120 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



this section, and if suffei-ed to increase, Avill great- 

 ly diminish the vahie of our forms. 



I could mention several other plants that are a 

 great nuisance and evil, but will confine myself to 

 but one more, viz., Johnsv,-ort. I have been cred- 

 ibly informed that, in some parts of New York 

 State, this i)lant has so got the upper hand of the 

 farmers that they have given up some of then- 

 fields to its entu-e possession. Within sight of 

 where I live, is a farm that is fast coming under 

 its pestiferous power. The owner don't seem to 

 care much about it ; thinks he can get on, some- 

 hoM', as long as he lives, and on the principle of 

 "after me, the deluge," bequeaths to the coming 

 generation a heritage of expense and trouble. 



For one, I do not believe we have aright to act, 

 or not act, without reference to the future. How 

 is it possible for any one to reconcile such a course 

 with moral right .-^ Each succeeding generation 

 should strive to excel its predecessor in all that is 

 calculated to promote the highest good of the pres- 

 ent, and of generations to come. Gratitude, and 

 not remorse, would then be the heritage of all, and 

 the world a comparative paradise. But to return 

 to our subject. The evil is upon us. What is the 

 remedy ? Will not some of your numerous cor- 

 respondents tell us, or at least give their views of 

 the matter ? Can we not have a law that will 

 reach this case ? Could not seed inspectors be 

 appointed, and licensed seed stores be established, 

 where the farmer could go and be sure of getting 

 a pure, unmixed article ? In the case of the neg- 

 ligent farmer, who suffers liis lands to be overrun 

 with weeds to liis neighbor's injury, could we not 

 by law require him to cease injuring his neigh- 

 bors ? lie has no just right to do it. Why not 

 restrain him by penalties ? o. K. 



Rochester, 18G2. 



agricultubaij societies. 



WoKCESTER North Agricultural Society. 

 — We have before us the Transactions of this So- 

 ciety for the year ISGl. The annual Exhibition 

 took place at Fitchburg, Sept. 24, 1861, We learn 

 from them that the show in vegetables was far su- 

 perior to any before presented ; that of flowers was 

 brilliant ; the mechanic arts and manufactures 

 were also liberally displayed, as were the articles 

 of bread, butter, cheese, pickles, honey, preserves 

 and wines. There was no regular address, but af- 

 ter dinner appropriate remarks were made by sev- 

 eral i^ersons. The officers for 18G2 are : 



President — L. II. Bradford, Fitchburg ; Vice 

 Presidents — Leonard Burragc, Leominster ; Ben- 

 jamin Wyman, Westminster ; Secretary — W. G, 

 VVyman, Fitchburg; Treasurer — F. C. Caldwell, 

 Fitchburg. 



Rutland County Agricultural Society. — 

 At the annual meeting of this Society held at Rut- 

 land, Vt., January 1, 18G2, the following officers 

 ■were elected : 



President — Jajies M. Ketciium, Sudbury; 

 Vice Presidents — Jesse L. Billings, Rutland ; A. 

 D. Smith, Danby ; Secretary — Henry Clark, 

 Poultney ; Treasurer — Hon. Zirari Howe, Castle- 

 ton ; Auditor — H. W. Lester, Rutland. 



For the New England Farmer. 



■WINTEK. 



BY B. F. FULLER. 



Now the winter is invested 



With the downy, feathery snow. 

 Every mountain-top is crested, 



And the valley clad, below. 

 Winter's ermine, as a ruffle. 



Leafless woodland seems to deck ; 

 And the pines are like a muffle 



Of warm furs, around his neck. 

 See ! the cloud-attended morning, 



All effulgent to the view ; 

 And the sparkling snow adorning, 



Almost with a rainbow hue ! 

 In the forest, now, I wander — 



Yes ! the winter's face to see. 

 Every lesson I will ponder, 



That the seasons show to me. 

 Hark ! a whistle, flute-like, airy, 



Like a signal, clear, and sweet \ 

 'Tis, perhaps, the reigning fairy 



Winds her horn, in this retreat ; 

 "Chickadeedee !" — music cheery ! 



'Tis the spell of memory, then, 

 In the woodland, waste and weary, 



Wakes the summer song again ! 

 No ! the birdie, bounding, leaping, 



Lights upon the feathery snow I 

 Soft the breast of winter, sleeping— 



Would, for thee, 'twere always so ! 

 Say, thou plaything of the breezes ! 



When the winter, wan and cold, 

 In the moaning forest freezes, 



Where is, then, thy little hold ? 

 "Chickadeedce !" chants the fearless. 



Flitting bird, upon the tree: 

 "Never would your heart be cheerless, 



Had you confidence, like me !" 



I will study, then, the winter, 



In its ever varied phase — 

 When the snowy sparkles glinter 



In the bright aud sunny days : 

 When the air-filled flake, descending, 



In the day or in the night, 

 Seems as if the heaven, bending. 



Would upon the earth alight: 

 When the stars shine out with pleasure, 



On the mirror of the snow ; 

 While a galaxy of treasure 



Seems the spangled bank, below ! 

 — We have all a winter season. 



When our scanty lives we close: 

 It is fitting we should reason 



Of the winter and Uie snows ! 

 Shall we, then, so iieaccfid slumber 



As this sunny, snowy day ; 

 Or tlie dreams, that conscience cumber. 



Frighten our repose away ? 



The Moss-Lands. — The moss-lands are formed, 

 not by the perpetually diffused burden of mist, but 

 the going and returning of intermittent clouds. 

 All turns upon that iutermittence. Soft moss on 

 stone and rock ; cave fern of tangled glen ; way- 

 side well, perennial, patient, silent, ever thus deep, 

 no more, which the winter wreck sullies not, the 

 summer thirst wastes not, incapable of stain as of 

 decline, where the foUcn leaf floats undecayed and 

 the insect darts undcfiling. Crossed brook and 

 ever eddying river, lifted even in flood scarcely 

 above its stepping-stones, but through all sweet 

 summer keeping tremulous music with harji- 



