550 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



cision, and renders the chances of mortality much 

 less. 



The milk of spayed cows gives more cream 

 than ordinary milk ; it is also richer in casein, 

 which constitutes — a fact generally unknown — 

 the most nourishing part of milk — hence the su- 

 perior quality of the milk. The butter extracted 

 directly from the milk is delicious in taste ; it 

 testifies to the amount and richness of the casein 

 it contains. This milk offers precious resources 

 for the artificial raising of infants ; it might be 

 asserted that they will be better nourished ; for 

 the nourishment of infants, who give it the pref- 

 erence over other milk, we do not doubt that fhe 

 milk of spayed cov,'s will be principally used. 



Such is the milk introduced by M. Delamarre 

 at his establishment for consumption. — Oldo 

 Farmer. 



THE FLAIL. 



BY AXNA L. A^'^,IER. 



A song for the flail ! the smooth hamlled flail, 



As stroke after stroke it comes clown ; 

 While the golden grains fly, wheat, barley or rye. 



The toil of the farmer to crown. 



The useful and useless he thus will divide ; 



And gathering each in its turn, 

 The former with care, for the garner prepare. 



The latter he'll scatter or burn. 



And what is earth more than a great threshing floor — 

 With the wrong and the right thickly strown ? 



But Truth's iron flail, them both shall assail ; 

 To the winds then shall falsehood be thrown. 



Boston Ilecord^. 



MASS, STATE BOAKD OF AQBICULTUKB. 



A quarterly meeting of the State Board of Ag- 

 riculture was holden at the farm at Westboro', 

 on the 18th October, the Superintending Com- 

 mittee having been in session the previous day. 

 Nearly all the members were present. The dis- 

 cussions were animated, harmonious and instruc- 

 tive. In that on The Potato Rot, the opinion 

 seemed to prevail, that insects xke not theprime 

 cause of the disease, but that they are usually at- 

 tendant upon it. Numerous experiments have 

 been gone through with on the farm during the 

 season just closed, which have been conducted 

 with accuracy and care, whose results indicate 

 that nothing has yet come to the knowledge of 

 the Board, that will certainly prevent the disease. 

 Indeed, in some of the experiments, where rem- 

 edies had been recommended with the utmost 

 confidence, the disease seemed to revel with un- 

 usual virulence and power. 



In connection with this subject, the opinion as 

 expressed, was general, that potatoes succeed 

 the best on new land, — that is, on land newly 

 broken, whether just reclaimed or broken pas- 

 tures or mowing fields. Mr. Lathrop, of South 

 Hadley, said he had known potatoes repeatedly 

 to fail when planted on the same land for three 

 successive years. 



The discussion "O/i tlie use of Guano" was 



highly interesting, — but the views of the speak- 

 ers were various. We could see that there was 

 no unanimity of opinion that guano would inva- 

 riably prove useful to hoed or grain crops, but 

 that on grass lands where humus is annually sup- 

 plied in the second growth of grass which dies 

 and decays on the ground, absorbing and hold- 

 ing the guano, it can be universally employed 

 with confidence, and may be expected to produce 

 profitable results. On this subject, Col. Wilder 

 observed that he had known mowing fields sus- 

 tained for eight successive years in producing 

 heavy crops, with no other fertilizer supplied by 

 man but guano. 



The importance of th? means for a more sys- 

 tematic education for those who mean to make 

 farming an avocation, was earnestly discussed, 

 and it was evident that the Board believes it a 

 duty to give this point more direct attention 

 hereafter. Mr, SwEETSER, of Amherst, sustained 

 his opinions in brief, but appropriate and forcible 

 remarks. 



In the course of business matters it was 

 "Voted, That the Board of Agriculture do not 

 contemplate renewing the contract for the man- 

 agement of the State Farm at Westboro', and 

 now notify the Trustees of their decision." 



We learn that there were several reasons five 

 years ago for transferring the farm to the care 

 of the Board of Agriculture, and among the 

 principal of which w'as that of relieving the Trus- 

 tees from the care of employing the boys on the 

 land under the immediate care of competent 

 overseers and instructors. Under a new arrange- 

 ment of the Board of Trustees, however, all the 

 boys who are of sufficient age and ability, and 

 who can be entrusted on the farm, are now em- 

 ployed upon it during suitable weather, imder 

 the care of their own teachers in the schools. This 

 plan has been found to work admirably, and has 

 already been attended with the most beneficial 

 results. The Board of Agriculture also found 

 its field of operations somewhat restricted by the 

 connection, and the cost of managing the farm 

 considerably increased by the necessity of keep- 

 ing minute and extended accounts, and the una- 

 voidable intermingling of the business of the two 

 Boards. Having, therefore, a wider field of ac- 

 tion in view, and the term having nearly expii'ed 

 for which they contracted, they gave notice to 

 the Trustees at this early day — the contract ex- 

 piring in April next — in order that they may 

 have ample time to arrange for next spring's op- 

 erations. 



One step taken towards carrying out the new 

 views of the Board, was the appointment of a 

 committee to consider and report at the annual 

 meeting in January next, a plan of operations of 

 the Board for the ensuing year. Dr. John C. 



