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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



FRUIT CONVENTIONS. 



The first general fruit convention, held in this 

 country was that held at Buffalo, September, 1848, 

 called the " North American Pomological Convention." 

 A.nothcr and separate convention was held in the 

 city of Kew York, in October, called the " American 

 Congress of Fruit- Groioers." At the late meeting of 

 the former convention at Syracuse, N. Y., a com- 

 mittee was appointed to confer with the latter asso- 

 ciation, at their recent meeting, with a view of form- 

 ing a union of the two, which desirable purpose was 

 effected, under the name of " American Pomological 

 Congress." The next annual meeting will be held 

 in Cincinnati. 



WRINGING THE GRAPE-VINE. 



A friend showed some very fine Isabella grapes 

 to us a few weeks ago, that were larger than usual, 

 both in bunch and berry, which he said were pro- 

 duced by girdling or wringing the vine. About the 

 time the fruit sets, he takes from the vine a wring 

 of the bark, about an inch in length. This prevents 

 the return of the sap in the bark, and it is applied 

 to the nourishment of that branch, and the fruit is 

 not only larger, but it ripens considerably earlier. 



In the fall, the extending bark, on each side the 

 •wring, becomes nearly united. If it does not unite, 

 all the vine above the wring will die. This mode 

 would be well adapted to cane pruning ; the girdled 

 vines would be cut out in fan pruning. 



THE WHEAT CROP OF TEXAS. 



We are sorry to learn from the Houston (Texas) 

 Register, that the wheat crop of the north-eastern 

 counties has almost entirely failed, owing to the 

 frost in the spring, and the wet weather. In most 

 of the counties on the Upper Trinity, scarcely five 

 bushels have been raised per acre this year. The 

 crops in those counties generally average twenty-five 

 bushels. In Denton, Dallas, and Collin counties, the 

 crops will scarcely average four bushels an acre. 

 The crops in the Red River counties will scarcely 

 exceed ten bushels. Fortunately, however, the corn 

 crop in those counties is excellent this season, and 

 there will be no scarcity of breadstuffs. — North Am. 

 Farmer. 



POTATOES. 



From year to year, we have carefully chronicled 

 the appearance of the potato crop as it approached 

 the season of maturity. Wo have this year made 

 many inquiries of our farmers, and they uniformly 

 state that the tubers of this crop are more numerous 

 and agreeable than at any time since the peculiar 

 decay, which has of late years proved so destructive, 

 first began, and no more signs of unsoundness were 

 exhibited than were known in the "palmiest" and 

 mealiest days of this valuable esculent. For many 

 years, we have had extremely wet weather when the 

 potato was in the most critical period of its growth. 

 This had undoubtedly contributed very greatly to 

 their decay, if it had not been the cause. This year, 

 the weather ha.s not been particularly favorable — 

 the roots having never been more than sufficiently 

 moistened. We apprehend this is the true reason 

 of the change, although, from the universality of the 

 former loss, it may be fully inferred that the disease 



had its origin in some unknown atmospheric phe- 

 nomena. Hereafter, the year of the cholera will 

 probably be remembered as the year when this crop 

 recovered its ancient vigor and excellence. — Bujfah 

 Com. Adv. 



POINTS OF THE HORSE. 



A point of groat importance in the fore-leg of a 

 horse, is the proper setting of the arm, which should 

 be strong, muscular, and long. By the length of 

 this part in the hare, added to the obliquity of the 

 shoulder, she can extend her fore-parts farther than 

 any other animal of her size ; in fact, she strikes 

 nearly as far as the greyhound that pursues her, by 

 the help of this lever. The proper position of the 

 arm of the horse, hov<-cver, is the result of an ob- 

 lique shoulder. When issuing from an upright 

 shoulder, the elbow-joint, the centre of motion here, 

 will be inclined inward ; the horse will be what is 

 termed pinned in his elbows, which causes his legs 

 to fall powerless behind his body. A full and swell- 

 ing fore-arm is one of the most valuable points in a 

 horse, for whatever purpose he may be required. 



If sportsmen were to see the knee of a horse dis- 

 sected, they would pay more attention to the form 

 and substance of it than they generally do. It is a 

 very complicated joint, but so beautifully constructed 

 that it is seldom subject to internal injury. Its width 

 and breadth, however, are great recommendations, 

 as admitting space for the attachment of muscles, 

 and for the accumulation of ligamentous expansions 

 and bands, greatly conducive to strength. The shank 

 or cannon-bone can scarcely be too short. It should 

 be flat, with the back sinews strong, detached, and 

 well braced. This constitutes what is called a wiry 

 leg. Round legs are almost sure to fail. 



As to the size of a horse, it may be remarked that 

 no very large animal has strength in proportion to 

 its size. That the horse has not, the pony aftbrds 

 proof, if any other were wanting. There have been 

 many instances of horses, little more than fourteen 

 hands high, being equal to the speed of hounds over 

 the stoniest counties in England ; for example, Mr. 

 William Coke's Pony, as he was called, many years 

 celebrated in Leicestershire. — Abridged from an Es- 

 say on the Horse. 



HOW TO SUBDUE A VICIOUS HORSE. 



A correspondent of the New York Commercial 

 gives the following account of the method adopted 

 by an officer in the United States service, lately re- 

 turned from Mexico, to siibdue a horse who would 

 not allow his feet to be handled for the purpose of 

 shoeing : — 



" He took a cord about the size of a common bed 

 cord, put it in the mouth of the horse like a bit, and 

 tied it tightly on the top of the animal's head, pass- 

 ing his left ear under the string, not painfully tight, 

 but tight enough to keep the ear down, and the cord 

 in its place. This done, he patted the horse gently on 

 the side of his head, and commanded him to follow ; 

 and instantly the horse obeyed, perfectly sui)dued, 

 and as gentle and obedient as a well-trained ■ dog ; 

 suffering his feet to be lifted with entire imi)unity, 

 and acting in all respects like an old stager. That 

 simple string thus tied made him at once as docile 

 and obedient as any one could desire. The gentle- 

 man who thus furnished this exceedingly simple 

 means of subduing a very dangerous propensity, in- 

 timated that it is practised in Mexico and South 

 America in the management of wild horses." 



The flee jumps two hundred times its own length, 

 which is equal to a quarter of a mile for a man. 



