PRACTICAL FARMER 



41 



The Mulberry. — Altliough fruit trees of near- 

 ly every kind, especially the peacli, have suffered 

 severely ahiiost unto death, from the blighting ef- 

 fects of the coM and raw weather of last month, 

 we cannot find that the mulberry tree, many thou- 

 sands of whicli have been set out, on various parts 

 of our island — some last year, and some the pres- 

 ent — have experienced any disadvantage what- 

 ever. This fact adds another to the many confir- 

 mations of our belief iu the excellent adaptation 

 of the soil, situation and climature of Nantucket 

 to the culture of this im])ortant plant. On Thurs- 

 day we inspected thoroughly a plantation of four 

 thousand white mulberry trees, owned by Mr A. 

 Mitchell, and lying about a mile from the town. 

 We could not discover that a smgle plant was des- 

 titute of evidences of life: indeed nearly every 

 tree exhibited the most promising indications of 

 vigor and thriftiness — while other trees and 

 plants, in the same vicinity, were blasted, or droop- 

 ing under the chills of the late rigid temperatin-e. 

 We learn that other and more extensive planta- 

 tions are quite as healthy. Among those wliich 

 were examined, were several specimens of the 

 morns multicaulius, which were equally, if not 

 more thrifty than the Italian ; and we are now 

 perfectly satisfied from what we have gathered in 

 relation to the growth of the transplantations, that 

 both the Chinese and Italian mulberry will in this 

 place find a most congenial home. Other trees 

 may also flourish here; but in the language of 

 the old song — 



The bliglit often seizes both blossom and bud, 



While the mildew flies over the Mulberry Tree. — Kan- 

 tucket Inq. 



The Season. — The Claremont, N. H. Eagle, 

 says: Crops promise well in this vicinity — and 

 we hear but few complaints from the farmer. The 

 grass is nearly twice as hea\y as it was last year 

 at this time, and grain is doing well — so, of 

 wheat, though sown rather late. Corn ajipearsto 

 to be rather backward, and in some places of a 

 sickly cast, but the late rains will give it a fresh 

 start, and on the whole, the poorest will he good. 

 Fruit trees in the vicinity have not materially suf- 

 fered from the frosts and cold of May, and though 

 some were obliged to plant their gardens anew, 

 \ye do not but see but that vegetables of every 

 kind are as forward as at the last season. We 

 guess the farmers will have no cause to complain 

 when autumn and winter arrive. 



USEFUL ARTS. 



Odiorne New Pump. — Mr Thomas Odiorne, 

 of Portsmouth, N. H. is exhibiting at the Castle 

 Garden bridge, a specimen of Yankee ingenuity, 

 which it seems to us, must really be considered 

 the ne phis ultra of the pumping; interest ; and we 

 don't see as there will ever be the least necessity 

 hereafter, of a vessel's sinking, if the owners will 

 provide her with one of the machines. We have 

 seen it in operation, and feel fully convinced that 

 there is no mistake about this improvement at 

 least. It will discharge one hundred and twenty 

 gallons injijlyjive seconds, merely by the appli- 

 cation of a power less than is required at the 

 common pump brake — thus performing very 

 nearly four fold as much as the ordinary machine 

 now in use. The operation, powerful and effi- 

 cient as it is, is perlec.tly simple, consisting of two 

 buckets alternately playing up and down thepumjis 

 — one of which is constantly pouring forth an 

 abundant volume of water, while the other is de- 

 scending by its OAvn gravity to peiform the same 

 office the succeeding second. The ascending 

 bucket the «instant it rises to the surface and dis- 

 charges its contents, is disengaged from its fellow 

 by an ingenious, but at the same time, exceeding- 

 ly simple self-acting uiotion, and goes down after 

 more; rising in its turn to the top, and again de- 

 scending. This invention is but just patented, 

 and of course has not gone into general use ; but 

 it must of necessity soon do so. Mr Odiorne, we 

 jierceive has a certificate of Commodore Crane of 

 the Navy, expressing strong aj)proval of the plan, 

 and we imderstand too, that the ship masters at 

 the Eastward are unanimous in their opinion of 

 its importance ; but the invention does not need 

 certificates. Every man must see at once its ob- 

 vious superiority. — L. 1. Star. 



Rather Backward. — The Montreal Vindica- 

 tor of May, says, — It will be the end of Jtme be- 

 fore planting is finisiiijil. Pastures are very back- 

 ward. The orchards are not yet in blossom, nor 

 the forest trees in full leaf. However, though 

 the season is "unusually late, we may yet have a 

 better and more productive harvest than last year. 



The model of an improved steamboat, invented 

 by Daniel Gerrish of Boston, is exhibiting at Wash- 

 ington. The hull consists of a vast number of wa- 

 ter tight cells, made by the crossing of the timbers. 

 A hull of great strength is formed by this kind of 

 frame work, which is covered with jilank well 

 caulked, and to which the upper part of the ves- 

 sel, containing the ordinary apartments ol'a steam- 

 boat, is adjusted. The principal advantage of this 

 mode of construction is, that in striking rocks, 

 snags, &c. the water will only enter the cells 

 which are perforated, and the vessel will still re- 

 main afloat. It is thought that steamboats con- 

 structed in this manner might serve a good pur- 

 pose in the Florida war. The cells might be used 

 to contain the stores of the campaign, and acci- 

 dents from the snags and savages would be avoid- 

 ed by the peculiar mode of construction. — JV". Y. 

 E. Post. 



