NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



339 



DEVON HEIFER. 



The heifer represented above was the property 

 of George Shaffer, who exhibited her at the State 

 Fair at New York last fall ; where she was pro- 

 nounced a fine animal. To our eye she is not a 



THERMOMETER CHURN. 



In making good butter, each operation is a nice 

 one, requiring the utmost cleanliness and care. 

 Regular rules are frequently laid clown, which are 

 undoubtedly of some service to the inexperienced. 



remarkably fine specimen; being heavy in flesh, But those taking an interest in the operation, and 



she does not present those neat and clean propor- 

 tions usually remarkable in the Devon stock. We 

 have seen a mixture of the Devon and Short Horn 

 blood in heifers that brings out the most commend- 

 able points. In giving most of the popular breeds 

 of stock, our readers will" be able to make such 

 comparis ras as may be of advantage to them in 

 the selection of their animals. 



A TREE QUESTION. 



The N. H. Statesman says the question has been 

 agitated in that vicinity of late, whether the low 

 er limbs of trees increase in distance from the 

 the earth as the trunk increases in height. The 

 question arises thus : "The subject was the great 

 freshet of 1785, and mention being made of a 

 n itr'i upon a big elm at the foot of Butter's Hill, 

 indicating the height of the water that year, que- 

 ry was thrown in whether that notch was not de- 

 lusive, since it might have ascended with the 

 growth of the tree! The matter was discussed, 

 but not fully decided." The question of the as- 

 cent of trunks is still open for debate, but the 

 Hartford Courant says there is no doubt at all — 

 adding : — "All trees grow by an outward expres- 

 sion, and the base of the limbs never change their 

 place. The case of the pine trees in the forest 

 furnish no excepti ns. Where .a number of trees 

 grow closely together, there is a reaching upward 

 for the light and air. As the trees grow tall, the 

 lower limbs, unable to reach the source of their 

 stimulus, die for want of it, leaving to the observ- 

 er of the full grown tree no traces where they once 

 were." 



having a determination to excel, will soon acquire 

 all the skill necessary to produce the richest and 

 sweetest butter. 



In churning, it is of great importance to have 

 the cream or milk of a proper temperature, which 

 is about 02 degrees. The thermometer churn af- 

 fords this advantage, together with convenience, 

 despatch and exactness. The churn is encircled 

 with a case for water, by which the desired tem- 

 perature may be obtained and indicated by the 

 thermometer permanently fixed in the end of the 

 churn, where it is not liable to injury. We have 

 used it for several years with good success. 



The churn is simple, portable, light, and dura- 

 ble, easily separated and cleansed. They are made 

 of various sizes, and the price is moderate. 



For an engraving and description of this churn, 

 see Vol. I. of the Farmer, page 227. 



GARDENING. 



We are happy to notice a new movement in this 

 delightful art. In the good old town of Andover, 

 in this State, some of the citizens have formed 

 themselves into an association to promote the in- 

 terests of farming, gardening, and ornamental sce- 

 nery, in the town. This will undoubtedly be the 

 means of the formation of a horticultural society, 

 or some permanent organization which will arrest 

 the attention of those able to make improvements 

 and inculcate new views and desires in many who 



