1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. 



55 



with them two feet or more wide on the ground, 

 and as high against the house as you please, and 

 tread them down so that they will lie somewhat 

 compactly. If the* first snow that thus falls is at- 

 tended by wind, it will probably sift the snow into 

 all the crevices among the branches and these form 

 a most effectual barrier against the progress of 

 King Frost. If the wind does not do the work, 

 do it yourself with a shovel. 



All the drainage of the house which we occupy 

 passes out through the north corner under a wood- 

 house floor. This is never warmed by lire. Out- 

 side of the house, pine branches are laid upon the 

 ground and up against the clapboards, to the 

 depth of about two feet, and none of the pipes 

 have frozen, although water is continually driz- 

 zUng through them. 



COTSWOLDS IN TERMONT. 



Enclosed I send you a sample of wool clipped 

 from a Cotswold ewe (one of nine) recently pur- 

 chased from Mr. T. L. Hart, West Cornwall, Conn. 

 They, together with the bucks received from Mr. 

 H., are good specimens of this breed of sheep. 

 The wool on one of the bucks measures over seven 

 inches, is quite thick and lirm. I have a specimen 

 of wool of fourteen months growth, taken from a 

 cosset ewe, which measures fifteen inches. 



Montpelier, Vt., Nov. 30, 1868. A. D. Arms. 



Remarks. — No wonder that beautiful delicate 

 cloth, fit for anybody's wife's or daughter's Sunday 

 dress can be made from such silky, glossy fibres as 

 those which make up the beautiful lock of wool 

 accompanying the above communication. The 

 editor of the Mo7iipeHer Journal, who had the pleas- 

 ure of examining these sheep, says, "a visit to this 

 flock will well repay any one interested in breed- 

 ing sheep. Much pi-aise is due to Mr. Arms for 

 the enterprise he has exhibited in procuring them." 



WANTS TO KNOW ALL ABOUT FRUIT CULTURE. 



I have purchased a small farm ten miles from 

 Boston, and as I am but an amateur in farming, 

 though all my boyish days were spent in that oc- 

 cupation, I take the liberty of making some in- 

 quiries through your valuable paper. Most of the 

 land of the farm is a light sandy loam. A small 

 run, however, passes through it, with a brook, and 

 a level plat on its border of very rich, dark loam. 

 The south bank of the valley consists of lour ter- 

 races varying from eight to twelve feet wide. I 

 wish to cultivate fruit to cou'^iderable extent of 

 all the best varieties suited to the soil and climate. 

 I wish to learn what are the best and most reliable 

 pears, ai^ples, peaches, cherries, plums and quinces, 

 with best variety of small fruits. Is it advisable 

 to set them out this fall, or wait till spring ? 

 Wheve. can I find the be>t assortment, and most 

 reliable man to purchase of? I propose to set out 

 this fall and next spring three or four hundred 

 pear trees with apple, peach and cherries. If you, 

 or any of your correspondents, will post me up in 

 these matters, you will much oblige 



Boston, Nov. 29, 1868, A Subscriber. 



Remarks.— Our correspondent is full of zeal, 

 and, like a new broom, means to sweep clean. He 

 has laid out a large work, and we fear, will at- 

 tempt too much at once. It will be impossible for 

 him to learn from the books, or from what we may 



say, all he desires to know ; he must get most 

 of it by experience, by actual contact with the 

 work itself. Still, he can be greatly aided by 

 books, and to secure this aid we advise him to 

 get Dotcning's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 

 and read it carefully through the winter. Another 

 source of aid — far belter than any we can give 

 him — is to visit the farms of his neighbors and see 

 for himself what crops flourish best on soils sim- 

 ilar to his own, especially noting whether the 

 fruit trees he desires to cultivate are thrifty and 

 produce crops. He should then put the same 

 questions to his neighbors that he has put to us, 

 because different localities are favorable or un- 

 favorable to the culture of fruit trees, and our 

 suggestions may not suit his particular locality. 



Apple trees may as well be set in the fall as in 

 the spring; peach, pear and cherry trees, we pre- 

 fer to set in the spring. You must look to our 

 advertising columns for persons who sell trees. 

 Most of them are able to supply all the common 

 varieties. 



CURES FOR GREASE OR SCRATCHES. 



In reply to the inquiry of "R. P. T." of Canaan, 

 Vt., for a cure for scratches, I copy the f allowing 

 from Chase's Receipt Book : — 1. Wood ashes lye 

 and a strong decoction of white oak bark, boiled 

 together, will cure bad cases of scratches, but it 

 will take off" the hair. Must be applied witli a long 

 handled swab, as it will make the animal tear 

 around like mad. 2. Half ounce of verdigris in 

 one pint of whi»kej% 3. Sweet oil 6 ounees, borax 

 2 ounces, sugar of lead 2 ounces, well mixed and 

 applied twice a day. 4. Copperas and chamberlye, 

 usedasabove. 5. White lead and linseed oil, mixed 

 as for paint; some prefer lump oil ; if the latter is 

 used, it muit be mixed till it assumes alight straw 

 color. Before applying either of the aijove the 

 horse's legs must be washed perfectly clean and 

 rubbed drv. A Subscriber. 



North Orange, Mass., Nov. 28. 1868. 



Remarks. — Wo know nothing of "Chase's Re- 

 ceipt Book." Our correspondent says of the first 

 three prescriptions, I feel safe in saying that the 

 worst cases will be cured in a few days by their 

 use. There seems to be as many cures for the 

 scratches as there are out West for the ague. 



THE NOVEMBER SHOOTING STARS. 



Our Indian summer that has delayed its coming 

 so long, was fairly inaugurated this morning by a 

 grand display of fireworks. You may remember 

 that two years ago, I was watching so eagerly for 

 a similar scene that I dr<2amed about it, and waked 

 to lind my dream unrealized. Last night I retired 

 without thinking of the matter, but still I dreamed 

 of the meteors, and as I started on my customary 

 round of chores, lantern in hand, I soon fountl that 

 my dream this time was more than realized, 

 as from that time till the greater light that rules 

 the day put out the fixed stars thsi display was 

 truly grand. Many of the largest meteors leaving 

 a brilfiant train that lasted some time. 



Roxbury, Vt., Nov. 14, 1808. W. I. Simonds. 



cure for chilblains. 

 Anoint the feet thoroughly with salt butter, and 

 heat in by a hoc fire for five or ten minutes. 

 Brookjield, Vt., 1868. l. W. b. 



