554 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



be given to the order of arrangement or of pro- 

 ceeding, — our object being to catch as much of the 

 spirit of the occasion as possible, and impart it to 

 the reader, and at the same time make a concise 

 record of material points for future reference. 



The Grounds were the same as those occupied 

 for the Show of the U. S. Agricultural Society 

 two years ago, and were commodious and conven- 

 ient. Tents were erected in the centre, for the 

 accommodation of various departments, and places 

 for procuring sundry edibles for the hungry, and 

 for retirement and rest. The sheds for cattle and 

 horses had been repaired and put in proper order, 

 water and forage abundantly supplied, the track 

 level and clean, and every thing made as inviting 

 and comfortable for all as possible. Our national 

 flags floated proudly in the breeze over several of 

 the tents, while national airs from an excellent band 

 fell harmoniously upon the ear with the nervous 

 steps of the horses upon the adjacent track. The 

 arrangements of the Board were made with wis- 

 dom and carried out with fidelity, and nothing was 

 wanted to ensure a successful result but that all 

 the State — with as many of "the rest of mankind" 

 as could make it convenient, should come and see 

 and judge for themselves. 



Yale's great tent, covering more ground than 

 we dare to stale, occupied nearly the centre of the 

 grounds, and to this we made our way, attracted 

 by sundry words in glowing colors, intimating that 

 within we might find the objects of our search. 

 Upon entering it we first met a collection of vege- 

 tables, such as barrels of various kinds of potatoes, 

 squashes, vieing the gold in color, and others swell- 

 ing to ox-like dimensions in size, cabbages, turnips 

 and beets, of various shapes and hues, and what- 

 ever might be expected in this department, was 

 there. The collection presented by Mr. J. F. C. 

 Hyde, of Newton Centre, embracing the leading 

 vegetables of the garden, attracted much atten- 

 tion. It contained a great variety of potatoes, up- 

 on which he has been experimenting for several 

 years, in order to ascertain what kinds are best 

 adapted to our soils and most suitable for the table. 

 Near this excellent collection of vegetables, Mr. 

 "Et. had placed several bottles and jars of syrup 

 which he had extracted from the Chinese Sugar 

 Cane ; he had also several rolls of paper which he 

 had caused to be manufactured from the cane after 

 the juice had been extracted. The paper had con- 

 siderable strength, was light colored and free from 

 the disagreeable odors which paper has that is 

 manufactured from oakum and junk. 



Mr. Lake, of Topsfield, also presented several 

 specimens of the syrup, some of which were as good 

 as any syrups obtained from the ordinary sources. 



The only grain, we are sorry to say, that we saw 

 on exhibition was a few ears of corn and some sam- 

 ples of ."ve. 



The show of fruits was limited, but of high char- 

 acter — the apples and pears were very fine, and the 

 grapes, peaches and plums such as it would be dif- 

 ficult to equal. The show of the Concord Grape 

 was such, we believe, as to put to rest all doubt 

 and cavil of its worth ; it bore off the palm of the 

 first prize on native grapes, and the wine made 

 from it did the same. We never before saw so 

 large and fine specimens of the Seckel pear as 

 were upon these tables. Mr. Lake, of Topsfield, 

 presented a winter sweet apple of large size and 

 great beauty, which he says promises to be one of 

 the best winter apples we have. It is to be hoped 

 this will prove true, for there is still, even in Mas- 

 sachusetts, a place yet unsupplied with this deli- 

 cious winter fruit. A good sweet apple is not a 

 matter of fancy, a fruit to please the palate merely 

 — but is one of the staples, lilce corn or wheat, and 

 affords such abundant nourishment, and is at the 

 same time so wholesome, that it ought to become 

 a common article of food for the million. We hope 

 Mr. Lake will succeed in introducing this apple ex- 

 tensively among the farmers, if it proves to be all 

 he expects of it. It was found eight years ago on 

 the estate of Gov. Bradstreet, in Topsfield, and has 

 since been engrafted on Baldwin stocks. 



Advancing a little farther into this tent we came 

 to collections of agricultural implements presented 

 by Messrs. JSTourse, Mason ^' Co., — Parker, White 

 fy Gannett, — Blake, Barnard ^- Co., — and JVourse 

 Sf' Co., all of Boston. There were also many mis- 

 cellaneous articles presented by other persons, pos- 

 sessing various degrees of ingenuity and skill. The 

 show in this Department was well calculated to ex- 

 cite the wonder and admiration of the beholder, 

 and has never been equalled in New England, if it 

 has anywhere in our country. In the collection of 

 Nourse, Mason & Co., seventy plows stood side by 

 side, no two being alike, and afi'ording among them 

 a plow for every conceivable want which the farm- 

 er may feel in turning up his soils to receive their 

 crops. The style of these implements was grace- 

 ful and compact, united with lightness and strength. 

 They were finished in every part, both wood and 

 iron work, with a care and neatness which reflects 

 credit upon those who designed, as well as those 

 who executed the work. There was also the Horse 

 Hoe, an implement combining the properties of the 

 plow and the hoe, designed by Mr. Knox, of 

 Worcester, and the Gang Cultivator, by the same 

 gentleman, both of which have been tested by some 

 of the best farmers among us, and pronounced great 

 acquisitions to our labor-saving implements for the 

 farm. Mr. Knox, standing upon the vantage ground 

 gained by Mr. Joel Nourse, in the construction of 

 the plow, has gained considerable celebrity in de- 

 vising new, and improving old implements, used in 

 breaking the soil and preparing it for seed. All the 

 implements now manufactured by this House, fOi. 



