58 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



Feb. 



for the use of man or beast, and, like evil passions 

 in the uncultivated heart, check every plant of 

 kindlier growth. And, strange to tell, this ne- 

 glected field is the most prominent one on the 

 map ; it may be seen from the windows of the 

 house, from every othei portion of the farm, and 

 overlooks the highways leading to the to^vns of 

 Happy Dale and Sweet Content. And this is the 

 cause of the dissatisfaction pf which we speak — 

 a neglect to cultivate "T%c Intellectual Field T^ 

 From year to year it lies a dreary waste — the gentle 

 dews and refreshing rains fall upon its hard, unyield- 

 ing surfxce in vain ; the sun wai-ms it but to be 

 reflected back with all its vivifying power, and 

 the sweet breath of spring drops no fatness there. 



Such is the manner in which the farmer treats 

 the intellectual field, while the others are cultiva- 

 ted with unceasing care ; and until justice is done 

 to this, the most important of all, farming will 

 be but a trcad-mill'k\.i\(i. of occupation, and will of- 

 fer few inducements to the young and enterpris- 

 ing to enter its courts. 



In this branch of culture, the farmer possesses 

 great advantages — he can work in this field 

 in the winter ; his garners are full, and close and 

 constant application is not necessary. We can- 

 not say now how this cultivation should bo accom- 

 plished ; he must think it out himself. February's 

 snows, and winds and storms, cannot suppress the 

 emotions and desires of an earnest heart, but will 

 ofi«r opportunity for it to explore new and interest- 

 ing fields, so that it shall increase in wisdom and 

 usefulness through each revolving year. But this 

 may be said — We must not be satisfied merely 

 with what we can see. There is an "inner man" 

 to be cared for. Because Winter scenes assume 

 the sway, they should not cut ofi" the delightful 

 anticipations of Spring, the glory of the fields in 

 Autumn, the return of flowers, "busily working 

 at their gay toilets, and weaving their fontastic 

 robes, and shaping their trim forms, and distilling 

 their rich essences." What a race should we be, 

 if we knew and cared to know of nothing, but 

 ■what we can see and prove ! 



"Whose mind is but the mind of his own eyes, 

 lie is a slave — the meanest you can meet." 



But there are some visible things to be done, 

 and we will attend to them now — the first of which 

 is to 



Look at your Young Trees. — The deep snows, 

 followed by rain storms, will prove destructive to 

 young trees unless attention is paid to them. Many 

 young pear trees, particularly, were covered by 

 drifts, and if they are allowed to remain and freeze 

 about the branches,they will be dragged down by 

 the settling snow and rain, and broken. When fros 

 ty,these branches are tender and break easily. The 

 young apple trees, quinces, and valued shrubs, 

 should also be looked after. 



TuE Farm. — Profit, and great convenience, will 



be found by making a sketch of the outline of 

 the farm, and then of its existing divisions, giving 

 the buildings their proper position. 



Scions. — Cut scions now and place them in a 

 cool damp cellar, or cover with sand, tliat they 

 may be ready for use. 



Seeds. — Prepare seed corn, potatoes, peas, beans 

 and all other seeds that you intend to plant, and 

 make it an invariable rule to select the best of what- 

 ever kind you use. Great improvement may be 

 made in the quality of crops by the strict ob- 

 servance of this rule, and probably of quantity, 

 too. 



TuE Stock — Of all kinds — will frequently re- 

 quire the master" s eye ; it will not answer to trust 

 too much to hired hands. Tlierc will be no profit 

 in careless and indifferent keeping. Cattle like 

 diSerent kinds of food the same day. Working 

 oxen, especially, but all neat cattle, will thrive 

 better for being supplied with good beds of litter, 

 as they will lie warmer and easier, and keep clean- 

 er] 



This is, in our opinion, a part of the Farm 

 Work for February ; if you do not like the 

 sketch, kind reader, write one out yourself, and 

 lay it before us. 



For the Ifew New England Farmer. 



THE G0VEE2J0E AHD THE FAEMER. 



Mr. Editor: — I am pleased to observe in your 

 paper of this date, a notice of what liis Excellency 

 said in his late message, of three full columns, in 

 relation to the interests of the farmer, and the 

 advancement thereof. As more than one-half the 

 population of the State are directly engaged in the 

 cultivation of the soil , and the remainder are dea 

 pendent on its productsfor subsistence, there seems 

 to be a peculiar propriety in the Executives of the 

 State, and of the Nation, giving their favor and 

 approbation to the employment of the farmer. 

 We hope his Excellency, who is ex-officio, of the 

 Board of Agriculture, Vi^iW continue his favor to the 

 cause of the farmer, and do all he has promised, 

 and even more. x. 



Jan. 21, 1854. 



For the New England Farmer. 



BUTTER PRODUCTS IN BERKSHIRE. 



[IN ONE WEEK.] 



Cow No. L.June 346 lbs. milk 16 lbs. 11 oz. butter. 



September.. 3.31 " 16 " 5 « 



Cow No. 2. .June 440 " 17 " 



September. .410 " 16 " 14 " 



Cow No. 3. -June 337 •' 15 " 11 " 



September.. 298 " 15 " 1 " 



Cow No. 4.. June 319 " 15 " 8 " 



September.. 24.S " 13 " 8 " 



Cow No. 5.. June 319 " 12 " 



September.. 280 " 11 " 4 « 



3328 lbs. milk. 150 lbs. of butter. 



Being one pound of butter to 22 pounds of milk 

 — not quite up to those cows which are said to 

 froducc a pound of butter for '•'■each and every gal- 

 lon of milk.'''' Berkshire farmers must look out, or 

 Middlesex speculators in stock will out-run them. 

 Jan. 11, 1854. * 



