r 1 LIBRARY OF THE 3 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE No.IkSa DATE._T-r.l8SS SOURCE. .R.. p.. .Latkn p. <2r -571 SPECIAL COLLECTiOAiS THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER; DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND THEIR KINDRED ARTS AND SCIEI^CES. ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS OF COUNTRY REgiBENCES, FARM BUILDINGS, CHOICE FRUITS, ANIMALS, IMPLEMENTS, &C. EDITED BY SIMON BROWN and STILMAN FLETCHER. NEW SERIES.— VOLUME V. BOSTOIST: PUBLISHED BY R. P. EATON & CO. 1871. Per 1^1! GENERAL INDEX 1871. ILLUSTRATIONS. BTTILMNGS. Bam, Mr. Pratt's 127 House, a Country Farm . . 16 Cottage 52 Double or Single ... 82, 85 Farm Animals. Ayrshire Cow 338 Durham Heifer, — Mattie Newell 388 Hereford Bull 124 Horse, the Morgan 237 Frlits and Plant.s. * Acacia, the Three-thorned . 568 Apple, Sweet Bough . . . 3'^0 Kgg Plant . . . . ^ 213 Honej' Locust 568 T>"*r, Buerre Clairgean . . 52 i Golden Buerre oif Bilboa . 260 Trees, Dwarf 657 Frl-it, Plum, the Pcnohscot . . 77 MiSCELI aneous. Butterfly, Transformations of 574 Canker Worms 506 Com, Joint or Branching . 44 Cider Mill, Buckeye .... 578 Em'gi-anta on the Amoor . 149 Geese 37 Gilyak Village 1.50 Hawk-moth, Five-spotted . 574 H t-bed 164 Irrigation 307 Pough, a Paring 232 Poultrj- House, Plan and Perspective 512 Wheel, Archibald's Spoke . 276 [NITIAL Letter A 61, 113, 153. 173 L 269, 497, 5. '5 B . 589, 601, 6r.O D 641 F . . 45, 157, 669 G 561 1 67 J . . . . 13,3(^1 L .... 89, 292 M 109 N 593 O 17. 196, 305, 545 B 28, 221, 241, 253 329, 3^5 T . . . 125, 537 IT ..... 205 V 53, 209, 265, 350 605 W 365 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. \ BVTILON XI Agriculture and Health . . Board of in N. II. . . 637, and Old Age Department of AgHCultural Colleges, Conven- tion of in Ohio in Vermont Education, Henry Clay on . Fairs Matter, Extra Page of . 377, Paper, Essentials of a First Class Societies Farmers in Objects of Officers . 127, 136, 148, 160, Almond, Dwarf, Flowering . . Amber Analy.^is of Soils and Manures . Ants, to Destroy 218, Apple Culturist, Todd's .... Crab Northern Bpy, barren . . . River 113, Rome Beauty Sweet Bough Apples, abundance of in Genesee Co., N. Y, . . . Apple Trees, Age for Budding or Grafiiijg Bark Lice on Borers Caterpillars, Snuif for . . Cultivation of Dwarf Fall pruning Fertilizers for Killed by Banking with Manure Moss on Pruning Scraping April, 1871 Affairs on the Farm .... Garden for Ashes of Hard and Soft Wood Asia, Life in Asparagus . . 63, 202, 314, 352, Aspiin Asthma ... August, Garden in Autumnal Scenery . . 77, 601, tozalea II ARIN" Cellars 620 ) Dairy 30 for .3200 Cattle 310 Ira Allen's 98 Jarvis Pratt's 127 Itch 180, 109 Barometers 628 Rules for Uf e of 618 Barrels or Casks, to Cleanse 139, 247 Beans .... 63. 262, 314, 352, Harvesting 621, Poles for Beavers and Muck Beds .... Bees and Honey Brood, foul Curious Instincts of ... . Deserting Hives Feeding Hive, Mov.able Comb . . . Hiving Hives Hives, distance apart . . . Honey, Room for Surplus . in April Italian Failure with Keeping Keeping, a Trade Late Swarms Queens, number in a Swarm Stings, fresh Meat for . . . Swarming, to prevent . . . Transferring Weak Colonies Why don't they Swarm . . Wintering Beet Sugar in California .... in Wisconsin Beets . . 63, 2t2, 242, 314, 352, American Improved Impe- rial 71, Seed growing Sugar in California .... in Illinois • in Wisconsin Bird Law in New York .... Birds, Migration of Blackberries 314, Dorchester Double Flowering Kittatiny Large Patch Lawton Blanket, a good old Blister Fly Blood and its Circulation . . . Blue Bird Bobolink Book-keeping for Farmers . . . Bones Dissolved by Lime . . . Borers, Apple Tree Botany for Farmers Houlders, splitting by Fire . Boy Farmer Boys, give them a Chance . Bronchitis Brown, Farm of Hon. Simon Brush killed by Sheep . . . , time to cut Brussel Sprouts Buckwheat ploughed in . . Budding, age of Trees for . Buft'ilo, death of Bugs, kei ping from Vines . Bulbs, Crocus 542 635 202 21 608 648 503 360 171 580 284 648 360 229 281 26 610 610 636 026 360 .301 360 360 360 566 56 644 671 552 194 566 636 201 628 519 89 352 150 191 151 150 150 204 581 647 89 89 102 256 169 333 297 175 268 558 318 129 .371 213 516 .393 122 543 675 Bulbs, Cyclamens 675 Dutch Flowering 674 Hyacinths 674 Jonquils 675 Scilla 675 'tulips 674 Bump, Halathiel 148 Burdocks, to kill 510 Bussey Farm 230 Institution 331 Butterfly, Chrysalis, with Gold Spots 272 Danais Archippus ...... 673 Hawk-moth. Five-spottted . 673 Papilio Asterias 272 Preserving 180, 199 Saturuia lo 683 pABBAGE 63, 202, 242, 252, 314 yj 642, 552 Club-foot in 233 Culture 350 Seed growing 567 Worm 146, 267, 610 Winter preservation of . . 48 Cacti 121 California, New Crops in ... 671 Capron, Hon. H., Address ... 29 Canker Worm . . 233, 505, 506, 607 a new 653 Canada, Crops, &c., in .509 Foot and Mouth Disease in 129 Thistles, how killed .... 604 Fanner, History of a . . . 603 Season and Crops in ... . 377 Caroliaa, Lock's Code of Laws . 78 Carrots 64, 242, 262 and Beets, Corn with . . . 510 Carts, housing 2.34 Casks, to cleanse 139 Cauliflower . 64, 242, 262, 352, 542 Cattle, Amount in several States 154 Ayrshire 337 In Ohio 60 at Low Prices in Maine . . 653 Barn or Winter Itcn .... 132 Bedding, Sand for 88 Black Leg 136 Blooded Stock, a Hobby . . 601 for common Farmers . . {86 Bone Disease in 654 Breeders, Advice to . '. . . 123 Bronchitis 131 Bulls and Stallions for Work 26 Bulls working in Hot Weath- er 58 Calf Poisoned by Paint . . 319 Calves, Blackleg in .... 572 Care of 600 Raising 172 .It an Ag'l College . . . 345 without Milk 286 Sjouring 27 al . . . . 97 Drying oil' 162, 339 Dutch 5ti5 l>ying 517 Eating up the Barn ... 161 Experience, Tweuty-five years 178 Food for Milli 76, 97, 138, 343 Foevons for all Purposes . . 32 Disease in England .... 172 Spread of Contagious . . 101 J)uriiam — Hce tihorl-horns. Dutch 112 l)ying in Cornfiilds .... 79 Kalii g Boards, &c. . . 177,191 Epizootic Aphtha, — Sfe Foot and Mouth Dint axe. Feed and Car--, bett .... 163 Feeding 525 Films on Eje.s 297 Fodder, (booking . . . 289, 325 Cutting.. . .118, 126, 131, 171 Steami.g 129 Millet for 147 Foot and Mouth Disease, 39, 79 85, 90, 99, 101, 119, 129, 130, 136 148, 183, 19-J, 198 Foot Kot, 20, 39, 41, 70, 72, i3, 630 Fouls H75 Gnawing Boarc^s . . . 230, 233 Health of Animals 632 Ueid-book Entries 587 Hereford 161 Bull 121 History of 134 Horn, a Broken 662 Ail 119 Hou.-ing Green 517 Sweet 231 Ears, number wf to Bushel . 296 Experiments in Manuring . 5o7 Fodder 217, 257, 277, 278, .321, 343 624, 660, 672 Curing 216 for Winter 132 New Way of Raising . . 179 Stooking 152 for a Pound of Pork .... 671 Great Crops of 154 Harvesting 511, 632 Harrowing 258 Manuring, loose Statements of 393 not Indigenous 279 Preparing Ground for . . . 300 Prices in Illinois 50 Raising 143, 172 in New Hampshire ... 26 Seed from different parts of the Cob 238 Seed Importance of Good . 296 Tend it Late 384 rs. Hay 5f6 Winter Manuring for . . . 384 Yii Id per Acre 115 Cornell University b'^d Correspondents 197 Cottage, a Small 52 Cotton Seed 117 Crab Apples 609 the Hermit 267 Cress, or Pepper Grass .... 202 Crops as Substitutes for Hay . 371 Depreciation of fSl in Connecticut Valley , . . 228 Plantit gand Care of . ... 227 Cultivation, Clean 611 Cultivator, a Home-made . . . 516 Curculio Traps 372 Cucumbers, 64, 242, 262, 314, 352, 5 2 Raising for Pickles .... 2)4 Currents ". 263, 314 Worm 339, 342, 510 Cut Worms 607 Cypress of Somma 572 DAHLIAS 613 r>airynian, a Berkimcr Co. 144 Di-irymen's Asrocialion .... 132 Dairy in Ohio 279 in Sheboygan Co. 111., ... 50 Needs of 132 of Henry Noble 390 Products, Decline of . ... 114 Profit and Loss 343 Utensils, I'iirifying •. . . . 247 Butter, Adult' ration of . . 660 Amount in Unitt d States 220 Annotto for coloring . . . 94 Carrots for coloring . . . 200 Churning .... 137, 145, 147 Coloring . 71, 80, 94, 145, 172 179, 200, 533 Colored or uncolored . . 130 Dairiis 67.3 Exhibiting 635 from a Cow wiih two teats 105 from one cow 148 Gilt Edge syi Good, How Made .... 348 in Greenfield. Mass. . . . 119 J err ey cows for . . . 151, 171 Making . . 66, 99, 151, i32, 248 W.H McAllister ... 613 Preseiving Flavor .... 588 Premium 112 Saltpetre in 104, 137 Saltpetre, use of 137 To keep in summer . . . 395 Tubs, Preparing .... 26 Washing .... 105, 171, 172 Western 37 White Specks, strainer for 312 INDEX. Dairy, Bulter, "White Specks 137. 200, 2*7, 248 312, 341, 507 Wintpr, Making . 103, 231, 264 Workim; 172 "Whj I)o'ii'titCome64, 169, 182 Cbeese, Amount in United Stales 220 Facioriep, Kutland, Vt. . 279 in Wisconsin 279 Flies 212 Ai odes of Making . 43, 99, ]33 New Way to Make . . . 249 in North Carolina .... 42 Premium in New York . 43 Sliipn\ents of 672 llooius. Temperature of . 1 i6 Tub f80 Crt^am, care of 137 Frozen 172 Saltpetre in 24 that could not be churned in Summer 130 "Warming 179 What Alls the .... 87, 179 Milk Atiect' d by DiseaPB . ItiO as Medium for Disease . 174 Bloodv f99, 619 Closet" 2(10 Cooling 1'9 Fever 289 Extension of 330 tor New York city .... 50 from one cow 148 Horseradish for keeping . sweet 572 Nutritive value of . ... 383 Found and Quart of . . . 661 Prices of 6-9 Shelves 137 Selling 104 What Ails the 172 Dam with gate way across a Brook 516 Daughters, Education of . . . . 6*(> Decerab-jr, Garden in 6-15 Not Gloomy 641 Depopulation of Rural Towns in New England 18u, 272 Deutzias 191 Dirt. Love of 615 DoME.-Tic Economy. Apple Show 252 Beef, corned 39b Bread, to prevent Drying . 396 Bulbs, new use for old . . . 395 Burn, Salve for 390 Cabbage. Pickling Red . . ll'S Cakes, Buckwheat . . . 1C8, 252 Jelly 348 Ltmon 348 Seed 108 Swiss 108 "White Mountain 348 Carpets, mollis in 519 Chicken, Boneless 348 Cucumbers, Pickling . . . 623 Cutraiit Wine, to make . . 389 Curds and Whey 395 Domestic Habit., 83 Doughnuts 101 Itriss, Code of 347 Drinks for Summer .... 346 Dumplings, Potato Paste for 348 Flowers, to Change Color of 348 to keep Fresh 395 Frying, I'hilosophy of . . . 347 Furniture, to Ktmove Bruis- es in 535 Girl.-, Idle 347 Housekeeping, Modern . . 155 Jelly, Keel Currant .... 395 Jumbles, Sugar 348 Lard, Leaf 107, 252 Marmalade 108 Meat, Canning Fresh . . . 313 Muffins, Graham Flour . . 676 Mutton, Dressing for . . . 304 I'aint, to Remove from Iron 544 Pears, Boiled 108 Potatoes, Cooking.'. . . . 395 French Mode ot Frying . 252 DoM F.sTic YjCoyoMX.— Continued. Potato Paste 108 Pufls f r Tea 348 Pudding, Boiled Indian . . 675 Long-branch Berry . . . 212 I irange 395 Quince Preserves 676 Refrigerators 698 tlome-made 522 541 Sauer-Kraut, making . . . 676 Sausages, making li.7 Smoking meat 342 Soap Making. Danger in . . 524 Sting of Insects, Coal Oil for 395 Succotash in Winter . . . 630 Veal, Cold 252 Vinegar, Raspberry .... 394 Waffles, Rice 348 Wet, what to do when . . . 567 Yeast Graham Bread . . . 598 Drainage 358 of Dry Land 362, 382, 639, 554, 577 Drainii.g all Lands .... 308, 324 Economy of 1P6 Importance of 167 in October 647 Value of 283 Drought and the Gra^Bes . . . 34H a Hopeful View 544 IpDUCATION 160 J of our Daughters 640 Economy Neci ssary to Tlirift . 6B5 Egg Plant . 64, 68, 202, 213, 242, 262 3)4, 352 Egyptian Agriculturist .... 105 Emphysema, Pulmonary . . . 558 Endive 64, 314, 542 England, Steam Cultivation in . 216 Kye Glasses 140 Everlasting Flowers 163 FAIRS, Horse Racing at . . . Politics in Falcon Fall, Best time for Transplanting Trees Faneuil Hall, Wagons (or a • . month Farm. Advertising for Sale . . a Good a Massachusetts cheap, in Massachusetts . 56 Eighiy-five years on One . Eiiglii-h I'rize Embellishment of Experiments Implements, Letting .... Improvement in a Massachu- setts Indian Hill in Efsex Co. Mass., How made Profitable in Mass. for a Western Me- chanic Life PicturtsquencfS of . . Macliin«ry M^d■;hJg a New out of an Old One Nemnefs on of Abner H. Davis of Allen, Ira of Dr. Nichols of Gov. Brown of Johnson & Cogswell . . . of Joseph A. Smith .... of Luke Adams of Michigan A'l College . . of T. P. Root of Sturtevai t Bros of Warren Brown Prices of, in Vermont . . . Roads Steamers on Tribute to the Work for Octolier Why Young Men Leave . . Farmer, a Boy Advice of an Old Farmer, a Good 561 an Unsuccessful 266 an Old Working 617 Monthly 2)6 • >ld New England r^S Who is entitled to the name? 23'i Farmers Book keeping for . . . 102 and their Croiiitors .... 621 Club, a big 145 Buying Supplies by a . . 297 Norfolk, Mass. .".... 286 Clubs ^S, 81,91,96 139 Importance of 669 Topics f„r 275 Constitution and By-laws 91 670 in England 104 Economy of Western . 663,^)70 Education of 212 Hard Lo^ik for £06, 617 Home, a well-regulated . . 694 Rambles among 525 "Interested" 21 Ring 212 Should be Educated .... 263 Talking 52 Wive^ 327, ?36 Farming, a Liberal Profession . 224 E>oes Intelligent Pay in Mas- sachusetts 643 Extravagant Statements of I'rotit 666 How Money was made at . 6' 3 in Southern States 51 Knowledge Required in . . 53 Plans for" 157 Profitable 321 Specialties in 83 'lowns, Decrease of Popula- tion 180, 225 February, Garden in f3 Thoughts 61 Work in 62 Feed, Dear 500 Fence, Fire Proof 617 Posts 523 Stone or Wood i47 Wire 630 Fertilizers, Use of Concentrated 550 Fever and Ague, Cold Sweats . 147 Fig 1 ree. Barren 258 Fire in the Woods 603 Flax, Ntw Zealand 119 Flies, Pumpkin Vines for . . . 290 Flower Garden in May 244 Seeds, Sowing 235 Garden 528, 612 Flowering bulbs, Dutch .... 674 Flowing of Meadows 633 Fodder, Cutting the 17 Scarcity of 508 Steaming the 17 Forest Trees, — see Trees. Forests', Vt es of the 368 Framingham Farm Notes . . . 622 Frank Forrester's Horse Book . 197 Fruit Kiln 43 Fruit l rees 287 Borers in 610 Management of 629 Planted by an old Man . . . 671 Pruning 3u5 Stunted 220 White-washing 618 Fruits, an Englishman's opinion of American 284 Utilizing the Best 647 Fuel, How to have 595 Fine 129, les GALE in Western Massachu- setts ISO Garden Crops, Moisture for . . 346 Farming 6t() Flower .... 190. 315, 528, 612 Give more Attention to . . 168 in April 202 in August 351 in December 645 in February eS INDEX. Garden in January 15 in July 313 in June '262 in March HO in May '2-i'2 in November oy(i in October 551 in Septetnber 641 Rotation of Crops in . . . . 645 Gardi'niiig. Out-door 602 Window 95, 120 Wild Flower 373 Wi ;nian"8 Workin 251 Window 64, 79, 95 Garget,— .5«"e Poke. Dose of 599 Geraniums 315, 612 Zunale or Horse-shoe . . . 372 Germs of Infectious Disease . . 192 Geese Feathers 37 Geii. Grant's Dairy Farm ... 2ul Gill'flowers 121 Girl, a Rich Man's 267 Glass-blowiijg ". . . . 161 Cilored, lor Plants .... 297 Gladioli 356, 613 Glooms of November 593 Goats 44, 585 Gooseberries 263 Mildew on 384 Mulching 630 Grafting, age of Trees for . . . 393 Wax 264 Grulton Fertilizer 211 Grain, Feeding 17 Growth ot 18 Winter 20S Grapes 314, 352, 552 and Wine Growing .... 600 Frosted in Spring 3.30 Grafting Vines 25, 195 Growing. Book on .... 618 on Clay Soil 390 Grass, Agrostis Alba 289 and Drought 349 Curing 526 E'ymus gtriatus 272 English Bent 289 Failureof Crop First year . 374 Fat teidng Cattle on .... 529 Fields, Rotten Places in . . 582 Hut;g,irian 185, 232, 257, 343, 371 Lana. Re-seeding 683 Top-drcssing 521 Laying Land to 39 Millet ISO Orchard . 199, 209, 213 217, 274 518, 543 in Pennsylvania , . . 572 Rve 272, 534 Seed '69 for an Acre 170,634 Seeding, thick and thin . . 207 'J'all 5:;l Timothy, loss of 218 variety of 209 vemus Grain 142 ^-fr-iiis ^^^leat 2:18 AVild Rye 272 Witch 5S4 Grasshoppers in JLaine 394, 570, 576 for Liogs .'>71 Grub, S.ilt to prevent 336 HAIR BnPkes 67 Hard Times for Farmers . 621 Harnees Blacking 617 Hawk moih, Fiye-spottid . ."iie, 628 Hay, amount per Acre 301 and Corn 600 aitd Corn, Value as Food . . 610 and Straw, as Specialties 270, 2S1 294 ]3one Meal, on 191 Clover, Curing .... 298, .352 Cutting and Curing 259, 330, i)78 505, 615 Early cut 343 Harvesting 261 Higli Price of 562 Hay, how shall it be Cured . . 378 How to Raise Large Crops of 570 Light Crops, Thoughts on . 678 Making 605 Making Clover 298. .352 New Method of Curing. 380, 513 Poor Prospect of 216 Packing New with old Meadow 534 Premiums for 599 Preserving 147 Steamijig 540 Value and Importance of . 366 Value of crop 302 rn Corn 556 Why not Pay Premiums for 599 Haying, Discussion on • , 359 Implements ....... 349 Health Afl'ected by Agriculture 184 Hemlock and Oak Tree .... 672 Hens ill Place of Dogs 311 Herbs 314, 352 Herdsgrass , cutting in Blossom 19 Tall 688 Hired Man 370 Hobbies 601, 626, 686 Home Embellishment 35 Homes, Practical Description of Country 564 Honeysuckle, Tartarean .... 191 Hops, Loss on 279 Horses, Acaries or Pin Worm in 1.30 136 Ancle, Swelled 1^4 Breeding 97 Bots, Nux Vomica 530 Collar, Fittii g to Horse . . 106 Colts, Bunch m Throat . . 340 care of Sucking .... 389 Training 303 Corn for ' . . . . 105 Cribbing .... 86, 103, 148, 392 Degeneracy of from Racing 341 Dosing 644 Expense of 142 Farm, Degeneracy of . . . 536 Fast, Profit in Raising . . . 636 Fattening 341 Feet, Hard and Contracted 25 41, 72 Pumiced 33 Flies on 672 F^loors for Stables 49 Founder in 23 Frog in Fcot 524 Hay for 129 Heaves 328, 559 Iowa, raifing in 225 Knetrs Ityured by Standing on Inclined Floor .... 199 KentU'-ky, Horse Exhibition 218 Lame 583 Linseed Tea for 364 Looseness in 40 ■Market in Boston 24 J Morgan, the 237 Neck, Galled 178 Plardeiiing 637 Position of 98 Oil Meal for 128 Percheroi'S, Imported at New York 603 Massachusetts 162 Prices in I'aris 27 Red Water 146 Rii'g Bone 40 Scratches 544 Shoeing 33, 321, 3:37 Hints on 160 Shoulder, Galls 304 Spavin, Bone 563 »-l)liiit. cure for 310 Siables, Ventilating .... {89 Siock Compan> 135 Stallions, and BullsforW^ork 25 Worked in France .... 36 Stopping Runaway .... 611 Talk about 148 Teeth, too Long 516 Throat of Colt, Bunch in . . 340 Thrush in 23, 24 Horses, Tumor 24 Urinary Trouble 58 Warm Stables Injurious . . 136 Warts 619 or Tumor on Colt .... 24 Winnings of 1870 152 W^orking Six or Seven Days 92 Horseradish 63, 111, 202 Horseradish, Horse-chestnut . . 50 Hot Beds Ill a Cheap . 195 Horticultural Patents 42 House, a Country Farm .... 16 Double or Single 84 Keepers, to young 251 Howard Sanford :^34 Humbugs 19 Human Limbs, Harvest of. . . 571 Hungarian Grass 257, 371 Hybernia Tiliaria 653 INSECTS, Cloud of 636 A Loss from 668 Iowa Agricultural College . . . 279 Illinois, Corn in 50 Dairymen's Convention . . 172 Season and Crops in ... . 630 Implements, Care of Farm . . . 563 Infectious Germs 192 Irrigation 268 or Drainage 3.53 Ivies l-.:0 Ivy Poisoning 42 JANUARY, the Garden in . , 15 J Tlioughts 13 Jewelry, Coral 395 Jo'-keys, Discipline of English 548 Jones and Smith .... 394, 507, 610 Jones, Frank, Farm of 526 July, 1871 301 Farm Work in 302 Flower Gardening for . . . 356 Garden in 313 June, Garden in 262 Things about 253 KALE 64 Kansas 65, 73 Kentucky, Horse Day in ... . 218 LAMPS, When to Fill .... 1.56 Lands, Improve the Low . . 620 Wet, Management of . . , 266 Lantanas 121 Lawns 573 Left-h.andedness 260 Lettuce 64, 242, £62 Seed Growing . 667 Lille* 356 Planting Pond 636 Little Things 396 Locust, the Honey 568 Log, Contents of a 94, IIS Louisiana State Fair 600 Love Gifts 155 Youth and Hope (i.39 Lumber in a Log 118 M A CHINE for Cutting Brush 163 Maine, Aroostook, State Land in ...... . 220 Board of Agriculture . . . 010 Corn raising in 335 Crops in 505 Franklin Co., Stock iind Dairy in 231 Gloomy Prospects in . . . 570 Gov. Pi rham, a Farmer . . 000 Grasshoppers in 394 Kennebec Society 110 Letter from 542 Low Prices of Stock in . . 653 Notes from Franklin County 676 Season and Crops in . . 377 Sheep Raising in 261 INDEX. Maine, Swedish Settlers in 140, 203 Wheat in 19 Manure, Application of 106, 171, 239 298, 335, 338 Aphes ..111,142,176,323,375 Coal 58, 353, 376, 599 for Wet Land 534 Dry, as an Absorbent . 383 for Apple Trees 179 How to Use 598 in Hill 507 Lt ached and Unleached . 280 of Sods 171 Wood, value of 375 with Chip Manure .... 289 Bone Dust 176 Bones, Uulizing .... 167, 169 Chemical Reasons for saving Liquid 655 Compost 176 lor Top-dressing 24 Composting and Saving 142, 290 Crib for Compost 83 Experiments in, for Corn . 507 Special 247 Fertilizers 131 Fall Application 667 • Hiime-made 644 Etl'ects of on Soil 317 Frauds in 173 for Potatoes 320 for Tobacco 279, 355 Gas Lime 1.39, 176, 200 Grafton Fertilizer . Ill, 112, 120 142, 320, 328 "Heavy" Manuring .... 344 Harrowing in 290 Hen Manure Compost . 258, 341 Hauling out in February . . 63 How lost 170 Indian Meal for .... 364, 560 Increase and Strengthen the 597 Lime 176, 223 and Muck Ill, 176 and tialt 142 Ashes 320 Making 290 Marl and Muck 140 Muck, 76, 111, 122, 131,140, 142 145, 176,178,290,309, 319, 3-^3 328, 374 and Manure ..■••.. 178 Collecting 576 boils adapted to 532 for Apple Trees 24 Uses and Value of. . 273, 518 U^ing Fresh 383 Value of 648 Mulching 254 Phosphate, Loss of .... 232 Ploughing in 65, 132, 164, 170, i!13 2:il, 243, 290, 298, 328, 335 Potash for Orchards .... 177 In Ashes 179 Privy Compost 300 Kotten Wood, for Violets . 275 Rubbish, Rotting 83 Salt 323 Saving 27, 239, 544 Use of on Soil 598 Sawdust 58, 88 Seaweed, Cove 652 Spreading in Winter .... 353 Superphosphate 247 Braaley's 233 Does It Impoverish the Soil 317 Experiments with .... 655 Surface Manuring 384 Top Dressing, 55, 88 143, 164 243, 290, 298, 54o, 571 Urine as a Fertilizer . 277, 290 Value of from Different Feeds . , • 97 Winter care of Stable - . . 231 March, Flower Gardening for . 190 Garden in 110 in New England 109 Marketing Farm Produce . , . 191 Marsh in Lenox, Mass 279 Matter, Insoluble 256 Mass. Ag'l Board, Framlngham 95 College Prizes lo Students 36 Does Farming Pay in . . 64 ■ Essex, Transactions .... 159 Farms Cheap in ... . 56, 86 State Board of Ag'l Subjects for Report 175 Tobacco in Western .... 41 May, and May Revelries .... 205 Garden in 242 Farm Work for 206 Flower Garden in 244 Meadow, a Reclaimed 651 an Old Bog 217 Meadows, Flowing 560 Meal for Miinure 560 Merrimac, Valley of 666 Michigan Ag'l College, Students 279 Farm of 672 Microscope in Post-Morttm Ex- aminations 386 Millet 184, 255, :-.71 and Hungarian Grass . . . 516 for Fodder 147 Mink Breeding 352 Mocking Bird 204 Mosquitoes, to Prevent .... 636 Mowing Machine, Spite against in England 617 Muck, Sharp Siicks In . . . 21, 70 Use of — See Manures Mulching 254 Mushrooms 5«4 Muskmelon 64, 542 Mustard 243 Cultivation of 198 ]V[E1GEB0RS, Friendly ... 572 i\ New England Ag'l Society . 116 Depopulation of Rural Towns In 225, 272 Farmer, Monthly .... 174 Close of Second Series . 676 Farmer, New Volume . 141 New Hampshire Board of Ag. . 537 Corn Raising in .... 26, 6;.6 Crops and Fairs in Merrimac c61 Mountaineers 615 Notes from 614 Questions of Board of Ag'l 21 New Publications. Aditr(s8, Lafayette College 602 American Nsituralist . . . . 602 Catalogue of Michigan Agri- cultural College 671 Curcnlio, Ransom's Essay on Trapping 286 Guide to Study of Insects . 671 Money in the Garden . . . 235 Wallace, American Trotting Regihter 236 What I Know of Farming . 285 War Department Circular . 670 Nichols. Dr. Farm of 590 North Carolina Cheese In . . . 42 Note, a Swindling 332 Farm, cares for 695 November Asi)ccts 593 Garden in 586 Numbaculls and Book Farmers 642 Nurses, Lady 156 OATS for Fodder 162 Musty 85 October, Farm Work for . . . 546 Facts and Fancies 545 the Garden in 551 Ogden Farm 258 Oil Meal 117, 128 Old and True 600 Onions, 64, 202, 208, 243, 246, 272, 279 300, 314, 352, 552 Grub 208 Seed Growing 567 Soil for 507 OflBcers Agricultural So. . 2f6, 241 Orchr.rd Culture 536 Opium Culture 163 from the Poppy 231 PAINT, Fire Proof for Fence 330 Parsley Worm 573 Parsnips 64, 243, 552 Wild • . 549 Passion Flower 630 Pasture, changing Stock in . . 531 Pastures, P'ailure of 129 Fences for 34 Management of , • . • . . 33 Mosses in 372 Improvement of . . . . 83, 6li! Ploughing ......... 22 Spade in 34 Stock for 34 Turning Stock to 2o7 Patents, Agricultural 92 in Borficuliure .... 42, 136 P.iyasYouGo 611 Pea Weevil 288 Peach, Double Flowering . . . 191 Peaches from one Pit 50 Peanuts 119 Pear, Admiral Farragut .... 6.S1 Buerre Clairgeau 521 Dr. Shurtleff 's Seedlings . . 631 Gen. Sherman 631 Golden Buerre if Bilboa . 260 on Stiflf Soil 313 Orchard. Profit of 105 Tree Blight 557, 638 Trees Dying 509 Dwarf 657 Winter care of 662 Peas 64, 243, 262, 314, 3! 2 Buggy 321, 341 Bug proof ......... 169 Dryliig Green 517 Fall or Winter Planting . . 95 Peddlers' License 340 Peppers 64, 243 Pierce, Joshua, Farm of ... . 525 Pile Driver, a Farmer's .... 531 Pine. Seeds of the White, when to Plant 246 Pitchfork, Striking Horses with 636 Swindle 673 Plan and System 507 Plastic Slate 58 I'lants from Seed ...,,.. 277 Pots, Worms in ... . . 94 to Protect fr(>m Cold and Lice 176 Planting Seeds, Depth for . . . 211 Plough, I'aring or Turf .... 2S2 Reversible" 578, 666 Ploughing Advantages of Fall 70, 659 Boy killed by Horses taking Fright 390 Deep and Shallow . 31, 41, 644 Deep, for Worn-out Land . It3 in Spring 206 Plum, Double Flowering . . , , 191 Poetry. Aftection's Tribute .... 372 Baby Belle 616 Baby's First Tooth .... 394 Barn the Old 116 Farm Wonders 609 Forty Signs of Rain .... 266 Garden and Orchard .... 532 Grandfather's Barn .... 224 In My Garden ....... .'66 Jones 240 Jones and Smith 585 July 363 Love's Colors 269 Marguerite 155 Micliigan Emigrant's Song . 92 My Birthday 637 Our Darling 204 "Smith and Joi es" .... 854 Spring — an Invocation . . . 215 Sugar Camp 120 'i'hat Line Fence 184 The Bashful Lover .... 639 The Cows are Coming . . . 212 'J'he Seed and the Sowers 671 The Old Arm Chair .... 346 When I was Young .... 106 Winter I'oem 81 Poisons, 47, 69, 74 Pollen, Substitute for 300 10 INDEX. Poplin, Irish 640 Pofee, Garget, Phytolacca decan- dra 575 Indian — Verattiim viride . 575 Pork. Bad 19 Decline in Price 571 from a Bushel of Corn . . . 671 Making in Massachusetts . 658 Kiiising at the West .... 668 Treating Old 6d6 Potaoh from Wool 60 Potatoes 64, 243, 314, 352 Beetle 581 Colorado Bug 312, 337, 530, 533 Early 214, 33v( for Stock 23, 237 Raising 219, 249 Seed 41 Sprouting 240 Storing 572 Sweet 64 tha Foot 621 Three lined Leaf Beetle . . 392 Poultry, Asiatic Fowls .... 46 Bran for 649 Breeds 30 Buffliigton's Yearly State- ment 199 Cholera 136 Diseases 172, 311 Ducks Die Young .... 585 Eggs, Difference in ... . 379 from Thirty Hens in Three and a Half Months . . 287 to Get Plenty of . . • 364, 555 in one Hen 297 Preserving 50 Price in Chicago 279 Sex of 330 Value of 311 Expense and Income . . . 199 Fat Meat for 320 GapcS 585 Geese Sick and Dying . . . 119 Goose Story 519 House for 31, 512 Lice 117 Management and Care 31, 258 Massachusetts Association . 208 New Places for .... 19, 94 on a Large Scale 642 Pip 118 Profits 31 Sitting, how to Prevent 163, 203 Sore Head 327 ■Tonics or Condiments for . 580 Practical Suggestions, by W. D. Brown 135 Prairies, Waterless 216 Pratt, Jarvls, Farm of 127 Prices, Decline in 323 Pump Legs, Bass-wood for i . 630 Q' L^I^CE Japonica 25 RABBIT Breeding . . . 152, 163 Racing at Fairs 219 Radishes 64, 243, 2ti3 Ragweed, Dwarf 504 Railroads and Agriculture ... bo Rain, Amount ol Fall 391 Rats banished bv Goats .... 330 nore in Hianstead, Can. . . 376 Respiration, Diseases Aflecting 5b8 Rev. John Cotton 631 Rhubarb 242, 314 Ring, who wore the First . . . 107 Ringing, &c., to Hasten Bearing 575 Roads, Farm 633 in old Times 109 Trees on 41 Rocks, Rtmoving 546 Rote, Bridal 191 Bushes, Uld 600 liush, Oldest Known . . . 572 Roots, CultivaliLg and Keeping 27 CiAFFORD, N. B., Farmof. • 188 O Sage 243 Salsify 64, 652 or Oyster Plant 243 Sandwich Island Farming . S06 Salt, Use of— See Cattle 147, 170, C54 Scarlet Bouvardia J31 Schools, our Winter 45 Science, Industrial 868 Seed. Importance of Good . . . 2i7 Depth for Planting .... 210 Seeding I^and 217 with Corn Fodder 278 without Manure 249 Thick and Thin 207 without Grain 217 Seeds, Kaising 567 Selection, Natural 617 September, Garden in 541 Thoughts for 397 Sheep and Mutton 329 Brush Destroyed by ... . 129 Coarse and Fine Wools, Crossing 557 665 Coarse Wool in Large Flocks 44, 50 Coarst Wool in Michigan . 385 Cotswold 529 and Merino .... 256, 565 Feeding in England ... 91 Diseases Caused by Beards of Grain 397 Ewes, Fall Treatment of Breeding 627 Food aU'ects Wool .... 241 Foot-rot 177, 630 Herders in California . . . 6!i7 Husbandry 184 in Iowa 236 Keep up the Standard ... 36 Interest in Sheep Raisiag . 241 Lamb, when does it become a Sheep ? 672 Lambs from 23 Sheep ... 200 Lamb Skins for Cloaks ■ . 154 Leicester, Prolific 2s(7- Mutton and Wool 175 Dressing 304 Productive 543 Pulling Wool 140 Raising and Fattening ... 177 in Maine 261 Rheumatism in 19 Shearing 253, 311 Spring Care of Sheep and Lambs 298 Watering 558 Shingles for Roofs 59'ii Sphinx quinqutmuLvIaixi.s • . . 516 Sliori-horn — See Cuttle. Herdhook 197 Shovel Making and Generalship 387 Silk in California 50 Skin, Cleanse the 580 Effects of closing Pores . . 680 Skuiik Skins, Deodorizing . . . 654 Snow Protection to Land . . . 119 So; p, Making 275 Souii Lake 635 Soiling 832 Soils, Analysis of 385, 602 Classification of 365 Mixing Garden 279 Restoring Exhausted . 544, 582 Sorrel 367 South Carolina, Ag'l Society . . 92 South, Yankees Invited to . . . 225 tipaiiish Fly 581 Sparrow, English 379, 6.32 bpinach 64, 243, 352, 542 Spireas Ibl ppring. Early 233 Siiuash 64, 243, 352, 642 Borer . . • t 507 Seed G roving 567 Stable Ventilali^ii 689 Steam Cultivation in England . 215 Machinery on the Farm . . 153 Sticks, Sharp in Muck ... 21, 70 Stock Comiiig to Barn 16 Stock, Grass-fed 26 Stock, Potatoes for 23, 237 Sales of 267 Steaming Food lor 17 Supply of Water for ... 88 Surface Water for 20 Winter Care of 61 Strawberries . 49, 24fi, 263, 314, 552 Mulching 598 Soil for' .576 Time for Transplanting . . 576 Wilson's 553 Worm 213 Stump Puller 191 Stumps, to Prevent Suckering . 342 Subsoil for Top-dressing .... 816 Subeoiling, Doesit I'ay ? . . . . 144 Sugar Beet, in California . . . 644 in Wisconsin .526 Maple in N. H 297 in Vermont 259, 290 Large Crop of 215 Sumac 559 Sunapee Lake 587 Swamp Land, Value of ... . 554 Swedes in Maine 140, 203 Sweet Flag Root 543 Swine, Age to have Pigs .... S30 Breeds of 57 Chester County 57 Cholera, Cooked Foot' for . 279 Soap for 250 Cooked and Uncooked Food 160 Cost of Raising 354 Dressing 662 Essex 57 Experiments in Feeding . . 160 Exposition 581, 610 Fast of a 112 Food, Cooking .... 160, 264 Killing, Hints about .... 130 Lung, Kidney or Liver Dis- ease 93 Mackay 57 Pigs from one Sow .... 290 Jefi'erson County . . 60, 518 Lame 517 Profitable 72 Shelter 49 Scouring 279 to Make a Sow own Pigs not her own 104 Porkers, Heavy .... 199, 200 Raising 144 Slaughtering a Fierce . . . 606 Suffolk 57 Sow, sick 320 Water, Loss from want of . 577 Worms in Lungs 103 Won't Eat, and Acts Queer 40 TARTAPEAN Honeysuckle . 191 Thistles, How 1 killed the Cimiula 604 Throat Diseases 558 Tin Sap Buckets 172 Tobacco Crop 88 in Massachusetts 41 in Wisconsin 617 Market 71 Sales 180 Sorting 71 Tomatoes 64. 243, 203, 314. 352, 542 552 Plants 165 Raising Early 283 Salt for 201 Worms 6'i8 Towel Costumes 039 Town Fairs 623 Transplanting Plants 362 Trees by Roadside 40, 78 Cultivation of . . . 67,113,221 Disease and Enemies of . . 221 Forest growing in Iowa . . 819 Rotation of 269 Growth of Forest . . . 201, 266 Number to Acre 572 Premiums on Growth . . . 189 Raising from Seeds .... 285 ; Fruit 287 INDEX. 11 Trees, Pruning Fruit 305 Whitewaebjng 618 Oak and Hemlocli 672 Oldest Known 572 Ornamental and Fruit . . . 221 Reduce top on Transplanting 287 Shade 287 When to Set 131 Trauf planting in Fall ... 605 Uses of 221 TTNDERD RAINING , , 128, 610 VERMONT, Board of Agricul- cullure 135, 186, 386 Crops, &c., in Windsor Co. 302 Dairymen's Association . . 672 Hill Farms Deserted .... 299 Lamoille Valley 608 Scenery in 508 Washington Co., crops in . 378 Season in 148 Westminster Club 61 Vines, Climbing 603 Vinegar Eels 87 Violets, Growing . 68 Virginia, Corn in 313 Western 42 WADSWORTHS in New York 608 Wagons, Durability of 200 Housing 234 Loading a .... . 161, 232, 278 Ox and Horse 248 Walking Sticks, How Made . . 203 Washington Territory 186 Watercourses 2u7 for Stock 88 Hard and Soft 604 Water, want of on Prairies . . 215 Watermelon 64, 242, 542 Wealth, Future of United States 195 Weeds 263, 352 a Chapter on 377 and Noxious Plants .... 367 and Weeding ..•■... 498 Cost of 571 Disposition of 500 In Hay Time 499 in Lawn 5.30 New Varieties of 672 on Highways 499 Place for 659 that We Make 549 Well, How to clean a foul . . . 2.i6 West, as I saw it 6H1 Wheat and Corn Growing . 340, 375 376 Arnautka 275 Australian til8 Chess and WTieat 629 Cleaning from Cheat .... 14U Crop, Cost of a 295 in Maine 6.56 in South Carolina 52 Cutting, Time for 72 Decrease in England .... 136 Dodge, the 130 Fife 618 in New England 585 in Reading, Vt .... 574, 5''5 in Woodstock, Vt 617 Lime for 574 Mulching Winter 581 New York, Deficiency in . . 119 Premium Crop 19 Winter, E.xperiments with 584 Eair-ing, Loss in 30 Seed-bed. Shallow 557 Straw, Value of 295 Time for Sowing 50 Winter in California .... 330 in Illinois 304 Wheat, Yield of in Old Times and Now 681 Worms at the Root .... 27<» Wheel, ^Archibald's Spoke . . . 276 Wheels, Housing 119 Whirlwind, Artificial 572 Whitewashing 267 Trees 618 White Weed 36S Window Gardening .... 120, 190 Wine and Temperance .... 550 Growing 600 Winter, Does a dry Indicate Short Crops 270 Winter Preparations 696 Wire Fence 630 Wood, Growing 28 to Remove Taste of ... . 346 to Protect from Plre .... 603 Wool, Aflected by Feed .... 241 and Mutton 175 Dr Randall's Advice on . . 617 for Chignons 572 Foreign 504 Growers, Frauds on ... . 127 Importation of 225 in California .330 Int'-rests of United States . 544 Market 524 Mills in Northwest .... 572 Picklock, Meaning of ... 119 Potash from 60 Wooleti Factories, origin of in New England 663 Worcester Co., Institute .... 569 Worm, a Queer 375 Worms in Plant Pots ... 94, 6.55 Wounds, a Chapter on 625 Writing is Hard Work 319 YEAR, Thoughts on closing the 13 Y'outh, Love and Hope 639 INDEX TO CONTRIBUTORS. A 130 A- A. A. F 94 A Bay Stale Boy ... 619 Adams, C. J 72 Adams, W 232 A. H. C 510 Allen, J 179 Allen, L 180 Alley, Lyman .... 94 A. M. A 93 Amatetir 24 A. M. B., Mrs 312 Americus. . . 257, 290, 337 A. M. H 138 A. K. B 213 Arey, J 179 Asker 58 A Young Student of Chemistry 654 BAILEY, Edward . 307 Baker, 8. M. . . . 618 Baker, T. J 653 Ballou,H.G. . . .516, 673 Barber, Joseph . . 312, 337 Barnes, Elias 28? Bassett, A 101 B.D. W 95 Belden, R. A 279 Bemis, Lewis .... 289 Bills, D 170 Blanchard, Amos . . 278 Bliss, O. S 25, 105 Blodgett, S. B 148 Boy, a Bay State ... 619 Breed, L 518 Brown, Benj. W. . . 30 Brown, Geo. H. . . . 643 Brown, W. D 13i' Brown, W. R . . . . 581 B.T 145 Buflington 19 < Burbauk Dana .... 172 Buss, Albee 658 rt . . . 41, 56, 156, 244, 63S V^ C.C. C 177 Carpenter, Geo. A . . 320 Carrie 103, 200 C. B 231 C. E. K 362 C. D., Mrs 248 Chiise, D. S 198 Cheever, A. W. 65, 167, 186 189, lb9, 218.323, 344,659 Cheney, Jennie E. . . 616 C. H. F 176 O. H. W. 663 Childs, James . . 32, 167 Clark, Samuel, 42, 313, 630 Cleveland, E. M. . , . 74 CM 148 Cobb 8b Colby, William D. . . 675 Comings, A. G. . . . 257 Cordell, Job 620 Cooper E 230, 287 C. P. W 652 C. R 215 Cram, N. P 41 Cramptou, C. A. . . . 685 Crandall, G. H. . . . .''31 C. W 104, 146 0. W.D 219 DAVIS, Jacob Davis, John Davis, R . . D. C. . . . I>enham . . 3, 200 Dimon, John . Dow, L. H. . Drake, C. L. . DreWM. V. B. Driggs.T.C. . Durkee, Annie D. W. E. . . . D. W. H. . . EF. . . . E. G. . E. L. B. . . KIkins, John Ellsworth, Emory A. 41 72 103 248, 278 631 610 339 376 119 277 179 619, 644 119 179 119 606 263 268 94 B. M. R Endicott, W. P. . 176, 683 E. N. S 163, 180 E. P. G Essecker .... 72 340 12 INDEX. E. 8. 8., Mrs 172 Eustis, Wm 179 E.W. 0 378 ■n 20, 132, 147, 148, 278 r I 3f)3, 392, 634, 641, 660 Farmer 341 Farmer, A Young . 24, 117 Farmer's Wife .... 341 Farmer, Valley ... 97 Farnsworth, C. H. . . 112 Farmer, Fireside, 146, 217 283, 286, 309, 383, 640 FernaKl, J 268 Fisher, C. M., 178, 231, 290 600 Fisher, R. A 258 Fisk, F. F 608, 600 Fleming, John .... 633 Fletcher, iSherraan D. 653 Fletcher, Thomas F., 2o6 675, 600 F. M 319 F. N 337 Forbes, A. A 622 Foster, A. M. . . 130, 170 F. O. \V 618 Frederick 320 French, Hiram .... 130 Fuller,U.C 227 GEORGE 42 Ueorgie 28si G. E. T 573, 6u3 G. B. E 570 G. H. B 262 Goodell,M. L. 234, 291, 532 586, 630, 654 Goodwin, E. M. . . . 199 Granite 377, 60.* Green, W. W 278 Greeuleaf, S. D. . . . 214 Greenleaf, S. P. . . . 290 Grosvenor, Noble . . 391 G. 8. P 187 Guild, Edwin .... 87 Gunn, Elijah 374 G. W 340 G. W. P 230 23, 231, 659 . H. A. B., Mrs. . 25 Hager, Orin .... 59, 148 Hall, Nathan 621 H. A. M 607 Hapgood, .Joab . . . 665 Haray, W. V 321 Harney, Geo. E. . . . 84 Harris, Albert . . . 41, 132 Hart, T. L. 41, 72, 139, 287 Harvey, D. L, 233 Harvey, M. J. 192, 555, 660 Haskell, Thomas . 321, 657 Haveti K 510 Hayward,N. O. . . . 199 Hayes, O. F 129 H. B 214 H. B. 8 278 H. 0 163 H. O. C 233 Joel Hersey 171 U. E. T 5.''9 Hill, J.0 171 H. L. 8 376 H. M 162 ■Rolbrook.T. G. . . . 376 Homeon, T 34o Horn, N 290 Horner, C N. 8. . . . 621 Howard, Henry B. . . 392 Howe, J. B 683 H. R 41 H. S 617 H. 8. C 320 H.S.E 2.i8 Hubbard, J. L. 354,502,.V28 654, 687, 621, •'54, 667 H. V. W 341 T E. M 505 1. I.L.F 147 Inquirer ... 25, 632, 634 l8ham,J. N 320 Ives, John 8. . . . 47, 94 J. , .23, 34, 220, • Jacobs, J. B. Mrs. Jameson, Z E. 98, 386, J. B. P., Mrs J. C S. E. C 673, Jenckes, H. A. . . 321, J. G.F J. H. K 178, J. H. S. . . . 198, 277, J. M. C J. O. B .Johnson, James C. . . Johnson, P. ... Jones, 213,328,375, 580, Joues, Chas. E. . . . Jones, John L. . . 214, Jones, W. F J. R 119, J. R. L J. T J. T M J. W. L. . 354, 507, 510, KEACH. S. B. . . . 393 Kimb.iU, *;. E . . 611 Kimball, D. . . 2o0 K. O. 51, 220, 228. 240, 272 283, 296, 308, 345, 393, 615 i64, 622, 666 L. 145, 147. .505, 510, 621 . Lackey, N. . . 339 Lane, Henry . . . 72, 195 L. I). R. L. E. G Lincoln, C. F. . 72, 88, Livermore, B. . , , . Looniis, T. E. . Loring, H. W. 2, 88,582, 656 39, 94, 628 . M.insfield.Robert 393 Mattie 377, 619 McAllister, John ... 376 McLaughlin, Benjamin F 676 Medical Man . . 47. 59, 74 Miller, Henry . . 509, 599 Miner, J. J 516 M. M. B 26 M. N. H 248 Moore, K. A. . . Morse, J. L. . Morse Julius G. M. P. B 515 118 609 268 Mrs. A. M. B Mrs. Amos Taylor . . Mrs. CD • Mrs. K. 8. 8 Mrs. H. A. B Mrs. J. B. Jacobs . . Mrs. J. B.P. . . . . . Mrs. J. B.Sawyer, 233, Mrs. Mary Whalmore Mrs. 8. B. 8 Mrs. T. G \r 68, 391 iM • New Subscriber 161 Noyes, Wm. . . • • . 215 N. 8. T . . . 102, 142, 182 Nutting, R 338 OBSERVER .... 27 (). H 67, 131 Old Iron 321 Old Subscriber, . 340, 515 ,93, X • Piiine, A. W. . . Paine, P. S Pattee, S. C. . 289, 362, Peach, L>. I Pettee, J. W. . . . 118, Phelps, Alex. 8. . . Pike's Peak Poor, Henry 341, 377, Powers, Geo. Russell Pratt, Fred G Pratt, Jarvis . , 128, P. T Putter, Josiah .... Puller, L. W Q. D A. F It. Rathbun,C. B,95, R.C Reader, a 172, 317, 599, Reader, a Constant 69, Reader and Subscriber, Reader, an Interested Reader, an Old , . . Reynolds, V. B. . . . Richardson, E. . . , , Rip Van Winkle . . . R. N. ... Robinson, J. W. . . . Rollins, E 119, Romeo ....... Roy 172, R. 8. Ryan, J s Sabin, 8. A. Sanborn, Francis G. Sanderson, F. L. . . S. A. R Sawyer. .J. B. Mrs. . Sawyer, LB. . . . 8. B. 8., Mrs. . . . 8. C 117, 148 , 42, 87, 172 68 573 232 374 233 666 1.62 Senex Sherman, E. F. . . . Khurtleff, S. A. . . . Himonds, W. I. . . . S.M Smith, B. B Smith, Royal, 143, 248, Snip S. O. J. 24, 55, 80, 97, 177, 183, 191, 277, 358, 503, 629, 614, Spaulding. D. R . . . Spencer, Gideon . . . Spring, H 8. R Stedm.in, J. H. . . .47 74, 335. 387, 559, 626, Streeter. Otis T. . . . Subscriber, a 24. 40, 71, 128, 161, 163, 234, 246, 288, 311, 376, 615, .534. 683, 598, Sumner, Solon .... 23, 39^ 63-* 276 246 325 677 130 122 374 676 131 665 103 598 , 59 648 70 118 2.68 560 630 130 506, 612 • Taylor,Mrs.Aino8 517 T. B, 169, 198, 304. 533, 534 584, 685, 616 T. G.,Mr8 248 Thing. D. H. . 361, 570, 612 Thurston, D. B. . . . 199 Tolman, D. L 584 Tobacco Grower ... 71 Tracy, Chas. K. . . . 319 True, O. W. 26, 378, 394 670 T. 8. F 266, 600 VALLEY Farmer. 97 Vilas, W. R. . . . 232 Vogl, Susie C 615 W. . . 70, 88 119, 288 . Walker, I. R. . 364 Walter, Geo 630 Watkins, 8. T 289 W. B 246 W.E. A 56 Webber, T. L 630 Wliatmore, John 71. 72, 104 147, 163. 290, 358, 518 ■WTialmore, Mrs. Mary 171 179 Wheeler, George F. . 273 White, Henry B . . . 320 ■White, W. H. 15, 64, 111 164. 202, 243, 263, 315, 352 354. 642, 652, 697,646 W. H. W 376, 6tl7 W. H. G. 238, 259, .382, 515 563, 632 Willi.ams, Edward . . 278 W.M.T 148 Woodbury, L. . . . . 180 YOUNG Farmer, a 24 117, 146, 277, 286 Young Man 69 7 A. G 381 /j. Zen 171, 2.31 Z. E. J 98, 620 DJilVOTiJD TO AGHLCULTUKE, HOKTICULTUKE, AND KTNDKED AKTS. NEW SERIES. Boston, Jamiarj, 1871. VOL. Y.— NO.l. R. P. EATON & CO., Publishers, Office, 34 Merchants' Kow. MONTHLY. SIMON BROWN, S. FLETCHER, THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY THE IN"- COMIISTG YEAR. Gently as the lilies shed their leaves, When summer days are fair, The feathery snow comes floating down, Like blossoms on the air; And o'er the world like angel's wing Unfolding soft and white. It broods above the brown sere earth. And fills with forms of light The dead and desolate domain, Where Winter holds his iron reign. ANUAEY, 1871! All hail, though thou comest in wintry drapery, in short, dark days, in drifting snows and threatening clouds! Wel- come, welcome, art thou to our New England Homes and Ileai-th- stones. Thy coming has been anticipat- ed, and well- stored cellars and lar- ^^f-^- ders, barns and grana- ^^^^ I ries, and curling smokes from thousands of chimneys, all pro.ve that the New England farmer "takes Time by the forelock" and is a provident man. Cheered by the bountiful harvests of the past, and the new aids coming to alleviate his labor, which science and art are constantly presenting, he will enter upon tliis new divis- ion and starting point in Time, with fresh de- terminations to improve both the soil and the mind in a greater degree than ever before. He will make the very name of January — meaning two-faced, "looking before and af- ter,"— indicate the reflective propensities which she encourages, and which, when duly exer- cised, cannot fail to lead to good. Every first of January that we arrive at, says an amiable writer, is an imaginary mile- stone on the turnpike track of human life ; at once a resting-place for thought and medi- tation, and a starting point for fresh exertion in the performance of our journey. The man who does not at least propose to himself to be better this year than he was last, must be either very good or very bad indeed! And only to propose to be better, is something ; if nothing else, it is an acknowledgment of our need to be so, — which is the first step towards amendment. But, in fact, to propose to one- self to do well, is in some sort to do well, pos- itively ; for there is no such thing as a station- ary point in human endeavors ; he who is not worse to-day than he was yesterday, is better ; and he Avho is not better, is worse. This will apply not only to moral duties, but to all the practical duties of life ; to every ac- tion, every act and efibrt of life. AVhat a happy influence does January exer- cise on all the rest of the Year, by the famib 14 NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. Jan. meetings she brings about, and by the kindling and renewing of the social allect ions that grow out of, and are chiefly dependent on these. And what sweet remembrances and associa- tions does she not scatter before her, through all the time to come, by her gifts — the "new- year's gifts." Offerings of the affections to the affections — of the heart to the heart. How happy ought we to be in the lilxirty of speech, action and conscience, and the free pursuit of happiness ! In the exemjition from cruel wars which, in othet lands, are devastat- ing some of the fairest portions of the earth, crushing the efforts of genius, destroying the finest works of art, breaking up homes of the aged, sick, and defenceless, and casting them upon the pitiless world. The beautiful villas which so lately adorned the fields of sunny France, have become the charnel-houses of the slain, and echo only the groans of the dy- ing or the wails of mourners who go about the streets. When will men " bans; the trumpet in the hall And study war no more ?" In the light of progressive science, too, how much there is to encourage the farmer in his liealthful and enviable position. The posses- .'^ion of truth will confer happiness, not the possession of mutable and perishing things. A more accurate knowledge of the elements with which he must deal, and of their operation upon the materials which he is constantly handling, and which are indispensable to life itself, are of infinitely more importance than to amass property beyond a competence to secure the necessary comforts of life. "Many a man contracts his spirits upon the enlarge- * ment of his fortune, and is the more empty for being full." As the farmer labors for future harvests in his physical endeavors, so should he labor for that future harvest of transcendent purity and truth, which will bring permanent peace and joy. In this view, let us introduce to him what the celebrated and good Dr. Dick says in regard to the little understood and much- abused word. Science: — "Science is nothing else," he saj^s, than an in- vestigation of the divine pcifections ami operations as displayed in the economy of the universe ; and wc have every ground to conclude, both from reason and revelation, that such investigations will he carried forward on a more enlarged scale, in the future world, where the intellectual powei-s, freed from Iho obstruetions which now impede then- operations will become more vigorous and expansive, and a more extensive scene of divine operation be presented to the view." Ko other avocation affords more favorable opportunities for the mingling of labor and study, than that of the farmer. Some affect to think that labor of the hands is incompatible with labor of the head. Undoubtedly it is, if in an inordinate degree. The powers of body and mind must presence a proper balance. The truth in relation to this lies in the pithy remark of Sir John Ruskin, who said that "it is only by labor that thought can be made healtliy, and only by thought that labor can be made happy." The position of the farmer is comparatively an isolated one. Not many can own fai'ms in or near villages. They must, therefore, form associations of one kind or another, which will call them together. Here the interests of their own calling, or the moving events of the day may be discussed, after the interchange of friendly congratulations. Under our con- genial laws, it is their privilege to discuss the propriety of repealing revenue bills, .or the annexation of San Domingo to our little do- main ; and it is their voice which will greatly affect the decision upon them m Congress. It is a duty to be enlightened upon, and inter- ested in the afi^airs of the Republic. In his retirement at St. Helena, Bonaparte uttered many traths ; one of them was, that "The only true way of appreciating and gain- ing a thorough knowledge of mankind, is by trying, and associating with them." And now, kind reader, as we welcome in the New Year, we gladly tender you sincere acknowledgments for your good company, your valuable contributions in promoting the successes and amenities of rural life, and yonr friendly counsel and support. No special change is contemjjlated in the course which the New England Farmer has so long and so steadily pursued. If any improvements can be suggested to increase its value, the liberal support of its patrons will justify' their adoption at once. Its columns will bear a fair and inviting impress, while they are con- servative, but progressive, as new light dawns upon the great agricultural art. —Hog cholera is causing the farmers great losses in the vicinity of Springfield, 111. One far- mer on Lick creek has lost seventy -nine hogs from this disease within a few days, and other losses are reported. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FAP^IER 15 For the New England Farmer. THE GARDEN IN JANUARY. Again are we permitted to greet the ever attentive readers of the New England Far- mer's Garden Calendar -with a "Happy New Year." Although the past summer was one of extreme heat, and in some sections, of drought, yet the good gardener received abun- dant reward for all his hibor. Like all others, the past season has its lessons. What lessons, you ask ? Have your eyes been shut, that you have not been able to draw any lesson from your experience in the garden ? Have you not received a lesson on the economy, in a domestic point of view, of a good garden ? A kind Providence has bestowed upon you health of body and peace of mind, the greatest blessings we are permitted to enjoy here be- low. Did you ever think what a prominent part the culture of and the supj^ly from the garden had in bringing these about ? Let us then look over the experiences of the past sea- son and profit from their teachings. If we have had a good garden, with a fair supply of fresh vegetables, let us not be satisfied short of a very good garden and an «6»/K/r/H/ supply of all it has heretofore produced, with the ad- dition of some other choice and desii-able pro- duct. Having always been accustomed to farm life, I am well aware of the too general feel- ing of farmers in relation to the care of a gar- den. They highly enjoy the products of a good garden, but there is too much of the feeling that its care is "knitting-work busi- ness." The comparison is not bad, for a large share of the work in a garden can be done — like woman's knitting — at odd spells ; it can be taken up and laid down as circumstances require. Now we know that after having been in the field and tired otu'selves with its heavy work, or before going to a hard day's work, we are reluctant to occupy any spare time, which we desire for rest, in doing any kind of labor, however light. But should all the lalior for the garden be thus filched from that of the field P If the garden claims a fixed portion of the territory of the farm, may it not also claim a fixed portion of its labor P Admitting that on the farm we work for profit, the question arises, what is profit? A penny saved is two pence earned, says the proverb ; and we all know that it is rather what we save than what we earn that constitutes wealth. On this pi'inciple, I urge farmers to cultivate a garden. Its productions relieve us largely from dependence on the market or field ; it saves us from eating too freely of meat or flesh, at a season when other food is more con- ducive to health, and meat is less required to sustain strength and animal heat. Not only should every farmer have a veget- able garden, but there should be space devoted to small fruits, such as strav.berries, raspber- ries, currants, gooseben-ies, grapes, and if possible a few blackberries. No one of these need occupy much space in order to furnish a family supply, if well cultivated. If the present garden is not of sufficient size to produce the necessary vegetables and other desirable products, enlarge it, no matter if it does take in a little of that best piece of mow- ing. Any time during the month, when the ground is free of snow, will be a good time to cart out barn yard manure, and spread over the surface of any new garden spot, to be ploughed under as soon as the frost is out and the ground can be worked. If water stands on the surface of the gar- den, drain it off by surface ditches, but drain it on to your own land, not into the street, if possible. Often a short cut of a few feet will drain a considerable garden and save a large amount of injury. See that the fences are all up and the gates shut, to keep off stray animals. If you have not already a good fence about the garden, now is a leisure time to get the stuff together ready to build in spring. Seasoned posts will last longer than unseasoned. Stakes, bean poles, pea brush, &c., that may be needed the coming season, are much better prepared dur- ing the winter than when wanted. See that the manure pile and compost heap keep on increasing in bulk, as well as in rich- ness. A great saving may be made, in the aggi'egate, from saving in little things — the world is made up of atoms. Save the wood ashes, bones, slops and wash from the house, wash room, »S:c., hen house and roost, which, composted with barn soil, muck, &c., w^U go far towards fertilizing the garden. So also the privy, managed on the deodorizing princi- ple of the "Earth Closet." Look over the garden seeds and see if they are all safe and in good condition ; make a note of any that may be wanted, ready to or- der front seed growers at the earliest day, as early orders are best served. Bright, pleasant weather, as well as extreme cold or changeable, will necessitate a close watch and care of cold frames and their con- tents. The great object is to keep the plants in a dormant condition, and to do this we must keep the temperature miiformly low, by shad- ing, ventilation and covering the glass and plants. Look after the fruit and ornamental trees, to see that the mice are not girdling them. Any girdled trees may be saved by an imme- diate covering of the wounds with a solution of gum shellac in alcoliol, or you may take a thick coat of clay, in a plastic state, and bind on with cloth. I have known valuable pear trees thus saved, when girdled by rabbits. Should there be snows or ice to load down young trees and shi-ubs, carefully shake it off. Great care will be necessary not to break the trees or branches, as they are Acry brittle when frozen. W. H. AVhite. South Windsor, Conn., 1870. 16 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. STOCK COMIUQ TO THE BAKW. At a meeting, Dec. 15, of the Westminster, Vt., Farmers' Club, the management of farm stock when coming to the barn for the winter, was dis- cussed, and reported in the Bellows Falls Times. The general opinion was that stock was kept out too long. Mr. 0. L. Fisher wished there was a law to compel farmers to take up their stock by the first of November. Mr. N. Pierce said we have such a law, and the penalty for its violation is poor stock and thin wallets, enforced without constables or police officers. In reply to a question whether meal or grain should be fed at this season, Dea. McNeil said, he did not believe in graining high, but at this season the flesh should be kept on ; cows especially must not be allowed to lose flesh ; they should be fed at any and all times when not able to readily obtain their own proper sustenance. He had fed this six weeks and he feeds good hay, all they want. His stock is limited to cows; he feeds daily from two to four quarts of meal, half cob corn meal and half shorts, to a cow, varying ac- cording to the demands of diflerent cows. Others agreed on this principle. The president, N. G. Pierce said, "when my cows begin to fall off' in their milk, I begin to feed." He thought it might be profitable to visit each others yards and take a look at the stock and make inquiry how such and such creatures are fed. Mr. J. B. Morse said "If I feed meal in any quantity or to any creature I scald it, and if convenient sometime before feeding." N. G. Pierce said late feeding injured the land, by not leaving an aftermath upon the ground to enrich it. Some think sheep ought to run out later, on account of its being more adapted to their nature to give them a short winter, yet I think we injure our pastures in this practice. A COUNTKY FARM HOUSE. Objections are sometimes made to the high cost and ornate style of most of the plans of houses famished by professional architects to agricultu- ral papers. During a recent visit among the moun- tain towns of Vermont, we had some conversation with a carpenter in Plymouth, Vt., who was fin- ishing a dwelling that he had erected the past sea- son for a young farmer of that town. Our friend said that there were few houses in town that cost as hijih as two thousand dollars, but that one farmer was building a house at The Notch which he un- derstood would cost,$3000. Most of the farm houses not ccsl ever five to ten hundred, though from in town would the &ctt that farmers generally furnish lumber, and do a portion of the work themselves, it was diScalt to estimate the actual expense of building. For the house on which he was at work, the owner had cut the lumber, ia- cluding native black cherry for window casing, from his own land, in the winter season and col- lected together many of the other materials at odd jobs, including the lime for plastering, &c., which was made from a quarry on the farm. After a little reflection, however, the carpenter said that at present prices of materal and labor in that locality, he would contract to build another house like the one in hand, and furnish every thing himself, for from $1200 to $1300. He gave us the following plan and dimensions of this house, which is certainly of the better class of farm houses in this mountainous section. North. o I-l w w * X 9^8 o N 00 » "► ? South, The main part, 26 by 32 feet, is a story-and-a-half, and affords comfortable chamber room. A little more than one-half of this second floor is finished off for three bed-rooms, while the smaller half is left unfinished as a store-room. The ell, 20 by 26 feet, is only a single story. We have not followed the example of profes- sional architects in designating the several rooms as "parlor," "sitting room," "kitchen," "dining room," &c., partly because, in this case, the owner proposes to rent the ell to the builder for the present, and confine himself and small family to the main part. Nor were all the doors and win- dows indicated on our rough plan, and as we do not remember the exact location of some of them, we have not attempted to mark their position. The access to bed-rooms, paatries and closets was, whoever, quite convenient and handy. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 17 CUTTING THE FODDEB, AND USING GRAIN, IN TWO OR THREE "WATS. UR own practice (' \ 0 va. preparing feed for thirty head of stock, — one-half be- ing horses, — is to cut all the fodder, straw, meadow hay, if we have any, cornstalks, and best hay. This is cut by a horse power standing in the barn floor. This occupies from ";^ ' one to two hours twice a week, to cut enough for the thirty head of stock. A portion of this mass, enough for feeding twenty-four hours, is spread upon the barn floor, sprinkled with water, a very little salt, and strewed with such grain as is used; this is principally shorts. Layer after layer is laid on in this way until a sufiicient amount is collected to last twenty -four hours. The heap stands twelve hours, is then thoroughly turned over and remains twelve hours more, when it is ready to be fed out. If the barn in which the heap is made up is a moderately warm one, all the fodder will by this time be impregnated with the taste of the grain and aroma of the good hay. It will also be softened, so as to be easily masticated by the animals, and they will eat the whole with great relish. Or, if any be left, it will be only the joints of corn stalks which are not softened, or some coarse plants of woody fibre. A heap thus prepared should always be kept on hand, so that each heap may stand at least twenty-four hours. These details may seem to require a slow, irksome, and somewhat expensive process as to the time required. But they will not be found so in practice when the system — for it must be a system, — is once fairly established. The horse power and cutter will be somewhat expensive to start with, but with good care, both will last for many years. Where thirty or forty head of stock are to be fed, we have no doubt the cost of both would be. saved by their use in two or three years. If the stock consists of ten or fifteen head, only, a good hand hay cutter will answer the purpose, and the horse power may be dis- pensed with. In our New England winters there are many days too inclement for out- door labor, and these may be occupied in the barn in cutting the fodder and storing it away in empty spaces for use when mild weather calls the help into field or forest. An ample experience for many years con- vinces us that stock can be kept enough cheaper to more than pay the cost of labor in preparing the fodder, and that it will perform more labor, produce more milk, or gain more in growth, than it will if fed on the coarse food. An experiment with twelve milch cows through an entire winter gave us the most gratifying results. The cows yielded more milk, kept in good condition, and at one- fourth less cost than when fed in the usual way. Horses thrive as well as neat stock under such feeding. In order to work on this system, the barn must be sufliciently warm to prevent the heap that is mixed up from freezing; and this ought to be secured in any case, as an econom- ical measure in the care of the cattle. An old sail cloth, cast-off woolen blankets, or any similar material, thrown over the heap, will greatly tend to prevent freezing. Another plan, and one that is gaining in popularity, is that of Steaming Food for Stock. This process will cost much more for the fixtures necessary to be used, and will require much more exact care than cutting and soak- ing the fodder. This care, however, will make every pound of food tell with the fullest effect in the production of meat, milk, or strength. We have visited several farms where the practice of steaming is adopted, found the system approved, and the stock looking well. The product of milk in the cows was very considerably increased ; the horses were sleek and strong and the young cattle with soft, loose skins, and having every way a thrifty appearance. The most thorovgh example of steaming food for stock is afforded in the case of Mr. E. W. Stewart, of North Evans, N. Y., in which he details his experience of ten years in steaming food for a large stock of cattle and horses, and states why steaming is beneficial. 18 NEW ENGLAND FAEIMER. Jan. 1. He says it renders mouldy hay, straw, and corn-stalks sweet and palatable. 2. It diffuses the odor of the shorts, cojc- meal, oil-meal, carrois, or whatever is mixed with the feed, through the whole mass. 3. It softens the tough fibre of the dry corn-stalk, rye-straw, and other hard material, rendering it almo3t like green s-j:cculent food, and easily masticated and digeSted by the animal. 4. It enables the feeder to turn every thing raised into food for the stock, withojit lessen- ing the value of his manure. Indeed, the manure made from steamed food decomposes more readily, and is therefore more valuable than when used in a fresh state. Manure so made is always ready for use, a'id is regarded by those who have used it as much more val- uable, for the same bulk, than that made from uncooked food. 5. It cures incipient heaves in horses; ar- rests a cough, alleviates constipation, and seems to have all the good influences of grass, — the natural food of animals. 6. It produces a marked difference in the appearance of the animal, at once causing the coat to become smooth and of a brighter color; regulates the digestion, so that the animal is more quiet and contentsd ; ecables fattening stccb to eat their food with less labor, and to fatten them in one-third less time than on uncooked food. It gives work- ing animals time to eat all that is necessary for then in the intervals of labor, which is important with working horses. 7. It saves, he says, at least one-third of the food. He found two bushsls of cut and cooked hay to satisfy cows as well as three bushels of uncooked hay, and the manure in the case of the uncooked hay contained much tho most fibrous matter. In the case of the Messrs. S. & D. Wells, of Wethersfiild, Ct., they think the steaming adds one-.half to the feeding value of fodder. Governor Boutwell, — now Secretary of the Treasury, — has for several years practiced cutting the fodder, at his farm in Groton, Mass., throwing it into a large chest made for the purpose, and letting boiling water upon it ; then cover tight, stand twelve hours and feed it out. In this way he found the cattle ate all clean, as meal of some kind had been added, and Lad flavored the whole. The cows yielded milk freely, and large quantities of the finest butter were made from it, extend- ing, we are informed, far into the winter season. Boilers are now constructed well adapted to steaming food for stock, so that the whole apparatus may be set in motion at a very moderate cost. Prindle's is one which we have seen in use. It is compact, easily man- aged, requires but little fuel, is safe, and its coit so moderate as to come witl^in the means of most farmers keeping a dozen head of cattle. It will be economical for those about setting up a steamer, to visit some already in use, and spending a day by it to learn how it is constructed, and how to "run it" when ready for use. The present high prices of hay may prove an opportunity to thousands of farmers to turn some portion of it into cash, and at the same time keep the usual amount of stock in good condition, by being more careful and systematic in feeding out less valuable fodder. Nothing, short of actual experience, will convince the farmer of the great saving which may be effected by resorting to some of the modes detailed above. Numerous experiments, we hope, will be made in these matters, and the results reported to the Farmer, to be published for the benefit of others. OHOWTH OF CEBBALS. At the last meeting of the British Association, Mr. F. F. Hallett read a paper on the '-Law of De- velopment in Cereals." His experience showed him several years ago, that grain and especially wheat, was injured by being planted too closely. He found a wheat plant would increase above the ground in proportion as its roots had room to de- velop, and that the roots might be hindered by be- ing in contact with the roots of another plant. He continued a series of experiments, planting one Kernel of wheat only, and succeeded so well in improving the method of cultivation as to raise wheat whose ears contained 123 grains. In the course of his investigations Mr. Hallett made other discoveries with regard to the growth of cereals, which he sums up as follows : — 1. Every fully developed plant, whether of wheat, oats or barley, presents one ear superior in pro- ductive power to any of the rest on that plant. 2. Every such plant contains one grain, which upon trial, proves more productive than any other. 3. The best grain in a given plant is found in its best ear. 4. The superior vigor of this grain is transmis- sible in diflerent degrees to its progeny. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 19 5. By repeated careful selection the saperiority is accumulated. 6. The improvement which is first raised grad- ually after a series of years is diminished in amount, and eventually so far arrested, that prac- tically speaking, a limit to improvement in the de- sired quality is reached. 7. By still continuing to select, the improvement is maintained, and practically a fixed type is the result. PBEMIUM ^WHEAT CROP. Mr. S. Kilbreth, of Manchester, Maine, makes the following statement in the Maine Farmer of the crop of wheat on which he was awarded the first premium at the late fair of thCiKennebec Agri- cultural Society : — The land on which my wheat grew was a deep, gravelly loam, planted the previous year, part to corn and part topoa.oes. Upon the part planted to potatoes, after harvesting I spread six cart-loads ot barn manure. Upon the part planted to corn, 1 put one shovelful of compost manure in each hill of corn; ploughed and pulverized the ground in the fall ; ploughed agam in the spring, and har- rowed before sowing. Sowed the 5th of May two bushels of Java wheat ; harrowed once, and spread upon the piece one hundred bushels of leached ashes ; then harrowed again and rolled it. Har- vested about the 10. h of August ; threshed the first week in September 22J bushels of wheat. Dr. 3 corda of manure $12 00 100 bu h ]8 lji.ched ashea 15 00 Plougi-iaelind 4 00 2 bushels wheat 4 CO Sewing JJ 00 Ht. Louis. Here is a market near at hand in which all kinds of cattle feed bear a fair price, making economy in feeding a point to be looked into more carefully than it has been on our wasteful grain farms. During the later summer, we have often severe droughts and short pastures, so that heavy feeders require a large acreage for their sustenance. Look- ing at these points, even if we concede that, with high feeding, the Short- horn is the best, we mu.st prefer the Devon for the common ways of common farmers. But experience goes to show that the smaller animal on the thinner lands will glean a better sustenance and get in better condition, other things being equal, just as in spring, sheep and young cat- tle will fill themselves from the young grass before the larger animals are able to do so. Over and above this, we may believe, from the experience of those who have bred the Devon and Durham side by side, that there is more assimilation of food and less offal in the Devon, so that a pound of beef represents a smaller amount of feed in the Devon. This, I think, is the observation of Col. Horace Ca- pron, our present Commissioner of Agricul- ture, who has fed the two breeds together. I have not enough experience to pronounce a definite opinion, but I am told by a leeder that some half grade Devon steers which I sold him fed more satisfactorily than the common cattle of the country or grade Short-horns. Fat steers, I find, agreeably disappoint the purchaser whose eye judgment has been formed in the examination of the more leggy and less compact bullocks of other breeds. The beef is better and worth more in the markets than that of the Short-horn, or for that matter, of most other breeds. Several years' experience in the use of the beef of grade animals satis- fies me that it is more generally good, animal after animal, than that of other cattle, and most desirable for the farmer who slaughters his own beef. The smoothness and uniformity of the steers impress the purchaser favorably, and make them fancy lots in the markets. Their weak point, if they have one, is a less early maturity, whereby they may not attain a sufficient size at as early an age as the Short- horn. As milking animals, I find them very satis- factory. The quantity of milk is not the largest, but is nearly as rich as that of the Alderney, and makes butter of equal excel- lence, though not so high colored. Taking quantity and quality both under consideration, 1 do not find them inferior to any breed that I have seen or heard of. They are kind, lov- ing animals, like to be petted, but impatient of abuse, and make reliable and gentle milk- ers. I noticed that Mr. Allen, in his late book on cattle, commends the capabilities of the breed in this respect, as well as others, as among the best. For a working animal — and I still have faith in the economical value of work-oxen on our large farms at least — the Devon steer's merits Jak. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 33 are conceded. He is qnick, enduring, and spirited ; and were it. not for the difficulty of procuring good specimens of that almost ob- solete race — in this part — the ox-driver, I would commend him to all concerned. Worked until about eight years old and then fatted for beef, be makes ^ profitable animal to the grower. Beyond these points of merit, I find the Devon a hardier animal than any other of our cattle kind — hardier even than our natives. He endures extremes of cold and heat with an equaniujity that his great vitality alone ac- counts for. The Durham requires special at- tention to endure our cold winters, and does not thrive in the drougth and heat of our sum- mers, but the Devon goes through all, hearty and thriving. In face of all these facts, it must be con- cedtd that the Devon is not the popular breed. His well-balanced merits of beauty of form and color, excellence of beef, richness of milk, and superiority as a work animal, do not seem to tell against the bigness of the Short-horn. Just as the popular and superficial choice fixes upon the bigness and bright color of fruits as criteria in selection and purchases, 'BigRo- mauites" in preference to Newtown Pippins, and Concords instead of Delawares, so I some- times think the big and clumsy draught-horse and the large and artificial Durham are pre- ferred for the very insufficient reason of supe- rior size. But for many, perhaps most, parts of our country, I am strongly inclined to think that the common farmer who grows cattle for his own use and to sell in the markets, and who is not doing a fancy business in taking premiums at lairs and selling over-fed calves at exorbi- tant prices as breeders, will find the Devon a more profitable animal than the Short-horn. I am afraid it may be considered very hetero- dox, possibly blasphemous, to say so, but such is the drift of my conclusions thus far, afrer some experience and some observation. — W. G. Flagg, in Hearth and Hume. SHOSINQ HOB8B3. If the shoe does not sit perfectly level all around, and if it extends so far outside the hoof that the nails are prevented from enter- ing the crust in the exa't spot, and in the very direction, which they should, there will be a constant straining on the nails, which is injurious to the foot, and will be liable to chip pieces off the hoof. The shoe ought to be made wide across the foot, at the peint where the two front nails are situated. The greatest mistake frequently lies here. In pluce of turning the shoe, at the toe, very carefully on the horn of the anvil, the smith generally sets it up on its side and Aien strikes it with his hammer. The consequence is it yields at the ctntre of the arch, and, instead of being nicely and regularly rounded in front, whilst the breadth from side to side is preserved, the nail holes on each side are brought nearer to the centre of the shoe than they ought to be. As a necessary result, the shoe at the front nail holes is too narrow for the hoof, and, when it is nailed on, the crust presses injuri- ously on the internal sensible parts of the foot. It is difficult to convince the smiths of the possibility of laming a horse, by having the shoe too narrow in front. They generally think the whole difficulty lies about the heel. In putting on the shoe the nails should be driven with a gentle hand, and they ought not by any means to be clenched very tight. Hard driving and tight clenching will bend the hoof, at the place where the clei^hes are turned, inwards and downwards towards the shoe in such a manner as to injure the tender parts contained within the cavity of the foot. Besides, it is not necessary for a man to for- get he is working with the foot of a living ani- mal. The shoe will remain on a sufficient length of time with gentle driving and clench- ing, provided it is properly fitted to the foot. If it has a thoroughly even bearing, there will be little stress on the nails. The nails are often made so coarse that they split the hoof, and thus keep it constantly broken. A fine nail will answer all the purposes required if it is made of the right sort of material. We know of no worse fashion, in connec- tion with the application of the shoe, than the one which the smith has, of hammering the shoe on the one side or the other after three or four nails have been driven, for the pur- pose of putting it straight on the foot. 1\n^ is a speedy method of making up for his total want of accuracy in placing it at first ; but it should never be suffered to be practiced. It strains all the nails which have already been driven, and is thus calculated to do serious damage to the foot. Shoeing has been regarded by some as a necessary evil ; still we are certain, it is an evil in the horse or in the man only when it is improperly performed. We are confident in both cases it w«uld be advantageous, rather than the reverse, if the artisan could alwa\s be made sufficient acquainted with the theory of his profession, and had hands, or rather a head, for its due performance. — Pra. Farmer. For the New Knglavd Farmer, MA.NAQEMENT OJP PASTUHES. "Water. During the winter inonth.s the need of water is evident, and many farmers are at great ex- pense to provide it ; but in summer, it is niu(;h the custom to depend only upon natural supplies. Fortunately the springs and brooks in New England are so abundant that the majority of pastures .ire well provided, and it is only hfr, for us to consider how to remedy the defi- ciency in a few exceptional cases. 34 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. Some springs that run abundantly in spring and fall, dry up in raid summer. In my own pasture a spring stopped, and the earth that was trodden around it by cattle, showed no surplus moisture, yet by digging a few inches a clear stream came bubbling up, and a little more digging gave a good supply. The owner of a very dry farm in my neigh- borhood set his man to digging in a place where the mud showed symptoms of a spring. Immediately a spring was released that has ever since furnished water sufEident to drive two hydraulic rams, by which water is pro- pelled to two dwellings. In order to get the required fall of water, a curb was made around ihe spring, of stone laid in cement. This, filled to the top, gave three or four feet fall. If there are no springs that can thus be im- proved, surface water can be held in reserve in pools and cisterns. In most pastures there are low depressions, where the surface water naturally accumulates. A pit ten feet square with the sides of plank, backed up by blue clay, or the sides plastered with cement, would hold a supply for a small stock through the summer. If stock visit the barns at pleas- ure, the roofs will furnish water, if it is prop- erly directed into cisterns, from which it may be pumped as needed. Wells also can be dug — if shallow, let them be large so as to hold a good supply. Stock, in a dry pasture, that are driven some distance to a brook every day will rarely keep in good condition. They become uneasy, and ihe care of them will be a tax upon the owner's time. Any pasture In New England can be supplied with water. Stock for Pasture. The best stock .to keep a patture in condi- tion is, doubtless, sheep, as they lay upcm the elevated portions, which are speedily enriched by their dfoppings. The lower portioas, which are grazed QLiing the day, are naturally richer, but will receive a due proportion of manure. Next to sheep, are full grcjwn cattle, fed for betf, that lie day and night in the pasture. Young cattle take more from the nutritive ele- ments of their feed than beef cattle, because their bones are growing as well as their fiesh. D.airy cows soon get the habit of coming to one part of the pasture at milking time, and if thoy are not removed from the pasture at night, their droppings accumulate and make a a portion of the pasture uselessly rich. If the droppings are shovelled up into heaps, and some soil added each day or week, there will be a load or two of manure from each cow ^in the dairy, duiing the season. If this fer- tilizer is carted back into the pasture and spread in the fall, it will increase the feed or improve the pasture. If, in addition to this, the part of the pasture used for a milking yard is plowed and sown to corn for fodder, and another yard fenced out, doubtless the top dressing and fodder-corn would improve the pasture steadily. Horses alone are the poorest stock for pas- tures, as they are dainty feeders, leaving coarse grass and bushes, and their droppings are of but little benefit to the turf. Steady work horses can profitabljifbe pastured with cows, as they graze by the hour near the bars, where the rank feed is refused by the cows. Colts are apt to chase cattle and sheep at times. To get the greatest profit from a pas- ture, mix the stock in about this proportion : ten cows, one horse, and fi«e sheep. Fencea. Pasture fences should be such as to secure any stock. In some parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, a single wall surrounds the pasture, and although sheep would be the most profitable stock where lamb is twenty-five cents a pound, yet sheep cannot be kept secure by a slight, imperfect wall. If stakes supported a rail above the wall, it would be better, or a board nailed to posts in the wall. I haye seen miles of wall that was nearly useless, as its security is measured by its weak places. Cedar rails, laid up Virginia fashion, each two lengths forming the sides of a triangle, make a good fence, if the work is well done. Where durable wood for posts can be cheaply obtained, a board fence is satisfactory, if it be "pig tight, bull strong, and horse high." Shelter and Shade, In most pastures, there are trees that give shade, but in the cold rains of spring and the bleak winds and early snows of autumn, stock should have shelter. Colts, sheep and young cattle are not usually confined to the farm yard until winter is fully come. As they stand curled up by the fence during a cold, pelting rain, they are very uncomfortable, even if they do not contract disease that will show itself during the winter by a cough, running nose, and general debility. Build a shed in the pasture, in a poor por- tion if convenient, and have here the salt trough, also a place to feed grain. Have the buildiog so made that it can be closed, so as to control the stock, whether colts, cattle or sheep. If mostly closed, it will be darkened, so that there will be less trouble from flies in summer. Such a shed will be voluntarilv used by the stock, — they will hasten to it in the storm, and will linger there during hot days. The adjoining portion of the pasture will be improved, and if bushes or brakes are abun- dant, they will diminish. The stock will be more gentle and be more easily controlled, a fact that will be appreciated by farmers who have been worried by vild colts, sheep and young cattle. Such a shed can be cheaply made, by setting posts in the ground and boarding upon them and making a roof of boards. J. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 35 BUBAIj EMBEIiUSHMSNTB. Aa A. Means of Making ocr Homes and Newhbor- BOODB Moke Attractive. A taste for the beautiful should always be associated with a taste for the useful. It often happens with farmers that a piece of work may be left so as to be attractive to all who see it, and yet cost no more than it would standing as a deformity in the landscape. But, if it costs something, the beautiful should be one aim of the farmer in many of his op- erations. He values it in his oxen and cows, and especially in his horses. He takes pride in the lawn-like appearance of his mowing grounds, in the exact lines of his corn-fields and stone walls, and the furrows turned up to the sun and air. Some farmers see all these with a glow of satisfaction, and yet live in the midst of dis- order and decay. In his symmetrical animals he discerns a money return for the beautiful, but when that glittering bauble is not prom- ised, the beautiful vanishes and there is no use in it ! The taste has not been educated to cherish what is considered beautiful only in a few things. It sees beauty and order, only in those matters which minister to pecuniary gain. In the fine symmetry and action of a horse, it seems to realize future bonds, or shares in banks or railroad stocks. But the most beautiful rose that ever bloomed, or graceful woodbine which creeps over rocks and mounts trees to brine its scarlet berries to the sun, never kindled in him the emotions that were awakened by the prospect of an advan- tageous sale of the beautiful horse ! God gave the flowers and all plants a great variety of form and color. They might just as well, for aught we can see, been just alike in shape, so far as mere subsistence goes. But He saw fit to make his works beautiful as well as beneficient. What can be done by farmers to make their homes and neighborhoods more attractive ? It is cheap and easy so to embellish our homes as to give them an air of taste and thrift and render them attractive. If the house has no paint, it may have a grape vine or climbing rose over the porch or a window. If some panes of glass are patched, the defect may be screened by a blooming heliotrope, fuschia or verbena, in an earthen pot eet upon the win- dow aVA or hung before the offending defect. If there is no gravel walk to the door, there may be a rose bush or flowering shrub by the side of the cart path to the house, so that the dusty or muddy way be unnoticed in the con- templation of the beautiful flower or shrub. Indeed, it is not the possession of money or much leisure that will render a farmer's home attractive, but that general appearance of order, good taste and economy which must pervade everything. His fences must be whole and not reeling ; his door-yards clean ; sink spouts or other offensive objects screened by groups of white pines, and here and there a graceful elm or a majestic maple, standing like guardian angels, with outstretched wings, to protect from summer heats or winter blants. Any person who can manage a farm has all the requisite skiH to beautify it as far as our proposition goes. He will not confess that he does not know how to transplant a shrub, a vine or a tree. Hundreds will say they have not the time ! Is this so ? In our judgment every person has the time — farmer, mechanic, judge or minister. Few farmers say they have not time to attend an auction, where the cast- off trumpery of several generations is to be sold ; or to bring home a wagon load of rub- bish to increase that already about the doors, or torment the women by adding it to the stock already deposited in the garret ! The pleasure of making oilr homes attrac- tive should be a gradual one. That pleasure is too valuable to be gratified lavishly. A lit- tle should be done, and well done, each year, and whatever is commenced be carefully at- tended to. The autumn of the year affords an excellent time to make a beginning. Sup- pose such had been the practice of all the far- mers of the town in which you live for fifiy years past, would not the town now present more rural attractions than any other in New England? The first step to take is, utterly to abandon the old maxim, that "Money makei the mare go," and learn the higher and noi-ler truth, that The beautiful makes the «o«/grow. But if a<(iuisition of money is tlie prime ob- ject, that accumulation will be increased as the real beauty of the fa^ is increased ; for pro- fitable crops come from high culture, anu high culture makes the earth blossom and become beautiful. 36 NEW ENGLAND FARJ^IER. Jan. If circumstances require a sale of the farm, that which is most attractive in its general features, will usually command more money than one in a slovenly condition, although pro- ducing excellent crops. The scenes of early life are usually deeply impressed upon the mind. If agreeable and attractive, they were the nursery of a patriot- ism that never dies, and so the beautiful pleases the eye, cultivates the affections, increases our wealth and makes us lovers and defenders of our country. AQKICUIiTUKAI. COIitiEQB BOYS. We copy the folIowiDg statement from the Col- lege Department of the Amherst, Mass., Record. It is encouraging that members of the Junior Class should succeed in securing seven of the eight prizes offered by an agricultural society for best essays on farming subjects ; but is it not discour- aging to contrast the sums they received, with those secured by the owners of fast horses ? Is it an honor to the managers of our agricultural fairs that a horse's heels should be valued at more hun- dreds of dollars than a man's brains are at single dollars? "But the trotting draws" Yes, sir, it is drawing and will continue to draw the indigna- tion and contempt of thoughtfal and moral far- mers. The Hampshire Agricultural Society have awarded eight, prizes for the best essays upon "Special and General Farming," seven of which were given to students of this College, and one to a gentleman of North Amherst. Mr. II. W. Liver- more rnceivedthe tirst prize for both classes of es- says, $4 each; Mr F. M. Sommers the'second prize, $(3 for general, and Mr. J. W. Clark the second prize, $3, for special farming. The thrte gentlemen above named are members of the jun- ior class. It was not generally known that prizes had been offered, and many of the students had never heard of it until at terprizes had been awarded. STALIilOWS FOR COM WON LA.BOR, There are very ft^w geldings in France. The reason is, the stallions are not unmanageable, dangerous and vicious work-horses, but docile, obedient, easily managed and intelligent. There is nothing in the nature of things to prevent our liaving the advantage of the great- er toughness, strength, spirit, fearlessness, safety (in being less liable to take fright.) freedom from disease, and longer serviceable- ness of the stallion over the gelding, were it not that we and our ancestors have so abused ibe temper of the horse, that his progeny ex- hibit, among the unaltered males, vicious and treacherous tempers, si^ as make them unsafe and unreliable as work'^^ses, even under the kindest and most umform treatment. The English thoroughbreds, unexcelled for spirit, endurance, tleetness and wind, are the most vicious of al-l horses. They came from the gentle, docile, affectionate Arab, and it is only the training and abuse of the English stable boys and grooms, we verily believe, which have thus, in the course of generations, ruined the temper of the most noble of the breeds of horses. Its blood is infused through all our common stock, and to it we owe most of the characteristics for which we value our horses. Where thoroughbreds have been bred for generations under different treatment, as under the handling of the negro grooms and riders of the Southern States, their tempers improve, and extraordinary exhibitions of vice are rare among the stallions. The habit of using stallions is followed a great deal by French Canadians, who send to this country so many of the so-called "Kanuck" horses. These horses are small, close-knit and power- ful, and when entire, tough beyond compari- son. Wherever we meet with them, they are praised for easy keeping qualities, great en- durance, and freedom from ordinary ills, and are seldom complained of as vicious. Do we not, in our ordinary treatment, sacrifice a great part of the usefulness and serviceableness of the horse, in rendering him intractable, more liable to disease, and less intelligent and spirited ? Is it not worth while to make experiments oftener of rearing stal- lions lor labor, though it require more patience, gentleness anl kindness on the part of those who handle th« m. and repeated floggings ad- ministered with a will, for any stable boys who dare to pinch or tickle, or to ruffle their tem- pers ? — American Agriculturist. LOOK TO THE INCREASE. For two or three years past the owners of some of the largest flocks in the country have omitted to breed a large* proportion of their ewes. As the supply of fine wool in our prin- cipal markets is generally admitted to have been in excess of the demand, such a course may have been a wise one — certainly much better than neglecting the flock altogether, and letting disease and casualties adjust the supply to the demand. But is it the part of wisdom to pursue such a policy any longer ? We think not ; and would urge every flock master, even though he should desire to still further reduce his number of sheep, to con- tinue to breed all his best animals, and bring about a reduction by selling off the older and more inferior ones. Any other course will as assuredly bring down the standard of excel- lence in quality of fleece as it will prove detri- mental to constitutional vigor, and. as a con- sequence, increase the cost and labor of hand- ling. Good rams can now be bought for their actual worth, and he w!)0 fails, because of any temporary depression in'prices, to keep up the standard of his flock, may not realize what a mistake he has made until it is too late to rectify it, or recover from its consequences. — A. M. Garland, in Western Rural. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 37 FEATHERS AND FOWLS. The sale of the meat of fowls at this market during the late Thanksgiving week was not favorable to the in- terests of dealers, though we understand that farmers gen- erally obtained fair prices for those sold at home. The weather was too warm and the supply too large for the mid- dle-men, speculators or huck- sters— whatever may be the name applied to those who buy poultry to sell again — and they will probably be a little more cautious in their pur- chases next season. But at the present prices of feathers is not the fleece of poultry stock an item of profit of more importance than it is gener- ally considered to be by far- mers ."* The other day we had occasion to price feathers at the upholstery stores in Bos- ton, and found the retail price of the best quality of "live geese feathers" to be one dollar and ten cents a pound. The second quality seventy-five to eighty cents, and a pretty coarse article of mixed feathers fifty cents. On referring to the quotations of prices for geese feathers in the Nkw England Farmer for 1833, we found the price was at that time thirty-five to forty cents. At the same time wool was quoted at thirty-two to sixty cents a pound ; flour, $5 75 to $6.12, a barrel ; corn, 65 to 74 cents a bushel. With these remarks and the above illustration of aq-iatic fowls, we leave the subject for the con- sideration of those who raise poultry and pluck feathers. %^'^ sumed to be evidence of the carelessness and ignorance of western dairy women : — Several years ago we were applied to by a large shipper of fat, lard and grease in Chica- go, in relation to t)lea"hing and deodorizing rancid butter, suet and tallow. The same in- dividual wished also to become acquainted with the best means of combining fats of dilFer- ent degrees of consistency.' so that they would have a uniform degree of hardness. Infor- mation was also desired in relation to improved methods of imparting fo this ma^s an artificial color similar to that of grass-made butter. Co pressing our in(|uiries, we found that this seeker after practical information was the proprietor of a butter factory, and a very ex- tensive one in its way. lie was undtr but slight obligations to fat pastures or "kine with distended udders" for his supplies of the materials that were to be couvertfd into butter balls. A very small amount of butler was used, "just to give a .sli^'ht (lavor to the mass," that was packed into tlrbins or bulter tubs and sent to feed the epicures of Gotham. To the best of our recollection, he statfd that his usual shipment of this dainty amounted to two car loads a week. It was sold, he ififormeU us, in New York, as ^second grade cooking or western butter. IMuch of it. was dit-posed WESTERN BUTTER. Farmers and their wives, at the West and elsewhere, are no doubt answerable for many sins of otnission and commission ; but it is evident, we think, that they are not answera- ble for all that are laid to their charge. For instance, the Prairie Farmer gives the fol- lowing account of the way in which much of | ^f ^^ restaurants, where large quantities if the poor butter is produced, that is often aa- [ oysters, beefatakes and uiut'^r tion to the subject. Let us look "^i^y at some of the effects that have been and are being produced on agricultural interests by railroads. They tend to equalize the value of land. Land is valuable not merely for its capacity to produce food for those who occupy it. A large portion of the population is engaged in other avocations than farming, and purchases its daily food in the open market, which it. supplied by the* cultivators of the soil, from the surplus which they produce above wh»t id needed for their own consumption. Hence the value of land depends largely upon the facilities for transporting to market its sur- plus produce. It now costs no more to trans- port produce from lands lying within easy reach of railroads, two or three hundred miles, than it does to transport it fifteen or twenty miles by wagons. Many articles are now raised hundreds of miles from the city market, which a few years ago would not pay for transportation. Potatoes, green corn, apples and various vegetables are brought from New Hampshire and Vermont to Boston, and com- pete profitably with the same articles raised within a few miles of the city. The same is true of the smaller fruits. Animals of almost every kind are slaughtered hundreds of miles away from the cities, and reach the market by the cars in good condi- tion. Milk is transported daily from fifty to one hundred miles to Boston and New York. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and various articles for the pickle manufacturers and can- ners, are brought in their season from the interior. Strawberries, raspberries, black- berries, currants and grapes are transported from fifty to five hundred miles in good condi- tion. The market gardeners in the neighbor- hood of New York, have cut up their lands into streets and house lots, and gradually crept up the North River from fifty to one hun- nois are devoted to the cultivation of small fruits and vegetables for Chicago market, two hundred miles away. Land jn southern Mich- igan and southern Illinois are worth from one to two hundred dollars per acre for agricul- tural uses. New railroads are penetrating the boundless solitudes of the West, affording the means of transporting to market their produce, and thus increasing their value many fold. Cities are springing up,— yes, that is the word, springing up,— almost, like Jonah's goard, in a night, creating a demand for the produce of the soil around them, and thus giving value to that which before had none. By means of steam, the early vegetables of the South are brought to the markets of the North, some weeks before they are ma'urtd in our colder clime, thus prolonging our vege- table season five or six weeks ; and the pota- toes, apples and onions of the North find a market in the Southern cities, in the autumn. Both are accommodated by the interchange. The facilities for moving live stock are in- creased almost without limit. The herds from Texas are embarked at Abilene for Chicago, 460 miles distant, and from Chicago to New York and Boston, a thousand more, and thus the dense populations of the East are supplied with beef, which could not otherwise reach them, and would be of little value, where it is raised. So the swine and sheep from the We3t are transported by (he thousand, to the Eastern markets, on the cars, or are slaugh- tered, and transported in the carcass. Wool and dairy products would not pay, were it not for the railroad. Another benefit to agriculture is the dis- semination by rail of good stock to all parts of the country. Every valuable importation of cattle, horses, sheep, or swine, soon makes its mark upon all the stock in the country. When it took four or five weeks to drive an animal from New York to Cincinnati, blood diffused slowly, but now that Short-horns are transported from Canada to Kentucky in three days, the work goes on rapidly. Agricultural machines manufactured in the State of New York, are exhibited at the fairs of St. Louis and Chicago, and every improveim-nt in ploughs and harrows is soon known through- dred miles, and their "truck" in immense I out the country. Guano and^perphosphate quantities is daily conveyed in boats and cars to the city. Large sections of southern lUi- are transported hundreds of mdey, and at last, pears and grapes are brought from the 54 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. Pacific to the Atlantic. Lumber, too, is trans- ported by rail hundreds of miles for building and manufacturing purposes, and lands that a few years ago were of no value, are now in the market. Within the present century, a family from Worcester County, consisting of a father, mother, and two sons, built them two wagons, and transported themselves and their worldly gear to West Tennessee, and were seventy days on the way. The journey might now be accomplished in five days, at less than it cost to build the wagons. These rapid movements of produce, stock, and lumber, not only in- crease the value of land, but increase emigra- tion and bring the land into demand. For the New England Farmer. WINDOW QABDENINQ. We hope that all the readers of the ever attractive Farmek have made arrangements for a window garden, be it ever so small. Three or four pots of flowers that will bloom several months, during the dark, cold winter, will aflford an incredible amount of pleasure to their owner. To be sure they require daily care ; a neglect of a few days will greatly in- jure them. We have had practical illustra- tions of this fact the past week, when an un- avoidable absence of a week or more, during which our household pets were intrusted to the hands of hirelings, has resulted in the loss of several of our cherished tender darlings. During December plants require but little stimulant, but must gather strength for the remainder of the season. The)? must have their season of rest as well as animals, and if they have bloomed in the summer months, they cannot be expected to bud and blossom at the commencement of the winter. We have given many directions concerning the treatinent of "window gardens;" but "line upon line, and precept upon precept" are required, unless one possesses an inborn love for their culture, and makes it a study. Any one can make a plant grow rapidly by watering it with a weak decoction of guano water, (one tablespoonful to one gallon of warm water,) applied once or twice a week ; but it is another thing to grow a plant in perfect shape and condition. More than half of the "window gardens" now scattered throughout New England will show scraggy, scrawny plants, which an expe- rienced florist would discard as worthless ; or else would prune and trim with careful hand, until we should consider them ruined, dwarfed almost leafless plants — not quite so, however, for their leaves are its lungs, — and they must not be entirelytcut off. If they fall ofi it is another thing ; for the roots set to work di- rectly to put forth new ones ; as we see in the case of roses and fuchsias, &c., which hav^ been kept down cellar for a few months, and when given light, warmth and moisture, bud forth anew in fresh vigor and beauty, greatly enhanced by the period of rest they have en- joyed. So take your ill-shaped plants, dear friends, and give them a six or eight week's sleep in a dry, frost proof cellar. Then prune with an eye to graceful shape ; water, — not too plenti- fully— with warm water, occasionally mixed with guano or hen manure, and our word for it, by March you will call in your neighbors to behold their beauty and glory. The variegated leaved plants require a sea- son of rest, and will give you finer foliage an- other season if allowed to enjoy it. Scarlet Zonale Oeraniums and all their va- rieties of cherry, pink, salmon and white, are the most desirable plants for house culture, because they are never infested by insects. They require but little care and will bloom ten/nonths out of twelve. Plants of a year's growth do better in-doors than those of greater age. A well shaped geranium in full bloom is a lovely sight. At this season the plants in pots should be frequently turned around. The stems naturally incline towards the sun, which does not usually favor us with much of his light, and by stretching out their leafy arms to receive its strengthening beams, they become distorted and spoiled. Twice a week at least, every pot should be moved and the saucers brushed out. It is very needful to have "house cleaning" in our "window gar- dens" once a week or fortnight, — the former is preferable.- The pots should be washed in warm soap suds, and scrubbed with a brush to cleanse them thoroughly from the green mould which closes up their pores. One sees pots in a greenhouse covered wiih this same mould, and yet the plants are in full flower, but the greenhouse is heated by steam and the planis are daily aired, while in a parlor the air is close and dry and the roots require all ihey can breathe in, when it is fresh. Unclean pots are one cause of failure in the culture of house plants. Fresh air is another. We have written so often upon this theme that it would seem as if all our friends must be aware of its necessity. Throw open the windows every noon while the air is at its highest tempera- ture ; do not let ice-cold air fall directly upon. the tender plants ; but give it free circulation throughout the room ; keeping a brisk fire in str>ve, furnace, or far better, in the glowicg fire place of wood, not coal. If plants are kept in the kitchen, the fre- quent opening of the outside door, will freshen them, and the moisture arising from the cook- ing on the stove will be very conducive to their health. We have seen more thrifty and vigorous plants in a farmer's wife's kitchen than in a gorgeous parlor in Boston. Fresh air and moisture produced the results. If the kitchen grows cool at night, place the pots in 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 65 a warmer dining or sitting room, and when the mercury sinks far below the all important cy- Eher, protect them with newspapers, ever at and in a wise farmer's house ; for Tie knows that they contain the rudiments of all learn- ing, as well as the weekly markets. We know a farmer, stricken in years, past the period when Holy Writ declares that the grasshopper shall be a burden, who nightly, when the cold settles heavily down upon his one and a half Btory cottage, carries twenty pots of beautiful house plants into the cellar. "You see, my old woman thinks a powerful deal of these plants ; our boys and girls are all gone ; and flowers take their places ; so I carry them in for her." Could a fashionable, modern hus- band show his dainty wife more delicate atten- tion? Window boxes are much in vogue now, and are easily constructed by an ingenious boy, and can be prettily ornamented with osiers, or moss, or cones, or coffee berries and rice seeds. They are desirable on account of the ease in watering them ; for if a newspaper is used to protect the glass from drops of water, the whole surface of the plant can be sprin- kled, and more moisture given than by merely wetting the surface of the pots. But they are objectionable on account of not being able to turn the plants, thus causing them to grow one sided. They are beautiful for the culture of bulbs and vines. Ivies, Madeira vines, Trades- cantia and smilax will thrive perfectly in them, and the interstices can be filled in with cro- cuses, hyacinths, Due Van Thol tulips and cy- clamens. If these are planted with a goodly admix- ture of sand, and then thickly covered with moss, to shroud the bulb from the light, and allow its roots to penetrate deeply into the earth before the. tender green sheatli shoots forth with their wealth of leaves and flowers, the blossoms will be vigorous and brilliant. We can give minute directions for the con- struction of window boxes should our readers desire them. They will give an air of grace aud elegance to any surroundings. Flowers seen in the windows of the com- monest cottage beautify and adorn it. The (inae required for their culture is not wasted ; pure and holy lessons are learned from their mute lips ; lessons which nature is ever ready to teach to those who will learn of her, and who will bend to listen to her revealings. We trust that many windows will be adorned with gardens this season, and if their owners desire any more information concerning their culture we shall be ever ready to afiordit, and w« hope that while "Fiercely the winter's wind, Biting and Bbrill, Swteps o'er tbo valley, flclds, Moorlaud and hllla," they will adorn their fire sides with all that is bright.and cheerful. , 8. o. j. For the New England Farmer, TOP DHES8INO.— PliOUQHINQ MA- NUKE UNDEB. When we take into consideration the fact that this is the enlightened nineteenth century which has developed many marked improve- ments, and revealed many wonderful discov- eries in science and the mechanic arts, there is cause for humiliation that so little progress has been made in agriculture, the foundation and main-spring of everything that concerns man as a living being. And yet in the midst of this humiliation there is cause for rejoicing that new light is dawning ; that the clouds of error and hereditary thought are receding, slowly it may be, before the march of science and practical demonstration. But a few years ago, the opinion was well nigh universal that manure must be speedily covered to a depth of six or eight inches, or it would take wings and fly away. Great cau- tion was used by the careful farmer, lest it lie a few minutes too long, and the team was kept in close proximity to the manure fork. A change of opinion has occurred to some ex- tent, and many now believe that top dressing is the best method of improving the soil, as well as securing a present crop ; yet the old method is still adhered to by many with much obstinacy. Here lies, it seems to me, one of the most important problems in agriculture — one which the farmer should strive with the greatest earnestness to solve. It should have been solved beyond dispute long ago, for in its solution is involved thousands of dollars an- nually to the farmer of New England. When manure leaves the soil, doe? it go up or down ? If it goes up, then the deeper it is covered the better, if it is not entirely beyond the reach of the crop. If it goes down, then it should be spread upon the surface, and allowed to mingle with and enrich the soil, and remain as long as possible where needed, while passing away in its downward course. The advocates of the upward tendency will not contend that manure is drawn up bodily, by the cart loan, but that it must first be dis- solved and then taken up in a liquid form. Now let us take a familiar example or two, that have a close analogy to this subject. Suppose we dissolve one hundred pounds of sugar in water and place it in the sun. Evap- oration begins and continues until the water ig gone ; but the sugar remains. Sub.^titute salt or potash and the result will be the same ; the water will pass off in vapor, and the dissolved substance remain. In neither case, if the ex- periment be conducted with prudence, will there be more than a slight loss. A small proportion of such substances as reveal them- selves to us through the olfactory nerves, mingle with the atmosphere in the form of vapor or gas and is lost ; but the proportion of manurial substances that come within the proviuce of the general farmtr and u lost in 56 NEW ENGLAND FARjVIER. Jan. this way is inconsiderable. Manure contains more or less ammonia in a 6xed state that is liberated and lost by the application of lime or ashes. Hence the importance of keeping apart stable or barnyard manure and all alkalies, and applying them separately. The farm which the writer occupies is a small one ; but large enough to test a prin- ciple. It is but a few years since I turned my attention to this subject, and abandoned the old method of ploughing manure under, as it seemed to me, all at once, to involve a great loss of manure. I reasoned thus : according to general principles manure goes down ; there- fore if I cover it six or eight inches, it is gone that distance the first jump, and beyond the reach of many of the finer plant roots. Es- pecially if it lie under a tough furrow of greensward, it is nearly useless for several weeks, un il the stronger roots strike down- ward through the turf in search of food. It should therefore be spread upon the surface, and be permitted to mingle with the soil when it is needed, become dissolved by rains and thus converted into plant food to which the finer and feebler roots may find easy access, and remain as long as possible where its bene- fits will be felt. There are cases where manure should be covered with the plough, but these belong to the catalogue of "necessary evils." Upon side hills where there is danger of washing into the rich valleys below, and when the manure is coarse and bulky, it may be covered. The process of rotting is hastened under the surface. But it would be better to convert euch crude manure into a finer substance, fit for the burfdce, by mixing it with muck and piling up for a year under cover. c. Wilmington, Vt., Dec. 1870. "WINTER PROTECTION OF BEEB. Farmers who keep only a few hives of bees, merely to obt..in honey for home use, are not expected to give such particular attention to the business as those who are engaged in it largely, yet a certain amount of care is neces- sary to warrant a good return. Where the bees are wintered out of doors, protection from severe cold winds must be given, and may be afforded by setting posts on the north and west sides, boarding the same up closely and covering overhead. None but btrong colonies should be selected for wintering, and the weaker ones "taken up," or two united in one, which is better. To unice them, ihere are two simple processes : Smoke both thoroughly by burning cotton rags or rotten wood, and shake all together upon a sheet and put them into the hive of the ttrongest colony ; or, invert the weaker of the two, set the other upon this and drive the* first up by use of smoke, blown in at the base. Two swarms thus united, will consume but little more honey than one alone, as more heat is generated and less food required. Not less than fifteen or twenty pouncjs of honey should be allowed to winter a colony ; where there is less than this, feeding will very probably be necessary, and the hives should be watched closely to see that the supply is not exhausted, and the family starved to death. — Ohio Farmer. BXTKACTS AND BEPLIES. LOW PRICE OF FARMS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Here in northern Vermont few farms can be bought under S30 to #40 per acre, and many are sold at double and sometimes treble these prices. Why are farms offered so much lower in Mr. Cha- pin's Advertiser, that are said to be located on or near the Albany railroad ? Are the towns bonded to railroads, or deeply in debt, and thus heavily taxed ? Or is the soil so run down and poor that they are worth so little ? Can you tell me what is the matter with your Massachusetts farms that they are advertised at such low prices ? If you have such a publication as our Vermont Register perhaps thari; would afford me the desired informa- tion. I enclose the money for a copy. w. e. a. Milton, Vt., Nov. 28, 1870. Remarks.— At the time your letter was received, one of our subscribers in the town of Worcester, a gentleman of much intelligence, was in the office. We read it to him and asked him to tell us what answer we should make. After a moment's hesi- tation, he replied, "Well, I hardly know what to say. In my neighborhood several farms have been sold at prices I should have been unwilling to ac- cept had they belonged to me. It is true that there is some poor land in Worcester county, but there is also much good land, and many farms cannot be bought at a low figure. Our boys seem to think they can do better at other kinds of busi- ness than farming. I have raised six boys, and only one is a farmer, and he probably remains at home from a conviction of duty to his parents rather than from choice. In Worcester, noiv a city of some 40,000 inhabitants, a great variety of manufacturing is carried on, and the young people prefer the shop or the store to the farm, and many of the old homesteads in the country towns are running down, — both fields and buildiags being neglected." Such were the suggestions of our Worcester county friend. We cannot add anything of value to them. Some of the towns in Worcester county are "bonded" for smaller or larger amounts, and a large part of them are seriously in debt, and there is much complaint of the late rapid increase of taxation. But we do not know whether those in Worcester county are worse off in these respects than towns in other States. From our acquaintance with the soil of the Lake Champlain Valley, we are free to say that in few localities in New England can its equal be found. Our experience in the world teaches us that lands, as well as men, generally pass for just about what they are worth. We have,little personal accjuaint- 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 67 ance with the farms in "Worcester county, but must conclude that if they are offered below their real value, it is the result of some temporary local cause,— a sort of selling fever or fashion, perhaps, which prevails at times in all localities. Probably you will not be able to obtain a satis- factory answer to your questions cheaper than by a personal visit to Worcester county. The Massachusetts Register is a large volume, and the price, we believe, some f 3.50, and prob- aoiy it would not prove satisfactory to you. HAIR SNAKES. What is in the water ? About a month ago I made a new water trough or tub for my cattle. Yestertiay I noticed something white at the bottom of the tub. On taking it out I found it looked like a horse hair, and was about eight inches long, but it soon began to move like a snake. Will horse hairs l)ecome snakes ? If so, how soon after fall- ing into the water ? o. h. WalUngford, Vt., Nov. 29, 1870. Remarks. — The natural history books spoil the poetry of the popular idea that horse hairs turn to snakes. These curious worms, like all other ani- mated beings, are produced "after their kind." The perfect worm lays its eggs in long chains in water or moist earth. The young hatch in about three weeks, and are at first of a very different form from their parents. They are so small that some 400 make an inch in length. The American Cyclopajdia says their posterior portion is cylindri- cal, rounded, and furnished with short spires at the end ; the anterior is wider, the mouth having two circles of retractile tenticles and a club-shaped proboscis. These minute creatures are swallowed alive by crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, &c., in the bodies of which they are developed into long hair like worms. A hair snake eleven inches long has been found in a beetle only one inch long. Hence they are similar to the intestinal worms which ex- ist in all animals. The books give them the name of Gordius aquaticus. Would it not be better if boys and girls would read books which tell the wonderful stories about animal and vegetable life, growth and develop- ment, instead of those which deal in fiction ? A TRIBUTE TO THE FARM. Dear Parents :— It is the night before thanks- giving. I Lave been thinking, all day, while so busy with my bands, of those days years ago, when we were all at home, getting ready for thanks- giving. My memories of those seasons are very pleasant; and I have been tninking if my child could havosmh memories to bless him, should he live, of his childhood thanksgivings, I should be satibfied. Then the rfay itself. No memories of cloud or storm, but swtet memories of the satisfaction and rest within ; the final adjusting of everything, and every body l)rigbt and clean and s.itisfactory. Father going for our dear grandma, who was a part of thanksgiving; the return ; Ler kind words and attention to each one, so thoughtful for others and happy in teeing all happy around her. Wo were satiiified with each other, and sought no out- ward pleasures beyond our own comfortable home. I have felt to-night, 'dear parents, bow much I would like to live over one of those glad days be- fore our full circle was broken, with^U those early joys and feelings. Yes, "I would be a child again," for one day — one thanksgiving day ! Not that I wish to live my life over again ; but such an expe- rience, seems to me, would be like stepping from a stormy voyage, on to an evergreen isle baihedin sunshine and unfading beauty. Not that my voy- age in life has been rough, — far from it; but only a very busy one. I do love to stop a morrent at these mile stones, and recall my early fhildhood days in the dear old home, with all the loving and loved ones right there. And I bless my Father in heaven that my life was cast in a quiet country home, and that I was brought up a farmer's daugh- ter. X. X. Xete Hampshire, Dec, 1870. Remarks. — We have been allowed to copy the foregoing extract from a letter written by a daugh- ter of a Vermont farmer, now the wife of a New Hampshire clergyman, to her parents. How many others have seen cause to bless their heavenly Fa- ther that they were brought up in a quiet country home, — that they were the sons or daughters of farmers ! Do parents prize as they should such an inheritance for their children, when comparing the advantages of city and country life ? The de- sire expressed by this lady that her child should be blessed by the memories to which she alludes, has been experienced by many parents whose children were growing up under different circum- stances. SEVERAL breeds OF HOGS. Will you give the characteristics of the breeds of swine known as Suffolk, Essex, Mackay, Chee- ter County or White Chesters and Plymouth, in- cluding their peculiarities of growth, origin and preference for farmers to raise ? I would like to know if the Chester County and the White Ches- ter are the same or diSerent breed of hogs. I no- tice the breed called by some Chester County are coarse, large and rawny, and another called the White Chester are large, but not as coar.-e. D. A. Brown of this place has two— sow and boar — pur- chased of Mr. Baker, Barton, Vt., called full blood White Chester, which are very fine, large, hand- some hogs. Mr. Baker purchased his breed dir^t from Pennsylvania. I notice in rending ihe pre- miums on swine, the breeds are seldom pivrn. Reader and Subscriber. Keene, N. B., Dec. 2, 1870. Remarks.- The Suffolk and Essex are perhaps the two most popular of all the English breeds. The Suffiplk is white, with short heads, and long cylindrical bodies upon short legs, fine, thin hairs. By many English farmers this breed is regarded as the best in England. The late AViliiam Stick- ney, of Boston, imported and bred these hogs, and in some sections in New England it is still known as the Stickney breed. The Essex breed is black, and is said to have been the result of a cross on the olJ-faihioned black hogs of Essex County, England, with an Italian breed known as Neapolitans. Early ma- turity, and an excellent quality of ficsh are among the merits of the Essex. The color is not popular in this country. The Mackay is an American breed produced by 68 NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. Jan. crossing with various English breeds, by John Mackay, who for many years run a packet-ship between Boston and Liverpool. After retiring from his sea-faring business, he interested himself in breeding swine, and for several years the captain's hogs took all the premiums at cattle shows in his vicinity. In 1838, Mr. Sanford Howard said, "For aptitude to fatten, large size at an early age, they are unrivalled by any swine ever known in our country." We know nothing about the Plymouth breed. The Chester County, Chester Whites, White Chesters, &c., originated in Chester County, Penn- sylvania. They are a good kind of white hogs, but probably they have not been bred with suffi- cient care and during a sufficient length of time to be entitled to the name of breed. Hence, as you say, some are coarse, large and rawny. The demand for these hogs, caused by advertising, &c., has been so large that some breeders have filled orders with such as they could buy of neighboring farmers. Before railroads were introduced, drovers were in the habit of buying a nice kind of white pigs in the county of Columbia, N. Y., for the Brighton market. These pigs became popular, and were known as Columbia County pigs. The name is still applied at that market to thrifty looking white pigs from all sources fl,nd of all breeds. PLASTIC SLATE. A few years ago a patent roofing was adver- tised considerably. It consisted of felt covered with ground slate and coal tar. I believe it vras called Mastic Rooting, and I think the Masomc Temple, Boston, was covered with it. I have not seen it advertised lately. Has it proved a failure for roofs, or are they using it to any extent any- where ? N. Fairfax, Vt., Nov. 28, 1870. Remarks. — We are sorry to say that this roof- ing seems not to have given sufficient satisfaction to have been extensively used. We say "sorry," because a cheap and durable roofing is greatly need- ed, and the confident manner in which this material was recommended by Solon Robinson and other members of the New York Farmers' Club, led us to hope that the plastic slate would prove to be a valuable article. We have heard nothing of it for 6ome time, and suppose it is a— failure. SAWDUST WITH MANUKE — VALUE OF COAL ASHES. W»!l you please to answer the following ques- tions. What is the effect of pine sawdust on manure when used as bedding ? Are coal ashes won h anything as an absorbent or as a fertilizer applied to land in any way ? Asker. Wrentham, Mass., Dec. 3, 1870. Remarks —The first cflTect of sawdust on ma- nure is to absorb the liquid portion, that otherwise might be lost ; then it tends to produce heating, which must be guarded against and properly man- aged. Coal ashes is worth something as an absorbent. It is good in privies, &c. As a fertilizer it varies according to the qualities of the coal burned, kindlings usedj &c., but this value is generally considered to be very small. On each of these subjects we have published several articles during the year past ; and the in- dex to the Monthly Farmer will refer you to the various pages on which these matters are dis- cussed. URINARY trouble IN A HORSE. About a year and a half ago a valuable horse appeared to have some urinary difficulty. It was passed with effort and was quite bloody. These symptoms changed in a short time. The urine so far as I could see resumed its natural color, but was voided frequently and often involuntarily. Any sudden start, such as putting a hand on him unexpectedly, or other nervous excitement, causes a discharge. No one whom I have consulted has been able to account for the trouble. Claremont, N. H., Dec, 1870. S. A. Sabin. Remarks. — It is difficult to determine the char- acter of the disease with which Mr. Sabin's horse is affected from the above description. It may be a case of gravel, and there may be a stone in the bladder; or, the whole difliculty may have been caused by a violent blow upon the loins, or by a severe strain. If practicable the bladder should be sounded, and a chemical and microscopical ex- amination of the urine made by a competent per- son. In the meantime, we would advise that the ani- mal be fed on timothy or natural hay, with a fair allowance of oats and corn, withholding clover and other articles which contain lime. Let him have all the soft water he will drink, but give him none that is hard. Curry him well, clothe him comfortably, exercise him moderately, and in everything keep him in obedience to the laws of health. If, on proper examination, a stone be found in the bladder, have it removed by a surgical opera- tion. If it be a case of gravel only, give sixty to eighty drops of strong muriatic acid daily, in the water he drinks ; also give freely of flaxseed and other mucilaginous articles. If the case is the re- sult of a mechanical injury — a blow or a strain — mustard poultices, fomentations, &c., will be proper. For the nervousness, liberal doses of bromide of potassium may be useful— say a tablespoonful of a saturated solution, twice or thrice a day. This may be obtained of any druggist. working bulls in hot and cold weather. In a communication by O. W. True in the last Farmer, he questions whether bulls will stand the heat and cold as well as other cattle. In 1839 my father bought two bulls and trained them to work. They proved to be good workers and ^n- tle. At five years old they would do more work about once a month, and have not had any trouble than the heaviest oxen in Danby, where he then resided. Since then he and myself have trained sixteen different bulls, all of which but one were good workers. All were easy to learn except two. Daring the same time we have trained four steers, 1871] NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 59 all proving good workers and good to learn. Dar- ing the same time we have had four stags, which | could not or would not learn anything, and re- member it. The Ijulls will endure "the heat or cold as well as any cattle, provided they are kept away from cows alter you commence working them. Wallingford, Fi., .Voy. 29, 1870. Okrin Hager. For the Kew Enaland Farmer, MEDICAL TOPICS. BV A MEDICAL MAN. Foisons; their Symptoma and Treatment CoNiL'.M. — The Conium maculalum or poi- son hemlock, (sometimes called Cicuta,) is an irritant narcotic, producing symptoms, when taken in an over-dose, similar to those pro- duced by Aconite, and recjuiring the same treatment. Copper. — SulpTiate of Copper, commonly called Blue Vitriol — Acetate of Copper, com- monly called verdigris. Symptoms. — Violent headache, vomiting, pain in the bowels, cramps in the lower ex- tremities, diarrhoea, convulsions, palsy. Treatment — Same as for arsenic. Corrosive Sublimate — See Mercury. Creosote. — This is an irritant poison ob- tained from the various kinds of tar. Symptoms. — Pungent taste, burning pain, vomiting, purging, &c. Treatment — Give the white of eggs imme- diately ; or if that cannot be obtained give largely of wheat flour mixed in water. Croton Oil. — This is obtained from the seeds of a shrub found in India. Symptoms and treatment like blue flag, colocynth, &c. DiGiT.vLis — Foxglove — The Digitalis pur- purea or Fox- glove is a powerful narcotic. For symptoms and treatment see Aconite. Ergot — Smut cl E.y3.~ This is a narcotic irritant, and pciscncus ia over-dose. Symp- toms and treatment like Aconite &c. Fowler's SoLDTiCN.— See Arsenic. Fox-GLOVE —See Digitalis. Gin. — See Alcchol. Glass. — V/hec glass or enamel of any kind is taken into the OLOCiaeh, irritation and inflam- mation of the Elcr-£.ch and bowels, with the usual symptoms of suoa aifections may be ex- pected. Treatment. — Give ibe white of eggs, wheat flour mixed in water, or thick gruel ; and fol- low with such other remedies as are adapted to the cure of inflammation. IIellkhore. — The Jlclleborus niyer or Black Hellebore is a powerful cathartic, and in large doses, an irritant poi.son. For 8}mp- toms and treatment gee Blue Flag. Green and white hellebore may be found under the bead Veratrum. Henbane. — See Hoyscyamus. Hyoscyamus. — Ilyoscyamus niger, or Black Henbane, is a narcotic poison. Symptoms and treatment same as Aconite, Belladonna, Conium, &c. Iodine — Iodide of Potassiu.m— Iodide of Irox^Iodide of Mercury, &c. — Iodine in all its forms, is an irritant poison. Symptoms.^ Heat and constriction of the throat, offensive eructations of gas from the stomach, nausea and sometimes vomiting, jmin in the stomach and bowels with diarrhaa, a quick pulse, great thirst, tremblings, convul- sions and death. Treatment. — Give starch or wheat flour mixed in water, and then induce vomiting by the free use of warm flaxseed tea or other mucilaginous drinks. IPfON — This highly useful metal in its pure state is not poisonous, but some of its prepa- rations are. Examples : sulphate of iron or copperas and chloride or muriate of iron. Symptoms. — Colic pains, vomiting and purging, violent pain in the throat, a feeling of tightness at the stomach, coldness of the skin, feebleness of the pulse, &c. Treatment. — Give a strong solution of car- bonate or bicarbonate of soda, and follow with mucilaginous drinks. Laurel. — See Prussic Acid. Lead — Sugar of Lead (acetate of lead) — White Lead (carbonate of lead) — Red Lead (red oxide of lead) — Litharge (brown oxide of lead,) &c. Symptoms. — Obstinate constipation, vio- lent colic pains, retraction of the abdomen, vomiting, a small hard pulse, laborious breath- ing, a blue tinge to the gums, tremors and paralysis of the extremeties. Treatment. — If the poisoning be recent, give freely of sweet oil, white of eggs or milk, and follow with an emetic ; then administer repeated doses of epsom salts (sulphate of magnesia.) In severe colic from lead poison- ing, the warm bath, galvanism, anodynes and chlorate of potash, may be employed in ad- dition to the salts, &c. Lime. — Symptoms and treatment same as Ammonia. Lobelia — Indian Tobacco. — The Lobelia ivflata or Indian tobacco, is an irritant nar- cotic poison. For s)mptoms and treatment, see Aconite. Lunar Caustic. — See Silver. Mandrake — May Apple. — The Podophyl- lum peltatum or Mandrake root, is a useful cathartic, but an irritant poison when taken in overdose. Symptoms and treatment same as Blue Flag, Colocynth, &c. Mercury — Calomel, (mild chloride of mercury,) — Corrosive Sublimate, (corro- sive chloride of mercury)— Red Precipitate, (red oxide of mercurj) — Vermiuon, (red bulphuret of mercury,) &c. Symptoms. — A harsh, metallic, astringent taste, a burning pain in the stomach, vomiting and purging, irritation of the urinary organs, and sometimes 8uj)pression of urine, a sense of tightness and ot burning in the throat, stu- por, convulsions and death. Treatment. — Albumen in some form should be given as soon as possible. The white of 60 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Jan. eggs is best ; but if that be not at hand, milk, or wheat flour mixed in water may be used. Morphia or Morphine. — See Opium. Muriatic Acid or Uvdrochloric Acid. Symptoms. — Burning in the throat and fitromach, thirst, a hot and dry skin, a red and glazt:d tongue, black lips, vomiting of blood mixed with yellow matter, cold sweats, delir- ium and death. Treatment — Administer magnesia or soda, mixed in water, and follow with flaxseed tea, or other mucilaginous drinks. Nitre — Sal N itre — Saltpetre — Nitrate OF Potash — See Potash. NiTKic Acid — Aquafortis. — Symptoms and treatment like Muriatic Acid. Nightshade. — See Belladonna. Nux Vomica. — This is the common name for the seeds of the Strychnos nux vomica, a moderate sized tree found in the East Indies. It is a powerful narcotic and irritant. Sym- toms and treatment like Aconite. Opiuji — This is a powerful narcotic poison extracted from the poppy — {Papaver somnif- erum.) Symptoms. — Drowsiness, stupor and per- fect insensibility or delirium, followed by pro- found sleep, a pallid countenance, deep snor- inji or stentorous breathing, cold sweats, a slow, full pulse, a cold and livid skin, a sus- pension of all the secretions, except that of perspiration, sometimes convulsions, particu- larly in children. Treatment. — The stomach must be evacu- ated as speedily as possible. Use a stomach pump if one is at hand ; if not, administer an emetic of white vitriol (sulphate of zinc) or of ground mustard seed. Affusions of cold water upon the head, chest and tpine, may be employed with advantage ; also, flagellation, or whipping the extremities with small rods for the purpose of arousing the patient from his stnpor. The best liquid that can be given is a Btrong decoction of coffee. [to be concluded.] TIME FOR COWS TO COME IN. A cow that drops her calf in April is of more profit than one that comes in earlier in the year, with the same care and feed. If your cows drop their calves in February, or the first part of March, you will have to feed largely with grain, roots, &c., the rest of the feeding season, and you will make an article of butter which must be sold immediately, as you cannot keep spring butter, nor can you make butter as cheaply with the mercury at zero or below, as when 30° to 60° above. By the first of June, whether you have fed extra or not, your cows will fall off in quantity and quality of milk, and you will have a small yield of butter through the be&t of the season ; when, if they had come in six or eight weeks later, they would have gone out to grass heavy and strong, and capable of giving the largest quantity and the best quality of but- ter. By the first of October your cows will be nearly or quite dry, when if they had dropped their calves in April, you would have found that October was the most profitable month of the season. And further, you will find this month and the next, the best to feed grain to cows. All cows in a herd should drop their calves as near the same time a? possible. If one should drop her calf after jou have com- menced to pack and put away butter, do not put her milk with the rest tor two weeks or more, as it is impossible to keep butter made from it, and it will damage the rest. This is one very common source of an occasional bad tub of butter. — /. E. HoUistcr, in Montpe- lier, Vt., Watctiman. Potash from Wool. — One of the most< interesting among recent scientific applications is the method of extracting potash from the yolk of wool fleeces, which from this source for some time past has been obtained in great purity. It is computed that if all the fleeces of all the sheep of France, estimated at 47,- 000,000, were subjected to the new treatment, France, would derive from this source alone all the potash she requires in the arts, enough to make about 12,000 tons of commercial car- bonate of potash, convertible into 17.500 tons ofsaltpetre, which would charge 1,870,000- 000 cartridges. So that the inoffensive sheep, the emblem of peace, can be made to supply the chief muniment of war. The obvious lesson from these facts, to the sheep farmer, is to wash his fleeces at home in such a manner that the wash water so rich in potash, may be distributed upon the land as liquid ma- nure.— American Artizan. ^H'F m\ DlsTVOTfiD TO AGRICUIiTURE, HOKTICDTiTUKE, AJJD EXNDHED ABT3. i\EW SERIES. Boston, Fell)niaiy, 1871. YGL. Y.— NO. 2. R. P. EATON & CO., Pi ni.isnERS, Office, 3i Merchants' lio\r. MONTHLY. SIMON BROWN, e. FLETOHEll, Editors. FEBRUARY THOUGHTS. . T ii o u c, II the shortest month in the year, Febhuaky is sometimes the coldest. Last year a storm commenced on the 8th day by scattering snow Hakes falling in the morning. The wind rose as the fall of snow increased, and in the evening the air was filled with it so thickly that only for a short distance could lar^ ob- jects be seen. Then came *"^l the northern l^last, roaring through the trees, whirhng the dry Hakes into &* the air and seeming delighted in scattering them in every direction, or piling them in masses under the stone walls, or filling the highway so that man nor beast could pass over it. It was "fun" to see it, backed by a warm room, bright lights and an easy chair. Tiie scene without recalled some experiences when "snowed in" in the mountains, and gave the comforts of social life new charms. No position seems so thoroughly to bewilder the senses and make all vague and uncertain about one, as to be overtaken at night in an un- ,f known region, and amid a trackless waste of snow. If the heavens have obscured their lights, every step the traveller takes must be one of doubt and misgiving ; may lead to difficulties that cannot be overcome. How vividly comes every thought of the poet to one who has sunk exhausted on the mountain side, and planned his hut of green branches in the valley below, if a little rest and reviving powers would enable him to get to them. "Lone on the midnight ptccp, and .all .nghast. The dark, vayfaring stranger breathless toils, And, ol'tou failing, climbs aguiuBt the blast." We can have little good farming without good stock. Ko stock, no manure ; no manure, no crops ; no crops, no anything. We are used up. So, the more cold the weather, the more attention the stock will require. The backbone of the winter is broken, so far as days and weeks are concerned. But not so of the weather. Old Boreas will not resign the reins till after the first of March, but blows, and freezes, and showers his snow flakes upon us more freely than ever. We nuist not anticipate the green grass too soon, but huiband the resources of the bam as th(jugli we knew that February, March, and even the fickle April, would lecjuire as much fodder as January itself. Keep all the stock .so that they shall have soft, loose skins, and lively hair. If (hey [ire- sent these appearances, they will, be penua- C2 JsEW ENGLAND FARI^rER. Feb. nent advertisements of their owner's skill and humanity. They will fill large milk-pails, be- come the envy of every good teamster as work- ers, or surprise you at the shambles by a weight which you scarcely expected in an ani- mal that did not look very fat! The rough tallow was well laid on, another montirs feed- ing would have shown the fat nearer the sur- face. But, Mr. Farmer, your duties are not all among the animals who do not think and rea- son. You have others, perhaps, whose thoughts are to be guided and reasoning pow- ers aided, or corrected. So when the boys have returned from school and assisted in mak- ing all comfortable for the night about the barn, — and the girls, with charming zeal and aptitude, have lightened the mother's cares, 1/ou, yes, yourself must become a teacher in the hi:;hcr school. The room is warm ; the lii-hts clear ; the wind roars through leatless trees without ; books are upon the table, and their lessons for the succeeding day are scanned. Now is the time for the natural teacher to go as far as he can over the lessons which the children are striving to master. Nothing will encourage young students so much, and the effort may become as instructive to parent as to child. They become teachers in turn. It should be remembered, too, that educa- tion not only secures the means of being use- ful to the world, but, rightly used, confers ease of manner, dignity and grace upon its possessor, and what is of still greater impor- tance, saves the cTiild from a life of idhness and vice. Returns from the penal institutions of New England show the two leading causes of crime to be the want of a trade, and the want of education. The Fehruary evenings, then, arc moments precious beyond measure, in this light. If ju- diciously occupied for a single month, knowl- edge may be. gained and impressions made which may be a source of power and happi- ness through a long life. The scenes of such evenings may become a "joy forever," — a stay and comfort in the trials of life, and a fore- taste of heaven itself. Who will allow such opportunities to pass unimproved ? Who so indifferent as not to recognize and value them? Let it not be those standing pre-eminently amidst the most pleasing operations of a Divine Hand, and witnessing its manifestations in everything he sees or touches in the duties of his daily life. Improving the soil tends to improve the mind. Improving tlie mind gives us power to im- prove the soil. When both arc accomplished, the labor of the farm will be more agreeable, and its profits larger. APPROPKIATE "WOKK FOR FEBRUARY. Top-Dkesslng. — If snow is not too deep, this month is a good time to top-dress lawns or mowing lands. The weather will be suffi- ciently cold to prevent fermentation, and if the dressing freezes or is covered with snow, there will be little or no loss by evaporation. The melting snow or rain will wash out the en- riching matters, and carry them down among the roots of the grasses, where they will be ready for use by the plants when the earth is warmed by the spring sun. This work can be done without injuring the surface by wheels or feet of the team, and will be out of the way when other duties are urgent. In the spring pass over the manure with Witt's Breaker, and it will become so fine as to be washed down by the first rain. Haul out IVLvnxjre. — Dr. Dana, who had occasion to weigh the droppings of cattle many times, states that one cord of green dung, pure as dropped, weighs nine tJwiisand two hundred and eighty-nine 2Jounds ! If the farmer, then, wishes to apply six cords to an acre of his corn land, liis team must haul thirty-one tons and seven hundred and thirty-four pounds, in order to place it on the field. In many cases it would be necessary to haul this up hill, and quite 'often over plouglied ground. If several acres were to be planted, and each suj^plied with a similar amount, the task to remove it would require several days, and would be a Herculean one. Of course, as the manure was fermented and dried, the weight would be less. The labor of removing this immense weight is not the only objection against leaving it un- til tlie ground is bare, and planting time at hand. Other duties are jiressing then, which cannot be postponed. If hauled to tlie field where it is to be used, and thrown into a com- pact form. It will be ready for overhauling and breaking up as soon as the frost leaves It. Tills should be done two or thi'ee times, and a 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 63 slight fermentation allowed to take place, in order to facilitate breaking it up. Some persons object to lianling out manure iu the •winter, because it must be unloaded by hand from a sled. This, however, is one of the operations which tlie manure needs. It is so much done towards making it fine. If the heap is slightly covered with loam, after being overhauled in the spring, little or no loss will occur from evaporation. If the ground re- mains bare, the teaming can be done on the frozen ground easier than on the soft ground in tlie spring. The wood pile, fencing stuff, hog stye, house cellar, farm implements, poultry house and many other things, require attention in this month. St. Valentine's day will come on the 14th, when, it was anciently supposed, birds began to mate. If the day suggests to any party, any exercises of that nature, it should be re- membered that large latitude is allowable on the old Saint's day. The suggestion of old Tusser, who worked on his farui, and wrote about it, near 300 years ago, is a good one with which to close this homily : — "Good provendpr laboring horses woulil have, Good hay and good plenty i)loiigh oxen do crave, To haul out thy muck, and to plough up thy ground, Or clue it may hinder thee many a pound." For the Kew England Farmer. THE GARDEN IN" FEBRTJAHY. Tliough, in our New England climate, little other work can be done in the garden than to see that no injury results from negligence, there are a few things the prudent, thought- ful gardener will do to antici[)ate Spring work. But this is the season for planiiiug, study and investigation, — a part of ga.'den work too much neglected. Time that should be devoted to reading and planning for the future may be spent listlessly or worse. Tiuies and habits change. A few years ago an "English Straw- berry" was a novelty in many a New England village and on most farms. Many vegeta- bles and llowers have been ii'itroduced during the past ten years, and a knowledge of their names and uses is becoming a lu'ce'-sary part of the education of a fanner's family. Oin- tal)les are not well provided with vegetables, J and we have eonsefjuently fallen into tiie habit of eating too much meat. It would be more healtliy, and less expensive to increase the vegetable ])ortion of our diet. J\Ieat is costly, and there ap|)ears to be a constantly increas- ing advance in cost of some kinds. The best antidote for this state of things is for every farmer, especially, to grow a greater variety and quantity of vegetables ; and to do this the most prolitably, advantage should be taken of the experiences of others as recorded in hor- ticultural books, and our farm papers. Cold Fhamks need good care to prevent the plants from damping off or other injury. Plenty of air must be given on mild days, and protection from sudden changes of tempera- ture at all times ; the great end is to keep them in a dormant state, free from injury. Cuttings axd Scions. — Cuttings from cur- Vants and gooseberries may be made, din-ing a mild spell ; also scions for grafting may be cut and preserved for spring use. Grate Vinks. — Neglected vines shotild be pruned during this month, at the latest, be- fore they come into full leaf. A. S. Fuller says he prunes in December. IIoKSERADisir. — A tliaw may afford an op- portunity to dig for family use or for market, it may be kept fresh a long time packed in moist sand, or earth ; grated and moistened with water, with a httle salt added, and bot- tled, it makes a very acceptable condiment with boiled sauce. Vinegar destroys its life, if kept in it. Seeds. — Overhaul all home grown and see that their vitality is preserved. The vitahty of seeds depends greatly njion the care they receive in growing and preserving. Some are sure to vegetate only one year, while others will retain gerininative qualities ten or more years. Send your orders to reliable Seeds- men for any deficiency. The general garden- er can ill afford to test many novelties. There are enough well established varieties of all kinds of vegetables, &c., frojn which to se- lect. Let amateurs expeiiment in new kinds, and if they prove desirable, a few seasons hence will become plenty and cheap. For the guidance of the iuexpei^.nced, I will here name a few of the difi'erent varieties of vegetables, &c., desirable in every good garden. Asparagus. — A bed of greater or less size, according to size of family, of this very desi- rable plant shotdd be fotuul in every garden. Connover's Colossal is the most desu-able, yet tlie older varieties shouhl not be rejectetl. Good culture and hitrh matuwing will insiu-e si corresponding good size and crop. Beans. — Uf these we want Bush, Dwarf, and Pole, or Iviuming. Early Valentine, Cliiua, and Dwarf Wax are desirable sorts for snaps or string. Lima, Case Knife, lied and White Cranberry and (liant Wax or London Jlorticidtural, for poles. Beets. — Early Bassano, earliest; Long Blood Turnip, late ; Swiss Chord, fine for greens only. Carisace. — Jersey Wakefield ; Early and Large York; Early Ox Heart; A\ inning- stadt; Early Flat Dutch; these for early anil medicun are the most desirable. J\Iarbh'Iiead .Manunoth ; Stone Mason ; Common Ball ; 64 NEW ENGLAND FARIVIER. Feb. Flat Dutch; Green Globe Savoy, for late, lied ])utc-h for pickliiia;. C'aijhots. — Early Horn, for early; for main crop Long Orange. C.vULiFLOWKU. — Early Erfurt, dwarf com- 'pact; Eai-ly Paris, fine, but larger than last ; Wellington, largest. CiCLiiiiY. — Incomparable Dwarf ; Seymour's Superb, largest growing, suitable for hot, dry climate. Coitx. — Mexican Sweet, s-weetest andtend- orest Early ; Trimble's Lnproved Sweet ; Cros- by's Early ; Stowell's Evergreen ; these are the very best varieties of sweet corn with which I am acquainted. Cucumbers. — Early Cluster ; White Spined : Early Frame and Long Green Turkey. Egg Plant. — Early Long Purple, earliest; Long Purple ; N. Y. Improved, and Striped Gaudaloupe. Endive. — Green Curled ; Moss Curled ; use, Sunnner and Fall salads. Iv^^LE. — Dwarf CJerman and Green Curled Scotch ; winter and spring greens. Lettuce. — Early Curled Simpson ; Green Winter ; Black Seeded Butter, and Ice Drum- Lead. MuSKMELON. — Green Citron ; Nutmeg ; Borneo ; AVhite Japan, and Skillman's Netted. Watermelon. — ^Mountain Sprout ; Black Sjianish and Ice Cream. Green Citron for Sweetmeats. Onions. — Wethersfield Pted ; Danvers Yel- low ; White Portugal and Potato. Parsnips.— Hollow Crowned; Round Early or Turnip, for shallow soil. Peas. — Early Kent; Carter's First Crop; Dan O'Rourke ; McLean's Advancer ; Cham- pion of England and Black Eyed Marrowfat. Peppers. — Squash, for pickling; Sweet ^Mountain for studing ; Cayenne. Potatoes. — Irish. — Early Rose ; Early Mo- hawk ; Early Goodrich antl Orono. Sweet Potatoes. — Yellow Nansemond. Radishes. — Long Scarlet Short Top, and Scarlet Turnip. Salsify. — Vegetable Oyster. Spinach. — Round leaved for early ; Prickly for wintering. Squash. — Yellow anil White Bush Scal- loped ; Summer Crook-neck and Boston INlar- row for summer. Hubbard ; Yokohama and AVinter Crook-neck for winter. Tomatoes. — Trophy,, largest and most solid ; Gen. Grant, Lester's Perfected and Tilden. TuitMPS.— Early Flat Dutch; Red Top Strap-leaf, and Ruta Baga. Aside from these we want Sweet Fennel, Dill, Coriander, Caraway, Iloarhound, Sage, Summer Savory, Thyme, Sweet jNlarjoram,. Rosemary and Sallron. W. II. White. South Windsor, Vonn., 1871. For the Kew England Farmer. WHY DON'T THE BUTTER COME? I see by the Farmer of to-day, that Mr. S. of East Burke, Vt., asks that same old ques- tion that has been asked and answi'red a thousand times already, "Why don't the butter come ?" I do not expect to answer it so that it will stay answered ; but will only give a few facts from my own experience of ten years at butter making. I used to think I could take ci'cam from any dairy and make butter from it in an hour by putting it at the right temperature. I preached that way till I had an oppor- tunity oilered me to try it. One of my neigh- bors tried to churn. The cream had not been kept under the best conditions for two weeks. Some of it had been frozen, and some of it scalded. Nor had the cow been grained very highly or salted regularly. The cream was bi'ought to the kitchen and poured into the churn, then placed near the stove to warm. After warming awhile, the lady of the house commenced operations. She churned an hour, then let her girl churn two hours, then she tried it again, and they took turns and kept the crank revolving all day. In the evening the man churned till bed time. The next day it was started again, and it was kept churning more or less every day for two weeks. It was pronounced too cold, too warm, and too everything. It was warmed, and cooled, and salted and treated to a dose of saleratus. Hot water was poured in, and so was cold water ; but„most of all, it was churned! The mother churned it, the father churned it, and the young follxS all took turns at it. It was knit- ting work for the whole family. As a last. resort, they sent to borrow my churn, and I was foolish enough to offer to take their cream and churn it for them. I brought it home, obtained the right tempera- ture by the thermometer, then churned that cream, — only stopping for meals and lodging — two whole days. By this time the cream was completely worn out, and I was thoroughly cured of preaching on the subject of churning. But about iha facts in my own weekly prac- tice. I feel just as sure of butter within forty minutes as I do that a kettle of |)otatoes \vill be boiled within that time, when placed over a good fire. I can make the jnittcr for a week with very much less care and anxiety in mid winter than in mid sunujier, because it is easier to make winter weather warm, than to maki! sunnner weather cool. I sometimes salt my cows, and the butter comes well ; again I do not give salt for weeks, . and the butter comes just as well. I do not often let my cream freeze, but if it does, the butter comes just as well for all I could ever see. I never do put salt in my cream while it is being gathered, nor do I object to it. I have never used sugar or saltpetre, neither 1871. NEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 65 do I say I never will. I once tliouglit I never •n-ould color butter. I now think diilerently. I once thought there was an exact tempera- ture at which all cream should be churned. I now vary nearly 10° between summer and winter. In punmier I cluirn at a temperature from 58° to C2°, in winter from Gi° to G8°. I want the butter to come so it can be worked, — not too soft nor too hard. I find winter butter harder than summer butter at the same temperature. Mv cows are at all times kept in good con- dition, so I do not know whether I could chui'n cream from half starved cows or not. If I were going to preach again about churning, I should say that it is very impor- tant to have all the cream of a churning alike, as to temperalure, and sourness, at the time of commencing to churn. I am very particular to stop gathering cream at least twenty-four hours Vx'fore churning ; and I never fail in fall, winter or spring to warm all my cream over a stove ; stirring con- stantly all the time, at least twelve hours before churning. Then I wait for it to get sour alike all through. Then bring it again up to the right temperature and churn it. I intend to warm it the first time up to about 70°. I never scald milk or cream, but keep both as near the proper temperature as possible all the time. Now, if Mr. S. gets any new ideas about churning, from having asked the question, and either snceeed.i or yt/i/.y, I Avish he would rei)ort, in the Fakmer ; for it is only after making many experiments, and under many difiering circumstances that we can be sure of having gained a correct position. A. W. CnEE\T:R. Sheldonville, Mass., Jan. 7, 1871. For the Xnc Enhed by similar alimentary particles, and perfected from the same soil ! The humus, or decayed vegetable or ani- mal matter which we apply to apple or pear trees, is first dissolved, then it is absorbed by the rootlets or spongioles of the tree. This fluid thus taken in by ttese roots, is elaborated not simply into one product, but many. We trace it m its progress, and find that it produces under one modification, wood; under another, leaves or bark; under another, jlowers, fruit, and the seeds of fruit. If an apple graft be inserted, that fluid is capable, under the in- fluence of the principles of life, of producing the fruit natural to that graft, or of being elaborated into the fruit of the tree through which it ascends. If a scion of the Siberian crab be inserted on a stock of another variety, the fruit of each will retain its own distinctive family combination and characteristics unim- paired. The wonderful power in nature, bv which this singular immutability is preserved, is concealed from the eye of the physiologist. It is a i^owcr lodged amid the arcana of her most retiring rudiments, and which we are permitted to contemplate only in its results. "Far from all vision this profoundly lurks, Through the whole system's utmost doinh diffused." There are several kinds of twining plants which ascend their supporters only from left to right. The hop is never known to ascend from right to left ; if inverted, and forced to assume a direction contrary to that ordained by nature, it will sicken, lose its native hardi- hood and vigor, and, most likely, die. The roots of all plants are commonly re- garded as the sole media through which they derive their food. "We consequently attach to these organs the highest degree of impor- tance as forming the link of cpmmunication between the earthly and airy portions of the vegetable kingdom. But important as are the ofiices of the roots, they are scarcely more so than thos#of the leaves. The human lungs expose the blood to the air, and thus prepare it for nourishing the system through which it circulates ; and in like manner the sap — which may be regarded as the blood of plants — is exposed and "aired," or aerified by the leaves of vegetables, which are their lungs. So far as the economy of nutrition is con- cerned, the leaves of the oak, the ash and the elm, asjjire and spri'ad themselves abroad for the very same puri)ose that the minute spon- gioles j)enneate and dilluse their innumerable roots through the recesses of Hie soil ; both are in quest of food, and the only dilTerencc be- 68 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. tween them is, that while the latter appropriate ouly liquid matters, or those alimentary par- ticles which have been previously prepared for absorption and assimilation by solution, the former take in only gaseous or aeriform prin- ciples. This position has been repeatedly demonstrated l)y experiments, and few who have contemplated the evolutions of nature, will doubt its correctness. If wc bury the limbs of some plants, and elevate their roots into the free air, we shall find that the devclopement, as well as the position of the structure, will be reversed ; the part having on it the roots will put forth buds and leaves, and the inhumed branches assume the character and perform the office of roots. The willow affords the most complete illustration of this principle of adajitation in plants. A twig or sucker of this wood, in- serted in a moist soil, with its natural position reversed, will grow almost as vigorously as a seedling, and in a short time become a thriv- ing tree. During the night, plants are believed, by most, to evolve carbonic acid ; but this process is by no means so rapid, or so extensive in its products as to destroy the balance in favor of the plants, so far as regards the quantity ab- sorbed by them during the day. The quantity of this gas taken in by the f ohage is graduated in a greqt degree by the season, climate, soil and specific character or nature of the plant. On a general estimate it is perhaps safe to as- sume that of the entire amount of carbon con- tained in the crops of our fields, — if the soil thereof is of medium fertility, — from one-third to three-fourths is derived directly from the air. The functions performed by tki leaves of plants, are singularly varied and beautiful : — "In human works, though labored on with pain, A tliousand movements scarce one purpose gain, ki God's, one, single, can its ends produce, Yet seams to second, too, some other Use." When we look upon mighty forests, spread- ing as far the eye can reach, ' 'piercing the sum- mer heavens with their imnumbered cones, — when we survey the bosom of the earth clothed in all the wild luxuriance of variegated verdure, and yielding its diversified and inexhaustible wealth for the support and happiness of man, — we seldom reflect that the elastic iluid which tho hand of Omnipotence has drawn around our planet is the source from wbach this vast assemblage of beauty and utility is derived." We arc too apt to attribute the production of all this to the earth, and to regard the atmos- phere— like the old philosophers — as an empty void, incapable of furnishing anything of im- portance or usefulness to plants, and nothing but air to man ! There is not a leaf, however minute, that "spreads its glossy surface to the summer's sun, which does not drink from this wide source of life the aliment which sustains its being ; all are alike indebted to it, and all alike would perish were they to be deprived of it." The elements of the common atmos- phere, therefore, being of so much impor- tance, it is of the utmost consequence that we endeavor, as far as possible, to avail ourselves of its assistance, which we are enabled to do in several ways. GROWING VIOLETS. The Violet has ever been one of my favor- ite window flowers. In former years when brought into the house from the cold pits to fiower, they were placed at once in the sitting- room window, where we had a regular tem- perature of about sixty degrees ; but the stalks were always slender, and the llowers rather small. Thinking it was too hot, I kept them other years in a cooler room, where the heat might perhaps not range over between 4.5 and 55, and the result has been much healthier looking plants and finer foliage. Besides this, they were not much behind what I have had in warmer places in other years. I am sure they wan^ very little heat to do well. Another fact. I have learned that a ma- nure water made of rotten wood is a capital fertilizer for them. Once I thought, as shady places were the natural places where \'iolets grow, rotten wood would be a good thing in the soil, but they sometimes get sick in it ; but the liquid of steeped wood does not seem to have this elFect ; on the other hand, a lively green is the result. We never water them ejc- cept when they show signs of drying ; in our room, this is about twice a week. — Gardaier^s Monthly. How TO Cook Egg Plant. —Pare and out the plant in thin slices ; let it stand for two or three hours in cold water, well salted, which removes a strong flavor and makes it more delicate ; when thoroughly drained, dip each slice into egg and cream, well beaten, (two eggs and two tablespoonfuls of cream), then into cracker crumbs. Have ready a large iry'mg kettle of boiling lard, frying a few slices at a time ; they need room, if you would have them delicate and crisp. Stewed tomato is very nice with egg plant. 1871. NEW EXGLAXD FARMER. 69 £XTBACTS AUTO BJEPUJSB. LICE ON CATTLE. "Will you or some of your correspondents inform us here what is the best remedy for lice on cattle ? My whole stock are covered with these pycsts, and they seem to laugh and grow fat and increase in numbers by every exertion on our part to remove them. If any of your readers can give ns a method by which we can pot rid of them, they will be con- ferring a great favor on A Constant Reader. Alfred, Me., Dec. 22, 1870. Remarks. — Healthy cattle are seldom lousy in the summer season. Why should they be lousy in the winter ? Where did the pests come from that now cover your stock and "laugh you to scorn ?" Are your cattle poor ? Is your barn in- fested ? Sulphur fed with salt; applications of carbolic acid and oil ; a thorough saturation of the whole body with a pint of strong soft soap in a pail of warm water, to be repeated in half an hour, and m half an hour more wash out all the soap and dead lice, and cover the animal with a dry blanket ; brick dust, obtained by rubbing two soft bricks together, sifted over and well rubbed into the hair ; a wash of one pound of sal-soda to two quarts of water ; have the cattle fat when they come to the barn in the fall, and, during the winter, keep the tallow gradually increasing about the kidneys ; applying on a warm day to a space six inches wide on either side of the back bone from head to tail, a mixture of a little sulphur mixed with melted lard, — these are among the prescriptions recom- mended in the Monthly Farmer for 1870. It' you have lice in Maine that will laugh and grow fat on all these infallible cures, then we must join in your appeal to our r >aders for something that will turn their joy to grief. WHY THE TOUNO MEN LEAVE THE FARM. I have been very much interested in perusing ar- ticles bearing upon thfs subject in the Farmer and Other papers, and now, with your permisbion, I will state a few of my ideas concerning the same, because I am one of "the boys," and think I know the reason why so many of them become dis- couraged with farm life. I think one reason is to be found in the unat- tractive appearance of the place, together with shiftless management. As a naturnl consequence, labor on such a place being unprofitable, the boys seek some other employment. Again, they are obliged to work harder and longer on such a farm, because of the rocks, brush, rubbish, tumbledown buildings and "scragej" walls. Then, the nef.'ect on the part of the parents to make work interesting. The boys notice these things; they also notice that the workmen in the cities and town* command good wages. Hence they flee td the cities and towns as soon as possi- ble, in the hope of bettering their condition; for, you know, they are ambitious, — they think of the future. Now, I ask, do you blame them ? /don't. But at the same time I don't like the idea of their leaving the farm, and for this reason I write this article. I want to have the parents of these way- ward boys think of these things. I want to have them take the matter in hand, and cause the boys to love home, to love the farm. Teach them in tne art of farming ; provide them with instructive read- ing matter and with amusements ; take an interest in their fntnrer welfare ; do it all in a kind manner and the boys will remain. I will close with the following, which I take from •'Recollections of a Busy Life," by Horace Gree- ley, which contains the gist of the whole matter. "Our farmer's sons escape from their father's call- ing whenever they can, because it is made a mind- less, monotonous dru(ig<^ry, instead of an enno- bling, lii>eralizin£r, intellectual pursuit." Westboro', Mass., Dec. 21, 1870. Youno Man. Remarks. — We have done with worrying alxiut the boys leaving the farm. We believe that the whole matter will regulate itself in due time. For the last twenty-five or more years manufacturing and trading have been very prosperous throughout the land, and these pursuits have been unusually lucrative. Farmer's boys have crowded into them until there is scarcely standing room for anybody. Cities 'and villages have outgrown the country. But "it is a long lane that has no turning." We be- lieve we are now on the corner of one of those turns. A few years ago a trader would fill a store with goods, put up a sign, perhaps advertise, and then sell his goods "over the counter." Customers came to his store or shop, then. Now the city merchant must add to all these expenses the cost of "runners" enough to cover the whole country. Last fall when we were down some one hundred and fifty feet under ground, in one of the marble mines of Vermont, the superintendent of the works was looking over specimens of files which filled the travelling bag of a runner who had found his way thither from some manufactory or hardware establishment. And so it is with all kinds of goods — they must be carried to the consumer, whether on the top of the mountains or in the bowels of the earth. A few years ago the farmer that fattened a pig, or made a tub of butter, or a few cheeses, or dried a bag of apples, &c., must fry a box of doughnuts, harness up the old horse, tuck in a bag of oats, and make a journey of one to fourteen days to reach a market, and that often one of exchange, merely. Then it was the farmer that had to hunt up and seek out the consumer, as best he could. Now the city folks, who command the great wages that "Young Mfti" talks about, besiege every farm house, with the money in their fists, begging to buy everything raised, at prices which would have been deemed fabulous in those old truck-and- dicker times. So far as butter is concerned, Fan- euil Hall has been moved up to St. Albans, Vt., and the cheese mart of the nation has migrated from New York city to Little Falls, N. Y. City people are beginning to be alarmed at the cost of living. Some cry out for a "Free Market ;" some denounce "speculators ;" some curso "capitalists, — some one thing, some another, — any thing or any body, by which they can express their sense of the deplorable condition to which they arc re- duced by the "extortionate people" who raise and furnish their daily food. A beautiful place, the city, for young men "who think of the fuiu'e"— XEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. who count the cost of making a home and of rais- ing a family therein. FOOT ROT IN CATTLE. For the first time do I take my pen to write for or to the Farmer, and I do not know as I should have done so now, had I not seen an inquiry from H J. Harris, in reference to that terrible disease, the foot rot in cattle. He wishes fur a remedy to prevent and also to cure it. I do not know of a remedv to prevent it. But there is a remedy to cure it after the creature has an attack of it. It is this : when the creature is first lame, take the foot that is lame and tix it in the same way thai an ox is shod, by placing the foot in a block, then take a chisel and cut off the ends of the claws, so that it will bleed freely, and in a day or two it will be well as ever. Otis T. Streeter. Westboroughy Mass., Dec. 6, 1870. Remarks.— We do not understand why this op- eration should effect a cure, unless the disease is caused by an unnatural growth of the hoof. In the case of sheep, whose hoofs often become de- formed, it is common to ttim them down. It may be equally beneficial in the case of cattle. We hope that those who have had experience with this disease will favor the public with their experience. We fear that the disease is'a more serious matter than is generally supposed, and cannot endorse our correspondent's advice. We hope the State Board of Agriculture will take immediate action in the matter, as we understand it has appeared among cattle at Brighton market. or early winter, usually yield to the ameliorating influence of frosts, while "the drenching rains of spring time distribute the elements of fertility evenly through the soil, whence they are readily taken up by the growing crop. w. Sunderland, Mass., Dec, 1870. Remarks.— We thank our correspondent for his model report. While we have not room for discussions in detail, we might publish the "gist," as the lawyers say, of a great many talks of far- mers' clubs. But did not Mr. Eaton get his story of the Eastern man at the West wrong ? When "out West" ourselves we heard it in this form : A New England man thought he would show Western people how to feed economically; so, for a year or two, he lugged up his corn and fed it out Yankee fashion, at the same time keeping an eye on the working of his neighbors' system, and a few years convinced him that he was wrong and they right, under all the circumstances of the loca- tion. ADVANTAGES OF FALL PLOrOHING. A social eatheriog of farmers at the residence of Mr. E. M. Eaton, in Sunderland, Mass., Dec. 9:h, briffls' di-cusstd the advantages of fall ploughing as follows :— Mr. Emmons Russell, a practical far- mer of large experience, and a close observer, is fully convinced that his corn and oat crops are very much improved by ploughing the land the previous fall. Mr. E. M. Eaton regards the practice of fall plou£;hing as an old traditional custom ; or fashion followed by no beneficial results. By way of il- lustration he related an anecdote concerning a friend, possessing all the traits of a good thrifty New England farmer, who removed to Illinois and soon adopted the practice of fattening pork in the field, without shelter or floor, feeding the unground grain, simply because it was fash- ionable among the Suckers, knowing all the while it was not an economical practice. . Mr. Quartns Tower of Granby, is satisfied that ground should not be ploughed when wet, and a field may som- times be in good condition to plough in the fall, when it would not in the spring. Mr. Arthur Eaton thinks the additional cost of preparing ground to receive the seed will over- balance "tbe increased value of the crop on fall ploughed fields. L. F. Warner was of opinion that while some soils were not benefited and might perhaps be in- jured by fall ploughing, others were very much improved, and the succeeding crops considerably increased thereby. He had noticed in fields, a portion of which was ploughed in the fall, and the remainder in the spring, that the dividing line be- twetn the two sections were traceable by the dif- ferent growth of crops during a whole rotation, extending over a term of four years,— the fall ploughed portion producing the largest crops. Hard and stubborn soils if ploughed in autumn SHARP STICKS UNDER MUCK — THATCHING PEGS. With all due deference to Mr. Josiah D. Can- nings' opinion about "Sharp Sticks under Muck," published in Farmer of Nov. IQoh, I beg to give an opinion, also, on the probability of how the sticks came under the muck and who sharpened them. Perhaps I may be out in my calculation; yet it may not by some be considered out of place if looked at from another point of view. The farmers generally of this great go-a-head country may not be aware that all stacks of farm produce in the Old World, (England,) are well thatched with wheat straw, to the thickness of from eight to ten inches. The process of thatching is as follows : — A lot of straw is placed on the rick of wheat, barley or other grain or hay, into which a lot of hazel sticks, called "thatching peg*," sharpened at both ends, are stuck, on which more straw, threshed by hand, is neatly placed length- wise. The sticks being sharpened at both ends allow them to be easier pushed into the stack and the more easily to receive the upper or succeeding coating of straw. These thatching pegs are put ia as the thatcher progresses with his work, to keep the straw from slipping off. When the last cover- ing of straw is put on, other pegs with small hooks on them are used, and put in at regular dis- tances apart, round which a small cord of lightly twisted hay is once wrapped, acd goes the whole length or round of the rick ; when the pegs with thehooks are pushed down into the stack on the lower side of hay-band or cord, with the hook prcjacting over the lines which are placed about eigfiteen inches apart. Ricks cf grain or hay so covered or thatched will and do defy the rains and snows of seven years, or more, though the f.trmers of this Western world may scarcely credit the as- sertion. I have actually known farmers keep their wheat in stack for ten years, and their clips of wool for twenty years, waiting for higher prices ; but that was before "steam ships" navigated the deep waters of the Atlantic, or the plough turned up the sod of the beautiful prairies of riie West. My opinion about tiie sharp sticks under muck is, that at some early period, the land where the sticks were lound embedded belonged to an Eng- lish farmer, who pitched off thatch, pegs and all when the wheat was thrashed, which gradually rotted away, and to which year alter year, more thatch, more pegs and more muck were added, never dreaming itiat his land was crying out for want of liie muck he so carelessly suffered to go to waste. The farm, too, may have changed hands 1871. NEW ENGLAXl) FAKMER. 71 several times, as it is no new thing here for far- mers to "pull up stakes," and move on toward the setting sun, leaving a happy, comfortable home which they have worked, and striven, and plodded hard to make, to go and begin the world afresh, as it were, and build another home for the next dis- sati-fied successor. I shall be happy to see other remarks about "The Sharp Sticks under Muck." Joi£N Whatmoue. Bride/north Farm, Dunleith, III., Dec. 5, 1870. Remarks. — Evidently our correspondent i^ after somebody, '-with a sharp stick." But to see the "point" we must remember that fresh manure is called "muck" in England, and that in Illinois, far- mers move barns instead of the huge piles of "muck" and straw which accumulate about them. His description of thatching hay and grain in Eng- land may be interesting to those who must either make stacks or "pull down their barns and build greater." TOB.VCCO MARKET. Owing to the dry weather the farmers have been unable to take down their tobacco, and buyers have not commenced to buy much. We may be able to give more sales soon. We are informed that the Southern and Western tobacco is very good, and that purchasers have invested more money in tobacco from thosp sections than usual^t this time. Throughout the Valley and even among the mountain towns, the area planted with tobacco is yearly extending, and it is good this season. The farmer wants all he can gc't for it. If they combine as a whole aud insist on a fair price and stick to it, they may obtain it, thoui^h buyers or middle men, as in all other kinds of bosiaess, are bound to have the largest share of the profits, though the farmer has the largest share of the taxes to pay, and needs all he can get to pay the expenses of raising his crops, to support his family, &c. We otten hear it said that a nimble sixpence is better than a slow shilling, and if farmers can sell for cash now and get a good fair price, we should advise them to let the tobacco go; if not, all hold on to it, sort it well and pack it down, and it will sell before the year comes round. SORTING TOBACCO. Take down your tobacco on a moist day, and pack it. As you strip it, let one man strip, one make a cartful selection, dividing it into three grades; have a table before you, a good fire in your room, and do it up nice and it will sell for better prices. When well sorted, pack each grade closely in boxes and await the buyers' time. Tobacco Gkower. East Longmeadow, Mass., Dec. 20, 1870. coloring BUTTER, Please inform us if there is anything we can color oar butter with. If so, how mu<.-ti to the pound, &c. We are new beginners at butter milk- ing, and some of our customers object to the color of our butter. A Subscriber. Harmony, R. 1., Dec. 2, 1870. Ri;makk8.— In the height of grass feed butter is yellow enough ; hence the most natural way to color butter is to feed early cut and carefully cured Lay, V/iih messes of carrots and Indian meal. Bai oach fodder is not always at hand, and the butisr ofcows kept on fair hay is often too light colored for the fashion, and some harmless ^lor- i::g material is sometimes mingled with the cream, j-8t to please the eye. If carrots are used, clean them nicely, then scrape cfFwith a knife the yel- low outside only, soak it in boiling milk about fifteen minutes, then strain through a fine cloth, end eid the liquid to the cream before churning, instead of injuring the butter, some think that a little carrot gives it a sweet, June taste. Aunotto Is used extensively by cheese makers, and if pure, will answer as well for butter, but the comnon article in the market is said to be mnch adulterated. Mr. Willard recommends "Nichols* EngLsb LiQaid" as the best. Mr. Willard gives the following directions for preparing the common article for factory use. SidHar proportions for small quantities. Take four ponndo of best annotto, two pounds concen- trated potaob, five ounces saltpetre, one and a half ponnds sal-soda, and five gallons boiling water. Put the ingredients into a tub, pour on the boiling watar. The annatto should be enclosed in a cloth, and £.3 it dissolves squeeze it through the cloth in £03 liquid. About two ounces of this mixture is sr'.Soient for one hundred pounds of curd in sum- ni>3i:. At first use too liftle rather than too much 3cl::ri3g matter of either kind. Mr. A. R. Bailey of Elmore, Vt, makes the following statement in the Vermont Watchman, which was received since the foregoing was writ- ten:— I have until recently used carrots for giving butter color, but when at the Dairymen's Associa- tion at St. Albans last winter, I learned from prac- tical dairymen that annotto was by far the best agent for coloring butter. I was advised not to get it at the drug stores, but to ga it all prepared in liquid form. It can be obtained of Jones & Faulkner, dealers in butter and cheese, 141 Gen- esee street, Utica, N. Y. I obtained some from the above named parties last spring and find it perfectly satisfacfory. AMERICAN IMPROVED SUGAR BEET. Last spring you wrote an Inquiry about the "American Improved Imperial Sugar Beet" — its charac'.erittics. and wherein it dilTv-red from other sugar beets. Without giving you a very full de- scription, I promised to sena you a few specimens of tDis year's crop of this variety of beet. In ac- cordance with that promise, I have this day di- rected to your address, by express, a box contain- ing four bects4^ These are not selected on a?.connt of size, but to show you the shape and form of growth. You will notice how free they arc from small Inzzy roots, so common on other varieties. I have raised this variety for ten successive years without a failure. Thus far, no insect has injured them. Since I have raised them as a field crop, doing nearly all the labor after thinning and {first hoeing with horseandcultiv.ator, my crop has been larger, and at an expense of l)ut little more than is usual with corn and potatoes by the acre. The produce has often reached forty tons per acre. The tour beets I send you weigh 8^ each, or thirty- four pounds. I could show you one thousand bushels grown on one piece of land, that without any sorting would average eight pounds per beet. One of my neighbors drew a load three miles, to Middlebury, that was taken from a field of 1300 bushels; ilie load being made up of betts just as they grew, without any sorting. The load weighed 2350 pounds, and by actual count there were only 72 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. 257 beets in the load ; making the average weight per beet, 9} pounds. I have raised various varie- ties of turnips, carrots and beets, but no variety of roots could I raise as cheap as this beet, nor any that would produce so large an amount of healthy nutritious food to the acre. This beet has super- ceded all other roots in this vicinity. Cornwall, Vt., Dec 14, 1870. Henry Lane. Remarks.— The four beets were duly received, and according to Boston scales they weighed thirty- five pounds, — showing a gain of one pound from our correspondent's weight. They are certainly smooth well formed roots. PROPER TIME TO CUT WHEAT. A little experiment I made two years ago may possibly be useful to some of your readers. Pre- vious to 1868, I had an idea that wheat was left to go over-ripe, and that it should be cut a few days earlier than it generally is. In order to test this opinion I took a few ears of wheat from part of a field which I considered about an average in soil and grain. These I hung up to dry. In six days I cut the crop and took more ears which grew near the place where the others had been cut. These I marked No. 2, and hung them up also to dry. In the course of a month I got a small pair of scales, nicely balanced, rubbed out the first sample and put it in one side, and then sufficient of No. 2, to balance it. This done I counted the grains, and, to my surprise, found in first sample 848 kernels, while in the 2Qd there were only 737. Not satis- fied with this, and having more wheat left from No. 2 sample, I tried it again with a fresh quantity, but with as nearly as possible similar results. From this it would seem that the loss in weight from cutting wheat a week before it was ripe is as nearly as possible one in seven ; that is, one bushel in seven, or one acre in seven ; or, supposing that the straw and quality of grain is a little better in the early cut, there must still remain a loss of four or five aollars per acre. Of course I am as liable to errors as other wri- ters, but I think this plan of experiment so simple that any one may try it for himself. The weight of a given number of grains I think a safer guide than the produce of a measured space. John Whatmore. Bridgnorth Farm, Dunleith, III, Dec. 10, 1870. profitable pigs. I killed two pigs eight months old, that weighed 687 pouuds when dressed. The following is what I sold theoi for and what they cost me. 6S7 pouncs pork BoldatlS cents . . . ^. . . .$103 05 Paid lor pigd whuu 4 weeka old . . ." $10 00 81 bushel meil at $1.13 35 03 2bufltitlcortiat$1.20 2 40 4 bushel potatoes at 50 cents 2 00 10 bushel appxs (wmd falis) at 20 cents . 2 00 $51 43 Leaving a profit of $51 ^2 which I think is doing well for the first time ; but I am in hopes of doing still better next year. Weit Neicfield, Me., Dec. 12, 1870. C. J. Adams. DRY, CRACKED AND MISSHAPEN HOOFS IN HORSES. I notice an inquiry in your paper what to do for a horse's feet when they become hard and dry. I am no horse doctor, but I can tell what I have done in a similar case. We keep on this farm two horses for farm work and other uses. In the summer of 1869 their feet became dry and hard. One is naturally flat-footed. His feet grew at the toe, and contracted at the heel, and cracked cross- wise. The other had a straight hoof. His would split up and down the edges, were brittle, would crumble off' so much that it was difficult to keep him shod. It appeared to me that they needed some grease or oil, or something else, to soften and toughen them. About the first of September, I took oil, which we keep in the barn to oil our wagons, and applied to their hoofs in front, and up into the edge of the hair, also to the bottom of the foot. We did this once a week for a spell ; after that not so often. Their feet became better after the first application, and after a while became all right. This last summer we have used the oil with their feet. The oil seems to be just what was wanted, and brought their feet to the natural shape and condition. R.Davis. Troy, Vt., Nov. 30, 1870. BEANS FOR GARGET IN COWS. Some six or seven years ago, I saw beans re- commended for garget in cows, in the Farmer, by a gentleman who had a cow so badly affected that she was nearly spoiled, but she got to a stack of beans and ate what she wanted. The result was she was cured. Since then I have used nothing else, and it has never failed to cure as yet. Beans, we all know, will do no harm, and it is a medicine that all farmers have on hand, or ought to have. At first I soaked a pint to a feed, and mixed them with meal to make the cow eat them ; but now I keep ground beacs, as I think the meal is the best. This fall I had a very promising two-year-old heifer become so bad in one teat that I could scarcely milk it, and the milk was very chunky and bloody. I gave her one pint of the meal, mixed with other meal, for four days, when she was as well as ever, and has remained so. I think if cows were to be fed with bean meal two or three times a year, they would not be troubled with garget. C. F. Lincoln. Woodstock, Vt., Dec, 1870. THE COW DIED AND THE CAUSE DISCOVERED. In a communication of mine published in the Farmer, of (I think,) the 20th of June, I gave an account of a very singular case of sickness in one of my COWS, and I think it due to the readers of your paper to inform them how it terminated. " Three days after I wrote the article alluded to, the cow made an ineffectual attempt to calve. In investigating the case, it was found that the os uterus had not relaxed, so that no help could be rendered without first cutting that part of this or- gan. This would no doubt have resulted in the death of the animal. In less than twenty-four hours the cow was dead. A post-mortem exami- nation brought to light the following facts. The calf was doubled, so that the points of the gam- brel joints were forward and uppermost, as the cow naturally stood. The head was also forward, but under and between the hind legs. Whether the calf died previously to the cow, is a matter of doubt ; certainly from its appearance it could not have been very long previous. T. L. Hart. West Cornwall, Co?m., Nov., 1870. FOULS IN CATTLE. I never saw a case of this disorder as bad as that described by H. J. Harris, of Stowe, Vt., in a late number of the Farmer, but I never knew a few applications of equal parts of soft soap and the pitch of white pine, simmered together, fail to cure any case of ordinary fouls. e. p. o. Pelham, Mass , Dec. 5, 1870. — ifcwa has planted fifteen million trees within the last three years. 1871. 2^W ENGLAND FARMER. 73 For the New England Farmer, KANSAS. A late writer says: "I woinler if the Al- mighty ever ma^le a more beautiful country than Kansas ! These broad prairies, starred and gemmed with innumerable flowers, thread- ed by dark belts cf timber, which mark the winding streams, and clothed in softest green, are a joy forever." And surely nothing can surpass the transcendent beauty of the natural scenery of Kans-as. It is difficult for the stranger to believe that cultivation and art have not, lavished their utmost skill in shaping and adorning much of its natural scenery. Terrace rising above terrace, with such regu- larity and beauty, carries the mind baek to the cultivated and ornamented grounds about fine old residences in the East, while many of the bluffs look like forts in the distance. Then the air is £0 perfectly clear as to bring within the circle of vision vast extents of these roll- ing prairies, dotted here and there with culti- vated patches about the cottages of the settlers, and numerous herds of cattle fattening upon these rich, luxuriant grasses. Until within the past year, not less than forty million acres of these nutritious grasses, in Kansas alone, have gone to waste, or have served only for the vast herds ot buffaloes and other wild an- imals, which have roamed at pleasure over these broad acres. RcLkoning these grasses at the value of only two dollars per acre, here is a waste of eighty million dollars annually of a food-producing element. But this, in the near future, is all to be changed. It is said that not less than a thou- sand immigrants a day have been finding homes in Kansas during the fall of 1870, and this flowing tide still continues even into the winter. These immigrants are from England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada and the Eastern, Middle and Western States of our own country ; a majority of them com- ing from the Western States. Kansas is the last State of rich lands, within favorable lati- tudes to fill up; and the tide of immigration is so great, that she is filling up with amazing rapidity. Ai present the State has a tax duplicate of less than one hundred million dollars. In fif- teen years with the rapid development of Kan- sas, under her railroad system and general enterprise, she will have a tax dupli(;ate of one thousand million dollars. Who will make this vast amount of money, destined to be in the St ite within the next fifteen years ? Of courjie, those who own, occupy and improve the prop- erty that makes value for tax duplicates. Need any be surprised that t^o many are hastening to secure their share of Ihis tremen- dous prize ? And what has produced and is producing this great immigration, whii-h no other*State has ever had ? It is the fame of her surpris- ingly healthful climate, and her wonderfully productive toil. The choice lands of the State are being taken by these settlers under the Pre-emption Act of 1841, and under the Home- stead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act gives to every loral cit- izen of the United States, who has arrived at the age of 21 years, or is the head of a fam- ily, whethermale or female, IGO acres of land, to be located on the public domain, wherever the settler chooses, at the nominal coit of $18, which is for the survey and necessary papers. Foreigners who have declared their iritentiona of becoming citizens, and soldiers under age, are entitled to the benefits of the Homestead Act. Population, capital and production make States, and they are making Kansas ; and the now presents to the world a field as broad, a chance as great, a pro.^pect as promising as the world ever opened up for the energy and enterprise of men. Stock raising and herding are most remuner- ative, averaging not less than one hundred per cent, per annum, on capital invested. And Kansas will soon become the greatest beef- producing State in the Union. Her boundless ranges of natural pasturage, are capable of supporting millions of cattle, which do well and fatten during the entire year on the open range. And her richest cf soils, varying from three to thirty, and, in places, over fifcy feet in depth, will compensate the husband- man for his labor, in yielding the most boun- tiful crops of all the cereals, vegetables and fruits of the temperate htitude. At the National Pomological Congress, held in Horticultural Hall. Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1809, Kansas bore off the first premium, over all the other States in the Union, for her collec- tion of 'Fruits, unequalled for size, beauty and^/aror." The writer having just returned from a sec- ond tour through this young and buoyant State of the West, is more fully impressed wiih the superior advantages that Kansas offers over any other State, especia'ly to capitalists and to young men who wish to make themselves a delightful home in an air the purest, a soil the richest, and a land the fairest that the sun •shines upon. Kansas, occupying as she does the geo- graphical centre of the American Union, is destined to become the centre also of a count-, less population, and of vast interests. In her school system and educational advantages she boldly steps out in advance of all other States in makingyVee all her higher institutions of learn- ing, throwing wide open the doors of her sem- inaries, colleges and universities, and this not to one sex only, but to b('ih, and to-day, even in heryVee State Agricultural College, there are more girls than boys, receiving the same course of in.itruction, and graduating with the same honors. The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, 74 KEW ENGLAND F/U^IMER. Feb. embracing Kansas, ^''^ebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, owing to its peculiarly invigorating atmosphere, will yet produce the intellects, that will mould the destinies of nations and give laws to the world. E. M. Cleveland. New Braintree, Mass., Dec. 20, 1870. Remarks. — Our disposition is to look on the bright rather than the dark side of all objects presented to view ; still it is possible to polish up some things so bright and glistening as to compel one to turn away his eyes. We think our correspondent makes Kansas shine rather brighter than other visitors and the residents in that young State will think just, unless they have land they wish to sell. His remark that •'not less than one hundred per cent, per an- num on capital invested" m stock raising in Kansas is realized, leads us to mistrust that his observations during his two visits were not very thorough. Stock raising and fattening is undoubtedly good bubiness in Kansas, but we mistrust there are many items of expense and risk omitted in any calculation which ar- rives at a conclusion of one hundred per cent, per annum. We mistrust also that there are exceptions to our correspondent's representa- tions of the "invigorating atmosphere" which rests upon the rich soil of Kansas. For the New England Farmer, MBDlCALi TOPICS. BY A MEDICAIi MAN, Poisons; their Symptoms and Treatment. CONCLUDED. PnospnoRUS — This is an irritant poison, used in the manufacture of matches. ' Symptoms. — A hot unpleasant tastey an acrid, burning sensation in the throat and stomach, nausea and vomiting, the matter vomited bsing of a dark color and emitting white fumes ; the pulse is small and frequent, and not unfrequencly violent convulsions end the scene. Treatment. — Give an emetic promptly ; also copious draughts of magnesia in water, and mucilaginous drinks. Poisonous Fl-^h — Conger E'?l, Crawfish, Dolpbin, Old Wile, Spanish Mackerel, and several others. Symptoms. —In sm hour or two — often in a much shorter time — afrer the fish has been eaten, a weight at the stomach comes on, with slight dizziness and headiche, a sense of heat about the head and eyes, considerable thirst, and often an eruption of the skin; occasion- ally convulsions and death. Treatment — An emetic of ground mustard or of white vitriol (^sulphate of zinc) must be speedily given, with copious draughts of warm water. This should be followed by an active purgative, and then by vinegar and water. Laudanum may be given if there be indica- tions of spasm, and stimulants may be neces- sary in some cases. Poison Hemlock. — See Conium. Poisonous Insects. — Bee, Gnat, Hornet, Scorpion, Waep, &c. Symptoms. — In general, the sting of these insects occasions only a slight degree of pain and swelling. But sometimes the symptoms are more violent, and sickness and fever are produced. Treatment. — Rub hartshorn (ammonia) and sweet oil on ihe affected part ; and a rag moistened in the same, or in salt and water, may be kept upon it till the pain is removed. Moistened clay is an excellent remedy. A few drops of aqua ammonia or hart'chorn may be given frequently in a little water, and a glass or two of wine or of weak sling may be taken if the symptoms are severe. The sting may be removed in most casss by making a strorg pressure around it with the barrel of a watch key. Poison Ivy. — Poison Oak. (Rhus toxico- dendron.) — Symptoms and treatment like Aco- nite, Conitum, .&c. Poisonous Mushrooms. — Several kinds of mubhrooms are poisonous, and have been eaten by mistake. Symptoms — Nausea, heat and pain in the stomach and bowels, vomiting and purging, great thirst, small and frequent pulse, stupor, dilated pupil, cold sweat, fainting, convulsions and death. Treatment. — Clear the stomach and bowels by giving an emetic of ground mustard, or of white vitriol {sulphate of zinc,) followed by Epsom salts (sulphate of magnesia,) and large stimulating enemas. After the poison has been thoroughly evacuated, small quanti- ties of brandy and water may be given. Poisonous Serpents — Boa, Copperhead, Mocasin, Rattlesnake, Viper, &c. Symptoms. — A sharp pain is felt in the wounded part, which soon extend;) over the limb or body ; great swelling, at first hard aod pale, th^n red, livid and gangrenous in ap- pearance. Paintings come en, with vomiting, convul^ioas, and sometimes jaundice. The pulse \i small, frequent and irregular, the breathing is difficult, the sight fails the intel- lectual faculties are deranged, cold sweats come on, and inflammation, suppuration, and sometimes extensive gangrene takes place. Treatment. — Apply a tight ligature between the wound and the heart ; draw all the blood possible, by means of a cupping glass, then apply a hot iron, and afterwards cover the wound with lint, dipped in equal parts of sweet oil and hartshorn. Warm drinks and small doses of ammonia, to cause perspiration, may oe given. Poison SuM.iCi?. — Dogwood, (erroneously 1871 ] NEW ENGLAXD FARMER. 80 called) — lihus venenata. For symptoms and treatmf-nt see Poison Ivy. PoKK — Scoke. Cokum, GargrPt-root. — The botanical name of this plant is P/iytolacca de- candria. The root, leaves and berries are poisonous ; but the young shoots have been cooked and eaten, like asparagus, and are quite harmless. Symptoms and treatment like Blue Flag, Colocynth. &c. PoTAt^H — Potassa. — Carbonate of Potasih. Pearl Ash. Saleratus, Strong Ley, Nitrate of Potash, Saltpetre, Chromate of Potash. With the exception of the Chromate and Bichro- mate, the symptoms and treatment are like Ammonia. For those of the Chromate and Bi- chromate, see Chrome. Pkussic Acid. — Hydrocyanic Acid. This exceedicgly active poison is found in combi- nation with several metals, in the oil of bitter almonds, in the leaves of the common laurel, and sparingly in the seeds or stones of the peach, cberry, plum, &c. Symptoms. — When the dose is large, death almost immediately ensues. In smaller quan- tities, it causes pain in the head, stupor, nau- sea, giddiness, great debility, a small, vibrat- ing pilse, eructations having the flavor of almond:*, spasms, convulsions and death. Treatment. — Give a solution of saleratus (bicarbonate of potash,) or of carbonate of ammonia, and then administer a weak solu- tion of copperas {sulphate of iron.) The cold douche, or an etfubion of cold water upon the headand spine, have been recom- mended. Red Precipitate. — See Mercury. Rhus Toxicodendron.— See Poison Ivy. Rum.— St^e ALohol. Sciieele's GitEEN. — See Arsenic. SiLV^EK — Nitrate of Silver, Lunar Caustic. Symptoms. — Headache, vomiting, pain ia the bowels, diarrhoea, palsy, convulsions and death. I'reatment. — Give a strong solution of com- mon salt, (chloride of sodium.) and follow with mucilaginous drinks, such as flaxseed tea, slip- pery elm, etc. S.MUT OF Rye. — See Ergot. Soda. — Sal Soda, Carbonate of Soda, &c Svmptomd and treatment like Ammonia and Potabh. Stiiamomum, — Thorn Apple, Jameson we'ied, Stinkweed, &c. Symptoms and treat- ment like Aconite, -Conium, &j. Strychnia. — Strychnine. See Xux Vom- ica. ' SuLnruRic Acid. — Oil of Vitriol. Symp- toms and treatment like Muriatic Acid, Ni- t.ic Acid, etc. Tartak E.metic. — See Antimony. Tartaric Acid. — See Acetic Acid. Thorn Aitlk — See Stramonium. Tou.vcco. — (Nicotina Tabacum.) Symp- toms and treatment like Aconite an^>ther narcotics. " Tin. — Chloride of Tin,. Oxide of Tin, So- [ lution of Tin. Symptomg and treatment like Arsenic, Copper, &c. Veratrum — Veratrum album or White Hellebore. Veratrum viride or (rrf-en Helle- bore. Symptoms and treatment like Aconite. Verdigris. — See Copper. Vermillion — See Mercury. Vinegar — Si-.e Acetic Acid. Whiskey. — See Alcohol. Zinc — Sulphate of Zinc or White Vitriol. Sy mptoms and treatment like Arsenic, Cop- per, &c. BEST MILK-PKODUCINQ FOOD. Our correspondent T. L. Hart, of West Cornwall, Conn., has written an article for the Germantown Telegraph from which we make the following extract : — Tcere is no doubt a difference in the quality of milk in different cows, some being rich in caseine or cheese, and that of others in butter, yet as a rule the milk will be in a great meas- ure what it is made by the feed of the cow. The milk from the same cows may be varied by feed from eighty, by the lactometer, up to a hundred and fifteen degrees, the highest number being the best, and such as is pro- duced by the heaviest feed. In a carefully-tried experiment which I made last winter I found that heavy feed, such as corn, wheat and rye shorts, fed to twelve cows, pound for pound, did not make as much milk as wheat-bran, into nine quarts a day, and I have no doubt that for a time this would invariably be the result, yet I should not dare to continue for any coni-ide-able length of time to feed my cows upon wheat-bran, alone, as it would undoubtedly diminish the strength of the cow and soon reduce her to a condi- tion that she would be incapable of giving very much milk. I am now feeding to twelve cows two bushels of wheat-bran mixed with one bushel of corn-meal ground in the cob, with very satifactory results. The milk is good, the strength of the animal is kept up, and a diminished amount of hay will beep the cow in good thriving condition. I feed twice a day. It is yet an open question whether the feed should be fed dry or wet. There is no doubt but that in cold we ither it would be much better if the water, which is recjuired by cows in milk, could be warmed. It taken into the system while at a very low temperature the process of digestion will be retarded until the temperature of the wafer is raised to blood- heat. In warming this water digestion is not only retarded, but there will be a loss of a certain amount of food, which, like fuel, is consumed in keeping up the heat of the body ; and this accounts for 'the fact that a herd of cattle require very much more food in ex- tremely cold weather than they do iti warm weather. It will bo evident, therefore, that 76 NEW ENGLAND FARA£ER. Feb. a large amount of food may be saved by warm stabling in cold weather and consequently a much greater secretion of milk secured. The great m^ss of the community are no doubt ignorant in regard to the great d.flfer- ence in the quality of milk made by the dif- ferent kinds of feed. Milk made from a cow fed upon turnips and buckwheat-bran or •buckwheat-shorts, is totally unfit for a young child, or its mother, and there is no doubt but that the mortality among children is often caused bv improper food of which the milk is made. The physician knows the importance of having the milk from a new milch cow as- signed for a young child ; the why and where- fore very likely he does not know. He prob- ably does nnt know that the milk from a farrow cow is one-third heavier and one-third richer in caseine than that from a new milch cow, and therefore is not as well adapted to the wants of the child, nor does the mother understand that tae cause of the child's illness is owing to some improper food eaten by the cow. If I were desirous of makirg a given amount of milk the best adapted to the use of the greatest number of children, I would feed the cows on equal parts (in pounds) of oats wheat-bran and Indian corn and the best of hay and apples. Until we become accustomed to trying ex- periments, we shall not know for a certainty the quantity and quality of food that will, " when fed to a lot of cows, produce the great- est amount of really good milk for a given amount of feed, nor shall we know whether the cutting of hay for our miloh cows in winter will pay for the extra expense and labor of doing it. Some of our milkmen who have tried cutting are of the opinion that it pays well for the trouble and some contemplate steaming. Roots, especially carrots, increase the flow of milk and of the best quality, and will tend to keep the cow in good health. Apples will increase the quantity of milk nearly as much as turnips, and of much better quality. In making milk there is nothing more im- portant than good early-cut hay. Without this it miy be doubted whether milk can be made with profit. SOMETHINa ABOCTT MUCK. Several correspondents having lately re- vived, through our columns, the by no means new question as to tie value of muck, we present for their consideration a word or two upon the same subject. Expeiim^ntj in the analysis and practical use of muck are of such number and the results have been of such a nature as to prove that it should never be used in its crude state, or on being immediately thrown up from its bed. The time it should be allowed to de- compose depends to a considerable extent upon the character of the deposit. If it has been 1} ing in stagnant water, or if water has been soaking through it — in which latter case it will be found of but little value for fertiliz- ing purposes — it should remain exposed to the action of air, rain and frosts for at least a twelvemonth. If, on the other hand, it comes from a dry situation it may be used as an absorbent after having remained exposed for but three or four ironths. Without this sea- soning muck is of very little value. It is as an absorbent that we place the greatest value upon muck. When thoroughly dried it is not only a complete absorber, but it is also a most perfect deodorizing agent ; so that by its use in the cow stable the most valuable part of the voidings of a stock of cattle, and that usually suffered to go to waste, the liquid portion, is not only saved, but absolute cleanliness, and therefore health- fulness, is secured. But when saturated, the muck should not be left where it will wash, as in a short time it would become almost value- less, by the loss of that which it contained through absorption. It must remain in some covered situation until hauled upon the land. Again, muck forms a most useful ingredient in the compost heap. Used for this purpose, in connection with stable manure, lime, ashes, salt, &c., it becomes a valuable dressing, aside from greatly augmenting the quantity of the farm fertilizers. For maoy uses, especially for corn, garden crops, and as a top dressing for grass lands, it is regarded by all who have ever used it as better than pure dung ; espe- cially if applied on light open soil, liable to sufler from drougth. The question is often asked by farmers if muck used alone is of itself any advantage to the land. This question can be quite accu- rately answered by saj ing that generally it is not. Its value in this respect results fiom its mechanical action. On sandy, porous soils, such as are liable to leach, and to readily feel the eflFect of drought, an application of muck would give — in consequence of its quality of attracting ;ind retaining moisture — greater consistency to the soil ; and upon clayey soils it would also serve to render them less stiff and rigid and more susceptible of cultivation. In some of his forcible and conclusive sen- tences, Liebig has shown how peat or muck, consisting for the most part of inert vegetable matter, and which has ceased to undergo further voluntary decomposition, often con- tains substances highly injurious to vegetation, such as sulphate of iron, free phosphoric and sulphuric acids ; but that these are capable of being neutralized and turned to plant food by the action of lime. This should direct all farmers in the use they make of muck as a fertilizer. — Maine Farmer. — Indiana proposes to consolidate its present State University, Agricultural College and otiier Statdfclucational institutions into one great Uni- versity, to be located at Indianapolis. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 77 THE PENOBSCOT PLTJM. This fniit originated in the garden of James McLaughlin of Bangor, Me., and was intro- duced by B. F. Nourse and Henry Little of Bangor. The illustration was drawn from fruit raised by 'Mr. Henry Vandine of Cam- bridgeport, Mass. The tree is a very thrifty grower, bears young, and the specimens we have seen of it have been unusually free from wart or blight of any kind. Fruit largo, about the size of the Jefferson ; oblong, marked with a deep suture ; stem an inch in length, slender, and set in a small cavity ; skin, orange yellow, smooth and fair, with no blush. !Mr. Yandine represents it as among the best, and well worthy of cultivation. — The Laconia Democrat says that the ravages of the new cabbage worm were stopped the past season in one place by a liberal coating of fine salt or. tVf "bbageB""" -lornlng while the dew was on. COLOR IN" AUTUMNAL FOLIAGE. Mr. I. AVliarton, in the Amcnca.n Jownal' of Science observes : — If chlorophyl, the green- coloring matter of leaves, should be lik(> many other greens, a compound color, it must have for one of its elements, a vegetable blue, ca- pable of being reddened by acids. If the juices of leaves kept in a neutral con- dition by vital force, or by alkaline matter brought in the sap from the earth, should, when circulation ceases, become acidified i\v tite at- mospheric oxygon, those juices would tlien be capable of reddening the vegetable blue of the chlorophyl. If, however, that vegetable blue .should be thus reddened, it ought to become blue again when exposed to an alkali ; or in otlior words, if green leaves should be reddened in llie au- tumn in the manner here suggested, by the ac- tion of the oxydizing atmosphere, they ought 78 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. to return from red to green, if immersed in an alkaline atmosphere. He exposed under a glass receiver, in the lif^ht, with a capsule containing ammonia, a variety of autumnal red leaves, and had the gratification to perceive that in most cases, the green color was restored, the restored green color remaining from some minutes to hours. Frost probably plays no other part in caus- ing the autumnal tints, than merely to arrest the circulation, by killing the leaves. When a sharp frost occurs early in the fall, while the pulp of the leaves is still full and plump, the red colors come out brilUantly, because there is plenty of the blue substance to be acted upon by the juices then also abundant. When, on the other hand, the leaves die slowly, and are at the same time slowly dried in a late and dry autumn, the pulp becomes so meagre and the cuticle of the leaf so dry and hard, that an abundant production of fine red tints is im- possible, and brown, the color of decay, pre- dominates. PLANTING TREES ALONG THE HIGH"WAYS. Persons who have travelled through the in- terior of New England, cannot have failed to notice the great extent of road-side without trees. Sometimes for miles together, along the sides of extensive pastures and sprout-lands, the roadside is barren, or covered with an un- sightly and unprofitable growth of alders and other wild shrubs, or, what is worse, bur- docks, thistles or milk-weeds. This ought not to be. If these spaces-were set with the sugar maple, and well cared for, in the course of years they would well nigh supply the whole population with all the sugar it. would wish to consume, if added to what is ah-eady produced in sugar orchards. When the trees become past producing the sugar mak- ino' fluid, they would form an immense amount of valuable timber for mechanical purposes, and the refuse portions make the most valu- able fuel. But these are not all the good offices which they would perform. Numerous tracts of New England lands suffer for lack of mois- ture, which would be greatly benefited by trees as condensers of vapor, and thus en- able such soils to produce remunerative crops. The health which such trees would tend to promote, and the charming beauty they would impart to the landscape, ought in themselves to be a sufficient motive to set us at work to plant them. In 1869, the Legislature of New York passed an act in relation to planting trees alongside of the public highways, and last winter, we tliink it was, they amended that act to read as follows, and it is now in force : — "Any inhabitant liable to highway tax who shall transplant by the side of the public highway any forest shade trees or fruit trees, of suitable size, shall be allowed by the overseers of hi,£:;hways in abatement of his highway tax, one dollar for every four trees set out; but no row of elms shall be placed nearer than seventy feet; no row of maples or other forest trees nearer than fifty feet, except locust, which may be set thirty feet apart ; fruit trees must be set at least fifty feet apart, and no allowance, as before mentioned, shall be made, unless such trees shall have been set out the year previous to the demand for said abatement of tax, and living and well protected from annuals at the tune of such demand." We hope that the Legislature of Massachu- setts, at its next session, will adopt the fore- going law, or one similar in effect, and that all land owners where road sides are barren of trees, will avail themselves of its privileges at once. FARMERS' CLUBS AND TO^WN MEET- INGS. History infonns us that when Charles II. granted the province of Carolina, in 1663, to eight distin- giushed noblemen of his realm, the celebrated John Locke, at their request, drafted an elaborate code for the government of the colony, in which he endeavored to avoid all the errors and to com- bine all the excellencies of existing and past sys- tems of government. But however beautiful in theory the scheme of the great philosopher might have been on paper, it was found to be utterly im- practicable and useless in the wilderness ; and all attempts to put it into practical operation were soon abandoned, and the people proceeded to adopt in its stead such simple rules and regulations as were necessary to govern their intercourse with each other and with the wild men and wilder beasts by whom they were surrounded. AVhile the plan of goveniment that was devised by this gi-eat English philosopher to serve as a model for the new world, and to shape the legisla- tion of a continent, is remembered only as a fail- ure, the deliberations of little collections of unlet- tered pioneers became the model of State and na- tional governments. May w^. not hope that what the town meeting has done for the government of the country, the farmers' club may yet accomplish for the advance- ment of agriculture ? Liko John Locke's consti- tution, the present organization of Agricultural Boards and Societies fails to secure the ^♦^.arty sym- pathy and co-operation of those for whom it was 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 79 devised. Whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the cause of this want of co-operation be- tween agricultural iissociatioiis and practical far- mers, all will agree that it is very desirable that greater unity of action should be secured ; that practical farmers should participate more freely in the maniigcmcnt, and talic a more active part in the proceedings of agricultural societies. Among other means for the accomplishment of these ob- jects, we have looked to the formation of Farmers' Clubs and Town Shows as the most hopeful ; as a beginning at the right place, — among the fai-mers themselves. Tne farmers of Maine appear to be taking the lead of those in the other New England States in the organization of Farmers' Clubs, and we print in another column an article by one who has had much experience in their management and opera- tion there, and most heartily commend his sugges- tions to the consideration of our readers. [ judgment, however, must be exercised in its use. An ounce or two is enough to butn at once for a bam of from six to twelve or twenty cattle, and the operation should be repeated regularly twice a day. The fumes should pervade all parts of tlie room equally, and not l)e stronger than the attend- ant can bear with moderate discomfort. Cattle Dying in Corn Fields. — During the past dry season many cattle have died after being turned into fields of com stalks. Some have sup- posed that death was caused by eating the smutty ears which were rejected by the harvesters. Mr. Elmer Baldwin, who has several times witnessed post mortem examinations of animals that have thus died thinks the idea of smut being fatal is erroneous, and says, in the Prairie Fanner :— The common practice is to keep cattle on the short fall feed, or with light fecduig, till the corn- lield is cleared, when they are turned in with empty stomachs and ravenous appetites ; there is generally a scarcity of water, and the fatal results follow. The cause, evidently, is too rapacious and full feeding of the dry material, without suliicient water. In all the cases he had examined, the second stomach, commonly called the "manifold," was Eacked with the masticated com husks, so dry and ard that the point of a common butcher's knife would only, with considerable effort, he made to penetrate its siUjstance, while the coats of the stom- ach were disorganized and separated, showing that a violent and fatal inflammation had supervened. With plenty of salt and access to running water at least twice a day, he thinks there is no danger from turning cattle into stalk fields. The Foot and Moitu Disease. — We hear of the appearance of this disease in various parts of Massachusetts, but have no intelligence of any ac- tion by tlie comiiuttce of which Dr. Loring is chainnan, appointed by the Board of Agriculture to confer with the authorities of the State in rela- tion to the adoption of measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Mr. A. Scott, of North Blackstone, says in the J'atriot, there arc cases which cannot be accounted for othcnvisc than by supposing that it was proi)agafcd liy contagion through the air. In an article in the Maine Farmer by S. L. Goodale, Esq., fumigation of the stable l>y burning bits of brimstone on live coals in a suitable vessel, is recommended as a nrevcntive. Care and For the Xeio England Farmer. VZINDOW GABDENLNQ. In reply to tlie inquiries of Etta Parker in last week's Farmer we would say that we think a garden might ilourish finely on a light- stand. Sides oi thin wood, such as cheese bo.xes are made of, could be nailed around it, fastening them securely at the corners with brads ; and lining the inside vrith zinc, either up to the top edge, or nailing it one inch below it ; or a tin pan might be made to fit closely in, which would be more easily pro- cured. This lining is required, else the water would leak out, and the wood warp or swell. To prepare the soil, scatter small bits of charcoal over the pan, with a good sprinkling of the dust ; this will act both as a purifier and a fertilizer, and prevent all mouldiness or decay. Upon this foundation spread a thin coat of perfectly decayed stable manure, and over that place rich loam, with a goodly mix- ture of sand — at least one-quarter — silver sand, such as is used for scouring, will answer the purpose. To ornament the exterior of the box, sec- tions of pine cones can be nailed on with small brads, and varnished with carriage varnish ; or coffee berries and pumpkin seeds can be made into ilowers, or glued on in fanciful shapes, with rice seeds intermingled ; then var- nish the whole. Split rattans could be nailed on in mosaic work, or split sticks of maple, oak, birch, &c., can be used and arranged in ovals, crosses or squares. Miss Etta can ex- ercis'e her own ingenuity in its adornment. It would be a great advantage to be able to move it about, as the chief objection to '^win- dow boxes''^ is in their being stationarv, the plants are likely to grow one sided, and pre- sent a finer appearance to the passer-by than to their owner, as she sits besidi' them. Vines are great additions to the "6oxf.s," and they could be trailed about the stand with very good eUect. We saw in Cleveland, Ohio, several years since, an exquisite lloral design. It belonged to the matron of a Children's Asylum, ami wa.s her own work. It was a stand constructed out of the gnarled roots of trei's, Imslu's, anil grape vine branches. A tripod formed the standard ; uj)on tliat. irooked branches held iij) an oval tin pan wliicli was firmly iiaikd to (hern. This was jiainted green, ami (illeil with i'arth. Vines of Mancywort, Tnulrscan- lid, Maurandia and Herman Inj trailed ail about it. Ijijcopodium was mingled with them. A winter llowcring Fuchsia, ''Sped- 80 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. osa" — was in the centre, and was filled with its waxen pinlsT and crimson bells. A ivhite Geranium was on one side, and a bright pink of tlie same species, llanked the other. A white Eupatorium and scarlet Bouvardia com- pleted the loveliest stand we ever saw. Any nigenious boy, or even a girl who liked to use hammer and nails, could construct a similar one. A wooden circle could be substituted for the tin pan, and gnarled roots and branches would ornament prettily. We hope IVliss Etta will try her hand at its manufacture, and inform the readers of the FAitMEK of her success. 8. O. J. For the New England Farmer. COLOKING BUTTER. USE OF SALTPETRE. — WASHING BUTTER. "A Subscriber" at Harmony, R. I., desires information on this point. As we are coloring butter weekly, with a new preparation, called Annotto. we obtained from Whitman & Buz- zell, of Little Falls, N. Y., who are the agents for its sale, we can tell of its desirability. X. A. Willard, the great authority on dairy mat- ters, recommended it to us and procured it from the above-mentioned firm. It is much used in New York and Pennsylvania by dairy- men of the highest stamp. The famous butter of Philadelphia is all colored with it. Annotto-ine is produced from the seed of a plant grown in Brazil. The process is to wash the coloring from the surface of the seeds, by letting them soak for some time in cold water. When this is done, the water is drawn off and the Annotto-ine is dried and then pulverized. The old process was to boil the seeds, but this dissolved the. entire seed, which was not desira- ble, and did not produce so pure an article for coloring butter. The Annotto-ine is sold at $2 per pound. One pound of pure potash, of full strength, and half a pound of sal soda are mixed with it, according to directions 'fur- nished by the agents, who will also furnish the potash at tAventy-five cents per pound, and the sal soda for six cents per pound, and with cold water, four gallons of Annotto-ine can be prepared. This should be bottled and corked tightly, and kept in a dry place. When the cream is ready for the churn, pour in one large tablespoonful of it to every sLx (juarts of cream. This amount will give a fine golden hue and a good flavor ; it cer- tainly does not detract from the sweetness of the butter. We have used it for six weeks, and are much pleased with it, haAing always had a decided dislike to tallowy butter for ta- ble use. All who see our butter exclaim, "where did you get your butter? It exactly simulates the color of June butter." O. 8. Bliss, Secretary of the Vermont Dai- ryman's Association, in an essay delivered at Montpelier, March .5, 1870, says of Annotto : "It is a r nrely vegetable extract, and the Brazil- ians, who manufacture it, make use of it to tint very many of the most delicate and luxurious dishes served at their i-epasts. We have a friend who has traveled in South America, and he speaks of it as analogous to our butter in some respects ; one of which is that the really pure article is of a comparatively imperishable or self-preserving na- ture, and that it imparts to milk, butter and cheese, in some degree this preservative principle." He also says in the same essay : — "Many persons affect to be very averse to the use of colored butter, but we have never seen one yet who does not like good, rich-looking, yellow butter better than a poor, lardy, white article, and would not eat a nicely colored article much more satisfixctorily than the other, provided, of course, that he does not know that it is colored ; and the smartest of the class are unable to distinguish the colored from natural butter of the same shade of color." To all of which we say amen. Mr. Bliss has taken some exceptions to our style of butter-making, but we fully agree on the sub- ject of "coloring" it. As to the saltpetre, to which he alludes in your paper of Nov. 19, the practice of twenty years has confirmed us in the belief of its non-injui'ious properties in infinitesimal doses. It prevents all cheesy and bitter taste in the butter, so prevalent at this season in small dairies, and so disgusting. A prominent farmer in Grafton County went to Boston some years since with his butter. The market price was fifty cents — he could get but thirty -five. With praiseworthy curios- ity, he insisted upon knowmg why his butter could not command the same price in market, and what his wife should do the next season to make it saleable ? He was answered that the best of butter was cured with salt, saltpetre and sugar — so much to a pound ; that the two latter ingredients were as preservative as salt, and if combined with it, would produce an A No. 1 article. He profited by the advice, and has ever since received the highest price for the product of his dairy. As to washing butter, we must agree to dis- agree with Mr. Bliss, but should like to place some;of our unwashed Alderney butter, made in September, beside of his washed butter, in the spring, and see if he could not discern a "difference in the sweetness." He also takes exceptions to the amount of butter made by "Mrs. A.'s cows." We know of several Alderney cows which averaged fourteen pounds of butter per week, all the summer months. A four-year-old made from eleven to thirteen pounds last summer, for jmany weeks. We are strangers to IMr. Bliss, though well knoAvn to his friend, X. A. Wil- lard ; but we venture to assert that should we meet we should enjoy a friendly chat on butter and its manufacture, even though we might differ on some points. s. o. J. Jan. 2, 1870. — Thomas J. Field, of Northfield, Mass., has sold six head of Short-horns to the Agricultural College. and two to Mr. Ellison, of Leesburg, Va. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 81 A "WTNTEB POEM. BY J. O. VHITTI£H. A sound as if from balls of silver, Or ellin cymbals smitten clear, Through the frost-pictured panes I hear. A brightness which outshines the morning, A splendor brooking no delay Beckons and tempts my feet away. I leave the trodden village highway, For virgin snow-paths glimmerijig through A jewelled elm-tree avenue; Where, keen against the walls of sapphire, The gleaming tree-bolls, ice-embossed, Ilold up their chandeliers of frost. I tread in Orient halls enchanted, I dream the traga's dream of caves Gem-lit beneath the North Sea waves 1 I walk the land of Eldorado, I touch its mimic garden bowers. Its silver leaves and diamond flowers I The flora of the mystic wine-world Around me lifts on crystal stems The petals of its clustered gems I What miracle of wierd transforming In this wild work of frost and light, This glimpse of glory infinite I This fore gleam of the Iloly City, Like that to liim of I'atraos given, The white bride coming down from heaven I How flash the ranked and mail-clai'. alders. Through what sharp-glancing spears of reeds The brook its mullled water leads I Yon maple, like the bush of Horeb, Burns unconsumed ; a white, cold fire Kays out from every grassy spire. Each slender rush and spike of mullein. Low land shrub and drooping f«rn, Transfigured, blaze where'er 1 turn. How yonder Ethiopian hemlock Crowned with his glistening circlet stands I What jewels light his swartJiy hands I Here, where the forest opens southward. Between its hospitable pines. As through a door, the warm sun shines. The jewels loosen on the branches. And lightly as the soft winds blow, Fail, tinkling, on the ice below. And through the dashing of their cymbals, 1 hear the old familiar fall Of water down a rocky wall. Where from its wintry prison breaking. In dark and silence hidden long. The brook repeats his bummer song. One instant flashing in the sunshine. Keen as a sabre from its sheath. Then lost again the ice beneath. I hear the rabbit lightly leaping, The foolish screaming of the jay. The chopper's axe-stroke far away ; The clamor of some ncigliboring barn-ynrd. The lazy cock's belated crow. Or cattle-tramp in crispy snow. And as in some enchanted forest The lost knight hears his comrades sing, And near at hand, their bridles ring. Bo welcome I these sounds and voices. These ulrs from f.ir-olF Summer bfown — Tliis life that leaves me not alone. For the white glory overawes me ; The crystal terror of the seer • Of Chebar's vision blinds mo Rebuke me not, O sapphire heaven I Thou stainless earth lay not on me This keen reproach of purity 1 Let the strange frost-work sink and crumble. And let the loosened tree boughs swing. Till all their bells of silver ring. Shine warmly down, thou sun of noontide. On this chill pageant, melt and move, The Winter's frozen heart with love. And soft and low, thou wind south-blowing. Breathe through a veil of tcnderest haze The prophecy of Simimer days. Come with the green relief of promise, And to this dead, cold splendor bring The living jewels of the Spring I FARMEBS' CLUBS. The long evenings an; now at haiul, and the farmer, finding a little leisure after the labors of the day, looks about him for some means of pleasure and amusement wherewith to occupy the time. lie will find no more profitable way to spend an occasional evening than in the meetings of a wide-awake Farmers' Club. Better by far is it than to doze the time away, smoking a pipe in the chimney corner, or lounging at the country store. The book and the paper tire after a Avliile ; these organizations come in to occupy a portion of time in just such a way as the hard-working farmer needs. Here he can in a measure ob- tain that Mental Culture Which is so much neglected by those who labor day after day upon tiieir farms. It is very natural for them to slide into almost en- tire neglect of any intellectual ellbrt, and un- less they have something of a character in which they are particularly interested, and which pei-tains to the business in which they are daily engaged, any effort in that direc- tion soon becomes laborious, and finally is discontinued altogether. All the time, they are inclined too much to physical exercise, while they neglect the e.xercise of the mind. Even at many of our County Fairs, the annual address, which once afforded a little mental stimulus, has been discontinued, and the time is occupied in a manner which docs not, to say the least, draw out any mental ellort. Again, much of the farmer's time is spent alone, or in company with liircd help not in any way remarkable for their intelligence, and the mind riuis along in the old grooves with but little to excite it to activity. It becomes sluggish. I\Iind needs contact with mind to rub it into activity. The more we associate with other individuals, the more the mind is aroused ; we think, we study. These Far- mers' Clubs then, are just what is needed to draw the farmers together, and to give them an op])ortuuIty to bring tiieir luiiuis in contact. The exercises ure such as pertain to their 82 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. every day affairs, and therefore such as they are more or less familiar with. While exer- cising the mind, they are reaping other ad- vantages as well. Practical Knowledge Is acquired. However humble the individuals composing the Club, however ignorant in "book learning," however fough their exte- rior, if they are practical farmers each one knows something which will be an advantage to the others. Some rough and otherwise ig- norant men are critical observers, and are possessed of a fund of practical knowledge, which, if it can be drawn out, will be of ui- tercst to all. All farmers need a share in their knowledge, but it is very difficult to obtain. They are not public talkers, and any efibrt made under the formalities of a public meeting would quite surely result in a failure. I have seen such men at farmers' conventions, after the meeting was dissolved, gather to- gether in knots and talk over the subject under discussion in a manner which would have done honor to the lecturer himself. A Farmers' Club is the very best place to draw out the knowledge of such men, and at the same time it is a good place to draw out the knowledge of those who are accustomed to public speaking. Associated Effort. Another advantage of these organizations is in associated effort. This advantage will manifest itself in many ways. Great good will come from association alone without com- bining in any effort. When men come to- gether and comjiare notes, as the saying is, when they talk over the work in which at the time they are engaged, when they compare the different crops raised with the yield of their neighbors, they are spurred up to effort and are led to inquiry. These comparisons, this incjuiry, lead to thought, and through that to better cultivation and better crops. They will be encouraged in trying new experiments. They can also associate in procuring new and costly kinds of seeds, and in trying new im- plements to prove their value. In many cases the members of a Club have combined in pur- chasing thoroughbred animals for the improve- ment of their Hocks and herds. Such efforts cannot be too highly commended. In one in- stance the results were so satisfactory, and the interest awakened was so great, that it resulted in one of the members purchasing the entire herd of one of the most celebrated Short-horn breeders in New England. When such re- sults are being realized from these organiza- tions, who will dare measure the influence they are destined to exeit if properly conducted and earnestly supported ? Social Intercourse. Farmers necessarily live at considerable dis- tances from each other, and in consequence of this and their habits of steady labor, confine themselves too much to their own fields and firesides. They and their families need recre- ation, need pleasures, need something to counteract the effect of the constant labor in which they are engaged. The mechanic in the village or city has his mind frequently drawn away from his work by that which is going on around liim, but the farmer, being diff'erentl situated, finds nothing to break up the monot- ony unless he seeks for it elsewhere. It is quite probable that more work would be ac- complished and a better tone of feehng be experienced, to say nothing of the more cheer- ful countenance which ^ould be worn, if a half day each week were given to social in- tercourse with fellow farmers, instead of de- voting six full days each week to unremitting labor. After a day spent pleasantly away from home, the labor is not so irksome — the laborer is happier. Allowing as much was not accomplished by giving a little time to relaxa- tion, it s-hould be borne in mind that food and raiment for the family, forage for the stock, and money for the bank, are not the only things worth striving for. We need happiness as well. But if a portion of this time be given to a wide awake farmers' club, ideas will be gained, practical knowledge acquired, which in time will bring about results far in excess of those which will be realized by the farmer who does not improve these opportu- nities. , The Exercises of the Club Should be varied to suit the tastes of different members. Discussions upon familiar farm topics should generally be held each evening, and every member should take part in them. Do not depend upon professional talkers, who may know little of the sut)iect about which they are talking, but give your own experience and your opinions drawn therefrom, as you would talk them to a neighbor sitting by your own fireside. Practical knowledge will thus be imparted, which all should seek for. Es- says upon the subjects which are to be consid- ered, may be prepared and read by those who have a taste for putting their thoughts in writing. It is a good practice to assign topics six months or a year before hand, so that those who are to prepare essays may have ample time to "read up" their subject, or to experiment upon it on their farms. In this way almost every member can, if he will, pre- pare a valuable paper. To fill up any spare time, extracts from books or papers, which are not accessible to all, may be read, and the ideas or recommendations discussed. — Z. A. Gilbert, Androscoggin Co., Me., in Countiy Gaitleman. — Moisture sometimes generates in a bee hive in winter, and runs down the sides to the entrance, where, coming in contact with cold air, it is frozen, filling up the space, and stopping ventilation. This matter should be looked to occasionally. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARAIER. 83 BPECIAXTIEB IN PAKMINO. | The business of agriculture should be an industry and not a speculation. Ihe insane pursuit of specialties has long been a curse to American agriculture. A whole community runs wild upon hops, when selling at 50 cents per pound, and in two years they are scarcely worth the price of picking, and extravagance begotten of high expectations is forthwith followed by bankruptcy. Wheat brings $2 per bushel, and whole States become wheat fields, while every other interest languishes, until the bread crop becomes so abundant as to be fed to swine in,preference to shipment for human food. The sheep, with wool at $1 per pound, holds high place in popular esteem, but is kicked from the pasture by every Ran- dolph of the farm at the first indication of a heavy decline in the value of its fleece. In your section cotton, a great boon to your agriculture as a constituent in your aggregate of production, may become an unmitigated evil if left to usurp the place of all other crops. The crop of last year produced $100,000,000, more than 50 per cent larger than ten years ago. Three millions of bales may command a profit of $40 per bale, while 5,000,000 may not bring a dollar above their cost. But present profit is not the main consideration. The increase in value and enlargement of the productive capacity of the soil, by a judicious rotation, including the restorative influences of green cropping and cattle feeding, is an in- crease of capital, a source of large annual in- come, and an addition to the inheritance of one's children. It not only insures a profit from cotten culture, but enables the planter to pocket the entire proceeds of its sale, other products feeding man and beast. — Hon. II. Capron, at Georgia Fair. DOMESTIC HABITS. It has been truly said that many a man has owed his success or failnre in business as much to the management of bis wife, as to his own individual action. Although domestic occupations do not hold the high rank to which they are justly entitled, yet there is rea- son to believe that the sentiment which has so long prevailed is undergoing a radical change, and that females see more and more the neces- sity of possessing the ability to overlook and bystematically direct the expenditure of that part of their husband's income which comes more directly under their immediate inpec- tion : and truly we should consider them the more praiseworthy and deserving our esteem, whatever their circumstances in life, who best peiform the duties which their situation requires. We btlieve that at the present time the instances are more common than at any time bince the early settlement of our country where ladies in the higher classes of society consider it no disparagement to be familiarly acquainted with all the internal concerns of their families. Yet to the shame of many mothers be it said, that they suffer their daughters to grow up without any practical knowledge of housekeeping, and utterly un- prepared to fill any situation in life with use- fulness and dignity. They are all instructed in music and drawing, and all the ornamental, but not in the useful arts of life ; and the re- sult will continue to be as ever it has been in such cases where there is no security for the possession of wealth, that many a woman reared in luxury will by some reverse of for- tune be compelled to exchange her home of ease and luxury for one of privation and care, and compelled to perform the lowest drudgery in order to obtain a small pittance with which to eke out a miserable existence. AQBICUIiTimAL ITEMS. — The Michigan Farmer says, wo know of an English gardener who would never allow any rub- bish to be burnt, but had it thrown into heaps to rot. It is astonishing, if left to time, how quickly that agent will perform the work of decaying trash. — It is said that California, that land of wonders, is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of cotton, that the soil and climate are remarkably suited to it, that the country is free from the chief difficul- ties and embarrassments that often make it a fail- ure elsewhere ; the season is uniform, and there are no worms, no inopportune rains, and no early frosts. —The Kansas Agricultural College is now fairly under way, with thirty-four under graduates and 138 in the scientific and preparatory departments. Its endowment comes from the 90,000 acres of land located under the Congressional act of July, 1862. About one-half of this land has already been sold, creating a fund of nearly $180,000, which will this year yield an income of $16,000. — For the improvement of pastures the Ohio Farmer recommends that they be divided, one- half stocked with sheep, and the other half with cows, and alternate changes made every spring ; or by an entire change from cows to sheep and from sheep to cows every few years, always re- taining a cow or two for family use. The two, however, never to run together. —The Michigan Farmer says, if you build a square crib of poles notched, log-house fashion, say eight feet square, or larger or smaller, as you like it, and throw into it all sorts of trash— a little muck, leaves, bits of everything from the house, the sweepings, &c., and have it so that the kitchen slops and soap suds may be conveyed upon it by a wooden conductor, which a boy may make, you will, in the course of a year, have accumulated some ten dollars worth of manure — perhaps more and have things tidier about the house and yard, and will continue the practice for profit and com- fort. 84 NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. Feb. [Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlic year 1870, by R. P. Eatok & Co., in the Clerk's OflSce of the District Cooit far Qw District of MossachusettsO RURAL ARCHITECTURE. BY GEO. E. HAIiHTET, Cold Spring, X. T. DESIGNED AND ENGRAVED EXPKESSLY FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FAUMEB. No. 6.— A DOUBLE OR SLNGLB HOUSE. In continuation of our new series of plans for moderate priced houses, suited either for suburban or country residences, we present the above design. Our readers can but ad- mire the faithfuhiess with which the engraver has brought out the ideas of the artist, and produced a charimng realization of many a one's dream of a cozy little home. This design represents an economical house for a single family, which, however, may be conveniently arranged for two families. In the design for one family, A is a veranda shielding the entrance. B is the entrance hall containing the staircase, and C the parlor, fourteen feet by sixteen ; D will be the living room also fourteen by sixteen, and E may be used as a kitchen. It communicates with G, a large wood-shed. F is a large store-room ojjening from the kitchen also. In the second story are three good sized rooms, beside a small room over the store-room. The house is designed to be built of wood, the frame being of spruce, boarded and clap- boarded, and the roof boarded with hemlock boards and shingled with sawed cedar shingles, a portion of which may have lower edges cut 1871] NEW ENGLAlsT) FAR]MER. 85 in the hexagon or octagon pattern. The out- side may be painted and sanded. The cost would be about S2G00. We will soon give the plans by which this Flan of First Floor. house, by a slight variation of the inner par- titions, can be made quite convenient for two small families. It will be understood with this, as with all other plans which we publish, that the estmiatcd cost is what would be the expense of building in or near a city, where the builder had every thing to buy and full prices to pay for labor. Where a man can furnish lumber, or other material himself, and is carpenter or mason enough to do a portion of the work with his own hands, the expense will be correspondingly reduced. nately made its appearance in this country-, and farmers everywhere, more particularly upon the lines of through cattle trailic, should be on tlieir guard, and upon the first indica- tion of disease showing any of its symptoms, immediate information should be gi\en to the proper authorities, that measures may be at once taken to prevent its spread. The disease is highly conta- gious, not only by contact with diseased animals, but also by contact with the discharges from the sores, and the con- tagion may be conveyed by the matter adhering to the clothes (especially the shoes) of persons attending dijeased an- imals, ami also by the matter in the dung and litter c>f animals ; on which account there is special danger from the manure or dirt thrown out of cattle cars at sta- tions or in motion. The disease is also readily and frecjuently (perhaps most frequently) ct)nnnunicatcd by the dis- charges dr()p{)cd upon the highways by sick cattle driven over them, and for this reason tlie first precaution to be taken is to prevent the moving of cattle at- tacked by the disease. The disease sometimes affects the udders of cows, and during its course (whether symptoms of its affectmg the udder or not appear) the milk should not be used as human food or given to any animals. The disease is spreading to an alarming ex- tent in some parts of New York and in Con- necticut. Over one thousand cases are re- ported in Dutchess county, and in Queens county on Long Island it has made its ajipear- ance among the cows kejit for furnishing milk for New York city. We believe, however, by prudent and active measures, it may be controlled, and think no groundless fears should possess the minds of our farmers. We have great faith in the sul[)hurous fumigation alluded to by Mr. Goodale last week, and we hope our readers will not forget the remedy. — Maine Fanner. Plan 0/ Second Floor. THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. This disease, which, though not generally directly fatal, often jiroduces death by secon- dary action or its influence on other morbid symptoms, has, during tiie past year, caused great anxiety and loss of property in Great Britain and on the Continent. It has unfortu- MusTY 0.\TS. — A South Carolina cor- respondent, after reporting the loss of a horse, supposed to result from eating musty oats, says: — "I am certain more horses die in the South from eating dam- aged oats than from all other causes. As the oats are cut rather green, and often with many green weeds among them, it Is very difficuU to keep them from molding more or less in the centre. Many animals die from this cause, which are supposed to have had blind staggers, as in the case of mine. Another horse died recently near me in the same way, after being fed on oafs mostly sound, but some of the bundles musty in the middle." — Md. Farmer, NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. A CRinmxG noRSE. Havins a cnl)I)ing horse and wishing to gam all the inlonuation 1 can on the cause and cure, if there is any, it would oblige me if you would an- swer a fcwqucstions upon the suliject in your Ex- tracts and Replies. A friend told nic a few days ago that he met an Agent of the Ni;w England Fakmeu in Medway, who, upon seeing a horse crib, said that he knew the cause and cure ; he said that it was owing to the teeth being too tight, and that the remedy was to take a fine saw and saw l)et\vecn the teeth. What I wish to inquire is, do you think this to l)e the real cause and cure ? I have never heard of this before ; is it a new idea or is it an old theory. It is my opinion, founded upon some experience, that it is not caused by the teeth. I think it arises from some hankering in the stomach brought on by some inflammation or disease. L. A. Cobb. Sheldonville, Mass., Dec, 1810. Remarks. — We doubt whether any person knows, precisely, what causes horses to indulge in ci-ibbing. Was it ever kno\\'n in a colt who had run in a pa.sture in the summer and had the free- dom of a yard in the winter ? We think not. And if not, then it is natural to suppose that it must be something that relates to the management of the animal in the feeding, working, or some peculiari- ty ill the stall or stable. The largest number of "cribbcrs arc found among horses that are not regu- larly worked ; one that is doomed to pass many weary days and weeks of stagnation in the stall. This may be the cause, and proljably is, some- times. Horses in health should never stand a week at a time without exercise. If the owner has no use for the animal, he should give him the run of a small pasture or a large bani-yard, or a drive with some person on his back or attached to a car- riage, for the sake of the exercise itself. If long confined to the stall, and fed liberally, he gets full of energy, and foiling to find any other means of working it off, sometimes falls to kicking, linocking the planks of the stalls to pieces, or the boarding flies off in splinters from the side of the barn. Another horse, in his restlessness, will bite at anything he can lay hold of, and finding that he can stretch his muscles a little by holding on with his teeth to the crib, tries it again and again until habit becomes almost immovably fixed. ■ He en- joys it. It affords him exercise and he grunts his approbation of it every time he stretches back with liis teeth fast to the crib. A good horse loves action, as much as does an ambitious man. When properly fed, loaded and driven, he finds enjoyment in work, and no creature is more faithful in it. Is it strange that idleness should beget a bad habit in a horse, when we consider who it is that usually emploj's an idle man ! Idleness with high feeding we should -think a sufficient cause of cribbing. Too much sameness in the diet may disarrange the digestion, and lead to a restless habit that induces cribbing. Or, close and tainted air in the stables may lead to it. All these arc theories, but wc doubt whether a horse never subjected to any of these things will ever become a "cribber." Horses occupying stalls near cribbcrs are quite apt to contract the habit, and, therefore, should not be allowed near them. The need of salt to horses and swine is too often overlooked. A lump of rock salt where the horse can reach it, when in the stall, may prevent dis- ease, and would frequently lie grateful to him. The process for curing a confimied ci-ibber is rather a long one, and is the only one which proves successful. It consists in tying the horse in some open place, as the bam floor, where he can not lay hold of anything. Tie him by a haltsi>te(l vi.-ion, to a minuteness which it tasks the power of tlie glass to detect. These arc in- fusoria; they abound in every ditch, pond, lake, or river; are ccpially numerous in salt as in fresh water; have l)een found in hot s|)rings, and in the melted snow of the Alps; in short, wherever water I and decaying vegetable or animal matter exists I these infusorial annuals will be found hi vast I myriads. There is no doubt that they are often I drawn up into the atmosphere in watery vapor, and Iwnie to and fro by the winds. Many forms are not deprived of life by complete desiccation, (thorough drying) and may therelbre be mingled with dust, and in this condition carried about by the winds, to resume their active vitality so soon as they chance to fall into water favorable to their existence." If the foregoing statement is reliable you will sec that "new cider, white pine and air" furnish all the necessary conditions of comiiliance Avith the command to "bring forth abundantly ;" and, also, how it is possible that the eels in your vinegar might claim descent in regular order from ^lediaival ancestry. The microscope is a modem invention or discovery, and medical and other scientific men are making great use of it of late. It has demonstrated that there are microscopic plants as well as micro- scopic animals, and that the i)lant as well as the ani- mal is produced "after its kind" with as much exact- ness and certainty as "great oaks from little acorns grow." The seeds of these microscopic plants float in the air, and are called "spores." It is supposed that they produce rust on gi'ain, and fever and ague and other diseases in the human system, by their growth on straw and in the blood. WHAT AILS THE CREAM ? Our butter has come as well as could be expected until the two last chumings, when I flunk we churned nearly half a day each time. The cream was not over seven days old; had been kept in a wanu huttery, and well stirred at each skimming. Wc put in salt, hot water, and lastly butter, to make it come at all. Now do please some of the readers of the Farmer, or editor, let a fellow kimw if there is any way to make it come in a proper length of time. As this is my first attempt in the writing line, the editor will please coiTcct any mistakes. J:,'ast Burke, Vt., Dec. 14, 1S70. 8. Remarks. — We have made more or less butter for some twenty-five years, between November and May, and have rarely had any trouble in chuniing or othenvise, during that time. The first thing is to have good cows and clean milk. The milk and the cream is kept at a temperature of alwut 60°. The cream is taken off in from 36 to 40 hours. A little salt is put into the pot as often as cream is added and the whole stirred. Chum often ; say once a week, or oftcner if sufhcicnt for six or eight pounds. In churning, have cream, chum, d;isher, &c., of a temperature of about G2°. Churn steadily and moderately, and expect butter in twcnty-fivo minutes. These rules have been stated with greater par- ticularity so often, that on the receipt of your let- ter wc thought we would try your ipicstionson Mr. O. S. IJliss, Secretary of the ^■el•mout Dairyman's Association, and a gentleman who ha.s made butter- making a specialty. The following is his answer. You will sec that if ho is eori-ect in his iilca of the cause of the trouble with your cream, the fault is at the l)arn and not in the buttery ; with the man, not with the dairy woman, on whose shoulders the NEW ENGLAND FARMER. Feb. blame for poor butter is too often heaped by mas- culine hands. Mr. Bliss says : — "This is a very common case, and is generally attributed to nut salting the cows at proper inter- vals. It is liarely jiossible that the salt, or the want of it, may ha\ c some remote connection with the matter; but after thoroughly investigating innu- mcraljle cases of tlie kind, we are led to the con- clusion that the cause is fundamental. "We never knew a case during the season of flush feed, when all the little sacs or globules of cream were 'l)ursting with very fatness;' but they invariably occur in seasons of short or very poor feed, or iii the fall when a cart load of the frosted and l)leachcd 'old fog' upon which the cows are forced to live, docs not contain enough fatty matter to make a pound of butter, or in the winter when the cows are conflued to late-cut or poor hay or straw. "The only means of 'fetching the butter' under the circumstances, is to scald the cream and cool it do^vn to about 60°, when it may generally be churned without undue labor. The quality of the l)utter is at best but poor, and probaltly none the better for the scalding. It is a fact well understood by experimenters, that the most complete separa- tion of the butter may be eti'ccted by heat ; but that the evaporation of the more desirable flavor follows as a necessary consequence. "The great secret of making good butter, and having it ^come' easily, is in an abundance of rich feed." TOP DRESSING. — PLOUGHING MANURE UNDER. I read with much interest the communication in the Farmer of December 17, signed "C," Wil- mington, Vt. The application of manure is a sub- ject too little discussed in our agiicultural papers. Manure is the basis of all goo.d farming in the New England States. With a good stock of manure managed in the best manner, fanning is rather up hill business at the present time; but without it fiu-ming don't pay at all. I think farmers should study to get the gi-eatest amount of benefit from what they have, and also to make all they can. My experience has been very different from that of Mr. C. I have applied it always and in all fomis, and on almost all varieties of soils, and think there is no way by which I can get so much benefit as bv ploughing it in, after having been spread on to gi-ass land. It should be turned under not very deep, say five inches. Mr. C. wants to know when manure leaves the soil, and asks does it go up or douii ? I riiink por- tions of it go both ways, until retained by the soil. I am thinking but little of it leaves the soil any way if it is put where it ought to be until it is taken out in some kind of a crop. Docs Mr. C. think the ammonia and the gases which arise in stirring a manure heap tliat has been under cover would not enrich the soil if they could be made to pass through three to hve inches "of earth ? I stir my manure as little as possible until I get it covered up, and I am one of those men that Mr. C. speaks of who keep their teams with the plough pretty close to the men who spread the manure, for I think that all the gases that rise are floated away by the winds until some shower carries it into the soil, perhaps miles awav from mv field. I do, however, top dress some on land that is too wet to plough, but I do not think I get near the full value of my manure thus applied. I have top dressed witli twenty-five ox-eart loads to the acre, and got good gi-ass about two years; but by the tlurd year the grass would not be much better than it was" before the top dressing was put on. I have also put the same amount on the same land and ploughed it in, and with a little in the hill, have got 125 bushel of ears of corn at husking time ; a crop of oats the next year of from fifty to sixty-five bushels, and then with a good catch, I would have four good crops of grass, making in all six crops, or rather eight, as I mow twice a j'car the two first years, — all the crops together probably varying from twelve to fourteen tons fiom one acre. Such is my experience in top dressing and in ploughing in the manure. C. F. Lincoln. Woodstock, Vt., Bee., 1870. SUPPLY of WATER FOR STOCK. The question to be solved by farmers just now is, how shall we provide water for our domestic ani- mals ? Many wells that have furnished an abun- dance of water for family use through the drought of the past summer, now fail to yield a supply for man and beast. Running water was formerly con- sidered a luxury, to be enjoyed only by the favored ones ; but it is now regarded as a necessity on every well regulated farm. Many farmers who could not find springs with sufficient head, have put in hy- draulic rams the past autumn, and others are con- templating similar improvements. Those only who are deprived of the advantages of good watering places on their farms can fully appreciate the priv- ilege they confer, the amount of suffering they pre- vent and the labor they save. After one has dealt out to stock once or twice a day from a well all the water they get during the day, for a few weeks, he will value as never before a flowing stream. It is sui-prising how little attention is given to this subject of water, when so much is depending upon it, and when so little expense as would in most cases be necessary to provide a remedy for the evil. Wells may be resorted to when nothing bet- ter can be provided; but experience proves that, running water, such as is furnished by sprmgs or streams, and which can be conducted to the points where it is most wanted, is not only the best for stock but far the most economical in the end. There are but few farms on which water works of this kind may not be constructed, and the water conve.ved in pipes wherever desired, and nothing but a little energy and skill would be required to Ijring an abundant supply of pure spring water to the farmers' door, to his stock yard and sheep-fold. THE TOBACCO CROP. A portion of the tobacco crop has been taken from the poles and is being stripped and prepared for l)Oxing. It has cured in good shape, and the quality compares favorably with the best crops of previous years. Sales during the week have been 20 and 25 cents for new, and 31 cents per pound for old. The weather has been favorable for stock and the price of fodder is not any higher than it was in November. w. Sunderland, Mass., Dec. 23, 1870. Sand Instead of Straw. — J. S. Ives, of Salem, Mass., writes as follows to the Coun- try Gentleman : You are correct in the asser- tion, that Massachusetts farmers advocate the use of sand as an absorbent in bedding cattle. I have used it more or less for the past fifteen years, and consider the manure much improv- ed, as the sand retains the urine much better than hay or straw. Fresh sand I think equal- ly as good as that taken from the sea shore. Cattle should be bedded three inches deep. We also consider it very advantageous to the health of cattle. Farmers in our vicinity col- lect it in August and store in a dry shed. By winter it will become dry, and will not freeze in the coldest weather. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 89 THE MIQKATION OF BIRDS. ISTENING to the loud ''honh," honk,'' of a large number of wild geese on the tliird of December, led the mind to a contempla- tion of the ■wonderful ■works of an Ahnigh- ty hand every ■where about us. They ■were high on the wing, safe from shot or bullet, were flying directly west, and their slow and heavy motion and loud cries indicated or"'" 't^- 'Mgj a long flight and fatigue. The weather was cloudy and the air damp and heavy, so that, being long on the wing in it, they may have become encumbered with too much moisture ; or, they may have passed through regions of damp, falling snow, and become so loaded with it as greatly to obstruct their passage. We were on high land, and pruning in the top of a tree, which afforded an extensive view of them as they went by. Just at night, and especially in heavy weather, their notes are quite different from those which they utter in clear weather, or earlier in the day. When apparently fa- tigued their ''Jiorik,'''' or ^'hawk,'" seems more guttural and prolonged, than the sharp, quick cry uttered in dear weather. The contrast between these denizens of the upper air, and the chattering little chickadee, hopping from branch to branch on the tree where we were, and taking insects so minute as scarcely to be discernible, could not fail to excite emotions of wonder and delight. This tiny thing, whose whole weight would scarcely exceed a couple of ounces, defying heat and cold, passes the winter in all parts of New England, uttering his cheerful chick-a-dee notes among shrubbery and in the branches of trees, where coldest winds are blowing or the air is thick with falling snow. lie is proof against the vicissitudes of our winter climate, we know, but still our reflections give rise to the beautifid feelings expressed by Burns : — "Ilk li.'ippini; hinl, xvcc, IicIiiIcbh lliiiiv, Wliicli, ill ilic iiicrry inontliH oriiiiii;, Dc-lightoil nil- ti> liiiir tlui- mIii^, %\'ll:it I OIlllH o" »ll( T? Where will lliuii low'r iliv i liiltenng wing AiiU clobc lliy c e f'' Why do birds emigrate? Swallows and martins leave us, it ■would seem, when their food is more abundant than ever ; when the air is swarming with insects, and when their young are frequently not sufficiently grown to take long flights to distant lands ; and yet they evince great impatience at the delay, gathering themselves into chattering conven- tions, sweeping the air in wide circles, dart- ing away in a southerly direction for a brief time, and then returning and alighting in un- usual places. Then they urge their young to take wing, pushing them from their boxes or the eaves of the barn, until they gain confi- dence, when with great apparent confusion, they suddenly dart away and are seen no more! Many have attempted to account for such early migration among birds, but have reached no really satisfactory results. It cannot be want of nourishment, because there is still abundance in the places they are leading. "Atmospherical currents are not the cause, nor do the changes of season explain it, as the greatest number set off' while the weather is yet fine ; and others, as the larks, arrive while the season is bad." The latter we have seen in February, while the earth was deeply covered with snow. Atmospherical influences can only hasten the migration in antumn, but must retard or derange it in spring. "It is the presentiment, says M. Brelim, of what is to happen, which detemiines birds to begin their journey. It is an instinct which tirgcs them, and which initiates them into the meteoric changes that are preparing. They have a particular faculty of foreseeing the rigors of the coming season ; an exqusite sensibility to the perception of atmospheric changes which are not arrived, but are aijpro.iching." ITio immortal Newton ascribes this sensibility to "nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful and ever-living agent." Tlie mode of migration differs in different species, some assembling in large (locks,- and taking their flight together, such as swallows, geese and ducks, while others seem to prefer taking their solitary way. The charming little BobiiUnk, which visits nearly every rural homestead in New T^ngland, towanls the last of May, connncnces its llight ^<)uth about the mil Idle of August. On the shores of the Delaware, Potomac and other large rivers. 90 NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. Feb. they feed on the wild rice, and are called Rice or Reed Bii'ds, and when tliat begins to fail, they swarm the rice fields in the Southern States, and soon appear in the islands of Cuba and Jamaica, where they feed on the seeds of the Guinea-grass. But one would scarcely recognize our charming little friends down there. The males have lost their gay nuptial livery, and appear in the sombre colors of the females. They have also lost their jingling melody, with which they regaled us here, and only utter a sharp "'weet, hceet, as they pass from us in flocks or in small numbers. It is a matter of history, that a falcon be- longing to Henry IV. of France, having es- caped from Fontainbleau, was found, at the end of twenty-four hours at Malta, a distance of about 1,350 miles! In 1833, a Pohsh gentleman having found a stork upon his es- tate, near Leniberg, put round its neck an u'on collar, with this inscription, '■^Hcecciconia ex Polonia, (this stork comes from Poland,) and set it at liberty. In 1834, the bird re- turned to the same spot, and was caught by the same person. It had acquired a new col- lar of gold, with the inscription, "■India cum donis remittit ciconiam Polonis'''' — (India sends back the stork to the Poles with gifts.) Although a large portion of our summer birds leave us as autumn approaches, we are not left entirely alono in the winter. Birds come to us from regions farther north. A few years since we saw strange birds among the shrubs in pastures, but quite near thick for- ests, early in January. A few weeks later many of the same Icind daily visited a row of large apple trees, and soon covered the snow under them with the husks of the buds ; taking the inside of the buds as a reward for their labor ! Of course, the trees bore no fruit the succeeding summer. This bird proved to be the Pine Bunting, of Canada, and the regions beyond. Our little Blue-bird, among the first har- bingers of spring, passes and repasses annu- ally in great numbers, from the mainland to the Bermudas, a distance of not less than six hundred miles without any intervening land ! What power of wing must the little creature possess, to sustain itself in that long flight, without an opportunity to rest ! This subject would aflbrd an instructive and delightful winter evening's entertainment to those who have not yet read up on it. THE CATTLE DISEASE. The Board of Conunissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle, of Massachusetts, con- sisting of Hon. Levi Stockbridge, II. W. Jordan, Esq., and Dr. E. F. Thayer, have issued the following, circular to the city and town authorities of the State : — The undersigned, Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle, call the attention ot" the Mayors and Aldcnnen of cities, and the Selectmen of to^\•ns, to the fact that a highly contagious dis- ease, known as Epizootic Aphtha, or Foot and Mouth Disease, has broken out in this State, and is rapidly spreading among the cattle of very many of our towns. The disease is not of such an alann- ing and fatal character as the pleuro-pneumonia, yet, by its ravages, there is gi-eat danger that it will inflict immense losses on our cattle o\vners, and possibly to some extent injure the health of our people. The disease is communicated by the contact of healthy with the sick animals, by all in- animate things that have become contaminated, and by yarding healthy cattle on the same land, or driving them on roads pi-eviously trodden by those diseased. The cattle yards of Brighton are apparently •■contaminated with the virus of the dis- ease, and annuals driven thence carry and commu- nicate it whci-ever they go. In view of these facts, and, if possible, t)iat the contagion may oe eradi- cated from the Commonwealth, we \\ould most earnestly recommend that you, in each nuinici- pality, perform your duty as defined in Chapter 220 of the Acts of 1860, by interdicting all diiving of cattle to, from, or within j'our respective limits (see Section 5 of said Act,) and by a most thorough and radical purification of the yards and buildmgs which have been contaminated by it. The Commissioners will, at the same 'time, make regulations to prevent any further importation of it from abroad. Notwithstanding'thc great extent to which the disease has already insidiously spread, wc entertain the hope that, by the united energetic action of the authorities, and the co-operation of our people, this disease may be squelched, and the losses 3t lias inflicted on the stock-growing regions of Europe be averted. Notice to Cattle Drovers, Dealers, and all Persons Interested in the Traffic of Cattle. In consequence of the prevalence of Epizootic Aphtha, or Foot and Mouth Disease, the Commis- sioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle here- by prohibit the driving or transporting, to or from Brighton, Cambridge, or the Cattle Yards at the Mcdford Railroad Station, until further notice, all Cows, Store Cattle, and' Working Oxen. The Selectmen of Brighton and Medford, and the Mayor of the City of Cambridge, are directed to enforce the above order. The municipal authorities of the several towns and cities in the Commonwealth are requested to co-operate in making the above order eflectual. As the disease is very contagious, the com- plete separation of such animals as have been exposed, or which it is feared have the disease, is of first importance. This commission of which Dr. Thayer, an experienced veterinary Surgeon, is a member, advise the following treatment : — 1st. The animals to be kept in a comfort- able, dry place. 2d. A solution of alum, one lb. to three 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 91 gallons of water ; the mouth to be washed with it daily. 3d. A solution of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol,) one lb. to two gallons of water ; to be applied to the sores on the feet. In this connection we re-publish from the Farmeu of Dec. 24, the substance of Avhat Dr. Law said at the meeting at Framingham. The disease was a kind of eruptive fever, the sj-niptonjs being a hot mouth, costiveness, lame- ne.-^s, ti.iihtne.^s of the skin, or "hide-bound," in the farmer's jjhase. After the first symptoms blisters appear in the mouth and on the teats and in the parting of the hoofs. These dejienerate into ulcers whichare liable, though not certaui, to result in penuanent injuries, especially to the feet and udder. In some cases the hoofs have come en- tirely off. The animal refuses its food, apparently froni soreness of the mouth rather than entire loss of appetite. The milk becomes diseased and un- wholesome, and when drank by manor other ani- mals produces a similar state of disease in them. In some eases it has proved fatal to ehiklren, and swine and dogs have both been badly allected by the virus. It appears to orighiatc in most cases in the hoof of animals, and is not contagious through the air. It continues through a period of fifteen or twenty days. No immetliate cure c;m be expected, but tlie isolation of the diseased animals was the lirst thing to be done. The Professor recommended treatment as fol- lows : — Wash the mouth with vinegar or some cooling liquid, such as a dilution of carbolic acid, one part of acid to one hundred and tiity of water ; and for the teats, a wash of one part of earbolic aeid to one hundred and fifty of glycerine may be used. The hoof should be eleaned and the space between parting of the hoof eleared of detached scarf,' skin and lioni t)y drawing a strong rag roughly through it. Then ap])ly to the raw surface pure carbolic aeid, and biutl ^^■ith a rag covered with tar, tied between the hoofs and around the pastern. As the inability of the animal to cat results from soreness of the mouth rather than loss of appetite, good nursing is of much importance. Soft food, such as boiled corn, Indian meal gruel, «S:c., should be given to preserve the strength of the animal. In bad cases it may be poured down- from a bottle. III. Its members shall consist of such persons as shall sij,Ti the constitution and by-laws, and pay annuallv the sum of IV. Its otlieers .shall consist of a Tresident, (two) Viic-rrosidents, Seerctary and Treasurer, who shall jointly eonstitute the Executive Committee, and shall be elected annually. V. Its meetings shall be lield weekly, fortnightly or monthly as the ease may be, at such places as may be designated by the Club. VI. This eonstitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a majority of the meml)ers pre- sent, said amendment Laving been proposed at the previous meetmg. By-Laws. I. The President shall jiresidc at all meetings of the Club and Executive Committee, and have power to call special mcetiijgs. II. One of the Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties of the President during his absence. III. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Club and conduct its correspondence. IV. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys, and pay the same on the written order of the President, countersigned by the Secretary. CONSTITUTION FOR FARMERS' CLUB. As inquiries are often made for an outline of organization, Ave copy the following form of constitution and by-laws for a farmers' club, from the Ontario Farmer ; forms which the editor says are in use by an existing Far- mers' Club. Of course it may be varied to suit the circumstances or wishes of the mem- bers of any association which may adopt it. Constitution. I. This firganization shall be known as the Farmers' Club. II. Its oiiject shall be the improvement of its members in the theory and practieu of iigriculture, and the ilis.-eniiiiatiou of knowledge relative to ru- ral and household affairs. COTSWOLD SHEEP. A somewhat detailed account of the breed- ing of the llocks and the management of the farms on the Cotswold Hills in England, where this breed of sheep originated, is furnished to the Western liiq-al by William H. Sotham, a native, we belive, of that section. Farmers there divide their land into seven fields, and practice what is called the seven- Held system of rotation. That is, take a given field, and beginning with, 1. Turnip fallow, 2. Barley, 3. Clover and rye-gross, mowed, 4. Clover and rye-grass, pastured, 5. Wheat, 6. Vetches, 7. Oats, and then turnips, &c., again. Consequently each field produces each of these crops once in seven years. The turnips and the vetches are fed olT by sheep, in rations, by "hurdles," or movable fences on the grbund where they grow. Mr. S. says that an acre of the light land of the Cotswold bills will bear a ewe and her olT- spring, under this system of fanning and ro- tation of crops. Few farmers there keep less than 150 ewes to breed from ; many, more than double that ninnber. This 150 ewes bring as many lambs, and frecjuently twenty more, for many bring two; still there is an allowance to be made for barrenness, escapes, and deaths. This gives 150 ewes, 150 tegs, and 150 lambs, on 150 acres of land. In respect to the common idea in this coun- try that Cotswold sheep will not do well iu 92 NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. Feb. large flocks, he says, "there are breeders on the Cotswuld hills, who breed from a thousand ewes, following the same rotation, only more extended. Now, tell me why Cotswolds can- not be kept in large flocks. I have seen from 700 to 1000 in one field of thirty acres, but they were in separate flocks." In this country few farmers have adopted any such systematic course of rotation as that practiced in England. Nor are farmers here in the habit of fencing off small patches of any thing they raise as food for sheep, by which we suppose they would virtually be kept in small lots. Indeed, Mr. S. says that the 1000 sheep that he has seen on thirty acres were in "sep- arate lots." May it not therefore be possible that wliile Cotswold sheep may do well in large flocks in England, as they are managed and fed there, they will not do well in large lots here, as American farmers treat sheep ? South Carolina. — A correspondent of the Bural Carolinian says that the Agricultural Society of that State dates its beginning in 1784, and that it was regularly organized August 24th, 1785, by the election of Thomas Hey ward, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, as Pi-csidcnt, and Thomas Pinckncy, Vice President. Mr. Jefferson and other distinguished men of the country were enrolled as members. Many of them made com- munication with the view of furthering the objects of the Society, and it is an interesting fact that in 1786 Mr. Jelitrson sent some seeds of a grass, found to be very useful in the South of Europe, in the hope that it would prove equally useful here. On the list of its anniversary orators are to be found the names of McDuffle, O'Neall, Poinsett, Ham- mond, Seabrook, Alston, King, W. Elliott, Cal- houn, and others — all now departed. IIow MUCH Work a Horse can do. — At a meeting of the British Association at Dub- lin, Mr. Charles Bianconi, of Caspel, read a paper relative to his extensive car estabUsh- ment, after which a gentleman stated that at rickford's, the great Enghsh carrier's, they could not work a horse more than ten miles a day, and wished to hear Mr. Bianconi's opin- ion on the subject. Mr. B. stated he found by experience, he could better work a horse eight miles a day for six days in the week, than six miles a day for seven days. By not working on Sunday, he effected a saving of 1:^ per cent. j\Ir. Bianconi's opinion on this point is of the highest importance, for he has over 900 horses working- sixty-seven convey- ances, which daily travel 4214 miles. It is also tlie result of forty-three years' experience. — Scientijic American. From the Detroit Courier of 1831. THE MICHIGAN EMIGRANT'S SONG. Come all j'e Yankee Farmers, Who'd like to change your lot, Who've spunk enough to travel Beyond your native spot, And leave behind the village Where Pa' and Ma' do stay, Come follow me and settle In Michigania. I've hearn of your Penobscot, Way down in parts ot Maine, Where timber grows in plenty, But darn the bit of grain ; And I have hearn of Quoddy, And your Piscataqua, But these ean't hold a candle To Michigania. And you that talk of Varmount, Why what a place is that ? Be sure the gals are pritty, And cattle very fat ; But who among her mountains 'Mid clouds and snow would stay, When he could buy a Prairie In Michigania. And there's your Massachusetts, Once good enough, be sure; But now she's always laying on Taxation or manure ; She costs j'ou pecks of trouble, But de'il a peek can pay ; While all is scripture measure In Michigania. Then there's your land o' Blue Laws, Wlicre deacons cut the hair, For fear your locks and tenets Should not exactly square ; Where beer that works o' Sunday A penalty must pay, While .all is free and easy. In Michigania. Wliat country ever growed up So great in little time, Just popping from the nurs'ry Right into like its prime : Wlien U7icle Sam did wean her, 'Twas but the other day, And now she's quite a Lady, This Michigania. Upon the river Clinton, Just thro' the country back, You'll find in shire of Oakland The town oi' Pontiac — Which springing up o' sudden, Scar'd wolves anil bears away, That us'd to rove about there, In Michigania. Then come ye Yankee farmers. Who've mettle hearts like me, And elbow-grease in plenty, To bow the forest tree ; Come take a 'Quarter Section,' And I'll be bound you'll say. This country takes the rag off, This Michigania. — During the year 18G9, nineteen hundred patents upon agricultural subjects were issued from the United States Patent Office. The more prominent matters were classed as follows : ploughs and at- tachments to ploughs, 255 ; harvesters and attach- ments, 195 ; planters, 150 ; cultivators, 150 ; churns, 130 ; rakes, 90 ; seeding and sowing machines, 80 ; harrows and pulverizers, 80 ; bec-hivcs, 62 ; sepa- rators and smut machines, 50. 1871. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 93 EXTBACTS AND REPLIES. 8CPP0SED CASES OF LUNG AND KIDNEY OR LIVER DISKASES IN I'IGS. Last February I had a litter .of ten pigs. They did nicely fur about ten days. I then saw that one of them was liadly troubled in breathing. 1 thuik that if 1 should say that he breathed like a horse badly afflicted with the heaves, it would conic nearer x\\c case than any description I could give. There was a movement of the t of them recovered. I don't know as I ought to say that they i-ecovered, for they have grown l)ut little since. They have done the meanest of any pigs that I ever owned, and I keep a large stock ot" them. I have heard of an instance similar; but no cure did the owner find after several trials. ♦ During the latter part of their "blackness," I l)laced fresh water in their pen. They seemed to like to drink it; and if anything helped them, it was this. I am quite anxious for advice and infor- mation, as I fear that I may see the same trouble again. p, Mirickville, Mass., Dec, 1870. Remarks. — We believe the pigs fii-st mentioned, died of inliammation of the \nx\Q»,^piieumonia. This was caused by a sudden change in the weather from warm to cold ; a very common cause of the same disease in the human species. If wc had pigs similarly aflectcd, wc should put them in a warm place, feed them with warm milk and water — equal parts — and w;ush them thoroughly, two or three times a day, with warm water, and a little common salt in it. The other pig.s, probably, suffered from a disease of the liver; or, from an alfeetion of two little bodies situated, one upon each kidney, and called, in anatomical language, supra-renal capsules, ^c judge by the symptoms mentioned, that the latter disease might have been the true one. The causes of such disciises arc not well understood; and i)er- haps the owner of the pigs can form as correct con- jectures in the nnittcr, as we can. We know of no l)etter treatment in such cases, than to give them the most nutritions lood, and as much of it as can be put into them ; keci> them in a clean and well ventilated pen from which they can go at will into the open air; anil wabh them every day with elcsui warm water. Perhaps a little potash or soda in the water would improve it. Wc should have little conlidence in internal remedies in this allection ; but if we were to prescribe anything of that kind, it would be water impregnated with iron, or a solu- tion of co\i\)Qvsi»— sulphate of iron. FOULS OR FOOT-ROT IN CATTLE. I noticed in the la.^t Paumer a piece written hy Otis T. Strceter, entitled foot-rot in cattle, and not being able to fall in with the cure that he pre- scribed, which was much like cuttim; olf a cow's head to cure the honi ail, 1 thought I would com- municate to you a little of my experience with that distemper. In the year 18-50, I was keciwig a dairv of sixty cows, which grazed a very nice hill plisture. In the month of June, the foot-rot broke out in the Hock, which I Ibuiul to be a very severe disease. When a cow commenced being lame she would nearly dry up her milk on the best of feed, and be reduced in llesh very nxjiidly. I commenced doc- toring in various ways, and with various medi- cines, such as alcohol, saltpetre, blue vitriol, spirits of turpentine, various kinds of i>ainkiilers, &c. Finally I commenced washing the sore teet with brine as strong as could lie made of the Ijcst dairy salt, dissolved in boiling water. After AvasLing twice each day for two or three successive davs, in order to cleanse the sores thoroughly, 1 covered the sore thoroughly with pitch tar, and soon the sore would be well, and the cow come to her usual mess of milk again. The disease went nearly through tny llock that season, before I found a means of checking its run, which I did liv feed- ing saltpetre pulverized and mixed with salt, after the rate of about a teaspoonful to each cow once a week. I have been kcci)ing a large dairv ever since; sometimes as many as one hundred cows, and have frequently had the same thing breiik out in my tlock ; and have always succeeded in enuring and stopping the disease by using the saltiK'tre. As late as last summer itcomnienccd in my (lock of sixty, and with the above remedy 1 stopped it by having only four cases of sore feet. Milton, VI., Jan. Li, 1871. a. m. a. reminiscences of the NEAV ENGLAND FARMER,, AND OF WESTERN EMIGRATION. The prospectus in the last number of the Far- mer, announcing the fact that the \y.\\WY is about entering its liftieth year, recalls to my mind sonic remembrances of its early volumes, Ivhich may be of interest to your young readers. About the year ikS'i, when a boy, I fell in with two or three bound volumes of the Farmi:i:, which- i)elonged to a neighlior of my father, and wliiehl borrowed and read with great" pleasure. 1 remem- ber little distinctly of their contents, cxcci)t a il'w lines of i)OCtry, which have lingered in mv mem- ory, from that time till the pre.--c!it. 'J'hVrc was then an extensive emigration to Michigan, and) some poet had broken out in praise of liiat Stnte, which was then considered "(he West." I should be much pleased to see it reprinted, and i)erhaps you can hunt it up for that iiuri)<)se. The iiajier was then jfubli^hcd in the (piarto form, and nuulo quite a poi'table, convenient book. 1 am quite sure that Mr. Thomas (i. Fessenden was the editor, in those days; and if I mistake not, he i)nl)lished or edited an almanac, furnishing some very origmaF poetry as heading ft)r the months, of which 1 re-, member the following specimens : — "My dear M.uliim May, I am sorry to Bny Yon l(M.k riithir sickly iiml palllil, Ah K from »tuH\