30 



NEW ENGLAND FAR5IER. 



Jan 



Among these may be mentioned the Rostiezer, 

 Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Belle Lucrative, Urban- 

 iste, Duchess d'AngouIeme, Glout Morceau, Law- 

 rence, Beurre Diel, Beurre d'Anjou and Winter 

 Nelis. The Beurre Clairgeau is very showy and 

 saleable, and though not first-rate, improves by 

 keeping. The Beurre Superfine I regard as more 

 valuable, and is a variety very liighly recommend- 

 ed by Mr. Field in his work on pear culture. It 

 answers to all the good traits of a fine fruit, and 

 is later than, and hence need not compete with, 

 the Bartlett. The Seckel is an old sort, and has 

 made its reputation ; but as it is slow in coming 

 into bearing, and requires a very high culture to 

 produce fruit of decent size, other kinds are now re- 

 garded as more profitable. Though sweet and del- 

 icate — too sweet for many tastes — it lacks that 

 sparkling, champagne flavor which now seems to 

 be the criterion of su]ierior excellence. And the 

 same may be said of the Belle Lucrative, which is 

 a dead sweet, and though j:)opular, does not, as far 

 as I have noticed, develop the great proportion of 

 its fruit, as many other varieties do, and is in- 

 clined to drop it prematurely. The Beurre Bache- 

 lier — a late pear which grow enormously in France 

 — is promising finely here, and from specimens 

 which I have grown the past season on a standard 

 tree, I regard it as an important acquisition. 



Besides the above, which constitute a portion of 

 the good pears, many native seedlings are claim- 

 ing notice — among wliich prominently stand Mr. 

 Dana's — and probably they deserve it. 



West Medford, Dec, 186L D. w. L. 



AGBICULTtmAL DIVISION OF THE 

 PATENT OEFICE. 



We learn that during the first three-quarters of 

 the present year members of Congress have been 

 supplied for distribution to their constituents with 

 about six hundred thousand papers, containing 

 one hundred and fifty-four varieties of vegetable 

 and two hundred and thirty varieties of flower 

 seeds — many of them new and very choice, and 

 others very old and excellent kinds, but not in 

 general cultivation. Some ten thousand packages 

 (each containing two quarts) of cereals were also 

 distributed to the members. These comprised 

 new and choice varieties of wheat, oats and barley 

 from France, Germany, Italy and Turkey. 



Upwards of eleven hundred Agricultural Socie- 

 ties, in every part of the country, also received 

 their quota for distribution in their respective com- 

 munities — to an amount of three hundred thou- 

 sand papers of vegetables and flowers, and ten 

 thousand packages (two quarts each) of cereals. 



In addition to the above, it is estimated that 

 upon personal or written application to the Agri- 

 cultural Division twenty thousand of our country- 

 men and fiur countrywomen have been supplied 

 with five hundred thousand papers of vegetable, 

 flower and field seeds during the three-quarters of 

 the year referred to. 



The fourth quarter of the year will unquestion- 

 ably show an amount of labor and usefidness in 

 full proportion to the above. — Nationcd Intelli- 

 gencer. 



The man whose word can always be depended 

 upon, is sure to be always honared. 



For tfte ISetir England Fanner, 

 SYNOPSIS OF THE SEASONS. 



ET R. F. yULI,ER. 



Enter Spring. 

 My kind friends, good morrow ! you know who 1 am ; 

 And Spring does not need to tell any her name. 

 The flowery dresses I constantly wear. 

 And train of attendants, my name al? declare. 

 You wonder, perhaps, how a little j-oung thing-. 

 Like me, has dethroned old Winter, the king ? 

 I killed him by kindness — that's often been done j 

 By smiles and by sunshine his sceptre I won. 

 If tjou try my method, it often will prove 

 No force in the world is so jiotent as love J 

 Although you may think me a gay, laughing thing, 

 Just hear a good word of advice from the Spring I 

 Sow your seed in the evening, and sow it at morn '. 

 For soon will the season of seed-time be gone '. 

 Dear children ! now plant seeds of knowledge and tratJi: 

 In manhood you'll reap as you sow in j-our youth '. 

 Sow merrj- if may be ; but sow, though in tears ; 

 And joy shall be yours when ths harvest appears ! {Exit, 



Enter Summer. 

 My name is the Summer — longer days will I bring, 

 Thiin those, that have left you, i' the train of the Spring. 

 Spring bears many blossoms, that Jade as she goes j 

 But I alone bring you tlie beautiful rose 1 

 And insects I've many, of gorgeous wing, 

 Who could not endure the caprices of Spring. 

 A thousand gay flov/ers the Summer shidl wear. 

 That breathe balmy sweets on the sunshiny air I 

 Though some days are warmer than all of you suit, 

 Remember, they 're needed for corn and for fruit. 

 My grottoes, how gratefid — raj- even and morn '. 

 — You '11 know how to miss me, when Summer is gone J 



lExit. 



Enter Autcmn. 

 My name is the Autujix — I know I appear 

 More staid than my sister, so recently here. 

 And some do not like me — Init such you will find. 

 Are those of a feeble or frivolous mind. 

 My lalling leaf whispers a tale so forlorn — 

 "The harvest is ended, and summer is gone ! 

 And life lias its seasons" — it mournfully saith — 

 "Youth, manhood and age ; and, after, is death !" 

 But those who, in springtime and summer, have wi'ought. 

 Find a harvest, in Autumn, of happiest thought. 

 Ere dropping, how gorgeous a robe are the leaves ! 

 V»'hat a cause for thanksgiving the shock and the sheav«s ! 

 Though Winter is coming, and soon will be here ; 

 They're ready, who^'e worked in the rest of the year '. 



[Exit. 

 Enter Winter. 



How d'ye do ? Methinks that your welcome is cold. 



In greeting again an acciuaintance so old '. 



I hope that you have not forgotten me, yet, 



Thougli favors, I know, all are prone to forget ! 



Why, 'tis not, I'm certain, a year quite ago, 



I spread you a carpet of new-fallen snow ! 



Then merrily jingled the bells of the sleigh, 



When lads rode with lasses, and laughed all the way. 



How often I've heard jou declare, every one. 



There's never a season like winter, for fan '. 



And those, in my evenings the long taper burn, 



All say, that in winter 's the season to learn. 



And, then, too, very often, when some will complain, 



And sigh for the beauties of summer again, 



I've hung my bright jewels of ice on the tree. 



And all have admitted, none dazzle like me. 



— \ow, listen, my children ! as older yon grow. 



You'll find there's great use in the ice and the snow. 



Nor, could you enjoy thus the Summer and Sprino, 



Except for the reign of old Winter, the King ! [Exit. 



