548 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



wrought out his problems on smooth leather, with 

 a blunt awl. 



David Rittenhouse, the American Astronomer, 

 when a plough-boy, was observed to have covered 

 his plough and fences with figures and calculations. 

 James Ferguson, the great Scotch astronomer, 

 learned to read by himself, and mastered the ele- 

 ments of astronomy whilst a shepherd's boy in the 

 fields by night. And perhaps it is not too much to 

 say that if the hours wasted in idle company, in 

 conversation at the tavern, were only spent in the 

 pursuit of knowledge, the dullest apprentice at any 

 of our shops might become an intelligent member 

 of society, and a fit person for most of our civil offi- 

 ces. By such a course, the rough covering of many 

 a youth is laid aside ; and their ideas, instead of 

 being confined to local subjects and technicalities, 

 might range the wide fields of creation ; and other 

 stars from among the young men of this city might 

 be added to the list of worthies that are gilding our 

 country with bright yet mellow light. — Rev. Br. 

 Murray. 



For the Kew England Farmer. 



FESTIVAL AT NEWBURYPORT, 



October 2, 1856. 



It was my privilege to witness the 3Gth Exhibi- 

 tion, by this time-honored association, and I hesi- 

 tate not to say, it was one of the most successful 

 ever witnessed in the county. All praise is due to 

 the energy and industry that displayed such an 

 abundance of choice fruits and products as were 

 seen by thousands in the City Hall. Notwithstand- 

 ing the season is reported to have been unfavora 

 ble to such products, no one would have suspected 

 this, from the appearance of the tables. The com^ 

 petition in the plowing field was well sustained 

 About thirty teams were engaged, with every form 

 of plow of approved structure. Among these, there 

 was no one that finished the work so entirely to 

 my satisfaction, as that which is denominated the 

 side-hill ploiv. This leaves the surface of the field 

 unilbrm, without the awkwardness of dead fur- 

 rows. 



The show of animals in the place was about the 

 same in number as in years past, — but of superior 

 quality. There was a bull, owned by Mr. Rogers 

 of South Danvers, which, I thought a very su- 

 perior animal. Many of the young animals were 

 very promising. Of the milch cows, I could form 

 no opinions — not being informed of their products ; 

 having often found the worst looking animals to be 

 the best producers of milk. 



The collection of people was immense, showing 

 an increasing interest in these exhibitions. More 

 than one thousand ladies and gentlemen dined to- 

 gether upon the field. 



The address by Mr. B. P. Poor, of Indian Hill 

 farm, was an able and interesting performance, and 

 will add to the high reputation of this gentleman 

 as a scholar. As a whole, the occasion passed to 

 the general satisfaction of all concerned ; notwith- 

 standing the murmurs of a few growlers at the de- 

 lay in starting the plows, which cut short the 

 speeches at the table. This society has paid out 

 more than $600 a year in premiums, and now has 

 a permanent fund of more than $10,000 well in- 

 vested on interest. Its published transactions 

 have been among the most instructive lessons dis- 

 tributed among the farmers. For these great cred- 

 it is due the faithful and intelligent Secretary. 



For the J\ew Jingland Farmer. 



"BARBARISM." 



Mr. Editor : — I noticed a communication in 

 your paper of August 23, under the above caption, 

 in which the writer speaks of instances where beau- 

 tiful shade trees have been sacrificed, seemingly for 

 no other object or excuse but mere wantonness ; 

 and as I have an "additional case," I will give it. 



It may be remembered by those who, a few years 

 ago, had occasion to travel on the Concord and 

 Cambridge turnpike, which passes through the south 

 part of Lexington, that a large white oak tree stood 

 on the south side of the road nearly opposite my 

 residence, with others of smaller size in the imme- 

 diate vicinity. This tree was nearly, or quite, four 

 feet through at the base, its huge limbs branching 

 out about ten feet from the ground, full fifty feet 

 horizontally on all sides from the main trunk ; with 

 others extending upwards in proportion, so that 

 any one can imagine the beauty of that noble and 

 stately tree. 



Well do I remember for many years when mar- 

 ket days at Brighton came on Monday, large droves 

 of cattle were driven on this road from the country, 

 slowly wending their way for a mile or two in 

 length ; and when, on a hot and dusty day in sum- 

 mer, the foremost of them came to the shade of 

 those trees, they would lie down, followed by the 

 rest of the drove, until the road was completely 

 blocked up by them ; and the drivers would then 

 sit upon the wall, uncover, and wipe the dust and 

 perspiration from their faces. After having tarried 

 an hour or two in the cooling breeze, man and 

 beast would resume their journey. Two of these 

 drovers of times gone by, were "Dea. Kimball," of 

 Littleton, and a Mr. Cotting, of Vermont, doubt- 

 less old familiar names with cattle dealers in the 

 country. 



But we were not alway^s destined to enjoy the 

 grateful shade of that tree ; for as fate would have 

 it, it so happened that late in the year 1840, a con- 

 tractor with ship-builders in Medford came along, 

 and noticing the tree, he inquired for, and sought 

 out the owner, who was one of my neighbors, and 

 thereupon commenced to bargain for the purchase 

 of the tree. The owner at first refused to sell, but 

 by the man's incessant importunities, be at last 

 yielded, and about the last of January, 1850, the 

 monarch of the forest was laid low, filling the 

 neighborhood with the reverberating sound of its 

 tremendous crash. I would have given the inter- 

 est on its value for a number of years, if it could 

 not have remained on any other conditions. And 

 furthermore, if the owner had been one in needy 

 circumstances, there would have been some excuse 

 for it ; but as he was worth his thousands, there 

 was no necessity in so doing. It is almost impos- 

 sible to find words with which to speak in just terms 

 of condemnation, for such an outrageous act of van- 

 dalism. And it would not be too much to say, 

 that those who have so little feeling for others, and 

 who are so incapable of realizing the beauties of 

 nature, might be classed with barbarians who have 

 never seen the light of civilization. We should 

 preserve these relics of olden times while we can, 

 and not only that, but we should plant trees by the 

 road-sides and about our homes, that they may, in 

 years hence, be a source of enjoyment to the trav- 

 eller and that of our children. J. Underwood. 

 Lexington, Sept., 1856. 



