1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



247 



twice a week through the season, and sometimes 

 when there is danger of the heads bursting, I tip 

 them over sidewa3^s, which starts the roots and 

 prevents further damage ; by this course of treat- 

 ment, I find no difficulty in making ninety plants 

 out of a hundred head and grow to a large size. 

 For a winter cabbage, I think Comstock's Premi- 

 um Flat Dutch decidedly superior to all oiiiCr 

 varieties. Old rotten manures are not good for 

 cabbages, from their being full of worms and in- 

 sects which prey upon the roots of the plants, pro- 

 ducing the "clump foot," which ruins the cab- 

 bage. L. B. PniLBRICK. 

 South Deerfield, N. H., March 20, 18G0. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PRUNING APPLE TREES. 



Mr. Editor: — In your issue of March 17, a 

 correspondent expresses some of his ideas "on 

 pruning apple trees," which do not, all of them, 

 chime in with my own. 



He thinks it is better not to pi-une at all after 

 the trees begin to bear fruit, but to let nature have 

 her own way ; and asks if nature is ever at fault 

 in the formation and growth of a tree. Now, if 

 nature needs no looking after, why does he prune 

 the tree before it comes to a bearing state ? Why 

 not let nature have its course at one time as well 

 as another in the life of a tree ? If nature can 

 always be trusted, why does she ofttimes allow 

 the fruit of the apple tree, and many other trees, 

 to set itself so thickly that, if it was allowed to re- 

 main and ripen, the branches v.ould be broken 

 down, and the tree ruined, unless it was propped 

 and supported in the most careful manner ? 



That many persons prune their trees too much, 

 there is no doubt, but a little judicious use of the 

 knife or fine saw at the right time of the year — 

 from June to November — sometimes is needed by 

 ti-ees of all ages ; and this ftict is in accordance 

 v.'ith the experience of the most successful fruit- 

 growers of the land. 



Your correspondent also objects to the scraping 

 and washing of trees. Now, to scrape a young, 

 smooih-barked tree, would be a foolish operation, 

 surely, but when the bark of a tree has naturally, 

 (as they will sometimes, let them be cared for ever 

 so well,) become thick and shaggy, and inter- 

 spersed with patches of moss, afibrding shelter 

 for numerous insects, it ought to be carefully re- 

 moved — no matter who says to the contrary. 



Washing trees, also, prevents the accumulation 

 of moss, &c., and helps to keep off destructive in- 

 sects. Unless trees are washed, especially young 

 trees, in June, July and August, with some offen- 

 sive substance, the greatest "bore" of the far- 

 mer, the a])ple tree borer, is almost sure to com- 

 mence its destructive work ; and those trees which 

 have received the most care are most liable to be 

 attacked. 



If "M." can keep the borers away from his 

 trees without applying some sort of a wash, Avill 

 he have the kindness to inform the public how he 

 has done it ? 



The wash which I have used with good success 

 is the following : Make nearly a pailful of soap- 

 suds — not too strong — add a little pulverized 

 brimstone, hen manure, and enough clay to make 

 it adhesive. This wash should be applied tkree 



or four times during the summer months, or as 

 often as it comes off the tree. S. L. White. 

 Oroton, March 29, 18G0. 



For Vie New Enj^land Farmer. 



FOTATL MEADO-W AND HUNGARIAN 

 GRASSES. 



Gentlemex : — In behalf of myself and others 

 of your subscribers, I would inquire, What is the 

 character of fowl meadow grass ? It is something 

 new with us. Is it adapted to very low swamp 

 lands ? I have a swamp lot that I cleartd up last 

 season, and late in the fall I burned it over. Will 

 the seed take without breaking it up ? Judging 

 from the article in your paper of the 14th inst., I 

 should think that the writer of that article sowed 

 his seed without breaking up. 



Is the seed to be had of ^Messrs. Nourse, Ma- 

 son & Co., and how much is required to the acre ? 



I would like the views of some of your subscri- 

 bers, "who have had the practical knowledge," as 

 to the profit and value of Hungarian grass ? 



Jos. M. Bishop. 



Shoreham, Vt., March, 1860. 



Remarks. — Cattle are very fond of this grass, 

 so that it is usually worth two-thirds the price of 

 the best English hay. It loves low, moist land, 

 but not "very low swamp lands." It may be in- 

 troduced by sowing its seed on the sward of mea- 

 dow or swale land, without breaking up. Hun- 

 garian grass is a species of millet, and is an an- 

 nual plant. It usually gives a large crop, and is 

 excellent for feeding out green to stock in tlie 

 summer. We have cut one crop only for dry fod- 

 der, but found it a good one. The objection to 

 raising it is, the necessity for plowing and seed- 

 ing every spring. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CULTURE OF SHEEP AI^TD PINES. 



Mr. Editor : — I noticed in a recent number of 

 the Farmer, that j\Ir. E. W. Gardner, by figuring 

 and guessing at how much wood an acre of land, 

 set to pines, would produce thirty years hence, 

 claims a larger profit than stocking with sheep 

 would give. He says the land will, in thirty 

 years, produce 20 cords of wood per acre, which 

 is worth $6 per cord ; deducting $2 per cord for 

 cutting and carting, will leave §4, which is equal 

 to $80 for thirty years. 



Let us see what we can do for the sheep. In 

 tlie fu'st place, I shall claim one acre to keep a 

 sheep, as it is not, or ought not to be called 

 pasture, if it will not ; or, at least, think I am 

 as safe in reckoning it at that, as friend Gardner 

 is in guessing at his twenty cords of wood, thirty 

 years hence. Allow one acre to keep one ewe 

 sheep, which will raise one lamb, (and perhaps 

 two,) v.hich is worth at least 82,50 in August, to 

 go to market; 4 lbs. of wool at 40 cents, 61,60, 

 making 84,10; deducting $1 for keeping in win- 

 ter, which is the common price, gives 83,10 per 

 year, or $93 for thirty years. He says if any sheep 

 husbandman can make up the other side of the 

 account to match his, he should be pleased to 



