256 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



June 



small' ones nearly all lived, and are now from six 

 to twelve inches in diameter, and the land is 

 worth three times what it was eighteen years ago. 

 We plowed furrows about six feet apart, and placed 

 the trees four feet apart in the furrows. The trees 

 were set about the first of April and with very lit- 

 tle expense. Alden Davis. 

 West Stafford, March, 1860. 



RYE AND BUCKWHEAT — FOWLS. 



In reply to an inquiry by "M." on "Rye with 

 Buckwheat," I will say that I have made a prac- 

 tice of sowing rye and buckwheat together, for 

 two or three years past. The rye has generally 

 made a good growth, and I should have had a fine 

 crop, if I had let it ripen. I have always plowed 

 the rye in for manure, and it works well for 

 buckwheat. I sow about the tenth of June. 



I noticed also a communication from a gentle- 

 man in South Danvers, in which he says, "he 

 wishes to get the best breed of fowls." I should 

 advise him to get the Chittagong in preference to 

 any other breed. I have kept them for two years, 

 and find them excellent layers. They are a large 

 and very handsome fowl, the cocks Aveighing from 

 eleven to thirteen pounds, and the hens seven to 

 ten. Jeremiah Cobb. 



Westboro', March 20, 1860. 



TAXATION. 



It seems to me there is more feeling manifested 

 in the communication of "J." of this date than the 

 occasion demands. I have yet to learn that there 

 is any improper imputation made on a man, or class 

 of men, when you say of him, or them, that they are 

 not forward to be assessed beyond their due pro- 

 portions. A citizen does his whole duty when he 

 pays what is demanded of him, and it is the du- 

 ty of the authorities to determine the sum to be 

 demanded. I rather think "J." has some matter 

 agitating his bosom, other than the taxes of his 

 townsman ; the fact is, personalities are local 

 and limited, sound instructions are general and 

 without limit. EssEX. 



April 7, 1860. _ 



GROWING OF WHEAT. 



My neighbor, Gen. Sutton, has lately sent me a 

 specimen of his wheat, grown last season on a 

 field of half an acre, which yielded fifteen bushels. 

 It appears to be first rate, but so rare is it to meet 

 wheat grown on our own lands, that I do not feel 

 qualified to speak with confidence of its quality. 

 I remember to have seen this patch of wheat, as 

 I passed over the General's ground. It looked vig- 

 orous and handsome — the soil is natm-ally strong,, 

 such as is found on our hill-sides, when subdued 

 and fertilized ; and the General on all his grounds 

 spares no pains to have this done to perfection. 

 But the lesson to be learned from this is, if one 

 man can grow wheat, so can another ; and as my 

 friend Bartlett, of Warner, N. H., says, any man 

 can grow all the wheat he needs for his family, if 

 he will but try. j. w. P. 



April 2, 1860. __ 



To "A. B." Barre, Fif.— In the Farmer of De- 

 cember 24, (vol. 12, p. 69,) in your reply to the in- 

 quiry, "Is Farming Profitable ?" you have stated 

 that from a farm costing $4000, and without 



capital, stock or tools to carry it on, you have 

 paid for all of them, beside the improvements of 

 buildings, fences, &:c., from the farm, the whole, 

 with the interest, amounting to the snug little sum 

 of $10,000 in cost to you. 



Now the modus opei^andi of this success can- 

 not but be interesting and useful to every New 

 England farmer, and to all those who anticipate 

 the day when they can call some small home their 

 own. 



Please give us, then, a description of what your 

 farm was, (and is,) its size, its soil, its products, 

 &c. ; what kind of stock you put on it at first, and 

 have kept ; the profit of each, or the comparative 

 profit of cattle, horses and sheep, for the sham- 

 bles or for wool, according to your experience ; 

 so that others in like circumstances, or in any cir- 

 cumstances, may profit by your experience. 



JElm Tree Farm. o. w. T. 



RECLAIMING PASTURE. 



I have a pasture away from home which is grow- 

 ing up to hardback and pod-brake. I wish to know 

 the best way to get rid of them ? 



Earrisville, N. H. Luke Richarbson. 



Rem^vrks. — Cut the bushes, and then depasture 

 it with sheep. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Ought asparagus the second year from the seed 

 to be cut as fast as it comes up, or would it be 

 best for it to grow, ^id not cut it until the third 

 year ? Henry F. Gifford. 



Falmouth, Mass., 1860. 



Remarks. — A little may be cut the second year, 

 but as the root will not become large and vigor- 

 ous without the aid of the top, it is best not to 

 cut it much. 



BREMEN GEESE AND PEACOCK. 



Can any of your numerous readers or corres- 

 pondents direct me as to the best means of breed- 

 ing Bi'emen geese, and instruction as to pools and 

 winter shelter for the same. Also as to the hab- 

 its of the bird "Pavo Cristatus,'^ or Peacock, and 

 mode of raising. Oak Hill. 



March 23, 1860. __ 



TO CURE RINGWORM, OR TETTER ON CATTLE. 



Take a small quantity of linseed oil, and a brush 

 or rag, and rub the parts so affected. It is a sure 

 cure. DiVNiEL Chase. 



Piermont, iV". H., March 24, 1860. 



Currants as Trees, or as Bushes. — The edi- 

 tor of the Rural Neio- Yorker recommends the tree 

 form. But then adds : 



Another good way to grow the currant is in the 

 form of a bush— not the kind of a bush generally 

 seen, but with only three, or at the most, four 

 shoots starting from the ground. After bearing 

 two years, allow one or two strong shoots to start 

 from the bottom, to take the place of one or two 

 of the old ones, which should be cut aAvay. One 

 shoot may be allowed afterward to grow every 

 year, to replace an old one ; and thus the plant 

 will be entirely renewed every three or four years. 



