480 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



be there, the 560 boys, the ladies 

 connected with the Institution, 

 and its officers, the procession 

 moved silently along to the shores 

 of a beautiful pond in the centre 

 of the farm, where there is a cem- 

 etery laid out in excellent taste. 

 A receiving tomb has been pre- 

 pared in the steep hill-side, and 

 over it, and along the slope of the 

 hill, young oaks stretch their 

 friendly branches, and sing their 

 requiems over the dead. The bier 

 was set down, the boys arranged eight deep in lines 

 on the margin of the pond, while visitors, officers 

 and ladies stood upon the higher ground over 

 the tomb. The chaplain, his wife and one of the 

 officers sang an appropriate hymn, their rich, full 

 tones rolling over the water and returning in 

 sweet echoes, seemed to bear all our souls into a 

 heavenly world. One of the bystanders then 

 spoke of death, saying that although it is a 

 solemn thing to die, yet, as it is an ordinance of 

 God, it is for our best good, and that slavish 

 fears of it should not mar the rational enjoy- 

 ments of life ; he spoke of the regard which all 

 good people have for age and for their dead, — 

 of the great improvements and the refined taste 

 which has been manifested in the preparation of 

 places of burial, and expressed a hope that the 

 spot, now for the first time occupied, would be- 

 come an object of their interest and clustering 

 affections, and be beautified by their skill and 

 care. He spoke of the last Sabbath lesson of the 

 deceased, which was among the latest injunctions 

 of the apostle, to "Love one another," and told 

 them, if it was sincerely obeyed, that the grace of 

 God would stream into their hearts as His beauti- 

 ful sunlight was then streaming into that sacred 

 and quiet spot, and prepare them to meet death 

 in calmness and peace. A short and expressive 

 burial service, and a fervent prayer of few words 

 closed one of the most impressive funerals that I 

 ever attended. Heavy clods falling upon the cof- 

 fin, gave evidence that dust was committed to 

 dust, and that life's fretful fever with the occupant 

 of that narrow house was over. I turned from the 

 scene with subdued feelings, and pondered upon 

 life's sorrows and joys as I watched the last rays 

 of the sun sink away from my sight. 



Very truly yours, Simon Brown. 



JoBL NouEsE, Esq., Boston. 



Fine Plums. — We find pleasure in the ac- 

 knowledgment of a box of fine Drap d'Or Plums, 

 from the garden of E. C. Purdy, Esq., of Som- 

 erville. Mr. Purdy's skill in the garden, as 

 well as his teachings through these columns, are 

 worthy of attention. 



ALLEN'S POTATO DIGGING PLOW. 



We have already an implement for cuttin^, 

 dropping and covering the potato by horse pow- 

 er, and implements for cultivating and hoeing 

 them. Now we have before us an illustration of 

 one for digging the potato, and as the latter op- 

 eration is a slow, back-aching process, the digging 

 plow will be hailed with pleasure, if it proves to 

 be really a practical implement. We have not 

 seen it in operation, but incidentally learn that 

 it has given such satisfaction as to cause a very 

 considerable demand for them. In a circular be- 

 fore us, Mr. Allen says : — 



"This implement weighs only 85 pounds, is of 

 light draft and simple in construction. A pair 

 of small horses or oxen, with a lad to drive, will 

 easily dig potatoes as fast as twenty men can 

 pick up. It turns them out so clean that scarce- 

 ly one bushel in fifty, whether small or large, is 

 left uncovered. This is a most important advan- 

 tage. The standard is so high as to allow of its 

 working freely without clogging from weeds and 

 potato vines. It works well on side-hills, in all 

 soils, and among stones and stumps. 



DIRECTIONS FOR USE. 



1. Gauge the clevis so that the plow share will 

 run directly under the potatoes. Keep the point 

 of the share as near the centre of the hills or row 

 as possible. The soil and potatoes are by this 

 means turned completely over, leaving the latter 

 on the top. 



2. If the vines are long and green they should 

 be cut with a scythe within six inches of the 

 ground ; or what is much cheaper and quicker, 

 drag them with a dull iron harrow, and then dig 

 with the plow. When the vines are dead, cut- 

 ting is unnecessary. 



3. If the soil is a stiff clay or somewhat wet, 

 the potato digger may work better with the cen- 

 tre prong or arm taken off, or with a narrower 

 one, which I can furnish to order, or any black- 

 smith can make." 



Sold by II. L. Allen, 189 Water Street, New 

 York. Price $10. 



Opposition. — "A certain amount of opposi- 

 tion," says John Neal,"is a great help to a man." 

 Kites rise against the wind, and not with the 

 wind ; even a head wind is better than none. 



