1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



173 



sentiments ascribed to the "States' papers almost 

 without exception." But we do confess to an in- 

 ability to understand why the Canadians, or the 

 subjects of any foreign power, should have the 

 benefits of our markets at any cheaper rate than 

 our own citizens ; or to see the policy of making 

 treaties which would not look well when incor- 

 porated into general laws, 



lETTUCE AND CABBAGE. J 



•What is the best kind of lettuce? Is there a 

 kind called the Michigan lettuce that is superior 

 to all others ? Have been waiting for the seed.-- 

 men to advertise, that we might know where to 

 send fur catalogue of seeds. What is the best 

 kind of early cabbage for market gardening, and 

 the best way of cultivating them ? 



Primus Johnson. 

 Webster, Mass., Jan. 24, 1869. 



Remarks. — We know nothing of the Michigan 

 lettuce. The White Silesia for early, and the 

 common Head Lettuce for ordinary use are the 

 best kinds, on the whole. The seedsmen send 

 catalogues on application. 



The Oxheart, Early York and Early Savoy are 

 good kinds of early cabbage. Sow in a hot bed in 

 March, and transplant to a rich warm soil, as 

 soon as it is warm and mellow. Use the hoe or 

 rake almost daily. Ashes, moistened with weak 

 brine, may be worked into the ground two or 

 three times during the season. A little plaster 

 sprinkled into the hills when the plants are being 

 set is advantageous. Go over them early every 

 morning and look for the gray worms that are 

 the great pests of early cabbages. If the weather 

 is dry use the watering pot freely until they begin 

 to head. 



•WHY BEES SHOULD NOT BE MOVED IN WINTER. 



The cold makes their combs very brittle and 

 consequently very likely to break in transporta- 

 tion, especially if they are less than one year old. 

 When they are full of honey and subject to frost 

 they will crack even if not moved, and should be 

 kept quiet until it is warm enough for the bees to 

 repair such cracks, which they will do at the ear- 

 liest opportunity. After bees have been confined 

 to their hives Ijy reason of the cold they should 

 not be disturbed until they can leave the hive to 

 fly. After it is warm enough for that they may be 

 moved if the combs are sound. The combs are 

 much safer during transportation when the hive is 

 bottom upwards. f. 



Mast Yard, N. H., Feb., 1869. 



' and a half bushels of screened wheat per acre — 

 ' (better to soak the wheat over night in a strong 

 i brine) — without any more manure, and seed down 

 j with half Ijushel herds grass per acre. My light- 

 i est yield of wheat per acre has been twenty bushels, 

 and my heaviest forty, average about thirty bush- 

 els. My soil is a rotten slate, and after two such 

 ^ crops as the above I get from two to three tons of 

 hay per acre. I plough from six to ten inches 

 deep and am not afraid of putting the manure too 

 thick. Jacob Fuller. 



Houth Walling ford, Vt., Feb., 1869. 



"WHEAT RAISING IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 



In connection with the article in the Farmer, 

 by Mr. Poor, urging a convention of New England 

 farmers to discuss the matter of wheat growing, 

 I would say that I think every New England far- 

 mer should grow wheat enough at least for his 

 own use; by which thousands of dollars annually 

 would be saved to the East that is now sent West 

 for flour. I have sowed wheat every year for the 

 last ten or twelve years, and I get as good flour as 

 the best I can buy. I choose my highest and most 

 windy places; turn over the sod ; plant corn, with 

 a good coat of barnyard manure turned under, 

 and manure in the hill, getting from fitty to seventy- 

 tive bushels of corn per acre; plough the next fall 

 or as early as possible in the spring, and sow one 



SWAMP LARCH FOR RAFTERS. 



Can swamp larch, sometimes called juniper, be 

 used for ratters in a barn, or would they warp too 

 badly } Would it be better to have the sticks left 

 to season awhile before they are sawed ? What is 

 the best and cheapest matirial to cover the fiat roof 

 of a barn ? What work on Farm Buildings would 

 you advise one to consult to obtain an idea of the 

 best modern improvements in barn building ? 



An Old Subscriber. 



Middlesex County, Mass., 1869. 



Remarks. — We have no doubt that larch (hack- 

 matack) rafters would answer very well if they 

 were carefully "stuck up" after they are sawed, 

 as inch boards are usually put up to season. 



If the roof is nearly flat, some kind of cement 

 would be best, gravel and tar, or something of the 

 kind. We have heard that common hydraulic 

 cement does well on a flat roof, put on quite thin 

 and repeated several times. Good white pine 

 boards with square edges and the best of shingles 

 are the most economical if wood is used. 



A book on Farm Buildings, in which especial 

 attention was given to the subject of barns, was 

 published by Mr. J. H. Hammond of this State, 

 in 1852 or 1853. It can probably be found at A. 

 Williams, 100 Washington St., Boston. 



EGGS SOLD IN SIX MONTHS FROM BRAHMA 

 FOWLS. 



In August, 9 doz. ; September, 14^ doz. ; Octo- 

 ber, 22^ doz. ; November, 9 doz ; December, 26^ 

 doz.; January, 37.^ doz.; — total 118^ doz. 



August 1, had 4 old hens and one pulltt, just 5 

 months old, that had commenced laying; by 

 September 1, 6 or 8 pullets had began to lay ; by 

 December 1, about 20 had began to lay. Before 

 January 1, the old hens were all sold, and the pul- 

 lets, 40 in number, were all laying ; but those that 

 commenced in August and September of course 

 did not lay as many eggs as those that had just 

 commenced. The price obtained has averaged 44 

 cents per dozen. A good many have been used in 

 the 'amily besides those sold. 



I find the Brahmas good winter layers, if well 

 cared for. They must not be overfed or they will 

 grow too fat. Mine live mostly on oats and wheat 

 bran, with some corn meal. Have plenty of water 

 and oyster shells, with beef scraps about once a 

 week. A. W. Cheever. 



aheldonville, Mass., Feb., 1869. 



WOOL GROWERS, STOCK RAISERS AND DAIRYMEN. 



Once and again the editors of the New Eng- 

 land Farmer have urged the wool growers to be 

 awake to their interest in securing needed protec- 

 tion. The wool growers' protection is the grass 

 growers' protection, as wool is but grass and grain. 

 Beef, pork, butter and cheese have the same ori- 

 gin, and consequently the same interest in a just 



