32G 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



in some of the boxes. This mixture possesses 

 highly sanatory properties, and should bo provid- 

 ed for all animals, particularly Avhen first sent to 

 pasture. They soon acquire a relish for it, and 

 partake of it with great avidity. 



Salt is also a valuable article in compost. Ac- 

 cording to CuTiicERT Johnson's statement, it is 

 now extensively used for this purpose by the far- 

 mers of Great Britain, and has been found singu- 

 larly beneficial, particularly on light soils. The 

 "squash-vine destroyer," he says, is easily pre- 

 vented from committing its depredations by the 

 application of brine, which is also a preventive of 

 aphides, or plant lice, which so frequently lay 

 waste the turnip and cabbage yards. But it 

 should here be observed, that the direct applica- 

 tion of very strong brine will prove fatal to the 

 plants, and that it should be used for this pur- 

 pose onl^' in a weak state. By pouring it around 

 the roots, it will tend to dislodge worms and oth- 

 er insect depredators. 



NEW PLANTS. 



much attention. New kinds of fruit, and new 

 varieties of those already cultivated here, might 

 be introdued with great advantage. 



More attention has been given to the introduc- 

 tion of improved breeds of animals than to seeds 

 and plants. The effect of this is seen in the im- 

 provement of nearly every kind of domestic ani- 

 mal — horses, cows, oxen, hogs, sheep ; but the in- 

 troduction of new species of animals has not re- 

 ceived so much consideration. A discussion has 

 indeed been raised upon the practicability of in- 

 troducing the camel for the overland journey to 

 the Pacific, and something has been said of at- 

 tempting to domesticate the bisDn. The latter, 

 we have little doubt, would be successful, and 

 very beneficial ; tire former appears to be rather 

 chimerical. Yet we will not undertake to say 

 that the camel, or even the elephant, might not 

 be employed with advantage in some part of the 

 country. At least, we shall never know till we 

 try. — Providence Journal. 



Considerable attention, yet much less than the 

 importance of the subject demands, has been lately 

 devoted to the introduction of foreign seeds into 

 this country. We have now within the limits of 

 our government, every variety of soil and climate, 

 and we are dependent upon foreign countries for 

 many articles whicli, by judicious cultivation, 

 might readily be supplied from our own resources ; 

 and many other articles which have long been 

 rai.ied here, are susceptible of a great improve- 

 ment in their cultivation and preparation for mar- 

 ket. Something has been done by the Nationil 

 Institute, something by the local agricultural so- 

 eioties, and something by enterprising and liberal 

 seamen, who have brought home the seeds, and 

 plants, and animals of other countries, and added 

 new products to our own. Some of the staple 

 products of the country originated from seeds 

 whicli were brought here as an experiment, or by 

 accident ; and it is probable, that of all the ar- 

 ticles which enter largely into consumi:)tion with 

 us, there is comparatively few which might not, 

 with proper care, be raised within some part of 

 our widely extended boundaries. 



Indigo and madder are two articles for whicli 

 very large sums are sent from this country. — 

 Both might be profitably raised here. Indigo was 

 once extensively raised in the Southern States, 

 and the adaptation oi our soil and climate to the 

 production of madder has been repeatedly proved. 

 A very interesting, and we believe satisfiictory, 

 expcrimrnt, has been tried in the raising of tea. 

 Excellent wine has been produced in the Western 

 States, and in some of the Southern, and it is 

 said that we have regions as well adapted to the 

 cultivation of the grape as any in France or Italy. 

 The substitution of lijght wines for the distilled 

 spirits of liome production would prove of no dis- 

 advantage to the cause of temperance. We be- 

 lieve it is a well-attested fixct, that intoxication is 

 rarely witnessed in wine-growing regions. The 

 cultivation of flax and hemp will receive an im- 

 pulse from the new process which is exciting so 



For the New Enshmd Farmer. 



PEOTECTION FOR FRUIT TREES IN 

 WINTER. 



Messrs. Editors : — In answer to an inquiry in 

 your last week's paper, whether trial had been 

 made by any one in protecting the peach, I am 

 happy to say that I have tried it with complete 

 success. I have peach trees in their fifth year, 

 which liavo never suffered in the least from the 

 coldest weather. This place is situated one de- 

 gree north of Portland in the White Mountain re- 

 gion, about 700 feet above tide -water. The prev- 

 alent idea that extreme cold alone will kill the 

 peach, I believe must be abandoned ; or rather, 

 the idea that Avhen the thermometer is 12'^ below 

 zero it is fatal ; I have contended for several years, 

 that it is not so much the extreme cold as the 

 strong winds, pelting sleet and snow, and sudden 

 changes of temperature, that affect the peach. We 

 had the thermometer once last winter at 34°, and 

 at several times from 12"' down to tliat extreme 

 degree of cold, and yet our peach trees that were 

 protected by matting or fir boughs were not injured 

 at all. 



My practice is this. Late in the fall, I draw 

 the limbs of the tree together and put round some 

 matting, a single fold will answer, drive a stake 

 down by the side of tli^tree and fasten the tree to 

 it. One man can protect from one to two hun- 

 dred trees in a day ; care should bo taken not to 

 unwrap them too early in spring, so as to expose 

 the fruit buds to the late frosts. 



I also protected a locust tree in the same way, 

 simply by lashing a few fir boughs to the north- 

 west side of the tree. It now looks as bright as 

 if it were growing in the latitude of Philadelphia. 



I can see no reason Avhy peaches cannot be 

 raised in any part of Maine simply by protecting 

 tliem in this way.* It may not l)e known to all of 

 your readers that although we live so far to the 

 North, tlie ground is rarely frozen to any extent, 

 in vAM|ter. The early snows prevent this, so that 

 it is only the tops of such trees that need special 

 protection. It is useless to attempt the cultivation 

 of the peach in this State without some kind of 

 protection ; they may survive one, two, or even 

 three winters should they be mild, but the fourth 

 may kill them all down. 



