1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMBlR, 



355 



carry animals an I article? for exliiliitions to or 

 from the Fair, free of charge, and visitors each 

 way, at half fare. It is also expected that sim- 

 ilar arrangements will bo made with railroad com- 

 panies out of Vermont. 



For the Nttv Englomd Farmer. 



FARMERS' CLUBS. 



It is an old and long harped sulijcct,we are very 

 well aware, and if they had been organized, as the 

 bonetit of farmers require, all over the laud, in ev- 

 ery town, every school district, then they would 

 nut furnish so irksome a subject for so many 

 readers as wo from the very lethargy of the people 

 may suppose they do now. . 



We have urged the establishment of these in- 

 stitutions both in public and private until we 

 liave very little hope that what wo have to say 

 will be read. But once more, dear reader, we ask 

 your attention. We have a new story to-day, and 

 it may interest you. At any rate, we took cour- 

 age as it was told to us, and have felt refreshed by 

 its prospective influence ever since. 



In the town of Sunderland, Franklin County, 

 a Farmers' Club was formed in January, 1853. 

 There*wore only twenty-four individuals associa- 

 ted in its first formation, liut what then ? If there 

 had been only thi'ee, those would have found a 

 living benefit from so associating, and their num- 

 l>er, like the annual circles on the oak,would have 

 increased, until the shadow of their good work 

 would have spread far. 



Fully to illustrate the objects of this club, and 

 to show what results may be anticipated from its 

 labors, we give, as a friend has given us, the fol- 

 lowing articles from its constitution. 



"Art. 2. The object of this club shall be, the 

 circulation of general intelligence and practical 

 instruction in all brunches of Agriculture, Horti- 

 culture and Floriculture. 



First, by the establishment of discussions, lec- 

 tures, exhibitions, experiments and other means 

 for the general circulation of knowledge on sub- 

 jects embraced by the club. 



Second, by procuring the most rare and valua- 

 ble kinds of seeds, scions, ptlants, shrubs and 

 trees. 



Third, by the establishment of a correspond- 

 ence and exchange with other bodies interested 

 in the same object. 



Fourth, Ijy planting shade trees on all the ave- 

 nues of tlie town." 



Now, wo have no doubt but this Sunderland is 

 destined to be one of the most beautifully attrac- 

 tive places in our country, if art is called into ac- 

 tion, as we may suppose it will be, through the 

 iuQuenee of tljis club. The intelligence of her 

 sons, too, if they carry out tlieir broad plan ofin- 

 vo»tigation and improvements, will more than 

 keep pace with the progress of the age, and beau- 

 tiful results both in mind and matter will lung )yi 

 found there, and will go out fi-om them to give a 

 richer tone to improvement in their own and oth- 

 er places. 



It gives us jileasure to be able to say the num- 

 ber ot'meraljers of this club is increasing, — that an 

 agricultural library, if not already formed, is in 

 contemplation, and that every indication is given 

 of its permanent succoes. 



If every town would adopt the course adopted 

 by Sunderland, it could not be long before our 

 country would Ijecome. wliat nature has designed 

 it to be, a garden of iVrtility and exquisite beau- 

 ty. We can readily infer this, when we see what 

 individuals have accomplished in the renovation 

 and improvements of their own premises. And 

 what individuals have accomplished in a less but 

 brilliant way, the united eflPorts of a community 

 can certainly carry out with less labor and far 

 greater success l)y their united operation. 



One object of the association is, to plant shade 

 trees until all the streets in that venerable town 

 become avenues of cool and refreshing shades. To 

 tlie slothful, this may look like a bold and haz- 

 ardous enterprise— yet we think that three years 

 Avill see it accomplished, and tlie trees all flourish- 

 ing in healthful vigor, the pride of the inhabi- 

 tants, and the comfort and admiration of all 

 travellers. AV hat a picture ! A town noted fur 

 thrift, v,I:o.se streets are all shady avenues ! It 

 will ijj an advance of many steps beyond wliat 

 the progi-ess of the age appears to indicate. It 

 will be giving new beauty to a bright gem in the 

 diadem of earth. 



But, supposing the adjoining towns sliould for 

 one or two seasons adopt the same course as is 

 being pursued in Sunderland. Suppose the same 

 spirit should operate through Franklin County, 

 would not Franklin County be thought the bright- 

 est jewel that glittered on the craggy In-ow of old 

 Massachusetts \ 



Let it be a prime consideration in the economy 

 of our State, to adopt this system of improvement, 

 and how soon all our thoroughfares would bceo;;io 

 inviting shades, and Massachusetts would ac- 

 quire a renown in her rural pursuits which 

 would give her a higher rank than she now in 

 her glory possesses in the national sisterhood, and 

 which command for her unabating respect 

 through thenations of the earth. 



May we not hope in view of this matter, that 

 when the bountiful harvests which the earth 

 promises as the reward of persevering labor are 

 all gatliered, and the season of unbroken care and 

 unremitted labor has passed, and the leisure they 

 demand has come to relieve the wearied mind and 

 toilvvorn body, that many, very many towns in 

 our State, will establish similar institutions and 

 pursue the same laudable olijects until the triumph 

 they promise is fully attained. 



Yours, truly, 



Ehtiwood, June 8, 185-1. w. r.. 



REMEDY FOR SMUT IN WHEAT. 



Messrs. Editors : — I see a writer in the Coun- 

 try Gentleman asks for a preventive for smut or 

 fungus in wheat. Tliis, together with the fre- 

 quent inquiries nuido I)y our northern friends, in 

 tlie wheat growing regions, induces me to give you 

 one that is simple, cheap, never failing. It is sim- 

 ply a soTik in water in wliicli Idue vitriol has been 

 dissolved, in tlie following proportions : For each 

 ■1 or 5 bushels wheat, dissolve 1 H). blue vitriol in 

 water, sufficient to cover and propeily soak the 

 wheat ; let it remain in tliis soak 20 to 21 liours 

 — sow immediately after taken out of the soak. 

 Pursue this annually and propeily, and my word 

 for it, you will never more hear complaint of smut 

 in wlieat, liowever luKily the seed from which it 



