1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



547 



domestic animals do the same ; but we make them 

 subserve our purposes, and are content. We 

 have not yoked the insect race to our implements 

 for practical purposes ; but having this decided 

 advantage of them, the possession of reason, it is 

 the part of wisdon to study their habits with 

 patient care, until we become as well convinced 

 of their usefulness, as we are of that of the Ox 

 and Cow, and that an intelligent Being placed 

 them here for our good. 



Many of the Beetles live on plants not only of 

 little use to man, but some of them poisonous, 

 and in a state of decay often offensive ; they are 

 therefore to be reckoned among our friends. Some 

 live on the juices of animals, and by this means 

 destroy a great number of noxious insects. Others 

 are of service in the arts, affording us the costly 

 cochineal, scarlet grain, lac and manna. Drag- 

 on flies and some others subsist upon plant-lice, 

 and thus become our active protectors. 



For the A'tw England Farmer. 



BLACKBERRY—HEN MANURE—SALT 

 FOR CATTLE. 



The Blacklerry. — This delicious fruit has 

 rarely received tlie attention of the cultivator, 

 though eminently deserving of all the care that 

 can be bestowed upon it. A correspondent of the 

 Albany Cultivator, over the signature of " S. H.," 

 gives the experience of a friend of his, " who has 

 a beautiful hedge, which produces a great abun- 

 dance of excellent fruit." He says: "The plants 

 are set out in rows four or five feet apart, and 

 are kept free from weeds through the summer. 

 In the fall, these spaces (between the rows) are 

 filled _ with leaves from the forest. The next 

 spring a quantity of ashes is strewn between the 

 rows — these, with the leaves, are all the means 

 used to sHciivo. a httiiutiful harvest every year." 



Hen Manure.— Like guano, neu -»or,ii re pos- 

 sesses many valuable properties, in a form mosL 

 conveniently concentrated. In all cases, however, 

 where it is applied directly as a stimulant to 

 crops, it should be compounded with some less 

 powerful material, as loam, muck, or garden soil. 

 This is a necessary precaution, as the depositing 

 of the seed on or beneath it, would inevitably 

 prove fatal to its vitality. Mr. VV. Bacon, an 

 occasional correspondent in the Farmer, in the 

 American Agriculturist says : 



" I have lately been infarmed, by an intelligent 

 and skilful cultivator, tliat the following' prepara- 

 tion affords an ample and complete remedy. Take 

 hen manure one part, reduce it as well as you 

 can to powder ; then with an equal part of plas- 

 ter of Paris, incorporate well together, and 

 sprinkle tlie mixture over the vines, or sow it 

 over the drills of your turnips. 



Hen manure is free from the seeds of foul 



used, however, in its application, for if given in 

 too large quantities, and placed in too close 

 proximity to the roots of the plant, its effects are 

 fatal. Its value for all purposes is greatly in- 

 creased by being mixed with charcoal, or when 

 this is not at hand, with plaster. Every man 

 who keeps hens should have his hen-house so con- 

 structed as to save all the manure, and save it 

 dry as may be, and he will find it no inconsid- 

 erable item in his matters of rurv.1 economy." 



Salt for Cattle. — When cattle are allowed 

 to partake freely of green and fermentable food, 

 and especially on changing to it from dry ali- 

 ment, they require a constant and liberal supply 

 of salt. One quart of salt, and three of wood 

 ashes, mixed, should be given to a full-grown 

 animal monthly. Observer, 



EVENING. 



See I the shadows now are stealing 

 Slowly down the mountain's breast — 



Hark ! the turret bells are pealing 

 Cheerily the hour of rest. 



Now the mellow daylight closes^ 



All the world from toil reposes ; 



Every breeze has sunk and died— 



'Tis the peaceful eventide. 



O'er the vale the mists are creeping ; 



Chauntins hive-ward wends the bee ; 

 One by one the stars are peeping 



Through the welkin tranquilly. 

 Murmuring, like a child dreaming, 

 Starlight on its ripples gleaming, 

 Through the mead the brook doth glide. 

 In the solemn eventide. 



Oh 1 how sweet, at day's declining, 



'Tis to rest from earth-born care ; 

 Gazing on those far worlds sliining, 



Dreaming that our home is there. 

 Though the shadowy gates of even 

 Shut out earth, they open heaven, 

 Where the soul would fain abide 

 Ih the holy eventide, 



Dublin Univ. Mag. 



Ali 



For the New England Farmer. 



lu) superiors 

 weeds, and, in consequence of tlie greitt abundance iil^^ys plow with a short chain, and giiage the 



Gentlemen : — Wishing that all those engaged 

 in agricultural pursuits should have tlie best tools 

 in use, I take the liberty to write you, althougli 

 we are strangers, that in my opinion, among the 

 most important tools is a good i)low. 1 find that 

 in 184'.), Sept. 14th, I bought of you an Kaglo 

 Plow, No. 2, with Wheel Cutter, for which I 

 paid you $11. With this plow I have done the 

 most of my plowing from tliat time to the present ; 

 and you will find, by looking at the Barnstable 

 Patriot of the 17th inst., I took the first premium 

 for plowing at the Fair. The irons, by long use, 

 are somewhat worn, but I tliiuk, by general ob- 

 servation, that tlie Eagle Plow, No.. 2, for plow- 

 ing all kinds of ground, lias but few equals and 

 Tliis plow runs deep, and you can 



of ammonia it contains, it possesses a great effijutlplow by^ the wlieeh 

 in pushing plants forward. Il(;nce, for tomatoes, 

 peppers and similar plants in our northern cli- 

 mate, it possesses high value. It is well worth 

 being saved with care, by farmers and gardeners, 

 for every purpose of cultivation. Care should be 



I plowed at the Fair 7 

 inches, the others less. At 7 inches, tlie plow 

 runs easy and light for tlic oxen and tliose that 

 manage tlie plow. I bought of you last May an 

 Improved Cultivator, Rogers' steel teeth ; this I 

 think to be one of the best in use, and I would 



