256 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



June 



a wedge-shaped piece of bark from the trunk of 

 the tree opposite each stock, extending up into 

 the healthy bark about two inches, thus /\, then 

 shaping the stocks to fit the opening accurately, I 

 bound thera in with matting, and applying a little 

 grafting wax to keep out air and weather, left the 

 rest to nature. The result was, that I saved my 

 tree, and now have it in a very thrifty condition, 

 standing on three legs. There is no difficulty in 

 the operation, and the saving of a nice tree is well 

 worth the trial 



A good deal has been said about the best time 

 for pruning trees. I have found no bad results 

 arising from pruning them at this season, always 

 covering the wound with grafting wax, made by 

 melting together equal parts of beeswax, resin and 

 mutton tallow ; this excludes the weather effectu- 

 ally, and is easily applied, and costs but little. 



Worcester, April 13, 1862. M. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 COST OP CUTTING- GRASS. 



Messrs. Editors : — I have read the report of 

 the agricultural discussion, on Monday evening 

 last, with much interest. Like theological discus- 

 sions, it is very clear that much may be said on 

 both sides. How much of this discussion was 

 brought out by the hard-hands themselves, who 

 have learned their lessons in the field, under the 

 sweat of their own brow, I must leave for others 

 to estimate. 



I notice an eminent farmer of Essex County 

 maintains, that when English grass can be cut for 

 one dollar per acre, by the scythe, it is not expe- 

 dient to use a mowing machine. Now I thought, 

 it had been demonstrated again and again, even 

 on the farm of this same gentleman, that the ex- 

 pense of cutting such grass, by the use of a well- 

 constructed and regulated mowing machine, need 

 not exceed half a dollar per acre. If, then, it is a 

 demonstrable fact, that one-half the expense of 

 cutting grass can be saved by the use of such a 

 machine, why not use it ? If gentlemen deviate 

 as far from the fact, on other topics, as in this, 

 what reliance can be placed on what they say ? 



I had thought the improvements within the last 

 thirty years, in the plowing of land, and the cut- 

 ting of grass, two of the most prominent occupa- 

 tions on the farm, were marked and certain ; and 

 shall continue to think so, until I learn the con- 

 trary, from authority more reliable than that of 



March 29, 1862. Fancy Farmers. 



Lawyers. — Many persons suppose that lawyers 

 thrive upon the misfortunes of business men in 

 general. But gentlemen of the bar well know 

 how completely unfounded is this impression. 

 Their prosperity is intimately identified with that 

 of the other classes of society, for the increase of 

 proceedings of a vindictive nature but poorly com- 

 pensates for the great falling off in negotiations 

 and transfers in contests carried on in good faith 

 between responsible parties seeking to test doubt- 

 ful questions, and in the collectable proportion of 

 judgments. It is well that it is so, for it would be 

 a serious misfortune to any community to have in 

 its midst a numerous educated and influential class 

 with an interest adverse to that of the rest of so- 

 ciety. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 HOW TO DRAIN—MANURES. 



Your correspondent H. T., Rutland, Mass., puts 

 the question relative to draining a certain ten-acre 

 lot. I have a lot not so large, but similar to the 

 wettest portion of his ; in answer to him, I will give 

 the mode in which I treated mine. On one side 

 the lot was washed by a brook ; on the side oppo- 

 site the brook a hill, at the brow of which I caused 

 a ditch to be dug five feet deep ; at the bottom I 

 laid stones, with the upper edges together, leav- 

 ing a space in shape resembling the letter A, cov- 

 ering to the depth of two feet with small stones 

 and a laying of hassocks, then replaced the muck 

 from the head ditch, and had others to conduct 

 the water to the brook built in the same mode. 

 Five years have passed since ; the land has been 

 completely rid of water, and has produced first- 

 rate crops. I find the above used material to 

 be cheaper than tile or plank, and less trouble. 

 Most every farmer has them at hand, and wishes 

 to rid himself of them ; certainly there is no one 

 but can try it in a small way, and if so successful 

 as mine, will follow it. 



Another correspondent asks — "Will Concentra- 

 ted Manure Pay ?" I find that the only dressing 

 that pays with me is that which is in the reach of 

 every farmer on his own farm, viz. : the drop- 

 pings of the cattle composted with muck, urine, 

 leaves, soap-suds and the contents ejected from 

 the sink spout. If the farmer who buys these high- 

 ly puffed fertilizers, takes the time in which he 

 earns the money to purchase them, devotes it to 

 the collecting of materials for the compost heap, 

 he will find that he would gain greater results 

 from that gathered by himself than that Avhich 

 he bought. For some years past I have tilled but 

 a small area of land, manuring it highly. I find 

 more profit than in a larger quantity, with less 

 manure to the same space of ground. I find that 

 after land is well seeded down to grass, it is not 

 best to disturb it, but to apply the dressing as a 

 top-dressing, saving expense of cultivating, and 

 getting greater return for the amount expended. 



Cape Elizabeth, Me., April, 1862. s. P. M. 



Surface of Gardens. — In the fine surface, 

 soil of old gardens, the seeds of a multitude of 

 plants, as well as many insects, or their ova, find a 

 lodgment. In order to get rid of them effectually, 

 it is a good plan to collect all the rubbish of the 

 garden in the spring, together with the prunings 

 from trees, and brush and weeds from pastures, 

 and burn them on the ground. The limbs of the 

 fir, spruce or hemlock, which many can command 

 in any quantity, or indeed, any combustible ma- 

 terial of little value otherwise, will answer as fuel 

 for this purpose, and add also to the fertility of 

 the soil by the ashes it leaves behind. But, of 

 course, this can only be done on that portion of 

 the garden where there are no perennial plants, 

 unless the soil be scraped away into little heajjs, 

 burnt over and returned to its place. This would 

 save a great amount of weeding, and destroy many 

 insects — so that the operation may be found prof- 

 itable in a great many cases. 



