302 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Remarks. — As Dea. Fowler has been an amateur 

 horticulturist, and a very close observer for twenty- 

 five or thirty years, and has had spent tan constantly 

 on hand for experiment, we consider his opinion en- 

 titled to great weight ; and we think there should be 

 moderation, and small e:xperiments made before cul- 

 tivators use tan fresh from the vat, indiscriminately 

 for horticultural purposes, as some have hastily 

 recommended. Some plants may bear the use of 

 tan, and even be benefited by it, while it is destruc- 

 tive to others. In the American Fruit-Book, we state 

 that tan had been used with success around chcrrj'- 

 trees ; and yet we advise its use, even for that pur- 

 pose, with caution, as fresh tan has generally been 

 found destructive to vegetation. A correspondent 

 in Westchester county, N. Y., has informed us that 

 he had used tan with success for cherry-trees. — Ed. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 WINTER WHEAT. 



Mr. Cole : The undersigned would respectfully 

 take the liberty to recommend to farmers the culti- 

 vation of winter wheat. It has been generally sup- 

 posed that our soil had lost its necessary elements to 

 produce winter wheat, and that our climate was ad- 

 verse to its growth. Hence the natural conclusion 

 to abandon it without trial. 



Now, to this universal error, our own experience 

 justifies us in giving an unqualified negative, though 

 it is a long- conceived opinion. An experience of 

 years, with some of the subscribers, would seem to 

 be the best evidence in the case. 



We often hear it said, it is an " uncertain crop." 

 Does not this argument apply to all the smaller 

 grains to a certain extent r The farmer's experience 

 need not be asked on this point. 



We have all been winter rye growers, and we are 

 now convinced winter wheat is as safe from "blast," 

 " winterkill," and the like evils, as rye. In quantity, 

 i yields fifty per cent, more ; and in vaZtie, it is a mat- 

 ter for farmers to decide upon. 



This season has been too wet for complete success 

 with us, but we are gratified to report fifteen to 

 twenty-five and a half bushels per acre. 



Grass seed may be sown with the wheat, if done 

 early in September. We should recommend that 

 wheat be sown by the 15th of September. Deep 

 planting is best ; the cultivator is better than the 

 harrow. (See N. E. Farmer, July G.) 



Gra.ss land, or mowing stubble, is better than land 

 which has been long up ; there are less weeds. To 

 produce a good crop, (of any product,) manure is the 

 great element. Ashes or slaked hme arc doubtless a 

 good application, but to say they are indispensably 

 necessary, we are not all prepared. Some of us have 

 succeeded with, and some without them. How- 

 ever, we know of no crop which docs not acknowl- 

 edge the benefit of ashes. 



In coming before the public, we trust our object 

 will be appreciated. The products of a New Eng- 

 land farm (unlike the west in many respects) are 

 various, and it should be the object to produce that 

 crop which is most essential for honic consumjjtion. 



Every farmer feels himself bound to raise a few of 

 the small grains. Why not take up a new thing, (if 

 such it be, J which sustains the world with its " daily 

 bread," and the sweat of its brow ? 



Leisure is now at hand, manure can be gathered 

 up, seed can be obtained ; now we would say, try 



once, nay, twice, and we doubt not winter wheat will 

 become one of the standard crops of our state, and 

 of New England. 



HENRY POOR. 

 BAILEY LORING, 

 FARNIIAM SPOFFORD, 

 JOHN P. FOSTER, 

 JOSEPH FARNHAM. 

 North Andover, Aug. 26, 1850. 



For the Neio England Farmer. 

 HARVESTING CORN. 



Mr. Editor : In your very useful paper of August 

 31st, there is a piece on harvesting corn. Your cor- 

 respondent justly remarks, " A great deal is said 

 about it." I have been in the habit of cutting up 

 corn at or about the time the top stalks are usually 

 taken off, for near forty years, and shall probably 

 cure some in the same way this year. But, sir, I 

 never do it for the sake of saving time, nor for the 

 sake of better fodder. When cut at the bottom, if 

 the season is fair, the corn and fodder, taken together, 

 are saved better than when the top stalks are taken 

 off. But if the season proves wet and warm, neither 

 are as good. The top stalks are always better cut 

 and cured in the old way. The buts are better when 

 cut at the bottom green. In my experience, I am 

 decidedly of the opinion, that year after year, when 

 corn is in a fair way to ripen off well, and not in 

 danger of frost, the best way is to let the grain stand 

 until it is fit to crib up. As to saving labor, for me 

 it is none. Your correspondent represents the labor 

 much less when grain and stalks are cut at the same 

 time ; and if it can be cut up " for fifty cents per 

 acre, or by a half day's labor," then I admit it as a 

 fact ; for the top stalks cut in the old way cannot be 

 secured for that sum, where there is a yield of fifty 

 bushels per acre. I once supposed I could do a fair 

 day's work on a farm, and not exactly slow at cut- 

 ting up corn, and can say, I believe, without fear of 

 contradiction, we have no such laborers in our region. 

 But this question is easily settled by any of my 

 brother fanners, entirely to their satisfaction. 



But still there is good reason for cutting up com 

 at the season referred to, occasionally. When corn 

 is not ripe enough to endure a frost without injury, 

 then cut it up and stook it, and the crop is saved. 

 If the ear is only filled in the milk, the grain will be 

 good for bread, and if well cured is safe to plant. 

 This is my experience, and my opinion is made up 

 from it. Perhaps I am wrong, but I hope others will 

 trj' each way for a series of years, upon such a scale 

 as will be safe to themselves and others. 

 Yours respectfully, 



oris BRIGHAM. 



Westboro', Sept. 3, 1850. 



POTATOES AND TOMATOES. 



It is not so generally known as it deserves to be, 

 that the tomato, when grown among corn, is far supe- 

 rior in flavor to those produced in the common way. 

 They must of course have a fair chance of room to 

 grow, and not be too much crowded by the corn. 

 Those who can appreciate the good qualities of this 

 vegetable when iu perfection, will find this mode of 

 growing thcni to secure all they can ask ; at least 

 such has been my experience. 



It is maintained by some respectable experiment- 

 ers, that potatoes planted among corn are not so 

 liable to rot ; and this opinion has been confirmed by 

 a sufficient number of trials to render it worthy of 

 attention. 



