1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



241 





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BRUSH SEED SOWER. 



The raising of roots for feeding stock, as well as 

 for culinary purposes, is becoming quite coiumon 

 with most farmers. This we are glad to perceive, 

 and shall endeavor to afford such suggestions from 

 time to time as will enable the cultivator to pro- 

 duce root crops at a less cost than he has been 

 able to heretofore. Sowing small seeds by the 

 hand is an exceedingly slow, fatiguing operation. 

 It is necessary to stoop in order to drop the seed 

 into the drill, or it is liable to be blown away by 

 the wind. Then the process of covering is slow 

 and uncertain. But with a good machine one may 

 sow and cover an acre in a few hours, and so even- 

 ly, both as to distance and depth, that if the seed 

 is good, scarcely one shall fail to come up, and 

 come in the right place. 



We have in use a machine like the one repre- 

 sented above, and find it portable, easily kept in 

 order, and certain in its work. Well, that is all 

 which is desired of it as a seed sower. But we will 

 venture to suggest to the enterprising manufac- 

 turers, Ruggles, Nourse, Mason 4" Co., whether 

 they cannot so a'rrange them as to unship the sow- 

 ing and covering part, and in its place supply 

 works to weed and cultivate the crop with less than 

 one-half the labor that is now required to do it by 

 the hand. We believe this may be done so as to 

 make the frame work answer both purposes well. 



The Bee Moth. — Such of our readers as are en- 

 gaged in the bee culture will be glad to learn that 

 a remedy has been discovered which effectually 

 prevents the ravages of the bee moth. The fre- 

 quent and serious injury caused by this pestiferous 

 insect has deterred many persons from entering 

 into the business of raising bees, more especially 

 as in some localities the ravages have been so 

 great as nearly to destroy both bees and honey. 

 The plan is this : Split joints of cane through the 

 centre and arrange them on the four sides of the 

 hive, with the split side resting on the platform. 

 The moth, instead of depositing its eggs under the 



edge of the hive, will lay them under the split 

 cane. From these depositories they may be re- 

 moved and destroyed as often as necessary with 

 little trouble. A friend informs us that he knows 

 the plan has been tried and found entirely success- 

 ful. — Mobile Tribune. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 MODEL FARMS, &0. 



In what manner can the State beneficially 

 aid the farmer 1 



This inquiry lies at the foundation of all our ac- 

 tion. During the discussions of the present sea- 

 son, there has been an endeavor to avoid the in- 

 troduction of this topic ; and to direct the atten- 

 tion to subjects of a practical character. This has 

 been done, because we would not presume to dic- 

 tate to the powers that be ; and would willingly 

 leave to those in authority, the determination of 

 these matters. It was long ago said with empha- 

 sis, that "a cat might look upon a king"— -much 

 more then, may the people make suggestions to 

 their rulers ; who are the rulers — but the people 

 themselves 1— for who does a thing by another, is 

 himself responsible therefor. 



Educational Schools and Model Farms first oc- 

 cur to the mind, when this inquiry is made. With- 

 out doubt, much might be done, in both these 

 ways. Much has been done, in other countries, 

 by the establishment of schools, for the education 

 of the young farmer — and we have the benefit of 

 their examples. If there could be any assurance 

 that those thus educated bore would continue to 

 apply their improved energies to the labors of 

 the flirm, there would be some encouragement to 

 give this instiJ-uction. But in this land of freedom 

 and of enterprise, where every one is his own mas- 

 ter, — three chances out of four, as soon as the 

 boy is well prepared to take the superintendence 

 of a farm, he will be off, about something else ; 

 and it will not be, until all his visionary plans of 

 advancement have been foiled, and his own physi- 

 cal energies spoiled, that he will learn that it 

 would have been better for him to have applied 

 himself constantly upon the farm. Many_ learn 

 this lesson, when it is too late to profit by it. It 

 is too common for boys of enterprise, to think that 

 the drudgery of a farm is not suited for them ; 



