534 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov 



only say, that I have never observed anything 

 of the kind upon the peach. This tree frequently 

 exudes gum, particularly in a wet and cold season ; 

 this, and the work of the "Grand Turk," or bor- 

 er, and the curl in the leaf, are about the only 

 difficulties I encounter in the cultivation of this 

 fine fruit.* 



In regard to the inquiry, "Whether the wild 

 plum trees of our country are affected by the 

 knot," I would say that they are on even the 

 Peach plum at Ipswich, Plum Island, to a con- 

 siderable extent, and I have not as yet been able 

 to say whether it is the work of an insect, or a 

 diseased state of the sap, that produces these 

 unsightly excrescences, which have been so de- 

 structive of late as to render the cultivation of 

 the plum not desirable. J. M. IVES. 



Sale7n, Oct., 1859. 



* In '-Karr's Tour round my G.irden," this French writer, 

 in referring to the peach, says. '-We find upon the l)ranch of » 

 peach tree, a sort of tubero.-ity whici appears to be a gall of 

 the tree, produced by the puncture of some insect." 



I'or the New Ensland Farmer. 



FARMIII^G IN NOHTHBRN NEW" HAMP- 

 SHIRE. 



Mr. Editor: — This region is one of the most 

 diversified in New England. From almost any 

 elevated point the eye may pass over barren 

 granite, rough pasture, good upland tillage, fer- 

 tile intervale and reedy swamp — every elevation, 

 from the hillock to Mount Washington— every 

 size of stream, from the rill to the placid Con- 

 necticut. 



OJ the Farms. — The acres are well divided 

 among the people — the farmer usually possess- 

 ing from one hundred to four hundred acres. 

 Each farm usually presents the diversified char- 

 acter of the country at large. Almost every farm 

 borders on a small stream. There are moist hol- 

 lows for grass, warm hillocks for tillage, and 

 high hills for pasture — while here and there are 

 basins filled with decayed vegetable matter, and 

 overgrown with flag and s^amp grass. Each farm 

 is well supplied with water, wood and stone. 



The staple production here is grass. The 

 roughest and mosc distant portions of each farm 

 are devoted to pasture — the most moist portions 

 to mowing. Oats, potatoes and corn come next in 

 importance. Wheat is an uncertain crop, and 

 but little cidtivated. Buckwheat and barley are 

 more cultivated than formerly. 



Of the Dwellings. — The dwellings may be di- 

 vided into two classes. The first class consists 

 of nearly square, one or two-storied, small-win- 

 dowed, ilat-roofed, unpleasant and inconvenient 

 buildings, with enormous chimneys, and low 

 dark, damp cellars. Vermin swarm unmolested 

 and the whole is protected by an embankment of 

 chips thrown up about the house nearly to the 

 windows. Extending from the dwelling is along, 

 low, narrow building, in which are assembled a 

 wagon, sleigh, cart, sled, some chains, cast-off 

 washing-machines and churns, a grind-stone, old 

 scythes, scrajjs of iron, old harnesses, ashes and 

 fire-wood. Immediately above the wood-pile is 

 the hen-roost, and be\ond it the odoriferous pig- 

 sty. Near the swine's apartment are swill kettles 

 hanging in the most primitive style. 



These dwellings were erected from twenty to 

 forty years ago. But a different taste is now pre- 

 vailing. This class of dwellings is rapidly giv- 

 ing place to a second class. This second class 

 consists of well proportioned, painted, lighted 

 and ventilated buildings, with neat chimneys, and 

 cellars protected from cold and vermin by walls 

 of brick, lime and double windows. Connected 

 with the dwelling is a wood-house. Beyond the 

 wood-house is a carriage depot, and further a 

 building for swine, conveniently-arranged boiler, 

 bins for vegetables, neat eating troughs and 

 warm sleeping apartments. 



Farm house architecture has rapidly improved 

 within the last ten years. Twenty years ago the 

 builder aimed at great size, while economy, beau- 

 ty, convenience and ventilation were overlooked. 

 But there is yet great improvement to be made. 

 Farmers' dwellings are too expensive — often in- 

 conveniently lociited — without shade trees, and 

 neat and convenient adjacent fences and gates. 

 Out-buildings are often situated so near that 

 every breeze brings to the parlor a disease-bear- 

 ing stench, and every shower filters through the 

 cattle-yard into the wood-shed. Large, richly- 

 furnished, inconvenient and badly-located farm- 

 houses have paralyzed many a strong arm and 

 blanched many a blooming cheek. Farm-house 

 architecture is an important subject, and one 

 that should be more attentively studied. 



But more of this in my next. w. C. 



Bath, Grafton Co., N. H., Oct. 10, 1859. 



Remarks. — Thank you. Doctor. Just what 

 we want — short, energetic, picture-like sketches 

 of the homes of farmers, pointing out defects, 

 and showing how to remedy them. You shall 

 have a hundred thousand readers. 



THE CONCORD GRAFS. 



The Concord Grape is gaining troops of friends 

 at the South and West, and is spoken of in our 

 agricultural exchanges in high terms. Mr. 

 George Husman, of Hermann, Missouri, an ex- 

 perienced and successful grape-grower, and a 

 person well acquainted with the qualities of our 

 grapes, describes it as follows : 



"Bunch, large and heavy, compact shouldered; 

 berry larger by one-third than Catawba, round, 

 black, with a slight bloom ; skin somewhat thick ; 

 flesh juicy, pulpy, buttery, sweet, and luscious, 

 with an agreeable flavor. Not aff'ected in the least 

 by mildew and rot ; very productive. Ripens two 

 weeks before Catawba. Not tried here for wine, 

 but said to make a good red Avine. 



"Vine, a strong and robust grower, very hardy, 

 and will keep its leaves fresh and green till frost, 

 ripening its shoots well to the remotest points, yet 

 not so rampant but it can be well kept in order in 

 the vineyard. It is a fine vine to cover arbors, as 

 it has a very large, healthy leaf, and will never 

 suffer from frost in winter. 



"The real value of the Concord can only be ap- 

 preciated when we compare its healthy appearance, 

 and its beautiful, perfect bunches of fruit, with 

 the sirkly foliage, and imperfect bunches of the 

 Catawba. While we have lost full one-half of our 

 Catawba crop this season, hy rot and mildew, the 



