1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



43 



made the Apple, Peach and Pear ; he has made 

 the Potato and the d .. cu of roots that we think 

 so much of; and shall wc call hnn any more a 

 fool because he has doubled the Rose and Chrys- 

 anthemum to make them feed more vigorously 

 the huuii^ry life within. Surely not ; let the far- 

 mer cultivate flowers 5 let him raise the very best 

 he can, and show them for his owii credit, and to 

 excite a generous eompetilion in the hearts of his 

 brethren. They will be like a red cheek on the 

 sunny side of his own mellow harvest ; like the 

 bloom on the features of his own home-fed daugh- 

 ters, which enliances and testifies their worth, 

 though it may not cause it. In their mute elo- 

 quence, they shall speak to him of a life liigher 

 than the mere flitting present ; for his full barn 

 and bin only suggest the idea of ever-returning 

 hunger, but these can minister to a want that 

 bi-ead cannot satisfy, hinting still at the painless 

 expeiience of an immortal rest, from which they 

 seem like lovely premonitors, always murmuring 

 in the ear of him who notes them, 



"O, pray believe that angels from those blue dominions, 

 Brought us in their white \aps domi, 'twixt their purple pinions." 



The report of the committee on Cranberry Cul- 

 ture is brief, but very suggestive. That on Man- 

 ures is valuable. It contains the experiments by 

 Mr, Richard S. Rogers, of South Danvers, a 

 portion of which were commiuiicated to the Far- 

 mer, and published in February last. "^A'^hat he 

 has added, and now appears in these Transactions, 

 we shall copy hercafter. 



The report on Root Crops is pretty full, and the 

 statement of Mr. H. A. Stiles abounds in sound 

 instruction. The report of the Committee "On 

 the Improvement of Pasture and Waste Lands" 

 shows in the clearest light the unprofitable condi- 

 tion of such lands, but presents no definite plan 

 for their reclamation. But one iu'stance is cited, 

 that of Oliver P. Killam, of Boxford, who cut 

 bushes, dug out the roots, made holes eight feet in 

 diameter, and put apple trees in them. This will 

 answer very well occasionally — but what we want, 

 as a general tiling, is pasturage, not orcharding. 

 An excellent report follows on Forest Trees, by 

 Jeeemlvh Spofford. 



The Society voted to build a new barn on the 

 Treadwell Farm, and also to continue to hold their 

 exhibitions in different parts of the county. 



The next paper, "by Wilson Flagg, is "^1 Plea 

 for the Birds on account of their Utility to Agri- 

 cidture" and is an interesting and valuable paper. 

 Following tliis is an "Essay on the Cultivation of 

 Cranberries," by Nathan Page, Jr., which is full 

 of excellent facts and suggestions. 



Upon the whole, this volume of the Essex 

 Transactions fully sustains the high reputation 

 ■which that ancient county has gained. The Sec- 

 retary of the Society, Charles P. Preston, Esq., 

 of Danvers, is entitled to credit for the prompt- 

 ness Avith wliich the volume appears, and to our 

 thanks for the copy which we have examined. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FINISH UP THE WORK. 



Time, with its varied and changing scenes, has 

 brought us almost to the close of another year ; 

 tills is the season which should be improved by 

 the farmer, and is of almost as much value to him 

 as the month of July. In this month he should 

 improve the oi)i)ortunity presented him in the 

 warm and pleasant dajs, to complete whatever of 

 lus fai-m work time may not have allowed him 

 to do before. Let not the fine opportunity, 

 wliich the open fall and tardy winter has present- 

 ed, be lost. 



If the manure has not all been carted from the 

 yard, do it noAV, and as fiist as it is removed from 

 the jard let its jjlace be filled with muck from your 

 meadows. It will amply reward you for your 

 trouble in grass next year, even if you should en- 

 counter a little frost before the job is quite done. 

 And when the snow forbids your longer working 

 the soil, look to the wood-pile, — don't let the fe- 

 males of your household have a chance of com- 

 plaining about green wood, and not enough of it, 

 either ; and don't allow yourself to sit around in 

 the house, and see them bring it from the wood- 

 house, when you have nothing else to do. 



The cattle, too, don't forget them, the kind 

 beasts that serve us ; don't allow them to suffer 

 for the want of a shelter, or sufficient food to sat- 

 isfy their appetites, though too lavish feeding is 

 bad ; but let them have enough to keep them in 

 good condition and still keep their appetites good. 

 If you have poor hay which you must feed out, do 

 it at the commencement of feeding, and you will 

 find that by cutting it up and putting upon it a 

 quart of meal to each creature, each day, there 

 will be but very little of it lost, and you Avill scarce- 

 ly feel the expense at all. 



The horses, too, and colts, should be looked af- 

 ter with great care tlu-ough the cold weather. Do 

 not believe the former who tells you that it is bet- 

 ter for your colt to take tilings as they come 

 along, in the rough and tumble style, but look af- 

 ter him ; give him a warm stable, and plenty of 

 good hay, a few good carrots and a quart of shorts 

 each day, and perhaps two quarts would not hurt 

 him — if not, give them to him. When all the out- 

 door work is cared for, call upon your neighbor, 

 and examine your accounts for the past year, and, 

 by the Avay, do not make a day-book of the bel- 

 lows, or a ledger of the fire-frame — such memo- 

 randums are worthless. 



Lastly, but not least, don't forget to subscribe 

 for the N. E. Farmer, or some other agricultural 

 paper equally as valuable, if you do not now take 

 one, for you will find it a valuable counsellor and 

 guide in your business. Let your evenings, which 

 are now long, be spent in gathering agricultural 

 knowledge from some standard work upon the 

 same, and thereby profit yourself and set a good 

 example before your family. E. P. L. 



Ware, Mass., Dec., 1861. 



Pure Seeds. — In our appropriate columns may 

 be found an advertisement of Mr. Sanford Ad- 

 ams, announcing his ability to separate at little 

 cost, all impurities from grain, grass and canary- 

 seed. He will, also, shell and clean peanuts for 

 confectioners or family use, and sort beans so that 



