1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



541 



generally, it is considered the most convenient, and 

 is, therefore, the one which is most frequently 

 adopted. 



There is one thing I wish to mention, which some, 

 perhaps, may think unworthy of notice, but which 

 to me, seems otherwise, and will, doubtless, to 

 many others : and this is, that in these new barns 

 no provision is made for the ingress and egress of 

 the jwor swallows. 



Around these neat, spruce, well-proportioned 

 bams, and their decorated gables and cupolas, the 

 swift, graceful gyrations of the swallow are seldom 

 seen, and beneath theii' sheltering roofs his merry 

 twitterings ai'e never heard. And why are these 

 harns thus deserted by these sociable little fellows ? 

 Simply for the want of a Httle aperture, round or 

 square, and three or fom- inches in diameter, in each 

 gable of the barn, just beneath its apex. 



In barns built after the old style, "swallow holes" 

 Avere always to be seen. In some of these barns I 

 have counted twenty nests at one time, all of them 

 being occupied. 



A barn swarming with a multitude of such happy, 

 innocent inhabitants, resounds with such flutterings, 

 twitteruigs and gushing outbm'sts of song, that it 

 seems as if every one who enters within its pre- 

 cincts, even if he be a confirmed hj'jjocondriac, must 

 forget all his troubles, and feel his heart di'awn up- 

 wards in praise to Him "to whom alone praise is 

 due," for their cheerful melodies. 



If birds possess, as they certamly did in at least 

 one instance, — I refer to the story which appeared 

 in the Farmer a short time since, under the title, 

 "Instinct and Affection of Birds," and with which, 

 all who read it were, doubtless, greatly interested, — 

 such strong affection and such wonderful instincts 

 as would almost lead one to suppose that they are 

 endowed with the faculty of reason, it seems to me 

 that they are worthy of our particular regard and 

 protection. And, besides the pleasure we receive 

 from their society, they, and especially the swallows, 

 destroy during their short stay with us an innum- 

 erable multitude of insects, which is a fact of no 

 little importance in these insectivorous times. 



The above description of barns, both of the old 

 and ncAV style, have been given, not Avith the sup- 

 position that they contain any information for the 

 intelligent readers of the Farmer, but that tlie 

 reader, by comparing them together, may the more 

 clearly perceive the great imjirovements which have 

 been made Avithin a fcAV A'oars, in these necessar}' 

 concomitants of the farm. 



There is, perhaps, no greater proof of the increas- 

 ing wealth, knowledge and refinement of the farmer 

 than this reformed method of building barns ; and 

 the fact that the farmer is thus increasing in knoAvl- 

 edge, refinement and Avealth, is a pleasing thought 

 to all who truly feel interested in the haj)piness 

 and prosperitv of this great and glorious republic. 



Grolon, Oct., 1855. S. L. WniTE. 



liabits of reading for themselves, such reading is both 

 safe and useful. Reader, if your neighbor has no 

 agricultural paper, persuade him to take one. EA'cn 

 if he is ])oor, he can better afford to take one than 

 to do Avithout it : for if he takes one, his children 

 will be likely to be better off — to make a good home 

 for themselves, and it may be for him in old age. 

 Not all Avill have farms ; but all Avill need to know 

 something of the garden and orchard at least ; and 

 Ave advise no parent, who feels that he may sometime 

 be dependent upon his children, to bring them up 

 Avithout the means of instruction in rural economy. 

 It should be regarded as essential in the education 

 of any child, male or female. — American Cotton 

 Planter. 



EvKRY Family snorLD have AxAoiucfLTURAi. 

 Paper. — It is worth more thin it costs simply for ' 

 educational i)uri)oscs. Parents have hardly a right 

 to deprive their families of its advantages" in these 

 times. Children will learn more, as they go to and 

 from school, to drive the cows to pasture, or \nc\i 

 berries by the way, if their observation is quickei'ed. 

 by Avhat they licar their parents read or talk over 

 from the agricultural jjapers ; and when they form 



SEEDS. 



This is the season for the preserA-ation of many 

 of the seed which are to start future crops, and too 

 much care can scarcely be exercised in the selection 

 and disposition of them. If we desire early and 

 perfect crops, we must begin them Avith the 'best 

 seeds, and these can only be obtained by careful 

 discrimination and presenation. They should be 

 kept from moist places, and on the other hand not 

 so dry as to shrivel and nearly bake them. Ever}' 

 farmer and gardener should have his seed drawers, 

 conveniently arranged, and always ready for use. 



Seeds constitute the ultimate production of plants. 

 In shape as well as specific quaUties they are A^ide- 

 ly and wonderfully diA-ersified. While some are 

 euA'eloped in a soft pultaceous substance, which easi- 

 ly decays, and alloAvs the germ to expand, others 

 are confined within involucres almost rivalling in 

 then- hardness and indistructibility, the most indu- 

 rated mineral. In others Ave find the germinating 

 principle protected only by a membranous integu- 

 ment, as in the case of the common gai-den pea. 

 The seeds of some plants vegetate only in moist soil ; 

 others, of the aquatic sort, only in Avater ; while a 

 third class, require neither soil nor water, but devel- 

 op in the open air. The latter are denominated 

 aerial, to distinguish them from the terrene and 

 aquatic orders, and are very numerous, but less so 

 than the terrene or earthy kinds. The jiowers of 

 prolification possessed by some species of vegetables, 

 is truly astonisliing. The thistle, for instance, pro- 

 duces an immense number of seeds, and tlicse, oav- 

 ing to the villous or do\Aiiy coating with which na- 

 ture has endowed them, are so buoyant that they 

 are commonly disseminated over vast extents of sur- 

 face, broadcast, by the August Avinds. The same 

 is true of the seeds of the dandelion, and many oth- 

 er weeds. The seeds of the locust, oak, Avalnut, 

 chestnut, and other similar trees, are larger and 

 more ponderous, and consequently are never dif- 

 fused in this Avay ; they require to be transported 

 and planted by hand. The seed of the locust, is 

 envelojjed in a shelly integument of such exceeding 

 hardness, that it can only be made to germinate by 

 the application of the most scrupulous care. Some 

 seeds are found to be capable of resisting the or- 



