260 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



June 



and it is much poorer in quality. But it is a 

 great deal better than none ; and as it is not sub- 

 ject to winter-killing — one of the worst mischan- 

 ces of winter wheat — it may well be considered 

 the safest crop. 



Farmers frequently attempt a substitute for 

 wheat by plowing up a poor pasture and sowing 

 it to rye. They obtain perhaps from ten to fif- 

 teen bushels per acre — about half a good wheat 

 crop, and attended with nearly the same amount 

 of labor — and after living on rye bread for a 

 month or two in the fall, are glad to sell the re- 

 mainder of the crop and purchase wheaten flour. 

 In my judgment, the culture of rye, except on 

 some soils specifically adapted to it, is poor econ- 

 omy. I well recollect that, during the fall of 

 1816, when the corn crop was cut off in all the 

 northern States, my father undertook to fatten 

 his hogs upon rye ; and he got about the same re- 

 sult that a certain unpopular personage is reput- 

 ed to have attained in shearing the pig ; he got 

 "great cry" and very little pork. In whatever 

 form he fed them the rye, the hogs invariably 

 called for more, and refused to grow fat under 

 any dispensation of it. Since that period I have 

 looked upon rye as just about the last crop I 

 would recommend the farmer to attempt the cul- 

 tivation of. 



I have heard it remarked by old farmers, in 

 wheat-growing times, that wheat would do well 

 on all soils" that would produce herds-grass. Now 

 as I have found by experiment that swamp muck, 

 on dry or gravelly land is one of the best fertil- 

 izers for herds grass, would it not be well to try 

 it for a wheat crop. Unfortunately, perhaps, I do 

 not possess a farm, and therefore cannot experi- 

 ment for the benefit of myself or others ; but if 

 it should prove true that muck is a fertilizer for 

 wheat, no one more important fact in agriculture 

 could be developed. 



I know it is fashionable for farmers to say they 

 can purchase flour cheaper than they can produce 

 wheat. I believe one of your correspondents has 

 written a book to prove that all kinds of farm 

 products cost more than they come to. This kind 

 of arithmetic is mischievous. The thrifty farmer 

 will strive to produce, as far as possible, all that 

 is necessary for his own living. Least of all 

 should he be dependent upon others for his bread. 

 The cotton-planter at the south, who can raise 

 corn for eight cents a bushel, and still buys it at 

 fifty cents to feed his slaves on, is not more out 

 of love with true economy, than the New England 

 farmer who tries to convince himself that it is 

 easier to purchase his bread than to produce it. 



Somerville, April, 1861. E. c. P. 



What is Lawful Soundness of a Horse. — 

 In reply to this question by a correspondent, the 

 American Stock Journal publishes the follow- 

 ing: 



On consulting "Oliphant," on the law of hors- 

 es, you will see that he defines "soundness" as 

 follows : We may define a horse to be sound 

 when he is free from hereditary disease, is in the 



Sossession of his natural and constitutional 

 ealth, and has as much bodily perfection as is 

 consistent with his natural formation." 



Another definition of "soundness." — That horse 



is sound in which there is no defect nor disease, 

 that shall impair his present or future usefulness. 



A third definition ofi "soundness." — That horse 

 is sound that is perfect in structure and function. 



According to the above definitions of "sound- 

 ness," it would be a matter of impossibility to 

 find a sound horse ; therefore I advise you not to 

 warrant the animal which you suppose has a corn. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SOME CHOICE APPLES. 



The apples mentioned below, among others 

 which I have under cultivation, are comparatively 

 new in this region, and deserve general attention. 



Red Astrachan. — This foreign apple is one 

 of the most prominent of the early varieties ; is 

 large, peculiarly handsome, and in appearance 

 will rival the Williams. It is a little earlier than 

 the last named, though not so fine for the table, 

 though more juicy, yet acid. For mid-August, 

 however, this is no great fault. Its growth is ex- 

 ceedingly vigorous, its leaves very large, and its 

 fruit being showy, it malces the handsomest tree 

 of the garden. It is also an early bearer. Its 

 fault is that, bearing in clusters — its tartness and 

 tenderness assisting — it rots on the tree badly, 

 and is less transient than the Williams. It is, 

 however, very valuable. 



Garden Royal. — A medium-sized fruit, ripe 

 in September, colored like the Hubbardston Non- 

 such, very tender and juicy, and of a mild, pleas- 

 ant flavor. The fruit has some peculiarities. It 

 is uniformly fair, and specimens direct from the 

 tree that might be regarded in good eating order, 

 will greatly improve by being kept a week or 

 fortnight, as they become more juicy rather than 

 dry, and are little disposed to rot. The tree is a 

 handsome, very upright and compact, though 

 slender grower, and bears young and abundantly. 

 The fruit is eagerly bought by dealers who are 

 acquainted with it. 



Gravenstein.— This apple, a little later than 

 the Garden Royal — has never been over praised. 

 It is far superior to the Porter, and must neces- 

 sarily supplant that heretofore popular variety, as 

 no one would cultivate the latter, if acquainted 

 with the former. It is larger, handsomer, and of 

 much finer quality. Besides, it is a good grower, 

 making a spreading head, and bears early. There 

 can be no doubt of its being the most valuable of 

 all the early autumn apples. The rind is thick 

 and oily, emitting a fine aroma, and it is a 

 splendid market apple. It will keep over two 

 months, and I have seen specimens of it in Janu- 

 ary. 



Granite Beauty. — A large winter variety from 

 New Hampshire, of great promise. Inclining to 

 oblong, greenish-yellow ground, with numerous 

 dark, dull stripes ; light texture, pleasant sub-acid, 

 and very juicy. A strong, spreading grower, and 

 grafts which I procured of Mr. Breed, of Weare, 

 N. IL, four years ago, show indications of a good 

 crop this season, on a stock ten years old. This 

 apple, among cultivators, is receiving a good 

 share of attention. 



Tompkins County King. — An apple lately 

 introduced from New York State. It is a winter 

 fruit, larger than and colored similarly to the Bald- 

 win, and though a little superiot in flavor, will 



