198 



NEW ENGLAND FAHMER. 



Aprit 



soon roll up and the edges become so ragged as 

 to make it necessary to trim again -when they are 

 bound, and that would destroy the appearance 

 of the book. One minute's time is sufficient to 

 cut the leaves of any single number. Those Avho 

 intend to bind the volumes ought not to trim 

 them. Cannot you indoctrinate a great many of 

 your neighbors with your good opinion of the 

 Farmer ? 



For the Netc England Farmer. 

 LEAVES FROM A LADY'S NOTE BOOK. 



1857, November 25, Thanksgiving Day. — What 

 magic in the sound ! what a world of ideal pleas- 

 ure when looking into the prospective, does it 

 sometimes mirror forth ; but to me the shadows 

 from the past come surging up through the im- 

 agination, filling it with visions of doctors and 

 nurses, and sundry vials containing all manner 

 of specifics known and talked of for the cure of 

 "ills that flesh is heir to." When I was last able 

 to walk abroad and look upon the fair face of 

 nature, the grass was green, the leaves and the 

 fruit were upon the trees, and the merry sunshine 

 came dancing down in floods of golden light, as 

 if defying the stern roar and bluster of win- 

 ter ; but days have since lengthened into weeks 

 and weeks into months, to find me still the pris- 

 oner of a darkened room. As I would not, how- 

 ever, be too exacting, even in my dependence, on 

 this — to us, descendants of the Pilgrims — the 

 gladdest day of all the year, I am left alone from 

 choice, that those who have sympathized with 

 me in my helplessness, and smoothed for me 

 the pillow of pain, weariness and langor, with 

 a love and devotion untiring, may unrestrainedly 

 enjoy, not only the "feast of reason and the flow 

 of soul," but likewise take (heir fill of all the fat 

 things of which I must partake only in imagina- 

 tion, and while all are occupied, I record the pass- 

 ing thoughts that occupy my yet weak brain. 



Yes, alone, for the time — even my kind-heart- 

 ed, grey-haired old physician, M'ho has come so 

 often with his noiseless steps and gentle, winning, 

 fatherly ways, and laid one cool hand on my fe- 

 vered brow, and the other on my throbbing pulse 

 — has forgotten his accustomed visit, or per- 

 chance, some one whose necessities are greater 

 than mine now are, has claimed his attendance ; 

 and while the flavor of the savory viands comes 

 up from below to my quiet chamber, through the 

 dini old staircase, mingled with the clatter of 

 knives and forks, and the sounds of joy and glee, 

 from the heart of happy childhood and youth, I 

 am thinking what an army of the farmer's "cher- 

 ished things" have disappeared, since the time 

 when I could mingle with such a group, and rel- 

 ish the good things of life ! 



December 2. — A stray number of the Farmer 

 has found its way to my table, and, though pro- 

 hibited reading, I have taken a peep at Mr. Ev- 

 erett's oration at Buffalo, October 9. Who ever 

 saw a finer passage than his "Evidences of God's 

 interposing care on the farm ?" and then there 

 was Maj. French's letter to "My dear Captain," 

 — why, he gives just the same reason for writ- 

 ing to the edit jr that prompts me sometimes. 



December 30. — Have been looking over the 



last number of the Farmer. I see Gov. Brown 

 makes us to understand in one of his editorials, 

 that he is not particularly fond of giving or re- 

 ceiving titles. Perhaps he is not ; but if titles are 

 well earned, there ought to be pleasure in wear- 

 ing them. Our efl"usions, on the fair page of the 

 Farmer, in juxtaposition with his and those of 

 others, give us an honest pleasure and pride. 

 Nothing can exceed the beauty of his remarks at 

 the closing of the year — so natural and appropri- 

 ate — and withal so friendly, and so full of kind- 

 ness to his numerous patrons. I am wondering 

 if he will get off that old Kossuth of his, the 

 coming new year, in season to give us his bow, — 

 or will it still" cling to his head like a wet night- 

 cap," as it did last year, and spoil it all ? Not 

 that I am so "particularly fond" of boivs, but the 

 style and manner that some have of doing the 

 agreeable is pleasing to M'itness. 



January 2, 1858. — When I took up to-day's 

 paper, the first thing I looked for was that new 

 year's bow, but I could not find it ; on turning 

 over, however, I would have laughed as loud as 

 did Maj. French, (only it would have been unla- 

 dy-like,) Avhen I found the whole burden laid on 

 the shoulders of his Associate ; — but most hand- 

 somely he sustained it ; and this I would say, 

 not in flattery, but in justice to the enterprise and 

 ability which characterizes those who are associ- 

 ated in the management of the N. E. Farmer. I 

 would that they should feel that their labors and 

 aims are acknowledged and appreciated by their 

 "subscribers, contributors, and friends generally." 



When I saw the lines from "Poor Poe," that 

 always touch a vibrating cord away down in my 

 heart, and read the editor's tribute to him, I felt 

 that a bow would have been nothing in compari- 

 son. Aunt Polly. 



GRAIN' FOR STOCK-.COTTON SEED 

 MEAL. 



It is much more common now to feed grain of 

 some kind to neat cattle, than it used to be, as 

 it is supposed that cattle thrive better on a por- 

 tion of grain with their hay, even if the cost of 

 keeping is not increased, than they will, at an 

 equal expense, if fed on hay alone. AVe have 

 no doubt that such is the fact, — and that if the 

 hay is cut, mixed with the meal, and wet, that it 

 will prove more economical still. 



Among the kinds used are Indian corn meal, 

 oat meal, shorts, flax or linseed meal, and quite 

 lately cotton seed meal. The latter article is spo- 

 ken of by many persons who have tried it, as 

 giving highly satisfactory results. We have been 

 using it for ten weeks, as a feed for milch cows, 

 but without entering into any accurate experi- 

 ments. It is plainly perceived, however, that 

 the flow of milk has been very considerably in- 

 creased, and that the cows have kept in excellent 

 condition as to flesh. 



Prof. Johnson, of Yale College, who has given 

 it chemical examination, states that its "comj o- 

 sition is not inferior to that of the best Linseed 

 Cake," and that "in some points its agricultural 



