42 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



to its general effects upon all kinds of land and 

 crops. 



I forgot to mention that on that part of the 

 corn-field where the phosphate was used, the crop 

 of pumpkins was more than twice as large, and of a 

 much better quality, than on any other part of the 

 field. 



A friend of mine, in North Leominster, used 

 some of Coe's phosphate on part of a mowing field 

 last spring, and the crop of hay was a third heavier 

 than on that portion Avhere none was applied. 



I believe that Coe's superphosphate of lime, if 

 rightly used, is a powerful stimulant to plants, and 

 an aid to the farmer ; but I also believe that this, 

 or any other artificial fertilizer, can never take the 

 place (and be as beneficial to the land as well as 

 the growing crops,) of animal and vegetable ma- 

 nures, composted together in the barn-cellar, or 

 elsewhere. This kind of food for plants, no farm- 

 er can possess too much of, or be too diligent in 

 accumulating and heaping together. 



I hope that all who have made experiments with 

 Coe's phosphate, will give the results to the world ; 

 for it is only by many different experiments upon 

 aU kinds of soil, that a correct estimate of its real 

 merits can be known. S. L. WlIITE. 



South Crroton, Dec, 1861. 



THE ESSEX SOCIETY. 



We have before us the "Transactions of the 

 Essex Agricultural Society for the year 1861," in 

 a neatly-printed book of 200 pages. It shoAVS as 

 much progress, over its fellows that have preced- 

 ed it, in the art of printing, as has been made in 

 the cultivation of the soil. The fii'st paper pre- 

 sented is the Address of Mr. Alfred A. Abbott, 

 of South Danvers, and a good one it is. The re- 

 ports on Plowing with oxen and horses, on Work- 

 ing Oxen, Farm and Draft Horses, on Stallions, 

 Breeding Mares, Colts, Fat Cattle, Bulls, Sheep 

 and Swine and Milch Cows, are all very short, 

 scarcely venturing a remark in regard to any of 

 them, as to their importance to the farmer, or 

 dropping any suggestions that might be valuable 

 to him. The report on Poultry is more at length, 

 and presents facts that are of value to the poultry 

 raiser. The report on the Dairy is brief, but 

 closes with the following capital wish : — "We 

 wish that all of our young ladies, wliile they are 

 learning to play the piano, would also learn to 

 make good butter and cheese. You can please 

 your husband better with ordinary music and 

 sweet butter, than with the sweetest music and 

 rancid butter." 



In the brief report on Pears, by Mr. John M. 

 Ives, he says, — 



Regarding the injury to our fruit trees and 

 gi-ape vines, we apprehend that it took place be- 

 tween the last of P^ebruary and early in March. 

 The ground was so open in that month that some 

 strawberry beds were forked over and the plants 

 set. On Sunday morning, March 3d, the ther- 

 mometer, in South Salem, went up to 7.5° in the 

 shade, and 8o° in the sun. On the Thursday fol- 



lowing, it was but 10° above nearly the whole day, 

 and upon the 18th, it was only 4° above at sunrise. 

 The MiU Pond was frozen over sufficient for 

 skating. 



Such fluctuations of temperature, particularly 

 thus late, would, we think, be more disastrous 

 than if they had occurred in December or January. 

 The sudden freezing and thawing of the sap ves- 

 sels in winter, particularly in the grape vine, 

 causes tliis trouble ; and as the sap is always in 

 motion, at all seasons and under all circumstaiaces, 

 except in the presence of intense cold, as said by 

 that eminent physiologist. Dr. Lyndlay, can Ave 

 wonder at these results ? Biot, a French Avriter, 

 says that there is a great deal of sap in the spring, 

 and much less at other seasons. He has also 

 proved, by an ingenious apparatus, that the rate 

 of motion of the sap may be measured at all sea- 

 sons. In mild weather the sap was constantly 

 rising, but Avhen frost was experienced, it flowed 

 back again. 



The report on Floicers is extended, criticises 

 sharply some bad practices introduced into the ex- 

 hibition, makes valuable suggestions, and closes 

 with a manly and touching appeal to the farmers 

 of the county, as follows : — 



Perhaps our Avorthy Essex farmers are not yet 

 wholly rid of the idea that raising floAvers is 

 "Avoman's Avork." So it is ; but not the less that 

 of men, by any means. Woman shines in every 

 work of benevolence, but man honors himself in 

 the giving of alms as much as she. Woman is 

 lovely in connection Avith the education of the 

 young ; is not man equally Avell employed in the 

 same field? 



"But," he says, "flowers look charmingly, but 

 have no usefulness ; they do no good, that I knoAV 

 of." Suppose it is so ; hoAv much good does the 

 carmine do, that you love to see mantling your 

 Red Astracans as Avell as any one ? Is the Bald- 

 Avin better for its ruby coat, or the Maiden-Blush 

 for the gloAv that has borroAved it a name from the 

 loveliest of all things ? Is the Bartlett more lus- 

 cious for its gold, or the Tomato for its fine crim- 

 son ? But the plainest farmer loves all these bet- 

 ter for their beautiful hues, and he knoAvs it, and 

 cannot help it, and still those hvies have no more 

 of utility about them than the tint or quilling of 

 an Aster. There is just as fine a vein of enjoy- 

 ment in the farmer's nature as in any man's ; nay, 

 he, of all men, is the one to have enjoyment — a 

 full, deep, overflowing cup of it, for his physical 

 system is aptest to be tuned to the true natural 

 harmony, vigorous and strong, and beauty ought 

 to rise on his vision, not in pale, diluted colors, 

 but glorious and Avarm as a haymaker's sunshine. 



Wlio disbelieves in the culture of a fcAV floAvers 

 on the farm, noAv ? If there are any, there is a 

 prospect that they will at some time be given over 

 to hardness of heart. But Ave must indulge in one 

 more extract — and we know it Avill gratify many 

 a reader — and thank the gentlemen of the com- 

 mittee before we close : — 



The groAving of lovely and perfectly formed 

 floAvers is as much in harmony Avith nature as any 

 of the operations of culture. Man is a Avorker of 

 changes in everything ; he has, so to express it. 



