NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



23.5 



ligent search for, and application of" all kinds 

 lanurp. whctUcr mineral, vefifetable, or ani- 

 wliich may be procured ivilhout any great 

 ;nse, a judicious rotation of crops adapted 

 e soil and the ])robablc state of the markets, 

 jrough and complete tillaa;e of the arable 

 , and the destruction of all weeds, so that 

 )owers of the sail should be wholly applied 

 le production of useful crops. 

 le great defect common in the husbandry 

 is county the want of root crops, has been 

 ted out in this place, in former addresses, 

 the great advantage of these crops for^live 

 : described and demonstrated in the most 

 actory manner. Among those 1 believe 

 tiangel Wurtzel, or great beet, and carrots, 

 •referable to any crops of the kind (hat have 

 tried here. They afford a much more nu- 

 food for cattle, and a larger produce (es- 

 lly the Mangel Wurfzel) to the acre, than 

 urnip with which we are acquainted. It 

 well ascertained that the Ruta Baga, when 

 to cows, communicates a bad flavor to the 

 though it may be good food for other 

 tock. Our long and severe winters, ren- 

 necessary to lay in store so much food for 

 and the tap-rooted plants when well cul- 

 d, afford so much, and of such an excellent 

 y that no farmer who is able to cultivate 

 m in a husband-like manner, should be 

 jt a plentiful supply of vegetables, 

 principle which cannot be too strongly 

 mended to every farmer, is to have his 

 ock, and all the products of his farm the 

 jf the kind, the best kinds of hay and 

 the best butter, cheese, fruits, cider, 

 es, and other vegetables, for the market, 

 fference in point of expense in the produc- 

 yery trifling between very good, and or- 

 or bad, but in the price of these commod- 

 Lid the profits to be derived from them, 

 fference is very great. Articles of the 

 lality will always command a good price, 

 hose of an inferior quality, though pro- 

 it nearly or quite the same expense, per- 

 annot be sold at all, or sold only at a loss, 

 aps we may derive some encouragement 

 ■ited and vigorous efiorts to improve our 

 riculture, if we compare it for a mo- 

 ith that of England, and take a view of 

 •f the advantages and disadvantages of 

 ^lish and American farmer. In England, 

 ure is carried to a much higher degree 

 lection than in other countries, with the 

 on perhaps, of Flanders, Lombardy, and 

 arts of Switzerland, and Sr'cotland. This 

 wing, as is well known, to any superior- 

 oil or climate, enjoyed by England over 

 other countries of Europe. Arthur 

 an excellent judge, after making his ag- 

 al tours over France and England, says, 

 h in soil, and chmate, France has the su- 

 y over England, but the produce of the 

 ountry by the acre, was on an average, 

 )r quite double to that of France, ow 

 uperior cultivation. Our own agricul- 

 irobably inferior to that of England ; — 

 e no doubt, exceptions to this remark 

 general position it is unquestionably 

 A'^hat are the causes of this superiority? 

 re the advantages of soil, climate, or po- 

 nstitutions, which the English enjoys 

 i American farmer ? Or is the difference 



owing to the superior industry, skill and liberal 

 application of capital in English agriculture ? 



In England the greater mildness of the 

 weather in winter, enables a farmer to prepare 

 his land earlier for a spring crop, to feed his 

 turnips on the ground, and prosecute some op- 

 erations in agriculture which the severity of 

 our winters renders impracticable. The win- 

 ter is both milder and shorter, the atmosphere 

 being more moist, is in some respects more fa- 

 vorable to vegetation, and they sufler less from 

 diought than we do. Vegetation is however 

 more rapid here than in England, and though 

 our spring is later, our harvest is earlier. Hay 

 is also cut earlier here, and owing to the supe- 

 rior dryness of our atmosphere is much more 

 easily made than in England. Indian corn gives 

 us a great advantage over the English farmer, 

 as has been already mentioned. 



With respect to the soil, a skilful observer. 

 Chancellor Livingston, alter an attentive exam- 

 ination, is of opinion, that the soil of the Unit- 

 ed Slates is not inferior to that of France, 

 Great Britain, Italj', Flanders and Germany. — 

 The soil of our own county is not so good as 

 thit of some parts of the United States. A ve- 

 ry considerable portion of Essex, however, is 

 naturally fertile, and if agriculture does not 

 flourish more with us, it cannot, I think, be 

 justly ascribed to any defect in our soil or cli- 

 mate. 



[Remainder in our next.] 



Roxbury, Feb. 13, 1824. 

 T. G. Fessf.ndek, Esq. 



Sir, — Havinof called several times at the Shakers' 

 Village, in Canterbury, N. H. during the past year, a- 

 maig theirnumerous economical arrangements, I was 

 much pleased with their mode of keeping fresh meals 

 darmg; the winter and late into spring. By this means, 

 they kill off a considerable number of animals and 

 poultry in December and .Tanuary, and preserve them 

 for use, {saving the expense of food and labor attending 

 them) during the whole winter. — I had hoped to have 

 received this statement in season for our last .Agricultu- 

 ral Repository, but was disappointed.. — I think it miglit 

 do good, though now getting late in the season, to pub- 

 lish it, in your valuable paper. 



The receipt for making soft soap, may also be useful 

 to publish. 



Respectfully yours, 



JOHN PRINCE. 



Canterbury, Jan. 26, 1824. 

 Much respected friend Prince, — Your letter 

 of the 22d Dec. was duly received, but I regret 

 to say, that it was at a time in which I was pre- 

 paring for a long journey, and therefore could not 

 immediately answer your request with regard 

 to giving you information, as respects the keep- 

 ing of fresh meat, aud the making of soap : nor 

 have I, till this instant, (in consequence of a crowd 

 of business,) had any convenient opportunity to 

 write. However, if it will be of any service to 

 you, or the public, at this late period, you shall 

 be welcome to the following hints. 



To keep Fresh Meat good during winter and spring. 

 Dig a cave, if convenient, under the north 

 side of a building where the ground descends 

 considerably to the north ; wall it all round with 

 stone or brick, except the passage on the north 

 side, which should be bd entry way, furnished 



with three doors, at some distance apart ; the. 

 middle one to lie made of slals, the other livo 

 made whole in order to shut close. Having cut 

 the moat into largo pieces, permit it to freeze 

 thoroughly; then place it in the cave upon 

 shelves prepared for that pur|)ose, and cover it 

 over with low sheets, upon which snow may be 

 laid if necessary. The doors arc to be kepi 

 closely shut during moderate or Ihawey weather ; 

 but they should be occasionally left open when 

 the weather is cold, in order to let in the frost. 

 The middle door is for the purpose of keepinn; 

 out carnivorous animals while the others aie 

 open ; the other two are to prevent the warm 

 air from penetrating the cave, the grand object 

 being to keep the meat in a frozen situation. 



With due attention meat may be ke[>t fresh 

 and good in this way, from December till April 

 and perhaps for a longer time. 



Where it is not convenient to make a cave un- 

 der a building as above, it may answer a good 

 purpose to dig it in any other convenient place 

 where the ground descends sh arply towards the 

 north : but in this case it shoul d be covered over 

 with flat stones and earth ; and also with a wood- 

 en roof in order to keep out the rain. 



An easy method to make good Soap. 



The vats or vessels containing it are lo be si- 

 tuated in the rays of the sun ; and at the same 

 time sheltered from the rain. 



To one barrel of good lye sufficient]}' strong 

 to bear up an eg^, add about six gallons of clean 

 melted grease, and thus in proportion for any 

 other quantity.* Stir the mixture well together, 

 and repeat the operation twice daily, till it be- 

 comes so thick and stiff as to render stirring im- 

 practicable. Let it stand in this situation thro' 

 the summer ; or till needed for use, adding a 

 little weak lye occasionally as the soap dries 

 away. 



With due respect, your friend, 



FRANCIS WINKLEY, 



* Or add as much grease as the lye will absorb, or 

 eat up. 



To purify River or any other Muddy Water.— 

 Dissolve half an ounce of alum in a pint of warm 

 water, and stirring it about in a puncheon of wa- 

 ter just taken from any river, all the impurities 

 will soon settle lo the bottom, and in a day or 

 two it will become as clear as the finest spring 

 water. ^ 



Warm Water. — Warm water is preferable lo 

 cold water, as a drink, for persons who are sub- 

 ject to dyspeptic and billions complaints, and it 

 may be taken more freely than cold water, and 

 consequenily answers better as a diluent for car- 

 rying off bile, and removing obstructions in the 

 uriny secretion in cases of stone and gravel. 

 When water, of a temperature equal to that 

 of the human body, is used for drink, it proves 

 considerably stimulant, and is particularly suited 

 to dyspeptic, Dlllious, gouty and chlorotic sub- 

 jects. 



To make Sea ■water Jit for washing Linen at 

 Sea. — Soda put into sea-water, renders it turbid, 

 the lime and magnesia fall to the bottom. To 

 make sea water fit for washing linen at sea, as 

 much soda must be put in it, as not only to ef- 

 fect a complete preci|)itation of these earths, 

 but to render the sea-water sufficiently lixivial 

 or alkaline. Soda should always be taken to 

 sea for this purpose. 



