1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



^60 



formed ; and the other or later summer's growth 

 is confined to the shoots that produce wood buds 

 only. "Aller the second growth is completed the 

 effects of the decending sap, in the formation of 

 new bark, is apparent in the heahng up of new 

 wounds, in parts of the stem or branches, which 

 now proceeds with more activity than during any 

 other season of the year. Branches pruned oli' 

 smooth at the stem, though the latter be young, 

 healthy, and containing a perlect pith, before or 

 shortly alter the completion of the midsummer's 

 growth, do not produce shoots from the edge of 

 the wounds caused by their removal, which always 

 happens more or less when prupiing is performed 

 on tree growing trees after the fall oi' the leaf, and 

 bel'ore' the fiill development of the spring ehoots 

 and leaves. It is to be observed however that the 

 reproduction of branches li'om the edge of a 

 wound is greatly assisted by leaving a portion of 

 the branch or shooi, on the parent branch or stem." 

 [Treatise on Planting.] 



The end desired to be attained by the operation 

 oi"pruning must be kqot steadily in view, or injury 

 instead of benefit may be the result. If the tree is 

 mtended ibr timber, the leaves and buds that ela- 

 borate the sap, and increase the trunk by the for- 

 mation of an annual circle of new wood, should 

 be kept as far Irom the root as possible, as in this 

 way only can the greatest quantity ol' limber be 

 produced. In this case, the trunk should be kept 

 free from branches, the leading shoot should care- 

 fully be preserved, and the top kept in a crown 

 like Ibrm. Nature must be followed in this respect, 

 and the tall beautiful trunks of our native forest 

 trees will be the result. For ii-uit, a low branch- 

 ing lop, spread and exposed to the sun as widely 

 as can be, is to be preferred ; and hence the lead- 

 ing shoot when the tree is at a proper height 

 must be carefully cut out, and the lateral branches 

 cut and pruned with direct reference to this effect. 

 Fruit trees must be pruned li-e(iuenlly, or their 

 tops become woody, close, and the fruit will ne- 

 cessarily prove inferior. 



NEW BIODi: OF BREAKING OXKS. 



From the Franklin Fanner. 



"The onlyest way lo break oxen that I ever 

 saw!" — so exclaimed a countryman the other day, 

 on seeing the operation. Get a strong post, eigjit 

 feet long by two thick, plant it three and a half in 

 the ground, (well rammed,) round or bevel the up- 

 per end, .and leave a pin to it or make a morti.sc 

 and put a strong two-inch pin, six or eight inches 

 long in it. Then get a tough sapling twenty-five 

 I'cel long; measure off at the small end the usual 

 length of a yoke, and bore the holes for your bows 

 accordingly. Tlien bore three holes (or more if 

 you choose) four, eight and twelve feet from the 

 other end, of the size of the pin in the top of the 

 post, place it on top of the post, giving the short- 

 est lever first, draw your steers up, let them be 

 young or old, gentle or wild, it makes no differ- 

 ence ; yoke them to the end of the pole, but in- 

 stead of lying their tails together, if you wish to 

 avoid bob-tailed oxen, tie their loin.? together with 

 a good rope, wrap up their head halters, clear the 

 front, and let them go. Round and round they go 

 with a rusli; drunk, drunker etill they grow, until. 

 Vol. VII-47 



groaning down they drop. For a whiJe they lie 

 [)aniing and looking wild ; at tength ihcy leap up 

 us if suddenly frightened, rush round again, grow 

 drunk and drop again. Leave ihem, they will re- 

 peat the experiment, until, reeling, they will stop 

 or stand; in a i'eW hours you may lead them 

 around by their halters. Uncouple them li-om the 

 pole or yoke them to your cart, and drive ihem 

 where you choose with safijty. Any gentleman 

 will be entiled lo the above patent Ibr life by pay- 

 ing five dollars to the nearest needy widow, taking 

 her receipt for the same and filing it among his own 

 papers. Wm. P. Hart. 



HUSBANDRY IN CillNA. 



Extract from Dulialde. 



Among several good regulations made by the 

 same emperor, [Yong. Ching,] he has shewn an 

 uncommon regard for the Imsbandmcn. To en- 

 courage Ihem in their labor, he has ordered the 

 governors of all the cities to send him notice every 

 year, of the person of this profession, in their re- 

 spective districts, who is most remarkable for his 

 apfilication lo agriculture ; for unblemished repu- 

 tation ; lor preserving union in his own family, 

 and peace with his neighbors ; for his frugality 

 and aversion to extravagance. Upon l|lie report 

 of the governor, the emperor will advance this 

 wise and diligent husbandman to the degree of a 

 mandarin of the eiglh order, and send him patents 

 of an ordinary mandariii ; which distinction will 

 entitle him to wear t!ie habit of a niandarin, to 

 visit the governor of the city, to sit in his presence, 

 and drink tea with him. He will be respected all 

 the rest of his daj's. After his death he will have 

 funeral obsequies suitable to his degree ; and his 

 title of honor shall be written in the hall of his 

 ancestors. What emulation must such a reward 

 excite among the husbandmen ! 



Accordingly we find that they are continually bu- 

 sied about their lands ; if they have any time to 

 spare, ihey go immediately to the mountains to 

 cut wood ; to the garden to look to their herbs, or 

 to cut canes, &.c. so that Ihcy are never idle. The 

 land in China never lies fallow. Generally the 

 same ground produces t-laree crops in a year; first 

 rice; and before it is reaped they sow fitches; 

 and when they are in head, beans or some other 

 grain: thus it goes continually round. They very 

 seldom employ their land for unprofitable uses, such 

 as fiower gardens, or fine walks; believing useful 

 things more fur the public good, and their own. 



The attention of husbandmen, is chiefly em- 

 ployed in the cultivation of rice. They manure 

 their land extremely well; gathering for that pur- 

 pose, with extraordinary care, all sorts of ordure, 

 both of men and animals, or truck for it wood, 

 herbs, or linseed oil. 'I'liis kind of manure, which 

 elsewhere would burn up the |-lants, is very pro- 

 per for the lands of China; where they have an 

 art of tempering it with water before they use it. 

 They gather the dung in [lails, which they com- 

 monly carry covered on tlieir shoulders; and this 

 conlributes very much to the cleanness of their 

 cities, whose filth is thus taken away every day. 



In the province of Che-Kyang, and other places, 

 where they sow rice, they use balls of hogs, or 

 even human hair ; which, according to them, 

 gives strength to the land, and makes that graiu 



