1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



39 



the volume as useful for this purpose. Looking 

 at the references under this Avord in the Index, 

 my first thought was that justice had not been 

 done to the Former, as there are references to on- 

 ly nineteen pages, -while the suhjcct is discussed 

 in nearer one hundred different places, all of 

 which, it is true, may be in the index, but placed 

 under so many heads, as to be liable to be over- 

 looked, by one who has but a single evening to 

 study manures. The objection to this system of 

 classification, that it requires much repetition, is 

 in my mind far outweighed by the foct of its con- 

 venience. 



''Notice.'^ — Hereafter we are to have no adver- 

 tisements in the Farmer, and it it to be stitched 

 in a neat cover. Thank you, Mr. Publisher, for 

 that; it will keep our numbers clean, inside and 

 out, for the binder. 



'■'Maturing Plants.^' — Commencement of a re- 

 ply to a criticism on an article with this heading 

 tliat was published some time since in the Farm- 

 er. As there is quite a scientific "snap"' to these 

 articles, we shall read them carefully, and under- 

 stand them if we can. 



"Is Farming Respectable?'''' — Well, now, that 

 is right to the "pint." If it is not respectable, 

 old Massachusetts is a real know-nothing, for 

 electing a farmer Lieut. Governor. 



'■'Guano''' — Experiments in Orford, N. 11., 

 from which it is inferred that "those who covered 

 or applied it while wet, received benefit ; those 

 who used it dr^', had little." 



'■'■Inquiry and 0/;serra/io7i," must excite in eve- 

 ry reader a determination to look closer into the 

 things about him, and to think deeper and more 

 reverently. 



But I must pass over the articles — "A Good 

 Plow," "Agricultural Value of Railroads," "New 

 System of Preserving J.Ieat," a chapter on "Feed- 

 ing Animals," "Wheat Trade" of England, and 

 several others, to ask the attention of all con- 

 cerned to the suggestions on "Fair Premiums." 

 To award a premium on agricultural implements 

 to the Railroad Company that transported them 

 to tlie place of exhibition, would probably sur- 

 prise everybody ; j^et what superior claim has the 

 mere dealer in such articles? 



"■Improved Windmills."' — A few such dry sum- 

 mers as the last, will make a demand for wind- 

 mills or some other pumping power. 



"■'Forest Trees.''' — Two articles on saving and 

 sowing the seeds of forest trees. 



" United Slates Cattle Shoiv." — Full account of 

 proceedings and Premiums. 



"Grass Land — Grass Seed," "What Boston has 

 done for Agriculture," "Fall Plowing," "Gyp- 

 sum," "Emery's Saw Mill," and "Best Method 

 of Getting Corn and Ilay" on wet land, bring us 

 to an account of the wonderfuj oifects of "Deep 

 Plowing and Plastering" in Micliigan. There is 

 60 great difffrence between the soil of Michigan 

 and of Massachusetts, that an experiment in one 

 State may be of little value as a guide in the oth- 

 er. I have seen herdsgrass growing rank and tall 

 from the earth thrown up in digging a well in 

 Micliigan, while that grass grew l)ut poorly, if at 

 all, in the surface soil that would yield fifteen or 

 twenty Imshcls of wheat per acre without ma- 

 nure. And plaster has an effect there very difler- 

 ent from what it has here. Why and Iiow it is 

 I do not know, and therefore will not undertake 

 to say. 



Fruit. — Notice of fine apples from Canada. 

 New mode of grafting suckers of Plum, with a 

 recommendation of the Shad Bush as stocks for 

 the pear. In the Farmer for May, 18.53, is an 

 article by Mr. Goodrich, of Burlington, Vt., which 

 to my mind conclusively demonstrates the fact 

 that the "whole family of thorns, mountain ash, 

 and shadberry" are utterly worthless for pear- 

 stocks. Has "Far East" read that article, and 

 what ^Ir. Burt says to the same effect, page 204, 

 same volume? How to manage "Cuttings of 

 Fruit Trees." To manure "The Blackberry." 

 Two articles on "Grapes." A Reader. 



Winchester, Dec, 1854. 



IMP0RTATIC2I OF ENGLISH CATTLE 

 IK TO THE UNITED STATES. 



The importations ipto the country have become 

 quite frequent and important. A few years ago 

 the taste ran in a different direction, and blood 

 horses were all the go. Priam, Glencoe, Mon- 

 arch, and horses of that stamp, were purchased 

 in England at enormous prices — 15,000 or IG,- 

 000 dollars being paid for a single animal ; but a 

 fondness for racing has diminished, not only in 

 the Northern but also in Southern States, and 

 the importation of well-bred cattle, sheep and 

 hogs, has been pursued with more ardor. Who- 

 ever will compare our common native sheep with 

 the improved breeds, will see at once an immense 

 difference between them, and yet the care, atten- 

 tion and expense required to raise the former, is 

 no more than for those of higher grade. One is 

 an ornament to lawns, an object of interest ; the 

 other almost a disgrace to the poorest farms. 

 The profit which attends the raising of liigher 

 breeds is far greater, and it ever increases the 

 pleasure derived from farming to have the stock 

 of a superior quality. 



In a late celel>ration attended by breeders of 

 fine sheep, it was stated that those from the United 

 States were the purchasers in the English mar- 

 kets of the best animals. The influence of pre- 

 vious importations, and of those going on, must 

 be extensively felt in tlie production ot' fine wool 

 in the United States, and the manufacture of ex- 

 cellent woolen i'abrics. The vast extent of graz- 

 ing land we possess in tlie north(>rn and middle 

 States, makes the production of wool one of the 

 most important olijccts of industry. The South- 

 ern States, except on a few of the mountains, are 

 not suited for this business. The entire coast is 

 flat and sandy, from Virginia to Texas, and from 

 the shore to the mountain region, for the width 

 of 100 to 200 miles. Over this extensive surface 

 there is no jiasturage for animals, which arc fed 

 on fodder and imported hay. The mountain re- 

 gion south of ^^irginia affords some pasturage, 

 whicli enterprising citizens are engaged in de- 

 voting to the raising of slieep. They prefer breeds 

 from Spain, owing to their supposed adapti'dru>~e 

 to a warm climate. It was supposed tliat Illi- 

 nois, which has a level lay of the land, was not 

 suited to this purpose ; liut it was ascertiiined 

 thatsheej^ wliicli liad reached their growtii in the 

 Eastern States, advanced materially in size and 

 weight from being introduced to rich pastures on 

 the prairies. Tlie wool became coarser, but it 

 increased in quantity. 



This important interest is now under full way 



