apart at the most. There is a
lightning rod patented and manufactured by Mr.
Spratt, of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is the best and
safest rod I have ever seen, and it is not expensive,
as it can be put up in most any part of NeW'Eng-
land for 15 or IG cents per foot, complete. In
answer to the second inquiry, I would say that I
never knew a building protected in the above man-
ner injured by lightning ; but a rod badly con-
structed, and badly put up, is worse than none.
South Deerfip.ld, N. H. Brad.

For the New England Far7ry.tr.

HOEING.

As June is the month for weeds and hoeing, per-
haps a few hints respecting them, at this time,
may not be amiss. All agree that it is necessary
to destroy the weeds among the corn and potatoes
in order to insure good crops : one hoes merely to
kill weeds, while another believes that the growth
of his corn is promoted by hoeing the earth up
pyramid like around the young stocks ; one is
very particular to dig up every weed and shape
the hill workman-like, believing in the old adage,
that once well hoed is twice hoed ; another hoes
his corn three times, because his father, uncle, or
grandfather, or somebody else, did the same, and
invariably had good crops. Now the truth is, it
18 not always necessary to hoe the same piece of
ground three times. While it would be economy
to hoe others five times.

I hoe merely to destroy weeds, without making
much hill, — corn without hills — like the child
without crutches — learns to stand, and receives
more benefit from every shower than when hilled.

Many finish their hoeing in June, in order to be
ready for haying, but it is better to cut the ear-
liest hay this month and defer the last hoeing a
week or two, for the reason that the later you hoe
the less weeds will mature in your field. For in-
stance you have a weedy piece of ground — you
lioo it three times, completing it the hist of thi^
month — July brings on a luxuriant crop of weeds
— cry August succeeds, and your field contains but
sufficient moisture for your corn crop — and be-
hold, you have a crop of weeds with your corn
which requires aa much of the sumo element for

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

357

support — the consequence is, both partake and
both suffer. Your corn-leaves are rolled up like
so many segars, and instead of a full crop of corn
j-ou are liable to receive only an apology for one.
Sloicc, Junel, 1854. n. F.

WHAT KIND OF FARMING?

Henry F. FiiENcii, E^q., — Dear Sir : — You
will certainly pardon me for introducing myself
to you in this manner ; but sir, after having read
many articles from your pen, published in the
New England Farmer, I believe you are capable
(if you will) of giving mo just such advice as 1
most need. I notice an article in the Fanner for
June, with your name attached, headed, ^^Siick
to the Farm.''' Now, sir, my object in vpriting
this, is to inquire what kind of a farm, in your
opinion, will be for the next 10 years the most
profitable? I mean to take everything into cou-
sideratiou, the cost of labor as well as the price of
differ!;nt kinds of farm produce, and to farm it in
New Ea;^land.

What [ mean by inquiring what kind of a farm,
&c. , is whether there is the most money to be made
on a grass farm, or both combined, or whether it
!? best to improve but a little land, devoted wholly
to raising vegetables for marketing. In case yoi..
decide in favor of a grass farm, please tell me what
is the most profita)le stock to stock said farm
with 1 Whether it would be best to select a dairy
farm and manufacture butter and cheese for the
market, or would it best to stock with young
stock, or sheep, or both combined, and turn off as
much beef or mutton or both as may be ? *

I am a young man, and have had but little ex-
perience in farming ; henco I am desirous of ob
taining the advice of the experienced.

Please answer soon.

Yours truly, j. d.

Juned, 1854.

Exeter, N. H., June 17, 1854.
My Dear Sir : — I wish it were in my power
to afford you the assistance you ask, in your letter
of the 'Jth inst., for I know by experience, the dif-
ficulties which beset every thoughtful man, at va-
rious critical points on his life-journey, when im-
portant stjps must be taken, and the path is not
plain before him. As I do not know the extent
of your pecuniary means, or your habits or condi-
tion in life, were I as wise as Solomon, it would
1>D imp03sil)le for mc to do more than to suggest
some general views as t > the advantages and dis-
advant;igC8 of the different kinds of farming. Tak-
ing it for granted, that you are married or soon
will be, to a well educated, industrious New Erg-
hind girl, whose comfort and taste you will al-
ways consult, and who will be ever ready to do
more than you desire, for the promotion of your
interests, and that you have some means of pur-
chasing a farm, and are determined to remain in
New England, let us consider first what are the
objects to bo attiiincd, and thonliow to attain them.
Money is always a 7/uans, and not an end, and
you probably would not consider it a very desi
rable speculation to die rich, sit the end of five

years, as so many of the most fortunate adventur-
ers to California have done. The advantages of
good society, and good schools, go far to corapen
sate us for the want of the fertile lands and gold-
en streams of the far West, and no amount of
wheat or corn or gold can compen.«:ate one child
for the want of a good education or an uprigW:
heart.

A man of good education, as your letter showa
you to be, would find his own happinc's and that
of his family essentially promoted, by living in or
near some considerable town or village, where
they would be within convenient reach, not only
of neighbors, and schools, and churches, but of the
railroads and telegraph, and of lyceums and con-
certs and libraries. To be sure, these things are
not money, but they are money's worth, which ia
all that wealth is valuable for.

Now a sheep or stock farm must necessarily be
extensive, and of course, be located where land is
cheap. For such a farm you need large pasturee,
and six or eight dollars an acre is as much as you
can afford to pay for it. Again, to raise animals
you must feed large quantities of hay, and gener-
ally, neat cattle will, at three years old, have con-
sumed more hay at eight dollars a ton, than they
are worth. For a sheep or stock farm, you must
generally go into thinly settled regions, where the
pastures arc new and rich, and where the market
value of hay is low.

If you are willing to waive the advantages, to
which I have alluded, the inducements for select-
ing such farms are at present very strong. They
require less labor to manage them, than any oth-
ers, and the prospect is, that their products will
remain at high prices. I do not live in a sheep
growing district, and have very little knowledge
of this branch of husbandry, and so the less I Siiy
of it, perhaps, the better.

In the lower part of New Hampshire, and
much of Massachusetts, I consider hay and apples
the most profitable crops we can raise, but in or-
der to raise hay we must have manure, and whert^
this cannot be bought it must bo made, and to
make it, wc must keep stock of some kind. My
notion of the matter is, that one must use coasid-
arable Yankee shrewdness to manage a farm prof-
iUibly, in this region. For myself, at present, 1
should, if I wanted a farm, look lor the best one I
could afford to buy, near a railroad, within thir-
ty miles of Boston or some other good market,
with a good tract of low meadow, Avhich might
be reclaimed into mowing, with the upland toler-
ably free of stones, with wood enough for use and
ornam-mt, with apple ti'ees already grown, which
I slioald graft to suit mysolf, with water running
through it, for my cattle to drink, for my children
to play by, and to'bring into my buildings by aque-
ducts, or hydraulic rams. I should have the.
idea of keeping ab.iut twenty cows, or as many aa

358

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

I could feed without going ofiF the farm for any-
thing, a span of lieavy horses, and a yoke or two
of oxen when I chose, keeping myself ready to
buy or sell, according to circumstances. To re-
lieve my family of labor in the house, I would gen-
erally sell the milk for the market, realizing near-
ly fifty dollars each from my cows, for the year, at
the present prices of milk, at the door. If I had
plenty of help in the house, I would make butter,
as being more profitable, and would, by the help
of the milk, keep al^out as many swine as cows
I should look sharply into the swamps for a place
for cranberries, which afford as profitable a crop
as any other.

I would not have a largo or stylish ho'usc, nor
would I feel obliged to ride to cliurch in a car-
riage worth two hundred dollars, when I preferred
walking, because my neighbor Jones did, or to
furnish a parlor elegantly with Victoria curtains,
or Prince Albert carpets, and keep it shut up,
because I was afraid of what Mrs. Grundy would
say.

I think we New Englandcrs are more extrava-
gant in our dwellings, and carriages, and furni-
ture, than any other people on earth.

Furthermore, I should keep my eye on the mar-
ket, and when I thought proper, I should put in
an extra acre of early potatoes, or perhaps an as-
sortment of market vegetables. I should attend
the cattle markets, and buy and sell cattle to keep
my stock good. When hay and cattle were both
at extravagant prices, as at present in this neigh-
borhood, I should take the liberty without ask-
ing permission of the town authorities, to sell ofl'
the most of my hay and stock, and wait quietly a
year or two the fall of the market, in the mean-
time trying a few scientific experiments with gua-
no and super-phosphates, until I should have
manure a.gain of home manufacture.

The Eastern part of ^Massachusetts is full of
such farms as I have described, and I know of no
people in the world whose life seems to be nearer
to the true idea of comfort a d independence than
those wlio occupy them. They work hard but
they la])or with the spirit and courage of freemen.
They have no masters to drive them, either with
the lash, or the fear of losing their offices. Such
days as this — the anniversary of the battle of
Bunker Ilill — inspire them anew with thankful-
ness for the blessings of freedom.

They are not rich, but they know not poverty,
and no wealth elsewhere can purchase the secu-
rity, the civil and religious liberty, the education
of intellect, of heart and of taste, enjoj-ed by the
farmers of New England.

With much respect, Henry F. Frenxh.

A New Use for Collodion. — Cotton powder,
dissolved in ether, forms a varnish which sticks
fast, dries quickly, is impermeable to water and

impenetrable to air ; it is called collodion, and is
much used in surgical cases. A gardener has just
discovered that it may be made of vast utility in
producing plants and shrubs from cuttings. On
making the cutting, tlie varnish is applied to the
part cut, which immediately becomes closed, or.
so to speak, healed. The cutting is then planted
in tlie ordinary way. Out of twenty-six cuttings
of hot-house plants to which collodion Avas ap-
plied, twenty-three struck root, whereas out of
the same number to which it was not applied, on-
ly twelve succeeded. With plants kept in gi'cen-
houses, and those in the open air, even moi'o sat-
isfactory results have been obtained. The collo-
dion may also be most advantageously employed
in grafting.

For the New England Farmer.

CLIMATE IN CANADA WEST.

Friend Brown : — Many people have an idea
that Canada is a frigid region, lying somewhere
north 0? civilization, where

"Winter reigns tremendous o'er the conquered yesr,"

and to mention the name almost makes them draw
closer to the fire. A little study and reflection
will satisfy any one that this is incorrect. True,
at jMontreal and Quebec, and in a large part of
Canada East, the winters are long and the cold is
sevei'e,but the best part of the Province, containing
nearly all the inhabited part of Canada West, lies
south of tlic latittide of Montreal, and directly
west of the State of New York. Tiie climate and
productions are similar to those of that State.

It is to be hoped that our geographers will, in
future, devote more than half a page to the history
and description of this growing province.

My intention, when I commenced this article,
was to give the state of the weather for the last
six months at this place, showing tlie extremes of
temperature, and also the mean, based upon ac-
tual observation. ISIy residence is in Prince Ed-
ward County, in lat. 44° north, about a degree
and a half north of Boston, and on the meridian
of Washington. The climate is viiry changeable,
often varying from 20*^ to 40^ in twenty-fotir
hours. In one instance, lust winter, the mercury
fell 30° in twelve hours.

By reference .to my record of the weatlier in
which tlie height of the mercury at G o'clock, A.
M., and at 1 and G P. M., is daily noted, I find
the

Jlcan temperature of the 12 Mo., 1S53, was 24.40°;
" " " 1 " 1S54, " 21.61°;

" " " 2 " " " 19.53°;

« u u y u a u 30.730 ;

" " " 4 " " " 40.60";

" " " 5 " " " Se.TO-';

In the 12th month the range of the mercury
was from 45" above to 11° below zero.

In the 1st month the range was from 46 above to 13 below.
" 2a " " 41 " 10 »

" 3d " " 53 " 9 above.

" 4th " " 66 " 22 "

" 5th " " 16 " 29 "

Though 13° below zero was the coldest at i/iis
place, yet it was said to be 20'^ below in some lo-
calities in this vicinity. Snow seldom falls deep
here, though there is much more in counties north
of this. Perhaps our proximity to jthe lake, has
a tendency to diminish the depth of snow. Last
winter I measured the depth at the close of each
storm, and found the total 5^ feet, yet it was not

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

35-J

more than a foot deep at any one time, and most
of the winter not more than half a foot.

Sleigliing was good about ten weofa, — a longer
time than usual. Robins and sparrows appeared
here the 13th of 3d month, but in a few days the
weather became colder, and they were obliged to
retreat to the forests for shelter until near the end
of the month.

As usual, in 4th raontli, the weather wai very
changeable. Thunder showers and snow squalls,
warm (lays and frosty nights, visited us. The storm
which killed the birds in the vicinity of Boston,
mentioned in the last monthly Farmer, did not
reacli as, yet it was cloudy, and a cold N. E. wind
blew most of the time from the 14th to the 17th.
Wo had a severe snow storm the 27th, but warm
weather soon followed, and I think no birds per-
ished. Larks appeared here the 7th, swallows the
10th, bluebirds the 11th, and goldfinches the
30th.

In the 5th month the weather was favorable to
the growth of grass and grain, though rather wet
for cultivating clayey soil. When warm weather
commenced vegetation was rapid, and at the close
of the month the earth was dressed in her loveli-
est vernal robes. A carpet of green, sprinkled
with a profusion of wild flowers, was spread over
field and forest, attracting the lover of nature
from the din and bustle of business to range in the
woods, and breathe the free air of heaven, made
musical by the melodious notes of the feathered
songsters,' all tending to raise the thoughts to
Ilim,

"Who, in Ilis sovereign wisdom, made them all."

Plum and pear trees were in full bloom the
24th, and apple trees the 29th and 30th. There
was a very full bloom, and the prospect is now
good for an abundant crop of all kinds of fruit.

Winter wheat was badly injured by the late frosts
this spring. Rye looks well. A great deal of
spring grain was sown, and there is now a pros-
pect of a rich harvest. L. Varney.

Bloomfidd, C. W., 6 mo. 12, 1854.

can be so much promoted, as by the labors of an
observing, intelligent, farm-viewing committee.
They should be men strongly imbued with a love
of the art, thoroughly acquainted with its prac-
tical details, and capable of looking at it in a sci-
entific point of view, and of such address as to in-
troduce themselves readily to all classes of the
farmers of the county.

The labors of such a committee will not be con-
fined merely to a view of the farms entered for pre-
mium ; they will note the general condition of ag-
riculture— the appearance of the dwellings, th e
barns, granaries, .fences, fields, orchards and
woodlands, and the implements in common use.
All this should be fully reported by the committee
and published, and then the practices in the dif-
ferent counties may be compared, and a tolerable
history of the condition of agriculture collected
each year.

The committee, in their circuit, may also con-
verso freely with many of the farmers, distribute
the publications of the Society, or those of others,
obtain new members, and generally advance the
interests of the association.

The gentleman who has introduced the subject
in the paragraph above, has probably done as
much to establish and sustain agricultural socie-
ties, as any man in the Commonwealth.

For the lYetu Ensland Farmer,

VIEWING OF FARMS.

We arc gratified to notice, that the practice
which has prevailed for several years in our Coun-
ty of Middlesex, of sending out a committee to
view all improvements to which their attention is
called, is about to be adopted in the counties of
Norfolk and Essex, and ttuit the Trustees of th.e
Agricultural Societies in tliose Counties have ap-
pointed committees for this purpose, with an as-
surance that the incidental expenses of travel shall
be paid from the Society's funds. This is a rea-
sonable and judicious appropriation of money. If
such committees will but observe and report as
they should, more benefits will be derived from
the publication and circulation of such reports,
than can be obtained for the same amount in any
other way.

Farmers, extend to your committees a cordial re-
ception, and let them feel that their presence
meets a hearty welcome at your homes — tlicy
come as friends, and will do you no harm.

June, 1854.

Rem.vrks. — Tliere is no one way, in our opinion,
in wliicli the interests of an agricultural society

For the Ncu: Ensland Farmer.

EXPERIMENT WITH POTATO ROT.

Gentle3ien : — I send you a short account of a
successful experiment I made last summer against
the potato rot. On the 5th of July last, I found
my potatoes with the first signs of disi^ase ; all
the top leaves looking as if they had been touched
with a hot iron. I immediately procured a bushel
of fine ground pj'aster and half a bushel of find
salt, and mixed them well together dry, and had
a large table spoonful put to each hill, lifting up
the vines carefully and putting it on the surface
of the ground, as much among the vines as it could
be. It must be applied dry — this arrested the
disease at once. The crop ripened well, and the
potatoes were excellent. While all in our im-
mediate neighl.iorhood rotted, I have not seen a
rotten one amongst them. I planted a third of
an acre, and it required a busliel of plaster and
half of salt — they were planted 3A feet one way,
and from 12 to 15 inches the other. The best
time to put it around the potatoes, is immediately
after hoeing or hilling the last time, as the crop is
said to be increased enoogh more to pay for all
the expense and trouble, beside getting a better
quality. Very respectfully,

Good Advice. — Stick to your trade, boys, and
learn to work, if you would he truly independent.
There is not a more pitiful sight than a half
learned mechanic applying for work. He is al-
ways at the foot of the hill, and labor as he may,
unless ho has attained the years of his majority ho
will never be perfect, and can calculate on pover-
ty as his portion with a good deal of safety.

Neirport, N. H., 1854. J. B. Willard.

3C0

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

CUTTING AND CURING HAY.

Foi" more tlian tliirty years it has been a com-
mon saying among larmers, that timothy hay
shoul'l not he cut until ripe — that is, until tlie
heads were plump and full of seed. I was raised
in a country where gnuss was thought ready to cut
as soon ;ia it was large enough ; and after I came
here, I loUowed through tlie same practice, al-
though in opposition to the opinion and practice
of many ot my good neighbors. I followed the
practice so long, and had so many opportunities
to prove it, that I know to a certtiinty that my
practice is right. For some 8 or 10 years past, I
have used mostly timothy hay. Previous to that.
r used more clover. Very olten 1 have not been
able to get it all cut before harvest ; and having
several cattle and sheep yards, some one lot of
ciittle had to cat the ripe hay, and I am perfectly
sure that it is a great loss to let timotliy hay get
anything near ripe : in fact, whenever it begins
to come in blossom, it is time to begin cutting. If
there is much to cut, and not plenty ot hands,
some will then get too ripe. I would prefer good
wheat straw, cut before it is too ripe, to ripe tim-
othy, for either sheep or cittle.

A number of years ago, 1 built a cow house, and
that season I cut my timothy hay earlier than us-
ual. I stabled my cows for the first time that
year ; fed them the early cut timothy haj, and
took every possi'ile care o the cattle, but they be-
came poor, would eat but little of my green hay,
and by spring the cows and young cattle were
overrun with lice, and poorer by far than I ever
had cattle. I concluded 1 had cut my timothy
hay too green, and that my neighbors were part-
ly right. Next season I let it get nearly ripe, but
my cows did no better. I then concluded it must
be stabling, and took out my stalls, and turned
my stables into sheds. After that my cows got fat
on green hay. After I began to fatten cattle ex-
tensively, I found out that my cow stables were
not thorouglily ventilated, and tiiis was the only
reason they did not do well in their st-ibles.

The loss farmers sustain by letting their hay
get too ripe, is immense. 1 would rather have
four quarts of meal per day, with good green tim-
othy hay, than to have a peck with ripe hay to fat
a steer with. Cut grass or clover green, cure in
swath or cock, and it will make either sheep or
steers fat in five months, without grain, if they
arc properly attended to, but still it is more profi-
table to feed part grain.

I have wintered this season about 200 sheep on
wheat straw, with one bushel of oil cake meal to
the KH) sheep per day, and now they are fat, al-
though but thin when I bougiit them.

New Geneva. John Joiinso.n.

We believe with our correspondent, that the
loss sustained by our farmers, by too long delay in
cutting their grass is immense. It is a subject to
which we have frequently called the attention of
our readers for years past. Both science and ex-
perience (hnnonstrate that the proper time for cut-
ting grat-s is wlien it is in blossom. A writer on
the scientific principle, in the process of hay-
making, lays down the following rules :

1. (Jrass must l>e fully developed before it is
mown ; if not, it will be found in its early stages
to contain 8o much water as to be reduced, on

drying, into so small a compass, that it will in
quantity much disappoint the hay-makers.

2. It must not be permitted to stand until its
seeds are formed, much less ripe. All plants in
arriving at maturity have their starch and sugar
gum in large quantities converted into woody fibre
— a wise provision of Providence for enabling the
stem to bear matured seeds — and as sugar, gum
and starch are nutritive elements, it is di sirable
that tliey should be preserved, and hence the
point for successful grass-cutting is that l)etwecn
the full development of the plant and before the
formation of the seeds ; in other words when they
are in flower.

A government report, published in the Edin-
burgii Quar. Jour, of Agriculture, on the "chem-
ical properties of grass and hay as food for cat-
tle," says — "If as wo have endeavored to show,
the sugar is an important clement of the food of
animals, then it should be an object with the far-
mer to cut grass for the purpose of haymaking at
that period when the larger amount of matter is
contained in it. This is assuredly at an earlier
period of its growth than when it has shot into
seeds; for it is then that the woody matter pre-
dominates— a substance totally insoluble in water
and tlierefbi'C less calculated to serve as food to an-
imals than substances capable of assuming a solu-
ble condition. It ought to be tiie object of the
farmer to preserve his hay for winter use in the
condition most resembling the hay in its highest
state of perfection.

We add to the above, the testimony of several
careful and observing farmers, heretofore pub-
lished in the Cultivator.

C. M. Bement — Was formerly in the habit of
cutting his timothy quite late, because it was easi-
er cured after it got pretty ripe ; but he ascer-
tained, from careful experiment in using hay thus
cut, that it wanted substance, and that the best
time for cutting hay was when the grass was in
blossom.

Sanford Howard — The stems of grasses' were
filled just before the formation of the seed, with a
starchy or saccharine substance. In perfecting
the seed, the stems were exhausted of this sub-
stance, it being consumed in forming the seed. —
The plant should be cut before the nutriment has
passed from the stems.

W. II. Sotham • — Would as soon have good
bright straw for cows or sheep, as timothy hay
cut after it has gone to seed. Cut all his hay ear-
ly. There was another great advantage in cut-
ting early — the roots i-etained their life and
strength better, and the after feed and future crop
were more abundant.

J. Pratt — Commences cutting his hay generally
before any one else thinks of it, or as it begins to
blossom, and gets help (inough to cut it all as soon
as po.ssible. lie has kept a dairy of sixty cows for
nine years, and attriluites his success with his
cows, and the fine healthy appearance of his other
stock, mainly to early cut hay.

Since the above was in tyf>e, we have received
an interesting paper from a correspondent in Mc-
ehanicsville, on the proper time lor cutting, and
the best mode of curing iiay, which shall have a
place soon, and for whicli the writer will pleaeo
accept our thanks. — Coimtry Gcnihrtian,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER .

36i

OUR AIMS ARE TOO LOW.

The present da}', says the Country Gailkman, is
justly notiid for the remarkable facilities which it
afford fi;r the improvement of the mind, and the
general culture and refinement of the whole man.
The means of thorough education are within the
reach of every young man of determined will and
resolute heart. Books upon evcrj' science and art,
in every department of literature, invite perusal.
Soc-icty, the very best, is free to every one who
shows himself worthy the companionship of cul-
tivated minds. • There is no "lion in the way, of
the advancement of a.\\j one who has a capacity
for knowledge and the desire to make himself use-
ful.

These facts suggest naturally the inquiry, why
is the stand.ird of literary attainment and individ-
ual excellence so low ? Why are not our young
men and young women availing themselves more
generally of their opportunities, and elevating the
tone and character of society? "Why are the best
years of our lives spent in the same round of va-
cant pleasures that gave amusement to "the
young people" of fifty years ago, when schools
and books were rare ?

The fault lies in this direction : Our young
people have not been taught to appreciate the
beauties and feel the pleasures of association based
upon intellectual sympathy and a mutual literary
taste. They have seen that business men were
rated by their relative tact and wealth, and that
foshionable society, gilded and hollow, demanded
no solid mental acquirement, or moi'al worth, to
secure its patronage. A few high-minded young
men and women, who have sense enough to be su-
perior to frivolity and display, have discarded
"fashionable" amusements, and are learning to
estimate themselves and each other by the quality
of mind and heart, and to strive for a higher de-
gree of culture and excellence. Wc wish our land
was filled with young minds of this character. In
life purpose is every thing. We cannot aim too
high, if we labor rationally and manfully, and
honestly. Wc may, with our best exertions, fall
below our aims : !jut it is certain tlxxt we shall
never rise above them.

In continuation of this thought, wo commend
the following, from the Springfield Republican.
Read, reflect and practice accordingly : —

There are subjects which, to touch upon with
point and candor, would give pain and offence,
and which need touching upon in the exact pro-
portion that such pain would be given. Our only
wish, in speaking of "our young people," is to
excite a profitable course of thought, and to do
good. So far as our observation extends, the
young men of our acquaintance do not at all ap-
preciate the age in whicli they live, or (he duties
which are soon to devolve upon them. \Ve meet
them in the street, we sec them at church, we
talk with them across the counter, wo come in
contact with them in occasional conversation, and
the principal impression left upon us is a nicely
fitting coat, a clean pair of boots, easy manners
and a contented frame of mind. Wc go into
their rooms, and find a novel, which they declare
to be very good or very stupid. The Bilile is out
of siglit, and the history and the book of travels
are not upon their tiibles. Ifwo speak of politics,
they "don't care anytliing about politics, and are
not posted ;" if of religion, they think "it pretty

much as a man thinks ; if of any great question
agitating the world abroad, they don't pretend to
keep track of foreign affairs. " As for thoroughly
digested and well informed views of the liti-rature
of their own language, they have noao. Notions
tney have in plenty — opinions with tliem are
scarce.

This condition of things grows out of a mistaken
idea of life and its true ends. Business is the one
8ul)ject that rises above everytliing else. On this,
they are well informed. Here, they are perfect-
ly at home, and it is this establishm mt in their
minds of what was intended to be sec )ndary and
subsidiary, as the grand end of life, which prosti-
tutes their energies, and dwarfs their whole being.
God never made mankind with the intention that
soiling dry goods, and counting mono}-, and dig-
ging potatoes, should be the groat ends of its pur-
suit. These ai'e all simply the means of sustain-
ing animal life, and securing personal and social
necessities and comforts. A true manhood is the
grand object of life, — that development of the in-
tellect and the heart, that symmetrical and sturdy
growth of character, which maka? a man a man,
which lifts him above the accidents of forcune,
and give him power, influence, self-reliance, intel-
ligence, energy, and, above all, a feeling of equal-
ity and self-respect, worth more than all the
wealth of the Indies.

Tried by the standard suggested by this view,
how many of 3ur young men are mf?i or are grow-
ing to be men? We leave it for them to answer
how, in the time to como, wlien they take the
place of their employers, tI>oy aiT- fitted to meet
the responsibilities of society. What kind of tone
do they propose to impart to their own circle ^
What boncficant movements are tb-y to lead in,
and be the supporters of? These a;- serious ques-
tions which they are now deciding in their every-
day life and pursuits. Society is to be in future
what you, 3'ouiig men and young women, make it.
Siiall it be frivolous, shallow-mannered and shal-
low-hearted, or shall it be intelligent, high-toned,
pure and ennobling, as becomes true manhood and
true womanhood I

We are aware tliat there are discouragements iu
the w"ay. AYe are met with the statement that
there is no use in trying to get into good society
unless you have money. We answer that society
that measures its members by money is not good
society, and is not worth getting into, and would
be a curse to you if you were to get into it. Make
your own society good, and tlien you will have
good society. What to you are those poor speci-
mens of humanity who esiiuiatc your importance
by the corpulency of your purse ? They do not
call for a tliougbt — and if you have true self-re-
spect, you will not give them one. Tom Carlylo
maintains the opinion that every man, by a law
of nature, will find his own level, and he is riglit.
You cannot mis.s it. Wo can select young men
in Springfield who imagine that no one thinks of
tliom, and who, in pursuing their sehemcH of self-
improvement, tliink tlicy are unobserved. Public
opinion knows and measures them all, and tiieir
good name is abroad. When they conao to make
an independent movement for themselves, they
will m.'et it. The world is coming moreand more
every day, to estimate men for what they arc, and
what they do andean do.

We are led to the?c remarks by the advent of

362

NEW ENGLAND PARMER.

Aug.

that time of year when self-improvement is more
Civsily pursued than any other, and when schemes
for this object are usually devised and consumma-
ted. What are you going to do the coming Fall
and Winter? Are you going to form reading and
debating clubs 1 Are you going to form circles for
cultivation in composition ? Are you going to
lay out for yourself, or under the advice of friends,
a course of private reading 1 Or are you only cal-
culating on some private whist parties, or a few
public cotillon parties ? These are questions in
which we feel a greater interest than we can ex-
press, for we know, and can but profoundly feel,
that upon their decision depend the future useful-
ness, respectability and happiness of many a young
man and woman.

MASSACHUSETTS VS. CALIFORNIA,

The California Farmc/ , publisiicd at S:in Fran-
cisco, by Warren & Son, in noticing thcagricul
tural movements in this Commonwealth, s.ay3 :—

"The Secretary of the Board of Agriculture of
Massachusetts presents us in his grain table with
the following data, and we present them to our
readers in contrast to those of California. The
following are the average crops of Massachusetts,
as reported to the Board, and with them in con-
trast the crops, as reported to us by the record at
the exhibition of last year.

MassachustUs. California.

Barlej', per acre 21 bush 60 bush.

Wheat 17i 50

Oats 30 45

Rye 14i 50

Carrots 709 1 500

Beets 800 1500

Ruta Baga 500 loOO

Mangel Wurtzel SCO 1600

O.iions 400 600

Potatoes 150 250

In many cases the crops of barley in this State
upon entire ranchos will average 75 bushels, and
those of wheat CO bushels. Potatoes, in many
instances, yield 300 to 350 bushels in large fields.
In some cases that have come to our knowledge,
the yield of root crops has been 25 and 30 tons to
the acre, and onions have yielded ten or twelve
t^ns to the acre, and even sixteen tons have been
grown."

The Farmer then adds, that "the .Middlesex
County Agricultural Society present, in their pre-
mium lists, an inducement to agriculturists that
should stimulate them to renewed exertions, and
thus develope hidden treasures in the soil that
could be brought forth in no other manner. The
example of this county should be followed by every
county in this State, where the subject of agricul-
ture is prominent, and premiums should be offered
in proportion to the advancement of the science."
And after giving a list of each class of premiums,
it says that "needlework, machinery, household
manufactures, agricultural tools and implements,
all have due attention, and a liberal allowance of
special prizes. The total amount of cash premiums
is over one thousand dollars, besides valuable pri-
zes in books, &c. Such exertions to arouse a prop-
er interest are beyond all praise."

The Messrs. Warren arc making strong efforts

to impress the minds of the people of that new
State with the importance of agriculture. They
liave established the Farmer, and the earnt ^tnees
and ability with which they conduct it, will un-
doubtedly be of more value to the State than the
accumulated gold of a thousand-miners.

AGRICULTUEE IE EGYPT.

It is as true now as in the days of Zcchariah.
that in the land of Egypt there is no rain — Zech.
siv. 17 — and the country is watered wholly from
the Nile. A trench is dug from the river lead-
ing to a reservoir below its level, in which the
water continually flows ; from this the water is
dipped up in buckets, by a contrivance like the
rudest well-pole — the Shadoof — which is worked
by hand, or by a wheel with buckets — the Sakia
— which is turned by a rude cog-wheel apparatus,
m oved by a buffalo or a camel. Sometimes, where
the banks are high, there is a succession of plat-
forms with Shadoofs or Sakias to raise the water
from one to another. At the surface it is poured
in a trench, from which — as from an artery —
smaller trenches branch off at intervals, and usual-
ly at right angles, intersecting and irrigating all
the adjacent land.

As the whole of Upper Egypt is but a fertile
strip — four or five miles wide by as many hundred
miles in length — lying upon both sides of the Nile,
Ijetween two deserts and their mountain bounda-
ries— i*" is possible in this way to keep the whole
country well watered. In the broader parts of
the Nile valley canals are cut, into which the
water flows when the river rises by tlie effort of
rain in the mountains of Nubia and Abyssinia,
and from these canals it is dipped up by the Sha-
doof and tlie Sakia, and poured into smaller
trenches. In the Delta, or Lower Egypt, below
Cairo, the different l)ranchesofthe Nile, with the
aid of artificial canals, suffice to flood the whole
country during the season of high water ; and in
the time of low water, the Shadoof and the Sakia
perform here, also, their customary office. It has
been computed that there are in Egypt about
40,000 Sakias, or about four to every square mile
of cultivation ; but this seems to bean over-esti-
mate. The large sugar plantations of the Pasha
along the banks of the Nile, as well as the royal
and tlie public gardens at Cairo, are now watered
by means of steam forcing-pumps. In Nubia each
water-Avheel is taxed about fifteen dollars per an-
num ; but there is no tax upon the land. In
Egypt the land is taxed about three dollars per
acre — which is from ten to fifteen per cent, of its
cost — but there is no tax upon the water-wheel.

In this state of things, it was natural that the
Shekh, on hearing of the great American Nile,
should wish to know the cost of irrigating the
country from the river as a first item in his com-
parison of the two countries. He was surprised
to hear that there were no Shadoofs or Sakias on
the Mississippi, but that sufiicient rain fell to ir-
rigate the land, and seemed to regard this as a
great advantage. And so it is : for in Egypt the
land-owner must erect his own water-wheels, and,
as the land is held or rented in very small lots, the
expense of watering it by the toilsome process of
the Shadoof is a main item in the cultivation.
Frequently three or four neighbors combine and

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

3Gc

work the Shadoofs in company, for their common
benefit. But, on the other hand, a land of rains
requires better building materials than are found
in Egypt, and especially shingles, for which this
country furnishes no wood, unless the barks and
leaves of the palm could be made a substitute.
The statement that land could be boiight for one
dollar twenty -five cents per acre, and held in per-
petuitj' by the purchaser, sounded strangely in a
land where the greater part of the soil is held in
fee by the Pasha, and can be bouglit only at from
twenty to thirty dollars theacre, subject to a gov-
ernment tax of three dollars. — Rci\ J. Thompson,
in Independent.

For the New England Farmer.

CANKER WORMS.

Siiiox Brown, Esq. : — Dear Sir, — A writer in
the Niw England Farmer of the 24th inst., has
alluded to tlie glass collars invented by Mr. George
Everett, of Roxbury, and to my use of them.
He also expressed a desire to hear from me "on
this point, or any other that might profitably be
a.vailed of, as a curative for the increase and rav-
ages of canker worms."

Fourteen or fifteen years ago, when canker
worms were very plentiful and destructive in this
vicinity, the use of tin collars, applied around
the trunks of the trees, in the form of inverted
funnels, was recommended to prevent the ascent
of the female insects. In the autumn of 1852,
they were employed in this place by several per-
sons, who have reported favorably concerning
them. The feet of the female insects are not pro-
vided with suckers or claspers like those of flies ;
and their structure seems to be such as would
necessarily prevent their walking or retaining
their foothold, against gravity, beneath a perfect-
ly smooth, polished, and dry surface. Hence,
when Mr. Everett first showed to me liis glass col-
lars, I was very favorably impressed with the con-
trivance, and accepted his offer to a,pply them to
some of my trees, in order to test their efficacy.
Two of my cherry trees and two small plum trees
were provided Avith glass collars in the autumn of
1853 ; and these four trees have almost entirely
escaped injury ; while some other trees in my
garden, not protected with collars or with tar,
have been more or less seriously injured by can-
ker worms. I do not consider this experiment as
conclusive, because there have been some canker
worms on the protected trees ; those on the cher-
ry trees may have come from two infested elm
trees, growing near the fence in a ncigliboring lot,
and 80 close as to interfere with some of the branch-
es of my two cherry trees ; the plum trees, on the
contrary, were sufficiently distant from infested
trees. Moreover, a friend tells me that he saw a
female insect pass over the glass collar on one of
his trees last autumn. The glass in all cases
may not be eufEciently smootli ; or perhaps
moisture on the feet of the female or on the glass
may enable the insect to stick to the glass. Fur-
ther experiments in the use of this contrivance
seem therefore to be wanting before an uncondi-
tional verdict can be given in its favor. It is my
intention to apply tlieso glass collars to other
trees in my garclen next autumn ; in the expecta-
tion tliat, if effectual as a preventive to the as-
cent of the female insect, tliey will prove in the

course of time cheaper and better than any oth-
er remedy hitherto employed.

Applications of tar, or of oil, according to the
well-known method?, if made in season, and re-
newed as often as necessary, have proved good
remedies against the depredations of canker
worms. My own confidence in them not only re-
mains uninipared, but is confirmed hy continued
exp 'rience. The use of these remedies is attend-
ed with much trouble and considerable expense,
against which arc to be taken into account the
satisfaction and profit arising from the preserva-
tion of the foliage, the fruit, and even the con-
tinued health of the trees.

In an enumeration of remedies we are not to
forget the services of the feathered race. The
warblers, buntings and other small l)irds devour
great numbers of canker worms. Even the cher-
ry bird earns a sliare of our early cherries ))y the
havoc he makes among the canker worms. 1 wish
as much could be said in favor of the robins ; but
candor obliges me to confess that insects form but
a very small portion of their food, while they are
unsparing in their attacks upon our cherries. Do-
mestic fowls, if allowed to go at large among the
trees during the seasons when the female insects
are rising from the ground, devour great numbers
of them. During the present summer, some cher-
ry trees growing in a yard where fowls are kept,
have entirely escaped the attacks of canker
worms ; while trees in an adjacent yard from
which the fowls were excluded have had . ^^lieir
leaves wholly destroyed by the insects.

TiiADDEus William IlAKais.

Cambridge, June 20, 1854.

A RAY OF LIGHT.

BV AAKON SMllll.

A traveller in a weary lanj,

Benighted ou his way,
liOne In a pathless wiM did stanJ,

And wished the break of day.
The moon rose ia the eastern sky,

And chased the shades of night ;
The traveller raised his thankful eye,

And hailed the ray of light.

A weary heart on life's rough sea

Was sinking in despair ;
The waves rolled on remorselessly,

And darkness gathered there.
A prayer went up to Heaven, and love

I'oured radiance on the sight ;
The heart, reviving, looked above,

And blessed the ray of light.

And so it always is, in life —

Joy's cup is mixed with eare ;
And spring the noisome weeds of strife

Amid love's blossoms fair.
But mercy gilds the darkest scene —

Shines through the dreariest night ;
And beauteous is earth's robe of sheen,

When gleams a ray of light.

Mark Lane Express.

Setting out Evergreens.— A subscriber says lie
has had no hiek in transplanting evergreens, and
inquires the best time and mode of doing it. The
best time for setting out evergreens is in the spring
and fall, when other trees are set out. As for
luck, that deiKjnds upon yourself. Wc used to
have no luch in this business, until we fi.nind out

364

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

that the roots of an evergreen never ought to see
icy-light. It is true that they will live sometimes
when the roots Iiavo heen exposed to sun and air
But they sliould either be taken up with a good
ball of dirt alx)ut them or be immediately wi-apped
up in wet moea or something similar, and so kept
until planted again. — Maine Farmer.

For the New England Fanner.

HOUSE PAINTING.

The item of painting, paper-hanging and glaz-
ing, is no small one in New England, where there
is, without question, a more general use of paint
than in any other section of the world. No-
where will you find le&s unpainted buildings, in
proportion to the number, than here. Everybody
uses paint, — we are sorry not to bo able to except
even some of the sweet heart confectionary people.
All are interested more or less in its cost and
preservation. The general subject, with sugges-
tions as to the harmony of colors and the appro-
priateness of the various hues for the difi'erent
purposes of use and ornament, will be the subject
of these articles.

1 need not say to those who understand the sub-
ject, that it is one which is usually far too little
understood, coming as it does under every day ob-
servation , it would seem to be well for all to know
its most simple details.

Since the recent extensive manufacture of zinc
white as a pigment, there has been great inquiry
as to its merits, in comparison with lead, llav-
i:5g given the subject personal attention for the
past two years, I am prepared to recommend zinc,
Because it is not so poisonous, an equal number of
pounds will cover more surface equally well, and
it is more beautiful. And besides, I know no rea-
son why it is not more durable. Tliere is a mis-
taken notion, which is very prevalent, that white
lead is the oxide of lead. It is the suhcarhonatc —
litharge is the oxide, and red lead the dcutoxide,
while white zinc, as it is called, is the oxide of
zinc ; and not a carbonate, like white lead.

The drying process is not by evaporation like
varnish, but by the absorption of oxygen from tlie
atmosphere. Inexperienced jjainters frequently
eomplain that zinc does not cover so well as lead ;
tlie reason is they use it too thin; it has to be
mixed apparently thicker and spread on more
flowing than lead; so treated, it is more satisfac-
tory, and still not so expensive as lead. The idea
has been extensively promulgated, that painting-
done in the fall of the year, is far better than at
any other season. It is easy to see the origin of
this notion and the means of its continuance.
Painters always have a special rush of work in
the spring; all nature is then thawing out of win-
ter quarters. Man feels the renovating influen-
ces, and then, if ever, a desire to assist nature in
the beautifying processes going on around him, to
. make improvements and repairs. All want tlieir
work done "right off," but they can't all be ac-
commodated at once ; the painter must be idle
most of the year, or have his work distributed
through the season. Some shrewd one starts the
idea that it is actually better to wait — the econom-
ical ones do wait — and the idea is extensively dif-
fused ; everybody believes it, and tlie painter is
l)enefitod, and the story has poi'formed its mission.
Now the proper time to repaint is, when your

buildings need it; when they begin to chalk, for
even if there is an advantage, the loss sust. lined,
will, beyond all doubt, more than counter! wlance
the benefit to be derived by wailing. The best
time to paint, is when it will be thoroughly dry,
before either very hot or very cold weather ; were
there no other considerations to be taken into ac-
count.

As to color for outside painting, a house with
no architectural pretensions may, with propriety,
1)6 painted white, or almost any other lively color,
but a building, the moulding, cornices, carvings,
&c., which are alone ornamental, should not be
painted white, or any other brilliant color, be-
cause the amount of light reflected, would in a
great measure destroy the architectural effect.

Skylight.

COAL ASHES A UEMEDY FOR BUGS
ON VINES.

Every discovery wdiich promises to assist the
farmer in economizing cash or labor is entitled to
regard; for, as Poor Richard says — "A penny
saved is as good as two pence earned." Some
have recommended the application of gypsum or
plaster of par is, soot, sulphur, snuff, &c., as a
protection for vines against the ravages of the
yellow bug ; but neither of these has been found
efficient in securing the plants from their depre-
dations, and many assert that they are of no ser-
vice, whatever. Nevertheless, it would seem from
the following communication which appeared orig-
inally in the columns of the Boston Cultivator,
over the responsi!)le signatui-eof S. H. Suurtleff,
that a remedy has at length been found in coal
ashes, and that when applied to cucumbers,
squashes, melons, etc., it affords an TEgis invul-
nerable to the "striped bug," as well as to the
"black bug," which attacks them generally at a
more advanced period of growth. We jjresent an
extract of Mr. Shurtleff's article, as it is always
more satisfactory to the reader, who reads for in-
struction, to have experimenters relate the results
of their experiments in their own words : —

"Last week the 'striped bug' came in showers,
on my vines, and in less than two hours the
latter were covered with them. It appeared as
if they would be devoured. 1 put on plaster (gyp-
sum) but it did not remove them. I then put
on a quantity of coal ashes, about half a jjint to
a hill, by sifting it on, and in less than an hour
not a bug was to be seen. Then, to try the com-
parative effect of plaster and ashes, I put ashes
on one hill and plaster on the next, and so on al-
ternately, and I found in all cases where the ash-
es were put on, the bugs loft, while they remained
where the plaster was used.

"I found my melons beset with the small black
bug that so often destroys melons and cucumbers.
I directed my man to put ashes on them, and I
was much pleased to find the insects immediately
left them, and they have not re-appeared. I feel
confident that the ashes of either hard or soft coal
will prove a sure remedy for keeping bugs from
the vines ; and as they are noAV considered almost

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

365

worthless, I think we shall find that no individual
thing is made in vain."

Those who can procure the article would do
well to test its value hy a trial ; a remedy for this
evil has long been a desideratum, and we can only
hope that, in the a'oove, it has been attiiined.

A FEW IDEAS ABOUT MILK.

This liquid is secreted in special organs ofthefe-
male mammalia, for the nourishment of the young,
and it necessarily contains all the ingredients re-
quired for this object. It contains indissoluble
matter held in mechanical suspension. It i.? a
solution of a small quantity of dillerent salts,with a
considerable portion of sugar of milk, and a nit-
rogenious substance named cheese or casein. A
number of small globules of fat of different sizes
are suspended in it ; they can only be discerned hy
the microscope. The salts of milk, which amount
to about one per cent: of the whole, are the phos-
phate of lime, phosphate of magnesia, phosphate
of iron, chloride of potassium, chloride of sodium
and soda. The soda holds the casein in solution.
Pure casein is scarcely soluble in water; its com-
binations with the alkalies, however, are vorj-
soluble. The addition of a small quantity of
acid separates the soda from the casein, and this
makes thickened milk, the curd being no longer
in solution with the alkali. Casein is the most
abundant substance in the milk.

After the casein is precipitated tlicre is sugar in
the remaining liquid or whe^^ ; this is the reason
why it has a sweeter taste than even sagar milk.
This is the only sugar generated in the pi'ocess of
animal life. It requires three parts of boiling
water and twice as much cold water to dissolve it.
The sugar of the milk is easily converted into
lactic acid ; it is owing to this quality that the
acidity of sour milk is due.

It has been found by experiment that a cow fed
upon Trass yields a greater quantity of milk than
when fed upon any other food. So far as a aeries
of regular experiments afford any data for con-
clusion, that kind of food which contains the
greatest quantity of milk, and the best kind of
it, also contains the greatest c^uantity of butter,
and this is not singular, for butter contains ni-
trogen. It is not a good plan to feed cows on a
uniform diet ; for experiments have proved that
the yiel'l of milk, by such a system of diet, grad-
ually diminishes : it is, therefore, a good rule to
change the food oP milch cows frequently.

The milk obtained from cows in the morning is
generally richer tlian that obtained at evening.
It has been found that certain pasture grounds are
much better tiian otliers for the production of rich
milk. Wo believe that the subject of good graz-
ing grounds has not received the attention which
it demands. There is certainly as much difference
in the grass, herbs, &c., in certain pasture lands,
as there are in different kinds of food.

As acid is the cause of souring milk, and as the
result of it becoming acidulous is a complete sep
aration of the casein from the other parts, it has
been suggested that the addition of some alkali
such as soda or saleratus, miglit render sour milk
sweet. The truth is, that the addition of an
extra quality of alkali is just about as great an
evil as an excess of acid. It is the perfect solution

of the fatty parts of milk with the alkali in it,
which impart.s that fine flavor to it when newly
taken from the animal. If some pearlash be dis-
solved in warm v*-ater, and some pure sweet olive
oil be poured into it and well stirred, the liquid
will also possess a flavor like that of sweet milk.
In some parts of our country thei-e has been
severe droughts this summer, especially in the
State of Maine. It is stated that the hay is only
half a crop, and that farmers will have to sell a
great deal of their stock before the winter sets in.
Those of our farmers who have milch cows should
use less hay for food than they now do. Cabbages,
!)eans, linseed, barley, potatoes and hay should
I)e given to every milch cow during the winter at
the north. These, kinds of food can be varied so
as to have a change every week. Every farmer
should have a steaming apparatus in his barn-
yard ; and plenty of pure air and good drinking
water are as necessary as good food, for the health
of milch cows and the production of a superior
quantity of good milk — Sci. Amei\

Forjke Neiv England Farrner.

CULTURE OF HORSE RADISH.

Fr.iEND Brown : — I saw an article recently in
your paper by B. H. Franklin, of Worcester, on
the cultivation of horse radish, with which I do
not feel quite satisfied, and propose to give my
mode of cultivation, viz. : Take any good rich land
with a deep soil that is suitable for a garden, root
crops generally, or a well drained bog meadow
that is in a good state of cultivation, and ridge by
turning two furrows together .3 feet apart, make
smooth by raking, if necessary, and plant the seed
15 inches instead of 2 feet apart ; some cultiva-
tors put it nearer both ways.

The after cultivation consists in keeping the
ground light and clear from Aveeds in any way
that best suits the cultivator. I prepare my seed
early in the spring, by taking roots i of an inch
in diameter, and cutting in pieces one inch
long ; wash clean and rub off all fibrous roots, and
then cover them up in the ground until the
sprouts are an inch long, and previous to plant-
ing, rub off all but the best one. Tlie reason for
this operation is, that you will have less small
roots ; consequently more large ones.

For the cultivation of horse radish generally,
dig late in the fall, all that is wanted for winter
use, and let the rest remain in the ground for
spring, as it is not easy to keep it well in dry cel-
lars. Yours, B. F. Cutter.

Pelham, N. H., 1854.

Fur the New England Farmer.

ESSEX COUNTY.
The annual address before the Essex Agricul-
tural Society will be delivered by Prof. B. A.
Park, of Andover. This Society has uniformly
chosen their orator within their own limits ; and
we believe about one third of tlie number chosen
have been clergymen. Among this number we
we remember Dr. Eaton, of Boxford, Dr. Pkrry,
of Bradford, Dr. AmtoTT, of Andover, Dr. Bra-
man, of Danvers, Dr. Colman— all of whom suc-
ceeded in giving sound instruction to the farmer.
Indeed, as a class, clergymen are rendering the
cause of agriculture more important aid than any

3G'j

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

of the other "professions."' Many of them are leave the "latch string out." You have really
not only conducting the operations of the garden, "jaar nobilefratrum'' in your associates,
but those of the farm, -with signal success. Well Cannot Mr. Hulbrook be induced to give us
may many of us look to them for examples even some such sketches of farms and farming as ho did

infuld culture.

For the New England Fariner.

FAEMING IN OHIO.

a few years since in the Albany Cultivator. To
my mind there is no agricultural reading of more
benefit to the young farmer and to men who have
left other occupations and become tillers of the
Two years since, I requested a sample of your f^'l' '-^'^^ere is no stimulous like good examples

„ ,.,;i.u ,„i.;„u „^„ !.. i„-„^ „,:^.,„i, f!r> Po-lljct us have them, that others seeing their "good

works" may "go and do likewise." We have

heard muc'n during the last few years about Terra

re. Of that I know but little. But when I

papers with which you were kind enough to fa
vor me, and with which I was so well pleased that
I ordered the monthly, Avhose visits since liave]"'^'|™

been as regular as the changes of the moon, and. '"''-" , , ,, ,. ,, .,,, , , ,,

whose contents have afibrded me no little satisfac- 1 «f '^" enormous hole the full width and depth
tion, and 1 trust profit. ?^ a spade excavated to receive a Iruit tree six leet

I have often thought your teachings might ben- :^" height into which the refractory roots are
efit some of the farmers in this vicinity, and have^^^"^^^^^ \ t'^f ^PP^^^^'^^ of the nether portion of
sometimes been half tempted to make an efibrt in' '?/oarse boot, I think if that tree could speak,
vour behalf, l)ut when I reflected on the ungentle-; '/f f^^^* "^'^^flf ^^^ ^
manly rebuffs I have been subjected to in soliciting ^ "//J^re. W hen 1 s

names for papers of less magnitude and less '^"";^« n<^f^ ^^.^/'^^^^ . ., , ^

price, my zeal has abated and my heart failed me. ' '^^^^ can bo without t(Kiring it up, and as deep as
Who can be so extravagant as to suppose that an '"^ ^orse can draw it I think surely if that corn
economical farmer will pay out a whole dollar al^o^^^^ ^F'^^^' ^^s first words would be Terror Cul
year for a paper that is to counsel and advise him^'f^- ^^s^ you should bo terrified at the length
in his own "peculiar" occupations? Yet these ^f ^his talk I close giving you the same privilege
same men— some of them at least— can pay twice *'»« ^ '^'^y did Ins friend, to read itor not

a discourse would be Tirror
see as I have seen, the plow
run as near the rows of corn after it has silked

Yours,
Norwvlk, Ohio, 1854.

J. D. BURDITT.

or thrice as much for worthless things containing
miserable daubs, by some called comic pictures,!
and trashy readino; that no sensible reflecting man „ _ 77 , -r, ,.,, . ,,

would read himseff, or furnish his family to read.! Remarks.— Keep on, friend Burditt, in the
Ask these men to become members of an agricul-|good cause, with a brave heart. Those men who
tural society, and with uplifted hands expressing' now "sky a copper," cannot all of them resist
"holy horror" they exckiim it is a gambling in-'
stitution ! Watch them a moment. Tlio first
doggery they reach they are ready to "sky a cop-
per," or odd and even for the "scoots." Ha tan
rebuking sin. If our agricultural societies would
agree to "stand treat" to all unsuccessful compet-
itors, they would no doubt add many to their
numbers though perhaps not much to their re-
spectability. Such men are not scarce iu these
"diggings" yet ; but thanks to the energy of bet-
tar men in difl'using information and introducing
improvements, their numbers are annually grow-
ing "beautifuil}' less."

your influences — some of them will come over to
you and be as active as sky-larks yet. We hope
to hear from you again.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

WHAT NEXT?

It is said the Indians have sown powder, expect-
ing to raise their own ammunition ; but what an
amusing story here is, for which the Poxtghkecp-
sie Journal Bt&nds responsible. b.

A Rescue. — Not long since, while passing near
\Ve have qinto a flourishing society in this 'a sand bank, we saw a little boy shovelling sand
place, that has seen five summers, -Nyhich we think] with all his might, and upon nearer approach
has already been the means of doing much good, discovered two legs projecting upward, the body
There are some Durhams among us that would j almost buried out of sight. We were alarmed at
do no discredit to Old England, besides a hand- 1 such a spectacle, and lost no time in dragging the

some sprinkling of Devon blood. We have some
Suflblk pigs that we are disposed to think are
about the right stripe, although they are not
"striped pigs." Of horses there are some good
ones, as Avell as some that need not be prais-
ed. There are representatives of several va-
rieties of sheej), Leiccsters, South Downs, and
Merinos, with and without the Cornwall and oth-
er finishes. We have some fine biddies too,
among them, some of them tall fellows that took
such a shocking bad cold coming across the big
water. Besides the stock enumerated we have
some railroad stock among us, and though I do
not much approve of fast nags, still there are an-
imals belonging to that stock that are somewhat
noted for their speed, and if you should take a no-
tion to ride out here some pleasant afternoon —
provided you can get a pass at Erie — though some
of us still live in rather a "primitive style," you
may be sure of a hearty welcome for we always

little fellow from his perilous position, nearly ex-
hausted, where he could not have remained much
longer Avithout perishing. After the excitement
had pjrtially abated, we heard Tnm the boys the
pitiful reason for the act. It appeared there had
been three j^i^iyu^f^tcs, who had spent most of
their time together ; that one had removed to an-
other part of the village, leaving these two to pass
their play hours in what they considered solitude.
In order to remedy this, tliey formed a plan to
increase their number. It appeared simple to
them. One was to be planted, leaving his legs
out of the ground, from which two boys would
grow and restore their former number. The one
planted, had volunteered to be the victim of trans-
formation. His part was to dig the hole and
crawl in, and the other to cover him up. At first
they were indignant at our interference, but after
a familiar dissertation on cause and effect, •the
boys became reconciled to us, and promised they

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

367

would never again undertake tliis kind of horti-
•tilture.

For the Ifcw England Farmer.

HOW TO FIND WATER.

Mr. Editor : — A,bout a year ago, a stranger
came here and passed the night, and in the course
of the evening he said that his business had been
that of digging wells, and that he could by means
of the rod, tell where to dig for water, and how
far it was to it. We did not believe it, and in
the morning he said he would try it. So in the
morning he got a rod and went into the road and
v/alked along, holding the rod in his hands, the
palm of his hands being turned up. lie had not
gone but a few steps when tlie rod began to turn
down till it pointed pci'pendicularly to the ground ;
he then said he w^ould trace the vein and see
where it went to — and he traced it directly to the
house where there was a well, but entirely cov-
ered up, so that there were no signs of a well there,
the pump being taken out. And then we began
to believe there was something in it. My fath-
er took the rod and held it in the same position
and passed over the vein and it had no efToct at
all. Then I tried it, and to my utter astonish-
ment the rod worked in my hands as well as it did
in the stranger's. I held the rod as tight as I
could grasp it, and it would turn down, wrench-
ing the bark from the rod. Last August I thought
I would dig in the pasture where the rod indicat-
ed there was water. I dug about seven feet and
came to a good spring of water ; the surface of
the ground where I dug was dry, and gave no ap-
pearance of water. One of my neighbors liad
dug a well a year or two before, for the purpose of
supplying his cattle with water, and found but
little, and he wished me to go and see where he
could dig and find a good spring. I went and
found that he had dug within aljout eight feet of
;» vein. lie went to work and dug about eight
or nine feet, and found a good supply of water. I
have seen a great many pc-rsons try it, but the I'od
would not work in thoir liands. I use a crotched
ttick, the prongs being about two feet long. Sweet
apple, black cherry, or peach rods are as good as
witch hazel, and I believe point out passages of
water in the ground if held in certain persons'
hands. W^hy they will not work in every one's
hands I am unable to tell. e. n. c.

Jamaica, Vt., 1854.

"BLINDS" ON HORSES.

In passing through tliis city, I have seen many
fine horses, some of which must be getting blind
from the cruelty of their drivers ; not l)y whip-
ping or starving, but from the manner in which
blinders, so termed, are used. No horse can have
good eye-sight afccr wearing these unnecessary
appendages for a length of time, as I have seen
them, 80 closely drawn together in front as to
rub or chafe the eye-lids. It is hurtful to have
them, worn as they usually are, tlirown out an
inch or so from the eye. If tliey must be worn,
it would be much better to set them out, at an
angle of forty-five degrees or more, from a right
line with a side of the face. It would, however,
be still l)ctter if they were not worn at all.

A horse will soon get accustomed to all that he
can sec, as not to be any more easily frightened

without them than he is with them by the sense
of hearing. lie is too valuable an animal for us
to be careless of his health and comfort, too no-
ble a gift to be so misused as to lessen his own in-
nate worth, to say nothing of his commercial
value.

I have charged this as a cruelty coming from
the drivers, because they can easily remedy the
matter. It is not my intention to assert, that
wrong in this matter is so by the choice of these
men. It would be as much as saying that they,
as a class, are destitute of all the kindly feelings
of humanity.

Tliese remarks are not intended to apply to the
city more than to the country, for those cruelties
are practised in the latter place quite as much as
in the former. — Corres. American Agricullurist.

A LOFTY CATERACT.

_ Capt._ Walker, of the U. S. Surveying Expedi-
tion, gives the following account, in the San
Diego Herald, of a wonderful caUiract wliich htf
discovered in his explorations : —

"On the Upper Virgin river are two very re-
markable fiills. One of them, two hundred miles
from its mouth, is the most stupendous cataract in
the world ; it falls in an almost unbroken sheet
a distance of full one thousand feet ! The river
some distance above, traverses a pretty timbered
valley, and then runs through a close kenyon.
Here the current becomes rapid. The mountain*
seem to run directly across the river. At the fall
the stream is narrowed to thirty or forty yards —
while the kenyon rises on either side in almost per-
pendicuhu- clitTs to a lieight of two hundred feet.
Tiie pent up stream rushes on to the brink of the
precipice, leaps over the falls with scarce a break
into the vast abyss below.

About thirty miles above, there isanother mag-
nificent fall. Here the river plunges over the
clifl', falls a distance of two or three hundred
feet, and breaks into a myriad of fragments upon
a projecting ledge beneath. Although the fall is
not so great as the other, it is more picturesque,
from the multitude of smaller cataracts into
which it is divided by the rocks."

A CURIOUS STRUCTURE.

The nest of a tarantula (spider) has been found
in California, of most singular construction. It
is about three inches in kngth, by two in diam-
eter, built of adobes, the walls being nearly half
an inch thick. Inside is a projection, which near-
ly divides into two apartments about an inch in
diameter. Tlie inside is lined with a downy sub-
stance, not unlike velvet, and presents one of the
cleanest and most tidy little households imagina-
ble. But the most curious part of it is a door,
wiiich fits an aperture and closes hermetically.
The door is secured liy a hinge, formed of the
same fjlu'ous substance as the lining of the house,
and upon which it swings with freedom. The next
is occupied by a dozen little tar.antulas, which
seem to subsist upon a yellow secreted 8u])stance
that appears on the walls of the front apartment.
The arrangement of the door for the protection of
the little mmatcs, indicates great instinctive ar-
chitectural knuwledge. It is the intention of the
finder to forward this curiosity to the Smithso-
nian institute at Washington.

368

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

For the New England Fanner.

USE OF GUANO.

Mr. Editor : — Some notice was taken in your
paper, tlie last season, of an unsuccessful applica-
tion oi' icuano to land sown with grass seed, wliicli
came up well at first, but did not mature suffi-
ciently to be worth cutting. The field has re-
mained in the hope of a better result — but with
little prospect of it. The present apjicai-anee is,
that no benefit whatever, will result from the
gua?io applied. I saw the field a few days since,
and am satisfied that there was some mistake
about the dressing or mode of applying it.

Another field has recently come to my notice,
where about 200 lbs. of guano was applied to the
acre about the first of April. It was dissolved in
urine, collected under the stalls of the stable, and
spread upon the land, from the cask set upon
wheels, such as is sometimes used for the water-
ing of streets. The growth of grass, however, is
luxuriant, — not less than three tons to the acre.
for the first cutting. How much of this is to
be credited to the guano account is matter of con-
jecture— but I think, not less than ten pounds of
bay to one of guano — which is pretty well for
first experiment.

Having stated the failure in one case, I thouglit
it but fair to state the result in the other.

The last season, I heard considerable said of a
preparation of bones for fertilizing uses by Prof.
HoKsfoRD of Cambridge, and saw some specimens
distributed for trial, but have heard nothing of it
the present season. Can you tell me, and the
public, what is to be expected from this source.

June 26, 1854. *.

if well planted, with some compost in the bole,
whicli will well decompose in the winter, it may
be the best season.

When rapidly growing trees are planted in the
spring, it is important that they be taken up early
before the buds swell, and heeled in, or kept in
some damp place, till convenient to set them out.

Hardy, slow-growing trees, when planted in
autumn, require less mulching than wlien plant-
ed in the spring ; and this fact furnishes one rea-
son for fall planting, all other things bt-ing favor-
able. If a tree has grown very rapidly t!;e pre-
vious reason, I should prefer to transplant it in
the spring.

In regard to heading in at transplanting, I
think all superfluous limbs should be taken off;
but no more, under ordinai-y circumstances. Of
a dozen large pear trees set last fall, Ijrouglit from
western New York, some were headed down this
spring and grafted with better sorts ; but those
not liberally trimmed threw out buds as soon as
the others. The scions did not take, as was par-
tially anticipated — the branches being cut off with
a view of saving the tree. ». w. l

West Medford, June 17, 1854.

Remarks. — Our own experience in transplanting
fruit trees has been much like that of "d. w. l."

For the Neii< England Farmer.

TIME FOR TRANSPLANTING FRUIT
TREES.

One of my first lessons in Horticulture was, that
stone-fruit trees, should be transplanted in the
Spring, but that other trees would do equally well
in autumn, if not better. Mr. Cole (author of the
Fruit Book) once told me that peach trees, even,
if planted in the fall, would do quite as well as il
planted in the spring. To some extent I have
acted on his suggestion, when convenient, but my
success has been poor. In more favorable lati-
tudes, tender fruit trees and all rapidly growing
forest trees, perhaps, will do well planted in the
fall. But in Massachusetts these trees live through
our hard winters only by virtue of their tenacity
to the soil, which keeps up the temperature of
the stocks and enables them to resist a frost which
if loosened by fall planting, would probably prove
fatal to them. It is reasonable to suppose that a
sudden check of the sap in rapidly growing trees,
or a diminution of its quantity, previous to a hard
winter, must be detrimental.

A few years ago I planted in autumn a dozen
or fifteen small silver-leaf maples — very rapidly
growing trees — but they were nearly all winter-
killed. About a dozen peach trees which I set
last fall, look now as if they were dead, and they
will probably not show much disposition to rally
for some weeks, if they do at all. Of all trees, the
peach seems to be the most affected when planted
ni autumn. My experience teaches me, also, that
the spring is the best time for plums. Apples
and pears, however, do very well in the fall ; and

For the New England Farmer.

CHINESE FOR FARMERS OR GARDEN-
ERS.

Some months since, an interesting article, on
the subject of "Chinese Manures," was published
in the Farmer, in reply to my inquiries, written
by the Rev. Mr. Syle, who spent several years in
China, as a missionary. I have just received a
letter from him, dated New York, July 7th, in
which, alluding to my interest in the agriculture
of the Chinese, he says :

'•Allow me to inquire Aviiether your interest ex-
tends from their agriculture to the Chinese them-
selves, and whether you would like a little company
of them to work together on your farm. If so, I think
j'ou could be suited, for I find here in this city some
eighteen or twenty Chinese, who I think could be in-
duced to engage themselves as husbandmen, garden-
ers, &c., and that too at a rate of wages which might
be considered quite low in this country. For the
last few weeks I have been a good deal among the
Chinese who have found their way lierr — indeed I
have been invited to act as a sort of Home Mis-
sionary among them — and much they needed some
one to give them a heljiing hand, for they have been
shamefully imposed upon in this Christian coun-
try.

But to return to my suggestion; if it falls in with
your views, I should be glad to hear from you at once
stating how many you would like to take charge of,
and on what terms.

I am, Sir,

Yours very truly,

E. M. Syle."

Being unable myself to employ any of these
people, I take the liberty of publishing the above
extract of a private letter, in the hope that some
of the farmers and gardeners in the vicinity of
Boston will be induced to take a "little company"
of these "Celestial" strangers, who in coming to
this Christian country have unfortunately fallen

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

309

tlie lowest
a great

Syl(M surely ought not to be abandoned to tl

3ailoi| specimens of our "civilization," -n-hich
city affords.

I will take the further liberty of requesting
those who feel disposed to employ any of these
m n to communicate directly with the Rev. E. W.

among thieves, rather than friends. Mr.
found them in a deplorable condition, at
boarding-liousea, &c.

To say notiiing of the novelty of the thing, or
of the inducement of low wages, I really believr
there is an opportunity here of doing good at u

cheap rate. For the credit of our country, our I Syle, 53 Broadway, New York. S. Fletcher
benevolence, our Christianity, these strangert^l Winchester, July 13, 1854.

THE EXPANDING AND SEVEHSABLE
HARROW.

The expanding and Keversable Harrow is so
constructed as to adniit of being widened or nar-
rowed, to do coarser or finer work, as circum-
stances may require. The two bars on top of the
frame work, are connected Avith the four under
bars by the outside teeth, the upper parts of
which are rounded and shouldered, witli nuts and
screws on the top, and on which the entire fram^'
swivels or turns in expanding and contracting,
which is done simply by shortening or lengthen-
ing the chain on the top. Thus tlie harrow is
made any desirable width, and any degree of fine-
ness, while the teeth in every position operate in-
dependently of each other. The harrow is con-
structed to be drawn either end for^vavd, so as to
secure sharp teeth, and is folded completely to-
gether for transportation. Various sizes, made
heavier or lighter, are supplied to order.

Ashes on Potatoes. — More EvkJnice of Valw.
— Our readers may remember that Mr. Barret, oC
Cayuga, publislied a statement that he and liis
neighbors Isad prevented all rot in their potatoes
jor several years, by sowing ashes over them, at
the rate of from two to three bushels per acre,
once a week for six weeks, commencing inuucdi-
ately after the second hoeing. Rev. Lyman Smitli ,
of Charlotte, Vt., confirms this statement in a
letter to the N. E. Fanner. He says lie has pre-
vented the rotting of potatoes by sprinkling the
tops with aslies as soon as they made their ap-
pearance, a table-spoonful to each hill ; after hoe-
ing, applying the same amount again. The ashes
were ap[ilied immediately after a shower, or upon
a heavy dew. Aft(,'r such applications, he has no
rotten potatoes. — Count. Gent.

For lite New England Farmer.

SWINE.

There is but littlcof the Jewish blood in our veins,
or Mohammedan faith in our hearts, yet perhaps*
the most devoted Mussulman would fail in tlie at-
tempt to show a more striking proof of his aver-
sion to swine, than is given by the "hired help"
and boys of many a yankee farmer

True, there is little that is engaging in a hog's
manners, or amiable in his disposition, or inviting
in his appearance, yet we cannot conceive why his
ill-nature should make him the most abused of
all domestic animals.

He is not made more tractable!, nor more i)rofi-
taldo, liy the kicks and pelts be receives. His
stubbornness is not overcome, by being compelled
to fast through the day, because it may not be
convenient to feed him. His thrift is not promot-
ed by being kept in cold weather, in some cold,
dark, damp place, with the bare planks, or the
planks covered with ice, for his bed. His porker
qualities are not increased by being compelled,
some dozen times a day, to perform the feat of
leaping some 4 to 0 feet, from pen to yard and
yard to pen ; and all this merely because ho is
"nothing i)ut a hog." ]\Ien complain of bis filthy
appearance, yet keep him where notiiing else can
live, yet, rellect not that he will thrive well while
filling the same place among farm laliorers that
scavengers do in city governments. The unsig/it-
ly brake, tlic withered fruit and refuso roots, are
to him a luxury, yet a luxury of which tiie indo-
lence or neglect of his owner often deprives him.
'Plio cry — "the bogs are out" — is often raised on
(arming premises, and harsii maledictions are
poured upon the iicad of poor pig for uprooting
his fence, when in fact, the hog was merely giv-
ing- a practical illustration of what u.^^o ho might
bo, would his master but furnisli the materials,
•such as muck, leaves, &c.

Swine, like all other domestic animals, must be

370

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

Aug

well cared for and well treated to bo profitable,
and when so treated, their industry, their thrift
and improved appearance, will "preach huraanity
to man."

The longest count in the charge against the
!iog, is that "the mothers neglect or ill-treat their
offspring." In answer to this charge, I reply that
•'like begets like." If we treat our bogs as mon-
sters, not to be approached without the bestowal
of kicks and blows, we should not complain of
their being what our cruelty has nrade them. Let
the same course be j^ursued with swine as with
neat stock, let them be carded and handled, well
fed and kindly treated, and then if they are so un-
natural as to slay their young, we will let sen-
tence of "'guilty" be passed upon them and absto-
don them to their fate — death by the butcher.

For twenty-five years avc have known but one
cross hog, yet have reared more or less pigs every
spring, and our experience is that there is no more
uncertainty about raising pigs (the general com-
plaint to the contrary notwithstanding) than in
rearing any other stock.

With me, hogs are among the most profitable
animals on the farm, yielding a triple income —
the slaughtered porker, the young pigs, and last,
yet not least, their valuable services in the ma-
nure yard. m.

Chester, N. H., June, 1854.

IRON HOUSES.

A friend of ours who is building a tenement,
complajncd, not long ago, that he found it difficult
to obtain such lumber as he wislied for the pur-
pose, adding, "I never thought there would bo
any trouble here in obtaining any kind of lum-
ber that one wanted ; what will folks do when
the lumber is all gone?" "Build iron houses,"
said we. "There is iron enough in different sec-
tions of the State, to build houses for hundreds
of years." "Yes," said he, "and it will be
thousands of years before they will build any-
thing of the kind here."

Now we do not see why, even at the present mo-
ment, iron houses cannot be built as cheap in
Maine, as in some other States. We have iron
enough — we have wood enough to heat the fur-
naces to smelt it, and lime enough to make flux
to facilitate its reduction from the ore to a me-
tallic state. All, therefore, that is wanted, is,
capital to start the business, enterprise enough to
begin it, and faith enough to carry it out to suc-
cess.

We see in the N. Y. Leader, a glowing account
of building iron houses, by Mr. Sexton, of Brook-
lyn, N. Y.

We make a few extracts from this account in
crderto shew our readers how much this mode of
building houses has advanced.

Mr. S. constructs the frame-work of his build-
ing entirely of cast iron, in sections which are
made to interlock by very close fitting, and in-
genious joints secured by keys. This mode of fit-
ting avoids the labor of drilling and bolting
which has been a great inconvenience of iron
buildings.

The irame work he covers on the outside with
plates of iron, by a similar system of interlocking
without any bolts or other fastenings— the joints

being packed Avith gutta pereha, so as to exclude
water under liydraulie pressure.

To finish the dovetailing of the joints, he ha^:
invented a machine that performs the work of
forty n;ien. Tlie walls are made hollow, and the
enclosed space is filled with a non-conducting
composition of beach sand, and other substances,
so that when finished they become perfectly fire-
proof.

The roof and floor are mado of cast iron frames,
resembling heavy window sashes, the interstices
being occupied with plates of glass of. any re-
quired thickness. This glass, it is stated, is not
our common glass, but a new kind called malleable
glass, from its wonderful property of toughness,
it bending freely without breaking.

It also asserts that this glass can be drawn out
into threads of any fineness, and so tough and
flexible that they are about commencing the man-
ufacture of piano and violin strings from the
same material.

A string of this glass was exhibited to the wri-
ter, who says it was as small as the E string of a
violin, and could be bent around the finger like
catgut.

Plates of this glass being let into the frame
work of the floors, the whole is then covered over
with a peculiar transparent cement of Mr. Sexton's
invention, wliich makes the floor look likeone sol-
id plate of glass. The cost of roofing with this
material, is 75 cents per square foot. The walle
inside can be covered with plaster, or finished with
iron or glass at the option of the builder.

All the interior ornamental work, such as man-
tle pieces, panels, &c., may be made of this mal-
leable glass.

This looks like an expensive mode of building
houses, but yet it is comparatively cheaper than
many other modes adopted. Mr. Sexton sums up
the advantages of his mode as follows :

1. Its great cheapness and rapidity with whicii
it allows construction, it effecting a saving of one-
third in labor over any other mode. He could con-
struct an ordinary house in 40 days.

2. The variety of style and finish that can be
obtained at small cost, by different combinations
of the same patterns.

3. Tlie facility with which such a building can
be taken down and removed.

4. Its security from damage by fire or light-
ning, thus saving insurance.

5. Its durability, freedom from vermin, &c. —
Maine Farmer.

Amount of Lime Carried off by Various Crops.
— It is calculated that the amount of lime carried
ofl' the soil by ten bushels of grain and the straw
on which it is grown is as follows :

10 bush. Wheat and the Straw, 5.18 lbs.

10 do. Eye do. C.47 "

10 do. Corn do. 6.U "

10 do. Barley do. 4.8-1 "

10 do. Oats do. 3.87 "

10 do. Field Peas do. 44.74 "

2000 pounds of (lotatoes 1.03 "

2000 pounds of turnips and tops, 6.92 "

20U0 pounds of flax 14.85 "

2000 pounds of red clover, 43 77 "

2000 pounds meadow hay, 22.95 "

2000 pounds of cabbages, 9.45 "

^' The way to gain a good reputation , is t-o
endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

185'

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

371

FEEDING OF ANIMALS.

On the feeding of animals. — Main visible functions of th; living
animal. — The food must supply the wants of respiration. —
Nature, wants, and purposes of this function. — The daily
waste of the muscular parts and tissues of the body. — Food
necessary to repair it. — Saline and earthy matters containeil
in its several parts, and daily rejected by the body. — Waste or
increase of fat supplied by the food. — Special waste in the per-
spiration.— Forms in which the solid matter of the tissues es-
cape in the urine of animals. — General balance of food and
excretions. — Kind of food required, as indicated by the com-
position of the blood. — Importance of a mixed food.

The food of plants ^ve have seen to consist es-
sentially of two kinds, the organic and the ino?--
ganic, both of which are e<iually necessary to the
living vegetable — equally indispensable to its
healthy gi-owth. A glance at the purposes served
by plants in the feeding of animals, not only con-
firms this view, but throws also additional light
upon the hind of inorganic food which plants must
bo able to procure, in order that tliey may be fit-
ted to fulfil their assigned purpose in the economy
of nature.

MAIN VISIBLE FUNCTIONS OF LIVING ANIM.VLS.

Man, and all domestic animals, may bo sup-
ported, may even l)e fattened, upon vegetable food
alone. Vegetables, therefore, must contain all
the substances which are necessary to luiild up
the several parts of animal bodies, and to supply
the waste attendant upon the performance of the
necessary functions of animal life.

All living animals perform tliree main or lead-
ing functions necessary to the continuance of
healthy life.

1. They breathe, alternately inhaling and ex-
haling air by means of the lungs.

2. They digest, dis.so]ving the food in the sto-
mach, and selecting from it the materials neces-
sary to form blood.

3. They excrete, rejecting in the solid excre-
tions and the urine, or giving off from the skin
and the lungs —

a. That part of the food which cannot be dis-
solved and made use of as it passes tlirough the
alimentary canal.

b. The materials derived from tlio decomposed
tissues or parts of the body which are undergoing
a constan'u waste.

To the wants of an animal perfurming these
visible functions in a healthy and roguLiv manner,
the food must be adapted in kind and ipiantity.
I shall briefly illustrate what these wants de-
mand.

To the numerous minor and invisiblo functions
performed within the several parts of the living
body, it is unnecessary to advert in detail. 1 may
have occasion incidentally to advert to one or two
of the more interesting of these; but as a healthy
blood contains all that is necessary to the dis-
charge of these functions, it would only compli-
cate our present inquiry to consider their several
direct relations to the undigested food as it is in
troduoed to the stomach.

IDE FOOD MUST SUFPLY THE WANTS OF RESPIRA-
TION.— NATURE, WANTS, AND PURPOSES OF
THIS FUNCTION.

While an animal lives it breathes. It alter
nately draws in and throws out atmospheric air
by means of its lungs.

1. When tliis air enters, it contains about two
gallons of carbonic acid in every 5000; when ites
capes from the lungs it contains 2 gallons or up

wards in every 100. The proportion is increased
from 50 to 100 times. Much carbonic acid, there-
fore, is given ofT from the lungs of animals dur-
ing breathing. In other words, living animals
are continually tlu'owing off carbon into the air,
since carbonic acid contains about two-sevenths of
its weight of solid carbon.

A man of sedentary habits, or whose occupation
requires little bodily exertion, may throw off in
this way about five ounces of carbon in twenty-
four hours-one who takes moderate exercise, about
8 ounces — and one who has to undergo violent
bodily exertion, from 12 to 15 ounces. In our
climate about one-fifth more is given off in sum-
mer than in winter.

If we take the mean quantity respired at 8
ounces, then, to supply this carbon alone, a man
must eat 18 ouncesof starch and sugar every day.*
If he take it in the form of wheaten bread, he will
require V\ lb. of bread ; if in the form of potatoes,
about 7i lbs. of raw potatoes to supply the carbon
which escapes through his respiratory organs
alone.

When the habits are sedentary, 5 lbs. of pota-
toes may be sufficient; when violent and continued
exercise is taken, 12 to 15 lbs. ma}!- be too little.
At the same lirae, it must be observed that when
the supply is less, either the quantit}' of carbon
given off will be less also, or the deficiency will be
supplied at the expense of the body itself, especi-
ally its fatty part. In either case the strength
will be impaired, and increased supplies of nour-
isliing food will be required to recruit the exhaust-
ed frame.

Other animals give oil' from their lungs ciuanti-
ties of carbon proportioned to their weights. A
cow or a horse, eiglit or ten times the weight of a
man, will give oft'4 to 5 lbs. of carbon. The quan-
tity of food required to supply this carbon will be
proportionably greater.

1 have in the above calculations supposed that
the whole of the carbon given off from the lungs
is derived from tlio starch, sugar, or gum of ^the
food. This view is the simplest, and most easily
intelligible. It only requires us to suppose that
in the system the starch is separated into carbon
and water, of which, as we have seen, (p. 43,) it
may be represented to consist ; and that the former
is given or burned off from the lungs in the form
of carbonic acid. But many physiologists do not
regard the process as being really so very simple.
They consider tliat the carbon given oil' is partly
derived from the gluten or flesh of the food, as
well as from the starch or fit — in which case the
quantity of starch or sugar in tlio food, as T have
calculated it, need not be so large; and it is cer-
tain that where animals live on food which con-
tains no starch or sugar, and but little fat, the
gluten or fleshy fil)re it contains must yield the
carbon whicli is given off by the lungs.

2. But when the air escapes from the mouth of
a breathing animal, it contains mucli moisture
also. It enters comparatively dry, it comes out
so moist as readily to deposit dew upon any cold
surface, or to form a white mist in a wintry at-
mosphere. This water is given off by tiio lungs,
along with the carbonic acid, and, like it, is de-
rived from tlic food, solid or liquid, which has
been introduced into the stomach. It may cither
be part of the water which has been swallowed
as such, or the water which may be supposed to

372

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

exist in the starch and sngar of the food. Or it
may bo water luriii;'J by tlio union of the liydro-
gen of the other kinds of food \Yith the oxygen in-
haled by the lungs. It is probably derived in part
from each of these sources, in proportions which
must vary with many circumstances.

3. But the lungs actually feed the bod}'. The
air which enters contains more oxygen than when
it returns again from tlie lungs. The oxygen
which disappctirs equals in bulk very nearly that
of the carbonic acid which is evolved. This oxy-
gen enters the lungs, through them into the blood,
and with the blood flows on and circulates through
the body. It also enters partly into the composi-
tion of the tissues, so that it is a real food, and is
as necessary to the construction of the human
body as tlie other forms of food which are usually
introduced into the stomach. The weight of oxy-
gen taken up by the lungs exceeds considerably
that of all the dry solid food which is introduced
into the stomach of a healthy man.

4. The purposes served by-the oxygon thus in-
troduced into the system are very difficult and
complicated. But an incidental circumstance
which accompanies all its operations in the sys
tcm, is the evolution of heat. From the time the
solid digestible food enters the blood till it escapes
from the lungs, or in the other excretions, it is
continually uniting with oxygen into new forms
of combination, and at each change heat is pro-
duced or given oS. Thus the animal heat is kept
up, and thus it is, in a certain sense, correct to
say that oxygen is taken in ])y the lungs for the
purpose of giving warmth to the body, — or, more
poetically, that the body is a lamp fed with oil
from the stomach, and with air from the lungs,
which burns with a slow and invisible flame, but
which ever does burn while iifo lasts, and main-
tains a gentle warmth through all its parts.

THE FOOD MUST REPAIR THE DAILY WASTE OF TUE
MUSCULAR PARTS AND TISSUES OF THE BODY.

Ftom every part of the growing as well as of
the full-grown body, a portion is daily abstracted
by natural proc.isses, and rejected either through
the lungs and skin, or in tlie solid and fluid excre-
tions. This pr iportion is so great that in sum-
mer the body loses one-fourteenth, and in wintor
one-twelfth of its weight daily, when no food is
taken. And if food be continuously withheld,
the mean duration of life is only fourteen days,
and the weight diminishes two-lifths. But the
waste or change of material proceeds more rapid-
ly when the animal is well fed, so that tlie opin-
ion now prcviiils among physiologists that every
twenty or thirty days the greater part of the mat-
ter of the iiuman body, when adequately fed, is
constantly renewed. Tins waste of tlie tissues is
more rapid in women than in children, in men
than in women, and most of all in men betwe n
the age>! of ;50 and 40. The amount of waste is
the measure of life.

The materials for this change must be supplied
by tlic food. And the quantities required must
be adapted to the nature, age, and sex of the ani-
mal.

The muscles of animals, of which lean beef and
mutton are examples, are generally colored by
blood; but wiien washed with water for a length
of time, they become quite white, and, with the
exception of a little fat, are found to consist of a

white fibrous substance, to which the name of
fibrin has been given by chemists. The clot of
the blood consists chiefly of the same substance ;
while skin, hair, horn, and the organic part of
the bones, are composed of varieties of gelatine.
This latter substance is familiarly known in the
form of fffitc, and though it differs in its sensible
propn-ties, it is remarkably similar to fibrin in its
elementary composition, as well as to the white of
the egg, (albumen,) to the curd of milk, (casein)
and to the ^/«i!p?i of flour. They ail contain ni-
trogen, and the three latter consist of the four or-
ganic elementary bodies very nearly in the follow-
ing proi^ortions :
Carbon, - - - ... 65

Hydrogen, - ..... •;

Nitrogen, - . - . . - ig

Oxygen, with a little sulphur .ind phosphorus, - 22

Gelatine or dry glue contains about 2 per cent,
more nitrogen.

The quantity of one or other of these substances
removed from the body in 24 hours, either in the
perspiration , or in the excretions, amount to about
five ounces, containing 350 grains of nitrogen ; and
this Avaste at least must be made up by the gluten,
fibrin, or other protein compounds of the food.

In the 15 lb. of wheaten bread, supposed in the
previous section to be eaten to supply the carbon
given ofi:'by the lungs, there Avill be contained also
abjut 3 ounces of gluten — a substance nearly
identical with fibrin, a.nd capable of taking its place
in the animal body. Let the other two ounces
wliich are necessary to supply the daily waste of
muscle, &c., be made up in beef, of which half a
jiound contains 2 ounces of dry fibrin, and we
have —

For For waste

respiration of muscle, &c.

IJ lb. of liread yielding 18 oz. starch and 3 oz. of gluten.
8 oz. of beef yielding •• 2 oz. of fibrin.

Total consumed by '
respiration and the
ordinary waste.

18 oz. starch and 5 oz. ■

jluten or
fibrin.

If, again, the 7^ lbs. of potatoes be eaten, then
in these are contained about 2.| ounces of gluten
or albumen, so that there remain 2^ ounces to be
supplied by beef, eggs, milk, or cheese.

I'he reader, therefore, will understand why a
diet, which will keep up the human strength, is
easiest compounded of a mixture of vegetable and
animal food. It is not merely that such a mix-
ture is more agreeable to the palate, or even that
it is absolutely necessary — for, asalready observed,
the strength may be fully maintained by vegetable
food alone ; — it is because, without animal food in
one form or another, so large a bulk of the more
common varieties of vegetable food reqiiires to be
consumed in order to supply the requisite quanti-
ty of nitrogen in the form of gluten, albumen, &e.
Of ordinary wheaten bread alone, about 3 lbs.
d lily must be eaten to supply the nitrogen, f and
there would ♦^hon be a considerable waste of car-
bon in the form of starch, by which the stomach
would be overloaded, and which, not being -vforked
up by respiration, would pass oS" in the excretions.
The wants of the body would be equally supplied,
and with more ease, by 1| lb. of bread, and 4
ounces of cheese.

Oatmeal, again, contains at least one-half more
nitrogen than the wheaten flour of our climate
and lience 2 lbs. of it will usually go as far

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

373

in supplying this portion of the natural waste as
3 lbs. of wheatca flour, and the etomach will he
less oppressed. Tliis fact throws much light on
the US3 and value of what has been called the na-
tural food of fcicotland.

The stoiiuich and other digestive apparatus of
our domestic animals are of larger dimensions,
and they are able, therefore, to contain with ease
as much vegettible food, of almost any wholesome
variety, as will supply them with the quantity of
nitrogen tliej may require. Yet every feeder oi
stock knows that the addition of a small portion
of oil-cake, or of beau-meal, substances rich in ni-
trogen, Avill not only fatten an animal more speed-
ily, but will also save a large Imlk of other kinds
of food.

* Since 12 Iba. of starch contain about 5 lbs. of carbon.

t The dry flour being supposed to contain 15 per cent, of dry
gluten, (a large proportion,) on which supposition all the above
calculations are m;i.de.

HARVESTING GEAIN.

It would seem to be almost superfluous at this
late day, to urge upon our farmers the imjjort-
ance of cutting grain before it becomes fully ripe;
yet notwitlistanding the numerous articles which
liave been written and published on this subject,
and the very decided convictions expressed ))y the
most judicious millers and grain dealers in favor
of early harvesting — especially where the grain is
intended for bread-making or flouring — there are
many who still adhere to the old practice, and
will by no means allow their crops to bo harvest-
ed, till the grain is fully ripe. Prejudice is a ty-
rannical master, and no class of the community
appear to be more fully under its control than
our agricultural class. In New York, and, indeed,
in all tiie wheat growing States, the practice of
cutting this grain before it is dead ripe prevails
universally. The exact time when it should be
harvested, is cow, with the grain-producing part
of the communit}', no longer a matter of doubt or
speculation ; all being fully convinced that the
right period is indicated by that change which
the grain experiences when passing from its
milky state to that of complete hardness, and
when the kernels, without being "s/?cA'y," are yet
sufficiently hard to resist the pressure of the
thumb and finger. The farina of the grain being
perfected, all that is necessary to render it fit for
tlouring is the hardening of the mass ; and this,
it is fully established, may be as well perfected
after the sti-aw has been cut as Ijefore. Beside,
grain that is allowed to stand till it is fully br
dead ripe, makes darker flour, and is not 4fio
heavy ; it scatters in harvesting, and does not
command so high a price in our markets or so
ready a sale. The straw of grain, when it is cut
before the period of perfect maturity, is also much
more valuable ; it possesses a degree of succulence
and saccharine sweetness which renders it a good
food for stock ; a use to which the straw that has
stood in the fields till it has become dead or per-
fectly matured can never be apjilicd.

I have cut oats when the straw was just turn-
ing from its green to its golden hue, and have
found the grain as plump and full, and far briglit-
cr in color than that which had stood in tlie field
till ripe. The straw of oats, when harvested early,
and properly cured, is nearly as valuable for cat-

tle feeding as the best clover hay ; and when
chaffed and mixed with chopped roots or meal, it
makes a feed eagerly partaken of by stock of eve-
ry description. — Germantown Telegraph.

JONATHAN SLOW;

OR, iAITH, HOl'E AND CHARITY

BY LEWIS DBLA.

All angler great was Jonathan H\o\v ;
There was not a stream he did not know,
Nor the slightest nook where a fish could s<t

In a Ehady spot to hide.
He had such a knack of hooking a worm,
The fish that saw its eloquent squirni;
Had a chance to swim a definite term !

But twice the chance to be fried.

Good luck had made of Jonathan Slow

A man of faith ; to fish "he would go,

If the wind blew high, or t!ie wind blew low ;

No matter for rain or shine;
lie would hie away to the quiet brook,
And under a tree In some shady nook,
With a smiling face and a saintly look,

Would trust to his hook an<l line.

'Twas a sultry day, and the skies did lower ;
I'irst a gleam of sun, then a soaking shower ,
And Jonathan lished hour after hour.

Not caring for heat or rain.
The water poured from his reeking clothes,
Musquitoes had bitten his eyes and nose,
And this was all, for excepting those

He had waited for bites in vain.

I alwoy.'j ha.ll faith, said Jonathan Slow,
And I still have hope, for the pious know
That both together the pair must go,

To make us e-.\actly right.
I .im thankful, then, that those gifts arc mine ;

I will teach to others the truth divine j
"t'recept upon precept, tine upon fine" —

Ah I bless me I there's such a bite :

'Twas a bite indeed ; for a trout near by

II id looked on the worm with a wistful eye,
Not dreaming that it was a "gilded lie,"

On account of the hook within.
And hearing tlien the man with the pole
Thus quoting Scri))tui-e, he thought, poor soul,
He'd take the proa'ered worm in h\-f jowl,

And a savory morse' ivin.

He bit, and lo ! the hook in his gill

liut showed that fishes, like morUils, will

Find oft in a "sugar coated pill,"

With a text of Scripture given,
K dose that they had no desire to take ;
A point they did not intend to make ;
A line they struggle in vain to break ;

A heai't by error rivi;n.

But enough for us that the fish was caught,
For Jonathan started as quick as thought,
And on to the bank a trout he brouglit

Tiiat weighed six pounds or more,
And thinking now, as 'twas almost nifth'.
He would not wait for another bite,
He started home, as well ho might,

The trout with pride he bore.

He said to himself, I'm soaked with raic,
But Failh and Hope did my heart iiustain,
Blessed as I was by these sisters twain.

This noble prize I see ;
Ther«'s a widow on my homeward way.
She shall have the fish, without price or pay,
And I shall have practiced then, to day,

Failh, Hope and Charity.

374

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

MORAL.

We arc anglers all, on the shores of fate,
And though often times we may lose our bait,
Wc must try it again, and calmly wait,

Nor be frightened off by showers.
■We may get our fish by the morning light ;
We may toil in vain till the shades of niglit ;
We may oft get bit — then we may get a bite —

And the best of luclj be ourg.

There are many streams where tish are caught ;
T!ie streams of trade, and the streams of thought ;
Wherever the mind or hand has wrought,

'Neath the light and smiles of heaven.
Let us not forget, as our lines we throw,
The Faith and Hope of Jonathan Slow,
And may part of our treasures here below

To the widowed ones be given.

Portland Arsus.

PROPER USE OE EXERCISE.

Those who are able can scarcely take too much
exercise of any kind, so that it is kept within the
bounds of fatigue. Walking, riding, rowing,
fencing, and various games, as fives, tennis, rack-
ets, &c., are all to be recommended to those who
ar; able to enjoy them. Horse exercise is partic-
ularly beneficial when it can be borne, part-
ly from the exhilarating effect of rapid mo-
tion on the spirits, but principally by the com-
plete exoygenation of the blood it leads to, by the
gentle exercise of voluntary inspiration it indu-
ces.

Reading aloud and singing, when not carried to
excess, are most beneficial exercises, and can be
practised by the most infirm. They tend to pro-
duce deep inspiration, equal expansion of the
lungs, and give free access of air to the smaller
divisions of the air passages, thereby decarboniz-
ing the blood more rapidly. The lungs, dia
phragm, and walls of the chest, are gently but
trcely exercised, and the air tubes are freed from
obstruction. Like all other organs, those of respi
ration acquire power by exercise, and that which
at first produces breathlessness is soon performed
almost unconsciously, and without fatigue. In
all tliese cases and in all gymnastic exercises, care
must taken not to hurry the circulation so as to
produce either breathlessness or muscular fatigue.
— Spencer Wells on Gout.

Mules vs. Horses. — The following estimate in
the difference of expense of keeping Mules and
Horses, is made by The Southern Planter, which
from our acquaintance with these animals, we can
endorse :

Ten horses will censumoeack 12 bbls. of corn per annum,
say for twenty years, which is equal to 2,400 bbls.,
worth on an average, $2,50 per barrel, $6,000

Klioeing ten horses will cost %'ii) per annum, (S3 each, or
more, which we have to pay,) say fyr twenty years, .... 600

Cost of feeding on corn and shoeuig ten horses for twenty
years, $0,000

Ten mules will consume each 6 bbls. of corn per annum,
say for twenty years, which is equal to 1,200 bbls.,
worth on an average, $2,50 per barrel — no expense of
shoeing $3,000

.\mount saved in twenty years by mules $3,600

According to this estimate we save $3,000 in
twenty years, or about $200 per annum, by hav-
ing mules instead of horses ; and then the mules
are much longer-lived and less liable to disease.

For the New England Farmer.

AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

Mil. Editor : — As the season is approaching
when "Fairs"' will attract and take up the time
and attention of farmers, a few words may not be
out of place. Having been personally interested
in agricultural fairs during the last fifteen years,
I can speak with some knowledge and confidence
in regard to their management and benefits.
These institutions have probably during the last
fifteen or twenty years done as much or more to
sustain and bring about a renovation in agricultu-
ral impi'ovements as any other institution. Still
a twelve or fifteen years' practice and experience
shows us that there is a great need of reform in
their management. The general plan of giving
out and awarding premiums has become so dull,
and monotonous, that the whole proceedings have
come to be a complete "stei-eotypcd" affair, so
that anything like variety is out of the question.
For instance, there is nothing to be gained or
learned in giving out large premiums for heavy,
fat animals, or krge and lieavy field crops, because
this was found out and known years ago.

And yet it may be a difficult matter to mark
out a path to travel in, in this business. We
think that the premiums on farms might be so
awarded that a real benefit might come outof it-
For instance, instead of giving the premiums to
the best cultivated farm, as is usual, let the award
be made to the farm that shall show the greatest
improvement, say in tliree or five years in succes-
sion. Of course taking into consideration the
amount of labor laid out, the number of acres
cultivated, tlie situation of the farm, from mar-
kets &c., and the amount of means vvhieh the far-
mer has to do with. Li this way, where tlie im-
provment were to run from tliree to five years,
the farmer of moderate means might stand as
good a chance for the premiums as the more
wealthy one. That is to say the award in that
case would depend more on skill and management
than on money and means, although both sliould
be combined together to ensure success. Lt a mat-
ter of so mucli importance as the managing and
arrangingof awards of jiremiums so that all will
be satisfied, it is a difficult matter, and we can on-
ly give an outline on one or two points.

Every society must know or learn for them-
selves about w'hat management is wanted in their
locality to suit or ensure success. Our experience
in this business has shown us a great variety of
men and minds to suit in connexion with agricul-
tural fiiirs. And when the great law of "self
st|j.nds out so prominent it is a matter next to im-
possible to suit all. For instance we have known
a farmer to get disafi'ectcd on the award of a pre-
mium of a few dollars on an animal, and with
this feeling not to come near the society again for
years. And if he ever did come back again, he
probably came more to grumble and find fault,
than for any good purpose. There was a class of
farmers too, who would go to the "fair" and pay
their dollar, provided they have anything to show
for a premium, and that was the last of it with
them. There was another class of farmers who
might pay their dollar if called upon, and thus
avoided the responsibility as they were never known
to attend the meetings of the society, or take any
.special interest in its welfare, whatever. There

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

375

was still a very small class of working farmers
left who made it a point to attend the meeting of
the society in all cases and to do so out of princi-
ple, and not from more motives of "self." On
this class of men did the society always have to
depend for its efSicacy in carrying out the work
necessary to be done, to make the "Fair" suc-
cessful. But now, since "Agricultural Fairs"
have become so popular, there is not that difficul-
ty existing to such an extent as there was a few
years ago. Probably there may be found ten ef-
ficient working men who will enter into this field
of labor, where there could be one found ten or
twelve years ago. Still we are satisfied that the
large part of tlie work for these institutions has

f;ot to be done by a few energetic working men.
t will be next to impossible to have these institu-
tions so managed but that there will be some
grumblers left. And yet there may be such man-
agement carried out as to live down all opposition ,
and finally give a complete triumph.

Yours truly, L. Durand.

Derby, Ci., June 26, 1854.

Remarks. — In Middlesex county, and perhaps
in others, premiums are awarded on farms strict-
ly in accordance with the views expressed hj Mr.
Durand.

For the New England Farmer.

FARMS ENTIRE.

Mr. Editor: — Your judicious remarks upon the
benefits to be derived, from the notice of^ farms en-
tire, farms viewed by committees of agricultural
Societies, instead of particular crops, (frequently
the result of forced culture,) biings to mind the
advice of that model of Massachusetts farmers,
Timothy Pickering, in his address to the State
Societ}', in Oct., 1822, when he was more than 80
years old. Says he, speaking of the manner of
giving premiums, "One pleasing result has ap-
peai-ed — that by ample manuring and good culture,
the usual crops of the same plants may be doubled
and even trebled. But is it necessary to continue
premiums of this kind? May not now the entire
management of fiirms rather claim attention ? In-
stead of numerous small premiums disposed on a
variety of su1)jects, might they not be advantage-
ously concentrated for the purpose here intimated
— the cleanest, most economical, the most pro-
ductive management of farms? For it must be
such a general improvement (f the entire farms that
toill constitute thefarmer^s pcr/nancjil prosperili/.^'

* * * "Perhaps it may not be difficult for
the Trustees of the State Society {the Stale Board
of Agriculture he would have said in these days)
to prescribe some general principles and rules of
proceeding, that may produce uniformity in tlie
• reports of county committees acting under their
direction."

There is so much sim}ilicity, clearness and wis-
dom, in the instructions of tliis vencraljlo man ;
that I love to dwell upon them. I deliglit in re-
freshing my mind withtliis perusal. As your pa-
per has the reputation of being eminently conser-
vative, I thought some of your young readers
would be instructed by the quotation ; — and 1
know your old readers will not bo offended by it.

Ju/y3, 1854. ♦.

THE PROPER TIME OF CUTTING
GRAIN.

In the 2d volume of "British Husbandry," p.
130 — 7, it is said, — "The question has been for
some time agitated, regarding the state of ripeness
in which grain should be cut; and it has been re-
commended, as a general rule of practice, to cut
down the crops before the uppermost grains can
bo skaken out. « » * # Taking all things
into consideration, it seems to be the mo.^t prudent
plan to liave the grain cut before it is fully r'i^o ;
but in this a medium course should be adopted,
for although grain, if allowed to become too ripe,
assumes a dull, dusky hue in the sample, yet if
not ripened enougli, shrivels in the drying."

In the "Reports on Select Farms," it is said in
reference to themanagementof the Scoresby farm,
superintended by Mr. C. Howard, that

"Wheat ought never to be allowed to remain
uncut until it is fully ripe. Experiments, easHy
made, will prove to every cultivator of it, that
by permitting it to stand until the straw has lost
its succulency, 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 shell-
ing by high winds, or by its being cut under tlic
influence of a burning sun. When fully ripened
by standing in the shock, no dry hour sliouM be
lost in getting it well secured."

Loudon, the celebrated English writer, whuse
views and opinions upon all topics connected with
agriculture are singularly logical and corro. t.
says on this subject : —

"In harvesting wheat, the best farmers, botli in
Britain and on the Continent, agree, that it ou^'it
to be cut before it becomes dead ripe. Wh.ii
this is the case the loss is considerable, both in
the field and in the stack yard ; and the grain, ac-
cording to Von Thaer, produces an inferior flour."

Cadet De Vaux, the French author of a valua-
ble and erudite treatise on wheat, remarks : —

"Corn (wheat) cut eight days before the usual
time, has the grain fuller, larger, finer and better
calculated to resist the attacks of the weevil. An
equal quantity of the grain thus reaped, with
grain reaped at maturity, gave more bread, and of
a better quality. The proper time for reaping, i^
when the grain, on being pressed betvi-een the
thumb and finger, has a doughy appearance, like
a cruml) of bread just hot from the oven."

The philosophy of the usage recommended by the
writers above quoted, is not immediately apparent
to every one. The question, indeed, has frequent-
ly been asked in our hearing — "Will any valuabl
accessions be made to the grain if the wheat plant
be detached from the roots before the former has
arrived at maturity?" That is, to resolve tlu-
quory into a somewhat more familiar form — "Will
the w!ieat,or other grain, so cut,rcceive fi'om tlie im-
mature stalk, any assistance in filling and matur-

370

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Adg.

ing, and will it, if cut when in the milk, ripen
and be as sound and nutritious as if allowed to re-
main till fully ripe?"

To the question thus demanded we have no hes-
itation in replying, afTirmatively. Wo think that
experience has plainly demonstrated, that many
important accessions are made to Indian corn
when the plant is cut up and shocked at; a period
of its development when there is but little sound
corn in tlie field ; in other words, when the ears
are green and immature. Most of the southern corn
brought to our markets is cut and shocked in this
manner. This becomes necessary with the planter
to enable him to get in his wheat crop. The corn
is cut early, placed in large shocks, often on the
furrows where it grew, and frequentl}- remains in
that condition for mouths ; yet it comes to us hard,
.sweet and sound.

We have seen oats cut when there was not a
ripe or yellow head in the field, and on thresh-
ing, and comparing the grain with that from a
field adjoining, in which the oats had stood till
fully ripe, have found the former superior to the
latter, not only in. point of weight, but in bright-
ness also. The philosophy of this, a late writer
explains as follows : —

'•After the formation of tlie car has commenced
tlie berry or the kernel is tlie point to which all
the efforts of nature are directed ; and this is con-
tinued until the process is complete, — the juices
de.siccated and rendered incapable of absorption ,-
or the supply of nutritive matter exhausted. As
tlie juices become thicker in consequence of the
non-supply of sap from the root of the plant, the
deposition becomes more active and rapid in the
grain, so long as it moves at all, or till the kernel
i.-5 filled; which will in part account for the fiict
tliat grain severed from the root, after the proper
suj^ply of nutriment for the kernel has been elabo-
rated in the stalk, ripens so much quicker than it
would if loft attached to the root."

There is another viiry important advantage se-
I'ured by cutting grain before it becomes "dead
ripe. ' ' Most farmers find the straw of their cereal
crops, of value as fodder for stock ; and this, when
out green, is much more nutritious than if left un-
til all its nutritive juices are exhausted, and the
librc rendered hard by becoming mature in the
field.

It is supposed by some good cultivators, that
wheat intended for seed, should bo allowed to
rijMJn a little more than that intended for grinding.

U^ The only l)rother of Henry Clay was a cab-
inet-maker ; Webster, the giant of statcs^men, and
the ornament of his country, had a brother-in-
law who never learned to read until after com-
pleting the period of thrcc-score-and-ten, and a
majority oC the first statesmen of the present time
are the energetic and ambitious sons of "poor
I'ut honeet parents." — Washington Union.

NATIONAL CATTLE \. HOW

OF THE UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
[CIRCULAR.]

Springfield, Ohio, May 1, 1854.

Dear Sir,— The 25th, 2Gth and 27th days of
October next have been fixed by the United States
Agricultui-al Society for holding its fiist Cattle
Convention, in the City of Springfield, Clark
county, Ohio.'

Six thousand dollars will be distributed in px'e-
miums for the best stock of the various breeds of
Cattle subject to competition without territorial "
limit.

The Executive Committee of the United States
Agricultural Society have been careful to select a
time that will not, so far as thej" are aware, con-
flict with any of the State Fairs or othe:- meetings
of general interest; and after due deliberation
have selected this place as the most eligi'de for
holding the Cattle Fair. Springfield is centrally
located as regards the cattle region; it is most con-
venient of access by railroad from almost every
point of the compass. The means f r acommo-
datirg, at very moderate charges, a Ixrge number
of persons, are ample. Private houses will be
opened for the reception of guests. There are also
eighteen cities and towns within reach by an
hour's ride on the railroads, on whicli extra trains
will be placed to accommodate such as wish to go .
elsewhere for lodgings.

About twenty acres of ground have been enclosed,
and more than three hundred stalls will be pre-
pared for the shelter of cattle during the conven-
tion.

It is expected that very liberal arrangements
W)ll be made by all the railroad companies, both
for the transportation of cattle and the convey-
ance of passengers to and from the Fair.

We respectfully solicit your attendance on the
occasion, and that you will furnish us with such
aid as you may feel disposed in making known
the objects, time, and place of the Convention ;
and if you have improved stock of cattle, of any
description, we cordially invite you to enter them
for competition.

A list of premiums and copy of regulations
will shortly be published.
Very respectfully, yours,

•C li c'lTk''' U^'^^ Executive
,^' T> ■ * ' ( Committee.

C. KOBINS, )

CHEESE AS A DIGESTEK.

As a digester, as some not appropriately call it,
cheese — that which is decayed and mouldy being
preferred by connoisseurs — is often eaten after din-
ner. The action which experience seems to have
proved it to possess, in aiding the digestion of what
Fias previously been eaten, is both curious and in-
teresting, and has had some light thrown upon it
by recent chemical research. When the curd of
milk is exposed to the air in a moic^t state, for a
few days, at a moderate temj^erature, it begins
gradually to decay, to emit a disagreeable odor,
and to ferment. When in this state, it possesses
the property, in certain circumstances, of inducing
a species of chemical change and fermentation in
other moist substances with which it i8mixed,or is
brousrht into contact. It acts after the same man-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

377

ner as sour leaven does when mixed with sweet
dough .

Now, old and pai-tially decayed cheese acts in a
similar way when introduced into the stomach. It
causes cliemiciil ciianges gradually to commenc.;,
among the particles of the food which has pre-
viously heen eaten, and thus facilitates the disso-
lution which necessarily precedes digestion. It is
only suiiie kinds of cheese, however, which will
effect t'lis purpose. Those are' generally considered
the beat in vvldch some kind of cheese mould has
established itself. Hence the mere eating of a
morsel of cheese after dinner does not necessarily
promote dig^.-^tion. If too new or of improper
quality, it will only add to the quantity of food
with which the stomach is already overloaded, and
will have to await its turn for digestion by the or-
dinary process. — Chemistry of Common Life.

For the New England Farmer

CHAPTEE ON HUSBANDRY.

NUMBER I.

Mr. Editor : — Will you indulge me with a few
l:ints to the live "lords of creation."

Ist. Every farmer should practice the art of
mechanics to a certain extent, so that he can lay a
shingle, build a pig-pen, mend a harness or his
farming tools ; ke -ping all tliese things in order,
80 that rainy days in summer, and snowy days in
winter, are occupied in these odd and end jobs
which draw a little on his genius.

2nd. Take a saiall corner of a building, which
can always be spared — with his bench and all the
necessary tools to do this work, and thus he saves
many dollars every year without the vexation of
hearing repeitedly — "0, you shall have it to-mor-
row and no mistake."

2d. Have one place for your tools, and no neg-
lect in placing llwin. Polish your shovels, forks,
scythes and iioes when you hang them up. Rust
corrupts and weakens. Did you never see a plow
that had tak :n its cheerless winter quarters in the
frozen furro^v, waiting for a spring thaw? and
the "br m-uew"' scythe left to dangle in the crotch
of the old farm tree year after year? not unusual
sights these. Drive pins, to hang your yokes up-
on,nail strips of board from joist to joist to liang tlie
3hain8 upon — make a rack over head for your
pitciiforks, raki's, turning-sticks, &c.

4th. Too barii-cellar is tlic bank, and the best
outlay of capital, — never return home with an
empty cart, t.ie return cargo will enrich your
farm w'len placed in the barn cellar. One load
of SUCH manure, well mixed in the cellar, is worth
two lu;id ui .) (Hloor, evaporated manure, it being
saturated with urine, and very strong.

Gth. Plow<L'. p, ivgardlessof the"yellowdirt,''
(which was formerly the caution to the lioys) and
the roots will dee] eu in the soil, and derive a l)e"-
efit mucii greater, t'lan if struggling near the sur-
face, will be better protected against drougiit, and
the soil less lial)l'.!,to be blown away, as much ol
it is, by drying blasts.

7th. Use the long spade in your vegetable gar-
den. Tap roots are never timid about driving-
deep.

8lh. Hay is your staple commodity, make it in
the most compact manner possible. All tlie
aroma that sweetens the air, is so niucli Iofs to tlie
value of the hay. To mow, spread, and let it lie

and take one night's devr, and prepare to get it in
the next day without having l)een cocked up, is a
positive loss, of nearly a quarter part of its value.

'Jth. Grain should be harvested as soon as the
straw has begun to deaden and the berry has
passed the milk. Oats and barli;y straw will be
the better for fodder, and wheat or rye straw loses
nothing — beside, you scatter no gra'in in gather-
ing.

Mr. Editor, my subject is far from being ex-
hausted. Should it meet your apprjval, I shall
appear to you again. Yours truly, n. r.

Brooklyn, June 24, 1854.

Remarks. — Excellent advice, the whole of it.
How any farmer can get along without a bench and
a few tools, we cannot imagine. ••

In this age of progress and improvement, when
farmers visit and criticize the operations of each
other so much — when line upon line and precept-
upon precept are so constantly given in addressee,
lectures, and agricultural papers, upon neatness
and order in the management of the farm, fully
one-half of all engaged in the art, lose the inter-
est of some two or three hundred dollars annually
ill the Jirglcct of their tools.

SUGAR IN THE LIVING ANIMAL.

One of the greatest discoveries of our day, says
a French paper, is that made by Claude Bernard,
of the constant formation of sugar in the liver of
animals. Feed an animal how you will — with
food containing sacciiarino matters, and with food
containing no trace of them, you will always find
the animal has, from t'le bl(.)od, formed sugar for
itself. This sugar which is secreted liy the livf-r,
is, like all secretions, under the influence of the
nervous system ; you have only to cut what are
called the pneumogastric nerves, and in a i"-}w
hours all the sug ir vanishes. The amount of su-
gar thus formed in every healtliy animal, may bo
increased by certain intluences, sind then it gives
rise to, or is the indication of various diseases.
In one disease the quantity is so great, that M.
Thtnard extracted fil teen killogrammes of sugar —
something like thirty pounds — from the secretion
of one paticiit; real sugar, too, and of irre-
proachable taste, nccording to Boussingault, who
tasted it. Rut now attend to this ; what nature
does in disease, man ein do in the terrible theatre
of experiment. Claude Rernard has proved that
there is a very small region of the spinal column
— by anatomists styled medulla oblongata — the
wounding of which — between tlio origin of the
pneumogastric ana acoustic nerves — provokes this
inci eased secretion of sugar, and if, with a sharp
instrument you wound a dog or rabbit, in this
place, you will lind tliat, in a little while, sugar
lias accumulated to an immense extent in the
blood and other liquids.

Gravklmng AVaiks. — How few gravelled walks
do we lind on whijli a Lidy with a thin shoe can
walk. The gravel is loose and coarse and gives
at the pressure oi' the foot. If those who are
putting on gravel woiild mix one-twellth of wa-
ter lime, and wet it up as fur umrtar, loosen the
dirt slightly in the walk, and then spread on the

378

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

AfG.

mixture about two or t'lrce inches deep, round it
in the centre, beat it h'ghtly with the back of the
ipade, and tlicn leave it for two days witliout
stepping on it, they would find a AA'alk firm and
.-olid to tlie foot and pleasant to walk upon. — Ohio
Farmer.

For the New England Farmer.

GUANO.

Some months since, while absent from home, a
clergyman in ^lassacliusetts wrote me a very
jileasant letter of inquiry on the subject of guano,
its uses and effects, offering in a manner worthy of
an upriglit man, to compensate me for the time
and trouble of answering him at length. Upon
returning home after an absence of quite a num-
ber of weeks, I found so large a number of letters
•jn various subjects awaiting my attention, that I
could not an?wer them all without considerable
delay. The one particularly referred to, got mis-
laid, and I have never since been able to find it.
As the gentleman was a stranger to me, I have
forgotten his name, and the town in which he re-
sides, and cannot therefore answer him, as I should
have done before this time, had not his letter
been lost.

Perhaps he is a reader of the N. E. Farmer.
If so, sliould the editor of the Farmer, who, with
the puljlishers, has ever bcen-very obliging, allow
Ml- to answer his inquiries as well as I can through
that paper, I shall be glad to learn that my un-
known friend receives it.

In tl:e first place I will say that I have proved
guano insufficient as a manure, upon some soils,
to mature any fair crop of seed-bearing plants. I
have tried several experiments for the purpose of
determining this beyond question, as 1 have also
with preparations of superphosphate of lime.
^\'here the soil contains little or no carbonaceous
matter, or little or none in such a state as
to be immediately taken up by growing plants,
theae plants may produce the blade, or even the
ear, but not the full corn in the ear.

1 planted a piece of ground for experiment,
where all other circumstances would be fair for
the growth of Indian corn, except the manure
dupplied. There was but little old vegetal)le mat-
ter in the soil, i manured it generously with the
improved superphosjihate of lime. It came up
v.-ell, and in color antl appearance was very beau-
tiful. As soon as it came to earing, the evidence
of a failure became distinct. Not an ear of it
filled out ; and it did not produce equal to five
bushels per acre. I tried another piece with a
mixture of equal quantities of guano and super-
phospate, and the product of seed was but a little
better. Guano alone was still a little better,
when applied in equally sufficient quantity.

Upon a piece of ground where I planted corn
for fodder, I applied a light dressing of stable
manure, spread and plowed in. I sowed the corn
in drills, in most of which was superphosphate
or guano. To prove the value of the superphos-
[iliatc for such a purpose I left some of it with
none in the drills. >Vith a growth of ten weeks
duration, I cut up the corn from an equal surf^iee
ofthc ground where the superpliosphatc was ap-
plied and whn-e there was none, and found the
weight of that where the superphosphate was ap-
plied to be equal to tliirteeu and a half times

the weight of the other. The effect of guano, for
that purpose, and on that piece of ground, was
somewhat less. It proved, however, very satis-
factory and valuable.

It is, in ni}' mind, settled beyond a question,
that for the pryduction of the mere blade, or stalk,
these manures are very valuable. But where seed
is to be produced, there is requisite a large amount
also of carbonaceous food for the plant in the
soil.

In growing Indian corn, after supplying the
soil witli vegetable or carbonaceous matter, I have
found the best effect from guano applied in the
hill, at the rate of from one to two hundred
pounds to the acre. After scattering it in the hill.
it should be covered from one to two inches deep,
according to the quantity used, and the state of
the ground. A mixture of equal quantities of
guano and sujierpliosphate I have found better
than clear guano.

For corn, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, celery and
onions, I have found guano very valuable. These
all require a large supply of ammonia, I think.
It is especially so with tomatoes, celery, carrots
and onions.

Cabbages and turnips have an aversion to large
quantities of ammonia. It spoils the roots, and a .
moderate quantity only of guano can be used
upon them with safety. Superphosphate is very
valuable for eabl)ages, turnips and beets.

Phosphate of lime and guano, I have no doubt
are, together, of great value for wheat.

"Is guano a lasting manure !" For some pur-
poses guano wall prove a lasting manure. For
onion-fields, it must, I think, prove a lasting man-
ui'C. The onion, while it requires much ammonia
in the soil, in order to its growth, takes much al-
so from the atmosphere and the rains. When the
bulb becomes mature, it appears to shed its long
fibrous roots, and with them, a very heavy charge
of ammonia, into the soil. For this reason,doubt-
lesa, it has long been observed that they do better
after years of culture upon the same soil. It is
for this reason, I presume, that hog-manure, ani-
mal substances, &c., have so beneficial an effect
upon onions. Peruvian guano must, I thinoj 'jjj
such a purpose, prove a lasting manure.

For corn, potatoes, wheat, &c., its action must
necessarily bo diffei'ent. The action of ammonia
is as powerful as to cut the surface of glass. I
am very sure that it decomposes the most solid
feldspar, and remains in combination with its
alumina. Active in the soil, it produces, directly
or indirectly, a more powerful growth of plants.
The alkalies of the guano hasten the decomposi-
tion of whatever old vegetable matter there is in
the soil, wliieh by the increased growth of the
crop hastens the exhaustion of the soil. Conse-
quently a liberal and continued application of
guano alone would in a short time reduce most
of our soils to an unproducing state.

Guano is a very valuable manure ; but it may
be so used as to produce the worst of consequen-
ces ; even to render soils barren and worthless.

If it is to be applied as a top-dressing to old
mowing fields, it will cause them to become bar-
ren in a few years, unless it is composted with
mucli old vegetable matter, in the form of mead-
ow muck, decomposed sawdust, or something of
the kind. If I used guano alone as a top dressing
for mowing, I should feci the necessity of follow-

379

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

iug the next year with a liberal dressing of old
vegetable manures, with perhaps lime and salt, or
with wood ashes instead of lime.

I am fully of opinion that guano is a very valu-
able manure, but every intelligent clergyman cer-
tainly knows that the richest and best gifts and
mercies are liable to be turned into something
else than blessings, by erroneous use and applica-
tion.

I shall not be surprised if the importance of
guano as a top dressing in orchards, w!iere no
crop birt the fruit crop is to be taken off, or its
use in Avaste lands, should engage the attention of
cultivators before long.

I expect that thousands will misapply, and then
altogether coudcam the use of guano, superphos-
phate of lime, &o. Bat if we can Init under-
stand how to use those things which arc within
our reacli, it will be well for us.

Mason, N. II. A. G. Comings.

For thf New England Farmer.

L FERTILIZER, ALMOST EUUAL TO
GUANO.

By the politeness of a friend, I yesterday called
on B. S. F.w, Esii. , of Lynn, at his romantic resi-
dence, on the westei'n borders of Salem. Here,
in the centre of a tract of^ four hundred acres, on
the verge of a beautiful like of sixty acres, on a
soil as rough and romantic as any other to be
found, Wr. F. passes his time, experimenting for
the benefit of liimself and his neighbors.

Mr. Fay hixs probably done more to illustrate
the practability of growing forest trees of various
kinds, than any other man in eastern Massachu-
setts. But my purpose, in taking pen in hand, at
this time, is to speak of the fertilizing influences
of his flock of slieep, upon the meadows, where he
cuts his liay. South of his residence are twenty
acrc.<, or more, of mowing land, reclaimed from
an alder swamp, within the last dozen years, on
wliich is now growing a crop of two tons to an
acre, on an average. Several spots of a quarter
of an acre were pointed out, where his flock of
300 sheep had been kept for several days together,
not exceeding a week on any one spot, where, in
consequence of the sheep having Ijccn there, the
crop was doubled. Mr. F. showed us a wire fence,
moveable, costing only $1,50- per rod, that he
used to confine his sheep — and said it would be
easy to fertilize ten acres in a season, by his flock,
by the use of the fence. I have of\en heard of the
fertilizing qualities of the droppings of sheep, but
never before have seen them so distinctly and advan-
tageously illustrated.

In his well arranged stone stable, I saw his ap-
paratus for dropping and steaming liis corn fodder,
and other feed given to his stock. Thus prepared,
the coarsest parts are readily eaten. In all the
operations upon the place, there is a marked com-
bination of utility and economy ; — and a modesty
in speaking of them worthy of all commendation.

I have no where seen, more vigorous fields of In-
dian coi'n, than on of the gravelly knolls on this
farm. The man who has the faculty to grow such
crops — on land time out of mind known as sel-
dom good pasture, is certainly entitled to some
credit. I observed large heaps of mud taken from
his swamps, and parcels of bone, collected from
the slaughtering eetabliahments of the vicinity.

and several casks of plaster laying around ; — and
I have a strong suspicion, that the healthy aspect
of his corn fields, liad someconnection with a com-
bination of materials of this character. When
properly comlnncd and judiciously applied to a
soil, deo[ily stirred and thoroughly pulverized, be
it never so forbidding, there need be no fear of the
crop; — even though the signs of rain ifail, to r.
great extent, as they have done for a fortnight
past.

I have thus briefly sketched the iuipression of
tlie moment, by way of remembrance ofwhat I
saw ; — and in the hope that others will 1)0 equal-
ly well pleased and instructed by a view of the
same — as I feel confident, nothing will give the
courteous proprietor more pleasure, than to af-
ford such instruction. *.

July 1, 1854.

For the New England Farn.tr.

THE FARMER'S TACT IN SELLING.

Friend Browx : — When your correspondent,
"^\grioola," said that "selling is one essential
part of farming, and that without a tact at this,
a man is no farmer at all," he hit a nail on the
head, which I have often wondered has not been
hammered at more. I consider the aforesaid tact
the one thing needful — with it, the farmer is al-
most sure to go ahead and prosper, without it, he
is about as sure to fail in a business point of view,
though he have ever so much knowledge of, and
love for, the cultivation of the soil. For most of'
his surplus produce the farmer must seek a mar- '
ket ; he can't always stay at home and have the
buyer seek him, if lie does, he will make a poor
business of it.

The New England farmer raises a little, and
sells a little, of many different things ; his live
stock is continually passing through lij^ harnis ;
in fact, he lias about as many bargains to make
in a year as a country store-keeper ; like him, too,
he is often called upon to give credit and receive in
payment a notification that Mr. Butcher A., or
boarding-house keeper B., are insolvent and the
creditors will meet, &c.

For a young man of small capital to reach in
early life and maintain the position wliieli all
young men aspire to, that of an independent head
of a family, Ijy farming, requii'cs a busines-s capac-
ity, besides a proper knowledge of farming, Avhich
few possess. This, I think, is the true reason why
so many young men quit the farm for the counter,
or the mechanic's shop ; not from any dislike of
the position, or work of a farmer, but a conscious
inability to fill the place with satisfaction and ben-
efit to themselves. They see that the farmei-s who
have started with small means and succeeded, as
every young man wants to succeed, have been
men of sup.'rior talent and energy, or have been
slaves to their farm, working as no man should,
and as few men can work. Your lively .associate
editor advises, "Stick to the Farm," and good ad-
vice it is ; perhaps he might have dealt a little
more justly with those who do not "stick."

Our literary, lyceum lecturers, also, take oc-
casion to fling at "counter-jumpers" from the
farm. All of not much avail, 1 reckon — those will
continue to leave the farm who should, and, per-
hajw, a few others who should not. I Iiave be-
fore now be.>n tempted to say a word on this mat-

380

NEW ENGLAND FxVRMEll.

Aug.

tor, iiml perhaps the liumblc position I take will
mollify the wrath of those who still take up the
shovel and t!ie hoe against tlic deserters.

Ajidovcr, ATass. O.vk or 'em.

THE SOIL.

Hither of tho original earths, so called, in a
atato of isolation, constitute a sterile soil. The
productive power of all cultivated lands depends
almost exclusively upon the relative proportions
in which the primitive earths arc mixed in their
coinjiosition. It is to the almo-t infinite variety
of those proportions, that we arc to refer the va-
rious descriptions of soil which are mot with on
the earth's surface. The more fertile a soil is, as
a general thing, tho less will be its specific gravi-
ty'. Many cui-ious experiments have been institut-
ed in order to ascertain accurately, the reliability
of this as a criterion, and the following hv W.
Kh.\h are perhaps as authentic as any with which
the public have as yet been favored. A good qual-
ity of garden mould consists of

Clay h2A

Silicious sand 3G.5

Ciilcavooua saiul , .. ..1.8

Carbonate of lime 2.0

Orgaaio matter .7.3

VMS found to 250sses3 a specific gravity of 2.332.
.V good loam consisting of

Clay 51.2

^ilicious sand ' 42.7

• 'aleareous sand 0.4

r.'irlj'jiiate of lime 2.3

Urpanio matter 3.4

l>. '. 1 a specific gravity of 2.401 ; and a soil of

poorer quality, consisting of

Siliciou3 sand C4.0

Clay...r 32.3

• calcareous sand 1.2

Oarlvonate of lime 1.2

Organic matter 1.8

!iad a specific gravity of 2.526.

M. CnAPTAL, in some very valuable observa-
tions on soil, says: — "Land in which there is a pre-
ponderance of lime, (carbonate of lime is here
<loublle88 meant,) is porous, light, easily permea-
ble by water, can bo tillel without difliculty,
forms a paste which possesses little or no consist-
ence, and is not sensibly altered liy the action of
fire. Tlic air easily penjtratcs calcareous earth,
and is there capable of vivifying the germs wliich
it contains to a certain depth ; bat water, which
penotMtes it without resistance, escapes again
with equal facility. Land, of this nature, is al-
ternately swamped and parched ; and those plants
wliich arc not strong enough to withst;ind such
variations, languish or perish in a soil of tiiis na-
ture." Von TiivER says: — "When a soil contains
too much lime, tliat subsUmce i*3 apt to become
prejudicial. This is especially the case in dis-
tricts where a chalky formation exists.

I. Becauae it do;s not retain moisture, and has
even a greater disposition than atnd to suffer it to
evaporate ; consequently .during warm, dry wcath-
KT, it is totally p;u'ched, and reduced to dust.

2. Because it consumes manure and humus
very rapidly ; accelerates the passage of these
substances to the plants, and thus hastens their
vegetiition at first ; and does not reserve any nu-
trition for their support during tho latter stages
of their development ; on which account they fliU
oft' and perish before they arrive at maturity."

Acc-ording to some writers, calcareous soil--,
which present, on analysis, forty parts in one hun-
dred of lime, thirty-six of sand, and a liberal per-
centage of aluminous or argillaceous matter, is
wrought with greater difficulty, after being sat-
urated by a heavy fall of rain, than argillaceous
soils, so called, are. In a state of ordinary dry-
ness or freedom from excessive moisture, this diffi-
culty is essentially diminished, however, and the
details of husbandry arc readily performed. As
to /mmus, it may, perhaps, be considered as a good
rule to regard the fertility of soils as increasing
in proportion to the quantity of this article — in a
soluble state, which it contains. Perhaps — if wo
may rely upon the data furnished by the best an-
alytical chcmiets — two parts in a hundred of hu-
inns by weight, as the average quantity in argil-
laceous soils, and one and a half parts as the aver-
ago of the same in sandy vegetable soils.

Results differ widely, however, in the analytical
examination of the several descriptions of soil ;
but if we take a medium quality of tho surface
soil from a field, evaporate the water, and then
subject it to white heat, after having weighed it
subsequent to the evaporation, the diminution of
weight occasioned by its exposure to the action of
heat, will indicate tho per centum of humus con-
tained in it. This process may be regarded as a
suro test, and is so simple in its manijnilatory de-
tails, that any person can work it out with the ut-
most ease.

It is often desirable, on many practical accounts,
to possess accurate and reliable information on
this point. A true knowledge of the specific pro-
ductive energy or fertility of soils, must ever be
regarded as a most important consideration in
farming; and, indeed, the more we know of the
chemical character, and capacities of the soil for
production, the better shall we be enabled to farm
it judiciously, and the greater will be our profits
from our investments of la'ior and manure. The
action of manure on light, sandy soils, is to in-
crease its cohesibility, its capacity for absorbing
and retiiining moisture,anl to ren lor it more com-
pressible. Applied in sufficient quantity, it com-
municates unctuosity, renders it less likely to bo
injuriously affected by the sudden atmospheric al-
ternations of wet and dry. It also constitutes a
better medium for the roots of vegetables, which,
in alight and excessively porous soil, do not take
hold v/ith sufficient firmness, and are often seri-
ously injurred by undue experiments to light and
iir, in the interstices which exist Si) nuraerouslv

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

381

in the vegetable structure, and even in the sub
soil, generally, upon ■which it reposes. Any veg-
etable matter, of a decomposable nature, is by the
action of the soil, capable of becoming "/m.'^iws,''
or food for plants.

WHEAT A PUKIFIER OF THE ATMO-
SPHERE.

The following extract from a paper on the
"Comp.irative fattening Properties of the various
Bi'eeds of Sheep," by John B. Lawes, Esq., of
Rothamsted, England, contains some new vievrs on
an important subject which will be read with in-
terest :

"Experiments conducted upon this farm for the
purpose of ascertaining how much nitrogen is con-
verted into the flesh of the animal, prove that 100
lbs. increase live weight does not contain more
than 2 to 3 lbs. The nitrogen, which is taken by
the animal to make the increase, amounting from
17 up to 47 lbs., is converted, in its passage
through tlie animal, into ammonia, every 14 lbs.
forming 17 of ammonia, this ammonia being again
employed in producing fresh vegetable matter ;
and here we obtain a glimpse of one of those beau-
tiful laws by which t!ic purity of the air is pre-
served. It has been calculated that at the pres-
ent time above 7,000,000 tons of oxygen gas are
converted into carbonic acid gas daily by the pop-
ulation, the animals, and the various processes of
combustion. As all these processes have been in-
creasing d lily since man was created, the atmo-
sphere would become deteriorated, unless some
compensation existed. Philosophers hare shown
us that it is tlie office of vegetation to restore the
balance, that plants possess the wonderful property
of separating carbon from its combination witli
oxygen gas, and restoring the latter in its pun'
state to the atmosphere, and they point to the
great tracts of forest land in various parts of the
world as tho great sources of oxj-gen gas. To a
thoughtful person it must, however, occur, that
if the forests are the great sources from whicli
oxygen gas is derived, two processes are going on
at the same time, both of which tend to one re-
sult. Tlio destruction of forests naturally and
inevitably follows the increase of man and animals
upon tlie earth ; while, therefore, every day i!^
adding to the amount of carijonic acid tlirown in-
to the atmosphere, the forests, which are sup-
posed to lie the great sources of oxygen gas, are
becoming less and less in extent. The quantity
of carbon fixed by vegetation on an acre of forest
land has been ascertained by various chemists,
and as they agree pretty well in the estimation,
we may conclude that it will not be far from the
truth to fix it at 1200 to 1500 lbs.

"The experiments upon the growth of wheat
for eleven Huccea;j.ive years, show that from 2500
to 3000 1!)8. of carbon can be prouueeil upon an
acre by the supply of mineral salts and ammonia,
substances which contain not a particle of car-
bon in their composition. However contradicto-
ry it may appear, at first sight, to suppose that
the forest trcca towering towards the sky, and ex-
posing an immeasurable surface of leaves to catch
every passing I)reath of air, should extract lesa
carbon, and purify less air than the humble wheat
plant, yet euch is undoubtedly the case, and we

must acknowledge the infinite wisdom of the Al-
mighty, Avho in the cereal crops not only provides
food for man, but that man must, in producing
that food, at the same time purify the air which
ho is hourly deteriorating. In the United States
the same natural laws must produce tiie same ef-
fects they have in Great Britain. Forests will dis-
appear, and, as the population increases, land will
become more valua))le, and as a necessary conse-
quence it will Ije better cultivated — instead of 14
or 10 bushels per acre, douitle that produce will
be obtained, and consequently the plants on the
same space of ground will purify a larger quan-
tity of air. The greater portion of the carbon
consumed by animals is cither converted into car-
bonic acid by respiration, or into food for man,
Avho also converts it into carbonic acid ; the resi-
due, consisting principally of salts of ammonia
and mineral matter, are restored to the soil, and
by their influence enable the plants to decompose-
fresh portions of carbonic acid ! "

THE WHEAT CROP OF CALIFORNIA.

One of tho most gratifying indications of the
permanent prosperity of Calil(;rnia, is the grear
and rapid increase of her agvicultuial resources.
Two years ago we were kn wn only as a mining
country, and the impression was, that, but for
our minei-al resources, the State would bo value-
less. This idea has been nut oidy proved erro-
neous, but the fact has been fully established that
this is one, or can be made one of the best agri-
cultural States in the Union. Nowhere can
wheat, oats, barley and most kinds of vegetables,
be grown with less labor and expense than here.
The soil is fertile and tho climate nnequaled.
AVhat is called the wet season, during which crops
grow without irrigation, is mucli longer than
what is called the growing sea.son in t!;e Eastern
States. In addition to this, prices in mining
countries are generally higher tlian iu any other.
It is true, that we have no foreign market for
oar surplus agricultural products, and when-
ever the market becomes glutted with :in article
that will not bear long transfKjrtation, (as is now
the case with potatoes,) the article becomes nearly
or quite valueless. But when the agricultural
interests and the general business of the country,
become more thoroughly settled, such cxlremea in
prices as we have witnessed will not bo likely to
occur. Because potatoes arc a dollar a pound
this year, farmers will not again plant nothing
but potatoes, and thereby renJcr tlrj crop not
worth carrying to market. That wliDlosome mon-
itor, experience, will learu them to divide crops so
as to meet the wants of the people. By pursuing
this course, we have no doubt but farming will
prove a more remunerative and reliable business
in California, than it is in any other State in the
Union.

It is now estimated tliat aufficient wlieat will be
grown in California to supply tlu; entire demand
until the next year's crop. If th.ij' bo true, the
quantity of flour now on hand can hardly bo ex-
pected to advance in price, nor can it, with what
shipmcnls have been and proliably v.ill be made,
be expected that flour will be extravagantly high
during the prcRont year. While wo liko to see
every man fairly and handsomely rewarded for his
Cxipitarand labor, we dislike to see Ibrustalling in

382

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

the necessaries of life, thereby compelling the many
to pay exorbitant prices for the benefit of a few.
Every person must see how much better it is that
steady anil remunerative prices should rule, and
that tlie money should be paid to our own people,
than it is for Uuctuating prices to prevail, and
the money sent out in tlic country. We trust
that we have reached a point where the necessity
of relying upon others for flour has ceased. —
CaUforma Exchange.

For the New England Farnur.

AGEICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.

!Mr. Editou ; — Among all the schools that so
abound in our land, is it not strange that we have
no well supported agricultural school? Law and
medi^^iue, theology, and science, have abundant
provision made for thorn, but the business upon
which all the rest depend, and which employ's the
vast majority of our people, has no school. Some
have been started and have failed. Our agricul-
tural departments in our colleges accomplish bat
little, and in our scientific scliools, less. Either ag-
griculture does not need schools, or the right kind
have not yet l^een devised.

F.iruiing is an art, and the demand is for practi-
cal instruction in the art. IMost have attemjited
to make a science of it, and teach only that. Tlie
sciences lie at the basis of the art, as they do at
the basis of medicine, and much in the same way.

Besides, such schools ought not to be connected
with colleges. Tlierecanat present be little sym-
jiathy between the students; and the student of
Latin and Greek looks with disdain on farming.
Jledical schools do ilot flourish as well when con-
nected with colleges as when by themselves, for
the same reasons. An agricultural school-should
be by itself.

Young men cannot yet spend years in going
through courses of practical cliemistry. They will
not use it on the farm ; nor can the medical stu-
dent. Both wan ty'flc/s audp/v'/z(//)/c5 that they can
apply every day.

Nor can they spend years on a model farm,
though this would be of much more benefit. Such
a course miglit be necessary for city-bred young
men, who should take a fancy to farming, and
who, with the good lady, might suppose a man
could plow with a cart in default of a plow ; but
young men who have the good fortune to be born
and brougiit up on a farm, as I have had, and a
good fortune I deem it, too, and who have been
made as familiar witli the hoe and rake as with
A,B, C, feel as if they could apply facts and
principics if they had them.

And now what schools do they want? Perhaps
just such schools as medical men wanted fifty
years ago, and which tliey now liavc. A course
of lectures from practical men, in a practical form,
on the principles and facts of the sciences which
lie at ttie basis of farming. Facts and principles
which the young man could gather up and carry
home and apply to his own farm, just as tlie phy-
sician would apply wliat he learned to his pa-
tients. Such a course uiii^hl (miout. remember)
consist lectures upon chemistry in its bearings on
farming — entomology and botaiw, do., animal and
vegetable physiology, do., the diseases of domestic
animals — ^just think how they are abused wlien
sick ! — or practical agriculture. J^ow if these could

be put up in the course of two or three months,
would it not pay a young farmer to obtain them?

Now it is doubtful whether such a plan can be
adopted at once. But a beginning ought to be
made.

We have an Academy builtona laige scale with
the necessary apparatus for a part of this course.
It was got \\\s hy the farmers in hopes sometin>e
to reap some benefit from it for their business.
There is some disposition on the part of the found-
ers of it, to press the matter forward, and hy way
for al)eginning, we shall secure as full a course on
the above topJtsas we can duriug the ensuing fall
term, beginning the last part of August. A course
of lectures covering a part of the ground v.ill be
given by the principal at any rate, and if encour-
agement enough is given an attempt will be made
to obtain the assistance of other men of skill in
the several departments. If this effort is prop-
erly encouraged, preparation will be made for a
fuller course in the spring. The course this fall
will be in connection with the usual academic
course.

Now, Mr. Editor, wc feel like claiming a liLtle
encouragement from farmers for this undertaking.
We also think we can invite farmers, and those
who are not,wIiether they wish to make their cliil-
dren farmers or not, to patronize our school, since
we liave everytliing — a beautiful, (and if j'ou have
been here.) you know how beautiful and quiet a
village, new, large and commodious Iniildings, am-
ple board of teachers and thorough instruction,
and at as low price as can bo found elsewhere.
Yours truly,

L N. Nutting, A. M., M. D.

Orford, N. H., July 5, 1851.

Remarks. — We have been at Orford, and found
the village among the pleasantest in Nev.- Hamp-
shire. It is encouraging to find here and there a
proper appreciation of the wants of the great
art, and a determination to supply them. We
hope your exertions will be crowned with the
most abundant success.

For the New England Farmer.

MAKING AND PEESERVING BUTTER.

Every thing should be kept clean tliat has any-
thing to do about making butter- The cows (if
tied in the barn) may be put on a floor over a cel-
lar. The floor should have three planks from ten
inches to a foot wide, so laid, that the middle
plank may be where the cow's hind feet naturally
stand. These plank should be fastened one inch
apart so that all the liquid may pass down
through the cracks into the cellar. That is, just
a single floor with cracks wide enough to let the
wafer all pass directly into the cellar. Then clean
the floor in the morning, and (in the summer) it
will be dry at night. I have practised this a
number of years, and my cows are cleaner than
wlien tliey used to lie in the yard. With clean
pails take tlie milk, set it in pans in a cool airy-
place where it can stand forty-eight hours with-
out being sour. Then take off the cream, and
when a sufficient quantity is gathered, churn it,
which should be as often as once a week. When
ib is brought to butter, draw off the butter-milk ;
then pour cold water with the butter, and stir the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

383

butter in the water with the churn or hand, till it
is well ^YaBhed; draw off the water and add as much
more and do as before ; draw that off and put in the
third quantity of water; t2ien take the butter out
of the third water ,workiiig it well with the hand as
:t*is taken out. Salt it well, and with tlie salt add
one teaspoonfuU of clean saltpetre, made fine, to
each fifteen pounds. Then pjut it in a cool place,
and the next day work it over well, and put it
down tight in layers of th.ree inches thick, put-
ting a little salt between the layers. Fill the tub
within one inch of full, then fill that inch with
salt. The tubs arc Ijettcr for having been used
for butter before, if kept sweet, but if the tul)8
are new, soak theia in brine till they are thor-
oughly salted. If the tubs are good and tight, so
that the brine is kopt over all the butter, it will
keep for twelve months,- in a suitable place, as
^ood as when first made. If any proof is wanted,
i can refer to customers who have used such but-
ter for years. D. s.
Jajfrcy, June 30, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

SUCCESSFUL FARMING,

Mr. Editor : — I read an article some time ago
:n a number of the New Engla7id Farmer, vititten
by II. Stow, of Woodstock, Vt. I have waited,
hoping that some N. U. man would- tell us as
good a story as Mr. Sxow's, and not seeing any
yet, I thought I would give you a short sketch of
my own management, feeling not exactly willing
to admit that the sons of N. H. are much behind
those of Vermont.

At the age of 21, I was out of health, not able
to work on a farm, and 1 went to work for a har-
ness maker for $8 per month. In a short time I
found myself at work in Roxbury , Mass. , for $16 per
month, but was compelled to quit that business on
account of my eyes. I returned to New Hampshire,
where land was cheap. I bought an old run-down
farm, paid $500 down, and gave a promise to pay
$900 more, and went to work on my old level farm.
The first year I cut not over 5 tons of hay, the
third year I raised 1100 bushels produce, — [po-
tatoes, corn, and the small grains, we suppose ;]
the fourth j-ear cut oyer 25 tons of hay. I made
about 100 loads of manure a year, by carting muck
into my yards. Tliero was but one man in this
town that made any use of muck at that time, ex-
cept a little in the hog-yard, and most of them
thought I was a fool lor shoveling so much mud.
Well, I paid for my farm, and in three winters I
collected the materials for a set of buildings, with
my own. hands. I cut and hewed my timber, cut
and logged to the mill for my sawed lumber, dug
my cellar, split and laid my stone-work, boarded
and shingled my buildings, assisted the joiner in
his part of the work, plastered and painted, and
have a good set of farm buildings, built in the
most thorough manner, and as handsome as any
in town.

I keep a few tools for shoemaking, harness-
making, stone-work, joiner work, &c., &c. In
the winter eeason I make and repair almost every
article that I use ; in fact, I have a good break-
ing up plow, that I made myself, that I would
not exchange for my neighbor's of the premium
pattern. I liad not received by heirship an equiva-
lent to $30, at one-and-twenty, and have earned

more dollars by working out, since *I bought my
farm, than I ever paid out for labor. I have paid
over $500 interest, and Iiave been laid up by sick-
ness more than two years. These are all facts.
If any young man who has commenced farming
as poor as I was, will be encouraged by them, and
say that "what man has done, man may do,"
I shall be well paid for scribbling down thisskotci:.
I had forgotten to say that if I am not as well off
for spending money as your correspondent at
Woodstock, my friends do not call for a banker
if I chance to want a little change.

B. W. Gay.
New London, N. H., 1854.

THE SEER.

BY JOHN' G. WUITTIER.

I hoar the far-off voyager's horn,

I hear the Yankee's trail —
nia foot on every mountain pass,

On every stream his sail.

lie's whistling round St. Mary's Falls,

Upon his loaded train ;
He's leaving on the Pictured Rocks

His fresh tobacco stain.

I hear the mattock in the mines,

The axc-stroke in the dell,
The clamor from the Indian lodge,

The Jesuit's chapel bell I

I see the swarthy trappers come

From Mississippi's springs ;
And war-chiefs with their painted bowa,

And crests of eagle wings.

Behind the squaw's birchen canoe,

The steamer smokes and raves ;
And city lots are staked for sale

Above old Indian graves.

By forest lake and water-fall,

I see the pedlar's show ;
The mighty mingling with the mean

The lofty with the low.

I hear the tread of pioneers

Of nations yet to be ;
The first low wash of waves where soon

Shall roll a human sea.

The rudiments of empire here.

Are plastic yet and warm ;
The chaos of a mighty world

Is rounding into form I

Each rude and jostling fragment soon

Its fitting place shall find —
The raw materials of a state,

Its muscles and its mind I

And westering still the star which loads

The new world in its train.
Has tipped r.-ith fire the icy spears

Of many a mountain chain.

Tiic snowy cones of Oregon

Are kindle?! on its way,
And California's gulden sands

Gleam brighter in its ray I

Alcohol from Pka Pods. — The green" pea sea-
son and the scarcity of alcohol have given rise to
another unknown trade in Paris. Pea pods have
been, from time immemorial, in France, at least,
considered as perfectly wortliless, and have been
allowed to encumber the pig-pen in consequence.
The collecting of tliis rejected matter ))etween the
hours of 7 and 9 in the morning, has now become

384

HEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Ac<:

a regular occupation ; and is followed by that
class of jier.-^o.iH who, during tho remaind'jr of
the day, pick up tlie ends of cigars. Pea pods
yield alcohol ;is ahundautly, it lias Ijocn foimd, as
the lxH»t-root or as pumpkins. In England, I be-
lieve, a sort of mild beer has long b^en obtained
from theut, with the admixture of sage and hops.
.\ow that 1 am upon the subject of peas, I may
as well state that in Paris they are always sold
shelled. Those that shell them divide them into
three sorts, big, middling and little. The littlest
art; the dearest, as they are the sweetest. Our fa-
vorite brand, the ^larrowfat, esteemed on account
of size, would meet with no favor here. Its very
development would class it among the poorer
kinds, to be sold to poor people at rates much low-
er than cost. — Paris Letter to New York.

MIXING SAWDUST WITH ASHES.

The manufacture of animal and vegetable mat-
ters— such as fish refuse, butchers' offal, urine,
sawdust, moss or peat earth — into manure, and
their application to the soil, has long "^een a sub-
ject of anxious inquiry ; and that part of it in-
volved in the proposition of Lord Berners, of mix-
ing sawdust with sheep's dung and urine, like
other suggestions for economizing the volatile and
soluble elements- of manure on the farm, now so
frequently wasted, is deserving of special notice
at tliis time.

Glancing briefly at old practices first, oar fore-
fa tliers used sawdust for littering their stable-,
cow houses, sheep-pens, piggeries, and poultry
houses, tlu; tvhole being afterwards mixed together
and used as farm-yard manure. Sawyers and
carpenters, again, who had none of the aliove pro-
visions, mixed it in their dung-hills for growing
potatoes ; while fishermen used it for smoking fish,
and mi.\ing in their ash-pits along with fish re-
fuse, Belli. ig the compost to farmers. With these
practices many localities are familiar to this day,
and have been so from time immemorial.

Of these plans, the mixing of sawdust with
sheep's dung, uriu(!,slaugliter-l)Ouse and fish oU'al,
is, perhaps, the most deserving of consideration,
the fermentative qualities of such articles are the
!X!Bt adapted to overcome tho comparatively indes-
tructible nature of the dust. liitlierto tlie great
objection to sawings of wood, as manux'c,has fjeeu
their slow deeoiujtosition. Immediate activity is
necessary to give value to manure, and this is wnat
sawdust does uoi possess. Kxcremeiitary and offal
matters, on tho contrary, are from their nature
subject to rapid decomposition, so mucli so, that
half their fertilizing value is not unfrequently lost.
Indeed it is impossible to estimate the loss arising
from thissoiirce. Now, if the mixing of the two
together will eflect the decomposition of the for-
mer, while it avoids tho loss sustained in the lat-
ter, the gain must consequently be great.

What ^ives peculiar value to compost of this
kind is iheir disintegrated state ; they are lit lor
drilling in along with the seed by corn or turnip
drills at once. Tlieir freeness from sand and oth-
er heavy and comparatively useless mineral sub-
stances is another merit. The difference between
the expense of applying farm-yard manure and
guano, for instance, is consideralde, while tiie ad-
vantages gained by expedition in seed time are
evta of greiUer importance. The addition of 50

per cent, of sand and clay as when urine, fish, gut,
&c., were mixed with earth, doubles tlie expense
and time of application ; and this, if the distance
is great, may exceed, the value of the manure it-
self.

The prime cost of the article would be little more
than tho carriage, while in must localities the
supply would obviously be great. IVe have only
to examine our timber yards for evidence of this.
How many ingenious plans have even been con-
trived for carrying the sawdust down the stream
which drives the saw-mill, or into the fire of the
steam engine wdiere steam power is used.

Now tiiat artificial manures have ])ecomc an
agricultural necessity, it is the duty as well as the
interest of every one to look first to the resources
within his own reach for a sujiply, and lastly to
the market for any I)alance required. To neglect
the former, relying entirely upon the hitter for
Peruvian guano, &e , and then complain of high
prices, is inconsistency and folly. Were every
tarmer to procure annually so many tons of saw-
dust, ground peat, or charred vegetable matter of
any kind, which could be had for little money,
and to mix them Avith the excrements of horses,
cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, &c., adding such otli-
er articles as peculiar circumstanct e required, it
would exercise a very salutary effect upon the
extravagant prices now paid for all kinds of arti-
ficial manures. If a farmer can thus manufacture
at home as good an article for 2().s. as he can pur-
chase for £5, (and this can bo done in many cases,)
the course which he ought to steer is plain. — Ag-
ricultural Gazette, England.

VARIETY OF FOOD HECSSSAUY.

It is in vegetable as in animal life ; a mother
crams her child exclusively with arrow-root — it
becomes fat, it is true, but alas ! it is rickety,
and gets its teeth very slowly, and with difiiculty.
Mamma is ignorant, or never thinks, that her
offspring cannot make bone — or, what is the same
thing, phosphate of lime, the principal bulk of
l>one — out of starch. It does its best ; and were
it not for a little milk and bread, perhaj a now
and then a little meal and soup, it would have no
bones and teeth at all. Farmers keep poultry ;
and what is true of fowls is true of cabbage, a
turnip, or an ear of wheat. If we mix with the
food of fowls a sufficient quantity of egg-shells or
chalK, wiiich they eat greedily, they will lay
many more eggs than before. A well bred fowd
is disposed to lay a vast number of eggs, but can-
not do so without tho materials for tho shells,
iiowover nourishing in other respects her. food
may be. A fowl, with the best will in the world,
not finding any lime in tho soil, nor mortar from
walls, nor calcareous matter in her food, is in-
capacitated from laying any eggs at all. Let far-
mers lay such facts as these, wliicli are matters of
common observation, to heart, and transfer the
analogy, as they may do, to the habits of plants,
whica are as truly alive, and answer as closely to
every injudicious treatment, as their own horse.

The Sugar Pine of Oregon. — The sugar pine in

the Rogue river county of Oregon attains great

size, is remarkably straight, symmetrical and ricli-

olored. Its crown is as smooth and well 8haj->od

as if it had the services of a barber every month.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

385

m^:^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GAPvDEN AND FIRE El-JGIIfE.
In our last volume there is a short notice of en-
gines by a gentleman too modest to allov/ us to
use his name, but who is thoroughly versed in the
^abject on which ho speaks, and -which we think
of sufEcient importance to luring into tl\e present
volume, and accompany it witli an engraving. Of
course, if the engine is efficient at a fire it will
ansv.er all tlie purposes desired of it for a garden :
its size being so small as to maV-*^ jr nnvfiiblc any-
where.

Mr. Editor : — In a late nusni/er ui your paper,
in a notice of a garden engine, yoa say "It will
throw water to the height of forty I'eer, and to the
distance of seventy feet horiy.ont;illy. It may,
therefore, be found uf use in extingnisihing fires in
buildings."' That remark is in accordance with
the general belief of the use of such engines for ex-
tinguishing fires. I have no doubt liut that if any
twelve of your customers who live a mile from a
large fire engine, should puvchas:; a small one,
and their building should take fire, they would at
least eleven of them, run for the large one at the
village, and never once think of trying their own,
or if they thouglit of it, would give it up as a fool-
ish idea. A more mistaken idea than this of fire
engines, never entered the mind of man. Fire does
not wait while we run for engines, but increases
in arithmetical progfession, and thewforc if the
•jngine you have discribed, Avill not put it out when
first discuvercd, the largest in the world cannot,
if we have to run but half a mile and it then has
to be drawn to the fire. I want to see a better
description of the new Hitchcockenginc. I know
its power, and I tell you it is to create an entire
ehange in our fire departments. Hundreds of towns
in the State cannot afford to purchase a large one,
vvho could liave half a dozen of these ; and three
of these at proper distances, are lietter than a large
one, because so much sooner brought to work.
Again, many towns who have tlie large one should
purchase small ones for the "outsiders," who pay
their part of the expense while they are wholly
unprotected. But enough for this time. If you

please, I will again trouble you upon this impor-
tant subject, and now only say that any of your
friends who purchase the engine for garden pur-
poses, will have a most useful and effectual fire en-
gine. B.
Waicrtown, 1853.

For the Acw Enirlaml Farmer.

jaONTHLY FAEMEE FOE JULY.

For the first time, my Farintr jilays tlie truant,
this month. Whether, like some hired-men, it
kept the Fourth a little too hard, whetlier is
went as a delegate to some Platform-convention
on the inalienable right of periodicals to the pur-
suit of happiness, or whether it took a fancy to
pioneer awhile in Nebraska, concerns me little to
know ; Imt after waiting some twenty-odd days,
and getting for an answer at the post office, "No,
it hasn't come," until tired of it, I finally went to
Boston, yesterday, and got m}- paper fresri from
the printing office. — Item. One advantage of a
farm near the city, is, that when one's agricultural
paper fails, he can go the publishers and get an-
other with little trouble.

It is pleasant to see by a glance at the contents
of t!iis number, that the Fanner is not neglected,
althougli at this season, the fields make so large
demands on both thought and efl'ort ; — the labora
of the editor being lighteiud and encouraged,
this month, by the contribution of between tliir-
ty and forty original articles, which discuss a
great variety of topics. A bare enumeration of
the titles of a lew of these articles will indicate
the extent of our loss, had we been unable to re-
place this single number.

Butter. — A string of proverbs for making "But-
ter ;" a cut and description of a dog-power for
"Churning;" and a complaint that '"the butter
wont come." In our boyliood, wo once saw an
old lady thrust a heated jioker into a churning
that wouldn't come, with tlie remark, "It iiiayhii
bewitched."

Cultivation. — The "Calendar for July" gives
hints on a variety of subjects ; the "Double Plow"
is recommendetl 1)}' "!']. J.," of Lebanon, N. II.;
and tlie writer of "Homing" says, "wo seldom now

aSG

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug,.

SCO in a corn-field any other than a very low, flat
bill, if any -hill at all."' Those are tlio kind, I
know, that we sx in the books, wliile the corn-
ticWs of tiirniers in this section show pretty large
hills ai)oat the roots of corh.

Fruil Trc s. — Two articles on "Scraping and
Waehing i'rei.s;'" and two on "Protecting Peach
Trees" in winter, by the use of matting. I have
seen the u.se of boughs of Evergreen, leaned up
against the peach tv"/.', so as to shield its branches,
recommended ; two kinds of pears desL'ribed and
recommended.

Gariltn. — "Farmers' Gardens," "What a Gar-
den sii )uld be," and "Onltivatiou of Strawber-
ries."
Inscc/s. — To those whose trees were "burned" by
the canker-worm, and whose fruit was destroyed
by the curculio, the various articles on insects will
be iatcrestiiig, even though they may atlord but
littlj hope of an inmiediae triumph over these
our most dre.ided and powerful opponents. "Cat-
erpill irs" is a hopeful article : "Habits of In-
sects," is instructive ; two remedies for the 'Cur-
:}ulio," one a new one, are encouraging ; and so
are dire^jtiuns for destroying the "Slimy Slug ;"
but tiie article on the ravages of the "Canker
Worm," siiows that all known preventives have
proved on'.y partially effective, and that tlie evil
is increasing ; yet in the proposition to raise 500
dollars as a premium for the discovery of a reme-
dy, t};at spirit of determination is manifested from]
which much may be expected.

Maniif's. — On "Decomposing Uones ;" "Mea-
dow Mud and Lime ;" "Cost of Manures;" and
an article dy Mr. Holbrook on "The Application
of Lime and Aslies for t :c Improvoment of Land."'
Has Mr. Holhrook ever made parcels of compo-it
alike in all respects except in the addition and
o.mission of lime, and by the respective etfecls of
such composts t^i^ting the value of lime ? I have
tried it on a small scale, in several ways, but have
not lje,en aMe to perceive, with my own eyes, the
least b.-nelit whatever to vegetation or soil, eith-
er chemi(;ally, mechanically or otherwise, from
the use of lime. My composts of njud i'v which
lime was mingled have proved very valuable ; and
just as valuaMe, for aught I can see, w.tho .t it.
I submit tiiese remarks in the spirit of suggestion ;
fully aware of the possiljility of my observation,
instead of the lime, l)eing at fault ; and believing,
further, that if favtners will not make use of tiie
vcgeta'de deposits w^itljin tlieir reach without
some admixture to which they may loop their
faith, then lim;i, or salt, or any other material,
may be safely and justifiably recommended.

Stock. — "A Horse's Foot" cautions against al-
lowing t!ie animal to stand upon a hot-bedof ma-
nure and litter; "Introduction of Domestic Ani-
mals" into America; "French Merino Buck;"
Editorial iiints on "Salting Stock ;" on "Crib-
bing," "Summer Feed for Cows and Pigs;"
"S(juth Down Sheep."

Sdcntifc. — "Democracy of Science;" "The
ElF.'Cts of O.xygen in accelerating Germination ;"
"Production of Buds and Seeds;" "What a
Whole Crop carries off."

A'li'antaires of living on Poor Land. — One of
those articles that do people go >d to read, by
l)racing up t!ie bitter sentiments of t'.io heart, in-
Kpiring gratitude and contentment, and by "vin-
dicating the ways of God to man."

Elle7i Jones. — A "Story," illustrating the dan-
ger of sending our children away fi'om home to
city or village life, even for a brief "Term" of a
fashiona'de school, with the expectation that they
will ri'turn, contented and happy, ty their old
occu{)ations and circumstances.

Well Digging. — With this very practical-look-
ing caption, we have a dissertation on "Bletou-
ism," "Biology," "Mesmerism," "Spirit-raj,v
ping," "Money-digging" and "eleetrilication,"
that in my humble opinion, should have been re-
served until the people of this world are a little
more advanced in knowledge than they are likely
to become during this nineteentli century.

There are also three articleson the silk business;
one on Wheat in New England ; one on Haying ;
Book-farming a swamp ; sensible thoughts about
boys on farms, by Willis; Lidian modes of stor-
ing grain, with a brief account of Colonial agri-
culture ; New plants ; Time for cutting Timber ;
Posts for fence ; Winter in Mississippi ; ITie Far-
mer's Home ; Autumnal Marrow Sqaasli ; High
Prices, Emigration, Sugar, &c., &c.

Winchcsicr, July, 1854. A Reader.

SAYIMG GRASS SESB.

Many farmv'rs neglect to save their own grie-"
seeds because it needs attention at a time when
they are most busy with their grain and hay .; but
if farmers generally v?ould make it a point to save
seed for their own use, they would find their ac-
count in it, both in prime cost, and in not being
imposed upon by buying foul seed from another
man's farm, who had no interest in keeping their
land free of weeds.

Orchard Grass is among the first to ripen, and
will be rea'Jy to cut from the 2Uth of June to the
first of Jul}', according to the locj,tion and soil.
This should be either reaped or cradled and im-
mediately put in compact shocks, to stand a
couple of weeks. Tliestublile may then Iw mowed
and hayed, taking cai'e not to disturb tlie snocks.
When di'y, the shocks aliould be moved very care-
fully to the barn for storage, as the seed shells
out e.isily.

K alucky Blue Grass comes in season for bar-
est about the same time as orchard grass. The best
metiiod of gathering the seed of this grass is by
stripping tlie heads b}' liand ; the process is rath-
er slow, but no other way will liring the seed, in
good condition, as it is too light and chafiy to he
threshed and winnowed. At the price for w'uich
it sells in market, oven this slow way [uiys well.

Meadow Fescue (English Blue Grass) is ripe
early in July, and having a tolerably heavy
seed, Can be cut by the cradle or sickle, and wiien
dry, threshed and winnowed carefully to separate
the chaff.

Foul Meadow Grass ripens its seed in the last
of July. We consider this as the beet grass that
can be raised for meadow swiiils and me.rsh lands.
It is fine, nutritious and yields a great burden;
and like a good natured wife — will bear a great
deal of neglect witiiout spoiling. When in iieai.
tliis gr.iss very nearly reaemldes red top, and is of-
ten mistaken for it. The seed is very fine and 8ell!>
at a high j)riee — as much by the bushel as clover
seed, though much lighter.

Timothy seed ripens in July, and as it is con-
tained in strong heads, it is very easily harvested

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAFwMER.

387

and got out, either by reaping, cradling, or with
such a machino as Waggoner's clover harvester,
simply taking off the heads. We wish to bespeak
lie a tioa of larinjrs generally to s^iving the
best Si
tar.

EXiaACTS AND REPLIES.

MACHINE FOR BRICK-MAKING.

Mr. Brown : — A year or more since, I noticed
in SJLii ; n. wspaper an accoaat of" a newly itivont-
ed brick-muki)ig machine, I)y meaiia of wl:i. h the
process of hriek-makiiig was much facilita'trd. —
By thi,s maeinne the clay and sand, were ground
and laicigU'.l, and then subjected, after being passed
into tne moulds, to a mighty pressure, suflident
to rend -r the bricks capable of being handlec
and conv'yjd at once fiom t'lO macliino to the
kiln ; thus saving the process of sun-dryiriir, turn-
ing, &c. At that time, nut being particularly in-
terested, I did not preserve that paper. Can
you tell me a. ly tiling of such a machine, of its ef-
ticiency, cust, power necessary to drive it, and of
the quality of the '.ricks made by it? If you oi
any of year correspondents can and v/ill inform
aiuas ab')ve re'(ii: rted,and where such a machine
can be seen, I shall bo much obliged.

Yours truly, E. Inguam.

Lebanon, N. H., July 15, 1854.

IlKMAUKi;. — We liave often seen bricks made by
machinery. The clay and sand are mixed an!
pass through a hopper as grain docs in the grist
mill, and tlience into the moulds; the followers
then enter the moulds, and the straightening of a
togij;le joint by steam power gives an immense
pressure — so great that the bri'^;k8 are placed up-
on a barrow and wheeled away to the kiln with
very few hreakages. The clay is used in a much
dryer stati than when used by hand, and conse-
quently there is a lialjility in machine-made bricks
to crumble, liut they are made with great rapid-
ity— nearly as fast as a man can take them from
the machine, and pltce them in a barrow.

Wc belit vc a machine is now in operation at
West Cambridge, directly on the line of tht
Fitchburg Haihoad, three miles from Boston.

THE SEASON IN MAINE.

FRrENDB:owN: — AVe are suffering badly hen
for wai\t of rain. Tlic heavens are brass over
our heads, -Jirass lands are being terribly parciied
corn Iiegins t-j roll, and everything suffers. Th-
hay crop is ccaning rather liglit.

Corn ha- looked well, but now bescins to roll ;
potato, s aie now suff ring, and will be liglit, un-
less thery is rain soon. Agriculture ih AiarfulU
ineglectod Iiere. This county is far behind .Massa
chusetts. Farmers don't plow nor till.

A spinster made application to a neighb. r of
mine, to huy some h;iy of her. S!ie said ther-
would be about five tons. Hu asked how mucii
land. SixUen nnrex, was the reply. ii. u. n.

Spring Dale, Me., July, 1351.

TALL GRASSES.

Mr. George Wright, of Acton, Mass., has
handed us a sample of Blue-joint and Iled-top

grass, which show what these grasses will do un-
der f ivoralde circumstances. The blue-joint is CA
feet high, and the red-top 5 feet! They wen.'
grown on his farm in the soatii-oast part of the
town. The seeds of such specuuens should b;^
caivfully preserved, f.nd nuihiplied by futur*'
sowings.

A NEW KIND OF FENCE.

In a recent number, wo gave an account of a
uew kind of fence in use at Windsor, Vt.; this ao-
•ount was taken from our columns without the
proper credit being given, and has been extensive-
ly copied into most of tlie ngricultural journals.
"Grafton," who has seen the same kind of fenc*/
in use in Sullivan County, N. U., will see by the
.ibove, the reason why we do not publish hit. letter.
vVe hopoto hear from him on otiier topics.

-lECLAIMING OLD FIELDS APPLICATION OF MANURF/S

CALVES GNAWING WJOD

What is the best and most expeditious way of
reclaiming old fields tUat were oiieegooJ, that are
of a medium texture (<{ soil ? also those of a cold,
sour, heavy soil ? {a )

Which is the bi'st way of ariplying manure, — i/^
it best to put 100 loa Is on an acre, or j ut it on 2
acres? You would not call a man vciy wise to
starve one-half of his family for the sakt.; of stuff-
ing two or three. Why shoull farmers starve
me-halfof their farm for the sake of raisins; a
great crop of corn ? (6.)

Is thjre anything that will prevent calves from
gnawing wood, when in the barn in the spring?
(c.)

Although I am not a farmer now, I expect ro
be sometime, and by answering these questions you
will greatly oblige A Subscuiueu.

Ludlow, Vt., 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) First, drain well — this will vi.;.
he considered the beginning of good husbandry ;
then, on the lighter soils plow seven or eight im-li-
es deep, laying the furrow over flat, manure w.'ll.
and seed down in the last of August. On the
heavier soils take the same course, with theexcep-
cion of laying over the furrovvs — these should not
:e left flat on wet and heavy soils, i)ut standing
.p corner-wise, iike a brick laid up on one of its
longest sharp edges. Tiie uj^ier edge of tlie gra-^
is barely covered in as the plow leaves it, and tit-'
=ield,well plowed.will present a series of ridges like
the apex of the roof of a barn. After the harrow
;a8 gone over it the field has a smooth surfaov,
with no grass in sight, and gives a nudlow and
sulliciently deep eetid bed. Tliis we consider the
uiost cxptditioux mode, but do not mean to inti-
luatc that it is a better mode than the ordiinu'v
routine of the potato, corn and gr.iiii crops, uul 'n-j
it be on low and heavy lands.

(b.) The same sound judgment is to be oxerciM-i
in the application of miuures, that wc use in
plowing, seeding, building, or any otlier work
done on the farm. It would ho folly to turn up
ten inches of the subsoil at once where we w^re

P,88

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Aug.

applying only twenty loads of manure to the acre,
because the new earth and the fertilizer would be
entirely disiproj>ortioned — there could be no profit
ia the result. Nor should we apply a bushel .of
Iicrd's grass se^d to the acre when a third, or one-
half of it, is all that such an extent of land re-
quires. The same rule will be in operation in
tiio application of manures.

In answering your inquiry, we must have a ba-
m mutually understood to start upon. It will not
answer to take land already rich, nor gravelly
knolls that never have been manured, — but the
ordinary land of the form, such as will yield a fair
orop of corn, say 40 to 55 bushels to the acre.
Then we should reply, unhesitatingly, it is not
best to apply 100 loads of manure to an acre. On
such land, you would probably find as much profit
with 50 loads to the acre as with the application
of 100 loads. With proper cultivation, and with
what aid the atmosphere would impart, we think
tiie plants would find all the nourishment they
\^ould require to produce a crop of corn as large
;i^ ought to be expected upon a single acre. The
••ommon practice, however, is, to sjH'ead the ma-
uure over too much land. The losses in travelling
to and from the fields, in plowing, harrowing,
furrowing, planting, hoeing, weeding and harvest-
ing the cx'op, between one and tivo acres, arc not
•.vtimatod with siifiicient care. It will not be
doubted by any one who makes a fair trial, that
it is altogether more profitable to manure liberal-
ly and cultivate well, what we undertake, than
to go ovor a larger extent of land indifferently.

(c.) Calves in a perfectly healthy condition will
nut often contract the habit of gnawing the wood
about them. They are too often neglected, do not
have sufficient food, are confined within too narrow
limits, or are exposed to wet and cold. If the calf
i« generously supplied with nourishing food, has
ample and well- ventilated space and a good bed
of dry litter to lie upon, he willnotonly ??o/ gnaw
the boards, but give you a handsome profit in his
rapid growth for the care you bestow upon him.

Will you inform us, at some future time, wheth-
er the remedy prescribed is a successful one 1

A. R. II., Lawrence, Mass. — We thank you,
not only for the cash enclosed, but for your good
'■(pinion of the Farmer. Tlie corn and potatoes
you speak of should be covered at different depths
according to the kind of land. On a sandy loam
uue inch would not be too deep for corn : on heavy,
wet land, half that distance. Potatoes should
be covered somewhat deeper than corn.

TDE CANKER WORM.

Mr. Editor: — A neighbor informed me that all
l(is apple trees have been ravaged by the canker
worm, with a solitary exception, and that was
surrounded by a quantity of the ashes of anthra-
cite coal. It seemed to me to be a fact that should

deem it worthy

be kno.wn, and perhaps you may
of a place in the columns of vour

your paper.

The cause is simple. The worm finds a bed of
ashes no place for it to deposit its eggs.

Another eminent fruit grower informs me that
he saved bis trees after they had been attacked by
the canker worm, by once syringing with whale oil
soap, (1 pound of soap to 8 gallons water) from a
garden engine. h. r. n.

BONE MEAL.

Will you inform me what bone meal is a pound,
when put up in bags of from 15 to 25 pounds, for
feeding to cattle?" E. S. Allen.

Jacksonville, Vt., 1851:.

At retail, bone meal is sold at -3 cts. per pound
— in considerable quantity at 2^ cts.

The inquiry, with regard to the coming in of
cows, wc cannot answer so that it would be of
much value to you .

GUTTA PERCIIA PIPE.

Editor of Farmer : — Dear Sir, — T wish to bring
soft water from a spring a))oat five rods distant —
into my house, but have objection to lead pipe by
reason of its tendency to make water unhealthy.
I have heard that gutta-percha pipe is an excel-
lent substitute for lead. Can you inform me of
its qualities for this purpose, also its price, and
where it nan be found I

Yours truty, M. W. Kimdall.

Ilopldnton, iV. H., July, 1854.

We have sent you a circular by mail contain-
ing the prices of gutta percha pipe, as they stood
a few months since. Recently, the raw material
is scarce, and the prices are higlier, and are un-
fixed.

RELATIVE VALUE 07 NEW MILK AND INDIAN CORN.

Mr. Editor: — Canyon or any of your corres-
pondents give the relative value of new milk and
Indian corn as fodder for sroro hogs ? It is a mat-
ter that I have never known to have been made
the subject of accurate experiment, yet is of suffi-
cient importance to merit attention. m.

Chester, N. 11. , 1854.

bovine wiiiskabout holders.
Friend Brown : — A very ingenious, and of course
valuable apparatus for holding a cow's whisk-
about during the operation of milking, was de-
scribed and figured in the Farmer of last week.
A method I have sometimes used, though it can-
not lay claim to so much scientific ingenuity, ia
easily performed, and is perfectly effectual. It is,
to hang a chain over the hind quarters of the cow
in such a manner as to enclose and press by its
weight against the tail. This mode is not yet pa-
tented, but I will warrant it to satisfy all who
will adopt it. Jonathan Doolittle.

Concord, June 26, 1854.

TUB CROPS.

Friend Brown : — I am well pleased with your
paper, and wish you much success. Our pros-
pects for a good crop in tiiis ancient town are
very good. Grass and corn and potatoes look quite
well, though probably not more than half as
many potatoes are planted as usual, but more
corn. Of fruit there will pre)bablybe a fair crop,
with the exception of peaches ; there is no sign
of the palmer worm, thus far this year.

N. Piper.

Stratham, N. H., June 23, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

J89

APPLE I'OilACE.

In the road opposite; my field is a large deposit
of pomace lying near a brook that empties into
my land. VV^ill yuii inform me, whether a wash
containing so much arid as is likely to come from
that deposit, (probably twenty loads.) does not,
directly or indirectly, injure my land!

Elliot, Me., 1854. Subscriber.

Remarks. — We should not suppose that what
would gradually flow away from such a heap of
pomace, and into a brook, would do any harm to
the land. But why keep it there? Cows and
swine will eat a small portion of it, if fed to them
in small parccds, and as it is believed to be rich
in mineral matter, would be valuable to them,
ilingled with fi'esh horse dung or ashes, it would
hi converted into good manure. Why would it
not be beneficial to the orchard whence the ap-
ples were taken, by being spread thinly over the
ground ?

RED ANTS.

We cannot tell "W. B.," of Quechee, Vt.,
what will destroy the red ants of Avhich he com
plains. The books inquired for may be found at
most of the book-stores in Boston.

FOOD FOR HENS.

Will you state through the Farmer, what, in
your opinion, is the best food for hens at this sea-
son, to enable them to lay, and oblige yours,

Woburn, June, 1854. a. m.

Remarks. — liens always need a van'cjfy of food in
order to make them lay freely. If they are confined
at this season of the year, they will require plenty
of water, shade, pure air, comfortable places for
roosting and laying, corn always before them,
plenty of old lime, mortar or pounded oyster
shells, together with a little flesh, scraps, fresh
fish and tender grass.

PROFITS OF SHEEP.

Having seen in the N. E. Farmer, of April,
1854, an account of the profits of sheep in Maine,
and having some w'nch are considered pretty
good, I send you the income of eight which I wiu-
t-orcd in 1853. Lambs, twenty-seven dollai's ;
wool nineteen dollars — whole amount forty-six
dollars ; for each sheep five dollars, seventy-five
cents.

Will you inform mo whether, in applying ashes
to corn, it would he equally beneficial to mi.x
with manure and put it in the hill, as to apply
at the roots on tlie surface?

Ludlow, June, 1854. a. s.

Remarks. — We think it better to apply the
ashes at the firbt hoeing and cover it.

15UTTER.

Mu. Bkown : — Will you or some of your read-
ers please inform me through the Farmer, wheth-
er htmip butter p;u;ked in brine, will keep as well,
and come out witli as good complexion as when
put down in Iwhs solid, as is usually done? Also,
whether the price will ba as much, more, or less
than tub butter, in market!

Randolph, F/.,1854. n.

GARDEN WALKS.

Will you or some of your correspondents in-
form m_e whether coal tar will answer to cover
garden walks? I have seen it used in England,
where it proved well, ))ut I do not know how t'
use it, and wish to be informed.

M. HUTCUINSON.

Griggsvillc, Pike Co., Illinois.

For the JVew England Farmer.

TIME FOU CUTTING GRAIN.

Mr. Brown : — Dear Sir, — I send you the fol-
lowing extract from Stevens's book of tlie farm, as
it is very pertinent to your last week's editorial';
and let me here say that common honesty de-
mands thatevery one extracting matter from books,,
ought in their use of them to give credit for the
source of their information. On farming, garden-
ing, &c., there are a few standard books, and !
never see an agricultural paper tliat I do not find
matter put forth with no credit given to anybody
that I can turn to some book and find in almost
the very words of the writer in the paper. Books
are common property, but it is no more than
common justice to an author to give him credit
for his matter. I would, were it not for the in-
vidiousness of the job, analyze many of these arti-
cles, and give justice to whom justice is due.

The following experiments were made in Eng-
land, by Mr. John Ilannam, North Deighton,
Yorkshire, and of course are equally valuable to
us, and even more so to us than to English farm-
ers ; owing to the heat of our summers, grain
ripens much more rapidly, and gains much, more
per diem, than in England, and needs earlier com-
parative attention.

No. 1, reaped quite g;recn, 12lh August, .ind stacked Lha 26. U.
gave a return of £11 17s per acre, (about §53,08.)

No. 2, reaped green, 19th August, and stacked the Slst, re-
turned £13 6s, (about $66,44.)

No. 3, reaped raw on the 26th August, and stacked 9th Srr-
tember, returned £14 17s id, (about $74,12i.)

No. 5, reaped ripe on the 9th September, and stacked the 16lh,
returned £iy lis Hd, (about $67,76.)
A loss of £1 14s Sd ($S,50) on No. 1, compared with No. 5.

" " 5s 8(i($l,37) on No. 2, " "

A gain of £1 6s 4-:/ ($6,50) on No. 3, " '•

" " £1 5s $d (S6,27) on No. 4, " "

" " £0 Is Od (15,24) on No. 6, •' No. 1.

Wheat reaped a fortnight before it is ripe gives an adv.uitarje
on every point: —
In weiglit of gross produce of 13 1-5 per cent.
In weight of equal measures i per cent.
In weight of equal number of grains of 21 per cent.
In quality and value above of 3i per cent.
In weight of straw above of 5 per cent.

Other chances are, straw of a better qualitv, a
better chance of securing the crop, and a saving
in securing it, no loss by grain tilting out of the
head. Respectfully,

R. Morris Copel.\\d.

Ij'jxington, July, 1854.

On TiiH FEEinNG of Animals. — We have spok-
en in high terms o[ Johnslon\^ Ehincruts of Agri-
cultural Chemistry, and have copied pretty freely
from its pages, on several subjects. We propose
now to give a chapter or two on the important
topic of Feeding Anifnals, wliich we are sure our
readers will find written in a clear and succinct
style, and with with such common, practiciil
good sense, as to commend the subject to the

•390

NEW ENGLAND FARxMER.

Aug.

most casual o1)Borvir. Accordingly, in another
part ot the paper, wc givo a column or two on a
matter, whica we all, us farmers, ouglit to uuder-
Htand better.

The whole work is one of great interest to all
cultivators and one which we should recommend
U) every young farmer.

PIHE WOODS PASrURE AND SOUTH-
ER^ CuWS.

Hundreds of cows that range in the pine woods
uf the iSjuthern States', do not give a quart oi
milk a day, and we iiave often seen the milking of
a cow in a | int cup without filling it. The ani-
mals are generally jioor, saiall, scragged creatures,
and their calves look like foals of the mother oi
the woolly horse . It in a common thing that plant-
ers with large herds havi? to buy butter and go
withoutniilk. Tlie deficiency ig generally charged
to the climate. This is not the cause. The truth
i« to be found in the iact that the natural grass
of the extensive jiine lands ofuU theSoutliern States
is almost entirely" destitute of phosphate of lime,
without which the cow cannot produce abundant
milk ; her calf cannot grow rapidly, for it gets
no bone material.

Don't say, "Wl'.at fools ; why don't they add
phosphates to tleir soil if it is destitute of that
important iugi'edient of lertility?'' Look in the
glass — see youiself. Look at your own pastures,
they may not be as bad — they may be made bet-
ter.— New York TriLune.

VVe Iiave frequently heard it atecrted that the
njitiiral grasses o I the Southern fetatcs "are almost
entirely destitute of phosphate of lime,'" but wv
have never 8.^en any satislactovy proof of the fact.
Will the Tril/unf' enlighten us on the point ! We
do not say tl-at it is not a Iact, but il it be one,
it is too important, in a s. ientific and practical
point of view, to rest on mere acJs^Ttiou.

A cow could not produce milk at all from food
destitute of [diosfdiate of lime, and the ci.lf not
only "would notgfow rapidly without bone mate-
rial,'" but it ivould nol groo at all. On a soil des-
titute oi' ji'iospiiatis, no plant cipable of sustain-
ing life can grow, if it 13 deficient, tlie produce
will be deiicient ; but tkf proportion of phosphates
in thep/ant wi'l Oc t/ir sdinr. We have no proof
that, by m inuring }i!antR witii phosphates, we
cjin increase the relative proportion of phosphates
in the ■ plant, wiiile we have abundant evidence
that the ivverse is frequently the case. Thus,
turnips mauiired with superphosphate of lime,
contain fes< phosjjr.oric acid than those manured
with sulph.ite ot ammonia ; ?nd it is certain that
the quantify of p'io-<phoii(! acid a plant contains
is no index of its comparative nutritious value.
Were it so. an iuuiuiture plant would be more
nutritious tlian on • iierfeetly elaborated, the leaves
of turnips tv\ice as nutritious as the i)uli>s, and
bran vastly u o -e nourishing than fine wlieaten
flour; all oi which, experience, inductive ex-
peiiaient, and ((mnnon sense, pronounce erro-
neous.— Rural Niw-Yorktr.

it hits increased during the same period at tlie rate
of over^oL'j- hundred per cent, Indian corn is per-
haps the article by which the fairest estimate may
be drawn between the States and Canada. Tak-
ing that as a basis, we find that the increase in tlie
United States between 1840 and 18")() has been
equal to 56 percent., while the increase in Canada
of the same article for the last nine years I:asbeen
1G3 per cent. The comparative im. rouse in oats
has been similarly extensive.

Oliio, in 1850, produced 14,487,351 bushels
of wheat, while Canada, with a much smaller
number of acres under cultivation, produced the
same year 1G,156,*.)46 bushels. The av^iage pro-
duce, per acre, in Ohio is 12, and ii. Canada 14
1-5 bushels. Ohio produces a little over 1-7 part
of tlie wheat raised in all the United States, and
Canada a little less than 1-G part of that amount.

\\^ui:.',.T. — The growth of wheat in the United
States lias iuer nised witiiiii tlic lat't ten years, at
the rate of 18 per cent., while in the two CanHd:us

COVEEEB AND UNCOVERED MAlf URK.

EXPERIMKNTS BY LoKD KiNNAlKD, E>.OL.\>D, WITH

Covered and Uncovered Manure :
With uncovered Manure.

tons. cwt. lbs.
1st raeaaurcmeat — 1 acre produced 7 6 8 of potatoes.
2d do. 1 do. do. 7 18 09 do.

With covered Manure.

tons. cwt. lbs.
Ist cicasuremcnt — 1 acre produced 11 17 26 of potatoes.
21 do. 1 do. do. 11 12 56 do.

As soon as possible after the potatoes were har-
vested, the field was cleaned, plowed and wheat
drilled in, at the rate of three bush(ds per acre.
As soon as the weather wassuitable in the spring,
the whole field got a dressing of 3 cwt. oi Peru-
vian guano ptr acre. During the winter v.iy lit-
tle eiilierence was apparent ; but sliortly altii the
application of the guano, the wheat on that por-
tion manured by the covered dung took a decided
lead, whi-^-h it retained all summer. Trie wiiole
field was cut on the 2dth of August, 1 ^52 ; the
portion manured by the uncovered dung Ixing at
least four days earlier than the other. As before,
the two separate portions in each 1 alfof the field
were measured, cut and stooked sejiarat ly. Ou
the 4th Sept., each portion was tisres ed, the.
grain carefully measured, and the straw weighed.
On account ot a wet season the grain was oflighter
weiglit than usual, in Great Britain, per bushel.
I'he result e)f the experiment was as follows :

With uncovered Manure.

Produce in grain. WV-iglit per hwih, rroJuce in straw.

;icrc. bush. Iba. lbs. stones lbs.

1st 41 10 61i 152 of 22

M 42 38 do. 160 do.

With covered Manure.

Ut 65 6 -61 220 of 22

21 53 47 61 210 do.

These and similar exjicriments have satisfied
Lord Kinnaird of the advantages to be derived
from having farm-yard raanui-es pat under cover.
They seem so conclusive and instructive on this
point as to deserve to be brought bciore the farm-
ing classes of tliis coiintry. Not a lew of your
readers, we doubt not, will take nfinisures o: tome
kind to profit by them. It will require but a
il'W minutes to determine tiiC piuba^'le profits

io54.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

391

of protecting any certain amount of yard-ma-
nure. Itajipears from tlu above resiilta that
Lord Kin naird got aljout 125 hasliL-lsof wheat
more Irom tiie ten acres mamuvd with coven d
dung, than from the ten acres which had lieen ma-
nured with the uncovered. In wlieat alone, thin,
without talking potatoes or wheat straw into ac-
count, the difference in favor of covered maiiuiCB
was quite couHideraMc.

This would saeai to render it evident that ma-
nures are euhjecied to great loss of fertilizing power
by exposure to lieatw and storms. The expeii-
ment iiere giv -n do.-s not note the extent of the
exposure.

VIEW OF FAEM3.

By reference to our advertising columns, it will
be seen that the Committee on Farms for Middle-
sex County, propose to commence their annual
tour of examin.ition about the first of 8.'pteml)cr.
It is tlieir duty to examine entire farms, ah^o
meadows, orchards, cranberry meadows, forest
trees, &o. iS;j. Tia competition on entire farms
has not heretofore l)een wide enough. _ The com-
mittee feel confident tliat there are weli-con.lacted
and profitable farim in every part of tlio count}
that have not been o31cially examined, and upon
which no report of the mode of management has
over been given to the people. It is hoped that
this year the applications will be more numerous.

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAGLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

ADVi^JitriSlNG DEPAUTmENT.

SJj" A limited ciunber of advertisements of an appropriate
character will k<i inserted in the monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

\ RATES.

For one aouare 15 lints, one insertion $liO0

Fur each 3ul)Sequjnt insertion 50

3Zr Tha atjove rates will be charged for all advertisementa,
wheth^-r longer or shorter.

iSii|ier-Plios|iliale of Luiie.

rjUHS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested th-'
i last year, h is been found e(jua!, and in many cases superior
to tlw best t'eruviau (iuano in its immediate eU'ect, and mucli
more pL-rmauently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to an^
!;oil in wiiich there is a delicienoy of Phosphatf\ which is oftei'
the case. All crops itre benelited by it< application. It is com
posed 111 ^'r luud bone, decomposed by sulpiiuric acid, to which i^
addetl a .lue proportion ef Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am
moina, lav.

For sal:;, with full directions for use, in ha.^% of 150 pound-
each. N,i charge for packacre. All bags will be branded "C. It
DeUurj;, No. 1 Super-Piios| hate of Lime."

GEO. DAVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
Street, Koston.

F.-i> IS ixft.t. tf

frerlillzers.

BEST i'laiUVIAN Gl .\N0.
Super-l'hosphate of Lime. — "DeBurg'sNo. 1."
Pouiln tie, of the beat qu.ility.
Ground Piaster, suitable for agricultural purposea.
Ground Hone, IJone Dust and Burnt liotic.
Also, Grass Seeds «f reliable (iualii.\ at the lowest market price.
Gl.u. DAVKNPORT,
5 Commercial, comer of (.'hatham Street, ISoston.
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

KoiiikI Voliiiiif's.

BACK VOLT'MES of tlxj NKW K.NGLAND FAKMER, eie
t'auily bound ic Muslin, Qilt au'l l^ibosscd, are uuw for ."iali
at this olUce. .

aitiKuitttWlP>»w.,u'~---s.i?-trr-.,;^

rr.HE superior merits of these Plows consist ni
i 1. The mode of attaching the forward mould-board to th«
beam, by which great strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility!

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the wliole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow; cultivator, or other implement. So that it L»
in no caae dragged to the surface in the after cultiviition of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to the surface,
and at the same time br'-ak open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized* condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tolerably free hams,' rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
the amoaiit of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several size.s of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite th- ir friends and cus-
tomers to examiuc these Plows, as to qnality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of constnictii.n, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, ov«r
the Market, Boston.

RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April .30, 1803.

(raiiberry Puiiils.

j)ELL, or Egg shiiped Variety — comjiio.ily raised in New Euf?-
1) land, and no doubt is the best variety for cultivati<in — they
are hardy and proUiic — sometimes produce over 250 bushels ^
acre, after 2 years,, and needs but little cu!tivati<':i. < irculars
relatine to culture and price will be forwarded to applicants.

F. TROWI.KIDGIO,

New Haven, Cone
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Eruit and Ornamental Trees.

Tho provrietors offer fur sale ae extensive assort
ment uf fruit and ornamental trees, eoujprJMing lUl
the tfliiiiee staiulard varieties, for the Garden or
Orchard ; also Currants, Gooseberrits, Graj.e Vine*
kv. lOtfO Luckthorn and Aibor Vilif l' r llct'.ges.
s>. & G. liVLE.
Newt-n Corner, March 18, 1854. w*tf

J. II. liUi)IO.\SI,

ARCHITECT.

rpHE subscriber offers his services to those .ibout erecting new,
I or altering old, buildings. lie will farni-ih drawings and
working plans, speciiications, and eTery thing in relation to a
cle:ir uudersuiuding of what is wanted. He thinks he is aide to
present some new views in the construction of liarna, or in alter-
ing old ones, whereby more convenieucies may be obUtined anfl
at less expense. Uis charges will he so modvratc as to enalilc
i.very f:inner to avail liim.self of hie services.

Address J. H. IIAMMUND, Grafton, Mass.

May 27, 1S64.

Bull lair for Sai;%

J-Jy 8, 1S51.

Dropped .June 29th, by a very Ptiperlor

Syear old hiiftr. who is Tnll hloided I>ur-

"^ hyra an.l .Xyr.-diire sli-ck. and sired by the

fine .lersev Bull, h lonL-iuu to SAMVKT.

4^9 HI-.NrtllAW, Eii). Aiplvlo

.1. .1. lUXWKLL,
eo S;ate Street, B.j8:.-<Q.
tf

392

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Auc.

CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER.

Calendar fcr August 345

Green Corn t'litUliug — Rotation of Crops 346

About Bees — racking Butter — The Milkman's Convention.. 34 7

Feedinpr of Animals 348

Horser:,(lish 349

On Making Hay 350

The Witch Haztl Test — Mulching — Wood Shavings 351

The O.ik I'runer 351

Influence of Soils on the Color of Flowers 352

Trees on Farms — To Preserve Eggs. 352

An Ohio Novelty 353

Maturity of Plants 354

Vermont State Agricultural Society 354

Farmer's CUib— Remedy for Smut in Wheat 355

A Shower — Lightning Rods — Haying 356

What Kind of Farnnng 357

Climate in Canada West 358

Viewing of Farms — Experiment with Potato Rot 359

Cutting and Curing Hay 360

Our Aims are too Low 361

Massachusetts vs. California — Agriculture in Egypt 362

Canker Worms — A Ray of Light 363

House Painting — Coal Ashes a Remedy for Bugs on Vines... 364

A few Ideas About .Milk — Culture of Horse Radish 365

Essex County 365

Farming in Ohio — What Next ? 366

How to Find Water — '-Blinds" on Horses 367

.\. Lofty Cataract — A Curious Structure 367

Use of Guano — Time for Transplanting Fruit Trejs 368

Chinese for F.ai-mers cr Gardeners 36S

Swine 369

Iron HAiuses 370

Feeding of Animals 371

Harvesting Grain — Jonathan Slow 373

Proper Use of Exercise — .\gricnltural Fairs 374

Farms Entire — The Proper Time of Cutting Grain 375

National Cattle Show — Cheese as a Digester 376

Chapter on Husbandry — Sugar in the Living Animal 377

Guano 378

A Fertilizer Almost Equal to Guano 379

The Farmer'siTact in Selling 379

The Soil 380

Wheat a Purifier of the Atmosphere 381

The Wheat Crop of California 3S1

Agriculture in Schools 382

Making and Proservmg P.utter 382

Successful Farming— The Seers 383

Mixing Sawdust with Ashes 384

Variety of Food Necessary 384

Monthly Farmer for July 385

Saving Grass Seed 386

Extracts and Keplios 387

Time for Cutting Grain 339

Pine Woods Pf.sture and Southern Cows 390

Covered and Uncovered Manure 390

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Cow Milker's -■i.ssistant 353

The Expanding and Reversable Harrow 369

Garden, and Fire Engine , 385

EDWARD HARRISON'S

GRIST MILL

Received the highest premium at thoWorld^^
Fair; and more than two hundred and fifty of
them have been sold withui two years. The
stones are French Burr ; the frames and hoppers,
cast iron; and the spindles, cast steel. They
will work both for flouring aud on all kinds of
^ grain, and will keep in repair longer than any
S other mill. Having just completed my new
buildings, for manufacturing and running them, I am now pre-
pared to supply all orders lor all the sizes, from twenty inches to
four feet diameter, inchviing a superior farm and jjlant-'ition mUl.
which will grind corn in the best manner, by horse power, or
even by hand. Public attention is invited to this small mill in
particular. Descriptive circulars, with cuts, sent to post-paid
applications. EDWARD ILARRISON,

Sole manufacturer, and proprietor of the Patent.

New Haven, Ct.
April 29, 1854. 6m^

AGRICULTURAL

WAREiioi^sE km mm stciee*

QUINCY HALL, OVER THE MARKET, BOSTON.

THE Pioprietors having recently enlarged their Warehouses,
and increased their works at Worcester, would respectfulif
invite the attention of Planters and Dealers in AGRICULTURAL
& HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, GARDEN and FIELD
SEEDS, &c., to their stock, comprising the largest and best as-
sortment to be found in the United States, which are offered at
low prices.

Of PLOUGHS — we have the greatest variety of kinds anii
sizes.

Improved Sod Ploughs, for flat furrows — improved Scotch
Ploughs for lapped furrows — improved Stubble Ploughs, whins
are especially adapted to deep tillage, or varying from 6 to li'
inches in depth.

Self-sharpening, Hill Side, Sub-soil, Double Mould, Corn, Cot
ton and Rice Ploughs.

Cylinder Hay Cutters, Smith's Patent Lever Gate, and others
Patent Corn Shellers, with and without Separators. Seed Sowers,
of various sizes and prices. Batchelder's patent Corn Planter,
improved . Fanning Mills of various sizes. Horse Powers, Thresh
ing Machines, Thermometer Churn, Dash Churn, Corn Planters,
together with almost every article wanted on the Plantation.
Farm or Garden.

Illustrated Catalogues sent gratis on application, post-paid.
RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

Boston and Worcester, Mass., Jan. 1, 1853. tf.

Morriirs Ditching Maehliie,

PATENTED MAY 10, 1858.

ANEW, cheap, and useful implement for ditching soft laiio
Operated by two men, without the aid of horsi-s. .ipplie;.
tion for machines or rights may be made to the subhcribiv
JONATHAN W. MORRILL, Hampton Falls,' N. II., or '-
RUGGLES, NOURSE, M.VSON & CO., Boston.

Boston, Sept. 13, 1853.

Mr. J. W. Morrill ; — Dear Sir, — I have this day put in ope.'-
ation on my farm in Ipswich one of your Patent Ditching Ma-
chines. The land selected for trial was a salt marsh, bounde<j
by upland on one side, on the other by a creek ; we had there-
fore an opportunity of testing it on both hard and soft land. I
have great pleasure in stating that the machine worked to mv
entire satisfaction, although it was used by two men who ha-^
never before seen one in use. They cut a ditch at the rate of over
six rods per hour, 2 feet four inches in depth. I consider it d>
very valuable labor-saving machine. Yours truly,

J. NOURSE.

We, the undersigned, have seen Morrill's Patent Ditching Ma-
chine in operation, and certify that we think it far superior to
other modes of ditching, and consider it a very valuable labor-
saving machine.

David Nudd, Hampton, N. H. Robert Dow, Salisbury, Mair
J. M. Palmer, " " Abel Merrill, " "

JouN B. Brown, Hampton Falls. Trck Pike, " "

J br'h Lane, Hampton Falls. Mack B. True, " "

Moses True, Salisbury, Mass.

May 27, 1854. tf

Oyster Shell Liiii?

Ray (iiass.

Q AA BUSHF^LS Perennial Ray Grass.
'J U U 100 bushels Italian Ray Grass.

These valuable grasses give a rapid .and hand.some growth for
lawns, and the crop, which should be cut three times daring the
season, makes a sweet hay or a valuable green feed for soiliii".
For sale by PARKER, WHITE k GANNETT. 47, 59 Jt 63 Bl.ack-
stone Street, Boston.

July S, 1854. 4w

fllAVE on hand, and am constantly manufactui-ing this ar
tide for farming purposes. It has also been extensively usee
during the last season for laying the walls of cellars, and stonf
work of a similar nature, and is found to answer this jiurpoa*
equally as well as the best stone lime. After 1st March, tix-
prices will be as follows :

For less than 50 bbls 50<;

Or over 50 bbls 40c

In Bulk — a large car load containing 80 bbls 30c

A small car load containing 40 bbls 35c ^ bbi.

delivered at either depot in Boston or Charlestown.

JAMES GOULD,
Feb. 18, 1854. tf 70 State Street

To the Farmers of Middtesex.

THE Committee on Farms, of the Middlese,v Ai^ricultttra.
Society, hereby give notice that they will commence their
view of Farms on or about the Jirst of Septe7nbcT. Those per-
sons desirous of competing for the i)remiums, are requested to
notify either of the undersigned at an early day. From a pretty
thorough examination of the farms in the county in former years,
the committee believe that there are very many highly worthy at
examination, and that oughc to bo reported upon — they therr-
fore hope the applications will be numerous.

Charles Babbidoe, ;
Samuel Chandler, > Committee.
Simon Biiown.
Concord, July 22, 1854.

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, SEPTEMBER, 1854.

NO. 9,

RAYNOLDS & NOURSE, Proprietors.
Office Quincy Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK, 1 AssociATB
HENRY F. FRENCH \ Editors.

CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER.

"But brawn comes the autumn, and sere grows the corn,

And the woods like a rainbow are dressed ;
And but for the cock, and the noontide hour,

Old Time would be tempted to rest.
The humming-bee fans off a shower of gold.

From the mullein's long rod as it sways.
And dry grow the leaves which protecting enfold

The ears of the well-ripened Maize."

W. W. FOSDICK, OF N. Y.

EFTEMBER, the

first of the Au-
tumnal Months,
brings -with it
new aspects of
the year, and
calls up a new
class of emotions
in the heai't, to those who love
nature, and find pleasure in ob-
serving her ways. Now, the
voices of nature have materially
changed. The lark, the bob-o-link, the swallow,
that so lately allured us into the fields, are no
longer heard ; the early morning song of the rob-
in is sadly broken, and deficient in tone and com-
pass, while the plaintive note of the blue-bird is
only faintly heard at longer and longer intervals.
So new classes of insects utter their voices day and
night, and claim the season as their own. They
are as earnest and active in their calling, as were

the oaks, the poplars, the horse-chestnuts, still
retain their darkest summer green ; the elms and
beeches are changing to a bright yellow which
produces, at a distance, the effect of patches of
sunshine ; and the sycamores are beginning, here
and there, to assume a brilliant warmth of hue,
almost amounting to scarlet." But nothing
among us exceeds in beauty and richness, our no-
ble forests, where the beech and birch, the white
and red maple, the elm, the ash, the walnut and
oak,with their endless variety of colors flashing in
the sun, are magnificently studded with here and
there a hemlock or pine or spruce towering above
them all. Less conspicuous than these, but ad-
mirably filling the picture, are the dog-wood, the
sassafras and blueberry, the alder, hazelnut, and
berberry, all with their ever-changing colors and
charms.

September is a pleasant month in which to trav-
el. The systematic farmer, whose well-matured
plans up to this time have been completed, may
now take his wife or daughter and make those so-
cial and profitaltle visits which really give to life
a value never felt by thos(^who have not toiled
for their bread. In these visits — not made by the
rail,, however — he may gather much from the ex-
perience of others, and from an observation of
their modes of management. Every visit cannot
fail to add something valuable to the common
stock of knowledge which he possesses ; give him

tlje May-flies, the June-bugs, the beetles and bor- an idea of some new mode in plowing,' plantino-
ers and bugs of every hue and name. harvesting, disposing of stone, erecting fences ?r

So new aspects are presented by the vegetable
kingdom. Where freshness, fulness and beauty
lately prevailed in the flowers, the growing
plants, and shrubs and trees, age and perfection
have now marked them with the first touches of
decay. "The woods and groves, those grandest
and most striking among the general features of
the country, towards the end of the month begin
to put on their richest looks. The firs are gradu-
ally darkening towards their winter blackness ;

buildings; or in reclaiming, or draining, or com-
posting. Each individual has a turn of mind, or
taste, peculiar to himself, that leads him, per-
haps, to investigate and settle some question for
which otliers about him Iiavc felt no interest. So
we must do for him ; and this makes up the sum
of human knowledge. Such visits will thus be-
come pro/liable, as we have stated, as well ag
agreeable. They will afTurd subjects for pleasant
family conversations of many a winter evening

394

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

over the fragrant tea and the smoking barley
cakes.

Many of the manipulations of the farmer for
September, are such as are also applicable to, and
were isuggestedin, August.

Seed Corn — should be selected in the field,
and from early, thrifty stalks, which contain two
or three ears. If this were faithfully attended to
for several years, our corn might be much im-
proved in earliness and fulness of the ears. Trace
and hang it up in safe places.

Sowing Wheat. — SulScient directions have re-
cently been given in these columns on this point.
It will be well to wash the wheat in strong brine
before sowing ; the salt will benefit it, and it will
separate the light kernels and chaff, and perhaps
some false seeds, from the wheat, which may then
be removed. The earlier it is sown in September
the better will be the prospect of a good crop.

Rye. — Early sowing of this crop, too, is im-
portant to success.

Fattening Animals. — No time should be lost
now in this branch of husbandry. Whatever the
animals are, feed plentifully, and make them per-
fectly comfortable, and they will gain much faster
now than in cold weather. A variety of food is
better than to confine them to a single article.

Harvesting. — After making trial in three ways,
viz., topping the corn, cutting it up at the ground
and shocking ; and leaving it untouched until the
leaves and stems ware dead ; we have come to the
conclusion that the best way is — both in point of
economy and convenience — to top the corn when
the spindle and a little of the stem below it is dry,
and leave the remainder in the field, no matter, if
the weather is moderate, if until into November;
the grain will not hurt. In topping the corn the
grain is undoubtedly diminished ; but the quality
of the fodder will make up for this, and all the
labor of harvesting the crop in this way is
greatly more convenient and pleasant.

Potatoes — of late y«irs — have required early
harvesting.

Turnips, — ruta bagas, cabbages, may be left
late, as they are not injured by light frosts.

Carrots should not be exposed to frosts.

Apples are better gatliered a little late, but
not exposed to heavy frosts.

On the first pleasant day take out your windows,
and tack a strip of list, of suitable thickness, on
the outer edges ; so that it will be entirely out of
sight — return the sash to its place, and your job
is done. By this simple process almost any room
may be rendered delightfully warm, and the wife
and children remarkably pleasant. Try it. —
Cleverland Free Democrat.

A Seasonable Hint. — As the cold season is at
hand, and economy in fuel is a subject of some
importance, it may bo well to mention a very sim-
ple way of shutting out the cold from our dwell
inge, and thereby adding much to the comfort of
home. Those who are annoyed by the clatter of
windows when the mercury is considerably below
zero, and by a current of air sufiieiently strong to
turn a good sized wind-mill, can easily obtain re-
lief by atl-ending to the following directions.
Procure a shilling's worth of list from the tailor,
and a paper of small tacks from the hardware store.

Agriculture — Its Essentials and Non-Essen-
tials. Including an Examination of the Prop-
erties of Guano, and other Manures. By H. N.
Fryatt, of Belleville, N. J. T. S. Magagnos &
Co., Publishers, N. Y." — This is a pamphlet of
60 large pages, attempting to show, briefly, what
the earth and the atmosphere supply to plants,
and what the cultivator himself must supply. The
writer states that the atmosphere furnishes car-
bonic acid, ammonia, nitrogen and water, and
that these serve in the gaseous form to sustain the
plant after it has acquired leaves ; the leaves ab-
sorbing these gases in company with water, de-
composing and depositing the carbon and nitro-
gen in the seeds.

The soil — he says — in addition to its supplies
from the air, contains within itself an inexhausti-
ble supply of carbonic acid and ammonia, from
the slow decay of its humus (woody fibre) and the
countless myriads of insect and vegetable re-
mains.

He condemns the ammonia theory, upon which
Prof. LiEBiG started, but which he has in a great
measure abandoned. He states that ammonia is
supplied in all climates and situations, in greater
excess than carbonic acid, according to the rela-
tive wants of vegetation. In short, that there is
no need, whatever, o^ purchasing ammonia.

The three great essentials which he states must
be supplied artificially, are, — the pulverization of
the soil by plowing, spading, hoeing, &c., — by
caustic lime and phosphate of lime — bones.

We are not sufficiently versed in chemical lore,
to declare whether all his statements and reason-
ing are right or wrong, and can only say that to
us they appear plausible and well considered. At
any rate, we have had more interest excited in
reading the pamphlet, than in perusing anything
of a kindred subject for some time. We shall
test some of his assertions on our own farm, and
if they prove correct, shall find the management
of our crops less difficult and expensive than we
have heretofore.

The Butterfly Plant. — The National Intel-
ligencer says that a specimen of the singular and
beautiful "butterfly plant" is now in bloom at
the National green-house in Washington. The
blossoms are very large and yellow, Avith reddish
brown spots, and are moved to and fro with every
breath of air, so as to resemble very much the
gaudy insect from which it derives its name. The
plant was brought from the Island of St. Thomas
in the U- S. frigate Raritan.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

395

AN AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN
ENGLAND.

Mr. Mechi, formerly a successful London mer-
chant, now the most enterprising and liberal im-
prover of Agriculture in Europe, annually invites
a considerable number of persons interested in in-
dustrial pi'Ogress to visit his farm just before his
summer grain is ripe, and see what he is doing,
and with what success. The London Times gives
an account of his gathering this seasan, which we
publish this morning in the hope that it will sug-
gest and promote improvement in the conduct of
our county fairs, now too generally mere shows of
mammoth products without giving the assembled
farmers any clear idea of what thci/ have to do,
if they would rival or exceed those productions.
Mr. Mechi's meetings are, for practical purposes,
worth a dozen of these barren displays, and we
hope they will find imitators here. Twenty good
farmers can walk over their own farms and explain
their successful experiments where one can make
a set speech ; while one such explanation is worth
twenty average speeches. — N. Y. Tribune.

Mr. Mechi's annual gathering at Tiptreeis cer-
tainly one of the most agreeable events of the ag-
ricultural year. Though the circumstances which
fii'st gave a special interest to these meetings have
happily passed away, they still continue highly
attractive. In endeavoring to stimulate improve-
ments in husbandry, the enterprising tradesman
of Leadenball Street has created an occasion which
every one who partakes of it enjoys. To his visit-
ors from town, a reasonable excuse for escaping
out of London during the dog-day heats is of
course exceeding welcome. To those engaged in
country pursuits, there is the feeling of curiosity
to gratify as to a system of farm management
much talked about, and departing in many re-
spects from the routine of agricultural practice.
To all, there is the pleasure of inspecting excel-
lent crops, and observing how the oldest and most
delightful of human occupations is progressing.
Man, however much he may be modified by cir-
cumstances, never loses entirely his natural taste
with refei'ence to the cultivation of the soil. He
may know nothing or next to nothing about it,
but the treatment of mother earth, so that in due
season she may yield her increase, always retains
some interest for him. It is therefore little short
of the supply of a public w;uit at which Mr. Me-
chi now aims in his annual gathering. lie began
by inviting inspection in order by the force of ex-
ample to give an impulse to improved cultivation.
He still perseveres, and not without effect, in the
same direction ; but these meetings have acquired
gradually an established character, looked for-
ward to by numbers of people belonging to differ-
ent spheres of life, coming ft-om reuKjte parts of
the country, and attracted even from abroad.

Yesterday the 300 or 350 guests who visited
Tiptree included peers and members of the House
of Commons, civic dignitaries, men of science,
heads of Government departments, engineers, wri-
ters on the science and practice of agriculture, a
fair sprinkling of the clergy, implement-makers,
Commissioners from foreign States, and a large
number of fiirmers. It will thus be seen that this
year's meeting surpassed in the variety of interests
and intelligence composing it that of any former
one, and Mr. Mechi may very fairly be congratu-

lated on the usefulness of a career which, after
having exposed him to much ignorant ridicule, is
at length applauded and honored by such an as-
semblage. He has made failures, as what bold,
adventurous man does not occasionally 1 He has
gone to work rather expensively sometimes ; nor
is it difficult to point out defects even now in his
farming. Take for example the old-fashioned
plan of laying out the land in beds with furrow
drains, thus rendering the application of machin-
ery to its surface unnecessarily difficult. Still one
is pretty sure to find all the novelties in agricul-
tural improvement prominently displayed at Tip-
tree, and, if the experience of succeeding years some-
times detracts from the value of these as gauged
by their sanguine promoter, he at least keeps mov-
ing in the right direction. Everybody now ac-
knowledges that, whatever be the state of his bal-
ance-sheet, he has done an immense deal of good.
As far as the public are concerned, that is the
main point ; for if a man's mistakes or pecuniary
sacrifices benefit them, they are only the more
bound to feel obliged to him.

But, turning from these general considerations
to the details of yesterday's visit, let us endeavor
to sketch the proceedings and the results which
they present. According to his usual plan on
these occasions, Mr. Mechi took his guests, after
a slight refection, into his fields ; and here, pass-
ing rapidly from point to point, he explained with
a volubility and happiness of illustration peculiar
to him everything that possessed interest, or upon
which information was desired. Now, on the
confines of his farm, he complacently contrasted
his neighbor's wheat with a piece of his own ad-
joining it, stating why the one was better than
the other, and the probable value of the advan-
tage gained. Next he was standing before a fine
field of oats, dilating upon the importance of thin
sowing, answering vivaciously a sustained fusil-
lade of questions, and promising himself a return
of from 11 to 13 quarters per acre upon the crop.
Then come the liquid manure distributor, Avith its
hose scattering around it showers of refreshing
aliment for plants. In five minutes Mr. jNlechi
had told his visitors all about it — how quickly the
fertilizing products of his feeding sheds were on
the land — in what quantity he could apply them
— how digestible and direct the form in which they
were presented — how wonderful the results in vege-
tation which they yielded ; the mechanical and
chemical details of the process were dashed off in
a few sentences, the folly of not utilizing town
manures in the same manner inculcated, and im-
mediately afterward visiters and hosts were before
one of Garrett's best portable threshing machines
which the manufacturer proceeded to explain.

Mr. Mechi had, some time ago, tested at Tij)-
tree, an American invention of this kind, and,
nothing daunted by the present excellence of Gar-
rett's, described its superiormerits in some respects,
urging the implement-makers to get rjd, as much
as possiI)le, of the reciprocating action in their
machines, to produce them lighter and cheaper,
to work out the problem of steam cultivation, and
generally to go ahead. In this manner ho took
his guests fruju field tj field, stopping at one point
to show the spring running 4(t,U(.IO gallons a day,
with which he licjiiifies liis manure, at another to
explain his mode of folding and feeding sheep ;
again to read a letter from Mr. Kennedy, the

396

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept'

Scotch agriculturist, recording what a surprising
increase of food for stock he has obtained by the
use of liiquid manure. His grain and mangold
crops excited general admiration, and on no former
occasion has he shown anything like them. The
wheats especially are magnificent, up-standing,
even in growth, large-eared, and so high that some
adventurers who started out to explore afield sown
with "Payne's Defiance" were at once shut out of
view by the waving and luxuriant mass of vegetation.
In the management of his Italian rye-grass, Mr.
Mechi's forming shows to the least advantage ;
but for this, as Mr. Caird very properly observed
after dinner, the dry climate of the eastern coun-
ties is somewhat responsible. In making the round
of his farm, Mr. Mechi delivered a succession of
short but very amusing and vigorous peripatetic
lectures on every important point connected with
agriculture. His visitiors were delighted with the
freshness, good humor, the volubility, and, in the
main, the soundi-ess of these expositions. They
certainly have a stamp about them which nobody
but ]\Iechi could give, and his field preachings on
agriculture are alone worth travelling a long dis-
tance to listen to. There was not time left before
dinner to examine the feeding-sheds, the stock,
and the general arrangement of the homestead,
but enough had been seen to satisfy tlie keenest
appetite for improved cultivation. Smart exercise
in the fresh air had now brought a large propor-
tion of the guests into a frame of body and mind
thoroughly calculated to do justice to the ample
provision which their liost had prepared for them.
In a spacious tent, erected for that purpose, they
sat down to the number of nearly- 300, and there
the evening was most agreeably terminated in that
round of toasts and speech-making which seems
an indispensable condition of festive meetings in
this country.

SQUIRRELS m THE V/OODS.

There are few things more pleasing than to lie
upon the grass on a sunny day in Summer, and
watch the squirrels in the trees al)ove you. Peer-
ing up, you will espy, on one of the tree stems, a
little brown monkoyfied-looking rat, with a sort of
rabbit's head, and a foxy tail as long as its body,
and curling over it, and ccce my lord squirrel !
Down he comes, leaping from branch to branch,
clawing, racing so fast, and now he reaches the
turf and sits upon his hind legs, and looks this
way and that, and listens. Do not move, or he is
off; do not wink so much as as eyelid. "All
right ? " his merry brown eyes seem to ask. Yes,
all right ; for a nut drops from between his teeth
into his fore paws, and giving his mighty conse-
quential tail an extra curl, he makes ready for
breakfast. Tliat is another sight — the way in
which a squirrel deals with a nut. First of all he
shakes and rattles it, that he may be sure there is
something inside ; then he twirls it round and
round in his })aws, till he gets the narrow end up-
permost, for he knows tliat the upper end of the
shell is the thinnest ; then he begins to grate and
file till lie has wormed his way through, getting
noisier and noisier as the hole gets bigger ; and
then comes intervals of quiet, which means that
his teeth are in the kernel, and that he is eating
all within his reach ; for a squirrel never has pa-
tience to wait till the kernel is clean out ; he eats
by installments in the shell, and trust him for get-

ting the whole of it ! Well, after the nut, he
will perhaps pick the bones of an apple, if there
be one within reach ; and when he has had his
fill he will wash his face with his paws, and his
paws with his fixce, and, feeling quite clean and
spruce and comfortable, he will roll over on the
turf, making funny little noises and giving queer
little jumps, and then away! up the next tree
stem, clawing, leaping, swinging, so fast, so fast,
— up and up, till your neck is out of joint with
watching him, and he is lost among the leaves.

For the New England Farmer.

THE DROUGHT IN NORTHERN
VERMONT.

Mr. Editor : — The severity of the drought in
this vicinity, probably exceeds that of any other
year within the recollection of the oldest inhabi-
tants. Five years ago this summer was called the
extraordinary dry season, and every summer
since might very properly be termed a dry season,
but the drought this year by far exceeds that of
any other of the "dry seasons." Most of the
country north of the Winooski river to Canada
line has suffered more or less. In Lamoille Coun-
ty, not only the low land in the valleys, and the
farms of dry and sandy soil, have suffered, but hill
farms, and those that extend on to the sides of
the mountains — farms that arc naturally wet —
and were not injured by former droughts, have
been very much injured this summer.

The farmers have not cut probably more than
half of the usual crop of hay, and the same may
be said of oats and potatoes ; and corn not much
better, though there may.be some fields that are
tolerable. There are many fields of most all kinds
of crops that are almost an entire failure. It
seems as though the "barren clods" could never
look green again. The pastures are "very short"
and very much crisped up, as are also the mead-
ows that have been mowed. Many of them look
as if they had been bleached. If there should come
sufficient rain, at this late hour, it would hardly
benefit very much any kind of croji ; even 230ta-
toes are considered "too far gone," to be much
benefited, though it would help grass land and
fall feed; us it is, stock find it rather close picking
to get their living now.

The advance prices of farm produce in this vi
cinity, within a year or two, have encouraged
farmers to take hold with new energy ; but the
failure of their crops this year, causes some to
wear rather long faces. There has not been one
soaking rain here this summer, nothing but a
few slight showers.

I will mention one singular phenomenon that
is happening to some of the potatoes in this vicin-
ity ; potatoes that were planted about the middle
of May, by the middle of August, bore new ones,
nearly half-grown, about as large as they would
be this year, owing to the drought ; but the curi-
osity is, the new ones have sprouted and come up.
I saw yesterday (the I7th) some with sprouts a
finger 's-length long, as they had got out of the
ground, though the old tops were gi'cen. Is it a
fi'cak of nature — an extra effort to "bring forth
and multiply?" Or might it not be the drought
stopped their growth, and after a shower the
warm weather caused them to sprout and grow ?

Morrisville, Vt., Aug. 18, 1854. J. m. c.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

397

ANIMAL LIFE.

Incapable as water may seem to be of aflfording
anything like solid nutriment, yet there are some
tribes of animals that appear capable not only of
8ubsii?ting upon tliis, but upon even the still less
eubstantial diet, — air. Leeches and tadpoles, be-i
sides various kinds of fishes, (among which is the;
gold-fish,) will live upon water alone. Numer-
ous experiments have been made by philosophers
to test the truth of this matter beyond peradven-
ture. Rondelet kept a silver-fish in pure water
alone for three j^ears, and at the end of that pe-
riod it had grown as large as the glass globe that
contained it. Several species of the carp kind, it
is said, have a similar power ; and even the pike,
one of the most voracious of the finny tribes, will
thrive upon water in a marble basin. All kinds
of amphibious animals are particularly tenacious
of life, and not only frogs and toads, but tortoises,
lizards, and serpents, are well known to have ex-
isted for months, and even years, without other
food than water, and, in some cases, only air. It
Is stated on good authority that a person once
kept two horned-snakes in a glass jar for two
years, without giving them anything. It was not
observed that they slept in the winter season, and
they cast their skins as usual about the 1st of
April. Lizards have been found imbedded in chalk
rocks, and toads have teen discovered in wood,
blocks of marble and other situations, where, to
all appearance,they must have been entombed for
many years. Snails and chameleons, it has been
repeatedly asserted, will live upon air alone. It
is als(? said that spiders will live on the same light
diet, and that, though they will devour other food,
they really do not need it to support life. La-
terille confirms this statement by an experiment
■which he made with a spider, by sticking it to a
cork, and precluding it from communication with
anything else for four successive months ; and, at
the end of that time it was as lively as ever. A
writer in the Philosophical Transactions states
that he kept a beetle in a glass confinement for
three years, without food. The larva9 of ants are
not only supported on air, but actually grow in
bulk. It would appear however from experiments
made by M. Goldberry, 1786, that the usually
received opinion that the chameleon feeds on air
is a vulgar error. lie subjected seven of them to
this ordoal, and they all died save one, in three
months and twenty-three days. So it would ap-
pear that they could survive, like many other an-
mals, for a time upon the oxygen the atmosphere
affords, but could not subsist upon it continuously
The instances wehavecited, however, are sufficient
to show that some animals require very little, and
in some cases not any, of what we usually denom
inate food, to support existence. Numerous in
stances might be cited where persons have sur-
vived for many days without nutriment. A wo-
man condemned to death, in the reign of Richard
III., lived forty days without food or drink. A
young lady, sixteen years of age, is mentioned in
the Edinburgh Medical Essays for 1720, who was
thrown into such a violent tetanus, or rigidity of
the muscles, by the death of her father, that she
■was unable to swallow for fifty-four days, and
when she came into the natural state again, she
declared that she had no sense of hunger or thirst.
A still more extraordinary account than tliis is re-
lated of a man who, upon recovering from an in-

flammatory fever, had such a dislike to food of all
kinds, that for eighteen years he never tasted any-
thing but water. All will recollect the case of
the sleeping man from Rochester, who was exhib-
ited in this city last summer, and who had not
partaken of food for a long time. Cats have been
known to live over two years without drinking. —
N. Y. Sunday Times.

THE NIGHTS.

BY BABRY CORNWALL.

O, the summer night

Has a smile of light.
And she sits on a sapphire throne ;

Whilst the sweet winds load her

With garlands of odor,
From the bud to the rose o'erblown.

But the autumn night

lias a piercing sight,
And a step both strong and free ;

.\nd a voice for wonder,

Like the wrath of the thunder.
When he shouts to the stormy sea.

And the winter night

Is all cold and white,
And she singeth a song of pain.

Till the wild bet hummclh.

And warm spring cometh.
When she dies in a dream of rain.

O, the night, the night,

'Tis a lovely sight,
Whatever the clime or time.

For sorrow then soareth,

And the lover outpoureth
His soul in a star-bright rhyme.

It bringeth sleep

To the forests deep,
The forest-bird to its nest",

To care, bright hours.

And dreams of flowers,
And that balm to the weary— rest !

Chambers'' Journal.

For the New England Farmer.

ARE LIGHTNING RODS HUMBUGS 1

A writer in a late number of the Farmer, in
answer to inquiries from a correspondent, describes
the manner in which lightning rods should be con-
structed, and says, buildings protected by such
rods are never injured by lightning. The follow-
ing item appears in a late N. Y. paper : — "The
house of Mr. Gushing, of Genesee, same county,
was struck by lightning during a storm on Thurs-
day, June 22. What is singular in the case is,
the house was protected by three silver pointed
lightning rods, of most approved construction,
which rods it seems attbrded no protection." The
editor of the Farmer says other cases similar are
known. The destruction of life and property by
lightning, is becoming very frequent, of late.
Storms are more frequent — houses and barns are
burned, cattle destroyed, human !)eings instantly
killed. As a defence and protection from the storm,
many are putting up rods to their buildings wliich
we are assured will certainly prevent injury by
lightning. Are they humbugs? One says the rods
should pass througli glass rings ; the Country
Gentleman savs that is all nonsense, wooden sup-
ports are just as gt)od. Will not some scientific
writer, who is thoroughly acquainted with the

398

NEW ENGLAND FARMEll.

Sept.

■whole subject, and is not concerned in the manu-
facture or sale of lightning rods, give us, the
thousands of farmers and others, who arc now
turning their attention to this subject and who
wish to know the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, in relation to it — the need-
ed information. Thousands of rods are now be-
ing put up, and if they are indeed no protection
from the fluid, it should be known. 0, for light !
Will not some one put his light in the Farmer,
where it will shine upon its thousands of delight-
ed readers. s. g. b.

DEATH OF DISTINGUISHED AGRICUL-
TURAL MEN,

The Maine Farmer, in speaking of the death of
JosiAH HoLBROOK, by drowning, says : — "He was
the founder of the Lyceum system in New England.
He was drowned in Black Water Creek, near
Lynchburg, Va., on the 19th ult. It is supposed
that he met his death l)y falling down a cliff in the
creek, while searching for geological specimens.
Mr. H. had written and published much on sci-
entific subjects, and had acliieved an extended rep-
utation.

Thousands in the United States have reason to
remember with gratitude his name, on account
of his constant and unwearied efforts to simplify
and render attractive the modes of teaching the
young.

It was to him that common schools are indebt-
ed for the introduction of Apparatus and Black-
boards, &c., &c., whereby many of the studies
before obstruse and oftentimes incomprehensible
to the young are rendered plain and even amus-
ing to the child, and impress his mind so indelibly
that he can never forget their teachings.

He was occasionally a correspondent of the
Maine Farmer. His death is a public calamity."

The Rev. Charles Fox, of Grosse Isle, near De-
troit, Mich., died of cholera on the 24th inst. He
was English by birth, had for many years officia-
ted worthily and acceptably as an Episcopal cler-
gyman, but bought an islet in Detroit River and
turned farmer some four years ago, and has since
devoted himself to Agriculture and its improve-
ment witli entliusiasm and success. He estab-
lished the . Farmer'' s Companiori some eighteen
months ago, and last winter published the Amer-
ican Text-Book of Agriculture, which has been re-
ceived with marked favor. Thus cut down in the
very midst of a career of extensive usefulness,
Michigan had few citizens whom she could so ill
afford to spare as Charles Fox. It is not many
days since we heard from him by letter in full
health and activity : our next tidings of him came
yesterday, and are here recorded. — Tribune.

and goodly to behold, and of the crop of 1853 !
There is no evidence of decay in its outward ap-
pearance, and like him who sends it, is undoubt-
edly sound at heart.

STATE AGRICULTURAL SHOWS IN
1854.

We find the following list of State Shows ar-
ranged in chronological order in the Ajncrican
Agriculturist.

Illinois, at Springfield, Sept. 12—15.

Kentucky, Lexington, Sept. 12 — 16.

Lower CanaJa, Quel>ec, Sept. 12 — 16.

Vermont, Bi-attleboro', Sept. 13 — 15.

Ohio, Newark, Sept. 16 — 22.

Michigan, Detroit, Sept. 26—29.

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Sept. 2Y — 29.

Missouri, Boonville, Oct. 2 — 6.

New York, New York, Oct. 3—6.

New Hampshire, at Keene, Oct. 3 — 6.

Maryland, at Baltimore, Oct. 3 — 6.

Indiana, Madison, Oct. 4 — 7.

Wisconsin, Watertown, Oct. 4 — 7.

Connecticut, New Haven, Oct. 10 — 13.

North Carolina, Ealeigh, Oct. 17-20.

Tennessee, (East,) Kuoxville, Oct. 18 — IS. .

Georgia, Augusta, Oct. 23 — 26.

Iowa, Fairfield, Oct. 25.

National Cattle Show, Springfield, Ohio, Oct. 24— 27.

The following is the list for the different Agri-
cultural Societies in Massachusetts ;

Essex, at Lawrence, Sept. 27 and 28.

Middlesex, Concord, Oct. 3 and 4.

Middlesex South, Framingham, Sept. 27 ancS 2S.

Worcester, Worcester, Sept. 27 and 28.

Worcester West, Sept. 20.

Worcester North, Sept. 13.

Hampshire, Franklirs and Hampden, Northampton, Oct. 13.

Hampshire, Amherst, Oct. IS and 19.

Hampden, Springfield, Sept. 27 and 28.

Franklin, Greenfield, Oct. 4 and 5.

Berkshire, Pittsfield, Oct. 4 and 5.

Housatonic, Great Barrington, Sept. 27 and 2S.

Norfolk, Dedham, Sept. 2C and 27.

Bristol, Taunton, Sept. 27 and 28.

Plymouth, Bridgewater, Oct. 4 and 5.

Barnstable, Barnstable, Oct. 11.

New Hampshire Fairs.
The several Agricultural Fairs in New Hansp-
shire, the ensuing season, will l>e held as follows :

Kockingham County, at Eseter, Sept. 13 and 14.
Grafton, at Lyme, Sept. 21 and 22.
Cheshire, at Keene, Sept. 26 and 27.
Merrimack, at Fisherville, Sept. 27 and 28.
Hillstoro', at Nashua, Sept. 23 and 29.
Sullivan, not determined.
State, at Keene, October 3 and 6.

A Goon Old Squash. — J. A. Ames, Esq., of
Wilmington, sent one of the publishers this morn-
ing a Custard Squash of ample dimensions, fair,

Charity. — Every good act, says Mahomet, is
charity. Your smiling in your brother's face is
charity ; an exhortation of your fellow-men to
virtuous deeds is equal to alms-giving ; your put-
ting a wanderer in the right road is charity ; your
removing stones, and thorns, and other obstruc-
tious from the road is charity ; your giving water
to the thirsty is charity. A man's true wealth
hereafter is the good he does in this world to his
fellow-men. When he dies, people will say,
"what property has he left behind him?'' But
the angels who examine him in the grave will ask,
"what good deeds hast thou sent before thee?"

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

399

For the New England Farmer.

INSECTS LESTEUCTIVE TO PEACHES.

Mr. Editor : — Dear Sir, — I send you by my
brother a specimea of an insect which last year
proved very destructive to my peaches, attacking
them on the first softening spot, two or three days
before the peach would otherwise ripen. They
would eat large holes in the peaches, and if they
were not gathered in time to prevent, the insect
would leave nothing of the fruit attached but the
skin and stone. I have frequently found a dozen
or more on one peach, eating in the same orifice ;
if disturbed they would drop to the ground, and
in their fall a few would fly away. You will per-
ceive that it is a beetle, about the size of the little
finger-nail, and woolly on the sides and belly. I
have read of the woolly aphis on apple trees, but
do not remember auy description of it. Can you in-
form me of the name of the animal ? It made sad
havoc with my early peaches last year, but by
killing what I could, and feeding the rest with
sweetened water in wide-mouthed vials, I saved
the majority of my later peaches, but not un-
scathed or untouched, as nearly all were bored or
punctured by them.

This specimen is the first I have seen this sea-
son, and was at work upon a late apricot; my
earlier apricots ripen in the middle of July, bud-
ded from an old seedling on my grounds, planted
more than fifty years ago, by an old lady now
living.

Our peaches in many places in this town are
becoming red a month before their time,while the
leaves scarcely show any change, except perhaps,
not so clear and dee}i a green as usual. Does this
forebode the yellows ? And should we dig them
up this fall, or wait another season for a clearer
declaration of the disease ?

ABORTION IN cows.

In the August Farmer of 1853, p. 356, com-
plaints are made of abortion in cows.

High feeding has a direct tendency to produce
this ; if a cow has done so once, meal should be
kept from her for a month or two before the an-
ticipated period of abortion, or during the great-
er portion of the period of gestation. Many a fe-
male of the human species has only avoided the
same "mishap," by strict attention to diet.

Too high feeding, with no hard work, often
produces an irritability not only of the nervous,
but of the circulating system in its minutest sub-
divisions as spread over secreting surfaces. There
is a greater tendency to this in the female system
than in the male. The mare fed on oats and but
little used will often become excessively snappisli,
or intensely cross. Withdraw her oats and she
loses this irritability ; or give her hard work and
the effect will be the same. If in the cow this ir-
ritability of the secreting surfaces, induced by
continued high feeding, is fed and fanned by meal
and grain, a tendency to injlammalion is produced
in the uterus, which during gestation is the most
irritable point in the system. Nature has no oth-
er way to relieve herself of this danger to the life
of the mother, when tlie meal and grain con-
tinue to flow in, than to prevent inflammation of
the womb and death, by evacuating the contents
of the uterus. The increasing irritabilty of that
OM^aij, excites its repeated contractions, as at the
fuU period, and abortion results and the mother

is saved at the expense of the young. If the young
is carried to maturity, it survives, and the mother
dies of inflammation of the womb.

There arc other causes of abortion. But this is
one quite likely to produce it — too high feeding
during the process of geslation ; and by too high, I
mean not too much in quantity, but too stimula-
ting in kind, to the circulation.

Yours respectfully,

Lewis S. Hopkins, M. D.

Northampton, Aug. 15, 185-4.

For the New England Farmer.

PEACH FAILURE.

Messrs Editors : — The scarcity of peaches the
present year has been supposed by some of us to
be the result of the excessive cold weather between
the 2-4th and 27th of March, or about the 7th of
May, last; but the strongest evidence that the fa-
tal cause was previous to that period is, that
among a consideralile number of our trees, not
counted, only three have peaches upon them; those
trees were located to the southeast of a range of
hills extending from northeast to southwest, and
the lower branches were covered by the drifting
snow in the disastrous storm of Dec. 29, 1853,
and remained covered through the excessive cold in
January following ; now those covered limbs are
loaded with peaches, while there is not another to
be seen upon a tree on all the rest of the premis-
es, in any situation, and 1 believe not in the neigh-
borhood. The above facts suggest an idea that
may be useful to peach growers, viz.; if some kind
of covering could be put on to those trees which
produc'e the best fruit, that would protect them
from the severe winter blasts, we might have a
family supply, if not more, every year ; as the
peach is a prolific bearer naturally, and resists the
inclemencies of an inhospitable clime to the last
extremity of its tender nature, never yielding to
the northern frosts and cold so long as its soft
Persian vitality holds out. It may be understood
that those drifts which covered the peach limbs
were thawed away previous to the cold weather
in March and May. S. Brown.

Wilmington, Aug. 4, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR AUGUST.

I have been so unusually busy during the past
month, that I have read only a portion of the
Farmer for August. Yet I have read enough to
find that the drought wliich is now blasting the
fields and shrivelling the corn has not dried up
the vigor or parclicd the spirit of the Farmer ; and
it is refreshing to turn a moment from the plod-
ding and disheartening Practical, to the more
tfuoyant and hopeful Theoretical, — irom the lieav-
ens that are "brass" to the promise of the "latter
rain."

Not possessing the ability wliich janaldes mod-
ern critics of "Nl-w PuMieations," to express
opinions of productions tliey have not read, I
must acknowledge that I have read some three or
four articles in the August Farmer on the subject
of cutting hay and grain early, that, it seems to
me, from a careful exaiainati-jn of much of the
hay I liavc seen housed this year, are entitled to
at least a careful consideration ; and that many of

400

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

us would do well to lay aside this number for re
perusal next Juno, even if we have to purchase it
expressly for that purpose at the cost of a year's
subscription.

In the reply of Mr. French to the inquiry of
"J. D." as to "What kind of Farming" he
would recommend, one little paragraph particu-
larly arrested my attention, viz. "i ihinh we
New Englanders are more extravagant in our
dwellings and carriages and furniture, than any
other people on earth. ''^ How much of the cream
of our soil, in the shape of grain and cattle, leave
us forever to pay for these "extravagances^' The
present time too it seems to me is particularly
fitting for the introduction of such thoughts. For
several years farmers have enjoyed great prosper-
ity— prices high and money plenty — and the in-
ducements to indulgence in these things propor-
tionally increased. Such "good times'' often
prove a "snare to the feet" of young farmers.
Look out, boys, for a change of times, and for
debts it will be hard to pay.

T should like to notice some of the many other
good things in this number, which I have read,
but I am too late in the day. 1 cannot however,
pass over the "Successful Farming" by Mr. Gaj-,
of New Hampshire, Avithout saying that no kind
of agricultural articles gives me more pleasure
than such accounts. It would be well, I think,
that the rigid economy which must lie at the
foundation of such success, should be made more
prominent, in these days of thoughtless improvi-
dence. A Reader.

Winchester, Aug., 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

ICE HOUSES.

Messrs. Ebitors : — In last week's i^armer I no-
ticed an article from Lysander B. Hunt, in which
he states, that, having been at much expense in
building an ice house, he finds it impossible to
keep ice in it later than the 20th of July. I can-
not conceive why a house built as he describes his
to be, should fail, with proper care, of keeping ice
tlie year round. It may be the case, and I think
very likely is with his, that he endeavored to make
it air tight, or as nearly so as possible. Now this
should not be so, for it is a fact, that ice cannot
be kept in a building nearly tight, without melt-
ing, half as lung as it can where a moderate quan-
tity of air is admitted, although care should be
taken not to ullow too much.

There are many ways, and for aught I know,
equally good ways, for keeping ice. But allow
me, Mr. Editor, to present for the consideration of
your numero s readers, the plan of a building got
up and built by myself and brother three years
since, which I know, and will warrant, from ex-
perience, to koej) ice the year round, and in point
of cheapness and convenience! think cannot be
beat, — as thrcn; thousand feet of lumber, twenty-
five pounds oi' nails, and four or five days* work,
amounting in all, to not more than twenty-five
dollars, will build an ice liouse large enough for
one family numbering less than twenty. I think
much depends upon the situation of an ice house,
and should consi<ler it very desirable;, if possible,
to ])uild it witliin an other house, for many rea-
sons, which I will not tire your patience by giving,
but at once give you a description of th3 one built

by us, hoping, if it shall meet the approval
of any of your readers, and they should think best
to build like, or similar, to hear from them in the
future through the columns of your valuable pa-
per.

In the first place, dig out the dirt where you
wish your house to stand, to the depth of two
feet, or more, if exposed to frost greatly, and fill
up with stone, then put your sills on level with
the ground, put in strong sleepers, and cover this
over with three inch plank. Commence upois
these plank with scantling, sawed one and a half,
by four inches for your wall, laying one upon the
other and nailing them one to the other, inside of
this lay up another tier, leaving a space of about
four inches to be filled up with sawdust, or tan-
bark ; so continue till you have it as high as you
wish for ice ; then take plank and cover over,
having them come to the outer edge of your in-
side Willi ; continue on as before with your walls,
until as high as you like, and cover all over with
plank two inches double ; if under cover no roof
will be necessary more than this. Have twodooi-s,
one where the ice is, and one above where you can
put in butter,milk or anything you like to have kept
cool. Bore these upper plank full of two inch
holes, the ones above the ice ; and the ones at the
bottom of the house bore half inch holes through
them once in about a foot all over the bottom,
and spread two inches, or more of sawdust or
tan-bark over the bottom before putting your ice
in. Pack the ice as closely as possible, not having
it come quite up to the top and edge of your
house, and when full throw sawdust, or whatever
you may use over the top, and also fill upbetweea
the ice and sides of the house, and I will venture
to say you will not be out of ice by reason of
melting by July 20th- Joseph Blake.

Ashfield, August 17-

HAVING A TRADE,

By ail means have a trade. Do not go up and
down in the world, and find nothing you can put
your hand to. You may not always Ixj as pros-
perous as you are now. Thank heaven we live is
no land of primogeniture, hereditary succession.
Each man is morally bound by labor. Have some-
thing you can turn your energies to when times
pinch — have a trade, we repeat. Educate your
hands; it will be an everlasting resource. We
never knew a man, who, with a good ti-ade, failed
of getting a good living, and much moie with
right application. What though you are going
to college, or into a profession ? The case is not
altered — you need it just as much. It will come
in play every day in your life. Discipline of the
hand should always go before that of the head.
We never knew a college boy that wasn't better
for a substantial trade. He always graduates
with the highest honors. He is sure to be a schol-
ar. The fact is, he knows liow to work — to con-
quer. He but transfers himself from the shop to
the study. Young man, decide at once to learn a
trade, apply yourself with all your mind and
heart, and be its master, and if you are not obliged
to work at it, you have laid by so much, and such
a kind of wealth can never be taken from you.

J^ This year is said by the oldest inhabit4»t
so be the driest since the year 1826.

1854,

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

401

THE ROBIN.

The Robin is a well known bird and familiar to
almost everybody. Innumerable thousands of
them are seen in the lower parts of the whole At-
lantic states, from New Hampshire to Carolina.
They migrate, to avoid the deep snows, from north
to south, and from west to east. Tlie robin builds
a large nest on an apple ti-ee, plasters it with mud,
and lines it with fine grass. When l)erries fail,
they disperse themselves over the fields, and along
the fences, in search of worms and other insects.

The robin is one of our earliest songsters ; even
in March, while snow yet dapples the fields, some
few will mount a post or stake of the fence, and
make short and frequent attempts at a song. His

notes in spring, are universally known, and as uni-
versally beloved. They are, as it were, the pre-
lude to the grand general concert that is about to
burst upon us, from woods, fields and thickets,
whitened with blossoms, and breathing fragrance.
By the usual association of ideas, we therefore lis-
ten with more pleasure to these cheerful birds, than
to many others of far superior powers, and much
greater variety. Even his nest is held more sacred
among schoolboys than that of some others ; and
while they will exult in plundering a jay's or cat-
bird's, a general sentiment of respect prevails on
the discovery of a robin's. He possesses much
suavity of manners ; and always seeks shelter for
hia young in summer, and subsistence for himself

in the extremes of winter near the habitations of
man.

The robin goes by several names ; some people
calling him the red-bird ; some the black-bird :
and others the American field-fare. They inhabit
the whole of North America, from Hudson's Bay
to Nootka Sound and as far south as Georgia.
They are too well known to require further de-
scription.— Library of Natural History.

For the New England Farmer.

PROFESSOR MAPES ON THE CULTURE
OF CARROTS.

Mr. Editor: — Being on a visit to a friend, a
few days since, I wasshown a copy of the Gardener^ s
Magazine for June, 1854 In hastily running my
eye over the various articles, my attention was at-
tracted to some remarks on the cultivation of car-
rots, written by Professor J. J. Mapes. As I am
specially interested in the culture of that root, I
was glad of an opportunity to know what so dis-
tinguished a writer on agriculture had to suggest,
that was new. x\nd truly, there were some ideas
that struck me as quite new, and very remarka-
ble, not to say absurd. For instance, ho recom-
mends that "Those who plant carrot and other
slowly germinating seed early, should make use of
assistant seeds to break the soil. ]\Iix with the
carrot long scai-let radish seed. It will come up
in forty hours. The leaves of the radishes will
shade the carrots, and prevent the sun from baking

them ; the radishes will mark the rows, and pre-
vent very much, the growth of weeds. Tlie long
top roots of the radishes will bring up moisture,
and thus assist in protecting the carrots."

Now at the risk of being thought deficient in
reverence for scientific theorizers, I am compellecl
to believe this to be arrant nonsense. No one is
more willing than myself to receive instruction
from any one, learned or ignorant. But I cannot
receive as truth everything which is put forth by
those who have the reputation of learning. Give
me, in my instructor, with the largest possible
amount of learning, a habit of close, careful ob-
servation of facts, and I will bow with what rev-
erence is in me to the teachings lie may bestow.
But if such instruction as the abpve comes from
the learned Professors of the science of agricul-
ture, who can wonder at the contempt in which
"Book Farming' '.s held by the followers of the
common sense experience of their fiithers? I have
had some little experience in the raising of carrots;
and though I have no reason to suppose my seed
unusually strong, they have shown themselves ful-
ly competent to "break the soil" alone, wliether
sown early or late, if they were supplied with suf-
ficient moisture. I think the Professor must have
a peculiar breed of radishes ; and if they can be
warranted to draw up more water than they want
for their own selfish purposes, and generously be-
stow the surplus on the carrots ; if they have the
disposition and the power to make their shade
benefit the carrots, and at the same time hinder

402

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

the growth of noxious weeds, then he may claim
to have found the connecting link between the
vegetable and animal kingdoms, nay, a link that
connects the vegetable kingdom with rational
Christian man . And he would do the world great
service by distributing seeds of the wonderful
plant.

In another part of the same article, the Profes-
sor says : — "Half an inch seems to be the greatest
depth at which the carrot can be planted with cer-
tain success as to germinating." Some few years
ago, (my agricultural experience has not been a
long one) 1 was in the habit of sowing the seeds
at a depth of about half an inch, as the Professor
recommends. Passing through a neighbor's gar-
den one day when he was sowing his seed, I no-
ticed that he had made trenches not less than two
inches deep, and put his seeds at the bottom. As
I had furnished the seed, and felt interested in its
reputation, I took the liberty to suggest that it
was rather deep planting ; but he covered them
the full depth ; and the result w^as, that his came
up better than mine. Since then, I have not
been afraid to deposit my seeds of all sorts at a
depth that would insure sufiicient moisture, and I
verily believe, that more seeds fail from too shal-
low than from too deep planting. Especially in
dry seasons there is danger that the shallow plant-
ed seeds will be kept too dry, to permit their ger-
mination. MiNOT Pratt.

Concord, Mass., July 24, 1854.

WHEAT-GEOWING m MASSACHU-
SETTS.

In our calendar for August, last week, w^e inci
dentally mentioned the cultivation of wheat bv
our farmers, and we now continue the subject
more in detail.

Some twenty-five years ago, it was well known
that wheat could not be raised in Massachusetts,
except in a few favored spots on Connecticut
river. The reason was the land was too old ;
that wheat could only be raised profitably on new
lands. Yet wheat has always been raised in the
"old countries," in England, in Italy, in Ger-
many, in Russia, in as broad a range of latitude
as our whole country, from New Orleans to Pem-
bina in 49°.

But since the establishment of Agricultural
Societies and the increased circulation of farming
newspapers, irt consequence of which it is no
longer held as treason, or even as a high misde-
meanor, to suggest new hints or express new
ideas upon the l)usiness of farming, it has been
really suggested tliat wheat might be raised on
our soil, and the experiment, bold as it may seem,
has been tried. The result of the experiment is^
we believe, that wheat, though not considered so
certain or so profitable a crop as corn, may, not-
withstanding, bo raised to advantage in the State.

We believe it is a fact, and rather a singular
one, of which we shall presently suggest the
ca,use, that in no part of our extended country,
with all its variation of climate and diversity of

soil, have so good crops of wheat been raised as
England. From Maine west to Iowa, and from
Virginia north to Michigan, we think there has
been no tract of country that has produced on the
average as much wheat in quantity, as in some of
the wheat counties in England, Kent for instance.
In Mr. Colman's book on European Agriculture,
though he says that in some statistical works 26
bushels have been put down as the average, and
though there are persons who insist that it should
lie put lower, yet he could never find the farmer
who would allow his own yield to be at the low
rate. He says that under good cultivation he
has rarely known it less than 32 bushels. He
has found it 40, — and is informed on the very
best authority that the yield is often from 56 to
64. Indeed, he reports instances greatly exceed-
ing that, where it appeared that 37 and 40 bush-
els were severally raised by Mr. Barclay, M. P.,
and a Kentish farm laborer represented that about
35 or 40 bushels are raised there, as an average
crop. We believe our best wheat crops have been
in Michigan, and in some parts of Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Northern Illinois. But the average in
the best of these would not come up to the Kent
county standard as we have stated it. In Vir-
ginia, it is greatly below it.

As we have such a variety of climate in the
wheat-growing districts", our short-comings must
be attributed to one of two causes, soil or seed.
There are two principal requisites in soil, for
wheat. According to the opinion of most farm-
ers, the soil should be rather a stiff, tenacious,
clayey soil, and not mellow, light, or loose. We
think it should not be too rich also. In a mel-
low, light, and rich soil, it makes straw at the
expense of the grain. But the main requisite in
the soil for aliment of the plant, is phosphate of
lime. To this condition or to the seed, or to both,
the greater success in England, in wheat-growing,
is to be attri!)uted. England is a limestone coun-
try, and the farmers use bone manure, which fur-
nishes the phosphate of lime, on their filelds. —
The most of the western wheat-growing lands
are in a limestone country, but the soil is too
light and mellow, favoring straw too much. So
much for the soil. Nowevery farmer knows that
there is a great difference in the measure of difFer-
erent kinds of wheat grown on a given number of
stalks. In some kinds the kernel or berry is larger
and heavier, and in some kinds, there are a great-
er number of kernels to an ear, than in other va-
rieties. Let the best kind be selected, that which
is of the best quality, and bearing the largest
ears, the Kent county wheat, if it may be pro-
cured, or some other productive variety, and let
it be sown in sufficient quantity, (our farmers do
not seed so heavy as the English, our rule being
U to li bus. to the acre, the English 2 to 2^) on

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

403

a tenacious, stiff, soil, not too rich, only in good
heart, — suppl3nng to the ground those articles
which make the constituents of the plant, and if
fall sowing, on a northern declivity, early in Sep-
tember ; and we cannot Ixit think the product
will be materially increased.

As to seed, the Siberian wheat is much ap-
proved in some of the wheat farms in Iowa. Oth-
ers use what they call the Ohio white, a bald
wheat with white husk. In other parts, the va-
riety known as Club wheat, having the kernel set
horizontally on short ears, is preferred, for the
reason that it is there considered not liable to the
rust, which has greatly shortened the crops of
other varieties. The Winter Blue Stem is also
raised with success, even on quite light lands, in-
clining to sand.

Mr. Colman names several varieties raised in
England, and their product in certain fields, as
follows : —

Essex Brown, rate 40 bushels 6i lbs. per bushel.

Surry White, rate 3G bushels 64 " "

Brown, (called clover,) rate 40 bushels... 6-3i " "

Snow drop, White, r:ite 39 bushels 63 " "

Burwell Brown, rate 4d bushels 63 " "

Whittington White, rate 38 bushels 62 " "

W. Miles, Esq., raised 48 bus., 42 bus., 2
pecks, 47 bus., 35 bus., 3 pecks, and 49 bu.

P. Pusey, 371, 45^, 47^ bushels. Samples of the
whole field. W. L. Kidd, M. D., of Armagh,
Ireland, obtained at the rate of 50 bus. of G2 lbs.
per acre, and there were larger crops in his
neighborhood. The wheat was red wheat. Qual-
ity such as to command the highest price. The
soil was a stiff clay recumbent on limestone.

Mr. Colman mentions other products in other
counties coming up to these rates. In Glouces-
tershire, the product on several acres was from 46
to 49 bus. weight from 59 to 62^ lbs. In Worces-
tershire, in a field of 130 acres, the crop was
nearly 47 bushels per acre.

In the Western States much of the wheat is
under 60 lbs. It is considered the best weight at
60 lbs., and few crops go above that. We think
no wheat has ever been grown in this country at
04 lbs.

The white wheats yield the gi-eatest propor-
tion of flour, the flint wheats the greatest pro-
portion of gluten, which is the most nutritious
part of wheat. The white is preferred for mak-
ing the superfine flour and white extra-fine bread,
though the bread is less nutritious than that con-
taining more gluten. The southern wheat gener-
ally contains the most gluten, though the propor-
tion of this element is much afi'ected by the kind
of fertilizers used. No crude animal manure
should be applied directly to the wheat, but to
the previous crop. " If the land is mellow, the
wheat should be rolled.

1^ The swamps of Provincetown are about to
turned to good account as cranberry beds.

For the New England Farmer.

MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE.

BY G. U. DADD, M. D., VETERINARY SURGEON.

Messrs. Editors : — I notice in a recent num-
ber of your journal some very sensible remarks on
"A Horse's Foot," in which the writer has intro-
duced sufficient evidence — the result of his own
experience — to prove the injurious effects result-
ing from allowing horses to stand on soft beds,
impregnated with ammonia, &c. ; and real glad
am I to know that there is a disposition on the
part of horse-owners to expose and coiTCCt, evils
of this description. It is my firm belief — based
on a knowledge of the physiology of the foot, —
that soft bedding, containing the usual amount of
filth, is in many ca.ses the exciting causo, not on-
ly of tenderness and contraction, ])at from whence
arises many muscular affections. I rejoice to find
horse-owners exercising their reason in this de-
partment of stable management, because it is one
step in the right direction, and will put a stop to
those glaring absurdities which are constantly
practised, just because they have the sanction of
antiquity ; or because neighbor so-and-so, recom-
mends them. Reason teaches, tli^^t the health of
the whole animal fabric is best promoted by clean-
liness and ventilation (by which a pure atmosphere
is insured,) and by food suitable in quantity and
quality to the special wants of the animal. —
Hence, what reason teaches, man should practice.

It is unreasonable, therefore, to suppose that a
horse can be benefited by standing on a soft bed,
composed in part of the defiling excrements of his
jown body, which are constantly decomposing and
forming gaseous vapors unfit for respiration. If
dirt and filth are innoxious, in what does the val-
ue of our sanitory regulations consist? Why
do our city authorities spend so much money to
purify the pestiferous cesspool and sewer, and to
rid our streets of accumulating rubbish and filth ?
Let our citizens wallow knee deep in muck and
revel shoulder deep in an atmosphere saturated
with ammoniacal and carbonic acid gases — 'as
some horses are compelled to — and death would run
riot ; our city would be converted into an im-
mense charnel-house ; a fit receptacle for a race
of beings that would not adopt the means which
reason and experience suggest for averting the ca-
lamity.

Horses that have no better care than that al-
luded to, are in close proximity with disease;
that they are often found dead in tlieir stalls from
the effects of carbonized blood, I can testify, and
many more would die, only, they are permitted
to t;ike a little of the breath of life, during the
day ; wliieli, to some extent dilutes the poisonous
gases with which their system has l)cen saturated
during the night, and thus, their life, — which
under the best circumstances is a weary toil, is
prolonged.

Without attempting to prove the general effects
of impure air, and filth on tlie system of a horse
located in a stall from one to two and a half feet
deep (as your correspondent has it) of soft bed-
ding ; let us consider, in a brief manner, the lo-
cal phenomena. Your readers are all aware that
the combined action of heat and moisture tends
to relax — enervates the tissues of the body,, and
if carried beyond a certain pointy ends in decom-
position.

404

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

Take, for example, a common poultice, apply
it to a hofse's foot, and renew it as soon as it be-
comes dry ; in the course of two or three days,
the hoof will separate from its matrix, the frog
and heels soften, the tissues are in a state of re-
laxation, and if the poultice was continued, the
hoof would separate from the sensible parts ; if
the foot is already diseased, the separation is ac-
celerated. Warm water has the same effect ; ap-
plied externally for any length of time, it relaxes
and prostrates; applied internally, it I'elaxes and
vomits. Hence the soft, which implies, moist, hot
bedding, — tends to create morbid action in the
feet, and whatever disease the horse may be pre-
disposed to iu those parts, will generally mani-
fest itself. Some animals, however, escape the
evils alluded to, owing to their insusceptibility ;
for disease of the foot cannot occur without a
susceptibility to it, and the application of a cause.
Soft bedding, cow dung, and other unmentiona-
ble filth, are,often resorted to as remedies for con-
traction, but they are classed among the irration-
al barbarities of the past, with which they ought
to have sunk into oblivion.

Veterinary science has discovered that if such
articles possess ^yay virtue, it is owing to the mois-
ture they impart to the foot. Therefore, on the
score of decency, and in view of i-elaxiug the con-
tracted foot according to the principles of reason,
and modern science, we should avoid every kind
of filth, and resort to pure water or wholesome
poultice. Or, take off tlie shoes, wash the feet
daily, and let the horse run to grass ; so that he
may bring the sole and frog in contact with the
ground, and thus promote expansion of the heels.
I endorse your correspondent's views as regards
the manufacture of tender feet iu both the young
and aged, and it makes but little difference, wheth-
er they have the range of a filthy barn-yard, or
are confined in a bedded stall ; the effect is, ten-
derness of foot, and subsequent lameness ; and
the same, or a disposition to it, may be transmit-
tedjtlirough the sexual congress to future offspring.

In view, therefore, of preventing diseased feet,
strict attention must bo paid to cleanliness ; the
stall floor shouM be composed of brick or plank
having just sufficient declivity to conduct fluids in-
to a gutter, running along the entrance to the
stall, which should tei'minate exterior to the sta-
ble, so that the ammonia, in whifh the urine is
abundant, is carried beyond the stable atmosjihere.
The bediling, which according to long custom is
stowed under the crib, there actnig as a sort of
noxious smelling bottle to the horse's nostrils, —
should be spread out in the open air, sorted ; the
refuse and excrement removed to a dung heap lo-
cated as far from the stable as possible ; for the
common manure receptacle, under the stable
floor, is one of the worst featuresof stable econo
my. The stalde floor should be washed clean, as
often as circumstances permit.

Freak of Nature. — A friend gives us an ac-
count of a singular freak of nature which he has
observed in his garden this summer. Some time
ago, a sprout came up from the root of a rose-
bush, and some two or three weeks since, when
it had attained the height of 12 or 14 inches, a
bud appeared directly on the top of the shoot.—

Just as the bud began to open, the shoot pushed
right up through its centre, and grew, while the
flower was maturing two or three inches more. —
A few days ago, he noticed that there were four
buds on the bush, through the principal one of
which the sprout is again making its way. The
leaves of the former flower, though wilted, not hav-
ing fallen off, he has thus a rose-bush which
presents the singular sight of two flowers strung
on the stem.

For the New England Farmer.

CHAPTER ON HUSBANDRY-No. 2.

Mr. Editor : — Dear Sir — You kindly published
my first chapter and pronounced it excellent ad-
vice ; I take the liberty to go on, promising no
harm or bad advice. The 9th closes my last — I
begin with

10th. Keep a good depth of soil in the barn-
yard ; night air out of doors must be better for
cows than the confined air of the leanto. Before
turning out, start them around the yard, and all
the droppings can be buried with a shovel in a
few minutes, which keeps the yard clean, and
saves the manure from drying waste.

11th. The sink-drain, washing suds and privy
an-angements, can be so combined by drains to a
common receptacle, as to Avarrant the manufac-
ture of twenty-five loads of manure per annum ;
the value of these lost substances is hardly ap-
preciated.

12th. Sand your leantos ; it keeps the cattle
clean, particularly the milch cows.

13th. Bed down your horses at night, and give
them a clean, hard floor by day ; this prepai-cs
their feet for hard roads.

14th. Themother of pigs is an eccentric animal ;
prior to her accouchment, she requires the kindest
treatment — such as a little fashionable ^^shajnpoo-
ing^^ with the curry-comb or card, and other ike
tender caresses, which may keep her from crunch-
ing her young; but with all of their "mire and
dirt" swinishness, they want a softer bed than a
Chinaman for a night's lodging.

15th. Gates around your premises are more
convenient than bars ; yet many a rich farmer
waits the slow operation of "taking down the
bars," rather than reduce his casA capital in mak-
ing a convenient gate. A good gate, well painted,
hung on stone posts, is economy in the end.

iGth. Char to a coal your posts, (cedar except-
ed, am unacquainted with this wood ;) it would
pay well, even with your hard wood stakes for
fencing stuff.

17th. Place your season's fire-wood immediate-
ly under cover ; the "grand wood hill" so orna-
mental to the farm-house, and so commendable to
its owner, he may rest assured, that 15 or 20 per
cent, of its value is saved by seasoning it under
cover as soon as split.

18th. JJsQ glass for glazing the broken panes; old
trowsers, a bag of straw, sometimes a wide shin-
gle— look, "The store has got some 7 by 9."
But New England is getting too proud for these
kinds of shows.

19th. Do not be afraid to cut off this or that
twig in branching the limbs of your young or-
chard. The remaining wood gets all the sap, ex-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

405

tra growth, and you are
tree.

retting a fine-formed ' Franklin ; but some one more curious than the
I multitude made search for the cause of the disaster.

of the tree depends upon a sound exterior from
top to roots,

Mr. Editor, lest I should become tedious, I will
end my chapter, promising my farming friends a
few more verses, (with your permission) not inap-
plicxble to their profession. Yours truly.

BrooUijn, N. Y., July 26, 1854. h. p.

For the New England Farmer.

LIGHTNING RODS.

JIr. Farmer : — One of your correspondents in
quires about lightning conJuctors. 1 don't pro-
fess much knowledge upon the subject ; but my
writing may call forth tlie wisdom of others.

In the first place, I must beg leave to diiFer from
you, Mr. Editor, in the admission, that buildings
may have been injured by lightning, when rods
were properly attached, (a.) I don't believe any
such thing. The electric fluid is governed by laws
as fixed and invariable as those which obtain in
gravitation. You may say that we are ignorant
of those laws. I admit that we know compara-
tively little of electricity, the variations of the
needle the aurora light, the connexion of elec-
tricity with light and heat, its agency in the
growth of vegetables and animals — and its agency
in the operations of mind. These we firmly believe
to exist ; but, of their modus operandi, we are left
still to conjecture.

It by no means follows that because we know
eot everything, we can know nothing with cer-
tainty. Certain phenomena have been so often
observed to accompany certain conditions, as to
warrant the inference that the electric fluid is
governed by fixed laws.

Now to deny the security of lightning rods ; —
Mr. Editor, I wonder you did not receive some
such spiritual manifestations as he who brought
the lightning from the skies, did, when he experi-
mented with the kite, — got smartly rapped over
the knuckles.

That buildings have been injured, to which
conductors have been attached, and that frequent-
ly, can't be denied. Steamboilers sometimes
burst, though the capacity of iron, and the power
of steam arc known with certainty. But the
more f\xmiliar people become with steam, the few-
er, comparatively, are the accidents. So with elec-
tricity ; these disasters result from want of knowl-
edge, or carelessness.

It will be found in all cases, I think, unless the
striking of Arndor Douglas' house was an excep-
tion, for I believe that lie who established the
laws of nature can suspend them, that the in
juries sustained are in consequence of some de-
fect in the material, position, length, or mode of
attachment of the conductor.

The First Baptist Church in Worcester was
struck with lightning, some years ago, while the
Sablxxth school was in session, and several of the
children were seriously injured. There was a
conductor put up, as was supposed, in the most
approved manner. The doubting were made skep-
tics. Lightning-rod stock became a drug in the
market ; multitudes lost their confidence in Ben

but terminated in solid, dry rock ! A hole had
been drilled some five feet into this rock, into
which the rod descended, and there terminated.
In a dry season, the rod was as completely isola-
ted, as if it had terminated in a globe of glass.
The fluid was taken from the clouds by the point,
conducted along the rods, till finding no natural
way of escape, it leaped through the walls of the
building, upon the stove-pipe in the basement,
along which it ran, to the no small annoyance of
the children then assembled, and escaped by vari-
ous conductors to the earth.

Now I believe that in all cases of failures to
protect, it will be found, upon examination, that
the defect was not in the laws of electricity, but
that they were not observed.

Let me suggest a few things to be observed.
1st. The conductor must extend to water. Ordi-
narily, the earth near the surface, is sufficiently
moist ; but in a dry time, the very time to look
out for thunder storms, the surface, and especial-
ly near the walls of a building becomes so dry as
to be a perfect non-conducter. In such a case the
conductor only serves to invite the fluid from the
clouds to the destruction of the building. That
portion of the rod which enters the earth, should
be copper, or some composition not easily oxidised.
Oxide of iron is 1)ut an imperfect conductor.

2d. The attachments should all l)e carefully
cased with glass, or some other non-conductor.
Let the conductor, in its descent, pass through
half-a-dozen iron bolts, which entirely surround it,
and it would 1)o passing strange if much of the flu-
id should reach the ground.

3d. Let the rod ascend to sufficient height
above the highest point of the building.

I will not enter upon a discussion of the com-
parative merits of the two methods — the Frank-
iinian with one rod, or the modern with many.
Suffice it to say, I should feel safe wdth one rod
put up "according to the directions." And I have
yet to see any proof, that a building which is
bristled all over with silver-topped points, is any
nearer "thunder proof," than the former.

The height of the point above the ridge, should
be half the distance from the base to the remotest
part of the ridge. On a barn of 40 feet, the rod
risino- in tlie centre, should ascend 10 feet. From
a rid'^G of 80 feet the point must be elevated 20
feet.

On large buildings it is well to have two or
more points connected with a common conductor.
If there is a chimney rising above the ridge, un-
less the rod runs up beside it, its height must be
taken into account, in fixing the elevation of the
point.

So firmly do I believe in the efficacy ot these
rods, when rightly adjusted, that i wonder any
should sufier a house "or barn or any building
containing valuables to remain long without one.
We live in an age of insurance and assurance
companies. I know of no company, whose policy
will guarantee so much protection for so small a
premium. _ •

Personalities. — In a thunder gust avoid astand-
mo- posture,— the chimney, the window, the

406

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

doorplace. If sitting, be so impolite as to keep
your feet off the floor — but not on the top of the
stove or on the mantel.

There is safety on a bed of feathers, of husks,
of hair or straw ; on a haymow, or on a pile of
shavings if dry. If anxious to try an electrical ex-
periment, stay out in the rain till your clothes
are wet, then lean up against the body of a tree,
in an open field — the taller the tree the bettei*, or
stand in the outer door-way with your hands
raised to the lintel. r. b. h.

Springvak, Me., July, 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) We are not aware that we
have made such an "admission." We certainly
agree in the general principles laid down by our
correspondent, and should be sorry to lessen the
confidence of our readers in the utility of light
ning rods, ivhen properly put up.

ANALYSIS OF SOILS,

Mr. S. W. Johnson, who is now engaged in
chemical investigations under Liebig at Munich,
has an able and elaborate article on this subject
in the Country Gentleman, in which he sums up
as follows :

I do not doubt that in very many cases a care-
ful investigation of a soil — chemical, physical and
!iistorical — by a genuine and scientific farmer —
uno, familiar at once with science and practice —
vould afford safe and nearly accurate data for its
1 roper treatment. But this would be always ex-
pensive, and in nine cases out of ten, would not
pay. Soil analysis, at the best, is a chance game;
nndivhere one ivins, a hundred may lose. It is the
royal road to what, the farmer should reach by
study, and a profound understanding of natural
laws. By this is meant that it is no practicable
road, not one which should be often trodden by
the man of moderate means ; although it may be
entered upon by the wealthy and curious, who
have no need to work in order to eat. A soil-an-
alysis is always interesting, often valuable, rare-
ly economical. It may amuse the amateur, and
instruct the philosopher, but for the farmer its
value is small, if he has to pay for it. It is only
by the application of the general principles which
may ])ejdevelopcd from numerous analyses, that he
can hope to bo directly benefited.

But wiiat shall the farmer do? Shall he grope
in the dark? No! But let him beware of false
lights which are now a-days hanging out in abund-
ance. Let him beware of taking advice from two
dangerous cliaracters ; — the conceited farmer who
knows a little science, and the officious philosopher
who knows a little farming.

It is far more difficult to warn against a course
that is unsafe, than to point out one that will
lead to desirable ends. Practice must accomplish
many of her ends in her own ways for a long time
to come. She should thank science for rebuking
her errors, and should reject them as they become
manifest. She should accept the light that sci-
ence sheds upon her path, though the rays be those
of a taper. Science should carry herself modestly,
as befits her youth, and not talk too loudly on all
occasions of old-fogyism vs. progress. She should
remember her f^iilings. The sister of GO centuries,
and she of tender years, should join hands, and

walk harmoniously together towards the fields of
promise that lie in the fruitful coming time.

ELEGANT BALLAD.

'Tvras on a cliff, whose rocky base

Baffled the briny wave ;
Wliose cultured height, their verdant store

To many a tenant gave.

A mother, led by rustic cares,

Had wandered with her child ;
TJnweaned the babe — yet on the grass

He frolicked and he smiled.

With what delight the mother glowed

To mark the infant's joy ;
How oft would pause amid her toil

To contemplate her boy.

Yet soon by other cares estranged,
Her thoughts the child forsook ;

Careless he wantoned on the ground,
Nor caught his mother's look.

Cropped was each flower, that met his eye,
Till scrambling o'er the green,

He gained the cliff's unsheltered edge,
And pleased, surveyed the scene.

'Twas now the mother, from her toil.

Turned to behold her child : —
The urchin gone ! — her cheeks were flushed

Her wandering eye was wild.

She saw him on the cliff's rude brink —

Now careless peeping o'er —
He turned, and to his mother smiled

Then sported as before.

Sunk was her voice — 'twas vain to fly —
'Twas vain the brink to brave —

0 Nature ! it was thine alo
To prompt the means to save.

She tore her 'kerchie ffrom her breast.

And laid her bosom bare ;
He saw, delighted — left the brink,

And sought to banquet there.

For the New England Farmer.

HOW TO USE MEADOW MUUK.

Mr. Editor : — In the July number of the Far-
mer, under the head of "Meadow Muck and
Lime," and over the signature of "Young Far-
mer," I find an important inquiry, — "How can I
use an inexhaustible bed of decayed vegetation to
best advantage ? Can I make a compost by mix-
ing lime with it, that will produce corn, rye and
other crops ? ' '

As I am under obligation to my brethren of the
"farmer family," I should be guilty of a culpa-
ble neglect of duty, if I should not take an ear-
ly opportunity to give my experience and judg-
ment on the subject, and so you have it for what
it is worth .

Put so much muck in the barn-yard, hog-pen
and other proper places as will absorb the juices
and then, instead of drawing 50 loads to a com-
post heap and adding thereto lime, ashes, or oth-
er materials, and expending much hard labor in
mixing, reloading and spreading, draw in the au-
tumn or winter mouths, 100 or more loads to the
acre, spread it upon the land evenly as j-^ou draw
it, that it may have the action of the frosts to
pulverize it — then plow and plant first to potatoes
— use plenty of ashes on the potatoes to prevent
the rot, a handful on each hill Avhere they first

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

407

como up and the same again after hoeing. The
land will thus receive a permanent benefit. The
soil, if sandy and loose, will better retain after
applications from the barn-yard, and will pro-
duce wheat, corn, oats, or any crop suited to the
climate.

I have four plantations of cranberries, put out
this season, on four varieties of soils and one new
variety of fruit. The results T design to commu-
nicate to the public through your valuable Neiv
England Farmer. AVm. Noble.

Pittsfield, July 24, 1854.

WHEN SHOULD CROPS BE GATHERED.

Some science and some pvactical hints, which every farmer
should understand and practice upon.

The prevailing opinion is, that grass, and es-
pecialy grain oi >ps, should not be cut till ripe ;
or whatever may be the opinion, such is the gen-
ei*al practice. This is an error, and one of no lit-
tle consequence ; and we offer some considerations,
which, if understood, Avill, we trust, set this mat-
ter in a clear light. Let us first look at one or
two lessons plainly told us by chemistry.

Wood, starch, sugar and gum are almost exact-
ly alike in their composition. The same elements
that put together in one form produce sugar, if
arranged ditferently would make wood, and if ar-
aranged in still other methods, they would pro
duce starch or gum. To illustrate ; suppose four
men should each have 100,000 l)ricks, 20,000 feet
of lumber, including beams, boards, shingles, &c.,
three hundred pounds of nails, and 100 lbs. of un-
mixed paints of two or three different colors
Now suppose these four men, having precisely
the same amount of the different materials or ele-
ments, '^■et about putting up four structures, each
having a different object in view. One might con-
sti'uct an elegant cottage dwelling, the second a
church, tlie third a barn and the fourth a prison ;
and by mixing and applying the paints differently,
each of these structures would differ from the
other so much in form and color, that one might
be supposed to be built of stone, another of brick
a third of iron, and a fourth of wood, and they
would be as unlike in form, color, and outward
appearance, as starch, gum, sugar and wood.
Either of thef5e buildings might be taken down,
and l)v simply rc-ar ranging the materials, be
changed to t!ie form, shape, and color of one of
the other buildings, and l)c made like it in every
particular. Just so can a pound of wood be
changed to a pound of sugar. We have often
taken a board weighing a pound, and by a chemical
process rearranged the elements, and change the
same board to a pound of sugar. Just so a pound
of starch, gum, or sugar, can be changed to a
pound of wood. By artificial means this change
is somewhat expensive, but in the natural labora-
tory of the cells and tubes of a plant, it is daily
going on upon a large scale, although the elements
are in themselves so small, that the change is not
perceptible to the human vision.

We are not statins; theories but absolute facts.

The starch and gum is not so readily perceived by
the taste, though they are easily shown to be pres-
ent. Now as the grain and stalks ripfen a large
portion of starch, gum and sugar is changed into
woody fibres. If the natural growth of the plant
be arrested by cutting it, this change is stopped,
and it dries up, w'ith the starch, gum and sugar,
and there is comparatively little hard woody mat-
ter.

But we all know that the three substances first
named are digestible, nourishing articles of food,
while the fourth — woody fibres — is comparatively
indigestible, and on this account little nourish-
ing. Here, then, is a plain reason why all such
grasses and grains, as are designed for food for
animals, should be gathered before they are ful-
ly ripe, that is, while they contain a large amount
of digestible matter. Wfieat, for example, if
cut eight or ten days before fully ripe, contains a
large propotion of starch, with a thin skin, and
will yield a large amount of flour ; but when it is
fully ripe it is covered with a thick, hard, woody
skin, or bran, which has been formed out of a
part of its starch, and it will then yield a much
smaller proportion of flour. The same may be
said of its sugar and gum. This reasoning ap-
plies equally to other grains as well as to straw,
corn-stocks, grasses, &c.

Those portions of the grain which are to be used
solely for reproducing the plant — and this is the
natural design of all seeds — 7na]/ be left to ripen
naturally. The woody coating is designed as a
protecting covering.

Having thus endeavored to state very briefly
some of the reasons for cutting grain early — and
it must bo interesting to every one to understand
these reasons — we will close this article with two
or three rules which are not only sustained liy the-
ory but have been fully proved by careful prac-
tice aud experiment.

1st. All grasses should be cut as soon as pos-
sible after flowering. Much more than is gamed
in weight after this is lost by the conversion
of the nourishing substance into hard, woody
matter.

2d. Corn, wheat, and all other grains designed
for food, should be gathered eight or twelve days
before fully ripe. A simple method of determin-
ing this, is to try the kernels with the thumb nail.
Let the gathering commence immediately after
tiie "milk" begins to hai-den, but wdiile the ker-
nel still yields to a gentle pressure of the nail.

An acre of wheat, that, if cut when fully ripe,
would yield 800 H^s. of fine flour, will, if cut ten
days ca'rlier, yield from 850 to 1000 lbs. of flour
of a better quality, Avhile the straw will be uiuch
more valuable for feeding.

An acre of grass, which, when cut full} ripe,
would yield lOUO lbs. nourishing digestible ma-
terials, and 2000 ll.is. of woody matter, will, if
cut 12 days earlier, yield from 1500 to 1800 lbs.
of nourishing matter, and only 1200 to 1500 lbs.
of woody materials. — American Agriculturist.

Plants Poisoned. — Dr. Salisbury, of All)any,
N. Y., recently communicated to the American

While a stock of grain is unripe it contains but

little woody fibre, and its pores or cells arc filled

with sugar, starch and gum. The presence ofj Scientific Association some expernncnts on plants,

sugar is readily perceived by the sweet taste of i which illustrate tiie analogy existing between

soft kernels of corn and other grains, and it is animal and vegetable physiology. Dr. ^. ex

also found abundantly in the sap of stalks. I tracted the poison of a dead rattlesnake, a smal

408

NEW EiSfGLAND FARMEK,

Sept.

portion of which he inserted in the plants by mois-
tening with it the Iiliule of a knife, with which he
wounded a lihic, a horse-chesnutja corn plant,
and a sunflower. In sixty hours after the inflic-
tion of the wound, they bej2;an to manifest sym-
tams of poisoning, and in a few days all their
leaves above the wound were dead. In about fif-
teen days they manifested convalescence, and
nally all recoverd from the injury.

For the New England Farmer.

ESa. SLIDEWELL, OE THE THEORET-
ICAL FAEMER.

Messrs Editors : — It is wonderful to contem
plate the great variety of organizations l>estowed
on man, and all for useful purposes when directed
by sound moral principles, and a sound judgment.
The advantages of difierent organizations are read-
ily seen, when we consider the almost endless va-
riety of different requirements to be supplied
among what we call civilized society, where mul-
tiplicity reigns instead of simplicity. Without
difierent faculties and inclinations of mind among
men, all would incline to pursue the same trade,
occupation or manner of reasoning, all would be
practical farmers, or all theoretical farmers, all
philosophers or no philosophers at all.

It was lucky, for aught I know, that all were
not theoretical farmers, considering the infirmities
and imperfections of fallible liuman nature. Esq.
Slidewell was a benevolent, kind-hearted neighbor,
but he was not one of those whom "proud science
never taught to stray." I have been at a loss a
long time to understand how to appreciate the in-
structions of a theoretical farmer; some of the
worst practical farmers I ever saw, were the great-
est theorists. Esq. Slidewell went abroad and
taught his neighbors, in a plausible theory all
about farming, witli such a deep degree of inter-
est, that he forgot or neglected his own farm and
affairs at home, and from pure benevolence or
some other self-gratifying motive, used u]) his
time for the public, when the public would have
derived a greater l^enefit by his attending to his
domestic concerns in a more economical and prac-
tical manner.

The Squire was an intimate acquaintance of
mine, he inherited a valuable estate by way of
relatives, he professed to bo a farmer literally : in
his younger days he was what was then called a
schoolmaster, in his more mature years he occa-
sionally represented his town in the State Leg-
islature, and frequently served as one of the select-
men of the town ; save these instances, he pretend-
ed to make farming his business for support. The
Squire had anumbjr of well-favored and fiit-fleshed
sons and daughters, who grew up with strong phys-
ical powers and digestive organs no way lacking
when restoratives were required, or suffering by
dyspepsia afterwards, every one being able to digest
his meal. His farm was expansive enough for a
"New England farmer," he kept cattle and other
domestic animals like other farmers in his neigh-
borhood.

The Squire's mind was stored with a good sup-
ply of plausible theories, which he was not back-
ward in divulging to his neighbors for tJieir spe-
cial benefit ; when he was abroad his instructions
were so liberally dealt out, that time, which is
valued by some people, escaped his notice, and in

doing good to others he aadly neglected the oppor-
tunity of attending to the things which pertained
to his own good. In the spring, tlie Squire was
so much engaged in theoretical agriculture ams
politics that he forgot his own fields till a late
hour, then he rallied his idle sons and some of hie
loafing neighbors and prepared his ground for seed
in a hurried manner ^ leiving his fences in a bad
state ; by the time his seeds were deposited in his
half-plowed land, his pi-actical neighbors were
weeding their fields and preparing for future oper-
ations.

The heads of the family and domestics appeared
to live in harmony ; there was no ringing of l>ells
and rallying in the morning, but every one left the
dormitory, after sleeping to satiety, which was not
at an early hour ; the cows waited for their milk-
ers till hunger made them restless, and hj the
time they were milked and turned to pasture, his
wakeful neighbors were progressing in their field
labors. Some time Ijefore noon, the heads of the
female department struggled from the embraces of
Morpheus sufficiently to prepare breakfast, when
all hands were summoned to the table well sup-
plied with those "creature comforts" which min-
ister to the gratification of good appetites and ca-
pacious receptacles to receive them. After an in-
teresting "labor of love" for about an hour, and
the party having been much engaged on the sub-
ject before them, tlio breakfast was finished to the
satisflxctiou of all concerned. And then for the
operations of the day.

After a heavy supply of food, no man feels the
speed of the "winged winds," but the Squire's
help got on the move before the sun arrived at a
vertical position, and as some folks have all sorts
of luck but good, the Squire's fences not having
been repaired in the spring, and his cattle rather
impatient after long fasting, thought they could
do a better business than licking up short gi'ass,
and so they experimented upon the strength of
the old, rotten fences, and finding them pregnable,
entered the field where the Squire's labor had been
disposed of, and at it they went, mowing and
reaping the Squires growing crops by premature
harvest, without remorse of conscience, or looking
back to see who was coming. Instead of working
in the field, the hands had to beat a cow retreat,
and then do what ought to have been done in the
spring, mend up the fences ; thus the cattle, get-
ting a liking to better fare, and learning the frail-
ty of old fences, continued their vexatious intru-
sions through the season.

The Squire, dilatory in tiie extreuie, followed
on in the rear in all his opcratiiuis ; his fields were
but partially hoed, his hay was cut late and bad*
ly cured, and finally the remnant of corn was
harvested and put into a dilapidated, old leaky
barn, to be husked late in the fall, where it re-
mained to tempt the cattle to ti*y the strength of
"wooden walls" for something to appease gnaw-
ing hunger during the long nights in the fall of
the year after the frost-bitten feed had been all
devoured. It was reported, probably in truth,
that the Squire's cattle njade an assault upon the
barn and gained admittance, without a ticket,
and feasted upon the corn which they had pre-
viously tithed more severely than was allowable
under the old Levitical law ; and then mounted
the pile and took lodgings to pass *iway the frosty
nights of autumn.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

409

Esq, Slide well was quite as inattentive to the
conditien of his buildings, as to his farming opera-
tions ; he made no repairs so long as he had a
room in his house that would protect him from
?rind and stenns -, if the rain disconaiaoded his
family in one ra>;a, they retreated to another,
where it rained let-s, aad by the help of shingles
4ind old huts they kept their windows in re-pair
as long as there was glass enough left in the sashes
to give sufficient light te distinguish day from
night.

Thus time, that reconciles all events sooner or
later, carried them along with but little grumbling
so long as rich relatives one after another were
called to a better world, and on their departure
left them the means of supplying their tables
bountifully frOm the stores of a good Providence.
Thus the Squire, in his eventful life, instead of
improving by experience, rather grew more negli-
gent as he grew older, wasted or wore away, prop-
erty which would h*ve made any prudent isan
independent, while preaching theories to others,
and neglecting the praetisai application of them
to his own affairs, A repetition of the course de-
scribed, "with but little variation," was annually
pursued while he lived. Silas Beowx,

Wilmington, 1854.

pounds of the very best white sugar, (the finer
the quality the better,) and to this add as much
water as will, with the Juice and sugar, make a
gallon. Put the mixture into a keg or demijohn,
leaving it open for two weeks, or until the fer-
mentation subsides ; then cork it up tightly, and
and let it remain quiet for five months, when it
will befit for use, and may be racked off into bot-
tles,— P«, Farm Jour.

A gentleman who has had much experience in
uaaking currarnt, raspberry, and grape wines, says
the above recipe is a good one, but that clear
wine cannot be made in a demijohn. It should be
put in a keg or cask which it will just fill, so that
as it ferments the scum will run off. When the
fermentation ceases, cork it tightly and let it stand
five or six months, and then draw it off for bot-
tling by tapping near the bottom, being careful
not to disturb the sediment. — Eds. Rural.

THE WHITE BAISY.

Of all the pests that afflict the farmer, none I
deal with better deserves the appellation, tpJoI-
erable^ than the White Daisy, The seed is long,
■slender, brown, -and the rapidity with which it
spreads demands of the farmer the most untiring
diligence in its extermination. The mowing of
iiay in winter, has seeded the road-sides of this
town, and they now present, for miles, a border-
ing of daisies. From a few seed sown when lay-
ing land down to grass, we have whole acres now
thickly in Moseom.

The rapidity with which the daisy increases,
may be seen from the following. I to-day pulled
an my meadow a stool probably three years old,
from which had grown 26 stalks, bearing fifty-one
blossoms- I counted 300 seeds in one blossom. An-
other stool ^ad sixty stalks, and at the above rate
over one hundred blassoms. Putting the number
of seeds per blossom at 200, we have for the last
stool 20,000 seeds ; and for the first 10,200, From
a little plot of ground, about four feet by five, I

Eulled 050 stalks, giving at above rates, 1,000
lossoms, and 200,000 seeds.
Need more convincing proofs be added, to prove
to the most oegligent farmer the necessity of being
wide awake in the work of eradicating these
pests ? — and yet we see farmers resting in quiet
ease, year after yea.r, while they are gaining a
foothold, and inci'casing in a ratio of unexampled
rapidity-

CURRANT WINE.

Here is a recipe for making currant wine, worth
to any of our subscribers who have a bushel cf
warrants, at least two year's subscription to the
Journal. We had an opportunity of tasting wine
Blade after it, which was of such excellent quali-
ty, that we could not resist the temptation of pul>
iisliing the recipe. Here it is ; try it and report
the results:

To one quart of ripe currant juice add three

FEEDING OF ANIMALS.

FORKS IN WHICn TaE SOLID MATTERS OF THE TISSUES
ESCAPE IX THE CRINE.

The lungs throw off, in the form of gas or va-
por, a large proportion of the matters which, after
being taken into the stomach, have already served
their purpe.ie in the body. The kidneys remove
the greater part of that v^hich is derived from the
destruction ef the tissues. The solid excretions in
man amount only tea fourteenth or an eighteenth
of the whole food consumed.

In a state of health, the Haline substances of the
food escapes for the most part in the urine. The
nsineral matter ccntained in that part of the solid
excretions which has undergone digestion, consists
chiefly cf earthy salts and of iron.

In man and in our domestic animals, the nitro-
'^en ef the food and tissues is also separated from
the blood by the kidneys, and is found in the
urine. It is chiefly in the form of a substance to
which the name of urea is given. In birds, ser-
pents and insects, it is separated in the form of
uric acid. The urine voided by a healthy man in
24 hours, averages about 4<1 ounces, and con-
tains about 150 gi-ains of solid matter, which
has served its purpose in the system. Of this
solid matter, about 270 grains consist of urea, 8 of
uric acid, and 170 of mineral or saline matter.
The urine ef the horse is richer in urea than that
of the cow, and that 3f the cow than the urine of
man. It is this urea which, during the fermenta-
tion or ripening of urine, becomes changed into
ammonia.

The urea and uric acid discharge<l daily in the
urine of a healthy man, contains about half an
ounce of nitrogen — to furnish which requires 3
ounces of dry gluten, albumen, or flesh. If so
large a proportion of that which is most valuable
in food, and which has been derived from tiie de-
cay of the tsssuee of the body, is contained in the
urine, it ought to be an important object to the
farmer to contrive some method ef returning it
\vithout less to the soil, tnat it may aid again in
raising new vegetables as food for other animals.

GENERAt BAX.ANCEOF rv)0D AND EX€RE1'I0NS IN MAN.

The general balance of the food tivkcn into the
human body and of the excretions of various kinds,
has been thus represented by M. Barral :

410

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

Every 100 parts taken in, consist of—
Food, solid and liquid, containing in all 75 per cent, of

water - - - . . - -

O.x'ygen taken in by the lungs, - - . -

And are given off as —
Water perspired by the lungs and skin,
Carbonic acid, do. do., - - - - - .

Evacuations, solid and liquid, - - -

Other losses, .....

74.4
25.6

100

34.8

30.2

S4.5

0.5

100

In general the substances perspired are to the
evacuations as 2 to 1.

Of course, in an estimate of this kind, it is im-
possible accui-ately to put down the several quan-
tities given ofl' in the form of hair, nails, surface,
skin — both of the outer and inner parts of the
body — &c., &c., all of which are constantly shed
or cut, and as constantly renewed. It is useful,
however, in showing generally the relation which
the oxygen inspired bears to the other food which
the stomach receives, and ihe proportion of the
■work of excretion performed respectively by the
perspiring organs, ami by the organs of evacua-
tion.

KIND OF FOOD REQUIRED BY AXl.MALS AS INDICATED
BY TUE CO.MFOSITION OF TUE BLOOD.

A knowledge of the kind of food required by
animals may be gathered, as wo have seen, from the
composition of the several parts of the animal body,
and a study of the functions they perform. The
muscles must be sustained ; thereibre gluten, al-
bumen, &c. — often popularity called muscular
matter, must 1)e eaten. The fat of the body must
be renewed, and hence fat should be present in
the food. And, as much carbon escapes from the
lungs and skin, it seems natural, if not absolutely
necessary, that starch or sugar should be intro-
duced into the stomach with the view of supj^ly-
ing it. The mineral matter of the flesh, blood,
and bones, must in like manner be provided.

Tiie study of the excretiolis indicates, besides,
the quantity of food of each kind which ought to
l)e consumed. The quantity of carbon evolved in
the form of carbonic acid, of nitrogen in the forms
of urea and uric acid, and of saline matters in the
urine and solid excretions of a healthy man, afford
a means of approximating vory nearly to the quan-
tity of each whicli a sufficient food ought to con-
tain ; but the excretions du not alone tell us in
what forms the carl)on, nitrogen, and saline mat-
ters are best suited to the wants of the animal.

Ain examination of the blood gives us this lat
ter nformation very clearly. The blood consists
essentially, besides the water, of albumen, sugar,
fot, and saline matter. The main purpose or ob-
ject of the process of digestion is to form blood ;
for out of the blood are drawn the materials neces-
sary to the wants of the bones, and of the various
tissues and fluids of the body. Those forms of
vegetable or animal matter, therefore, must be
beat adapted for food, whicli most resemble the
ingredients of the blood which is to be produced
from them. These will give the digestive organs
least trouble, or will be most easily digested. Thus
we arrive again at the conclusion that a healthy,
nourishing, and easily digestible food ought to
contain_ gluten or albumen, sugar or starch —
■which, in the stomach, readily changes into sugar
—fat either of animal or vegetable origin, and sa-
line or mineral matters of various kinds. Of

course, if the stomach of the animal be in an un-
healthy condition, the quality of the foodmay re-
quire to be adapted to its unnatural condition ;
but this does not affect our general conclusion.

IMPORTANCE OF A 31IXED FOOD.

All these diffei'ent modes of examining the ques-
tion, therefore, indicate not only the advantage
but the necessity of a mixed food to the hcaltliy
sustenance of the animal body. Hence the value
of any vegetable production, considered as t\\Q sole
food of an animal, cannot be accurately deter-
mined by the amount it may contain of any ons
of those substances, all of which together are ne-
cessary to build up the growing body of the young
animal, and to repair the natural waste of such
as have attained to their fullest size.

Hence the failure of the attempts that have been
made to support the lives of animals by feeding
them upon pure starch or sugar alone. These
substances would supply the carbon perspired by
the lungs and the skin ; but all the natural waste
of nitrogen, of saline matter, of earthy phosphates,
and probably also of fat, must have been with-
drawn from the existing solids and fluids of their
living bodies. The animals, ia consequence, pined
away, became meagre, and sooner or later died.

So some have expressed surprise that animals
have refused to thrive — have ultimately died, when
fed upon animal jelly or gelatine alone, nourish-
ing though that substance, as -part of the food,
undoubtedly is. When given in sufficient quan-
tity, gelatine might indeed supply carbon enough
for respiration, with a great waste of nitrogen, but
it is deficient in tlie saline ingredients which a
naturally nourisliing food contains.

Even on the natural mixture of starch and glu-
ten which exists in fine wheaten bread, dogs have
been unable to live beyond 50 days, though others
fed on household bread, containing a portion of
the bran — in which earthy matter more largely
resides — continued to thrive long after. It is im-
material whether the general c^uantity of the
ivhole food be reduced too low, or whether one of
its necessary ingredients only be too much dimin-
ished or entirely withdrawn. In either case the
eflect will be the same — the animal will become
weak, will dwindle away, and will sooner or later
die.

The skill of the feeder may often be applied with
important economical effects to the proper selec-
tion and mixture of the food he gives his animals
generally, and at various stages of their growth.

It has been found by experiment, for example,
that food which when given alone, does not fat-
ten, acquires that property in a high degree when
mixed with some fatty substance, and that those
which are the richest in the muscle-forming in-
gredients produce a comparatively small effect, un-
less they contain also, or are mixed with, a con-
siderable pro^iortion of fixtty matter. Hence the
reason why a stone of linseed has been found by
some to go as far as two stones of linseed cake, and
why the Rutlandshire farmers find a sprinkling of
linseed oil upon the hay to be a cheap, wholesome,
and fattening addition to the food of their cattle
and horses.

A Merino sheep of 55 lbs. contains about 20 lbs.
of fat, but four-fifths of any subsequent addition
consists of tallow, hence we may infer that oily
food should be profitable in fattening sheep. To
pigs the same remark applies ; and, in prac-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

411

tice, flit of any kind, animal or vegetable, is found
to be a profitable addition to the food of these ani-
mals when they are to be fattened off. — Johnston's
Ag. Chmislri/ and Geology.

For the New England Farmer.

TIME FOR BUDDING.

Mr. Editor: — The nurseryman meets with but
few; if any, more difficult tasks than that of de-
ciding the best time for budding his young trees.
As no two seasons are alike, no particular time
can be establish'^d for performing the operation ;
but, if the seasons wei-e alike, the locations of
nurseries, and their treatment, are so various,
that while some would have advanced to a proper
stage of growth several weeks before the stated
time, othoi-s would be as many weeks after ; it
therefore depends, almost entirely, upon the
judgment of the cultivator, as to the best time to
commence budding.

Experience has proved to me that there is a
certain stage of growth which is most preferable
to all others for setting buds -, many suppose that
any time will do, if the trees are in a thriving
condition. It is true, buds can be set whenever
the bark will peel, but it is equally true, that
there are but a few days that ttiey can be budded
to advantage -, if sot at the proper time, a skilful
operator will make 75 per cent. live. In your re-
marks upon the subject, you suggest whether it
would not be better to sot buds as early as the
bark will readily peel.

Are we to understand by this, that you would
recommend spring budding? for the bark will
very freely peel soon after the leaves are formed in
the spring. If so, from your opinion I beg most
respectfully to differ, (a.) Trees budded early,
80 far as my experience teaches, do not take so
well as those budded later in the season. I have
invariably found that those trees which have
ceased to grow ten or twelve days after the buds
had been set, have done better than those budded
at any other time. Trees intended for budding
should bo kept in a good state of cultivation, and
well mulched previous to the commencement of
the dry weather in July, thus securing a good
August growth. For the pa.st ten years I have
budded apple trees from the 7th to the 20th of
August. He who fails to make his young trees
grow in August, will, ia my opinion, never make
a successful nui'seryman. (b.)

The strings on trees budded at the right time
should not be removed until the following spring,
thus leaving a protection for buds during the win-
ter. I have found nothing better for strings than
cotton wicking ; the cost is but 25 cts. per thou-
sand buds. • E. Kersey.

Hingham, July, 1854.

Remarks. — (a.) We did not mean spring bud-
ding— though budding at thatseason is sometimes
crowned with success.

(b.) Our correspondent says: — "I have invari-
ably found that those trees which have ceased to
grow ten or twelve da3's after the buds had been
set, have done better than those budded at any
other time. And then he who fails to make his
trees grow in August will never make a success-

ful nurseryman." Does he mean that they shall
grow ten or twelve days and then cease 1 We do
not fully comprehend him.

WEEDS ! WEEDS ! !

We observe in passing through the country,
the pastures of poor farmers crowded with armies
— not of Turks and Russians — hut of mullets,
horse thistles and other invaders, which not only
devour the strength of the land, and pay nothing
in return; but continually say, like impertinent
tell-tales, to every passing traveller, in the lan-
guage of a celebrated writer, "Behold the field of
the slothful, and the field of the man void of un-
derstanding!. For lo, it is all grown over with
burdocks, and Johnswort has covered the- face
thereof."

We take it for granted that no reader of this
journal ever voluntarily allows weeds to grow on
his premises, but some, however, obtain stealthy
possession — and if some of our good friends of tliit,
class would go over their grounds, make a care-
ful observation, and estimate the amount of veg-
etable growth thus feeding on the strength of
their soil, which mignt as well be wheat, corn and
ruta bagas, they would certainly lie surprised at
the amount. It would be a curious question in
philosophy, W'hy so many will thus allow a year-
ly waste from weeds of some fifty or a hundred
dollars, with all quietness and submission, who
would be ready in a moment to bring an action at
law against a neighbor, whose cattle and swine
should devour a fifth part of that quantity.

If we could only have all the value of the riches
of the country at large thus wasted, placed in our
hands for endowing agricultural schools, there
would be no necessity whatever of applying to na-
tional and state legislatures for heljJ.

Now is the very point of time for thinking this
matter over, with a determination to act efficient-
ly in the premises ; and if any one is too busy or
"(/?-oi!c" to attend to it, he has certainly under-
taken the care of too much land, or else is pursu-
ing a system which may emphatically be compared
to "saving at the tap and wasting at the bung."
No one is ever too busy to turn his neighbor's cat-
tle out of his cornfield — and he ought to pursue
the same system towards other intruders. We
have known farms to be affected in market value
from five to ten dollars per acre, by being kept
neat and clean in one instance, and foul, weedy and
repulsive in the other. — Country Gcntlanan.

Bristol County Agricultur.\l Society. — The
Bristol County Agricultural Society has issued a
most atti-active bill of premiums for their cattle
Show the present year, which is to take place on
the 27th and 28th of September. The New Bed-
ford Horticultural Society will unite its exhibition
with the other show. The officers of the Bristol
County Society are —

J. II. W. Page, of New Bedford, President.

John Daggett, of Attleboro', > Vice
Nathan Dcrfee, of Fall River, J Presidents.

L. T. Taijiott, of Taunton, Secretary.

Samuel A. Dean, Treasurer.

412

JfEW EN'GLANI) FARMED,

FARMING A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Though farming is one of the oldest employ-
ments in which men have ever been engaged, the im-
provementa in it have been very slowly intrcxlueed.
Tlie approaches to perfection which have been
attained in its operations have been made by short
steps, and those taken at long intervals. It is
indeed a great art. Were all that is known of
its varied progresses blotted out of memory to-
day, it is doubtful if, with all our modern appli-
ances, the study of a century would suffice to give
it its present position. It is only )ry looking
back upon the past that we are able to note its
improvements ; for grown sciences and well de-
ve|j^ed art arc old oaks, — they seem to stand from
yea^' to year without change, adding nothing to the
diameter of their trunks, and their branches main-
taining only their old size. A score of years make
their mark through ; and when the tree is cut
down, each year shows its own ring.

Farmers in this country a hundred years ago
could hardly be expected to pride themselves on
the good condition of tlieir farms, the excellence
of their stock, or the yield of their crops. The
stumps of the first forests stood in their wheat
fields, and were not rotted in their oldest pasture
grounds. The Indians were barrassing them on
the frontier, and political questions of the gravest
import would h ive disturbed their problems of field
culture, had any such problems bt^en presented.
And yet our Yanlceo farmers of the morn of the
eighteenth century were nearly the counterpart
of the farmers of England. In neither country had
much notion of iuiprovoment taken root. Ambi-
tious men were not in their i-anks, and to do things
as they had l>een done was es-teemed the peirfec-
tion of farming .

The good farmer lived just where his father
lived , in the same old>unpainted house. He plant-
ed just as many acres of corn as his father planted.
lie made the hills just four fijet apart, put into
each hill a crab or two, dropped in four kernels
of corn, and made each hill a foot or more ab-ove
the surface ; planted bean^ in the corn- field l)ut
not pumpkins ; for hard as it rs to believe, the time
was when pumpkins were not kno\vn even in Con-
necticut. He sowed just as many a(;res of rye as
his father did, and in the same lot. He plowed
with just as many yoke of oxen, and with the
simo heavy, unweildy plow, "Cast steel" was
just tlien (1750) made for the first, but it was a
Sheflield secret. And the I^est sg^de, hoe, shovel
or plow-share, he could find, was either of east
iron and exceedingly brittle, or of such soft iron
tliat a few days' work with it made it as dull as
the next dulirr thing than a hoe. His oxen were
small, ungainly, feeble things, compared with the
fat fellows who now move ofif vrith the heaviest
loads, as if they enjoyed a ton or two to ballast
them. Very poor mutton it must Iiavc l>een that
Oliver Goldsmith invited Samuel Jon.vsoN to
dine on ; and the roast boef that Hixiarth was
always painting, we suspect was a thin, lean ar-
ticle, after all. Farmers then did not spend their
earnings studying how to make the most manure,
tliough now how to get rid of its accumulation in
their yards trout)leil them not a little. When the
old barn fell to pieces-, you may l>e sure it was re-
built upon a new site. It was deemed a good
opportunity to be rid of a nuisance. Nobody
went sea-weeding then, and there were no seines

hauling along the shore full of rich shoals of glit-
tering fish . Compost was a thing unknoATn , and a
lecture on the subject would have been as amusing
as a prophesy that their grand-children would
sail round Cape HoiTi, and l^ing home from the
Peruvian Islands something to make their corn
and beans yield more abundantly. The ashes that
gathered in tlieir great fire-placca went to swell
the ash-heap ))y the back-door, and the pyramid
of clam-shells along-side rivalled it in size and de-
formity. The cattle were left to ramble in the woods-
through the Fall and Spring, aad went uncovered
through the vfinter to toughcB them. The pigs
rooted at liberty on the village green, unless they
broke into the parson's garden, when rings were
put into their snouts to check theix mischievous
propensities. When they were gathered into pens,
the pens were by the roadside, where every boy
that went to school had a pull at their ears, and
the fragrance of their cleanly quarters regaled
all passers-by. Such a thing as rotation of crops
had not been proposed. Where he plaited corn
last year when the walnut leaves were just the
size of a squirrel's ear, he planted it again thi&
year. Where he sowed rye then "in the old of
the moon," he sowed it again this year, and the
same corner was kept for the potato-pateh years-
together. When wheat would no longer grow ic
the exhausted field, he left it for grass to come
in. And when the old pasture grounds utterly
failed, they wei-e left for briars, bushes, and
such forest trees as could, to struggle up. Sow-
ing pine seeds, or planting a forest, would have
seemed simply ridiculous. There were a few or-
chards cultivated, but they produced neither choice
nor luscious fruit. Their principal object was
the cider-barrel, for which a very poor species of
fruit answered very well. When the old fields de-
clined to surrender their profits enough to pay for
their cultivation, the more enterprising pulled up
stake, and pushed out into nevf settlements. It
was a great undertaking, but some of them pene-
trated into the Far West, ev/in as far as the banks-
of the Hudson. But the more ambitious sons of
a family eagerly embraced o.ny opportunity that
offered, to adopt the life of a mechanic, sailor, or
particularly that of a tradesman — employments-
that were honorable Ijccause they were more profit-
able ; and, by following them, they sooner attained
to independence.

It was slow work for Agriculture, ei-eeping out
from so debased a condition. There were learned
Englishmen laboring, however, for its im})rove-
mont and their labors were early appreciated here..
The writings of Sir John Sinclair and Young, and
tlie experiments of Bakewell, gendered a new in-
terest in the subject, and societies for the promo-
tion of agrieultui;al science l>egan to be formed on
both sides of the ocean. A clergyman. Rev. Jared
Eliot, published the results of his experiments at
farming in Con5>ecticut, as e?riy as 1747, with
marked advantage to the people. There was a
Philadelphia Society for the promotion of agricul-
fure established in 1785. and one in Massachu-
setts in 16'J2, Premiums and exhibitions soon
eame in vogue. The embargo of 1807, which
blighted so severely the commerce of the Eastern
towns, gave farming a new impulse. And though
since then thousands of obst;>,cles have inter-
posed, and fields which then first began to de-
velop their fertility and strength have since been

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

413

built over with manufacturing establishments
and the old farms are contracted into more door-
yards and gardens, Agriculture has grown apace
until it reeds a year-book of goodly size to record
its improvements, and a bulky census to expos
its wealth. — New York Times.

VETERINARY HOMffiOPATHY.

Mr. Moore : — I take the liberty of forwarding
to you by mail, a small volume entitled " Vcicrin-
ary Homoeopathy,'^ by Rush, published in Phil-
adelphia.

The rational treatment of Domestic Animals is
gaining ground daily, and fast superseding the
old and barbarous system. I have tried it to some
extent, and jSnd it acts more promptly on animals
than on persons, for the simple reason that their
food is not so artificial, and besides, they have no
imagination to draw upon . I have treated success-
fully various cases of acute colic, in horses, "hol-
low horn" in cows, catarrh or influenza in horses,
even when it was supposed to be glanders; also
the various stages of distemper j and other ailments
too numerous to mention. All rowcling, bleeding,
drenching, and kindred heroic remedies can be
dispensed with.

Though not a "graduate" nor a "practition-
er," I have some small medical knowledge — and
great desire to lessen the suffering of both man
and beast; hence I trouble you in this way, and
would bespeak for this beautiful system your can-
did consideration. I have received a medical edu-
cation at the llomoco. Med. College in Philadel-
phia, but attended more as an amateur, than with
a view of going into, and becoming a general
practitioner, — for the reason, that I had too much
other buisness on my hands, and was too old a man
to undergo the fatigue of a country practice. 1
am well satisfied that the general introduction of
this systsem among farmers, will be the means of
saving the lives of much valuable stock, and erad-
icate many hereditary taints to which they are
heir. — Wool Grower.

For the New England Farmer.

TRAINING YOUTH TO A WRONG OC-
CUPATION.

Mr. Editor : — Though but a youth myself, still
L consider I have a right to represent the rights
and wrongs of youth as a class. There are many
parents who persist in training their children to
a pursuit which they have no inclination nor
taste to pursue. Most farmers think their sons
must follow in their track, whether they have a
taste for other pursuits or not. Perhaps a boy
has a tact for trading, or he may be very ingen-
ious, and would like to be a mechanic, but no,
says the parent, while you are under my control,
you must do my bidding. Such parent's are
not looking out for their children's future welfare,
but only for their own present interest. If pa-
rents would consult their children more, and give
them the pursuit they naturally tend to, it would
be for their good, and for those they give it to.
For how can a man engage in a particular pur-
suit and have it profitable, unless his mind anl
inclination arc also tlirown in with it ?

Lynnfield, 1854. A Young Farmer.

THE FARMER'S SONG.

BY WILSON FLAGG.

A late dismal stoiy our ears hath assailed,

That your banks and your merchants and brokers had failed

But ne'er in the wealtli of our country despair,

While the weather and season will smile on our care.

From the banks of our rivers good specie we raise.

Fine silver in vrheat, and bright gold in our maize.

In the banks of the earth we deposit our wealth,
And reap, with the interest, vigor and health ;
Kind Nature's our banker, and all our wide fields
Are the mart that the profits of industry yields.
Though our traders have failed, we are not so forlorn, —
Bring the notes of your banks, and we'll pay them in com.

We learu that your bankers have issued their notes,

Till like leaves in the autumn, their paper coin floats ;

They promise to pay "on demand" you'll peruse,

Yet the gold for their paper they often refuse.

Trade with us, and you'll neither be shaven nor shorn ; —

The farmers ne'er give you the husks for the corn.

We speculate only in weather and soil ;
Our gains are the well-earned reward of our toil ;
Though moderate, still they are solid and sure.
And while we have vigor, our wealth will endure.
Our banks, where wo safely deposit in Spring,
A rich dividend In the Autumn will bring.

What a treasure of wealth will our pastures unfold ;
Our woodlands are surely far better than gold ;
And all your bright silver no profit will yield,
Except as 'twill purchase the fruits of the field !
And unless your bank money a change soon receives,
'Twill ere long be too worthless to purchase our leaves.

Yet of our own calling 'tis idle to boast ;
And now both our merchants and bankers we'll toast : —
Here's to banking and commerce and all honest trade ;
Our wealth would all perish without their just aid.
And while both to justice and truth they are sworn,
Bring the notes of your banks and we'll pay them in com.

A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE.

The man who stands upon his own soil, who
feels that liy the laws of the land in which he
lives — by the laws of civilized nations — he is the
rightful and exclusive owner of the land which he
tills, is by the constitution of our nature under a
wholesome influence not easily imbibed from any
other source. He feels — other things being equal
— more strongly than another, the character of a
man as Lord of an inanimate world. Of this
great and wonderful sphere, which , fashioned by
the hand of God, and upheld by his power, is
rolling through,, the heavens, a part of his — his
from the centre sky. It is the space on which the
generation 1)efore moved in its round of duties,
and he feels liimself connected by a visible link
with those who follow him, and to whom ho is to
transmit a home. Perhaps his farm has come
down to him from his fathers. They have gone
to their last home ! but he can tra(;e their foot-
steps over the scenes of his daily labors. The
roof which shelters him was reared by those to
whom he owes his l)cing. Some interesting do-
mestic tradition is connected with every enclosure.
The favorite fruit tree was planted by iiis father's
hand, lie sported in boyliood beside tlie brook
which still winds tlirough the meadow. Through
the field lies tlio patli to the village school of
earlier days, lie still hears from the window the
voice of the Sabbatli boll which called l-is father
to the house of God ; and neir at liand is the spot
where his parents laid down to rest, and where,

414

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

when his time has come, he shall be laid by his
children. These are the feelings of the owners of
the soil. Words cannot paint them — gold can
not buy them; they flowout of the deepest foun
tains of the heart, they are the life-springs of a
fresh, healthy and generous national character. —
Edward Everett.

For the New England Farmer.

A NEW WIND-MILL.

S. Brown, Esq.: — Dear Sir, — I send you here-
with a letter to me from an old friend, which if
you think best you, will please publish in the
Farmer. 1 know nothing of the newly-invented
wind-mill my friend describes more than you can
learn from his communication. He is of quite a
scientific turn of mind, and I think it quite prob-
able the invention may prove valuable to the com-
munity. F. HOLBROOK.

Braitleboro', August 2, 1854.

Mr. Holbrook : — Dear Sir, — Knowing the in
terest which you take in any new invention of
merit, particularly, such as directly benefits the
agricultural community, I am induced to write
you respecting a wind-mill of an entirely new con-
struction. Within the last few years I have no-
ticed many inquiries in the scientific and agricul-
tural papers of this country, respecting wind-
mills, stating, that if some ingenious mechanic
would invent machinery to bo carried by wind,
which could be regulated with but little difficulty,
and of a permanent, durable construction, not
likely to be destroyed by severe gales, he would
not only be doing the public a great service, but
would most assuredly acquire a fortune thereby.
For centuries, the civilized world has been looking
for something of this kind. In the retired village
of Ellington, Conn., Daxiel Haladay, a young
mechanic, has, after one year's trial, succeeded in
producing a wind-mill, or wind-engine, which reg-
ulates itself. When terrific gales strike it, the
broad wings swing back, presenting only their
thin edges to the wind, and when the extra pres-
sure has passed, the fans, of themselves, swing
back, presenting their surface to the wind, or such
a part of the surface as the pressure will admit
of. The mill we . have there in operation, has
been running since early last spring, proving by a
fair trial its utility and capability of regulating
itself throug'i severe storms. The wheel is ten
feet in diam-ter, having five foot fans ; they will
be enlarged as more power is required.

This one draws water fi-om a well 28 feet deep,
and 100 feet distant, forcing it to supply a barn,
blacksmith's shop, and fish-pond, all of which
have been bo'intii nil}' supplied by it. Repeated
trials and tb. ir failure in producing a desirable
wind-power, nas nearly discouraged farmers from
attempting i;.; use. 1 recollect that when a boy,
1 was tending a four horse-poM'cr steam-engine in
your village, I'.nd for a moment detacheii the reg-
ulator : the movement became immediately so
rapid and violent, that, had I not quickly replaced
it, the increased speed would have torn it from
its foundation. N(jw,many times there is a pres-
sure in the air, as great as that upon the steam-
engine ; yet people, to some extent, are trying to
use this power with nothing to control it, and the
results are violent, irregular, motion, and frequent

breaking of machinery. I now see but one objec-
tion which can possibly be raised to this power —
that is, the wind does not blow constantly. To
this I offer the following considerations :

1st. You have a good working power, for one-
half the days, and nights also, during the year,
and at times a mill will run night and day for
two weeks in succession .

2d. This mighty agent, of almost unbounded
power, costs nothing — the Creator makes it a free
gift to all. Many millions of horse power, go
sweeping through the heavens, over every man's
farm and work-shop, which the skill of man can
now control, using it to pump water for beautify-
ing grounds with ponds and fountains, supplyng
houses, watering stock, in-tgating land; and if ap-
plied to machinery, the extensive farmer will use
it to thresh grain, saw wood, cut hay, &c. In
using it to supply water, large reservoirs can be
built to draw from, in case the mill should be still
for a few days. It is very appropriate for irri-
gating land, making flowers, fruits and grains to
grow, where the mullen and sorrel, now scarcely
find n(jurishment, and where now the dismal croaK
of the frog is heard, the clear music of the scythe
and whetstone to ring ujjon the morning air.

The inventor will soon commence the manufac-
ture of these mills on a large scale, and notify th e
public by advertising the same in the New Eng-
land Farmer. Very truly, your friend.

New Haven, July 10, 1854. i. b.

Remarks. — There is scarcely anything which
would prove of more substantial service to the
farmer, than the means of collecting and distrib-
uting water at his pleasure. On many farms large
quantities of pure water are collected by drainage,
which run idly by, while all the water needed
for a large family and a large stock of cattle,,
sheep and horses, has to be raised by human toil.
If a cheap, substantial, and permanent pow-
er were devised, all this laljor might be given
over to the sport of the winds, and thousands of
gardens and lawns and fields irrigated, so as to
add immensely to the beauty of the 1 mdseapo,
and untold profits to the labor of the husband-
man. We earnestly hope that the mill here spok-
en of, will meet the general wants of the people,
and that our friend will let us know more partic-
ularly about it.

For the New England Farmer.

BUDBINa

In your paper of to-day, I saw a few remarks
on budding. You suggested the propriety of in-
serting buds two or three weeks earlier than
common, and for the two or three years past, I
have commenced budding as soon as I ascertained
that the bark would peel, inserting a few occa-
sionally, as I found time, as long as it would peel,
and I found that many of the early buds failed,
while most of the latter lived. Being desirous to
know which v,'ould do best, early or late budding,
I inserted buds in the same staiks with my first
budding, two or three weeks after the first bud-
ding, and found that the last buds mostly lived ;
whilst the first, but few survived, though some of

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMEIR.

415

them adhered to the stalks, and healed up andad-
peared green, and remained stationary through
the first and second seasons and the present sea-
son have sent out some very feeble shoots, show-
ing that the bark will peel before the buds are old
enough to terminate. A Subscriber.

ATTEND THE FAIRS.

The order of these anniversaries is as follows :

Rockingham County, at Exeter September 13 and 14.

Grafton County, at Lyme September 21 and 22.

Sullivan County Not determined.

Cheshire County, at Keene September 26 and 27. '

Merrimack County, at Fisherville.... September 27 and 28.

Hillsboro' County, at Nashua September 23 and 29.

State, at Kecne .....October 3 and G.

Now we have a few words to say in this connec-
tion relative to attending these anniversaries. One
object of Fairs, and perhaps we may say the great
object, is to afford an opportunity for all present
to witness the product of the farmer's skill and
toil — to see what cattle he rears, what grain he
produces, what fabrics are manufactured beneath
his roofs — that all may learn his method of man-
agement and Ije benefited thereby. The exhibitor
himself is not the only one to be profited by pre-
senting his stock, his dairy products and his do-
mestic manufactures. To be sure, competition
may arouse his ambition and induce him to make
more vigorous efix)rts. But the real benefit to be
gained is l)y comparing his own with similar arti-
cles presented by others.

But I have nothing to present, says one ; why
need I attend? For the very reason which you
would assign for not attending. When you have
made up your mind to attend the Fair for the sake
of learning, you have already done much — you
have "conquered your prejudices." You go with
an honest motive. You pi\ss around from yard to
yard among the cattle — ^you examine the horses,
the sheep, the swine — you pass through the dairy
hall — see the butter and cheese ; near by you find
an abundance of fruit and of garden vegetables ;
you cannot pass over the countless articles con-
tributed from the female portion of the farmer's
household. You see more than you imagined joux
little county produced. Y^ou find much to admire
— much to inspire you with a determination to ex-
ert more power and apply yourself more earnestly
to your products in future. But as you pass
along you behold manifold objects far less deserv-
ing than those i^roduced by your own hands ; you
are satisfied that it is so, and your modesty will
not prevent you from declaring it. The next year
you too are a competitor, and most likely a suc-
cessful one. Your whole family are interested in
the Fair,

You have reaped a benefit unexpectedly. But
this is not all, you make fifty acquaintances, you
talk of your common products, you learn new
methods of cultivation, you acquire more new
thoughts than you before supposed your mind ca-
pable of containing, and if you are wise, you will
put some of them into practical operation as soon
as you have an opportunity. From these you
will make new ac([uisitions, and in time you will
gain another benefit, where you anticipated noth-
ing at the beginning. , . .,,

'^^ , ° ? .^. «..„ ,,oin;uis wnich will

arise to yourself and your children — attend your
County Fairs ; and when a farmer has spent one

day in examining the best stock in his own coun-
ty, and found, as he unquestionably will, better
animals than he expected, he has prepared his
mind to extend his observations still further. He
desires to know if other counties can do as well.
The information he has gained at one exhibition
will be doubled at a second, and increased in a
three- fold ratio at a third or a fourth. It is im-
possible for a man to go with open eyes, to a
County exhibition, away from his own neigbor-
hood, without acquiring new facts, and gaining
some information in relation to his daily labors.

The same is true, only in a greater degree, in
regard to the State shows. Here he will obtain a
sort of summary of the whole, a condensation and
review of the subject matter which has been before
him .

We would therefore advise farmers to attend
all the Fairs in the State, so far as it is possible.
Go and make comparisons for your own good and
for the common benefit of those who labor with you.

Societies should take pains to send delegates,
and have reports published concerning kindred
associations, and we hope this fall, as our Fairs
are so well arranged, to see delegates sent from
every society to every other, and to read from
those delegates full reports of what they witnessed
at these exhibitions. — Granite Farmer.

MACHINERY IN FARMING-ITS AB-
SOLUTE NECESSITY.

It is not enough that farmers avail themselves
of all the advantages which chemistry affords in
its application to their art ; it is not enough that
they learn how to save as much as possiljle of the
manures made on their premises, and the best
methods of applying these and also purchased
specific manures ; it is not enough that they
know at what seasons and to what depths their
soils should be cultivated. They must perform
as many of the operations of farming by machin-
ery, as machinery can be made to perform to ad-
vantage.

There is no other way in which agriculture
can keep pace in respectability, pleasure and
pi-ofit, with other arts. Without this expedient
it will be outstripped by them, and sink steadily
in comparative rank.

By machinery, as we use the word here, we
mean all mechanical contrivances which can be
substituted for manual labor, and combined with
manual labor so as greatly to increase its produc-
tiveness.

And the policy which we recommend includes
also animal labor, and as a more powerful co-
operator with it.

So far as a horse or an ox can be made to do
the work of five men, the horse ttr the ox earns
the net product of five men's labor for tlie em-
ployer. If one mm cultivates as unieli corn, and
cultivates it well, witli one horse, attacliod to a
cultivator, as his ncighlnjr cultivates with ten
lioes in tlie hands of toi» men, it is easy to see
vvhicli of the two i.s travelling the fastest on the
road to wealth.

So in cutting^graBs,.in ..\lh}»*H';Jrib'iis 'other op-
erations of the farm, machines can do the work
for a small per centago of the cost of manual la-
bor.— M'Makins Courier.

416

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

For the New England Farmer.

NATIVE ORNAMENTAL TREES.

Knowing as I do, that the editor of the Farmer
entertains an enthusiastic lovo of the beautiful
throughout the varied manifestations of nature,
as well as an active and sul>stantial regard for the
useful, possiblj a woi-d in favor of some of the
many beautiful and noble trees of our native land,
as ornamental, and yet useful and necessary, may
not be altogether in vain.

Why may not the lofty elm and the towering
pine, the stately vralnut and the sturdy oak, the
pretty maple and symmetrical hemlock, compare
favorably with any from a foreign soil ? Then
there is the ash with its dark foliage, and the pop-
lar with tremulous leaves, the delicately perfumed
locust, and others "too numerous to mention,"

Dear bought, and brought from far, may bet-
ter suit the taste of the city gentleman, but the
country nol>lcman, who tills his lands with his
own hands, and reaps the reward of his willing
toil from the yielding surface of his own soil, will
recline at fervid noon with self-satisfaction and
complacency, under the over-arching boughs of
some stately forest tree which he himself may
have planted in his youth.

Go, then, and plant trees that shall yield rich
fruits and afford thee grateful shade. i. s.

^th mo., 1854.

Remarks. — We duly appreciate your brief and
appropriate hints, and hope every reader will.
There are no trees more beautiful than some which
you have named. The palm tree itself does not
exceed the hemlock in beauty, and in gracefulness
the elm cannot be outdone. Our forests are full
of trees that are exceedingly pleasant to the eye.

USE AND INFLUENCE OF LIGHT.

Light comes nest to air and warmth, in its in-
,fluence on the vigor and health of both animal
and vegetable life. It is true we could live in the
dark, but it is not healthy to keep shady, even in
a physical point of view.

The rays of the sun have a remarkable influence
on the growth as well as the health of animals
and vegetabl 'S. It is a fact that the men who
work in the i-oal mines of Europe, are subject to
peculiar forms of diseases. This can only be ac-
counted for Ijy their living fiir down in the depths
of the earth, away from the vivifying light of day.
It has been found that domestic animals will not
thrive and grow when kept in a dark place,
though ever so well fed and cared for in other
respects.

It is a fact well known to medical men, that in
crowded cities, the inhabitants of houses on the
north side of a street, where all the principal
rooms are well lighted, suffer much less from
sickness than families living on the other side, all
other causes of health and disease being, as far as
can be ascertained, exactly the same.
. The custom of excludin"; light from houses by

men, may preserve theTiirnTUirerf>uf8'8^3f4ii5iPfii-
•ways preserve the health of its iamates. This is
especially the case with regard to sleeping-
rooms, which should not only be well aired, but

during every fair day should have the benefit of
all the sunlight which the windows can admit.
Who that has ever been a sufferer from dyspepsia,
rheumatism, or any other of the lingering diseases
of our climate, has not noticed the difference in
his feelings on a dark cloudy day, and in the
bright, cheering, smiling sunshine ?

The effects of sunlight are still more apparent
upon the vegetable than upon the animal. What
a difference there is in the quality of the "pasture
ash," so called, and that which grew in the deep
shade of the forest, not only in the form of the
tree, but in the strength and texture of the wood.
This difference must no doubt be owing mostly to
the exposure to the winds, difference of soil, &c.,
but in a great measure to the influence of light.

We often see vegetables stretch upward in orde?
to get at the light, seeming to have a sort of in-
telligence in regard to its necessity in the process
of maturing its flowers and fruit. The scape or
stalk of the dandelion, for instance, which supports
its flowers, if it grows where there is nothing to
shade it, is seldom more than three or four inches
long, but among tall weeds, or grass, where shaded,
it will sometimes grow to the heigth of two feet
in its endeavors to avoid the overshadowing influ-
ence of its neighbors, and gain free access to the
light. Gardeners sometimes take advantage of
this fact, and obtain long stalks of rhubarb early,
by placing a barrel with each end knocked out
over the spreading leaves. The leaves stretch up
towards the light at the top, and thus they get
long and tender stalks for early use.

Plants kept in the house always lean towards
the nearest window, and we have this summer
seen a cornfield adjoining a thick grove of tall
trees, where the plants, for some distance from
the trees, leaned away from the shade, the plants
in the rows nearest to the trees 'standing at an angle
of fifteen degrees from perpendicular, and grad-
ually becoming erect as the distance increased.
One reason why light is so essential to healthy
vegetation, is undoubtedly this, viz : the discompo-
sition of the carbonic acid in the air, or in other
words, the absorption of carbon from the air, one
of the most important sources of nourishment to
vegetables, can take place only through the agen-
cy of light. In the shade, the process goes on
very feebly, and in night is wholly suspended. —
Maine Farmer.

Salt your Chimneys. — In building a chimney,
put a quantity of salt in the mortar with which
the inner courses of bricks are to be laid. The ef-
fect will be that there will never be any accumu-
lation of soot in that chimney. The philosophy is
thus stated : the salt in the portion of mortar
which is exposed absorbs moisture from the atmo-
sphere every damp day. The soot thus becoming
damp, falls down to the fireplace. This appears
to be an English discovery. It is used Avith suc-
cess in Canada.

To Ruin a Son. — 1. Allow him to have his own
way.

2. Let him have plenty of money.

3. Let him roam about on Sunday.

5. Give him bad companions.

6. Call him to no account for his evenings.

7. Give hioi no steady employment.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

417

psyy

HICKOK'S PATENT IMPROVED CIDER
MILL.

The machine is made to run by horse, steam or
hand power, and when the apples are ground, a
small boy of fourteen years can press the pomace
with all ease.

In all former times it was supposed that a large
quantity of cider could only l)e made l)y using a
ponderous macliine, that slowly crushed the ap
pies without grinding them line. They were then
made into a massive cheese in straAV, and a most
severe and long pressure was required to extract a
portion of the cider — a considerable quantity be-
ing absorbed by the straw and the mass of pomace ;
and to obtain this unsatisfastory result, the far-
mer had to take all his hands, and perhaps his six-
horse team, and devote a whole day that could
have been more profitably employed, to make from
six to eight barrels of cider. To obviate the dif-
ficulty the formers have heretofore labored under,
this machine his been invented, and the statement
of a few facts will prove that it is not onlythe best
machine of the kind in existence, but it is the
most profitable that a man can have on his farm.
The apples are by tliis machine grated up into a
fine pulp, so that it requires but a comparatively
light pressure, and that but a minute or two, to
extract all the cider, it being ascertained by prac-
tical experiment that one-fourth more juice can
lie obtained, than by the old process. Besides this,
it only requires two hands to grind up and make
^^'^' "ider a larger quantity of apples than can be
possibly douu on the old fashioned maclunes. Oni

this press, owing to the compactness of the pomace
in the tub, and the complete manner in which it is
ground, a pressure of from three to five tons —
that can easily be obtained — will produce a more
favorable result than fifty tons pressure on the
ordinary cider Press, even if the apples were
ground as finely as on the improved mill ; ani if
the apples were merely crushed as on the nut ma-
chine, it would require a pressure of one hundred
tons to produce the result accomplished by this
Patent Mill. The following may be adduced as
the decided advantages of this mill :

First — It will make more cider than any other
press, with a given quantity of apples in a given
time, and with much less labor and expense.

Second — [t will make cleaner and sweeter cider
than any other mill.

Third — You can make the cider as you want it,
and when you want it — and in quantities from
one gallon to six or ten barrels.

Fourth — With it you can press your currants,
cherries, berries, cheese, butter, lard and tallow.

Fifth — With it you can save one-fourth of your
time in inaking apple-butter.

Sixth — With its use you can at all times have
fresh and sweet cider.

By referring to our advertising columns the
reader will learn where tlieso mills may bo pur-
chased.

5^ Dr. G. II. Dadd, of Boston, Veterinary
Surgeon, author of the Modern Horse Doctor,
&c. , proposes to make a tour through the West-

418

NEW ENG'LAND FARiMER.

Sept.-

crn States, in the month of September, for the
purpose of makuig himself acquainted with the
diseases of horses and cattle in that section ; and
at such places as the people may desire to hear
him, -will lecture on Veterinary Science.

AMEEICAU FASMEES IIT PALESTINE.

The following interesting statement of a new
agricultural enterprise near Jerusalem, is copied
from a late number of the New York Tribune :

"Two years ago, an effort was made in a new
line to ameliorate the condition of the inhabitants
of Palestine. Seven Americans, with improved
plows and other tools, and American seeds, loca-
ted upon a piece of land seven miles from Jerusa-
lum, one mile from Bethlehem, and made prepar-
ations for farming after the American system.

"Their location was in the valley of Artos,
upon the very site of one of the gardens of Solo-
mon.

"Their friends in the city were much opposed to
their going out there to reside, urging them, if
they were determined to try to cultivate the soil,
to keep their residence in the city, for fear of the
Arabs, This did not suit their plans, and they
took up their residence upon the land and com-
menced operations, plowing deep Avith one of our
best plows, harrowing with an iron toothed har-
row, such as was never seen their before, and
planting corn, potatoes, beans, peas, oats, barley,
wheat, and all sorts of garden vegetables ; in short,
making a perfect American farm .

"The operations, instead of exciting the jealousy
of the Arabs, aroused them to a state of surprise,
and the neM's of what the Americans at Solomon's
were doing, and the wonderful tools they were
using, and how peaceable and quiet they were,
never saying anything about their religion, flew
oai the wings of the wind, and visitorscame to look
and wonder, from far and near. The operations
of the carpenter and blacksmith were not among
the least sources of wonder. The rapid manner
in which he heated his iron, and hammered it in-
to just such shape as he desired, was beyond the
comprehension of the simple-minded people.

"One day the farm received a visit from twenty-
five Sheiks, who inspected all the tools, and the
way they were used, and the effect produced, and
looked at the growing crops, so much beyond any-
thing they had ever seen produced before, and
tlien turned their heads together to consult upon
the wonders they had witnessed. The conclusion
was that the people must possess a very superior
kind of religion, as that is the standard upon
which they base all their estimates of character.
They made applications at once for several of their
sons to serve as apprentices to learn American
farming, and did not even olject that they should
be taught theprinci2:>lesof American religion ; for
surely, said they, it must boa good religion, as
these are very good people, and God blesses their
labor beyond anj' other in all Palestine.

"It would have been dangerous now for any
one to molest the American farmers, since they
had all the Sheiks and principal men in the coun-
ti'y on their t-idc, and anxious for their success and
influence. The Jews, too, began to think it would
be better for them to cultivate such a fruitful soil
than starve in the city, as many of them have done,

and they began to apply for situations as laborers,
notwithstanding the priests always taught them '
that it was derogatory to the national character
of the Hebrews to till the soil. Though,, if they
had undertaken it by themselves, they would not
have been permitted by the Arabs, who hunt them
as they would wild beasts. But under the pro-
tection of the American farmers, the xlrabs will
permit them to labor, and it is now a matter of
serious discussion among those who know of the
success of this enterprise, whether the most feasible
plan for colonizing the Jews in Palestine is not to
make them cultivators of its rich soil.

"Owing to some difficulty which arose in regard
to the title of the land, they commenced upon in
the Valley of the Artos, the little colony moved
last year to the Plains of Sharon, where they have
got a permanent location, and the number consists
now of ten Americans, male and female, and two
Germans.

"One of the number was in our office a few days
since, from whom wo derived these facts. Ue
speaks in most encouraging terms of the success
of the agricul tural project, and ultimately, by
that means, of 'an influence upon the inhabitants,
that will eventually result in groat good.

"This effort has been made through the liber-
ality of a few Christians in this city, and by the
same spirit that actuated the first movers in the
work, immense benefits may be conferred upon
that country. All that is wanted to make it a
desirable country for the emigrants of Europe is
an increase of the present colony sufficient to form
a nucleus or rallying-point, and more extended
operations, and a gradual drawing in of the resi-
dent population to adopt the same modes of pro-
ducing the varied and profitable products of th«
soil.

THE SWALLOWS.

During the week ending the 22d of July, these
interesting birds had been gathering in large
numbers, and making preparations for their bru-
mal retreat, and on the evening of the 25th, or
early morn of the 26th, the great congregation of
them, left the locality of our residence for their
winter home in the South. On the morning of
the 26th, as early as half-past four o'clock, not
even one swallow could we see, where hundreds
might have been seen at that time for many pre-
vious mornings. During the day some dozen vis-
ited their old haunts, and about as many were seen
for two or three days, when, on the first day of
August there was a new influx and they could be
counted by scores — the latter, however, remained
but a short time, and a few only were seen on
the 4th and 5th, We conjecture tliat the second
gathering in large numbers was of those coming
from far North, perhaps as high up as Hudson's
Bay, and pausing here for a day's rest and food.

The chimney swallow and purple IMartin ace
with us still. Last year the Martins left on the
8th of August,

1^ Agriculture, like the leader of Israel, strikes
the rock — the waters flow, and the famish^''' f"'^'
pie are satisfied.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

419

For the New England Farmer.

THE WHEAT CROP.

Mr. Browx : — I wish to follow your advice m
regard to raising wheat, believing with you, that
"there is no necessity for the farmer to pay out
much cash for Hour;" but ^s I have had no ex-
perience in the raising of wheat, 1 shall be very
thankful if you would give me some advice on this
subject. I have land that is very clayey, and that
which is much lighter, though not sandy ; but
that on which I should like to try the experiment
with wheat is land lying on the river, and is sup-
posed to have been made by the action of the water,
aa the bank on the opposite side is continually
wearing away and forming on this side. The soil
is very deep, and sufficiently dry to be worked at
any season of the year when our common uplands
can be. Tliis land has never been plowed, but
still bears quite a good cro]) of grass, almost as
good as English. I wish to turn it over, enrich
it and seed it down to grass again. If you will be
so kind as to tell mo what you think about wheat
growing on this land, and give some general, or
perhaps I should s:iy, particular directions about
it, you would do mc, and I presume many of your
subscribers, a favor.

Would leached or unleached ashes, with a
liberal supply of manure from the barn cellar, be
a suitable manure for wheat, (a.) When should it
lie sown, — how much per acre, (b.) If tha blue
stem is the best, where can it be obtained — at what

firice ? It would be convenient to get wheat
rora a friend in Maine, if it would be advisable to
do so. Would ' thank you to say whether it is
well to sow grass seed with wheat, — suppose I
ought to know this, but do not. (c.)

I am awax'e it is much easier to ask questions ;
but I feel that I am speaking to a friend, though
personally a stranger. I am much pleased with
your paper, not only with the agricultural de-
partment, but in regard to the great moral ques-
tions of the day. I think it breathes the true spir-
it, and is doing much good. May you and your
paper live to see great improvement in the agri-
cultural, moral and religious world.

Yours most respectfully,
Taunton, July 31, 1854. Subscriber.

Remarks. — As a general rule, any land that is
good grass land will answer for wdieat, and that
would prol)ably be land of granitic formation. It
would be well to try a small piece on your new
land.

(a.) The ashes and the barn-cellar manure will
be a suitable di-essing, if the manure is not too
coarse and green .

{h.) Sow the last of this month or early in Sep-
tember. If the land is in high condition, one
bushel of seed ; if only in ordinary condition, one
bushel and a peck. A\'e should prefer seed wheat
from Maine, to that raised liere.

(c.) Grass seed is sometimes sown with wheat
and does well, and if we were quite desirous to
save the labor of seeding alone, we should risk it,
but should prefer to take off the wheat crop, then
plow, manure, and seed to grass by itself. A
dressing of lime will have a strong tendency to

secure a crop, even if it be but six or eight bush-
els to the acre.

THINK OF ME.

Go where the water glirleth gently ever —

Glideth by meadows that the greenest be, —
Go listen to our own beloved river,

And think of me.

Wander in forests, where the small flower layelh

Its fairy gem beside the giant tree ;
List to the dim brook pining, while it playcth,
And think of me.

Watch when the sky is silver-pale at even.
And the wind grieveth in the lonely tree.
Go out b'.-ueath the solitary heaven,

And think of me.

And when the moon riseth, as she was dreaming,

-Vnd treadeth with white feet the lulled sea;
Go, silent as a star beneath her beaming,

And think of me. Reynolds.

FEEDING OF ANIMALS—CONTINUED.

Kind and quality of food necessary to maintain a healthy man
— Prison dietaries. — Food required by other animals. — Prac-
tical value of the constituents of milk in feeding the growing
calf. — Effects of long-continued dairy husbandry upon the
ciuality and produce of the soil. — On the growing of wool, and
its etfect upon the soil. — Of the practical and theoretical values
ofdiaVrent kinds of food. — Relative proportions of food for
man yielded by tlie same herbage in the forms of beef and milk.
— Influence of circumstances in modifying the practical values
of animal and vegetable food. — Concluding observations.

Practical experience sustains and confirms all
the theoretical views, and t!ie deductions, chemi-
cal and physiological, which have been advanced
in the preceding chapter. To a few of these prac-
tical confirmations I shall briefly advert.

KIND AND QUANTITY OF FOOD NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN

A HEALTHY MAN. PRISON DIETARIES. FOOD

REQUIRED BY SHEEP AND CATTLE.

The dietaries of prisons, and their effects on the
bodily health and weight of the prisoners, afford
one of the simi^lost methods of testing the influ-
ence of kind and quantity upon the nourishing
power of food. In such establishments — though
open to the objection that the prisoners are in a
state of unusual restraint — experiments can be per-
formed so much more accurately, and on so much
larger a scale than elsewhere, as to make them
worthy of a very considerable amount of confi-
dence.

An inquiry lately made into the comparative
health and food of the inmates of -the Scotch pris-
ons, has afforded very interesting materials for
proving the necessity of a mixed food, and of a
certain minimum proportion of that kind of food
which is supposed especially to sustain the mus-
cular and other tissues.

In the course of the preceding chapter we
have stated :

1. That a healthy man in ordinary circum-
stances voids daily about half an ounce of nitrogen
in his urine alone. To supply this he would re-
quire to consume three ounces of dry gluten, al-
bumen, or flesh.

2. That altogether he gives off from the lungs,
skin, and kidneys, about 350 grains, or five-
sevenths of an ounce, to supply which ho must
consume about live ounces of the same materials.

But in a state of temporary confinement, when
not subjected to hard labor, this quantity may be
safely diminished. Yet even here there is a Umit

420

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

below which it is unsafe to go. In the Scotch
prisons the wt-iji^lit of food given to prisoners con-
fined for not more than two months, and not sub-
jected to hard lahor, is uniformly about 17 ounces,
and the prop(u-tion of gkitou or nitrogenous food
contained in this is about four ounces. Where
this proportion is maintained, the average general
health and weight of the prisoners improve dur-
ing tiieir confinement. AV^here the contrary -is
the case, the weight diminishes, and the liealth
declines. This is shown in the following tabular
view of the kinds and weiglit of food given in five
of the Scotch prisons, and its effects upon the
weight of the prisoners : —

Meadow hay, -

- 20 lbs.

Turnips

120 lbs

Clover hay,

- 16 "

Cabbage,

70 "

Oat straw,

- 110 "

Wheat or other white

Pea straw.

- 15 "

grain, - -

11 «

Potatoes,

- 00 "

Beans or pease,

6 "

Carrots, -

- 70 "

Oil-cake,

4 "

JAIL.

Kdinburgh,

Glasgow,
Aberbeen,
Stirling,
Dundee,

FOOD GIVEN.

Nitroge-
nous.

Carbona-
ceous.

4 oz.

4.06

3.9S

4.27

2.75

13 oz.

12.5S
1.3.03
13.4
14

17 oz.

16.84

17

17.67

16.75

Per-centage of pris-
oners who lost
weight.

18 loss li lb. each.
32.66 4 "

4.2
4.35

This table shows that, with the Edinburgh die-
tar^' and management, 72 per cent, of the prison-
ers either maintained or increased their weight,
while only 18 per cent, diminished in weight, and
that only to the small extent of I.^ lbs. each. Tn
Glasgow the result was less fixvorable, though even
there, out of nearly 500 prisoners, only one-third
diminished in weight.

The same was the case at Aberdeen and Stirling;
so that in these three places the diet may be re-
garded as, on the vvhle, sufficient. But in Dun-
dee, one-half of the prisoners (50 per cent.) lost
weight during their short confinement ; and the
cause is obvious, in the diminished proportion of
muscle-forming food, which in this case was re-
duced to 2%, in jilace of four ounces.

And it is an interesting fact, as marking the
close connection between science and practice, that
this deterioration in the qyality of the diet was
caused by the subsiilulion of molasses for the milk,
which had been previously (iistributed to the pris-
oners along with their porridge of oatmeal. Milk
is rich in nitrogenous food, while molasses contains
none ; and the substitution was immediately fol-
lowed by a perceptible falling off in the health
and weight of the prisoners. So general are the
evils whicli may arise from ignorance or disregard
of scientific principles in a single director or di
rooting body. The apparently trivial substitution
of molasses for milk brought weakness and want
of health on the inmates of an entire prison.

In the feeding of other animals, similar results
follow from sirnil.n- inattention to the require
ments of animal nature. Of dry hay it has been
found, in pi-actic J, chat cattle and sheep require
for their daily food —

An ox at rest,
. . at work,
. . f.iUing,
. . half-fat,
. . when fat,

Milch cow.

Sheep, full-grown

2 per cent, of his live weight
2i . .

5 . . at first.

4V . .

4' . .

3 . .
3V . .

Or instead of any one of these, a mixture of
several may be given, ♦with the best results. But

'if the due proportion of nitrogenous food be not
given, the ox will lose his muscular strength, and
will generally fail. So with growing and fatting
stock of every kind, the proportion of each of the

' kinds of food required by the animal must in prac-
tice be adjusted to the purpose of which it is fed,

'as theory indicates, or actual money loss will en-
sue to the feeder.

PRACTICAL VALUE OF SALINE AND OTHER INGREDIENTS
OF MILK IN FEEDING THE GROWING CALF.

In the course of the preceding section I have
incidentally remarked, that the substitution of
molasses for milk lowered the proportion of nitro-
genous food in the Dundee prison diet, and ren-
dered it insufficient for the healthy maintenance
of the prisoners. The reason of this appears in
the composition of milk, already given in a pre-
vious chapter. The consideration of milk as a na-
tural food supplies us with another beautiful prac-
tical illustration of our theoretical principles, to
which I shall briefly advert ; and I do so, not mere-
ly because of the light it throws upon the supply
of nitrogen which a milk diet is fitted, to yield, but
because it so clearly illustrates another of the posi-
tions laid down in the pi'ecjding chapter, that the
food must supply, in kind and quantity, all the
saline and earthy substances contained in the
body.

Milk is a true food. It contains sugar, casein,
saline matter, and fat — a portion of each of those
classes of substances on which the herbivorus races
live in the most healthy manner. But the pro-
vision is very beautiful by which the young ani-
mal— the muscle and bones of which are rapidly
growing — is supplied, not only witli a larger pro-
portion of nitrogenous food, but also of bone-earth,
than would be necessary to maintain the healthy
condition of a full-grown animal of equal size.
The milk of the mother is the natural food from
which its supplies are drawn. The sugar of the
milk supplies the comparatively small quantity of
carbon necessary for the respiration of the young
animal. As it gets older, the calf or young lamb
crops green food for itself, to supply an additional
portion. The curd of the milk {casein) yields the
materials of the growing muscles and of the organic
part of the bones ; while along with the curd, dis-
solved in the liquid milk, is the phosphate of lime,
of Avhich the earthy part of the bones is to be
built up. A glance at the composition of milk
will show how copious the sup2:)ly of all these sub-
stances is, — how beautifully the composition of
the mother's milk is adapted to the wants of her
infant offspring. Cow's milk consists in 1000
parts by weight of about —

In the case of the ox the daily waste or loss of
muscle and tissue requires that he should consume
20 to 2-4 ounces of gluten or albumen, which, as
may be calculated from the table given in a sub
sequent section, will be supplied by any of the fol-
lowing weights of vegetable food : —

Butter,

Cheesy matter, (casein,) - - . .
Milk-sugar, ■ - .....

Chloride nf potassiuvi, and a little commou salt
rhosphate, chieSy of lime, - ...
Other saline substances, ....
Water. - .....

The quality of the milk, and consequently the
proportions of the several constituents above men-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

421

tioned, vary, as I have explained in the preceding
chapter, with the breed of the cow — with the food
on which it is supported — with the time that has
elapsed since the 2:)eriod of calving — Avith its age,
its state of health, and with the warmth of the
weather ;* hut in all cases this fluid contains the
same substances, though in different quantities
and proportions.

Milk of the quality above analysed contains, in
every 10 gallons, 4^ lbs. of casein, equal to the for-
mation of 18 lbs. of ordinary muscle, — and 3^
ounces of phosphate of lime, (bone-earth,) equal
to the production of 7 ounces of dry bone. But
from tlio casein have to be formed the skin, the
hair, the horn, the hoof, &c., as well as the muscle;
and in all these is contained also a minute quanti-
ty of the bone-earth. A portion of all the ingre-
dients of the milk likewisa pas.ses off in the ordi-
nary excretions, and yet every one knows how i*a-
pidly young animals thrive, when allowed to con-
sume the whole of the milk which nature has pro-
vided as their most suitable nourishment.

* In warm weather the milk contains more butter, iu cold
cheese and sugar.

Johnston'' s Ag. Chimistry and Geology.

For the New England Farmer.

ICE HOUSES.

Messrs. Editors : — Sirs, — Having been a sub-
scriber to your valuable paper since its first start.
I wish to inquire through you or your numerous
contributors the best mode of constructing ice
houses — such as will keep ice through the season.
I have a good winter house, that will keep ice
nicely, 2H"0viding we don't have too many January
thaws.

I wish to describe mine, and ask for the defects.
It is inside about 8 feet square, and six feet higli
to the roof, and plastered inside with cement; it is
situated about one-half out, the other under a
building used as a provision or store room and
milk room. The foundation is built of thick stone
wall laid in mortar, about three feet high. Then
brick two thicknesses outside, then a space of four
or five inclies, and one thickness bricks inside, the
space is filled with sawdust or planing shavings.
Thus you will see the wall is about 18 inches thick,
the roof and under the building isalso double and
filled with sawdust. I built this three years ago.
The first year I packed my ice in straw ; it lasted
till June, latter part ; second year it lasted till
the middle of July, with sawdust thrown over it.
This year it failed the 20th inst. So you perceive
my ice house is useless, or nearly so.

The first year it was evidently too close ; it
formed a dampness so that the water stood on tlie
roof and wet the straw and dissolved the ice im-
mediately. Last year I ventilated it, and reme-
died the fault in a measure, but the principle is
not right yet, as the sequel shows. Now I wish
through your paper the faults in my building may
be pointed out, that I may correct them, or build
one that will answer the purpose, as I esteem ice a
great luxury these intensely hot days.

Leander B. Hunt.
East Douglass, July 26, 1854.

Remarks. — It is often the fault that too much
labor and expense arc put upon the ice house.

Set a building 12 or 18 inches from the ground,
with strong sills and sleepers ; lay a double floor.
Make the outside of the building tight, and line
the inside from bottom to plate, and fill wjth shav-
ings, tan, or sawdust. Then, in an intcru^r house,
in the centre, deposit the ice, well packed in shav-
ings or other non-conductors. This ^interior
building should also be lined, if only small quan-
tities of ice are to be kept. Hero, then; you have
a walk, or passage, all round the ice, uifording
every convenience for storing or removing it.
Much depends upon the amount to be preserved.
Where large quantities are together, the inside
building, or pen, may be dispensed with. The
building should be firmly supported, but not un-
derpinned— let the air have full sweep under it.
We shall be glad of suggestions,on this topic, from
our correspondents.

For the New England Farmer.

CHEMISTEY AND FARMIKG.

The remarks of Mr. Jouxson, copied in your
last number from the Country Gentleman on the
analysis of soils, expresses the exact truth. We
had a statement by a chemist, a member of the
Lawrence scientific school a year or two since,
that he had examined specimens from the rich
Ohio bottoms, and that the soil did not diifer in
comparison from our N. E. soil. It was only fin-
er. But the farmer sees corn grow on tliat, ten
feet high, while on the low N. E. soil, it will hard-
ly grow at all without manure. Enough of this
will make it grow here. Now which shall the
sensible man Ijelieve, the chemist or the corn?
A very small per cent, of phosphoric acid in com-
bination with a very little lime scattered through
300 cubic feet of earth will be found and taken
up by the corn. The chemist might utterly fail
to detect it. The vital power of the plant forms
combinations that the chemist cannot imitate.
The different states in which the elements may
exist, and their powers upon each other, and the
vital powers of the living organic action, are yet
little known; but the plant knows it all. Prac-
tically, therefore, for the mass of farmers, if not
for all, a conclave of cabbage beds, potatoes and
corn stalks, can impart more valuable informa-
tion, if we but leai-n their language, than all the
Savans of Europe. We study German to read
Liebig, why not some o'lier language to read the
cabbage ! Mr. Cabbage Head will give him no
jaw-breaking terms, l>ut if he remembers what
manure he put there, the phunp head of the cab-
bage will be as full of information for him, when
compared with its spindlc-sliankcd, verdant-topped
neighbor who happened to get no manure, as is
the practical, good-sensed farmer compared with
his dandy-theoretical neighbor farmer. Two heads
are better than one, if one is a cabbage-head, and
the two heads should be put togeclier. The learned
head of the man of science ready to give the the-
ory, and the cabbage, potato or corn, just as
ready to give tlie practice ; and tho farmer must
add his own to both, if lie would succeed. The
plant will take what it wants from tho soil,
and the chemist can analyze that better than the
soil itself. But without the name for each elo-

422

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

ment, the farmer can shortly tell what manure
acts best on each soil, and for each plant. He
needs the aid of the chemist though.

Chemists have tried to establish rules; they
won't work. "General principles," as our ven-
erable lobturer on Theory and Practice used to
say, while his form was stretched up full five feet
four, and his spectacles mounted up "where the
hair ouglit to grow," "General principles are all
you want, and you must apply them to your case,
and give your remedies till you make the system
respond." And he was right. Rules can have lit-
tle place in medicine or farming. General princi-
ples are the things, and they must be applied to
each soil and crop, and the manure and cultiva-
tion applied till the soil responds. A quick eye
and a well-trained mind will enable one to do
this. I. H. Nutting, M. D.

Orford,N. H., 1854.

BOTS.

In looking over an old number of the Medical
Register, we noticed an article from the pen of a
Mr. Greene, of this State, on the nature and hab-
its of this insect. Many of the remedies indicated,
although they have become quite extensively pop-
ularized through the use and recommendations of
empyrical pretenders to veterinary skill, and
have been generally regarded as both safe and ef-
ficacious, appear from the statement of Mr. Greene
to be not invariably so. In some instances the
bot, even when exposed to their most concentrated
and intensified action, remains either wholly un-
affected by them, or at most, only slightly injured.

Immersed ia rum, they lived 26 hours.

" decoction of tobacco, 11 hours.

" strong eUxir of vitriol, 2 hours, 18 minutes.

" essential oil of mint, 2 hours 5 minutes.

" volatile spirit, 56 minutes.

" spirits of turpentine, 45 minutes.

The following articles produced no effect.

Deeoction of pink root 10 hours.

Fish oil 10 "

Linseed oil 10 "

Tincture of aloes 10 "

Brine 10 "

Solution of indigo 10 "

Elixir camphor 10 "

The assertion so confidently advanced by many,
that mercury is certain destruction to the bot,
Mr. Greene, by his experiments, has demonstrated
to be wholly untrue. Of three of these insects,
two of which were small, and one of mature size,
immersed in corrosive sublimate, the first two on-
ly were destroyed. Six hours after immersion,
the mature, or full-grown insect, was removed
from the fluid without exhibiting even the slight-
est apparent diminution of its normal activity or
sprightlincss, and, to all appearance unharmed.

From the data furnished by Mr. Greene it ap-
pears extremely questionable, whether the appli-
cation of any remedy, not sufficiently powerful to
destroy the life of tlie horse, is capable of effect-
ing the dislodgment of these insects, when they
have once concentrated their attack. According
to Clark, and Youatt, whose investigations on

this subject are of great value, the larvae attach
themselves to the stomach by the tentacula of the
head, and often puncture or perforate its coats.
Horses, however, have died, as was supposed, from
bots, in which the coats of this organ have, upon
examination, been found perfectly whole, and in
an apparently healthy state. When attacked by
bots, perhaps the most effectual remedy that can
be applied, is a quart of warm sweetened milk,
with, immediately after, a powerful dose of physic.
The milk will cause them to relax their hold up-
on the stomach to partake of the liquid, of which
they are instinctively fond, and the effect of the
physic will tend speedily and effectually to dis-
lodge them. This remedy has proved effectual.

The eggs from which bots are batched are at-
tached to the fore leg, and taken from thence into
the mouth of the animal and swallowed. Now as
prevention is better than cure, difficulties occa-
sioned by bots may, in most cases, be prevented,
by scraping the eggs from the hair to which they
are attached, with a pocket knife. It is easily
and quickly done, and in no way dangerous ; and
where this practice is carefully observed there will
be few cases of suffering from bots.

Dr. Dadd, in his "Modern llorsc Doctor," re-
commends the following compound for the expul-
sion of bots.

"Powdered male fern 2 ounces.

" poplar bark 4 "

White mustard seed 2 "

Common salt 6 "

Sulphur 3 "

Powdered aloes 1 ounce.

Mix, divide into 18 powders, and give one, night
and morning, in the food. The animal should
have a daily allowance of green food if the season
permits."

For the New England Farmer.

FARMERS OH POOR LANDS.

Friend Brown : — I was amused with Dr.
Brown's article in the last number of the Far-
mer on the "advantages of living on poor land."
While I regard his views as correct and ingen-
ious, it struck me that there must be very many
people in New England the most advantageously
situated of any in the universe ; and why not ? 1
verily believe it to be the fact.

And again, if the asperous soil of these elder
members of the confederation has a direct ten-
dency to burnish the morals of the people, then
virtue should shine with a lustre, the reflection of
which would extend to the very confines of the
continent ; and this even may be measurably the
case, though the fear is that if the curtains were
uplifted, that veils the hidden things of darkness,
the vision would be fearful, and virtue would
weep bitter tears of lamentation. I believe it to
be more creditable to a man to live on poor land
and cultivate a rugged soil and increase its^ pro-
duction while he causes it to increase in perma-
nent value, than to locate on a more rich and fii-
vored soil, and by an indolent and slovenly style
of husbandry deteriorate and effectually run out
his once rich and virgin soil.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

423

I, too, have heard of farmers at the West get-
ting a living, and perhaps a surplus, by two or
three days' labor in a week ; in fact, I have heard
that some of them do not labor more than that
amount of time ; and in conjunction with the
doctor, it might form an interesting subject for
moralists to inquire how a major portion of their
time is occupied. As to the industry of people
from tlie cast acting as leaven among the easy
fanners of the West, if I am i-ightly informed,
the leaven generally operates the other way, and
nearly the whole become leavened with laziness.

7th mo., 1854. i. s.

PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.

The Agricultural Press of America is ])ecoming
powerful and popular, and undoubtedly accom-
plishing a vast amount of good — directly benefit-
ing the people and the country. Its weekly, semi-
montlily, and monthly issues, are extensively cir-
culated among the most enterprising and intelli-
gent farmers in all cultivated portions of the Un-
ion. Nearly every State and Territory has at
least one paper primaril}- devoted to the Agricul-
tural interest, while from New York, Massachu-
setts, and Ohio, emanate several agricultural and
horticultural journals which circulate generally —
a number of them having what may be termed a
national spiiere and influence, their readers and
correspondents extending from Maine to Minneso-
ta, and from Canada to California.

The utility of judiciously conducted periodicals
devoted to tlie promotion of rural interests, is no
longer douljted ; for the great mass of farmers who
formerly ridiculed the idea of "book-farming," so
called, have either become convinced of their folly,
or sleep with those whose practices were their
chief guide — their fathers. Throughout the land,
the young and middle aged, and even the venera-
ble men now on the stage of action, very generally
concede the necessity and value of the Agricultural
Press, and cordially lend it substantial support
and warm encouragement. Many a farmer who,
only a few years since, could not be induced to
subscribe for a periodical devoted to his own busi-
ness, now takes, pays for, and reads from two to
ten agricultural papers, and considers the expense
a good investment. But the best and most nu-
merous supporters and advocates of rural litera-
ture, are the young men — those who have com-
menced farming for themselves within five or ten
years — and it is to this class that, more than any
or all others, the Agricultural Press is indebted
for its elevated position, and present and prospec-
tive prosperity. But we designed to speak of the
character and influence of Agricultural Journal-
ism, rather than of its supporters. And in these
respects, we conceive honor to l)e duo our contem-
poraries all over the land, for, as a general rule,
our journals are able, practical, and high toned.
As a whole, though comparatively young in years,
the Agricultural Press of America will suifer
nothing by comparison with the organs of any oth-
other interest or profession — religious, political,
literary or scientific. Indeed, we do not believe
there is an agricultural paper puljlishod in this
country, that is not worth far more than its sub-
scription price to any discriminating farmer — and
rarely one which would not be both safe and val-
uable as a family instructor on many important

subjects. Their practical and useful character is
especially worthy of consideration, and aifords a
marked contrast with papers devoted principally
to political topics and ephemeral reading, and in-
stead of ranking next to political or literary jour-
nals, they ou^ht (on the principle that the useful
should be preferred to the ornamental, and business
precede pleasure,) to take precedence in the esti-
mation of every husbandman.

The mission of the Agricultural journal is to in-
form, advise and instruct the farmer fl/i« hisfami-
lij, on essentials of every-day concernment, includ-
ing questions and practices, the elucidation and
discussion of which require experience, observation
and good judgment. It should Ije the medium of
communication between the best and most expe-
rienced cultivators, observers and investigators, and
the great mass of agriculturists. Earnestly aim-
ing to promote the best interests of community,
it should ever avoid and expose error and decep-
tion in every form. A desire to benefit tlieir fel-
low men — to enhance improvement, and enrich
the people and the country — should be, as vre trust
it generally is, the paramount object of agricultu-
ral editors. With such a purpose, and an energy
and zeal commensurate to the work, any and every
man connected with the rural Press of the coun-
try, can exercise a lasting influence upon the wel-
fare of community. The teachings of such men
as BuEL, Fessenden, Skinner, Gaylokd, Downing,
and others, did not cease with their departure
from earth — their "good deeds live after them,"
and will continue to benefit mankind for centuries.
May their surviving contemporaries and successors
prove equally useful to their fellow men and the
country — each striving to excel in promoting the
good cause of rural and mental progress and im-
provement.— Rural New- Yorker.

A REMEDY FOR SCARLET FEVER.

The following cure for this malignant disease
is given in the Delaware Republican, by a physi-
cian : —

Messrs. Editors : — You will confer a i'avoT on
some of your readers, at least, by publishing this
receipt for Scarlet Fever in all its stages, and which
will cure nineteen cases out of twenty, if strictly
attended to ; this treatment, although apparently
simple, you will find a sovereign remedy, and
will save many of your little ones from a prema-
ture grave, which is almost sure to follow the use
of calomel, which universally tends to increase
the disease instead of curing it. Treatment as fol-
lows : — Give a mild carthartic, such as castor
oil or some gentle pills, every two or tliree days,
and when there is fever present, sponge the body
with weak ley, and give some simple tea to pro-
mote a perspiration, such as catnip, sago, balm,
&e. ; and for the putrid symptoms give good brew-
er's yeast, mixed with cold water ; one tablo-spoon-
ful of tho former to two table-spoonfuls of the
latter, for children ten or twelve years old, and
younger ones according to age ; to bo repeated
from throe to five times a day ; and use as a gar-
gle yeast and cream or milk, equal parts, sweet-
ened with honey, and gargle the throat and mouth
frequently with it ; and if the throat is much
swollen, poultice with yeast and pulverized slip-
pery elm ; continue tho above treatment until

424

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

welL I know by many years' experience, that
this is the best and most eifectual way to cure the
scarlet fever. Dr. Wm. Fields.

Wilmington, Del., Dec. 12, 1851.

THE KANSAS EMIGRANT.

BY J. G. WHITTIKR.

We cross the prairie as of old

The pilgrims crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they the Hast,

The homestead of the free.

We go to rear a wall of men

Oq Freedom's Southern line.
And plant beside the cotton tree

The rugged Northern piue !

We're flowing from our native hill3

As our free rivers flow ;
The blessing of our mother-land

Is on us as we go.

We go to I'lant her common schools

On distant praii-ie swells,
And give the Sabbaths of the wild

The music of her bells.

l'l)-bearing, like the Ark of old.

The Bible in our van.
We go to test the truth of God

Against the fraud of man.

No pause, nor rest, save where the streams

That feed the Kansas run,
Save where our Pilgrim gonfalon

Shall flout the setting sun ;

We'll sweep the prairie as of old

Our fathers swept the sea,
And make the West, as they the East,

The homestead of the free !

For the New England Farmer.

CHESS OE CHEAT.

Mr. Editor : — A word with you about ches?,
or as we Suckers call it, cheat. The scientific hold
that chess grows from pure chess seed, and is pro-
duced by nothing else ; while the mass of farmers,
at least in the West, are ready to attest that the
growing of the intruder does not depend upon
sprouting the pure chess grain or kernel ; but
that the injured wheat-roots will shoot up a chess
stalk. Some believe that herd's grass is liable to
such transmutations. Though my faith is small
in such violations of nature's laws, I am compelled
to say, I have found many facts connected with
chess which puzzled me to account for upon any
other suggestion.

A neigiil)or, Mr. Tuttle, bi'oke up a field of
the virgin prairie in June, 1850, which,till then,
had probably grown rough except wild grass.
Last September he sowed wheat on the land, with
carefully selected and well cleaned seed. Early
the past spring, a flock of 400 sheep broke into
the field of green wheat, and made a circuit
around a part of the field. In their course they
swept the wheat clean to the ground, and now
the course of that flock of sheep can be traced by
a most luxuriant growth of chess, while it is dif-
ficult to find a single head in any other part of the
field. In April, 1R53, I sowed afield of 14 acres,
(which in 1848 produced a fair crop of wheat,
with SD little chess, if any, that it was not noticed
and had since produced corn and no chess that
was discovered,) with oats, clover and timothy.
Harvested a good crop of oats ; in the fall the tim-

othy and clover made a fair show, but now there
is an exuberant growth of clover and chess, about
half and half, while the tiiuothy is hard to find.
Next week I intend to put M'Cormick's reaper in-
to it, and test its value for hay. Some of my
neighbors tell me tq. be of good cheer, that it will
all be right next season, that in place of chess, I
will have a crop of timothy. Will some one in-
form me how to avoid a similar result, as I wish
to sow another field next spring.

H. W. Merriam.
Little Town, Tazewell Co., III., June 8, 1854.

THE LAMP AS.

A correspondent of the New York Spirit, of the
limes inquires as to burning for the Lampas, and
whether that is the only cure for it. With the
hope that we may perhaps save one horse from the
unnecessary and terrible torture of the burning
iron, we undertake to reply.

Burning for the Lampas is as good and as hu-
mane a remedy, as is suffocation between two
feather beds for the hj^dropholjia ; — both have been
practised by the ignorant, and both are effectual.
The horse, to be sure, survives the infliction, while
the feather-bed patient is bound to die. But both
of these barbarous remedies (!) have long been dis-
carded by civilized and intelligent men.

We have occasionally had cases of this complaint
in our stable ; and have always attributed it to
over-feeding. But in no single case, however bad,
within our knowledge and experience as an am-
ateur V. S., has it resisted a course of bran mash-
es, continued for a day or two ; with the addition,
in one or two instances, of a purgative of salts or
aloes. (The first thouglit of our farm hands al-
ways was, — to take the animal to the blacksmith's
to be burned.)

Youatt says, "The bars occasionally swell, and
rise to a level with, and even beyond the edge of,
the teeth. They arc very sore, and the horse feeds
badly on account of the pain he suffers, from the
pressure of the food on them. This is called the
Lampas. It may arise from inflammation of the
gums, jDropagated to the bars, Avhen "the horse is
shedding his teeth — and young horses are more sub-
ject to it than others — or from some slight febrile
tendency in the constitution generally ; as when a
young horse has lately been taken up from grass ;
and has been over-fed or not sufficiently exercised.
At times, it appears in aged horses ; for the
progress of growth in the teeth of the horse is
continued during the whole life of the animal.

In a majority of cases, the swelling will soon
subside without medical treatment, or a few mash-
es and gentle alteratives will relieve the auimaU
A few slight incisions across the bars with a lan-
cer, or penknife, will relieve the inflammation
and cause the swelling to subside ; indeed this
scarification of the bars in Lampas will seldom do
harm, although it is far from being so necessary as
is supposed. The brutal custom of the fixrrier,
who scars and burns down the bars with a re3-
hot iron, is most objectionable. It is torturing
the horse to no purpose, and rendering that part
callous, on the delicate sensibility of which all the
pleasure and safety of riding aud driving depend.
It maybe prudent, incase of Lampas, to examine
the grinders and more particuarly, the tushes, in
order to ascertain wether either of them is making

1854.

m:W ENGLAND FARMER.

425

its way th rough the gum. If it is so, two incisions
across each other should be made on the tooth, and
the horse will experience immediate relief."

In lancing the gum, for a coming tooth, it is
much better to nick the gum at the side, rather
than upon the edge above the advancing tooth.
This is practised with young children, by most
physicians. Any one tvoul)led with a tender and
swollen instep can comprehend the rationale of this.
If he cuts his boot upon the point of pressure, he
finds the foot puffing up moi'e and more ; but when
he makes a few incisions on either side of the boot,
near the sole, the pressure ceases and his instep is
at once relieved. — Practical Farmer.

PASTUKE LANDS-DIFFERENT
GRASSES,

The months of August and September usually
offer opportunities to the farmer to make substan-
tial improvements in his fences, drains, meadows,
pastures, clearing fields of stones and brush, and
supplying water for all the purposes for which it
is desired. But there is nothing among them all
that enhances the value of the farm more than a
good pasture.

Every farmer should be a stock-raiser, so far, at
least, as the circvimstances under which he exists
will admit, as it is only by this means that he can
sustain the fertility of his fields, and realize re
munerating crops from his arable lands through
a succession of years. By consuming the hay and
grain of the homestead on the premises, a large
quantity of valuable manure will be accumulated,
whereas the selling off the products, and their
consumption remote from the premises — unless
their place be supplied by extraneous matters, will
tend directly to impoverish the fieldsi, and render
the labors of the husbandman unprofitable and
irksome in the extreme.

In the management of pasture grounds great
care should he taken to keep down bushes, weeds,
and indeed every species of spurious vegetation by
which lands devoted to this purpose are so fre-
quently infested and overrun.

The fern and the brake, as well as many peren-
nial plants, find a ready footing and ample aliment
in most pasture lands, and should be exterminated

at once.

By permitting them to vegetate and spread un-
molested, not only arc the vegetable resources of
the soil esicntially diminished, but toleration af-
fords time for a more general dissemination of the
pests, and renders the labor of eradication fiir
more onerous and perplexing when it is attempt-
ed. Fern may be easily destroyed in the spring
when the surface of the soil has just commenced
thawing, by means of a heavy hoe formed in the
shape of an adze, with a wide sharp bit, and sub-
stantial helve. With an instrument of this des-
cription an industrious man Avill go over a large
area in a short time, unless the bushes be very
dense, and perform the work of extirpation in a

manner at once thorough and effectual. Other
bushes of a similar description may also be erad-
icated in the same way.

In stocking down pasture lands, there should
be a mixture of seeds, and a most liberal quanti-
ty ; it is poor policy to sow but one sort. By
having a variety of grasses, we secure a much
greater amount of fodder than where we sow but
one kind. Where sheep and cows, oxen and
horses are permitted to run together, this method
will be found especially beneficial. We are often
surprised by the neglect manifested by some stock-
raisers in the management of their pasture lands.
No section of the farm should i-eceive more syste-
matic and careful attention. If the ground is low
and wet, it should be drained, and the native grass-
es which are commonly found vegetating with
great luxuriance in such soils, and Avhich are
nearly worthless, supplanted l)y more nutritious
and valuable kinds.

The improvement of low ground pastures is a
matter which has already awakened the attention
of some of our farmers, and will in time produce
valuable results.

On this subject we find some excellent practical
remarks in an Address by A. D. Dickinson, before
the Tioga Co. (Pa.) Ag. Society.

"The red clover is the only kind of grass the
wheat grower should cultivate, and that is the
very kind the grazier docs not want except to sow
mixed with his blue grass, timothy and red top.
All these are slow to start and mature while the
clover starts quick and protects not only the soil,
but the other grasses until they mature and spread,
and run out the clover. But one word on the im-
portance of having all the different kinds of good
grasses mixed which grow well on your soil. We
all know when any kind is green and fresh, cattle
do much better than when ripe and dried up.
The kinds I have named come forward in order. ,
Timothy is first and blue grass last to mature, and
by having these mixtures you have fresh pasture
through the season. One word on the subject of
preparing your field for sowing the grass seed.
Though ordinarily you have not much trouble in
this respect, in this immediate vicinity, there are
occasionally some fields or parts of fields which do
not catch. The remedy lor all this is, on your
dry land where your seed would not be so likely
to grow, have your soil well prepared early in the
spring, and sow it with spring rye. On the first
dragging let a man follow the drag with four
quarts to the acre,of each kind of seed, timothy, red
clover, and red top. Thcii cross sow it Avith two
quarts each, of white clover and blue grass, rolled
in plaster ; then drag it all in well. Then jjut on
a good heavy roller ; and a failure will never hap-
pen if the seed is good. Sow one bushel of plas-
ter to the acre when the rye is a few inches high.
This course is only necessary in extreme cases.
The reason that rye is better to seed after than any
other crops that I have tried is, it grows tall and
without leaves, at the bottom, while oats and
other spring crops grow thick at the bottom and
smother the young grass."

426

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

SIGNS OF FOUL WEATHER.

EY THE FAMOUS DR. JENNER.

The hollow winds begin to blow,

The clouds look black, the grass is low ;

The soot falls down, the spaniels sleep.

And spiders from their cobwebs peep.

Last night the sun went pale to bed.

The moon in halos hid her head ;

The boding shepherd heaves a sigh.

For sec, a rainbow spans the sky.

The Wills are damp, the ditches smell.

Closed is tbe pink-eyed pimpernell.

Hark i how the chairs and tables crack.

Old Betty's joints arc on the rack :

Her corns with shooting pains torment her,

And to her bed untimely sent her.

Loud quack the ducks, the sea-fowl cry.

The distant hills are looking nigh.

How restless are tlie sporting swine !

The busy flics disturb the kine.

Low o'er the grass the swallow wings.

The cricket, too, how sharp he sings !

Puss on the hearth, with velvet paws.

Sits wiping o'er her whiskered jaws .

The smoke from chimneys right ascends ;

Then spreading, back to earth it bends.

The wind unsteady veers around.

Or settling in the south is found.

Through the clear stream the fishes rise,

And nimbly catch the incautious flies.

The glow-worms numerous, clear, and bright,

Illumed the dewy delMast night.

At dusk the squalid toad was seen.

Like quadrupeds, stalk o'er the green.

The whirling wind the dust obeys,

And in tlie rapid eddy plays.

The frog has changed his yellow vest.

And in a russst coat is dressed.

The sky is green, the air is still.

The mellow blackbird's voice is shrill.

The dog, so altered in his taste.

Quits mutton bones, on grass to feast.

Behold the rooks, how odd their flight,

They imitate tlie gliding kite.

And seem precipitate to fall.

As if they felt the piercing ball.

The tender colts on back do lie.

Nor heed the traveller passing by.

In fiery red the sun doth rise.

Then wade through clouds to mount the skies.

'Twill surely rain, I see 't with sorrow,

Our jaunt must be put off to-morrow.

For the New England Farmer.

THE CURRANT.

There arc many distinct species as well as nu-
merous varieties of the currant under cultivation ;
some produce fruit of excellent quality, Avhile
others are merely ornamental, and esteemed for
the beauty of their foliage and flovrers only. —
Tlie Missouri, a species with fragrant yellow
flowers, is among the most beautiful shrubs. —
There are other kinds, of various colors, found in
extensive gardens and nurserioJ, which are worthy
of a place in the least collection of shrubbery.
Of those which arc cultivated for their fruit,
there are many kinds, such as the common red and
white, and the Dutch of the same color, with a
multitude of other species, and their varieties,
from which a person may select to suit his fancy.

The black currant is medicinal. A eyrup is
prepared from the fruit which is useful in affec-
tions of the throat and other diseases. Wine, of
excellent quality, is made of the juice of the com

mon red, without the addition of alcohol, which
is less detrimental than much of the imported
wine, and is eqjployed as a restorative in cases of
debility. We have, in this immediate vicinity,
two native species of the currant, the wild l;»lack
and the mountain ; tlie last species produces a
large red fruit which is not eatable ; it is found,
as its name indicates, on mountains ; the black
kind is also met with most frequently on elevat-
ed land. The existence of these species, in this
region, proves, most conclusively, that the
soil and climate are adapted to the growth of this
class of fruit, which should encourage us to en-
gage in its cultivation with an assurance of suc-
cess. Room may be found in a small garden to
grow currants for the supply of a fiimily, and
they will be found very useful and palatable in
various methods of cookery, as well as in the raw
state ; their cultivation is simple, and they will
produce well with ordinary caiie, and j^rofusely,
with high culture and judicious training.
Leominster, 1854. 0. V. Hills.

THE CURRANT CROP IN ZANTE.

Our Zante correspondent, under date of June
21, says : — "The disease of the cun-aut vine has
already made great progress. Many think that
it will be more severe this year than in previous
years, but I believe that this will not be any
worse than the last one. As it is, however, it
is bad enough. The misery attending such a
state of things is of course on the increase. —
Our rich land-owners are doing all they can to
economize. They deny themselves every comfort,
and even what are considered indispensable ne-
cessities. They are now selling their equipages as
fast as they can get buyers ; while the poor people
who had, before this calamity, fared as poorly as
they well could, have had lately to give up regu-
lar meals and feed upon the coarsest materials,
whenever and wherever they were to be found.
These poor people are now suffering extremely.
Our condition, indeed, can scarcely be worse ; and
yet to a worse state it must come, particularly in
the coming winter. What is to become of us I
cannot see, unless we turn cannibals and feed up-
on each other.

A farmer here pretends to have discovered a
remedy for this currant disease, and asks the Ioni-
an government to give him $5000 in ease his dis-
covery proves a remedy. This is, however, very
doubtful, to say the least. This pretended discov-
ery consists in dipping each separate bunch of
currants in a [^mixture of clay and cow's dung
moistened with water, and so gi-eat is the- anxiety
of tlie people here, that they have seized even
upon such a forlorn hope as this. Tliousands
have actually set to work in good earnest to give
the experiment a fair trial. — I3oston Traveller.

Remarks. — This currant disease, the American
Agriculturist says, shows the folly — nay, absolute
wickedness of people depending upon a single crop
for their support. The vine-growers in some parts
of Europe are now suffering nearly as much as the
currant-growers, on account of the vine disease. —
Let them reflect on the horrors of the late Irish
famine, in consequence of the peasantry placing
their whole dependence on the potato crop. Our

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

427

southern planters formerly suffered somewhat in
purse, though little in body, on account of devot-
ing too much of their attention to one sole crop —
cotton. Now, many have learned better, and
raise their own corn and make their own bacon,
and occasionally produce other things which en-
ter into the consumption of their families.

HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR
AUGUST.

Nurserymen will now be busy about budding.
In large nurseries, and where competent budders
are scarce, it is necessary to commence earlier than
in smaller nurseries, or where plenty of help can
be had when wanted.

Plum Stocks. — The curculio has been so de-
structive to the plums, that for several years the
demand for plum seeds of the finer varieties has
been greater than the supply, consequently, mjiny
have raised stocks from seeds of the wild plum, or
have imported their stocks from Europe.

The seeds of the free growing varieties are suit-
able for stock, but the wild plum, if used, should
be budded or engrafted close to the ground, for
most varieties grow vigorously upon it, and will
soon outgrow the stock. Plum stocks are the first
to be budded, for in dry situations they will stop
growing by the last of July or first of August.

Pear Stocks. — In some situations pear stocks
continue to grow until the middle of August or
first of September, then cease growing for tlie
season. In such situations they should be budded
early in August; but inmost of the western States
they make a second growth ; where this is the
case, if they are budded early, the buds often
start in the autumn and make a growth of from
one to six inches, but this wood does not have
time to mature before the frosts of winter destroy
it. Nurserymen in new locations will notice these
facts, and govern themselves accordingly, with re-
gard to the time of budding.

CuERUiES. — The black Mazzard is the best va-
riety of cherry for stocks. The seeds should be
cleansed from the pulp as soon as ripe, and plant-
ed immediately, or put away in sand and kept till
spring; but it is better to plant them in the fall,
for they start early in the spring, and if not
planted until they have commenced growing,many
of them will be lost. The middle of August is
early enough to commence budding cherries.

Pear on Quince Stocks. — With us tlie quince
stocks continue to grow until late in the autumn,
but we generally commence budding tliem simul-
taneously, or immediately after wc have finished
budding the pear stocks.

Apple Stocks. — The budding maybe commenced
upon apple stocks by the middle of August, and
in ordinary seasons continued until the middle of
September.

Peacii Stocks. — These can be left till the first
of September, but should be completed in season
to have the buds well established before tlie plants
stop growing.

Roses can l)e budded now.

Examine the different varieties of fruit as your
trees come into bearing, to sec if they are correct,
and what are their merits in your locality.

Strawberries. — Where it is desirable to make
new strawberry beds, or to propagate plants for
sale, it will be necessary, the beginning of the
month, to put the old beds, between the rows, in
good condition, that the runners may form strong
roots preparatory to being removed to the new
beds the last of August or first of September.

Bulbs. — Tulips, Hyacinths, Narcissus, Crocus,
&c., can now be taken up and separated and laid
aside until the middle of September, when they
should be again planted.

Dahlias. — These will now be coming into flow-
er ; see that they 9,rc well fastened to ,the stakes
in such a manner as to keep them from being
blown over, or looking too stiff and unsightly. —
Farmer'' s Com.

BATHING.

A daily external application of cold water, has
a reviving and invigorating effect but little under-
stood by those who never practiced it. Fvery
class of persons, and especially those who work
on the farm through the hot and dusty summer
months, should practice daily bathing. The al-
most continued prespiration causes every particle
of dust which touches the body to adhere, and in
a short time the pores are obstructed , and the skin
covered with dirt. A thorough washing off in
cold or tepid water each night, before going to
bed, besides keeping the pores open and thus tend-
ing to the promotion of health, "will dispel those
feelings of debility and lassitude so common with
many during the sultry months of summer, and
infuse a new life into the frame. Some prefer the
morning, there is no doubt but a morning bath is
highly invigorating, but we think a thorough
cleansing of the skin before going to bed, and a
change of clean dry clothes to sleep in, of great
importance.

Children should be accustomed to frequent loath-
ing from their infancy. It doubtless adds greatly
to their health and enjoyment, to say nothing of
cleanliness. They will soon learn to consider it
a great enjoyment, and perform the operation
themselves.

Sir Ashly Cooper was a great believer in the
elficacy of bathing. Hear what be say to the
ladies about it :

Immediatelj' on retiring from bed, and having
all previously ready, take off your nightdress, then
take up from your earthen pan of two gallons of
water, a towel, quite wet, but not dripping , be-
gin at your head, rubbing hair and face and neck
and ears well ; then wrap yourself behind and be-
fore, from neck to chest, your arms and every
portion of your body. l?emand your towel into
tiie pan, charge it afresh with -water, and repeat
once all I have mentioned, except the head, unless
that be in a heated state, when you may do so,
and with great advantage. Three minates will
now have elapsed. Throw your towel into the
pan, and then proceed with two coarse long tow-
els to scrub your head and face and body, when
four minutes will have you in a glow ; then wash
and hard rub your feet, brush your liair and com-
plete your toilette, and trust me that this will
give new zest to your existence. A mile of walk-
ing may be added with advantage. — Indiana Far-
mer.

428

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

THE WAR AND THE LINEN TRADE.

Out of a total import of foreign flax, averaging
80,000 tons per annum, Russia furnishes the
United Kingdom Avith GO, 000 tons, or two-thirds
of the entire quantity; and of the 28,000 tons
imported annually into France, about 13,000, or
nearly one-half, is derived from the same source.
It is not surpising, therefore, that the curtailment
and prospective cessation of imports from Russia
has materially checked the onward course of the
linen trade of the allied nations. Dundee is cer-
tainly the most to be pitied, for its manufacture is
chiefly of those coarse flaxen fabrics whose low
prices will not admit of the substitution of a supe-
rior quality of fibre. Of 31,000 tons of flax im-
ported into Dundee in 1854, 25,000 came from
Russia, while of 8,400 tons landed in Belfast, but
4,100 were the produce of the czar's dominions ;
and, further, Belfast had 40,000 tons of Irish flax
to select from, of qualities peculiarly suited to
the description of fabrics which form the bulk of
the Irish manufiicture, while Dundee, on the con-
trary, could avail itself of but a small portion of
our crop, the mass of it being too high price, for
the kind of goods there made.

Looking beyond the present crisis, our attention
is arrested by the facts that the linen manufacture
has been outstripping the production of flax, and
that spindles and looms have been increasing in a
more rapid ratio than fields of this valuable plant.
If we reft^r to the statistics of British and Irish
exports, we find that, in 1843, there were ship-
ped from the United Kingdom, in round numbers,
91,000,000, yards of linen, and that the export of
1853 reached nearly 130,000,000 yards ; the total
value of all kinds of linen and yarn exported in
the former year being £3,702,052, and in the lat-
ter, £5,910,355. The increase during this decen-
nial period was, therefore, in quantity about 48
per cent., and in value nearly GO per cent. Of the
raw material, the import of 1843 was 78,000 tons,
and in 1853, 94,000 tons, or an increase of less
than 31 per cent. It is true that the production of
flax in Ireland had more than doubled in the inte-
rim ; but tliis increase has tended rather to the ad-
vantage of certain departments of the British and
Irish manuftxcture, than to that of the trade as a
whole.

In fact, what is not merely, under present cir-
^cumstances, urgently required, but which has for
some time been greatly wanted, is a liberal supply
of coarse flax. Although other fibrous materials
have been largely introduced of late years, and
spun upon flax machinery — such as .jute, which
is now consumed in Dundee to the extent of IG,-
000 tons annually — yet these, instead of taking the
place of coarse flax, have ratiier opened out new
means of consumption, just as the introduction of
ajapaca lias originated a separate brancli of trade,
without afiecting the use of sheep's wool. So that
the Dundee manufacturers are as anxiously looking
for new sources of sujiply as the Manchester cot-
ton spinners have lately l>een doing ; and as a cu-
rious continuation of the parallel, both point to
the same country — our great possession in the
East Indies.

It is known that hot climates are not capable
of yielding flax fillers of fine quality, as is instanced
in the case of Egypt, Avhosc flax is the lowest
priced that appears in the British markets. On

the other hand, the heat of the sun in these regions
is peculiarly favorable to the production of seed.

Flax is already grown in India to considerable
extent, but solely for the seed, of which about
100,000 quarters, value £300,000, are shipped
annually to the United Kingdom, while the fiber,
which would at least be worth half a million ster-
ling, is converted to no use whatever. Surely,
with the patent systems of steeping, and the im-
proved method of scutching, lately introduced in
Ireland, this valuable product might be brought
to a marketable state. In other British colonies
— such as those of North America and Australia —
the high rate of labor is a serious obstacle to the
preparation of flax ; but in India it is far cheaper
than in Ireland, and therefore no difficulty exists,
except the insufficient means of transport from the
interior. But the immence seaboard of the penin-
sula of Hindostan oSers an abundant area for the
production of flax, which could be readily ship-
ped thence to Europe. We have shown that this
question is of more vital consequence to Dundee
than to Belfast ; but still as we import 4,000 tons
of coarse flax every year, it is a matter of some mo-
ment to us also, while it would in no way inter-
fere with the home-grown article, which is of a
quality much superior to any India could furnish.
We are glad to observe, therefore, that our Cham-
ber of Commerce has followed the example of
Dundee, and is about to forward a memorial to
Government, pointing out the importance, both
to the British manuflicturer and to the Hindoo
ryot, of developing this latent source of profit.

Turning from this topic, we are naturally at-
tracted by another, which the Russian difficulty
has also suggested. At the late meeting of the
Royal Flax Society, reference was made to the
possibility, if not the great probability, of an in-
sufficient supply of ibreign flax seed for next
year's sowing in Ireland. A greater calamity
could scarcely occur to our staple manufacture
than a sudden decrease in the area of flax culti-
vation at home. It is the very foundation of its
prosperty, and the trade has increased pari passu
with the extent of home p oduction of its mate-
rial. On the other hand, the Ulster farmer would
view with dismay an eventuality which would
suddenly deprive him of a certain source of pro-
fit. Fortunately, if our farmers have sense and
foresight, they possess an easy and simple means
of providing against such a serious chance. They
have nothing more to do than to save as much of
the seed of the growing crop as will furnish them
wit'j the quantity they require for next spring.
And even if by that period the war be termina-
ted, and abundance of Riga flaxseed be available,
they will find a ready market at the oil mills for
what they have saved. It is of importance also
for them to consider whether it may not be advis-
able to save all the seed of this year's crop by rip-
pling. The same circumstances which have caused
a scarcity and dearness of flax fibre have produced
a scarcity and dearness of flaxseed. Russia fur-
nishes by far the largest proportion of what is
converted, in the oil mills of the United Kingdom,
into linseed oil and cake, both of which are so
widely consumed. Crushing flaxseed is now 50
per cent, dearer than it was in the summer of last
year ; and if Irish farmers could not be tempted
in former times to make an additional profit of
£3 or £4 by saving the seed, perhaps they may

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

420

now think better of it %Yhen tliey can make £5 to
£6 per acre by so doing.

It is certainly a curious contrast which is pre-
sented by tlio two points we have been discussing.
On one si<le, British India is exporting £300,000
worth of ilasseed, and throwing away £500,Q00
of fibre; on the other, Ireland is raising to the
value of the 2,000,000 of flax fibre, and rotting in
the steep- pools £500,000 worth of seed ! It_ is
Russia alone that has been benefiting by the ig-
norance of the Hindoo ryot and the prejudices
and carelessness of the Irish farmer. No particle
of the valuable plant is allowed by her nobles to
waste. She sells us to the value of £3,000,000 of
fibre, and £1)00,000 of seed each year, and does
not even take' our manufactures in return. The
Hindoo Ijurns the fibre, and the Ulsterman rots
the seed, which, turned into money, would buy
our manufactured goods, and largely help to free
us from reliance on a State whose political sys-
tem must frequently lead to a crisis like the pres-
ent, and whose commercial policy must ever de-
prive us of half the benefits of international trade.
— Belfast (England) Mercury.

For the Neiv England Farmer.

WINTER WHEAT.
Mr. Editor : — The farmers of New England
cannot Imt be gratified — particularly the readers
of your papLT — that you are an advocate for
growing wheat.

Your two last issues contain wholesome and
timely advice to farmers. The admonitions of the
past year will long be remembered, as connected
with the price of a ])arrel of flour. The pockets
of those wdiose boundeu duty it is to produce the
barrel of flour, in man}' instances, has been drained
to their last pocket-piece. Is there any other way
to restore this spent capital, than to move at
once under your advice? If our "ancestors
crowned their wheat-sheaves with flowers, and
sung and danced," — let us of the present day,
weave a garland of flowers for the sheaves, and
erect a triumphal arch bearing the inscription, —
"Our primitive farmers were wheat growers ; ivc
will emulate their example in this age of improve-
ment." Finally, your statistics of wheat growing
in the Old World, are of much interest ; we hope
they will not escape the eye of our agriculturists.
Cultivation has brouglit up the wheat crops in
England and Ireland ; it is ))ut a few years since,
that they did not average a larger crop than our
Western States, which now altogether do not pro-
duce in the aggregate, fifteen bushels to the acre
for a scries of years'. New England would not
compound at this rate. Tliere is any quantity of
land in New England that will produce as much
wheat as in Old England, with the same appli-
ances and mode of cultivation. A plenty of man-
ure— ashes, bone-dust, (as to lime, not as a fertil-
izer but as a moistener, when under the surface,
it may liave its fitting effect,) and you are pretty
sure of a crop.

Samuel FnoTniNGnAM, Jr., Esq.,of Milton Hill,
raised an immense crop of winter wheat. He used
freely pig manure turned under gi-eensward. He
lost a portion of it from its overgrown weight and
succulence, it being bimt down in a shower and
was too heavy to ris'- again. I think his yield
was fifty bushels to the acre.

My own experience — so often told — and per-
haps, so little heeded. I will once more venture to
mention. My first year's experience was to plow
an old piece of mowing land, IJ acres. T sowed
three bushels of wheat and harrowed in with it
six casks of slaked lime. It yielded forty-seven
bushels of wheat. I used no manure, it being
simply an experiment. I continued to raise wheat
six years ; the fourth' year it mildewed ; my aver-
age yield for the whole time was twenty-five bush-
els to the acre. I doubted the necessity of using
lime, and sowed spent ashes on the grain ear-
ly in spring. Yet I Avould not oppose ttie use oi'
lime.

My soil was what may be termed a good grass
land, clay substratum ; wet land will not mature
wheat, neither will it winter rye. Dry, descend-
ing lands are better for this crop. A pasture, an
old mowing field, or a clover crop plowed in, and
all the manure you can turn in is all the better :
you may lay down to grass at wheat sowing.

During the present season it has occurred to me
that "winter-kill" is the great object to guard
against. My friend Taber, of Vassalboro', has
written me, that this is the discouraging feature
in Maine. We know that many farmers are of
opinion that if the wheat is sown any time before
"snow flies," it is early enough. In October, per-
haps, with land cold, no manure, so clayey, that
the harrow hardly makes an impression, the grain
is scarcely up ; the ground closes, and there is
hardly a show of l)ladeor root; spring opens, the
ground thaws and freezes alternately, and the lit-
tle furzy grain is all thrown out a perfectly dead
substance. Is there not too much of this kind of
farming among our Eastern friends? Not so with
my worthy friend at Vassalboro'. He takes a high
rank.

But "winter-kill" is to be guarded against. 1
have been trying experiments in my garden; to
wit : have planted wheat, (Spring and W inter vari-
eties) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 0 inches deep, exact meas-
ure ; it may astonish the reader to learn, that it
has come up at a depth of six inches, in a light,
rich soil. 1 planted a single berry in a place ; the
Winter variety at one inch, had seven stalks to
the kernel; 2, 3, and 4 inches, six stalks each to
the kernel ; 5 and G, thret» stalks each to the ker-
nel. So that deep planting would require double
the seed and would not be safe to adopt.

To test the experiment was my olyect, and I
liave planted at three Sfveral times ; at one plant-
ing, it did not come up at six inches.

Now to avoid "winter-kill," sow early in Sep-
tember, froni 1st to 10th; 2>low in 3 inches deep, if
mellow soil 4 inches. This gives depth of root,
and an advanced Idade (which thawing or freezing
will not throw out) and amounts to a large gain
in early maturing the crop for the next season.
Would not this lie a fair conclusion ?

The early fall growth is of the greatest impor-
tance. The horse-plow cannot be used for a bet-
ter purpose, even if the farmer is in a h\irry and
thinks it is time lost.

The Michigan or double eagle plow, will so
leave the sod furrow as to make it easy to cover
three inches deep. A loaded cultivator might be
sufficient.

Always plow deep ; vcgetaljlc roots strike
deep.
Many of your formers have raised wheat in

430

NEtV ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

Massachusetts this year ; would they not subserve
the puhlic good by publishing their doings?
Would it not induce many to "go and do like-
wise."

The time for sowing is at liand, and he that
would avail liiiuself, must be "up and doing." I
would roeouiuicud to sow two l)ushels to the acre
on lightish soil, and two and a half bushels on
heavier soil. Yours respectfully,

Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 1th. H. Poor.

Remarks. — On land in good condition we have
never used more than five pecks of seed ; six pecks
we should consider liberal seeding on a well-man-
ured clay loam. It will be well for the cultivator
to make experiments with different quantities of
seed, say at the rate of 5, 6, 7 and 8 pecks.

SUBURBAN GARDENS.

The editor of the Practical Farmer has been
looking into some of the fine gardens in the vicin-
ity of Boston, and among others, describes that of
Mr. Joseph Breck, the well-known Seedsman and
Florist. What he says of Mr. Breck's "Book of
Flowers," is no more than the Avork justlymerits.
There is no other work of that description which
wc think would so fully meet the wants of our
people who cultivate flowers for home use, and as
pleasant objects about the house. We commend
it to all, whether amateurs or not.

MR. JOSEPH breck's GARDEN, BRIGHTON.

Mr. Breck is known throughout the country ;
wherever flowers are admired and cultivated,
there is he an admitted authority — a household
friend. His "Book of Flowers" is, without doubt,
the most complete and satisfactory work, that we
have upon the su})joct ; — it is just the work upon
the very subject, that, viith a full knowledge of
Mr. Breck's character, any one would have pro-
phesied that Mr. Breck could and would write ;
a work unpretending, exact, quietly enthusiastic
and complete ; just Joseph Breck "set up" (not
in the convivial sense !) in duodecimo form, paged,
pressed and bound. It was no comuion treat to
visit his garden, Avith himself as guide, and speak-
ing of his own flowers as if they were the beauti-
ful creations of God for the general enjoyment ; —
it was no common treat to sit down at his tea-
table, and to partake of his old-style — hearty —
open-handed — unapulogising hospitality ; with his
worthy help-meet doing the lionors of the evening
meal. But we must leave this repast

" and the cup

That cheers, but not inebriates," * *

to walk forth in the garden.

Mr. Breck's garden contains about 3 acres of
land, — a part of which is a new purchase, now
undergoing transformation and improvement. The
planted portions of the garden were in the finest
condition, as to culture and cleanliness ; all spoke
of active, careful superintendence.

Among the plants especially noticed, most of
which wore in l)loom at the time of our visit, are
the following.

Clematis vitaccUa atro rubra — a much admired

imber, with a profusion of brownish red flowers,
crowing 10 to 15 feet in a season; C. vitacella ma-

jor— a vigorous elimber, like tlie last, with large
purplish blue flowers; C. vitacella plena — also a
great climber, with curious double flowers in clus-
ters, of a dark lead or bluish slate color ; C. Shil-
lingei, with dark colored flowers; C. Ilendersoni,
with blue flowers ; C cyliudriea, with paler blue
flowers ; the three last are climbing plants, but
not so vigorous as the three first named. Clematis
alpina with profuse clusters of white flowers, and
Clematis integrifolia, with solitary blue flowers —
both tall plants, but not climbers.

In addition to these beautiful varieties of the
clematis in bloom, there are in this collection
Clematis Sieboldii, C. azurea graudiflora, C. flam-
mula, C. florida, C. florida plena, montana, and
other varieties coming later into bloom — all de-
sirable for their beauty, but some of them requir-
ing slight protection in the winter.

•The roses were nearly out of bloom, but we saw
the remains of about 150 varieties of the finest
sorts in the country. To see the roses in perfec-
tion, they should be examined during the first
week of their bloom . ]Mr. Breck's stock of hardy
herbaceous plants is probably as choice as any
other in the country ; as it has been his care for
the last thirty years to collect from every source
this pleasing class of plants. We believe it is
conceded by most amateui's, that his seedling Del-
phinium, No. 1, {D. Breckii) is one of the most
brilliant and desirable of this tribe. It was raised
by him some 10 or 12 years since, from the seed
of D. grandiflora, probably crossed AvithD. sinen-
sis 'plena. The flowers are double — of the most
exquisite ultramarine )»lue, AA'ith a wliitish shade
in the centre. It grows from 2 to 3 feet high,
and is in bloom from June to October, if care is
taken to cut off the flower stems, as soon as the
first bloom is over. As it does not protluce seed,
it is propagated from divisions of the root.

Of the Phlox tribe we found about 75 of the
best varieties ; but few of them were in bloom.
Bampanula persicafolia plena, and va^'iety j^lena
alba, and other varieties of Campanula were in
bloom ; also many beautiful varieties of Sp;'rja.

The forcing house for grapes is about 50 feet
long ; half of the crop has been disposed of, but
we noticed the vines near the door heavily laden
Avith fruit. The cold graperies are 85 feet in
length,Avith span roof divided into two apartments.
There are four tiers of vines, about 80 in number,
in these houses, embracing 18 A'aricties — about 11
more, says Mr. Breck, tlian I Avould recommend
to the horticulturist. A small green-house 32 feet
long, is attached to the cold-houses. — Practical
Farmer.

Prince Albert's Farm. — Public interest in
Prince Albert's agricultual experiments must be
considerably cooled I)y the fact (brought out in
Parlimcnt) that they are carried on chiefly at the
public expense. 1 1 appears that his lloyal High-
ness has two farms, for one of Avhich he pays rent
like any other tenant, but has tlie rare privilege
of making what improvements he pleases, one-half
at the expense of the public ; while of the other
farm, a dairy appended to Windsor Castle, the
whole charge is throAvn on the Civil List. Prince
Albert must be a poor agriculturist if he can not
work two contiguous faruis held on such a tenure
to very decided pecuniary advantage. — North
British Mail.

1854.

NEAY ENGLAND FARMER.

431

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

GATUKraN'G APPLES.

A correspondent suggests the gathering of ap-
ples, now that the price of labor is so liigh, in

year about two-thirds, and there was a great deal
of fruit both years. I looked in your valuable
paper all last summer, and thus far this, hoping
to iind something in reference to it, but have seen
nothing. If you can give me any information

a more expeditious manner than usual, by spread- either through the paper or by note, I should be

ing a thick coating of hay under the tree, and
shaking them down. This course would prove ru-
inous to a large number. In falling they would
strike the limbs of the tree, and each other when
reaching the hay. Too much care cannot be ob-
served in gathering winter fruit to keep it free
from even the slightest bruises. If fruit were
classified into first, second and third classes, hav-
ing class one as near perfection as possible, the
seller would find a greater profit than he possibly
can by mixing the different qualities. Poor ap-
ples not only injure the good in their appearance,
but actually affect their soundness, and lessen the
price of th3 wliole. Properly sorted, the imper-
fect and unsound fruit may be disposed of early,
and the best reserved, until prices have increased.

RECLAIMING ME.\D0W^S.

Dear Sir : — I have a piece of bog land about
eight acres in extent, situated within a few rods
of my building. One-half has been mowed for
twenty-fivo or thirty years, and the other half is
covered with a mixed growth of hard and soft
wood. It produces now tlie most -n-orthlcss kind
of grass. I wish to clear it up, and drain it, and
I desire to know your opinion, whether it will
probably pay for the labor? (a.) There is about
three feet natural Ml on the land, and by dig-
ging, I can get two or three feet more. The muck,
in the middle, U from six to ten feet deep, and of
a dark brown color ; and below this, lies a mix-
ture of blue clay and sand. I have dug in differ-
ent places and iind trees, four feet below the sur-
face, laying as they fell, but in such a state, as to
be easily cut with a shovel.

I wish to know, also, the best method to cure
corn for winter fodder which has been sown broad-
cast and in drills. (6.)

Yours respectfully, j. u. c.

Warren, Me., 1854.

much obliged. I send you a sample of both
kinds, good and bad. m. p. n.

Cambridge, Aug. 10, 1854.

Remarks. — The above is from a lady, and wc
wish it were in our power to suggest a remedy
for the blight of which she speaks. A portion
of the specimens sent were unusually large and
nice, while others" were shrivelled and rendered
entirely worthless by a thick coat of rust. On
our own apricots we have seen nothing of the
kind. The apricot tree would not bo likely to re-
main long in a healthy condition standing in
heavy wet land ; or if the tree lacked any of the
elements which the fruit requires, rust may be
the consequence. We should recommend a digging
about the tree, and thoroughly mingling with the
earth a little ashes, bone dust, lime, soap suds,
&c., and after the leaves have fallen in October,
shorten in the ;limbs some two to four feet. This
last operation is as essential to success with the
apricot as with the peach or the plum.

GREAT YIELD OF CUCUMBERS.

From 4 hills of cucuml)ers I gathered at one
cutting, 6 cucumbers which measured, laid in a
line, 6 ft. 6 in. ; the longest measured 15 inches.
One of them was bent down at the stem and intci
the shape of a holster pistol ; ray wife took up
that one and said"0, hero is a gun!" I think
this a great crop for one cutting ; growing a sin-
gle cucumber of long length is one thing, but
growing them by the dozen is another thing.
These were not full-grown cucumbers, but just
right to serve on the table. Joel Hafgood.

Shrewsbury, Aug. 4.

Remarks. — (a.) Certainly, it will pay, and
pay well, too, if you manage it judiciously. Do
not drain it too deep, or you will leave it a dry,
unfertile mass. The water should come within
12 or 18 inche.s o-'^ the surface, but perhaps not to
remain there permanently through the summer.

(b.) We do not consider corn profitable to be
cultivated purposely for fodder. It is exceeding-
ly difficult to cure it (as the sun has lost the in-
intense power it exerts in July,) when the corn is
fit to cut. Some persons cut it and spread upon
the ground for a day or two, and then tie it in
bundles, and place them astride walls, fences, or
upon poles erected for that' purpose.

RUST ON THE APRICOTS.

Can you tell me the reason why, (and remedy,
if there i3 any,) the rust affects the apricot I Last
year, I lost all the fruit on a valuable tree — this

TnE Singing Birds and their Songs. — The
last number of Hoveifs Magazine has a finely
written article, with the above title, written by
Wilson Flagg, Esq., of Beverly, a gentleman en-
gaged in landscape gardening and laying out
grounds. Mr. Flagg seems to possess tlie nicest
appreciation of animated nature, and particularly
of that interesting part of it — the Birds. Ik-
says it has not been his "good forune" to hear
the notes of the rose-breasted grossbeak. Wc
once had the good fortune to secure pne which
seemed to be ])ewildered, and flew into the house.
It was placed in a large cage and kept for sis
weeks. It is a nocturnal warbler ; but ft ischary
of its notes.and only sung witli us when the nights
were perfectly still. Then its nutes were low, all
of the minor key, and extremely touching. If we
knew that our readers would enjoy the perusal of
this article as we have, we should transfer it,
though rather long, to our columns.

432

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

For the New England Farmer.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

We perceive that increasing attention is given
to these, and Ave know of no vray in which the
operations on the farm can be so readily improved,
as by introducing such implements as are ])C8t
fitted for the purpose.

Already everything has been said about the
plow, that it is profitable to say; but about the
implements for cutting the grass when grown, a
new vein seems to be opening, and a variety of
forms putting forth. We had supposed that
"Ketchum's Mower" was to occupy the field;
but we hear objections made that it requires too
much power of draft, and a speed of movement in
the team, that cannot long be sustained ; — both
of which objections, Ave think, may be readily
OA'ercome. The first, by a more complete finish to
the machinery, — the second , by giving an increased
velocity to the cutter. The principle of the ma-
chine seems to he perfect, if these little difficul-
ties can be surmounted ; and a perfect knoAvledge
hoAv to use it can be acquired. A want of this
is probably the reason Avhy so many have cast
it aside. I know a man, who procured one of
these moAvers, the last year, and tried it half a
day, and then laid it by. The same gentleman
has taken it out the present season, and tried it
thoroughly, cutting more than one hundred tons
of hay Avith it, aud now says he would not be
Avithout it for ,'?::2000. He considers it the best
illustration of labor-saving machinery he has ever
met — coming into use, just at the season of the
year, when labor is most needed. This machine
is operated by two horses, cutting when in good
order, one acre of grass, in an hour. I have
heard of machines fitted to be Avorked by one
horse, simpler in their structure, and less like-
ly to get out of order. When such can be per-
fected, I think they must come into general use.
A gentleman has recently authorized the offer of a
premium of one Imrulred dollars, for the best moAv-
er fitted for use on our farms, &c. This Avill ap-
pear in the next offer of premiums l^y the Essex
County Society. In the meantime, Ave hope ev-
ery manufacturer Avill send us to the ShoAV at
Lawrence, such as they now have, that the far-
mers may understand wiiat a mower is, and how
it operate.'?. *

August 0th, ]So4.

Rejiarks. — We have paid good moAvers ift2,25
a day tliisseason, and they Avere offered $3,00 per
day for a few days. Now this Avill not ansAA'er
for the common farmer ; some cheaper mode of
cutting his grass must be devised. As our cor
respondent states, wo have no doubt that the
true principle of mowing by machinery, has been
discoA^cred. The machines, hoAvcver, like most
others in their incipiency, are imperfect ; use
and the genius of our iuA'cntors and mechanics
•will soon obviate their present defects. But a ma-
chine to be drawn readily by one horse is now
the great want^of the New England farmer. Most
of them keep one horse — only a comparative few,
two. If this machine should cut a sAvarth of on-
ly two feet, or even 18 inches, and so constructed

as not to be liable to get out of order, it would
supply the gi-eat present want of our farmer?.
Our correspondent has done Avell in calling atten-
tion to this important subject, and Ave trust that
a good machine for one horse Avill be ready before
another hay harvest comes.

DESTRUCTION OF BUSHES.

In many places there are grounds which can-
not be AA-ell ploAved, that afford tolerable pastur-
age, if not too much occupied by bushes. The
shrubs which are inclined to grow in these situa-
tions, are alders, briars, of several kinds, Avhortle-
berry, &c. When these are permitted to groAV,
they prevent the growth of gi-ass to a great ex-
tent, and make that Avhich does grow sour and
worthless.

The mode usually adopted for killing bushes
in such circumstances, is to moAV them. The ef-
ficiency of this has been found to depend much
on the time of the year in which thcAvork is done.
Cutting in winter seems to have little effect towards
destroying them ; they start with the return of
spring, and grow rapidly. The effect is nearly
the same if they are cut Avhile the foliage is de-
veloping. All trees and shrubs make their annu-
al groAvth in a few weeks from the' time of put-
ting out leaves. During the remainder of the sea-
son the Avood hardens and the buds of the next
season's foliage are set. The juncture when the
leaves have attained their full size, and the growth
of the season is checked, is sometimes called "turn
of the sap." The vitality of many plants is great-
ly impaired if they are cut off at this time. But
with another species, cutting at another period —
the last of August, is more fatal.

The black alder usually grows in moist, rich
ground, such as is very natural to grass. From
their rapidity of groAvth they soon occupy the
ground to the exclusion of other vegetation, and
appropriating the best soil to their use, they oc-
casion much loss. Attempts are often made to
eradicate them, which do not succeed, and this
produces discouragement, Avliich induces the far-
mer to alloAV them to groAv unmolested. The re-
sults of trials at cutting alders at various seasons
of the year, have proved that the above mentioned
is preferable. We might cite much evidence in
support of this, but perhaps Avhat Ave have al-
ready said may induce some ono to undertake the
work.

In killing briars and small bushes, bruising
sometimes answers better than cutting. A tool
called a "Ijush Avhacker" has been used for this
purpose.

Briars and whortleberry bushes may be kept
down ])y sheep, after having been closely cut with
a scythe. It is necessary, hoAvcver, to stock heav-
ily in order to compel the sheep to eat the bushes
as soon as they start. If the bushes are closely
kept down for a year or tAvo, the grass Avill spread
and form so close a sward, on good land, that the
bushes Avill have little chance to grow. It is im-
portant that when the work is begun it be
followed up. Once mowing may be partly
effectual, but if the sprouts are not cut at the
proper time the next season, the labor is in a great
deo-ree lost. — Boston Cultivator.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

433

THE SUMMER ROSE APPLE.

This apple {dotted line) is known not only by
the name above, but as Woolman's Early, and
Woolman's striped Harvest. Downing pronoun-
ces it a very pretty and very excellent apple,
highly esteemed as a desert fruit, and describes it
as follows: — "Fruit scarcely of medium size,
roundish. Skin smooth, rich waxen yellow,
streaked and blotched with a little red on the
sunny side. Stalk rather short, and slender, ca-
lyx closed, set in an even basin. Flesh tender,
abounding with sprightly juice. Ripens early in
August.

Thomas says it is fine in all localities. Better
in quality for the table than Early Harvest, but
less productive.

sense sort of people thought it odd that a philos-
oplier should degrade himself into a puddle-police-
man ; while Plutarch's most intimate friends, who
seem to have had a good deal of sarcastic humor,
delighted to remind him of the remarkably exal-
ted ofEce to which his genius had raised him. On
one of these occasions, the honest biographer made
a reply worthy to be adopted as the motto of all
sanitary reformers. "It is not for myself," said
he, "that I do these things, but for my country.
The usefulness takes off the disgrace; and the
meaner the office I sustain, the greater the com-
pliment I pay to the public.'' — The Common-
wealth ( Glasgow newspaper.)

THE EARLY STRAWBERRY APPLE

This apple (plain lines) is the American Red
Juneating of Manning. Thomas says it ripens
one to three weeks later than the Early Harvest
is productive and good in all localities. Cole says
it is a moderate grower and good bearer. Down-
ing says it is a beautiful variety, which is said to
have originated in the neighborhood of New York,
and appears in the markets there from July to
September. Its sprightly flavor, agreeable per-
fume, and fine appearance, place it among the
very finest summer apples.

Fruit roundish, narrowing toward the eye.
Skin smooth and fair, finely striped and stained
with bright and dark red, on a yellowish white
ground. Stalk slender, and an inch and a half
long.

The Father of Sanitary Refdrm. — About eigh-
teen hundred years ago, Plutarch discharged the
duties of "commissioner of sewers and public
buildings" in liie native city of Choeronea. The
very fashionalilc people sneered at the "commis-
sioner," and wondered that a gentleman should
stoop to anything so low ; the ordinary common

For the New England Farmer.

ITCH, OR SCAB, IN SHEEP.

There are few diseases, perhaps, more generally
or more deservedly dreaded than the "scab." In
many sections of the country, where sheep hus-
bandry is pursued on an extensive scale, the losses
resulting from its prevalence, in years past, have
been immense. It is. indubitably, a contagious
disv,'ase, and while it is easily propagated by sim-
ple contact, is often communicated to animals that
have never been brought in collision with those
diseased. Like many of the virulent and loathe-
some diseases which have of late years astonished
mankind by their unheralded appearance, and per-
plexed medical men by their inveteracy, it may
well be called "a pestilence which walketh in
darkness ; " though we are not perhaps warrant-
ed in considering it strictly epidemic, though it
sometimes seems to be conveyed through the at-
mosphere, and particularly in those seasons when
there is a super-abundance of wet, and which are
generally unfavorable to sheep in various other
ways. The diagnoses and treatment of this trou-
blesome disease, are thus explained by one whose
experience in veterinary practice entitles Jiis opin-
ions and prescriptions in this, as well as in all oth-
er matters connected with his profession, to re-
spect : —

"It is discovered by the animal's constantly rub-
bing or scratching itself, and making at the same
time a peculiar motion with the lips. The scabs
are sometimes dry and sometimes moist, and spread
very rapidly, though the animal continues healthy
in other respects, and generally more healthy than
before. Afterwards, however, the disorder be-
comes internal, the sheep becomes emaciated, and
dies from weakness and pain. If the scab is ob-
served at an early period, it may easily be cured,
or at least prevented from spreading. One of the
best remedies is a strong decoction of tobacco to
be applied to the diseased parts, after scratching
off the scabs with a comb or other instrument. —
The decoction of tobacco mixed with lime-water
and oil of vitriol, and used constantly for some
time, will generally effect a radical cure ; another
excellent remedy is a decoction of hellebore mixed
with vinegar, sulphur, and spirits of turpentine.
Internal remedies are of no use except wlien the
disorder has induced other complaints by weaken-
ing the general health."

Sheep are no doubt greatly injured, oftentimes,
by confinement to low, wet pastures, where they
are forced to eat aquatic grasses, and repose on
damp and cold ground. It is generally well
known that the most favorable regions for sheep

434

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

breeding, and those in which it has been most suc-
cessfully pursued, arc those of a hilly, mountain-
ous desci'ipcion, and where little or no aquatic
vegetation is produced. High lands, even if dry
and arid, are always favorable to this animal.

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS IN OHIO.

It is with more than ordinary pleasure, that we
insert the letter below. First, because it is strong
evidence that the great want of the farmer — a
systematic education, or, knowledge systematized
— is beginning to be properly appreciated, and
that through such appreciation, means will be
derived to educate him as thoroughly for his pur-
suit as are the lawyer, physician or clergyman,
for theirs. Secondly, because it will show our
New England people what those in a sister State
are attempting, and they may thus catch the
spirit of their Western neighbors. And, tliirdly,
because by giving publicity to their plans we may,
in some degree, promote the noble work in which
they have engaged .

The great Art of Agriculture demands more of
the heads, as well as the hands, of "Young Amer-
ica." Too many young men forsake it for in-door
occupations, vastly moi-e appropriate for the other
sex. An advertisement in the morning paper,
of a large city, will bring five hundred applications
for a clerkship in a counting-room, in a single
week, while scarcely a dozen will answer the call
for a good gardener, or superintendent of a farm,
though the compensation of the latter shall be
much the largest. False notions of gentility have
put the best hat and boots on the clerk, — and
while he shines in his brbad-cloth, he too often
starves in his garret !

We do not ask that all shall be farmers, but
only that those who do engage in the profession
shall work understandingly — shall not labor
through life at cross purposes, by applying to
their acres what they already contain in excess,
and rob them unto sterility of that which they
cannot spare. And so of their plants and ani-
mals.

Little hope have we of substantial progress and
improvement among ourselves, enslirouded by our
own ignorance and indifference — indifference worse
than ignorance itself — and the care and toil of
the fai'm. Ignorance begets ignorance, and in-
difference its like. If a more intimate knowledge
of the operations of nature in the springing, growth
and perfection of plants and animals, and a high-
er appreciation of the fitting and beautiful in all
the manifestations of Deity about Him, will not
give character and tone to the profession, and im-
bue the farmer with an intense love of the calling,
then, indeed, sliall we despair. But we liing all
fears to the v.'ind8 on that score. Educate the la-
borer so that he shall comprehend his work, and
the point is gained. He shall find a sort of fas-

cination, even in hoeing potatoes, when he under-
stands how he increases the means of fertilization
in so doing; how many millions of mouths he opens
about his feet ready to catch the genial nourish-
ment ever ready to drop fatness into them from
the surrounding atmosphere. His educated mind
shall not prompt him to fling the old bono under
the wall as before, but he will hear the famishing
plant cry for some element essential to its growth,
and to appease it, he will bury the bone within
its reach in the mellow earth, and dream of seeing
its numerous roots encircling it in joyful embra-
ces !

The farmer delves in the dark, he deals in myste-
ries, he guesses at results, and hopes his crops will
be remunerative, because he "does the best he can."
He does not, as does the merchant, make arith-
metical calculations of loss and gain, and rely
upon them as approximating the actual results.
But why should he not know, as a general thing,
what the gain shall be, nearly, upon any given
amount of seed sown, or animal or plant reared?
Why merely for want of accurate knowledge of
the things wherewith he labors. He has little
system, and has studied and thought but Itttle,
not because he had no desire, but because the op-
portunity for investigation had not been placed
before him. If we thought it would not startle
the reader we should say that there ought not to
be much uncertainty as to the result of crops,
even in our changeable climate. If we could know
what kind of soil is best adapted to the growth of
wheat, what depths its roots would like to run,
when it ought to be sowed and when harvested,
does any one doubt that we should get a good
crop nine times out of ten ■? And so of all other
grains and grasses, and every other department of
the farm — the cattle, sheep, swine, horses, poul-
try, butter, cheese and roots.

Do any believe that thisknowledge,so essential,
cannot be obtained? That the Creator has in-
volved the primitive employment of man — that
upon which he must depend for subsistence, and
which underlies and sustains all others — in
a labyrinth of difficulties and uncertainties so
complicated as to defy the powers of that mind
which He, too, gave ! No, no, it cannot be so. We
only lack the proper instrumentalities. Let these
be set at work, and light will soon shine upon the
darkness that surrounds us. But we will not
keep the reader longer from the letter.

College Hill, Ohio, Aug. 3, 1854.

To THE Editor : — It is contemplated to hold a
Mass Convention at this place, the site of Farmers'
College, and adjacent to Cincinnati, on 13th, 14th
and 15th of Sept. next. Measures have been tak-
en to secure attendance from all the "West," and
we are encouraged in the belief that, responsive to
our invitations, delegates from every section of
the Union will be present.

It is proposed to continue the session of the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

435

Convention for three days, as above indicated, in
order to aftord opportunity for the discussion of
various matters connected with the great topics
then to be considered, and on the tliird day to
have a mass attendance, and popular addresses
delivered by men whose abilities are known, and
whoso influence and efforts have been directed to
the furtherance of this important educational
movement. We accordingly address you, solicit-
ing your attendance with us on that occasion.
The trustees of Farmers' College, being now
about to conclude the contract for the purchase
of a Model Farm, adjacent to the institution, to
be employed by the Agricultural department, as
the experimental laboratory, fur the teaching of
Agricultural science, in its theory and practice,
it is proposed on the occasion of this Convention
to dedicate this Farm, with appropriate ceremo-
nies, to the uses of industrial education, in all the
diversified departments uf agriculture. We think
the occasion will be one of peculiar interest to the
scholar — it is already attracting no small measure
of public attention, and is eliciting univeral pub-
lic approval.

Permit us then, tliough strangers personally,
yet not strangers to your reputation, to urge our
request inviting your attendance.

Should it be found impracticable for you to fa-
vor us with your presence, permit us to ask at
your hand, such loritten expressions of your views
in reply to tliis, as your leisure may admit, and
allow us the pul)lic use thereof, on the occasion
referred to. To the end that you may be more
thoroughly apprised of the aim and scope of our
educational enterprise, and informed of our pres-
ent condition and future prospects, we have taken
the liberty of mailing to your address, a circular,
our last annual catalogue, and the Inaugural
Address of Prof. Allen, delivered at our last
Commencement.

Hoping to hear from you favorably at your
earliest convenience, I subscribe myself, in behalf
of the Board. Most respectfully, »fcc.

F. G. Cary.

Having thus briefly, and very imperfectly ex-
pressed our convictions of the want of means
whereby the farmer may obtain a higher order of
education than is now common among us, we will
suggest a few of the subjects which are still
clothed in almost impenetrable darkness.

It will not be necessary here, however, for us
to refer, minutely, to the long agitated questions
about the time and depth of plowing — the best
forms of plows — the time of sowing and harvesting
grain, grasses, flax, and other crops — the best
modes of increasing and applying manures — the
true process of raising the largest amount at the
least cost, of our great staple, Indian Corn ; — nor
to the numerous questions springing from the em-
ployment of concentrated fertilizers which still re-
main untried by the mass of our people, or ques-
tions relating to the various breeds of neat cattle,
horses, sheep, swine and poultry. These are so
prominently before the pul)lic mind, and are so
essential to the commonest success, that they will
not be overlooked by any system of investigation
at all worthy of the name.

In passing to another class of subjects, wo find
that little or no knowledge is possessed upon them.
How few of those who have reared a horse or cow,
know anything of the physiology of either animal !
In cases of sickness or accident, or in supplying
their daily amount of food, that science affords
them no more instruction than though it did not
exist, so far as their own investigations ha-se gone.
To them, also, the various soils are all common
dirt, — even their names, and the names of the
rocks which compose them, are among the hidden
things which are altogether past their finding out.
Meadows, and springy hills, are wrought upon by
one generation after another, in order to avoid
an excess of cold water and bring them to fertility,
but without advancing one step towards the object
desired, and what is worse, ever perpetuating the
bad example upon which they practice. The art
of draining to them, is as a "lost art," or as use-
ful as a problem in the Timbuctoo tongue.

The same looseness and error which prevail in
regard to sowing seeds, if practiced by the mer-
chant in his affairs, would soon bring him to bank-
ruptcy and ruin. Beside the uncertainty as to
time and place of sowing, we do not give that pre-
cise quantity of seed and the position best calcu-
lated to produce the largest return. Thus enor-
mous quantities of seed, altogether, we believe,
beyond the common supposition, are annually
wasted in overseeding. On this point a real prac-
tical cultivator in England, Mr. Close, gives his
experience in the papers of the Bath Society. He
asserts that he saved full one thousand dollars each
year in seed, by drilling his grain upon 500 acres
of land and then horse-hoeing it, instead of sowing
it broadcast, as is our practice. After close and
long observation of both modes of sowing, and
great practical experience himself, it is his opinion
'that 8,000.000 bushels of wheat, 3,0»0,000 bush-
els of barley, 1,000,000 bushels of rye, 4,000,000
bushels of oats and 1,000,000 of peas and beans
are annually thrown away in England, in super-
fluous seed. Then it is ascertained that seed
drilled in and cultivated, produces about a fifth
more than when sown broadcast. This is a Iso aloss,
and is a far greater one than that sustained in the
seed itself.

There is, also, a best way of planting, rearing
and shaping fruit trees, and of collecting and
packing the fruit : — yet the practice is almost as
diversified as the cultivators themselves. The con-
sequences of this is, constant change and uncer-
tainty on the whole matter, and of course, great
loss. But the cases already presented -are sufE-
cieiat for our present purpose.

On all these the profession needs the results of
the most thorough and enlightened experiments
with steady and patient investigation. On the
sowing of seeds, for instance, it requires a field
of several acres, where the various grains shall be

436

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

sown side by side, broadcast and in drills, with
various quantities of seed in each, and deposited
at various depths, and then accurate returns ren-
dered of the cost of labor and seed, and the pro-
duct of each experiment. In this way such infor-
mation may be obtained as will settle the ques-
tions presented, command the attention and re-
spect of the cultivator, and greatly increase the
product of a given amount of investment and la-
bor. Some of the questions which occur to us at
present are as follows : —

1. Can the chemist so analyze soils as to tell
the farmer, with certainty, what particular ele-
ment, if any, is lacking in a particular soil, to
perfect a crop of wheat, or any other crop he may
desire to plant ?

2. Can this be done at such a cost as to enable
the common farmer to avail himself of its bene-
fits ?

3. If the two preceding questions are answered
affirmatively, can the chemist state, with confi-
dence, what quantity of lime, or potash, or am-
monia, or phosphate, or any thing else, each acre
should require for any given crop ?

4. What are the benefits of draining and irriga-
tion to lands, and what are the true modes of op-
eration to realize them t

These are questions of the first importance to
the agriculturist — indeed, they are so to the
world — and are sufficient to show our views
of the many points which ought to be set-
tled and established by some competent and high
authority. We are aware that these questions are
answered in the books — but the books don't agree.
They have been written, some of them, by em-
pyrics ; some are the garbled extracts of mere col-
lators, and some by those who wish the profession
well, but whose zeal ever outstrips their knowl-
edge, and makes them unsafe guides.

There are, also, an hundred questions of lesser
magnitude, that demand a solution from high,
competent authority — such as,

1. In reclaiming swamp lands, has it been as-
certained at what depth from the surface the
water should be taken off, in order to produce the
most, and the best quality, of English grass?

2. What is dry swamp mud worth, per cord,
for agricultural ])urposes1

3. Where farms are drained, is the old system
of transverse ditching the lowest parts of the land
still adhered to, or are the true principles of drain-
ing applied 1

4. Where large quantities of stones have been
taken from a field, including those so large as to
require blasting, does the land remain equally as
fertile as it was before they were removed 1

5. What is the most expeditious way of getting
rid of large stones, when they are not wanted for
building or other purposes?

Then there are numerous questions relating to

the feeding of stock, and to the stock itself — in
relation to the grass and root crops, to the various
fruits, implements, &c., all of which seem to be
involved in doubt and uncertainty.

We cannot be present on the interesting occa-
sion mentioned in the letter, and have been able
to throw out these crude remarks in the midst of
sickness and suiFering. We shall send, however,
with this, the well-considered plan of a Model
/'''arm, furnished by our Associate, Mr. French, and
published in the fourth volume of the monthly
Farmer.

We have no confidence, however, in the success
of this cause in any institution where it is intro-
duced to catch the popular favor and made to take
a secondary place. As it underlies and sustains
all the other occupations of man-all arts, sciences
and trades, so does it all our institutions of learn-
ing. Let the national agriculture languish, and
all these will sufier with it. But let it be gener-
ously sustained — let those engaged in prosecuting
it be enlightened in the manifold operations which
it requires, and the whole body politic will feel
its pulse and power.

DYING SELDOM A VERY PAINFUL
PROCESS.

According to my observation, the mere act of
dying is seldom in any sense of the word, a very
painful process. It is true that some persons die
in a state of bodily torture, as in cases of tetanus ;
that the drunkard, dying of delerium tremens, is
haunted by terrific visions ; and that the victim of
that most terrible of all diseases, hydrophobia, in
addition to those peculiar bodily suiferings from
which the disease has derived its name, may be in
a state of terror from the supposed presence of
frightful objects, which are presented to him as
realities, even to the last. But these and some
other instances which I might adduce, are excep-
tions to the general rule, which is, that both men-
tal and bodily suffering terminate long before the
scene is finally closed. Then, as to the actual
fear of death, it seems to me that the Author of
our existence, for the most part, gives it to us
when it is intended that we should live, and takes
it away fi'om us when it is intended that we
should die. Those who have been long tormented
by bodily pain are generally less anxious to die,
as they ever were to live. So it often is with those
whose life has been protracted to an extreme old
age, beyond the usual period of mortality, even
when they labor under no actual disease. It is
not very common for any one to die merely of old
age. But I have known this to happen ; and a
happy conclusion it has seemed to be of worldly
cares and joys. It was like falling to sleep, never
to wake again in this state of existence. Some die
retaining all their faculties, and quite aware that
their dissolution is at hand. Others ofier no signs
of recognition of external objects, so that it is im-
possible for us to form any positive opinion wheth-
er they do or do not retain their sensibility ; and
others again, as I have already stated, who appear
to be insensiW? and unconscious, when carefully
watched, are found not to be so in reality, but
they die contentedly. — Psychological Inquiries,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

437

For the New England Farmer.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN DROUGHT,
CROPS, &c.

I have not the honor of being the oldest inhabi-
tant, so cannot say what has been, but for 27
years, during which time I Imve been a resident
of this valley, I have never known such a drought
as at present. We are literally dried up. Streams,
largo and small, are very low ; some, on which
are mills, have no water except in holes. Since
June 10th, only 2.81 inches of rain — 1.21 in June,
1.60 in July, and the last only .02 July 20th.—
June was 'i^'^ colder than last year, July 5^"
warmer.

May and June were favorable for grass, of
which there has been a great crop, and well se-
cured; oats, wheat and rye, a full average;
corn and potatoes, many pieces a total failure ;
buckwheat, carrots, &c., do. In some towns
there have been showers, so there may be half
crops. Fruit — apples not one-fourth an average,
and very small ; pears few ; plums, the most har-
dy plenty, others rery few ; grapes, early ones
mildewed, Isabella and other late ones promise
well. G.

Burlington, Vt., Aug. 19.

For the New England Farmer.

GRAPE WINE-HEN LICE, &c.

Mr. Editor : — Last spring I took half of a flour
barrel and filled it with dirt — took down a branch
of a grape vine that grows in my field, and buried
it therein, according to the directions laid down
in Cole's Fruit Book. And now, after cutting
it from the parent vino, what shall I do with it ?
Shall I plant it this fall, or not until spring, if
not until spring, what shall I do with it this fall
and winter? (a.)

I saw in the N. E. Far?ncr, (to which I am a
subscriber) of July 29, a recipe for making cur-
rant wine, but I have looked in vain as yet, for a
recipe to make grape wine. Cannot you inform
me how to make good wine from our common na-
tive grape ? (Ij.)

I have noticed in the Farmer that different cor-
respondents have told their methods for destroy-
ing the curculio, striped bugs, lice on cattle, &c.,
&c., but no one has ever told how to destroy lice
on fowls. In a part of the Ijay in my barn I keep
corn husks in the winter, and in the summer I
keep my sleigh and meal barrels, &c. My hens
make nests in my sleigh and about in the bay and
lay and set and hatch chickens there. The other
day I found to my surpi'iso that my sleigh, plow,
&c., were covered with myriads of lice. I looked
in the henroost, which joins the Jjay, and found
they were there, too. Now if you can inform me
through the columns of the Farmer, of any meth-
od that will destroy such vermin, I shall be very
much obliged. I am about building a henery, and
how shall I manage to keep it clear from being
infested with vermin 1 (c.)

Respectfully yours, Ignoramus.

Wre?itham, August, 1851.

Remarks. — (a.) Transplant your grape, after
the frost has killed the leaves, into the spot where
you wish it to remain, see that no standing water
can remain about it, and protect it slightly through

winter with the boughs of evergreees, or coarse
hay or straw.

(^>.) B. F. Cutter, Esq., of Pelham, N. H.,
will instruct you how to make wine from the na-
tive grape.

(c.) Vermin on fowls may be destroyed by
slightly greasing or oiling, the top of the head of
each fowl, and applying it under the wings. Feed
to them an occasional mash of boiled onions and
Indian meal ; rub the roosts with raw onions. A
correspondent in last year's volume of the month-
ly Farmer, says that a feather dipt into spirits of
turpentine, and the parts most infested touched
with it, will destroy the intruders. The oil, how-
ever, will bo effectual, if persisted in, as the spir-
acles or breathing pores of the body become
clogged and they cannot breathe.

RECIPE FOR MAKING GRAPE WINE.

Eds. Rural : — For the gratification of your cor-
respondent, "H. B.," of Toledo, and perhaps
other readers of your excellent paper, 1 submit
for insertion the following mode of making Grape
Wine. It may be aflirmed that from the days of
Noah down to the present time, good wine, eith-
er from the juice of grapes or any other fruit, has
been obtained only through the simple process of
fermentation. My practice in making wine for
the past t»wenty years, has been as follows :

When the grapes are fully ripe, and have been
removed from the vineyard to the place assigned
for making the wine, they should be assorted, and
all the green and decayed ones removed. Then
put them into a barrel, about a bushel at a time,
stems and grapes, and pound them thoroughly till
all the grapes are mashed. Continue the process
till all are finished that you wish to make up at
that time. The next process is to press out the
juice or must. Then to every gallon add two
pounds of sugar, and stir it thoroughly till all the
sugar is dissolved. It is then put into barrels for
the purpose of fermentation, there to remain, with
frequent filling up to supply the waste, till the
pomace is all fermented off. A supply of the
must should be on hand for that purpose. The
barrels should not be bunged up until the fer-
menting process is about completed. This may
be easily ascertained by placing your ear to the
bung. If in April or May the wine should be
found clear, it may bo racked oS", but if unsettled
it should be left till fall. If the wine is found to
be just what you want it at the time of racking,
bottle as much is you choose ; but if not, let it re-
main on the lees, and the article will increase in
character and strength.

I would remark that all grapes raised in this
section of the country, do not contain enough
sugar or saccharine matter to make good wine
without the addition of sugar. u. n. l.

— Rural New-Yorker.

Saving Sweet Potato Vines for Seed. — A. P.
Strobel sends to the Georgia Telegraph the fol-
lowing :

"Sweet potato vines may be saved during the win-
ter, and used the following spring in propagating
a new crop. I have tried the experiment during

438

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

this year, to my entire satisfaction. In the fall
(any time before frost) the vine may be cut in any
convenient length, and placed in layers, on the
Burfoce of the earth, to the depth of twelve or
eighteen inches, cover the vines whilst damp,with
partially rotted straw, (either pine or wheat will
answer) to the depth of six inches, and cover the
whole with a light soil about four inches deep.
In this way the vines will keep during the winter,
and in the spring they will put out sprouts as
abundantly as the potato itself when bedded.
The draws or sprouts can be planted first, and
the vine itself can l)e subsequently cut and used
as we .generally plant slips. This experiment is
worthy the consideration of farmers, as it will
save a great many seed potatoes, (particularly on
large plantations) which can be used for feed-
ing. Let every farmer, however, make the ex-
periment for himself, and be governed by the
result."

SINGULAR CASE OF INSTINCT IN A
HORSE.

We do not remember ever to have heard of a
more remarkable exhibition of equine intelligence
than the one which follows : —

Mr. A. had for a considerable time a span of
sprightly little horses, that he had never separa-
ted. In the stable, in the field, and the harness,
they have always been together. This has caused
a strong attachment to grow up between them.
A few days ago he went with them out to Lake
Minnetouka, on a fishing excursion. TaRing them
out of the carriage, he led them to the lake and
tied them several rods apart on a strip of grass
that grew upon the shore, and left them to feed.
Returning to the shantee, he threw himself upon
the floor, to wait the return of the party who had
repaired to the lake to fish.

Not much time had elapsed before the sound of
approaching horses' feet attracted his attention,
and a moment after, one of his horses appeared
at the door. The animal put his head in, and
giving one neigh, returned at a slow gallop, yet
under evident excitement, to the spot where, but
a few moments before, he and his companion had
been seemingly safely fastened. Surprised to find
Ills horse loose, and struck with his singular con-
duct, Mr. A. immediately followed, and found
the other lying in the water, entangled in the
rope, and struggling to keep his head from being
submerged. While Mr. A. proceeded to disen-
gage the unfortunate horse, his noble benefactor
stood by, manifesting the utmost solicitude and
sympathy, and when his mate was extricated from
his situation, and again upon his feet upon terra
firma, the generous creature exhiljited the most
unquestionable signs of satisfaction and joy. That
this intelligent animal should have noticed the
unfortunate situation of his mate — that he should
know wliere to apply for rescue, and in his ef-
forts should sunder a three-fourths of an inch
rope, and finally that he should exhibit so high
an appreciation of the event, are curious circum-
stances to us, and commend themselves to the
thoughtful consideration of those who would limit
the power of reasoning to the "genus homo." —
St. Anthony's Express.

UousE Ants. — The best way to get rid of ants
is to set a quantity of cracked walnuts or shell

barks on plates, and put them in the closet and
place where the ants congregate. They are very
fond of these,and will collect on them in myriads.
When they have collected on them, make a gener-
al auto-da-fe, by turning nuts and ants together
into the fire, and then replenish the plates with
fresh nuts. After they have become so thinned
off as to cease collecting on the plates, powder
some gum camphor, and put it in the holes and
crevices, whereupon the remainder of them will
speedily vamose. It may help the process of get-
ting them to assemble on the shell-barks to re-
move all edibles out of their way for the time.

TIMELY PARAGRAPHS.

The following beautiful passage, by Washing-
ton Irving, in the "Home Book of the Pictur-
esque," might almost make a day cheerful :

And here let me say a word in favor of those vi-
cissitudes of our climate wdiich are too often made
the subject of exclusive repining. If they annoy
us occasionally by changes from hot to cold, from
wet to dry, they give us one of the beautiful cli-
mates in the world. They give us tlie brilliant
sunshine of the south of Europe, with the fresh ver-
dureofthe north. They float our summer sky with
clouds of gorgeous tints or fleecy whiteness, and
send down cooling showers to refresh the panting
earth and keep it green. Our seasons are. all po-
etical ; the phenomena of our heavens are full of
sublimity and beauty.
Winter with us has none of its proverbial gloom.
It may have its howling winds, and whirling snow
storms ; but it has also its long intervals of cloud-
less sunshine, when the snow-clad earth gives re-
doubled brightness to the day ; when at night the
stars beam with intensest lustre, or the moon floods
the whole landscape with her most limpid radi-
ance ; and then the joyous outbreak of spring,
bursting at once into leaf and blossom, redundant
with vegetation, and vociferous Avith life ! — and
the splendors of our summer — its morning vo-
luptuousness and evening glory — its airy palaces
of the sun-gilt clouds piled up in a deep azure sky ;
and its gusts of tempest of almost tropical gran-
deur, when the forked lightning and the bellowing
thunder volley from the battlements of heaven,
and shake the sultry atmosphere — and the sublime
melancholy of our autumn, magnificent in its de-
cay, withering down the pomp and pride of a
woodland country, yet reflecting back from its
yellow forests the golden serenity of the sky, sure-
ly we may say in our climate "the heavens declare
the glory of God, and the firmament showeth forth
his handiwork ; day unto day uttereth speech ; and
night unto nijjht showeth knowledge."

Who can Stand the Heat 1 — The editor of the
Buffalo Democracy , an experienced iron worker,
gives the capacity of different classes of people to
endure heat. He has noticed that nearly all the
deaths from excessive heat of this summer have
been among emigrants. They cannot stand our
hot dry summers. He says that in blast furnaces
and rolling mills the Irish will endure more hard
and hot work than the Americans of Ohio, Vir-
ginia and Kentucky, or Indiana. Yet it is of rare
occurrence that an American dies of sun-stroke.
The English and the Welsh endure hot work about

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

439

fire better than any other people. Sweating docs
not seem to exhaust tlicm as it does a yankee. —
They will do hard work in a blast furnace in the
most sweltering weather of our summers, better
than even the negroes. This is the experience of
iron masters in Virginia.

U. S. and Foreign Patent Agency,

No. 39 State Street, Boston.

Sleep. — There is no better description given of
the approach of sleep, than that which we find, in
one of Leigh Hunt's papors in the Indicator :

"It is a delicious movemeut certainly, that of
being well nestled in bed, and feeling that you
shall drop gently to sleep. The good is to come,
not past ; the limbs have been just tired enough to
render the remaining in one posture delightful ;
the labor of the day is done. A gentle failure of
the perceptions comes creeping over ; the spirit
of consciousness disengages itself more, and with
slow and hushing degrees-, like a mother detach-
ing her hand from that of her sleeping child ; the
mind seems to have a balmy lid closed over it like
the eye ; 'tis closing more — 'tis closed. The
mysterious spirit has gone to take its airy
rounds."

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

0" A limited number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted in the monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

RATES.

For one square 15 lines, one Insertion $1,00

For each subsequent insertion 50

O" The above rates will be charged for all advertisements,
whether longer or shorter.

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAGLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

:¥?B|>

TIIE superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. The mode of attaching the forward mould-board to the
beam, by which great strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fiu--
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
boarii, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to thesurfacc,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tolerably free loams, rendering thi
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion t(
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Sevenal sizes of the BOSTON AND WOUCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to quality and durability ol
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties. •

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April 30, 1S53.

L

SAMUEL COOPER,

ate Chief Examiner in the U. S. Patent Office, procures Pa-
tents in this and Foreign Countries.

REFERENCES.
The undersigned, Principal and Assistant Examiners in the
United States Patent Office, have for several years been well ac-
quainted with Jlr. Samuel Cooper, lately a Principal Examiner
in this Office, and take pleasm-e in stating that he is a gentleman
of the highest moral character, of unquestioned knowledge in the
business and practice of the Office, and that his scientific attain-
ments are such as eminently fit him for the business in which he
is about to engage.

Hemkt B. Renwick, ■

L. D. Gale,

J. n. Lane,

T. R» Peale,

Thos. H. Everett,

f. southgate smith,

Wm. Chaunct Langdon, J

From long acquaintance and intimate official relations with
Mr. Cooper, I fully and heartily concur is the foregoing recom
mendation made by my late colleagues.

Wm. p. N. Fitzobkald,

Dec. 31. tf Late Principal Examiner ef Patents.

Principal
' Examiners.

"1

i Assistant
I Examiners.

J. H. HAMMOAD,

ARCHITECT.

THE subscriber offers his services to those about erecting new,
or altering old, buildings. He will furnish drawings and
working plans, specifications, and every thing in relation to a
clear understanding of what is wanted. lie thinks he is able to
present some new views in the construction of Bams, or in alter-
ing old ones, whereby more conveniencies may be obtained and
at less expense. His charges will be so moderate as to enable
every farmer to avail himself of his services.

Address J. H. HAMMOND, Grafton, Mass.

May 27, J854.

Swper-Pliosplhite of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate effect, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency of PAos^Aaie, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its application. It is com-
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guauo, Suljihate of Am
monia, &e.

For sale, with full directions for use, in bags of 150 pounds
each. No charge for package. All hags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

GEO. DAVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

ImproYecl Chiircli Vanes,

ALL COPPER,

MANUFACTURED BY

MESSRS. J. & C. HOWARD,

WEST BRIDGKAVATER, MASS.,
"jXTAY be purchased at the Quincy Ilall Agricultural Warehouse
IVL South Market Street, Boston.
July 1, 1854. tf

Sulfolk Figs.

-^ The subscriber has the pure Suffolk Piga

■ "3 f'^i" sale frura 3 to 4 months »\d, also a lot
'}i^ of half blood.

ABNER HAVEN,
S. Framingham
Jan. 14, 1854. tf.

(iroiiiid Plaster,

17OR SALE, at White's Mills, HAVERIULL, Mass. Apply to
r JAMES D. WHITE.

Every Farmer who desires to renovate poor pastures, improve
his mowing, increase and improve his crops of corn and pota-
toes, should give this article a full trial; it is a great addition to
any compost heap.

Fine clover usually follows the sowing of plaster.

Jan. 28, 1854. tf.

440

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Sept.

CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER.

Calendar for September 393

An Agricultural Exhibition in England 395

Squirrels in the Woods — The Drought in Northern Vermont. 396

The Nights — Are Lightning Rods Humbugs ? 397

Death of Distinguished Agricultural Men 398

State Agricultural Show in 1854 398

Insects Destructive to Peaches 399

Peach Failure — Monthly Farmer for August 399

Ice Houses — Having a Trade 400

Professor Mapes on the Culture of Carrots 401

Wheat-Growing in Massachusetts 402

Management ot the Horse 403

Chapter on Husbandry — No. 2 404

Lightning Rod 405

Analysis of Soils — Elegant Ballad 40(5

IIow to Use Meadow Jluck 400

When Should Crops be Gathered 407

Esq. Slidewell, or the Theoretical Farmer 408

The White Daisy— Currant Wine 409

deeding of Animals 409

Time for Budding — AVeeds ! Weeds ! 411

Farming a Huinlrt-d Years Ago 412

Veterinary Hnnuj'upathy 413

Training Youth to a Wrong Occupation 413

The Farmer's Song — A Beautiful Picture 413

A New Wind-Mill— Budding 414

Attend the Fai.-s 415

Machinery in Farming — Its Absolute Necessity 415

Native Ornamental Trees 416

Use and Influence of Light 416

American Farmers in Palestine — The Swallows 418

The Wheat Crop-^Feeding of Animals — Continued 419

Think of Me 419

Ice Houses — Chemistry and Farming 421

Bots — Farmers on Poor Lands 422

Progress and Improvement 423

A Remedy for Scarlet Fever 423

The Kansas Emigrant — Chess or Cheat — The Lampas 424

Pasture Lands — Different Grasses 425

Signs of Foul Weather — The Currant 426

The Currant Crop in Zante 426

Horticultural Operations for August — Bathing 427

The War am the Linen Trade 428

Winter Wheat 429

Suburban Gardens 430

Extracts and Replies 431

Agricultural Implements — Destruction of Bushes 432

Itch, or Scab, in Sheep. 433

Agricultural Progress in Ohio 434

Dying Seldom a Very Painful Process 436

Lake Champlain Drought, Crops, &c 437

Grape Wine — Hen Lice, &c 437

Recipe for Making Grape Wine 437

Singular Case of Instinct in a Ilorso 403

Timely Paragraphs 438

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Robin 401

Hickok's Patent Improved Cider Mill 417

The Summer Rose Ajjple 433

Fertilizers.

BEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Super-Phosphate of Lime. — "DeBurg's No. 1."
Poudrette, of the best (|uality.

ground Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes,
round Bone, Bone Dust and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds ef reliable quality at the lowest market pri*e.
GEO. DAVENPORT,
5 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Superior Imported St«ck.

The subscriber offers for a limited period,
to allow the use of the following unrivalled
stock of cattle, to all persons wishing to
imjjrove their farm stock, who will agree
to rear the young.
Full Blood Alderney Bull "Major Jack
Downing," Full Blood .\yrshire Bull, "Washington," First Pre-
mium Mackay Boar, "Webster."

W. G. LEWIS,
Lawn Farm, Framingham.
July 8, 1S54. tf

Fruit and Ornaiiientai Trees.

The proprietors offer for sale an extensive assort
merit of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the choice standard varieties, for the Garden oi
Orchard ; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grape Vines
&c. 1000 Buckthorn and Arbor Vitae for Hedges.
S. & G. HYDE.
Newton Comer, March 18, 1854. w*tf

NEW ENGLAND EAllMEll

Is published on the first of every month, by John Kaynold and
Joel Nowise, at Quincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.
SIMON BROW^N, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, { Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

[J3° Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
0° All subscrijjtions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 57(3 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication.

(nr Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS,,will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to fiimily reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

33" Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural department of the weekly.

0= Postmasters and others, who will forward fom- new sub-
seribers on the above named terms, for either publication, glial]
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

SZr All orders and letters should be addi-cssed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS So NOURSE,

Quincy Hall, SotJTn Market Street, Boston.
O" Postage. — The postage on the New 'England Farmer,
monthly, is 1^ cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.

AGRICULTURAL

WAREHOUSE MB SEED STORE,

QUINCY' HALL, OVER THE MARKET, BOSTON.

rnHE Proprietors having recently enlarged their Warehouses,
JL and increased their works at Worcester, would respectfully
invite the attention of Planters and Dealers in AGRICULTURAL
& HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, GARDEN and FIELD
SEEDS, &c., to their stock, comprising the largest and bjst as-
sortment to be found in the United States, which are offered at
low prices.

Of PLOUGHS — we have the gr.atest variety of kinds and
sizes.

Improved Sod Ploughs, for flat furrows — imiiroved Scotch
Ploughs for lapped furrows — improved Stubljle Ploughs, which
are especially adapted to deep tillage, or varying from 6 to 12
inches in depth.

Self-sharpening, Hill Side, Sub-soil, Double Mould, Corn, Cot
ton and Rice Ploughs.

Cylinder Hay Cutters, Smith's Patent Lever Gate, and others
Patent Corn Shellers, with and without Separators. Seed Sowers,
of various sizes and prices. Batchelder's patent Corn Planter,
improved . Fanning Mills of vari(ms sizes, Horse Powers, Thresh
ing Machines, Thermometer Churn, Dash Churn, Corn Planters,
together with almost every article wanted on the Plantation,
Farm or Garden.

Illustrated Catalogues sent gratis on application, post-paid.
RUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

Boston and Worcester, Mass., Jan. 1, 1853. tf.

Homestead for Sale.

My Farm contains pasturing enough to keep six
cows, and produces hay sufficient to winter twice
that number. It has a good share of the best of
tillage land, the soil being a sandy loam; and 8 or
10 acres are covered with wood and timber. There
are 70 acres in all.

The buildings are a large one-story house, with finished cham-
bers, in good repair; two barns, one 28 by 44, the other 26 by
36; and a plenty of out-buildings. There is a pump for water
in the house, and an aqueduct at the barn.

The i)lace produces Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Cherries,
Currants, &c., in abundance. It is situated ten miles from Man-
chester city, 4J from a depot on the •Wilton Railroad, and two
miles north-east from Amherst Village.

To secure a ready purchaser to the above property, I offer to
sell the whole for $1650. JOHN W. BRUCE.

Amherst, N.H., Aug. 19, 1S54. 5w^

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VL

BOSTON, OCTOBER, 1854.

NO. 10.

RAYNOLDS & NOURSE, Proprietors.
Office. . ..QuiNCY Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK., i Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH 5 Editors.

CALENDAR FOE OCTOBEE.

"The Autumn has tinged the trees with gold,

And crimsoned the shrubs of the l^ills ;
And the full seed sleeps in earth's bosom cold ;

And hope all the universe fills."

CTOBER, in New England, has a
climate probably not equal!
ed by that of any other por
tion of the world ; not sur
passed, certainly, under the
often-boasted Italian skies.
There is an inexpressi-
ble charui in the first
gatherings of the fami-
ly around the pleasant
sitting-room fire, and in
the frosty mornings, as
well as in the bright sun, and the pure, elastic air
we breathe.

Mr. Beecher calls this the " painted month.
Every green thing loves to die in bright colors.
The vegetable cohorts march out of the year in
glowing, flaming dresses, as if to leave the earth
were a triumph, and not a sadness. It is not
Nature ever that is sad ; but only we that dare
not look back on the past, and that have not her
prophecy of the future in our bosoms.

" But there is as much life in Autumn as
death, and as much creation and growth as
passing away. Every flower has left its house
full of seeds. No leaf has dropt until a bud has
borne it. Already another year is hidden along
the boughs ; another summer is secure among
the declining flowers."

October has its distinctive character — indeed,
every month has — and is crowded with things
beautiful to him whose mind is active, and who
has his eyes open to observe. But it has its peculiar-
ities— it is, as has been said by Mr. Beecher, the
" painted month " — the " month, above all oth-
ers, for the artist to ply his delightful task of
Using the fugitive beauties of the scene ; which,]

however, he must do quickly, for they fade
away, day by day, as he looks upon them."
The Summer birds have mostly gone ; a few flit
from place to place, lighting on the ripened weeds
and grasses, and feeding on their seeds ; their
notes have a softened and melancholy tone, as
they come nearer and nearer our dwellings, and
seem more social than in the hey-day of life.
The grass-hoppers have grown lusty, and big
black crickets resort to the heated sand to warm
their old limbs ; but when evening comes, in the
kitchen hearth, or under some cozy tuft, they
pitch their sonorous pipes and make the night vo-
cal with their songs. During the month of Octo-
ber there are many evenings and nights of sur-
passing beauty ; a clear atmosphere enables us to
see innumerable stars, and the moon, with appar-
ently new beauties. And then to him who will
observe some of the phenomena of Autumn, there
is ample opportunity of experiencing "the physi-
cal force of atmospheric motion in every degree ;
the gentle zephyr floating the thistle-down and
undulating corn ; the fresh breeze rippling the
surface of the stream, and the tempest-blast whirl-
ing the dead leaves in every direction, and some-
times overwhelming the work of man with ruin
and destruction."

In July, the fields are lively with the haymak-
ers ; in August, they gathered the grain ; in Scp-
tem])er bent over the potato hills, and now in Oc-
tober, comes tlio Indian corn harvest, this, and
the hay harvest, being the great agricultural sta-
ples of New England. Now, too, comes the pleas-
ant husking parties, whore all the old stories of
the year are repeated with new unction. But,
alas ! the times are sadly changed ; the girls not
only decline to husk, though assured that some
red ears may be found, but to bake the beans and
boil the coSee for the midnight supper ! Husk-
ing corn has lost its charm. Basque waists, Iloni
ton lace and drapery sleeves are in the ascend-
ant ! Well, we like to see them, after all, and so

442

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

•will husk a little later ourselves to make up the
loss !

But there are many other things to be done
in beautiful October. We wish we were a poet
BO that we could sing its charms. We have an
inspiration, but cannot whip it into measure ; so
we give it up and

G.\THER THE AppLES. — The last week in Sep-
tember is the time with many to do this work —
but much depends on the weather. If frosts are
severe they should be gathered early — if not, let
them hang. Do not allow one to be in the least
bruised that is intended for winter. Separate
them into grades — the f5rst grade will be likely
to sell for as much as the whole if they were
mixed.

Make the Cider. — Ten gallons of dirty stuff,
compounded ofvillanous drugs, are used where
one gallon of vinegar is used, made of pure cider.

TuE Potatoes are probably dug, sorted, and
placed in winter quarters.

The Seed Corn is selected, of ears that ripened
first.

Draining. — See, particularly, that the wheat
fields are properly drained, and so that no sur-
face water will rest upon them.

Pruning. — Towards the last of the month
pruning may be done with propriety. Cover the
wounds with shellac dissolved in alcohol — apply
it with a small brush. Shape young trees in the
nursery.

Transplant apple trees. There is no better
time.

The Garden. — As an experiment, trench a por-
tion of the garden, even if it be but a small piece,
18 inches deep Und note the effect on the crops
next year, other things being equal. •; a out
and tie up raspberries ; dreeg strawberries ; plant
out hardy bulljs ; and do all that may be done in
the garden so as to save time in the spring.

Visits. — Take a pleasant afternoon and go and
see how others are managing their farms.

For the New England Farmer.

GUANO.

Mr. Editor : — My object in writing at this
time is to inquire, through your columns, how
the farmers who bought guano for manure last
spring, have succeeded in using it, for I think it
is only by actual experiments upon our own soil,
that we shall learn to apj.ly it aright. The hope
that others may bo induced to coniniunicate their
experiments with it, iiiOucnccH me in giving mine.
1 trust you will cn'cusc me fur giving so partic-
ular a statement of luv pmall experiment witli it.

Last spring f purchased a bag of guano of J.
Brcck & Son. On the 22d of April I spread six
pounds of it on two square rods of grass land;
the land V, as moist. Its effect upon the grass
■was sooi) .ip] .irent ; it gave the grass a very lux-
uriant {inivvtl. in a few weeks. On the first of
June there wiui twico aa much upon it as there

was upon the part where none was applied.
About the middle of June a rust, or blight, ap-
peared upon the spot where the guano was put ;
the rust did not show itself much upon the rest
of the field. On the 15th of July it was mown.
When dry, the hay upon the two rods weighed 50
pounds ; upon the two rods adjoining, 40 pounds,
making a gain of 300 pounds to the acre. From
this experiment, 480 pounds of guano to the
acre gave 8000 pounds of hay at the iirst cutting.
1 think if six pounds had been put upon four
square rods, the gain would have been more upon
each rod.

I next used it to plant peas upon ; 24 pounds
were put into furrows, for two rows, through the
piece, at the rate of 500 pounds to the acre ; it
was covered before the seed was dropped. The
peas came up well ; the vines were not so large
as those planted upon manure ; they filled as
soon, and I think yielded as much. From this
trial, 100 pounds of guano is equal to one cord
of good manure for growing peas.

tlpon the onion field I put 25 pounds, at the
rate of 450 pounds to the acre ; it was harrowed
and raked in the rows. The rows crossed this
strip at right angles, so that each row in the
field had a part of the guano. The onions came
up well ; but they soon began to say, by their
looks and actions, if not in words, we do not like
this new fashion manure ; and all through the
season they have had a sickly look.

Some of it was put upon a small piece of tur-
nips ; the contrast of the effect upon onions and
turnips was striking ; it was applied in the same
manner upon each, but it gave to the turnips a
vigorous, healthy look.

I put 75 pounds of it upon my corn land ;
when the corn is harvested, I shall be able to give
a more particular account of its effects upon corn.

I hope, Mr. Editor, you and your readers will
give the public the result of your experiments
with this manure. Wm. R. Putnam.

North Danvers, Srpt. Hth, 1854.

A HINT TO FARMERS.

A late writer says that "the less land a farmer
has the more corn he will raise." This is so. Our
friend S. once owned a farm of 300 acres, while
his capital was so small that he could only half
manure it. The effect was tliat he could scarcely
pay expenses. The money he expended on fen-
ces should have been expended on guano ; while
the wear and tear of plow and harness, was nearly
equal to the par value of his potato crop. Some
three years ago S. endorsed ibr a friend. The
friend forgot the day it was to fall due. S. had
to take it up for him. To do this, he mortgaged
his farm. The mortgage was foreclosed, and one
half his farm struck ofj to the highest bidder. He
thought he was ruined. No such thing. The
manure, labor and horse-flesh, which he Jormerly
scattered over three hundred acres,were spread over
one hundred acres, and what was the result 1 We
will inform the reader. He now clears $2,000 a
year, which clearing is effected with one-third
the labor, swearing and chuckleheads, which he
formerly made use of to keep himself poor and ill-
natured. We conclude with the same text we
set out with — "the less land a farmer owns, the
more corn he will grow." — Anon.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

443

VERMONT STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

FOURTH ANNUAL FAIR.

We had the pleasure of attending this Exhibi-
tion at Brattleboro', on Tuesday and Wednesday
of hist week. The weather was all that could be
desired — if it had been " made to order," or cast
in a mould of exquisite pattern, it could not have
been better. The mornings were cool, with an
elastic and invigorating atmosphere ; health and
buoyancy were in every limb and countenance ;
the hills and valleys poured forth tides of living
beings, full of joyous anticipations of the events
of the coming day.

The Society had made the most convenient and
liberal preparations for the occasion. The grounds
contained nearly forty acres, and were enclosed
by a board fence ten feet high. Convenient oflBces
were erected for any branch of business to be
conducted in and out of the grounds. In a
spacious tent the roll of committees was called,
where they were introduced to each other, and
then proceeded to their duties. A building was
erected for the Floral Department, and dedicated
as ^^ Flora Hall.'' This was filled with things
" beautiful to behold," and with those who added
a new grace and beauty to every thing around
them.

Then there was another appropriated to the
Department of Mechanics. We have not space to
enumerate the fine works of mechanical skill
which were here exhibited. Among them were
fine specimens of the handy work of our friend
Partridge, in steel forks, rakes, &c., and of the
famous plows, horse hoes, and other implements
of Ruggles & Co.

The left centre of the grounds was occupied by
a mammoth gallery, furnished with seats suflB-
cient for at least 2000 persons, and built with
special regard to substantiality. To this gallery
a charge of twelve-and-a-half cents was asked for
admission, and was paid by thousands.

This stand commanded a view of the trotting
course, which lay to the extreme left of the arena.
The course was of an oval form, and carefully
prepared for the use for which it was designed, by
grading, watering, and rolling its surface. It
was half a mile in circumference, and the whole
drcuit could be taken in at a single glance.

Water was plentiful on the grounds, both for
man and beast, brought in -pipes IGO rods, forced
up by pumps, acted on by an ingenious contrivance
of an over-shot wheel. Ilalliday's Patent Wind
Engine, of which we have spoken heretofore, was
erected in the centre of the field, and was an at-
tractive feature.

Among the stock we particularly noticed the
imported Devon bull. Comet, owned by Isaac
Stickney, of Grafton. He is 6 years old, and a
very fine animal — one worthy to be recommended

to the breeders of that stock. Messrs. W. R.
Sanford, of Orville, Daniel Davis, of Spring-
field, and S. D. Walbridge, of Bennington, and
some others, presented stock of this blood.

Of Durhams, or Short Horns, the bull Ajax,
exhibited by Sylvester Smith, of Wilmington,
was decidedly the finest animal of that breed on
the grounds. He is 4 years old, weighs 2,290
pounds, and is made up so as to please the critical
eye. Messrs. A. L. Bingiiau, of West Cornwall,
E. D. Hubbell, of Bennington, J. C. Laavrence,
of Brattleboro', E. J. Barrington, of Whiting-
ham, and others, also had stock of this breed.

There were few Aldtrnrys. Mr. J. Bird, of
Greenfield, Mass., had a fine hull, 2 years old, and
2 cows, a heifer, and a calf. The cows were
small and thin, but were undoubtedly pure.

Of Herefords, the only representations were a
cow and calf, shown by A. L. Bingham, of West
Cornwall.

Working Cattle. The exhibition of this class
was imposing. The number of entries exceeded
200 yoke. The Brattleboro' team, 48 yoke, passed
in review as a single team. Among them could
be seen tinges of the blood of the Durhams and
Devons with our mixed breeds.

Of Fat Cattle, a pair driven in by Mr. Fair-
banks, of Springfield, Mass., weighed six thousand
pounds, and were much admired.

Of Swine there were a few fine specimens. A
Suffolk boar and sow, presented by Isaac Stick-
ney, of Boston, were models of their kind. The
boar was made up as near the pattern of perfec-#
tion as we shall seldom be likely to see. We have
seen a finer shaped sow, but not often. A pair
of the improved Essex swine, the only ones on the
field, wei-e presented by Solomon W. Jewett, of
Weybridge. They were black, and possessed fine
proportions.

The Sheep included several varieties, — Spanish,
French, Silesian, Saxon, with all manner of
crosses. Spanish merinos were exhibited by
Messrs. A. L. Bingham, N. A. Saxton, of Ver-
gennes, Victor Wright, of Cornwall, Jesse Hinds,
of Brandon, S. Stickney, D. & G. Cutting, and
J. T. & V. Rich, of Shoreham, C. D. Sweat, of
Bennington, and Mark Crawford and Samuel
Wheat, of Putney. A few Leicesters were ex-
hibited by A. V. Stockwell and George Winter-
bottom. Smyrna and Native, by H. S. AVal-
BRiDGE ; and Silesian, French, and Spanish and
French, by George Campbell, of Westminster.

FruitsAnd Vegetables wi;rKi not numerous, though
some fine sam pies in each department were ex-
hibited. We noticed a fine basket of Sweet Pota-^
toes, and a variety of grapes, by A- Dutton, of
Dummerston. There was a squagh, weighing 180
pounds, and a cousin about as large. Apples,
pears, peaches and plums, were not largely rep-
resented.

444

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

The Address was delivered by Charles Theo-
dore Russell, of Boston, and a Reporter says,
like all his productions, bore the stamp of em-
inent ability in conception and expression. Its
subject was " The Enfranchisement of Labor.''''

Capital charcoal sketches of the Black Hawk
and Morgan horses were framed and elevated,
one on each end of the spectator's gallery. They
were by Mr. Larkin G. Mead, of Brattleboro',
and a young artist of great promise.

The grand feature of a Vermont State Fair is
its Horses. We cannot speak of these in detail— v
lovers of the noble animal must go themselves and
see. They were trotted in imposing parade round
the moist and level course, and thousands of
bright eyes gazed on them as they passed the im-
mense gallery. The procession was headed by a
true son of the old Woodbury Morgan, and fol-
lowed in order by the Woodburys, Bulrushes and
.->!iermans — the latter being by far the most
r.umerous.

But the crowning glory of the Show was in its
i.-xcellent arrangements — nothing that could add
convenience or comfort was omitted. The place
i')r the Address was chosen and prepared with
4ood taste. The officers were attentive and polite
• > every body, and every body had their best bow
f >r the oflScers. Ladies, in great numbers, joined
! 1 the festivities of the occasion, and gave a new
^iace and charm to the whole. Mr. Holbrook,
lie President, mingled everywhere with the
'. irong, and had a kind word for all. We could
« .i[)eak of the hospitalities of his mansion, and of
tlie distinguished guests we met there ; but, as
i,hat would not be strictly agricultural, and mio^ht
'»e considered an invasion of the sanctities of pri-
vate life, we forbear. All were eloquent in praise
of the mode in which the exhibition was man-
iged, and the facilities which had been furnished
I'or its enjoyment.

It was estimated tliat 25,000 persons visited
the Show, and out of that vast number not an
ill-behaved or intoxicated person did we see.

Vor the New England Farmer.

LIGHTNING RODS.

Friend Brown : — I have noticed, in several of
tlio last Farmers, discussions relative to light-
ning-rods. My ideas differ somewhat from any
who liave writisn for your journal on this sub-
ject ; and they were imbibed" from the teachings
of one of the b.st, if not I he best Professors in this
country. In his lectures on electricity, P. was
very particular to call the student's attention to
this subject ; his theory was, that a rod would
only attract its area. A rod ten feet high would
protect that number of feet each way. A rod on
a ridge would reckon its attractive powers from
the distance from the base of the roof to the top
of the r.)d. When more than one rod is required
tliey should be near enough together to meet
Tvhcn laid down ; and any number less than this.

might attract some, but not enough to bring it to
the rod, and consequently the building would be
more exposed than if there were no rods at all.
I think isolators are not essential. Iron is a far
better conductor of electricity than wood, and
will not leave it if there is a good chance for it to
escape when it reaches the bottom. It is better
that the ends or splices should be ri feted than
linked or screwed together, and above all things
have the bottom end pointed and in a moist place.
Isolators are good for nothing if the bottom is
not arranged properly ; we often see telegraph
posts all split to pieces notwithstanding their iso-
lation, from the tact that the wire is not large
enough to conduct it off.

Let me advise all who wish to put up rods to
put up enough ; have them of good size, square
or sharp edges, and look well to your termina-
tions, liaving them terminate in water, tan or
moist earth. S. W. Curtis

Globe Village Sept. 7, 1854.

AGRICULTURE AND THE PROFES-
SIONS.

When young men are about completing their
education, they very wisely ask themselves what
they shall do. A few, scanning the various pur-
suits, luckily hit on something in harmony with
their tastes, while the greater part look only to
the professions as the legitimate sphere of educa-
ted men. Now this conclusion is all wrong. A
college education aims at a professional life no
more than any other ; but only at a general dis-
cipline and culture of mind which may be ap-
plied to all pursuits. There are, no doubt, some
in each class, who are adapted to and will honor
any of the professions ; but the greater part are
not, and they enter them rather because they are
honorable, than in hopes of honoring them. But
we have little sympatiiy with tho!3e luminaries
which seek to shine by a reQected light. We
have been taught to believe that the man should
honor his office, not the office the man : and that
it is better to move at the head of even a humble
calling, than follow in the rear of a dignified pro-
fession. We would rather raise potatoes which
somebody will eat, than make speeches whicli no
one will hear, or write books which no one will
read.

But if these young gentlemen will carefully
look around, they will perhaps find other avenues
to wealth and distinction besides the professions.
Take, for instance, agriculture — not simply the
art of plowing the ground, but agriculture viewed
in all its practical and scientific bearings, and
they will possibly find scope for the disj^lay of at
least moderate capacities. Indeed, if we mistake
not, some enter the professions, who would not
find a waste of talent in agricultural pursuits,
and who are certainly quite as well suited to
them. But so many young men are captivated
with the idea of professional or political titles
and life, that they overlook what they call the
humbler avocations. So away they go, talking of
Robert Halls and Daniel Websters, between whom
and themselves there is no more comparison than
between the Alps and an ant-hill. We would
not be thought to underrate the professions by
any means ; but we believe strongly in an adap-
tation, a fitness for things. If a man has not a

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

445

natural capacity for one pursuit, let him take up
another for which he has a natural capacity.
Better handle the plow with grace, than make a
stupid argument.

Nor yet does this avocation preclude access to
political distinction, to whicli so many young
men aspire. We know some farmers who stand
as good a chance for office as many of their pro-
fessional brethren, and who are as well able to
flourish as deliciite a hand, or quiddle as accu-
rately, or talk as honiedly ; but in good sense
and sound judgment — the essential etements of a
man — they are hy no means inferior. We always
like to see such men — good honest souls ! — who
lean not on the dignity'- of their profession, but on
themselves. Such men are at once the strength
and pride of the country.

Let not young men, therefore, think a profes-
sion the " sine qua non" of human greatness, but
let them cast about and see what they are fitted
and have a taste for. They will then go to work
thoroughly and earnestly, and be sure to succeed,
while on the other hand, they will most surely
fail. — American A ^riculturist .

WHY IS THE FARMER DISCON-
TENTED ?

Those who liave been engaged in mercantile,
mechanical, commercial or other pursuits in the
early part of manhood, but who have left those
pursuits for the cultivation of the farm, are usu-
ally contented with the change, particularly if
they gained some knowledge of the practice of
agriculture in boyhood. It is mostly among those
born and bred on the farm, who have little knowl-
edge of the necessary care and unceasing labor
in other pursuits to insure success, where men
and women labor grudgingly ; from motives of
duty and necessity, but without those agreeable
realizations which alone can make labor pleasant.
It is said that as a people we are restless ; never
satisfied with the house we have erected, the farm
we have subdued and cultivated, the ship we
have sailed, or the fortune acquired.

We have so far been providing for our physical
wants, in the agricultural community, without
taking into account the fact, that the mind de-
mands aliment as well as the body, and that it
must be supplied or it will do one of two things :
it will sicken by becoming indifferent to its own
interests and the world around it, and sink, and
die in idiocy ; or it will embrace violent extremes
of imaginary duties, and seek, by ever- varying
change, that, mental sustenance, which it has
failed to find in quiet and homely scenes.

This is the prime cause of discontent in rural
life. The physical powers are occupied by a rou-
tine of duties supposed to require little mental
effort, while those of the mind are disregarded
and unprovided for. While the body labors, the
mind lias little sympathy with it — the forces of
the man are divided, and discontent, and disquiet
are the consequence. ^

We shall only speak of this evil among the rural
population — the farmers, and their sons and
daughters, and in order to do this, we ought first
to speak of the dignity and importance of agri-
culture as an employment.

Of the importance of agriculture as the means
and chief source of subsistence to all animal life,
it is scarcely necessary to enlarge. The fact must
be evident to all, that with the cessation of two
or three successive crops, the races must become
extinct ; a fact which should teach us our obliga-
tions to Him who holdn the destinies of nations
in his liands, and to whom our profound gratitude
is ever due. Uut the moral consequences of agri-
cultural employment are less obvious, and i-e-
quire more consideration.

Agriculture means field culture, and its impor-
tance is obvious, not only by affording the direct
supply of our greatest wants, but as the parent
of manufactures and commerce. Without agri
culture there can be neither population nor civil-
ization. Hence, it is not only the most universal
of arts, but that which requires the greatest
number of operators ; the main body of the pop-
ulation in every country is employed in the pur-
suit of agriculture ; and the most powerful indi-
viduals in almost all nations derive their wealth
and consequence from their property in land.

Recent discoveries in Chemistry and Physiology
have led to most important improvements in the
culture of plants, and the Weeding and rearing
of animals ; agriculture is, in consequence, no
longer an art of labor, but of Science: hence the
advantage of scientific knowledge to agricultur-
ists, and the susceptibility in the aft of progres-
sive advancement. "Agriculture," Marshall says,
" is a subject which, viewed in all its branches,
and to their fullest extent, is not only the most
important, and the most difficult in rural econo-
mies, but in the circle of human arts and scien-
ces."

Such is the importance of agriculture to us all.
It cannot lack dignity, for it is the mother of all
other arts and sciences. It was not too low for
Cato, Cinciunatus, and Washington ; and it never
can ])c too low for the most exalted mind on earth.

Discontent, then, does not spring from a want
of importance and dignity in the occupation, but
because that occupation is not understood. Farm-
ing should not bo looked upon as the end of life,
merely as a means of sulisistence ; this, as well as
all other pursuits, should be adopted with the view
of enalding men not only to improve and boauty-
fy the earth, but to cultivate the moral, intellec-
tual, and social powers, and to fill, according to
to their capacity, their proper station among
their fellow-men. It sliould not tend to make
men mere machines, who toil for tlie sole pur-
pose of gratifying their appetites ; but it should

446

NEW ENGLAXD FARMER,

Oct,

elevate and refine, to the highest degree of per-
fection, the better faculties of our nature.

The profits of productive farming would, when
conducted scientifically, enable the farmer to ac-
cumulate wealth, and enjoy all the comforts and
luxuries of refined lif3. Every community could
be made up of the best society — every family
could have a good library', and its accomplished
sons and daugliters ; farmers' sons need not leave
the favorite pursuit of their fathers, and go into
the learned professions, from the erroneous idea
that they are more honorable or profitable. Farm-
ers' daughters need not despise the delightful and
healthful employment of the dairy, the kitchen,
or the loom, and seek elevation in the miserable
pursuits aud fashions of the city.

Nothing conduces more to the elevation and
refinement of the mind than the study of nature ;
the man who holds frequent communion with na-
ture, and studies and ob^ys her laws, is always
made abetter and happier man.

But it is said that the working man cannot
study ; that study and labor are incompatible and
uncongenial. Washington and Franklin both
posses.^ed that kind of knowledge which enabled
them to be eminently useiul to the world, and
yet both wore emphatically laboring tuen ; labor-
ing not only in directing others, but with their
own hands. Many other signal examples might
bo cited to strengthen the point, were it necessary.

"Manual labor," says the Phrenological Journal,
"when not excessive, invigorates the body, and
rouses the mind. Muscles strengthened by exercise,
and a brain refreshed by pure blood, enable the
mind to conceive with clearness, and act with vig-
or and force. The delicate lark soars high, but
soon falls ; it is only the eagle, with broad and
strong wing and clear eye, that can sustain long
flights in the upper air, and gaze at; the sun.

"The man with a learning mind, who digs the
ground, or sows the seed, makes rapid progress.
He sees the benevolence of God in every opening
bud and blushing flower. He learns lessons of
utility, of design in the natural world, and with
a soul enlarged, he applies to books and art the
exponents of other men's minds, — and looks into
his own to discover the laws liy which it is gov-
erned, and the links by which ho is bound to his
fellow- men .

"The working man, in all ages of the world,
has l)een more successful in doing good, in advan-
cing the interests of humanity, than a man learned
only in book knowledge. The latter may desire
to do as much, but never can accomplish it, being
ignorant of the material on wliicli he is working.
"As the world advances, its workers take a
higher position ; the dignity of labor becomes ap-
parent. The time draws near when he who docs
nothing will be nothing, and when there will be
no aristocracy but that of labor ; no noblemen but
the workers."

But the worker must also be a thinker ; he must
become nature's ardent student, and work out,
and think out the wonderful processes ever going
on in her strange crucible. He must not be dis-
couraged that he knows so little yet of those things
which are constantly under his observation ; that
the knowledge man has accumulated in all the
generations of his existence, forms but a small
mound in comparison with the unknown.

A FAKMER'S WIFE I'LL BE.

I'm a wild and laughing girl, just turned of sweet sixteen,
As full of miscki'jf auG of fun as ever you have seen ;
And when I aiu a woman grown, uo city beaux for me —
If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be

I love a country life, I Ioto the joyous breeze,

I love to hear the singing birds along the lofty trees ;

The lowing herds and bleating f!i)cks make music sweet for me—

If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be.

I love to feed the chickens, and I love to milk the cow,
I love to hear the farmer's boy a whistling at his plough ;
And fields of corn and waving grain are pleasant sights to me—
If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be.

I love to see the orchards where the golden apples grow,
I love to walk in meadows where the bright streamlets flow ;
Aud flowery banks and shady woods have many charms for

me —
If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be.

Let other girls who love it best, enjoy the gloomy town,
'Mid dusty walls and dusty streets, to ramble up and down ;
But flowery fields, and shady woods, and sunny skies for ma—
If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be.

FACTS FOR BUILDERS.

One fact is, that a square form secures more
room with a given cost for outside wails, than
any other rectangular figure. Great length, and
little width mayafl'^rd convenient rooms, but at
an increased expense.

Another fact is, that ventilation is an essential
in a human dwelling. No other consideration
should exclude this. The halls, windows, and
doors, should be so situated with regard to each
other, that a full draught of air CiXn be secured,
at any time, in the summer season, by day and
by night, through the whole house. The stories
sliould also be sufficiently high to afibrd a suffi-
ciency of air in all the rooms. Nine feet is a
good height for lower rooms, and eight for upper.
Bed rooms sliould also be larger than they com-
monly are. Great injury to health is the result
of sleeping in small, close apartments.

The third fact is, that a stoop roof will not on-
ly shed rain and snow far bettor than a flat one,
but will last immensely longer, at the same time
that it secures increased room for chambers, or
gai'ret.

The fourth fact is, that a chimney in or near the
centre of the building will aid to warm the whole
house, while if built at one end or side, the heat
will be thrown out and lost.

The fifth fact is, that a door opening from the
outside into any principal room, without the inter-
vention of a hall or passage, costs much more
than it saves, in tlie free ingress of air into it.

The sixth fact is, that the use of paint is the
best economy, in the preservation it afl'ords to all
wood work. — Prairie Farmer.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

447

For the New England Farmer.

MAKE YOUR GIRLS INDEPENDENT.

BY HENRY F. FRENCH.

Everybody in New England knows exactly what
to do with a boy. Give him, as a matter of
course, the best education you can aflTord, and
whether he is poor or rich, prepare him for some
business, some regular useful business in life, so
that whatever be the turn of Fortune's Wheel, he
may be independent. A good e(^ucation, and a
profession or trade, without property, is enough
for him — enough to place him beyond the chari-
ties of a cold world, enough to give him hope and
courage and assurance of success in life.

But what is to become of the daughter? Do
we consider this question sufficiently ? Is not all
New England grossly negligent on this point? —
Does the public voice answer this question satis
factorily ?

Let us examine the matter fairly. You have
a daughter of sixteen, in a family of half a dozen
children. You have a small property, a comfort-
able home, a farm perhaps, are tolerably "well
off," Avorth perhaps eight or ten thousand dollars.
You are still a young man, at least not so very
old, that you need necessarily die for some years
yet. Suppose this young lady has progressed as
well as most girls, in her studies. She can read and
write respectably, has cyphered as far as square root,
can read French a little, though she cannot speak
a sentence of it correctly. She can play on the
piano, so that a person of common discernment
can distinguish her Old Hundred from the Battle
of Prague, but has developed no very decided
taste for music. Still she is intelligent, active,
and promising. Suppose she were, some pleasant
morning, to propose the question directly to you,
and ask a serious reply, "What do you intend I
shall do when my education is finished ?" What
answer would you make, which should satisfy
both you and herself] The probability, perhaps,
is, that within ten or twelve years, she may mar-
ry ; for that is the fate of a majority of ladies. —
Still, I think, you would not like to answer her
reasonable question by such a suggestion, because
such n probability is, after all, a vague uncertain-
ty, and you would be quite unwilling a child of
yours should make marriage a matter of necessi
ty, or even of calculation. No, you could not say
to her tliat she has but one chance in life, and
that of such a nature, that she cannot seek to
avail herself of it.

Can you say to her deliberately, that you have
a home which shall always be hers, also, that you
have means to maintain her, and that slie need
take no thought for the future? This is, practi-
cally, what most fathers are saying to their daugh
ters, but frequently, with less regard to truth
than they profess. Your own life is uncertain.

Your business enterprises may fail. Is it safe to
risk the welfare of others entirely on your own
continued prosperity ? Besides, is there enough
in the subordinate duties which usually fall to the
share of a daughter in a family, to fill up the as-
pirings of human nature, to developo the faculties
of the soul? Look at the course of life of grovm
up daughters in the families about you. Thoy
are usually regarded by the mother as children
in all matters pertaining to the household. They
do not take a share even of the responsibility of
the family. If required to do a share of the
work, they do it as a disagreeable task, to which
a life of ease is far preferable. In the duties of
wife and mother, there is enough to occupy the
heart, and exercise the intellect of an educated
woman; but the mere drudgery of housework,
the cooking and mending and scrubbing, especial-
ly in a subordinate position, have in them nothing
peculiarly attractive or ennobling to anybody. —
LFsually, however, the daughter is not a working
bee in the hive. She is better educated than her
mother, perhaps, and not half so good a house-
keeper, and so she naturally takes to fashion and
light literature, receives calls and returns them,
dusts the parlor for her share of the housework,
works worsted cats and dogs for intellectual dis-
cipline, and wears a stylish bonnet to church by
way of morals and religion. Without a definite
object, how can she be expected to rise early in
the morning, or to take an active interest in the
affairs of life.

But the question recurs, what better can be
done? What shall be done that our daughters
may have courage to look the future calmly in the
face, and feel that their position is in some meas-
ure, dependent upon their own exertions ?

A definite hope for the future, can alone make
a rational being happy. Give every child, then,
male or female, an education for some business.
The discipline of acquiring it will be, in itself,
salutary, and the consciousness of possessing it
will at all times give dignity and independence to
the chawacter. Whatever your position in soci-
ety, educate your daughter for some business in
life, educate her according to your means and
condition, and according to her tastes and capa-
pacity. The "sphere of woman,'' which has been
always reduced far below the hcmisphirc wiiich
all accord to her as a right, includes, certainly,
the whole range of teaching — in letters, in science,
in music and drawing, and whatever else is
learned in our schools, "Woman's Mission" surely
is to teach, and the demand lor female instructors,
of a higli order, is by no means supplied. Acad-
emics and liigh seliools are now piyiug salaries of
five liundred and a thousaml dollars to college
graduates, as mere temporary teacliers, and would
be glad to exchange them lor well qualified fe-

448

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

Oct.

males, who would enter upon their duties with
some probability of permanency. Then there are
tne thousands of district schools, which are fast
changing from the hands of college boys, to the
"milder influences" of the gentler sex. If your
daughter has a decided taste for music, or any or-
namental acquirement, assist her to appreciate
the gift which Heaven has oflfered her. Make
her excel in something which the world deems ex-
cellent, and her superior attainment will always
command respect, and the means of honorable
subsistence.

But there are many who cannot afford the
means, thus to qualify their daughters for teach
ers. What shall they do ? I answer, believe that
labor is honorable, and teach them a trade, or
manual occupation of some kind. I have never
chanced to live in any place, where dressmakers
and milliners did not keep the ladies of the vil
lage in complete subjection, dealing out their fa
vers of dress-fitting and bonnet-trimming as if
they were pearls and diamonds. I venture to say,
sir, to you Avho are reading this paper, tliat you
can build a forty-foot barn in less time, than your
wife and daughters can procure their winter hats.
Teach every young lady to cut and make her own
dresses, and ir you go further, and educate her to
the trade, her support in life is secured. The
printing-offices, the counting-rooms of shops, the
manufacturing establishments of various kinds,
are furnishing respectable employment to females,
and gradually the "area of freedom'' for woman's
labor and talent, is enlarging everywhere in New
England. T!io means of education have not yet
been supplied to boys and girls alike. Even Bos-
ton, I believe, which affords to every boy, at the
public cost, a four years' course in a Latin or
High school, gives to girls as an equivalent, only
one additional year in the grammar schools.

New England has her colleges — her Harvards,
her Yales, iier Dartmouths, for boys, but nothing
of the kind for girls. But these wants will soon
be met. Horace Mann, whose opinion is entitled
in this matter to higher authority, perhaps, than
any other individual in this country, has accepted
the Presidency of a college in Ohio, where the
sexes enjoy o<[ual advantages of instruction.

The want of the means to give to girls, at the
public expen? %the same thorough and systematic
education as !)oys are receiving at our colleges, is
the great defect in our New England system of in-
struction. Notwithstanding this want of oppor-
tunity for e'Uication, a great share of our best
writing of a literary oharaetor, both in books and
magazines, is from the pens of ladie8,and ho who
doubts the capacity of the better-half of creation,
for any literary labor, deserves to have his ears
pulled by Fanny Fern, and to be classed among
slave-catchers in Mrs. tttowe's next edition of Un-

cle Tom's Cabin. Education for all, according to
the capacity of each, is the true law of love and of
progress.

Exeter, N. H., Sept., 1854.

THE LOCUST TREE BOREE.

The locust trees, in and around Cleveland, have
for the last few years suffered greatly from this
insect, many of them being killed, and all being
more or less disfigured ; young trees especially
are exposed t» their attacks. It is the Clytus
flexuosus of Fabricius. In its perfect or image
state, it is a beautiful beetle about three-quarters
of an inch in length ; the males rather smaller. —
The color is a velvety black with transverse yellow
bands, three on the head, four on the thorax, and
six on the wing covers, the third being bent in the
form of a W. The legs are reddish, and the an-
tennae dark brown. In the early part of Septem-
ber they come forth, and during that month are
to be found in great numbers on the flower of the
Uolden rod, on the Cuyahoga flats, under the Uni-
versity heights. 1 have seen them in hundreds feed-
ing on the pollen of this plant. They are also to
be seen coming up and down the trunks of the lo-
cust trees, singly, in pursuit of their mates or rivals,
or more commonly paired. The female lays little
clusters of seven or eight white eggs, in the cleft of
the bark. In a short time they are hatched, and the
little grub immediately begins to eat into the soft
bark and wood. Their furrows are winding, gen-
erally in an upward direction yet, sometimes, I
have seen holes bored entirely through the trunk
of small trees. In the winter they become torpid,
but the warmth of spring awakens them to re-
new the work of devastation, which they make
known by the saw dust dropped from their holes.

A little trouble on the part of the owners of
shade ti-ees, would to a great extent protect them
from the ravages of this insect ; during the time
of pairing, they are easily caught by hand and
destroyed, and can be done by children, thus hin-
dering the deposition of eggs. As a preventative
also, the trunk and larger branches of the trees,
in the early part of September, should be covered
with a thick coat of white-wash, well worked in-
to the cracks of the bark. This should l)e done
before the beetle begins to depositeits eggs, and if
repeated every season, it will take care and not^ en-
trust its property to a bed of lime, as it would'not
thrive on so caustic a diet.

The congeners of the Clytus are numerous, and
inhabit many of our forest trees, such as the Ma-
ple, Ash, Hickory, Thorn, &c. Some attack the
fallen, or cut timber. Their greatest enemy is
the Wood-pecker who destroys immense numbers.
— Ohio Farmer.

A Seed Farmer. — An honest son of Erin, who
had saved money enough by his industry to pur-
chase a small farm, undertook to manage it him-
self. He aocordiiigly bouglit his seeds at the seed
store, and planted them all done up in papers-
just as they came from the store. A bystander
who observed him, began to laugh at him, and
told him he was doing wrong. "Ah, let me alone
for that," said Pat, "I am making a seed garden ;
did ye never see seeds grow all papered and la-
belled jist as they sell them in the shopV

1854.

NEW. ENGLAND FARMER.

449

BROWN'S IMPHOVED PATENT GRIST
MILL.

The manufacturers confidently recommend this
article to the notice of practical men who are en-
gaged in, or about to establish the flouring or meal-
ing business, or who wish to erect a mill at a com-
paratively email expense, for occasional use.
Among the numerous improvements that have ap-
peared, there are, perhaps, none, cither for simpli-
city, efficiency, durability, or economy, that sur-
pass it, and as for as their experience has gone,
they are led to believe it is the best portable mill,
for flouring meal and grinding grain, corn, salt,
plaster and spias extant. It is composed of the
best French burr stones ; and it is substantially
built, easily kept in order, and can be attached to
the requi.'ijite power with great facility.

The proprietors supply this mill, of proper di-
mensions for water, steam, or horse power, to or-
der. As there are many in operation in the New
England, and other States, wliich can be referred
to, a farther description here is unnecessary.

One of the mills may be seen at the warehouse
of Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co., who
liave them for sale.

addressed the literary societies at Western Re-
serve College; Henry W'ard Beech cr, at VVood-
ville ; Wendell Phillips, at Union ; J. P. Thomp-
son, at Andover ; and V7m. H. Seward, at Yale,
where Geo. W. Perkins also preached the concio
ad chrum. The alumni at Harvard, chose Charlee
Sumner for their Vice President ; Wabash College
conferred the honorary D. D., on Joshua Leavitt ;
and Yale College the LL. D. on W. H. Seward.
— A^. Y. Eve. Post.

Signs among the Colleges. — Professor Good-
rich made a speech at Milwaukee during the grand
excursion, in which lie stated that Yale College
• was opposed to slavery, and the faculty all of one
mind on the subject, and wished the fact to be
known North and South. It is said that an un-
usual number of Southern students have offered
themselves this year.

Among the commencement exercises tlie pres-
ent year at diil'neut colleges, Frederick Douglass

SOWING GRASS SEED IN THE FALL.

Eds. Rural : — As I believe much information
m;iy be gained by farmers, in frequently inter-
changing thoughts and experience in relation to
the various subjects, which pertain to their voca-
tion, I propose saying a few words in relation to
the inquiries of your correspondent J. B. P. in
the last No. of the Rural, regarding the seeding
down of laud. Your correspondent states that
he cannot get "clover or herds grass to 'catch,'
when sown with oats, according to the time-hon-
ored custom," which, I suppose, is sowing it with
tlic grain in the spring. Farmers are generally
quit" indisposed to adopt any new manner of per-
forming the routine of their labors, — but the re-
peated failures in my own case, and tliat of my
neighbors, to get land to catch well, wlien seeded
in the spring, induced me to question the correct-
ness of the idea of spring being the best to sow
grass seed. After losing a good many l)usliels of
seed during the past five or six years, by sowing
with oats in the spring, I concluded, last fall,
that I would try the experiment of seeding six
acres in tlie fall ; and though the trial of any new
mode of farming for one year only, is not sufficient
to establish its correctness or incorrectness, yet
the success which attended the experiment was
most satisfactory, for I cut this year my heaviest
grass from the tield thus seeded. I have not be-

450

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

fore daring several years past, obtained so good
grass the first year after seeding ; and T attribute
the cause entitely to the fact of seeding in the fall.

It is perfectly reasonable to suppose, that seed
sown in the fall would be more likely to do well,
than if sown in the spring, because it is well known
that grass-seed self-sown or deposited by grass left
standing, almost always catches and grows better,
than that sown in the spring. The main reason
why it does not succeed when sown with oats in
the spring is because it cannot withstand the dry
weather which we usually have during the sum-
mer. Where it can be sown very early, as for in-
stance, with winter wheat, its chances for success
are greater; but, even then, I should prefer to
seed in the fall.

When sown in the fall, it should be sown in
September, or before the fall rains commence, so
that it may get sufficiently started to withstand
the winter.

That which I sowed in the fall was sown on
stubble, without any dragging ; nor do I think it
needs any, for it came up very thick and nice.
N. M. Carpenter.
Ellington, N. Y., August, 1854:.

Rural New-Yorker.

HENRY WARD BEECHER ON TREES.

Every one who has read the life of Sir Walter
Scott, knows his love of trees. lie used to say
that of all his compositions, he was most proud of
his compositions to make trees grow. There is yet
at East-Hampton, flourishing in a liearty age, an
orchard set out by the hands of my fother. And
we have heard him say that after an absence from
home, the first impulse, after greeting his own
faxnily, was to go out and examine each tree in
his orchard, from root to top. No man ever plant
ed a tree or loved one, but knows how to sympa-
thize with this feeling. Oliver Wendell Holmes
spends his summer months upon a beautiful farm
near Pitt^eld, on which are half a hundred of the
original forest trees, some of them doubtless five
hundred years old ; trees that heard the revolu-
tionary cannon (or heard of them,) and before
that the crack of the rifle in the early Colonial
Indian wars, when ^Miahcomo, with his fugitive
Pequots, took refuge in the Berkshire hills. It is
said that Dr. Holmes has measured Avith tape-line
every tree on his place, and knows each one of
them with intimate personal acquaintance. * *

To the great tree-loving fraternity we belong.
And our first excursion in Lenox was to salute our
notable trees. AVe had a nervous anxiety to see
that the axe had not hewn, nor the lightning
struck them ; that no worm had gnawed at their
root, or cattle at their trunk; that their branches
were not broken, nor tlieir leaves failing from
drought. We found them all standing in their
uprightness. Tiiey lifted up their heads towards
Heaven, and sent down to us from all their boughs
a leafy message of recognition and affection.
Blessed be the dew that cools their evening leaves,
and the raine that quench their daily thirst ! May
the storm be as merciful to them, wdien in win-
ter it roars through their branches, as is a
harper of his harp. Let the snow lie lightly on
their boughs, and long hence be the summer that
shall find no leaves to clothe these nol^les of the
pasture I First in our regard, as it is first in the

whole nobility of trees, stands the white elm ; no
less esteemed because it is an American tree,
known abroad only by importation, and never seen
in all its magnificence, except in our own yalleys.
The old oaks of England are very excellent in their
way, gnarled and rugged. The elm has strength
as significant as they, and a grace, a royalty, which
leaves the oak like a boor in comparison. Had the
elm been an English tree, and had Chaucer sec n and
loved and sung it, and even Shakspeare, and every
English poet hung some garlands upon it, it would
have lifted up its head now, not only the noblest
of all growing things, but enshrined in a thou-
sand rich associations of history and literature.
Who ever sees a hawthorn or a sweet-briar (the
eglantine) that his thoughts do not, like a bolt of
light, burst through ranks of poets, and ranges of
sparkling thoughts which have been born since
England had a written language, and of which
the rose, the willow, the eglantine, the hawthorn,
and other scores of vines or trees have been the
cause, as they are now and for ever the sugges-
tions and remembrancers ? Who ever looks upon
an oak, and does not think of navies ; of storms ;
of battles on the ocean ; of the noble lyrics of the
sea ; of English glades ; of the fugitive Charles,
the tree-mounted monarch ; of the Heme oak ;
of parks and forests ; of Robin Hood and his mer-
ry men. Friar Tuck not excepted ; of old baronial
halls with mellow light streaming through dia-
mond-shaped panes upon oaken floors, and of elab-
orate carved wainscotings? And who that has
ever travelled in English second-class cushionless
cars has not other and less genial remembrances
of the enduring solidity of the impervious, unelas-
tic oak ? One such oak I have,and only one, yet dis-
covered. On my west line is a fringe of forest,
through which rushes in spring, trickles in early
summer, and dies out entirely in August, the is-
sues of a noble spring from near the hill-side.
On the eastern edge of this belt of trees stands
the monarchal oak, wide branching on the east
toward the open pasture and the free light, but
on its western side lean and branchless from the
pressure of the neighboring trees ; for trees, like
men, cannot grow to the real nature that is in
them when crowded by too much society. Both
need to be touched on every side by sun and air,
and by nothing else, if they are to be rounded
out into full symmetry. Growing right up to its
side, and through its branches is a long wifely elm
— beauty and grace embosomed by strength. Their
leaves come and go together, and all the summer
long they mingle their rustling harmonies. Their
roots pasture in the same soil, nor could either of
them be hewn down without tearing away the
branches and marring tlie beauty of the other.
And a tree, when thorouglily disbranched, may,
by time and care, regain its beauty. * * *

Upon the croM'n of the hill, just where an artist
would have planted them, had he wished to have
them exactly in the right place, grew some two
hundred stalwart and ancient maples, beeches,
ashes, and oaks, a narrow belt-like forest, form-
ing a screen from the northern and western winds
in winter and a harp of endless music for the sum-
mer. The wretched owner of this farm, tempted
by the devil, cut down the whole blessed band and
brotherhood of trees, that he might fill his pocket
with two pitiful dollars a cord for the wood!
Well, his pocket was the best part of him. The

1854.

N^W ENGLAND FARMER.

451

iron furnaces have devoured my grove, and their
huge stumps that stood like gravestones, have
been cleared away that a grove might he planted
in the same spot for the next hundred years to
nourish into the stature and glory of that which
is gone. And in other places I find the memorial
of many noble trees slain ; here a hemlock that
carried up its eternal green a hundred foet into
the winter air ; there a huge double-trunked
chestnut, dear old grandfather of hundreds of
children that have for generations clubl)ed its
boughs or shook its nut-laden top, and laughed
and shouted as bushels of chestnuts rattled down.
Now the tree exists only as loop-holed posts and
weather-browned rails. I hope the fellow got a
sliver in his finger every time he touched the hem-
lock plank or let down the bars made of those
chestnut rails.

What, then, it will be said, must no one touch
a tree? must there be no fuel, no timber ? Go to
the forest for both. There are no individual trees
there, only a forest. — N. Y. Independent.

FARM OF HARVEY DODGE, ESQ.

OF SUTTON, MASS.

On the l-4th July, we had the pleasure of
passing over Mr. Dodge's farm, looking at his
crops, and of observing his modes of operation in
its several departments. The farm is about seven
miles from Worcester, and on one of that beauti-
ful succession of hills which prevail in that part
of the State. The soil is of granite formation,
springy, bravely resisting' the present severe
drouth, and when once reclaimed and laid to grass,
the most permanent and fertile land we have.

The young orcharding on the farm is thrifty,
just in bearing, and extremely promising. Many
of the trees, but seven year's set, being full of
large and fair fruit. I he barley had been har-
vested, but its representative stubble showed a
strong growth, which I was informed headed and
filled up well. About two acres of onions promised
a return of four to five hundred dollars ! Cab-
bages were rampant, and potato tops appeared
well, bat we did not go below to see how they
were there. Several cows graced the yard, whose
fine appearance would be noticeable by the most
indificrent. On(f among them, a Devon, it would
be difficult to equal. A young Deven bull had
also fine proportions, and promises to become a
valuable animal. A noble stack of English hay
stood near the barn, containing some fifteen tons,
and so compactly laid as to make it difficult to
withdraw a handful. Ranged against the stone
walls, and convenient to the buildings, were about
400 barrels of vinegar, made from the juice of the
apple. This we looked at and tasted, and found
it as pure as the air itself upon the Sutton IIills
There was a pervading air of neatness and order, in
and out of doors, and thrift undoubtedly follows
the orderings of the proprietor.

But the chief point which attracted our attcn
tion was his operations in underdruining. On a

field fronting the house, and containing 25 acres,
he had laid GOO rods of drainage ! A portion of
this field was still in the condition in which he
originally found the whole. It is situated on a
high hill, gently sloping to the north-west, and
was covered with loose and fast stones, and all the
coarse and hardy plants with which such land is
usually made "unpi'ofitably gay" — such as vari-
ous wild grasses, johnswort, hard-hack, life-ever-
lasting, golden-rods and cat- tails. The surface
was uneven and springy, and cold, the water ooz-
ing out in every direction and collecting in little
pools in all thelow phxces. Some attempt at re-
claiming had boon made on a lower portion of it,
and timothy and red-top had been introduced.
But these had vainly struggled against the influ-
ences of the cold spring water ever flowing down
upon it from above, and finally gave up the con-
flict in despair — the natural grasses again assum-
ing their place.

After removing the cross walls — for the field was
originally divided by several cross walls — and us-
fng the stones, together with as many from the
surface as were wanted for outside fencing, the re-
maining large stones were dug under and dropt
below the I'cach of the plow. Trenches were
then cut sufficiently wide and deep to receive the
smaller stones. Some of these trenches find an
outlet on a lower portion of the field, and irrigate
several acres of it, while the water from the others
is carried across the highway and made to irri-
gate a pasture, and thus more than trebling the
amount of feed obtained upon it before this course
was adopted.

In reclaiming a portion of this field, an experi-
ment was made in trenching. The depth to which
the earth was moved, we do not recollect, but the
effect is now — although several years have elapsed
— as marked as it was the first year ; the grass
being larger, and having a more lively and dark-
er green, than on any other spot of similar ground.

For a successful, extensive, and complete iUuSr
tration of the advantages resulting from thorough
draining, we would refer the reader to fchis field'.

Instuuction in Agriculture. — In the kingdom
of Prussia there are five Agricultural CullegCB,
and a sixth is about to be opened ; in. these arc
taught, l>y botii theory and practice, the highest
branches of science connected with the culture and
improvement of the soil ; of Agricultural schools
of a more elementary order there are ten ; there
are also seven schools devoted to instruction in
the management of meadow lands; one for instruc-
tion in the management of sheep ; and there are
also forty-five model farms, intended to serve in
introducing better modes of agriculture ; in all,
seventy-one public estalilishments for agricultural
education, not to mention others of a kindred na-
ture, or those private schools where the art and
science of good farming are taught.

Prussia is a monarchy, with fifteen millions of

452

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

people. New York is a republic with three mil
lions, and a territory which though not quite half
as larire, is richer and better situated, with means
of transportation incomparably superior. Prussia
has seventy-one public establishments to instruct
the people in farming, the science of sciences and
the art of arts. New York has not one ; and the
proposition to esta1)lish a single Agricultural Col-
lege has again and again been voted down in her
Tjcgislature. Ought so shameful a contrast to ex-
ist between that monarchy and this republic? —
N. Y. Tribune.

VERSES FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Tell John to set the kettle on,

I want to take a drive —
I only want to go to Rome,

And shall be back at five ;
Teil cook to dress those humming birds

I shot in Mexico ;
They've now been killed at least two days,

They'll soon be un peu haut.

And Tom, take you the gold-leaf wings.

And start for Spain at three —
I want some Seville oranges,

'Twixt dinner-time and tea ;
Fly round by France and bring a new

Perpetual motion gun,
To-morrow with some friends I go

A hunting in the sun.

The trip I took the other day,

To breakfast in the moon,
Thunks to my Lord Bellair, he

Spoiled my new balloon ;
For, steering through the milky way,

He ran against a star.
And turning round again too soon,

Come jolt against my car.

But Tom, you get the car repaired.

And then let Dan and Dick
Inflate with ten square miles of gas,

I mean to travel quick ;
My steam is surely up by now, —

Put the high pressure on.
Give me the breath-bag for the way —

All right — hey — whiz — I'm gone.

FALL AND SPRING TRANSPLANTING.

A correspondent olijects to the practice of those
"who still continue in the old delusion that fall is
the best time for transplanting trees" — stating
that '-some slirubs, and almost all plants, removed
in the fall, when the sap, the great supporter of
their life, has gone down into their roots, vegeta-
tion ceases in them, and tiiey, consigned to a new
cold soil, perhaps not a single fibre of the roots
taking hold until spring, if, indeed, detached al-
most, if not entirely, from all nourishment, any
life remains, any destroyed by fall transportation.
Fruit trees, being more hardy, bear up, but they
are forever stricken,'" &c. in the spring, " if the
ilirt is wet, and jiacked solid round the roots, be
fore they are dug, touching or injuring as few of
the fibres and roots as possible, and carefully set
ting in their new bed, vegetation goes straight
on," &c.

We give this quotation for the sake of pointing
out a very common error, namely, that the sap
goes down into the roots to winter. Instead of
this, the sap pervades usually all parts of a tree
alike, and while covered with leaves, these keep up

a constant drain or escape. When the leaves fall,
although vegetation has ceased, the roots still ab-
sorb a small quantity, and as there is no escape
through the leaves, the vessels of the tree gradu-
ally become filled or distended, so that on the ap-
proach of warm weather, stimulating activity, the
least wound is followed by a flow of the sap. As
soon as the new leaves expand, as a general rule,
this flow from incisions ceases, in consequence of
the drain afforded in another direction.

Now it usually happens that removing the tree
in the spring, cuts off in a measure the supply
from the roots at the very moment it is most want-
ed,— an evil quite as great as that resulting from
any diminished supply in consequence of fall plant-
ing. Our correspondent speaks of the evil'of ^*Sk
new cold soil ;" — are we to understand from this
that the plant has warmed the bed in which it
stood, and that it is chilled, like a human being,
by removal to a fresh bed 1 Is not the "new soil"
as relatively cold in spring as in autumn ] He
speaks of life being "destroyed by transportation"
— this must refer to long distances ; yet trees may
be sent thousands of miles \^ well packed, with near-
ly or quite the safety attending their removal to
the next farm. Ample experience has proved this
to be true. Why are we not all allowed to take
the same pains in saving the roots and carrying
the earth upon them, for autumn as well as for
spring transplanting?

But throwing theory aside, — we have in the
course of our practice set out many ten thousands
of trees of various sizes, both in autumn and in
spring, and we are satisfied that more, by at least
twenty-fold, depends on a good soil, careful work,
and especially on the subsequent culture, than on
the season of the year ; nevertheless, if it were
not for the liability to be thrown out or raised by
frost, and the danger to half tender sorts from the
cold of winter, we think the advantages would de-
cidedly preponderate in favor of autumn, more es-
pecially because it is not accompanied with the
check we have already spoken of, at the viiry mo-
ment the trees should commence to grow vigorous-
ly. We have never found hardy trees to succeed
better, if as well, o^Aer things being the sa/nc,a,s
when carefully dug up in autumn and well laid in
till spring, Avhen they were set out, without the
above mentioned check.

Shrubs and small plants, if inclining to be ten-
der, are always made more tender the first winter
by transplanting ; hence they should be cither
protected, or the work is done in spring. Hardy,
early starting perennials, asp^'onias, pie- plant, &c.,
should always be set out in the fall ; while tulipB
and many other bulbs require setting a month or
two earlier. The practice must be moditicd by
circumstances, climate, and the habits of the va-
rious plants. — Cotintry Gentleman.

Runaway Pond. — Fifty ladies and gentlemen,
belonging to Barton, Vt., celebrated the Fourth
of July by a picnic in tlie basin of the celebrated
"Runaway Pond," near that village, the Iras-
burg Gazette gives the following description of
the spot, as measured by some of the enginecre
of the Passumpsic Railroad, who Avere of the pay-

"The water before its escape covered over
100 acres of land being one mile long and 70
rods wide for one-half its length. The greatest

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

453

depth of water which escaped was 85 feet. The
highway which now passes through the pond is
for nearly half a mile from 70 to 80 feet below
the old water level. The lowest surface of the
bed of the pond is a bog or meadow from 40 to
50 rods wide, and nearly half a mile long, by the
side of which the highway is laid. For this
whole surface the average depth of water may be
called 80 feet. The sod of most of this is very
tremulous, and a pole, or even an unlucky foot,
once through the sod, goes down without further
obstruction to almost any deptli. From an ap-
proximate estimate, this pond contained 1,088,-
000,000 gallons, above the level of tlie bog, and
it would take the full discharge of the canal of
the Boston Water Works six months to fill it.
Such was the size of the pond which in 1810
burst its barriers, and swept almost in a body
down the valle}-."

0SWEG0---IT3 MILLS AND BUSINESS.

In the year 182G the fiiit mill for the manufac-
ture of flour was erected in Oswego, and at the
present day there is perhaps no point in the United
States, or in the world, where the manufacture of
flour is conducted upon so large a scale as in the
city of Oswego, together with the mills at the
village of Fulton, twelve miles up the river. The
first flouring mill in Oswego was built by Messrs.
Alvin Bronson and T. 8. Morgan, on the east side
of the river. Mr. Henry Fitzhugh afterwards also
built a mill adjoining, both of which were subse-
quently destroyed by fire.

From that period the flouring business at Oswe-
go has been gradually increasing in magnitude —
slowly at first, but quite rapidly during tiie last
ten years. The destructive fire which occurred
here on the 5th of July, 1853, destroyed most of
the mills and elevators on the east side of the
river. Through indomitable energy, however, they
have all been rebuilt, upon a larger and more ex-
tensive scale, with all the modern improvements.
There are in Oswego, at the present time, sixteen
mills, with eighty-four run of stone, capable of
manufacturing about nine thousand barrels of flour
a day. Add to this the flouring mills twelve miles
up the river, and we have an aggregate of one
hundred and nine run of stone, capable of making
about twelve thousand barrels of flour, and con-
suming over fifty thousand bushels of wheat per

The capital invested in so many mills, the num-
ber of men employed in running theui, and the
capital employed in the purohasc of grain to sup-
ply them, must necessarily amount to a very high
figure. At the lowest calculation, the capital in-
vested in mills and elevators will reach nearly
$1,000,000; the number of men directly employed
in running them, and in coopering, will exceed
1,400 ; and the number of persons deriving sup-
port from the labor therein, is not less than 3000.

The hydraulic power of Oswego is immense,
and is still more than two-thirds occupied ; and
at Oswego Fall there is almost an incalculable
amount of water-power still unoccupied. The
water in the Oswego river is sufficient to drive
the mills throughout the yciir.

The amount of wheat received at Oswego from
Upper Lakes and Canada, and tlie amount of
flour shipped by canal, is larger than at any other
lake port in the United States. In the year 1853

there were 7,43G, 391 bushels of wheat received,
by lake, at Oswego, of which 1.781,152 bushels
were from foreign ports. During the same season
there were 853,950 barrels of flour shipped by
canal, being 195,596 barrels more than the total
shipments from Buffalo. The quantity of flour
manufactured at Oswego in 185.3 was smaller than
the two previous years, in consequence of the des-
truction of four or five of the largest mills by fire.
We give below a table showing the names of
mills at Oswego, their proprietors, run of stone,
and number of barrels of flour they are capable of
making per day : —

Run of

NAMES OF MILLS. Pr.OPRIETOBS' MAMES. StOne.

Empire Doolittle, Irwiu & Wright 5

Cre'ceut ."H. C. Wright 4

Ontario G. L. A. B. Gr.iiit 6

Atlas (Jeo. Seeley 5

Palraetto Mollison & Hastings.... 5

Huron C. F. ^"Ihorn 4

Premium Samuel Beardsley 5

Magnolia Chas. Smyth 3

Exchange J.&I. Lewis 5

Pearl Wni. Lewis 6

Seneca Slerrick & Co 13

Lake Ontario Fitzhugh & Littlejohn.. . 6

Washington Penfield, Lyon & Co 5

Schenandoah J. F. Johnson 4

Eagle T. Wj'man 5

Reciprocity G. & C. Ames 4

Bbls. Flour
Per Day.
500
400
600
500
500
400
500
300
500
500

i,;>oo

600
500
400
500
400

Total.

8,400

The mills at Fulton, which should be added,
are as follows : —

Run of Bbls.FInur

NAMES OF MILL.S. TROrRIETOns' NAMES. Stono IV'r Day.

Pratt's Custom Timothy Pratt 3 . .

Cayuga W. S. Nelson 5 . .

Genesee Case & Cheseboro 5 . .

Telegraph Clark & Pond 6 . .

Nelson's Custom. ..W. S. Nelson 3 . .

Voorhees' Custom. .J. L. Voorhees 3 . .

25 . .

The facilities for handling grain in Oswego are
also extensive there being ten elevators in all —
half the number of which, liowevcr, are attached
to the mills. The elevating capacity is about
thirty-six thousand bushels per hour, and the stor-
age room equal to about 2,200,000 l)ushels. There
are also two or three floating elevators in the har-
bor, capa')le of elevating from 1000 to 1500 bush-
els per hour. — U. S. Eeonomist.

CARRYING FRUIT TO MARKET.

But few days pass at this season of the year,
during which may not be witnessed at any of our
market-towns, the effect of carelessness in carrying
fruit to market. It is well known to all salesuien
tliat, be their wares what thi -y niay, the better
tlieir appearance, th<; lu'tter will they sell. This
fact seems to })e entirely overlooked by farmers
when carrying tiieir produce, and more especially
fruit, to market.

For instance, a farmer having early apples for
sale, will shake them from tlie tree, pick them
up, bruised and all, tlirow tliein into the box of a
lumber-wagon, and drive tlicm eight or ten miles
at a smart jiace, and over a rougli road. Upon ar-
riving at his destination he finds them bruised,
discolored, anil witliall, lookino; far more fit for
consumption by swine tiian for human use. The
next elibrt is to sdl them, and in tli is branch of
the operation tlie results of his lieedle.'^sufss are
soon maile manifest. It is only after a great waste
of time and words that lu; succee.lsin disposing of
them, and tiicn but for a mere trifle. Ic is no

454

NEW ENGLAND FARSIER.

Oct.

marvel that lie goes home in a state of mind no
^Yi\ys cnviiible, linding fault -with everybody, and
everything, apjile-huyers and apples in particular,
and ending wit.'i a resolution to let the trees take
care of themselves in future.

Had this man (wlio by the way is but a fair
specimen of the majority,) picked his apples care-
fully, put them in baskets or barrels, and driven
slowly to market, a quick sale and high price would
have rewarded him in full for his care and atten-
tion. Nor would these be the only benefits arising
from such a course, tlie purchaser would be well
pleased with his bargain, and a great saving would
be made in the time and temper of the farmer.
Finally, and best of all, he would return to his
home with a firm determination to take the best
of care of his trees. J. g. a.

— Dollar Newspaper.

MANURING FRUIT TREES.

The Dutcli, who are admirable gardners, had in
the Great Exliibition an instrument called "Earth
Borer," for manuring fruit trees without digging
the ground. A circle of holes is bored around
the tree at two feet distance from the tree, and a
foot from each other. Taking the tree at a foot
diameter at the surface of the soil, the circle will
be five feet in diameter and fifteen feet in circum-
ference ; and if the holes are three inches diame-
ter and a foot apart — fifteen inches, there will be
about twelve holes ; more or less, according to the
diameter of the tree. They are eighteen inches
deep (where there is enough depth of soil) and
slanting towards the center ; are filled with liquid
manure, diluted more or less in dry weather, and
stronger as the weather is wetter. For the time
of application. Dr. Lindley tells us (Gardener's
Chronicle, Feb. 21, 1852 ;) " For fruit, the prop-
er time for using liquid manure is when the fruit
is beginning to swell, and has acquired, by means
of its ovm surface, a power of suction capable of
opposing that of the leaves. At that time, liquid
manure may l)o applied freely, and continued from
time to time as long as the fruit is growing. But
at the first sign of ripening, or even earlier, it
should h?: wliolly withheld. If liquid manure is
applied to a plant when the Qowers are growing,
the vigor which it communicates to them must
also be communicated to the leaves; but when
leaves are growing unusually fast, there is some-
times a danger that they may rob the branches of
the sap required for the nutrition of the fi-uit ;
and, if tliat happens, the latter falls off. And
we all know, that when ripening has once begun,
even water sjwils tlie quality of the fruit, although
it augments the size, as is sufficiently shown by
tlie 8trd\vl)erries prepared for the London market
by irrigation ; great additional size is ol)tained,
but it is at the (>xpense of flavor, and any injury
wliich mare water may produce, will certainly
not be diminished by water holding ammoniacal
and saline sub^-rtances in solution." I am not
av/are tliat this jiinM'mation has made its way into
our orchards, finding no allusion to it in any of
our books on orchard management, nor at our ag-
ricultural meetings. The time is just coming for
putting it to the test, and it remains with the
fruit growers to see what profit they can make of
it. Tliey need, in these times, all they can get,
and this method has the recommendation of re-
quiring littJt" outlay U anj.— Mark Lane Ea-prcss.

PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

[We copy the following from an interesting ar-
ticle in the Parlsmouth Journal, from the pen of
E. Meriam, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., — a gen-
tleman whose opinions on this subject are worthy
of respect :J

Lightning-conductors, reared for the purpose of
protection, afford absolute protection to life against
lightning. In all of my long-continued and exten-
sive researches into the phenomena of lightning,
1 have never found a case of loss of life by light-
ning either in a building or vessel furnished with
a conductor reared for the purpose of protectio7i.

As to the fears expressed by many that light-
ning rods are dangerous, because they say they
attract lightning, a brief statement will suffice to
show that such fears are wholly and entirely
groundless. Steamboats, which contain iron in
great quantities, are rarely struck by lightning,
and no case of loss of life by lightning has ever
been known on board of a steamboat. Iron ships,
iron buildings, and wareliouses filled with iron,
are never struck by lightning, nor have I ever met
with a case of loss of life by lightning in a rail-
road-car. These facts arc conclusive as to metala
being dangerous from their attraction for light-
ning.

Trees are no protection, and I advise-all persons
during thunder-storms to get away as far as possi-
ble from trees, whether in front of a building or
elsewhere.

Lightning-conductors are of easy construction
and need cost but very little, and any person of
ordinary capacity can erect them. Iron-wii'C of
No. 1 or No. 2 size, five-sixteenths or one-fourth
of an inch in diameter, is abundantly large for a
lightning-conductor ; it is the size used on board
of ships-of-the-line, frigates, and sloops-of-war,
and has never failed. Wire of this size costs less
than one cent per foot ; it can be oljtained in
pieces of one hundred or more feet in length ; no
other pointing is required but what can be made
by a file. The rod should extend one or two feet
above the chimney or cupola, and down to and
into the ground to the depth of permanent mois-
ture, and should not come in contact with any
other metals. Every chimney to a house should
have a rod. A barn fifty feet long should have
conductors — one at each end and one in the mid-
dle— and may diverge and reach the earth at a
distance of twenty feet from the foundation of
the building.

The conductors should in no case ascend from
one end to the other, but preserve a continuous
descent, and in no case make a sharp angle, but
where a turn is necessary, it should be a gentle,
gradual curve. Wliere glass insulators are used,
the bore should be at least one inch in diameter
for a ([uarter-inch rod, and the iron holder should
be painted with two goud coats of paint, but the
rod should in no case have any paint upon it.
The gilded point may flatter human pride, but the
liglitning needs no such trifling tinselling.

I shall feel a pleasure to give any person precise
information as to putting up rods on any kind of
buildings, free of any expense.

Persons struck down by lightning, should be
freely drenched with cold water ; and if anima-
tion is not restored, continue the drenching for

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

455

hours, and if it fail, add salt to the water and
continue the drenching.

^lore persons have been struck down by light-
ning during the jjresent year, than during the
same length of time for many years. Protection
is attainal)le l)y almost everybodj, and it is sur-
prising that individuals will reject "the way"
which the good book says the Creator made for
the lighthinff of the thunder.

For the yew England Farmer.

STATE ALMSHOUSE AT TEWKSBURY,
MASSACHUSETTS.

Messrs. Editors: — Various remarks have been
made by different indinduals in refereuce to the
State Almsliouse at Tewksbury, some of them
having a tendency to make a wrong impression
on the public mind, and Iiaving some personal
knowledge of the place, T thought! would make a
statement in regard to the institution.

On the 2d day of May last, and 17th day of
August, inst., I made two visits to the establish-
ment, went through all the rooms, looked at the
diseased inmates, which were numerous, viewed
all th^ conveniences and apparatus for cooking,
the privilege of getting water, the furniture, and
likewise all the bedrooms and beds, school-rooms
and scholars, and everything else of much impor-
tance. We have but very little reason to expect
in such a congregation of heterogeneous accumu-
lations of ignorance, vice, disease and misery, col-
lected from every point of the compass, that per-
fect order can be established in a few days, or
perfect neatness uniformly prevail, where con-
stant accessions of filth, rags and vermin are con-
comitant with many of the new comers. Water
is one important item of such an establishment :
the superintendent informed mo that they had a
good supply of water at present, but were im-
proving the wells to have it more plentiful and
of better quality. He is subduing and preparing
the soil about the buildings for future crops,
which appears to be of astrong, I'ctentive nature,
and will be found good for the production of fruit
trees, grass, and many kinds of vegetables. The
soil at the foot of the eminence, on which the
buildings are located, is a sandy loam, is clear of
stones, and easily wrought and will be found by
deep plowing and good cultivation to be excellent
for grain and many kinds of roots.

Tlie floors of the house were white and unstained
by filth or paint, and imitated the parlor floors
wliich our grandmothers used to pride themselves
in exhibiting to company. I saw and examined!
the bread which was made of wheat, well-baked,
light and good, better than many of ua haveatj
home. I saw a very largo numl)er of I>oys well-
clad, cleanly and obedient, march up to the din-
ner table in single file, under better discipline
than our ancient military officers kept their sol-
diers. I saw tlie scliool vviiich consisted of some
hundred or two of children, very still and obedi-
ent to tlieir teacher, and apparently under good
discipline, and the governess doing her duty well.
I saw the Kl(;ei)ing apartments, which were clean
and well ventilated ; the beds and coverings were
clean and in good order. And, finally, considering
the newness of the establishment and tlie recent
time of occupancy, and tlie numberless difficulties
the superintendent and other functionaries are

doomed to encounter, when fully taken into con-
sideration, by the rational mind, what reason has
a reasonable man to complain. Let those who
use slang and misrepresentation beware that they
slander not]; what beautiful things truth, moral
principle, and a conscience void of oSence are ;
the slanderer generates fuel to consume his own
vitals. Let truth and reason prevail over every
evil passion, and by the exercise of thera prosper
the better. The first time I viewed the premises,
and went through the apartments and saw the
conveniences, my impression was tliat if those wlio
were taxed to build anl support the establish-
ment were as suscepti!)Ie to envy, as some of our
fallen race are, fhey must feel a (k^gree of it on
seeing facilties and conveniences so much superior
to their own for rendering the burden of lal)or
light. What have we reason to expect in an
establishment for such a purpose, where the in-
mates, many of them, are the parentage and prog-
eny of all the diseases and vices incident to the old
world, with the addition of the variety which ex-
ist in the new, but the prevalence of the pesti-
lence which walketh in darkness and devoureth
at noonday.

The offspring of many of the inmates are liter-
ally conceived in loathsomeness and disease, and
l)orn dying in every variety of malady, wliieh is
the curse threatened in the commandment of "vis-
iting the iniquities of the parents upon the chil-
dren to the third and fourth generation," and a
severe chastisement for the violation of the laws of
God. Who can wonder that cholera and death
in every hideous form should be doing its work
among such an unfortunate class of polluted vic-
tims. The inmates are lirouglit there from every
part of the State, and many of them covered with
dirt, rags and vermin, to be cleansed, and otiiers
with their blood tainted with the most health-
destroying diseases. Little chance do the offspring
of tlie poor, inconsiderate. vitiated parentsstand to
arrive at manhood. On the ITtli of August inst.,
there were six hundred inmates at tlie institution,
and I was informed by the physician that l>ut
three had died in August up to that time. It is
evident to me that the diseases which the chil-
dren inherit from their parents are sweeping tliem
off in infancy, independent of cholera or tlie epi-
demics inaident to ouv eliinate. The superintend-
ent and other officers of the establishment shew a
good degree of Interest in their labors, and the
frequent arrival of new inmates seems to promise
them a steady run of business. I feel gratefull'or
thegentlemanly kindnessof the superintendent and
other officers of the institution for conducting me
over so much space to give me an opportunity to
gain valual)le information, Silas Bhow.x.

Wilmington, Aug. 21, 1854.

\7iiEAT Flour, Bolted and Unbolted. — It is
said that there are of nutriment peculiarly fa-
vorable for the growth of the muscular system,
in every 1000 His. of wheat, .about 2Slbs. In ev-
ery 1000 lbs, of flour only about 20 lbs., and in ev-
ery 1000 lbs. of bran, about 00 lbs. To please
the eye and the palate wo sift out tfic most nu-
tritive part of the grain, and seek a substitute
for it in the consumptioii of animal fooii, &e. —
There is yet another loss or disadvantage from
this rather foolish lastidiou.sness. The liolted
flour will not go nearly so far as the unbolted

456

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

If, in a given time, eight persons will consume
40 lbs. of fine lloiir or the usual product of one
bushel of wheat, then it M'ould take a considera
bly longer time for them to consume that flour
with the addition of several pounds of coarser ma-
terial. This saving from the useof unbolted flour
would be greater than just in proportion to the
increase in weight of the unbolted above the
bolted article, for the former contains the most
nutriment. It would be certainly within the
limits of truth to calculate that four bushels of
wheat would go fartlier in the unbolted state, than
five bushels bolted. This is no contemptible con
sideration, at present prices of wheat and flour.—
To this may be added the fixct that unbolted
flour is most conducive to health. — Country Gen-
tleman.

For the New England Farmer.

HONOR TO THE FAEMER'S WIFE.

BY A. G. COMINGS.

We have had some interesting articles from the
pen of the editor, upon Farmer Thrifty and Far-
mer Thrift/ess. These have had a very favorable
reception in all quarters, and "have gone the
rounds" among the scissored fraternity, very much
to their honor.

It is never desirable to cripple a fast-sailing ship,
nor do anything of the kind ; but I cannot help
I'lierishing an inclination to try, at least, to take
.lome of the wind out of those sails, and turn it in
.1 different direction. Having been favored with
i view of the inside of "River Cottage," some
time since, I am entirely removed from any feel-
ing of danger, if I shall venture to suggest to my
esteemed friend, the editor, that Farmer Thrifty's
wife was justly entitled to a very large share of
the honor which has been given to him.

A thrifty old-bachelor farmer is a most unnat-
ural, unusual and impossible idea. Mercantile
money-worshipers, commercial adventurers, and
political fire-eat. ;rs, can be made out of those un-
social things called old bachelors. But that first
of all employments, and greatest of all, agricul-
ture, requires a being of sense enough to know
that he is a man, and to know that no man honors
his manhood avIio is willing to live alone in this
wrold, that is, without a wife. The natural de-
sign and iirst proper use of a fiirm, is as a hoi7ie.
Wiiat a home tiiat would be, where woman should
have no place I Call for Robinson Crusoe, and let
him sing of its "charms!"

In an old Imchelor's garden, flowers could not
bloom, for any good cause. Fruits could not ri-
pen, except the sour crab apple. He who would
not have a wife and cliildren about him, could
never care for cattle, horses, sheep, hogs or hens,
except with the same hoggish care that grunter
has Ibr his provender. It is a settled question.
No man can be a true farmer who is so much a
brute as not to he a social being. But this is all
out-door talk. We must go into the house, and
take a look at things tliere, if we want to under-
stand why Farmer Thrifty is always so thrif'.y
and so cheej;ful.

The chances of thrift in this world, without a
wife, arc hardly one to a thousand. The chances
witli a wife, inay be reckoned about by square
numbers ; as, in some communities, about one in
four ; in others about one in nine ; and in others

not more than one in sixteen, or perhaps one in
twenty-five. We reckon in this way. The fac-
ulty to accumulate, and the ability or faculty to
save, are two distinct faculties ; which have their
application both out of doors and in the house.
Without two interested persons, to direct or use
these faculties and interests, one in the house and
one outside, there is scarce a possibility of success.
In the most intelligent and well trained commu-
nities, of either men or women, not more than one
out of two are capable of managing their part suc-
cessfully. The probability for the success of the
couple will be a square of the chances. The
chances are two for the man, out of which to bring
one ; and in the same manner for the woman. Or,
more correctly I should say, the chances of each
are as one-half; which, squared, leaves one-fourth;
or one in four. Where not more than one in three
for each, their united chance would be one in
nine ; and so on.

The faculty in the exercise of which the man is
to excel, is an ability to earn, or accumulate;
while the faculty necessary for the woman is an
ability to preserve, to keep, to economize.

Now if, as poor Richard says, "A penny saved,
is as good as two pence earned;" then Farmer
Thrifty is not entitled to all the credit of the
success which has attended him

The amount which can bo laid up, yearly, after
meeting all expenses, is but a small percentage of
the stock employed. If the farmer pays interest
on his farm , and the farm is worth no more than
the sum upon which he pays interest, then he has
properly nothing invested except his labor. If his
own labor would be worth four hundred dollars,
and the economical support of his family would
cost him four hundred, the management in the
house will decide whether he shall have any pro-
fit on this four hundred dollars. If, with the most
economical and careful management of his affiiirs
in thehouse, he could lay up six per cent, profit on
the worth of his labor, it would be only twenty-
four dollars per year. If he could lay up twelve
and a half per cent., it would only amount to fif-
ty dollars in a year.

Some women are always very careful not to en-
croach upon the time of their husbands. Their
meals are always ready at the time wliich vrill
favor the out-door work. If they must call for
the assistance of "the boys," or the farmer, or for
the use of "the horse," it is carefully planned so
as to cost as little hindrance as possible. They
study economy in the use of fuel, whether it is
obtained from the farm or not ; and every article
of clothing, or of provisions. Everything is put
away, in the best order for preservation, or in the
proper place for convenience. Then they greatl;^
increase the strength and activity of the farmer,
by the cheerful manner and spirit, and the con-
stancy of life, with which they seek to promote his
wishes.

The fact is, the wife of Farmer Thrifty makes
butter and cheese, when she makes any, which
will add twenty-five per cent, to the butter which
Farmer Thriftless carries to market. Her boys
and girls will be kept in as good order nearly
twice as long, with the same clothing and shoes,
as those of Farmer Thriftless. Crockery, glass,
china ware, &c., can be used upon her table much
longer, by reason of a ready care. Farmer Thrif-
ty's wife is a cheerful woman, and people like to

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

457

visit at her house. This costs something; but
good cheer does so ease the burden of life, that,
after all, it is no tax, if not carried to excess.

Now all I have to say about the matter, further,
is, that there is no such man as Thrifty, in the
list of fariuers or mechanics, whose wife is not en-
titled to as bright a feather in her cap as her hus-
band can wear.

I have no fear that any of the women will get
angry with me for what I have said, for none of
tliem read the papers, only the wives of the Thrif-
ties. A. G. Comings.

Mason, N. H.

For the New England Farmer.

THE CETONIA INDA.

SmoN Brow.v, Esq. : — Dear Sir, — The insects
found by Dr. IIorKixs to be destructive to peachss
are described in my Treatise on injurious insects,
pages 35 — 3G, under the name of Cctonia Inda.
They have appeared a month earlier than usual.

The precocious ripening of peaches, noticed also
by your coiTespondcnt, is one of the signs of yel-
lows. Another is the growth of slender shoots,
clothed with diminutis'c leaves, on the trunks and
branches. These symptoms will be follov>'ed next
year by yellowness of all the leaves. Experienced
cultivators recommend digging up the affected
trees and burning them,

Yours, truly,

Tn.\DDEUS WlLLI.\M Harris.

Cambridge, Mass., Aug. 20, 1854.

Remarks. — We are again indebted to the kind at-
tentions of Dr. Harris, in directing us to a descrip-
tion of the insect sent us and spoken of by Dr.
Hopkins, of Northamption, in his recent com-
munication. Dr. HoPKi.NS will please accept as
an apology, for not forwarding the insect as he
desired, that we have been deprived the pleasure
of visiting our office in Boston for two weeks, in
consequence of sickness. We are again grateful
for restored health, and are ready to labor in the
delightful field of agricultural progress wherever
work is to be done. Below we append the history
of the Cetonia Inda, from Dr. Harris' interesting
work on insects.

"Two American Cetonians must suffice as ex-
amples in this group. The first is the Indian Ce-
tonia, Cctonia Inda, one of our earliest visitors
in the spring, making its appearance towards the
end of Aj)ril or the beginning of May, when it
may sometimes be seen in considerable numbers
around the borders of woods, and in dry open fields,
flying just above the grass with a hnid humiuiiig
sound, like a liuiuble-bee, (or which perhaps it
might at first sight be mistaken. Like other in-
sects of the same genus, it has a broad l)ody, very
obtuse behind, witli a triangular thorax, and a
little wedge-shaped on each side between the liind-
cr angles of tlie thorax and the shoulders of the
wing-covers ; the latter, taken togetlier, form im
oblong square, but are somewhat notched or wide-
ly scolloped on the middle of the outer edges. Tlie
head and thorax of this beetle arc dark copper-
brown, or almost black, and thick, and tliickly
covered with short greenish yellow hairs ; the

wing-cases are light yillowish brown, but change-
able, with pearly and metallic tints, and spattered
with numerous irregular lilaek spots ; the under-
side of the body, which isvei-y hairy, is of a black
color, with the edges of the rings and the legs dull
red. It measures about six-tenths of an inch in
length. During the summer months the Indian
Cetonia is not seen ; but about the middle of Sep-
tember a new brood comes forth, the beetles ap-
pearing fresh and bright, as though they had just
completed their last transformation. At this
time they may be found on the flowers of the gold-
en-rod, eating the pollen, and also in great num-
bers on corn-stalks, and on the trunks of the lo-
cust-tree, feeding upon the sweet sap of these
plants. On the approach of cold weather they
disappear, but I have not been able to ascertain
what becomes of them at tliis time, and only con-
jecture that they get into some warm and sheltered
spot, where they pass the winterin a torpid state,
and in the spring issue from their retreats, and
finish their career by depositing their eggs for
another brood. Tliose that are seen in the spring
want the freshness of the autumnal beetles, a cir-
cumstance that favors my conjecture. Their hov-
ering over and occasionally dropping upon the
surface of the ground is probably ibr the purpose
of selecting a suitable place to enter the earth and
lay their eggs. Hence I suppose that their larvse
or grubs may live on the roots of herbaceous
plants. *•

The other Cetonian beetle to be described is the
Osmoderma scaher, or rough Osmoderma. It is
a large insect, with a broad ovai and flattened
body ; the thorax is nearly round, but wider than
long ; there are no wedge-shaped piec(!S between
the corners of the thorax, and the siioulders of the
wing-cases, and the outer edges of the latter arc
entire. It is of a purplish-black color, with a
coppery lustre ; the head is punctured, concave or
hollowed on the top, with tlie edge of the broad
visor turned up in the males, nearly flat, and
with the edge of the visor not raised in the
females; the wing-cases are so thickly and deeply
and irregularly punctured as to appear almost as
rough as shagreen ; the under-side of the body is
smooth and without hairs; and the legs are short
and stout. In addition to the diflererice between
the sexes above described, it may be mentioned
that the females are generally much larger than
the males, and often want the coppery polish of
the latter. They measure from eight-tenths of
an 'inch to one inch and one-tenth in length. They
are nocturnal insects, md conceal tliemsclves dur-
ing the day in the crevices and hollows of trees,
wliere they feed upon the sap that flows from the
bark. They have the odor of Russia leatiier, and
give this out so powerfully, that their presence
can be detected, by tlie scent alone, at the dis-
tance of two or three yards from the jdace of their
retreat. This strong smell suggested the name Os-
inodirina, tliat is scented skin, given to tlicse bee-
tles by the French naturalists. Tliey seem par-
ticularly fond of the juices of cherry tind apple
trees ; in the hollows of wliich I have often dis-
covered them. Their larviV) live in the iiollowsof
these same trees, feeding upon the diswis'd wood,
and causing it more rapidly to decay. They are
whitisli fleshy grubs, with a reddish hard-slielled
head, and closely resemble t!ie grults of the com-
mon dor-beetle. In the autumn each one makes

458

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

an oval cell or pod, of fragments of wood, strong-
ly cemented with a kind of glue ; it goes through
its transformation within the cell, and comes forth
in the heetle form in the month of July."

ABOUT APPLE TREES.

The season of Autumn, in New England, has
come to be highly favorable to the operations of
husbandry. Most of the three autumnal months
affoi'd delightful weather for plowing and reclaim-
ing, for building stone walls, ditching and trans-
planting ; the month of November, even, affording
weather suitable f )r hauling manure and prepar
ing the earth for most of the crops of the coming
year. The spring time for preparing the soil and
getting in the various crops, on the other hand,
has come to be usually inclement and short —
April being too wet and cold, frequently, either
to plow, sow, or plant. It is, therefore, well to
accomjjlish as much of the form work as possible
in the fall, leaving more tim~ In the spring to per-
form the important labors then before us, more
considerately and thoroughly.

We know of tio substantial reason why apple
trees should not be .transplanted in the fall, and
there are several reasons which, to our mind
make it the prop;r time. The first we have al-
ready adduced — tliere is a less demand upon our
time by other things waiting to be done. We can
visit the nurseries and make a more thorough ex-
amination of trees in the pleasant autumn days,
than through the snows or mud of March and
April. Another reason is, that trees well set in
October, after having cast their leaves, "will gain
fibres enough to support them before winter, and
will shoot well the next spring, and better than
those planted in the spring."' But in fall trans
planting, care must be taken that no water re-
mains standing al^out the tree through the win-
ter ; and Bradley says — in his Treatise on Hus-
bandry and Gardening — "we must never fail to
plant the same side towards the south which stood
80 before." The tree being set, it is a good plan
to tlirow the soil about it to the height of a foot
or more, which will steady it through the winEer
and keep its roots in place ; ia the spring it
should be levelled.

Having the tree now set and finely growing, it
will not do to let nature sport with it in her
freest moods, nor on the other hand to be perpet-
ually at work upon it with the pruning-knife.
Continual pruning makes the tree shoot into false
wood and miscarry of its buds designed for fruit ;
and the reason of it is this — the root had filled it
self with juices proportionable to the nourishment
its standing branches required, and when these
ai-e taken .'uvay, the effort that nature makes is
to supply new shoots to receive the sap which the
root has stored up. This will be made evident to
any one who will observe the great number of

suckers or new shoots onan old apple tree after it
has been severely trimmed for grafting in the
spring — the root had laid up the sap, and there
not being sufficient outlet for it, it had to supply
such outlet by making new wood.

It is often said that the shaping of trees and the
training of vines is entirely a matter of taste ; but
we cannot think the opinion a correct one, any
more than it would be applied to the ox, th«
horse, or the cow. Symmetry in shape in the lat-
ter pleases the eye and at the same time gives
large muscles and a corresponding strength and
weight, and thus utility is combined with good
taste. So it is of the tree and the vine. We be-
lieve that as much good taste is yet to be manifest-
ed in the management of trees, as there has al-
ready been in the improvement of our animals,
and that the development of this good taste will
also increase the profit of the fruit crops. A great
many of the apple, peach, apricot and plum trees
in New England, are neither in a state of nature,
nor managed according to the rules of art. They
are budded or grafted trees, and are thus not ac-
cording to nature ; then they are hacked with
axes, lacerated with dull saws and gouged with
hob-nailed boots. A limb is smote off here which
ought to have remained, and another left there
which outrages every rule of proportion. In form-
ing the young tree we would start the limbs about
five feet from the ground, and should allow no
centre perpendicular stem above them. Three or
four branches coming out at opposite sides of the
stem will give a round full head, in shape some-
what like an umbrella reversed, and as the tree
increases,will throw out numerous lateral branch-
es, which will fill up and form a head of beautiful
symmetry, and one which is, we think, the best
calculated to produce the greatest money value of
fruit. Perhaps not the largest quantity buf of the
most value. None of these lateral limbs should
be allowed to cross the tree — that is, to start from
one side and grow across the inside of the tree.
When shaped in this form, a person may walk
pretty much over the top of an apple tree which
has been growing twenty years; the light and air
is freely admitted, the limbs do not obstruct and
chafe each other, and room is left below for the
comfortable cultivation of the land. Trees once
formed in this manner will scarcely need the knife
or saw for years in succession, unless in cases of
accidents, provided the cultivator uses his thumb
and finger judiciously when the shoots are young
and tender.

Apple trees, however, producing diflferent kinds
of fruit have different habits of growth. Some
inclining to shoot upward in a prim and slender
form, others into compact, thick heads, with
strong, lateral branches, while others, again, as-
sume a pendent form. Most of the sweet apple
trees have long, slender, whiplash-like branches ;

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

459

the Rhode Island Greening has a compact and
pendulous head, the ends of" the limbs often touch-
ing the ground when loaded with fruit, although
leaving the main stem at a distance of five or even
six feet from the ground. The branches of the
Baldwin usually assume a position the most con-
venient to come at either for working among or
for gathering their fruit, as they seldom take a
vertical or true horizontal direction. So the Blue
Pearmain and the Sopsavine have forms peculiar
to themselves.

Now it will be apparent to any observer that
the same kind of pruning will not answer for all
these varieties, — and that in order to prune judi-
ciously, there must first be some knowledge of the
habit of the tree operated upon. Lacking this
knowledge, many trees receive precisely the kind
of treatment which they ought not to get.

A word of caution may be given with regard to
the depth at which a transplanted tree ought to
be set. If too deep, especially if the soil be cold
and springy, the fibres and small roots are apt to
mould and decay, and thus affect the larger roots ;
the tree will also frequently throw out a new set
of roots just at the point which was originally the
crown of the root. But if not set deep enough,
the tree is too easily shaken by the wind, and the
roots are so near the surface that the proper culti-
vation cannot be carried on without constant dan-
ger of injuring the roots. The rule should be to
set the tree as nearly as possible as it stood before
it was removed, varying a trifle, perhaps, if the
soil is different from that from which it was tak-
en.

It is essential to the thrifty growth , and even
the health of trees, that the ground upon which
they are set should l)e cultivated ; and we have
long observed that where hoed crops are planted,
the trees flourish the best. Digging about them
for the space of three or four feet will not answer.
They feel cramped and confined in such a posi-
tion, and will not freely extend their I'oots ; they
shun a compact grass ground, and will shoot in
any direction to avoid it. We once removed a
row of apple trees which were four years old, on one
side of which was an old mowing field, and on the
other a well-cultivated garden ; on lifting them we
found that on the side of the tree next to the grass
ground there had not a root extended to the
length of six inches, although the sward itself
was not within two feet of the tree. Some roots
had started on this side, but had all turned to the
lighter earth of the garden. In this mould they
had free range and paeturago and many of the
roots were tlirce feet long.

Some persons practice digging a space about
the trees, and keeping it free from weeds and
grass, and then plow a strip through the centre
of about half the whole width at which the trees
arc set apart ; this, they say, makes a rich and

mellow bed which the roots from each side will
seek, and the trees will flourish finely. We have
had no experience of this kind, and cannot say
how such treatment will succeed. To expect trees
to thrive well on grass ground is almost as absurd
as to expect them to do so if tlicy Avere annually
defoliated in June.

We will suggest to the inexperienced, also, the
importance of protecting the young trees against
the eiTects of the drouglits which prevail in our cli-
mate. It is important that the tree should ba
kept generously growing through the month of
August. Forest .trees are, probably, seldom af-
fected by drought. The leaves which they cast
fall upon their roots and soon accumulate to such
a depth that the sun's rays are excluded, and
evaporation greatly impeded. The cultivator must
imitate nature in this respect and cover the
ground for several feet about the tree with straw,
refuse hay, saw dust, chip dirt, or anything that
will have the effect of the f^iUen leaves. We have
seen fine brush, mostly wliito birch, answer the
purpose admirabl y .

With one other caution we will leave the sub-
ject for the present, and that is, to keep all cattle,
horses and swine from young trees. The apple is
not a difficult tree to raise ; with a little but con-
stant care almost any garden will produce enough
for the wants of a common fLuuily. They can
have

"The pippin, burnished oe'r with gold, the moyle
Of sweetest honied taste ; the fair pearmain,
Tempered, like comeliest nyrapli, with white and red."

together with the Baldwin, Porter, Russet, Sweet-
ing, and a dozen other varieties.

For the New England Fanner.

EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT.

Mr. Editor : — Witiiin a few days }iast, I have
had an opportunity to notice the condition of the
crops, in the County of Essex, and never have I
seen the effects of the drought more general and
destructive. On grass fields, where a fine second
crop was cxjoected, there is nothing to be mown,
and scarcely anything to be fed. Tliis part of
the produce of tlio farm must fail entirely. Most
of the fields of Indian corn are suffering severely.
Where a fortnight since thei-e was good reason to
expect GO bushels to tlic acre, I think tlie proprie-
tors would gladly compromise for tliirty; — and
many fields, where the ears had not r)rmed l)et'ore
the drouth began to pinch, there will l)e scarcely
enough to pay for gathering. On such fields, an
anxious inquiry arises, what shall be done ? Sliall
the whole be cut up, at the ground and cured for
fodder — or shall an attempt Ite made to cut the
stalks — or shall the field be left, until the time of
harvest ? These are questions, in vvliich many cul-
tivators feel a deep interest. Notiiing can be more
disheartening to tlie confiding lal)orcr, who has
toiled from April to Sept., in the iiope of fimiiiig
a reward for hi.s labors, in ids well tilled ears of
corn, than to find nothing but cobs, and these im-
perfectly grown. Such, if I do not mistake, is to

461)

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

be the fate of uumy laborers the present season.
The com fields are not alone in suflering. Nearly
all the fields of vegetables are suflering in like
luanner. The rata baga turnip, where five and
twenty ions to the acre were hoped for, it will be
fortunate to gather J?re /ori5. I have seen entire
acres so scorched that a fire would run through
them like a stubble. Onions generally will fail to
yield half as many as were expected a month ago.
Never was the promise of this crop better than
about the middle of July. Trees, fruit and forest,
are perishing for want of moisture. All signs of
vain fail, and the dust fills the eye and the tliroat
■wherever you go. These are facts in this region,
I hope it may l)e better with you — if not the Lord
have mercy on us, or we perish. *

Aug. 25ik, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

A BEAR STOEY.

Mr. Editor : — As I have noticed that you
sometimes admit a "bear story" into the Farmer,
I have scribbled off" one, which your readers may
rely on as a true story, for my grandfather "told
it" to me when a child, and after he was ninety
years old, more times than I can now remember.
My grandfather was a native of New Haven,
Conn., and his fatlicr owned land "up in the
country," which, when my gi-andfather was about
ninety years ofag!.', was a wilderness, (except a
few scattering settlements) and which he offered
to give to his l)ays if they would go and settle on
it. My grandfather chose a tract in what is now
Acworth, N. IL, east of old No. 4 on Connecticut
River, now Cliarlestown, N. H. He "took his
pack on his back" and footed it through to No. 4.
Tnis was soon after the "French war, and eight
or ten years before the Revolution. Ho located
himself about five miles east of the settlement of
No. 4, in the wilds of the forest, with nought but
t le wild beasts for his companions, and commenc-
ed liis future home by felling a few trees, setting
four crotched poles in the ground, laying poles
from one to the other, and covering them with
bark. This was his first house.

IJo would work from Monday morning till Sat-
urday night, felling trees, clearing laud, &c., and
then return to No. 4 to spend the Sabbath, where
he had his washing done and his bread baked. —
The next Monday morning he would take his
liread and "pork and beans," and return to his
labor, with no human being in town but himself.
Many an adventure and " hunting story" has
he related to, me after he got to be m '■'■old child,''
with all the enthusiasm of a young one.

On one occasion, after a hard day's labor, he
had retired to his bunk in one corner of his cabin,
to sleep and rest, for he was very tired that night.
It was a warm summer night, and the entrance or
door to !iis cabin had ))een hjftopen. Just as old
Morpheus was enfolding him in his arms, he
thought that he heard something at his cabin
door ; — he opened his eyes, and there was an old
■t)ear with her head extending into the cabin, tak-
ing a snuff" at him, as if she would like to taste, if
she dared to. He reached to get his "old bear
gun," which he always kept ready loaded at the
head of his bed ; but bruin concluded to leave
rather sud lenly without her supper, and before
grandfather could " take aim."

But for the big bear story, or story of the "big
bear."

After several years, my grandfather had a
neighbor, a Mr. K., who commenced on land ad-
joining his. Mr. K. was a married man, and my
graiidl'ather now boarded with him. They had
got sufficient land cleared and into grass, so that
they kept a little "stock ; " but they occasionally
missed a "young creature," or a sheep from their
small tlock. They soon ascertained that a big
bear had taken the liberty to " lay her paw"' on
a yearling, two-year-old, or sheep, just which she
could find handy, or as she preferred mutton to
beef, or vice verna, and " help herself" to such
fresh meat as "she chose," without invitation.

She became "notable" on all the "clearings"
round about, and soon got so bold as to walk into
the pastures and make her selection in the day-
time.

They therefore "kept an eye on her," and oc-
casionally got a fair shot, but she escaped the best
marksmen, and appeared to be impervious to pow-
der and ball

One Sabbath, when my grandfather was gone
to No. 4, Mr. K. and his wife were left alone in
their little leg hnise. They had got dinner ready,
and were just sitting down at the table, when
they heard their old hog,, which was in the door-
yard, and the only "porker" they had, make an
unusual grunting. Mrs. K. remarked to her hus-
band that she guessed he had not given the old
hog her dinner, and she was calling for it. lie
replied that she might wait till they got through
with theirs, and that he should not leave his to
feed her. But the old hog kept up such a tre-
mendous gruntijig, that Mr. K. thought there,
must be something unusual, and told his wife to
go to the window and see what it could be : — when,
behold, there was the "big bear" walking watch-
fully around tlie "big hog."

Mrs. K. quickly informed her husband, who
got to the door just as the bear pounced upon the
hog. Mr. K.'s first object was to save the life of
his hog ; so, without going back for his gun, he
ran immediately out, and began to pelt the old
bear with stones, of the size of his fist, with a fulP
determination to make her let go ; but the bear
was just as determined not to give up her game,
(though such sized stones, hurled by such a mus-
cular arm, did not strike very lightly against iier
ribs and head) and with one paw to hold the hog
down, she raised the other high in the air, expos-
ing her large claws, and giving a grin that show-
ed her "beautiful ivory," she gave such a snarl
and growl of defiance as would have rather start-
ed a fellow unacquainted with bears.

Mr. K. soon became convinced that there was
not enough '■'■virtm in stones'' to make bruin give
up his "porker." He therefore ran quickly into
his house, took down his gun and powder-horn,
without stopping to get his bullet-pouch, and ran
back to the "field of action."

The old bear was trying to take up the hog and
be off". Mr. K. put a handful! of powder into his
gun, and holding the muzzle within a foot or two
uf the bear's face, "let blaze" — itblowed the wool
and skin off one cheek, but the bear walked off"
with the hog in her mouth for the woods, which
were thirty or forty rods from the house. Mr. K .
began to put down a charge of powder, and
called to his wife to bring the bullet-pouch, which

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

461

she quickly brought, and he down with the ball ;
but in his haste, when he cocked his gun, he pull-
ed so hard on the lock, that he dislocated some
part of the inside work, so that when he took
aim, he could not pull it off, (but the bear was all
the time moving off with his hog.) lie callcd.to
his wife to bring a brand of fire, and when he
got aim, he would give the "word of command^"
and she must " touch it off." Well, "all was
ready," the command given, his wife applied the
fire-brand to the powder in the pan — " bang goes
the gun," but the bear had got so far off as to be
out of reach of his piece, and entered the woods
in triumph, with the hog in her mouth. What
could they do for meat the next winter ? Their
only hog was gone !

My grandfather returned that evening, and in
the taorning they went out to hunt for the hog in
the woods. After some search they found her
covered with leaves and brush, but partly eaten
up. They concluded to load both their guns witli
two bullets each, and set them cocked in a right
direction, with one end of a cord attached to the
triggers of the guns, and the other to a piece of
the pork, so that when the old l)ear came to take
her next meal, she would unconsciously shoot her-
self. About midnight they heard both guns go,
bang ! bang ! but in the morning no l)ear was to
be found, though both guns were fired off. They
gave her up for that time. The next fall, Mr.
K.'s cow was taken sick and died, which with the
loss of their liog, le^ them with but a small pros-
pect of milk and meat for the next year.

They concluded' to put the carcass of the cow
in the woods near where the bear left the hog, in
hopes that the bear would come to feast on the
carcass of the cow, and perchance they might yet
capture her. It was not long before they found
tdatsome animal of not very "small proportions"
was helping itself to not very small quantities of
the '■^ extra beef." Mr. K. and my grandfather ap-
pointed a night to go and watch near the carcass
of the cov.', lor the bear. They loaded both their
guns with two balls each, and just at dusk they
went to the woods, and seated themselves six or
eight ro'ds from the carcass, at the roots and on
opposite sides of a large hemlock tree, with the
agreement to keep as still as possible for an hour
or two, as they expected that the bear would (rome
the fore part of the night, if at all. They sat still
for about two hours, without any conversation,
their backs resting against the big tree, and the
breech of their guns resting on the ground between
their f-.'ct, and as they were on opposite sides of
the tree, they had a view of all points of the com-
pass ; but with all tlieirgazings and listening they
could neither see, nor hear anything of the bear.

It had now got to be past ten o'clock, and ex-
tremely dark ; and as ray grandfather had been at
work very liard through the day, he was quite
tired, and ventured to whisper to Mr. K, that he
thouglit it best to go home, as the bear would liave
probalily been there by that time if she had been
coming at all that night ; and if she did come, it
was so dark they could not see her five rods off.
Mr. K. replied, tliat if he would wait a short
time, and the bear did not come, tliey would go
home. They again kept still as the darkness
around them; — in about fifteen minutes my grand-
father heard the click of Mr. K.'s gun, as tliougli
he were cocking it, and in another minute "whang"

goes his gun, and there was such a bounding and
thrashing as indicated "something was disturb-
ed," while the discharge of the peace echoed
through "those grand old woods, "and sounded in
the "stilly night" like the discharge of a field-
piece. Mr. K. thought before he tired, that he
heard something moving among the leaves, that
made not much more noise than a mouse. He
gazed with all his might into the darkness, in the
direction of the slight noise, and thought he could
discover a spot blacker than darkness ; he cocked
his gun, raised it to his face, but he could see
nothing, and all was still. He waited a moment,
and thought ho heard a slight crackle of dry twigs
and leaves ; he gazed again with all his power,
and thought he couldsee one spot l)lacker than the
darkness around, and that it slowly moved, lie
ventured to fire, and hence the thrashing and
bounding ; — something must be "scared if not
hurt;" but it was so dark that they could not
ascertain that night what had been done. They
went home, and in the morning returned to the
woods to search for the game. About six rods
from the tree by which they sat, and in the direc-
tion that Mr. K. fired, they discovered the old
bear's tracks, which they followed, (and also
marks of blood on the leaves,) about twenty rods,
when they came to the old bear, — dead, dead,
dead ! Yes, 'twas "that same old bear," for there
was no hair on one side of his face, "on the place
where the wool used to grow." The charge of
powder that Mr. K. fired against it, when trying
to save his hog, bui-ned so deep that no hair ever
grew out. When they dressed her they found
seven musket and rifle balls in different parts of
her meat, and a charge of pidgeon shot in her
buttock. She weighed between seven and eight
hundred pounds, and had to answer for their
"pork" that winter ; though it was "bear's meat"
after all. Milan.

Morristown, Vt.

For Che New England Fanner.

SOW THE WINTER WHEAT.

Mr. Editor : — Dear Sir, — Universal drought
seems to have seared our whole country as with a
hot iron.

The hay and grain harvests seem to have been
satisfactory, as far as they went. The pinch, or
general failure, falls upon the corn and potato
crops ; now suppose all the farmers of New Eng-
land had averaged this season three acres of win-
ter wheat or fifty bushels to the farm, would it
not have been comforting in these dubious days
wliich t!n"eaten tlie failure of otliercrops ? A fiir-
mer from N.ll., writes to a l)rother hiire, tluit he
has cut up his corn for fodder,and will not have a
peck of potatoes on his farm.

'\Ve have patiently waited for lower prices in
breudstuffs — hoping that demand abroad would
lei^sen, l)ut this will bo met by increased consump-
tion at home. The new crop has noSveducod the
price of flour to so low a point as was expected;
liigh prices ai'C inevitable; these nva lessons and
warnini,rs not to be overlooked. Self-protection
and self-interest demand a universal effort among
your farmers ; they will yet be mud.? to believe
that wheat is as legitimate a crop among them, as
is winter rye. Practice will prove it.

This is seed-time, the precious time to sow tly.

462

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

grain. Every bushel should be in the ground
by the middle of September. In my last I allud-
ed to the manner of cultivation and gave such
reasons as I think to be right ; Mr. Editor, you
recommended li to li bushel to the acre. For
six years I sowed two bushels to the acre.and nev-
er found I had over-se(!ded. I soak the seed in
weak salt pickle over night, skimming off the foul
seed and then rake it well in ashes on the barn-
floor ; this makes it come up very quick.

A farmer in Maine says he has got the best
wheat from pasture lands.

The luasie pasture lands of the old States, if cul-
tivated in wheat, would furnish the people with
bread. Hundreds of thousands of such, and of
excellent quality (many of which hold their own
although fed from generation to generation) were
they cultivated, would disclose a richness of soil,
capable of producing large crops, and when pre-
pared to lay down to grass, ten acres thus brought
up, will produce more feed than fifty acres of or-
dinary pasturage that stock have ranged over for
a century. Drought pinches it less ; feed con-
tinues good when the old pasture is dry ; the cows
go home well charged witli milk ; they have not
worked so hard to till themselves ; they fatten in-
stead of growing lean, and thus a double object
would be gained by reforming the old, worn-out
pasturage system, which constitutes a large por-
tion of the farms of New England.

Et would seem to be a good season to plow a
pasture and sow wheat on the sod, and if well-
manured, grass seed may be sown at the same
time, so that little time would be lost in using it
as a pasture ; 1 have practiced in this way, (lay-
ing down to grass on the sod) although the grass
somewhat interferes with the wheat crop, but not
much. Yours truly, H. Poor.

Brooklyn, N. Y.,Aiig., 28, 1854.

WHICH IS THE HAPPIEST MAN?

We know a man in Michigan who lives on the
interest of his money, and that is only $70 per
annum. He has, it is true, a small house with
one room in it, three or four acres of land, and
keeps a cow, a couple of pigs and a few hens, yet
he and his wife always appear cheerful and con-
tented, and preserve a respectable appearance on
their $70 per annum.

We know of a man in New York, who expends
$25,000 per annum for his household expenses
lie pays for ^as-light more than the whole income
of the Michigan man. He makes annual holiday
presents to more than the whole amount of the
property of t!ie Michigan man. It costs him a
sum six timts as large as the whole income of our
philosopher It support a single waiter.

We know t'lem both very well, and we think
our Michigan friend by far the happiest, health-
iest and most enviable man. They are both ad-
vanced in ye.irs. The cheapness of hooks and pa-
pers places abundance of rational enjoyment in the
power of the countryman ; an accumulation of
physical ills, and a necessity for intense activity,
deprive the citizen of calm and quiet enjoyment
and reflection. The former, in the probable course
of events, will die of old age ;it ninety, the latter
at seventy. Such is the distribution of happiness
and wealth.— roZerfo (O.) Blade.

For the New England Farmer.

HAY-CUTTERS-HOW TO SAVE CHIL-
DREN'S FINGERS.

My DejVR Brown : — A lady says I must forth-
with lell the public, through the Farmer ^ how I
have contrived to fasten my hay-cutter, so that chil-
dren cannot cut off their fingers with it. It is
one that has a crank and fly-wheel, of the kind
most used. I first fastened the machine to the
barn floor with hasps. Then I took a round wal-
nut stick, about 4 feet long and ]| inch in di-
ameter, for a spring, and made it fast to a post of
the barn, so that it projects over the fly-wheel, as
high up as a man of proper size can conveniently
reach. About a hand's breadth from the end' of
my spring, I attached a leather strap, which
hangs down over the wheel, and to the end of the
strap I fastened a hook, which I made in about
two minutes, of a piece of No. 9 wire, doubled
and twisted. Let the strap be short enough to
give sufficient strain, take hold of the projecting
end of the spring and bend it down, and hook on
to the fly-wheel. A spring which a man can thus
bend in an instant, will support the weight of a
whole family of small children, without starting.
If anybody knows of a better contrivance than
this, for the purpose, it is his duty to make it
known. I think it is about a fair estimate, that
one child in every four, where a hay-cutter is used,
in their bringing up, will be found, with more or
less fingers cut off. One of my own cut one of his
nearly off, at three years old, and I know of
a family where three boys out of seven have lost
portions of their fingers in this way.

I was induced thus to secure mine, one day last
week, for the safety of the children of a friend
from a city, who came with his family to visit me,
knowing that the first civility shown by country
children to their little cousins from the city is, to
cut their fingers off with the hay-cutter, and I
finished the job the first morning tefore breakfast
with my own hands, so that, if you can, guess at
what time I rise, and at what time breakfast is
ready, you can calculate just how much time it
took.

If somebody will "continue the subject" and in-
vent some way to protect the hands of men as well
as children, from these machines, ho will prove a
benefactor to his race. I have had a machine in
use seven years, and one of my men cut one fin-
ger entirely off, and that and Willie's finger , which
entirely recovered, are the worst cuts we have had.
Ono of my neighlx>rs has been less fortunate ; and
from what I hear, I should judge that, in the same
time, something less than half a peck of fingers
had undergone the gujUotine, with his machine .

To be sure, everylx)dy knows, that if a man is
careful, he need not thus injure himself, but it has
always struck me as a poor kind of oonso-lation to
tell a person thus maimed, that his accident was

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

463

the result of his own carelessness. At least, let
us protect the children from such misfortunes.

There is scarcely anything that so readily moves
the compassion of a man who has a heart in the
right place, as to see even the child of a stranger
mutilated in sucli a manner. You and I, friend
Brown, know a boy who has lost two fingers by
such a machine, whose father now, years after-
wards, can never allude to the accident without
being moved to tears. H. F. French.

Exeter, N. H., Aug. 26, 1854.

THE PRICE OF WHEAT.

The following table, which we find in HunVs
Merchant's Magazine, is from the minutes kept at
the office of the Van Rensselaer Manor, at Alba-
ny, where large amounts of rent are payable in
wheat, or a cash equivalent, on the first of Janua-
ry, each year ; and as two parties are deeply inter-
ested in the price, it is probably the most reliably
correct of any record that can be obtained. There
is quite a lesson in these figures — look at them.

Price of wheat per bushel, January 1st, at Al-
bany, sixty-one years, viz : —

.$0 75

..1 00

..137i

..2 00

..1 50

..125

..ll8i

..156i

..181i

..100

1793

1794

1795

1796

1797

1733

1799

1800

1801

1802

1803 1 12i

1804 125

1805 2 00

1806 143J

1807 137i

1808 1 12i

1809 1 (JO

1810 1 56i

1811 175

1812 187i

1813 225

1814 1 87i

1815 1 62i

1816 1 75

1817 2 25

1818 187i

1819 175

1820 100

1821 77

1822 1 12t

1823 125'

1824

1825

1826 ;.

1827

1823

1829

1830

1831

1832

1833

1834

1835

1836

1837

1838

1839

1840

1841

1842

1843

1844

1845

1846

1847 1 12^

.$125
..1 00
...87i
..1 00
..1 00
..1 75
..1 00
..1 25
..125
..100
..1 00
..100
..1 50
..2 25
. .1 62 J
..175
..1 12}
,..1 00
,..125
,..187i
..2 00
. . . 93i
.1 18i

1848
1849.
1850.
1851.
1852.
1853.
1854.

.181i
. 1 18i
.1 18i
.1 12i
.1 00
.1 18i
.1 75

many instances in extensive sections entirely ru-
ined it. This cannot fail to affect in a considera-
ble degree the price of wheat, and we are in*
clined to believe that it Avill range much higher
than it is estimated above — probably quite aa
hig.h as in January, 1854. — Country Gentleman.

For the New England Farmer.

GRAPE WINE-DROUGHT.

Friend Brown : — Inanswer to your correspond-
ent in regard to grape wine, T would say that any
one that knows how to make good cider, can make
good wine from native grapes, as the process is
just the same, only that sugar and water are add-
ed to the wine. The wine that you saw and tast-
ed, was not more than 1-5 water, and nearly 3 lbs.
good brown sugar were added to the gallon, and
it was pressed out in a new basket; using clean
washed salt bags for strainers, and laying weights
on top for a press.

The wine I made last year, is not as good as
that made the year before. The grapes should be
well ripened, but not too ripe.

The drought is more severe here at this time,
than I ever knew it, although the streams and
springs are not as low as I have seen them many
times before. Corn and potatoes are suffering
very much, and some fields are past recovery. Ap-
ples look well, and are very free from insects, but
they will ripen prematurely if we do not have rain
soon.

The trees do not all bear fruit as they do gene-
rally in the bearing year, but there is very little
that is poor and knurly. B. F. Cutter.

Pelharn, N. H., Aug., 1854.

You will notice that only five times in all those
years wlicat has been $2 or upwards per bushel,
while it was seventeen times at $1 or under —
twice at 75 cents. Only once in tliirty-seven
years, that is since 1817, to wit in 1837, has it
reached $2. Tlie average price for the whole pe-
riod is ,$1,38. For the last thirty years it is $1,25,
and we give it as a prophecy, whicli, we tliink,
may be relied upon, that that will be the price
next January. Those who are interested may ;is
well take a note of that. The cropof wheatis too
good, too wide extended and the demand for ex-
port to Europe or California too limited and flour
speculators too hard up to maintain present prices.
You may as well mark that, INIessrs. Farmers and
Wheat buyers. — N. Y. Tribune, July 22.

It will be seen that the above was written about
a month ago, Since then, the contiuued drought
has very seriously aQected the Indian corn crop
throughout a large portion of the country, and in

For the New England Farmer.

A GOOD GARDEN.

Mr. Brown :— I have taken your N. E. Far-
mer ever since its commencement, and have often
on looking it over, had a mind to tell you my ex-
perience as a farmer and gardener. Well, sir,
thirty years ago I purchased an establishment
consisting of a dwelling-house, barn, carriage and
wood-house, calculating to make it a permanent
residence. There was attached a little land for a
garden, on whicli were just five apple trees, and in
front of the house were three trees of the balm of
Gilead ; the trees were all about six inches in di-
ameter at that time, but two of the apple trees
were hollow, and I cut one of them down, after
trying to make it do something and could not.

Well, all the apple trees boro something for
fruit, Init so crabbed and sour they would make a
pig squeal. At this time I was engaged as a tra-
der, and had a country store to look after, which
occupied about all my time, but as time wore on
and stage-coaches and railroad cars succeeded one
another, Iliad more time ; for I can now travel a^
far in four hours as I could then in two entire
days with my team. Well, for amusement I graft-
ed all the four ap}ile trees gradually, or year by
by ymir, cutting oil' tlieold iiranches and grafting
tlie lim})8 with Ko.xbury russets, New York rus-
sets, Baldwins, &e., &c., all the best kinds I could
find. Now for results; — I have hid a'lout ten
barrels of good apples, aiiMually, to put up for
winter for three or four years past, beside all we

464

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

used in the family of five, and we have used them
freely, all we wanted, till time to gather the win-
tor apples.

I have a yard in front of my Jioiise about forty
feet square, in fi-ont of which are two of the
balm of Gilead trees before mentioned, which "are
now large trees, and I have left them outside of
the front fence ; but inside of the fence I set out
about ten years ago, three pear trees of the com-
mon summer pear, which now give us all the
pears we want, for they have t)orno well for abou t
four years. From the pear trees to the house, I
filled the space with flower-beds, and have had
many varieties, say twenty kinds of roses, and
nearly one hundred kinds of flowers; I have
planted on the south side of my buildings, next
to the passage to the barn, plums, peaches and
grapes. The peaches have not succeeded well,
nor the plums, so I cut the plum trees ofi" and
grafted them witli the green and purple gage, on-
ly three or four years ago, and now 1 have plenty
of the finest plums I ever saw, so that I have had
to prop the small branches. My grapes began to
bear last year ; I had about a bushel, and I should
think I might get double the quantity this year.
I have set out some quinces but they do not bear
yet.

Beside the trees and grape vines, I have annu-
ally raised about ten or fifteen bushels of potatoes,
six or seven bushels beets and carrots, some En-
glish turnips and ruta-bagas, and a few cabbages
and onions, as many as our folks wanted to use.
We have also had beans, peas and corn, what we
wanted to use green, and I have annually had
about three or four bushels of dry corn, say two
bushels common yellow corn, one bushel of pop
corn and sweet corn enough to plant myself and
supply all my neighbors. Also, I have annually
raised cucumbers, water and muskmelons, summer
and winter t-quashes, one or two hundred pounds
of each: eigiit hundred or one thousand pounds
pumpkins. All this has been raised on less than
half an acre of ground, including buildings and
drive-way, and I have had more vegetables for
years in my family, than some men that cultivate
one hundred acres, and all on poor, gravelly New
Hampshire land, without any help but my girls in
the flower department. And as Goldsmith says,
"we make every rood of ground support its man."

FiizwilUain, August, 1854. d. s.

HOMINY.

In point of" economy, as human food one bushel
of beans or liominy is equal to ten of potatoes.
llominy, too, is a dish almost as universally liked
as potatoes, r.nd at t!ie South about as freely eat-
en, while at ihe Morth it is seldom seen. In fact,
it is an unkvown food except to a few persons in
cities. By hominy, we do not mean a sort of
coarse meal, Sut grain- of white corn, from which
the hull and c!iit or eye lias been removed, by
moistening and posincling in a wooden mortar,
leaving the ^^rains almost wlioh;, and composed of
little else 111; t starch. It lias been said that not
one cook in ten knows how to boil a potato We
may add another ciplier v/hen speaking of the very
simple procvss of cooking liominy. \Vo give the
formula from our own cxperince and instructions
received in a land where "hog and hominy" are well
understood. Wash slighUy in cold water, and soak

twelve hours in tepid soft water ; then boil slowly
from three to six hours in the same water, with
plenty more added from time to time with great
care to prevent burning. Do not salt while cook-
ing as tliat, or hard water will harden the corn.
So it will peas or bems, green or dry, and rice
also. When done, add butter and s;xlt ; or a bet
ter way is folet each season to suit their taste.
It may be eaten with meat in lieu of vegetables,
or with sugar orsyrup. It is good hot or cold,
and the more frequently it is warmed over, like
the old-fashioned pot of

"Bean-porridge hot, bean-porridge cold,
Bean-porridge best when it's nine days old."

So is hominy — it is good always, and very whole-
some, and, like tomatoes,only requires to be eaten
once or twice to fix the taste in its favor. — Jour-
nal of Health.

I^LAYFULNESS OF AKIMALS.

Small birds chase each other about in play,
hut pin-haps the conduct of the crane and the
trumpeter (Pot^phia crepitans) is the most extra-
ordinary. The latter stands on one leg,, hops
about in the most eccentric manner, and throws
somersets. The Americans call it the mad bird ,
on account of these singularities. The crane ex-
pands its wings, runs round in circles, leaps, and
throwing little stones and pieces of wood in the
air, endeavors to catch them again, or pretend to
avoid them, as if afraid. Water-birds, such as
ducks and geese, dive after each other, and
cleave the surface of the water with outstretched
neck and flapping wings, throwing an abundant
spray around.

Deer often engage in a sham battle or a trial
of strength, by twisting their horns together and
pushing for the mastery. All animals that pre-
tend violence in their play stop short of exercising
it ; the dog takes the greatest precaution not to
injure by his bite ; and the ourang outang, in
wrestling with his keeper, attempts to throw him
and makes feints of biting him. Some animala
carry out in their play the semblence of catching
their prey ; young cats, for instance, leap after
every small and moving object, even to the leaves
strewed by the autumn wind ; they crouch and
steal forward ready for the spring ; the body
quivering and the tail vibrating with emotion,
they bound on the moving leaf, and again spring
forward at another. Rengger saw young jaguar
and cugars playing with round substances like.
kittens.

Young lambs collect together on the little hil-
locks and eminences in the pastures, racing and
sporting with each other in the most interesting
manner.

Birds of the Pie kind are the analogues of
monkeys, full of mischief, play and mimicry.
There is a story told of a tame mogpie which was
seen busily employed in a garden gathering peb-
l)les, and witli much solemnity and a studied air
dropping them in a hole about eighteen inches
deep made to receive a post. After dropping
eacli stone, it cried curraek ! triumphantly, and
set oS" for another. On examining the spot, a
poor toad was found in the hole, wiiich the mag-
pie was stoning for his amusement.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

465

SOUTH DOWN SHEEP.

The South Down sheep, according to one of the
best judges as well as extensive breeders of them,
Mr. Ellman, should have the head small and horn-
less, the face speckeled or grey, the under jaw
fine and thin, and the whole space between the
ears well fortified with wool ; the eye full and
bright ; the neck thin towards the head, but en-
larging towards the shoulders, and then broad and
high ; the chest wide, deep, and projecting be
tween the fore legs ; the shoulders level with the
back, bowing outwards from the top to the breast,
leaving room for a springing rib beneath ; tl*c rib
coming out horizontally from the spine, and the
last projecting from the rest ; the back ilat from
the shoulders to the tail ; the loin broad and flat;
the hips wide ; the belly as straight as the back ;
the legs neither too long nor too short, fine with-
out weakness, and of a speckled or dark color; the
belly well defended with wool ; the wool coming
down before and behind to the knee ; and short,
close, curled, fine, and free from spiry projecting
fibres ; the flesh fine grained and of excellent fla-
vor. Fat weathers used to average about eighteen
pounds per quarter ; but this has been considera-
bly increased by late attempts to improve the size
of the carcass.

Three sheep were exhibited at the Smithfield
C ittleShow England, in 1835, the largest of which
wc'ghed 2.)1 pounds, and the smallest 283 pounds.

With the increased weight of carcass, the wool
has also increased in weight and length of fibre.
It rarely used to be more than two inches in
length — it may now be averaged at three inches
and a half. It used to be employed in the coarse
cloths, and perhaps a small- portion of it found its

way into the finer cloths — it now has become a
combing wool. It is valuable in carpets, flannels,
and worsted goods of every description. It has
changed its character. It is more extensively use-
ful ; and, considering the increased weight of the
fleece, and that of the carcass, and, more especial-
ly the early maturity of the animal, the South
down sheep is progressively and decidedly improv-
ing.

These sheep have been bred for ages past on the
chalky soil of South Downs, in Sussex, England,
and on such short pasture, and in such exposed
situations, they are perhaps the most valuable
breed in the kingdom ; but they are spreading
fast, not only into similar districts, but into coun-
tries better calculated for long-wooled and larger
sheep.

TOMATO FIGS.

We have seen and tasted those delightful figs
referred to in the following arti^de from Hovey's
excellent Horticultural Magazine ; and endorse all
which he says in their favor. We hope that those
who raise abundance of tomatoes will save this
recipe, and try the experiment, if only on a small
scale.

Recipe for Tomato Figs.—Vo\xx boiling water
over the tomatoes, in order to remove the skin ;
then weigh them and place them in a stone jar, with
as much sugar as you have tomatoes, and let them
stand two days ; then pourofl" the syrup, and boil
and skim it until no scum rises. Then pour it over
the tomatoes, and let tliem stand two days as be-
fore; then boil and skim again. After tiic third
time they are fit to dry if tlie weatlicr is good; if
not, let them stand in the syrup until drying
weather. Then place on largo eartlien plates or
dishes, and put them in the sun to dry, which will
take about a ,wcck, after which pack them down

466

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

in siuall wooden boxes, with fine white sugar be-
tween every layer. Tomatoes prepared in this man-
ner will keep for years.

A few apples cut up and boiled in the remain-
der of this syrup make a very nice sauce. — Mrs.
Eliza Marsh.

It is only necessary for us to add, that the Com-
mittee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
awarded Mrs. Marsh the Society's Silver Medal
for excellent specimens exhibited November 21). —
They were tested by the Committee, and pronounc-
ed to be superior to any they had ever seen. They
were put up in small boxes, and to our taste were
far better than two-thirds of what are sold in our
market for the best Smyrna figs. — Ed. Horticul-
tural Magazine.

For the New England Farmer.

SONG OF THE FARMER.

BT THE "PHASANT BAKD."

Give to the lord his palace grand.

And halls of splendid pride ;
A fig for all his dignities.

And all his pomp beside !
Give me the Farmer's peaceful home,

Beneath the maples high,
Where Nature's warblers wake the song,

The waters prattling nigh.

Xhe citizen may love the town,

And Fashion's gaudy show ;
The brilliant pa<:eanly of Art

May please the eye, I know ;
But Nature's chaniis deligtit tJie heart,

Ail simple tiiough they be 5
'Xhe acres broad, the streamy vales,

The lowing herds for me !

What though the bronze is on our cheek,

Toil-calloused is our hand,
With honest pride we stand erect,

The Bcbles of the land ;
For "iiatriot Trtth,'" that spii'it bright.

In this wide world so rare,
Points jiroudly to the Fanner's home.

And cries, — My own are tiiere i
CHORUS.
Then here's to him who tills the soil,

The true, the strong, the brave !
Without htm Aht would fly the land,

And CoKMEECB leave the wave ;
And yet no frown of hauteur cold

Distajns his manly brow ; —
riail to the Farmer ! thrice all hail ,'

Lord of the juighty plow !

How TO GET RID OF Rats. — Prof. Dascom, of
Oberlin, in a letter to the Ohio Farmer, says :

"Would it not be well to call the attention of
your readers to the ease and certainty with which
they may be i-elieved from the annoyance of the
large brown rat. Tliis impudent intruder often
visits ray laboratory and other premises. As they
come singly, I 'take off' each, the night after I
discover signs of his presence, in this wise : I take
half a tea spoonful of di-y flour or Indian meal on
a plate or piece of boarcf, and sprinkle over it the
fraction of a grain of strichnine. This is set in a
convenient place, and I invariably find the cul
prit near the spot dead in the morning. Tne pe-
culiar advantage of this poison is, it produces
muscular spasms, which prevent the animal from
reaching his hole to die and decompose. It is need-
less to add that such a violent poison should be
used with care,"

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

LEACHED ASHES WUEAT.

Mr. Editor : — As you are liberal in answering
the inquiries of the inexperienced, 1 should be
very glad to be told through the columns of your
truly interesting and useful paper, the New Eng-
land Farmer, whether leached ashes can be used
with profit as a top-dressing on grass lands ; if so,
when and how they be applied ? I should be
pleased, and I presume many ef your readers
would be pleased, to hear from your field of "Blue
Stem Wheat as liandsome as ever stood on the
ground," and a little instruction on the subject of
raising wheat would be gratefully received, as I
should like to sow a little this fall.

Inquirer.

Raynham, Aug., 1854.

Remarks. — Leached ashes arc excellent as a top
dressing for grass lands. Apply them in the fall,
if convenient, if not, at any other time.

The field of W^inter Blue Stem wheat alluded to
will turn out about twenty bushels to the acre ;
the drought affected it materially. The day on
which it ought to have been cut was the 25th of
fjuly, and on that day it rained and continued
sultry for nearly a week, during which time the
straw rusted a little, and the kernel undoubtedly
received no benefit from it after that took place.
We have given in several recent numbers of the
Farmer all that seems necessary to be said at pre-
sent upon the cultivation of the wheat crop,
cows sdeddixg milk.

One of 3'our readers of the New England Far-
mer would like to know the best mode to prevent
cows from shedding milk — any information from
your numerous readers on the above subject will
be thanklully received. Derby Smith.

Derby, Aug., 1854.

■• TVING DOWN BUDS.

Mr. Brown : — Last season I noticed that some
of the buds I had set commenced growing. As
an experiment (with me) I tied down the buds
that had started by passing some matting around
the stock and directly over the growing buds.
This stopped their growth. This spring they start-
ed equally as well as those that did not start pre-
maturely. This season (rather early) I inserted
six buds of the Queen of the Prairie Rose into
one stock of another rose ; they all commenced to
grow. I tied down five of the buds, as above ;
these from pressure remain dormant, while the
one not tied, has grown some six or seven inches.

Windsor, Vt, E. W. Smith.

KENTUCKY OATS.

Enclosed I send you a head from my field
of Kentucky oats, plucked green, and '■'■many such
might have been seen.'" On it 1 find 100 pods of
kernels nearly all of which contain two perfect
kernels. The head measures 16 inches, conse-
quenfly when fully ripe would have contained not
less than 240 perfect seeds of its own kind. I hav6
seen ten heads from on 3 seed, tlie smallest of which
contained 5G pods and the largest 189. The others
ranged between those two extremes. In extra
seasons I have weighed them at 49^ lbs. per bushel

1854.

NEW ENGLAND EARMER.

467

— average, say, about 43 lbs. I have this year on
hand for seed, about 400 bushels, wliich 1 shall be
ready to distribute among farmers in a few weeks,
as soon as they can be tlirashed. They grow on
all sides of the atem, in the same kinds of soil,
and yield per No. bhls., about the same as com-
mon oats. Geo. F. Nutting.
Randolph, Vl, 1854.

TO PREVENT FOWLS FROM SCRATCHING.

A simple, cheap, and effective method of pre-
venting fowls from scratching in the garden or
field. Take strips of sheep or calf skin, soft and
pliable, cut a slot in each end and noose it around
their ancles, so that the step may be about 4 inches
long and no more. As all fowls necessarily spread
their feet to the utmost when tliey scratch for
seed or insects, it will be seen at once that these
operations must be effectually curtailed. Those
■who have conveniences for confininj^ or feeding
their hens, will not need this method. But there
are many who have not such contrivances, and to
them I would reccommend its trial. AVhile it
prevents the injury they can do, it also permits
them to roam for tlieir food,&c., without the cost
of feeding, &c. After suffering several dollars
damage the present season, this plan came to my
mind and I cheerfully i-ecommend it to others.

G. F. N.
MANURE FOR WHEAT.

Mr. Editor : — A few weeks since one of your
agents persuaded me, somewhat against my own
judgment, to become a subscriber for the '■'■New
England Farmer. ''' Against my judgment I say,
not because I had any doubts with regard to the
value of your excellent paper, but I felt that I
had already as much capital invested in newspa-
pers as I could well afford. But I have not for a
moment i-egretted that I concluded to take it, and
I hope I shall never be deprived of its welcome
weekly visits while I am engaged in agricultural
pursuits, (a.)

My oliject in this communication is to ask of
yourself or some of your correspondents a word of
advice that I have not yet been able satisfactorily
to glean from any papers that I have yet seen.
I have a piece of land that geologists would call a
clayey loam, situated where it cannot convenient-
ly be manured in the ordinary way. I have plowed
a part of it on which I design to sow winter
wheat. Now what kind of fertilizer would you
think best to use, taking into the account its cost,
its effect upon the wheat crop, and also upon the
land for some years after ! And should it be ap-
plied in the fall or spring? {!>.)

Fairlee, Vl., 1854. John Stratton.

Remarks. — (a.) That is the true way to tost
any paper — take it and try it. If you are satis-
fied that you do not get three or four times the
value of its cost, whv then discontinue it.

{b.) If you wish to manure this land in the
most profitable manner, apply to the acre,

Mexican Uuiino 300 pounds.

Ground Bone, (dry) 200 "

Ashes : 15 bushuls.

Lime G "

The land should l>e plowed not less than 8
inches deep ; 12 inches would bo better ; should
be thoroughly pulverized, and fertilizers worked

in 3 or 4 inches deep, or even a little more, im-
mediately before sowing the wheat. Sow early
in September. But you must look well to the
drainage, and see that there are no hollows where
surface water will collect and freeze. Indeed, the
land should be underdrained, if at all springy. If
you take this course, please give us the result.
CHIP dirt.

I wish to inquire how chip dirt will do to put
into the pig pen with meadow muck, tor the pigs
to w^ork over ] The chip dirt has been accumulat-
ing for two or three years, is composed chiefly of
rotten pine, and is pretty well pulverized. My
land is clay loam ; I generally dung my corn in
the hill, as the ground is new, and 1 can get bet-
ter crops by so doing. g. d. s.

West Danville, Aug., 1854.

Remarks. — The fine portions of the chip dirt
may be used to advantage in the pig pen. The
coarser parts make a good mulch for young trees.

IS FARMING PROFITABLE ?

We often hear the aflirmative of this decided,
and by persons, too, whose opinions ai'e entitled
to credit. We do not prefer to discuss this sub-
ject, but to give practical illustration of it, and
let our readers make the application.

Deacon Brooks Shattuck, of Bedford, lx)ught
and moved upon his farm elevi^n years since. It
was a rough farm, for which he paid $2300.
He was a manufacturer, and had shattered his
health in a mill at Lowell. lie paid in cash $900,
leaving a debt to be paid from the farm of $1400.
During that eleven years he has supported a large
family, educated his children, having one son in
college : has contributed liberally to the charities
of the day ; has been a liberal supporter and patron
of Agricultural Societies, spending time and money
freely, to further these objects ; in a word, he has
been an active, and industrious, book farmer.
Now mark the result. lie has sold from his farm
$100 of landandJ300 worth of wood, timber, &c.,
standing upon the same, which may not be reck-
oned as the result of agricultural labor. He has
paid the $1400, and a few weeks since sold his
farm for $3700. Giving a ballance on his farm
of $1500, for improvements and rise in value of
lands.

To recapitulate, receipts from farm,

Land, wood and timber sold $400

Debts and interest paid 1800

Balance on sale over cost of farm 1500

Leaving the snug little sum of $3700

for the receipts on the purchase and carrying on
a fai'm for eleven years, besides the support of a
large family. In addition he has recavered his
health, so as to labor daily upon his farm.

Is there profit or not in books ? — Granite Far-
mer.

Extensive Corn Field. — The beautiful farm be-
longing to Wm. S. Sullivant, Esq., containing 1,-
200 acres, adjoining the town of Franklinton, has
been rented to Messrs. Di.\on, Merrick and Stitt,
of this city, and from the manner in which it has
been worked this season, tluy may well claim to
be classed among the model farmers of the day.

468

NEW ENGLAND FARMEK.

Oct.

Notwithstanding the continual wet weather about
planting time, they succeeded in putting in six
hundred acres of corn, and by constant care and
attention, they can show the tallest corn in the
neighborhood. Fifteen shovel plows and three
cultivators, worked by eighteen men and twenty-
five horses, are kept in constant requisition ; and
the result is that scarcely a weed can be seen in
the well plowed furrows. Twenty-five German
girls follow the plow, and do the hoeing, for which
they receive 02.^ cents per day. The men receive
$20 a month. The view of the mound upon which
the "log cabin" stands, is exceedingly beautiful.
Far as the eye can reach, as you look down towards
the "sunny banks" of the Scioto, the summer
breezes stir the waving corn. — Coluinbus ( Ohio)
State Journal.

WAGES.

[The Hon. Amasa Walker, late Secretary of the
State of Massachusetts, has delivered a lecture be-
fore the Commercial and Nautical Institute of
Boston, upon the subject of Wages. Wo take
pleasure in extracting some portions of it into our
columns : ]

NOMINAL AND KEAL WAGES.

There is often a considerable difference between
nominal and real wages, or between the wages of
the employee when reckoned in money, or when re-
alized in such commodities as his wants require.

Man does not work for money, but for that
which money will buy. It may happen that with
high money wages he may get very low merchan-
dise wages; nay more, it may be true that when
he has the largest nominal, he will generally have
the smallest real wages.

As this question is one of fact, I have taken the
pains to ascertain the wages of labor at three dif-
ferent periods, and also the prices of ten different
commodities, such as tlie labor would naturally
purchase at the same periods, and the result is as
folio W8 :

Wages. Wages. Wages.

$1,25 per day. $1 per day. $1 per day.

1836. 1840. 1843.

1 barrel flour, $9,50 $5,50 $4,75

25 lbs. sugar, at 9c 2,25 2,00 1,62

10 gals, molasses, 42^, 4,25 2,70 1,80

i bbl.pork, 4.50 8,50 5,00

14 lbs. coffee, 12i, 1,75 1,50 5,00

23 lbs. rice, 1,25 1,00 75

1 bushel corn meal, 96 65 62

1 do. rye meal, 1,08 83 73

4,80 4,20

6,60
2,00

1,60

1,40

30 lbs. butter, 22c
20 lbs. cheese, 10c

$44,00 $28,98 $22,00

Such are the wages of a common laborer in Bos-
ton in the years mentioned above, and such the
prices of the commodities specified.

It appears then that in 1836 it required the la-
bor of 34^ days (omitting in all cases unimpor-
tant fractions) to pay Ibr the above aommodities;
while in 1840 it required only the labor of 29 days,
and in 1843 that of only 23i days to pay for the
same : and thus the important fact is disclosed
that while the nominal rate of wages was higher
by 25 per cent, in 183G than in 1840 or in 1843,
yet real wages were 22 per cont. in 1840, and 29
per cent, in 1843, higlier than in 183G.

Thi.s affords a striking illustration of the differ-
ence between money wages and corn wages, as
they are eometimeg called ; or in other words, be-

tween the nominal and actual reward which the
laborer receives for his services.

We do not say that there would be through-
out as great a difference as shown by the forego-
ing table, because all commodities would not vary
perhaps as much within a short period as those
we have selected. Rent and some other charges
which the laborer must incur, would not perhaps
be as much affected by fluctuations iu prices, yet
the foi'egoing undoubtedly affords an approximar
tion to the general fact, and is sufficient not only
to establish our principle, but to prove that the
subject is worthy the attention of political econo-
mists as well as laborers.

x\nother obvious difference between nominal and
real wages arises from a mere change of location.
For example, a carpenter who could obtain but
$1,25 in Vermont, might by going to New York
city get $2, or to New Orleans $2,50 ; yet it
would be found, perhaps, that if all things were
taken into the account, if the expenses of main-
taining himself and family in health and comfort
were well considered, the wages obtained in Ver-
mont might be greater than in New York or New
Ox-leans.

PROPORTIONATE RISE AND FALL OF WAGES.

Although wages rise and fall with the general
rise and fall of commodities, they do not do so in
equal proportion. The fact is one of common ob-
servation ; but the i-eason of this variation we
don't recollect to have seen stated. It is, how-
ever, apparent on a little reflection. For all ma-
terial products, there is both an actual and a spec-
ulative demand — for labor tliere is only an actual
demand. When business begins to be particular-
ly prosperous, and there is a general demand for
ill kinds of merchandise, prices will gradually
begin to improve. This give rise at once to
a speculative demand, for to buy will be to rea-
lize and advance ; the larger the purchases, the
greater the profits ; for every operation pays.
The speculative demand goes on until every arti-
cle bought and sold as merchandise goes up to its
highest limit.

But no one speculates in wages. No one can,
if he would, purchase a hundred thousand dollars'
worth of labor and hold it for an advance as he
can of every article that the laborer consumes.
Of course, labor lias no advantage of this kind of
demand which affects other things, but must rely
entirely on that which is immediate arid actual.
Therefore, a general rise of prices must always
operate against the laborer or person employed on
salary or wages.

But wages not only never rise so much as other
commodities, but never rise so soon. The reason
is that the rise of commodities is greatly accelera-
ted ])y the speculative demand, while labor is not
as before stated, aflected by that kind of deraaud
at all. Hence, it docs not rise until speculation
has engendered a spirit of extravagance and in-
creased consumption, and then wages take an ad-
vantage about half as great on an average as that,
of merchandise and other things.

Wages fall sooner, because merchandise maybe
and is held for high prices, if need be. Its falLi^
broken l)y the disposition and ability of the own-
ers to hold on, and as far as possible prevent loss,
but the laborer cannot hold on — he must sell his
commodity at once for the most it will bring.

It is for this very obvious reason that wages, in

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

469

times of depression, must fall, not only sooner, but
lower j;han property in general.

This was shown in 1837 and 1838, when the
wages of common labor in Boston fell from $1,25
to an average of 92 cents, making a difference of
more than 25 per cent., while commodities fell
but about 5 per cent. Laborers therefore suffered
greatly during those two years, as will be recol-
lected by those familiar with the events of that
period.

UNDEALTHY TRADES.

Those occupations which are unhealthy, which
though not immediately hazardous, nevertheless
abridge life, ought to command more than the or-
dinary rate of wages. If a man is liable to be
made sick, and consequently exposed to loss of
time and expense of medical attendance, he sliould
be compensated for such liability. If he is likely
to shorten life in a particular employment, that
should be a matter of consideration in determin-
ing the rate of wages.

Regarded in an economical point of view, mere-
ly, it is certain that on this account some laborers
should receive much higher compensation than
they do at present : and to determine what that
increased pay should be, we must ascertain the
value or expectation of life in the different occu-
pations. To do this as well as we are able in this
country we have had resource to tiie ofEcial regis-
tration of births, marriages and deaths, made by
authority of the State of Massachusetts, and pub-
lished annually by its Secretary. We take the
Eleventh Report, which gives the results of the
last eighty years and eight months, ending De-
cember 31, 1851.

From this Report it appears that agriculturists
live to the average age of 62.93 years ; black-
smiths 51.44 ; shoemakers 43.12. We take these
three examples, because they seem best to repre-
sent average employment. The first is the most
healthy, the second of a medium character, and
the third the most unhealthy of all the principal
occupations. From this it will appear that the
expectation of life is, in round numbers, lor a

Farmer at the age of 21 42 years.

Blacksmith, Jo 30 "

Shoemaker, do 22 "

The agriculturist then, it appears, has the ad-
vantage over the blacksmith of 13 years, or 3.J per
cent. ; and therefore, if the blacksmitli or shoe-
maker, receive wages which shall, in the aggre-
gate during life, amount to as much as those of
the farmer, they must be correspondingly high-
er.

According to the foregoing, if we allow 300
days to the year, and take the wages of the agri-
culturist to be $1 a day, the different occupations
should stand as follows ;

Farmer, 43 liy yoo equal 12,900, at $1 per day, is $12,900

Blacksmitli, 30 by 300 ecjual 9,000, at $1 ,43J per day, is 12,000
Shoemaker, 22 by 300 e<iual 6,600, at $l,93i pirday , is 12,000

Such then should be the relative value of the
wages of these several occupations, regarded jnere-
ly as a question of production. If the black-
emith or the shoemaker does not receive as hi^li
proportional wages as indicated above, he is, as
comparec' witli the farmer, working for less than
a lair pr.ce, estimating life as valuable only for
earning a given amount of money.

But all mechanics, it is clear, ought — other
things being equal — to receive a higher rate of

wages than the man who works on the farm, on
the ground that they have been at the expense of
learning trades, for which they should be compen-
sated by larger pay ; for a trade is capital invest-
ed, for which a profit may be rightfully claimed,
in the shape of enhanced wages.

As an economical question, then, the expectation
of life should be a matter of consideration with
every one in choosing an occupation and in deter-
mining the rate of wages. That this is not
now the case, is very evident, because the wages
paid for labor in an unwholesome employment, do
not correspond with the abridgment of human
life consequent thereto ; so that the lab rer loses
not only a good part of his life, but also a share
of the wages he ought to receive while he does
live. As for example, the shoemaker does not
receive, take the country through more than
$1,42 per day ; while according to the foregoing
table, he should receive $1,95^ per day. Ifso,
then he loses 63 cents per day in wages, and 21
years of his life into the bargain. The same rela-
tive difference might be shown in regard to ail
other occupations.

Agriculture ie evidently the normal employ-
ment of man — that in which he enjoys the great-
est health and lives the longest. Every other call-
ing is unwholesome to the exact extent which it
departs in its condition from the agricultural,
and therefore the rate of wages should be adjusted
to a scale constructed on this principle. As things
now are, all mechanics and persons employed in
close rooms are, as a general fact, very much un-
derpaid. This whole class live only to the aver-
age of 46 years, 18 years less than the agriculiur-
ist. They should receive greater wages, and work
less hours per day ; they would thus prolong
their lives, and get a fair compensation for their
services.

For the Aew England Farmer,

ORKE'S EAELY APPLE-ENGLISE
WHEAT PLTJM.

Mr. Brown : — I send you tw*o specimens of
Orne's Early Apple — which in my opinion is a
fine fruit. The original tree stands in the garden
of Mr. A. C. Orne, of this place. Its true origin
is not exactly known ; some say it was imported
from France by the late Capt. Henry Quinen
some years since — others that it is a native seed-
ling ; be this as itmay, it is, I think, worthy of
cultivation. I sendyou also ;i bunch of tiie true
English Wheat Plum, which arc not yet quite
ripe, consequently you will not 1« able to form an
opinion in relation to their merits ; it is a good
plum, and well worth cultivating.

A-NDRKw Lackey.

Marbkhcad, Avg. 29, 1S54.

Remarks. — We agree with you, Mr. Lackey,
that the fruit sent is highly worthy of cultivation.
The apple is new to us — the plum -is an old and
well-known variety, and scarcely excelled, wd
think, by any that grows.

Fall Planting. — This sounds strange, proba-
Idy, but it has been, it appears, successfully prac-
ticed in respect to potatoes.

A gentleman writes in the Maine Farmer: — I

470

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

left last fall some potatoes in the ground— In Ju-
ly they were more than as big again as my others.
He strongly recommends to all farmers to plant
Bome in the fall, and try the experiment.

I have seen some that others raised, he says, by
planting in tlie fall, and they were excellent — bet-
ter potatOLvs than he ever saw — very large, sound
and handsome.

He recommends to plow a furrow, drop in the
potato whole, cover it witli strong manure, and
then cover the whole carefully with rich earth. —
By so doing you may have handsome, large and
early potatoes. If this he so, it must he a great
improvement in the raising of this valuable escu-
lent root. Would it not be well for farmers to
give it a thorough trial ? — Dover Gazette.

THE MOaUIS.

Far away beyond the South Pass, oa tbo head
quarters of Gila River, lives John Bridger, a
trappt^r of the plains and mountains for more
than 40 yeiirs. It is admitted by all trappers
that he is better acquainted than any living man
with the intricacies of all the hills and streams
that lose themselves in the great b.isins. While
trapping on the tributaries of the Colorado, an
Indian offered to guide Mr. Bridger and party to
a people living far up the desert, with whom he
could barter.

The proposition was accepted; and after pro-
viding themselves with dried meat and water,
they grruck right out into the hejirt of that great
desert, where no white man has before or since
trodden, and which the hardy mountaineers will
only venture to skirt. After five daj's' travel the
party arrived at three mountains or buttes, ris-
ing in grandeur in that solitary waste. These
mountains were covered with a diversity of for-
est and fruit trees, with streams of the purest
water rippling down their declivities. At their
base was a numerous agricultural people, sur-
rounded with waving fields of corn and a profu-
sion of vegetables. The people were dressed in
leather ; they knew nothing of fire-arms, using
only the bow and arrow ; and for mile after mile
circling those buttes were adobe houses two and
three stories high. Mr. Bridger was not allowed
to enter any of their towns or houses, and after
remaining throx? days, bartering scarlet cloth and
iron for their furs, he left them, not, however, be-
fore being given to understand that tliey had no
communication beyond their desert home. That
these are the people that once inhabited the banks
of the Gila and the Colorado, and left these
monuments of wonder, the '* Casse Grand," which
so deeply attracted the followers of Fremont and
Dontplian, and then vanished like a dream, there
can no longer be a doubt. •

Months after this conversation with Bridger,
I had another with Mr. Papin, the agent of the
Ameri-can Fur Company. lie told me that anoth-
er of the party, Mr. Walker, the mountaineer,
after whom one of the mountain passes is named,
and who is known to be a man of truth, had
given him the same description of these isolated
people, and in my mind there is not a shadow of
doubt of their existence.

According to Capt. Walker, through the very
centre of the Great Basin runs the Rio Colorado
Chiquito, or Little Red River. It takes its rise

in the mountains that skirt the right bank of the
Rio Grande, flows almost due west, and empties
into the Colorado at a point on the same J3aral-
lel of latitude with Walker's Pass. About 100
miles north of this, and running almost parallel
with it, is the river San Juan. Each of these
streams is about 250 miles long. Between them
stretches an immense table land, broken occasion-
ally by sierras of no great length, which shoot up
above the general elevation. About half way be-
tween the two rivers, and midway in the wilder-
ness, between the Colorado and the Rio Grande,
is the country of the Moquis. From the midst of
the plain rises abruptly on all sides a butte of
considerable elevation, the top of which is as flat
as if some great power had sliced ofi" the summit.
Away up here the Moquis have built three large
villages, where they rest at night perfectly secure
from the attacks of the fierce tribes who live to
the North and East of them. The sides of this
table mountain are almost perpendicular cliffs,
and the top can only be reached up a steep of
steps, cut in the solid rock. Around its base is
a plain of arable land which the Moquis culti-
vate with great assiduity. Here they raise all
kinds of grain, melons, and vegetables. They
have also a number of orchards, filled with many
kinds of fruit trees. The peaches they raise,
Captain Walkersays, are particularly fine. They
have large flocks of sheep and goats, .but very
few beasts of burden and cattle. They are a
harmless, inoffensive race, kind and hospitable to
strangers, and make very little resistance when
attacked.

The warlike navajoes, who dvrell in the moun-
tains to the north-west of them, are in the habit
of sweeping down upon them, every two or three
years, and driving off their stock. At such times
they gather up all tliat is movable from their
farms and fly for refuge to their mountain strong-
hold. Here their enemies dare not follow them.
When a stranger approaches they appear on the
top of the rocks and houses watching his move-
ments. One of their villages, at which' Capt.
Walker stayed for several days, is five or six hun-
dred yards long. The houses are generally built
of stone and mortar, some of them adobe. They
are very snug and comfortable, and many of them
are two and even three stories high. The inhab-
itants are considerably advanced in the arts, and
manufacture excellent woollen clothing, blankets,
leather, basket work and pottery. Unlike most
of the Indian tri))es in this country, the women
work within doors, the men performing all the
farm and outdoor labor. As a race they are
lighter in color than the Digger Indians of Cali-
fornia. Indeed, the women are toleral)ly fair, in
consequence of not being so much exposed to the
sun. Among them Captain Walker saw three
perfectly white, with white hair and light eyes.
He saw two others of the same kind at the Zuni
villages, nearer the Rio Grande. They were no
doubt Albinos, and probably gave rise to the
rumors which have prevailed of the existence of
white Indians in the Basin.

The Moquis have probably assisted nature in
levelling the top of the mountain as a site for
their villages. They have cut down the rocks in
many places, and have excavated out of the solid
rock a number of large rooms for manufiicturing
woollen cloth. Their only arms are bows and ar-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

471

rows, although they never war with any other
tribe. The Navajoes carry off their stock without
opposition. But unlike almost every other tribe
oi" Indians on the continent, they are scrupulous-
ly honest. Capt. Walker says the most attract-
ive and valuable articles may be left exposed and
the}' will not touch them.

Many of the women arc beautiful, with forms
of faultless symmetry. They are very neat and
clean, and dress in quite a picturesque costume of
their own manufacture. They wear a dark robe
with a red border, gracefully draped so as to
leave their right arm and shoulder bare. They
have most beautiful hair, which they arrange
with cvre. The condition of a female may be
known from her manner of dressing the hair.
The virgins part their hair in the middle behind
and twist each parcel around a hoop six or eight
inches in diameter. This is nicely smoothed and
oiled, and fastened to each side of tlie head, some-
thing like a large rosette. Tlie effect is very
striking. The married women wear their hair
twisted into a club l^ehind.

The Moquis larm in the plain by day and retire
to their villages on the mountain at night. They
irrigate their lands l>y means of the small streams
running out of the sides of the mountain. Some-
times when it fails to snow on the mountains in
winter their crops are bad. For tliin reason they
always keep two or three years' provisions laid up
for fear of famine. Altogether, they are a most
extraordinary people, far in advance of any other
aborigines yet discovered on this continent. They
have never had any intercourse with the whites,
and of course their civilization originated with
themselves. What a field is here for the adven-
turous traveller. •

For the Nttv England Fanner.

MARROW SftUASH.

This delicious vegetable is grown in great
abundance, on the fertile fields of Marblehead. —
While the crops in other places are cut off by the
bug on the leaf, or the maggot at the root, there,
it would seem, the plants find no obstacle in the
way of going ahead.

Perhaps it may interest some to know how this
is brought about. As I passed the field of Mr.
Hatuaway, situate on the right hand side of the
road, as you go from Lynn to Marblehead, I s;iw
more than two acres covered with squashes, as
luxuinant as tliough no drought had prevailed. On
inquiry of the proprietor, 1 learned that the sod
was turned in the spring, and pulverized with a
fair coating of compost thereon, and the seeds
were planted in hills eight feet apart, leavin
three plants in a hill. Now tlie ground is covered
with an aljundance of scjuaslies, varying in size
from three to ten pounds each, estimatea to ex-
ceed ten tons to the acre, commanding in the
market $35 a ton — amounting to $300 an aci*e.
This was not the only field that I siw, others ot
like character are to be seen. On tlic ground of
Mr. Wasuuurn, Mr. Mason, Mr. lIowK, Mr
Stone and Mr. BaowEa, and others in the neigh-
borhood— though not so abundant. Wliether
those crojis are brought about by a peculiarity in
the Soil — or in the manure api)lied, or in the vigi-
lance with whicli they are tenchsd — thc^re they are
to be seen by any one who will look at them.

Aug. 21, 1854. F.

For the New England Farmer.

CITY MECHANICS AND COUNTRY
FARMERS-No. 3.

Some months since, two articles were published
in the Farmer, with the above caption, and the
writer intended to furnisli two or three otliers on
branches of the same subject. The tliird number,
in which it was proposed to attempt a comparison
of the wages, or incomes, of the two classes, was
commenced, but having less than usual leisure,
and meeting with unexpected difl?cultie-j and disap-
pointments in obtaining tlic necessary f;icts, it has
not been finished. Having i-ecently spent a
week in visiting family connections in Massachu-
setts and Vermont, — about one-half of whom are
mechanics and the other half farmers, — I propose
to give some account of the Journey, and of the im-
pressions which my intercourse with t!ie families
of both mechanical and agricultural friends hare
leftujx>n my mind, as a mode of arriving at con-
clusions on the relative [irofits of mechanical and
agricultural industry, much jaore easy if not as
satisfjictory, as that by the dull path of dead sta-
tistics and dry figures.

My present journey to Vermont was taken after
a confinement toa single dingy rooro of a city shop
for something over six years, interrupted by onlj
one whole day's absence of working tim:e. When
I left Vermont, raiirotidi were cx)mmenced there,
but the c-ixrs had not passed its boundaries. —
While, therefore, to others, the fact of riding
from Boston to Windsor, f)y way of Bellows Falls,
tetween a late breakfast and arr early dinner, has
been fur years an old story. I enjijyed fchecmitrasfe
between this style of travelling and iluvt by stag-
ing, in all its novelty, fresiiness and excitement.

Landed amid the dusty labyrinths of the " Wind-
sor Depot," I c<iuld not help thinking, as I gazed
around mo, fcl>at ixx>z "-Vermont Uentral" might
well saj to herself, ' ^Deliver me from my friends?"
Hero, where corn and p^itatoes loved to. grow in
old times, and whein^ they ought to be oultivated
still, stands a Inaiiding- large enough for tlic busi-
ness of some Grand Trunk Raihvay termiuns. —
Perhaps the stockholders have found out by this
time what this huge pile was made for ; if so, the
fact ought to I>e recorded, lest future antiquarians
Ix! as much troubled to determine its o!>jeet and
purpose, as they are to de-cide what the Egyptian
monuments were built fop.

After making a few calls on old friends in the
•■'Street," — none more satisfying , by the way.
than tliat at the '^' Windsor House," — -we started
on foot for the pinnacle of old Ascutney, whoso
jagged sides and oap of blue wo had Ixnun "calcu-
lating" as the oars wormed their way up the river
from the Falls. The prospect from tliis mountain
is delightful. Spurning all "connection with any
other concern," it rises solitary and alone from
the rich intervales of the Connecticut valley. Oth-
er mountains, byaidof oombinatiunsand "chains*'
— by "piling Alps on Alps." may rear their heads
higher into the clouds ; but these accompaniments
usually interrupt and mar that wlwleness of view
which is enjoyed on the sugar-loaf, shaft-like As-
cutney. No Windsor county l)oy, whose imagi-
nation first tried its powers in peopliitg Ascutney
with Indians and l)ears, can feel that he has real-
ly visited the "iiaunls of his childhood" without
standing upon the 'summit of this mountain. —
WithiQ a few years a still Ijetter path has been

472

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

opened than that which was made at the time of
La Fayette's tour, in liopes that he would he able
to ascend, whicli however he did not undertake.
Ladies and feeble gentlemen may now nearly or
quite reacli the summit on Iiorseback.

The beautiful summer day which we commenc-
ed in the vicinity of Boston, was fading into night
as we reached Brownsville, some six or seven miles
from Windsor, without counting about as many
more miles tliat we had walked in ascending and
descending the mountain — having accomplished
this day what would have required, when we
were a boy, at least one-half of our week's fur-
lough. Starting the next morning at day-light,
we soon reached the out-posts of our "friends and
connections.''

And here we must comply with the reader's
desire to "be excused," while we do up our coua-
ioing- Had we the ability to take him with us
over the hills and through the valle3'8 of these
Green Mountains, — to show him the prospects, —
the homes, the fields, the "butteries" we are
about to visit, surely he would ask nc such thing.
But as we have little skill in this line, we will let
him pass over the few days we spent in Reading,
Plymouth, Woodstock, Ludlow and Bridgewater,
in which latter town, unless we are mistaken in
our application of the initial letter, we passed the
fine farm and residence of your correspondent
"J.," wiio, although living but a short distance
from the gold diggings which a New York compa-
ny is making great preparations to open in this
town, was pointed out to us contentedly "dress-
ing" his garden.

We returned by v^-ay of Brattleboro', where we
istopped over one train, and where in our rambles
fchi'ough the village, we saw a mowin* machine,
that somehow reminded us of your editorial asso-
ciate who lives in this town, and raised a regret
that we had not time, nor any right that we could
think of, to give him a call; for we stopped here
to visit mechanics, not farmers. From Brattle-
boro' we passed down the river, for the first time
to Greenfield, and can say we believe the Connec-
ticut valley to be richly entitled to all the eulogies
it receives from travellers. We saw more broom-
oorn this afternoon than in all our life before, and
at this season it checkers the fields beautiful-
ly. Taking the cars on the Vermont and Massa-
chusetts road, we thought the irreverent problem
of two hills without a valley was about to be solv-
ed- For some miles we passed one part of the dis-
tance on the roofs of bridges, and another through
deep cuts in the ragged spurs of the mountains
that seemed interlocked purposely to make it im-
possible to build a railroad there. No wonder
that road don't pay ! Asa matter of curiosity, I
would advise travellers who can do so, to take this
road in the course of their tour.

Thus muph as to the incidents of a journey that
afforded us much gratification.

As to thequestionof the relative profits of me-
chanical and agricultural pursuits, so far as it can
be indicated by the respective circumstances of
some half-a-dozen families of each profession
among my connections, I have no hesitation in
.saying that the farming portion are decidedly bet-
ter off than the mechanical — especially is this the
case with those of tliem v/ho have large families.
As journeymen, our farming friends envied us our
larger wages ; as heads of families, we may well

envy tlieir comparative independence. They
speak of the superiority of the schools our chil-
dren enjoy ; we feel more and more sensil)ly as
our boys, in particular, grow older, the superior-
ity of the training of the farm over that of the
street, for our children. But throwing aside all
considerations of this kind, — overlooking the
ominous fact that the successful business men of
cities and villages are composed almost entirely of
boys raised upon country farms, and confining
ourselves entirely to dollars and cents, the advan-
tage is clearly with farmers, so far as my friends
are concerned ; and, I may add also, so far as the
acquaintances of my boyhood are concerned. Sell
them off at auction to-day, and the farmers will
realize the most money. But that is not all. —
They are incomparably better circumstanced for
sickness and old age than we. Their homes may
be humble, but they are their own ; while, with
few exceptions, though our flooi's may be carpeted,
the roof that shelters us is owned by another
man.

I might easily, and with perfect truthfulness,
draw still stronger contrasts in favor of the profit
of agriculture from the actual circumstances of
my friends at this time, but I have no disposition
to particularize, where general inferences may seem
almost to exceed the limits of propriety.

But if there be general truth in the adage, that
"the proof of the pudding is in the eating," I do
not see why we may not apply it to the condition
of the families of farmers and mechanics, in de-
termining which profession is preferable in the
long run? Perhaps the following incident, which
occurred on the evening of my arrival in the city,
may have first excited my curiosity to know more of
the actual condition of the families of city me-
chanics. My little ones, fatigued by a day's jour-
ney, were somewhat worrisome, as we took seats
in an omnibus, and they immediately attracted
the notice and sym^jathy of an aged woman seated
near us, and who soon became sufficiently fiimiliar
to inquire my business. I told her what it was.
Raising up both hands, she exclaimed, "Poor
man, 1 pity you, and your wife, too ! W^hy, my

poor husband was a too, and it killed him ;

he used to work all day, and take on all night in
such misery, that it is not wicked to say, I was
glad when he was dead. And these children,
pretty little dears, to be turned into the streets of

this wicked city ." Iler remarks were cut

short by our ari'ival at our lodgings. Such an
earnest greeting by the widow of a city mechanic,
as we were crossing the threshold of city life, was
not to be forgotten by myself or family. Would
a sti-anger-family that should enter any agricul-
tural neighborhood in the country be met with
such doleful admonitions?

Were county people as careful to ascertain the
condition of aged city mechanics, or even that of
those with large families, as they are to know
how many dollars can possibly be earned in a sin-
gle week ; or did they inquire why it ii that me-
chanics so often keep poor on their large wages,
while farmers grow rich on their very small pay,
many a young man who is now lianging about our
intelligence offices, would have staid upon the
farm contentedly.

I must allude to one complaint that I heard
made by my agricultural friends, and which
sounded very novel to me. They said it was

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

473

somewhat difficult now to let their money at 6 per
cent. A state of things very different from that
which existed when I was a boy. Then, people
were mostly borrowers, though but little money
was to be had at any price. Farmers who wished
to increase their stock, or to procure a few bush-
els of grain for seed, often paid at a rate equal to
25 per cent, per annum. The name of Hon. Wm.
Jarvis, of Weathcrsfield, some twenty or thirty
miles distant, was better known in ..this section,
at that time, as indicating about the only man
who loaned money at G per cent., or who paid a
silver dollar a day for first rate haymakers, than as
the importer of merino sheep, by which he eventu-
ally enabled tliese same farmers to pay up their
mortgages and become money-lenders in their
turn. And this reminds me of another change
that was mentioned. In one scliool district, in
Reading, where thirty years ago there were chil-
dren enough to fill an ordinary school-house, es-
pecially in the winter, there is now not one
child living within its limits, and only the remains
of a siugle family, in an extreme corner. The
consequence mainly of turning small hill firms
into extensive sheep-walks.

A City Mechanic.
Boston, Sept. 1, 1854.

Remarks — We earnestly commend this article
to the consideration of our readers.

ENGLISH VEGETABLES AND MEATS.

We give below, from our own correspondent in
Liverpool, a very interesting letter relating to the
products of the English markets. Many readers
will be surprised — as we have been — at the fact
that potatoes, turnips and cabbages are the great
staples among the vegetables, and that the variety
and excellence of beans, squashes and green corn,
are scarcely known in perfection among them. —
The apples, pears and peaches, are also inferior to
our own. Indeed, these latter fruits, in our own
country, vary much in different localities. We
never ate an apple, pear or peach, grown south of
New York, so high-flavored, and perfectly deli-
oious, as some grown iu cold, rocky New England !
With the exception of an occasional winter too
cold— or of too sudden changes for tin' peach—both
the soil and climate of New England seem adapt-
ed to these fruits.

The table alluded to in the letter, gives the
prospects of the crops in every part of the king-
dom, with the names and addresses of the persons
who furnish the information, and is such as may
well be imitated here.

Liverpool, August 17th, 1854.
Mv Dear Sir : — I send you an agricultural pa-
j)er, containing a table of minute and well authen-
ticated statistics as to the "prospects of the com-
ing harvest" tliroughout Croat Britain. It seems
to me that the plan of this table is a very good
one, and might perhaps be advantageously adopt-
ed in a journal like your own. At all events, it

will convey more reliable information as to the
probable harvest here, (and this is a subject very
interesting to the United States,) than you could

obtain from any other source.

* * * * #

The supply of vegetables in an English market
is much inferior to the display in our own market-
houses at this season. Potatoes are of excellent
quality (better than in New England) and aver-
age about twenty-five cents a peck ; turnips are
plenty ; and cabbages. In all their more delicate
or coarser varieties, are exceedingly abundant. —
But these are the great staples in the vegetable
lino, of an English dinner-table, now that green
peas (which are never equal to our own) are going
out of season. The beau- tribe is very poorly repre-
sented by a few string-beans, which are almost
tasteless when cooked ; and though shell-i)eans, oc-
casionally appear, they never have the richness to
which an American taste is accustomed. Indian
corn in its green state, is of course utterly un-
known ; and England will never be able to appre-
ciate the luxury of a dish of succatash. All the
squash-family are strangers to the English table ;
although I have been cognizant of an attempt to
raise them under glass, and have seen one or two
diminutive specimens of tlie results. One vege-
table (or, rather, fungous) delica-cy, wliich we
comparatively lack, is the mushroon ; and you
may just now see bushels upon bushels of these poi-
sonous looking toad-stools, heaped up among the
scanty supplies of better esculents. Taking these
facts into view, it is no wonder that the English-
man should be a grosser flesh-eater than the Amer-
ican ; and it seems very certain that a vegetarian
diet can never be a luxurious or a fattening one,
in this climate.

As regards fruits, the inferiority is still more
lamentable. An untravelled Englishman has no
idea of the deliciousness of a peach, a pear, or
even an apple ; although I have been told of a cer-
tain apple called the Ribston pipin, which is
said to have been equal to the best of our own,
but is now almost extinct. So far as my own ex-
perience goes, the pigs of America would not
thank you for better specimens of either of these
fruits than I have ever seen in England, of native
growth, except in a hot-house. It is only by ex-
tending the branches of the tree against a brick
wall, heated ])y interior flues, that the horticul-
turists pi'oduce even the semblance of fruit in
the open air. Hearing an Euglislunan praise the
flavor of a native peach, I had tlie curiosity to ask
him what was its peculiar characteristic ; he an-
swered,."its delicious coolness !" This commen-
dation miglit have been more appropriately be-
stowed upon a watermelon ! Tlieir strawberries,
it must be owned, arc very large, but look much
better than tliey taste. But after all, the real
wonder is, not at the failures, but at the successes

474

NBW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

of English horticulture; for a person accustomed
to the tropical heat of our summer months, can-
not help being surprised that anything whatever
should thrive in the watery sunbeams of what the
English call their Summer.

With respect to substantial viands, a much more
favorable report may be made. The beef, perhaps,
though ftimous to a proverb, is not very decidedly
better than the best of our own ; but the mutton
is certainly something to rejoice in, and to be
proud of. The poultry is inferior ; the fowls and
turkeys being insipid to the American taste, per-
haps from the lack of Indian corn to feed them
with. Owing to this insipidity, the English con-
sider ducks a much better diah than chickens. —
Rabbits very frequently appear on the table.
Hares, at the proper season, are abundant in the
market, as well as all other kinds of English and
Scotch game. Their venison, however, is deficient
in the true game flavor ; and, in fact, the English
deer can scarcely be regarded as a wild animal, as
it has for centuries been almost domesticated in
parks, and looks for its feed of oats in winter, as
regularly as a horse. Much of the venison that
comes to the market is probably stiiU-fed.

In fish, taking the year through, the English
market has more and better varieties than our
own. Cod and haddock are abundant, but seldom
appear on the tables of the wealthier classes. —
There is a good supply of salmon, for a longer
season and at a cheaper rate than with us. The
turbot and the sole are fish unknown in America,
and Avell-deaerve the estimation in which English-
men hold them. In short, nature seems to have
done her utmost to discourage the Graham system
of diet in England, both by the deficiency and
poor quality of vegetable esculents, and by the
abundance and excellence of flesh and fish. In
consequence of this state of things, among many
other causes, John Bull is likely long to remain
the ponderous, slow, thick-witted, but steady and
reliable personage, in whom the American recog-
nizes some points of resemblance to himself, but
quite as many of marked difference.
Yours truly.

For the New England Farmer.

STATE ALMSHOUSE AT TEWKS-
BURY.

Mr. Editor : — It is gratifying to learn from an
authority so reliable, as that of Dr. Brown of
Wilmington, the flourishing condition of this es-
tablishment. Tiiat the superintendence may be
good, and the accommodations convenient, I have
no reason to doubt; — but that the soil about is
productive, or can be made so by deep plowirig or
otherwise, is to me astonishing. From a time,
the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,
the Plains of Tewksbury have been spoken of, as
barren in the extreme. By what magical appli-
cation they have all at oncj become "retentive

and productive)" is worthy of being entered on
record, in the next volume of Agricultural Trans-
actions, for the County of Middlesex.

From what I had heard, I had supposed there
was a great deficiency in an adequate supply of
pure water at this Institution. But from the Dr.'s
account, it would seem, an ample supply is ex-
pected from the wells that are to be dug — not
from those they already have.

One would think it desirable to look out for
water before washing day comes, with such a dirty
set about, as those inmates are descril)ed to be. —
But there is*no accounting for diversi ties of tastes.
As to the expediency of concentrating so much
filth and misery together, instead of continuing it
difi"u8ed in small parcels, in the several towns of
the county, there is room for much to be said.

September 20, 1854.

APPPLICATION OF MANURE.

A judicious and well timed application of ma-
nure is a subject of great importance to the farm-
er. If he had a complete knowledge of the defi-
ciency of the soil, and of the organized constitu-
ents of his manure, an economical application
might be made with comparative ease. But it is
not so, and he is compelled to study and experi-
ment, until he becomes practically familiar with
this part of his business, and better able to judge
what quality is lacking, and what he has in store
as a necessary supply.

A powerful fermenting process may bo neces-
sary to render a tenacious soil productive, one
that shall drive the particles asunder, and "warm
up the soil," as the saying is. The atmosphere
plays a lively part in the production of all vege-
tables as well as animals. Hence the importance
of cultivating the soil by plowing, hoeing, &c. Ni-
trogen in the form of ammonia or some other com-
pound, escapes from fermenting substances. If
the process is going on therefore in the soil, the
nitrogen will unite or combine with some other
substance supposed to be present, and thus form
a nutriment for the plant. The escaj^iug and ex-
panding gases have much to do in such a case. —
They disorganize the hard and adhesive lumps,
and render them so pourous, that the air has very
free access.

Now if this manure had been applied to the
surface, we can readily see that most of its jiower
would have been lost, and its virtue too. So also,
if fermented manure had been placed in such a
soil, its eflect would have been much less than the
unfermented, because the former is composed
mostly of the ashes of plants and mineral sub-
stances, of which the soil may have already a
competent supply, and no new power be given by
the addition of these comparatively inactive ele-
ments.

A different compost is necessary when the seed
and not the stalk is the object of cultivation. The
phosphates or phosphoric acid must be present for
the formation and perfection of seeds, such as
wheat, corn, &c., while for grass designed to be
cut for hay, it may not be essential.

In the vegetable world, "like produces like,"
and the decay of plants produces food for the re-
production of the same plants, and if they decay
upon the soil without loss, the present crop will
furnish materials for a larger subsequent crop. —

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

475

Where the grape is cultivated in many places, the
only manure used year after year is leaves and
trimmings of the vines, carefully placed around
the roots, and slighty covered to promote their
decay.

If we place our corn cobs in a proper state of
decay, upon our corn ground, we may perhaps
gain more in the end, than we should to have]
them ground into meal, — or certainly than we
should to throw them at random into the compost
heap, to be applied without reference to a future
crop. — American News.

For the New En!jlnnd Farmer.

THE USEFUL AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

BY R. MORRIS COPELAND.

The art of landscape gardening is not only re-
ducible to principles, but these principles, are sim-
ilar to those which exist in each of the fine arts,
and if the practice and tiie rules can be made to
agree, the whole cultivated world may consider
landscape gardening a fine art.

My aim is not to condemn any practice or pro-
fessors, upon unseen and unknown dicta and res-
olutions, but first to establish certain well defined
principles, and to judge all by them.

But before pursuing this any further in the di-
rect line, it seems not unworthy the subject to
turn a little aside, and notice both some of the
standard works upon Landscape Gardening, and
what they teach.

My attention was drawn to this point by an ar-
ticle in tlie January number of Hovcy''s Maga-
zine, for 1853, written by one who professes to
be a practical inprover. Many of the ideas con-
tained in it are noticeable, but first let us exam-
ine the following paragraph, and the conclusions
to which it leads :

He is speaking of American books and works in
this art, and says : "Notwithstanding what has
been published on the subject, not a syllable has
been written that had not been long ago advanced
in English works ; nor can we discover anything
in the writings of American authors on Landscape
Gardening, calculated to adapt the works of Eu-
ropean writers to the wants of the numerous resi-
dences where this adaptation is much required."

A little back of this quotation, on the same
page, the writer advances tlie idea that the style
of improvement in the house should govern that
of the grounds, and that this is the commonly ad-
mitted principle abroad. lie then says, " to be
guided here by such principles, sliade of Evelyn,
what a preposterous idea. America has not yet,
we presume, produced the genius to strike out a
style applicable to all, or, indeed, exclusively to
any of the innumerable oddities that are scattered
over the face of the country."

A careless reading of the page here referred to
would certainly tend to give the reader a very
wrong impression of the writer's meaning ; he
does not Ijolieve that any American has originated
any style applicable to the numerous oddities, and
yet he speaks of the P]nglish style being applicable
to them exactly ; of course he did not mean us to
understand that English landscape Gardening
was a collection of the numerous oddities, and
yet it must l)e, since it is exactly suited to our
own. However, these paragraphs are not quoted
to note their inconsistencies, but rather for the

sake of the principles involved in them. It is very
true, indeed, thaf in the highest principles of the
art nothing has been originated here. Sir Uve-
dale Price, Gilpin, Repton, Loudon, and a few
others, have covered the whole ground, and hive
left almost nothing to be said or discovered in the
direction they went, but their writings are exceed-
ingly voluminous and tedious to read. Price,
Gilpin and Knight have set forth the principles,
have raised and purified the theory, and Price par-
ticularly has given the theory and essence of
Landscape Gardening so thorough a sifting as to
leave little for his successors to do but to reiter-
ate. The others referred to were either the prac-
ti-sers of Price '-s theories (Ripton), or the com-
pilers of the practice of their day, and of that and
of all preceding times (Loudon). Downing has
very ably digested out of this mass all that is
worth having to the general reader : he invented
nothing, got up no new ideas or practices, but
was a very able and skilful compiler ; and inas-
much as he separated the most of the wheat from
the chaff, and presented it in its winnowed form
to the reader, he deserves quite as much credit as
the original writer.

But had Downing lived longer, — had he had
time to practice and develop many of his theories
(borrowed and digested), he would doubtless have
produced original matter worthy of the subject.
As it is, he must ever stand at the head of the
i-anks, and, as the pioneer of a good cause, de-
serves more praise even than he already has.

But in reality, it is very questionable if Down-
ing or Mr. Allen, of Buffalo, the editor of Smith's
Parks and Pleasure Grounds, or any other per-
sons who have re-published English works, have
not made a very vital mistake, not in the good or
bad compiling of English authors, but in having
had anything to do with them at all.

The gentleman who has ]>een quoted speaks of
the English works as well adapted to the present
American wants.

This position is the one towards which we have
been tending : it is not true that English loorks
are adapted to American wants, but just theco7itra-
ry. Any farther than that general reading im-
proves the mind, and that a knowledge of the va-
rious methods of performing similar work in dif-
ferent parts of the world, improves the workman,
they are almost valueless.

One of them (Price) ought to be a text-book,
but that one is never read or quoted as a practical
guide. Price's Picturesque gives the careful stu-
dent a very thorough idei of the principles of
beauty — of the principles to guide liis action ;
teaches him the difference between the beautiful
and the picturesque; shows him how to appeal to
the refined mind in landscapes : and more than
all, going as it does to the root of the matter —
analyzing the mind to its elements, and the prin-
ciples of beauty to theirs — shjws how they may
mutually fit and benefit each other. .This is all
we want ; let him who would become an artist of
any kind, learn, not the handling, mechanism, or
coloring of his teacher, but rather the spirit that
guides him. It is never the rule of man's action
so much as the mind within.

To this bad habit of copying results rather than
principles, is to be attributed the bad architecture
of the present day. Architects in designing
buildings, assume some stylo, and then copy its

470

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

peculiar characteristics from an approved model,
and manufacture a palace, costing millions, into
a pine house costing $3,500; or transfer a chapel
or pinnacle of an abbey to the end of a New
Eno-land meeting-house architecture, white pine
church.

Wiiat they should do is, to understand the
mind and s^jirit of the old designer, that they can
see, with him, why he did each thing, and in
their turn what they propose, not because he
did it, but because the principle of guidance and
action is the same to both.

But to return to ourselves. We ought to fol-
low the same irdtlt^ English Landscape Garden-
ers wished to make a home, and they endeavored
to understand the home spirit of the age, and
adapt their improvements to it, and their works
are really a monument of it. In England it was
natural, free and unartificial — therefore in their
improvements they got as near the spirit as they
might. In France it was the contrary. There
was no homo spirit; all was stiff, formal and arti-
ficial, and the improvements on the earth's surface
were the same.

In England and France, all things are done,
regardless of cost, so that the end, or desired ef-
fect is gained. A gentleman in England, thinks
nothing of projecting improvements to cost 5, 10,
20, or $50,000; no man here can conceive of giv-
ing over $5,000. The evil of English reprints is
very great; the scale is entirely different, the spirit
is ditibrent, and above all, the ability to spend
money is diametrically opposite, and when our
would-be improvers read the English books, they
fill tlicir hea'ls with fair pictures that they would
fain make plain to all ; they want all they read
about, only that they are unwilling to spend the
tithe of tbe money necessary to acquire it. No,
we do not want English books, or men who make
it one of their recommendations that they know
how things are done abroad.

Sucli men, even if they do know one-half of
what they pretend, are too dangerous to be en-
trusted with the reins, coming from a country
where thorough is the word, to one where cheap
is. They sink more money in cutting, filling and
grading surfaces, that should have been left un-
touched, than the wliole improvements ought to
cost, and will spend more to drain one acre than
we need, from difference of climate, to drain three.
As I have said before, what we want in our coun-
try seats is a liomc; we want the home spirit
plainly carried out. Wliat do we care al)out the
Duke of A., or Lord B. ? They never lived in
our houses, or spent our in,;omes; and we want
imiirovements suited to our circumstances, not
theirs.

Read Sir Uvodala Price, and as many more
books as you wish; get fully imbued with a full
apprciiation of the beautiful, and then purchase
land of good capacities. Having this start, make
your iiiipri)vcnients such as the true theory teach-
es they should be, whether the lines of country
near you are geometric or regular, or wiiether
they would .>-uit tlie ideas of any Englishman the
world lias produced.

Let us learn to think that America is a pretty
good place.

Lexington, September, 1854.

BLESS GOD FOR RAIN.

"Bless God for rain," the good man said,

And wiped away a grateful tear ;
That we may have our daily bread,

lie drops a shower upon us here.
Our Father, thou who dwelst in Ilearen,

We tkank thee for the pearly shower ;
The blessed present thou hast given,

To man and beast, and bird and flower.

The dusty earth, with lips apart,

Looked up where rolled an orb of flame,
As though a prayer came from his heart,

For rain to come ; and lo ! it came.
The Indian corn with silken plume.

And flowers with tiny pitchers filled,
Send up their praise of sweet perfume,

For precious drops the clouds distilled.

The modest grass is fresh and green.

The brooklet swells its songs again ;
Methinks an Angel wing is seen

In every cloud that brings us rain.
There is a rainbow in the sky,

Upon the arch where tempests trod ;
God wrote it ere the world was dry,

It is the autograph of God.

Up where the heavy thunders rolled.
And clouds on fire were swept along,

The sun rides in a car of gold,

And soaring larks dissolved in song.

For the New England Farmer.

ANOTHER SPECIMEN OF FARMING.

Mr. N. E. Farmer; — J. D.'s letter of inquiry
to Mr. French may receive a further practical an-
swer from the experience of a farmer, who has
about average success, or a little less. I bought
my farm of 100 acres in Sterling, Mass., about ten
years ago, for a little more than $2000 — it is now
worth $2500. [f he stock and tools may be worth
$500, making the present investment about $3000.
[ keep one man in the summer, and a little boy
in haying. I can do but little work on the farm
myself, say 30 or 40 half days in a summer. I
pay in wages, exclusive of l)oard, about $150 a
season. 1 generally keep 7 or 8 cows, mostly
pretty good ; but one or two heifers are farrow, so
that the lot is no more than an average one. One
yoke of oxen and a cheap horse serve for a team.
I cut about IG tonsof 5iay (or 29 in a good sea-
son) from 25 acres of mowing, and this with my
corn stover, strjiw, &c., keeps my stock.

From the above description, you can conceive
that my profits cannot be immense — yet on sum-
ming them up, I see no reason to complain ; and
my inference is that farming must be good busi-
ness when well conducted, since I am able to livo
by it with ratlier poor management.

Recollect the investment is about $3000 — tb«
interest of which is $180.

From my 7 cows I sell 700 lb. at 23 cts (in firkins) $161

I cun raise 200 bushels of com, and from that, and the

dairy, &c., can sell pigs and pork 150

I sell a))out $-10 worth of Apples 40

Potatoes, 60

Beef 30

I'oultry and eggs 76

Total 603

Wages, Taxes and Insurance, 170

Profit, $336

Besides this should be reckoned the support of
my family from the farm, for we'buy little except

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

477

clothing and groceries, and we live more comforta-
bly than -we could in a village for $500, or in a
city for $1000. I put the wear of tools and
buildings and my own labor, againgt tlie improve-
ment of the farm, by trees and otherwise, which
is not less than $50 annually. So that I cannot
make the profit of the farm (all expenses paid)
less than $336 annually, besides our living, which
is doing pretty well for $3000 investment, and
poorly managed at that.

I have no douljt that a skilful man with a little
extra capital, might make the farm pay at least
double the above profit ; but it will help a man
to judge of what a good farmer can do, to know
what is done by a poor or middling one.

In some points Mr. French's estimate differs
from mine. For instance, we contrive to raise
a couple of heifer calves a year on skim-milk, and
though hay here is worth $10 a ton, I find it the
cheapest way of keeping up my stock of cows. —
Also, notwithstanding the present high prices, 1
cannot aiford to "sell off most of my hay and
stock," for my butter, at present prices, makes it
profitable to keep them. My farm is more than
50 miles from Boston by the railroad, and yet is
near enough.

I would hint to J. D. if he chooses to experi-
ment with guano, phosphate of lime, &c., the ex-
pediency of doing it in a small way at first. I
have experimented with those articles and lost by
it. Cattle and swine are the most reliable resour-
ces for manure.

Your correspondent D., of Groton, says that
"butter packed in tubs as is usually done, docs
not keep well." We do not know how butter is
usually packed in tubs in Groton, but if D. will
come to Sterling, he vt'ill find folks who will make
and pack butter in tubs, so that it shall not lose
its sweetness or flavor for a twelvemonth. The
secret is, work out all the butter-milk by succes-
sive workings, using no water — salt it with pure
rock salt, an ounce to the lb., put it down solid,
and then a decent dairy cellar will keep it good,
if good in the beginning. If kept among vegeta-
bles, meat, cooked food, &c., it will spoil, of
course. Yours, d. m.

Remarks. — The above is a capital letter, and
will do good among the cavillers and doubters. It
■will do good, too, to those who do not doubt —
because it will confirm their own opinions. This
is just what we want — brief and comprehensive
statements of actual farm operations. Write us
again, D. M., and give us the name in full, if you
please.

A Cheap Barometer. — A correspondent of the
Country Gcnlkman urges tliat henceforth farmers,
instead oi watching tlie locusts and crickets for
aigns of weather, devote their meteorological ob-
servations exclusively to their wife's cainplior bot-
tles, lie says :

"For some years I have been in the liabit of
watching the condition of the gum in my wife's
oamplior bottle, which stands in our bed-room,
and when not disturl)ed, it makes a capital weath-
er glass. It answers my purpose as well as a bar-
ometer that wouhi cost me from $25 to $50.
When tliere is to be a change of weather from fair
to windy or wet, the thin tlakes of the gum will

rise up, and sometimes when there was to be a
great storm, I have seen them at the top. When
tliey settle down clearly at the bettom, then we
are sure of grand weather."

For the New England Farmer,

TANNING.

It may be thought that in writing upon the sub-
ject at the head of this communication, I am go-
ing out of the line which includes matters appro-
priate to your paper. Perhaps it is so. In fact,
I have doubts myself about it. But there are two
considerations upon which it might seem not un-
suited to a paper designed for a farmer's reading.
The substances used in tanning are vegetable, the
products of the rural districts, if not of the farm-
er's care, and it may not be without value or in-
terest to him to know their properties ; — but, sec-
ondly, I think that those districts where cattle are
most raised, and, of course, tliere is the greatest
production of the raw hide for tanning, being usu-
ally, or often, remote from the tanneries, this
business might, in some neighborhoods, be made
a branch of the rural economy. But at any rate,
its relation to the business of the farm, both in
the article to be manufactured, and the material
used in the process, seems to me sufficient to war-
rant its presence in a farming paper.

The oak, elm, sumac and hemlock are na-
tives of this country, are abundant, and it may
be worth consideration, if, in some localties, the
materials for this purpose may not be profitably
cultivated. The Lavandula vera, common laven-
der, contains tannin as well as the aromatic oil or
sap which is so well known as a perfume. This
plant is a native of a more sunny clime. Yet
while it is a fact that in genearl, the secretions of
plants are more active in the warmer latitudes,
(as for instance the rose yields less of the fragrant
oil called Otto of Roses in Northern than in
more Southern climates) it is also known that the
Lavender is more fragrant in tlie North than in
the Soutl). Whether the tanning ^iroperty of
this plant is increased, as well as its fragrance, by
cultivation in a higher latitude, 1 am not inform-
ed. It is the aroma that is generally diminished
by Northern removal, while other properties are
increased : — and it would be most accordant with
observation, to find the tanning property of this
plant increase in our climate.

The astringent principle or element, by which
the hide is manufactured into leather, is general-
ly obtained, in this country, from oak. Most
kinds of oaks possess it in a greater or less decree.
The hemlock and sumac are also extensively used
in this country. Sheep-skins especially, tanned
by sumac, command a higher price in market than
those tanned by other matters. In England tli«
willow is used. The elm also contains a sufficien-
cy of this element to make it availalJe for the
purpose of tanning. Tliere are Kome trees of the
warmer latitudes, which contain nvore of this
principle tlian the best of our oaks. The man-
grove, a West India tree, makes very superior
leather, and performs the tanning better in six
weeks, it is said, than oak bark in ten. The Aca-
cia Catechu, wliich yiidds the Terra Japonica
has a larger proportion of this element than oak-
Some otiier species of Acacia are also good for
this purpose. Whether any of those native

478

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

this country are valuablo for this purpose, I can-
not say. 'I'he change produced on the hide by the
process of tanning, by which it is made tough and
durable, is made by the conversion of the gelatin
or glue, by steeping the hide in a solution of the
bark. The gelatin is, by this process, made capa-
ble of resisting decay, and imparts toughness,
strength and durabilry to the hide.

I have hinted that this business might be made
a branch of rural economy. With your leave, I
will say a few words on this subject, desiring it to
be kept in mind that my remarks are intended, in
particular for remote places, which are rather
pastoral, and not for the more densely populated
farming districts. In tliose interior rural districts,
where the raising of cattle is extensively prosecu-
ted, and the animals are slaughtered at home ; —
under these circumstances, the raw material and
the means of converting it into leather are both on
the farm. Here the tanning material would be of
no value, while at the tanneries a high price is
paid for it. No machinery is required, and all
the articles being at hand, it would seem to me,
that in each township or neighborhood, it would
be easy and little expensive to have a few pits
where each one might take his hides to be tanned,
as he sends his pork to a neighbor's smoke-house.
■The transportation of the hides and of the bark
to a distance to be tanned, adds a considerable
item to the cost of the leather, while the former
has both at liis hand. It would be a great im-
provement of the condition of the farmer, if he
could convert his articles of product into the state
necessary for their economical use. Where ex-
pensive machinery is not required, it would seem
this might be done. A portable mill has lately
been invented, designed to make the farmer his
own miller. If he could also convert his hides
into the state for use, he would still fiu-ther in
crease in independence.

It is always desirable for a farmer to manufac
ture as much as, and whatever can be done ; and
this includes such articles generally as arc manu-
factured without machinery. Formerly in all
farmers' families, most of the wear was made by
the women of the household. This has been dis
continued, because by the introduction of machin-
ery the price of clothing has become less. There
is no such reason against tanning. But the cause
why this is not pursued as a branch of rui-al econ
omy is, that it would come upon the man, not
upon the female part of the household ; and the
man is so apt to think that the tilling and the
care of the stock is euougli for him. But I am
inclined to think that if one farmer in each neigh-
borhood, situated as I have mentioned, would tan
the hides for himself and neighbors, it might be
another step of the farmer towards independence.

Essex, 1854. j. w. a. b.

Agriculture in Nova-Scotia. — Through the
attention of Messrs. Besonett & Browx, of Hali-
fax, we arc favored with a pamphlet of 148 pages,
being " Practical Hints to the Farmers of Nova-
Scotia on the Management and Improvement of
Live Stock, and on General Husbandry : By J.
W. Dawson, author of Seicntilic Contributions
towards the Improvement of Agriculture in Nova-
Scotia." The work is mostly a compilation of]

valuable papers from the writings of Youatt,
Johnston, Peters, Stephens, &c., and will be more
valuable, perhaps, to the farmers of the Province,
than any collection of their own operations would
be.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

At this season we are particularly remembered
by our friends, and receive from them specimens
of the fine fruits which have been produced by
their industry and skill. In order to look abroad
among the farmers, and in attending the gather-
ings of the farmers at their annual festivals, we
are necessarily away from home considerably, and
cannot give their favors quite so much attention
as we could desire.

The pears from Ashfield, sent in by Wir. Bas-
SETT, Esq., were received in good order. It is a
pretty one and of fair quality, but we have better
varieties of the same season, such as the Rostiezer,
Tyson, Brandywine, and others. Still, if worthy
in other characteristics than those of the fruit
alone, it may be advisable to cultivate it. The
great objection to fruits of this season, is that the
Bartlett takes the market before all Others, on ac-
count of its size and usual good qualities.

One of the apples sent in by J. R., Feltonville,
will be noticed hereafter. The other, the Red
Sweeting, is not among the best sweet apples
in point of texture and flavor ; but as it has great
beauty, it would always sell well in any market,
and therefore is worthy of cultivation.

The corn sent by G. S. R., Feltonville, being a
mixture of the Tuscarora with the 14 rowed sweet
corn, is not, we think, as tender, juicy, and free
from hulls, as some of the kinds now common
among us. The best corn for boiling, in our
opinion, is the black corn; when unripe it is
whitish, but turns as it ripens and becomes black.

It is not quite so early as some of the sweet
white corn, but is so tender and juicy as almost
to melt upon the tongue. It shrivels like sweet
corn, when drying.

Farmers in the United States. — The census
returns for 1850, give the following number of
farmers in the States and Territories : —

Maine 7,706 New Hampshire 47

Vermont 48,312 Massachusetts 55,

Rhode Island 8,39H Connecticut 31

New Jersey 32

Delaware 7

Dist. of Columbia

North Carolina 81,

Georgia 81

Alabama

Louisiana 11

Arkansas

,408
,082
"66
,392
,848
.246
,898
,364
610
,697

New York 311,591

Pennsylvania 206,347

Maryland 27,040

Virginia 106,807

Ssuth Carolina 32,863

Florida 5,750

Mississippi 44,833

Texas 25,054

Tennessee 118,941 Kentucky 114,715

Ohio 269,690 Michigan 65,709

Indiana 163,130 Illinois 140,894

Missouri 65,161 Iowa 32,716

Wisconsin 40,865 California 1,486

Minnesota 340 New Mexico 7,889

Oregon 1,702 Utah 1,570

Total in 36 States and Territories 2,363,958

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

479

EXTHACTS AND REPLIES.

QUERIES ABOUT HOPS.

Mr. Brown : — For some months past, I have
been thinking of engaging in the cultivation of
hops on a small scale, but I hardly know how to
begin. Will you, or some of your correspondents,
please inform me through the Fanner, the whole
process of the propagation and cultivation of hops,
also with regard to soil and manure to be used.
Especially inform me whether they are raised from
the root or the seed, and if from the root, the best
time for transplanting. Thus doing, you will
much oblige, A Subsciber.

Kenncbunk, Me., 1854.

Remarks. — Dr. Brown, of Wilmington, or some
gentleman in that land of hops, we have no doubt
will reply to these queries.

BRITTLE WHEAT STEMS THE LOCUST TREE.

Mr. Brown : — I wisli to inquire through the
columns of your valuable paper, what is the
cause of wheat straw being brittle ? We have a
nice piece of wheat wliich is very heavy headed
and of a good growth of straw, but it is very brit-
tle. It will not bear a half day's sun without
being so brittle that it cannot be bound, unless the
dew is on. The land is a mellow loam, with
roundish stone in it. It was broken up 4 years
ago, sowed to oats in the spring, and bore a good
crop ; the next year corn, with a fair crop, it be-j hausted with tobacco and wheat crops, in Mary-
ing manured in the hill, also some spread on and land, brought into the most luxuriant clover at

Island, N. Y., about the year 1817, said he be-
lieved nothing in the timber way could be so great
a benefit as the general cultivation of this tree.
He carried seeds back to England with him, sowed
them, and says he sold more than a million of the
trees. The seed is ripe in October, and if not
sown immediately, should be kept in the pods till
the following spring. It is well to steep the seeds
in cold water before sowing them.

The other questions we are not able to answer.

SII ELL-MARL.

Mr. Brown : — You will confer a favor upon
many of your readers by answering the follow-
ing questions, through the columns of the New
England Farmer.

What is the value of shell-marl compared with
other fertilizers ?

To what kind of soil is it best adapted ?

Is it good on any or every kind of soil ?

What kind of crop is it best suited for?

How much to the acre for a good crop ?

T. B. h.

Rockingham, Vi., Aug. 28, 1854,

Remarks. — If you have found a deposit of good
marl, strongly impregnated with calcareous sub-
stances, you will be able to bring your lands into
a high state of fertility. We have seen lands ex-

plowed in. The nest crop was corn, with the ad-
dition of more manure, and brought a heavy crop,
and this year wheat. The land is a gentle slope
to the soutli, with wood-land on the west, a part
of the way

What kind of tree is the locust, and to what opinion of another on the subject, t
563 is its wood applied? I never saw any of gQ^g extracts from the address of

them, and you will greatly oblige me, by giving
me information about it. If it is of any use as a
forest tree, I -should be glad to know it, as wood
is getting scarce here. L. Howard.

Ludlow, Vt., Aug. 18, 1854.

Remarks. — The locust tree is deciduous, a native
here, and valued highly for its timber — particular-
ly for posts and for s!iip-building. They are readily
propagated by seeds, or l)y cuttings of the roots,
and will grow in almost any soil that is not too wet.
They grow rapidly, and are highly ornamental as
well as useful tree.

In this country tliore are three popular varie-
ties, distinguisliedl)y tlie color of the heart-wood ;
viz., the red locust, when the heart-wood is red,

once by the use of marl. The land itself being a
clay loam. Not having had any particular per-
sonal knowledge of the effects of marl in our own
agricultural operations, we prefer to give you the

and introduce
of Lord SoMER-
viLLE, President of the Board of Agriculture, in
England, some fifty or sixty years ago. He says ;

Marl is a substance, containing calcareous
earth, found in the bowels of tiie earth, in differ-
ent situations and at various depths.

Clay Marl. — Clay marl is so called from its re-
semblance to clay, of Avhich it contains a consid-
erable quantity in its composition. It is of many
different colors ; but all of these agree in one par-
ticular point.

Stone Marl. — Stonc-niarl is so called on account
of hardness ; and differs from the former in being
less easily soluble in water.

Slate Marl. — Slate-marl is found in thin lamina\
or layers, like slates, and is of a consistence liard-
cr than clay, and softer than stone-marl. This
substance is also of difficult solution in water.

Shell Marl. — Shell-mavl is distinguished from

and wliich is esteemed by far the most beautiful

andduralile timber ; the green locust, which is the! every other substance of that nature, both by the

I ; 1. i,..o .. ,»^o„r^;^.K ,.-^11,^,., I. >,..f 'shells it contains, and the cohesi(jn of its parts, as
most common, wiiicn has a greenish yellow heart,- ' ... . i .'

and is held next in esteem to the red ; and the
white locust, which has a white heart, and is con-
sidered tlie least valuable of all. In the wes-
tern States there is another variety called the
black locust. Tliesc trees sometimes attain the
height of 70 or 80 feet.

"William Couhett, that eccentric genius, when
he engaged in farming and gardening on Long

well as its specific gravity, being less than either
of them. It is most fre(|uently met witii in situa-
tions where the ground lias furmerly lieen covered
either by lakes or pools of stagnant water. When
the shells are in a fresli state, and covered with
the enamel on tlie outside, sliell-niarl is of very
little value ; but when they aroin a decayed state,
it is by far the richest and most cflicacious of any
that we are acquainted with.

The benefit of all marl in agriculture, is, in a

480

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

great measure, owing to the quantity of calcare-
ous earth they contain ; and according as they
possess luore or less of it, they are more. or less
valuable. The principal distinguishing mark of
good marl is its effervescing readily with the acids.
This circumstance, while it proves the existence
of the calcareous earth, may be made use of to de-
termine the quantity of it ; which is a matter of
consequence for farmers to ascertain.

In all cases, therefore, where lime and marl can
bo obtained with equal ease, a preference should
be given to lime for deep soils and coarse meadows;
and to marl for high, thin, gravelly lands, espe-
cially if much wild sorrel grow upon them. There
is scarcely a shape, in which marl can be used
with such propriety as upon these high lands
when they are in grass. The experience of far-
mers, in those parts where marl is much used,
abundantly confirms tlie truth of this doctrine, and
perhaps, by the use of marl in this way, with the
assistance of top-dressings of compost afterwards,
all poor, thin gravels, and even sand, may be
rendered more valuable than by any other mode of
management.

But though Ave have thus decidedly given the
preference to the use of marl upon light soils, we
by no means wish it to be understood, that it might
not be applied upon any other ; on the contrary,
we think that upon strong clays, if a sufficient
quantity is put on, it will be highly beneficial.
Every description of marl, however, will not
answer for this purpose? Clay and slate-marl,
upon stiff lands, will increase their cohesion, and
in place of serving, will injure them ; but if shell
or stone-marl is used, the soil will be rendered
open, and b}^ its cohesion being broken, the water
will find a readier passage through it ; of course
the land will be rendered deeper ; the advantage
of which every farmer knows.

GIVING CREDIT.

In speaking of turnips, in his article on "Fod-
der Crops, No. 3," the Editor of the Journal of
Agriculture illustrates his point by the use of a
paragraph which lie credits to the Monitor, pub-
lished at Bockville, Canada West. By referring
to the Monthly Fanner, for Juno, p. 28-1, he will
find an editorial article with the title — "Impor-
tance of Roots," and in tliat article the paragraph
in question ; it was a brief statement of an ex-
periment with our CiAvs in the winter of 1852-3.

We find no fault wiith tlie Journal, for its edi-
tor is scrupulously careful to make the handsome
acknowledgment for what ho uses ; but to show
the blundering work occasioned by a neglect to
give the proper credits in the first place.

ged branches, throwing themselves straight out
with odd twists and angular lines, and might put
one in mind of an old raven with some of his
feathers pulled out, or a black cat with her hair
stroked the wrong way, or any other strange, un-
canny thing. Besides this they live almost for-
ever ; for ivhcn they have grown so old that any
respectable tree ought to be thinking of dying, they
only take another twist and so live on another hun-
dred years. I saw some in England seven hun-
dred years old, and they had grown queerer every
century."

The Yew Tree. — Mrs. Stowe, in her new work,
otititled "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands,"
gives the folowing description of the yew tree, of
which we have read so much in English Litera-
ture :

"Hero in England, I think, they have vegeta-
ble creations made on purpose to go with old,
dusky buildings ; and this yew tree is one of
them. It has altogether a most goblin-like, be-
witched air, Avith its dusky black leaves and rag-

CHAPIK'S POETABLE CIDER MILL.

The old cider mills of the country v/hich were
once considered as indispensable adjuncts to the
farm-house, have become sadly dilapidated and
out of joint. Cider-orchards as they were called,
have also become unfashionable since cider-drink-
ing has given way to tea and coffee., and a better
sort of apples will bi-ing from $10 to $20 per
barrel in European markets ; — so that now, one
sonaetimes finds it difficult to get a jug of liquid
for mince pies or to replenish the nearly exhausted
vinegar cask.

Therefore, to enable those Avho have a few ap-
ples to grind and press, to do the work with fa-
cility, we give above a cut which represents a
Portable Cider Mill.

Tlie manufiicturers say it is operated by two
men, and is capable of making five barrels of cider
per day, one barrel at a pressing. It is readily
moved from place to place by two men, and is
very convenient in neighborhoods.

The utility of this mill has been certified to by
many reliable men.

It is made of a size to 1)o operated by a horse ;
placed on four wheels and drawn by one horse
from place to place, and is capable of making
from 12 to 15 barrels of cider per day, with th«
work of only two men.

Either size is taken into the orchard, and saves
the transportation of apples to distant mills.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

481

For the New England Farmer.

LIGHTNING RODS.

Messrs. Editors : — In your paper of the 26th
of Aug., a writer styling himself "Farmer," asks,
if lightning rods are not humbugs?

There are various kinds of lightning rods, and
different modes of erecting them, and "Farmer"
asks which is the best ? Why, truly, mine is the
best ; so each one says. One relies upon its top,
another, on its fixtures, another, on something
else, for sure protection. But the cause of failure
lies not usually in its top, nor in its fixtures, but
at the foot of the rod. Here is the place of its
failure. It does not enter the ground in the best
place, or it has not been -well-imbedded in the
earth. It has been my practice for many years
to examine, thoroughly, those rods which the
lightning has left, to ascertain what, and where,
the defect or difficulty was, and I have invariably
found it to be at the foot of the rod.

Had Franklin's directions been followed, there
doubtless would have been no failure. He direct
ed to have the foot of the rod enter the ground
in the wettest place about the building. The well
was a good place, he said, if convenient, or sink-
hole, or put it down so deep as to have it always
moist ; and at the same time, he would have old
iron, or charcoal, which is better, placed about
the foot of the rod, so as to form a larger fouQ
tain of electricity at the foot of the rod than
there was in any other place about the building,
for he said lightning would not leave a large foun
tain of electricity for a small one. Here is sound
philosophy and good common sense. And when
his directions have been- followed, I have not found
a failure.

Some place much reliance on glass insulatorvS,
of which there are a number of different patents.
But I have found none but what have failed to
protect. And why should they not sometimes
fail ? Electricity will run on glass when wet as
well as on anything else. When it lightens, it
usually rains, or at least, the atmosphere is so
humia that the glass is moist, affording no obstacle
to the lightning passing over it. In theory, they
seem very scientific, but in practice, they are real
scientific humbugs. I might point to lightning
rods with glass insulators, which have fluid to
protect. But as an illustration familiar to all,
look at the telegraph. Its wires run through
glass insulators, and yet every year, more or less
frequently, the lightning comes down upon the
wires, runs over the glass, demolisliing the post
on which the glass sits. I have examined hun-
dreds and perhaps thousands of places where the
lightning has actually struck, and have always
found it coming down in connection with the na-
tural^ fountains of electricity in the earth. These
fountains are the oars and veins of water in the
oarth. Find the natural fountains of electricity
about the building, and place the foot of the rod
over the largest one, and then you form a railroad
for the lightning to run safely by the building to
the place which it is seeking.
Yours truly,

Mendon, Sept. 6, 1854. A. 11. Reed.

The Germ.ws. — These Germans soom an odd
race, a mixture of clay and spirit — what with
their beer drinking and smoking, and their slow,

stolid ways, you would think them perfectly
earthly ; but an ethereal fire is all the while work-
ing in them, and bursting out in most unexpected
little jets of poetry and sentiment, like blossoms
on a cactus.

Nowhere in Europe is railway travelling so en-
tirely convenient as in Germany, particularly in
Prussia. All is systematic and orderly ; no hur-
rying or shoving, or disagreeable fuss at stations.
The second class cars are, in most points, a9 good
as the first class in England ; the conductors are
dignified and gentlemanly ; you roll on at a most
agreeable pace from one handsome station-house
to another, finding yourself disposed to be pleased
with everything. There is but one drawback to
all this, and that is the smoking. — Mrs. Slows.

NICHOLS' PATENT CORN AND COB
CRUSHER AND PULVERIZER.

This is a most valuable machine for cracking
corn and cobs previous to passing through mill-
stones ; for crushing and pulverizing corn, and
cobs, and all other kinds of grain suitably for
provender ; and for cracking corn alone, making
it suitable for hominy, and the use of stables. It
is adapted to horse, steam, or water power ; ■svill
crush a great amount of grain > and remain in ac-
tive use a long time without needing repairs ; is
easily and quickly regulated to crush or pulver-
ize grain to any degree of fineness, from coarse to
that which is very fine ; will crush oats and all
other grain of like dimensions, — the necessity of
which is yearly becoming more apparent, as fcer-
nela of grain must bo denuded of their coating,
or pellicle, previous to entering tho stomacli of
any animal whatever in order to be digested and
do the animal thogroatcst good ; for even Nature's
powerful solvent, the gastric juice of the animal's
stomach , is not equal to tho decomposition of the
pellicle covering tho kernel of oats.

482

NE\r ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

For the Ntw Ensland Farmtr. '

CHAPTER ON HUSBANDaY---Ko. 3.

Messrs. Editors : — With your permission I re-
sume my chapter No. 3 ; should any objection-
able matter appear draw your pen across it. I
continue with article

21. Keep clean work around your field-walls ;
brambles, briars and bushes denote a slovenly
farmer, and are neither useful orornamental — bad
for hay cutters.

22. Plow from the walls and carry the soil into
the barn-yard or collar ; this drift of vegetable
deposite makes excellent manure, but suffered to
lie, it proves a rich nursery for bushes.

23. Surround your mowing fields with apple-
trees ; this plan helps out the orcharding, and
avoids shading the land and crops; if your neigh-
bor adjoins, (friendly or unfriendly) place your
trees 8 to 10 feet from the wall ; this gives the
treble advantage of plowing between them and
the wall, and of saving on your own land all the
fruit that falls, and above all the wrath of the
spiteful man, who seeks revenge by chopping off
the limbs perpendicularly with the line wall,
should they happen to overlie his field. Such de-
praved instances liiive occurred, even among men,
"professing and calling themselves Christians."

24. Apple-trees thrive best near a stone wall.

25. Never plow land when it is wet; it cakes
and hardens and does not easily mellow again ;
wait if it is a wet spring, (even like the past) and
you are the gainer; soil cannot be made too mel-
low for the tender reaching roots of the vegetable,
to whatever class it may belong. It would pay
well to plow twice for Spring crops ; yet I know
how anxious the farmer is to finish plowing, but
"Haste often makes waste."

26. Never cultivate a two-acre corn-field for a
product of 60 to 75 bushels. The same quantity
of manure will give the same result on one acre,
and nearly one-half the labor is saved ; no other
doctrine will stand law — predicated on the relia-
ble principle tliat the great merit is in the man-
ure, as we all admit ; in times of drought it stands
better ; at harvest time — it is a cornfield.

27. Never manure corn in the hill for the rea-
son that its roots immediately run away from it
and lose its nourishment; spread, and the roots
will journey through and get the benefit ; they are
many and long, and seek sustenance on their way.
In the hill it forces and looks more vigorous at
first — but spread even the little which you design
for the hill and test fairly the experiment ; al-
ways plow in manure as soon as spread, to save
the gases in the soil.

28. Top dressing is much in practice, even by

food farmers ; in my humble judgment it is of
oubtful utility, and I will givemy roasons. In th
first place, thoground is required to be wet whenitis
spread, or rain is necessary to soak it into the sur-
face ; we will suppose all this to be accomplished
and the season's crop is increased, perhaps, near-
ly sufllicient to pay the expense of the dressing,
yet one season exhausts all its value ; suppose it
to have been spread, and it turns out a dry sea
son; then dry sand is of about as much value as
top-dressing. Wiien grass-land needs to be top-
dressed, and it is done, it needs the flow most to
follou- and bury it ; then, and in aftor-time you
get its fertilizing effycts! This is the month to

turn over old mowing land and sow down to grass,
and if well manured, a good crop is obtained the
next year and no loss of a season in the grass
crop.

29. Beverage, or farm drinks, are not out of
place here,altliough changed somewhat from former
times. When a boy, I was allowed two swallows
from the old jug, against four swallows with the
men. But these were emphatically, the days of
'rum and molasses." Every farm was then a well
organized nursery for drunkenness ; rum, molasses
and wormwood, was the established worm vermi-
fuge for all the children. Now, men believe that
rum riots in the blood — enrages the brain — dead-
ens the appetite for food — enervates and prostrates
the system — embroils the peace of good neighbor-
hoods— brings wreck,ruin and the sheriff to a once
happy home — and while the outer man Avorks in
the field and cringes under a blistering sun — he in-
wardly scalds with an unnatural fire, turned into
his body at every round or two of the mowing-
field, and becomes a well-prepared subject for sun-
stroke, a broken neck, or a crushed body from his
loaded team. Molasses, ginger and water, cold
water, simple beer, are good and safe substitutes
for rum and leave no insanity upon the brain —
and while one hundred die from liquor, but one
man dies from drinking too much cold water.* It
is to be hoped tliis paragraph is not an innovation
upon your agricultural columns — not offered in a
spirit of rebuke — but to show what tvas, and ask
what 25. Yours truly, h. p.

Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 8, 1854.

* The papers publish all cold water deaths — quite rare ; how
would stand the other side .'

SOWING YELLOW LOCUST SEED.

As timber for posts is becoming scarce, it may
be well to sow a few quarts of locust seed, to
raise plants for the formation of a grove. It will
not be time for some weeks to sow the seed, and we
anticipate it, to enable our readers to make tho
necessary preparations. The ground to be selec-
ted should be a deep, well-exposed loam ; it should
be manured ploughed deep, harrowed, and the
seed sown thinly, in drills two inches deep, four
feet apart. Before being sown, the seed should
be soaked in hot water for twenty-four hours ;
all the seeds which float to be cast aside. The
plants, when they come up, must be kept clean.
At one and two years old the young trees will be
fit to be transplanted. They should then be set
out in a deep, warm soil, which has been well
manured, ploughed, and harrowed, in rows twelve
feet apart, ten feet asunder in the row, which
will give to each acre 363 trees. In twelve years
they will be large enough for posts — and we all
know they make durable ones. A grove once set
will, after being cut down, renew itself, and fur-
nish a new supply of post-timber every twelve or
fifteen yciirs.

We have stated that these trees might be cut
over every twelve or fifteen years for purposes of
fencing, and we will add, that such of those as
remained from twenty to twenty five years, if
fair, vigorously grown, healthy tre^-s, would be
worth three dollars apiece for ship building —
would at all times command ready sale to ship-
wrights, as also with railroad companies, for use
on the tracks. What an acre of laud would bring

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

483

for such purpose3, if sold, can easily be calcula-
ted. As a matter of convenience and profit, it is
with the owners of land to determine whether
their interest would be subserved by setting out a
grove of a few acres in extent ; the number, of
course, to be determined by the size of their re-
spective farms. — Am. Farmer. -

HINTS TO YOUNG MEN.

Give a young man a taste for reading, and in
that single disposition you have furnished him
with a great safeguard. He has found at home
that which others have to seek abroad, namely,
pleasurable excitement. He has learned to think,
even when his book is no longer in his hand ; and
it is for want of thinking that youth go to ruin.

Redeem time for reading. — Perhaps you think
this impossible ; but the busiest life has some
paus^^s.

When I see the large amount of time spent by
some over the lowest sort of newspapers, I am con-
vinced that the most industrious young man might
obtain a few minutes for study ; and it is aston-
ishing how much can be learned in a kw minutes
a day. What cannot be done to-day, may be ac-
complished to-morrow. It is as true of time as of
money — "Take care of the pence, and the pounds
will take care of themselves." Or as Young more
poetically expresses it, — "Sands make the moun-
tain, moments tlie 3'ear."

Do a little tvry day. — Constant dropping wears
away rock. When Apelles, the famous Greek
painter, was asked how he had been al)le to ac-
complish so much for art, he replied : "By the ob-
servance of one rule — No day without a line.'^

Be not discouraged by difficulties. — These are
chietiy at the start. The French proverb say8
truly: "It is only the first step that costs." —
The tree of knowledge has a rough trunk, but de
licious fruit. You must crack the shell, to come
at the kernel. Be assured that a little resolution
here will insure success.

Begin at the beginning. — Do not smile : the
rule is important, and broken every day, in every
employment. In unravelling a tangled thread,
who does not know that everything depends on
scettinj; hold of the end? Just so is it in learn
mg.

Never be ashamed to learn. — And in conformity
to this, never be ashamed to confess your igno
ranee, in the presence of those who have more
information than yourself. Many of us would be
wiser, if it liad not been for the conceit of being
wise enough ali-eady.

Value the smallest fragments 0/ knowledge. — In
manufactories of gold, 1 have observed that chey
save the very sweepings of the floors, and put net-
work at the windows : the little morsels and fine
dust of the precious metals, tints saved in tliiscity,
amount to hundreds of dollars in a year.

Lay aside a little money to buy 6oa/.'.?.— There
are certain hooks wliich every man sliould possess
as his own : and every reading man desires by de-
grees to gather a little library for his wife and
children. A trilling sum, set aside each month,
and redeemed from amusements or luxuries, wil
soon give an account of itself on your shelves.

Employ your pn. — I'his counsel, though less
frequently given than others, is nevertheless far
from being superfluous. There is a marvellous

power in writing down what we know. It fixea
the thoughts ; reveals our ignorance ; methodises
our knowledge ; aids our memory ; and insures
command of language. "Men acquire more knowl-
edge," says Bishop Jewell, "by a frequent exer-
cising of their pens, than by the reading of many
books."

All men of high attainments agree in saying
that the more valuable part of every one's educa-
tion is that which he gives himself. In this there
is high encouragement to go on and prosper. The
mental accomplishment wliich is fully witliin your
reach will double your capacit.y for action. When
Aristippus was asked, wherein a learned and un-
learned man differed ,_he replied : "Cast them both,
naked, on a foreign shore, and you will see."
Education will do for you, what sculpture does
for the marble. Hence the famous saying of Soc-
rates : — "I marvel that people should be willing
to give so much for turning a stone into a man,
and so little to prevent a man's turning into a
stone." — Tracts for the Times.

THE FITCHBURG CATTLE SHOW.

The annual show and plowing match of -the
Worcester North Agricultural Society took place
at Fitchburg yesterday. After the usual plowing
match and the trial of working oxon, a procession
wa? formed under the direction of Col. Ivors
Phillips, the chief marshal, which proceeded to
the Unitarian Church. Here an able address was
delivered by Gov. Washburn. The »>hurch was
crowded. At its conclusion, the procession re-
formed and proceeded to the Fitchburg Hotel,
where the society and its friends dined. The
president of the society, Hon. Moses Wood, pre-
sided, and introduced the speaking by a clear and
excellent practical address. He spoke of the rug-
ged character of North Worcester, the need there
was of such efforts as this society are making,
and the value of the encounigement given l>y the
state to this and kindred societies. He was fol-
lowed hj Mr. Flint, the secretary of the board of
agriculture. Governor Washburn, Hon. Nathaniel
Wood, and Mr. Brooks, in eloquent speeches. —
The several committees made their reports at the
Town Hall, at 4 1-2 o?clock in the afternoon.

This exhibition is pronounced the most success-
ful of this society. The show of fruit was excel-
lent, as was that of mechanical and manufactured
articles. These were exhibited in the hall of the
new town house. The ladies, as usual, patrioti-
cally contributed in this work ; and specimens of
taste and skill were seen not only from the par-
lor, but the kitchen ; but the premiums on bread
were only awarded " to ladies less than twenty
years of ago." The day was bt>autiful, and thou-
sands of the citizens of North Worcostei- thonged
the streets of Fitchburg.-— /?(;s/o/i Post.

A Bird Sekking Lodgings. — During- the cold
storm of Monday night, at a late hour, a small
Wrd knocked for admittance at a window of a ho-
tel which was illuminated by a light within. The
occupant, supposing the noise to be the pattering
of hail against the pane, gave it no attention.
Presently the "rappin<»" commenced again, when
the window was opened and in flew the little crea-
ture, apparently delightod to got into '?omP)rtabl6'
quarters, and confident of shelter and safety.

484

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

After coursing about the room as if to bathe it-
self in the warm air, it quietly selected its place,
and depositing ita head under its wing, went to
sleep. It is diiBcult to say which of the occupants
of the same apartment felt better ' satisfied with
themselves, or slept more peacefully through the
night. As tlie day broke, out broke the bird's
greatful acknowledgments to the Protector of all,
in a song, which for so tiny a body and a stran-
ger, was remarkably loud and ecstatic. It was
nearly famished, and ate and drank with an envia-
bly appetite for its breakfast. Being now able to
take care of itself, and not choosing to be depend-
ent longer on charity, the little fellow insisted
on being released ; the window was opened, and
out he went, to share his fortune with his tribe,
thanking his friend as well as he could for his hos-
pitality.— Alb. Argus.

LEVEE OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOG-
ICAL SOCIETY.

We were prevented by a pressure of duties from
attending this banquet, which was as intellectu-
al and harmonious, as the fruits and their juices
were rich and rare.

Leyeb of the American Pomological SociErr.
— By invitation of the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder,
President of the American Pomological Society,
now in session in this city, the delegates in attend-
ance were invited to a levee at the Revere House.
Many prominent citizens and official personages
were also present. After an hour of social inter-
course, the company marched into the dining hall,
where a splendid repast was spread. The tables
were loaded with the most tempting fruit, and or-
namented with the magnificent flowers ; from the
ehandeliers clusters of superb grapes were suspend-
ed, and added a crowning decoration to the fes
tival.

Mr. Wilder welcomed the strangers from dis-
tant States to Boston, and expressed his gratifica
tion at meeting in a social manner the members
of the Pomological Society. He said it was not
his purpose to call upon his friends for formal
Bpeeches, nor to summon "spirits from the vasty
deep" — nor to invoke the presence of the "rap
ping spirits" — nor should he, in these days of
temperance and of the Maine law, before the Gov
ernor and Mayor, offer ardent spirits; but it was
bis purpose to place before the guests a specimen
of American fruit — the berry and the juice. He
expressed his indebtedness to generous and thought-
ful friends in Ohio, who had forwarded some rich
specimens of the juice of the grape for the pur-
pose of liaving it tested by the members of the Po-
mological Society ; he proposed, therefore, that
the company resolve itself into a "Tasting Com-
mittee of the Whole" upon the Ohio vintage, and
be would propose —

The Vintntrs of Ohio — By never allowing the
juice of the grape to be distilled or adulterated,
may they prove to the true promoters of temper-
ance that it can produce joy without sorrow, and
health witliout detriment to the public weal.

This sentiment was followed with a general re-
port from bottles of "Longworth's Sparkling Ca-
tawba," " Works's Isabella Wine," and Ameri-
can Hock. Short and appropriate addresses were
made by Gov. Washburn, Mayor Smith, Hon. Mr,

Benson of Maine, Ex-Mayor Seaver, Mr. Prince
of Long Island, Mr. Barry of New York, Hon.
Samuel Walker of Roxbury, W. S. King, Esq.,
Seth Sprague of Duxbury, Charles L. Flint, Esq.,
Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agricul-
ture, Hon. E. L. Keyes of Dedham, Hon. J. W.
Proctor, and others. The Levee passed off in the
happiest manner, and was in the highest degree
creditable to the taste and liberality of Mr. Wil-
der.

We also copy below a vote of thanks of the Po-
mological Society, to its President. Col. Wilder,
— and he justly merits every word said. No man
has given his life more earnestly toa cause than
he, and every lover of fruit and flowers, and all
the sweet influences they exert upon us, will do
something to sustain and promote the causa in
which he is engaged.

Resolved, That the thanks of the society are
most cordially presented to the President, Hon.
Marshall P. Wilder, for the prompt, able, and im-
partial manner in which he has presided over its
deliberations ; and we hereby assure him that the
members will long cherish a lively recollection of
the pleasure enjoyed at his bountiful and brilliant
festive entertainment with which he compliment-
ed the society.

Mr. Lines of Connecticut was unwilling that
this resolution should pass with a single vote. It
was due to the gentleman who has presided over
the discussions of the society with so much digni-
ty and ability. He considered that the position
in pomology which the President had reached,
conferred more honor upon him than the Presiden-
cy of the United States could do. A gentleman
who confers such immense benefits upon the whole
country, — he might say the world, — as Hon. Mr.
Wilder does, is entitled to distinguished honors.
He hoped this resolution, too, would be passed by
a 6ta,nding vote.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.

President Wilder made the following happy re-
sponse to the last resolution : —

Gentlemen, — The resolution which you have
just adopted awakens in me feelings of gratitude
and afi"ection. The interest which I have ever felt
in the prosperity of this Association, has induced
me to accept of your suffrages and to occupy the
chair for another term.

I beg to tender you my grateful acknowledge-
ments for your co-operation and support, and to
assure you of my unabated interest in the objects
of the Society and in your personal welfare. May
you go on, prospering and to prosper, and when
we have done cultivating the fruits of earth, may
we have the unspeakable felicity to meet in celes-
tial fields, and gather ambrosial fruits from the
Tree «f Life.

There being no more business before the conven-
tion, it adjourned at a quarter past two o'clock,
to meet in Rochester, N. Y., in September, 1856.

J^ In Chili it does not rain because the trade
winds, wliich are necessary to agitate the watery
and the atmosphei-ic oceans and keep them pure,
sweep the clouds past South America, and drive
some of them up against the Andes, where they
are condensed by almost continual thunder show-
ers and run down across the level country in co-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

485

pious streams. Evaporation in this warm coun-
try is very brisk, and the vapor rising from the
broad Pacific, being blown on the land by trade
winds, falls in copious showers of dew, making
Chili one of the most fruitful countries on the Pa-
cific coast.

SIMPLE AND CHEAP STUMP-PULLER.

Now for a tug at the old stumps. Here is a
contrivance so simple that any farmer may make
one before breakfast, and the cost is so trifling,
that if it does not operate to his entire satisfac-
tion, he will have no
regrets at having giv-
en it a fair trial. We
find it sketched in the
Wisconsin and Iowa
Farmer.
"We noticed a very simple con-
trivance for pulling stumps, Avhich
Mr. Edgerton says works very well
indeed. It is so simple in its struc-
ture, that we commend it to those
wishing anything of the kind. It
consists of a log of strong timber,
from ten to twelve inches in diam-
eter at the large end, and eight to
ten at the smaller, and about six-
teen or twenty feet long. To the
larger end is attached a very heavy
chain, about three feet
long, with a very large
and strong hook at the
free end, while at the
other there is a ring
sufficiently largo to slip
over the larger end of the log or lever. To the
small end of the lever a yoke of cattle is hitched.
The manner of using it is as simple as the ma-
chine, and acts on the principle of some tooth-
hooks of the dentist. The large hook is caught
hold of some of the stronger roots, and the cattle
are then driven round the stump so as to wind up
the short heavy chain, and then continue on in
the even tenor of their way, till the stump gives
itself and surrenders its position. Thus they are
removed, easily and rapidly. A rough sketch of
this 'cork screw'' as it was technically called, we
hero give."

APPLES FOR COWS.

A good neighbor of ours tells us that he is feed-
ing his cows in part on apples, and he things ad-
vantageously. It is his opinion, that apples, wlieth-
er sweet or sour, in these times of scarcity of feed,
are worth far more for cows, than to make into
cider. He says they may be feed to cows in lar-
ger quantities, now that the grass is dry, and es-
pecially if a little hay from the barn be given,
than if the pastures were as green as usual ; that
if you feed tlieni in any quantity below the scour-
ing point, they willincrca.se the quantity without
deteriorating the quality of the milk ; but that if
you go beyond that point, the milk will be di-
minislied ; and that the feeder siiould observe the
effect, and stop feeding within the limit, if he
would derive the greatest benefit from his apples
as a feed for milch cows. Others have said that

if cows are admitted to falling apples by degrees,
they will soon learn to eat enough of them without
eating too many. AVe know not how all this is,
but our neighbor is a man of good sense and care-
ful observation, and we are inclined to believe
that he is right in thinking that the quantity should
be limited ; and we have no doubt that apples if
fed in the best manner, are valuable for any kind
of horned cattle, as we believe they are also for
swine, and, for ought we know, for any kind of
animals. — Conn. Valley Farmer.

For the Ntiv England Farmer.

STRICTURES ON PROF. MAPES' CUL-
TURE OF CARROTS.

In the monthly Farmer for September, p. 401,
are some severe strictures, on that mode of culture
that drops radish or other quick vegetation seeds,
in the same rows with carrots. I have known
this to be done with good effect, as I supposed.
The fact is the carrot vegetates so slow, that the
weeds start ahead of it, and it is not easy at all
times to see where it is. Now if you would stir
the surface between the rows, with a hoe or weed
cutter, it is a great convenience, to have the
young radishes to show where the rows are. More
than this, nothing will be lost by thus planting
radishes, for they will have matured long before
the ground is needed for the use of the carrot. It
so seldom happens, that I find the Professor's no-
tions to accord with my own, that I cannot be
quiet, when his teachings are called "arrant non-
sense." Perhaps I should not agree entirely,
with the reasons he gives, for what he did ; but of
the utility of the practice I have no doubt.

The_ carrot crop, when understandingly pur-
sued, is one of the most valuable on our farms.
$200 worth to the acre can readily be grown on
fair land. p

Sept. 7, 1854.

For tht JS'etg Enirland Former.

THE INDIAN CETONIA.

8iM0x Brown, Esq.,— Dear Sir :— The account
of the Indian Cetonia, {Cctonia Inda,) printed in
the New England Farmer for the 9th of Septem-
ber, was taken (with exception of the misprints)
from the first edition of my book. In the second
edition, whicli you should have consulted, will be
found the following additional information re-
specting these pernicious beetles.

"Their love of sweets leads them to attack our
finest peaches, which, as soon as ripe, they begin
to devour, and in a few hours entirely spoil. I
have taken a dozen of theni from a single peach,
into which they had burrowed so that nothing but
the naked tips of their hind body could be seen.
When touched, they leave a strong and disagreea-
ble scent upon the fingers."

In my garden, tlicy began the work of destruc-
tion this year by the middle of August, when
they appeared on the Early York peaclics, and
they have successively attacked all tlie otlier kinds,
as last as the latter began to be mellow. Tlieso
beetles, together with my neiglibors' honey-bees,
have spoiled fully one-third of my crop of peach-
es. Yours truly,

TUADDF.US WlLU.\M IIaREIS.

Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 11, 1854.

486

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

TuE Concord GRArE. — Messrs. Editors : — Last
Spring I procured, as did a large number of per-
Bons, the famous Concord Grape — the new seed-
ling of E. \V. Bull, Esq., of Concord, Mass. Many
have been fearing,— and your correspondent among
the number, — that this Grape would not answer
the expectation that has been awakened in regard
to it. Indeed not a few have expressed the be-
lief that it would prove a "humbug."

I have just had the pleasure of visiting Mr.
Bull's vine-yard ; and the exhibition of his new
seedling, now laden with luscious fruit, is. to me,
perfectly satisfactory. The size, beauty, rich
bloom, and fine flavor of this grape, fully answer
the glowing descriptions that have been given of
it. No one can look upon these wonderfully lux-
uriant vines, loaded with their rich clusters, with
out resolving to ol)tain one for his own garden.

I am glad to learn that the extensive sales and
the increasing demand for this valuable grape,
promise to remunerate Mr. B., in part at least,
for his long continued toil and great expense, in
obtaining for the country this new and choice seed-
ling.— Traveller.

The Rockland Horticultural Fair. — The an-
nual fair of the Rockingham Agricultural Society
was held in Exeter, N. H., on Thursday and Fri-
day last. The town was filled with people, and
much interest was manifested in all the proceed-
ings of tlie exhibition. Under the auspices of
Henry F. Frencli, Esq., the President of the As
Bociation, every thing went oS" well. The towns
of Epping, Hampton Falls, and Kensington, bore
tway the palm for town teams of cattle. The
show of cattle generally was very fine, and the
display of vegetables and fruits good. The annu-
al address was delivered by the editor of the Con-
necticut Valley Farmer, and was an excellent pro-
duction, replete with sound and practical senti-
ments.— Boston Journal.

Breadstuffs. — A London paper says — "From
this harvest to the next there can be no doubt tha
the difference in the price of wheat, compared
with that in the previous twelve months, will be
at least 20s a quarter in favor of the public, which
on the whole consumption will amount to a boon
of £25,000,000 to that body on wheat alone, be-
sides corresponding relief in other grain. Even
the cost of the war sinks to a trifle compared with
this bounty from the skies ; and, notwithstanding
all the lavish expenditure incurred, we now stand
better prepared for war by some twenty millions
than a twelvemonth a^o."

The Fair in Providence. — The exercises of the
annual Agricultural fair commenced in Providence
Wednesday, and as we learn from the Providence
Journal, attracted an immense concourse of peo-
ple from the surrounding towns. Everything went
off well, and the agricultural part of the exhibition
was never finer or more interesting. The chief at-
tractions were a plowing match, a drawing match,
the cattl'3 show, and the parade of ox teams.
The horticultural department of the exhibition was
large and beautil'ul, notwithstanding the effects of
the drought were visible in the diminutive size of
the fruit. The exhibition of woollen goods and
cloths was more intc-esting than that of last year,
and embraced many rich and elegant specimens of
goods.

Hampden County Horticultural Exhibition. —
Wc learn from tlie Springfield Republican that
the second exhibition of the Hampden County
Horticultural Society was opened in Hampden
Hall on Tuesday afternoon, and displayed in all its
various departments gratifying evidences of en
terprising and successful eflbrt for improved agri
culture. The show of pomological specimens was
extensive and creditable ; and as for vegetables,
Springfield challenges the commonwealth. The
floral display was beautiful, although deprived of
many attractions by the recent drought.

New Hampshire State Fair. — The New Hamp-
shire State Fair will be held this year in the beau-
tiful town of Keene, in Cheshire county, on the
3d, 4th, 5th and 6th days of October. The ground
selected for the enclosure is a level plain, about a
mile northeast of the railway station. Twenty-
four acres of land have been enclosed, and fur-
nished with water ; a fine trotting-courae has been
laid out, and suitable buildings, stalls and pens
erected. His Excellency, N. B. Baker, Governor
of the State, will be present, and a satisfactory
exhibition in all respects is anticipated.

1^ Thousands of head of fine cattle are passing
every week through Albany, bound from the West
to the Eastern and Southern markets. One day
last week a train of nineteen cars, containing 300
head of beeves, left the depot of the Cleveland, Co-
lumbus and Cincinnati Railroad, bound for New>
York by the way of Buffalo.

0^ Governor Price, of New Jersey, has caused
circulai'S to be addressed to all the members of
the last Legislature, requesting them to forward
to the State Department such information as they
may be able to gather in their respective counties
of the extent of the drought, and the probable
damage to the crops.

5^" At the annual Fair of the Agricultural Soci-
ety of Columbian county, Ohio, two horses are to
be awarded, one to the lady who shall give the
most "skilful," and the other to the lady who
shall give the most "graceful" exhibition of horse-
manship.

3^ Three weeks ago common vegi tables were
cheaper in the London market than in the markets
of Massachusetts ; peas being from 36 to 75 cents a
bushel ; potatoes the same price, &c.

Working Oxen. — When oxen refuse to work
equally well on either side, or when they pull off
against each other, joke them on the side you
wish them to work, and turn them out to feed in
that way ; they soon get accustomed to it, and
work afterwards on either side alike. — American
Farmer.

.,i.„ i:.^,v;rL,AND FARMER.

487

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

Uj" a limited number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted in the monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

BATES.

For one square 15 liui's, one insertion $1,00

For each subsequent insertion 50

O" The aiiove rates will be charged for all advertisements,
whether longer or shorter.

flighiaiid Nurseries,

NEWBURGH, N. Y.

A. SAUL & CO. have the pleasure to announce
to their patrons and the public in general, that
their stock of Fruit and Ornamental Trees,
which they offer for sale the coming Autumn, is
nf the very best quality, and embraces every
tiling in their lino that can be procured in the
trade.

Dealers and Planters of Trees on a large scale, will be treated
with on as liberal terms as can be done by any establishment of
reputation in the country. They flatter themselves that for
correctness of nomenclature of fruits, (which is a serious con-
sideration to planters,) th;it their stock is as nearly perfect as it
possibly can be, haviii.; been all propagated on their own
grounds, from undoubted sources. They have propagated, in
large quantities, all the leading standard varieties which are
proved to be best adapted for general cultivation, especially
those recommended by the American Pomological Congress at
its several sessions, as well as all novelties of recent introduc-
tion, and kinds, particularly suited to certain localities, and
sections of the Union and Ganadas.

Their stock of I'ear Trees is the largest they have ever had to
offer for sal-, and among the largest in the country, and consists
of over 50,000 saleable trees.

The stock of Apple Trees is also very large, as well as Plums,
Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Quinces and Nectarines. Also,
Grape Vines, Gooseberries, Currants, Raspberries, Strawberries,
&c. &c. &c.

Pears on Quince, Cherry on Mahaleb, and Apple on Paradise
Stocks, for pyramids and dwarfs for garden culture, and of
which there is a choice assortment of the kinds that succeed
best on those stocks.

DECIDUOUS AND EVERGREEN ORNAMENTAL TREES
AND SHRUBS,

Embracing all the known kinds suitable for street planting,
of extra size ; also, the more rare and select, as well as all the
well known kinds suitable fur Arboretums, Lawn and Door-
Yard planting, &c., including Weeping Trees, Vines, Garden and
Climbing Roses in great variety. Hybrid Perpetuals, Hybrid
China, Hybrid Bourbons, Hybrid Damasks, Hybrid Provence,
and Bourbon, Tea, China, and Noisette, and Prairie and other
Climbing Roses.

BA large quantity of Arbor Vitae for Screens, Buckthorn, Osage
Orange, and other hedge plants.

The above will be sold on as liberal terms as similar stock can
be purchased elsewhere. For further particulars see catalogues,
a new edition of which is just issued, and will be forwarded to
all post-paid applicants by mail, on enclosing a post-office
Stamp to piep^y postage. A liberal discount will be made to
purchasers who buy to sell again, and extensive planters on
their own aecjuut.

P. S. Freight paid to New York.

Oct. 1, 1>J51. Im

fislikill Landing IVurserks. i

The subscriber ii again desirous of calling at-
tention t<) his large stock of FRl IT AM) OltNA-
MKNTAL TRKliS, i:c. &c., consisting in part of
yO.OOO A|)i)le, of the most approved varieties.
15,000 Pear, of all the leading sorts.
15,000 Cherry, — 1 to 3 years from the bud.
20,000 Plum, from 1 to 3 years in the bud, together with Apri-
cot, Nectarine, Quince, &c.

10,000 Deciduous Ornamental Trees, consisting of European
and American Oaks, Beech, Linden, Kim, Ash, Tulip Trees,
Osage Orange, Chestnut, Sicaiuore, Larch, Maple, I'awlonia,
Birch, Horse Chestnut, Mountain Ash and Weeping Willow.

15,000 Evergreen Trees, embracing nearly all the rare sorts
tbat are desirable, both European and American. Also, a
large stock of Hedge Plants, such as Arbor Vitic, Red Cedar,
&c. Of flowering Shrubs, Roses, Grape Vines, and Climbing
Plants, a hne stock — all of which will be sold at reduced prices.
Trees, &c., when ordered, will be taken up carefully, cor-
rectly labeled, packed in the best manner, (Vjrwarded agreeable
to order, and wuh the least possible delay.

(CT Catalogues seat to all who ai)ply, post-paid, and enclose
a postage stamp. DANIEL BUIN''KliRHOFF.

Ifishkill Landing, Oct. 1, 1854. Ini^

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAGLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

THE superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. The mo<le of attaching the forward mould-board to the
beam, by which great strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of tltc
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so as to entirely fill to the surface,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in all tolerably free loams, rendering the
use of these instrmnents, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ae-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscril>ers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They invite their friends and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to qnality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

BUGGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April 30, 1853.

Super-Pliosphate of Lime.

THIS celebrated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the best Peruvian Guano in its immediate effect, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
soil in which there is a deficiency of PAo.V'Aa'f, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its application. It is com
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am
monia, &e.

For sale, with full directions for use, in bags of ISO pounds
each. No charge for package. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

GEO. DAVENPORT,

Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commercial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Oyster Shell Lime.

fHAVE on hand, and am constantly manufacturing this ar
tide for farming purposes. It has also been extensively uaetf
during the last season for laying the walls of cellars, and stone
work of a similar nature, and is found to answer this purpose
equally as well as the best stone lime. After Ist March, tb*
prices will be as follows -.

Forlsss than 50 bbls 60c

Or over 50 bbls 40c

In Bulk — II large car load containing 80 bids 30c

A small car load containing 40 bbls 35c tf" bbl.

delivf-red at either depot in Boston or Chailostown.

JAMKS GOULD,
Feb. 16, 1854. tf 70 State Street

ftUL\Cl HOUSE.

BY ALANSON LONG,

KEPT Oy STRICTLY TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES,

No. 1 BRATTLE SQUARE,

jj- Opposite Brattle St. Church, BOSTON.

Nov. 1 -f

488

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Oct.

Contents of this Number.

Calendar for Ootninr 441

Guano — A Hint to Fanners 442

Vermont State Agricultui-al Snciety 443

Lightninfr Kmis — Agiicultuie anil the Professions 444

Why is till.' Farmtr Discontented ? .445

ASFarmer's 'Wife I'll Be— Facts for Buildera 446

Make your Girls Independent 447

The Locust Tree Borer — A Seed Farmer 448

Sowing Grass Seed in the Fall 449

Henry Ward Beecher on Trees 450

Farm of Harvey Dodge, Esq.— Instruction in Agriculture. ..451

Verses for the Year 1900 , .452

Fall and Spring Transplanting — Runaway Pond 452

Oswego — Its Mills and Business — Carrying Fruit to Market. .453

Manuring Fruit Trees — Protection from Lightning 454

State Almshouse at Tewksbury, Mass 455

Honor to the Farmer's Wife. .' 456

The Cetonia Inda 457

About Apple Trees 458

Iffects of the Drought 459

A Bear Story 460

Sow the Winter Mheat 461

Which III tie Happiest Man ? 462

Hay Cuucrs — How to save Children's Fingers 462

The Price of Wheat— Grape Wine— Drought 463

A Good Garden 463

Hominy — Playfulness of Animals 464

Tomato Figs 465

Song of the Farmer — Extracts and Replies 466

Is Farming Profitable? — Extensive Corn Field 467

Wages 468

Orne's Early Apple— English Wheat Plum 469

The Moquis 47O

Marrow Squash .'47I

City Mechanics and Country Farmers — No. 3 471

English Vegetables and Meats 473

State Almshouse at Tewksbury — Application of Manure 474

The Tseful and the Beautiful 475

Bless God for Rain — Another Specimen of Farming 476

Tanning 477

Agriculture in Nova Scotia — Acknowledgments 478

Extracts and Replies 479

Givmg Credit— The Yew Tree 480

Lightning Hods 48I

Chapter on Husbandry — No. 3 482

Sowing Yellow Locust Sted , 482

Hints to Young Men— The Fitchburg Cattle Show.' ........ .'483

Levee of the American P.imological Society 484

Apples for Cows — the Indian Cetonia 485

Strictures on Prof. Mapes' Culture of Carrots 485

Agricultural Gleanings 4S6

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Brown's Improved Patent Grist Mill 449

South Down Sheep 465

Chapin's Portable Cider Mill 480

Nichols' Patent Corn and Cob Crusher and Pulverizer 481

Simple and Cheap Stump-Puller 485

Trees.

A large lut of extra sized Apple trees, eompris
ing 40 or 50 of the best varieties, and in excellent
order for setting in Orchards, are now for sale low
at the Nursery of the subscriber.

Also, a lot of Plum trees, Cherry trees, &c.

JAS. S. DRAPER
Wayland, April 15, 1854. tf

Fruit ancl Ornamental Trees.

The proprietors offer for sale an extensive assort
ment of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the ehoice standard varieties, for the Garden or
Orchard ; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grape Vines
&c. 1000 Buckthorn and Arbor Vit;E for Hedges.
S. & G. HYDE.
Newton Corner, March 18, 1854. w*tf

For Sale.

The subscriber offers; his farm for sale, on which
he now lives, and will give immediate possession
The farm consists of 75 acres of good land, a one-
story House, Shop, Barn, Sheds, &c., mostly new,
with first rate, never failing water in the house,
also a goijd wood-lot near by, a superior garden with a variety
of fruit trees. This farm is situated in WARWICK, Mass., 2^
miles from the Centre, i mile from school, 1 mile from Grist and
Saw Mill, and 6 miles from South Oiange depot.

Any one wanting a pleasant, healthy farm, can have a more
particular description by dropping a line to the subscriber.

JOSHUA T. SANGER.
Aug, 26, 1854. tf

NEW ENGLAND FAHMER

Is published on the first of every month, by John Raynold and
Joel Nochse, at Quincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.
SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK IIOLBROOK, \ Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

O" Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
33= AU subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farjier is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the ofiice of publication.

[jj- Also imlilished at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsiinie folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Newsjiaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMON DS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

[nr Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural department of the weekly.

53' Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

iJZr All orders and letters should be addressed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS &- NOURSE,

QnNCY Hall, Socxn Market Street, Boston.
O" PosTA<iE. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is IJ cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid hi advance at the office
where the same is receive.^

Superior Imported Stock.

The subscriber offeis for a limited period,
to allow the use of the following unrivalled
stock of cattle, to all persons wishing to
improve their farm stock, wAo will agree
to rear the young.
Full Blood Alderney Bull "Major Jack
Downing," Full Blood Ayrshire Bull, "Washington," First Pre-
mium Mackay Boar, "Webster."

W. G. LEWIS,
Lawn Farm, Framingham.
July 8, 1854. tf

Fertilizers.

BEST PERUVIAN GUANO.
Super-Phosphate of Lime. — "DeBurg's No. 1."
Poudrette, of the best quality.
Ground Plaster, suitable for agricultural purposes.
Ground Bone, IJone Dust and Burnt Bone.
Also, Grass Seeds ef reliable quality at the lowest market priee.
GF;0. DAVENPORT,
5 Commercial, corner of Chatham Street, Boston.
Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Ground Plaster,

t;0R SALE, at White's Mills, HAVERHILL, Mass. Apply to
r JAMES D. WHITE.

Every Farmer who desires to renovate poor pastures, improve
his mowing, increase and improve his crops of corn and pota-
toes, should give this article a full trial; it is a great addition to
any compost heap.

Fine clover usually follows the sowing of plaster.

Jan. 28. 1854. tf.

Sutfolk Swine.

The subscriber offers to the Farmers in
Concord, and to all others who wish to im-
prove their stock, the services of his justly
celebrated full blood imported Suffolk boar,
BULRUSH.

s-tiS^^^"!^?^ -^ Said boar was imported from England by
he '■ubscnber last season, is now 20 months old, and is remar-
kably hardy and vigorous, and his stock has proved to be vtry
superior. JOHN RAYNOLDS.

Concord, Mass., Aug. 19. tf

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1854.

NO. 11

RAVXOLDS & NOURSE, Proprietors. „ ^ „,^ „ FRED'K HOLBROOK. ? Associate

Office. ...auiNCY Hall. ^™^^ BROWN, Editor. ^^^^^ ^ FKENCII, \ Ed.torr.

CALENDAE FOR NOVEMBER.

"With kindred pleasui-es moved, and cares opprest,

Sharing alike our weariness and rest ;

Who lives the daily partner of our hours

Through every change of heat, and frost, and show'rs;

Partakes our cheerful meals, partaking first

In mutual labour and fatigue and thirst ;

The kindly intercourse will ever prove

A bond of amity and social love."

Hus sang Bloom-
field, the poor
slicpherd-boy, ma-
ny years ago ; and
it is his idea, con-
coivcd amid the
toils and hardships
incident to such a
condition, that we
should like to in-
troduce into the family of every farmer
in NewEngland. That November should
no longer be considered a month in
which people may, with great propri-
ety, hang or drown themselves, on
account of its gloom, but rather with the poet
that each shall ])0 with kindred pleasure moved,
and that their kindly intercourse of life shall
prove

'•A bond of amity and social love."

And how much cause there is for this in No
vember, about the farmer's home ! Beneficent
Heaven lias crowned his labors with success. His
barns, and granaries, and cellars, are filled with
the fruits of the earth ; his cattle come to their
winter home sleek and fat with rich pasturage,
wliile his clioerful fireside attractions invite to that
delightful intercourse of which the poet sings. And
we believe this to be an object as worthy of cul-
ture and care, as were the glowing fruits and
golden grain of the orchard and the fields. These
will sustain our physical nature, but that will
strengthen the immortal part, by giving elasticity
and contentment to the mind.

Nature is the great Teacher — her seliool-house
doors ever stand open, inviting the inquirer in —
but November is the month in which we may be
more constant in her courts, because better op-
portunities are afforded for thought and applica-
tion than in the summer months. We urge the
young to find benches and books and teachers all
about them ; in the solid earth and stones upon
which they tread — in the air they breathe — in the
leaves which dance upon the breeze — in the sun-
light and shade, the vapors, frosts, dews and
clouds. Each will impart some useful truth to
him who is willing to seek it. Wisdom is the
price of careful application — it cannot be gained
by idle and listless minds. Study and labor will
overcome all obstacles ; books and teachers are now
abundant everywhere. To become an earnest stu-
dent, it is not necessary to enter the school-house
with modern desks and seats and conform to codes
and regulations. An active mind will find ob-
jects for research and contemplation everywhere,
in every employment and place. If these occupy
his attention, they will lead him to books, and
these will reveal to him the thoughts and efforts
of other minds as earnest as his own. Men of
great acquirements, dull over systematic lessons,
and restive under arbitrary rules, have filled the
car of the world, and thus proved that tlioy were
students, all the while, in the great school-room
of Nature. Tiicy prepared themselves for the ac-
tive business of life, rather than to be nice and
critical in mere book-learning.

For this preparation, none have better oppor-
tunities than the young farmer. Six months of
the year afford him as much leisure as is desirable
for study and investigation, and during flic other
si.x, while engaged in his out-door pursuits, he
may apply his acquirements to the things about
him. In this way his mind will become stored
with useful facts, such as are applicable to the
profession of his choice. As these arc mastered,
the mind will stretch away into other studios,

490

NE\T ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

and scan the pursuits of other men through the
whole range of the sciences and arts.

November, then, may be a pleasant and profit-
able month for the farmer. It has its character-
istics, but they are not sad ones. It throws off
its robes, as a ^Yarm man his coat, because it no
longer needs them. November winds and stoi-ms
remind us of the necessity of making our dwellings
all tight and convenient ibr the still ruder winds
and storms of more rigorous months. No house
can be kept wai-m where the underpinning is
loose, and the wind sweeps under the floors.
Roofs should be made tight, and the barn close,
where the animals stand.

Cattle and hogs should be fatted rapidly now,
both having dry and warm beds, and fed liberally.

Carrots and beets must be gathered before heavy
frosts — turnips may remain later. Strawberry
beds should be mulched, and tender raspberries
laid down and protected.

Hardy, bulbous roots, such as hyacinths, tu-
lips, crown imperials, lilies, narcissus, &c., can
be planted as long as the ground remains open ;
but the beds should be immediately covered a few
inches deep with litter.

Apple trees may be transplanted with success.
Bank them up well with earth to support them
through the winter ; in the spring it must be
removed.

"We now hear the busy flail in the barn, as the
thrasher pursues his task from day to day, never
lacking company, for he is surrounded by the whole
family of fowls, ever ready to hunt up a neglected
ear that has escaped his hearty blows. In the
farm-yard we see the cattle knee-deep in the
broken straw which the thrasher has turned out,
and lowing wistfully over the fence, as if they
wondered what summer had done with all its
green, and seeming to say, as plainly as they can
speak, that they like not the dry provender which
is given to them, and care not how soon they are
ankle-deep in the rich, luxuriant grass."

Pat of ]Meiibers of Congress. — By the act of
the 22d September, 1789, the pay of a member
of Congress was fixed at $6 per day and $6 for
every twenty miles of travel. This was to be con-
tinued until the 4th of March, 1795, after which
it was to be $7 per day and $7 for every twenty
miles travel. This act was limited to the 4th of
March, 1796. On the 10th of March, 1796, the
compensation was fixed at $6 per day and $6 for
every twenty miles travel. By the act of the 19th
March, 1816, the pay was changed from a daily
to an annual compensation ; the President^ro tern.
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House each
S,000 per annum, and each member $1,500 per
.annum. The mileage was not changed. This
last act created great excitement in the country,
and even arrayed strong opposition to Mr. Clay,
whc had supported it. Many members were de-
feated . at the next election in consequence of its

passage. It was repealed on the 6th February,
1817, to take effect after the close of the then ses-
sion of Congress. By the act of the 22d Janua-
ry, 1818, the pay was fixed at $8 per day and
$8 for every twenty miles travel ; the President
fro tern, of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House to receive $8 per day each additional. This
is the present pay. — National Intelligencer.

A SONG OF THE RAILEOAD.

Through the mould and through the clay,

Through the corn and through the hay,

By the margin of the lake,

O'er the river, through the brake,

O'er the bleak and dreary moor.

On we hie with screech and roar !

Splashing ! 0ashing !

Crashing ! dashing '

Over ridges,
Gullies, bridges !
By the bubbling rill.

And mill —
Highways,
By-ways,

IIoUow hill-
Jumping — bumping —
Eocking — roaring

Like 40,000 giants snoring !
By the lonely hut and mansion.
By the ocean's wide expansion,
Where the factory chimney smokes.
Where the foundry bellows croaks —
Dash along !
Slash along I
Crash alMig !
Flash along !
On ! on ! with a jump,
And a bump.
And a roll !
Hies the fire-fiend to its destined goal !

O'er the aqueduct and bog.
On we fly with ceaseless jog,
Every instant something new.
Every instant lost to view,

Now a tavern — now a steeple —
Now a crowd of gaping people —
Now a hollow — now a ridge —
Now a cross way — now a bridge —
G rumble — stumble —
Bumble — tumble —
Fretting — getting in a stew !
Church and steeple, gaping people —
Quick as thought are lost to view.
Every thing that eye can survey,
Turns hurly-burly, topsy-turvy !
Each passenger is thumped and shaken.
As physic is when to be taken.

By the foundry, past the forge,

Through the plain and mountain gorge.

Where cathedral rears its head,

Where repose the silent dead !

Monuments amid the grass,

Flit like spectres as you pass !

If to hail a friend inclined,

Whish ! whirl ! ka-swash ! — he's left behind !

Bumble, tumble, all the day —

Thus we pass the hours away.

51^ Rosseau says, "The empire of woman is an
empire of softness, of address, of complacency.
Her commands are caresses, her menaces are
tears."

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAR.MER.

491

For the jyew England Farmer.

SOME WANTS WANTED BY FARMERS.

That farcaers, as a body of working men, are
in want of capital and a great many improve-
ments on the farm, no one can deny ; and that
more of " slack farming " is gone through with
every year, for the want of well-invested capital
on the farm, no one can doubt. But then, cap-
ital in the shape of " money " is not all that is
wanted to make farming successful. For some
part of a farmer's capital consists in his knowl-
edge and experience in knowing how to apply his
money capital to the best advantage, and in such
a manner as will make the greatest improvement
on the farm. Now I have been led to these re-
marks in seeing the great want of capital, in
means and in farming experience both, so that it
has become a question worthy of serious consid-
eration as to what is the cause and the remedy.
In fact, I cannot ride out five miles in any di-
rection from my own residence, without seeing
this very principle carried out, and a want of the
right application of means, which every farmer
may have, more or less, by the right management
of farming operations. I know of a section of
farmers, in an adjoining county, where this prin-
ciple seems to have been acted upon from ol>
servation ever since the American Revolution, and
how long previous to that time I cannot say.
I doubt, in fact, whether the face of the coun-
try now presents as good an appearance as it did
then ; for fifty years ago they must have had
some very good farm fences ; and as the same
fences remain, what there is of them, the reader
can judge in what condition the general appear-
ance of the country is at present.

Now what is the remedy for this fault and
slackness in farming operations, whose manage-
ment carries its own condemnation on its face?
There must be, in the first place, a general waking
up on the part of farmers to more energy in the
business; then the judicious outlay of capital is
another thing wanted, and it must be obtained at
some rate, as nothing can be done without it. For
it is as strictly necessary that " capital " should
be laid out in farming business as it is in anj^
other trade. But then, says the farmer, how
is this capital to be obtained ! I have not got the
means, says the young farmer just starting in
life ; to which I answer, that is the same com-
plaint that nine-tenths of the farmers in the
country can make. Still, as it is known that
where there is a will there is a way, so it may be
here, although we may not be able to lay down a
certain rule to govern all, or guide them. When
a young farmer has just started on a new place,
instead of laying out all his capital in land, let
him save part of it to lay out in farm buildings
and other improvements — of course owning less
land, and having more ready money to improve
what he has got. But, as is more often the case
in New England, where the farmer occupies the
lands that his father did before him, if ready
capital is wanted and it cannot be readily ob-
tained, put a mortgage on a few acres of land
and raise the money in that way. For it is
better to pay interest money for a few years, than
to go without the means to invest in farming im-
provements ; for money laid out in landed property
. for farming purposes is a miserable investment,

unless there be capital employed to make the land
pay.

And this is the reason why so many of that
class of farmers referred to above are always com-
plaining that farming capital will not pay, when
the plain truth is, they never have given the farm
the first fair trial to see whether it would pay or
not. Such farmers, as soon as they get a spare
hundred dollars, instead of laying it out on the
farm, they will go and loan it out to some capi-
talist, or invest it in a "stock company or Savings
Bank,"' institutions which are good in their place,
as, for mechanics and men of small means, a Sa-
vings Bank is a good place to invest money. But
farmers had better be borrowers of such institu-
tions than lenders to them, as the capital can be
much better employed on the farm, where it may
be made to pay from eight to ten and twelve per
cent, on the investment, with good management.
But the great difiiculty is, farmers are so fearful
that if an extra dollar is laid out on the form,
that they will not see it again. What is wanted
in every town is, for some farmer to go forward
as a " leader " in Axrming matters, and make a
thorough renovation throughout the neighbor-
hood. Farmers, like other men, are led and in-
fluenced by others when they can see that a cer-
tain course is successful , if tiiey are not tied up
to "old fogyism" entirely. But if they are,
then it is very little use to talk to them on farm-
ing improvements. There is a class of farmers to
whom these remarks will not apply, as they are
ever ready to go forward and make improvements
on the farm at all times.

These ideas and wants suggest to us other sub-
jects connected with farming improvements im-
portant to the farmer. During the attendance
of the late " State Fair in New Haven,'' a good
chance was given for farmers and citizens gen-
erally to learn something of value and importance
to any one interested in the cultivation of the
soil. And what citizen is not interested, more or
less, or should be, in this business, I would
inquire? From observation, I am satisfied that
farming improvements generally are not always
connected together as they should be. I have
found that improved stock, of various kinds, will
multiply much faster among farmers than will
improved agricultural implements and machines
to work the soil. In fact, I know of many
farmers who are anxious to show fine stock of
various kinds, yet their farming tools are a com-
plete "scare crow" in the fields. I do not
believe now that there is more than one farmer
out of ten in the " State " but that, if their farm-
ing tools were all put together in one '.• heap,"'
they would scare a " Japan farmer.*' By this
1 moan to show tliat farmers are much more
i behind on this point than on any other, or at
I least with that of improved stock; while I
I know that there was no feature of more conse-
jquence in our "State Fair," ' than the show of
farming implements and machines, although the
assortment was not as extensive as have been seen
at other exhibitions. But the plain English is,
farmers, as well as the muss of citizens generally,
will pay five dollars to bo amused wheri> th>y will
pay one dollar to be instr^.eted. This principle
I saw carried out at our " State P'.iir,"' as
Thursday was the day for the show of horses, as
it was also of the "plowing match." Going

492

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

from the show yard to the plowing ground, at
three o'clock in the afternoon, was like going out
into a " calm "' directly after a " tornado ; " all
was quiet, and very little excitement.

This " plowing match," taking all things to-
gether, I think was the best " match " that has
yet taken place in New Haven, there being some
eighteen jiilowmen, with various plows, as well as
sabsoiling. The plowing ground was in plain
sight of the " show ground," not over a quarter
of a mile distant. And yet there was not one
farmer in attendance at this " plowing match "
where there should have been twenty. In fact,
there was the least attendance at this " match
that I have seen in the last fifteen years. But
where were the farmers 1 They were on the
••showground," taken up with the "trotting
match " that was coming oiF at the time. Now
if this does not prove that farmers will pay five
dollars to be amused where they will pay one
dollar to be instructed, what does it prove? I
repeat, that one of the most instructing features
of ihe whole " Agricultural Fair " is the plowing
match, and certainly one of the most important to
farmers themselves. And why so? Because they
can learn more of a branch of farming of which
t;iey are more ignorant of, viz. good plowing,
than in any other branch of farming operations.
Observation has shown us that a farmer will tol-
erate poor plowing in his fields, when he would
not poor sowing or cradling. One reason of this
is, very few farmers use plows or other tools of
tl:e right stamp. And of course good work can
not be made with a badly constructed plow.
While, on the other hand, he does not always follow
good plowing with the best implements. Still a
farmer or plowman who cannot joaake good work
with a good plow, after a few trials, must be a
great " slouch " in the business, to say the least
of it, and shows a want of taste in the art of
plowing.

Now as to the " trotting match," it may be all
well enough in the way of it, and this feature of
t'-,o exhibition will probably draw more people
together than any other attraction given. And
yet I will inquire what difference it will make
to the public whether " Joe Duggins " has a
" nag " that will go around the half mile
" course " twice in 2.40, or "Sam Spout" has
one that will go around in 2.50. This appears
to be the amount of the " trotting," so far as I
understand it. I remember, after one or two
"beats" had been made, round came a " mar-
shal " and said, "clear the track, boys, we are
going to have some more fun." Just as though
tiiat large gathering of people had come there to
see how much " fun " was going on, instead of
coming there to be instructed and learn some-
thing from the exhibition.

I repeat, finally, that farmers and oitizens
generally can learn and improve from these
•• annual Fairs" just according as they have the
disposition to do ; and, while some may go for
t:ie sake of " fun " and excitement, others will
go to improve and be instructed.

Yours, &c., L DuR.\ND.
Derby, Ci., Oct., 1854.

IT ISN'T ALL IN BRINGING UP.

It isn't all in '• bringing up,"

Let folks say what they will ;
To silver scour a pewter cup —

It will be pewter still.
E'en of old, wise Solomon,

Who said "train up a. child,"
If I mistake not, bad a son

Proved rattle-brained and wild.

A man of mark, who fain would pass

For lord of sea and land,
May have the training of a son,

And bring him up full grand ;
May give him all the wealth of love,

Of college and of school,
Yet after all, may make no more

Than just a decent fool.

Another, raised by Penury

Upon her bitter bread.
Whose road to knowledge is like that

The good to Heaven must tread,
Has got a spark of Nature's light.

He'n fan it to a fiame.
Till in burning letters bright

The world may read the name.

If it were all in " bringing up,"

In counsel and restraint.
Some rascals had been honest men —

I'd been mj-self a saint.
0 ! 'tis n't all in " bringing up,"

Let folks say what they will ;
Neglect may dim a silver cup —

It will be silver still.

j^* Ho who hopes for glory from new discov-
eries, must not be ignorant of old ones.

SWEET APPLES.

Whoever will introduce a new richly flavored,
sweet winter apple of good size, or supply the
market with any good varieties not grown, will
find a fair profit, and supply the pans of unnum-
bered excellent housewives with the means of pre-
paring a most delicious dessert. — N. E. Farmer.

We like the above suggestions : If any man
does not like a good sweet apple well baked, liis
taste and ours is very different. Why then, asks
one, are sweet apples such a di-ug in the market 1
They are not. There may be times Avhen early
sweet apples are plenty. We have several varie-
ties of these, and their day is a very short one.
But about four weeks are allowed for gathering,
marketing and consuming nearly one-half of the
good varieties of sweet apples the market affords ;
and this is just the time when other fruits are in
their greatest abundance and perfection. Throw
into the market to-day an apple as good as the
early Golden Sweet, and let the price be such as
to bring it within the reach of the frugal and in-
dustrious portion of the community, and it would
command a ready market, to an extent fiir above
the ability of the country to supply. But the
wants of the community are to a great extent ar-
tificial. A vast many articles in every depart-
ment of living, have now become, in our view in-
dispensable, which a few years since were un-
known. We see an article, we try it, we like,
continue to use, and feel that we cannot live com-
fortably without it. Such will, we are confident,
be the case with sweet apples of good size and
flavor. Let them be produced in quantities that
will enable the cultivator to use economy in the
production and sale, and a fair profit may be se-
cured to him, while the price shall still enable.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

493

the consumer to use freely, without the idea of a
high-priced luxury. Now a bushel of prime ap-
ples costs two-thirds of a bushel of wheat, and
more in our market than the wheat ia a western
one.

We may learn a lesson from the use of apples
now. They cost too much to eat, yet custom has
made it requisite in all families to have pies made
of apples. These are called a necessai-y article,
and most families will use more or less apples in
this way, let the price be what it may. This cus-
tom arose when apples which would answer for
pies were plenty and cheap, and it continues when
they are scarce and dear. So let good sweet ap-
ples, not those tough as white oak, astringent as
a gall nut, bitter as a pig walnut, or dry as a
piece of cork, be furnished freely, and they will
soon become an essential article of good living,
and a steady demand, conducive to the profit of
the producers, and to the happiness and advan-
tage of the consumer, will be created.

NUTRITION IN VARIOUS GRAINS.

Wheat is one of the most important of all crops.
The grain contains from fifty to seventy per cent.
of starch, from ten to twenty per cent, of gluten,
and from three to five per cent, of fatty matter.
The proportion of gluten is said to be the largest
in the grain of quite warm countries.

It is a singular fact that, in all the seed of
wheat and other grains, the principal part of the
oil lies near or in the skin, as also does a large
portion of the gluten. The bran owes to this
much of its nutritive and fottening qualities.
Thus, in refining our flour to the utmost possible
extent, we diminish somewhat its value for food.
The phosphates of the ash also lie, to a great de-
gree, in the skin. The best fine flour contains
above seventy pounds of starch to each hundred.
The residue of the hundred pounds consists of
ten or twelve pounds of gluten, six to eight pounds
of sugar and gum, .and ten to fourteen pounds of
water, with a little oil.

Rye flour more nearly resembles wheaten flour
in its composition, than any other ; it has, how-
ever, more of certain gummy and sugary substan-
ces, which make it tenacious, and also impart a
sweetish taste. In baking all grains and roots
which have much starch in them, a certain change
takes place in their chemical composition. By
baking, flour becomes more nutritious, and more
easily digested, because more soluble.

Barley contains rather less starch than wheat,
also less sugar and gum. There is little gluten,
but a substance somewhat like it, and containing
about the same amount of nitrogen.

Oat meal is little used as food in this country,
but it is equal, if not superior, in its nutritious
qualities, to flour from any of the other grains ;
superior, 1 have no doubt, to most of the fing
wheaten flour of the northern latitudes. It con-
tains from ten to eighteen per cent, of a body
having about the same amount of nitrogen or glu-
ten. Besides this there is a considerable quantity
of sugar and gum, and from five to six per cent,
of oil or fatty matter, which may be obtained in
the form of a clear, fragrant liquid. Oat meal
cakes owe their peculiar agreeable taste and smell
to this oil. Oat meal, then, has not only an
abundance of substance containing nitrogen, but'

is also quite fattening. It is, in fact, an excel-
lent food for working animals, and, as has been
abundantly proved in Scotland, for working men
also.

Buckwheat is less nutritious than the other
grains which we have noticed. Its flour has from
six to ten per cent, of nitrogenous compounds,
about fifty per cent, of starch, and from five to
eight per cent, of sugar and gum. In speaking
of buckwheat or of oats, we of course mean with-
out husks.

Bice was formerly supposed to contain little ni-
trogen ; but recent examinations have shown that
there is a considerable portion, some six or eight
per cent., of a substance like gluten. The per
centage of fatty matter and of sugar is quite
small, but that of starch much larger than any
grain yet mentioned, being between eighty and
ninety per cent. ; usually about eighty-two per
cent.

Indian corn is the last of the grains that we
shall notice. This contains about sixty per cent,
of starch, nearl}' the same as in oats. The pro-
portion of oil and gum is largo — about ten per
cent. ; this explains the ftittening properties of
Indian meal, so well known to practical men.
There is, besides, a good portion of sugar. The
nitrogenous substances are also considerable in
quantity — some twelve or sixteen per cent. All
these statements are from the prize essay of Mr.
J. H. Salisbury, published by the New York State
Agricultural Society. They show that the re-
sults of European chemists have probably been
obtained by the examination of varieties inferior
to ours ; they have not placed Indian corn much
above the level of buckwheat or rice, whereas,
from the above, it is seen to be " in most respects
superior to any other grain."'

Sweet corn diflfers from all other varieties, con-
taining only about eighteen per cent, of starch.
Amount of sugar is of course very large ; the ni-
trogenous substances amount to the very large
proportion of twenty per cent. ; of gum, to thir-
teen or fourteen ; and of oil, to about eleven.
This, from the above results, is one of the must
nourishing crops grown. If it can be made to
yield as much per acre as the hardier varieties, it
is well worth a trial on a large scale. — Professor
Norton.

For tkc .Y((C Ensland Fannir.

STATE FARM AT TEWKSBURY AGAIN.

Messrs. Editors : — I like to relieve the minds
of those under fear. Your correspondent *^*, of
the 14th inst., says, — " hope he has made no
charge of it in his books." I hero tell him no ;
were [ disposed to make a charge for my advice
to tlic *»* that have no name in Astronomy, I
should lie troubled to collect it by any code yf
laws in mundane Massachusetts, and therefore I
had better " bless the stars " than foe a lawjvr
for such an aerial pursuit. As to the mature of
the soil on the State Farm at Tcwskbury, I con-
tinue of the same mind as when I wrote before,
and believe that under a system of judicious cul-
tivation, that all 1 stated then will be found cor-
rect. If the stars have been so obscured by clouds
and fog that they have had no opportunity to
shine down uponthe wells and land belonging tD
the State Farm at Tewksbury, 1 should candidly

494

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

advise them to take a peep iu fair weather at the
'• aforesaid premises,*' and I will guarantee in
advance that I will make no charge for " ad-
vice," but render to the poor services gratis.
Wilmington, Oct. 16. 1854. S. Brown.

HOG KILLING IN CINCINNATI

AVe spent a couple of hours the last week in Jan-
uary, in witnessing the process of killing and
dressing hogs, according to the most approved
plan, at one of the largest establishments near the
Brighton House, Cincinnati. The building and
its appurtenances are calculated for dispatching
two thousand hogs per day ; and at the rate the
bloody work was done while we were present, that
number would be done up in less than eight work-
ing hours ! The process is as follows :

The hogs being confined iu pens adjacent, are
driven, about twenty at a time up an inclined
bridge or passage opening by a doorway at top
into a square room ju.-i large enough to hold them;
and as soon as the outside door is closed, a man
enters from an inside door, and with a hammer of
about two pounds weight and three feet length of
handle, by a single blow aimed between the eyes,
knocks each hog down, so that scarce a squeal or
grunt is uttered. In the mean time a second
apartment adjoining this is being filled ; so the
process continues. Next a couple of men seize
the stunned ones by the legs and drag them
through the inside doorway on to the bleeding
platform, where each^receive^the thrust of a keen
blade in the throat, and a torrent of blood runs
through the lattice floor.

After bleeding for a minute or two, they arc
slid off this platform directly into the scalding vat,
which is about twenty feet long, six wide, and
three deep, kept full of water heated by steam,
and so arranged that the temperature is easily
regulated. The hogs being slid into one end of
this vat, are pushed slowly along, by men stand-
ing on each side with sho'^i-t poles, turning them
over so as to secure uniform scalding, and moving
them onward so that each one will reach the op-
posite end of the vat in about two minutes from
the time it entered. About ten hogs are usually
passing through the scalding process at one time.

At the exit end of the vat is a contrivance for
lifting themoutofthescalding water, two at a time
unless quite large, by thej^ower of one man oi^er-
ating a lever, which elevates them to the scraping
table. This table is al)Out five fi^et wide and twen-
ty-five long, and has eight or nine men arranged
on each side, and usually as many hogs on it at
a time, each pair of men performing a separate
part of the work of removing the bristles and hair.
Thus the first pair of men remove the bristles only,
such as are worth saving for brush-makers, tak-
ing only a double handful from the back of each
hog, which are deposited in a barrel or box. The
hog is then given a gingle turn onward to the
nest pair who with scrapers remove the hair from
one side then turn it over to the next pair who
scrape the other side, the next scrape the head
and legs, the next shave one side with sliarp
knives, the next do the same to the other side, and
the next the head and legs ; and each pair of men
have to perform their part of the work in only

Arrived at the end of this table, with the hair
all removed, a pair of men put in the gambril stick
and swing tlie carcase off on the ivheel. This
wheel is about ten feet in diameter, and revolves
on a perpendicular shaft reaching from the floor
to the ci'iling ; the height of the wheel being about
six feet from the floor. Around its periphery are
placed fight large hooks, a))0ut four feet apart, on
which the hogs are hung to.be dressed ; and here
again we find remarkable dispatch secured by tlie
division of labor. As soon as the hog is swung
from the table on to one of these hooks the wheel
is given a turn one-eighth of its circuit, which
brings the next hook to the table and carries the
hog a distance of four feet, where a couple of men
stand ready to dash on it a bucket of clean water,
and scrape it down with knives, to remove the
loose hairs and dirt that may have come from the
table. The next move of the wheel carries it four
feet further, where another man cuts open the
hog almost in a single secend of time, and le-
moves the large intestines or such as have no fat
on them worth saving, and throws them through
an open doorway by his side ; another move of
four feet carries it to the next man who lifts out
the remainder of the intestines, the lieart, liver,
&c., and throws them on to a large table behind
him, where four or five men are engaged in separa-
tmg the fat and other parts of value ; another
move and a man dashes a bucket of clean water
inside, and washes off any filth or blood that may
be seen ; this completes the cleaning or dressing
process, and each man at the wheel has to perform
his part of the work in twelve seconds of time,
as there are only five hogs at once hanging on the
wheel, and this number are removed and as many
added every minute. The number of men em-
ployed, (besides drivers outside,) is fifty ; so that
eacli man may be said to kill and dress one hog
every ten minutes of working time, or forty in a
day. This presents a striking contrast with the
manner that farmers commonly do their "hog
killing."

x\t the last move of the wheel a stout fellow
shoulders the carcase (while another removes the
gaujbril-stick) and backs it off to the other part of
the house where they are hung up for tweutj'-four
hours to cool, on hooks placed in rows on each
side of the beams just over a man's head. Here
are space and hooks sufficient for two thousand
hogs, or a full day's work at killing. The next
day, or when cool, they are taken by teams to the
paeking-house in the city, where the weighing,
cutting, sorting and packing is all accomplished
in the same rapid and systematic manner. — Oltio
Cultivator.

ABOUT CP.ANBEERIES,

To Keep Cranberries. — Gather them when
quite dry, cork them closely in dry bottles, and
place in a cool, dry cellar. They will also keep
in bottles or in casks of water, the latter being
the mode practised in the north of Europe and in
this counti-y, and in wliich it is sent a long dis-
tance, without injury ; the fruit is put in a per-
fect state into tight barrels, filled with water, and
headed up.

Cranberry Jelly. — Make a very strong i??n-
twdve seconds of time, or at the rate of five hogs\^^^^]^^^J \ when cold, mix it with a double quau-
m a ?7jmz<^e, for three or four hours at a time! h^^y of cranberry juice, pressed and strained;

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

495

sweeten and boil it up, and make it into the de-
sired shape, by straining into the proper vessels ;
use good white sugar, or the jelly will not be
clear.

Cranberry and Rice Jelly. — Boil and press
the fruit;, strain the juice, and by degrees mix it
with as much ground rice as will, when boiled,
thicken to a jelly ; boil it gently, stirring it, and
sweeten to your taste ; put it into a basin or form,
and serve with cream or milk.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-
SETTS.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

State House, Boston, Sept. 15, 1854.

Dear Sir : — Will you be so kind as to favor me
•with answers to the following questions, together
with such other suggestions as may be of general
interest or value to the farmers of this Common-
wealth.

If not in your power to give the desired in-
formation, you will do me a great service by in-
teresting some one in your town who will procure
and send it to me.

1. "What has been the effect of the drought
upon the corn, potato and other crops, the present
season, and what is their estimated yield per
acre ^

2. What has been the comparative effect of the
drought on deep and shallow plowed lands!

3. What has been the comparative effect of the
drought on lands where the manure was spread
and plowed in, and on those where it was put in
thehiin

4. What has been the effect of the drought on
forest trees ?

5. What is the best mode of guarding against
the effects of droughts like that of the present
season ?

6. Have there been any experiments in irriga^
tion in your town, and if so, with what result?

7. To what extent has the disease affected the
potato the present season 1

8. What is the estimated decrease in the quan-
tity of potatoes cultivated, and the decrease, per
acre, on account of the disease, or other causes ?

9. What has been the result of experiments
this season in the use of guano, super-phosphate
of lime, poudrette, or other concentrated manures ?

10. To what extent is guano used in your
town, and on what soils does it produce the best
results ?

11. Have you used guano several years in suc-
cession on the same soil, and if so, with what ap-
parent result on the soil and crops 1

12. What is the comparative cost or value, per
ton, of the different kinds of manures used on the
farm, and which produces the best return?

13. Whatis the best way of using swamp muck,
and on what soils should it be used ?

14. What is the worth of dry swamp muck,
per cord, for agricultural purposes 1

15. AVhat is the average cost of raising and
storing one acre of Indian corn, rye, wheat, oata,
or barley, in your town, the average yield per
acre, and the price per bushel?

IG. How many pounds of Indian meal are equiv-
alent to one hundred pounds of good English hay,
as food for stock ?

17. What is thought to be the value of apples,
either for flesh or milk, for stock, and the value
of cooked apples for swine ?

18. To what extent have the ravages of worn^
affected the orchards this season ?

19. What number of mowing machines have
been used in your town, and with what success 1

20. What is the cost, per head, of raising pigs
up to the age of nine months, and what is the
average value at that age ?

21. What is the cost of raising a horse up to
the age of three, four or five years, and what is
the average value at those ages ?

22. What proportion of the farmers of your
town derive their entire support from the farm ?

23. Has the number of farmers in your town
increased or decreased within the last ten years,
and how much 1

You will greatly oblige me by sending a reply
before the first of November.

Very truly, your obedient servant,

Charles L. Flint,
Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

GARDENS THAT NEVER FAIL.

"My garden failed last year, owing to the
drought," was the remark of a friend of ours,
when apologizing for the slovenly appearance of
the patch of ground which he dignified with the
name of garden, and in which, each year, after
plowing and harrowing the ground, he is accus-
tomed to plant cabbages, onions, beets, cucum-
bers, melons, &c., for the supply of his family ;
but the soil being clayey, and not over 5 or G
inches in depth, with a compact subsoil beneath,
the crops were of course liable to dry up in such
a season of severe drought as was last year in
June ; and as such seasons arc by no means unus-
ual in this climate, it is good policy for every
one who hasa garden or vegetable patch, to adopt
such a system of culture as will prevent the dan-
ger of failure from this source.

Deepening the soil is the only effective means of
protection against failure from drought. Plow
or spade up the subsoil in the fall, so as to ex-
pose it to the mellowing effects of frost, say to the
depth of a foot at least, and if deeper so much the
better, adding a good supply of stable manure ;
the crops will then push their roots so deep, and
moisture will rise from below so constantly, that
while other gardens around may fail from
drought, this will continue green and flourishing;
and the increased yield as well as improved qual-
ity of its products will in a single year almi.)st or
quite pay for the improvement.

Cucumber, melon, and similar vines appear to
have small roots, but their roots run very deep if
opportunity is offered them. Experienced gar-
deners will not fail to give them deep as well
as rich ground, in this sunny climate^ where
droughts are so frequent. The same is true
of cabbages, and in short all kinds .of garden
vegetables. The directions for the culture of
such things as are given in most books on garden-
ing, are written by persons unaccustomed to
so dry and warm a climate as ours, and hence
are deficient in not suflicieutly insisting upon
deep culture as a proven tativ) of injury from
drought. We find it necessary to give "line upon
line" on this subject. — Ohio Cultivator.

496

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

BREAKING COLTS.

^ In the Boston Cultivator of Sept. 16, we no-
ticed an engraving illustrating a new mode of
breaking colts, by a Mr. Phineas Field. TIk
mode of performing this work is so simple and so
favorable, tliat we have made some improvement,'
upon the eno;raviDg, and give the description ii
Mr. Field's own words. He says,—" a little mort
than one year since, having three fine colts that
were wholly untutored, I adopted a new expedient
for bringing them into subjection, which suc-
ceeded to a charm. Several of my neighbors
availed themselves of the privilege gratuitously
offered them by the use of my apparatus in
breaking their colt?, and in every case they were
delighted with the ease, safety and thorough suc-
cess of the SL-Iieme. Last Autumn, having bought
another largo and vigorous colt of three years
past in age, and wishing to bring it under sub-
jection, I resorted to the same method that was
found so eff-.'ctual last season, which has been
equally satisfactory, both to myself and my
neighbors, ^^ ho have either availed themselves of
the use of I'lc apparatus, or have witnessed its
operation ; und in compliance with their sugges-
tion, I send you a drawing of the run-round, now
in rig in my yard for breaking colts. To the ma-
chine thus completed I harness the colt, I care
not how ugly or ungained, buckling the pole
strap so short that he will have no slack harness ;
then tying his halter to the cross-bar, I pull off
his bridle and let him have a fair chance and his
own course. He never runs at first, for fear of
the wheel before him, but alternately trots and

stands still. After the colt has been harnessed
an hour or so, I seat myself astride the rear pole
at the point where the inner end of the bar sup-
porting the whipple-tree is attached, when he
generally starts off at a rapid speed ; I retain my
5eat until the colt comes to a stand, which is
always after he has been from six to twenty
rounds. I then feed him a handful of oats, and
put a wisp of hay in the rope which confines the
pole strap, and leave him to pursue his own
course. He should be kept harnessed in this way
through the day, being visited frequently with
the oat dish, and supplied with hay, where he
can help himself at will.

The second day let the colt be bridled, with
leading lines attached, and fed a few oats as soon
as harnessed, then left for some time to promenade
at his leisure, then drove, and taught to start and
stop at bidding. After being drilled in this way
for half an hour, make fast one of the wheels to
a post a little outside of the range, and leave him
for an hour or more, thus teaching him to stand ;
keej^ him harnessed through the day, occasionally
feeding, driving, backing, and teaching him to
stop and to stand still, but using no harsh meas-
ures, for none are needed. After three such days
of training, I have always succeeded in making a
colt completely manageable, and hesitate not to
take my wife on board a cutter or wagon for a
ride, having done so repeatedly. I consider the
above method for breaking colts cheap, safe, ex-
peditious and effectual, and those who have ex-
amined the affair, say that a colt broken to go in
that machine will go anywhere.

Explanation of the Drawing. — A post set fir m

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

491

in the ground, and rising three feet, with a shoul-
dered three-inch round tenon or pivot at the top.

Two straight, rough, hard wood poles, thirty
feet long, eight inches in diameter at the butt
ends, and four inches in diameter at the tops.
One of these poles is confined on the top of the
post, six feet from the butt end by a round mor-
tice, three and a half inches in diameter. The
other pole is lapped into the first, near their butt
ends, made fast by locking, and by a two inch
pin.

The hind wheels of a lumber wagon, fitted on
the ends of the poles.

Crossbar, a rough pole twelve feet long, bolted
at each end on the long poles, four feet from the
wheel hu1)s.

Rough pole, bolted on one of the main polos
and on the cross bar, to support the whipple-tree.

An augur hole boi-ed through the forward
pole, in which is fastened a rope for confining the
pole strap of the harness."

For the New England Tarmer.

ON MATURING PLANTS.

In a comtmmication in your August number by
A. G. Cominjj,s, on maturing plants, are many
dogmas, which, if true, should not only be talked
about by somebod}-, but acted ujjon by all. lie
remarks that a soil that contains no carbon in
form of vegetable matter or otherwise, cannot ma-
ture seed, though a stock may bo produced, and
instances the growth of wheat straw with worth-
less seed, and extends the same remarks to corn,
rye and oats. Where can a soil be found, that
any farmer would till, destitute of vegetable mat-
ter? Experience shows the uncertainty of a crop
of wheat and the certainty of a crop of corn on
the same soil. How will Mr. Comings account
for this diflerence !

He remarks that a good crop of turnips, or
cabbage, can be produced with a small amount of
vegetable matter in the soil, but that seeds of them
cannot be raised on such soil. I would respect-
fully ask Avhat are his proofs of this position.
My own long experience is, that cabbage and
turnip seed can much more certa'.nly be raised
than good heads of cabbage or good turnips. In-
deed, turnips will often refuse to increase into
large good bulbs, and cabbages to head, but seed
will the next year be produced plentifully from
these worthless turnips and cabbage stumps.
Where does the carbon come from that produces
these things ?

He asserts that those plants which produce
seed the first year of their growth, and then die,
draw away the sul^stance of the roots to mature
the seeds, and is the cause of their death. Is this
true, or do they die because they have fullilled
the law of their being ? Are these not perennial
plants that produce and mature their seed from
the first and many successive years from the same
roots 1 Clover is a well known biennial plant,
and its life is limited to that period generally,
whether suffered to mature its seed or not, so far
as my observation and experience of many years

indicate. I would ask who has succeeded in pre-
serving clover for many years ft a thrifty condi-
tion, simply by preventing its maturing its seed.

Some farmers never plow in grain crops, and
yet for many years raise good crops of corn and
grain. How is this fact reconciled with his re-
marks about seed producing crops exhausting tlio
soil, and rendering it necessary to plow in grain
crops ■?

Mr. Comings asserts that some plants do not
come to maturity to produce seeds for several
years, and classes potatoes among them. He says
potatoes before they mature, feed carbon and
other elements more largely from the atmosphere
and produce large tubers — they appropriate more
carbon in the form of atmospheric gas — and that
after they become seed producing kinds they pour
loss downward into the tubes, and conser[uently
an excess of gaseous food is more injurious to them,
and they are more liable to disease ; and that roots
and seeds do commonly grow at the same time.
Now I would inquire where Mr. Comings gets all
these facts in relation to potatoes ? I have fre-
quently raised potatoes from the seed, and my ex-
perience is that several years are required to get
a full size of tuber instead of large tubers the first
year or two from the seed. Is it a fact ascertain-
ed fi-om experience and observation on a wide field
that seed producing potatoes are more liable to
disease than non-seed producing ones? Some
species of potatoes produce no seed from balls —
others but few, and others very abundantly ; and
this diversity, so far as I have observed, does not
at all depend on the time they were first produced
from the seed. It is an incident of the variety as
much as color, flavor or size. Do not the ball ani
seeds of potatoes grow at the same time with the
tuber — if not, which grows first ?

Among other dogmas, Mr. Comings says, that
in the period before maturity every plant feeds
more from the atmosphere, and at maturity, more
from the soil ; — that the growth of grass for a few
days after blussoniing, exhausts the soil more than
many days of growtli does before the timcof blos-
somilig. ' 1 would inquire how these dogmas are
proved to be true? Are tlicy drawn from theory
or from facts and well conducted experiments?
If from experiments, what is the precise number
of days embraced in the terms "/<'<'" and '■'■many''''
in the growth of grass before and after blossoming
to exhaust the soil to the same extent?

There are many dogmas pr.)iunlgated l)y agri-
cultural writers, that every mai; of experience
and observation knows to be without foundation
in truth. If writers would be more careful in
what tliey assert for principles and facts wo should
hear sneers about book farming less frequently
thin we do. Rufus McLntire.

Value of Agricultural Papers. — A subscriber
in Connecticut says—" I am much indebted to the
Cultivator for remedies which have saved me two
cows, thereby saving enough to pay for it a life-
time, l)eside the great amount of knowledge ob-
tained from it on all other subjects." — Albany
Cultivator.

(i^ Beef cattle now arriving at the Baltimore
market are poor in condition, owing to the in-
jury done to the pasturage by the long drought.

498

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

CATTLE SHOW AT LEOMINSTER.

The third Annual Exhibition of faim products
and articles of manufacture, took place at Leom-
inster, in this State, on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
This beautiful and flourishing town is on the
Fitchburg railroad, five miles from Fitchburg and
45 from Boston. The surface is broken into
many gentle hills, with others that may almost be
dignified with the title of mountains ; while
meandering through the valleys is a large branch
of the Nashua, and two or three smaller streams.
The soil is stony and fertile, and the agricultural
condition of the town considerably in advance of
a majority of the towns in the State, and, conse-
quently, there is a high degree of intelligence and
moral culture among the people. Among the
mechanical pursuits, there are three or four es-
tablishments for the manufacture of pianofortes,
several for combs, of every description. It is re-
lated, in Hay ward'' s Gazetteer, that in 1837 the
manufactures of the town amounted to half a
million of dollars, and since that time, their in-
crease has been constant and rapid. The articles
then manufactured consisted of cotton and woollen
goods, paper, leather, boots, shoes, hats, scythes,
bellows, palm-leaf hats, straw bonnets, chairs,
tin and cabinet wares, &c. It is probable that the
making of some of these articles has been discon-
tinued, and we know that others have been in-
troduced, as, for instance, the article of combs,
which, probably, cannot be excelled by those
manufactured at any other place.

At 4 o'clock, on Wednesday morning, the
south-west wind was driving the rain across the
fields at a rapid rate, and gloomy were the pros-
pects of the Leominstorians for a successful Fair.
But the wind and the rain subsided, and by 8
o'clock the sun was glancing on the little pools,
and twinkling merrily on the drops which hung
tremblingly on the grass. The Common, in the
middle of the town, was busy with the prepara-
tions going on ; cattle, and swine, and poultry
were coming in, and horses and colts were so
elastic in the pure morning air, that they came
nearer the true idea of perpetual motion than any
thing we have yet seen.

Our first particular attention was given to the
stock. There were, we think, some 40 pens,
erected in the most substantial and neat manner,
of sawed chestnut posts and rails, and all filled.
The cattle were mostly of the common mixed
breeds. We noticed a two years old heifer, na-
tive and Durham, which was very fine, the
property of J. H. Carter ; three fine calves, by
L. BuRRAGE ; a pair of native steers, by Luther
B. Clark, 3 years 5 months, and weighing 2370
pounds — destined to make a fine jDair of cattle, if
properly treated. A pair of two years old, by A.
CoBURN, 1,850 pounds^handsome. A pen of
cows., having excellent milking qualities apparent

by Solon Carter, the President of the Associa-
tion. A native cow, by David Howe, weight
1,195. Two cows, by P. H. W. Low. native ;
also by Jacob Collum, S. F. Shattuck, and Oli-
ver Hall, which were fine looking animals, and
making it evident that their owners were good
judges of stock. A pair of fat oxen, by Ephraim
Buss, weight 4,000 pounds, were of fine propor-
tions. In the afternoon there was a procession
of horses, and some 40 or 50 pairs of working
oxen, among which were fine specimens.

There was a small but good display of poultry
— turkeys, ducks and varieties of cocks and hens.
One motherly-looking Biddy, said, just as we
were passing, "I am the mother of the mottled
family at my left, what do you think of them?"
Well, Dame Prattle, we think you have given us a
progeny of many colors, but that "Thanksgiving"
will be the richer for them, if you continue to
feed them well.

There were some excellent swine. Silas Rich-
ardson, presented a breeding sow with nine pigs
— the sow two years old, and the pigs fifteen
weeks and averaging 98 lbs. each. Another by
Charles F. Carter, with seven pigs, all fine speci-
mens. A fat hog by Joseph Cozzens, weight
about 500 lbs. and a finely proportioned animal.

The Drawing Match was well and fairly con-
tested— load for oxen, on a cart, 3,800 lbs. ; for
horses in horse-cart, 3000 lbs. ; both horses and
oxen gave evidence of much skill in training them.

A surprise awaited us in Pomona Hall, for
which we were not prepared. In graceful array,
were several tables the entire length of the hall,
filled with apples, peaches, plums pears, cran-
berries, melons, squashes and all manner of vege-
tables, dried apples, together with the neat and
tasteful handiwork of the ladies, and specimens of
the mechanical skill and industry of the people of
the town.

In the size, beauty and quantity of some of the
varieties, especially of the Blue Pearmain and Rus-
set Sweets, we had seen nothing like it before.
And iu the excellence of the whole fruit exhibi-
tion, we doubt whether there is another town in
the commonwealth where there are no amateur
fi'uit raisers, that can equal it. There were 1,080
specimens ; 867 of apples, 72 of pears, 69 of
peaches, 22 of plums, 17 of grapes, and 26 of
quinces. The cranberries were presented by R.
Haynes ; were from transplanted vines, and very
large and fair.

The specimens of combs by Gardner Morse, Em-
erson & Prescott and G. A. Whittemore, and of
ladies' and gentlemen's shoes by Manson & Haws
were of various styles and patterns, and of most
rare workmanship.

This Exhibition,as a whole, was a model of the
kind. At every point, were evidences of the prac-
tical skill of those who managed it ; everything

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

499

moved at the moment assigned; there were no mis-
takes, no hurry or confusion, although the num-
ber of persons in attendance was quite large, and
at the dinner more than usually sit down at the
County Shows.

The exercises in the Town-hull, wei'C an ad-
dress by the agricultural Editor of the Farmer, re-
marks by Mr. Earle, Editor of the S>pj, ^Vorces-
ter, and the announcement of the awards.

Such associations are the germs from which
will spring the improvements so much desired in
agricultural affairs, and we wish them all that
success they so eminently deserve.

For the New England Farmer.

IMPROVING SOILS BY SHADE.

Mr. Brown : — In the Country Gentleman, of
July 6th, there appeared an article on a " New
Method of Fertilizing Land," by Elihu Cross, of
Renssalaer county, N. Y. Mr. Cross says, " I
believe it is generally argued by farmers that
shade tends to impoverish the soil ; but, after a
careful examinatiun, I have come to the con-
clusion that sliade makes land rich. Perhaps
those opposed to t'.iis tlicory will say, ' If shade
makes land rich, why does not the soil under!
very large trees become vei-y fertile ? ' It seems j
to me that every intelligent husbandn^an might
answer this question'without much hesitation.;
The reason is this : the growth of the tree is con-j
stantly drawing the strength from the soil, and'
if the shade did not tend to enrich the land, the'
soil would soon be so much impoverished that the
tree would die. If any person wishes to be con-
vinced of the truth of this new theory, let liim
try an experiment on a small scale. Take a piece
of poor ground, one rood square, and cover it over
with brush two feet deep ; let it remain covered
in this manner four years, then remove the brush,
and, if I am not very much mistaken, he will
find that the soil has become rich, although no
manure has been added. Let any man enter the
forest, and examine the soil which has had grow-
ing timber consuming its fertilizing matter for
centuries, and he will find that the soil is still
very rich. Now I will ask how the fertility has
been kept up, if the shade does not tend to fer-
tilize the soil ? I shall, doubtless, hear many
say it has been kept up by the manure made of
the leaves of the trees. I admit that the foliage
tends to fertilize ; but the quantity of matter re-
turned to the soil in this way is so small in com-
parison to what is taken up by the growth of
timber, it is evident there must be a greater
source of fertilization, or the soil would long
since have been exhausted. By shading land
properly, the soil is made to undergo the putre-
factive process, and is converted into a strong and
durable manure. x\sk farmers that raise flax and
spread it upon their land, if the grass is any
larger where the flax was spread than elsewhere,
they will answer yes. You may ask them why it
is larger ; they will say the flax has enriched the
land. Ask them how it luis enriched the land,
and I presume to say not more than one in ten
can tell you," &c.

To this there is added an editorial note, which,
in substance, says : ' ' The simple process of shading

land cannot impart any fertility whatever, else
the north side of a building would soon become
enriched by the process. Neither can the shade
of trees prove beneficial to the soil ; and, although
their growth is constantly withdrawing the
strength from the soil, yet the annual extension
of the roots, and their penetration into the soil,
brings them successively into contact with fresh
portions of earth, and their growth continues un-
checked. But when a porous substance is placed
upon the surface of the earth, sufficiently dense to
prevent the evaporation of its moisture, and at
the same time to admit the free passage of rain
and air, two very important advantages are
gained, viz : the preservation of the riches of the
soil, and the addition to its fertility by the con-
densation of volatile manures, thruugli the agency
of rain, and by the gradual decumposltion of the
surface soil, through the action of air and water.
If the earth is covered air tight, as, for example,
by a solid stack of hay, or stra,w, resting directly
upon it, no improvement follows, as would be the
case if a pervious stratum merely was laid on its
surface. For the same reason, the subsoil is never
benefited by the shade of the upper soil, because
it is totally excluded from air and moisture," &c.

Some five or six years ago, I gave out a few
hints and ideas to the fiirmers, through the
Albany Cultivator, in regard to improving waste
lands. Such lands as steep hill sides, barren
knolls, rocky ledges, and other waste places, by
letting those points grow up to trees of the
forest — naturally, if they would — if not, to plant
them out, or sow the seed, by hand. When 1 first
gave out this advice to farmers, I thought it good,
and every year since has convinced me more and
more of its importance, although at first I had no
idea of offering any " new theory " for improving
waste lands ; still, if others feel disposed to give it
that " name," I have no objections, not knowing
whetlier 1 was before or behind otiiers in first
offering the improvement. Since that time, how-
ever, Ihave had the satisfaction of seeing other
writers advocate the same cause, while some
" agricultural orators " have held forth to " audi-
ences " on improving waste lands by growing
trees, which is all very well. The principles held
forth in the theory offered by Mr. Cross I believe
to be true ; and, as he has done it in a very sys-
tematic way, I will make no attempts at im-
provement on that point. !My attention was
called to tliis suliject a itivf years since, first, by
observing a white oak tree growing on a barren,
gravel knoll, upon my own land ; and under this
trcj the soil was noticed to be pretty well swarded
over to grass, while a few feet distance i'rom the
tree nothing but " fine finger vines and rattle
I ox-plants " could grow. The (|uestion then
I arose, — what caused the soil to become more pro-
ductive, and sward over to grass under the trees?
JThe falling leaves, under single or standard trees,
I would not be of much account as a fertilizer, as
the wind would blow them away as. they fell.
The droppings of cattle under such trees, at
times, might be of some importance during the
warm season. But the main cause of productive-
ness I consider comes from shelter, and protection
of the soil from the scalding and burning rays of
the sun, together with the heavy washing and
drenching rains of the season.

That there is a principle involved in the growth

500

NEW ENGLAND F^iEMER.

Nov.

of trees alone which imparts fertility to the soil
I have not a doubt. But just how the process is
brought about I cannot say at present. The com-
parison made by the editor, that if shade im-
proved the soil then the soil on the north side of
buildings would become rich, is not to my mind
a case in point : because in case of the building it
is "dead matter," while that of a tree, is a living
acting principle, imparting fertility to the soil by
its own reproduction. Then again, where the
soil is completely protected from the sun and rain
as under a building, after a number of years,
"salts of nitre," or "saltpetre," in its crude state,
will be formed, which is of itself a good fertilizer
for soils. Every farmer knows that where a pile
of old rails or boards lay upon the ground a
year or two, the soil will be much enriched by
it. So too a stack of hay,whethcr resting directly
on the ground or raised a few inches from the sur-
face, the soil will be improved, as we consider it
rather a difficult matter to make the covering
air-tight by a stack of hay or straw.

The subsoil, where it remains several inches be-
low the surface, is of course dead and inert mat-
ter, and cannot be much improved, until it is
opened l)y the surface and subsoil plow. Most
or all of the cultivated grasses, together witli the
various kinds of grains, grow and mature well un-
der shade ; while the hoed crops, such as corn
and potatoes, with the various kinds of root crops,
will not come to much, where the ground is pret-
ty effectually shaded. Of course, the waste lands
improved by growing young trees, will not be
plowed, but remain in permanent pasture for cat-
tle. On many of such lands, if the plow is kept
out, the young trees will come in naturally. But
where this is not the case they should be planted.
The white oak, with most of the other oaks, to-
gether with the chestnut, will grow as well on a
thin soil. While on a thin barren soil the white
birch will grow successfully, so that there need be
no difficulty in making a selection of trees suita-
ble for the soil. These ideas lead me to make
some remarks ©n a particular class of wood-
lands," more or less scattered on many farms
throughout the country. These "woodlands,"
consist of thin scattering trees with very little or
no underbrush or young sprouts and suckers ;
such lands are what would be called "oak open-
ings," at tlic West. Most of these lands natur-
ally grow nothing but a thin slippery wood-grass,
which is not of much account for pasture or feed
for cattle. But by feeding this grass down effec-
tually with cattle, the better grasses will come in,
and this, with sowing some of the grasses, such as
timothy, red-top and clover, a good and perma-
nent pasture may bo obtained. I look upon
such land where properly managed, as among the
most valuable lauds for pasture on the larm. The
permanent shelter which the growing trees afford
for cattle through the season from hot suns and
washing rains, is worthy the attention of every
farmer. If under-brush should grow up, they
should be cut out and kept down, but if the trees
are out, then the improvement is done with, as
the sprouts ivill not grow on such lands to any
amount. Yours truly, L. Dukand.

Derby, Ct., Sept. 21, 1854.

EsPAXDiNG TiiE Chest. — Those in wealthy cir-
cumstances, or who pursue sedentary employment

within doors, generally use their lungs but very
little, breathe but very little into the chest, and
thus, independently of positions, contract a
wretchedly narrow, small chest, and lay the foun-
dation for the loss of health and beauty. All this
can be perfectly obviated by a little attention to
the manner of breathing. Recollect the lungs are
like a bladder in their construction, and can be
stretched open to double their ordinary size, with
perfect immunity from consumption. The agent,
and the only agent required, is the common air
we breathe, supposing, however, that no obstacle
exist, external to the chest, such as lacing, or ty-
ing it around with stays, or tight dress, or having
shoulders lay upon it. On rising in the morning,
place yourself in an erect posture, your chest
thrown back, and shoulders entirely off the chest ;
now inhale or suck in all the air you can, so as to
fill the chest to the vei'y bottom of it, so that no
more can be got in ; now hold your breath and
throw your arms off behind, holding in your breath
as long as you please. Done in a cold room is
much better, because the air is much denser, and
will act more powerfully in expanding the chest.
Exercising the chest in this manner,it will enlarge
the capacity and size of the lungs. — Common
School Advocate.

For the New England Farmer.

ANOTItER SPECIMEN OE EAEMING.

Mr. Editor : — Three years ago I bought the
farm on which I now live, consisting of 100 acres,
15 of which are pond and marsh, consisting of
muck and shell marl in great abundance, for
which 1 paid $1500. I keep 9 cows, besides my
team. 1 raise what wheat, corn and vegetables
I consume in my family, and some to sell; my sales
of butter, pork and beef have averaged $400 a
year. I have done the work of my farm, with the
help of a boy about 15 years old, and have paid
$50 for his services through the summer season.
I raise most of every thing we need in the family,
(which consists of my wife and two children,) ex-
cept clothing and groceries, and I sell off grain
and the avails of the poultry yard, sufficient to
pay for them. I own my house and barns, filled
with an abundance of the produce of niy own
acres, and at night sleep under my own roof, and
if not a princely hired mansion, with carpets that
are like velvet under our feet, yet it protects us
from the inclemencies of even a Vermont winter ;
the rag carpeting answers all the purpose of one
of finer texture, and what is better still, is the
work of my own industi'ious wife, and then how
sweet the pure, country air, from our verdant hills
and mountain^, instead of the pent up atmosphere
from heaps of brick and mortar, and the cast-off
rubbish of cities. Then we have a pure moral
atmosphere that surrounds us, where we will not
hear an oath once in a twelve month. Our chil-
dren can skip and gambol in our own fields as in-
nocently as the calves of our herd.

We have no piano, but we have what to us is
a soui'ce of more real enjoyment, the music of low-
ring herds and bleating sheep, and the clarion
voice of chanticleer, the elder, and all the young-
er ones of his train, and a full chorus of cackling
hens to indicate the larder is to be kept replen-
ished with eggs fresh and good ; but I am weary-
ing your patience with my " yarn," but it is no

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAllMER.

501

fancy sketch, neither is the picture over-drawn,
for the half is not told yet of the social, moral,
and religious advantage of our position, and I
could but think while reading your "City Me-
chanic's, No. 1," how many of his class might
better their situation by coming to the country
and " setting up " as farmers. I am in one of
the best portions of Vermont, 18 miles fiom rail-
road, with a strong soil and good society ; and
farms can be bought for from 20 to 30 dollars per
acre. Vermonter.

Sept. 22, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

IMPORTATION OF GUANO.

Mr. Editor : — I have before me the Report of
Mr. Riddle, from the Select Committee of the
House of Representatives of the United States,
upon the memorial of two thousand agricultur-
ists of the State of Delaware, asking the action of
this Government with respect to the importation
of Guano from Peru. The memorial and report
relate to a subject of immense importance to the
farmers of this country, and contain much valua
ble information. The result of the whole is that
Guano might be furnished in the ports of this
country at from $30 to $35 per ton, paying at
the same time a large revenue to the Peruvian
Government. The contract heretofore existing be-
tween that Government and certain Anglo-Peruvi-
an mercantile houses, which have made large ad-
vances to that government, and enjoj'ed the mo-
nopoly of the trade in Guano as security, will ex-
pire in 1855.

It is believed that some new and more fivora-
ble arrangement may be made l)y this government
with that of Peru, and that no time should be lost
in effecting it. I would suggest, that in further
ance of this object, so vital to the interests of this
country, petitions should be prepared and numer-
ously signed by the agriculturists of New Eng
land, and transmitted to Congress at the opening
of the next session. The farmers of Delaware,
Maryland and Eastern Virginia seem fully awake
to the importance of the subject, and monopolize,
through the Peruvian agent in Baltimore, a large
portion of the Guano shipped to this coun
try. The suT)ject is equally important to the
farmers of New England. Shall we not then unite
with our Southern brethren in urging upon the
government, immediate and strenuous efforts to
secure the object. I send you a copy of the pcti^
tion from Delaware, which may serve as the ba^
sis of a memorial from the farmers of New Eng'
land, unless something better should be sug
geated.

memorial.

The Memorial of the undersigned citizens of Del
aware respectfully represents —

That, Your memorialists are all engaged or di
rectly interested in the ancient, honorable and in-
dispensable pursuit of agriculture ; that most of
your memorialists have tor many years been stri-
ving and toiling with earnest industry, and their
utmost skill in the cfl'ort to resuscitate a soil,
which, though once generous and fruitful, had
long been exhausted of ita fertilities ; that some
six or eight years ago many of your memorialists
had begun to despond of accomplishing their lau-
dable enterprise, when the almo.'sc miraculous suc-

cess of experiments with Peruvian Guano upon
their depleted soil, came to your memorialists as
the harbinger of hope and future triumph ; that
although the price at which this valuable fertili-
zer came to the consumer, seemed from the first
extravagant, yet it was sufferable in view of a
reduction which it was believed would be soon ef-
fected, through the influence of a commercial com-
petition ; that so far, however, from being in-
dulged in the realization of this hope, your me-
morialists have been compelled to pay, at almost
every successive purchase of this manure, a price
higher than the last, until at length, the demand
has reached the exorbitant sum of fifly-four dol-
lars per ton, and even at that rate, it can only be
obtained in small parcels, as an especial favor,
from the Peruvian agent ; whilst your memorial-
ists are informed and believe that there is enough
at the Chincha Islands to supply the world for
more than twenty generations. That your memo-
rialists, from the best information they can ob-
tain, believe that this evil springs not out of any
normal law of trade, but is the oppressive exac-
tion of an odious Anglo-Peruvian monojjoly,
which for mere caprice or mean selfishness, deals
out to the American consumer, a stinted, but
costly supply of an article, which if left to be regu-
lated by the principles of a liberal commerce,
might come in abundance, and at a moderate
price.

Your memorialists are frank to admit, that no
manure known to them is so well adapted to a
speedy renovation of worn out lands as the Peru-
vian Guano. Yet it is equally true, that at the
prices now demanded for it, the larger portion of
the crop on which it is applied, is consumed in
the expense of that a})plication. So tliat the for-
mer, in part, derives but litlo benefit from it, save
the mer« gratification — if it can be one — of seeing
liis land improved at the expense of his for-
tune.

From this intolerable grievance imposed upon
your memorialists, in conunon with thoir fellow-
citizens of other States, Ijy the ^monopoly before
alluded to, your memorialists respcctiull3'- suggest
that they know of no other means of deliverance,
except the intervention of a government in whose
enlightened liberality and justice they hare un-
wavering confidence.

Your memorialists furtlier suggest that they be-
lieve allegiance and protection to be correlative ob-
ligations. They trust that they belong to a class
of citizens, than wiiom there are none more loyal.
That class, too, embraces seven-eighths of the pop-
ulation of the Union ; and yet, whilst otiier class-
es of their fellow-citizens have demanded and re-
ceived the action and aid of their government, the
farmers of this country have seldom or never be-
fore invoked the attention or assistance of the Ex-
ecutive, or of Congress, and it is only l)ecause they
are oppressed "to th.it point beyond which for-
bearance ceases to be a virtue," that they at this
time reluctantly venture to make known their
complaint to a government, the blessing of whose
protection and parental concern Ought, "as the
dews of heaven, to descend upon all classes alike."

I have omitted two paragraphs from the above
memorial on a. -count of its length. I would res-
pectfully suggest that the annual meetings of the
agricultural socicti.-s, wliicli are about to occur,
will afford suitable occasions lor presenting this

502

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

subject to the farmers throughout the country,
and of obtaining their .<;ignatures to a memorial to
Congress. Yours &c.,

Joseph Reynolds.
Concord, Sept. 12, 1854.

"LET ME IN."

BY FLORENCE PERCV.

When the summer evening's shadows

Veiled the earth's calm bosom o'er,
Came a young ehilJ, faint and weary,

Tapping at a cott.ige door ;
" Wandering through the winding wood-paths.

My worn feet too long have been,
Let me in, 0, gentle mother.
Let me in ! "

Years passed on, — his eager spirft

Gladly watched the flying hours ;
" I will be a child no longer.

Finding bliss in birds and flowers ;
I will seek the bands of pleasure,

I will join their merry din ;
Let me in to joy and gladness,
Let me in ! "

Years sped on — yet vainly yearning.

Murmuring still the restless heart —
" I am tired of heartless folly,

Let the glittermg cheat depart ;
I have found in worldly i^leasure

Nought to happiness akin,
Let me in to lore's warm presence,
Let me in ! "

Years flew on ; a youth no longer,

Still he owned the restless heart ;
" I am tired of love's soft durance.

Sweet-voiced syren, we must part >
I will gain a laurel chaplet,

And a world's applause will win j
Let me in to fame and glory.
Let me in ! "

Years fled on ;— the restless spirit

Never found the bliss it sought ;
Aoswered hopes and granted blessings

Only new aspirings brought ;
" I am tu-ed of earth's vain glory,

I am tired of grief and sin,
Let me in to rest eternal,

Let me in ! "

Thus the unquiet, yearning spirit,

Taunted by a vague unrest,
Knocks and calls at every gateway,

In a vain and fruitless Ciuest ;
Ever striving some new blessing.
Some new happiness to win, —
At some portal ever saying,
''Let me in ! ''

Portland Transcript.

1^" Sulphur will not mix with water at all, —
Sugar mixes with it very readily. If the earth
had been in this respect fike sulphur, rain water
w^ould have run off as soon as it fell ; there could
have been no vegetation, and creeks and rivers
would have overflowed many farms at every show-
er. Had the earth al)sorbc'd water as sugar does,
we should have sank over our heads into the mud
after every copious rain, buildings could only have
been erected upon immense rocks, but without
timber, for large vegetables could not have with-
stood the slightest wind. Indeed the earth would
not have been habitable. But sulphur and sugar,
yea, all things, are moat wisely and exactly adapt-
ed to their respective uses. By whom?

SUBURBAN VISITS.

Eesidexcb of Mr. B. W. Bull, Concord, Mass., Aug. 8th.

On the descending slope of a rather steep hill,
on the southerly side of the old Concord road
from Boston, and but little distant from the bat-
tle ground which has made this town so promi-
nent in the annals of our country, is situated the
residence of Mr. Bull, whose name has recently
become familiar to cultivators as the originator of
the Concord grape. His grounds occupy eight or
ten acres, mostly a vci-y thin sandy soil, and lay
open to the south, with a fine prospect over many
hundred acres of what M'as some years since a neg-
lected meadow, — but now a fertile plain, covered
with luxuriant grasses, waving grain, growing
crops, and orchards of the finest fruit ; beyond,
from east to west, a finely wooded range of hills
bound, the view. All this improvement has been
effected by the good judgment and industry of the
owners of tliis land; among whom may be named,
as setting the example to others, the late Capt.
Moore, one of the best practical farmers in the
country. His place, which nearly adjoins Mr.
Bull's, is now carried on with the same zeal and
energy by his son, Capt. J. B. Moore, who is a
most successful fruit grower, a nurseryman to
some extent, and, withal, a most thorough practi-
cal fiirmer.

Mr. Bull removed from Boston some fifteen or
more years since, for the benefit of his health, and
naturally extremely fond of horticultural pusuits,
in which he had been an amateur participator
even in the precincts of a small city garden ; he
carried with him some of the best kinds of our va-
rious fruits, and particularly the Isabella and Ca-
tawba grapes, then more rare than at present.
These seemed to flourish on his warm sandy soil
better than anything else, and to their culture he
gave considerable attention ; adding, from time to
time, all the rare sorts which were offered for sale,
with a view to test their qualities, and among
them the Diana.

But, unfortunately, neither the Isabella or Ca-
tawba could be relied upon for a crop, even in the
most favorable seasons, and, disappointed in find-
ing a really eatable fruit among the new kinds
which he obtained from various sources, except
the Diana, he thought the only way to procure
what he most wanted — a hardy, early, and choice
grape — was to attempt it through the seed ; and
this he set about at once. In a distant part of
his gai'den a wild vine had sprung up, from some
accidental seed thrown into the ground or dropped
by birds, which, though similar to the common
wild type in nearly every chai*acteristic, produced
a very sweet grape, ripening the last part of Au-
gust. This struck him as a very favorable com-
mencement, as earliness was the main thing to be
gained. He moved it to the trellis near his Ca-
tawba and other vines, gave it good cultivation,
gathered the crop, and planted the seeds ; and it
was the produce of these seeds that gave him,
most fortunately, the Concord Grape. Such is
the history of this seedling, which has already
briefly been given by Mr. Bull himself, in his
communication in our February number of the
present volume, (p. 65.)

Our own account of this grape, with an engra-'
ving representing the size, form, and general ap-
pearance of the fruit, accompanied Mr. Bull's
communication. We had been supplied, the last

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARRIER.

503

autumn, with an abundance of ripe clusters from
week to week, giving us every opportunity to t€st
its qualities with the Isabelhi and Diana from our
own grounds, and our opinion was formed after
repeated trials of the fruit. The vine in it.s bear-
ing state we had never seen, but knowing that
whatever jNIr. Bull might state in regard to it
could be relied upon, we had no hesitation in re-
commending the Concord as in every respect a
most superior grape.

But no new fruit has ever yet been introduced
which has not found its defamers, and with the
Concord grape there seems to have been uncom-
mon pains used by those who never tasted it, to
decry its excellence. A correspondent (anony-
mous, of course) of the Horticulturist stated that
"the grape, either in bunch or berry, was not one-
third as large as pictured" in the beautiful engra-
ving which we gave of it. We happened to have
had a cluster of the fruit painted last September,
by our artist, Mr. Sharp, which was the exact size
of the specimen, and it v,as so long we could not
use it in the size of our page, but had to take a
copy of a smaller bunch made previously by an-
other artist. We only mention this here to show
the absurdity of such statements, as we have seen
bunches of the Isabella six incheslong, and weigh-
ing one pound each.

The Concord grape vine, hoAvever, in a full
bearing state, we had not seen, and our visit to
Mr. Bull was made to examine for ourselves its
growth, habit, vigor, and general characteristics.
After what we have said of it alrcadj^ our friends
may be surprised when we say, the " half was not
told." AVe were never more astonished ourselves.
Growing on the thin and hungry sand, on the side
of a steep declivity, we found the Concord in the
most vigorous and beautiful condition ; true, with
some of the vines, and there are several from three
to eight years old, Mr. Bull has tried to see what
can bo done with good treatment, which they
have never before had ; and therefore they have
been well manured and watered, without which,
with such a large crop upon them, they must
have half perished in this dry summer. But there
were vines with and without good management,
on purpose to show what they would do under
the most ordinary treatment, and all who may
take the pains to visit Mr. Bull will see for them-
selves.

We found the old parent vine one mass of
branches, foliage, and fruit ; some of the leaves
measured thirteen inches in breadth, and the clws-
tQXB seven and a half inches long and five and a
half broad acToss the shoulders ; this, too, on the
8th of August, one month before maturity! In-
deed, the clusters fully averaged in size those on
vines of the Hamburg under glass. Two vines
four years planted out, and running over a trel-
lised arbor, liad each about s?\r/y bunches, several
of them of the size just named. This was alto-
gether too large a crop for vines of that age to
bear ; thirtji clusters eacli, or sixty on lioth, would
be an ample crop ; but Mr. Bull intends that all
may know what the vine will do ; and that the
grapes may be tasted freely, ho declines to reduce
the number, though it may greatly increase the
size and beauty of the clusters. Not a speck of
mildew nor rot has been seen, and tlie foliage ap-
pears to be so tliick and vigoi'ous, that even the
thrip seems to keep shy of tliis variety, preferring

the tender foliage of the Isabella. Of the hardi-
ness of the Concord we can only say, that, with
the thermometer at 2S deg. beloiv zero, last win-
ter, not an inch of wood was injured ; while the
Isabella was killed in some parts of Concord near-
ly to the ground.

Mr. Bull has the Isabella in a most favorable
situation on the southwesterly side of his house,
trained to a trellis, slightly manured ; yet here,
— and the comparison for earliness and even qual-
ity should always be made from the same ground,
— it never fully matures a crop. The Concord,
everywhere, is growing on open trellises, or scram-
bling without support over the ground.

The successful issue of this first attempt has in-
duced Mr. Bull to go largely into the growth of
seedlings, and he has now upwards of 2,000 plants
of various ages, from the sowing of this year, to
those four years planted, and nearly in a bearing
state. We examined the foliage of many of them,
and cannot but think that some decidedly improved
varieties will be produced. Much time and labor
will Ije consumed in testing fully their qualities,
but Mr. Bull intends to do so, and we doubt not
a discerning public will reward him in proportion
as his results are important.

We have said nothing about the Concord as a
wine grape ; we are not ourselves, neither is Mr.
Bull, sufdciently acquainted with wine-making to
form an opinion of what a real wine grape should
be to supply this ; but so far as he has tried, and
good judges have tasted his wine, it would appear
that the Concord will be the wine grape. We
drank some of his wine made in 1852, which we
thought exceedingly pleasant and higli flavored ;
its only fault was its sweetness. Yet Mr. Bull
put only four pounds of sugar to twenty bottles of
the juice, which quantity was obtained from one
iws/ie/ of- the grapes ? thus showing that it sup-
plies that great desideratum for a wine grape,
"possessing sugar in abundance. ' ' Another year,
when his crop will be many bushels, if nothing
happens, he intends to have a quantity of the wine
made by some experienced man, in order to test
its value for that purpose.

We need scarcely add, after what we have said,
that Mr. Bull's grounds are of the lightest de-
scription of soil ; so thin, indeed, that we have
wondered almost tliat he should attempt to achieve
great results. A warm exposure and a dry sul>
soil are certainly important points in the growth
of the grape; but when these are overbalanced by
a soil so porous that it will scarcely hold the least
moisture, it becomes a question whether a more
fertile [dace, less favorably located, would not af-
ford more satisfaction to the cultivator.

Mr. Bull has in contemjihition niau^' improve-
ments upon his place, whirh, with some furthev
account of his new seedling, we hope to notice
again at some future day. — Hovey's Maga'jne,

I^" The Vermonters claim that tlu'iy's is tlie
model State. The Rutland Herald makes out its
case in this wise :

"There is but one city in this State, and not
one soldier. Wc have no theatres nor mobs. We
liave no police, and not n murder has been commit'
ted in this Stale within the last ten yrars, AVe have
no museums, opera-houses, nor crystal palaces,
but we have bonii\s, genuine homes, that are the
centre of tlie world to its ininatefi, for which the

504

NEV7 ENGLAND FARMER.

Nor.

father works, votes and talks — where the mother
controls, educates, laliors and loves — where she
rears men, scholars and patriots."

For the New England Farmer.

THE CURCULIO.

Friend Bnowx : — Now that the curculio has
done his work for the present season, it may not
bo out of place to give you my experience in the
war I have had witli that insect the past summer.
I have tried some of the many remedies that
have been recommended in the Farmer. Tree
No. 1, 1 kept well dusted with air-slaked lime;
No. 2, 1 put a hen and a brood of chickens under,
and shook ^the tree almost every day ; Nos. 3, 4
and 5, I syringed with a mixture of whale oil
soap, in the proportion of 4 pounds of soap to 30
gallons of water. I syringed often enough to
give the foliage of the tree the smell of soap.
Now for the result of the different plans. Tree
No. 1 is so full of fruit, that I had to sujoport it
with poles ; No. 2 there is not a plum on ; Nos.
3, 4 and 5, have in all about two dozen of good
fruit. By this you will see that, after a fair
trial, the air-slakod lime is the best.

The mode of applying it is as recommended by
.1 correspondent in the Farmer last spring, viz : let
your liuie slake, and sift it through a flour sieve ;
take a piece of lace, make it in tlic form of a bag,
tnd make fiist to the end of a pole long enough
ti) reach over the top of the tree ; hold the pole
with one hand, and strike the end of the pole
with the other. In this way you can dust a tree
•ill over in two or three minutes. I think this is
tiie best way to save the plum from the curculio.
I have been informed this summer that coal ashes
will do equally as well as lime ; if so, it does not
cost so much ; but 1 think the lime is the best.
[ send you this as my experience with the cur-
culio the past summer, and, if it is worthy of
your notice, you have it at your service.

Yours, Blytheavood.

Swa?npscoU, Sept., 1854.

P. S. I am in hopes of hearing from others on
this important subject, as no doubt many of your
readers have been trying experiments with the
plum.

CURIOSITY REPROVED.

The Persian Ambassador found himself so much
annoyed, while in France, by the insatiable curi-
osity of the fair Parisians, who came in crowds
to his residence, avowedly to " look at him,"
that at last he revenged himself by the following
little scheme :

On returning one day from a ride, and finding
as usual his apartments crowded with ladies, he
affected to be charmed by the siglit of them ;
successively pointing to each with his finger, and
speaking with earnestness to his interpreter, who
he well knew would be closely questioned as to
the purport of his remarks. Accordingly, the
eldest of the ladies, who, in spite of her age,
probably thought herself the most striking of the
whole party, and whose curiosity was particularly
excited, after his excellency had passed through
the suite of rooms, coolly inquired what might
have been the object of his examination.

'•Madam," replied the interpreter, "I dare

not inform you." " But I wish particularly to
know, sir." " Indeed, madam, it is impossible."
" Nay, sir, this reserve is vexatious ; I desire to
know." " O, since you insist, madam, know
then, that His Excellency has been valuing ycu."
"Valuing us! how, sir?" "Yes, ladies; His
Excellency, after the custom of his country, has
been setting a price upon each of you." "Well,
that's whimsical enough ; and how much may
that lady be worth, according to his estimation? "
"A thousand crowns." "And the other ? " "Five
hundred crowns." " And that young lady with
fair hair? " " Three hundred crowns." " And
that brunette?" "The same price." "And
that lady who is painted?" " Fifty crowns."
" And pray, what may I be worth, in the tariff
of His Excellency's good graces ? " " 0, madam,
you really must excuse me; I beg — " "Come,
come, no concealments." " The prince merely
said, as he passed you — " " Well, what did he
say? " " He said, madam, that he did not know
the small coin of this country."

For the New Eng-land Farmer.

AVERAGE LOITGEVITY-WAGES.

In reading the remarks of Hon. Amasa Walk-
er, as quoted in last week's number of the i^m-mer,
in referring to the wages of fiumers as compared
with mechanics, it struck me that there might be
some error in the data upon which they were
founded. The statistics collected by the State on
this subject are of great value, still they are only
approximations. Much allowance is to be made
for disturbing caviscs which could not enter into
such tables. For instance the longevity of town
paupers is much above that of any other class.
But it would by no means be safe to expect a long
life from becoming a pauper. _ So in farming,which
is next in rank to the paupers. It is notorious that
the healthiest in the family are selected for the
farm,while if any one is predisposed to any disease
likely to weaken his physical power, or has evidence
of an enfeebled condition by his habits, he is
placed in some of the pursuits that require less
physical exertion. This makes farmers a body of
picked men, physically, while the other pursuits
take the second quality physically, and the refuse.
This fact materially affects the bearing of the
statistics on the healthiness of trades and profes-
sions. There is no doubt tliat farming is much
the healthiest employment, but were the same body
of men who compose the farmers put to either of
the other pursuits, it might affect the results ma-
terially. The habits and employment of the shoe-
maker doubtless favor certain diseases, especially
those connected with general debility, — yet how
common for those with just such difficulties and
predispositions to enter the shoe shop !

If this view of the matter be correct, then a
change must be made in Mr. Walker's conclu-
sions respecting the proportion of wages due to
the several pursuits. Strong and able-bodied
men will, of course, receive higher wages in pro-
portion to their number of years. It may, there-
fore, be questioned whether the conclusions which
he has assumed are not incorrect, and whether the
apparent inequality in wages be not on the wrong
side. I. M. Nutting, M. D.

Orford, N. H., Sept. 12.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER".

505

For the J^ew Ens:land Farmer.

A TRIP UP THE MISSISSIPPI.

" Come, ladies," said our gallant Captain, in a
voice that might have waked the very lishes from
their slumbers in the deep, — " wake up ! and say,
for once, you've seen the sun rise, and I'll soon
show you the Balizc.'" So, without stopping to
decide as to the relative merits of a sunrise and a
sunset, we were soon on deck, ready for an ob-
servation. It was a glorious sight to see the globe
of firo emerging gradually from the ocean, tinging
the clouds with gorgeous hues, which were re-
flected in the watery mirror below. This was our
last morning on the Atlantic, and it was one of
interest. Our fellow-passengers, among whom
we had found some pleasant acquaintances, were
participating in the scene. Soon our party were
to be widely separated. Some will enter the city
in pursuit of wealth, where, perhaps, they may
find a grave. Others will be in the country in
quest of health. Vain hope, in one case at least.
Alas ! poor H., not even the climate of the sunny
South can restore the bloom to thy pallid cheek.
Never again will you hear the accents of love
from the weeping mother, who bade you a reluc-
tant adieu. " Sick, and a stranger " — sad fate !
Some there are whose hearts are throbbing with
emotion at the thought of being once more at
home, where a joyous welcome awaits their coming.
AVe are entering the Balize. " Observe the meet-
ing of the waters of the Atlantic and Mississippi,''
said Captain C. There was a distinct line mark-
ing the mingling of the salt and fresh water ;
not mingling, either, for the salt Atlantic and
muddy Mississippi have no congeniality, and each
will make no concessions. So, as old Ocean ivill
be salt, and Mississippi loill be fresh, and muddy
into the bargain, it is quite wise and proper to
keep up that line of distinction.

Soon the tow-boat Yankee came along, and,
in company with two other ships, we were rapidly
gliding past ^10 marshes of cane and coarse grass.
The scenery along the Mississippi is tame and
monotonous. We ascended the river a consider-
able distance before observing any signs of culti-
vation. At last we saw the tall chimney of a
sugar-house, and a neat hamlet of negro cabins,
seeming like a little factory village. The banks
of the river are fringed with cotton-wood trees
and now and then a live-oak, with its broad,
spreading l^ranches. Magnolia and other forest
trees give a little variety to the landscape. From
many of the trees is hung a flowing drapery of
moss, which has an exceedingly graceful appear-
ance, though its green color gives the forests an
air of gloom, as if clad in mourning. One coming
from a Northern latitude is struck with the
changes in the vegetable world. Cane-brakes,
palmetto, fields of sugar-cane and the orange
grove, beautifying tiie tasteful home of the sugar-

Elanter, reminds us that we are far from our
ome. in the valley of the Connecticut. When
within eight miles of New Orleans, the Battle
Ground was pointed out to us. There is no mon-
ument to mark the spot ; nothing to distinguish
it from any other open, level field. Imagination
pictured the scene of 1815, till we almost fancied
we could see the fortification of cotton-bales, and
the brave soldiers wiio won the day, and added
a new lustre to the American arms.

As we come in sight of the city, we have a fine
view of the harbor, a true crescent, which gives
the name to the city. Wliat a multitude of ves-
sels from every quarter of the gloVje ! The Upper
md Lower Cotton-presses, llospital, and other
public liuildiiigs, are pointed out. xVt last our
good ship is saiely anchored. Kind farewells are
exchanged, and the cabin is almost descrt«d. We
were anxious to continue our trip up the river,
and it was not long before we were on board the
new and elegant steamer Southern Belle, bound
for Bayou Sara. It was remarked that very ft-w
ladies were on board. Mr. S., the clerk, said
" No, it was too early in the season to travel,
particularly as there was still some yellow fever
in the country ! " He then described the following
mournful scene : Two weeks since, no ladi-js
graced the splendid saloon. A few male passen-
gers walked listlessly up and down the long cabin,
or lounged about the guards. The pale moon-
light was streaming into the state-room, the most
elegant and spacious on the boat, and cast its
radiance on the features of a dying girl. She
was young and beautiful, even in death. No
father, mother, brother or sister, were beside her
couch to whisper v.'ords of comfort, or let fall a
tear of sorrow, as she passed tlirough the " dark
valley." Not even a female friend was near.
But she was not all alone. Her guardian was
standing beside her, with looks of anxious affec-
tion. She pressed his han'l,and essayed to speak
words of gratitude for his tender, unwearying
care. But the tongue refused utterance, and she
gave him a look, a touching, melting look, and
the strong man wept. Tlie physician, too, was
by. Ho had been in constant attendance during
her illness ; and all that science and skill could
do to rescue her from the relentless destroyer, was
done; but alas, in vain ! The dreadful epidemic
claimed another victim. The kind-hearted physi-
cian, accustomed as he was to scenes of suffering
and misery, was not an unmoved spectator. He
watched the waving life with emotion. Another
fleeting ht)ur, and the gentle spirit had passed
away to that land where " there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be anymore pain." Poor Mary ! her his
tory is a sad one. Slie had just returned from. \
boarding-school in JIassachusetts, where she had
reuiained five years. She came South too early.
The yellow fever made its appearance at her tem-
porary home, and her guardian hastened to place
her out of the reach of tlie epidemic. But it was
too late. She was taken ill on the boat, and no
skill could save her from her untimely fate.

We passed many sugar plantixtious, with tde-
gant residences embosomed in groves of orange
and myrtle, large sugar houses, and neat negro
quarters. The country is more highly cultivated
and more densely populated above New Orleans
than farther South. The only j-lace of interest
we passed was Baton Rouge. The barracks, with
the public grounds handsomely ornamented with
trees, and the new State House, present a fine ap-
pearance from the river. We landed at Bayou
Sara, and then bade adieu to the Mississippi.

u. E. s.

Jessamine Hill, Aug. 'dih, 1854.

;gp In Egypt it does not rain, and there are no
mountains to intercept the clouds, nor a broad

596

NEW ExVGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

ocean on the west to yield copious moistures sup-
plying water for dew. But the all-wise Creator
and giver of every good and perfect gift, was at
no loss to make that country Avhat she once was
— the granary of the world. Egypt is a level
country — the Nile, which waters it, rises in the
mountains of the Moon, as the rivers in South
America do in the Andes, causing the Nile, to
overflow its banks at a proper period every year.
The rain lasts long enough, and the distance is
just great enough to produce the flood two months
after the rain has fallen.

For the New England Fanner.

REMARKS ABOUT RAISING HOPS.

Messrs. EoiTors : — I do not intend to boast of
my knowledge at hop raising, not doubting that a
number of my townsman could give your interro
gator of Kennebunk better directions in the process
of raising and curing hops than lean. Hop rais
ing was the most profitatjL? branch of my father's
farming business ; from 171)2 to 1797, while a lad,
I worked on a hop plaiitation, and such informa-
tion as I can give after so long a period of having
my attention entirely directed to other business, 1
freely communicate to our Kennebunk friend. I
have no practical knowledge of raising hops from
the seed. In a liill of hops over one year old, will
be found two kinds of roots, — the tap or ground
root, which penetrates deep into the earth, and is
the main support of the plant, (this root does not
vegetate, and therefore is unfit for seed,) and the
surface roots, v.hich lie nigher the top of the hill ;
these roots, have germs which when planted, pro-
duce the vine ; they must be cut four inches or
more, long, with eye-shoots visible upon them,
and some 2, 3 or 4 pieces put in a hill.

The way I was taught to raise hops, was in this
wise ; first plow a good piece of land ; manure
well by spreading or afterward in the hill ; mark
the ground, 3 ft. G or '..) inches apart, in squares,
and at planting time put in corn or potatoes in
every second row, and hop roots in every second
hill in the other row, which will give the first
year the three hills of corn or potatoes to one of
hops ; the hop vines will not be in a hurry to
come up, and when they do, will appear rather
slender the first season, and will require good at-
tention by hoeing well tlirec times. The next
thing to be attended to is to have the poles ready
for use ; if birch, they will last longer when cut
in August or September, than when cut in the
spring, as a matter of course ; all kinds of poles
will l)e cut in fall or winter by an economist. The
poles ought to be from 12 to 20 feet long, and if
the bark is shaved off from them all, they will be
more durable. The second year before the hops
sprout, one or more shovels full of good compost
manure must be thrown upon every hill of hops
which will be the most direct means to oljtain a
blessing. Then set two or more poles to a hill ac-
cording to the richness of the soil and number of
shooting vines ; the nest thing will be to select
tvro of the best vines to each pole, when long
enough, and wind them around the poles, in the
direction of the suu"s course, and confine them
with shreds of soft yarn ; after all is ready, run
the horse-plow between the rows, four furrows,
turning them toward the hills, then hoe the top
hills and cover up all the superfluous vines that

they may not run up the pole to choke and in-
jure those already going up, as two vines are a
plenty for one pole. Hops, while growing, want
a great deal of looking to ; high winds blow the
vines from the poles, which must be replaced
that they may climb to the end of their journey.

But jNIr. Editor, if your Kennebunk correspon-
dent will jump into a car on the Maine R. R.,
and ride to Wilmington, Mass., and call on Mr.
Abiel or Eldad Carter, either of them could com-
municate more practical information in a half
day on the subject of raising Imps, than I could
communicate in a week ; they have probably kept
up with the improvements of the times, having
steadily pursued the business from year to year for
many years; there he could see the kiln and the
press, and ha'se "ocular demonstration," which
would be wortli more to him than all the scrib-
bliugs I could send into market. S. Brown.

Wimingion, Sept. 20, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

LIGHTNING RODS ARE NOT HUMBUGS.

Messrs. Editors : — I noticed in your paper of
the 26th of August, an article referring to a pre-
vious article, Avhich I did not see, and making
the inquii'j, Are lightning rods humbugs 1 the
writer of which appears to be in much doubt, and
expresses a very earnest desire to have some one
fully acquainted with the subject, and in no way
counected with the manufiicture of lightning
rods, to publish his knowledge in the Fanner, in
order that your thousands of readers may receive
the benefit of such knowledge, and be able to pro-
tect their buildings from lightning, without fear
of being humbugged. Two writers in the Farmer
of Sept. 23d expressed their views, and repeated
a few long-established facts in regard to the ter-
mination of the rod in the ground, t! e utility of
isolated fastenings, the doctrines of Franklin, &c. ;
but none have yet given any rule in detail, or
answered the question at issue. The desire, on
the part of your corrt^pondent, to receive the
much coveted information from a person not en-
gaged in the business, is very natural ; but to
find one who is not and never has been engaged
in the business, competent to explain the laws of
the fluid, together with the modus operandi of
erecting efficient conductors, would be a little
contrary to nature.

I have studied the science of electricity some,
and was engaged in manufacturing and erecting
lightning rods three years previous to 1841. I
am neither directly nor indirectly interested in
tlie business at the present time, therefore I may
presume to tell what I do know, and testify to
that Avhich I have seen, without fear of being
called a humbug. I say that lightning rods,
when properh' constructed, are not only not hum"
bugs, but will afford perfect protection to any
building, and at an expense not exceeding the
means of the occupant of the most humble
dwelling. The laws of eletricity are as regular
and as easily understood as any other natural
law. Any person, with a small electrical ma-
chine and ieyden jar, can demonstrate the one
great principle that electricity will follow a good
conductor any distance round, provided it finally
terminates near where it is destined to go, rather
than pass a very short distance through the aiVs

1854.

NE^V ENGLAND FAHMER.

507

or over bad conductors ; therefore, I tliink any
person capable of understanding tlie foregoing
theory, will readily sec the reasonableness of
having rods extend to all parts of the house, or
building of any kind. The idea that the rod
must run up high in order to attract the light-
ning, is one of the humbugs. It does no such
thing ; all that is necessary is to place the rods
round on the building, to conduct the lightning
off when it comes. No one supposes that an iron
house would ever be injured by the most powerful
discharge of electricity. Why, then, not allow
the possibility of arranging iron rods on the out-
side.of wood, brick, or stone buildings, so as effec-
tually to secure them against all damage by
lightning ?

I will give as good a general description of the
manner rods should be put up as time and space
will permit, and then, if individuals wishing to
erect them, who have not perfect confidence in
their own understanding, will show me the form
and situation of their buildings, I shall be very
happy, at any time, to give them all the informa-
tion in my power. The common nail rod, | of
an inch square, is the most convenient and best
iron that can be used for the purpose. Let these
rods be placed along the ridgepole, down to the
eaves at each corner, on all the chimneys and
prominent parts of the roof, (such as Lutheran
windows,) with a sharp point on each projection,
from one to four feet high, as you like best ; and
if the building is large, let the rod extend to the
ground at each corner ; let one terminus be in the
sink drain, another in the well, and have the
others drove deep enough to reach moist earth.
Be sure and have all parts of the rod connected
permanently, and have sharp points project at
intervals of four or six feet the whole length of
the rod ; the points may be gold, silver, copper or
iron, a sharp iron point being perfectly safe under
all circumstances. The rod may be secured in
its place with an iron staple or screw, of sufficient
length to hold it firmly, without any fear of con-
ducting the fluid into the building, as many
suppose it would.

I have erected many of this description of rod
in various parts of the country — in Oharlcstown,
Medford, Bi-ighton, Cambridge, Brookline, Dor-
chester, Uxbridge, Westboro', Mendon, Slaters-
ville. Providence, R. L, Albany, New York City,
Brooklyn, N. Y., Newark, N. J., Hartford, Ct.,
and many other places, and have never yet heard
of the first instance wherein they have Axiled to
afford the desired protection.

S. D. QuiMUY.

Winchester, Sept., 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

TEWKSBURY AND STATE ALMS-
HOUSE.

Messrs. EoiToits : — In reply to my anonymous
critic, in Farmer of lOth, lean state on reliable
authority that the land in tlio western part of
Tewksbury, and in some other locations of the
town, will compare witli the good, if not the best
land in the County of Middlesex, and that there
are a good proportion of tliriving and compara-
tively rich farmers thei'e, notwithstanding "bar-
ren in the extreme ;" and that the water in one
of the Almshouse wells has not been less than IS

feet deep at any period of the drought, and that
I can state positively, that I intimated not a word
about "wells to be dug" but simply remarked
that the superintendent informed me -'that they
had a good supply of water at present, but were
improving the wells, to have it more plentiful, and
of better quality". Now, Mr. Editor, I like to see
gentlemen make fair statements, and not put too
much confidence in hearsay stories, and have cour-
age enough to put their names to pieces of doubt-
ful veracity, and also advise Mr. Anonymous to
go to Tewksbury and look out for himself.
Wilmington, Sept. 22, 1854. S. Brown.

• For tin yew England Farmer.

MONTHLY FARMER FOR SEPTEMBER.

As I seldom see any other monthly agricultural
publication than the Farmer, 1 thought while in
the city recently, and pat^sing the office of one of
the other Boston montldies, that I would pur-
chase a copy and see if the " new brooms " sweep
cleaner than the old ones. All subscribers to the
monthly Farmer have the right, 1 suppose, of
comparing it with any otlier similar paper t!iat
may be started, not only to see what others are
about, but also for tlie purpose of determining
whether they can better get their money's worth
by taking some other publieation in its stead.

The number which 1 tluis procured is edited with
spirit and ability, has a clear print and illustra-
tive cuts, and is sold at the same price that we p|^
for the Farmer. By a somewhat careful compar-
ison of the two publications, I find that i\ui Farmer
furnishes nearly twice as much reading matter as
the other ; that the Table of Contents in the
Farmer gives the headings of seventy-six articles,
and that of the other paper, twenty-five ; and that
while the Farmer has tiiirty distinct " communi-
cations," furnished 1)y writers in five different
States, the other has perhaps ten — so little dis-
tinction being made between editorials, communi-
cations, and selections, that it is difficult to deter-
mine to which department some articles belong —
and for ought that appears to the contrary, all
but two of them may have been written in the city
of Boston.

The Mo.N'TULY Farmer, tli^refore, has the advan-
tage, decidedly, in the amount and variety of its
contents. Whether it is ahead of all other agri-
cultural monthlies in this respect, I am unable to
say, as I have seen specimens of but few of them ;
but it certainly is of all that I have seen. The
great "freedom of speech" which is not only toler-
ated, but encouraged by the editor, induces"many
men of many minds" to cast in tlieir mites of ex-
perience ar.d.thought, witii tho assurance of a cor-
dial welcome, whether tliey happen to agree or
disagree with the practice of anybody else, or
with the theories of professors and amateurs. In-
deed, even the boys have found a spokesman in
the number before us. "A Yo<ing Farmer"
speaks in behalf of his class, on "Training youth
to a wrong Occupation." He complains that t!ic
tastes and inclinations of children in resp'ct to a
choice of employment are not more generally con-
sulted, and seriously charges parents witli regard-
ing " their own present interest," rather tlian
" their children's futuro wdfare ! " Similar char-
ges against parents are so common in the " litera-
ture" whicli is provided for our children, that

508

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

perhaps we shoulil not be siirprisocl to find them
reiterated in the Farmer, yet to him who feels con-
scious that the welfare of iiis children is the only
"interest" he has in this world, the imputation
of such sorded indifference to their happiness, is
rather unpleasant. But it is perhaps useless to
attempt to show the injustice of this opinion, un-
til these much-abused children shall themselves
become parents, and their own self-neglecting care
and solicitude for their offspring l)e judged as
they now judge. As to the inclination and
taste of youth, I will say to the "Young Farmer,"
that my experience and observation force upon me
the conviction that they are very poor guides.
My own "inclinations and tastes," when a boy,
were mere whims ; incited, formed, and changed
by transient circumstances, or passing events. At
one time my whole mind would be fixed upon one
pursuit ; at another time upon some other occu-
pation. And if such has not already been the ex-
perience of " Young Farmer," it is probably be-
cause he is younger than I suppose him to be.
Let any one watch the effect that is produced up-
on "the taste- and inclination" of youth, as a
neighborhood or vill.ige sluill be succdfesively visit-
ed by a circus, a tl.eatre, an astrologer, a milita-
ry and fii'e company. Will not the changing
" tastes " of the young l)e manifested by standing
upon their heads, by spouting Shakspearc, by
swallowing jack-knives, by playing; soldier and
firemen, changing with the successive shows,
very much as the hue of the chameleon is said
TO vary with that lie feeds on? I iiope the brief
article by "A Young Farmer," will direct atten-
tion to the subject of jxirental responsibility.
" The rights of women," and the rights of chil
dren,are not t!ie only newly-discovered rights in
the world. Tlie "rights" of fathers to allow their
sons and daughters to follow their own tastes
and inclinations, and to "restrain them not,"
would seem to be among the very comfortabl
pri\ ileges of modern times.

lu the scientitic department are two articles on
" Analysis of Soils," one by a student of the fa^
mous Liebig, the other by the principal of a school
in New Hampshire, in which agricultural science
is taught. No one interested in tlie anal^'sis
question will fail to read these articles. Two ar
ticks on " Fcoding'Animals " are copied from
Johnson. Two or three on " Lightning Rods,'"
one ou the question, " When should crops b
gatliered?" and one on the "Use and influence of
Ligiit."

The high price of farm labor the past season,
has given increased interest to the subject of la-
l>or-saving machinery ; and the Farmer for Sep-
tember meets this interest with %n account of
" A New Windmill " — "Machinery in Farming"
— " fliekok's Patent Improved Cider-Mill," and
' ' Agricultural Implements. ' '

But without attempting any further classifica-
tion of the contents of lliis number, we may be
permitted to say that Mr. Brown's pictur.e of
" Esq. Sidewell, the Theoretic Farmer," is a
"beauty," and true to life ; for how many of us,
"while preaching theories to others, neglect the
practical application of them to our own affairs."
^Ir. Noble answers, in a few lines, very practical-
ly, the query, "How to use Meadow Muck?"
Hints 1)y Dr. Dodd on the "Management of the
Horse," particularly for the prevention of diseased

or tender feet, with an article on "Botts." An
interesting account of the operations of " Amer-
ican Farmers in Palestine," who are cultivating
the soil on the very site of one of the gar-
dens of Solomon ! Where wont the Yankee turn
up next? Two or three articles on "Wheat-
Growing in Massachusetts ;" one on "Farming a
hundred years ago ;" two on building "Ice Hous-
es ;" the old "Chess or Cheat" question opened ;
several articles on fruit — " The Summer Rose,"
and " Early Strawberry" apples figured and des-
cribed,— are a few of the many articles in this
number of the Farmer, that are well worth
special notice. A Reader.

Winchester, Sept., 1854.

THE HARVEST HYMH. ■

God of the rolling year ! to Thee

Our soQg shall rise, whose bounty pours,
In many a goodly gift, with free

And liberal hand, our autumn stores ;
No firstlings of our flock we slay,

No soaring clouds of incense rise,
But on thy hallowed shrine we lay

Our grateful hearts in sacrifice.

Borne on thy breath, the lap of spring

Was heaped with many a blooming flower
And smiling summer joyed to bring

The sunshine and the gentle shower ;.
And autumn's rich luxuriance now,

The ripening seed, the bursting shell,
The golden sheaf and laden bough.

The fulness of thy bounty tell.

No menial throng, in princely dome.

Here wait a titled lord's behest,
But many a fair and peaceful home

Ilath won thy peaceful dove a guest ;
No groves or palm our fields adorn.

No myrtle shades or orange bowers.
But rustling meads of golden corn.

And fields of waving grain, are ours.

Safe in thy care the landscape o'er.

Our flocks and herds securely stray ;
No tyrant master claims our store,

No ruthless robber rends away ;
No fierce volcano's withering shower,

No fell simoon, with poisonous breath,
Nor burning suns, with baleful power.

Awake the fiery plagues of death.

And here shall rise our song to Thee,

Where lengthened vale and pastm'es lie,
And streams go singing wild and free,

Beneath a blue and smiling sky ;
Where ne'er was reared a mortal throne

Where crowned oppressors never oi
Here, at the throne of Heaven alone,

Shall man in reverence bow to God.

HIGH PEICE OF MILK.

Some complaint is made of the recent rise in
the price of milk from five to six cents per quart.
Whatever reason there may be for complaint in
the prices of wood, coal, potatoes and flour — and
we think there is good reason — there is none for
that of milk. The farmers have generally been
losing in supplying milk for more than a twelve,
month past — we mean those in th.c counti'y who
sell to milkmen, and they have been compelled to
demand more for it or fail to supply it. The
purchaser from the farmer now pays sir cents a

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

509

can of eight quarts i;n)!" t'lan he did last year,
and thoee who convey it about charge eight cents
a can more, and this makes it cost the consumer
six and a quatcr cents per quart, instead of five
cents as last year. At the present prices of hay
and grain, this is only a fair price for good milk.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

WHAT SUALL I DO WITH MT OLD FIELD ?

Mr. Editor : — I have a piece of land that has
been mowed for upwards of forty years ; it is get-
ting badly run out ; there are brakes and wild
grass in abundance. Two years ago, I spread on
about 100 loads of barn manifte ; it did well the
first year, but docs not seem to last. I have been
advised to put on lime to kill out the brakes, and
bring it iuto English hay ; any information from
you or any of your subscribers, concerning how
to manage it, will be gratefully received.

Rochester, 1854:. c. b. c.

Remarks. — Plow deep, manure highly, hoe
thoroughly, for a year or two, and lay it down
again, if you wish it, in grass. No other 'course
will prove profitable.

THE CONCORD GRAPE.

Mr. Brown : — In your paper of the 23d of Sep-
tember, I noticed an account of the Concord
grape raised by Mr. E. W. Bull, of Concord. It
being highly recommended, I would like to inquire
if it is of such a nature as to thrive well in
Maine? and also, Avhat color and yield are, and
obliore A Reader.

Remarks. — The Concord Grape has not been
tested, we suppose, in Maine, but we think may
be grown there successfully, as it ripens early in
Septemboj here. The general appearance of the
grape ia much like that of the Isabella.

what agricultural books to read.

Mr. Editor : — I am a mechanic, but design at
some future day to engage in farming. I have a
very link practical knowledge of the business,
but am anxious before engaging in it, as my oc-
cupation, to get a scientific knowledge thereof. I
have five dollars that I wish to expend for ))ooks
on agriculture ; will you please name in your pa-
per, the titles of a few works that can be j)ur-
chasod for about that sum, which you think best
calculated for one in my situation. e. b. b.

Remarks. — Certainly, with much pleasure, and
will also say that you have started exactly at
the right point. For the first book, get the "Far-
mer's and Planter's Encyclopedia of Rural Affairs,
&c.," which will cost three and a half or four dol-
lars, at Jev/etfs, 117 Washington Street, and for
the second, "Johnston's Elements of Agricultural
Chemistry and Geology," and when you are well-
versed in their contents, you will probably be
qualified to manage a farm, so fiir as theoretical
knowledge will go.

what is the best manure for a garden?

Mr. Brown : — I wish to inquire through the

columns of your valuable paper, what is the best
manure for a garden 1 I am preparing a new
spot and wish for a good vegetable garden ; the
soil bears a little upon a gravelly one. I have a
plenty of manure made by muck being drawn in
the yard one year ago. Is it preferred to stable
manure? Should it be plowed this falll

A Northern SuBscBrBEE.
Canaan, Vt.,\%b\.

Remarks. — Apply such manure as you describe,
plentifully, this fiill, and plow it in, no matter
how green it is if plowed in soon. Plow again in
the spring and pulverize finely. Fresh droppings
plowed under in the fixU, are excellent, as there
are few or no ^eeds of weeds among them.

cranberries on high land.

Mr. Elias Needham, of West Danvers, has
shown us some cran1)errie3 grown on high land,
which are of good size, and which, he says, he
produces, with good success, having raised some
one or two hundred bushels a year and selling
them for $3 and $4 a bushel. We have heard
his experiments favorably spoken of by his neigh-
bors, and can have no doubt but that he finds an
ample reward in the crops for all cost and labor.
Here, then, is the example; why cannot others
copy it, and produce this wholesome and palata-
ble food, so that it shall become common on every
table ?

large apples.

D. 11. Fairbanks, Harvard, Mass., two ap-
ples, weighing, together, 2i pounds, and measur-
ing 12 and 13 inches round them They belong
undoubtedly to the Pippin varieties.
seedling peaches.

From RuFus Robbins, Abington, Mass. Those
peaches were very good. Seedling peach trees
are often more hardy than those budded, and when
we find a good one, it is best to preserve it.
ketchom's mowing machine.

Mr. Editor : — As many who have bought mow-
ing machines this season, have given the result of
their experience in using them, I am inclined to
follow their lead. I received of Messrs. Ruggles,
Nourse, Mason & Co., one of Ketchum's Patent
Machines on the 7th of July, and immediately
put it in operation with a pair of horses weighing
less than 1000 lbs. each, and used it almost daily
in all kinds of grass, from the shortest May-grass,
to tiie tallest lierds-grass, till I had mowed about
thirty acres ;• (all 1 liad suitatde to mow with a
machine, and some of that (juitc uiievi-n, but free
(Vom stone ;) doing the work to my entire satis-
faclion. Tlie machine is in porfect ord.-r at tliis
tiuui, and it lias not had the first faitliing spent
upon it in repairs. Tlie only tim.e it made me
feel unpleasantly, was on the last day 1 used it ;
I then felt like "weeping"' because I had no more
Jields tocon</ucr. Hiuam W. Jones.

Dover, Sept. 25, 1854.

BUTTER — FOUR QUARTS MILK TO THE POUND.

Mr. Brown : — I failed in sending you the yield
of butter my cow made in June. I will now send

510

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov

you a specimen and the weight of what was tak-
en from four quarts of milk. It was strained in
one dish and remained thirty-six hours, then
skimmed and stirred soon after, and the butter
weighed — one pound. My cow is native bi-eed,
and quite small, and has nothing but common
keeping ; she gives eight quarts of milk a day.
I think she calved the 24th day of last January.

A. Brown.
East Abinglon, Sept. 15,185-4.

Remarks. — Nothing could well be nicer in ap-
pearance, or finer in flavor, than the butter spoken
of above. We have no reason to doubt the cor-
rectness of the statement.

CROPS IN MAINE.

Mr. Editor : — We have had a fine rain, the first
for precisely three months that has wet the
ground down over two inches ; there fell about
four inches of water (as near as I could judge by
its falling in a box) on Friday night and through
Saturday. The drought has been very severe, but
still I think the crops in this section will be far
better than bars been anticipated. Hay is an av-
erage croji, and corn will be middling ; potatoes
very light and all garden vegetables. All cereal
grains are an average. Charles Webster.

Kennebunk, Me., 1854.

CROPS IN CONCORD, MASS.

Our potatoes are reviving, and promising a fair
crop. The root crops are doing exceedingly well.
The moral of the dry spell is to plow deep, and
cultivate moist land. w. d. b.

ROCKIIfGHAM FAIR AT EXETER.

This young but vigorous Society, held its sec-
ond annual Exhibition at Exeter, N. H, Sept 14
and 15. The following account is from the Ports
mouih Journal.

The Fair opened on Thursday morning with
every promise of fair weather, and of a display
highly creditable to the citizens of Rockingham
county. The trains upon the B. & M. road were
long and well-filled, pouring in large crowds to
the Exhibition, and private carriages followed
each other into the town from the neighborhood
in quick succession. The up train from Dover
&c. in the forenoon consisted of nine cars ; the
streets in tlie vicinity of the staliles were closely
lined with the carriages from abroad, and the
town was overflowing with visitors. Among these
was Tiger Engine Co. No 2 from Dover, which
was received with honors by the Niagara Co. of
Exeter. Tae parade of tlic two companies during
the day evinced good drilling, and had the Dover
Co. been :. little less noisy in the cars on their
return in t' c evening, their reputation would have
been unsullied by their visit to the "Show."
Portsmouth was well represented among the. vis-
itors, though it is to be regretted in the displays
of the day she made but an atom where she
should have shone like a lirilliant. Stratham,
Greenland, Rye, Hampton, North Hampton,
Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Kensington, Exeter,
Chester, Brentwood, Durham, Epping, Lee,
Kingston and some other places, took active part
in preparations for the occasion. The display of
Hampton Falls was particularly deserving of at-

tention. The entrance of this delegation was a
triumphal one, similar to that of last year. The
ladies of the town, to the number of twenty or
thirty, rode in their decorated car, drawn by 20
yoke of oxen. The oxen had each a ribbon stream-
er flying upon either horn ; the car was 22 feet
long, 11 feet wide and 15 feet high, heavily and
tastefully covered with evergreen and flowers ; it
was regularly thatched with straw and corniced
with stoclss of corn — flags were flying from the
roof; the words "Hampton Falls Farmers' Club,"
were traced on the rear end of the cart in ever-
green. The whole formed a splendid specimen of
rural architecture.

The display of cattle was very good. Promi-
nent was one yoke,weighing 40 cwt., from Geo. 0.
Hilton, Esq., of Newmarket. A pair of black
horses, raised by Oliver Brown of North Hamp-
ton, attracted much attention — well matched —
remarkably quick. The best cow for milk on
exhibition was owned by John Lowe, Esq., of
Exeter, which was the only animal of part Dur-
ham stock. There were several noble animals
of Devon blood , bulls and heifers.

The display of swine was good,but confined prin-
cipally to the Sufiblk breed, aud crosses of Sufiblk
and native.

The Fair in the Court-House was very attrac-
tive, and displayed with excellent taste, doing
much credit to the ladies of Exeter and others who
were concerned in fitting up for the occasion. The
rooms, both above and below, were well stocked
with the gifts of Pomona, Ceres and Flora, which
formed a display surpassingly excellent, consider-
ing the drought of the season and the feai-s which
have been expressed for the prospective condition
of the crops. The peach crop, it is well known, is
almost an entire failure; the display was much
less than that of former seasons, yet some splendid
specimens were on exhibition ; among these, and
particularly inviting, was a lot of twenty-nine
difierent varieties from the farm of Mr. A. Little-
6eld of Greenland — the largest girth nearly eight
inches.

With few exceptions, the exhibition of Pears
was very meagre. No good reason can be given
why as fine specimens of pears cannot be pro-
duced in Rockingham county as in any other
section of New England.

More abundant were the specimens of apples;
with these the tables were heavily laden. There
were a few grapes; but only a single specimen of
plums.

The Plowing Match, notwithstanding the un-
timely rain in the latter part of the day, took
place according to appointment. Old times and
new were represented, showing a picture of the
progress which has been made in this simple
branch of husbandry in the past twenty years,
which ^is almost incredible. The result of the
match, is highly creditable to those concerned in
it.

The arrangements for the occasion were well
Made ; and the gentlemanly attention of Henry F.
French, Esq. the President of the Society, added
much to the accommodation of contributors and
:yi8itors.

1!^ Dr. Eddy, of North Bridgewater, has re-
ceived Letters Patent for an Improvement in the
construction of Bee-Hives.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

511

LOVE'S FAIRY RING.

BY GERALD MASSEY.

While Titans war with social Jove,

My own sweet wife and I
We make Elysium in our love,

And let the world go by !
Oh, never hearts beat half so light

With crowned ciueen or king !
Oh, never world was half so bright

As in our fairy ring,
Dear love !

Our hallowed fairy ring.

Our world of empire is not large.

But priceless wealth it holds ;
• A little heaven links marge to marge.

But what rich realms it folds !
And 'scaping from all other strife.

Sits love with folded wing,
A brood o'er dearer life in life,
" Within our fairy ring,
Dear love !

Our hallowed fairy ring.

Thou leanest thy true heart on mine,

And bravely bearest up !
By mingling Love's most precious wine

In life's most bitter cup !
And evermore the circling hours

New gifts of glory bring ;
We live and love like happy flowers

All in our fairy ring,
Dear love !

Our hallowed fairy ring.

We've known a many sorrows, sweet !

We've wept a many tears.
And often trod with trembling feet

Our pilgrimage of years.
But when our sky grew dark and wild.

All closer did we cling ;
Clouds broke to beauty as you smiled,

Peace crowned our fairy ring.
Dear love !

Our hallowed fairy ring.

Away grim lords of murderdom ;

Away, oh Hate and Strife '.
Ilence revelers, reeling drunken from

Yom- feast of human life I
Heaven shield our little Goshen round

From ills that with them spring.
And never be their footprints found

Within our fairy ring,
Dear love !

Our hallowed fairy ring.

For the iVeio England Farmer.

THE CONCORD GRAPE.

At a meeting of the Concord Farmers' Club,
Oct. 5th, the following gentlemen wore appointed
a Committee, to examine and test the Concord
Grape and make report to the Club. Joseph Rey-
nolds, W. ^V. Wheildon, S. G. Wheeler, Wm.
D. Brown, James P. BroAvn. Ihe Committee
made the report which 1 now send you.

The Committee upon the Concord Grape report
that they have attended to the agreeable duty as
signed to them, and that in tlieir opinion the
Concord grape possesses, in a high degree, the es-
sential properties of a perfect grape, beauty of
form and color, richness of fragrance and flavor,
and abundant juiciness. Its skin is thin and r
markably free from astringency. The vine is a
free grower, an abundant bearer, and very hardy
in its habits, and what renders it peculiarly valu-

able, in our New England climate, is the fact
that it ripens two or three weeks earlier than any
other good variety with which they are acquainted.
They congratulate Mr. Bull, the producer of this
seedling grape, upon the success which has re-
sulted from his patience, perseverance and skill,
and they congratulate the liorticulturists of the
country upon the addition of so fine a variety to
our native grapes. Your Committee have par-
taken of more than one bottle of wine made from
this grape, but they assure the mem1:)ers of the
Club that they do not speak under tlie iiiflueffbe
of wine when they say that they know of no other
grape in this country, so well adapted to the pro-
duction of wine, as the Concord grape.
In behalf of the Committee,

Joseph Reynolds, Chairman.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

FINE PEARS.

Friend Brown : — I send you a few specimens
of pears, among which you will find the Lawrence.
I have cultivated and paid considerable attention
to this variety for years, and fully concur with
Mr. Walker and other gentlemen of the Pomolog-
ical Congress, who spoke so highly of its merits.
Too much cannot be said in its praise. It never
shrivels like most late pears, but may be picked
and put away with as little care as a Baldwin ap-
ple— besides it is a good grower, an excellent
bearer, and ripens its wood early, which guards
it from the sap blight to which many of our finest
varieties are often subject. Nouveau Poileau, a
variety admirably adapted to the quince, on
which it grows with great vigor, forming one of
the finest pyramids and equalling in growth and
beauty the Glout Morceau. Size large, quality
uniformly excellent. One of the greatest acqui-
sitions for the amateur, if not for the orchard,
which has been introduced for years. You will
also find a specimen of the Beurre CIairgeau,grown
on a dwarf tree, which was planted in April.
This fruit gives great promise. Its precocity and
great productiveness, together with its splendid
appearance, will, I think, make it a general favor-
ite. Andrew Lackey.

Marblehead, Oct. 4, 1854.

Remarks. — The pears mentioned above are beau-
tiful specimens. The Beurre Clairgeau, in par-
ticular, is one of the finest appearing pears we
liave ever seen. Their flavor lias not been tested,
as they are not yet in eating condition. We re-
gard friend Lacicev's recommendation of pears as
worthy of full confidence.

removing large trees.
Mr. Editor : — The writer is desirous of obtain-
ing some knowledge of tlic pi-esent moil ^ of trans-
planting or moving cveigrein or otiicr ornamen-
tal trees, say size 20 or 30 foot high audjroju 8 to
10 inches diameter. Th(; oliject of i"nquiry is how
tlicy are lifted from their Ijcds, the distance from
the trunk for a given diameter, and height of the
tree they should bo dug round and the thickness
of earth that would l)c noces.sary to pr.'serve life.
Also can they be taken up with safety in the fall,
and if so, how late. Should you have had no
practical experience in the above ojicrations, per-

512

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

Nov.

hap3 some of your numerous readers may be well
posted up in the business from actual operations
and will be kind enough to give us the desired in-
formation, and oblige a seeker after
Portsmouth, 1854. Knowledge.

Remarks. — We have transplanted elms as large
as 13 inches in diameter, and from 20 to 30
feet in height, and white pines of about the same
proportions with perfect success. These trees
were dug about and under them in November,
and propped up with pieces of waste timber cut
off in framing a barn. The ball of earth about
the largest tree was 8 feet in diameter and 2 feet
in depth. By the middle of January this ball
was frozen solid, and then the stem being protec-
ted by joists lashed to it, a pulley was attached
some 15 feet from the ground and the tree canted
over lay horse power. A stout ox sled was then
placed under it, the tree and earth canted back,
and the whole drawn off — but it was a load for 12
stout oxen. A large stone drag, or two, confined
to each other, would probably be better than a
sled. Where lai-ge wheels, some 8 or 10 feet in
diameter could be had, we think the work might
be done easier and cheaper. The quantity and
situation of the roots must govern you in the
breadth of earth to be left. Begin off from the
stem, 3, 4, or 5 feet, and if only a few roots are
found, you can work up freely towards the tree,
and this will give you a broad trench to work in ,
while getting out the earth immediately under
the tree. It should be remembered that when
the tree is removed all the earth about it will be
frozen and that none of it shall be left in the
way'. The side of the hole where the tree is to
come out should be gradually pared away so as to
leave a free passage. The hole which is to receive
the tree must be dug beforehand, and should be
10 or 15 inches larger all round than the ball of
earth it is to receive. Old loam compost must be
worked under the ball and filled in to this
space.

For the New England Farmer.

A MA¥ KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

Mr. Brov. x: — I have noticed in s:!veral num-
bers of the F.irmor, recently, discussions upon the
value of liglitning rods on buildings. It may not
be out of pl.ioe at tliis time for me to relate a cir-
cumstance ■\>. hich took place in Lowell, in July,
1845, on t\\~: (arm then owned by Samuel Law-
rence, Esq. The first thing after dinner was to
rake up sonv- liay, tiic foreman taking the lead.
We had no" gone more than 12 yards when he
was struck by lightning and R'U, never to rise
again, on eairth. The lightning struck him on
the head, passing down the back and legs, and
burst out his boots, which had only been on once,
before that day. The lightning then burned a
place in the grass as large as yoav hand. But
what is remarkable about this is, about 35 yards
to the loft there stood some old cherry trees on
which the scythes were hung; the man that was

killed, and the one next to him, was drawn off in
the direction of the scythes about 3^ feet. I send
you this, thinking it may help to settle the ques-
tion about how far rods will draw lightning.
There were 7 in the field at the time, and all
were hurt, more or less, but myself.

Blythewood.
Swampscott, Sept. 30, 1854.

GirANO--LEGISLATIVE HELP.

In a correspondence with the Hon. Charles B.
Calvert, of IMaryland, we made some inquiries
with regard to the effects produced by the use of*
Mexican and other guanoes, and now copy below
a portion of his letter in reply.

Riversdale, Sept. 11, 1854.
Dear Sir : — In regard to INIexican guano I
cannot say much, although I have tried it several
times ; still, I have not seen any great effect from
it, and am rather disposed to rely upon bone dust
and ashes, which I find better than any kind of
guano as a permanent manure. For a winter
crop of grain, I think nothing produces so great
an effect as Peruvian guano on the poor, worn-out
lands ; but upon the im^aroved lands, or those
naturally fine, it has scarcely any perceptible
effect. These partial experiments with crops and
manures produce, I think, rather prejudicial
effects, because they are not conducted with
enough precision and accuracy to state as facts ;
and when they are tried and fail, it rather preju-
dices any thing like book fixrming. Your agri-
cultural papers should have a piece in every
number, calling upon the farmers to make their
State legislators and Congress establish agricul-
tural schools and experimental farms, where such
things could be systematically tried, and their
result published with confidence.

***** *

We have been entirely burnt up in this section,
as the only rain we have had to lay the dust since
June was yesterday. Gloomy prospects ahead for
the farmers of this section. Not half a crop of
corn, no vegetables, not even turnips — not a fourth
of a crop of tobacco, and the pastures entirely
burnt up, so the stock have nothing to get but
what is given them.

Very truly, Chas. B. Calvert.

The above is only a portion of the whole letter,
which was not intended for publication, though
no objection, we presume, would be made to such
parts as we have given. There are other por-
tions, however, relating to the false doctrines
promulgated, and the spurious substances thrust
upon the farming community as fertilizers, which
wo wish we could give from a gentleman of so
much practical experience and discriminating
judgment as Mr. Calvert. Men engage in agri-
culture, as in all other business, without proper
qualifications : if they succeed, they laud it to
the skies, but if they fail, they decry it as loudly.
This is an evil, but nothing compared with that
of the false and contradictory teachings of those
who have had no practical experience of the art,
and who press upon the public their doctrines
and th(jir wares.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

513

A NEW APPLE.

Through the attention of George S. Rawson,
Esq., of Feltonville, Slass., -we have received an
apple, of which the above engraving is a faithful
portrait, and one which we liked so well as to
cause the engraving to be made. It is a sweeting,
fall apple, very beautiful, is juicy, and has a rich
flavor. We are not able to describe its color and
other peculiar characteristics, as the apple was
not returned to us from the engraver. Mr. Raw-
son says the apple grew upon the farm of Mr.
Ira Brown, near Feltonville, and that the scions
were given to his father, Mr. Henry Brown, some
twenty years since, by a person from some part
of Vermont, to Mr. B. unknown. The specimen
sent, as illustrated above, he says is nothing more
than a fair average one, the drought having
affected thom to some extent. The person who
gave Mr. B. the scions, was an itinerant grafter,
who set a large number of scions in the neighbor-
hood, but all the rest turned out cider apples,
and ppor at that.

The trees bear every year, but most in the
even season.

The apple is new to us, but may be recognized
by others as a variety in some particular locality ;
if 60, we should be glad to know it.

AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Commenced its session in Horticultural Hall,
School Street, Sept. 13th, Hon. M. P. Wilder,
President, in the chair. A large number of dele-
gates were in attendance, and nearly every State
in the Union was represented. It was a pleasant
thing to witness the hearty congratulations which
were exchanged between members whose only
strife with each other is to see who will Ixsst ad-
vance the interests of Pomological science, and
who will shed the most light upon the great sub-
ject of fruit culture in America.

This society was organized some six years ago
in Washington, and has flourished beyond the ex-
pectations of the most sanguine. The last con-
vention was held in Philadelphia in 1852.

The President welcomed the delegates to this
city, the home of the Pilgrims, in a most cordial
manner. lie eulogized our forefathers for their
horticultural taste and their worthy endeavors to
lay the foundation of American pomology.

He tendered to the members the hospitalities of
the ^lassachusotts Horticultural Soci«ty, and con-
gratulated them upon the preservation of life and
health, and the increasing intei'ost manifested in
the cultivation of fruits tlirougliout the country.

He discussed several topics, giving the results
of his long and valuable experience, in a scien-
tific and felicitous manner.

In relation to tlie production of new varieties
of fruits from seeds ho said —

514

NEAT ENGLAND FARISIER.

Nov.

"My next suggestion relates to the production
from seed of new varieties of fruits adapted to
particular localities or to general cultivation.

The immense loss to American cultivators, from
the importation of foreign varieties, in many in-
stances not well adapted to the countries from
which tliey come, and often still less adapted to
our soil and climate, suggests the importance of
raising from seed, native sorts which, in most in-
stances, possess peculiar advantages. It is now
generally conceded that the trees and plants of a
given country, like its aboriginal inhabitants,
will flourish better at home than in most foreign
localities.

We rejoice that public attention has been turned
to this subject by some of our horticultural jour-
nalists, and that many cultivators and amateurs
are engaged in this interesting and promising de-
partment. The success which has crowned their
exertions affords great encouragement to perse-
verance. Witness, for instance, thirty or more
varieties of the cherry, by Dr. Kirtland of Ohio,
which appear adapted to our eastern climate, and
some of them of superior excellence. Witness
the numerous varieties of the raspberry, by Dr.
Brinckle, ex-President of this Society, of which,
some have endured, without covering, the severi-
ties of the last winter in the New England States,
and which also promise to be valuable contribu-
tions to American pomology. In addition to
these how many new varieties of the apple, the
pear, the plum and the grape, have recently been
added to the list of American fruits. How many
new and excellent varieties of strawberry have
appeared since the introduction of Mr. Hovey's
seedlings.

These are sure indications of the success which
will reward future efforts to obtain valuable and
native varieties of fruit ; and they point to the
fulfilment of tlie prediction of the celebrated Van
Mona, 'tliat the time will come when our best
fruits will be derived from seedlings.' He gives
the following sage counsel to his correspondents
to whom he had sent trees — 'Sow your seed and
persevere without interruption and you will ob-
tain even better fruit than mine.'

Among pioneers in this department I am hapJ3y
to notice a gentleman (now residing among us)
the pupil and friend of Van Mons, one who hag
adopted our country as his future home, and who
has already transplanted to our soil many thou-
sand choice seedlings of" the pear, which have
come into his possession frooi the collections of
that gentleman and tlic celebrated Esperen,

As to the best method of producing fine vari-
eties from seed, the opinions of distinguished po-
mologists are not uniform.

Duhamcl, among the French, from causes
which seem to us irreconcilable with nature and
experience, entertained serious doubts of the
practical )ility of any method for obtaining new
and valuable varieties from seed, especially of the
pear, because ho had tried various experiments
without success, for fifty years.

Dr. Van IMons of Belgium, instead of saving
the seed of the finest varieties, selected those of
inferior sorts, upon the principle that a kind
having arrived at the highest state of perfection
must deteriorate while an inferior one would im-
prove by successive reproductions. He also con-
tended that hybridization tended to degeneracy

and imperfection. Thus he assumes the doctrine
that a perfect variety necessarily deteriorates, and
also overlooks the fiict observed by other distin-
guished men, that the improvement or deteriora-
tion of which he speaks may result from natural
impregnation by the pollen of other varieties con-
veyed by the air or insects, and therefore that
the seed of a good variety may produce either a
better or a worse, and that of a bad either a
worse or a better.

Mr. Knight's system of obtaining new and im-
proved varieties depended entirely on hybridiza-
tion or artificial impregnation, so lightly esteemed
by Dr. Van Mons. This is somewhat diflicuU .to
practice on account of natural fertilization by in-
sects and the wind ; but it has the merit of de-
pending on a truly philosophical principle, atd
with very particular attention may yet prove as
available for the improvement of our fruits as it
has for the production of fine varieties in the vege-
table and floral kingdom, or as the corresponding
principle has in the crossing of the breeds of do-
mestic animals.

The results of Mr. Knight's experience disprove
the tendency to degeneracy, inasmuch as many of
his fruits, obtained by hybridization, are among
the most durable and hardy varieties, as the Eye-
wood and Dunmore pears, the Black Eagle and
other cherries.

Many cultivators, as Esperen, Bivort, Berc-
mans, and others, both in this and foreign coun-
tries, have sown seeds in variety, and have ob-
tained some valuable sorts. But I am confirmed
in the opinion that the best means of producing
new and excellent varieties, suited either to gen-
eral cultivation or to particular localities, is to
l^lant the most mature and perfect seed of the
most hardy, vigorous, and valuable sorts, on the
pathological principle that like produces like,
and upon the conviction that immature seed, al-
though the embryo may be sufficiently formed to
vegetate, yet not having ail its elements in per-
fection, it will not produce a vigorous and healthy
offspring. Dr. Lindley, commenting upon this
practice, justly remarks — 'AH experience shows
that in every kind of created thing, be it man, or
beast, or bird, the mysterious principle called life
remains during the whole period of existence
what it was at first. If vitality is feeble in tho
beginning, so it remains. Weak parents produce
weak children, and their children's children are
weaker still, as imperial dynasties have sadly
shown.' With him we believe this theory as ap-
plicable to the vegetable as to the animal king-
dom. May not a disregard of this doctrine ac-
count for the great number of feeble, sickly, early
defoliated trees often found in our grounds by the
side of those that are vigorous, healthful, and
persistent in foliage? Is not the theory wc advo-
cate as important in the production of fruit-trees
as in the raising of cereal grains? The skilful
agriculturist saves tho best seed of his various
crops and selects the best animals from his flocka
and herds for breeders. Why should not this
law of reproduction regulate tbe practice of the
pomologist as well as of the farmer ? Has the
All-wise and Infinite enacted several laws where
one would subserve the purpose?

To the doctrine of Van Mons, and other distin-
guished writers, respecting deterioration by ago,
and after a variety has reached its perfection,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

515

there seems to I)e some exceptions. From the ac-
counts of oriental travellers, may -we not believe
that the grapes of Eschol are as perfect novyr as
when the ciiiefs of Israel plucked their rich clus-
ters three thousand years ago? — and that the
same variety of tlic fig, the olive, and the pome-
granate, are as perfect in Syria to-day as in the
period of David and Solomon? It is worthy of
inquiry whether the native grapes, on the banks
of our rivers, have deteriorated since the day
when the rod men of the forest refreshed them-
selves with fruit from those vines, and whether
the orange, the lemon, the banana, and the fruits
of Southern latitudes, evince any more signs of
decay than they did centuries ago 1 In a word^
whether this doctrine of deterioration is as appli-
cable to the native as to the foreign fruit of a
country ?

Why may we not expect to obtain natural vari-
eties of the apple and other fruit as durable and
far more valuable than those which have passed
their second ooii-tcnnial, as the Endicott and Stuy-
vesant pears! From meteorological and other
causes, which we do not at present understand,
particular varieties may deteriorate in a given lo-
cality, for a season, and afterwards revive ; or,
they may show signs of decay in one locality and
flourish well in others not very remote, as the
White Doyenne which has been considered, for
many years, by some in this vicinity, on the de-
cline, while it is perfect in several places in
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and other
states. Fruit-bearing may exhaust the vital
energy of the tree, and hasten decay, but still the
variety may remain. We have, among fruit
trees, no exam|jle of longevity equal to that of
the new Taxodium, found in California, supposed
to be three thousand years old. Our object is not
to controvert the opinions of those who believe in
the running out of varieties, whether their dura-
tion be limited to one hundred or one thousand
years, but to enforce the importance of raising
new varieties from seed, especially adapted to our
own location."

Mr. Wilder discussed the arts of cultivation,
the affinities and the non-affinities of the stock
and graft, the art of preserving and maturing
fruits. The latter he deemed of the greatest im-
portance and but imperfectly undei'stood. He
closed as follows —

"Gentlemen: — The facilities affijrded us for the
promotion of pomological science should animate
our exertions and encourage our hopes. Never
before have cultivatoi-s of the soil enjoyed equal
opportunities for the acquisition of knowledge,
for its rapid and extensive difi'usion, and for the
advancement of those arts which contribute so
much to tlie refinement and social happiness of
mankind.

The age in which it is our good fortune to live
is indeed eventful — so infinitely superior to all
that have preced(;d it, that we seem to liave issued
from relative darkness into the dawn of a brighter
day. We ])egin to see where we arc, what cheer-
ing prospects are before us, and to anticipate the
glorious destiny that awaits us.

I congratulate you upon the opportunity tire
present occasion affords for the interchange of!
cordial salutations, and of the personal experience'
whicli makes the knowledge of one the property
of all — upon the variety of our soil and climate,!

which enables us to produce nearly all the fruits
of the civilized world — upon the progress of the
arts of cultivation, and of a knowledge of the
principles upon which those arts depend — upon
the increasing interest of all classes of society in
the growth of fruits, and the number of fine va-
rieties which have recently been added to our lists
— ujion the skill displayed in rural architecture
and landscape gardening in the suburbs of our
cities and throughout our land — and upon the
multiplication of societies and periodicals, which
invite the lovers of nature to participate in the
blessings which flow from rural fife and cultivated
taste.

If our present exhibition of fruits is less exten-
sive than it would have been but far the remark-
able drought, yet could our Puritan sires examine
it, with what astonishment would they be filled.
For instance, could Governors Endicott and Stuy-
vesant inspect our collection of pears, with what
pleasure would they look back to the planting of
the trees that still live and bear their names.
And with what eloquence would they exhort us
to perseverance, that our names also may go
down to posterity honorably associated with the
fruits of our labors !

But much remains to be accomplished. Im-
provements may hereafter be made more remark-
able than any which have hitherto astonished
mankind. Implements of industry may yet be
invented still further to facilitate our labor, and
to relieve its severity. Natural laws may be dis-
covered upon which arts of a more successful cul-
tivation may be founded. Remedies and agents
may hereafter be discovered and applied for the
cure of the diseases and for the destruction of the
insects at present so injurious to vegetation. An
these are not only possible but probable; for, ill
the very constitution of our minds and of the ma-
terial world, our benevolent Creator has provided
for endless progress, and for a continual approach
towards his own unapproachable perfection.

But how much study and experiment are requi-
site before we can touch the magic spring which
shall reveal these wonders to our perception! We
have no prophetic eye to look down the vista of
ages and to discover the future; but, judging from
the past, what incentives encourage our perse-
verance !

Gentlemen, go on. Prosecute the work you
have so honorably commenced. Sow the seeds of
your best fruits — raise new varieties — ply the
arts of judicious cultivation — study the laws of
nature and extend your researches and labors till
our beloved land shall be adorned with orchards,
vineyards, and gardens; and man shall realize the
poet's idea of Paradise regained !"

On motion of Col. llonry Little of Maine, a
nominating committee of one from each State,
represented l)y delegates, was appointed by the
President to nominate officers for the next peren-
nial term. The following gentlemen were ap-
pointed on this committee: —

Col. Henry Little of Maine, B. P. Cutter of
New Hampshire, Hon. T. S. Cabot of Massachu-
setts (President of the Massachusetts Horticul-
tural Society) C. B. Lines of Connecticut, Mr.
Barry of New York, Mr. Hayes of New Jersey,
Dr. Wm. D. Brincklo of Pennsylvania, Samuel
Feast of Baltimore, Mr. Hull of Illinois, Mr. iVb-

516

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

bot of Missouri, B. F. Nourse of Florida, and
Joshua Pierce of District of Columbia.

Col. Little reported as follows : —

for President, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder ; for
Vice Presidents, Caleb Cope of Pennsjdvania, A.
n. Ernst of Ohio, S. L. Goodale of Maine, Col.
B Hodge of New York, Lawrence Young of Ken-
tucky, II. F. French of New Hampshire, Freder-
ick Ilolbrook of Vermont, Samuel Walker of
Massachusetts, Stephen H. Smith of Rhode Island,
Dr. A. S. Munson of Connecticut, Thomas Han-
cock of New Jorso}'^, E. Tatnall, Jr., of Delaware,
William C. Wilson of Marj-liind, Yardley Pierce
of Virginia, Joshua Pierce of District of Colum-
bia, Joshua Lindley of North Carolina, Robert
Chisholm of South Carolina, Richard Peters of
Georgia, C. A. Peabody of Alabama, B. F. Nourse
of Florida, Thomas Afflick of Mississippi, Henry
E. Lawrence of Louisiana, Rev. C. H. Byington
of Arkansas, Thomas Allen of Missouri, James
Grant of Iowa, N. P. Talmadge of Wisconsin, W.
D. Halay of Illinois, Henry L. Ellsworth of Indi-
ana, D. W. Yandall of Tennessee, Dr. Henry
Gibbons of California, Edward Hunter of Utah,
James Dougall of Canada West, and Hugh Allen
of Canada East. For Secretary, H. W. S. Cleve-
land of New Jersey. For Treasurer, Thomas P.
James of Pennsylvania.

This report was accepted. Mr. Wilder, on as-
suming the duties of the chair for the ensuing
term, addressed the Society briefly. He remark-
ed :—

Gentlemen, — I am not of tlie number who, hav-
ing put hand to the plow, are disposed to look
back, but I freely confess ihat it has been my in-
clination and desire (at this time) to retire finally
from the chair. Having held the of&ce of Presi-
dent for two biennial terms, I felt it due, alike to
myself and to you, to resign this position to oth-
er members equally or better qualified to perform
its duties. But at the instance of those whose
opinions I feel bound to respect, I have consented
to waive my private convenience and personal com-
fort in favor of their judgment, — and thanking
you for this renewed testimony of your confidence
and regard, I accept the trust, and wiU meet- its
responsibilities as far as I am al)le.

xVll persons present intere;-tcd in the objects of
the society, whetlier members of any horticultural
society or not, were invited to take seats with the
feociety and participate in its doings.

The President appointed tlie following commit
tee to report " Business for the Convention:" —
Messrs. \V^alker of Massachusetts, Barry of New
York, Keyser of Pennsylvania, Nourse of Florida
and Eaton of (BuUalo) New York. Mr. Walker
subsequently reported as foUoAvs : —

Presuming that the session of the convention
will be continued during three days, the commit-
tee recommend that the order of business shall be
for the first day the discussion of the Pear ; 1st,
the rejection of unworthy varieties ; 2d, varieties
for general cultivation ; 3d, varieties which prom
ise well ; 4th, varieties on quince. For the sec
ond day, Apples, and after that, Peaches, Plums
and other fruit.

Reports of the Fruit Committees from the dif-
ferent States wore now called for, and Mr. Samuel
Walker of Massachusetts submitted a report con
taining a list of pears which it was recommended
should bo rejected. A general discussion ensued

on this report, in which Messrs. Cabot, Hovey,
King and Walker of Massachusetts, Barry of New
Y'ork and Prince of Long Island took part.

On motion of Mr. Hovey of Boston, the Presi-
dent proceeded to read the list of pears on Mr.
Walker's list, and that the varieties should be re-
jected unless three members object. The follow-
ing pears were retained on the list for further
trial : — Beurre Adam, Du Mortier of Manning,
Duchess Dumas, Fit;ue du Naples, Flemish bon
Chretien, Hacon's Incomparable, March Berga-
mot, Knight's Monarch and Styrian.

In reference to the Kniglit's Monarch, Mr.
Walker remarked that he believed more money
had been expended on that fruit than on any va-
riety in the country. He never raised a good
specimen — at least ho never ripened one. It is
not only an uncertain fruit, but cracks badly. —
As to ripening it in this section, he believed it to
be totally impossible.

]Mr. H. Lines of Connecticut said it seemed to
him to be an imposition upon the puldic to i-ecom-
mend the Knight's Monarch pear. The object of
the society was to benefit the public tliroughout
the country, by recommending the cultivation of
none but good fruits ; the society had better turn
their attention to the rejection of poor varieties
than to increase the list.

Mr. Hancock moved a reconsideration oF the
vote whereby the IMonarch pear was permitted to
stand on the list.

Hon. B. V. French, Mr. Knight, and Mr.
Thompson of the London Horticultural Society,
speak highly of the Monarch. The tree is thrifty
and is a gjod bearer. Considering the high char-
acter of the fruit in England, and the strong re-
commendations which have accompanied it, Mr.
Thompson was willing to try it a little longer.
After some furtlier discussion the Knight's Mon-
arch w'as retained upon the list.

Mr. Walker submitted the following list of va-
rieties to be added to the list of pears for general
caltivation : Lawrence, Howell, Beurre Superfine,
and Beurre d'Anjou.

jNIr. Walker remarked that he considered the
Lawrence pear as one of the greatest acquisitions
to our list of pears since he had been engaged in
cultivation. Among the new varieties he knew
nothing equal to it. ISh. Prince stated that the
Lawrence pear originated in Flushing, L. I. —
Mr. Walker believed the time would soon come
when the Lawrence pear would be as eagerly
sought after in Boston and New York markets as
the old St. Michael was. Xlio tree is thrifty, and
has an abundance of foliage. Another property
peculiar to the Lawrence pear is this : the fruit
clings to the branches as though it had been tied
on, reminding one of the Urbaniste in that par-
ticular. He wished that a unanimous expression
should go out from the socie'ty, that the Lawrence
pear is among the best late native pears in the
catalogue.

Mr. Manning had known the pear for twelve
years, and from his experience with it he consid-
ered it the most valuable pear tliat had been pro-
duced within that time.

Mr. Hayes remarked that the Lawrence pear
originated on sandy soil, and would like to be in-
formed whether it would grow as well on strong
soil.

The President said he had grown it on stiff,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND F.iBMER.

517

cl;iyey soils. He entirely concurred in the gener-
al commendation that had been bestowed upon it.
The Lawrence jjear was then placed upon the list
as a variety worthy of general cultivation, by a
unanimous vote.

The Ilowell pear was next considered. Mr.
Maunis thought it premature to place this variety
on the list for general cultivation. Mr. Barry re-
garded it as a very fine variety, and would be wil-
ling to see it adopted in the list of pears for gen-
eral cultivatiim. Mr. Lines said the Howell had
all the qualities of a good pear; it was large,
thrifty, and of uniform growth.

Mr. Cerehman of New York was of opinion tliat
the Ilowell was one of the first fruits. ]Mr. Clark
of Connecticut luid found that it grew admirably
on quince. It was a very early bearer, and trees
two years from bud had fruited with it. lie con-
sidered it a valuable variety. The President con-
curred with these views. Ho esteemed the Howell
very highly, and was willing to risk his reputation
by voting to place it on the list for general culti-
vation. Mr. Hancock moved that it be placed on
the list of pears wliich promise well.

Mr. Ilovey remarked tliat there was no one who
knew the pear, but would say it was a good vari-
ety. Still he had not seen enough of the growth
of the tree or of the general characteristics of the
fruit to recommend it U r standard fruit. It ri-
pened in September, when we have an abundance
of varieties, wliich was an objection. He would
prefer to place it o" the list which piom:se well,
rather than to recommend it for general cultiva-
tion.

]Mr. Manning thought it premature to place it
at present on the list for general cultivation, but
he would be glad to see it placed on the list which
promise well.

Mr. Walker would place the Ilowell at the
head of tliat list. It was placed on thS list of va-
rieties which promise well.

Tlic Beurre Superfine was next taken up. Mr
Cabot regarded it as a fruit of very great excel-
lence. It could be kept till November or Decem-
ber. Mr. Prince gave an opinion highly favora-
ble to it.

The President remarked that his opinion con-es-
ponded with that of Mr. Cabot. It had all the
good qualities of the Brown Beurre Vvith a higher
flavor.

Mr. Barry said the Beurre Superfine was one of
the finest of pears, — large, hardy, and the tree
bears young.

Mr. Ilovey thought the society premature. —
The variety liad been under cultivation but three
years. His opinion was that the variety is unex-
ceptionable, but it Avas also his opinion that ithad
not been tried sufficiently. He was willing to put
it on the list that promise well.

Dr. Eshelman of Penn.sylvania had grown this
variety three years. He should only recommend
it as very good. Tlie Beurre Superfine was placed
on the list of varieties that romiso well, by a
unanimous vote.

The pears that were placed in the list o f varie-
ties wliich promise Avell were now taken up, luid
each variety considered separately. Quite a dis-
cussion arose on the quality of tlie different varie-
ties as they were called, and tlio experience of
members was various, some varieties proving in
Bome locations superb, in others of no value. Thc|

discussion on this point was continued until 2
o'clock, when the convention adjourned, to meet
again at 4 o'clock.

The Convention reassembled at four o'clock and
the subjects under consideration at the time of ad-
journment was resumed, and occupied the entire
time until the adjournment. Brandt..'? St. Ger-
nuxin was stricken from the list and disgraced by
a unanimous vote. Tlic Diller variety was also
discharged. Manning's Elizalwth was promoted
to the list for general cultivation.

The discussion on the qualities of these different
varieties was quite full and very interesting, but
our limits will not permit a synopsis of the re-'
marks which were made.

FIG TREES.

When our citizens purchase figs in our mar-
ket, they have but little conception of the size of
the trees that have yielded the delicious fruit they
are now tasting.

We have written this communication beneath
the magnificent fig trees in th.e fruit garden of
E. L. Beard, Esq., of San Jose. We Jiavejust
measured two of a group of te?i Jig trees, the least
of which measures 2 1-2 feet in circumference.
The trees of the group are fo-li/ fvct hi^h, and
the largest measures 5 1-4 feet in circumference ;
the limbs eleven feet from the ground measure 2
feet two inches in girth ; limps four feet from the
ground measured and 3 1-2 feet in circumference.
The leaves upon the trees measure 18 inchesacross.
This may seem incrcdi1)le, yet these are facts.
The fruit is just now ripening, and one specimen
before us measures eight inches in circumference.
Such fruit can be easily raised, and will be by
those who make California tlieir "home." The
fruit gardens of Mr. Beard* now present a cheer-
ing sight. Pear trees are bonding I>eiieath the
weight of their fruit, which Iiangs in immense
ropes and clusters, causing the entire trees to as-
sume the appearance of weeping trees. There are
no grounds in the State that present a finer ap-
pearance than those we name ; young orchards of
acres, numbering thousands and tens uf thousands
of trees, are coming into bearing, giving promise
of future abundance. Surely, such effort on the
part of our cultivator deserves a corresponding
reward. — California Farmer.

Singular Anecdote of a Thrush. — Tliero is
much more intellect in birds than people sup-
pose. An ihstance of this oceurrou the other
day, at a slato quarry, belonging to a friend,
from whom I have the narrative. A thrush, not
aware of tlie expansive properties of gunpowder,
thought proper to luiild her nest on a ridge of a
quarry, in the very centre of which they were con-
stantly blasting the rock. At first, she was very
much discomposed by tl^e fragments Hying in all
directions, but still she would not quit lier chosen
locality ; she soon observed tliat a lieU rang when-
ever a train was about to l)o fired, and that at the
notice the workmen retired to safe positions.

In a few days, when slie heard the bell, she
quitted her exposed situation, and tlew down
where the workmen sheltered themselves, drop-
ping close to their feet. There she would reman
until the cxjilosion had taken place, and then
return to her nest. The workmen observed this,

518

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

narrated it to their employers, and it was also a Grand Agricultural Banquet Avill be held on the
told to visitors who came to visit the quarry. The grounds, and at which Col. WiMcr, the President
visitors naturally expressed the wish to witness so, of the Society, will preside. Tlie President of the
curious a specimen of intellect ; but as the rock [United States, the heads of departments, the Gov-
could not always be blasted when visitoi's came, ernors of the States, with other distinguished

the bell was rung instead, and for a few times
answered the same purpose. The thrush flew
down close to where they stood, but she perceived
she was trifled with, and it interfered with the

guests, have been invited to attend. It is antici-
pated that this will be one of the most interesting
and imposing parts of the exhibition, and in
which ladies, as well as gentlemen, will partici-

process of incubation; the consequence was, that pate. The exhibition of cattle will be largest
afterwards when the bell was rung she would peep ever held in America, if not in the world, and the
over the ledge to ascertain if the workmen did j concourse of people will be immense. From Mas-
retreat, and if they did not, she would remain saehusetts, there will be a large delegation,
where she was, probably saying to herself — "No, I Persons desirous of obtaining any further infor-
no, gentlemen, I'm not to be roused off my eggs' mation in regard to the exhibition or the transpor-
merely for your amusement.'-' — Cor. London\ tation of passengers or stock, may procure the
Dispatch. ^same by addressing Wm. S. King, Esq., Secretary
I of the United States Agricultural Society, at Hor-

GREAT NATIONAL CATTLE SHOW.

The United States Agricultural Society, of
which the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder of Massachu-
setts is President, will hold a National Show of
Cattle, open to general competition, without sec-
tional limit, on the 25th, 26th and 27th days of
this month, at Springfield, in the State of Ohio.
Six Thousand Dollars will be awarded in Premi-
ums, several of Avhich are larger than have ever
been offered by any Agricultural Society either
in this or other countries. Among these we no-
tice the following : — Fioe Hundred Dollars for
the best bull and five cows or heifers, of one year
or upwards, from any one herd. Three Hun-
dred Dollars for the best Durham bull. Two
Hundred Dollars for the best Durham cow.
Other large premiums are offered in the respective
breeds. The judges in the various classes have
been selected with great care, and constitute a
phalanx of Agriculttiral talent of the first order.
Among the names we find those of Gov. Wright
of Indiana ; Col. Stevens, John A. King, Lewis
F. Allen and Col. Johnson, of New York ; Cassius
M. Clay and Brutus J. Clay, of Kentucky ; Judge
Watts aud Dr. Elwyn, of Pennsylvania ; Judge
Musgrave and Col. Medary, of Ohio ; Richard
Peters, of Georgia ; S. B. Findlay, of Virginia ;
and from Massachuetts, Moses Newell, C. V.
French, John Brooks, Paoli Lathrop, Simon
Brown, and other distinguished Agricultui-ists.

Extensive preparations have been made for the
accommodation of strangers. Extra trains will
convey passengers to the neighboring cities and
towns, who cannot obtain lodgings at Springfield.
Private houses will also be open for the reception
of guests.

The principal railroads will take stock free of
charge, and passengers at half price. On stock
the freight must be paid on the passage out, and
on the certificate of the Secretary of the Show
that the animals have been exhibited and have
not been sold or exchanged, the money paid for
transportation will be refunded, and they returned
free to the point from which they started.

Visitors should be careful to obtain excursion
tickets on the several railroads, and at Springfield
to have them stamped by the Secretary of the
Show, in order to make them available on their
return at lialf price. Passengers from New Eng-
land will take the New York Central Railroad at
Albany.

On Thursday, October 2Gth, at 2 o'clock, PM.,

ticultural Hall, Boston.

THE PUMPKIN.

At the dinner of the Bristol County Agricultural Society in
New Bedford, on Thursday last, Charles T. Congdon, Esq., ed-
itor of the Neiv Bedford Mercury, was called upon by the
President, to which he made a response in verse, from which we
copy the following capital panegyric on the pumpkin :

0 dear New England ! who shall dare dispute
Thy well-earned title of the Land of Fruit,
When on thy hills yon glowing globe we see —
Pumpkin or pompion — doctors disagree ?
Lo ! where the verdant vines luxuriant run,
He turns his fair, round belly to the sun !
Bathed in those' beams he, comatos and calm,
The bursting Falstaff of the blooming farm.
Awaits his fate — the inevitable hour —
The hand that plucks him from his native bower,
Only exclaiming, could we hear lis cries :
" Take me to Bedford, and I'll take thj prize ! "

0 yeWow orb ! no hand divine is nigh,

To snatch thee up and set thee in ihe sky,

A modern star, uncatalogued and new.

To fright the saints and bother science too ;

But bide thy time ! — when chill November falls,

A voice shall issue from the State House walls ;

And every parson, from his pulpit high.

Proclaim aloud Thanksgiving Day is nigh.

Then, when around the dear domestic board

Affection's tide has tremulously poured ;

When the fond mother — years of absence o'er —

Clasps to her heart her wandering son once more ;

When love, refusing to be longer pent,

Smiles in the eyes a timorous assent ;

When laughing childhood, full of fowl and fun,

Finds to its wonder that it cannot run —

'Tis then, 0 premium pumpkin ! then shall shine

In splendor new this excellence of thine.

Pie of my country ! still upon thy breast

3Iidsammer sunbeams in November rest ;

The magic circle of thy snowy paste

Delights the eye and titillates the taste ;

While through thy form the steel is ranging bright.

Our aqueous mouths are puckered with delight,

And like faint soldiers who from fight would cease.

We cry for quarter and demand apiece.

E^ Instruct your son well, or others will in-
struct him ill. No child goes altogether untaught.
Send him to the school of wisdom, or he will go
off himself to the rival academy, kept by the lady
with the cap and bells. There is always teaching
going on of some sort, just as in fields — vegetation
is never idle.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

519

MIDDLESEX COUNTY AGEICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

OCTOBER THIRD AND FOURTH.

Report of the Show of Fruit, Vegetables, tjc, at

the Society's Exhibitioti Hall.

In attending to our duties as Secretary of the
Society, we were deprived the opportunity of
making up a report of its doings ; and on the
morning succeeding were obliged to leave for
New Hampsliire, to deliver the Address at the
State Fair, at Keene. We have, therefore, availed
ourselves of the tjkill of Wm. D. Brown, Esq., in
making up the account of things in the Exhibi-
tion Hall, and of Dr. Joseph Reynolds that of
the stock, plowing, services at the church, dinner
table, &c., and give them below.

The display of fruit, vegetables, household arti-
cles, &c., in the Society's Hall on the exhibition
ground, was very fine, and examined with great
satisfaction. Cultivators and amateurs found it
an admirable opportunity to compare fruits, and
judge of new varieties. Those who have been
backward in raising good fruit, saw here, almost
in bewildering profusion, what the earth would
produce if treated with intelligence and skill.
The lovers of fine apples, pears and peaches — and
this class includes about everybody — inspected the
long lines of loaded plates and baskets, and
])reathed the air perfumed with the rich odors of
the grape, with many signs of pleasure.

The departments allotted to household manu-
factures were not fully occupied. For this occa-
sion, at least, the ladies were willing that their
part of the exhibition should be overshadowed by
the rich productions of the garden and orchard.

With many of the articles on their table we
were, unfortunately, not familiar. We appre-
ciated the excellent socks from Woburn ; those
by Miss R. Rogers were very desirable. We no-
ticed an embroidered scarf, by Mrs. G. L. Pres-
cott, of Concord ; a pretty bonnet loithout a face,
l)y !Mrs. J. Gleason, Concord ; beautiful wax
flowers, hj Amelia Johnson, Charlestown ; a child
asleep upon a wide-awake dog, in worsted, by
Miss Helen G. Reed, Woburn ; infant sack and
shoes, by Miss R. M. Barrett, Concord ; a pencil
drawing of Gen. Washington, by Jilary J.Smith,
Waltham ; antique chair, with " twenty-eight
thousand seven hundred stitches " in the worsted
back ! by jMiss Margaret Rice ; blankets, by Mrs.
H. TarbcU ; leather picture-frames, by Miss S. C.
Brown, Concord ; frames covered with fircones,
by Mrs. II, Pierce, Lexington ; chairs, crickets,
lamp-mats, embroideries, wrouglit slippers, and
the funniest little 8hoes-*-for some cherub, a first
pair^

We weve led away fx-om these attractions to
the table bearing twenty dishes of Mr. E. W,
Bull's famous " Concord grape." The bunches
were large. The berries were rounder thuo the

Isabella, of a dark purple. The cluster was close
and compact. The grapes were fully ripe and
very fragrant. They ripen earlier than the Isa-
bella, even if exposed in the open air. So says
Mr. Bull.

The Concord grape has met with a great sale.
If others shall be discovered as valuable, great
credit will accrue to Mr. Bull for introducing the
first vine possessing such hardiness and excellence.

S. C. Wheeler, Groton, showed the only plate
of Northern Spy we saw on the tables. They are
not so brilliant or saleable as Baldwins. The
Northern Spy is recommended as a late keeper,
hardy, and good bearer. Wm. Leigh ton. Con-
cord, had fine apples in large glass dishes.

Robert Chaffin, Acton, showed three large
bunches of grapes hanging to a stem six inches
long ; Mrs. M. K. Prescott, Concord, large basket
of fruit; Albert Hagar, Lincoln, fine late Craw-
ford peaches; W. W. Whcildon, of the Bunker
Hill Aurora, from his fine garden in Concord,
Maiden's Blush — a selling, if not a telling, name —
Lady apple, &c. Josiah Stiekney, Brighton, 18
plates of beautiful pears; Wm. T. Conant,, South
Acton, assortment of fine fruit ; Mr. Buckminster,
of the Massachusetts Ploughman, very fair large
Roxbury Russet, which, it seems, can be grown
good-looking. H. A. Wheeler, Concord, had a
basket of good fruit ; Asa Clement, Dracut, a
large variety of apples, pears and peaches ; James
Eustis, South Reading, among other kinds the
fine German apple, the Gravenstein, which every
cultivator should have — and^ also, the Fisk Rus-
set, more w/i-desirable. Mr. Eustis says the York
Russet trees furnish prime stocks for grafting
good kinds into ! Those who have the trees may
bear this in mind with profit ! N. P. Morrison,
Somerville, showed fine apples, and among them
a beautiful red seedling, high colored, good shape
and finely-flavored, which will prove a fine variety.
Edward T. Chandler, Lexington, exhibited somQ
tempting Coe's Golden Drop plums ; G. M. Bar-
rett, L. Eaton, George Wood, Minot Pratt, John
Brown, W. D. Brown, J. P. Brown, apples; E,
Toluian, quinces, " all of Concord," There was
a small show of butter ; somehow " the butter
ivouldn't co7)ie!" Mr. A. G. Sheldon, of Wil-
mington, took home the " silver ' spoons " (Ist
prem,) for the best lot. Near by to the butter
was honey from Charles Willis's hive, Concord ;
part of the " seventy pounds " made this summer
by the swarm, In this attractive neighborhood,
too, we found the bread, which tlic Society wisely
deem of so much importance to be well made,
especially by the " unmarried.'^

The vegetables were good for the season. W,
1). Brown showed a peck of potatoes raised from
one potato and 07ic hill ,• John R . I lardy , AN'altham,
Custard Squash ; John Raynoldsj, Concord, fine
varieties of potatoes aiid scjuashcs ; Minot Pratt,

520

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

Concord, Gilliflowcr potatoes of tremendous size ;
N. Barrett, blood beet ; A. B. Heywood, onions*
Eliza Emerson, seedling, a twin pumpkin, a
great curiosity : W. D. Brown, corn, raised from
seed found with an Egyptian mummy ; Thomas
Page, Waltham, hot-house grapes of exti'aordinary
6ize ; and John B. Moore, Concord, a very ex-
tensive and well-arranged variety of the rich
products of his excellent form.

The handsome carpets suspended over head,
from the Carpet Hall of Wm. P. Tenny, Boston,
made a fine appearance. There was near them a
praiseworthy specimen of domestic manufacture,
by Mrs. G. M. Barrett, Concord.

We expressed our belief last year, that increas-
ing attention is being paid in this State to the
rearing of liorses. The exhibition of colts this
day gave abundant evidence that our belief is
well-founded. There was a large number of fine
colts on exhibition, among which we will venture
to notice one by Josiali Bigelow, Groton, one by
J. B. Farmer, Concord, one by S. C. Wheeler,
Groton, and a fine black four-year old by a man
whose name we did not learn. There were other
fine ones mostly yearlings.

The exhibition of stock, we think, surpassed
what we have seen on any former occasion. Mr.
Buckminstee's Devons occupied several pens, and
included some fine .specimens. There were many
other fine animals of this breed on the ground.
S. C. Wheeler, Groton, had three fine Herefords,
the only ones which we saw on the ground.
There were several fine Alderneys, pure and half-
bloods. Of Durhams and native, there were many
fine samples. The dairy cows of G. M. Barrett,
John B. Moore, S. G. Wheeler and others, it
would not be easy to boat in Massachusetts or
out of it. The number of working oxen was small
compared with many exhibitions in the interior,
but there were several yokes containing more or
less Devon blood, that were equal in beauty,
and all the important points of the working ox,
to any that we have ever seen in any part of the
country.

The Middlesex farmers have learned that it
takes a very fine pig to get a premium in this
county, and they exhibit no others. Mr. Iliiven of
Framingham, sustains his position as one of the
most successful swine raisers in the State. Mr.
Sheldon of Wilmington, had his usual variety on
exhibition ; Mr. C. B. Clark, of Concord, had a
pair of promising Essex pigs, of the black variety.
John Raynokls had a good boar, and Josiah Big-
elow of Groton, had the best Suffolk boar, we
think, we have ever seen. He has been for many
years endeavoring to improve the breed, and has
succeeded in rearing an animal much superior in
the essential points to most of the imported speci-
mens.

The samples of butter were few but fine. The

piles of loaves, white and light, exhibited by the
girls, shewed to a demonstration that good house-
wives may yet be found in old Middlesex. No
young man need fear to unite his fortunes with
the girl who can keep a good district school, and
take the first premium for the best loaf of bread.

On Wednesday morning, the clouds were
threatening, but the rain held off until after the
Plowing Match was over. The ground selected
was a mile from the village ; most of it was
meadow, a meadow abounding in cranberry
vines and hassock grass. Bat the twenty teams
started promptly at 9 o'clock, under the direction
of G. W. SoMERBY, Esq., Chief Marshal, and went
into it with a will that showed that no ordinary
obstacles would turn them out of their course.
There were single teams and double teams, ox
teams and horse teams, single plows and double
plows ; we noticed that on the cranberry land,
the double plows clogged badly. Some who start-
ed with the double, exchanged it for the single
plow. The work was all handsomely done. We
noticed especially a single team with a double
plow, driven by Horace Heard of Wayland, and
another single team with a double plow., by a son
of G. M. Barrett, Concord, that did their work
with great ease, and left the land in fine condi-
tion for tillage. We noticed two or three double
swivel plows, which made very good work ; but
where all did so well it is diiScult to discriminate.
The teams all made good time, and everything
went off in good order. The Drawing and Spad-
ing we did not see, but refer to the list of premi-
ums for the result.

At 12 o'clock punctually, the procession start-
ed for the church, where a neat and interesting
discourse was delivered by Rev. G. E. Ellis, of
Charlestown ; after a pleasant introduction in
which he acknowledged his ignorance of both the
theory and practice of agriculture, he proceeded
to consider agriculture,

1st. As a necessity.

2d. With respect to its profits.

3d. With respect to its enjoyments and im-
provements.

The discourse was highly creditable to the good
taste of its author. We should prefer that our
orators, on such occasions, should be either practi-
cal farmers, or thoroughly scientific men. If we
must have speakers who are neither the one nor
other, we like to hear them discuss those collater-
al subjects, which they as fully understand and
appreciate as farmers themselves. Reading up a
little science for the occasion, and attempting to
instruct a company of prtictical men, does little
more than expose the ignorance of the speaker,
and weary the patience of the hearer. All this
was avoided on the present occasion, and the ad-
dress was well received by an intelligent and grat-
ified audience. The singing, too, went off well ;

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

521

we think Tve never heard the old Harvest Hymn
performed in better style.

A little before 2 o'clock we came around the
tables in the Town Hall, which were abundantly
supplied in Smith's best style. As the President
was unable to speak from a severe cold, Judge
Mellen presided at the table. Mr. Staples of Lex-
ington, acted as Chaplain on the occasion. G.
M. Brooks, Esq., was Toast-Master. After a suc-
cessful attack on the provisions,speeches were made
by Judge Mellen, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Staples, Chas.
L. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agricul-
ture, and the venerable Mr. Buckjiinster of Fra-
mingham. Then followed the report on Bulls.
Next a speech from Hon. Linus Cuild, of Lowell,
who was followed by Mr. White, of the same
city. Next we had an entertaining report from
the Committee on bread by Nathan Brooks, of
Concord. This was followed by a speech from Mr.
Angier of CoBCord. The remaining reports of the
awarding committee followed. Other short and
pertinent speeches were made, and the exhibition
^closed to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

Although several specimens of fine stock and
fruit were diverted from this exhibition by the
south Middlesex organization, yet we think we have
never had a better exhibition in old Concord.' The
arrangements were well made and promptly exe-
cuted. There was "a place for everything, and
everything in its place," and the machinery all
moved steadily on with the least possible friction.
The promptness with which all the arrangements
were carried out, was a very agreeable feature,
from the lics-innins to the end of the exhibition.

For the New England Farmer.

STATE ALMS-HOUSE AT TEWKSBURY.

Mr. Editor : — I thank your venerable corres-
pondent from Wilmington for his advice ; -ho-^Q
he has made no charge of it in his books ; but beg
leave to ask him wliat tlie land in the " western
part of Tewksbury " has to do with the soil of
the "State Farms" about the Alms-House?
Whoever questioned the fertility of the soil along
the ]janks of the Merrimack ? I have seen as fine
acres there as anywhere else ; and three miles
south of this, I have seen as poor acres as I ever
saw any whereelse ; and, if I do not mistake, such
is the general character of the alms;house farm.
The gentleman says he did not intimate " a word
about wells to be dug, but simply remarked about
improving the wells." Perhaps I was wrong in
understanding what he said. I frankly admit
that I was green enough to suppose that wells
which did not readily yield a sulfieicncy of water,
could be best improved by Ijcing dug aiiciv. Tiiat
there has been a marked deficiency of water at
this institution, I cannot for a moment doubt.
The Doctor has a great repugnance to " Mr.
Anonymous." In tJiis matter I cannot consent
to relieve his sensitiveness.

Faithfully yours, #*^

Oct. Ith, 1854.

For the New England Farmer.

MIDDLESEX SOUTH AND HAMPDEN
COUNTY FAIES.

Mr. Brown : — I have just returned from a
three days' absence, in which time I have had the
pleasure of attending the Cattle Shows at Fra-
mingham and Springfield.

The Middlesex South Agricultural Society held
its first Show at Framingham, on Tuesday and
Wednesday, Sept. 26 and 27. From my observa-
tions on the second day, I judge the Society to be
very successful in its first exhibition. The cattle
in the pens (ninety, erectod at a cost of .$1,000)
were mostly superior animals. I noticed a fine
imported Devon cow, owned by Joseph Burnett,
Southboro'. The Hungarian Cow, imported by
A. S. Lewis, was a beautiful animal. Henry
Rice, of Marlboro', exhibited several superior an-
imals. The President of the Soi:iety, Mr. Buck-
minster, had 8 cows in the pens, and a large num-
ber of calves, of the Devon breed. One great ad-
vantage in raising Devons is that your animals
will be all alike — one shape and color. No white
legs or yellow ears. One ox of a Devon pair will
not have horns standing bolt upright, and his
mate with horns carried level with his back. Mr.
Buckminster had some yoked cattle in the pens
which showed this to all. The pens were well
filled. A few breeding mares with handsome colts
attracted much attention. The colt exhibited by
Charles Howe, of Marlboro', was a well developed
animal, and very large for his age. Mr. Howe
knows very well the importance of li'ieral treat--
meift of his young, growing animals. Great colts
naturally become great horses, and bring a great
price.

The town teams made a large display. Great
lusty beeves, by the twenty or thirty yokes, were
standing or lying about the exhibition lot. At
this point in my observations I saw tlie teams re-
turning from the plowing-match. One team had
been plowing Spanish. The man with the long
pole for a whip was a negro. (A bystander sug-
gested that he was " home-made.") The oxen
were tackled Cuba fashion, with a straight bar
attached to their horns. The plow was a sort of
hog's nose, with one handle to steer. It was
drawn by a pole with a wooden pin at the ex-
tremity which held on to the yoke. Some little
difference between this rig and an ouljit from
Quincy Hall !

The show of fruits, vegetables and manufac-
tured iir tides was under a part of tlie mammoth
tent, where the dinner was provided.

There was anothcrncv»\y invented liaycutter — a
sort of trough, with a revolving horizontal shaft
ariued Avith hooking flanges, wliieh press the hay
against a number of fixed knives. Near this was
a new kind of a corn-sheller, upon which Mr.
Isaac II. Cobb, the agent, sat and turned. The
carriage and harness by Ilollis Hastings were well
finished. A lot of shoe knives appeai'ed to be
made of tlio right stuff by a ^Ir. Jertnings, of Na-
tic. A fine dish of large, rich native grapes bore
the name of Jacob Pratt. Isal)e]la grapes by
Joseph Phipps were- very fine. 01>ed Winter's
peaches were very hard to go by. Peter Fay, of
Southboro', had many tempting specimens. (The
frequency of the cards, " Visitors are requested
not to touch,^'' Sec, along this tabic, showed a lit-

522

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov

tie anticipated danger!) W. Atchison, Saxon-
ville, exhibited the largest Isabellas I saw. The
bunches weighed a pound !

In the bird line there was, among others, a coop
of Ajlesburj ducks, owned by Wm. Bent, Cochit-
uate village. Also, an honorable hen with 18
chicks of g.»od size, hatched and raised up through
the usual perils without loss, at Mr. Buckmin-
ster's.

The vegetables were represented by a great va-
riety of creditable specimens.

I now left tlie tent to see the drawing. A
pair of oxen owned by Henry Rice, of Marlboro',
vei'y carefully driven by his farmer, moved the
load of rocks up the hill and seemed to make no-
thing of it. Other cattle showed good training,
and were quietly driven.

The next business was to hear the Address. —
This was delivered in the Baptist Church, by Col.
Isaac II. Wright, a gentleman of some military
reputation. It was well pronounced, and if some-
what general in its character, it had the great
merit of brevity.

The dinner was by J. B. Smith. It was abun-
dant and excellent, but had to be taken with a
heavy installment of the "peck of dirt" which
every man is bound to eat in his life-time.

After the physical wants had been supplied,
the intellectual feast was introduced by some re-
marks of Mr. Buckminster. Mr. Train, the Dis-
trict Attorney, acted as toastmaster, and quite
happily called out the distinguished gentlemen
present. Speeches were made by Col. Ivers Phil-
lips, of Fitchburg, Hon. Tappan Wentworth,
Representative to Congress from the 4th District,
Hon. Charles Devens, late U. S. Marshal, and
Mayor Smith, of Boston. The Mayor made one
of his easy, off-hand speeches, drawing largely
upon what he had seen of the state of agriculture
during his recent travels through Europe and
Asia Minor. He spoke of the fifty thousand cav-
alry horses which he saw at Constantinople. —
Their living was nothing but a few quarts of
chopped straw and beans, fed to them in a bag.
Dr. Smith wonders that this fare for their ani-
mals is not adopted by Americans. He says the
Arab horses are spirited and beautiful, and their
principal food is beans. He predicts that the wild
grass fields will be superseded by smaller fields of
beans {!) grown as food for our animals. The
time may come, but some learned man must show
us how to teach the brutes to eat this new prov-
ender. An experiment or two has shown me that
one rather intelligent horse will "stand out" not
to '■'know bems !"

I was obliged to leave the table at 4 o'clock,
and saw many other gentlemea present, from
whom good speeches wi.^re expected. Getting
aboard tlie express train at South Framingham, a
ride of two and a Ji'alf hours brought me safely to
the Connecticut river. The cool air of the journey
was especially grateful after the sweltering heat
and dust at Framingham.

The Hampden County Agricultural Society
held its tenth annual show on the 27th and 28th
of September. Springfield was beautiful the sec-
ond day. The streets were well watered. The
sidewalks cleanly swept. The trees that line the
principal tl.orougfare were gay with their autum-
nal dyes. The air that came down from the
mountains to the North, imp.arted a bloom to

many a healthy countenance, happy with antici-
pation of the day's festivities.

There was great excitement in North Main St.
to witness the show of horses. About 100 Avere en-
tered ; among them was the famous Morrill horse,
which took the second prize at the " Great Horse
Show," last fall There was a noble animal
which has just been purchased by his present
owner, John A. Hemenway, of Suffield, Ct., for
$1000. There were several pairs of beautiful
carriage horses, whose movements attracted much
attentien.

After the exhibition of horses was over, the
company formed a procession, with a fine band of
music, and repaired to the Baptist Church, to
hear the address by Prof. Nash. The address
was earnest and practical. It was commenced at
a late hour, and was unusually lengthy, but the
audience seemed interested and attentive. Prof.
Nash drew largely from his observations during
his recent travels in Europe, and gave many in-
teresting facts connected with British and Belgian
agriculture. He knew too much.of his subject to
deal in generalities, and in his remarks came close
home to his hearers. He showed the improvidence
of spending in this country twelve millions of dol-
lars for guano, as had been done this year, when
for one-twelfth part of that sum the same value
could be obtained and retained on the farm, or in
neighboring cities. He spoke of barns which he
knew of, where the escape of ammonia was suffi-
cient to make the strongest man weep ; and of
others that were sweet and wholesome. A little
dried swamp mud, or clayey loam, judiciously
sprinkled, made the difference, and saved great
value to the farmer.

After the address, the Society marched, with a
very good will, (3 o'clock,) to Cooley's Hotel,
where a first rate dinner was served to each guest.
When the substantials had been disposed of, the
President, Mr. Brewer, made a few remarks, in
which he alluded to the first cattle show in the
State, 45 years ago. It was that of the venerable
Berkshire Society, which, it seems, commenced
the good work.

The President now introduced to the company
Dr. S. Reed, of Pittsfield, a member of the State
Board of Agriculture. Dr. Reed spoke of horses.
Mr. John Eden, of Northampton, gave a senti-
ment. Mr, W. C. Goldthwait, a teacher Irom
Westfield, spoke of having had but little experi-
ence in farming, but he had done something at
trimming among suitable apple tree sprouts. Mr.
G. urged that instead of money premiums, it might
be better to award useful and substantial articlel!
He spoke of being present at a fair where the pre-
miums were of this description, and were arranged
on a table in front of the desk in the church, and
the fortunate recipients were called out to take
them.

Prof. Nash spoke of the attention and kindness
he uniformly received in England, of the good
feeling there existing towards Americans, and
how impossible it would be to bring about another
war with England. These remarks called up Mr.
Eden again, who was an Englishman. He thank-
ed Mr. Nash very feelingly for his favorable men-
tion of his countrymen. He was certain that the
more the English became acquainted with Ameri-
cans, the more they would esteem them.

Rev. Dr. Osgood made a few pleasant remarks.

1S54.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

523

Rev. Dr. Ide said but two* professions were spoken
of (at first,) in the Bible : that of the priest and
tlie gardener. He had no doubt all others were
the result of sin ! He would not say that they
were sinful.

The speaking was followed by the reading of
the premiums.

The display of fruit, vegetables, &c., was in
Hampden Hall. There was a great variety of fair
potatoes, grown on land evidently ;;re/;are</ for the
dry season. I noticed the Mercer, the Carter,
the Peach Blow, and the "Jenny Lind." Be-
hind the vegetables was a " section " of a large
mirror, about which visitors seemed merry. A
friend gave us the story : A flock of sheep were
passing down Main Street, and when against
Bailey & Bowers' jewelry store, the back wall of
which is covered with mirrors, they looked in, and,
sure enough, saw another flock headed the same
icay ! The sudden attempt to join them was at
tended with a bill for their owner for broken mir-
rors to the tune of something less than $25, which
he, probably, found not an illusion !

I was interested in the atmospheric light, which
was burning with great brilliancy. Mr. A. M.
Mace described the process of manufacture to all.
He had a small glass vessel filled with the neces-
sary articles for its production, where all could
see the thing done on a small scale. In the bot-
tom of the vessel was water ; above this, spirits
of turpentine, and at the top, benzole or liquid
carbon. By a tin tube, air was introduced at the
bottom, and rising through the water, became
humid or vapory. It then absorbed hydrogen from
the turpentine and carbon from the benzole, and
escaping, was combustible and brilliant. A light
equal to a coal gas-burner that consumes four feet
an hour, can be afi'orded for three-fourths of a cent
an hour. The discovery promises something in
these days of miserable oil.

From this light affair I passed on to the not
light afiair of examining the apples, pears, peaches
and grapes. Hampden County produces credita-
ble specimens of fruit, even in dry seasons. I
thought such a display would stir up a good many
to plant and graft trees another spring, and set
out a grape in that good sunny place by the
kitchen door.

The number of loaves of bread was not great,
but the previous action of the committee ought
to be remembered in connection. There Avas
good cheese and butter and honey, hard by. A
plate of figs, grown in Springfield, as Avell as fine
looking oranges, attracted attention. Bennett
Allen's telescope was looked at, if not through.
A multitude of deserving objects room prevents
noticing. The Hall was handsomely filled, and
much satisfaction seemed felt by all.

I close this imperfect sketch of the day, with
thanks to the Secretary of the Society, Mr. A. A.
Allen, for polite attentions. W. D. Brown.

Concord, Mass., Sept. 29, 1854.

Mammoth Water-Melon.— Mr. P. D. Coburn
will please accept our thanks for the finest speci-
men of water-melons which we have seen this
year. The melon was very large, weighing 36
pounds, and of course was enough to feast all
hands.

$25 00
12 00

$12 00
8 00

$12 00

10 00

600

$10 00
700

6 00

5 00

$lu 00

7 00

6 10
6 OU

MIDDLESEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

List of Premiums awarded at Concord, Oct.

4, 1854.

FARMS.

Josiah Bigelow, Groton,

Mr. Miu-ray, for Miss Green, Waltham,

BOG MEADOWS.

Joshua Webster, Maiden,
John B. Moore, Concord,

APPLE ORCHARD.
J. W. Brown, Framingham,
Hiram Woodis, South Reading,
Willi»m Buckminster, Framingham,

PLOWING— DOUBLE TEAMS.
John W. Rice, Sudbury,
R. M. & G. W. Moore, do.
Charles Wheeler, Acton,
Henry Brooks, "

SINGLE TEAMS.
Horace Heard, Wayland,
H. A. Sheldon, 'WilmLngton,
John W. Rice, Sudbury,
James A. Barrett, Concord,

HORSE TEAMS.
Gardner Wheeler, Concord,
Samuel M. Thomas, Wayland,
John Eaton, Sudbury,
William Hastings, Framingham,

WORKING OXEN.

Daniel L. Giles, Lincoln,

John Lawrence, Concord,

H. A. & S. A. Coburn, Lowell,

FAT CATTLE.
H. A. & S. A. Coburn, LoweU,
Calvin Fiske, 'Waltham,

SPADING.

H. C. Watts, Concord,
John O'Brien, "
Henry MuUett, "
Michael O'Brien, "
John W. Garfield, "

MILCH COWS.
Asa G. Sheldon, Wilmington, best native cow,
Joshua W. Brown, Concord, next best,
George M. Barrett, " " "

" " " best Ayrshire cow,
E. J. Leppelmann, Concord, next best,
William G. Barrett, " best Devon cow,
JosephlDerby, " next best,

BULLS.
J. Porter, Lowell, best native, 4 years old,
Daniel L. Giles, Lincoln, next best,
George M. Barrett, Concord, best AjTshire,
Horace Heard, Wayland, next best,
Joseph Derby, Concord, best Devon,
George Chandler, Shirley, best Alderney calf,
Artemas Longley, Groton, next best,

5. C. Wheeler, " Hereford cow and bull,

STEERS.
William Buckminster, Framingham, three years old
Nathan Pratt, Sudbury, " " u '

HEIFERS.

George M. Barrett, Concord, best milch heifer,
Leonard Hoar, Lincoln, best two years old,
William Spencer, Lowell, best yearling,
Jos. Harwood, Littleton, best heifer calf,

HORSES.
Best breeding mare and colt, J. Derby, Jr., Concord
Best four or five years old colt, broken to harness, '

T. H. Sweetser, Reading,
Best two year old, G. C. Durkee, Littleton,
Best yearling, Elijah Wood, Jr., Concord,

SWINE.
Best boar, Josiah Bigelow, Groton,
Best sow, A. G. Sheldon, Wilmington,
Best pigs, Abner Haven, Framingham, two

premiums,

POULTRY.
Albert L. Giles, Lincoln, turkies,
William Wheeler, Concord, best coop of fowls,
George M. Barrett, Concord, next best,

BREAD — BY MARllIED WOMSN.

Mrs. S. F. Kelscy,

George Clark,
C. W. Goodnow,

DiVMAnniED.

Miss Caroline Mslvin,

E. J. Fales,

Rebecca Wheeler,

HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES.
Mrs. Paribo, on 1 wrought dress, Concord,

E. J. Bigelow, 1 Gothic chair, "

$10 00
700
6 00
500

$8 00
700
5 00

$8 00
600

$3 00

4 00
300
200
100

$S00
600
400
800
500
8 00
500

$8 00
500
800

5 00

8 00
400
2 00
8 00

$6 00
300

$6 00
5 00
400
4 00

$5 00

500
500
500

$6 09
600

2 and 5 00

$2 00
300
200

$4 00
2 00
100

$4 00
2 00
100

50
100

524

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

Fanny Bowers, 1 skirt, " 50

Lucy Tolmao, 1 tidy, " 25

Eliza A. Couant, wrought muslin, '' 25

A. J. Tolniaii, 2 quilts, " 50

Augusta Thayer, 1 pair slippers, " 25

Caroline Adams, 1 sofa-cushion, " 25

Isabella Peniiis, 2 collars, " 50

Helen 11. Head, travelling bag, Woburn, 50

Clara Gowin^, skirt and pin-cushion, " 50

F. Winn, 1 pair shoes, Concord, 25

Mary A. Moore, quilt and collar, Chelmsford, To

Mrs. G. M. Barrett, 3 rolls carpet, Conoord, 2 00

Rebecca Barrett, slippers and embroidery, " 1 00

Mrs. N II. AVarren, embroidered dress, " 1 00

P. P. Rodders, 6 pair hose, Woburn, ^ 50

Rebecca Kodgers, 6 pair do., " 50

Susan Rodgers, 6 pair do., " 50

Susan Parker, quilt, Lincoln, 50

Eliza Pierce, 1 pair slippers, Concord, 25

Polly llartwell, bed spread, Lincoln, 50

" II. Pierce, picture-frame, Lexington, 25

M. J. Smith, pencil drawing, &c., Waltham, 1 00

Eber G. Gleason, wrought chair. Concord, 1 50

Rebecca Melvin, 2 pair hose, " 25

C. Hall, embroidered skirt, Carlisle, 50

Mrs. S. D. Hunt, 1 tidy, Concord, 25

A. M. Stacy, crochet collars, " 50

H. H. Robinson, skirt and mantle, " 1 00

H. Tarbell, 3 blankets, " 1 00

Mrs. Sampson Mason, 1 chain, " 1 00

Mrs. G. L. Prescott, embroidered scarf, &c.. Concord, 60

Anna Draper, embroidered collar, Charlestown, 25

Barker, eiubrnidered blanket, " 25

M. II. Prescott, lamp mat, Acton, 25

H. G. Rice, sofa pillow, Acton, 25

Sarah C. Rice, slippers. Concord, 25

E. 15. French, quilt, Tewksbury, 50

Sarah M. Chapin, tidy, rug, &c., Concord, 25

E. AVheeler. 6 pair hose " 75

J. M. Smitli, wrought skii-t, " 1 00

Ann Hastings, 4 chairs and embroidery. Concord, 1 00

A. C. Brown, wrought collar, Framingham, 25

n. H. Hoar, under-sleeves. Concord, 25

S. C. Hastings, slippers, Concord, 25

M. J. Jones, embroidered slippers. Concord, 25

Harriet Heakl, embroidery, Carlisle, 50

John Br-jwn, hose and mitts. Concord, 50

Sarah C. Brown, picture-frame, &c.. Concord, 1 00

Matilda C. Brown, rigorlet, &c., Concord, 50

Miss Elizabeth Brown, rigorlet, &c.. Concord, 50

Miss Sarah W. Ilcywood, worsted hose. Concord, 50

Miss Margaret B. Rice, 1 chain, Concord, 1 00

Miss E. D. Church, wrought slippers. Concord, 25

Miss H. E. Cowdry, 1 shirt, Acton, 25

Miss Sarah A. HiUiiird, embroidered skirt, Acton, 50

Mrs. Jonas C. Hastings, embroidery and flowers. Concord, 1 00

J. Gleason, millinery, Concord, 2 00

R. H. Raymond, embroidered skirt, Littleton, 75

Amelia Johnson, wax flowers, Charleston, 1 00

Mrs. George Bingham, rug, Lowell, 1 00

Sarah E. Rice, fancy box. Concord, 25

Silas B. Wilde, specimen of printing. Concord, 1 00

Warren B. Ball, (lustre) Concord, 1 00

Susan B. Foster, quilt, Tewksbury, 50

APPLES AND PEARS.

James Eustis, South Reading, apples, $8 00

John B. Moore, Concord, apples, 6 00

W. F. Conant, Acton, apples, . 4 00

Asa Clement, Draeat, apples, 3 00

Robert Chal'fin, Acton, apples, 2 00

W. W. Wheildon, Concord, best single dish, 3 00

Converse Smith, Waltham, 2d " " 2 00

Charles E. Giles, Lincoln, 3d •' " 1 00

Ilovey & Co., Cambridge — pears, 6 varieties, 6 00

Josiah Stickney, Watertown, " " 4 00

Hovey. .& Co., Cambridge, best single dish, 4 00

A. G. Fay, C^ .noord, next best, 3 00

Josiah Stickney, Watertown, next, 2 00

David Loring, Concord, next, 1 00

VEGETABLES.

John B. Moore, Concord, $6 00

Nathan Barrett, " 5 00

C. B. Clark, " 4 00

Andrew V- eiliiigtiin, Lexington, 3 00

John Raynnldj, Concord, 2 00

James P. Brown, " 1 00

6. Bird, Framingham, 1 00
And sums of less than one dollar to twenty-tliree other per-
sons.

BLTCTER.
A. G. Sheldon, Wilmington, set of silver sjxions.

John Kimball, Littleton, $2 50

Sherebiah Spalding, Chelmsford, 2 00

Asa G. Sheldon, Wilmington, 1 50

Joshua Harnden, Billerica, 1 00

INVENTIONS.
Wheeler, Acton, washing machine, $3 00

Fo^ the New England Farmer.

HAWAIIAN AGRICULTURE.

Makawao Maui, Hawaiian Islands, \
June 19th, 1854. i

Editors of Farmer: — Gentlemen, — Iwroto jou
in January, giving you, if I rightly remember,
some items of a report which I last year sent
down to the chairman of the committee on wheat
raising. Another meeting of the Hawaiian Agri-
cultural Society has, I suppose, been held lately
at Honolulu, the metropolis of the islands. In
good time we may have an Agricultural Society
on Miiui. If so, you shall hear.

In the mean time, let me tell you of our labors,
and trials, and encouragements, in agricultural
pursuits in my own neighborhood, where more is
doing, I presume, than on all the islands besides.
I mean in labors strictly agricultural.

1. Labors. I think I have, in writing you, re-
marked on the seeming reluctance of most men
from foreign countries to engage in agricultural
pursuits. The passion for sudden riches has been
so strong ia the bosoms of ninc-tcntlis of these
men, that speculation, not manual lubor, has
been the order of the day. In raising wheat I
was nearly alone, so far as foreigners were con-
cerned, for several years; and but for the hope of
inducing the people to engage in this important
business, I might have abandoned it myself, as
my wheat cost me more than foreign flour. But
I was enabled to hold on through "■ good report
and evil report," and I am glad I did so, for I am
now able to report a great increase of labor be-
stowed on wheat raising.

Of some 3000 bushels of this grain raised in
1853, not less than 1000 were lost from inability
to thresh it, only one horse-power being in the
place till Rlarch. Of some 400 acres sown, 2 or
300 were lost by the cut worm, and chiefly owing
to late sowing. We have, then, about 1100 acres
of wheat in this and a neighboring district. It is
all in this neighborhood. Two or three hundred
acres have been harvested, and some of it threshed
and ground. You can see from this tliat there
must have been an increase of labor. I am happy
to say that this is true. As many as sixteen for-
eigners have this year engaged in the wheat rais-
ing business, and they have all done well, very
well indeed. Quite a number of Hawa,iians in
this neighborhood have raised wheat, and one of
them may have 1500 bushels. Just now native
men, women and children, arc busily engaged
reaping and binding. One or more has learned
to cradle, and others will soon learn. One of
Ilussey's reapers is marching through a wheat
field with a velocity which perfectly astounds the
natives — more, even, than did the execution of
the sickle ten years ago, which began there to
supersede the case-knife. So you'see the labors of
the husbandmen are increasing. I am not with-
out hope that it may, ere long, be as honorable
to raise wheat as it is to measure tape, or weigh
sugar and rice.

2. Trials. It would have been foolish in the
extreme to expect success in agriculture without
trials or drawbacks. They have not been greater
than with you, or than the trials connected
with the manufacture of sugar. One trial some
of my neighbors have experienced ; on finding
that wheat will not flourish on half cultiva-

, ted ground — that they cannot sow by the way-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

525

side, or among thorns, and after all gather an
hundred fold. I am not the man, however, who
regards this as a trial. It is a presumptuous
tempting of God to expect such a result from so
l^zy or earek'ss a method of doing business. I
used to hear, when a boy, the boast of a neighbor
that he had a corn-field which would grow without
hoeing. But he was a notorious lazy maif, and
his corn was not sought by other farmers for this
remarkable quality. When corn will grow and
fruitfully bring forth without being hoed, wheat
may grow on half-plowed land. I pity no man
who mourns over a stinted crop of grain cast on
untilled soil. 1 think the experiment will not
again be tried among us.

Our greatest trial in raising wheat is found in
the ravages of the cut worm and caterpillar. We
know not how to save our fields from the ravages
of these enemies. We cannot destroy them. We
cannot calculate when they will make their ap-
pearance. Nothing remains for us but to experi-
ment— to sow and plant, and if cut down, to sow
and plant again. About the first of April last, I
finished sowing wheat, two fields of twelve and
fifteen acres remaining, for which I had no seed
till this late day. One year I sowed all in April,
and lost none by the worm. This year I lost
nearly all of the 15 acre lot, and about a half of
the other. In May I sowed again, not much ex-
pecting any return, but doing so as an experi-
ment. On the one piece, the 15 acres, I lost all,
but saved two-thirds of the 12 acre piece — ^^that is,
it looks well at present and may do well. Jn
May also, finding the last sowing of wheat de-
stroyed, 1 planted the field with corn, and though
it came up well, yet there are scarcely fifty hills
remaining. I am about to replant it. Thus it is
with us from year to year. But for this trouble,
we could raise any thing in the shape of grain
•and vegetables. As it is, we are sadly tried, and
seldom have beans, or peas, or turnips, or beets,
or onions.

AYe apprehend something of a trial in reference
to a market, or I should have said, in reference to
the manufacture of our wheat and its sale. Here-
tofore we have had nothing but hand-mills, and
till quite lately no means of bolting. Now there
is erected a fine flouring mill ; but it is some 70
miles distant, instead of being at Wailuka, some
15 miles distant, in our own neighborhood. The
mill is owned Ijy a steam company, who invested
their money there rather than loan it at 12 per
cent. Of course, they desire to make moiv.:y
faster tlian by loaning at the above rate. In a
word, I regard the mill in the light of a specula-
tion. These men wlio comjwse the steam com-
pany flouring mill, may be no more eager for
money-making than other speculators at the
islands. I do not think them Vt'orse. But they
have this advantage — there is no competition in
this business. There is no other mill at tlie
islands. So that, for aught I see, they will have
the greater part of the wheat at their own price ;
■whereas, had we a mill at Wailuku, there would
be 60 much of a competition that the producers
of wheat would stand a much better chance to
do well in the sale of their grain. Do you eay,
let the owners of wheat hold on to it till a price
shall be offered that sliall divide the profits be-
tween the producers and the company'? Some
may be able to do so, and probably will, but the

majority cannot. There being no barns, and few
houses any thing better than grass ones, the na-
tives and most of the foreigners must sell, and
how they will succeed remains to be seen. It is a
great trial to be obhged to buy and sell where
there is no competition.

3. Encouragements to continue in agricultural
labors. 'Tis encouraging that the experiment
has been tried till all are satisfied that this region
is admirably adapted to tlie raising of wheat. So
also of corn and other vegetables. Almost any
thing, for that matter, if we can dodge the cut
worm. 'Tis encouraging to perceive that we can
raise cheap bread, so that should we be unable to
obtain the staS" of life from the uld homestead,
we can have a supply at our own doors. Indeed,
I hope tliat we shall be able to do this at any
rate, also to furnish whale s'lips and other vessels
with fresh and sweet flour, more conducive to
health than most which has hitherto been con-
sumed in the Pacific. To me it is, moreover,
very encouraging that thj raising of wheat is
awakening the Hawaiians to a sense of the im-
portance of industrious habits. This is a fact
which greatly cheers me ; and in the crop of
wheat now being harvested, especially the 200
acres belonging to the people, I am more than
rewarded for all the toil and sacrifice to which I
have submitted.

I hope, also, if spared to see greater improve-
ments than these, wheat raising will doubtless go
ahead. I shall not need to say more on the sub-
ject of raising this grain. 1 think my people will
sow at least 500 acres the coming year. I hear it
said, by some of the foreigners, that 5,000 acres
will be sown in this vicinity. I doubt this some-
what. But wheat will be both plenty and cheap.
But I want to see more variety. I want to see
small farms, and each sowed to wheat, oats and
l)arley ; planted with coins and beans ; with
Irish and sweet potatoes ; and adorned with a
vegetable garden, wherein shall be found beets,
onions, cabbages, melons, squashes, cucumbers,
&c. &c. If I am spared, T mean to try my hand,
though 'tis a maimed one, in this line. And, as
you kindly suggested sending me something in
the book line that miglit aid mo, though nothing
has yet reached me, may I ask you to send me
fresh seed of various kinds, put up in the best
style? I have some fears that nothing sent round
the Cape will do well, tliougli I may Ije mistaken.
Judge Lee last year received from Mr. Johnson,
of the New York Agricultural Society, a large
number of specimen wheat, oats and barley, but
scarcely a seed came up — not Ijccause they were
[ilanted late, but because tliey had no germina-
ting quality. I'lease think of me and my people,
and, if consistent, send sometiiing of tlie kind ;
so of any book which you can spare.

Anotlier thing — the cut worm. Can ^'ou help
us to destroy this enemy of all Hawaiian cultiva-
tion'? The man who can help us to eradicate
this worm, or destroy its eggs, will do us the
greatest of earthly favors. Perhaps you have
some book which treats of insects, and the means
to save crops from their ravages. But for this
one drawback, the cut worm and caterpillar, I
see not why we could not raise any thing we need
for our comfort, both tropical and temperate pro-
ductions. Nothing that we have tried seems to
'make the least impression upon them. Lime

526

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

ashes, snuif, tobacco, all are alike ineflScacious.
If spared, I will, by and by, send you a drawing
of the worm, and such description as I can give.

I find that we can preserve wheat, after thresh-
ino", from the ivcevil in a good degree. In No-
vember last I procured the threshing of some 340
bushels of wheat. This had been stacked two
months or more ; consequently, some of the out-
ward bundles, having been wet with the fall rains,
contained a few weevils. I threw a cart load of
this grain on to the floor of a room, say 24 feet
by 18 ; I then scattered over this two or three
shovels of air-slacked lime, and mixed it well,
then turned in another load and repeated the lime.
It kept admirably, and I think the lime a pre-
servative.

Glad to see that you get on so well in New
England in the matter of agriculture. Dear old
New England, land of my birth, of my childhood
and youth ! Greatly do I desire thy prosperity.
Well may thy sons be thankful that they were
born and cradled among thy hills, instead of first
breathing the balmy air of a Southern climate
If I have any hardness, any thing like endurance
I owe it, under God, to having felt the bracing
atmosphere of the north, and to having become
inured to the tug of labor on the hill sides and in
the valleys of Vermont. The Lord greatly bless
all who still dwell in that goodly land. May He
make you all intelligent, industrious, humble and
holy men and women. And while you all rejoice
in the boon of holy freedom, may you pity, pray
and labor for all who groan in bondage, or who
are the alaves of superstition and sin. While
you labor to make the fields of New England
"laugh with abundance," toil also as you are
able to hasten the time when this earth shall
exult to see its thirsty cause repealed, till

"The various seasons, woven into one,
And that one season an eternal Spring,
The garden feai's no blight and needs no fence,
For there Is none to covet — all are full."

Yours truly, J. S. Green.

Remarks. — It seems that early sowing prevented
the ravages of the weevil. If so, why not pursue
that practice ? Have you tried salt ? AVe will
improve the earliest opportunity to send you ag'
ricultural books, but cannot send seeds.

For the New England Farmer.

BACHELORS BADLY BERATED.

Friend Brown : — Another interesting and read'
able article from "A. G. C," up there where
great men are raised. I have more than once been
amused and instructed by the wise and witty
writings of the above clever correspondent, but in
his last article he gave poor old bachelors such a
powerful pestling, that, thinking possibly none
had survived the chastisement, I thought I would
volunteer a word in defence of the defunct order
of superannuated simpletons.

Who was ever so wild in his imaginations as to
suppose that flowers ever did or could bloom in
an old bachelor's garden 1 Notwithstanding
Whittier, freedom's l)achelor bard, scatters around
the hearthstmies of American farmers and free-
men the rich wreaths of poesy, the beauty of
which will never flide, and the sweet spirit of
which will never die. Who was ever so simple as

to look for fair fruit in the bachelor's bower,
when the bachelor blacksmith Burritt is devoting
the energies of an earnest life in sowing the heav-
enly seeds of peace and human brotherhood
throughout the nations of the world, which will
yet fructify and yield the sweetest and most joy-
ful fruits that the human heart can contain.
Whenever superstitiously supposed that a bewil-
dered bachelor was competent to take proper care
of cattle, horses, hogs and hens, Avhile Sumner,
New England's orator and brow-beaten bachelor,
is watching with vigilant eye the sacred interests
of men with immortal destinies veiled in the fear-
ful future ; and his eloquent tongue pleads pow-
erfully in behalf of the downtrodden, the destitute
and forsaken fathers, the mourning mothers, and
crying children, the victims of man's inhumanity
to his brother man ? In short, what Yankee ever
gravely guessed that a man could fulfil the true
destiny of life and his being, unless he had a wife
to boil his broth and sew on his shirt buttons !

BUCKWHEAT.

A few days since we paid 02^ cents for a bag of
Buckwheat flour which contained but 10 lbs. ,
and we can seldom obtain a really good article at
a much lower price. The reason for this high price
is that there is a short supply, as there has been
for some years past. Since the recent, introduc-
tion of improved mills for hulling and grinding
this grain, its use has greatly extended, and will
continue to extend, and we think that we may
put buckwheat down as one of the most remuner-
ating crops that can be raised by the farmer. It
is easily cultivated, and it is not yet too late to
sow it with a prospect of a good yield. It may
even be sown as late as July 4th, in this latitude,
though earlier is preferable. The following is
from the Maine Farmer, published several de-
grees north of New York :

"It has been said that buckwheat held the
same position among grains, that the donkey
does among animals — useful, but not popular.
There are two varieties of buckwheat cultivated
in Maine. The smooth common buckwheat, and
the rough tartarean buckwheat. This last-namtd
is much cultivated in Aroostook County, and in
the adjoining province of New Brunswick. It is
much used there for feeding swine and poultry ;
and all their mills have apparatus for separating
the hull from the flour, when they grind it. It
is also used for making buckwheat cakes for the
table, which when eaten warm, and well coated
with maple molasses, are very excellent.

This rough buckwheat was introduced into
Kennebec County some fifteen years ago, under
the name of Indian wheat, and cultivated more
or less by some of our farmers, but it was not
very highly ajipi-eciated by them, and it was
gradually laid aside, and we do not know of any
of it being raised here now. We have seen some
exceedingly fat pork, which was fed upon noth-
ing but the meal made from this species of buck-
wheat.

Either of the varieties are profitable, and should
be more cultivated among us than they are.
They need not be put in very early — indeed it has
been found that if sown too early, it does not
yield so great a crop as if sown later.

From the middle of June to the fourth of

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

527

July, is sufiBciently early. We have harvested a
good crop of buckwheat in just two months from
the day it was sowed. This is getting along pret-
by fast, but it is best to cut it soon after the kernel
begins to change color, and then by trussing it up I signed,
into small heaps, let it lay and ripen. In this cultural
manner, a greater amount of grain is obtained, for
the grains which ripen first would shatter out
while harvesting, if suiFered to remain until the
whole were ripe, before being cut. When cut some-
what green, and properly cured, we have found
that horses would eat the whole, as readily as
they would clover.

We have also found that it made a good fall
pasture for hens. By sowing a field of it, and
after letting it get sufficiently ripe, cutting it and
letting it lie sometime to mature fully, and then
turning the hens in, they will do the harvesting
or threshing for themselves. They will pick upon
it until snow comes, and get very fat without
much trouble from you.

When threshed and cleaned, buckwheat also
makes good feed for poultry in the winter.
The flour of buckwheat sells as readily as any
other flour, and large quantities of it are
brought into Maine, in small casks, from New
York, and sold to us, when we might raise enough
of it in Maine to supply the Union.

For the New England Farmer.

APPLES, &c., IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Dear Sirs : — Enclosed I send you $2.50, for
which please send me a copy of your interesting
and valuable paper — the A'. E. Farmer. I like
it for its variety, its moral tone, and its indepen-
dence.

Can scions be sent here in order ] But few ap-
ples are raised here and those are srnall, and of in-
ferior quality ; yet they make us think of New
England orchards ; and we wish that California
might have such. Large apples are selling at
stands at $1 each.

What is considered the best breed of cows for
raising milk ? Milk sells here at from 3 bits (37i
cts.) to,$l per gallon.

What is the price of yearling bulls 1 and what
is the best breed for milk ranches 1

A. B. FiFIELD.

San Francisco, California, Sept. IG, 1854.

Remarks. — We think scions properly packed,
might reach San Francisco in condition to grow.

The general opinion with our people is not fixed
upon any one particular breed of cows, as more
excellent than any other, for the production of
milk. Some of our common breed have proved as
good as any ; we have known a mixture of the
Durham with the common mixed breeds to pro
duce large quantities of excellent milk, and so oi
other mixtures. You must begin at once and
breed cows to suit yourself, by selecting those pos'
eessing the finest points. Select the bull, also,
with equal care. Sufier no crossing as far as
your experiments go. Keep the heifer in calf for
the first time by a Durham bull, ever after to the
same animal, and eo of those that go to a Devon,
Ayrshire or Aldcrney. In this way you will
soon be able to make just what you want.

THE HORTICULTURIST.

We have 1)een pained upon perusing an article
in the October number of the Horticulturist,
'A Member of the Massachusetts Horti-
Society.'^ The writer's cheek should
tingle with shame upon reading his production.
It seems to us to have been conceived not only in
a vindictive, but in a malignant spirit ; a spirit
and expression more becoming drabs of the " Five
Points," than a sober and dignified member of
the " Massachusetts Horticultural Society." It
has been pleasant to us to notice so little of this
pot-house valor in our agricultural journals,
and we had hoped that the whole vocabulary of
low and vituperative terms would be left to
trading politicians, and those who dabble with
them for a little political profit or power. The
wholesome teachings of our beautiful art can
have had but small influence over a heart capable
of uttering so many base and vulgar conceptions,
upon so trifling a provocation, if, indeed, there
were any at all. In admitting such an article
into his columns, Mr. Barry has greatly erred in
judgment, and tarnished the fair fame of his
useful and influential journal. We know not
who the writer of the disgraceful article is, but
if he were our own brother, our rebuke should
not be spared.

HOW TO SAVE TOP ONIONS.

The top-onions should be gatliered as soon as
they are ripe. They are ripe when the top falls
down and becomes wilted. When you cut off the
top from the onion, if the juice starts in little
drops, the onion was not ripe, and would have
grown more. If they are suffered to stand long
after they are ripe, they will begin to grow again,
burst open and divide. New roots will start out,
and on pulling, the onion will cling. These roots
are sapping the onion, which, together with a
new top, will spoil the plant. If you should cook
such an onion, you would say it is strong, dry
and tough. Whereas, if gathered at the right
time, they are very juicy, sweet and tender. I
would gather them in a dry day, uud carry them
into a chamber where they should lie until cold
weather, when they should bo removed to the
cellar, and laid in a cool but dry place. If they
lie on the ground they will acquire moisture and
spoil.

The top-onion seed should also be spread in a
dry place until freezing weather is coming. Then'
they should be put up in bags, and lumg in a
cool, dry part of the cellar. Wo liave already
commenced gathering, and have laid up about
forty l)ushcl8, some of the ground yielding at the
rate of seven hundred bushrls to Iho acre. A
neighbor of mine, this year raised at the rate of
eight hundred bushels to the acre, and many a
one of them measured more than a foot in cir-
cumference. Ilis rows on the bed were one foot
apart. He might just as well have added one
row to every two, without any injury to their
growth.

It should be borne in miud by those wlio would

528

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

raise this vegetable, that the two reasons for rais-
ing the TOP-OMONs are, first, that they almost
always escape maggots, and they should bo set
out early. Tlieii the onion gets a start of all the
■weeds, and of the maggot-fly, and arc a sure crop.
1 have raised them over twenty years, and have
never failed. — Cor. of (he Middlebury {Vt.) Reg.

of Mr. Secretary Flint, this business is carried on
extensively. I know of no one who has succeed-
ed so well, for several years in succession, in the
County of Essex, as Mr. E. Needham of Dan-
vers. p.

October 9lh, 1854.

WEATHER VANE.

The VTeatlier Vane placed on the carriage-
house or barn, not only indicates the direction of
the wind, but is really ornamental. They are
sometimes in the form of a horse, an ox, a fish or
an arrow, and may lie procured at prices varying
from two or three dollars to twenty-five.

Foi- the XcwJ^ngland Farmer.

CRANBERRIES ON UPLANDS.

I was passing by Mr. Ncedham's cranberry
patch, this afternoon, and inquired the result of his
culture the present season. lie informed me that
he has gathered 83 bushels on one hundred rods
of land, all of which had sold readily at three
dollars or more per bushel. In consequence of
the drought the berries were not so largo as they
otherwise would have been. He thinks several
bushels more can be gathered ; and has no doubt,
with a fii'iv season for moisture, the crop would
have equalled a bushel to a square rod. His vines
appear to be in fine condition, and he is satisfied
to continfie and extend the culture of the cran-
berry. On the Capo, it appears by the statements

PHOSPHATE OF LIME.

This substance, commonly called bone-earth,
because a constituent of the inorganic substance
of animals, is now receiving a large share of at-
tention from Agriculturists, as affording the
cheipest and best fertilizing agent for plants —
particularly the grains, beans, peas, and lintils.
Within a few years it has become an article of
commerce, under the name of Guano, the excre-
ment of innumerable flocks of birds ; and more re-
cently, by the name Super-Phosphate of Lime, be-
ing either a pure phosphate of lime, or an admix-
ture of this substance with other agents, as ex-
perience has proved necessary. A soil, totally
deficient in lime, would not produce these plants
above-mentioned; and consequently we find the
lime is as indispensable to the life of many plants,
as common salt is for that of animals. Phos-
phate of Lime (Phosphoric acid and lime) is now
being manufactured on a large scale in New Jer-
sey, under the supervision of Prof. Mapes, and is
put up in various quantities for the market ; and,
as we learn by an advertisement in the Worlung
Farmer, is aflbrded at the rate of $50 for the ton
of 2000 lbs., being much less than the price at
which it can be manufactured by individuals for
their use.

Prof. Mapes says in the September number: —
"We have applied it to one field, on which are
planted 60,000 cabbages, all of which are in a
most flourishing condition, and fully equal those
raised in the richest and oldest soil. This field
was plowed in June, being the first time for many
years. It was an old pasture, overrun with weeds
and foul grasses and entirely out of heart. We
applied 250 lbs. broadcast per acre of the Im-
proved Super-phosphate of Lime, and after put-
ting out the plants, at the first hoeing gave 250
lbs. more, making in all 500 lbs. at the cost of
$12,50 per acre, and we state confidently that
this will give twelve thousand merchantable cab-
bages per acre.

Those who have used the manure on grass,
wheat, corn, &c., are more than delighted with
its eflects, while for turnips the results are still
more wonderful. It hvirries their growth so rap-
idly, as to force them bej-ond the fly and ensure
their perfection at an early date." — Farmer and
Mechanic.

Agricultural Implemkxts. — ^IVe notice that
the committee on Agricultural Implements, in
the Norfolk County Society, awarded for the best
and largest assortment of Agricultural imple-
ments, to Henry Partridge, Jr., of Medfield, $15.
For the best specimen of Agricultural Implements,
manufactured in the county, to the same, Ist'pre-
mium of $6.

m^ Nothing begets confidence sooner than
punctuality. Nothing so well becomes true fem-
inine beauty as simplicity.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

529

TOLMAN'S SWEETING.

Sweet applos are fast becoming more highly
valued than they have been heretofore, both for
the table, and as food for swine and milch cows.
A great many experiments have been made with
them in feeding these animals, and have resulted
favorably. Boiled with pumpkins and mixed
with meal, they are excellent in fattening swine.
Fed judiciously to milch cows, they increase the

milk, and keep the animalin a healthy condition.
Some persons value them as highly as they do
carrots for horses ; we know that horses are
fond of them, and see no reason why they may
not be profitably raised for that use.

The sweeting figured above, according to Down-
ing's account of it, is scarcely second-rate as a ta-
ble fruit, but it is one of the most popular of the
orchard sorts, from its great productiveness, its

value as food for swine and cattle, as well as for
baking. From nearly globular. Skin, when fully
ripe, whitish yellow, with a soft blush on one
side. Stalk rather long and slender, Inclining to
one side, and inserted in a rather wide, shallow,
but regular cavity. Calyx set in a small basin,
slightly depressed. Flesh quite white, rather
firm, fine-grained, with a rich, sweet flavor. No-
vember to April. This fruit, a native of Rhode
Island, considerably resembles the Danvers' Win-
ter Sweet of this State.

OxEOFTiiE Horses. — "The Yankee Horse-Swap-
per in Old Kentucky" must have been put into
the "Drawer" with some ultimate design upon
the risibles of the readers of its multifarious con-
tents :

The Kentuckian, ready for a trade, exchanges
his "Sorrel" for the pedler's "Old Grey:" but
finding the latter indisposed to move a peg after
he has secured him, he denounces the Yankee as
a swindler, who only laughs at and tantalizes him
in return.

Presently the cute pedler mounts his prize,
but "Sorrel" is as immovable as the Mammoth
Cave. After trying a long time in vain to start
the obstinate animal, the Kentuckian console?
him with :

"Stranger, you hn start him, ef you'll only
bring some shavin's and kindle a fire under him I
That's the way I get him going in the morn-
ings ! "

For the yew England Farmtr.

THE ONE ACRE FARM.

OR, CURE rOR HARD TIMES.
BY ICHAEOD HOE.

"How much land have you got here in your lot,
Mr. Briggs?"

"I have one acre."

"One acre! and here you are taking the New
England Farmer, the Cultivator, Hov€i/''s Maga-
zine and the Hortipilturist, and all because you
have one acre of ground ! How many such pa-
pers would you have to take if you had a hundred
acres?"

"I shouldn't probably need any more than I
take now ; you know, Mr. Chapman, one can 'go
through with all the motions' on one acre as well
as on a hundred."

"A man can throw away money without any,
if he has a mind to. For all the good you get
from such periodicals, you might as well, proba-
bly, throw the money they cost into the fire ; they
are nothing but humbugs."

"I pay two dollars for the New England Far-
mer, one dollar for the Cultivator, three dollars
for the Horticulturist , and two dollars for Hovei/s
Magazine — in all eight dollars."

"Eight dollars! cnongli to buy a 'tip-top'
barrel of flour, and a leg of bacon ; and then if
you read these periodicals, there is twice the
amount of the money spent in time reading
them."

"I do usually read or hear read, almost eyery
word there is in them ; my boys and I take turaa

530

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

,in reading, and one reads aloud while the rest
•work."

"Complete nonsense! no_ wonder your shop
don't turn out any more boots in a day, than it
does!"

"Perhaps we don't do as great days' works,
some days, as some of our neighbors, but I guess
that in the course of the year, we turn out as
many according to the hands at work, as most
do."

"I suppose it is out of these publications you
get your foolish notions about so many kinds of
fruit trees. One of my boys came home a while
ago, and said JMr. Briggs had got lots and lots of
fruit trees and such things, that cost, 1 don't
know how much, and wanted me to buy some
grape vines, pear trees, and so on. I told him it
was all foolishness and not to let me hear him say
anything about spending money so foolishly. You
have, I dare say, laid out ten or fifteen dollars,
this spring."

"Yes nearly as much again ; I have laid out
twenty-five dollars for trees and garden fruits."

"Twenty-five dollars ! T wonder you are not on
the town, or in jail at least, before now."

"I'm not afraid of either; I'll bet you the
twenty-five dollars, I'll sell you that amount of
fruit from those things for which I paid the
twenty-five dollars, in five years !"

"Done ! I'll stand you ; so your trees will
cost you fifty dollars sure, in money, besides the
time thrown away in setting them out and taking
care of them." •

"As for the time spent in setting them out, or
taking care of them, it is as good exercise as play-
ing ball, wicket, or anything else. While we
were setting them out, one of your boys came to
get my boys to go over to Mr. Moody's, where he
said was to be a great time playing ball ; and I
have no doubt, your boys spend just as much time
playing, as mine do with our trees and so forth ;
and then something is done, but in playing, the
strength is all laid out for nothing."

"Well, it don't cost anything to play ball, but
trees cost money."

The foregoing conversation occurred in the
shop between two neighbors, both boot-makers,
in a town not more than thirty miles from Bos-
ton. "

Mr. Briggs, in whose shop the conversation
took place, was a man of more than ordinary in-
telligence for one of his advantages and circum-
stances in life. He had been a poor boy, and by
industry, observation and economy, had worked
his way on in life and reared and well educated a
family of children, \vho,lik6 himself, were industri-
ous and i^teady. For the few years past, he had
become interested in horticulture, and both for ex-
ercise and amusement, had turned his attention to
cultivating his "one acre farm." His attention
was first called to this, by means of a "back num-
ber" of the Nciv England Farmer which was put
round some things bought at the store. Mr.
Briggs found this so interesting, that he purchased
another number at the periodical depot, and then
he became a "regular subscriber." His sons soon
became interested in the same direction, and the
interest of the father and sons increased to the
pitch indicated in the foregoing conversation.

In time, every inch of that aero of ground was
"brought under the spade," and almost every

"best" variety of fruits had a place there, and the
father and sons found pleasure and profit in the
garden after being cooped up in the shop till the
"stent" was done, and the exercise was far more
profitable than the spasmodic, violent exercise tak-
en rn games.

Mr. Chapman, the other neighbor, was a man
of the "common stamp." He looked upon every-
thing new or uncommon as "folly'' and "non-
sense" and was ready to sneer at every one who
stepped aside from the common track. It looked
simply silly to him, to see a man stay at home
from "muster" or "training" or "shows" and
spend his time in cultivating a garden ; or, in-
stead of loitering away the evening at the store,
smoking, and hearing or telling a deal of nothing
or worse, to spend the evenings at home, reading
such "nonsense" as the Farmer and Horticultur-
ist affords.

Years pass and Mr. Briggs' "one acre farm"
shows that he and his boys have not read "the
papers" in vain. They had learned how to "set
out" a tree, and how to "take care" of it after
it was set out. Everything showed it received
the right kind of food and care, and straightway
began to bring forth fruits meet for good cultiva-
tion. In a short time the wants of the family were
more than supplied, and the surplus found a ready
market with the neighbors at good prices.

Those early apples so rich and tempting, when
all other apples were so green and hard ! and then
such pears; they went as fast as the sun and
house could ripen them, at three, four, or five
cents apiece. Then such clusters of rich, ripe
grapes — too tempting for the coldest to pass with-
out a watering mouth. Mr. Chapman's family
were among the best customers for the tempting
fruit — first having learned their excellence by the
liberality of Mr. Briggs, who never failed to send
a specimen of his best to his neighbor.

The fifth season came. It was a fruitful year.
Apple, pear, peach, plum, and all other trees,
were loaded with fruit. Keeping in mind his
conversation with Mr. Chapman, Mr. Briggs had
directed his family to set down every cent's worth
of fruit sold to Mr. Chapman or his family. This
year, as it happened, was a year of "extreme
hard times." The boot business was at its lowest
ebb ; little work and very low wages — and yet
the prices of every kind of provisions up to the
"highest notch," and money extremely "tight."

But there was one family that did not seem to
be in the least afiected by the hard times, low
prices of labor, high prices of provisions, or the
scarcity of money ; Mr. Briggs and his two oldest
sons, all of them had a little "spare change" to
let on short time "with interest" to their needy
neighbors.

One day Mr. Chapman, who was short, applied
to Mr. Briggs for a "half" for a "quarter,"
meaning fifty dollars for three months.

"Yes," said Mr. Briggs, "I have a 'half or a
'whole,' just as you like."

"What, a hundred dollars by you these times !
I don't see how it comes. You and your boys
don't work any harder than I and my boys do,
and we can hardly get along ; we are as saving
and pinching as can be, too ; 'times are so dread-
ful hard,' and everything a family has to buy is
so dreadful high, and wages so low ; potatoes, a
dollar a bushel, beef, fifteen cents a pound, pork,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

531

sixteen cents, eggs, twenty-five cents a dozen,
and flour, ten or twelve dollars a barrel ! How
can a man live ■! ' '

"It wont be hardly fair for me to ask you
for that twenty-fivo dollars, now, will it?"

"Twenty-five dollars ! What do you mean? I
don't understand you !"

"Don't you recollect wo have a bet between us
about the price of some fruit trees I bought five
years ago next spring?"

"Ah, I do remember something about it. You
were to give me twenty-five dollars if you didn't
get your twenty-five dollars back from me for the
products of those trees and things ! It will come
very handy just now."

"Don't be too fast, neighbor! I am afraid it
wont 'come very handy just now.' That was what
I was dunning you for, that twenty -five dollars !"

"What ! you don't pretend to say we have had
twenty-five dollars worth of stuff from your gar-
den."

"iNIorc than that from that very twenty-five
dollars' worth of trees and other things ! Here
is an account of everything you have bought and
paid for ; of course, it don't include what I have
sent you, gratis."

"And you have certainly not been stingy.
Why, this bill amounts to thirty-seven dollars ! it
is not possible!"

"It is just so ; you have had over twenty bush-
els of apples, and throe bushels of pears, and those
alone come to twenty-five dollars."

"I own up the "^corn ;' draw the note for sev-
enty-five."

"No, I guess we will let that twentj^-five go.
I only mention it to show you that there may be
good sense in new things, sometimes. Now I will
bet the twenty-five dollars over again, that my
6toi"C-bill has not been, the past season, half as
large as yours, though I have had one the more in
my family."

"If I had not been so badly taken in before, I
would stand you ; but I guess it wont be safe."

"We have raised our own potatoes, corn, peas,
beans, and all other garden vegetables. Our eggs
are always fresh and in abundance from the nest ;
and for more than two years we have not been
without ripe fresh fruit."

"How can that be?"'

"Well, by the first of June we have strawber-
ries ripe, and soon after, cherries ; then raspber-
ries, currants, goosebcrries,and so forth ; and long
l>efore these arc gone, the early apples, pears and
peaches; then, grapes, later pears and apples;
and these continue all winter, and apples till July,
when the early fruits again connect the luscious
circle !"

"Well, I declare, that is something I never
thought of; but it takes so much time and both-
er to get these things started — tlien it is an ever-
lasting job to take care of them."

"It needs no more time and money than you
throw away on things that amount to nothing
at all, and with abundance of fruit, you save the
expense of a heavy meat bill,wliich is not healthy
in hot weather. No doctor has l)een called to
step foot iuto my door for over four years past !
Fresh, ripe fruits are sure remedies for all ail-
ments, and they are not liard to take."

Mr. Chapman put the "fifty" into his "weascl-
skin," and loft witha "flea in his ear."

A. B. B.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

EXI'ERIMENT IX HARKING A TREE.

Mr. Brown : — I give you the result of an ex-
periment of cutting away the bark around the
limb of a large old api^le tree, as recommended, I
think, in your paper, five years ago, 18-19. I then
cut the bank twice around the limb \ inch apart,
taking away the bark. The result was, the first
year after, tliat limb bore fruit, wliilst the rest of
the tree did not ; it bore three successive years,
failed last year, and died this.

John M. Merrill.

Bristol, N. i/.,1854.

ICE HOUSES OLD PASTURES.

Mr. Editor :-^I wish to inquire through the
medium of your valuable paper, in regard to the
best method of constructing ice houses. I wish
to keep ice the year round, or without fail until
the first of October, and have not yet been able.

How should an ice house be constructed, and
what of?

What should be its situation in regard to other
buildings ?

You will confer a favor upon an old subscri-
ber by giving full information on this point, as I
consider ice of great use in the management of a
dairy.

What is the best method of reclaiming old pas-
tures ? whether by top dressing or otherwise 1

Cheshire Co., Oct. 6, 1854. t.

Remarks. — In vol. 3d of the Netu England
Farmer for 1851, at pages 25 and 388, may be
found particular directions for the construction of
ice houses. AVill Mr. L. IIurlbut, of Winches-
ter, Conn., be kind enough to send us an account
of one which he has constructed and tested?

In vol. 4 of the Farmer, pages 305 and 446,
the subject of reclaiming old pastures is thor-
oughly discussed, and all that we could well say
about them may be found there.

ftler's butter-working churn.

Mr. Farmer : — I was at the New Hampshire
State Fair, at Keene, and was well i:ilcased with
many things, but saw nothing that attracted more
attention than about 15 lbs. of butter in the Me-
chanics' Hall, standing in one of Fylcr's butter-
working churns, made by Hall & Holmes of Brat-
tleboro', Vt. The butter was all worked, salted
and rolled in two rolls in the churn, without being
touched with the hands. It was well done and of
excellent quality, as hundreds can testify, and I
am informed it was all completed in 17 minutes.
I am glad to learn that the Committee awarded
all to the proprietors, that tlie rules of the Socie-
ty would permit. I mention this fixet because I
have used one of these churns in my dairy during
the past season, and know them to be all they aro
recommended, which is not common in these
days. A New Engl^vnd Far.mer.

VValpolc, N. H., 1854.

green gage plum trees — climbing roses — GRAV-
ELLY LAND.

Mr. Brown : — Will you inform mo at what
price I can procure grafted, well-formed and
thrifty Green Gage plum trees, of throe years'
growth? (a.)

532

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Nov.

Also, what you consider the choicest variety of
Climbing Rose, and at what price I can procure
a stock of the same suitable to transplant. By
the choicest variety, I mean a high climber, and
one whose flowers surpass all others in fulness of
leaf, beauty and brilliancy of color? {b.)

What can I do with a little stony patch of
land I have, covered with the plant known only
to me as the indestructible "House-leek." Not
a fig do I care for the stony patch, but they so
disfigure my premises, and trouble my vision, I
would they were away, (c.)

Respectfully,

Leverett, Mass., Sept. 26, 1854. s. w. b.

Remarks. — {a.) The price of such plum trees
as you want may range from 50 cents to $1.

(h.) There are a hundred varieties of climbing
roses, at least. The one which we should select,
might appear indifferent to you. There is a lai-ge
variety of the Prairie climbers ; also of the Multi-
Sora, Hybrid, Evergreen, Boursault, and Ayr-
shire. The few kinds common about our dwell-
ings, (and these perhaps are as good as any,) are,
among the Prairies, the Baltimore Belle, and
Queen of the Prairies ; among the Multifloras,
the, Alba, or White, and the Fragrans ; and in the
Boursault, the Red, which is half double, and an-
other which is red and white. But to answer
your question more directly, if you desire but one,
take the Jlichigan, or as it is called, the Queen of
the Prairie. This rose is remarkable for its per-
fectly hardy growth, flourishing equally as well
in Canada at the North, and in Texas at the
South. It grows with great rapidity, exceeding
all other roses of this family, covering an entire
arbor in a short space of time. It blooms, also,
after most other summer roses are gone, its flowers
occurring in large clusters of difierent shades.

(c.) Cover your gravelly patch with meadow
mud and manure, and plow in — then in the
spring sow clover or buckwheat, and when in
bloom plow that in. Repeat this operation two
or three times, then plow deep, manure highly,
and lay down to grass. In two or three years
you will get a lawn, by mowing frequently,
which is more ornamental than any other one
thing about the house.

SCURVY PIGS.

5Ir. Editor : — As you are so liberal in answer-
ing the inquiries of the inexperienced, I should be
glad to be informed through the columns of your
paper, of some way to remove scurvy from pigs
badly diseased in that way.

An Inexperienced Farmer.

Wayland, Sept. 30.

Remarks. — Wash them clean, and rub slightly
with buttermilk or grease; give them a dry bed,
always in a warm place, and plenty of wholesome
food. We never saw a pig yet so incorrigible
as to withstand this treatment, and keep scurvy
lonx.

HOW SHALL I START FOREST TREES?

Mr. Editor : — I have a piece of old, clean
ground, that I think would grow pine timber
well if I could get it started from the seed. Will
you or some of your correspondents who may
know, inform me through your paper how to
proceed in procuring the seed, planting, and after
management, and oblige c. w.

Johnson, Vt., 1854.

Remarks. — Some of the experienced will please
reply.

SOWING CLOVER SEED.

Friend Brown : — I wish to inquire through the
Farmer, respecting sowing clover seed. I have
seeded eight acres of good land with herds grass,
sowing in September ; now can I sow clover early
in the spring upon this seeding with advantage
to the first crop of hay ?

Fall seeding is a "book notion" in this commu-
nity. Any information upon the subject will
oblige others as well as myself.

Brandon, Vt.,lii54:. E. M. Smith.

Remarks. — Sow five or six pounds of clover seed
to the acre on the snow late in March. You can
sec the seed on the snow, and will be able to sow
it quite even.

warts on CATTLE.

Mr. Editor : — I should be glad to receive as
soon as convenient, an answer to these two inqui-
ries which I wish to make in your columns.

1. What is the cause of warts on cattle?

2. What is the remedy ?

I have two beautiful heifers whose milk veins
are entirely covered with what I suppose to be
warts, and the same have made their appearance
nearly all over the surface of the belly, and also
upon the udder. A part of them might be re-
moved with a knife, but a larger part of them
cover much surface while they project but slight-
A few years ago, these same kind of warts so
troubled one of my heifers that 1 was obliged to
kill her, and if you can give a cause and a cure
ior this disease you will do a great favor to your
reader. e. p. b.

Dedham, Oct., 1854.

Remarks. — The cause of warts on cattle is not
clearly known — perhaps it is the want of proper
action in the skin. The knife should not be used,
only to pare them slightly before applying the
cautery. A pencil of the nitrate of silver touched
to them daily, for several days, will often disperse
them. We have found homoeopathic treatment
highly successful with horses and cattle. For dry
warts give dulcamara, and in some cases sulphur ;
for ulcerated warts, arsenicum.

A REMEDY FOR MAGGOTS IN ONIONS.

When the onions are first afiected, sprinkle
them with ley made of ashes ; about half as
strong as is commonly used for soap. It has been
found very efiectual.

Origin of the Potato. — So far as is known,
the root is indigenous to this country, whence it

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

533

■was carried to England, in 1586, by Sii* Walter
Kaleigh, and planted in his garden. Not being
sufficiently acquainted with the plant, he 'was
near consigning it to destruction in consequence
of finding the potato apple, or fruit of the
plant, bitter and unpalatable, and it was in dig-
ging them up that the edible potato was discov-
ered. The plant throve rapidly in the British
Isles, but especially in Ireland. The potato al-
luded to in Shakspeare, as being common in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth, was the convolvolus
batata, of which Burnett says : — "Not only were
its tender roots, and young leaves and shoots,
eaten as pot-herbs, but they were candied, and
made into various sweet-meats."

now imported. My advice to the farmer then is
to begin at home. J. L. Edgerton. Georgia,
Vt. — Country Gentleman.

DOMESTIC GUANO.

Editors of Cocntrt Gentlemen : — I wish to
say a few things more about guano. 1 suppose
the present annual importation of guano into the
United States will not fall much short of two hun-
dred thousand tons, at an expense of at least ten
million of dollars. Think of that, gentlemen far-
mers, ten million of dollars annually exported
from the United States for foreign manures. But
this two hundred thousand tons, imported into
the United States, is but a mere mite of what is
demanded by the American farmers. Probably
not one fixrmer in 100,000 is supplied from this
source. But, if these numbers startle you, then
take the least possible computation that facts will
allow, and say that we need one thousand times
more instead of one hundred thousand, to supply
the present demand, and then it will require two
hundred million tons, at an expense of ten or
twelve thousand million of dollars. These figures,
gentlemen, will alarm you ; but be assured it is
no fanciful sketch. Let all the American farmers
be supplied with foreign manures according to
their necessities, as the privileged farmers are,
and more than this would be realized. But what
are the American farmers to do ? The entire
lands of the entire country are rapidly deprecia-
ting in fertility. To crop them as the farmers
now do is a ruinous course. But to buy foreign
manures would only end in national bankruptcy.
Come, now, let us reason together on the sub-
ject, and see what can be done. Every family of
four persons, might with no trouble or expense,
except to keep neat and clean about the house,
manufiicturc one ton of guano. The excrement
of the family, together with tlie dirty slop, now
all wasted, would more than make one ton,
whether we regard the quantity or quality of the
material. But, if we include in this account, all
the materials necessary to absorb all the licjuid,
the amount would be swelled to two tons, even to
every family of four persons. But, if we take
the lowest estimate, eight hundred tliousand per-
sons might make annually from their own house,
two hundred thousand tous of guano, a sum equal
to all that is now imported into the United States,
at an expense of some ten or twelve millions ol
dollars. And the excrement of one hog, a cow
and a horse, with the poultry-yard, would cer-
tainly produce anotiier ton. I do not know ex-
actly the population of tlie State of New York,
but my opinion is that more ^uano could be man-
ufactured from the families alone, exclusive of all
the wasted urine of the animals, than all that is

WHY IS A GARDEN FRUITFUL?

The almost universal opinion is, because it is
more highly manured than fields, and tlierefore
has a richer soil. Yet this is not always the case.
There are other things to be attended to, in order
to render the soil prolific. One is to pulverize the
soil ; though this may seem a small matter to
many of our would-be farmers. But it is owing
to the finely pulverized condition of the beds of a
garden that it possesses a highly absorbent power
to attract the moisture of the atmosphere — a
source of fertility that many farmers scarcely
seem aware that they possess. If the soil of the
field was as carefully worked, and fresh earth con-
stantly exposed to the atmosphere, as in the well-
attended garden, the land would increase each
year in fertility. Let the rule be, plow deep,
cultivate well, pulverize lumps and sods, return
your straw to the soil, and you may carry off an
immense quantity of food, and have fertile soil
still. Plants, in their nature, are organized be-
ings. By means of their roots they take up food
from the soil, and often the very food which the
soil has taken up, by its power of absorption, from
the atmosphere, and which 'power is increased to
an almost indefinite extent, by separating the par-
ticles of which it is composed. The acts of plow-
ing and harrowing are a part of the process of
manuring. The act of stirring the earth, in times
of drought, serves as a watering of the plants.
The moisture thus absorbed is loaded with fertiliz-
ing properties. If, then, you would have your
fields as fertile as a garden, you must not depend
upon manure alone, but pulverize freely, not upon
the surface, but deep below it. — Dollar Ncivspaper.

SQUIRRELS IN THE WOODS.

There are few things more pleasing than to lie
upon the grass on a sunny day in summer, and
watch the squirrels in the trees above you. IPeer-
ing up, you will espy, on one of the tree stems, a
little brown, monkeyfied-looking rat, with a sort
of rabbit's head, and a foxy tail as long as its body
and curling over it, and ecce my lord squirrel !
Down he comes, leaping from branch to branch
clawing, racing so fast, and now he reaches the
turf and sits upon his hind legs, and looks this
way and that, and listens. Do not move, or he is
ofl'; do not wink so much as an eyelid. "All
right ?" his merry brown eyes seem to ask. Yes,
all right ; for a nut drops from between his teeth
into his fore paws, and giving his mighty conse
quential tail an extra curl, he makes ready for
breakfast. That is another sight — the way in
which a squirrel deals with a nut. First of all he
shakes and rattles it, that he may be sure there is
something inside ; then he twists it round and
round in his paws, till he gets tlie narrow end up-
permost, for he knowa that at the upper end the
shell is the thinnest ; then he begins to grate
and file till ho has worked his Avay through,
getting noisier and noisier as the hole grows
bigger; and then come intervals of (juiot, which
mean that his teeth are iu the kernel, and that he
is eating all within reach ; for a squirrel never has

534

NEW ENGLAND FARMER. .

Nov.

patience to wait till the kernel is clean out ; he
eats it by instalments in the shell, and trust him
for getting the whole of it ! Well, after the nut,
he will perhaps pick the bones of an apple, if
there bo one within reach, and when he has had
his fill he will wash his face with his paws, and
his paws with his face, and, feeling quite clean
and spruce and comfortable, he will roll over on
the turf, making funny little noises, and giving
queer little jumps, and then away ! up the next
tree stem, clawing, leaping, swinging, so fast —
up and up, till your neck is out of joint watching
him, and he is lost among the leaves.

N. H. STATE FAIR.

We are not able, in the present crowded state
of our columns, to give a detailed account of the
State Fair at Keene, N. H. In some particulars,
the Exhibition surpassed anything we have seen,
and especially in its Working Oxen : these were
numerous, of beautiful symmetry and in high
condition. Indeed, they attracted the attention
of all who beheld them. A building 400 feet in
length was well filled with manufactured articles,
fruits, vegetables, &c. The trotting course was
enlivened by some fiije animals, and the grounds,
as a whole, unsurpassed by any we have seen.
The attendance was large during the fair weath-
er. On Thursday, the Address was delivered from
the Judge's stand by the Editor of this paper, to
an attentive audience of more than 5,000 people,
and is spoken of as follows by the Boston Chroni-
cle.

"At half-past two o'clock the address was com-
menced from the Judge's stand. Mr. Brown laid
down three propositions, namely : — That the
present was the most auspicious period for agri-
cultural improvement ; that there were means
specially calculated to promote that end ; and the
nature of those means. These were forcibly illus-
trated with great practical force, and were valua-
ble to a degree unusually realized at this Fair.
The sentiments and opinions delivered by Mr.
Brown were very enthusiastically received."

Our thanks are due the officers of the Society
for their kind attentions, and especially to Wm.
P. AYiiEELEK, Esq., of Keene, for the hospitali-
ties of his house, during our stay at the Fair.

For the New England Farmer.

SEPTEMBER BLOSSOMS.

Mr. Brown : — Inclosed I send you an apple
blossom, and might have sent you many more this
day, (20th Sept.) taken from the tree, one limb
of which has been in full bloom for several days.
Cannot some of the wise ones give us the science
of this young wonder 1 Tlicre is but a single un-
usual circumstance to be considered in investi-
gating the matter, viz : this blossoming limb was,
about five weeks since, exposed to the heat of
some burning brush, so as to kill or turn brown,
but not to burn its leaves. Other trees, similarly
dealt with, show no signs of putting forth blos-
soms.

I am reminded, in this connection, of a circum-

stance which we, the sufferers, think worthy of
note, viz : that while all the world is favored with
an abundant harvest of apples, that crop is an
entire failure throughout this town (Lebanon,
N. H.) while almost as soon as we pass beyond its
boundaries, we behold the trees burdened with
fruit. E. J.

THE SEASON AND CROPS.

Since October came in there has been occasion-
al falls of rain, but not enough to make any im-
pression on the streams or springs in this vicinity,
and now, Oct. IGth, they are lower than at any
time in the summer. A great many wells are
dry, fall feed has been greatly reduced, and the
feeding of stock on winter fodder must commence
early. The rain of Saturday night and Sunday,
though copious, will not much affect the springs.

The Indian Corn Harvest is chiefly gathered,
and will prove a three-quarters crop, being much
better than was anticipated in August and the
forepart of September.

The potato crop is also much better than was
anticipated six weeks ago. White Chenangoes
have rotted some, but most other kinds are sound,
and have yielded a fair crop. They> are selling,
howeverj to-day, in Boston market for $2 to $3
a barrel.

Mangolds and ruta-bagas have been seriously
affected by the drought, and the crops will be
comparatively light.

The crops in England and Ireland have been
good and securely harvested. The Dcrry Stan-
dard says, the agricultural produce of this sea-
son in Ireland will fully realize £10,000,000
sterling, Jifty millions of dollars, al)ove that of
last year. It also states that the grain markets
are cheaper in Belfast than in Philadelphia.

For the New England Farmer.

APPLE TREE BORER.

De.\r Sir : — If the following method for destroy-
ing the apple borer, after it has entered the tree
so far as not to be reached by any other means, is
of any value, it is at your service.

If the borer cannot be punctured by a wire, I
clear the hole of the cuttings, light an India
cracker and discharge it at the mouth of the hole,
holding it as near as possible. The concussion of
the atmosphere probably destroys the insect.
My trees are few, but I have practised it on them
many times in three years without a failure. I
usually discharge two, and if very much enraged,
three ; probably one would generally answer the
purpose. Perhaps a small tube, containing a few
grains of powder, might be more convenient, and
quite as effectual. Yours, &c.,

F. Field.

P. S. Perhaps it is proper to say that the tree
is not injured in any way by the operation.

Waltham, Oct., 1854.

What our Country Pays for Guano. — The
Genesee Farmer says :

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

535

The quantity of guano which will be brought'
to the United States this year will be about 2U0,-1
000 tons.

Two hundred thousand tons of guano, pur-
chased at iifty-fivc dollars a ton (the present price
in New York.) will take out of the country eleven
million dollars for imported manure. For a com-
paratively new country, this is a startling fact.
All the corn and corn meal exported in the last
fiscal year amounted to less than two and a half-
million dollars.

When will our people see the folly of wasting
so much of the elements of crops in almost every
rural district, and then sending to the west coast
of South America for ten million dollars' worth
of Manure.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

OFFICERS OF THE X. H. STATE SOCIETY.
Nath'l B. Baker, ConcorJ, President.
James 0. Adams, Manchester, Secretary.
Fredesice Smyth, " Treasurer.

CHESHIRE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
David Bcffum, of Walpolc, President.
JosA. K. Smith, of Dublin, j
AzEL Wilder, of Keene, >Vice Presidents.

Paul F. Aldrich, of Swanzey, )
Harvet a. Bill, of Keene, Secretary and Treasurer.

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT.

[Cr A limited number of advertisements of an appropriate
character will be inserted In the monthly Farmer at the follow-
ing

RAT ES .

For one square 15 lines, one insertion $1,00

For each subsequent insertion 50

XT The above rates will be charged for all advertisements,
whether longer or shorter.

THE BOSTON AND WORCESTER

EAGLE DOUBLE PLOWS.

The OoRx Crop of the United States. — The
corn crop is one of the most important crops of
the country ; hence the anxiety produced by the
long drought.

According to the census of 1850, the total
amount of corn produced in the United States
was 592,071,104 bushels. The principal corn-
growing States produced as follows : —

Ohio, 59,073,605

Indiana, 52,964,363

Illinois, 57,6-t6,9S-t

Missouri, 36,2U,53T

Kentucky, 58,672,591

Tennessee, 52,276,223

Mississippi 22,446,552

Alabama, 28,753,045

Georgia, 30,080,090

North Carolina 27,941,051

Virginia, 35,254,349

Pennsylvania, 19,835,214

New York, 17,858,400

South CaroUna, 16,271,454

A full crop for 1854 is estimated at 700,000,000
bushels.

THE superior merits of these Plows consist in
1. The mode of attaching the forward mould-board to the
beam, by which great strength and durability are secured, as also
the various desirable changes in debt of work and relative depth
of each plow, the same being regulated to any shade of nicety,
with perfect facility:

2. The entire and handsome overturning of the sod furrow, by
the forward mould-board, to the extent of the whole width of fur-
row taken by the plow, placing it beneath, out of the way of the
teeth of the harrow, cultivator, or other implement, so that it is
in no case dragged to the surface in the after cultivation of the
crop :

3. The thorough and finished work done by the rear mould-
board, in taking up its furrow of under soil and sifting or scat-
tering it over the inverted sod, so a» to entirely fill to the surface,
and at the same time break open any undue cohesion of the soil,
leaving the plowed land in a perfectly pulverized condition, re-
quiring little labor with the harrow or other surface-working in-
strument,— and indeed, in aU tolerably free loams, rendering the
use of these instruments, as pulverizers, quite unnecessary :

4. The remarkably light draught of the plow, in proportion to
the amount of work and the thoroughness of pulverization ac-
complished.

Several sizes of the BOSTON AND WORCESTER EAGLE
DOUBLE PLOW, are made by the subscribers, from patterns of
their own original invention. They incite their friemis and cus-
tomers to examine these Plows, as to quality and durability of
material, thoroughness and finish of construction, and to test
their working properties.

Manufactory at Worcester, and Warehouse, Quincy Hall, over
the Market, Boston.

RUOGLES, NOURSE, MASON & CO.

April 30, 1853.

Fine Catawba Grapes. — Eben Jackson, Esq.,
of South Boston, brought us the other day a
piece of a grape vine about eight inches long,
upon which were hanging three bunches of the
finest Catawba grapes we have ever seen that
were ripenud in the open air. They were per-
fectly ripe, the skins tender and thin, and the
pulp melting and doliciously flavored.

Suffolk Pigs.

The subscriber has the pure Suffolk Pig!
for sale from 3 to 4 months old, also a lot
vr i* 'Si* of half blood.

i^ii^ ABNERH.A.TEN,

<CXc^^^l.£s'^ S. Framingham

'^''*'-^^=^^— ^ Jan. 14, 1854. tf.

Super-Phosphate of Lime.

This ce!cl)rated Fertilizer, where it has been fairly tested the
last year, has been found equal, and in many cases superior
to the l)est Peruvian Guano in its immediate elTect, and much
more permanently beneficial to the land. It is adapted to any
Soil in which there is a deficiency of fAos/)/jn^c, which is often
the case. All crops are benefited by its application. It iscom-
posed of ground bone, decomposed by sulphuric acid, to which is
added a due proportion of Peruvian Guano, Sulphate of Am
monia, &8. «

For sale, with full directions for use, in ba?3 of 150 pounds
ucli. No charge for package. All bags will be branded "C. B.
DeBurg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

GEO. DAVENPORT,
Agent for the manufacturer, 5 Commereial, corner of Chatham
Street, Boston.

Feb. 18, 1854. tf*

Automatic Apple Parers.

THIS little Machine is the very best article that has ever been
presented to the public for culinary purposes, far surpass-
ing all others for paring apples, potatoes, turnips, &c. &c., just
received at NOL'KSE & GO'S Agricultural Warehouse, No. 9 A:
13 Commercial Street, Boston.
, Sept. 23, 1854. 8w

J. IL HAMMOXD,

ARCHITECT.

rpIIE subscriber offers his services to those about erecting new,
X or altering old, buildings. He will furnish drawings and
working plans, si)eciflcations, and every thing in relation to a
clear undcrsUinding of what is wanted. He thinks he is able to
liresent some new views in the construction of Barns, or in alter-
ing old ones, whereby more couveniencies may be obtained and
at less expense. His charges will be so moderate as to enable
uvery farmer to avail himself of his services.

.VldressJ. H. H.\MMOND, Grafton, Mass.

May 27, 1854.

536

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

Nov.

Contents of this Number.

Calemlar for November 489

Some Wants wanted by Fanners 491

It Isn't all in Bringing Up — Sweet Apples 492

Nutrition in Various Grains 493

State Farm at Tewksbuiy again 493

Hog Killing in Cincinnati — About Cranberries 494

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 495

Gardens that never fail 495

On Maturing Plants — ^'alue of Agricultural Papers 497

Cattle Show at Leominster 498

Improving Soils by Shade 499

Expanding the Chest — Another Specimen of Farming 500

Importation of Guano 501

" Let Me lu ''^Suburban Aisits 502

The Curculio — Curiosity Reproved 504

Average Longevity — Wages 504

A Trip up the Mississippi 505

Remarks about raising Hops 506

Lightning Rods are not Uumbugs... , 506

Tewksbury and State Aims-House 507

Monthly Farmer for September. 507

The Harvest Hymn — High Price of Milk 518

Extracts and Replies 509

Rockingham Fair at Exeter 510

Love's Fairy Ring — The Concord Grape 611

Extracts and Replies 511

A Man Killed by Lightning 611

Guuuo — Legislative Help 512

American Pomological Society 6l3

Fig Trees 517

Great National Cattle Show— The Pumpkin 5iS

Middlesex County Agricultural Society 519

State Aims-House at Tewksbury 521

Middlesex South and Hampden County Fairs 521

Middlesex Agricultural Society 523

Hawaiian Agriculture 524

Bachelors Badly Berated— Buckwheat 526

Apples, &c., in Sau Francisco 527

The Horticulturist— How to save Top Onions 527

Cranberries on Uplands —Phosphate of Lime 528

The One Acre Farm 529

Extracts and Replies 531

Domestic Guano — Why is a Garden Fruitful 533

Squirrels in the Woods 533

N. H. State Fair — September Blossoms 534

The Season and Crops — Apple Tree Borer 534

Agricultural Societies 535

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Breaking Colts 496

Tolman's Sweeting 529

A New Apple 513

Weather Vane 528

Oyster Shell Lime.

1HAVE on hand, and am constantly manufacturing this ar
tide for farming purposes. It has also been extensively used
duj'ing the last season for laying the walls of cellars, and stone
work of a sknilar nature, and is found to answer this purpose
equally as well as the best stone lime. After 1st March, the
prices will b^ as follows :

For less than 60 bbls 50c

Or over 50 bbls 40c

In Bulk — a large car load containing 80 bbls 30o

A small car load containing 40 bbls 35c ^ bW.

delivered at either depot in Boston or Charlestown.
The subscriber has also for sale Muriate of Lime, in bbls.

JAMES GOULD,
Feb. 18, 1854. tf 70 State Street

Fruit and Ornamental Trees.

The proprietors offer fjr gale an extensive assort
mcnt of fruit and ornamental trees, comprising all
the ehoice standard varieties, for the Garden or
Orchard; also Currants, Gooseberries, Grape Vines
kc. 1000 Buckthorn and Arbor A'itae for Hedges
S. & G. HYDE.
Newb^n Corner, March 18, 1854. w*tf

SILAS B. WILDE,

BOOK, JOB AND CARD PRINTER,
Exchange Street, Concord, Mass.

JTlTERY description of Book, Job, Card and Fancy Printing,
J executed in a neat and expeditious manner. Marriage and
Address Cards neatly engraved and printed. Also, on hand
and for sale. Wedding Envelopes and Cake Boxes.
Sept. 23, 1854. Sm

NEW ENGLAND FARMER

Is published on the first of every month, by John Raynold and
Joel Nourse, at Quincy Hall, South Market St., Bost-on.
SIMON BROWN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, ) Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors.

iO» Terms, $1,00 per annum in advance.
XT All subscriptions to commence with the volume, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exclusively to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kindred Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 576 octavo pages, embelli^h^d with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in niuslia, embossed and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication. •

O" Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Familxj Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under the charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Markets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings. Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any other Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

0° Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural department of the weekly.

Ij" Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub-
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

O" AH orders and letters should be addressed, post-paid.

RAYNOLDS & NOURSE,

QtnxcY Hall, South Mai:ket Street, Boston.

O" Postage. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is li cents per quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is receive-;

Farm for Sale.

The subscriber offers for sale his Farm, con-
taining one hundred and twenty-three acres of
good land, a good one-story house, two good barns,
and over one hundred feet of sheds attached to the
barns. The Farm is well wooded and watered,
and well adapted for a dairy, and is mostly fenced with stone
wall. Also, a good sugar orchard, sugar house and fixtures, in
good repair. For further particulars, inquire of the subscriber,
on the premises. Said Farm is situated in Shrewsbury, Matland
County, Vermont, one mile east of the centre, 2i from uuttiugs-
ville depot.

N. B. If the above Farm is not disposed of before the 16th
day of November next, at 10 o'clock, A. M., it will then be of-
fered at public vendue. II. T. CLARK.
Shrewsbury, Rutland Co., Tt., Oct. 21, 1854. 3w^

For Sale.

The subscriber offers his farm for sale, on which
he now lives, and will give immediate possession.
The farm consists of 75 acres of good land, a one-
story House, Shop, Barn, Sheds, &c., mostly new,
with first rate, never failing water in the house,
ood wood-lot near by, a superior garden with a variety
of fruit trees. This farm is situated in WARWICK, Mass., 2^
miles from the Centre, i mile from school, 1 mile from Grist and
Saw Mill, and 6 miles from South Orange depot.

Any one wanting a pleasant, healthy farm, can have a more
particular description by dropping a line to the subscriber.

JOSHUA T. SANGER.
Aug. 26, 1854. tf

SuiTolk Pis:s.

On hand few pairs fine ones. Also for use
the best boar of same breed in this country.

This is the finest specimen of any animal
I have ever owned ; should be pleased to
show him. GEO. W. WILSON.

Maiden, April 22, 1854. ■ 6m

Bound Volumes.

BACK VOLUMES of the NEW ENGLAND FARMER, ele
gantly bound in Muslin, Gilt and Embossed, are now for sale
at this office.

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES.

VOL. VI.

BOSTON, DECEMBER, 1854.

NO. 12.

JOEL NOURSE, Proprietor.
Office Quinct Hall.

SIMON BROWN, Editor.

FRED'K HOLBROOK, 1 AssoCLtTR
HENRY F. FRENCH, I Editors.

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER.

THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

"Glad Christmas comes, and every hearth
Makes room to give him welcome now,

E'en want will dry its tears in mirth,
And crown him with a holly bough.

Though tramping 'ncath a wintry sky,

O'er snowy paths and rimy stiles.
The housewife sets her spinning by.

To bid him welcome with her smiles."

Clare's Shepherd's Calendar.

TERN December
closes u p the
train of the
Months, and
with it, ends the
rolling Year
Tlje Harvests are
all gathered, and
although the clouds long re-
fused to shed their gladdening
rains upon the parched earth,
most of the crops have been suf-
ficient, and some abundant. The hay-harvest was
full ; the small grains were cut short, and in
many localities a failure ; the potato crop plen-
tiful, and of better quality than for several pre-
ceding years ; the Indian corn crop, far short of
last year, but a full three-fourths average of for-
mer years ; vegetables fine, and in abundance, and
fruit, with the exception of peaches, a largo supply
and of excellent quality. Tiie grape crop has
been plentiful, and the fruit of unusual richness
and value. With a better knowledge of the
means of preserving it, the grape will become one
of our most wholcsomoand delicious winter fruits.
While the earth has generously yielded to us,
and filled our garners with its fruits, the same
watchful Providence that has given vitality to the
minutest seed, and caused its germ to spring to
the air and light, has .shielded us from unseasona-
ble heats and colds, and averted the pestilence
and internal commotions which have afflicted

some other nations. There is, then, every reason
for grateful and happy hearts, and none for mur-
muring or despair. We have seen that " every
thing is beautiful in his season," that every thing
displays " the power and goodness of God." His
Providence directs us, step by step, developing
the faculties of the mind, and enlarging its power
of administering to the necessities of the race.
New modes of life, new comforts and occupations
spring from the wonderful activity which impels
our people. The language of the Shepherd Poet,
which we have quoted above, would be applicable
to few of our homesteads now ; for the spinning
wheel is the thing of a past age, and has sung its
cheerful song in thousands of our rural home-
steads for many years, but that song animates
our maidens no longer ; running waters and
scalding vapors are now made to propel the wheels
that spin the wool, the cotton and flax ! All
the occupations present new aspects ; strange
machines are in the barns, and fields, and work-
shops, and manufactories, saving the toil of mil-
lions of thews and sinews by an increased activity
of the mind.

Urged on in the calling which we have chosen,
not only by a desire to discharge a duty, but by
the unnumbered charms which it presents, the
year has passed rapidly and pleasantly away.
Our visits to the homes of the people, and our as-
sociations through these columns have been agree-
able and profitable ; and we trust that these rela-
tions will long be continued with mutual advan-
tage.

It is not so much to be desired that we shall
live fast, or long, as that we shall live well ; that
each day shall find its duties faithfully discharged,
and the mind calmly waiting either for another
day of active duty, or for a suspension of the cares
and amusements of life, and a summons to that
wider field of action where only the culture of the
nobler faculties will be required.

The purauit of agriculture as an occupation ia

5 38

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

eminently favorable to calm contemplation and a
quiet, useful and peaceful life. Less temptations
are there offered than in the crowded places of
traffic, where society is more artificial, and there
exists a greater disparity in the conditions of men ;
and in the varied aspects of Nature on the farm,
in the ever unfolding wonders of the vegetable and
animal kingdoms there are fresh and constant in-
citements to the practice of virtuous lives.

Our people need more of a well-regulated sys-
tem in their business, but no stimulus to greater
physical activity. Constant and agreeable em-
ployment, but not overwrought, will afford the
happy condition where all the faculties may be
most fully developed ; a condition in which each
individual may say — " I have enough for all my
views and purposes : more wealth might be trou-
blesome, and distract my attention from those
pursuits in which I delight." Let it, then, be
ouv mutual effort, in the coming year, that all
enyyy this condition who desire and seek it.

Fakm Accounts. — With the closing year, close
all accounts ; if they are allowed to pass over
more than one year unsettled, the chance is that
they will ran many years, until confusion creeps
in, and unkind 'thoughts, perhaps words, and
alienation between neighbors, takes place. Most
transactions may be remembered through one
year, so that errors, or misunderstandings may
easily be adjusted. If you value peace and pleas-
ant associations with your neighbors, suffer no
accounts to run longer than one year. But if
there are difficulties, yield a little ; let your char-
ity place the most favorable construction upon
every word uttered and act done, and if you can-
not agree, refer the whole matter to disinterested
friends, and not to the law.

Feeding Stock. — On this subject we have
copied an article from theWool Grower, to which
we call particular attention. It includes the sub-
ject of shelter, as well as feeding. A plentiful
amount pF fodder may be very injudiciously ex-
pended ; regularity in feeding is of great impor-
tance, for when tlie appetite is properly gratified,
there should be periods of rest when no food is
expected. If cattle are fed at any and all times,
they will always be looking for food, and conse-
quently uneasy, and this is not favorable to a
thrifty condition.

SviMPATnY WITH Stock.— Do not believe that
they are so dull as not to understand and appre-
ciate your kind feelings. Last week a noble
horse got loose upon the farm, and for an hour
gave the astonished neighbors the most wonderful

and heels flying, showing his shoes nearly ten feet
in the air, he bade defiance to his pursuers and
their long poles ! lie gained the centre of the
field, and then stood snuffing the gale from every
point, the noblest animal of creation next toman.
A boy approached him with outstretched arm
and gentle words — " Poor fellow ! Come here.
I will not strike you." These were more potent
than the poles had proved ;.the horse met him,
rubbed his nose against the boy's jacket, and said
as plainly as he could speak, — " I'll trust you ;
we are friends," and was led away to his stall.
The animals of the farm soon become acquainted
with the looks and manners of those about them,
and will usually return such treatment as they
receive.

Debt. — It is one thing to run into debt for a
good farm implement that will enable you to save
its value in a year, or a pair of oxen with which
you may accomplish your spring work, then pas-
ture and fatten, and make 10 per cent on them,
and another to purchase furniture or fancy horses
and carriages that you can very well do without ;
or "mpre land," which will embarrass your purse,
and withdraw the attention and the manure from
the acres now only half cultivated. Incur no
debt unless from a necessity, if you wish to sleep
soundly nights. Many things are'to be done in
this December, strictly appertaining to the farm,
but that which we especially urge belongs to the
mind. Store it well in these comparatively lei-
sure hours with useful information ; cherish the
social affections, and make the world a cheerful
one around you ; and may we meet again beyond
the boundary lij^e of 1854, in the month of Happy
Wishes, the first of a New Year.

THE MONTHLY FARMER.

This number closes the current year, and is ac-
companied by a full alphabetical index of the sub-
jects treated in the volume, together with a list of
the names or signatures of the correspondents.
The volume contains articles upon nearly every
subject which comes before the farmer in Ids vo-
cation, most of them of a peculiarly practical
character, and written with clearness and force.
Their authors are persons engaged in the business
of which they have written, and their opinions
flow from their own operations and experiences.
To the young farmer, or the inexperienced, who
enters upon the management of a farm later in
life, the Monthly Farmer will prove a treasury of
knowledge enabling him to conduct its concerns

with skill and consequently with profit. Valua
specimens of " ground and lofty tuml)ling," they .ble articles may be found on fenchig, reclaiming

had ever witnessed. Comjng to spots in the gar-
den where the loam was light and deep, he would
plunge into it, roll, then rise, shake his sides, and
with nostrils red and expanded, with mane, tail,

draining, plowing and planting, seeding, garden-
ing, culture of orchards, rearing and management
of horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry ; on tlie
division of farms, on the variety of soils and crops

185-1.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

53y

best adapted to them ; on the dairy ; on the
preparation and application of manures ; on the
implements and machinery of the farm, and, in-
deed, nearly everything that has a bearing upon
either the internal or external interest of the
homestead. These are interspersed with such ar-
ticles as are supposed to interest female readers,
and others that would prove useful to the mechan-
ic and even the student.

There are also some fifty engravings of stock,!
implements, utensils and machinery, many of
them engraved especially for this work, and em-
bellisliing and giving additional value to the
whole.

NOTICE.

The undersigned would inform his friends and
the public that he has disposed of his interest in
the New England Fanner to his late partner, Mr
Joel Nourse, who will adjust the affairs of the
concern .

In retiring from the post which he has occupied
for the past four years, he would express his thanks
to his numerous friends and patrons, for their fa-
vors, and many kind w^ords of encouragement, and
would also say that he has lost none of his zeal
in the cause of agriculture-, and that it is not im-
probable that he may still continue to be engaged
in disseminating useful information upon the art
with which his tastes and interests are so inti-
mately connected. John Raynolds.

Boston, Nov. IGth, 1854.

NOTICE.

Important changes will be made in the Montlily
Netv England Farmer, with the commencemeni.
of the new volume in January next. The size
and number of the pages will not be altered.
The work will be stitched and enclosed in a neat
cover, and the advertisements will be printed on a
separate sheet from the other portion of the
work, SQ that they will not be included in binding
the volume. The publisher has time only to
announce these changes, but he intends to make
the Neio England Farmer a first class magazine,
and hopes to receive that support from the public
which he will spare no effort to deserve.

THE PUBLISHER TO HIS READERS.

The readers of tliis paper will learn, from a
card in our advertising columns, that the firm of
Raynolds & Nourse has been dissolved, by mutual
consent, and that the undersigned has become the
sole proprietor of the weekly and monthly Fanner.
In announcing this change, the publisher will
take occasion to say, that he assumes the whole
burden of its management with the determination
that the paper shall not only maintain the posi-
tion it has already won, but that it shall attain to
a still higher character and a more commanding
inlluencc among the agricultural periodicals of
our country. The corps of office and associate ed-
itors who have conducted the paper for several
years "past, will continue their services, and will
still receive the aid of the numerous correspond-
ents whose pens have in times past imparted so
much value and interest to our columns. If a
sti'ong force of able writers, a li1_)eral outlay of
capital, and efficient business management, can
insure success in an enterprise of this kind, the
undersigned thinks he can pi'omise his readers that
the New England Fanner shall continue to be
known as an instructive, reliable and progressive
Agricultural and Family Newspaper.

Boston, Nov. HJth. Joel Nocrse. .

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

Friend Erown : — I herewitli send a few apples
of two varieties which grew in my garden. The
sweet ones in particular, are considered very fine,
and I think them well worth}' of cultivation. I
have two trees, one of which bore five bushels in
1852, and the other bore none. This year the
latter bore well and the former had not an apple
on it. The tree is a thrifty grower and an abun-
dant bearer. The foliage is very thick and dark
colored ; the fruit- comes into season here in 10th
month, and it retained its flavor and kept well
last year until the first of 2nd monCh. I never
saw the apple in New England, though it may be
found there. I should like to know the name.

The sour apples are now in their prime. The
samples are part of the produce of a graft in one
side of a tree. I had two busliels this year — not
quite so many last year. I think I never saw a
limb better loaded with fruit, nor one that pre-
sented a more beautiful appearance. Please give
th6 name.

The samples are about an average for size and
quality. Hoping tliey will arrive safe and in good
condition, I remain thy friend,

Levi Varney.

Bloomfield, C. W., Uih mo. (J, 1854.

Remarks. — The sweet apple is very fine, both
in appearance and flavor. It very nearly answers
the description of tiie Peach-Pond Sweet, a Duch-
ess County, N. Y., apple. It is a darker red than
the Peach-Pond usually presents, but the speci-
mens sent may be apples that wero exposed
to the full influences of the sun, which would
give them a high color.

The sour apples are probaI)ly seedlings of tlie
locality where they are found, and only of third-
rate quality in flavor, but fine-looking.

(! RAPES. — The use of grapes as an article of
food, is much recommended in case of consump-
tion. They contain a large quantity "of grape
sugar, tlie kind which most nearly resembles
milk sugar in its character and composition,
which is also useful for consumptives, it having a
great attraction for oxygen, and readily aflbrdmg
matci'ials for respir ation.

■;^^ The numhor of persons employed directly by
the Boston uewspapei's is about 'JOO.

540

NEW ENGLAND FARMER,

Dec,

For the New England Farmer.

MATURING PLANTS.

liV A. G. COMINGS.

Some months since, I furnished a short article
for the Farmer on Maturing Plants. It was the
leading object of my article to excite discussion
upon various ideas which I asserted in what was
then written. In the weekly Farmer of October
14, is a communication from Mr. Rufus McIx-
TiiiE, upon the " dogmas " of my communication
before referred to. Having been from home, a
mouth passed without my possessing any know-
ledge of Mr. Mclntire's communication. Of
course it could not receive an answer from me,
unless I possessed an ability to judge a matter
before hearing it. I believe fully in the right of
every man to call every assertion of principle or
fact in question, until he can gain satisfactory
evidence of its truth. A man is not at liberty to
'i'-ny any thing merely iiecause it lacks proof.
To deny, he must be armed and prepared to dis-
prove what is asserted.

I do not understand Mr. Mclntire to deni/ what
I have asserted, positively'; although some ex-
pressions may have such a look. He places him-
self in the attitude of investigation — he says, in
substance, that, if tliese things are true, he is
blindfolded — he wants " more light." This is all
right. I hope farmers will pursue this course
freely and constantly. I would, therefore, thank
Mr. M. for his shot at the target which had been
put up for him. I had, to my mind, full evidence
of the correctness of the ideas advanced ; hut I
did not imagine that the mass of those who ought
to be interested in them, if true, would readily
give credit to them.

There is in Mr. M."s communication some sound
of what Phrenologists call " s?i«p." No objection
to that — not the least. It is a poor gun that has
uo snap to it. It would not kill a lion nor a
louse, a tiger nor a toad, if killing were ever so
necessary.

To reply to him, wc must hear him talk. Then
:v little talk may be made in answer.

1. Mr. M. says, " He remarks that a soil that
contains no carbon in the form of vegetable matter
or otherwise, cannot matui'e seed, though a stock
may be produced, and instances the growth of
wheat straw with worthless seed, and extends the
same remarks to corn, rye and oats. Whei-e can
a soil be found, that any former would till, des-
titute of vegetable matter 1 "

Answer. Clay may be taken from any depth
IjcIow where there is any vegetable matter, and
clay-loam, also, and clover will grow in it readily,
l)ut at first in a dwarfish state. The fact rests
ujK)n positive proof. The clover contains carbon.
Where does it come from? The small amount
contained in the seed, under the influence of heat
and moisture, begins the work of growth — then it
ai)propriates its mineral elements from the soil —
then opens its tiny leaves and feeds on carbon from
the air, in the shape of gas.

The clover grows tap- rooted. The root itself
contains more carbon than many seeds. The
blade also contains much. The root is exceed-
ingly insignificant in size, until the leaves are
spread into the air. When the leaves are fully
'>ut, then the root immediately shows, by the
rapidity of its growth, a new accumulation of
power for progress.

If our world has been created, and the earth
brought forth vegetation according to the Scrip-
ture accounts^ all the carbon of the vegetable
matter of tlie whole world has been derived from
the air. From experiments which I have made,
and circumstances of vegetable existence which I
have known and examined, the conclusion is to
me irresistible, tliat all the elements necessary to
the growth, maturity and perfection of every kind
of vegetable, is contained in the air, the rain, and
the earthy matter of the soil. If so, (he elements
which lie dormant in the subsoil, with those con-
tained in the rain and air, need only to become
com))ined properly, and disengaged from impeding
difficulties and affinities, to constitute a fit state
of the soil for any service of vegetable life.

In 1853, I raised the finest, largest and best
savoy cabbages that I ever saw, where the soil, to
the depth of about a foot and a half, was made
entirely from the subsoil taken from below the
reach of roots of plants or trees, so that it con-
tained no vegetable matter. To this no vegetable
matter was applied in any form. Mineral ma-
nures only were applied.

In answer to Mr. M.'s first question, then, I
will say, every vvliere that a good subsoil can be
found, if the vegetable matter is all gone, the
intelligent farmer can cultivate with hope. He
must not expect more than a dwarfish growth at
first, of grain or grass ; and that to fall below the
production of seed, except in case of the top-
rooted plants, which may produce a small quan-
tity of seed, especially if biennial. But to expect
the fibrous rooted plants to grow and produce seed
under such circumstances, such as wheat, rye,
oats or corn, is out of the question.

2. Again, Mr. M. says, " Experience shows the
uncertainty of a crop of wheat and the certainty
of a crop of corn on the same soil. How will
Mr. Comings account for this difJerence ? "

Ans. There may be a variety of reasons for
this. Indian corn may do well upon soil which
contains so small a quantity of salt, or soda and
chlorine, that wheat would not come to maturity.
A few years ago I had some wheat precisely in
this predicament. It began to lose color before
the seed began to form, and gave clear evidt'nce
of failure. Upon a part of it I sowed fine salt,
at the rate of a bushel and a half or more to the "
acre. The rest of it I left to its fate. Where the
salt was applied, the wheat recovered and ma-
tured finely. The rest was dwarfed. In other
cases, other causes would prevent the success of
wheat, where corn would succeed.

Then again, corn will fail in some places where
wheat does finely. Tliere are many princij^les
operating, any one of which may produce such
results. The farmer who will understand the
wfti/ of success or failure in all these things, will
know that which he ought to know, to be a true
farmer.

3. Again Mr. M. "He remarks that a good
crop of turnips, or cabbage, can be produced
with a small amount of vegetable matter in the
soil, but that seeds of them cannot be raised on
such soil. I would respectfully ask, what are his
proofs of this position 1 "

A?is. Various and repeated experiments prove
the growth of turnips and cabbages to require the
earthy or mineral elements most at first ; that
tiiey then draw largely from the atmosphere ;

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

541

and that in the last work of the plant, the pro-
duction of seed, it drives all its vital forces up-
ward into the seed, which is always placed at the
extremity of the plant. But more of this here-
after.

4. Again, Mr. M. says, " My own experience
is, that cabbage and turnip seed can much more
certainly be raised than good heads of cabbage or
good turnips. Indeed, turnips will often refuse
to increase into large good bulbs, and cabbages to
head, but seed will be produced plentifully from
these worthless turnips and cabbage stumps.
Where does the carbon come from that produces
these things ? ' '

A71S. In all this, there is nothing very strange.
Just such things have been seen everywhere,
almost. Tliis world has produced a great many
cabbage-heads, and it is not strange that there
should have been many small ones. It is one of
the easiest things in the world to raise fine cab-
bages and fine turnips ; but it all consists just ex-
actly in this : a man must manure his ground with
good understanding. That is just the best ma-
nure to buy. It never fails. Thousands of small
cabbage-heads have been grown in soil where
there was a superabundance of carbon ; but there
was a lack of the necessary mineral elements.
In the same soil, seed could be grown in any
quantity. This in no way conflicts with the
ideas of my former communication. .

Turnips, and cabbages also, throw certain min-
eral elements into the leaves, in large quantities.
In the roots those elements are less required.
The sprouting seed of the turnip uses its carbon
in its first life. The radicle, or root which shows
affinity with earthy matter, strikes into the soil.
The plume is lifted up. The leaves increase.
Small, fibrous roots branch out in every direction,
in search of food. The leaves become much
larger, while the root remains but a small tap-
root. (I speak of the common English turnip.)
To it we again look, and we perceive the leaves
to be of full gi-owth. Now begins the formation
of a bulb. As the bulb shows signs of maturity,
t!ie leaves turn yellow. They have performed
their office.

I have a fact to refer to. I have observed that
whenever the tops wore cut ofi' before the forma-
tion of the bulbs, no bulbs would be formed until
a new set of leaves grew. If the leaves were
kept down, no l)ulbs would form. Here is to me
suiScient evidence that the carbon which helps to
form the bulb is largely drawn from the atmos-
phere.

The further consideration of tlie subject must
be deferi'ed to another time, for another commu-
nication. A. G. Comings.

SPIEIT OF THE AGRICULTURAL
PRESS.

Professor Nash, of ximherst, is the Editor of the
Connecticut Valley Farmer. In tiie course of his
agricultural visits last September, he called upon
several farmers in Essex County, and among them,
William F. Porter, Esq., of Bradford. lie went
over his farm, examined his stock, implements,
&c., and listened to his statements with regard to
loss and gain and adds —

"It will be recollected by some of our readers,

that Mr. Porter drew the Essex Society's premi-
um for the best managed farm, in 1851. His
statement on that occasion was the best we have
seen. It was full of valuable suggestions, which
wo doubt not have been ere this the cause of simi-
lar improvements on other forms to those which
he describes in his own. In that statement Mr,
Porter shows the year's expenses of his farm to
have been $1,451,91, the receipts for the year to
have been $3,369,70, and thenettprofits $1,927,-
85. He shows also that the farm, stock and tools
stood him at $17,000, and that the year's profit
amounted to about twelve per cent, on that in-
vestment. In that same statement, which we
recollect to have read with intense interest, at the
time, Mr. Porter states also his belief that he had
that year greatly increased the productive capac-
ity of his farm for years to come. Time has since
verified the soundness of his opinion. The farm,
now containing 200 acres, enables him to sell
produce, for which his receipts are all of $4500 a
year. He also declares himself fully confirmed in
the opinion there expressed, that capital employed
in farming may by energy and enterprise, be
made to produce twelve percent, profit."

We have known something of Mr. Porter's
made of management, have been over his farm,
and knew something of its capabilities for many
years before he occupied it, and have no reason
either to doubt his statements, or that the farm is
an exceedingly valuable and productive one.

For the New England Farmer.

GRAFTING SUlCEERS OF THE COMMON
PLUM.

Mr. Editor: — What I am about to state may
be nothing new ; yet you may deem it worth re-
peating for the information of those who do not
know, and for reminding those who have foro'ot-
ten of an interesting fact in horticulture.

During the last spring, I grafted some suckers
of common plums with scions of superior kinds.
■The suckers were not transplanted, but grafted
where they grew, by the cleft-graft mode, low
down near the ground. The grafts were tied with
bass, and covered with grafting wax, and after-
wards gravel was placed round them on the
ground, so as to defend the wax from the action of
the sun. The scions took successfully, some of
them pushing very strong shoots. llavii)>r for-
gotten, until to-day, to examine tlie grafts and
loosen the ties, I found on removing the "ravel,
that the bass ties were undeeayed, and very much
constricting the small stocks and the inserted
part of the scions, which latter were greatly en-
larged just above the ligatures ; and from tlie cal-
lus or enlargement of the graft, as well as from
the stock, above and below the tie, strong healthy
roots were pushing out under the griivcl, so that
tlie scions apparently will become independent of
the stocks, and establislicd on their own roots ;
this is a favorable object, and may j)robably be
attained in the case of other fruit trees as well as
plums, by a similar treatnu>nt of the grafts.

It is my opinion, however, that the plum tree
maybe propagated by cuttings, without the as-
sistance of grafting. I have observed, on turning
up the ground where branches or prunin<''3 of

542

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

plum trees had been accidentally covered with
earth that roots in great profusion had been pro-
duced from every part of the buried branch, as
healthy and abundant as would have been put
forth by willow cuttings, in a similar condition ;
being mucli occupied, I did not follow up the ob-
servation by making trial of j^lum cuttings. Those
who have leisure and opportunity, will, I hope, do
so.

I have in view another experiment, which I
now announce in advance, trusting that I may be
anticipated by persons who have more energy and
perseverance than fall to m}' share. It is well
known that the quince is a useful stock for the
pear in situations where the soil is rich and moist,
but that it fails in dr_y and gravelly soils. A stock
that would dwarf the pear and induce fruitful-
ness, and also flourish in dry and poor ground,
would be an acquisition of value. Such a stock
may be found if I am not mistaken, in the small
tree called in this locality, Indian Pear, but
known in New England and other parts, by the
name of Shad Busii or June Berry. The bota-
nists' term for this tree is Mespilus Canadensis, or
Amelanchier Botryapium. It flourishes in every
soil ; our gravelly hills and dry banks are covered
with a spontaneous growth of it. Its develop-
ment being less than that of the pear, the grafts
should be placed low, so as to be readily .covered
with the ground, that the disproportion of stock
and tree raay not be seen. It attains to a size
equal to the quince however. In my boyish days,
I grafted these trees with pear scions which made
considerable growth during the first season, but I
lost sight of them, and know not whether they
continued to prosper. As the ti'ces were growing
among other wild bushes, they \vero probably cut
down ; and the scions having been inserted in the
branches had not much chance of becoming per-
manent ; but I consider the stock to be a very
promising stock for dwarfing the pear, and if life
and health be granted, I may yet make the trial.
I remain, Mr. Editor, yodr old subscriber,

October, 25, 185-1. Far East.

Remarks. — "We do not know but the old adage,_
— "there is nothing new under the sun" — is true ;
but we do know that some most excellent things
in agriculture, whether new or old, are not prac-,
ticed. The above experiment is not only inter-
esting, but encouraging, and will not fail to lead
to valuable results. In confirmation of the fact
stated by our correspondent, we will, state an ex-
periment of our own. About the last of ]\Iarch,
in the spring of 1853, we cut healthy and vigor-
ous suckers, as they are called, from an American
Amber cherry tree, and immediately inserted them
in the ground to the depth of six or eight inch-
es, and directly under the tree from whence they
were cut. The ground was shaded through the
summer by tlie tree, and was occasionally wa-
tered with soap suds. The suckers then planted
are now, some of them, four feet high and per-
fectly thrifty.

What need is there of grafting, if the cherry
and plum can be obtained so easily by cuttings ?
Cuttings from many trees, would undoubtedly

take root and grow well, if they were properly
placed in the ground, and in proper situations.
The direct rays of the sun must be nearly exclud-
ed from them, and the earth in which they stand
be moist. We hope "Far East" will write us
often.

GEMS.

. GENTLE WORDS.
It is not much the world can give,

With all its subtle art ;
And gold and gems are not the things

To satisfy the heart ;
But 0, if those who cluster round

The altar and the hearth,
Have gentle words and loving smiles.
How beautiful is earth !

A TINY POEM.
Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the beauteous land.

And the little moments,

Humble though they be.
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

HEAVEN.
Heaven's gates are not so highly arched
As princes' palaces; they who enter there
Must go upon their knees !

IS FARMING RESPECTABLE ?

Mr. Editor : — Some weeks since, I made a few
remarks in answer to the question, " is fiirming
profitable? " I propose to answer the query, " is
it respectable?" It may be, after all, that people
generally want money, for the purpose of making
themselves respectable. What is respectability ?
Or in what does it consist 1 Now I am not in the
habit of betting, but will venture to aj/irm, that
not one in ten of your readers have any distinct
idea, of what respectability is ; or what makes a
man respectable. If wealth makes a man respect-
able, the old " Gripus," with his hoarded thou-
sands, who walks the street with teeth shut as
though he had the lock-jaw, and who clenches a
fourpence, between his thumb and fore finger, so
tight that you could not pull it away with a pair
of pincers, is respectable. Yet, everybody hates
him. Nobody will say that wealth alone, es-
pecially in this country, constitutes respectability.
A " respectable man "'is one whom the multitude
delight to honor ; wlio is regarded with attention ;
who is esteemed by the community generally as a
trusty, a wise, or worthy man. Why, then, may
not a fiirmer be as respectable as a lawyer, doctor
or merchant] A man's reputation is, in some "re-
spect to be sure, controlled by the popular breeze ;
txnd a man may be despised to-day, for the very
qualities that will make him popular to-morrow.
In my estimation, a man with " a good name "
is a respectable man ; and therefore, as the wise
man said, " a good' name is rather to be chdsen
than great riches." No man should be despised
merely because he pursues a useful and honorable
business ; and if farming is disreputable, it is be-
cause tlio farmer despises his own calling. The
truth is, farmers in this country, and I suppose
it is so everywhere, do not sufficiently respect

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARxMER.

543

themselves. They look on professional men, and! fessions" would hide their heads and slink away
persons engaged in some other vocations, as a abashed. Many of your readers have seen a ped-
sort of superior people; and when demagogues ler of soap, who made even liis two-penny trade
condescend to flatter them, they feel " tucked up^," respectable by being proud of it Iiimself. Of one
as the saying in, just as children feel when receiv- thing we may be sure ; nobody will have a better
ing the approbation of their superiors. They feeb opinion of farming than the I'ai-mor has. Ouroc-
a strong impression that farming has got a- " bad! cupation ought to be as good in New Hampshire
name," and are tickled with the notice of persons as a title of nobility in Europe. There maybe
whom they consider above them. But it will not mean lords and mean farmers ; but the fact that
always be so. There has been a good improve- a man tills the soil for a living, ought to be con-

ment in this respect during the last fifty years
Farmers are beginning to feel as ' ' good as any-
body." And why should they not 1 Is there any-
thing degrading in cultivating the soil, the most
important occupation on earth ? The day-laborer
on the farm cannot appear every day in his broad-
cloth and clean dickey, and he is prone to envy
the man who can do so ; and he looks on his
soiled cluthing and long frock as a badge of dis-
grace. Fie on you, man ! It is said, the negro
despises his own color ; and if you are ashamed of
yourself because you are a farmer, all I have to
say is, you are just as wise as the negro.

We might go on and give a great many reasons

sidered presumptive evidence of his respectability.
It is so in Qther professions, tlien why not in ours. —
Plowboy in Granite FarTncr.

THE SEASON.
From the first of June last, up to Tuesday, the
31st of October, rain did not fall in many parts
of New England, in sufficient quantity to wet the
ground as low as the roots of plants penetrate.
Persons digging wells 'found scarcely any signs of
moisture ten and twelve feet below the surface,

and those heretofore affording an abundant supply
why fa7m1ng1hould be respectable ; but'it would! of pure water had become dry, or the water was
be wasting ink to no purpose. Nobody, will deny so impregnated with unpalatable salts as to be-
it. That it is not so respectabje as some other; come unfit for use. Such has been the case in
ca'"

jailing, is also very apparent. Let a man appear ^ instances
in a promiscuous assembly, dressed in such a man- ^ , „,
ner as to indicate that he is a former, and the' ^^ ^^^ ^^^^
" oSicers of the day " never see him ; at church
the sexton seats him in a distant pew, and he is
made to feel in all his intercourse with the world,
that he is nothing but a farmer.

Now respectability depends, as has already been
intimated, on public, opinion ; and the farming
portion of the community, being by far the most

31st of October, the heavens were
opened ; after many incifectual attempts to weep
upon the suffering soil, clouds came over this
region and began gently to shed their rich treas-
ures upon the crying and hungry earth. For-
tunately, the rain fell at first in a thick, drizzling
mist, until the surface was so much moistened as

numerous, tiiey arc capable of controlling this readily to imbibe the copious showers ; it then
opinion ; consequently, all we have to do is, to came freely for several days, frequently accom-
respect ourselves, and if our business is not re-| panied by a strong south wind,
spectable, we may thank ourselves for it. There| ^^ ^^^.j^^^ ^.j^^^^ immediately before the storm
IS no occupation lu the world that gives the la-i, . ^ . . ,, , ^r ■,

borer move leisure time, than farming. This time '^^S^" ' ^"^ interesting neighbors, the Muskrats,
may be spent in improving the mind ; in the ac-{ began to erect their winter habitations, and never
quisition of ideas; consequently, the farmer needjdid they rise with so much alacrity before ; story
not be an ignorant man. Or these leisure hours' after story went up, and what were yesterdav
may be devoted to writing for the agricultural, j ,^^^ apparent heaps of fresh muck on the margin
political, or religious press; and in this wav he ,. ^, . ^ , . . ,.,. . ,

may have an iirflueiice abroad that no pulpit in ^f the river, soon came to imposing edifices, with
the land can equal, for the press at the present | their subterranean and submerged channels, and
day, is the great '-lever that moves the world."; convenient upper rooms. They are now beautiful
Or if some of our farmers would spend their spare pyramids, overlooking the river and adjacent
hours in practicing the art of declamation, I have, ^^^^^^^^ wo hope they will not become to the
no doulit that many of them would become re-, • i , i in , . ^ i . ..

spectable, andsomeof them superior public speak-' P'^*^^ animals " dreadful posts of observation,
ers. There may as well bo learned farmers, as How these curious animals knew the storm was
" learned blar;ksmiths." It is bj^ no means neces- approaching, that the river would suddenly rise'
sary that a farmer should be an ignorant drudge,! and the low lands be overflowed, we have nyt
travelling an unvarying round, " like a horse in, learned. We did not see them looking at the
a bark mill," destitute of the amusements and el-| ,, • ii • i ...

egancies of other professions. In fact, there i.,! weather-vane on a neighboring barn, or watching
no other profession so full of real enjoyment asj t'le state of the barometer, or hold up a wet paw
the farmer's. We have everything the heart cauito ascertain the direction of tlie wimt, yet iflieir
desire; or may have all. It lies in our owuj instinct did not fail to prompt them to proville in
breasts and own wills to say whetiierour occupa-jgood season for the coming waters. How bcau-

tion shall 1)0 respectable. All that is wanting isl ,;p,,i .,„i • , .• „ +„ n „i • • i

,.,,, . \ , .^ ^,. ,!,„„„. „ ^ .? . tilui and instructive to tlie observing munl are
a little more independence of character, so that| i r , , , ,. . , tt

we can stand flp in the conscious dignity of man-, ^''e works of the lower ord.n-s of animals: How
hood, and hoarA that we are farmers. Why, if' <j'jedient to the instincts implanted in tliem. How
all the farmers would do this, their numbers and: forcibly they recal expressive passaged of the
influence would 1)3 such, that the " learned pro-| o-vcat Psalmist

544

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

"0, Lord, how manifold 4ire thy works! in
wisdom hast thou made them all ; the earth is

full of thy riches.

# # # # #

"These wait all upon Thee ; that thou mayest
give them their meat in due season.

'^That Thou givest tliem they gather; Thou
openest Thine hand, and they are filled with
good."

Rarely have we received a better lesson than
this of the Muskrats ; to live truly to the attri-
butes which God has implanted in our natures.
We wish we could recite the lesson as well as we
have learned it.

Now, at this writing, the clouds still portend
a little more rain — the earth is saturated — the
brooks skip with joy, and the springs so long si-
lent, gush up with gladness. Hungry pike find a
wider range on the flooded meadows, among the
reeds and rank grass, and full mill-ponds drive
merry wheels that had become dusty and dull for
want of use.

Winter may now come as soon as it will. We
shall have plenty of water for the cattle, and if
Old Boreas favors us, plenty of ice for the Orien-
tals and for skating upon by the boys. The full
ponds and swamps and bubbling springs will send
out their latent heat to soften the frosty winter
air, and send back in curling vapors to the atmo-
sphere a portion of the moisture they have so re-
cently shed upon us.

CUTTINGS OF FEUIT TEEES.

Cuttings should be made in autumn after
growth has ceased, or early in winter — they may
be preserved by fastening them in a box by slats
running across, and then placing the open side of
the box downwards with its contents in the-bot-
tom of a pit dug for the purpose, on a dry spot
of ground, and burying the whole with earth.
The slats keep the cuttings from coming in con-
tact with the earth below, and they are preserved
in a proper moist condition. Or, they may be
packed in slightly damp moss, in a large box,
placed in a cellar. Very early in spring they
should be set out. Every cutting should be cut
off just above a bud at the upper end, and just
below one at the lower end. Taken off closely to
the old wood, with a base attached, they are
more sure of growth. They should be set out
in a trench, in a rich mellow soil, which is to be
packed or trodden closely al)out them as the
trench is filled, and afterwards a mellow surface
made by drawing on a little more earth. The
length of the cutting should be eight inches to a
foot, and two-thirds to nine-tenths buried. Shad-
ing the cuttings of any deciduous trees, (includ-
ing all fruit trees) is of little or no advantage,
but it IS important to keep the ground uniformly
moist ; if this is done by watering, the surface
should be preserved from crusting or cracking by
mulch. This is the mode of raising quinoe trees,
currants and gooseberry bushes, grapes, &c., but
will not answer for the larger fruits generally,
in the Northern States — it is cheaper to bud or
graft, than to procure the few which may be ob-
tained among many failures in this way. — Albany
Cultivator.

For the New England Farmer.

GUANO.

As your correspondent gives the results of hia
trial of guano, I will give mine. I found an acre
of land, lying unfenced, before the academy,
serving as a pasture for {ill the stray cattle of the
place. I put on a fence and planted it, with a
view of grading when the ground was suitable.
It is of the Connecticut Valley land, a light, worn
soil. Having no manure, 1 bought 150 pounds
of guano and applied on the hill, mixing it well
with the soil. I planted three-fourths with corn,
and the remainder with potatoes. It was hoed
twice, and before the second time, had plaster
and ashes. I left one row without guano. That
came up looking as if it needed a tonic. I plas-
tered half of it, which improved it. The worms
ate it badly, and the drought affected it severely.
I have just harvested fifty bushels of ears, the
corn of which appears plump and sound. This is
rather above the average in this region on similar
land. The crop here is full one-half short from
the drought, except on the low meadows, where
it is fully up to the average. My potatoes are
good, being remarkably large and sound. I think
the average is about 18 hills to the bushel. As
they are not all dug, I cannot give the amount.

I bought and applied half a load of hog ma-
nure, at a cost of 75 cents, including hauling.
The corn planted on this was better than that on
guano, yielding about one-fourth more. The po-
tatoes seemed to be no better than on the guano,
being more in number, but smaller. This, I
think, a common effect of that manure. 1 had,
also, a bushel of beans. These grew well on the
guano. Cost of guano and applying it, about
i$5,00 — the guano costing $4,67. The plaster
and ashes cost $2,25, and was applied to all the
potatoes and corn except half a row. Manure, at
$3 per cord, would have cost me about five times
as much, applied at the rate I used the hog ma-
nure, which gives a volume in favor of the guano.
My crops are as good as those of my neighbor ad-
joining, with thirty loads of stable manure to the
acre. If my ground is not in so good condition
for the next year, I can afford to apply more
guano, and not incur so much expense as he. I
regard the trial as satisfactory.

Several of our men have tried it in various
ways. Mr. D. P. Wheeler applied about 125
pounds to the acre of grass land, on the same
soil and situation as mine. It was estimated to
have doubled the grass. The grass was nearly a
foot taller than where it was not applied, on the
same ground. Its effects are plainly seen in the
after-growth, at this time. He sowed his on
about four inches of sugar snow, which melted
the same day. Dr. Hosford and S. Willard, Esq.,
applied some to grass and to oats in May, with
scarcely perceptible effects. It was applied in
dry weather. Some others applied it in various
ways, but with results not unlike the above.
Those who covered it or applied it while wet, re-
ceived benefit ; those who used it dry, had little.
The trial, on the whole, gave so favorable a
result, that a second, oa a larger scale, will be
made the ensuing year.

A more particular statement of its effects in
particular cases, together with some remarks on
its application, may be made at another time.
I. H. Nutting, M. D.

Orford, N. H., Oct. 5th, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAR]\rER.

545

N.F.WHITE.SC

MacGREGOR'S PATENT PORTABLE
CALDRON FURNACE,

OR, AGRICULTURAL UOILER.

The belief is prevalent now that it is a matter
of economy to cook most of the food fed to swine,
and under this belief many persons are devising
methods of doing it in the cheapest and easiest
way. We have before us a boiler somewhat dif-
ferent in its construction from any we have here
tofore represented, and which is said by some
who have used it to bo superior to any other.
We have not tried it. The description below is
from Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co. 'a
catalogue.

" These furnaces are made witn nu-x '.Mt.hout
covers, very substantial, and are more durable
than any others in use ; are arranged for wood
or fitted with grates and fire bi'ick lining for coal
With the lining they are ever durable by replacing
the bricks occasionally, at an expense of only
$1,25, and can be used with wood with equal
facility as if not lined.

They require less amount of fuel to accomplish
the same amount of work than any other furnace
or boiler, either set in iron or brick.

They heat equally as quick at the front as at
the back part, the fire and draught being en-
tirely under the control of the operator by simply
moving one damper at the back part, consequently
they are well adapted for all manufacturing and
mechanical purposes, and for farmers' use, where
an equal and governable heat is required. For
the boiling of oil, the rendering of tallow, lard
and such like articles, the boiling of food for
stock, and the scalding of hogs, this article is
unequalled by any furnace or boiler in the mar-

ket. They have been fully tested eight years
with much success. They are of different sizes,
holding from i barrel to 4 barrels."

For the Ifew England Farmer.

BURNT CLAY, MEANS GRASS, &c.

Burnt clay is now extensively used, in some
sections of the country, as a manure for garden
soil. It is generally prepared, I believe, by first
accumulating a quantum sufficit of woody matter,
and covering it with clay. The mass is then
ignited, and burnt till the wood is reduced to
coal and ashes, similar to the manner pursued in
coal ))urning. The charcoal, ashes and clay thus
furnished, constitutes an excellent dressing, and
produces highly beneficial effects on both crop

Means Grass — \.o^..,i „ tt , \ mu> •

a native of Syria, and belongs /o¥n"rJ-T^'f»«
as bi'oom corn. It has recently been introduced
to notice in this country by some experiments
made in Massachusetts and New York, where its
cultivation has been attended with considerable
success. It can be cut several times in a season,
and is consequently well adapted to soiling.

Strawherry Runners. — These sliould be con-
templated in the light of weeds, and destroyed.
They arc no less detrimental to the plants tlian
ordinary kinds of spurious vegetation, and pro-
duce effects equally as deleterious upon the crop.
A writer in the Gardener^ s Chronicle remarks:
" So convinced am I of the propriety of cultiva-
ting this fruit in separate and distinrt plants, and
uf cutting off the runners, that I liave this season
taken out a plant between cacli of my planta-
tions— thus making the distance between each
Y>\Ani four feet by three.'''' This is, perhaps, run-
ning somewhat too far into the opposite extreme ;
but there can be no question that an o]ten ar-
rangement is preferable to a close and crowded
one.

546

NEW ENGLAND FARMER. -

Dec.

A writer in one of the agricultural journals,
in course of observations on Strawberry Culture,
after asserting his opinion that most persons
allow tlieir vines " to run themselves to death,''
gjiy;^ ; — " If you would obsei've the plants that
bear the best in the fields, you will see that they
are tliose which have but few or no runners ;
while those which have run very much, and be-
come matted, bear little or no fruit. This is a
lesson worth observing, when you come to culti-
vate the ^-awberry in the garden. Where the
wild plant nas not sent out much runner, from
some cause or other, you will find the stock large
and strong, the leaves broad and healthy, and the
fruit, which has tlie benefit of both sun and air,
is large and high flavored. If you have straw-
berry plants in your garden, keep the runners
down to a foot in lengtli, and you will make them
healthier and more fruitful." Gardener.

INaUIEY AND OBSERVATION.

It is not expected that the farmer shall have an
exact knowledge of the construction of the trees
and plants which he cultivates with so much care ;
or of the anatomy and physiology of the animals
which he rears. lie cannot learn the precise hab-
its of the insects whicli destroy his crops, their pe
riods of coming and retiring, or the office which it
is designed they shall fill in the economy of nature.
Yet a general knowledge of the laws which govern
them, and a constant observation of their habits,
will divest us of much of the repugnance felt to-
wards them, and lead us to a profound contempla-
tion of the wisdom and goodness of the Great Ar-
chitect of all.

We plant the seed, and behold the germ springs
to the light and air. What wonderful operations
are still carried on ! The tree assumes the most
stately, as well as graceful forms — the buds, the
leaves, blossoms, and fruit appear, surpassing in
beauty all art of the most skilful hands. It fur-
nishes fuel, shade, fragrance, sustennn'^^- -■'^'^-

, ,. . u-uuimer heats, or winter

times nrr.w.f'— -^ ^ . „ , ^
winds, and always beauty to tlie landscape.

But th« farmer too often stands in the midst of
hie trees, his plants, and flowers, of his corn, and
grass, and grain, which he has caused to grow,
and looks upon them as the result of a mere me-
chanical operation. He overlooks that wonderful
and mysterious agency which prepares the food,
diversified as it is, and sends it to the farthest
bud and leaf of a monarch of the forest, or the
minutest tendril of the tiny vine. He plosvs, be-
cause it is easier to plfvnt and hoe in a loose soil,
fogetting that, in a fine tilth, there are millions
more mouths to receive the food which the plant
requires than in a compact soil ; that these open
mouths catch fertilizing substances from every
passiAg breeze, and drink them in from the cool-
ing dews and genial showers. He forgets that

the sand which he applied to the clay land, has

found potash in the soil, become soluble, been ta- Z:Z^ ^"^' -----,—- uuua.y u« wen -^^
^ ' 'ourselves, enjoy their brief existence and die. Our

ken up by the roots of the plant, carried to its
utmost extremities, and now covers the straw of
his wheat-field, with a delicate and beautiful coat-
ing of sand, or enamel, which gives it strength
to stand erect, and thus present its seeds to the in-
fluences of the sun and air, and bring them to
perfection.

While he reaps, shall he not inquire how this
came, and compare it with another field, which
fell to the ground and failed to perfect its grain 1
Will he not investigate these causes and thus ac-
quire more knowledge of the operations of na-
ture, and more power over his crops ?

By an accurate knowledge of the times when
insects appear, and the kinds of plants on which
they prefer to feed, the time of planting and sow-
ing may be varied, so that it may be possible to es-
cape their ravages in some degree in this manner ;
or as their period of existence is often very brief,
we may learn their time of retiring to a winter
home, and destroy them there by late plowing or
other means. The season of their coming and
retiring, the food they require, and the length
of time they remain, being accurately understood,
will, at least, give us a power over them we do
not now possess. But this is not all we gain.
This knowledge admits us to some of the secret
and wonderful operations of irrational life, and
thus leads us, by successive steps, "through na-
ture up to nature's God."

The Rose Bug, for instance, has received its
name from its annual appearance coinciding with
the blossoming of that plant, and this fact may
operate as a note of preparation against its rava-
ges ; and so it may aid us against the Caterpillar,
Cankerworm, Curculio, and Beetles. The latter
insect sometimes proves exceedingly destructive.
The discoverv wo- ^«,a^ hj a gen-tleman, that
th^j ,/3iced and defoliated his cherry trees in the
night. When this habit was known, they were
shaken down and destroyed in large numbers, and
the trees afterwards saved. This fact was learned
by reference to a work on insects, and will illus-
trate what it has become too fixshionable to con-
demn as Book-Farming, as if facts recorded in a
book or newspaper were not as valuable a? though
declared by the tongue. To be consistent, the
scoffer at Book-Farming should reject many of
the best j^ractices of the farmer now, because Vir-
gil wrote of them ; or Cato, or Columella, or
Jetliro Tell, commended them.

The insect race has its part to fill in the great
plan, and that part is undoubtedly an important
one. We accuse them of encroachments when
they select, as their favorite food, the plants we
are cultivating for our own pleasure or profit. It
may be, that in their deliberations and conventions,
if they hold any, they look upon us as the aggres-
They feed on the common bounty as well as

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

547

domestic animals do the same ; but we make them
subserve our purposes, and are content. We
have not yoked the insect race to our implements
for practical purposes ; but having this decided
advantage of them, the possession of reason, it is
the part of wisdon to study their habits with
patient care, until we become as well convinced
of their usefulness, as we are of that of the Ox
and Cow, and that an intelligent Being placed
them here for our good.

Many of the Beetles live on plants not only of
little use to man, but some of them poisonous,
and in a state of decay often offensive ; they are
therefore to be reckoned among our friends. Some
live on the juices of animals, and by this means
destroy a great number of noxious insects. Others
are of service in the arts, affording us the costly
cochineal, scarlet grain, lac and manna. Drag-
on flies and some others subsist upon plant-lice,
and thus become our active protectors.

For the A'tw England Farmer.

BLACKBERRY—HEN MANURE—SALT
FOR CATTLE.

The Blacklerry. — This delicious fruit has
rarely received tlie attention of the cultivator,
though eminently deserving of all the care that
can be bestowed upon it. A correspondent of the
Albany Cultivator, over the signature of " S. H.,"
gives the experience of a friend of his, " who has
a beautiful hedge, which produces a great abun-
dance of excellent fruit." He says: "The plants
are set out in rows four or five feet apart, and
are kept free from weeds through the summer.
In the fall, these spaces (between the rows) are
filled _ with leaves from the forest. The next
spring a quantity of ashes is strewn between the
rows — these, with the leaves, are all the means
used to sHciivo. a httiiutiful harvest every year."

Hen Manure.— Like guano, neu -»or,ii re pos-
sesses many valuable properties, in a form mosL
conveniently concentrated. In all cases, however,
where it is applied directly as a stimulant to
crops, it should be compounded with some less
powerful material, as loam, muck, or garden soil.
This is a necessary precaution, as the depositing
of the seed on or beneath it, would inevitably
prove fatal to its vitality. Mr. VV. Bacon, an
occasional correspondent in the Farmer, in the
American Agriculturist says :

" I have lately been infarmed, by an intelligent
and skilful cultivator, tliat the following' prepara-
tion affords an ample and complete remedy. Take
hen manure one part, reduce it as well as you
can to powder ; then with an equal part of plas-
ter of Paris, incorporate well together, and
sprinkle tlie mixture over the vines, or sow it
over the drills of your turnips.

Hen manure is free from the seeds of foul

used, however, in its application, for if given in
too large quantities, and placed in too close
proximity to the roots of the plant, its effects are
fatal. Its value for all purposes is greatly in-
creased by being mixed with charcoal, or when
this is not at hand, with plaster. Every man
who keeps hens should have his hen-house so con-
structed as to save all the manure, and save it
dry as may be, and he will find it no inconsid-
erable item in his matters of rurv.1 economy."

Salt for Cattle. — When cattle are allowed
to partake freely of green and fermentable food,
and especially on changing to it from dry ali-
ment, they require a constant and liberal supply
of salt. One quart of salt, and three of wood
ashes, mixed, should be given to a full-grown
animal monthly. Observer,

EVENING.

See I the shadows now are stealing
Slowly down the mountain's breast —

Hark ! the turret bells are pealing
Cheerily the hour of rest.

Now the mellow daylight closes^

All the world from toil reposes ;

Every breeze has sunk and died—

'Tis the peaceful eventide.

O'er the vale the mists are creeping ;

Chauntins hive-ward wends the bee ;
One by one the stars are peeping

Through the welkin tranquilly.
Murmuring, like a child dreaming,
Starlight on its ripples gleaming,
Through the mead the brook doth glide.
In the solemn eventide.

Oh 1 how sweet, at day's declining,

'Tis to rest from earth-born care ;
Gazing on those far worlds sliining,

Dreaming that our home is there.
Though the shadowy gates of even
Shut out earth, they open heaven,
Where the soul would fain abide
Ih the holy eventide,

Dublin Univ. Mag.

Ali

For the New England Farmer.

lu) superiors
weeds, and, in consequence of tlie greitt abundance iil^^ys plow with a short chain, and giiage the

Gentlemen : — Wishing that all those engaged
in agricultural pursuits should have tlie best tools
in use, I take the liberty to write you, althougli
we are strangers, that in my opinion, among the
most important tools is a good i)low. 1 find that
in 184'.), Sept. 14th, I bought of you an Kaglo
Plow, No. 2, with Wheel Cutter, for which I
paid you $11. With this plow I have done the
most of my plowing from tliat time to the present ;
and you will find, by looking at the Barnstable
Patriot of the 17th inst., I took the first premium
for plowing at the Fair. The irons, by long use,
are somewhat worn, but I tliiuk, by general ob-
servation, that tlie Eagle Plow, No.. 2, for plow-
ing all kinds of ground, lias but few equals and
Tliis plow runs deep, and you can

of ammonia it contains, it possesses a great effijutlplow by^ the wlieeh
in pushing plants forward. Il(;nce, for tomatoes,
peppers and similar plants in our northern cli-
mate, it possesses high value. It is well worth
being saved with care, by farmers and gardeners,
for every purpose of cultivation. Care should be

I plowed at the Fair 7
inches, the others less. At 7 inches, tlie plow
runs easy and light for tlic oxen and tliose that
manage tlie plow. I bought of you last May an
Improved Cultivator, Rogers' steel teeth ; this I
think to be one of the best in use, and I would

548

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

advise all those who want the best implements, to
use those named above.

Respectfully, E. T'. Cobb.
Barnstable, Oct., 1854.

AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL
VALUE OF RAILROADS.

The Democracy/, a journal recently established
at Buifalo by an association of gentlemen, and
conducted witli a good deal of ability, publishes
the following table and remarks illustrating the
value of railroads. — Hunfs Magazine.

Upon the ordinary highways, the economical
limit to transportation is confined within a com
paratively fiiw miles, depending, of course, upon
the kind of freight and the character of the roads
Upon the average of such ways, the cost of trans-
portation is not far from fifty cents per ton per
mile, which may be considered as a sufficiently
correct estimate for the whole country. Esti-
mating, at the same time, the value of wheat at
$1.50 per bushel, and corn at seventy-five cents,
and that thirty-three bushels of each are equal
to a ton, the value of the former would be equal
to its cost of transportation three hundred and
thirty miles, and the latter one hundred and
sixty-five miles. At these respective distances
from market, neither oi the above articles would
have any commercial value, with only a common
earth road as an avenue to market. But we find
that we can move property upon railroads at the
rate of fifteen cents per ton per mile, or for one-
tenth the cost upon the ordinary road. These
works, therefore, extend the economic limit of
the cost of transportion of the above articles to
3,300 and 1,650 miles respectively.

Statement showing the value of a ton of yiheat, and
one of corn, at given points from market, as
affected by cost of transportation by railroad and
over the ordinary road.

Transportation by
railroad,

Transportation by
highway.

Value at market.

10 miks from "

30 do!

40 do.

50 do.

60 do.

70 do.

80 do.

90 do.

100 do.

110 do.

120 do.

130 do.

140 do.

160 do.

160 do.

170 do.

$«;50

'(lor.]...49.20

do 49.25

do 48.90

do 48.75

do 48.60

do 48.45

do 48.40

do 48.14

do 48.00

do 47.85

do 47.70

do 47.55

do 47.40

do 47.25

do 47.10

do 46.95

*^i66

24.40
24.30
24.14
24.00
23.85
23.70
23.55
23.40
23.25
23.10
22.99
22.80
22.65
22.50
22.35
22.20

4S.00
46.50
45.00
43.50
42.00
40.50
39.00
37.50
86.00
34.80
33.00
31-50
30.00
28.50
27.00
25.50
24.00

$24,

23.25

21.75

20.25

18.74

17.25

15.75

14.25

12.75

11.25

9.75

8.25

6.75

5.25

3.75

2.25

75

How wonderfully does the railroad enhance the
value of farming lands at a distance from market !
American flirms, generally speaking, are very far
from market. Indeed, New York is the market
for the bulk of the northern agricultural products.
Most English fixrms have a market nearly in sight
of them. But ours are for the most part so far
away, that railroads of long lines and long connec-
tions instantly double, treble, quadruple, and
quintuple the worth of grain lands near where

they run. This has been the case in Ohio, Mich-
igan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Canada.
The President of the Nashville and Chattanoogo
road has stated, that the increase in the value of
a belt of land ten miles wide, lying upon each side
of thatline, was equal to $G,50 per acre, or $96,000
for every mile of road, which cost the company
only $20,000 a mile. It has been calculated that
the construction of the 2,000 miles of railroad in
Ohio would add to the value of landed property
in that State three hundred millions of dollars —
that is, five times the cost of the roads, which
was $60,000,000. The country can stand bank-
ruptcies that come through railroad enterprises,
if it can stand any. Of all forms, they are the
least mischievous.

NEW SYSTEM OF PRESERVING MEAT.

If fresh meat could be had from distant coun-
tries, where it bears a very low price, the people
of France would bo able to purchase a much larg-
er quantity of animal food ; but this has been
hitherto impossible, for the cost of transport and
of fattening would be such as to make the meat
dearer than that which is raised in France. At-
tempts have been made to preserve meats in the
cheap countries, and export them to France, but
they have all failed. There is now a project be-
fore the Emperor and the Minister of War for
the drying of meat in South America, where it
can be had at about one sou per pound, and im-
porting it from thence for the use of the army
and navy. We have seen some specimens of meat
dried in Paris, and which at the expiration of
five months were perfectly good. In South Amer-
ica a very large quantity of meat is dried in the
sun, but the process carries away a very large
portion of the nutritious properties, and it re-
mains good only for a few weeks. The process
on which the government has now to give a de-
cision is simple and apparently efiicacious. The
water of the meat, which forms a very large por-
tion of its bulk, is removed ; and not by heated
air, which has been freano^ti^jr txlcd, aud never
with succes.a. ^'^^ oy mechanical means ; the meat
;. iiien plunged into a sort of varnish made from
the gelatinous portions of the animal, and which
not only forms a hard surface, but also enters in-
to_ the pores of the meat and augments the nu-
trition, and then the meat is gradually dried. In
about fifteen da^'s it is fit for packing, and will,
according to the assertion of the inventors, keep
good for two or three years. When required for
use, the meat is put for a few minutes into water,
and it nearly resumes its original bulk, and is
cooked in the usual way. If it be true that meat
thus prepared will keep for two or three years, or
even for one year, the adoption of the process will
produce an enormous change in the economy of
subsistence. In South America it can be pre-
pared at about two sous per lb., including every
cost. As it is reduced in bulk about one-half,
the cost to transport would not exceed one sou,
and it could be sold in France, with a profit of
25 per cent. , at four sous per lb. South American
moat is not, perhaps, equal in quantity to that
raised in France, but even supposing it to be infe-
rior to the extent of 20 per cent., the working-
classes and the poor would have an abundant sup-
ply of animal food. — Galignani.

1854.

NEAV ENGLAND FARMER.

549

For the New Engrland Farmer.

FARMER FOR OCTOBER.

Guano. — A report of some very careful exper-
iments with Guano, by Mr. Putnam. My own
onions, with tears in their eyes, unite with his in
saying that guano does not agree with their
stomachs, although some of the doctors said it
must he just the thing for their constitutions. I
phmted a beJ of top onions in drills over guano
well mixed with hen manui-e and soil, and then,
with the determination of having a premium bed,
it was repeatedly watered with a weak dilation

thankfully received ; and the assurance of such
men that " respectable employment " for females
may be found in "dress making," in " manufac
turing establishments," &c. will do good. In this
neighborhood, nurses readily command from four
to six dollars per week, and are often procured
with difficulty at any price. Should not this be
added to the list of employments for which fe-
males should be educated ?

Fall and Spring iS'ranspIanting . — Whichever
way the question of superiority may be finally
decided, t!ie fact that both seasons will answer.

of guano." But I did not got the premium ; forjremains to encourage us to plant both spring and
" all through the season they had a sickly look " jfnU, until the question is settled.
and a feeble growth. I hope his seventy-five j Manuring Fruit Trees. — Why would not the
pounds upon his corn land will give a more favor- j common crowbar answer for making the holes for
able report. A fesv missing hills are all the liquid manure, which are bored l)y the machine

effects I am aTile positively to report of part of a
bag put in the hills, on a dry sandy soil.

Why is the farmer diseontented? — " Because the
occupation is not understood," is almost the last
reason I should assign. Do not nine farmers out
of ten know better than they do — are cramped
and hindered liy want of means and time rather
than by want of knowledge ? Tell the farmer
who has no orchard, no cunnints, no flowers, no
wood-pile, no pig-pen, no conveniences at all, that
he don't know how to plant a tree or bush, that
he don't understand chopping wood, that he has
not ingenuity enough to lix up a fence or make a
shelter for his pigs, and would he acknowledge
that to be the reason of his discontent '? Hard
work and small pay at home, an easy life and
large wages abroad, seem the alternatives that
are constantly before the mind of young farmers,
while many old ones believe that almost every
body else live easier, more comfortable and gen-
teel than themselves. So long as this is the case,
BO long will farmers remain discontented, and
just so long they have a right to be discontented.
Nor will education or science better the matter
much. Does the 3'oung man and the young
woman rush from the larm" for the factory and
shop to find food for fhfl mind ? Do the multi-
tude go to California for the deveiop..v.:.nt-, of their
intellectual faculties ? So long as the conviction
remains upon the minds of farmers that those
who leave the business make out better than those
do who remain in it, it is pretty much useless to

preach them into contentment. These things 1 The Useful and the Beautiful. — In this article
will regulate themselves. When the trades and [we are told that Downing and others made " a
professrons are filled up, or crowded down, to a j very vital mistake, not in the good or bad corn-
level with a'^riculture— when people cannot do jiiling of English authors, but in having had any
" "■" " .-- 1 . - . ■ . .. . 11 It is not true

an
il

and otliers, that it is so now. I number of tlie monthly Fanner, in a dissertatiop

hero described 1

Honor to the Farmer's Wife. — If " not more
than one out of two are capable of managing
their part successfully," have not old l^achelors
about an even chance, notwithstanding the " im-
possible idea ? " .

About Apple Trees. — Directions for planting
and managing. On most " old land " I should
recommend, as essential, the use of some kind of
compost in planting, to give the tree a start.
]Mud or muck, mixed with ashes, lime, salt, plas-
ter, leaves, &c., or piled up alone to " slack," a
few months before being used, will put the inches
on the ends of the twigs and on the body of the
tree, the first year. A groat many apple trees
have been " set " within a few years past ; yet a
person will see but few thrifty young orchards,
in a trip of a hundred miles in any part of New
England.

A Good Garden. — History of a merchant's gar-
den. " Ten barrels of good apples for winter,"
beside lots in the fall ; "all the pears we want ; "
" twenty kinds of roses and nearly one hundred
sorts of flowers ; " " plenty of the finest plums I
ever saw;" "bushels of grapes ; " "potatoes,
beets, carrots, turnips, cabbages, onions, beans,
peas, corn, cucumbers, melons, squashes, and
Dumpkins, as many as our folks want to use, all
on less a. — onp-h^lf acre of land, without any

help but my girls in tuv. a. riQ.-,ni.r.v.or.f "

Poor old New England !
I

'^Aiiaruiient.

level with agriculture — when people cannot do juling ot ii,iigli8li autuors, out in naving nau an;
any better elsewhere, they will be content to till | thing to do with them at all. ... It is not tru
the soil. Many think that this will be tlie case that English works are adapted to America)
soon; some believe, with your correspondent " A 'wants, but just the contrary. "_ In the AjM-i

City Mechanic,'

Every one jvill decide for himself.

Make your Girls Independent.— MuchmKvy and
other causes have of late made sad havoc of
"woman's rights." xMany of her occupations
are gone entirely; and in looking about for sub

on " What a Garden should be," the same wri-
ter, after condemning the " straiglit lines and
right angles" of time immemorial, says: "It
was reserved for Enghind to suliliinate out of the
whole mass of artificial gavdeningj a truer and

stitutes, it is not strange that she should coca- 1 more natural style." I am well aware that un-
sionally interfere with the prerogatives of thejedueated people, like myself, ought to distrust
other sex, especially as tall men find it more ! their own " taste " when it differs from that of
profitable 'to make bonnets, to bake bread, toithe learned and cultivated. But I iinmt .nmfess
measure ribbons, pick up type, display calico, j to a •' taste "' for geometrical regularity and pro-
teach children, and be" kitchen corporals," tlian jiortion, and cannot agre.' witii Mr. Downnig in
to plow the fields or rear herds. Mr. French's Icommcnding tlie man who threw up potatoes to
article will be much read. Suggestions from Iplant trees by, lest his workman sliould fiill into
such a source on this important subject will bo the vulgarism of geomvtrieul figures; nor can I

550

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

see 'much beauty in the necessity which compels
me to " box tlie compass " in following a winding
path from the highway to my front door.

Another Specimen of Farming — and a very fa-
vorable one too. 1 understand the writer to say
that although he is able to do only about 15 or
20 days work in the summer, he finds after paying
" all expenses," a profit of $336 annually, over
and above the support of his family. l)o the
clothing and groceries come ..out of this, or are
they paid for out of the profits of some other pro-
fession, to which the time of " D. M." is mainly
devoted ?

State Almshouse at Teivk'bury, Ms. — The ac-
count which is here giveu^l the six hundred in-
mates of this institution, is a most sad one. That
such an accumulation of ignorance, vice and mis-
ery should be possible in Massachusetts, in our
day, is enough to make the blood run cold, and
to prove that there /5 a difference between virtue
and vice.

Cetonia Inda. — A description of an insect in-
jurious to the peach.

" English Vegetables afid Meats," "Application
of Manures," " Tanning," " Cider Mills," and
other machines, "Chapter on Husbandry," "Con-
cord Grape," " City Mechanics and Country Far-
mers," " Marrow Squash," "Wages," and a great
variety of other articles, must be passed over. I
will here suggest to every reader of the Farmer,
that the inquiries which are made of the Editor
for information ujjon almost every branch of agri-
culture, and which are usually pilaced under the
heading "Extracts and Replies," ought to be
answered by. all who think they can give any in-
formation, from their own practice or observa-
tion. This department of the paper might thus
be greatly increased in value, for in many coun-
sellors there is safety. Besides, these familiar
questions and answers could hardly be classed as
" book-farming," and might thus do more good
than elaborate essays. The corn is now pretty
much husked, and the long evenings may be well
employed by those who seldom write, in answer-
ing the questions of the less experienced.

Winchester, Oct., 185i. A Reader.

cvT the New England Farmer.

SOAP, WHITE LEAD AND OIL.

Mk. Editor ; — It is not so generally known as
it should be, that a mixture of the above named
ingredients makes an excellent coating for gates,
fences and out-buildings. The addition of the
soap (soft soap only is to be used) considerably
diminishes the expense of the paint, without in
any degree lessening its durability, or the facility
of laying it on.
. I have a house, the north-west side of which
wqis painted Avith this mixture nineteen years
agOj and the paint is now much more brilliant
than that put upon the other sides at the same
tiuie, though the latter was of the best quality of
white lead and oil, and four heavy coats applied,
while of the soap paint 1 applied l)ut two. Fences
p:unted with this mixture, as well as the roofs of
buildings, for which purpose any coloring matter,
or pigment, may be substituted for the lead, en-
dure much longer, it is ascertained, than those
paintecl with pure oil paint. The . Ikalescent
qualities of the compound tend to indurate the

fibres of the wood, and render them impervious
to those atmospheric influences which are the
chief cause of decay and rot. The quantity of
soap to be used can be best ascertained by expe-
rience ; on this point no definite rules can be
prescribed.

MILK.

The value of milk for dairy purposes, depends,
to a considerable extent upon the animals kept.
When analyzed, the fluid is found to consist of
three distinct substances, viz : — cream, curd, and
whey, into which it separates spontaneously in a
state of repose. According to Berzelius, cream
has a specific gravity of 1.0244, and consists in
one hundred parts, of butter, 4.5, caseous mat-
ter, 3.5, and of whey, 92. On analysis, caseous
matter yields carbon 59.78 ; hjdrogen, 7.42 ; ox-
ygen, 11.40; nitrogen, 21.38. When deprived of
its cream, milk has a specific gravity of 1.03, and,
in one thousand parts, yields of water, 928.75 ;
caseous matter, 28 ; sugar of milk, 35 ; muriate
and phosphate of potassa, 195. There are also
noticeable traces of other substances.

Every farmer must have observed a striking dif-
ference in the quality of milk. While some ani-
mals produce a thin, bluifih fluid, others yield a
rich, yellow, or cream-colored milk, which is in
every respect superior for any purpose. Feed, no
doubt, as we have often taken occasion to observe,
has a very decided influence in determining the
quality of the milk of most animals ; yet there
are some cows which can never be made to pro-
duce a rich article, be they kept as they may.
This fact — :generally well understood it is pre-
sumed by the more experienced and practical part
of the community — is of very great importance to
the former, and should be scrupulously attended
to in the seleob'^-° ^^ ''^nimals for dairy purposes.
T* wois, ordinarily speaking, as much to keep a
poor animal, or one that yields a poor or indifier-
ent quantity of milk, as it does to feed a superior
milker. We are not sure but that in very many
cases, it actually costs more to keep the poor ani-
mal.

There are generally indications of good milkers,
which will be of great service, if they are studied
so as to become familiar with them.

London Currants. — A writer in the Horticul-
turist speaks of the fine currants of the market
gardens near London, which are grown in the
following manner : They are planted in rows
twenty or thirty feet apart, and three or four
feet apart in the rows ; the ground which is natu-
rally good is highly manured, and cropped be-
tween with vegetables. When the plants com-
mence bearing, they are pruned very hard ; the
greater part of the young wood is thinned out,
and what is allowed to remain is shortened back
to three or four inches. By this means the trees
are always kept short, never attaining a greater
hight than two or three feet. These strong

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

551

manui-ed and -well-pruned trees produce magnifi-
cent fruit, and in great abundance, well remu-
nerating the market gardener for his trouble.

FEEDING OF ANIMALS.

RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF FOOD FOR MAN YIELDED

BY THE SAME HERBAGE IN THE FORMS OF

BEEF AND MILK.

A curious economical question, in connection
•with the value of vegetable produce in feeding
cattle, presents itself to us when we (!omo to com-
pare the proportions of human food which may
De obtained from the same weight of lierl)age
when cattle are fed with it for different immediate
purposes.

A ton of hay may be given to a bullock to be
converted into beef. Anotlier ton of the same
hay may be given to a cow to be converted into
milk. Would the beet or the milk produced con-
tain the larger supply of food for man? We
have rather imperfect data to rely upon in an-
swering this question, but they lead us to very in-
teresting results.

1. According to Sir John Sinclair, the same
herbage which will add 112 lb. to the weight of
an ox, will enable a cow to yield 450 wine gal-
lons, or 3G00 lb. of milk. This milk will contain
ICO lb. of dry curd, 100 lb. of butter, 180 lb. of
sugar, and 18 lb. of saline matter, while the 112
lb, of beef will not contain more than 25 lb. or
30 lb. of dry muscle, fat, and saline mutter to-
gether ; that is to say, the same weight of her
bage which will produce less tlian 30 lb. of dry
human food in the form of beef, will yield 500
lb. in the form of milk

2. But this statement of Sir John Sinclair's is,
I fear, not to be relied upon. We have another,
however, something different, from Riedesel, a
Continental authority. He says that tlie same
quantity of hay will produce either 100 U). of
beef, or 100 imperial gallons (1000 lb.) of milk.
This quantity of milk contains only 150 lb. of dry
food, but it is still five times as much as is con-
tained in thij beef.

This statement of Riedesol is also lo u.. received i,' ., , ,, ^ ,., ^ ^ r ^i <■

with hesitation ; but the subject is interesting ana boiled potatoes to the extent of three or fourper
important, as well as curious and is deserving of|--;;— -^-rm ^for^a^fW^ hov^s^
further investigation. Should

1. T/tc breed or constitution, every feeder knows,
lias a great influence on the apparent value of
food. Some breeds, like the improved short-horn,
have a natural tendency to fatten, which makes
them increase in weight more rapidly than other
breeds, when fed upon the same food. And even
in the same breed, the rapidity with which one
animal lays on flesh will sometimes make it two
or three times more profitable to the farmer than
others which are fed along with it.

2. Warmth and shelter cause the same amount
of food to go farther, as do also gentle treatment
and the a1\sence of glaring light. Sheep have
produced dou1)le the weight of mutton from the
same weight of vegetable food, when fed under
shelter, and kept undisturbed and in the dark.
It is probably from this Ijeneficial influence of
warmth that, in the North American states, a
difference of 25 per cent is observed in favor of
the spring and summer over the winter feeding of
the pigs upon similar food.

3. The form in which the food is given is of no
less importance. Grass newly cut goes farther
than after it is made into hay ; and the opinion
is now becoming very generally prevalent, that
steamed, boiled, or otherwise prepared food, is
more vrholesoine for cattle, and more economical
to the feeder, than the same food given in a dry
state.

In the case of horses, the difference between
the practice of giving all the food dry and uncut,
and that of giving all the hay cut with the oats
and beans crushed, and an evening meal of steam-
ed food, is such as to effect a saving of nearly one-
third. Thus, the same wagon horses which con-
sumed 3.^ bushels of oats per week, and 14
stones of hay, when given uncut, uncruslied, and
uncooked, were kept in good condition by 2^ bush-
els of oats, 8 stones of hay, and 7 lb. of linseed
when the grain was crushed, the hay cut into
half-inch chaff, and tlie linseed with a little Ijean-
meal and cut hay made into a steamed meal-fed in
the evening.*

The malting and sprouting of barky is by many
practical men considered to increase its nutritive
qualities. It is certain that, when mixed with

the nonulation ™^^*^ produces a preparea in.. a u;.h is much rcl-
,, ^ , Z^^'' P^P'^^-'^'f^'ished by milch cows, and IS prohtable to tlie uai

of the country ever liecome so dense as to render _^^^^^-^ ^1^^^.^ j^ ^^.^^^^ ^^ ^^y^^^,^ tl^^t gij^jiar
a rigorous economy oi food a national question, |^^^.^^^j^.,^^^.j,,^ .^^j,^,^ j^j^^^g ^f ^^^^ ^o^j^j produce

butcher-meat, if the above data deserve any reli
ance — will l)e banished from our tables, and a
milk diet will be tlie daily sustenance of almost
all classes of society.

INFLUENCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN MODIFYING THE

PRACTICAL VALUES OF ANIMAL AND

VEGETABLE FOOD.

The indications of theory, and the results of
general practice, in regard to the nutritive power
of different vegetable substances, are modified by
many circumstances which ought to be borne in
mind. Whether fed for work, or for tlie produc-
tion of flesh or milk, the effect of the food given

similar ))eneficial effects.

jNIr. Hudson, of Castle Acre, feeds his farm-
horses on 1*2 lb. of sprouted barley a-day, besides
their fodder ; and this, on his ligiit land, keeps
them in good condition. It is prepared by steep-
ing tlie barley for 24 hours, and then putting it
into a heap and turning it over for live days.

5. The souring of food of all kinds lias, by al-
most universal consent, been found to make it
more profitable in the feeding and fattening of
pigs. It makes them fatten faster, and gives a
firmer and whiter flesh.

Many other circumstances also modify the real

uonoi uesnorim.K, ue ^■"^■^•' "'.^"Y-rv*^", nracticil value of food, and :ause it to produce
to an mals will depend partly on the kind, breed, rr^i^"(..u\aiueui >u , • ,i|,..,f,.,i »,,, it< clu.m-
, . . f. ,, ' • 1 -i ic i.1 ri'v)iiU« <lincri'iit troiu those inuuaieu uy u^ < nem-

and constitution of the animal itself— on the gen- |<-«"i^s umLrcni, ..* m i- j

eral treatment to wliich it is subjected, and the '^''^^ composition.

place in which it is kept — on its size and state of | * J,^^^ .j^y feertiiig being— Jny 12 lb., with oats an.i beans 14

health— and on the form in which t^ie food itself ,ib.; thcsteamci f.ci-i.uy 3 ib., beans 3 lb., iinse«d i ib.-

. \caird\i EtiirtiKh .IsriciiHiire.v. -HI).

" Si^^'^- Johnston's Ag. Chemistry an,d QcQlogy.

552

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

For the New England Farmer.

CITY MECKAIJICS AND COUNTRY
FARMERS-— NO. 4.

WHT FARMING IS PKOFITAIJLE.

Our last number, so far as it had reference to
the subject under discussion, wiS a mere state-
ment of the fact, that of my own family connec
tions, those who remained farmers are better off
for a living, than those of us are •who learned
trades.

The question. Why is it so ^ was kept in my
mind while I was looking into their circumstan
ces, their modes of life, their means of getting
money, their ways of saving and of spending it,
and 1 think I have discovered the important se-
cret of their success, and of our failure.

Merely to say that farming is more projitable,
in the usual sense of the word, does not satisfy
me ; for I do not believe it to be true. I fully be-
lieve that no class of people in the country work
so many hours for a dollar as farmers — that into
the pockets of no other class does money come as
reluctantly and slowly as it does into the pockets
of farmers. Nor can I allow that they are, nat
urally, more shrewd, saving, or thrifty than those
of us who happened to learn trades. The secret
of their superior success, therefore, is one worth
knowing, and for tlie discovery of which, I must
claim all the credit I am entitled to. But before
divulging it, directly, as might be done in few
words, we will take a peep at the farmer, and at
the mechanic, as they return of a Saturday night
to their respective homes.

The farmer seats himself by an open door, that
his eye may glance over the fields. He has been
haying for several weeks, and expects it will
require one or tWo more to finish. The weather
has been hot and rather " catching," and he has
worked early and late to save his hay and dodge
the showers. An old scythe and an old shirt
liave given out to-day. A new scythe must be
had on Monday morning, any how, although he
has not received the " first red cent "" for his last
month's hard labor. The old shirt may be
patched, for his account at the store is running
up strangely this year. Besides, his hay is rather
light — the barn is hai'dly up to the beams, vet-r-
and instead of having a sipe-l/^ ^T"^™*"^ ".' ^^
afraid Af ^^'>'""« ^'-"n or lodder before winter is
vnz. How natural, how absolutely unavoidable
is an economy that shall tell, in a family thus
situated.

The mechanic comes home on Saturday night
with the looked-for, calculated-upon, ten dollar
ImII (more or less, as the case may be,) in his
pocket.

" Now, wife and children, let's be gay ;
I've worked hard, and here's the pay."

The various plans which have been popping into
the heads of the several members of his household,
during tlio week, for the economical use of the ex-
pected money, are now discussed — food, clothing,
fuel, rent, furniture, benevolence — not a single
foolish project is suggested ; yet the money is all

provided lor, and will be gone, — all gone, by

the time another week brings home another sum,
to_ go in the same way. Thus almost uncon-
sciously, a habit is formed of living up to the
means ; a habit that, after a little practice, be-
comes just as easy with three dollars a day, as
with one dollar.

The avails of the labor of the farmer are be-
yond his immediate reach, and he can hardly
spend them if he would ; those of the mechanic
are placed directly into his hands, in that most
slippery of all property — ready money, which
will almost vanish of itself. The farmer neces-
sarily looks out for the future, " lays by in store,"
and takes into his calculations a year or series of
years. This enlarges his powers of foresight, and
in a great measure prepares him for misfortunes.
The mechanic comes to limit his calculations and
ambition to a week, — beyond which he neither
looks nor cares to look ; and thus reverses or
sickness come upon him unawares, and unpro-
vided for. Indeed, I often think that the prac-
tice of weekly payments, so stoutly contended for
by mechanics, instead of proving to be a blessing,
operates as a curse to them, by inducing this
habit of living up to their means, — of spending
all they earn as fast as it is earned. In making
out the bills of journeymen, as I do for several
weekly, I am sometimes amused, sometimes pro-
voked, by their expedients to bring in every thing
they have done, although the rule is to allow for
such parts of the work only as ai-e completed.
By most, whatever is thus left to another week,
is mourned over and scolded about as labor lost !
To be assured that it will be good next week,
affords about as much satisfaction as to promise
them a corner lot in one of the cities in the moon.
They take no thought for next week ; may not
live to see it ; and if they should, next week
must take care of itself.

Is my secret out ? Farmers grow rich because
they save ; mechanics keep poor because they
spend ; and the habits of each are the result,
mainly, of their respective circumstances.

A City Mechanic.

Boston, Nov., 1854.

MILCH COWS.

If you desire your cows to yield liberally to
the pail, you must feed them with something
better suited to the secretion of rich milk than
dry provender. Cl^c-pF^a roots, or meal slops of
soniP L-"J, should be given them twice a day, at
least, say morning and evening. They should

also be provided with littered beds, dry lodgings

moderately warm — be regularly watered thrice
each day, just before being fed,— be curried or
combed once a day, and salt, with occasionally a
little ashes or fine bone dust mixed, two or
three tinges a week. They also like a variety of
food. Roots, cut or rasped, and mixed with
cut hay or straw, then stirred and left for an
hour or two, make a mess which they will eat
very greedily. We think that hardly attention
enough is given to the bedding of cows, as the
more quiet and comfortable they are, the less
food will be required to sustain the system, and
may therefore go to produce flesh or milk. A
gentleman who has constantly employed several
pairs of working oxen for many years, states that
oxen will travel ' fifteen miles a day, being well
"littered down" at night, as easy as twelve
miles, and lie upon the bare floor. If this state-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

553

ment be correct — and it seems to us consistent — it and adventurous, penetrating and keen in their
is a pretty important matter that all our cattle Pursuit of it ; yet their avidity was tempered by

are well provided for in this respect.

BOSTON IN 1774.

The following description of Boston, just before
the breaking out of the American Revolution, is
extracted from the sixth volume of Bancroft's
History of the United States, just published.
Mr. Bancroft remarks that the king had set him,
self, and his ministry and parliament, and all
Great Britain, to subdue to hia will one stubborn
little town on the sterile coast of Massachusetts,
and proceeds as follows : —

" The old world had not its parallel. I* counted
about sixteen thousand inhabitants of European
origin, all of whom had learned to read and write.
Good public schools were the foundation of its
political system ; and Benjamin Franklin, one of
their pupils, in his youth apprenticed to the art
which makes knowledge the common property of
mankind, had gone forth from them to stand be-
fore the nations as the representative of the mod-
ern plebeian class.

As its schools were for all its children, so the
great body of its male inhabitants, of twenty-one
years of age, when assembled in a hall which
Faneuil, of Huguenot ancestry, had built for
them, was the source of all municipal authority.
In the meeting of the town its taxes were voted,
its affairs discussed and settled, its agents and
public servants annually elected by ballot, and
abstract political principles freely debated. A
small property qualification was attached to the
right of suffrage, but did not exclude enough to
change the chai-acter of the institution. There
had never existed a considerable municipality ap-
proaching so nearly to a pure democracy ; and,
for so populous a place, it was undoubtedly the
most orderly and best governed in the world.

Its ecclesiastical polity was in like manner re-
publican. The great mass were Congregation-
alists ; each church wao «xn nj^sembly formed by
voluntary agreement — self-constitutea, a^lf-gup-
ported and independent. They were clear thai
no person or church had power over another
church. There was not a Roman Catholic altar
in the place; the usages of "papists" were
looked upon as worn-out superstitions, fit only for
the ignorant. But the people were not merely
the fiercest enemies of " Popery and Slavery ; "
they were Protestants even against Protestantism ;
and, though the English Church was tolerated,
Boston kept up its exasperation against prelacy.
Its ministers were still its prophets and its guides ;
its pulpit, in which, now that Mayhow was no
more, Cooper was admired above all otiiers for
eloquence and patriotism, by weekly appeals, in-
flamed alike by tlie fervor of piety and of lil)erty.
In the Boston Gazette it enjoyed a free presH,
which gave currency to its conclusions on the
natural right of man to self-government.

Its citizens were inquisitive, seeking to know
the causes of things, and to search for the reason
of existing institutions in the laws of nature.
Yet they controlled their speculative turn by if worldly prosperity contiiined in itself the true
practical judgment, exhibiting the seeming con- principles of human felicity. But as it possesses
tradiction of susceptibility to enthusiasm and cal- them not, the very reverse of those consequences
culating shrewdness. They were fond of gain, I generally obtains. Prosperity debilitates, instead

a well-considered and continuing liberality. Near-
y every man was struggling to make his own
way in the world and his own fortune ; and yet
individually and as a body they were public
spirited. In the seventeenth century the commu-
nity had been distracted by those who were
thought to pursue the great truth of justification
by faith to Antinomian a>)surditics ; the philoso-
phy of the eighteenth century had not been
without an influence on theological opinion ; and
thougli the larger number still acknowledged the
fixedness of the divine decrees, and the resistless
certainty from all eternity of election and of
reprobation, there were not wanting, even among
the clergy, some who had modified the sternness
of the ancient doctrine by making the self-direction
of the active powers of man, with freedom of in-
quiry and private judgment, the central idea of a
protest against Calvinism. Still more were they
boldly speculative on questions respecting their
constitution. Every house was a school of poli-
tics ; every man was a little statesman, discussed
the affairs of the world, studied more or less the
laws of his own land, and was sure of his ability
to ascertain and to make good his rights. The
ministers, whose prayers, being from no book,
were colored with the hue of the times ; the mer-
chants, cramped in their enterprise by legal re-
strictions ; the mechanics, who, by their skill in
ship-building, bore away the palm from all other
nations, and by their numbers were rulcis of the
town ; all alike, clergy and laity, in the pulpit or
closet, on the wharf or in the counting-room, at
their ship-yards or in their social gatherings,
reasoned upon government. They had not ac-
quired estates by a feudal tenure, nor had lived
under feudal insiitutions ; and as the true de-
scendants of the Puritans of England, they had
not much more of superstitious veneration for
monarchy than for priestcraft. Such was their
power of analysis that they almost unconsciously
developed the tlieory of an independent representa-
tive commonwealth ; and such their instinctive
capacity for organization, that tliey had actually
setti .. •♦'^nvfintion of the people of the province
start into life at tucii. u-.aj:„« While the earth
was still wrapped in gloom, they wcicuuxvji-j--
day-break of popular freedom, and, like the young
eagle in his upward soarings, looked undazzled
into the beams of the morning."

Effects of Prosperity. — How unavailing
worldly prosperity is, since in the midst of it, a
single disappointment is suflicient to embitter all
its pleasures. We might at first imagine, that
the natural effect of prosperity would be, to dif-
fuse over tiie mind a prevailing satisfaction, Avhich
the lesser evils of life could not ruflle or disturb.
We might expect that, as one in the full glow of
health despises the inclemency of weather, so
one in possession of all tlie advantages of high
power and station, should disregard sliglit in-
juries; and, at perfect ease with himself, should
view, in the most favorable light, tlie behavior of
others around. Such effects would indeed follow.

554

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

of strengthening the mind. Its most common ef-
fect is, to create an extreme sensibility to the
slightest wound. It foments impatient desires,
and raises expectations wliich no success can sat-
isfy. It fosters a false delicacy, which sickens in
the midst of indulgence. By repeated gratifica-
tion, it blunts the feelings of men to what is pleas-
ing, and leaves them unhappily acute to what-
ever is uneasy. Hence, the gale which another
would scarcely feel, is, to the prosperous, a rude
tempest. Ilencc, the rose leaf doubled below
them on the couch, as it is told of the eifeminate
Sybarate, breaks their rest. Hence, the disrepect
shown by Mordecai, preyed with such violence on
Ihe heart of Haman. Upon no principle of reason
can we assign a sufEcient cause for all the distress
which this incident occasioned him. The cause
lay not in the external incident. It lay within
himself; it arose from a mind distempered by
prosperity.

EXTRACTS AND ESPLIES.

TRANSPLANTING AND GRAFTING GRAPES.

Mr. Editor : — A few days since I found a
small grape-vine Avhich had a few very excellent
grapes growing thereon ; I want to take it up
and set it near my house. Will you inform me of
the best time to take it up and how to proceed ;
whether I shall cut any of the top off, or any of
the roots ? One of my neighbors has a large grape-
vine growing close to his door ; it fills the top of
an arbor, which he has built some six or seven
feet high, so thick that it makes a perfect shade
beneath; but what is singular about it is this; it
blossoms full every year, but never bears a grape.
Now if you or your correspondents can inform
me of any method that will cause this vine to
bear fruit, I shall feel very thankful for the in-
formation.

When is the best time of year to graft a grape-
vine ? I grafted one last June, the 5th, and after
starting and growing a week or two it died ;
whether it was the dry weather, or whether it
was too early or too late in the season, I am un-
able to tell. I sawed the vine off below the sur-
face of the ground and made two holes the size of
the scions and put them in, and >^.•'• o-^"'^'"? wax
around tho o*- ' .- — • >"'«" covered the whole with
«iri except the top bud of the scions.

C'c/. 7. Ignoramus.

Remarks. — In transplanting grape-vines save all
the roots, but shorten the top, prune to a single
stem for some distance from the ground, and then
bud as many branches as are necessary to fill the
space desired ; be careful not to have too much

wood, and to cut away all weak shoots. If yourUr«r, while it is at the same time a prolific^bearer
ground is dry, transplant in autumn,— if it is wet, and an esccdlont fruit. Last year and the year
transplant in spring. | before, we ate them and thought them superior

^ Your large vine is probably a barren or "male'': to the Isal)ella ; this year we have eaten them to-
vine. You can graft it by cutting it off below Igether and thought the latter grape fully equal to
the surface of the ground, and inserting the sci-| the Concord, if not a little better. But this year
onsin the mode usually practiced upon apple- we have the Isabella in perfection,— the first time
trees, called cleft grafting ; do not pare the scions for several years. The Cliarter Oak we have nev-
too thin, cover with clay and earth up to the top er tasted. The Diana has also the merit of early
eye of the scions. i ripening, and is a fine hardy grape. Both the

Ihe best time for grafting the grape is thought grapes being in perfection, you prefer the Cataw-

to be when the vine has just put out its leaves,
and the first abundant flow of sap is over ; the
scions must be kept from starting into growth be-
fore they are put into the stock. We have tried
grafting by boring holes in the stock,but without
success.

what are the BEST GRAPES?

Mr. Editor : — I wish, sir, to make some inqui-
ries of you in relation to grapes. Are the Con-
cord, Diana, Charter Oak, Sage, and some other
varieties of grape loudly puffed up in agricultural
papers equal in value to the Isabella and Cataw-
ba grapes? In regaid to the Concord, it is declared
by some to be only 5th rate ; as to the Diana, a
dish of the same were exhibited at our County Ag-
ricultural Fair ; the size of the berries and
bunches were not more than one-third as large as
Catawba grapes by their side, I purchased one
bunch of them, which was divided among several
good judges of grapes, and they were tried with
the Catawba and declared to be inferior in size,
and flavor, and evidently they were no riper. I
would say also that Mr. W. S. King, of Boston,
decided they were the true Diana.

The Charter Oak Grape is raised by a gentle-
man of my acquaintance, and is declared to be
valua])le only for preserving ; the berries, however,
are of enormous size. The Sage grapes I have
tasted and although of large size, it has the sharp,
foxy flavor of the wild native grapes.

Now, Sir, if I am incorrect or mistaken in any
of these varieties, I hope to be corrected, and I
desire your opinion, for 1 believe that farmers are
the last class to be humbugged, and these grapes
have obtained a high reputation by the descrip-
tion given in agricultural and horticultural jour-
nals. My opinion is that the Catawba Grape,
for a hardy out-door grape (if well cared for) ia
decidedly tiie best grape. P. M. Augur.

■ MidcUefield, a., 1854.

Remarks. — A comparison of grapes by a sing le
trial of them side by side, canld »oti give any one
a fair iden "^ '-neir permanent value. Fur in-
ecance, Catawbas and Isal)ellas have ripened well
tliis year where they have scarcely been known
to ripen before. Now to take them in their Ijest
condition, and that a condition only realized once
perliaps in five or ten years, and pronounce them
more valuable than some other grape which af-
fords a crop of fair ripe fruit every year, would be
a very unflxir way of deciding on their respective
value. The great merit of the Concord grape is
tl-.at it ripens an abundant and rich crop every

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

555

ba, while we should certainly take the Isabella as
being less acid. Our tastes do not agree ; so that
pronouncing one as decidedly better than any
other would not amount to anything more than
an announcement of our own peculiar tastes.
tanner's trimmings.

Mr. Editor: — T wish to make a few inquiries
in regard to fertilizers.

The tanning business is carried on two miles
from where I live, where lean obtain 5 or 6 cords

of trimmings from the hides after I)eing tanned,! mane feeling. lias nature done her work in such
by hauling it away. The heap has been collect- a bungling manner, in forming that paragon of
ing six or eight years, and I should presume was animals, the horse, that he requires to have a
partially decomposed at the bottom. Would it large piece of bone chopped oif with an axe, to
be prolitable to haul it that distance as a fertili-j reduce him to symmetry — or that Ijcauty and grace
zer 1 (a.) \ can be obtained only by cutting a pair of its largo

If so, what would be the best method of using it ? muscles ?

DOCKING HORSES USELESS AND
BARBAROUS.

AVe are glad to see tliat the abominable prac-
tice of docking and nicking horses is getting out
of fashion. It prevails in no country in the world
but England and the United States : we got it
from tlie mother country, and the sooner we leave
it off, the better. It is wonderful liow anyl)ody
but an ignorant, narrow-minded block-head of a
jockey, sliould ever have thought of it, being as
offensive to good taste as a violation to every hu-

My land is a very light loam, but not sandy. I
have, however, two acres of clayey loam where I
intend to sow spring wheat. I have bought some
Mexican guano, and dry ground bone, with which
I intend to manure my clayey land. When should
it be applied, in the spring or fall ? {b.)

Scars/nont, Me., Oct., 185-i. j. M.

Remarks. — (a.) You may use the trimmings you
speak of with great advantage by plowing them
in sufficiently deep to prevent the escape of vola-
tile matter, or by composting with moist meadow
muck or loam. They would be a cheap manure
hauled six miles.

(b.) Apply the guano and bone in the spring,
on the furrows, and work it under with the culti-
tor or harrow.

ASHES.

Friend Brown : — I wish to inquire through the
Farmer respecting ashes that has been in the
ground for fifty years, whether there is any value
to them or not as a manure ? I have a large quan-
tity which I wish to use, if of any value, s. s.

"The docking and nicking of horses," says an
intelligent writer on Farriery, "is a cruel prac-
tice, and ought to be al)andoned by the whole
race of mankind. Every human being, possessed
of a human heart and magnanimous mmd, must
confess that both the docking and nicking of horses
is cruel ; but that creature called man attempts
thus to mend the works of his Almighty, wise
creator — in doing which he often spoils and dis-
figures them. What is more beautiful than a
fine horse, with an elegant long tail and flowing
mane, waving in the sports of the wind, and ex-
hibiting itself in a perfect state of nature 1 Be-
sides, our Creator has given them to the horse for
defence as well as beauty."

The same author relates an instance of a fine
hunting horse owned by an Englishman, wliich
could carry his rider over a five- barred gate with
ease ; but he thought the horse did not carrij as
good a tail as he wished, — he tlierefore had him
nicked, and when the horse got well, he could
scarcely carry him over two bars. "Thus," said
he, "I have spoiled a fine horse ; and no wonder,
for it weakened him in his loins." Any man of
common sense would give ten per cent, more for
a fine liorse whose tail had never been mutilated,
than for one which had been under the hand of a
jockey.

SOLIDIFIED MILK.

The last numl)cr ot iiie ^ ■—„ Midlcal

Monthly contains an account of a visit made t)y
a committee of medical gentlemen, appointed by
the New York Academy of Medicine, to the es-
tablishment of Mr. Blatchford at Armenia, N. Y.,
(some 30 miles east of Pou^hkeepsie) whore " sol-
iried milk " is prepared. It the opinions expressed
in the article referred to, respecting the value of
this new description of food, are well founded,
the juvenile population, at least of New York, may
indulge in liearty solf-congratulations ; for "swill
milk "has already couunitted appalling ravages
one-fourth the usual crop, although there is no! in their ranks. The editor describes the process
appearance of disease. J. n. k- of solidific^ition as follows

RBBtARKs. — The ashes you speak of will un-
doubtedly be worth ooU«^fine and using. If they
have not been freely leached they are o-tiii ^xxiiQ
valuable.

THE SHOE SHOP AND THE FARM.

Mr. Editor : — Last spring I left the shoe shop
for a farm, which I hired, and went into debt for
tools, seed, &c., and notwithstanding the severe
drought,! find I shall be able to make a good liv-
ing. I liave resolved to stick to the farm as long
as I have been engaged in shoe-making, ten years,
and read the New England Farmer every week,
and if I make no more progress in farming than 1
have done this year, I shall have a comfortable
home and living, and a far pleasanter occupation
Potatoes in this section are but little more than

Middlcton, Vt., 1854.

Wheat. — It is estimated that the Canadas will
raise the present season a surplus of 12,000,0(10
bushels of wheat, which, of course, will look
abroad for a market. By the new reciprocity
treaty, provincial grain and (lour come into our
market free of duty.— /?w//a/o Courier.

To 122 lbs. of milk, 28 lbs. of Stuart's white
sugar, were added, and a trivial pn^portion of bi-
cari)onate of soda, a ti-aspoonful, merely enough
to insure the neutrali/.ing of any acidity, which
in the summer season is exhilnted even a few min-
utes after milking, although iuapprecialdo to the
organs of taste. The sweet milk was poured into
evaporating pans of enamelled iron, umbedded in

556

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

■warm water heated by steam. A thermometer
was immersed in each of these water baths, that,
by frequent inspection, the temperature miglit
not rise above the jwint which years of experience
have shown advisable.

To fiioilitate the evaporation, by means of l)low-
ers and other ingenious apparatus, a current of
air is established between the covers of the pans,
and the solidifying milk. Connected with the
steam engine is an an*angement for stirrers, for
agitating the milk slightly while evaporating, and
so gently as not to churn it. In about three hours
the milk and sugar assumed a past}' consistency,
and delighted the palates of all present. By con-
stant manipulating and warming, it was reduced
to a rich, creamy-looking powder; then exposed
to the air to cool, weighed into parcels of a pound
each, and by a press, with the force of a ton or
two, made to assume the compact form of a tablet,
(the size of a small brick) in which shape, cov-
ered with tin foil, it is presented to the public.

Some of the solidified milk, which had been
grated and dissolved in water the evening previous,
was found covered with a rich cream. This,
skimmed off, was soon converted into excellent
butter. Another solution was speedily converted
into wine whey, by a treatment precisely similar
to that employed in using ordinary milk. It fully
equalled the expectation of all ; so that solified
milk will hereafter rank among the necessary ap-
pendages of the sick room. In fine, this article
makes paps, custards, puddings and cakes, equal
to the best milk ; and one may be sure it is an un-
adulterated article, obtained from well-pastured
cattle, and not the produce of distillery slops ;
neither can it be watered.

For our steamships, our packets, for those trav-
elling by land oi" by sea, for hotel purposes, or
use in private families, for young or old, we rec-
ommend it cordially, as a substitute for fresh
milk.

We look with interest for the scientific I'eport
of the Committee of the Academy of Medicine, in
which we hope for an exposition of the domestic,
culinary and hygenic properties of solidified milk.

Hog's Lard — It is stated that one establish-
ment in Cincinnati last year tried out thirty thou-
sand hogs. To carry on thi« ^.^—^use Dusineas,
they havf °"- — ^""-n^ Circular tanks, of suflScient
capacity to hold fifteen thousand gallons each.
They receive the entire carcass, with the exception
of the hams, and the whole is subjected to steam
process, under a pressure of seventy pounds to
the square inch, the effect of which operation is
to reduce the whole to one consistence, and every
bone to powder. The effect is drawn off by cocks,
and .the residuum, a mass of earthy substance, as
far as made use of, is taken away for manure.
Besides the hogs which reach the factory in en-
tire carcasses, the great mass of heads, ribs, back-
bones, trail pieces, feet, and other trimmings of
the hogs cut up at different pork houses, are sub-
jected to the same process, in order to extract
every particle of grease. This concern will turn
out this season three million six thousand pounds
of lard, five-sixths of which is No 1. Nothing
can surpass the purity and beauty of this lard,
which is refined as well as made under steam pro-
cesses. Six hundred hogs per day pass through
these tanks one with another.

WHEAT TRADE.

The estimated extra breadtli sown in the United
Kingdom last season is one-tenth above the average,
equal to 1,600,000 quarters. On the other hand,
there is an excess of produce above the average,
of from one-sixth to one-eighth. Taking the
mean of one-seventh, our account of the present
crop and stock stands as follows : —

Quarters.

Average produce 16.000,000

Excess in breadth oue-tenth 1 ,600,000

17,600,000
Excess of produce one-seventh 2,514,285

Quarters — 20,114,285

If to this we add one million and a half of
foreign grain, we have an aggregate of 21,614,-
285 quarters to meet the consumption of the
year, which is estimated at 21,000,000. There
will still, however, be the usual stock of the
country — now minus 5,000,000 quarters — to be
made up. For it would be monstrous to sup-
pose that in a country like this, there should be
no stock on hand to fall back upon in an emer-
gency. We shall, therefore, require an importa-
tion this year of from four to live million quar-
ters, to place us in the average condition we have
hitherto found ourselves in, in regard to the stock
of wheat.

We shall next take a look round, and see how
this supply is to be obtained. As we have just
stated, any calculations for the future, founded
upon the experience of the past, are not to be
depended on. With present appearances, it is
not at all likely that we shall obtain the usual
supply from the Black Sea ports, even if the
Danube is free to navigation, and the Crimea and
Odessa were in the possession of the allies — as I
hope will soon be the case. The consumption
and waste of such large armaments, and the dis-
arrangement of commerce and agriculture under
the iron rule of war, to say nothing of the
probable prohibition of the Czar to his subjects
from supplying the allies, or conducting com-
merce with them from the interier — all these cir-
cumstances lead me to think that the quantity
of wheat we shall r>1itai« A-om Southern Russia
this se^ns^^i ■will be very small. And with re-
spect to the Danubian Principalities, they have
been for twelve months the seat of war, and are
still occupied with vast armaments. Under the
Russian coercive domination, neither agriculture
nor commerce could be conducted with any regu-
larity ; and it is probable that not only Avas a
large portion of the land left unsown last autumn,
but that much of the growing crop has been
destroyed by the military operations, and in fur-
nishing the Russian cavalry with green food ; for
no _ economic considerations would, by any possi-
bility, enter the mind of a Russian officer. We
shall, therefore, have much less grain than usual
from the Danubian and other Turkish Black Sea
ports, if we get any at all, which is very doubtful.
From the Mediterranean ports, with the ex-
ception of Egypt and Syria, we shall obtain but
little wlieat. France and Italy are, for the
present, closed against exportation by prohibitory
laws. The former country, and the United King-
dom, has exhausted her stocks of old native
wheat, and is compelled to fall at once upon the
new crop, which, however good, will not be
euougli to meet the consumption, and provide the

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

557

usual reserve stock. It is probable that France
and England will continue, as last year, to trade
mutually with each other in wheat, according as
the market fluctuates. If the price falls here be-
low that in France, the latter will be buyers in
our market, and vice versa.

With regard to the Baltic and Northern coun-
tries, with the exception of Russia, the stocks of
old wheat are exhausted. Not only had the mer-
chants the stimulus of high prices to induce them
to ship to the utmost, but the insecurity, and the
uncertainty as to what course the war would take,
induced them to export to the last quarter to
England and France, as the only countries where
it would both be safe, and obtain remunerating
prices. The crops in those countries are good,
and we shall probably get an average quantity
from thence, if no untoward events cause a
blockade of the Baltic ports.

We now come to the United States of America ;
and if the accounts of the maize crop — and wheat
also, in some parts of the Union — be correct, their
prices will probably be too high this season to
allow of their shipping more at any rate than the
usual quantity this season. It is stated in the
American papers, that the corn crop (maize) is
at least one-fourth deficient, which amounts to
125,000,000 bushels, or 15,625,000 quarters.*
And, with regard to wheat, in some of the "West-
ern States, where the largest quanity is raised,
the crop is very deficient — in many cases amount-
ing to a total failure. To what extent this may
be the case, it is impossible to say ; but, ttiking
the deficiency in both crops into account, it must
necessarily have its effect upon the price ; and,
unless our prices are higlier than theirs, it will
materially affect the export of wheat from the
States, and also, probably, draw off a consider-
able portion of the supplies from Canada, where
the crop is represented to be excellent.

Under these circumstances, I estima tte sup-
plies for the next year as follows : —

Quarters.

The Northern ports 1,750,000

Mediterranean 500,000

Black Sea do 300,000

rnited States 800,000

Canada 400,000

LADY JANE.

The following beautiful verses, on a favorite Horse, were writ-
ten by the late Mrs, Frances S. Osgood :

0, saw ye e'er creature so queenly, so fine.
As this dainty, aerial darling of mine ?
With a toss of her mane, that is glossy as jet,
With a dance and a prance, and a frolic curvet,
She is off ! She is stepping superbly away 1
Her dark, speaking eye full of pride and of play.
0, she spurns the dull earth with a graceful disdain,
My fearless, my peerless, my loved Lady Jane 1

Her silken ears lifted when danger is nigh.
How kindles the light in her resolute eye !
How stately she paces, as if to the sound
Of a proud, martial melody playing around,
Now pauses at once, 'mid a light caracole,
To turn her mild glance on me beaming with soul ',
Now fleet as a fairy, she speeds o'er the plain.
My darling, my treasure, my own Lady Jane !

Give her rein ! let her go ! Like a shaft from the bow.
Like a bird on the wing, she is speeding, I trow —
Light of heart, lithe of limb, with a spirit all fire,
Yet swayed and subdued by my idlest desire —
Though daring, yet docile, and sportive but true.
Her nature's the noblest that ever I knew.
How she flings back her head, in her dainty disdain !
My beauty 1 my graceful, my gay Lady Jane !

3,7&u,«

This may probably be made up to four mil-
lions, from the quarters that do not come under

the sections above given; but I cannot, by any — ,- v , °,- ,„ „ „.f k,. TKJa

possibility, see where' we can increase that quan- they are^phu.ed_wh_ere^theyjhotdd not^be. JThi^s

For the New England Farmer.

FAIR PREMIUMS.

Mr. Editor : — During the course of twelve or
fifteen years of experience and personal observa-
tion in regard to the distribution of " premiums "
at our annual " Fairs," something has, in regard
to merits and demerits, been learned. In going
over a board of judges on premiums, of course
we must expect that there will ()e about as many
different ideas in regard to the articles to be
judged as there are men to judge. Of course it
will be understood that men acting as committees
on premiums, will exercise their judgment in the
most judicious manner possible. And yet each
one will have his own peculiar way of thinking in
the matter to be judged, and will do so in most
cases conscientiously. There may be cases in
point where men have showed a disposition to
vary from this rule, but as a general thing I
^»-i''>vp. tliat an honest judgment is given, though
it may err muLy ^:.r^aa fj-om a want of informa-
tion on the subject in poincT^ amul. , ^_^a "«oni-
mittees" occupy wrong positions — that is to say,

tity,
peace

unless "a sudden transition from war to is not done by any influence of their own in
should restore our Northern trade to its getting the PO-tion as comnn tee men but m^^^^^

nf>r>ii<»riime(l clianneis. iiowever, vviin i.iijb «. uau- ——"-o - -o ... .. . ' i.:„^„

?Uy :Skd toTe abundant crop,' we shall be^ble in that P^f /^Vd tfl^ o^^t^f ' ' """'

' - - ■ • ' '' ' exceptions

we need not fear that prices will materially flue- , o , , . . j , , ^^^^

rarlo°ugUout t. J.caso„.-M„.. Lai £,,- ^^ J^^ tT,;ut'«ror Ij^l/^^n,,..

awarded at our late " State Fair at New Haven,
my attention was called to some points whu-li I
have thought wortliy of note. . Tli.' awarding
committee on agricultural implements and ma-
chines, seem to have lost sight of one important
point ; that is, the awanl of premiums appeared,
in most cases, to have been given to exlubitors
and dealers in fiirm implomentR and machines.

press.

*Xhe corn (or maize) crop of last year was 5(50,000,000
bushels.

Happy to Hear it. — Mrs. Frances D. Gage,
of St. Louis, delivered the Address before the
Washington County Agricultural Society, at its

late annual show. This is said to be the first in- . .,.♦!„ ^r.^

stance of the kind on record. Wish wo had been | Now every man must see at oneo ^th;tt_^^tl>e p^rc-
there to listen to her.

Imiums properly ])clong to tlie invcntore, im-

558

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

provers and manufactures of these implements,! of his heels or his teeth. In play the ears will be
and not' to the mere dealers. A simple " dealer "laid back, but not so decidedly nor so long. A

' " quick change in their position, and more partic-
ularly the expression of the eye .it the time, will
distinguish between playfulness and vice.

The hearing of the horse is remarkably acute.
A tliousand vibrations of the air, too slight to
make any impression on the human ear, are
readily perceived by him. It is well known to
every hunting man, that the cry of hounds will
be recognized by the horse, and his ears will be
erect, and he will be all spirit and impatience, a
considerable time before the rider is conscious of
the least sound. — The Horse and his Eider.

in farm implements and machines, buys and sell
these articles to farmers at a " profit," and lives
by it; of course this does not entitle him to the
premiums that may be given on these implements
and machines, as they belong to the inventor and
manufacturer. If a dealer is an inventor and
maker of these implements as well as seller, then,
of course, he is entitled to the " merit" of his
own productions. But this is not all. A dealer
or operator in agricultural machines, if he get
up a good exhibition of farm implements at a
" Fair," should be rewarded by a special or dis-
cretionary premium by the committee. But the
premiums properly belong to the inventors and
manufacturers of such tools and machines.

If this principle be carried out of giving pre-
miums to dealers and buyers instead of inventors,
how long will it be before inventors and improvers
will say, it is very little use for us to invent and
bring out new tools, because "buyers and fore-
etallers " get all the profits and glory? I have
found that inventors and manufacturers of im
plements often think more of a premium or
diploma awarded to them, than three times the
price of the tools. This is all very natural, be-
cause it shows that their skill and inventive
genius has been appreciated by the" public at
large. This principle is of more consequence,
taking it in this connection, than many of us are
■willing to believe. There might have been awards
made in other departments at our " Fair " quite
as indirectly or injudiciously as in this case, but
in all cases they were made in honor without
doubt. Yours truly, L. Durand.

Derby, Ct., Oct., 1854.

THE HOESE KNOWN BY HIS EARS.

The size, position, and motion of the ears of a
horse are important points. Those rather small
than large, placed not too far apart, erect and
quick in motion, indicate both breeding and
spirit ; and if a horse is in the frequent habit of
carrying one ear forward and the other backward,
and especially if he does so on a journey, he will
generally possess both spirit and continuance. —
The stretcliing of the ears in contrary. dirnotJ<»;o
shows that he is attonhi-o to everything that is
passive -..otina him, and while he is doing this
he cannot be much fatigued, nor likely soon to
become so.

It has been remarked that few horses sleep
without pointing one ear forward and the other
backward, in order that they may receive notice
of the approach of objects in any direction. —
When horses or mules march in company at night,
those in froist direct their ears forward ; and those
in the middle of the train turn them laterally, thus
to be actuated by one feeling which watches
their general safety.

The ear of the horse is one of the most beauti-
ful parts about him, and l)y this is the temper
more surely indicated than by its motion. Tlic
car is more intelligible even tlian the eye ; and a
person accustomed to the horse, can tell, by the
expressive motion of that organ, almost all that
he thinks or means AVhen a horse lays his ears
flat back on his neck, he most assuredly is medi-
tating mischief, and the bystander should beware

CORRECTIVES OF SOILS.

It is not un frequently the case that soils, which
to a merely superficial examination appear to
possess all the qualifications requisite to ensure a
state of high and sustained fertility, are yet al-
most entirely sterile and unproductive, even un-
der the best management that can be adopted.
Such lands, however, are by no means valueless.
Their sterility is the result either of some bad in-
gredient, or the excess of some valuable constit-
uent, the presence of which has not been ascer-
tained by the cultivator, and which disappoints
his expectations and efforts alike, whether the
radical cause be a mystery, or the proper remedy
unknown. Among the many causes operating to
produce an unkindly constitution, we may in the
first place, mention the presence of iron in its
acid combinations. In this case, we generally de-
tect by the aid of chemistry, the presence of cop-
peras— sulphate of iron. And when, upon exam-
ining specimens of a sterile soil by washing, we
detect the salts of iron, or any acid matter, we
may be assured that the proper, and indeed, the
only efficient corrective to be applied is lime. This
mineral will convert the sulphate of iron into
manure, and so far neutralizes the acid as to ren-
der it hnrmi^ss to the crop.

In some soils we detect an excess of calcareoug
matter — generally in the form of lime or chalk.
In this case recourse must be had to some putres-
cent and easily decomposable acid ; clay or sand
in which there exists a considerable quantity of
oxide of iron. Blacksmith's sweepings constitute
also a valuable ameliorant ; but on applying it to
the soil, it should never contain more than one-
twentieth part of oxide of iron, as too largo a per
centage would be disastrous rather than genial in
its results. There are other correctives which
may be advantageously used in such cases ; as for
instance, chalybeate water, (water impregnated
with iron) and peat containing vitriolic, (i. e.
sulphuric) salts. Tlie effect of these is to change
the lime or chalk contained in the soil, into that
well-known and salutary substance called gyp-
sum, or plaster of paris, the beneficial ciTects of
which on the vegetable system are appreciated by
all.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND PAHMER.

559

Carbonate of lime— lime and charcoal united— ble, when the Eower is opening ; for in this stage
is sometimes found in soils in large quantities,' they contain the largest quantity of soluble mat-
and when such is the fact, gypsum applied as a

manure and oxide of iron, as a corrective, produce
the best effects. "Carbonate of lime is mild lime,
in combination with charcoal, absorbed from de-
cayed vegetable or animal matter." Where there
is an excess of humus — soluble or insoluble — an
effectual remedy is found in paring and burning.
The practice is common with us of piling and
burning the turfs, roots, &c. ; but we carry the
Brocess further, and more effectually, by bogging
or plowing, and adding sand or gravel, which
wonderfully facilitates the power of the soil to
yield a crop. The liumus, or peat mud, has an
abundance of potash, which, coming in conta3t
with the sand applied, renders it soluble, and
this furnishes another important element, silicon,
which the plant must have before it can be per-
fected. We seem to have advanced beyond the
English practice, in the reclamation of bog mea-
dows.

In the improvement of low, peaty or marshy
lands, which produce aquatic plants, the initial
step in improvement is draining. After this,
if the soil be foul, or to any extent infested with
rushes, flags, or other similar productions, it
will perhaps, be judicious to pare off a thick turf
and burn it. And in connection with this impor-
tant branch of rude amelioration, is a process by
which quick lime is substituted for fire, in burn-
ing peaty soils. In some experiments made before
the "Worthington Agricultural Society," the ac-
tion of the lime was found to be very efficient, and
gave the most perfect satisfaction to all who wit-
nessd the process.

The productiveness of peaty soils, after being
drained, is often very considerably increased by
the application of clay oi oanH as a top dressing.
When they contain ferruginous saito, as is
not unfrcquently the case, lime is absolutely nec-
essary in reducing them to profitable cultivation.
As thoroughness is at all times desirable in mat-

ter. Green crops, pond weeds, the parings of
hedges or ditches, or any kind of fresh vegetable
matter, not woody, require no preparation to be
fitted for manure. When old pastures are broken
up for tillage, not only is the soil enriched by the
death and slow decay of the plants which )»ve
previously deposited soluble matter in the clod ;
but the leaves and roots of the grasses (vegetating
just before the change of culture) afford saccha-
rine, mucilaginous, and extractive matters,
which become immediately the food of the crop ;
also the gradual decomposition of the grasses af-
ford a supply of vegetable mould for several
years." *

THE SIGNS OF THE THRIFTY FAR-
MER.

That some farmers thrive while others seem
just to drag along is a palpable notoriety ._ In
looking round among our farmers and noticing
their operations, we have concluded that we could
tell the thrifty farmer by a few unmistakable
signs, even if we know but little about his affairs.
You will notice something in his appearance, or
the ideas which he appears to be following out,
which will tell plainly enough that the farmer is
getting ahead in the world.

What are the signs ? They are^wt seen in the
richness of his dress or the equipage with which
he appears abroad, or in the display which he
makes in public places. We have seen farmers
out in even splendid attire with fast horses and fine
trappings and carriages, who are slovenish farm-
ers, and whose out-standing debts would more
than swing the homestead. No, no ; we do not
take such things for evidence of the farmer's
thrift. Then again we do not allow that it is any
sign that he is getting "fore hand" when he is
seen trading and trafficking, buying, selling and
swapping horses, oxen, &c., even though he be a
sharper and makes what he calls good trades.
Such very frequently go "astern" by wasting
their time in hunting up good bargains and neg-
lectiiij^ tu.,;r farms. Tiiese fiirmers do n()t love
their farming ; anu tii^j »-ii *hi-> sure sain and
largo profits of cultivation for

^^ ^^ tnliiug, ^. — ^^i

, -idTantagc, "often" purchased at the expense of con^
ters of this kind, the surfiice of the land should be g^^ignce and moral honesty. Rather such symp

completely freed from all substances which can ini touis are indicative of a want of thrift and heal-
anv way operate as an obstacle to successful cul- thy prosperity.
_ •' . "^ ,^ . .. . 1 J „:.u ..„„^., I "Rut whfn wfi soft a farmer bondin

all his en-
er<aes to improve his farm, and making inquiries
as°to the best Aethods of husbandry, patronizing

tivation. If the ground be incumbered with roots, But when we see a farmer .|0

* o 1 •(> ii ei-'aes to improve his larin, anu maKin

they sliould be extracted and burned ; if the sur- _^^°^^ ^^^^ ,^^^1^. j^^^^,^,,,,, ^f iH,s])andry, i

face be rough, the inequalities must be overcome agricultural papers, and taking a due interest in
by plowin"', harrowing and rolling. But above j.^|i.icaltural fairs, associations, &c. ; when we
all they must be thoroughly and systematically hear him inquiring fen- in, proved stock, seeds a^^^^

, . •; fruit trees, we say that man is bound to prosper.

arained. _ _ __,, J Then when his teams are seen round the market

In reference to turning in green crops
manure, we shall, perhaps, be pardoned for intro-
ducing in this place a few remarks of Sir Hum-
phrey Davy, whose observation on any specific
subject of agricultural improvement, few, proba-
bly, will question.

'When green crops are to be employed for en

)lace8 loaded with manure, ashes or other refuse
matter which can be used to improve the soil, or
when engaged on a liheral scale in drawing muck,
turf or the like into his yard and filling his man-
ure vats with it, we set it down that he is grow-
in<- rich. Although he is making great outlays m
purchasing and preparing artiiu-ial manures, we
elm not help thinkiuK that ho is putting capital

riching a soil, they should be plowed in, if possi- i^to a bank that will yield great dividends

560

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

The farmer who will excel and thrive must be a
farmer, and give his thought and study and ef-
fort to his calling, the same as the eminent; physi-
cian, lawyer or clergyman gives all his energies to
his profession. When this is the case he will show
it, and will be as proud of his farm frock as the
parson of his cloak. He will not be clownish or
indifferent to his outward appearance, but he will
not be ashamed to be found dressed suitably for
tBfe farm. He will feel as easy and as much at
home in his working garb when visited, as the
merchant is behind his counter, or the lawyer
in his office. When we meet a farmer about
his appropriate business who holds up his head
and shows a manly dignity, and yet courteous, if
thrown among gentlemen of the cloth, we con-
clude, that there is a man who values his man-
hood, and is proud of his noble calling : that is
the man who will thrive and secure a plentiful
board fcr himself and family, and contribute
something towards the support of the rest of
mankind. — Farmer and Mechanic, Leivision Falls,
Maine,

For the New England Farmer.

STATE FAKM AT TEWKSBURY ONCE
MORE.

Messrs. Editors : — I admire the benevolence
of the good Dr. B. in his willingness " to render
services to the poor gratis." Such is the char-
acter of all eminent in his profession. I sin-
cerely believ^ there exists in the breasts of high-
minded physicians more generous sympathy than
in any other class in the community, not more
numerous. Whether their judgment of soils is
equally to be relied on, I shall have some doubt,
if this Dr. shall continue to say that the soil
about this State Alms House, or anywhere within
one hundred yards of it, is worth cultivating, or
can be made so at any reasonable expense.
have seen this soil several times of late, and have
inquired its character of others, who understand
the subject much better than I do, and the uni-
form testimony is that it is miser ably poor.

As to the interior arrangements of the estab-
lishment, I have not seen them. All I can say is,
if they afford decent accommodations for 600 in-
mates, it shows that these State agents can build,
for the same money ,iQrx times thp oouommodations
that the ag"ii*=« or tne adjoining county build for
theirs. I have heard of wells, 50 feet deep, having
been dug, bricked and cemented, fi'om bottom to
top, without a bucket of water therein except what
rained in from the heavens above. Whether this
is the class of wells the doctor spoke of improv-
ing, I should like to be advised; and if he will
tell me how such improvements, can be made
effectual for an adequate supply of pure water, I
will tender him a fee in advance.

Mind you, Mr. Editor, I do not attach any
blame to the Dr. in thia matter, knowing that he
had no hand in the structure ; I only blame him
for giving the high influence of his name to
bolster up and justify an egregious folly.

Oct. Tith, 1854. * *

Worth Knowing. — It is said that a small piece
of resin dipped in the water which is placed in a
vessel on the stove, will add a peculiar property
to the atmosphere of the room, which will give

relief to persons troubled with a cough. The
heat of the water is suflScient to throw off the
aroma of the resin, and gives the same relief as is
afforded by a combustion of the resin. It is
preferable to the combustion, because the evapo-
ration is more durable. The same resin may be
used for weeks.

EXTRACTS AND REPLIES.

, LIME FROM GAS WORKS.

Mr. Editor : — Please inform me what the lime,
after being used for making gas, is worth, com-
pared with stable manure ?

Would it not improve pasture and mowing, if
spread on them this fall, and if so, how much to
the acre ?

Would it benefit corn and potatoes next season,
if spread and plowed in this fall ?

I have used some of the lime the past season,
for turnips, both rutabagas and flat,but it did not
answer. Either I put on too much, or it was the
dry weather — the seed did not come up ; where I
used ashes they have done very well. t. h.

ISev) London, Oct. 2f th, 1854.

SALT LTE — GAS LIME.

Mr. Brown : — I want information in relation to
an article made at the hard soap manufacturers,
and called by them, (at least in Hartford,) salt
ley. What is its value compared, with stable
manure, or with the same bulk of night soil ?
What is the best use I can make of it 1 My soil
is a sandy loam ; swamp muck costs me, deliv-
ered, 25 to 30 cents per load. Shall I pile it up,
and turn the ley top of it 1 How much ley will it
take to fertilize, in the most economical degree, a
cord of muck? How much should be applied to
the acre for corn ? would you advise to spread on
or put in the hill 1 Or is it better adapted to some
other crop 1 How would it answer for cabbages 1

Would ammoniacal liquor or gas lime be suit-
able articles to apply to a compost heap in con-
nection with the ley ? j, r. s.

East Hartford, Conn., 1854.

Remarks. — Will somo uf our correspondents,
acquaintod with the subjects, reply to the ques-
tions in the two letters given above 1
early peas.

Mr. Editor : — I should like some light on rais-
ing early pea,s. Is it better to stick or rod them,

i

or nof? Which way do our market-gardeners do,
with or without sticks 1 a. b.

Fitchburg, OcL, 1854.

Remarks. — To be successful in producing early
peas, the first thing necessary is to get an early
kind, and sow early. The product will probably
be much larger, if they are provided with sticks.
If "pea-brush" is convenient, use it. Make the
experiment yourself, on the same land, crop man-
ured alike, and sow at the same time, with the
brush, and without it, and let us know the result
next August. Will you 1

1^ The number of hogs in the United States is
said to exceed that of sheep by ten millions.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FAKMER.

561

IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR WIND MILLS.

562

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR WIND
MILLS.

We make no apology for occupying so much
space with a description of this Wind Mill, be-
lieving tliat the best machine of this kind will be
one of great service to the farmer. The descrip-
tion we copy from the Scientific American.

The annexed engravings are views of an im-
provement in Wind Mills, for which a patent was
granted to Daniel Halladay, of Ellington, Conn.,
on the 24th of August last.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, and figure 2 is a
face view of the wing or sail ring, and parts of the
governor. The same letters refer to like parts.

The nature of the invention consists in having
the wings or sails attached to movable or rotating
spindles, having levers or equivalent devices con-
nected to them, said levers being also connected
to a head with wings rotating on the same shaft.
The head has a lever connected to it, which is
operated by a governor that slides the head upon
the shaft, and causes the levers or their equiva-
lents to turn the v;ings or sails, so as to present a
proper resisting surface to the wind, and thereby
produce a uniform velocity of the sails, which are
made to have a greater or less obliquity, accord-
ing to the velocity of the wind.

A represents a horizontal shaft which works in
suitable bearings, a a, upon a cap, B, said cap,
working loosely upon a circular plate attached
permanently to a proper support or frame work,
D, figure 1.

The shaft. A, projects some distance beyond the
edge of the cap, B, and has a wheel, E, figure 2,
attached permanently to it.

F represents the wings or sails which are se-
cured to spindles, h, said spindles passing radi-
ally through the rim of the wheel, E, and into its
hub, the spindles being prevented from withdraw-
ing by collars, c, which bear against the inner
edge of the rim and bearings, d, figure 3, which
are secured by screws over tiie spindles, the
spindles being loose in the wheel, E, and allowed
to turn upon their axes. Four wings or sails are
rej)resented, but any proper number may be used.
G is a hub fitted loosely upon the shaft. A, a»^
having projections, e, at it&-&o"^' end, to which
proieetiai"^i«a»u level's, /, are attached by pivots,
g, the outer ends of the .small levers,/, being se-
cured to the ends of levers, h, by pivots, i. The
levers, h, are secured permanently to the spindles,
b, ae shown in figure 2. The inner end of G has
a groove _;, turned on it, in which groove a forked
lever, II, fits, figure 1. The lever, H, is bent, and
has its fulcrum at k, and to the outer end of it a
wire or rod, I, is attached, said wire or rod
passing down in a groove, /, in a vertical rod, J,
the upper end of which is connected to a crank,
K, on the inner end of the shaft. A, by a con-
necting rod, L, The lower end of the wire or
rod, I, is attached to a sliding head or boss, M ;
on the rod, J, in, is a spring, one end of which is
connected to a vertical portion of the bent lever.
H, and the opposite end to a projection on the
inner bearing, a, of the shaft, A. The sliding
head or boss, M, on the road, J, has a recess, n,
in it, in which a fork at one end of a lever, 0,
fits, said lever having its fulcrum at p. The op-
posite end of the lever, 0, is attached by a pivot

to a piston rod, P, the piston of which works
within a cylinder. R is a reservoir containing
water, and S is a pipe which projects over the
top of said reservoir ; the opposite end of the
pipe communicates with the outside cylinder,
reservoir, R, and a pump, T, at their bottoms, as
in dotted lines, figure 1. The rod, J, it will be
seen, is the piston rod of the pump, T ; U is a
cock in the pipe, S ; V is a horizontal wing at-
ached to the cap, B , for the purpose of keeping
the wings or sails, F, facing the wind. In case
the shaft. A, revolves too rapidly, the cock, U, is
somewhat turned so as to check the free passage
of water through the pipe, S, and the water will
then be forced against the under side of the piston
of the outside cylinder, and will raise it, and the
head or boss, M, will consequently be moved down
upon the rod, J, and the wire or rod, I, will draw
downward the horizontal arm of the lever, H,
while the vertical arm will force outward the
head, G, on the shaft. A, arrow 2, and the lev-
ers, /A, will turn the spindles, b, and the wings
or sails, F, move obliquely to the wind, and the
motion of the mill will be decreased in a corres-
ponding degree. When it is desired to increase
the motion of the mill, the cock, U, is opened,
and the water having a free passage through the
pipe, S, the head or boss, M, is raised upon the
rod, J, and the head, G,on the shaft. A, brought
back to its original position by the spring, m, the
wings or sails presenting a greater surface to the
wind. The spring, W, causes the lever, 0, to
resume its original position, or depresses the
piston in the outside cylinder, when the water
has a free passage through the pipe, S.

In figure 1 the pump is represented as drawing
water through the suction ,pip3, t, from a well,
W, and forcing it through the air chamber into
the reservoir. A crank being on the shaft. A, on
the horizontal revolving head, and the rod, I,
connected to this crank, a reciprocating motion is
given to the piston of the pump, thus drawing
and forcing out the water by single stroke alter-
nately. With one valve opening inwards, and
one outwards in the bed plate of the pump cylin-
der, it can work as a single-acting force pump,
driving ti"* -water through the air chamber into
the reservoir without any other connections or
apparatus. This windmill is chiefly intended for
farmers where a moderate power is required, and
can be applied to various kinds of work, as well
as pumping water. The claim is for " attaching
the spindles, b, of the wings, F, to the sliding
head, G, by the levers, h f, and operating said
head by the lever, H, and a governor of any
proper construction for the purpose of giving the
desired obliquity to the wdngs or sails, thereby
insuring an equal motion and power during the
variable velocity of the wind." One of these
machines is on exhibition at the New York State
Fair, in this city.

More information may be obtained by letter,
addressed to Halladay, McCray & Co., at Elling-
ton, Conn.

Singular Cask. — The Hallowell Gazette tells
the following story :

"A yearling steer belonging to Mr. Asa Morril
of Manchester, Me., was found in the pasture of
Ephraim Wadsworth of Litchfield, on Wednesday,
1 37th ult., nearly embedded in a quagmire. He

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

563

had been missed sixteen days and it is supposed
that he was in the mud all the time. His head
resting on the dry ground he was enabled to reach
some bushes and thus preserved his life. He is
now doing nicely." I

For the New England Farmer.

THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE.

The lover of the beautiful in Nature searches
not in vain at any season of the year, among her
various operations, for something to awaken with-
in his bosom those blissful emotions, which nought
but the beautiful can awaken, and which, to
those who experience them, are of more value
than rubies. Sweet spring comes, and with its
warm breath dissolves the snows of winter, melts
the frozen lakes, unchains the ice-bound streams,
which, as if glad of their release, make joyous
music as they rush impetuously o'er their rocky
mountain beds, or wind their, way through the
quiet valleys. And as it continues to breathe
upon the earth, it wakens into life innumerable
forms of beauty, from the tender grass beneath
our feet, to the tali, majestic tree of the forest.
How fresh and animated Nature now appears, as
she arrays herself in her summer dress of green !
What delicate forms and exquisite colors the
flowers assume, as they unfold their soft petals to
the genial sun ! Beautiful birds, arriving from
their distant southern homes, visit again their
old haunts in

"The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildwood,"

and waken, with their meledious songs, the long-
silent echoes of the woods and fields.

The glorious summer comes; and now the!
leaves of trees and plants having attained their |
growth, assume a darker and richer green; the!
growing grass and grain begin to wave luxuri-i
an tly in the soft summer wind. The flocks and!
herds are quietly grazing in their green pastures
upon the hills, or reposing beneath some shady
grove. And now let the child of nature go forth
into the fields or ascend some height,

"And view the landscape o'er,"

or stand beside rushing catai acta , or wander far
away into the dim old woods, and if, by vrh.at he
sees or liears, his heart is not stirred within him,
the beauties of nature can have little or no charms
for him.

But nature pauses not, and summer soon rip-
ens into luild autumn. The tall grass and gold
en grain have fallen before the scythe and sickle ;
the delicious, red, yellow and purple fruit is be-
ing gathered from the trees and vines. There is
but here and there a flower, and these are of less
brilliant hues than those of summer. The birds,
many of them have ceased their songs and flown to
warmer skies. But Nature, as if to compensate
for the dreary aspect of the fields, and the silence
of the groves, now arrays herself in a most gor-
geous robe of red and yellow, brown and groen,
with all their different shades and combinations.
Let us now ascend some neigliboring hill or moun-
tain, and gaze upon the glorious picture spread
out before us — such a picture as no mortal hand
can paint ! How beautifully the dark green pine,
spruce and hemlock contrast witli the red maple
and oak, the brown and yellow chestnut, hickory
and beech. And what words can describe the en-

chanting beauty of the woodland lake as it mir-
rors on its glassy surface, this wondrous scene 1
But

"Leaves have their time to fall,

And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath ;"

autumn swiftly recedes before stern winter's icy
tread. And some may ask, "Where now are the
beauties of nature?" As I have said before, he that
hath the spirit of beauty abiding in his soul, sel-
dom passes a day, or hour, wherein hecannot find
something in the outward world, which answers
to the spirit within. The hoar frost is beautiful
as it glistens upon every twig and spire of grass,
in the sun's morning rays. And so is the virgin
snow as it spreads its soft white mantle upon the
ground. But when winter holds his jubilee, and
reveals his "countless treasures," when on some
keen, clear morning,

"We waken to a world of ice ;"

when every object, high and low, is covered witha
thick, icy coating, and the sun, in cloudless
splendor ,shines upon the scene, who then can ask
— "Where is the beautiful ?"

"A shower of gems is strewed around ;

The flowers of winter, rich and rare ;
Rubies and sapphires deck the ground ;

The topaz, emerald, all are there.

"The morning sun, with cloudless rays.
His powerless splendor round us streams ;

From crusted boughs, and twinkling spray?.
Fly back unloosed the rainbow beams.'*

And nature also, as if to make up for the loss of
some of her charms on earth, now imparts new
beauties to the heavens ; she gives to the skies a
deeper blue, adds new brilliancy to the stars ; and
paints the morning and evening clouds with
fresher, brighter tints. Not only does Nature
with lavish hand scatter her beauties o'er the
land, but the sea also, she has filled with them :

"The sea ! the sea 1 the open sea!
The blue ! the fresh '. the ever free I"

conceals in its heaving hosom, and strews along
storm-beaten shores, many things both animate
and inanimate.

How kind in our heavenly Father to give us, —
not only the necessaries and comforts of life, —
but also to satisfy to so great a degree, the in-
vscvTci innginws of our souls for the beautiful and
sublime. \\ hue s^-^lng unon some ))eautifui
scene in nature, or listening to some tu^u^nHnw
song, how often has the thought arisen — whaF,
O, what must be the beauties, the melodies of
"those everlasting gardens where angels walk,"
where resides the Author of all beauty, and har-
mony, if to sinful men is given such sweet music,
such glorious scenes? S. L. WuiTt;.

Groton, Oct.y 1854.

Tor the New England Farmer.

FOREST TREES.
Friend Brown ; — In answer to your corres-
pondent " C. W." of Johnston, Vt., I would say
that pine seeds should be sown at abowt tl\e time
they fall from the tree, which is in August and
September for tlie white pine, and from November
to April for pitch pine. August is the time to
save the seed of the wliite pine, and this kind af
pine is preferable to sow, as it is best for lumber,
and leaves the land in much the best condition

564

NEW ENGLAND FAEMER.

Dec.

for crops after the -wood is off. The best young
lot of pine seedlings I have ever seen, was sown
with a crop of rye, after the rye was up ; but
they do well when put on any newly harrowed
land without any covering. B. F. Cutler.

Pelham, N. H., Oct. 23, 1854.

UNITED STATES CATTLE SHOW.

THE NATIONAL AORICULTIRAL BANQUET— LIST OF
PREMIUMS AWARDED.

The first National Cattle Show ever held in this
country took place at Springfield, Ohio, under the
auspices of the United States Agricultural Socie-
ty, Oct. 25, 26 and 27, 1854. We have conversed
with several gentlemen who were present on the
occasion, who state that the show of cattle sur-
passed anything they had seen before. Gentlemen
from England also stated that in their opinion so
fine an exhibition of pure blood stock could not
be made in that country, so great has been the
draft upon their best animals for several years
past.

The occasion was one of pleasant meetings and
congratulations between persons engaged in the
noble cause from all parts of our own country,
and with those, even, from other countries,which
can not fail to exert a most happy influence upon
all. We are glad to encourage every peaceful
occasion which will bring our people together
from the various parts of the Union, believing
that thereby our common interests will be promo-
ted, and that many existing prejudices will he
softened or entirely obliterated. We wish our
limits would permit us to give several of the
speeches made at the festive board, among which
was a capital one by Cassius M. Clay, but they
will not. Below, we give the opening remarks of
our fellow-citizen, the Hon. Marshall P. Wild
ER, President of the Society, and which the editor
of the Republic, published at Springfield, says
were delivered in " a dignified and eloquent
style." They certainly are appropriate to the
occasion, a-na mauirusc an earnestness in the cause
worthy of imitation.

Springfield, Oct. 20. — The Grand National
Banquet, given by the officers and members of the
United States Agi-icultural Society, took place
this, afternoon, upon the grounds of the Cattle Ex-
hibition of the Society, and was an event long to
be remembered by those who participated, and
worthy of the great object that had collected to-
gether, from various portions of the country, «o
many distinguished gentlemen and eminent agri
culturists.

A large pavilion, one hundred feet long and
about sixty wide, built of wood and covered with
canvas, was erected on the ground. Inside was
arranged several tables, capable of seating one
thousand persons comfortably, and cross-tables at
the west end for the officers, invited guests and
committees. Pursuant to the announcement of
the Committee of Arrangements, a procession was
fonned on the front part of the ground, and prece

ded by a band of music, marched to the Banquet
pavilion. First came the officers of the Society ;
next the invited guests ; next the judges, commit-
tees, and then followed the public at laro^e.

The tables were spread with profusion, and most
admirably arranged. No liquors were used ; a
large number of ladies were present, and added
much to the interest of the scene.

The Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, President of
the United States Agricultural Society, presided ;
and, on his right and left, were seated the invited
guests and officers of the Society.

After the asking of a blessing by the Rev. Mr.
White, of Springfield, the assemblage disposed
of the viands with much zest and spirit. When
the repast was concluded, the President, Mr. Wil-
der,- rose and spoke as follows :

Friends of Agriculture and Fellow Citi-
zens : — In behalf of the United States Agricul-
tural Society, under whose auspices this exhibi-
tion is held — in behalf of the citizens of Spring-
field, by whose liberality we are here assembled
— and in my own behalf, I present you cordial
salutations, and bid you welcome to this our fes-
tive board.

Come ye from the Pilgrim shores of New Eng-
land, from the plantations of the sunny South,
from the great valley and fertile fields of the West!
Come ye from the walks of professional life, from
the halls of legislation, from the marts of business,
or from the high places of power — from whatever
section of our land, from whatever station of so-
ciety, ivelco7ne — a right hearty welcome — to the
joys and pleasures of this occasion.

We have suspended our ordinary cares, toils and
conflicts of business, and come up to this thriving
city from our diiFerent and distant homes, to give
expression to a common and important sentiment
— the love of Agriculture.

We meet here for no sinister motive, no sec-
tional object, no partizan purpose. We stand here
upon a platform, broader, deeper and firmer than
that of any politician or partizan ; a platform upon
which these may stand side by side with the no-
ble yeomanry of our country, honoring them and
honored by them. We are here for the promo-
tion of a depai-iiuent of that great art, upon
■^yliipt, more than upon any other, depend individ-
ual happiness and national wealth, prosperity
and power ; an art whicl^^is the parent of every
other industrial pursuit, a'hd to which the special
blessing of Heaven is vouchsafed.

I congratulate you upon the great interest
awakened, in our age and country, in the cause
of Agriculture ; an interest manifested by the
multiplication of societies and periodicals through-
out the land. I congratulate you upon the won-
derful improvement which science has recently
made in the implements of husbandry, and in the
arts of cultivation — upon the facilities for the
transportation of agricultural products to the
great markets of the world — and especially upon
the improvement of our domestic animals, and
the laudable enthusiasm which many of our wor-
thy citizens have manifested in the importation
of the best breeds of cattle.

It was the latter that suggested the idea of this
exhibition, and it was deemed suitable by the Ex
ecutive of the United States Agricultural Society
to encourage this praiseworthy enterprise, and to
accept the generous invitation of its projectors,

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

565

approved as it was by the Ohio State Board of
Agriculture.

This is the first National Exhibition of Cattle!
ever held in America ; and I do but express the
common sentiment of this assemblage, when Isayj
that it has more than realized the anticipation of'
all concerned. It has been eminently successful,!
and alike honorable to the citizens of Springfield,!
to the State of Ohio, and to this great Republic, j

There liave been about two hundred entries at
this show. Among them we have seen such sam-
ples of the Durhams, the Ilerefords, the Devons,
the Ayrshires, the Jerseys, and grade animals, as
it has seldom or never been the happiness of man
to behold in one show ; and larger premiums have
been offered for the encouragement of that depart-
ment of American husbandry than ever before ex-
cited competition,

Among so many specimens of rare excellence,
no wonder that the judges hate found it difficult
to decide upon their respective merits. Our only
regret is that premiums cannot be awarded to
each competitor. But there is one honor which
seems sufficient to satisfy the aml>ition of any one,
the honor of adding to the interest of this exhi-
bition, and of thus promoting a pursuit second to
no other in the country.

The report of those proceedings will occupy an
important place in the transactions of this Society,
and will go down to posterity honorably associa-
ted with the history of this place, and of Ameri-
can agriculture.

And here permit me to tender our most cordial
thanks to the donors whose liberal contributions
have supplied the funds for this exhibition, to its
Board of Officers and Managers, to whose skill in
designing, and whose energy in execution, we are
so much indebted for the order, convenience and
taste, which have characterized these proceedings,
to the judges, on whom has devolved the onerousj
duty of awarding premiums ; to the contributors,,
who so nobly have endured the risk and expense
of placing their valuable animals on exhibition.!
Especially do we present our heartfelt acknowl-
edgments to our distinguished guests who have
honored us by their presence, and who, we trust,
will instruct and encouiag» us bv their speeches ;
to the good citizens of Springfield u^.a vicinity,
Avhose large hospitality we have enjoyed ; andlasi,
but first in our affections, to the ladies, whose
presence adds so much to the interest and beauty
of this banquet, and whose approving smiles en-|
coiii'age us in all the laudable pursuits of life. !

Friends and Fellow-citizens: — In conclusion,!

{)ermit mi; to extend to you the right hand of fel-
owship, and to invoke your aid in favor of the'
cause we seek to promote. While the nations of
the Old World seek for glory in war and the ac-i
quisitions of the sword, let us cultivate the arts
of peace, and let us remember that the history of
a prosperous people is inscribed, not on the star'
spangled banner of military fame, or of political
preferment and power, but it is seen in the peace-
ful triumphs of the plow, in fields of waving grass
and grain, in thriving llocks and herds, in highly
cultivated farms and gardens, in the refined arts
of rural life and cultivated taste, and in the grate-
ful incense which rises from the altars of an in-
dustrious, intelligent and virtuous yeomanry.

Mr. Wilder's remarks were received with inter-
ruptions of applause, and demonstrations of high
approbation rent the welkin as ho sat down.

The scene was for a few moments enlivened
with some music, when the President read the
regular toasts :

1st Regular Toast — The State of Ohio : it was
her mission to lead in tlie march of civilization
and improvement ; well has she fulfilled the high
trust — long may she reap the rich harvest of her
planting.

Gov.Medill l)eing absent, the Hon. L. D. Camp-
bell, .of Butler county, was called for to respond.

He said he regretted that the Chief Executive
of the State was not present to reply to the toast.
He regretted that one more competent liad not
been called upon. " I am not prepared," said
he, " to discuss the great matter of the age —
agriculture — and- in relation to the different
breeds of cattle, I am, emphatically, a ' Know-
Nothing.' " He then spoke of the importance of
sustaining, by the aid of General Government, the
gi'eat cause of Agriculture. Millions were annu-
ally spent by Government, but nothing done to ad-
vance agriculture ; it was because the people had
not spoken. " Some raised constitutional objec-
tions, but," said he, " it could not be possible
that our forefathers, in framing the constitution,
intended to deprive usof advancing in agriculture.
Congress appropriates for coast surveys, and a
thousand other things, but what do they do for
agriculture ? They purchase a few seeds, and
after distribution we find one paper of cabbage
seeds to every 5,000 fjxrmers. But this very fact
proves there is power in Congress to promote ag-
ricultural interests. The people," he urged,
"should speak at the ballot box — agriculture
should be made a political test."

Mr. Campbell's remarks were received with
considerable applause.

2d Toast— The city of Springfield : Springfield
in Massachusetts, and Springfield in Ohio, re-
renowned in the history of American agriculture —
the mother giving birth to the first National Show
of Horses; the daughter for giving birth to twins —
the first National Cattle Show, and the first Na-
tional Exhibition of Babies.

Responded to by Mr. Mason, of Springfield,
who, after a few remarks, gave —

" Our Country : Whatever may belong to im-
ported caciiG, it ;«. f,^ +2ie native born American
citizens it must depend on lor ua p^^™-j,.»v;t.v."

3d Toast — The Ohio Board of Agriculture :
The uniform friend of agriculture and rural econ-
omy. The annals of our country attest the value
of its labors — may it never lack the sunshine of
public patronage, or an abundant harvest of well-
earned renown.

General Worthington, in behalf of the Ohio
Board of Agriculture, nsponded in a brief and
happy speed), and welcomed the guests and visi-
tors from abroad.

•1th Toast :— The ^lissiSsippi Vallov— The great
granary of Uncle Sara's Farm — Like the store-
houses of Egypt, let years of plenty fill it to over-
flowing, and may it never lack a Josqih to wisely
dispense its abundance.

The President said lie would call upon our
Brother Joseph, tlio Governor of Indiana, to
respond to tliis sentiment.

Gov. Wright said that probably it would have

566

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

been better to have called up a brother Jacob, for
though Jacob served 14 years for his wife, he had
to serve 0 for his cattle. It was pleasing to him,
to unite with so many agriculturists on this fes-
tive occasion. It would appear as though we
have nothing but bank failure3 now-a-days ; but
these unions of the people show that the proper
spirit is aroused. The Yankees have only one
idea, and that is " tu hum." He wished the peo-
ple of the West had more of that spirit. Politi-
cians have taught the people two ideas — Washing-
ton City and the Penitentiary. He recommended
electing the best men to county offices, and send-
ing the worst stock to Congress. Home aifairs he
thought more essential to be attended to, than
general legislation. Gov. Wright concluded by
giving the following toast :

" The TJ. S. Agricultural Banquet — A un-
ion this day of the citizens of 18 States : may these
associations continue to increase and multiply un-
til we shall meet at the annual festivals, the citi-
gens of each State of this Republic, and greet
each other not as members of different sections of
the country, but as citizens known and recognized
by that proud and higher name, an American cit-
izen."

Mr. Brown, President of the Illinois Agricul-
tural Society, was then called for. He referred to
the Mississippi Valley, its present and future pro-
gress in Agricultural art, and delivered a very
good practical address, considering, as he said him-
self, he was no orator, but an agricultural laborer.

Hon. R. Moore, President of the Michigan State
Agricultural Society, was next called for. He
said he was a laboring man, a mechanic, and as
there were better speakers present, he preferred
listening to speaking. He concluded with the
following toast —

"Michigan hitched in the traces of Agricul-
ture, may she never balk."

6th Toast : The State of Kentucky — Renowned
for the valor of her sons, and the profound wis-
dom of her great statesmen ; among her illustrious
yeomanry whom we cordially welcome to our
board, we are happy to recognize her Brutus and
Cassius, more noble than their namesakes in Ro-
man history.

Cassius M. Clay, was vociferously oallea tor,
and was s.vfutod with a noarty welcome. Mr.
Oiaj made a pertinent and liappy speech. Ken-
tuck, he said, tiiought Cai^isius crazy, but the late
change of events had probably not left him in the
position of the one man who thought all the world
crazy. He loved Kentucky and served her, but
because he loved her more, he has been unable
to praise her. As a representative of that State
he could not agree that she was wanting in merit,
for she built the first railroad in the West, and
makes two blades of gra&s grow where one grew,
besides making two pounds of good beef where
one was before. Mr. Clay spoke for some time,
and was listened to with much attention, and con-
cluded by saying that he regretted Kentucky could
not stand upon the same footing as the northei'n
States in mechanics and manufactui-es.

Brutus J. Clay was called for, )>ut he said "one
in the family was enougli," and declined speak-
ing.

6th Toast, — The true conqueror — he defends

the soil and renders it more worthy of defence ;
but he is the most useful and glorious of all con-
querors who conquers a stubborn soil, and who, by
enriching and deepening it, adds to our country a
better and more permanent domain, than he who
merely enlarges its surface.

Response, by Col. Williams, of Kentucky. The
Col. impressed upon the minds of all, that his spear
was converted into a pruning hook, and his sword
into a plowshare. He referred to the advanta-
ges of association in agricultural societies, the in-
terchange of views, and the benefits the farmer of
small means would derive by experimental adven-
tures of the capitalist. The commingling of the
North and the South, on occasion of the present
time, was alluded to by the Colonel, who sound-
ly be-labored politicians and the press for
their horrible action, misrepresentation and libel
upon the inhabitants of both great sections of
this star-spangled land.

7th Toast. — The British Colonies in America
and the United States : closely bound together by
rural pursuits, brought nearer by the wonderful
achievements of science, and held fast by the
golden links of commerce — one in origin, one in
interest, and one in destiny.

Responded toby Mr. Isaac Askew, of Windsor,
Canada West. He said, if ever he needed cour-
age during his life, he needed it then. Being a
North of England man, and as he noticed a num-
ber of editors and reporters present, he desired
them to pay particular attention to his pronunci-
ation of the H. (Your reporter noticed several
other singular familiarities he took with the Eng-
lish language.) He made an excellent and useful
speech, and in referring to the Reciprocity Treaty,
spoke of it as the matrimonial alliance created by
the Governor of Canada and the President of the
United States. He did not desire to go into ec-
clesiastical matters, but said he would here pub-
lish the banns of the marriage, and would say,
"If you know of any just impediment, now speak,
or forever after hold your peace." (Great cheer-
ing.) After briefly referring to the mutual in-
terest of the two countries in agricultural affairs,
he said that he had nevei- seen such an exhibition
of cattle, oepecially short-horned, in this or any
other country. Mr. Askew gave the Kentucki-
ans a humorous rub upon the appearance of their
stock — for " putting their hands too deep into
the corn tub."

He spoke of the over-feeding of stock in a sen-
sible manner, and gave some good and wholesome
advice. In conclusion, he toasted —

"The ladies of Ohio, of the States at large, and
Canada."

The President here stated that he had just re-
ceived a request from Kentucky, that the next Ex-
hibition of the Society should be held in that
State. It would bo referred to the Board, and
favorably considered.

_ 8th Toast—" The State of New York, the Em-
pire State of the national brotherhood. The en-
trenched ground for the protection of American
Agriculture."

Col. Allen, of Buffalo, responded in an appro-
priate and happy speech. He spoke pointedly
upon the importation of stock, and seemed to en-
tertain that the United States was capable of rear-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

56

ing equal, if not better stock, without importing.
He thought but very little was gained in the new
introductions. The relative position of New York
with stock-raising regions of the west, was han-
dled well by the Col. He admitted the advanta-
ges possessed by the West over the Empire iState
in soil and local position, but the immense re-
sources of the former built up the internal im-
provements of the farmer, for without New York
improv8{uents, western products would find no
easy access to the Atlantic seaboard.

9th Toast — The State of Delaware. Although
one of the smallest States in the Union, she sends
us one of her sons, who is not only able to speak
for himself, but also for his State and his coun-
try.

Response by Mr. Holcomb, of Delaware, one of
the Vice-Presidents of the Society, who spoke of
the excellence of the State Farmers' College, of
Delaware, where a thorough collegiate education
was taught, in connection with scientific agricul-
ture. Mr. Holcomb made a very good speech,
but it was slightly abstruse.

Mr. Brown, editor of the Ohio Farmer, then of-
fered the following :

Massachusetts. — Famous in history as the bat-
tle-ground of Freedom ; famous at present as the
abode of taste and refinement, and equally famous
for the energy, intelligence, and enterprise of her
sons.

This called out Col. Wilder, who said he had
no speech to make. Massachusetts was noted as
a State (jf granite and ice, but she raised men.
She needs no one to speak for her ; she speaks for
herself. There^re her institutions.

Col. James, of Urbana, O., was next called for,
and made some few remarks, in which he differed
somewhat from several other speakers, relative to
the aid and assistance of the general government
in agricultural matters.

Col. Sanders, of Ky., on being called for, spoke
in higli terms of the exhibition ; said he could
not talk, but all his views upon agriculture had
been published. He had imported and raised cat-
tle ; reared race horses, «nU.ivated ; had lived
eeve^y-fo\u- years, but had not learnt^d tn make
a speech.

The President then read the following resolu-
tion, which was unanimously adopted :

Resolved, That the thanks of this assembly be
rendered to the Local Board of Managers, to the
Marshals and other officers, to the Editors and
Reporters of the Press, and to tlie citizens of
Springfield for the worthy part Avhich they have
respectively taken in this magnificent exhibition,
and in the excellent accommodations for those
who have attended it.

After which Hail Columbia was performed by
the band, and the assemblage separated.

Tiiere appeared to be but one expression of
feeling among the great crowd a8seml)led together
from different points, and that was of pleasure.
All seemed satisfied and ^ileased at the banquet,
and the most cordial sociability and feeling pre-
vailed.

At night, a number of speeches were made in
the street fronting the Antliony House, in Spring-
field, by Gov. Wright, of Ind., Geo. Waring, the
celebrated agricultural lecturer, of New York, and

others ; a large number of persons were in at-
tendance, and the speakers were listened to with
a lively interest.

THIRD AND LAST DAY.
COMPLETE LIST OF THE PREMIUMS AWARDED.

Springfield, Oct. 27.

The attendance to-day on the ground was not
very large, and was composed principally of the
Stock owners and their numerous frii nds, anxious
to learn the result of the labors of the awarding
committee.

The ring was opened by the sweep stake entries
for the best bulls and fine cows or heifers, of one
year and upwards, from any one herd — premium
$500.

Five entries were made as follows : — Brutus J.
Clay, of Bourbon county, Kentucky ; Col. S.
Meredith, of Wayne county, Indiana; AV. O.
Pierce, of South Charleston, Ohio ; Jacob Pierce,
of South Charleston, Ohio ; Dr. A. Watts, of
Chillicothe, Ohio.

Eight judges were appointed, no two from the
same State. They were four or five hours en-
gaged in examining the respective merits of the
animals, and finally, as your reporter understands,
agreed to disagree, they being equally divided upon
the Kentucky and Indiana stock.

PREMIUMS,

AWAEDED AT THE NATIONAJ. CATTLE SHOW AT
SPRINGFIELJ), OmO.

The labors of the committees, particularly those
upon " Short Horns," were extremely arduous,
and continued, with little interruption, during
Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, about 12
o'clock M., the reports of all, except the commit-
tee on sweejj-stakes, were received by the Secre-
tary and read from the stand, as follows :

DURHAM BULLS.
S years old and upitfard.
1st premium, $300, to Perfection ; bred by Jeremiah Duncan,
owned by Edwin G. Bedford, both of Paris, Ky.

2d prem., $200, to Sheffield, owned by J. W. Robinson, of
Madison county, Ohio.

3d prem., $100, to Deimont, owned by Caldwell & Co.,Fayetta
county, la.

2 years old,
1st prem., $200, to Locomotive, owned by Brutus J. Clay,

PiUlc, Uly

2d prem., $150, lu o-i«.u..i. owned by R. G. Dun & Co., Mad-
ison county, Ohio. - .

3d prem., $75, to Lafayette, owned by J. M.EherWouu, *_
burn, N. Y.

Yearlings.

1st prem., $150, New Year's Day, owned by Chas. M. Clarko
& Co., SpriuKfield, Ohio.

2J prem., |100, King Cyrus, George M. Bedford, Paris, Ky,

DURHAM COWS AND HKIFERS.
3 yean old and upward.
1st prem,, $200, to Lady Stanhope, oivned V>y Brutus J. Clay,
Paris, Ky.

2d prem., $150, Duchess, William Pahuer, Fayette county,
Ohio.
3d prem., $100, Clara Fisher, S. Meredith, Cambridge, la.

2 yearx old.

1st prem., $150, Fashion, .1. Stcdilon, Warren county, Ohio.

2d i>reni., $100, Laura, Brutus J. Clay, Paris, Ky.

3d prem., Mary Clay, $50, S. Meredith, Cambridge, la.

Yearlings,
1st prem., $100, Louan, .Tere.miah Duncan, Pariu, Ky.
2d j)rem., $75, Easter Day, Charles .M. Clarke & Co., Sprlnj.
lield, Ohio.

DEVON BULLS.

3 years old,

1st prem., $100, Know Nothing, N. W. Smith, Warren coua,
ty, Ohio.
2d prem., $76, Herod, L. G. Collins, Montgomery county, la.

568

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

2 years old.

lat prem., $80, Moulton, L. V. Allen, BuCfalo, N. Y.
2d prem., $C0, Jake, Ji. Morritt, Clark county, Ohio.

Yearlings.
Ist prem., $50, Priam, L. Q. Collins, la.
DEVON COWS.

3 years old.

1st prem., |100, Sappho, L. F. Allen, Buffalo, N. Y.

2d prem, S75, Frances, L. G. Collins, Montgomery county.

la.

2 years old.
1st prem., JtS, Dolly, E. M. Merrisreather, Todd county, Ky.
2d prem., $50, Devon, N. W. Smith, Warren county, Ohio.
A yearling heifer of L. U. Collins was commended.

HEREFORD BULLS.
3 years old.
1st prem., $100, Curly, Thos. Aston, Elyria, Ohio.

2 years old.

1st prem., $80, Mystery, W. H. Sotham, Tioga county, N. Y.

1 year old.

1st prem., $75, Defiance, Thos. Aston, Elyria, Ohio.
HEREFORD COWS.

3 years old.

1st prem., $100, Bombazine, W. H. Sotham, Tioga county,
N. Y.
2d prem., $75, Duchess, Thos. Aston, Elyria, Ohio.

2 years old.
1st p-rem, $75, W. H. Sotham.

AYRSHIRE BULLS.

3 years old.

1st prem. $100, Dandy, P. Melendy, Hamilton county, Ohio.

2 years old.

1st prem. $80, Wallace, T. W. Barber, New Paris, Ohio.

1 year old.
1st prem., $75, Dacas, P. Melendy.

AYRSHIRE COWS.

3 years old.
1st prenj., $100, Lassie, P. Melendy.

2 years old.
1st prem., $75, Alice;, P. Melendy.

JERSEY BULLS.

3 years old.

Ifit prem., $100, Pat 4th, R. L. Colt, Patterson, N. J.
JERSEY COWS.
3 years old.
1st prem. $100, Dun, R. L. Colt

2 years old.
1st prem., $75, Jersey, owned by same.

1 year old.
1st prem., $fi0, Patty, same.

SUSCELLANEOUS.
1st prem., work oxen,
2d prem., fat n^- *"'

3d prem., fat cow, $50, J. W. Ware, Fayette county, Ky. ;
weight 2,240 pounds.

4th prem., milk cow, $50, J. W. Brock, N Petersbmrg, Ohio.

5th prem., $50, steer, J. W. Ware, Fayette county, Ky.

6th prem., $59, bull calf, W. D. Peirce, Clark county, Ohio.

7th prem., $50, heifer calf, W. W. Trasher, Fayette oounty,
Ky.

The committee on sweep-stakes, being a pre-
mium of ^500 for the be&t herd of a bull and five
cows or heifers of any breed, were unable to
agree, after a thorough examination and full de-
liberation. The entries were five in number, all
of them superior herds. When they reported
their disagreement, the hour was late and the
sales of stock had commenced ; it was found im-
possible to call a new committee, and the first one
refused to have any additions made to their num-
ber. Mr. Wilder aod the other officers did every
thing that could be honorably done, to lead to an
award of the sweep-stakes, but without efiect. It
was an important feature of the great show, and
of the utmost importance to those who presented

C FulIiPT^— '^°'°" county, Ohio,
'oiieaman, Cleveland, Ohio ; weight

their fine herds for competition ; it is, therefore,
to be regretted that a different result was not
arrived at.

GRASS LAND-GRASS SEED.

It has frequently been remarked by practical
men, that, in laying down lands to grass, the be-
stowment of a few extra pounds of seed, is not to
be considered by any means as a useless expendi-
ture of capital, but the reverse. Farmers often
subject themselves to serious inconvenience and
loss, by being too parsimonious in this particular ;
they proceed upon the erroneous principle that
all the seed sown will germinate, and that all
that germinates will produce plants ; whereas the
truth of the case is, that under ordinary circum-
stances, a considerable portion of the seed never
vegetates, or if it vegetates, does not obtain root,
or produce plants. When allowance is made for
loss, and for defect in seed, when there are any
indications that it is of a bad quality, we shall
hear less complaint that "grass seed has not tak-
en well." On light soils, which are deficient in
retentive power, and where the requisite degree
of compressibility is not easily attained, nothing
is more certain than that a considerable portion
of the seed committed to it — unless in a peculiar-
ly modified season — will fail to sprout. The rapid
descent of such soils, and their extreme permea-
bility to atmospheric influences, cause them to be-
come speedily dry — a condition iif which no seed
can be made to develope healthily, or ifit should,
to produce a vigorous plant. The application of
an extra allowance of seed, followed by the roller
for the purpose of consolidating the surface, is in-
dispensable to success in stocking lands of this
description.

For the New England Farmer.

SOWING S-EEDS f OR FOREST -TREES.

MESSRS. Editors : — It is gratifying to see in-
quiries how worn fields can best be replenished
with forest trees. There are many such fields in
New England, and the earlier they are converted
into forests, the better will the public interest be
promoted. No knowledge that has been acquired
by experience should be withheld from inquirers.
" C. W." is informed that it is best, if there is
much sward on his land, to plow and sow rye and
pine seed at the same time. It is now too late in
the season to gather the seed of white pine, but
the seed of yellow pine may be gathered till
winter. Probably white pine seed may be ob-
tained at the stores. If the planter chooses to
have order in his forest as in the orchard, he will
be inclined to plant but one kind of trees ; but
when we sow broad-cast, it is well to mix differ-
ent kinds of seed. " 0. W.," I think, may do
wisely to wait till another year, plow his land in
summer and gather his own seed, which I suppose
should be done in the State of Vermont the last
of August, or the very first of September ; a very
little frost causes the seed of white pine to fall
out. M. A.

Pembroke, Oct. 2ith, 1854.

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

569

WHAT BOSTON HAS DONE FOR
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURAL STORES OF BOSTON".

Hiram Blackmer, 34 N. Market ; Joseph Brack
& Son, 51 & 52 N. Market; M. & F. Barr, 23
Broad, corner Central ; Hovey & Co., 7 Merchant's
Row ; Parker, White & Gannett, 59 & G3 Black-
stone ; David Prouty & Co., 19 N. Market; Bug-
gies, Nourse, Mason & Co., Quincy Hall, S. Mar-
ket; Nourse & Co., Commercial, near Quincy
Market.

UORTICULTURAL AND SEED STORES.

Azell Bowditch, 54 School; Curtis & Lincoln,
Washington, corner Hay ward Place.

AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

Mass. Society for Promotion of Agriculture. —
John C. Gray, President. Abbott Lawrence, Vice
President. Benjamin Guild, Recording Secretary.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., Corresponding Secretary.
Thomas Motley, Jr., Treasurer.

Mass. Board of Agriculture. — His Excellency,
Emory Washburn, His Honor, Wm. C. Plunkett,
Ephraim M. Wright, Secretary of State, ex-offi-
cers. Marshall P. VYilder, Nathaniel Wood, Ed-
ward Hitchcock, Robert C. Winthrop, and others,
Members of the Board. Charles L. Flint, Secre-
tary. Rooms at the State House.

Mass. Agricultural Society. — J. S. Cabot, Pres-
ident. B. V. French, Cheever Newhall, E. M.
Richards, Josiah Stickney, Vice Presidents. Eb-
enezer Wriglit, Corresponding Secretary. W. C.
Strong, Recording Secretary. Samuel R. Austin,
Treasurer. Rooms, Horticultural Hall, School
Street.

Boston Agricultural Papers. — Boston Cultiva-
tor, Otis Brewer, 22 N. Market, weekly ; Amer-
ican Veterinary Journal, George H. Dadd, 1 Hay-
market Square, monthly ; Fruits of America, C.
M. Hovey, 7 Merchants' building, monthly ; Gard-
ner's Magazine, W. S. King & Co., 54 School,
monthly ; Horticulturist, J. Breck & Son, 51 N.
Market, monthly; Journal of Agriculture, W. S.
King & Co., 54 School, monthly, Magazine of
Horticulture, C. M. Hovey, J^aUo^, 7 Merchant's
Row, monthly; Massachusetts Ploughman , \v'.
& W. J. Buckminster, 51 N. Market ; N. E. Far-
mer, Raynolds & Nourse, Quincy Hall, weekly ;
Practical Farmer, William S. King & Co., 54
School, weekly.

It is now the harvest season with the two mil-
lions and a half of farmers of this agricultural na-
tion. So great is the interest in tlie cultivation
of the soil, that more than half the States of this
Union hold State Fairs this autumn, of from two
days to six, and the agricultural exhibitions of
towns and counties may be reckoned by hundreds.

At first thought, we may ask, what Boston has
to do with agriculture? It is a commercial, and
not an agricultural town. This is true, but with
out agriculture commerce cannot ilourisb, and
some of the best friends and patrons of agricul-
ture have been men who were connected only with
its merchandise.

Bat Boston has a nearer connection with ag-
riculture. Tbis whole peninsula was nothing
once but the farm of Rev. William Blackstone,
who owned its then 700 acres, and cultivated
such a portion of them as he was able. He was

here several years before John Winthrop and his
party, and some writers go so far as to say that,
solitary and alone he cultivated his garden and
orchard in the spring, where he lived in the vi-
cinity of the Lowell Railroad station. It is cer-
tain that he was here, and that he invited Win-
throp to his peninsula farm. We soon find that
the new comers by right, or by might, were so
well pleased with Shawmut, with its " sweet and
pleasant springs," that they confined Blackstone
to 50 acres of his original peninsula, and, at
length, reduced him to six acres, by a formal pur-
chase. These acres were around his humble
house, and were cultivated by this first farmer of
Boston.

But Blackstone, who seems to have been an ec-
centric character, preferring solitude to society,
remained only some ten years in Boston, after
which he removed to Rhode Island, where he di-
vided his time between books and agricultural
pursuits, until he died in 1075. His farm has
now the name of the Whipple farm, and is situa-
ted in the town of Cumberland.

There are other early claims of Shawmut in
connection with agriculture ; for here, it is sup-
posed, the Indians enjoyed a favorite home, and
raised the corn that bears their name. The clear-
ings on this peninsula, when Winthrop arrived,
indicated very clearly that it was the farm of the
Indian before it was that of Blackstone.

As early as 1G34, we find that the lands of the
vicinity of Boston were divided among the prin-
ciple inhabitants by a court which was convened
at Boston ; from 200 to 1000 acres being granted
to each. Among these grants, we notice that 200
acres was granted to Rev. Jolin Wilson, pastor of
the first church in Boston. This land was bounded
on the north by Medford. There was a provision
in these grants, that if the lands were not im-
proved, nor built upon in three years, they should
revert to the court. At this period. Muddy River
(now Brookliue) was a favorite farming region.
Wood, in his New England Prospect, describes it
as a place where "are good grounds, large tim-
ber, and store of marsh land and meadow." He
continues, " in this place the inhabitants of Bos-
ton keep their swine and other cattle in the sum-
mer, whilst the corn is on the ground at Boston,
ana Wnio; them to the town in the winter." At
Muddy Brook was u.. a„. ^f ji^^ j^j^n Cotton,
01 Boston, who was a colleague 01 Mr. tti\„„^,
and in honor of whom this town was named ;
since he was previously settled in Boston, England.
This farm, in 184^, included the two estates owned
by John Kenrick and Moses Andem, of Brooklino.

As for Boston itself, at this early period, there
was less opportunity for large farms. Even then,
the wood was mainly procured from Noddle's Is-
land, from Dorchester, and Muddy Brook. Wood
says of it — " This place hath very good land, af-
fording rich corn fields, and fruitful gardens, hav-
ing likewise sweet and pleasant springs." At the
same time he spoke of one of our islands, the Gov-
ernor's, " where is planted an orchard and a vine-
yard.'' Mr. VV^ood speaks further of the Boston
of 1033 as follows : —

" Boston is two miles nortli-cast fromRuxbury.
Their greatest wants are wood and meadow ground,
which were never in tluit place, being constrained
to fetch their building timber and firewood from
the islands in boats, and their hay in lighters. It

570

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

being a neck, and bare of wood, they are not
troubled with three great annoyances, of wolves,
rattlesnakes, and mosquitoes. These that live
here upon the cattle, must be constrained to take
farms in the country, or else they cannot subsist ;
the place being too small to contain many, and
fitted for such as can trade into England for such
commodities as the country wants ; being the
chief place for shipping and merchandise."

It is quite remarkable that this writer, even
then, had a prospective view of the commercial
importance of Boston. If the inhabitants of that
period were not troubled with mosquitoes, it is
more than we can say of the present season, though
for rattlesnakes we must go as far as Milton, and
for wolves without the State. Writers suppose
that Mr. Wood was mistaken, when he asserts
that Siiawmut, or, as the English first termed it,
Trimountain, had no wood, though there was less
then in surrounding places.

What Mr. Wood says at that period of the
neighborhood of Boston, indicated that it might
be distinguished as it has been for its agriculrure
and horticulture, as Boston would be for its devo-
tion to commerce. He says — " The inhabitants
ofRoxbury have fair houses, store of cattle, im-
paled corn fields, and fruitful gardens.'' Dor-
chester has " very good arable ground, and hay
grounds, fair corn tields, and pleasant gardens,
with kitchen gardens." Of Lynn he asserts,
" there is more English tillage than in New Eng-
land and Virginia besides : which proved, as well
as could be expected, the corn being very good,
especially the barley, rye and oats."

We cannot tarry to trace the progress of agri-
cultural pursuits in Boston and vicinity down to
the close of the last century. Sufiice it to say,
that even this city has never been without its
small gardens, and orchards, which, ho^vever,
have grown less and less, as the ever increasing
wave of commerce has rushed upon them, and
finally flowed over them, until no vestige was left
of their former beauty. Even as late as the period
of John Hancock, it is said that " his lands were
originally of orchards and gardens."

The formation of the Massachusetts Society for
the Promotion of Agriculture, in 1792, is due to the
influence of Boston and vicinity. Here its period-
ical, the Repository and Journal, was pnWfotied
and here was the f-PnH-o of operations. Hon.
Tho— .o nusscll was its first President, and among
its officers and members we find such men of Bos-
ton as Christopher Gore, James Bowdoin, Theo-
dore Lyman, Robert T. Paine, and Josiah Quincy.
And then the neighborhood gave the society John
Adams, Fisher Ames, Martin Brimmer, Elbridge
Gerry, and others. These were among the early
members of the society.

A particular object of this society was to bring
to the attention of our farmers the agricultural
improvements of Europe, and to import from
thence the finest kinds of stock. This last work
has been continued to this day, and we owe it
much to this society, and, perhaps, we may say,
mainly, that we may see in Massachusetts fields
and barns the finest specimens of the Durham,
Devon, Ayrshire, Alderney and Jersey stock.

In connection with this society, there were an-
nual exhibitions, or cattle shows at Brighton, for
many years. The society offered premiums as
high as $100 each for the best articles in various

departments, or for some important agricultural
discovery. These shows were annual schools for
the people, and had a great influence in leading
to other and similar shows in various parts of the
State, and to the general improvement of agricul-
ture. It was, no doubt, through the influence of
this society, that the Middlesex Society of Hus-
bandmen was formed in 1803, and the Berkshire
Agricultural Society in 18 11 — which former claims
to be the first county society in the State, and
that county and town societies have been organ-
ized so extensively throughout the State.

But, perhaps, as useful a movement of this so-
ciety as any was the publication of periodical
under its auspices, which began in 1814, and was
published on the first of January and July. The
vrork was exclusively devoted to agriculture, and
the papers were among the most able, thorough
and practical that we have ever seen on the sub-
ject of agriculture. This publication was termed
the Massachusetts Repository and Journal.

After this, and, probably, stimulated by the
example of the first agricultural journal in Mas-
sachusetts, arose the New England Farmer, in
this city, in 1822, under the auspices of Thomas
Green Fessenden — a journal that exerted so wide
and beneficial an influence. Since that period, the
work has gone on until we have no less than four
weekly, one bi-monthly, and five monthly period-
icals in this city, and devoted to agriculture in
its various branches. These journals, especially
those published weekly, circulate very widely,
some of them issuing as many as 20,000 or more
each week. Such an influence is constantly go-
ing forth from Boston to promote good tillage ;
and hence large and valuable crops. And it is
generally agreed that the improvement of agri-
culture in New England and in the country, and
the wonderful improvement of the last twenty
years, is more to be attributed to agricultural
publications than to any other influence — and
some would say to all other.

There is another influence which Boston has ex-
erted upon the agriculture of the country and the
world ; and that is, through agricultural stores.
The oldest agricultural otore established in this
city is thn<- oC Joseph Breck & Son, which was
opouecl in 1828. One store after another has
boon estalilished since, until there are now ten
agricultural and horticultural stons, that are
supposed, with the agricultural papers, to employ
capital to the amount of $1,000,000, and to do
an annual business of $2,000,000. Indeed Bos-
ton is the head-quarters of this business, having
larger and more important stores than any to be
found in this country. And it is asserted with
great confidence that the agricultural stores of
Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co. is the largest in
the world. Foreigners say as much, and the
Yankee who travels up and down the store over
the Quincy Market, will be pretty sure to guess
that it is the biggest in all creation.

This firm is engaged in the manufacture, as
well as in the sale of every article that the farmer
and gardiner uses. In Worcester, where their
principal manufactory is, more than 200 men are
employed, and more than thirty are connected
with their sales-room in this city. In this busi-
ness they use from six to seven tons of iron daily,
Their plows, cultivators, mowing machines, clo-
ver, grass, garden and field seeds, etc., find their

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

571

way to South America, the Canadas, the British
Provinces, to Australia, Africa, and even to Aus-
tria. If Austria sends for our plows, who knows
but she will ask for republicanism next ? The
progress of this house is quite wonderful, when it
is considered that it began business in Worcester
in 1833 with only three hands, and has only been
established in Boston since 1840.

The other houses mentioned at the head of this
article, do quite as heavy business in this depart-
ment. xVnd to show the progress of the busi-
ness, it may be mentioned that the large store of
Nourse & Co. is but just opened, and that the
beautiful I'ruit and floral store of Curtis & Lin-
coln has very lately been thrown open. Let any
one travel through these stores, let him behold
the fruits and flowers, the seeds destined for moth-
er earth, of every size and description ; the plows,
large and small, for hill side and for plain, for
light and f>r heavy soils ; let him survey the
beautiful forks and cultivators, the churns, that
will almost make butter alone ; the mowing and
reaping machines, and even hay-makers, and he
will be amazed at the perfection of the tools that
are put into the hands of our farmers, and at the
multitudes of labor-saving machines that have
been invented — now that labor is so dear and
scarce.

Mowing machines were only introduced into
New England, to any extent, the past season.
They have been used by western farmers for some
six years. By the experiments made in New Eng-
land, though not in all respects satisfactory (for
the farmers must learn how to use them, and the
machines may need some slight improvement,) it
has been ascertained that a farmer may gather
his hay crop for one-half of the ordinary expense,
and some would sixy one-third. Even during the
first season, of the introduction of these machines
into New England, 300 of them have been sold by
a single house ; and it is supposed that the same
hands may sell 1200 the coming season.

The rise of the Massachusetts Horticultural So-
ciety in this city, in 1829, was an omen of much
good in the dep;irtmcnt to which it has been de-
voted. Its annual exhibitions, aa fins as any in
tho world ; the frequent addresses delivered hi^.
fore it ; its weekly display of fruits and flowers ;
and the indefatigable efibrts of its members, have
made the gardens and orchards in this vicinity
famous over the country and the world. In the
late exhibition of this society, Col. M. P. Wilder
displayed 273 varieties of pears. This fact is
mentioned, as an illustration of the eflbrts that
are put forth in a single department of fruit
growing.

A member of this society commenced, in this
city, the publication of the IMagazine of Horti-
culture in 1853. It is the oldest publication of
the kind in this country, and its j.resent editor,
who has edited it from the l)cginning, C. M.
Ilovey, Esq., is the oldest horticultural editor in
America. Tlie late lamented Downing was, when
a youth, a contributor to this magazine, during
the first year of its publication. We can hardly
estimate the amount of good an original publica-
tion of this kind has done in a period of twenty
years. Under the impetus given by the horticul-
tural paper and societies, nurseries of trees have
sprung up in all this region, where trees arc sent
to California, and the uttermost parts of the

earth. Under the same influence, landscape gar-
dening has been taught scientifically, and has thus
been practised, so that the whole vicinity of Bos-
ton is one extensive and elegant garden — causin"
the visitor, from whatever part of the world, to
exclaim, "beautiful, beautiful !"

Most of the agricultural implements sold in
Boston are manufactured in various parts of New
England. Worcester sends forth plows, cultiva-
tors, mowing machines, by the thousands and
millions. The same city, in connection with Mill-
bury, manufactures many hard-ware articles, used
by the husbandman. Easton gives us Ames' un-
equalled shovels. , Vermont sends forth countless
forks. West Fitchburg, New London, N. IL,
and other towns in Rhode Island, manufacture
any quantities of scythes. Ox yokes and bows are
made in vast numbers in various places in New
England.

It would be interesting to dwell upon the won-
derful improvements in the manufacture of these
various implements. Within the recollection of
men in middle life, cast iron plows were unknown,
and when they were first introduced, the farmers
were actually afraid they would break in turning
over their first furrow. The plows of the olden
times, and times not very old, were of wood, with
comparatively little iron of any kind about them.
There is a plow now under exhibition in the New
York Crystal Palace, thatwas owned and used by
Roger Sherman, of Connecticut. This plow is of
wood, with a wrought iron share, and is quite a
curiosity, particularly as compared with the
splendid plows of the present day.

It is now generally acknowledged that our
agricultural implements are superior to any man-
ufactured in any other portion of the world. And
we all rememljer how astonished John Bull was
at the display of Jonathan in this department,
in the London exhibition. And, as nature has
given America the best soil under the sun — that
great requisite to good farming — we see not why
this nation is not to be the best farming nation in
the world, and that at no distant day.

We come to the conclusion, then, that Boston
though only the metropolis of sterile New Eng-
land, has been the fountain head of American
agricciU.irft. Boston was, itself, once only a large
farm. Its gardens „.-.. n.mnus for two hundred

years, and have hardly disappeared, in \>.-i

was organized the first State agricultural society
of this country, which had accomplished consid-
erable before the now great agricultural State of
Ohio was organized as a State in 1802, and while
much of New York was a howling wilderness.
Here, too, was established tlic first American
horticultural journal, and here is the greatest
agricultural ware-house in the world. And who
have done more for American agriculture than
the 7ncn of Boston and vicinity ; than such men
as Lowell, Webster, Coleman, Fessenden, Man-
ning, and Downer among the dead ; and \Vilder,
Cabot, Ilovey, Buckminster, Gray, Quincy, Mot-
ley, Allen, and others among tlie living? And at
no other time in our history has there been such
an interest in this subject in Boston, and in the
commonwealth, as at the present moment. Our
merciiants and mechanics are generally looking
forward to the day wiien they shall iiave their
little or large farms well tilled. Indeed, one is
now esteemed hardly a man, unless he has hia

572

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

countrj'-scat, and can talk about his herds and
his flocks. All this is well. Agriculture is a
grand subject to be interested in. Its practice
has a line influence upon the mind, and, rightly

fursued, a purifying influence upon the heart,
t Avas the first pursuit of man, and it shall be the
last ; and without it all other interests must per-
ish from the earth. — Boston Post.

For the New England Farmer.

FALL PLOWING.

Mr. Editor : — It is an old adage that any fool
can make money, but it requires a wise man to
keep it, and the same is true relative to manure.
I am led to this reflection by seeing my neighbor
farmers all about me plowing their corn, potatoe
and other lands, which were highly manured last
spring, thereby exposing the unexhausted manure
(which laid securely buried,) to all the ensuing
fall, Avinter, and spring rains, by which means
one-fifth of all the manure applied is lost. If
any one disbelieves the assertion, let them try the
experiment and they will be satisfied of its truth ;
it will cost them nothing to try. Now if every
farmer wastes one-fifth of his manure, what is
his loss ? I will estimate it at from five to thirty-
five dollars, according to hia circumstauces —
enough to pay all his taxes ; in the aggregate for
the State of New Hampshire, making a large
sum, which had much better be saved than lost.
The theory that we cannot plow our land too
much is correct, if plowed at a proper season ;
but to plow our manured lands in the fall, be-
cause our teams are then strong, &c., is a very
bal practice.

1 believe that every one that you may induce
to suspend plowing in the fall, as above, if but
one acre, can well afford to subscribe for your
paper two years.

Yours with respect, H. S. Perrin.

OrfordvUle, N. H., 1854.

Remarks. — We thank our correspondent for the
expression of his opinion about autumn plowing,
although our own experience has led us to very
difierent conclusions. We are earnest advoeates
of this practice, bolievina: t'l'^'- *"--'^'^^ "-^c in better
r.o^ait;^.! to plow in the autumn, — that the farm
work is generally less pressing, — that manure
well mingled, with the soil in the spring, becomes
so mucli decomposed and incorporated with the
surrounding particles, as not to lose its valuable
properties by exposure, — that there is not sufii-
cient heat to evolve its ammonia, and that the
soil, by being light and porous, receives from the
atmosphere and snows valuable additions through
out the winter. The opinions below are expressed
by " S. B. F.," in the Rural Neiv-Yorher.

Fall plowing I think an important item in
farm operations, for past experience has taught
me that better crops of barley and oats may be
secured, on any of our lands, by plowing in the
fall, and we can invarialjly get them in better
condition. I consider it indispensable, however
that no surface water be allowed to remain long,
and neglect in this respect I believe to be the

cause of so many ftxilures in the experiment.
Some say, "plow dry lands, but you must not
plow those which are wet ;" but with all defer-
ence to the opinions of such, I (from past expe-
rience) advise to the contrary.

If I have a rather wet clayey lot, which is in-
tended for spring crops, I by all means plow in
the fall ; not, however, in an indfferent manner,
as is the practice of some, but with great care,
putting it in narrow beds and cutting cross fur-
rows or ditches, in order that all the surface wa-
ter may quickly run off and not lay upon the
land to harden it. In this condition the legiti-
mate effect of the frost is to pulverize the soil,
and when spring comes, once harrowing, and
then going over it with the wheel cultivator,
will put it in as good condition for sowing as it
possibly can be.

For the Ifew England Farmer.

NOVEMBER MONTHLY FARMER.

Considerable space in this number is occupied
by accounts of various Cattle Shows in New Eng-
land, by the valuable report of the proceedings and
discussions of the American Pomological Society
at its meeting in Boston, and by several articles
on Fruit, such as Mr. Hovey's description of the
Concord Grape, "A New Apple," "Sweet Ap-
ples," "Fine Pears," "Fig Trees," "Cranberries
on Upland," "Tolman's Sweeting" "Apple Tree
Borer," &c., and yet there is room for more arti-
cles beside these than I can profitably notice. I

gin with —

"(Some Wants wanted by Farmers.''^ — A pretty
good article on a capital subject. Want of
means, want of knowledge, want of interest or
love of business discussed. To raise the "means"
a mortgage is suggested. Mortgages ! I have
learned by experience to shudder at the mention
of that word. How they sweep the board to pay
the "interest, annually," and still hang over the
old homestead, generation after generation — a
smothering night-mare on enterprise, ambition,
hope ! Mr. French said, in an article published
some months sine?, t-hat^ New_ England fsirmers
were v^orc extravagant in buildings, furniture,
dress, carriages, &c. for show, than any other
people in the world. Retrench, here ; keep a bare
parlor, wear cheap clothes, ride in the old wagon,
endure a "lean kitchen," sell a few acres, — any-
thing, before a mortgage on the farjii. Yet the
lack of means is undoubtedly the want of New
England farmers. Mr. J. J. Thomas, of New
York, in an essay published some ten years ago,
enumerates the items of stock, tools, labor, seeds,
and the feed of animals, &c., (Ijcside the support
of the owner's family) required for the first
year's satisfactory management of a hundred-acre
farm, which foot up at $1,832 00. Besides pay-
ing for the farm, then, according to Mr. Thomas'
estimate, almost two thousand dollars will be re-
quired the first year to enable the farmer to per-
form the different operations of his business in the
best possible manner and at the best time. He
also says, that in England a man who merely
rents a farm there must have as large a capital as
the man who buys and pays for a farm of equal
size in the best p irts of western New York, and
that the great mistake of American farmers is in
expending all their means for land, and thus Lave

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

573

nothing to begin the great work of farming
with.

^^Hog-hilling in Cincinnati.'" — A striking in-
stance of the effect of capiUxl and skill. In my
neighborhood mechanics and small farmers pay
the butcher one dollar for dressing a hog ; in the
Cincinnati establishment forty hogs are dressed a
day to each man employed.

Questions by the Secretary of the Board of Agri-
culture.— Answers to these questions will enable
the Secretary to make a valuable report, and
those who want capital subjects to write upon will
find in these questions appropriate texts for arti-
cles for the Farmer.

^^ Gardens that never Fail," {rom drought, in
Ohi», are those tliat are plowed or spaded deep-
ly; so argue the Ohioans, this year.

^^ Breaking Colts," is generally a troublesome
and dangerous business. If tha plan recommend-
ed here works well, those who have colts to man-
age will be likely to preserve the November Far-
mer, if all the otiier numbers are thrown away.

^^ Maturing Plants." — A practical criticism on
certain scientific theories, lately advanced in the
Farmer.

^^ Improving the Soil by Shade." — On this theo-
ry cellar bottoms ought to become rich, and apple
tree roots in grass land ought to grow all the
better for enjoying a shaded soil. Land covered
for four years with brush two feet deep, especial-
ly such as would decay in half that time, or even
land on which flax is spread merely to rot, might
be improved thereby from the deposit of vegetable
matter, and the disengagement of gases, conse-
quent upon even partial decomposition, without
giving any credit at all to "Shade." Though I
have little faith that shade will ever be bagged
up and sold at "fifty dollars a ton,'' as a fertil-
izer, yet I like to read what sensible men have to
say on tliis, or any other "new theory," — for it
shows that they are thinking.

'■'■Another Specimen of Farming." — "Vermont-
er" here gives so attractive a picture of his farm
and neigliborhood, of his success and indepen-
dence, that many readers of the Farmer will
hope to hear from him again, and be lui'onned
more definitely of the location of his portion ot
Vermont. A detailed statement of his manage-
ment, crops, sales, &c., will be interesting, partly
from the fact that small farmers, being unwilling
to contrast tlieir humble doings with those "big
stories" that abound in agricultural papers, very
seldom furuish accounts of their operations (or
publication. Ueside the $1500 purchase money,
what amount of capital was required the first
year to pay for your stock, implements, seeds, la-
bor, keeping of auim.-.ls, &c. Give us the items,
will you!

"■Importation of Guano." — A memorial to Con
«Tess, for its influence to reduce the price of Gua
no.

"T/ie CurcuUo." — Experiments with lime,
whale-oil soap, and a brood of chickens, to save
plums from the curculio. 1 tried the chicken pre-
scription, this year, with no success.

'■^Remarks almit raising Hops." — An article
"true to its name."

"Lighining Rods not Humbugs,"— So argues
Mr. Quhnby, an old rod-builder.

"State Almshouse." — Proves a bone of conten-
tion." Fair play is a jewel ; but is it quite fair
for one writer to represent another as saying, "an
ample supply [of water] is expected from the
wells that are to be dug — not from those they al-
ready have," — when his words were, "tliey had
a good supply of water at present, but were im-
proving the wells, to have it more plentiful and
of better quality?"

"Hawaiian Agriculture." — An account of the
progress of whoat-raising on these islands, which
I notice for the purpose of quoting the remark of
the writer, who has tried both climates, that the
sons of New England "may well be tliankful
that they were born and cradled among her hills,
instead of first breathing the balmy air of a
southern climate."

"How to save Top Onions." — By one who has
"raised them over twenty years, and never failed."
When so many people find it almost impossible to
raise a few common onions in their old gardens,
why are not the top onions more generally culti-
vated ?

'■'■Domestic Guano." — If ten millions of dollars
are paid out of the United States annually for
imported guano, is it not time for farmers to com-
mence the manufacture of domestic guano, if, as
this article says, every family of four persons
may make a ton, by saving what is now thrown
away?

"Buckwheat." — The increased cultivation of
this grain recommended, because improved mills
for grinding and hulling it have been introduced.

"The Drought." — Among the many accounts
of the past dry summer, I notice one in which the
writer says, — "The moral of the dry spell is, to
plow deep and cultivate mo/s/ land." I believe
so, too ; and cannot help inquiring what hearing
this experience has upon the book-farming theo-
ry of "thorough draining," so often urged upon
the farmers of this country? A Reader.

Winchester, Nov., 1854.

For the JVew England Farmer.

PATENT CIDER MILLS.

Mr. Editor : — Some short time since, tliinking
that tUofoT-niipj, community might be benefited by
a few words of caua... K.Pore purchasing a cider-
mill, called, _l think, "Hickok's t'aun.r,-' i ^A.
dressed a few lines to the Ploughman, stating my
objections, but which the l^ditor did not think
proper to put into his paper. I cannot see what
objection there could have been to whiit I wrote,
unless the interest of tlio Ploughman is on tlie
side of the "mills," and those farmers who would
otherwise have purchased might have delayed do
ing so from what was said in regard to them. The
substance of what I wrote was this : — That the
mill was very far from l)cing what it should be as
yet ; — that as the mill now is, it was nearly im-
posf^ible to make it work with the ordinary eider
applrs as they are brought to be made up: I had
no doubt but what two men might rossinly make
two barrels of cider in a day, provided the apples
were all perfectly sound and free from rot ; nut
it is well known that tliis is far from being the
case as the apples are brought to the mills to be
'n-ound. I uo not hcsitiite to say, from what 1
have seen in regard to the operations of two of

574

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

the mills in this town, that two men cannot pos-
sibly make three barrels of cider a day with the
mill with the ordinary apples that cider is gener-
ally made from. Where they are unusually rot-
ten the mill will not work at all, and by dint of
great patience in clearing the grinding part I do
not deny but what some little progress may be
made.

He who doubts this has only to give the ma-
chine a fair trial to be satisfied of the truth of
what I say. In my article to the Ploughman, I
suggested that the inventor should contrive a way
to have the grinding knives operate perpendicu-
larly, instead of as at present, to obviate this ob-
jection— and also to have the press tub a little
larger, which could not add very much if any-
thing to its present expense.

At the present time it is very far from what is
generally wanted by the farmers who have over
live barrels of cider to make. And a very little
alteration in its grinding gear is all that is wanted
to make it perfect. King Oak Hill, M. D.

Nov. 7, 1854.

For the Neiv England Farmer.

PERFECT MANURES.

BY DOCT. JOSEPH REYNOLDS.

What constitutes a perfect manure ?_ Manures
di£Fer in their composition. One kind is valuable
for its humus- forming properties ; another for the
properties that contribute mainly to the growth
of stalks, leaves and flowers; another for those
elements that are essential to the formation of
seeds, grains, &c. It is often said of certain
kinds' of manure, that they do not hold out
through the season. The plant will start well
and o-row for a time, but does not mature much
grain or fruit. It is said the manure is used up,
or it has not strength enough to carry the plant
throuo-h. It may be true, sometimes, that a ma-
nure 'putrifies so rapidly, that its nutritive ele-
ments are all given off before the plant has gone
through its several stages of growth. But I sup-
pose the aljuve complaint is made of manure
when it is deficient in those elements which the
plant requires in its seed-forming stage. It has
not in it a sufficient supply of those elements that
mainly contril>ate to the construotJon of the
grain and fruit. WU«t, men, is a perfect ma-
Sure? That which the plant requires during
every period of its growth and maturity. The
liquid excrement of animals yields a large propor-
tion of nitrogen, potash and soda. These ele-
ments contribute especially to the growth of leaves
and stalks. The solid excrement is nch_ in seed-
forming elements, as phosplioric acid, lime and
mairnesia, and these elements are developed more
slowly than those inthe liquid excrement.

Now it will be readily perceived that neither of
these is, by itself, a perfect manure. If you use
the liquid alone, you will say that it does not
hold out through the season ; although it may
give you a large growth of stalk and leaf, it will
not o-ive a full growth of grain and seeds. If
you use the solid alone, you will complain that
your plants grow slowly and are small, even
though what grain tliey do yield may be of good
quality. The most perfect manure is that which
results from the combination of these two ex-
crements in the most intimate manner possible.

Other substances may be added to this compound,
for the purpose of absorbing the one, or of more
readily pulverizing the other ; or substances may
be added which are supposed to be wanting in
the soil to which it is proposed to apply the mix-
ture, as sand and plaster when it is to be applied
to a peaty soil, or mud when it is to be applied
to a sandy soil.

When these materials are placed in a mass and
kept moist, a process soon commences called pu-
trefactive fermentation. By this process, several
chemical results are brought about. The first is
the evolution of several elementary substances,
and the second their combination into new com-
pounds, of a highly important character. By
the putrefactive process, carbon, nitrogen, ^ly-
drogen and oxygen, are set at liberty from the
compounds in which they previously existed.
The oxygen and carbon, having a strong affinity
for each other, combine and form carbonic acid.
The nitrogen and hydrogen form ammonia, and
this, when formed, combines with carbonic acid,
forming carbonate of ammonia. Where the air
is freely admitted, a large portion of these ele-
mentary gasses pass off as they are evolved, with-
out forming the unions above indicated, and are
thus lost. When the putrifying mass becomes
saturated by the compound gasses above men-
tioned— carbonic acid and ammonia — these also
pass off into the air and are lost. As these are
of immense value to vegetation, they should be
retained if possible. The most effectual mode of
retaining them is to sprinkle the compost' heap,
when it begins to throw off a strong odor, with
sulphuric acid and water, three or four pounds
to a barrel of water. This should be repeated as
often as necessary. A solution of sulphate of
iron, or common copperas, is the next best means.
If the manure is to be applied to trees, it is
probably better than the uncomliined acid. Sul-
phate of lime, or plaster, is useful fur the same
end. I do not think plaster as useful as some
have represented it in this respect. It consists of
an acid combined with an alkali, for which it has
a strong affinity. If you would divorce this acid
from the base, to which it is already married, in
order tliat it may form a new union, you must
present a base for which it has a stronger attrac-
tion. Potash and soda will attract the various
acids from lime, but ammonia will not do this,
except under peculiar circumstances. I suppose
plaster acts mostly by absorbing the fluids, and
thereby stopping the putrefactive process for a
time, rather than by giving up its acid to be com-
bined with ammonia.

When a solution of sulphuric acid, or of sul-
phate of iron is sprinkled upon the compost heap,
a sulphate of ammonia is formed, which is but
slightly volatile. The sulphate of ammonia
thus retained in the mass, is taken up by the
rootlets of plants, and carried into the sap ves-
sels, where it is decomposed, and furnishes to
their formative organs sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen
and hydrogen, which are the ultimate elements
of which this salt is composed. But these ele-
ments are not all which vegetables require. They
require carbon, which, in the form of carbonic acid,
abounds in manure — iron, manganese, potash,
soda, lime, and silex. As a general rule, potash,
soda and lime, should not be mixed with the com-
post heap, but should be applied to the soil sep-

1854.

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

575

arately, either in solution or in powder. If ap-
plied to the compost heap, they rapidly decompose
the compounds of ammonia, and permit it to es-
cape. These alkalies should never be mixed with
guano, fur the same reason. Plaster is less ob-
jectionable for the reason given above, viz. that it
is not readily decomposed by ammonia.

Concord, 1^4. j. r.

Remarks. — This report was made to the Con-
cord Farmers' Club, last winter, and belongs to
the transactions of that time. It wad mislaid by
ua and forgotten.

GYPSUM.

Many theories have been started by speculative
philosophers to account for the stimulant effects
of gypsum upon the vegetable system. Former-
ly, the opinion was almost universal that it ope-
rated only as a stimulant — exciting the parts,
and inducing a more rapid and copious appro-
priation of the various elementary matters taken
up in a state of solution from the soil. Professor
LiEBiG, however, in one of his recent works, has
presented a beautiful solution of its action on
soils. The carbonate of ammonia, which is
known to be extant in rain water, and a most
salutary and energetic agent in effecting the de-
velopment of vegetables, is, according to his
theory, attracted and decomposed by gypsum,
and solu))le sulphate of ammonia and carbonate
of lime formed. As this salt of ammonia pos-
sesses no volubility, it is, of necessity, retained
in the soil, and economized for the use and in-
crement of plants. Both the above named salts,
however, operate advantageously upon the origi-
nal humus of the soil, and by a specific action,
tend to advance its preparation as a food for
plants.

We have often spoke of this subject before,
but introduce it again to tlio x^otice of the reader,
believing that everything which is known in re-
lation to the action of this useful mineral, when
applied as a manurial agent, will ultimately
tend to the advancement and prosperity of the
farmin" art. That gypsum is capable, under
certain ciicumstanccs, of producing very marked
results, is what no candid observer will deny.
On clayey loams, as a top-dressing for grates-
land, it is highly esteemed, and is probably an
efiBcient and economical manure.

producing just fruit enough to serve the wants of
the family "to flavor the apple sauce." They
have never thought of such a thing as planting a
•luince orchard, of the best variety of fruit that
can be obtained, and cultivating it with care as a
crop for profit. We have heard of but one man
who pursued this course, and we are told that he
received last year fourteen hundred dollars for the
produce of, wo tliink, three acres, which was
more than he received for the saleable produce of
all the rest of the farm. — N. Y. Tribune.

Remarks. — Iq Boston, quinces are neither scarce
nor high in price, nor have they been for several
years. They are selling now, Oct. 27, at $1.50
per bushel. We think there are about as many
grown now as there is a market for, at a fair
profit. They can only be used as a preserve, and
in quite limited quantities, to flavor other fruits.

Quinces. — This fruit is scarce and dear in this
city. The ))est sell for $G a hundred. For a
bushel of very ordinary quality we paid .$2,50.
Now can any one tell us why such prices should
prevail ' If not, we will. It is because the far-
mers of the whole region around New York are
the most perverse, obstinate followers in tlie foot-
steps of their illustrious predecessors, who never
thought of the necessity or ailvanta<;e of jilanting
more than throe quince bushes, which stood, yes,
stand still, and have stood for half a century,

EMERY'S SAW MILL.

A few weeks since we gave an engraving and
description of Ilickok's Cider Mill. To examine
one of them for ten minutes satisfies any one of
their great value over the old mills. A person
who purchased one, informs us that he took it in-
to iiic ovohard, and made ten barrels of eider
with it, alone, the n^ot ,\..^,y i,c need it ! It is on-
ly necessary that many machines shuuia u.. Vnown
to ensure their being used.

This week we give another mill, and for a very
different purpo.se. It is a saw mill. It is made
strong, with joint bolts, patent motallic boxes,
large and long shaft and heavy fly-wlieol, and may
be used with the Single or Double Horse Power.
For Single Power, a 22 inch saw is used ; for a
Double Power, a 54 inch saw ; and with the One
Horse Power and two men, from 10 to 15 cords
of hard wood may be cut twice in two per day,
or as much soft wood as they can handle.

The same mill, l)y changing sjvws, can bo used
for slitting boards and plank for fencing, &c.

Ari'LEs. — The crop of apples in New England
this year, as it has been every even year since the

567

NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

Dec.

Baldwin came into general cultivation, is too
large for the demand, and the price has been
drooping, until they are now dull in Boston at
$1.25a$1.50 per barrel, and may be had de-
livered at the raih-oad depots, 30 or 40 miles from
Boston, at 35 to 40 cents a bushel, or $1 without
the barrel, the cost of the barrel and of trans-
portation"'bringing them to about $1.25 to $1.50
on the railroad.

RiEMARKs. — We copy the above from the Bosio?i
Daily Mail. Good Baldwin apples are selling in
Quincy market, to-day, Nov. 10, for $1.50 to
2.00 a barrel, and the demand is equal to the
supply. The sale is quick for good, well selected
apples. We hope our friends will not find dis-
couragement in this report. They can raise
apples at a profit at $1.00, barrel not included ;
and when they are lower than this, they can feed
them to cattle and swine with as much profit as
can be found in any other crop.

For the New England Farmer.

BEST METHOD OF GETTING COEN AND
HAY.

Mr. Editor : — Feeling deeply interested in the
improvement of agriculture, I esteem it a privi-
lege, as well as a duty, to make known what I
think to be an improvement, that others who are
situated on like soils may profit by my experience.
Corn and hay are the two most reliable crops in
this region ; and how to obtain the most of them
with the least expense, is what we ought to study.
A part of my land is too wet for common cultiva-
tion but good for hay. I find it most profitable
to turn it up once in four or five years. 1 have
tried plowing in September and seeding down, and
have succeeded well. For a number of years past
I have practiced taking uif one crop of corn, and
then seeding down to grass, which I think is much
more profitable. My method has been to turn up
the land in tlie fall, laying it oil' in beds about
two rods wide, and put the manure in compact
heaps near enough to transport it by hand. So
that I need no team but a horse to go upon it in
the spring ; l)y this means I can plant ab()ut as
early as common land. As soon as the '^'>'^^ is
hard enough to ripen on the si^ik, 1 cut it up,
carry it off an'i '^'^'^^ "^ 'i^nd sow the land with
gr^oe seed immediately, always spreading on a
small coat of compost manure. By this method I
have never failed of getting a good crop of corn,
and can get the land smooth and suitable for
good mowing witli little labor. By tliis manage-
ment I think I can obtain as much corn from my
lowland as from my high, and keep it in good
order for hay. Tuojias Haskell.

Gloucester, October 31, 1854.

to break them up, is not a valid one, because, if
often plowed, one pair of oxen would perform the
labor and there would be little more expense than
in plowing an acre of stubble land. There would
be an extra cost of grass seed, but the increased
crop, we think, Avould be more than sufficient to
offset the unusual expense . *

Deep Plowimg and Plastering. — The Michigan
Farmer gives the following experiment of Mr.
Millspaugh, of Van Buren, in that State, as "a
fair dollar and cent operation." With a heavy
team, he plowed a twelve-acre lot twelve inches
deep — sowed to oats, and seeded at the same time
with three and a half bushels of clover seed. Soon
after he sowed sixty pounds per acre of plaster.
The crop of oats was good. He cut, the nextyear,
two tons of clover per acre, and in the fall gath-
ered clover seed worth one hundred and sixty-four
dollars. That is

24 tons of hay, at $6 per ton, $144,00

Clover seed, 164,00

Total, 308,00

From this the labor is to be deducted, which is
not given, but which would doubtless leave a
"fair" profit as one year's proceeds of 12 acres,
for which deep plowing, liberal seeding and
plaster, are to have the chief credit.-^ Cown^r?/
Gentleman .

What Boston has done for Aoriculture. —
The attention of the reader is called to a capital
article with the above title, in another column,
which we take from the Boston Post.

Remarks. — We are glad to find the mode of
husbandry detailed above gaining new advocates.
Corn, hay and fruits are our staple crops, and
how to secure the most of each permanently, at
the least cost, is a question worthy of thought,
and experiment. There is no doubt in our mind,
that much of our mowing lands remain too long in
grass. The oV>jection urged, that it costs too much

NEW ENGLAND EAllMER

Is published on the first of every month, by Joel Nouuse, at
Quincy Hall, South Market St., Boston.

SIMON BKOWN, Editor.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, \ Associate
HENRY F. FRENCH, > Ediiors.

(CT Terms, $1,00 per amium in advance.
>iZr All subscriptions to commence with the volimie, Jan. 1.
The Farmer is devoted exch-^iveltj to Agriculture, Horticul-
ture, and their kiur'>-°'i -Arts and Sciences; making a neat vol-
ume of 5VS octavo pages, embellished with numerous engravings.
It may be elegantly bound in mushn, t-mbosscd and gilt, at 25
cts. a volume, if left at the office of publication.

[13= Also published at the same office every Saturday, on a
large handsome folio sheet, the

NEW ENGLAND FARMER, (WEEKLY,)

An Independent Agricultural Family Newspaper.

The News and Miscellaneous departments, under tlie charge of
WILLIAM SIMONDS, will include a full and careful report of
the news of the Slarkets, and the news of the week, such as Do-
mestic, Foreign and Marine Intelligence, Congressional and Leg-
islative proceedings, Temperance and Religious Intelligence,
and a general variety of Literary and Miscellaneous matter, ad-
apted to family reading, comprising more useful and valuable
reading matter than any otlier Agricultural Newspaper published
in New England. Everything of a hurtful or even doubtful ten-
dency will be carefully excluded from its columns.

O" Terms $2,00 per annum in advance.

The monthly contains nearly the same matter as the Agricul-
tural depai'tment of the weekly.

0= Postmasters and others, who will forward four new sub
scribers on the above named terms, for either publication, shall
receive a fifth copy gratis for one year.

^Xy AU orders and letters should be addrtssed, post-paid.

JOEL WOURSE,
Qotnct Hall, South Market Street, Boston.
O" Postage. — The postage on the New England Farmer,
monthly, is IJ cents jjer quarter, or 6 cents per year, to any
part of the United States, to be paid in advance at the office
where the same is received.