10 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



in the midst of a New England winter. Rather 

 an unpromising topic, especially where one feels 

 that he has, year after year, given expression to 

 pretty much such thoughts as the same objects 

 will be most likely to suggest again to the same 

 mind. 



We have sometimes thought that if editors could 

 agree upon some plan by which occasional "ex- 

 changes" might be effected with their "brethren," 

 or by which they could, after the manner of the 

 Methodist ministry, "ride a circuit," so that no^ne 

 would be compelled to write for the same "people" 

 more than one or two years in succession, our edi- 

 torials might present a greater variety of thought 

 and novelty of expression. But in the absence of 

 such arrangement, we may rely on the long-tried 

 good nature of our readers to pardon any repeti- 

 tion which they may detect. 



Well, then, on this New Year's Day, we shall 

 find, if we look into the almanac, that this earth 

 of ours, or, as it appears to us, the sun, com- 

 menced liis year's work a few days ahead of us ; 

 having swept around the southern curve of his 

 track, and passed the half-way station of winter 

 solstice about a week before we arrived at our 

 "place of beginning." The day is already a few 

 minutes longer than at the shortest, but the sun 

 is still so low in the southern sky that we do not 

 expect his approach towards our northern latitudes 

 will sensibly affect the temperature for some time 

 to come. Indeed, experience has taught us to ex- 

 pect, on the contrary, that 



"When the days begin to lengthen, 

 Then the cold begins to strengthen." 



And before the month goes out, Ave usually find 

 that it is full strong enough for our comfort, — or, 

 at least, we are apt to think so, and, perhaps, to 

 grumble about it. We well know that these long 

 winter evenings do tax the patience. Many feel 

 that the history of their lives might be written in 

 two lines : 



"Worked hard all summer to raise enough to 

 feed themselves and cattle during winter." 



But, do we not complain too much ? Is a mild- 

 er climate, even if at our bidding, desirable .'' For 

 what section of this earth, after all, would we ex- 

 change New England ? Since commencing this 

 article, we have read an extract from a work on 

 "The Manners of the Modern Egyptians," in which 

 the writer alludes to some of the effects of climate 

 upon character. Life at Grand Cairo, he says, is 

 rather passive, than active. Nine months of the 

 year the body is oppressed by heat ; the soul in a 

 state of apathy, sighs for calm tranquillity. Inac- 

 tion under a temperate climate is painful ; here 

 repose is enjoyment. The most frequent saluta- 

 tion at meeting or parting, is, "Peace be with you." 

 The American, born under an ever-varying sky, is 



continually receiving new impressions, which keep 

 his mind as continually awake. He is active, im- 

 patient and agitated, like the atmosphere in wliich 

 he exists ; while the Egyptian, feeling the same heat, 

 the same sensation, two-tliirds of the year, is idle, 

 solemn and patient. Effeminate indolence is born 

 with the Egyjitian, grows as he grows, and descends 

 with him to the grave. It is the vice of the cli- 

 mate ; it influences his inclinations and governs 

 his actions. The sofa, therefore, is the most lux- 

 urious piece of furniture of an apartment. Their 

 gardens have charming arbors and convenient 

 seats, hut not a single ivalk ! 



Such is the testimony of northerners generally 

 who visit southern countries. The Rev. J. S. 

 Green, missionary at the Sandwich Islands, whom 

 our readers v^iU. remember as the writer of several 

 the Fanner, says the Hawaiian fields might "laugh 

 articles on Hawaiian agriculture, published in 

 Avith abundance," but are fruitful only in noxious 

 or useless Aveeds. "And yet we all see that the 

 nation is dying out and out, commerce languish- 

 ing, every thing and every body suffering, because 

 scarcely any one is willing to cultivate the earth." 

 After speaking of the natural indolence of the 

 Islanders, generally, and of the astonishment of 

 the natives, Avho formerly cut their grain Avith a 

 case-knife, at Avitnessing the velocity Avith which 

 one of Hussey's machines marched through a field 

 of AA'heat, he exclaims : "Dear old Ncav England, 

 land of my birth, of my childhood and youth ! 

 Avell may thy sons be thankful that they Avere born 

 and cradled among thy hills, instead of first breath- 

 ing the balmy air of a southern climate. If I have 

 any hardness, any thing like endurance, I OAve it, 

 under God, to having felt the bracing atmosphere 

 of the north, and to having become inured to the 

 tug of labor on the hillsides and in the valleys of 

 Vermont." 



Let us, then, enter upon a Neav Year, thank- 

 ful for the cold ; thankful for the rough admoni- 

 tions Avhich it gives us to bestir ourselves or freeze 

 to death ! 



Water for Fattening Swine. — A corres- 

 pondent of the Rural New-Yorker, AA'ho has tried 

 the experiment of fattening SAvine Avith and Avith- 

 out Avater, gives the result as folloAvs : 



Last f;ill I saAv in the Rural that a farmer said 

 he had proved by experience that hogs Avould fat- 

 ten faster, and on a considerable less amount of 

 corn, Avithout drink, so I thought I Avould try the 

 experimeiit. I fed sixteen shoats on dry corn for 

 nearly tAvo months Avithout Avater. They acted 

 like crazy creatures, and a common rail fence Avould 

 not stop them. They ate but little corn, and I 

 think did not gain a pound. I then gave them all 

 the Avater they Avantcd, and I could see they com- 

 menced gaining immediatul}", and Avere as content- 

 ed as any hogs. I have proved, to my satisfac- 

 tion, at least, that fattening hogs require Avater. 



