1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



487 



HOW TO CLEAK LAND OF BRUSH. 



Our pastures are encroached upon by shrubs 

 and trees of inferior growth, making nestling 

 places for weeds, and shading much land which 

 otherwise would produce grass. We prefer to 

 use the brush hook, and cut up everything, to lay 

 the dry brush over the stubs and burn it. If 

 sheep are kept on the lot afterwards, they will 

 feed down the young growth which starts from 

 the roots, for the most part, and a scythe will 

 keep under the remainder. A correspondent of 

 the Homestead gives his views as follows : 



"This is often a problem of much importance, 

 and the solution of it is attended in some sec- 

 tions with much difficulty and expense. After 

 cutting and burning the brush piled up in heaps, 

 many think the best and perhaps the only mode 

 of extermination is plowing and thorough tillage. 

 This is an effectual remedy, and where circum- 

 stances will admit, a good one. But there are 

 many fields that cannot be treated in this man- 

 ner. Either the occupant cannot sustain the re- 

 quisite expense, or impediments to plowing stand 

 in the way. 



•'In many sections there are large quantities of 

 land now comparatively useless, that would, if 

 the brush is destroyed, be valuable for grazing. 

 Last year I tried burning the land over without 

 cutting the brush, and have been so well pleased 

 ■with the result that I wish to recommend the prac- 

 tice to others, and also draw out the experience 

 and opinions of others. Now is the time, as soon 

 as the ground is dry enough. The fire runs best 

 in the middle of the day. From a single experi- 

 ment I have come to the conclusion that fire run- 

 ning over the land a few consecutive years will 

 run out the brush, and the land be benefited by 

 the operation, especially if a top-dressing of gyp- 

 sum or something else be applied afterwards." — 

 Journal of Agriculture. 



Roots. — All roots should be housed before the 

 weather becomes severely cold. Cabbages, tur- 

 nips, beets, onions, carrots and parsnips will 

 need looking after soon ; but the first two may 

 be allowed to remain out as long as there is no 

 danger of their being frozen in. 



PRODUCT OP MILCH COWS. 



A dairyman somewhat noted for producing a 

 large amount of cheese annually from his dairy, 

 said to us in a recent conversation, that one of 

 the secrets of his success in this respect was the 

 careful manner in which he treated his herd. His 

 cows were driven to the stables leisurely. No dogs 

 ■were used for the purpose of driving the cows, 

 and persons in his employ who were caught 

 striking or in any way abusing a cow, were 

 discharged on the instant. Let the cows have an 

 abundance of food, and take the;r time in coming 

 to the barn, especially in hot weather, milk clean 

 and regularly, and from fifty to a hundred pounds 

 more cheese can be made per cow, during the 

 season, than Avhen the animals are dogged out of 

 the field night and morning, or kicked and pound- 

 ed and frightened for every little mistake they 

 are supposed to make. Some people make a great 

 mistake in overstocking, and too little attention 

 is given to the treatment of stock, summer and 

 winter. The dairyman should consider a moment 

 whether 30 cows yielding 600 pounds of cheese 

 per cow, are not as profitable as 40 cows whose 

 annual produce is 400 pounds per cow; and yet 

 hundreds of dairymen seldom if ever think of this 

 matter, but go on after the old manner, trusting 

 to luck for an increase in dairy products over that 

 of former years. — Dairy Fitrmer. 



YOUTH'S DEPARTMENT. 



THE UNLUCKY" THROW. 



When I was a boy, like most other boys, I 

 often did idle and foolish things. One day, for 

 instance, as I was walking up street, I saw a 

 broken china tea-cup in the road. Picking it up, 

 instead of letting it alone, as I ought to have 

 done, I began to toss it into the air. This I did 

 several times, trying to throw it higher with each 

 new effort. 



At last, thinking to toss it as high as the cor- 

 nices of the houses, I threw it with great energy. 

 Alas for me ! My arm struck my side, and the 

 unlucky piece of china went crashing through the 

 window of a dwelling-house. 



Without thinking of my duty, I took counsel 

 of my /ears only, and ran home as fast as my 

 feet could carry me. Nor did I either pause or 

 look back until I turned a corner. 



Shortly after this misfortune the son of the 

 man whose window I had broken came home 

 from play. Seeing the window broken, he 

 stood outside, with his hands in his pockets, 

 looking at it. A man passing said, "Your father 

 will think you broke that window, my little fellow, 

 and he'll tickle your back with a raw hide." 



"No he won't," said the boy calmly, "for I 

 shall tell him I didn't do it." 



"You may tell him so, but ■will he believe 

 you ?" rejoined the man. 



"He always believes what I say !" 



That was nobly said, and it was just so. That 

 boy wore a diamond called truth on his heart, 

 and his father knew that he could safely trust him. 



Where ■was I ? Well, I sneaked home, feel- 

 ing that I had done a mean act in not going right 

 to the owner of the house and confessing my 

 misfortune. 



For several days I carried my secret with me. 

 It was like wearing a belt of burrs round my 

 waist. It pained me badly. I was in torments, 

 too, lest somebody had seen me and should, after 

 all, tell my father. 



At last my secret was dragged out. A person 

 who knew me had seen me break the window and 

 had told the owner of the house about me. That 

 gentleman knew my father, and the first time he 

 saw him told him what I had done. My father 

 paid for setting a new square of glass, and on 

 his return home called me to his side. 



His face wore a stern expression. I trembled 

 and blushed like a culprit, for I guessed he had 

 found me out. Looking right in my eye, he said : 



"Peter, did you break Mr. Comerford's win- 

 dow a few days ago ?" 



"Yes, sir," I replied, holding down my head. 



"What did you do that for?" asked my father, 

 with less sternness in his manner. 



The worst of my load was now gone. That 

 secret mill-stone which had been crushing me 

 was now rolled off, and I told my father all about 

 the affair. 



