312 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jtjlt 



The lesson I draw, is the importance of creat- 

 ing a dry soil by draining. Had this land been 

 as thoroughly drained hst year as it is now, I 

 think I should have saved my treeis. Of a large 

 number of pear trees, and a few other apple trees, 

 growing on similar soil, but thoroughly under- 

 drained, I have lost none. C A. Hewins. 



West Roxbury, May, 1859. 



Remarks. — The loss of which our correspon- 

 dfent speaks, to us would be a serious one. Money 

 in any amount, would scarcely pay us for trees 

 planted and reared by our own hands. We have 

 had several fine apple trees badly cracked, but 

 they have all lived, and appear to be doing well. 

 The true mode of preventing it is, undoubtedly, 

 as Mr. He WINS suggests, underdrainiug. 



TBANSACTIONS OF THE ESBBX AGBI- 

 CULTUKAIi SOCIETY. 



This is quite a volume, and one of the most 

 interesting and valuable that has been issued 

 during the past year. Eloquence and poetry 

 have contributed theii? charms to add to its val- 

 ue. The addresses of Dr. Loring and Edw^aru 

 Everett are both eloquent and instructive, and 

 Giles Corey's second dream is full of humor and 

 wit. Then follows an account of the bequest of 

 the Treadwell farm, and the arrangements for 

 its management which have been made by the 

 Society, and the contract with Mr. Brown, the 

 farmer who has taken it in charge. We shall 

 watch the operations on this farm with much in- 

 terest. After these, commences the Report prop- 

 er, with a paper of great value upon fruit cul- 

 ture, by J. M. Ives. Whatever he says upon 

 this subject is reliable and instructive. He is 

 entitled to speak, for by long experience and crit- 

 ical observation, he has acquired much knowl- 

 edge in this department. 



The next paper is a beautiful essay upon a 

 beautiful subject — Flowers. The display of flow- 

 ers was an attractive feature at the Exhibition. 

 The 160 varieties of dahlies, with their 300 blos- 

 soms, Mas an exhibition by itself well worthy of 

 a visit, and we think the $8 premium well be- 

 stowed. There were $40 awarded for fiowers> and 

 their display contributed more to the promotion 

 of taste and refinement, than the exhibition of 

 fast women, or fast horses, on any trotting course 

 in the State. The letter of N. Page, on the rob- 

 in, as a devastator of fruit, ia racy and enter- 

 taining. 



There is a valuable report by G. P. Sargent, 

 J on the comparative value of crops as food for cat- 

 tle, well worth a careful study, and shows much 

 research upon an important subject. The re- 

 ports of Dr. LoRiNG and Mr. Rogers, upon 

 milch cows, are drawn up v,-iLh much c-are, and 

 are model reports. Liberal premiums were award- 



ed for stallions, breed mares and farm and draft 

 horses. Trotters and roadsters do not seem to 

 have been admitted to the lists, not being con- 

 sidered farm stock. Sixteen premiums were 

 awarded for plowing. Good plowing is always 

 considered worthy of encouragement by the ju- 

 dicious managers of this Society. We are sorry 

 to see a movement to abolish plowing-matches, 

 though we confess that they need some radical 

 changes. 



There are valuable statements respecting the 

 work and construction of mowing-machines, a 

 subject of much importance to farmers who feel 

 the need of such machines, and are unable to de- 

 cide which is the best. There is an interesting 

 paper upon Poultry, by James J. H. Gregory, 

 and a valuable paper upon Manures, by Wm. D. 

 XoRTHEND, which contain much important in- 

 struction. The statement by Samuel Raymond, 

 about his farm, will amply repay a careful pe- 

 rusal. Those on underdrainiug and the reclaim^- 

 ing wei meadoics, show that these important sub- 

 jects are receiving due encouragement in Essex. 



The statements on the various subjects to which 

 we have referred are carefully prepared. There 

 are several of them which we should be glad to 

 analyze, and point out their excellences. No 

 awards are made by the committees of this So- 

 ciety without careful statements. This is as it 

 should be. For these statements, when properly 

 prepared, are really the most valuable part of 

 the reports, and no premium should be awarded 

 without them. The statement should be consid- 

 ered a part of the object for which the premium 

 is awarded. 



The volume closes with a list of the books 

 contained in the library belonging to this Socie- 

 ty, which is much the most valuable library be- 

 longing to any county society in the State. This 

 library has contributed very much to make this 

 Society what it is, — one of the most flourishing, 

 harmonious and succcessful societies in the State. 



J^or the Nato England FUrmer. 

 DISBASE3, OF HOBSE3. 



Mr. Editor: — The 11th day of January last 

 was the coldest day I ever experienced. A day 

 or two after, I discovered that my young horse 

 was diseased, and supposed it was caused by the 

 severity of the weather. Upon examination I 

 found the disease was in her spine, at its junction 

 with the hips, as there she was very sensitive. 



It is not necessary for me to describe the con- 

 dition she was then in, for her disease was strik- 

 ingly similar to that described by your corres- 

 pondent, W. D. Searl ; she continued to grow 

 worse until her hind limbs were well nigh use- 

 less. 



Of the nature of the horse and of his diseases 

 I am totally .ignorant, and having no one noax 



