NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



2G9 



points ; but we forbear. Suffice it to say, that the 

 farmer's residence is away from the din or noise of 

 the merchant and mechanic ; his residence is remote 

 from country villages, where there is nothing to 

 molest or disturb the quietude of nature. In these 

 beautiful localities there is generally a district school- 

 house. In what better way can farmers spend the 

 long winter evenings than by meeting together in 

 these little classic halls, to discourse topics which 

 belong to their vocation ? If this plan were generally 

 adopted in all farming communities, much might be 

 done in promoting the cause of agriculture ; and we 

 predict that by such means much more would be 

 accomplished, and at far less expense, than what an 

 agricultural school could accomplish ; because in the 

 one case, long, protracted experience will be given ; 

 while in the other, theories are to be taught, and 

 results waited for, which, after all, will be theory 

 more than practice ; while in the former plan we 

 not only have theory, but actual experience, from 

 youth up to threescore years and ten. We believe 

 the i)lan here ii.troduced of forming " farmers' clubs," 

 would be considered a sort of recreation, which 

 would thus make such a society in every respect 

 agreeable and pleasant. 



Some years since, an agricultural society was 

 formed in a neighboring town, and farmers in this 

 section were earnestly entreated to join or meet with 

 them, and some did become members ; but they soon 

 gave up their organization, and for what reasons ? 

 We know of none other than this, that the oiHccrs 

 then and there chosen to preside over an assembly 

 of stout, hardy, robust "sons of the soil," were men 

 ■who were almost entiiely ignorant of the science of 

 agriculture ; men whose employment has ever or 

 principally been in the mechanic's shop, or in the 

 merchant's storehouse. Is it any wonder that they 

 should give up their organization, based upon such 

 irregularities r It is an old saying, " Have a place 

 for every thing, and every thing in its place : " but in 

 this ease it appears that things were greatly out of 

 place. 



Now, if societies of this kind were formed in all 

 farming communities, and a full and accurate report 

 made of their proceedings through the medium of 

 some agricultural journal, much benefit might be 

 derived ; and we think that both old and young- 

 would take pleasure in meeting for public discussion. 

 Perhaps ic may be thought by some, that they are 

 not capable of engaging in such an enterprise, 

 because of their inabilities ; but every person is 

 capable of expressing an idea, and in societies like 

 this, if formed among jjcrsons possessing ordinary 

 faculties and means, (but farmers are generally an 

 intelligent people,) it will not be expected that its 

 members would express themselves in such logical or 

 grammatical sense as would learned or literary men. 

 It has been admitted by intelligent people that there 

 is occasionally some improjiriety existing between 

 some speakers and their hearers concerning the 

 power or abilities of one or the other. For want of 

 space we nmst here break the thread of our subject 

 and close this epistle. Perhaps the reader will treat 

 it like an "idle talc that's told," or C(msider its con- 

 tents " as void and empty as the wind that blows; " 

 but we knovs' that great benefit has been derived 

 from agricultural societies, or "farmers' clubs;" and 

 what we advocate is, that a more general diffusion 

 of agricultural knowledge might bo established. 



Yours, &c., D. W. J. 



Winchester, August 2, ISoO. 



There were manufactured in Rockland, Maine, 

 formerly East Thomaston, the last year, nearly 

 700,000 casks of lime. 



For the New EtigUind Farmer. 

 PEARS AND PLUMS. 



Mr. Cole : In accordance with your request, I 

 have drawn up hastily a few of those varieties of 

 pears Avhich were not swept off by the unprecedented 

 blight which appeared upon the blossoms on the eve 

 of their setting fruit. I will name them in propor- 

 tion to the quantity of fruit set. 



Bartlett, Golden Beurre of Rilboa, BufTum, I'r- 

 baniste, Lewis, Andrews, Thompson. Long Green, 

 and Ilacon's Incomparable. The following have 

 scarcely set a specimen : Belle of Flanders or Flem- 

 ish Beauty, Dearborn's Seedling, Belle Lucrative, 

 Beurre d'Aremberg, Aston Town, Fulton, Harvard, 

 Duchesse d'Angouleme, Van Mons, Leon le Clerc, 

 Bloodgood, (this last I cannot find a specimen on 

 anj' tree.) The Bczi de la Motte, on quince root, fruits 

 well this season. 



Our plum-trees, this season generally, are covered 

 with the wart. It is still one of the, if not the most 

 dilhcult subject to account for this ugly and per- 

 nicious excrescence. I have for three years past con- 

 jectured that it was owing to a want of congeniality 

 of soil, particularly as Mr. Lackey, of Marblehead, 

 whose trees have been free from it, grows them on 

 very strong, retentive, and clayey soil. A gentleman 

 from South Andover, who has been a successful 

 grower of this fruit, and whoso soil is of the above 

 description, has this pest upon his trees for the first 

 time. It has been said by some one, I think it was 

 Dr. Harris, that the curculio will sting the branches. 

 This insect, in its worm state, is found this season in 

 these knots irhile in a green state, and it may bo pos- 

 sible, as the plum set its fruit this season later 

 tlran usual, that the fly, not finding its accustomed 

 place to deposit its egg, tnag have perforated the bark, 

 and there ejected it. I trust our many cultivators 

 will investigate this subject, for if this scourge should 

 continue for a few years, we must relinquish the cul- 

 tivation of the numerous fine varieties of this deli- 

 cious fruit. The on/g variety in my garden that is 

 entirely exempt from the knots this season, is Sharp's 

 Emperor, which is in a half-shady situation. 

 Yours truly, in haste, 



I. M. IVES. 



Salem, Jtilg 24, 18.30. 



For the Xeio Eiujhmd Farmer. 

 VARIETIES OF CURRANTS. 



Mr. Editor : I send you a few specimens of cur- 

 rants under cultivation, together with such facts in 

 regard to theii' culture as have come under my ob- 

 servation. 



The 1st specimen is the Morgan currant, and sup- 

 posed by some jicrsons to be the same with tlic 

 Dutch currant. But I think it quite distinct, and it is 

 characterized by its long pendent fruit stems, and 

 trailing habit of tb.c branches. It is a fine currant, 

 of a strong and healthy growth. 



No. 2 is the Champagne ; and Avith me this variety 

 is not a great bearer. Its fruit, as you will perceive, 

 is very beautiful, and very acid, and probably is more 

 valuable for wine than the dessert. Most jjcrsons 

 pass it by in the garden, and leave it to be eaten by 

 birds. 



No. 3 is a production of the great English pomol- 

 ogist, Mr. Knight, and is distinguished for its largo 

 dark-colored berry, growing in clustei-s around the 

 stems of the plant. It is a fine currant. Mr 

 Knight's Early lied currant we have found to be not 

 much earlier than the other vaiicties. Wc should 



