214 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JAN. 3, IS1 



JINP HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



Edited by Josepb Breck. 



Boston, Wednesdat, Jak. 3, 1844. 



THE NEW VEAR 

 The New England Farmer to its Realers — 



Greeting : 



"A Hippy New Year" to each and all of you : peace 

 and healtli be within your borders, and may pleiily 

 crown ynur labors. What more of mere earthly gnod 

 c^n you ash yourselves — what more can be wished for 

 you .' 



As cu-tom has rendered it somewhat incumbent on 

 the editor to mingle his new-year wishes with a little 

 moralizing, Hir the spinlu;il benefit of his renders, we 

 will corih.rin to the usage, and endeavor to fill the place 

 of the pre.icher — promising that if our sermon has no 

 Other merit, it shall be brief. 



The commencement of a new year is a fitting occa- 

 sion to lake a retrospect of the past and to plan for the 

 future; — lo discover in what respects and through what 

 causes we have erred, — and, having settled these points 

 to our satisfdciion, wisdom dictates ihnt our calculaticms 

 for the future be formed with a view to avoid like er- 

 rors. He who gains no wisdom from experience, lives 

 in vain ; and he who becomes no bolter by age, most 

 likely becnmes worse. 



In worldly affairs, where men's temporal interest alone 

 is concerned, it is considered consummate folly in them 

 to adopt a course which they know will impoverish rath- 

 er than enrich them ; and rare indeed is it that we find 

 one wlio thus proceeds; — bul how often, in the concern 

 of their spiritual interest, do we find men illustrating an 

 equal, nay, a greater folly, — absorbed in the pursuit of 

 the fleeting and perishable treasures of earlh, ralher 

 than seeking to " lay up treasure in heaven." It is 

 written that " he that makcih haste to be rich, shall not 

 be innorcnt" — and wo need bul look into our own 

 hearts to be convinced that this is truth ; for, when the 

 sordid desire of gain engrosses our thoughts, it stifles 

 the warning voice of " the monitor withm," and ren- 

 ders us, tO') often, alike neglectful of our duties to God 

 and our fellowmen. 



It is for such, particularly — (and who of us can lay 

 liis hand upon his heart and say, oj such neglect I am en- 

 tirely guiltless ?) — it is for such that the beginning of a 

 ne>v year is a peculiarly appropriate occasion for self- 

 examinalion and serious leflecliun. Let us all improve 

 it for this purpose ;— bring into comparison duties done 

 and duties neglected, — promises made and promises un- 

 performed ; and see how we stand in account with God 

 and man: — and, in view of our past faults and short- 

 comings — in view of the balance which we shall no 

 doubt find against us for duties undischarged — let us re- 

 solve that, if we cannot alone for the errors of the past, 

 we will live so blamelessly in future, that we shall nol, 

 at Ihe commencement of another year, have cause to 

 reproach ourselves so justly as at the commencement 

 of ihis, with having done much that we ought not to 

 have dune, and left undone much that we ought to have 

 performed. 



Our sermon is preached, — and we conclude as we 

 commenced, with the hearty wish of " a Happy New 

 Year*' to all our patrons and friends; — we wish them 

 all the worldly prosperity ihey can ask (or themselves ; — 

 a full portion of that belter and unpurchaseable good, 



'* Which nothing earthly gives nor can destroy — 

 The Bi.ul's calm sunshine and the heart felt joy' : 



and, making the commencement of a new year, in 

 more or less respects, the commencement of a new life, 

 let us all — in ihe beauiiful words nf liryant — 



" So live, that when our summons comes to join 

 The innumerable caravan that moves 

 To the daik realms of death, we go nol, 

 Like the quarry-slave at night, 

 Scourged lo his dijn;;eiin ; bul, sustained and soothed 

 Bv iin unfaltering iiust, appioaih nur grave 

 Like one who wraps 'he dr.ipery of bis conch 

 About him, and lies down lo pleasant dreams." 



PREPARING POULTRY FOR THE MARKET. 



We are induced to offer a few remarks on iho impor- 

 tance of a little more atienticn being paid lo the exter- 

 nal appearance of poultry, before it is exposed for sale 

 in our market, from the fact that large quantities arc 

 every week brought in, on which there is probably a 

 lojis of from one 10 three cents per pound, arising, in a 

 great measure, from the slovenly stale in which it ap- 

 pears ; whereas if due regard were paid to dressing, 

 much of it would bring the highest price. 



" Boston folks are full of notions," as we all very 

 well know, and tliey are particularly notional in the 

 matter of the appearance of the meals offered for sale in 

 and about Quincy market. The dealers inside, under- 

 stand their business well ; and we frequently lake a 

 stroll with some stranger friend, with no small feelings 

 of prid", 10 show him tlie luxuries of Quincy market, 

 so nicely arranged in the stalls, in siicli perfect order, 

 and of the very best quality. The stalls occupied by 

 the poultry dealers are among those that most attract the 

 attention. We see here not only every species of do. 

 niestic poultry, buf a great variety of wild fowl, and 

 oflentinies beautiful specimens of rare birds, brought in 

 by the sportsman, and exhibited to gratify the sight, 

 rather than for any use, unless it be to grace the collec- 

 tion of the ornithologist. But the nice appearance of 

 the poultry is what most engages the attention of the 

 hungry epicure. What does he care ifaii extra price is 

 charged for that fat turkey ■■ — there is nothing to offend 

 the laste in its external a|ipearance ; it is well covered 

 with fat, of a rich golden yellow ; the skin is all sound 

 and clean ; the breast has nol been mutilated by a long 

 cut, the shrinking skin exposing the drying meat, with 

 hay chaff adhering ; nor does he see a long bloody neck 

 protruding from its skin ; so he marks it for his own, 

 thinking there will be nothing in it In offend the taste 

 when it shall be brought upon his table. 



But what do we see here .' — a box of poultry ? Yes : 

 they have just arrived, via railroad, from the interior : 

 they look as if they had seen hard times ; probably kill 

 ed lo save them from starvation ; chased down and beat 

 lo death with poles, no doubt, by their looks, and then 

 dressed in haste, packed in haste, and senl to market in 

 haste ; and we would advise the owner to sell thein in 

 hasle, and lake the first ofler ho can get, and clear out 

 in haste — and not make his appearance again in market 

 until he has learned lo fatten and dress his poultry in a 

 belter manner. 



A decent person would be ashamed to send home 

 fuch pitiable looking objects, ls these torn, bruised, and 

 disfigured remains of the poultry yard ;— their very ap- 

 pearance would be remembered, even when imbedded 

 in the savory chicken pic. 



Much of the poultry exposed for sale on the outside of 

 the market, has been through the process of sralding to 

 facilitate the picking;— tliis practice should never be 

 resorted lo. It turns the rich yellow of ihe fat into a 

 tallowy hue, and oftentimes starts the skin, so ihat it 

 peals olf, unless very carefully handled. No aperture 

 should be made in the breast; all the offal should be 



taken out behind, and the opening should be mad 

 small as possible ; the inside may be wiped out w 

 dry cloth, but no water should be used lo cleanse tb 

 with a moist sponge, take off any stains of blood 

 may be found upon the carcafC. In picking, great 

 should be taken not lo tear the skin ; the wings sb 

 not be cut off, but picked to the end ; ihe skin ol 

 neck should be neatly lied over it, if the head is cii 

 We like to see ihe head of chickens left on — it mal 

 better finish. The heads of ducks, Bremen and 

 geese, should nol be cut off. Wild fowl general!' 

 exposed for sale with their feathers on. 



After the poultry is dressed and cool, it shonl 

 carefully packed in boxes, so that it may reach the 

 ket without injury, and above all, keep it from free 

 if possible. Do not expose too much for sale at a I 

 nor suffer your load to be hauled over every few 

 utes : — we have often times seen a load most unni 

 fully handled. 



Do not be ashamed to expose the old rooster wit 

 spurs on : if he is well fatted, he will make a good 

 the spurs are the insignia of his office : let him 

 Slate with all his honors. Neither call the old I 

 chicken ; she has done much service — brought tij 

 speclabiy many families, and furnished her owner 

 numerous eggs: — it is doing her injustice to pass h 

 for a chicken now. 



Finally, we earnestly recommend to our coi 

 fiends ihe importance of having every article desi 

 for Boston market, prepared in the best possible mar 

 much is lost in other articles as well as in poultr 

 carelessness. Appearance is every thing with 

 people : even the box in which an aiticle is packed 

 some influence upon the purchaser. 



[Cf'The Massachusetts Horiiculiural Society 

 purchased the Latin School House in School stree 

 the sum of $18,000, possession lo be given as so 

 the school house now being erected in Bedford sin 

 completed, and [ready for the accommodation o' 

 scholars, which Vi/ill probably be early in the sp 

 The Horticultural Society will then proceed to i 

 such alterations and improvements in the buildi 

 shall be found necessary for the convenience and ac 

 modation of the Society, which, we are happy lo i 

 is in a very prosperous condition, and greatly n 

 larger hall for their weekly and annual display of 

 and Howcrs. The location is central, and we ( 

 whether a siiualion could be found better suited t 

 purposes of the Society. 



SALT FOR BUTTER. 

 A beautiful sample of salt recommended for bi 

 may be seen at the N. E. Farnitr office, 52 North 

 ket street. We refer to the advertisement of " Sa 

 the Dairy." 



Cure for Burns. — To half a pint of milk, add 

 as many satl'ron flowers as can be laid in a table-B)i 

 either green or dried ; let ihem simmer together 

 three minutes ; then sprinkle in sufficient wheat fl( 

 make it the consistence of thick paste ; after spre 

 it on a cloth, apply a small quantity of sweet oil oi 

 The poultice should be renewed every three houri 

 in the course of twentyfour hours, the fire v^'ill b 

 tirely extracted, and the wound will heal without 

 ino" any scar. — Selected. 



Teach your children to believe that their future 

 lihood must depend upon their own exertions, and 

 accustom them to some kind of labor. 



