424 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



aiice above the ground, but in 10 days time the 

 TV'orms had destroyed two-thirds of the spears in 

 the field. At first hoeing I replanted the field, or 

 the missing liills. Now, where the first planting 

 stands, it is waist high, and the second planting is 

 about one foot in height. I am of the ojnnion that 

 should the weather prove favorable, the second 

 planting Anil prove nearly as good as the first. 

 This is the case with those who planted on old pas- 

 ture land. jMost of those who planted on lands that 

 had a crop of some description on last season, the 

 worms had not injured at all. The farmers in tliis 

 ncinity have put in more crops this spring than 

 common. Most every farmer has sowed his spring 

 wheat to supply his family vnih, during another 

 season, and the crop generally looks finely. Most 

 farmers for the past ten years have depended upon 

 buj-ing western flour to bread their families with, 

 for they said that the crop of wheat was so uncer- 

 tain that they had rather trust oats than wheat. 

 But the high price of flour has caused a revolution 

 in their opinion, and in fact has drained their purs 

 es to the bottom. My policy has been, since com- 

 mencuig farming for myself, to raise my wheat ; then 

 I was not de])endent on a foreign state for my 

 bread ; and for the past eight years I have annually 

 raised about two acres of spring wheat, and have 

 not as yet failed of raising a decent crop of wheat. 

 My plan has been to sow my Avheat upon land 

 wliich was the previous year planted to potatoes ; 

 the ground is well mixed and subdued by the pro- 

 cess of hoeing and digging the crop of potatoes ; 

 then plow and sow my wheat, after Hming, as early 

 as I can, say by the 15th of April, this season I did 

 not sow till the 21st, on account of the land being 

 wet and cold. The hay crop is light and back- 

 ward. Meadows in this vicinity, by the excessive 

 drought of last season and the ice of last Avinter, 

 have been killed out very much. I predicted in 

 the month of April that let the season be as favor- 

 able as it could be, we must have a short crop of 

 hay. New seeded meadows are generally very thin, 

 all those wliich have been laid down the past three 

 years. Yours truly, J. Peck. 



Low Hampton, .V. Y., July 17, 1855. 



ther inforrtiation of the above character we shall be 

 most happy in affording, when such facts cotie be- 

 fore us. 



Com in this vicinity looks very promising, and 

 also grain of all kinds. Pumpkin and squash vines 

 are raj)idly reaching out for more extended territo- 

 r}-. I have seen some wthin a few days that would 

 measure from six to eight feet in length. 



Hay comes in verj' hght. It is estimated at "tAVO- 

 tliirds" crop, though some Avill cut much less than 

 this. The dull Aveather at present is a serious check 

 to haymaking operations ; still there has been a 

 good quantity of veiy nice hay secured already. 



Gardens are presenting an unusually fine appear- 

 ance, and A\-ill pay a great per centage on outlay of 

 time and money ; the one most Avorthy of notice 

 being that oAAiied by David Roberts, Esq., of Sa- 

 lem, Avhich has for its principal feature betAA'een /our 

 a7id Jive acres of onions, the most thrifty and pro- 

 mising of any in our Avide community. 



Hamilton, July 21. Z. A. Appleton. 



Remarks. — The worm described above is the 

 same as that sent us by Mr. Sheldon, of Wilming- 

 Its raA'ages have not yet been extensive. 



ton, 



Fcrr the Nsw England Farmer. 



A POTATO WORM. 



Mr. Editor : — Mr. J. P. KnoAvlton, of this toAvn, 

 on visiting his potato field, to-day, discovered in the 

 vines what he believes to be the cause of the potato 

 rot. He brought several Aines from the field, which 

 before being cut off, Avere more or less Avilted at the 

 extreme tops ; and on examining them Avith him, 

 we found in each a hole made near the bottom of 

 the vine, about the size of that made by a buckshot. 

 On spUtting the vine from the hole towards the top, 

 its pith was found to be entirely eaten out, till Ave 

 discovered a worm in close though comfortable 

 quarters, from fom* to six inches from its entrance. 

 The worm is about one inch in length, and of a 

 light pink color, its back being broAAii half its length 

 from the head, Avliich Avas crested. 



Mr. Knowlton's potatoes were planted in good 

 soil, on high land, and the vines, as most every 

 where else, never looked more flourishing, being in 

 blossom, and the potatoes just forming. Judging 

 from the present appearance and the amount or ex- 

 tent the Avorm has eaten, they must have com- 

 menced hostilities but a few days since. Any fur- 



A SHOW OF DAIRY STOCK. 



The Trustees of the " Massachusetts Society for 

 Promoting Agricultm-e " propose to the farmers of 

 the State, a ShoAV of Dairy Stock, at Worcester, on 

 the grounds of the Worcester Agricultural Society, 

 and Avith the assistance and accommodations which 

 have been liberally offered by that society, on 



Thursday, September 27, 1856. 

 And the}' have authorized the midersigned to offer 

 the folloAving premiums. 



Class I. 



For the best six Dairy Coavs, Avhich shall have 

 been OAAiied and kept together from Jidy 1, 1855, 

 to the day of the Show, and at least three of which 

 coAvs shall have been bred and raised or imported 

 by the competitors. 



A first premium of. $250 



Second premium 200 



Third premium 150 



Fourth premium 100 



Class II. 

 For the best four Dairy Cows, oAvned and kept 

 from July 1, 1855, to the day of the Show, at least 

 one of Avhich shall have been bred and raised or im- 

 ported by the competitors. 



a first premium of. $150 



Second premium 100 



Third premium 60 



Fourth premium 40 



Notice of intention to compete for either of the 

 above premiums, must be given in person, or by 

 letter postpaid, to Benj. Guild, Esq., Secretary of 

 the Society, at Boston, on or before the 1st day of 

 December next. The period of trial aaiII extend 

 from Dec. 1, 1855, to Aug. 31, 1856, both inclu- 

 sive. 



Class III. 



For the best Durham Cow $50 



Next best 35 



For the best Devon Cow 50 



Next best 35 



For the best Ayrshire 50 



Next be St 35 



For the best Alderney 50 



Next best 86 



For best Cow of any other pure breed 50 



Next best 85 



