1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



455 



cock, while hundreds of acres of meadow, and in 

 some cases upland, are yet ijntouched. Water often 

 stands in liberal depth, where the meadow is usually 

 dry at this season, and the "catching rains" frus- 

 trate the best calculations of the farmer to secur 

 his crop ; the haying season has been one of pecu- 

 liar anxiety and trial to him, such as he will re- 

 member for many a year. 



In the hundreds of fields of corn which I saw, 

 but two or three fields looked " pale and thin," — 

 all the rest giving present promise of a rich har- 

 vest. But this must depend, now, upon September 

 weather. If frosts are early and severe, they will 

 prove fatal to the crops ; if not, this grand staple 

 of New England will amply reward the husband- 

 man for all his care and toil upon it. There was, 

 however, a noticeable difference in fields that ap- 

 peared well. In some fields the stalks were stout, 

 with large and well formed leaves, and the ears set 

 rather low down, while in others the stalks and 

 leaves were more slender, the ears set higher, and 

 the whole hill having less of that robust and vig- 

 orous appearance which indicates a large crop. In 

 noticing this difference in many fields, and in re- 

 flecting upon the probable causes, I cam.e to the 

 conclusion that where the ground is well manured, 

 and some quickening fertilizer is added to the hill, 

 although it may be in minute quantities, the corn 

 soon assumes the appearance of the fields first de- 

 scribed. The theory is, that the first set of roots 

 thrown out is instantly supplied by the ashes, hen 

 compost or bone dust applied to the hill, and the 

 stems are so abundantly supplied with nourishment 

 until the second set of roots begins to traverse for 

 food, that they become stocky and strong, and are 

 able to set large and well formed ears. But that, 

 where the quickening fertilizer is not applied, even 

 though the soil be liberally manured, the early 

 roots do not quite supply the wants of the plant, 

 and it runs up in slender form, throwing out leaves 

 for atmospheric aid, and without the energy to set 

 the stocky ears of the other. I noticed, too, that 

 where the stalks were thick and large the corn 

 seemed to be in a more advanced state than in the 

 fields with slender stems. If this all be so, is it 

 not of more importance than has generally been 

 supposed, to manure lightly in the hill, even if 

 there is a liberal dressing applied broadcast to the 

 land? 



It will gratify our friend and correspondent, 

 Henry Poor, of New York, to learn that consid- 

 erable attention is paid to the Wheat crop. I 

 should think that three out of every four farms, 

 over the whole route I passed, had its patch of 

 wheat, — say from a fourth to two or three acres. 

 I never saw the crop look so well in New England 

 before, as it was generally quite free from weeds, 

 grasses, cr mixture with other grains 5 it stood up 

 well, was free from rust and weevil, and the ber- 



ries were large and plump. In some instances it 

 had lodged, and I found the idea prevailed, that in 

 order to prevent this, ashes or lime were necessary. 

 Upon an examination of the soil and straw, how- 

 ever, I became convinced that there was no lack of 

 silex or potash, but rather an excess of manure, 

 which had induced an unusually rapid and large 

 growth, and that where this had occurred the rains 

 had beat it down. Wheat lands do not require 

 heavy manuring like corn, the effect being to push 

 the growth of the straw too much, before the head 

 and berry is formed, and then it falls to the ground, 

 or its tender and succulent state and great amount 

 of moisture induces rust. Such, at least, is the 

 theory. I have no doubt that the instances of lodg- 

 ing which I saw would not have occurred, had the 

 soM received less manure. The spots lodged, I ob- 

 served, were on the lower edges of the fields, where 

 the wash from upper portions had been received. 

 I only mean to convey the idea that wheat lands 

 should not be excessively manured, as these lands 

 certainly we^ to which I allude. 



The rye crop had generally been harvested, and 

 was good, — but somewhat damaged in securing it. 

 I saw but few fields of barley, but it appeared 

 well. Losses often occur with this grain by putting 

 it upon rather low and loamy soils instead of high 

 warm loams, or gravelly loams. 



Last year at about this period in August, oats 

 were scarcely twelve inches high, and I am in- 

 formed that the crop in this region was a failure. 

 Now they look remarkably well — are stout, and 

 with fine well filled heads. Buckwheat is a com- 

 mon crop, both for consumption and for plowing 

 under as a fertilizer. Of millet 1 saw but little, 

 and that only an inferior crop. Potatoes, above 

 ground, never looked better; among the white 

 chenangoes, some appearances of rot had been de- 

 tected ; some early and hardier kinds were yielding 

 abundantly. Apples, though more than last year, 

 will not be plenty ; of most other fruits, there is 

 little of any kind, on the route I travelled. The 

 finer varieties of the apple are scarce, and less at- 

 tention is paid to this important item of the farm 

 than would be supposed among a people who are 

 industrious and enterprising, and who are good 

 livers. The peach I think would flourish on ths 

 hills in Dublin and Jaffrey ; but I saw none there j 

 will not some of the people make the trial ? 



I think well of the practice which pi'evails in this 

 section, of breaking up sward lands in August : a 

 fine coat of grass is turned under, which, with the 

 sod, becomes so much decomposed as to be of es- 

 sential service to the corn crop put upon it the 

 next year. 



But my letter is getting too long. Night rests 

 upon the hills. The hoary head of the Old Mon- 

 arch of the Mountains is wrapped in gloom, — wea- 

 ry travellers have one after another quietly sought 



