1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



79 



his own convictions of right. He is connected 

 with the parish, perhaps the church, takes an in- 

 terest in the schools, in town affairs, in county 

 affairs, in State affairs. He is a part of the ma- 

 chinery of society, identifies himself with its in- 

 terests, and feels himself, as he is acknowledged 

 hy others,to be of some importance. His opin- 

 ion, his silent example, even, exerts an influ- 

 ence on all around. He is, in the best sense, a 

 Freeman. 



Now this man has more to lose than he is 

 aware of, by a surrender of his position, and be- 

 coming a resident of a city. 



As to the expenses of his family — he will find 

 that two or three hundred dollars a year will not 

 give him the rent of a house so comfortable as 

 his own ; that although flour and sugar may cost 

 him no more per pound, it will require a large 

 amount to pay for the milk and eggs and butter 

 and lard, and vegetables and meats, that used to 

 come so easily from the farm. He will find, that 

 in every direction there is an increase of ex- 

 pense. The incidentals, of which little account 

 was made before, assume importance. Every- 

 thing costs in the city. You cannot be born, or 

 be married, or be buried, without frightful bills to 

 pay for it. A free lot in the old graveyard, or a 

 lot for a small sum in the rural cemetery, gives 

 the country resident and his loved ones a resting- 

 place with his kindred and friends, while a spot 

 in Mount Auburn, with respectaljle adornments, 

 can be provided only at the cost of hundreds of 

 dollars. It is enough for any man to dress and 

 live as well as his neighbors, and he cannot easi- 

 ly do less. The general style of the city is more 

 expensive than that of the country. The last 

 year's coat, or bonnet, or dress, might appear 

 well enough in the village church, while in the 

 city it would be quite shabby. 



But money is not the chief end of man. Chil- 

 dren of the middle classes are better bred in the 

 country than the city. They have better air, bet- 

 ter exercise, better health, better morals, and 

 better intellects. Children of the rich, who live 

 in Beacon Street, and who have gymnasiums and 

 riding-schools, and money to buy in the city the 

 blessings which the country gives to all alike, 

 may perhaps lose nothing by a city life. These 

 luxuries are not, however, for the common people. 



We are progressive, and in favor of change 

 when it is for the better, as it often may be. We 

 designed merely to give a word of caution to 

 those who may be looking to politics for a chance 

 to escape from the country to the city. To such, 

 in good time, we would repeat the old-fashioned 

 saying — "Let well enough alone." 



better done by taking the butter in the hand in 

 lumps of three or four pounds each, and slapping 

 it against a hard surface, than by using a ladle, as 

 is generally practiced in New England dairies. 



WOKKING Butter. — A correspondent of the 

 Homestead says a thorough working of butter is 



EXTBACTS AND REPLIES. 

 CRIMSON CLOVER. 

 I wish to inquire if the crimson clover can be 

 sown with grain as other grasses, or does it have 

 to be sown every year ? Where can I get s-ovae 

 seed ? C. F. Lincoln. 



Woodstock, Vt., Dec, 1860. 



Reaiarks. — A few weeks since we illustrated 

 the "Scarlet or Italian Clover," accompanied by a 

 brief notice. On an examination of some of our 

 English books we find a pleasant account of it. 

 In a work on "Farm Crops," by Professor Wil- 

 son, of Edinburgh, it is stated that the Scarlet 

 Clover is an annual plant, having a habit of 

 growth and an appearance which readily distin- 

 guish it from any of the ordinary clovers. The 

 stem is upright and branched ; the leaflets broad, 

 nearly round, and with the stem covered with 

 hairs ; the flower-stalk rises to some height above 

 the last leaves, and is surmounted by an oblong 

 cylindrical spike, tapering towards the top, and 

 consisting of bright scarlet or crimsoned colored 

 flowers, which give the crop a very beautiful ap- 

 pearance. It is extensively cultivated in the 

 sheep-farming counties of Scotland. The prac- 

 tice there is to sow it on stubble land as soon as 

 the grain crop is off, broadcast, and harrowed in, 

 at the rate of 12 to 20 pounds per acre. Owing 

 to its rapid and vigorous growth ; it gets firmly 

 rooted in the soil before the winter sets in, and 

 in the spring furnishes an abundant supply of 

 green food for cattle ; or if allowed to stand for a 

 hay crop, it comes into flower early in June, when 

 it may be cut. The product is liberal, and the 

 hay as well as the grass is generally relished by 

 cattle. 



Since the publication of our drawing, many in- 

 quiries have been made in relation to this clover, 

 and a disposition is manifested to employ it as a 

 fodder crop. We suggest that it will be well to 

 experiment on a moderate scale with it, until it is 

 better understood. 



We do not know where the seed can be ob- 

 tained, now — but if there is a demand for it, seeds- 

 men will soon obtain a supply. 



RINGBONE ON HORSES. 



I have a yearling colt which I think has a ring- 

 bone growing on his fore foot ; can you inform 

 me what will cure it ? Thomas Hobson. 



New London, Dec, 1860. 



Remarks. — Ringbone is a difficult matter to 

 deal with. We lost an old, but very fine horse, 

 last year by ringbone. Mr. W. H. Chaffee has 

 communicated to the Rural New-Yorker ihQ {o\- 



