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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



We learn from the Vennont Chronicle, that the 

 state coramittcc of this convention, in Vermont, at 

 the request of many fruit-growers, have called a state 

 convention, to be held at Montpelicr on the 18th of 

 October. Gentlemen interested in growing fruits in 

 Vermont, and delegates from societies, are requested 

 to attend. 



We are pleased to learn that fruit conventions are 

 becoming more common. They are of very recent 

 origin in this countiy. In 1847, the first was held in 

 Ohio, and to that state belongs the high honor of 

 not only giving a start to these enterprises, but of 

 conducting their conventions with a great degree of 

 ;ibility, intelligence, and candor, furnishing very val- 

 uable standard pomological documents, in the reports 

 of their transactions, which we regard as among the 

 most authentic productions on fruit that have been 

 published in this country. What other states will 

 follow the worthy examples before them ? 



CABBAGE TURNIP, OR KHOL RABI. 



In Europe, and in some seed catalogues in this 

 country, this plant is called turnip-rooted cabbage ; but 

 this is erroneous, let the authority for the name be 

 what it may, for it is a turnip, and not a cabbage ; but 

 it may with propriety be called a cabbage turnip}, as 

 it has a cabbage taste. In form, growth, &c., it is in 

 reality a turnip. 



There arc two kinds of the Khol Rahi, one with the 

 turnip below, or in the ground, like a ruta-baga ; the 

 other has the turnip above the ground, resting on a 

 stem similar to a cabbage stump, only very short, the 

 turnip being almost on the ground. In this kind 

 the leaves come out on different parts of the turnip, 

 but mostly on the upper side. The most common, 

 and the better variety is that below the ground. 



The cabbage turnip is sowed at the same time, 

 cultivated in the same way, and used for the same 

 purposes as the ruta-baga. For the table, it is whiter, 

 milder, and sweeter, or has less of the peculiar strong 

 turnip flavor, and resembles the old French turnip 

 in quality, but is a very little whiter, and less liable 

 to become corky. 



The cabbage turnip keeps better than the ruta- 

 baga, and is less liable to injury from frost. In Maine, 

 where the winters are less liable to a change in tem- 

 perature, wc used to leave these turnips out in the 

 fall, and in the spring they were in as fine condition 

 as parsnips in the same ground. In this state, a few 

 years ago, some friends, to whom we gave some seed, 

 said that they kept perfectly well out doors. But we 

 left some out for trial, winter before last, — a very 

 variable season ; sometimes heavy rains and warm 

 weather suddenly succeeded by severe cold, and the 

 reverse, — and the turnips were destroyed by frequent 

 fi'cezing and thawing. 



For cattle, the cabbage turnip is excellent, and we 

 never perceived any unpleasant taste in milk, from 

 feeding cows freely with them. It yields largely, 

 but it has many roots or prongs, which is an objec- 

 tion. For stock or for the table, wc prefer the cab- 

 bage turnip tp the ruta-baga. We have sold them 



to many of our neighbors, for a few years, who ijrcfer 

 them for the table to any other turnip, from Novem- 

 ber to May or June. Yet we recommend them for 

 trial only, as every one may not give them the prefer- 

 ence. Sow them by the side of the ruta-baga, and 

 judge of their comparative value. 



Wc raised a fine lot of seed, last year, of the gen- 

 uine below ground variety ; and those who would try 

 it, may obtain some in the seed room of Messrs. Rug- 

 gles, Nourse, Mason, & Co., adjoining our office, 

 where specimens of the root may be seen. 



ADVANTAGES OF AGRICULTURAL EDU- 

 CATION. 



We copy the following remarks from the address 

 of L. F. Allen, late president of New York State 

 Agricultural Society, before that association. 



Another, and a prominent advantage, which we 

 should receive from good agricultural education, 

 would be, that of more stability of character in our 

 farming population. It is proverbial among travelled 

 foreigners in this country, and it would be a subject 

 of wonder among our staid people at home, — if an 

 American could wonder at any thing, — that we are 

 the most changing people in the world. Wc, as a 

 population, have few, scarce anj', local attachments. 

 This, to an extent, is a true, although a severe cen- 

 sure. It arises, no doubt, — and naturalh' enough 

 too, — from the wide extent of national domain of 

 which we are the possessors, and from the natural 

 sterility of much of the soil in our older communi- 

 ties, Avliich cause an effort, and a laudable one too, 

 to better their condition in our rural population ; 

 but more, I imagine, from the low standard of agri- 

 cultural improvement, and a mistaken estimate of 

 the value of the soil, and its api)lication to the prod- 

 ucts which properly belong to it. But no matter 

 what the cause. The fact is so, and it is a defect in 

 our national character. How many among us but 

 will, with a slightly tempting offer, sell his home- 

 stead without remorse — break up the cherished 

 associations of his life — turn his back upon the 

 graves of his kindred and his children — his birth- 

 spot — the old hearth-stone of his boyhood — his 

 family altar — even the brave old trees, which have, 

 life-long, Avavcd their branches over his childish 

 sports, and shadowed his innocent slumbers when 

 weary of his play, all — all, pass out of his hands, 

 like a plaything of yesterday, unwept and unregret- 

 tcd, for the fancied advantage of a fresh spot in a 

 strange and a newer land. 



I must, Iiowever, in justice, make some exceptions 

 to this general propensity in American character. 

 There are some among the descendants of the early 

 New England Puritans, and the ancient Dutch set- 

 tlers of this state, who have, with a pious regard to 

 the memories of their ancestors, and a wise attach- 

 ment to the spots of their birth, retained, and, 

 through the influences of a correct education and 

 well-settled principle, bid fair to retain, the paternal 

 acres which they have inherited — homes of plenty, 

 contentment, and genuine hospitality ; where retired 

 virtues, like those practised by their fathers, have 

 long hallowed them with a local habitation and a 

 name. Such stand out as strong landmarks in the 

 fitful changes of place and name throughout our 

 country, and redeem, to some extent, the caustic 

 remark of the late John Ilandolph of lioanoko, who 

 once declared, on the floor of Congress, that he 

 scarce knew an Araericajr but would sell his very dog 

 for money ! 



