210 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



[Jan. 28, 



find that the exchange of quality with the others 

 was harmonious, and lecipiocal, so that the most 

 of our comujon pumpkins are improved, by the 

 association, and many of them are but little infc- 

 Tior to the negrehead at its lirst appearance. — 

 A soft shell is as rarely to be found now as a hard 

 bead was many years ago ; which is an improve- 

 ment and accommodation, both for the table and 

 stable ; which, with care, may now be supplied 

 through the winter, if the stems are not broken 

 close, as before-mentioned. 



As to iiiiishrooiris, 1 do not think much of Ihem, 

 wishing never to see them introduced into an 

 agricultural c;onimunication (or any where else) 

 being neither fond for man nor beast, whose in- 

 stinct controls their appetite. And shall not our 

 reason be as strong as their instinct? Our ap- 

 petites are so much vitiated, that neither musli- 

 roems nor toad-stools escape u». Solemn warn- 

 ings we often have, in the ileath of our children, 

 by eating them; ibllowing the example unwit- 

 tingly set by their parents. 



As to leeches, I was pleased to see them noticed 

 in your paper. 1 have long known them to be 

 used by the Faculty to advantage; and I have 

 been informed that the application of oil to them 

 when they become snlurated, is better than any 

 ether application to make them dis^'orge. — 

 Brine is the last thing to be applied to il;em. 

 I cannot sec how they came to be so expensive 

 fo the " neighbour," mentioned as charged by 

 the apothecary.* 1 have never collected leeches 

 for surgical purposes, it not being in my line ; 

 but I have collected and preserved them out of 

 curiosity, and kept them hanging in the room, 

 as a thermometer. 



Being a stranger in Boston, and unacquainted 

 with its manners and customs, I have olien met 

 with inconvcolencG in passing the streets, for 

 want of the due observance of the law of the 

 road. The Sabbath ought always to be respected, 

 but there are many in this city who arc some- 

 times deterred (rotn attending public worship, 

 an account of the inconvenience of passing thro' 

 the streets. To a stranger who observes the 

 passing and repassing on the same side of the 

 way, — the jostling, joggling, and dodging, — it 

 appears a matter of regret, that they do not keep 

 to the right, in going to, and returning from wor- 

 ship. Then the man with his family, however 

 '\umerous, may escort them all in a row ; — the 

 aged and decrepid may hobble on with the cur- 

 lent, and all proceed onward, rejoicing in the 

 o'ay and the service. I have visited London and 

 Edinburgh, but have seen no occa'ioi to com- 

 plain of this inconvenience. And I hnj«: soon 

 lo see some efficient remedy suggested by your 

 Mayor, or by some other infiuential person. 



"Respectfully yours, A FARMliR. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



IVorcesttT County, Jan. 10, ICSo. 

 Mr Ffssfnpkn, — 1 am a homesjiun fellow, liv- 

 ing with my father, who is an old fashioned 

 t'iTmer, somewhat unyielding i^i his ways, and 

 much averse to what is termed book-fnnninr;. 

 He is allogethrr hostile to the inlroduclion of 

 English Bulls, Merino Sheep, and Bedford Hogs, 

 being absolutely certain that they arc an imposi- 



* Tlfearlicle on leeches was not oris^inal in (his pa- 

 per ; aiirl we cAnnot say whether Boston, aroihecarics 

 vert alluded to or not. 



tionand will do for none but gentlemen farmers. 

 He is also very confident that Agricultural So- 

 cieties are of little consequence, and a Cattle 

 Show he canceives to be a public calamity. — 

 Although 1 was brought up to tread in my 

 lather's steps, and pursue the same long-tried 

 course, yet I take the liberty in some plain cases 

 to think and act for myself. I am a friend to 

 enterprise and improvement. I like fo see sys- 

 tem and regularity in every thing, but especial- 

 ly so in the management of a farm. To me it 

 is a source of delightful satisfaction to pass over 

 the territories of an enligiitened and enterpris- 

 ing farmer, witnessing the skilf\il manner in 

 which he cultivates his land, and beholding the 

 valuable improvements he is constantly making. 

 Not long since I had an opportunity of this 

 kind, which proved highly entertaining and in- 

 structive. Visiting lately the town of West Boyls- 

 ton, and having a few leisure hours, I spent them 

 in viewing some of the curiosities and valuable 

 improvements to be met with on the celebrated 

 Beaman Farm. Tliis farm lies on the Nashua 

 river, and contains a large body of intervale, 

 whicb, as I was informed, originally consisted 

 to a considerable extent of marshy quags and 

 rocky beeche.'", but which by the enterprise and 

 industry of its occupant has been converted into 

 a high slate of fertility and productiveness. 



The advantages of irrigation on this farm are 

 great, it being so situated that water can be 

 turned on or taken ofi' any part, whenever it is 

 necessary. Here, on land once a barren waste, 

 is now produced two largo crops in a season, 

 hereby proclaiming to every observer, what a 

 spirit of iiersevering industry and imjirovement 

 is sure to effect. 



Mr Beanian informed me that he made use of 

 considerable quantities of ashes on bis mowing- 

 land, particularly on one or two pieces naturally 

 very barren, being subject to bushes and moss. 

 On this ho spreads leiichcd ashes once in two 

 or three years, and in return cuts annually a 

 large crop of grass. He is confident there is no 

 danger of injuring land by the use of ashes, but 

 by a constant application of them the production 

 will continue to be as good as ever. He also 

 mixes leached ashes with his manure, which be 

 intends for the cornfields. He says they not only 

 serve as a stimulus to the growth of Ihe corn, 

 but also as a sure preventive against the ravages 

 of the worms. 



The buildings on this farm are large k com- 

 modious, being in a state of complete repair, 

 having every necessary convenience attached to 

 (hem. The aqueduct by which wafer is con- 

 veyed both to the house and barn, is a curiosity 

 worth noticing. The water is taken from a never 

 failing fountain, about '10 rods distant, and con- 

 veyed in leaden pipes to the house, where the 

 pipe comes up through a large square stone to 

 the height of 3 or 4 feet, having the appearance 

 of issuing from a solid rock. A stream of water 

 is hefe continually nmning, sufficient for every 

 pur|)ose for which it may be wanted. 



I'he greatest c\iripsity, and that which more 

 particularly attracted my attention about thip 

 aqueduct was a trough or dish |>laced at Iho out- 

 let of this pump for Ihe accoinmodatioii of teiirns 

 and cairiage horses, which are constantly [>assing 

 and rejiassing. This trough or dish is iiewed 

 out of a hard solid rock, being about four Ibet 

 in length, three in breadth, and eighteen inches 

 in depth, holding ncarlv one hundr."d givKons of 



water. 1 his watering pot is regularly shaped 

 and neatly ^vorked ; and, should no unloreseen 

 accident bofal if, will last for many ;,o-e<; This 

 is a valuable improvement, yet it is t°uf one a- 

 mong mjiny others, which characterize the noble 

 spirit and enterprize of Mr Beama'w. 



Since looking over this (arm and witnessine 

 the many improvements which have been made 

 thereon, ami its present state of cultivation 1 

 have Tellected much on the miserable situation 

 of the vast number of farms in New Eno-land 

 the sight of which would be enough to s'icken 

 the man of lasleand improvement,— but which 

 are capable of being raised fo a eondition of the 

 highest order by the hand of industry and enter- 

 prise. 



It seems to me that if many of our slovenly 

 home-bred farmers wfere to make an excur-ioa 

 abroad, and take a view of some of the well 

 cultivated farms which are here and there to be 

 met uilh, they would not only be disponed to 

 relinquish and abandon many of their heredii ,rv 

 notions and practices, but they would blush and 

 be ashamed on account of the ignorance and 

 prejudice which in so great a degree predomi- 

 nafcs over Ihem. They would no lono-er think 

 so lightly of, nor so much abhor and "conteoin 

 scienlilic and systematic husbandry. They woiild 

 not think so lighlly of Agricultural association^ 

 and condemn Catlle Shows as useless and inju- 

 i;ious lo the eommunily ; nor would they mani- 

 te:A such determined opposition to the introduc- 

 tion cf new aud valuable breeds of animals and 

 the various improvements which are so fast pro- 

 gressing in our country at Che present day. 



Tliere arc undoubtedly many among us who 

 cdild theybe brought fo their senses, and the' 

 right use of their reason respecting these tilings, 

 would face about and pursue a different course! 

 They would at once discover the necessity of 

 understanding the (heory as well as the practicft 

 of husbandry, in order fo be proficient in the 

 business. They would no longer ridicule and set 

 at nought all that is written on the subject, as of 

 no worth ; but on the other hand they would 

 avail themselves of the advantages fo be derived 

 from reading and study. I'hey would subscribe 

 lor the New Enoland Far-meh, and |)eruse its 

 pages with candour and atlenfion,— learnin;i- 

 therefrom how lo raise better caffle and hogs 

 together with larger crops of grass and grain ;' 

 and in this way not only benefit themselves, but ' 

 Ihe community at large. \\\ 



LEECH-WORM BAROMETER. 



The following changes have been observed 

 in this animal before any particular alteration of 

 the weather : 



1. When the leech lies motionless at the 

 boltom of the phial, and is frequently in a spiral 

 form, the weither in summer, nifl he serene 

 anil beautiful ; the same denotes clear frosty 

 weather in winter. 



2. If if creeps up to the top of its lodging, it 

 will rain within twenly-four hours in summer, 

 and snow in winter. 



3. "When the leech gallops through its limp- 

 id habitation with swiftness, it denotes wind, 

 anil seldom rests until it blows hard. 



■1. When thu leech lodges aluiost constantly 

 out of the water, and discovers uncommon un- 

 easines.", violent fhroos and convulsive-like mo- 

 tion?, a storm of thunder and rain uil! succetd. 



/ 



