NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



59 



how great is the desire to possess something ap- 

 proaching that object, so much coveted — a pleasant 

 country-scat. 



We are desirous of contributing all in our power 

 to aid in the dissemination of true taste in orna- 

 mental planting, and we shall endeavor to give more 

 attention to the subject. Zealous as we have been 

 to promote the interests of horticultural science, we 

 have directed less attention to rural improvement 

 than is our intention hereafter. Not that we consider 

 more plans of so much importance, as the architec- 

 tural journals will be consulted for these ; but to 

 give, occasionally, specimens of some of the best ex- 

 amples of ornamental gardening in our vicinity. — 

 Majazinc of llorticuUure. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DOVER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. EniTOii: The farmers of this town held a 

 meeting last evening, and adopted a constitution for 

 an Agricviltural Society, reported by a committee 

 chosen at a previous meeting. The following oflicers 

 were chosen : Calvin Richards, Esq., President ; 

 Charles Ford and Captain Timothy Allen, Vice- 

 Presidents; Elijah Perry, Secretary ; "William Cleve- 

 land, Treasurer ; Daniel Mann, Esq., Deacon Calvin 

 Bigclow, Jared Allen, George Cleveland, Ralph 

 Battclle, John Battelle, and H. W. Jones, Directors. 

 After the above organization, the subject for discus- 

 sion which had been proposed at a previous meeting 

 was taken w]}, and a lively discussion ensued. All 

 present were well pleased. At nine o'clock the meet- 

 ing adjourned to meet again in one week. — Com. 



DovEU, Jan. 16, 18i9. 



Editorial Remarks. 



The above is another evidence that the spirit of 

 improvement is pervading the land, and the forma- 

 tion of societies will effectually encourage and dis- 

 seminate this spirit, and promote the worthy objects 

 for which such associations are established. It 

 would be well for the countrj', if a society for im- 

 provement in agriculture, in all its various branches, 

 was formed in every town in the Union. We would 

 not except Hull, and still smaller towns. AVhere 

 there are only five or six men in a town, there will be 

 a great advantage in having a town Agricultural 

 Society in full operation. Should there be a want of 

 members to fill all the offices, give some two or three 

 offices, as the duties will not be very arduous where 

 the society is small. Associated action is powerful, 

 and when dh-ected to laudable purposes, it has a 

 most salutary effect on society. 



AFFECTION FOR OFFSPRING. 



One of the strongest feelings of animals is that of 

 affection for their offspring ; and, indeed, so intense is 

 this impulse among the greater number, that it may 

 be said to exceed the care which they em.ploy for 

 their own ])rcservation, or the indulgence of their 

 own appetites. Among insects and some other of 

 the inferior tribes, the care and solicitude of pro- 

 viding for their young engrosses the better half' of 

 their existence ; for they labor during the prime of 

 life to provide a comfortable nest and proper food for 

 their offspring, which they are never destined to see, 

 death overtaking them before they can enjoy the 

 pleasure of beholding their future family. Many 

 timid animals, that shrink from danger while they 



are single and alone, become bold and pugnacious 

 when surrounded by their young. Thus the domes- 

 tic hen will face any danger and encounter any foe 

 in order to protect her brood of chickens ; and the 

 lark and linnet will allow themselves to be taken in 

 their nest rather than desert the young which lie 

 protected under their wings. Even those animals 

 whose general nature is characterized by savage and 

 unrelenting fierceness, are gentle, and tender, and 

 affectio.nate to their young. The grim lion fondles 

 with paternal softness his playful cubs ; and the 

 savage bear has been known to interpose her own 

 body between the deadly musket and her helpless 

 offspring. But this feeling in animals lasts only for a 

 season. After they have nourished and brought up 

 their young, these go out from their parents, all 

 fm-ther ties between them arc broken up, and they 

 know each other no more. How different is this 

 from human connections ! The fond mother watches 

 over the long and helpless period of infancy, instils 

 into early childhood lessons of wisdom and virtue, 

 and feels her hopes and affections increase with every 

 year that brings an increase of reason. Nor are such 

 family ties severed by death. The child, on its part, 

 returns the care and affection of its parents ; and 

 when old age and second childhood come upon 

 them, the children then feel it their greatest happi- 

 ness to repay in acts of kindness and attention the 

 debt of gratitude which is justly due. What a 

 moral beauty is thus thrown over the common in- 

 stinctive affections, and how greatly superior appears 

 man's nature to that of the mere brute ! — British 

 Quarterly. 



PLOUGHING IN OR BURNING CORN- 

 STALKS. 



Mr. Bateham : There is one practice among farmers 

 at the West which I regret to see, and hope a sub- 

 stitute will be found. I allude to the practice of 

 breaking down, tlien raking and burning cornstalks 

 in the spring, " to get them out of the way." 



The ground under the cornstalk windrows may be 

 benefited by the ashes, but the general field is most 

 certainly impoverished by the loss of that Avhich 

 should be allowed to decompose upon or beneath its 

 surface. 



^ Some landlords require their tenants to plough in 

 the stalks ; but ordinarily this is a somewhat 

 difficult operation. I have heard that in the south- 

 west portion of Ohio, the farmers use a large roller 

 with knives, so constructed that it breaks down and 

 cuts to pieces the stalks, (at one operation,) so that 

 they can be easily turned under by an ordinary 

 plough. 



Will you have the goodness to inform me where I 

 can obtain a pattern or description of such machine ? 

 or, if you do not possess the information, please make 

 the inquiry through your excellent paper. 

 Respectfixlly yours, &c., 



H. L. ELLSWORTH. 



Lafayette, Indiana, Jan. 1849. 



Remarks. — We have no knowledge of such an 

 implement as the one referred to above being in use 

 in this state, or elsewhere. If any of our readers 

 have, they will please inform us. We think such a 

 roller might be constructed without difficulty, to 

 work on prairie and bottom lands where no stones 

 are found. — Ed. Ohio Cultivator. 



Temperance puts wood on the fire, flour in the 

 barrel, meat in the tub, vigor in the body, intelli- 

 gence in the brain, and spirit into the whole compo- 

 sition of man. 



