nDDaaDnDDDDnDDDDnDDanDDDDDDDDDnD ° H ° H D 9 D jC ^ ^o D □ ^ ^iJM^ '^ Q D □ g UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS g g LIBRARY g D □ ° 9 ° __^^^-^_^^^-^^_ 9 o 9 ° 9 ° 9 B SPECIAL COLLECTIONS g D a ARCHIVES D ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 ■=■ 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 o 9 ° 9 ° 9 ° 9 □ □ D □ D □ DDDnnnnDaaanDDnnnnnDanDnDnnDDDaD THE iH . K • A MONTHLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND THEIR KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES; AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS. "■Wliat may not enlightened citizens accomplish, who have discarded the false, bustling pleasures of towns, and, carrying into the country the knowledge they may have acquired, apply to Agriculture the rich and varied assistance of the physical sciences ? " — FoURCRor. SIMON BROWN, EDITOR. FREDERICK HOLBROOK AND HENRY F. FRENCH, ASSOCIATE EDITORS. VOLUME XII. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY NOURSE, EATON & TOLMAN, 3 4 ]SI E R C H A N T S ' ROW. 1 8 G 0 . Per lr444 \^^hr^' INDEX TO THE TWELFTH VOLUME. Page. Acre, product of an, 42 ; nine and a half, . 114 Address, Dr. Loring's, 82 ; Mr. Gregory's, Essex County, ' . . 162 Advice, good, ...... 96 Agriculture, Mass. State Board of, 37, 129; in Tuscany, 48 ; profits of, 86 ; Maine State Board of, 142; at Yale, 163; increasing interest in, 312; scliools of, 341 ; view of, in Ohio, . 406 Allen, Farmer, lioniestead of, . . . 348 Americans, health of, . . . . . 323 Ammonia, ....... 386 Animals, dosing, 44 ; food consumed by, 300 ; fattening, 4.56 ; doctoring domestic, . 457 Anonymous communications, . . . 127 Apple, orchard, how to set, 78; worms in the, 164, 184, 248; trees, pruning, 186, 247,324; trees, diseased, 234 ; another recommendation for the, 347 ; for feeding to stock, 403 ; barrel, ventilation of, 539 ; as food, 542, 552 ; baked, 553 ; Vermont, 572 ; for cows, . . 572 April, calendar for, 153 ; work for, . . 194 Apricots, a group of, .... . 464 Ashes, coal, 143, 365 ; and muck, 214 ; as a ma- nure, 239 ; wood, 365 Asparagus, 256, 561 August, calendar for, 345 Axe to grind, 339 ; is ground, . . . 365 B Barley, 504 ; a good yield of, . . . 549 Bark, tan, for potatoes, 294 ; tanners, . 446 Barometer, a fiirmer's, 159, 232,427,457; and its uses, 470 Barn, warming the, and cooking food, 23 ; cellar, 82 ; tight, and sick cattle, 262, 287 ; the old, 468 ; iiill-side, 472 Barley, varieties of, .... . 569 Beans, how they climb the poles, . . . 571 Bear, tame, old Marco, .... 440 Bee, about the, 84; feeding the, 127, 142, 168, 277, 324; purchasing stocks, 210; new, 251 ; keepers, caution to, 255, 264 ; catching, 349 ; a morning with the, 382 ; Italian, 433 ; sting- less, 448 ; and matliematicians, 479 ; and cats, ' 512; natural life of the honey, . . . 548 Beer, corn, . . . . ' . . 287, 378 Birds, winter residence of, 112 ; of New England, 422, 449, 492, 510, 533, 536 ; sea, where do they slake their thirst, 457 ; the whip-poor-will, 486 ; of New England, .... 570 Black leg, remedy for, .... 231 Blackberry, Lawton, 45, 66, 94, 147, 230; bushes, 276 Bcu:ly, the human, ..... 544 Books : The Free Speaker, 35 ; Dadd, on Dis- eases of Cattle, 40 ; Grasses and Forage Plants, 55 ; Smithsonian Report, 55 ; Agricultural Ad- dress at Greene County, N. Y., 55; American Stock Journal, 118 ; Historical Account of Ad- dison County, Vt., 160 ; Milch Cows and Dairy Farming, 336 ; The Young Farmer's Manual, 352 ; The Homestead, 3.54; Knowledge against Practice, 372 ; Natural History, etc., . 420 Boots and harness, oil for, . . . . 511 Bone meal for cows, ..... 374 Borer, wash for apple tree, 277 ; remedy for the, 295 ; how to stop the, . . '. . 375 Boundary, curious, 148 Boy, education of the, 70 ; department of the, 101 ; a little, and the baby, . . . 440 Brain, softening of the, .... 434 Bread, stale, and what it is, ... 56 Brick, one wrong, 363 Brine poisonous to animals, . . . 11 Brov.n, Simon, letters from, 376, 453, 514, 535 Buildings, farm, necessary, ... 52 Buckwheat, corn after, 351 ; and corn, . 375 Buttercup, or tall crowfoot, . . . 112 Butter, in winter, 45, 73, 76, 77, 86, 100, 113, 160; coloring matter for, 118, 147, 213, 224; and milk, comparative value of, 120, 146, 150, 151; how to cut in cold Aveather, 177; and churns, 325, 446 Butternut tree, 460, 478 Cabbage, club-footed, 93, 141, 189; large drnm- head, 189 ; how to raise large, 225, 283 ; calcu- lation about, 291 ; and grubs, 350, 472 ; cul- ture of the, 506 ; keeping through the winter, 548 Calf, a fine, 127 ; a large, .... 573 Cakes, the poor man's, .... 31 Calendar, for January, 9 ; February, 57 ; March, 105; April, 153; May, 201 ; June, 249; Jul}% 297; August, 345; September, 393; October, 441 ; November, 489 ; December, . . 537 Camomile, curious effect of, . . 343, 497 Camp, lumbermen's, . . . . . 188 Camphor and mosquitoes, .... 439 Carrot, crop, 16; for hogs, 151; soil for, 214, 283 the wild, 400, 423 Cap, hay, 351 Carriage, patent, a ride on, . . . 543 Cat, wonderful instinct of, 356; and bees, 512; free from headache, ..... 538 Cattle, cure for wens on, 69; feeding, 71,310; to kill vermin on, 175; fiital disease among, and preventives, 101, 142, 189, 198, 232, 239, 241, 242, 267, 277, 289, 292, 307, 318,321, 329, 331, 342, 352, 357, 358, 385,408,412, 420,426, 472, 484; horn ail in, 118; a fine pair of, 223 ; foot ail, or foul foot in, 231 ; cure for black leg in, 231 ; garget in, 189, 203, 231 ; to cure ringworm in, 256, 327 ; destroyer of, 326; in winter, 351 ; native, 405 ; hornless, 431 ; Jerseys and Ayrshires, 444, remedy for choked, 552 ; how to relieve choked, 572, 573 Cellar, barn, 82 Celibacv, alarming increase of, . . . 344 INDEX Census, facts from the, Charcoal as a fertilizer, Character, test of, Cheese, Goslien, . Chicory, or succory, Cliill)iaius, cure for. Page. 436 31 411 509 215 100, 127 Children, a l)attalion of, 93 ; the country for, 401 ; rcarinj,' of, 536 ; finding fault with, 488 China, af^riculturc in, .... 27 Chinaman, Jolin, as an agriculturist, . . 13 Cholera, 499 Cliurn dash, improvement in, . . . 208 Cider, how to jjrcscrve, 551 ; making in Conn., 559 Cistern, water, 499 Clay land, 223 Cleanliness, 248 Climate, our changing, .... 576 Clover, value of, 203 ; as a fertilizer, 255 ; and oats, 328 ; seed, in the fall, 463 ; northern and southern, 479 Cloth, black, sewing on, .... 296 Club, Concord farmer's, 23, 261 ; farmer's, no- tice to, 30, 49 ; at North Heading, 60; farmer's, subjects for discussion at a, 62; at Franklin, 139; and agricultural fairs, 140; Groton farmer's, 226 Coal beds, will they last? .... 295 Coffee, how to make good, . . . 190, 244 Colt, about, 100; wart on a, 101 ; to kill lice on a, 127, 175 ; splint on a, 150 ; on a hard floor, 175 ; growth of a, 520 Compost, alkaline, 462 Corn, and other crops, 64, 66 ; large ears of, 91 ; for fodder, 231 ; transplanting, 245 ; and jiota- tocs, cost of raising, 274 ; and buckwheat, 375; Indian, how to preserve, 375; wind power for grinding, 391 ; fields, southern and northern, 379 ; the sound of growing, 431 ; muck and wire worms in, 435; and squashes, 452; after ruta bagas, 471; suckers among, 472 ; stooking, 475 ; Egyptian, 524, 540, 549, 563 ; fields, plowing in the fall, 526 ; value of, 561; Egyptian, 574; and cotton, . . 575 Correspondents, to, 180 Cow, what one can do, 38, 96 ; loss and gain in, 43; suckling a lamb, 48; points of a, 51 ; profits of, 60 ; turning to grass, and cost of keeping, 63 ; feeding, 88 ; clover hay for, 166 ; experiments in feeding roots to a, 171 ; how a Jerseyman treats his, 251 ; and her cud, 265; paying of a, 275, 359 ; dysentery in, 287 ; good milch, 304 ; stripping to'prevent sucking, 327 ; a sick, 375; sucks herself, . . . 406 Cranberry, culture of the, 76, 77, 139, 167, 174, 214, 282, 478 ; book about the, . 354, 365 Cream, bitter, 223 Cress, water, how to grow, 118; garden, . 263 Crop, on black loam, 69; in olden times, 177; modes of getting, 222 ; corn, exact cost of a, 226; of 1860, 395; in Conn., 406; in Ver- mont, 426. 451, 463 ; in Iowa, 448; and sea- son, 475 ; in Minnesota, 487 ; in New Hamp- shire, 487 ; rotation in, .... 518 Crow, the, 311 ; a plea for the, . , . 523 (.'uctimbcr, to get early, .... 264 Cud, loss of the, ...... 404 Culture, hill and flat, 385 Curculio, the 290, 418 Currant bushes, transplanting, 231 ; bush, as a tree, 256 ; cherry, 277 Dairy, profits of the, 218,284; temperature of the, 288 Daisy, oK-eyc, 401 Dates, important, 447 Daugliter, a farmer's, on farming, 503 ; a farm- er's, and wife, 515 December, calendar for, .... 537 Dow, honey, ...... 482 Doctors, rough, 79 Dogs, and sheep, 89 ; to prevent going mad, 284; an excellent use for, ... . 414 Drainage, French's farm, 14 ; about, 19, 29, 31 ; tools for, 46 ; pipe for, 60 ; in Ohio, 70, 79, 111, 151 ; distance for, 175 ; machine for oi)en- ing drains, 232 ; advantages of, 258 ; of a muck swamp, 266 ; of a pear orchard, 273, 302, 346; advantages of, 546 ; tile for, . . . 549 Dress, non-inflaniniable fabrics, . . . 248 Dust, saw, as a fertilizer, ... 85, 135 Dwellings, warming our, .... 277 E Ear, human, onion in, .... 208 Earth, central beat of the, .... 516 Education, agricultural, 121, 154, 173, 409, 428 Eggs, vitality of, destroyed on railroads, . 90 I'ilm tree, a large one, .... 421 Engrafting, 213 Entomology, ...... 463 Estimates, "false, 299 Evenings, winter, employment for, and stormy days, 29 Eyes, care of, in horses and cattle, . . 166 Exhibition, agricultural, 521, 525; a sensible movement at an, 528 ; at Needham, . 530 Experiments by members of farmer's clubs, 218 Fair, Rutland County, Vt., 479 ; mechanics', at Bostoii, 507,516; perversion of agricultural, 546 addresses at, ..... . 559 Fairbanks, Gov., address of, . . . . 558 Farm, of nine and a half acres, 69, 114; prob- lem about a, 117; record, 268; rented, ma- nure on, 277 ; products and prices of, 278 ; benefit of a, 327 ; neatness on the, 336 ; hints and facts about the, 354, 389, 500, 530 ; and figures, 403 ; machinery, 405 ; small, advan- tages of, 438 ; topics of the, 482 ; work for the autumn, 483 ; a profitable, 492 ; a day on two, 514 ; a profitable grass, 546 ; houses and equijiments, ...... 576 Farmer, nothing but a, 134 ; English, 136 ; New England, review of the, 158, 182, 210, 263, 306, 313, 415, 460, 500, 564 ; to the readers of the New England, 453 ; wife and daughters of the, 471 ; a poor, f;icts for, 480 ; marrying a, 485 ; home of the, and children, . . 309 Farming, is it profitable ? 12, 15, 18, 22, 24, 34, 53, 64, 68, 74, 86, 90, 95, 108, 122, 135, 139, 148, 149, 186,^211, 225, 256, 315, 332,353,360, 387, 389, 406, 484 ; changes in, since Revolu- tionary War, 39 ; fancy, 72 ; in Claremont, New Hampshire, 131; profits of dairy, 139; advice about, 185; the true object of, 206; seventy years' experience in, 207 ; in Vermont, 283; a good example in, 326; indoors, 361, 466 ; systematic, 373 ; division of labor in, 396 ; operations in Essex County, 405 ; and bootmaking, 424 ; as a vocation, 425 ; and wo- men, 447 February, calendar for, .... 57 Felon, sure remedy for a, . . . . 561 Fencing, about, l'6 ; farm, 190, 254,301; rail, how to lay it up, 326, 456 ; self-fastening, hook-and-eye, portable, 512 ; in Ohio, . 551 Fertilizers, ai'tiliciai, . . . 242, 258, 284 Figure, human, proportions of, . . . 91 INDEX. Page. Fir, European, and silver, .... 385 Fire .among the ancients, .... 390 Fish, as a manure, 223 ; keeping in tanks, . 372 Flax, cultivation of, .... 282,289 Fleshy, but not fat, 574 Floriculture, curious discovery in, . . 432 Flowages, ....... 67 Flowers, for a nortliern climate, 375, 458, 472, 492, 514; love of, 547 Fly clotiis, 384 Fodder, corn, iiow to secure, .... 31 Food, cooking for cattle, 23; animal, 18G ; cooked, for hogs, 302 ; adulteration of, . 324 Forests, immense, . . . . . 101 Fowls, for cold weather, 86 ; how to feed, 80 ; French pheasant, 117; Leghorn, 118, IGC, 304 ; about 250, 205 Freezin," and thawing, ..... 205 French, B. V., 302 Fritters, squash, how to make, . . . 549 Frost, effect of, on plants, 177 ; in the full of the moon, 487 ; in Fraid^lin County, Me., . 487 Froth ho])pers, or frog hoppers, . . . 374 Fruit, culture, 38; in Michigan, 72, 367 ; pros- pects for, 328; samples of, 462; in winter, 488 ; barrels for, 502 ; preservation of, . 513 Furniture, kitchen, sink and utensils, . . 200 .S8, 212 350 189, 203 0, 181 ; 256 394 392 to cut, 427, 439 ;rowing G Garden, the, .... Gardening, landscape, . Garget, cure for. Geese, and goslings, 100 ; how to raise, 181 ; raising and fattening, 199 ; Bremen, . Gold, influx of, 252 ; diffusion of. Gray, Lady Jane, character of, Grain, too much, 47 ; and grass, time 318 ; cutting and curing, 397 ; crops, Grapes, for open culture in Maine, 17 ; in Northern Ohio, 41 ; wild, 60 ; best four, 143 ; new, 274 ; an early hard}', 280 ; cause of bar- ren vines, 331, 478, 524 ; native, cultivation of, 367 ; white, 375 ; culture of the, in Ohio, 407; to raise by horse power, 419; ciiltur.', 452; August, pioneer, 488; white and red, 520; Draeut amber, 529 ; pruning the. Grass, fowl meadow, 16, 85, 106, 427, 452, 472 ; Hungarian, 69, 150, 174, 20_', 355 ; red top, 86 ; about varieties, 100 ; four of the, 144, 192 ; seed, orchard, 215, 223 ; plowing in, 221 ; p;is- ture, 232 ; and grain, time to cut, 318 ; seed, 406 ; a fine crop of, Grounds, laying out near the house. Guano, 75,' 120; for rye, 215; profit of, 215; American, 332, H 5:50 427 573 522 142 511 Page. Highways, ....... 567 Hills, on the, 535 Hippopotamus, rearing the, . . . 388 Hogs, two large, 215; cattle and pump, 215; fattening of, ...... 561 Holdfast, 375 ; to cure a, . . . 406, 435 Homestead, a pleasant, and convenient, 81 ; the, 97 Horn ail, in cattle, . . . . . 118 Horse, !iow to make an obstinate, draw, 16 ; scratches in, 63, 130, 189,287,327; to man- age a refractorv, 81 ; pin worms in, 118, 175, 258, 287 ; walking, 127, 343 ; foundered, 151 ; ciiiel treatment of the, 167; sand crack in hoof of, 186; disease among, 216; cure for 1 ingbone in, 242, 265 ; cribbing in, 279 ; power, as a measure of force, 333; air and light for, 334 ; sweeney in, 349 ; in a fire, how to get out the, 355, 542 ; thrush in, 375 ; about shoeing the, 388; colic in, 394; how much hay for the, 397 ; what constitutes legal un- soundness in, 421 ; e3-e of the, 449 ; secret of S])ccd in, 455 ; and carrots, 456 ; feed the, too much, 475; dead, value of, 544; English, 554 ; legs and feet, 569 ; beds, sand for, . Iliit-bcds, leaves for, ..... Houses, sunlight iu. Hardback, meadow, Harness and boots, oil for, .... Harrow, Bucklin's improve^, Hay, measurement of, 26 ; spontaneous cond)us- tion in, 27, 215 ; cutting and curing, 148,394, 413; required per head for cattle, 216 ; caps for, 276, 351, 366 ; value of a load of, 288 ; how much for a horse, 397 ; getting the value of, 406 ; theory of curing, 413 ; for one sheep, 437 ; and stock in Vermont, . . . 442 Hedge, hawthorn, 487 Heifer, a good, 315 ; a queer, . . . 364 Hens, disease among, 242, 265 ; number to keep, and time to sell, 266 ; look out for the, 295 ; lice on, 299 ; and chickens, 304 ; dead, 350 ; Leghorn, 350 ; shoeing 359 Herbs, pulverized, culinary 119 IIunLrarian grass 574 569 476 69, 150, 174, 202, 355 Ice water, 424 Illinois, crojjs in, 143; nortliern, letter from, 259 Implements, American agricultural, . . 443 Insect life, in Ceylon, 40, 146; froth, or frog- lioppcr, 374 ; unknown, 462 ; a new, . 46.3 Iowa, the season in, ..... 305 Iron rust, ....... 77 Islands, Sandwich, letters from the, 300, 334, 397; Long, lands in, . 172, 226, 253, 443 Itch, barn, 508 Ivy, poison from, how cured, . . . 175 Tanuarv, calendar for, . Japan, smoking in. Jay, blue, and cornfields, Journal, American, stock, July, calendar for. 9 155 544 31 297 K Kansas, prairie breaking in, 89 ; letters from, 217.319,339; weather and farming in, . 250 Katydid, the, 265 Kerosene for lice and ticks, . . . . 150 Kctchni), tomato, 482, 504 L Lamb, a fine merino, 189 ; raising a, by hand, 275 Land, three acres to sujjport a small family, 20 ; on Long Island, 172, 226, 253, 443 ; "grass, top dressing, 175 ; worn out, renovation of, 235 ; san!'(??- says a gentleman at Lawrence- burg, Indiana, recently emptied brine from a pork barrel into the yard. A number of hogs and one horse partook of it. In less than six hours the hnrsc find seven b'^r's wot" f!p."'1 12 NEW ENGLAND FARINIER. Jan. For the Neiv England Farmer. IS FARMHXTG PROFITABLE ? It is not always considered the province of a "farmer's paper" to afl'ord amusement as Avell as instruction. Thei'e is a sort of gravity in the rec- ord of cro])s and the manner of producing them, which, if it does not absoUitely preckide the idea of a joke, leaves us very uncertain as to the prop- er place for it to come in. But your correspon- dent "Pinkham," of Chelmsford, has ])ut to rest all doubt upon the subject, so far as he is con- cerned. That gentleman, in the Farmer of No- vember 12, undertakes to show that the business of farming- some branches of it, at least — don't pay ; and by an array of figures, apparently satisfies himself, at least, that his jiosition is a true one. He first takes up the good old crop of Indian corn, and insists that it brings the farmer who raises it into debt at the rate of ten dollars per acre ; and very naturally wishes to know how long at that rate, it will take the farmer to get rich. I have known cases of this kind of arithmetic before. I knew a farmer once who insisted that he could buy his pork a great deal cheaper than he could fatten it ; that he could purchase his corn a great deal cheaper than he could raise it ; that all his crops, in fact, cost a great deal more than they came to. It did not take many years for the sheriff to set his stakes around that man's farm. But let us examine some of Mr. Pinkham's fig- ures. All his items, for the mere labor of cultiva- ting an acre of corn, count up to $2G. and besides he adds $3 for interest and taxes on land, $3 for fencing, &c., $5 for shelling and marketing, and •SIO for the manure; making in all .$47 per acre. He then credits 30 bushels of market corn, $2 worth of soft corn, and .t?.3 for pumpkins and sto- ver, and strikes a balance of -9 10 against the crop. Now I undertake to say that the farmer who ex- pends more than $]o worth of labor on an acre of corn, reckoning the use of his teams and imple- ments of all kinds, don't know anything about farming. The value of the manure is ])erhaps set .ow enough at $10 per acre ; but then it ought to be considered that not more than half of this ma- nure becomes exhausted in a single year, and that at least $5 ought to be credited toAlards the ma- nuring of the next year's croj). I admit that the labor and manure for an acre of corn may with safety be put down at $20 to .$25. As to the" shell- ing and marketing, the good farmer ought to shell his corn during the winter evenings, instead of playing checkers at the nearest grocery ; and so far from being obliged to go to market with his corn, his neighbors will take it at his door, at good prices, and thank him besides. Good northern yellow corn is not one of the articles which go a begjging. Then let us look at the crop itself. Mr. P. puts it down at 30 bushels to the acre. I undertake to say that any land, which, taking one season with another, under the pressure of ten loads of ma- nui'e, will not average 40 bushels to the acre, is very ])oor corn land, and not worth $40 per acre, or anything like it. I do not consider 50 bushels to the acre a great crop. The best acre of corn I ever saw, was in Castleton, Vt., some 35 years ago, whi/;h drew a premium at the agricultural fair on the basis of 131 bushels to the acre. But »11 40 bushels a fair average, and we have, ac- cording to Mr. P.'s figm-es, $40 for the crop. Then the stover and pumpkins which he sets down at $5, I call worth at least $10. The stover of an acre of good corn is worth as much for cattle in the winter as a ton of good hay — to say nothing of the pumpkins, which, I admit, are usually of no very great account, though in some seasons they add something to the general value of the crop. Now it is plain that Mr. Pinkham and myself do not agree. He makes the corn crop $10 worse than nothing per acre, while I figure out a profit of $25 ; a difference of $35 per acre. It is hardly necessary to say that both of these estimates can- not be correct. But I honestly believe, that, at the Avorst aspect of the case, the tiiith cannot go back from my estimate so as to meet his, half v.ay. I have long considered the corn crop as not only one of the most profitable, but an indispensable one for Ncav England. It is a crop that does not fail, on an average, once in twenty years. It leaves the soil in better condition for future tilth than any other crop. It adds largely to the former's means of keeping stock. It forms one of the cheapest and healthiest portions of our food. It may be used in more forms and for more purposes tlian any other grain. Such being its importance in all its aspects, I regret to see amthing in print cal- culated to discourage the farmers of New England in raising it. I may hereafter have something to say about Mr. Pinkham's estimate of the cost of raising stock. I only wait to see Avhether he has found any item of fanning that is profitable. Somerville. e. c. p. For the Xeio EngUmd Farmer HOW I RAISE BRONZE TURKEYS. My fii"st object is to secure large, strong ana well-formed bii-ds. I prefer a male bird that has seen two winters, and weighs not less than 30 pounds. The last season I used one of 39 pounds. I prefer old hens ; for although the young hens lay earlier, yet the young of the old hens are larger and stronger. I prefer hens of from 15 to 20 pounds in weight ; when the time for laying ap- proaches, I take flour baiTels with one head out, lay them on the side, prepare a nest in the barrel composed of leaves, with a few tobacco stems to keep the lice away, cover the baiTcls with a few brush, put a hen's egg in each nest, and leave the turkeys to deposite their own, which they usually do. I remove the eggs each day uiitil the turkey inclines to set, when I give her 20 eggs, from AA'hich I usually get from IS to 20 young. Close the barrel each night with a piece of lattice work made of laths, to prevent the entrance of night- walkers. The first day of hatching I do not allow the moth- er to leave the nest, or feed the young. On the second day, instead of cooping the mother, I pre- pare a pen for the yoimg, by nailing boards on to four short pieces of slit work, so as to make a pen about 15 feet square and 18 inches high; this can be easily moved to a new spot, as it should be in Avarm Aveather, as often as once a Avcek, or the turkeys Avill become sickly. For the first Aveek I feed mostly on boiled egs;, boiled hard and chopped fine enough for them to SAvalloAv, Avith noAV and then a meal of fish Avorras, cut or broken into small pieces. Nothing gives them more strength, 1860. NEW ENGLAND PAEJVIER 13 or makes them grow so fast, as fish worms. After the first week, I feed on curd, made of thick, sour milk, and on corn meal, ground coarse as for hom- iny, and wot with thick, sour milk, to which I add a very little coarse sand, to prevent crop-bake, with -which many joinig turkeys die when fed on meal without it. As soon as the young ones ai-e able to fly over the side of their pen, I allow them, in good weath- er, to range with the mother, and feed on insects, — if these are scarce, I feed a little, night and morning, until they are more plenty — but grass- hoj)pers give most bone. Buckwheat I have found the best grain to give size. If the v,-cather is stormy while turkeys are young, I dri^'c them un- der a shed, or into the barn cellar, the floor of which is covered with fine litter. If any get chilled, cover them with cotton and place them by the stove, and put down a few fish worms, and they are soon .smart again. With this method I have succeeded in raisMig turkeys, while others have lost theu's — even duri^ig the last cold and wet season. With this treatment, an old Java hen, at one brood, gave me ,17 fine turkeys, but a hen turkey did bet- ter still. I have never had a turkey have the gapes, or any other disease. H. "S. Ramsdixl. Went Thom])SO)i, Conn., Nov., 1S59. JOHN CHINAMAN AS AN AGKICULTURIST. In the eyes of the Chinese, human excrements constitute the true substance of the soil, (so Da- vis, Fortune, Hedde, and others tell us,) and it is principally to this most energetic agent that they ascribe the activity and fertility of the earth. Except the trade in grain, and in articles of food, generally, there is none so extensively car- ried on in China as that in human excrements. Long, clumsy boats, which traverse the street ca- nals, collect these matters every day, and distrib- ute them over the country. Every Coolie, who has brought his ])roducc to market in the morn- ing, carries liome at night two pails full of this manure on a bamboo pole. The estimation in which it is held is so great, that everybody knows the amount of excrements voided per man, in a day, month or year ; and a Chinese would regard as a gi'oss breach of man- ners the departure from his house of a guest, who neglects to let him have that advantage, to which he deems himself justly entitled, in return for his hospitality. In the vicinity of large towns, these excrements are converted into poudrette, which is then sent to the most distant places, in the shape of square cakes, like bricks. For use, these cakes are soaked in water, and a])plied in the fluid form. With the exception of his rice fields, the Chinese does not manure the field, but the plant. Every substance derived from plants and ani- mals is carefully collected by the Chinese, and converted into manure. Oil cakes, horn and bones are highly valued ; and so is soot, and more es- pecially ashes. To give some notions of the val- ue set by them on human offal, it will be sufficient to mention that the barbers most carefully collect and sell, as an article of trade, the somewhat con- sideral)le amount of hair of the beards and heads of the hundreds of millions of customers, whom they daily shave. The Chinese know the action of gypsum and lir.e; and it often hapi)ens that they renew the piastering of the kitchens, for the purpose of making use of the old matter for ma- nure. No Chinese farmer ever sows a seed of corn before it has been soaked in liquid manure diluted with water, and has begun to germinate ; and ex- perience has taught him, (so he asserts,) that this operation not only tends to promote the growth and development of the plant, but also to protect the seed ft-om the insects hidden in the ground. During the summer months, all kinds of vege- table refuse are mixed with turf, straAV, grass, peat, weeds and earth, collected into heaps, and when quite diy, sc;; on fire ; after several days of slow combustion the entire mass is converted into a kind of black earth. This compost is only em- ])loyed for the manuring of seeds. When seed time arrives, one man makes holes in the ground ; another follows with the seed, which he places in the holes ; and a third adds the black earth. The young seed, planted in this manner, grows with such extraordinary vigor that it is thereby enabled to push its rootlets through the hard, solid soil, and to collect its mineral constituents. The Chinese farmer sows his wheat, after the grains have been soaked in liquid manure, quite close, in seed beds, and afterwards transplants it. Occasionally, also, the soaked grains are immedi- ately sown in the field properly prepared for their reception, at an interval of four inches from each other. The time of transplanting is towards the month of December. In March the seed sends up from seven to nine stalks with ears, but the straw is shorter than with us. I have been told that wheat yields 120 fold more, which amply re- pays the care and labor bestowed upon it. It is quite true that what suits one people may not on that account suit all countries and all na- tions ; but one great and incontrovertible truth may, at all events, be learned from Chinese agri- culture, viz., that the fields of the Chinese culti- vator have preserved their fertility unimpaired and in continued vigor ever since the days of Abra- ham, and of the building of the first pyramid in Egypt.* This result, we also learn, has been at- tained solely and simply by the restitution to the soil of the mineral constituents removed in the produce ; or what amounts to the same thing, that this has been effected by the aid of a manure, of which the greater portion is lost to the land in the system of European (and American ?) cultivation. — Liehig^s Modern Agriculture. * Vessels of Chinese poreelaiu are found in tlie pyra- mids, of the same shape, and with tlie same cliarac-tcrs of writing on tliem, as on modern China at the present day. For the Xeic England Farvier. MARKET DAY IN ESSEX COUNTY. Messrs. Editors : — The last "market day" of the season came off" yesterday, with good success, if a multitude of animals and a multitude of far- mers, gathered together, are to be taken as evi- dence of the fact. How many bought, and how many sold, I cannot say ; but this I can say, there was a good opportunity to do both, and so far as I understood the murmm-s of the crowd, it was done to a considerable extent. The great oxen from New Hampshire were there. Every one Avho examined them, expressed their admiration of the 14 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. symmetry of their forms, and the brightness of their looks. The one partly Durham uas most ad- mired. Whether their weight -was G.300 or 7000 pounds, I cannot say ; their keeper was rather sliy of scales. At all events, they were big enough, and fat enough, to rejoice the hearts of many on a Thanksgiving day, provided all the turkeys had run off, and there should be no extended liquor around, and no liitle man to extend it. As "line upon line" and "precept upon precept" have ever been helpers in a good cause, I send you such views as have occurred to my mind in relation to underdraining — in the course of some- what extended observations, on some of the best conducted farms in our county the past season. The motto of our farmers is, "Make the best of what you have." If a man can, by an expenditure of fifty dollars per acre, make his lands produce two, three, or four times as much, as without such expenditiu'e, this I reckon good economy. I can point out many instances, within a few miles dis- tance, where this has been done, and I trust there are many other fields where it will be done. Truly yours, j. \v. P. South Danvers, Nov. 16, 1859. For the New England Farmer FRENCH'S FARM DRAINAGE. With a simple "please accept," I received some time since a copy of this work from the editor of the Farmer. It was an acceptable present ; al- though it suggested the thought that I was in- debted for the gift rather to Gov. Brown's personal knowledge of the "thorough drainage" of my ])urse, than to any successful experiments in the application of the system to my laud. I have read the book carefully ; "road, not to contradict and refute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider." I do not propose to attempt a "review" of the Avork. This has been done by abler pens. I wish simply to give expression to a few thoughts which its j^erusal has suggested to my mind. And if, in doing so, I shall indulge in a little fault-finding, I think it will be gratifying to the author, by way of variety ; for, so far as I have seen, the numerous "notices" of his book have been of unmixed commendation and praise. As I have not the vanity to suppose that my opinions are entitled to a very conspicuous posi- tion among the practical suggestions of your cor- respondents, I propose to v,rite a few short arti- cles, that may be put into any spai-e corner of your pages, on some of the many topics discussed m the "Farm Drainage ;" and will begin with the ANTIQUITY OF DRAINAGE. After a brief introductory chapter, our author enters upon the "History of the Art of Draining" with the following opening sentence : "The art of removing superfluous water from land must be as ancient as the art of cultivation ; and from the time when Noah and his family anxiously watched the subsid- ing of the waters into their appropriate channels, to the present, men must have felt the ill effects of too much water, and adopted means more or less effective to remove it." p. 24. I must confess to great veneration for antiquity. I believe 'there is much truth in the declaration that "there is nothing new under the sun," not- withstanding the many "new" inventions of our progressive age. The question of the antiquity of drainage is, therefore, to my mind, a most impor- tant one. For if farmers in other times, and in circumstances similar to our own, have found draining necessary, then miay we reasonably con- clude that eventually we shall be obliged to pur- sue the same course. The Bible contains frequent allusions to agri- culture, during some four thousand years of man's occupation of the soil, in countries where "thou sowest thy seed, and waterest it with thy foot," as well as in those "of hills and valleys that drinketh water of the rain of heaven," and as a part of that history, which is philosophy teaching by example, is, I think, very properly alluded to by our author in this connection ; however some may be disposed to smile at the idea of a Bible argument on draining. His specific allusion to the Flood naturally di- rected mv attention to the ^Mosaic account of that event. \Ve are told that on the first day of the first month of the 601st year of Noah's age, he removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and l)ehold Xhcfuce of the gi-ound was dry. Nearly two months longer did the "anxious" voyagers remain in the ark. The "water of ckainage" was still in the soil. Impatiently may we suppose they watched the sloM' process of its removal. Finally, in the second month, on the seven-and-twentietli day of the month, was the eurtli dried — "thoroughly drained." Noah came forth from the ark, and the Almighty covenanted with him, "neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth." Turning over a single leaf of the sacred record, we find, in the account of Lot's separation from Abram, that the plain of Jordan was chosen — not because it was thoroughly drained, not because the ill effects of too much water did not happen to he felt there, but simply because "itica-sicell umtered everywhere." And from Genesis to the parable of our Saviour, in which the seed of the sower "with- ered away because it lacked moisture." frequent references are made to ill effects of drouth, Init, so far as I am aware, not a solitary one to "the ill effects of too much water." As a curse, it is said "the rebellious dwell in a dry land;" and as a reward to the righteous, "he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." It is promised that "he that watereth. shall him- self bo Avatered ;" but nowhere except in some new translaVon that I have not seen, is it said, "he that draincth, shall himself be drained." In relation to the writings of "Cato, Columella and Pliny," Avho, otu- author informs us, mention draining, I can say nothing, because I haA~e never seen tlieir -works. In this connection, hoAvever, I Avill allude to a statement, Avhich I saw not long since in a neAvspaper, to the etlect that the Em- peror Napoleon had rettu-ned from his Italian cam- paign an enthusiastic advocate of uTigation. That the agriculture of the Chinese furnishes little evidence of the antiquitj- of draiiiing may be inferred from the fact that, among a set of models of Chinese agricultural implements noAV in the Museum of this State, there is not a single one adapted to any of tho processes of draining, Avhile tAvo of the most ex])ensive and complicated are machines for irrigation. But all this argument Avas scarcely necessary, on my part. The chapter Avhich thus opens Avith the assertion that draining must be as old as the art 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 15 of cultivation, is only half wi'itten when the con- fesion is made that James Smith, who "came into general notice about 1S32, seems to be in fact, the fii-st ach'ocate of any system ^yo^thy the name of thorough drainage." (p. 37.) This leaves the subject of drainage -where, in my opinion, it belongs — among the unsettled theories of our own peculiarly theoretic age. s. F. Winchester, Nov., 1859. CARE OF OLD APPLE TREES. Many farmers who have old apple orchards are neglecting them, and in many cases cutting them down, to make room for young trees. This is poor policy, to say the least. Old trees, by the exercise of a little care and skill in managing them, may be made almost as pi'oductive as young ones, and in a much shorter time. All that is essentially requisite to ensm-e this result, is to trim them> carefully cutting away all the diseased and broken limbs, and to free the trunks and larger limbs of the "scurf" and moss, and after%vards to insert girafts — care at the same time being taken to light- en the soil, and make it rich, especially in the vi- cinity of the roots. In renewing an old orchard something like the following course may be ad- vantageously pursued — the proprietor having first examined the trees, and decided whether they have sufficient vitality to renew their former energy under pi'oper treatment. In April or May we should remove the rough bark from the body and large limbs of the trees with a scraper, an implement like those used by boat-builders in removing the rosin from the seams of boats and vessels, and afterwards scour the en- tire surface with a mixture of sharp sand and ash- es, mixed with soap and water. Every limb should be treated in the same way, whether large or small, that can be come at conveniently, and care taken that all the moss and rough bark is removed. The trimming should not he undertaken until about the middle of June, Avhen all crooked and diseased wood shoidd be removed with the sharp- est tools, reserving only such shoots and small limbs as are of suitable size to gi-aft. If the trees ai-e old and very much decayed, the number re- tained for this purpose should be small, as there may possibly not be enough energy or vital pow- er in the system to sustain a large number, and as too dense a top will necessarily tend to abridge the recuperative action by producing too much shade. The soil should also be thoroughly loosened around the roots, and filled with strong and invig- orating manure, and kept entirely free from weeds and grass. The best stimulus, probably, that can be applied, is a compost made of forest leaves, well decomposed, house ashes, lime, gypsum and common stable manure. From fifteen to twenty bushels of this should be allowed to every large tree, and so worked into and incorporated with the soil as to ensure its coming in close contact with the roots. If the soil be of a light arena- ceous, or sandy texture, a load of fine clay should be spread over the surface, above the manure. In removing the limbs, all the stumps should be coated with wax or tar softened with tallow, or what is equally cheap and more easily applied, gum shellac dissolved in alcohol. The reason why so many old trees perish after the abscission of the larger limbs, is, that no care is taken to ensure the healing of the Avounds, which let out the life- blood and energy of the system during the ascent of the sap, leaving long, black lines of decaying bark as a perpetual reproach to the unskilful or perverse manager. The second year the trees may be grafted, and if the tops promise not to be thick enough, new branches may be permitted to start, to be engraft- ed subsequently, and in such places as will ensure a symmetrical and desirable form to the tops. The most eligible shape for an apple tree is that of an umbrella reversed ; but this must be a mat- ter of taste with most persons. So far as working the soil and manuring is con- cerned, our method refers to trees standing by themselves ; where they are regularly set in or- chard form, the best way would be to plow the whole surface carefully and manure broadcast. This course may seem too precise and expen- sive to some persons, — ^but if so, let them try the cleansing, pruning and manuring process on a sin- gle declining tree that they have long valued, and see what a wonderful restoration will be efi'ected. For the New England Farmer PROFIT OP FARMING. I notice a piece in your paper of Nov. 12th, 18o9, headed, "How to reckon the Cost of Farm Products," and signed T. J. Pinkham, Chelmsford, 1S.j9. Mr. P. gives us a very particular state- ment of the cost of raising, and the value of one acre of corn in dollars and cents, which statement I am not disposed to find fault with ; but am dis- posed to take it as it stands. I would only sim- ply remark, that in Chelmsford, and its surround • ing towns, where it is known that a farmer has any corn of his own raising to sell, instead of so- liciting purchasers, he will have five times as many call on him as he can supply ; this shows that a shilling a bushel is rather a high price to charge for shelling and selling corn ; but still I am will- ing to take all his figures, just as they are, and thank friend Pi'.ikham for his close and fair calcu- lation. It is just what I have been hoping some one would do, and hope we will still have more statements of the same nature, from those who are disposed to believe there is no profit in farm- ing. But I think his story will leave this subject as it is. I think it would have a tendency to lead young men who are now thinking what they shall do for a living into a great error. There are two 16 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. sides to every thing. His estimated cost of plow- ing is fair, and sufficient for plowing an acre of old pasture, trodden by the cows for years. If this was the kind of land, I will still add a little more experience to it. At the last hoeing of the corn, charge fifty cents for a half-bushel of rye, seventy-five cents for a bushel of red top seed, and twenty-five cents for sowing it over the ground, thus increasing the loss to $11,50. After having been cultivated through the sea- son, according to the writer's account, what farm- er, who has his senses, when the sun shines on this acre of land in 1860, with the grass and rye then growing upon it, will not say that this acre of land is worth double what it was on the morning of the tenth day of May, 18o9, before the plow broke the sod ? I Avill suppose this acre of land to be an acre of hay land, run down so as to need plowing, which we cannot suppose bore more than ten hun- dred to the acre. Is it not reasonable to suppose if this ground is sown down to barley and grass seed, that it will, for years, produce one ton to the acre ? And cannot any man buj'ing standing grass, afford to pay as much for one ton of grass standing on an acre of ground, lately plowed, as he can for a ton and a half, where he has to swing the scythe and the rake over tln-ee acres of ground to collect the hay of a poorer quality ? Whether the acre of land the writer speaks of was intended to be improved for pasture or mowing land, it is ])lain to be seen that the cultivation of the ground, while the corn crop was growing, ren- dered it capable of producing double its former value of grass for years to come. And this gives the profits in farming. Although lie did not tell us in words, that there was a profit in farming, he came so near it, he un- locked the door, and made it very easy to swing open and let us look in. Go on, friend Pinkham ; give us moi-e statements, remembering that agi-i- culture is so much like ])ure old gold and silver, that it will continue to shine as long as you con- tinue to scour it, and a long time after. But if you shoidd ever be able to convince me that there is no profit in farming, you will give me more anxiety, and cause in me more alarm, fearing that the world will come to an end by starvation, than Miller's preaching, and all his followers, ever did ! Asa G. Sheldon. Wilmington, Mass., Nov. 14. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. HOW TO MAKE AN OBSTINATE HORSE DRAW. In looking over the last number of your paper, (Nov. 12,) my eye fell upon an article taken from the Cofton Planter, entitled "To make an obstinate horse ])ull." In reading it, it brought to my mind an instance of Yankee ingenuity vised for the same purpose, although of a diff"erent kind or contri- vance, and of vvhich a friend of mine Avas an eye- witness, winter before last, in Northern Vei'mont. As it is fully as infallible a method to make such a horse pull, as the other, and as it may be of use to many of your subscribers in a similar case, I give it to you, as follows. As my friend was riding along one day on horseback, he saw two men, each with a heavy load of wood upon his sled. One of the horses of the team1)ehind becoming very obstinate, avarie- tv of ways were tried to make him di-aw, but with- out avail. He would pull backwards so as to pre- vent the other horse from drawing. After coaxing, whipping, &c., in vain, the following method was very successfully tried. A stout rope was made fast to the obstinate animal's tail, and then passed under his belly in such a way as to jjass between both the hind and the fore legs, and the other end was made fast to the front team. When all was ready,' the horses of the front team were started, and no horse, I will venture to say, ever pulled better. Let others try the same method, and they may be assured, that if it does not work success- fully, it is because the animal does not care enough for his tail, to follow it. A Vermonter. Burlington, Vt., 1859. FOWE meadow grass. Messrs. Editors : — When I was a boy, in my native town, Lancaster, Worcester County, there was a tract of land lying on both sides of the Nashua River, which had never been cleared, of- fered for sale, which my father bought. A large portion of the estate was pine plain. He hired help to cut oif the Imnber, and to clear tlie alders from the interval. There were large pieces of na- tive grass he mowed. He did not know the name. I remember one of his hands said it was the same as a kind he mowed in "Fowl Meadow." They called it Fowl Meadow grass, so named from a very remarkable bird found dead there. None knew its name, or place, or kind. I never knew it cultivated till I reai)ed oft' the heads and sowed some fifty-six years ago, which I have often done since, sometimes quite successfully. I have never had it do well, mixed with other kinds of grass seed, or sown in spring or ujjland. Rut sown on the sur- face of a burnt dam]) soil, it does admirably. It will not run out, if cut late. I will not say that early cutiing kills it, or that it requires the annu- al dropping of ripe seed, but, as requested, give my experience. Benjamin Wielard. Ilolijoke, Nov. 14, 1859. A CARROT CROP. 1 have cultivated this year a small piece of land to carrots which has lieen sown to the same crop for the two years previous. It is three rods wide, and seven rods long, making 21 rods of ground. The carrots were sown about the middle of May, and where the carrots missed, I set turnips, thinned and hoed three times, at the cost of about three dollars, and on the 24th and 25th of October, dug and housed 102 bushels of carrots and 20 bushels of turnips. H. H. Clarendon, Vt., Nov., 1859. must an owner fence his eand ? A reader of the Farmer would like to inquire through its columns, if there is any law he can enforce so as to make a neighbor build half of the fence against his woodland ? Inquirer. Milford, Mass., 1859. Remarks. — An owner must keep up his half of the fence as long as he improves the land. If he desires to let it lie in common, he must give six months notice to all adjoining occupants. See Re- vised Statutes, Chap. 19, Sect. 2, and same chap- ter, latter part of Section 15. 18G0. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 17 J. M. FA^WKES'S STEAM PLO"WI]SrG MAOHIiraS. We present the reader, to-day, -with an engrav- ing of the &-st Steam Plow, we believe, that has been put into practical operation in this country. We do this, more with a view to keep the reader acquainted with what is going on in the world of agricultural machinery, than with any expectation that it will be adopted in New England during the present century. It is probable that its use can- not be made profitable except on extensive tracts of clear and pretty level land, or on large estates owned by individuals, that have been brought un- der a high state of cultivation. In the recent trial at the U. S. Fair in Illinois, it was said that its ease of motion, the facility with which it may be turned, and the manner in which the plows may be controlled, all commend it to the consideration of a discriminating public, and its successful and extraordinary performance upon proper soils have elicited the highest com- mendation and praise. It wili not answer upon stumpy ground, or in any other in which the plows will be constantly meeting obstructions which require them to yield or break. On a large portion of our farming-lands, especially on our western prairies, however, this machine seems des- tined to be of very important and immense ser- vice, furnishing, according to the estimate of the committee of the Illinois State Fair, the means of doing this work for one-fourth of its present ex- pense. The illustration of this machine, given above, was kindly furnished us by Mr. Fawkes, the in- ventor. We hope it will meet his own expecta- tir'-ns, and prove a machine of value to the world. For the Neio England Farmer. GRAPES FOK OPEET CULTTJilE IM" MAIIXTE. Mr. Brown : — The cultivation of grapes in Maine is yet in its infancy ; but I am hapjiy to say a lively interest, in some portions of our State, is beginning to be awakened, from the fact that it is found they ])ay as well as other desirable fruits, and are at least as reliable. We have our full share in Bangor, of grapes cultivated under glass, but it cannot be expected that many persons in our country towns v/ill afford the expense. It is important for us to find those varieties i which are hardy, early, of good flavor and produc- ' tire. All these qualities are indispensable for our success in Maine, for open culture. Several of our pomological gentlemen are en- gaged in originating new varieties of grapes, and it is whispere^l one of the distinguished horticul- turists is about bringing out several new varieties v.-hich may be valuable acquisitions to our present stock. 18 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. "W' e especially need varieties that will ripen in favo'-able locations every season. This has been, for r^anj- years, the great desideratum with us in Maire, and someAvhat shared throughout New England. Therefore, the person who will furnish it, will be a public benefactor, and will be deserv- ing a rich reward, and doubtless will obtain it. So far as I can learn in !Maine, the Catawba is so late it is entirely out of the question, and also even in New England. The Isabella is a little bet- ter, but nearly useless for Elaine. The AVhite Sweetwater, on the Penobscot, has done better than any of the older varieties, notwithstanding its unpopularity in other States. This variety, for the last 15 years, at Bangor, has been very profita- ble. The vines are productive and the grapes sell readily. The vines also are older and stronger, and thus have the advantage of young vines of new varieties. So far as I can learn, the Black Cluster, (also an old variety,) flourishes in Montreal and other parts of Canada, and Avhere it has been planted in Bangor it has ripened well in good locations. But of the newer varieties which have ripened with us are the following, naming the earliest first, and then in succession : Hartford Prolific, Concord. Diana. Each of the above I consider good, and are salea- ble. These will increase in value with us, as the vines become strong with age. I have some vines of the Early Muscadine, but they are not called for, though it is early. I have many Delaware and Re- becca vines, but they have not yet shown fruit with us, and till they are "proved and tried,'' few will venture to make the trial of them. You will confer a great favor on the people of the Penobscot country, if you will advise them when valuable new varieties that are very early, hardy and good flavored, are ofi'ered in the market, which you would recommend. Bangor, xVoy., 1859. Henry Little. P. S. — The Clinton is an early grape of good color, but is so acid as to be generally expelled from the gardens on this river. H. L. IS FARMING- PROFIT ABLE ? No one thing operates more injuriously to the interests of agriculture than the widely-spread and popular idea, that farming is not profitable. It is almost a work of supererogation to reply to the charge, that the cultivation of the land, as an oc- cupation for the mass of the people, is not a prof- itable employment, because it is evident to all who will look, that it is from this source that all sup- plies for the sustenance of man and beast are mainly drawn. The art of agi'iculture underlies all other arts, and sustains them all. Cease the cultivation of the soil, and commerce, manufac- tures, all sciences, and mechanic arts, and even breath itself, would soon cease. The pursuit of agriculture as an occupation, may not be as profitable inidcr all cu'cumstances, as some other pursuit. It may be better for the peo- ple of a sandy tract of country on the sea-shore, to tm-n thear attention to fishing, than to raising grain or grass, or for those in a mountainous and rocky country to make the water of the valleys tm-n their wheels to transform forests into various ar- ticles for household use. There may be reasons why individuals in all our towns should find em- ployment in agriculture less profitable than some others in which they might engage. But with an average price of labor, land and implements, and with that degree of skill which the land demands of all, we do not believe that many acres of land are ever cultivated at a loss, when the crop is not injured by blight, frost, or some other casualty. In the Farmer of Nov. 12, Mr. T. J. Pinkiiam, of Chelmsford, Mass., sent us an article entitled, "i/oio to lleckon the Cost of Farm Produce,'" in which he intended to show, by a single illustration of the culture of an acre of corn, that the farmer loses, rather than makes, money, by his farming operations. We did not then, nor do we noAv, think that his premises or conclusions were cor- I'ect, but gladly published his bold article for the pvu-pose of arousing public attention to this mat- ter, and, if possible, of establishing a more correct opinion in the public mind. In this, we are hap- py to say, there is now a fair prospect of succeed- ing. As we then supposed would be the case, men of great exjjerience in farming matters have taken up the glove thrown down by Mr. Pinkham, are criticising his positions sharply, and reversing the picture he drew. The past season has been an unfavorable one in which to obtain a good crop of Indian corn, — too much cold and wet weather prevailing early, and it being too cold and di"y in the latter part of the season ; and yet, by exercising the proper care in selecting the land, in manuring so as to give the young plants an early and vigorous growth, as well as to sustain the corn during its time of maturing, we have never harvested a sounder or better crop of corn in any season. It has given us sixty-Jive bushels to the acre, most of which is suitable to be sent to the stores to be sold for seed corn. We have not kept the precise cost of this crop, but near enough to show that it was not over sev- entv-five cents per bushel. Let us see — corn is worth now one dollar a bushel, Si.xty-five busTiols, at $1,00, la $(;o,00 Cost of 65 bushels, .at 75 cents, Is 48,75 Profit $10,25 Stover, equal to one ton of best hay $10,00 100 bushels turnips on same land 10,00 $42,25 Such is the present year's result with us, and under the same mode of treatment, we have nc doubt similar results would follow nine times in ten. We believe that the work of a good farmer for twenty days, will bring a crop of corn on an average of our New England land, that shall range along from forty to sixty bushels to the acre. He must be a man of judgment ; must not spend five 1880. XEW ENGLAND FAiniER. 19 or six claj's in getting out the witch grass, from an acre at the first hoeing, instead of destroying it by very late fall, and very early spring, plowing. If he makes this mistake, or some other as great, he labors at a loss, and adds five or six dollars to the cost of his crop ! And so with regard to several other points which it is scarcely necessary to enu- merate. For the Xcw Eiiriland Farmer. THE HUBBARD SQUASH. WHAT IT HAS DON'IC THIS SKASOX, WHEN TO IlItlNO IT TO THii TAr.I,i:, ETC. In many localities this has been a hard squash year. Correspondents from northern New Eng- land, central New Yorlv, several of the western States, and a portion of Pennsylvania, make men- tion of frosts fatal to vines, while the drought which late in the season prevailed in north-west- ern New England, a ])ortion of the west, and in some sections of our own State, was almost equal- ly fatal. These, with the usual casualties from bug and borer to M'hich vines are subject, have disap]>ointed the anticipations of hundreds of en- terprising men, who with the close of the season have reaped but their troul)le for their pains. In an old town from which this now somewhat cele- brated squash first went forth, with two exceptions, the yield has been very satisfactory, the average yield having been not far from six tons to the acre. My friend, Mr. Looney, from 15,200 feet of land (about one-third of an acre) obtained 7000 pounds of fine specimens, or at the rate of about ten tons to the acre ; on the other hand, a friend whose land was but poorly drained, obtained from his half acre hardly sufficient squashes to pay for his seed. Neither extreme is a guide to the sensi- ble cultivator. For my own ])art, I have so much faith in the public appreciation of this squash, founded on a personal acquaintance of its good qualities of fifteen years standing, that I have nov/ seventy-two tons in store, and permit me, Mr. Ed- itor, to refer any of our friends, who from una- voidable causes have failed in their attempts to raise it, to an advertisement in this paper. I am afraid that many experimenters are making a mis- take in determining the quality of the Hubbard squash. It is not claimed of the Hubbard that it is the best of fall squashes ; those who like a fine grained, dry meated squash will find nothing to excel the Hubbard in the early fall, but it does not gain its highest quality, its sweet and rich, nutty flavor, till winter opens. A word about the purity of the Hubbard squash. Literally, any variety of squash is pure only M'hcn it is entirely free from any admixture with any other variety ; but practical/ [/, no squash (the crook-neck perhaps, excepted) is found pure to this degree. For practical purposes, and in an honest use of the term "pure," a squash may be so called after two or three years of entirely iso- lated culture, gi-eat care in the meanwhile being exercised in the selection of seed. When the Hubbard becomes crossed with the autumnal Mar- row, the fact becomes very conspicuous from the strong contrast in color ; while the Marrow, when crossed with the African or South American vari- eties, may so conceal the fact as to make it evi- dent to the critical eye only. jSIaking a fair allow- ance for the difference, and the fact that what are sometimes termed crosses, are but the product of seed of various varieties that were smuggled in the manure, and I think we may infer that the Hubbard has, by careful culture, now attained a high degree of purity. The presence of the two varieties, the blue and green, indicate of necessity no want of ])urity, the difi'erence being only in color, while the various shades in these two colors for the most part but indicate different degi-ees of ripeness. AVhether my theory as regards the de- gree of purity possible to be attained by this squash be correct or incorrect, (and I would con- fine my remarks to the seed of last s])ring's plant- ing,) the public may rest assured that whatever progress it is possible to make in this direction by isolated culture, will be as carefully attended to in the future as it has been for the two seasons past In conclusion, Mr. Editor, permit me to invite any of our farmer friends who may like the not'ion of looking on seventy-two tons of Hubbard squashes, to take a trip this way, where I will he happy to play the part of exhibitor, and answer any Yan- kee questions to the extent of mv ability. 3farblehcad, Mass. ^'^^^^^ ^'- ^- Gkkgoky. For the New Enr/lnnd Farmer A LITTLE MORS ABOUT DRAIKTAGE. BY JUDGE FRENCH. My Dear Brown : — My table is loaded with letters and papers about drainage, and I know not what to do with them better than to give them, or some notice of them, to our readers. And first, here is a letter from Edmund Ruffin, of old Vir- ginia, and a volume, published l)y him in 18ou, of "Essays and Notes on Agriculture." The writer is described on the title page, as "A practical farm- er of Virginia, from 1812, founder and sole editor of the Farmer\7G. What follows, below, is a portion of the re- marks made by the Rev. A. L. Stone, of Boston, at the annual dinner of the Norfolk County Agri- cultural Society, in September last. No man knows better than Col. Wilder, the President of the society, what kind of men to call around him on such occasions, — and well was his careful at- tention to this point repaid ; for at no similar gatn- ering have we ever known so much said that Avas practical and encouraging, and at the same time so eloquent and beautiful. President Wilder introduced his distinguished guest to the multitude before him, and after a few pleasant introductory remarks, Mr. S. said : It is a pleasant surprise to me to find the agri- cultural interest represented by so many of the gentle and more domestic sex. And yet their presence on such an occasion I believe to be in every respect legitimate and wholesome. For their proper connection with this interest is intimate and vital. The original description or definition of a wife is that she is a helpmeet to man. Just in what way, or in what variety of ways, this fitting help is to be reiidcrcd, that original document does not set forth. The practical answer exliibits its diversities so varied as never to repeat them- selves. Sometimes this sphere of helpful fellow- ship is very much restricted, and again almost in- definitely broadened. The wife of the German far- mer limits this sphere only with the boundaries of his estate. Her nursery is out of doors in the open field. Its canopy is the leafy shade. Its car- pet the green turf or the soft brown mould. There her little ones roll, and tumble and sleep all day, while she keeps even stroke with her husband in 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 21 the day's toil. On a day's ride in the diligence through a pleasant portion of Bavaria, I amused myself by jotting down the occupation of a dozen or so of ladies, as I met then in succession. The first two were equipped v/ith the deep, unwieldy hoes of the country, and were hoeing potatoes on a hillside ; the third was plodding along on the road barefoot, bare armed, dire., with a burden on her head that would have broken the back of a moderate sized mvde ; the fourth and fifth were swinging scythes with the regular action of the practiced farmer, one of them leading the proces- sion and keeping well ahead. Of the succeeding three, one was raking hay, one was pitching, and one sat on the top of a load, loading, Avhile the only man of the group was ckiving the oxen. The next four were attendants upon house masons, and were carrying bricks and mortar on their heads up tall ladders, with an ease of step and balance that argued them experts at their trade. I have seen women in that same country holding a plow, and in some instances assisting a dumb ally — I mean a four legged one — to draw the same agri- cultural implement. I su])poso that some of us should not exactly covet this style of female co-operation, even in the stress of harvest season. But the question oc- ciu-red to me here, whether there were not some sort of co-operation the wives and daughters of our farmers could render their lords in that calling, and if so, what. Now I take it, it is the desire of every true wife to have at least an intelligent sympathy with her husband's calling. There is liere and there perhaps one sustaining the relation of a vtife, to whom it is enough to share her hus- band's revenue, leaving out his cares and toils as trifles not worthy her regard. There may be here and there a husband whose ambition is to keep his more delicate half in l^lissful ignorance of all his out-of-door work, whether plowing or finan- ciering. But I suppose the old fashioned and bet- ter notion is that of reciprocal sympathy between these fellow-pilgrims. I never would marry a couple, if I knew it, who had any other idea of the tie, no matter what the fee might be. And perhaps I may be permitted to add, that with right viev.s on this point, I am ready to join any number of couples together with a trilling pecuniary pro /iso. But if the sympathy jf which I have spoken be an intelligent sympnth} , it should take some pains to be informed. 1 belijve that an agricultural lit- erature— and we may say with just exultation that we have now an agricultural literature — is quite as healtliful and stimulating a literature in the di'aw- ing-room as that which deals in fashion plates and love-sick heroines. I don't think it would be un- womanly, in short, for the wives and daughters of our farmers to be able to converse wisely and wittily upon agricultural topics, Avith their hus- bands and fathers, or with gentlemen visitors. Such a conversation might easily vindicate itself in contrast yrdh. the vapid frivolities making so much of the staple of drawing-room chat. It would do no harm either for these ladies to have a general familiarity with the out-of-door pnrsuits of those to whom they are thus allied, even if that were gained by an occasional walk afield, instead of a shopping excursion. A visit now and then to the stable and the farm- yard might save the fair explorer from such a blunder as happened once to a metropolitan friend of mine of the same sex. Being in the country, and smitten deeply with rural tastes, it occurrecl to her one morning that it Avould be quite roman- tic to play milkmaid. So she took a pail and went forth, but not meeting with any great success in the operation, it was discovered that she had made a slight mistake in regard to the sex of the animal she waited upon. But let the ladies of our agricultural homes make those homes centres of intelligence, culture and refinement ; let them feel and shoAV a just and generous pride in the calling to which they are thus allied, and a disposition and an ability to vindicate its true honor as compared with any other ; let them give their rejoicing and sympa- thetic presence on such occasions as this ; let the younger rank of these ladies place their delicate, soft hands for life as readily in the large, brown hand of the practical farmer as in the soft and whiter palm of a merchant's clerk or a professional aspirant. The speaker said he could not look upon the farmer without regarding him as a heroic wrestler with nature. With him every season was a cam- paign, and every harvest a victory; and may God crov.n you all Avith a blessing, as you are already crov.ncd with honors. A sentiment in honor of the Judiciary was re- sponded to by Judge Rockwell, of the Superior Court. For the Xcw E»f/ktnd F^trmer. EXPERIMENTS TN CULTIVATIIMG POTATOES. Mr. Editor : — I wish to give a few facts in my experience of several things that have shov/n them- selves during the season, on a piece of land culti- vated by myself and family. In the first place, I will give the lay of the land, as it m.ay have some- thing to do with some of the phenomena. The general lay of the land descends to the east from G to 10 degrees, v/ith a hill west, or a con- tinual rise westward for 100 rods, Avherc the emi- nence is more than loO feet above the fi.eld, and it descends to the east more or less for nearly a half mile, when it begins to rise, and v\'ithin a mile it rises several hundred feet above the field. The field is 25 rods long by 8 wide. Potatoes planted the last days of May, on a mel- low soil, a part of which wa\s planted with potatoes last year, and a part sowed to oats, on green- sv,'ard. ^Manured the present yeai' v/ith a small shovel full of compost in the hill, made of horse- manure, two parts, and one each of loam and meadow mud. A deep, moist, alluvial soil in the valleys, and inclining more to gravelly and stony on the eminences. Planted the north part with Peach-blossoms, and the south with Davis' Seed- lings ; cut two pieces in a hill ; hoed well the last days of June. They grew well, and all looked fine until the 31st day of August, when at 2 o'clock, P. M., Ave had a shower from the west, with some thunder and lightning at a distance ; rained smart for nearly half an horn-, the water very cold, but no hail that I discovered. At 6, P. M., as I was passing the piece, there was a strong smell of de- caying vegetation met my olfactory nerves, and in a day or two the vines turned black, and in a week another strip was seen to begin to turn ; the first 22 NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. Jan. being- in the Peach-blossoms and the latter Davis' Seedlings, and spreading each vray to the walls, north and south, in the course of two or three weeks, while the top vines remained green until October IG, when they were killed by frost. The potatoes on the low land were nearly one-third af- fected with rot. In the Peach-blossoms, a very few, while among the Davis' Seedlings none were diseased. The best of the Peach-blossoms yield- ed a bushel on a square rod, containing 24 hills, or 1(50 bushels to the acre, while the poorest were less than 100 bushels to the acre. The best of the Davis' Seedlings Avere a bushel on three-quarters of a rod, containing 18 hills, or about 210 bushels per acre, while the poorest yielded less than 150 per acre. The land rose nearly 20 feet higher in the centre than at the valleys, while at the north and south ends it was from 5 to 10 feet higher. One other thing I noticed. The land was old pasture, broken up in the fall of 18o7, and had been plowed and harrowed several times ; in most places it was fi-ee from grass, but as the land was natural to red top, in some hills it was found quite strongly rooted Avhen I dug the potatoes, and where the grass was, whether in the whole or a part of the hill, nearly all of the large potatoes had begun to decay. I have given a statement of things as I found them at various times, and hope that some of the wise ones among your numerous readers Avill give a scientific demonstration thereof for my benefit, and others interested in the raising of the potato "crop. Hervey Barber. Wanvicl; Oct. 24, 1859. For the New Enrjland Farmer. IS FAKMIWG- PROFITABLE ? Mr. Editor : — I have just read in the N. E. Farmer of Nov. 12, the article signed "T. J. Pink- ham, Chelmsford," on the profits of farming, or rather on the losses of farming. I am surjn'ised that any one living in the counties of Middlesex and Worcester, Mass., or Hillsborough, N. H., should Avrite such an article, when the farmers in these counties are the most wealthy of any part of the population. There are 40 to 50 farmers in the town of Hol- lis, N. H., worth from $13,000 to $15,000, or more, and I have known most of them from the time they took possession of their farms, either by pur- chase or from their fathers. I think at least two- thirds of them either ovred, or had to pay out to heirs or support the old folks, to at least two-thirds of the value of their farms at the time they took possession of them. In almost every case where a young man has bought a farm, and has ])een temperate and indus- trious, and had tolerable health, he has made money. Nor have these farmers been miserly or mean, either with themselves, their families or the public. They have most of them good, comforta- ble dwellings, well painted inside and out, for their families, good barns for their stock, and sheds, &c., for .wood, carriages, grain, &c., most of which they have either built or repaired since they came into possession. They educate their children, and spend mosney for proper purposes as freely as any other class of citizens. If farmins: is such noor business, how have these men supported their families, paid their debts, repaired their hous- es and barns, or built new ones, and lent money, taken stocks, &c. ? Could they do it by raising corn at a loss of $10 each acre, or calves at a loss of $16 on each calf? Let us look at his estimate below on the cost of raising an acre of corn, viz. : One Acre of Corn. Dr. May ;0, Two mon, two yoke oxen -, to which Mr. P. refers ? I'understand that both manufacturers and laborers are working for small profit. The farmer has a« To the debtor side add .'MO for manure maknig , f^,^. ^^^^^ ^^^^ j^^^.^^^ .^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^.^ engaged in Then deduct 6 davs labor and halt the i ^^^. ^^^^^ business whatever. I think there has it $0 value of the manure, and we have $41. Now de- duct this from the product of the acre, and we have $39 profit, and observe that we have allowed the man 81 per day for his labor. If, then, a farmer can get a dollar a day for his IS days' labor, and a dollar a day for his oxen, and .$o9 besides. I ask if it is not a good business ? What been no time Mitliin the last 5 years, when corn would not bring $1 a bushel, or butter 25 cents, and certainly hay and ])otatoes are sufficiently high. Brother farmers, go on and make ample prepara- tions for a wider breadth of crops and deej)er and more thorough tillage next year, with the full as- surance that von are engaged in the best, the right has any farmer who can^do^this, to croak | ^^^^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ healthful and the most moral bus ?ss of any class of men i Concurd, Nov. 15, 1850. over farming as poor busniess .-'_ Or to say that j^^^^^ ^f ^^^^. ^.j.^..^. ^^ ^^^^^^ -j^ ^j^^, communitv the farmers are weann'r out then- lives and their J. R. For the Kew England Farmer THE NEW PLOW. Messrs. Editors : — Having heard that a new Look around upon your neighbors, i implement of the plow kind was to be tried up(m farms, and coming to want ? Manv farmers are doing the very thing I have stated, only, they get 60 bushels of corn and 300 bushels of turnips. Friend Pinkham must turn over a new leaf in liis account book, and look at matters with a more j cheerful spirit. who have pursued farming with industry and | the intervale at Charlestown, N. H., four miles skill for 20 or 30 vears. Have not their farms im- i from my residence, on the 11th inst., I availed proved ? Have they not better stock, and more I myself of the o])portunity to see it tested. I of it. better carriages and tools, better orchards, j found the plow in full operation, my old friend, better buildings, better furniture, better clothing, I Mr. Holbrook, of Brattleljoro", guiding its course, more books and papers ? Do they not educate j though without much eflbrt, for the plow, when their children better, and are they not more in- j gaged properly, would almost keep its place in the telligent than they were when they began to be j furrow without guiding. I saw several different farmers P How many farmers do you know who i sized mould-boards and land-sides, with a skim began life poor, or in debt, and who have paid I share of cast iron and steel, some of each kind off their debts, and are now the owners of good i of metal, lying about upon the grass near the farms, and occupy a respectable standing in so- 1 scene of operations. cietv? How many farmers within the circle ofj This was rather a novelty to see so many plows vour observation have failed, in proportion to the i in one. The o])eration was Avatched closely by "number of merchants who have gone through the I several of the best farmers of the neighl)orhood : same operation ? ^ and it was really a new thing under the sun to see I know very well, that the farmer's life is not an j hov,- rapidly one plow could be changed to anoth- idle life. He must improve all his time, must be j er, all, and each one, doing its ajjpropriate work up with the lark, and make his arrangements with j in the best possible manner. care and skill. He must shell his corn in the j There was the deep tiller, without the forward evening, or on rainy days, v.hen he cannot work ] or skim share, going to the depth of twelve inch- out of doors. He must do everything in its ap- I es, with a proportional width of furrow slice, per- jiriate time. He must learn to kill two birds with I fectly inverted, flat furrow, and so along upby a one stone. For instance, he Avants to prepare } change of moidd-board, to eight, six and five inch- a ])iece of land to yield a good crop of grass. He | es, the cbaft, of course, lessening as the change plows it thoroughly, puts on 25 loads of manure i was made to less depth. The forward shart*. oi' to the acre, and thus gets 50 bushels of corn and ! skim, was put on with a short land-side and mould- beans, the land in a good state to be seeded down, with a dressing of ashes or plaster, or Superphos- phate, to wheat and grass. He thus gets a good crop of corn, 24 bushels of wheat, worth .$48, and th^ straw, worth $12 more, and three or four good crops of grass, before it needs plowing up again. He must look ahead, and make his arrangements, board, and the implement again slioAved itself to be very earthly-minded, for it Avent doAvn to the depth of tAvelve or fourteen inches, throAving the earth up four to six inches above the level of the inverted flat furroAv sod Avhich had just been turned, leaving it in the finest condition for a pulveriza- tion Avith the harroAv or cultivator. This Avas the not for one year only, but for a series of years. He i kind of ploAving that struck _my fancy as being the A¥ill occasionally meet with losses. His crops I very best of the best. I tried holding the ploAv, 26 xVEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. as did several others of the lookers-on ; it was remarked with v.hat ease it held, particularly when operating in this double form. I learned from Mr. H., who I think Avas instru- mental in getting up the models or designs for the various combinations of this plow, that there were thirteen different changes, by merely a shift of mould-boards, and in some of them a shift of la-id- side : designed to do all kinds of plowing in the most thorough manner, with the same standard and wood-work, from bog-meadow, thi'ough all the grades of surface and soil, down to the smooth and level intervale. The land where this trial was made, had apparently never been plowed more than five inches deep, and, though intervale, below this shallow depth it was tenacious and hard, and of course the plow could not show so easy a draft as on similar soils that had been broken and stirred to a greater depth. The last work of this plow was on stubble land, single share, short mould-board and land-side, with a single pair of horses. It worked admira- bly, leaving a fine tilth, so nicely rolled together and mixed that the furrows could not be distin- guished or counted, having the appearance of a finely harrowed or cultivated surface. From the peculiar manner of the curve of mould-board, and roll of the lifted soil in this stubble plowing, with the height of standard, I have no doubt of its turning under without clogging almost any amount of green crop, mould, or coarse, strawy manure. 1 doul)t Avhether there has ever been presented to tlie farmer any one improved implement better adapted to his wants, as to economy, convenience and thoroughness of work, than this universal plow. It is a dozen ])lows in one. My acquaintance with it is yet limited ; I intend to extend it, for I regard it as the plow of plows. J. w. C. Springfield, Vt., Nov. 14, 1859. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. LICE ON APPLE TREES. Please inform me what will kill lice on apple trees ? C. Robinson. Weston, Mass. Remarks. — Keep them in a vigorous, but not too rapid, growth, by cultivating the ground where they are growing ; prune them projjerly, late in June, if they need it, and wash them annually with common soft soap diluted with water luitil it is about the thickness of cream. Lice don't like a perfectly healthy tree half as well as they do one stunted and struggling for existence. There may be other ways to kill lice on trees, but we consid- er a perfectly healthy growth better than all drugs. mi;asxtremext of hay. Can you, or some of your readers, inform me how many square feet of English hay, in a mow, will make one ton of 2000 pounds by weight ? Al- so, how m.uch meadow hay in feet to a ton ? Billcrica, Mass., Nov., 1859. A Reader. Rejljlrks. — We copied an article into the Far- mer in 1857, from the New Jersey Farmer, which stated that "the top of a mow, say about one-third, would require 800 cubic feet to the ton ; the mid- dle 700 feet, and the bottom 600 feet." "A Sub- scriber" in Reading? Vt., states that at the bottom of a mow 400 feet will make a ton, and that a whole barn full weighed out, averaged a little less than 500 feet to the ton. Mr. M. J. Perkins, anoth- er of our correspondents, states that farmers in his region estimate that from four to five hundred cu- bic feet to the ton, according to the position in which it lies, is sufficient. Meadow hay is usually lighter, will not pack so closely, and more feet must be allowed for it. three acres of land to support a sjull FAMILY ! A clergyman, Avho is compelled to abandon his profession l\v ill health, is desirous to know ho-w he may cultivate three acres of rich land, so as to support a small family ? Liformation will be thank^ fully received. West Springfield, 1859. Remarks. — Plere is an interesting problem. — who Avill solve it for our unfortunate friend ? He who can do it, and will do it, will confer a sub- stantial blessing upon mankind generally, as well as to a "clergyman in ill health." But the ques- tion has its difficulties, because there are so many contingent circumstances surrounding it, such as locality, the nature of the soil, markets, &c. &c. We once knew a person whose sole business Avas upon less than one acre of land, and he hired a man to Avork tAvo or three months of each year Avith him, upon the same spot, and Ave suppose he supported his family Avell. But this land Avas lo- cated Avithin the limits of a city, and a considera- ble portion of the sales Avere green-house floAA'ers, though the Avhole grounds Avere croAvded Avith va- rious fruits. While Ave hardly dare to venture any sugges- tions upon this question, Ave hope some of our at- tentive and able correspondents — and Ave haA^e many such — Avill. We Avill suggest, however, that three acres of land is a pretty large tract to take care of — there are a great many productive farms in the Avorld, not half so large. It Avill require a great deal of hard and persistent labor to tend such a farm, — and to make it profitable, its posses- sor should have an ample capital in a stern will, in strong and Avell inured muscles, and in Avell versed horticultural skill. He must also be a good deal of a merchant, as well as gardener and labor- er, and take advantage of the markets, and pro- duce his s])inach and peas, his straAA'berries and asparagus, his caulifloAver, cabbages and celery, so that they shall be in the market at the instant the faslnnjiahle appetite demands them ! It Avill be no child's play to manage three acres so that its profits shall keep back the Avolf from 1860. KEW EXGLAKD FARMER. the door ! It can be done, but only tlu-ough un- remitting skill and toil. "Livelihoods are hard to get," but they are as easily acquired in farming or gardening, as in most other callings, and farming and gardening demand, as well as other callings, skill and capital to ensure successful results. The idea, so widely extended, is entirely erroneous, that any body can at once be a farmer or a garden- er. They may just about as appropriately be a xa'WTer or a minister. Any man can ploM' ; so any man can preach or give advice. We sincerely hope some gentleman of genius and experience will show our correspondent "how he may cultivate three acres of rich land so as to support a small family." THE SEASON — CROPS — COIIX LAND — STOCK AND H.\Y. The past summer has been a very uncommon one. There has been a killing frost every month of the past season. It has been dry as well as cold. After the equinoctial storm of September loth, tnere was a great change in the weather. It has oeen remarked, "If it clears off warm after the equinoctial storm, every after storm will clear off warm." And such appears to have been the case the past fall. Although Ave have had many frosty nights, and quite a number of snow squalls, it has been rather a pleasant fall thus far. The ground is still open, and the pastures ai-e quite as green as they Avere some of the time last summer. Wa- ter is very low yet; but few springs or v^-clls have started, that were dry. We have had but one good shower of rain for five weeks. The lesson of the past season teaches us, that, as far as raising corn is concerned, the high, hilly xand is best. Most corn on such land about here has ripened, while that on low lands has? been a failure. Corn that was planted deep, stood the spring frosts better than shallow planting. There is quite a panic about here just noAV, on account of the loAvness of stock, and a supposed scarcity of hay ; the latter has sold at auction as high as fifteen dollars per ton ; about double the usual price. Auctions are getting to be rather plenty. Many are selling their farms ; many more are selling stock and hay, and others are selling stock, and keeping their hay for a better price. There is, in reality, no scarcity of hay ; but stock is rather cheap and poor. City folks must expect poor beef this Avinter. Hekkit. Cedar Valley Place, Newbury, Vt. SPONT.iJNEOUS COMBUSTION IN IL\Y. Can you give me any information concerning the combustibility of salt hay stored in a barn ? Tavo barns of ours have been burned, one last year, and one this year, each of Avhich had several tons of this kind of hay, and nothing else stored in it. My OAvn opinion uoav is, that each of these fires originated in s])ontaneous combustion : the hay in each case had been stored there two or three months previous to the fire. It is Avell knoAvn that English hay stored in a green state, Avill thus catch fii-e, but salt hay, even if put in green, 1 have hvays before considered safe in this respect. Sev- eral of my neighbors Avish for a little more light upon this subject. I hope they may have a more satisfactory liyJd than I have had. Information of this kind, I see, is frequently elicited by like pub- lications in your valuable paper. Omega. lioxhury, Mass., Nov. 15, 1859. Remarks. — We are sorry not to be able to shed profitable liyht upon the question propounded by our correspondent. No doubt some one caa, and Ave hope Avill, give it attention. WISE MEN OF THE EAST. I have noticed, of late, several communications on important points of culture, under the signa- ture of experienced cultivators, in this vicinity. I am glad to see these ; Wit at the same time, can- not but think, that they Avould do avcU to remem- ber, that others may knoAv something as well as themselves. For instance, I believe the late Dr. Harris, of Cambridge, kncAV something about "in- sects injurious to vegetation." But Avhen I see his vicAvs controverted and denounced, by young men Avhose beards are not yet fully groAvn, excejjt a little on the upper lip, perhaps, I think such young ones Avould do avcU to keep in the shade a spell longer. Essex. Nov. 20, 18J9. _ RECLAIMED MEADOWS. I have knoAvn many specimens of these ; but the question often recurs, hoAV long will they stay re- claimed ? My ansAver is, just so long as the cold, stagnant waters are kept entirely aAvay from the fibrous roots of the vegetable groAvth. When a damper is thrown upon those fibres, by accumulat- ed Avaters, then the perfect reclamation of the meadoAvs gives Avay. As Avell might avc expect a reclaimed drunkard to stay reclaimed by taking a small "horn" each day, as a reclaimed meadoAv to produce SAveet products, Avithout more than ordi- nary care applied. What is bred in the bone, can- not be beaten from the fiesh. p. Nov. 24, 18.39. AG-KICULTUBE IN CHIITA. Every substance derived from plants and ani- mals is carefully collected by the Chinese, and converted into manure. Oil cakes, horn and bones are highly valued ; and so is soot, and more es- pecially ashes. To give some notions of the val- ue set by them on human offal, it Avill be sufficient to mention that the barbers most carefully collect and sell, as an article of trade, the somewhat con- siderable amount of hair of the beards and heads of the hundreds of millions of customers, AA'hom they daily shave. The Chinese knoAv the action of gypsum and lime ; and it often happens that they rencAV the plastering of the kitchens, for the purpose of making use of the old matter for ma- nure. Xo Chinese farmer ever sows a seed of corrh before it has been soaked in liquid manure diluted Avith Avater, and has begun to germinate ; and ex- perience has taught him, (so Iil^ asserts.) that this operation not only tends to ])romote the groAvth and development of the ])laut, but also to protect the seed from the insects Iiidden in the gi-ound. During the summer months, all kinds of vege- table refuse are mixed Avith turf, straAV. gi'ass. pe'ii 28 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. -n in the field properly prejmred for their reccptii^n, at an interval of four inches from each other. The time of trans])lanting is towards the month of December. In ^March the seed sends up from seven to nine stalks with ears, but the straw is shorter than with us. I have been told that wheat yields 120 fold more, which amply re- pays the care and labor bestowed upon it. it is quite true that what suits one people may not on that account suit all countries and all na- tions ; but one great and incontrovertible truth may, at all events, be learned from Chinese agri- culture, viz., that the fields of the Chinese culti- vator have preserved their fertility unimpaired and in continued vigor ever since the days of Abra- ham, and of the building of the first pjTamid in Egypt.* This result, we also learn, has been at- tained solely and simply by the restitution to the soil of the mineral constituents removed in the produce ; or \\hat amounts to the same thing, that this has been effected by the aid of a manure, of which the greater portion is lost to the land in the system of European (and American ?) cultivation. — Liebig's Modern Agricidture. * Vessels of Chinese porcelain are found in the pyra- mids, of the same shape, and with the same cliaraotors of writing on them, as on modern China at the present ^'"•ly- For the New England Farmer. THE HYDBAULIG RAM. I notice in the November number of the Monfli- lij Farmer a call for information concerning the above machine. I have one in operation on my farm, which is situated in the extreme southerly part of this town, adjoining the Great Bay of the Piscataqua river. It has been in operation about twenty months, and works far beyond my expec- tations, the water being driven up a rise of about eighty feet, and thirty-five rods distance. It fur- nishes an ample supply of water for all purposes, of both house and barn. The fountain, or spring, affords about five gallons of water per minute ; the drive pipe is of iron gas pipe, one inch cali- bre, and forty-five feet in length ; the conducting pi))e from machine to house is lead pipe, § inch calibre, and thirty-five rods in length, laid three feet beneath the surface of the ground, and from a reservoir in the house the water is conducted under ground in a h ii^ch lead pipe five rods to the barnyard. The fall from the spring to the machine is eight feet six inches, and the rise from :he machine to the house is about eighty feet, and ho distance thirty-five rods. The quantity of water received at the house can be varied by means of an adjuster attached to the machine, but in this case there is ten times the quantity of water driv- en up that is needed. The ram is from the man- ufactory of W. B. Douglas, Middletown, Conn., and size, No. 3 ; cost, six dollars. The farm has generally been occupied by a ten- ant, but during the few months of very cold weath- er last winter, some days of which were most se- vere freezing weather, no one occupied the house, and there was no fii-e in it for some time, yet the stream into the reservoir, and the reservoir itself, were not in the least afi"ected by frost, and the wa- ter floAved the same as it did in the month of Ju- ly, and of the same tcmperatm-e. The expense of labor and material in the whole operation did not exceed seventy-five dollars. I procured a di- agram from ]Mr. Douglas, and directed the whole business in person, without the least inconvenience or mistake. Any further and more particular in- formation will be given with pleasure, if desired. Durliavi, N. II. , Nov., 1859. V. Smith, Jn. THE CANADA THISTLE. This is a very troublesome production. It is said to have been introduced originally as an or namental appendage to the flower garden. The root is perennial, creeping, and remarkably tena- cious of life. It is also wonderfully prolific, prop- agating itself from the filaments of the roots, as well as from the seed. When lands have become foul with this plant, thf best plan, probably, that can be adopted for 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 29 its speedy and thorough eradication, is to plow them in narrow fuiTows — say six inches in width, with a sharp plow. In this way every root Avill be cut off or detached, and if the soil be immediately and thoroughly harrowed and laid down to grass, the thistles will soon disappear. When thistles spring up in vacant lots, by the road-side, and in fence corners about the premises, mowing at the period of inflorescence, or when most of the plants are in full bloom, for several seasons in succes- sion, will be quite likely to destroy them. When the thistle obtains footing in pastm-e lands, and when plowing to effect their eradication is impracticable, the scythe must be put in use as suggested above, and as a goncrai thing, may be employed with good success if faithfully persevered in. If, after mowing the tops — which, if possible, should be done when the thistle is in full bloom — salt be sprinkled upon the stumps, and the enclo- siu-e left free for sheep, the labor of eradication will be more speedy and complete. This is a much more economical method than extracting by hand, which is tedious, and not always a successful pro- cess. On clayey loam, the thistle floiu'ishes with greater vigor, and appears to l)e much more tena- cious of life, than on soils of an arenaceous, or sandy texture. Although it takes root as readily on the latter as on the former, and attains, ordi- narily, a full development, yet it yields more read- ily to cleansing operations, and appears to be in a great measure destitute of that vigorous hardi- hood of constitution, which characterizes it when gi'ov/ing on soils that are more clayey. The beautiful illustration of the thistle Avhich we present above, is copied by permission from ^'■Daritngtoii^s Weeds and Useful Plants," one of the pleasantest books in our knowledge. Pub lished by Saxton, Barker & Co., N. Y. For the Xeiv England Former. AI«" EXAMPLE IN UNDEEDRAIITIIirG. Mr. Brown : — In a brief note of Nov. 16, pub- lished in your paper of to-day, I spoke of my ob- servations on processes of underdraining, that I had seen the present season, on farms in this vi- cinity. The minutes I then had in mind have since passed into other hands. But as it may in- terest some of your many readers to know vrhat is doing in this impoi-tant branch of husbandry, I will endeavor to sketch briefly what I then con- tem])lated. The most extensive experiment I have seen was on the Pickman farm, (so called,) in South Salem. It exte'ided over more than five acres of flat, swam- jiy land, situated between the Mansion House and the Forest River road. Various i:ttenipts have been made, in years past, to bring this land into condi- tion for culture, by throwing it into beds of 30 or 40 feet in width, and excavating a main ditch through the centre — all of which very imperfectly relieved it. The present proprietor determined to try what could be done by tile draiv^s ; accordingly he ]n-ocured an accurate survey and level of the field, and employed experts to lay his drains, chiefly of threc-iiicli tile, at distances varying from twenty to forty feet. This has been thoroughly done over the whole field. It was so early done, that the field was planted with the various kinds of vegetables cultivated in this vicinity. The in- crease of cro]), over anything before pro(iuced on the same land, has fully paid the expense of the draining process in all its parts, leaving the land worth, at least, tliree hiinih-ed dollars \)cv acre — be- ing more than double what it Avould have before been estimated at. A specific account of the entire opcrati ^n will soon appear in the Essex Transac- tions, now in press, and for which the first premi- um on underdraining was awarded by the trustees. Other experiments were examined, of drains made of stones gathered from the land, but as these are not worthy to be named, where tile can be obtained, I forbear to speak of them in detail. Our whole community are under great obliga- tions to your brother French, for the very valuable instruction he has condensed on "Farm Drainage." If I do not mistake, he has pointed out the mode of increasing the value of Massachusetts farms more than any other single operation that has been named. I would give more for his underdraining process, than for all the "specific fertilizers" that were ever thought of. J. w. P. Soidh Danvers, i\"or. 26, 1859. For the Xezo England Farmer. EMPLOYMENT FOR WINTER EVENINGS AND STORMY DAYS. FARMERS' OPPORTUNITY FOR JIKNT.VI, I.MPROVEJIENT. With the majority of laboring farmers there is but little time left for intellectual improvement, after the weekly papers are read, during a large portion of the year, ]>erhaps from April to October or November ; but the long evenings of the re- maining part of the year, and the stormy and severely cold days of Winter, when out-door la- bor is im])ossiblc or exceedingly unpleasant, af- ford opportunities for mental culture to every far- mer, that should not be neglected. The value o. these opportunities, if well improved, can hardly be over-estimated ; yet, I fear their utility is poor- ly ap])reciated by many of our farmers. They are too often whiled away listlessly, resulting in no good, if not in positive evil, from habits acquired by idleness. I wish, simply, to remind those of my brother farmers who may need it, of the impor- tance of these golden moments of leisure, and of what may be gained by a proper use of them. To yovmg farmers, and to farmers' sons, would I es- pecially direct the few words I have to say. Seneca has remarked : "As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without cul- ture, so the mind, without cultivation, can never produce good fruit." And if the soil will not pro- duce good returns without some sort of cultivation, upon what known princijjle can we expect thai the mind will come into that state of improvement that will enable us to act intelligently in all the matters of our every-day business, without some kind of cultivation, without effort on our part to fliat end ? While we labor in cultivating the soil the greater part of the year, that we may reap 30 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. abundant harvests, during which time we neces- sarily find but a limited amount of time for study and reading, though excellent opportunities for re- flecting upon what we may have already learned, and for putting the same to practical uses, Avhy should we not eagerly seek, during the compara- tive leisure of the remainder of the year, for op- portunities to improve the mind, the guide and di- rector 01 all our operations ? Fro(/ress now seems to be the order of the day, in everything. We live in an age of inventions ; in the age of steam and electricity ; in an age when every one must be u]) and .sfirriiuj, to keep up with his generation ; and finally in an age when great improvements are made in every department of the arts, in a single generation. Improvements are made, and great improvements are to be made, in Agriculture ; and the farmer, to keep up with his time, must keep thinking, as well as stirring. Agriculture is a vast subject, to which nearly all the Sciences minister. It is not merely to plow, and plant, and hoe, as our fathers planted, and plowed, and hoed, and to gather what chances to grow from such a course. Our lands in New Eng- land, by exhausting methods of culture, are becom- ing ]ioorer, the virgin soils, in a great many in- stances, have been cro])t to excess, and it is oin- business, then, to study methods whereby Ave may not make them hold their present ccnidition merely, but improve them. To this end I would counsel the study of standard agricultural books, in these spare moments ; take and read, perhaps, another agricultural newspaper during these months, and think, and devise experiments to be put into ex- ecution the ensuing summer ; not to any ruinous extent, however, should they prove of no econom- ical value, but moderately, and persi'veriiujhi, and so add your mite to the general cause. Agricul- tural reports of States and counties are of great interest and importance, and should not be omitted in agricultural reading. I need not remind you of vour duties and i')rhn.legcs in the "Farmers' Clubs." Several of the natural sciences are so interwoven with agriculture, as geology, botany, and chemis- try, and perhaps I might add meteorology and mineralogy, that some knowledge of them is of great importance to every agriculturlist ; and this knowledge is more easily acquired than is imag- ined by many. It is not above the capacity of any ; and every farmer's son who has improved the op- portunities for a good, common-school education, should not rest satisfied till he has devoted the leisure he may find in one winter at least, to the careful perusal and study of works on one, or more, of these sciences, which, in all probability, must create a thirst for higher attainments. Some knowledge of these sciences is quite necessary to read understandingly some of our agricultural books and reports ; and ten dollars cannot be bet- ter expended yearly, by the farmer, than in the purchase of agricultural books, and papers, and scientific text-books. Take botany, for instance, the present winter, and make that a speciality, procure "Wood's Class-book of Botany," or some of Prof. Gray's botanical works, and in your leis- ure, master as many of its principles and terms as you can ; then as spring opens seize the fii-st flowers a'iid ajiply them ; in the few spare moments that you can find in summer, make a collection of plants for a herharium, and my word for it, if your nature is in any wise like that of the mass of people, the pleasures you will derive from the science will amply repay you for all the hours of patient study, and serve as an incitement to fur- ther exertion. But do not be too hasty in your anticipations ; if in two or three years, with the time you would naturally get, you can seize upon any wild flower of the field, and readily analyze the same, you have accomplished not a little. And in geology, also, careful reading, from time to time, will put you in possession of much valua- ble information, and bo a source of great profit and pleasure to you. And so Avith chemistry ; time and perscvcruiice Avill put you on easy terms with its elements and techiiicalities. Much time, how- ever, will be required to accomplish all this, and a good deal of perseverance. But the advice I have given I knoAV to be wholly practicable ; and the attainments I have mentioned I know to be within the reach of almost any fanner, young or middle aged, Avho wills to possess them ; and, in time, even much more than this may be accomplished. And just here let me say, do not spend too much time over a certain New York"story paper," or sim- ilar publications — much Avorse than Avasting time — Avhen Nature is ready to reveal to her votaries truths so much stranger than fiction, and ])roduc- tive of such high and ixoblc pleasures, and Avhich may be rendered of much practical benefit. History, biography, books of travels, and other departments of literature, as Avell as the topics of the day, should receive a share of the farmer's at- tention in this season of leisure. In our farming population there are not a fcAV noble minds — min.ds that can appreciate Avhatever is beautiful that surrounds them, and are not insensible to the poetic charms of nature, that they come into contact Avith in their daily avocations ; and I Avould say, every former's library should contain the AA'ritings of sev- eral of our best poets, and let those volumes, too, be Avell read. Indeed, let not these long evenings go unim- proved ; they are the seed time of the mind, to NcAV England farmers ; and around their glowing hearths let refinement and intellectual culture find a place, and receive encouragement, as Avell as in the mansions of the anxious merchant and manu- focturer. Let farmers' sons and daughters be ed- ucated, at academies and other public institutions of learning, if not too inconsistent with the far- mer's circumstances, but at all events, let not the Jiome advantages go unimproved. J. A. A. Springfield, Mass., Nov. 11, 1859. FARMERS' CLUBS. The oflScers and members of Farmers' Clubs in this State, should be aAvai-e that the Common- wealth, by an act of 1859, proposes to assist, to some extent, such clubs already established, and to encourage the establishment of them where they do not yet exist. To avail themselves of this assistance, immediate oflScial notice should be given to the Secretary of the State Board of Ag- riculture, in case of clubs noAV in operation, fur- nishing himwith a copy of their Const itiition, the number of members and times of meeting. In case there are individuals in any town, who are dis- 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 3t posed to form such a dub, notice of the same should be sent to the Secretary of the Board, with a request, if there is any desire for it, to have the aid of some person familiar with the modes of es- tablishin the farmers themselves, to a large extent, are de- ceived in the matter. This I undertook to show with what logic I ])ossessed ; also, I gave some statistics, and a few quotations from what I deemed good authority, to ])rove my position. Now, I must in candor say, that when I ])enncd that article, I su])i)osed it would be replied to, if at all, by just that class of farmers of whom I spoke in the article, who, having "money to spend," &c. &c., consider this as a good business. It will, ]K'rhaps, be as well for me to state in the outset, that I intend in this article to reply to my "Sjjringfield" friend, who undertook, in the Far- mer of Oct. 2'2d, to review the article to which I have above referred, and to show that farming is profitable. It is an old saying, and a very good one, that "circumstances alter cases." As this is one of the "cases" that '"circumstances" have altered, and as but a very small proportion of the farmers can bo located in a thrifty and growing city, comfortably, pleasantly, and, for the sake of the argument, and for nothing else, profitably if you please, at farm- ing. Springfield is situated on the banks of the Connecticut Piiver, in Ham])den County, in this State. It is a city of some 15,000 inhabitants, and is at this day making great ])rogress in wealth and population. The Western Hailroad passes through this place ; the United States Armory is here located, which adds largely to the thrift of tlie city, also factories of various kinds are in suc- cessful operation. Further, the soil on the banks of this river is well adapted to the growing of to- bacco, and large quantities of it is put to this n,se. Here, also, land is sold by the foot. Is it neces- sary for me to look any further for the solution of the argument of my friend J. A. A. ? What say you, brother farmers, all over New England ? If your ancestors had left you the broad acres in a great and ])opulous city, how^ monstrously "prof- itable" farming would seem. Do store and other bills accumulate, and the crops come in light ? Have you become worn out by hard toil, and the doctor's bill looks you in the face P Have the wife or the little ones been on the sick list, too ? Or, is it necessary to send the boy to college ? A few corner lots Avill harmonize the whole. What a beautiful thing farming is. Now, Mr. Editor, I suppose I must take up your correspondent's article, somewhat system- atically, and treat of it as he goes along. In the first ]3aragra])h, he says the writer "must be lo- cated in a very ill-favored portion of the coun- try." In the old town of Chelmsford, joining Low- ell, the second city in New England in wealth, population and enterprise, (saving tobacco — we don't grow the weed here, we profess to be a mor- al people,) is the M-riter's residence. Of the capa- bilities of the town in the agricultural line, per- haps I can give it in no better way than in the language of one of its most distinguished citizens. Dr. Bartlett, in a lecture before the Agricidtural Society of this town, said, "that in his o])inion, not a farmer in town was getting a living, witliout he had either fruit or wood to sell." Now. although Chelmsford produces a large su])ply of both of these articles, and there are but few farmers who have neither to sell, so that oil the whole, this may compare favorably with most farming town.s, yet, with all the jn-ivileges that this has over most ])la- ces, even here it is uji-hill work. The truth of the matter is just here — that no farmer could, for any considerable length of time, sustain his ])osi- tion, were it not for the outside helps that lie is constantly obliged to resort to. lie must have capital, and it is folly to think to f\irm without it. Then, this capital is dead ])roi)erty, for with this, he has to combine a larger amount of labor and economy than would give him a better living at many of the trades that are in vogue, that are much more easily attained than to know how to farm. One of two things is true ; the farmer has to re- linquish all ho])es of any per cent, on his ca])ital, or throw away his labor to get a fair per cent, on his investment. Does any one believe that a man can take a fiarm and its ap])endages entirely on credit, and jiay his interest, and in the course of time, free himself from his liabilities, and retain the farm ? This is Avhat a large ])rojK)ition of those engaged in other pursuits are constantly doing. If my friend "J. A. A." will be kind enough to stop guessing, and go into the figures, the facts, as they actually exist, and from these obtain or arrive at his conclusions, he will be quite as likely to be correct. This guess work should be aban- doned, and facts and figures should take its ])lace. Now if "J. A. A." has made a fortune at farming, or any considerable portion of one, he has the ability to tell how it was done. This would do much to establish his ])osition. In this State, there are 3j,()()0 farms, and allowing two men to each farm, Avould give 70,000 farmers, equalling in numbers all other trades. If "J. A. A." will find one solitary individual (Springfield included,) out of this army of farmers who has for a series of years made fair mechanic's wages over and above a reasonable per cent, on his investment, at farm- ing, then I shall learn something that I never be- fore have seen. And, unless he can do this, and I860. NEW ENGLAND FAR^VIER. 35 much more, then his whole argument falls to the ground. Pcrluips I can illustrate the position I take, in no better vray than by relating an anecdote, Avhich was recently told me. A friend of mine who takes a similar view of the matter with me, said "he had been several times opposed in his view by a stout and rugged old farmer Vv'ho instanced his own case to prove that the business was lucrative." "Well," says my friend, "you have made money, have you ?" "Yes, I have done well, and I know it is a good business. But, what are you figuring about P" "I was merely reckoning up to see hov.' much you have made." "I guess I know how much I have made without your figuring." "Well, well, I merely wanted to see ; figures, you know, won't lie." "Well, how do you make it ?" "Do you want I should tell you ?" "Certainly, you can't alter it." "Well, then, if I have got it rigiit, you lack -SGO.OOO of having made a living." "How do you make that out ?" "You say you had so mudi (showing him the figures) left you P" "Yes." "You are now worth zo much ?" "Yes." "Well, then, if you had put j-our mDuey at interest when you came into possession of it, and kept it there, and got your own living since, you would have been worth what I told you." Now if my Springfield friend will furnish the evidence of what he says, and v/ill truthfully make it appear that this is "profitable, and that farmers are the most independent people in the world," it is all I ask for. I think, however, that where we mainly differ is in this — he has one class of far- mers in view, and I another. It is the poor far- mer whose position I am speaking of, and not these city folks who farm for amusement, without regard to the cost. Again, friend "A" says ; "I suspect that Mr. P. having probably been employed in other pursuits before engaging in agriculture 'some seven or eight years' since, may possibly be lacking in ag- ricultural experience, so necessary to success, and has had the misfortune to locate in a bad situa- tion, both combining, perhaps, to render him sick of his new vocation, and consequently he looks upon the dark side." Here is more guess work, at Avhich friend "A. "has been about as successful as he is in guessing at the "profit" of farming. The truth is, I am not "sick" of farming, nor have I "located in a bad situation." All that I want, is, that the truth and right may prevail. When I see all other classes of men making a living by their business, and generally much more, (which I do not object to,) I am led to inquire how is it with the business that sustains all others ? I would not say a word, did not I believe that there is a remedy for the Avrongs that I am speaking of. But, it is no use to say a woi-d about a remedy till we un- derstand our position, and if things are all right, then let them remain. Again, "a good cow should give four quarts at early milliing, at least, or eight quarts per day, through the greater part of the year, and even more than this, a considerable portion of the time." ^I believe a cow may be kept well, in most localities for about forty-five dollars per year, and should yield an average of six quarts of milk per day. "The milkmen generally get from four to six cents a quart for milk, and, consequently, the farmer should not receive less than three or three and a half cents for his mUk, at his door." Now this is all guess work again, and you have not giv.en a single fact to substantiate a word of what you have said. A cow that gives milk, requires 2A per cent, on her live weight i)er day of good English hay or its equivalent to sustain her position. Is this keeping her for forty-five dollars per year ? The farmers have been selling their milk for eigh- teen cents per can in this county, and in New Hampshire on the line of the railroads, this last summer. The cans hold, Massachusetts measure, from nine to eleven quarts. Is this "from three to three and a half cents per quart ?'" No sup])osi- tion, or guess work here. Now, if friend "A," can put these items together, and figure up a "profit," I am thinking it would take a larger city than Springfield to hold him. Chelmsford, Mass., Nov. 7, 1859. T. J. PlNKIIAM. AMERICA'S NOBLEMEN". The noblest men I know on curtli. Are men whose hands are brown with toil ; Who, backed by no ancestral graves, Hew down the woods and till the soil, And win thereby a prouder fame Than follows king or warrior's name. The workingmen, what e'er their task, To cnrve the stone or bear the hod — Tlicy wear upon their honest brows The royal stamp and seal of God I And brighter are the drops of sweat Than diamonds in a coronet ! God bless the noble working-men. Who rear the cities of the plain, AVho dig the mines and build the ships, And drive the commerce of the main — God bless them, for their swarthy hands Have wrought the glory of all lands ! K"E"W PUBLICATIONS. The FiiEE Speaker ; A New Collection of Pieces for Declamation ; Original n» v.'cll as Selected, intended as a Companion to "Tiie Hundred Dialogues." By Wil- liam Bcutley Fowle. Published by the Author. 1S59. This book is intended for our common schools, and ought to be in use in every one of them. The pieces of which it is made up, as compositions, or examples of terse and vigorous English, are, as a whole, scarcely equalled by those of any school- books now in use ; while their sentiments incul- cate that love of justice, of freedom and country, which no other school-book has ever yet dared to do. They also everywhere urge that no earthly power should ever, for a moment, be inter])osed to alienate or compromise our direct, personal du- ty to God. All profit, pledge and expediency, must yield to duty to the great Head and Source of all. Our school-books are, most of them, tame and savorless things. They exhaust the strength and patience of the pupil in obtaining a fluent and me- lodious elocution, v»hile they ought to press home upon the heart those sentiments of justice and du- ty which will make even the unlettered person el- oquent. The "Free Speaker" has the happiest combination of both. While it breathes the spir- 36 KEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. it of philantlii-opy and love on excrj i)agc, it also utters that Puritan sternness for right that never compromises with wrong. In its ap]H'0])riate branch of learning, the school- book should not only teach the child how to de- claim, but at the same time something of the na- ture of the laws and government under which he lives, — of agriculture, of the sciences and arts, — and especiall)-, of those principles which impel and make prosperous a free and virtuous people ! A mercenary thought underlies the i)ublication of too many of our books : the question being, how will it sell, and tvhere Avill it sell, so that the larg- er half of our population, who are right, have no book yet that speaks for them. The Free S])eaker has two or three features of importance. One is, that the pieces are all new, and not the hackneyed ones that have been worn threadbare for the last half century. This is a matter of consequence to those who speak in our schools. The other peculiarity of the book is, that about one-quarter of the pieces are original. The pieces are all single. We hope the "Free Speak- er" will have a widely-extended use ; and if so, good men and good women will be greatly multi- plied in the land. LETTER FHOM -WESTEBOT VIRGINIA. Farmers aud Faniiinj;- — Great Products of Corn, Pota- toes, &C-. — Tlie "iiiatitution" lading away — Yankee In- fluence— Soil and Climate — Progress in Ceredo. Ccredo, Va., Oct 24, 18u9. Since I have been here, two years and above, and taken some pains to jnake observations on the subject, 1 am able to offer some testimony as to the productiveness of the soil in this section. I find the efi'ects of the "institution" here, where there is no slavery comparatively. The most in- telligent residents themselves will tell us, that they do nothing at farming, because they do not try— they are too lazy, and have l^een taught from childhood that only slaves should labor industri- ously and constantly ; so if they wish to produce any crops, they hii-e some one to cultivate the land for them, or rent it out to some one poorer than themselves, and neither of them make a living. Tliis is the case with a majority of landholders in this county. So that when a stranger rides along the highways, he will see only a few attractive farming operations, and would not be favorably Im])ressed with the quality of the soil. The neglect to cultivate the soil, and in fact the neglect to do anything in season, or as well as it should be done, is so generally the practice, that farming makes a poor show. However, there is here and there a farmer who does the best that can be done for profit and for his land. A farmer, two miles from this, who this year cultivated about one hundred and fifty acres of land, shows what cait be done in the M-ay of large products. On a ]ncce of hill lan.d where his predecessor could not get a living, he raised corn at the rate of eighty-five bushels to the acre. I saw some of it before jt was cut. 1 could not reach the ears on the stallis, and many of the ears ai-e more than one foot in length, I heard of stocks seventeen feet high, and ears of corn sixteen inches long, but did not see them. The same farmer, however, has one piece of corn of fifty-six acres, on which he has raised fifty-six huncb^ed bushels of corn. He is a systematic, energetic farmer, and goes in for improved machinery, and all the best farming tools, and so he makes four times as much as his neighbors, who attribute his success to the use of capital ! I was going to tell what I had seen of the pro- ducts of the soil. I saw an acre ])atch of melons, from which the proprietor had sold $200 worth of melons, and there were three to five hundred yet on the ground. The ground was scratched up once, and the seed put in — that's all. In sjnte of such bad treatment, the ground produced enormously. The same man had sAveet potatoes groAving on an adjoining jiiece of land, and they turned out at the rate of more than 2.30 bushels to the acre — or if you Avish to have me exact, the ground Avhich I measured Avas five feet long, and tAvo feet Avide, and the ]n'oduct Avas more than a bushel and a half. Some of them Avere very large, and all very good — the best I have ever eaten. Apples and peaches groAV Avithout care or culti- vation, of the best quality, and very large. ^lany orchards bear the Rome Beauties, as they are called, year after year, the trees yielding from five to eleven barrels each. These apples are very fine flavored, mature about Christmas time, and are a general favorite in the Ohio Valley. Thousands of barrels go doAvn the river every year. Another very excellent apple, ripe noAv, and not good to keep, is Avhat is called the "Blue Pearmain." The spec- imens I saAV — a lot of thii'ty bushels — Avould more than half of them measure tAvelve inches in cir- cumference. They are very rich flavored. But lit- tle fancy fruit, cultivated Avith the greatest care, could be better. There is a peach orchard on the mountain side, thirteen miles from here, Avhere the trees have borne every year Avithout fail for tAven- ty-four years. They have had little care, and have never been trimmed out. It Avould not be Avorth Avhile, perhaps, to partic- ularize the mammoth turnips, beets, SAveet pota- toes, Hzc, for you have such things at your agri- cultural fairs ; but they are so common as not to excite admiration, and they groAv Avitbout the ex- pense of cultivation required in a different climate. Wherever a Yankee has cultivated the ground, he has got such returns as excited his special Avon- der, and fixed him here for good. One Avho pur- chased a farm six miles from here tAvo years ago, for foiu" dollars and fifty cents per acre, was laughed at for ])aying so much for tlie "Avorn out" fiirm. I could see that he kncAv Avhat he Avas about he kncAv a farm Avhich Avas never cultivated could not be Avorn out ; and now, the men Avho laughed at liim begin to think he knoAvs something ; and that same Yankee has noAv as much influence, and his advice is sought as often as that of any other man in the neighborhood. He had only been at Avork eighteen months, Avhen his nearest neighbor, an old man and a slaveholder, made up his mind to sell his best "cash niggers." So five t)f them Avere at once disposed of, and he has only little nigs, and feeble, or females, for hel]) in the house. He "reckons" lie can cultivate his farm as cheap by free labor, and has not anything to say against Yankees, as he did at fu-st, sui)posing they Avere 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 37 all abolitionifits, as he said. The Yankees who coolly go to -work in their o-\vn -vvay, without re- gard to custom or precedent, are a puzzle to the Virginians. They soon see the advantage of cer- tain modes of doing things, however, and are not long in adopting what appears to be the best method of managing a farm. Such is the influence already exerted upon the most intelligent of our neighbors. WithouL any design or desire to influence them or meddle in the afiairs of others in any way, the Yankee fcu'- mers went to work in their own way, and the re- sult of their lal)ors was sufficient to convince any but a fool, that the soil had been trilled with, and that a climate that would furnish green beans five months in the year, was good enough for anybody with brains. — Boston Journul. THE STATE BOARD OF AGBICULTUE.E. This Board met at the State House Nov. 29th, and continued its sittings three days, Hon. Mak- sriALL P. Wilder presided over its deliberations. The subject of the formation of farmers' clubs, and the act of 1859, was taken up and discussed at some length, when a committee was appointed to consider the act in relation to the formation of said clubs. This committee, consisting of Messrs. Bartlett, Fisher, Brown and Grennell, sub- sequently reported : That the chief, perhaps the only object, attempted at this time, should be the establishment of farmers' clubs, and the aid of those already established. They did not recom- mend details, but advised the appointment of a committee to carry out the provisions of the act, and recommended that the plans, constitutions and by-laws of the various farmers' clubs already or- ganized, should be as much in uniformity as pos- sible with those hereafter formed. They also ad- vised that each member of the Board should give notice in the several towns within the limits of his society, of the desire of the Board to estal>lish farmers' clubs, and of the benefits to be derived from them. Reports of the delegates to the county societies were then read and discussed. SECOND DAY. Reports of delegates Avere continued. Upon the motion to accept one of these reports an ani- mated discussion ensued, which assumed a very interesting character. Mr. Davis, of Plymouth, moved that the re- ports be 7ioi printed. He thought much that was seen and said would have no public interest, and while they might be important in repeating details to the Board for their information, yet a delegate would not wish to utter it, if it were to go out before the public. Mr. Grennell, of Greenfield, thought it best t--^ administer reproof, Avhen needed, in private, by way of suggestions to the officers of the soci- eties, where it would ordinarily do more good than through the medium of a public printed re- port. Prof. Clark, of Amherst, expressed the opinion that the report of a delegate, if properly prepared, was a document of permanent value as a means of comparison and reference in future, and, as such, worthy of publication. Mr. Broavn, of Concord, thought it well that the delegate should give his ideas aiul recommend- ations with reference to the exhibition he had wit- nessed, but that the Board itself should ex- press some decided opinion upon the practices and customs criticised or commended, in the form of a resolution, or some other mode of expression, so that the farmers of the State may learn what opinions the Board entertain Avith regard to the modes of conducting the exhibitions in the sev- eral counties. ^Ir. Brooks, of Princeton, hoped the printing of the reports would be discontinued, unless the Board should adopt the plan of discussing them. Dr. Fisher, of Fitchburg, was in favor of print- ing. Mr. Lewis, of Framingham, said the reports occupied on an average only about a ninth part of the whole volume. They are its most valuable parts, and are wanted as a means of comparison. Messrs. Bartlett, Clark, Davis, Atwater, Felton, and others, continued the debate at some length, and then the motion not to print was laid upon the table. The subject of holding a secoiul State Fair Avas committed to a committee of five, Avho subsequent- ly reported that a fair be held in September next, at such place as will furnish the best accommoda- tions and the necessary guarantee fund. Messrs. Bartlett, Clark and Bull were elected a committee to carry out the provisions of the act in relation to the establishment and en- couragement of farmers' clubs. See chapter 203, Massachusetts laws, 1859. Messrs. Wilder, Brooks, Bull, Sutton and Atwater were elected delegates to attend the annual meeting of the United States Agricultural Society at Washington, on the second Wednesday of January next. THIRD DAY. Board met at ten o'clock. The subject of the returns of circulars, and the reports upon them by the several committees, was discussed, and it Avas ruled that the answers of the circulars should be compiled by the respective committees, and their contents reported at the annual meeting of the Board in January next. Nearly all the members of the Board were pres- ent, and they manifested a deep interest in th« subjects presented for consideration. 38 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. For the New England Farmer. WHAT A COW CAW" DO. Mr. Editor : — Having seen various statements, for several years, in your joiu'ual, of the quantity of milk given by different cows at stated periods, I am induced to send the statement of two years' doings of one that I have owned for the last five years, but lost in calving a few weeks since. She was said to be one-half Native and one-half Dur- ham, or Short-horn. Her ap])earance warranted the latter, at least. Living in the city, I could make no dependence on pasture, but have had to depend on what I gave her in the barn. You will see, she gave the most milk the first year. I ac- count for this in two ways. I milked and fed her myself, and I am satisfied I can make more milk, (with the pasture /had,) to have my cow calve in the winter or fall, when I can feed cut feed, roots, rowen and oil meal, alias flax seed, than I can on grass, when I cannot add the former. I am not one of the fortunate ones who are able to make large quantities of milk on grass alone. I could not obtain the latter, and therefore had to find substi- tutes, or rather auxiliaries, and plenty of them. I have often heard it advanced that cows giving large quantities, could not give good milk. Li answer to this, I will say, — one season when she was farrow. I took the cow into the country where my family were staying, from July to October, when she was giving, on an average, nine quarts daily ; after using all we wanted in the family of seven persons, my wife made over seven pounds of butter ])er week for fourteen successive weeks, which I think is proof positive that her milk was A 1. The most she ever gave me in twenty-four hours, milked 6 A. >L and 6 P. M., was twenty- three quarts, one and a half pints. Thus : 185fi.— Took calf away Feb. 1st. Qts. Amount of milk, Feb. 1st to Auf»-. 1st 2459 " Aug. 1st to Feb. 1st 1928 Xumber quarts one year 43S7 4387 quarts, at 5 cents per qu.art $219,35 1858.— Took calf away July 1st. Qfx. mount of milk, .luly 1st to Jan. 1st 2239-2 '• " Jan. 1st to July 1, 1859 1083 Number quarts one year 3922-2 3922-2 quarts, at 5 cents per quart S190,12 $415,4: All the milk not used in the family was sold at a store, at o cents per quart the year round ; many carts selling at G cents through the year. H. R.' CONGDON. Providence, R. I., Nov., 1859. THE GAKDETJ-. The garden is a bound volume *f agricultural life, written in poetry. In it the farmer and his family set the great industries of the plow, spade and hoe, in rhyme. Every flower or fruit-bearing tree is a green syllable after the graceful type of Eden. Every bed of flowers is an acrostic to na- ture, written in the illustrated capitals of her own alphabet. Every bed of beets, celery or savory roots, or bulbs, is a page of blank verse, full of belles lettres of agriculture. The farmer may be seen in his garden. It contains the synopsis of his character in letters that maybe read across the road. The barometer hung by his door will indi- cate certain facts about the Aveather, but the gar- den, laying on the sunny side of the house, marks with greater precision the degree of the mind and heart culture which he has reached. It will em- body and reflect his tastes, the bent and bias of his ])erceptions of grace and beauty. In it he holds up the mirror of his inner life to all who pass ; and, with an observant eye, they may see all the features of his intellectual being in it. In that choice rood of earth he records his progress in mental cultivation and professional experience. In it he marks, by some intelligent sign, his scienti- fic and successful economies in the corn field. In it you may see the germs of his reading, and can almost tell the number and nature of his books. In it he will reproduce the seed-thought he has culled from the printed pages of his library. In it he will post an answer to the question whether he has any taste for reading at all. Many a nom- inal farmer's house has been passed by the book- agent without a call, because he saw a blunt neg- aV.ve to the question in the garden yard. — Elihu Buvritt. For the Xew England Farmer. FKUIT CULTURE. Messrs. Editors: — In Hovey's Magazine for November, the editor, speaking of Fruit Culture, says: "It has been remarked by some horticultu- ral write that all fruits succeed best in the local- ities where they originated." This I am not willing to admit. I am not aware of any writer who as- serts that ^^aU fruits so succeed best," &c. But as regards apples and pears, particularly the former, this is affirmed by many ; thus, in a report which appeared some years since in the Essex Agiicultu- ral Transactions, upon the apple, the Avriter re- commends the cultivation of those varieties which are indigenous, or have been first grown upon our soils, having for many years observed, that the best apples in our markets were generally those sorts which were first produced in New England. Henry Ward Beecher, writing from the West a short time after, in corroboration of this, remarked that the best apples in the West were those vari- eties which originated in the "Great Valley." With us, the Hubbardston Nonsuch, Baldwin, Roxliury Russett, Mother, Porter, R. I. Greening, Minister, Danvers Winter Sweet and Hurlbut, are among our best fruits, while the Newton Pip- pin, Esopus Spitzenberg, Red Doctor, Pennock's Winter and Red Gilliflower, fruits which are first-rate when grown in their native habitats, are inferior when grown here. It has been said that the Porter and Baldwin are nowhere so good as in Massachusetts ; while the Newton Pip])in is best on Long Island, and the Spitzenberg in West- ern New York. Mr. Van Buren, of Georgia, says "I have in my orchard the Spitzenberg, Newton Pippin, Minister, Peck's Pleasant, Vandevere and the Swaar ; these northern varieties, although making a good growth, yet for twelve or fourteen years producing not more than a dozen, or half a dozen specimens to each tree, annually, while all our native varieties, bear good and abundant crops in from three to five years after transplanting." The same may be said of our imported kinds generally, with the exception of the Graven stein, of Germany, and the Ribstone Pippin, of England ; ^ 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 39 the former succeeding as well as many of our va- rieties, and the latter, if in a rich and moist soil. With regard to the pear, he says, "The history of pear culture docs not confirm this," adducing the Bartlctt as an exam])le. I admit that the Bart- lett pear tree will assimilate to itself materials for an abundant crop in almost all good soils ; in fact, I hear of its successful culture throughout the country, more so than in any variety of the apple, while "the St. Michael, St. Germaine, and some other varieties of the pear, cannot be grown here successfully. That the cultivation of this fruit "is yet in its infancy," as said by this editor, I admit, — hence it is impossilile to say, as yet, how much this idea of locality, as said of the ap])le, will ap- ply to the pear. ' J. M, IVES. Salem, November, 1859. For the New England Farmer. MISCELLAlSrEOUS OBSERVATION'S On Farmers and Farming-, and Changes of Custom since the Kevolutionary War. ^Iessrs. Editors : — My first lessons at farming were taken while with my father ;* he was the pro- prietor of three or four hundred acres of land. He emerged from the revolutionary war, like many othei- revolutionary officers, as destitute of money as the gambler who has lost his last dollar. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in the years 1774 and 1775 ; he was in the Concord fight, and held the commissions of major and colonel of the 7th regiment of the State forces during the whole war. He sold part of his farm, and finally had to take his pay in the paper currencj-, which had depreciated so much, that the purchaser boast- ed that one load of wood sold from the lot, dis- charged the whole debt for the land. After peace was declared, he began to apply himself to farm- ing operations like one awakened from a dreamy maze. His fences were poor, bushes and bram- bles were trespassing upon his tillage land, taxes high, a scarcity of money, and the gloom from the reaction -which took place consequent to the long continued war excitement, were obstacles which must be met without flinching, or all must be lost. The poverty of formers at that period was distress- ing ; men possessing good farms, who had been engaged in the war, were necessitated to neglect their farms for the want of help to do the labor. The owner of a good farm, and a worthy man, came to my father in distress for bread for his nu- merc^ds small children, and asked his advice what he should do, and said he was afraid they should all starve. These times were soon followed by Shays's in- surrection, caused by government oppression to force people to pay taxes and debts, who had noth- ing. I can distinctly remember that gloomy time. Those peo])le who were not able to make their own candles, collected pine knots and made splin- ters for illuminating their unpapered, unpainted, and almost unlighted rooms, which were the dark- er for the nightly fumigation of the burning torches. AVhat little clothing the country people wore consisted of cloth of home manufacture, produced from ai'ticles raised on the farm, or from cloth of home facture, bartered for foreign goods. If there was a man in town who wore broadcloth, * Jonathan Brown, Esq., of Tewksbury. he was a subject of genei'al remark, accused of extravagance, and an object of envy. The young ladies of the best families turned out to meeting with their home-spun linen gowns, and many of the young men with patches on the knees of their pants. I have known the mothers of blooming young ladies strap on to their horses' saddles cloth of their own manufacture, and ride fifteen or twen- ty miles to Charles' Ferry, and leave their horses at Charlestown, and pass over to Boston in a fer- ry boat Avith their merchandise within their arms, and then traffic it away for a little calico, or oth- er gewgaws to decorate their fascinating daughters. The period from the close of the revolutionary war to the commencement of the revolution in France, was a gloomy, distressing one to farmers, which "tried men's souls." The revolution and wars in France and the rest of Europe caused a sudden impulse in the business part of the com- munity in this country, which revived the despond- ing farmers. Every article of farm production took a sudden rise, and the demand was such, that from a kind of despairing lethargy, the farmers waked into new life, and in a few years paid their taxes and other debts, and began to buy land to enlarge their farms, which caused a rise that even- tually led to disastrous land speculations. The period from the French revolution to the British "orders in council," Bonaparte's paper blockade and the embargo, was a very prosperous one to farmers. Foreign goods began to be im- ported in abundance, people began to dress better, and a broadcloth coat was not of such singular oc- currence as to excite all kinds of feeling but good ones. The period from the embargo to the end of Mr. Madison's administration was anything but a pleasant one, especially for the inhabitants of our cities. The complaints of the people all along the sea-coast were really distressing. Tne ladies re- treated back to manufacturing their go-to-meeting plaid gowns from factorj--spun yarn, and other branches of economy were substituted, in contri- tion for former extravagance. The period from the treaty of Ghent to the pres- ent time, has been one big with astounding events. Steam navigation, the sudden mushroom growth of manufacturing cities and railroads, the inven- tion and improvement of all kinds of agricultural implements, will equal the periods of any age, or the improvements of any nation. But the extrava- gances, swindling operations and various other rascalities will defy the enormities of all Christen- dom, the heathen lands and the cheats of the whole world. 1 stated above, that my first lessons at farming were taken Avhile with my father, and of course in the last century. His home farm contained about 200 acres of undulating land, and not stones enough on the whole to make a rod of wall. He kept about tvt'enty head of horned cattle, two horse^, a flock of sheep, and more or less swine. Pie cov- i ered his barn-yard six or eight inches deep, with ! rich loam, and 'rye straw for the cattle to sleep np- : on during the summer, which he plowed occasion- f ally, to have it well mixed. In the month of No- : veinber, this compost Avas carted and s])read upon his runs, or SAvales, where he obtained the most i of his English hay. His Avinter manure Avas mostly I applied to his potatoes and hoi)s, and the residue I spread nnon his corn fields. This land Avas Avarm 40 NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. Jan and dry, and he saldom put dung in the hill for corn. He obtained the most of his grain from the natural strength of the soil. He planted his pota- toes on the damp land, and manured in the hill, and I have helped to dig potatoes there, that pro- duced a peck to the hill, Avhcre novv it will take twenty or thirty hills to fill a bushel. Thus my father went on, he growing richer, while his land was growing poorer, and in a few years he doubled his property, as v;e supposed, and bought other farms for the sons that remained at home. This is a specimen of farming of the last century. Many of our city friends, unaccustomed to coun- try life, form erroneous opinions of farmers and farming; they judge according to a]:)pearances, and, therefore, do not judge a righteous judgment. They judge the farmer l)y the cloth he wears, and tlie starch he does not wear, and conclude that farming has rather a degrading tendency. It is true that some clownish characters are engaged at farming, but not more in proportion to the num- ber than we shall find in all other professions and occupations, when we come to look under, per- haps, the better cloth that covers them. Farmers worthy of the name take the "pa]:)ers," and arc well posted up on the interesting affairs of Church and State. The farmer has the whole horizon for his office ; he is not confined by bricks and mor- tar to a narrow compass to the injury of his health and contraction of his mind. Farmers in country towns are generally the rulers of the towns ; they pay the most of the taxes to support the poor, to build school-houses and to pay teachers for in- structing their own children, and the children of those who do little else than help, vote away the farmers' money for their own benefit. The most of this piece was v.-ritten on the day that cora])leted my eighty years of experience in this world of sin and sulTering, good and evil, hope and despair. If you find any soft spots in it, ex- ercise that charity which the aged naturally claim. Silas Brown. North Wilminffton, Mans., Nov. 11, 1859. IIemakks. — An exceedingly interesting letter, and a wonderful p3rformance for that age. NEW PTJBLICATIOMTS. Dado, ou the Natnrtt anrl Treatvnout of the Diseases of Cattle, with Descriptions and Illustrations of the vari- ous Orivaiis and Functions of the Animal Economy. Containing, also, Useful and Praetical hiformation on Breeding-, ventilation, and Diet. By (Joorge II. Dadd, Veterinary Surgeon. Boston: John P. .lewett & Co. 33r. Dadd thinks the common inquiry among farmers has heretofore been, "Hoav shall we pro- tect om- property [stock] against the ravages of diseases ?" But that the mors important question is, "HoAv shall disease be prevented ?" The lat- ter is, certainly, the view for us all to take. A proper care of stock will prevent most diseases ; asd even v>dien it has invaded the system, nature, left to herself, will ordinarily do more to effect a cure than all the nostrums of the shops. Dixon expresses it ])otter than wc have ; he says — "Na- ture is ever busy, by the silent operation of her own forces, in curing disease ; her medicines are air, food, water and rest." That is, food that tlie natural appetite desires, and rest. Warmth and repose, with the recuperative action which the an- imal inherently possesses, Avill usually bring health, unless the system has been grossly abused. This work treats of the following subjects: Dis- eas&s of the Organs of Respiration ; and of the Di- gestive Organs ; on the Principle of Breeding ; Parturition, or Labor- T»iseases of the Generative and Urinary Organs ; the Heart — its Functions and Diseases ; Diseases of the Eye and its Mem- branes ; Ruptures ; Diseases of the Bones ; Rheu- matism, Acute and Chronic ; Diseases of the Liver, Brain and Skin, &:c. These topics are treated, generally, in an understandable manner, though we think if there were less of the technicalities of the profession, the book would be more valuable. The Doctor's mode of treatment is moderate and consistent, compared with some of the "fire and brimstone" treatises that have preceded it. The book is finely printed, thus showing a proper re- gard for human ej'es as well as the health of stock, and ought to be owned by every person keeping a dozen head of cattle. IlXrSECT LIFE 113" CBYLOU". Owing to the combination of heat, moisture, and vegetation, the mpiads of insects in Ceylon form one of the characteristic features of the is- land. In the solitude of the forests, there is a per- petual music fr®m their soothing and melodious hum, which frequently swells to a startling sound as the cicada trills his sonorous drum on the sun- ny bark ef some tall tree. At morning, the dew hangs in diamond drops on the threads and gos- samer which the spiders suspend across every pathway ; and above the pools, dragon-flies, of more than metallic lustre, flash in the early sun- beams. The eai'th teems with countless ants, which emerge from beneath its surface, or make their devious highways t® ascend to their nests in the branches. Lustrous beetles, with their golden ely- tra, bask on the leaves, whilst minuter species dash through the air in circles, which the ear can follow by the booming of their tiny wings. But- terflies of large size and gorgeous coloring, flutter over the endless expanse of flowers ; and frequent- ly the extraordinary sight presents itself of flights of those delicate creatures, generally of a white or pale hue, apparently miles in breadth, and of such jirodigious extension as to occupy hours, and even days, uninterruptedly, in their passage — whence coming, no one knows ; whither going, no one can tell. As day declines, the moths issue from their retreats, the crickets add their shrill voices to swell the din ; and when darkness descends, the eye is charmed with the millions of emerald lamps lighted up by the fire-flies amidst the surrounding gloom. — TaincmVs Ceylon. Planting Peach Trees. — A correspondent of the Ohio Vcdley Farmer says, peach trees should be set rather deep, because "the peach cannot, like the pear, apple or quince, put out new roots above the old Mies." 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 41 THE MINERAL MANURE THEORY. ARON LlEBiG some- what astonished the agricultural world, several years since, by the enunciation of his theories in regard to mineral manures. By some, a few only, thinking and inquir- ing minds, these were received not merely with a cordial appro- bation, but with ma- ny expressions of de- light. The Baron's name soon became familiar in all agri- cultural circles, and his theories were adopted by many as the wonderful elixir that, like the touch of Midas, was to turn all baser things into gold ! They saw, prospectively, waving fields, golden sheaves, and bursting granaries, with low- ing herds and bleating sheep upon a thousand hills, in the little snuff-box full of mineral matters that were to be sprinkled upon the land ! And as discussions and illustrations, which they fancied were founded upon a substantial basis, increased the value of these minerals in their minds, the true foundation of all success in husbandry — the permanent manure heaps of the farm — depreciated in importance, and thus a vital bloAV was struck to the cause of sound progress and success. Had it not been for the influence of another element, more conservative and scrutinizing, an error of grave character might have been fallen into ; one that would have arrested the progress of agricul- ture, rather than have advanced it. This other class, distrustfuFand cautious, doubt- ing every thing that bore an impress of ihe "pro- fession" or the "shop," received these theories with many discounts, and they inquired every where, "What manner of doctrine is th;>5, that this man teacheth ?" They did not believe that bulk in manure was unimportant, though the quality were concentrated in the highest drgrer>, and the idea was too preposterous for consideration, that potash, lime, and magnesia, with otlier matters valuable or indispensable to plants, were a part of the rucks Avhich they so cordially hated. They had not inquired as to what materials soils are com- posed of, or how much of these minerals are con- stantly added to the soil by the abrasion or disin- tegration of the rocks, or how little difficulty there would be in determining the character of any soil, had we only to consider the constitution of the rock from Avhich it was originally derived. They had not looked upon this theory in its incipieat stages, seen it grow up step by step, as its jjrojec- tor had done, but looked upon it for the first time as full grown, and launched upon the world as a new and unattested doctrine. Thus the zealots and the doubters contested every advanced point with each other, while more practical and discriminating men searched for, and found the Truth, between the extremes, and made it subserve the good cause. So the Baron's theo- ries, modified by himself and others, have awakened a new interest and inquirj^ into the subject of cliemistnj as connected loitli agriculture, from which will certainly flow more ample rewards for labor upon the soil than have heretofore been gained. All men now regard chemistry in the cause of ag- riculture not only with complacency, but with en- tu'e confidence that it is an ally in the great work indispensable to the highest success. If there was an error in Liebig's theory, it was in giving it a too sweeping character, whereby common persons got the idea that mineral manures would more than supply the deficiency of vegeta- ble and animal combined, and that a profitable succession of crops could be obtained by the for- mer alone. Whoever adopted this as a rule, soon found his error in the depreciated products of his fields. They must go together, — and without this combination, it is improbable that remunerating crops can for any length of time be harvested from the same soil. In his recent "Letters on Modern Agriculture," Liebig touches the point upon which rests all our success in farming. With each crop, each plant, or portion of a plant, he says, taken away from a field, the soil loses a portion of the conditions of its fertility ; that is, it loses the power of again producing this crop, plant, or portion of a plant, after the expiration of a number of years of culti- vation. A thousand grains of corn require from the soil a thousand times as much phosphoric acid as one grain ; and a thousand strav/s a thousand times as much silicic acid as one straw ; if, there- fore, there is a deficiency of a thousandth part of the phosphoric or silicic acid in the soil, then the thousandth grain and straw will not be formed. A single straw removed from a corn-field, makes this field bear one corn straw less. This must be so — and this single fact, ever present with the cul- tivator, should lead him to such practices as would always recuperate, rather than depreciate his soils; so that, at the end of a hundred years of cultiva- tion, the soil is better able to produce a paying crop than it was the first year it was taken in hand. Chemists inform us that iron floats in the blood that courses through our bodies, that p/^os/j/ionc acid is a constituent of the brain and of the nerves, that alkaline pJiosphaies and alkaline earths exkt 42 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. in the flesh of all animals, and that a warm blood- ed animal without a large proportion of the phos- phate of lime Avrapt up in his skin, would be in- conceivable to us. We have been led to these remarks by running over Liebig's '^Letters on Modern Agriculture,'" recently published, and will close them for the present with a single idea more from the Baron's luminous mind, showing the importance of miner- al matters to animals as well as plants. Were it possible, he says, for a plant to grow, flower, and bear seed without the co-operation of mineral matters, it would be utterly valueless to man and animals. A dog will die of hunger in the presence of a dish full of raw or boiled white and yolk of eggs, in which is wanting one of the sub- stances most important for the formation of blood. The first trial teaches him that such food is as in- eflicient as a stone for the purposes of nutrition. To those who find pleasure in this class of in- vestigation, we earnestly commend the perusal of this book. For the New Eyigland Farmer. PRODUCT OF AN ACRE. Your article in the paper of ])ecember 3d, headed "Three acres of land to support a small family," reminded me of some statements which I had laid aside for your paper, and which will show that a little land, well cultivated, may be made to go some ways in the support of a small family. The experiment was made by Hiram Damon, of this place, inider rather unfavorable chcumstan- ces, as will be seen. He cultivated, this last summer, about one acre of land, but in three several lots, some of it two miles from his house. From this one acre he raised the following vegetables, (the prices annex- ed are such as he obtained in the village here :) Potatoes, 35 bushels $10,00 Corn, 5 busliels 5,00 Peas, 5 bushels 10,00 Carrots, 10 bushels 5,00 Beets, 4 bushels 4,00 Turnips, 20 bushels 10,00 Onions, 1 bushel 1,00 Squashes, 50 iu number 12,00 Pumpkins, 20 in number 2,00 Melons 5,00 Wheat, ~ bushels, (very nice,) 14,00 $84,00 The above quantity he sold, besides using from this acre all the vegetables Avhich he needed for a family of six persons. Aside from the mere market value of his pro- ducts, he has taken great pains to select and pre- serve his seeds, so that were there sufficient de- mand for tht'se, he could realize, at medium prices, fifty dollars more. He has twenty varieties of potatoes, raised by himself, this year, being the fourth from the ball. Some of these were planted the first of June, are remarkable for size, very mealy and finely flavored. He has also a variety of squashes, raised hither- to only by himself, and which, in grain and flavor, surpass the famous Hubbard. He has eighteen varieties of peas, and as many of turnips ; his object in having such a variety, is to select the choicest seeds. We had a severe and prolonged ch'ought this summer, which injured our crops, and made our gardens less profitable than usual. But I thouglit a little statement of his garden- ing, with many difficulties to contend against, might be of some of some value. A. E. p. bpringjield, Vt. Remarks. — Our friend, "A clergy-man in ill health," with whom we strongly sympathize, will find encouragement in the details given above. In our recent remarks upon the note of the clergy- man, there was a material point to which we did not allude — that of health. If he should enter up- on his tlii'ee acres, and labor judiciously, he would probably find himself a vigorous man again in three years, able to resume his profession, and wield the sword of the Spirit with renewed power and effect. Let us see:— Mr. Damon sold $84,00 Avorth from one acre — that acre divided into three parts, and a portion of it two miles from his house ! Then, at medium prices, he had $50,00 worth of seeds $50,00 For other products 84,00 Clergyman's 3 acres $402,00 The prospect really brightens ; the clergyman's land is rich, and lies all together, so that taking the $402, with all the garden stuff added that the family would requu-e, together with an occasional marriage fee, and the preaching of a sermon prompt- ed by the texts in the garden, we think, after all, he could do very well. And how delightful the oc- cupation, with an interesting wife interested in the employment, and cheering it with her pres- ence, her suggestions, and perhaps her fingers among the flowers ! We have always supposed there were other Edens than that on the ancient river, and shall anxiously await a call to sec this new one, under the supervision of "A clergyman in ill health." Grape-growing in Northern Oino. — Much has been said of the vineyards in the vicinity of Cincinnati. By a letter published in the Cleve- land Farmer, we learn that there are one hundred and eighty acres planted with grapes on a small island in Lake Erie, knoAvn as Cunningham's or Kelley's Island, some twelve miles north of San- dusky. The business has been growing up, grad- ually, since 185L Eight vineyards were also com- menced, this spring, on Fut-in-Bay Island, and several on the Peninsula. Bronze Turkeys. — The gentleman who gave an account recently of these turkeys, in the Farm- er, resides in West Thompson, Conn. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 43 For the Xew Enrjland Farmer. A PLAIN QUESTION" IN AKITHMETIC. Mr. Editor : — Suppose a farmer buys a cow- on the first day of April, weighing 1000 pounds, and six* years old, for fifty dollars. On the next day after the purchase she dro])s a calf, which takes all the milk she gives during this month, but one quart, per day, say twenty-five quarts, which is sold for two cents per quart. During this month she consumes two per cent, on her weight of English haj', which is worth fifteen dol- lars per ton, and two quarts of Indian meal per day, at one dollar ]ier bushel. On the first day of May, her calf is sold for six dollars. During this month, May, she gives nine quarts of milk per day, which is sold for two cents per quart, and con- sumes hay and meal same as last month. On the first day of June, she is turned to pasture, which is worth eight cents per day, and increases her milk to ten quarts per day, which is sold same as last month. On the next month, July, the same facts exist as last month, except she falls off" in her milk one quart per day. August she falls off" two quarts of milk per day from last month, July, and consumes twenty-five pounds of corn fodder daily at five dol- lars per ton, in addition to her pasturage. The next month, September, her corn fodder is in- creased to fifty pounds daily, and her milk is re- duced to six quarts each day ; her pasturage is also reduced half. ])uring October she runs in fall feed, or mowing fields, has nothing else, and her milk is reduced to four quarts per day, which is sold for four cents per quart. The cost of feed this month, October, the same as pasturage, eight cents per day. In November she still runs in the field, but is put up nights and fed with ten pounds of good hay and two quarts fine feed, at eighty cents per bushel, each day. Her pasturage is re- duced to four cents daily this month, November, milk selling for the same as last month and re- duced to three quarts daily. From the first of December to the first of April, she is fed wholly at the barn, and consumes ten pounds of good hay, one peck roots, at twenty cents per bushel, and twenty pounds of meadow hay, or corn fodder, at five dollars per ton, daily. In this month, Decem- ber she gives two quarts milk per day, and in Jan- uary, one quart, and dries up entirely the first of February. All her milk from the first of October has been sold, for four cents per quart. This, in my judgment, is a fair sam])le of milk laising in this vicinity. Now I should like to have your correspondents in diff'erent milk-raising dis- tricts reckon this up, and let us know whether the farmer has made or lost by the operation, and how much. Also, how this corresponds with the bus- iness in their locality. Evidently, there are some minor considerations which I have purposely left out of the account, in order to see how people reckon in this im])ortant branch of human indus- try. Although milk, to some extent, is one of the necessaries of life, yet, if it is sold below its cost, the evil that is done to the community is far greater than the good. At some future time I intend to answer this, (with your permission, Mr. Editor,) myself. In the meantime I should like to hear from some of your correspondents on the subject. Perhaps I ought to state here that I have avoided in this calculation the fractions of a cent which often go into the prices of this article, but they will not vary the account much ; at any rate, will not make it any more favorable to the raiser of milk in this section than I have given it. For instance, one farmer told me that he sold his milk through the first or spring and summer sea- son for two and an eighth cents per quart, and had contracted this fall and winter, at three and a fourth cents. However, I prefer to have the cal- culation made as I have reckoned it ; holding that it is not very material whether Ave make a very large or a smaller loss in the business, as it in the end has about the same effect, whether we dwindle along a Avhole lifetime to waste our effects or find the bottom of the hill at an earlier period. Many ])eople seem to apprehend, that it is of but a little consequence Avhether they make a loss in the sale of their products or not, inasmuch as they can go ahead and appear to be doing some- thing ; as one man remarked, "somebody Avill get the benefit of it." But let me say to my friend, and all who take this view of the matter, that you forget about those poor neighbors and their fami- lies who have been less fortunate than you, and Avho depend on their own efforts for a livelihood, but cannot go into this branch of human industry, except at a loss, on account of the ruinous compe- tition, which only can be prosecuted by those who have an income equal to this drain u]ion their re- sources. T. J. PlNKIIAM. Chelmsford, Mass., Nov., 1859. Re^l^rks. — Our correspondent is determined to probe this business of farming, as a business on which loss and gain is concerned, to the quick. He is doing the farmers a good service, and is Avel- come to our columns. For the Aciw England Farmer. MR. BARBER'S POTATOES. Mr. Broavx : — Your correspondent, ]\Ir. Bar- ber, of Warwick, Avishes some explanation vliy his "potato vines" suddenly "turned black, in a a day or two after the thunder shoAver the 31st of August ?" There Avas a pre-disposing cause, u] ^n AA'hich the rain and sudden change of atmospliLra acted. Mr. Barber did not find corn, tomatoes, beans and other vegetables and crops "turning black" in "a day or tAvo" after the "cold" rain. Why not ? Because there Avere not at the roots of these various crops, enemies in myriad numbers, subsisting on the sa]), the same as are found on the roots and loAver joints of the potato plant. If ]\Ir. Barber had made a thorough and carefid micro- scopic examination of his seed potatoes before or after planted, he Avould have found perforations, small Avarts and slimy looking brown spots on the surface, on Avhich are hibernated eggs of insects. After the potatoes are planted the same genial tem- perature Avhich Avarras the earth and sprouts the potato, soon starts to life, from their nidus, m\Ti- ads of minute larva insects. For many Aveeks, these enemies suck or pump out the sap, thus en- feebling the plant. It is a consumption, acting upon, and spreading from the very vital part to the stalks and to the tuliers. . This derangement and poison may be compared to consumption acting upon the vital part of the human system. The 44 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. sudden changes of weather caused by thunder and •old rains, simultaneously produced action, from 'leat to cold and subsequently cold to heat foUow- ng, and ])roduced the same sudden change and death-like appearance in the pre-disposed enfeebled plants, that over-exertion, sudden changes ot weath- er and unusual exposure produced vi])on the con- sumptive patient. He dro])s away, dies suddenly, being the efl'ect, mainly, of the pre-disposed cause. And is not the change so simultaneously noticed in the potato plant analogous ? Every effect residts from a definite cause, and I have explained to Mr. Barber what he will more fully understand when he makes a careful research with the microscope in- to the botanical condition and entomological con- nection Avhich are developed and clearly revealed in the potato plant, from the attentive study of these three sciences combined. The former lays before us in clear vision the wonders of the two latter. Dec. 6, 1859. Tiu: F.\kmeu Boy. DOSING ANIMALS. The practice of daily or weekly dosing and drugging domestic animals is pregnant with good or evil results. Hence, it is an important subject — one that should interest every one who keeps only a cow or a pig. So, too, is proper treatment, in health and in sickness, important. Every one who is at all conversant with the cur- rent literature of the day, often — very often — sees, "going the rounds," such recipes as this : "Salt every day, and salt, ashes and sulphur once or twice a week ; salt, ashes, and hen manure once or twice a week," &c., &c., varied somewhat in their proportions, and all for the benefit of an- imals that are already in the enjoyment of good health, and have been for a long or short time, and are likely to continue so, for aught that is known. Now, in short, I am opposed to ail such routine courses. This feet'lng salt, ashes, sulphur or charcoal to animals as much as they can be in- duced to eat of them, or giving condition powders, corrosive sublimate, or any of the et cotcras daily, weekly or monthly, is, I believe, almost always sooner or later injurious, in each and in every in- stance, where the patient or patients are in a good healthy condition. As an illustration, I will give one out of many, that might be adduced if it were at all necessary. A friend — a physician — in commencing busi- ness, bought a fine roadster, and naturally — and rightly, too — wishing to keep him sound, and looking sleek as he then did, M'as led to road some irjjon the proper care and treatment of the horse. Reading, I think he told me, in "Youatt on the Horse," the beautiful effects of corrosive subli- mate, he commenced giving it, as directed, to him, and there was a gloss that "was a gloss" easily to be seen on that doomed horse, for a while. But stop, or rather v/atch him for a v.hile ! Before a year he coughed. The corrosive sub- limate was changed for cough medicine, condition powders, carrots, a]i]>les, potatoes, &c., but with his favorite drug in the interim ; yet still he would cough just when he wished to, and that was quite often, while that hitherto beautiful coat began to fade, and look sickly. • About this time, he rode with me a few miles with my little nag. He wished to know what I gave her to keep her in such sound health, and fine condition. I told him that she had no medi- cine of any kind, and never had, except once when she had a severe attack of the "horseail," before one year old, ^nd even this she almost ^entirely refused. He continued to change his tactics, and dose, dose away for some six months longer, with but little improvement, and then went into anoth- er county, and exchanged him for a fresh one. But whether he has learned, in this his first voyage, to let well enough alone, I know not, because he is now in Aroostook county. Finally, I have seen somewhere, with pleasure, that Dr. G. H. Dadd, has raised a warning voice against this contiimal dosing, which is extolled to be so necessary and valuable hy some. Why should we give man or beast a ])oisonous drug Avhen in health, to keep him in health P Does not the undue action of the system to rid itself of this deadly foe, at once produce a deteriorated or loAvered condition of the original healthy system ? Is there not, then, an injury inflicted that we are not able accurately to estimate, or repair entirely, notwithstanding it is often said, when a sick man has seemingly recovered, "he is good as new," and so of the horse or ox ? — O. W. True, in American Stock Journal. LIVE BEAVELY". The world ia half darkoned with croakers WIiosc burdens are weig^hing them down ; Tliey croak of their stars and ill-usage, And grope in the ditch for a crown. Why talk to the wind of thy fortune, Or clutch at distinction and gold ? If thou canst not reach high ou the ladder, Thou canst steady its base by thy hold. For the flower thou hidst in the corner "Will as faultlessly finisli its bloom, Will reach for a sparkle of sunshine. That clouds have not chanced to consume. And wouldst thou be less than a flower — AVith thought, and a brain, and a hand.'' Wilt wait for the dribbles of fortune, When there's something that these may command.' There is food to be won from the furrow, And forests that wait to be hewn, There is marble untouched by the chisel ! Days that break not on the forehead of June. Will you let the plow rnst in the furrow — Unbuilded a house or a hall ? Kor bid the stones wake from their silence, And fret as if fretting were all ? Go, learn of the blossoms and ant-hill ; There's something tliy labor must give, Like the beacon that pierces the tempest, Str'.ice the clod from thy footing, and live. Live — not trail with thy face in tlie dross heap. In the track of the brainless and proud, Lift tlio cerements away from thy manhood. Thou ai-t robbing the dead of a shroud. There are words and pens to be wielded, There are thoughts that must die if unsaid ; Wouldst thou saunter and pine amid roses, Or sepulchre dreams that are dead ? No, drag the hope to the pyre, Dreams dead from the ashes will rise ; Look not down ou earth for its shadow. There is sunlight for thee in the skies. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 45 THE TREES OF NORTH AMERICA. The officers of the Smithsonian Institute, some time ago, engaged the services of Dr. J. G. Coop- er, to prepare an essay upon the Sylva of the North American Continent. The result of his la- bors has been published in pamphlet form by the Institute, and the following facts are taken from the document : There are no less than one hundred and thirty- four different species of trees on the continent of North America, including a vast variety from the rich tropical sylvan products of the Mexican dis- tricts, to the stunted pines that pass their unseen sturdy lives among the snows of Labrador. The tallest trees are found in California, where is the giant redwood — Sequoia gigantea ofTorrey, or the WelUngtonia gigantea oi' Hooker — which attains the prodigious height of four hundred and ilfty feet from the ground, about half as high again as Trinity church steeple. The yellow fir, or Abies grandis, which grows in Oregon, is also a very re- spectable tree, often reaching the height of two hundred and fifty feet. In Massachusetts they have the whitewood poplar, of one hundred and forty feet in height, and the same State also possesses a Zanthoxyliun Americaaum, which is more famili- arly known as the tooth-ache tree. In New Jersey there may be found a species of white beech one hundred and twenty feet high. After these it is quite a contrast to descend to a prickly pear tree of Mexico, which, though rejoicing in the gorge- ous title of Opuntia Athanthocarpa, is but six feet high. The Primus Subcordia, a kind of plum tree, is another sylvan dwarf, and the Juniper its Pacli- ypoloea is also an arboreous pigmy, neither of those Mexican trees being over ten feet in height. The Gulf of Mexico has an important effect up- on the forest growth in the United States. It is from the gulf that many rain storms proceed, and they are blown easterly by westerly winds, until they fall generally before reaching the Ohio. Thus, as they do not reach the Illinois region, that dis- trict is deprived of its fair share of rain. Without moisture, there can be no trees, and that is the reason that Illinois and Michigan abound in tree- less prairies that ai-e not to be found in places where the rain storms from the gulf fall. In Tex- as, where these gulf storms do not travel, the mois- ture and consequent vegetation and sylva grow less and less as we proceed westward, until we come into the great deserts that exist in the Da- cotah regions. For the New England Farmer. COMMON SENSE. I have often heard the observation that common sense is the best of all sense. I was reminded of this on reading the remarks of your HoUis correspondent, "On the profits of farming." Like views have often occurred to me, on looking about among the farmers whom I have known for the last fifty years. Generally speaking, those who have been industrious, limiting their attentions to their own business, letting alone all manner of speculation, have succeeded well in the world. The great secret of success is, to have something as useful to be done, at all times, in winter, as well in the other seasons of the year. Never hire oth- ers to do what can be well enough done by your- self. Every farmer needs a workshop, well supplied with tools. All his boys should be instructed in the use of them. He should know how to mend his own carts, plows and carriages, and do this at times when he cannot advantageously work in the field. He should have "a place for everything, and everything in its place." This motto, I re- member to have seen conspicuously posted about the buildings of one of the best conducted farms I ever saw. This was well, thus to remind all of their rule of action, if it could not otherwise be impressed on their memory ; it would seem better to make it a part, of tlieu' nature. "■As to pulling weeds, you had better let them alone, in a dry time ;" I do not accord entirely with this rule laid down by friend Emerson. I would sooner say, let there be no weeds to be pulled ; or, if there be any, let them be removed at earliest opportunity, in the most careful man- ner. Weeds, like vices, even the very common vice of smoking tobacco, pollute all around. They can not be too soon eradicated. P. December 3, 1859. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. BUTTER IN WINTER. I would like to inquire through the Farmer the mode of making butter in cold weather. I have not made butter since the middle of last month — the last that I churned I kept the dasher going 14 hours, and had to give it up. In warm weather it comes in from 5 to 15 minutes. I have put the churn in hot and cold Avater, alternately, and have tried it in a Avarm room and cold room, but all to no purpose. The cream, after churning so long, is so rancid that it cannot be used for any pur- pose whatever. My cows are fed on the best of hay, have potatoes once a day, and occasionally a few ears of corn. If you or any of your corres- pondents can inform me how to make the butter come, you Avill confer a favor not only on me, but on many of my neighbors. E. Leonard. New Bedford, 11 mo., 21th, 1859. PtEMARKS. — Butter was made in our family through the whole of last winter from the milk which five or six cows gave. The milk and cream stood in a cellar where the temperature was uni- formly at about 62° ; and when the cream was re- moved in order to churn it, it was kept at as near 62° as possible. Ten to fifteen minutes would bring the butter, which sold in market for thirty cents a pound. Cream should not be kept more than three days, we think, and it seems to us that its temperature should be nearly uniform all the time it is being gathered. We hope those who arc successful will help brother Leonard out of his difficulty. THE LAWTON BLACKBERRY. Your subscriber from New Bedford is no doiibt correct in his belief that the Lawton BlackberrA can be successfully cultivated in Massachusetts. 1 have this last season, within three miles of your place in Concord, from three-fourths of an acre, 46 NEW ENGI>AND FARMER. Jan. gathered eighty bushels ; my crop avouIcI have amounted to fully Uvo hundred bushels, had not one acre of plants been winter-killed ; they are more liable to be killed by a very severe winter, like the last two, than the native vine. In any part of Massachusetts where the native blackberry flourishes, upon land that will grow seventy-live bushels of corn to the acre, one hundred bushels of I^awtons will be no more than an average crop. With some experience in the cultivation and sale of the berries, were I to set two acres, one would be Lawton and the other Dorchester. Among the vines which I set three years ago, were one hundred Xewman's Thorn- less, and, so far as I have proved them, they are utterly worthless. The Dorchester, unless the Lawton is fully ripened, is much the best berry, but for a table berry and for cooking purposes, when fully ma- tured, the Lawton has no su])erior. s. H. I. Lincoln, Mass., Nov., ISod. Remarks. — We are glad to learn that the Law- ton succeeds so near us, and should be glad to know whether any of S. H. L's ripened so that those who only eat sweet fruit would have rel- ished them ? We have not, nor have our neigh- bors, been able to accomplish this. LAND PLANTED WITH POTATOES THAT ILVD BEEN PASTURED WITH HOGS. Have any of your readers planted land v/ith po- tatoes which had been pastured with hogs the pre- vious season ? What was the result ? I have about two acres upon which a large number of hogs have run this summer, and I should like to know what crop I can raise next year to the best advantage (corn excepted, it being too much shad- ed by trees for that crop.) Any reply to the above will be very thankfully received by a Worcester, Nov., 1859. Young Farmer. TOOLS FOR draining — TURNIPS AND POTATOES FOR CATTLE, MIXED WITH WHEAT AND CUT STRAW. I have been draining this fall, and have con- cluded there should be some easier wa}' to make a ditch, than with a shovel and spade, and my ob- 'ect now is, to inquire if there is an implement in use that will, with horse or steam power, make and clean a ditch, two and a half feet deep, by once passing over the ground ? A few winters ago, I fed four oxen and four cows on wheat and oat strav,-, from December to April ; at the same time I gave the oxen one bush- el of English turnips, divided among the four, and one bushel of potatoes to the four cows. They all went through the winter as well as I ever had any on good ha)'. The oxen Avent through on the tur- nips as well as the cows did on the potatoes, and I consider the turnips and potatoes as good as can be provided for winter feed — say one bushel to eight young cattle each day. Horace Holliston. North Montpelier, Vt., 1859. Remarks. — Prof. Mapes, Editor of the Work- ing Farmer, N. Y., invented and constructed a ditching machine several years since, and Mr. J. J. Thomas, one of the editors of the Country Oen- tleman, also devised and constructed one, but we have not seen either of them in operation. We learn that there is a new machine about to be in- troduced for this purpose which will be cheap and effective, and that a machine for making pipe for draining purposes, will soon be forthcoming. The pipe-making machine, we understand, will be so compact and portable as to be easily removed from farm to farm where clay is found, while at the same time the price will be so moderate as L^ make it an object for a person having ten to twen- ty acres to drain to purchase one. CANADA PEAS — PIN WORMS. Messrs. Editors : — Will you allow me to irv- quire through the Farmer the value of Canada peas, as compared v/ith corn, for feetl for cattiJe, horses and swine ? Would they do well ground and fed with cut hay or straw ? I wish to say, for the benefit of all interested, that Lidia wheat is the best remedy for pin worms in horses that I have ever tried. Adin Bugbee. Snow's Store, Vt., Nov. 25, 1859. For the Xew Enf/land Farmer. TRAWSACTIOlSrS OF THE MIDDLESEX AG- BICULTUSAL SOCIETY For the Year 1850. By the kindness of an unknown hand, am I fa- vored with this neatly ])rinted pamphlet of 40 pa- ges. It is indeed "mvlbnn in j>a'.vo." What is wanting in extended detail of culture, such as is found in many other society publications, is made up by condensed general views of culture, and keenness of wit. I rejoice to find a voice from the pulpit in aid of the farmer. I have long been of the opinion, that if our clergymen would appro- j)riatc one-half the time now wasted on antique theology, in familiarizing themselves with the cul- ture of the garden and the field, and teaching their supporters hov/ this can be most advantageously done, they would do a good service in their day and generation. I was particularly pleased with the remarks on education in our schools, contained in this pam- ])hlet. I hope the intelligent President of this So- ciety will endeavor to have this preaching devel- oped in practice. I know of no one who can do more or better than he, if he should undertake it. December, 1859. Essex. Sea Weed for Wadding. — The Paris papers speak of a new industry that has arisen in France from the exigencies of the times, and one which is destined to supply one of the necessities of that rage for destruction which is becoming so appa- rent. Government has ordered the systematic gathering of the sea weed which is washed on the rocks of the coasts of Normandy and Brittany to serve as wadding for artillery — it being found to answer the purpose admirably — keeping the iron cool, and not liable to ignition — like the cotton wad hitherto in use. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 47 For the New England Farmer. KURAL SCENES, OCCUPATIONS AND PLEASURES. Mr. Editor : — I am well a-\varo, that I cannot do justice to this interesting subject in the brief space allowed in the crowded columns of a news- paper ; yet, without taking up too much of your valuable room, I would like to ofl'er a few remarks upon this subject for the consideration of those who are anxious to leave their paternal homes in the country for a residence in the city. It is freely admitted, at the outset, that city life has sbme advantages which country life has not. These need not be particularly pointed out, as they will readily occur to every one. Yet, after all, city life runs quick, is giddy, intoxicated, high-minded, and under contiiuial excitement. ]\Iuch is con- densed into little time and space. Men live, as it were, under a high-pressure system. The candle of life is kept in a continual blaze ; and it frequent- ly goes out at a very early period. But country life, on the other hand, has its own ])eculiar advantages, and its scenes, its occupa- tions, and its pleasures, are favorable to health and reflection, to long life and true enjoyment. It is no part of my present object to set up city and country as rivals ; they are both, perhaps, neces- sary to make human existence pleasurable. This is almost self-evident. Whence come the motives to change from city to country, and from country to city, among those whose circumstances or oc- cupations do not bind them to one locality ? Yet, I would ask all those who are so anxious to leave the paternal roof in the country for some garret- loft in the city, to tell me, how they account for that rush of cooped-up men and women — mechan- ics, artisans and merchants — to the green fields of the country, to the mountains, hills and valleys, and wild woodland scenes, which invariably takes place when a holiday is proclaimed ? It is instinct fleeing to the balmy breath and soothing influen- ces of country scenes, to revive the powers that have been impaired, and heal the bruises that have been inflicted by the artificial mode of city life. The scenes, occupations and pleasures of rural life are too well known to need a particular de- scription. It is suflScient to say, they are the scenes of every day life, and of every day pleas- ures ; such as fill the mind with joy and gladness, and lift the soul to God. They are the scenes, oc- cupations and pleasures which all parts of the country present, and from which thousands of our city friends yearly drink in delicious, untainted pleasure. For they leave the scenes of their busi- ness and of profit behind them, to ramble where the breezes blow, and amid the bracing mountain air, where many an invalid has picked u]) health, and received, as it were, a new lease of life. But, as they do not engage in the occu])ations of coun- tiy life, they cannot enjoy all its pleasures. There is a real pleasure in rural occupations and pursuits, which city life, with its competitions, anxieties and continual excitements, cannot yield. There is a real satisfaction of mind in beholding the fruits and productions of one's own industry and labor, and in Avitnessing the blessings and bounties of Divine Providence. The scenes, occupations and pleasures of rural life, are all alike healthful to the body, and invigorating to the mind, and conducive to human happiness. The country may be said to be one great book, which is open to the eye of every one Avho can read and understand it. It has a language of its own, peculiar to itself. There are passages in it of exquisite beauty and unjiSrallelcd grandeur. Wo read its beautiful passages when we gaze iipon the fair landscape, reposing under the sunny sky of a summer day ; when Ave listen to the sighing breeze among the leaves of the forest ; Avhen we hear the warbling of the songsters of the grove, making the air vocal with their music ; Avhen Ave listen to the gentle murmurings of the running stream, as its limpid avuvcs ripple over their pelibled banks, the SAveetest of all nature's music. The scanning of such passages imparts a pleasure to every thoughtful mind. And yet many, very many, in their hot haste to become rich, and anxiety to cut a figure in the Avorld, are Avilling to relinquish all these pleasant and quiet and healthful scenes and employments for the busy mart of trade and traf- fic ; to be covered all over Avith the dust, and to be surrounded by the hubbub, the pcri)lexities and the temptations of city life ! And all this for the sake of acquiring riches and honorable distinction in the Avorld, Avhich nineteen-tAventieths fail of ob- taining. John Goldsbuey, Warwick, Mass., 1859. CONDENSED MILK. The Hartford, Ct., Homestead, gives a detailed description of a "milk-factory," which a Mr. Bor- den, has put in operrtion "in one of the wildest gorges of the Litchfield hills." "The long and short of the whole process is, that fresh milk is received night and morning, and condensed to one-fourth its original bulk by evap- oration, and in this shape, that is, looking like very thick cream, it is sent to market, requiring only to be diluted Avith as much Avater as has been removed from it, to be as perfect and excellent milk as it was at first, and in fact, a little better, as Ave Avill explain : The cost in market is 2.5 cents per quart, or 6j cents for a half ])int, Avhich by the addition of three half pints of Avater Avill make a quart of milk decidedly better, more healthy, and less Avatered than the milk bought of milkmen in our cities ; and capable, after being diluted prop- erly, of ansAvering all the piu-poses of the best miik. The cream Avill rise as usual, and butter may be made, and the milk Avill shoAv itself pos- sessed of all the properties of fresh milk." The Avriter regards it as a most valuable discov- ery,— a saving of three-fourths of the expense of transportation is made, and the milk thus prepared remains sAveet so long that it may be sent from Connecticut to New York or Boston, and arrive in a condition to keep longer than milk fresh from the coAv. Too Much Grain. — Such is the heading of an article in the California Farmer, m Avhich the editor, after admitting that they "have an abund- ant harvest the present year — tAvice, and thrice, perhaps, the Avants of the State," says it is un- manlv for the farmers to murmur, as they do, be- 48 NEW ENGLAND FARINIER. Jan. cause of too much food. Grain-growers are ad- vised to ship their supplies abroad, and at such prices as they can get. The same paper describes the "First Woolen Factory in California," just completed in San Francisco. The factory is one hundred and twent3'-five feet long, fifty feet wide, and two stories high, and "in all its arrangements for working-power is equal in excellence to any factory in the Atlantic States." The machinery, and the operatives of such establishments will make a better market for the farmers' surplus than can be furnished by the exporting merchant. USEFUL OBSERVATIONS. He that has eyes to see, may perceive an immense amount of useful knowledge scattered all along his pathway through life, and if notes or memoranda were made of such observations, and sent to such papers as the Arfiscoi, thousands would be grate- ful for the instruction. As an example, see how few machinists know the proper method of adjusting leather belting. The common method is to place the flesh side of the leather upon the pulleys ; for what reason we know not, unless it is supposed to look neater, or to increase its traction. But in cither case a great mistake is the result, and leather belting sliould never be so worked. Always place the tlesh side of the belt outward, because it is the strongest, and should not be worn away upon the pulleys. It is estimated, by those who have tried the experiment,that the belt- ing thus run will last twice as long, and perform quite as efficiently. Another example we might give, which thous- ands of workmen, who use the necessary article of glue, may think valuable. All that is necessary to keep glue sweet and free from that offensive smell which good glue will acquire when left to stand, from time to time, in the pot, is to use a stirrer of zinc in ])lace of Avood, or to keep a small piece of zinc in the bottom of the pot, or, when steam is used for heating it, to make the pot of zinc. Millions of such items can be given by men of observation, and we shall take great pleasure in re-writing them, giving the punctuation, etc., as well as publishing them, if we are furnished with the facts. Books and papers are sometimes very instruc- tive, but few of these give this kind of informa- tion, and this is what artisans most desii'e. — Cin- cinnati Artisan. A CoAV SucKTJNG Lambs. — A cow belonging to Mr. Thomas Hislop, of" West Oxford, calved last spring. Iler calf was taken from her at five weeks old. A fortnight afterwards an ewe died, leaving three lambs. As there M'as danger of the lambs al- so dying, the owner took one of them, and held it to the cow's teats. Next morning on going to milk the cows, all three lambs were found sucking the cow. Another lamb was placed with the cow, and she has suckled all four ever since. They follow her wherever she goes, and she protects them from dogs and other animals that attempt to molest them, s^iowing the same affection for them as if they were her own progeny. PEAT, MUCK, AND COMMERCIAL MA- NURES. We have before us a copy of the reports made to the Connecticut State Agricultural Society, in 1857-8, by Prof. Samuel W. Johnson, Chemist to the Society, and Professor of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry in Yale College. We have been greatly interested in these excellent reports. The analyses of various fertilizers, made by a per- son of eminent ability for the task, and who un- doubtedly stands beyond the influences sometimes thrown over the analytical chemist, must be of considerable importance to our progressive far- mers. The Essays on Manures are critical and exact, noticing nearly all the forms in Avhich ma- nures are used in this country. That which treats of Peat and Muck is of special value, as oiu' peo- ple do not yet properly appreciate muck as a ma- nure, and so long as this material is so abundant and accessible, it is important that its true value should be every where known. Below are some of the heads discussed in the Essay : What is Peat ? The condition under which Peat is formed. The different kinds of Peat. The chemical com- position of Peat. After these Prof. Johnson notices the charac- acters that adapt peat to agricultural purposes — 1. Its remarkable power of absorbing and re- taining water, both as a liquid and as vapor : 2. Its power of absorbing ammonia : 3. Its action in modifying the decay of organic (that is animal and i^egefable) bodies : 4. Its effect in promoting the disintegration and solution of mineral matters, (that is, the stony mat- ters of the soil :) and 5. Its influence on the temperature of the soil. When these points are well understood, most farmers will have the means at command of greatly increasing the productive power of their soils. Prof. Johnson has our sincere thanks for this new acquisition to our knowledge in regard to manures. Agriculture in Tuscant. — The correspondent of the Neioark Advertiser gives the following ac- count of the mode of gathering the harvest in Cen- tral Italy : To-day — in this nineteenth century ! — one sees here sunbaked women and girls, cutting, or hack- ing, rather, the grain with ill-shaped, twelve-inch sickles, and beating it out, sheaf by sheaf, on a stone, with the hand, aided only by a rough stick. Threshing instruments are almost unknown in Tuscany : and then, what a winnowing, without machines, follows the reaping ! It is done in this wise : The grain heaped up on the ground in one place, is thrown by shovelfuls through the air to another place, the wind being winnower, and sup- posed to blow away the chaff as it passes. One watches this behind-the-times operation with his teeth on edge M'ith the sense of gritty bread, and the prospect of eating his "peck of dirt" in Italy before him. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FAEIMEH. 49 A PAIK OF CRESTED DTJCKS. Mr. Be:ment, of Albany, author of the American Poulterer's Companion, says these ducks are a beautiful and ornamental variety. They are of all colors, having in fact no other common features. He has had them pure white, black, and mixed, black and white, with large turbans or top-knots. The white are considered the most beautiful, as they have yellow legs and bills. In speaking of this duck, Mr. Latham says — "This inhabitant of the extremity of America is of the size of the wild duck, but is much longer, for it measures twenty-five inches in length ; a tuft adorns its head ; a straw yellow, mixed with neatly colored spots, is spread over the throat and front of the neck ; the wing blue beneath, edged ■with white ; the bill, wing, and tail are black ; irides red, and all the rest of the body ashy gray." Cranberry Culture. — Obed Brooks, Esq., of Harwich, has carefully compiled a statement of the cranberry crop of the towns of Harwich, Brewster and Dennis, for 1859. An aggregate value of $23,622 is no small income to the fami- lies owning these cranberry meadows. We can give no estimate of Barnstable. A large number of persons severally own small lots ; but the ag- gregate must be a number of thousands of dollars worth. Mr. Solomon Hinckley, residing in our immediate vicinity, sold to the amount of $740 j and Dr. Jenkins, of West Barnstable, $600. The cranberry culture is now attracting much at- tention in most of the Cape towns, and very nu- merous lots of ground are being prepared for the vines. — Barnstable Patriot. COMMONWEALTH OP MASSACHUSETTS. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. State House, Boston, Dec. 7, 1859. Dear Sir: — The Legislature, by the Act oi 1859, chap. 203, proposed to ofl'er some encour- agement for the establishment of Farmers' Clubs in the various towns of this Commonwealth, and, to some extent, to aid those already established. The Committee of the Board appointed to make provision for carrying the aforesaid Act into effect have instructed me to say that if there is any de- sire among the farmers of your town to establish such a club, and to have the aid of any sugges- tions that might be offered by an agent employed by the State Board of Agriculture, it would be ])roper for them to hold a preliminary meeting and decide upon some definite time and place when and where they would lilce to have such an agent ; will you please inform me of it at an early day, stating the time fixed upon, which should be suffi- ciently long after the date of your letter to give time for the necessary preliminary arrangements. In cases where a Farmers' Club is ah'eady es- tablished, and is in operation at the present time, and desii-es to avail itself of the aid offered by the State, a copy of the constitution or form of organ 50 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. ization, the number of members, the general course pursued, whether it be by discussions, lectures, town shows, or otherwise, the nature of the assis- tance which would be most acceptable to the mem- bers of the club, and all other necessary informa- tion, should be forwarded to me, when, if it is practicable, th» club may be furnished with copies of the Reports of the Board, and with one or more agents to take part in the discussions or lecture, according to circumstances. Please state explicitly, therefore, if it is pro- posed to ask any aid, what is wanted and on what special subject it is desirable the agent should speak, the time when the meetings will be held, &c. Any club which maybe formed, or any club now in existence which may wish to avail itself of the provisions of the above named Act, Avill be expect- ed to conform to said Act by making the required returns at the time specified, and to aid the Board in collecting facts and statistics relating to agri- culture if it should hereafter be desired. Very truly, your obedient servant, Charles L. Flint, Sec. of the State Board of Agricullure. SHEEP HUSBANDRY. At the weekly meeting of the Concord Farmers' Club, Dec. 1, 1859, an interesting discussion oc- curred on Sheep Husbandry. But few of the mem- bers of the club have had experience in this de- partment of farming. The subject, however, is ar- resting the attention of farmers in the eastern parts of the State. It is believed that sheep may be profitably raised for their mutton, and that in connection with this they maybe made the means of renovating our exhausted and bush-covered pas- tures. AVe are glad to learn that the Trustees of the Middlesex Agricultural Society have offered a premium of fifteen dollars for the best flock of not less than twenty sheep, that shall have been oAvned in the county six months. We hope the enterpris- ing farmers in that county will test the profit of raising sheep, whether for wool or mutton, and the offset of keeping them u])on their pastures. Through the kindness of Dr. Joseph Reynolds, the able Secretary and Reporter of the club, we nave obtained from the records some of the re- marks which we give below. The first four per- sons who speak are appointed as leaders at a pre- vious meeting, so that delay never occurs in open- ing the discussions. Mr. Simon Bro\vtv remarked that he was fa- miliar with the care of sheep in his youth. He had been obliged to sit up night after night, in cold weather, to take care of lambs, because they were dropped too early. The first broadcloth he ever wore, was made from the wool of sheep which he had assisted to raise. Sheep raising was formerly profitable, but it had been discontinued among us, chiefly on account of the losses occasioned by dogs. He had been informed that in the adjoining coun- "■y of Essex, there were only 500 sheep, but there were 3,500 dogs ! A good many persons are now entering upon the business, A new spirit has been awakened upon the subject. Sheep have been im- proved in size and productiveness, as much as, and perhaps more than, cattle. Fifty years ago, a quarter of mutton in England, that weighed 15 or 20 pounds, was thought large. Now a quarter oi mutton is frequently seen weighing 50 or 60 pounds. One weighing 60 povmds was recently exhibited in Boston market. If there is a demand for mutton, sheep raising must be profitable. He had no doubt that there would be a demand for all the good mutton that might be raised. He spoke of the effect of keeping sheep in reclaiming pas- tures. He knew a tract of land in Plymouth Coun- ty, that was formerly so covered with briars and rose bushes, that it was almost impossible to walk through it. He saw it last fall, and it was a beau- tiful green pasture, Avith a smooth surface, and not a bush or briar upon it. It had been reclaimed by the use of sheep alone. If he were going to keep sheep, he should select good, healthy, well- favored animals, and would never confine them to one place, in doors or out. They should be al- lowed to run in and out of the barn at will, all Avinter. In clear, cold weather, when the thermom- eter was below zero, they would lie on the litter in the yard. When it was damp, even if warm, they Avould lie in the barn. They should be al- loAved to follow their instincts in this respect. His father's barn had racks all around the walls on the inside. The hay, mostly clover, Avas let doAvn from above, and troughs Avere furnished vuider the racks for roots and beans, and to catch the clover heads if any fell through the racks. Diseased sheep must be immediately removed from the flock. Mr. E. Wood, Jr., remarked that he had no ex- perience upon the subject, but he thought it as de- sirable to keep a variety of stock, as to raise a va- riety of crops. The profit Avould depend upon cir- cumstances. Sheep might be profitable on lands that AACre easily fenced, and not upon other lands. He has a large pasture, much grown over, Avhere he has been mowing and burning the bushes. He has moAved over 50 acres the past year. This pas- ture is fenced on two sides Avith heavy stone Avails. These Avails he proposes to top either Avith poles or vines, and to put on sheep the next season. He thinks, from Avhat he has seen, that he can keep 50 sheep, and after tAvo years, as many cows as he now does, with the sheep, and expects to find sheep that may be kept by common fences. He has seen a fiock of one hundred, that yield five pounds of wool to a sheep, that do not get over a three foot rail. They are destroying the bushes and weeds, and bringing in the Avhite clover. This is the effect Ave most need. Mr. James B. Elliot, from Keene, N. H., Avas present, and favored the club with some interest- i860. NEW ENGLAND EAEMEE. 51 ing remarks. He is engaged in sheep husbandry, and has been for five years. His sheep had be- come breachy. When this is the case, the best way is to change the entire flock. He had recent- ly been looking among the sheep in Vermont, and h id purchased a hundred, at the average price of five dollars. He expects they will yield from five to six pounds of wool each. He has been to Al- bany, and seen the long-wooled sheep. They do best, as he is informed, in small flocks. He wishes to keep a pretty large flock ; has one pasture that will carry 300, and another that will carry from loO to 200. Sheep require about one acre each. If the land is very rocky, they require more. Large sheep require more. He has concluded to keep fine wooled sheep. Many of the farmers on the Connecticut are now feeding all the corn they can raise to their sheep. They buy wethers, and put them up about the 1st of December, and give them cob meal, and oats, all they wUl eat. In March they shear them, and send to market in the cars, alive. They will weigh from 150 to 170 pounds, live weight, and bring from five and a half to seven cents per pound. In "Walpole, N. H., they are feeding 4,000 this Avinter. The farmer may fat two sets in the fall and winter. Mr. Johnson, of New York, fats all the year round. The manure from sheep is better than that from cows. From 21 sheep, he made 10 loads of the best manure he ever saw. Leaves, or some proper absorbent, should be placed on the bottom of the yard, and litter used as required. This manure is excellent to mix with muck. It costs about forty cents, in New Hampshire, to pasture a sheep from the 10th of April till the 20th of November, or till they are "snowed up," and about $1,10 in the winter. A sheep requires about two pounds of hay, daily. He feeds with hay twice a day, and once with roots. Sheep require a plenty of fresh air, and running water. Some keep them without water, but it is not so well. Sheep will destroy almost every kind of bushes, except pines and alders. Some sheep are easily kept within ordinary fences. Others will learn to jump over almost every fence. He related an anecdote of one man Avho had kept a flock of sheep 29 years, and never knew but one get out of the pasture. Mr. E. thought small mut- ton quite as good as large, but that, as most far- mers in this section would keep only small flocks, tlie long wooled sheep might be the most profita- ble here. The Cotswold and South Downs would yield from five to six pounds of wool. This wool, although it does not fetch quite as much as fine wool, is in demand for certain kinds of manufac- ture. He said that a man of his acquaintance in Vermont realizes $1000 per year from 200 sheep. We think these statements from an intelligent, practical man, who is himself engaged in the busi- ness, will not be without interest to many of our readers. Several other gentlemen of the club spoke upon the subject, and were listened to Avith interest. Fo?- the Kew England Farme7. SEASON AND CROPS IN IOWA. Onr western autumn is departing as quietly as a lamb. Early in November, we had a severe at- tack of winter of two or three days' continuance ; Avith this exception, it has been mild and dry throughout. The sharp frost, September 1, together Avith the severe drought preceding and following, reduced the corn crop nearly one-half from Avhat it prom- ised early in the season. The cob is of the usual size ; but the kernel is shi'unk so much that it re- quires tAvo full bushels of ears to make one of corn. One and a half of ears to one of corn, is, I believe, the usual proportion. The Avheat also failed to realize the expectation of farmers, in amount, by about one-third ; though of very good quality. Potatoes are very small, and not very numer- ovis, but entirely free from rot, and of very good quality, even the smallest. BuckAvheat Avas completely ruined by the frost, and the sorghum greatly damaged, both in quan- tity and quality. There Avas a large amount of the latter planted ; but it does not prove a very profitable crop, as yet. While our friends at the East are rejoicing in the full tide of prosperity, Ave are still obliged to Avait for the "good time" to come. Many of our farmers, AA'ho Avere badly in debt, are not only un- able to extricate themselves, but scarcely able to pay their interest, from the in-gatherings of the Nevertheless, Ave kept Thanksgiving with you, and the other tAventy-five States, on the 24th inst. And very much do Ave find to be thankful for, al- though still depressed Avith debt and short crops. We still continue to have excellent health. Dis- ease, Avhat little there is, assumes a very mild form, more so, I think, than in Massachusetts. The scarlet fever, Avhich has lingered around us for months, is so mild and tractable as to be man- aged in most cases Avithout medicine. Very fcAv have died of it ; none, I believe, Avho trusted to Avater applications and good care. M. R. C. Tipton, Iowa, Nov. 30, 1859. Points of Cows. — Mr. A. L. Fish, a dairyman of Herkimer County, N. Y., gives in the Little Falls Bairi/man's Record, some observations on this subject. He says : "I have never known a cow, Avith soft, fur-like hair and melloAV skin, appearing yelloAv and gum- my at the roots of the hair Avhen parted Avith the hands, that Avas not a good butter coav, and Avhen fattened, Avould mix talloAV Avell Avith flesh. In- stead of heavy head, horns, neck and shoulders, and comparatively light hind quarters, Avhich is characteristic of the opposite sex, she should shoAV an opposite design, by a feminine countenance, light head, neck, and shoulders, Avidening back- Avard from her chest to the loin and hind-quarters." 52 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. For the New England Farmer. "WHAT BUILDINGS ARE KTECESSARY FOR A FARM OP ONE HUNDRED ACRES ? This is a standing question with the farmers of the country, and with your permission, I will give an outline ])lau of Avliat I consider an appropriate block of buildings, with some notes upon the man- ufacture of manure for the cultivation of one hun- dred acres, and the restoration of an exhausted soil, to a state of primitive fertility. The size and style of the house should corres- pond to the size of his family, and the taste of the farmer. Whether it be built high or low, I would so arrange the house as to bring the living-room to front the south and east, to secure the delight- ful influence of the sun in the room in the short days of winter ; it promotes happy influences in the family, and cheers up the little birds and flow- ers, of which no house should be void. To ex- tend this influence, I would build a bay window upon the south side of the room for the cultiva- tion of flowers inside, with climbing roses upon the outside ; say the Queen of Prairies on one side, and the Baltimore Belle upon the other ; trained upon a neat little trellis to the roof, so as not to obscure the windows. This arrangement would unite pleasure and beauty to labor, one of the great ends of rural life, and which can only be attained by the union of these happy associations. It is folly to select the pleasantest room in the house to decorate and cultivate flowers in for your friends and neighbors when they call to see you, and consign the family to an obscure apartment as a necessity. Should you construct an ell to connect the house with the barn, be sure to not disarrange the above. The barn should be 44 by 70, 18 feet posts, with a good cellar under the whole, for the manufacture of manure. For the latter purpose, haul together near the leanto door, a large heap of leaf mould from the forest, muck from the svv^amp, (keep a sufficient supply dug two years in advance.) leaves, straw, brakes, and other vegetable material for the filling of the trench behind the cows daily. In this trench commences the great work of redeem- ing an exhausted soil back to a state of normal fertility. In a barn of this size, we have a bay upon one side, the entire length, 14 feet wide ; a driveway, 12 ; IJ for crib in front of cows ; lean- to floor under cows, o^, running back to the trench, with a descent of ,2 inches, to carry off" liquid manures into the trench ; 5 for trench and walk behind the cows, and a space 6 feet wide, to be partitioned off" into pens for calves, and hospitals for cows at calving. The trench should be 20 , inches wide, and 5 deep, level, and running the entire length of the leanto. Cows may be tied by stanchions, or with straps and chains ; I prefer the latter, as it gives them more opportunity to rest. Reserve at one end of the leanto as much room as is necessary for stables for horses — de- pending upon the number used or Avanted upon the farm. Hogs should be kept upon the manure in the cellar, to prevent fire-fang, or heating by rapid decomposition. Several weeks before slaugh- tering for pork, the hogs should bs removed to small, clean pens, as they will take on fat more readily than when left to roam at large, and work in the jpanure. Every practical, observing tiller of the soil, well understands that no guano, superphosphate, or other nitrogenous, or highly concentrated manures, can restore to the soil the lost carbon, which has supplied a succession of crops with the essential materials which enter into the 14 elements of grain, fruit and gi-ass. The true principle of agricultu- ral science introduces another system, natural, plain, and altogether dissimilar. The forest must give up her store of carbon, (and she manufac- tures a large surplus annually,) so nicely elabor- ated by nature's laws as to fix its ammonia, and yet fitted for a powerful absorbent of liquid manures, with power to resist decomposition until brought in contact with the roots of plants. The swamps must yield up their store of vegetable wealth, the rich inorganic materials of surround- ing hills and forests, to re-unite with the mineral salts too firmly fixed in the soil to be washed away by the annual rains. The organic laws of the universe established by the Creator, for the gov- ernment of all the changes and formal conditions of properties of matter, Avhether in a crude min- eral, organized or detached condition, are as uni- form and Tuierring as the physical laws that gov- ern the rising and setting of the sun. As the de- mand for carbon to form fat, muscle, cellular tis- sue, bone, brain, hair, and other portions of the human body, and at the same time keep up an an- imal heat of 98° night and day, is very great, we readily see why starch is so abundant in all plants used as food for man or beast. Starch contains a large amount of carbon, and the forests and swamps of the old States are holding the great bulk of carbon in store, to-day. We must in- crease the productiveness of rural labor by intro- ducing into the present mode of farming more system in the science of vegetable physiology. Every one knows that new land, land never sub- jected to cultivation, will produce, in abundance, all the cro])s which that country or district is sus- ceptible of producing. Hence we are advised that the forests and swamps of any hilly country hold its vegetable wealth. Science now comes to our aid, and teaches us how to change a cold subsoil, into a warm, pliable, productive, surface soil. Practical experience has taught us that a good soil which produces 100 ])ounds of ripe wheat plants, loses but 15 pounds of its weight and sub- stance by the operation, 85 pounds coming from the atmosphere. Science reveals to us why it is that in combustion, respiration and decomposition, an immense amount of organized matter is dis- sipated through the air — infused into the plants by atmospheric pressure, or gathered up by the falling dews, rains and snows, returned to the earth and the roots of ])lants, and thence by ca- pillary attraction drawn into the kernel and elabo- rated as food for man and beast. It also gives the agriculturist poAver over heat, light, electrici- ty, (positive and negative,) chemical action, air, earth and water, and enables him to grapple with repulsive elements — cold, subsoil water (corrected by drainage,) malaria, and other negative influen- ces which have baffled the unskilfvd farmer for years past. Now that the soil, in the old States, has lost its natural productiveness, a thorough knowledge of vegetable science is indisputably necessary to enable the tiller of the soil to com- pete with those who till the rich fields of the vir- gin West. A short time since a cargo of guano arrived in 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. 53 New York, valued at $60,000. Here is sixty thousand dollars' worth of phosphorus and nitro- gen, (ammonia,) which stands in the same relation to the soil as $60,000 v/orth of alcohol does to the tillers of the same, to stimulate them to more la- bor in changing the vegetable material around them into bread, meat and clothing. The soil should not be stimulated by phospliorus and am- monia, until it has been well supplied with all the inorganic elements necessary to furnish an in- creased amount of grain, any more than a man should cb'ink alcohol upon an empty stomach. If a person v.ill drink alcohol, drink it immediately after eating. Ground bones will furnish phospho- rus, and copperas iron. The urine and hard ex- crements of the human species contain those for- ces in great abundance, and careless agriculturists are unaware of the enormous amount of these powerful fertilizers daily going to waste about the privies and slaughtering houses in large villages and cities. To make these more available, build a vat or cistern, immcdiatelj' under one end of the cow-leanto, in the barn cellar, where they can be diluted in several times their bulk of water, and turned upon the manure-heap made as first men- tioned. This collecting and compounding of car- bonaceous and nitrogenous manures is practically agricultural science, and will supersede the neces- sity of purchasing commercial manures, at reck- less prices, and rebut the charge that "farming is unprofitable." Add to this manure heap lime and ashes, and you have all the fourteen elements that enter into a kernel of wheat or corn. Lewis L. Pierce. East Jaffreij, N. H., Nov., IHod. Por the New England Farmer. PRACTICAL PROOFS OF PROFIT ITJ" FARMING. Mr. Editor : — I have noticed in your paper of late, discussions on "the Profits of Farming," by correspondents from difi'erent sections of the Com- monwealth, in which they profess to give their own experience. Having no particular knowledge of these writers or their locations, I cannot judge of their statements. But I can tell you what I have witnessed in my own town, and will leave to you and your readers to judge whether or not farm- ing is profitable here i' We have a neighborhood in which are situated thirty or more individuals, v.ho own the lands they cultivate, say from five to twenty acres each, and so have owned them for twenty years or more. These men have convenient houses, with suitable buildings around, and families at home well cared for. Their only means of acquir- ing property is by the application of their indus- try to their land. Most of them have so managed as to lay up, besides maintaining themselves and their families, several hundred dollars a year. I cannot say how many hundred — because they are rather shy of informing the assessors on this point — but this I do know, there is no class of citizens among us more reliable than these culti- vators of the soil. We have others who branch out in manufac- tures, an trade — build large houses, and high work-shops — drive fast horses — and figure for a time as Directors of Banks, and they wind up with a per centage — some thirty, some fifty, and some nothing. Now, Sir, my conclusion is, that the culture of the soil, in these diggings, is the most profitable. *. *. South Danvers, Dec. 10, 1859. For the New England Farmer. PREMIUMS FOR MONSTERS. BY JUDGE FRENCn. \^^lat is the object of agricultural societies in ofiering premiums ? It is Avell, occasionally, to go back and try our conduct by first principles. We should ofi"er these inducements v.ith some definite and commendable aim. - Because a thing has long been done is not conclusive evidence, especially in this new and changing country, that it should al- ways be done. Many a proposition is admitted as conclusive that a slight examination may show to be powerless. There Avas good sense in the reply of the simple gentleman, in a novel of Dickens, to the suggestion that his room was too small, not large enough to sv/ing a cat by the tail. "Why," said he, "I don't want to swing a cat by the tail." If we go on to the grounds of a so-called cattle- show, the most prominent objects that meet our eyes may, probably, be a balloon, a military com- pany, a half dozen fire-engines v/ith their men, and a race-course. Among the lesser attractions, may be noticed tents with the fat woman and small boy, the two-headed calf, and the learned pig, while the cattle and such every-day affairs occu- py modest and retired positions in the rear. All this makes a very attractive show for the factory girls, and the horse fanciers and the children, and l)rings money to our purse, which, to be sure, must somehow be had. Whether it encourages or discourages the far- mer, is not the question now to be discussed. If we look at the premium lists, we shall find the stereotyped off"er of a premium for the largest crop to the acre of Indian corn, the largest crop of oats, and so on. No conditions are im- posed as to the quantity of manure to be used, or the amount of labor expended. The premium is for the man who shall by any means produce the greatest quantity to the acre. Now there may be various objects in off"ering premiums. If it is thought advisable to encour- age experiments in the culture of some new crop, as of silk, or of beets for sugar, it may1)e well to give premiums by v/ay of bounty to help defray the cost of the first attempts, and thus afford means of deciding whether the particular product can be cultivated with advantage in the particu- lar locality. And the same encouragement may be properly given to the introduction of new breeds of stock. Again, in a new country, there may be advan- tage in testing the capacity of the soil and climate 54 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. to produce large crops. It may satisfy the doubt- ful new settler, to prove to him that a hundred bushels of corn may be made to grow on an acre of land. But of what advantage is it to a Massa- chusetts or New Hampshire farmer to have it proved for fifty years in succession, that one hun- dred bushels of corn or thereabouts may be grown on an acre? The 2)ossibilities have been shown again and again, and whether the extreme limit be ten bushels more or less, seems of no importance. The legitimate object of premiums in our old so- cieties is the promotion of good husbandi-j\ The true idea of good husbandry is the increasing the permanent income of our farms. It is not good hus- bandry to raise an enormous crop upon one acre, at an extravagant outlay of manure and labor. It is not good husbandry to produce a large crop for a single year, by a process exhausting to the soil. Good husbandry implies a system which may be permanent, a system which shall, through a whole rotation, through a series of years, produce crops sufficient to repay labor and the interest of capital, without depreciating the land. We are speaking now of the old States. In new States good husbandry may be quite another mat- ter. It certainly must be good husbandry for the pioneer to keep off starvation, and so to get his first crops with the least labor, even at the ex- pense of his soil. He frequently borrows his pur- chase money, and must pay off the mortgage in two or three years, or lose his land ; and if, in so doing, he plunders his soil, and sends away to market its elements of fertility in the shape of wheat and corn, he has a good excuse for his course. This, however, is not, in fact, husbandry, good or bad. It is rather milling — digging up and sell- ing the wealth which Nature has buried in the earth. Our forefathers have thoroughly performed this operation over most of New England. They took what the natural fertility of the soil, enriched by the ashes of the noble forests, could give them, and bequeathed to us the old heritage of bread for labor. « Is it not time to inquire for what purpose do we continue annually to offer and pay these premi- ums for monster crops of our standard grains ftom a single acre ? Is it not a waste of money, and often worse ? Do we know that the acre was, on the whole, judiciously cultivated ? Do we in- quire whether the rest of the farm Avas . robbed, to manure this premium crop ? Should not the award be to him who shows the best average of crops for a year, or for a series of years ? Or to him who shows the largest profit, on the whole, of his farm accounts ? How is it as to animals ? Is it really useful to encoura":e a breed of horses for the race-courso or the trotting-course ? Is the horse that can trot "inside of 2.40" usually a valuable horse for any service ? It may be profitable to produce enough of such horses to supply the demand of the "fan- cy" men who have money to thi-ow away for the gratification of a low taste, but a 2.40 horse is a monster, not a regular product. Some societies offer premiums for the quickest and best plowing by oxen, of a given tract. Now every farmer knows that oxen may be driven to plow a quarter acre, in much less than half the time they can be properly or profitably made to do the same work. You might as well award the premium to those which should walk farthest on their hind legs, as for this unnatural speed. Again, Ave offer prizes often for animals and crops known to be unsuited to the locality. It would not promote good husbandry to award a premium for the best elephant or the best crop of cotton groAvn in New England. If the prize Avere large enough, Barnum, or somebody else, would carry it away in great triumph. Clearly we should not encourage by premiums the production of an- imals or crops unsuited to our soil and climate. "N^Hien Ave become satisfied that a mode of culture of a given crop is and must be, unprofitable, let us drop the premium for it from our list. If, for in- stance, we are convinced that cranberries cannot be profitably cultivated on upland, let us discourage and not encourage the attempt. Perhaps that ex- periment has not been often enough repeated. By all means encourage its repetition, till the question is fairly settled. These hints are tlu'OAvn out to set other men thinking on the subject. The principles upon Avhich premium lists should be constructed in om- old States are plain. They are — 1st. To encourage the product of crops and an- imals, of kinds and by methods Avhich Avill prove profitable in the long run. 2. To encourage experiments in ncAv products and methods, until reliable conclusions may be formed, and no longer. 3. To encourage exhibitions that shall tend tx) dignify agriculture in all its departments. An Apple Tree at Woodside, San Mateo coun- ty, California, is described as follows : Height of tree from the ground to topmost limb, 10 feet 6 inches ; circumference of trunk (two feet from the ground,) 6|inches ; 269 apples on the tree at pres ent, some 15 or 20 having fallen off. A fair av erage of the circumference of the apples is 9| inches. On another tro*^, one apple measured 14 inches round. — California Farmer. HoAV TO Catph Rats. — Rats are not the onl species of tenants that outAvit their landlords , they Avill sometimes shun all baits and traps. As many modes of getting rid of them cause them to 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 55 die on the premises, and taint the atmosphere, or are dangerous to human life, it may be well to re- member that if the centre of a cage is sprinkled with a few drops of the oil of rhodium, (a species of convolvulus from the Canary Isles, fifty pounds of the root of -\\ hicli yield one pound of the essen- tial oil, according to Lindley,) multitudes are ir- resistibly attracted to the spot, to be disposed of at will. — Hairs Jmtrnal of Health. JIMMY'S M^OOTNG. The wind came blowing out of the west, And Jimmy mowed the hay ; The wind came blowing out of the west — It stirred the green leaves out of their rest, And rocked the blue-bird, up in his nest, And Jimmy mowed the hay. The swallows skimmed along the ground. And Jimmy mowed the hay ; The swallows skimmed along the ground. And rustling leaves made pleasant sound, Like children baljbling all around — As Jimmy mowed the hay. Milly came with her bucket by. As Jimmy mowed the hay ; Milly came with her bucket by. With her light foot so trim and sly. And sunburnt cheek, and laughing eye — And Jimmy mowed the hay. A rustic Ruth in linsey gown — And Jimmy mowed the hay ; A rustic Ruth in linsey gown. He watched her soft cheeks, changing brown And the long, dark lash that trembled down. Whenever he looked that way. 0 ! Milly's heart was good as gold — And Jimmy mowed the hay ; 0 ! ililly's heart was good as gold — But Jimmy thought her shy and cold. And more he thought than ere he told — As Jimmy mowed the hay. The rain came pattering down amain. And Jimmy mowed the hay : The rain came pattering down amain. And under the thatch of the laden train, Jimmy and Milly a cunning twain. Sat sheltered by the hay. The merry rain-drops hurried in. Under the thatch of hay ; The merry rain-drops hurried in. And laughed and pattered in a din, Over that which they saw within. Under the thatch of hay. For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast, Under the thatch of hay ; For Milly nestled to Jimmy's breast Like a wild bird fluttering to its nest — And then I'll svrear she looked her best. Under the thatch of hay. And when the sun came laughing out. Over the ruined haj- ; And when the sun came laughing out, Milly had ceased to pet and pout. And twittering birds began to shout, As if for a wedding daj'. crayon, has at last been accomplished. It has cost nearly as much to get the animal or article drawn upon'the block, as to engrave it afterward. This is no longer the case. Any artist with a camera can now transfer a likeness to the wood prepared by a process recently invented and patented byR. Price, of Nev,- York 'city. It will be of great ser- vice to all classes having machinery, buildings or animals, which they desire engraved. There can no inaccuracy result. A prepared block of the size desired can be forwarded to any daguerrean artist, and he can take a photograph after the animal or implement upon the block, which, returned to the engraver, insures an accurate representation of said article or animal. Photographing on Wood. — The power to se- cure a likeness of a person, animal, landscape, fruit or machine, upon an engraver's block, in an instant, without the tedious process of pencil and NEW PUBLICATIONS. Grasses and Koka<;e Plants. A Practical Treatise, comprising- tlioir Natural History ; Comparative Nutri- tive Value ; Methods of Cultivating, Cutting and Cur- incr ; and the ^Manngeinent of Grass Lands iu the Unit- ed'States and P>ritisli Provinces. By Charlks L. Flint, Secretary of tlic ^Massachusetts State Board of Agricul- ture. Fourth edition, with one hundred and seventy Illustrations. Boston. We have spoken favorably of this wovk before ; the copy before us is one of a new edition, revised and enlarged, and beautifully printed. It is a val- uable work, and ought to be owned by every far- mer who means to make progress in his profession, and get his crops at a profit. Smithsonian Report for 1858. — This volume contains 438 pages, mostly made up of scientific matter. The articles are : — Lectures on Astrono- my ; Memoir of Priestley ; the Grasshoppers and Locusts of America ; the Means of Destroying the Grasshopper ; Vegetable Colonization of the Brit- ish Isles of Shetland, Faroe and Iceland ; on the Causes which limit Vegetable Species towards the North, in Europe, and similar regions ; on the Distribution of the Forest Trees of North Ameri- ca ; List of Birds of Nova, Scotia ; List of Birds of Bermuda ; Report on Atmospheric Electricity. There are several minor articles of interest. The work is printed in Government style, and is alto- gether too mean a dress in which to clothe the productions of some of our most learned and use- ful men. If the power that controls this matter wiirsend the manuscripts to Boston, they can be printed in a style that certainly will not be a re- proach to the nation, for about one-half what such printing usually costs in Washington. Greene County, N. Y., Agricultural Soci- ety.— Before us we have the Address of the Rev. Henry J. Fox, before this Society, in September last. His topic was, "Agriculture as a Necessity, as an Amusement, and as an Art," and he handled it well. Clergymen are our esteemed and valuable co-laborers in the great Art, and we feel under personal obligations to them for their timely and sound teachings. This address is an especially good one, and ought to be read everyAvhere. 56 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. LADIES' DEPARTMENT. STALE BREAD, AND WHAT IT IS. I don't like very stale bread — do you ? My rea- son for disliking it is very much like the reason why I don't like Dr. Fell ; your reason is really the same, but you probably cheat yourself into the belief that it is something else, namely, because the bread is so dry. Allow me to undeceive you. No bread is dry ;' bread just baked is nearly half ■water ; and the stales* of stale loaves has not lost more than a hundredth part of this water. The fact that bread contains nearly half its •weight of water is surprising ; but not so surpris- ing as that your body contains a considerably larger portion — nearly three-fourths. It is "wa- ter, Avater everywhere, and (often) not a drop to drink." The flour from which broad is made, is dry enough, containing not more than sixteen per cent, of water ; but it has a great tendency to ab- sorb water, and in the process of baking it, ab- sorbs it rapidly. The gum, which is produced from the starch of the flour in baking, holds this water firmly, and the gluten which forms a coating round every little hollow in the bread, steadily re- sists evaporation. Thus bread becomes moist and keeps moist, let it be never so stale. But if stale bread be not dry bread, what is it ? What makes that familiar diftercnce between the soft, plastic, spongy crumb, and the harsh, crumb- ling morsel of six days old ? That it is no diff"er- ence of moisture has been experimentally verified ; every cook or baker could have told us that there is no use in placing bread in a moist cellar to pre- vent the evaporation of its water, since the bread will assin-edly become stale as the hours roll on. On the other hand, every baker and every cook could tell us, that if a stale loaf be placed in the oven again for a few minutes, it will come out having (for a time at least) all the characters of new bread. Yet in the oven it must necessarily have lost some of its water, and comes out dryer than it Avent in — dryer, but not by any means so stale. Further : who does not know the eff'ect of toasting a slice of stale bread ? The fire scorches the outside layers, and renders them completely dry, but, especially, if the slice be not too thin, we find the interior layers deliciously soft, plastic and palatable. An experiment made by the eminent French chemist, jM. Eoussingault, proves in a convincing manner, that the amount of water in the broad has nothing to do with its newness. He took a loaf six days old, weighing three kilogrammes, 690 grammes, (a kilogramme is something more than two pounds, a gramme is about 15^ grains.) The loaf was placed in the oven for an hour ; on re- moving it, a loss of 120 grammes of water was found to have taken place ; yet, in spite of this loss, amounting to three-fourths per cent., the bread was as new as tlxat just made. It is the water in the bread which prevents the loaf becoming all crust. In an oven with a tem- perature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the loaf gets roasted outside, and the crust is formed ; but the inside crumb never ha;- a temperature above 100 degrees ; the water which is there, and which can- not eva]iorate through the crust, keeping the tem- peratu^-e dov.-n. If this crumb is thus slow to heat, it is also slow to cool. Every one knows how long the crumb of a roll continues warm, even on a cold -winter morning ; and the loaf which was taken from the oven at three in the morning, comes warm to the breakfast table at ten. He placed a loaf, hot from the oven, in a room, the temperature of which was 66 degrees. The law of equilibrium, by which a hot body loses heat until it is no hotter than the surrounding objects, in- stantly came into operation ; but, although all bodies give oft' their heat to bodies that are colder, they do so with varying degrees of rapidity — -some being very tenacious of the heat they have got hold of, and others being the most jirodigal of spendthrifts ; and thus the loaf, although it began to cool as soon as taken from the oven, did not reach the temperature of the surrounding air till twenty-four hours had elapsed — and then it was stale. Does it not seem, then, that the difi'erence be- tween new bread and stale bread is only the dif- ference between hot bread and cold bread ? It does seem so, when we reflect that we have only to Avarm the stale bread in an oven to make it ' new again. But there is this fact Avhich stands in the way of such an ex])lanation ; the bread which has been r«-bakod, although undistinguishable from bread which has been recently baked, is only so for a short time — it rapidly becomes stale again. Were this not the case, Ave need never have to complain of stale bread ; it could always be made noAV again in a foAV minutes. The conclusion draAvn- by M. Boussingault from his experiments is that the stalcness depends on a peculiar molecular condi- tion of the bread ; and this condition is itself de- pendent on a fall of temperature. But new bread, if more palatable, is very un- Avholesome, because very indigestible to those Avhose pc])tics are imperfect. The peculiarity of new bread, that it forms itself into a paste, is an obstacle to its digestion. But this is only true of the lumpish, pasty, doughy, obstinate, irrational bread baked in our favored island. No dyspeptic trembles at the noAV bread of Paris or Vienna. In Vienna they bake — or used to bake Avhen I lived there — three times a day, and perfectly fresh rolls Avcre served up Avith each meal. No one com- plained ; every one ate those rolls so alarming to the dyspeptic mind, and Avould have stormed at an unhappy Avaiter Avho should by accident, or philanthrophy, have brought yesterday's roll. But lot the Aveak and strong boAvare hoAV they trifle Avith the noAV half quartern, Avhich, in unshapely, unin- viting, and Avoll founded modesty, stands on the breakfast table of the British mother. The hot bread may tempt her inconsiderate boy — perhaps the more so because he is assured it is "bad for him." Boys have a very natural suspicion, founded on am])lo experience, that Avhat parents and guar- dians declare to be "good for them," is certain to be odious. They are birched for their good, they are bloussed for their good, they are hurriecl off' to bed for their good, and of course they like to try the bad, because it isn't for their good. But, except these young gentlemen, no one Avith a stom- ach more delicate than that of a ploAvman or a fox hunter should venture on hot bread in England. — Once a Week. ^^ A French Avriter says that the greatest bless- ing a Avoman can receive on earth is the continu- ance of the aff"ection of her husband after marriage. DEVOTED TO AGKICDTiTUHE AWD ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. VOL. XII. BOSTON, FEBRUARY, 1860. NO. 2. XOlTtSE, EATO>r & TOLMAX, Proprietors. cT«^r,-Kr -o-or^-fT^T Tr-r^rTr^-o FRED'K HOLBROOK, ) Associate Office.... 3i .Merchants' Row bimUN HiiOWN, BDllOR. HENRY F. FRENCH, ( Editors. A TALK ABOUT PEBRUAKY. "The wintry West extends his blast, And hail and rain does blaw , Or the stormy North sends driving forth The blinding sleet and snaw." EBRUARY has come round again, and although the world is still locked in its icy "sepulchre," and "winter keeps the kej," we know that, in a few weeks, winter must give his last dy- I ,,ing wail, and make way that other month, which, bleak enough in itself, puts tlie world in a state of pre])a- ration for something better. But Ave miist not represent winter as altogether desolate. Provided our bodies are first made comfortable, there is something in a scene such as greets our eyes on some bright February morning, that Is fitted to call up emo- tions by no means unpoetic. You look out through the frosted window panes, and the east is lighted up with a cinnamon glow that waxes deeper and warmer every minute, till the gi"eat round sun comes up, and the roofs of the hous- es, and the trees laden with a light snow, are tinged with a delicate pink, and all the land- scape blushes beneath the ardent gaze of the sun. Soon the elms and maples begin to stir in the wind, and shake off theu* burden, th?ir blossoms of snow, — but the hackmatack, the pine and the fir, presenting a broader surface, may keep theirs for many days yet. How cheerful looks the face of our next neighbor, as he comes out with his shov- el to clear away the snow from his door, and how j^ clear is the ring of his voice, as he shouts his "good morning" across the street. Is Avinter altogether desolate ? Why, look at those little urchins playing on the slope before the door. Now they stretch themselves full length in the snow, and laugh to see the Impression of a boy they have left there. Then they snow-ball each other awhile, or test then- strength In a AVTCst- ling match, and anon they take a turn at coast- ing, their joyful cries testifying that the pleasure of drawing the sled up the hill, Is scarcely less than b'jing carried down by it. We should find it pretty hard to conA-ert than to the belief that Avinter is an innovation, and ought not to be tol- erated. But some young lady says, perhaps, "Your Avinter sunrise may be a A'ery fine thing, but I ncA'er saw It." Is It possible — and you not passed the age of romance — is it possible that you find glories I in a feather bed Avhich you cannot find In a sun- I rise ! Yet, doubtless, you have often thought it I very romantic Avhen you have read In some deli- ! clous novel of a Beatrice, or Amanda, Avho, trav- elling among the mountains of SAvitzerland, took a long Avalk before breakfast to see this same sun- rise Avhich you may see any morning from your parlor windoAv. Besides, you knoAv the old coup- let— "Early to bed and early to rise," &c. But the mornings are groAvdng longer noAV, and there is quite a perceptible evening twilight, — that hour so pleasant to those at leisvire, and sur- rounded by good company. Hear Avhat Mrs. StoAve says about the tAvilight that used to come in the old NeAv England kitchens : "Hoav dreamy the Avinter tAvillght came in there — as yet the can- dles Avere not lighted — when the crickets chirped around the dark stone hearth, and shifting tongue s of flame flickered, and cast dancing shadoAvs v.v.d elfish lights on the Avails, Avhile grandmother nod- ded over her knitting-Avork, and puss purred, and 58 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb, old Rover lay dreamily opening now one eye and then the other on the family group." That era has indeed, passed away ,^ and save in a few of our isolated country towns, so have the peculiarities she describes in the farm-house kitch- en ; but the sun still shines and sets, and the twi- light falls as softly, and family gi-oups gather just as lovingly together, as they did in the days of Dr. Hopkins and the widow Scudder ! New England life is still calm, and peaceful, and homelike, and probably much more comfort- able than then. There are some things which Mrs. Stowe, with all her remarkable fidelity to nature, must have seen through the medium of her own poetic temperament. For instance, when she describes the woman who does work enough for three stout Irish girls — more than three Irish men could do — as having hands "small and Avhite ;" — and when she describes a kitchen as never bo»- ing thrown out of its composure by the events of washing, baking, &c., &c., we appeal to any man (who is not an old bachelor.) if his experience has not led him to a different view of the subject. We assert, then, that New Englanders'have taken a step into higher regions of comfort, inasmuch as they have advanced, rather more into the front of their dwellings, and assigned to certain phases of household life the precise place to which they belong, as works of necessity which minister to our comfort and repose, but which are not by any means to be regarded as the object of life. To change the words of an old aphorism, we should not live to ivork, but work to live, and all the beautiful fancies which we can throw about life, without interfering with its practical useful- ness, are an advance. Yes, the time has gone by when the good matron was obliged to begin Avith the very wool on the sheep's back, and provide the family with winter clothing; Steam fac- tories and sewing machines, washing machines and apple-parers ! We hail you as so many be- neficent hands held out to lift a burden from our wives and daughters, so that forever and always they need not be the mere household drudges who wait upon our pleasure. Society being now arranged upon a somewhat different principle, ^ere is a better chance for our young women to get that out-of-door exercise of which they stand in as much need as our young men. Now we see them out skating on the pond, meadow or river, presenting a picture of grace and health pleasant to look upon. Now we see them crossing through snow-drifts or mud, as the case may be, and we are sorry for the delicate foot which must walk in such rough ways, but flowing skirts are slightly lifted, and behold, a pair of India-rubber boots or snow-shoes removes all our apprehensions for the safety bf the wearer. Our great-grandmothers nev- er saw an Tndin rublier sho^", and when thev went to church, all the fire they had was in the little tin foot-stoves they cari'ied in their hands — that "sa- cred fire," which they guarded like so many priest- esses in the temple of Vesta. As to clothing, we would not seek to penetrate too far into the mys- teries of the feminine toilet, but any one who will, in confidence, consult some good old lady on the subject, and compai-e the revelation with what may have come imder his own observation, cannot fail to be sti'uck with the improvement that has been made in this matter ; nay, he will wonder that the women of sixty years ago did not become pillars of ice in the streets, as we deserve to become "pillars of salt," if we look back with envy upon the past generation, and whine about the "good old days" of our ancestors, instead of being thank- ful for our improved condition. (Eccl. 7 : 10.) It was well towards the last of Februaiy, one hundred and twenty-eight years ago, but in a lat- itude some six or seven degrees lower than ours, so that perhaps the apricots were in flower, and the crocuses were thrusting their yellov/ heads out of the damp earth, that a child was bom. Doubt- less some one came to the father and announced, "It is a boy" — and there was joy in the household, and the mother looked tenderly on her little babe, and prayed that God would be his guide ; but she did not know, and no one else knew, that she had, on that 22d of Febi-uary, 1732, achieved the Amer- ican Independence ! She knew that she was a happy young mother, but she never thought that she was "Mart/, the mother of Washington !" She knew that it was a great, important era in her life, but she never thought what an era it was in the Nation's life — the nation which was then no na- tion, but a colony. She little dreamed, that, through her, the Twenty-Second of February had become immortal forever. But God accepted the charge she committed to Him, and so we, up to this February, 1860, have been able to pursue our various callings in peace and quietness, cultivating the arts and sciences, and drinking our tea without paying an outrageous tax! Abundance of Weeds. — An English botanist discovered, by careful examination, 7600 weed se-eds in a pint of clover seed, 12,000 in a pint of congress seed, 39,440 in a pint of broad clover, and 25,000 of Dutch clover seed. In a single plant of black mustard he counted over 8000 seeds, and in a specimen of charlock 4000 ; the seed of a sin- gle plant of common dock produced 4700 little docks. The white daisy has over 400 seeds in each flower, and sometimes 50 flowers from one root. Forms of Expression. — People say that they shell peas, when they ?';?- 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 59 skin it ; and that thej^cale fishes, when they tm- scale them. I have heard many men say they were going to weed their gardens, when I thought their gardens were weedy enough ab-eady. Far the Netc England Farmer. IS STOCK-TLAISING PROFITABLE. This is a suhject which should interest all farm- ers, as all are more or less engaged in the busi- ness. Let us see how much it costs to raise dif- ferent kinds of stock, and the net profit on it. A colt, for instance, taken as an average, 4 months old, is worth $20 ; the use of horse and mare and other expenses is worth $12 ; leaving $8 net profit. It will cost about $8 for forage the first winter, and 10 cents a week for pasturing 26 weeks, making the whole cost, $2,60-f$8+$12 =$22,60. The colt is now worth $30. The second winter it will not cost much more for forage than the first ; as the colt will eat a great deal that oth- er cattle leave, say $10; pasturing, 15 cents a week, $3,90. Cost, $36,50. Worth $45. Third winter, $15 ; pasturing, 20 cents a week, $5. Colt is worth $65, Cost $56,50. Fourth winter, $20. Pasturing, 25 cents a week, $6,50. Cost $83. Worth $90. Here we have a net profit of $7 on a colt 4 years and 4 months old ; which is one dollar less than the profit on the same colt at 4 months old. The prices which I have set may be called small, but there are more sold under those sums than over them. If the colt has been worked in this time, which should not be done, it probably has not done any more than enough to pay for breakage and the interest on $20, which will amount to over $5. COST AND PROFIT ON SHEEP. A good lamb 6 months old is worth $2. Let us keep the sheep four years, with Dr. Cr. First investment $2,00 Cost of wiutering, $1,50 ; pasturing, 50 cts 2,00 Income, or gain, 5 pounds wool at 35 cts $1,75 Second year ; cost of keeping 2,00 Income one lamb, $2, 3 pounds wool, $1,05 3,05 Third year, Dr. to keeping sheep and lamb 4,00 Cr. by 8 pounds wool, 35 cts 2,80 Cr. by one lamb 2,00 Fourth year, Dr. to keeping 3 sheep 6,00 Cr. by21ambs, $2 each 4,00 Cr. by 11 pounds wool, at 35 cts 3,85 Income of one sheep for 4 years $17,45 First cost, and cost of keeping same time $16,00 Net profit $1 ,45 The old sheep is worth as much as when bought. 2,00 The yearlings, or 2 years old, 50c each extra. . . 1,00 ■yvhich leaves, after paying all expenses $4,45 A calf one month old, if well fatted, is worth $4. Now let us see how much profit there is on a "fatted calf." Perhaps I may be wrong, but I should say, it should have 8 or 10 quarts of new milk a day. 8 quarts at 2 cents a quart for 31 days will amount to $4,96. If I am right in my estimate, there is no profit in fatting calves, at the prices we get here. If the calf is to be raised, it may be fed on part skim- milk, and will then cost all it will be worth at six mouths old, viz. : $5. It will cost as much as a ton of hay is worth to winter the calf well, $8. It is worth 8 o"nts n week for pasturing. $2,08. Second winter same as the first, $8. Pasturing, 12 cents a week, $3,12. Cost, at 2 years and 6 months old, $26,20. The usual price at this age is $20. As another year's keeping and growth would not materially alter the relation of cost and profit, and as there are more cattle — heifers es- pecially— sold at this age than at any other, I shall not follow this subject any farther. It has always been conceded by farmers that it costs as much to winter a calf as it does a yeai-ling ; and if any one can make the figures count up any difi'erent, or in any way make both ends meet, I should be glad to "have it done. T. B. Bailey. Newbury, Vt, Jan., 1860. TO PRESERVE STAKES, &c., IINT THE GROUND. Q,uite recently, while walking in the garden with the Hon. J. W. Fairfield, Hudson, N. Y., he called my attention to the small stakes which supported the raspberry canes. The end in the ground, as well as the part above, was as sound and bright as if lately made, but he informed me that they had been in constant use for twelve years ! Said I, "Of course they are kyanizcd ?" "Yes," he re- plied, "and the process is so simple and cheap that it deserves to be universally known, and it is simply this : One pound of blue vitriol to twont}- quarts of water. Dissolve the vitriol with boiling water, and then add the remainder. "The end of the stick is then dropped into the solution, and left to stand four or five days ; for shingles thi"ee days v,'iil answer, and for posts six inches square, ten days. Care is to be taken that the saturation takes place in a metal vesspl or keyed box, for the reason that any barrel will be shrunk by the operation so as to leak. Instead of expanding an old cask as other liquids do, this shrinks them. Chloride of zmc, I am told, will answer the same purpose, but the blue vitriol is, or was formerly, very cheap, viz. : three to six cents per pound." Mr. Fairfield informed me that the French gov- ernment are pursuing a similar process with ev- ery item of timber now used in siiip-building, and that they have a way of forcing it into the ti'et's in the forest as soon as cut, ejecting the sap and kyanizing it all on the spot. I have not experi- mented with it, but Mr. Fairfield's success seemed to be complete. The process is so simple and cheap as to be within the convenience of every farmer, and gar- dener, even, and I therefore thought it so valiir.- ble as to warrant a special notice of it. — U. G. Pardee. The Country Gentleman. — The enterprising publishers of this excellent journal have made some typographical changes in it at the opening year, omitting the benign countenance v/hich had long stood as a vignette, but introducing a larger tjTje as a compensation. The larger t\\^e is a de- cided improvement. The doctrines of the Coun- try Gentlctnan are sound, and its conductors gen- tlemen of ability and the highest sense of honor. The Old Gentleman makes his mark wherever he travels. 60 NEW ENGLAND FAHMEE. Feb. EXTRACTS AND KESPLIES. ORNAMENTAL TREES. Permit me to ask you and your correspondents a few questions in regard to ornamental shade trees. I propose to set some in a hard, clayey soil, and I wish to know what are the best kinds adapted to the soil, and Avhich is the best season ? Also, the manner of transplanting. I would ask is there any difficulty in growing the rock maple in the described soil ? Dover, N. H., Dec. 19, 1859. G. F. s. Remarks. — The same care that is bestowed up- on a well set apple tree, is all that is necessary for shade trees. Any shade tree will grow in a "hard, clayey soil," if that soil be rich and is not drowned with water. The trees, however, would grow vastly better if the land were drained. The rock maple often grows luxuriantly on such lands. WILD GRAPES. Can the wild grape be domesticated ? Will it result in an improvement in the size and quality of the fruit ? It grows by the river side, has a sharp, acid taste and is about the size of a large pea. I think of transplanting several of the vines the coming spring, with a view of enlarging and improving the fruit, if possible. I will report the result of the experiment. Any suggestions will be thankfully received. I. W. Sanborn. Lyndon, Vt. Remarks. — It is doubtful whether the wild grape root or vine can be materially improved. We have tried to do so, and have known others make the attempt, but with little success. The effect Avould be much like that of attempting to improve the common crab apple tree. Cultivation would undoubtedly increase the size of the tree and the fruit, but the natural sharpness of the fruit Avould remain, despite all your fostering care. NORTH READING FARMERS' CLUB. This Society has proved a very interesting and profitable one ; its members meet every fortnight to discuss subjects pertaining to agriculture, hor- ticulture, &c. Its meetings are attended by all our best and most intelligent farmers, and many valuable thoughts and suggestions are elicited at every meeting. During the last winter, lectures were delivered before the club by practical men, among whom J. M. Ives, Asa G. Sheldon, J. G. Needham and Rev. F. N. Jones. A course of lertures has been commenced this winter, to con- tinue thi'ough the season. G. F. F. PROFITS OF COWS. Your correspondent, Mr. Pinkham, appears de- termined to look upon the worst side of the pic- ture. I hardly think his is the true one — at least, it is very strange that thousands of farmers should have been growing poorer for the last fifty years, a-nd not have discernment enough to see it. I think Mr. Pinkham must be rather a poor farmer, not to be able to get but a trifle over 1800 quarts of milk from his fifty dollar cow. A good cov/ will give seven quarts (wine measure) per day the year through, making 700 quarts more than that cow. Now millv is worth two cents and a half, year in and year out, either for sale or to make butter, making sixty-thi-ee dollars. The cost of keeping a cow one year varies in different places. In Chelmsford, I presume it would be about $40, leaving clear $23, which is, all things considered, (such as in that way finding a ready market for his hay, roots, &c.,) very fau*. L])nn, 18-59. Young Dairyman. THE HYDRAULIC RAM. I have a ram that has been running for the last eleven years, supplying Avater for house and sta- ble, with only two feet eight inches fall, and twen- ty feet rise, with scarcely any trouble, and for aught I can see, with but very little wear of the machine. LEGHORN FOWLS. I wish to inquire if any of your readers have tried the Leghorn fowls ; if so, what is their opin- ion of them P I have kept them the past year, and they have given better satisfaction as layers than any others wo have ever kept, although we thought the Black Spanish very good. Ours are mostly of the white variety, and for beauty or utility are unsui'passed by any fowls within my knowledge. THE NATIA'E GRAPE. I have tlu-ee kinds of native grape which I have cultivated for the last fifteen years or more, and which have been called superior by all who have eaten of them. The red grape, purple grape, and what we call the white grape. They are all hardy, and ripen in season to be out of the way of Jack Frost. L. R. Hewins. Foxboro', Dec. 16, 1859. For the Neiv England Fanner. CAPACITY OF DKAIW PIPE. Prepared bt Messe3. Shedd & Edson, Aoricultdral Engineers. The tables here given were prepared for private use, in the practice of agricultui'al drainage, and have been of great benefit. Tables of discharge, without the length of pipe that may be used, were contributed to French's Farm Drainage, but beyond that, it is believed no tables suited to the purpose for which these were designed, and based upon actual, careful ex- periment, have ever been published. It is hoped these will contribute somewhat towards establish- ing a more exact method of determining the size of pipe required, than has heretofore been used. Mr. Smeaton's experiments form the basis of the tables of discharge, and the results have been verified by comparison with other tables, and by the rules of Weisback and D'Aubuisson. There are many reasons for a difference in the quantity of water discharged from drains of the same area, and at the same inclination, when pij^es are taken from different kilns and laid by differ- ent persons ; but it is believed that the quantity of discharge, due to the size and fall, is here given with accuracy for a well laid drain formed of good pipe ; it is, certainly, with sufficient accuracy for our purpose. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 61 Nothing appertaining to drainage has been done so blindly, either in England or in this coun- try, as the selection of the size of pipe for sub- main and main drains. The result of an error in the size of pipe re- quired is sometimes only extravagant, at other times it is mischievous, for the destruction of the work may be caused by it. If the size of pipe used is larger than is requu'ed, the extra cost is thrown away — but if smaller, then the pressure of water, accumulated from lateral drains, and flow- ing into a submain or main drain too small to convey it away, may cause the pipe to "blow," or burst. We are liable to have, at any time in New Eng- land, a rainfall of 3 inches vertical depth. It has been found, from various long and care- ful observations, that 50 per cent, of this rainfall is water of drainage, from land in ordinary con- dition in the northern States. From a thoroughly drained field, the percentage of water of drainage will bo greater than this, but not over 661 per cent., except under extraordina- ry circumstances. We have, therefore, assumed, in making up these tables, that it is necessary to provide for the discharge of water falling upon a strip of land forty feet in width, to the depth of two inches, and running off in forty-eight hours. The quantity of discharge is given for a straight pipe running full, but a full pipe cannot perform the office of drainage and an allowance of 15 per cent, of the area has been made, to allow of the entrance of water all along the line of the drain. All drains are liable to curvature, and a greater part of the drains in ever)' system must be curved, to some extent, at their confluence with other drains. A well laid drain, turning by a gentle curve to flow at right angles with its former course, will discharge about 10 per cent, less water than when running straight, — an allowance has there- fore been made for this. In a thoroughly pulverized soil, the space occu- pied by air is about 25 per cent, of the entire bulk, 80 that such a soil, di-ained to the depth of 3 or 4 feet, would receive the largest rainfall of which we have any record, without filling the soil, and running ofl" over the surface. Such pulverization can only occur under the most constant cultiva- tion and thorough drainage ; but most soils, well drained and subsoiled, Avill, after the drains have acted for two or thi-ee years, receive the largest rainfall without surface-washing. The tables can only be used to provide for water falling on the surface occupied by the drains. If the drained field occupies such a position that surface water flows from other fields into it, the size of pipes must be sufficiently increased to pro- vide for it, and if the water of springs would find outlet through the drains, a similar provision must be made for it., Of the necessary increase in size for these conditions, only an experienced and competent person can judge ; but the tables are still very useful under these circumstances, for the relative size of pipe required remains as be- fore, and the proper place to make a change from the size of pipe being used to the next larger, can be accurately determined from them. The areas used in these tables, and given under each size of pipe, are taken by actual measure- ment from pipe manufactured in New England. The Ih, 2, 3, 4, and 5 inch sizes, are common sole- tile pattern. The 8 inch size is round bore, 8 inches in diameter. The left hand or first cohimn, shows the fall in one hundred feet given in feet and inches. The second gives the number of gallons of water the pipe would dischai'ge in twenty-four hours if laid at that inclination. The third shows what length of pipe of that size may be used to convey water of rainfall, before it will be necessary to take the next larger size. In seeking the necessary size of pipe for a cer- tain position, the aggregate length of all the di-ains above it, from which water would flow into the pipe at this point, must be taken from the length allowed by the table, and the remainder will show what length of pipe may be used from that point for- ward, as far as the fall continues the same. 11 INCH DRAIN PIPE AREA, 1.77 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.0 Discliarge. 5631 8248 10231 12055 13800 15148 16655 17924 19113 20303 21334 22444 23151 24268 25061 26013 26806 27441 28234 28947 Length. 169 247 307 362 414 454 500 538 573 609 640 673 694 728 752 780 804 823 847 868 Fall, ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. 29705 30454 31168 31723 32516 33151 33706 34340 34975 35609 36154 36878 37354 37989 38464 38940 39495 39971 40447 40923 Length. 891 913 935 952 975 995 1011 1030 1049 1068 1085 1106 1121 1140 1154 1168 1185 1200 1213 1228 2 INCH DRAIN PIPE AREA, 2.98 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.0 Discharge. 10575 15528 20080 ■ 22891 25970 28915 31459 33868 36010 37884 39758 41632 43373 44979 46585 48058 49531 50869 52342 53814 Length. 317 465 602 687 780 867 944 1016 lOSO 1137 - 1193 1249 1301 1349 1398 1442 1486 1526 1570 1614 Fall, ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. 55019 56492 57696 5S901 60106 61310 62382 63453 64667 65728 66799 67870 68941 70012 71083 72020 73091 74028 74965 75902 Length. 1650 1695 1731 1767 1803 1839 1872 1904 1940 1973 2004, 2036 2068 2100 2132 2160 2193 2221 2249 2277 3 INCH DR.4IN PIPE AREA, 6.11 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.0 Discharge. 24687 36482 45534 53215 60072 66606 72142 77628 82291 86680 90794 95183 98749 102589 106155 109447 112738 116030 119047 122339 Length. 740 1094 1366 1596 1S02 2000 2164 2329 2469 2G00 2724 2855 2962 3078 3184 3283 3382 3481 3571 3670 Fall. ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. Length, 125356 3760 12S374 3850 131117 3933 134134 4024 136603 4098 139346 4180 142089 4263 144557 4336 147306 4419 150069 4502 15223S 4567 154706 4641 157175 4715 159644 4789 162113 4863 164313 4929 166502 4995 168970 5069 171165 5135 173359 5201 G2 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. 4 INCH DRAIN PIPE ABEA, 9.01 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 Discharge. 43698 60691 74043 86181 96297 105603 113695 121382 129090 135948 142827 148896 154560 160225 165889 171554 170814 182074 186928 192189 Length. 1311 1821 2221 2585 2SS9 3168 3U1 3641 3873 4078 4285 4467 4637 4807 4977 5147 5304 5462 5608 5766 Fall. ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7JJ 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. 196639 201090 205945 210396 214442 21SS93 222939 225985 231032 235077 239123 243169 240311 250452 254093 257735 260972 264603 268255 271492 Length. 5899 6033 6178 6312 6433 6567 6688 6810 6931 7052 7174 7295 7404 7514 7623 7732 7829 7938 8048 8145 5 INCH DRAIN PIPE AREA, 19.64 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.0 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 . 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.0 Discharge. 99584 138302 1674'12 193S81 215913 237945 255570 273100 280D40 304922 320785 334385 348975 362205 375424 3S7762 398338 410875 421251 430825 Length. 23^7 4151 5023 5816 6477 7138 7667 8196 86.18 9148 9624 10146 10409 10806 11263 11633 11950 12320 12633 12925 Fall, ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.8 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. 442401 452977 462671 473246 483820 493515 502327 611140 520052 528767 537579 546392 555205 564017 571948 579880 586930 594861 602793 610723 Length. 13272 13589 13880 14197 14515 14805 15070 15334 15602 15863 16127 16392 16656 16320 17158 17390 17003 17846 18084 18322 8 INCH DR.ilN PIPE AREA, 50.26 INCHES. Fall, ft. in. 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.0 Discharge. 277488 372210 453456 525648 586560 642959 694S4S 744-i79 789600 844720 877584 9136S0 949776 971659 1021974 1055551 1080135 1116719 1140047 1177631 Length. 8324 11167 13604 15769 17597 19289 20345 22334 23688 25342 26327 27410 28493 29149 30059 31667 32584 33501 343S1 35329 Fall, ft. in. 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.0 Discharge. 1200959 1234031 1261103 12SS175 1315247 1343S39 1369391 1391951 1414531 1441583 1466399 1488959 1511539 1534099 1556658 1579199 1601759 1624319 1644622 1664927 Length. 36209 37021 37833 3S645 39457 40315 41082 41759 42436 43247 43392 44069 45346 46023 46700 47376 48053 48730 49339 49948 The solid and liquid droppings of a v.'ell-fed cow are estimated by the editor at nearly a ton a month, to which three tons of muck may be added ; thus producing full four times as much as that made in the common practice ; and if the quality is at all inferior, he has not been able to discover it in a close observation of six years. Saving Manure. — On re-publishing Mr. Hol- brook's plan of a gutter in the stable, immediate- ly beliind the cattle, to be filled with absorbents for the liquid portion of the manure, the editor of the Homestead expresses preference for a meth- od which he practices, of keeping the entire sta- ble covered with a thick layer of dry muck, or other absorbent. The parts of this bed that be- come saturated, and the solid feces, are removed as occasion requires, and the whole is replaced once in two weeks, and should be kept covered with litter, which furnishes a comfortable bed for the stock, whose animal heat is supposed to pro- duce very beneficial effects upon these materials. For the New England Farmer. SUBJECTS FOE. DISCUSSIO]>T TN FARMEKS' CLUBS. Mr. Editor : — As I see that an effort is being make by the State to institute and promote Agi"i- cultural Clubs tln-oughout the Commonwealth; and as I have known such clubs to be at a loss to find subjects promotive of their interest and the general good to discuss, I thought I would send you for publication in the Farmer a few of the many questions in Avhich the farmers should take deep thought, and consult together at the present time. Has a man a right to follow a losing business ? Are any of the "Statute Laws" of this State op- pressive and degi'ading to the farmer ? Is the common system of marketing promotive of the farmer's interests ? Have the farmers a right to combine, or act in unison, to promote their interest ? Is selling farm products below their cost, a pub- lic benefit ? Is New England farming at the present time conducive to health ? Would a change of thought and eflbrt among agriculturists, from how to obtain a large surplus, to the idea of a sure profit, result in universal good to ail classes ? Can most of the evils of society be traced di- rectly to the unprofitableness of farming ? I want to say at some time, and perhaps I might as well say it now, and in this connection as well as in any other, that, as a citizen of Massa- chusetts, and a farmer, and my interests and rights being inseparable from those of my brother farmers, I am opposed novr and forever, to all State effort or State aid. to promote, as it is thought by some, the farming interest. I can see nothing in it but "euiZ, and that continually." "Let every tub stand upon its own bottom," is perhaps not a very genteel expression, yet is it not appli- cable in this case ? For half a century our good and ever indulgent mother, the State, has fondled and caressed the farming ifttercsts, till she has made fools of one portion of the people, and neai- ly bankrupted another. Repeal all laws that are antagonistic to the far- mer's good, and dry up the pap which has fioAvsd from the treasury of the State for a quarter of a century, and in five years, if the farmers of the Old Bay State don't show signs of life and prosperity, which they never before dreamed of, then write me down as incomjjetent to judge of the natural course of cause and effect. "Where tlie carrion is, there also will be found the vulture." Let the course which is fast gaining ground in the State, be continued for another quarter of a century, and if a "c7(iM"that is not easy to manage, but will be extremely troublesome, is not fasteiied upon us, then I am no judge. If the State has got any I860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 63 stray change in its huge pocket, that it can find no better use for, let it pay its debts, and wean her offspring before it has the power to kick her over. Let the fai'mers put on and M'car a clean dicky, become more familiar with the slate and pencil, and learn the difference between profit and the prime cost of an article, and in five years not a man among them could ha found who would be willing to acknowledge that they were ever under guardiansliip to the State. Further, let the law- yers, doctors, preachers and the soft-hand gentry generallj', observe the familiar adage, "shoemak- er, stick to thy last," and if they happen to feel the need of any thing in our line, and have got any loose change in the their trov.'sers pocket, and will call around and be civil about it, they can bo ac- commodated. T. J. PlNKHAM. Chehnsford, Mass., Dec. 19, 1859. Fur the Nozv EttgSmid Fanrwr. TUKNIWO- CO"WS TO GRASS— COST OF KEEPING. Mr. Editor f— Looking over your con-espond- ent T. J. Pinkham's article on raising milk, I no- tice he does not propose to turn out his cow to grass till the fh-st of June. This is not the time of ycai" to talk about turning out cattle, but as it brought the subject to my mind, I will Avrite a few lines on it. I consider it best to turn out stock early. From the 10th of May to the 10th of June is usually the best feed month in the year. I turn out just as early as I can, or as soon as the grass gets started, for two reasons ; that the stock does better, and the pasture does better. I know that many good fai-mers say, let the pasture get a good start. I have found by experiment that if I kept my cattle up late, till the feed got rank, they were sure to scour badly, while if I turned out early, they would not scour at all, and after a few days would eat hay again. By turning out early, the cattle go into the low places, where the grass starts fu-st, and eat them down ; whereas, if you turn in late, they do not go into the low places, and that grass, not being as good, is sufiered to go to seed. If the low ground is fed down early, it starts up fresh again, and they will keep it fed all the year. I have known many cows injured, and some spoiled by turning them from hay into rank clover. Hollis, Dec. 17, 1859. Ed. Eaierson. P. S. — As I do not think much of selling milk at 2 cents per quart, I will not go into the profit or loss, but should like to keep 40 or 50 of Mr. P.'s cows at 8 cents a day, or 56 cents per week. On most of the inilk farms out of the villages, from 3 to 4 cents is as high as is paid per day. Two and a half tons of hay and five bushels of meal, looks large. His cow may eat it, mine will not in one winter. Timothy Seed. — In Lee county, Illinois, this seed is grown successfully on the prairies. In one case six hundred bushels were harvested on eighty acres. Three successive crops are recom- mended, producing some fifteen dollars per acre. With reapers and threshing-machines the crop is cheaply hai-vested. For the New England Farmer. SCRATCHES IN" HORSES. Wlrat are "scratches" in horses, and what will the most speedily and assuredly effect their cure ? The first portion of the question, it is well to an- swer, although seldom advanced. But the remain- der is so often placed as an inquiry in your col- umns, Messrs. Editors, that if one knows a reme- dy, I hold he should make it public, as indeed he ought all knowledge that he thinks may be of value to his fellow-man. . "Scratches" or "selenders" is a cutaneous dis- order, exhibiting itself between the hinder postern joints and hoofs of the horse, consisting of cracks, soreness, and at times attended with suppuration. They are generally most troublesome in winter and spring, while the roads are muddy, (which ob- structs the perspiration of the parts,) together with snow water, which is very unfavorable. They are a source of great irritation to the animal, and even of acute pain ; and if long neglected, ultimate in- to lameness, and almost an entire loss of the ser- vices of many a fine horse. Such are scratches or selenders. Now as to their cure. Being strictly of a cuta- neous disorder, cutaneous remedies are most ap- propriate ; still other alleviators are desirable, if not needed. First, the afl^jcted parts ought to be thoroughly cleansed, and well washed in warm cas- tilc soap-suds, and thoroughly dried with a clean cloth ; then a decoction made from the plant I will hereafter designate, and all parts bathed, say twice a day, for a few minutes, allowing the same to cb-y well in, untjl a cure be effected. In some conditions of the ailment, it may a little keenly ir- ritate, but this is mere momentary, and should not be regarded. The diet of the animal ought to be cool and loosening, but no internal medicines are required. In fact, the dosing with salts, nitre, brimstone, and very many other articles, are seri- ously pernicious, tending to debilitate the animal, and thus weaken the recuperative powers, so greatly needed in all healing processes. Potatoes fed raw, are most useful, their efl'ect being not on- ly laxative, but "anti-scorbutic." So with various other vegetables in a degree. The wash, (before alluded to,) is made by ob- taining the twigs, leaves and blossoms of the plant known as "lamb kill," growing so abundantly in most of our fields, and steeping a quantity of the same in clear water, that is boiling and simmer- ing it, and suffering the same to stand and cool, but making the decoction quite strong. This in fusion, applied, as before directed, (paying some measure of regard to the diet of the animal, as be- fore given,) is a speedy, sure and effectual cura- tive of scratches or selenders in horses. In no in- stance, wherever applied, have I learned of its fail- ure or cure. At least, the whole process is a harm- less one, and worthy the trial of any regarding the goodly condition of the suffering beast. It would be well, that this valuable "plant" be gathered in its appropriate season, and carefully marked, as if taken by any one inwardly by mistake, its effects w"ould be most dangerous That all may under- stand fully what this product is, I copy from "Thatcher's Dispensatory." "Lamb kill, is an evergreen common on cold, wet land. Blossoms reddish, variegated, June and July. The leaves prove fatal to sleep. From an inaugural experi- 64 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. mental dissertation published in Philadelphia, 1-, ^.^r,,-, .;-,.. „.,,! I,;.,!-, ^^ 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 71 the principle of draining, irrigation, subsoiling, fallowing, tree raising, training of plants for or- nament or use, or whatever else will beautify or replenish the earth, and at the same time bless mankind. The second summer the boys might obtain wa- ges, and then earn something with their own hands to aid in stocking their farm. For one or two winters that succeed their summer labor, they might pursue such studies as would have a dhect bearing upon the cultivation of the soil, and make themselves familiar with the theories or experien- ces of those supposed to understand the matter bet- ter than themselves. One v.-inter, however, should be spent upon the farm where a good stock of cattle is kept, so that a thorough knowledge of the modes of winter feeding and tending of the various kinds of stock should be gained. With a proper reading iip of the subject, as the lawyer or the physician reads, and the experience which we have already suggested, we believe a young man may be better qualified to enter upon and manage a farm, than by any other pracess within our knowledge. UNITED STATES AGRICULTUIlAIi SOCIETY. The Eighth Annual Meeting of the United States Agricultural Society will be held in Wash- ington city, at the Smithsonian Institute, Wednes- day, the eleventh day of January, 1860. Other ag- ricultural societies are invited to send delegates. Important agricultural topics will be publicly discussed, among them "The Establishment of a Department of Agriculture ;" "The Steam Plow;" "Physical Geography, in its relation to Agricul- ture ;" "Agricultural Statistics of the next Cen- sus ;" "The Sorgho and Imphee ;" "Under-di'ain- ing ;" and "Forest Trees." Gentlemen who may wish to beeomc Life Mem- bers of the Society, can do so by paying or remit- ting ten dollars to the Treasurer, Hon. B. B. French, Washington City. This will entitle them, without any further payments, to the full privi- leges of membership — among these are : free ad- mission to all exhibitions of the Society, the an- nual volumes of published Transactions, \h.e Jour- nal of Agriculture, and the large and elegant Diplo- ma. The fee for Annual Membership is two dol- lars, which ensures the receipt of the Journal oj Agriculture, Potatoes from the Ball. — ^Ir. Sa^muel Guild, of West Medway, informs us that in the spring of 1858 he planted several potato balls, and procured from them one pint of potatoes, which he planted in the spring of 1859, the yield from which was one bushel of large, and fine po- tatoes. For the New England Farmer, FEEDING CATTLE. Mr. Editor : — I observe that a great diversity of habits obtains among farmers, in relation to feeding cattle, hogs, &c. There are some who feed hogs twice each day, others three times, and others more. There are some who seem to pay their porkers for squealing, as they seem not to think of them except when they hear they.- music ; but they pay them for every piece of squealing, as promptly as concert-singers are paid for their performances. Now will the editors and contrib- utors of the Fanner please to inform us which of these habits, in common circumstances, will make the best return for provender ? I caught up my pen to inquhe about cattle ; but it pushed off after the pigs. It is of more consequence than the price of a poll-tax, to any man who owns a single cow, to know how to feed that cow in the best manner to secure her health, or growth, or quantity and value of milk. I would confine my inquiry tc the question. How often should she be fed, supposing her common food to be good, dry hay. Is it the case, or not, that frequent feeding, of a little at a time, is unfavorable to a proper digestion of what is eaten ? Is the constant imeasiness of cattle, which are thus kept between hunger and fullness, a drawback on their growth of flesh or fat ? I think a man who appeals to the laws of chem- istry^ and physiology, as generally understood and applied, without consulting the man at the barn, will be quick to answer. But what Avill "the old man at the barn" say ? I do not mean old Mr. Skinflint, who thinks it a saving to make his cat- tle eat up their hay so close that they would al- most eat pea-brush, to fill their vacant stomachs ; I mean the man who raises as good, and large and healthy cattle as can be found, and does it by plain feeding. I want to get the opinion of that old barn-taught cattle-grower, on this important topic. It looks quite to me as though a good, satisfac- tory meal, with full time to digest it before feed- ing again, would do best ; and I am not satisfied without the opinion of "the old man at the barn;" for nature itself is the only correct chemist and physiologist ; and the old cattlc-gi'ower has had such an opportunity of seeing results following her experiments, as many of us would like to prof- it by. Mr. Editor, if you will put the question to that old stable-physiologist, and return us an answer through the columns of the Farmer, j'ou will very much assist some inquirers. In the meantime, will you give us your opinion upon the point ? Lee, N. H., Dec, 1859. c. Re:marks. — This is the kind of agricultural knowledge that should be well understood. We have no doubt, v/hatever, that regular feeding of three or forir times in twenty-four hours is the best. Begin in the morning with a feed of the poorest hay that you must use, and continue with better hay until the appetite is nearly satisfied. Then leave them clean mangers until noon, feed again, and so at night. We gain this opinion from an actual experience in various ways of feed- 72 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. For the New England Farmer. FAjSTCY PAIlMII>rG, Mr. Editor : — Your Chelmsford correspondent lias made use of an expression in his last commu- nication, which I propose to make the text of a few remarks. I have nothing to do with his no- tions about the unprofitableness, the unhoalthful- ness, or the demoralizing influence of New Eng- land farming. He verj' kindly advises "the lawyers, the doc- tors, the preachers, and the soft-hand gentry gen- erally, to observe the familiar adage, 'Shoemaker, stick to thy last.' " I think "he has intimated that farmers cannot live by their legitimate occupation, but are obliged to resort to trading, and other occupations, to eke out a living. Now, v.hy may not men of other vocations enjoy the same privilege. If they find it a matter of necessity to resort to a little farm- ing to eke out the deficiencies in their business, why should the farmers complain ? And if they should, at times, talk a little about their "little farming," why should anybody object to this ? Farming is a business in which an earnest, sim- ple-hearted man may become very deeply interest- ed, and if he should write his thoughts about it, or seek to obtain more knowledge about it, why should he be told to "mind his own business ?" The farmer, when he wishes to know anything about law, or medicine, or theology, very natural- ly consults the lawyer, the doctor, or the preacher, and when they wish to know anything about farm- ing, they very'naturally consult the farmer. Whom else should they consult ? Does not friend Pink- ham claim the right to know anything about law, medicine or religion P Does he confine his atten- tion exclusively to his farming ? Perhaps he has done so, and this is the reason why he is so much in advance of other men in agricultural knowledge. But if he were prohibited from attending to law, medicine, religion or politics, I think I am safe in making the inference, from the spirit of indepen- dence he shows, that he would be amon^ the first to join "a tea-party" or even the "Continental ar- my." The farmers are not bound to follow as au- thority the crude speculations of inexperinced men, and I trust they generally have discrimina- tion enough to select the good, and cast the bad away. But why other men have no right to inter- est themselves in farming matters, I confess that I, a New England man, cannot understand. The attempt, in the same connection, to cast a slur upon professional men, and diminish their influ- ence by calling them "soft-hand gentry," is, to say the best of it, indicative of a sad want of taste. Why should he, of all men, reproach oth- ers for not)» making their hands hard with labor, when he is striving to show that laboring upon the soil is both unprofitable and demoralizing ? But seriously, who are the "soft-hand gentry" to whom your correspondent refers ? Are they not, for the most part, the sons of New England far- mers, brought up upon the farm, and accustomed to till the soil in their early days, and still bear- ing in their hands the marks of youthful toil ? DkI not many of them leave their paternal acres, that younger brothers might occupy them ? Have not many sought other occupations through the influence of just such ideas as Mr. P. is advanc- ing, \ii.: that farming is a hard and unprofitable business ? These are old ideas that have been re- peated over and over. If any have sought other occupations from such influences, it seems to mc peculiarly unfair now to reproach them for being soft-handed, which, I take it, means, not working for their living. If there is any class of men in New England who are hard-working men, it is the professional men. They labor hard to acquire the prej^aration for their professions, and they labor in the prac- tice of them more hours than do fai'mers or me- chanics, and their labor, too, is of a kind which is more exhausting both to mind and body. From various reasons, many professional men, as avcII as mechanics and merchants, engage more or less in agricultural pursuits. Some from want of suceess in other pursuits ; others, because they find as they advance in life, a taste for the pursuits of their early youth reviving within them. But more, because the cultivation of the soil is the natural em])loyment of intelligent men, an employment in which "thev can indulge their tastes and find an in- nocent occupation, at the same time promotive of health and enjoyment. Why should not such men bring into exercise in their agricultural pursuits the intelligence and the careful habits of observa- tion Avhich they have acquired in their previous occupations ? If any of them have acquired wealth, and arc disposed to make experiments, and see fit to pu])lish the results, Avhy should practical farmers comjflain ? Are they injured by it ? j\Iay not the unfavorable result of an experi- ment, made by some one who can afford the loss, deter them from a ruinous expenditure ? All the slang about "gentlemen farm'^rs," "soft-hand gen- try," "book-fiirmers," and assertions that most of the agricultural books and essays are written by men who are not "practical," "mere theorists," is simply contemptible. It is mostly used either by very ignorant men, or by men who are very con- ceited, and wish to set themselves up by pulling down others. Some who have acquired a good deal of information by conversing with scientific men, vrith men who have read and thought much, and given them the results of their studies, under- take to ridicvile science and books. These men, who have thus acquired all they know from books at second-nand, who are really indebted to the re- searches and experiments of science for all their own success, ought to take a higher position, and exert a better influence upon the rising genera- tion of farmers. Who is the practical man ? Is no man practi- cal except he who labors the whole time with his own hands ? Is not he a practical man who tests opinions and theories by experience ; who refuses to accept theories until they have been confirmed by experiments made by himself, or by otiiers on whom he can rely ? May not a man be eminently practical, and not labor Avith his hands at all ? May he not have a practical mind, and be a care- ful observer and a close thinker, and his opinions and judgment be worth vastly more than those of the mere routine laborer ? Some men learn noth- ing by experience. They have not learned how to learn. Other men by making the facts which they observe the subject of thought and study, rapidly acquire wisdom by experience. The experience of a few years is worth more to them than the ex- perience of a life-time is to others; and just in proportion to their ability to draw accurate re- 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 73 suits from the facts they observe, is the value of their opiuions, whether they are soft-handed or hard. The farmers in Massachusetts are more in- debted than they are aware, to the efforts of the preachers, doctors, lawyers and commercial men, for all the improvements in agriculture, and for the development of the agricultural capacities of the State. This might bo abundantly proved by a sketch of the history of agriculture in this State. But I have akeady occupied too much of your space, and must bid you adieu. ii. s. For the New England Farmer. "COSTS MORE THAN IT COMES TO." This phrase has much meaning in it, and is worthy of being borne in mind in most enterprises. In none more than in the labors of the farm. We see persons expending large sums in clear- ing stones, building walls, filling quagmires, lev- eling J^nolls, &c. &c., without once computing how the account is to be balanced. We hear of pre- miums offered for the largest products upon an acre, without regard to the use of means by which they are produced. All such enterprises are vis- ionary and discreditable. The only sure mode of proceeding is to contemplate the end from the be- ginning ; and to take into view, as far as practi- cable, all intervening incidents. Fancy farmers may derive benefit from these considerations. Those who drive fast horses, or magnify their oxen beyond reason, will find in the end, it Mould have been better to count the cost before they started. The same may be said of those who attempt to force all their products out of a single acre. I have often doubted Avhcther the attempts of those, who look upon themselves as the guides of others, were not mistaken in these matters. Instance, when premiums are of- fered for the greatest quantity of Indian corn, grown upon an acre, not less than one hundred bushels ; is such an ofi'er wise ? I think not. Be- cause, under extraordinary circumstances, one hundred bushels of corn may have been produced upon a single acre (though I have never witnessed such product,) it is no good reason why this amount should be fixed as the minimum crop, for which a premium should be awarded. All the circum- stances of the case, the quality of the land, the ap- pliances made, the variety grown, the peculiarities of the season, are to be taken into view, and when these are considered, that experiment which presents a result most worthy of imitation and commendation, is the one for which a premium should be awarded. p. December 26, 1859. Fruit in Michigan. — "\^Tiile the rich soil and bleak winds of the AVestern prairies appear rather unfavorable to the growth of fruit, Michigan pre- sents unusual inducements to the fruit grower. A single firm have this season purchased near five thousand barrels of apples in the village of Clin- ton, Lenamee county, and some fifteen hundred in Tecumseh. A correspondent of the Midi igan Far- mer says fruits mature at Detroit nearly or quite as early as in central Ohio, two degi-ees further south. For the New England Farmer. HISTOBY OF FOUR PEAB. TREES. I sent you a little history of my flower garden, some two or three years ago, which was so favor- ably received, I now send you the history of four pear trees. I wi'ite the account, partly for my ownri amusement, but more to add another word to the many already said and written on the subject of setting out trees. Forty years ago, the person now owning and living on the farm from which I write, set in his garden four small pear trees. The soil was favor- able ; they throve finely, with no extraordinary care, and were in full bearing in a few years, af- fording two varieties of good pears ; one ripen- ing the last of August, the other about four Meeks later ; thus aff'ording fruit in abundance for a large family, besides mucli to dispense in a friendly v,-dj to friends and neighbors ; but the great good I'e- sulting from two hours' labor is yet to be told. Hunch-eds of seedlings have sprung from the seeds, from imperfect fruit decaying under those trees ; those seedlings, being removed to favorable situations, have since been grafted with all the va- rieties of pears that flourish in this latitude, and there are many of a delicious quality ; the Bart- lett growing in great perfection here'; the Seckel, the Flemish Beauty, and many others which I will not take time to name. The seedlings springing from those noble pear trees have been sent in all dbections, and rare plants for the flower border, fine young fruit trees, choice grape vines, and much that is desirable, have been received in return ; not only has a double benefit arisen from that two hours labor forty years ago, but a kindliness of feeling has been promot- ed between persons hitherto unknown ; and an in- terest exists relating to the success of each oth- er in gardening, increasing the taste for the same, v.-hich is so promotive of good health, and which so adorns and beautifies, m^ny of our New Eng- land homes. North Hartland, Vt, Dec. 29, 1859. For the New England Farmer. BUTTER MAKING IN WINTER. Mr. Brown : — I will merely mention my ex- perience in making l)utter in Avinter, hoping it may be an advantage to Mr. Leonard, for I should think it would be a real trouble to lose, or about lose, the use of his cows. I set my milk, after being strained through a cloth strainer into a ket- tle of hot water, occasionally stirring it in order that the cream or scum shall not rise until it is nearly scalding hot. Then It is set in a cupboard in the room Avhere we live, Avhich proves about the right temperature, and the cream will rise in, about thirty-six hours. It Is then taken off and set in a cold room, and so repeated until enough is gath- ered for a churning. The cream is then set in a warm room until It is the right temperature to churn. I only churn from five to fifteen minutes, and never have lost but one churning in ten yeare' experience. Two years ago I made in the same manner one hundred pounds, which sold in our village at the highest prices. Carrot juice is an advantage to both taste and looks. Reading, Vt., 1859. A Subscriber. 74 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. For the New England Farmer. A ]SrE"W TRIAL TO BE MADE IN FARMING. Mr. Editor : — I have been amused as well as edified by the several pieces which have appeared in the Farmer lately concerning the "profits of farming." I notice a wide difference of opinion betwixt some of your correspondents, and am in- clined to believe that either one is nearer right than the other thinks him to be. The fact is, farm- ing is some like the United States Constitution, it can be made to read either ^;>?'o or con. Being a constant reader of the Farmer, I think I glean a great deal of valuable information from its col- umns, but perhaps a little practice will do me some good ; people will often learn something by expressing their own opinions, that they would not while listening to others. About a year ago, wishing to settle in some business, and having a capital of about $800, af- ter careful deliberation I concluded to enter the list of farmers ; accordingly I purchased an old worn-out farm of one hundred acres, up here amongst the Green Mountains, for which I paid $1200, and after buying necessary tools, a *' un and some other stock, 1 find myself in debt about $800. Now, I think, Mr. Editor, that if farming cannot be made profitable by me, at lease, I shall soon find it out, and you shall be duly apprised of *the fact. It is evident to me, however, that farm- ing in this section is not made to pay, at present. The land generally is uneven and stony, and is better adapted to the dairy business, raising stock and fruit, than to raising grain. The most of the farms about here were bequeathed to the present owners by their ancestors, and they, in turn, will leave them to their children, the land continually growing poor, and each succeeding tenant poorer. How long they will last in this way I don't know, for they were worn tln-eadbare years ago, each generation doing their best to rob those who may come after them. I suppose this is the kind of farming friend Pinkham refers to that don't pay. I believe he does not say farming won't pay — but we will see. I am going to know, and I believe some of my neighbors are thinking about it for the first time, too. We are about forming a farmers' club in this town, but it is rather dull work ; the most of the farmers either think they know enough, or they don't care ; there is not much of a revival yet, but wo have some hopes of one. I will add, by way of general information, that I believe this to be poorest section for farming in the State. It is lo- cated about twenty-one miles west of Connecticut river. Springfield, our nearest city, is about thir- ty miles, and Northampton, the nearest town of any importance, is twenty miles distant ; the near- est railroad station is sixteen miles. Geeen Mountain Boy. Gummington, Mass., Dec, 1859. Bourbon County, two-year old mules brought from $80 to $125 75, Two hundred Mexican mules bought $80 20 per head. One auctioneer sold 14 horses at an average of $13i 85. In Scott, 50 mules sold for $155 each. In Madison Cotmty, 250 hogs on foot, averaging 434 pounds, were bought at $4 per 100, gross. For tJie New England Farmer. LirWAR IN"FLUE]SrCE UPOlsT THE TEMPERATURE. Mr. Editor : — In compliance with the request of your able and gentlemanly contributor, "N. T. T.," of Bethel, Me., in a communication in the November number of the monthly Fanner, p, 52(5, in which, in refen-ing to myself, he says, "I wish your correspondent would give us the aver- age of the temperature of high and low^ moon for a number of years past in September and October. Also, answer this question : Do we seldom have a frost till the full moon, or two or three days after in September ? And do we not almost invaria- bly have a frost at this time ?" I give in answer the date of all the frosts that have occurred in September in Springfield, (in latitude 42 degi-ees, and elevation above the sea about 225 feet,) accord- ing to my record for the last four years ; and for the convenience of the reader, put the date of new and full moon in connection. I also give the "av- erage temperature of high and low moon" in Sep- tember and October, for the same length of time. 1 will first, however, correct a mistake by which "N. T. T." was led to say — "His obsei'vations, seventy-four in numlier, on the mean temperature of high and low moon giving almost three degrees colder in high than low moon, is as Vv'ide a differ- ence as I should expect," &c. Instead of saying .29° (twenty-nine one-hundredths of a degi-ee) as I intended, I Avas made by the t}q)es to say 2.9° (two degrees and nine-tenths,) varying the state- ment quite essentially ; but the figures in the ta- ble were correctly given, and consequently contra- dicted the error. I was also, by a similar accident, made to say "I find the average of the observa- tions to be 22° (twenty-two degi-ees) lower when the moon was high," &c., instead of .22° (twenty- two one-hundredths of a degree.) as I intended — simply by the misplacement, in one instance, and omission in the other, of the decimal point. The dates of all the frosts that have occuiTed in September in the last four years, their extent in regard to severity, and the minimum temperature of the day on which they occurred, and the date of new and full moon in the same month, for the same length of time, are given, as follows : Prices of Farms and Stock in Kentucky. — We copy a few items of recent sales. A farm three miles from Shelbyville, of 234 acres, sold for $74 40 per acre ; an unimproved farm of 108 acres in the same county, for $50 per acre ; a farm one mile fr^omMt. Sterling of 330 acres at $93 15 per acre ; another of 100 acres at $125 per acre. In Date. Extent. 1856, Sept. 25.... very light. 1857, " 8.... " " .. " " 19 •• " « " 30 1858, 25.. 26.. 27.. 2S.. 29.. 7.. S.. 9.. 15.. IG.. Min, Memp ...3S\ ...38' . " " 30' .ice formed 30 . " » 30't .heavy white frost.. 32' I . " " " ••32' * . « " " ..34' f .light ?>'' I .ice formed 2S' J .very light 30° "| .light 37' .vei-y light 40' )■ .severe 34' | . " 34 J New Full Moon. yioon. ..28th 14th. 8' J 0°> ...ISth. 0') .4th. rth 22d. 18R0, NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. In the above statement your correspondent may be hardly able to trace a semblance of connection between the occurrence of frosts and full moon, but with the limited period of observations 1 am able to give, I am stiil slow to adopt the idea of a greater tendency to frost, at or near full moon than at other times. It would be more interesting and satisfactory to4iave more extended data from which to judge. The following table gives an average of the mean temperature of three days at each "high and iow moon" in September and October for the last four years, according to your correspondent's re- quest : Years. High Moon, Low Moon. 1S56 55.94' 62.04' 1857 55.16' .47.17'' 1858 51.19' 53.09° 1859 51.50' 49.95° Mean .53.67° 53.14° It will be seen from the statement above that the mean temperature is fifty-three one-hundredths of a degree higher at high moon than iow — against the opinion advanced by your respected corres- pondent, "N. T. T. ;" yet I would not have any one conclude that this brief number of observa- tions settles the matter either for or against the theory. I have given these figures at the gentle- manly solicitations of "N. T. T.," who is, however, personally unknown to me ; but I would say that my suspicions in the matter — that the influence of the moon upon atmospheric temperature is so slight that no connection can be traced between it and the occurrence of frosts, either in spring or autumn, or at any season of the year — have been rather strengthened than weakened. In another place in his communication your correspondent remarks, "I wish he would make his average for the five successive summer months for a series of years, commencing with May, and let me have the result." Here it is ; and not know- ing which would be preferred, high and Iom^ moon, or new and full moon, I give both, for reasons given in my former article, as follows : Years. Hi^h. Low, New. Full. ' 1857 60.01° 65.42' 63.89° 63.91° 1858 63.31° 62.73' 66.55° 60.71° 1859 G 5.09° 61.91° 60.65° 65.34° Mean 62.83°. 63.35° 63.67' 62.92° My preconceived opinion, I must confess, was against this theory, but as I commenced my re- search merely for the sake of truth, let it favor which side it might, I will now review the state- ments I have faithfully deduced. In the observa- tions on high and low moon for three years, given in my former communication on this subject, (p. 494 of monthly Farmer,) the result was .22° in fa- vor of the theory ; and the result of observations on new and full moon, given in the same article, jvas also .29° in favor of it ; the table of frosts in this article, may be construed to favor it, or con- flict with it, while the result of observations on this subject in September and October, for four years, gives .53° against it ; and the result of ob- servations on high and low moon for the five warm months for three years, also gives .52° against it, and the same on new and full moon, for the same length of time, .75° against it. I am not yet prepared to hazard any settled conclusion on this subject that would conflict with general public opinion ; for I find that the opin- ion advanced by your correspondent is also more or less prevalent in this region. Yet, from the record I have studied, I see no particular evidence in its favoi-. I can but hope, however, that some one, who has the means to do so, will continue the investigation and, if convenient, report. The reason why I have given observations on new and full moon, and also on high and low moon, is, that they do not often occur in conjunc- tion, or at the same time, and that public opinion upon new and full moon, in this connection, re- gards it synonomous with high and low moon, whereas the contrary obtains. It is evident that the moon must exert her greatest influence upon our atmosphere at the time she passes nearest the zenith, unless it can be proved that heat is reflect- ed from her surface as well as light ; which, if it be the case, would conflict with the popular notion of its being colder at full moon. j. a. a. Springfield, Mass., Nov. 25, 1859. For the Ncic England Farmer. LOOSE BARK ON" APPLE TREES. Mr. Editor : — In a late number of the Farmer your correspondent informs us that the bark on the south side of his apple trees became black, and ultimately was disengaged from the body of the tree. He asks for the cause and remedy. Th e first cause, perhaps, is in consequence of the high state of cultivation of his lands, which renders the trees very thrifty, and consequently more tender. Then, after a tight and severe frost, the weather becomes very warm, which, in his case, starts the sap on the south side of his trees, then a sudden change of the weather from warm to severe cold and frost chills the sap, and consequently disen- gages the bark from the trees, and produces the result complained of. In 1830, in January, the weather became very warm, the frost all came out of the ground, and also out of the trees. The wind suddenly change .1 to the north, and the frost became very sudden and severe, the result of which was, the loss of many, very many apple trees in the same manner as represented by your correspondent. The most thrifty trees sufi'ered the most. Yours, Oliver M. Whipple. Lowell, Dec, 1859. The Beurre Bosc Pear. — The original of the beautiful illustration of this pear, which we gave last week, we forgot to mention, was furnished by the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder — being one of a crop produced in his orchard at Dorchester. Our thanks are due him for this and other similar fa- GUAXO. — According to Official Returns pub- lished in the Mark Lane Express, there were im- ported into the British "United Kingdom," in the nine months ending September 30, 1859, 64,984 tons of guano ; dm'ing the corresponding period of the year 1858, there Avere imported 269,878 tons. More than four times a^ much last year as this year. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb- For the New England Farmer. DISEASED APPLE TREES— SELF-AOTIKTG WELLS. Mr. Editor : — HaAdng been in the situation represented by your correspondent of Still Hiv- er respecting "diseased apple trees," I have sym- pathy with him, and will tell him that I planted an orchard of trees from western New York in the spring of 'ob, and in the spring of 'bQ found thera in the condition represented by him. I lost some of them, but could have saved nearly all, had I been in possession of the information that I have since acquired. Expei-ience I had but little, but believing it to be the effect of exposure to cold, being in an exposed position, I set about for re- pairs. My first step was to make a batch of graft- ing wax, which may be made as follows : One pound tallow, two pounds bees-wax, four pounds rosin ; all pure and clean articles : put the whole into an iron pot and heat thera till they come to a foam ; then turn the heated wax into a tub of water ; then with greasy hands work thoroughly. With a sharp knife cut off the dead bark, and ap~ ])ly the wax, and put about the roots of the trees a bushel or more of chip manure, and when you find a tree-top cannot be saved, cut it off near the ground where the wood is green ; cover the stub with wax, and protect the first sprout that comes of a thrifty appearance, and cut off all others. Cut off all dead branches, and wax over the end of the limb next the tree. In this way I saved eighty of an hundred, many of them in the condition spoken of by "Still River." The manure should be ap- plied immediately, and the waxing in a warm day ; in the spring I apply to each tree a small handful of unleached wood ashes. The ground should be ])ut to a hoed crop for four or five years at least. Care and anxious attention by him, will save his trees. O. w. D, Ooshen, Vt., 18j9. Remarks. — We have no means at hand of re- f.'cring you to the Proprietor of the Self- Acting Well. For the New England Farmer. BUTTER IN WINTER. In my reply to your "New Bedford coiTespon- dent," I, last week, gave some views on this sub- ject, and promised soon to render other informa- tion. This I could not acquire until I saw the result of this morning's churning. Here, the churning is done once a week, and from cream obtained by feeding "meadow hay" only. Better feed, sure, ought to give better cream ! The milk of night and morning, during winter months, (as before said,) is thoroughly scalded immediately after milking, and straining. The past week, during sudden changes of weather, the milk after scalding and being placed away in the pans, accidentally became frozen solid. The cream, however, (partially at least,) had risen. But it was so solidly frozen, it had to be scraped off with a spoon, and in such state, was placed away, think- ing it worthless. This morning, however, it was thawed out by putting the cans holding it into hot water. This was the condition of all the creani" churned this day. The result was, most ex- cellent butter in thirtv minutes churning, and the "butter-milk" remaining could not be distinguish- ed from new milk from the cow. I would also say, the cream from milk that has been scalded never has a bitter taste, as is generally the case with cream from milk not scalded. This, sure, is a gain. Let, therefore, no one object to a little ' "pains-taking" in the scalding of milk, as it surely saves so much labor in churning, "and ofttimes saves the whole week's product of cream from be- ing lost. Now, Messrs, Editors, for all this rendering, can any one give me any information as to the churn advertised with you the past summer, that would produce good butter from "butter-milk" in five or ten minutes churning ? As the Scripture says, "Come over and help us." Oak Hill, 'Dec. 23, 1859, EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. CULTURE OF CRANBERRIES, I have a cranberry bed about nine feet square, from which I picked twelve quarts of handsome berries, although the grass is a» thick as the vines ; the soil is wet and springy, but not boggy ; I would like to know the best way to increase the size of the bed, and whether it should be flowed or not j if flowed, at what time, and how long ? George Eddy, JSTorih Providence, B. I., 1859, Remarks. — ^Increase your cranbeiry patch by covering a square rod by the side of the old bed with gravel, so as to cover all the grass, and in April next set it with vines within six or eight inches of each other. The vines may be taken from the meadow with a little tuft attached to them. Pull out all the gi-ass when you set them, and never allow that, or weeds, to gi-ow among them afterwards. Put up a board, edgewise, around the bed so as to rise three or four inches above it, and then, outside of the board dig a lit- tle trench a foot wide and four inches deep, to prevent the grass growing into the bed. Give uk the result. We do not think flowage necessary, unless to kill wonns or prevent damage by frost. vegetable mould for meadow LAND, Will it answer to draw a rich mould on to a piece of old meadow, broke up last fall, without making a compost of it ? The mould appears to be decayed vegetable deposit, out of which I drained the water last fall. A, D, Holt, Salisbmy, 1859, Remarks. — Peat, or muck meadow land would ndt be materially benefited by the application of vegetable mould. Such land abounds in vegeta- ble matter, and needs sand in some form. Would it not be better to apply the mould to the high lands and a dressing of sand to the meadow ? PRUNING pines. I have about thirty acres covered with a thick growth of pines, from twelve to fifteen years old. 1860, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. If any of your readers have had experience in thin- ning out and trimming up such trees, I wish they would tell me whether it is better to trim and thin out, or to let "nature take its course." N. B. S AFFORD. White River Junction, Vt,, 1859. Remarks. — This is a matter not well settled. We know of some experiments in pruning that have resulted favorably. Shall be glad to hear from others in relation to the inquiry. CRANBERRY CULTURE. I learn from the Plougliman that the experi- enced editor had four rows of plants twelve rods long, which continued to do well and improve for three years, so long as he kept the grass and weeds away from the plants; but the fourth year, when no attention was given to them, they failed to do well. I should like to inquire of the veteran en- thusiast, if he knows any other variety of plant that would not fail under such circumstances ? I have known the cranberry cultivated five years successively on the same ground, yielding a boun- tiful crop of superior berries each year, always liaving been watched with vigilance that no extra- neous substance should check its growth. I can- not think that any valid argument can be brought against the culture and growth of the cranberry, from the facts stated in the Plougliman, any more than there could from the failure of a field of corn that was neglected to be hoed. Crops are ever the reward of vigilant attention ; and no crops the contrary. *. IMcember, 1859, WINTER BUTTER. In answer to friend Leonard's inquii-y how to make butter in cold weather, I will tell him how I practice. I heat my milk by putting it into a ■strainer pail, and set it into a kettle of hot water ; heat until nearly scalding hot ; set it in a cupboard with a cloth hung in front, in a room where there is a fire kept through the day ; it will keep from two to three days. I am careful to skim it before it sours ; keep the cream in the same room, and as near summer heat as I can. I never heat the cream before churning, but scald the churn before putting the cream into it. I add a little carrot juice to the cream when I churn it. It will puzzle the best judges to tell the butter that I am mak- ing this winter from that made in September. Dec. 22, 1859. Butter Maker. STOVES — PK4T — IRON-RUST. Can a cast iron box be made with front and bot- tom grating to put into a wood-stove, so as to burn coal in it? What is the comparative value of the best peat and wood or coal .►* Is there some kind of cement or solder, that can be put on the inside of a tin wash-boiler, to pre- vent the clothes from iron-rusting ? Georgetown, Mass., 1860. N. Remarks. — You can get a stove with a lining calculated to burn either wood or coal; or if you have a stove the top to which can be taken off to give room to put in the grate, you can fit it up yourself. We have not the information at hand in relation to value of different fuels, but a ton of hard coal is considered equal to two cords of the best wood. BUTTER and CHRYSANTHEMUMS. In reply to E. Leonard's inquiry about "but- ter-making in winter," I will give my own meth- od, which may, perhaps, be of some use to him. I scald the milk in a kettle used for the purpose, — being very careful that it does not burn, — then place it in a cool closet. In three or four days, skim. Scald the chum before putting in the cream. The butter will come in from ten min- utes to au hour, at longest. Will some one please inform us thi-ough the Farmer how to bring chrysanthemums to the greatest perfection. b. Somerset, Dec. 16, 1859. COST OF KEEPING OXEN PER WEEK. Will you or some of your readers please inform me what would be a fair price a week for keeping a yoke of oxen through the v^inter, on good hay — the oxen not to be worked — the keeper to have the manure. Ought they to have meal, to be i.i good working order in the spring — if so, how- much meal a day — and price a week on hay and meal. A Reader. P. S. — If the oxen are worked — but not by tlio keeper — what feed should they have, and what is a fair price for keeping them a week. Billerica, Mass,, Dec, 1859. Remarks. — We leave a reply for some of our readers better informed. Of course, the age and size of the oxen would have much to do with it. As a general rule, v/e suppose that cattle eat about three per cent, of their live weight, so that an ox weighing 1500 pounds would require 45 pounds of hay per day. SHEEP. Sheep highly fed with meal or other good prov- ender, about the time the buck is with them in the fall, will almost invariably have two lambs apiece. So says one of the greatest sheep-breeders. The lambs, also, may nearly all be raised by proper at- tention to the mothers. The great mistake in re- gard to sheep is in not keeping them well enough. If you wish them to be prolific or profitable, give them plenty of the best hay through the winter, meal daily, and for shelter, a warm barn-cellar wherein is an open tank of pure water. p. Colebrook, N. IL, Dec. 5, 1859, The Turnip Crop in England. — We find considerable complaint in our English papers of the failure, this year and last, of this important root. Caterpillars that attacked the blade, gi-ubs that mined into the root, blight that checked its growth, and finally, a frost that occurred on the 22d of October, are among the casualties enumer- ated, this season. At some of the late meetings of farmers, the opinion has been freely expressed, that some substitute must be found for the Swedes. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. SETTIBTG AN APPLE OHCHABD. The setting of an orchard by any one, young or old, is a -work of too much importance to be done indifferently, or without that careful consideration which any work demands that is to remain for fif- ty or a hundred years, and that is to stand both as a work of utility and beauty. Few persons who })lant an orchard can reasonably expect that all its profits will accrue to themselves ; for if it is well done, it should last seventy-five years, at least, and if it is poorly done, there will be no profit from it. They work, therefore, for another gener- ation, and that work ought to be done so as to el- evate, beautify and make profitable, — that in the end, the earth shall be so fruitful, and all material things so blending and co-operating ■« ith it, that the mind itself shall be drawn into harmony, and this fair land of ours tmly become the garden of of the Lord. It is with this view of the matter that we shall reply to the inquiries of oiu- respected correspon- dent in the following letter : Dear Sir : — I wish to put out an orchard the fol- lowing sprmg on the soil here described ; a pino siu-- face soil from six to fifteen inches in depth, imdcr- n?ath which is a subsoil of gray and red clay, termed in this section, "hemlock soil," compact, and very retentive of water. I wish you, throiigh youi- columns, to give adxicein regard to setting the trees, and answer the following questions. 1. How far apart should the trees be put ? 2. "Wliat method is best in making the root bed ? 3. Would you fill in the bottom Avith small stones ? An early answer through your colmnns will oblige greatly an old reader and subscriber. Colchester, Vt., Jan., 1860. A. a. As the wi'iter is evidently going to work con- siderately in his enterprise, and desires to do all things well, we will allude to one or two things before making a direct reply to his first question. The thrift, continued prosperity and profit of an orchard, like other crops, will depend, mainly, we think, upon the condition of the soil upon which it stands. If the soil is "compact, and very retentive of water," little profit will be likely to a ccrue from it, whether devoted to an orchard or any other crop. The fii'st step should be to drain it, and if the labor to do this is found too heavy and expensive, commence upon one edge of the piece'*to be appropriated to trees, and drain the water off to the depth of three or four feet, if it is practicable. After this, plow a foot deep, or two if you can, manure highly, and work it in in- timately with the soil. When this has been done, the field is ready for the reception of the trees. Now comes the question as to the distance apart which they should be set. This depends much up- on circumstances. If one is a young man, has a large farm and plenty of team to do a good deal of plowipg, with manure to cover many acres, forti/ feet apart is not too much for the ti-ees. Under the most favorable circumstances, the branches of these trees would never meet so as to obstruct their growth, or in any manner to interfere with each other. If the land under them is kept prop- erly cultivated and manured, they would proba- bly cover its whole surface, and the results Avould be all that ought to be expected from a good or- chai'd. If, on the other hand, it is desii-ed to plant an orchard on hiily and rocky land — where apple trees often thrive the best — and where plowing and the application of manvu-e v.'ould be quite ex- pensive, we should certainly advise to occupy a less breadth of soil, and place the trees thirty feet apart, or even thirty feet one way and only tweii- ty-five the other, with the view of shortening them in a little after the lapse of t^venty years, if theu* brancHes should meet, rather than encounter a soil so expensive to work. In the case, also, where a person has a decided taste for the cultivation of apple trees, and wishes to occupy a considerable portion of his time in that particular item of farm industry — and where he does not keep a strong team of oxen or horses, and is limited in his ma- nurial agents, — ^but still wanting a considerable number of trees, avc should advise to set them within thirty feet of each other. The second question of om- correspondent, — '^What method is best iji making the root bed']" has been pretty nearly answered in what we have already said about the prepai-ation of the land. But, briefly, we would suggest to lay out the field at whatever distance is thought best, then dig the holes five or six feet in diameter and eighteen inches to two feet deep, thi-owing the black soil on one side, and the yellow or subsoil on the oth- er. When this is don3, return the black soil to the bottom of the hole with any old, well-decomposed manure, and the bed for the tree is ready. The centre of this hole should be the exact Ime in both directions, and while one person holds the tree steadily in its proper position, another should carefully single out ail the small as well as the leading roots, making them radiate in every di- rection, and cover them with fine and rich black earth. The space under the base of the tree should also be filled with soD, so that no roots be left to gather mould and then decay. The tree should be set at the same depth in which it grew, and some excellent orchardists say with the same side to the sun. The black earth may now all be returned to the hole, and then the subsoil, which completes the work. A good tree set in this care- ful manner will make more growth in six years, than one of the same quality indifferently set will in ten years, and the probability is that in the course of fifteen years it will many times repay the cost of the extra care it had received. In reply to the third inquiry, we would say, that if the surface abounds with small stones, and the i860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. land is not well drained, it certainly would afford some scope and protection for the roots if under- laid with a liberal bed of stones ; they would tend to a more rapid drainage immediately about the tree, and if the spaces between them were filled with loam, the roots would travel and find supplies there. We cannot see that they would be injiu-i- ous under any circumstances. THE ■WITTTEB.S. BY FRASCES BEOWNE. We did not fear them once — the dull gray mornings No cheerless burden on our spirits laid ; The long night-^vatches did not bring us warnings That we were tenants of a house decayed ; The early snows like dreams to us descended ; The frost did fairy -worli on pave and bough ; Beauty, and power, and wonder have not unded — How is it that we fear the winters now? Their house-fires fall as bright on hearth and chambers ; Their nortlicrn starlight shines as coldly clear ; The woods still keep their holly for December ; The world a welcome yet for the new year, And far away in old remembered places The snow-drop rises and the ro!)in sings ; The sun and moon look out with loving faces — Why have our days forgot such goodly things ? Is it now the north wind finds us shaken By tempests fiercer than its bitter blast, Which fair beliefs and friendships, too, have taken Away like summer foliage as they passed, Aad made life leafless In its pleasant valleys, War.ing the liglit of promise from our day, Fell mists meet even iu the inward palace — A dimness not like theii's to pass away ? It was not thus when dreams of love and laurels Gave sunshine to the winters of our youth. Before its hopes had fallen in fortune's quarrels. Or Time had bowed them with its heavj- truth — Ere yet the twilights found us strange and lonely. With shadows coming when the fire burns low. To tell of distant graves and losses only — The past that cannot change and will not go. Alas ! dear friends, the winter is within us. Hard is the ice that grows about the heart ; For petty cares and vain regrets have won us From life's true heritage and better part. Seasons and skies rejoice, yea, worship rather ; But nations toil and tremble even as we, Hoping for harvests they will never gather. Fearing the winter which they may not see. Place for the Address. — The California Farmer, in commenting on the late State Fair, makes the following remarks on this subject : "A very great error, we think, was made in hav- ing the address delivered in the Hall of Exhibi- tion. It is impossible to keep an audience of such magnitude still. All do not come to hear speak- ing ; they come to see the fair. They pay their money to see the exhibition ; and it is not possi- ble to keep such an audience quiet. Far better to have speaking in another place. Then, all who wish to liear can go ; and those who wish to see can enjoy what they pay for." Pride is a wild beast, which requires costly food — the happiness of its keeper and all around him. HOUGH DOCTORS. "WTiile on this subject, may I be allowed to ad- vert to the sad, harsh manner in which some med- ical men address their patients, cliildi'en especial- ly. They are too apt to speak to the invalids roughly — too often frightening them. Children are laid hold of in any thing but a gentle manner ; their pulses are felt as if by force ; their mouths forcibly opened for the purpose of examining the tongue, till the child is so alarmed, that it is al- most impossible to judge of the real state of the case, owing to the excitement and crying. Now, surely, this is very wrong. Instead of having, Avith much difficulty, to coax the little one to go to the doctor's, or to allow him to see it at home, it is only right for the medical man to employ all his soothing powers to induce the child to place con- fidence in him ; or, at any rate, he should, by his gentle manner, try to abate fear. It has been, and is at the present day, lamentably common for physicians and surgeons to adopt what is called "the Abernethy manner." Never was there a worse or more injudicious plan. I am not, for a moment, wishing to throw the least slight on so deservedly great and so skilful a surgeon as the late Mr. Abernethy ; but I wish to condemn, and that most strongly, the rough system adopted by so many practitioners, as if rough, coarse beha- vior or manners constituted ability. — My Note- Book ,• or the Sayings and Doings of a London Physician. For the New England Fanner. UNDEBDRAINING— THE RESULT. Mr. Editor: — In the fall of 1858, I under- drained about two acres of cold, stony upland, at a cost of about $30 per acre. A part of tlie drains were made of stone, which were plenty upon the ground, and a part of drain tile manufactured in our town. The crop of 1858 consisted of two small loads of brakes, with a little grass, and would hardly pay for cutting and taxes. I do not mention interest, as land that pays nothing is worth nothing. This spring, I broke it, manured lightly, and planted to potatoes, corn and beans. The crops did well, and at harvest were worth, in our mar- ket, about $100, which paid the $60 invested for draining, and $40 for labor. The land is now worth, at least, $50 per acre. I close by saying that mv experience in farming does not coincide with that of J. T. P.'s. J. R. w. Springfield, Ft., Dec. 12, 1859. Remarks. — This short story will probably lead to the draining of scores of acres. Artesian Wells. — Many of these wells have been made in California, to procure water for ir- rigation. By an article in the California Farmer, it appears that these wells are charged with pro- ducing very serious injury by causing the drying up of mountain streams and other bodies of wa- ter. The editor says, after mentioning by name quite a number of streams, ponds and lakes that have disappeared, "there are scores of mountain streams and lagoons that in the last few years have dried up, and with them the loss of herbage and the pasturage of tens of thousands of stock." 80 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. 18G0. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 81 A PLEASAOTT AND COIyTVElSTENT HOME- STEAD. There are few things that more truly indicate the degree of civilization and refinement that a people have attained than the style and an-ange- ment of the buildings in -which they live. These stand as memorials of the age, and mark its char- acter as distinctly as does its literature, or any de- partment of the arts. When we see a house constructed in true archi- tectural taste, all its parts harmoniously combin- ing with each other, and the grounds about it so laid out as to blend with and heighten the effect of the v/hole, Ave expect to find within its doors a family of intelligent persons, with cultivated minds in most things, possessing attractive manners and adorning the society in which they move, as their house and lands adorn the natural world about them. The tendency of this condition of things has an important influence upon the state of the mind, other things being equal. It soothes it when agi- tated— tranquillizes grief — furnishes pleasant ob- jects for contemplation in sickness or sorrow, and fills the mind with a class of delightful associa- tions that give it color and tone through life. Is it not important, then, that when we build, it should bo done in accordance with true rules, and so as to avail ourselves of all the advantages of location, style, health, convenience of arrange- ment, and to secure such an aspect about us as shall always suggest pleasant and kindly emo- tions ? It is not always more costly to get those things, than it is to forego them. It maybe even cheaper. The man who kiwrvs hoiv to construct a building upon true rules, will do it with less material than he who guesses at it, and at the same time give you a house furnishing the conveniences you re- quire. Another person might have expended $500 more upon the buildings which are illustrated above, v/ithout obtaining their accommodations. It is best, therefore, for every one, before build- ing, to advise with others in regard to location, arrangement of the interior, construction, and lay- ing out of the grounds ; and no house should be erected in the country without regard to laying out the grounds around it. A mere cabin, remote from all other buildings, Avith its bit of lawn in front, a little rude ti'ellis-Avork here and there, with its creeping plants over the door, or their blossoms looking in at the windows and exhaling their fragrance there, is a thousand times more at- tractive than many a costly and presuming man- sion. And this is attainable by all who build in the covmtry. The engi-aving which we present to-day repre- sents the farm buildings of Calvin Chamber- lain, Esq., of Foxcroft, Maine, and it illustrates far better than we can by words, the idea Avhich we should be glad to impress upon the mind of the reader. Mere shelter is not all we want ; a cultivated mind will never be contented with that alone — it yearns for something to please, as Avell as protect, and even in poverty and privation, will surround itself with such objects as will excite pleasant and healthful thoughts. Wo intended to say something of the an-ange- ment of these buildings, of the octagon barn, and the grounds about them, but our preface has ex- hausted all the space we can spare, and we must leave the reader to examine for himself, and post- pone giving another train of thought, which this cut had excited, luitil another opportunity. TO MANAGE A KE3FRACT03Y HORSE. Mr. Euitou: — In the Farmer of the Ijthinst, appeared an item, copied from the Coiion Planter, at which I was not a little surprised. Knowing the uniform humane proclivities of that journal, (the Farmer,) I wondered that it should seem to give countenance to such a barbarous experiment, as tying a cord — a plow-line was suggested — to the nether jav/ of a balky or contrary horse or mule, and going forward of the poor brute with the oth- er entf, and -pulling till it would come f n'ward with its load. Now such a spectacle as that might, perhaps, be witnessed with approval, where ail labor is coerced ; but shame should and would mantle the cheek of your readers, most of them, certainly, at the thought of such a cruel op- eration. The time was Avhen, among us, it was customary to Avhip all refractory brutes into sub- mission, and many a valuable horse has been ren- dered worthless by such barbarity. But, thanks to the intelligence of the age, such practices, in NcAV England, are being done avv^ay with, and more gentle and reasonable means substituted for correcting the follies to which brutes, as well as m 'U, are liable, especially through the inilueuce of early mismanagement. It has been pretty well demonstrated, that a horse, as well as a man, is the creature of educa- tion, and when the Cotton Planter comes to learn this fact, and act upon this ])rinciple, it will have attained a higher civilization than that Avhich ad- mits of drawing horses or mules by the under jaAV, to extort work from them. Having said thus much on the article alluded to, let me suggest a better way to overcome the no- tion— for it is only that — of refractory beasts. The law of kindness has never yet failed to produce a salutary effect, in a greater or less degree, when properly applied ; nor will it, in its applica- tion to a balky horse. It may require an immense patience and considerable time, with many efforts, to make a thoroughly contrary horse lift upon his collar, at a heavy load, in all places, but never- theless, it may be done, and perhaps somewhat after this Avisc : Put him into the hands of some man fit to manage a horse, and Avho can control his temper under any circumstances, and Avithhim let the horse become thoroughly acquainted, 82 KEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. (brutes, as well as men, make acquaintances,) af- ter Avhich, let him be used by such master only, hitching- him to such loads as he can easily draw ; allow him any time he may require to get ready to start, without much urging or any whipping, or loud talk. Smooth out his foretop and mane, caress his head and neck, and blow gently on his nostrils, and talk soothingly to him, and ere long his countenance and nerves will be seen to relax, and his eye to assume a mild and subdued look, Avheu the driver may take him by the bit and ask him to go forward, and he will do it ; or if he still refuses, allow him more time, and continue the above process till success comes, as it surely will come, without fail. Afterward, when the present load is drawn without reluctance, add more and more, and continue the same process, and event- ually vou may have as tame a horse as you can ask. Try it. And are not such means more congenial to a mind of sensibility than that prescribed in the ar- ticle referred to ? Cruelty to animals, is always attended with pecuniary loss, and a brutalizing and debasing effect upon him who inflicts it. Bet- ter that the ox be sent to the shambles, and the horse sold to the jockey at any price, than that a man's sensibdities be blunted, his temper excit- ed and his better nature outraged, in attempts to subdue them. E. i. Springfield, Vt, 1860. BARN CELLARS. This subject was recently discussed by the Far- mers' Club of West Cornwall, Ct. The Home- stead reports that — "All the club were agreed upon the value of such a place for depositing manure, where it may be composted and ferment, even during extreme w^eather. It was the universal opinion of all who had tried it, that hay kept perfectly Vv-ell in a deep bay, go- ing below the surface, if it was well drained so that water would not rise ; it should be well cured, and then it will preserve its color and fragrance better than upon open mows or scaffolds . There was a division of opinion upon the point whether horses and cattle did as well, kept in un derground apartments. The truth a])pears to be, that with proper light, ventilation, and cleanliness, there is no better stabling ; but if the animals wallow in filth, or a reeking dung-heap occupies half the stable, and ventilation is only secured by doors sometimes open and producing currents of air, the natural consequence will be coughs and colds, an^ other diseases resulting from impure air and sudden changes of temperature." Dr. Loring's Address. — We received, some time since, a copy of the "Address of Dr. George B. Loring, before the Barnstable Agricultural So- ciety, Oct. 6th, 1859," printed in the Salem Ad- vocate. The topic discussed by Mr. Loring is Agricultural Education — ^Elevated Labor. His ar- guments are based not on the mere exjiediency of desirableness of such education, but upon its imperative necessity for the maintenance of our social and civil organizations. "That equality of citizenship which makes us a free people," says he, "requires this elevated condition of labor, without which we should be free no longer." We hope to see this address in a more convenient and, to our poor eyes, more readable form. For tlie Neio England Farmer. THE WEATHEB OF THE AUTUMISr MOISTTHS, 1859. The first half of September was very dry, less than half an inch of rain falling during the first sixteen days ; and the springs and streams, there being a scanty supply of rain during the latter part of August, became unusually low. Yet, strong indications of rain were not wanting, for several times storms lingered and threatened heavily for several days, but finally deposited only a trifling amount of moistiu'e. A heavy, cold, north-east rain storm, however, set in at daylight on the I7th, and during the twelve hours of its continu- ance, deposited 1.94 inches of water on a level. A heavy, very cold north-east storm also prevailed during the 21st, 22d and 23d, in which two inches of water fell ; and though there v/as but little rain during the remainder of the month, there was the usual supply of water for the month — 4.24 inches. The month, with the exception of a very few days, was remarkably cool throughout, and during the first sixteen days, the sunrise temperature Avas more frequently below 45° than above that point. Light frosts occurred on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, and severe frosts on the loth and IGth. No frosts occurred during the remainder of the month, and generally the last half of the month was somewhat warmer than the first half. There Avere three very warm days about the 12th, but on the whole corn matured slowly ; but very little had been cut pre- vious to the loth, and only a fair commencement had been made when the heavy frosts occurred on the 15th and 16th, greatly injuring the fodder, and almost spoiling the crop on late ])ieces. Generally the corn had not become sufficiently ripened to prevent serious damage ; yet, at husking time the farmers found a larger proportion of souiid corn than they had anticipated. On the 18th, from a point in this vicinity, nearly one hundred acres of corn could be seen, of which but a very small per cent, had been cut ; the remainder was standing, dead and whitened from the effects of the frosts of the 15th and 16th. A large part of the corn, hereabouts, Avas in the milk at the time of the frosts ; but little Avas glazed, and only here and there a piece matured enough to harvest. The mean temperature of the month Avas 57.15°; of the first seventeen days, 56.44°; of the last thir- teen, 58.69°, the last part of the month being tv/o and a quarter degrees AA'arraer than the first part. The mean temperature of September, 1859, A'aried but little from that of September, 1858, but Avhile the Avhole month Avas very cool the present year, in 1858 the fore part of the month Avas extremely Avarm — no frosts occurring till the 23d ; and the remainder of the month Avas remarkably cold, ice forming several times, but on the whole, very fa- vorable to vegetation, and there Avas no loss from frosts. The highest temperature in September Avas 75°, 18G0. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 83 on the 12th ; the lowest was 34°, on the 15th and 16th. The extremes of September, 1858, were 82° and 28°. The warmest day was the 11th, hav- ing a mean temperature of 70.33°; the coldest was the 14th, with a mean temperature of 47°, Avhen the weather was severely cold, with a heavy gale of north-west wind, rain squalls at 9, A. M., and snow squalls occurred in some of the towns of Western Massachusetts. There were a few fine days during the first part of October, but generally tlie month was cold, quite cloudy, and dry, and unpleasant winds pre- vailed during the greater part of the time. North- west wind was very predominant, forming a char- acteristic of the month, there being fifteen days of wind from that quarter, generally strong, and of- ten a heavy gale. The north-west wind was unin- terrupted during the last seven days of the month, and in the last thirteen days there were eleven of north-west wind. Dark, heavy cumulose clouds generally attended, presenting a gloomy, Novem- ber aspect ; and on the whole the month was quite November-like, being much rougher than October usually is, and far from what October is expected to be. The scarcity of rain was a marked feature in the weather, only two inches of rain fiiUing in the whole month, and only eighteen one-hundredths of an inch fell after the 8th, or during the last twenfij-fhree days. More or less rain, however, fell on six days, the greatest fall at one time being- one inch and forty-four one-himdredths, on the 8th. There was heavy thunder and sharp lightning during the afternoon and evening of the 8th, and occurring in the midst of a long, cold, north-east rain storm, with the thermometer at 45° to 42°, was quite a novelty. It was the only thunder storm of the month. The mean temperature of October was 45.63°, being 3.66° colder than October, 1858, and 3.1° colder than October 1857. The warmest day was the 4th, with a mean temperature of 63.33°; the coldest was the 26th, having a mean temperature of 31.83°. The highest temperature of the month was 75°, at three, P. M., of the 4th ; the lowest was 23°, at sunrise on the 26th. There were fly- ing snow-flakes on the 31st. The first ten days of November were quite fine and warm, even Indian summer-like, but on the 12th a heavy storm set in, commencing with snow and sleet during the morning of the 12th, but the temperature rising, and the wind becoming strong from the south-west, the air was warm and humid, with mist, till the morning of the 13th, when pow- erful rain set in, with thunder and lightning oc- casionally. The rain continued through the day, with sleet again in the evening, the wind having changed to north-west at one P. M., and between noon and sunset the temperature fell from 62° to 35°. During the storm, 1.13 inches of rain fell, the first that had fallen for twenty days, or since the 22d of October ; and during the thirty-three days between the 8th of October and the 12th of November, less than two-tenths of an inch of wa- ter fell. In consequence of this long continued drought, and from a scarcitj' of rain during sever- al months previous, the streams and springs had become lower than at any time previous during the year, the Connecticut standing within a few- inches of low water mark ; and mills and fiictories were incommoded by the lowness of the streams. Many fine days occui-red during the remainder of the month ; and generally the weather was quite mild, even rather Avarmer than usual, and the whole month was much more agreeable than the month of October. On the 22d, there was a storm of rain, preceded by an inch of snow ; and during the stoi-m, eighty-eight one-hunch-edths of an inch of rain fell. The ground Avas also Avhitc with snow on the morning of the 26th, but the storm having changed to rain, it soon disappeared. Not more than two inches of snow fell, in this part of the Connecticut Valley, in the Avhole month, but some of the hill towns of western Hampden and Hampshire counties continued Avhite with snow from the 22d till the end of the month. The whole amount of Avatcr that fell dmung the month, was two and three-fourths inches. The mean temperature of November, was 41.3°, being only 4.33° colder than October, and 8.35° warmer than November, 1858. The warmest day was the 18th, the mean temperature of the day be- ing 47.17°; the coldest day was the 25th, having a mean temperature of 30.33°, being but 1.5° warmer than the coldest day of October. The highest temperature Avas 66°, at 2^, P. M., on the 5th ; and the loAvest temperature Avas 23°, on the 21st, being the same as the minimum temper- ature of October. , In short, the season as a AA'hole Avas exceeding- ly unpleasant, though the fine Aveather of Novem- ber somCAvhat redeemed its general character. The unseasonably cold weather of the first half of Sep- tember came near accomplishing what had been often threatened in the summer months — the de- struction of crops by frost ; and the corn crop did not escape material injury ; and the rough, Avindy Aveather of the following months rendered the gathering of the fall products very disagreeable. The mean tem]3erature of the three autumn months Avas 48.03°, and taken together, Avere 0.57° Avarmer than the autumn months of 1858. The mean temperature of the same at sunrise Avas 40.68°; at noon, 53.25°; at sunset, 49.75°; and the mean maximum for the same time Avas 55.42°. (Ordinarily the maximum, or highest temperature of the day, occurs at not far from three, P. M.) The mean temperature of September, at sunrise, Avas 48.43°; at noon, 63.57°; at sunset, 57.87°; Avhile the mean maximum of the month was 64.93°. Of October, the mean temperature Avas, at sunrise, 38.35°; at noon, 51.09°; and at sunset, 47.61°; mean maximum, 53.39°. Of November, at sun- rise, 35.27°; at noon, 45-1°, and at sunset, 42.77°; mean maximum, 47.83°. There was more or less rain on tAventy-three days, the Avhole amount equalling 6.19 inches, or tAvo-tenths of an inch less than fell in the month of June. Rain fell on eleven days in September, on six in October, and on the same number of days in November. The first snoAA'-flakes were ob- served here on the 31st of October, and the ground Avas barely AA-hitened with suoav on the 12th, 22d and 26th of November. During the three fall months, (ninety-one days,) there Avere tAventy-two clear days, and six- teen cloudy, and of the remaining days clouds Avere rather predominant in tAventy-three, and thirty Avere tolerably clear. In September there Avere seven clear days, four cloudy, eleven tolera- bly clear, and eight others in which the clouds predominated. In October, eight clear days, six 84 NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. Feb. cloudy, seven much so, and ten tolerably clear. In November, seven clear days, six cloudy, nine tolerably clear, and eight in. which clouds -were very prevalent. The tciiid was from the north-icest thirty-six days, or forty per cent of the time ; from the south-west, twenty-five days ; from the north-east, twelve ; from the south, eight ; from the north, two and a half; from the south-east, one and a half; and there were six days in which the air was calm, or without a regular current. Total number of days of wind from a northerly quarter, fifty and one-half; same from a southerly quarter, forty and one-half, distributed as follows : In Septem- ber, 1 i from the north-west, 6 from the north-east, 9 from the south-west, 1 from tlie south, and 3 of calm ; in October, lo from the north-west, 3 from the north-east, 1 from the north, 10 from the south- west, 1 from the south, and 1 of calm ; in Novem- ber, 10 from the north-west, 3 from the north- east, \h from the north, G from the south, 6 from the south-west, 1.^ of south-east, and 2 of calm. Among the miscellaneous phenomena, I ob- served eight haloes, five of which were solar and three lunar. I also observed eleven auroras. Five occurred in September — on the 1st, 2d, 24th, 27th and 28th — the two first of which were very bril- liant disphiys of ])olar light, and exceedingly in- teresting. Five exhibitions of the aurora borea- lis were also observed in October — on the 2d, 18th, 20th, 21st and 29th— mostly quite feeble, however, as Avas the one on the 14th of November, and attracted but little notice. In a period of a little more than two months, ending with October, there were fourteen or more auroras seen ; an unusually large number to be visible in so short a space of time in this latitude. And doubtless many others occurred that were rendered invisible, either by clouds or bright moon-light. Such grand auroral displays as were witnessed on the nights of the ist and 2d of September, and also on the 28th of August, are worthy of more than a passing notice. Their powerful electrical influence, as manifested in the working of the telegraph Hues during these magnetic storms, has already been spoken of at length by the newspapers, and need not be commented on here. The whole sky was strongly illumined in every quarter during the last part of the night of the 1st, with crimson and various prismatic hues, auroral clouds appearing in various quarters, with splendid, ever-changing streamers, shooting up towards a point near the zenith. From the electrical disturbances in the working of the telegraph wires, it was evident that the same auroral storm continued during the forenoon of-^the following day, being rendered in- visible by the shining of the sun, and probably continued through the day with varying degrees of intensity, becoming visible again on the even- ing of the 2d, as soon as the twilight would per- mit, and continued till a little past midnight. Though this display was less in intensity and viv- idness, and variety of colors, than that on the night preceding, it was still hardly less interest- ing. Soon after sunset, it appeared as a faint blaze of light a little above the northern horizon, in- creasing and fluctuating as the evening advanced, and before eight o'clock became an imposing spec- tacle.^ The dark segment Avas quite characteristic, bounded above by the bright, luminous arch, from which proceeded the brilliant streamers. At eleven o'clock, I particularly noticed flashes of yellow light constantly darting upward from the arch near the horizon, chiefly from the north, north- east, and a point east by north-east, leaping and flickering like tongues of fire, towards a point a little south of the zenith. At times there were arches of light arranged like curtains, from which the streamers darted in rapid, constant flashes, or coruscations which seemed to be but a few yards above the tree-tops. Certainly I never saw auro- ral light apparently so near the earth. A low temperature occurred generally during these displays of polar light, frosts occurring even in August and the first part of September ; and according to the popular notion, that cold weath- er is indicated by auroras, a cold winter may well be anticipated. The fall migration of the birds generally occurred from one to two weeks earlier than usual. The snow-birds came down from the north about the middle of October, in company with other north- ern sparrows. The blue birds and robins depart- ed during the last days of the same month. Wild geese passed over on their southward journey about the 12th of November. On the 12th, I ob- served ten flocks in about three hours, passing in a breadth of two miles, in the aggregate there must have been 700 individuals — a remarkably large number to be seen here in so short a space of time. Errata. — In my remai-ks upon the weather of the summer months, (p. 482 and 483 of monthly Fanner, vol. 11,) the types caused me to say that July, 1859, was 42° colder than July, 18^8, in- stead of 4.2° as intended. Also that the summer of 1859 was 16° warmer than the summer of 1857, instead of 0.1G°. J. A. A. Springfield, Dec. 2, 1859. Influence of Agricultural Papers. — The Rev. Mr. Choules, in an address delivered some years since, before the American Institute, said : "He once undertook to tell, in passing through a town, what farmers took agricultural papers, from the appearance of their farms, and missed but once in thirteen times. "I was lately in the company of a son of a bank president — a young man accomplished in his way — who inquired what neat cattle meant, and how many years it took wheat to come to maturity. I earnestly believe that agricultural papers, gener- ally circulated in our cities, would be productive of the greatest benefit." Ten Thousand Dollars made in a Year FROM Eighteen Swarms of Bees. — We have, from reliable authority, the following account of rcmai'kable success (pecuniarily) in raising bees in this State. A gentleman in one of the valleys near the Bay, last year purchased eighteen hives of bees, for which he paid eighteen hundred dol- lars. From these eighteen hives he had one hun- dred and one swarms, and he has sold one hun- dred of the swarms for one hundred dollars each, thus realizing the snug sum of ten thousand dol- lars in one year. He still has on hand nineteen swarms, one more than he commenced with ! So much for bees. — California Farmer. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 85 FOWL MEADOW. On re-publishing from our paper an article on this grass, the editor of the Wisconsin Farmer asked for information of its growth in that State. From a communication in reply to this request we take the following statement, made by a gen- tleman who found a strange weed in his strawber- ry patch, which he preserved out of curiosity, and which a friend while eating some of the strawber- ries, recognized as the Fowl Meadow grass : A fcAV weeks afterwards, I took the handful of seed (all there Avas) and sowed it on the edge of my marsh where I had burned a few heaps of wil- loAV bushes in the spring, and put nothing on the ground. The next season I did not make hay un- til after harvest, and found tliis grass mostly all rotten, as it had grown too rank, and fell or lodged down. There was nothing done to the strawberry bed that year, and the few bunches left there were down and the seed wasted, as I thought. But in 1854 the strawberries had run out, and a fine patch of this grass was cut, and the seed saved ; which was sown with some clover seed in the spring of 1855 on a small piece of ground with rye near the river, and about five feet above its level. In 1856 I had a very good crop of clover, and here and there a few spears of this grass. In 1857 the clover was badly killed out by the previous severe winter, and I did not cut it until quite ripe, and it being a very wet time, did not get much, nor very good hay. In 1858 I had as heavy a crop of hay as could be Avished for, as the clover and gi-ass had both shelled and seeded it perfectly in 1857. And this year,' 1859,) I had a full crop of fowl meadow grass, the clover having been com- pletely killed out last winter ; there was about four tons (six loads) on two and one-eighth acres of land ; this I have saved for seed, and shall sow all my marsh and lowland with it in the spring, as the fire has burned over most of my marsh lands, and they require seeding again. The few little willow patches sown with it at first had spread all over the driest parts of the marsh, and made a very good mixture of marsh hay. For the Neio England Farmer. SAW-DUST AS A PEBTILIZER. To a notice rendered some weeks since, in your valued journal, Messrs. Editors, asking the Avorth of "Saw-Dust as a Fertilizer," I respond as far as able, through your columns. Since then, further inquiries have been made, to which I am unable to answer, until a coming year. But in looking over some books of "clippings" from newspapers (the gathering of Avhich I commenced some twenty years ago, until they have swelled to many large folio volumes,) I find the following, Avhich, if of any use, I shall amply be repaid for looking it up. Un- fortunately, I do not find from Avhat pajier I took it, or of what date it Avas. But I copy it exactly as I find it. Let me hope if it does no good, like the stick in the old Avoman's porridge, "it Avill do no harm." In using "SaAA'-Dust as a Fertilizer," I presume it is not needed for me to say if used on dry soil, it must be Avell rotted or dampened. But I have found it to Avork best generally on soft or moist ground. I give the extract herewith as re- ferred to. "SAAV-DUST FOR ORCHATtDS. "A year last fall, I hauled a load of old rotten 'saAA'-dust,' and threw it around my young apple trees. My neighbor over the Avay is one of those characters Avho plods on, in the same old track that his father and gi'and-fathor did before him, believing that they kneAV all, and more too. My neighbor said, if I put saw-dust around my trees I should surely kill them ! I told him I Avould risk it, 'any hoAV.' I put fresh stable manure around one row, and saAV-dust, around the next. Around another roAV I put leached ashes. And the remainder of the orchard I manured Avith rot- ten barn-yard manure, and in the spring spread it, and Avell planted the ground with corn and potatoes. The result was, many trees grew very luxuriantly, but the trees Avhere the saAv-dust Avas grew the best, the bark being smoother, and the trees had a healthier appearance. I Avill state, also, that that part of the orchard planted to po- tatoes grCAV greatly better than that part planted Avith corn. The soil Avas clay loam." December 15, 1859. Oak Hill. For the New Enshmd Farmer. TAXES. Me. Editor : — As a new Legislature is soon to assemble, and as you Avill have the honor of a scat in that branch Avhere farmers most do con- gregate, I Avish to call your attention, and that of your readers, to the laAvs of Massachusetts for the assessment of taxes. Ever since the time of Cit- sar Augustus, and I knoAV not hoAv long before, the decree has gone forth that all the Avorld shall be taxed, and in this countr}', the coiTCct principle of taxation is generally admitted to be in proportion to property. Ability to pay, how- ever, is far from being in that ratio. For in- stance, Mr. A, Avith a familv to support, is Avorth but §1000, and is taxed '$7. ^Ir. B is AVfulh $2000, and is taxed $14. Noav it is plain to see that Mr. B, Avitli an equally expensive family can pay $14 much easier than Mr. A can pay $7. Yet no one supposes that any plan can be adopted Avhich Avould make it equally easy for every man to pay. The principle of taxing in proportion to property, I think, is right and practical ; but you Avill see that our laAvs need a radical alteration to make them conform to this rule. To illustrate, suppose two young farmers Avish to purchase homes for themselves and families. They go to the same neighborhood, and buy farms of equal value, say $3000. One has the cash, probably left him by his fixther, to pay for his, and $1000 left for stock and tools. The other, by six A'ears of economy and hard labor, has saved $1000. He pays this, gives his note for the balance, $2000. and secures .by a mortgage on the farm, and buys his stock and tools on credit. Noav he is Avorth but one-fourth as much as the first ; but by our laAvs they must be taxed equally. Again, sup- pose tAvo merchants or mechanics commence busi- ness in the same place, and require an equal amount of capital to carry on their business, perhajis $3000 ; one has cash to pay for his Avhole stock, and begin clear of debt ; the other has nothing but a character for honestv and inte^iritv, and ke 86 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. gets trusted for the whole, and our laws tax them alike ! Now these arc not solitai-y cases, but they abound in every village and neighborhood in the Comnnonwealth. Is this right ? Is it just ? Does i^ot the law bear oppressively on those least able to sustain the burden ? I think you will answer, yes. But this is not all. Our laws are not only un- just and oppressive, but their tendency is to dis- courage young men from having a home of their own, and especially from engaging in agricultu- ral pursuits. P'arms and stock, cannot like cash and notes of hand, be concealed. The assessors will find them, and they cannot escape the tax, though they owe for the whole. The result is, of two evils, they choose the least ; rent a house or farm, move from year to year, till furniture is spoiled, wife discouraged, habits of negligence ac- quired, local improvements disregarded, and the end is poverty and ruin ! Many more reasons might be added, but I will now merely suggest the remedy. And first, let the assessor be required to take a true and perfect invoice of all personal property, notes secured by mortgage excepted, deduct debts and tax the bal- ance ; or in other words, apply the same principle to all personal property, that is, by law, now ap- plied to cash and notes of hand. Secondly, let all taxes on mortgaged real estate be set to the mortgagee in proportion to the notes thus secured. Let this be done at the next session of the Legislature, and the young men of the Common- wealth will remember you with gratitude, and you will be welcome to your $4 per day for all actual attendance. r. m. Westboro', Dec, 29, 1859. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. MAKING WINTER BUTTER. In reply to Mr. Leonard, of New Bedford, I would say : Immediately after milking, strain your milk in- to tin pans, and put it into or on your cooking stove until the milk is quite scalding hot, then remove it to a shelf or cupboard adjoining your kitchen with a temperature of from 60° to 70°. Skim it within three days. You may keep the cream, if necessary, two weeks or more. To a quantity of cream sufficient for ten pounds of but- ter, put in the juice of two or three fair sized orange carrots. Then churn from ten to twenty minutes, with your cream at a temperature of 55° to G0°, and if you do not succeed in making good, sweet, yellow butter, worth 25 to 30 cents per pound, I wHl pay for your copy of the Neio Eng- land Farmer for the year 1860. For rnany years I have made butter through the entire winter, of as rich fragrance and aroma as can well be made in June or September. Try it, brother Leonard. Joshua T. Everett. Everettvillc, Princeton, Mass., Dec. 28, 1859. warts on sheep. Will some one of your readers inform me what the cause is of sores on the sides of the mouth of my sheep ? They look like clusters of warts. The shee'^) are othei'wise in good condition. East New Sharon, 1860. A. R. Hall. winter butter. Friend Leonard inquires through the Farmer how he can be relieved from the wear of fourteen hours' churning ? I will give him the benefit of my experience, as that is what we have a farmers' paper for, and inquiries, "Extracts and Replies," stand prominent in its good features. Strain the milk and set it over a kettle of hot water until it skims freely, or is as hot as you can bear the finger in it ; then set it in a pantry or cupboard near the kitchen where the temperature is not below 60° through the day, and does not go down to freezing in the night ; let it remain forty- eight hours, then skim with as little milk as pos- sible. Do not keep the cream more than from five to seven days, if you want good sweet butter. Be careful not to commence churning when your cream is too cold, as in that case it becomes frothy, and the butter-making is retarded. I have made good, firm, sweet bvittcr up to the present weelc, with from fifteen to thirty minutes churn- ing. I think very favorably of the plan of giving a few carrots daily to milch cows, as it improves both quantity and quality of the butter. The thermometer this morning at 2 o'clock was at 21° below zero, and now, 2 P. M., it is 6° below. Roijahton, Vt., Dec. 28, 1859. A. P. F. FOWLS FOR COLD WEATHER. Will any of your correspondents inform me through the paper which breed of fowls stand cold weather best ? I have kept the Spanish, which are good layers, but are not very hardy. I wish to get the hardiest kind, and at the same time get good layers. P. Woburn, Dec. 2, 1859. HOW TO FEED FOWLS. When my chickens are quite young I give them Indian meal five times a day, and when old enough to lay, about a table spoonful of cayenne pepper with their meal once a week, for twelve hens. This, with plenty of lime and gravel, enables them to give near twenty dollars a year for their products. A. R. H. RED-TOP. I would inquire through your paper hoAV much red-top seed I should sow per acre, and what ground is the l)est to sow it on ? Also, if it does well mixed with other seed, and if so, what kind is best? w. H. Remarks. — Red-top is one of the best grasses we have, and its seed is usually mingled with one or more other varieties in seeding our lands. The quantity usually employed per acre is one peck of herdsgrass, three or four pecks of red-top, and six to ten pounds of clover ; the latter being sowed in April. PROFITS IN AGRICULTURE. To learn Avhcther there are profits in farming or not, the true way seems to me to be as follows : reckon the interest on the stock, tools and farm, and add to the labor ; then get the value of the proceeds, and strike the dift'erence, and you will see at once the true result. JericJw Centre, 1860. Harrison Webster. . 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 87 For the New England Farmer, NOTES FROM SANDY KIVER. And here comes the New England Farmer — the very one that I have desired so long to make an acquaintance with ; the friend, counsellor, and encourager of the sons of toil. The very one that I have seen so many gems of useful thought attributed to, hy its co-laborers, in aid of agricul- ture. Yes, it has just come, and with it its IJecem- ber companion. O, that I could have the eleven volumes of your compend — the monthly ! Come, some gontlc zephyr, and waft them to my rural home, so that, while the Sandy, in its icy fetters, goes murmuring by, in hushed tones, I may "From labor's cares awhile forbear," and feast upon the full supply of milk and honey therein contained. Some of your contributors, I am soiTy to see, still hold a threatening wand against the robin- red-breast. A noble, sprightly, diligent bird is he. I would rather never taste a cherry, dam- son, or plum, however delicious they may be, than that he should forsake my home, so that I could not see him Iniild his nest in some favorite tree, some cosy corner, upon some beam or board, and from thence, through his season, go forth, "from early morn till dewy eve," so faithfully performing his allotted rounds. Speak for the robins ; plead for the birds, so that their chorus songs may continue to be heard upon all the land in sweet, free, melodious strains. Frosts. — The past season here has not been an exception to what your correspondents report it to have been in many other places, as far as re- gards frosts. May was an uncommonly favorable month for the farmers. Fodder was unusually scarce, but the early grass started up remarkably well set, and relieved not only the poor, but many of the well-to-live farmers, as well as being a time- ly supply to many starving beasts. But the "frost story" commences with June, w^hich gave killing ones on the 6th, lOth and 12th. July oth, white frost. August 30th, one which killed corn in some places. September 7th, 8th, 9th and 16th, still severer. Snow. — We are having snow storms in bounti- ful profusion. Already (in December) there have accumulated three feet of snow, notwithstanding the rains, upon tho high lands. The first snow for the season, on Mounts Saddleback and Abram, was seen on the morning of September 14th ; and followed by a severe snow squall down the river on the same day between 11, A. M., and 2, P. M. I interrogated every old resident that came with- in my circle, to know when, if ever before, they had seen the like, and their united response was, "Only this, and nothing more, Never before !" So then this is worthy of record as being unusu- ally early, at least, and to be put with the minor incidents that go to make up an uncommon chain of events for 1859, long to be remembered as such by many. The drought is broken, then, after the sun's scorching rays are withdrawn ; and that Avhich seemed to be so desirable to have in "vernal show- ers," is now descending in fleecy snows of velvety softness, covering the fields before they are frozen to any amount. Yet the New England pleasures, amid these frequent snows, are nearly as numerous as ever, although the boys and girls have Ijcen deprived of some of their accustomed skating parties, because the lakes and rivers refused to hide their faces be- neath their icy veils, to give them a play-ground to enjoy their health-giving and innocent sports upon. Come, then. New England Farmer, with thy Avell-filled budget of gems— "Diflfused, yet terse, poetical though plain," to the beautiful Sandy River Valley, and receive a thrice welcome. O. W. True. Elm Tree Farm, Avon, Me. For the New England Farmer. PLANT SUGAR ORCHARDS. Mr. Editor : — I have been thinking for a num- ber of years, and with a good deal of interest, on the importance of the sugar maple to the inhabi- tants of Vermont, and to the northern States in general. Sugar will always be deemed a necessi- ty, and if we have the means of producing a good article with little labor, it would be the height of folly to let the chance slip, through indolence or miscalculation. Twenty and thirty years ago, I re- gretted, very much, to see the maple trees of the primitive forests disappearing before the axe for fuel and other purposes, but I have since learned that they may more than be replaced, and that the day of maple sugar has but just begun, if the far- mers will only have it so. Sugar orchards of second growth trees are far better, and more profitable, than old ones. From one to three accrs of land is all the farmer now needs to sup])ly his family with this necessary and agreeable article. Some rocky or stony side-hill, (not too steep,) having an aspect to the east or south, well planted with sugar maples, will, in ten years, be worth more for the above indicated pur- poses, than any other three acres on his farm ; besides, it may at the same time produce a fair crop of feed. The outfit for fitting up good sugar works of lasting materials, cannot be very expensive, and when once done, and well taken care of, will be an excellent investment. If our fathers could find it profitable to manufacture sugar, when they were compelled to dig out troughs from pine logs, and boil in five-pail kettles against logs in the Avoods, we, certainly, with our present appliances and im- provements, have no excuse for neglecting the means so obviously within our reach. A good share of neatness, and a little skill, will enable us to produce as good an article as can be ob- tained from the cane or the bee. These consider- ations, and many more that might be adduced, should stimulate us to make the most of our own resources, and I much regret that I have not the power to arouse the attention of the land owners of this northern section of country to the great importance of this subject. But I will do what I can, and hope that some abler pen will take up the subject, and pursue it in a manner commen- surate with its importance. A. PlXLEY. Enosburgh Falls, Vt., Dec. 13, 1859. Remarks. — Capital suggestions. We have no doubt they will 1)0 acted upon. 88 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. FEEDING COWS. ^^' CORRESPONDENT in quires how much hay a good -sized milch cow should eat per day, fed on hay alone ? How much, without roots, and how much when not e^M^^^W&S^'-^'^S n^ilk? A common guide is, we believe, that animals require about three per cent, of their live weight. But no fixed rules, we think, are reliable. Two cows standing side by side, of nearly equal Aveight, and fed precisely alike, will vary materially in the amount of milk, which they will yield ; or in fatting, one will gain a half or a third more than the other, on precisely the same kind and quality of food. Horses should be confined to limited quantities, as, if supplied with the fodder, they will eat more than is healthful or economical. Milch cows may be allowed all the hay they will eat with a good appetite, and to that may be added with economy a little grain, or occasional messes of oats. Of course, a cow that gives no milk, will not require 80 much feed as one that has that constant draught upon her. The whole matter of feeding stock requires ex- perience, and then the exercise of a sound judg- ment, in order to economize the fodder, and get a profit from the animals fed. A sufficient number of reliable experiments have not yet been instituted, to show those feed- ing stock whether it is best to feed hay, grain and roots in a raw state, or to incur the expense of CQoking it. From the experiments instituted, and which have come to our knowledge, we are in- clined to the belief that an economical arrange- ment for ste!lming, soaking, or partially cooking food for all farm stock, will be found, in the end, the most profitable course to take with it. Mr. C. H. Waters, of Groton, Mass., a gentle- man who has an inherent love for agricultural pursuits, and who is willing to expend a portion of his means to promote the interests of the far- mer, recently informed us that he had been cooking hay for a herd of twelve cows, and had continued his experiments through several consecutive months. His first trial Avas by steam- m^ the hay, supposing that by subjecting it to a pressure of some ten or fifteen pounds of steam, he should so affect the fibres of the hay as to make it soft and palatable, and commence, for the animal that is to consume the food, the first process of digestion. To his surprise, however, he found the steam would not accomplish this desired result ; the hay came out about as hard and wiry as before it was immersed, and without receiving any evident advantage from the process. His next experiment was to heat water and pour it upon the hay, covering the box, and allow- ing the hay to soak in the water twelve hours, and feeding only twice a day. Under this process his cattle gained flesh, and the milch cows gave an increased quantity of milk, upon an amount of hay a little less than two i^er cent, of' their Use iceir/ht. j\Ir. C. M. Davis, a milkman, in Cincinnati, re- cently communicated some facts to the New Or- leans Price Current which are applicable here. He says, "I commenced the use of your steam-boiler on the 7th inst., at which time my ten cows gave 60^- quarts. My daily feed was ten buckets of mid- dlings, and corn and cob meal about equal parts. Cows gave in the commencement 60' quarts. On the 8th they gave 66" " Oih (reclacea feed two buckets) 60.^ " inih thor gave , 71 " 11th " " 73 « 12th " " 73.1 » 13th " " 76' « 14th " " 77i- " My milk has improved in quality, and my cows in appearance. I shall make further experiments in feeding the corn and cob meal separate, as also with clear cob meal, and report again in about ten days." From this it appears that the gain in seven days was 1 7 quarts, being 28 per cent, gain in milk, with a saving of 20 per cent, in food. Rolling Snow on Wheat Fields. — ^A cor- respondent of the Toronto Glohe (C. W.,) ad- vances the opinion that rolling the snow on the autumn wheat in winter would be an eff"cctive means of preventing winter-kill, by rendering the snow less liable to melt on every sudden thaw that occurs. He says the practice is extensively followed in Sweden. A good deal of discussion is taking place in the columns of that paper, on this subject, from which we gather that it yet requires the test of actual experiment to decide whether any benefit is to be derived from the operation or not. Making Cheese in Winter. — ^A correspon- dent of the Eural Neiv-Yorker regards the pres- ent practice of making it in the summer both ab- surd and expensive. The winter, he says, is by far the best time to make cheese, because the milk is richer, more easily managed, and there is no danger from flies, or souring of vessels. There is also more time, and milk can be produced cheap- er, and of a better quality than in summer. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. For the Neic England Farmer. PKAHHE BREAKING IN" KANSAS. Letter from a Ladj' — A Professional Man Turns Plowman — \e\v Models his Plow — His Success as a Prairie Breaker — Distilleries and Public Schools — Hard Plowing — Buffalo and Wild Horses. Kansas is now taking a resting spell, prepara- tory to asserting her right as a Free State, and claiming her privilege to enter into the circle of the States, the coming session of Congress. Em- igration is slow, business is stagnant just now, and my husband, a professional man, finding too much time to spare, and having imbibed quite a fancy for farming, through the influence of your paper, has concluded to gratify it. But he took hold of the most laborious part, as his first at- tempt— that of prairie-breaking, it being the most profitable just now. Of course, as this is a coun- try which promises but little business to "rock- lifters" and "stump-pullers," he "pitched in" with the confidence and energy of an old farmer, sure of success. So he purchased three yokes of oxen and a fifteen inch plow of vrcstern manufacture. 1 think it was manufactured in St. Joseph, Mo., the place which supports two distilleries, that turn out each ouc hundj-ed bogheads of whiskey daily, but cannot support one public school, and has a population of 10,000 inhabitants ! Of course, a description of a breaking up plow will bo interesting, and perhaps amusing to many of your readers, especially to the steam-plow ad- vocates. He made two standards, perforated with holes, an inch apart, and mortised them into the beam of the plow. One standard was placed six inches, perhaps, back of the clevis, and the other eight jjoches from the end of the beam, between the plow handles. Then he made two Avheels, one ten inch- es and the other twenty inches in diameter ; said wheels were cut from logs of that size, and were six inches thick. He connected the wheels by an axletree. He then mortised two upright standards into the axletree, leaving a space between the up- rights to introduce the end of the ploAv beam which rests upon the axletree. Making a lever of suffi- cient strength, he connected one end of it, by a wooden pin, with the standard next to the clevis. Mortising a hole through the other end of the lever, he then introduced the standard between the plow- handles through this mortise, and behold ! the self-controling, non-holding plow was ready for action ! The reason why one wheel is made larger than the other is, the large wheel runs in the fur- row and tlic small Avheel upon the sod, thus mak- ing the plow run even. Now the theory of this simple affair is, that it makes the plowing of uniform depth, and also dis- penses with the laborious task of holding the plow, needing only a man to guide the oxen. In commencing to plow, at the beginning of the fur- row, my husband raises the lover which puts the point of the plow in the ground. The end of the lever is then made fast by a wooden pin, to the standard Avhich is between the plow-handles. The furrov.-s were half a mile long, and the plow thus adjusted would run the whole length upon the wheels, without guidance, or making any "balks," tlie ploAvman's plague. At the end of the furrow he takes out the pin and lowers the lever, which throws the point of the plow out of the ground. Then it runs upon the wheels, and needs no tip- ping. He then drives to the other side of the land, raises the lever again, and goes ahead. Breaking this way is certainly easier, as every one will acknowledge, who has held the plow all day. The labor of breaking the green sward in New England is nothing in comparison to breaking the virgin soil of the western prairies, which has been rendered hard and tough by the unobstruct- ed rays of the sun and centuries of trampling of bufi'aloes, horses, and other wild animals. When the gi-ound is moist, a good team will break two acres per day. Experience has i)roved to us, that the lighter the sod is broken, the soon- er it decays. The ground depth is two inches. The price for breaking prairie is from three dol- lars and a half to five dollars per acre, according to the quaHty of the soil, and its froeness from grubs and roots. So a good heavy team will net the owner a fair profit, and the cattle need no oth- er sustenance but the prairie grass, upon which they will grow sleek and fat, in spite of their con- tinual hard work. Of course, there are many discomforts with all this profitable labor. When the strong wind aris- es— and Kansas is provcrlnal for its high breezes — the dust rises so thickly as to nearly choke the plowman, and compelling' him to wear "goggles." Then, perhaps, "Bright" or "Broad" -will break a bow or snap a chain, and one must go two, three, and sometimes ten miles, to get it repaired, which is rather provoking to the time-saving, money- loving farmer. Then, in this country, the cabins are, as yet, "few and far between," and the prai- rie-breaker must camp out in his wagon, cook his own food, and be altogether his own servant. An occasional "shake" is pleasant, if one does not shake his clothes off", as it relieves the monotony of his time, and teaches him how to appreciate the philosophy of suffering. He must rise before the sun, and search through the tall prairie grass — most cattle wear bells — for his oxen. Rubber boots and rubber leggings are indispensable, if on© does not wish to go the whole day with wet gar- ments ; for in the morning, the grass is as wet aa if a shower had passed over it. But there_ is one good thing in breaking up prairie, for if one does not Hue his pockets, he certainly is richer in experience, and knows how- to appreciate the domestic and social qualities of home. Another good thing; my husband has worn out all his old clothes, of which every one in Kansas has a surplus. If any of your readers have any old clothes to spare, please send them to Kansas, for good clothes are not worn here. Yours, from the prairies, SusiE V. Sumner, K. T., Oct, 1859. SHEEP AND DOGS. ;Mr. Powers, of the Wisconsin Farmer, after publishing the statement that, in only eleven of the nearly one hundred counties of the State of Ohio, the assessors return over 7000 sheep killed and nearly 8000 injured, in the year 1858, by dogs, at a cost to the owners of over $25,000, says : "Is it not a shame and disgrace that the United States, with all its various and unequalled facilitie* for wool-growing, should, through its love of dogs and hydrophobia, buy some twenty to thirty mil- 90 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. lions of pounds of wool from foreign countries, because its farmers dare not and cannot safely keep sheep ? Wc have sold oiu-last sheep this fall, and a fine flock at that, and for a low price, because we dare not keep them, through fear of dogs. That many others are abandoning the business within tlie range of our acquaintance for tiae same reason we know. How long shall this condition of things last ?" For the New England Farmer. COST AND PROFIT IN" FABMIJNTG-. Mr. Editor : — In a late Farmer you call at- tentio)! to an article published in the same paper with regard to the cost and profit, or rather no profit, of farm productions. Witli your permis- sion, I propose to revicAV some of the statements of that communication, believing that a more hopeful view of the subject can truthfully be pre- sented. By his figures an acre of corn has cost $10 more than the crop has brought in market. I propose to trace out the probable future crops of that acre of land, assuming the figures all cor- rect, though I think some of them migh!: bo changed, and not stopping to argue that more manure would have paid, or that the crop might have found a better home market. I will lay the land down to grass with barley, entering it in debt. Dr. One acre of barley $10,00 To interest on the debt one year 60 To plowing, one man, a well trained yoke of oxen and plow one day 2,25 To boy, horse, harrowand roller one day 1,50 To seed barley, 1^ bushels 1,50 To man sowing barley and grass seed, ,'j day 25 To one man mowing, raking and getting in barley, to the amount of one day 1,25 To a boy one day, and yoke of oxen \ day 1,00 To threshing ar.d winnowing 4,00 To all other expenses, consisting of taxes, interest on capital, labor, &c 4,00 Crop $26,35 Cr. By 18 bushels barley $1S,00 By straw $5,00 $23,00 The debt is now reduced to $3,35 One Acre in Grass. Dr. To previous cultivation $3,35 To interest on the debt 10 To labor amounting to one man two days, and one yoke of oxen \ day, mowing, raking, and getting in hay 3,25 To other expenses, consisting of storage, fences, taxes, &c. .6,00 To herds grass, red-top and clover seed 4,00 $16,79 Cr. By 1 ' tons of hay, which finds a home market $18,00 Nut profit 1,21 Second Year in Grass. Dr. To three days' labor in consequence of dull weather, cut- ting and curing hay $'lj25 To one yoke of oxen, cart and wheels, \ day 50 To another incidental expenses 6,00 $10,75 Cr. BylUonsofhay $18,00 By amount brought forward from last year 1,21 By interest 07 $10,23 Net profit $S,53 N<)w we have got the balance on the rigid side of the ledger, and propose to ex])end $15 in to])- dressing, when we may safely calculate on three more crops as'good as the last two have been. No farmer should expect to be paid by the first crop, after breaking up land exhausted by repeat- ed cropping, but should lay it down to gi-ass in an improved condition. Mr. Piukham seems to have run into this error, though T find much to approve of in his communication. I have for a long time, been aware that some farm productions are often sold below cost, but I have looked upon corn and stock-raising as among the paying operations of the farm, when judiciously managed. In farming, as in everything else, many persons form too hasty opinions, and are too easily dis- couraged. Intelligent and persistent cultivation on a farm of no more than average facilities, is sure to succeed. There are many men engaged in farming who have no taste for, and no real in- terest in the occupation. When a man finds out the business best suited to his capacity, his fortune is more than half made, and his happiness very much promoted. I would then say to every young man, search dili- gently to find out your capacity ; and if your mind leads you into agriculture, take hold of it with a will that is an earnest of success ; and let no trifles nor apparent failures discourage you. Cul- tivate the mind as well as the gi'ound, brin^jing all the information you possess, or can gain, to bear upon your chosen occupation, and before many years pass you will be proud of your choice. If time and the editor permit, I will review Mr. Pinkham's figures on calf-raising in a future ar- ticle. H. Kimball. Kennehunk, Me., Nov. 19, 1859. Re:\iarks. — We cannot decline your kind prop- osition, as no question connected with agriculture is of more vital importance than this. The oft- repeated tale, that farming is unprofitable, and un- fashionable, crushes the occupation more than all things else. We observe that you have allowed the farmer one dollar per day for his labor upon his farm ; is there not, also, a profit on that labor, as well as to any other person who works by the day ? If so, there is an increase of profit of even more than you have presented. There certainly is a pi'ofit in the labor of any person who eanis more than a frugal subsistence costs. Vitality of Eggs Destroyed on Rail- roads.— Eggs carried by railroad cannot be de- pended upon for hatching — the continued jar shaking the life out of them. The N. Y. Tribune relates the experience of a man, who said that he had found on trial that eggs could not be carried twenty-five miles safely unless special precautions were adopted. Packed carefully in a small basket, and this held constantly in the hand, thoy v/ill ride without jar and without injury to their vitality. Self-Acting F.\rm Well. — Persons desirous of learning more about Ayefs Patent Self-Acting Farm Well, may do so on application to Mr. Al- VAN Ward, of Ashburnham, Mass. I860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 91 ■WINTER SUNSET. By graceful scrolls of ice like, pearly blue, And streaks of violet-red, like new-born flame, Damp heaps of gathered stubble leaping through, Pale gold in lengthening bars, and many a hue, Shifting too suddenly for eye to mark, On leaden-colored wave-clouds, thick and dark, As nearer still the hastening sunset drew, I knew when dreary, wild November came. ■With musing heart I watched the beautiful sight, While the coal brightened, while the young fire blazed, Till all had vanished, twilight sunk to night, And star by sta,r hung out its lonely light O'er fields of dark to stretch a raonarcli ray. Like beacon -light across the mariner's way ; But ere the evening glory took its flight, Some peaceful thoughts breathed on me as I gased. Dread not of earthly change the wintry night ; Be faith in God thy bosom's constant guest ; Go not self-panoplied to stormy figlit, Xor stay encastled in presumptuous might ; Thy God's pavilion stretches o'er thee still ; lu coming darkness he will work Ws will ; "With lifted eye behold the clouds now bright Witli hues that harbinger the pilgrim's rest. Warm-housed, with curtains down and fresh-trimmed light, Or liurrying home with mantle-shielded eyes. Shivering and chattering, we miss the sight Of beauty in tlie wintry sky, more bright Than in the spring or summer-time we see ; And as a vision came these thoughts to me In the fair eve of that November night. When looking on that sheen of numberless dyes. Montldy RcUghtis Magazine for January, PBOPOETIONS OF THE HUMAJST FIGURE. The proportions of the human figure are strict- ly mathematical. The whole figure is six times the length of the foot. Whether the form be slen- der or plump, this rule holds good. Any devia- tion from it is a departure from the highest beau- ty of proportion. The Greeks make all their stat- ues according to this rule. The face, from the highest point of the forehead where tlie hair be- gins, to the end of the chin, is one-tenth of the whole stature. The hand, from the wrist to the end of the middle finger, is the same. The chest is a fourth, and from the nipples to the top of the head is the same. From the top of the chest to the highest point of the forehead is a seventh. If the length of the face, from the roots of the hair to the chin, be divided into three equal parts, the first division determines the point where the eye- brows meet, and the second, the place of the nos- trils. The navel is the central point of the human body, and if a man should lie on his back with his arms extended, the periphery of the circle which might be described around him, with the navel for its centre, v/ould touch the extremities of his hands and feet. The height from the feet to the top of the head, is the same as the distance from the extremities of the other when the arms are ex- tended. These are the general measures of the species. Large Eaks of Corn. — A correspondent of the Ohio Fanner says : "I shelled several ears, and they produced as follows : One lOGO grains ; another" 11 00 ; another 1100 ; and another 1164. I have heard old farmers say that a paper, wrapped around an ear of corn, the ear then taken out, will not contain the shelled corn of that ear. I tried it with two. ears, and the paper would not hold th6 corn ; one of those ears had 9o6 grains on it, of which 535 filled a pint cup. At this rate, it would take 34,540 grains to make a bushel." Far the New England Farmer. STUDIES OF THE SOIL— No. 1. BY WILLI.AM EDSON. The two sciences, as such, geology and chemis- try, from which must arise in a more or less direct manner all theory in relation to the formation and treatment of soils, are but little understood among practical men, and are commonly treated by them as subjects entirely aloof from their duties; yet every intelligent working man, and especially the farmer, is both a chemist and a geologist, and de- pends, in a degi'ee, for his success, upon his prac- tical knowledge of these sciences. Aside from the merely business view of this knowledge, there is another in which its value is greatly enhanced, — I refer to its efi'ect upon the mind of the recipient. We all live in two worlds, the world of mind and the world of matter. It is the lot of most to labor in one or both of these. Ne- cessity requires us to labor in one, the world of matter, which is the labor of the hands. Manli- ness and Christianity urge us to labor in the oth- er, which is the work of the mind. Life cannot be truly enjoyed independent of either health of mind or health of body, and as health of body de- pends directly upon bodily exercise, so health of mind depends directly upon mental exercise. All agree that, in the duties of the intelligent farmer, the labors of the hand and brain are most harmoniously blended, and that it is for him to enjoy that rarest of all blessings, a "sound mind in a sound body." The farmer, as he follows the plow, may not be wholly engrossed in mere manual labor — every clod that the plow turns up, will give him a lesson in geology, and every rootlet a lesson in botany ; let him be ever so indiflerent, nature Mill insif t upon his learning some one of her many secrets ; she will give him something to treasure up for his future use or pleasure. By this almost involunta- ry study has the farmer's storehouse of knowl- edge l)een filled, by it the rude chance farming of the ancients has advanced to the present state of intelligence and certainty. Until quite recently, the term "scientific farm- ing" was not used, and we now hear it oftener as a term of reproach than otherwise ; but it cannot be denied that science, even as put forth by the most impractical, has done the agriculturist great good, and is destined to do still more. Perhaps one of its greatest benefits, up to the present time, is that arising from the strong feeling of emula- tion among farmers of the old school, to prove by their crops and profits that they can excel the theorist ; urged by this feeling, they have eagerly sought for improvements, and applied them with a skill which only the good old-fashioned farmer is capable of. It has also caused discussions, and excited a thirst for experiment and inquiry which cannot result otherwise than in good for all. These are only some of the incidental benefits arising fi'om the ap])lication of science to agricul- 92 NEW ENGLAND FARMER, Fes, ture ; the true value of this department of scien- 1 tific knowledge cannot be estimated, since much more is now known than has yet been .generally and skilfully applied ; and, again, there is much of agricultural chemistry which is yet in so vague \ and uncertain a state as to be almost, if not quite worthless, as far as practical farming is concerned. If it Avere true, as some have the hardihood to assert, that no practical good, as far as crops and ])rofits are concerned, arises from scientific re- search in this department, yet its benefits upon the mind of the fanner would be incalculable, as it raises his thoughts to the contemplation of the laws of nature, giving him one of the most stable of all pleasures, and in health of mind, the crown of "green old age." Assuming that every farmer is both a practical chemist and geologist, since the most common duties of the farm require a knowledge of these sciences, I wish to call attention to the chemis- try and geology of the surface stratification. For the sake of simplicity in the treatment of the subject, I will divide the varieties of soil into three classes, namely, 1, mechanical ; 2, chemical ; 3, vegetable. This general classification may strike the geological I'eader as novel and perhaps inade- quate, but for the ordinary discussions of practi- cal men. I think it will b2 found not inappropri- ate, if we boar in mind that the terms used are not intended to indicate by what agency the ma- tjrials of which the soils are composed Avcre brought into their present positions, but simply to express the present condition of the soil itself. Thus, by mechanical, I would designate all earths v;hich bear evidence of not having undergone any great chemical or vegetable change since being deposited in their present position ; that is, the tnixture of the different materials of which they are composed is simply a mechanical one ; by chemical, all that indicate by their strata and com- jjositlon that some important change in their qual- ities has taken place since their deposition ; and by the last term, all that are principally made up or' vegetable matter. The first of these formations, or classes of for- mations, to which I give the name mechanical, may be found in nearly all positions, though per- haps oftener in low than high grounds. Under this head will be classed moraines, sand-hills and bars, ancient river-beds, and all such surface stra- ta as bear evidence of having been deposited by some violent mechanical action. Upon examination of the strata of this class, we find tliem sometimes composed of regular layers of material, which is not always coarsely divided, but yet is never thoroughly, chemically united ; others have na*regular layers, but seem to be composed of confused masses of gravel, sand and clay, which are not intimately united, nor in any manner definitely divided ; here is a bed or layer of gravel — it extends a few feet, and abruptly ter- minates in a bed of clay, or perhaps gradually growing thinner and thinner, disappears between layers of clay and sand ; again, we find strata of almost pure sand. I cannot enter into a Isngthy explanation of the causes of these various phe- nomena, but will briefly state them ; thus, when the layers are comparatively regular, they are sup- posed to have been deposited from running water, either^frcsh or salt. The irregular stratification, which in fact covers a large portion of the eastern part of Massachusetts, is undoubtedly owing to- glacial action, as it occurs in ice-bearing currents, while the occurrence of sand-hills is generally as- signed to the action of the wind. The currents &om which were depogsited a large portion of the surface formations of the eastern part of NcAV England, are supposed to be analo- gous to the oceanic cm-rents of the present, and probably arose from the same cau-ses, namely, evaporation, difi^erence of tempei'ature of the po- lar and equatorial regions, and the earth's rotary motion. The currei^ts of the ocean are, without doubt, constant, considered as a whole j in other words, there ahvays exists a series of currents and coun- ter cun-ents, those from the poles moving south- westerly, and those from the equator north-easter- ly, of the northern hemisphere ; for the southern hemisphere, the reverse is true. The existence of these cun-ents is tlms accounted for. The velocity of the surface of the earth at the equator is about one thousand miles per hour, towards the cast ; while at 45° north or south latitude, it is but seven hundred and fifty miles per hour ; therefore, wa- ter at the equator has a velocity of one thousand miles per hour, and water at 45° but seven hun- dred and fifty miles per hour ; now, if, from any cause, a body of water moves from the equator towards the north, it will still retain its easterly motion of one thousand miles per hour, lessened only by friction ; hence, when it amves at 45°, where the surface motion of the earth is but seven hundred and fifty miles per horn*, it will have an easterly motion exceeding in rapidity that of the earth's surface by two himdred and fifty miles per hour, if it were not reduced by friction ; as it is, the excess is great ; this excess of velocity being com- bined with the northerly direction gives the cur- m rents their north-easterly course. The same rca- ■ soning applied to currents flowing from the north ^ pole to the equator, will show why all such have a south-westerly direction. The gulf stream is an example of the first, and the currents which bring down polar ice arc examples of the last, Balloon- ists take advantage of this same principle, and found upon it their theories of easterly aerial cur- rents, in Avhich they think they may be able to cross the Atlantic. The cfl"ects of these currents arc abrasion and drift. The action of a cuiTcnt of water sweeping over the surface is, first, to remove all loose earth from high points and deposit it in valleys ; but its ef- fect does not end here, for no sooner is the loose earth removed, than the solid rock is attacked, and in its turn carried down to the valleys. This mechanical action upon the rocks, together with the chemical decomposition that is constantly taking place, is called detrition : the resulting de- posit is called drift. Currents of air produce the same results as cmTents of water, aiid though the action of the wind is much less important, it is still so great as to be well worth careful consideration. The aque- ous cuiTents cease their action before the land be- comes inhabited, but the aerial ones are always at work. The eff'ect of abrasion upon the surface is per- fectly obvious ; it can leave nothing but a barren and hard strata wherever it takes place. Though drift is but the counterpart of abraF--icn, its action is much more complicated and difficult to 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 93 understand. Its effects are commonly just the op- posite, for wherever di'ift accumulates, there Ave ■may be nearly sure of finding good land. In New- England, ■".vlierever a ^oii is evidently composed of drift from an oceanic current, it is easy to state its chemical composition, a?' originally dejio sited ; we have only to examine the exposed rocks lying in a direction north-easterly from it ; their nature must of necessity determine the nature of the soil in question. It should be remembered, that, in the examination of soils, this is to be considered but as a general truth, and that there are so many anodif^dng causes that this knowledge alone will not enable -one to determine with any degree of accuracy the present ichemical nature of the soiL One of the most important considerations for the New England agriculturists, and one in which al- most every farmer is directly interested, is that of river and lake deposits; these consist of not only large amounts of finely granulated mineral, but also vast quantities of vegetable matter. The ex- treme richness of such deposits must be acknowl- edged by ever}' one who considers the following facts : first, the minerals of which they are com- posed are finely and intimately mixed ; second, the finely divided minerals are not only carbon- ized, but are brought in connection with particles •of carbon and decaying vegetable matter or hu- mus ; and lastly, the entire mass is more or less impregnated with ammonia. Although it is im- possible to conceive of a richer soil than this, yet it is probable tkat there is no class so universally neglected and despised. In scientific classification, soils formed of these deposits are called fluviatilc and lacustrine ; the farmer turns them off with the not very flattering title of swamp or mud hole. As an example of the magnitude of these de- posits, the following may be interesting. The area of the delta of the Mississippi is 13,600 square miles ; the average depth of deposit is 528 feet, and it has been estimated that the river annually deposits thirty-seven hundred millions of cubic feet ! This at first tbouglit seems large ; but even •at this rate, the venerable father of rivers must have diligently labored for sixty-seven thousand years. In a future number the chemical formation and composition of soils will be considered. Boston, Jan. 4, 1860. Club Footing. — A writer for the Michigan Farmer, thinks that the club-footing of cabbages results from a deficiency of moisture in the soil to supply the natural exhalation of its foliage, which he says Dr. Hales found to be so great as to equal daily nearly one-half its weight. He remarks that bulbous or tuberous-rooted jjlants will exist in a soil so deficient in moisture as to destroy all fibrous rooted vegetables. When, therefore, the moisture at the root of a cabbage plant does not equal the exhalation of its foliage, it endeav- ors to supply the deficiency by forming a kind of spurious bulbous root. A Battalion of Children. — In the town of Scandiano, situate near the Eegiiim Lepidi of Cicero, a battalion of four huudi-ed boys has been organized under the direction of General Garibal- di, who having noticed, in the course of his war- like experience, that boys of thirteen and fifteen years of age had proved useful in daring military operations, made up his mind in the late campaign to enrol a battalion of such youthful troops. An intelligent young officer undertook the task of forming the legion, which at first did not number more than one hundred and fifty. Austrian per- secution and patriotism soon increased their ranks, so that the battalion has now completed its nu- merical strengtli. An eye witness of their manoeu- vering was recently astonished to see their stead- iness and precision. Their commanding officer, Count John Arrivabene, is a young nobleman of three-and-twenty. THE USE OP TOBACCO. The Dean of Carlisle, in a recent lecture on to- bacco, at Carlisle, England, gave the following statistics : In 1856, thirty-three millions of pounds of to- bacco were consumed here at an expense of eight millions of money ; five million two hundred and twenty thousand pounds of which went in duty to government, to say nothing of vast quantities smuggled into the country. There is a steady in- crease upon tliis consumption far exceeding the contemporaneous increase of population. In 1821, the average was 11.70 ounces per head per an- num ; in 1851, it had risen to 16.39 ; and in 1853 to 19 ounces, or at least at the rate of one-fourtli increase in ten years. We hear of 20,000 hogs- heads of tobacco in the bonding-houses in London at one time. There are twelve city brokers in London expressly devoted to tobacco sales ; nine- ty mauufiicturers ; 1509 tobacco shops in London ; 82 clay pipe makers ; 7380 workmen engaged in the different branches of the business ; and no less than 250,048 tobacco shops in the Uniti-TJEHAM HEIFEU— JUBILEE OP ALSIOW. Bred by E. A. Alexander, V7oodford Co., Kentucky The property of Hon. John 'Wcntworth, Illinois. This breed of animals is so -well understood by most persons who take an interest in cattle, that a lengthened description does not seem necessary at this time. We give the portrait of this heifer as a truthful illustration of one of the class, and to show how beautiful in form and expression, an animal may be made through the agencies of in- telligence and care. The Durham cattle are do- cile, good feeders and milkers, lay on flesh rapid- ly, and those who breed them say they do this at a low comparative cost of feeding. Mr. Wcntworth, the owner of Jubilee, went from the State of New Hampshire many years ago a poor boy, and established himself as a printer and publisher, and gvov>-ing up with the young city of Chicago, became rich, was sent to Congress, and lias had many other trusts confided to him by the people. But he never forgot his early inter- est and love for agricultural products, and we found him several years since, during a brief call W8 made upon him, more ready to show us v.hat he was doing and thinking about in agriculture, than to talk about political matters, — so that the call was an agreeable one. Ho devotes a consid- erable portion of his time and money to promote the interests of agriculture, and we cannot doubt, will find more gratification in such piu'suits than in all the honors or emoluments of office. Condensed Cider. — The Messrs. Borden, of Whistead, Ct., who have been so successful in solidifying milk, have also accomplished the solid- ification of sweet cider. By the vacuum process, the cider, taken svveet from the press, is reduced five gallons to one, without boiling, and a beauti- ful jelly is the result ; Avhich will keep for any length of time witliout mould, souring, or fermen- tation of any kind. By the addition of water, it is immediately restored to its former condition, and becomes cider a*ain. All that is lost by the pro- cess are the Impurities that may exist in the prima- ry apple juice, and the green, siekish taste. The restored cider is much like a drink of prepared tamarinds, bul^is more delicate and palatable. The condensed article is a beautiful wine colored jelly, and is excellent for the table, cither M^ith meats or as a dessert. When reduced and bottled Avith a proper delay, the article so "extended," will fer- ment and become superior sparkling champagne cider. — Boston Traveller. i " The Homeste.vd. — This paper has been changed from the quarto to octavo form, and is much more convenienf'in its present shape. The Janu- ary number is iUii>5trated, and is printed on large and fair typeu' It Jias an able and earnest corps of Editors, gentlemen whose hearts as well as heads are enl/sted in the calling which they have chosen. It li^s n<^ crotchets, is modest but finu iu its opinions, and is doing a noble work. 98 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. / LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTUSAL MEETIKG. [Reported for the New England Farmer, by Thos. Bradley.] The first formal meeting for the session of the Legislative Agricultural Societj' was held in the Representatives' Hall at the State House, on Mon- day evening. A large number were present, and much interest was manifested in the proceedings. The meeting was called to order by Col. David Heard, of Wayland, at 7 o'clock, and the com- mittee appointed at the informal meeting the week previous announced the following list of of- ficers, and reported the annexed rules. President— ms Excellency, N. P. Banks. firi; Prefhk'iits— lion. II. W. Bishop, of Lenox ; Hon. Na- thaniel Eddy, of Oxforl, and Col. P. Heard, of Wayland. Secretaries — Sir. Charles L. Flint, of Boston, and Mr. T. M. Stoughton, of Gill. Executive Committee — Hon. SrwoN Brown, of Concord ; Messrs. HiR.\M NASn, of Willi amsburg ; J. S. ELDRn)GE,of Canton ; Geo. Haskell, of Ipswich, and Lewis Demond, of Ware. The following are the rules : RnLE I. — Speeches shall be limited to fifteen minutes each, unless by unanimous consent of the meeting, o::cept in the case of the President of the evening, who shall occupy what time he may see fit. Rule II. — The officers chosen shall hold their offices during the month of January, except the President, who shall be nomi- nated each evening by the Executive Committee. Rule III. — It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to propose subjects, to nominate a President, and to invite speakers each evening. The report was accepted. On taking the chair, His Excellency addressed the meeting, alluding to the formation of the so- ciety, and the objects to be gained Ijy such assem- blages. Ho said there was no profession on which the interests of the Commonwealth are so depend- ent, none with which the prosperity of our people is so closely allied, as agriculture. The question which is presented for discussion is not only in- teresting to the tiller of the soil, but to all others — in a word it touches every interest in life ; it Is not only the interests of the farmer, but the mer- chant, scholar, mechanician and philosopher ; the individual, the family, the State and the consoli- dation of States are all dependent on agriculture. The question to be discussed this evening opens a wide field, but I am not so well able to speak on it as most of those present, and I shall not pre- sume to occupy th* time of the meeting by giving my crude views on the subject. Speaking of the question, "TF/iO^ will tend to make agriculture projitahle and pleasant as a jnir- suit ?" the speaker asked, Avhat is the general mo- tive of men, and what controls them in business afi'airs ? The profit of any pursuit may be found in the acquisition of wealth or in the advanced social position, and we are to determine what are covered by the words of the subject, "profit and pleasure." The Governor spoke of mercantile life, and the risk engaging in it entailed, and said that when a man had tried everything else for a living and failed, he comes back to the earth, his highest, greatest and most lasting satisfaction, as there is no other puisuit that presents so many sure means of support as this. He admitted that mercantile life dazzled our country youth, as, if money was made in this, it was made more rapid- ly, but it should be the aim of the society to instil into the minds of young men and women the pleasures of an agricultural life, and by showing how it may be made profitable, create a pleasure in it. He spoke in warm terras of gratification of the objects of the society, and said that to show the strong claims of agi'iculture, the best means was by such meetings as these, repeated in vari- ous ways and places. In conclusion, he assured the society of his deep interest in the objects of the meeting, and hoped that success would follow its deliberations. Hon. IL W. Bishop, of Lenox, next spoke. He said there was a great diflticulty in bringing the agriculturists of the State together ; they meet in clubs, &c., covering a limited area, and when they get such meetings as these we may all learn some- thing valuable. The question for discussion was new to him, but he felt pleasure in contemplating it. The pleasures of agriculture none can detail, as they are so numerous, and the profits could not be enumerated in one evening. It had been well said that riches could not be acquired fast by ag- riculture, but what was of far more moment, they were sure. Judge Bishop then spoke of the reli- ance to be placed on the husbandman in case of invasion or intestine commotion, and said that not only by his money the State Avould be defend- ed, but by his bone and sinew. The speaker said he had passed the sixth decade, and from his expe- ence he would advise every man with a family not to leave agricultural pursuits in the hope of mak- ing a rapid fortune in commerce, lest he bring himself and family to penury. Passing to the consideration of the profits of agriculture, he said that we must look to heaven for these, and not to Congress. Heaven sends the dews, clouds and seasons to grow and ripen the crops, but Congress cannot give the slightest as- sistance. We may be, and are encouraged, said he, by legislation, and more particularly by those modes recommended by the chairman, but no leg- islation affects the crops. The speaker, alluding to the pleasures of agri- culture, said there were no pleasures equal to those of the man who had his acres unincumbered, as he always would have his bread and meat, and these pleasures the agi-iculturist may arrogate to himself entirely. It has been said in days past, over and over again, that agriculture Avas not aa honorable profession, and that it was a slow way 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 99 of making money, and the lawyer, doctor and clergyman were leaders in the professions by tacit acquiescence, but now mechanical and scientific improvements have lent their aid to the farmer to that extent that he is at the head of profession- al men. There is no occupation in life to which so much of science can be applied, and the speak- er expressed his gratification in seeing that a bill had been introduced into the Legislature for a horticultural or agricultural garden in tlie vicinity of Boston. He concluded by speaking of vegeta- ble physiology, and the attention given to the food of plants, asserting that the mechanical mixture of the soils is making a progress which will give to agriculture that social and political standing in the Commonwealth that science will always give. Rev. Mr. Sanger expressed the pleasure it gave him in seeing the countenance given to the cause. The last speaker had spoken of science as requi- site for the profit and pleasure of the agricultu- rist, but he thought knowledge should be diffused, and this he thought would be the true way of bringing pleasure. We must have knowledge of the soil, and the ingredients composing it, and then Ave want to know what vegetation requires iu the soil. Mr. Sanger said that in the part of the country where he had lived, 20 or 30 years ago, 20 to 2-5 bushels of corn to the acre was con- sidered rather above an average crop, while within the past 10 years premiums have been given for from 80 to 100 bushels to the acre on the same land. He spoke of the yield of wheat in the same section, and said that now it nearly doubled the produce per acre of the land in Ohio, and this was, in a large number of cases, the result of an acquaintance with the soil. The speaker urged on farmers the encourage- ment of a love of the beautiful as producing a contented mind, and recommended the planting of trees and flowers around their dwellings, thus connecting beauty with the necessaries of life. Hon. JosiAn Quincy, Jr., being called on, said he thought the great question in relation to agri- culture was, "Will it pay ?" and he thought the purpose should be to show that it will. He spoke of farming in England and France, and said that in these countries men invested very large amounts of capital in cultivating small farms, thus making it a very profitable investment, and getting the most from the land, while here our farmers arc too desirous of extending their labors over too much territory, and not half cultivating any of it. He said that there was nothing that paid better than money judiciously expended on the soil, and in proof of this he spoke of pet pieces of ground that yielded at the rate of $50 to the acre, and he asked why this might not be extended to 100 acres ? He had 10 acres of ground on which the hay was not worth cutting ; finding this, he broke it up, fertilized it, harrowed and seeded it, at an expense of .$50 per acre, and the first year he got 2-} tons of hay from it, which he could sell at tlie barn for $20 per ton, thus paying in one year for the en- tire expense. He had last year raised 300 tons of hay, which cost him $700, which he harvested for $2 50 per acre, while his neighbor could not do it for $5 ; but the speaker said he had the advan- tage of the best macliines, mowing, raking, 8:c., and it is in not having these that farmers lose money. He thought farmers were the most ex- travagant men in the world, and he showed this by their neglect in sa\'ing manure. Mr. Quincy then showed that a cow kept up during the year will produce more value in manure than the value of her milk, relying on the estimate of Dr. Sam- uel L. Dana, that she produces 21 cords. He al- luded to the care which is taken in Europe in this matter, and spoke of the result in bountiful har- vests. The great element of farming, said he, is sav- ing, with a liberal and judicious expenditure, and we must cither invest more capital, or reduce the area of our farms to make the land yield what it will do, and he considered that it would be far better if farmers invested their profit in their land than in bank or railroad stodis. Mr. BuCKMiNSTER spoke of the mental and bod- ily health a farmer enjoys, and urged on the meet- ing the importance of instilling the pleasures and profits of agriculture as well as the importance of health, on the minds of the rising generation. He also advocated the importance of farmers who know how to make farming profitable, assigning to then- children a small piece of gi'ound, and teaching them how to cultivate it, so as to incite a desire to acquii-e more, and this he contended would be the best course by which to forward the cause of agriculture. Mr. Howard, editor of the Cultivator, related an incident which came to his knowledge last year, of a Dutch farmer, in New York State, who, from a squatter on seven acres of land, and one cow, had become the owner of a farm of 50 acres, with 15 cows, and a good house and farm buildings, and all acquired from the careful saving of ma- nure. He attributed the dissatisfaction of farm- ers to the waste of this valuable assistant, and contended that, until more care was bestowed on this, farmers could not expect to realize large re- turns. He also spoke of English farmers, and urged on the farmers here the necessity of keep- ing book accounts of the oost of all produce. Mr. Gardner, of Swansey, thought a man should have an aptness for his calling, and this more particularly applied in the case of the farm- ers, as if a man liked Iiis business he would be industrious in proportion. Ho thought the argu- ment that a man must have a capital to conimenco 100 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. farming was not entirely correct, as he had knowl- edge of quite a number of men who had acquired good farms from being thrifty day laborers. He alluded to the knowledge of science by farmers, and said he thought that in the majority of cases a farmer learned more from actual experiment than from the study of books. On motion of Col. Heard, the same subject was assigned for consideration at the next meet- ing, when the Society adjourned to Monday even- ing next, at 7 o'clock. BXTBACTS AND BEPLIES. MAKING BUTTER IN WINTER. I have found no difficulty in making butter in winter ; my process is simply this : keep the milk in a cool place ; if it freezes it will not injure it ; collect the cream about ten days, then place the pot of cream near a fire, stiiririg it occasionally, till it becomes nearly milk-warm. Then scald the churn, and the butter will come in about half an hour, of a good quality, fit for any man's table. The great difficulty is in not having the cream of a right temperature before churning. If Mr. Leon- ard will try this method, I think he will have no difficulty in future. Please inform me what kind of churn is best. Derri/, N. IL, 1860. Dairywojian. Remarks. — We cannot tell which of all churns is the best. Out of some five or six lands which we have tried, we prefer and use the Fyler churn. A correspondent in Auburn, N. H., states that by setting the milk on the stove as soon as it is strained, and bringing it to scalding heat, and by keeping the cream in the warm kitchen, the but- ter will come in from twenty-five to thirty min- utes. M. P. Knowles, of Rangely, Me., scalds the milk as above, and warms but does not heat the cream. To give the butter a good color, he says, I scrape a carrot and warm it in about three pints of cream, and strain it into the chum. ABOUT GRAPES. I hav(2 transplanted several kinds of wild grapes into ray garden for trial, but the quality is not improved, as they only ripen sooner in a more fa- vorable location ; I shall not longer give them room, since T have g«t the Diana, Concord, Isa- bella, Sage, Globe Seedling, Warren Seedling, the Cherry grape, and others. I have the early Muscadine, which ripens two weeks earlier than the Diana or Concord, and is the best early sweet grape I have. The Sage and Globe Seedling and Warren Seedling, are early and quite good grapes, the Sage, I think best ; the Catawba does not ri- pen with me. I have eaten them ripe, raised by Charles 11, Holt, of South Lyndeborough, N. H. We want the best grape that is productive, and will ripen in the location where we cultivate. Oliver Bcttebfield. FrancestQwn, N. H. Jan., 1860, GEESE AND GOSLINGS. Will some of your many correspondents give me a few directions in regard to the raising and management of geese ? For the novelty of the thing, I purchased last spring three geese and a gander, of the common kind. In due time, one of them brought forward six goslings. Failing in our efforts to make them eat, we drove them into the river near by, leaving them to manage to suit thems'jlvcs. The other two geese were sitting on the opposite bank of the river, where the gander, also, had posted himself as guard. The moment the goose and her progeny were discovered, his gandership flew across and escorted them to the other side with noisy rejoicings that made the welldn ring. Jealous of the attentions bestowed upon their quondam companion, the others quit their nests and insisted upon sharing her mater- nal cares. However, we forced one to return to her sotting till she produced four goslings, when she adjourned, sine die. These weaklings, meet- ing with general ill treatment, soon turned their last summerset, and the geese uniting in care of the older ones, brought them all up finely, with- out other interference. How often should geese be plucked during the warm season ? Where can the "Leghorn fov.ls," mentioned in your last week's paper, be obtained, and at what price ? *. Nashua, K H., 1860. Remarks. — We have never raised geese, and know little about them. Will some one reply to our fair correspondent — for it is a lady v.dio writes — and inform her, also, where the Leghorn fowls can be obtained ? LICE ON COLTS. I Avish to inquire through the columns of the Farmer what will rid my colt of lice ? By giv- ing such information you will oblige Samuel Chase Nay. Raymond, N. H., 1860. Rejlirks. — Take a soft brush and a little pure lard, and rub the colt all over with it ; a table spoonful of lard will be nearly sufficient. Repeat this every third day, keeping the colt diy and warm, and feeding him liberally through the win- ter. If this does not succeed, wc will suggest an- other remedy, MANURE FROM TANNERIES. I wish to inquire whether manure from a tan- nery is good for agricultural purposes ? Pawtucket, 1859. A. B. Franklin. Remarks. — If the scrapings of hides and the hair are mixed with otlier rubbish about the tan- nery, they form an active and valuable manure. A CURE FOR chilblains. Put a large spoonful of fine salt on the place afiected, in the morning, and put the sock on care- fully so as not to disturb the salt ; then wet the outside of the sock with vinegar. By doing this a few times a cure is certain. SouND Feet. Auburn, N. H. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 101 WART ON A COLT, Please tell what will take a wart from a colt, and oblipe C. W. Fay, East Ilubbardston, Vt. Remarks. — Mr, A. Briggs, of Deerfield, Mass., says that potash dissolved to a paste laid upon the wart for half an hour, and then taken off and the pai't washed in vinegar, will cure a wart on man or beast, AVe do not know personally. United States Agricultural Society. — At the recent meeting of this Society, the following officers were chosen : — Henry Wagner, Western New York, President ; B. B. French, Treasurer, and Ben : Perlcy Poore, Secretary. On Thurs- day morning, 12th, the Presid(?nt attended the United States Agricultural Society to receive his diploma as an honorary member. The President of the Society, in delivering it, said that it was a strange coincidence that every President of the United States had either been called from the plow, like Cincinnatus, or else retired to it at the expiration of their terms of office. Mr. Buchanan, in reply, spoke of his taste for agricultural pur- suits, though he had but little opportunity to in- dulge in them. He paid a high tribute to the til- lers of the soil, and anticipated his return to Wheatland in less than eighteen months, to enjoy the independence and quiet of rural life. His speech was frequently interrupted by applause. Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Massachusetts was voted the "grand gold medal of honor," as the founder and constant patron of the society. This is the largest and most valuable medal struck in America. owned by the late James Brown, Esq., is on the summit of Wellington Hill, and is considered one of the healthiest spots in the neighborliood of Boston. Spontaneous Co:\rBUSTiON of Hay, — "Ome- ga," of Roxbury, in a communication on "spon- taneous combustion in hay," in the Farmer of November last, asks for more light on the sub- ject, although he seems convinced that spontane- ous combustion in salt hay was the cause of set- ting his barn on fire. Mr. Geo. Whitney, of Es- sex, Vt., says in a note to us, — "We get in our hay very green up here, and if there is any danger of spontaneous combustion in so doing, we should like to know it. Will you, or some of your readers, tell us ? We have no knowledge on the subject ; those who have will please to communicate it. Fatal Disease among Cattle. — Oiu- agricul- tural readers will regret to learn, says the Tran- script, that Winthrop W. Chenery, Esq., of Bel- mont, has lost twenty-seven head of valuable cows and oxen within the past six months, by pneumo- nia, or inflammation of the lungs, (an infectious disease, similar to the "murrain," now prevailing in the north of Europe.) Mr. Chenery has im- ported the best Dutch cows that ever came to this country, and it is a public loss that such stock should meet such a fate. The last cow that died this week was the largest animal in the United States, and weighed 3260 pounds ! The skeleton has been presented to Professor Agassiz for his new Museum. Mr. Chenery's farm was formerly PBtTNING APPLE TUBES. In another column we give an article upon the subject of pruning and transplanting apple trees, and are happy to present it at this early day, in the hope that it may prevent some persons from spoiling their trees by pruning them wlien the sap is freely floiinnrj. We have often called attention to this subject, and in one or two instances have endeavored to show the reasons why spring prun- ing is injurious. It is much more to convince the unbelievers in the orchard, than it is on paper. The candid attention of the reader is asked to Mr. Goldsbury's article, and also to what has heretofore been said in the Farmer on the sub- ject. Immense Forests. — Spars are sent from Puget Sound to Asia, the Sandwich Islands, Australia, and to the navies of England and France. The Hon. Isaac I. Stevens, Congressional Delegate from Washington Territory, has stated that "with- in one mile of the shores of the Sound, there Is more timber than can l)e foimd on all the tribu- taries of all the waters of Maine." Keeping Milk Sweet. — A correspondent of the Homestead found that, in sending milk to market, though it left the dairy perfectly sweet, it was often curdled on delivery to customers. To remedy this, the cans were covered with cotton cloth soaked in salt water. By this method the curdling of the miUi was entirely prevented. YOUTH'S DEPARTMENT. "THE GRIT BABE-LEGGED LADDIE." Sixty years ago, a stout youth of eighteen years old, who had been known among his neighbor- hood as "grit bare-legged laddie," called on a poor village schoolmaster, and said — "I would like to attend your evening school, sir." "What do you wish to study?" asked the teacher. "I want to learn to read and Mrite," replied the lad. The teacher looked into the lad's face with a somcv,hat scornful glance, shrugged his shoulders, and said : "Very well, you can attend." Now, if that bony lad had said to the teacher, "I mean to become a gi-eat inventor, to be the com- panion of rich and noble men, to hold conversa- tion with kings, and to write my name among the great men of the world," I dare say the teacher would have called the boy a fool for cherishing such wild dreams. Yet that poor bony lad, who at eighteen did not know the alphabet, did all those things before he died. Who was he ? His name was George Stephen- son, the great railway pioneer ! It was not the fault of young George that he 102 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Peb. was ignorant, it was only his misfortune. His parents were too poor to send him to school. He was the son of the fireman of a pumping engine in a colliery. His birthplace was a cottage with a clay floor, mud wall and bare rafters. He had to help earn his living from his earliest years, first by herding cows and barring up the gates of the mine at night. Next he was put to picking stones from the coal, and after that to driving a horse, which hauled coal from the pit. By-and-bye he was made assistant fireman to his fother. When he was seventeen he was made plugman of a pumping engine — a higher post than his father's, and had climbed, as it seemed, to the top of his ladder. What hope was there for a youth who could not read at seventeen ? But George had hope in his breast. His engine was a lesson-book to him. He took it apart and put it together again, studied it, loved it, and when he was told that there were books which told about engines, he made up his mind to go to school. To school he went, and soon learned all that the vilkige masters could teach. When twenty years old he was made brakesman, and began to think about inventing better engines than he saw about him. His next work was a railway eight miles in length, and from this point he went on until he was known as the great railway pioneer of the world. George was often laughed at by men who thought themselves much v,iser than he. One day he was proposing to build an engine to run twelve miles an hour. A grave-looking gentle- man thinking to put him down, said : "Suppose one of these engines to be going along a railroad at the rate of nine or ten miles an hour, and that a cow were to stray upon the line, would not that be a very awkward circum- stance P" *'Yes," replied Mr. Stephenson, "very awk- ward indeed — for the cow !" Thus, l,iy his own industry, did the "grit bare- legged laddie" climb to a very high place among men. Great men, and even kings, sought his ad- vice, wealth flowed into his purse ; his name was honored, his character respected. At a ripe age he died and went to his eternal reward. Let this sketch cheer on the boys and girls to patient effort in the path of duty. Learn some- thing every day. Press forward ! Be good, and you will prosper. GBEAT MEN WHO ROSE FROM THE RANKS. From the barber's shop rose Sir Richard Ark- wi'ight, the invento» of the spinning jenny, and the founder of the cotton manufacture of Great Britain ; liOrd Tenterden, one of the most distin- guished of English Lord Cliief Justices ; and Tur- ner, the very greatest among landscape painters. No one knows to a certainty what Shakspeare was ; but it is unquestionable that he sprang from a very humble trade. The common class of day- laborers has given us Brindley, the engineer ; Cook, the navigator ; and Burns, the poet. Ma- sons and bricklayers can boast of Ben Johnson, who worked at the building of Lincoln's Inn, with a trowel in his hand, and a book in his pocket; Eflwatds and Telford, the ens^ineers ; Huch Mil- ler, the geologist ; and Allan Cunningham, the MTiter and sculptor ; whilst amongst distinguished carpenters we find the name of Inigo Jones, the architect ; Harrison, the chronometer maker ; John Hunter, the physiologist ; Romney and Opie, the painters ; Professor Lee, the Orientalist ; and John Gibson, the sculptor. From the weaver class have sprung Simpson, the mathematician ; Bacon, the sculptor ; the two Milners, Adam W'alker, John Foster, Wilson, the ornithologist ; Dr. I-iv- ingstone, the missionary traveller ; and Tannahill, the poet. Shoemakers have given us Sturgeon, the electrician ; Samuel Drew, the essayist ; Gif- ford, the editor of the Quarterhj Review ; Bloom- field, the poet, and William Carey, the missiona- ry ; whilst Morrison, another laborious missiona- ry, Avas a maker of shoe lasts. Within the last year, a pi'ofound naturalist has been discovered in the person of a shoemaker at Banff", who, while maintaining himself by his trade, has devoted his leisure to the study of natural science in all its branches, his researches in connection with the smaller Crustacea? having been rewarded by the discovery of a new species, to which the name of Praniza Edwardsii has been given by naturalists. Nor have tailors been altogether undistinguish- ed, Jackson, the painter, having worked at that trade, until he reached manhood. But what is, perhaps, more remarkable, one of the gallantest of British seamen. Admiral Hobson, who broke the boom at Vigo in 1702, originally belonged to this calling. He was working as a tailor's appren- tice near Bonchurch, in the Isle of Wight, when the news flew through the village that a squadron of men-of-war were sailing off the island. He sprang from the shop-board, and ran down with his comrades to the beach to gaze upon the glori- ous sight. The tailor boy was suddenly inflamed with the ambition to be a sailor, and, springing into a boat, he rowed oft' to the squadron, gained the admiral's ship, and was accepted as a volun- teer. Years after he returned to his native village, full of honors, and dined of bacon and eggs in the cottage where he had worked as a tailor's appren- tice. Cardinal Wolsey, De Foe, Akenside, and Kirke White, were the sons of butchers ; Bunyan was a tinker, and Joseph Lancaster, a basket- maker. Among the great names identified with the invention of the steam-engine are those of Newcomen, Watt, and Stephenson ; the first a blacksmith, the second a maker of mathematical instruments, and the third an engine fireman. Dr. Hutton, the geologist, and Bewick, the father of wood-engraving, were coal-miners. Dodsley was a footman, and Holcroft a groom. Bufhn, the navigator, was a common seaman, and Sir Cloudes- ley Shovel, a cabin-boy. Herschel played the oboe in a military band. Chan trey was a journeyman carver, Etty a journeyman printer ; and Su* Thom- as Lawrence the son of a tavern-keeper. Michael Faraday, the son of a poor blacksmith, was in early life apprenticed to a book-binder, and woi'ked at that trade until he reached his twenty- second year ; he now occupies the very first rank as a philosopher, excelling even his master, Sir Humphrey Davy, in the art of lucidly expounding the most difficult and abstruse points in natural science. Not long ago. Sir Roderick Murchison discovered, at Thurso, in the far north of Scotland, a profound geologist, in the ])crson of a baker named Robert Dick. "Wlien Sir Roderick called 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 103 upon him at the bake-house, m which he baked and eanied his bread, Dick delineated to him, by means of flour upon a board, the geographical fea- tures and geological phenomena of his native county, pointing out the imperfections in the ex- isting maps, which ho had ascertained by travelling over the county in his leisure hours. On further inquiry, Sir Roderick ascertained that the humble individual lieforo him was not only a capital baker and geologist, but a fu'st rate botanist. "I found," said the Director General of the Geographical So- ciety, "to my great humiliation, that this baker knew infinitely more of botanical science, ay, ten times more, than I did ; and that there were only some twenty or thirty specimens of flowers which he had not collected. Some he had obtained as presents, some he had purchased ; but the greater portion had been accumulated by his industry, in his native county of Caithness, and the specimens were all arranged in the most beautiful order, with their scientific names affixed." — Self-IIelp, hy Samuel Smiles. LITTLE "WILLIE AND THE APPLE. Little Willie stoofl under Tj FRED'K HOLBROOK, ) Office.... 34 Merchants' Row. MMUJN iiKOWW, EDITOR. HENRY F. FRENCH, \ Associate Editors. CALENDAR FOR MARCH, The stormy March is come at last, With wind, ami cloud, and changing skies ; I hear the gushing of the blast That through the snowy valleys flies. Ah '. passing few are they who speak, Wild, stormy month, in praise of thee ; Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak, Thou art a welcome month to me. — Bryant. ^Arch, stormy and . changeful as it is, his yet this re- deeming grace — thit it brings with it a promise of something better. Though storms may come with all — the fury and more than the gloom of Dtcember, wc know that win- tei IS dcpaiting, or to use one of those common phrases which have been common principally on account of their expressiveness — "the _ ^ heart of the winter is broken." We, ^^r'Mfm. of the northern latitudes, have al- ways this advantage over those who dwell in regions of perpetual sum- mer, that all that we have of beauty in climate is heightened a thousand fold by the contrast of a world to all intents and purposes dead, half the year. The few bright sunny days that are vouchsafed to us in ^Nlarch, how beautiful they seem in their sombre setting of clouds and storms and "chilling winds." Every spot of bare ground, from which the sun has thawed away the snow a little prematurely, looks familiar and wel- come as the face of a friend who has long been absent. Even a flock of wild geese flying over, awaken an interest, and their cackling, which is in itself by no means melodious, has a kind of music for our ears, for we know when we hear it, they have felt in their downy bosoms that summer is coming, up in the hills and mountains of New England. Something which we call instinct told them so when they were down among the swamps and everglades of Florida, and straightway they packed up, and set off" on their long journey. No man can interpret the guide-book which directs their course, but right through the air they come, looking serenely down upon us, with our rail- roads and telegranhs, and poor attempts at bal- loon-making. The pleasure with which we listen to the first croaking of the frog, too, would be incomprehen- sible to one who had never associated it with the loosening of frozen brooks, and the first faint tinge of green on the grass, and the swelling buds of the trees. We are always glad to hear him sing- ing again in the far-off meadow, albeit he sets his tunes in a minor key, and sings them in the pen- sive twilight. Probably all animais have premonitions of re- turning summer. It is certain that all wild ani- mals do, for they plan their work, and make their preparations for a new mode of life with as much discrimination as man himself. Our domestic an- imals, being dependent on us for their support, do not lay their plans in the same way, and yet wc seem to see in them a new element of lazy con- tentment, or sportive joy, which just as plain- ly expresses their approbation of the change that is gradually coming over the face of nature. ^ For example, look at that ox, as he stands look- ing out of the barn door, or in the sunny corner of the yard, chewing his cud in a meditative mood. Don't you see plainly written on his countenance that he is thinking of the "better days a coming," when he shall roam through the pastures at will, helping himself in the natural way to a splendid feast of green grass, instead of eating dxy hay- pitched at him with a fork, by the farmer's boy ? Don't you see that he is instituting a comparison 106 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. March between the -watering trough where he and his companions have fought for freedom all winter, and the pure, running brook by the old willow tree ? The sheep, we can't help imagining, has not quite got over his last impressions of getting his own living — when he was left, late in Novem- ber, to browse out on tlie bleak, barren hill-side, and grind his poor nose down to a point, among the sharp rocks, in search of a bite, which, after all, proved to be nothing but a bramble or a thistle. If he has had an experience of two or three years, he may be looking fearfully forward to the time when the shearers will rob him of his wool again, and leave him shivering, naked in the blast. For he has never heard about the wind being "tempered to the shorn lamb," and therefore can- not bring the consolations of philosophy to his aid. Yet even the sheep, stupid, not to say slieepisli, as he looks, must rejoice to feel the warm south wind playing through his "hyacinthine locks," though doubtless his anticipations are much col- ored and marred by the trials heretofore men- tioned, and numerous others with which his mortal state abounds, as fettered limbs, great dogs, &'c., &c. Strange, that an animal so frisky as the lamb, Avhose name has indeed become the very synonym for playfulness — should ever turn out an old sheep. Does not the fact that he can so soon forget his lambhood, go far to show that the cares of life do press heavily upon him ? You call a person a "sheep," and he does not usually feel complimented ; and yet Avhen a mother would yse the strongest expression of endearment for the in- fant on her knee, she says — "little lamb." But the most triumphant of all animals is the rooster. Glad are we to hear his "clarion" out in the free air once more. Lord of the manor is he, by an inherent right which no one would think of disputing. That he is weather-wise, is abundantly ])roved by the old stanza, "Crow on the fence, The storm's going hence ; Crow on the grounrl, The storm's coming clown." [Of course we do not hold ourselves responsi- ble for the rhyme of "ground" and "down."] It must hav» beea in consideration of this pe- culiar gift of his, that his efRgy has been so long used as a weather vane, and, in our opinion, nothing so handsome has ever been substituted for it. R,ampant horses, wooden men with swords in their hands, oxen, fishes, arrows, — none of these come up to the mark, like a real old- fashioned weather cock. A\'lien he Avotild foretell Tair weather, how triumphantly he "Turns his goWen crest, To catch the breezes of tlie West." But when a storm is brewing, he switches his long tail-feathers about, and looks defiantly to the north-east, letting the wind and rain beat against his breast Avith unshrinking boldness. When a certain barn was burned to the ground, and two unfortunate pigs perished in the flames, a young man was heard to remark that he did not care so much for the property, "but he did hate to see human nater burnt." Everybody laughed, but the individual in ques- tion Avas not so very far out of the way, besides showing a sympathizing spirit which did him hon- or. There is, in fact, a great deal of "human na- ter" In animals, as every one may know who will watch their habits and customs. Existence should be made much more pleasant to them than it is, for between them and us there is this difference, that while all our suffering is, or may be, disciplinary, and will be more than made up to us hereafter, tJiey suffer without know- ing why, without even being capable of improv- ing by it, and when they die by violence to min- ister to our wants, or perish after a life spent in our service, that, as we suppose. Is the end. They have no reward. Ought not the harmless crea- tures, then, to receive kindness from our hands ? Is the subject beneath our notice ? When the world is waking up to life, and an electric thrill of happiness nuis through us, in which all animal and vegetable things seem to sympathize, what an appropriate time to put into practice human resolves ! For the New England Farmer. FOWL MEADOW GKASS. Messrs. Editors : — When I was a boy in my native town, Lancaster, Worcester country, there was a tract of land, lying on both sides of the Nashua River, which had never been cleared, of- fered for sale, which my father bought. He hired help, and cut off a large amount of lumber. On the intervale, there were patches of grass quite ex- tensive, which he called native grass. But at hay time, one of his mowers said it was called "fowl meadow grass," and so named, (as I remember ho said,) because a remarkable fowl was found dead there. I never knew it cultivated, till I reaped off the heads, some fifty-six years ago, which I have often done since. Trying it on different soils and sea- sons of the year, mixed and alone, I esteem it first rate stock hay. Sown on the surface of damp burnt land, it does admirably, and will not run out. If cut late. I will not say that eai'ly cutting kills it, or that it requires the annual dropping of ripe seed ; but, as requested, give my experience. Be- ing tender at first, I sow it alone, and on plowed ground, and only roll it in. Benj. Willard. Land Titles in California. — As Illustrative of the deplorable uncertainty of land titles In California, Mr. Greeley says, in one of his letters. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 107 "I met to-day an intelligent farmer who has had three different farms in this State, and has lost them successively by adjudications adverse to his title." And, in spealdng of the privileges of miners, he adds : '"To dig up a man's fenced gai'- den, or dig down his house, in quest of gold, is the legal right of any miner," subject, of course, to payment of damages, if the roving miner should prove responsible. For the A'ew England Farmer. KECLAIMIIfG SALT MARSHES. Mr. Editor : — I have been looking into your Farmer for the last three years to se-j something touching the marine meadows that line the shores of New England. They have received very little attention, judging from the agricultm-ai papers, and the reports of the State and county societies. Though salt marsh was successfully reclaimed a hundred years ago by Rev. Jared Elliot, of Kil- lingworth, Ct., and fine crops of clover and herds gi'ass produced, I do not now know of half a dozen instances where the improvement has been made. From the little experience and observation I have had of these lands, I am persuaded that they are much the best grass lands in the country, and that no improvement upon a shore farm will paj- so well as the reclaiming of these wastes. There are thousands, yes, millions of acres, of these marshes lying all along our sea-board, that can be economically reclaimed. They now produce a va- riety of marine grasses that barely pay the ex- pense of cutting. Cattle eat a little of the hay, by way of relish, but do not thrive upon it. The best use it can be put to, is bedding and manure mak- ing. For the purpose of calling the attention of your readers along the seaboard to these unprized lands, I M-ish to make a brief statement of a little operation, that has come under my own observa- tion. The reclaimed marsh lies within the limits of Stonington borough, and just inside of the Prov- idence and Stonington Railroad. It embraces about nine acres, one of which is now occupied by the Stonington and New London Railroad, leav- ing about eight acres of the improved land. A small stream runs through it in the winter. In the fall of 1855, a side gate was put into the cul- vert, at the railroad embankment, through which this stream empties into the sea. This culvert was the only outlet, and the gate completely con- trolled the access of the sea-water. As the cul- vert was made of stone, and the passage was only about four feet in width and depth, the expense of stopping the sea-water was small, not exceed- ing five dollars. The old ditches around the edge of the marsh Avere cleared out, and some new ditches M'cre made, cutting off" all the fresh water that came in from the adjoining uplands. The marsh could only be cbained about eighteen inches, owing to the stone bottom of the culvert, and the small rise and fall of the tide at this place. The first summer after the tide gate was put in, nothing was done with the land, except to mow it, and watch the change in the vegetation. It had been the custom of the former owners of the marsh, to get about two loads of salt hay on the nine acres, not enough to pay for mowing. The first season after the improvement, the hay was more than doubled, and the quality was very much improved. It was also observed that dande- lions, dock, and other upland plants, had started iu many places. It was inferred that grasses would grow where weeds did, and in the fall of 1850 and the spring of '57 clover, herds grass and red-top seeds were sown on the greater part of the marsh. Some of it was sown upon the snovr. Nothing Avas done to the seed, by way of cover- ing ; most of it took well, and pure herds grass, three feet high, was cut in July from seed soAvn about three months before. Seeing that the land Avas disposed to make so good returns, for every thing that Avas done for it, the ncAV OAvncr spread various kinds of soil upon the surface, to help the groAvth of the grass anoth- er season. Garden soU, gravel, yellow loam, ditch mud and compost from the yard, Avere spread on in various places. The poorest grass Avas upon that part that had no di-essing, but this yielded not far from a ton to the acre. That dressed Avith gravel yielded better, that Avith yellow loam bet- ter still, that Avith garden soil better yet, and that dressed Avith ditch mud Avas about equal to that covered with compost. A part of it, designed for pasture, Avas soAved Avith a mixture of AA'hits and red clover and herds grass seeds. It Avas also dressed about half Avith garden soil, and half Avith ditch mud. This acre and a half has pastured two coavs five months the past season. It Avould have yielded at least four tons of good hay. From the rest of the marsh about thirteen tons of good hay Avere cut, a part of Avhich Avas sold, in the field, for tAvelve dollars a ton. Had the Avholc been kept in meadoAv, and the hay sold, it Avould have come to over two hundred dollars, or one hundred and fifty dollars clear of all expense. In the course of the improvement over tAvo hundred cords of muck have been taken from the ditches, a part of Avhich has been sold at a dollar a cord, and the rest used upon the adjacent up- land. It is estimated that this muck has more than paid for all the expense of ditching, and to^''- dressing, and grass seed. The land is now Avor h three hundred dollars an acre, and Avill pay sevt i per cent, on that sum as long as it is taken care c !". From this statement it Avill be seen, that there is no more inviting field for improvement than these marshes. The chief expense Avill be in the embankment ; but many of these marshes are s't- uated along the banks of creeks, presenting a nar row border to the sea, so that every rod of dA'kirg Avould protect an acre of land. These marshes do not noAV, as a rule, pay the interest on five dol- lars an acre, and they can be bought from five t ;■> fifty dollars an acre. As soon as they are re- claimed, they Avill pay the interest on from one to two hundred dollars an acre. What an immense addition it Avould be to the productive Avealth of NeAV England, if all these marine Avastes Avere reclaimed, and made to do their duty ! Hoav long Avill farmers sufier theili to be idle, and complain that farming does not pay? W. Clift. Stonington, Ct., Jan. \2th, 1860. In England there is liberty Avithout equality In France there is equality without liberty. 108 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. March For the New England Farmer. IS FAKMING PROFITABLE? Mr. Editor : — So long as men are governed by the natural inclinations of their hearts, so long as they are controlled by the love of money more than by love for their neighbor, so long will this inquiry be applied to every department of busi- ness in which men are engaged. If you offer eni- 2)loyment to him who carries the hod ; if you seek for one to enter the halls of learning ; if you open the halls of science, and invite one to come in and labor there ; if you point to the chair of office, and say to your friends, the public good demands of you to seek it ; if you open the church door, and look for the servant of God to proclaim the news of salvation ; by each and every one, the first in- quiry which meets you is : Is it profitable ? Will it pay ? I am aware that this is no new subject for your columns, ^ January, 10 3 5 H H 2 3 3 Fobruai-y, 5 2 7 1 1 7 5 3 ^ March, 10 1 5 2.', 4 81- 2 6 April, 15 2 7 2 1 3 3 May, 11 2 8 7 3 2 June, 2 9 6 9 4 4 July, lU 5 1 2 n 4 4 August, s 8 o 6 7 3 2 September , 11 6 1 9 3 5 3 Oitobcr. 15 1 3 1 10 ] 5 2 November , 10 li 3 li 6 6 2 1 3 December, 10 5 6 ■* 4 2 4 5 Total, 1181 15.i 66 10 41 .\ 85 i 23 22 36 Average, 9 5-6 1 7-24 5.1 5-6 3 11-24 7.\ -I 15-6 3 The next table gives the number o^ days that were clear, cloudy, tolerably clear, &e., together with the number of storms of rain and snow, and amount. Under the head of tolerabli/ clear are placed tliose days in which the sun shone most of the time, though clouds abounded, and under the head of quite cloudy, those in which clouds pre- dominated, though there were several hours of sun. \ Table of Storms, Clear and Cloudy Days, &c., 1859. t," "Si.;; 5, C Falls of Snow. Rain. rofit, sa^'n?^ thnt one mp" ■Hnd 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 125 told him if he was going to set out an orchard of 1000 trees for profit, 999 should be Baldwins. Few people understand the matter of fruit cultivation, and yet it Avas so simple he could scarcely explain it. Many people decline engaging in the cultiva- tion of fruit, because so many fail, but a good orchard could be secured as easily as a crop of po- tatoes or corn, with less labor and greater profit. He advocated thorough drainage and thorough pulverization of the soil — not sub-soiling and trenching — but to be done by loosening the soil, and not manuring too highly. Mr. Stone then spoke of the Messrs. Clapp, of Dorchester, who, by systematic culture, raised on five acres of land, planted with apple trees, $G00 v/orth of currants as an undercrop, while they had each year a large crop of the best apples. [The chairman said that the profits of Messrs. Clapp were between $2500 and $3500 per year.] Col. Stone then spoke of the immense quantity of apples exported from northern and western New York, and the profit made by the business. He said the pear had been considered more diffi- cult to cultivate than the apple, but he was satis- fied that in the first 15 years he could make as much profit from an equal number of trees as he could from Baldwin apples, although they would require different treatment. The chairman said that currants were an excep- tion to any other crop for an undergi-owth in orchards, as they will grow better in the shade, and bear abundantly where no other crop will. He considered that grass or grain exhausted the trees. He spoke of a man in Rochester, N. Y., who, from half an acre of the St. ]Michael pear trees, 8 years old, raised last year 40 barrels, which he sold for $15, $16 and $20 per barrel, at the lowest rate realizing $640. Mr. Wilder also alluded to the orchard of Mr. Austin, in Dorches- ter, as being very productive, and said that the pear could not be grown on gravelly, sandy or boggy land, but required rich, deep loam. Mr. Demoxd, of Ware, asked what the best mode of pruning fruit trees was, as also the sea- ison to do it and the best wash for young trees ? also saying that in his part of the State they were in the habit of getting another crop from their orchards, and he wished to know what was con- sidered the best crop. CoL Stone said he trimmed his trees about the last of June, as by that time the sap had got into the leaves, and the cutting will not do injury by allowing the rising sap to run out and prevent healing, lu relation to wash, the gentleman said he discarded potash altogetlier, as it never was in- tended to be applied to fruit trees. He used one- third soft soap, a year or more old, and two-thirds water, and washed twice a year. Of this a suffi- cient quantity reraaiiis on the bark for the alkali to run down by the action of the rain, and thus keep off the borer. Alluding to undercrops, Mr. Stone said that for the first 8 or 10 years he thought plowing would not hurt the trees, and he would recommend the raising of root crops so as to keep the ground free of weeds. A gentleman asked what should be done to prevent so many of our apples becoming so wormy, as he understood that nearly three-fourths of the crop in Worcester county had been spoiled the past season by this trouble. Col. Wilder said that the best way to prevent this was to prohibit the destruction of birds, and he spoke of a correspondent in Belgium inform- ing him that their fruit was nearly ruined in con- sequence of the destruction of birds for epicures. He said he was informed that apples sold there, in consequence of this, for $9 per sack, or $6 per bushel, and this in the finest fruit-growing coun- try on the continent. Mr. Simon Brown, of Concord, said the Chair- man had covered a good deal of ground in his opening address, but he would only touch on one or two subjects. The first was the grape ; and he hoped to see more attention paid to the cultiva- tion of this fruit. We look upon the apple as a blessing, but I am sure the grape will eventually be considered of almost as much importance. It has been a great problem to solve, as to what Avill check the habits of our people in the indulgence of intoxicating dj'inks, and the speaker gave it as his opinion that the best means to do this would be to make the cultivation of the grape common, and thus make cheap wines common. As an il- lustration of the effect cheap wines have on the temperate habits of a people, he spoke of an ar- tist friend Avho had travelled in France for a year and a half, who had told him that during that time he had only seen one man intoxicated, and only some half dozen in the least disguised with liquor ; he bad also travelled in Italy a year, and the result was the same. Mr. Brown spoke of the temperance of the people of Hungary in support of his theory, and also the extraordinary fatigue Napoleon's army had undergone on their dry crust and pint of wine. He said there was room enough in the city to raise tons of grapes ; indeed, these were the best places, as they were sheltered by the M'arm, sunny walls, from the winds, where with a little care they can be raised in perfection. He had been told that several of our hardy, and even tender kinds, would flourish on a north wall. There were seventy-five new varieties he had in- formation of, of which several were said to be equal to some of the white grapes raised under glass, and this ought to serve as a stimulus in the greater cultivation of this delicious fruit. In reply to a question which had been asked, Mr. Brown alluded to pruning trees, and said 126 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. March that all the borers, and other injurious insects, with plowing and browsing cattle, did less harm to a tree than pruning it at the wrong season. If the tree is pruned in the spring, when it is in full activity, and all the pores of the sapwood filled with limpid juices on their way to the twigs, buds and leaves, there to be elaborated into the food that goes to form fruit and wood, the sap wiU in most cases stream copiously from the wound and keep the pores permanently open. This continues to exhaust the vitality of the tree, while the sap, upon exposure to the air, undergoes an important change by becoming sour, bitter and poisonous, runs down the bark, turning it black, and finally peneti-ating to the wood itself, and in the end destroying the tree. But if the pruning is omitted until the middle of June, the sap by that time has mainly left what is called the sap- wood, has been transformed from its limpid state to a thicker, gummy-like substance, and is pass- ing slowly down between the inner side of the bark and the wood to make up the annual growth of the tree. If the tree is cut now, no sap follows, the surface of the wound contracts and closes the pores, and the wound readily heals over. Because our ancestors had not much to do in the last of February and March and the early part of April, they formed the habit of pruning their apple trees ; and as a habit once formed sticks to our people a little tighter than the shirt of Nessus, they have persevered in the old way until there is scarcely an orchard thirty years of ago in Ncav England that does not bear unmistakeable evidences of this unnatural and untimely pruning. Mr. Fay, of Lynn, corroborated what Messrs. Stone and Brown had said in relation to pruning, from his own experience on forest trees, but he considered that the Augustan age in farming had arrived, when a farmer could offer you a good mug of cider. This he considered was peculiarly the beverage of New England, and if a farmer was allowed to drink his mug of cider he thought he would make a better farmer and a better man ; yet the law said it was unfashionable, and so it was not done. He made a strong argument in fa- vor of excluding- cider from the list prohibited in the liquor law, and said he had never seen so much intemperance in New Eagland as he had within sight of the Pyrenees. He believed we could not grow the grape to satisfy the demand, and we must therefore turn to cider. Mr. Fay explained that the grape for fruit and the grape for wine were different, the latter only growing well on lands of volcanic origin, which gave the rich vinous flavor, and he considered that Cali- fornia on this account was the only wine-produc- ing country on the North American continent. Mr. Atwater, of Springfield, asked what was the best soil in which to plant the apple, and spoke of some lands in his section of the State where the water settles, at certain seasons, to a level 20 to 2'j feet below the surfiice. Mr. Allen, of New York, explained this, and spoke of similar instances in Western New York and Ohio, expressing the opinion that these were not favorable sites for fruit raising. Mr. Clark, ofWaltham, asked whether the Catawba grape had been cultivated enough in our State to ascertain whether it would succeed. Mr. Wilder said that the Catawba was found too late, and the Isabella had been found to ripen only occasionally so as to make good wine. Mr. BUCKMINSTER, spoke for the young folks, and thought that attention should be directed to other fruits that woiild begin the first year to pay, and he alluded to blackberries as returning a large profit. He urged on the fai'iners the importance of teaching their sons and daughters more in re- lation to fruit raising, as being one of the great- est profits of a farm. Mr. Simon Brown offered the following resolu- tion, which was unanimously adopted : — Resolved, That it is tlie opinion of this meeting that the sci- ence of pomology has nh-eady conferred signal blessings upon mankind, and that, among the fruits introduced and propagated, the £aldui7i apple, as siii article of substantial food as well as commerce, has taken a high and well-deserved stand. We, therefore, approve the suggestions made in the Setter which has been read from Mr. James F. Baldwin, and recommend that the spot where the first Biilihrui. apple tree stand, be designatecl upon the State map, and that the Chairman of tliis meeting be authorized to call upon the proper authorities and pirocure it to be done. The Chairman then annoimced that the siibject for discussion at the next meeting would be "T/je culture of flax in the Northern States^, and its probable substitution for cotton in the mamifac- ture of cheap fabrics." Hon. Judge BiSHOP, of Lenox, is expected to j^reside. Mr, Brown, on bohalf of the Executive Com- mittee, said it was expected that a gentleman who had given much study to the subject for consider- ation would be present and address the meeting, producing samples of cloth made from flax and from flax and cotton, as also maclunery for break- ing the flax, and the committee earnestly urged ladies to attend this ro.eeting of the society. The meeting then adjom-ned. Unhealthiness of Artificial Manures. — Attention is called to this subject by a corresjjon- dent of the Mark Lane Exjiress. He thinks that this is one cause of disease so prevalent this yeai- in England, among turnips. He cites the expressed opinions of several practical fanners of the inju- rious effects on sheep and cattle of roots cultiva- ted by the use of artificial manures. A laudable desire, he remarlvs, to increase the pixiductions of the earth has led to the introduction of powerful manures, without sufficiently studying the laws of physiology. 1860, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 127 EXTRACTS AISTD BEPLIBS. FEEDING BEES. I purchased last summer two swarms of bees ; the youngest one I am afraid did not laj' up honey enough to last them till summer. If you, or some of your correspondents, will inform me what will be the best food for them you will oblige a reader of the Farmer. . Lazarus. Salisbury, N. H., 1860. Remarks. — Put a little liquid honey on the top of the comb, where it Avill slowly trickle down among the bees, or put a few sticks of barley can- dy among the combs, as near where the bees are clustered as you can get them. HOW TO BUILD A MILK-ROOM. Some thi'ee years since it became necessary to build a new dairy room. And in order to have it handy and right, it must be next to our cook- room. There being a rise of ground and an orch- ard of apple trees where it was destined to be, there was not room enough to set it level with the rest of the buildings, therefore it was, decided to set it three and a half feet liigher than the cook- room. It is divided into two rooms — one for a summer milk-room, with blinds, ventilator and milk-racks to set the pans upon, which gives a cir- culation of air around the pans. And plenty of cool air is what we want to make the cream rise well. The room next to the cook-room is the winter milk-room. We neither scald the milk, nor put in carrots to make yellow butter, but simply strain the milk through a cloth and set in on the milk- rack. The room being higher, the heat rises, and the temperature is just right to give a beautiful yellow cream ; that is what makes yellow butter. Churn the cream in the thermometer churn made by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston and Worcester, and you will have butter worth as much as Mr. Joshua T. Everett's. F. s. c. Woodhvry, Vt, 1860. ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATIONS. I am pleased with the spirit of those who de- mand of writers to put their names to what they say. This is certainly well when what is said has not strength in it to stand alone ; but when it has, why not put it forward to make its own way in the world ? I have often thought where a man comes out with his name signed to something that others may possibly know as well or better than himself — especially if they have had many more years for experience and opportunities for observation — that it savors not a little of vanity thus to sign one's name. For myself, until better advised, I shall be content to throw out such ideas as I have, and let them find their way along as best they may. *. January 21, 1860. _ TO KILL LICE ON A COLT. Feed it with meal, and mix in about a spoonful of sulphur a day for a week, and then rest a week ; then feed more sulphur, a few days, and the lice will leave. POTATO SPROUTS FOR PLANTING. After ray corn was up and hoed last season, there were some hills missing. I told my son to go into the cellar and pick off some of the larg- est sprouts, from six to eighteen inches long, and set them out in the corn-missing hills which had been hen manvu'ed in the hill for corn, which he did. They all grev/, and yielded equally as good and as many in the hill as the same kind did in the same kind of ground the year previous. There was no rot among them ; they were the Coburg and Sand Lake varieties. Please remember that the sprouts or vines were picked off with X\\Qjin- fjers as close to the potato as possible. The pota- to, after this, was given to tl;? hogs, whole and sound. So I say to all, you ma> 'et your potato sprouts grow as did mine, in a warm place, and then set out the top, and raise th'nn as well, I be- lieve, as in the usuhl way, saving the whole of the tuber for other purposes. W. Sheldon. Bristol, Vt., Jan., 1860. MUCK FROM OTTER CREEK. I wish to inquire what sort of manure I shall have, if I cover my yard with a cort of muck tak- en from the bank of old Otter Creek, and let it mix with the cattle droppings through the remain- der of the winter. A Young Farmer, Rejlvrks, — Cannot tell you, sir ; ask some of your neighbors who have given attention to mucks. Don't hesitate to learn of any one about you, _ A FINE CALF. I had a calf 8^ months old, dressed yesterday. To-day the four quarters, hide and tallow, weighed (350 lbs. If any of your Massachusetts men have had a larger native calf than mine, please say so. William Rhodes, Jr. Richmond, Vt., Jan., 1860, TO CURE chilblains. Take strong vinegar, one spoonful, and as much fine salt as Avill dissolve in it. Bathe the part so chilled two or three times, and you are better; then next night two or three times more, and you are v/ell. L. Ames, Walking Horses — A Suggestion. — I would like to suggest an idea, which, if you ap])rove, you can prepare an article, or get some of your correspondents to discuss, as to the propriety of a premium being offered at our annual feirs, for fast walking horses as well as trotters. I think horses trained to walk fast would be a greater benefit to farmers in general than fast trotters, as almost all of their work has to be done with a walk. I once knew a man in Massachusetts, who, before the railroads were built, kept from two to four teams at work on the road, and nev- er allov/ed them to trot at all, and made the dis- tance in quicker time than his neighbors, who made their horses trot at every convenient place. He said that when a horse commenced to walk after a trot, he Avalked much slower than his com- mon gait if kept on a walk, and thereby lost rxiore than he gained. — Country Gentleman. 128 XI-:W ENGLAND FARMER. March THE NEW AMEKICAlSr STYTiE FOR COTTAGES AND VILLAS. We submit above an examjile of the new Amer- ican style of architecture for Cottages and Villas, i which is now b^'ing adopted by many persons of: refinement and taste ; this example, though small ' and quite plain, shows the general characteristic of the style, and those characteristics we intend as representing the comforts and requirements of the American people. Is there a reason why we should not have a style of our own ? "V^Hiat an abundance of materials we possess, and with all our ingenuity in other sciences and arts, why should we be so far behindhand as re- gards architectural beauty, in the designs for our country homes ? Our attempts may not be successful in producing \, natural style, but we shall make the greatest endeavors to perfect our designs more and more, as they leave our hands, until we have reached a great degree of perfection. Wliy we intro- duced the variety of forms, &c., in this design, would take up too much space to describe, but we will state, there is not a single detail but what has character and meaning, as re- gards the plan, as the owner gave his own re- quirements and arrangement. A, is entrance porch ; B, Hall ; C, Parlor, 16 by 14 ; D, Dining-Room, 16 by 13 ; E, Kitchen, 12 by 13 ; F, Store Room ; G, Kitchen Pantry ; K and H, two Bed-Rooms with fireplaces and closets to eacii ; L, Closet for dining-room ; M, Verandah, 6 ft. wide. On second floor of main building are two bed-rooms, bath-room and closet ; the attic over kitchen is used as a place for storage. There is a 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 129 cellar under the main building and kitchen wing only. Parlor faces north, Dining-room south, Kitchen east ; Bed-room wing only one story high. Cost, on Long Island, $2500. We shall short- ly submit another example in brick constmction, showing the adaptation of the style to that mate- rial. Respectfully, Saeltzer & Valk, Architects. For the Neio Ensland Farmer. PBBMIUMS BY THE STATE BOABD OF AGKICULTUBE. Mr. Editor : — I saw in the January number of the Fanner, the vote of the State Board of Agriculture, requiring the diiferent county socie- ties to offer premiums for the best experiments in applying manures at different depths. This is a subject of much importance to the farmers of this Commonwealth, and any experi- ments which will give us reliable instruction upon this subject will be a public good. In looking over this offer, and the plan marked out by the Board, it appears to me that we may strictiy comply with the letter of the instructions, and yet not get any reliable information upon the proper depth of applying manures. They do not tell lis whether it is to be sward land, or land that has been cultivated one or more years. If we take sward land, and plow the ma- nure for lot No. 1, imderneath the sward, how shall we know Avhether it was the fact of its be- ing beneath the sward, on the depth at which it was applied, that caused the different results ? When v/e come to lot No. 2, and try to cross plow it, and get the manure at half the depth, we infer the Board intended the experiment should be tried upon old land. We will take a piece of mellow ground, and spread the manure upon lot No. 1, and plow ten inches deep, and if the manure is fine and well composted, as the farrow slice rises and cracks, the manure falls in, and gets well mixed with the soil, instead of being buried at the bottom of the furrov/ ; if the manure is coarse, much of it will be left where the plow will draw it up when we come to cross plow at half the depth ; thus we may follow the directions, and yet not furnish any reliable instruction upon this subject. The only way in which 1 could get the manvu-e at a uniform depth when plowing it into mellow land, Avould be to follow the plow with a hoe, and draw the manure into the furrow, and then turn the next furrow upon it. If the Board had required this, the experiment might have been viseful. I v.'ill now go upon lot No. 2. It has been plowed deep, according to the directions. I will try to spread the manure upon the rough furrows, for according to the directions, I must not put the harrow upon it yet ; much of the manure falls in- to the holes ; I then cross plow it five inches deep ; at what depth does any one suppose the manure is covered ? To test it fairly, I think that No. 2 should have been rolled down smooth, and the manure placed in the bottom of the furrow at half of the depth of No. 1. I next spread the manure upon No. 3, and then I am- told to take a harrow or cultivator and go over the whole lot. What is the effect of this upon No. 2 ? Does not the harrow move much of the manure, and mix it with the soil, and may not the result be affected by the mixing, as much as by the depth ? I think there should have been nothing but a bush harrow upon it after it was plowed. I am now to plant the whole lot, and then take the team and cart the manure upon No. 4. This looks some like book farming ; to drive over the corn after it is planted. I have always been taught to think a planted cornfield as almost sacred. We have all read of the honest English farmer who complains of the hounds treading down his wheat in the spring, and was paid for the injury done ; but at harvest time, he found that the tram- pling had been an advantage to liim ; so if No. 4 does the best, how can we tell whether it was owing to the trampling and beating it got after it was planted, or the manner in which the manure was applied ? I think there will be but little practical differ- ence in the condition of the manure upon lots No. 3 and 4, except for the first three or four weeks ; I begin to run the cultivator through the corn about the 1st of June ; then the manure will be mixed with the soil the same as on No. 3. They tell us that the after cultivation must be the same upon each lot. But they do not tell us what that shall be. By using the plow, or Sav.'yer's im- proved cultivator, we may hill it up so as to spoil the whole experiment, and yet be entitled to the premium according to the offer. An experiment conducted in so loose a manner is worse than none. They say nothing about how we shall plow it the second year. If the manure has been where they supposed it to be, when we plow No. 1, it will bring the manure to the sur- face for the second year, and the others will be buried. What instruction can we derive from such an experiment ? I have endeavored to take a practical view of this subject, feeling that Avhen the Board holds the rod of state over the backs of the county so- cieties, and say, thus shalt thou do, the public have the right to ask, what will be the practical benefit? WiLLUM R. Putnam. Danvers, Jan. 25, 1860. For the New England Farmer. LUNAR IWFLTJENCE ON THE TEMPER- ATURE OP THE EARTH. Your correspondent "J. A. A.," of Springfield, has given a series of experiments in your issue of Jan. 7th which are of more than ordinary interest. There is nothing like exactness, even in farming. He has certainly made out a pretty clear case, that there can be no connection between high and low moon, a new or a full moon, Avith the temperature of the earth. If his conclusions are correct, far- mers should disabuse themselves of an almost universal opinion that frosts are pretty sure to oc- cur in the months of September and October, at the full of the moon. Ask any man about it, and he will tell you that we must look for a frost at the full of the moon in September, and if he can get by that, he expects his corn will ripen before another frost. Now whence this almost universal opinion ? It does not seem hardly possible, that it can be a mere whim, yet it is possible that when 130 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. March a frost does occur at the full of the moon, the co- incidence is specially remembered by the farmer, and thus the exception is taken for the general rule. As "J. A. A." has gone so far towards settling this point, the thouglit has occurred to me that if ho would give us the connection between the oc- currence of frost and the situation of the moon for the month of September only for a series of years previous to 1856, as that is the month more par- ticularly noticed by farmers, and as it has been supposed that the last three years have been some- what peculiar in regard to their temperature, it would pretty conclusively settle the whole matter. His observations cannot fail of interesting every intelligent farmer, and I regret that I have not the same meteorological tables at command from which to make my own observations. It had long been an open question with me, which led me to introduce the subject into the columns of the I<\ir- mer. I could add no philosophical principle so as to combine theory with what I had supposed to be facts, and if I have provoked '"J. A. A." to good works by setting forth the truth, I desire nothing more than to express to him my hearty thanks for what he has done, and remain, Bethel, Me., Jan. 7, 1860. n. t. t. For the New En^^land Farmer. CUBE FOB SCBATCHES IKT HOBSBS. FlUEND Browx : — I saw an article in the Far- mer of ^^(icer\hev 'i\, from your able correspon- dent, "Oak Hill," that gave a description and a remedy foi- " Scratches in Horses." I agree with him, that if one knows a remedy, he should make it public, as, indeed, he ought all knowledge that he thinks may be of value to his fellovr-men. I felt the force of this when I received the informa- tion from you, and your several corres])ondents, in regard to making butter in winter, for which you have my hearty thanks. But to return, when I worked at my trade, in the city, I had occasion to use different kinds of paints and oils, among them v.-as what is called "bright varnish." Frequently I would cut myself, sometimes so severely that I have been laid up for weeks. I would try all kinds of salve, but the wound would be a long time healing. One day I cut my hand severely, and as I had nothing to put on it at hand, I thought I would try some of the bright varnish ; as it is a sticky substance, I thought it might stick the wound together ; accordingly I bound up my hand with it and kept on to work ; the varnish relieved the pain, I had no soreness in the wound, and in one week it was entirely healed. My son was sawing fhrough a board one day, and carelessly put his hand under the board. My son had his forefinger bone entirely sawed off I put the ends together, put on this varnish, bound it up, and the result was, that after one week the bandage was removed, and the finger had nearly grown together. My horse once had scratches so badly, that it was difficult to get him to move about. I rubbed the parts affected with this var- nish, for two days, which caused a pei-fect cure. The varnish can be bought at the paint shops for six or eight cents per quart. E. LEONARD. Nev3 Bedford, January 16, 1860. For the Neie England Farmer. HOW I IMPBOVE THE SOIL. The farm I now occupy belongs to C. H. Leon- ard, Esq., of New York, and embraces a variety of soil, some quite sandy, some may be termed sandy loam, other portions gravelly, and quite stony, while we have some sv.'ampy peaty soil. Mr. L.'s principal object has been to clear the stones out, build walls in place of wood fences, drain the wet places, and get in order for farming. This being the case, farming has occupied a sec- ondary place, yet something has been done. Five years ago I found a farm of about forty acres, three-fourths of which was overrun with sweet fern, briers and bushes, the skinning process hav- ing been well carried out when cultivated, cutting only about throe tons of hay, and that none of the best, and now tv^'enty acres under improve- ment yield thh'ty-five tons of fodder the tv/o past years, besides our corn, and the fodder from which, acre for acre, I consider equal to a hay crop of two tons per acre. As the greatest portion of the farm is sandj and sandy loam, I have resorted to the iise of ashes and clover to get as much vegetable matter incorporated with it as I could, and at the same time obtain a remunerating crop the same season. The process has been this : plow deep, take out all the stones likely to interfere with future plow- ing, dress with barn-cellar manure if corn is to be planted ; if potatoes, equal parts of guano and plaster in hill ; if to be sown with grain, and no ashes previously used upon the piece, ninety to one hundred bushels to the acre are put in, some oats and clover, three bushels of the former and twenty pounds of the latter, (western clover.) I cut the oats for fodder, as soon as they form the seed, never allowing them to ripen, as they will exhaust the fertility of the soil. By cutting the oats early, the clover gets abetter chance to grow, often lodging the first season. Oats give two tons and upwards of the vei-y best fodder to the acre, equal to any hay I ever used. The next season, the first crop of clover is made into haj^ from the twentieth of June to the first of July, giving about two tons per acre. The after-growth is generaliv as large as the first, and is ])lowed in, when in full blow, before it changes. I don't know as this is the best time to do it, but it is my practice. The following spring plov/ again, and sow as be- fore, repeating the whole process, save the api)li- cation of ashes, which I do not like to use too lavishly. In this way I have a clover crop to plow in once in two years ; the soil seems rapidly to change its character, decided improvement is seen by the most sceptical, and I am much pleased with the result. J, COE. Rochester, Jan. 12, 1860. Hay and Butter. — A correspondent of the Ohio Farmer boasts of having raised from one acre, at one cutting, 9,315 lbs. of timothy and red- top hay, for which he received the premium at the fair of Summit county ; and that he has a cow from twenty-four and a half quarts of whose milk he made five pounds and ten ounces of thoroughly prepared butter — cow fed on hay and corn stalks, with a peck of soft corn per day. 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 131 For the New England Farmer. PAKMS AND FABMIWG IN CLARE- MONT, N. H. Mr. Editor : — I said to you in a former com- munication, that I might, at some future time, have something to say about my own Sugar Riv- er valley. But notwithstanding the hint I gave you in said communication, I should be almost tempted to relinquish the task, were it not that the granite hills, verdant vales and crystal strcam.s, in the vicinity of this valley, are always invested with those charms on which memory fondly lin- gers, when travelling in other sections of New- England. My remarks at this time will be con- fined to that portion of the valley which lies vv ith- in the limits of the town of Claremont, as that part of it lying in the towns of Newport and Sun- apee, has already been most ably noticed in a for- mer number of the Farmer, by one of its editors, who, wherever he may wander, looks back no doubt with pride and longings to the days he has spent, and pleasures he has enjoyed, in this beautiful valley, and wherever he may roam, and fond as he may be of roaming, probabty never finds the place which presents equal attractions. Sugar River enters this town from the cast, and flows on through this valley to the Connecticut, a distance of about eight miles from cast to west, dividing the town near the centre, leaving almost equal portions on either side. The falls afford a water privilege of gi-eat value, and within the last twenty years, a large amount of capital has been invested in cotton mills, and other manufacturing establishments in the village. Twenty years ago, the village contained probably not more than three thousand inhabitants, but at the present time, they number near six thousand. The town has been settled over one hundred years, and is one of the best agricultural towns in the State, com- prising as it does, a large amount of meadow, rich and productive, and in valuation, ranks, we believe, about the fifth in the State. That portion of the village called the plain, presents about the same appearance it did twenty years ago, while in other portions of the town, great changes have been wrought; in fact, nearly three-fourths of the village has been built up within the last twenty years, and if the march of improvement is still onward, Claremont will very soon become a city. Scattered along this valley are a large number of young, industrious and independent farmers, who have taken the place of those M'ho worked them many years ago, and they would as soon dis- pense with almost any other article of personal property, as the New England Farmer ; they take it almost to a man, consequently, improvements are constantly going on ; such, for instance, as ditching, underdraining, barn cellars, &c ; while each one strives to excel the other in stock, im- plements, and crops of various kinds. So you see there is a continual effort for the best farm, the best stock, the best buildings and the greatest amount of wealth, and to accomplish their pur- pose, it becomes necessary to consult the Farmer weekly, which fact will explain to you, why you have such a list of subscribers in this town. That portion of Sugar River valley which lies in the easterly part of the town, is a beautiful tract of territory, and the view from the southern hills is truly magnificent ; the bright river runs like a natural mii'ror, while on the north, lies the old Green Mountain, cultivated almost to its summit, and on either side may be seen meandering streams with their crystal waters flowing on to the bosom of the beautiful Sugar River. The western por- tion of this valley is not so attractive, although it presents much that is beautiful. There are many young, industrious and wealthy farmers west of the village, who own extensive and productive farms, and who are themselves model farmers, but the view from the surrounding hills is not so delightful as that east of the village, notwithstand- ing it is all very beautiful. W. C. A. Clinton. Claremont, Jan., 1860. LEGISLATIVE AGRICDLTITKAL MEETING. [Reported fob the New Kngland Farmer by Thos. Bbadiet. { The fourth meeting of the series of the Legisla- tive Agricultural Society was held on Monday evening in the Representatives' Hall at the State House, Hon. Henry Bishop, of Lenox, presid- ing. There was a very largo attendance, notwith- standing the inclemency of the weather, and the gratification of the company was frequently ex- pressed in hearty applause. On taking the chair, Mr. Bishop addressed the meeting. He said he had to state to the compa- ny that he had not been engaged in agriculture, but had spent his life in the study and practice of another profession, yet he had a fondness for ag- riculture, and his tendencies led him in that direc- tion. He then spoke of the Divine assistance vouchsafed to the farmer, and said that the Al- mighty gave every facility and made every ar- rangement for the prosecution of agriculture. The ■whole world is given to the agriculturist — the air, the water from the clouds, and the soil, are his capital — ^his bank, and no bank commissioner need be called to interpose in that direction. The conditions of agriculture, said he, are in the air^ ground, light, heat and moisture ; they are either the forces of the agriculturist, or they are the elements of his plan. The atmosphere con- tains most of the elements of vegetation. In this there is oxygen, nitrogen, carbonic acid, ammonia, and other elements not combined as necessary components, all being conditions of growth. Mr. Bishop took exception to remarks made at a former meeting that a knowledge of science was not necessary to make a successful farmer. He said that as we work on the soil, all around, all above us aids us, and then science comes in piay. The farmer, said he, must be more than an empyric. There are secret forces to be learned, gases to be underetood which can neither be seen or felt, but which require a knowledge of science to give us their properties, qualities and effects. He then spoke of the different soils, silicious, calcareous. 132 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Makcii &c., and showed by illustration the difference in soils, apparently the same to the eye, but which contained properties rendering them quite differ- ent in productiveness. He advocated the in- struction of the farmer in these matters, express- ing the pleasure it gave him to find that it Avas proposed by the present Legislature to take steps in this direction, and saying that any measure of this kmd should have his hearty approval. The speaker contended that the farms in Massachusetts were depreciating in value, and showed from the returns of corn, potatoes and sheep, in 1840 and 1850, that his argument was correct. This he attributed to the fact that the land had been despoiled of its fertilizing proper- ties, and was not attended to. There might be lands about Boston tliat had increased in value and productiveness from the close proximity of, and easy access to the multitude of fertilizing compouTids, but the reverse was the case of the great bulk of land in the State. Mr. Bishop then spoke of females, and said he was in favor of giving them their appropriate rights — God had given them, and man had no right to circumscribe them. He said he did not allude to political rights, but thought that, though they were not allowed to vote, they exercised an influence we were not aware of. He alluded to gardens and orchards, and said that here they would be found the co-workers with man. Speak- ing of flowers, he passed in review the number of exotics introduced into England from the reign of Henry VIH. to George HL, and showed that while under kings the number was insignificant, under the reign of queens it was very large. He said no one could deny that the garden was woman's especial sphere. The speaker then passed to the subject to be brought to the attention of the meeting, that of Flax, and said he had not seen, for twenty-five years, a square rood of flax gi'owing, but he was brought up among men who grcM' flax, and made a profit on it, and he remembered a farmer in the section where he lived, on coming to take his seat as a member of the Legislature, harnessing up his horses to his sled, and putting on a load of flax, which he brought to sell at the Boston mar- ket. He said there was none cultivated here now, and the reason for this was not that it deteriorat- ed the soil, for it did not ; it was not for fear the crop would fail, for it never failed ; but it was the expense of getting the flax prepared for market, the rotting and preparing the textile filament. It is a crop, said the honorable gentleman, worthy to be raised— a double crop — furnishing clothing for day and night, and food for the animal. Wheat and corn will not do this, and no animal will, e.i£cept the sheep, (laughter) which furnished food for the table, and clothing — indeed, said he, the sheep is to the animal world what flax is to the vegetable world (increased laughter). The Chairman closed his remarks by introduc- ing Stephen M. Allen, Esq., to the meeting. Mr. Allen commenced by saying that many of the memories of youth which were gathered amid the rocks, hills and valleys of Ncav England forty years ago, had come down to him with pleasant associations connected with the growth and manu- facture of flax. The linen wheel, the warping bars and the loom were indispensable elements in the outfit of every farm-house, and the spinning and the weaving of the fibre among the most necessary accomplishments of the young farmer's wife. What boy, thus born, said the speaker, ex- ists, who cannot remember among his 'earliest oc- cupations the pulling and the spreading of flax, and his first perquisites of a roll of tow cloth, which he sold at the country store at 12^ cents per yard? Such memories as these, coupled with the hard- ships and sufferings incidental to the life of the farmer's boy of that age of New England history, bring vividly before him, in whatever position he may be ])laced, his true condition — what he then was, what he now is, and what he ought to be. It was such memories as these which gave the speak- er an interest in agricultural pursuits, and though thirty-five years and more had passed since he left the mountain glen where he was born, yet the old carol which was tuned on the mountain side from the head waters of the Saco, to move, as was sup- posed, the first flax spinning-wheel which Avas set up in New England, Avas as vivid before his mind's eye now as Avhen a child eight years of age. These associations, to Avhich he had allud- ed, together with the announcement in England that flax could be cottonizcd, led him to lay the subject before the Legislature of this State, of Avhich then he then Avas a member, nine years ago. The order presented was that the Committee on Agriculture collect such information as could be procured concerning the culture and growth of flax, and its probable substitution for cotton in the manufacture of cheap fabrics. Having been called on by the Chairman of this Committee to furnish such information as he could readily get on the subject, jNIr. Allen furnished it at length, and it Avas printed for the use of the Legislature. During the following year, said the speaker, it Avas pretty Avell demonstrated that the experiment of cottonizing flax in England Avas a failure, and his attention was given to a personal exami- nation of the subject, in detail, of the mechanical and chemical construction of the flax fibre, in connection Avith building mills for its manufacture at Niagara Falls. In the year 1854, the lecturer said he became 1860. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 133 fully possessed of the opinion that the fibre of flax could be cottonized, but it was not until the spring of 1857, while engaged at Niagara Falls, that his experiments were satisfactory to himself. From that time the sphere of experiments was en- larged, and a boll of flax was sent to the bleachery of Mr. George W. Brown, at East Greenwich, R. I., and machinery was set up for working it. The process was found defective in the machinery department, for breaking and unstranding the fibre, and it has been by the inventions of Mr. Stephen Randall that this difficulty was removed. This gentleman has had much experience in the manu- facture of flax, and he, together with Messrs. Sis- son & Co., of Centreville, R. I., is entitled to the credit of the construction of the machinery now used in the manufacture. In the spring of last year, the old machinery, together with the new, was brought to Watertown, in this State, and there, through the interest and liberality of a couple of gentlemen in Boston, it was set up, and the experiments continued, until now they have been successfully completed. — Through these experiments, said Mr. Allen, we are enabled to give to the world, as we think, a new article of manufacture, much desii-ed and needed at the j^resent time, the fibre of which can be grown on any soil or in any climate, affording the agriculturist sufficient profit to induce him to cul- tivate it extensively, while the manufacturer and consumer will gain by its adoption. It spins and weaves readily, on either cotton or woollen machinery, mixed with either of those substances in small or large proportion. The length of its fibre can be adapted to either cotton or wool, while the fabric thus made is stronger and more beau- tiful, and the cost is not increased. The speaker then exhibited pure flax in its semi- bleached state, prepared by his process ; flax in this state mixed with cotton; stockings knit from the flax mixed with wool ; jean, composed of 80 per cent, cotton and flax, equally mixed, and 20 per cent, wool ; satinet, the filling of which was composed of 25 per cent, of wool with 75 per cent, of flax ; together with print, a portion of which was flax, all of which looked very well. Mr. Allen then gave a history of the culture, uses and manufacture of flax, from the time of the early Egyptians to its introduction to this coun- try by the settlers in Londonderry, N. H., where the manufacture of linen in 1748 had become so well advanced, and the cloth so noted, that the Provincial Government had occasion to grant the manufacturers the privilege of stamping their cloths to prevent counterfeiting. In 1638, said Mr. Allen, three brothers came from England, and settled at Exeter ; two of these went back to pro- cure machinery for flax manufacture, but were lost menced the manufacture of the article in 1775, on the banks of thi? Merrimack, but the war break- ing out, he joined the army, and after fighting at Bunker Hill, and through the war, he returned to find his property destroyed. This man had sev- eral sons, one of v/hora he sent South to pros- pect, and another to New Hampshire. Soon the latter returned, and from his statement the familv moved, and at the foot of the White Mountains, in 1790-94, were erected the first linen wheels that were ever turned by water, so far as the speak- er had ever been able to ascertain. (Mr. Allen exhibited a well executed oil painting of this mill for the inspection of the audience.) The manufacture of flax was continued here until the old man died, and the property eventu- ally came into the hands of his eldest and young- est daughters, who carried on the manufactui-e. And here accident gave an idea in relation to the rotting of flax which threw much light on the mind of the old gentleman. He had been in the habit of storing flax in a small barn situated over a stream, and a bundle accidentally fell, or was placed in the water, and when it Avas tal^en out the rotting was perfect, and ever after water rot- ting was used. In England, this is done in pools in Avhich the water is stagnant. It was said that the water in this White Mountain brook was, in old times, very poisonous to animals, and that split-footed beasts that drank of it would not live two years unless they were watered elsewhere ; and this was attributed to an Indian curse ; but it has since been ascertained, from an analytical exami- nation, that the water contained mineral proper- ties which have been turned to good account in the rotting of flax. The youngest of the ladies who carried on the mill, and who is now living, and has until recently been an extensive contrib- utor to the agricultural papers of our State, has always insisted that flax could be made into cot- ton. This lady was the mother of the lectm-er. The speaker then alluded to the experiments made in Europe by Chevalier Claussen, and con- tended that he had not been able to dissolve the gum resin, or glutinous matter, which causes the fibres to adhere together, while he, the speaker, claimed to have done this. He exhibited a spec- imen of old line flax, which he said brought 12 to 15 cents per pound, from the labor necessary to prepare it, which he said had a fibre apparently two feet long as seen by the naked eye, while, if examined by a miscroscope, it would be seen this was composed of short fibres overlaying each oth- er, and confined by this resinous matter. He ar- gued that the natural fibre of flax was only from 1^ to 2 inches long. Mr. Allen then exhibited a machine for break- ing unbroken flax, and said that by the use of this he did awpv ■":i*-b tviIHio- prirl r-;f+;ri"-. the latter 134 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. March process injuring the fibres and changing the sub- stance. After long line flax has been woven, said the speaker, it has gone through 36 processes, and in the bleaching he claimed the fibre was reduced to its natural length, and thus gets its fineness. In proof of this he referred his hearers to the ex- amination of linen cloth, which shows the same length of fibre he claimed for it. Chevalier Claussen's plan of cottonizing flax failed because it could not be spun on cotton ma- chinery, and it was the purpose of the speaker and his associates to manufacture largely, but to mis with cotton and wool. To do this they could produce the fibre half an inch, or three inches long, this being governed by the distance at which the rollers were placed in the breaking machine, and thus both spin and weave on the ordinary cotton machinery. Mr. Allen then spoke of the diS"erence in con- struction of cotton and flax, the fibre of the form- er being flat, while that of the latter was tubular like wool, and he exhibited drawings from the mag- nifying glass to show this. From this he showed that the capacity to take coloring in dyeing Avas different, thus giving a great advantage to flax in mixing with wool. From this he passed to an ex- planation of the manner of taking away the resin or gum from flax, and said that electricity must have an agency in the process, as he had proved to a considerable extent, although he felt satisfied the half v/as not yet learned. In conclusion, he spoke of the small territory necessary to raise sufficient flax for the supply of the country, and the profit to be made by raising it, and urged on the meeting the advantages to be gained by its more extensive culture. In reply to a question by Mr. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, as to how long it would take to place coarse flax in the condition of the bleached exhibited by Mr. Allen, that gen- tleman said, that apart from the washing and bleaching, which would occupy a couple of hours, the flax could be converted from straw to cotton in half an hour, if di-icd by artificial heat, and that a machine for breaking, costing $400, would break two tons of straw per day. In answer to a question as to the relative cost of flax prepared in this way to cotton, he said tliat the cost was the same, as cotton was Avorth 13 cents per pound, and they Avere selling flax for 15, a saving being effected in waste in favor of flax of two cents per pound. In relation to du rability, he claimed that the cloth made from flax prepared by his process, or v.hat he call "fibrilia cotton," was as durable as that woven from the long fibre, as he knew that the long fibre, so called, was shortened in the bleaching process. The lecture was concluded amid loud applause, and the company then crowded around the speci- mens Mr. Allen had exhibited, examining them with much interest. The subject for discussion at the next meeting is "Agriculhiral Education," and Hon. Richard S. Fay, of Lynn, is expected to preside. For the Kew England Farmer, OWIOTf IN THE HUMAN BAK. About a year ago I was troubled v/ith a severe ear-ache, and tried all the remedies I coidd hear of, and at last, (being advised to do so,) I insert- ed the heart of a roasted onion ; this alleviated the pain so much, that I tied a handkerchief over my ear, laid down and slept soundly. I had then had no sleep for nearly a Aveek. I slept five hours ; awoke and thought I Avould take my comforter out of my ear ; but in endeavoring to do so it only served to croAvd it in farther, and my ear felt so comfortable, I concluded I Avould let it remain for the time. In the latter part of the summer, at times, I Avould be deaf in that ear, and Avithin a month, by pressing ray finger against the loAver part of my ear, I found there Avas a hard bunch, which Avas very painful. This become very troublesome ; I began to be alarmed, and Avas about asking med- cal advise. I had my ear "dug out" with a tape needle, and then put in some bitter-sAveet onint- ment, and let it remain an hour. I then made a Avash of Castile soap and soft water, had it about lukcAvarm. Had that forced into my ear Avith a sjTinge. The third syringfuU I had forced in, I heard a report like a pistol, and I found the heart of the onion Avhich had been in my head a year, and had caused a sore there. When the heart of the onion came out, blood and matter followed. I continued to use the Avash for my ear three times a day, and in three days my ear Avas perfectly Avell. Thinking, kind reader, you might be afflicted in the same Avay, I tal-te this opportunity of informing you of a remedy. A. Willard Hallock. BrooJcsville, Jan., 18G0. WOTHIISrG BUT A PAKMEK. The idea is often expressed that the business of farming requires rather physical than mental ac- tivity. The editor of the London Saturday lic- vieiv, after returning from a Cattle ShoAv, gives expression to some reflections on the demands Avhich modern agriculture makes on the mental poAvers of the farmer, from which Ave copy a par- agraph. Mere idlers are not the anxious, cautious heads engaged all the Aveek in manipulating and admir- ing the scarifiers and reaping machines and steam plows in Baker Street. If farming is all that its extant instruments and implements betoken, it is among the most difficult of economical pursuits. The British farmer must be an accountant hold- ing his OAvn against Messrs. Qnilter and Ball ; for he must be able to get the exact cost of every bushel of corn raised on his fields, and of every beast and sheep consigned to the butcher. lie must know Avhat he Avins and loses by every acre, and he must be possessed of the natural history 1S60. NEW ENGLAKD FARMER. 135 of every bushel of manure throughout its career of raw material, grass, beef or ffour. In other words, the farmer must be a good arithmetician, something of a chemist, not unacquainted with an- imal and vegetable physiology, a practical me- chanician, skilled in at least the theory of several branches of natural philosophy, possessed of that administrative faculty which can rule and attract subordinates, with moral qualifications which, to say the least of them, must embrace sobriety, punctuality, quickness, tact, and what is generally known by business habits. If the farmer is not this, he is nought ; and the fi\ct that the trade has compelled him to be this is not the least of its blessings. There is probably no class which the last quarter of a century has so much elevated and refined as that of the British farmer. SAW-DUST AS A MANURE. We are pleased to notice an increasing atten- tion to the subject of agriculture, especially in this State. Scientific labor is being applied to almost every branch, and it is producing the desired re- sults. Next to drainage, we thinlv the most de- sirable object to be attained by our New England farmers is a sufficiency of manures to keep the land in heart. Nature has evidently provided for herself, and if man would follow out the teachings of nature he would find that her generosity knows no stint, if rightly taken advantage of. We noticed, in last week's New England Far- mer, a query propounded by an intelligent farmer of Orange, in this State, as to the value of pine saw-dust for the purposes of bedding cattle, and we feel tempted to give our experience. In the years 1855 and 1856, while residing on the home- stead in the town of B , Franklin county, Mass., we conceived a plan for saving the urinal deposits of the stock, and also to absorb the juicy part of the droppings. We had access to a large sawmill, about threo-quarters of a mile from the barn, where large quantities of hemlock and other timber were annually sawed. Wc commenced carting saw-dust into the barn shed about the first of September, and continued it through the win- ter, filling up the large bay as fast as the hay was spent. Our plan for using was as follows : first, to cover over the entire surface of the stable floor to the depth of three or four inches with saw-dust, and for the convenience of the milch cows there was placed on the top of the saw-dust coarse brakes and spent corn fodder — this last was shaken up every morning and night, and replenished as often as necessary, and the entire stable cleaned out once a week. Under the cattle and young stock sav.'dust only was used. So thoroughly did this absorb all the urine and juicy substances that when thrown into the shed, the stable floor was as dry as the barn floor. The manure heap in spring gave 14S large ox loads — from sawdust 70 loads, muck 20. The manure was entirely free from heat — was so thoroughly pulverized that no fork was necessary to load it ; and the crop of corn in the fall fully responded to the benefits of this treat- ment. There is another valuable manure to be found around saw-mills, and we have often wondered, as we rode through Orange, Athol and Erving, that the farmers did not use it. We mean the ac- cumulations about the log-way which have been rotting there for years. Nothing better can be add- ed to the compost heap, especially for potatoes and the purposes of top-dressing. — Commercial Bulletin, Dec. 17. Fur the Seiv England Farmer. IS FARMING PROFITABLE? ]\Ir. Editor : — I was much pleased to see an article in your issue of Nov. 12th on the cost of farm products, for I fully agree with Mr. Pinkhani that it is quite as necessary for the farmer to know the cost of what he produces, as it is for the me- chanic. But I am not prepared to wholly endorse his statement, that the farmers of New England, as a class, are running behind hand at the rate of $10 to $15 for every acre of corn which they har- vest, and "more so," on all other crops. I think some of them have, at least, kept even with the world, while others have gained in dol- lars and cents, aside from raising a large family of healthy robust children, and yielding them an education that enables them to make the domes- tic hearth the loadstone of attraction, the seat of happiness, morality and virtue, or fits them to guide the noble ship of State with as much cor- rectness and firmness of purpose, as the more del- icately reared ofi'spring of the merchant or mil- lionare. Mr. P. says, "we make a positive loss of $10 or more per acre on our corn crop, and the shrewd- est Yankee that ever was made cannot figure it any other Avay." I do not profess to have any peculiar Yankee shrewdness, and yet I think that I can raise an acre of corn, and/eerf it out to stock, and tnaJxC mone)/ by the operation. I will not guess at the matter, nor "mystify it by running one thing into another" so far but what any one can easily see through it. Below Mr. Pinkham's figures he says, "Thus it wiU be seen that we have cultivated our crop in the most prudent and economical manner." Here, again, I must diflPer with him, for I do not consid- er it prudent, or good farming, to be at the ex- pense of cultivating an acre to get the same num- ber of bushels that should grow on less than one- half of it. Here are a few figures to show what, to me, seems a better way. I will take, as an example, an acre that was planted with corn in 1858, and this year planted without manure except a compost of hen manure, and put it at the rate of one pint to the hill. Al- lowing the same wages per day that Mr. P. does, the land to be worth $50 per acre, and the entire cost of the crop, interest, taxes and all, when the corn was in the crib, was $23,94. The income was: 56 bushels of sound corn $56,00 20 Irashels ears soft corn ,5,00 Stover and turnips 15,00 Total $76,00 Making a net profit of $52,00 This crop, owing to the frosts and severe drought, was not considered a fair one, the same land producing 75 bushels per acre last yeai*, of sound, shelled corn. These crops are not excep- tions, although, perhaps, more than average ones, and farmers will invariably make a profit in rais- 136 NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. March ing a good crop, as the expense is but very little extra, except the manure, and here is the advan- tage which Mr. P. does not see, of feeding out the hay and grain, as it is the manure that makes the profitable crops. When I read Mr. P.'s article I wondered that the farmers of New England had not all become bankrupt years ago ; he says "they feed out their hay aiad grain at a loss of fifty per cent., to raise more at still another loss, and thus go on year after year." Still "v/e live, and move and have our being !" Let every farmer feed out his hay and grain prudently to good stock, and carefully save and apply his manure, and he will make more and more money every year ; Mr. P. to the con- trary, notwithstanding. Now let us see if we can make our words good, — for figures are facts — and we do not want our "dollars and cents" to cost us too much. Take, for an example, 100 good ewe sheep, that can be bought for three dollars per head. 100 Sheep. Dr. To cost at $3 per head $300,00 To keeping 1 year at $2 200,00 To washing 1,50 To shearing 6,00 To marliing, carrying off wool, &c 3,00 To interest, and taxes 20,00 Total $530,50 Cr. By 400 lbs. wool, at 50c $200,00 By 75 lambs, at $2 por head 150,00 By old llock on hand 275,00 Total $625,00 From which, allowing $25 for use of buck, leaves a net profit of $69,50 Now, if we feed the fifty bushels of corn we raised, in addition to the above cost of keeping, we shall get one pound more wool per head, raise twenty more lambs, and have our old flock Vvorth nearly as much as when we bought them. Let us see whether we lose fifty per cent, by feeding out the corn we have got : 100 pounds more wool $50,00 20 more lambs, at $2 per head 40,00 And the additional value of old llock is 25,00 Making a total gain of $115,00 Thus giving the corn a dollar and cent value of $2,50 per bushel, if judiciously fed out, — besides giving an additional profit of $65 on the stock, as the extra value of the manure will fully comj^cn- sate for the trouble of feeding out the grain. Thus I have a net profit of $1,32| cents per head for keeping the sheep one year. Rather different from raising calves, is it not, farmer Pinkham ? These are not exaggerated figures, but what can easily be done by almost evei-y farmer. To be sure, (as Mr. Pinkham says,) "our business is ex- tremely hazardous ;" we may, sometimes, by acci- dent, or carelessness, have a cow choke to death ; by over-work we may spoil an ox ; a horse, by reckless driving and poor care, may get foun- dered ; a drought may reduce our crops ; hail- storms may damage us ; and if, through our neg- lect, our fences are poor, there is more loss than by all the other causes combined. And yet, broth- er farmers, we are not the only class that run risks. Does not the merchant sometimes lose his ships freighted with valuable cargoes ? are not his AVfirehouses, filled wiHi n^qtUr rvno^ic.. pot^ia- times burned, or, perhaps, a clerk will step out with $40,000 or so ? And so of other cases. Farmers do not expect to become millionaires, but if they manage properly, they are equally as independent, and no class enjoys that priceless blessing, health, better, or lives to a riper old age. J. B. Freejian. Lebanon, N. E., Nov. 25, 1859. WHAT ENGLISH FARMERS "WANT TO Kl\rO"W. At a late meeting of the "Royal Agricidtural Society of England," the following list of prizes for Essays was adopted. Possibly the republi- cation of the subjects may furnish topics for brief dissertations to some New England fin-mcrs, who, if they should miss the "sovereigns," might enjoy the satisfaction of having stirred the minds of others in the right direction. 1. Fifty sovereigns for the best report on the agriculture of Berkshire. 2. Twenty sovereigns for an approved Essay on the best period of the rotation, and the best time of year for applying the manure of the farm. 3. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on the al- terations rendered advisable in the management of land of different qualities, by low prices of grain and high prices of meat. 4. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on recent improvements in dairy practice. 5. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on the proper office of straw on the farm. 6. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on the amount of capital required for the profitable oc- cupation of a farm. 7. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on the conditions of seed-bed best suited to the various agricultural crops. 8. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on the adulteration of agricultural seeds. 9. Ten sovereigns for the best Essay on any other agricultural subject. For the Neto En