76 



NEW ENGLAND FARIVIER. 



Feb. 



have grown thriftily, and are now the largest trees 

 in the orchard, but never get more than a bushel 

 or so to the tree, and what is worse, they rot badly 

 on the tree, and after they are gathered. I have 

 noticed also, that several other varieties that I sent 

 at the same time, from Central New York, have 

 the same defect, — that of rotting badly on the tree. 

 The Northern Spy was one of these. 



We keep the King apple, not from any profit pe- 

 cuniarily, but because the housekeepers think it is 

 the best of any for cooking purposes. Many things 

 raised on the farm, besides these apples, are not to 

 be valued by dollars and cents. F. G. Pkatt. 



Concord, Mass., Dec. 7, 18GS. 



ASHKS AND METAL TUBES TO KEEP MICE FEOM 

 TREES. 



A correspondent in the Farmer of November 

 28th, desires to hear from others in regard to the 

 effect of a:^hes placed around fruit trees. Several 

 years since I had some apple and peach trees from 

 two to tive inches througii that were troubled by 

 borers. I placed tins in the form of a tube around 

 the trees, ten inches in height, leaving a space be- 

 tween tree and tin of about two inches, and tilled 

 in witii hard wood ashes. The result was that 

 most of the trees so served, especially the peach 

 and smaller apple, did not swell their buds the 

 following spring, and I found upon removing the 

 tins, that the bark had become black and slippery, 

 reailily parting from the wood. Six out of ten 

 trees were dead, while other trees in the same yard, 

 dealt with in precisely the same wav, except that 

 instead of lilling in with wood ashes, I tilled in 

 with sifted coal ashes, were doing well and started 

 finely. I have trees with tins about them filled 

 with coal ashes that have not been removed in the 

 last four years. The trees thrive well and I can 

 find no vestige of the borer, unless it may be in 

 rare instances up about the lower limbs. I think 

 sharp sand filled around the tree would be quite 

 as good as coal dust — perhaps better. 



It Mr. W. V. Tainter will try the metal tube 

 about his "thousand fruit trees," without any fill- 

 ing in, he will find his trees all right next spring, 

 so far as girdling by mice is concerned. r. 



Lowell'^ Mass., Nov. 30, 1S68. 



ANOTHER CL'RIOUS FREAK OF NATURE. 



A late number of the Farmer gave us an ac- 

 count of a lamb which saved its owner the trouble 

 of marking it, as it came wiih a distinct imitation 

 on its f-ide of the initial "L" with which the owner 

 marked his sheep. Another singular case occurred 

 on the farm of Ingham Chandler, Esq., of this 

 place. A lamb was dropped that appeared to l>e 

 perfect in all respects, except its head, to which 

 was attached by a small ligament, perhaps an inch 

 in diameter, a sack nearly as large as the head, 

 which , from its location, resemljled an extensive 

 "waterfall." This protuberance, like a bladder 

 "blown up," yielded to the touch, but immediately 

 resumed its former shape on the removal of the 

 pressure. The lamb died. Is this a warning to 

 the wearers of "heavy waterfalls?" Zen. 



Washington Plantation, Me., Dec. 2, 1868. 



PARALYSIS OF A HORSE'S LIPS. 



I notice in your issue of this week "an interesting 

 case of paralysis." The muscles that control the 

 movements of the lips in graspmg are what are 

 called the "orbicularis oris." They are situated 

 within the border of the lips, and arc attached to 

 the bones called superior and inferior maxillary 

 bones. Some anatomists call them the postcriorand 

 anterior maxillary bones. The posterior maxillary 

 bone for the most part holds the muscles named. 



This bone extends from that part of the skull 

 where the tusk is found in the upper jaw, up to 

 the "malar bone" at the apex of the protuberance 

 below and back of the eye. 



The connection of the muscles of the lips is along 

 this bone and under the base of this protuberance. 

 Any bruise upon this bone, or slight fracture, might 

 involve the muscle. If inflammation is found, re- 

 duce it; if not, a slight blister or stimulating appli- 

 cation may help it. The irjury is undoubtedly 

 mechanical, and requires local treatment. 



T. S. Lang. 



North Vassalboro', Me., Dec. 5, 1858. 



■WINTER CARE OF POULTRY. 



The question, "How to make hens profitable 

 during winter ?" is constantly being a'^ked and as 

 often answered. I propose to give a few hints in 

 regard to it. If they are expected to lay in the 

 winter, one requisite is to have them of suitable 

 age. April and May chickens are the best to keep 

 as layers ; and in selecting, choose those with 

 broad breasts, plump and full forward. Now, this 

 is not generally believed ; but it is true that broad, 

 square breasted hens, will lay longer than any 

 others. 



Having the best pullets to start with, give them 

 the warmest place possible, and be sure to give 

 them plenty of light. Laying hens should have 

 low places to roost, and should have the kindest 

 treatment. They should have plenty to cat and 

 have clean water always before theni. Meat and 

 Ijones pounded before burning, are very useful 

 and perhaps indispensable where the most profit 

 is wanted. One great thing is to be on intimate 

 acquaintance with the hens, so that when one goes 

 to feed them they will know that it is a friend, 

 and not an enemy ready to throw something al; 

 them. H. 



Norwich, Vt., Nov. 30, 1868. , 



FAILURE OF SCIONS. 



In regard to the failure of scions spoken of by 

 your correspondent, "Jack," in the Monthly Far- 

 mer for September, I would say that the trouble 

 was probably in the scions or in the setting of them. 

 Have good scions and set them properly, and I 

 don't think the weather will affect them. I cut 

 my scions some warm day in Febuary or March, 

 before the buds have started, pack them in green- 

 wood sawdust and keep them In the cellar until I 

 want to use them. I set them the past season 

 from the first of April until the first of July, and 

 don't know as I Io>t a single stock. j. w. o. 



Cmnmington, Mass., Oct. 28, 1868. 



EARLy PEAS AND EARLY ROSE POTATOES. 



I find that the offer I made in my advertisement 

 to furnish packages of ray early peas at 2.3 cents is 

 likely to lead to more applications than I could 

 well "supply. I presume I am the only one to 

 blame ; but I meant to say that I would send a 

 25 cent package of peas to every one Avho ordered 

 Early Kose potatoes from me, it they desired 

 them. From a single pound of Early Hose plant- 

 ed by themselves, I raised 176 pounds, — my 

 largest potato weighing one pound and nine 

 ounces. W. I. Simonds. 



Roxbury, Vt., 1868. 



SALTING HAMS. 



I have this day been salting my pork hams after 

 the following method : 3 gallons water; 4^ pounds 

 salt; 1.^ pounds brown sugar; 1 pint molasses; 1 

 ounce pearlash. Boil and skim. Let the hams 

 remain in the mixture fi-om four to six weeks. 

 When taken out soak them twelve hours and 



