1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Ill 



tural College, may well feel that their future 

 success and usefulness are no longer problem- 

 atical. 



BKISTOL CODWTY CENTRAL, MASS. 

 We are indebted to Edmund Rodman, Esq , 

 of New Bedford, for a copy of the Transactions 

 of this Agricultural Association for 1867, 

 which we believe is the first printed report of 

 the Society as now organized, though the old 

 Bristol County Society was among the earliest 

 in the State. In a few introductory remarks, 

 President Durfee says : "We have in the area 

 of this coiraty about three hundred thousand 

 acres, and perhaps there is no part of our 

 State where so large a portion is uncultivated. 

 Although the annual product of the industry 

 of this county amounts to the large sum of 

 sixty millions of dollars, only about four mil- 

 lions are derived from agriculture, showing 

 the importance of a better understanding of 

 the relation which exists between agricultural 

 and manufacturing interests." The following 

 are the officers for 1868 : 



President— Nathan Durfee, Fall Tliver. 



Vice Presidents — Edmund Rodman, New Bed- 

 ford; Oliver S. Wilbur, R;\vnham. 



Treasurer — Samuel A. Dean, East Taunton. 



Secretary — E,ol)ert Adams, Fall River. 



Directors — Lnthun Porter, New Bedford; Ro- 

 bert S. Gibbs, Fall River; Williaai L. Slade, Som- 

 erset ; Noah Tripp, New Bedford ; Alden Ilathe- 

 way, Freetown ; A. W. Pierce, Taunton. 



PREivnuM Butter. — At the fair of the Oi- 

 lcans County, Vt., Agricultural Society, Geo. 

 B. Brewster, of Ira&burg, was awarded the 

 first premium on a tub of butter, and submitted 

 the following statement in regard to its manu- 

 facture : — "1 keep 23 cows of the native stock, 

 with a slight mixture of Durham. The cream 

 was gathered in three days, from milk that set 

 36 hours after milking ; tbe cream then set 24 

 hours, then was churned. When the butter 

 came it was put in a wooden bowl and washed 

 with spring water until the milk was all washed 

 out, and the water ceased to be colored, then 

 the Ashton salt is worked in by hand, at the 

 rate of one ounce to a pound of butter. The 

 butter is then set away to stand 24 hours, 

 when it is worked over by hand, taking a small 

 quantity at a time, and working out all the 

 brine ; then it is pounded down in the tub, 

 which is filled within a half inch of. the top, 

 and covered with a cloth, over which is spread 

 a thin layer of salt. This tub was packed Oct. 

 4. Cream is not churned the same day that it 

 is skimmed, as it will sometimes have a pecu- 

 liar taste, which it does not have after staxiding 

 twenty hours. In the fall the pans are filled 

 two thirds full, and the cream rises as well, 

 but in summer it should be more shallow." 



BEES AND HONET. 



REATLY increased attention has 

 been given to the cultivation 

 of bees within the last fifteen years. 

 Indeed, there has been no period 

 within our recollection when so 

 much has been written and said in 

 relation to them . We are glad to 

 The cultivation of bees, like the cul- 

 tivation of flowers, has a civilizing tendency. 

 Like flowers, they require a constant and ten- 

 der care, and rarely fail to enlist a deep inter- 

 est and sympathy in the bee-master. Th^-y 

 soon become acquainted with their keeper, and 

 will allow him to arrange their hives, change 

 boxes, and perform most of the necessary 

 work about the bee stand or house, without 

 molesting him, if he be a kind and gentle mas- 

 ter. If he is quiet and proceeds fearlessly, 

 they will alight upon his bands and run over 

 them, especially if he has been prudent enough 

 to rub them with a little liquid honey. They 

 become greatly excited if a sudden blow is 

 struck upon the hive, or in their immediate vi- 

 cinity, and they at once assume an attitude of 

 defence or defiance. When not disturbed, 

 their countenance is mild, their eyes soft and 

 clear, and their whole appearance that of gen- 

 tleness and repose ; but when agitated, as 

 great a change takes place as may be seen in 

 the cat or dog when enraged, and every hair 

 upon them is trembling with excitement. 

 Sometimes they become absolutely ferocious, 

 and will strike a blow almost sufficient to 

 knock a person down, while, at the s?»me mo- 

 ment, the keen and poisonous sting is plunged 

 so deep that it cannot be withdrawn, and is 

 left in the flesh of its victim. 



In a hot day, and when they were prob- 

 ably not treated with that deference which 

 a qvieen and her subjects merited, we have 

 more than once been driven from the stand 

 and obbged to take shelter beneath dense 

 shrubbery which would prevent their ap- 

 proach. But like the sharp shooters in our 

 late army, they were on the look-out, and, 

 instantly, when head or hand was raised 

 above the shrubs, a blow would come with a 

 force that could scarcely be conceived as 

 proceeding from so small a creature. 



At another time — when handling them with 

 great freedom — a friend has been invited to 

 look on, but a sudden blow in the face and an 



