NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



117 



and that some should, may not perhaps be strange. 

 But in order to be on the safe side we would ad- 

 vise farmers and fruit growers to get their scions 

 from responsible sources, and then set them them- 

 selves, or if age or infirmity forbid this, employ 

 those who will be found somewhere in the regions 

 of responsibility, if there is any failure in the mat- 

 ter. Yours, &c., 



March, 1851. Evelyn. 



For the JSew England Farmer. 



PLOUGHS— DELANO'S HORSE RAKE. 



Mr. Cole: — Dear Sir, — Will you allow me to 

 address a few words to the numerous readers of 

 your valuable paper, in regard to ploughs. 



Brother Farmers, — We as a class are quite care- 

 less in regard to the kinds of implements which we 

 use, whereas on account of the great western com- 

 petition which is circumscribing our profits, we 

 ought to be "wide awake," and ready to adopt any 

 thing that will reduce the amount of labor required, 

 or do the work better. 



In ploughs, we fail most, for we are apt to think 

 that if we move the earth it is sufficient. Where- 

 as, it is of the utmost importance that it should be, 

 in almost all cases, completely inverted. 



Few of us have learned that the good sward 

 plough is fit for nothing else, at least wholly un- 

 fit for stubble. For the plough that will lay the 

 sod over smoothly, has not sufficient flare to use 

 in stubble ground. As the loose earth is continu- 

 ally falling back into the furrows, and the layer of 

 earth turned up is left edgewise, leaving insuffi- 

 cient room for the next furrows slice; beside this, 

 the objection of clogging is almost always felt. 



Last fall, we procured of Ruggles, Nourse, Ma- 

 son & Co., one of their Eagle, No. 38, Stubble 

 Ploughs, and find for the first time that we can do 

 the work to perfection, can turn in long manure, 

 corn-stalks, &;c., without fear of clogging. We 

 find the ground pulverised, and completely in- 

 verted, the furrows open and clean, and every one 

 is surprised at the amount of work done with the 

 power w^hich is required, and at the ease with 

 which the ploughman can control it. 



We should as soon think of pitching manure with 

 the old-fashioned dung fork, as to think of dispens- 

 ing with this plough for any other we have ever 

 seen. 



It is well made, with more strength and lightness 

 combined than any plough of any kind I ever saw. 

 They may be procured of Ruggles, Nourse, Mason 

 & Co., of Boston or Worcester, or any of their 

 agents, and should be described as Eagle No. 38. 

 Wheel and Draft Rod; plain and fin cutter share; 

 the plain share is for corn-stalks ground, long ma- 

 nure, &c.; the fin cutter share is for stubble or very 

 weak sod. 



Next allow me to recommend to you the A. No. 

 2, Side Hill. This received one of the premiums 

 at our last Agricultural Fair, in Middlesex County, 

 being used only as a right hand plough by an Irish- 

 man of but little experience. 



I ought to have stated that the No. 38 will 

 plough II or 12 inches deep. We used it 11 in- 

 ches with 2 yoke of oxen; our neighbors use it 

 from 4 to 6 inches' with one yoke. The beam is 

 about 18 inches from the bottom of the share. 

 They have also one of the same kind, one size 

 smaller, called Eagle, No. 37. I have never used 



this, but they (R. N. & ]\L) inform me tliat it 

 operates well. 



One advantage the ploughs of Messrs. Ruggles, 

 Nourse, Mason & Co. have over the kinds we have 

 generally used, is that they are already scoured 

 bright. Another is if any part of the plough fails 

 or gets broken, (a beam or handle for instance,) 

 they can always supply you with the part wanted 

 much cheaper and better than you can generally get 

 made by an ordinary mechanic, and then you are 

 gure of your plough working the same as before, 

 as all parts are made by machinery, and of course 

 all parts of the same exactly correspond. 



The only interest in this matter which induces 

 me to say so much in favor of these ploughs is the 

 desire I have of seeing all who are engaged in 

 farming using good implements. 



I should like also to recommend the use of De- 

 lano's Independent Horse Rake. We used it last 

 season, and dispensed with all others. 



If any of our farmers or mechanics know of a 

 good mowing machine, I hope they will describe it 

 in your columns. This is what we much need, 

 and which may, and I doubt not, will soon be con- 

 structed, if it is not already, well suited for the use 

 of many farmers in New England. 



Yours truly, David Lyman. 



Durham, Ct-, March 16, 1851. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 NEW SEEDLING POTATOES. 



Mr. Cole: — My attention was called to-day to 

 some very fine looking potatoes, raised by Mr. John 

 Bradstreet, of thistown; in connection with which, 

 he stated the following facts, among the most en- 

 couraging that have come to my knowledge in this 

 season of potato investigation. 



Five years since, Mr. B. commenced raising po- 

 tatoes from the seed. He planted the seeds, in 

 drills, and in the autumn selected those most prom- 

 ising. He so continued until 1849; he had four 

 kinds distinct and preferable to all others. In 1849, 

 from two and a half bushels of the kind now pre- 

 sented, seventy bushels were raised. In 1850, 

 from eleven bushels, two hundred and seventy bush- 

 els were raised. In no instance have they been af- 

 fected with the rot or other decaying quality. They 

 are large and fiiir, and unconunonly good fi)r the 

 table. They were planted on plain, shallow lands, 

 moderately manured, yielding a bushel to every 

 twenty hills. They bear cutting well, four eyes 

 being sufficient to a hill. Mr. B. says he should 

 be pleased to supply those curious in the matter, 

 with some of these potatoes, and will warrant them 

 as described, &c. Yours trulv, 



J. W. Proctor. 



Danvers, March 11, 1851. 



The Quince. — The quince is easily propagated 

 fi-om seed, layers, or cuttings. From seeds, the 

 quince is somewliat liable to vary in its seedlings, 

 sometimes proving the apple-shaped and sonietiuies 

 the pear-shaped variety. Cuttings, planted in a 

 shaded situation, early in the spring, root very 

 easily, and this is perhaps ihe simplest and best 

 way of continuing a good variety. The better 

 sorts are also frequently budded on common seed- 

 ling (juince stocks, or on the common thorn. 



Quince stocks are extensively used in engrafting 

 or budding the pear, when it is wished to render 

 that tree dwarf in its habit. 



