128 



NEW ENGLAND FiUi^IER. 



IMarch 



soon as the plants are up suflQciently to show the 

 rows, go over the field with a cultivator, twice in a 

 row, so close to each side of these straight rows as 

 to deeply and thoroughly work the soil in the hills 

 or rows. Thus early before the plants have ex- 

 tended root growth no harm is done them by close 

 cultivation. This can be much more thoroughly 

 and advantageously done where the rows are sott- 

 p^donsly straight. Give ordinary or suitable after 

 cultivation. There might be an advantage in first 

 going over the potatoes with a square harrow in- 

 verted, as is recommended of late. In cultivating 

 coi-n after this mode, be careful to cover as little 

 as possible and allow none to remain uncovered. 



The first acre of potatoes that I raised on "this 

 line" didn't "take all summer," and they were so 

 large and uniform in size and every way so nice 

 that I charged six cents per bushel above the 

 market price for them, in "cheap times," and got 

 it. How differently situated are crops, cultivated 

 as described, from those which are allowed to 

 grow (take their chances) in hills or rows a foot 

 or more across uncultivated (except pcihaps 

 scratched with a hoe) and sure to dry out and be- 

 come as compact as you please, only more so. 



Isaac Iue. 



East Shelby, N. F., Jan. 2, 1868. 



POULTKY ACCOUNT. 



For a year past I have kept an account of the 

 cost and profit of keeping poultry. I have not 

 speculated any in fancy breeds, but have kept 

 an old fashioned kind. I have fed a great variety 

 of food qnd think it is well to change often, and to 

 give them plenty of warm drink in winter. The 

 following figures "will show the state of my uffairs: 



1867. Dr. 



Dec. 24, to 7 hens, at 50 cents, $ 3 f)0 



" " G pullets, at 30 cents, 180 



" " 1 rooster 40 



1868. 



April 7, to 13 eggs for setting 27 



" 21, " 3 hens, at oO cents, ...... 1.10 



May 8, " 13 eggs, 'i7 



•' 15, " 12 eggs, ^'^ . 



JuneSlst," ISig^s, 3S 



Nov. 1, to 1 roosto! 10 



Dec. 24th, to cost of keeping oue year, . . $25 43 



__ $3i.33 

 Cr. 



Dec. 21, by stonk on hand. 

 " by 5 her s, 12 pullets, 2 roosters, 50 cts, $ 9 50 

 " " 1 late pulltts, 30 CIS, 120 



" " 26 fowls kil ed, 50 cts, 13 < 



" 120i doz egKS laid one year, 25-33 . . 33.55 



_ $57 25 



Profit $22.92 



Winchendon, Mass., Jan. 1, 1869. J. 



MILKING A KICKING COW. 



In reply to your correspondent who inquires tor 

 some way to milk a kicking cow without tying her in 

 some of the various ways that have been recom- 

 mended, I will give a lutle of my experience in 

 that line; premising that no one ought to under- 

 take the job just before a shower when he has a 

 load of hay in the field that he is anxious to get into 

 the barn. To milk a good experienced kicker 

 without tying, requires time and patience. I once 

 bought a cow of a man who said no one could 

 milk her without tying her legs, I first cleared 

 my stable as for a dancing party, drove the cow in 

 and shut it up as dark as possible. With a milk- 

 ing stool made on purpose, about two feet higSi, I 

 gently seated myself by her side. If she was 

 there when I was ready to commence milking, she 

 was not there long afterwards. But I followed 

 her to where she was, having closed iny lips firmly 

 against the first harsli word. This jn-occss was re- 

 peated until the cow was tired of running away 



and concluded to stand and be milked. After 

 which I could milk her in the yard. In the course 

 of the summer I was obliged to be absent a week 

 or more, and the milking was done by another 

 hand. On my return I could not get within reach 

 of my kicking cow, and was f>bliged to give her 

 another dark- stable lesson, and in the course of a 

 few weeks I could again sit down and milk her in 

 the yard as I did other cows. Therefore, though 

 I believe that most kicking cows can be milked 

 without being tied, I wish to add as a postscript — it 

 is difficult ! T. s. F. 



Felchville, Vt., Jan. 3, 1869. 



MR. arms' DURHAM STOCK. 



I have just been looking at some of the finest 

 stock I ever saw, and though I may not be able to 

 describe them with all the minuteness and partic- 

 ularity of an experienced writer, I think a brief 

 notice will be acceptable to that large portion of 

 the readers of the Farmer who are interested in 

 improved stock. 



I allude to the Durham or Short-horn stock 

 owned by Henry M. Arms, Esq., of Springfield, 

 Vt. His herd was commenced by tlie purchase of 

 the entire stock of Duvhams kept by Burdett 

 Loomis, of Windsor Locks, Conn., consisting of 

 eleven animals, for which ten thousand dollars 

 were paid. Since the purchase four calves have 

 been dropped, making the present number of thor- 

 oughbreds fifteen. 



His bull, "4th Loi'd of Oxford," I regard as a 

 perfect a'jimal. He is three years old, estimated 

 to weigh 2500 pounds and is valued at $3000. He 

 took the sweepstakes at the New England Fair 

 this year at New Haven, also the first premium at 

 the Vermont State Fair at Burlington, at which 

 places so many saw him that I need to say no 

 more in his favor. 



His'cow, "Victoria," took the sweepstakes as a 

 milker at the New England Fair, and I believe 

 she is well entitled to the honor. Another splen- 

 did cow, "Emma," is a good model, and weighs 

 1600 pounds. "Estelle," out of Emma, is one of 

 the best milkers I ever saw, and "Belle the 5th," 

 is a remarkably good looking cow. 



"Pride of Stony Brook,'' out of Victoria by 6tli 

 Duke of Thorndale, is the finest yearling heifer I 

 ever saw. 



That I am not alone in my high estimation of 

 this stock, I may say that Mr. Arms took six pre- 

 miums at the Vermont State Fair, all being first 

 premiums in the respective classes in which his 

 animals were entered. I need say no more. 



Springfield, Vt., Nov. 16, 1868. B. u. w. 



Remarks. — Having seen Mr. Arms' stock at the 

 State Fair at Burlington, we believe the above no- 

 tice to be well merited, and we regret that its pub- 

 lication should have been so long delayed. It was 

 written upon a spare page of a business letter ad- 

 dressed to the publishers, was laid aside with 

 other business letters and thus overlooked. Those 

 who write to newspaper offices should always put 

 what is intended for the editors upon a separate 

 sheet from that which is intended for the pub- 

 lishers, and thus avoid such trouble as the above. 



AGRICULTURAL TAPERS. — SEASON AND CROPS IN 

 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



The reading of the Farmer during the past two 

 years deepens my conviction of its usefulness to 

 the farm.er and stock raiser. It is filled with prac- 

 tical hints and valuable instruction. But on some 

 inquiry among the farmers of this town, I can find 

 only four agricultural papers taken by them, and 



