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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



tant, it will far overbalance these objections, ad- 

 mitting that they are valid, v?hich we are not in- 

 clined to do. 



We believe the atmosphere to be the great store- 

 house of fertilizers, and ready at all times to im- 

 part them to such spots of the earth as are ready 

 to receive them. If the surface is smooth, hard 

 and crusty, it cannot catch the gases as they pass, 

 or imbibe the dews and rain water with their rich 

 ammonia ; they pass on to a more genial soil, 

 where the doors are open to let them in, and where 

 they find friends and agreeable occupation. We 

 believe a corn or grain field well plowed in the fall, 

 and turned up to the kindly influences of the sun 

 and air, to be equal to a moderate manuring, tak- 

 en in connection with the decaying stubble that is 

 turned under by the operation. Sward lands may 

 also be plowed with advantage this month, as 

 there is a great weight of succulent grass on the sur- 

 face ; this being turned under becomes a "bank" 

 upon which the plants will draw with profit. 



Then there are other reasons why we should 

 plow in the fall ; the teams are stronger than in 

 the spring and there is less hurry than when the 

 earth opens her bosom and demands the seed' from 

 which is to spring the future crops. 



Roots. — Turnips, beets, carrots, ruta bagas and 

 all other roots, we believe, with the exception of 

 the parsnip, keep better, if gathered before the se- 

 vere frosts touch them. They should not be bruised 

 and ought to be excluded from the light. 



Swine. — While the weather is moderately cold, 

 Bwine fed and housed well, will fatten rapidly, and 

 of course profitably. They will also have a bet- 

 ter appetite and fatten faster on a variety of food 

 than on a single kind, even if that be of the best 

 quality. 



Young Cattle. — If young cattle are forced to 

 subsist upon the east wind, and coarse weeds, until 

 the first or middle of December, it will be found 

 a most unprofitable mode of keeping them. If we 

 would have good oxen and cows, we must begin 

 to make them so while they are young. No care, 

 or after-feeding will be likely to atone for neglect 

 while the system is assuming its forms. To be 

 lean, misshapen and rough, becomes a habit which 

 it will be difficult to break up. But give them 

 good shelter, generous feed and kind treatment, 

 andtheir good points will become early developed 

 and sustained through life. 



Manures. — Haul out and pile the summer ma- 

 nure in convenient places for spring use, such as 

 isjin tended for top-dressing, and cover well with 

 muck or loam. Green manures, if plowed under, 

 will be in their appropriate place. 



Pruning. — The constant reader of the Farmer 

 has found before this time that we believe in 

 autumnal pruning, unless the cold comes on with 

 unusual severity. All wounds made in pruning 



heal quicker, and the tree is injured less, if they 

 are covered with the shellac varnish or paint. 



Head in peach and plum trees, by cutting offat 

 least one half of the present year's growth. If 

 the trees are quite young take less — if old, take 

 more than one-half; they then throw out new 

 shoots nearer the trunk and become more compact. 



Buildings. — See that the barn-doors are in 

 order, and all loose boards made fast, and the 

 hovels made as tight and warm as possible. No 

 open places should be left in house or barn, about 

 the underpinning, where the wind shall rush in. It 

 is in vain that you supply fuel where these open- 

 ings exist. 



For the Neib England Farmer. 

 A TRIP TO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER. 



Mr. Editor : — I last week enjoyed so much in a 

 visit to the fertile valley of the Connecticut, that I 

 propose giving you a slight sketch of it' 



I arrived in Springfield on Tuesday. It was the 

 first day of "Cattle Show." The weather was cold 

 and misty, and the show meagre. Wednesday it 

 was arranged to have something of a horse show, 

 but the cold storm prevented any demonstration 

 worth noticing. The most satisfectory part of the 

 business of this day was the Society's dinner. This 

 was exceedingly liberal and well-served. It was 

 partaken of in a comfortable hall, where the unfa- 

 vorable weather without could have little effect. 

 The Mayor of the city presided. The venerable 

 Dr. Osgood asked a blessing, introducing appro- 

 priate language from Scripture with singular felic- 

 ity. 



After the substantials had been enjoyed, the . 

 Mayor called upon several gentlemen for speeches. 

 With great deference to the invited guests — the 

 commissioners of the Armory investigation — now 

 in progress here, but a single one responded before 

 the honorable gentlemen were called up. The 

 President of the Board of Commissioners, Col. Ste- 

 venson of Virginia, a gentleman of commanding 

 mien and ready wit, spoke at considerable length. 

 He ranked himself with the farmers. He had re- 

 tired from political life, where he had ivasted so 

 many years, and was enjoying the cultivation of a 

 few acres where he hoped to end his days. The 

 gentleman alluded to the advanced condition of 

 the arts in Massachusetts, and said his short resi- 

 dence here would enable him to carry home much 

 information and many things which would enlight- 

 en his neighbors and friends. As a gentleman be- 

 fore him had pleasantly remarked that he should 

 carry home with him the best productions of New 

 England — school ma'ams — he replied that Virginia 

 already had a numerous band of teachers, who 

 were doing a noble work for them. 



Ex-CJovernor Steele of New Hampshire followed 

 with some practical remarks. He urged deep 

 plowing. Few would undertake to raise garden 

 vegetables without deep pulverization, and a like 

 treatment was economy in the field. 



The next speaker was Chancellor Walworth of 

 New York. His remarks, of a more miscellaneous 

 character, were, also, well received. Other gen- 

 tlemen followed. Dr. Osgood related a dialogue 

 he held with a gentleman from Louisiana, one of 

 the Adam's funeral committee. 



