564 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



they are always fnvorite resting places for wild 

 pigeons. Our bird has a very extensive range, 

 being found from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson's 

 Bay, and probably further north, for I find the 

 following notice of it in the appendix to the third 

 voyage of Sir John Ross, page 29. "A young 

 male passenger pigeon iiew on board the Victo- 

 ry, during a storm, whilst crossing Baffin's Bay, 

 in latitude 73^ degrees north, on the 31st. of Ju- 

 ly, 1829." It is a singular and interesting fact, 

 that it had never been seen so far north before. 

 Danvers-Port, Oct. 1, 1858. 



Fur the New England Farmer. 



LETTEK FROM VEHMONT. 



Crops — Apples and Cider — Winter Evenings — Annual Fairs — 

 Horses at Premiums — The Legislature — Tlianksgiving Day — 

 Vromotes Matrimony — Gratitude of Old Folks — Winter 

 Schools. 



Dear Farmer : — Thinking that a word or two 

 by way of remembrance, from away up in Ver- 

 mont, might not be entirely unacceptable to your 

 columns, I am seated with a view of making a 

 "scratch," which you will be at liberty to use, only 

 in case you should lack the usual quantum of in- 

 teresting matter, with which you come so con- 

 stantly laden. 



Our crops, which so recently covered these 

 hills and valleys in great variety, are now nearly 

 all gathered in, and our barns and garners are lit- 

 erally groaning beneath the abundance which fills 

 them. Among all our harvest, are we short in 

 nothing, unless perhaps it be a partial lack of 

 apples (and cider) in some localities. And by 

 the way, a failure in this crop, is seriously felt, 

 since we must have the long winter evenings, 

 and how shall we get on with the stories and chit- 

 chat,, without the apples and cider? Too long 

 have these been associated together to be parted 

 lightl)-. O, those glorious old days, when these 

 hearts were younger, so well remembered, before 

 fastidious, foolish fashion and misnamed, hypo- 

 critical refinement, had usurped the places of 

 generous hospitality and frank, honest sociability, 

 that we so well enjoyed in those plain old homes, 

 when the products of God's bounty were used 

 without stint or measure. 



That reliable personage, the "oldest inhabi- 

 tant," is said never to have seen so abundant a 

 crop of corn as the present season has yielded, 

 in all parts of our State. In fact, every farmer 

 finds himself much in the same condition that 

 the old fellow over in New Hampshire once did, 

 who happened to be favored with a crop of sound 

 corn, (a very rare thing for him,) and complained 

 to his neighbors that he had nothing to fatten his 

 pork on, as he had no hog-corn. And we have 

 quite eschewed the cant phrase of "small pota- 

 toes and few in the hill," for the present very 

 much resembles the old-fashioned crops of this 

 root. So with plenty of corn and potatoes, we 

 Green Mountain boys (and girls, too,) can get on 

 right well, even though the Atlantic Telegraph 

 should not work very satisfactorily at present. 



Our Annual Fairs, State, county and town, 

 have all passed off, and I su])pose they have nev- 

 er been more satisfactory than the present sea- 

 son. A grand show of all the necessaries, com- 

 forts and luxuries of life have never failed to be 

 exhibited — always accompanied with sufliicient 



specimens of taste, fancy, ornament and skill to 

 satisfy all for whose good opinion we care, that 

 though ours are humble homes, and productive, 

 remunerative labor is our lot, nevertheless, these 

 wives, these sisters and these daughters, (Heaven 

 bless them all for their goodness,) are not alone 

 fitted for drudgery, but can show true polish, and 

 are not a whit behind any of their fair sisters in 

 any regard. 



One thing in connection with these fairs which 

 I regret to notice, namely, the increased atten- 

 tion that horse-racing is receiving, as though it 

 was of the least possible consequence which of 

 two or more cheap horses can the soonest by a 

 second or so go over a half-mile track. Is this 

 the true test of a good horse ? Is it of more im- 

 portance that an animal can go fast, than that 

 he is kind, gentle, tractable and easily managed, 

 that he have bottom and capacity for and a wil- 

 lingness to labor ? Is it of more importance that 

 the caprice of fast young men be gratified, rather 

 than that the real wants of the family should be 

 consulted, with reference to hoi'se-breeding and 

 horse-training? Then why is so much pains 

 taken and so much money off'ered to promote this 

 objectionable feature in all our State and county 

 gatherings ? 



It seems to me that in these utilitarian days, 

 more regard should be had in off'ering pre- 

 miums to the real and intrinsic value of things. 

 Is there any good reason why an overwrought 

 harness, a fimcy buggy, or a fine wooled buck or 

 ewe, should receivo double or treble the sum giv- 

 en for the best acre of corn, wheat or potatoes, 

 or the best plow or harrow ? True merit resting 

 on the foundation of usefulness, ought more to 

 be regarded in awarding prizes. And why are 

 not more fi-equent rew^ards offered for important 

 and successful experiments in agriculture, or for 

 instructive and valuable essays on the same ? Are 

 these of less consequence to the community than 

 a fast horse or a showy carriage or harness ? In 

 my view, a single letter from your correspondent, 

 Judge French, detailing the inception, progress 

 and result of a single experiment in draining 

 wet, or reclaiming worn-out lands, is of a thous- 

 and times more value to the wants and wealth 

 of the country than all the reports of the '-turf 

 that have or will be made while time lasts. 



Our Legislature is now in session, and the ma- 

 chinery of law-making is in full operation, and 

 will doubtless turn out results about as conse- 

 quential as would be the settling of the great 

 question of the difference between "tweedle-dee 

 and tweedle-dum." "We are governed too much," 

 is now as true as when first uttered. By adopt- 

 ing biennial or even triennial legislative sessions, 

 the true interests of our little State would be ad- 

 vanced. 



"Thanksgiving Day" has been appointed, and 

 will soon occur ; and O, how many hearts dilate 

 and grow warm on the return of this time-hon- 

 ored occasion. Children love it, because of its 

 sports and its bounties — young men and maidens 

 love it, as it is so often made the culminating point 

 of their love and hopes — and old men and mat- 

 rons reverence it sacred in their recollections, as 

 the day on which they twain gladly became one 

 flesh and have since borne each other's burdens. 

 Nowhere is there more real, heart-felt joy and 

 thankfulness on the retui'n of this blessed old 



