186 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



Dec. 31, ISaO. 



straw band, before the blossoms open. An apple 

 tree thus protected, resisted, in bloom, a frost of 

 15 degrees, or a temperature of 17° Fabren. 

 ■while the blossoms on surrounding trees, not pro- | 

 tected were destroyed. The protected trees bore j 

 an uncommon burthen of fruit. Me,n. Remember ] 

 to make the experiment next spring, on apple and 

 other fruit trees. 



I am induced to believe, that it is not so much 

 the intensity of cold, as the sudden change of 

 temperature, that proves destructive to the blossom, 

 or rather the germen. The two last seasons, the 

 blossoms of my apricots, and in some instances 

 of the peaches, appeared only in the higher branch- 

 es and tops — not because, as I conceive, it was 

 less cold there than below, but because it was 

 not so warm, when the sun shone. At the north, 

 the peach produces best in the most exposed posi- 

 tions and coldest aspects, where the greatest equi- 

 librium of temperature prevails. Rhododendrons, 

 and other tender evergreens, about Paris, died 

 last winter, where planted in a southern exposure, 

 while those exposed to the north were unhurt. 

 The Verbenum, Madeira nut and Altheas have been 

 killed down, in protected situations, exposed to 

 the full rays of the morning sun, while they have 

 stood well in exposed situations. It is evident 

 that sudden alternations of heat and cold arc ex- 

 tremly prejudicial to the vital organs of vegetables 

 as well as of animals. The collar, Mr Knight 

 considers the most sensitive part of the plant ; and 

 Mr Stowe's experiment seems to show, that the 

 hay band tends to preserve an equilibrium, by de- 

 fending this sensitive part against the two extremes, 

 or rendering the transition more gradual. The 

 apple, potato and other vegetables may be frozen 

 and thawed without destroying the vitality, if the 

 thawir.g process is carried on gradually, and be- 

 yond the reach of atmospheric air. Our potato 

 fields afford ample demonstration of this. 



The hay band serves another important purpose, 

 when placed around the peach. If closely wound 

 round the trunk and the earth a little raised at the 

 surface, it protects the tree from the injurious 

 effects of the peach borer or worm; as the fly 

 must deposit its eggs at too great a distance from 

 the ground, for the larva; to reach its winter 

 quarters, under ground, before the frosts destroy it. 

 On looking forther into my text book, I find 

 that Loudon confirms the utility of the practice of 

 Mr Stowe; he says that Magnolias, delicate stand- 

 ard Roses, and other half hardy shrubs, are thus 

 protected about Paris and London, merely takin" 

 care to cover well the collar. 



Albany Mirsery, Dec. 14, 1830. J. BUEL. 



OPERATIONS OF STEAM. 



' A steam fire extinguishing engine has recently 

 been invented in England, which will deliver from J 

 40 to 50 tons of water per hour to an elevation of 

 from 60 to 90 feet, according to the adjutage of 

 the wind. On a calm day the distance of 140 feet 

 has been acomplished. This is the machine (says 

 Loudon's Gardener's Magazine, for Oct.) that prop- 

 erly applied, will at some future time, plough and 

 sow 1000 acres in a week, and reap the crop in a 

 day. J- S- 



FOR THH NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



ASPARAGUS. 

 I think an error prevails in the method or- 

 dinarily adopted in cultivating this delicious vege- 

 table. The object seems to be to grow a long 

 blanched slock ; which to be sure is inviting to the 

 superficial buyers, — but at the table is found 

 stringy, tough and bitter. The roots must lie deep 

 and the growth be comparatively slow ; my roots 

 have but a superficial covering of earth. Their 

 growth is early and rapid ; and as I cut at the 

 surface, the grass is tender, succulent, well flavored, 

 and the whole of it eatable. I cover my beds in 

 winter with manure, but rake it off and fork the 

 ground in the spring. 



Albany JVursery, Dec. 1830. J. BUEL. 



EXAMINATIONS OF FARMS. 



Mr Ff.sse.nden— I read with much interest, 

 in your last number, the report of the Committee 

 on Farms, in the county of Middlesex, and think 

 the practice of examining farms, and tiie differ- 

 ent modes in which they are cultivated, with 

 close scrutiny, by judicious committees, will have 

 a good effect on husbandmen throughout the 

 Commonwealth. 



The task of such Committees is sometimes 

 difficult, always arduous, and oftentimes exposes ' 

 them to the charge of partiality or carelesness in i 

 making their awards — each ambitious candidate 

 for a premium valuing more highly his own im- 

 provements than those of his neighbors. 



To obviate all charges of partiality or sem- 

 blance of favoritism; I would have committees 

 govern themselves, by some fixed principle by 

 which the community generally might see at once 

 the true foundation of the preference given in the 

 awards. The grand object should be to show 

 clearly the advantages of correct and economical 

 cultivation over that of a different character. 

 For this purpose, committees should be careful <o 

 compare the number of improved acres in a farm 

 with the value of its produce — taking always 

 into view the expense of cultivation, and the 

 condition of the farm before the improvements 

 commenced ; then, whether the farm bo large or 

 small, if the productions are similar in kind on 

 each, it would seem more easy to come to a cor- 

 rect conclusion. 



The Report of the Committee states that four 

 farms were examined, and that premiums were 

 recommended for three of them. lam but par- 

 tially acquainted with the Conunittee, but pre- 

 sume they intended to make a candid award, not 

 knowing any reason why they should not. But 

 taking for facts the statement in the report, I can- 

 not avoid coming to a different conclusion from 

 the committee. 



The smallest farm — Mr Buckminster's — ap- 

 pears, by the report, to maintain more stock — at 

 less expense — and with a soil jioorer, three years 

 ago, than either of the three which obtained 

 premiums. The whole produce, indeed, on that 

 seems more valuable iu proportion to its acres, 

 labor, and purchased manure, than on the lar- 

 ger farms. That too on land which three years ago 

 produced comparatively nothing. 



To compare them I will suppose the produce 

 necessary to keep one horse will keep 2 cows or 

 oxen. The smallest farm then, exclusive of ' a 

 thrifty nursery' and ' one acre of locust trees,' 

 supports 8 cows. That is 20 acres support 8 

 cows. 



Capt. Richardson's 40 acres support 11 cows. 

 They ought to support 16. 



Deacon Hubbard's 60 acres support equal to 

 12 cows. This should support 24. 



Capt. Wheeler's 63 acres support equal to 17^ 

 cows through the year. They should support 25 

 It is true Capt. R. sold (this year) 16 tons o 

 hay. We must infer that this had been accumula 

 ting for years, because his other 9 tons would no 

 support his stock of 11 cows. And he is th. 

 only one who has sold bay. But we see that be 

 sides purchasing 500 bushels of ashes yearly, an. 

 the use of the refuse of his slaughter house, an. 

 candle-factory, he purchases quantities of feet an. 

 heads of animals from Lowell. 



Now with these actual expenses and the her 

 efit of a ' slaughter house, which alone stipporl 

 4 hogs,' it does not appear that his annual pr( 

 duce is, in proportion, equal to Mr B.'s 



Deacon H. buys no manure and sells no ha) 

 He keeps 12 cows instead of 24. 



Capt. W. has purchased for 9 years, the whol 

 I manure of the largest stable in the county. H 

 i sells no hay — he keeps 17^ cows instead of 2 

 Mr B.'s proportion. As Mr B. has purchase 

 only 40 loads in tliree years, and 200 bushels < 

 leached ashes, and as his ' thrifty nurser 

 ' planted on' ' exhausted ground,' must have r 

 quired at least the 40 loads in three years, (whit 

 nursery is not counted as any part of the produi 

 of his farm) as the whole of his pasture ai 

 mowing grounds, as by report, were 3 years bac 

 ' much reduced' — the six acres of peat meado 

 ' considered of little value,' it strikes me ffort 

 bly that the smallest farm, which obtained ] 

 premium, must have been managed with mo 

 skill, and of course was better entitled to tl 

 Society's jiremium than either of the others. 



The truth is, small farms are more productiw ^^ 

 in proportion than large ones. 



They are managed at less expense — less la 

 is hired. 



They lie nearer the barn and the house, li 

 the produce therefore is more easily stored — ti 

 manure more easily carted,and the cattle rac 

 readily driven to pasture. 



I hope, sir, our Committees will not desp- 

 small farms. Yours, 



A Small Farmeb.. 



for the new ENGLAND FARMER. 



IMPROVEMENT IN GRAFTING. 

 T. G. Fessenden, Esq — 



Dear Sir — For the three last years I have be 

 in the habit of side-grafti 

 into the roots of small ap] 

 ;ind pear stocks. I dig dc 

 to where the perpendicu 

 root or bole is of sufficient sL 

 an inch under ground, more 

 less, and make an oblique < 

 into it at an angle of about 

 degrees with the stem, and I 

 sert my scion. The first t j 

 years I applied some clay a|| 

 manure around where the sci i 

 was inserted, but tlie last spring, I only replac|| 

 the earth, and closely pressed it down. | 



The last year I used scions of one, two, a 

 three years' growth, and they all took, and ha 

 grown very well. I send you samples of tin; mo 

 of inserting them. 



Yours respectfully, 



BENJAMIN SHURTLEF?. 

 1 Boston, December 27, 1830. 



Ill 



