1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



437 



We have used the Universal Plow, and so have 

 our neighbors, with great gratification and profit. 

 Mr. Wood, who was present at the trial with 

 you, recently plowed two acres of old sward land 

 immediately after it was mowed, with the skim 

 plow affixed, and we believe we are entirely with- 

 ki bounds in saying that not a single peck of 

 grass could have been gathered on the whole two 

 acres after it was plowed. Every thing green 

 was covered, and the furrows were so minutely 

 cracked or broken that no harrowing was needed 

 to put in a crop of rata bagas ; it was furrowed 

 out, manured in the furrows, seeded and covered 

 with great ease and convenience, without the use 

 of the harrow. 



For the New En;^land Farmer. 

 SALTING HAY— MAKSH HAY. 



Mr. Editor: — In a catching season like the 



f)resent it is with difficulty that farmers can safe- 

 y secure their hay. I can scarcely get two whole 

 days of good hay weather, consequently I am of- 

 ten obliged to get it in before it is fully made, 

 or run the risk of another storm ; and am under 

 the necessity of using more or less salt. 



A difference in opinion prevails as to the 

 amount of salt to be used, as regards the health, 

 and thrift, of our cattle. Some object to as much 

 as 6 or 8 quarts to' a ton, because, they say, if an 

 animal should have access to salt, he would not 

 devour as much while eating a ton of hay, and if 

 he is obliged to take more than his appetite 

 would crave, it does him injury. 



In the eastern part of Essex county a large 

 amount of salt hay is used ; some farmers keep 

 their young stock and oxen that don't work hard, 

 almost exclusively on salt hay, and if they are 

 well attended to, they generally thrive and appear 

 to be in perfect health. There is a difference in 

 the amount of salt contained in a ton of salt hay ; 

 that which grows on very low meadow, and re- 

 mote from fresh water streams, being more salt 

 than that from higher meadow, and perhaps near 

 the mouth of a river. If it is cut after a high run 

 of tides, before any rain has fallen to wash the 

 salt from the grass, and secured without rain, it 

 is more salt than that which has been washed 

 either before or after it is cut. 



Can any one tell how much salt it would take 

 to make a ton of English or fresh meadow hay, 

 as salt as salt hay from low marsh, secured with- 

 out rain ? I think myself it would be more than 

 8, 10, or 12 quarts per ton ; and still, on this 

 very salt fodder, cattle thrive and appear to be 

 iu perfect health, as indicated by their glossy 

 coat, bright eye, and active movements. 



Hay-Maker. 



Newhuryport, Aug. 10, 1858. 



The Horticulturist for August is a capital 

 number. The leading article by the Editor, J. 

 Jat Smith, is racy and reasonable. The illus- 

 trations are pleasant, and the articles various and 

 practical — the one on Roots, discussing the roots 

 «f plants, is excellent. We are plesi-^cd to see 



occasional articles from our southern friends in 

 this popular journal. Published by Saxton, 25 

 Park Row, New York. 



LETTER FBOM MR. BROWN". 



Francestown, N. H., Aug. 10, 1858. 



Dear Sir : — My last letter was dated on the 

 flat lands of Plymouth county, Mass., on the 

 shores of Buzzard's Bay ; now I date from one 

 of the most romantic spots that New England af- 

 fords. The sun is just rising, lighting up the 

 whole eastern horizon, and every hill top that 

 lifts its head between me and the Atlantic coast. 

 A vast basin lies before me, presenting an appa- 

 rent confusion of rocks, hills, valleys, forests and 

 ponds, but upon travelling through it, is found 

 to be threaded with excellent roads, with sweet 

 and fertilizing streams, and checkered with pro- 

 ductive farms, the abodes of intelligent and in- 

 dustrious free-holders. This town was the birth- 

 place of the late Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secre- 

 tary of the Treasury during the administration 

 of Mr. Polk, and one of the Judges of the U. S. 

 Supreme Court at the time of his decease. His 

 father died here in 1823, at the advanced age of 

 85. He was an active soldier in the old French 

 war, and was engaged by the side of Gen. Wolfe 

 when he was killed at the memorable siege Oi 

 Quebec. He was one of the truly invincible rart- 

 gers under the immortal Stark, and discharged 

 every duty in a prompt and courageous manner. 

 This town was also the scene of some serious In- 

 dian troubles. A story is told of one Richard 

 Batten, who was captured by them in the year 

 1757. Although guarded by two warriors, by his 

 wonderful strength and agility he effected his 

 escape, but not without the loss of all his clothes. 

 He wandered entirely naked between the lakes 

 George and Champlain for six days, eating noth- 

 ing but berries and bark, and swam the Hudson 

 river three times, in order the more effectually to 

 elude his pursuers. 



There is here an extensive and valuable quarry 

 of freestone, which used to be transported to 

 Boston in large quantities. In the north part of 

 the town black lead is found of a good quality. 

 But what sound is that ! The tramp of horses 

 and the rattling of stage wheels ! Familiar once 

 as household words, and still familiar here, where 

 the shrill note of the locomotive whistle has never 

 yet echoed among the hills. Ten, twelve, fifteen 

 miles to the nearest station ! How do the people 

 get out to mingle with the great w^orld ! By 

 stages, sir, and by means of their light vehicles 

 and hardy horses that are bred upon the hills. 

 Why, the terms used "On Change," or on the 

 Court side of "Washington Street," are almost 

 as familiar here as there own vernacular language, 

 while ample hoops distend skirts of the finest 



