336 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



MULCHING FRUIT-TREES. 



We have lately seen several instances of this sj's- 

 tem, which should commend it to general adoption 

 in all cases -where there can be any hope of benefit 

 from its use. The first was in an orchard consisting 

 of nearly a thousand apple-trees, belonging to Mr. 

 L. F. Allen, on Grand Island. This orchard had 

 been planted four or five years, on a hard, clay soil, 

 and during all the previous so isons had made little 

 growth, nor scarcely boi-ne a- apple. Last spring, a 

 large forkful of swamp-grass was spread around the 

 trunk of each tree ; and the consequence has been, 

 constant dampness on the surface of the ground be- 

 neath the hay, and a more vigorous growth than has 

 ever before taken place, while almost every tree is 

 covered with fruit. As the owner proposes giving us a 

 full description of his orchards, and their treatment, 

 we omit further notice of them for the present. 



Another friend practises mulching with salt hay, 

 which is much better for this purpose than the pre- 

 ceding. This contains an additional ingredient for 

 attracting moisture in the salt combined with it. 

 Many plants require shade and moisture, and when 

 protected by this, will thrive and yield abundantly, 

 which, if not thus protected, would be entirely un- 

 productive. 



Another friend uses the shives (the fine, woody 

 portions) of flax. By giving a thick covering of 

 these to the ground around the trees, all the benefits 

 of moisture are secured. There is a decided advan- 

 tage in the use of this material, as it does not require 

 to be raked ofi" like hay and straw, on the approach 

 of cold weather, to avoid harboring field mice or 

 other vermin, which frequently commit great rav- 

 ages among the trees during winter, when they have 

 a hiding-place near. The cutting of the hay or 

 straw in a cutting machine, would prepare it equally 

 well for this purpose, as the shives of flax. Tan 

 bark, or saw-dust, is also useful ; but it is better 

 to have the latter discolored, so as to approach a 

 dark brown. This color facilitates the radiation of 

 heat, and the consequent formation of dews, both of 

 which circumstances largely augment production. — 

 Am. Agriculturist. 



Remauks. — By mulching trees, they are placed in 

 a condition similar to trees in the forest. They are 

 protected from the scorching sun and parching 

 drought ; and they are kept nearer a state of equi- 

 librium of temperature during the various changes 

 from heat to cold, and the reverse ; of course there 

 will be a more uniform growth, and less liability to 

 disease in trees, and imperfection in fruit. 



Tan should remain a few years after taken from 

 the vat, until it is partially decomposed ; or lime, 

 a^ihes, or other alkaline substances should be mixed 

 with the tan, to destroy the tannic acid, else it may 

 injure the trees which it is intended to protect. See 

 articles in the last number, on the preparation of 

 tan. — Ed. N. E. Fakmek. 



ANIMALS IMITATING DEATH TO SAVE 

 THEIR LIVES. 



During a visit to Cumberland, we found several 

 hedgehogs in Inglewood Forest. One of these, in 

 order to destroy it, we put in the pond. It swam 

 about in a circular direction for some time, and 

 reached the shore. After putting it into the water a 

 second time, it remained motionless, and apparently 

 dead, and we left it on the grass. During the night, 

 however, it walked away. The spider will imitate 



death to save itself; and canaries have been taught 

 by some showmen to look as if they were dead. The 

 most curious case, however, is that of a fox, in the 

 north. A farmer had discovered that they came 

 along a beam in the night, to seize his poultry. lie 

 accordingly sawed the end of the beam nearly 

 through, and, in the night, the fox fell into a place 

 whence he could not escape. On going to him in 

 the morning, the farmer found him stifi", and, as he 

 thought, lifeless. Taking him out of the building, 

 he threw him on the dunghill ; but in a short time 

 Renard opened his eyes, and seeing that all was safe 

 and clear, galloped away to the mountains, showing 

 more cunning than the man who had entrapped 

 him. — Pres. Johnson. 



FALL MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 



The months of October and November are the 

 season when the state of the apiary will require particu- 

 lar attention. The hives should be examined, and 

 those not containing honey enough for its occupants 

 to sustain them during the winter must be fed. An 

 ordinary swarm of family bees will consume from 

 fifteen to twenty pounds of honey, from October to 

 May. If the winter be very mild, more than this 

 quantity will be required ; but not in an ordinary 

 season. The apiarian should be able, from practice, 

 to know at once, on raising his hives, whether the 

 above quantity exists in them, or not. Hives that 

 have been occupied several years, will be as heavy 

 without honey, as others that have been used but 

 one season, with from five to ten pounds ; therefore 

 an allowance must be made for the weight of old 

 combs and bee-bread. — Miner. 



WOOL-GROWING AT THE SOUTH. 



We have before us some verj' fine samples of wool, 

 received from Mr. Davison, of Culpeper county, 

 Virginia. It is surprising that so little attention is 

 paid to this subject, throughout the whole length and 

 breadth of the Southern States. It does seem to us 

 that there is no region under the sun where wool can 

 be raised so cheaply as there. They have the climate 

 and a vast amount of pasturage that is now lying idle. 

 There is no stock a farmer can breed that will com- 

 pare with sheep for profit. The fleece comes annu- 

 ally, and the carcass is always valuable. For a warm 

 climate, mutton is the most healthful meat, as well 

 as the cheapest. Why don't the planters go more 

 into the business ? We have often asked the ques- 

 tion, but get, as yet, no answer. 



On a great many plantations, it does seem to us 

 that there would be no ditticulty in inducing the 

 negroes to give up their dogs, and keep a sheep or 

 two in their place : a small premium for the fleece 

 or the lambs would soon make the sheep a part of 

 the household. It has been urged that the blacks 

 will not make good shepherds. We do not believe 

 any such thing. Wo think they would make the 

 very best, with a little instruction ; and the older 

 people, who could not work hard in the field, would 

 do well with the sheep in their summer rambles. — Tlie 

 Wool-Grower. 



ENORMOUS WHEAT CROP. 



A correspondent of the Detroit Daily Tribune, 

 writing from llomeo, Michigan, states that Ira Phil- 

 lips, of Bruce, Macomb count*,-, last week harvested 

 and threshed, from two acres of ground, one hundred 

 and twenty-four bushels of wheat. The wheat crop 

 of Macomb county, and indeed of all Michigan, will 

 be unprecedently large. 



