472 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



escape pass down south and are known as rice 

 birds, feeding upon the xice fields of that region. 

 They arc all, however, of one plumage. 



They become so fat and plump as scarcely to be 

 able to fly ; they are then tender, sweet and more 

 delicious than any other bird we ever tasted, bet- 

 ter even than the far-famed ortolan. 



For the New England Farmer. 



A GOOD CROP OF RYE. 



On the town farm in Danvers, under the care of 

 Mr. Adino Page, master of the house, has been 

 raised the present season four acres of winter rye, 

 which yielded 1G8 bushels, weighing on an average 

 58 pounds to the bushel, of as plump and fair qual- 

 ity as any other grain of the kind I have seen. I 

 speak of this crop, because I think it a very good 

 one ; and because it was raised in the ordinary 

 course of cultivation, without any extra effort or 

 expense. Having seen the field several times, I 

 state such facts relating to it as have come with- 

 in my own observation. 



On a part of this land, rye was raised the year 

 previous. The soil is gravelly and light, — border- 

 ing on a peat-meadow. The rock in this vicinity 

 is sienite. It has been the practice, on this farm, 

 for several years, to plow with a team of four ox- 

 en, as deep as practicable ; and to dress liberally 

 with manure from the hog-yard. No labor is 

 spared in applying the manure, or in pulverizing 

 the soil. The cut and cover system is not here in- 

 troduced — certainly not since Mr. Page has had 

 charge of the labor ; for he has muscle himself, 

 and he expects others to apply theirs. These facts 

 are stated as explanatory of the crop grown. I 

 know that others have claimed to have grown 

 more than 40 bushels of rye to an acre, with ex- 

 traordinary advantages of commanding sea-man- 

 ure ; but I have not seen four acres together su- 

 perior to that grown by Mr. Page. Mr. Page now 

 has a crop of corn standing in front of the alms- 

 house, near the railroad — which will compare well 

 with any other crop that I have seen the present 

 season. I speak of these crops that the attention 

 of the curious may be turned towards them, be- 

 cause there is so much humbugging in the ac- 

 counts given of some of the extraordinary crops 

 reported, that it is not easy to know, what is wor- 

 thy to be credited. 



I mention them also to show, that very good 

 crops can be grown, where the land itself is very 

 poor — by proper care in cultivation. Perhaps 

 there is no farm in Danvers, that was more com- 

 pletely run out, than was this town farm 25 years 

 ago. There is no farm now, which yields better 

 crops of grain, than does this Poor Farm. p. 



Danvers, Aug. 20, 1852. 



down) which has injured them most. I tied up 

 many of mine with ropes ; others, I picked off half 

 the amount of fruit when partly grown, and wher- 

 ever this was done my trees look healthy and are 

 well filled with fruit at the present time. I am of 

 the opinion that the first freezing weather we had 

 last fall injured the peach buds more before the leaves 

 fell from the trees than the cold winter. I have cul- 

 tivated the peach more than thirty years, and my 

 seedlings have been sturdy and constant bearers, 

 while my inoculated fruit has failed one year dur- 

 ing all that time. I would recommend for all to 

 obtain the lemon melocoton seedling ; it is of good 

 size, a constant bearer, they ripen gradually, and 

 last longer than any other voriety. 



Grafton, Aug. 20, 1852. J. H. Hammond. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE PEACH TREE. 



Mr. Brown : — In reading communications from 

 several individuals in relation to the failure in the 

 peach crop this season, and the cause of the trees 

 having so sickly an appearance the first part of 

 the season, I am of the opinion that it was not 

 altogether the severity of the cold that affected 

 them most, but the load of fruit which the trees 

 were permitted to sustain (if they did not break 



MASS. STATE BOARD OF AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



A special meeting of the Board was called on 

 the 7th of September, to fill the office of Secretary, 

 made vacant by the non-acceptance of that post by 

 Dr. Hitchcock. The Board met at the State 

 House, and in the absence of His Excellency the 

 Governor, was called to order by the Secretary. — 

 His Honor, H. W. Cushman, the Lieut. Governor, 

 was then elected President for the day. The pro- 

 ceedings of the last meeting were read. 



Present, — Of the ex-officio members, Henry W. 

 Cushman and Amasa Walker. 



Of the members appointed by the Governor and 

 Council, Edward Hitchcock and Marshall P. 

 Wilder. 



From the State Society, John C. Gray. 



From Berkshire County Stephen Peed. 



" Essex County John W. Proctor. 



" Franklin County James S. Grennell. 



" Hampden County Francis Bhewek. 



" Hampshire County John A. Nash. 



" Hampden, Franklin & Hampshire. .Joseph Smith. 



" Middlesex County Simon Brown. 



" Housiitonic County Joshua R. I.awton. 



" Norfolk County B. V. French. 



" Plymouth County Seth Sit.agle. 



" Worcester West William Parkhurst. 



The following letter from Dr. HiTcncocK was 

 read, declining to act as Secretary of the Board: 



Boston, Aug. 21, 1852. 



Dear Sir : — To the unlooked for announcement 

 in your letter, that the Board of Agriculture of 

 this State had unanimously chosen me as their 

 Secretary, I have given all the attention which so 

 distinguished an honor, coming from a body so re- 

 spected, demands ; although I have been severely 

 pressed with labors since the receipt of your letter. 



Waiving all other considerations, there is one 

 that seems to decide the question presented for my 

 consideration. I cannot persuade myself that du- 

 ty will allow me at present to quit the post which 

 I now occupy. This demands all the time and 

 strength which I can command, and even more, 

 and the same would be the case with the office of 

 Secretary, as I view 7 its duties. I have no alterna- 

 tive, therefore, but to decline the proffered honor. 



I beg you to convey to the Board my deep 

 sense of obligation for their generous offer, and my 

 strong desire that their minds be directed to the 

 choice of one, younger, more vigorous and com. 

 petent than myself, for this important post. 



