204 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PUMPKIUS AMONG COEN". 



Mr. Editor : — For the benefit of your Ver- 

 mont correspondent, I will give you an item from 

 my experience. Some fifteen years since, I plant- 

 ed three-fourths of an acre of corn in one piece, 

 on one-fourth acre of which I planted pumpkins ; 

 the land was manured highly, and gave a fine 

 growth of both corn and pumpkins, but at harvest, 

 the vines had so overrun the corn, that I was 

 obliged to leave that portion until the frost had 

 killed them, by which the fodder was reduced in 

 value at least half, and when the corn was husked, 

 I found the ears shorter, badly filled at the tips, 

 and much lighter than where no pumpkins greAV. 



This is the only instance in which I have seen 

 a fair trial of both methods on the same piece, 

 having discontinued the practice of planting 

 mixed field crop ; but I can see but one advan- 

 tage in planting corn and pumpkins together, 

 viz., when the bugs destroy the vines, as they of- 

 ten do, the corn is ready to occupy the ground, 

 all the advantage from a variety of crop being 

 obtained quite as readily, by rotation in diflferent 

 seasons ; on the other hand, I think the vines 

 produce all the bad effect of weeds, by drawing 

 from the soil the nutriment which ought to go to 

 fill out the grain, and they shade the ground late in 

 the season, thereby preventing the ripening of 

 the corn, quite an important item in our short 

 summers ; besides, if the land is prepared as it 

 should be for corn, the vines will pull down and 

 tie it together, so that both crops must of neces- 

 sity be harvested at once, for all which, in my 

 opinion, nothing like an adequate return will be 

 made in the crop of pumpkins. 



As a field crop for feeding purposes, I think 

 the pumpkin will not pay ; but if your Vermont 

 friend cannot do without pumpkin pies, I would 

 advise him to plant separate from other crops, or 

 at least near the edge of his corn, where the 

 vines will run out on the grass land, or better 

 still, supply their place with the Hubbard squash ; 

 and here let me suggest, if any of your friends 

 have still any of last year's crop of this delicious 

 vegetable, that they should try baking instead of 

 boiling it. It will peel readily from the shell and 

 is much sweeter and drier. Wm. F. Bassett. 



Ashfield, Feb., I808. 



HEDGES AND EVERGREENS. 



It is doubtful whether hedges will ever become 

 common in New England as division fences, but 

 they will be used by persons of taste as lines of 

 division wherever they will become objects of 

 ornament and utility at the same time. Between 

 well kept grounds about the dwelling, and a dusty 

 highway, or for separating a lawn from plowed 

 fields, or screening unsightly objects from the 

 windows, hedges answer an admirable purpose. 



In the western States, however, where wood 

 and stone are both scarce and costly for fencing 

 materials, the hedge, or iron, must be resorted 

 to, if the practice of the older States becomes 

 prevalent, of each man having his farm enclosed 

 by itself. Indeed, on the prairies, hedges would 



be useful not only as fences, but as affording 

 shade for man and beast, and as a protection 

 against the winds which are usually blowing un- 

 obstructed over those vast and treeless plains. 

 Hedges, therefore, will be useful in one form or 

 another, over the whole extent of our country. 



Such being the case, we are glad to see a work 

 on the subject of Hedges and Evergreens, which 

 will point the way to their successful culture. 



The book with the title which stands at the 

 head of this notice purports to be 'A complete 

 manual for the cultivation, pruning and manage- 

 ment of all plants suitable for American hedging ; 

 especially the Madura, or Osage Orange ; — and 

 fully illustrated with engravings of plants, imple- 

 ments and processes. To which is added a Trea- 

 tise on Evergreens ; their different varieties — 

 their propagation, transplanting, and culture In 

 the United States." By John A. Warder, M. 

 D., Editor of Western liorticidturalEevieiv, Presi- 

 dent of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, &c. 

 A. O. Moore, Agricultural Book publisher. New 

 York. The work contains a chapter on the juris- 

 prudence of fences, giving an outline of the laws 

 relating to fences In the several States, and con- 

 tains much information of value to those engaged 

 In the subjects of which It treats. It Is printed 

 in Mr. Moore's beautiful style, and illustrated 

 with numerous engravings, and for sale by A. 

 Williams & Co., Booksellers, 100 Washington 

 Street, Boston. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CONCENTRATED MANURES. 



Mr. Editor : — Much has been said and writ- 

 ten within the few past years, on the value of 

 concentrated manures, guano, |)hosphate, <S:c., and 

 I cannot doubt that in a multitude of cases the 

 money expended for them has proved a remuner- 

 ative outlay ; and yet I strongly suspect that if 

 these highly recommended fertilizers which have 

 been purchased by the farmers of this State, 

 could be traced to their results, we should find 

 that, like lottery tickets, too many of them have 

 drawn blanks for the aggregate profit of the pur- 

 chaser. 



AVith manures, as with many other things, the 

 fact that they come from a distance and cost a 

 great deal of money, seems to give them, in the 

 estimation of some, an additional recommendation. 



Do not infer from the above remarks that I 

 have burnt my own fingers in the purchase and 

 use of these fertilizers. I have tried them to 

 some extent, and carefully noted the result ; yet 

 I cannot tell whether I have gained or lost by 

 the operation. But my experiments have helped 

 me In coming to the conclusion that the same 

 expenditure In collecting materials from my own 

 premises to act as absorbents and swell the com- 

 post heap, would have proved a more profitable 

 investment. Why, sir, just look at it. Take the 

 article of guano. Two bags at 150 pounds each, 

 would cost me, delivered, at least ten dollars. 



