312 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



APRIL 4, '**'• 



SffiSS<211IE.m^^^e 



Remarks on the English Accounts of the cultivation 

 employed by the Millward family ; by a member 

 of the Kennebec Jlgricultural Society. 



From the above English nocuiiiiis it a|ip<'"rs, 

 that the same soil is lahoierl and nianureH pvtiy 

 other year, to make it profliice an exhnnslinf; rrop 

 every year; for the imtato crop only is assislerl, 

 and this crop occnpies the same jcrouiid oidy once 

 ill two years. Perhaps this is the only instance 

 in common farming, of the cares of one year an- 

 swering for two crops of such different natures, 

 sown a'lid reaped at such distant periods, one afler 

 the otlicr. 



The clay bottom, had as it was from its mixture 

 with inm, nevertheless evidently served to retain 

 both manure and rain water ; but at the same time, 

 as it was very near the surface, it rendered the 

 soil liable to suffer from dry weather. We must 

 therefore carry our inipiiry farther, if we wish to 

 see all the causes of these singular effects. 



The ground, then we may perceive, by being 

 left rough when the potatoes were dug, formed 

 little hills for covering the seed from cold during 

 the winter ; as also little holes, which drained 

 away the water from the surface, but retained it 

 to settle down into the earth, there to be ready for 

 use in ihe summer; while the frost and rain 

 made the surface level again in the spring. The 

 frost also, with rain produced great change of 

 place in the panicles of the soil, during the winter 

 and spring ; and the rough surface of the soil pre- 

 sented a great extent to be exposed to ihe benefi- 

 cial influence of the air; especially as this surface 

 was perpetually changing. The different depths 

 of covering left to the seed, seem to have provi- 

 ded an assortment of wheat plants differerftly 

 rooted, so as to leave one or other of them capa- 

 ble of meeting all the chances of weather ; and 

 consequently, so as to furnish at proper intervals, 

 at least one jjlant suited to the nature of the sea- 

 son. 



The perishing of some of the seed, from want 

 of covering, or from ravages of birds, &c. was of 

 little consequence ; as experience must have taught 

 the Millwarda how much seed v\as, on the average, 

 necessary for their land, under every circumstance. 

 it was with a view to save their seed from birds 

 and other enemies, that no more seed was sown 

 in a day, than answered to the potatoes to be dug 

 in that day. 



It is unfortunate that we hear nothing of the 

 quantity of potatoes raisL'd by our croltagers. We 

 may presume, as this crop had particular favor 

 shewn to it, that it was at least in proportion to 

 the crop of wheat. 



The potatoes were in the ground about six 

 months ; for the English climate, during the grow- 

 ing season, is less forcing than that of America. 

 Many in the United States do not allow moio than 

 four months for the growth of their potatoes ; 

 some allow only three. But a potato, like an appU', 

 may look large, and not he ripe ; for both the ap- 

 ple anil jiotato ripen afler they have got to their 

 full size. Want of ripeness i.-i a great defect in a 

 potato ; and probably injures both its keeping and 

 its fitness for seed. 



The Millwards consumed their best potatoes, 

 and reserved only their si-coikI best for seed. — 

 Here seems to have been an error. By using the 

 best for seed, the whole crop woulil soon have 



improved. In good cultivation, the whole crop 

 becomes tolerably even ; especially if the planting 

 has been early, and the earthing of the potato has 

 not been too'lreciuent. The weeding of the po- 

 tato, it must be observed, is distinct from the 

 eanhing of it. 



The Engli.sh commonly plant their potatoes in 

 rows. IVrhaps such rows would admit of a simph 

 instrununt, managed by a man and boy, to pass 

 along between them, for the purpose of weeding 

 and earthing. 



It will be observed, that the Millwards are not 

 said to have had any instrument or machine, be- 

 yond a spade, a hoe, a three pronged fork, and a 

 wheelbarrow ; the rest was, in general, accom- 

 plished bv hands and fingers; by eyes and dili- 

 gence; if we add a rake, a sickle, a flail, and a 

 pitchfork, still the cOst will not l)e much. This 

 was another way of rendering themselves inde- 

 pendent of their neighbors, as well as of capital 

 and of expense. 



The manure was new for the potatoes, and old 

 and mellow for the wheat; that is, il was by turns, 

 in a state to be suitable to each. The soft nature 

 of the straw and stubble, and of the roots of the 

 wheat, and also of the potato stalks, added to that 

 of the weeds, made manure of an excellent qual- 

 ity for yielding to the swelling of the potatoes — 

 The weeds, it will be remembered, were weeded 

 u)! before they seeded. As the chief means of 

 renewing the weeds was from the scraping of the 

 roads, the effects of winds, or the act of some ani- 

 mal, the wheat had a chance of being eompara- 

 tivelv clean. 



iJ short, accident seems to have suggested, and 

 practice to have confirmed the system of the Mill- 

 wards ; and such advantages naturally belong to 

 those who labor for themselves, and who know 

 every foot of their own territory, and the issue of 

 every thing done upon it. The uses of keeping a 

 family together, of concentring its labors under 

 the direction of its heads, of excluding strangers 

 from it, of employing the fragments of time, and 

 of making the most of a little, are too evident to 

 be insisted upon. Let the example then be imi- 

 tated, with such charges as may suit the Ameri- 

 can climate; but let the lahorof the field, as much 

 as possible, be spared to the female, who, if a good 

 house-wife and mother, will have much to do 

 within doors. 



FRUIT TREES, OKNAMENTAI. TREES, MORUS 

 MULTICAULIS, &.C. 



For sale by tlie suhscriber. The varieties, par- 

 liruliii ly of ihe Pears and ihe Plums were never 

 before so fine, the assoitinent so complete. Al- 

 so of Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Grape vines, a 

 superior assorlment of finest kinds, and of all 

 other hardy fruits. 



20,000 Morus Multicaulis or Chinese Mulberry trees can 

 still I'je furnished at ihe cuslomaiy prices, if applied for enrly, 

 this being all llmt now remain unsold. 



Ornamental Tiees and Shrubs, Roses and Herbaceous 

 plants, of the most Ijeautiful hardy kinds. Splendid Pseonies' 

 and Double Dahlias. 



4,000 Cockspur Thorns, 10,000 Ruckthorns for Hedges. 

 800 Lancashire Gooseberries, of various colors and fine 



kinds. , , ji I 



Harrison's Double Yellow Roses, new and liardy, coloi 

 fine, it never fails to bloom profusely. 



'frees packed in the most perfect manner for all dislani 

 places and shipped or sent from Boston lo wherever ordered 



Transportation to the City without charge. 



Address by mail posi paid. 



Catalogues will be sent gratis to all who apply. 



WILLIAM KENRICK. 



Nursery, Nonantum Hill, Newton, Jan, 24, 1838. 



WAKTS A SITUATION, 



As gardener, a steady, active, young man, who acted ii 

 some ot' the most respectable places in England. The advei 

 tiser, from his early days, had every advantage of acquirina 

 a scientific knowledge of his business, under the tuition C' 

 ihe ablest g-ardeners of the day, coupled with extensive pra« 

 lice. The advertiser is acquainted wilh grape growing, pifli 

 apple culture, arboriculture, framing, flowers, with ihe mam 

 ner of propagating them, &c. &c. 



Res uiullis naturfe sunt inonilBe 



1'he advertiser can be well recommended. Any ordeM 

 left at the office of the N. E. Farmer, for Gustos Hort'i, will I 

 respectfully attended to. 



•WINNOWING MILL.. 



Just received at the New England Agricultural Warehoui . 

 and Seed Store, Nos. 51 & 52 North Market Street, Bosio 

 Holmes's Winnowing Machine. This article was highly r 

 commended by the commillee at the late Fair. 



Likewise Springer's Patent Winnowing Machine, a ve ■ 

 neat and convenient mill. 



JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



OIL MEAL. 



PRICE REDUCED. 



The price of the above is now reduced lo Twentyfive di 

 lars at the mill, in Medford, and Twenty eight dollars per ti 

 delivered in Boston. Apply at 



No. 10, Granite Stores, Commercial Wliarf. 



Feb. 27, 1838. Im. 



Hnle'8 Horse Power and Threshing Blachti 



For sale at the New England Agricultural Warehouse a 



Seed Store: the above machines were highly recommended 



the committees at the late fair, and by others who have ue 



them for the last two or three years. „„„„„ , „„ 



JOSEPH BRECK & CO 



The InfuUiblc Editor. — The following anecdote 

 is told of a certain editor: 



" Sir, your journal of yesterday contained false 

 information.' ' Impossible, sir ! hut tell me, wh.-it 

 do yon allude to?' ' Vou sai.l Mr M. had been 

 tried.' 'True.' 'Condemned.' 'Very true.' 

 ' Hung.' ' Most true.' 'Now, sir, I am the gen- 

 tleman himself.' 'Impossible!' ' I assure you 

 it is a fact, and I hope you will contradict what 

 you have alleged.' ' By no means, -sir.' ' How ! 

 what do yon mean ? you are deranged.' ' I may 

 be so, sir ; hut 1 will not do it.' ' I will complain 

 to a u'lagi.strate.' ' As you please ; but I never 

 retract. The most 1 can do for you is to announce 

 that the rope broke, and that you are now in per- 

 feet health. I have my principles, sir ; it is said 

 of me thai I never deceive.' 



DAIRY IVOMAN W ANTED. 



Wanted a Dairy woman, who understands all work nee 

 sarv in the Dairy, in the family of a genileman in the vicin 

 of Boston. Apply to JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



Match 7. No. 62 North Market Street 



•WANTED 



To take charge of a small Farm, a single man of si 

 indusliy and good habits. To a suitable man the place ' 

 be an excellent one. Apply immediately at the N. E. F-ari 

 Office. March. 6 



Gov. Kent, of Maine, has appointed Thursday, 

 the 12th of April, to be observed as a day of Fast- 

 ing, Humiliation and Prayer. 



RASPBERRIES. 



A small lot of Red Antwerp Raspberries, for sale. Inq 

 of Messrs Breck & Co. or of 



J. T. WHEELWRIGHT, 

 March 21. Nonantum Hill, Newi 



THE NE^%V ENGLAND PARMER 



Is published every Wednesday Evening, at $3 per aiir 

 payable at the end of the year— but those who pay wilhin 

 ty days from the time of subscribing, are entitled to a de 

 tion of 50 cents. 



Friuled hy Wullle, Mtenuell K Chiiholm, 



17 SCHOOL STREET BOSTON. 



ORDERS FOR PRI>ITIH« RECEIVED BT TH« rCBLIlHl 



