396 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



the ground to be cultivated. In order to do this, 

 the ditch must be placed near the base of the 

 hill and the water conveyed away along its side, 

 leaving the meadow dry and light and open to the 

 influences of the sun and air. Then there will be 

 success — good crops and cheerful hearts. 



Sandy or Gravelly Knolls. — There are such 

 places on most farms that have become unpro- 

 ductive. If they throw up vegetation in spring, a 

 few hot suns cut it down, and thus labor and crop 

 are lost. These are the places for the application 

 of meadow mud. It supplies the humus, or vege- 

 table matter which is lacking, and this, with the 

 addition of compost, brings them up to fertility 

 and profit. It is but carrying back to them the 

 soil which they have gradually lost. 



Blasting Rocks. — Since our plows are of more 

 delicate construction, and the introduction of 

 horse-rakes, large stones in the midst of the field 

 are found to be serious interruptions to clean and 

 pleasant husbandry. Any one apt with tools may 

 "drill and blow." But there are certain t'SSin- 

 tials to be observed, or you "drill and blow" at a 

 loss. The first important labor is to separate the 

 rock completely from the surrounding earth and 

 leave it free to expand when the powder presses 

 upon its centre. This is often omitted by those 

 engaged in the business. After the hole is charged, 

 cover the whole with moist earth and place as 

 much weight upon it as can be conveniently done; 

 this helps to prevent the charge blowing out, 

 causes an instant's resistance, and in that instant 

 the sides of the rock yield to the pressure within. 

 There are appropriate times in September for this 

 work. 



Manure Heaf-s are the gold mines of the far- 

 mer. Pile up the meadow mud before the au- 

 tumnal rains prevent your getting it. Throw it 

 into large heaps in convenient places, and let the 

 air and frost work upon it. Cover the surface of 

 the barn-yard with it ; mix with green manure for 

 top dressing or spring use. Lay up a stock for 

 winter use, under cover if convenient. 



Winter Rye. — This is a wholesome and econom- 

 ical grain. Sow early in the month, if you did 

 not get the crop in in August. 



Cutting Corn Stalks. — We have no doubt but 

 that cutting off the tops of the corn stalks some- 

 what injures the crop of corn ; but after all, what 

 is gained in getting better fodder, and in harvest- 

 ing it more conveniently, will compensate for the 

 loss in the grain. There is no better fodder, in 

 our opinion, than corn tops. At the south, some 

 persons practice stripping the leaves from the 

 stalks and tying them in small bundles, which sell 

 for one to two cents a bundle. After the tops are 

 cut they should be laid loosely among the hills and 

 kept from the ground until partially dried, when 

 they may be tied up in small bundles and shocked. 

 After standing a week or two in this condition, 



they ought to be laid away in such a manner in 

 the barn as to allow a free passage of air through 

 them, to prevent moulding. 



Roots. — These must be looked after in season, — 

 the potatoes, carrots, beets, ruta bagas, turnips, 

 &c. Beans are to be gathered ; squashes pre- 

 served from frost ; early apples collected, and nu- 

 merous other small matters attended to. 



Pruning. — This is an operation which we think 

 should be performed in autumn ; but as we have 

 extended our remarks upon September work as 

 far as we have room, we shall speak of this sub- 

 ject another week. 



For the New England Farmer. 



MERINO SHEEP. 



Messrs. Editors : — As a matter of record, I for- 

 ward you the number and amount of shipments of 

 Merino sheep purchased by me in France, and 

 shipped at Havre for New York : 



May, 1851 Per steamer Franklin 100 



" " ....Per ship Havre 10 



July, " ....Per ship Samuel M. Fox 20 



" " ....Per ship Carioca 25 



" " ....Per ship George Hurlburt 50 



August, " .. ..Per ship Seine 47 



" " . ...Per ship Galena 56 



308 



April, 1852.... Per ship Princeton 15 



" " .. ..Per steamer Franklin 151 



May, " ....Per steamer Ilumnolt 109 



275 



In all 583. Of this number 527 were ewes, the 

 balance rams purchased of Mops. Gilbert & Cug- 

 not, except two from the government flock at Ram- 

 bouillet and one from M. Guerin. Fifteen died on 

 the passage, most of which cost me 500 francs per 

 head in France. The average cost of transporta- 

 tion, including feed and fixings, is $26 per head. 

 Insurance at sea (not by natural death or starva- 

 tion) is $10 on the $100. To purchase and ship 

 a small lot of sheep, the expense would be much 

 more per head. 



There are three private flocks in France of pure 

 Merinos, descendants from the government flock, 

 which will average one-fourth larger in size and 

 heft of fleece than the flock at Rainbouillet. At 

 Rambouillet, twelve old ewes were slaughtered this 

 year, but none were sold from that flock, last year 

 or this, as they wished to increase the number of 

 ewes. 



Hon. William C. Rives, our minister at Paris. 

 is industriously collecting facts, and about publish- 

 ing a history of the Agriculture of France, embra- 

 cing all the valuable information in regard to the 

 rearing of live stock, and where the best breeds 

 may be found, which will be of great value to the 

 agriculturists of the United States ; to whom I 

 would refer every person seeking information rela- 

 ting to the above subjects. 



Solomon W. Jewett. 



Middkburij, Vt., Aug: 10, 1852. 



Remarks. — We know Mr. Rives well, and can 

 endorse Mr. Jewett's recommendation. We are 

 happy to hear that he is engaged in collecting ma- 

 terials upon the Agriculture of France. 



