1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



405 



GKADUAIi DIMINUTION" OF RAINFALL 

 IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. 



In the January numbei" of the Valley Farmer 

 for 1859, we gave an article on the annual dimi- 

 nution of the fail of rain in the United States, the 

 'jause, and the probable effects upon the agricul- 

 tural interests of the country, &c. In England, 

 the annual fall of rain, in inches, is probably one- 

 half less than it is in the United States, yet in 

 England there are at least one-third more rainy 

 days in a year than there are in the United States. 

 But in the former country it only rains, Avhile in 

 this country it often pours. The causes that pro- 

 duce this effect in this country have been, com- 

 paratively, but a few years in operation, while in 

 England and Scotland they have been for centu- 

 ries. These changes are so marked, and the re- 

 sults so important, that the Scottish Meteorologi- 

 cal Society offer a reward of £20 (8100) for the 

 best essay on the following questions: 1. Wheth- 

 er the amount of rainfall in the western part of 

 Europe, and particularly in Scotland, is less now 

 than it formerly was. 2. Assuming this fact to 

 be established, what are the most probable causes 

 of it ? With reference to the first of these ques- 

 tions, the Secretary of the Society, A. Keath John- 

 son, says : 



"Notice maybe taken of the popular belief that 

 springs of water have been gradually diminishing, 

 or altogether drying up, especially in arable dis- 

 tricts ; and the following statement in the report 

 of the Registrar General for England, for the quar- 

 ter ending June, 1859 : 'The deficiency in the 

 fall of rain from the beginning of the year, is 1| 

 inch. The deficiency in the years 1854, 1855, 185G, 

 1857, 1859, amounting to the average fall of one 

 year, viz.., 25 inches. From a careful examination 

 of the fall of rain (year by year) from the year 

 1815, it would seem that the annual fall is be- 

 coming smaller, and that there is but little proba- 

 bility that the large deficiency will be made up by 

 excess in future years.' With reference to the sec- 

 ond question, notice may be taken of the supposed 

 ; effects of deep drainage, and deep culture of the 

 soil, in raising the temperature both of soil and 

 1 atmosphere, in lessening evaporation, and dimin- 

 ishing the condensation of vapor." 

 i This is not only an interesting, but an impor- 

 itant subject for investigation, and we hope that 

 we may chance to meet with a copy of the prize 

 ; essay when it is published, that we may compare 

 ;the views with those we have expressed. 



NATIVE CATTLE. 



We have a breed of cattle in the Northern 

 States which pass under the appellation of "na- 

 tive cattle," but there appears to be a stock in 

 Texas better entitled to the name. A Texas paper 

 says : 



"We are informed by those most familiar with 

 the facts, that these cattle were of uniform color, 

 as much so as buffaloes — a black brown, ap- 

 proaching black ; short glossy hair, beautiful 

 turned horns, large in size, with broad chest and 

 bodies, v,-ell-rounclcd quarters, and generally ex- 

 hibiting excellent forms for beef and draft. The 

 ] half-breed fully sustains this description, and is 

 not only a valuable work-ox, but, when fat, would 



rank as a first class beef. One object in alluding 

 to the subject, is to invite inquiry as to whether, 

 if not too late, our common stock of cattle may 

 not be improved by preserving this wild breed 

 and crossing it. It is probable there are some 

 still in this country in a domestic state. Another 

 point of considerable interest, and one that we 

 have on various occasions heard discussed with- 

 out any satisfactory result, is, whence came this 

 distinctive family of cattle, all of the same color 

 and general exterior, which make them entirely 

 different from the domestic stock of the United 

 States, Mexico, and the Creoles of Louisiana, all of 

 which are new to Texas." 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



FAKM MACHINERY. 



A good many men, and boys too, will give a hearty 

 amen to your praj'cr for blessings on the Mann who 

 invented the "Vegetable Wecdcr," if it comes up to 

 the recommendation you seem disposed to give it. I 

 hope it will be in the market Ijcforc another season for 

 weeding comes round. The "good time" seems to be 

 coming for the farmer. Machines are almost daily 

 brought to public notice intended to save the wear and 

 tear of human muscle in farm labor. Mowers, reap- 

 er?, ditch-diggers, rock-lifters, &c., are multiplying in 

 all qixartcrs, till there seems to be little hard work 

 left to l)c accomplished by mere manual labor. 



A friend at my side names a farmer of Grafton, who 

 has imagined (though I do not think he has made any 

 attempt to realize his imagination) a machine for 

 milking cows, to be worked by the motion of the 

 cow's tail. To the objection, that this could only be 

 worked during the fly season, the same friend suggests 

 the use o^ artificial ^ias ! Here is a line chance for me- 

 chanical genius. J. Doolittle. 



VERMIX IN THE POULTRY HOl'SE. 



In reading your last number of the monthly Farmer, 

 I noticed a piece about hen-lice ; and thinking that I 

 could give a little information in regard to the exter- 

 mination of these troublesome vennin, I take the liber- 

 ty to reply to Mr. Reed's article. Last fall, having 

 moved a short distance from the city, and taking a 

 fancy to hens, I purchased two hens and a rooster. 

 Finding that by good treatment they can be made to 

 pay, I have since increased my flock to thirty. Having 

 a l)arrel of lime which I had no use for, I thought it 

 might be a good idea to sprinkle a little on the floor of 

 my coop to make it white and clean, but I have since 

 found that it not only sen'cs that purpose, Init others. 

 It puriflcs the atmosphere, keeps the coop white and 

 clean, and last, but not least, I think I can safely say 

 that it keeps the poultry-house free fi'om all vermin, 

 for since I have used it, I have not had any trouble 

 with my hens in regard to lice or other vermin. In fly- 

 ing from the roosts or nests ir gets in amongst their 

 feathers, which keeps them healthy and in good condi- 

 tion. A. p. 

 Westhrook, Juhj, Me., 1860. 



FARMING OPERATIONS IN ESSEX COUNTY. 



I have recently seen Manny's and the Buckeye 

 Mowers most successfully operated on the farms of 

 Messrs. Ware and Merrill. Mr. W. has tinished the 

 cutting of his gi-ass with Manny's, and as he holds and 

 drives himself, his opinion is worthy of confldence. 

 While looking at his mowing, I glanced at his extend- 

 ed Adds of onions — several "acres of which have been 

 replanted with carrots, by reason of the ravages of the 

 worm at the bottom. Some of them were still found 

 operating. He hopes for a good yield of cari'ots though 

 planted since July came in. The crop of grass is not 

 large the present season — the cold and drought of the 

 spring operated against its starting well. Never have 

 I witnessed a more vigorous growth upon trees of 

 every variety, and never have I seen the fields cov- 

 ered with an aspect more luxuriant. v 



July 12, 1860. 



