312 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



Wc are under particular obligations to Mr. Andrew 

 Lackey, Jr., Marblehead, for specimens of a great 

 variety of plums, and several varieties of apples and 

 pears. Among the plums, the Italian Damask holds 

 an important rank as an early plum. It is of good 

 size, a great bearer, and excellent quality. The Jef- 

 ferson shows by the compact bunch, that it is a great 

 bearer, and the quality is excellent. Lucomb's Non- 

 such is a large, handsome fruit, but very little infe- 

 rior to the Jefferson, and it is a good grower and 

 bearer. As it is among the largest plums that bear 

 well, we think it is a good variety for the market. 

 See p. 74 of this volume. Smith's Orleans is another 

 of the best varieties, in growth, bearing, size, and 

 quality, and among the surest to produce a good 

 crop. The Eingham is a large, handsome plum, but 

 in quality it is inferior to the last three that we hUve 

 named. Black Imperial, Breevoort's Purple, and 

 Pond's Seedling, are not of excellent quality. — 

 M'Laughliii was picked before quite ripe, therefore 

 we will not give any decided opinion of its quality, 

 as we expect specimens soon that may be in prime 

 condition. It appears to be almost as good as the 

 Green Gage. "We have several other varieties from 

 Mr. L., but generally not in their best condition. 



From the same source, Summer Rose apples, very 

 fine. This is one of the most beautiful apples, of 

 pleasant flavor, and well adapted to the garden. 

 Benoni is handsome and excellent, and well suited 

 to the garden. Rousellette de Hatif pear is very 

 pleasant and early, but quite small. Manning's 

 Elizabeth is small, but early, beautiful, and of most 

 excellent flavor. 



Mr. Lackey has done important service to the pub- 

 lic, by testing numerous varieties of plums, and giv- 

 ing to others the result of his experience. He has 

 gone more thoroughly into this branch of pomology 

 than any other cultivator in the circle of our ac- 

 quaintance. 



We have received specimens of handsome pears of 

 Dr. Rufus Kittredgo, of Portsmouth, N. H. They 

 ripen before the Bartlett. It is cultivated a very 

 little in this region, but its name is not known. The 

 texture is coarse, and the quality rather poor. 



From William O. H. Gwynneth, Portland, Me., 

 some very fine specimens of the Early Harvest apple. 

 This fruit is very liable to blast and crack. When 

 fair, it is an excellent cooking apple, but too acid for 

 the dessert. Its earliness is its great excellence. 



We have other fruits, not sufficiently ripe, which 

 will be noticed in our next number. 



POTATO ROT. 



This dreadful malady is prevailing, in this region, 

 to an extent and severity far beyond its ravages in 

 any former season, and we hoar and read of the same 

 calamity in other sections. The crop is mostly rot- 

 ten already, (Sept. 10,) and we have recently had 



powerful rains, that saturated even the dry soils with 

 water, and now the Aveather is warm, so that we ex- 

 l)ect the speedy destruction of nearly all that remain 

 sound, for they never rotted faster, and never was 

 the weather more conducive to their destruction. 



From the examination of a great number of varieties 

 on our own grounds, and accounts from other cultiva- 

 tors, we think that not one tenth of the crop of pota- 

 toes M'ill remain sound, and probably less than the seed 

 planted will escape the ravages of this fell destroyer. 

 In no previous year has the rot destroyed more than 

 one fourth of the crop in this region. 



OLD FRIENDS TOGETHER. 



O, time is sweet when roses meet. 



With spring's sweet breath around them; 

 And sweet the cost, when hearts are lost, 



If those we love have found them ; 

 And sweet the mind that stUl can find 



A star in darkest weather ; 

 But nought can be so sweet to see 



As old friends met together. 



Those days of old, when youth was bold, 



And time stole wings to speed it. 

 And you ne'er knew how fast time flew, 



Or, knowing, did not heed it ; 

 Though gray each brow that meets us now, — 



For age brings wintry weather, — 

 Yet nought can be so sweet to see 



As those old friends together. 



The few long known whom years have sho\^■n 



With hearts that friendship blesses ; 

 A hand to cheer, perchance a tear. 



To soothe a friend's distresses ; 

 Who helped and tried, still side by side, 



A friend to face hard weather ; 

 O, this may we yet joy to see. 



And meet old friends together. 



Look not mournfully into the past, — it cannot re- 

 turn ; wisely improve the present, — it is thine ; go 

 forth to meet the shadowy future without fear, and 

 with a manly heart. 



How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's 

 board ! It is like the aged man reclining under the 

 shadow of the oak M'hich he has planted. 



When acts of courtesy come gratuitously, they 

 are as acceptable as the clear brook to the thirsty 

 traveller. 



TERMS. — The New England Farmer is published 

 every other Saturday, making a neat and handsome 

 volume, at the close of the year, of 41G pages, at ^I a 

 year, or five copies for ^4, payable in advance. It may 

 be elegantly bound in muslin, embossed and gilt, at 2^5 

 cents a volume, if left at this office. As it is stereo- 

 typed, back numbers can be furnished to new subscribers. 



!^^ The Postage .^j 



On this paper is only 1 cent, or 26 cents a year, within 

 the state, or within 100 miles out of the state ; and 1^ 

 cents, or 39 cents a year, beyond those distances. 



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