NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



259. 



in this business, and let others contribute their mite 

 towards making a fair trial of all and any animals that 

 promise a liberal compensation for expenditures. 

 We trust that the Herefords will be scattered over 

 different sections of New England, and fairly tested. 



WITCH OR COUCH GRASS. 



This grass, in tillage, is among the most trouble- 

 Bome of all plants or weeds. The most effectual way 

 to destroy it, where it is extensive, is to let the 

 land lie fallow, and plough and harrow it often, espe- 

 cially in drj' Aveather. The plough will check its 

 growth, when used often, and bring the roots to the 

 surface, and the harrow will draw them out, and 

 they will die when exposed to a hot sun, in a dry 

 time. When this grass first makes its appearance in 

 tillage, it should be thoroughly eradicated. We 

 copy the following remarks from the Germantown 

 Telegraph : — 



Witch grass commonly abounds in all lands which 

 have been long under the plough, and rendered fine 

 and pulverulent by a rapid succession of weeded 

 crops, and liberal applications of fructifying manures. 

 Many methods have been advised and recommended 

 for its extirpation, but none as yet which can be 

 relied on as AvhoUy efficient. Where a small spot is 

 to be cleansed, resting during one season, carefully 

 covering the surface with boards, will generally de- 

 stroy most of the grass. A writer in the Maine 

 Farmer, some years since, stated that he had suc- 

 ceeded in eradicating it by ploughing it under " a 

 foot deep," afterward harrowing it carefully and 

 •' cultivating the ground as usual ; it never troubled 

 him afterward." Others have tried this " plan," but 

 have failed to realize the result anticipated ; the 

 grass, even when embedded in the soil to the dej^th 

 of a foot, still retained its vitality, and came up to 

 the surface late in the season in " different parts of 

 the field, as rank and vigorous as before." Some 

 have recommended sowing this grass, as it makes a 

 rich and nutritive food for stock ; but no one, who 

 understands its habits, will concur in urging this 

 plan, as it is not only a great exhauster, but after 

 the first or second year produces but a small crop, 

 unless heavily top-dressed. B. 



Bensalem, June 20, 1849. 



THE MOUNT VERNON FARMER. 



Washington was ardently attached to agriculture, 

 and its improvement was ever with him an object 

 of permanent regard. Virginia can boast of few sons 

 to whose efforts her agriculture has been more sig- 

 nally indebted ; few who have assisted in promoting 

 its interests to a greater extent, or with the mani- 

 festation of more ardent and patronizing zeal. 



The following account of his farming oijerations 

 will serve to exhibit the " Father of his Country " — 

 the man " first in war, first in peace, and first in the 

 hearts of his countrymen " — in his true light. The 

 farm of General Washington, at Mount Vernon, con- 

 sisted of ten thousand acres of land, in one body — 

 equal to about fifteen square miles. It was divided 

 into farms of convenient size, at the distance of two, 

 three, four, and five miles from the mansion house. 

 These farms he visited every day, in pleasant weather, 

 and was constantlj' engaged in making experiments, 

 •^ith a view to the improvement of agriculture. 

 Some idea of the extent of his farming operations 

 may be formed from the following facts : In 1787, 

 he had five hundred acres in grass, sowed six hun- 



dred bushels of oats, seven hundred acres with 

 wheat, and prepared as much more for corn, barley, 

 potatoes, peas, beans, &c., and had sowed one hun- 

 dred and fifty with turnips. His stock consisted of 

 one hundred and forty horses, one hundred and 

 twelve coM's, two hundred and thirty-five working 

 oxen, heifers, and steers, and five hundred sheep. 



He constantly employed two hundred and fifty 

 hands, and kept twenty-four ploughs going during 

 the whole year, when the state of the weather and 

 soil would permit. In 1786, he slaughtered one hun- 

 dred and fifty hogs, weighing eighteen thousand five 

 hundred and sixty pounds, for the use of his family, 

 beside provisions for his negroes. 



LOWER-MERION. 



Ju7ie 30, 1849. 

 — Germantown Telegraph. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 TAKE CARE OF YOUR HORSES. 



Mr. Editor : Horses should never be allowed to 

 stand in the stable with their harness on, especially 

 Avhcn they have been heated by hard driving, and 

 consequently are in a high state of perspiration. A 

 horse should be divested of his harness as soon as he 

 is led to his stall for his feed. A man can judge 

 from his own feelings how much more comfortable 

 a horse must feel when entirely unburdened. Who 

 has not experienced the contrast on his own person, 

 after having walked a mile or two in a warm day, 

 with a coat on, when divesting himself of it, and 

 vest even r How much more comfortable a person 

 will feel when thus unencumbered, than he will if 

 he suffers himself to sit down Avith the same quantity 

 of clothes on he had been travelling in ! So with the 

 horse ; he will feed more readily, and will be less 

 liable to be fretted by the harness. 



A horse that has been galled or chafed by any part 

 of the harness, (which is quite often the case in 

 warm weather,) should have the harness removed as 

 soon as possible, to prevent irritation. The horse is 

 an animal that should be carefully watched by his 

 master or keeper, to see that he is always in a proper 

 condition to work. How often have I seen the noble 

 horse hauling heavy loads, when his shoulders and 

 sides were badly lacerated by the galling of the har- 

 ness ! And not unfrcquently have I seen the lash' 

 applied to the willing animal, because he refused to 

 draw — all in consequence of sores on the shoulders 

 or other parts of the body. 



None but an unmerciful man would beat his horse, 

 when in this condition. When horses have become^ 

 fretted by the harness, timely aid and the proper 

 remedies should be applied. A horse should be used 

 as little as possible when he has a galled shoulder. 

 But if he must of necessity be used, bandages should 

 be fitted around the collar, both above and below the 

 wound, that the collar may not irritate it. A few 

 days (if the proper remedies are used) need only 

 elapse before a cure may be effected. There are dif- 

 ferent remedies that will prove effectual, providing 

 the galled parts can be kept from being chafed, from 

 day to day. I have had good success by washing, 

 the parts affected in nothing but cold water. Differ- 

 ent individuals, however, have different remedies. 

 " A merciful man will be merciful to his beast ; " 

 and he who cannot be merciful to his beast, ought 

 not to be the owner of one. 



A. TODD. ., 



Smithfield, R. I., July, 1849. 



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Forests of standing trees in Yorkshire, England, and' 

 in Ireland, have been discovered embedded in stone.' 



