238 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



FEBRCARV I, 1«37. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY ], 1837. 



(For the New England 'J- 'armer.) 



CAMELLIA JAPONICA. 



" What nature alas ! has denied, 

 ******* 



Art has in a measure supplied, 

 And Winter is deck'd with a smile." 



rcrmit me, if you please, Mr Editor, through the 

 pages of your periodical, to present my best thanks to 

 Col. Marshal P. Wilder, of Dorchester, for liis polite 

 invitation to visit his Green house; and to offer to your 

 roadeis a few remarks on his Camellias. 



Col. Wilder has probably the greatest variety, and 

 some of the finest and largest specimens of the Camel- 

 lia Japonica, of any person in this country ; his impor- 

 tations of this magnificent plant, have been very exten- 

 sive, consisting of nearly all tiie last varieties raised in 

 Kngland, France nid Germany. I noticed some, of re- 

 cent importations, from twelve to fifteen feet in height ; 

 these plants will, when they shall have fully recovered 

 from the injury of transportation from Europe, show to 

 great advantage, towering aloft among others, no less 

 lieautiful, but of smaller growth. Green states that tiie 

 Camellia Japonica is a vast and lofty tree, in high es- 

 teem wilh the Japanese, for the elegance of its large 

 Sowers, which exhibit a great variety of colors, and for 

 its evergreen leaves ; and that it is common every where 

 in their groves and gardens, flowering from October to 

 April. It is a native also of China, and occurs very fre- 

 f)uently in Chinese paintings. Had the Camellia (says 

 the Editor of Flora Domestica) been a Greek, Italian or 

 English plant, there would have been a great deal said 

 of it by poets and lovers , and doubtless it makei a fig- 

 ure in the poetry of Japan. But unfortunately for our 

 quotations, though perhaps fortunate for their own com- 

 fort, the Japanese have had most of their good things to 

 Ihemsslves. But to return to Haiothorn Grove and to 

 what I saw. Afler taking off my Lady's pelisse and 

 tippet (for she was also invited by the gallant Colonel, 

 who does nothing by halves, as his flowers testify) and 

 also taking off my own cloak, and thus prepared to make 

 my debut into the presence of Flora, I was conducted 

 into the green-house by the proprietor ; at the first view 

 I exclaimed — 



" 'Tis a bower of Arcadian sweets, 

 Where Flora is still in her prime, 



A fortress, to which she retreats 

 From the cruel assaults of the clime. 



While Earth wears a mantle of snow, 

 These flowers are as fresh and as gay 



As the fairest and sweetest, thai blow. 

 On the beautiful bosom of May." 

 On our right hand and on our left hand, along the en- 

 tire length of the conservatory, were placed specimens 

 of this choice flower : we had scarcely commenced our 

 examination, before we were agreeably interrupted by 

 other visitors, friends of the propriuti.rs and of ourselves 

 and with this addition to our company, we recommen- 

 ced our examination, and with increased satisfaction, at 

 Joaat it was so to myself, and I think I may say so for 

 all the company, as I know of nothing selfish in the 

 whole economy of the goddess of flowers ; she appears 

 to increase her favors in proportion to the number of 

 admirers, giving to all individually and collectively, a 

 portion equal to their greatest love or desire ; fur ihis 

 reason I love to attend her courts on a gala-day, and 

 to be surrounded by her courtiers and lovers. But it is 

 otherwise when I wish to look intohor myslcries ; then 



tho small still voice whispers into my ears, and says, be 

 still — admire — wonder — look up and know that I am 

 God. Mr Wilder gave ua the names of his extensive 

 collection of plants, and in some cases the pedigree of 

 some of the varieties ; three fine sorts then in bloom, 1 

 understood Mr Wilder to say, were produced from seed 

 out of one capsule. 1 notici>d among other beauties, 

 Punctata, Rossij, Imbricata, Chandlerii, Eclipse, Lady 

 Hume, Fimbriata, and two splendid plants of the old 

 double white, one of which had upwards of sixty blos- 

 soms on it at that lime ; this last variety is so great a 

 favorite with me, that 1 cannot close this passing no- 

 tice, without adding a few words in praise of this bri- 

 dal flower. It is as Burnsexpres.?es it, '• loveliness be- 

 yond compare." If 1 could be the owner of only one 

 plant the of Camellia, I shoulti say, let that one be the 

 old double white. Eximia ami Reticulata, which I have 

 hereiofore seen in great perfection at Col. Wilder's, stand 

 next in my estimation, as fine varieties of this splendid 

 shrub. W. 



Rozbury, Jan. 25, 1837. 



f For the New England Farmer.] 

 BOKE MANU R E 



Mr. Editor: — For two or three years past, I 

 have used Bone Dust in considerable quantities, and in 

 a variety of ways. In all cases it must first undergo a 

 fermentation. This is done by putting it in a heap, and 

 moderately moistening it — or in casks. It is known to 

 be in fermentation by the heat and the strong smell. — 

 Before being fermented it is white or color of the bone. 

 After, it assumes a yellowish cast. 



On an old timothy meadow, I spread at the rate of 

 about 24 bushels to the acre as a top dressing. Half of 

 the lot was very decidedly inferior to the other. On 

 this half I applied the dust early in the spring. At mow- 

 ing it was altogether superior to the other, which re- 

 ceived no manuring. 



In a compost with ditch earth, I top dressed a portion 

 of an old meadow that did not produce grass enough to 

 pay for mowing. The application was made just as the 

 mower was bidding a welcome adieu. At mowing there 

 was a heavy swath — I should think at least four times 

 as much as the previous year — principally redtop. 



For turnips I have used it broad-cast, and in drills — 

 alone and in compost — in most instances with very 

 good effect. 



In compost with soil and yard manure, I have found 

 it markedly superior to the best of yard manure for 

 pickles In that part of Westchester County, where 

 my farm is, almost every farmer raises pickles for mar- 

 ket — from quarter of an acre to ten or fifteen acres are 

 planted. The seed is put in the ground in July, and the 

 crop comes off in time for wheal. At some future day, 

 I may give you more particulars. The past season 1 

 planted about an acre, and let out on shares another 

 acre in an adjoining lot. In both the compost of bone 

 showed itself to much advantage, in compost I should 

 recommend it as being mo.e certain and decidedly ben- 

 eficial. My farm is hilly and sandy loam. 



Composts, or a change of manures, I consider next in 

 importance to a rotation of crops. As a general rule, I 

 believe that we do not secure perfect vegetation without 

 the application of a variety of manures — that this veg- 

 etation is less congenial to the stomachs of our live 

 stock — consequently that they do not thrive as well, 

 and that they db not produce as good milk and butter. 

 This idea has science and reason to support it. 



S. F. 

 .Xcw York, Jan. 21), 1637. 



Intekesting. — A gentleman in the interior writes 

 that " He would like to subscribe for the Farmer on the 

 following conditions : that we insert the highest and 

 lowest price of Wool, Beef, Pork, and things of like 

 character, and particularly the price of Poultry, Geese 

 and Turkeys. Give short sketches of things strange, 

 and a chapter of Acciden Is. True items of Foreign and 

 Domestic news, Moral and Religious essays ; anecdotes 

 that are worth printing ; political news and essays; and 

 the remainder occupied by Agricultural matter;" for 

 all of which he generously tenders two dollars; Fifty 

 cents less ihan our regular price. Our correspondent 

 closes his strange epistle afler this wise. " in the fear 

 of God. J .. 



The gentleman's requisitions are somewhat too com- 

 prehensive; he has laid out mote job work ihan could 

 be completed by a dozen N. E. Farmers. 



(D° A Subscriber in Lowell, writes "for our opinion 

 with regard to tho Woburn Agricultural and Manufac- 

 turing Company : wlielher it is a safe and profitable 

 concern ; he wishing to make an investment." 



We are not acquainted e ther with the condition of 



that company, or any of the gentlemen composing it. 



But, if any statement of their plan and progress is offer- 

 ed, we will with jileasure give it a place in our columns. 



CrAs we stated last week, the Flour Market has 

 been very heavy. There is but little doing at quoted 

 prices. 



There has been very little doing in Grain the past 

 week. Our prices are nominal. 



The bulk of all the No. 1, and mess Beef in the mar- 

 ket, is held by one house, and is quoted at 50 cts. a bar- 

 rel, higher tnan last week. Pork and Lard are selling 

 in small lots, as wanted. - 



lET An order has been introduced in the Legislature, 

 and adopted, authorizing the Committee on Agriculture 

 to inquire into the expediency of affording legislative 

 aid to the culture of the Beet root, and the manufacture 

 of Sugar from that article. A bill will undoubtedly he 

 reported favorable to the measure. 



Large Steer.— Mr Millard White of East Wind- 

 sor, has a Steer of the Holderness Breed, not yet three 

 years old, supposed by competent judges, to weigh, 

 alive, 18 cwt. in store order. He is said to resemble 

 very exactly one of Esq. Battel's famous 0.xen which 

 were exhibited in Boston three years since. 



CTThe Haverhill Gazette advises purchasers to have 

 their barrels of flour weighed. A trader in Bradford in- 

 forms the editor that he weighed four barrels of Genes- 

 see flour and found them forty pounds short of the prop- 

 er quantity. 



The first Temperance Society ever formed in the U. 

 States, was, according to a statement made by Dr Pierce 

 of Brookline, organized about twenty years ago, by him 

 and Samuel Dexter. 



Cure for Bruises — A simple and effectual method 

 for removing pain caused by bruises, is to bathe the part 

 in hot water. This will also prevent tho nail turnino 

 black in cases when the ends of the fingers or toes are 

 injured. 



An eminent English physician has stated his decided 

 opinion, that a few grains of the discolored part of a 

 pear, is quite sufiicient to occasion a very dangerous 

 disorder in the intestines. 



The Maine Farmer says that boiled potatoes, peeled 

 while hot, as well mashed with new milk and fine salt 

 makes a good substitute for bread and butter. 



