52 



NEW ENGLAND FAR^NIER. 



Jan. 



rain. A moderate number of strong, healthy 

 branches, -with vigorous foliage, is better than a 

 quantity of -weak shoots, covered with half grown 

 leaves. The aim should be to avoid both ex- 

 tremes, and secure long, well ripened canes, with 

 thoroughly matured buds. A strong vine will re- 

 sist mildew, when a weaker one would give way 

 under the attack. 



Lastly, winter protection is an important con- 

 sideration. Until we secure perfectly hardy vines, 

 they cannot be considered safe in our variable sea- 

 sons. If the wood does not suffer, the dormant 

 fruit buds are afl'ccted. They do not start kindly 

 and vigorously, and a week, often a fortnight, is 

 lost by their weakened energies from severe cold ; 

 and though the summer's growth may be vigorous 

 enough, the fruit still lags behind. It is a thing 

 which did not occur to us till close observation 

 made it apparent. In a more favorable climate, 

 like that of southern New York and Ohio, a week 

 or ten days is of no great importance ; but in New 

 England, with frosty nights the last of Septem- 

 ber, a week gained is often the securing of an 

 abundant crop. 



HOW TO KAISE HOGS. 

 A. G. MuUins, of Kentucky, in a communication 

 to the Genesee Farmer, offers the following hints 

 on the raising of hogs : 



Say we have a good stock to begin with — a stock 

 that matures early and fattens well. The pigs 

 should come from the middle of March to May. 

 There is a great advantage in pigs coming at this 

 time, as we can graze them through two summers, 

 and have them to keep only through one winter. 

 They come to be of fine size by the second fall or 

 winter. Hogs may be pushed into market younger, 

 but at more expense in grain, and they will be 

 smaller at fattening time, which is a great disad- 

 vantage. 



The greatest profit in hogs is in grazing them, 

 and turning them upon grain fields, where they 

 can gather for themselves ; and having them large 

 and in good condition at fattening time. The sows 

 and pigs should be kept in good growing condition 

 by feeding them on Indian corn, or corn meal 

 made into slop. As soon as the clover begins to 

 blossom, or a little before, turn them upon it. 

 Sows and pigs should still be given some grain 

 wliile in the clover. 



Washington a Yankee City. — Washington is 

 essentially a Yankee city at the present time. In 

 every department business is thriving to a degree 

 unparalleled in its history. Real estate has ad- 

 vanced to unexpected figures, and it is a matter of 

 impossibility to find suitable accommodations for 

 the vast influx of business now pouring in upon 

 us. Enterprise is now the watcliAvord, where a 

 short year ago inactivity and decay prevailed. 

 Vigorous competition has reduced the price of 

 many of the necessaries of life. Old monopolies 

 have been scattered to the winds, and the consum- 

 er is generally benefited by the change. The 

 Washington of to-day is totally difi'erent from the 

 Washington of 1860. Many are unacquainted with 

 the cause of the transformation, and look with 

 wondering eyes at what is only a legitimate con- 

 sequence. — Wasliinyton Itcpuhlican. 



EXTKACTS AND REPLIES. 



A GOOD KIND OF COKN, 



In the monthly Farmer for June last, is an ac- 

 count of an excellent crop of corn, by C. L. 

 French, 2d, of Bedford, N. H. In connection 

 with this account he spoke in such liigh terms of 

 a variety of corn planted by him for the last 30 

 years, that I was induced to make further inqui- 

 ries concerning it. Learning that several farmers 

 of West Brookfield had planted corn the past sea- 

 son, procured of Mr. French, I wrote for informa- 

 tion, and received in answer a letter from Mr. A. 

 Keep, dated Sept. 26, from which I send you some 

 extracts for the benefit of others, Avho, hke myself, 

 may be anxious to obtain a variety, both early and 

 prolific. 



He says : "In relation to the corn I procured 

 from N. IL, I can say that I planted INIay 29, on 

 sandy loam, manure wholly spread, and the corn 

 was well out of the way of an ordinary frost about 

 the 5th of this month, the husks on some of the 

 ears having turned white and started from the 

 ear. It is certainly early enough. One of my 

 neighbors planted it on a rather heavy soil on the 

 1st day of June, and exhibited a lot of it at our 

 Cattle Show on the 20th inst. ; the ears very large 

 and well ripened, and his crop is very heavy. 



"I gave my brother, who lives in Paxton, seed 

 enough for perhaps 100 liills, and I saw it a few 

 days ago ; I think I never saw heavier corn any- 

 where. It is on very liigli land, where it is oftener 

 the corn crop fails them otherwise, but there will 

 be no failure in this small lot. 



"I might say that most of the large ears in my 

 field are, and have been many days, open ; the 

 husks have started and the corn ripe enough to 

 grind." 



I send the above for publication, not from any 

 personal motive, as I never saw Mr, French or 

 Mr. Keep, but because I beHeve that many far- 

 mers would be glad to know where they can ob- 

 tain a variety answering the above description. 



Eoyalston, Dec. 13, 1861. J. Wood. 



PREMIUMS FOR HERDS. 



Friend Sheldon's notion of offering premiums 

 for herds of best improved animals, instead of sin- 

 gle animals, is worthy of much regard. I have 

 often known an old cow that had been strained to 

 her utmost capacity in the production of milk, 

 upon a statement being made that she had aver- 

 aged to give from thirty-five to forty-five pounds 

 of milk per day, for many months, to be awarded 

 the first premium at our shows ; and this with lit- 

 tle or no regard to the quality of the milk. 



It is a law of Nature that whatever is greatly 

 extended in one direction, Avill come short in an- 

 other. Give me the snug built, little animal, with 

 bright eye, and milk of superior quality, in prefer- 

 ence to any of these overgrown monsters. 



I do not perceive the propriety of j\Ir. S.'s rec- 

 ommendation to do away the distinction of breeds. 

 I had supposed these distinctions to be Avell de- 

 fined, and very convenient for reference. I know 

 there are some who say there is no such thing as 

 Native breed of cattle — let it be so, if you please, 

 so long as those bred and born on our hills will 

 ever have the preference of many whose judgment 

 is Avorthy of regard. Essex, 



December 16, 1861. 



