1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



515 



while others, closely surrounded by green sward, 

 and set out at the same time, are still in bearing 

 order and tolerably healthy. A neighbor some 

 years since set out an orchard of about a hundred 

 peach trees, cultivating corn and root crops be- 

 tween. Most of the trees died within three or 

 four years from the setting, and scarcely a dozen 

 remain at the present time. When the trunks are 

 closely surrounded by grass, they are seldom at- 

 tacked by the borer. It would be interesting and 

 profitable to know what the experience of others 

 has been in regard to the cultivation or non-cul- 

 tivation of the peach. — Taunton Republican. 



For tlie New England Farmer. 

 FARMERS' WIVES AND DAUGHTERS. 



Most humbly would I plead pardon of Sister 

 Polly, for being so impolite as to contradict her, 

 yet so thoroughly convinced am I of the fact that 

 the labor of the farmer's wife and daughter is 

 no more severe than that of other ladies, that I 

 must still persist in my statement. I am not 

 prepared to judge of farming in New Hampshire, 

 but would only speak of it as it is in Massachu- 

 setts. The experience of a farmer's daughter only 

 is mine. But I have the testimony of one who 

 has been a farmer's wife for thirty-five years — who 

 has brought up a large family, and who ougld to 

 knotii. Truly, there are many hours of severe toil ; 

 yet she has had leisure for improving the mind, 

 and "extending her knowledge beyond the limits 

 of her native village," and has kept her heart open 

 to the "sweet influences" of nature. 



My sisters have all married mechanics, and, ob- 

 serving their daily tasks, I prefer my own. But, 

 as Polly says, "all the world are not mechanics." 

 Would she be ready to exchange tasks with any 

 minister's wife of her acquaintance ? And why 

 the work of a lawyer's, or doctor's, or merchant's 

 wife, (aside from the dairy work, which occupies 

 but a small portion of the day,) should be less ar- 

 duous than that of a farmer's wife, I cannot un- 

 derstand. The same amount of cooking must be 

 done, washing and ironing; dust is "no respecter 

 of person" or occupation ; doctors and lawyers 

 are liable to forget the scraper and mat at the 

 door, and to leave hat, coat and boots for wife or 

 daughter to put in place. Doctors' and lawyers' 

 children as mercilessly leave dirty little finger- 

 marks upon the windows and paint, and are as 

 diligent in tearing rents in aprons and pants, as 

 farmers' children. 



I think Polly is inclined to consider wealth and 

 happiness as inseparable. One, of olden time, re- 

 puted wise, prayed, "Give me neither poverty nor 

 riches," This is the situation of most farmers, 

 neither in poverty, nor possessing great riches. 

 Enough for comfort and luxury. And this may 

 be gained, "unconnected with other business," 

 although the farmer commence life deeply in debt. 



A word concerning self-education. No one need 

 be satisfied with the mere rudiments of science. 

 With health, aspiration, courage and persever- 

 ance, any woman may be "thoroughly educated." 

 The "deep mysteries of science have been un- 

 locked" to many who wei-e dependent upon their 

 own energy, and will yet be unlocked to many 

 more. A large number of our farmers' daughters 

 are teachers in cities or towns, often in positions 



of great responsibility ; one, I now call to mind, 

 a farmer's daughter from the Granite State, now 

 one of the "Faculty" of a female college. A few 

 teach, because compelled to depend upon their 

 own resources ; more, because their energetic 

 spirits scorn to remain in idleness — burying their 

 talents, when a wide sphere of usefulness is open 

 for them ; because they love the work, not be- 

 cause driven by poverty from the home-nest. 



It is my humble opinion that we "should be 

 content without pictures," if we cannot consist- 

 ently possess them. With a moderate amount of 

 genius, taste and contrivance, I think our walls 

 need not be unadorned. Place all the works about 

 your home that you are able. The heart Avill 

 grow better for them. But because Raphael, An- 

 gelo, or Claude. Lorraine may not speak to me 

 from my library walls, I cannot consider it a duty 

 to pine in melancholy, bemoaning my sad fate. 

 When the rose on the window-seat opens its 

 crimson petals, tell the child of the blessed Jesus, 

 who is the "Rose of Sharon," who once trod this 

 earth, and who so loved little children, that He 

 died for them ; and whenever his bright eyes rest 

 upon the flower, will it not speak to him of the 

 loving Saviour, with as powerful a tongue as a 

 picture could ? 



Thanks to Polly for her invitation to visit her 

 mountain home. The song of the wash-board is 

 an old familiar air, but, as with us, the spinning- 

 wheel is but a relic of "long ago," now furnish- 

 ing the attic, I should doubtless enjoy its new and 

 unknown melody. Visit my cottage home, Poll}'. 

 and I will assure you that baking, sweeping and 

 scrubbing shall all be finished, without leaving 

 "mother to preside in the kitchen," in time for a 

 quiet chat in the parlor, ahorseback scamper over 

 our beautiful plain, a walk by the blue water, or 

 heart-wanderings in "Dream-land," with no in- 

 truding care to dim the sunshine. ANNA. 



October 1, 1860. 



For the New England Farmer. 



FLOWERS ADAPTED TO A NORTHERN" 

 WINTER. 



Seeing an inquiry in the Fanner of July 14, in 

 regard to flowers adapted to a Northern winter, I 

 send a list which I hope will prove satisfactory. 

 Namely : Cujjid's car, or Monk's-hood ; Balti- 

 more rose ; Drumraond's phlox, all varieties ; 

 Canterbury-boll ; Wall flowers ; Marv£l of Peru ; 

 Feverfew ; Chinese pink ; Mullen pink ; Moss 

 pink; Grass pink; Persian lilac; Fox'j;love ; 

 Flower-de-luce, purple and white ; Dwarf Iris ; 

 Narcissus ; Tulips, all varieties ; Gladiola ; Rud- 

 beckia; Tassel-tlower ; Garden Heliotrope ; Dou- 

 ble Buttercup ; Valeria, white and blue ; Myrtle ; 

 Perennial Larkspur; Mock-orange; Flowering 

 Almond ; Perennial Pea and Pansy, all varieties. 



There are many more which I have not men- 

 tioned, biennials and perennials, that would stand 

 a Northern winter, with slight protection from 

 frost, J. T. Sabine. 



Jejfersonville, Vt., 1860. 



SvT'AMPS AND MEADOWS. — The reader will find 

 an exceedingly interesting article upon this sub- 

 ject in another column, to which we ask attention. 



