1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



175 



tober came on, was still producing flower-buds 

 and flowers, and ripening fruit ; the flowers and 

 immature berries were of course withered by the 

 severe frosts ; but at this time the plant was as 

 fresh and luxuriant as at any time previous, and 

 exhibited none of those signs of decay that had 

 come over vegetation in general ; hence I pre- 

 sume, if properly cared for, it might be kept in 

 bearing through the greater part of the year. I 

 have yet to see a wild plant that is more produc- 

 tive or that produces finer fruit than this has 

 since it come under my observation, as it, by 

 chance, has had the advantage of being situated 

 in a rich and deep soil. Otherwise than in its 

 tendency to perpetual bearing, it does not differ 

 in appearance from the -generality of its species, 

 which is the Eubus occidentalis of botanists, com- 

 monly known as the black raspberry, thimble- 

 berry, &c. I may add that during the last year I 

 have met with two or three other plants of this 

 species that exhibit the same unusual peculiarity, 

 all being found in the vicinity of the original 

 plant. Seeing the remarks quoted above, I have 

 thought that perhaps these facts may interest 

 some of your readers. 



The fruit of the wild black raspberry, it is 

 doubtless well known, is not very inferior, either 

 in point of size, productiveness or flavor, espe- 

 cially when favorably situated, and I have often 

 thought would well repay cultivation ; at least 

 the plants above described I intend shall have 

 careful attention and cultivation. j. a. a. 



Springfield, Mass., Feb. 20, 1861. 



Remarks. — An exceedingly interesting ac- 

 count. When the writer has a root to spare we 

 should be very glad to obtain one. This rasp- 

 berry is our favorite fruit. 



•WASHIlSrOTOlS- TEKRITOBT, 



In his recent message. Gov. McGill, of Washing- 

 ton Territory, thus speaks of the growth and re- 

 sources of that Territory : 



"But a few years have elapsed — not more than 

 nine years — since the interior of our Territory was 

 known only to the trapper and the tourist. Al- 

 though unrivaled in the magnificence of its scen- 

 ery, it was believed to be almost uninhabitable, 

 and valueless for the purposes of agriculture. 



"How great has been the change ; our inhabi- 

 tants are now numbered by thousands. In pro- 

 portion to area, Washington Territory, west of the 

 Cascade Mountains, contains as much good ara- 

 ble land as any other portion of our country west 

 of the Missouri river. The soil is of remarkable 

 fertility, and all the cereals, fruits and vegetables 

 common to a temperate climate thrive well. In 

 no other portion of the country can stock-raising 

 and v.'ool-growing be so profitably followed. As a 

 lumbering region, the shores of Puget Sound are 

 known throughout the world. Our fisheries are 

 the best on the Pacific coast ; and coal of superior 

 quality is found in great abundance. 



"In addition to these inexhaustible sources of 

 •wealth, the Territory is known to be rich in pre- 

 cious metals. During the past summer new gold 

 diggings have been commenced on the Wenatchee 

 and Cieai'-water rivers, tributaries of the Colum- 



bia, and in the valleys of the Siminkameen and 

 Okanagan ; and from the reports of the diff'erent 

 surveying and prospecting parties, there can be 

 no doubt of the existence of gold in large quan- 

 tities on all the rivers and streams east of the 

 Cascade Mountains. Traces of gold have been 

 also found along the route of the Fort Benton 

 and Walla Walla road, on the Big Blackfoot river, 

 and Flint and Benetze creeks." 



HOPE. 



We live in hope : though clouds appear, 



They linger but a day ; 

 The sun, to us a gift so dear, 



Will scatter them away ; 

 Thus life is but an April shower, 



And troubles are but rain ; 

 And hope, the sun, that in an hour 



Will bring us joy again. 



Memories, 

 Thoughts of the dead are always sad, and yet 

 Those we have loved we never can forget ; 

 Kind eyes look sweetly through the shadowy gloom. 

 And Mournful voices whisper from the tomb, 

 While, with low tone and mildly pensive eye, 

 We speak their names whose doom has been to die. 



EXTRACT OF TOBACCO. 



Mr. Editor : — Hearing accidentally of the 

 South Down Company's preparation of tobacco, 

 for the destruction of vermin on animals, I am 

 pleased to be able to give my testimony to its 

 complete efl[icacy in entirely removing lice from 

 my cattle; it is the best and most convenient 

 remedy I have ever known, and works so well on 

 my cattle, that I shall try it for my sheep, after 

 shearing, to kill ticks. Why don't the company 

 make it known to the farmers ? H. w. 



Springfield, Feb. 



Remarks. — The extract of Tobacco, alluded to 

 above, is advertised in our paper, and no owner 

 ofaa animal should be without it. It is said 

 also to be the best article in use, for killing ver- 

 min on green house plants. 



The Foot of a Horse. — The human hand 

 has often been taken to illustrate Divine wisdom 

 — and very well. But have you ever examined 

 your horse's foot ? It is hardly less curious, in 

 its way. Its parts are somewhat complicated, yet 

 their design is simple and obvious. The hoof is 

 not, as it appears to the careless eye, a mere lump 

 of insensible bone fastened to the leg by a joint. 

 It is made up of a series of thin layers, or leaves, 

 of horn, about five hundred in number, nicely fitted 

 to each other and forming a lining to the foot it- 

 self. Then there are as many more layers, be- 

 longing to what is called the "coffin bone," and 

 fitted in*o this. These are elastic. Take a quire 

 of paper and insert the leaves one by one, into 

 those of another quire, and you will get some idea 

 of the arrangements of the several layers. Now, 

 the weight of the horse rests on as many elastic 

 springs as there are layers in his four feet, — 

 about 4000 ; and this is contrived, not only for 

 the easy conveyance of the horse's own body, but 

 whatever burdens may be laid on him. 



