1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



37 



APPLES. 



The three varieties sent by AVm. F. Bassett, 

 of Ashfield, Mass., are all new acquaintances. 

 The variety he calls "Russett Sweet," resembles 

 the apple of that name we are familiar with, but 

 has more color, and the skin is smoother and 

 fairer. It is a good apple, but rather dry. The 

 other sweet apple we are not aware of ever hav- 

 ing met before, but think it better than the 

 "Russett." The sour apple is also new to us, 

 and from the specimens sent, we can hardly pro- 

 nounce an opinion as to its merits. 



riNE SHEEP. 



I have a pretty good-sized buck of the English 

 breed, one year and six months old, the sixth 

 day of this November, that weighs 230 pounds, 

 and a ewe of the same breed whose weight is 

 162 lbs. They were sired by the big imported 

 buck of Mr. Baldwin, of Montpelier, which 

 weighs 350 lbs. The ewe has raised me a lamb 

 this year that weighs 94^ lbs. They are cross 

 bloods. The buck is of the Cotswold breed, and 

 the ewes were of part Leicestershire. The buck 

 when one year and nine days old sheared S^ lbs. 

 of good clean wool the 15th day of May, and the 

 ewe 6| lbs. when one year and fifteen days old. 

 They have had no extra keeping from that of the 

 rest of the flock. Joel Learned. 



WaiLrfteld, T?., Nov., 1858. 



THE BASKET WILLOW. 

 In reply to the query of IMr. MULLIKEX, of 

 Lexington, for information respecting the Bas- 

 ket Willow, in the Farmer of Nov. 6, we would 

 refer him to Messrs. George J. & E. A. Colby, 

 of Waterbury, Vt. They are intimatelj acquaint- 

 ed with the whole process of cultivating and 

 preparing it for the market. 



PASTUKB BXPBIIIELBWT PHOPOSED. 



Mr. Editor : — There is one experiment I 

 would like to see tried in this State, in the way 

 of pasturage, viz. : — If a farmer has 25 acres of 

 pasturing, let him plow one-fourth of it and sow 

 it with oats, rye or any kind of grain he may 

 choose, and seed it down at the same time with 

 grass, and let his cattle crop all that grows. The 

 next year let him take another fourth and treat 

 likewise, and so until he has cultivated the whole, 

 and then repeat, and my word for it, you would 

 see better stock in your pastures in autumn, and 

 the butcher would not have to carry an extra 

 pair of mittens to put on, that the bones might 

 not hurt his hands, when he has to examine so 

 closely to know if they will possibly do to eat. 



Note. — The plan proposed by our correspond- 

 ent is a very good one where the plow can be 

 used, and it should be done more often than it is. 

 But what shall we do with those pastures which 

 are so rough that the plow cannot be used? 

 Shifting the kind of stock pastured on them oc- 

 casionally, from neat stock to sheep, and vice 

 versa, is a good plan. Sowing on plaster and 

 bone dust is also a good plan. — Maine Farmer. 



NE'W BOOKS. 



Milch Cows asd Dairy Farming ; comprising the Breeds, Breed- 

 ing and Management, in Health and Disease, of Dairy and 

 other Stock ; the selection of Milch Cows, with a full explana- 

 tion of Guenon's Method ; the Culture of Forage Plants, and 

 the Production of Milk, Butter and Cheese ; embodying the 

 most recent Improvements, and adapted to farming in the 

 United States and British Provinces. With a treatise upon the 

 Dairy Husbandry of Holland ; to which is added Horsfall's Sys- 

 tem of Dairy Management. By Charles L. Flint, Secretary 

 of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. For sale 

 by A. Williams & Co., Boston. 



Every person engaged in dairy business, 

 should own this book, and read It attentively, as 

 it contains many facts, and abounds with sugges- 

 tions that must be of value to all who have not 

 already a large experience in dairy matters. We 

 recommend it as a matter of economy, because, if 

 studied, It cannot fail to imjjart facts of more 

 value to most dairymen and dalrywomen than 

 several times its cost. 



The chapter on the diseases of animals is ju- 

 dicious, — the remedies recommended mild and 

 safe, and that upon the culture of grasses and 

 plants to he used as fodder, is one of great impor- 

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The work is printed on fine, white paper, and 

 beautifully illustrated v/ith engravings of vari- 

 ous breeds of dairy stock, and Avith the utensils 

 usually employed in the making of butter and 

 cheese, and a copious Index is added for the ben- 

 efit of those who use it as a book of reference. 



If the cotton and wollen goods of our manu- 

 factories, as a whole, were no better than the 

 products of our dairies, we question whether the 

 manufacturers would be entitled to the credit of 

 skilful workmen in the production of their fab- 

 rics. Perhaps there is no single article brought 

 to our markets. In which there is so much that is 

 Indiiferent, or decidedly bad, as in the article of 

 butter. It is strange that so much of It is badly 

 made and put up, when the fact Is so obvious 

 that good butter always brings a high price every- 

 where. 



Froit Culture for the Million, A Hand Book of Fruit Cul- 

 ture ; being a Guide to the Cultivation and Management of 

 Fruit Trees : with Condensed Descriptions of many of the best 

 and most popular varieties in the United States. Illustrated 

 with ninety engravings. By Thomas Gregg. Fowler & 

 Wells, New York, 1858. Price 50 cents. 



This is a cheap and useful book for those who 

 think they cannot afford to purchase a larger one. 

 But our opinion is that Downlng's Fruit and 

 Fruit Trees of America is cheaper at one dollar 

 and fifty cents. 



Eating Fruit. — No liquid of any description 

 should be drank within an hour after-eating fruits, 

 nor any thing else be eaten within tv;o or three 

 hours afterward.s — thus time being allowed for 

 them to pass out of the stomach, the system de- 

 rives from them all their enlivening, cooling and 

 opening influences. The great rule is, eat fruits 

 in their natural state, without eating or drinking 

 any thing for at least two hours afterwards. 

 With these restrictions, fruit and berries may be 



