514 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



For the tievo Ert gland Parmer. 



TRIAL OF SUGAR CANE. 



Mr. Editor : — It gives me pleasure, when I 

 think despondingly of our approaching harvest, to 

 read of the good results of another. I rather con- 

 gratulate myself with the thought, that the next 

 year my labors shall yield a fortunate reward, and 

 success crown my efforts, 



I read with the multitude, of the wonderful cane, 

 that was to knock sugar down, and sweeten out 

 pathway, and fill the South with consternation, and 

 prevent any farther demonstration in behalf of Cu 

 ba. In spite of my incredulity, I thanked the odd- 

 for me, and the many poor acres I had on which 

 to try it, for every body said it would stand drought, 

 consequently grow in a gravel hill. I planted the 

 seed, by prescription, any where. Jonah enjoyed 

 the sight of his gourds, I enjoyed the idea, in faith, 

 of stupendous results. Sugar, for reasons, is fall- 

 ing ; so is my estimation of the cane, which can 

 only produce good fodder. This notorious cane 

 requires the best ground, has no desire to compete 

 with sweet corn on most of our northern fields — 

 therefore this cane will never be general-. 



Young America is wofully disappointed, and the 

 conservative still clings to the thought, that if we 

 must be sweet, it is the "manifest destiny" of that 

 island, which, by nature is privileged to produce 

 sweets and spices, to be one of the United States of 

 America. 



The comet of last spring, not appearing to jog 

 the earth and give to us Northerners the balmj 

 winds of the South, occasioned our great loss in the 

 cane speculation. But before I think of raising cot- 

 ton and sugar again, I will be sure of the comet; 

 also, when persons would give me their experience 

 for my benefit, they are under obligations to give 

 the climate and nature of the soil ; and if they take 

 prominent positions in newspaper notoriety, the fal- 

 sity of their advocation, if any, will be the more se- 

 verely felt and censured. The unsophisticated still 

 think that the moon rather interferes with us; if 

 so, we are doomed as long as the moon stands. It 

 may be well that the moon can bear all our igno 

 ranee, and afford us such a retreat. j. 



Princton, Mass, 



For the New England Farmer. 



TRANSPLANTING HICKORY AND 

 CHESTNUT TREES. 



Dear Sir : — Your correspondent in the issue of 

 the 5th inst., inquires concerning transplanting hick- 

 ory and chestnut trees. In this matter, my experi- 

 ence is something, though not as extensive as in the 

 removal of other varieties of trees. I have trans- 

 planted the hickory with perfect success in autumn, 

 gay in the latter part of October. Chestnuts may 

 be Iranslanted any time when out of leaf. 



The main difference in management to be ob- 

 served in transplanting the trees, from that common 

 to most forest trees, consists in the fact that they 

 should be earlier transplanted, i. e., the sooner 

 from the seed the safer and better. They may need 

 a trifle more protection for a few years, than they 

 would if they remained in the forest. But all the 

 root (the essential of the tree) they make, is now 

 made for a lifetime and will go to help the strength 

 and durability of the tree. 



In the matter of tap roots, circumstances are to 

 be considered. Here in our chestnut hills, the tree 

 has no more tap root than the ma])le, and if it had, 

 all tap-rooted trees must be fed, more or less, by 

 fibres, and if these fibres are preserved, the life of 

 the tree is safe, provided the wound given by cut- 

 ling off the tap root is so guarded as to prevent a 

 loss of the vital power, sap. I have transplanted 

 the tulip, (white wood,) famous for its tap root, with 

 trifling care and perfect success. 



I am glad to see the aUention of planters turn- 

 ing to the trees of the forest beyond the fir, the 

 elm and the maple. They are all beautiful, quick 

 in their growth in their proper soils, and allowed 

 room enough to develop themselves. 



Richmond, Sept. 7, 1857. W. Bacon. 



MIDDLESEX AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



Middlesex county has three incorporated agricul- 

 tural societies, each receiving $600 bounty from the 

 State treasury ; the old society, which is now the 

 central one, was established in January, 1794, and 

 incorporated in 1803, and has held its exhibitions, 

 with but few exceptions, at Concord. The North 

 Middlesex Society held its Shows for two years at 

 Chelmsford, but is now permanently fixed, we be- 

 lieve, at Lowell. The South Middlesex Society has 

 its grounds and buildings at Framingham, where 

 its exhibitions have all been held. These societies 

 are in a flourishing condition — one in its lusty man- 

 hood, and the others in vigorous youth. They give 

 tone to the thoughts and feelings of the farmer, 

 and prompt him to experiments and practices in 

 husbandry which he might never attempt, were it 

 not for their influence ; they have done much to in- 

 troduce better modes of cultivating the soil, of 

 planting and tending trees, and greatly improved 

 the breeds of domestic cattle. It is not a little 

 gain to the farmer to cut five hundred pounds of hay, 

 per acre, more, or get five bushels of rye or wheat, 

 or fifteen of corn, because that increase is obtained 

 at a less cost than his former crops spread over a 

 much larger extent of ground. 



The anniversary of the old central society took 

 place this year on Tuesday, the 29th of September, 

 at Concord. The building had been removed from 

 the centre to one side ot the grounds, a track forty 

 rods in length laid, which gave an admirable oppor- 

 tunity to show and move the horses on, without of- 

 fering a temptation to race or achieve a mile in 

 three minutes or less. The cattle and horse pens, 

 and those for swine, the poultry stands and every- 

 thing else were arranged with precision and con- 

 venience, so that there was no jarring, or hurrjing, 

 or waiting, but at the appointed hour, each depart- 

 ment received its proper attention and share of 

 time, and moved on in harmony with everything 

 else. The grounds, the Exhibition Hall, and all 

 that each contained, that was presented for exhibi- 

 tion, was placed under the superintendence of John 



