1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



227 



tained in almost every part, for 12^ cents per bush 

 el. The mode of applying it, is by sowing it broad 

 cast. The amount thus applied, varies from 75 to 

 100 bushels to the acre. Land thus dressed, at an 

 expense of from $12 to 15 per acre, I am told, 

 will produce good crops, without any additional 

 dressing, for ten years. 



In many portions of the State, I am informed, 

 the price of laud has advanced fifty per cent, with- 

 in five years. New England farmers manure for 

 corn. The Maryland farmer manures for wheat, 

 and leaves his corn crop to take care of itself. 

 Corn is planted upon the lightest soil and receives 

 the least attention. The land is imperfectly plowed, 

 and after planting, the corn receives very little at- 

 tention, except tliat a shovel plow is passed be- 

 tween the rows two or three times. 



With such attention, corn could not be raised 

 in New England at all. I am by no means cer- 

 tain, however, that the labor we bestow upon this 

 crop would not pay well here. Where 25 or 30 

 bushels are harvested now, I believe, witli proper 

 cultivation, 50 might be secured. It was early in- 

 stilled into my mind, as an agricultural tenet, that 

 "corn cannot be cheated." Two bushels of corn 

 may be raised here, at less expense than one, on 

 the best corn lands in Massachusetts. The same 

 I think is true of many other crops, so that if the 

 farmer wishes to make money, and nothing else, 

 he will do well to leave Massachusetts and come 

 to Maryland. 



I visited a few days since, the celebrated farm 

 of Mr. George Patterson, of Carrol County. Tru 

 ly, that is a farm as is a farm. The tract contains 

 seventeen hundred acres, all in one body, lying 

 nearly in the form of a square. The surface is 

 gently undulating, nowhere too abruptly hilly, nor 

 too level. On the whole tract there is very little, 

 if any waste land. 



The mansion, which is an imposing structure for 

 a farm-house, and so located as to produce a most 

 pleasing effect upon the beholder, occupies an em- 

 inence in a central position, overlooking nearly the 

 whole territory. The landscape is beautifully di- 

 versified with hills and dales, cultivated fields and 

 forests. In the season of foliage, the scenery must 

 be enchanting. There needs but a castle, with a 

 high tower, a moat and a draw bridge, to give it 

 the air of a baronial estate. But in the absence 

 of these lunar fardels, for which feudal lords were 

 wont, whilom, to fight and bleed, the lowing herds 

 of cattle, the bleating flocks of sheep, the pranc- 

 ing steeds, the grunting swine, and the cackling 

 fowls, indicate "the piping time of peace;" that 

 the sword has given place to the plowshare, that 

 rural and civic duties have succeeded to the reign 

 of Mars and Bellona. 



A beautiful rivulet divides the farm, which is 

 made to pay tribute in the way of converting the 

 proprietor's grain into flour. 



Thoroughness is a prominent characteristic in 

 every department. The adage, what is worth do- 

 ing at all, is worth doing well, seems to be a ruling 

 principle of action. The fences are a great curi- 

 osity. As far as I saw, they were all made of 

 chestnut and oak rails, about ten feet in length, 

 laid up Virginia fashion, from ten to twelve rails 

 in heiglit, with a pair of stakes at each corner. 

 The proprietor has learned, from poor Richard, or 

 from some other source, that an ounce of preven- 

 tion is better than a pound of cure. "Twould be 



well for all farmers to learn and practice the same 

 lesson. With such fences, there would be no 

 breachy cattle, and consequently no losses from 

 their depredations. 



The barns are neatly and substantially built, and 

 most of them after the same model ; being 30 feet 

 by 18, and wholly devoted to hay and grain. 



But that is a small barn, says the New England 

 farmer. Very true. But what there lacks in size, 

 may be made up in number. The barns are all 

 numbered, and I saw No. 47, and was told there 

 were 50 in all, on the farm. Of this number, sev- 

 eral are devoted to the sheltering of stock ; for in- 

 stance, one to milch cows, one to working oxen, 

 one to horses, one to sheep, and so on. These are 

 much larger and specially adapted to the purposes 

 for which they are used. 



No man has done more for the introduction of 

 good stock and improvement in the breeds of cat- 

 tle, in this country, than Mr. Patterson. lie has 

 spared neither pains nor expense. He seems to till 

 the earth as I think every man should, not solely 

 for the purpose of extracting wealth therefrom, 

 but con amove, — for the sake of beautifying it, — 

 for the sake of developing and perfecting its re- 

 sources, — for the sake of multiplying luxuries and 

 increasing the comforts of human society. He has 

 devoted to his work intelligence, the results of ex- 

 tensive and accurate observation, together with the 

 triumphs of science and art. He is now reaping a 

 rich reward. 



Of his stock, the nature of his soil, and his meth 

 od of cultivation, I may write hereafter. 



Yours, R. B. H. 



Reuarks. — Please to do so — and fill out the 

 above initials, so that we may know to whom we 

 are indebted for such lucid and interesting descrip- 

 tions. 



For the New England Farmer, 



TRANSPLANTING. 



Mr. Editor : — Sir, — As you are very good to 

 give advice and counsel to the needy, through the 

 columns of your paper, 1 beg leave to propose 

 tvpo or three questions. I wish you to tell me 

 what to do to cherry trees, to have them bear good 

 sound fruit and prevent them from being wormy ? 

 Also, the best month in the year to set out fruit 

 and shade trees, viz : Maple, Elm and Spruce! In 

 so doing, you will confer a favor upon a constant 

 reader of the New England Farmer. 



Deerfield, March 25, 1853. G. W. Mann. 



Remarks. — Keep your cherry trees healthy and 

 vigorous by manure and cultivation, and keep in- 

 sects from stinging the fruit if you can. 



Set your trees as early in the month of April as 

 the frost will permit. Directions how to do it were 

 given in the Weekly Fariner of March 26. Do not 

 let the sun shine or the wind blow on the roots of 

 the evergreens a moment. Keep them covered 

 with earth, wet moss, matting, or something of 

 the kind, till the moment they are set back into 

 the ground. 



Eggs. — Mr. Edward Aborn, of Providence, R. 

 I., has sent us three eggs, laid by one of hiq 



