64 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



right time the ears will be numerous, larf^e, long 

 and well-tilled, the kernel plump, fut and shining, 

 other things l)eing equal. 



To conelude, I should expect the greatest 

 yield of corn to tlie farmsr, who, (ceteris pari- 

 bus) furnished the largest supply of manure and 

 commingled it to the greatest depth and in the most 

 intimate way with the soil, planting properly, and 

 keeping down the growth of all extraneous sub- 

 stances. 



The average corn crop in the southern part of 

 V'ermout, as far as my acquaintance extends, is, 

 in my opinion, not over 30 bushels to the acre. 

 Some few poor farmers I know, who do not get 

 20 bushels to the acre, whilst others average, 

 taking the years together, over GO ; very few 80 ; 

 and rarely do I see a crop that yields 100 bu^- 

 els to the acre. The town of Guilford, I think, 

 will compare favorably with the average of towns 

 in the south part of Vermont, for it exports more 

 than it receives from other towns. 



This town pr.)duces about as much pork as is 

 consumed, quite a surplus of beef and butter, 

 about its own supply of cheese, and a surplus of 

 oats, barley and most kinds of fruit. The ex- 

 ports of fruit consist chiefly of apples, pears and 

 peaches, some of which are not exceeded. A few 

 of our farmers are beginning to give a share of 

 attention to growing some of the finer varieties 

 of the grape, which, at present bid fair to be re- 

 munerative. Quinces, wool, and early lambs for 

 market, are no small sources of revenue to many 

 of our friends. E. G. Cross. 



Guilford Centre, Dec. 8, 1854. 



For the New England Farmer. 



ANCIENT LANDMARKS, 

 In this day of progress extraordinary, by the 

 power of steam and with the speed of lightning, 

 it is gratifying to find some things stable and un- 

 shaken. Never were we more strongly impressed 

 with this sentiment, than on turning over the 

 leaves of the 36 th Annual Report of the Worces- 

 ter Agricultural Society. Thirty-six years ago, 

 thought we, who were then in the ascendant, and 

 where are they now ? Nearly all those in active 

 life then have passed away. One honored name 

 still remains, vigorous and instructive, as appears 

 upon these pages. Hence a lesson, despise not the 

 instruction of the Fathers. "Young folks think 

 old folks fools — Old folks know young ones to be 

 so." If we do not mistake, this "^modest volume 

 of about 100 pa(;i's will l)e found to contain les- 

 sons of instrruction, worthy of preservation. Nime 

 of your images stuffed for show — but real sul> 

 stantial matter. We refer particularly to the 

 statements and reports on tlis management of 

 farms — of dairis, — of root crops, &c. The wit 

 poured out on hvvine, and other kindred topics, 

 will do very well at t!io table, but is hardly wor- 

 thy a place on t'leshelfof a library. It requires 

 a Fessenden, a Lincoln or a Poole, to use wit on 

 topics agricultural, in a manner that will not be- 

 come stale. 



We trust th(3 dairy exjierlments in this volume 

 will commend thciiisclvoK to the favor of those who 

 elicited tliem. We had almost despaired of any- 

 thing (/«o</ (except good dinners) coming from the 

 • efli)rts of the Mass. Society. IJut when we see 

 such products, as have been brought forth at 



Worcester and at Barre — and know that there 

 are other towns in othur counties, that can do as 

 well or better, if tempted to undertake it, we 

 have hope remaining, that the days of '■improve- 

 ment in agriculture'' have not all passed away ; 

 — and that the ancient landmarks are still worthy 

 to be regarded with respect. Essex. 



Dec. 26, 1854. 



TRAINING HORSES FOR THE SADDLE. 



We have always been of opinion that horses 

 were used under great disadvantages, irksomely 

 to themselves, besides awkwardly and annoying 

 to their riders who had not been educated, or, 

 as it is called, "broke in," for the purpose for 

 which they were intended. Oom2:)ared with the 

 number who receive no "breaking" at all — or 

 none save what little they get to quiet them to 

 domesticity, from the hands of the country "colt 

 breaker," how few are they who have once had a 

 schoolmaster's whip over tlieir heads. And yet, 

 mount an animal of this numberless class, and 

 then afterw^ards throw the leg over a really Ijrokc 

 or managed horse, and the difference is likely to 

 prove as great as — speaking not so very wildly — 

 between riding a horse and riding a cow. True 

 it is, with persons who do not from experience 

 understand this, riding is riding, so long as it be 

 on horseback ; but a true and expert horseman 

 would as soon ride a donkey as an awkward, no- 

 mouthed, no-paced horse. 



On all occasions it is a consideration of mo- 

 ment to avoid alarming a horse ; and although 

 this applies to every hour of his life, it is of great- 

 er consequence with young than with aged hors- 

 es ; that is to say, young ones will be alarmed at 

 trifling objects, which at a future age they would 

 not notice. 



The control which we acquire over the horse 

 depends upon the mouth, and likewise a vast pro- 

 portion of the agreealjle or disagreeable associa- 

 tions which render exercise on horseback pleas- 

 ant or toilsome. A good mouth is the medium 

 by which any improvement in the natural car- 

 riage of an animal is to be accomplished. When 

 going at a slow pace, the way in which a horse 

 carries himself may, to a very considerable extent, 

 be controlled ; but when at full speed, or even 

 when nearly approximating that pace, his unre 

 strained action must prevail. By habit in the 

 slow paces, improvement in the faster ones may 

 be slightly obtained ; but that must be brought 

 about by very moderate attempts, otherwise the 

 action of the animal, far from being corrected, 

 will inevitably be rendered worse. A horse that 

 bends himself nicclj'^, is undoubtedly more pleas- 

 ant to ride than one which runs with his nose 

 down to his knees ; or the reverse, with his head 

 in rivalry with that of his rider ; and such defects 

 are, in most cases, capable of correction if prop- 

 erly treated in juvenile days ; but too much con- 

 straint is adverse to pace both for racing or hunt- 

 ing. When a horse carries his head too high, it 

 may, in many instances, be remedied by using a 

 curb, without any port, but with rather long 

 cheeks, and the curb chain hung quite loose. Ac- 

 companied with good hands, this often produces 

 an excellent effect, especially with young horses, 

 wliich are disjiosed to contend against the control 

 of a martingale. 



It may appear as a contradiction, but when 



