232 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



THE DISEASE AMONG CATTLP:. 



I have read in the Boston Jotimal about a dis- 

 ease among the cattle in North Brookfield, and in 

 other places, describing it as commencing with a 

 heavy cough settled on the lungs. I believe it is 

 nothing else but the lung fever, so called in my 

 native country, Holland. So far as I recollect, 

 there is no remedy for it ; but our farmers at 

 home use as a preventive, by advice of the veter- 

 inarian school, rusty old iron, put in the water- 

 troughs, not letting the cattle drink any other 

 drink, and separating the sick ones immediately 

 from the herd. Farmers should bury the cattle 

 whole, not using the hide for any purpose, as it 

 was proved that the disease had been carried to 

 different ])laces by the hides alone. Great precau- 

 tion should be taken not to let diverse cattle come 

 together. Charles DeWolff. 



East Uubbardston, March 17, 1860. 



pear on the thorn. 



In reply to "S. P. W.," Dorrville, R. I., as to 

 whether the thorn is a suitable stock upon which 

 to graft the pear, we can only give the testimony 

 of others, having never resorted to it for that 

 purpose. Downing says it makes a very good 

 stock when grafted a little below the surface. It 

 is also good on strong clayey soils, as on such 

 stocks the pear may be grown with success, when 

 it would not otherwise thrive. It would also come 

 a little earlier into bearing, than on the pear 

 stock. 



Wo cannot say where the pear seedlings may 

 be found. 



THE OKRA PLANT. 



I hear much speculation amongst the old folks 

 concerning a new production styled "Okra," which 

 the New York papers eulogize highly. They can- 

 not ascertain if it be fish, llesh or fowl. Some 

 suppose it to be a grain, others a substitute for 

 the potato — while others, again, conjecture it may 

 be a fruit, resembling, possibly, the tomato. Now, 

 Mr. Editor, can you shed any light on this sub- 

 ject? Do you know aught of the animal, its na- 

 ture or uses ? Can the Old Bay State produce it? 

 Is it propagated by seeds, slips or bulbs ? Can 

 they be obtained in your city, and what would 

 be their pi-obable price ? 



A Subscriber's Daughter. 



Pembroke, Mass., March, 1860. 



Remarks. — Okra, Hibiscus esculentis. It was 

 introduced from the West Indies into the United 

 States. The pods are gathered green and used in 

 soups. The pods are filled with seeds and a mu- 

 cilage of a bland and nutritious quality. 



ESSEX PIGS. 



I saw to-day, at the stall of Mr. C. Tilton, of 

 South Danvers, in Salem market, two pigs, unit- 

 edly weighing 1403 lbs., varying only about 20 

 lbs. in their weight. They were stated to be 23 

 months old. They were fed by farmer Bates, of 

 Danvers, who docs everything in the best manner, 

 being io])uted the best I'armer in the town. In re- 



ply to the inquiry how they were made to grow 

 so well, I was answered, by the best of feed, and 

 taking care to keep their appetites good. When 

 tired of corn or meal, oats or some other grain 

 was cooked for their use. I was told they were 

 estimated to be worth $140. I have never seen 

 handsomer pork. j. w. B. 



March 12, 1860. _ 



PASTURE GRASSES. 



I have a field of fifteen or twenty acres of pine 

 plain land, so called, of a rather gravelly soil, 

 which I wish to seed for pasture. Will you in- 

 form me what is the best kind of grass seed to 

 sow ? c. s. 



Putney, Vt., 1860. 



Remarks. — We are inclined to believe that it 

 will be doubtful whether any kind should be sown 

 without manure and cultivation. Perhaps you in- 

 tend to add these. AVhen this is done, sow a mix- 

 ture of Timothy, Orchard, Meadow Foxtail, Ken- 

 tucky Blue, Rough-stalked Meadow, Meadow 

 Fescue and Redtop and White Clover. 



ASSESSMENT OF TAXES. 



"R. B." has my thanks for admitting that I was 

 right in saying that all property shovdd be assess- 

 ed "equally and proportionately" wherever it may 

 be found. There is no difference between us as to 

 the principle to be applied ; the only difference is as 

 to the application of it — that is, the intelligence 

 and honesty of assessors. This being so, can there 

 be any hope of a correction of errors by a modifi- 

 cation of the law ? I trow not. P. 



Feb. 25, 1860. _ 



A farmer's barometer. 



I read with much pleasure the article on "A 

 Farmer's Barometer," in the last number of the 

 Farmer. 



Will you inform me of the price, and the source 

 whence it may be obtained, and oblige, 



Orafton, Feb., 1800. w. G. s. 



Remarks. — The price will be from $7 to $40. 

 We do not know that they are offered for sale in 

 this market yet — but probably will be soon. 



"0. B. Lee" will please observe the above. 



CHESTNUT SAWDUST. 



Is the sawdust from chestnut wood good for 

 fertilizing purposes, cither to be spread upon the 

 surface, plowed under, or for bedding stock ? 



Shutesbury, Vt., 1860. E. L. Pratt. 



Remarks. — We are^not able to say of how 

 much value the saw -dust is from chestnut wood ; 

 we should use quantities of it for bedding, and as 

 an absorbent, -if we had it at hand, but should first 

 have it thoroughly di'ied. 



MACHINE FOR OPENING DRAINS FOR TILE. 



Will you inform me through your paper of the 

 best machine for opening drains for tile ? 



Greenfield, March, 1860. P. D. M. 



Remarks. — J. J. Thomas's, Albanv, N. Y. 



