442 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



the blasts of winter to blow through it. Every 

 morning and evening takes away from it a por- 

 tion of that light which gives beauty to its life, 

 and chills it more and more into that torpor 

 which at length constitutes its temporary death. 



And yet OCTOBER is beautiful still, no less for 

 "what it gives than for what it takes away, and 

 even for what it gives during the very act of tak- 

 ing away." It has its aspects of decay, and its 

 aspects of iinsurpassed attraction and beauty. 



Aikin observes, the gloom of the falling year 

 is in some measure enlivened during this month, 

 especially by the variety of colors, some lively 

 and beautiful, put on by the fading leaves of 

 trees and shrubs. 



In fine weather many plants yet remain in 

 flower v/hich belong to summer; indeed, most of 

 the summer plants still hold out a few flowers 

 from their wet and semi-rotten stocks, which in a 

 fine sunny noon would almost remind one of 

 summer, were it not for the quantity of dead 

 leaves which now cover the ground, and the deep 

 autumnal coloring of those which remain on the 

 trees. The Ash by this time has oftentimes quite 

 cast its leaves ; those of the Elm are greatly 

 thinned, and the rest quite yellow. The Poplars 

 are fast following, and the light foliage of the 

 Mountain Ash lie scattered like its mouldering 

 red berries, on the ground. The Beach, the 

 Hornbeam, and the Oak, retain their leaves the 

 longest, and even keep them all winter. Of fruit 

 trees the Cherries, Apples and Pears are now 

 shedding their leaves, while the Mulberry retains 

 its green leaves to the last, and often keeps them 

 all till the first smart frost, when they fall all at 

 once. We have seen them drop on the rising of 

 the Sun, after a frosty night, altogether like a 

 shower. The fall of the leaf can be considered 

 only as a "sloughing or casting off diseased or 

 worn out parts," whether the injury to their con- 

 stitution may arise from causes or from an ex- 

 haustion of their vital powers. Hence a separa- 

 tion takes place, either in the footstalk, or more 

 usually at its base, and the dying part quits the 

 vigorous one, which is promoted by the weight 

 of the leaf itself, or by the action of autumnal 

 winds upon its expanded form. 



The woodpath is carpeted oyer with leaves 



The glories of autumn obey ; 

 The Goddess of Plenty has bound up her sheaves, 



And carried the harvest away. 



October presents many calls for the care 

 and skill of the good farmer. Such of the roots 

 as are most able to resist the frost and were left 

 to mature under the friendly October suns^'must 

 be secured before the nights become too cold. 



The seed corn should be selected before the 

 general harvest takes place. 



The cider should be made, and whatever care 



is bestowed to make it in a cleanly manner, and 

 of sound apples, will be more than repaid in the 

 excellence of the cider. 



Potatoes, before the rot was known among 

 them, were considered safer in the ground than 

 in the cellar, until the frosts became quite severe. 

 If they have remained sound until the first of 

 the month, they will probably remain good, if 

 not dug until late. 



Apple trees may be transplanted advantageous- 

 ly in this month ; a few days after the leaves have 

 fallen from them, is a suitable time to dig them 

 up for setting. 



Next to June, October is a favorable time for 

 pruning, and in the still and mild days it is a 

 delightful employment. 



The subject of draining is now attracting con- 

 siderable attention ; this month usually affords a 

 good opportunity to engage in it. 



Do not allow cattle to depend too long upon 

 the frost-bitten grass, — but feed them liberally 

 morning and evening, and they will be likely to 

 enter upon their winter fare all the better for it. 



October presents many opportunities for 

 recreation and enjoyment, and the farmer and his 

 family, surrounded as they are by pleasant as- 

 sociations, ought to be grateful and happy. 



For the Neic England Farmer. 

 THE GKOWTH OF TKEES. 



Trees grow faster or slower, according to the 

 wetness and warmth of the season and richness 

 of soil in which they are planted. By looking at 

 the stems and branches of trees it may be seen at 

 once how much more trees grow in one year than 

 in another. In examining a white pine limb I 

 found the growth was as follows : In 1851, the 

 growth was small ; in 1852, much shorter ; 1853, 

 very long ; 1854, middling; 1855, long; 1856, 

 short; 1857, long; 1858, long. An oak limb 

 measured, gave a length of four inches for 1856; 

 eight inches for 1857 ; seven inches for the pres- 

 ent year, which has nearly closed for the growth 

 of trees. The stumps of trees show the sam 

 thing. The grains are wider or narrower, as th 

 season has been favorable or unfavorable. Th 

 leaves of trees are larger or smaller, as the season 

 is wet or dry. In corn, wheat and rye, the influ- 

 ence of the season is attentively noticed, but in 

 trees we seldom stop to measure the extent of 

 their growth or the increase of their size. We 

 feel no richer, nor poorer, for any influence the 

 season may have on them. And yet a genial 

 season promotes their growth as much as it does 

 grass or grain. In a genial season, the fruit of 

 trees is not only magnified, but multiplied, by 

 the rapid growth of the branches. In general, a 

 good grass year is a good tree year, though not 

 always a good fruit year. The orchards and the 

 woods are hard drinkers, and enlarge their di- 

 mensions accordingly. 



The growth of trees is retarded or increased by 

 the same causes which retard or increase the 

 growth of grasses and grains. If apple, pear or 



