68 



NEW ENGLAIO) FARRIER. 



Feb. 



dered. It is then best to guard against any 

 such casualty, by having all fences, gates, &c., 

 closed, and in order, that lead to the garden 

 or orchard. 



Much labor and time may bo saved by plan- 

 ning to facilitate work in the spring. A man 

 who has his plans laid before hand will accom- 

 plish a greater amount of work in a given 

 time than one who ^orks by no plan, order or 

 S)Stem. During these long winter evenings is 

 the time to lay plans for the coming season, 

 and not only that but it is the time to improve 

 the mind and lay in a store of information in 

 regard to our pursuits. There are quite a list 

 of works devoted to the subject of gardening 

 in all its branches, as also those devoted to the 

 farm ; any one of which will impart much in- 

 formation. And then we have our agricultural 

 journals, all of which devote more or less 

 space to the garden as well as a larger one to 

 the farm and other branches of husbandry. 

 Procure some of these and occupy a portion of 

 the time that is usually spent idly or at the store, 

 or in worse places, in gaining useful informa- 

 tion in rt?gard to your business. If you have 

 heretofore neglected the garden, resolve 

 on the threshold of this year of grace, 1868, to 

 turn over a new leaf and have a good garden, 

 to produce the various vegetables and small 

 fruits which go so f\ir to promote health, and 

 relieve the monotony of dishes so frequently 

 found upon the farmer's table at certain sea- 

 sons of the year. 



Having but few special directions for the 

 garden this mouth, the space may be appropri- 

 ed to some general suggestions. Among the 

 various desirable recjuisites of a garden is 

 shelter ; a moderate slope descending towards 

 the south-east or south, to a level. In such a 

 location we usually have a variety of soil, rang- 

 ing from light, early and warm, to that which is 

 more heavy and later ; and consequently we 

 can have a succession of vegetables which may 

 be morj varied than can be had on a level. 

 In all gardens it is better to have some wind- 

 break or protection from the cold winds. Be- 

 sides the protection adbrded by tight board 

 fences, walls, &c., from high winds, they are 

 often a means of greatly retarding frosts. If 

 you have ever taken the pains to observe, you 

 may have noticed that plants standing near to 

 the protecting side of a close fence or buddmg, 

 are frequently preserved from frosts that kill 

 or very much injure those standing away from 

 the influence of such protection. To under- 

 stand the why and wherefore of such occurren- 

 ces, we shouhi understand the laws that govern 

 the atmosphere in all its circimistances and vari- 

 ations. As air becomes cooled, it is condensed 

 and seeks a lower level. Thus it will be 

 found that while frost may be indicated at the 

 bottom of a hill, at the top there may be a 

 temperature of several degrees above the 

 freezing point. A fence or other obstruction 

 checks "^the flow of the undercurrent of air 

 which walls up as water does against a dam ; 



so that while plants on one side of the fence 

 may be frozen, those on the opposite side may 

 be unaffected. This fact may be proved by 

 any one, by making a hole through such fence 

 against a plant, and observing that while others 

 standing a few feet at the right or left will 

 not be frozen, the one standing before the 

 opening will be frozen to the size of 

 hole in the fence. To the inquiring mind 

 it is interesting to study into all the works 

 of nature, and to behold in them the hand 

 of Him who rules over all ; and without 

 whose notice not the least sparrow falls to the 

 ground. 



Cold frames should be examined as fre- 

 quently as the weather permits, to see that all 

 the plants for spring culture therein are doing 

 well. During thaws and mild weather they 

 may be uncovered and light and air admitted 

 freely. Hot bed frames and sashes should be 

 put in order by making any needed repairs of 

 painting, glazing, &c., and new ones made, 

 ready for early spring use. Every garden 

 should be supplied with one or more hot beds 

 for starting early vegetables. 



Wm. H. White. 



Soutli Windsor, Conn., Dec. 26, 1867. 



NoRTU Carolina Tea. — A barrel of tea 

 was recently sent from H. C. Davis, of Bed- 

 ford, N. C. to the New York Institute Far- 

 mers' Club, a part which was distributed to the 

 members. This is said to be the same as the 

 Yuba Mate, or Jesuit tea of Paraguay, which 

 is largely used in Brazil, especially in the min- 

 ing districts. The natives ascribe almost in- 

 numerable qualities to it. Like opium, it pro- 

 duces some singular effects ; giving sleep to 

 the restless, and spirits to the torpid. A pint 

 will make a gallon. It is drank hot, and is a 

 preventive of intermittent fever. Molasses 

 and milk add to its goodness, and the cost of 

 this tea is from 40 to 50 cents a bushel. 



New Engl.\nd Poultry Club. — At the 

 recent annual meeting of the Worcester, Mass. , 

 Poultry Club, it was voted to change the name 

 of the association, and extend its field of op- 

 erations, as above — including in future exhi- 

 bitions all the New England States. The fol- 

 lowing officers were elected for the ensuing 

 year : 



President— 0. B. Hadwin ; Vice Presidents— 

 Geo. Sumner, S. J. Mcintosh; Secretary and 

 Treasurer— S. E. Tliompson ; A?st. Secretary— 

 Winslow S. Lincoln ; Exccntive Committee— H. 

 Woodward, O. L. Hntcli, Alba Houghton, Jr., S. 

 Woodward, H. L. Stowe, H. S. Taintor, C. W. 

 Hamilton. 



