1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



551 



syrup was actually produced ; and if the sugar plan- 

 ters of Louisiana had heard our remarks and pro- 

 phecies over that bowl of syrup, they would have 

 'hook in their shoes. 



It makes a rich syrup, but has an acid like the 

 cane and beet, which must be neutralized to make 

 good sugar. One gentleman here has succeeded 

 in ripening the seed by sowing in a hot bed. If 

 we can cultivate this cane in New England, I see 

 no obstacles to our making our own sugar at a 

 cheap rate. 



We have raised a few peaches here, by protect- 

 ing the trees during the winter. We find by 

 training the trees low, and bending the branches in 

 the fall, we can have quite a sure crop, and we think 

 it pays the way, as the fruit can only be had in per- 

 fection directly from the tree. 



Those who have grape vines here, have been 

 very successful this year in ripening the Isabella 

 and Sweet Water, rather difficult in common 

 seasons. 



We find that the pears which do best in this 

 climate are the Paradise d'Automne, Flemish Beau- 

 ty and Winter Nelis. The Napoleon and some 

 others do not prove good, and the Bartlett does not 

 thrive as with you. 



I must not forget to tell you that we had on our 

 table for lea last week a dish of raspberries, the 

 second crop of the season, the result of our beauti- 

 ful fall. Beautiful I must indeed call it, for having 

 no frosts, the leaves of our forest trees have ripened 

 slowly, and the change in the cellular tissue has 

 been so gradual that our woods have had time to 

 array themselves in the most gorgeous robes I ev- 

 er saw them wear. The deep blue of our October 

 skies, and the gold and crimson drapery of the 

 forest, have been such a feast to the eye, that the 

 tongue cannot help exclaiming, hourly, how 

 beautiful! It surpasses the richest display that 

 can be made on Washington Street. 



But, Mr. Editor, you know I make it a rule nev- 

 er to write for the Farmer "unless I have some- 

 thing to say, and then stop when I am done." 



Yours truly, A. E. P. 



Springfield, Vt, Od. 18, 1856. 



Our thanks are due to the lady who sends us the 

 above, and whose favors are always welcome. We 

 hope yet to be able to test that "bread and butter," 

 the thought of which makes our mouth water. One 

 who can discourse so pleasantly and intelligently of 

 all the affairs of the farm, must surely be a pattern 

 house-wife, and capable of manufacturing bread and 

 butter "fit for the gods." 



Frost, of Schuyler county, about six days before 

 Isabella — W. Reid, of New Jersey, had found it a 

 week earlier, and had formed a more favorable 

 opinion of it than seeing it at Boston. H. E. 

 Hooker, of Rochester, said that on his grounds it 

 was not so early as Diana, but ripened about the 

 same time as Isabella. 



A fact was stated by Hanford, of Indiana, 



showing the importance of a dry bottom for grapes. 

 On a porous soil, vines had withstood thirty-one 

 degrees below zero, but on impervious subsoil they 

 were killed. 



Grapes. — At the late pomological meeting at 

 Concord, this was said of the Concord : — 



Concord. C. Downing had fruited it and found 

 it about ten days earlier than the Isabella — Col. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 



J. A. French, North Clarendon, Vt.— The Chi- 

 nese sugar cane seed is for sale by Messrs. Nourse 

 & Co., 13 Commercial Street, Boston, at fifty cents 

 a pound. We have no doubt it will grow well on 

 Otter Creek, under the same cultivation that you 

 give Indian corn. You may plant in hills or drills. 

 We have a bottle of molasses made from this cane 

 in Georgia, at the rate of 400 gallons an acre. It 

 is very clear, and of fine flavor. 



"WATER TO HOUSE AND BARN. 



Will you inform me what is the best method to 

 convey water to the house for family use, and barn 

 for stock ? Is lead pipe considered healthy, and is 

 gutta-percha pipe good for such ])urposes, and if 

 so, what is the cost and durability of it, and where 

 may it be found ? J. S. SoMERS. 



Barnet, Vt, Oct. 8, 1856. 



Remarks. — We cannot recommend the use of 

 lead pipe for carrying water for family purposes ; 

 we should prefer wood, stone or gutta percha for 

 conveying it to the barn, unless the water were pure 

 spring water. Good chestnut logs, with a two or 

 three inch bore well laid, would last many years. 

 Pipe is made of stone, also of iron and glazed, but 

 are at present too expensive. Cement pipes are 

 also made, and Mr. A. Butterfield, of Colosse, N.Y., 

 states, that he can construct pipe for 37.^ cts. a rod, 

 and found, and that it will be as lasting as time. 

 Mr. Charles Stodder, 75 Kilby Street, Boston, 

 will tell you all about gutta percha pipe. 



CARROTS FOR HORSES. 



Please inform me the proper quantity of carrots 

 for the daily allowance for a horse. A person pre- 

 tending to know, tells me all over four quarts per 

 day are worse than wasted. If this be true, surely 

 your numerous subscribers ought to know it. 



Hanover, Mass., 1856. s. T. 



Remarks. — In addition to four quarts of cob- 

 meal with cut hay, we give our work horses four 

 quarts of carrots, at noon, and no other feed. This 

 keeps them in good flesh and spirits. If their la- 

 bor is constant, they would require as much again 

 meal. If a hard working horse could have eight, 

 instead of four quarts of carrots, he would be ben- 

 efited by them, if he had only four quarts of meal. 



