292 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the New Engkind Farmer. 

 FRUIT GARDEN, STRAWBERRY, &c. 



Mr. Editor : After so much has been said and 

 done by horticulturists, to induce farmers to turn 

 their attention a little more to the cultivation of the 

 various garden fruits, it is surprising that any farmer 

 should neglect their cultivation, and be willing to 

 deny his family the luxuries which a garden and 

 fruit-yard furnish. A farmer to be a good " liver " 

 in these days, must furnish his wife with various 

 garden fruits and vegetables, if he expects her to 

 prepare him a good dinner. He must set out a few 

 of the best kinds of cherry-trees, if he expects his 

 wife to furnish his table with a cherry-pudding now 

 and then, and he must not complain if she sets before 

 him a poor dinner if he does not furnish her with 

 the means for a better. Quince, gooseberry, currant, 

 peach, and plum, make excellent preserves ; and no 

 doubt hut every farmer's wife would be delighted to 

 set them on the table, if her husband would furnish 

 her with the " wherewith." 



The strawberry is one of the many kinds of fruits 

 that seem most indispensable. It is a most deli- 

 cious dessert fruit, and is said to contain many medi- 

 cal virtues. In putrid' fevers and pulmonary com- 

 plaints it is said to be a valuable medicine. 



Strawberry jam is excellent, and no farmer's wife 

 should consider her tea-table complete unless she has 

 upon it, among other good things, this delicious 

 preserve. 



But while we insist that the good housewife should 

 furnish her table with this delicious fruit, we would 

 not compel her daughters to ramble about the fields, 

 as in days of " yore," in their sun-bonnets, with bas- 

 ket in hand, in pursuit of the strawbeiTy, but we 

 would have every farmer devote a small portion of 

 his garden and time to their cultivation. Ej' a little 

 labor. a full supply may be had through the season. 

 The strawberry is easily cultivated, and many varie- 

 ties have been produced, some of great excellence. 

 An open situation, and a rich, loamy soil, is required 

 for most varieties. The row culture is most conve- 

 nient, and frequent renewal insures vigorous plants 

 and large fruit. I have not time at present to say 

 all that is necessary to be said about the cultivation, 

 variety, &c., of this excellent fruit ; but would advise 

 every farmer to purchase the American Fruit 

 Book, and commence on a fruit garden without 

 delay, and I will be bound to say that in iive years' 

 time he would not part with his garden for five times 

 the amount of capital expended upon it. 



KOCKINGHAM. 



Editorial Remarks. — Notwithstanding the great 

 attention paid to fruits, which has been stated to 

 amount almost to a matiia, yet not one farmer in five 

 has a good assortment of fruits, or but very little 

 besides apples, and frequently they are not of a choice 

 collection. We can assure them that, if they will go 

 into the general culture of various kinds of fruit, 

 which will not be expensive, that their helpmates 

 will furnish their tables with numea'ous excellent 

 dishes, that will make a great improvement in their 

 diet, both as to health and ])alatableness, and save no 

 small expense for meats, butter, &c. 



For the New England Farmer. 



ANALYSIS OF SOILS, &c. 



Friend Cole : Since I have had the pleasure of 

 reading the Farmer, I have noticed frequent allu- 

 sions in its columns to the chemical analysis of soils. 



in order to ascertain what is needed to produce any- 

 kind of vegetable, grass, or grain. From faint recol- 

 lections of chemical principles, learned in schoolboy 

 days, I believe this object can be attained by every 

 one. 



The question often comes into my mind, Is this 

 subject not of great importance to the "farmer ? Does 

 it not often occur that lift}- dollars worth of muck 

 and manure are expended upon a single acre of land, 

 and yet but a light crop is obtained? And ^\h3-r 

 Because tlie nature of the soil is not understood. 

 What chfcmist will inform the farmers, through the 

 columns of the Farmer, how we shall be able to 

 decide what manures different kinds of soil demand 

 for different crojM ? 



Thine with respect, 



Z. BREED. 



Weare, N. H., 8th, 13th, '49. 



Editorial Remarks. — We hope that some of our 

 correspondents will throw light upon the subject of 

 friend Breed's inquiry. It often happens that the 

 farmer can obtain some kinds of manure much easier 

 than others, and it is important for him to know 

 whether the cheap kind is well adapted to the pur- 

 pose of improving his soil. Perhaps lime can be 

 very conveniently obtained ; how important, then, to 

 know where the land is deficient of this ingredient, 

 or whether there is anvimple supply, and all labor in 

 applying this material would be lost. 



Again, a farmer has various kinds of manure, as 

 animal, vegetable, and mineral ; and subdivisions of 

 these general kinds, as marl, cla}', lime, plaster, bone, 

 horn, ashes, soot, urine, salt, ley, soap-suds, sink- 

 water, &c. &c. He also has various kinds of soil, and 

 wishes to raise a A^ariety of crops. How great is the 

 skill required, in order to adapt the manure to the 

 soil, and the crop to the soil and manure. Verily, 

 great skill both in science and practice is necessary 

 to enable the cultivator to go through all the various 

 operations of his profession in the most judicious 

 manner, in order to get the greatest amount of pro- 

 duce from the labor and manure expended. 



The numerous facts, so necessary for successful 

 farming can be learned only from practice, observa- 

 tion, reading, and reflection ; and the obtaining of 

 such information is a gradual work — a work of time. 

 If it was all poured into the mind at once, it could 

 not retain it. 



For the Netv England Farmer. 



MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES IN THE 

 NURSERY. 



Friend Cole : Would not more care in the man- 

 agement of fruit-trees in the nursery than is gener- 

 ailv taken, result in the benefit of the purchaser, on 

 account of their being more healthy, and of better 

 constitution ? 



Careful observation has induced me to believe that 

 it would well pay for the trouble of applying cement 

 to the stock when cut off, after budding, which 

 would preserve the wood in a sound condition until 

 cut close to the bud the succeeding year, when the 

 same protection should be applied. 



Shellac, put on with a brush, is a trifling expense. 

 I have often observed, in cutting to the bud, when 

 not protected, that the wood was in a state of decay, 

 and in some instances had extended some inches 

 below the bud, which occm'rence I never observed 



