1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



67 



attacked, similar to that existing in the body 

 communicating it. Indeed the similarity is so 

 great that the idea has been recently advanced 

 that the same substances that will arrest fer- 

 mentation, will also arrest the action of cer- 

 tain infectious diseases. j. K. 

 Concord, Mass., Dec, 1867, 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SHELTEKING LANDS. 



Every one must have had sufficient experience 

 to know that buildings, and even high, tight 

 board fences and stone walls protect the lands 

 near them more or less, according to their ex- 

 tent, from the evil effects of high winds. Thus 

 we have seen fruit trees, shielded from the 

 east wind by buildings, give large crops, while 

 in the open, exposed orchard, the effects of 

 blight destroyed the crop. So with fences, — 

 they ward off blighting v/inds, and fruits grow 

 and ripen near them, while similar kinds, if 

 exposed, reward labor with only failure. If 

 the effects of protection are so evident and so 

 beneficial on the small scale, as given by build- 

 ings and fences, then, where given on a larger 

 scale, a proportionably larger benefit must re- 

 sult. 



Wherever we have seen buildings, gardens, 

 or fields protected by natural groves, like re- 

 sults have been seen. The cold winds have 

 been broken and their blighting influences 

 mitigated, if not destroyed, so that the tem- 

 perature in stormy and cold weather becomes 

 several degrees more agreeable than that in 

 open fields exposed to the full range of winds 

 and tempests. 



The lesson taught by such observation is, 

 that if farmers will protect their fields, build- 

 ings, and gardens by belts of trees, they will 

 break the force of winds, and soften the aspe- 

 rities of the climate, so that extreme sudden 

 changes will not be as severe. This protec- 

 tion of his home and its surroundings, of his 

 stock and fruit trees, will result in the health 

 of the former and the productiveness of the 

 latter. 



It will probably be argued by some that 

 these belts of trees occupy too much land, and 

 land in the proximity of buildings is valuable. 

 Timber, too, must be valualile when woodland 

 on the roughest mountains will bring more cash 

 ■jier acre, than improved lands in the valleys 

 did a few years ago, or when timber land in 

 the valley will give a better return on actual 

 cost than can be realized on much of the im- 

 proved lands. So, then, the lands occupied 

 by these belts of trees, is not lost, but is si- 

 lently and without labor beyond the first set- 

 ting out, producing a crop which at some 

 future time will, if the owner gets tired of his 

 protection and longs to hear and feel the 

 rough winds roar around his premises and wit- 

 ness their devastating influences, yield in cord 

 wood, more than enough to pay all cost of 

 labor, taxation, and interest on land, at ten 



per cent. The greater gain, however, results 

 from the protection to the grounds, buildings, 

 the family in the house, the stock in the barn, 

 and the trees, shrubs and vines on the sur- 

 roundings. 



Fuel, not only to those who purchase, but 

 to owners of woodlots, has become an ex- 

 pensive item in New England. Our long 

 winters are an expensive inheritance, and one 

 that mubt continue to all generations. To 

 guard against the demands of these winters is 

 required, not only by comfort, but economy. 

 Well built houses and out-buildings will, in a 

 measure, do this, but the well arranged grove 

 will protect these buildings from wrenching 

 winds, as well as the indwellers from the in- 

 sinuating cold they bring. Thus no inconsid- 

 erable saving of fuel in the house will be the 

 result of protection, while at the same time a 

 similar saving in the fuel which is consumed to 

 keep up animal heat, will be effected. Thus 

 sheltered, how calmly the rain descends and 

 the snow flakes fall, and how quietly they lie. 

 Then if the animal is loosened from its stall, 

 it partakes of the quietness and calmness of 

 the elements, and when it i • brought back to 

 its fastenings, it does not come with its hair 

 matted to its very skin with the driving snow, 

 but bearing a few loose flakes that readily 

 yield to the brush or the comb. Animals so 

 protected require less food, are better natured, 

 take on more flesh, and give a greater growth 

 than those exposed in the most moderate man- 

 ner to rough, grating winds. A. Bacon. 



Richmond, Mass., Dec. 25, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 THE GARDEN IN J^NUAKY. 



The main part of our gardening during this 

 mouth will be done in the house, as the 

 ground in our northern climate is frozen and 

 mostly covered with snow ; yet there are a few 

 things which may be appropriately looked 

 after ; and with this view the garden should 

 be occasionally visited to see that nothing is 

 going wrong. Sometimes during a January 

 thaw water will do damage by standing on, or 

 washing over the surface. This should be 

 avoided. During heavy snow storms, trees 

 are often so loaded with snow, or during rain 

 and sleet, with ice, as to break theci down, or 

 otherwise injure them. Small trees and shrubs 

 are often ruined at such times. A little at- 

 tention in gently clearing them of their over- 

 loads will often save a favorite shrub or valua- 

 ble tree. 



An open gate, or a rail out of place, will 

 often admit some farmer Don't Care's stray 

 creature ; and perhaps half a dozen young 

 pear, or other fruit trees are destroyed in con- 

 sequence, besides injuring olher vines, shrub- 

 bery, &c. Such ill-cared for, hungry animal 

 will often do damage, in a garden, in a few 

 moments that cannot be repaired in a year or 

 more, to say nothing of the ill-feeling engen- 



