206 



NEW E N G L A N I) F A R M £ K 



JAN. G. I83C. 



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BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JVi. 6. 1836. 



dj' The members of the Massachusetts Society for 

 promoting Agriculture, are informed that they may re- 

 ceive the Address di'livered by Gen. Dearborn, at the 

 last Cattle Show in Brigliton, op application to Mr Geo. 

 C. Barrett, New England Farmer olHoe, No. 52 North 

 Market street. 



THE SEASOBT, <&c. 



After tendering the compliments of the season to our 

 readers we would observe that we have been induced by 

 a wish to comply with the mandat s tif Fashion, (a pre- 

 siding personage that is particularly despotic in a free 

 government.) to dispense with anew year's boy's address. 

 We had engaged a muse and half harnessed our Pegasus 

 for a sleigh-ride in the purlieus of Parnassus, when we 

 were ordered by the irresistable dictator aforesaid to cut 

 the acquaintance of the songstress, and let the pad go to 

 browse in the fiist wood lot, which came within the cir- 

 cuit of GUI observation. But apprehensive lest some ad- 

 mirers of new year's rhymes might complain of a lack of 

 their customary dishes nf distichs and dithyrambics, we 

 have given them a few tit bits on the last page, under 

 the head " Sketches of Winter." These may allay the 

 appetite for poetry, as much as pellets of snow would 

 supply tlie want of water to a flock of thirsty sheep, long- 

 ing for a tepid stream at hand in the depth of a dry win- 

 ter, when rain drops are as scarce as honey dew in Jan- 

 uary. 



The fact is, t\ia.t poor poetry is most miserable stuff — 

 an abomination (according to Horace) as well to gods as 

 men. The namby-pamby tintinabulum of ordinary 

 rhyme-mongers is as offensive to persons of sense and 

 sensibility as a cat-serenade to a sick man suffering from 

 spasms of nervous irritability. And good poetry is too 

 precious an article to be wasted on petty occasions or 

 unworthy objects. " Verse," said an excellent critic, 

 himself a poet, " Verse is the mellow fruit of toil in- 

 tense." It must, in order to be worthy the name of po- 

 etry, be the result of arduous and continuous effort, by 

 one who is favored with great and peculiar mental pow- 

 ers. To throw poetry away on trifling themes, every 

 day events, and common occupations, is a prostitution of 

 genius, and worse than casting pearls to swine. 



It would, no doubt, be acceptable to some, and may be 

 expected by many, of our readers if we were to give 

 letrospective views and sketches of the most prominent 

 events which have signalized the annals of the last year. 

 It would be impossible, however, to give notices of oc- 

 currences within that period which would present new 

 or useful information to those who enjoy the perusal of 

 the numberless journals which do or may accommodate 

 every individual in our happy land. If we were able 

 to comprise an " Iliad in a nut-shell," or draw a dia- 

 gram of a solar eclipse on our thumb nail with rtiicms- 

 copic minuteness and mathematical precision, we woLild 

 attempt to convey some definite ideas of our differences 

 with Friince — the progress of Lynch's law — Abolition- 

 ism — the great fire in New York — prospects ol*(lifrfrenl 

 candidates for the presidency of the United States, &c 

 But the utmost possible extension of our sketches would 

 afford no better idea of these important subjects than a 

 brick from the ruins of the tower of Cabel would present 

 of the design and architecture of that ancient edifi(e. 



A retrospect of the agricultural developements and 

 products of the year 183-5, gives on the whole much 

 cause for gratitude and thanksgiving. The average tern- 



peratuie of the summer months has been nmch lower 

 than usual, and drought has, in the Northern Slates, been 

 very SRvere. Even since winter commenced, farmers, in 

 many parts of the country have suffered much for want 

 of water for their cattle and fur domestic uses. Still the 

 prices of agricultural products have quite kept pace with 

 the difficulties of production ; so that cultivators have 

 been well remunprated for tlieir labors, and the country, 

 all things taken into consideration, was, we believe, never 

 in a more prosperous condition. Modern improvements 

 in agriculture, by introducinfj a variety of articles of cul- 

 ture, have, in a great measure, obviated the danger of 

 general scarcity. When the weather is too cool for In 

 dian corn, it is generally well adapted to potatoes, and 

 when wheat proves deficient, rye is commonly abun- 

 dant ; and, on the whole, there is no deficiency of means 

 and occasion for manifesting that spirit of gratitude and 

 thanksgiving, which is, the only return we can render 

 to the great Bestower of individual and national pros- 

 perity. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUIjTUR.AI, SOCIETY. 



Patanlay, Jan. 2. 



EXHIBITION OF FKOITS. 



Pr.AF.s. — By Cheever Newhall, of Dorchester, Beurre 

 d'Areudierg : very fine and delicious. 



By William Kcnrick, sent by Dr S. P. Hildreth from 

 Marietta, Ohio, an enormous fruit, the Pound pear — a 

 remarkably large specimen. 



Apples. — By Mr Pratt, from Oakley Place, in. Water- 

 town ; a small round russetty fruit, of excellent flavor, 

 evidently the Pomme Grise. 



By E. Bartlett, one of the Vice Presidents, the Gold- 

 en Pippin, an old English fruit, and the most celebrated 

 apple of former times, and good even now in many parts 

 of England, as tlieir writers state ; a small round yellow 

 fruit, of an excellent and sweet flavor, relieved by a 

 slight acid. Pippin, a fine fruit. Also, Lady Apple and 

 Fountain Apple. 



By William Kenrick, received of Dr S. P. Hildreth, 

 of Marietta, Lemon Pippin, a native of Ohio, a fruit of 

 medium size, somewhat oblong and conical, pale yellow, 

 and of excellent flavor. For the Committee. 



William Kenrick. 



exhibition of flowers. 

 Col. Marshall i'. Wilder, of Dorchester, presented 

 three specimens of Camellia Japonica, var. Anemone- 

 flora alba; do. Chandlerii ; do. Rosa mundi. Mr Wil- 

 der exhibited on the l!)th ult. line specimens nf Camellia 

 Japonica, var. Elegans of the English ; and Exiinia of 

 the French, and probably of the English ; the two last 

 named varieties and Cbandlerii were much admired for 

 their elegance. This species of plant has all the splen- 

 dor of the Rose, and although. it has no perfume, yet its 

 foliage adds so much to its beauty that Flora may be said 

 to have denied us .7 preference — they are queens -,- 



*' With gorgeous wings, the marks of so\'ereign sway, 

 'riie two conlencllng princes make their way." 



Cpl. Wilder stands pre-eminent as a cultivator of this 

 splendid flower; he has made very large importations 

 "i'roni England and France, and we understand he can 

 show a greater variety of the Camellia than any other 

 person in Massachusetts, if not in the United States. 

 For the Committee. S. Walker. 



SiciLV Squash. — A huge Squash from Sicily may be 

 seen at Staples & Tombs' Stall. It weighs seventy 

 pounds. 



Late from Europe. — By the ships Poland and S* 

 James, arrived at New York, Paris dates to the 21st of' 

 November, and London to the 2Ist, are received. 



Mr Barton had not left Paris, though it was said htt 

 had taken passage in the ship Albany, to sail on the 1st 

 December. 



England is said to have offered her mediation through. 

 Long GraneviUe, her Ambassador .at Paris.forthe settle- 

 ment of the question between France and the United 

 rotates. The Gazette of France adds, "that in thanking 

 Lord Granville for this offer of mediation, it was intima- 

 ted that orders had been given for the equipment of 15 

 ships of the line and 18 frigates." 



A sudden change has come over the prospects of Eu- 

 rope, on account of some demonstrations made by the 

 Emperor of Russia, particularly a savage speech which 

 he put forth at Warsaw. Both the French and English 

 papers are filled with indignation at the tone assumed by 

 the Czar, and a war between Russia and France, is re- 

 presented as by no means improbable. It is a topic even 

 more fruitful of discussion in the French and English' 

 papers than the American question. 



The meeting of the Chambers is postponed from the 

 23th December to the 12th January. 



Paris, JVov. 11, (evening.) — The statement of the 

 Charge d'Affaires of America having received his pass- 

 ports is confirmed ; in consequence, the French Charge 

 d'Affaires will be recalled from Washington. 



The Courier Frangais says, that the fleet fitting out at 

 Brest is intended for the eventuality of a war with 

 America, and that the representations of French diploma- 

 cy will have much more force when backed by such 

 preparations as these I It seems as afl"air8 now stand, 

 that war is the only possible solution of the question. 



The French and English papers are much occupied 

 with speculations on the state of affairs between America 

 and France. 



Boston Pearl and Literary Gazette; Edited by 

 Isaac C. Pray, Jr. — We cannot refrain from giving this 

 excellent paper a passing notice. It is one which does 

 credit to the literature of New England. Its able editor 

 has been indefatigable in his endeavors to present to the 

 public an American work of which we might not be 

 ashamed. He has succeeded. Among the regular con- 

 tributors, we notice the names of most of our best writers. 

 The typographical appearance of the work is superior. 

 It is published in a quarto form, at $3 per annum. — 

 Communicated. 



Botter. — There is a great quantity of Butter, and of 

 a good quality, now in the market. Large dealers are not 

 anxious to buy. Lots have been sold from waggons at 

 20 and 22 cents per lb. We noticed a lot of 1500 lbs. of 

 fair quality, which was sold by a dealer for 20 cents per 

 lb. Our quotations in the domestic market, retail prices, 

 are continued. 



The President has communicated to Congress the 

 bequest of Mr James Sraithson, of London, to the Unit- 

 ed States, for the purpose of founding at Washington 

 an establishment under the name of " the Smithsonian 

 Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men." 



The Massachusetts Legislature fur 183G commenced 

 its session this day. There will be presented during the 

 session various petitions for silk incorporations. 



The stock of Hops in the market is small. Sales 

 have been made for small lots first sort at 15 cts. per lb. 



Eastern Hay commands a high price. Sales have 

 been made at 24 to 26 dollars per ton. 



