330 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



green, it is well lo let them remain until the frosts 

 begin to be heavy and constant. Turnips, pars- 

 nips and ruta-bagas may be left later. 



All roots should be excluded from the light dur- 

 ing the winter, and kept in as low a temperature 

 as can be made convenient without danger of their 

 freezing. 



Trees. — When the leaves have fallen and the 

 tree is in a state of repose, all kinds of hardy trees 

 may be transplanted with success in autumn. Mr. 

 Downing thinks it the best season for transplanting. 

 A small mound of earth thrown around the trunk 

 will prevent its being shaken by the winds — the 

 fine loam settles about its roots during the winter, 

 and it is in place in the spring, ready to start with 

 the first genial showers and warm beams of the 

 sun. Trimming, scraping, digging about and ma- 

 nuring the trees, may also be profitably done in 

 this month. 



ESSEX COUNTY SOCIETY. 



It was a great day for Old Essex on the 25th of 

 September. It was the day of their annual Agri- 

 cultural Festival. A clear sun and cool, bracing 

 atmosphere si icecded the rain storm of a day or 

 two previous, and made the weather as inviting as 

 any could desire. It seemed to us that a large 

 proportion of the population of the surrounding 

 towns was in the city. Their faces were beam- 

 ing with smiles, and their hearts were undoubtedly 

 bounding with joy, as they came up, throng after 

 throng, lo the Great Festival of the Farmer. Sa- 

 lem itself, with its old associations, its fine build- 

 ings, and highly cultivated gardens, is well worth 

 a visit from the man of taste and leisure. 



The first business of the Agricultural Society, 

 was the trial of Working Oxen, which took place 

 in Lafayette Street. There were several pairs ol 

 very fine cattle in the contest, vvliose movements 

 indicated great strength, combined with good dis- 

 cipline. In this part of the exercises there seems 

 to have been much interest manifested, this year, 

 at all the shows, by the unusual crowds of people 

 that have assembled to witness the several trials. 

 The farmer finds an honest pride in testing the 

 skill and strength of the team which he has reared 

 with unceasing attention and care; while others 

 are gratified in beholding the docility and power 

 of the sleek and bulky animals themselves. 



The Ploughing Match took place on a level and 

 beautiful field at South Salem. The lands were 

 laid out with accuracy, and there was certainly a 

 "fair field" for competition. Seven double teams, 

 and some ten or fifteen others, such as a single pair 

 of oxen, and pair of oxen and a horse, were en- 

 tered. Around the grounds laid out were hundreds 

 of men, skilful with the team and the plough, and 

 among them all, we heard but an unanimous voice 

 that the work was performed with ease, with 

 suflicient despatch, and according to the best rules 



of the art. The premiums awarded to competitors 

 with double teams were, 1st, to David S. Caldwell, 

 ofByfield, $10, plough used, Ruggles & Co.'s 

 Eagle, No. 20; 2d, Nathan Tapley, of Danvers, 

 $8, Ruggles Plough, No. 72; 3d, J. L. Hubbard, 

 ofByfield, $6, Prouty & Co.'s Centre draught. 

 No. 72; 4th, J. Washburn, of Lynn, $5, Ruggles 

 Eagle, No. 72; 5lh, J. Fainum, of Andover, $4, 

 Prouty's Centre draught. No. 72. 



The Show of Cattle in the Pens was no disgrace 

 to the county, neither was it in numbers anything 

 like what the farmers of Essex can produce. It 

 is a feature in most of our exhibitions in the State, 

 that we regret to see gaining gi'ound. All persons 

 are interested in viewing fine cattle; and no other 

 ojjportunity throughout the year is offered, so good 

 as this, for placing all the various breeds side by 

 side, where a fair contrast is afforded, and where 

 all their good and bad points may be examined and 

 commented upon. Beside, no other one thing in 

 the exhibition shows the wealth of the farmer and 

 his efforts in improvement, so much as a good dis- 

 play of milch cows, and young and fat cattle. We 

 therefore hope that more attention will be paid in 

 presenting a larger number of the best cattle of 

 all kinds that may be found in the several counties. 

 This subject was alluded to by the president of the 

 society in his opening remarks at the dinner table, 

 and urged upon the attention of his hearers. 



We can only allude to the stallions, there being 

 six or eight presented, the breeding mares and 

 colts, all of which indicated considerable attention 

 to improvement in the breeds of horses. The 

 poultry was of the various kinds of all nations, 

 now scattered as it were broadcast throughout the 

 land. There were also four hives of bees and 

 honey. 



There was a large gathering at the dinner table. 

 The Hon. J. W. Proctor, President of the socie- 

 ty, presided. After the physical man had been sup- 

 plied, the president made a brief and pertinent ad- 

 dress — then introduced his Excellency the Gover- 

 nor, and gave as a toast, 



"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts — She de- 

 lights to honor those who have been faithful in hex 

 service, and adopts as her motto, 'By their works 

 ye may know them.' " 



Governor Boutwell then said. He had no 

 claims to be called a farmer, — he could say nothing 

 to practical men in relation to agriculture, but be- 

 lieved that of all the great interests of this land, 

 agriculture is the most important. That great as 

 were the interests involved in manufactures and 

 in the mechanic arts, we must turn to agriculture 

 as the primary of human pursuits. He said that 

 the practice had been too much in Massachusetts 

 to regard the dignity of agriculture as a sentiment. 

 Our young men engage in commercial pursuits 

 where seventy-five in one hundred fail, or embark 

 in hazardous enterprises, either at home or in fo- 



