24 Impre^nulion of Plants — Garden — Preserving Cider. Vol. III. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Impregnation of Plants. 



That plants nearly allied, if in flower at the 

 same time, and contiguous, will so impregnate 

 each other, that their seeds will give a pro- 

 duct partaking of the qualities of both, is well 

 known — hence the necessity of keeping the 

 different varieties widely separated. It is al- 

 so a fact, that some plants so situated, will 

 not only have their seeds so altered, but the 

 whole fruit will partake of the good or bad 

 qualities of their relatives. 



For instance, a few striped gourds or cala- 

 bashes, if permitted to flower at the same 

 time, near a patch of squashes, will render the 

 whole too bitter for use. As this is true with 

 respect to squashes, melons, &c., why may it 

 not be the case with apples, where many vari- 

 eties of trees are contained in the same orchard, 

 and not sufficiently separated to prevent the 

 impregnation of each other. That this effect 

 is produced upon the seed, we have sufficient 

 evidence in the great variety produced by 

 planting the contents of any one of the ap- 

 ples. May not the flesh and even the form of 

 the fruit be altered in this wayl These views 

 were induced by the very great difficulty in 

 procuring apples to agree, either with Cox's 

 description or figures. The forms of the ap- 

 ples brought under the name of Bell-flower, 

 are as various as their flavor, some of them 

 almost spherical, but still retaining some ve- 

 ry distinctive characters of that variety — viz., 

 the size of the capsule, rattling seeds, &c. — 

 The like departure from old forms and flavor, 

 may be found in many others. That this is 

 the cause, I do not say, but submit the matter 

 for the consideration of others — suggesting at 

 the same time, that young stocks be budded 

 from favorite trees, and kept as widely sepa- 

 rated as possible. Pomum. 



For the Farmers Cabinet. 



A Good "Vegetable Garden is a necessary 

 Appendage to a Farni« 



I have frequently been surprised at finding 

 the gardens of many respectable farmers 

 much neglected, and in some cases omitted 

 altogether as not being worthy of attention. 

 This, in my view, is radically wrong; and 

 bespeaks either a great want of industry, or 

 of proper estimation of the health and com- 

 forts to be derived from a good and seasona- 

 ble supply of vegetables for the table. 



The product of a well stocked vegetable 

 garden will save, at least, one half the ex- 

 pense of a farmer's living; will be more 

 jiealthy than the too free use of animal food, 

 and be better relished, and more satisfactory 

 to the workmen, than being confined to a 

 ;heavicr diet. Independently of those great 

 .advantages, the garden will yield much more 



than can be consumed in the family, and the 

 surplus may always find ready sale in the 

 market at good prices, which will constitute 

 no small item in the cash receipts of the 

 fanner. It is believed that the whole amount 

 of rent of a farm may be paid from the pro- 

 ducts of a well managed garden alone, and 

 with comparatively little expense, as it will 

 be a source of pleasure to the junior mem- 

 bers of the household in the cool of the day, 

 to help prepare the different kinds of garden 

 truck, while those of more mature age are 

 employed in getting the butter, eggs, poultry, 

 veal, &c. in readiness, to be sent to market on 

 the following morning. Hohtus. 



I'reventiug Cider from beeoming Soiir* 



There are several modes adopted by farm- 

 ers, to prevent their eider from becoming sour. 

 One is, the putting in of mustard seed — about 

 a gill to the barrel. For some reason or 

 other, this prevents the acetic fermentation, 

 and the cider remains free from that sourness, 

 or hardness, as it is sometimes called, which 

 it otherwise would have. The different modes 

 of refining cider, adopted by some who follow 

 the business, depends undoubtedly on sepa- 

 rating all unnecessary vegetable matter froni 

 the liquor, and checking the fermentation at 

 the right time. 



Farmers generally, have neither the time 

 nor the skill to follow out all the operations 

 required to do this ; and hence the most of 

 their cider becomes hard, by the next sum- 

 mer after it is made. 



We have been informed that the addition 

 of Salt Petre, in the proportion of one quar- 

 ter of a pound to a barrel, would net only pre- 

 vent the cider from becoming hard or sour, 

 but even if added after it had changed, would 

 restore it to a pleasai>t state again. 



We cannot vouch for the truth of this from 

 any experience which we have had ourself 

 with it, but can see no good reason why it 

 should not succeed ; nor can we discover any 

 harm whicii it could do by any of the combi- 

 nations which it would make with the cider, 

 to which it may be added. — Maine Farmer. 



I.,oudon many Years ago. 



[From Mi(i(llet<ins Siiivey.] 

 London contains 8,000 acres of pavement, 

 :«),000 horses, 8,()(K) cows, and 700,000 in- 

 habitants, and furnishes the neighboring far- 

 mers with 500,000 loads of manure. It re- 

 quires the produce of 250,000 acres of land 

 for its supply, and the manure is calculated 

 to arise from 500,000 loads of produce sent 

 into London for its supply from the adjoining < 

 counties. Nine-tenths of tiic soil from the 

 privies is carried by the conmion sewers into 

 the Thames, the water of which is allowed 

 to be the best in the world. 



