364 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



Aug. 



■were broadest and brightest ; the others succes- 

 sively fading, shortening in length, and becom- 

 ing narrower. These were red, the first and second 

 \ieing with the colors of the priEiary bow, with 

 a green arch between them. I never saw them 

 ■when the sun was more than ten or fifteen min- 

 utes high ; and its nearness to the horizon prob- 

 ably has something to do -with its formation. 

 Sprinfjjield, May, ISoO. j. A. A. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 LAB OB-SAVING MACHINES. 



Messes. Editors : — I believe no industrial 

 class in the world is capable of more real enjoy- 

 ment and independence than the farmers of New 

 England, and yet many farmers among us avoid 

 an agricultural journal, or a labor-saving ma- 

 chine on their farms, or in their farm-houses, as 

 if of no possible use. 



Now, brother farmers, why do we so ? Can 

 any of us really afford to do without the agricul- 

 tural experience of our best and most enlightened 

 cultivators of the soil ? I am one of those who 

 are obliged to study economy, and have to ask 

 concerning this or that new thing, which is 

 crowded into public notice, "Will it pay ?" It is 

 not always easy to distinguish between a good 

 thing and a humbug. Thus, for instance, when 

 the mowing machine came into notice, I doubted 

 a year or two, then purchased a Ketchum's ; it 

 paid well, (though others may be belter.) I get 

 more grass, get it quicker, and get it better. 

 Delano's Independent Horse Hake has frequent- 

 ly nearly paid for itself in one day just before a 

 shower or rain storm. Then in the house ! How 

 much annoyance from green wood, want of con- 

 veniences, want of suitable implements, &:c. &c. 



Now, then, in the house, he who regards his 

 wife's strength, health and comfort, let him pro- 

 cure a metropolitan washing machine, and on 

 Monday, when he comes home to dinner, wash- 

 tubs, soap-suds, a cold dinner and ill-humor will 

 be among past recollections. If that implement 

 does not pay in saving labor and saving clothes, 

 I do not know what will. In this I speak from 

 nearly two years' experience. Have any of your 

 readers ever purchased ready-made clothing, and 

 soon after found by inspection that it was only 

 very nicely basted together ? Have they ever 

 heard their wives say, "I find it very difficult to 

 do all my sewing." Do they sometimes sit up 

 very late at night to accomplish it ? 



A year ago, I examined all the machines for 

 sewing, which stand in favor, and after much 

 consideration bought one of Wheeler & Wilson's, 

 and made a very fortunate selection ; it pays 

 well. It sews any thing, from a muslin to a bed- 

 quilt, and a stitch alike on both sides. It is the 

 admiration of the household, and male and female 

 alike use it successfully. For those of moderate 

 means, the $50 cheap style are probably most de- 

 sirable, as they do the same work with the same 

 speed. All inferior machines will eventually find 

 a place in one corner of the garret. Therefore, 

 if you desire to please your wife, either get a 

 good "Wheeler & Wilson,"»or a "Singer," or a 

 "Grover & Baker ;" but for family sewing, we 

 prefer the Wheeler & Wilson machine. 



Middlefield, Ct., 1859. P. M. Augur. 



TKANSACTIONS OF THE WOBCESTEB 

 NORTH AGRICUIiTUKAL SOCIETY. 



The first remark suggested by looking over 

 this report, is, that the statements are full and 

 particular, and contain many practical suggestions 

 by men competent to make them. The state- 

 ments upon Plowing show that the importance 

 of this leading operation of the farm is fully ap- 

 preciated. The statements of the competitors 

 upon stock and poultry are full and distinct. That 

 by JonN Brooks, Jr., upon feeding stock, is the 

 marked feature of the report. His experiments 

 were obviously conducted with care and accuracy, 

 and the results are of much interest to all feeders 

 of milch cows. We are glad to see such experi- 

 ments encouraged. The society deserves praise 

 for offering a premium for this object. AVe hope 

 many such experiments will be made in all parts 

 of the State. The plan pursued by Mr. Brooks 

 is a model for others to follow. We should judge 

 that there must have been a fine exhibition of 

 fruit, and are glad to see that the flowers were 

 not forgotten. Seven dollars and fifty cents were 

 awarded for flowers, and we had occular proof at 

 the time of how much they added to the pleasure 

 of the show, and tended to give a stimulus to this 

 most delightful branch of garden culture. The 

 most strenuous objector to women's rights, cer- 

 tainly cannot object to her right to cultivate flow- 

 ers, and exhibit them too. 



The report of the committee on farms and the 

 statement of Mr. Hartwell, respecting the cul- 

 tivation and products of his farm, are valuable 

 papers. The report of the committee on orchards, 

 and the statements of C. C. Field, Jabez Fisher, 

 the President, and John Minott, show what may 

 be done in this department. We commend these 

 papers to all engaged in cultivating the apple. 



We are particularly pleased to see that numer- 

 ous and liberal premiums were awarded for grain 

 crops. The statements upon these subjects are 

 valuable, and encouraging, showing, as they do, 

 that large crops of corn, rye and wheat may be 

 raised by proper care and attention. The offer 

 of premiums for the same objects for the next 

 year, show that the society duly appreciates their 

 importance. The report shows the society to be 

 in a prosperous condition. 



POTASH~S AND—PHO SPHOBUS. 



No vines can produce fruit without potash. 

 Dye-woods and all color-giving plants owe their 

 vivid dyes to potash. Without it we cannot have 

 a mess of peas. Where it exists in a natural 

 state in the soil, there we find liguminous plants 

 growing wild, and in such places only we find 

 wild grapes. All the cereals require potash, phos- 

 phate of magnesia and silica, which is dissolva- 

 ble in a solution of potash. It is this dissolved 

 sand that forms the hard coat of stalks, and gives 



