456 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



Nature evidently intended they should ; but if 

 horses are kept on smooth turf their feet must 

 be kept short by artificial means. — Ohio Farmer. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FALL TKANSPLANTING. 



Mr. Simon Brown : — This spring I became 

 aware that I had lost about seven-eighths of my 

 asparagus by transplanting last fall : it was origi- 

 nally planted too deep, and I wanted to change 

 the location of the bed ; so I had it all taken up 

 and planted in a bed well manured, but not salted 

 enough to prevent weeds from starting abund- 

 antly this spring. Hoping it might grow — 

 though late — I put off setting new roots till July, 

 (I was told by an honest Quaker who grows it 

 largely, that he had transplanted it with success, 

 as late as 6th mo.,) when, on removing the 

 earth for planting, I found the skeletons of the 

 roots of the old plants. Last fall was a warm one, 

 and I suppose the manure was not only decom- 

 posed itself, but caused the roots to, also, as they 

 were comparatively in a dormant state. 



Heretofore I have transplanted in the spring 

 and have been very successful ; but last season I 

 was induced to try the fall, not only for my as- 

 paragus, but for two shell-bark hickory, from a 

 nursery, and two pear trees, two Hartford prolific 

 grape vines, and some raspberry roots. Of the 

 trees, though the bark (not the buds) is still 

 green, only one has started to grow ; and that 

 not till after the 1st of July. One grape vine did 

 not start at all, the other did feebly in the spring 

 but is now doing pretty well. The raspberry 

 roots are most all dead. 



This ill success can not be attributed to im- 

 proper management in planting, for I was care- 

 ful not to let the manure come in immediate con- 

 tact with the roots at the planting ; and I pro- 

 cured 29 of the grape vines for 23 different per- 

 sons — friends and neighbors — the vines and trees 

 came with good roots, and from all I can learn, 

 the stems looked fresh and promising during the 

 winter ; but I find, on inquiry, only about 6 liv- 

 ing. The report from almost every one I ask be- 

 ing — they are dead and dried up. These were 

 received the 9th of November, and mine were 

 planted immediately. In justice to fall trans- 

 planting I ought to state that of two Clinton and 

 one Dracut grape vines, three apple, six peach 

 and one plum trees, planted at another time, 

 though in the same month, all lived but the plum, 

 and though some of the peach trees started very 

 late, all are now doing well. 



Verj' truly yours, O. 



Worcester County, Aug. 3, 1858. 



and fragments of limbs which must have remain- 

 ed beneath the surface for several generations, 

 yet in a perfectly sound condition in consequence 

 of the exterior surface having been charred when 

 the clearing of the soil was effected by "axe and 

 brand." Oak and cedar posts, as well as stakes 

 of all kinds, endure nearly twice ap long when so 

 prepared, and as the cost is, in most cases, mere- 

 ly nominal, the practice should universally pre- 

 vail. It is well known that on many kinds of 

 soil, the most valuable and durable kinds of wood 

 will last but a few years if set in an unprepared 

 state, and the cost of repairs is often one of the 

 most serious drawbacks with which the farmer 

 has to contend. We advise every one, therefore, 

 who is about to erect new lines of fence, or to re- 

 pair old ones, to make trial of this plan by all 

 means, and to carefully observe the result. 



FSNCE POSTS. 



The durability of fence posts, it has been as- 

 certained by reiterated experiments, is greatly in- 

 creased by charring the bottoms, or that portion 

 of them which is to be inserted in the soil, before 

 setting them. There are but few methods, prob- 

 ably, of enhancing the durability of wood which 

 is to be exposed to the action of moisture, or the 

 soil, more effectual than that of charring. In old 

 fields, the plow not unfrequently exhumes knots. 



EXTKACTS AND K.EPLIES. 

 WINTER WHEAT. 



Having noticed a communication from Mr. 

 Poor in your issue of the 7th inst., upon the sub- 

 ject of raising winter wheat, will you give such 

 information as you may be able to respecting it? 

 What soil is best adapted to it ? What is the 

 rule for making pickle ? the quantity of seed per 

 acre, and the price per bushel ? Do you know 

 anything of the banner wheat ? W. Ellis. 



Medway, Eockville, Aug. 9, 1858. 



Remarks. — Any land that will produce three 

 good crops of English hay in succession, after be- 

 ing tolerably well manured when it was laid 

 down, will produce wheat. Moist, but not wet, 

 gravelly or sandy loams are suitable, or clay 

 loams if they are drained. Pine plain lands are 

 not suitable. 



No exact rule is necessary in making the 

 pickle in3vhich to soak the seed. If the water takes 

 up as much salt as it will, it will not injure the 

 grain. Soak it twelve hours. 



From one bushel to a bushel and a half of seed 

 is required per acre. Rich land requires less seed 

 than poor land. 



The Banner wheat is probably not a variety, 

 but has only received a local name. 



GREEN CUCUMBERS. 



At the breakfast table this morning we had a 

 discussion with regard to eating cucumbers. My 

 opponents were willing to admit that all vegeta- 

 bles were more wholesome when ripe than when 

 green, except cucumbers, and they were best 

 green, from the fact they have always been used 

 at that time. And now we want your opinion, or 

 some other scientific man's on this subject. 



Milford, N. H., 1858. Dyed. 



Remarks. — We never eat them, green or yel- 

 low, and do not feel competent to enlighten you 

 on the siAject — but leave jt to some who have 



