1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEIVIER. 



117 



would have been of a sufficient quantity of stable 

 manure to produce a like result. 



The superphosphate of lime is therefore a valua- 

 ble fertilizer in the reclamation and renovation of 

 old pasture or meadow lands, and especially so 

 vv'here lands like the above are located a mile or 

 more from the homestead. 



Superphosphate of lime is a valuable article in 

 promoting the growth and increasing the fibrous 

 roots of young trees and grape vines, and when ap- 

 plied in liberal quantities to the roots of bearing 

 trees, has a beneficial influence on the size and 

 beauty of the fruit. It is equally useful as a ferti- 

 lizer for cereals, grasses and vegetables, and from 

 experiments made heretofore, I have hopes that it 

 may prove a preventive of the blast upon young 

 seedling pear stocks, and to the raildeAV on i)eas 

 and other plants sulyect to these diseases. 



As a quick, and also as a durable fertilizer, I have 

 seen many proofs in past years. I have ever con- 

 sidered it as one of the most economical manures 

 in use. Yours respectfully, 



Marshall P. Wilder. 



For the Hew England Fai-mer. 

 NOTES FROM THE MONOMACK. 



, January 22, 1862. 



Fkiexd Browx : — I have not forgotten your kind 

 request, made long ago, that I should occasional!}' 

 "note" something for the e.-^pccial benefit of the read- 

 ers of my favorite Farmer, but other matters have, un- 

 til recent!}', so completely monopolized my time and 

 thoughts, that the thing was hardly possible. Now, 

 however, I can occasionally find a breathing-place, 

 and, unless you make haste to repent of your folly in 

 extending the above-mentioned invitation, and sum- 

 marily "cancel the bond," you are likely to hear from 

 rae quite often. 



With this, I send along a few specimen bricks, and 

 if your readers don't cry "quits," you may expect "a 

 few more of the same sort" from 



Truly yours, Saggahe-w. 



Ax Hour in a ]\Iodel Hot-House. — One 

 year ago, (Feb., 18G1,) the writer was one of a 

 party of about forty members of the "Great and 

 General Court" of Massachusetts, who paid a fly- 

 ing visit to that ancient city, and celebrated water- 

 ing-place — Newport, E.. I. The ostensible object 

 of the expedition was to make a sort of popular 

 legislative survey of the route of a proposed 

 railroad extension ; while it was expected, inci- 

 dentally, of course, to have a right down good 

 time. Tlie first object was fully accomplished, as 

 may be seen from an examination of the legisla- 

 tive files ; and the latter was — "ditto," as may be 

 proved by the cross examination of each, either, 

 any, or all, of the aforesaid forty resjicctable gen- 

 tlemen. 



While the rest of the party paid a sliivering 

 visit to Fort Adams, the writer, under the guide 

 of a mutual friend, paid his respects to the super- 

 intendent of the estate of Beach Lawrence, Esq., 

 Mr. Alfred Chamberlain, where he was most cour- 

 teously received, and passed an exceedingly pleas- 

 ant hour. Of the many objects of interest Mhich 

 came under his observation at the time, I propose 

 nov/ to speak only of his visit to the extensive 

 hot-houses on the estate. 



^Ir. Chamberlain, the superintendent, is a na- 

 tive of England, an educated gardener, and an en- 

 thusiastic lover of all that is in any way connected 

 with his profession. Among his many qualifica- 



tions for the resposible post he now occupies, may 

 be mentioned seven years' experience in the im- 

 mediate employ of William Rivers, the celebrated 

 English gardener and horticulturist. The latter is 

 Avell known as the originator of a system of dwarf- 

 pot-culture, for fruit trees and vines. That ^Mr. 

 Chamberlain was no dull scholar of this distin- 

 guished master in the art, I had abundant oppor- 

 tunity for verifying upon the above occasion. 



Though it was in the depth of vinter, I found 

 grapes, tomatoes, strawberries, pineapples, cucuni- 

 bers, lettuce, potatoes, &c., ike, in all the various 

 stages of growth, up to perfect maturity. To such 

 a state of perfection has this artificial system of 

 culture been brought, that these, and many other 

 kinds of fruit and vegetables, fresh from the vines, 

 are ready for the table every day in the year! 

 Among the first of these to attract my attention 

 were the 



Tomatoes. — These were planted along the back 

 side of the elevated borders, and were carefully 

 trained to neat wire trellises, each plant occupy- 

 ing perhaps four feet wide, and four to five feet in 

 height. Mr. C. recommends that they should al- 

 ways be trained to an upright trellis, and pinched 

 back freely, as they look neater, occupy less room 

 laterally, will produce a gi'cater quantity of fruit, 

 and ripen it a fortnight earlier. 



Having tried the trellis plan of training, in gar- 

 den culture, I have concluded that it is too trou- 

 blesome for ordinary out-door cultivation, in all 

 cases where time is any object. It is true that the 

 vines look neater, and, perhaps, yield more fruit, 

 but the value of the time consumed in tying up 

 the vines will usually far exceed that of the extra 

 crop. I prefer to spread a little coarse litter, 

 leaves, oi* — better still — brush, under the vines, 

 before they begin to lodge, and then let them run 

 as they please. I have also tried the plan of clip- 

 ping, or pincliing back the shoots, but, for the 

 same reasons, have discontinued the practice. I 



have recently learned that our friend, jMr. L , 



whose business is solely market gardening, and 

 who raises at least five hundred bushels of toma- 

 toes annually, after trying various plans, has con- 

 cluded that the most economical method is to let 

 the vines have their own way. 



Strawberkies. — Of these there were several 

 hundred pots, arranged principally on a shelf near 

 the ridgepole, where they -were flourishing with the 

 greatest vigor. A row of them placed over the 

 pipes in front, were in fruit, and would have con- 

 vinced any one that this delicious fruit deseiTCS 

 more consideration in hot-house culture. I never 

 saw vines more heavily laden. They were princi- 

 pally, W'dson^s Albany Seedlinr/, of which Mr. C. 

 spoke in the highest terms, for their bearing qual- 

 ities. 



CUCUJIBERS AND SQUASHES IN POTS. — Not 

 the least of the many objects of interest which 

 met my eye upon the above occasion, M'ere the 

 pots of cucumbers, squashes and melons, all in a 

 bearing condition, Mr. C. expressed the opinion 

 that, for gardens, it would be economy to start 

 these plants in pots, under glass, and after the 

 ground was prepared to receive them, and the 

 plants were beyond the reach of bugs, to set the 

 pots into the ground, without disturbing the plant. 

 His remarks upon the subject so commended them- 

 selves to my mind that I tried the experiment last 



