86 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



SftPT. 81, 18I«. 



^mw i2sr^3!£.^sr2> s^ja^sma 



BOSTON. WED.NKSDAY EVENING, SEPT. 21, 1836: 



FARItlKRS' WOICK. 



Steep for Seed Wheat. — A jutlicious practical 

 farmer rt'cominentjs the tollowing process as affording 

 the best preparalioii frjr Sfjed wheat. In order to ilestmy 

 smut in the seed li> be sown, take 6 or 7 gallons of water 

 for four and a halfbushels of seed, and from two pounds 

 «ix ounces to two pounds ten ounces of quick lime ac 

 cording as Its quality is more or less caustic, or to the 

 greater or less degree of smut in the grain. Boil a pan 

 of the water and slake the brine with it, after which 

 add the remainder. The heat of the liquid ought to be 

 such that we can with difficulty bear the hand it. Then 

 gently pour the lime water on the grain placed in a tul', 

 stirring it without ceasing. The liquor should at first be 

 three or four fingers breadth over the wheal. Leave th>; 

 grain to soak twenty four hours turning it five or six 

 times, when it may be sown. 



"Grain limed by immersion ^es not incommode the 

 sower, like that « liirh is limed in the ordinary way.— 

 The lime adiieres like a varnish to the surface of the 

 grain ; its germination is quic'^er, and as it carries with 

 •it moisture enough to develope the embryo, the wheat 

 will be less likely to suffer for the want of rain ; insects 

 •will not attack it, as they cannot bi ar the alkaline taste 

 of the lime. 



To Fatten Hogs — An English farmer fattened eight 

 ipigs in (^following manner, which may be recommend- 

 ,£d iu eases where a constant and regular attention can- 

 mot bo given to feeding the animals. He placi'd two 

 troughs in the sty« : one he filled with raw potatoes, 

 ^he other wiih [peas and gave no water. When the 

 pigs were thirsty they ate the potatoes. In this way it 

 jis probable that the animals would nut only thrive with- 

 out water, but would need no antimitry, brimslone, 

 aior any other medical substances ; for new potatoes be- 

 :ing cooling and loosening might serve at once for food 

 and, physic. Instead of peas, perhaps dry Indian corn, or 

 "wlr t would be better, indian meal might be substituted. 

 *rhiB mode of management with swine was fir.-^l recom- 

 anended in the N. E. Farmer, Aug. C, 1824, and has 

 t>een adopted by a correspondent of the KoTthern Far- 

 tner, who diiects as follows — 



" Shut your hogs up the first part of September; feed 

 •them with dry peas, or corn; give them raw potatoes, 

 "but no drink. The grain creates an inward fever ; the 

 -animals being uneasy from thirst, will chew the pota- 

 toes fine, but chew slow, and get the substance of them 

 «s well as if boiled. This has been my practice for 

 jears past. I give them as much grain as they will eat; 

 and after that each grown hog will eat from six to eight 

 <]uurts of potatoes per day.'' 



Cunnii gham in his Tiso Years in JWic South Wales 

 relates" I had often heard it said a mong sailors tiiatpigs 

 would fatten cm coals, and although 1 had observed them 

 very fimd of munchit.g up the coals and cinders that 

 came in tlu'ir way, slill 1 conceived tliey might relish 

 them more as a condiment or medicine than as food, till 

 1 was assured by a friend of mine, loi<g in cminand ol 

 a ship, that he once knew of a pig's being lost for sev- 

 eral Wi^eks in a r«'ssel he comoianded, and it was found 

 at last to have tumbled into a coal hole, and there lived 

 all that period without a single morsel of any thing to 

 feed on hut coals; on being dragged out it was Hiund as 

 plump and fair as if it had been feasting on the most nu- 

 irir.ioua food. Another friend told me of a similar case, 

 -which came under his observation ; and although these 



may be solitary instances, yet they serve at the least to 

 show the vvaiiderfiil facility which the stomach of cer- 

 tain animals possess of adapting their digestive powers 

 to such an e.xtraordinary species of food, and extracting 

 wholesome nourishment thercfrc.m. When we consider 

 coal, however, to be a vegetable production, containing 

 the constituent principles of fat, carbon, hydrogen and 

 oxygen, our surpiiso ceases. 



Young pigs require warm food to make tkem^rjir. — 

 Corn and cold water will make ihem sleek and healthy ; 

 lut warm beverage is considered requisite to a quick 

 crrowth. — Marshal's Inland Cumtllei. 



The sam« writer observes that "every stye should 

 have a rubbing post. Having occasion to shut two hogs 

 out of a stye without one, into another with a post acci. 

 dentally put up to support the roof, I had a full opportu- 

 nity of observing its use. The animals whi.'n they went 

 in were dirty, with broken ragged coals, and with dull 

 heavy countenances In a few days they cleared away 

 their coats, cleaned their skins, and became sleek haired. 

 The enjoyment of the post w.is discernible even in their 

 looks, in their liveliness and apparent contentment. The 

 method I have always adopted, and shall pursue till a 

 better is pointed out is, to fill about three paits of a large 

 kettle with potatoes ; 1 scatter over them : bout a peel- 

 and a half of barley meal (or indian meal.) then fill 

 the kettie with potatoes, adding just as much water as 

 will cover them. Then the meal does not sink to tne 

 bottom of the kettle where it "ill encrust and burn, nor 

 will it bo liable to be wasted by boiling over. The 

 nourishment of the meal is in a great degree extrnnted 

 by the water. After the potatoes are we'l boiled let the 

 whole be mixed and bruised in tubs, with a clean spad, , 

 so as to form a pulp. Bythis method all the nutritious 

 powers of the meal are incorp rated, and thereby much 

 easier digested and the hogs require no water. 



In cold weather it should be given blooi warm. The 

 swine while fattening should be kept as clean as possible, 

 with dry litter. Twice or thrice a week add .ibnnt three 

 table spoonsfull of salt to each half bushel of their fiiod, 

 which assisIB digestion and promotes appetite. When 

 too much salt is given it acts as a purgative, which pre- 

 vents the deriving of due nourishment from food." 



By Mr W. Kenrick, from Dr Ford, of Alna, Me. — 

 the following varieties of apples, — Pomine de Roi, 

 Early Harvest, Lewis' Early, Koxbury Doggett, Hink- 

 ley Sweeting, Haley apples. 



Several varii'ties from a source unknown to us, were 

 presented for nun s, among them was the Porter and 

 Pumpkin Sweeting. 



Plu.ms. From Mr Manning — fine specimens of the 

 German Prune, which has the valualde property of 

 hanging on the tree till dry. 



From Mr Van Dyne, of Cambridge — White Gage 

 and Smith's Orleans. 



From Hovey & Co. — Peachns, cultivated in pots. — 

 Also, a specimen of Walker's Long Green C.icumber, 

 measuring tweniy inches in length. 



Mr Mason, of Cliarlestown — exhibited a basket of 

 Brugnun Nectarines, the finest of that variety we have 

 ever noticed. 



For the Committee. 



P. B HOVEY, Jb. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIO.V. 



The annual ixhibilion of Fruits and Flowers of the 

 Massachusetts H nicultural Society, will take place on 

 Saturday, the a4lh ins', .it the Artists' Gallery, Summer 

 street. Members of the society and others disposed to 

 aid its objects, are requested to firvvard such contribu- 

 lions of Fruits and i^/owerj to the abovementioiied place 

 on Fritlay afternoon o.' on Saturd.-iy morning before nine 

 o'clock, as they are disposed to make. Committees will 

 be in attendance to receive, label and lake charge of the 

 same. 



Pin address by E. Weslon, Jr. Esq will be delivered 

 at the place of exhibiliiin at M o'clock pncisely. 



Tickets for admission may be found a the door. 

 SAMUEL WALKER, 

 Chairman Cum. of Jliirangements. 



The Committei! of Arran.einents and also the Com- 

 mittee on Fruils and FIowt*rs are requested to meet at 

 the place of exhibition on Friday, P. M. at 3 o'clock. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICIIL TITRAL SOCIETY 



SiUurct.iy, Sept. 17, 18S6. 



The President ill the Chair. It was voted to aug 

 men! the Committee of Arrangements, by adding thereto 

 ihi- following ger.tlenien : — E. M. Richards, David HaL' 

 gerstnn, John A. Kenrick, P. B. Hovey ,S. A. SliurtlelT. 

 J E.Teschemacher, J Winsh |>. II. 'I' P.iin", Sam. R. 

 Johnson, Sam. Pimd, W. Colion. 



Cav. Doct. Vincent Tinio, Director of the Horticul 

 tural fiarden at I'alermo was chosen Corn spondiiig 

 member. 



Voted to adjourn to Saturd iv next, to meet at the 

 place of exhibition, at 1 1 o'clock. 



EXHlRITIon OF Kl UlTS. 



Pears. From Mr Manning — Surpasse St. Germain 

 (Buel and Wilson's Cat,) i'n excellent pear about I he 

 size of tiie Old St Germain and rich and beaulifol in 

 appearance. Julienne, Valero Franche, Summer Rose 

 and Summer Franc Real, — the latter rich and delicious, 

 and will rank among the very best summer pears. 



From .Mr Ricliards— Grisse lioniie (Cox), Great Mo- 

 gul and Har\ard. 



Api'Lis From Mr French — Dutch Codlin, Garden 

 Royal, Gideon (a native sweet apple) and Poller's, very 

 fine. 



From Mr Kichards — Orange Sweeting (good) and 

 I.'enoni. 



Essex Agricdltoral SociETtr. — The Annual Exhi- 

 bitiim by llu^ Society will be held at the South Parish 

 in Danvers, on Wednesday, Sejit. 28th. 



All claims for Preiiiiuiiis to be awarded on the day of 

 exhibilion. must be entered with the Secretary of the 

 Society, or his agtnt, on or be.'ure 9 o'clock A. M. of 

 that day. 



All other claims for Premiums must be handed or 

 forwarde.l to the Secretary in writing. 



All articles of domestic manuficliire must be en lered 

 and deposited .it the Hall for this purpose, under flir 

 Austin's Meeting House, by 9 o'eleck 



These articl s will be ex.imined and arranged by the 

 Committee, — and ut 12 o'clock will be opened for pub- 

 lic examination. 



All animals or articles exhibited must remain for 

 public ins[H*ctioii until 3 o'clock, P M. 



The Plujgliiiig Match will take place at 10 o'clock. 



Cattle Shows, — The StiafTord, N H Agricultural 

 Society will hold its annual meeting at Meredith Centre 

 ni'ar Tom Davenpnri, Esq's li'n, on tlie 3d Tuesday of 

 Ociober next, and Wednesday fiillowing. 



Penobs<-ot Agricultural Show and Fair ai Rc'binson's 

 Tavern, in Coiinth, Me. on Wediiesd.ay, 20lh Sept. 

 We iiolicH that the editor of the Mechanic and Farmer 

 offers one volume of his paper, in addition to the premi- 

 ums offeied by the Soc ety, for the best cro[> of White 

 Beans, fiir the ihiid best Mulberry Nursery, and for the 

 best specimen of Butter. 



