248 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 10, 1831. 



MISCELLANY 



FOR THE MEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



THE SHAKERS, OR UNITED SOCIETY. 

 There are sixteen Societies of this peculiar de- 

 nomination in the United States ; in Maine, New 

 Hampshire, Massacliusetts, Connecticut, New York, 

 Kentucliy and Ohio. There are in all of these 

 Societies the j)opulation of about .5000. Each 

 society consists of 3 and some 4 families (so 

 called :) the largest and most central Family is 

 called the Church. These church families con- 

 tain 60 and so onto 100 members. Two societies 

 generally constitute what is called a Bishopric ; 

 each Bishopric is under the administration of 4 

 Elders (2 males and 2 females) whom they greet 

 with the title of Ministry. The Ministry reside al- 

 ternately at each Society. They have the appoint- 

 ment and dictation of all the other elders and officers 

 of the societies in their Bishopric. Each of the 

 churches and families have 4 elders (2 males and 

 2 females) who have the immediate care of the 

 spiritual concerns of their respective families. 

 Each church has 2 trustees who are the keepers 

 of the money, &c, belonging to the church. They 

 have an office for the transaction of business 

 ■with those who are not of the society ; in their 

 name are written all the deeds, notes, &c, they 

 also do all the tradings, and make all stipulations 

 with (what they call) the world's people. Distinct 

 from them are also two deacons who have tlie 

 management of the domestic concerns and to whom 

 the members make application for whatever they 

 are in want of, and their resources are supplied 

 by the trustees. No individual keeps any money 

 — or can call any property his own, but all is 

 ceded to the general common stock, so that, ac- 

 cording to the answer a young lady among them 

 made to an inquiry, if she possessed any property 

 there, ' Nothing is mine, but all ours.' 



They have a covenant which is signed by all 

 the members of twentyone years of age and 

 upwards, tlie purport of which is — they resign all 

 claim as individuals to any property which is there 

 or that they may bring into the Society — all claim 

 to any remuneration for their services — and they 

 will devote and employ themselves to their best 

 abilities for the support and promotion of the 

 Society, having secured to them a good living and 

 equality so long as they remain members and no 

 longer. Parents in general give their children 

 a small portion of their property, but the main 

 part to the society. 



As to their requirements of duty, each one is 

 left to judge and act for himself, though an idle, 

 indolent person, with this industrious community 

 soon finds no comfort or enjoyment and therefore 

 such ones generally expel themselves. Each one 

 has his or her allotted employment so that every 

 branch has its necessary attention paid to it. 



They have a numerous list of Orders or Gijls, 

 as they are called, with them, which they are very 

 strict and attentive in observing ; besides the many 

 relating to their religious life, they have those of 

 a. temporal nature, which are of equal importance 

 to them. 



It is against order for any one man and woman 

 to converse or be together without a third. For 

 any one to blame or censure another on any ac- 

 count before any one except their elders, or e.v- 

 pose their own trials except to them ; it is also 

 against order to leave any gates open, bars 



down or to permit any broken windows to re- j 

 main so, which they are very strict in observing. 

 They are also very strict in having cleanliness 

 and decency observed in their houses and door- 

 yards ; it is against order even to shut the doors 

 hard, or to spit upon the floor, or to be anywise 

 boisterous in their dwellinghouses. They always 

 have a place for every tool, and keep every tool 

 in its place, consequently have nothing lost ; many 

 of these rules trifling as they may appear, it would 

 be well to have adopted by every household or 

 community. They generally have two dwelling- 

 houses in each churcli and one in each family ; 

 those in each church or family all sit down at one 

 table, and meet three evenings in a week together 

 for their evening devotions, which are generally 

 singing, dancing and a reminding of their orders 

 and gifts ; they always before these meetings retire 

 to their respective rooms in their dwelling houses 

 and observe the strictest silence for the space of 

 half an hour. They retire at 9 o'clock (all at 

 one time) and arise about 4 or 5 in the morning. 

 They are very regular and temperate in their diet, 

 having no extravagances, and moderate in their 

 habits having no superfluities. 



Their farms and orchards are in the highest 

 state of cultivation, they have been long noted as 

 manufacturing the best of articles, such as brooms, 

 pails, tubs, sieves, &.C, atid also for raising garden 

 seeds, but it is not to be wondered at that the 

 recent great advancement in Horticulture has left 

 them behind in this respect. 



They are very attentive to company of which 

 they have much in the summer season ; and truly 

 it is time pleasantly spent to visit their beautiful, 

 neat villages. There is one in Shirley, Massachu- 

 setts, which the traveller would pronounce the 

 most pleasantly situated and neat vUiage this State 

 affiDrds ; it has a beautiful white church about 6 

 or 8 dwelling houses, and 20 or 2.5 other buildings 

 in which are carried on the various branches of 

 mechanism, &c. G. C. B 



One ^ood turn deserves another. — Santeuil, a poet 

 of the 17th century, returning one night to the Ab- 

 bey of St Victor, at eleven o'clock, was refused ad- 

 mittance by the porter, on the plea that the prior had 

 absolutely forbidden the doors to be opened at so 

 late an hour. A sfood deal of altercation ensued; 

 at last the poet slipped a piece of gold under the 

 door, which was quickly opened. When fairly in, 

 he preter^ded he had left a book on the stone, where 

 he had been, sitting during the dispute, and begged 

 the porter to go for it. Encouraged by the genero- 

 sity of the poet, the man readily complied. In the 

 meanwhile, Santeuil fastened the door ; and the por- 

 ter half naked, was obliged to stand knocking in 

 his turn. ' I cannot let you in,' said the poet ; ' I am 

 very sorry for it: but the prior has given positive or- 

 ders not to have the doors opened at so late an hour.' 

 ' I let you in,' said the porter, in a very humble tone. 

 'So you did,' replied Santeuil; 'and I will do you 

 the same good turn for the same price.' 



The porter not liking to sleep in the street, and 

 fearful likewise of losing his place, slipped the piece 

 of gold under the door again ; saying ' I thought a 

 poet's money would not stay long with me ;' and so 

 gained admittance. 



AgncuUural IVarehouse and Seed Store, 



The sut>Bcriber respectlully iiifoiins the Farmers anc. 

 Planters of the Western Slates, that he has just arrived 

 in this city fiom Boston, with a large and general assoit- 

 mpnt of Agricultural. Implements ct 'he inos;- 

 appioved liinds; with ^ilso a general and very extensive 

 a— uiliiieiil of Grass, Garden, Field, P'lower and 

 liiiRB Seeds, wbich v/ill be Ibiinil to comprise a lai 

 variety than has ever before been introduced itito the 

 We-lern country. 



The above articles liave been recently purchased from 

 the well known Agricultural Eslablishirent of Messrs 

 Newell and Russell, in Boston, and were selected by 

 the subscriber hiiiisell, (who has been for several years 

 engaged in the bu^ines*) with great care. Those who 

 may call at his JlgricuUural Warehouse, No. 23, Lowei 

 Market street, between Sycamore and Main streets, will 

 be assured ot finding every article wanted in tlie agri- 

 cultural line, of a superior quality and at fair prices. 



S. C. PARKHURST. 

 Cincinnati, Jan. 1831 . 



Farmer Wanted. 



Wanted a Farmer, with a wife, without children, th< 

 one perfectly acquainted with the business and capabli 

 of taking the management of the Farm, and the othei 

 fully competent lo take charge of the Dairy ; none neei 

 apply without the best recommendation. Address thi 

 Pubiisher of the New England Fanner, Mr John B 

 Rus'^ell, post paid. 



Also wanted one or two Milch Cows, extraoidinar; 

 milkers, handsome, and not exceeding 4 or 5 years old! 

 for which a generous price will be given. Apply a [ 

 above, post paid. No application need be made excep ' 

 tor very superior animals. 6t Jan. 28. 



iVcw fVork on Farriery. 



Just received and for sale at the Seed Store connecte 

 with the New England Farmer Office, No. 52 Nort | 

 Market Street, 



The Veterinary Surgeon ; or. Farriery taaght on a nei j 

 and easy plan : being a treatise ©n ail the diseases an | 

 accidents to which the Horse is liable; the causes an | 

 symptoms of each, and the most improved remedies en ( 

 ployed for the cure in every case ; with instructions lo til 

 Shoeing-Smith, Farrier, and Groom, how to aiquii 

 knowledge in the art of Farriery, and. the prcviiiiion^ 

 Diseases. Preceded by a popular description of the an 

 mal functions in health, and showing the principles i 

 which these are to be restored when disordered. By Jol 

 Hinds, Veterinary Surgeon. With considerable additioi . 

 and impiovemenis, particularly adapted to this countr 

 by Thomas M. Smith, Veterinary Surgeon, and Memtw 

 of the London Veterinary Medical Society. 



Durham Short Horns. 



For sale, several of the pure breed, descendants ofjj 

 celebrated animals presented by Ad.mir.il Sir Ism 

 Coffin, to the Massachusetts Society for the PromcT 

 of Agriculture. The pedigiee of tliese animals 

 given as far back as Hubback, who was calved in ll 

 and is reputed the foundadon of this much admired stf 

 Also, several Heifers bred from the same, of van 

 grades, from half up to seven eighths blooded anin 

 For particulars, inquire of E. Hersey Derby, Salem.] 



Salem, October, 1830. 



A lawyer in the District of Columbia having 

 wearied the Court by a very long and dull argument, 

 his colleague respectfully suggested to him the ex 

 pediency of bringing it to a close. The lawyer an- 

 grily replied ' I will speak as long as I please, sir !' 

 ' You have spoken longer than you please, already,' 

 retorted his companion. 



Published every Weiliic'sday livening, at ^3 per and 

 t ayable at th ■ end of the year — but those who pay wf 

 sixty days from thet ime of subscribing, are entitled tog 

 duction offii'ly cents. < 



03= No paper will be sent to a distance without pajd 

 being made in advance. 



Printed for J. B. Russell, by I. R. Butts — by 

 ail descriptions of Printing can be executed to meflj 

 wishes of customers. Orders for printing received by 

 Russell, at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 52 

 M.arket Street. 



AGENTS. 



New York — G.Thof.burn & Sons. 67 Liberty-street J 

 Philadelphia— I). & C Laniireth.83 Chestnul-sireet j 

 Baltimoie — G. B. SMITH, Editor of the American Fam 

 Ciiicinihili—fi. C. Pakkhur5T,23 Lower Markel-slredl 

 A'JiJtni — 11-111. jKssii liuEL, Alliany Nursery. 

 Ftiishiti-^. N. Y. VVm. Prince & Sons, Prop. Lio. Bol.' 

 //,o//o/v/_GoonwiN & Co. Booksellers. 

 Newbuniport, Ebenezkr Stedman, fiookseller. 

 Portsmouth, N. H. i. W. Foster, Bookseller. 

 Portland. Me.— S\wvm. Colman, Bookseller. 

 jliiausta, Me. Wm. Mann. 

 Hitlifii.r, N. S.— P. J. Holland, Esq. Recorder OBceJ\ 

 Slontreal, L. C. — A. Bowman, Bookseller. 



