22 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JIJI.Y 30, 183C 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 29, 1835. 



FARMERS' WORK FOR AUGUST. 



' Top dressing Grass Lands. — Although as a gen- 

 eral rule, manure applied as a top dressing is in some 

 measure wasted by sun and air, and given to the winds 

 and waters, still in many cases it will be expedient tn 

 apply it to the top of the soil instead of ploughing it 

 under. Sometimes it is inconvenient to plough grass 

 land, which may need manu.e. The soil may be wet 

 and rocky or otherwise unfit for the plough. In such 

 cases mowing land, should, once in two or three years 

 have a top dressing of some manure suitable to the soil. 

 Plaster of Paris is a good top dressing on some grounds, 

 and for some plants ; and in some cases it has no per- 

 ceptible effect M. Candolle, a French writer, observes 

 that plaster acting or operating chiefly on the absorbent 

 system of plants, its effects are not like those of manure 

 buried in the soil, which act principally on the roots. 

 The latter according to their particular nature, divide, 

 soften, enrich, warm or stiffen the soils with which 

 they are mixed. The quantity of plaster spread on 

 lands is so trifling that it can have little effect on the 

 soil. I speak from experience. '' Plaster buried in the 

 earth where sainfoin has been sown has produced no visi- 

 ble alteration; whilst the same quantity of plaster spread 

 over the same surface of sainfoin has produced the 

 most beautiful vegetation." The same writer agrees 

 with other agriculturists in opinion that plaster operates 

 on plants in a direct ratio to the size and the number of 

 their leaves. 



There is a difference of opinion among agriculturists 

 with regard to the season at which manure should 

 be applied to mowing ground. Loudon says " In the 

 county of Middlesex, where almost all the grass lands 

 are preserved for hay, the manure is invariably laid on 

 in October, while the land is sufficiently dry to bear 

 driving of loaded carts and when the heat of the day is so 

 moderated as not to exhale the volatile parts of the mass 

 Others prefer applying it immediately after haying 

 lime, from about the middle of July to the end of 

 August, which is said to be the good old time, and if 

 that season be inconvenient, at any time from the be 

 ginning of February to the end of April." 



Lorain says, " If dung be used for top dressing, it 

 should be applied soon after the first crop of grass has 

 been mown ; and before the manure has suffered any 

 material loss by fermentation. The grasses should be 

 suffered to grow till they form a close shade. After this 

 they njay be pastured ; provided a good covering for 

 them be preserved. This will prevent much exhala- 

 tion ; it will also keep the soil much more open to re- 

 ceive the juices of the manure. As water does not 

 pass off so freely through a close pile of grass, much 

 of the coarser particles of the washings from the ma- 

 nure will be arrested in their progress through it, and 

 much more of the fluids from the dung will sink into 

 the soil. The close covering also greatly favors the de- 

 composition of the litter, and by keeping it flexible 

 causes it to sink farther into the soil, and lie much 

 closer to it. Therefore but little if any of it will be 

 found in the way of mowing the ensuing crop of grass, 

 or of making it into hay ; provided the manure be even- 

 ly spread over the ground. Hut as the want of a sec- 

 ond crop for hay, and other ciicumstances, may prevent 

 the cultivator from hauling the dung at the proper time, 

 he may haul and spread it any time before the frost sets 

 in ; but not with the same advantage. Still if care be 



taken in raking up the hay of the ensuing crop, but 

 little of the litter will appear among it." 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society, was held at their 

 hall on Saturday. The President, Hon. E. Vose in the 

 chair. The report of the Committee appointed to consid- 

 er the subject of the approaching anniversary was read 

 and accepted. 



In pursuance with the report a committee of three 

 chosen ta invite some gentleman of science to deliver 

 an address on the occasion of the anniversary. 



On motion of Mr French, a general committee of ar- 

 rangements was chosen. Which committee consists of 

 the following gentlemen. — Messrs G. W. Pratt, Cheev- 

 er Newhall, B. V. French, Joseph P. Bradlee, M. P. 

 Wilder, T. E. Teschemaclier, Samuel Walker, C. M. 

 Hovey, George C. Barrett, E. Weston, Jr. 



Voted — On motion of Mr French, that the commit- 

 tees on Fruits and Flowers, superintend their respec- 

 tive departments under the direction of the General 

 Committee of Arrangements. 



The Society then adjourned to meet this day two 

 weeks at eleven o'clock, A. M. 



Saturday, July Q5th. 



Saturday, July 25, 1835. 

 The flowers exhibited this and the two preceding 

 days of exhibition at the Society's Piooms were pro- 

 nounced by judges to be superior. The committee no- 

 ticed those sent by Col. M. P. Wilder and S. Walker, 

 Esq. as specimens of rare e.xcellence. The first gen- 

 tleman's productions have been mentioned partiularly 

 in a former report. Of the many beautiful and 

 choice kinds presented for the inspection of the society 

 and the public, many ecomium» have been paid to 

 the just merits of Mr Walker who sustains tho reputation 

 of being one of our first amateurs ; as well as most ex- 

 perienced and successful cultivators. 



For the Committee, Jona. Winbuip. 



[T!ie list of the above flowers were not received.] 



FRUITS EXHIBITED. 



Pears. Petit Muscat and Madeline Pears, from Joseph 

 Morton, Milton. Madeline Peais from Dr S. A. Shurt- 

 leff, Boston. 



From R. Manning, Salem. Amire Joannet, (Du- 

 hamel) this is the Early Sugar of Prince's Cat. This 

 pear resembles in appearance the Petit Muscat but is 

 superior in flavor. 



Peaches. From Ebenezer Breed, Charlestown, a 

 basket of very fine old Newington Peaches. 



Gooseberries. From William Kenrick, Newton, 

 22 varieties of gooseberries, viz. 



Bang Europe, Jolly Tar, Green Laurel, Green Ocean, 

 Champaigne, Top Sawyer, Wilmot's Early Red, Keen's 

 Seedling, Royal George, Crown Bob, Bunker Hill, Vi- 

 per, Gunner, Golden Yellow, White Bear, White Lion, 

 Queen of Sheba, &c. 



From S. Walker, Roxbury, 73 sorts, viz. 



Lancaster Lad, Medal, Princess Royal, Ocean, Viper, 

 Gascoine, Bank of England, Roaring Lion, Crown Bob, 

 Jubilee, Warrington Red, Rifleman, Gunner, Hopley's 

 Globe, Golden Queen, White Eagle, Lady of the Man- 

 or, Cheshire Lass, Queen of Sheba, White Lion, Wait- 

 ing Maid, Smiling 'Beauty, Jolly Nailor, Whitesmith, 

 Angler, No Bribery, Rockwood, Hero, &c. 



From John A. Kenrick, very large and fine gooseber- 

 ries. 



From E. Breed. Viper and yellow Walnut goose- 

 berries. 



From Dr S. A. Shurtleff, seedling gooseberries. This 

 was the best and largest exhibition of gooseberries ever 



witnessed at the Society rooms. The folIowing| 

 rieties were of superior flavor and were esteemed 

 best sorts for table fruits ; six of the largest be 

 weighed two and a half ounces, viz : 



Hopley's Globe, Gascoine, Top Sawyer, Warrir- 

 red, Wellington's Glory, Golden Gourd, VVai 

 Maid, Queen of Sheba. 



For the Committee, P. B. Hovey 



EARLY GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



Mr George Sampson, of Duxbury, MassachvKi 

 gathered from his garden this season, the folio 

 vegetables at the following dates. June 10th, G 

 Peas, 13th, Green Beans, and new Potatoes, July 

 Cucumbers of large size, 20th, Green Com. BS 

 has not had the aid of a Hot House or Sun Glass* 

 bring his vegetables forward thus early, but has r! 

 them in an open piece of land with no other shelter I 

 ' a post and rail fence.' He presented me with a cu(l 

 ber on the 22d inst. five or six inches in length, wf 

 he told me grew on the ground where he raise( ' 

 early peas and was planted after the vines had bee 

 dry and were pulled up. 



July 24iA, 1835. 



The Wheat Crop. — Our farmers are now eng; ] 

 in harvesting their wheat crops. It affords us j ' 

 pleasure to state that the prospect of obtaining s 

 compensatien for their labor has been greatly impn I 

 within the last three or four weeks. There will | 

 however, probably be much over two thirds of theu I 

 crop in the county, but the quality is represente' 

 being remarkably good. Indeed, we have never set 

 large heads as some which have been shown us wi 

 a few days past, nor have we ever seen larger gr 

 We learn that some crops have been sold in Jeffej 

 at $1 ,25 per bushel ; we presume that the whole ol 

 present crop will command not much less than 

 price. — Winchester Virginian. 



The Season. — Our mail accounts from the S' 

 and West speak of the abundant crops of wheat 

 getting without blight or mildew. In our own vici 

 all kinds of English grain look well — Indian corn 

 general, is nearly as forward as usual, and gro\ 

 rapidly, with the prospect of a heavy crop. Ha 

 Three weeks ago no one expected much more 

 half a crop. The worms were very destructive 

 year, and much upland grass was winter killed, 

 the late abundant rains have changed the prosf 

 materially. The uplands will have light crops, ge 

 ally^the low and level fields begm to be heavy, 

 are growing better every day. On the whole there 

 be no scarcity of hay, and it has been offered alrt 

 <f;2 in the ton lower than any one would promise ]5( 

 since. The harvest is but commencing. — Keene & 

 ncl of July 23. 



The weather is favorable for making hay, and at 

 same time not sufKciently diy to check the progres 

 later crops, so that all things taken into considerat 

 we have abundant reason to expert a bountiful liar 

 to crown the hopes of the husbandman, and difi 

 crladncss through the land. — Warren, R. I. Star. 



Large Cucumber. — We have lately seen a very 

 cucumber, cut from the garden of William Pratt, E 

 Oakley Place, which -.neasured upwards of twenty 

 ohes in length. The kind was called Walker's gre 

 the seed was procured in England by William Pratt 

 — Boston Pat. 



