188 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



Note. — In regard to the operation of mowing 

 machines, the competitors will not be restricted 

 to their own farms, but may go from farm to 

 farm. A statement in writing will be required 

 of the working of the machine, any accidents oc- 

 curring to it while at work, the number of horses 

 employed, and the number of hours in actual op- 

 eration. All entries of mowing machines must 

 be made with the Secretary, in season for the 

 committee to view them in operation before the 

 day of the Show, and they must be exhibited at 

 the Show that the public may have an opportu- 

 uity to examine them. 



The Trustees reserve the right of withholding 

 all or any of the above prizes, to be carried for 

 ward to another year, at their discretion, and no 

 award will be made for any agricultural imple 

 ment which is not of the best workmanship, and 

 of such a character as to commend it to the far- 

 mers of the county. 



The Middlesex Society has offered nearly a 

 thousand dollars m premiums, and the Norfolk 

 90 much that we cannot spare time to add them 

 up — probably much more than the Middlesex 

 The State Society has also appropriated most lib- 

 erally for the purpose of the special improvement 

 of the dairy, as the following will show from the 

 Essex bills. 



The following are offered through the liberality 

 of the "Massachusetts Society for the Promotion 

 of Agriculture." 



For the best dairy of cows, not less than six in 

 number, and which shall have been owned by the 

 exhibitor and kept within the county not less 

 than five months previous to the cattle show, 

 $75,00. Forthe second best, $50,00. For the 

 third best. $25,00. 



Note. — The competitors must exhibit their 

 dairy of six cows, for which they claim a premi- 

 um, at the show of the present year, and accom- 

 pany the entry by a statement in writing, of their 

 management on the farm, and their product dur- 

 ing the season' of trial, with all such particulars 

 as will enable the committee to decide satifacto- 

 rily not only upon the relative claims of the sev- 

 eral competitors, but upon the management and 

 absolute prodtict in iveight and profits of each dairy 

 respectively, whether in butter, cheese or milk, 

 through the period of trial, viz., for five months 

 before the show. 



THE WHITE BLACKBERRY. 



The White Blackberry is a most vigorous 

 grower, often attaining a height of ten feet. It 

 is a much more prolific bearer than the common 

 variety, or field blackberry, the buds being set on 

 the stalks in the immediate vicinity of each 

 other — there being generally not more than the 

 distance of two inches between them, and each 

 bud having two spurs instead of one, as in the 

 case with the latter. The berries are of large 

 size, amber colored, and possessing a flavor re- 

 markably rich and sweet. There is no difficulty 

 whatever attending its cultivation ; all that is 

 eaecutially requisite being a rich, light, and mod- 



erately warm soil, and a copious and sustained 

 supply of forest leaves and scrapings. A com- 

 post formed of these, with a small quantity of 

 gypsum, and frequent hocings to lighten the soil, 

 and prevent the radiation and growth of weeds, 

 will almost invariably secure success in the culti- 

 vation of this valuable fruit. The original culti- 

 vator of this fruit in this country, is Mr. J. S. 

 Needham, of Danvers, Mass., and "Needham's 

 White Blackberry," of which a very good en- 

 graving was published some time since in the 

 New England Farmer, is probably the most pro- 

 lific and valuable variety of the fruit to be found. 

 The White Blackberry and Black Raspberry are 

 both valuable fruits, and should have a place in 

 every fruit and kitchen garden in the land. 



FISH. 



It is a well known fact that there are some varie- 

 ties of fish which are able to live and propagate 

 their species both in fresh and salt water. Among 

 them are the smelt, the perch, the salmon and 

 trout ; and it is probable that many of our most 

 valuable salt water fish might be transported to 

 our inland ponds, and raised in al)undance for 

 marketable purposes. Smelts particularly, thrive 

 well in fresh water, and often grow to a very 

 large size ; and it is not impossible that cod, 

 haddock, flounders and even mackerel might, 

 with proper care and training, be made to do as 

 well. — Boston Journal. 



The above suggestion in valuable, both to the 

 people of the sea-coast and upon the interior riv- 

 ers, lakes and ponds. Fishes can be transplanted 

 and transported along the same shores, and from 

 salt to fresh waters, or the opposite. Why then 

 should there be any bay, or stream, or pond, that 

 will not afford food for man ? Why should not 

 fishes be domesticated, increased in size, and im- 

 proved in quality, by bringing them under cul- 

 ture, and furnishing, where it cannot be had 

 otherwise, with proper food ? The fowl and the 

 beast have thus been turned to better uses than 

 otherwise they would have had, and the dominion 

 of the sea, as well as of the earth and air, is giv- 

 en to man. 



Gradually the fishes of our streams and shores 

 are disappearing. The little brooks and ponds 

 of the country were once alive with them — and 

 the pickerel, the perch, and the trout were very 

 handy when it did not cost more time to take 

 them than they were worth. So, too, on the sea- 

 shores, we had an abundance of cod-fish, shad, 

 salmon, herring, and others covered with scales 

 or shells ; but gradually they have decreased and 

 some of them almost disappeared. In both in- 

 stances we have disturbed and destroyed them ; 

 we have paid no regard to their wants, and the 

 ways and times of their increase ; and hereafter 

 we shall suffer their loss, or by proper attention 

 and provision must secure their continuance. 



By changing fishes from one locality to another 

 we can habituate them to new homes where they 

 may turn to pleasure and profit. We have seen 

 this done with oysters, lobsters, and other shell 

 fish ; and just as well it has been and may be 

 done with other species. You can seed the wa- 



