530 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



by taking the roots of old trees in the winter, and 

 cutting them up into small pieces-rinto each of 

 which is grafted a scion. These are planted in the 

 spring, and grow vigorously for three or four years, 

 but soon come to a stand, assuming the appear- 

 ance and decrepitude of old trees. Many kinds, 

 naturally good bearers, when propagated in this 

 way, will hardly bear at all. 



THE GREAT GYPSUM FIELD. 



We publish below a short description of the 

 Gypsum field we spoke of last week, from the pen 

 of Mr. Shumard, of this city, who acted as geolo- 

 gist in the expedition under Capt. Marcy, in his 

 reconnoisance of the headwaters of Red River. 

 Anything coming from Dr. S. maybe relied on, as 

 he is a man of close and scrutinizing observation, 

 and as a geologist is undoubtedly the best in the 

 State ._ The exploration of the great desert of 

 Ame'rica is opening new wonders in respect to 

 the minerals, &c., of that unknown region, and the 

 wandering tribes that inhabit it. The Gypsum 

 Field being so extensive, is not the least one, of 

 the discoveries being made, by explorers; and of 

 itself, will open an immense trade at some future 

 day, all of which will have to pass through the 

 State of Arkansas. Here, we present one induce- 

 ment, not a small one, for building the Pacific 

 Railroad from Fort Smith. 



Mr, Editor : — The immense field of Gypsum dis- 

 covered by the late exploring expedition to the 

 headwaters of the Red River, having excited con- 

 siderable interest in the public mind, a few re- 

 marks upon the subject may not prove uninter- 

 esting to the readers of the Herald. 



The field is probably the largest in the world, 

 and extends from the Wachita mountains to with- 

 in a short distance of the nearest jNIexican Prov- 

 ince. Throughout the entire extent, the Gypsum 

 presents itself to the surface in such a manner as 

 to be very easily worked, and is of the purest qual- 

 ity. ^ Not unfrequently we travelled for miles over 

 continuous beds, which, from their whiteness, and 

 the great abundance of glittering Selenite (trans- 

 parent Gypsum) they contained, added greatly to 

 the interest of the scenery ; while here and there 

 immense bluffs — often several miles in extent, and 

 thickly capped with the same material, projected 

 to the height of two or three hundred feet above 

 the level of the surrounding country. In many 

 places it was observed to be twenty feet in thick- 

 ness. 



Gypsum, which, when burnt, produces the Plas- 

 ter of Paris, is one of the most important sub- 

 stances in nature. Besides being one of the very 

 best fertilizers of the soil, it is largely used for build- 

 ing and ornamental purposes, and is^every year be- 

 coming more and more important, in a commercial 

 pomt of view. Hence its discovery, in inexhausti- 

 ble quantities, cannot but be looked upon with the 

 utmost degree of interest. 



Should the contemplated railroad to the Pacific 

 extend through this region of country, the value 

 of this deposit could hardly be too highly estima- 

 ted. Here there is enough gypsum to supply the 

 whole world for centuries to come, while its great 

 purity and the comparatively trifling expense that 

 would attend the working of it, are at once suffi- 



cient to indicate the large amount that would be 



annually transported to market. 



— Fort Smith Herald. Geo. G. Shibiard. 



FLAX. 



Saxton, of N. Y., has published in beautiful 

 style, a Lecture of 52 pages, by John Wilson, of 

 Edinburgh, or London, on the treatment, agricul- 

 tural and technical, of this crop. Since cottons 

 are so cheap, this crop has been sadly neglected, 

 and a field of flax, a swingle-board or "linen- 

 wheel," are things unknown to the young farmer. 

 The straw can now be converted into the dressed 

 fibre in a few hours, instead of going through the 

 tedious process of rotting it on the ground, and 

 then breaking, swingling, hatchelling, and comb- 

 ing it^s formerly. 



Mr. Wilson says that a very large sum, $14, 

 000,000 to $15,000,000, is annually expended by 

 the United States in the purchase of linen goods 

 from Great Britain, which country is obliged to 

 procure the raw material for their manufacture 

 from other countries with which the U. S. has no 

 commercial relations. 



For sale by Tappan cj- Whittemcre — price 25 

 cents. 



THE LITTLE MARTYR. 



Hatley, Canada East, October \2lh, 1853. 



Dear Sir: — Please mform me as soon as possi- 

 ble who is the Treasurer of the association which 

 contemplates the erection of a monument to the 

 noble little boy who would not steal, near Chica- 

 go, as there are many here who would be happy to 

 contribute to so noble an object. Any information 

 which you will give in the next issue o^the "Far- 

 mer" will be gratefully received. 



A deep interest is manifested here in the con- 

 duct and glorious end of that dear little fellow. 

 Doubtless many would be glad to give, if they 

 knew where and to whom. 



Respectfully yours, j. w. b. 



(5^ In reply to the above we would say, that a 

 committee of twenty has been appointed, to raise 

 a fund to erect a monument to the young hero, 

 Knud Iverson, and any sums of money designed 

 for this object may be forwarded by mail or other- 

 wise toS. L. Brown, Chicago, Illinois, who is the 

 treasurer of this committee. It is desirable that 

 at least one thousand dollars should be raised for 

 this purpose, and five times that sum might be ap- 

 propriately used. Contributions will be duly ac- 

 knowledged in the Chicago papers. We hope 

 there are many among our readers who will con- 

 tribute their mite towards perpetuating the re- 

 membrance of the noljle. deed of young Iverson. — 

 Should any of our friends prefer to forward their 

 cofttributions to our care, we \till acknowledge tlie 

 same in the Farmer, and transmit the sum collect- 

 ed to Chicago. 



The following letter, addressed to a a gentleman 

 in Chicago, by a little boy in Cincinnati, will be 



