1854, 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



31 



face will have a sterile appearance. In that case the 

 aianure or most of it, should be spread upon the sur- 

 face and worked into the soil with the harrow and 

 ©ultivatcr. This top or subsoil, after it has under- 

 gone the action of the sun, air and rains together 

 with the workings of the harrow, cultivator and 

 hoes will become as good, or even better than the 

 top soil turned to the bottom of the furrow,by the 

 end of the season. We think as much will be 

 gained in deepening the soil for a permanent im- 

 provement in one season in this way, as would be 

 gained in two or three years by lowering the plow- 

 ing an inch or two in a season. On many farms 

 the soil is so uniform that one kind of plow, and 

 other implements, to match is all that will be neces- 

 sary for the farmer to have,if they are of the right 

 kind, such a3"Prouty'8" or "Ruggles" pattern. A 

 good sward plow will be a good plow to plow mel- 

 low or stock ground, as we have found after ten 

 jears trial. Many teachers will say,that you must 

 have one plow to plow sward ground and another 

 to plow mellow ground, one to plow Sat surfaces, 

 and another to plow lapped furrows, and so on. 

 Now there is no objection that we can raise to far- 

 mers having all these plows if they feel so disposed 

 But three or four plows of the right stamp 

 costing from eight to ten dollars a plow, makes £ 

 handsome sum when put together. If every person 

 averages one good plow, it will be more than we 

 shall expect to see in the next ten years to come. 

 Of course we do not mean to say that all soils 

 should be plowed with one plow, it will vary of 

 course, according to cireumstanees. But a plow 

 ■ that will turn a furrow eleven or twelve inches in 

 width, may do the work just as effectually as one 

 taming a 7 or 8 inch furrow. The difference is 

 not so much in the width of the furrow slice cut, 

 as it is in the manner in which the work is done. 

 The difference would be a quarter or a third 

 more furrow slices in a field, in one case, than the 

 other, but no difference in the yield of the crop 

 will be seen. The same principle may be applied 

 to mellow plowing, a heavy plow could work the 

 soil over just as effectually as a light plow, and at 

 the same time do the work much faster with econ- 

 amyoftime. Yours, &c., L. Durand. 



Derby, Ct., Nov. 29, 1853. 



JAMES E. TESCHMACHER. 



One after another, the good and the useful are 

 taken from us, while yet in the midst of life and 

 health , leaving wide chasms in the ranks of those 

 devoted to our beloved Art. Even if they were 

 fully ripe, like a shock of corn in its season, and 

 their days of active usefulness were over, we should 

 scarcely know how to spare them ; but when cut 

 down suddenly, taken from our sides, as it were, 

 while laboring in our accustomed fields, it deeply 

 impresses us with the sublunary nature — even of 

 the richest and the best of all things here. While 

 we cherish their memory, therefore, in our deep 

 eet heart, we will do as they would probably have 

 advised us, press on with duty, whatever it may 

 be, and endeavor to add as many real blessings to 

 the world as they have added. 



At a special meeting of the Massachusetts Hor 

 tlcultural Society, held on the 12th day of Novem- 



ber, 1853, the death of James. E. Teschmacher was 

 announced by Samuel Walker, of Roxbury, (late 

 President of the Society.) 



On motion, the President, J. S. Cabot, of Salem, 

 appointed Samuel Walker, William S. King, and 

 B. V. French, a Committee to draft resolutions 

 expressive of the sense of the Society upon their 

 loss. , 



The Committee reported the following preamble 

 and resolutions, which were adopted : 



Whereas, God in his Providence has called from 

 this scene of his 'labors, in the fulness^ of his 

 strength, and suddenly, without premonition, our 

 beloved associate, James E. Teschmacher— it is 



Resolved, That the ISIassachusetts Horticultural 

 Society, while they acknowledge the inscrutable 

 wisdom of God, and bow before this solemn evi- 

 dence of his power, deeply and sincerely mourn the 

 loss they have sustained. In Mr. Teschmacher 

 this Society possessed an accomplished and expe- 

 rienced horticulturist, a wise and cautious adviser, 

 and an active and useful member, while each of ua, 

 his late associates, ever found in him an intelhgent, 

 interesting and unpretending companion, an hon- 

 orable man and a firm friend. 



Resolved, That in his death, Science, Literature 

 and the Arts have been deprived of an earnest stu- 

 dent and a faithful expounder— one ever anxious 

 to learn, and always willing to impart knowledge. 



Resolved, That, in token of esteem for the char- 

 acter and acquirements of our late associate, and 

 of sorrow for his loss, the members of this Society 

 will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty 

 days. 



Resolved, That we tender our sympathy to his 

 bereaved widow and family ; and that the Presi- 

 dent of the Society be requested to transmit to- 

 them a copy of the Preamble and Resolutions^ and 

 that the same be published. 



The Society then, as a farther mark of respect, 

 immediately adjourned. 



HUMUS. 



The fertility of a soil is generally considered to 

 depend upon the quantity of humus it contains. 

 No matter how efficient it may be in organic sub- 

 stances, a portion of organic matter is indispensa- 

 bly requisite to ensure productiveness. The best 

 and most economical method of supplying humus 

 to soil, perhaps, is by turning in green crops. — 

 When this method of amelioration is adopted, the 

 vegetables selected for turning in* should be such 

 as derive the most of their nourishment from the- 

 atmosphere, or in other words those which are 

 least exhausting to the soil in which they grow. 

 Up to the period of inflorescence, buckwheat, peas, 

 clover, and a variety of other plants classified in 

 the same category, draw but slightly from the 

 soil, the economy of nature being such in regard to 

 them, that a comparatively small amount of ali- 

 ment is demanded from this source. Hence it is 

 that soils which are nearly or quite deficient of 

 vegetable energy, are abundantly capable of pro- 

 ducing a largo amount of haulm, though they 

 would necessarily fail to perfect a crop of grain. 

 When buckwheat, peas, clover, etc., are inhumed 



