442 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



Wellman's boys begin to help round early — does 

 as he is bidden, and soon a bright fire is blazing up- 

 on the hearth. The farmer and his family, having 

 partaken of a bovmtiful repast, gather around the 

 cheerful blaze. Farmer Wellman takes liis com- 

 fortable chair in the corner, and the wife and daugh- 

 ters are seated around the table, sewing, or knit- 

 ting, or performing such still household duties as 

 are requisite ; the boys are variously disposed. Far- 

 mer Goodyear and his son Thomas come in to spend 

 the evening, and there they sit and discuss the 

 whole round of farmers' duties — the crops — the 

 prospects, — &c., &c., and as likely as not they end 

 their evening conversation by a discussion of nation- 

 al or State poKtics, for no men are better posted 

 up in such matters than these two farmers. The 

 women folks talk of their butter and cheese, then- 

 caps, bonnets, dresses, &c., and the younger fry en- 

 gage in such conversation and fun as befits the time 

 and place. The old clock in the corner strikes ten. 

 The visiters, with the asseveration "that they didn't 

 have any idea it was so late," bid good-night ; the 

 family assemble around the table, the Holy Book is 

 read, and an ardent and sincere prayer ascends to 

 Heaven, and then all is hushed and still in that 

 dwelling, till daylight begins to streak the East, 

 ■when the bustle of a new day of labor and happi- 

 ness is welcomed with thanksgiving ; and so pass 

 away the October days and nights of Farmer 

 Wellman and his neighbors. 



And with the beautiful rotation of the seasons, 

 pass the beautiful rotation of the farmer's labors 

 and the farmer's pleasures. Honest industry is 

 sure to afford independence, happiness, and peace at 

 all seasons of the year. The farmer depends more 

 than any other upon the beneficent God above him, 

 and the yielding earth beneath him, and every oth- 

 er occupation in life depends mainly upon the far- 

 mer. Honored and respected beyond all other em- 

 ployment, be that of him who tills the soil. 



But, bless me, and yourself too, kind reader ! 

 We have become so interested in the pleasures and 

 appearances of October, that we had well-nigh for- 

 gotten its apjiropriate duties, and must leave them 

 now to your own good sense and suggestions ; only 

 hoping that beautiful October may prove to each 

 of you, all that we have said of it above. 



F(/r Hie New England Farmer. 



COUUTY SHOWS. 



On looking over the appointments for these, it 

 seems they are to be holden 'mjivc of the counties, 

 on the 2Gth and 27th days of September — in four 

 of the counties, on the 3d and 4th days of October 

 — in four of the counties, on the 10th and 11th 

 days of October. Might they not be so arranged 

 as to come on successive days, between the 20th of 

 September and the 20th of October ? Ought it not 

 to be provided by law, that all those societies which 

 are eustained by the bounty of the State, should 



have their exhibitions at such times as the Board of 

 Agriculture may direct ? *. 



For the Neto England Farmer. 



RAPE PLANT. 



Noticing the communication of "P. A. F.," of 

 Shaker Village, N. H., and "A. B.," of Sudbury, 

 I remark that there is a summer and a Avinter vari- 

 ety. The seed of the former is not quite so large 

 as the latter sort, which was probably tried by both 

 of your correspondents, but better suited to the 

 New England climate. It is the same as is im- 

 ported from Germany and Holland, and sold by the 

 name of Dutch rape. That known in the market as 

 English rape, is the winter variety, and is mostly 

 imported from England. I have a patch of sum- 

 mer rape now in bloom, which was sown in drills 

 in May, and some of the loM'er seed-pods have 

 nearly filled out. The seed sells at about $4,00 per 

 bushel, and as the grower in this country is protect- 

 ed by a duty of 10 per cent., it certainly seems as 

 though we ought to suj)ply our own market. The 

 only crop that ever came within my personal 

 knowledge in this country was raised by a farmer 

 in Pennsylvania, who thought that it paid him well 

 at $2,50 per bushel. It will grow on any piece of 

 land that will produce turnip seed. The plants 

 should be left standing about 18 inches apart. 



w. 



For the New England Farmer. 



THE PROGRESS APPLE. 



The Progress Jljyple is a native of this place, and 

 the original tree is now standing,* although it has 

 probably yielded regular crops from a period quite 

 remote. 



Situated as it was, where farms have been well 

 stocked with apple trees yielding good fruit in great 

 abundance, its good qualities wore not immediately 

 tested, and it was at first considered only as a late 

 fall apple. But they were found, after a fair trial, 

 to rival the best winter apples as a late keeper ; 

 thus they are a favorite for the table from Octo- 

 ber to April. The tree is a good grower (not quite 

 so rapid as the Baldwin) and forms a very hand- 

 some head ; bears early, regularly, and most abun- 

 dantly. 



Fruit rather above medial size, roundish, and very 

 fair ; skin smooth, and when gathered, a light green, 

 with a tinge of red in the sun ; when fully ripe, a 

 clear light yellow, with a beautiful blush on the sun- 

 ny side, and sometimes sprinkled ■with a few scat- 

 tered gray dots. Flesh very tender, juicy, with 

 sprightly and remarkably agreeable flavor. As a 

 market fruit it is very profitable, owing to its pro- 

 ductiveness and ready sale. Tlie trees l)ear well by 

 the road-side, or in pastures, and in the cultivated 

 garden or orchard the fruit is superb. 



They have not failed for years to draw a premi- 

 um from the Middlesex County (Conn.) Agricultu- 

 ral Society, and at the Connecticut State Fair last 

 October, took the first premium as best new seed- 

 ling. It deserves an extensive dissemination, and is 

 sure to do well in any of the Northern or Western 

 States. P. M. Augur. 



Middlefield, 1855. 



* The old tree stands on land of Alvah Coe, formerly of old 

 Esquire Miller, and for some time was called Esquire Miller's 

 best. 



