1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



103 



School m Westborough, exerts a salutary and 

 powerful influence upon the agriculture of the 

 Commonwealth, and promises to do still more for 

 its advancement." 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



A FINE APPLE. 



■ I send you a sample of sweet apples raised by 

 me, for a name. Our pomologists do not know 

 the fruit, and I think it is too good to be name- 

 less. It resembles in a good degree, Downing's 

 "Ladies' Sweeting," but is not identical. It has 

 long been a desideratum with us to obtain a first- 

 rate winter sweeting, and this is the best we 

 have found. It is a great bearer and keeps well. 

 Yours truly, Geo. A. Chamberlain. 



Worcester, Dec, 1854. 



Remarks. — This apple, like the Ladies' Sweet- 

 ing, has a pleasant perfume, and fine, sprightly 

 flavor. The skin is a beautiful red, but has not 

 the yellowish-gray dots of the former. We sub- 

 mitted the specimens sent, to two or three good 

 judges, who could not recognize it, and while 

 looking at them a gentleman on his way to the 

 Horticultural Rooms brought in a basket of ap- 

 ples for our examination, which proved identical 

 with yours. They were then presented at the 

 Rooms, but could not be named. 



The apple is not only attractive in its appear- 

 ance, but is of fine texture and flavor, and with 

 the other good qualities given it by Mr. Cham- 

 berlain, will prove a valuable variety. 



cows GNAWING BONES. 



I have a cow, the moment she is turned out is 

 in search of a bone, and if she finds one, will stand 

 and chew it for hours ; a year or two ago, I read 

 something about it, l)ut I have forgotten what it 

 was. Will you or some of your correspondents 

 plea^se inform me. Wm. Dcr.ojt. 



Leominster, 1855. 



Remarks. — By reference to former volumes of 

 the Monthly Fanner, you will find the cause of 

 this pretty fully discussed. Pound a few bones 

 as finely as possible, and feed to your cow ; or 

 purchase a bag of bone-dust, and feed a little of 

 that to her, and when she is turned to pasture 

 she will give her attention to the grass rather 

 than to the "old bone." Bone-dust is sold at the 

 agricultural warehouses, in bags, for 75 cents 

 for about 25 lbs. of the dust. Every farmer 

 should have it. 



Dear Sir : — The information contained in the 

 items below, is so curious, that I cut the slips 

 from an English newspaper, given to me to read 

 to-day, by an Englishman who works on my 

 farm, and send them to you, supposing you may 

 like to put them in a corner of your paper. 

 Wishing you a happy new year, your friend, 



Washington, D. C, 1855. t. b. 



"Around Aylesbury the annual return for 

 ducks is £40,000. One man has had 1000 to 



2000 ducks, and paid £50 at a time for barley 

 meal." 



"The Agricultural Society of Clermont, in the 

 department of the Oise, has recommended the 

 use of that agricultural nuisance, couch-grass, as 

 a substitute for malt in the making of beer." 



THE barley crop. 



C. S., South Hawley, Franklin County, urges 

 upon the farmer the importance of giving more 

 attention to the barley crop ; says that barley 

 flour makes good bread, and that it may take the 

 place of wheat flour with advantage to health as 

 well as the purse, when the latter is selling at 

 $12 per barrel. 



CONCRETE HOUSES. 



We have already referred, at considerable 

 length, to the work on Concrete Houses. 



CHEAP FENCES. 



Mr. Editor : — I wish the writer on cheap 

 fence would be more explicit ; state how long the 

 stakes must be soaked, and how many can be 

 prepared in a certain quantity of the prepara- 

 tion. Alpheus Fletcher. 



Shelburn, 1855. 



YOUNG cattle's HORNS. 



I would inquire of you, or some of the numer- 

 ous readers of the Neiv England Farmer, if the 

 shape of steers, or any young cattle's horns, can 

 be altered, and the best time and process of doing 

 it. S. F. Alger. 



Winchendon, Jan. 8, 1855. 



Rejiarks. — Will some oWur experienced friends 

 reply. 



From N. P. ]\I., Somerville. — The apple you 

 sent in, if now in its season, would be hardly 

 worthy of cultivation among the excellent vari- 

 eties we already possess. The flesh is soft and 

 dry, and though not remarkably acid, yet with 

 a vinegar tinge, that is not agreeable. The Jcw- 

 etVi Fine Red&re very handsome. 



The Skilful Housewife's Book. — This is an- 

 other of Saxton's books, containing 659 Receipts, 

 pertaining to Household Duties, the Care of 

 Health, Gardening, Flowers, Birds, Education of 

 Children, &c. The work was compiled by Mrs. 

 L. G. Abell, and as the Pulilishcr's preface saj-s, 

 " is the production of a highly-gifted and disci- 

 plined mind," and " teaches in the broadest sense, 

 the Science of Life.^^ It will be found exceedingly 

 convenient to every housewife who does not know 

 everything herself, if there is any such. 



Mexican Guano. — The reader is referred to an 

 advertisement in another column relating to 

 "Mexican Phosphatic Guano." 



