1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



889 



as a crime, by every moral, feeling and reflecting 

 mind." 



If we should make war upon the crow, black- 

 bird and blue Jay, particularly the last named, it 

 would be for their thievish propensities in de- 

 stroying the eggs of our truly insectivorous birds. 



Salem. I. 



For the New England Farmer. 



BUPPORTINQ DWAKF PBAES— PROPA- 

 GATING GRAPE VINES. 



Mr. Editor : — In the last number of the 

 monthly Farmer I find an article on supporting 

 transplanted trees, from the pen of your able cor- 

 respondent, "J. M. I." I like the plan which he 

 describes very much, and it has occurred to me 

 that it would be valuable as a permanent sup- 

 port for dwarf pear trees, which are liable to be 

 swayed to and fro by the wind, especially in the 

 spring and fall, when the ground has been soft- 

 ened from heavy rains. 



Now if a large, strong stake of some durable 

 kind of wood were used, it would last for a long 

 time, and if it were well coated with gas tar, it 

 would be much more durable. It need not rise 

 more than a foot above the surface of the ground, 

 and if the tree were kept bound to it, it would 

 certainly hold the tree firmly in its place. Such 

 a support would be of much service to dwarf 

 pear trees standing in places exposed to high 

 winds. 



On another page of the Farmer for June, may 

 be found an article on the $100 grape premium 

 offered by a gentleman in N. H. The writer says 

 that roots are preferred, but that cuttings two 

 inches in length will answer. As the premium 

 is to be awarded in tv>'o years after the roots are 

 planted, 1 suppose that these short cuttings are 

 to bear fruit the second year. Will some one 

 posted on such matters tell us how such cuttings 

 are treated, to make them produce fruit so 

 early ? If by grafting, give us the mode of doing 

 it, as I have tried the ways given in the books, 

 but never could make them succeed ; they v.'ould 

 grow an inch or two, and then die. I should be 

 very glad to learn how to graft the grape suc- 

 cessfully. 



Can you tell me how to distinguish the An- 

 gers quince from the Orange ? Is there any 

 difference in the leaves of the two varieties ? 

 An Old Subscriber. 



Clinton, June, 1859. 



Remarks. — We do not know. 



The College Journal of Medical Sci- 

 ence. — This work is published monthly at Cin- 

 cinnati ; is a magazine of 48 pages, has six edi- 

 tors, and is well spoken of by the press of the 

 country. It has many medical terms, of course, 

 but the plain, common sense that pervades its 

 pages is refreshing. We like it, especially for 

 its liberality, and thank the editors for their man- 

 ly defence of Dr. Curtis, of Hartford. Carry 

 out the principles laid down in your article on 

 "lUiberality," and you will not fail to make your 

 journal popular and useful. 



For the New England Farmer. 



"WHY DO YOU MOT PURCHASE A MOVP"- 

 INQ MACHINE ? 



Mr. Editor : — If the above question were put 

 to many of our farmers, they would respond by 

 saying, "That the manufacturers are continually 

 making improvements, and I intend to wait until 

 I can get the best." 



Now let us examine this reply for a few mo- 

 ments, and see if it will abide the test of sound 

 reasoning. I presume that I have your assent to 

 this proposition : That until recently, nearly all 

 the inventive genius that has been expended, has 

 been in the line of producing and cheapening our 

 apparel and our equipage instead of our food, 

 the most important article. Therefore, the time 

 has fully come when the latter should receive its 

 full share of inventive talent. To make this most 

 effective, it is manifest that on the part of both 

 manufacturer and practical farmer, there should 

 be mutual sympathy and cordial effort. I hold, 

 that there is no ingenuity, skill, or theory, appli- 

 cable to some agricultural implements, which 

 will not utterly fail when tested by putting the 

 same on, or into the ground, by a practical far- 

 mer. Hence it is the duty, I think, of farmers to 

 co-operate with the manufacturer in his efibrts to 

 improve and perfect agricultural machines and 

 implements. Should he not, therefore, purchase 

 and use those machines, although imperfect, and 

 in the process of using them, report to the maker 

 of them their failings, or suggest improvements ? 

 In this way, I am satisfied that such labor-saving 

 machines may be obtained as shall very much 

 facilitate, and render farming attractive in New 

 England. If this reasoning is correct, the above 

 observations will apply with peculiar force to 

 mowing machines. The practical utility of a ma- 

 chine for cutting grass is now a question past 

 controversy, or discussion. It is only a question 

 of time to prepare the surface of our mowing 

 lands, and the machine best adapted to do the 

 work. I do not propose to enter the partizan 

 controversy respecting mowing machines. I do 

 not profess to be a special advocate for ei'her of 

 them, and have refused to be a paid agent for the 

 sale of them from two establishments. 



I was present at the trial of mowers in Boyls- 

 ton (June 14,) and saw the operation of the "five 

 machines, and for the first time saw the working 

 of the Manny machine. I have also read in the 

 N. E. Fanner the report of the trial by "Truth 

 and Justice," and the reply by Mr. Brown. Af- 

 ter carefully reading these statements, I appre- 

 hend they may not be an exception to the gener- 

 al rule in such cases that the exact truth is to be 

 found "between them." If I were called upon 

 to correct them, I should say that "Truth and 

 Justice" had not given sufficient credit for the 

 cutting of the Manny machine, and Mr. Brown 

 had overstated the difference of draft between 

 the two. While I do not profess to be a partizan 

 in this matter, I do confess that I am much 

 pleased with the working of the Kctchum patent, 

 as now manufactured by Nourse, Mason & Co. 

 It is also my impression, confirmed by six years, 

 experience, that in order to be adapted to New 

 England farms as we find them, and to be popu- 

 lar throughout New England, every machine 

 must be reduced, substantially, to the construe- 



