NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



61 



LUCOMB'S NONSUCH PLUM. 



This plum has not been cultivated to much extent 

 in New England ; of course it has not been -well 

 tested. Mr. Lackey, of Marblehead, whose favorable 

 opinion of this fruit may be found in our last number, 

 p. 60, remarked to us that he considered it almost 

 equal to the Jefferson. We saw it last fall at Mr. L.'s, 

 and it was very flourishing both in tree and fruit. 

 Our engraving is from specimens which he kindly 

 furnished, the quality of which was excellent. 



It will be seen, on p. 74, in our notice of the N. A. 

 r. Society, that Mr. Thomas had an unfavorable 

 opinion of this fruit, while others had a very favor- 

 able opinion of it. It appears to be one of the most 

 promising varieties, and worthy of experiments, if 

 not of general culture. 



The fruit is rather large ; roundish, slightly flat- 

 tened at the base, and considerably flattened at the 

 top ; dark green, variegated with shades of yellow, 

 and covered with white bloom ; the stem nearly 

 straight, and two thirds or three fourths of an inch 

 long, in a rather narrow, deep cavity ; suture broad 

 and shallow ; flesh greenish, rather fine, rich, sweet, 

 with an agreeable mixture of acid, llipons the last 

 of August and the former part of September. The 

 tree is hardy, vigorous, and a constant and pretty 

 good bearer. English orij^in. 



FINE MUTTON. 



AVc lately saw, in the stall of Mr. Iliscock, No. 9 

 Fancuil Hall Market, some of the finest mutton and 

 largest carcasses ever brought to this market. Mr. II. 

 bought of Mr. George (joodhuc, Coberskill, Scho- 

 harie Co.. N. Y., thirty-four fat sheep, supposed to 



be a cross of the Cotswold and Leicestershire breeds, 

 both of which breeds are distinguished for their large 

 size and fine mutton. The carcasses of the three 

 largest weighed one hundred and eighty, one hun- 

 dred and eight}'-two, and one hundred and eighty- 

 four pounds, which far exceeds the largest ever 

 brought to this market from England or from any 

 section of this country. Mr. II. paid, for the largest 

 five, thirty dollars each ; for the others, fifteen dollars 

 each, delivered here. We have tried this mutton, 

 and find it remarkably sweet and tender. 



We have often lu'ged upon our farmers the impor- 

 tance of raising fat mutton, for our markets are scan- 

 tily supplied with it. It would doubtless bo profit- 

 able business. The great advantages for transpor- 

 tation at a rapid and cheap rate, afford peculiar 

 facilities for getting mutton to market, even from 

 those sections where land is cheap. Many who grow 

 fine wool would find it more profital)le to produce 

 fat mutton and wool of common quality ; and this 

 will continue to be good business, iintil our markets 

 are better supplied with fat mutton. 



SOOT. 



The effects of this manure on growing crops, as a 

 top-dressing, are immediate, owing to the large (quan- 

 tity of sulphate of ammonia which it contains. It 

 promotes in a high degree the growth of grass, and 

 the second cut of clover is also great' y increased 

 thereby. Soot promotes the growth of caljhagcs and 

 other herbaceous jilaiUs in a remarkable manner, and 

 is much esteemed for garden puri)0scs. It has been 

 found advantageous as a tojj-dressing for wheat, but 

 care should be taken not to apply it in lar>;c quanti- 

 ties, or it may be injurious by burning the plants.— 

 Trdiisactioiis oj' the llii/A/aiul liocicty. 



