502 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



remarked that the trees were uncommonly full. 

 One of my neighbors said that I ought to have 

 twenty barrels of apples from a young orchard, that 

 showed as handsome a bloom as I ever saw. Of 

 sound marketable apples, I shall not probably gath- 

 er so much as a bushel, from the whole orchard. 



Now, Mr. Editor, I wish to say that I believe the 

 curculio to be the cause of the failure of apples 

 in this section, at least ; and fear, that henceforth, 

 it will be as difficult to raise apples, as it has been 

 for many years past to raise plums; and conse- 

 quently, that those who have given up their plums 

 to this insect, must now give up their apples also, 

 or devise some means for its destruction. I shall, 

 however, be very happy to see cause to change or 

 modify this opinion, which I have stated thus dog- 

 matically, partly for the purpose of calling out an 

 expression from those more experienced and more 

 observing in these matters than myself, but mainly 

 because I think I have seen enough of the opera- 

 tions and oi" the rapid increase of this pest, within 

 a few years past, to justify the statement here 

 made. S. Fletcher. 



Winchester, Sept., 1856. 



YOUNG MEN. 



Whatever may be your choice of future occupation 

 — whatever calling or profession you may select, 

 there is certainly none more honorable than that of 

 a farmer. The patriarch of the fields, as he sits 

 beside his cottage door when his daily toil is over, 

 feels an inward calm never known in the halls of 

 pride. His labor yields him unpurchasable health 

 and repose. I have observed with more grief and 

 pain than I can express, the visible tokens which 

 appear in all directions of a growing disposition to 

 avoid agricultural pursuits, and to rush into some 

 of the overcrowded professions, because a corrupt 

 and debasing fashion has thrown around them the 

 tinsel of imaginary respectability. Hence the far- 

 mer, instead of preparing his child to follow in the 

 path of usefulness himself has trod, educates him 

 for a sloth ; labor is considered vulgar, to work is 

 ungenteel, the jack-plane is less respectable than 

 the lawyer's green bag ; the handles of the plow 

 less dignified than the yard-stick. Unfortunate in- 

 fatuation ! How melancholy is this delusion, which, 

 unless it be checked by a wholesome reform in 

 public opinion, will cover our country with wreck 

 and ruin ! This state of things is striking at the 

 very foundation of our national greatness ; it is up- 

 on agriculture that we mainly depend for our con- 

 tinued prosperity, and dark and evil will be the day 

 when it falls into disrepute. What other pursuit 

 offers so sure a guarantee of an honest indepen- 

 dence, a comfortable support for a dependent fami- 

 ly ? Where else can we look but to the produc- 

 tions of the soil for safety of investmei\t, and for 

 ample return ? In commercial speculations all is 

 chance and uncertainty, change and fluctuation, rise 

 and fall. In the learned professions scarce one in 

 ten makes enough to meet his incidental expenses ; 

 how, then, are we to account for this fatal misdi- 

 rection of public opinion ? 



The cultivators of the earth are the most valua- 

 ble citizens. They are the r^- st independent, ih': 

 most virtuous, and they are tied to their country; 

 and wedded to its liberty and interests by the moi! 

 lasting bonds. — Jefferson. 



WORCESTER NORTH CATTLE SHOW. 



The Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Worces- 

 ter North Agricultural Society took place at Fitch- 

 burg, on Friday last. The weather was pleasant, 

 and all things seemed favorable. The attendance, 

 through the entire day, was very large. The wo- 

 men and children made up at least one-half the 

 number, and their faces indicated the enjoyment 

 they found in the duties and attractions of the Far- 

 mer's Festival : — And this is one of the great mer- 

 its of these gatherings, — that all who have labored 

 in promoting the articles of growth or manufac- 

 ture which are presented, may participate in the 

 Exhibition, and share the honors it confers. 



The whole centre of the romantic and beautiful 

 town presented the scenes of a gala day ; and the 

 charming natural scenery added grace and gran- 

 deur to the whole. The narrow vale was vocal 

 with glad voices, and the gentle babblings of the 

 .lively stream, now dancing over the stones, or bend- 

 ing the grass on its borders, as it went on its way 

 to turn the thousand wheels of industry below. 

 Up, almost overhead, sat the hills, serene in ma- 

 jesty, looking upon the enchanting scene in the 

 valley beneath, or, as the changing clouds partially 

 obscured their summits, seemed approaching and 

 lovingly kissing each other. 



The common was crowded with cattle, horse's, 

 sheep, swine, carts and carriages of every descrip- 

 tion, even down to the "Donkey Express," with his 

 load of baggage for the next train. Pedlers, good, 

 honest pedlers, enlivened the scenes with their or- 

 atory and songs — buns, beads and popping beer 

 had a lively sale, and horse cakes and gingerbread, 

 apple pies, tarts and tongue, allayed the cravings of 

 the half-famished children, who had come a long 

 way over the hills that morning. 



In a quiet green spot, just off the highway, and 

 where they would not trample the infants or jostle 

 this mothers, the horses were admirably arranged, 

 and could be seen with comfort. 



Happy young ladies crowded the open windows 

 and balconies, so intent on the attractions below, 

 that they, perhaps ! did not notice the young gen,' 

 tleman^s heads promiscuously mixed in with their 

 own ! But it was all right. Stoics and old bach- 

 elors, alone, would be untouched and look on such 

 a group with indifference ! 



Our first critical examination of articles present- 

 ed was in the large town hall, where the fruits and 

 articles of domestic manufacture were exhibited. 

 None of the fruits were i'li large quantity, but there 

 were samples of great exVellence of apples, pears, 

 peaches, a few plums, aVd several varieties of 

 grapes. Indeed, "in this ^loor year for fruit," we 

 were most agreeably surpised to find in the north- 

 i em part of Worcester county an exhibition in Po- 

 mona's kingdom, wliich would reflect credit upon 

 'any Horticultural finciety. They w^re also -^r- 



