NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



309 



sadness, but appear in cheerful contrast with the 

 surrounding landscape. 



I am now setting out with trees an acre of ground, 

 finely situated for a garden and house lot, with an 

 inclination to the north-west, with pretty level rear, 

 and am desirous of placing these trees to the best 

 advantage, respecting walks, general appearance, &c. 

 I have commenced planting trees entirely around the 

 lot, about ten feet from the boundary, with a view 

 of laying out a walk between the fence and trees, 

 and also crossing the garden at right angles at pleas- 

 ure. I shall keep the apple-trees mostly back, the 

 cherries front, (on the road,) peaches, plums, and 

 pears near the house, and interspersed otherwise as 

 judgment shall dictate. As the front part of the lot 

 rises from seven to ten feet in the distance of thirty 

 or forty back, a substantial wall on the front line 

 would be better economy, I think, than a fence, to 

 secure the work. I v.'ould inquire, Mr. Editor, if 

 earth can be banked up against it, or placed on the 

 top of it, sufficient to grow a buckthorn or prim 

 hedge. Which of the two is preferable ? 



Permit me also to inquire if it would be a good 

 plan to plant grape-vines at the trunk of oak-trees 

 fifteen or twenty feet high, that arc to remain. If 

 the Isabella grape would be too much shaded, would 

 not the wild succeed, and could it be improved in 

 quality? Any suggestions on the above, which your 

 time and experience would permit you to make, will 

 be happily received. L. 



Editorial Remarks. — If the land rises steep from 

 the wall, it might, of course, be very convenient to 

 make a bank as high as the wall ; but if the ascent 

 from the wall is moderate, it would require consid- 

 erable labor to make a bank as high as the wall, 

 and have it level or nearly so ; and if the bank 

 be not nearly level, or made rather wide, it will be 

 dry and unsuitable for growing a hedge. "We would 

 suggest filling up against the wall to about one third 

 or one half its height, and then the top of the wall 

 wiU hide from sight the lower part of the hedge, 

 which is less comely than the other parts. 



Attention has but recently been given to the culti- 

 vation of the prim or privet for hedges : of course, 

 we know but little about it yet. Buckthorn is very 

 luxuriant in its growth, and forms an excellent hedge 

 for ornament, or for a screen ; but as a protection 

 where there is no wall or fence, we should prefer 

 the native thorn of the south, often called the Wash- 

 ington or Newcastle thorn. It is hardy and well adapted 

 to this climate. 



If grape-vines are planted with forest trees, and 

 the land well cultivated, they will grow finely ; but 

 when the trees have attained a considerable size, 

 they shade too much, and the soil around the 

 trunks for some distance is filled with roots, 

 and the grapes will have a poor chance. In such 

 case, it Avould be better to plant the vines some six, 

 eight, or twelve feet from the trees, on the south, if 

 convenient, and then train them to the trees, which 

 might be done under ground, if more convenient. 



The Isabella grape is rather late for this climate, 

 even in a favorable location ; therefore it should not 

 be exposed to the disadvantage of a connection with 

 trees, especially those of rather a large size. Some 

 native grapes would be better adapted to such a 

 location. The Strawberry and Coon (American 

 Fruit Book, p. 255) are of great vigor, and will run 



to the tops of forest trees : they are perfectly hardy, 

 and they ripen their fruit the first of September. 



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For the Neio England Farmer. 

 DOMESTIC FOWLS. 

 Mr. Cole. Sir : I should like to see some state- 

 ments in the Farmer respecting the best kinds of 

 hens or domestic fowls, for a farmer to keep. I see 

 the Ploughman has some articles on that subject. 

 There appear to be new varieties. Whether they 

 are better or more profitable than the old, I should 

 like to know. It is mentioned in the Ploughman 

 about a hen which laid forty eggs in succession, or 

 in as many days. Now, I have a hen of good size, 

 though not the largest kind, which has laid, as my 

 folks say, ever since last February, without wanting 

 to sit. Can any of the new kinds beat that ? 



Yours, &c., J. S. 



Mansfield, August 24, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. — There are many varieties 

 of domestic fowls : some excel in one property, others 

 in another. It is impossible to find a breed that 

 combines all the qualities desired. For instance, 

 there is no variety that will lay constantly without 

 sitting, when eggs only are wanted ; and sit when- 

 ever the owner desires a brood of chickens. 



The Poland Top Knots seldom sit, and are excel- 

 lent for those who keep hens expressly for eggs.- 

 They are a beautiful fowl, and well adapted to the 

 condition of those who keep them for ornament. 



The Dorkings are among the most popular races 

 in this country and in England. Their flesh and 

 eggs are excellent, their deportment is commendable, 

 and they are excellent mothers. This race is often 

 disposed to sit, and some complain that they are 

 inclined to brood before laying a nest full of eggs. 



The Game breed is remarkably hardy, superior in 

 flesh, and good layers ; but they are so pugnacious, 

 that the young cocks often kill or disable each 

 other. 



The Guelderlands are a noble, quiet race, but 

 rather tender, so that the chickens are hard to raise. 

 We noticed this tenderness in hatching eggs by arti- 

 ficial heat. Many of these eggs produced chickens 

 to the point of hatching, but none came out of the 

 shell. 



The Bucks County breed is remarkably hardy. 

 On this account they are well adapted to early rais- 

 ing, as they will endure the cool weather of spring, 

 which often destroys other kinds. And as they are 

 very large, they appear, when about half grown, much 

 like a common chicken two thirds grown ; so that 

 they are sold in market more to the advantage of the 

 raiser than the consumer. This breed is very de- 

 structive to vegetation. An old protector will stand 

 on a stout hill of potatoes, when disposed to make a 

 display of his power, and it will be flying in every 

 direction in half a minute. We hatched five sixths 

 of the eggs of this breed by artificial means. 



The Frizzled fowl has its feathers pointing for- 

 ward, so that it cannot run amongst grain ; and this 

 is its peculiar advantage. 



The Bantams arc beautiful, and serve as pets for 

 children; and they may run in gardens without 

 injury.- 



