200 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



DEC. aO, 184; 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



BABOONS. 



On the hills adjacent to the C'^ipc nf Good Hope, 

 these creatures are to be fonnd in vast nutnbers. 

 On remarkably fine days, they assemble in regi- 

 ments, and with all the order observed by military 

 at drill. In general they approach the height of 

 six feet; and certainly, in features and habits, re- 

 semble the human species more than any other 

 quadrupeds in existence, the Or.ing-Oiitang not ex- 

 cepted. Dnrinor ilie late rendezvous of the 2'2d 

 English regiment of foot nt the Cape, several ren- 

 contres occurred between the soldiers and Baboons, 

 ■whose thieving propensities were a source of con- 

 stant alarm to every human being within the imme- 

 diate range of their numerous caverns. The en- 

 suing narrative is from a gentleman who was an 

 eye-witness to the scene: 



" Our barracks were situated at the foot of a 

 range of hills inhabited by these rascals. When- 

 ever the soldiers went on parade, they were com- 

 pelled, in self-defence, to leave a ;)osse of sentinels 

 to protect their property ; notwithstanding which, 

 their furtive neighbors, the Baboons, frequently 

 stole and carried off their blankets, great coats, or 

 any other garments on which they could lay their 

 paws. A poor soldier's wife had washed her blank- 

 et and hung it out to dry. Scarcely had she turn- 

 ed her back, when one of these miscreants, ever on 

 the watch, stole it, and ran off with it to/.he hills, 

 which are high and woody. This act drew on 

 them the indignation of the regiment, who formed 

 a strong party, armed with sticks and stones, to at- 

 tack them, under the hope of recovering the stolen 

 property, and inflicting such chastisement as might 

 deter them from the commission of similar acts in 

 future. I was on the advance with twenty men, 

 and made a detour to cut them off from the cav- 

 erns, to which they always fled for shelter, in case 

 of danger. They observed my movement, and im- 

 mediately detached about fifty of their number to 

 guard the entrance, while the others retained their 

 post; and we could now distinctly see them col- 

 lecting huge stones and other missiles. At this 

 moment, an old grey-headed Baboon, who had pre- 

 viously visited us at the barracks, and was known 

 among the soldiers by the name of Father Murphy, 

 was seen distributing his orders, and, with the ap- 

 parent judgment of a most consummate general, 

 planning the attack. Perceiving that my design 

 was defeated, I joined the corp de main, and rushed 

 on to the attack, >vhen a scream from Father Mur- 

 phy was the signal for a general encounter, and 

 immediately the host of Baboons under his com- 

 mand, rolled down enormous stones upon us, and 

 we were compelled to give up the contest to save 

 our lives — and the ghrij to be won by a triumph 

 over such a foe, was not of a character to make us 

 at all ambitious to gain it at the hazard of our 

 heads and shins. In our retreat, which was prompt- 

 ed by what Falstaff thought " the better part of 

 valor," they actually followed us to our doors, 

 shouting, in indication of victory ; while, during 

 the wh(de night, we heard such yelling and scream- 

 ing, that we expected a night attack on llie bar- 

 racks in which case we should have given them a 

 touch of the ' murderous saltpetre ' and ' blue pills.' 

 In the morning, however, we found, that all this 

 outcry had been created by disputes about the di- 

 vision of the blanket; lor we saw eight or ten of 

 them with pieces of it on their backs, amongst the 

 others strutted Father Murphy. 



These rascals annoyed us day and night, and 

 we dared not venture out, unless in parties of five 

 or six together. One morning, Father Murphy had 

 the consummate impudence to walk into the gren- 

 adier barracks, and was in the act of stealing a 

 sergeant's regimental coat, when a corporal's guard 

 (which had just been relieved,) took the liberty of 

 stopping the gentleman at the door, and secured 

 him. He was a powerful brute, and too much for 

 one man. Notwithstanding his frequent misde- 

 meanors, we did not like to kill the creature, as we 

 were not certain that he had correct ideas respect- 

 ing the laws of niet(»i and luum : so, having first 

 muzzled him, we shaved his head and face, and 

 turned him loose. To this ceremony he submitted 

 very quietly ; and when thus shorn and otherwise 

 titivated, he was really a good-looking fellow, and 

 on the whole, more prepo.'jses.'ii ng in countenance, 

 than many of the fashionable 'bloods' who figure 

 in Bond street, at the West End. We then started 1 

 him up the hill, though he was reluctant to leave j 

 us. Some of his companions came down to meet [ 

 him, but, from the alteration which the shaving 

 produced, they did not recogtiize him, and accord- 

 ingly pelted him with sticks and stones so unmer- 

 cifully, that poor Father Murphy actually sought 

 protection from his former enemies, and in time 

 became quite tamo and domesticated, and remained 

 with us." 



An Irish soldier, who had been one of the 22d 

 regiment, in verifying this last circuii'slance, said 

 that every word of it was God's truth, and that if 

 he (Father Murphy) had n't died within .the last 

 year, he was slill alive, and at the barracks ! — Lon- 

 don paper. 



Death knows no distinction of persons. It takes 

 its victims from the rich as well as the poor — the 

 king as well as the peasant. 



HOWARD'S IMPROVED EASY DRAUGHT PLOUGH 



Great improvements liave lieen maile llie past year 

 form and workmanship of tliese Ploughs; the mould 

 has heen so formed as to lay the furrmei completely 

 turning in every particle of grass or stubble, andieavit 

 ground in the best possible manner. The length o 

 mould lioard has he n very much increased, so tlia 

 Plough works with the greatest ease, both wiih resp^ 

 the holding and the team. The Commillee at the lalt 

 of Ploughs at Worcester, say, 



" Should our opinion be asked as to which of the Pb 

 we should prefer for use on a farm, we might perhaps .■ 

 the inquirer, if your land is mostly light and easy to 

 try Prouty & Mears, but if your land is" heavy, hard or: 

 BEGIN WITH Mb. Howard's.'' 



At the above mentioned trial the Howard Pl'-ug 

 nwre work, vith the same pswer of team, than any 

 plough exhibited. No other turned more than twenty 

 and one half inches, to the 112 Ihs. dranjht, whi 

 Howard Plough turned twenti/nine and one half ina 

 the same power of learn .' All acknowledge that Hov 

 Ploughs are much the strongest and most substar 

 made. 



There has l)een quite an improvement made on the 

 or land side of this Plough, which can be renewed w 

 having to furnish a new hmdside: this shoe likewise si 

 the mould board and landside together, and strengihe: 

 Plough very much. 



The price nf the Ploughs is from S6 to $15. A PI. 

 sufficient for breaking up with four cattle, will cost 

 SIO 50, and with cutter St, with wheel and cutter, 

 extra. 



The aljove Ploughs are for sale, wholesale and rel 

 the New England Agricultural Warehouse and Seeil 

 Nos. 51 & 62 North Market Street, by 



JOSEPH BRECK & ( 



PATENT COIl.V SHBLLER. 



A Corn shellcr is one of the most convenient and labor 

 saving implements that the practical farmer has in use. 

 Various machines for this purpose have been invented. It 

 can be used in all cases for large or small sized ears. It is 

 very simple in its construction, and durable in its operation, 

 and no way liable to gel out of order 3 one mau can work it 

 to good advantage, though a nian to turn, and a boy to feed it, | 

 wrks it much better than one alone. They are so light and 

 portable, as to f)e easily removed from place to place, and 

 one macldne will serve for several families 01 even the in- 

 habitants of a small town. 



For sale at the Agricultural Warehouse and Seed Store 

 Nos. 61 and 52 North Market Street 



JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



Not. 1. 



WILLIS'S LATEST I.MPKOVED VEGETABLE 

 CUTTER. 



For sale at the New England Agricultural Warehouse, 

 No. 51 and 52 North Market Street, Boston, Willis's La- 

 tent Improved Vegetable Culler. This machine surpasses 

 all others for the purpose of Cutting Kuta Baga, Mangel 

 Wurtzel, and oilier roots. The great objection to other 

 machines, is their culling the roots into slices, which makes 

 it almost impossible lor the cattle to gel hold of iheni : this 

 machine with a little alteration, cuts them uilo large orsmall 

 pieces, of such shajie as is most convenient for the cattle to 

 eat. It will cat with ease from one lo two bushels of roots 

 per minute. JOSEPH BHECK &. CO. 



Nov. 1. 



DRAFT ANO TRACE CHAINS. 



400 pair Trace Chains, suitable for Ploughing. 

 200 " Truck and leading Chains. 

 200 " Draft Chains. For sale by J. BRECK & CO., 

 No. 62 North Market st. 



HARRIS' TREATISE ON lASECTS. 



For sale by JOSEPH BRECK CO., Hams' Treatises 

 on Insects. Price 3J. Also, the second edition ol Dana' 

 Muck Manual, price C2i els. Feb 15. 



GREEN'S PATENT STHA1V CVTTER. 



JOSEPH BRECK &. CO. at the New England Ai. 

 tiiral Warehouse and Seed Stove Nos. 51 and62Nortli 

 ket Street, have for sale. Green's Patent Straw, Ha. 

 Stalk Cutter, operating on a mechanical principle not 

 applied to any implement for this purpose. The most 

 inent effects of Ihis application, and some of the consci 

 peculiarities of the machine are : 



1. So great a reduction of the quantum of power rec 

 to use il, that the strength of a half grown boy is sut' 

 to work il elficiently. 



2. With even this moderate power, it easily cuts two 

 els a minute, which is full twice as fast as has been d 

 by any olher machine even when worked by horse or 

 power. 



3. The knives, owing to the peculiar manner inwhic. 

 cut, require sharpening less often ihan those of any,' 

 straw cutter. I 



4. The machine is simple inits construction, made al 

 together very strongly. Ills therefore not so liable 

 complicated machines in general use to gel oul ofori 



LACTOMETERS— a simple instrument for t.^ 

 the quality of milk. For sale by J BKECK & <' 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



A WEEKLT PAPER. 



Terms, $2 per year in advance, or $2 50 if no 

 within sixty days. 



N. B. — t'ostniasters are perniitted by law to fro 

 subscriptions and rendttancts for newspapers, w 

 expense to subscribers. 



TVTTLE AND DEKNETT. PKIDTEKSt 



21 School Street. 



