1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



35-J 



more than a foot deep at any one time, and most 

 of the winter not more than half a foot. 



Sleigliing was good about ten weofa, — a longer 

 time than usual. Robins and sparrows appeared 

 here the 13th of 3d month, but in a few days the 

 weather became colder, and they were obliged to 

 retreat to the forests for shelter until near the end 

 of the month. 



As usual, in 4th raontli, the weather wai very 

 changeable. Thunder showers and snow squalls, 

 warm (lays and frosty nights, visited us. The storm 

 which killed the birds in the vicinity of Boston, 

 mentioned in the last monthly Farmer, did not 

 reacli as, yet it was cloudy, and a cold N. E. wind 

 blew most of the time from the 14th to the 17th. 

 Wo had a severe snow storm the 27th, but warm 

 weather soon followed, and I think no birds per- 

 ished. Larks appeared here the 7th, swallows the 

 10th, bluebirds the 11th, and goldfinches the 

 30th. 



In the 5th month the weather was favorable to 

 the growth of grass and grain, though rather wet 

 for cultivating clayey soil. When warm weather 

 commenced vegetation was rapid, and at the close 

 of the month the earth was dressed in her loveli- 

 est vernal robes. A carpet of green, sprinkled 

 with a profusion of wild flowers, was spread over 

 field and forest, attracting the lover of nature 

 from the din and bustle of business to range in the 

 woods, and breathe the free air of heaven, made 

 musical by the melodious notes of the feathered 

 songsters,' all tending to raise the thoughts to 

 Ilim, 



"Who, in Ilis sovereign wisdom, made them all." 



Plum and pear trees were in full bloom the 

 24th, and apple trees the 29th and 30th. There 

 was a very full bloom, and the prospect is now 

 good for an abundant crop of all kinds of fruit. 



Winter wheat was badly injured by the late frosts 

 this spring. Rye looks well. A great deal of 

 spring grain was sown, and there is now a pros- 

 pect of a rich harvest. L. Varney. 



Bloomfidd, C. W., 6 mo. 12, 1854. 



can be so much promoted, as by the labors of an 

 observing, intelligent, farm-viewing committee. 

 They should be men strongly imbued with a love 

 of the art, thoroughly acquainted with its prac- 

 tical details, and capable of looking at it in a sci- 

 entific point of view, and of such address as to in- 

 troduce themselves readily to all classes of the 

 farmers of the county. 



The labors of such a committee will not be con- 

 fined merely to a view of the farms entered for pre- 

 mium ; they will note the general condition of ag- 

 riculture — the appearance of the dwellings, th e 

 barns, granaries, .fences, fields, orchards and 

 woodlands, and the implements in common use. 

 All this should be fully reported by the committee 

 and published, and then the practices in the dif- 

 ferent counties may be compared, and a tolerable 

 history of the condition of agriculture collected 

 each year. 



The committee, in their circuit, may also con- 

 verso freely with many of the farmers, distribute 

 the publications of the Society, or those of others, 

 obtain new members, and generally advance the 

 interests of the association. 



The gentleman who has introduced the subject 

 in the paragraph above, has probably done as 

 much to establish and sustain agricultural socie- 

 ties, as any man in the Commonwealth. 



For the lYetu Ensland Farmer, 



VIEWING OF FARMS. 



We arc gratified to notice, that the practice 

 which has prevailed for several years in our Coun- 

 ty of Middlesex, of sending out a committee to 

 view all improvements to which their attention is 

 called, is about to be adopted in the counties of 

 Norfolk and Essex, and ttuit the Trustees of th.e 

 Agricultural Societies in tliose Counties have ap- 

 pointed committees for this purpose, with an as- 

 surance that the incidental expenses of travel shall 

 be paid from the Society's funds. This is a rea- 

 sonable and judicious appropriation of money. If 

 such committees will but observe and report as 

 they should, more benefits will be derived from 

 the publication and circulation of such reports, 

 than can be obtained for the same amount in any 

 other way. 



Farmers, extend to your committees a cordial re- 

 ception, and let them feel that their presence 

 meets a hearty welcome at your homes — tlicy 

 come as friends, and will do you no harm. 



June, 1854. 



Rem.vrks. — Tliere is no one way, in our opinion, 

 in wliicli the interests of an agricultural society 



For the Ncu: Ensland Farmer. 



EXPERIMENT WITH POTATO ROT. 



Gentle3ien : — I send you a short account of a 

 successful experiment I made last summer against 

 the potato rot. On the 5th of July last, I found 

 my potatoes with the first signs of disi^ase ; all 

 the top leaves looking as if they had been touched 

 with a hot iron. I immediately procured a bushel 

 of fine ground pj'aster and half a bushel of find 

 salt, and mixed them well together dry, and had 

 a large table spoonful put to each hill, lifting up 

 the vines carefully and putting it on the surface 

 of the ground, as much among the vines as it could 

 be. It must be applied dry — this arrested the 

 disease at once. The crop ripened well, and the 

 potatoes were excellent. While all in our im- 

 mediate neighl.iorhood rotted, I have not seen a 

 rotten one amongst them. I planted a third of 

 an acre, and it required a busliel of plaster and 

 half of salt — they were planted 3A feet one way, 

 and from 12 to 15 inches the other. The best 

 time to put it around the potatoes, is immediately 

 after hoeing or hilling the last time, as the crop is 

 said to be increased enoogh more to pay for all 

 the expense and trouble, beside getting a better 

 quality. Very respectfully, 



Good Advice. — Stick to your trade, boys, and 

 learn to work, if you would he truly independent. 

 There is not a more pitiful sight than a half 

 learned mechanic applying for work. He is al- 

 ways at the foot of the hill, and labor as he may, 

 unless ho has attained the years of his majority ho 

 will never be perfect, and can calculate on pover- 

 ty as his portion with a good deal of safety. 



Neirport, N. H., 1854. J. B. Willard. 



