1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



399 



stew them sIoav, and when done, put in a piece of 

 good butter, and oat tliem like apple sauce. 



To preserve them in imitation of figs, to which 

 they probably are equal, cut them in slices, lay 

 them in a stone pot with alternate layers of good 

 brown sugar. Supposing the method of raising 

 them to be generally understcxid, it is probably not 

 necessary to describe it here. j. b. e. 



Vt. Insane Asylum^ 



ERUPTION OF MANUA LOA, FEB. 

 20, 1852. 



In the Sandwicli Island Polynesian, we find the 

 following description of an eruption, which formed 

 the subject of a poem which is too long for our 

 columns. — 



The eruption, of whicli the following poem is a 

 truthful and vivid delineation, is still fresh in the 

 recollection of the residents of the islands. Nev- 

 er, perhaps, in the history of the volcanic phe- 

 nomena of Hawaii, has such a startling eruption 

 occurred, as the one so graphically described in 

 this wild lyric. The scene was unique, grand, 

 sublime, awful, terrific ! No language — no pencil 

 can paint it in adequate colors. To be realized, 

 it must iiavo been seen and/e/^ ; and for tliis, the 

 author of the poem had the most ample opportuni 

 tj, having not only watched its ragir.g actions for 

 twenty days, but having also ascended the thun 

 dering mountain, and stood one whole night in 

 close proximity to its consuming fires. 



The eruption commenced just before day-break 

 Hunters on the hills in that vicinity say that they 

 heard subterranean rumblings, and felt a quiver 

 iog of the mountain during the night preceding 

 the eruption, as described in the poem. 



When the mountain rent, a column of molten 

 rocks, fused to a white heat, and some 2,000 feet 

 in circumference, shot up from 500 to 1,000 feet 

 heavenward, and this fiery column continued its 

 ever-varying and fantastic play for twenty days 



The noises and detonations were as varied and 

 startling as can be well conceived. At times, the 

 roar was heard at a distance of 40 or 50 miles. 

 The atmosphere was filled with smoke and Pcle's 

 hair, ashes and cinders were scattered wildly over 

 the mountain and over the sea. Day after day 

 the sun shed a yellow and baleful light through 

 the dark clouds of smoke which careered along the 

 heavens. Along the rim of the exploding vortex, 

 a hollow pryamid, one mile in circumference, and 

 five hundred feet high, was soon raised by the in- 

 cessant falling of the matter expelled from the 

 burning orifice. As the descendingshowers of fu- 

 sion fell upon this pyramid, it presented an ever- 

 changing scene, more glowing than the most vivid 

 imagination can paint, and more dazzling than 

 showers of countless briUiants. 



From this awful fountain, a burning river rolled 

 down the slope of the mountain towards Ililo, 

 with a breadtli varying from half a mile to three 

 miles, and a supposed length — including its wind- 

 ings, — of from 39 to 40 miles, entering, and cut- 

 ting its way nearly through a dense forest in the 

 rear of Ililo. But the fountain ceased to flow be- 

 fore the molten river reached the sea, yet for 

 months after, smoke issued from the orifice, and 

 the congealed river now remains as a witness to 

 the mighty throes of the vast mountain, under the 

 olcanic influence. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 IMPORTANT QUERY. 



Mr. Editor: — As you gentlemen of the quill, 

 arc supposed to know everything, I wish you 

 would tell me what is the best way to do with five 

 acres of potatoes, so diseased, as to smell offen- 

 sively, and to be not worth digging "! Ten days 

 ago, the field bid fair to yield 800 bushels — now 

 they are not worth picking up. How will it do 

 to plow the land and turn them in, covered with 

 the furrow slice 1 AVill they be of any value as 

 a fertilizer 1 Or are they too much poisoned for 

 that! I want them out of sight and smell — and 

 I fear that many of my neigiibors are in the same 

 boat. Can you tell me what is best to be done ? 



Marbkhcad, August 16, 1853. Essex. 



N. B. — Our cabbages look first rate. Our on- 

 ions are blighting som<3, so that there will not be 

 more than two-thirds as many as we expected. 

 Corn never appeared more promising. There will 

 be plenty of second crop. 



Remarks. — Deficient, sadly deficient, ray dear 

 sir, in the information you desire. A field of our 

 own, three years ago, in the condition you de- 

 scribe, was abandoned, but on trying some of the 

 hills in October, fiiir and sound potatoes were 

 found, and some thirty bushels dug. IIovv came 

 they there? The rotten potatoes can be of but 

 little value as a fertilizer. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 HOW TO CURE WARTS, 



Mr. Editor : — Reading in the Farmer a commu- 

 nication of inquiry for the cure of Warts on the 

 teats of cows, I relate the following for what it is 

 worth : 



Some two years ago I was very much troubled 

 with an aliundance of warts on my hands, and to 

 rid myself of them, tried, as I thought, all the rem- 

 edies, — such ^s lunar caustic, turpentine, salera- 

 tus water, and the juice of milk weed, &o., without 

 a cure. 



Now every farmer knows that the shell of our 

 walnuts or butternuts (for I used both) contains a 

 juice which acts in the character of caustic ; we 

 call it stain. 



I observed that fact,and took the benefit of it to 

 kill my warts, which I most certainly did. It -fras 

 an experiment that proved well with me and I have 

 no other desire in this communication, than that 

 others should try the experiment so simple and ea- 

 sily obtained. If any one should see fit to try it, I 

 hope he will tell the results for the information of 

 all* Yours, &c., A Subscrider. 



Southbridge, July 31, 1853. 



Prospects of the Season. — The prospects of 

 the season continue favorable, with the exception 

 of the potatoe crop. The rot is certainly among 

 them, and many are already lost. Copious rains 

 fell during the fourteenth and fifteenth days of 

 August, washing out the air and giving us a clear 

 and delightful atmosphere after the sultry, hot 

 days which preceded them. The lightning was 

 intensely vivid, and the clouds were charged in an 



