70 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



ArG. 30, im 



ANn HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



Boston, Wednesdat, Augdst 30, 1843. 



THE PROPER TIME FOR CUTTING ENGLISH 



GRASS. 



" In this vicinity, Ihc general rule is to cut English 

 grass when handsomely in tlie blossom. Not so over 

 the monntain. Apparently, last week not h If of the 

 heavy English grass was cut, though to us it would ap- 

 pear to be sufl'ering, the stalk yellow, and half the heads 

 ripe. We hope some of our agricultural editors will 

 give us an essay on the advantages of such late cutting, 

 in preference to earlier. There is more heart, they say, 

 and it is secured with less labor. Our impression is thai 

 it is better for working horses and oxen, but unprofita- 

 ble for milch cows." — A'ew Uampsliire Sentinel uf .iu- 

 gust IG. 



We do not intend to give that " essay," friend Pren- 

 tiss, but we will just say that when " the proper time 

 for cutting grass" was made the subject for discussion 

 et the State House, two or three years since, we found 

 that practical farmers differed widely. The prevailing 

 opinion, was in favor of cutting in the blossom. But 

 some, and they were men of gray hairs, and of good 

 agricultural reputation, maintained that horses especially, 

 and cattle for the most part, liked herdsgrass belter and 

 derived more benefit from it, if cut when fully ripe. 

 Chemistry makes it more nutritive when ripe. But we 

 care little for that. Wo want to know what amount of 

 nutriment an animal's stomach viiU extract froin it — not 

 how much it contains. We presume — for it is only a mat- 

 ter of opinion — that there is more nourishment obtained 

 by the animal from an acre of herdsgrass, that has ri- 

 pened but not shed its seed, than would have been ob- 

 tained had it been cut in the blsssom. But we presume 

 too, that the r/pe is generally less palatable, and that our 

 cattle by consuming it Ipss freely, fail to keep in as good 

 condition, as they will upon that which is cut younger. 

 Especially is this the case where we feed partly upon 

 grain. In this vicinity, where we are giving our work- 

 incT animals, meal or oats, hay that is cut in the blossom 

 is preferred. But where no grain is given, we are not 

 ready to say that the seed of ripe herdsgrass is not a 

 ffcr?/ 5er?5icaZ'/e accompaniment of the stock and leaves. 

 The stock and leaf are less when cut young — but at that 

 time there is no grain or seed. 1/ you use meal or oats 

 in connection with hay cut young, you furnish as we 

 judge, the best feed — but if you do not mean to furnish 

 anything hut hay, that hay may be best which contains 

 the most grain, or has upon it the most ripened seed. 



To make cattle do well, however, upon such hay, we 

 suppose it necessary that they shall be kept generally 

 from forming a taste for that which is cut younger; 

 otherwise they will not fill themselves. 



One remark which we have heard from many sources, 

 may have some bearing upon this point. Our Massa- 

 chusetts horses when journeying in Vermont, seldom 

 relish the hay that is given to them. This is perhaps 

 caused by the fact that the grass stood longer before it 

 was cut than it is allowed to in Massachusetts. 



Our inference fruii the little that we know and think 

 npon the subject, is, that if we were not able to furnish 

 our stock with grain, we should prefer to feed upon hay 

 that contained ripened seed ; and that if we could fur- 

 nish grain, we should choose to use in connection with 

 that hay that was cut in blossom. 



That hay is more hearty, and that it is cured at less 

 expense when not cut until it is ripe, we suppose must 

 be admitted. But it is less palatable — and the ground 

 furnishes less after-growth. Either may be best accoril- 

 ing to the farmer's circumstances. 



EARLY SEEDLING POTATO. 



Mr Worcester, of Bridgewater, sent us, last week, a 

 few potatoes, which, though they had been dug and ei- 

 posed to the air for five or six days before they were 

 cooked, proved very good. Mr. W. describes them as a 

 seedling, which he calls "Prime." 



From the same gentleman, last autumn, we received 

 two other varieties of seedling potatoes, which were 

 good, and some of which we planted. The three varie- 

 ties are quite similar in form and color, being all of them 

 tiatish and white, of medium size. When cooked, they 

 are all mealy and well flavored. We do not question 

 their being distinct varieties, though the potatoes are 

 so much alike, that if all were thrown into one basket, 

 it would require a better eye than ours to separate them. 

 We make this remark for the purpose of inducing Mr 

 W., if he shall bring his seedlings to public notice, to 

 describe the distinctive marks of each. We believe, 

 from what he has sent us, that he has originated some 

 good varieties, so far as looks and quality go, and shall 

 bo glad to learn all that we can about them. 



CANKER WORMS— AN INQUIRY. 

 Is it true, as we have been told from two or three dif- 

 ferent sources, that when apple trees that have been 

 badly eaten by canker worms for years, re-commence 

 bearing, that they bear larger and fairer fruit than be- 

 fore, and larger and fairer than other trees in the neigh- 

 borhood, of the same variety, that escaped the gnawings 

 of the worms? We should not have expected such a 

 result — for we supposed that the efToit required to pro- 

 duce a new set of foliage, would be quite as exhausting 

 as the bearing of fruit. 



Cotes Drying up Suddenly. — We have heard of seve- 

 ral instances recently, of cows which were giving a 

 good quantity of milk, suddenly drying up. In one in- 

 stance — that of Mr Chamberlin, of the firm of J. Breck 

 & Co., — the giving the cow an ounce of saltpetre in a 

 quart of meal, brought a return of the milk in a very 

 short time. 



Weeds. — These noxious intruders will keep you busy. 

 They have been growing while the rains have been 

 pouring down, and are now most luxuiient. Wage war 

 upon them^do not let them go to eeed, and thus make 

 you work for future years. 



" Economy of Farming" — a new work, from the Ger- 

 man of Prof. Burger — by E. G. Smith. Crocker & 

 Brewster, Boston : Price 50 cts. — We have read only 

 the title page — but the source from which the book 

 comes, leads us to anticipate that it will be well worth 

 reading. 



Diseases of the Potato. — The article on another page 

 from the " Book of the Farm," (a Scottish publication,) 

 discloses some new facts and well supported theories 

 concerning the diseases of the potato, which merit the 

 attention of our farmers. 



Wounds on Horses — Take one quarter of a pound of 

 saltpetre, half a pint of vinegar, half a pint of spirits of 

 turpentine — put ihem together in a bottle, and shake up 

 before using. Apply to the wound with a feather three 

 times a day. — Central Aeto York Far. 



Plums and Peaches. — Tho abundant rains of the last 

 two weeks, have cr,icked or rotted most of tho larger 

 plums and some of the earlier peaches in this vicinity. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXHIBITION OF FLOWERS. 



Saturday, Mg. 26, 184! 



In consequence of the long continued rains and cl 

 ed sun, this part of the exhibition was not large: t 

 were, however, some very good things shown. 



From Messrs. Ilovey & Co., Bouquets of Rosea. 



From Messrs. Breck & Co., good Asters. 



From S. R. Johnson, good Balsams and Verbenas 



Bouquets from Messrs. W. Kenrick, S. Walker, . 

 Howard, J. L. L. F. Warren, W. Wales, Dorcheste 



From Edward Winslow, Rcjxbury, Dahlias, Bals 

 and Asters. 



From S. A. Walker, Brookline, Bouquets, Asters 

 Dahlias — among the latter a good bloom of I)c 

 Prince of Wales, which variety bids fair to rival all 

 er yellows. 



From J. Hovey, Roxbury, Bouquets, Phlox Di 

 mondii, Verbenas, &c. 



From VVm. E. Carter, Cambridge, Bouquets, Hibi: 

 Lobelias, and one small plant of Achimenes longil 

 very fine, neat and rare. 



For the Committee, P. BARNE 



EXHIBITION OF FRCIT3. 



The display of fruits today was very fair, allhi 

 not so large as might be expected at this season of 

 year. The Summer apples were larger, and inch 

 more varieties than any previous day this sum 

 Many of the specimens, particularly the Williams' 

 pie, were beautiful. The late rains have iiijurec 

 plums very much, causing them to crack and decay, 

 the specimens were confined to a very few varif 

 The Washingtonian, by .Mr Lovett, and the Fothci 

 ham, by Mr O. Johnson, weie very fine. 



Mr J. Bartlett, of Quincy, exhibited a hoi of s 

 Plums, of fine flavor, almost equal to the Green ii 

 which he thinks is a seedling, but sf this ther* 

 doubts, as they in every way resemble the Drap ( 



From the Pomological Garden, Salem ; Devoni 

 Quarrenden, and Corse's Seedling Sweeting Ap 

 Rostiezer and Passe Long Bras Penrs — the latter i 



From J. Lovett, Washington Plums, Early D' 

 Apples, and a fine large Canteloupe Melon. 



From Geo. O. Farmer, Roxbury ; a basket of Gra« 



From John Hovey, White Gage Plums, and Ye.l 

 Siberian Crab Apples. 



From L. P. Grosvenor, the following varieties of 

 pies — Benoni, Garden Sweet, Hill-top, Mexico, E 

 Bough, River, and Williams's Favorite — the latter 

 perb. Also, Jargonelle and Catherine Pears. 



From E. Wight, Benoni Apples, very good. 



From S. R. Johnson, Washington Plums, large. 



From S. Walker, a large basket of Washington Pli 

 and Summer Franc Real Pears. 



From S. Pond, Washington Plums, good. 



From E. Brndshaw, Cliarlestown, a basket of ' 

 large and handsome Apricots. 



From J. T. Buckingham, Champagne Pale Red ( 

 rants. 



From Hovey & Co., a bran'ch with ripe and gr 

 fruit of the Ohio Everbearing Raspberry. 



From John Welles, Boston, fine Apricots. 



From A. D. Williams, Roxbury, splendid spociii 

 of Williams's Favorite Apples. 



From Otis Johnson, Fotheringham Plums; Sum 

 Franc Real, Julienne and English Catherine Pears, 

 very large Early Bough Apples. 



From P. P. Spalding, Lowell, Spalding's Early S( 

 ling Apple, a red fruit of good size and appearance. 

 For the Committee, P. B. HOVEY, Ji 



Woman — Without woman, man would be rude, g 

 and solitary. Woman spreads around him tho flow 

 of existence, aa the creepers of the forest decorate 

 trunks of sturdy oaks with their perfumed garlai 

 The Christian pair live and die united ; together tl 

 rear the fruits of iheir union ; in tho dust they lie ( 

 by side ; and they are re-united beyond the limits of 

 tomb. — Chauttbriand. 



Enterprise. — The svise and aciive conquer difTicul 

 by daring to attempt them. Sloth and folly shiver : 

 shrink at the sight of toil and hazard, and make the 

 possibility they fear. 



