1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



327 



ed, no crop may be expected ; therefore, when the 

 ground is properly manured and pulverized, let 

 there be seed planted. Do not confine the plant- 

 ing to the kind above named, but mingle all those 

 kinds you would be willing to have grow on the 

 land, and when one kind don't take, another will. 

 There is no telling what shall happen, until you 

 try. On most of our land, two tons of hay can 

 be grown to the acre as readily as one, and he 

 that spread his seeds so sparingly as to raise only 

 one ton to the acre, takes in at the spicket while 

 he lets out at the bung, as the saying is. 

 May 10, 1861. _ Essex. 



BUNCH ON THE TEAT OF A COW. 



I wish to inquire of you or some correspon- 

 dent of your paper for a method of removing a 

 bunch from the teats of a cow. I have a valua- 

 ble cow, but on one of her teats near the end is a 

 small bunch or protuberance which makes it hard 

 to milk her, and I am dfesirous to have it re- 

 moved. If some one can tell me through the col- 

 umns of your paper how to remove it, they will 

 greatly oblige a subscriber to your valuable pa- 

 per. J. O. LOCKWOOD. 



St. George, Vt., 1861. 



THE KIGHT PLUCK. 



I have not yet enlisted in the army, but Jiave 

 enlisted under a motto similar to one the Faneuil 

 Hall Market men sent with their contribution to 

 the Massachusetts troops : 



"YOU FIGHT 

 AND WE will" GROW THE "FEED." 



Let every lover of the "Stars and Stripes" who 

 owns the soil, devote his land this year to noth- 

 ing but what shall minister to the real necessities 

 of mankind, and may Heaven bless our labors 

 and our cause. W. H. Atkins. 



Westfield, May 14, 1861. 



A colt's INJURED EYE. 



I have a colt which has scratched his eye bad- 

 ly ; the lids are much swollen, a film covers the 

 ball, and it discharges quite an amount of matter 

 daily. If you can suggest a remedy, you will 

 oblige J. Cross. 



Westport, N. B., May 2, 1861. 



Remarks. — Wash it two or three times, daily, 

 with weak arnica water, and do not allow the 

 colt to be exposed to the full light. 



House Plants out of Doors. — Those who 

 keep plants in the house during the winter, 

 should, within a few days, set them out in the 

 flower borders for the summer. In the case of 

 most kinds of plants, it will be better to turn 

 them out of the pots and set the ball of earth in 

 the ground. To keep the ball whole, place the 

 hand over the earth and gently knock the edge of 

 the pot against any hard substance, and the ball 

 of earth will come out whole without any diffi- 

 culty. Transplanted in this manner, the plant 

 will receive no check, as the roots will not be at 

 all disturbed. There may be some plants, how- 

 ever, which it is desirable to keep in pots. Such 

 should be plunged to the rim of the pots in the 



border, and occasionally lifted during the season 

 to break off any roots which may stray through 

 the hole in the bottom of the pot. Most house 

 plants should have a sunny exposure during the 

 summer, but there are some which like a i)artial 

 shade. Fuchsias, for instance, should be planted 

 on the north side of a fence or house, as they will 

 not flourish in a sunny spot. No plant should 

 ever be put under trees for the sake of shade, as 

 very fevf will succeed in such a situation. — Coun- 

 try Gentleman. 



For the New Ensland Farmer. 



EXTRACTS FKOM MY NOTE BOOK. 



Farm Work — Planting Potatoes — Birds and Insects — Solar 

 Halos— The Season. 



It is my practice to record results and occur- 

 rences connected with country and farm life that 

 come under my observation ; I herewith send you 

 a few extracts which you can dispose of as you 

 see fit. The extracts are not confined to any one 

 subject, but are generally such as may occur or 

 be suggested in eveiy day life. 



May 10, 1861. — Farm work in full operation. 

 Sowing grain and planting potatoes. Ground in 

 first rate order. These few warm, windy days 

 have made the soil dry, light and considerable 

 warm. Too early to plant corn, although the 

 first bobolink was seen yesterday ; and old farm- 

 ers say when they arrive 'tis corn planting sea- 

 son ; but I guess this bird was an advance scout, 

 as I have seen none since. Early shrubs, as goose- 

 berries, spirea, elder, in full leaf. Lilacs, horse- 

 chestnut, balm of gileads just bursting, and buda 

 of fruit trees swelling. 



Planting Potatoes. — We are apt to seed too 

 high ; that is, too much seed to the hill ; three 

 stalks are sufficient for a hill, planted in the or- 

 dinary way ; therefore, three pieces containing 

 one eye each are enough for a hill. When we 

 plant, we are more apt to put in twice or three 

 times that number, especially if the potatoes are 

 small ; and herein large potatoes are superior for 

 seed, as by cutting them, we are not as liable to 

 over seed. In some varieties of potatoes the 

 eyes are scarce toward the but-end, and when 

 cutting, many pieces will be found on which they 

 are entirely wanting. These pieces are consid- 

 ered worthless, as they will not produce a stalk. 

 I have noticed something peculiar with regard to 

 these pieces, and I want you to observe and re- 

 port the result of those observations, which will 

 prove or disprove the truth of my theory, which 

 is this : that a portion of potato containing no 

 eye, and usually considered worthless, will, by a 

 certain process, produce tubers similar with the 

 portion containing an eye. Now for the proof. 

 Plant these eyeless pieces same as any ; many of 

 them will continue sound in the ground during 

 the summer, but there will be a slight wart-like 

 protuberance that will grow on or from the stem, 

 forming a part of the potato. On examination 

 of this wart or knot you will see several little 

 eyes similar to those on a perfect potato. Pre- 

 serve these pieces, and plant them again the next 

 year, and they will produce potatoes, the stalks 

 springing from the minute eyes in the last year's 

 addition above mentioned. There, farmers, what 

 do you say about it ? I have never seen this re- 

 ferred to ; but bring forward your pros and cons,- 



