70 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



SEPT. 9, 1835 



s?siw s2^<sss£i.sJF5S' S'^issaism*. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, .SEP r. 9, 1833. 



F.IU.HF.R'S WORK FOR SEPTEMBER. 



If is noiv quite time for every complete farmer to make 

 up liis mind how lie may probably derive the greatest 

 profit from his crop of Indian Corn. It is a fact, well es- 

 tablished by numerous experiments, that great advantage 

 has been derived from selecting seed corn from stalks 

 bearing two or more ears. We believe that Joseph 

 Cooper, Esq. of New Jersey, was the first who reconj- 

 mended and practised improving Indian Corn in the 

 same manner that we improve the breeds of domestic 

 animals, by crossing and selection. The following is his 

 notice of the first experiment perhaps ever made for that 

 purpose : — 



" In or about the year 1772, a friend sent me a few ears 

 of a small kind of Indian corn, the grains of which were 

 not larger than goose shot, which he informed me, by a 

 note in which they were enclosed, were originally from 

 Guinea, and produced from eight to ten ears on a stalk. 

 Those grains I planted, and found the production to an- 

 swer the description, but the ears small, and few of them 

 ripe before frost. I saved some of the largest and earli- 

 est, and planted them between rows of earlier and larger 

 kinds of corn, which produced a mixture to advantage ; 

 then I saved sred from stalks that produced the greatest 

 number of the largest ears, and first ripe, which I plant- 

 ed the ensuing season, and was not a little gratified to find 

 its production preferable, both in quantity and quality, to 

 that of any corn I had ever planted. This kind of corn 

 I have continued planting ever since, selecting that de- 

 signed for seed in the manner I would wish others to 

 tr\', viz. -. When the first ears are ripe enough for seed, 

 gather a sufficient quantity for early corn, or replanting, 

 and at the same time you would wish your corn to be 

 ripe generally, gather a sufficient quantity for planting 

 the next year, having paiticular care to take it from stalks 

 which are large at botiom, of a regular taper, not over 

 tall, the ears set low, and containing the greatest number 

 of good sizeable ears of the best quality ; let it dry speed- 

 ily, and from the corn, gathered as last described, plant 

 your main crop, and if any hills should be missing, re- 

 plant from that first gathered, which will cause the crop 

 to ripen more regularly than is common ; this is a great 

 benefit. The above method J have practised many years 

 and are satisfied it has increased the quantity and im- 

 proved the quality of my crops beyond the expectation 

 of any person, who has not tried the experiment.' 

 Willich's Domestic Encyclopedia^ art. Corn. 



The example thus set by the above named Patriarch 

 of Jlgriculture, has been followed by many of our N. E 

 Farmers, and notices of the results of their experiments 

 may be found in our paper, particularly Vol. x., page 134, 

 in an article quoted from the Hampshire Gazette. 



Indian. Corn. — We injure the crop when we harvest 

 Indian corn too early. T/ie grain should be fully ripe 

 and perfectly hard before the corn is harvested, or even 

 the stalks cut. There is no doubt but that the leaves and 

 stalk of the plant furnish nourishment to the grain as 

 long as they remain green and juicy. 



Important Nevr* from Fraao*. 



Ihfersal Machibk. — An attempt has been made on 

 the life of the King of France, on the 2'Jth of July, by 

 exploding a machine in which were 25 gun barrels, 

 heavily charged with powder and balls. The number 

 of persons killed and wounded is said to be 34, among 



whom wore Marshall Mortier, Duke de Treviso, struck 

 in the heart by a ball; Gen. de la Chasse de Torigny, 

 and other men of eminence. A delay of half a second 

 saved the life of the King. The name of the assassin is 

 Girard, a dealer in fire-arms. He was taken, admitted 

 his guilt, will not own that he was actuated by any other 

 molive than dislike to the King, and refused to own that 

 ho had any accomplices. Upwards of one hundred ar- 

 rests of suspected persons had been made previous to the 

 last accounts. 



Matthias, the pseudo-propliet, in undertaking to per- 

 form a miracle, jumped from a steam-boat in North river, 

 in company of another fanatic, whom he had persuaded 

 to help work the wonder. Matthias was drowned, the 

 other fool was rescued. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAIi SOCIETY. 



Saturday, Sept. 5, lt35. 



EXIIJBITION OF FRUITS. 



Pears. — By i\Ir Downer, Julienne, the Gushing pear, 

 the Barllett, or Williams' Bon Chretien, and some other 

 fine kinds ; also, another, distinguished only for its beau- 

 ty. For Mr Barnard, of Doichester, a new pear, not 

 yet mature By Charles Bowen, of Newton, a new pear, 

 of handsome size and fine — name unknown. By M. 

 P. Wilder, a Bergamotte, of good flavor — name un- 

 known , various other kinds, some fine, and including 

 the Julienne. By William Worthington, of Dorchester, 

 one of the new varieties, a yellow, handsome fruit, of a 

 pyramidal form and excellent fiavcr — name unknown. 

 By Mr Manning, Julienne — always fine and very pro- 

 ductive ; also specimens of a French fruit, name un- 

 known, and the FrankreaJ d'Ete, sometimes mis-called 

 Preble's Beurre, a roundish fruit of turbinate form, of 

 middle size, and well known with us as a very delicious 

 and productive fruit. By Messrs Hovey, received of 

 Messrs C. & A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden, Newberg, 

 N. Y., Muscadine pear, which is slated to be a native 

 fruit. In almost every respect it much resembled the Ju- 

 lienne, but was possessed of an agreeable musk flavor 

 which does not belong to that variety. From an un- 

 known source, and with no name to designate from 

 whence it came, but we believe from Mr ©liver, the 

 Saint Ghislain, one of the finest new kinds for flavor. 



AppLps. — By M. p. Wilder, varieties ofdifierent kinds, 

 some very fine, and one in particular, a small round na- 

 tive fruit of sprightly flavor. By Dr Robbins, of Rox- 

 bury, a small, beautiful fruit, deep crimson outside and 

 deeply stained within, ofgood flavor. By John A. Ken- 

 rick, Kenrick's Red Autumn, a large round fruit of ex- 

 cellent flavor, and usually stained inside with red ; a 

 native. By Mr Downer, numerous varieties ; one speci- 

 men very large and green, of the Colville species, being 

 ribbed at its sides, an excellent pie apple. Pumpkin 

 Sweet — a noble apple of a round form and russctty col- 

 or, well known and originally, we have understood, from 

 Vermont, excellent for the dessert and for baking. Wil- 

 liams' Early Red — the most beautiful kind which was 

 exhibited even this day. Also, branches loaded with 

 fruit of the beautiful Red Siberian Crab, and the Amber 

 and Yellow Siberian. 



Plums. — By Edward Cruft, of Boston, Bolmer's Wash- 

 ington — very large and delicious. By John A. Ken- 

 rick, Flushing Gage, and Smith's Orleans — both fine. 

 By Samuel Pond, of Cambridgeport, Bolmer's Washing- 

 ton ; White Gage, fine, very large, and Smith's Or- 

 leans. By Messrs Hovey, received of Messrs C. & A. 

 J. Downing, N. Y., Scarlet Gage ; also some other very 

 fine kinds. By Joseph Strong, received from Rochester, 

 N. Y. white Magnum Bonums, a showy fruit, excellent 

 for preserving. 



Peaches. — By Mr Downer, Cornelian Cherries, o 

 Cornus Mascula — an ornamental fruit from an un 

 known source. Also some fine fruits from Mr Vai 

 Dyne. 



Gentlemen who offer fruits for exhibition are respect 

 fully requested to affix their names to the articles sent 

 From this cause alone, there may be sometimes una 

 voidable omissions. 



Grapes. — A fine basket was exhibited this day ; wi 

 regret, that from the above named cause, wc are unabl( 

 to state the source from whence it was received. 



For the Committee, William Kekricji. 



AMERICAN SILK. 



At the rooms of the Horticultural Society, on Satui 

 day, Sept. 5, various specimens of American Silk wer 

 exhibited by William Kenrick. A beautiful specime 

 oi' white Sctoing Silk of very superior quality, which wa 

 raised by Messrs Arnold & Cheney, of Manchester, C 

 and reeled on the common reel, and spun on the com 

 mon wheel. Another specimen, which was made c 

 the floss and refuse, in Mansfield, and prepared for kni- 

 fing, of a fine white, glossy appearance. 



Also, various specimens of vestings, which were n 

 ceived at Providence of the Messrs Dyers. These wet 

 wove by the power loom at the Valentine Silk Manufai 

 tory in that city. Samples of different dark colors, som 

 composed of silk for the warp, and cotton for the woo 

 very handsome and substantial. Another specimen c 

 black vesting, of entire silk, very firm and beautifu 

 This loom appears to work well, weaving from ten I 

 fifteen yards a day, by the wonder-working power i 

 steam. 



EXHIBITION OF FLOWERS. 



The show this day was unparalleled for beauty ai 

 excellence. The exhibition of Dahlias, in particuli 

 eclipsed all former specimens that have decorated til 

 Society's rooms. 



Dahlias. — From William E. Carter, Cambridge Bl 

 tanic Garden; from M. P. Wilder ; from J. Breck, Lai 

 caster Horticultural Garden ; and from Messrs IJovi 

 [The hsts will be inserted in our nest.] 



J. W. Russell, Mount Auburn Cemetery — A beai 

 ful bouquet of new varieties of Cbin^ Asters, tasteff 

 arranged in pyramidal form. 



T. B. White, Newburyport-r-Crimson Globe Dal 

 Also, the most beautiful and perfect China Asterii, 

 seeds imported by Messrs Hovey. 



Wm E. Carter^A perfectly fine specimen of the 

 dychium gardenanum. 



Thomas Mason, Charlestown Vineyard — Beau! 

 bouquet, eonlaining many varieties that are intereet 

 and finely cultivated. 



For the Committee, 



Jona. WiiNSHip, Chairmai 



: 



There will be an interesting celebration at Cono 

 on the 12th inst. commemorative of the Second CenI 

 nial Anniversary since the settlement of that to 

 Oration by Rev. R. Waldo Emerson. Dinner at SI 

 herd's. 



Ertract from a letter to the Editor. — The season 

 Berkshire, Mass. has been an exceedingly wet or 

 The crops of grass, however, are short one-third of tb( 

 usual quantity, and hay has been selling at from 8 

 10 dollars per 2000 lbs. from the meadow. Wheat «* 

 Rye are excellent, and the oat crop uncommonly laig 

 Many fields will yield from 60 to 75 bushels to the act 



Stockhridge, Aug.'ib, 1835. S. S. 



