78 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



SKFT. 6, 184! > 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



BosTOK, Wedhesdat, Sept. 6, 1843. 



HARVESTING INDIAN CORN. 



Various cipcriincnts liav? been instituted tn show bow 

 the crop is affected by t.ikifig off tlic top of the stalk. j9U 

 the results, as fat as we remember, agree in making the 

 crop laiger wliere the stalk is left uncut. Where grain 

 alone is the object, it is belter to leave the stalks whole 

 until harvest lime than lo cut them. VVe believe ihnt 

 all the actual trials concur in proving this. But the sto- 

 ver, or corn fodder, is an object with nearly all farmers, 

 and this, a pait of it, is undoubtedly bcllor when cut off 

 while yet green, and well cured, than when it stands 

 exposed to the weather until the corn i.-i fully ripe. 

 Whether the gain in the quality Jof the top stalks is 

 enough to p.iy for culling and curing them, and to pay 

 also for the loss of grain, is a point unsettled by any ac- 

 tual experiments, as fnr as we know. Common practice 

 is in favor of topping the stalks. 



But we like belter a process by which we nnither top 

 the stalk nor let it stand until it is ripe. For several 

 days, as soon as the curlkr ears cf corn in our field be- 

 come icdl glazed, while the late ones are yet in a good 

 slate for boiling or roasting, we cut at the root, lay about 

 four hills too-elher, bind as soon as convenient, with 

 rye straw, set up about eight bundles together, and put 

 around these two bands of straw ; thus left, even with- 

 out a cap, the corn stands the weather wq^l, is not lia- 

 ble to mould, even in long storms and fogs, and the sto- 

 Ter keeps clean and cures well. The ccirn, lories plump, 

 bright, and sweet — we think more so than when left 

 uncut. The late ears cure much better in this way. 

 At husking time you may find small ears but you will 

 fcarcely find a green one. The labor by this process is 

 lees than by the process of topping ; and we on the 

 whole preler it to any other method we have tiied. In 

 onr paper two years ago at this time, we described the 

 whole process minutely. There all the instruction is 

 given which we are able to fuyiish. 



There is a question whether ihe corn cured in this 

 way is as heavy as that that ripens on the standing stalk. 

 We have handled and icorkcd upon the corn cnrod in 

 both ways; but we have not weighed with a view to 

 settle the que&tion of weight between them. Our opin- 

 ion is that al the 25lh of October, husking time, the I'ob 

 of that that has been cut and stooked, is much the dri- 

 est, and that it shrinks less in the bin than the other, 

 and unless that which is leA standing till ripe, should 

 be very considerably the heavier in October, we should 

 expect the other to weigh most the following winter 

 and spring. la our judgment, we get the most weight 

 of grain when we cut up and ripen in stook. 



SCIENTIFIC TERMS IN AGRICULTURAL WRI- 

 TINGS. 



Complaint is sometimes made that the agricultural 

 writers of the day use eo many chemical terms, and so 

 rnuoh of the language of science, that ihe common far- 

 mer cannot comprehend what is written. Not long 

 since, we remember that some " Plow-jogger" rcquest- 

 pd us to publish in our columns a sort uf dictionary of 

 terms, explaining all that are difiicult. 



Would this be of any service? Wo much doubt 

 whether it would. The definitions might perhaps bo 

 read when first published, but they would very rarely 

 be remembered from a single reading. The only effec- 

 tual way of learning them, is to have a sort of dictionary 

 of terms at hand, and look out the meaning of the words 



as ime reads. Such a dictionary is furnistied in every 

 elementary work on chemistry, and may be found in 

 the introduclory pages of Webster's edition of Liebig. 

 Such hooks ar^ more convenient for reference than the 

 bark numbers of a weekly newspaper. 



It is well that the use of purely scientific terms which 

 common farmers do not understand, should be avoided as 

 far as may bo by writers upon agriculture — but when- 

 ever chemislry, entomology, or botany are brought in to 

 aid the farmer in understanding his business, some sci- 

 entific terms must be used, because no other words will 

 convey the writer's meaning with any precision. This 

 fact is not peculiar to the sciences, but is equally true in 

 reference to all the arts and common pursuits of life. 

 Many of the different operations and objects upon the 

 farm, are described by names which are perfect Greek 

 to all but those who have spent a porlion of their days 

 upon the farm. And such terms are not the same the 

 world over, nor even in the different counties of our 

 own State. What in one couniy is called a harrow, is 

 in another county called a drag — and "the drag of one 

 place, is the rock-boat of another. The hassock of Essex 

 county, is the hog of the western part of the State. Wc 

 are as much confounded, and so is any mere common 

 farmer, by the phrases of the sailor or the ship carpen- 

 ter, as by those of the chemist. The men of each diffe- 

 rent calling must have many terms peculiar to their 

 pursuit, and no accurate description of their operations 

 can he made, without using some of those ternis. The 

 chemistry of agriculture has its own language, to some 

 extent, and if chemistry speaks to the farmer, she must 

 do it partly, at least, in her own phrases, for no words 

 with which he is fatniliar, can convey all her informa- 

 tion. A little «(uij!/ of the definition of chemical terms 

 as given in the introduction to almost any of the books 

 on chemistry, will enable any one to read understand- 

 ingly essays or articles in which sucli terms are necessa- 

 rily used. 



EXHIBITIONS, CATTLE SHOWS, &c. 



Mass. Horticultural Society, at the Society's Rooms, 

 23 Tremont Row, Boston, Sept. 13, 14 and 15. 



New York State Agricul. Society, at Rochester, Sept. 

 J9, 20 and 21. 



Rhode Island Agricul. Society, at Pawtuxet, Sept. 27. 



American Institute, at Niblo'a Garden, New Vork, 

 Oct. 10, and following week. 



Plymouth Co. Agricul. Society, at Biidgewater, 

 Oct. 4. 



Essex Co. Agricul. Society, at South Andover, Sept. 

 27. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXIIIBlTlOtl or KI.OWERS. 



Saturday, Sept. 2, 1843. 



From the garden of J. L. L. F. Warren, Brighton, 

 some very showy bouquets. Dahlias, and other cut flow- 

 ers. Pickwick, and Eva in the collection of Dahlias 

 by Mr W. were very fine. 



Miss Rus.'ell presented some fine bouquets, from the 

 establishment of Mr Wm. Kenrick, of Newton. 



Very fine bouquets, consisting of Roses, &c , by O. &. 

 W. Wales, of Dorchester. 



Four large and several small bouquets, (very choice) 

 by Messrs. Hovey. 



Bouquets by Dr John C. Howard, Miss Sumner, Jno. 

 Hovey, JohnA Kenrick, and S. Walker. 



By Mr Samuel Sweetser, Aloe Mitraiforniis, (rare,) 

 Roses, Dahlias, i&c. 



Thomas Lee, Esq , of Brookline, presented fine spe- 

 cimens of Roses, Heath's and Itignonia Jasrainoides. 



Roses, Balsams, (fine,) and Bignonia Giandiflora, &e. 

 from S. R. Johnson, of Charlestown. 



E. Winslow, of Roibury, exhibited several fine spe- 

 cimens of the Dahlia — we noticed Pickwick, Ne Plus 

 Ultra, Argo, and others, as good specimens. 



Mr Jno. Hovey presented some good specimens 

 some of the old varieties of the Dnhlia. 



Dahlia var. Unique, by R. Al. Copeland, was amo 

 the best specimens in ihe room. 



S. A. \Valker, of itrooklirip, presented in addition 

 his fine bouquets, some good Dahli.-ts, and also so; 

 very superior Balsams, Asters, anil Zinnias. 



From the garden of Joseph Breck & Co., of Bnst 

 and Brighton, Cleome Grandiflora, German Asters, Z 

 nias, and Phlox Breckiana. We would again call i 

 attention of the lovers of Phlox to this choice varit 

 raised by Mr Breck. We bnlieve it equal, if not su| 

 rior, to any variety imported, or seedling in the cntinti 

 For the Committee, S. WALKER 



EXHIBITION OF FRB1T5. 



From J. Lovett, 2d, Plums — Long Blue, Boln 

 Washington, Prince's Imperial Gage — all very fi 

 Also, Van Mons Pear. 



From Samuel A. Walker, Brookline, WashingI 

 Plum ; fine Peaches, open culture. 



From Thomas Mason, Roxbiiry, Sweetwater Grap 

 Barllett, and other Pears, without name. 



From Col. T. H. Perkins, very fine specimens of 1 

 President Peach. 



From H. Vnndine, Early Black Plums. 



From E. E. Bradshaw, Charlestown, splendid spe 

 mens of Bolmar Washington and Duane's Purple Plu 



From F. R. Bigelow, Barllett Pears, and large spe 

 mens of Yellow Rareripe Peaches, some of them weij 

 ing 8 ounces. 



From the President, Belle Lucrative Pears. 



From Samuel Pond, Plums — Pond's Seedling, Lo 

 bard. Smith's Orleans, Long Blue French, Isabel 

 Green Gage, Duane's Purple. Pears — St. Cliislain, J 

 lienr.e, Cuahing's, Winship's ^Seedling, Bartlelt — a fi 

 display. 



From Wm. Thomas, Bolmar Washington, Itali 

 Damask, and a fine Seedling Plum, and Apricots. 



From J. F. Allen, Pears — Summer Bon Chrelii 

 Summer Franc Real, Dearborn's Seedling, Julieni 

 Bartlott, Catherine, and two varieties for a name. 



From A. D. Williams, five boxes of very fine Bla 

 Plums ; Orleans (.') 



From J. L L. F. Warren, Duane's Purple, Bingha 

 Washington, and Orleans Plums. Lemon Clingsto 

 Peach, fine Porter Apples, and Pears and Apples I 

 names. 



From A. H. Ernst, Esq., Cincinnati, Ohio, fine lar 

 sweet cooking Apples. Also, three Washington Pea 

 extra large and fine. This fruit was taken from the tr 

 in Cincinnati, on Monday, and were as fresh as a 

 fruit upon the tables plucked this morning. 



For the Committee, JOSEPH BRECK. 



EXHIBITION OF VEGETABLES. 



Dr. John C. Howard exhibited Napoleon, Grei 

 Smyrna, and Citron Melons; also two boxes very larj 

 Lima Beans. 



Mr Josiah Lovett, 2d, exhibited a remarkably lar 

 and fine Melon. 



Three varieties of Tomatoes were exhibited by B 

 J. L. L. F. Warren. For the Committee, 



J. A. KENRICK. 



SEPTEMBER— EXTRA WORK. 



Most farmers will find time to do something more th 

 month, than attending to their crops, threshing grai 

 &c. The improvement of wet meadow and swan 

 lands should not he neglected. To thoroughly drain, 

 the first step — and when you have done this, (if the lar 

 is not too wet to bear the team,) it is good economy i 

 go further, and by coating with gravel, sand, loam ' 

 clay, an inch or two inches in thickness, kill out 

 once the meadow grasses, and fix a soil in which betb 

 ones may be sowed forthwith. Or, better still, whe 

 you can do it, plow the meadow when drained, subje 

 it to tillage, and when well pulverized, seed it down 

 grass. 



The higher grounds may be plowed and seeded dow 

 to grass this month — or any time between now and Ni 

 vember, though the earliest possible day may be bes 

 unless your grounds are very rich. 



While such operations are attended to, do not neglei 

 to get out muck and turf for compost. 



