224 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



--^l:;^ 



COLORING BUTTER. 



In many cases it is not necessary to use any 

 coloring svibstanee. But sometimes butter, (es- 

 pecially in the winter season,) is quite -white, and 

 in order to make it more inviting to the palate, 

 as Aveli as more saleable in the market, some col- 

 oring substance is used. Some people color it 

 with carrot juice, but I prefer a more simple, and 

 I think a better way. 



When the butter is gathering, drop into it the 

 yolk of one or more eggs, (the number depend- 

 ing upon the quantity of cream,) and churn all 

 together till the butter is gathered. The yolk, like 

 butter, being of an oily nature, greatly improves 

 the flavor as well as color of the butter. 



Dairywoman. 



Mendon, Mass., March, 1860. 



HORSE PITCHFORK. 



I noticed an inquiry in the Farmei' about the 

 horse pitchfork, from "W. N. C.," Hartford, Vt. 

 From a personal knowledge of it, I think it to be 

 most desirable labor-saving implements now in 

 use, as it makes the once most dreaded part of the 

 haying season easy. I can put a ton of hay from 

 the load over the high beams in from three to five 

 minutes, or I can pitch a ton of hay over the 

 beams in seven minutes, through the afternoon, 

 without making it hard work. Its cost is $12. It 

 can be used in a shed, or any part of the barn, 

 used in stacking hay, or lifting corn, 8zc. 



Chester, Vt, 1860. H. B. Wood. 



MOWING MACHINES — HORSERADISH SEED. 



Will some of your readers give us a description 

 of a machine lately got up at Concord, N. H., one 

 horse $50, and two horse $55, and whether fric- 

 tion is overcome more than in those now in use ? 

 'Where can I procure horseradish seed, and at 

 what price ? Subscriber. 



FoUd-sville, K E., 1860. 



THE WOOD DUCK. 



This bird, which is also called the 

 Summer Duck, is the most beautiful 

 of American aquatic fowls. It de- 

 rives its former name from the fact 

 that its nest is made in hollow trees, 

 and the latter from its migratory 

 habit, which carries it far to the 

 South during our winter months. 

 The plumage of this duck is of the 

 most brilliant description, an idea 

 of ■which can hardly be conveyed in 

 words. The head is of a deep glos- 

 sy green, the crest being rich bronze 

 green, ending in violet. The line of 

 pure white, running from the upper 

 mandible over the eye, and the other 

 line of white commencing behind 

 the eye and running down into the 

 neck, blend beautifully Avith the 

 green of the head and crest. The 

 throat is pure white, the breast dark violet brown, 

 marked Mith white spots, which grow larger until 

 they spread into the white of the belly. The wings 

 and back, and posterior parts of the body, are all 

 beautifully marked. Of the habits of this fowl, 

 Bement says : 



It is only seen In the North during the summer 

 months, migrating southwardly with the cold 

 weather. It is familiarly known in every part of the 

 United States, from Florida to Lake Ontario. It 

 rarely visits the sea-shore or salt marshes, its fa- 

 vorite haunts being the solitary, deep and muddy 

 creeks, ponds, and mill-dams of the interior, mak- 

 ing its nest frequently in some old hollow tree 

 that overhangs the water. 



The wood duck seldom flies in flocks of more 

 than three or four individuals together, and most 

 commonly in pairs, or singly. The common note 

 of the drake is Feet ' peet ! but when, standing 

 sentinel, he sees danger, he makes a noise not un- 

 like the crowing of a young cock — Oe eek ! neeek! 

 It breeds from Mexico to the Columbia River, 

 and eastwardly to Nova Scotia. It has been found 

 from 19° south to 54° north latitude. Its food 

 consists of acorns, chestnuts, seeds of wild oats, 



aquatic plants, and insects. 

 Avhite. 



Its eggs yellowish- 



This beautiful bird is easily domesticated, and 

 soon becomes so familiar as to permit one to 

 stroke its back with tlTfe hand. "Captain Boice, 

 Collector of the port of Havre de Grace, informs 

 me," says Wilson, "that about/ forty years ago, a 

 Mr. Nathan Nichols, who lived on the west side 

 of Gunpowder Creek, had a whole yard SMimming 

 with wood ducks, which had been tamed and 

 completely domesticated, so that they bred and 

 were as familiar as any other tame fowls ; that he 

 (Captain Boice) himself saw them in that state, 

 but does not know what became of them." La- 

 tham says that they are often kept in European 

 manageriesj and will breed there. 



