124 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



he might report this discussion, but I confess I 

 cannot. 



In conclusion of this hasty sketch -written in the 

 meeting, let me say, that this has been emphatical- 

 ly an assemblage of scientific and practical farmers, 

 such as it has never before been my good fortune 

 to meet. There is good reason to hope that the 

 United States Agricultural Society will soon become 

 a great controling and useful institution. Official 

 duties in New Hampshire compel my departure 

 from this city to-morrow morning. 



Tours truly, H. F. French. 



Washington, Jan. 15, 1857. 



For the New England Farmer. 



LITTLE THINGS. 



Or a Walk in my Neglected Garden — No. 10. 



I have long neglected writing out those little 

 things which I have been wont to notice in my gar- 

 den, for the very reason that I have been compell- 

 ed to neglect the garden itself in my earnestness 

 the present season to secure to myself a shelter for 

 my family. Here I must beg leave to remind your 

 readers of two things — one, that my garden is 

 quite small, and the other, that I am only a learner 

 in gardening, and occasionally write out what I 

 have learned, with the hope that now and then a 

 suggestion may be of service to some other fellow- 

 being in his labors. It has been ludicrous enough 

 to see gentlemen from abroad, who had read my 

 little talks in your paper, coming to visit my gar- 

 den with the expectation of seeing extended arbors, 

 long gravel walks, enormous pears, peaches, grapes 

 and plums in luxuriant profusion, without a weed 

 or an unhealthy looking plant in the whole lot. 

 Now I beg to remind all such, that I keep no im- 

 ported gardener ; that I have commenced a gar- 

 den to supply the most immediate wants of my 

 family, and then to add from time to time such 

 additional luxuries as my means may admit, that 

 it is only the httle snatches of time which I seize 

 upon from the most arduous of all professions to 

 devote to the pleasures of the garden* I could, 

 therefore, write out a long article on 



A neglected garden, 



which I find requires quite as much care to 

 keep in order, as if I had kept everything in good 

 order at the proper time. What a vast number of 

 seeds a single stalk of parsley, roman wormwood 

 or pig weed will scatter, if left to themselves. 

 Most gardens receive very good attention in the 

 early part of the season, but are left in the autum- 

 nal months to propagate every kind of a noxious 

 weed, as if they were a necessary accompaniment 

 of every good garden. But I must stop this use- 

 less talk, to say a word in favor of 



THE SWEET WATER GRAPBj 



In our zeal after new varieties of the grapP) we 

 have been inclined to forget some old standard va- 

 rieties. Among those which may demand a pass- 

 ing notice, is that of the white grape. In this lati- 

 tude of 45°, it is useless to let it run on a fancy lat- 

 tice work, which has been painted white, and ex- 

 pect but occasionally to obtain a ripe grape. I have 

 ■been led to notice this difFsrence, arising from its 



situation in this village for several years past. — 

 There is one vine here, which runs up on the north- 

 east side of a house ; consequently, it does not re- 

 ceive the sun much after ten o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, but it is completely sheltered from the winds, 

 and what is of much importance, the walls of the 

 house are painted with red ochre, which will absorb a 

 large amount of heat, but not so intensely as a black 

 surface. The consequence is, that a perfectly ripe 

 crop has been secured for several years in succes- 

 sion. May not this trifling hint be of service to 

 many who wish to ripen some varieties in as high a 

 latitude at this ? This variety is never troubled 

 with mildew or rust here, so far as I know, and ri- 

 pens here full earlier than the. Isabella. But ^ 

 wish to say a word here on 



THE SWEATING OF APPLES. 



For three years past, I have carried my apples 

 into the cellar during a warm day, and somewhat 

 earlier than formerly. I have had no apple sweat- 

 ing whatever. I see it still recommended to keep 

 apples in as cool a place as possible, and as late as 

 possible, before they are carried into the cellar. — 

 Now I conceive this to be a gross mistake. The 

 apples become very cold under such circumstances, 

 and when carried into a cellar that is moist and 

 warm, they very soon become mere condensers of 

 moisture. Apples will sometimes sweat for the 

 same reason after sudden thermometrical changes, 

 when barrelled up, and left in the orchard. 

 Having written little things enough, I remain, 

 BetM^ Me., Jan. 15, 1857. N. T. T. 



Remarks. — Excellent. These "little things" 

 are what the world is made of, and especially 

 what most of us overlook. It does not require a 

 large garden to make one observe a great many 

 "little- things." 



OBITUARY. 



We have already recorded the death of Dr. T. 

 W. Harris, the eminent Entomologist. We have 

 now to announce, among those distinguished for 

 their Agriculture or Horticulture, who have died 

 the past year, the name of the Rev. J. O. Choules, 

 of Newport, R. I., who died suddenly in New York. 

 Dr. Choules was deeply interested in agriculture, 

 and all that pertains to its kindred arts. He was 

 for a long time a prominent member erf the Ameri- 

 can Institute, and one of the committee of mana- 

 gers. His circle of friends was large, and his loss 

 will be greatly lamented. Mr. N. J. Becar, of 

 Brooklyn, N. Y., died suddenly at his home in Au- 

 gust last. Mr. Becar was widely known to the 

 Floricultural world, as one of the most successful 

 amateur cultivators of the camelia, having produc- 

 ed some very beautiful seedlings. His collection 

 of plants has frequently been noticed in the earlier 

 volumes of our Magazine. Of late years he had 

 turned his attention to the raising of stock on his 

 farm in Smithtown, and at the time of his death, in 

 connection with Mr. L. G. Morris, owned some of 

 the finest Durham cattle in the United States. 

 His loss will be greatly deplored by the friends of 

 agriculture and horticulture throughout the country^ 

 Hon. Elijah Vose, of Dorchester : Mr. Vose 

 was for many years President of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, havbg succeeded Zebeded 



