576 



NEW ENGLAND FAIIMER. 



Dec. 



that the following benefits are obtained : It obvi- 

 ates the bad effects of drought, because the roots 

 of plants and trees can descend more deeply for nu- 

 triment and moisture ; by removing excess of wa- 

 ter, it renders soils earlier in spring, and allows 

 work to be done sooner after rains ; it averts the 

 effects of cold weather later in autumn ; it prevents 

 the heaving of grass and grain in winter, and the 

 frost from penetrating so deeply ; it enables us to 

 deepen the surface soil, it accelerates the disintegra- 

 tion of the mineral matters in the soil, and improves 

 its mechanical condition by promoting the finer 

 comminution of the earthy particles ; it hastens 

 the decay of roots and other vegetable matter ; it 

 allows the fertilizing gases of the atmosphere and the 

 water from rains to percolate deeply, and be deposi- 

 ted among the absorbent parts of the soil until the ne- 

 cessities of plants require them ; it causes a more 

 even distribution of nutritious matters among those 

 parts of soil traversed by roots ; by removing stag- 

 nant water, it prevents the cooling process of evap- 

 oration, and the abstraction of heat ; it contributes 

 to the warmth of the lower portions of the soil ; it 

 prevents meadows from becoming impoverished ; 

 it causes the poisonous excrementitious matter of 

 plants to be carried out of the reach of their roots; 

 it prevents the formation of acetic and other organ- 

 ic acids, which favor the production of sorrel and 

 other noxious weeds, and it makes the surface soil 

 of heavy lands light, and free from incrustation. 



From the preceding facts, your Committee are 

 fully of the opinion, that this system of under- 

 ground draining would be of great public utility, 

 and we cannot too strongly recommend it to every 

 Horticulturist and Agriculturist." 



Several of my neighbors have used some of the 

 tiles which I procured from Albany, and although 

 they cost us twice the Albany price, the freight ex- 

 ceeding the first cost, we are satisfied that they are 

 cheaper than stone at the cost of hauling. One 

 thing we have determined on, that we will have the 

 tiles at a cheaper rate, and if nobody offers them 

 at a fair jjrice, some of the members of the Rock- 

 ingham Fair will establish works and make them for 

 ourselves, before many months. Probably we may 

 have to pay something for an education, as most 

 people do, who engage in new enterprises, but the 

 tiles are to be supplied at a cheaper rate than 

 double the Albany prices. 



Dr. Harris's Cabinet. — The entomological 

 cabinet of the late Dr. Harris, of Cambridge, con- 

 tains between four and five . thousand species of 

 American, besides a collection of foreign insects. It 

 is in perfect preservation, and a Committee of the 

 Natural History Society are endeavoring to raise 

 funds to purchase it, in behalf of that association. 



To Clean Knives with Expedition and Ease. 

 — Make a strong solution of the common washing 

 soda and water ; after wiping them, dip the blades 

 of the knives in the solution, then polish on a 

 knife-board. The same would, of course, be effec- 

 tual for forks. This simple method will no doubt 

 greatly diminish the dislike which some servants 

 have to this part of domestic work. 



PROSPECTS. 



In our remarks at the close of the year 1855, we 

 were justified in speaking encouragingly of the fu- 

 ture, because new friends had gathered around us, 

 and the labor of both head and hands had been 

 most abundantly sustained. The future we then 

 spoke of, has been one of happiness to ourselves, 

 and of prosperity to the JVew England Farmer. 

 While its list has materially increased, the paper, 

 printing and engraving, have all been improved ; 

 indeed, the engraving for the last year has been 

 from original subjects, and has been executed in 

 the highest style of the art. Whatever will tend 

 to improve the Farmer in its appearance, or will 

 give it more practical value to the cultivator of the 

 soil, will be given it without regard to present ex- 

 pense. The publisher entertains the most liberal 

 and enlightened views in relation to such a publi- 

 cation as this, has ample means, ai i will make it 

 in every respect, a true co-worker in the farming 

 interest. His outlays have been met with a degree 

 of confidence and liberality which are regarded as 

 an appreciation of his efforts to meet the public 

 wants. 



In closing the year, we wish to acknowledge our 

 indebtedness to the numerous practical, observing, 

 and intelligent contributors to the columns of the 

 Farmer, and to those partial friends, who, every- 

 where, have appreciated our labors, and have always 

 had good word to say for us. 



The year has been one of considerable progress 

 in the art. There are evidences of new views wher- 

 ever we turn, and while the products of the soil 

 have been greatly increased, a less quantity of land 

 has been under cultivation, and, we believe, a great, 

 deal less manual labor has been performed. This 

 would leave large tracts of land to be used for gra- 

 zing, or to run to forest, both of which yield their 

 products without the direct agency of man. In this, 

 the gain to New England must be very great. 



The industrial habits, also, of the farmer, have 

 been more carefully considered, so that large num- 

 bers now give more time than they have hereto- 

 fore to study and recreation, and find the gratifv'ing 

 result of larger crops, better health, and a more 

 elevated tone of domestic life. 



There has been generally abundant crops, so that 

 our gamers are full, and no fatal disease has deci- 

 mated our herds of stock. 



The year to those who manage the farm, has 

 been one of great gratification, — for while they have 

 reaped a fair reward for their labors, they have had 

 the pleasure to learn that these labors have been 

 acceptable to a discriminating public, have had a 

 tendency to promote all the arts of peace, and that 

 of agriculture especially, and upon the whole, to do 

 something to make the world better at its close, 

 than it was at the beginning of the year. 



