70 



NEW e'nGLAND farmer, 



AVG. » 1, 184a. 



AND HnRTICULTl-RAL RtGISTF.R. 



Boston, Wednesday, August 31, 1842. 



MUCK. 



The mu.l or muck from the pond holes and swamps 

 raust not be forgotten next month. 'I'lje low places are 

 more wet than usual at this season of the year, and it is 

 on that account less convenient working there than in 

 most seasons. But generally " where this is a will there 

 is a way." Do n't omit because of the wet to try to do 

 something. Get out this valuable material fir compost. 

 There can he no question tliat one load of stable nianure 

 mixed with two loads ot some kind of swamp muck, is 

 as valuable for the land as three loads of stable or barn 

 manure. We cannnt question this without (jueslioning 

 the judgment, and almost the vera'-ity of many of ihe 

 best agriculturists and best men. And there is another 

 substance abundant in many places, to which we would 

 ask attention as an ingredient to mix with the meadow 

 mud— we mean sand. Knowing that floriculturists have 

 found it beneficial to put some sand where th^y plant 

 bulbous roots, we thought it might be well to have sand 

 in our compost for rnta b.-igas. Accordingly we mixed 

 sand and swamp muck in nearly equal proportions, for 

 the reception of crushed bone and salt ley. 'I'l.e action 

 of the sand in pulverizing the mud, was speedy and very 

 great. The action is partly mechanical, but we think if 

 has a chemical action also. The alkali in the sand prob- 

 ably co.nbines with the acid of the muck, and improves 

 it as a manure. We cannot give results yet, but our 

 crop of rula bagas is now more promising than any other 

 that we have ever grown. Many farmers can conve- 

 niently mix muck and sand, and we solicit them to make 

 experiments, more or less extensive, according to their 

 faith in its utility, or to their convenience. The sand 

 itself would be useful on very many fields — more than 

 is usually supposed. We cannot givo a rule by which 

 to determine where it would be serviceable, better than 

 this : where the raould-boH.rd of the plow takes a per- 

 fect polish; in other words, where the plow is not 

 scratched, there, generally, sand v/ould be serviceable. 



When you have taken out your muck, then, if you 

 have not done it before, obtain Dr. Dana'sMuck Manual, 

 or some oilier work to guide yourjudgment in its use, or 

 to give you suggestions. Do not distrust your own good 

 sense and sound judgmmt so much as to fear to read : 

 you are never obliged to put in practice any thing but 

 wh&t promises to be useful on your farm. 



While you are getting out murk, "kill," if you can, 

 "two birds with one stone." Tnke the muck where 

 ditches are needed lo drain your wet meadr.ws. The.'e 

 meadows contain the most profitable of all lands, if you 

 can but free them from their excess ol vvat^r. 



WET MKADOW PLOW. 



When nttempting last year to plow our wet or pe 

 meadow, we found that where the surface was coiled 

 yvith two, three or lour inches of a spon^e-like moss, 

 the moss would cnllecl upon the cuiter so as lo throw 

 the plow out Also we found that where the sward was 

 lough, being composed mostly of the roots of what is 

 called by fanners here, wire-ha3sock grass (i. e a roui:d 

 short grass, growing in bunches,) that the share of the 

 plow was not wide enough. For the strip of the furrow 

 two or three inches wide, under which the share did 

 not pass, (ontaincd uncut roots strong enough to bring 

 the furrow back into its natural position, as soon as the 

 ,,lo>v had passed. Hoping lo remedy thesi' evils, we 



ohtained a wheel to the plow, that had a rolling cutter 

 revolving upon it This cutler opens a way through 

 the moss, in which the perpeni'icniar culler f diows 

 without obstruction. The evil of "choaking" is thus 

 successfully avoided. Also, we obtained from Mr How- 

 ard, a point fur his E. 2 plow, thai is three or four 

 nches wider than the pointsgenenilly used on that plow, 

 and is so tempered that it can be ground and kept sharp. 

 We now have a belter plow for work in the meadows 

 ihnn we have ever seen elsewhere; hut we can give a 

 better model than the instrument we have procured. 

 By increasing the widtji of the share .without adding to 

 its length, we have such a form as does not cut advan- 

 laEeously. The angle at which the edge of the share 

 strikes the roots, is too large. The mosses and fibrous 

 roots some of the way are shoved along before the edge ; 

 they mat over it ;- these make the work hard for the 

 team, and press the plow too much to land. This irou- 

 ble occurs piincipally where the surface is mo>sy and 

 soil. The plow is, in its present form, an improvement 

 upon all that we have tried be'ore, but it would he much 

 better had we have increased the length of the share 

 while we added to its width. A good plow for such 

 lands as we are Irying to work upon, is very much want- 

 ed. We give this account of the difficulties lo be over- 

 come which our own experience has met with, and of 

 our partial success in overcoming them ; hoping thus to 

 lead our correspondents rnd readers to do ihe same ; and 

 thus enable the plow-makers to go inielligently to work 

 in their efforts to furnish something that shall meet the 

 general want. 



DYNAMOMETER. 



: instrument for measuiing, oriathe 



CORN AND OTHER CROPS. 



The growth of corn appears large — a'oove the average 

 Ii would mature faster had we more sun than has showi 

 upon us recently ; but with the ordinary Septembei 

 weather, it will do well. 



Potatoes, and the roots generally, promise to be abun 

 dant. 



iquashes, where they escaped the worm that preya ii 

 the root, are flourishing. The marrow squash generall; 

 suffered more than any other from the worm. We hav 

 seen but one field of this variety that has not been inju 

 riously thinned off. That field is near the Ocean House 

 on Phillips' Beach, Lynn, and immediately upon th 

 sea shore. How far has the salt from the ocean wale 

 preseived these vines.' This field of an acre or two ap 

 parently, is completely covered with luxuriant vines, ai 

 the fruit near the borders — the only part we examined 

 is abundant. 



EFFECTS OF THE RAIN AND CLOUDS. 



Much hay and grain have been destroyed by Ihe lonj 

 continuance of wet, cloudy and warm weather of Au 

 gust Some individuals will suffer loss from the pecni 

 liarily of last month's weather; but while some hay am 

 grain have been ruined, the later crops and the graa 

 upon the mown fields have been growing luxuriantly, s. 

 that there may on the whole be a no less quantity of ag 

 ricultural products preserved, than would have beci 

 with a dryer state of the atmosphere. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXHIBITION OF FRUITS. 



Saturday, Mug. 27, 1842. 

 Wm. Oliver, Esq., of Dorchester, presented a spec: 

 en of the Tyson Pea.', introduced by H. V. Frencti 



amount of strength put forth by the team in moving the j.^^ ^ of Braintree, from Dr. Pcxse, of Philadelphia, 

 plow, can now he had in this city. Messrs. Prouty & | said to be superior to the Sickle. The specimen exhibi 

 Mearshave made one for the Essex County Agricultural 



Society, and we presume they would be ' 

 for others who may want. 



iliing to make 



MARSH OR MEADOW HORSE-SHOE. 

 Mr H. F. Glover, of Dedham, has left at the Agricul- 

 tural Warehouse of Messrs. Breck & Co , samples of the 

 shoe used lo prevent the miring of horses on soft grounds. 

 These must be valuable foruse in taking hay from many 

 of the salt marshes, and for much of the work on the 

 wet meadows which our farmers are reclaiming. We 

 know not the price, but the appearance o,' the article 

 leads us to suppose that it can he furnished for three or 

 four d'dlars per set. 



ONION CROP. 



This crop, which is very extensively cuJlivated in 

 Danvers, has, during the rains and fogs of tlie month, 

 been struck with a mildew which has entirely checked 

 the growth. We noticed last week that a large part of 

 the crop was already pulled. The size of the onions is 

 apparently from half to two thirds « hat they would 

 have attained without this check. 



COMPOST. 



Be collecting coarse water gra.<!ses, brakps, &c for 

 litter or for the compoil heap . Bring together, as you 

 cim find time, loam, soil, meadow mud, sand, clay, wash 

 fnuM the roadside, &c. &c , fiir the purpose of making 

 composts suited to your dift'oroiit soils. Fear not that 

 you will gel the pile too large — the longer it remains 

 unused, and the oftener it is thrown over, the better it 

 will become. 



ted by Mr Oliver was premature, and of course not 

 fair sp<cimen. We hope to see this variety on our Is 

 bles when it shall be in perfection. At present we thin 

 favorably of it Its size and flavor are decidedly gooi 

 It bids fair lo rank among out best early varieties. 



Col. T. H. Perkins, of Brookline, by his gardene 

 presented some very fine specimens of the Presidei 

 Peach, and two varieties of melons. 



J. Fisk Allen, Esq., of Sulein, presented Summer Bo 

 Chretien, Summer Francreal, and Julienne Pears ; Earl 

 Royal George and Gross Mignonne Peaches. 



By Hovey & Co., some fine specimens of Duane' 

 Purple Plums. 



By Mr A. Bowriitch, Chehn.sford— Bartlett Pears. 



By Mr George Walsh, of Charlestown— Green Gag 

 Plums. 



E. Kdes Bradshaw, Esq., of Charlestown, presentet 

 two dishes of extra fine Plums, var. Duane s Purple. 



Mr Samuel Pond, of Camhrtdgeporl, made his usut 

 fine display of Plums — among them we noticed som fin 

 specimens of the Washington, White G.ige, Duane' 

 Purple and Smith's Orleans. 



The specimens of the Bcdmer Washington Plum, pre 

 sented by Mr Samuel R Joiinson, of Charlestown, wen 

 very fine, 



By J. Lovett 2d, Esq , of Beverly — Bezy Blanc Pears 

 Prince's Imperial, and Bingham Plums; also, a fin 

 melon. 



Mr Leonar:! Stone, of Watertown, presented fair spe 

 cimens of Boimer s VVashington Plums. 



From Aaion I). Williams, Esq , of Roxbury — Applet 

 var. William's Favorite. 



From Dr John C Howard, of Brookline, some Ber 

 gamotie Rouge Pears. 



Mr Samuel Salisbury, of East Can, bridge, presentei 

 specimens of Black Hamburg and St. Peter's Grapes. 

 For the Committee, 



S. WALKER. 



jlpples. — Enough of them. 



The warm and wet weather has been propitious 

 the growth of weeds. Pull them out of the corn-field 

 and the root grounds. By all means prevent their m8 

 turing their seeds, or they will bury them in your soil 

 and spring up another year in greater abimH.>n -e. 



fo 



