380 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



HELPING TO BUILD NESTS. 

 One of the best things in Merrifs Museum for 

 last month is the following article illustrative of 

 the character of one of the best men in our State, 

 Hon. John Preston, of New Ipswich. He is a 

 man whose good nature sheds a light upon all who 

 come within his influence. He was the advocate 

 of a bird law in our Legislature, in 1846, and we 

 well recollect the entrance of a bird into the Hall 

 of the House of Representatives at the time he 

 was advocating their cause. The effect was elec- 

 tric. But the law for their protection did not jjass. 

 Mr. Preston's milk of human kindness is not con- 

 fined to the feathered race — it extends, and in an 

 enlarged degree, to the whole human race. 



Look upon that grand old elm and see that new 

 bird's nest on one of its overhanging branches. 

 What a beautiful place for a quiet home for the 

 n&stlings, and how admirably it is built and se- 

 curely fastened among the twigs ! It belongs to a 

 pair of orioles, or golden robins as they are some- 

 times called. These birds constnict their nests 

 out of bits of twine, cotton, tow, etc., which they 

 pick up with great pains from the surrounding 

 country. On the tree which you see in the pic- 

 ture, a pair of these birds have built their nest for 

 several years, because here they were sure of a 

 kind reception and a helping hand. 



I saw that nest built the other day, and learned 

 the secret of their attachment to the place. Being 

 on a hasty visit to the country, I called at the res- 

 idence of John Preston, Esq., of New IpsAvich, N. 

 H., an old friend of Robert Merry. I found him 

 seated in his little ofRce very busy cutting up twine 

 of different lengths. He greeted me very cordially, 

 but kept on with his work, which seemed to be of 

 great importance. When he had prepared quite a 

 handful, he led the way out of the office, and de- 

 posited the strings upon the cross-bars on which 

 you see the little bird under the tree. Then he 

 told me they were for the birds to build their nests 

 with, and that every year, (when the sweet notes 

 of the oriole sounded through the branches of the 

 trees, filling the neighborhood with sweetest mu- 

 sic,) he had supplied them with materials for 

 building their nest. 



We retired a short distance, and very soon down 

 came one of those beautiful birds like a flash of 

 golden light, and commenced selecting material 

 for his nest. I supposed he would take the first 

 piece that came to hand, but like a skilful build- 

 er, he took up first one piece, then another, ex- 

 amining them very curiously and apparently meas- 

 uring the length with his eye, like a practiced car- 

 penter. When one was found that suited his pur- 

 pose, away he flew to his chosen limb, and having 

 securely fastened it, he returned for another. He 

 was the very personification of industry, and set 

 an example worthy of imitation by many bipeds 

 without feathers. 



Ordinarily it would require a week or more of 

 hoi'd work for a pair of these birds to build their 

 nest, as they must usually take long journeys to 

 find proper materials, but having everything pro- 

 vided at hand, they nearly completed the outer 

 walls in a single day. 



The following mornino: my friend provided a 



quantity of tow from bits of rope, which he picked 

 to pieces for the use of the birds, which they 

 speedily appropriated for a soft lining to the nest. 

 The matter interested me so much that I brought 

 away a good photograph of the tree and surround- 

 ings, taken on the spot. 



I was greatly pleased in watching them ; but 

 what I admired most, and what I am sure you will 

 also think worthy of imitation, was the kindness 

 shown to these little creatures by this noble-heart- 

 ed man. He could find time from pressing busi- 

 ness, to care for the birds that came to cheer his 

 home with their songs. It made me love him bet- 

 ter than ever. He has his reward for his kindness 

 in the friendship of the birds, who have learned 

 to know their benefactor, and sing for liim their 

 choicest songs. — Portsmouth Jownal. 



Far the New EnslaTtd Farmer. 

 TRIAL OF MOWINQ MACHINES. 



Mr. Editor: — A trial of mowing machines 

 took place near Berry's tavern, in Danvers, on 

 Thursday, the 26th inst., under the auspices of 

 the Essex Agricultural Society, and superintend- 

 ed by the Committee on Farm Implements. At 

 10 o'clock, the time set, the still frowning aspect 

 of the lingering storm clouds had deterred many 

 who were anxious to witness the trial, and led the 

 Committee to hesitate whether to adjourn to a 

 finer day, or to proceed. By 11 o'clock, however, 

 quite a large number of persons had collected, 

 and the agents of the difl'erent mowers were al- 

 ready on the ground, desiring to show farmers 

 how easily, handsomely and economically their 

 grass could be cut, while they only looked on. 

 The Committee, therefore, concluded to step into 

 the yet reeking grass, and set off the requisite 

 number of one-quarter acre lots, from a field well 

 adapted to the purpose, offered, with his accus- 

 tomed generosity, by one of the Committee, E. 

 G. Berry, Esq. One or two of the mowers cut 

 the grass from the headlands, where spectators 

 might stand and the mowers turn, and at half- 

 past one the trial commenced. 



E. E. Lummus, of North Beverly, entered one 

 two-horse and one one-horse Woods mowers, also 

 one Davis improved. Amos Poor, Jr., of New- 

 buryport, entered one 4 foot bar, (two-horse,) and 

 one 3J foot bar, (one-horse,) Union, and also one 

 Manny, (one-horse,) owned by Daniel Richards, 

 of Danvers. S. A. Merrill, of Salem, entered 

 one 4i foot bar, and one 4 foot bar, (each two- 

 horse,) and one 3^ foot bar, (one-horse,) of the 

 Buckeye. 



It was arranged that only one mower should 

 operate at a time, so that each person might give 

 his undivided attention to each machine. But 

 want of time at last compelled the Committee to 

 let two move together. The Woods, the Union 

 and the Davis improved were all new machines, 

 light, and yet apparently well put together and 

 strong. The Davis improved did not work until 

 the writer was compelled to leave the field. The 

 Buckeye and the Manny had been often used, 

 and their merits are well understood. 



The Committee, five of whom were present, 

 considered their duty on the occasion to be t® 

 give all those interested an opportunity to exhibit, 

 and see, and compare the oneraticn of the various 



