174 



Fruit Trees. — Mating Oxen. — Large Corn. 



Vol. V. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Management of Fruit Trees. 



Mr. Editor, — In my journey ings through 

 the States, nothing strikes me more forcibly 

 than the little care and attention bestowed on 

 the orchards which generally surround the 

 dwellings of the farmer. The sickly appear- 

 ance of the trees, only occasionally bearing 

 fruits, and these, cankered and liable to pre- 

 mature decay, is, I am convinced, owing to 

 bad management : it is too much to expect 

 fine flavoured fruit, and a regular supply, 

 without more care than what is bestowed on 

 the wild productions of the forest. The finest 

 fruit will degenerate, and become hard and 

 cankered, without cultivation and a regular 

 course of pruning; and I am quite sure that, 

 by a timely application of these, much of the 

 complaint which we hear of the decay of our 

 orchards, might be remedied ; for the very act 

 of throwing out new wood afler pruning, 

 would operate as a sweetener of the juices of 

 the tiee, enabling it, by this purgation, to cast 

 oflT its old chronic habits, inducing a quicker 

 circulation of the sap, and rendering it less 

 liable to the attacks of the worm and the fly, 

 according to the new system advocated in the 

 pages of the Cabinet, that blight is the con- 

 sequence and not the cause of disease. 



From all that I have seen, I am an advo- 

 cate for the cultivation of the orchard, either 

 by the plough or the hog; and a periodical 

 liming of the land of an orchard has been 

 found of the utmost importance to its future 

 well-being: but where will you see those 

 who, in return for its fruit, ever think of the 

 common honesty of doing aught in the way 

 of cultivation, either by manure, by pruning 

 or by dressing in any shape ? Assuredly the 

 orchard has less of the farmer's attention than 

 any other part of his business, either within 

 doors or without. A Traveller. 



For tlie Farmers' Cabinet. 

 On Avell Mating Oxen. 



Mr. Editor, — The following judicious ob- 

 servations were made by the Committee of 

 the Worcester Agricultural Society, "on 

 working-oxen ;" they are on a subject which 

 demands more attention than it often receives, 

 and are, I think, worthy a place in the pages 

 of the Cabinet. J. Frasier. 



" In the course of examination, the Com- 

 mittee have been struck with the importance 

 of well-mating oxen, and well-breaking them 

 in their youth. They believe that, amongst 

 oxen, as well as in the society of those beings 

 who rank higher in the scale of existence, it 

 is important to heed the admonition "not to 

 be unequally yoked." Being well-mated, 

 oxen are more easily trained, and, both in for- 

 ward movements and particularly in backing, 



a well-matched pair may the more easily be 

 taught in the way they should go. And, the 

 more easily to effect this, it has been sug- 

 gested to the Committee by this day's exhibi- 

 tion, that much self-denial on the part of the 

 driver, much coolness of temper, more train- 

 ing by motion and less by voice, may be 

 highly advantageous to man and beast. It is 

 believed that, too often, the driver underrates 

 the sagacity of the ox ; and while the ambi- 

 tion of the horse is needed for his peculiar 

 calling, the quiet and submissive docility of 

 the ox is exactly in keeping with his field of 

 labour ; but it must be admitted that the ex- 

 cess of this virtue is his laziness, which far too 

 frequently brings from his driver angry words, 

 ugly sounds and heavy blows. But may he not 

 be taught more by signs — by those mystic 

 signs, which all domestic animals read by 

 tljeir sagacity, and obey as it were by in- 

 stinct! They believe he may, and that no- 

 thing can gainsay the authority which de- 

 clares that ' the ox knoweth his master's 

 crib ;' and experience has shown that he also 

 knows, and can and will appreciate his mas- 

 ter's kindness, when expressed in cheerful 

 language and gentle treatment." 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Large Corn. 

 Mr. Editor, — I send for your acceptance, 

 an ear of corn grown in New Jersey. You 

 will notice that it contains but 8 rows, and 

 measures 16 inches in length ; I have one 

 which is the same length, and contains 16 

 rotos. I received from my friend but four 

 ears, or I would be more liberal ; none of 

 them, however, are equal in length to some 

 my friend has in his possession, which are 20 

 and 21 inches ! Some of them were not 

 quite filled out, in consequence of having been 

 planted too late to come to maturity ; but he 

 informs me it is an early corn, and equal to 

 any for the table, tender and fine flavoured ; 

 and, from all 1 have noticed in reference to it, 

 I believe, if planted early in a rich soil, the 

 ears would average 16 rows, and measure 20 

 inches at least in length, incredible as it may 

 appear. I intend making a trial of it, and if it 

 succeeds as I anticipate, it will certainly be a 

 valuable addition to the many excellent vari- 

 eties already known, for both field and gar- 

 den culture ; the result I will take pleasure 

 in making known to you. Your friend, 



W. H. Magarge. 



Philad'a. Nov. 24, 1840. 



The ear of corn abovementioned is indeed 

 a rarity, and by much the longest that we 

 have before seen ; it is of the white variety, 

 with fine large grains, and very well filled. 

 It is supposed to be of foreign origin, and 

 coming from Canton. Will Mr. Magarge 

 accept our thanks for the much- valued gift? 



