^46 



N E \V ENGLAND F A R M E K 



FEB. 10, 1»<I6. 



^^w ssr-©5S>^^^ Sf^jEi^^ias. 



lJO-;rON, WEDN-^SDAV EVENlNti. ["Eli. 10. ISSfi. 



[p="To CoBUEBPONDENTS. — VVp, liave rfiCeived Several 

 JSigMy ViiliKible cominunicatiims which will adorn and 

 lender valuiible the pages of the New England Farmer 

 <i>r several numbers. Among ihese are an e.\cellent es- 

 i«iy on Irrigation, by the Hon. John W Lincoln, of 

 Worcester, and one upon Topping Corn, by William 

 Clagcett, Esq.of Porlsmouth, N. H. 



PARMER'S WORK. 



Take the leisure time which February affords to most 

 fermers, to select and purchase such things as you may 

 deem needful to stock and furnish your farm, and neces- 

 sary, convenient, or indispensable to success in your oc- 

 cup.'iiion. If you can find any bctler breeds than your 

 own of any domestic animals, vegetables, &c. such as 

 ■eat cattle, sheep, pigs, seed corn, seed wheat, garden 

 8«eds, &c. t:ike this opportunity to obtain enough to an- 

 swer your purposes lor inlrodiicing them on your own 

 premises. You will thus comply with a masim, which 

 should always be among the governing rules of every 

 cullivator, viz ; — "Choose those animals or vegetables 

 to breed from, that possess the qualities you wish to pro- 

 pag:ite in the greatest perfection.' Instead of this com- 

 mendable practice we are told that some of our farmers 

 sell their best slock to the butcher, and keep the poorest 

 10 breed from ; and gather seed-', roots, i&c.from vegfta- 

 bles of little value for market or domestic use. 



The directions which we have so often given relative 

 to the particular attention whicli should be bestowed on 

 cows with calf, and ewes with lamb, need not be repeated, 

 twt should not be forgotten A little cKtra strengthening 

 and Bcmrishing food, together with warm and dry lodg- 

 ings, in such cases are called for, as much by a regard to 

 jour own interest as by the dictates of humanity. The 

 Iwst nursing which ycm can give to calves and lambs, is 

 hestowed by plentiful, regular and judicious feed to thoir 

 dams. 



"Cleanliness is a principal requisite in the feeding of 

 cattle; hence not only the mangers, but also the stalls 

 onglit to be kept as clean as possible ; and the former 

 should be cleared of dirt and dust with a blunt pointed 

 trowel every morning. After cleansing their stalls, a 

 safficient quantity of fiesh litter should be strewed over 

 the floors, which will invite them to lie down. Rest 

 greatly contributes to fatten cattle, and combing and 

 carding their hides every day, promotes thc-ir thriving 

 more than equal to the small jiortion of time thus con- 

 samed." 



Last year's calves should now be fed with hay, roots 

 and other good fodder: and they should be well fed, and 

 kept perfectly clean. Cattle stinted in their food in the 

 narly part of their growth will never make valuable ani- 

 mals. 



It is said that pine boughs given to sheep once in two 

 or three days will cure their colds and .jiromote thoir 

 general health. If pine boughs cannot easily be had, 

 spread tar over a board or in a trough, and over this a 

 little fine! salt, which will induce the sheep to lick up the 

 tar, and thus take as much as will piovc beneficial. 



Potatoes are said to be very useful food for shcop. A 

 writer IB Rees' Cyclopedia recommends a galltjn of pota- 

 toes a day to each sheep ; but this depends in part on the 

 quality and quantity of the hay which is allowed them. 

 Besides their use as food for sheep, potatoes are service- 

 able by their opening or purgative quality as a substitule 



for medicine, when givi-n raw. Bui if boiled or steamed, 

 they yield more nutriment than when raw. 



MASSACHUSETTS IIORTICUL.TIJRAI. SOCIETY. 



?;Uiir.lay, Feb. C. 



EXHIBITION or FLOWEKS. 



Ry Mr S. Sweetser, of Cambridgeport, a bouquet ccm- 

 laining specimens of the following flowers, viz . Daphne 

 odora ; Viburnum tir, us ; Verbena chama>drifiilia ; Meli- 

 iiiithus majoi ; Acacia cophaniha ; Calampelis scabra ; 

 Camellia japonica nialiflora ; heaths, tea roses, and 



" What next ? a tuft of evening primroses, 

 O'er which tlie mind may hover till it dozes ; 

 O'er which it well might take a pleasant sleep. 

 But that 'tis ever startled by the leap 

 01 buds into ripe dowers." 



For the Committee. S. Walker. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was held nt the 

 usual place on Saturday, Feb. 6th, 12, M., the Presi- 

 dent in the chair. 



Till! Committee appointed to examine and inspect 

 the books and aci ouiits of liie Mount Auburn Ceme- 

 tery Corporation, as provided by statute, presented their 

 report, which was read. 



On molion of iMr French, the same was accepted, and 

 it was also moved by the same gonlleman, and voted, 

 " That the Treasurer be authorised to receive the balance 

 due from the Mount Auburn Cemetery Corporation, as 

 per report, and pass a rcccdpt for the same." 



The Committee appointed at a previous meeting on 

 furnishing rooms, and establishing rules respecting ihe 

 exhibition and sale of Flowers, p.-escnted their report by 

 the chairman, Mr French ; and the same was recommit- 

 ted, for the purpose of making more ample arrangements, 

 and with instructions lo report upon the exhibition and 

 sale of fruits. 



Mr French made inquiry concerning some books pur- 

 porting to be the property of the Sociely, which had been 

 seen at the Custom House. ^ 



Mr Oliver moved, and it was voted, " That the subject 

 be referred to tho Library Committee, and also that the 

 same committee coneider the propriety of disposing the 

 books in the Library relating to Cemeteries, in such a 

 manner that they may bo consulted by members of the 

 Mouiit Auborn Corpor.iiion. 



Adjourned to Saturday next, 12, M. 



ITEMS. 



War in Texas.— It appears by an extract from a let- 

 ter, published in the Washington (Penn.) Reporter, that 

 San Antonio Boxar, the principal garrison town of the 

 Mexicans in Texas has been taken by the Texians. This 

 writer slates, that " the total loss of the Texians through- 

 out the last campaign, has been only eight killed, while 

 that of the enemy is known to he more than 300. The 

 greater part of the Mexican army consists of cavalry bad- 

 ly discipliiwd and worse mounted ; and their foot sol- 

 diers are of every caste, character and condition, driven 

 into the army, who have always fled before a linirth part 

 of theii number,''' 



Indian Hostiuties m Fi okiba. — A detachment of 

 U. S. troops, consisting of upwards of ItlOO men, whilst 

 on their march on the 28th of December, were surround- 

 ed by a large body of Indians, and nearly all killed. 

 An official report from Capt. Benton states, that every 

 olBcer of the detachment was killed, and nearly all the 

 soldiers. They w^;re attacked and received at least fif 

 teen rounds before an Indian was seen. 



Fire. — The Congregational Meeting House in Turner. 

 Me. was destroyed by firo on Sunday, the 24th ult. The ' 

 fire was communicated lo the building by a stove. 



PIG-NOSE APPLE. 



An iiiicoiitli name, but a deliglitfiil apple. Did 

 any of our Poniologieal friends ever liear of it 

 lieliiie .-' It is siippo.sed to be peculiar to Dukes 

 County. We received last week a barrel of them 

 tVoMi Hon. L. 'Ihaxler, of Edjiartown, wliicli have 

 been distributed to many of our friends. For a 

 wiiitei eating apple tliey are, we think, second 

 only to the Baidvviii ; they keep well, are of a 

 yellowish cast, and in shape resemble a pig's nose 

 — Iience their a, pellation. We do not irieutify 

 tlieni as belonging to any variety heretofore known. 

 .^ir Tliiixter bas kind y offered to send us some of 

 tlie scions next spring for distribution. 



We received also at the same time a quantity 

 of very fine, large white French 'I urnip.s, and 

 Ca]ie Horn S(pjashes. The turnips are different 

 from the eoninion variety of white French in our 

 market — tliey are better. 'VVe are sure that they 

 will prove a valuable acqiiisilioii'. The squashes 

 are decidedly a squash for an epicure : a greater 

 luxury we have not tasted tliis long time. We 

 sha.l ejideavor to obtain some of the seeds. 



TirE American Frugal Housewife: by Mrs 

 Child. — The seventeenth edition of this work was 

 issui'd last %yeek. "^1 he success'which it has re- 

 ceived is well deserved. Tlie introductory chap- 

 ter is full of excellent advice, and is alojie worth 

 till! price of the book. Then follows — " Odd 

 Scivaps for the Economical ; " which, (said odd 

 sirraps,) if duly attended to, will save many a dol- 

 lii', and many housewives much useless labor. 

 "Simple Remedies " is a valuable chapter. The 

 receipts for cooking, we doubt not, are excellent 

 in their way. "Mints to persons of moderate 

 ibrtune," is a well written article, nlinundiug in 

 <?xcellent sayings, and shouhl be carefully read — 

 iiiucli good and practical information can be 

 gleaned tlierefrom. We consider Mrs Child's 

 little work valuable. For sale by Russell, Shat- 

 tiick & Co. and George C. Barrett. 



S;lk in Virginia. — We have recently received 

 iVoni Virginia, very large additions to our Silk 

 Manual subscription list. One gentleman writes: 

 " 'J'he people in this State are wide awake upon 

 this subject; and great progress has already been 

 made in the establishment of plantations of Mul- 

 liurry Trees, &c." There is no doubt but that 

 I lie Silk business will prove eminently successful 

 in that State. Wo shall be glad to receive coin- 

 iiiunications from that section, detailing its pro- 

 gress and prospects. 



Stall Feeding. — Some intelligent farmers, instead of 

 yarding their slock, prefer feeding as many and as much 

 as possible in the stall, duiing winter, turning the beasts 

 out only for water and exercise. This system may he 

 pursued with advantrge; much food being saved by 

 feeding in the house, and a great quantity of manure 

 obtained, if straw for litter can be had in sufficient quan- 

 ttity. 



Troops against the Indians. — The steamboat George 

 Washington was to leave Augusta, Ga. on the 22d ult. 

 with the company of Richmond Clues on board, for Pi- 

 (jolata, Florida. The City Council,-at a meeting on the 

 (wevious Thursday, adopted a resolution, placing at the 

 disposal of the appropriate committee ten thousand dol- 

 hirs, lo be used, if needed, for the expedition. 



Samuel Gwi^in, Esq., an officer of the Land Office in 

 Mississippi, waa\ killed in a duel recently with Isaac 

 Caldwell. \ 



