1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



309 



lime comes from in the sea -which the Corals ab- 

 sorb in such quantities. As far as the living Cor- 

 als are concerned, the answer is easy, for an im- 

 mense deal of lime is brought down to the ocean 

 by rivers that wear away the lime deposits through 

 which they pass. The Mississip])i, whose course 

 lies through extensive lime regions, brings down 

 yearly lime enough to supply all the animals liv- 

 ing in the Gulf of Mexico. 



As soon as the little Coral is fairly established, 

 and solidly attached to the ground, it begins to 

 bud. This may take place in a variety of ways, 

 dividing at the toj), or budding from the base, or 

 from the sides, till the primitive animal is sur- 

 rounded by a number of individuals like itself of 

 M'hich it forms the nucleus, and which now begin 

 to bud in their turn, each one surrounding itself 

 with a numerous progeny, all remaining, however, 

 attached to the parent. Such a community in- 

 creases till its individuals are numbered by mil- 

 lions ; and I have myself counted no less than 

 fourteen millions of individuals in a Coral mass 

 measuring not more than twelve feet in diameter." 



Fur the New England Farmer. 



PliO'WIN-G SONG, 



Cheerily, brothers, lift your song, 



Let us be blithe and gay ! 

 Gladly the hours should speed along, 



For we are plowing to-day. 

 Drawing the furrows we go, 



Full, and straight, and deep ; 



Mother Earth's bosom the seed will keep 



Snug and warm, where the life-springs leap, 

 Whence a rich harvest shall grow. 



Yes, we are plowing again to day, — 



Hopeful, and stout, and strong ; 

 The years glide bj-, we are getting grey. 



But in heart we are brave and young I 

 Steady and brisk we go. 



Though the way be sharp and steep. 



For mother Earth's bosom, so safe and deep, 



The seed we sow will faithfully keep 

 Till the full harvest shall grow. 



So, cheerily, boys, we'll cheerily sing. 



Though we miss in our merry round 

 Voices that once with gleeful ring 



Made the whole valley resound. 

 Merrily on we'll go. 



Yet them in our memory keep: 



Labor is light where love is deep, — 



For them we'll scatter, for them we'll reap. 

 And theirs shall the harvest grow ! 



For loudly they shout as they march, to-day, 



Over the battle plain, 

 Dauntless, untiring, amid the fray. 



The patriot's proud refrain. 

 So steadily on we'll go. 



Plowing to sow and reap ; 



Labor is light where love is deep, — 



God hath us all in His holy keep, 

 And this will the harvest show. 



So, cheerily, brothers, cheerily sing, 



For here shall they stand again. 

 When the golden autumn fair peace shall bring. 



Uplifting a joyous strain. 

 And hopefully on we'll go. 



Plowing, to sow and reap ; 



Labor is light where love is deep, 



tjod hath us all in His holy keep. 

 And this will the harvest show. Anne G. Hale. 



Fur the New England Farmer. 

 AGRICULTUBAL ACCOUNTS. 



Mr. Editor: — Almost every farmer is now 

 ready to acknowledge the importance of keeping 

 accurate accounts of his transactions, though it is 

 an admitted fact that they do not practice it to 

 that extent which its consequence demands. We 

 never saw a successful merchant who did not con- 

 duct his business in a systematic manner, and this 

 is the secret of his success. Without the knowl- 

 edge whicli may be thus obtained, it is impossible 

 to determine the cost of raising a certain crop, or 

 whether it is remunerative or not. One farmer will 

 tell you that it costs so much to raise a particular 

 crop, while another estimates the cost at nearly 

 double that amount. Now this is not much bet- 

 ter than guess-work, and neither of them knows 

 whereof he affirms, for the simple reason that they 

 both neglect to avail themselves of the only means 

 of coming at the facts, namely, by keeping full 

 and correct accounts. 



But my object in writing is more particularly to 

 call your attention to the farm accounts which are 

 published in the Agricultural Reports, a notice of 

 which I ho])e will suggest some improvements in 

 future published accounts, or bring out such ex- 

 planation as will make the subject better under- 

 stood. 



In Mr. Secretary Flint's excellent annual, Agri- 

 culture of Massachusetts for 1860, I find the fol- 

 lowing in a statement of a gentleman, of Hamp- 

 den Co., who asks a premium for his farm man- 

 agement, lie credits his form with — 



26 tons of hay $364,00 



Pasturage for 7 cows, 24 weeks 84.00 



Corn fodder 14,00 



Swede and flat turnips 91,00 



Amounting to $o53,00 



He also credits his farm with — 



1200 pounds butter $300.00 



Milk sold 50,00 



Milk used in family oS,00 



Skimmed milk sold 100,00 



Amounting to §508,00 



553,00 



To which add hay, pasturage, &c., make $1081,00 



Now, that is a very pretty item in farm profits, 

 but it seems to me but fair to presume that the 

 daily product was not effected without the con- 

 sumption of a portion of the crops of the farm, the 

 amount of which should be deducted from the 

 whole ; if not, it is a success in scientific and prac- 

 tical agi'iculture that will revolutionize the whole 

 system, and render it one of the most successful 

 callings. 



The farm is credited with pork and poultry to 

 the amount of $180, but no charge is made for 

 their keep, which assists very much in making up 

 a good account, and is a great encouragement to 

 amateurs. And $150 worth of wood is credit- 

 ed as among the crops. Was not the value of 

 the land depreciated by this operation ? Thirty- 

 five cords of manure are used upon the place this 

 year, and only one-half of it was charged to the 

 crops, as it was presumed that the remainder went 

 to improve the land. But no account was made 

 of the exhaustion of the land where the hay crop 

 was taken from it, and nothing returned to the 

 soil. Sl8 are charged as interest on the value of 



