NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



l(j, 1S31. 



MISCEL.L.AIVY 



The following ejliacls are from a small pamphlel h.lely repub- 

 lished by Lilly Si Wiit, anil Carter <• Mcndfe, entitled 

 KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE, 



WHY AND BECAUSE. 



Why is pnrt wine astringent and slightly rough ? 



Because of the husks will) whic-h it is coloreJ. 

 The husk is, however, capable of communicating 

 but a light color ; when the red is ■.lee|>, it is artifi- 

 cial, and a deep red color is never a desirable quality. 



IVhy is port ivine most commonly exported in full 



pipes ? 



Because port being of a strong and full body, and 

 containing much mucilaginous extractive matter, 

 the secondary fermentation is quickened by tlie 

 greater bulk of the fluid, and the wine is thus most 

 effectually mellowed in large vessels. 



ffhy are hrandied port tcines of inferior quality ? 



Because the original wines being of inferior 

 growth, would not bear sea-carriage without some 

 |)re|iaration, and the shipper is forced to mix them 

 with brandy, which, though it may prevent them 

 from spoiling, renders them otherwise worse than 

 before, as it destroys what little flavor they origi- 

 naly possessed. 



Why is the blackthorn or sloe important in the tricks 



Whi has the harhtrrij been banished from the 

 hedgerows of England, where it formerly grew in 

 great abundance ? 



Because it was generally believed to be injuri- 

 ous to the growtli of corn. This belief has been 

 treated as a vulgar prejudice ; but the fructifica- 

 tion of the barberry is incomplete, unless the sta- 

 mens be irritated liy insects, when the filaments 

 suddenly contract towards the germ. The flowers 

 are thei"efore, by a beautiful urrangement of nature 

 peculiarly attractive to iii.sects ; and thus barberry 

 may become injurious to neighboring plants. 



Why are chestnuts best preserved through winter 

 in sand ? 



Because, ifthere be any maggots in the chestnuts, 

 they will come out, and work up through the sand 

 to get air. 



Why is fern preferable to straw for the bed between 

 the layers of fruit ? 



Because it does not impart that musty flavor 

 which is so often produced by the straw. 



Tl'hy are the autumnal fruits, as plums, pears, Ifc, 

 more crude and indigestible than those of summer ? 



Because, in part, of the state of the constitution. 

 Thus, at the commencement of summer, the sys- 

 tem is more nerved and braced by the atmosphere 

 of winter and spring, and by the drier food which 

 necessity obliges us to take at those seasons ; so 

 that tlie cooling fruits of summer are wholesome 



of trade ? , - , „ -n ■ ■ 



Because, by some knavish dealers, the leaves 1 from their opening the bowels, &c. But it is not 

 are used to adulterate and to give a rough flavor | wonderful that a continuance of watery nud innu- 

 to tea ; the berries of the sloe likewise enter pretty I tritious food like fruit, should, towards the autumn, 

 largely into the composition of much of the wine ' produce debility in constitutions partly predisposed 

 tha't is miscalled port. ] to it, by the continual and relaxing heat of the 



The following is stated, by a London chemist, | summer months 



FRUIT TREES. 

 For sale at the Kenrick Nurseries, in 

 is Newto.n, near Boston, a most extensive as- 

 sorlnieiit of Apples, Pears, Peaches, Pluins, 

 Cherries, Apricots, Nectarines, Ahnoiids, 

 Mulberries, Quinces, Raspberries, Goosebej- 

 ry and Currant busiies, Grape Vines oi the best toieiga 

 sorts, and 25 finest varieties of .Strawberries, including 

 the most rare, productive and esteemed. 



AUo about 4iO varieties of the ino>t liardy ornamentM 

 trees and shrubs, and superb hardy roses, including Silrer 

 Firs, varieties of Spruce, Flowering Horse ("hesnuts, 

 Flowering Calalpas, Mountain A.=h wilh beautiful clus- 

 ters ot red berries in auiunin and winter. Purple Acacia, 

 Three Thorned and Thornless Acacia, Bulternuis, Ailan- 

 tlius or tree of Heaven, Elms, American and Si-olch, 

 Sugar iMaples, Weeping Willows, do. do. Napoleon from 

 St Helena tree. Honeysuckles. Many cf (lie above sorts 

 of trees of extra sizes, for ornamenting higliways and 

 commons. 



White Mulberries, genuine sort for silk wornw, 

 by the 100 or 1000 for Pl.,ntations. 



IsABEELA and Catawba Grape Vines, either singly 

 or at reduced prices by the 100 or 1000. 

 Chi.na Roses, Chinese Chrysanthemums, Gb- 



RANECMS, SfC. Sec. 



Written orders addressed either to John or William 

 Kenrick, Newton, are regularly received by the 

 daily mail, and will be promptly attended to, or they 

 may if more convenient be left witli J. B. Russell, at tlie 

 New England Farmer office, whcie also, catalogues raaj 

 be obtained gratis on application. But purchasers are fii- 

 vitcd when convenient to call and examine the trees, 4re, 

 lor themselves, and make their own selections ; but when 

 this is not convenient, then let them forward tlieir of- 

 deis, relying that the veiy best possible selection will bi; 

 made for them. Trees when destined for a distant place, 

 are carefully packed either in clay or moss, and inats, 

 and delivered whenever ordered in Boston free of any 

 charge for transportation. eplDl Oct. 19. 



to be an analysis of a cheap commodity, sold under 

 the denomination of port wine : spiiit of wine, 3 

 oz. ; cider, 14 oz. ; sugar, 1 J oz. ; alut'n, 2 scru- 

 ples ; tartaric acid, 1 scruple ; strong decoction of 

 logwood, 4 oz. 



JVhy are deep cellars cool in summer and toarm in 

 winter ? 



Because of the earth conducting heat but slow- 

 ly, and frosts penetrating it but a few inches. 



Why are some fruits improved in sweetness by 

 drying or half withering on the trees ? 



Because their watery parts thus exhale, and the 

 sugar is virtually increased in quantity. 



IHiy should grapes hang on the vine until they are 

 perfectly ripe ') 



Because unripe bunches never get any riper after 

 they are gathered. 



Why should grapes be eaten soon after they are 

 gathered ? 



Because, unlike other fruits, grapes do not im- 

 prove in flavor after gathering. 



Why should the crowns be removed Jrom ripe pine- 

 apples ? 



Because, when sufiered to remain, they live 

 upon the fruit till they have sucked out all the 

 goodness. 



Why does an apple, when cut, first appear while, 

 and after a time b/'ownish 7 



Because a fermentation arises from the rest of 

 the fruit absorbing the oxygen of the atmosphere ; 

 the apple having previously been, by its tough skin, 

 protected from the contact of the air. — Donovan. 

 Why should raspberries be eaten from the bush ? 

 Because their flavor is the most fleeting of all 

 fruit. Even a few hours will diminish it, and on 

 the bush the flavor does not continue above two 

 or three days when gathered, the flavor is almost 

 entirely gone. 



Why shoidd juicy vegetables be kept in heaps in 

 damp places ? 



Because they are then preserved moist , but if 

 spread out, the air soon causes tlicm to shrivel. 



H'hy are the turnip, the radish, and the cabbage, 

 considered very wholesome ? 



Because of their high antiscorbutic powers, 

 which depend upon a certain acrid volatile oily 

 principle. This is particularly almndimt in the 

 seeds of mustard, and the roots of horse-radish ; 

 and in less degree in scurvy grass and the roots of 

 tho radish. Plants of this order are also believed 

 to possess diuretic and iliaphoretic properties ; and 

 they are always eatable when their texture is suc- 

 culent and watery, as in the roots of the radish 

 and turnip, and in the leaves of the cabbage tribe. 

 — Loudon. 



Why are kitchen vegetables, as peas, French beans, 

 SfC, sometimes dij/icult to boil soft ? 



Because of the great quantity of gypsum imbib- 

 ed diirin:;; their growth, and not on account of the 

 coolness of the season, or rains, as has been gene- 

 rally supposed : to correct this, throw a small 

 quantity of subcarbonate of soda in the saucepan 

 with the vegetables, the carbonic acid of which 

 will seize upon the lime in the gypsum, and thus 

 free the vegetables from its influence. 



Jf%y should potatoes and similar rootsbe stored 

 icith the earth adhering to them '? 



Because they are thus kept damp, whereas by 

 removing the earth, the little fibres by which it is 

 retained are wounded, and the evaporating surface 

 is increased. 



JfTiy are potatoes the most nourishing of all vege- 

 tables ? 



Because of the quantity of starch they contain. 

 Salop, tapioca, and sago, chiefly consist of starch, 

 and are [iroportionately nutritious. 



QJ^ Ammunition 



Ot the best quality ai.d iowes* jinces, for sporting— 

 constantly for sale at COPELANUS POWDER STORE, 

 6 > Bioad Street. 



N. B. If the quality is not found satisfactory, it may 

 be returned, and the money will bo relunded J an. 



Ptar Seedlings. 



For sale at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 82 

 North Market Street— 



Pear Seedlings, of vigo'rous growth, and proni- 

 ising appearance, raised within six miles of Boston, in 

 fine order for nurseries — the largest size are from 18 to 

 21 inches in length, the whole plant; price $10 per 

 thousand ; the second size from 12 to 18 inches in length, 

 price $5 per thousand. They will be suitably packed 

 as wanted, for transportation to any distance. Oct. 19. 



Binding. 



Subscribers to the New England Farmer arc informed 



that they can have their volumes neally half bound and 



lettered, at 75 cts. per volume, by leaving them at the 



Farmer office. Aug. 3. 



Published every Wednesday Eveniii", at $3 per annum, 

 pa_v.able at the end nf ihe year— but those who pay within 

 si.xty d.ays from the lime of subscribing, are entitled to a (b- 

 duction offifty cents. 



Qj" No paper will be sent to a distance without payment 

 bein" made in advance. 



Printed for J. U. ItiissELL, by I. R. Butts— by whom 

 all descriptions of Printing can be esecuted to meet Ihf 

 wishes of customers. Order." for printing received by J. B 

 Russell, at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 62 North 

 Market Street. agknts. 



IVnc I'or/t— G. Thorburn it Sons, G7 Liberty-street 

 Alhamj—W'iU Thorburn,.U7 Market-street. 

 l'hilailelphta—\>.Si, C LANnnr.TH .85 Clicslnul-slrect. 

 Hilt!maie—G. H. Smith .Editor of the American Farmer. 

 Ciocinnali—S. Q. PAnKHURST,23 Lower Mnrkei-slrcel. 

 F/ushins, N. y.Ww.PRiKCE&SoRs, Prop. Lin. Boi.GardM 

 Middlebunj, Vt. — Wight Chapman. 

 //uW/iirr/— GoonwiN & Co. Bdokscllers. 

 Springfield, Ms. — E. Edwards.- 

 Newburtfporl, Ebenezeb Stedmak, Bookseller. 

 Portsmouth, N. H. J. W. Foster, Bookseller. 

 Portland, ;?/.•.— Sum u EL Cglma.v, Bookseller. 

 Awrusta , Me. Wm. Mann. 

 Halifax, N. S.— P. J. Holla M), Esq. Recon- office 

 ilontreal.L. C, — Henry Hillock. 



