1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



85 



crops, as is commonly the case, then we have only 

 six and a quarter per cent, yearly, of all our ma- 

 nures, for four crops of hay. 



According to these calculations, is it any won- 

 der that we have light crops of hay, when we 

 consider that some of our old fields have thus 

 been managed for the last half-century or more? 



If this theory be correct, it is certain that we 

 are spending a larger portion of our manures on 

 the grain than on the grass crops. This may 

 be the best course to pursue, but will depend on 

 circumstances ; if the amount of grain we pro- 

 duce can be converted by the least expense into 

 that which will re-produce the most from the 

 farm, then it is best to cultivate the land for 

 those crops ; but for some farmers, no doubt 

 hay will be the crop for them in preference to 

 any other. T. G. Holbrook. 



Bedford, N. II., Dec, 1858. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 * THE COBN HARVEST. 



0, saw you the golden-earej corn, 



As the tusbandman gathered it in, 

 When he rose in the purpling morn 

 To garner his treasures of grain .' 



The seed which his generous hand 

 Had strown in the spring o'er the plain, 



Had grown ujjon his furrowed land, 

 'Hid the sun and the dew and the rain ; 



'Til' the autumn had chilled with its cold, 



The insect that bathed in sun-light, 

 And robed in gay beauties untold, 



The wind-waved forests so bi'ight 



O, heard you that mellow-toned song, 

 Gushing up from the husbandman's breast, 



As it echoed the hill-side along. 

 And waked them all smiling from rest .' 



The West may boast her rich gold, 



And the East her wines and her oil. 

 But the husbandman's treasures unfold 

 When he coaxes his corn from the soil. 

 Nef Ipficich, Dec. 21, 1858. w. D. l. 



For the New England Fanner. 

 TH3IJ MASCOMMA VALLEY. 



Mr. Editor : — It may not be uninteresting to 

 a portion of your readers to hear something of 

 this beautiful valley, situated, as it is, in the 

 mountainous region of Grafton county, N. H., 

 and lying in the towns of Lebanon and Enfield ; 

 it is only some 14 miles in length, not very wide 

 at any point ; but it is rich and productive, and 

 the farmers in this valley are independent ; they 

 stand upon their own acres, and can boast of as 

 good farms, as good crops and as good stock as 

 the farmers of any other valley in the State of 

 New Hampshire. In the month of August last, I 

 passed through that portion of this beautiful re- 

 gion lying between Lebanon Centre and George 

 Hill in Enfield, and was filled with admiration at 

 the rich gifts of Nature which were displayed to 

 the traveller. Beautifully undulating lands, clad 

 with all the varieties of majestic trees, shooting 

 into the air, while here and there meandering 

 crystal streams were seen gliding onward to the 

 bosom of Lake Mascomma and the Connecticut 

 river: T ♦v.nnrrVit {t the mnsf, beautiful inland! 



country I ever beheld. At some points on either 

 side of the valley, mountains throw up their gran- 

 ite peaks high into the air, descending abruptly 

 or gracefully towards the Little Mascomma river. 

 At other points, the land rises in long undula- 

 tions, affording occasional and delightful views of 

 the scenery — the bright river runs like a natural 

 mirror, now meandering through the plain, and 

 now peeping forth from the delightful shade of a 

 thick grove — the white farm-houses with the neat- 

 looking out-houses, the sheep basking on the dis- 

 tant hills, the lowing of the herd in the adjacent 

 field, the merry song of the farmer as he gaily 

 plied the rake or bound in sheaves the rich re- 

 ward of the husbandman's toil, formed a view, 

 which, to my eye, was truly delightful. 



There are thriving and beautiful little villages 

 in this valley that are deserving of note; the 

 first in order, as we pass from the Connecticut 

 eastward, is Lebanon Centre. This is a business 

 place, traversed by the Northern Railroad, sui-- 

 rounded with a good farming country, pleasantly 

 situated, tastefully laid out, and has become a 

 place of considerable wealth. 



About three and a half miles from this place, 

 at the north-western extremity of Lake Mascom- 

 ma, is situated the village of East Lebanon, a 

 brisk little place of business, with its complement 

 of farmers, merchants and mechanics requisite to 

 make it what it really is, a smart New England 

 village. 



The next place worthy of note, as I parsed 

 along the western shore of this beautiful lake, 

 (after passing the submerged bridge which 

 crosses the lake at a point near its centre,) is 

 the village of the Enfield Shakers ; here are ele- 

 gance, neatness and convenience combined. I 

 certainly never saw a place where such perfect 

 order and neatness prevailed. The grounds are 

 laid out M'ith the utmost exactness, the build- 

 ings and fences of the best materials, built in 

 the most thorough manner, and kept in the best 

 repair. The whole appearance manifests the 

 watchful care of the prudent and experienced 

 managers. 



Next in order come the three little villages o. 

 Enfield, called North-End, Centre and Fish Mar- 

 ket. These three villages united, would make 

 one large village. The centre village presents 

 quite a lively appearance, containing one meet- 

 jing-house, two stores, and all the various me- 

 chanical trades necessary to make a flourishing 

 place. 



The view from the south-eastern extremity of 

 the valley is magnificent, and especially from the 

 residence of T. J. Colby, Esq., on George Hill, 

 an elevation of several hundred feet, and over- 

 looking the valley on the north-west, presenting 

 a scene of wood-land and meadow, lofty summits, 

 gentle slopes, cottage and farm-houses, church 

 spires, with the lofty old elms, and the more 

 symmetrical sugar maple, groves of hemlock and 

 small pines, spruce and fir, shading the distant 

 and nearer landscapes, and forming a scene fit 

 for the hand of an experienced writer. In the 

 distance stretches the beautiful Mascomma Lake, 

 elevated more than one thousand feet above the 

 level of the sea, in the towns of Lebanon and 

 Enfield, and is one of the loveliest and most ro- 

 mantic lakes in New England, for the beauty of 

 its situation, its irregular shores, indented Avith 



