476 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



Barley. — This crop has been excellent, though 

 not cultivated very extensively in New England. 



Oats have come in well, weighing, where grown 

 on good soil, thirty-three pounds per bushel. 



Rye has come in as about an average crop. 

 It was badly winter-killed in many places, and 

 the sharp spring drought kept it back, and re- 

 duced the crop considerably. 



Beans have had ample time to mature, and 

 the crop will be a good one, where they were not 

 planted on sand lulls. 



Hay. — The grass crop has been abundant, as a 

 general thing. In some localities the drought 

 was severe, and the crop almost cut off; but such 

 districts are comparatively small, and there will 

 be an abundance of hay in New England. 



Potatoes. — Crop not all harvested yet. If 

 they do not rot, what in the world are we to do 

 with them all ! They are now excellent, large, 

 and of fine flavor. 



Roots. — Mangolds and ruta bagas look well 

 now, and have a month or more to grow. 



Fruit. — The apple crop will be abundant, and 

 the fruit larger and fairer than it has been for 

 many years. We hope our friends will not des- 

 pair of getting a fair price for them, as when 

 they are plenty it encourages shipping, and the 

 price is usually as high as when the crop is small, 

 and little or no shipping takes place. It is our 

 opinion that all good apples, gathered and put 

 up well, will bring a fair price. 



Pears. — A fine crop, but it is said they are not 

 so high flavored as usual. 



While, then, the "varied year" has been com- 

 fortable for man and beast, it has also been full 

 of wonderful attractions and beauty. Spring cov- 

 ered the earth with flowers of exquisite hue, and 

 form, and fragrance. Midsummer found it clothed 

 in the richest drapery of twig and foliage, and 

 now autumn is crowned with the substantial har- 

 vests which her sister months have aided in bring- 

 ing to perfection ! 



In the enjoyment of such blessings, we need 

 not wait for a proclamation from the Governor 

 to set apart a day for thanksgivings ; they should 

 houi'ly rise, as freely as God's blessings have risen 

 through the spring, summer and autumn to per- 

 fect the plants from which we must seek our com- 

 fort and support. 



Sunlight in Houses. — The following fact has 

 been established by careful observation : That 

 where sunlight penetrates all the rooms of a dwell- 

 ing, the inmates are less liable to sickness than 

 in a house where the apartments lose its health- 

 invigorating influences. Basement rooms are the 

 nurseries of indisposition. It is a gross mistake 

 to compel human beings to reside partially under- 

 ground. There is a defective condition of the 

 air in such rooms, connected with dampness, 

 besides the decomposing paint on the walls, and 



the escape of noxious gases from pipes and drains. 

 All school-rooms, especially, should be open to 

 the sunlight, yet as a general rule, they are 

 darkened like a parlor. 



THE OLD GKIST MILL. 



The gri3t mill stands beside the stream, 

 Wit'i bending roof and leaning wall, 



So old that when the winds are wild 

 The miller trembles lest it should fall ; 



But moss and ivy never sere, 



Bedeck it o'er from year to year. 



The dam is steep, and welded green ; 



The gates are raised, the waters pour. 

 And tread the old wheel's slippery steps, 



The lowest round forevermore ; 

 Methinks they have a sound of ire, 

 Because they cannot climb it higher. 



From morn till night, in autumn time, 

 When heavy harvests load the plains, 



Up drives the farmer to the mill. 

 And back anon with loaded wains j 



They bring a heap of golden grain, 



And take it home in meal again. 



The mill inside is dim and dark, 



But peeping in the open door, 

 Tou see the miller flitting round, 



And dusty bags along the floor ; 

 And by the shaft and down the spout, 

 The yellow meal comes pouring out. 



And all day long the winnowed chafiF, 

 Floats round it on the sultry breeze, 



And shineth like a settling swarm 

 Of golden-winged and belted bees ; 



Or sparks around a blacksmith's door, 



When bellows blow and forges roar. 



I love my pleasant, quaint old mill ! 



It minds me of my early prime ; 

 'Tis changed since then, but not so much 



As I am by decay and time ; 

 Its wrecks are mossed from year to year, 

 But mine all dark and bare appear. 



I stand by the stream of life : 



The mighty current sweeps along, 

 Lifting the flood-gates of my heart. 



It turns the magic wheel of song. 

 And grinds the ripening harvest brought. 

 From out the golden field of thought. 



R. H. Stoddabd. 



The Okra Plant. — The consumption of this 

 plant has materially increased within a few years. 

 Mr. John Buckland, of Monmouth county, N. J., 

 now raises seven acres per annum. When the 

 pods are in a fresh state, they are used for soup, 

 and give off a mucilage which enriches the soup 

 materially, while the less soluble portions of the 

 pod are softened together with the seeds, and 

 produce an admirable potage. The gumbo of the 

 South is made with this plant. The soup is al- 

 ways easy of digestion, and very nutritious. 

 When the plant is suffered to ripen, the seeds are 

 large and hard, and the amount produced is very 

 great ; these by being burned produce an im- 

 itation of coffee, scarcely inferior to the best 

 Mocha, while the fibrous character of the pod 

 strongly recommends it to paper -makers. It is 

 perfectly evident to those who have examined it, 

 that neither the aloe, the beech-wood, ordinary 

 straw, or any of the substances now being made 

 use of in place of cotton or linen for paper, sur- 



