]NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



PUBLISHED BY JOHN «. RUSSEhh, ROGERS' CU'.l.DINCiS, COXGRIISS STREET, BOSTON.— THOMAS G. TESSENDKN, EDITOR. 



VOL. IH. 



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1821. 



No. i;5. 



<2^rtgtn<il Communicatttm. 



NOTES ON THE SEASON, &.c. 



pulriolisii) which oriiririiited iind has presided 

 over the destinies o( lliis Society. The animals, 

 in increased numhcrs, were seasonably turned 

 into their pens, and ready for inspection. The 

 Committee on Agriculture had closed their im- 

 portant and interesting tour of the County, and 



;T0 THK EDITOR OF THE NEW ENCr.AND FARMER 



Stocki>ort,(Pa.)Ocl. ]b,\B2l. , . , r . 



Dear SiR,-On the 8th of this month, we had ^''"w "^ crops, farms, and improvements, and 

 a heavy white frost, that lVoz.<- ice and the top '^"e ready to disclose the results i '■" i-.-*."^-' 



of mellow gronnil the thickness ol window glass. 

 We have had tint 114 days of summer, clear of 

 heavv trost-'. Within that period of time I plant- 

 ed a patch of corn and beans, (on the 20lh of 



JuneS most of which crew ripe enou-h fbrseed ; '' "^ale corresponding ^ _ . 



- ■ ' ■ ■• . ^ r,, , and enlio-htened eflorfs of the bocietv, was made 



The ladies 

 department of Huusehotd Manufactures, always 

 intereMing to the public, was well arranged and 

 liberally supplied with the fruits of the most 

 praiseworthy industry. Every arrangement, on 

 with the long-contmued 



before the said trost. The kind of corn is what 

 we call the Speckkd jV((h(«cA'c(, the grains bemg 

 red and yellow. 



1 have paid the strictest attention not only to 

 \ny own hut my neighbours' orchards, to try to 

 discover whether s-jocct or sour ajiplcs withstand 

 the frost best ; but have not discovered with 

 certainty. 



One general remark I have made in the co'irse 

 of my observations, worthy the attention of the 

 public : — that is, that young trees of natural fmit 

 are more full of ajiples than old trees, or such a« 

 have been grafted. How are we to account for 

 the circumstance ? Does it confirm DrDarwin'- 

 hypnthesis, — that the ilitferent kinds of apple* 

 have their periods of life, like animals, and that 

 grafting is but the elongation of the sameseed? 

 Are we to suppose that a young kind of apple 

 in the vigour of youth will withstand the cold 

 better than such as are declining with the infii- 

 m'tiesofage? If such should generally appear 

 tti be the fact, would it not be advisable for our 

 farmers fo plant orchards of natural trees, anii 

 only graft those whose apples did no< suit their 

 purposes? By that means they mii^'ht intiodure 

 what I shall Call young kinds of apples. Ol the 

 trees that I have raised from the seed, about one 

 in tea are equal to grafted fruit. 



1 wish respectfully to request that gentlemen 

 would generally publish their observations on 

 this important subject in your useful paper, for 

 the benefit of the public. Very truly yours, 



SAMUEL PRESTON. 



in season, and nothing remained to delay or con- 

 fuse. It was most ajiparent that each retuining 

 year brings with it evidences of extended eflorts, 

 increased knowledge, and valuable improve- 

 menis. This anniversary has furnished occur- 

 rences most gratifying to the Ibunders and pat- 

 rons of the Society. The sanguine e.vpectaiions 

 of 1811 have been more than realized in 1824. 

 The following is a biief view of the several 

 departments. 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



FIRST DAY— The candidates for premiums S^^^ °^ perfection 



Woollen Socks, Carpeting, Hearth Rugs, Linen 

 Shirting, Linen Sheeting, Dlankels, Linen Dia- 

 per, Linen Handkerchiefs, Lc. Several ex'ia 

 preraiums were a^varded fo distinguished skill 

 and merit, and on large quaDtities produced by 

 superiour lamily industry. 



PLOUOHLVG MATCHES. 



SECOND DAY.— The objects (o be atfainedi 

 were ease of draught, good work of the plovgiit 

 and discipline of the teams. These were faith- 

 fully regarded. Seventeen teams and ploughs 

 entered in the contest, viz. twelve of oxen, and 

 five of horses. The work to be completed in 

 fifty minutes, ploughing one quarter of an acre. 

 The horse teams finished short of thirty min- 

 utes, and the ox teams short of forty minutes. — • 

 The work, generally, was well done — but the 

 dilferences between the teams, ploughs and 

 ploughmen, were apparent. This part of the 

 exhibition is acquiring increasing interest, and 

 has become a favourite object with the public. 

 In point of utility it rivals all others, and it is 

 reduced to a certainty, that although much has 

 been done, more remains to be done before this 

 lepartment can arrive at the wished for de- 



SlflrCtultural amiti)trsartrs. 



From the Pillsfitld Sun. 



BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 The interesting anniversary ofthisdistinguish- 

 «d Society returned on the 6th and 7th days ct 

 October current. Public expectation is impatient 

 to read the occurrences of the occasion. It !« 

 due to the public not to delay the gratification 

 of their reasonable curiosity. We hasten to give 

 lliem a general and brief statement, reserving a 

 inore detailed account to a period of more leis- 

 ure. The Society has been favoured during 13 

 anniversaries with fine weather; but the 14lh 

 was overcast and partially attended with rain- 

 The assembling of the Members of the Society, 

 and of those who delight in American industry 

 and improvements, was not retarded or essen- 

 tially interrupted. The company was numerous. 

 and we saw no abatement of that enterprise and 



on the various products, were more numereu 

 and interesting than on any former occasion. — 

 On Winter and Summer Wheats, the applicants 

 were 32 — on Rve 13 — on Oats, and on live Oats 

 and Peas mixed IG — on M.llet, Peas and Indian 

 Corn 28 — amounting in all to 88 crops. — Flax, 

 Butter, and Cheese were re«pectable, and the 

 quality of the two last articles excellent. In 

 consequence of the unfavour.ibleness of the dav. 

 the quantities of butter and cheese were not so 

 great a« was anticipated. 'I'he applicants for 

 view of farms, (only 3) and their management, 

 were less than facts warranted. Numerous (arms 

 ir Berkshire are under excellent manas:emenl, 

 and are conducted with order and success. No- 

 thing but mere indolence or forgetfulness would 

 have prevented the show of more than 30 tine 

 farms. 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



The Show was more honourable to our farm- 

 ers. The W^orking Oxen were numerous and 

 well selected. We witnessed a noble team of 

 about 30 yoke, all in a line, and drawing a cart 

 loaded with their forage, furnished by our pub- 

 lic spirited citizens of Stockbridge. 



Fat Oxen — several yoke of great size & beauty 

 were shown and much admired. 



The Show of Bulls was excellent, consisting 

 of various races — among them we noticed sev- 

 eral beautiful forms of the Devonshire and Hol- 

 derness. 



The Cows, Steers, Heifers, Merino Bucks. 

 Ewes, Weathers, Swine, Horses, and Stocks of 

 Cattle, were more numerous than usual, and 

 better bred, and more judiciously selected than 

 at any former period. 



MANUFACTURES. 



We were assured that this department was 

 ably and admirably .sustpined ; consisting of 

 Woollen Fniled Cblhs, coloured and white 

 Flannels,, Worsted and Lambs' Wool Hose, — 



PRESirrENT S ADDRESS, AND AWARD OF PREMIUMS. 



The most numerous procession since 1812, 

 was formed at 12 o'clock at noon, under Chief 

 Marshal, Col. Williams of Stockbridge. &. Major 

 Clapp of Pitlsfield and Capt. Webster of Stock- 

 liridge, his assistants. The best arrangements 

 were made, and the finest order prevailed. — 

 The escort, consisting of the Independent Grays^ 

 honoured the Society in the field and in the 

 procession, to maintain order. The procession 

 moved into the Meeting House, which was filled 

 to overflowing, where a very appropriate pray- 

 er was offered by Rev. Mr Bailey. The Address 

 by Hon. H. W. Dwight, was executed with his 

 usual ability, and met with warm admiration. — 

 The Reports ot awards of premiums were then 

 declared by Mr McKay, the first Vice President. 

 The Fariner^s Dinner was su(>plied with the va- 

 rious bounties of the season ; and the anniver- 

 sary closed with a numerously attended Pastoral 

 Ball, appropriate to the occasion. The dining 

 halls were ornamented with evergreens, flowers, 

 and agricultural products in a style of great taste 

 and efiect. The Society were gratified by the 

 attendance of a very respectable portion of the 

 clergy, who by their example and presence dif- 

 fused decorum, and added greatly to the popu- 

 larity of the meeting. The whole transactions 

 were closed seasonably, without accident, leav- 

 ing nothing for regret, and all to hope from the 

 future efforts of the Society, aided by an enlight- 

 ened and patriotic community. 



The following gentlemen were elected offi- 

 cers of the Society for the year ensuing : 

 Samuel M. McKay, President 

 .lohn Whiting, 1st Vice President 

 Henry Wilmarth, 2d Fice President 

 Ezekiel R. Colt, Cor. and Rec. Secretary 

 Samuel D. Colt, Treasurer 

 Thomas Gold, \ Committee 



Oliver P. Dickinson, > "" 



Levi Goodrich, } Agriculfwe. 



