1856, 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



277 



the midland counties purchase for fattening, fatten 

 more readily than any other breed, when put upon 

 good pasture ; and their beef is better than the 

 Durham, but slower in forming. 



Last, comes the county of Chester, the richest of 

 the six western counties. The fame of the Che- 

 shire cheese has reached thousands who have never 

 tasted it. Half the county, which contains 700,000 

 acres, is under grass. The number of milch cows it 

 maintains is above one hundred thousand, and 

 each gives from 200 to 400 pounds of cheese, and 

 15 to 20 ])ounds of butter. Farming is much di- 

 vided, and rents for grass lands are about $7 50 

 the acre. 



The agricultural condition of the county is better 

 and more prosperous than that of Gloucester and 

 Somerset, owing probably to the neighborhood of the 

 manufacturing districts, which offer immense outlets 

 for its produce. Drainage is general, and the use of 

 su]5plementary manures frequent. 



The ancient and prosperous rural economy of 

 this county has not prevented the spirit of innova- 

 tion. ]\Ir. Littledale's farm, on the Mersey, oppo- 

 site Liverpool, is already famous. The cows on 

 this farm are stabled throughout the year, which 

 appears monstrous to the graziers of the neighbor- 

 hood. In summer, they are fed on clover, Italian 

 rye grass and green vetches ; in winter, on corn, 

 chopped hay, turnips and beet roots. It is assert- 

 ed, that, by this means, eighty-three milch cows 

 and fifteen working horses are kept upon eighty 

 acres. 



The Marquis of Westminster, a very extensive 

 proprietor, and whose magnificent residence is the 

 ornament of the county, is a great encourager of 

 draining ; he has tile works, which make a million 

 of drain tiles in a year, and these he gives gratui- 

 tously to his farmers. 



The Cheshire cheeses weigh from fifty to a hun- 

 dred pounds each ; the largest are considered the 

 best ; some smaller are made in the shape of pine- 

 apples, but they are not so much appreciated. It 

 takes four quarts of milk to produce one ])ound of 

 cheese. The red color which distinguishes the 

 Cheshire cheese is produced by annotto, and they 

 are sometimes kept as much as three years, before 

 they are sold for consumption. The cooler for 

 the milk, the salting tub, the large and powerful 

 presses, the well-kept utensils of wood and iron, 

 the store filled with these huge cheeses — everj'- 

 thing in these dairies wears an air of comfort. 

 Among the productions of rural economy, cheese is 

 the most interesting ; it furnishes the mass of the 

 population, in all countries, with a wholesome, pal- 

 atable, and nourishing food ; easily carried, and 

 easily procured, cut in any quanWty that may be 

 needed, and requiring no preparation. It was the 

 manufacture of cheese which enabled Holland and 

 Switzerland, two of the noblest nations of modern 

 Europe, to establish their independence ; as it was 

 the development of her cotton manufactures which 

 carried England through the wars of the French 

 revolution. There is more connexion than is usual- 

 ly supposed, between a nation's political history and 

 its rural economy. The making of cheese passed 

 from Holland into England, along with turnip cul- 

 tivation ; both were valuable giftg, perhaps the tur- 

 nip the most so even. 



The trade in cheese appears likely to be greatly 

 extended, in the present day. The rise in price 

 shows the increased demand. Nothing, however. 



is more simple than to imitate the moat esteemed 

 qualities of Dutch, Swiss and English cheese ; it 

 only requires a little attention, and a certain 

 amount of capital, M. 



THE COUNTRY CHILD. 



Child of the country ! on the lawn 

 I see thee like the bounding fawn, 

 Blithe as the bird which tries its wing 

 The first time on the wings of Spring ; 

 Bright as the sun when from the cloud 

 He comes as cocks are crowing loud ; 

 Now running, shouting, 'mid sunbeams, 

 Nov, groping trouts in lucid streams, 

 Now spinning like a mill-wheel round, 

 Now hunting Echo's empty sound, 

 Now climbing up some old tall tree — 

 For climbing's sake — 'tis sweet to thee 

 To sit where birds can sit alone. 

 Or share with thee thy venturous throne. 



Cdsninqham. 



MILLET AS FODDER, 



To secure a variety of fodder ought to be an ob- 

 ject of the farmer, as well as to secure a large 

 amount. Cattle will often eat a foddering of poor 

 meadow hay with as much relish as they will the 

 best timothy or clover ; and this is e\idence sufficient 

 of the necessity of variety. But if, when we furnish 

 variety, we can supply grasses of a nuJa-itive char- 

 acter, that -svill at once gratify the appetite and con- 

 tribute to the muscular system, then we introduce 

 a fitness of things which will result in profit. 



It seems now to be so much of a settled opinion 

 among farmers, that we shall continue to have dry 

 hot summers and short pasture feed, that all resort 

 to some green fodder to make up the deficiency — 

 and this resort has been principally to green In- 

 dian corn. Few have tried millet ; but those who 

 have, like it, and find it a profitable crop. Cut 

 green and fed to stock, it is one of the best soiling 

 crops we have — and made into hay, cattle eat it 

 with as much avidity as they will our best grasses. 



The mode of culture is simple and easy. The 

 ground should be rich, or at least in good condi- 

 tion, finely pulverized, and sowed with seed about 

 the first of June, using eight quarts ta the acre ; we 

 have never used more than this amount, and found 

 it amply sufficient. When sowed as late as the 

 tenth of June, it is not necessary to cut it until af- 

 ter the rye and wheat crops are harvested, and the 

 press of work is over. It is somewhat difficult to 

 cure it, as it is a hea\'} , succulent plant. Cut k 

 when the blossoms are just closing, and make it as 

 clover hay is usually made. Hay caps may be used 

 to great advantage in securing this crop, as it is 

 necessary that it should be out two or three nights. 

 A few square rods left to ripen will furnish an 

 abundance of seed for another year. 



{5^1=' The post-office address of our friend N. P, 

 Morrison, "The Apple Man," is North Cambridge, 



Mass. 



