478 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



ered, to the extent of many square yards, by a 

 minute, compact, green turf, formed of an 

 imperceptible moss, the Phaseum axillare, the 

 stalks of which were so close to each other, that 

 upon a square inch of this new soil, might be count- 

 ed more than five thousand individuals of this mi- 

 nute plant, which had never previously been ob- 

 served in this country. 



These circumstances are singular, and furnish a 

 vast field of speculation for the natural philoso- 

 pher. — Boston Journal. 



For the Neiv England Farmer. 

 MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Mr. Editor: — I am very glad to see that through 

 the columns of your valuable worthy Farmer, 

 there has been aroused a spirit of inquiry upon a 

 subject which involves much interest and deep cu- 

 riosity in the result ; and which is still enshrouded 

 in mystery and doubt; I refer to the "migration of 

 the swallows." The precise time of their final de- 

 parture for the winter months is still a matter of 

 discussion, and one which I hope your observing 

 correspondents will continue to examine and dis- 

 cuss until the subject has received all the testimo- 

 ny necessary to entitle it to a verdict. Much he- 

 reditary opinion is still indulged and received, up- 

 on such subjects, where facts and truth should be 

 established; and it seems, to my view of the sub- 

 ject that a direct, easy and efficacious way of ob- 

 taining this testimony may be accomplished by 

 enlisting the interest and action of careful and 

 attentive observers in different sections of New 

 England, who will faithfully note the first appear- 

 ance of the swallow in the spring, and particularly 

 whether seen singly, in pairs, or in flocks, at what 

 time they build their nests — and be particular in 

 noticing their annual conference, or congregating 

 in mass meeting, as if deliberating upon, and ma- 

 turing their arrangements preliminary to going in- 

 to winter quarters — and state definitely the day of 

 the month and the time of the day vfma last seen 

 in autumn. When these points are clearly eluci- 

 dated, it will open an interesting field for discus- 

 sion among naturalists, whether the swallow is in 

 reality a migratory bird, and the evidence which 

 may be elicited from so many sources upon the 

 points above • referred to, will furnish some relia- 

 ble points for argument in examining the last pro- 

 position, but as this question is still in reserve, I 

 will forbear any further remarks until this field is 

 opened. With much respect yours, &c., 



Springfield, Sept., 1853. F. b. 



Destroying Trees. — A thriving farmer, who had 

 just discovered the loss of a hundred newly trans- 

 planted peach trees by the mice, said to the nur- 

 seryman who furnished them, "This is a hard loss 

 for me, but it will help you nurserymeji /" A late 

 paper of high character utters a similar opinion, 

 when describing the losses of young trees by bad 

 pruning and other mismanagement — "no wonder 

 that the business of nurserymen is continuous and 

 thriving!" Nothing can be more erroneous. The 

 great increase in the nursery business is owing, not 

 to continued failures by purchasers, but to the im- 

 proved cultivation which the trees of late years re- 

 ceive, giving promise of a full remuneration for the 

 outlay. How many men would continue to buy 

 and plant trees, only to lose them? How long 



would farmers continue to raise wheat, if no crop 

 was ever yielded? How many gardiners would 

 patronize the seed stores, if the seedsman should 

 bake and destroy the vitality of all that he sold, as 

 we have heard of being done in certain places in 

 the old world 1 No man will expend his money 

 without a promise of a return, and it is therefore 

 the nurseryman's highest interest to assist as 

 much as practicable in promoting the successful 

 management of the trees he furnishes. — The Coun- 

 try Gentleman. 



LIST OP STATE FAIRS IN 1853. 



Vermont, Montpelier September 13, 14, 15. 



Kentucky, Lexington September 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 



New York, Saratoga September 2n, 21, 22, 23. 



Ohio, Dayton ' September 20, 21, 22, 23. 



Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh September 27, 28, 29, 30. 



Michigan, Detroit September 28, 29, 30. 



Wisconsin, Watertown October 4, 5, 6, 7. 



New Hampshire, Manchester October 5, 6,7. 



Indiana, LHfayette October 11, 12, 13, 14. 



Illinois, Springfield October 11, 12, 13, 14. 



North Carolina, Raleigh , October 18. 



Maryland, October 25, 26, 27, 28. 



Virginia, Richmond November 1, 2 3. 



Lower Canada September 27 to 30. 



Upper Canada October 5 to 7. " 



Southern Central Ag. Society, Augusta, Geo Oct. 17 to 20 



Agricultural Exuibitions in Massachusetts 

 FOR 1853. 



Worcester County Society September 21, 52. 



Norfolk County Foeiety September 27, 2S. 



Essex County Society September 28, 29. 



Housatonic Society September 28, 29. 



Worcester West County Society September 30. 



Bristol County Society October 4, 5. 



Middlesex County Society October 4, 5. 



Berkshire County Society October 5, 6. 



Plymouth County Society October 6. 



Franklin County Society October 6, 7. 



Barnstable County Society October 7. 



Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Society Oct. 11, 12. 



Hampden County Society .'..October 13, 14. 



Hampshire County Society .- October 26. 



For the Nexu England Farmer. 

 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 



Your June number I think contained useful re- 

 marks on Cruelty to Animals, and I take the lib- 

 erty of sending you a copy of a school lesson on 

 that important subject. R. m. 



Canada East. 



ON CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 

 A man of kindness to his beast is kind. 

 But brutal actions show a brutal mind. 

 Remember — He who made thee made the brute ; 

 Who gave thee speech and reason, form'd him mute ; 

 He can't complain, but God's all seeing eye 

 Beholds thy cruelty— he hears his cry ; 

 He was designed thy servant and thy drudge, 

 But know — that his Creator is thy Judge ! 



The Southern Agriculturist. — Ifthepeople of 

 South Carolina would take hold and give this pa- 

 per a list of 20,000 paying subscribers, they would 

 do themselves a great service. It is published at 

 Laurensville, and is among the handsomest and 

 best papers we receive. 



