526 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



quick after exercise, either as to the whole body 

 or any part of it ; 2nd, by being chilled, and re- 

 maining so for a long time, from want of exercise. 

 To avoid colds from the former, we have only to 

 go to a fire the moment the exercise ceases, in 

 the winter. If in summer, repair at once to a closed 

 room, and remain with the same clothing on un- 

 til cooled off. To -avoid colds from the latter 

 cause, and these engender the most speedily fatal 

 diseases, such as pleurisies, croup and inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs, called pneumonia, we have only 

 to compel ourselves to walk with sufHcient vigor 

 to keep off a feeling of chilliness. Attention to a 

 precept contained in less than a dozen Avords 

 would add twenty years to the average of civilized 

 life. Keep away chilliness by exercise ; cool off 

 slowly. Then you will never take cold, in door or 

 out. 



"WHITEWASHING. 



There is nothing, perhaps, which contributes 

 more decidedly to the healthiness of a homestead 

 than whitewash. It is a cheap article, and any 

 one who can lift a brush can put it on. Fences 

 and rough siding as well as the inside of the tie- 

 ups, sheds and other outbuildings, and also the 

 walls and ceilings of the cellars, should annually 

 be paid over with a good coat of whitewash. The 

 spring is the most eligible season for the apjili- 

 cation,^as there is generally sufficient leisure at 

 that time before spring's work comes on, and as 

 the disinfecting and deodorizing action of the 

 lime will tend to prevent those unhealthy mias- 

 ma which are generated around most dwellings, 

 by the decay of vegetable matter, and the heat 

 of the vernal and summer sun. The months of 

 October and November, also, usually afford good 

 opportunities to do this work, at intervals be- 

 tween harvesting, draining, collecting muck, &c. 



White walls, and long lines of white fences 

 gleaming amid luxuriant and embowering foli- 

 age, give to a farm establishment an appearance 

 of neatness and rural elegance and comfort, in- 

 describably attractive to the man of taste, and 

 can in no way be so effectually and economically 

 secured as by giving them a few coats of white- 

 wash. The ceilings of bed-rooms, cookeries, 

 and wash rooms, should also be frequently white- 

 washed. If the walls are not papered, the brush 

 should pass over them likewise. The lime will 

 not only tend to sweeten the air and prevent ep- 

 idemical diseases, but fill up the thousand im- 

 perceptible cracks which always exist in plaster- 

 ing, and through which more cold air will find its 

 way in a windy winter's day, than can be neu- 

 tralized by many an armful of hickory, maple or 

 white oak. 



The whitewashing of cattle and horse stalls, 

 as well as the inside of hog cotes and heneries, 

 not only renders them more healthy, but prevents 

 the animals and fowls from being infested with 

 troublesome and filthy vermin. 



For the New England Parmer. 

 AUTUMN". 



ET AUGUSTA COOPEE KIMBALL. 



Kind Autumn comes in view, with stately tread, 



Wearing her olden robe of gold and red, 



And clustered grape-vines, drooping from her bead. 



She decks, with gaudy trimmings, every place; 

 The forests blush to feel her gay embrace, 

 Yet melancholy's tinge is on her face. 



Behind her follow all the fabled train, 



That over Nature's pro'luce hold their reign ; 



The unseen guardians of the hill and plain. ' 



Bright Ceres, goddess of the harvest fieMs, 

 With ardent pride, that is not half concealed. 

 Hastens her yellow offering to yield. 



Fair-cheeked Pomona, in the orchard seen, 

 Culls choicest fruit, the bending boughs between, 

 And runs to greet the advancing autumn queen. 



Now, only in the distance, we descry 

 The mellow lustre of her lambent eye. 

 And gay apparelling, we know her by. 



But soon her presence will be everywhere ; 

 Her changing breath will scent the breeay air, 

 And amber light roll from her yellow hair. 



The farmer, glad, will view the golden store, 

 Heaped on his spacious, oaken, threshing floor; 

 With such full barns, he could not wish for more. 



And when the harvest moon rides up in air, 



Vouths with browned cheeks, and country maidens fair, 



Perchance may make a merry husking there. 



While in the farm house, rows of pumpkin pies. 

 With luscious fruits and cakes of ample size. 

 The white -capped matron for the group supplies. 



When vale and mount shall don a russet gown. 



And leaflets, dying with a tint of brown. 



Shall fall with wavering movement to the grourui. 



With empty baskets, laugh, and childish cheer, 

 Iq woodland aisles, will eager groups appear, 

 To gather trophies of the fruitful year. 



And tarrying long, the mother mild at bom;, 



Will anxious watch the paths where they have gone, 



And worrying, list for noisy ones to come. 



But when the sun has left the forest road. 

 Each rambler then will hasten with his load ; 

 With nuts, hats, caps and baskets are o'er Sowed. 



Such are the joys kind Autumn, thou dost bring. 

 When verdure on the bough no more may cling, 

 And summer birds no longer stay to sing. 



From this small tribute I could not refrain ; 

 Although the lay is weak, and short the strain, 

 Yet is it large, with love for all thy reign. 



For the New England Farmer. 



DRESSING OF GKASS LANDS. 



The main purpose on many farms is to raise a 

 good crop of grass, that is, about two tons to the 

 acre, exclusive of the second crop. I know of 

 farms where this has been done for thirty years, 

 or more, without disturbing the sod in the mean- 

 time. How is this brought about ? By occasion- 

 ally applying a top dressing of some fertilizing 

 material. Land situated near the shore of the 

 ssa, as are the grass-producing fields at Marble- 

 head, are most conveniently dressed by material 

 collected from the beach. When so situate, that 

 sea maiiurei cannot be obtained, a compost can 



