vol.. XI, wo. 48. 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL 



379 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXHIBITION OP PLOAVERS AT THE M. H. S. 

 ROOMS. 



Saturday, June 8, 1833. 



The flowers exliibituJ this day were very nu- 

 merous, anil of superior kiuds. They were sold 

 at auction at fair prices, the proceeds of whicli are 

 to be contributed towards erecting some suitable 

 memorial at ]>Iount Auburn, as a tribute of re- 

 spect to the late Robert Wyatt, wlio for many 

 years was esteemed one of the first horticul- 

 turists. 



John Prince, Jamaica Plain, fine specimens in 

 full flower of the Mespilus lucida. 



Rufus Howe, Dorchester, a variety of Roses. 



Samuel Walker, Roxbury, several varieties and 

 fine specimens of flowers. 



Davenport, Milton, Roses. 



Thomas Mason, Charlestown Vineyard, Speci- 

 mens of flowers. 



John Lemist, Roxbury, very fine show of flow- 

 ers of Hespris, albo pi. 



P. B. Ilovey, Cunibridgeport ; Geranium Pe- 

 largonium macrauthon, do. Prince Leopold, do. 

 Washingtoui, do. Boquet Zouale, do. variety coc- 

 cineum, do. do. rosa, do. do. Grandiflora, Pinks, 

 Phlox, and Rose acacia. 



John A. Keurick, Newton ; Magnolia glauca, 

 Scotch broom, Syringo two kinds, five do. Honey- 

 suckles, Glycene frutescens. Rose acacia, Kalmia 

 Latifolia and angustifolia, corchorus japonica, 

 Pittasporum, several Herbaceous flowers, and 

 about 20 varieties of Roses. 



William Kenrick, Newton, fine Roses, Pceonias 

 and other varieties of flowers. 



Winships, a large variety of roses, &c. 

 By order of the Com. Josa. Winship, CA. 



THE FOLLOWING NOTE WAS READ AT THE 

 MEETING. 



To the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn, Pres. of the Mass. 

 Horiicidtural Society. 

 Sir, — We have examined the Oil of which you 

 were so good as to present us with a bottle, and 

 which was manufactured by Mr. James Homer, 

 from Sun Flower Seed, and samples presented to 

 the Mass. Hort. Soe. We find it perfectly sweet, 

 and of an agreeable flavor when used as salad oil ; 

 and that it burns well in a lamp — gives a clear 

 light, and is, we believe, as little liable to smoke 

 as the best spermaceti oil. 



With the highest esteem, your ob't serv'ts, 

 Thos. G. Fessenden, 

 Geo. C. Barrett. 



Edward C. Sparhawk, of Brighton, 

 Enoch B. Kenrick, of Newton, and 

 Henry S.Waldo, of Boston, were admitted mem- 

 bers, and John Tilson, jr., of Edwardsville, Illinois, 

 Corresponding Member of the Mass. Hort. Soc. 



Fruits. Mr. Rufus Howe, of Dorchester, pre- 

 sented very fine specimens of Early Virginia and 

 Royal Scarlet strawberries. 



Early frame Peas were presented for premium 

 by Mr. Nathaniel Davenport, of Milton. 



Adjourned to Saturday next. 



Soot. This is esteemed by gardeners as one of 

 the best manures, particularly when dissolved in 

 water, and in this state applied to asparagus, peas 

 and a variety of other vegetables. 



■ Post. 



Firm tl:,- t<alurdatj El 

 PKEDIBJG SWINE. 



Sir, — You will oblige an old subscriber, and 

 perhaps benefit the pul)lic, by inserting the fol- 

 lowing : — 



I observed in your paper, of the 19th of the last 

 month, an article sn the feeding of swine, in 

 which was recommended the practice of keeping 

 them constantly penned up. Now, I consider this 

 the very reverse of what ought to be done, for 

 the following obvious reason, viz: — It deprives 

 the animal from enjoying that perfect state of 

 health, which he otherwise would enjoy, if al- 

 lowed to range at large, and being constantly fed 

 on greasy dish water, and other impure substances, 

 the meat of course must have a strong taste, and 

 lose much of its flavor ; and hence we sec tlie 

 reason why the citizens always prefer the country 

 pork to that of the butchers, who keep their swine 

 constantly in pens, and feed them on filthy animal 

 substijnces. 



The food of swine should be entirely vegetable 

 and when allowed his liberty will feed considera- 

 bly on grass, acorns, chesuuts, apples, cherries, &c. 

 which he is entirely deprived of in confinmeent. 

 It is true he will fatten much faster when con- 

 fined than when running at large. Just so it is 

 with a human being when confined to his cham- 

 ber — if not absolutely sick, he will grow fat and 

 fleshy ; but it will not be solid, nor will he enjoy 

 as umch health and spirit as when he takes daily 

 exercise in the open air. And this is the case, 

 without exception, with all the animal creation, 

 and even the vegetables require the free use of 

 the sunshine, wind and rain, to make them thrive. 



The milk of the cow, in a state of confinement, 

 is not fit for use. This I know by experience, for 

 being accustomed to use milk, instead of tea or 

 cotfec, and boarding at a tavern in this city where 

 the cow was kept constantly in the stable all the 

 year, the milk, particularly in the summer, had 

 such a disagreeable sickening taste that I could 

 not possibly relish it. For the same reason, also, 

 the flesh of wild fowls and animals is much 

 sweeter, and has a finer flavor than those kept in 

 confinement, because they have free exercise in 

 the open air, drink the pure crystal stream, and 

 live on that kind of food which nature intended. 



But, to conclude, I would observe that all those 

 who live on small lots, and have no range for 

 swine, are generally obliged to keep them in pens, 

 if they keep them at all ; but all farmers, who 

 have a convenience to let them run at large, 

 should embrace the privilege, if they wish their 

 pork sweet and good. 



But in the autumn previous to their being killed, 

 it is customary, and no doubt very |)roper, to pen 

 them up a short time, in order that they may fat- 

 ten the sooner ; but during- which period, corn 

 should form the principal article of food. 

 Yours, &c. A Friend to Domestic Economy. 



From the Neiv York Farmer. 

 S]>IAX.1> BEER. 

 I NOTICED in your paper, several communica- 

 tions giving directions for making small beer for 

 family use, none of which meet my views on the 

 subject. The following, I know from experience, 

 will furnish a very pleasant beverage. Take a five 

 gallon keg — take out one head, and insert a small 

 brass cock, about three inches above the lower 

 head. In this keg, put three quarts of wheat, rye 

 or corn meal, ground rather coarse, as for stilling: 

 on this pour about three quarts of boiling water — 



add a pound of honey, sugar or molasses — one tea- 

 cup full of ginger or ground allspice — stir all inti- 

 mately together, and add three gallons of water, 

 lieated to about 75 or 80 degrees of the thermom- 

 eter. To this add about a quart of lively yeast. 

 Stir it well together, and set it in the sun — a fer- 

 mentation will soon ensue, and continue all day. 

 By the next morning, it will be settled clear, and 

 should then he drawn off into bottles, corked and 

 set away for 24 hours, when it will be fit for use. 

 This, if repeated daily, will furnish a very pleas- 

 ant family drink. Yours, &c. B. M. W. 

 Middlesex; May 1, 1832. 



From (lie Genesee Farmer. 

 liEACHED ASHES. 



Potter, April 15, 1833. 



Messrs. Editors, — I have known many vessels 

 to arrive at various landings on the Hudson, to en- 

 gage teams and haul leached ashes, from two to 

 six miles, to transport them to Jersey, Long Island 

 and Connecticut, by land, and sell them at from 

 eighteen to twenty-five cents a bushel, to be carted 

 from two to ten miles, and used for manure. It is 

 clear then that these men were very much 

 mistaken, or leached ashes are a valuable manure. 

 They are said to have grown rich from it. I can 

 see, therefore, no reason, why they should not be 

 good manure in Western New York. I have 

 myself used them for many years, both in my 

 garden and in the fields, and always with satisfac- 

 tory results. 



I believe that leached ashes are as good if not 

 better than unleached ashes, as their fertilizing 

 qualities do not dejiend on the qu.intity of alkali 

 contained in them, but on other principles derived 

 from the atmosphere, and that they are as good 

 after lying fifteen or twenty years as if used when 

 fresh from the leaches. 



I have said that the modes of applying leached 

 ashes are various. They are applied on the sur- 

 face, spread and turned in with the plough. In 

 this situation they operate powerfully in reducing 

 the grass and roots to the food of plants ; they 

 also attract much fertility from the atmosphere, 

 and I believe them to be good on most lands, 

 whether clay or sand, whether moist or dry. 

 They are also used in compost, one load of ashes 

 to two of stable manure, and two of soil, they are 

 also used as a top dressing to com after the first 

 hoeing ; half a pint is scattered over eaeh hill, 

 and has all the beneficial eflects of plaster. 



Such is ray experience and observation on this 

 subject, and remain, Yours, with respect, 

 R. M. W. 



NEW ENGLAND WIVES. 



It has been said that a New England girl makes 

 the best wife in the world, — and we think, says 

 the Lowell Journal, that any New England man 

 will cheerfully admit the truth of the above saying, 

 after studying domestic life in other countries. 

 New England wives are faithful and aft'ectiouate 

 — instances of conjugal infidelity are of rare 

 occurrence among them ; they make excellent 

 mothers — are frugal and methodical in their house- 

 hold arraagements — shine in a drawing-room ; 

 and appear to great advantage when superintend- 

 ing the economy of the kitchen. Such a wife is 

 a. jewel, and no wonder she should be sought after, 

 far and near. The Southern gentlemen, while 

 they strenuously oppose the Union of the States, 

 evince no repugnance to au Union with the rosy 

 cheeked lasses of the N'orth. 



