350 



NEW EN(iLAND FARRIER. 



Aug. 



avail himself of. She has stored up in the 

 earth the carbon extracted from the atmos- 

 phere by vegetation in ages before man existed 

 on earth, that he may now have a supply of 

 fuel ; and she is collecting the carbon extracted 

 in more modern times, in the shape of peat 

 and muck, that he may have the means of in- 

 creasing and continuing the fertility of the 

 soil, to supply the demands of an increasing 

 population. 



August is the best time to cut the bushes in 

 the pastures, and many of our old pastures 

 sadly need the bush scythe. 



Weeds continue to grow, and the turnips 

 and beet§ and carrots and late potatoes must 

 not be neglected. The cultivator and hoe must 

 be kept moving. Weeds allowed to go to seed 

 will not only injure the present crop, but make 

 •work for next year. 



Preparation must also be made this month 

 for fall seeding to grass. We like to get in 

 the seed about the last of the month, that it 

 may get yell rooted before the ground freezes. 

 Plough the sod eight or nine inches deep, 

 dress with compost, and hari'Dw it in thorougly, 

 then sow the seed, and harrow again, and roll, 

 and you will not fail to get a good catch. This 

 practice is becoming very general, and when 

 done seasonably and thoroughly, is found to 

 be the best way. 



Most of the operations to which we have 

 referred above, have reference to the future. 

 The farmer must be a man of forecast. To- 

 day is all he can call his own, and to-day he 

 must work for to-morrow, for next year, for 

 all coming time, — and for eternity, too. 



^WOOIi BUYEKS' RULES. 

 After the National Wool Growers' Associa- 

 tion abandoned the idea of holding an Ex- 

 position or Fair of sheep, wools and woolen 

 goods, the idea was taken up by a society 

 known as the Northwest Woolen Manufactur- 

 ers' Association, which met some months since 

 in Chicago, and they invited wool growers of 

 that section to join with them in this Fair which 

 is to be held in Chicago ne.xt August. But 

 the adoption of certain rules for buying wool, 

 generally known as the one-third shrinkage 

 rules, by this association last spring, which 

 •were reganled by farmers as unjust and im- 

 proper, so offended the wool growers that they 



have indignantly refused to co-operate with this 

 association in the proposed exhibition. 



We now learn by the Prairie Farmer that 

 the Executive Committee, of which the Pres- 

 ident of the Association is Chairman, instead 

 of calling a convention to rescind the obnox- 

 ious rules, has caused the following resolution 

 to be sent to each member with a request that 

 it be returned with a yea or nay vote : — 



Resolved, That the rules adopted at the conven- 

 tion, in February, 1868, Roverningthe members of 

 this Association, in buying wool, are hereby re- 

 scinded, and memljcrs left free to purchase wool on 

 its own merits. 



Little doubt is entertained as to the result. 

 And the Prairie Farmer thinks that two weeks 

 will be sufficient to enable the President to 

 announce the repeal of the buyers' rules, and 

 adds "When the certain news of it arrives, we 

 can rejoice and bury the hatchet, and prepare 

 to smoke the pipe of peace at the Chicago ex- 

 hibition next month." 



For the New England Farmer, 

 TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. 



At first thought few persons perhaps ^vill 

 see the necessity of this caution, so far as im- 

 provements in breeding and cultivation are 

 concerned ; still it maj be that a more careful 

 consideration of a few facts may show that 

 here, as elsewhere, there may be "too much 

 of a good thing." 



Every farmer is urged from every consider- 

 ation and by all classes of men in almost every 

 position in society, to push on his so-called 

 "improvements;" to strive for higher devel- 

 opments, and still greater production of stock, 

 fruits, and vegetables, as if there was no limit 

 to such improvement, development and in- 

 crease. That there is such a limit we are 

 compelled to admit, from the irrefragable ex- 

 periences of the past score of years. 



Very few men can be found on whose judg- 

 ment we incline to rely, who will assume the 

 position that the developments of the so-called 

 good points and qualities of our horses, neat 

 stock, sheep, swine, and even poultry, may not 

 be carried to excess, — may not be pushed over 

 that line. If we are to credit the statements 

 that come to us from across the water, their 

 trained turf horses are not as long-lived as 

 formerly, and are more difficult of further 

 marked improvements. 



Who does not know that all our so-called 

 improvements will surely revert to their former 

 condition unless prevented bv constant vigil- 

 ance and skill ! This law of nature, — for a 

 law it is, — will assert its power as such, as 

 soon as we slacken our efforts to perpetuate 

 our "improvements." 



Our large portly Durhams, beautiful intelli- 

 gent Devons, mild, silky, creamy Aldemies, 



