1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



553 



SWAN'S ORANGE AND WHITE DOYENNE. 



Swan's Oraxge, Onondaga. Very 

 largje ; long-obovate ; smooth, golden 

 yellow, russet specks, tinged with light 

 red in the sun ; stem an inch long, stout, 

 curved, set obliquely in a slight cavity; 

 calyx small, close, in a small basin ; flesh 

 white, fine, melting, very juicy, rich, sub- 

 acid, aromatic flavor, but hardly flrst 

 quality ; or varying^from nearly first to 

 second-rate. Oct. and into Nov. Tree 



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ures. Since I have been privileged to wit- 

 ness these entertainments, my views of the 

 matter of agricultural fairs have essentially 

 changed. The sentiment, once entertained, 

 that it was unladylike and improper for our 

 sex to attend them, or, at least, to take an 

 interest in the fine specimens of the brute 

 creation usually to be seen on such occa- 

 sions, I now regard as a weakness approach- 

 ing to imbecility. 



That the conduct of some individuals, (as 

 on all public occasions,) is quite exception- 

 able, on these I do not deny ; although of 

 this I would not speak, but would look at 

 brighter things. 



The "Ladies' Collection," and the "Col- 

 lection of Ladies," are things self-evident, 

 as we say in mathematics, and need not be 

 commented upon here. Neither the spe- 

 cimens of an abundant harvest, of the pro- 

 duce of the maple and the apiary, which re- 

 mind the farmer how rich his board will 

 be all through the long cold winter ; nor 

 the cheval kind, which cannot fail to attract 

 the attention of all w'ho admire the majestic 

 and beautiful in the animal creation, nor 

 the patient ox, and mothei'ly cow, in which 

 we farmers' daughters are proud to say we 

 take an interested pleasure ; all which, 

 seen at our recent fair, are worthy each of 

 a chapter ; and I pass these, to speak more 

 definitely of an object which must have 



hardy, vigorous, and a great bearer. As it com- 



riveted the attention of every beholder 

 ^It was not, as might be imagined, a splendid horse, 

 bines many excellences, it is regarded as oneVf^theio'-/ mammoth ox, but ^ Sheep, both mammoth 

 best. .Origin, farm of Mr. Curtis, Farmington, Ct.,!and splendid,_owned_by Mr. Lawrence Smith, of 

 whence a graft was carried to Onondaga, N. Y. ; 



there propagated, and lately disseminated 

 White Doyexne, Virgoulouse, St. Michael, of 



Middlefield, Mass. He boasts of transatlantic ori- 

 gin, having been brought from Oxfordshire, Eng- 

 land, a few years since. One might very easily 

 imagine him the noblest of some kingly line, and 



New England, ffirgalien,^o^^ New York, B utter \^^.q^]^i treat him with a different courtesy, demand 



ed by a truly noble descendant of our mother coun- 

 try ; at least, all ordinary sheepdom must bow to 

 him, and acknowledge his sovereignty. 



If the seeing of this noble animal had power to 

 di'aw tears from the eye of an English lady, who 

 witnessed it at the World's Fair in New York, it 

 can bul draw a beam of pleasure from that of a true 

 American lady, who appreciates the beautiful in all 

 the productions of nature. His symmetrical figure 

 defies the embellishment of art, and the hue of his 

 even coat equals in whiteness that lady's hose, which 

 possibly might originally have formed a part of his 

 wardrobe, a second-hand garment truly ! A view 

 of this specimen of nature's perfection would well 

 reward one for the trouble of a considerable jour- 

 ney ; especially at this season, it might be truly re- 

 freshing, from its association with the idea of warm 

 yarn mittens, hose, mufflers, etc. ; for he might at 

 any time spare enough from his load of wool, to 

 form a universal covering for his owner, even 

 though his dimensions were some feet above medi- 

 ocrity. Nor is this the only rare specimen of the 

 agriculturist's possessions to be seen on the premises 

 of Mr. Smith, but to him especially would I pay 

 my respects, with a wish that by the public he may 

 be more particularly noticed as he deserves. 



Worthington, Oct., 1856. 



Pear, of Pennsylvania. (Dotted Outline.) Rather 

 large ; obovate ; clear pale yellow, with small dots ; 

 a red cheek, full in the sun ; stalk an inch long, 

 stout, in a small cavity ; calyx small, in a shallow, 

 finely plaited basin ; flesh white, fine texture, melt- 

 ing, very buttery, of a rich, high, delicious flavor. 

 Oct. and into Nov. Many regard this pear as a 

 standard of excellence ; many others prefer the 

 Seckel. It is perfectly hardy in tree and fruit, and 

 first-rate in quality, in the Middle and Western 

 States, in western N. Y., and in the region of Bal- 

 timore ; but it generally blasts and cracks in New 

 England, on the sea-coast, yet it still flourishes in 

 the interior. Where uncertain, it does better on 

 the quince. 



For the New England Farmer. 



THE FARMER'S HOLIDAY. 



It is a fine autumnal morning toward the latter 

 part of September ; summer's verdancy is just giv- 

 ing place to the first hues of decay, and soon that 

 canopy of varied coloring will have passed through 

 the vicissitudes of its life, and sought a superficial 

 earthy bed, to be interred by the drapery of winter. 

 Sad thoughts might arise at these tokens of decay, 

 but to-day's scenes are of a character to cheer us in 

 the midst of these marks of approaching gloom ; 

 for it is the farmer's holiday, and his wife, sons and 

 daughters are permitted to participate in its pleas- 



Keep more Stock. — Stock growing is fast be- 

 coming popular among our most astute farmers. 



