302 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AND HORTICDLTURAL REGISTER. 



Boston, Wbdne3Day, Mabch S7, 1839. 



We have received the prospectus of the Rhode Island 

 Society, for the promotion of domestic industry, of their 

 cattle show and ploughing match and exhibition 

 of manufactures to be held at Pawtucltet on Wednesday 

 the 9th of October next. We shall give it a full inser- 

 tion beOjre long. This society is entitled to great credit 

 for their zeal and activity in the cause of an improved 

 agriculture. 



We have tile same acknowledgments to make in re- 

 spect lo the Plymouth .Vgricullural Society, whose cattle 

 show and exhibition are appointed for the IBth of Octo- 

 ber at Bridgewaler. Their prospectus shall have a sea- 

 sonable insertion. 



These annual exhibitions have done an immense ser- 

 vice to the state ; and wilJ, we hope, excite increased at- 

 tention and interest. The premiums are in general upon 

 a sufficiently liberal and judicious scale; but the lienor of 

 obtaining one of tltcir book premiums is worth very much 

 more than their pecuniary donations. 



MARCH ar, 1839. 



Rev. Mr Abbot of 



BOUNTY ON SfLK. 



The Secretary of State by the iireclion of the House 

 h.is laid before the Legislature the amount paid in the 

 form of bounties, since the act of Uth April, ia3G. 



The returns embrace the names and residence of the 

 claimants; the number of pounds of cocoons raised ; the 

 number of pounds of silk reeled; the number of pounds 

 thrown ; and the amount of bounty granted in each in- 

 stance. 



The highest quantity of cocoons-raised is 615 lbs and 

 of silk reeled is .52 lbs 6 oz. We will give the i>ames of 

 a few of the principal growers of silk. 



Coixions- raised. Silk- rtcle-i and 



Ancory llolman, Bolton, G15 lbs. 52 lbs 8oz. 



Benjamin Walker, Rehobolh, 277 



Timothy Smith, Amherst, 156 CO 



Reuben Hoar, Littleton, 150 H oz. 



Jonas Holland, Belckerto,wc, IK 



J. Bodman, Williamstown, 1^ 



Rosvvell Rice, Charlemont, 97 8 19 



Joseph Field, " 76 S 16 4 



Cyrus Smith, South Hadley, 70 



John Perry, Wales, 60 g 



And several others, whose names may be ascertained by 



a reference to the secretary's report. 



We subjoin the aggregate for the4bur years.— 



1836 



1H37 



1838 



March 0,1839 ' 



296.14 $1021 22 



Gl00.;9 525.10 



Secretary's Office, JUarfh \i, 1839,, 



This great interest is just in its infancy. As we have 

 always believed and said, it is destined to be one of the 

 great interesU of the oountrj; butwc must wait patiently 

 until the mulberry speculation has ceased or at least abat- 

 ed before much progress can be made in the raising of 

 silk. Of the decline of the disease there is at present 

 little prospect. A sale of mulberry trees the la,st week 

 has gone far beyond any which have been made' before. 

 We shall venture no predictions; but calmly wait the 

 event. 



AGRICULTURAL MEETING, 



Tiie ninth agricultural meeting was holden on Thurs- 

 day last at the State House, and was very fully attended ; 

 the interest in these meetings having increased from the 

 beginning; and the conviction of their utility having at 



every meeting been strengthened 

 Westford in the chair. 



The subjects announced for the evening were fruit 

 trees and agricultural improvements, but the attention of 

 the meeting was confined to the former subject. 



Mr Buekminster went largely into the subject. He ex- 

 pressed his opinion of the value of apples for the feed of 

 stock ; but was of opinion that they might be over-esti- 

 mated, and thought it as important to state the cases of 

 failure as of success. He himself had been disappointed. 

 He had turned ten hoga into an orchard in the fall, kept 

 them a month in the orchard ; they had apples in plenty ; 

 but they lost condition. (This seems so contrary to almost 

 universal experience that we are apprehensive there 

 must be some mistake or error in management. One 

 gentleman suggests that they had no salt given to them 

 in that time, which he deems necessary to their 

 thrift.) Mr B. thought that sour apples should not 

 be given raw. If apples are worth half as mnch as pota- 

 toes they ought to be raised. He has known them sold 

 often at 4 cents and 6 cents per bushel. 



Orchards in general are very badly neglected. The 

 grass must be kept from the roots ; as a tree checked in 

 its growth, can no more be recovered than a stinted ani- 

 mal. The land must be kept as rich as for Indian corn ; 

 no manure must be placed in contact with the roois ; the 

 soil must be kept moist, and litter of one kind or another 

 must be placed round the tree to keep the ground loose. 

 The growth of the trees must not be forced too much. 

 He has made them grow a foot in a season. The tap 

 root must not be " headed" down. The tap roots must 

 be preserved. Tlie trees mast not be staked ; and it is 

 best that they should be shaken and loosened by the 

 wind; they will not mind it after they get used to it. 

 (This is very probable, as was the case with the eels ofler 

 they got used to being skinned. After a short time, it is 

 very likely the poor trees, under such circumstances, 

 would not mind any tiling.) Small trees are much bet- 

 ter for transplanting than large ones. We prune too 

 much. If you would have trees bear fruit, enrich them. 

 Trees should be set by the road side ; of kinds not like- 

 ly to be plundered. Trees that stand by the wall will 

 bear more than those by the road side. Trees are much 

 enriched by the washings of the road. Trees may be 

 advantageously planted in clusters within a rod of each 

 other The prunings will afford a large amount of 

 wood Trees may be washed with lye, which will not 

 hurt the body of the tree. It is said that a farmer who 

 plants an orchard, is working for future generations. But 

 he may expect to derive immediate benefit. He has 

 gathered fruit from his trees in four years from planting. 

 Our climate differs from England, and we are in the prac- 

 tice of pruning our trees too much. 



To inquiries put to him whether trees should be plant- 

 ed in the spring, he replied yes; and that it would be 

 well to take them up and keep them a month before 

 setting out. (He did not say that they might get used to 

 being kept up all the time.) The neglect of raising sweet 

 apples arose from there not being the same demand for 

 them as others; and sweet apples are more certain bear- 

 ers than otiiers. 



A good deal of discussion arose then as to the expe- 

 diency of placing stones round trees with a vie\» to pre- 

 vent evaporation, which was upon the whole deemed 

 prejudicial to the trees. Inquiries arose then on the sub- 

 ject of raising trees from cuttings ; but no facts were giv- 

 en to cstiiblish the practicability of the process 



Mr Nichols, of Danveis, went largely into the cultiva- 

 tion of fruit. We have no room to do them justice. 

 Trees are destroyed by bearing too early. Trees which 

 bear once in two years do not grow in the non-bearing 

 yeir, but are then recruiting their strength. Engrafted 



trees die comparatively early. He has trees of natural 

 fruit now in bearing on his farm 150 years old. 



When trees are engrafted five or six feet above the 

 ground, the tree grows faster than the scion, and the 

 scion often suffers. Trees should he engrafted when 

 very small in the nursery; and it is best to engrafl them 

 upon the roots. 



He deems wax a very bad application for grafts ; as 

 he expressed it poisonous to the tree. He prefers a com- 

 position of clay and dung In his own experience, grafts 

 thus set have grown twice as fast as those set in wax. 



The tarring of trees is the only effeetual remedy with- 

 in his knowledge, against the canker worm. The ap- 

 plication of leaden troughs to trees with oil in them to 

 prevent the ascent of the worm, is a troublesome and in 

 a large orchard an impracticable process. Small trees 

 are liable to be injured by tarring. Old trees will not 

 suffer by it. (The best mode of applying tar which I 

 have seen, is first lo put a belt of clay mortar on the 

 tree, and then to tar on that. This, when the season of 

 danger is past may be easily removed, and is not likely 

 to bind the tree. H. C) 



Mr Nichols spoke of engrafting cficrry trees. The 

 scion is to be cut early, and kept until the first of May; 

 it is then to be placed under the bark ; and in this way 

 is likely to live A cherry tree must not be engrafted 

 by splitting the wood. He has engrafted cherry trees 

 successfully the first part of April. The cement which 

 he has used has been clay mixed with horse dung and 

 horse hair, which has remained for three years.' 



Much incidental conversation arose, in which Mr I 

 Bruce, of Grafton, Dr Slebbins, of Swansey, Dr Keep, i 

 of Boston, Rev Mr Field, of Charlemont, Mr Denny, of I 

 Westboro', the chairman, and others, took part, on the I 

 subject of grapes, mulberry trees, and other kindred to- | 

 pics., which we regret our inability to report in the pres- i 

 ent paper. 



Gentlemen seemed very reluctant to make this the i 

 last meeting; and as the coming Thursday would be I 

 Fast Day, it was voted to adjourn to the next Monday , 

 evening, to continue the subject of fruit trees and the 

 value of apples and fruit for stock. H. C. 



^ Mk BRECK—That eminent horticulturist the chevalier 

 feoulange Bodin desires me to make known " in all parts 

 of America" that he will have for disposal at the Jardin 

 de I' roraont, at Ris, near Paris, next autumn, the following 

 desirable productions. As a means of complying with 

 his wishes, I avail myself of the very extensive circula- 

 tion of your valuable paper. 



.'\1ARSHALL P. WILDER. 



Hawthorn Grove, ) 



Dorchester. J 



1st. 250,(100 jnonts muhicaulis horn 2 to 4 feet hieb 

 Very fine. ° ' 



2d. 400 ounces seed, or silk worms eggs, of the fine 

 kind called Sma, of which I am at this time, by an ar- 

 rangement with M. Camille Beauvais, the exclusive pro- 

 prietor. This seed can only be had of me at the price of 

 twenty francs per ounce. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



We have to acknowledge ourselves obligated to sever- 

 al correspondents, who mav be assured, we do not mean 

 to neglect them ; and duly appreciate their kindness. 



Philo Corax will shortly make his appearance, and 

 others will follow. 



We have received likewise a communication post- 

 marked Providence, requesting information respecting 

 the cultivation of carrots. The letter has no place of 

 date, and the signature is absolutely illegible. If the 

 writer will do us the favor to give us a " local habitation 

 and a name," the Commissioner will have the pleasure 

 totransmit him a copy of his Report which will be pub- 

 lished this week ; and in which he will find this subject 

 particularly treated. jj. c_ 



