1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



379 



THE STATE FARM. 



The members of the Board of Agriculture met 

 at the State Farm, at Westboro', on Wednesday 

 last, to make their summer examination of the con- 

 dition of the stock, state of the crops, &c. Hap- 

 pening to be at the farm on the same day, we were 

 kindly invited, and accompanied them in their ex- 

 aminations. We found some eighty acres under 

 cultivation, some of the crops looking remarkably 

 well, and most of them as forward as could be ex- 

 pected in so cold and backward a season. The 

 corn-fields, some thirty acres in extent, were clean, 

 the corn, in some of them, averaging a foot in height, 

 and of a fine, healthy color. The oat fields ap- 

 pear well, but the crop was no larger where guano 

 was plentifully supplied last year, in addition to oth- 

 er manuring, than the rest of the field that received 

 no guano. Seven acres in white beans surpassed 

 any other crop of that edible we have seen this year. 

 They were neatly hoed, even, of a rich lightish 

 green, and promised an abundant harvest. As ma- 

 ny acres in carrots had come up well, and some of 

 them, put in early, had got a good start. The on- 

 ion crop, of which there was a generous breadth, 

 was free from the maggot, had already attained a 

 height of several inches, and was very promising. 

 Ruta bagas, French turnips, beets, parsnips, and a 

 piece set with the osier willow, silex viminalis, 

 were all appearing well. In addition to a large 

 number of cabbage plants set before, three thou- 

 sand were put in on the day of our visit. 



The grass crops of the farm will be more than 

 an average. One of Danforth's patent grass-cut- 

 ters, or mowers, was put into a field, and operated 

 for the inspection of the Board. It cut the grass 

 quite evenly and well, although the ground on 

 which it was operated was uneven and stony. The 

 grass was also wet, there having been a slight, driz- 

 zling rain through the morning. 



Mr. Samuel N. White, the intelligent superin- 

 tendent of the farm, was present, and able to give, 

 in minute detail, the history of previous proceed- 

 ings, such as the time of planting, quantity of seed, 

 kind and quantity of manure, or of different ma- 

 nures, applied to the same land, with such other in- 

 formation as was necessary to a prqper understand- 1 ;;^^l^j,^i^^gj^oj.^p„j.^ on the case, and if they found 



ing of the condition and promise of the several ~ -- - - 



crops. 



able results. New roads have been constructed, 

 and large and substantial gates erected at their ter- 

 mini, and hung upon posts that will never be 

 knocked out of their perpendicular by careless 

 teamsters, or upheaved by frost. Drainage has al- 

 so received attention, and a large amount of labor 

 and money has been expended in bringing some of 

 the lands into a condition to receive the plow and 

 hoe and scythe; these lands are near the build- 

 ings, and have long been unsightly and unprofita- 

 ble portions of the estate. 



In the commodious and well kept styes we found 

 some one hundred and sixty swine, sleek, and fat, 

 and contented. Six noble oxen were quietly chew- 

 ing the cud in the yard, and we believe another 

 pair were out in the yoke. A two year old Here- 

 ford bull of great beauty stood in the stall, togeth- 

 er with an Alderney calf, and one of another breed. 

 The cows, some twenty-five in number, we did nq^ 

 see, they being at a distance in pasture. 



In one of the gardens were large beds of straw- 

 berries, some fine pears and peach trees filled with 

 fruit. The Board has certainly effected a great 

 change in the condition of the farm, and is produc- 

 ing some results that cannot fail to be valuable to 

 the farming interest of the State. 



We were gratified with our visit, and beg to ex- 

 press our obligations to the Board for their kind- 

 ness in answering our numerous questions, and for 

 the opportunity of viewing, with them, the condi- 

 tion of the farm. 



At a future time, we may be glad to express our 

 views of the nature of some of'lheir soiln, the crops we 

 consider best adapted to them, and the kind of ma- 

 nures which they appear to us to require in order 

 to produce the most profitable returns. 



For the tUczc England Fanner. 



SIRE OF "ETHAN ALLEN." 



Mr. Editor : — In your paper of June 27th there 

 is a cut of a horse, with these words underneath it : 

 "Flying Morgan, the sire of Eihan Allen." 



The owners of "Ethan Allen" claim that he was 

 got by Vermont "Black Hawk," and have publicly 

 offered to submit their claims to an investigation 

 based on fairgrounds — that is— a committee should 



Notwithstanding the cold and wet state of the 

 season, the crops now certainly give the prospect 

 of a large and bountiful return. The farm has 

 been materially improved in several respects. Im- 

 mense quantities of rocks that required excavation 

 and blasting, have been removed from some of the 

 best lands, and they now presents clean, clear, and 

 inviting aspect. Some valuable experiments have 

 been made in trenching, on a somewhat extended 

 scale, which cannot fail to produce the most profit- 



that "Flying Morgan" was the sire of "Ethan Allen,'' 

 the owners of the latter horse would pay two hun- 

 dred dollars to defray the expenses of the investi- 

 gation. But if they found that Vermont "Black 

 Hawk" was the sire of "Ethan Allen," the owner or 

 friends of "Flying Morgan" should ])ay that sum. 

 Please publish the following extract from Linsley's 

 "Morgan Horses," a work which you have noticed 

 in terms of high commendation. 



"It has been reported that 'Ethan Allen' was 

 sired i)y 'Flying Morgan.' * * * ^Ve have made 

 careful inquiry into all the circumstances of the 

 case, and we can see no reasonable grounds to 

 doubt his having been sired by 'Black Hawk.* — 



