1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



373 



in supplying this portion of the natural waste as 

 3 lbs. of wheatca flour, and the etomach will he 

 less oppressed. Tliis fact throws much light on 

 the US3 and value of what has been called the na- 

 tural food of fcicotland. 



The stoiiuich and other digestive apparatus of 

 our domestic animals are of larger dimensions, 

 and they are able, therefore, to contain with ease 

 as much vegettible food, of almost any wholesome 

 variety, as will supply them with the quantity of 

 nitrogen tliej may require. Yet every feeder oi 

 stock knows that the addition of a small portion 

 of oil-cake, or of beau-meal, substances rich in ni- 

 trogen, Avill not only fatten an animal more speed- 

 ily, but will also save a large Imlk of other kinds 

 of food. 



* Since 12 Iba. of starch contain about 5 lbs. of carbon. 



t The dry flour being supposed to contain 15 per cent, of dry 

 gluten, (a large proportion,) on which supposition all the above 

 calculations are m;i.de. 



HARVESTING GEAIN. 



It would seem to be almost superfluous at this 

 late day, to urge upon our farmers the imjjort- 

 ance of cutting grain before it becomes fully ripe; 

 yet notwitlistanding the numerous articles which 

 liave been written and published on this subject, 

 and the very decided convictions expressed ))y the 

 most judicious millers and grain dealers in favor 

 of early harvesting — especially where the grain is 

 intended for bread-making or flouring — there are 

 many who still adhere to the old practice, and 

 will by no means allow their crops to bo harvest- 

 ed, till the grain is fully ripe. Prejudice is a ty- 

 rannical master, and no class of the community 

 appear to be more fully under its control than 

 our agricultural class. In New York, and, indeed, 

 in all tiie wheat growing States, the practice of 

 cutting this grain before it is dead ripe prevails 

 universally. The exact time when it should be 

 harvested, is cow, with the grain-producing part 

 of the communit}', no longer a matter of doubt or 

 speculation ; all being fully convinced that the 

 right period is indicated by that change which 

 the grain experiences when passing from its 

 milky state to that of complete hardness, and 

 when the kernels, without being "s/?cA'y," are yet 

 sufficiently hard to resist the pressure of the 

 thumb and finger. The farina of the grain being 

 perfected, all that is necessary to render it fit for 

 tlouring is the hardening of the mass ; and this, 

 it is fully established, may be as well perfected 

 after the sti-aw has been cut as Ijefore. Beside, 

 grain that is allowed to stand till it is fully br 

 dead ripe, makes darker flour, and is not 4fio 

 heavy ; it scatters in harvesting, and does not 

 command so high a price in our markets or so 

 ready a sale. The straw of grain, when it is cut 

 before the period of perfect maturity, is also much 

 more valuable ; it possesses a degree of succulence 

 and saccharine sweetness which renders it a good 

 food for stock ; a use to which the straw that has 

 stood in the fields till it has become dead or per- 

 fectly matured can never be apjilicd. 



I have cut oats when the straw was just turn- 

 ing from its green to its golden hue, and have 

 found the grain as plump and full, and far briglit- 

 cr in color than that which had stood in tlie field 

 till ripe. The straw of oats, when harvested early, 

 and properly cured, is nearly as valuable for cat- 



tle feeding as the best clover hay ; and when 

 chaffed and mixed with chopped roots or meal, it 

 makes a feed eagerly partaken of by stock of eve- 

 ry description. — Germantown Telegraph. 



JONATHAN SLOW; 



OR, iAITH, HOl'E AND CHARITY 



BY LEWIS DBLA. 



All angler great was Jonathan H\o\v ; 

 There was not a stream he did not know, 

 Nor the slightest nook where a fish could s<t 



In a Ehady spot to hide. 

 He had such a knack of hooking a worm, 

 The fish that saw its eloquent squirni; 

 Had a chance to swim a definite term ! 



But twice the chance to be fried. 



Good luck had made of Jonathan Slow 



A man of faith ; to fish "he would go, 



If the wind blew high, or t!ie wind blew low ; 



No matter for rain or shine; 

 lie would hie away to the quiet brook, 

 And under a tree In some shady nook, 

 With a smiling face and a saintly look, 



Would trust to his hook an<l line. 



'Twas a sultry day, and the skies did lower ; 

 I'irst a gleam of sun, then a soaking shower , 

 And Jonathan lished hour after hour. 



Not caring for heat or rain. 

 The water poured from his reeking clothes, 

 Musquitoes had bitten his eyes and nose, 

 And this was all, for excepting those 



He had waited for bites in vain. 



I alwoy.'j ha.ll faith, said Jonathan Slow, 

 And I still have hope, for the pious know 

 That both together the pair must go, 



To make us e-.\actly right. 

 I .im thankful, then, that those gifts arc mine ; 



I will teach to others the truth divine j 

 "t'recept upon precept, tine upon fine" — 



Ah I bless me I there's such a bite : 



'Twas a bite indeed ; for a trout near by 



II id looked on the worm with a wistful eye, 

 Not dreaming that it was a "gilded lie," 



On account of the hook within. 

 And hearing tlien the man with the pole 

 Thus quoting Scri))tui-e, he thought, poor soul, 

 He'd take the proa'ered worm in h\-f jowl, 



And a savory morse' ivin. 



He bit, and lo ! the hook in his gill 



liut showed that fishes, like morUils, will 



Find oft in a "sugar coated pill," 



With a text of Scripture given, 

 K dose that they had no desire to take ; 

 A point they did not intend to make ; 

 A line they struggle in vain to break ; 



A heai't by error rivi;n. 



But enough for us that the fish was caught, 

 For Jonathan started as quick as thought, 

 And on to the bank a trout he brouglit 



Tiiat weighed six pounds or more, 

 And thinking now, as 'twas almost nifth'. 

 He would not wait for another bite, 

 He started home, as well ho might, 



The trout with pride he bore. 



He said to himself, I'm soaked with raic, 

 But Failh and Hope did my heart iiustain, 

 Blessed as I was by these sisters twain. 



This noble prize I see ; 

 Ther«'s a widow on my homeward way. 

 She shall have the fish, without price or pay, 

 And I shall have practiced then, to day, 



Failh, Hope and Charity. 



