NEW ENGLAND FAlUfER. 



411 



It. From England, they undoubtedly pass across 

 the channel, over France and Spain, and across 

 the Mediterranean into Africa; while our swallows 

 probably pass the winter not farther north than 

 New Orleans, and perhaps much lower down. It 

 has always appeared singular to us that they 

 should leave while there seemed to be an abun- 

 dance of their favorite food. But "the strong pro- 

 pensit}'- of migratory birds to leave and return at 

 the appointed season, plainly demonstrates that 

 this unwavering principle within them is an instinct 

 given by a beneficent Creator at the very time best 

 adapted for their flight, and which is apparently 

 irresistible." The barn swallow and the bob-o- 

 link congregate and make preparation for their de- 

 parture, as do the ducks and geese. We have no- 

 ticed this in some of the other swallows, but not in 

 the blue birds and larks. The male bob-o-link chang- 

 es his plumage, putting on the russet dress of the 

 female, and assuming her note ; but at what time 

 they leave we do not know. 



This whole matter of the birds is exceedingly in- 

 teresting ; and we believe it is as profitable to the 

 farmer to know more of their habits as it is to the 

 astronomer to knowthe courses of the stars, or the 

 times of the rising and setting of the planets. The 

 pecuniary effect is something — the moral still more. 

 We make no apology, therefore, for stepping aside 

 for a moment from the more common farm work of 

 the season. Encouraged by the pleasing intelli- 

 gence of the arrival of the "two-tailed bashaws" 

 in the West, we shall confidently expect to hear 

 something of our friends, the Swallows, in the 

 South. 



For the Neiv England Farmer. 



POTASH WATER FOR TREES. 



BY M. M. COFFIN. 



Messrs. Editors : — To your inquiries in the Far- 

 mer of the 24th ult., I would reply as follows : — 



1. The age of the trees. — The orchard consisted 

 of seven rows of trees ; four rows of them were 

 budded six years, two rows five, and one row four 

 years ago the present month — taken from the 

 nursery and set as an orchard the spring following 

 the first year's growth of the bud respectively. 



2. How cultivated. — Have been manured from the 

 barn-yard, and rather sparingly, say 15 loads per 

 acre — spread on broad cast and plowed in, planted 

 with corn and potatoes alternately, this year the 

 latter ; trees kept well pruned, done with a sharp 

 knife and saw, never washed but once. 



3. Kind of soil. — Of a deep clayey loam , a small 

 portion of it is inclined to sand and the coarser 

 gravel, owing to the surface being rather undulat- 

 ing and sloping centreward. 



4. Was there any perceptible injury previous, 

 cj-c. — None whatever. The trees were thrifty 

 and healthy, all started in the spring, (except one 

 that was winter killed and ivas not washed) and 

 grew rapidly ; some of them put forth a few blos- 

 soms and up to the time of washing them, a fair- 

 er prospect of realizing an immediate income from 

 a small outlay is seldom found. 



Since writing my former article to you, it was 

 thought that the trees might be saved, by remov- 

 ing the soil, and grafting them as low as possible, 

 as the bark looked green below the application ; 

 this was done, but to little or no purpose, the 

 strike was too fatal. Notwithstanding there is one 

 whole graft alive and a few suckers here and there 

 trying to grow, Mr. B. intends forthwith to em- 

 ploy some patent stump-puller, and then set his 

 orchard anew. 



Another orchard in this town of some 30 trees, 

 8 or 10 years old, came near sharing the same 

 fate of Mr. B.'s, and near the same time. These 

 were washed with potash water alone, (pound to 

 2 1-2 gallons.) The trees, however, were not 

 killed, but the general appearance of a few of 

 them reminds me of the following incident. A 

 certain "Old Bill," a laborer once in my father's 

 employ, was accidentally run over by an ox-team, 

 and while lying on the ground some one ran to 

 his assistance and said, "Why, Bill, have you got 

 killed?" "No," said he, "I ain't killed, but I'm 

 mostdarndly wounded." This, stripped of its vul- 

 garity, will apply to a few of the above trees. 



The gentleman informs me, he is confident if the 

 wash had been but a trifle stronger, he should 

 have destroyed his orchard. We have all been 

 surprised at the aforesaid results. Potash water 

 has been used to some extent in this section for 

 several years, and without any very percep- 

 tible injury. And now, Mr. Editor, as there are 

 other washes more simple, cheaper and safer, we 

 are determined to use them and let those use pot- 

 ash water that have an orchard to spare now and 

 then. 



But to my friend Wheeler, if he is still in doubt 

 as to the facts of the case, we will endeavor to 

 satisfy him if he will be at the expense of time 

 and trouble "some sunny day," of reporting him- 

 self at the Hampton Falls Railroad Station. 



I have delayed answering your request, expect- 

 ing to note the time of the swallows' 1 (a) departure, 

 but as yet they are as plenty as at any previous 

 part of the season. Yours, &c, m. m. c. 



Hampton Falls, Aug. 10, 1852. 



Remarks. — Mr. Coffin will accept thanks for 

 his kind reply to our queries. In regard to this 

 matter we have no prejudices to sustain and no 

 one's practice or theory to demolish. When we 

 say that the wash, as strong as it is frequently 

 used, a pound to a gallon, is dangerous, we are 

 sustained in the assertion by what we have seen 

 ourselves, as well as by the statement of others. 



(a.) Did Mr. Coffin observe whether his birds 

 were the barn swallows, or the white-bellied swal- 

 low, which retires later ! In our vicinity there are 

 in the course of the season, the barn, white-belly, 

 chimney, bank, and Labrador swallows. Near our 

 dwelling, not a chimney swallow appeared until 

 the barn swallows had left. The Labradors build 

 a curious nest under the eaves of barns, with an 

 entrance of only a small hole of between one and 

 two inches in diameter. With the exception of a 

 few stragglers, none of the barn swallows have 

 been seen with us since the 29th of July. 



