198 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 9, 1829. 



facts to show that trees overrun with ivy, so far 

 from being iiijined by it, grow most luxuriantly. 

 Evelyn says, that when the ivy is strippeil fron'i 

 trees, they are often killed by cold in the ensuing 

 winter. — American Farmer. 



CONTEMPLATED HORTICULTURAL SO- 

 CIETY. 



We fully concur in opinion with the writer of 

 the following able article, from a respected cor- 

 respondent, that a Society for the ])roniotion of 

 skilful and scientific Horticulture, established in 

 Boston, would greatly subserve the interests of the 

 community, as well as furnish avenues to lauda- 

 ble distinction, and pure and jiraiseworthy en- 

 joyment to the members of such an institution. — 

 A number of persons associated for a desirable 

 object, may furnish an aggregate of mind and 

 means, which is much more eflcctive for bene- 

 ficial purposes than would be the isolated efforts 

 of the same individuals. A Horticultural So- 

 ciety might introduce new and useful plants from 

 various quarters of the globe ; import valuable 

 and expensive publications, as well us form a Re- 

 pository for new and useful Implements, which 

 would be beyond the powers of more numerous 

 and wealthy persons to accomplish without act- 

 ing in concert Editor. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



The influence that has been so generally difl'us- 

 ed throughout our state, by the institution of Ag- 

 ricultural Societies, is felt and acluiowledged to be 

 of inunense impoitauce to the interests of the cul- 

 tivator, as well as to the eonsumei-s of the surplus 

 produce of his labors. Whatever has a tendency 

 to promote this honorable, and useful, and inde- 

 pendent brancli, of ilomestic iudiistiy, should be 

 fostered and regarded. 



It is equally gratifying to perceive that there is 

 an excellent horticultural spirit awakened in our 

 community, and which is not confined to the citi- 

 zens of the metropolis, but pei-vades most of the 

 neighboring towns and villages. We have witnes- 

 sed witli much pleasure, tiie increasing interest, 

 and ardent efforts of our citizens in this peaceful, 

 and healthful employment, and seen its visible ef- [ 

 fects, not only in tlie process of cidtivation, but in i 

 its maturity. Om- stalls and our fruit-shops have j 

 been abundantly supplied the pr.st season, with | 

 better, and greater varieties of fine fruits, than here- j 

 tofore. I 



The invalid must be grateful to those who thus 

 admiidster to his enjoyments. The healthful will 

 not be mimindful of the pleasure affortled, by the 

 display of the rich dessert, with which his tiible is 

 crowned. And the public will view with compla- 

 cent regard, the attention bestowed upon this branch 

 of the '• American System," v.-hich needs no public 

 act of douijtful expediency, to insure its protection. 



It caimot be expected that in our northern cli- 

 mate, we .should produce even by untiring assidui- 

 ty, or extensive outlay, all those fino varieties of 

 fruit, which are yielded spontaneously, or with 

 comparatively little labor, in some sections of our 

 liighly favored country. Undcrall discouragements 

 however, it must be admitted, that much has been 

 achieved, and under the continued auspices of 

 Heaven, and om- native industry and perseverance, 

 we may continue freely to enjoy the lieahhy, and 

 invigorating pleasures of the cultivator, and share 

 the bounties a benevolent Providence awards to 

 tlie labors of man. 



Who then among us is to give the impulse to 

 more extensive and active exertions .' To those 

 who have been the modern pioneers in the resus- 

 citation of this primitive employment of a portion 

 of our race, who have labored with the juind and 

 the hands so industriously and efficiently in the 

 vineyard, we nmst look for countenance and in- 

 struction, for the enlargement and improvement of 

 the system so successfully commenced, and so ar- 

 dently and pa.riotically pursued, by several of our 

 distinguished fellow-citizens. 



We have been led to a consideration of this sub- 

 ject at the present time for the puipose of calling 

 the attention of experienced and practical horticul- 

 turists, towards the founding of a Society for the 

 promotion of that useful employment, of extending 

 its blessings, and uicreasing the oflbrts of those who 

 feel an interest in such pursuits. 



The citizens of Massachusetts have never been 

 backward in promoting any object of public utility, 

 and it is believed that all that is now wanting to 

 give an imjjidse to the ]>lan here, suggested, is to 

 present the subject to the consideration of your 

 readers. 



New York, Philadelphia, and some other of our 

 sister cities, have preceded us in the good work. 

 Let us go and do likewise. Z. C. Jr. 



Dorchester. January 7. 



LONDON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This important Society which has done so 

 much tn give Horticulture its present high stand- 

 ing, in Europe, now contains between foiir and 

 five thousand members, embracing all classes of 

 the comnmnity, from the Kinjjf, who is its Patron, 

 and subscribed £500 for the promotion of its im- 

 portant objects, down to tlie daily laborer, who 

 has distinguished himself by a knowlerlge of 

 horticulture. Its associates and correspondents 

 are dispersed through every country of the 

 globe, the Indies, and some upon the remotest 

 islands of the sea, who are constantly transmit- 

 ting seeds, scions, plants, and articles of intelli- 

 gence to the parent Society in London. Theii 

 Transactions are regularly published, and arc 

 replete with information for horticulturists, and 

 to .society in general. Among its list of mem- 

 bers in the United States, are Messrs John 

 LowRLL and S. G. Pekkins, of Boston — Bukl, 

 of Albany — Prince, of Long Island — Cox, o! 

 New Jersey — Dr Hosack, of New York — Mr 

 Dick, of Philadelphia — Mr Thomas, of Cayuga 

 County, N. Y. — and Messrs Floy, Wii.son, and 

 Hogg, of New York City. The late Gov. Clin- 

 ton was an active corresponding member. 



Large Pear. — At a late meeting of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society of Paris, a gigantic pear was 

 exhibited, of the following dimensions: circunift- 

 rei.ce 15 inches ; height 9 inches, and weight one 

 pound seven ounces. 



From liie American Farmer. 

 SHEPHERD'S DOGS. 



FROM GENERAL LAFAYETTE. 



Exiract to the Editor of the .imerican Farmer, dated 

 La Grange, August 9, 182S. 



Mt Dear Sib — The session of the Chainbre dn 

 Deputes is at an end, and I am returned to La 

 Grange, where I hope soon to reunite the greatest 

 part of the family,-including our three boys for the 

 time of the vacation. 



You will have received a letter, inclosing one 



from my colleague, M. Girod de I'Ain, Judge of 

 the Royal Court of Paris, and a meinber of the 

 association of Naz, the celebrated flock for the 

 fineness of merino wool. I believe it will have 

 attracted your attention. The enclosed small 

 book has been lately published ; as the southern 

 l>arts of the United States are well calculated for 

 the cidtivation of the silk worm, and the middlij 

 states also, I think the information therein con-, 

 tallied may be of some use in the American Far-' 

 mcr. You have mentioned to me the Pyremiian 

 breed of dogs ; I have procured two jiuppies, one 

 of them, as both are males, I shall send when more 

 fit to bear the voyage." 



[The puppies arrived safely, and are of immense 

 size ; one remains in Maryland, and one is for Mr 

 Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio. They are of the 

 breed which is used to destroy wolves and sheep- 

 killing dogs. The treatise is entitled, " Manual 

 pour I'Education dks vers a soie, et la Culture 

 DU 3IuRiER, par J. M. Redares, du Gard." If on 

 examination it should be found to contain informa- 

 tion that may appear new and useful, in addition 

 to what we have published, and shall publish in 

 our next, we shall uisert it as soon as convenient.] 



Si'k Exports. — A correspondent predicts that 

 this country will export the raw material of this 

 article, within a few yeais after our attention is 

 well directed to its culture, to an extent somewhat 

 comparative with that of cotton. France, he says, 

 imports one third of the raw material she manu- 

 factures, and she would become our best customer- 

 — J^alional Intelligencer. 



The Season. — The Georgia Journal of the 15th 

 December .sa)'s, thus for, the thermometer has in- 

 (liiiued summer heat, within a tipgree or two. 

 Although the same remark will not apply to our 

 latitude, yet we believe the oldest inhaljitants have 

 seldom seen so mild and open a winter ; for aU 

 the purposes of out-door business the weather is as 

 fine almost as is coiiunon ui October ; not an inch 

 of snow has fallen. 



The Penobscot was closed by ice the 18th inst. 

 — jVewburuporl Herald. 



Blistered Feet. — The following mode of cure, 

 was communicated to Capt. Cochrane, and which 

 ho says he never found to fail : — " It is simply to 

 rub tlie feet at going to bed, with spirits muted 

 with tallow dropped from a lighted candle into the 

 pnim of the hand. On the following morning no 

 bhsters exist : tlie spirits seemed to possess the 

 healing power, the tallow scning only to keep the 

 skin soft and pliant. The soles of the feet, ancles, 

 and insteps, should be rubbed well ; and even 

 where no blisters exist, the application may be 

 usefully made as a preventative. Salt and water 

 is a good substitute — and while on this head, I ' 

 would recommend foot travellers never to wear 

 right and left shoes ; it is bad economy, and indeed 

 serves to cramp th.e feet ; and such I felt to be 

 the case." — Cochrans's Pedestrian Tour. 



[From Fesaenclen's New American Gartlener.] 



JANUARY. 



Throughout New England the temperature of 

 the climate is such as to exclude the cultivator 

 from performing most of the operations of tillage 

 or horticulture from about the first of December to 

 the latter part of jMarch, or the beginning of April. 

 The seeds of knov.'lodge may, however, be sown 



