366 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMER, 



Arc. 



terms are, the patronage of this and the new 

 •worlds. I dedicate to my wife and her ten chil- 

 dren. I select Dr. S. L. Mitchell, Sir. H. Davy, 

 and Baron Alexander de Humboldt as my protec- 

 tors. I ask one hundred brave companions, well 

 equipped, to start for Siberia, in the fall season, 

 with reindeer and sleighs, on the ice of the frozen 

 sea. I engage we find warm and rich land, stocked 

 with thrifty vegetables and animals, if not man. on 

 reaching one degree northward of latitude 82°. 

 We will return in the succeeding spring. 



J. c. s. 

 To His Excellency Gov. Wm. Clarke." 



Without further personal information in regard 

 to the movements of the captain, and not wishing 

 to treat a really serious matter in any other way 

 than with the importance the subject demands, I 

 will merely add, that years ago, when a wanderer 

 on the "deep, deep sea," in tlie solemn lonesome- 

 ness of a ship s forecastle, Capt. Symmes' name 

 used often to be mentioned, in connection with the 

 blowing of the North West winds, at times partic- 

 ularly when their prevalence made "going aloft" 

 anything but an amusement. 



It was the common and believed report then, 

 among seamen, that Capt. Symmes had been to the 

 North Pole, and discovered a hole, which up to 

 the time I speak of had been familiarly known as 

 "Symmes' Hole ;" one of Capt. S.'s crew on their 

 return reported that the aperture discovered was 

 the one whence issued the North West winds, and 

 that the discovery was an accidental one of tho cap- 

 tain's, he having one day shinned up to it divested 

 of his coat and jacket; and had either of those ar- 

 ticles been within his reach, he would have closed 

 the hole, (it being very small.) 



Could he have only succeeded in so doing, I am 

 sure he would have had the prayer of many a sea- 

 man as well as landsman, and no more fervent 

 one than would have been offered by. 



J. P. T. SnrvER. 



Wiiichendon, Mass., June 21, 18uG. 



For the Keui England Farmer. 



PROTECT THE BIRDS. 



Very few persons indeed appreciate the field 

 birds as highly as they ought. By far too many 

 look upon the feathered tribe as mere tenants of 

 the air, having no specific duties to perform ; or as 

 creatures enjoying an existence merely, without be- 

 ing of any possible profit or pleasure to man. 



Such a mean appreciation of their inestimable 

 worth, is perfectly absurd, not to say preposterous. 

 Can a man's heart be so hard and adamantine 

 like, as not to be touched and awakened to a liveli- 

 er unison even, by the sweet music discoursed by 

 the feathered songsters, from hill-top and glen ? 



Surely, their music is sweeter than that of the 

 harp, and contains a vivacity which no human 

 breath or hand can impart. 



But birds were not given us for pleasure only ; 

 they were intended to aid and assist us likewise. — 

 And this they do most effectually, by destroying 

 innumerable insects which would be injurious and 

 destructive to vegetable growth. 



Such birds as the robin, the blue bird, the linnet, 

 and the wren, are both pleasm-able and profitable. 

 But let us now come to the most remarkable and 

 peculiar of all birds — the king bird. All, I hope, 



are familiar with his form, his beauty, his habits, 

 and his unsurpassed usefulness. 



Who is n ot acquainted with the compactness 

 of his form, with the masculine contour of his 

 head, and lastly, with the peuliar formations of his 

 beak, and also with the efficient and cunning man- 

 ner in which he uses his sharp, and even deadly 

 weapon ? 



How many a heart has rejoiced in Spring time, 

 to see this little monarch of birds rearing his nest 

 among the thick branches of some favorite old ap- 

 ple tree, near the farm house or barn. 



How well-assured have the inmates felt, that, if 

 the king bird took up his habitation near the farm 

 buildings, no marauding hawk would dare to mo- 

 lest the sanctity of the hen-coop. 



How well satisfied were they that no plundering 

 crow would dare venture among the thick boughs 

 of the stately elm overhanging the dwelling, to rob 

 the red-breast robin's nest of all that was so dear 

 and hallowed to the mother bird. 



Truly, the king bird is no negligent or careless 

 watchman, neither is he a cowardly assailant. He 

 stands ever upon his guard, and when duty re- 

 quires, he is vigilant and brave to attack. Indeed, 

 I never realized the actual worth of the king bird 

 until the present season. My corn field is situated 

 ai)out one hundred rods from tlie house, and greatly 

 exposed to the ravages of the crows. 



This field is large, and in it stand a few veteran 

 apple trees — the remainder of a once valuable or- 

 chard. To my great joy, I noticed early in spring 

 time, that two pairs of king birds had selected places 

 for building their nests among the boughs of these 

 trees. 



From what I previously knew of the king bird, 

 I was at once constrained to believe that the bird 

 would be of great value to me in keeping off the 

 crows. 



My expectations have been realized, for, during 

 the week past, I have noticed several times that an 

 old crow attempted to enter the field, but was 

 promptly met at the outer limit, and immediately 

 repulsed by my faithful guard. 



My cornfield has remained unmolested by the 

 crows, although in a very exposed position, and I 

 attribute its preservation to the vigilance of the 

 king bird. • 



A thousand times have I thanked the bird for 

 his watchfulness, and as often blessed the maker of 

 all things tor so glorious a gift. 



Farmers, see to it that the birds are preserved, 

 and they will a thousand times pay you for your 

 care concerning them. J. T. J. 



Leominster, Mass., 1856. 



Rose Cuttings. — When is a good time to root 

 rose cuttings, and how, and in what soil? — G. 

 Sherma, Huron Co., O. 



In the summer, choose a shady place — the north 

 side of a wall or building is best, and prepare a soil 

 from four to six inches deep, nearly all sand ; pit 

 sand will do. A frame and glass is desirable, al- 

 though they will root in the open soil if kept moist 

 and shaded from the sun. In selecting the cut- 

 tings, choose the short-jointed wood, usually that 

 from which the flowers have recently fallen, taking 

 a portion of the heel, or attachment to the larger 

 shoot, with it. These being in what is called a 

 half ripe state, remain green sufficiently long to en- 



