108 



THEFARMER'S M ON T H L Y V I S I T O R 



July, 1842. 



all tlie misioitUMi; in \\»y of loss that may belall 

 tlu-in. 



Aiiorhpi- inciili-iit 1« cmipiilly relate'l, which is 

 more reniark.ililc ilmri •■itln;r of ll]esc,nii(l whii;h 

 shows foicihiv liinv ta-iiy llie inaraiiiliiig rancli- 

 ei'os niiiy lie irri ilieil nvIh'ii travellers have nerve 

 to deleiid iliiiiiselves. Thev are off like smoke 

 at the first iiiiiiiilesiatiDiis uf real danger, and no 

 man ^vltll ■> |iariii-lc ot' (•(iiirn<re about him need 

 ever fear lliem. A solitary Frenchman was once 

 travelling; alone in the diligence from Puchla to 

 Mexico, with some five or six hmidred dollars in 

 S|iecio, which he re>oivfd to defend as long as 

 lie had litis. He cariied w'w'n him the hest douh- 

 le-harrelled afim he could find, and liad catridges 

 made to fit his piece, each containinii a full 

 chariTe of hiickshot, which he determined the 

 rohhers slionld pocket helore tliev should get at 

 his gold. 



Soiiiewhero ahoiit midnight, when the moon 

 was kindling into hiirniiig silver the ice-encrust- 

 ed siiles of the mountain, the driver of the dili- 

 gence suddenly iliscovered, upon turning a l)end 



yards in advaiici-. 'llie solitary traveller was 



hate 



llie fict, and the ahtri 

 is horses at on<-e. Tin 



eil driver piillt 



Frenchman asked if it was not possilile to se- 

 crete his iiuiiiey in the diligeii<-e, hut the tremh- 

 ling driver gave aiisucr in the negative. At once 

 jireparing liiniselt' fur war, the Frenchman swore 

 they should not get liis nioni'V witlmiit .-i fight, 

 and he was soon rciidy for action. lioth hariels 

 of his gun were loaded, and lie coolly drew his 

 ramrod and held it lietweeii his fingers, while he 

 took two more caiiiilL'es tioin his hell and |daced 



in reloachiii;-. 'J'lieii cocking his pieic, and .see- 

 ing that the rolilieis were not iidvancing, he com- 

 manded the cow.'irdly driver to resume his seat, 

 and the diligence .>-l(iuly proceeded. Calm us a 

 liloek of stone he .nvaited the event. When 

 within a few p:ices of ll\e rascals, who were teti 

 ill iininher, nine on horseback and one afoot, the 

 driver w.is connnanded by the robbers to stop, 

 and he did so. 



One of the freebooters tlien came to the side 

 of the diliL'ence, deliberately opened the door 

 and ordered the pas-seiiger out. But the muzzle 

 of a gun was at the robber's breast, and the in- 

 slanianeoiis reply he recei\ed was a charge ot 

 buckshot in his heart! A wild shriek sprang op 

 fearfully, and started away in the moonlight 

 among (lie mountain echoes, as the freebooter 

 j;ave a convulsive death hound, and fell Ktonc 

 dead on the road ! 



The brave Frenchman had another catridge in 

 the ilischarged barrel instantly, and the same pre- 

 liiiunaries were observed as before lor quick re- 

 loading. Had the whole ten men beset the door 

 of the vehicle, the Frenchman would have shot 

 down every one of them. They possibly may 

 liHve had some vamie tiotion of that fact for in 

 thirty seconds atier the robber fell there was not 

 one of the other nine in siLdit, atid our solitary 

 hero in the diligence reserved his remaining nine 

 fires and preserved his cold. 



not be got from books alone in a year. So too 

 as it respects machinery and inoilels. Nothing 

 will do so much towards introducing among us 

 the best implements, and towards improving 

 those which we iilreatly have in use, as an actual 

 observation of the varieties, which have already 

 been produced and used, and the improvements 

 already made; and it is reasoiuddc to think that 

 , the meduuiics of the coniiliy and the iinentors 

 ' of useful machines, w ill gladly enihrace the fa- 

 ble 0|pportiiiiiiy, whicli would he thus pre- 



As ;m illustration of iIm; benefits to lliriiieis of 

 preserving specimens of agiicuhural products— 

 the editor tells us that in Lawson's celebrated 



Agricultural Aliise of Edinburgh, I'ounded 



by individual enterprise, they show more than 

 eighty distinct varieties of wheal, twenty varieties 

 of bailey, and thiny-six of oals, together with 

 many varieties of i\e, millet, maize, leguminous 

 plant.s, such as beans and pease, and dried speci- 

 mens of many difleicnt glasses and other pi ints. 

 Now it is easy to see what extraordinary benefits 

 the agriculturist would derive from seeing these 

 vaiieties and being able to compare them with 

 each other; or even from a mere collection of 

 he weed.s in the state, which are pernicious to 

 ultivation. — Boston Evening; Journut. 



Agrici;lti;ral Museum. — We learn from 

 late number of the Genesee Farmer, that it is 

 lirotiosed to establish in Rochester, an Airriciiltn- 

 ral Museum, which may presently grow into a 

 Mii.seiim ol Natural History. With this view, .a 

 ineiiioi-iid has been presented to the Legislature 

 of the State, who have at their disposal speci- 

 mens of all the gi'ological foniuitions, fossil re- 

 mains, minerals, anil soils in the State, in the 

 hope that ihey svill eft" ctnally aid this patriotic 

 object by fiiinisliiii^ from their duplicates a com- 

 plete .set, and likewise that they will add to these, 

 botanical specimens, and likewise the hooks 

 plates, and maps connected with the geology am 

 topography of the State .iiid published by thei 

 nuthorily. This museum is to he considered as 

 the property of Western New York. 



This is a project worthy of every 

 ment— uud wo wish that the suggestion would 

 attract atieiitioii in oilier States— and that everv 

 state in the Union, would esrahlish and foster an 

 Agricultural Miiseniii. We aunee with the editor 

 of the Farmer tiKit to the agricultural communi- 

 ty, such an iustitiiii,,,! would hrinuriminense ben- 

 efits. That kiiowleiLr,; „|- minerals, soils and 

 l>l.itits, can be obtained in „ ,|iiy from an actual 

 inspection of the thinjfs themselves, which could 



The tallest Kye yf.t. — As the season ad- 

 vances when rye has gained its full growth upon 

 our mountains, we continue to stretidi up in our 

 accounts id' tall rye. New Huinpshire will stanii 

 heliind no other State: 



I tllnt if it had been 

 le Its Icnath would 

 ned as found wet^t ( 

 ul of beint; rul :ibo 



HUl. Juhj U, ISie. 

 th a BUjijestion hi the 

 1 send .1 stalk of rye which was 

 lie in this tnwa iibi'iut first of the 

 iurcs S I'cet 2 inches, and I doubt 

 ilfered to ltow until the present 

 <ve exceeded the one you men- 

 the Allc'rhnny. es|ieciallv if in- 

 the yrou-id the rout had been 



preserved The tield from which it w.ia tilien contai 

 about three acres; the rye is quite thick and pretty u 

 form in height aver.iginV about six feet. 

 Kespectfully youra. 



C. W. SUMNER 



Hill is on the west side of the Merrimack, 

 twenty-five miles above Concord. 



With the ■•ibove we hud the stalk enclosed in a 

 letter measming to the full extent: the head 

 showed that the stalk had not atlaini'd to its full 

 growth, i^leasiiriiig the root, and !<laiiding the 

 lidl liine,tliis stalk of rve mi;;ht have been made 

 to exceed ei>:lit feet and a half in length ! 



ASOTHF.R TALL STALK OF RyE ! Mr. JoH.^ 



B. Tasker, of F.ast Northwood, twentv inile; 

 easterly from Concord towards Portsniou'th, in at 

 the Suncook heights, by the staire of Monday 

 sends us a stalk of rye, measuring over tin 

 joint above the roots, ei^lU feel three inches and c 

 half; and another falling short only about two 

 iiKdies. We .says "the field from which these 

 were taken contiiius four acres, which will avt 

 age seven feet! Foi-ty .separate stalks lia 

 been taken from one kernel." 



"Hay. — Much grass has l>cen cut the past week,,nnd 

 the prfispect ol" a pood crop wis never more promtsil 

 Tlie stalks of some grsss are almost like c.ane-poles. 

 noticed last week some herds grass in Str.itham five feel 

 in lieight j we iiave this week seen some from the field of 

 Mr Reuben L Lane, in Newins;ton, measurini; five and a 

 half feet. — Portsmouth Journal. 



Haying commenced in this vicinity upon thi 

 intervales generidiv not until Monday of thi 

 week (July 18.) 'I'he ol 1 fields upon the hills, ii 

 ilie towns iiinnd about ns, it is said, will not givi 

 as large a crop as last yeai-. The usual amount 

 of hay will he lessened in quantity much on ( 

 ccunt of the almost universal Ijiilureof the hei 

 grass and clover sowed with the small gi'nin 

 the spring of the two last years. We think 

 much more sure method will be the ."sowing of 

 glass seed in the fall. Maj. Hutchins of this tow- 

 has a fine field of henis grass no%v growin 

 where he niised luilian corn last year; and w 

 have an acre ami a half of good grass where soi 

 rel grew last year, that was ploughed late in tli 

 hill and the seed sow n in December last. 



At the fi)ot of the declivity of the pine plain 

 on the east side of the Merrini.ick rivtr in this 

 town where the spring freshet had washed dow 

 abundance of sand covering several square rods 

 and preveniiiiij the growth of the grass, near the 

 edge we fiintid herds grass standing full five feet 

 high, one single head of which, now l>efoii 



neasiires, in the cjit-tail part, twelve inches iin'l 

 a quarter in length. We have no where seen 

 land more fertile tlam that which has been made 

 in the course of time hy the washing down of 

 the soil of the surhice aiicl underlaying the pine 

 plains upon the river — fnrnishiiig to us new proof, 

 if any were wanting, that the elements of fertil- 

 ity every where exist underneath, and that the 

 liuiner has only to plough anil di^'' deep with the 

 use of iiKUiiires to make most productive fields 

 of what has often been treated as almost useless 

 waste lands. 



MERRIMVCK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIE- 

 TY. 

 At a meeting of the Directors of the Merrinnck Agri- 

 cultural Society, held a::ieeal>ly to previous notice, at 

 scawen. Monday, July Ilth, 



Hill. Concord, tl'hair- 

 innibal Haines, Canter- 



rd the premiums on all 



le urowing in the fi'-ld. 



Voter, That all applications for premiums on farms. 



Gardens and C'rops, be made to the Secretary. Treasurer 



or some member of llie ' 



the25th(iay of Julv. 1812. 



Voted, The following pri 



For the best Farm, Jfi.O 



Sd " 5.0 



3d •• ■l.tJi 



4th " 3.0 



Best Garden, 3,0 



2d " 2,0 



3;1 " 1.3 



4ih " 1,0 



Best acre of Wheat, 3,0 



3d 



3d " " l.-W 



4th " " 1.00 



Best acre of Potatoes, 2 00 



3d 



4th " 



5est pair of ."! year old 

 Steers, .iccustoined to 

 the yoke 2.00 



2d •• " 1,00 



Jest pair of 2 year old 

 Steers 2,00 



2d " " 100 



Jest pair of Yearlings 2.00 



Best Bull I year old and 

 nnwards 3 



2d " " 2 



Bc-t milch Cow wither 

 without her calf 3 



.31 " " T 



Best 3 vear old Heifer 2 



'id ■ " " 1 



Best 2 year old Heifer i 



breeding Marc, 



Best 



with hei 



2d 

 Best <:olt 



der 4 years 



6 of the best Merino or 



lbs. 



' committee, on or belore 



msfortho year 1842. 

 3d " '• 2,no 



4th " " 1.00 



5lh '■• 1 vol. Monthly 



Visitor 

 Gth " " " 



Sestspi 

 not Ic 



men of Cheese 



than 20 lbs. 3.00 



2.00 



1,00 



1 " 1 vol. Monthly 



Visitor 



specimen cf needle 



Best specimen of carpet 

 ing not less than 2( 

 yar<ls, nor less than i 



Best r 



■ide 3,00 



" 2.00 



1 .00 



Blankets 2.0O 



2d " .. i;.50 



3d " " 1,00 



Best piece Linen not 



less than 10 yards 1,50 



2d •■ " 1,00 



Best pair woollen Hose 75 



Best piece of Flannel 



Visitor 



Best couu 



coverlet 



an 10 yards 2,00 



1,60 



vol. Monthly 



irpane and 



1,C0 



Best Boots and Shoes 1 

 pair each 1,50 



2 of the best sides of up- 

 per Leather manufac- 

 tured ill the county 1.50 



2 best Calf .Skins " 1,00 



Best specimeu of sew- 

 ing silk and twist 1,00 

 2d •' '• 75 



Best Hearth Rug 1,00 



"■ • 75 



Articles of special 



2.50 provement ' 8.00 



t award any premiums on any 



articles, eihihited unless they deem them worthy of one 



Voted, To adjourn to meet at dncnrd the 20th day of 



next September, at one of the clock, P. M. at the house 



of Mrs. West. 



JEREMIAH Kl.MBALL, Secretary. 

 Boscawen, July 1 1th. 1S42. 



Wtster.v Flour. — The freight train on the 

 Western railroad on Thtirsday July 7th, consist- 

 ed of twentv-five lonj; eight wheeled passenger 

 c:iiP, loaded with 1000 barrels of flour; it came 

 that day through from Grceiihush, N. Y. to Wor- 

 cester, Ms., a di.slatice of L55 miles. How A-on- 

 dei'fiil is this patisage of freight in a single day. 



