48 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



AIG. 12, 1S40. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



Krom the Fnrmpr's jVIoiilhly Visitor. 



FARMERS PHILOSOPHERS. 



All t'arinera nii{;lit and sliuiild be pliilosophers — 

 not like Newton, LucUe, nr Descarte-s for few liave 

 the intellect, or time to examine nature as tliey did 

 — but all have tlie faculty and time enough to read 

 the book of Nature, which lie.s wide open, and is 

 80 plain that "he who runs may read" many things 

 for curiosity, and some for profit : I will relate a 

 few tacts in n\y blunt way. 



A few years since, while standing' beside a wall, 

 ] heard a splashing in water on the opposite side. 

 Looking over, I saw about eight feet from me, two 

 bullfrogs apparently wrestling. They stood upon 

 their liiiid legs — took fair hold at the back with 

 their arms (or fore legs, if you please) and tripped, 

 and twisted just like two men in wrestling. Some- 

 times one would get thrown, then the other. I 

 saw them at this play ten or fifteen minutes. They 

 certainly were not fighting, for neither were hurt. 

 The water was two or three inches deep, just up to 

 their knees ; as soon as one gave the other a fall, 

 he would jump ofl', and both would stand up and 

 take hold again. 



HAWK STORY. 



There was a pair of hawks nearly as large as the 

 eagle, which visited our neighborhood for twenty 

 years — how much longer I know not. They were 

 curious and cunning creatures. They generally 

 took five or six chickens annually from each far- 

 mer. Nobody could shoot or trap them. One 

 time when I was from home they pounced upon an 

 old hen and killed her, but could not carry her off. 

 I came home soon after, and placed myself in the 

 barn with a double barrel gun about eight rods 

 from the hen. There was a hole through the barn 

 door big enough for the gun barrels. There I 

 waited, expecting they would come back after their 

 prize. They did come back ; but whether they 

 saw tlic barrels or smelt mischief otherwise 1 know 

 not. They flew round a wliile — lit several times 

 twenty rods olT, and then cleared out forever from 

 the hen. 



But the most curious thing about these liav\ka 

 was their races. About a mile north of my house 



jinother. — A few years ago I saw in my garden 

 thousands of hob s about the bigness of a gc.ose- 

 quill and perfectly round. Supposing there were 

 some insects in these lioles that were destroying my 

 garden sauce, I dug some of ihem out. I found 

 them from three to five inches in depth. They 

 were diflcrcnt from any creature described in any 

 nntiirnl history which I have seen. About one 

 fciuith <jf it (its head and neck) was black. It had 

 six leifs and some powerful looking claws near the 

 moQth lor so little a creature. The body and rest 

 of it was very much like a whitish worm. Its 

 whole length was about an inch. I thought that 

 boiling wiiior would be a go<id thing to destroy 

 them. I tried it, and killed perhaps three fourths 

 of lliem ; but my carrots, onions, &c. went faster 

 than ever. I then thought it possible that these 

 nameless animals might be carnivorous, wliich 1 

 soon found to be the case, by seeing one of them 

 catch a bug which was passing over his house. I 

 then put some maimed flies near the top of their 

 houses: they were soon dragged to the bottom. I 

 have no doubt they are a real benefit to a garden. 



• Stoddard. 



SCYTHES, RAKES, &.O. 



The suhscrihers oflcr f'T .«alo a very extensive nnrl cnm- 

 plete nssortiTient of Scythes, Rakes, &c. consisting inpnrtol 

 311(1 dozen Phillips. Messev anil Colliy's superior Seyilies. 

 5(1 " IMelcalf's ' Ho. do. 



50 " Taft's east steel do. do. 



25 " Eniflishdo. do. Grass do. 



10 " do. do. do. Cradle ilo. 



10 " do. do. do. Border do 



100 " Hall's Rakes, superior. 

 100 " Wilder & Eddy's do. do. 

 200 " Common do. do. 

 100 " Clapp's patent Scythe Snaiths. 

 5o " Raker's do. do. do- 

 100 " Common do, do. do. 

 2500 " Austin's superior Rifles. 

 2100 " Common do. 



1000 " Scythe Stones 

 100 " Grain Cradles superior. 



Tliey would respeclfully call the attention of Dealers and 

 Agnculturisls to the ahove assortnienl, wliieh consists of 

 many of the best kinds now m use, and which they are pre- 

 pared to sell at the very lowest prices. 



.lOSEPH BRECK & CO. 

 AVw Kngland Agricultural WarchoMse mid Seed Store, 

 51 & 53 jVorWi Market Street. 

 May 20. 



BERKSHIiiB HOGS. 



The suliscrihcrs offer for sale a few pair of full Wooded 



Berkshire Hogs ; also, pigs 7-6 blood, crossed with Mackav 

 Inquire at the New England Farmer oflice, or at ihcir farm 

 is a hill, the heighest in this town ; and southeast | »' Brighton. JOSEl'H BRECK Si. CO. 



from me sixty rods, is another bill two hundred 

 feet high, and nearly perpendicular on the north 

 side. Many a day have I seen these hawks have 

 their races as regular as horses or men. They 

 would fly slowly round in the air, and slowly take 

 their wny to the height of land on the north ; and 

 then apparently start fair, and with the rapidity of 

 lightning, or at least as fast as they could wing 

 their way, rush to a certain hush on the top of the 

 south hill ; and then wheel round and wend their 

 way back again for another raee. 



One afternoon, (June 18;57j I had watched them 

 several rounds. A thought struck me that if I should 

 get behind the bush which was their goal, I might 

 be revenged for tlie old hen and chickens. .Accor- 

 dingly I |)laced myself there with my double bar- 

 rel. They came — I snapped the lock, but it mis- 

 sed fire. I had scarcely ever known it to miss fire 

 before. I felt provoked, fiir I was sure of both, or 

 one of them at least. 1 hey wheeled round — look- 

 ed scorn at inc ; but had no more races that day. 

 A few days afterwards I saw them racing again ; 

 my revenge was gone— I was glad I had irpt killed 

 them. 



Julv 29. 



Sl'PERB ROCKET LARKSPUR SEED. 



The subscriliers ofTer for sale a quantity of Superb Doulde 

 Rocket Larkspur Seed, ofihcirown raising, saved from dou- 

 lile flowering plants only, emliracing all the diHerent colors. 

 Eor fine, strong and early plants, the seed should he sown in 

 August JOSEPH BRECIC & CO, 



June 17. 



GARD.'".]VKRS> KJVIVES. 



JOSEPH BRECIC & CO. have lliif season imported and 

 now ofl'er for sale a few very superior Garden Knives, for 

 pruning, &.c. manufactured expressly for Gardeners, and 

 warranted superior to any article of the kind before import- 

 ed. 



Also-a large assoninenl of lJtid<lii;g ■Knives, Grape 

 Scissors, &c. &c. 



April •ii 



SESCE CH'MNS. 



.Tust received from Rnilund, at the New Ens:l ind Agricul 

 rural Warehouse, 6 casks chains, suitnhle for inakitiE the 

 chain feme, &.C. JOSEPH BItECK & CO 



Julv 15. 



TRACE CHAISS. 



Just received, diieel from the English nianufacturesr, 8 

 casks of Trace Chains, from 6 to 1 1 feet long, suitable lor 

 plouehing or draft chains. JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



July 15. 



STRAWBERRIES ! STIJAAVBKRKIES ! 1 



Those who are desirous of cnlfivaling this delicious 

 Fruit are reepectfully informed that the suhscn'ter Iras 

 fiiieceo'led, <'i(\er many years cxperinieniing upon the 

 Strawberry, not only in obtaining new varieties, hnl in 

 ascert.'iinin^ the best rnelliods of ctiltiviition. The sub- 

 scriber would fftVer to the public, the present seiison, his 

 Selected fo/Zeff^ott consisting af sevc7i varieties ; they are 

 such as have stood tlie test of n fair trial for seven years'^ 

 and are all grown by the subscriber. 



Spei'imens of his Fruits have been exbil>ited everv 

 seasun a! the Ma.ssaclui^elts Hortir^uttiiral Rooms, and 

 have always comniandt'd an extra price in Faneuil Hall 

 Miirkel. 



Warren's Seedling Methven, a new and valuable kind, 

 a free bearer, fruit very large and juicy ; fruit measu- 

 ring .^j^ inches has been exhibited the present season. 

 This variety can be warraiiieil to be one of the finest va- 

 rieties grown, and will produce as fine fruit and as large 

 quantiiy, with the s:iine cultivation, as any other ever<if- 

 fered, although some may ask the modest (!) price of f!5 

 per dozen. The price of ibis Seedling is $5 per hundred 

 plants. 



Methven Castle — Fruit extremely large, high flavored 

 and showy ; Bpccimens of this fruit have been shown 

 this season six inches in circumference. Tliis variety 

 can be said to be very excellent, (when the true kinds is 

 obtained); it is one of the largest l.ite varieties known, 

 profitable and liigiily worthy of cultivation, all that some 

 growers may say to the contrary, notwithstanding. 

 Price ^3 per hundred plants. 



Keens Se.edting — A very superior variety, fruit very 

 large, ricli dark color, and uncommonly high flavored ; 

 has always been considered by English cultivators the 

 best grown. Price $3 per hundred. 



Royal Scarlet — Fruit long ovjiI shiiped and juicy, very 

 free bearer and very hardy, l-'riee $2. 



Havthiiis — Fruit larger than English Wood, exceed- 

 ingly numerous, sometimes yielding 100 berries to the 

 plant. Pi ice $1. 



Early Virginia — Tiiia is known to be the earliest and 

 best fruit for market, a free bearer, and very hardy. — 

 Price .fa. 



Enirlish Wood — Fruit well known for years. $L 



N. B. Tfiose who are desirous of cultivating this de- 

 licious fruit, would find it for their interest to visit the 

 gardens and see tlie mcLliod of cnhivation, and satisfy 

 tliemselves that they can obtain their plants from first 

 hands, for it is too often the cose that large and attrac- 

 tive advertisements are sent forth to the public by deal- 

 ers in plants, when at the same time they liave never 

 grown the kinds oftercd for sale, and know but little 

 about their cultivation. Atteiitinn to this by purcha- 

 sers, if po«^sible, will save much time and money. 



Every plant sent from this garden will be warranted 

 to be free from niixtuics, and shall also be young and 

 healthy, worth the price paid for them. 



All orders directed to the subscriber, enclosing the 

 amount for tiie order, or with a good reference, shall be 

 promptly attended to, and the plants carefully forvrard- 

 ed agreeably to directions. 



JAMES L. L. F. WAIIREN. 



JVonantum Vale, Brighton, July 25, 1640. 



Orders directed to J. BRECK & Co., will be execut- 

 ed with despatch. 



TIE UP CHAINS. 



Just received at the New Ensliind Agricultural Ware* 

 house, a good supply of those celebrated Chains for tying 

 upcatllc. These chains, introduced by E. H. llerhy, Esq. 

 of Salem, and Col. Jacques, of Chariestown, for the pur- 

 pose of securing cattle to the stall, are found to be the safest 

 and most convenient mo le of fastening cows and oxen to the 

 stanchion. They consist of a chain which passes round the 

 animal's neck, and by a ring attached to the stall, plays freo- 

 ly up and down, and" leaves the animal al lilieriy to lie down 

 or rise at pleasure, and keeps liinx perfectly secure. 



July IB. JOSEPH BRKCK & CO. 



PATENT SPRING BA1.ANCE. 



A few of those very eouvcnicnt spring balances, for fami- 

 Iv use. a very simple conlrivaiue for weighing small articles. 

 JOSEPH BRECK & CO. No. 51 and 52 North Market 

 Street. Boston. 



July 15. 



THE NEW KNG!-A'n P.VKMF.R 



Is published every Wednesday Evening, alS3 per gunum 

 payable at the end of the year — hut those who pay within 

 sixtydays from llictimeof subscribing are entitled to a i e- 

 duct'ionof 59 cents. 



TUTTLE, DENNETT AND CHISHOLM, PRINTERS, 



17 -SClinol STllKtT ....UO:^TON 



