K 5. TJie Starch Manufacture. — Cultivation of Fruit Trees. 147 



rrigation will always need an exercise 

 the judgment, to be done in the best 

 nner ; no two pieces of land being ex- 

 ly alike, and the irregularities of the siir- 

 e varying in many ways, the plan of the 

 rk, or the distribution of the channels 

 st vary. Each, therefore, requires a dif- 

 ent design, adapted to the circumstances 

 the case. But no one should be deterred 

 tn an attempt, nor lose the eminent ad- 

 itages of irrigating his grounds, because 

 cannot attain perfection at once, 

 't is sometimes objected to watering grass 

 1 other lands, that the crop, though greatly 

 reased in quantity, is lessened in quality. 

 is is indeed true to a small degree, but 

 ; more so than results from an increased 

 )wth by stable manure. The slight infe- 

 rity in quality is immeasurably overbal- 

 ;ed by the increase in bulk. No objector 

 uld desire his hay crop to be lessened 

 ; half in quantity by a parching drought, 

 order that the hay might be better, 

 [rrigation is usually applied to grass land, 

 ; there appears to be no reason why it 

 y not be greatly advantageous if used for 

 lerent cultivated crops during our hot 

 nmers. S. Williams, of Waterloo, N. Y., 

 tes that during a severe drought, he ad- 

 tted water in small gutters between the 

 Is and rows of vegetables in his garden. 

 ' In ten days early potatoes grew two- 

 rds in size." In fact he never obtained 

 jd potatoes before. Other vegetables 

 re greatly benefitted. The great in- 

 sase by watering, in the growth of spin- 

 1, lettuce and strawberries, by the Eng- 



1 and Flemish gardeners, is well known. 

 a warmer climate, the advantages would 

 increased. "The melon," says Lindley, 



cquires its highest excellence in countries 

 lere its roots are always immersed in wa- 

 •, as in the floating islands of Cashmere, 

 ; irrigated fields of Persia, and the springy 

 er beds of India." But the same experi- 

 !nts were not attended with such success 

 London, where the leaves perspire less, 

 d the climate is cooler. During the past 

 mmer, raspberry plants, watered by the 

 ippings from the eaves of a workhouse, 

 ew triple the size of others deprived of 

 is advantage. 

 But as all plants are rendered more suc- 

 lent by watering, the supply of water 

 Duld be withheld to all that bear fruit, as 



2 period of maturity approaches, or dimin 

 led flavor will be the consequence. 



try. Some of the principal establishments 

 for this purpose have been erected during 

 the past few years in the State of Maine, 

 and are doing an immense business. 



The Commissioner of Patents in his late 

 report, remarks that in August, 1835 — quot- 

 ing from a public journal — not less than 

 ttoenty starch factories are now being erect- 

 ed in one county, viz., that of Franklin; and 

 further says: "About one hundred rods from 

 the centre of Merser village, are two starch 

 factories. They are doing a good business 

 for the proprietors, and also for the farmers 

 in the vicinity, who find a ready market for 

 their potatoes, which as a general thing, is 

 as profitable a crop as is cultivated. 



' The starch made is of first-rate quality. 

 It is principally taken to Massachusetts, 

 where it is readily marketed, and consumed 

 mostly in the calico and cotton factories. 



•' We are informed that one of these fac- 

 tories manufactured into starch the past sea- 

 son, rising 18,000 bushels of potatoes. 



" Starch factories are springing up all 

 over the country. Three are under process 

 of erection in Stark's, at different points. 

 There are now being completed, and being 

 erected in Somerset county alone, ten starch 

 factories. 



"Here are thirty-five of these factories, 

 in only four counties of Maine; giving to 

 tiie farmers in their vicinity a market for 

 their potatoes to the amount of about six 

 hundred thousand bushels." Yearly at fair 

 prices, combining the manufacturing and 

 agricultural interests of those counties in a 

 very remarkable degree. The efl^orts of the 

 proprietors are being crowned with merited 

 success. — Partner and Mechanic. 



The Starch Manufacture. 



Our readers probably are not aware of 

 e extent of this manufacture in the coun 



Cultivation of Fruit Trees. 



To the Editor of the American Farmer : 



When a few years since, I first turned 

 my attention to the cultivation of Roses, 

 cuttings of rare and valuable varieties would 

 sometimes be given me, having only a very 

 few buds, such as are generally considered 

 good, and terminating in one or more small 

 spurs or limbs of half inch to one or tv.^o 

 inches in length, either with roses on them 

 or that had just bloomed, the buds on which 

 spurs are usually too small for working. It 

 occurred to me that I could lose nothing by 

 cutting out and inserting these spurs exactly 

 as I would ordinary buds, and I was pleased 

 to find that frequently these succeeded when 

 the other buds failed. I then tried longer 

 shoots, something near a foot long, and with 

 equal success. Again it sometimes hap- 

 pened that when I wished to insert other 

 buds, they had already started, and as I 



