1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



183 



tree is exhausted. By breaking up the ground 

 and cultivating it, in two years, such an orchard 

 may be made to yield good fruit. Mr. French 

 dwelt on the need of a State fruit farm, where all 

 the different varieties of fruit, as they come before 

 the community, may be tried and their value as- 

 certained. This would be of great benefit to the 

 farmer, as by applying to the superintendent he 

 could ascertain at once the best varieties. A sub- 

 scription of one dollar from each farmer in the 

 State would yield one hundred thousand dollars, 

 and this sum would establish such a farm, on 

 which farmers' sons might be educated especially 

 for agriculture. 



Mr. CuKTis exhibited to the meeting some ad- 

 mirably preserved pears, which were the result of 

 a secret process for retarding tlie ripening of the 

 fruit. 



Mr. Brown announced that the Executive Com- 

 mittee had written to Dr. Lee, of Rochester, N. 

 Y., in regard to lecturing, and he was expected 

 to lecture on next Tuesday evening ; but if he 

 should fail, a lecture would be delivered by Mr. 

 Howard, of the Boston Cultivator, on the subject 

 for that evening, viz. 



Neat Cattle, — What is the best method for 

 improving stock to be kept on the farm ? 



For the New England Farmer. 



AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



Senate document No. 7, just come to hand, 

 gives encouraging assurance, that agriculture is 

 soon to occupy ifs appropriate place in the coun- 

 cils of the Commonwealth. No one can arise from 

 the perusal of this paper, without being forcibly 

 impi-essed with the vastness of the field of labor it 

 opens. This bird's eye glance, at the comparative 

 conditions of farming now, with what it was one 

 hundred years ago, affords some criterions to hope 

 what it may bo, one hundred years hence — even at 

 the same rate of progress. But when the go 

 ahead propensities of the age, are taken into view 

 — it may not be easy to estimate, the proportions 

 it may attain. 



We are pleased with the discriminating intelli- 

 gence, modified by a commendable diffidence, ap- 

 parent on every page of this Report. Much l)et- 

 ter to bo so, than in a dictatorial, authoritative 

 style. It is always better not to make assertions, 

 than to retract assertions. Few things in agricul- 

 ture are so certainly known, as to be averred with 

 entire confidence. 



In the notice of the culture of the cranberry, 

 more new ideas arc presented, than on any other 

 topic. This is indeed, to most, a new species of 

 culture ; governed by rules somewhat extraordi- 

 nary, deriving support chietiy from air and ivaler, 

 and nut from the soil. Considering the excellence 

 of this fruit, and the increasing demand for it, it 

 will not be surprising, if the diffusion of this in- 

 formation, should greatly extend its culture. We 

 have ourselves, in tlie North-easterly extremity of 

 the State, more than once, witnessed the successful 

 upland culture of the cranberry — ^generally accom- 

 panied with a liberal dressing of mud from the 



meadows, operating not as a fertilizer, but as a 

 sponge to retain moisture. 



We looked with interest, to soe what might be 

 said of the "native stock of New England ;" but 

 we do not find the author prepared to add to our 

 assurance on this topic. He tliinks the Devons, 

 as a class, were not known in England, at the time 

 of the first importation of cattle hero. This may 

 be, but it I>y no means follows from this, that they 

 did not have the same origin as the Devons of Eng- 

 land. They certainly have a most striking family 

 resemblance ; and in our judgment, aflbrd the best 

 basis fur permanent improvements. 



We commend the perusal of these pages to all 

 who are willing to be instructed in matters agri- 

 cultural ; feeling confident, that the Jirst Report 

 of the Secretary will be found entitled to a favor- 

 able reception. P. 



March 'ith, 1854. 



NEW USE OF PLASTER OF PARIS. 



Although proposing a new remedy for that most 

 distressing and discouraging disease, spasmodic 

 asthma, may not be an agricultural topic, yet if 

 the use of it should relieve only two out of twenty 

 farmers who we know are troubled with this dis- 

 order, it cannot be said that it has dune farmers 

 no good. AYe will here promise that Ave have not 

 tried this remedy, and know nothing practically 

 in regard to its remedial powers. 



We send the story of its use around, with a 

 view to have it tried by the suffering who have as 

 yet obtained nothing to relieve them. We find it 

 communicated to the Bosto7i Medical Journal, by 

 J. P. Root, M. D., of New Hartford Centre, Ct. 

 He gives two cases, as follows : 



"Some three years since I was called to see a 

 severe case of spasmodic asthma, in the person of 

 a young lady of eighteen years. After going 

 through with the articles commonly used in such 

 cases, but with little effect, T accidentally hit upon 

 the use of 'plaster of Paris,' in mixture, with al- 

 most magic-like result. 



The only thing previous to this that gave her 

 much relief was the smoking of stramonium leaves. 

 Since using the plaster, however, she has been con- 

 stantly improving. In fact, for the last two years 

 or more, she has nearly forgotten what formerly 

 alarmed not only herself and friends, but troul)led 

 her physicians. I have used this article ever since 

 with similar results. 



About two months since I was called to witness 

 the agony of a little girl of twelve years, lately 

 moved into tliis vicinity — more to console her 

 friends than to relieve the sufferer, as they had 

 given up the idea of ever seeing her cured, or even 

 made better ; for, to use their expression, they 

 had 'been to all the doctors, and they didn't do 

 lier any good.' She had not been in a recum- 

 bent position for a week. I immediately com- 

 menced the use of my favorite remedy, with results 

 as before. 



The mixture should be prepared similar to limo 

 water, and used freely, diluted in water or milk, 

 on each recurrence of the spasm." 



Dr. Root goes on to s;iy that he is in the habit 

 of prescribing, for his astlnnatic patients, cold 

 sponging about the neck and chest every morning, 

 fullowod ])y l)risk friction. 



The retiders of the Farmer will see that a tria 

 of this remedy will not involve much expense 



