430 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



advantages. It takes no more shingles, no more 

 nails in number — only a little longer — and no 

 more time to put them on, and, if done in a work- 

 manlike manner, will look as well as if shingled. 

 ]5ut it should be done before the old shingles are 

 too much decayed. All the moss (if any) should 

 be removed, or swept off with a stiff broom, be- 

 fore putting on the new shingles." 



Remarks. — Can this be so ? "Will some of our 

 readers acquainted with these matters, write up- 

 on them ? 



EXTRACTS AND EEPLIES. 

 FOWL MEADOW GRASS. 



Dear Sir : — Having received your interesting 

 paper of the 26th inst., I beg to state that your 

 contributor, Mr. Wetherell, has fallen into some 

 mistake in stating that Poa serotina is not an 

 American grass. It has been recognized as an 

 indigenous grass ever since Muhlenburg's days 

 at least, in 1817, and is equally common with 

 Poa nervata. Unless Mr. Wetherell means to 

 imply that what botanists so denominate is not 

 the same species as the European grass of that 

 name, I cannot well account for his taking the 

 view he does in this respect. As to which of the 

 two grasses to which the popular name of "Fowl 

 Meadow Grass" has been applied, may rightfully 

 claim that name, that is a historical question, 

 about which I have no information to offer. 

 Very respectfully yours 



Cambridge, June, 1858. Asa Gray. 



Note, — This communication was mislaid or it 

 would have been published at an earlier day. 

 Mr. Wetherell's article discussed the value of the 

 two grasses, and the title each has to the name 

 of Fowl Meadow. He speaks of Poa serotina as 

 a German grass, perhaps to distinguish it more 

 particularly from Poa nervata, which is indigen- 

 ous only to America. That the former is a na- 

 tive of both continents is an admitted fact, and 

 it is a valuable addition to our indigenous 

 grasses. 



CURRANTS — MOSSY LANDS — SCOURING IN CALVES 

 — WOOD STRAWBERRY — ONE-HORSE MOWER. 



When is the best time to set out currant 

 bushes ? and how near should they be set ? 



What fertilizer is the best adapted to mossy 

 lands ? 



What will stop a calf from "scouring ?" 



Where can plants of the "wood strawberry" be 

 obtained? * 



Which is the best "one-horse mower ?" 



Will you please answer these queries through 

 the Farmer and oblige Inexperience, 



Charlemont, Mass., 1858. 



Remarks. — Set currant bushes in the spring, 

 at least four feet apart. 



The best fertilizer for mossy lands is a good 

 plow and plenty of barn manure. 



A dry warm shelter, dry food, and proper at 

 tendance in every way, will stop "scouring" in 

 calves. 



We cannot inform you where plants of the 

 "Wood Strawberry" can be obtained, though 

 they have been quite common in New England. 

 Nor can we inform you which is the best one- 

 horse mower, because there are several which we 

 have not used. By next yeai-'s haying time we 

 expect to see a better one than has been made 

 yet. 



the PLOW and the spade. 

 Is it better to use the spade than the plow in 

 a garden, provided there is time to do either ? 

 While watching a neighbor spading his garden 

 patch and picking out the stones, the thought 

 occurred to me — would those stones ever be any 

 larger, should they remain buried there for 

 years ? I asked him for his opinion, and he re- 

 plied, "they would ; they grow like anything 

 else." I thought not ; how is it, say you ? 



Edmund H. Benson. 



Remarks. — Use the spade by all means, under 

 such circumstances. We are inclined to think 

 the stones will decrease, as they gradually im- 

 part their constituent particles to the soil, such 

 as potash, lime, &c. 



WHAT is the prospect OF THE HOP TRADE ? 



I wish to know your opinion with regard to 

 the hop market for the coming two or three 

 years. Had hop raisers better continue in the 

 business, or had they better plow up their fields, 

 and plant and sow something that will pay them 

 for their labor every year ? I have put my hand 

 to the plow for raising a small field of hops every 

 year ; this is the third year and haven't received 

 a penny yet; unless you can speak favorably, I 

 believe I shall look back. L. C. Powers. 



Ripton, Vt., 1858. 



Remarks. — Will those acquainted with the 

 business discuss it with Mr. Powers. 



AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS. 



Will you, through your paper, which is very 

 generally taken by the farmers in this vicinity, 

 communicate the fact, that the Hon. George S. 

 Davis, of Greenfield, has consented to deliver 

 the address before the agricultural society in the 

 town of Warwick, October 13, 1858. The pub- 

 lic are invited to attend ; and all the farmers in 

 the neighboring towns are respectfully invited 

 to enter the list of competitors for the premiums 

 at the cattle show which is to take place on that 

 day. John Goldsbury. 



Wanoich, July 29, 1858. 



BLACK POLAND TOP-KNOT FOWLS. 



These fowls may be procured of C. E. French, 

 of Braintree, Mass., or of N. P. Rines, Concord, 

 N. H. _ 



hall's STUMP PULLER. 



"A Farmer," of Sparta, Tenn., will learn all 

 he wants to know about this machine, by ad- 

 dressing Messrs Nourse & Co., Boston, who are 

 Mr. Hall's Agents. 



