1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



473 



and moisture ; for through these agents princi- 

 pally, it acts on all vegetable tissue. In one of 

 these soils, as already stated, the pear delights 

 and luxuriates. The quince flourishes in the 

 other. 



It matters not, then, whether we adopt the 

 system of Dochmahl, Knight, or any other of 

 those pomological worthies ; this general law 

 must be observed, and cannot be departed from 

 with impunity ; modified it may be, to suit the 

 exigences of locality, or climate, or both ; but 

 still regarded as the basis of operations, the main 

 spring of action, the fundamental principle of 

 pear cultivation, and the chief source of ultimate 

 success ; and so long as the pear and quince are 

 adopted as stocks, the soil on which they are 

 planted must approach as nearly as possible to 

 the character of their respective habitats, partic- 

 ularly in the porousness or tenacity of its tex- 

 ture, f Thomas F. Walsh. 



Boston, August 23, 1858. 



which I believe to proceed from evil atmospheric 

 influence, this will greatly enhance their value. 



Although the Chenangoes are so far used up, 

 as to be not worth digging, and some other va- 

 rieties are badly aff"ected, the Davis Seedling 

 continues fair and bright, well rewarding those 

 who were vigilant in obtaining the best of seeds. 



I have seen of late a patent potato-digger, 

 made by the Messrs. Allen, of New York,' 

 which promises to be a convenient and useful 

 implement. If it shall prove to do as well as 

 their mower has done, it will be worth having. 



Sept. 1, 1858. ». 



For the New England Farmer. 



CAN MOWING MACHINES BE WOSXED 

 WITH OXEN ? 



I wish to inquire if mowing machines have ever 

 been successfully worked with oxen, and if so, 

 which machine operates in that way the best ? 



Will it not require two men to work the ma- 

 chine, one to drive the oxen and another to man- 

 age the mower? I have heard of having oxen 

 bitted so as to drive them like horses, but I 

 think they would be apt to prove a rather hard- 

 mouthed team ; at any rate, I should not like to 

 risk the machine until the oxen were pretty well 

 broken to the bit. 



I have thought some of getting a mower, pro- 

 vided this and some other objections can be over- 

 come, I have long thought that an ox machine 

 would be more useful to a majority of farmers 

 than a horse machine, as the larger part keep 

 only one horse, preferring to do their work with 

 oxen ; even if they had a one-horse machine, it 

 would be too hard for a horse to mow during the 

 forenoon ; and then rake in the afternoon, be- 

 sides being often wanted on the road. 



Lancaster, Aug., 1858. Old Subscriber. 



ReilAlRKS. — Mowing machines are often used 

 with oxen, but we do not know which is best to 

 be worked by them especially. 



For the New England Fanner. 

 SAVE TOUR ASHES. 



The Oermantown Telegraph contains sensible 

 remarks on the prevention of the potato rot, by 

 the use of ashes or other alkaline substances. 

 I have seen nothing more to the point. It is a 

 remedy at the command of all. The application 

 of a pint of ashes to each hill at the time of 

 planting, or at the time of first hoeing, will not 

 harm the potato, if it does not entirely save them 

 from rot. I have great faith in the fertilizing 

 power of good ashes, and believe they are worth 

 more than they are commonly estimated at. Many 

 of our most valuable products are made such by 

 the application of ashes. And if they are found 

 to be a specific remedy for the potato disease, 



EDDY'S PATENT SELF-FEEDING STALL 

 FOR HORSES. 



It is an important item in farm economy to ar- 

 range the places where animals stand, lie and 

 feed, so that there shall be comfort to themselves, 

 convenience to the persons attending them, and 

 no waste suff"ered in their racks or mangers. We 

 have never yet seen a lean-to, or tie-up, for cat- 

 tle, that we thought was in every particular 

 right; and we never saw a horse-stall until to- 

 day, that we could find no fault with. 



Dr. Eddy invited us to-day to look into the 

 "Club Stable," near the Revere House, Boston, 

 with him, and see his stalls. We did so, and from, 

 our examination, are enabled to use the expres- 

 sion made above, that we have seen a horse 

 stall that we could find no fault with. The Dr.. 

 states that by the above-named in\'«ntion the fol- 

 lowing results are secured, and we pretty nearly 

 believe all he says, viz. : 



1. A horse maybe fed without soiling his head 

 or foretop with hay-seed or other matter. 



2. He cannot breathe upon his hay, or soil it 

 by constant mouthing, as in a common rack or 

 manger, and thus render it unfit for use. 



3. He can receive his hay no faster than it is 

 taken away and eaten. 



4. He cannot thrust his nostrils into a mass of 

 smoky hay. * 



5. He cannot waste a particle of his food. 



6. The stall is abundantly ventilated. 



7. The cost of construction is less than the cost 

 of the common rack and manger. 



8. After the removal of the common rack the 

 above improvement may be substituted in any 

 stall at a very trifling expense. 



9. The value of an individual right may be 

 saved annually in the feeding of a single horse. 



With the advantages which this improvement 

 presents, there is no longer an excuse for a waste- 

 ful and slovenly method of feeding horses. 

 Greater simplicity, greater economy and greater 

 neatness can hardly be conceived than are realized 

 by thh invention. The individual who keeps a 

 single horse cannot afford to do without it. 



We advise every lover of a good horse to call 

 and see these stalls. 



