94 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



fully durinsf tlio firsl years orpowth. Unless you 

 lav the fijuiidation for efooil rattle tlurinir f'lal 

 time, yon will never obtain tlic object wished 

 for." — Abridged from the PiltuJiclJ Smt. 



The Plymouth County Jlgricullvral Soclity 

 Held their annual exhiliition at South lli-nljje- 

 Mater, ou the Oth inst. An Address was deliv- 

 ered by Dr. Hector Orr. " Dr. Orr rot'erred 

 to the cirrum^tances in the history of the Old 

 Colony, which had been unfavorable to the due 

 improvement of its agriculture — adverted to 

 some erroneous opinions, and existing defects in 

 their husbandry — and characterized the loose 

 and indolent habits, that originated in most cases 

 the propensity to emigration, by strokes of skil- 

 ful and well merited sarcasm."' 



" The exhibition of stock was superior to the 

 last year. The i?uils, particularly that which 

 obtained the premium, and one belonging to Gen. 

 Washburn, furnished an assurance of still I'arther 

 improvement. The Manufactures, though lim- 

 ited in (|uaiility and variety, would not in their 

 cpiality dishonor any exhibition in the state. 

 The ladies Llonnet*, made of rye straw, the 

 thread and worsted Hose and the braid hearth 

 rug were noticed and admired. The Cloths 

 from the several Factories were spoken of in 

 terms of commendation. The Ploughing JIatch 

 was engaged in with a zeal and emulation, that 

 proved the Agricultural community had receiv- 

 ed a stimulus from the exertions of the society." 

 Abridged from the Old Col. Memorial. 



dress by the Hon. Timothy Pitkin, President of 

 the Society, on the objects of the institution. 



The Society has a Viewing Comm.ttoc, who 

 award premiums for the best cultivated farms. 

 This committee gave favorable reports of tlie 

 farms of Mr. Lemuel Roberts, in Windsor ; Mr. 

 h'redcric Oakes, in \V. Hartford ; Daniel Wads- 

 worlh, Esq. and a Mr. Raphael, of Hartford. 

 The premium for the best cultivated farm, be- 

 ing a silver cup, to the value of ^10, was award- 

 ed to Daniel Wadsworth, Esq. and that of the 

 second best, being a silver cup to the value of 

 g2(J, to Mr. Freder.c Oakes, both of Hartford. 



The Hartford County Agricultural Socii ly 

 Held their fifth anniversary at the City of Hart- 

 ford, on the 9th and 10th of Oct. The exhibi- 

 tion was superior to any which preceded it. 

 The Bulls, Cows and Working Oxen are spoken 

 of in terms of high commendation in the Con- 

 necticut Courant. Twenty-eight premiums were 

 awarded. With regard to Domestic Manufac- 

 tures, the Courant observes, " Here was a dis- 

 play, which, when compared with that of last 

 year, was flattering to the prospects of the So- 

 ciety. The articles offered for premiums wci'c 

 greater in number, and by far superior in qua- 

 lity, to those offered the last year." Among 

 the specimens are mentioned "• several pieces 

 of blue x^ooUeii clotli, which, though spun, wove 

 and dyed in families, were scarcely inferior to 

 the best factory goods. Mixed cloth, fine flan- 

 nels, carpeting, stockings, hearth rugs, linen 

 diapers and woollen blankets of tine quality 

 were also exhibited." 



Twenty-four premiums were awarded by the 

 Committee of Manufactures. There was ex- 

 hibited a hat made ol' mole skin, in imitation 

 of Chi/ichilli, which indicated much ingenuity. 

 Also, two cassimere shawls, which were con- 

 fiidered worthy of particular notice, as being 

 the first of the kind offered. These three arti- 

 cles were presented by Miss Susan H. Ilubbarti, 

 of Windsor, and for which the Society awarded 

 her an extra premium. A Stand and Card Ta- 

 ble by Mr. Daniel Dewey ; a Sofa by Messrs. 

 Foster &i Shepherd; beautiful ladies' Combs by 

 Mr. Levi S. Platt ; a fruit piece, jiainted by Mr. 

 Laughfon ; a Threshing Machine, invented by 

 Mr. JamcsGregg. of New Hampshire, arc like- 

 wise mentioned in favorable terms. 



The public exercises were, a Prayer by the 

 Uev Dr Flint, aud an able and instructive Ad- 



TO TnF. EDITOR OF THE >EW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sir — Being of j'our opinion " that it is the 

 duty of every man possessing any information 

 tending to advance the agricultural interests of 

 his country, to lay such (however inelegantly 

 communicated,) before his fellow citizens," 1 

 deem it not amiss to send you my opinion, 

 (founded on some experience,) respecting the 

 time most suitable for cutting English Grain, 

 which in New England, as far as my knowledge 

 extends, is permitted to stand in the field two 

 or three weeks later than good husbandry de- 

 mands. 



European writers, I believe, are unanimous 

 in the opinion, that when the milky substance 

 has passed from that state mio fiour, the sooner 

 the grain is cut the better, as all after this, il 

 permitted to stand, is taking value from the 

 straw, and adding to the berry or kernel, what ? 

 a thick, dark and bitter skin ! thereby render- 

 ing the bread made from such grain dark, 

 clammy, and unsavory to the taste, if not un- 

 healthy to the stomach. 



From an experience of several years in cut- 

 ting my grain as above recommended, 1 consid- 

 er its value to have been enhanced one quarter 

 part, as the grain is not only more zi'hite and 

 szi-cei, but the straw is likewise of double the 

 value for fodder of that cut late, when the grain 

 is dead ripe. 1 can with confidence assure my 

 friends of the plough, that if they will cut their 

 grain early, (viz. when the kernel is tough and 

 spongy, and feels like India rubber) they will 

 sustain no loss from shrinkage, as grain after it 

 has arrived at this state, can receive no more 

 nourishment from mother-earth ; that the ex- 

 cellence of the straw will doubly compensate 

 them for the trouble of haying it after it is cut; 

 that instead of dark bitter rye, they may have 

 that, which in point of color and sweetness, 

 may vie with the late cut wheat. 



Plaister of Paris. — Three year? since I used 

 one ton of Plaister of Paris, one barrel of which 

 was sown on mowing on the top of a heavy 

 swell of land, which to appearance had little or 

 no effect, till the present summer, when the 

 land was broken up, and the sward, in true 

 Brighton style, turned bottom up, for a crop of 

 l^iiglish turnips. The weather which followed 

 the sowing was unfavorable for this vcgrfabie, 

 but to my .surprise 1 discovered that, where the 

 plaister had been sown, three years before, the 

 lurnij) plants were vigorous and thrifty ; each 

 side of which the drought had destroyed them 

 almost to a plant ! At this time, (Oct. 1st) the 

 turnips on the fa-corcd spot are the size of a 

 cod'ee cu|) ! 



Now, Mr. Editor, this same Plaister of Paris, 

 (or capricous Gypsum, or whatever otiier term 

 It may have) has caused the gentlemen of the 



plough handles more puzzle as it respects it 

 act.ng as an auxiliary to forward vegetation 

 than almost all the rest of our unaccountable 

 put together. A friend of mine. Dr. W***"^ 

 having purchased a large plantation on the Huil 

 son river, N. \. had, he informed me, made u= 

 of many tons of this article, to very great ail 

 vantage, and is of the opinion, that it acts mor 

 by fermentation within the earth, (thereby pre 

 paring food proper for plants in a greater de 

 gree) than by its agency in attracting nitre o 

 an}' other property contained in the atmosphcri 

 My turnips give evidence to such an opinion. 



The above remarks on Gypsum are not madi 

 so much with a view of their enlightening an' 

 one, as of eliciting observations from more ex 

 perienced heads and abler pens. With the ajio 

 ' logy, that many who can hold a plough to ad 

 miration, make but a bungling job in wieldin: 

 the pen, 1 shall subscribe myself your humb!. 

 servant, A YOUNG FARMER. 



Of the heart of .Massachusetlc. 



Oct. 1, 1822. 



I 



From the London Fanners' Journal. 

 RECEIPT FOR MAKING GREIN GRAPE WINE. 



Lezi'isham A'ursery, Oct. 7, 1821. 



Sir — Having for a number of years been ver 

 fortunate in making British Wines, 1 hcrewill 

 send you a recei])t for making Green Grapi 

 Wines, which is particularly applicable this lat> 

 season, as there are many farmers, and others ii 

 the country, who have large quantities of grape 

 that will not ripen, and ivhich they w ill find, \r 

 making use of them in this way, will turn to ; 

 very good account. Care must be taken to havi 

 the casks, bottles. &c. very sweet and clean, ani 

 1 ha\e no hesitation in pronouncing this thi 

 finest British wine that can be made. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant. 



JOHN WILLMOTT. 



To mal:c Champagne from Grapes equal to foreign 

 Gather the Grapes when they are just turning 

 or about half ripe ; pound them in a tub, and ti 

 every quart of berries so pounded, put twi 

 (|uarts of water : let it stand in a mash tub, fb; 

 1 f days when it is to be drawn off; and to everj 

 gallon of liquor put three pounds of lump sugar 

 when dissolved, cask it, and after working, bun< 

 it down. In about six months it will be fit ti 

 drink, when it should be bottled and tied down 

 or wired, if it is intended to be kept more thai 

 one year. 



An awful instance of sudden death occurred f 

 few days since near Worthing. A gentleman oi 

 the name of Home, having occasion to paint his 

 house, incautiously remained in it, contrary to 

 the advice of his friends, during the time the 

 men were employed. On the fourth day ho was 

 seized with vomitings, and complained of a gid- 

 diness in the head. A physician was immediate- 

 ly sent for, but before he could arrive, the unfor- 

 tunate man was senseless. Every means which 

 medical skill could devise were tried lor his re- 

 covery, but without effect. He has lef't a wile 

 and two children to lament Lis untimely death. 



Ibid. ' 



Important! — His Majesty, says an Edinburgh 

 paper, landed at Leith, on a large piece of ma- 

 hogany, which is intended to be cut up, an«|l 

 made info snuff boxes ! 



