838 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



MAY 8, 1033. 



the hills occupying 8 1-9 sqiiaro ft. eacli, (rows 3 

 ft. apart) and yit^liling 56 bu. and 37 lbs. per acre. 



These experiments would on tlie whole, seem 

 to favor the opinion that an equal distance each 

 way is the best method of planting corn ; and that 

 on soil similar to what I have described, about 9 

 square ft. of surfiice is sufficient ground for one hill. 

 On a different soil it might want double this quan- 

 tity — and then again on another soil it might not 

 require as much; comparative experiment is wanted 

 to determine this. It is a subject in which every 

 New England Farmer is interested, and can be 

 settled only by a careful comparison of the produce 

 of ground planted at different distances ; other 

 things being equal. 



We want facts. — Raising .50 bushels on an acre 

 where the hills occupy 20 ft. of ground each, al- 

 though we call it a large crop, docs not prove that 

 60 bushels might not be raised on the same acre, 

 if they occupied but 10 ft. each. 



We want some facts, Mr. Editor, to guide us in 

 raising corn ; since the days of the Pilgrim, the 

 whole subject in New England has been managed 

 bp guessing. — Yours, truly, 



William Clakk, Jr. 



.Yortliampton, April, 1833. 



For the Sem Etiglmid Fm-mer. 

 REMEDY AGAINST THE BEE MOTH. 



Friend Fesse.n-ded, — There has been much 

 said concerning keeping the grub worm (so called) 

 from the bee-hive. The mischief is done by fly- 

 ing insects, called millers, which infest bee-hives 

 in the autumn. I have not marked the time par- 

 ticularly ; but according to my observations, it is 

 but a few days, in which they make their ravages. 

 These millers deposit their eggs in the hive. The 

 eggs batch and become worms, which destroy 

 honey and swarm. Tlie millers come between 

 sun-set and dark, or after it becomes somewhat 

 dark, and the time in the evening in which they 

 make their efforts, is not more than half an hour. 

 This being the case, I took my small hearth fur- 

 nace and placed it near the bee-hives, in order to 

 attract the millers to the fire, which I made in it. 

 But I found that it had the contrary effect. It dis- 

 pelled them. I have done this two or three years 

 with success, aud have had none of the grub 

 worms in iny bee-hives since. More particularly 

 — Sat the furnace, say two yards from the hives, 

 and make in it a fire of shavings or any light fuel, 

 so that the light may shine on the hives. If the 

 wind should blow the smoke on the hives too 

 much, set the furnace further off; but previous to 

 all this let the mouths or doors of the hives be 

 stopped e.xcept on the front where the fire shines. 



This is of considerable consequence in econo- 

 my, and I wish those who keep bees to prove the 

 experiment; and when I shall hear from them, I 

 shall say more about bees, but one thing at a time. 

 Lemuel Grover. 



Mansjidd, 6th of 4th month, 1833. 



For the New Entrland Farmer. 

 INTRODUCTION OP POTATOES. 



Mr. Fesse.\de.\, I have been a subscriber for 

 your very useful Journal, for about four years, and 

 I highly prize it. ^our Items of Intelligence con- 

 tains more information of our governmental aifairs, 

 than a basket full of the political papers of the day. 

 I aoon get lost in the labyrinth of words, or tired of 

 reading unmeaning sentences, therefore, I read 

 noae of thera, I have gained much valuable infor- 



mation from the practical and highly scientific cor- 

 respondence of those gentlemen, who enrich your 

 columns, and also by yom- notes, on the ancient 

 and modern agriculture of foreign nations, as well 

 as our own. 



You seem inclined to enlarge the number of 

 your correspondents. lajiproacli the list with very 

 great diffidence, knowing myself inadequate to the 

 privilege. But, as some very useful discoveries 

 have arisen from small means, I take courage and 

 will tell you soine things that I have noticed in 

 the course of my life, being past the meridian. 



Some time since I noticed the introduction of 

 the potato, into one or two towns in the vicinity 

 of Boston, and other information was solicited. 

 Not seeing any from my native town, I will tell you, 

 iTiy Grandmother's story about their first coming 

 into Wilmington, Massachusetts. I am the only 

 grandson of Capt. Samuel Walker, and the only 

 child of Timothy Walker, Esq. of the above town 

 that is living; my grandfather having died bcfoie I 

 was born, I know nothing of him, but my honored 

 grandmother lived to the great age of ninety-two 

 years, when I was sixteen years of age, and retain- 

 ed her mental powers to the last uiiin)paired. Al- 

 low me to digress a little, and speak a few words for 

 the blessed cause of temperance. She never could 

 be prevailed with to taste one drop of ardent spirit. 

 Or cider, or wine, (unless it was at the sacramen- 

 tal table, for she was a member of the church) 

 upon any occasion whatever. Nor would she 

 drink tea or coflee unless it was barley coflee. — 

 She never had any pain or sickness, aud was able 

 to read her large Bible without glasses and knit 

 stockings, till within about two weeks of her death. 

 Cannot her health and comfort in her old age be at- 

 tributed to her strict adherence to Temperance of 

 which I am a sincere friend. But to return to her 

 story of the potato. About one hundred years, 

 now gone by, she said that grandfather was at 

 Boston, and found an Irishman just landed from 

 Ireland that wanted to work. They agreed, 

 and the Irishman came to Wilmington and began 

 work, and at meal times be saw uo " potatoes 

 cooked. He asked gran<lfather if he had no/)(fa- 

 iers ?" He told him "no, he had heard of them 

 but never had seen any. " Patrick said " if they 

 wou'd be litting him go back to the vassel he could 

 get some fur they had some on their passage." — 

 Grandfather told him he might go, he should be 

 very glad to get some ; Patrick went to Boston, sev- 

 enteen miles, and obtained two only. It being 

 spring of the year he planted them and took good 

 care of them, in the manner in which he was taught 

 to cultivate them in Ireland, till they were grown, 

 when he dug a few of them ; and informed grand- 

 mother how to cook them ; and the Irishman had 

 a fine repast — The family tasted but did not like 

 them very well. When it was time to harvest 

 them, he dug them, and grandmother had baked 

 some large hard shelled pumpkins. They took one 

 of the largest aud jjut up their whole winter's store 

 of this now very valuable article. TJie shell 

 contained a plenty for their \^'inter's use, and to 

 plant in the spring, and some to spare to their 

 neighbors. Grandfather liked Patrick so well that 

 he hired him a second time ; he planted the pota- 

 toes a second time when they raised so many they 

 di<l not know how to dispose of them — My grand- 

 mother had not the convenience of the old la- 

 dy at Lynn, they did not raise any gourds, 



Yours Respectfully, James Walker. 



Fryeburg, April 25th, 1833. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Standing Committee on ornamental trees, 

 flowers, &c. submit the following list of premiums 

 for the year 1833, viz: — 



For the most successful cultivation of the Amer- 

 ican Holly ; the number of i)lants not less than 

 five which have been transplanted at least three 

 years, So. 



For the four best flowering i)lants of the Magno- 

 lia Glauca which have been transplanted at least 

 diree years, $5. 



For the most successful cultivation of the Ilhodo- 

 Jendron Maximum, the number of plants not less 

 than four, which have been transplanted three 

 years, .*3. 



For the five best plants of the Kalmia Latifo- 

 lla which have been transplanted not less than three 

 years, ,$3. 



For the best seedling plants of cither of the 

 al)ove, not less than ten in number, of three years 

 growth and upwards, $5. 



For the five best varieties of Chinese Chrysan- 

 tiieinunis, S'3. 



For the best half dozen of Tulips, $5. 



" " " Hyacinths, 5. 



" " " Rammenlus, 5. 



" " " Aurieu'as, 3. 



" " " .\neinones, 5. 



For the best spoeimens of Pinks, 3. 



" " " of Prize Carnations, 5. 



For the best cultivated Native flowers, 5. 



For the best cultivated Foreign flowers of har- 

 dy kinds, 5. 



For the finest collection of Roses, 10. 



For the finest Dahlias, 5. 



For the best show of Poeonies, 5. 



Vor the best plant of Camellia Japonica, 5. 

 liy order of the Committee, 



J. Wi.NSHii", Chairman. 



Horticultural Hall, — May 4, 1833. 

 Some beautiful specimens of yellow and white 

 Tea Roses — Azalea Sinensis — Calceolaria integ- 

 rifolia, together with Anemonies, Tulijts and Gera- 

 niums, from the Charlestown Vineyard were ex- 

 hibited by Wr. Thomas Mason. 



Per order, J. Wi.\ship, Chairman. 



For the Km- Fnglurid Farmer. 

 SOWS AND THEIR PIGS. ANIMAL. FOOD 

 FOR SWINE, &.C. 



Mr. Fesse.nuen, — In your paper of April 3(1. I 

 observed an article by a " subscriber," the writer 

 of which recommends animal food to be given to 

 sows just before farrowing, believing it will pre- 

 vent them fioin destroying their pigs. He recom- 

 mends fresh meat ; I will go further and say, that 

 my experience tells me that salt meat, either raw 

 orlx)iled, will produce the same beneficial efiect. 



I have since seen another article in your paper 

 over the signature of " Berkshire" the writer of 

 wliifh docs not agree with your " Subscriber" 

 does not "come to the same conclusions," but 

 takes other groiuid — recommends another mode 

 of treatment, a mode that is not indispensably ne- 

 ccessary, as I shall prove by and bye. 



He says, " The nature of the swine is to feed 

 on almost anything that comes in its way, but 

 iis ratural food is vegetable rather than animal," 

 &c. It may be so, but who is there that does .not 

 knoiv that swine are extremely eager after animal 

 food at all times, that they will always leave vege- 

 Ubh for animal food — and who can say but that 



