NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



221 



We have never been troubled much with the 

 rot. Our soil is a rocky highland. 



I do not pretend to know the cause of the rot, 

 but allow me to say, that I regard manuring with 

 unfermented manure, planting small, unripe seed, 

 as among the procuring causes of this disease. 

 Let potatoes be planted upon soil that is moderate- 

 ly dry, and in a condition only to produce a mode- 

 rate crop, and according to my experience, your 

 potatoes will be good in size and quality, with little 

 or no rot. 



One hundred bushels to the acre is about an 

 average crop with us now, in good seasons, though 

 before the disease was known, our crop has been 

 more than double that with the same treatment ; 

 and this is one reason why I think that the rot is 

 caused by exhaustion from the seed and soil, for 

 our crop has diminished gradually. I am of the 

 opinion that by planting good ripe potatoes with- 

 out any stable manure, and by the use of lime and 

 gypsum, the rot may be remedied in the course of 

 time . 



At any rate the experiment is worth trying. In 

 conclusion, let me ask what are the constituent 

 parts of the potatoe? 



Let us know of what it is composed, and then 

 manure accordingly. S. Tenney. 



N. Raymond, Me., March, 1852. 



Remarks. — The organic or vegetable substances 

 which are found in the potato, are 75 parts water, 

 15 of starch and 2 of gum and sugar. The inor- 

 ganic, or mineral, are potash and soda — the potash 

 largely prevailing. 



Whether it is best to plant large or small, cut 

 or uncut potatoes, remains a question. Some of 

 the best farmers still prefer small potatoes or large 

 ones cut. 



SCIENCE AND TAILLESS FOXES. 



There are some persons%ho wage uncompromis- 

 ing hostility to science, not because it is not good, 

 but because it is science, and smells of the schools. 

 They would plow deep and receive as much benefit 

 from it as do their neighbors ; but as deep plowing 

 is scientific, they prefer to plow shallow and gath- 

 er shallow crops. They refuse to stir the soil and 

 give it a fine tilth in a dry time, for fear such sci- 

 entific operation should cause the earth to catch 

 some virtue from the passing breeze, or steal a 

 little ammonia (base scientific term) from the 

 pearly dews. Nature is nature, say they, and we 

 want none of your new fangled notions ; my ma 

 nure is well enough in the barn-yard, and I'll risk 

 the atmosphere, as you call it, stealing any thing 

 away from me. These notions remind us of the 

 fox who lost his tail. The next time he visited his 

 brother foxes, he addressed them thus : — "Gentle 

 men, behold my fair proportions! without that 

 heavy brush I am light and active — it is useless 

 and unbecoming, and my advice is, that you have 

 them all dipt off !" Unlike the unfortunate fox, 

 these grumblers about science never had any tails 

 to lose — never had any scientific tails, at least, and 

 their desire is that every body may stand on the 



same level with themselves, totally ignorant of the 

 first principles of scientific cultivation. 



But their doctrines are false. To be consistent, 

 they should eat natural fruit ; grafted fruit is sci- 

 entific fruit, and dught to be bitter in their mouths. 

 They should scorn wheels and go to mill on horse- 

 back without a saddle, and draw manure on a 

 drag ; plow with a crooked stick, and keep as close 

 to nature as possible. They inadvertently prac- 

 tice scientifically a thousand things just as impor- 

 tant as deep plowing or proper pruning, but these 

 things have become established by the common 

 practice, and they no longer object to them. 



In spite of us, new notions will come up, and 

 will be adopted, and the best way is to be thankful 

 that there are some willing to think and work 

 them out, and to adopt them good-naturedly our- 

 selves. We shall find it far better for the world, 

 and easier for ojurselves, than to resist the tide of 

 improvement which is setting so strongly onward. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FARMERS' WIVES, 



BY A LADY. 



As no one is expected to close eyes, or ears, 

 while seated in a rail car, and as passengers are 

 not always particular to speak in whispers, why of 

 course one must sometimes hear one's neighbor's 

 opinion of the world, &c. 



This was my privilege one rousing cold day this 

 winter. Two young ladies were conversing upon 

 the fate of some of their friends who had left 

 boarding school with themselves, and were married. 



"And have you called on Jane N., since her mar- 

 riage?" inquired the elder. 



"Why no, I have no patience with such girls ! 

 Just think of her education, and the respectability 

 of her father's family, and you know her brother 

 is a lawyer too ; and she, would you have believed 

 it, has married a farmer ! It is scandalous I de- 

 clare ! Call on her — no ! Why I would not dare 

 to call in the morning, fori dare say I should find 

 her making butter, or skimming milk, or doing some 

 like piece of domestic drudgery ! I would not call at 

 night for fear I might find her milking the cows !" 



"Really, it shocks my nerves to think of the 

 thing!" 



"Yes, and it is said she might have done better 

 than to have married this farmer." 



"I have no doubt of it," replied the elder, "for 

 I am positive she received the offer of a clerk in a 

 wholesale store in S. 'Tis true, he is a little dis- 

 sipated, that's bad, but nothing to this ; compare 

 him with a plow jogger ! ' ' 



"But have you ever seen Jane's husband ?" 



"No, nor do I wish to; if he is a farmer, that is 

 enough." 



The reader can perhaps imagine, of course, my 

 "pen cannot describe," with what feelings of 

 shame and dismay, I, a farmer's wife, must have 

 heard the above remarks. 



Fortunately for me, however, I had sufficient 

 presence of mind to see to myself and baggage, for 

 my "plow jogger" remained at home. Lucky was 

 this for me, for if like Cain, he carried no "mark 

 on his brow," he might have carried it on his 

 hands ! 



