1854. 



NEAY ENGLAND FARMER. 



431 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



GATUKraN'G APPLES. 



A correspondent suggests the gathering of ap- 

 ples, now that the price of labor is so liigh, in 



year about two-thirds, and there was a great deal 

 of fruit both years. I looked in your valuable 

 paper all last summer, and thus far this, hoping 

 to iind something in reference to it, but have seen 

 nothing. If you can give me any information 



a more expeditious manner than usual, by spread- either through the paper or by note, I should be 



ing a thick coating of hay under the tree, and 

 shaking them down. This course would prove ru- 

 inous to a large number. In falling they would 

 strike the limbs of the tree, and each other when 

 reaching the hay. Too much care cannot be ob- 

 served in gathering winter fruit to keep it free 

 from even the slightest bruises. If fruit were 

 classified into first, second and third classes, hav- 

 ing class one as near perfection as possible, the 

 seller would find a greater profit than he possibly 

 can by mixing the different qualities. Poor ap- 

 ples not only injure the good in their appearance, 

 but actually affect their soundness, and lessen the 

 price of th3 wliole. Properly sorted, the imper- 

 fect and unsound fruit may be disposed of early, 

 and the best reserved, until prices have increased. 



RECLAIMING ME.\D0W^S. 



Dear Sir : — I have a piece of bog land about 

 eight acres in extent, situated within a few rods 

 of my building. One-half has been mowed for 

 twenty-fivo or thirty years, and the other half is 

 covered with a mixed growth of hard and soft 

 wood. It produces now tlie most -n-orthlcss kind 

 of grass. I wish to clear it up, and drain it, and 

 I desire to know your opinion, whether it will 

 probably pay for the labor? (a.) There is about 

 three feet natural Ml on the land, and by dig- 

 ging, I can get two or three feet more. The muck, 

 in the middle, U from six to ten feet deep, and of 

 a dark brown color ; and below this, lies a mix- 

 ture of blue clay and sand. I have dug in differ- 

 ent places and iind trees, four feet below the sur- 

 face, laying as they fell, but in such a state, as to 

 be easily cut with a shovel. 



I wish to know, also, the best method to cure 

 corn for winter fodder which has been sown broad- 

 cast and in drills. (6.) 



Yours respectfully, j. u. c. 



Warren, Me., 1854. 



much obliged. I send you a sample of both 

 kinds, good and bad. m. p. n. 



Cambridge, Aug. 10, 1854. 



Remarks. — The above is from a lady, and wc 

 wish it were in our power to suggest a remedy 

 for the blight of which she speaks. A portion 

 of the specimens sent were unusually large and 

 nice, while others" were shrivelled and rendered 

 entirely worthless by a thick coat of rust. On 

 our own apricots we have seen nothing of the 

 kind. The apricot tree would not bo likely to re- 

 main long in a healthy condition standing in 

 heavy wet land ; or if the tree lacked any of the 

 elements which the fruit requires, rust may be 

 the consequence. We should recommend a digging 

 about the tree, and thoroughly mingling with the 

 earth a little ashes, bone dust, lime, soap suds, 

 &c., and after the leaves have fallen in October, 

 shorten in the ;limbs some two to four feet. This 

 last operation is as essential to success with the 

 apricot as with the peach or the plum. 



GREAT YIELD OF CUCUMBERS. 



From 4 hills of cucuml)ers I gathered at one 

 cutting, 6 cucumbers which measured, laid in a 

 line, 6 ft. 6 in. ; the longest measured 15 inches. 

 One of them was bent down at the stem and intci 

 the shape of a holster pistol ; ray wife took up 

 that one and said"0, hero is a gun!" I think 

 this a great crop for one cutting ; growing a sin- 

 gle cucumber of long length is one thing, but 

 growing them by the dozen is another thing. 

 These were not full-grown cucumbers, but just 

 right to serve on the table. Joel Hafgood. 



Shrewsbury, Aug. 4. 



Remarks. — (a.) Certainly, it will pay, and 

 pay well, too, if you manage it judiciously. Do 

 not drain it too deep, or you will leave it a dry, 

 unfertile mass. The water should come within 

 12 or 18 inche.s o-'^ the surface, but perhaps not to 

 remain there permanently through the summer. 



(b.) We do not consider corn profitable to be 

 cultivated purposely for fodder. It is exceeding- 

 ly difficult to cure it (as the sun has lost the in- 

 intense power it exerts in July,) when the corn is 

 fit to cut. Some persons cut it and spread upon 

 the ground for a day or two, and then tie it in 

 bundles, and place them astride walls, fences, or 

 upon poles erected for that' purpose. 



RUST ON THE APRICOTS. 



Can you tell me the reason why, (and remedy, 

 if there i3 any,) the rust affects the apricot I Last 

 year, I lost all the fruit on a valuable tree — this 



TnE Singing Birds and their Songs. — The 

 last number of Hoveifs Magazine has a finely 

 written article, with the above title, written by 

 Wilson Flagg, Esq., of Beverly, a gentleman en- 

 gaged in landscape gardening and laying out 

 grounds. Mr. Flagg seems to possess tlie nicest 

 appreciation of animated nature, and particularly 

 of that interesting part of it — the Birds. Ik- 

 says it has not been his "good forune" to hear 

 the notes of the rose-breasted grossbeak. Wc 

 once had the good fortune to secure pne which 

 seemed to be ])ewildered, and flew into the house. 

 It was placed in a large cage and kept for sis 

 weeks. It is a nocturnal warbler ; but ft ischary 

 of its notes.and only sung witli us when the nights 

 were perfectly still. Then its nutes were low, all 

 of the minor key, and extremely touching. If we 

 knew that our readers would enjoy the perusal of 

 this article as we have, we should transfer it, 

 though rather long, to our columns. 



