1S61. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



565 



"American Gardener," which may be read at the 

 present time to advantage, he rebukes those who 

 think that flowers are of no use, and exclaims, 

 "For my part, as a thing to keep and not to sell, 

 as a thing the possession of which is to give me 

 pleasure, I hesitate not a moment to prefer the 

 plant of a fine carnation to a gold watch set with 

 diamonds." 



In this light I wonder that every farm has not 

 its flower-garden, however small. In its perfec- 

 tion it is, of course, unattainable without great 

 care and expense ; but a single dollar a year, ju- 

 diciously laid out in seeds and bulbs, will, from 

 one tiny plat, yield, from the first crocus to the 

 last chrysanthemum, a perpetual joy. It is, in- 

 deed, passing strange that there is not a more 

 general enthusiasm in the cultivation of flowers. 

 It has been said that they are the alphabet of an- 

 gels, wherewith they write on hills and plains 

 mysterious truths. Certain it is that they are 

 ever suggestive of the pure and holy, and enno- 

 bling to those who live in their gentle presence. 



Lafayette, visiting the mother of Washington 

 at Fredericksburg, found her busily engaged in 

 weeding her flower garden, and the incident sug- 

 gests that the fair sex can find no more whole- 

 some pastime than that given to floriculture. 

 They may do much in the training of the rose to 

 brighten their own cheeks with its blushing hues, 

 and in the sweet air of the garden find an invig- 

 oration which no other source can provide. Our 

 maidens should, at this time, tend their gardens 

 with the fondest care, for when their lovers who 

 have gone in the war for the Union and the Con- 

 stitution shall have redeemed the dear old flag 

 from the disgrace which heartless traitors and 

 rebels would heap upon it, and return to their 

 gentle embrace, covered with the glory and dust 

 of battle, will they not merit garlands choicer 

 than ever graced the brows of Roman victors, or 

 adorned Grecian heroes flushed with the triumph 

 of their classic arms ?" 



For the New England Farmer. 



A MODEL TOWN IN" VERMONT. 



Our New Cash System — True Patriotism — The Season — Crops 

 — Horse Rake. 



I am 80 well pleased with the new arrangement 

 of your paper, and the price for 1862, that I can- 

 not forbear giving a word of congratulation and 

 encouragement. May you be doubly successful 

 under the administration of the cash in advance 

 principle, which, by the way, I have always prac- 

 ticed, and been satisfied that I got the worth of 

 my money at that. Now, if it is a possible thing, 

 in these hard war times, to double your subscrip- 

 tion list in this town, before January, I will see 

 that it is done. 



I must tell you that with a population of only 

 about 1000 people, and but a trifle over 200 vot- 

 ers, we have sent over 100 men to fight our coun- 

 try's battles, and there are still more that are 

 anxious to go, and will, probably, if any more reg- 

 iments are called for from this State. With such 

 patriotism and attachment to the Union, the right 

 must prevail ! 



This last week has been the pleasantest of the 

 autumn, so far. When you were talking of low 

 streams in October, we had an abundance of rain, 



and two or three times the distant hilltops were 

 sprinkled with snow ; but the week just ending 

 has been good Indian summer weather, with a 

 thunder shower Wednesday evening. To-night 

 we have South wind and some rain. 



I have just got in my beet and turnip crop, 

 which yielded at the rate of 1300 bushels to the 

 acre, which I think will pay very well, and which 

 almost any farmer may do, by proper care and 

 cultivation. Crops were generally good here ; 

 corn extra ; potatoes rather light, but excellent 

 in quality. 



Will you give the name of the town in which 

 the inventor of the new horse rake resides ? 



W. I. SiMONDS. 



Boxbury, Vt, Nov. 2, 1861. 



Remarks. — Our correspondent will please ac- 

 cept thanks for the hearty good-will he expresses. 

 With a general feeling like this, we shall attain 

 an unprecedented list. The plan works admira- 

 bly, so far. Address J. C. Stoddard, Worcester, 

 Mass., to learn more about the horse rake. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 UNFAIB FAIRS. 



Having attended several State, county and 

 town fairs, and exhibitions of the M. C. M. As- 

 sociation and American Institute, in ten difl"erent 

 States, during the twelve years past, and more- 

 over possessing somewhat of Yankee inquisitive- 

 ness, I have noticed many things in regard to 

 these institutions just as they should be, and 

 some things that / have guessed ought not so to 

 be, and heard many others openly affirm were 

 positively wrong. But how to remedy the evils, 

 has been a perplexing and unsettled question, in 

 thinking of which I have decided that, on the 

 principle that a continual dropping, even of wa- 

 ter, will wear away even a hard stone, it is duty 

 to continue dropping words upon the subject till 

 the evils are worn away. 



Being only a home-made mechanic, such words 

 as I can drop, will not, of course, have much 

 weight, or do much in wearing away the objec- 

 tionable stones ; but possibly the attention of 

 others more able may be arrested thereby. I 

 have also attended the "fairs" as an exhibitor of 

 one or more new inventions requiring my con- 

 stant attention, so that I have not had time, with 

 feeble health also, to perambulate and make ob- 

 servations so much as I might otherwise. 



If I do not misunderstand, the primary and 

 chief object of the agricultural and mechanical 

 institutions referred to is, to benefit the country 

 by encouraging and developing its own resources; 

 and anything interfering with this object, I guess 

 is wrong. I am aware that some organizations 

 have other important objects, as the M. C. M. 

 Association, its health insurance provisions, SiC. ; 

 and some have regard to a local benefit within its 

 own boundaries ; but what I will now refer to I 

 have noticed as applicable more or less to all. 



The award of premiums is expected or designed 

 to be looked upon by the public, and is, to a great 

 extent, as the criterion of merit ; but who that 

 is well posted in the matter, does not know that 

 awards are often made regardless of both relative 



