50 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



assistance of our poor neighbours. But wiiat 

 signifies this, since the greater part can sup- 

 port themselves by their daily labour, and the 

 overplus is easily suppoiteil by the town. I 

 must confess, Mr. Editor, that by working ex- 

 tremely hard, as we always do, we cannot clear 

 more than from nothing to one hundred dollars 

 in a twelve month. Yet I think this the best 

 method, as our fathers did so before us ; of 

 course 'tis right. Some are so very absurd as 

 to suppose that our hay loses goodness by being 

 allowed to get as dry as the sun by our means 

 can possibly make it. But this 1 think is not cor- 

 rect, since our fathers found no inconvenience 

 in using hay of this description, and cattle of 

 Ihe original breed, which these same mistaken 

 people tell us should be changed. But they 

 answer the purpose ; and instead of perusing 

 the Encyclopedia, and puzzling our brains with 

 the various and complicated crosses and chang- 

 es vfhich they naturally sustain in transporting 

 from one country to another, we have only to 

 repair to Noah's Ark, for the pedigree of our 

 pure and original breed. 



Now, Mr Editor, although I have at present 

 a predilection in favour of the mode of agricul- 

 ture here partly delineated, slill I would not bo 

 thought pertinacious on the subject, and my 

 mind shall always be open to conviction. And if 

 at any time I may receive instructions through 

 (he medium of your useful paper, the favour 

 will be duly appreciated and humbly acknowl- 

 edged. IIAGLA, COLA. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



NOTES ON THE SEASON. 



Sir, — The request of Mr Preston, of Stock- 

 3)ort, Pa. published in the New England Farmer, 

 No. 47, vol. ii. that the " subscribers in different 

 parts would communicate Ihcii observations on 

 the season," the effects of late frosts, &c. I think 

 ivell calculated to obtain information, which it 

 is desirable for people in the different sections 

 of our country to learn, viz. the comparative 

 I'ruitfulncss of the season, whether dry or wel, 

 cold or warm, &c. Mr Preston's request not 

 having been complied with so generally as is 

 tleslrablc, and by no one in this immediate vi- 

 cinity, 1 have sketched a few remarks on the 

 •season, some of the etfccis of the frost in May 

 List, SiC. which, if considered b^' you, Sir, worthy 

 a [ilace in your useful paper, I shall have one 

 reason to conclude they may be interesting to 

 some of your readers. 



The season, though a cold one comparatively 

 speaking, is, in this vicinity, a tolerably fruitful 

 one. Crops of hay and grain generally (such as 

 have been harvested) do not exceed what js 

 commonly called a middling crop ; a. few weeks 

 of dry weather in June and the first of July, cut 

 .short the cro|)S of English grass on some farms; 

 since that lime we have had no very dry weath- 

 er, and at present abundantly wet. The present 

 appearance of corn promises a good crop. It is, 

 however, some weeks later than usual, and fears 

 are entertained of its being injured by early frost. 

 Very lew pumpkins are to be seen in any of our 

 .r^rtifields ; cucumbers and melons not so abun- 

 dant as usual, as also fruit generally, none of 

 ivhich esca()ed the effects of the frost of May 2G. 

 pear.s, being most hardy, were least injured by 

 (he frost. Cherries were partially injured, and 

 U} some places materially. Aj)ples suilered gen- 



erally, and severely ; more than half the trees 

 in this region have no apples on them, and but 

 few bear plentifully. Peaches, especially of the 

 rare-ripe kind, were totally killed, as well as 

 grapes of all descriptions. Berries of various 

 kinds were more or less injured. Strawberries, 

 such as were in blossom, and the forward buds, 

 were mostly killed. Whortleberries, all except 

 those under the covert of trees, were killed.— 

 Of cranberries, we have none, which we attrib- 

 ute (0 the effects of the frost. Nuts, also, espe- 

 ciallv the walnut, arc entirely cut off; and all 

 these are the effects of the frost on the ^Glh of 

 May. That in June had but very little effect, 

 and was observable but in few places ; but that 

 in Mav ivas general and severe, cutting down all 

 garden vegetables that had come up, except 

 such as live after being frozen through. When 

 frosts occur in May, the question is trequenlly 

 asked, ''■ Will it injure the fruit ?" This que.-^- 

 tion few are able to answer, not knowing what 

 the effect will be at different times of forward- 

 ness of the blossoms ; as just before blossoming, 

 while in bloom, or just after, &c. With regard 

 to peaches and grapes, as well as walnuts, 

 I think we may surely calculate on their being 

 entirely cut off by a frost anytime from the time 

 of their budding to blossom, until the fruit is 

 perfectly formed. Those who will, may pre- 

 serve from frost some of ihe fruit of a favorite 

 peach tree or grape vine, by throwing a blanket 

 over the tree or vine, or a part of them, on the 

 occurrence of a cold night which forbodes trost. 

 If any of your correspondents, in possession of 

 knowledge as to the period wherein frosts are 

 most destructive to the other kinds of fruit, wdl 

 be so good as to communicate the same through 

 the medium of the New England Farmer, they 

 will no doubt gratify many readers, and espe- 

 cially, Yours, vvilh respect, S. 

 Medway, September 8, 1824. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND FARMF.R. 



INDICATIONS OF THE SEASON, Sec. 



Sir, — I believe I have observed to you be- 

 fore, that some of the minutiae of nature are 

 better indices of the seasons, than weather cal- 

 endars in almanacs, that often lead innocent, ig- 

 rant credulity astray; and that I agree with Ihe 

 learned Mr. Pickering, that the weather calen- 

 dar ought no longer to disgrace our almanacs. 

 I am now writing in full view of a pigeon 

 stand, where they are taking them in consider- 

 able numbers. I find the third brood of the 

 season has just appeared with sufficient strength 

 to wing their way to the seducing bait, and that 

 a fourth may be expected within ten days, rear- 

 ed in the neighbourhood where the fires made 

 such devastation last autumn. It is a fact, these 

 easily decoyed, and yet undiminished birds, al- 

 ways seek new burnt lands. It seems as though 

 kind Providence sent this singular bird for food 

 to the enterprizing youth, who first clears an 

 opening in the forest for a farm, as they are al- 

 ways found in abundance there. As they always 

 quit the northern regions, as soon as (hey feel 

 the first frosts, and never leave their young be- 

 hind, I infer from their instinct, that intellect 

 may guess something as to the present season. 



The recent rains are refreshing. Potatoes, 



one of the staples of Maine, promise well. — 



Wheat comes in well on the sea board, and I 



I learn promises much in the interiour. I think 



there is an error in waiting till the grain is ful- 

 ly dry in the stock before cutting ; — long expe- 

 rience in a grist-mill has satisfied me, that earli/ 

 cut grain makes Ihe best flour, and there is 

 much saving in the straw for fodder. 



I have seen no dissertation in your paper, 

 that I can recollect, on the cultivation of oats.* 

 An impression is on many, that oats are an ex- 

 hausting crop. This, I am satisfied, is an error. 

 I believe no crop can be raised more profitably 

 for fodder, if cut before the straw turns, or, to 

 use a common phrase, when the oat is in the 

 milk. If the ground be immediately ()loughed, 

 the stubble will make sufficient manure for any 

 crop the succeeding year ; and better food lor 

 cows the dairy woman need not ask. 



Author of Touches on Aoricultche. 



Bruuswick,Mc. Aug. 22, 1824. 



* Tlie New England Farmer, vol. i. p. 258, contains 

 a disitrtntion on the culture of oats by Mr. Henry Ste- 

 vens, of Bainet, Vermont, which is highly worthy tlie 

 attention of every American farmer. 'J'he second vol- 

 ume, p. 318 has some observations on the same siilr- 

 ject. Page 22 of the third volume presents some re- 

 marks of Jesse Buel, Esq. on the ciiltivatioa of oats, 

 together with peas. — Ei). N. E. Farmer. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW E.VGLAKD FARMER. 



ON KEEPING HENS. 



Sm. — I frequently hear my neighbours and 

 others complaining that their hens do not lay, 

 and of course they are obliged (o buy eggs, or 

 do without them. My hens have soraedmes 

 neglected to furnish a sufficient supply of eggs ; 

 but when this has been the case, I have only 

 found it necessary to deal out to each of (hem a 

 gill of oats per day, and in re(urn they have 

 readily furnished me with as many as 1 could 

 reasonably wish for. A SUBSCRIBER. 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. 



Sir — " I have used every exertion to extend (he 

 benefits of your paper in (his (own and vicinity, 

 «ith the hope of increasing your subscription. 

 But much opposition exists to " book farming,''^ 

 notwithstanding the great exertions which have 

 been, and slill are making to elucidate and fa- 

 miliarize the science to those whose interest it 

 is to understand it. There is one suggestion 

 which 1 would make, hoping you may find it for 

 your advantage, viz.: I would suggest the ])ro- 

 priety of our Agricultural Societies subscribing 

 for a certain number of your volumes, annually, 

 to be distributed as discretionary premiums. It 

 would certainly have a good effect on those 

 who received them, and you, Sir, would re- 

 ceive some cmolumen( trom i(. And as jour 

 volume clones in July, a sufficient (ime would 

 elapse (o get them bound and delivered before 

 the annual exhibition commences. 1 think 

 (should you like (he idea) you had better suggest 

 the same in your paper, and, perhaps, some 

 Corresponding Secre(ary may lake advan(age of 

 it this fall." 



The proposal of our correspondent is of course 

 very agreeable to us, and, if we were not a par- 

 ty in in(eres(, and it did not look a little like 

 egotism, we should give it as our opinion, that 

 such measures would prove beneficial to the 

 public. AVe should feel very grateful for any 

 favours of this kind, not merely on account of 



