1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



19 



ers, the color was again changed, and new varie- 

 ties obtained, superior in every respect to the 

 original on which the experiment was fii-st made, 

 and attaining, in some cases, to a height of more 

 than twelve feet. 



The practicability of improving the species is 

 rendered strikingly obvious by these experiments ; 

 and the ameliorating effect is the same, whether by 

 the male or female ; as was ascertained by imj)reg- 

 nating the largest and most luxuriant plants with 

 the pollen of the most diminutive and dwarfish, 

 or the contrary. By such means, any number of 

 species may be obtained, according to the will of 

 the experimenter, amongst which some will no 

 doubt be suited to all soils and situations. — 

 Knight's experiments of this kind were extend- 

 ed also to wheat ; but not with equal success ; for 

 though some very good varieties were obtained, 

 yet they were found not to be permanent. But 

 the success of his experiments on the apple tree 

 •were equal to his hopes. This was, indeed, his 

 principal object, and no means of obtaining a suc- 

 cessful issue were left untried. The plants which 

 were obtained in this case were found to possess 

 the good qualities of both of the varieties employ- 

 ed, uniting the greatest health and luxuriance 

 with the finest and best-flavored fruit. 



Sir. Pope's process in hybridizing was proba- 

 bly a similar one. When corn mixes, as we term 

 it, it is a process of hybridization. On referring to 

 LiNDSEY, Knight, or Loubon, our correspon- 

 dent will find the matter treated so as to give 

 Jum a pretty clear idea of it. It is also briefly 

 touched on in Downing's late edition of the Fruits 

 and Fruit Trees of America. 



A VEGETABLE CUEIOSITY— THE 

 TUMBLE ■WEE.D. 



Among all the examples chosen from the innu- 

 merable productions of nature to illustrate natu- 

 ral theology, I do not recollect to have seen the 

 tumble weed, at it is commonly called, (I have 

 not looked out the botanical name,) and yet if it 

 is not a speaking witness, it is a living, moving 

 witness that there is an intelligent creature. These 

 may be seen moving across almost any of the 

 large western fields in the fall of the year, and re- 

 main all winter in the corners of the fences, as if 

 stationed to remind the passer-by that there is a 

 God. I have just brought one of these weeds in- 

 to my study. It is of the common form, and a 

 little above the common size. It resembles a 

 gooseberry bush, or it is of the general form and 

 size of a farmer's corn-basket, and so nearly round 

 or globular that a light wind Avill roll or tumble 

 it along upon the ground, dropping its countless 

 seeds all the way. And nature has not only given 

 it this self-threshing and self-sowing power, but 

 has connected with it a provision for getting loose. 

 The strong thick root becomes so weak about an 

 inch below ground, just as the weed gets ripe that 

 a light wind will hurl it about in every direction. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 "YOUNG MEN AND THE FARM." 



Mr, Editor : — The article in your journal of 

 October 30, vol. 12, No. 44, under the above ti- 

 tle, attracted my attention, and, being one of 

 those to whom it was addressed, and whom the 

 advice therein contained was intended to benefit, 

 I thought, before acting upon said advice — -and 

 the time di'aws near when I shall choose my vo- 

 cation — that I should like to propound a few 

 ques'tions to the author of the article above re- 

 ferred to. If he is advising "young men" for 

 their good, he can easily answer them. 



1st. Would you advise one to remain on the 

 "old farm," and with the "old man" to "cultivate 

 the productive vineyard which God gave for an 

 inheritance," when said vineyard, in retuni for 

 unremitting labor from sunrise till sunset, year 

 after year, will hardly yield sufficient to board 

 and clothe the family in the most common man- 

 ner, and render it possible to keep one room in 

 the house comfortable, during our long, cold win- 

 ters ? 



2nd. Would you advise one to remain on the 

 "old farm," where it is absolutely necessary that 

 the females should struggle with their household 

 duties from early morn, even before the sun glad- 

 dens the earth with its golden rays, until nine or 

 even ten — as is too often the case — in the even- 

 ing, destroying their health, cramping and weak- 

 ening that intellect, which, when properly devel- 

 oped, transforms the woman into an angel who 

 will minister to the wants of man, and strew his 

 rugged path with flowers ? 



Would you advise me, then, to remain upon a 

 farm, the household duties of which tax the fe- 

 male strength even beyond its power of endur- 

 ance ? If so, suppose another female should be 

 added to the group which now struggles so hard 

 for a living ? 



Lastly : — Would you advise one to remain on 

 a farm which afi'ords but few moments, occasion- 

 ally, for study, and still ievtex means, &vl6. less time 

 to the women — who ought to have the most — 

 than to the men ? 



K you do advise me, and other "young men," to 

 remain upon such farms, please inform us in 

 what manner fai'mers may afford to give their 

 "women folks" a reasonable length of time, daily, 

 and the means for study ; for, as our farms are 

 now conducted, females must be as slaves. Also, 

 be kind enough to inform me, how I may gain 

 time and the means for study, being penniless, 

 and rest assured that your advice, "to remain up- 

 on the old farm, and with the old man," will be 

 strictly followed, by A Farmer's Son. 



North Bridgewater, Nov., 1857. 



Remarks. — It is probable that only some gen- 

 eral advice can be given "A Farmer's Son," in 

 the midst of such an accumulation of difficulties ; 

 but his queries may draw out, from some source, 

 valuable suggestions to all young men. 



Cure for Staimmering. — At every syllable 

 pronounced, tap at the same time with the finger. 

 By so doing the most inveterate stammerer will 

 be sui-prised to fiLiid he can pronounce quite 



