NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



275 



UNRIPE AND DISEASED FRUIT. 



At this season of the year, when the summer com- 

 plaint in children is very common, and the dysen- 

 tery and cholera morbus, and fevers of various type, 

 are prevalent, and that dreadful scourge, the cholera, 

 is spreading over the country with fearful effects, 

 there should be great caution in the use of food and 

 luxuries, as improper indulgences are causes in some 

 cases, and predisposing causes in all cases, of these 

 diseases. 



Unripe or diseased fruit is hard to digest, and a 

 most prolific cause of diseases. Yet good, well- 

 ripened fruit is one of the most healthful, if not the 

 most wholesome of all articles of food, and as a lux- 

 ury, in moderation, it is conducive to health. But 

 children are so fond of fruit that they will eat it 

 when perfectly green ; and our markets abound with 

 prematurely ripened fruit, which was picked green, 

 that it might ripen while on its way to a distant 

 market, and much of it is in a state of decay before 

 it is in the hands of the consumer. Nearly all the 

 peaches that have been in this market (Aug. 12) are 

 from trees affected with the yellows, a disease more 

 fatal to the peach than the cholera to the human 

 race. 



Sickly trees being unable to perfect their crop, the 

 fruit ripens prematurely', in some cases a month ear- 

 lier than that of healthy trees ; and this fruit has a 

 livid, purplish color throughout, showing clearlj' 

 that it is from diseased trees. We leave it with the 

 reader to judge whether fruit not coming to full ma- 

 turity and perfection, and discolored with such posi- 

 tive marks of defection, is fit to be eaten. If meat, 

 exposed for sale in the market becomes tainted, the 

 "market police " orders it sent off immediately; but 

 fruit, with evident marks of taint, and which is more 

 unwholesome than tainted meat, is allowed a place, 

 and is consumed by the incautious to their de- 

 struction. 



Why do not health officers do their duty as faith- 

 ful and intelligent gviardians of the public, and not 

 show so much partiality to vegetable over animal 

 productions ? Reader, as you value life and health, 

 avoid diseased and unripe fruit. Parents, carefully 

 guard j-our children against its use, as they are often 

 inclined to use it even to excess. A little care and 

 judicious management may save a fit of sickness and 

 a doctor's bill, or save the lives of those whom you 

 value as your existence. 



WHEAT CROP AND CULTURE- BEST 

 VARIETIES. 



Under this head we find the following article in 

 the Ohio Cultivator, and we would call the attention 

 of farmers in New England to the important fact 

 that the rust and grain worm injures wheat in Ohio, 

 as well as in this section, and to another fact that is 

 worthy of consideration, which is, that the average 

 wheat crop in Ohio does not exceed twelve bushels 

 to the acre. Then v.-hy, with these disadvantages of 

 blight and depredations, and lean crops, generally, 



should farmers in Ohio raise wheat for farmers in New 

 England, or even a supply for our large markets ? 



" The recent failure of our wheat crop by rust and 

 insects, has afforded opportunity to observing farmers 

 for gaining much valuable knowledge in reference to 

 wheat growing ; and we trust this knowledge will 

 be made generally available for the purpose of intro- 

 ducing such improvements as will tend to lessen the 

 chances for similar failures hereafter. 



" In almost every neighborhood, some wheat fields 

 measiirably escaped both insects and rust. Now, we 

 want to urge upon our readers the importance of 

 their carefully noting all the particulars in reference 

 to such fields — especially the nature and condition 

 of the soil, its elevation and exposure, the mode of 

 tillage, time and manner of sowing, and last, but not 

 least, the variety or kind of wheat. These and any 

 other facts that may tend to throw light on this sub- 

 ject, if carefully and extensively observed and pub- 

 lished, cannot fail to prove of immense public advan- 

 tage. We hope, therefore, that quite a number of 

 our intelligent and patriotic correspondents will 

 promptly favor us with communications, giving th.e 

 results of their observations on these points. Re- 

 member it is the simple facts we desire, rather than 

 opinions, or theories based thereon. 



" We have already received several communica- 

 tions of this kind, which we intend to use along 

 with many others expected in our next. 



" In reference to varieties of wheat, we would 

 state, that in nearly all parts of the country, it ap- 

 pears that the Mediterranean has done the best. 

 Perhaps, however, other early kmds, as the Alabama, 

 Virginia, &c., have done as well under similar cir- 

 cumstances ; and these we believe are considered of 

 better quality for market than the Mediterranean. 

 We ask further information on this point. We also 

 suggest to farmers, that it is not in the least probable, 

 that we shall often experience so disastrous a wheat 

 season as the present one, and in districts where the 

 crop has seldom before been injured by the rust, it 

 may not be advisable to abandon the well-tried and 

 hitherto most pi'ofitable kinds. 



" Colonel Medary, of this city, it is generally 

 known, cultivates several early varieties of wheat. 

 One of these, called by him the reed straw, has, for 

 two or three years past, ripened earlier than any other 

 within our knowledge ; and many other farmers have 

 procured it for seed. This year, although quite early, 

 Colonel M. informs us, the berry is not quite as good 

 as usual, being slightly injured by rust ; and another 

 early variety, called Missouri, a bearded variety with 

 brovvn chafi" and berry — has turned out better than 

 any other with him. Both these varieties are a little 

 eai-lier than the Mediterranean, and of better quality 

 for market or for flour. He offers to furnish either 

 kind for seed, to those who desire, at $1,25 to 

 $1,50 per bushel." 



TEST FOR GOOD LIMESTONE. 



The best lime for agricultural purposes is that which 

 is lightest, whitest, and softest to the touch ; the 

 purest and strongest lime is always found the lightest. 

 If, then, by calcination, limestone loses much of its 

 weight by the process ; if the limeshells are extreme- 

 ly ifght, and require, for slaking them fully, a large 

 portion of water ; if they are a considerable time be- 

 fore they begin to fall ; if, during the process of 

 burning," the limestone is not disposed to run or be- 

 come vitrified ; if it increases very much in bulk by 

 slaking, and the lime is of a pure white, and fine 

 and light to the touch, it may be set down as very 

 good, and should be used in preference to other Ume 

 not possessing the same qualities. — English Paper. 



